Waterloo Ice HousePhoto by Joe Olivieri

Ted Karam, president/CEO of Waterloo Ice House, stands in the Escarpment Boulevard location.

Restaurant revamps menu, eyes expansion

Waterloo Ice House is designed for hanging out.

The actual floor plan seems to support what President/CEO Ted Karam calls the restaurant's "whole family entertainment" philosophy: there is a bar with sports-tuned TVs up front, the dining area in the middle and a special section with playground access out back.

"We're not trying to rush anyone or shoo anyone off," Karam said. "We're not always coming around, asking if they'd like anything else. People could stay here for hours if that's what they wanted."

Waterloo first opened on Congress Avenue in the mid-1970s and has hosted Lyle Lovett and Uncle Walt's Band, according to its website.

Karam took over Waterloo in 1993. Diners and critics had embraced the restaurateur's burgers in Houston, and Karam hoped to continue making "the burgers he liked to eat" here in Austin.

Like many Austin eateries, Waterloo touts the freshness and local sources of its ingredients. Nothing is frozen, the beef is grain-fed, and Sweetish Hill Bakery & Cafe bakes the breads, he said.

Waterloo plans to roll out a revamped menu in early April. There will be new specials, omelets and build-your-own burger options. One new item is the Farmhouse Brunch Burger ($8.95), a 1/3-pound hamburger topped with an over-medium egg and bacon.

Select items on Waterloo's breakfast menu—the restaurant's "hidden gem," according to Karam—will be available all day long.

Waterloo is doing strong business, Karam reported; sales are up at its eight Austin-area locations. The restaurant plans to add locations in Cedar Park and Kyle in 2014, he said.

"We try to be in the service business," he said. "We serve good food, but we want to make people feel welcome."

Breakfast selections

  • Waterloo Migas—Two eggs, tomatoes, onions, peppers, tortilla chips, grated cheddar cheese, bacon, sausage or ham, tortillas and refried beans ($7.50)
  • Build-your-own breakfast tacos—Pick three: eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, cheddar cheese, jack cheese, potatoes, onions, bell peppers, jalapeos, tomatoes, refried beans ($2.50)
  • Chicken-fried steak breakfast—Hand-breaded steak, two eggs, hash browns, cream gravy, biscuits or toast ($9.50)

Lunch and dinner

  • Texas tortilla catfish—Catfish with corn meal and crushed tortilla breading, served with jalapeo tartar sauce, cole slaw and french fries ($10.25)
  • Veggie sandwich—Roasted yellow squash, zucchini, portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, field greens with melted jack cheese and basil pesto on a whole-wheat bun ($8.95)
  • BBQ sirloin tacos—sirloin with barbecue sauce, grilled onions, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and two fried onions ($8.50)

More options

  • Triple-decker quesadillas—Grilled chicken or sirloin, jack and cheddar cheese, grilled onions, tomatoes and poblanos layered in flour tortillas ($8.50)
  • Grilled chicken taco salad—Grilled chicken on house-mixed greens with guacamole, tomatoes, jack cheese, black bean corn pico and chives with sour cream, salsa, ranch dressing and crispy tortilla wedges ($9.75)
  • Texas Philly—Marinated sirloin steak or chicken, onions, poblanos and queso blanco on a toasted hoagie ($8.95)
  • Turkey meatloaf—Oven-roasted turkey meatloaf, caramelized onion-tomato sauce, mashed potatoes, roasted zucchini and squash ($10.25)

Southpark Meadows

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