If you’ve read any of our Taco Traveler installments you’re well aware of our passion for good Mexican food. From tacos to seafood, Chris and I enjoy tasting and sampling all of the different interpretations of Tex-Mex cuisine that can be found. Today, Chris and I have stopped to visit with some friends in Austin and we are dining at Manuel’s near the Austin Arboretum on Jollyville Road.
Many times Tex-Mex can be found in the simplest of venues. Chris and I love finding a dive along side the highway that delivers high quality Mexican food at modest (or dare I say cheap) prices. But Mexican cuisine does not have to be limited to only those restaurants that are inexpensive. At Manuel’s, Mexican is dressed up and sent downtown for a more deluxe treatment.
Our meal started with the traditional chips and salsa along with an appetizer of fried bay scallops. Freshly fried and salty chips from the kitchen arrived as we were seated. These crispy tostadas were a great way to start our meal. Our appetizer was also delicious – expertly prepared scallops were seasoned perfectly and fried to just the right doneness. Along side the scallops, a chipotle aioli dipping sauce made for just the right combination of silky smooth and spicy heat. It is easy to over cook scallops so they become tough and rubbery. We appreciate the attention to detail preparing the scallops just right and delivering a fine Pacific inspired Mexican appetizer.
For lunch Chris ate the mole enchiladas. Traditional mole combines poblano peppers, unsweetened chocolate, and a variety of spices to build a flavorful and complex sauce to accompany enchiladas or other entrees. The sauce is time consuming and labor intensive to make, so it is rare to find in Mexican restaurants except on special occasions. The mole at Manuel’s was good – mildly spicy and thick, but not overpowering. Accompanying the enchiladas, the combination made for a very nice entree.
I ate the shrimp Veracruz – gulf shrimp served in a spicy tomato, garlic, caper and onion sauce. The city of Veracruz sits on Mexico’s gulf coast and serves as a crossroads of peoples and cultures in Mexico. This is embodied in cuisine as the fresh seafood of the region is combined with tomatoes, capers, olives, and garlic from Spain (often called “a la veracruzana”). The Veracruz inspired shrimp were succulent and delicious. The sauce blended deliciously with the shell fish creating a harmonious blend of flavors and spices.
As a whole Chris and I enjoyed Manuel’s. Comfortable outdoor seating and inside dining were available, along with a full bar offering afternoon happy hour. For a dressed up Tex-Mex experience in Austin, Manuel’s may be just the place. The taco travelers give Manuel’s three tacos out of five.
