Classy Cocktails at Goodalls

These events are becoming more and more impressive. Goodall’s is a great small dining room in a boutique hotel.
Cocktails were flowing freely, the staff was highly attentive and friendly, the food was no less than amazing.
Every plate had great components. Every plate also had some sweet component that at times seemed out of place, and in the case of the honey onions that accompanied the perfectly cooked scallops, pretty cloying.
That is more a personal taste issue above all else. When it comes down to it, every dish was executed and presented wonderfully.
We were treated to a tour of the property and the wonderful Umlauf art on the grounds.
I met a number of new people and connected with old friends.
Courtney B. has been stepping up to the plate and knocking it out of the park. She’s an engaging hard working hostess. We’re lucky to have her in Unilocal Austin!

I know, buzz kill from Ol’ Rooster. I’ll immediately point out that Unilocal staffers like Courtney and Victoria were quite fabulous. So, five stars for the event and my thanks for the invite. We have to face facts; Goodalls had a few missteps that started immediately. That is what these events are created for; spread the word about a new place? Provide constructive criticism to help the business improve?
Cue with me standing at the doorstep of my SUV for five minutes looking for a valet in the driveway. I then complimentary parked my vehicle myself in the only 5 space parking lot I’ve ever seen. Well, this is campus area. Perhaps there are plenty more carbon copies in the neighborhood. I had scouted the area while conducting business in the area the day before and I felt fortunate that one of these spaces was available.
Once inside visiting the bar prior to the event I’m noticing everyone is indulging on some sort of charcuterie plate which was absent from our menu. That might have been a step above the bland and undressed spicy greens we were served as part our first course. The tuna and avocado pairing that accompanied the greens was better bites. Although the portions among diners were consistent in size, I didn’t have the benefit of any radish in my portion which could have made the flavors pop.
Notably the highlight of the meal at least for me was the seared scallop paired with grilled eggplant, hashbrown cake, and caramelized onions. I was skeptical reading the description, but upon arrival it was an epic combination of flavors. The meat course was another highlight paired with the reduction on the plate. The flavor of the sauce showed patience in the reduction process that some restaurants overlook for quicker results. I tasted patience, mark that down as a Unilocal first.
The individual servings of mac and cheese rounded out the savory portions of our tastings. Advertised as family style initially, we really didn’t see that until the final courses. We were to share a chocolate molten cake, brown sugar torched banana, and prickly pear sorbet. Spoons were provided but no actual way to divide these offering between the diners at the table. Yep, that was me doing the reverse fork cutting method to avoid the double dip rule with Unilocal family members for the evening. Guess I should have brought my elite swiss army knife.
The best of the desserts was the final course the nutella crème brûlée served with a spoon your could barely get into the tiny ramekin. The molten cake was average. There was absolutely no flavor difference in the torched bananas and the banana based sorbet. The bar drinks did prove adventurous at least for me the cheap beer guy. My first ever moscow mule with a playfull campus theme, tangy margarita, and a creative hot toddy with the longest pour of courvoisier I’ve ever seen.
Service was a bit hectic with so many to be served at one time. Besides finding it minorly difficult to order second or third round drinks the staff was pleasant and on point. So, a few things that could be improved mostly the valet situation. Thanks to Unilocal and Goodalls for the dining experience, a rounded up four star evening

Great hotel with a nice little restaurant and bar tucked away in West campus!
Yes, Hotel Ella with Goodall’s kitchen and bar used to be The mansion on Judge’s Hill.
Unilocal Elite were treated to classy cocktails, starters, entrees, sides, and desserts.
WOW!
Normally Mr. Smidgens would dress a little more dapper for such an event, but I was coming straight from work. Do I take pride in my attire? Rhetorical! Of course I do. I still felt under dressed, but my table mates assured me I looked the part.
I parked on West campus of the 40 acres and walked over to Hotel Ella. I was greeted by Jennifer and the always lovely Courtney B.
I saw familiar faces and decided to sit down with some new to me Elites. I ordered a Sazerac to wet my whistle. Yes, the original cocktail with a blend of Russell’s Reserve Rye whiskey, Pernod and Peychaud bitters. Tasty, but something seemed amiss.
For my next trick, I ordered a Highland Park 18 year. This is quite a nice scotch. If you have the opportunity to pick up a bottle I highly recommend it.
I ended up moving to the Bourbon Old Fashioned. Maker’s Mark bourbon, Angostrura bitters and muddled cherry. Now this libation was spot on!
Now, for the good eats!
The Menu:
Ahi Tuna and Avocado, Jicama, Radish, and Japanese Dressing
«Spicy Greens» — Chicory, Watercress, Red Belgian Endive, Black Pepper Croutons, Dijon Vinaigrette
Seared Scallops — Grilled Japanese Eggplant, Hash Brown Cake, Caramelized Onion Honey
Red Wine Glazed Prime Rib Rye — «Bowl In A Bag» Fingerling Potatoes, Braised Swiss Chard
Chef’s Mac & Cheese — Bacon Jalapeño, Chili Pepper Bread Crumbs
Chocolate Molten Cake — Brown Sugar Torched Banana Prickly Pear Sorbet
Nutella Crème Brûlée
Yes, it was as good as it all sounds!
The Hotel is beautiful with several rooms ranging from $ 239 on up.
The food at Goodall’s is mouth watering and will leave you feeling like you have your own personal chef who caters just to you.
Thank you Courtney B, Unilocal,Goodall’s, and all the people who made this event one for the books.
Mr. Smidgens will return and in a more dapper fashion to boot!

Such a great event! It was my first so I don’t have much experience to judge but I ate great food at a great place with some pretty fabulous people. Everyone was so sweet & welcoming; definitely an affirmation that Elite is the place for me!
Hotel Ella is a swanky little gem and, from what I’ve heard, has some interesting history. Haunted? Maybe. The dining room is intimate and warm and is accompanied by a waitstaff that beams with southern hospitality. They took an extra moment after dinner to take us on a tour of property. There’s a courtyard and pool which reminded me of something tucked away in the Hills of Beverly.
«It’s so tasty too!» The special Unilocal menu allowed us to taste from several areas of the menu. The tuna/​avocado tartare was my favorite. I’ll definitely be back to try this again. I’m not much on sweets but everyone went crazy for the molten lava cake which happened to be served with brown sugar torched bananas.
Thanks for the memories!

I was expecting small «family style appetizers» from this restaurant. Instead, I was given plate after plate after plate until my stomach was shouting «please no more!»
I loved the Seared Scallops with that caramelized onion honey (Mmmm!). The Ahi Tuna and Avocado was so refreshing. And that Red Wine Glazed Prime Rib Eye… oh yeah!
It was nice chatting it up with fellow Unilocalers. We had plenty of interesting funny conversations while drinking the West Campus Mule and the Pimm’s Cup. When the Nutelle Crème Brulee came out, our whole table fell silent as we ate that precious delectable dessert. Everyone was furiously trying to scrap out the corners with our big spoons to savor every bite. The Chocolate Molten Cake with Bananas and Pear Sorbet surprisingly wasn’t sweet which I liked.
Overall an awesome experience that will make me come back for more!

The was a fabulous evening! Thank you Courtney, Victoria and Kelly for making this tasting dinner possible.
The highlights… I am going to start from the end…
The tour of the pool. What a lovely place with stunning sculptures. Ever want to lay poolside with Farrah Fawcett’s golden locks and buttocks to gaze upon? Here’s you chance! Camp aside, there are some lovely sculptures in this swanky space. And the ballroom with the large veranda would be an excellent place to host any event.
Now for the food…
To die for… Nutella Crème Brulee. Oh my!!!
A sweet surprise: the caramelized onion honey with a perfectly prepared scallop.
Yum: Prime rib
Can’t go wrong… bacon and or cheese on anything… in this case with bacon mac-​n-​cheese.
Absolutely delicious was the ahi tuna and avocado.
Service was great! A real team effort. I love that in a place. And they communicated very well with one another trying to get everything to the tables just right. — Success!
When I returned home, I described this evening to my husband. He asked, are you sure you could not have taken me. My reply, true for this evening and I would love to take you there!

Such a classy event I feel so privileged to have attended. The hotel and restaurant are beautiful, inside and out. The hosts were so generous to have the Unilocal crew to a 5 course tasting menu!
The food was delicious and each course brought something a little different and exciting. Service was impeccable and I truly felt welcomed and treated with the upmost hospitality. It was great to see new and old Elites — always a fun time. Thanks Goodalls for an all-​star evening!

This building was down-​right beautiful! I had NO idea that it was the old Governor’s Mansion! I’m surprised it wasn’t mention =/​Also, I would have loved to know about the jewels that were displayed in the lobby… what was up with all that sparkle ;)
The spicy greens left little to be desired, but the ahi tuna was amazing.
The Seared scallops on top a hash brown cake with caramelized onion honey was probably the most delicious, albeit small, scallop I’ve ever had! But in the end, the honey dominated making it too sweet for someone like me, who doesn’t eat much sweets.
The Red wine glazed prime rib eye, hands down, my favorite! served perfectly pink.
And finally, you can never go wrong with bacon atop mac&cheese, throw in the jalapeño and you’ve got heaven in a bite!
Bathrooms outside? Very strange :/​Is that the only RR for people lounging in the restaurant/​bar?
If you’re looking for a smooth cocktail to sip by the fire, skip the Sazerak and go straight for the Old Fashioned. Or if wine is more your thing, the Carpe Diem Cab/​Sav was a perfect pairing to the rib eye, and pretty much everything else served ;)
Service on cocktails/​wine was surprising slow given the number of servers we had attending to us for this event. But all of the servers were very friendly, especially Jessica, who seemed very knowledgeable about all things Goodalls.
If you have time, the tour around the pool, featuring amazing sculptures by local artists, is a must.
I think this a perfect place for a quiet date hideaway.
I will definitely be recommending a stay at this beauty to my out-​of-​towners!
p. s. I wish we could have known about the free valet prior to arriving. Consensus was most attendees parked on the street =(Because this was my first visit, I also did not realize Goodalls was located inside Ella, which made locating it through google maps a bit difficult.

My favorite events are the ones where I make new friends. I really enjoyed getting to know the people at my table, and its always easier to make new friends over delicious food and lots of drinks. I’ve been to Mansions at Judges Hill many times, and Goodall’s was able to give off a sleeker, more modern vibe while retaining the charm. Our service was superb, and the food and cocktails were great!

Yet another deposit in the Austin Swank Bank! Tonight’s event was just another example of why it is so neat to be Elite! The location of Goodalls in Hotel Ella was just so swanktastic! From the ambiance and atmosphere to the 5-​star dining and service, the entire event was tres gastronomique en vogue!
Open bar AND sumptuous portion sizes of delectable culinary delights? I better go buy a lottery ticket because I just got lucky! The staff were so marvelous in not only keeping my whistle wet with some amazing cocktails, but in the food service timing as well, just superb!
Speaking of cocktails… Goodalls, my hat is off to you in knowing how to make a proper Old Fashioned! The Sazerac was also flavorful and the wine/​scotch selection on par with the menu selections. The highlight was Jack sharing his «waft» tasting of the Highland Park 18yr Scotch… if you can appreciate a good scotch, this was a treat for the nose and palate alike and Goodalls was ever so gracious to let us have a sample.
Now on to the culinary masterpieces on the menu!
The spiced greens and ahi tuna with avocado were the perfect appetizer to warm up the tastebuds for their impending savory and sweet tantalization!
The seared scallops with onion honey were a revelation and the red wine glazed prime rib eye (especially when paired with the malbec or cabernet sauvignon) practically melted in my mouth!
I must say though, the official «mouthgasm» of the evening goes to the Chef’s mac n cheese! The flavor, the cheese and the bacon… omg, the bacon! I am not ashamed to say I could eat a vat of it and be one happy fatty!
The wonderful Nutella crème brûlée was such a nice close to such a captivating and delicious meal… the sweet and salty balance was extremely palatable!
And finally, the tour of the sculpture garden and pool lounge was an excellent touch to end a perfect evening!
Kudos, Bravos, and ecstatic golf claps all around to Goodalls, our wonderful Austin Unilocal team of Kelly, Courtney and Victoria and my fellow Unilocalers! I know Thanksgiving has passed, but I am so thankful to be a part of such extraordinary events like this one with «y’all» :)

I can sum up this event in one word Bob, yum.
But, since most people would like more than that I will attempt to describe this event with my words.
Appetizers
Ahi tuna and avocado. Excellent quality raw tuna, diced and marinated combined with diced avocado and a Japanese dressing. Sweet mother of sea food. Normally I’m not a big fan of avocado, but this was amazing. The flavors were wonderfully combined and the preparation was spot on.
Spicy greens salad. This one was a bit of a letdown to me. The salad part of it was very good, fresh, and prepared well. The letdown occurred with the dressing, and only because mine was lacking in dressing. I’m going to chalk it up to trying to get everything out to everybody at the same time.
Entrees
Seared scallop on grilled Japanese eggplant, hash brown cake, and caramelized onion honey.
These guys are changing my feelings about seafood. The scallop was perfect, the onion honey was a perfect complement, just the whole thing was perfect. Well, actually, it wasn’t. The problem was there was only one. Dang tastings. Tteasing me and making me want more.
Red wine glazed prime rib eye. Excellent cut of beef, cooked perfectly, and the red wine glaze made a wonderful complement. I usually prefer something with a little kick, but the sweetness in the glaze worked really well.
Mac and cheese with bacon, jalapeño, and chili pepper bread crumbs.
Ummmm, yeah, that pretty much describes it. Very good.
Desserts
Nutella crème brûlée
Just like it sounds. Crème Brulee made with Nutella for the chocolaty, but not too chocolaty taste with a little sea salt on top to help enhance the taste. We all wanted to lick clean our little tasting bowls, but were able to mind our manners. Our mothers would all be so proud.
Chocolate molten cake, brown sugar torched banana, prickly pear sorbet.
Ummmm, yeah. Apparently this one was pretty good. I wouldn’t actually know. Had to excuse myself briefly, got caught up in conversation, and my table mates applied the old 5 minute rule and consumed mine. So I’m guessing that means it too was really good.
The restaurant itself was very nice. They obviously put a lot of thought into the remodel and it turned out really well. It is small, with only a few tables, but there is enough space to keep your neighbors from being too close. They did remove an old hallway to give it a little more space, and it shows. Highly recommend getting reservations if you go.
We were also treated to a brief tour of the hotel grounds and ball room. The pool area is just beautiful with several Umlauf sculptures positioned in the area. Farrah!
Now I just gotta find a reason to go back sometime.

We valet parked
Dined in warmth of the fireplace spark
Enjoyed the open bar
Why’s the bathroom oh so far?
Baby there were some stars
Bacon mac and cheese in jars
Prime ribeye, medium rare
Crème brûlée I’d never share!
Because
[Chorus]
When Goodall’s calls, we dine together
Mansion there since, like, forever
Saw some old and new Unilocal friends
Awesome staff took care of us ’til the end
West Campus’ new place for fine dining
Brunch, or special client wining
Located in the Hotel Ella
Located in the Hotel Ella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
In the Hotel Ella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Crème Brûlée with Nutella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
In the Hotel Ella
(Ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh)
Special thanks to Goodall’s Kitchen and Bar, Courtney, Victoria, Kelly, whoever invented crème brûlée, my awesome table companions, all the Unilocal ladies who always make me feel out of my depth with how amazing they all always look, the bartender, and Nelson Mandela.
(apologies to Rihanna)

This is what Classy Cocktails should be. Alyssa B. and I man’ed up and started with a Shiner. If that doesn’t scream thug life, the gang sign photos we threw down at the cool kids table did later. Hashtag holla was spoken tonight while Allison L. and I posted some instafood snaps. This table of legend also had an intense discussion on whether or not Expendables 2 and Taken 2 were good movies.
This event was located in the place that used to be The Mansion at Judges Hill. (Goodall’s is way nicer than that place was. The food is better too). I also saw a statue in the back that kinda looked like the child with the severed hand from Arrested Development. So that was a bonus.
I definitely picked the correct table, Aaron A. was there. So there were some bro conversations. Luckily, we were seated in the path of the flood of food coming out of the kitchen.
Let me just say:
Chef’s Mac and Cheese — Sweet, I can check off this restaurant as kid friendly now. Mac and cheese with a shovel of bacon over the top. Awesome. It was like eating a hot fudge sundae and digging down for the goods. (but with cheese and pasta and no ice cream, you know)
The Ahi Tuna might have been my favorite part. The mixture of avocado was pretty delicious.
Also I would like to say, this place is a challenge to drink at. We should all get finisher’s ribbons. Navigating to the bathrooms that were OUTSIDE! Definitely a historical building!
I enjoyed the ballroom tour afterwards. Unilocal needs to have a party there. Thanks to Courtney B for organizing everything.

ALL GOOD AT GOODALLS!
I’m seriously going to start eating better eventually but my calendar is basically potluck, holiday party, Unilocal event, potluck, tub of ice cream.
Goodalls was a seriously classy spot. I had only been here once before for a Texas Exes Happy Hour so it was great to see a fancy restaurant pop up. I can definitely see some corporate recruiters wining and dining some college recruits here. My fellow Unilocalers («friends») cleaned up nicely for this event and I was lucky enough to be at the awesome round table with a dream team of elites. We discussed Jason Statham, tapioca, smoking, and everything in between.
Food was fantabulous of course. I loved everything — the ahi tuna, the juicy scallop in the sweet honey sauce, the bacon mac and cheese, and that AMAZING steak. It never stops there of course, dessert was this nutella crème brûlée that had us mentally engineering square spoons (shovels) so we could get in the corners of the dish for every last bite.
The service was spot-​on, we even had a dedicated cocktail waitress who was speedy and wonderful with recommending drinks. I tried a few cocktails but the West Campus Mule was my favorite in it’s cute copper mug. The GM was super cool and even mentioned the magic word (brunch!) when chatting with our table. I’ll be back! Thank you Unilocal for the good eats, you really do spoil us.

I love that we had the chance to experience Goodalls! This lovely old mansion has been on the fringe of campus for ever and the recent renovations resulted in a warm, but classy space. The staff was top notch, taking the time to explain each dish and ensure our cocktails were full.
The food and drinks were wonderful with only a few hiccups, which is to be expected from a newly launched space.
The Old Fashioned was the cocktail winner as my Moscow Mule tasted watered down to me. However, they use Fever Tree Ginger Beer in their mules so that is a definite plus.
The food was all beautifully plated. My only disappointments being the salad that seemed to be missing a dressing and the molten chocolate cake and prickly pear sorbet. The cake just didn’t do it for anyone at our table and I noticed the rest of the room agreed. Same was said for the sorbet that tasted more banana than prickly pear.
However, the scallops dish was solid with a delicious sweet onion honey sauce and a crisp hash brown to bring balance to the delicate scallop. The bacon mac and cheese was tasty with plenty of bacon and the big winner of the evening, the nutella crème brûlée had our entire table looking around as we pondered how to get each little bit out of the corners of the dish. Seriously, it was amazing.
We got a small tour of the place and the pool area is really beautiful. Again, everyone here was amazing and I was really impressed by the space.
Great food, great folks, what more could you ask for?

I really like the old-​fashioned feel of the old Judges Hill, but the newly rennovated space feels much more modern. The space is cool, with various shades of grey, and contrasted by a pleasing, warm fireplace. The space looks more spacious and elegant, yet still feels comfortable and intimate.
Not only was the space impressive, the menu was equally so. I enjoyed the modern menu, a fusion of traditional American foods with Asian and Mediterranean ingredients. Amy D. did an excellent job describing every dish we were treated to. All in all, great food and excellent cocktails.
Thank you Kelly, Courtney and Victoria for another great event. Also, a huge shout out to the staff at Goodalls for treating us to an intimate evening of great food and drinks. I look forward to coming back, especially for the chocolate molten lava cake!

My table wins at reviewing this event. ;-)
This was an extremely impressive, intimate affair where the focus was without a doubt the food and the drinks were copious and delicious. With every new dish put before us, from the ahi tuna with avocado served with a lightly dressed salad of greens, to the scallop over a bed of potatoes, to the mac ‘n cheese which is worth a trip alone, to the steak — omg the steak — and the Nutella crem brule… this place just smoldered.
Seriously this one was a panty dropper. Goddall’s was our hot date and last night, we all got lucky.
Thank you Kelly S, our fearless leader, for arranging everything — we missed you there! Thanks Courtney and Victoria for executing it flawlessly. Thank you to Godalls for putting up with us and the staff for spoiling us.

Sweet mother of pearl, we are some spoiled kids. I felt like Pinocchio when he’s in that wonderland where he gets whatever he wants. Open bar? You got it. Some scallops, otherwise known as the diamonds of the sea? Not even a problem. Crème brûlée — wait, with Nutella, you say? — drop your drawers, because they made us some.
The place is beautiful. I remember the space when it was Mansion at Judge’s Hill and I like what they have done to update it. Everything was ultra swanky (including all of you Unilocalers. yeah, I’m talking about you). Between some serious stop-our-waiter’s-here-okay-keep-going girl talk were succulent bites of red dead meat, tongue-​slapping fresh ceviche, and… you guys… that crème brûlée.
Courtney: Did you guys all get the desserts already?
Us: Uhhhhhhhhhhh (moral dilemma: do we lie or mumble or what?)
Courtney: Okay, good!
Us: (the sadness of a thousand worlds.)
That’s it. Slap that bass and get some Goodalls in your face. Unilocal is a miracle drug.

Anyone else still daydreaming about the delicious food and drinks form last night? Goodall’s is an elegant restaurant with dazzling chandeliers and beautiful patio.
Goodall’s is proof of the successful foodie town Austin has become. All the menu items we tried were exceptional. Gorgeously plated food came out timely as well as fancy cocktails. Usually I have a favorite dish but these were all so good and possibly progressively more impressive… it is just too hard to choose!
Ahi Tuna — served with fresh avocado garnished with jicama, radish and a Japanese dressing. I love fish in the raw and this dish embarrassing disappeared in seconds.
Spicy greens — a simple mix of crisp greens served with black pepper croutons, chicory, watercress and the Dijon vinaigrette added just enough kick.
Seared scallops — perfectly prepared scallop on top a hash brown cake saturated by mouth watering caramelized onion honey, yes please!
Red wine glazed prime rib eye — their was not question that this was quality steak and I think Goodall’s for leaving it a bit pink like I like it. The sides of fingerling potatoes and braised Swiss chard paired perfectly with the rib eye.
Chef’s mac & cheese — I am taking Jesse D here within the next week so he can try the best mac & cheese I have ever tasted! They took mac & cheese to the next level by adding bacon, jalapeño and topped this gooey goodness with chili pepper bread crumbs. I would say their mac & cheese is the ultimate comfort food.
And then there were desserts.
Nutella crème brûlée served with fresh fruit went perfect with my glass of Malbec. The chocolate molten cake served with brown sugar torched banana and prickly pear sorbet was heavenly.
Their drinks were also amazing. I am a sucker for a good Moscow Mule and their version, West Campus Mule served propper in a copper mug, did not disappoint.
The staff was completely on top of things. Erika took good care of us and kindly made drink suggestions. Johannes, their food and beverage director, stopped by to see if we had questions about the menu. Our grand finale was a tour of the courtyard from Jennifer. The statues and pool are simply breathtaking.
They offer brunch on the weekend and also serve lunch and breakfast. Another plus is they offer complimentary valet.
Thanks to all the staff at Goodall’s for treating us so well. Thanks Kelly S., Courtney B., and Victoria for making the culinary adventure happen for us!

Events like these are exactly why being an Elite is so much fun. Not just because free stuff is nice (although it is), but because these things are a blast. I’ll talk about the food first, since it was awesome.
The Goodall is a historic hotel that’s been renovated and has been open for a little over half a year. We got to sample some appetizers, some entrees, some dessert, and some drinks. We had small portions of a bunch of stuff:
— ahi tuna with avocado, and a «spicy greens» salad
— scallops with grilled eggplant and hashbrowns in a sweet onion honey
— bacon mac and cheese
— prime ribeye in a wine sauce with potatoes and chard
— nutella crème brûlée, and chocolate cake with bananas for dessert
Everything ruled and I would definitely go here again. To drink I had an Old Fashioned, a Sazerac, and what they called a Teutonic (tequila in tonic water). It was all delicious.
And last but not least, everyone I met was friendly and cool. It never ceases to amaze me that a bunch of people who have nothing in common save using the same reviewing website can hit it off well, but once again there wasn’t a dull moment the whole evening.
Thanks to all for putting this together, you rock!