Whether for sheer busy-ness or some coasting, my meal at Hoover's was rather disappointing. While doing research at the LBJ Library in Austin, I was overjoyed to see a Roadfood haunt as one of the closest lunch spots to the archive. I excitedly went over the first noon-time and ordered. I enjoyed the novelty of the pitcher of lemonade -- and it was tasty as advertised . My meal, was sad, however. I ordered six jerked pork ribs. The rib meat was extra fatty -- not the moist substance typically found in bbq joints. The jerk rub was spicy, but rather flat in flavor. The sides -- I ordered black-eyed peas and jalapeno creamed spinach -- were similarly flat. The beans seemed to have been dumped from can to pot with little doctoring (a fact made clear tonight when I had the same thing at Threadgill's). The creamed spinach was not spicy, just off. I can't explain it. Maybe a return trip is merited, but with many choices in Austin, this doesn't seem like the place to go. Try the BBQ across the street instead. Now that's tasty.
"A tall, cool one is an essential part of the Hoover's experience. This pitcher is a single serving!"
Michael Stern
"Austin is chicken-fried steak country. Hoover's serves one of the best in town. Behind the crisp-fried steak are chunky mashed potatoes, a bowl of gravy, and creamed spinach."
Michael Stern
"Hoover's vegetables are so good that many customers make a meal of them and forgo any "main course." Here we have black-eyed peas and macaroni and cheese, mustard greens and fried okra."
Michael Stern
"Hoover's is a simple place with honest food at decent prices. What's better than that?"
Michael Stern
