Best Burger in Town...shhhh don't tell anyone!

I hesitate to do this post because I don't want to blow up their spot and have held off until now but...The Hills Cafe on S.Congress has the BEST burger I have ever had.


Hill's is so unassuming from the outside but it’s all a façade. These people know what they're doing! The inside is very laid back, their booths are named after famous country singers. Also, there is a great back patio with lots of seating and even a tree house!

Their buns are made daily and have almost a sweet taste to them. I'm not a big fan of the sweet over savory but they make it work. The french fries are my favorite, big wedge fries with lots of seasoning on them. YUM!

If you are ever down south and in the mood for a burger, do yourself a favor and go to The Hill's Cafe!

~ A very fat and happy Laura

HOT DOGS!

If you know me at all you know I've never met a hot dog I didn't like. When I heard that Starlite was closing I was sad but excited to hear a new restaurant was going in its location called Frank's and the majority of their menu was going to be hot dogs! Yesterday, I finally made it to Frank's and it met and exceeded all my expectations. The menu is basically hot dogs with all different toppings. Anything from cole slaw to chili. They also have a full bar and an extensive beer list. But most notably they have bacon infused Maker's Mark. Who doesn't need a little whiskey at lunch? The atmosphere is super laid back. Clientele ranged anywhere from families with young children to businessmen. They are open additional hours, Thursday through Satruday until 2am, which could be very dangerous for me.



I had the Slaw Dog and LOVED IT! The cole slaw was super horseradishie but good. I also had the waffle fries with buffalo bleu sauce which was amazing also. Don't let the color of the sauce turn you off. Franks has made it into the normal lunch rotation, for sure. If your in the mood for a hot dog you should check out Frank's, they will not disappoint! Brunch hours are being added soon!

~ Laura

Mighty Cone

This weekly trailer post is Mighty Cone 1603 S. Congress Ave. in the thick of all the South Congress goodness.

Atmosphere

5-kind of in a weird spot with a bus stop very close.
7-right of S. Congress, easy to find and lots of umbrellas for shade in the August heat.

Price

8-a good price for a full meal.
8-good deal for quality of food sold out of a trailer

Quality of food
6-good products used, just something about it a little off.
8-thought it was very good, just kinda hard to eat? Awkward w/ the cone, etc...


Accessibility
7-a little hard to get to just because of the limited parking on S. Congress....oops I missed that big free parking lot.
10-there was a parking lot behind the food trailer(s) that was FREE!


Cleanliness
8-very clean and lots of recycling options.
8-super clean, what Laura said.


Local
8-in the middle of the craziness that is S.Congress.
8-good local location and Hudson on the Bend is an Austin staple


Service
9-good service
9-good service, just dont go when there is a bus full of 16 yr. old girls.


Item menu & rating

- Hot & Spicy Chicken and Avocado & Fries - there was some flavor on the chicken that did not agree with me. The avacado was a little too large and didn't taste right fries - 6 The fries were good and well seasoned - 8

- Hot & Spicy Chicken, thought it was really good, liked the crust that was on the chicken - 8

Would you eat there again?

- probably not, it wasn't bad but it also isn't something I am going to crave.

-definitely

Laura & Rachel

Trailers aren't Trashy Anymore!

At least in Austin... This weekly post is our attempt at rating the food trailers around town. So many have popped up in the past year we feel the need to try them ALL! So every week one unsuspecting food trailer will be subjected to our very scientific litmus test. To kick off our food trailer segment we picked Torchy's Taco's at 1311 S.First Street, Trailer Park Eatery!

Torchy's Chicken Fajita Tacos

Atmosphere-

8-laid back

8-always very laid back and a great place to bring dogs

Price -

7-I have an expectation that trailer food s/b über cheap, my own obstacle to get over!

8-affordable for the amount of food you get

Quality of food-

7-wasn't a fan of torchy's the first time I tried it (I know, I know...)

second time around much better

9-always very consistent, my personal favorite breakfast taco's in town

Accessibility-

6-lunch time rush=limited parking

7-big parking lot, but can get crowded

Cleanliness -

6-it's in a trailer park, you can't have high expectations

7- It's kind o fhard to tell what's going on in there

Locale-

8-in a good spot for south austinites, easily visible and easy to find for the rest of us

8 - good location not too far south or too far north

Service-

7- took over 20 minutes for my food to arrive :(

10- I usually went on a Sunday and they must have their A team working.

Rachel

Laura

1 - very poor to 10- Awesome

~Laura & Rachel

Perla's, a new gem in town!

www.perlasaustin.com

I know a pearl is not really a gem, but its 2:30 p.m. on a Friday afternoon and that's about all the creative energy I could muster up. I digress...

I tried this new "gem" (okay, I'll stop) out last night and all I have to say is it was delish! It was great service, great food, and great atmosphere. It definitely has an "east coast" vibe to it, with the servers dressed in their pastel shirts, ribbon belts, and khakis. I ended up ordering the Grilled Striped Bass with Figs, Carmelized Endive, Arugula. It was a very unexpected, pleasant surprise. The figs gave the bass a sweetness that I definitely was not expecting.

I would recommend any seafood lover or geologist (just one more) in the Austin area to try it!

Have a great weekend!
~Rachel