July 26, 2006

Dear new Curra’s Grill at the Parmer-McNeil Plaza,

Your food is pretty good. Four triangles is a little skimpy for the quesadillas, but your queso is tasty, and your fajitas are generous.

But I gotta tell you… you don’t look good.

I don’t know if it’s because you just opened about a week ago, but you’re kind of bleak. Not one piece of art on the walls, hard plastic chairs and laminate benches, metal tables, metal trim, metal ceiling and giant metal fan. It’s all way too modern and Scandinavian. It makes for a very cold and hard atmosphere, not at all fun and relaxing. And considering that there’s a brand new Chipotle with equally stark décor opening in the same shopping center- it’s an ill-conceived business decision.

Oh! And your metal patio furniture sitting in the July Texas sun isn’t such a great idea either.

Please consider copying your Burnet Road sister. She’s cozy and colorful, with lots of murals and soft lighting. Everything a Mexican restaurant should be. Trust me, I eat out way too much.

Sincerely,
Kandis

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Funny, Kandis. And here's where I admit I have yet to eat at a Curra's. I've lived in Austin for how long?!

I included this in Austinist's best of the blogs for this week.

The Ordinary American said...

Las fajitas son deliciosas. Joder!

Anonymous said...

Try a couple avocado margaritas with mescal. Maybe not so cold then, eh?

blakewest said...

Give 'em some time. The store on Burnet took quite a while to get spruced up even after the opening. I enjoyed seeing the decor develop over time.

Try their cochinita pibil. I think it's better than Fonda San Miguel's.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, you'd probably be happier with a totally fake, taky, thrown together whatever than with the only piece of decent modern interior architecture in the whole North Austin.

They should certainly know better and realize that the people that live in that part of Austin and leave in the cheap developments are not going to like anything remotely as fun, thought-out and good as that job of interior design.

Flowers to pigs... Go back to watching TV and leave the design judgement to somebody who's not so blurry-eyed.

Queen Kandis said...

Wow. You're kind of a jackass. But I happen to think people are entitled to their own opinions, even when it's different than mine (something to consider?). So thanks for stopping by.

The Ordinary American said...

Yikes, what a total douche. Actually, someone who is that much of a douche isn't entitled to an opinion. Other people should think for them.

The Ordinary American said...

As an additional note, I suspect that person probably works for Curra's. That's some fierce loyalty for $5.00/hr.

Anonymous said...

ok, sorry for the tone. I'm a jackass, agreed. just fustrated with the taste in design in general in this town. I actually love Austin and love the people, but I get way too fustrated with the lack of certain things. Apologies for the tone. No, I have nothing to do with Curra's. I just think they did a great job, had the guts to go for it and love the sustainable concept of using the low velocity big fan to conserve energy. I just happen to love the decor there. And I hate TV and suburbia... Douches are nice, though...

Anonymous said...

I love the fan too! Of course, I work for Big Ass Fans, so I'm biased. ;)

Anonymous said...

Wow, wow, WOW!!! I love Austin!! I more than love Austin! It's like some kind of a dream world that someone would post such a nasty reply to such a mild decor observation, be roundly called out on it, and then Publically Apologize! Humbly! It would never happen where I live (for nine more months until I escape to Austin, sorry). You people are wonderful. Really unique and weird. In a good, hip-but-with-serapes-and-wall-art kind of way.
BTW., I sort of dig how most places there are still so "homey", too. There is way too much modernity (my primary decor of choice at home, actually) in the cold, heartless city where I currently "live". Austin is a hold-out, a universe of it's own. No pretensions, no overreaching overcompensating facades. Just like it's citizens.