May 21st, 2010
It was time to hit the patio in Austin before the triple digit heats welcomed their way into town. The perfect place to do so? Zax Restaurant and Bar. We headed to our seats on the restaurant's back patio, and were pleasantly greeted with the rocking sounds from Threadgill's across the street. It was our own private concert. We started the night with vino, beers (they offer several delicious local beers on tap), and cocktails. Appetizers were a must and we jumped in with Steamed Mussels (White wine, garlic, shallots, butter and parsley, saffron infused curry sauce), Grilled Polenta (Melted bleu cheese, marinara), an olive & cheese platter (Sourdough baguette, marinated green and Kalamata olives, selection of cheeses). Recommendations run high with these! The mussels were so delightful and swam in their garlic and white wine flavors. The polenta was creamy and fantastic with the blue cheese and marinara. We continued dining on Mushroom Cheeseburgers, Spinach Artichoke Pizza, Steak Salad (NY strip, crispy fried onion rings, mixed greens, bleu cheese, tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette), Brick Chicken (Chili rubbed, semi-boneless chicken breast grilled with brick press, creamy polenta), Grilled Pork Tenderloin (Spicy Thai peanut sauce, rum mashed sweet potatoes), Beef Tenderloin Skewers (Wild mushroom red wine reduction, bacon poblano-cheddar potato cake), Blues Burger (Onion rings, blue cheese, crushed black pepper, mustard), Pan Seared Duck Breast (Green peppercorn mustard sauce, wild mushroom risotto), Shrimp Salad, Steak au Poivre with & Frites (New York strip, classic brandy peppercorn demi-glace, house frites), and the Fish special with cream sauce and lump crab. It was all quite tasty. The only disappointments were the shrimp salad and fish special, but everything else rocked it. The steak was one of the biggest hits. The husband and wife owners of Zax got the name for the restaurant from their very own son, Zack. Definitely stop by, say hi, grab a beer, lunch, or check out their full brunch spread. You'll feel right at home. We finished the night at the newly opened Townhouse bar in Austin. A great spot for eclectic cocktails that come in all different glasses (copper cups included), and a dark intriguing setting. The smells of bruleed orange may greet you, don't worry it's all part of the cocktail creations that are endless. Enjoy!
Top Picks: Steamed Mussels, Grilled Polenta, Steak au Poivre & Frites, Spinach Artichoke and Goat Cheese Pizza
Zax Restaurant and Bar
Twitter: @zaxaustin
Townhouse Bar 303 W. 5th St.
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