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Review content:
Hmmm... yes, we also tried out the new D.S. Trudy's tonight, and found ourselves wondering just how many other Austin-area mexican joints the 5-star reviewers have frequented. \r
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We certainly understood that this was a shakedown time at the new Trudy's, as official opening is not until Nov 1, so we tried to be kind to the overworked servers who were still trying to get their mojo together.\r
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Nevertheless, we've tried several other Trudy's locations and found each to consistently fall into the ""mediocre"" rating scale for Mexican food. Perhaps if this were in Hawaii, or Washington State, the fare would be considered good, but not in Austin where outstanding Mexican Food is available on virtually every corner (including the 5 other spots I can think of along Hwy 290 West of Oak Hill).\r
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Sad to say, we were not surprised to experience similar, less-than-spectacular results this evening...\r
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I figure the first area to judge an Austin-area Mexican restaurant is the chips and salsa, and in that category Trudy's came up sadly lacking... very clearly plastic-bagged chips, not particularly warm, and too salty, with lackluster salsa to go along. (Not to mention the fact they want to nick you 6 bucks for a basket of tepid chips)... Oh, or you could also spring another $6 for the ""salsa sampler""... Are you kidding me?\r
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We were told in the invitation that there were big ""specials"" on drinks during the grand opening(s).. but when we went to order our margarita, we learned that the ""specials"" only applied to the sweet-and-sour tourist swill that only the uninitiated would call a margarita. You want a real margarita? (tequila, triple sec, and lime juice.. what else?) Those are not discounted, and start at $9.00 ""and up"". The ""special"" price for a Shiner's was $4.00 woo-woo! Nevertheless, a sucker is born every minute, and we sprung for the $9.00 versions, which arrived at the table in those tiny little 3"" high glasses, and then only 2/3 full at best.\r
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Now let's examine the decor. What with construction taking well over a year, I guess we expected something special inside. Instead, what we found was, well, just Big... a huge cavernous room with hospital-style suspended ceiling, painted in a brain-numbing school-cafeteria institutional light green... just not really visually inviting, but I guess everyone has their own taste.\r
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On to the food...two members of our group ordered the tortilla soup, and in both cases the smallish bowl arrived at the table just lukewarm at best (forgiveable, I suppose,while the wait staff gets their act together), but worse, the soup consisted of merely a thin broth with one sad thin slice of avocado floated on top (UNFORGIVABLE).\r
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Perhaps my criticism wouldn't be so harsh if we hadn't just dined the previous evening at Domingo's Mexican Grill just down the street.\r
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There we had, the hugest, most delicious tortilla soup, crammed full of chicken, cheese, potatoes, carrots, etc, accompanied by FREE home made, delicious chips, killer salsa in 3 varieties, and home made flour tortillas. Of course, Domingo's can't compete with a giant like Trudy's light green walls, and instead provides a warm, inviting, real Mexico-style decor. Top that off with huge margaritas, using tequila, agave, triple sec and lime juice (ONLY... no syrupy mixer), all for the astounding price of just $5.99 each.\r
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Bottom line, my wife and I had a near-perfect dinner at Domingo's with all the trimmings for about $35 including multiple drinks, compared with our bill at Trudy's for appetizers-only (supposedly 50% off) with a couple of $9 margaritas each, and we wound up with a $55 tab plus tip.\r
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We love to eat out, and always welcome a new venue in town, and had the highest hopes for Trudy's. After our experience tonight, it will be a long time before we return... we're heading back to Domingo's!\r
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