Arturo's Bakery and Cafe: Austin

Arturo's Bakery and Cafe is one of those little tucked away gems in Austin.  They serve what I would coin Eccentric South-Central-Mexican Fusion Food.  They are open for Breakfast and Lunch.

When you step into Arturo's, be prepared because you will be arm and arm with the next Joe.  The menu is above the counter on multiple chalk boards.  It's a little overwhelming at first.  On this day, my counterpart ordered a Chicken Salad while I went for Chicken Quesadillas.  In short, it was super yummy.  Just look at the photos below!

Chicken Salad

Chicken Quesadillas

Arturo's Bakery & Cafe
314 W 17th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
512/469-0380

B&J's Pizza: Corpus Christi

Tonight, I decided to try B&J Pizza since it came so highly recommended.  I decided to go to the original location located in an older strip shopping center.  When I walked into the no frills place, I thought I had walked into an Austin pizzeria where every one had dreads, and Metallica was blaring from the radio.

I decided to get my pizza to go- just a plain thin crust cheese and a house salad with vinaigrette.  While waiting, I enjoyed a nice small pitcher of tea.  The aromas of the place were killing me- I was hoping I would be able to make it back to the room. 

The pizza was a thin crust with ample tomato sauce and plenty of cheese.  The crust was light and airy.  Overall, the pizza was really good.  The side salad was huge with lots of lettuce, tomatoes, green and black olives, and green peppers.  My only complaint is the bacon bits were more like bacos- gross.

Overall, I like B&J Pizza.  They have an amazing beer selection ranging from local to international, and you can join the beer club where you can win prizes for drinking.  If in Corpus Christi, B&J Pizza is a good place to grab a pizza pie.

B&J Pizza

6335 S Padre Island Dr

Corpus Christi, TX 78412

361/992-6671

www.bandjspizza.com

Andy's Country Kitchen: Corpus Christi

On this raining Sunday morning, I decided to try out Andy’s Country Kitchen.  Reading up on it, it has a sweet history spanning over 50 years.  The restaurant is known for their motorized train that runs above the diner counter not to mention their famous muffins that they serve.

It is packed this morning, so I take my place at the counter below the train.  I’m amazed at the fast pace of this diner- churning orders out without hesitation and with pure ease.  The famous muffins arrive- they look like blueberry with streusel on top.  They are warm, and in a matter of minutes, they disappear.

Today, I decide on the French Toast on recommendation of my waiter.  Two pieces of plain white bread dipped in an egg wash arrive with powder sugar gracing it.  A side of thick sliced bacon accompanied the lack luster French toast.  The bacon was sweet, and it could have used more cooking and a paper towel to wipe off some of the grease- I didn’t care for it.  Although the appearance missed the mark, the French Toast was quite tasty, and it took me back to the days when my mom used to make it for me.

Overall, Andy’s Country Kitchen is a nice local place.  The food is pretty good, but not the best.  It is a place where you can sit next to the locals and strike up a conversation.  The coffee is constantly flowing and you never have to worry about an empty cup.  If you want comfort food with a smile, then this is the place to be.

Andy’s Kitchen

5802 S Staples

Corpus Christi, TX  78413

361/993-0251

www.andyskitchen.com