Mind Meld With Miles… Over Migas!

Back in the day… when I was fresh out of high-school and working at Austin’s downtown public library, my boss had a party for me. To promote the little day-job shindig she’d created a flyer with a picture of Star Trek’s Jean Luc Picard all Borged-out with the caption, “Mind Meld with Miles.” This was of course a gentle ribbing at my being such a brainy SciFi kind of guy, being into UFOs and whatnot. I still find her meme-melding of Vulcan mind-transference with cyBorgian assimilation to be rather cute, bridging the gap between Original and Next Generation Treks. Over the years that mnemonic has stayed in my mind and I’ve saved that old flyer. (I know it’s around here somewhere) The phrase has rattled around my brain and I eventually added to it with a reference to one of my favorite foods: migas! It then seemed inevitable that I would eventually write a food review column with the title “Mind Meld With Miles… Over Migas!” But it won’t be only migas reviews. In fact this first review isn’t even TexMex.

Lunch Menu Review – Shoal Creek Saloon’s Chicken Fried Steak Monday Special

So just a few weeks back, before the beginning of Summer and the current unprecedented heatwave, the temperature was only about 100 degrees and I found myself yet again driving around downtown trying to think of some place different to eat lunch. Where could I sit outside and brave the combustible air? And like a bolt out of some old blue bayou sky it hit me: Shoal Creek Saloon!

They’ve got a nice big covered patio right there overlooking one of downtown’s arroyos across from Duncan Park. I headed over to 909 North Lamar as fast as safely possible. I thought parking might have been a problem but there was plenty of space with an old school unpaved parking area and I even found a spot with a little shade. I began feeling at home immediately. I made my way inside, strolling through the front door and main interior with my eye set on the patio. Once there I took a nice corner spot with a commanding view of the covered patio area but more importantly with a view of Shoal Creek and the Live Oaks of Duncan Park.

I soaked in the atmosphere. Despite the intense outside heat I was comfortable there in the shade with the Saloon’s many high-speed fans blowing. It was a nice sized crowd. There was music being played and it was mixing with the voices and fans to create a somehow comforting aural background. Muted flat-screen TVs showed news on one monitor and a soap opera on the other. The attentive staff took my order, Monday’s Chicken Fried Steak Special, and kept the water coming.

The Monday Special was excellent. From first visual impression to last savory bite, I thoroughly enjoyed this plate. As soon as it arrived I knew that every bit was going to be perfect. A nice, but not hedonistic, portion of firm homemade mashed potatoes with chunks and skins was smothered in a delectable peppery cream gravy sauce whose pool also encompassed the large steak. The batter for the chicken fried delicacy was light yet crispy and very flavorful. The meat was moist and of medium thickness with not even a nibble over-cooked. The green beans were great! Crisp but not too crisp, very peppery with good sized chunks of bacon.  The green beans made this meal an overwhelmingly enjoyable, tasty and filling lunch excursion that felt like going to a neighbor’s backyard picnic. Plus, the whole plate only cost $6.99!!

I can’t wait to go back for more chicken fried steak and I must try their crawfish etouffee, pork chops, catfish and more. I’ll review those in the future.

Check out their Appetizers, Specialty Menu, Louisiana Cuisine, and Sandwich Menu.

….was that “The Honky Tonk Man” I saw there?