Aba has boring food but a beautiful patio - Review - Austin - The Infatuation
"Walking north from the busy part of South Congress Avenue to the Music Lane development, you’ll pass Hermès and Le Labo stores, a handful of boutiques, and Soho House before arriving at Aba. All of this should give you some indication of what to expect there: luxury. Unfortunately, slapping a $25 price tag on a paloma might make it sound like a premium product, but it doesn’t make it taste like one. Instead, Aba is a boring Mediterranean restaurant with an admittedly beautiful patio. photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel Pause Unmute There are some redeeming things on the menu here. The pita is warm and fluffy, and it pairs nicely with the ultra-smooth whipped hummus. And the shawarma-spiced prime skirt steak is cooked to a perfect medium, despite lacking any shawarma flavor. But don’t be surprised to follow that up with dry chicken kebabs and falafels, underseasoned lamb chops, or generally wimpy flavors that talk a lot of game. Food takes a back seat to the buzzy ambiance, and sometimes that’s OK. This is more a place to get dressed up for than to have your life changed by a few bites of falafel. If you’re looking for punchy Mediterranean dishes in a similarly trendy atmosphere, head to Ezov or The Peacock instead. But if you really want to check out Aba, try to do it on the dreamy patio situated under a 100-year-old oak tree. Reservations are hard to get, and generally require a month or two of planning, but you can sometimes walk in and grab a table outside—because that’s where you want to be. It’s a beautiful escape from the weekend chaos of South Congress, and it’s the main reason to dine at Aba, even if it means finding the occasional stray leaf in your fancy paloma. How to get into Aba Austin Reservations during normal dinner hours are typically available about six to eight weeks out, but if you just want to stop in for afternoon drinks and snacks—or you're okay with a 9pm meal—you can usually grab something about a week or two out. If you want a patio seat, you can make a request when booking, but they’ll be seated on a first come, first served basis. And when the weather’s nice, the patio is where everybody will want to be. That means you can sometimes grab a seat in the dining room as a walk-in, but then you’re missing one of the few redeeming things about Aba. Food Rundown Crispy Short Rib Hummus This is one of Aba’s most popular dishes. The pita is fluffy, and the hummus is silky smooth, even if it’s a little too heavy on the tahini. Despite that, it’s a solid way to start the meal. photo credit: Richard Casteel Seared Ahi Tuna The addition of nước chấm gives this more of a Vietnamese flavor profile than most Mediterranean crudos we’re used to, and the tuna has a somewhat mushy texture. It’s a pretty tasty dish, even if it feels out of place on Aba’s menu. photo credit: Richard Casteel Char-Grilled Lamb Chops The lamb is cooked well, with a nice pink finish all the way through, but the sauce it's served with needs a little more seasoning. photo credit: Richard Casteel Diver Scallops Despite looking brown, the scallops lack much of a sear. On one visit, the strawberries ours were paired with were too underripe to add anything enjoyable to the plate. photo credit: Richard Casteel Grilled Chicken Kebabs A few of the chicken pieces are juicy and tender, but the overwhelming majority are dry to the point of being difficult to swallow. photo credit: Richard Casteel Sticky Date Cake Aba’s sticky date cake is the highlight of the meal. It’s warm and gooey, with a caramelized base. The whiskey caramel adds some bittersweetness, and the whipped cream is soft and fluffy enough to bring it all together. photo credit: Richard Casteel" - Nicolai McCrary
