Busy Traveler

Review: High Tea at the Four Seasons, Austin

Joan and I spent a wonderful afternoon in the Lobby Lounge at the Four Seasons. Tea is from 1:30 to 3:30 every day and you must make reservations at least 24 hours in advance.

The staff treated us like the queens we are and showed us to a lovely table next to a window and balcony. The first major task is to select your tea. Joan went with a lovely Tea de Provence and I enjoyed the standard Organic English Breakfast. All teas are Mighty Tealeaf brand, available at Whole Foods. Yes, those are rose petals on the table!

The first plate consisted of four tea sandwiches. Our selection was:

• Ham, tomato, Bibb lettuce, Swiss, and honey mustard on sourdough
• Smoked salmon and arugula on marble rye
• Grilled portobello mushroom and sundried tomato pesto on nine-grain       
• Shrimp salad on toasted brioche

All was fabulous and I’m not sure we can pick a favorite.

Next we chose our second course tea. I couldn’t resist a rose-infused green tea and Joan tried the luscious chocolate mint truffle that was a complete meal when cream was added!

An auxiliary table had to be brought over for the sweets. Three kinds of scones, still warm from the oven, were served with clotted cream and lemon curd. At the top of the dessert tower were chocolate covered strawberries, jellies, chocolates, and tea cookies. And that wasn’t all! We each got a plate with a small serving of dense chocolate cake, ricotta crème cake, and hazelnut torte. Each bite was better than the last.

 

Needless to say, we were blissed out two hours later when we left, and we hadn’t even gotten any of the Roederer champagne that is an option with the tea. This is a special celebration place and I cannot wait to do it again! Happy birthday, Joan!

Happy Hour Eats: Volume 2

Here are some more of my favorite Austin happy hour deals. With the faltering economy, there are more deals than ever!

Billy’s on Burnet

This is the place to go if you’re starting your happy hour early! But the specials are complicated. Monday through Friday, beginning at 2PM, domestic draughts are $2 per pint. “Mid-range” draughts are $3.25/pt and premiums are $4.00/pint. During Happiest Hour (4 to 5PM), these prices are further reduced to $1.50/$2.00/$2.75.  Food is decent pub grub and this is definitely an Austin-y scene. Bring your dog!

Mon-Fri, 2 to 7PM: Draught specials

Mon-Fri, 4 to 5 PM: Extra reduction for draughts

All night Monday: Domestic pints $1.75, pitchers $6.75

All night Tuesday: Lone Star pints $1.75, pitchers $6.75

www.billysonburnet.com

Cover 3 Sports Bar

If you like sports bars, try this happy hour. The beef tenderloin sliders, fried oyster and shrimp plate, and triple queso are tasty. Enjoy them at $3 off during happy hour, as well as $3 off domestic draft beer.
Mon-Fri, 4 to 7PM
www.cover-3.com

Cru (in the Domain)

The fried brie with honey is heavenly and the baked crab is a substantial portion of deviled crab server with pita bread. We had the Portobello pizza after those two appetizers and couldn’t even eat half of it! The wine was yummy. Steve tried the Chardonnay flight and we discovered some new labels that we liked.

Mon-Fri, 3 to 6PM: Half-price appetizers and pizzas

Thurs all day: Half-price champagne

Sun all day: 1/3 off all bottles of wine

www.cruawinebar.com

El Chile(update)

One of my favs for meals or for happy hour! The north location isn’t usually crowded. You MUST try the Chilango margarita (spicy orange frozen marg). It is out of this world and $5.95 during happy hour. Dos Equis beer is $4.50 for 20 oz., $1 off for other drinks. And the half-price appetizers! Get one per person at the table and share. The salsa is fabulous, so eat lots of chips. An order of fresh guacamole, Nachos Especiales, and Queso Flameado (fab tortillas!) filled up four of us.

Mon-Thurs, 4 to 7PM
Fri, 4 to 6PM
www.elchilecafe.com

Fonda San Miguel

I can’t think of another place I’d rather be sitting than in the lovely bar here. They have perfectly reproduced a Mexico City atmosphere. We wound up enjoying the special on margaritas, then having a full meal, so I’ll have to get back to you about which appetizers are on happy hour special.

Mon and Tues, 5 to 7:30PM: half-price some appetizers, $1 off margaritas

www.fondasanmiguel.com

Iron Cactus (downtown and NW)

I’m not impressed with the happy hour here. They have drink deals every weeknight and other specials every late night. The appetizers are very blandly average.

Mon-Fri, 4 to 7PM

Mon-Sat, 9PM to close

Sunday, 7PM to close

www.ironcactus.com

Kenobi

Great happy hour in the bar and the outdoor area. Every appetizer and roll we tried was fantastic, especially the lobster dumplings and rib-eye maki. This is a little pricier than other happy hours, but offers very fresh seafood and fancy surroundings.

Mon-Fri, 4 to 7PM and Sunday all day: $5 appetizers and rolls, $1 off drinks

Tuesday, 4PM to close: $5 martinis

www.kenobiaustin.com

Roaring Fork

We checked out the new Northwest location on a Sunday evening. In the bar, the French doors were open to a cooling breeze on the deck that overlooks the quarry lake and is well-shaded. The service was abysmal when we arrived and seated ourselves in the bar, but the waiter and the manager apologized profusely, gave us plenty of attention, and a free dessert. The food was so good that we forgave them. We started with a house margarita and white sangria, both on happy hour special and very tasty. The daily appetizer special was a superb soft-shell crab topped with pico de gallo and avocado. We also tried the made-to-order guacamole and pronounced it perfect. We split a “Big Ass Burger” from the dinner menu and then polished off the piece de resistance: Hot Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake, a molten chocolate cake with peanuts, caramel, and peanut butter ice cream. As we waddled out, we marveled at the fabulous meal we consumed for a modest price and planned the next trip to try the lamb chops with fondue and the green chile pork stew.

Mon-Fri, 4 to 7PM, Sunday and Monday all evening: $5 martinis, mojitos, and wine; $3.50 well drinks; $3 beers. Soups, salads and appetizers are discounted. Rotating specials.

www.eddiev.com