Mariscos in Austin

Photo by John Anderson

Marisco Grill

We went to the one on Burnet Road, which is directly across the street from the Poodle Dog Lounge, an Austin landmark. It has a pleasant blue marine motif, and the service is friendly and very attentive. We were happy with our starter of a shrimp cocktail ($5.95, small): This version was a little less sweet than the others, with less spice but more chunky vegetables and pristinely fresh shrimp. The fish taco ($3.95) was loaded with pieces of grilled mahi, tossed with tomato, onion, lime mayonnaise, and cilantro – nice flavor.

We really enjoyed the sopa de mariscos ($8.95, small). It was hard to figure out, but it seemed to be a crab-based stock with some tomato and chile and had been pureed to an almost creamy consistency. Packed inside were shrimp, mussels, octopus, fish, and chunks of crab. Everything was perfectly cooked and flavorful, even the accompanying rice. The crab enchiladas ($9.50) surprised us: The two enchiladas were filled with a very high percentage of crab stuffing-like mixture – way more crabmeat than I expected. Topped with a mild tomato sauce, cheese, and avocado, it was a nice dish. Next up here for me is a Veracruz-style spicy soup called chilpachole – this one made with crab.