So I went to a hot pot place in Austin and the broth was basically clear water

I drove 45 minutes to this highly recommended spot near the Domain last Saturday. The menu said 'spicy numbing broth' but it tasted like someone boiled a single chili in a gallon of water. I kept adding more seasoning from the little dishes but nothing helped. Has anyone else had a hyped up restaurant totally drop the ball on something basic like broth?

2 comments

2 Comments

campbell.tara29d ago

Figure it's part of a bigger thing where places care more about the hype than the basics. Like that taco joint downtown that spent a fortune on neon signs and graffiti walls but their tortillas tasted like cardboard. Or that coffee shop with the fancy latte art machines but they burned every single espresso shot. People get so caught up in making things look good for Instagram that they forget to actually make food taste like something. Kind of sad when you think about it, all that effort on the wrong stuff.

the_nina29d ago

Oh man, you nailed it. The other day I walked into this trendy ramen place that had exposed brick and Edison bulbs everywhere, and I felt like I was in a fancy catalog. Then I took one bite of their "signature broth" and I swear it tasted like warm dishwater that had been seasoned with salt and regret. My cooking skills are mediocre at best, I burn toast half the time, but even I could've done better than that. It's like they spent all their money on the vibe and forgot that food actually has to taste decent. Makes you wonder if the owners ever even eat their own menu.