Trudys Tex-Mex Restaurant and Bar

With four locations around Austin TX Trudy's is a unique, artistic, friendly establishment that looks from the outside to be much smaller than it actually is.  Laura and I had just gotten out of an apartment locator's office and were starving.  The GPS gave us too many choice to pick from; the area is filled with incredible eateries.  We went to pull out of the parking lot and right near the exit we saw a place called Trudy's.  The Huxtable reference was the first thing that popped in to Laura's head, and we promptly turned around to park  again.

The moment we walked in we were taken aback by how big the place was and how many people were there.  As well as the amazing paintings on the wall including Abbey Road, Beavis and Butt-Head and all sorts of abstract paintings.  When opening the menu the first problem we encountered was that there was too much great food to pick from.  I was so tempted to try the Stuffed Avocado and Laura was almost tempted to order breakfast, there are dozens of vegetarian options and pages worth of southern and Mexican style foods.  

I started with a Lone Star beer, the local Texas beer, and it was gross, tasted like a watered down Budweiser.  So after chugging it down I went with a Fireman #4 Blonde Ale which is also local and much more delicious.  I just looked up their location and it seems they are only an hour away from Austin and offer free tastings on Fridays, I'm totally there!

As for our food, Laura ordered a Veggie Platter (4 sides) with cheese mashed potatoes, broccoli, corn on the cob and the dinner salad.  Everything was spicy, even her broccoli, in a good way, it also came with authentic Texas Toast.  I ordered Southern Style Chicken which came with cheese mashed potatoes, spicy vegetables, Texas Toast and white delicious gravy.  As we expected the portion size was enormous and the taste was superb.  There are little peppers on the menu next to hot items, I can't even imagine how hot they get if their normal items all have crushed pepper on them to begin with.  Thank goodness we both love spicy foods!

The service was great, the atmosphere was exciting, the selection of beer was above average and the both of us can't wait to go back as many times as it takes to try everything on the menu, twice.  Trudy's Tex-Mex has been in business since 1977 and if their other three locations are as impressive as the Burnet Road location is I am sure they will be around for many, many decades to come.

Trudy's