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Mesa Ranch
Jul. 22nd, 2005 09:30 amLast night I ate dinner at Mesa Ranch, and I feel compelled to spread the word. The place is very new and only opened this week. It's on Mesa between Steck and Spicewood Springs, across the street from Mirabelle. There's plenty of parking too, always a plus.
Mesa Ranch has that comfortable ranch decor that you see in advertisements in Texas monthly. The walls are richly colored, and the chairs are comfortable. The silverware is heavy, so be warned you don't let your fork escape off the table. There's a bar area up front that is all polished wood, and they have a most excellent bartender back there. There's a patio area out back, shaded by trees and away from the street that will be a most excellent place for a meal when the weather clears up.
The cocktails are generous and well done. They feature Texas beers and wines, with quite reasonable prices. Definitely a good way to check out some local producers.
The bread offering comes out in a tiny wagon, sans miniature horses. There are white rolls and pumpernickel, with an herbed and whipped butter. Excellent bread is a good sign. The restaraunt's pride and joy is their mesquite grilled. Some part of your meal passes over that grill, either meat or vegetable. Entrees come with a house salad and this salda puts other houses to shame. It has spinach and arugula leaves, as well as cornbread croutons. (I could ask for more tomato or a little onion, but still a good salad.) The avocado cilantro dressing is creamy goodness and so subtle. I scooped the last bits up with my bread.
The grilled trout is served whole and deboned. I haven't had a trout this good in years. It was moist and tender, cooked to just the right point. It came with a side of seasoned rice, and the most wonderful asparagus I've eaten anywhere. The asparagus was grilled over and so tasty I even ate the ends.
The quail comes with a spicy chutney liberally sprinkled with pine nuts and cinnamon whipped sweet potato. The dish is a balance between spicy and sweet. The chutney is quite tasty. The quail is cooked in that medium rare stage, and smokey. It's quite tasty.
Desserts are made by a rising local talent and made fresh. I tried the chocolate cake, which was an excellent change of pace from so many overly sweet and dense desserts. The cake is moist, with a pronounced cocoa flavor. It's the icing that packs that sugary punch, with a crackly crust and a white chocolate cowboy hat on top. This local baker also makes some spectacular cheesecakes and pies.
The service was excellent throughout the meal. Our waiter was charming and deft, and also unobtrusive. He is the ninja waiter, filling my water glass without my notice! Very nice.
There were people in jeans and even shorts, as well as a young couple dressed up for a night out. It's definitely that Austin casual mix. On one side was a Longhorn football legend dining with his family and just at the next table was a young family with pretty well behaved children.
Entrees come with the house salad and range from $12-$28 dollars. There's steak, fish, chicken, and game on the menu. There are also soup/salad selections from the more vegetable inclined. Sides are generous and tasty. Last night we had cocktails, two entrees and dessert for $55. Definitely a good price for the quality, quantity and service.
I can't encourage you enough to try this place out. It would be great for a date, a relaxed dinner with the parents or for just the sheer pleasure of eating a great meal and letting someone else do the dishes. Support your local businesses folks. This is a fine one.
Mesa Ranch has that comfortable ranch decor that you see in advertisements in Texas monthly. The walls are richly colored, and the chairs are comfortable. The silverware is heavy, so be warned you don't let your fork escape off the table. There's a bar area up front that is all polished wood, and they have a most excellent bartender back there. There's a patio area out back, shaded by trees and away from the street that will be a most excellent place for a meal when the weather clears up.
The cocktails are generous and well done. They feature Texas beers and wines, with quite reasonable prices. Definitely a good way to check out some local producers.
The bread offering comes out in a tiny wagon, sans miniature horses. There are white rolls and pumpernickel, with an herbed and whipped butter. Excellent bread is a good sign. The restaraunt's pride and joy is their mesquite grilled. Some part of your meal passes over that grill, either meat or vegetable. Entrees come with a house salad and this salda puts other houses to shame. It has spinach and arugula leaves, as well as cornbread croutons. (I could ask for more tomato or a little onion, but still a good salad.) The avocado cilantro dressing is creamy goodness and so subtle. I scooped the last bits up with my bread.
The grilled trout is served whole and deboned. I haven't had a trout this good in years. It was moist and tender, cooked to just the right point. It came with a side of seasoned rice, and the most wonderful asparagus I've eaten anywhere. The asparagus was grilled over and so tasty I even ate the ends.
The quail comes with a spicy chutney liberally sprinkled with pine nuts and cinnamon whipped sweet potato. The dish is a balance between spicy and sweet. The chutney is quite tasty. The quail is cooked in that medium rare stage, and smokey. It's quite tasty.
Desserts are made by a rising local talent and made fresh. I tried the chocolate cake, which was an excellent change of pace from so many overly sweet and dense desserts. The cake is moist, with a pronounced cocoa flavor. It's the icing that packs that sugary punch, with a crackly crust and a white chocolate cowboy hat on top. This local baker also makes some spectacular cheesecakes and pies.
The service was excellent throughout the meal. Our waiter was charming and deft, and also unobtrusive. He is the ninja waiter, filling my water glass without my notice! Very nice.
There were people in jeans and even shorts, as well as a young couple dressed up for a night out. It's definitely that Austin casual mix. On one side was a Longhorn football legend dining with his family and just at the next table was a young family with pretty well behaved children.
Entrees come with the house salad and range from $12-$28 dollars. There's steak, fish, chicken, and game on the menu. There are also soup/salad selections from the more vegetable inclined. Sides are generous and tasty. Last night we had cocktails, two entrees and dessert for $55. Definitely a good price for the quality, quantity and service.
I can't encourage you enough to try this place out. It would be great for a date, a relaxed dinner with the parents or for just the sheer pleasure of eating a great meal and letting someone else do the dishes. Support your local businesses folks. This is a fine one.
