Table Topic: The Power of Press

Don’t think a tiny mention in a newspaper or magazine can really make much of a difference? Think again. Just ask Doug Young, co-owner of Cover 3 restaurant in Austin. This fledgling North Austin locale with less than a year under its belt was simply humming along with steady business for its upscale sportsbar-that-you-can-still-take-a-date-to concept. But in late July things changed. Texas Monthly magazine released their August issue featuring the Top 50 Burgers in Texas and guess who landed the #12 spot?

You guessed it—Cover 3. Apparently they had a surprise visit from Texas Monthly Executive Editor, Pat Sharpe one night when she slid into the restaurant after a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse nearby. Little did they know the big ole cheeseburger she was noshing on would bring them an up tick in business. According to Young, when the Texas Monthly burger issue hit newsstands, within two days, the kitchen was scurrying to get a last-minute meat order to cover the increase in burger sales. The restaurant went from serving an average of about 125 burgers a week to between 650 and 700 burgers!

My husband and I made a trip to Cover 3 the other night to sample a few signature dishes. I have to admit, I’d only heard the place described as a sports bar. I was more than pleasantly surprised to see how chic this place really was. Exposed brick walls laced with shiny, sheer fabric, warm lighting from rustic-contemporary fixtures, and ultra comfy half-moon booths outfitted in the softest King Ranch-style leather. Sitting cozy in one of these booths with a couple of house cocktails, including a refreshingly spiked strawberry lemonade, we hardly noticed the large flat screen TVs that were tastefully mounted throughout the room… Well, ok, the Astros were playing… and losing horribly. What else is new?

But let’s talk food… We tried a number of things, but in an effort to keep this brief, I’ll stick to some favorites.

Beef Tenderloin Sliders:

Perfect medium-rare slices of tenderloin tucked in happy little buns and served with an onion-y au jus, a nasal-clearing horseradish sauce (the best kind), and ketchup (which really should never be served with steak if you believe it’s a good steak)… To be fair, I believe the ketchup was intended for the finger-licking-good Parmesan French fries on the side. Thin, crispy, salty, and oh so good.

Shrimp/Crab Tower with Avocado and Pico

This elegant little appetizer could easily serve as a light lunch or dinner. After all, you’re not always in the mood for a burger. Excellent texture, sweet and savory flavors, and the three tangy sauces served with it (one including a spicy hit of sriracha hot sauce) rounded everything out perfectly.

We were also big fans of the North Atlantic Scallops seared to a perfect crisp on both sides and served with applewood smoked bacon. What dish isn’t complete without bacon?

And Finally Dessert...

When it comes to dessert, my husband and I are hardly ever in the mood for the same thing and usually end up getting our own sweet treat. Not a good idea in this case, if only because the desserts here are gargantuan, even by Texas standards. That being said, I think the key lime pie my husband ordered was one of the best I’ve tasted in a very long time. (I’m personally partial to its ¼ inch-thick graham cracker crust.) And I’m not a violent person, but the Chocolate Brownie made me not only want to slap my mamma, but just about everyone else’s mamma in the restaurant. Weighing in at a DENSE ¾ pounds, this brownie is not for the faint of heart. After 3 bites of the thick, fudgy, chocolately bliss, I was ready to wrap that puppy up and savor it for a few days.

And though I didn’t really cover it here. (Texas Monthly beat me to it.) Get the burger… But wait for Sundays… Through the end of August Cover 3 burgers are Buy-1-Get-1-Free! … So double your burger pleasure and hit Cover 3 on Sundays, before time runs out!

Cover 3

2700 W. Anderson Lane

512-374-1121

www.cover-3.com