Can't believe this spot only has 4 stars, because it was a solidly 5-star experience for me. The service was so good, the drinks were strong but full of flavor, and the food was super yummy. The highlight for me was the mushroom mac read more

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I've been to drink well many many times. And I keep coming back because the drinks are good and the place is cozy. But every time I do I always get really annoyed by the service. It's like getting bangs, you think it's a good idea and forgot how bad they look on you until you decide to cut them again. This is how I feel about drink well. I forget how much their service bothers me and I come back craving an old fashion. But maybe this time I learned my lesson? The service is VERY slow all the time. Last night they were very slow, unusual for them. And it still took forever for drinks. First one had to take 15min And I swear our zero personality server made me feel like we annoyed him just with our presence. He sighed just when he came over, like he was exhausted, annoyed, or just a terrible person lol I worked in the service industry for a very long time and it's kinda part of it to not be a dick all the time... Either way I love the drinks but am over the service. They suck. read more

I went here one my first date and this guy said you have to get the Mac and cheese and the changed his mind so I insisted and after sharing our bowl it's AMAZING. I'm a truffle out of the books freak about create Mac and cheese masterminds. Jessica is A ROCKSTAR. And if you are ever in north loop area CHECK THIS GEM OUT. It's a no brainer for the best quality food and best quality service. Gracias gracias gracias read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I am so disappointed with the changes here. This used to be a great bar with lively ambiance. You could grab a drink at the bar and stand, or of you wanted to eat, could grab a table. On a recent visit, my friends and I were informed that all patrons had to be assigned to a "designated area". They advised that this was a change that took place during Covid. Unfortunately, this significantly changes the feel of the venue. Austin has enough restaurants...miss having a great cocktail bar that was easy and out of the bustle of downtown. read more

Great drinks and great service! Our waiter kasey was awesome and made our night!! Also they have sotol! read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Bars have really had to get creative to survive and Drink Well was definitely one of the first bars to emerge with a solid curbside offering, clearly understanding the new normal. Bottled to-go cocktails are my current everything and Drink Well's are top notch. It's not the same as grabbing a seat at the bar, but the quality still brings me back to one of my favorite places in Austin. We've grabbed dinner and cocktails several nights and every time I'm reminded of why I love this bar so much. The bespoke cocktail is a super fun addition to the menu and we loved the one we got the night we took a chance! Normally huge fans of the burger (seriously - so good!), the other night we decided to try the chicken sandwich. Holy moly! It's going to be hard to decide what to order next time! read more

This was my first time here. I came upon various rec's from several other Yelpers. I just wish I had a better food experience to report back on since I had been looking forward to trying their Kimchi Reuben for awhile now. The Kimchi Reuben I received was so subpar I honestly am just so disappointed to relive the whole thing. First off, my reuben was so dry...I honestly don't even know that it had anything BUT the kimchi on it. Secondly, the bread was so overcooked, it was overly crispy to bite into and on several occasions entire SECTIONS of the bread just fell off. Thirdly, there was more kimchi than there was actual meat, cheese, or dressing. The chips and dip that accompanied the "sandwich" were more appetizing than the sandwich itself. The staff was nice enough and my food came out super fast, but for the price, the quality was no where near where it should have been. Sad to report, yet another Austin spot where I can make a better reuben at home. I did not do any of the cocktails, just a draught beer, but honestly, there was no redeeming the sad sandwich 'perience here. I don't ever see myself coming back because of it, I am more than desolate to report. read more

Drink Well - The spicy kimchi reuben - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Very cool atmosphere, great drinks and excellent service. The chick pea appetizer was so delicious! read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Unfriendly waiter and uncomfortable seating were bad enough, but 20% service charge?? What a load of crap. Never again.

Great spot, great atmosphere but expensive for what you get. If money is of no concern, go for it!

I'm all down for a cozy cocktail bar but this place is nothing special. The drinks are tiny and they're trying too hard with the ingredients they're mixing. My fiancé got the exile in argyll which not only had bourbon and a 10 year scotch, but Campari as well. The waitress said it was one of her favorite drinks so why not, they must know what they're doing. Let me tell you, they do not. Whoever decided to layer scotch and Campari should go straight to jail. It was the most disgusting drink I've ever had and the first ever that neither of us could finish. I swear to god they just blindly threw darts at a board when creating that one. The guy at the table next to us ordered the same thing and he hated it as well. We didn't ask to exchange it because I read their strict "no exchange policy" but our waitress did end up taking it off our bill. We also had the stunt double, queen beryl and Luna mystica and none of them were special. For food we started with the dolmas and you get 3 for $9. I always find it annoying when an appetizer comes in 3's and they don't say it on the menu. We also got the hummus and when they say "on toast" that's exactly what they mean, you get one piece of toast with the hummus already on it that you have to cut up to share, instead of just being normal and serving the hummus with toast points. The only redeeming thing on the menu was the mushroom Mac and cheese, it was delicious and I wouldn't change a thing. The last thing that put a bad taste in my mouth is the automatic 20% charged on every order for "employee wellness." Instead of paying their employees a fair wage, they put the responsibility on the patrons and suggest that you still "tip" on top of it. I never tip less than 20% anyways, but you're not really giving your staff much of an incentive to go above and beyond, are you? All in all, will not be back. read more

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Awesome craft cocktails. Great bar food. Vegetarians, feast on: crispy ancho chickpeas (vegan), housecut potato chips and dips, black-eyed pea fritters, Antonelli's cheese board, smoked cauliflower & arugula salad (vegan), grilled spice-rubbed cantaloupe (vegan option), golden beet risotta, and cauliflower gnocchi. I wish I was there right now! Only cons? Small place, street parking. read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Stopped in for a quick drink while waiting for a to go order nearby. Staff were friendly and the cocktails were tasty. I had the fizzical graffiti, which was described as a pisco sour meets French 75 with a fall twist. It was refreshing and had a variety of flavors that resulted in a well rounded drink. I would definitely recommend it! They have both indoor and outdoor seating, but limited onsite parking. The food menu looked great, so looking forward to going back! read more

Drink Well - Old fashion - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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When searching for this neighborhood pub on my recent visit to Austin, I initially was a little confused. "Uh... we're not really in a restaurant district," I told my dining companion. And that's true: Drink Well is in a very suburbia-like area and its exterior doesn't exactly stand out. But once you're inside, you'll be greeted by trendy decor, a friendly staff and beer to boot. We ordered a plethora of menu items, ranging from the mac 'n cheese to hot wings and lox. Everything was delicious, though I wished the portions were sliiiightly bigger. What can I say, I have a big appetite. If I lived in the holy city of Austin, I'd frequent this pub regularly (especially if I needed to impress a date). read more

Drink Well - Mac and cheese! - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I really loved this place (4.5 star) because of the great service as well as the unique cocktail they had. I had this Japanese whisky (Toki) cocktail, which is surprisingly not heavy but mild and smooth. I could probably go ahead and try one more item if nobody stopped me, just because of the unique list of items that they had. The old fashion that a buddy of mind had was solid as well. I'd love to come back here for food as well as other drink items in the near future. read more

Great place to hang and chat. A bit small inside but it does not feel like it. Had a great service, was there for happy hour and the drinks were good. Will definitely come back :) read more

Drink Well - Two whiskey and cokes with the happy hour charcuterie board. Yum! - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Okay, if you've never been here before...understand that it's a neighborhood gem. You get in line to order and then a serve will bring it out to you where you're sitting. It's small and cozy so if you come when it's busy you may be standing to enjoy your drink and company. I come here when i'm in the mood for a curated drink. Also their shot glasses are really cute! I also have cravings for their hamburgers and love their skinny fries. It's not skinny because it's baked, it's skinny cut =P read more

Great little place for really good cocktails, but your bill will be up charged with a "wellness fee" to pay for the employees health insurance and PTO. Ridiculous, you want us to pay for $20 dollar drinks but can't pay for your own employees health insurance!? Weird. read more

Horrible. The waitress was extremely rude the second we walked in. They turned my 23 year old husband down because they "didn't feel comfortable" serving him because of his (real) ID. If you're looking for nice service, I do not recommend this place at all. read more

I was not feeling well on my last trip to Austin but I really wanted to have ONE night of cocktail celebration. After passing Drink Well several times on our way to other places, we decided to stop in to have a cocktail at this neighborhood abode. Good decision. The cocktails are fresh and carefully made, the food is solid bar food with a twist, AND they have housemade twinkies! Please note, the menu changes every so often, so some of my selections on our visit are no longer available. On our visit, I went with a cocktail that was a variation of a mojito, an order of the housemade chips, the spicy pickled eggs, the bacon wrapped dates, and one of the housemade twinkies to try a bit of everything. The cocktail, The Queen's Spark Swizzle, was fresh and tangy with a good balance of flavors - mint, lime juice, and bitters were the dominant palate pleasers. The chips were good, maybe a little too charred for my taste, but the onion aioli dip was wonderful! The spicy pickled eggs were good, but at $4 for 2 eggs a little pricey, and it was a similar situation with the bacon wrapped dates. $6 for 4-5 small dates stuffed with almonds and wrapped with bacon but they were tasty! When we got the twinkie, we were thinking it was going to be a cake because we didn't read the board correctly, and it was just okay. Definitely light and airy, but it lacked the flavor that I desired. Overall, this is a place that I would try again because I really liked the laid-back vibe, but I'll pick my food choices a little more carefully next time. read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Small menu but great food, amazing service... cute little place, drinks were great. We definitely will be back

This place lives up to all of the accolades it has received. From great drinks to the amazing food this place is a great spot to get your evening started. read more

Overrated. 3 HH drinks came to $40. 20% additional service charge is non sense. Thats the owners responsibility not the consumers. Wont be back read more

This review is for 4.5 stars. Came here for drinks late Saturday night. Long story short they have everything you need and want - TV, local draft and cans, tons of cocktails, and good bar food like fries, perfect for snacking. Prices typical with cocktails about $10-12. Open late and parking simple in the area with street parking in the neighborhood if needed. Not sure I'd say drive 15 minutes out of your way for Drink Well, but if near the area it's one of the best for drining. read more

Cute little neighborhood bar. Bring your dog and sit outside in a sunny day. All the cocktails are well-balanced and are a twist on a classics. The food is perfect for sharing. read more

This place is so small and cramped, if you slipped some Viagra into every guy's drink here, hilarity would ensue. None of the trendsters we noticed paid any attention to each other, they were too busy looking for a place to sit. And when five of us left the delightful Ashley S. alone at our table so we could pay out and smoke, a herd of hipsters descended upon it like zombies at a petting zoo, and forced Ashley to flee for her life. But just because I felt claustrophobic doesn't mean you will - in fact, it's admirable what they've done to this location: Across the street from Foreign & Domestic, they've reinvented the neighborhood bar and made it the latest coolest hippest place to be. This whole North Loop-53rd Street/Airport Blvd area just keeps moving on up. The Drink.Well staff is sharp and efficient, and apparently culled from the best places Downtown. My group praised the booze and beer selections. I was drinking iced tea, and yes, it was great - no institutional powder mix here. There's also no wait service, you order and pay for your drinks and food at the far right end of the bar. You get an Uno card and they bring your stuff to you. Speaking of food, it's a limited menu that's ambitious, but I'd consider coming here just for the booze. The homemade potato chips and the two dips we tried were pretty good, and that was about it. The ''ZLT" sandwich with zucchini strips instead of bacon reminded me of a frozen food panini, and I thought the homemade "Twinkies" were nothing special and simply overpriced at $3 a pop. Incidentally, if you're vegetarian, don't come here hungry; if you're vegan, I do believe you're SOL. All things considered, put Drink.Well on your list, at least to check it off. Will a visit here change your life? Ease your inner strife? Bump into your next wife? Probably not, but since you're reading this right now, you're exactly the kind of hip and cool client they're looking for. And if this is your hood, you've got your own Downtown warehouse district within walking distance. I'm wondering if I should envy you or not. read more

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I stopped at Drink Well on a Saturday night to find it overcrowded and LOUD. I mean elbow to elbow crowded and my ears are still ringing this morning type of loud. There was nowhere to sit and standing meant shuffling around constantly while customers made there way into dead end corners as they were trying to find a place to stand. They have a drink line but since most people are there to drink cocktails, the line moved pretty slow. I ordered Haile's Hangar and loved the refreshing lemony drink. However for a small drink that consists of 3 liquors and fresh lemon you might expect it to be a strong drink no? Jesse ordered Vieux Carre which is a cognac, sweet vermouth and Benedictine served with a huge ball of ice. He enjoyed his drink as well but said it seemed week. The good was the place is cute, the staff friendly and the drinks we ordered did taste good. But if I am going to pay $17 for two fairly week drinks in a standing room only in North Loop, I would much rather head down the road to Tigress where at least you get your moneys worth. read more

After dinner, certain among us wanted a nightcap. Knowing that this place was just opened, we moseyed on down to grab a bev and entered the beautiful, if a tad cozy, space. I'm terrified of how crowded this spot will be when people catch on but for now, it was pleasantly busy. Though we didnt need any food at that point, we did enjoy a delicious cocktail each with fancy things like Tiki Bitters and Creme de Violette. Adam from Congress was behind the bar with his carefully groomed mustache, the bartender was sweet enough to buy me my cocktail when they were out of the ingredients for the one I ordered and gorgeous men were everywhere. The space is small, the lighting is ambient and the drinks were oooh la la. They've done a masterful job of building out the space and still retaining the neighborhood vibe. Again, I think that when this place gets crowded, and it will, that there will be no hope of getting that mixiest of mixed cocktails but until then, I'll enjoy watching all that pretty crafting. (I wish they were able to extend their hours past 11 but that's all city.) read more

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Call the sitter, we're going back to Drink.Well! We took advantage of a kidless night for some early bar visiting. Drink.Well was a nice escape from my normal parenting escapades. I had the drink special, the Pearl Snap Shandy. I wasn't sure what to expect since the base of the drink was Austin Beerworks Pearl Snap but I am always won over by grapefruit and this drink had it in there twice over. It was unexpectedly yummy. Hubs had the Dead Man's Party and the Vieux Carre - both were delicious although I think the Vieux Carre was the winner if the two had a duel for taste. We ate the charred brussel sprouts, and while they weren't Uchiko's brussel sprouts, they were dang tasty. Bacon makes everything better. Crack and cheese was next and perfectly creamy, cheesy, with crunches of duck bacon and cracklins. So good. We *may* have had a fight over who got the last bite. And then we split the kobe burger. It was a solid burger. I can't wait to go back and try some of their other cocktails and tasty bites. read more

Drink Well - Pearl snap shandy. Yum. - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Drink Well was a nice little surprise considering the divey nature of the North Loop district. Dim lighting, candles, and fresh flowers. Very romantic and intimate. Good for both a date night and winding down with friends. I had "The Burger" which was white cheddar deliciousness. My only complaint is that it fell apart very easily. I had to eat it with a fork. The burger was served with house cut potato chips or salad. All food and drinks are ordered at the end of the bar. Definitely stake out a table first, put something down to claim it, then go order. Seating is limited and it was pretty busy for a Thursday night. I felt like the food was served pretty quickly. Plates are cleared very quickly by staff. Overall, I had a really good experience! I would definitely recommend. read more

Drink Well - "The Burger" - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Drink Well - please learn how to treat your guest. Your drinks do not back up your attitude and your service is terrible. Small and Cramped - Tiny Selection - Rude Servers - read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

Overall, the cocktails were pretty good. The food was decent, but lacked flavor. Service was HORRIBLE. We sat at the bar and after our first round, both bartenders ignored us the entire time. Didn't check on us once. Based on this first impression, we will not be back. Oh, and 20% gratuity is already added, so I guess that's what makes them feel they can give awful service. read more

Perfect for a drink after dinner. Cramped space, so a little busy, but that can be fun. Drinks were pricey but also delicious.

We weren't sure what to expect but we were told to try Drink Well by an Austin native. You choose your own table and then order at the bar. There were only two front of house workers while we were there and a good amount of people ordering but the process was smooth and simple. We each got an Austin Eastciders cider and really enjoyed them. Not too sweet. We decided to go with all appetizers and share : roasted chick peas, hummus, fries, and cheese board. Everything was great! The hummus had a citrusy bite that had us going back for more. The pita triangles were the perfect accompaniment, with little bits of char on them. The cheese board had 3 cheeses (wasn't sure what they were but they were all good!). It could have used a better variety of spreads/fruits/honey type sides to compliment the cheeses. All in all the food was really good and the ambiance was pleasant. read more

Drink Well - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Very cool, trendy, hole in the wall spot in north Austin. We went for happy hour on a Wednesday at 6pm and this spot was rocking - packed from when we walked in until we left. One thing I thought was interesting, was that unless you were seated at the bar, you didn't have a "server". When seated at a table, you have to get up and go to the designated ordering station for beer/cocktail refills and food orders. They will bring it out to your table but that is the extent of service in the dining areas. The cheeseburgers are thin patties and your only option is well-done for the meat. I'm a medium rare guy so this puzzled me a bit, but it actually was still rather tasty. The brussels were delicious and I would also recommend the charcuterie board. Overall- definitely worth a shot, I like this place. Great spot to meet up for happy hour and appetizers! read more

I love that North Loop is its only little mini district. Been out drinking in this 'hood plenty, and now it was time to get some dinner out here. Walked into Drink.Well and I was a little surprised at how small this place is. Dim lighting, seat yourself, order at the bar. This place is cute and quaint, but don't expect to come in with more than a few people. They have a pretty limited menu, and I think this is much more of a bar (hence the name). I ordered the Butternut Squash Risotto, which although the portion was small, it was so delicious. Creamy Pumpkin, butternut, and toasted nuts on top, I was in love with this dish. Hubs ordered the Roasted Pork with root Vegetables. He said it was really good, too. We split a $3 Twinkie, which was topped with cool whip and strawberries. Yum. My only complaint is that they brought my husbands meal ~7 minutes before mine.... So he was almost done by the time I got mine! You have to order at the bar, which is a slight pain. Nice beer selection and totally reasonable prices, though. read more

Drink Well - Housemade Twinkie !! Worth the $3 - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Drinkwell may very well be the reason I decided to come back to Austin. I love the North Loop area and I couldn't stop thinking about Drinkwell's twinkies. The twinkie had some sort of bleu cheese and fruit filling, with the best twinkie cake I've ever had. It was warm and gone in about 2 seconds. The drinks are awesome. I got some sort of Sazerac cocktail, which blew my socks off. My friend wanted a girly drink (her words) and couldn't find one on the menu, so the bartender, Dennis, made her a Mai Tai from scratch with some sort of pyrotechnics, a dozen types of booze and fruit juices. I was impressed. This place exemplifies what I love about Austin: laid-back people, good service, weird but good food. I really need another twinkie. read more

Polite service and great drinks and food. Why do I rate it so lowly then? Mostly because of the other clientele. If you could find an off hour and come here, I'm sure it's lovely, but every time I visit it's standing room only with loud parties at every table. Although the food and drink are priced reasonably considering their extremely high quality, I don't want to pay $50 for dinner while someone is yelling in my ear the entire time and TNT is playing on a tv. If you can stand that though, you can't go wrong with anything on either the food or drink menu. It's all fantastic. read more

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Dennis, Ania, Aaron, Carley are all phenomenal bartenders. The food is well above average. Can't believe I can get cocktails that taste this good with food that's this good in the same place. I'm surely dreaming. If you're lucky, you'll run into some of the nicest owners in Austin -- Mike & Jessica. Jessica even gets behind the bar to sling a few drinks every once in awhile. Friendly staff, talented staff, one of the few places I "trust my cocktail life to" in Austin. It's also my "Cheers bar," where they all actually know my name. One of the best whiskey selections (especially bourbon) in the city. Get the burger, the PBB&J, or the housemade potato chips. They're my food menu highlights. And, one of the coolest features: housemade twinkies with weekly flavor changes. This bar is MY JAM! Just don't tell too many people. ;) read more

Drink Well - Pickled eggs. - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I have a penchant for small intimate spaces. I think I've watch Casablanca too much and half expect a piano playing when I walk in to a joint like this. So, if you are looking for small and intimate you will find that ambiance here in spades. I'm a fan of this place for so many reasons. This place is my official therapist and I come to get a refill on my Rx of whiskys, gins, and rums. I adore their Old Fashions, their Tom Collins and a drink called, "Avant Gardner". I like them made with different varieties of spirits so I can taste the subtleties in the drink. How does the barrel age whisky effect my drink? How does this white rum taste vs spicy rum? Is this Gin more juniper-y? The food here is also very, very good. I adore the cheese plate and the Reuben sandwich. In close second is the cheesy Risotto, which I like to add chicken to it. Regarding the staff, they treat me well and I do the same. But they treat others like they treat me. Last night, I watched some lady snap at Dennis because her salad didn't have chicken. Dennis calmly said he would fix it and and you know what, he did. I watch him bring a corrected salad within a few minutes right back. The bar staff also takes care in making drinks. They make magic and look like they are enjoying their craft even when it gets busy. And it get's busy. Hold steady, though. The bar staff will get you a drink quickly. I don't really mind the wait. This is my fav place and they know my name. Come and find me on Tuesdays and I'll introduce you to my therapist. He's accepting new clients. read more

Drink Well - Gin martini! Ohdearjeeebus - Gastropubs Near Me - Austin, Texas

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