If you are like me then you love great, traditional Mexican cuisine. And if you are in Round Rock, Texas then the best place to satisfy your hunger is at Tortuga Flats Mexican Icehouse. This locally owned establishment brings to the table classic southern and coastal Mexican creations to a whole new level. With its modern and clean décor sprinkled with vibrant colors, you can’t help but to feel the Mexican inspiration everywhere you look. Chef Octavio Benavides brings his classic Mexican inspiration along with a Tex-Mex twist. Each dish is hand crafted and brought to you by a staff of lively and very friendly individuals. Since opening in early September on 2013, Tortuga Flats has become a staple in Round Rock by consistently delivering the finest quality culinary creations around. I was invited to partake of their artistic flare for food recently, and I have to say that it was definitely a 5-star experience. From the moment we pulled into the parking lot until the meal was complete, every aspect of our dinner was filled with joy and flavor. I started my meal with a Tortuga Flats Painkiller. One of their signature cocktails made with Myers Dark Rum, fresh pineapple juice, cream of coconut and fresh orange juice served on the rocks. This was a perfect drink after a long day in the Texas heat. For my appetizer, I went with the Sopes De Tinga. A delightful dish made with crispy mesa cakes served with a mix of fresh black beans, savory chicken tinga, delicious cotija cheese, sweet red onions and fresh cilantro. What a combination of flavor. My taste buds were jumping with joy. For the main dish, it was suggested by the chef that I try Jaimito’s Chili Enchiladas. Thank you for the suggestion. Made with Jaimito’s famous beef chili, crispy tortilla strips, fresh grilled onions and fresh Mexican crema. It was unlike any other enchilada I had ever had. The way the flavors co-mingled to create this perfect masterpiece was nothing short of impressive. I gobbled up every last bite and even found myself scraping up the left over chili that had poured onto the plate. My family was watching me as though I was some starved wild animal enjoying his first meal in weeks. And I must say that at that moment I felt as though that description was fitting. I couldn’t help myself. I can’t wait to enjoy Tortuga Flats again.
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By Anthony Ricci, Guest Blogger As a descendant of Italian heritage I am a huge lover of fresh made pizza. So when I had an opportunity to visit the famous Fire & Ice Pizza Bar in Round Rock, Texas I just had to jump and the chance. I had heard so many wonderful things from family and friends that live in the area, and I was excited to see for myself what this artisanal pizza joint had to offer. With its very simple and clean décor this pizza bar doesn’t believe in flashy decorations. Instead, they have chosen to put their focus into what is really important, the pizzas. And man ‘o’ man has it paid off for them in a big way. I have been all over this country and had pizzas everywhere from New York to Chicago and even in LA, but Fire & Ice has managed to put Round Rock on the map as one of the best places to get a truly amazing pie. Each one of their round masterpieces is handmade with the finest ingredients from local vendors. They pay very close attention to the entire process from start to finish to ensure that your dining experience does not leave you wanting for more. When I entered, I was surprised to find that they were quite busy considering it was 2:30 in the afternoon. That was a good sign that what I was in store for was nothing short of delicious. I found a seat near the bar and got comfortable. I knew that I was in for a serious culinary workout. I started with one of the many local craft beers that they offer and began to study the menu. My stomach was telling me to order everything, but my head was in control, thankfully. First up was my appetizer of Firey Fried Pickles with a house made ranch dip. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm! With just a little kick, these handmade breaded pickle chips were, for lack of a more descriptive term, THE BOMB! I could have easily made my entire meal out of just those pickles. But, I had to continue on and see what the pizzas had in store. After some very intense internal deliberation I finally settled on the Urban Cowboy. Whoa! Or should I say, YeeHaw? Handmade and tossed garlic crust with freshly made red sauce, homemade Italian meatballs, mild pepperoni, slow marinated tomatoes, sweet red onions and fresh garlic. This pie was going to be the death of me. After two slices my stomach was screaming that it couldn’t handle any more, but my taste buds just wouldn’t let me stop eating. I ended up finishing off 4 slices, and I felt like I was going to explode. The next time I am in there I will definitely make sure that it is my first meal of the day. Fire & Ice is a Round Rock “must do”. *Editor’s Not: Before I decided to create the Round Rock Post, I kicked it around a while. Just a week after I started the site, my good friend from California, John Hammond, visited the area for business. All on his own, he stumbled on Greenhouse Craft Food and couldn’t stop talking about it. I asked him to write a guest article about his experience, and he was gracious enough to do it. If you have a positive review of a Round Rock business that you would like to share, you can submit your article to the Round Rock Post at: [email protected]. Please enjoy John’s take on this Round Rock one-of-a-kind restuarant. By John Hammond, Guest Blogger I, like many others out there, love visiting my local farmers market. You just can’t put a price on freshly grown and organic food produced by your local community, which is why I just had to try Greenhouse Craft Food in Round Rock, Texas while on a business trip last month. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. This local farm-to-table eatery has really pulled out all of the stops and produced a menu that touches the hearts of Americans with lovable classics done with a flavorful twist. Inside the decor is inviting and comfortable and very reminiscent of what you would expect in a Texas restaurant. While looking through the menu I was compelled to order one of everything, but my wife said that our pocket book just wouldn’t allow that. (Pause for a moment of silence for my broken heart.) So, after some very intense internal deliberation I settled on their Big Pig Sandwich. Wow! I was not disappointed. This sandwich came piled high with the savoriest and juicy pulled pork that I think I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. Made from all natural, local farm raised braised pork butt stacked on top of a golden sweet roll and topped with homemade pickles, all natural handmade slaw, smoked onions and topped off with a homemade tangy chipotle aioli sauce. Mmmm, mmmm good. For my side I ordered their famous organic handmade sweet potato fries. Hands down, these were the best sweet potato fries I have ever had. They came out just stacked to the hills and falling off of my plate. Each one was perfectly crispy on the outside with the delicious tender core. I was upset with myself that I had eaten breakfast earlier that day because I wanted more room to pack in the amazing meal. All I can say is that when I finished eating I nearly shed a tear for my empty plate. As for the service. Outstanding! The staff was incredibly friendly and full of energy. Although they were relatively busy for a weekday and it being after standard lunch hours, they were still very efficient with taking our order and getting our food out in a very timely manner. There was plenty of space to sit a lots of wonderful accents of décor to entertain the eye. The establishment was very clean and welcoming and although I am a northerner, I felt right at home in their rustic chairs and wooden bench booths. I will definitely be visiting this place again the next time I am in Round Rock for any reason. Thank you Greenhouse Craft Food. And thank you, John! Come back to Round Rock soon, and take me with you to Greenhouse next time! The Scarlet Rabbit-Alice in Wonderland Themed Restaurant Delivers Damn-Good-Food Themed Dishes7/12/2016 While in Round Rock, Texas you should definitely take a trip down the culinary rabbit hole and experience what The Scarlet Rabbit had to offer. I was quite impressed. This quaint bistro located in the heart of downtown Round Rock brings life to some of the classics that I have come to love as a red blooded American. With its whimsical atmosphere and its eclectic décor, you’ll find it to be a very inviting and entertaining space in which to experience what chefs Rob Snow (Greenhouse Craft Food) and Rich Taylor (formerly of Quality Seafood) had to offer. Upon arriving at this classic 1940’s bungalow, you’ll was greeted with a beautiful design that was very reminiscent of the classic 1865 novel “Alice in Wonderland”. With touches of fairy tale design mixed with a modern twist, designer Sonja Snow has done a wonderful job of blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. Once you enter through the front door you’ll arrive in a hall lined with exquisitely decorated doors that lead you to a very intriguing and inviting red cocktail bar adorned with backwards running clocks and whimsical silhouettes of fanciful hares. Every space within this restaurant was filled with scenes from the classic children’s’ tale. Even the patio, which is nestled under a gorgeous 200-year-old oak tree that is draped in tiny twinkling lights, has the power to take you to a world of fantasy and mystery. The staff plays right along with the theme and are very friendly and full of energy. They’ll make you feel like a regular even if it is your first visit. The atmosphere is great, but it does not compare to the food. I started my meal with one of their fine craft beers and their Scarlet Style Shrimp Cocktail. With its fresh caught Gulf shrimp and a cocktail sauce made with avocado, fresh tomatoes, jalapeno, and sweet onions, this appetizer did not disappoint. The mix of flavors paired with the recommended craft beer was exactly what my taste buds were craving. For my entrée, I ordered the Smoke Wagyu Brisket with the side of homemade garlic mashed potatoes, fresh roasted sweet corn, and handmade coleslaw. What a treat it was. The brisket was so tender and juicy. Every bite was a flavor experience that sent my taste buds soaring into the heavens. The garlic mashed potatoes were the best I have ever had. Sorry mom. I am not a fan of corn, but roasted sweet corn paired perfectly with the brisket and I found myself eating every last kernel. As for the handmade coleslaw, it took me back to my childhood and summer days spent cooking out with the family and frolicking in the fields with my siblings. My name is Steven Shelton. I moved to the area from Georgia, and it didn’t take me long to fall in love with Round Rock. Besides the beautiful, storybook downtown, Round Rock has everything a family could ever need including professional baseball. Everyone who lives here knows why Round Rock is the best city in America, but I wanted to start the Round Rock Post to highlight the best of Round Rock to help shed some light on the great business, activities, and entertainment that we have here. My goal is to keep this site positive. There are plenty of forums that focus on negative news, so I don’t think there is a need in that space. I see the need being in the space of news sites that give residents and visitors information about what’s great about a city. I think this is needed in every city, but since I live here, work here, and play here, I want to tell the world about our little, perfect town in central Texas. Feel free to contact me if you would like to see something or someone highlighted here. Sincerely, Steven Shelton |
EditorHi! I'm Steven Shelton. I’m a local small business owner here in Round Rock and the Austin area. I am a real estate investor and an internet marketer. I help businesses turn their websites into lead generators, and I also own and manage this website among others. ArchivesCategories |