Guide Update: Texas + HAUNTED!
Some of my favorites all around Texas AND a bunch of cool haunted restaurants and bars that are ACTUALLY good because it's October!
Texas is gigantic (duh) so I figured I’d just do it all at once for a big update to the guide. I want to have a moment of silence for one of my all time Texas favorites, which is no longer around, and truthfully hasn’t been for a long time, but I think about it often - Gelateria Gemelli. It was right down the street from a Via313 location and you could go there after stuffing your fat face with incredible Detroit style pizza and get coffee or gelato or get a killer Amaro from their wonderful menu. I miss you, Gelateria Gemelli.
Texas Guide Highlights
Via313 in Austin - Some of the best Detroit style pizza you’ll find anywhere. They’ve got multiple locations and even a few carts/trucks around town. It’s easily accessible and completely delicious.
Curry Boys in San Antonio - Asian BBQ meets classic Texas BBQ… what’s not to like? The photo below is their brisket and rice bowl with green curry. Insane!
The Czech Stop between Dallas and Austin - I’d feel I’m doing everyone a disservice by not mentioning this as a highlight. It’s definitely more of a van tour stop unless you can convince your driver and TM to make the stop, but if you can I promise everyone will have a better day. Classic Kolaches, both sweet and savory, right off the highway attached to a gas station. And they have two locations next door to one another… for some reason?
Okay now onto the really fun stuff - Haunted shit! One of my favorite things to do on the road, aside from gorging myself, is finding haunted locations. Naturally, I love a haunted restaurant or bar. I’ve loaded up the guide with some of my favorites, but there aren’t a ton, because I want the food/drinks to actually be good as well. It’s easy enough to find “haunted” stuff - I feel like every venue we play has some ghost story, but these places rock and it’s way more special that way. Here are some highlights… You’ll find the rest in the guide in the new “Haunted” layer!
Sylvain in New Orleans - Sylvain just embodies exactly what I want from a restaurant in NOLA. You enter through a narrow alley in the French Quarter and you’re led through to a really beautiful patio are where the host stand is. Inside the restaurant, it’s dark, moody, and seriously just feels haunted. It’s the type of place you know you’re about to have a really killer meal and experience. The staff is amazing and they do a great job of blending the vibe of a dive bar with high life and chicken sandwiches to high end dining - Their French Fry & Champagne service is the perfect indicator of this.
Creepy’s in Portland, OR - I think they may serve food at Creepy’s? But I go there to drink. The name really gives you all the info you need here - It’s a dive bar decorated with some creepy ass shit! Oh and they have pinball! A really great hang while some clown dolls watch you drink a High Life. Please keep in mind the photo below was taken in June. It just always looks like it’s Halloween. *Cue Misfits*
The Ambassador Hotel in Milwaukee - Alright, this one is also rumored to be haunted, but I think the main point of interest is the history. If you don’t know, this is where Jeffrey Dahmer took his first victim in Milwaukee. I won’t get into the details, but if you’re interested and don’t already know, you’ll be shocked to find what happened across the street from The Rave. The bar in the lobby actually has solid food and cocktails. The Rave isn’t in the best location in terms of spots you can walk to, but I always end up getting a Wisconsin Old Fashioned and some food at the hotel.
These are just a few of the locations you’ll find on this update linked to the image below. Please go poke around and let me know what I missed (especially for the haunted spots!). Enjoy!