My daughter got married at Chapel Dulcinea 2 weeks ago, and it was absolutely magical. The chapel…read morestaff were excellent to work with and I was very pleased. HOWEVER, for convenience, we also chose to have her reception on site at the Veranda Room, since it was to be a small gathering (45-50 people). Indigo and Joe, the couple in charge of renting and maintaining the Veranda Room, left a LOT to be desired. Indigo was our first point of contact. She seemed extremely uninterested in showing us the venue and was very difficult to get ahold of from day 1. When we were finally able to plan to meet her with the wedding coordinator, she showed 15 minutes late and skulked in the back of the room, not approaching or interacting with us in the least, until I approached her and asked if she was Indigo. During this meeting, we laid out the entire reception plan. As is standard, our coordinator outlined a specific table setup inside, which included dancing on the patio. Indigo was present for this meeting, yet we were not told any of what we outlined (with her) during that meeting was an issue until the day before the wedding. Admittedly, this was ultimately a shortfall on the part of the planner (she misunderstood the number of tables available), but it also tells me that Indigo was not in any way engaged in the lengthy conversation we all had with her that day and didn't actually look at the plan until the day before the event, which was then followed by several frantic phone calls to me for a resolution. Fast forward to the day of...they don't give you much time to set up the entire reception, as the reception reservation was from 5-10 pm (the ONLY availability without having to reserve it all day, we were told), and the ceremony time that came with it was 5:30-6:30, with no wiggle room whatsoever. We knew this and planned accordingly, but would never have been able to pull off such a tight schedule without a LOT of help. According to Indigo, Joe was 'in charge' of sound. However, he was always 'unavailble' and never showed to go over their sound system until 10 minutes before the couple walked in, and then announced that we were not allowed to have music on the patio, where we had planned weeks before, WITH INDIGO, to have the dancing. Thank heavens our planner was able to pivot on a moment's notice, or things would have taken a nosedive. It did cause me to miss a lot of the photo time between the ceremony and reception because I had to pair up with the day of coordinator to become the conflict resolution specialist, for which, as the mother of the bride, I'm still pretty salty. To add insult to injury, my daughter (the bride) reported that, during the reception, Joe approached her and announced loudly in front of her group of friends that they are running the place at a loss and made a big deal about how he and his wife "have to come back to clean up whenever there is a wedding." It warrants noting here that we paid full asking price for this venue, so if they need more to run the place at a profit, they should include it in their price point instead of trying to guilt the bride at the reception! Also, if it is a problem to work at night to close up a wedding venue after a reception for which the client is packed up and gone by the contracted time of departure, they SHOULD NOT RUN A WEDDING VENUE! Despite the absolute unprofessional behavior of this couple, the other people in charge of making this wedding reception happen were able to work around them and make it beautiful, which is the reason for my 3 star rating. If the experience would have relied solely upon Joe and Indigo, my rating would have been lower. In short, I absolutely recommend that you either retain a wedding planner who is adept at working with inconsistent and misinformation or get married in the chapel and have your reception off-site. The Alchemy bar staff was superb, the chapel staff were great at helping us work around Joe and Indigo, and it turned out beautifully, despite our difficult interactions with them.

This venue is beautiful and the team made my party a breeze…read more Tuscan Hall is already beautifully decorated with garland and lighting. The tables and table linens are included, so the only decor I added was centerpieces. The room has a great sound system and a projector with a big screen. The room was perfect for my party with 40 people--not crowded, not cavernous. Could have easily held 50, and more if you take advantage of the beautiful outside area. It was too cold during my event. Many of my guests commented on what a beautiful, intimate venue it was. And don't be scared that it seems far from Austin. Many of my guests used Uber or Lyft and didn't have any problem getting a ride.

Let my start by saying not all of the photos for Thurman's mansion are truly this event space…read more This is the building with the large front lawn and large columns. It has a semi large ballroom that would easily house 125. The floors are a nice terra-cotta tile and this space has large windows. On the right hand side there are a few windows with stained glass. Check the photo I posted they are very lovely. At the very end of the room is a distinctive wooden bar. The wood is stained dark and it has an aged look to it. There are double doors that lead to the 1st floor patio. This area is a very nice space for cocktails, I would date say you could get 50 to 75 people out there. Beyond the patio are red brick stairs that lead to the large lawn. The large lawn is where you can play lawn games and or hold a ceremony. I will be honest you can hear some of the traffic on the main road. I am sure that would be less noticeable if soft music was playing.the next thing I noticed about this place is that the upstairs are dedicated to the wedding party. There is a suite for the bride and the groom both with their own bathroom. There is also an elevator and a sitting area outside of the suites where a quick meal might be had. All and all I think this is a cute venue. It's an attractive property and all the chartering is handled by Salt Lick.

Hand me a parasol, lace up my corset and find me a Mr. Darcy--this place was from another time!!…read more *contented sigh, I was fortunate enough to be invited to a wedding held out at Thurman's Mansion this past weekend. What a beautiful venue!! I had never even heard of it until I got the invitation. Thurman's Mansion is part of the Salt Lick Family--located just East of the Salt Lick on 1826. Gorgeous iron gates pique the curiousity of drivers and beckon guests in. The venue is a large mansion overlooking well manicured grounds and vineyards. The view of the mansion from the back is just breathtaking. A huge porch covers the back of the building--dramatic pillars hold up a second story balcony. Wide steps lead up from the grounds to the back doors of the reception hallf/main room. I saw the mansion on two different days in two very different ways--Friday afternoon for the rehearsal, I saw it set up for an outdoor wedding. The sun shining down, bride practicing her walk from the sweeping steps of the mansion down to the corner of the lawn where the trellace waited, people lining the stone walls around the perimeter of the lawn watching the practice. I felt like I stepped into a Jane Austen movie--my friend had planned a glorious outdoor wedding on the grounds. Much to her dismay, God and the torrential downpours decided that it would be better to have the ceremony indoors. Rather than ceremony outside and reception inside, both ceremony and reception were inside. The staff had set up about 40 chairs where the dance floor would have been. Double doors were open at the back of the small seating area allowing the pitter-pattering of the rain outside as the background music while they exchanged vows. The reception was a seated dinner for about 150 guests. Salt lick does catering--very fun to have the family style dinner Texas Style w/ cobbler as dessert. A nice alternative to the traditional wedding scene. The porch was a great place for conversation and mingling--they had the bar and some hors d'eouvres set up out there while the guests waited for pictures to be taken. The rain let up for exactly an hour--enough time for outdoor pictures! I honestly think that my friend got the best of both worlds...a unique, beautiful, romantic and intimate indoor wedding ceremony complete with rain and tears. Then outdoor pictures overlooking the vineyards with the mist hovering over the land. I swear I could hear Mr. Darcy beckoning to me while I watched from the porch... My hat goes off to you, Thurman's Mansion. You successfully transported me to another time. Bravo.

My daughter's wedding was there this summer and the staff was very professional and accommodating…read moreand they truly led us through the day with no hitches. In the months leading up to the wedding, they were very responsive to questions and knowledgeable about the area and had great suggestions for caterers and other services. It's a beautiful venue, and the dining room/dance floor is the central highlight of the venue - spacious and easy to maneuver and still able to accommodate a wedding party of 150+ people. Great venue, but what truly makes it special was the kind and professional staff who helped everyone have one of the most memorable days of our lives.

I fell in love with this venue online, and our first time at the venue I fell in love even more!!…read moreThis venue is so unique and stunning. It's not your typical looking venue at all and that's what caught my eye and that's what I loved the most. This venue is beautiful in every single way, we had our ceremony outdoor and the reception inside. Everyone was blown away!! The venue needs minimal decorations because of the interior design throughout the whole venue. The reception area is stunning with the most beautiful chandeliers and the most amazing natural light shining through. We were obsessed with the big tables and how they really didn't need any table cloths. We absolutely loved our big day and got so many compliments for the beautiful venue we chose. We will forever recommend this venue!!

Deep Eddy Vodka is one of my all time favorite vodkas. Who knew that I'd get to visit their actual…read moredistillery one day? The space is huge, staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the vodka flavors were unbelievably good. We had the opportunity to check out their newest, chocolate espresso which I predict will be a major hit. I plan to return for a longer stay and enjoy their outdoor space to eat, drink and soak up some warm Texas sun.

This has been on my list to visit and today was the day as we were celebrating our friend's 40th…read morebirthday!! I also didn't realize how much ample space this tasting room was! I originally thought it was just the front area with some double seating, oh no, there was a whole inside area wide open! So great!! There was also outside seating with yard games as well! They also had a van that converted into a photobooth so you can take pictures and send them to yourself for free, amazing! They had games where you can occupy some time with friends while drinking some cocktails. There's a merch shop out in front if you are fancing grabbing some shirts or any sort of thing! Loved their drinks - had their Espresso Martini and was definitely a fan of their Spicy Ranch Water! Service was also great, can't complain about that! The food did take a little longer for it to be ready which was a little annoying since I only ordered their queso with chips and their pork belly tips. Parking: seemed pretty easy from when we first got there, but I can assume it can be a little hard once it's busier.

This was the BEST venue I could have picked. It is beautiful inside and out, inexpensive, has…read morelodging available if you want it, the staff is beyond amazing, and it has indoor and outdoor options for the ceremony available and a reception hall! I could not recommend this place any more. They truly made our day perfect beyond what we thought possible. Wish I could give it more stars!! Thank y'all so much for the wedding of our dreams, again!!

Two months ago I was given the task of finding an offsite location for my companies upcoming…read moreoffsite and thought Ruby Ranch would be a wonderful fit for our needs. How wrong I was! Upon arriving, I started to notice that the upkeep of the property was very poor. This is just a small list of issues we encountered: AC units were not working, the kitchen refrigerator was not cooling which cost us over $100 in spoiled items, the kitchen sink had no water coming out, our staff had no hot water in the mornings for showers and one of our teammates got stung by a scorpion while using the towel from her bedroom restroom. With all of these problems arising, I decided it was time to call the owner/property manager Madelyn. As I spoke to her mentioning what we were experiencing, her only reaction was that no AC unit works in Texas when it's 100 degrees, which I know is not valid. She then proceeded to ask me what time we wanted to leave the next morning. This completely caught me off guard as I thought that being the owner you would try and resolve issues your paying guests are encountering. This was far from the response I was looking for! After planning this offsite and having several team members as well as speakers staying at the location, we could not just leave to find another space. We all had to deal with the situations at hand and try and get through the next 3 days the best as we could. Following check out, I decided to email Madelyn regarding all of the problems and inconveniences we all had to handle. Still no professionalism fro her regarding her venue to paying customers who keep her in business. I would think being a family owned business, you would treat your customers with respect and reply on the word of mouth business. We as a company, nor I personally will ever use Ruby Ranch again or refer it to anyone who is searching for a venue. Hopefully this helps someone else from going through the same experience!

My daughter had a Friday evening wedding here in late October, and it was absolutely magical. The…read morestaff were tremendously helpful and answered our seemingly zillion questions effortlessly in the months and weeks leading up to their special day. We arranged for a non-traditional chair set up (they have really much white chairs that don't really need anything) and for the gas lanterns to be lit for the ceremony, and the set up was completely flawless when we arrived. The views are stunning pretty much any time of year, just perfect for amazing Hill Country photos, and you don't need a whole lot of extra decor...nature has it covered. We brought in only 2 black metal lanterns donned with candles and florals and perched them on the wood stumps on either side of the bell tower door at the front the for the ceremony, and it was perfect in every way. We highly recommend this location for a small wedding-you won't be disappointed!

Beautiful place with an amazing and natural ambiance! Photos do not do it Justice and even when…read moreextreme heat, you can get lost in it's atmosphere.

I'm awarding 5 stars for our two recent visits. But, there's a point I'd like to make. Yes, this is…read morea dining destination and prices are commensurate with the experience. For most pasta dishes, I'd hit Mandola's in Austin. Save about $10 an entree and some gas money. A few weeks ago I didn't want to venture too far off the ranch. Wife and I ended up at Lisina on Saturday. Calamari to start was crisp and not chewy. Caesar salad followed and was a nice example of the dish. Lisina is also a little skimpy on offering bread refills. We finished with drinks and the panna cotta. Just over $100 for this experience. WELL, the next day I needed to take mom out for her anniversary. Dad has long passed but I always try to do something special. Sunday highlights forthcoming. This time with mom and Rooster along we started with the carpaccio. The presentation really wowed because it looks like red plate until you realize all that color is shaved tenderloin. White plate underneath! The greens, parmesan, and aioli was one of the best I've had. Mom went for the gnocchi; Rooster goes for the Mezzaluna ravioli. This is now Rooster's fave restaurant. I went back to the appetizers section and selected the crab cake. Zero complaints on these dishes. Don't forget mom's wine. Gelato and cake to finish the meal. I think I've dined here once since my 2009 review. Yup, steak pics still accounted for on Yelp. Trattoria Lisina is still going strong in Driftwood. Expect $$$$, this meal was almost $300. Good food ain't cheap folks.

We love this place for a special occasion dinner. But, recently the food just didn't seem to live…read moreup to the hype or price. The ribeye was so dry and tough. Cooked to a medium rare you would think it would juicy and tender. What a disappointment.

Vista Brewing has quickly become one of our absolute favorite breweries in the Hill Country -- and…read morefor good reason! Every visit has been incredible, from the food and service to the beautiful setting that somehow feels both laid-back and elevated at the same time. The property is massive, with indoor and outdoor seating that gives you all the elevated Hill Country vibes. You can walk around and see their chicken coop and bee hives, which they actually use for ingredients in their food and beer (how cool is that?!). Everything here ties back to their focus on regenerative farming and sustainability, and it truly shows in every bite and sip. Even the meat they use is raised up the street from them and has fed off the grains from their beer! They serve up not just great beer -- which has won awards -- but also wine, cider and NA options, making it a great spot for everyone. It's also super kid-friendly, with a kid scape area that keeps the little ones entertained while you enjoy a drink or meal. Speaking of meals... the food is next level! We've tried several dishes, and everything has been phenomenal. The fish and chips were some of the best we've had anywhere -- perfectly flaky with a thick, crunchy batter. The Wagyu burger was out of this world -- juicy, smoky, and cooked over a live fire. Everything down to the pickled veggies and sauces is made from scratch, and you can taste that attention to detail. They often have live music, daily specials, and friendly staff who always go out of their way to make sure you're taken care of. Everyone we've encountered has been welcoming, knowledgeable, and clearly proud to be part of such a thoughtful, local operation. Vista Brewing is the kind of place that perfectly balances craft, community, and cuisine -- and it's 100% worth the drive every single time!

My family and I went to Vista Brewing for dinner. We drove there, parked, and walked in. There are…read moreplenty of places to park. It's a very spacious indoor and outdoor restaurant with lots of seating and places to explore. As we walked in I noticed that it's very bright with a lot of windows. You order at the counter. When we walked up to the counter the menu was on the bar top. We looked at the menu and placed our order with the man working behind the counter. He was really cool and answered our questions. After ordering he gave us a number and told us to seat ourselves. After figuring out where we wanted to sit we went to the water station and grabbed some water. We looked around inside at the decor and talked while we waited for our order. We started with two sharables and each ordered the burgers of our choice. Unfortunately when they started bringing out our food they made an error in how it was made. We told them, the took the wrong order back, and after awhile they brought us everything and apologized for the error. Our sharables were the Grilled Chimichurri Avacado which comes with a half avocado, corn, and tortilla chips, and the Hummus Board which comes with hummus, veggies, and pitas. Both of these sharables were tasty in different ways. The Grilled Chimichurri Avacado was delicious. You could taste all of the delicious flavors and the tortilla chips were strong enough to hold a mix of the ingredients. The Hummus Board was also very tasty. The Hummus was garlic flavored and the veggies were fresh and crisp. The pitas were warm and soft. For my main dish I ordered the Driftwood Cheeseburger. It comes with a beef patty, bacon jam, onions, pickles, sauce, and cheese. I opted for no cheese. The burger meat was really good. You could taste the Smokey flavor from the grill on the meat. The bacon jam was sweet but not overly sweet and gave the burger a sweet and savory flavor. The pickles added texture to the burger. It was a really good burger. I ordered my burger with a side of kettle chips which were nice and crispy. Overall it was a great place to visit. The service was good, the atmosphere was spacious, nice and bright, and the food was fresh and delicious.

I love this place! Quiet with a nice koi pond and fountain. Always green and there's a heart…read moreshaped pathway.