Old Thousand

A lot to like right off the bat at Old Thousand. It's big inside, but doesn't feel too big. For example, Fork & Vine was huge in side, and that set off alarms in my brain that equate small interior with exclusivity and quality. Old Thousand has divided sections, a continuos wall-mounted bench, a long bar, and (as Erin pointed out) lots of low hanging lamps that make it feel like an authentic Chinese tea-house. It's also sunk below street level, which always gives me that cozy, unobserved feeling. 

Service was friendly and attentive, but since we were the only ones there at 5:30 on a Wednesday this might not mean much. Our server explained the menu, recommending that we 'choose one thing from each section'. I started with an Old Fashioned which was fine: basic, without aromatic depth.

An old fashioned

Next up was a favorite of Erin's & mine: Scallion pancakes. These were served hot and crispy with some real heat in the sweet chili sauce. The soy-based dipping sauce was a good counterpoint to the sweet coating. Enjoyable!

Scallion pancakes

Another that Erin & I make at home: fried green beans. They give this an ol' "Old Thousand spin" with mustard sauce and crispy shallots. The mustard was very forward, but as you ate more it moved to the background and you noticed the good crisp bite on the beans and the crunchy shallots. 

Fried green beans

The beans paired really nicely with the next dish: noodles and beef. The beef was cooked medium rare and very tender. Noodles had a chewy bite which was an unexpected (and pleasant) surprise in a saute dish like this.

Beef and noodles

Dishes were brought out one at a time which was a bit weird for a Chinese restaurant. I prefer to have a few things at once and mix & match on my plate. Example: the vegetable fried rice was brought out last, after we were halfway through the beef and noodles.  It was fine, but a bit bland (needed salt t.b.h) and not the kind of note I wanted to end on. Decorative, crispy carrot spirals were kinda neat.

Vegetable fried rice. Salt on the table would have helped this one quite a bit.

Old Thousand has a lot to offer, and I would definitely go back. Seems a good place for a bigger group, too.  However I think Austin is still missing an upscale, traditional Chinese place. I wanted this to be it, and they hit high marks for quality and freshness, but I wish they'd forgone their signature accents and applied the same efforts to straight takes on Chinese classics.

3 out of 5 aemon-stars.