Sway (Austin)

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ambiance

For months, Brenna and I wondered what the heck that pink flower meant. Elizabeth Street and Gourdough's are its restaurant neighbors down on First Street, but the ominous black building's store front remained unmarked.

Recently, from word of mouth, I learned that the building was, in fact, a restaurant! Of course I had to check it out.

Sway, a modern Thai restaurant, brings a funky twist to a traditional style. The community tables gave the restaurant a cozy vibe, although Brenna and I were extremely frustrated that the majority of tables were reserved for parties of 10+ guests (their only call-ahead policy).  I also loved the zen garden/wrap-around patio. 

After thirty minutes of sipping on Asian beer and people watching, we snagged two seats at the bar. And thank goodness we did, because a two hour wair was not working for my appetite. Get ready to wait, people.

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food

I have always believed that Austin lacks in the Asian cuisine (outside of the hip sushi and Japanese styles). At Sway, they really work to provide a menu of traditional flavors and savory sauces that remind me of my favorite Chinese restaurant in Memphis.

But Sway takes it up a notch, of course. Their diverse menu (and not-too-expensive prices) could please almost anyone!

We started with po-pea jay, also known as rice paper spring rolls with avocado and vegetables. So fresh. My favorite part was the sweet and sour sauce on the side!

You've gotta order the shu mai.  It's made to order, and texture of the dumpling wrap with a crunch of cold cucumber is divine. The steamed dumplings are filled with a mixture of crab, shrimp and trout.  And, again, this sauce is delicious, even though it's a bit spicier than I expected.

Not pictured is the traditional pad thai, made with HUGE blue prawns (almost like little lobsters), tofu, egg, cashew and bean sprout. The amount of peanut sauce was just right (I usually have to ask for an extra side at other restaurants to avoid dryness). I loved Spay's spin on the dish.

You also won't find the blue crab fried rice anywhere else. Giant pieces of crabmeat, snow peas, egg, thai basil. We didn't leave any leftovers...let's just put it that way.

Go try Sway on South First when you have some time on your hands, and let me know what you think!

Clark's Oyster Bar (Austin)

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Walk through these doors on a sunny afternoon, and you've entered California paradise.  Clark's, the "baby brother" of Perla's (it's less than a year old!), quickly became my family's new favorite for seafood and sophistication.  It's in a hoppin' location on West Sixth and equates its dining experience to a maritime yacht club.  How picturesque is that?! Put on your shades and Vineyard Vines and step into a beachside bliss.

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The photos speak for themselves, but these dishes deserve some caramelized praise.

Our waiter gave us a "northeastern sampler" of our oysters on the half shell.  To be honest, I'm not fancy enough to taste the difference between these oysters; once they're doused in cocktail sauce, Massachusetts and Maine are the same to me. But, let me tell you: these oysters were good.

The wood grilled shrimp toast was unlike any other shrimp dish I've had - the shrimp mix was literally baked into the Texas toast. Delish.  And, of course, we couldn't go wrong with the lobster roll, a simple sandwich with succulent lobster, bibb lettuce and a buttery bun.

The wood-grilled brussel sprouts were too spicy for my momma, but I loved the sliced and skewered presentation.  I didn't have time to photograph the grilled cheese with sofrito because my brother Jake ate it too quickly.  Yep, it was that good.

I hope your Clark's experience is as delightful as ours was!

Olive and June (Austin)

When Hannah and her sweet mother invited me to Olive & June for dinner last Thursday night, I could not have been more excited to eat a delicious Italian meal with a great group! Our dinner was a lovely kickoff to our sorority's Mom's Weekend - three days of nonstop food and family fun. Look out for another critique of Clark's Oyster Bar, coming soon!

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Olive & June was warm, spacious and beautifully candlelit. The scene was more than appropriate for an intimate date or family gathering. We were surrounded by couples, girls' nights out and families with adorable babies. The dark wood and dish cloth napkins showed the comfortable twist to a sophisticated space.

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Our waiter first offered freshly baked, sea-salt encrusted focaccia with homemade ricotta. Yes, please. Keep scrolling for the most fabulous dishes I've had in a while....

We loved the seafood frito misto with arugula and lemon - the jumbo shrimp, calamari and fish were somehow flash fried so lightly, that you could barely see the breaded layer. It provided the perfect crunch without overwhelming the seafood. Zucchini involtini was my personal favorite; not just because it had mushrooms, but because the choice of ingredients and presentation were so creative. The mushrooms were pureed with pine nuts, almost like a pesto (not like the one I attempted in December), and wrapped in thin strips of zucchini. The tomatoes and golden raisins were both citrus-y, but provided completely contrasting textures and flavors. So interesting and so freaking yum.

Brenna and I ordered two entrees to split - my favorite way to order at any restaurant, as you may know. The whole wheat ravioli was a winner; stuffed with goat cheese and sprinkled with pistachios, the rich flavor of the filling balanced well with a light olive oil and parmesean topping.  Spring risotto was also a delicious choice.  We ordered it without proscuitto to truly highlight the sweat peas and asparagus with savory mascarpone cheese.

Hannah and her mom also ordered the grilled branzino with citrus and hazelnut. While I didn't get a bite myself, the fish was cooked to perfection and paired well with grapefruit segments and watercress. For sides, the four of us chose the baked eggplant with mozzarella and roasted baby beets, served family style. Both were unbelievable.

Hungry yet? Make a reservation soon and enjoy the beauty of North Italy right here in Austin.