Recent Reviews

438 Reviews

Filter by: Location   Category
201 E 5th St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 322-0086

Suede Salon - CLOSED  

Category: Hair Salons
Neighborhood: Downtown

1.0 star rating
8/27/2011
I got a Living Social haircut here for $40 (Momma needs a haircut!) and have not been able to get hold of the salon. Their voice mail has a strange message about being closed until August 9th (it's now late August) and their web site is defunct. I contacted Living Social and they're refunding my money. Not sure what's going on here but thought I'd pass on this info in case anyone is experiencing a similar circumstance. Maybe they're open, maybe they're not. I don't have it in me to drive down there and find out.

Was this review …?

1104 S First St
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 228-2484

Jane Amschwand  

Category: Real Estate Agents
Neighborhoods: 78704 (South Austin), So-Fi (S. 1st St. District), Bouldin Creek

5.0 star rating
1/12/2011
Jane recently help us purchase our first home and I couldn't be more pleased with her help as a realtor. As a first time homebuyer we were pretty ignorant about the whole process and Jane was a wealth of knowledge on everything from loan officers to closing to inspections to contractor recommendations. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her and I'll be sure to contact her again next time we look for a home (hopefully no time soon)!

I contacted her daily (and often times multiple times through out the day) as we were shopping and going through the contract process and she was always available and responsive--quite remarkably actually--and eager, friendly and enthusiastic. Once we found our home, Jane went out of her way to let us in to the house (it was unoccupied) as often as we needed to see the house and once we were under contract she'd meet us if wanted to look at the interior to meet with painters and other contractors. (She was also so great and patient with our 18 mo old who had to tag along to many of the meet-ups!) She was professional and hardworking and I am so grateful for all her dedication to helping us find our home!

In full disclosure, I've know Jane for several years through mutual friends but it just made for a great opportunity to work with someone I already trusted and admired.

Was this review …?

430 Dauphine St
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 525-4455

Bayona  

Categories: American (New), Mediterranean

2.0 star rating
11/29/2009
I was just thinking about a positive dinning experience I had recently and how the dining experience was bolstered by great service...and that reminded me of the off putting service we had a Bayona. I recently read the NYT article about 100 Things Restaurant Staffers Shouldn't Do and our waitress at Bayona hit several of the points and just really rubbed me the wrong way (and I've worked in the food service industry and feel like I have an understanding for waitresses that have a bad night or general issues that might be going on). Our waitress completely rote and almost rude . She seemed annoyed with us and I can't for the life of me think what we did wrong in playing the role of guests.

My Mom complained to her about the amount of fat (and lack of meat) on the rabbit roulade and things just seem to go down hill from there. What's funny is that I had the same entree and I was as unpleasantly surprised with the fat wrapping (seriously lacked meat, was like sausage casing) around the the andouille-stuffing. None of the three of us who ordered the entree could eat the thick fat casing...why would we...and I'm not afraid of fat.

I was ultimately disappointed in much of the meal. The Goat Cheese Crouton with Mushrooms in Madera sauce was the highlight of the meal (the waitress said it was one of her favorites...she doesn't like the others???)-- the low point was the empanada dessert (brittle was good but the empanada wasn't cooked enough --rawish-- and none of the flavors in the dish *none* seemed to go together).

I was disappointed. I'd heard about Bayona for awhile and was looking forward to this meal. I wouldn't go back.

Was this review …?

1675 Cumberland Pkwy
Smyrna, GA 30080
(770) 434-1114

Muss & Turner's  

Categories: Specialty Food, American (New), Delis

4.0 star rating
8/16/2009
One of the best cheeseburgers I've had in awhile...and I eat a lot of cheeseburgers! My ATL friend treated me to lunch at M&T during a brief visit to town and I was really impressed with the burger. They didn't cook either of our patties to our liking (medium and well done) but I ate the well done burger (slightly pink) and we sent the other back for a re-do. A little pricey at $10.93/burger but really good and worth the trip if you like a good burger.

Kamado grilled Riverview Farm's Grass Fed Beef Burger with roasted poblano pepper, melted Grafton cheddar, red onion and house-made cilantro mayo on a challah bun.  $10.93  (Organically raised in N. Georgia and in our opinion has a distinct flavor that can't be beat)

Was this review …?

1217 Pierce St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 659-1245

Pappas Bar-B-Q  

Category: Barbeque
Neighborhoods: Midtown, Downtown

1.0 star rating
8/16/2009
Gross!

Listed in: I Want My Money Back

Was this review …?

2600 Travis St
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 526-8282

Reef  

Categories: Seafood, Lounges
Neighborhoods: Fourth Ward, Midtown

3.0 star rating
4/30/2009 ROTD 2/1/2010
Finally made it over to Reef a couple of weeks ago for an early dinner. Overall everything was fine but nothing was spectacular or worth running back for anytime soon. It's hard to believe it's made some restaurant lists for anything other than interior design (which I also think is a little overrated).

I tried the crispy skin snapper since I'd read it's one of their notables. The fish was nicely prepared and I enjoyed eating each bite with a bit of the chard served with it, but, in general, it was an average tasting white fish. The S.O. ordered the grilled scallops served on polenta and I think he enjoyed the polenta more than the scallops (it was questionable if they were cooked all the way through too). We split the fried mac and cheese and definitely liked it, but I've had better homemade. The dessert was the best part of the meal. We split a cheescake with a dark cherry topping and honey gelato on the side. I make a similar cheesecake type cupcake that's a cheap knock-off and I really enjoyed their combination of the topping, cake, and graham cracker crust.

Our service was really lacking. I hate it when waiters look past the table when they walk up and talk to their customers. Our waiter just didn't have much to say and didn't seem to have any interest in us at all. From what I saw around me I have a feeling if we were regulars or a larger, more wealthy party we would have had more congenial service.

A couple of other tidbits?
1. Good bread
2. I bet this place is pretty loud when it's crowded
3. Hard, wooden chairs that hurt your butt

Was this review …?

1701 S Shepherd Dr
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 520-5131

Barnaby's Cafe  

Categories: American (New), Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Montrose

1.0 star rating
Update - 4/30/2009 1 photo
Shutter. I don't know why I thought leftovers might somehow miraculously reheat better than the original dish. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I got a very salty spinach lasagna from Barnaby's the other night that looked like it came straight out of a frozen dinner packaging. The edges were tough and inedible. My extremities quickly swelled from the sodium. One of the worst parts of the dining experience was having to sit across from my husband as he picked and made sad and disgusted faces at his chicken burrito. He complained the entire dinner wondering how anyone could screw up a burrito.

These two entrees were complete failures and for a restaurant to serve them makes me wonder 1.) who's in the kitchen, and 2.) if the owners/managers know what is being sent out to the customers.

I want my money back.

Was this review …?

1 Previous Review: Hide »

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/28/2008

    The theme of Barnaby's is cute. A long time ago the family's beloved sheepdog, Barnaby, went to doggie heaven and so they've dedicated their restaurants to his memory...or something like that.

    In general it's upscale-ish diner fare with hearty burgers, salads, breakfast and everything in between. It's good food. A little over priced, but good and substantial. I got a burger (natural, hormone-free chuck) that was juicy and flavorful. Their skinny fries are piled on the side and heavily seasoned and pretty darn good. Unfortunately, we stopped in on a Monday holiday and not only was it packed but there were screaming kids abound and a lot of Moms with babies out lunching with their other Mommie friends and it didn't go unnoticed while we were waiting for a table and eating.

    I think next time I go to Barnaby's I'll skip the River Oaks location. I'll also probably pass on ordering a Diet Coke. They serve their sodas in plastic bottles -- those plastic bottles that are piling up in landfills -- and I don't think they're recycled. (Barnaby's please rethink your way of serving sodas!)

    Was this review …?

1835 W Alabama St
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 520-8599

The Chocolate Bar  

Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Chocolatiers and Shops
Neighborhood: Montrose

4.0 star rating
Update - 3/16/2009 2 photos
I'm docking a star from my previous Chocolate Bar review. We went in a few weeks ago to try one of those delicious looking desserts. Not so delicious. We tried a slice of the Rocky Road pie and the marshmallow and nut topping was dried-out and had no flavor and the chocolate-y part of the pie also tasted old and dry. It was so dry it was difficult to cut through the slice with a plastic fork. It makes me wonder if the pies in the case sit out for a long time or if we just got a bad slice or...if that's just the way their Rocky Road pie tastes. Next time I go I'm sticking to the ice cream.

Listed in: Places I live DANGEROUSLY…, WOW. Variety and selections…, Dates with the S.O.

Was this review …?

1 Previous Review: Hide »

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/8/2007

    This isn't your run-of-the-mill Chocolate store.  Yes, they sell everything and anything Chocolate related. But, it's their fabulous Chocolate ice cream, cakes, and a specialty drinks that make this place unique. Their Creamy Dreamy Truffle Ice Cream is to die for and hands-down the best Chocolate ice cream I have ever eaten. I'm looking forward to going back and trying their 4-layer Chocolate cake and Rocky Road Pie. Like Serendipity in New York they also sell a whipped Chocolate drink that I'll stop in for next time my blood sugar level needs a boost.

    The store-side sells the standard truffles, haystacks (my favorites), chocolate bricks, anything you can imagine dipped in Chocolate (fruit, nuts, fortune cookies, popcorn, rice krispy treats, mint milanos, nutter butters, double stuff oreos), and all sorts of novelty Chocolate gifts. And, they haven't forgotten the dogs with Carob treats for man's best friend.

    I haven't decided if it's a blessing or a curse that The Chocolate Bar (Where Every Hour is Happy Hour) is within walking distance to my house! This will definitely be a regular stop for after dinner dessert and for taking my out-of-town-guests!

    Was this review …?

2429 Rice Blvd
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 529-2891

Kahn's Deli  

Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Food
Neighborhood: West University

3.0 star rating
3/14/2009
WARNING: Despite the delicious sounding breakfast menu on their web site (Challah french toast, oatmeal, granola, bagels, scrambled eggs) they DO NOT serve ANY type of breakfast food (yet). Very disappointing when you show up to a place expecting breakfast and they don't serve it....seems like their web site shouldn't mention Challah french toast if don't actually serve it. AND? No bagels! At least not this morning...

It was hard for me to find something to eat because a.) I wanted something breakfast-y, and b.) apparently when you're pregnant you're not suppose to eat deli meats (unless they're heated?), and c.) did I mention they didn't even have bagels with cream cheese? I ended up with a BLT. It was just okay. The S.O. got a ginormous corned beef sandwich complete with coleslaw and Russian dressing. He thought the meat was of good quality.

Also, FYI, this is counter service only. I guess I thought it was a NY deli with table service since the web site said they have breakfast but it's very much just a sandwich shop.

Was this review …?

401 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 523-3115

Shipley DO-Nut Shops  

Category: Donuts
Neighborhoods: Fourth Ward, Museum District, Midtown

4.0 star rating
3/12/2009
Drive-thru do-nuts on a Saturday morning? Absolutely no wait in said drive-thru? A sugary, flaky cross between a do-nut and cinnamon roll that could have landed me in a heap of trouble as I drove and ate and concentrated way to much on the do-nut and not enough on the road? What more could a pregnant lady ask for these days but a cheap do-nut?

Was this review …?


More »

240 Friends

 
 
 
  •  
  • 254 friends
  • 79 reviews
 
More »

718 Compliments

  • Just a Note

    love the Rushmore quote

  • Hot Stuff

    Hi Lisa I find you very clever. Thanks for the recommendation-megan

  • You're Funny

    Once you get your own sitcom I'll be there to add the laugh track.

More »

17 Lists

I Want My Money Back

You won't see me going back to...
1.  Pink's Pizza
The only reason I'm…
2.  BB's Cafe
Suspicious. I'm guessing…
3.  Avalon Diner
Let's be frank. There are…
See Full List »

Places I live DANGEROUSLY…

(I'm talking walking distance.)
1.  Thai Pepper
YEEEOWW!! Was…
2.  The Chocolate Bar
I'm docking a star from…
3.  West Alabama Ice House
If ever there was a true…
See Full List »

View All Lists »

"I saved Latin. What did you ever do?"

Review votes:
2315 Useful, 1083 Funny, and 1724 Cool

Location

Austin, TX

Yelping Since

March 2007

Find Me In

a bar

My Hometown

Edmond, OK

My Blog Or Website

http://www.etsy.com/sh...

When I'm Not Yelping...

I'm away from my computer.

Why You Should Read My Reviews

You don't have to if you don't want to...

My Second Favorite Website

http://baldmanmodpad.b.../

My Last Meal On Earth

sushi with a side of pizza and breakfast tacos for dessert

Don't Tell Anyone Else But...

I should be working but I'm not

Current Crush

power - a.k.a electricity