Kerbey Lane Cafe

December 20th, 2000

The Secret of Kerbey Lane's Carrot Cake:

"Is there one? I don't know." - Ms. Pacman

Kerbey Lane is one of those Quintessential Austin Restaurants, in the class of Magnolia's or Trudy's. Open 24/7, it is host to an eclectic crowd of people, from black leather to flannel types and everything in between. When I visited Kerbey Lane for the first time (at 2 a.m. on a Sunday), there was a woman in the corner in black boots and a low-cut leopard print shirt, looking like she came straight from an unsuccessful night on the town. Across the room from her were high-schoolers in jeans and a couple of yuppies. Fat or thin, hot and ugly, all the interesting people come to Kerbey Lane. But enough about the clientele.

On this particular night, we started with the Kerbey Queso, a hearty lump of quacamole covered in cheese and pico de gallo. I don't know what they put in that cheese, but it's not like anything I've tasted elsewhere: indescribable and magnificent! (It came quickly, although once I had a waiter who seemed to be stoned, although he was probably just tired, who took forever. Tip: Since a lot of the help are students, and if you want prompt and alert service, avoid finals time if you can.) But enough about the cheese.

We give Kerbey Lane's carrot cake three and a half carrots. Why? Porque it is our first carrot cake review and we felt that we should be fair but not too fair. But, Kerbey Lane does make a pretty mean carrot cake as far as the traditional carrot cake goes. What makes it a traditional carrot cake? Carrots! And raisins, walnuts, buttery icing, cakey. The whipped cream was a nice touch.

The icing was the cracky kind, not creamy. I prefer creamy and lots of it, but this wasn't bad. However, the amount of icing in the armpit (see diagram below) was overwhelming, and I couldn't finish my piece as a result. A lot of frosting at the end and dense without being too crumbly. Enough cake to feed two.

But enough about the carrot cake. Kerbey Lane Cafe is located on the eponymous Kerbey Lane, and they've opened a branch on the drag as well. Drop by and tell them The Austin Carrot Cake Review sent you.

The whipped cream on top of the cake was a nice touch and much appreciated.

Tips:

• Avoid finals time if you want faster service.
• Park in their driveway - that's what it's there for.
• Pass the dutchie on the left-hand side.