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News & ArtsFriday, December 12, 2008
Chow / Economy Austin Cantina to (Maybe) Close Down
Posted by Erica C. Barnett on Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Austin Cantina—a restaurant in Ballard that styled itself "Seattle's Best Tex-Mex Experience!" and which Stranger reviewer Angela Garbes said left her "desperately hungry for real Mexican food"—may close down. According to an press release, the restaurant will be serving dinner only through December 26, then "closing for 2 weeks to determine if there is enough interest, business, and reserve cash to re-open for business on January 6th." The email blames "being a new restaurant next door to a multi-year construction project, having the sidewalk closed on both sides of 24th Av, and the stock market crash in September, which led to the second largest drop in sales we’ve experienced" for the restaurant's financial crisis. As a native Texan, I tend to stay the hell away from places that label themselves "Seattle's Best" Texas anything, so I never went to Austin Cantina; however, our reader reviews (which averaged one star out of five) would seem to indicate Austin Cantina's problems maybe stemmed more from its food than from the stock market or the housing boom in Ballard? (In fairness, they liked it more on UrbanSpoon and Yelp, which gave it an average approval of 60 percent and three stars out of five, respectively.)
1
the owner tried to stiff my friend/artist out of the mural work she did for him for like, THOUSANDS of bucks.
If they go under I would laugh.
If they go under I would laugh.
3
As a native Texan, I tend to stay the hell away from places that label themselves "Seattle's Best" Texas anything
Yep. I'm also a native Texas (and a former Austinite), and I've come to the same conclusion because:
1) WTF does your average Seattleite know about things Texas?
and
b) The Seattle palate is different anyway.
I do think there is a serious Tex-Mex hole here, but I'm not sure the typical Seattleite would appreciate true Tex-Mex. OTOH, if someone was to open a legit Texas BBQ joint, there would be money brought in hand over fist.
Yep. I'm also a native Texas (and a former Austinite), and I've come to the same conclusion because:
1) WTF does your average Seattleite know about things Texas?
and
b) The Seattle palate is different anyway.
I do think there is a serious Tex-Mex hole here, but I'm not sure the typical Seattleite would appreciate true Tex-Mex. OTOH, if someone was to open a legit Texas BBQ joint, there would be money brought in hand over fist.
7
As a native Texan, I went with faint hopes that this place would do the trick. It didn't come close. Tried getting breakfast tacos--an Austin staple, certainly--and they were served with one corn tortilla a pop. This meant the mush inside of the taco fell apart immediately, though even that annoyance wasn't as bad as the underflavored food, the undercooked potatoes, and the overcooked eggs. Would've been less depressing had I not gone in the bathroom, where the owners have hoisted a poster cataloging every Tex-Mex joint in Austin (I'd been to 12 of the places there, btw).
A Tex-Mex breakfast taco should be simple. Corn tortillas? Use two per taco, use sparing ingredients, bold flavors, and leave room for more hot sauce. Flour tortillas? Get some bacon in there and the rest will probably be okay. Grrrrgh. Not difficult. Austin Cantina, you will not be missed.
A Tex-Mex breakfast taco should be simple. Corn tortillas? Use two per taco, use sparing ingredients, bold flavors, and leave room for more hot sauce. Flour tortillas? Get some bacon in there and the rest will probably be okay. Grrrrgh. Not difficult. Austin Cantina, you will not be missed.
8
3 out of 5 stars is a polite review. Besides, a 60 percent grade in school gets you a big, fat D. Who wants to eat D-level food?
9
oye! vamos a SENOR MOOSE y/o LA CARTA de OAXACA... lo mejor!
believe it, these places rule and are both walking distance from this tex-mex (hate that) nightmare.
believe it, these places rule and are both walking distance from this tex-mex (hate that) nightmare.
10
#9 is correct. There are already two excellent Mexican restaurants in Ballard. Plus they have Matador, Malenas, Azteca, and Taco Bell. Ballard isn't hurting for Mexican food.
11
It's about the spirit, folks. That's what Tex-Mex is all about. It's appropriate that it's called Austin Cantina since Austin is Yuppie Central-- jicama slaw (what), chipotle mashed potatoes (yum, but what). It was tasty, and I'd eat there again next payday. Banana pudding and nilla wafers sealed it, by the way-- might as well have been Hill Country Fair brand.
I grew up eating Cesar's (greasy, yum) and A.H. Burrito's ($8 pork chop breakfast, what) in downtown San Antonio. Johnny's was my neighborhood joint (Super Johnny, extra chile). It's impossible to come close to the real thing, but you can emulate it. Unless I see 79 cent bean and cheese tacos popping up all over town, I think Austin Cantina is a nice little slice of home. Or at least the fun little yuppie town just north of home.
I grew up eating Cesar's (greasy, yum) and A.H. Burrito's ($8 pork chop breakfast, what) in downtown San Antonio. Johnny's was my neighborhood joint (Super Johnny, extra chile). It's impossible to come close to the real thing, but you can emulate it. Unless I see 79 cent bean and cheese tacos popping up all over town, I think Austin Cantina is a nice little slice of home. Or at least the fun little yuppie town just north of home.
12
Having recently been to Austin for the first time and experiencing that city's good Tex-Mex, I know what the owners must have had in mind. Too bad the food was bland and overpriced. Those developments they blame today would have meant another 300 potential customers in spitting distance next year. Unfortunately, its hard to survive in Ballard with bad food when there are so many better choices in walking distance. Viva Cafe Moose!
13
Whenever an anonymous review is prefaced with "As a former (insert hometown here)" it should probably be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism. And the owner of the Austin Cantina never claimed to be making authentic Tex-Mex food either, but rather food that was inspired by the Tex-Mex tradition. How many of the Tex-Mex joints in Austin focus on using locally grown and sustainable foods? I'm not saying AC's food is incredible, but it's certainly not bad either. Try the Chicken Fried Steak or the Chipotle mashed potatoes and judge for yourself (BTW, these are items you won't find on the menu at Senor Moose or Oaxaca, because they're NOT Tex-Mex restaurants).
Maybe if the Stranger had actually sent a critic to review this restaurant you could make a better judgement as to why it's going under now. The only thing worse than a review from an opinionated expatriate is a review from someone who never even tried the place.
Maybe if the Stranger had actually sent a critic to review this restaurant you could make a better judgement as to why it's going under now. The only thing worse than a review from an opinionated expatriate is a review from someone who never even tried the place.
14
Real Texans know that what passes for Tex-Mex around here is neither.
And the prices are ... wrong.
And the prices are ... wrong.
16
As someone from the bay area, I feel for the texans that kind find the cuisine they were used to. We are one in the same here in Seattle.
17
I've read about this restaurant "maybe" closing on three different blogs. Are they sending out press releases? It doesn't have anything to do with the economy. They just suck. We ate dinner there once and it was terrible. Really, really bad.
Seattle is definitely lacking in good Mexican food, but Oaxaca and Moose are yummy. Brownie points for Ballard.
Seattle is definitely lacking in good Mexican food, but Oaxaca and Moose are yummy. Brownie points for Ballard.
18
15 I was referring of the Taco Bell north of the Ballard Market.
There is also Cocina Esperanza near Golden Gardens (that's still Ballard, right?).
There is also Cocina Esperanza near Golden Gardens (that's still Ballard, right?).
19
My wife and I are Austin transplants, and it's true that Seattle is devoid of excellent Tex Mex.
We went and ate at the Austin Cantina with high hopes and...no need to change a word of the previous sentence.
We went and ate at the Austin Cantina with high hopes and...no need to change a word of the previous sentence.
20
"How many of the Tex-Mex joints in Austin focus on using locally grown and sustainable foods?"
Their focus is on making tasty food that people want to pay for--that's the big difference. That, and a positive cash flow.
Their focus is on making tasty food that people want to pay for--that's the big difference. That, and a positive cash flow.
21
Excuse me. Excuse me.
The sidewalk was NOT closed on both sides of 24th ave for long. Why not? I'll tell you why not.
MOTHERFUCKING ELENCHOS sent a signed sealed delivered fuck-you-gram E-MAIL to the SDOT and said no fucking way do you close BOTH SIDES of any street in Seattle. That is not kosher. The rules say no way, no how, nobody don't never close both sides of the street.
And you know what? The SDOT emailed Mr. Elenchos right back, chop chop, and said "Yes, sir, Mr. Eenchos, you are correct, sir. We have issued orders to our flunkies to convey orders to that construction company's flunkies to OPEN that fucker, forthwith. So sorry for the inconvenience, sir."
That is how it went down. Ask Dominic Holden. He's got the scoop.
F-ing Austin Cantina was too ball-less weak to stand up for their M-F-ing rights. It wasn't until somebody made the E Man walk a little too far for his daily coffee and pastry that some shit got fixed. Because Elenchos does not tolerate detours when he wants his first triple Americano of the day. Watch and learn. Watch and learn.
Word.
The sidewalk was NOT closed on both sides of 24th ave for long. Why not? I'll tell you why not.
MOTHERFUCKING ELENCHOS sent a signed sealed delivered fuck-you-gram E-MAIL to the SDOT and said no fucking way do you close BOTH SIDES of any street in Seattle. That is not kosher. The rules say no way, no how, nobody don't never close both sides of the street.
And you know what? The SDOT emailed Mr. Elenchos right back, chop chop, and said "Yes, sir, Mr. Eenchos, you are correct, sir. We have issued orders to our flunkies to convey orders to that construction company's flunkies to OPEN that fucker, forthwith. So sorry for the inconvenience, sir."
That is how it went down. Ask Dominic Holden. He's got the scoop.
F-ing Austin Cantina was too ball-less weak to stand up for their M-F-ing rights. It wasn't until somebody made the E Man walk a little too far for his daily coffee and pastry that some shit got fixed. Because Elenchos does not tolerate detours when he wants his first triple Americano of the day. Watch and learn. Watch and learn.
Word.
22
Admittedly, I'm an Okie and not from the Hill Country. But their chicken fried steak looked and tasted like it came from a frozen dinner. That's what turned me off right away. That, and its paltry size.
They charged for it what some of the greasy spoons in the North End charge for steaks the size of the serving platter that passes for a plate.
I won't miss them. The cactus in the salsa, the hot sauce brands that looked like they came from the flagship Whole Paycheck, the high cost for small, mediocre portions... it's like the folks that ran them forgot why Austinites liked Chuy's and Waterloo and Mamacita's -- it was good, cheap food for poor people and hippies.
They did make a fine nana pudding, but give me a box of Nilla wafers and I can turn one out myself. As for chicken fried steak, I'm still trying to find the best one in town. Maybe I should just stick to making my own.
They charged for it what some of the greasy spoons in the North End charge for steaks the size of the serving platter that passes for a plate.
I won't miss them. The cactus in the salsa, the hot sauce brands that looked like they came from the flagship Whole Paycheck, the high cost for small, mediocre portions... it's like the folks that ran them forgot why Austinites liked Chuy's and Waterloo and Mamacita's -- it was good, cheap food for poor people and hippies.
They did make a fine nana pudding, but give me a box of Nilla wafers and I can turn one out myself. As for chicken fried steak, I'm still trying to find the best one in town. Maybe I should just stick to making my own.
23
Huh. I'm a seasonal Hill Country resident (I go down for the summer, yes I'm insane) & I thought I knew from Austin-style TexMex, but I'm either wrong about that or I went on a good day. I thought this place was pretty good. I don't remember what I ate, though, so it couldn't have been fantastic.
24
>>the owner tried to stiff my friend/artist out of the mural work she did for him for >>like, THOUSANDS of bucks.
I am the owner, the information you have is badly distorted.
You can e-mail me privately if you'd like copies of the e-mails between Ingrid and myself.
I am the owner, the information you have is badly distorted.
You can e-mail me privately if you'd like copies of the e-mails between Ingrid and myself.
26
the food was better at the mission or in jail i dont know where the shopted but at the same place the city shopps for the folks in jail or maybe at the ballard food bank
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