Texas Embassy

I went here on the St. Arnold’s pub crawl back in May (or was it June??) and wasn’t that impressed. I started the crawl here around 5pm so I got some soup with pork and hominy for an early dinner. It was average; I ended up letting one of my friends finish the bowl.
There were some St. Arnold’s brews on tap for the crawl but other than that, the beer selection wasn’t impressive. I guess it’d be an ok place to watch sports, but, it is Austin, there are a ton more really great sports bars that I would go to before I went back to the Texas Embassy.
There were, however, plenty of TVs. If that’s your thing.

This place is built for greatness. It’s gorgeous inside — hardwoods, ample table space and a long sexy bar. The outside patio is equally beautiful — a little paradise in the middle of sixth street. The best part? Their own parking lot. Srsly.
We had the tostones, a cuban and a pulled pork (ropa viejo) sandwich. Both sammys were great — lots of flavor and juice — and we managed to eat those plus the tres leches which was light AND dense at the same time. I know… sounds weird. You have to try it to believe it
During the meal I sampled the mojito and the commandante. Kudos on the latter — not too impressed with the former — but then, I’m more of a gin girl anyway. All in all, a decent meal that isn’t something you find everywhere.

TERRIBLE!!!
got a BLT missing tomato (just bacon, lettuce, bread)
after everyone that sat down after us received and finished food before we were served
just awful experience, awful food
they can’t even produce good french fries… I mean, these were the very first french fries I have ever disliked… BLAND
boooooooo!

came for dinner. good atmosphere, friendly service.
had Cuban beef dish. beef had great flavor but was a little tough.
dessert was awesome: i recommend the trace leches cake.

Looking for a place to eat after a long day of travel, I couldn’t resists the place with the large painting of Cuba on a wall outside near my hotel. It’s a bar, lot’s of TV’s and plenty of good local microbrews. I really enjoyed a 512 IPA that was solid.
For food, I went with appetizers so I could have a sampling of several dishes. The Yuca with Mojo was very soft, but it lacked a little flavor; a little more garlic would have gone a long way. The croquestas were good. I had a beef empanada that was really good. The picadillo inside was very nicely flavored and the shell was not too doughy, not too flaky. I also had the a 3 cheese empanada that was a treat. Both empanadas came with it’s own distinct dipping sauce, but these were cold. If they would have been at room temperature, I think they might have better complemented the meal.

I posted this review on Habana Calle’s page (which was what was here before Texas Embassy) but the actually review was based on Texas Embassy so I decided to move it to make it relevant. To sum it up for you, check this place out.
I never really liked Habana Calle 6. The staff was great but that was about it. I never thought the food was good, I didn’t like the Cuban motif, and it seemed too dark and dirty. I only ever went there because a group I am in holds monthly meetings there, and they were always welcoming of us.
I now love Texas Embassy however. It is a brand new place and the owners did a great job reinventing it. The multiple TVs are still there, but it seems so much more inviting and a happier place (of course few would call communist Cuba happy, so they could only go up.) They also have an amazing selection of local Texas only beers, and I plan on trying them all. I hope they get some of the old happy hour specials that Habana had (one other good aspect of the old place). I will venture here more often than just monthly meetings now. Everyone who has been here before owes it to themselves to come try the new look, you will like it.