NEIGHBORS KITCHEN & YARD -- BASTROP, TEXAS…read more It's currently approximately $197° in Texas and somehow Doug and I STILL walk into restaurants asking the same ridiculous question: "Can we sit outside?" At Neighbors Kitchen & Yard? YOU ABSOLUTELY WANT TO SIT OUTSIDE. Oh. My. Stars. Their multi-level outdoor space overlooks the Colorado River and has plenty of shade cloth, fans AND misters--which means even those of us determined to dine outdoors during the surface-of-the-sun portion of the Texas calendar can actually enjoy ourselves. Neighbors is located at The Crossing in Bastrop, which is a really cool little destination of its own with other businesses and shopping nearby. But let's get to the important stuff... BEER. CHEESE. DOGS. GREAT SERVICE. We happened to visit while they're trying out a Golden Hour special for September from 4-6 PM. Selected draft beers are $2 off, and appetizers--except wings--are also $2 off. Naturally... We considered it our responsibility to thoroughly investigate both specials. For research purposes, obviously. We tried FOUR different beers. Doug's winner was the Blonde. Mine? The BLUEBERRY BEER over ice. AWWEEEE SHITTTT. That was GOOD. Then came the food. OG Warm Cheese Dip Phenomenal. I would happily sit beside the Colorado River with that cheese dip and a beer and call it dinner. Doug ordered the Brussels sprouts. TO. DIE. FOR. Seriously, we were completely happy with everything we tried. But here's another thing that will get me every single time... They LOVE dogs. Not "we technically allow dogs." DOG FRIENDLY. Our pups were welcomed and immediately received two separate bowls of water. Little details like that tell me a lot about a place. And then there's Sadi, our server. SPECTACULAR. Friendly, attentive and one of those servers who helps turn a good outing into a place you're already talking about visiting again before you've even left. Great food. Great beer. Great specials. Fantastic service. Dogs genuinely welcomed. Beautiful Colorado River views. And an outdoor setup designed by people who apparently understand that some of us are stubborn enough to sit outside in Texas no matter WHAT. We LOVE it here. We will absolutely be back. Which brings us to... TW'S REAL PANTS RATING: -- 5 out of 5 Real Pants Would Doug and I leave the campground and put on real pants to come back? AWWEEEE SHITTTT... apparently we'd put them on in 197° weather. Neighbors didn't just earn all five pairs. They earned 'em with a river view, cold beer, warm cheese dip and water bowls for the dogs. That's how you knock our britches off. Portions were larger. We dove right in before pics.

This was our first visit to Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard. Sianna was our server and she was…read moreoutstanding!! We spent a couple of hours here (on a Saturday) because we were just chillin' and not in a hurry. The covered patio was perfect of a hot July day! We had an appetizer and a couple of Iron Bridge beers first. Then we ordered the Caprese Sandwich and a large pizza that was half "Gettin' figgy wit it" and half "Riverside Veggie". OMG! It was amazing! We also had the whiskey flight, an Old Pro and a Gold Rush. We completely loved everything that we ordered. And again, Sianna was such a great server. Very attentive and friendly without being over the top. We definitely will come back and ask for her next time we visit Bastrop. Great job guys! I can easily see why y'all are voted the best pizza! Thanks for such an amazing experience

I always have such good luck with distilleries and one of the more recent ones we have been to is…read moreCopper Shot Distillery that most certainly counts with this good streak. This is in the downtown area and it was a nice stroll from where we parked. We saw on Yelp that this place had a very good overall score average so we definitely made a point to get there. And it most certainly did not disappoint in the slightest. I got the Texas Honey Mule which has honeyed whiskey, lime juice and ginger beer. It was so, so good. I do love Moscow Mules anyway but the fact that they had a small menu of different ones was great to see! This drink Steve and I shared and we both enjoyed it immensely. The atmosphere is really cool with the exposed brick walls, decor and the distilling tanks. All of that and the drink had Copper Shot Distillery slide in easily with another five star review.

We were in town for the Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas and happened upon this…read moreplace. We were just going to sample a shot when we realized that it is connected to the to the super-comfortable cigar lounge. They stock some of the finest cigars on the planet and can talk cigars with the best (my brother). We were again surprised when the band fired up and played world-class rock and blues. The prices are reasonable and the dog show was free.

The Elephant Room is one of Austin's most widely known jazz venues. It is located below street…read morelevel on Congress Avenue. If you are claustrophobic, this might not be the best place for you. From the street level, you walk down steps to enter the club. This basement club delivers an authentic jazz experience. The dim lighting, narrow long room, and close seating create an intimate atmosphere. Live jazz musicians are hosted every night of the week, often with multiple sets, featuring a mix of local musicians, rotating house bands, and visiting musicians. Because of the tight space, you are always close to the stage. Tonight's headliner was the Concept Orchestra. Cover tonight was $7. Cocktails range $14-16. The room was pretty tightly packed creating positive vibes.

Elephant Room in Austin is a cozy basement bar that keeps you cool while you listen to shades of…read moresmooth jazz and blues. It is a fun little place with nice folks working there. The stage is a little weird angled relative to the audience but I guess that's a space constraint. While they do not serve food, that I know of, they have a standard selection of well drinks and cocktails to enjoy. You are coming here for the live music and underground vibes. If you are looking for a relaxed spot in Austin to beat the heat, grab a drink, and catch some amazing live tunes, Elephant Room is a fantastic place to spend an evening.

The food was delicious the atmosphere and ambience is refreshing and relaxing…read more The Texas air and sunset, coupled with a lovely breeze from the fans around the upstairs rooftop patio had us set for the night. We will definitely be back it was a win-10/10!

Its been a long minute since i gave been here. Haven't returned since a bartender padded her…read moretip...by $30 several years ago. This is through and through a space to drink and socialize with "upscaled" yet overpriced gastropub fare. ($4 for tortilla chips geez) Staff is always pleasant and this visit was par for the course. Very competent in the art of mixology, every drink was made precisely. They have nudged me to coming back again in the future s

Good bar food. Open mic is a blast. Waitress friendly You have to go to hill country but it's…read moreworth it.

Great place with great history, growing with a great music scene and outdoor venue as well! Love…read morethe website!

Great service!! Kevin is awesome!!!!!!…read moreGotta check this place out!!!!!! Great views!!!!

Really enjoyed this rooftop bar at the top of Marriott. It's totally open, but they have space…read moreheaters. The decor and the views are nice. Lots of space, comfy couches, and a good drink menu with some small plates as well. Our servers were also friendly and prompt. Great times, Highly recommend.

Friendly people and great cocktails + shopping! What a great combination!…read more Live music on Friday nights always brings out a nice group of people.

Great vibe on a Friday night. Jules has put together an eclectic venue that is a great design store…read moreduring the day and then transforms to a club scene. Live music from Brian Andrew Lee is amazing. He has great guitar skills and rich, full vocals. A must try spot in Lakeway.

Here Nor There was a fantastic experience. The interior vibe is quite lovely. My partner and I sat…read morein one of the side velvet booths. I loved how personal that area felt. We were able to have a conversation without feeling like others were listening. The music is very different than the vibe of the actual area. They were playing different rap & hip-hop artists. It was loud, but I enjoyed it. It felt very Austin-y. Loved the drinks. There was one that had something to do with Bob's Lake, or something like that. That drink was absolutely delicious. We also got the caviar service, and I really enjoyed that. Was not crazy about the blinis, I believe they were made with black corn flour. The crème fraîche was very nice. Very nice night out. This place also doesn't feel overly expensive. It's expensive, but in a similar price range to other cocktail bars in the area.

You're gonna love the vibe of this speakeasy. I visited for the first time on a Wednesday evening…read moreand enjoyed a handcrafted menu (literally, the menu is hand drawn) full of unique and delectable cocktails. There is something for everyone--no kidding. I loved their spin on a Paloma and my friends enjoyed standard items like old fashions and Moscow mules. Very very comfortable lounge seating, plush velvet and other soft textiles with leatherette coasters. Very elevated and calm. Music is perfect but kinda loud so conversation is a bit of a struggle. It is very very very dark in there so it's super intimate and features candles and mini tap light lamps. If you have sight or mobility issues, you may not like this venue from a safety standpoint. Steep incline stairs lead down to this dungeon like hold. I would return in a heartbeat. Must have the password. Exclusive and decadent is the mood. So if it matches you, you have to visit!

The service was excellent and the food was great…read more I would definitely recommend this place

SERVICE: table side, attentive AMBIANCE: clean, cozy,…read morerelaxing FLAVORS: short ribs (10/10) - it's only 4 slices but they are the best most flavorful short ribs I've had in a while! pork chop (8/10) - SO tender and juicy, but the topping of crunchy peppers with goat cheese and potato puree were discordant even though tasty PORTIONS: filling and hearty PRICE: $$$$ BONUS TIP: parking is $10 and not validated like with Krause.... Hmmm

Great vibe, social bunch of cigar smokers. Not clicky and low-key bougie like some of the places…read morehere in Austin the new management team has set the tone for easy to hang easy to enjoy environment.

First time in Austin. This lounge a short drive from my hotel. Friendly staff, nice selection of…read morecigars including several local sticks. The Aldino Cameroon recommended by Ty was very tasty. Great ambiance.