The NoRTH Experience

Any true foodie will be quick to tell you that dining out is more than tasty food. Sure, nasty food will butcher your opinion of a restaurant but there’s more to dining than the culinary concoctions; dining out encompasses the entire dining experience.

         Ah, yes, it is all about the entire experience. Whether its a stuck up hostess that claims there is no room when the restaurant is empty, to the overly friendly waiter that hovers over you while you review the menu, your impression of a restaurant is heavily influenced by other factors than food.

         From the hipster to the upscale, Austin caters to a variety of dining “experiences.” And like a grandma with many grandchildren, there is always one favorite. 

         My favorite restaurant is NoRTH, an Italian restaurant located in the heart of Domain shopping mall.

         NoRTH is delicious. Critics may argue that NoRTH is an American restaurant wrapped in a modern Italian theme. But with dishes that flavorful, who cares what they call it.  

         Your dining euphoria begins with bread and an amazing cheese, tomato and butter spread; it is hard to not crave more bread so order your entrée promptly. To drink, try a refreshing sangria pitcher filled with fresh berries. For an appetizer, ask for the artichoke which is steamed to perfection and served with a delicious aeoli dip serving as lush complement to the moist artichoke leaves.

         Indulge in the prosciutto, fig and goat cheese pizza for your main course. Filled with variety of flavors and textures and priced at $12, it is like an inexpensive spa getaway for your taste buds.

         Good prices isn’t all NoRTH has to offer. The restaurant transcends its delectable dishes and creates a trendy, airy atmosphere that fuses clean lines with a wall of windows that mimic the experience of eating outside. Each table is thoughtfully dotted with a candle, a feature that compliments the live jazz band playing in the patio.

         As with all things human, NoRTH has one minor flaw. Sometimes on the weekends the staff can seem a bit disoriented.  They are not rude, or impersonal but they sometimes seem to have their mind in another place and lack attentiveness, kind of like stunned goldfish.

         Be a precautious restaurant goer and make a reservation beforehand; this place gets very busy at lunchtime and on weekends.

         NoRTH is the perfect restaurant to impress your guests with a delicious gourmet meal at a reasonable price.

Guadalupe Street Keeps the Weird Ones Coming.

                  Spider House Cafe Courtesy of That Other Paper.

Guadalupe Street is the road that leads to some of Austin’s most unusual places.  Sometimes it takes you to a brightly painted toy store  and other times to a pipe shop that sells bongs.  But  many other times Guadalupe takes its usual pedestrians to a little blue house that could easily belong to  a zainy, artistic, middle-aged, cat- loving woman--Spider House Patio Bar and Café.

            The dimly lit rooms inside are no good for note-taking or studying but perfect for a stimulating conversation with friends. Other patrons keep to themselves so don’t expect a chatty crowd.

            My Tuesday night rendezvous made it quite clear that Spider House is a haven for atypical characters. About three tables away from me, I witnessed some of the most creative facial hair that  would make Jack Sparrow’s beard  feel undecorated.

            Yet, Ariel Nesvadba, a Spider House bar-back barista, argues that there are a lot of different people that come to this place.

            “Before I worked here, I though Spider House was strictly for hipsters and not everyone, but now I have my own image of the place. The mix of people who come here is unlike any other place in Austin,” says Nesvadba.

            The Spider House patio has an antique functioning bathtub that sets the tone for the idiosyncratic  mishmash of events that include open mic nights, movie screenings, live rock shows and happy hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

            Oh, did I forget to mention that it is open until 2 a.m. This café, bar serves up java and cocktails throughout the night. And if the hunger monster bites you grab a menu. Spider House serves up a wonderful selection of pastries, tacos, salads, appetizers, sandwiches and pizza.

            However, one bit of advice, grab a menu and look it over from afar. Once you are ready to order, approach with confidence, because the standoffish vegetarian barista is not interested in walking you through the menu.

            The tofu loving baristas really kill the eclectic mood of the place.  They sprinkle Spider House with pretentiousness. Beware if you are a newbie their pierced eyebrows spot you a mile away.

            Spider House takes you away from the mundane and into a vegetarian/coffee/cocktail- loving world of artistic events and creative menu choices. I mean, where else will you be asked if you want regular or vegetarian chili?