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Mama Dearest

4.6 (35 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

MAMA DEAREST · YELP ASSISTANT

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Mama Dearest Photos

MAMA DEAREST ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Divey
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Mama Dearest

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Reviews With Photos

Michelle V.

Super fun spot to hang out with friends - plenty of outdoor seating and outdoor bar too. Went Friday night around 10:30 and line to bar was super quick, drinks ordered in less than 5 minutes. We got the beet it and Jesus saves - I loved the Jesus saves lol it was gin and citrus and some cream - kinda like an orange Julius The beet it is mezcal and beet / passionfruit - very strong mezcal flavor if you like Smokey - my husband loved it.

Hanging out with friends at this great bar!
Katie C.

Omg! This is my new favorite bar. I loved the ambiance; it was quirky and a bit creepy. They have a great cocktail menu too. They even have $1 tiny cones with a perfect dollop of vanilla soft serve ice cream on them. There is a food truck there but I did not order anything. Definitely go inside the trailer that's outside. It's weird with carpet on the ceiling and doll heads mounted on the walls. On the night I went, there was a musician performing and he was really good! Luckily, the bar wasn't too crowded and there was plenty of room to move around. The staff were helpful and nice. I can't wait to go soon!

How do i drink this?
Ze'eva K.

From the moment I saw the wire coat hanger sign out front spelling "Mama Dearest," I knew this bar was going to be something special. It's such a clever reference to the movie, and it perfectly sets the tone for the quirky and playful vibe inside. The drink menu is equally entertaining, with names like Jesus Saves, Purdy Mouth, and Roadkill that had us all laughing. The bartenders were incredibly friendly and fun, keeping the energy high and the drinks flowing. Inside, the DJ was clearly having the time of his life, which made the atmosphere even more vibrant, though it was a bit loud for chatting. I didn't make it out to the back patio, but I heard there's a food truck section that sounds like the perfect complement to the drinks. Full of personality and charm, a great spot for a laid-back night out.

Patio
Abby M.

Wanted to get my dog out of the house while visiting a friend in Austin. She is insisted we come here. Slam dunk recommendation. What I would do to transport this bar to my city... it's fun and intimate and delightful all at the same time. The bartenders are so nice and welcoming. The staff went to great lengths to get the football game on the patio tv for us. It was much appreciated. The food truck guy recommended the pierogis and chicken. Oh man... my mind was not ready for what came out of that truck. I've been eating my way through Texas for over a month and this was better than many high-end restaurants I've been to. Even if the bar doesn't tickle your interests this is a great spot for food. This will forever be a staple stop for us. Especially for my dog.

Jesus Saves
Jess F.

A small bar with amazing ambiance, delicious drinks, and friendly energetic staff. The interior decor is edgy and moody, while the outdoor patio is lively and open. There's a few different food truck options with delicious choices as well! The Jesus Saves drink is AMAZING. Probably the best drink I've ever had. I even got a second one, and so did all my friends. Not too strong, with a sweet honey and elderflower flavor (some of my favorites). I think this drink alone is the reason why I'm so excited to come back here! Ultimately, love this spot for a casual meetup with friends!

Annie A.

I checked out Mama Dearest recently and loved it. They had such a fun and interesting decor vibe inside, a large patio, and even a cool empty bus with seating in the back. The Jesus Saves cocktail was delicious - cream soda, elderflower, and honey. It was a bit on the sweeter side but I thoroughly enjoyed it! My friend got a coffee cocktail with soft serve and it was delicious as well. Prices were also great! The crowd was a bit interesting - maybe bc there was a SXSW event happening, so i definitely want to go again and give it another try.

Emily E.

Mama Dearest is serving maximalist fraternity basement with extra flair - but in a good way. This is the kind of spot where the names of the drinks may result in an eyebrow raise or the clutching of pearls, so reconsider whether or not this is the spot to meet your partner's parents for the first time. Names aside, the cocktails are tasty, standard ATX east side pricing ($13 min) albeit, the presentation of some drinks could use a revamp (the beet mezcal drink comes in a small glass with a...white sock wrapped around it? idk what's going on here, but again, fraternity vibes.) While the singular bartender was getting slammed with requests, service was friendly. They have a cozy interior space with a fun mix of furniture, and a decently sized outdoor lot with picnic tables, and some spring, metal "rides" (iykyk). Conveniently located by a multitude of nearby restaurants, this is a great spot before dinner, or to stay the night with friends. Will return :)

Come on in
Amanda F.

What a perfect Sunday afternoon but not to see mama. I had bookmarked this place for awhile and finally got a chance to stop by. Upon entering you see an oddity. There is tons of things to look at and want to tough. Bonus there is old playboys to look at for reading material. My husband and I both ordered a cocktail, which set us back about $13 each. The cocktails were interesting combinations of liquids. I had Mountain Dew in mine!! The drinks were just okay. Overall a cool little bar to stop in for a drink. There is other bars nearby if you want to bar hop.

Jesus Saves
Wendy R.

My cousins found this bar and invited me to try it with them. It did not disappoint! The whole place was on THEME. The drinks, wall and furniture decor, even the patio had fun trinkets. The most notable being three or four horse playground spring riders. I saw a girl in front of me order such a cute drink with a tiny wholesome honey dipper and asked her what it was, she responded it was called Jesus Saves. I laughed and lo and behold it was an actual drink on the menu, among others like Purdy Mouth and Roadkill. I ended up ordering Jesus Saves and omg does Jesus SAVE. It was honestly one of the best drinks I've had in a whiiile. Definitely tasted the sweetness of the honey, lime and cream and unlike many sweet drinks it was also refreshing. I'm a piña colada girl so this drink slapped as it reminded me of the texture. Forgot our bartenders name but he was awesome, especially for making my cousin a Moscow Mule when it wasn't even a menu item. Only downside was the music the DJ was playing inside the venue was a bit loud so it was hard to hear others, and order at the bar as well. Overall, a great experience to check out. Not so much a dancing spot but passes the vibe check for a chill night out.

two drinks on a picnic table
Kristal O.

This has divey homey bar vibes 100%!!! The bar staff is incredibly hard working and kind/fun. Made a huge difference. Popped in for a quick afternoon HH Friday pick me up and I could not have asked for more. The inside (sorry forgot to take a picture AGH) is very eclectic with raw hide lights and granny underwear on a wire LOL it's fantastic. Good selection of craft cocktails as well - I was actually pretty shocked and they tasted good! There is also a good outdoor space in the back that is dog friendly and has a simple whimsical just hanging out at a friend's house feel to it. Definitely go check it out!

Suzy D.

I must admit that I didn't want to enjoy this bar. The drink names ("sister fister"), playboy magazines, skin lanterns, and gun door handle had me like 'meh.' But I wanted to see if the vibe was as misogynistic as it oozed online. Plus, I really wanted a beer, it being 80 in December and all. I wandered in and the bartenders won me over. I'm a sucker for nice humans. I sat at the bar and avoided the $10+ specialty drinks and opted for a MHL pony, which wasn't badly priced for a new bar on the east side. But if you're a fan of creative concoctions the road sign-lit specials are tempting. The second time I went in I sat in a comfy 70s chair next to a display of Princess Di memorabilia, catty corner from a coffee table covered in girly mags. It's like your visiting your weird uncle in the south. It will be interesting to see what type of crowd frequents this bar as it teeters between hip new bar and dive. But I'll most likely keep poppin' in for a paper bag-wrapped can and sit in the corner and people watch. Fun facts: They also have soft serve and root beer and I'm gonna talk them into a float once it hits 90 degrees. It's early on but I'm crossing my fingers that food trucks are coming soon.

Brenda L.

What a surprise this place is!! The friendliest bartenders who are welcoming and make you feel at home. Eclectic mixture of signs, lamps, art and furniture make this place so funky and fun!

SISTER FiSTER Rum, Braulio, CREAM SODA WITH COCONUT, CREAM, and SUGAR
Edwyn A.

Mama dearest pays homage to my childhood nightmare Mommie dearest with a Texas kitschy flare; my mom used to watch this movie and the wire hangers scene prettified me. The drinks match the theme and are fun. Mountain Dew with Tequila - they have it here. The ambiance is lounge-y with a 70s living room feel. The bar top is inviting with lots of seating and friendly bartenders. There's an outdoor area with hobby horses and an outdoor chiminea to keep you warm in the winter. The interior is kitschy with lots of velvet boudoir artwork, Charles and Dianna wedding memorabilia, and taxidermy. A great addition to the evolving Holly Neighborhood/Pedernales Street area.

Bathroom 4 guys

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3 months ago

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7 months ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

I love this place!! The bartenders were so cool and they let our group come hangout there. I got a very yummy cocktail

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

TED WAS THE GREATEST! So humble and cool and personable. I'll be back for the vibes but mainly him!

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3 years ago

My first date spot, so we come here often. Very cool spot, good cocktails. Bartenders are always good to us.

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3 years ago

Drinks were ok most cool for the atmosphere. A little overpriced for a basic cocktail.

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Coolest vibes and best customer service, not to mention the creative themed drink menu. 10/10 bar hands down

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4 years ago

This place is so fun and cute! Drink names are hilarious and they taste great too. The staff was very welcoming.

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Austin Garden & Studio - Patio Area

Austin Garden & Studio

4.8(22 reviews)
1.0 mi•East Austin

I've walked by here a millions times and finally went in. The entry way is fun with a lighter…read moretunnel to get you into the vibe. Opens to stone steps down and this large open lawn area. There was a food truck, the bar and then a few smaller vendors. Seating consisted of picnic tables and these beautiful black velvet couches. We were waiting for a reservation nearby and with the live music, the time flew by.

Looking for fun on 6th Street we decided to stop at Austin Garden & Studio and were not…read moredisappointed. If you're coming here definitely do yourself the favor and Uber as parking is incredibly difficult to find there. Getting in is very quick and efficient and once you're in you're greeted by live music and a fun open space to get drinks and hang out with friends. There are multiple different places to get drinks from which is nice as you can choose how long you would like to wait in a line. Drinks are not unreasonably priced and they were good as well. The ability to sit throughout the area, get up and dance, or just listen to music makes this a great spot to stay entertained for a while. We came when there was an event being put on by Zyn where they were giving out free drinks to nicotine users which was funny because why not get you hooked on nicotine AND alcohol. But seriously, there are typically food trucks and more things going on here but the Zyn trucks took up those spots which was a bit of a letdown but we're assuming that's just a one off event. Between a good band, decent drinks, and a good amount of seating options, this is a good spot to sit down with some friends and just vibe out for the night. We'd give it a recommendation if you're looking for something fun but not too much fun on a night on East 6th.

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Austin Garden & Studio
Austin Garden & Studio
Austin Garden & Studio

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Seven Spirits - The back of the bar

Seven Spirits

4.6(31 reviews)
0.9 mi•East Austin

I love Seven Spirits. I love that it's a quick walk from our apartment. Sometimes before heading to…read moreHotel Vegas (literally across the street from each other), we'll swing by for happy hour. We've been here outside of happy hour as well. The bar opened in 2023 and it was previously a Mexican restaurant. This place is all about the Mexican spirits! From mezcal to tequila. The cocktail menu is bad ass. Here's a rundown: Cocktails, Prosecco, Wine, Mezcal Flights. May favorite drinks are the frozen mango habanero. Holy poo! That tequila and habanero blended with mango HITS! Condesa Blossom: pear & orange gin cocktail? Yes! Get in my mouth...now! My boyfriend loves doing a mezcal flight and he's also a big fan of the Negroni made with tamarind Campari. It's freaking amazing. Happy Hour (Tues-Fri 4 pm-7 pm) Beers, frozens, cocktails $5-$7 during happy hour. Food: They have a couple of different kinds of tacos, torta, chips & guac. The queso empanadas are killer! So good. The atmosphere and decor are dark (without being too dark at all), wooden, and open. Nice open-air patio. Beautiful mural paying homage to the overall Mexican theme and vibe. It feels like a small slice of Mexico on 7th!

Really great spot for happy hour! $7 margaritas and $8 for two big tacos. The tacos are delicious…read moretoo! There's a great vibe here, with low lighting and good music. It's not too big inside but there's some seating inside and some on their beautiful patio in the back. When it's busy here it's hard to get a drink so I recommend coming early for happy hour or at off times.

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Seven Spirits - The seating area

The seating area

Seven Spirits - Strawberry Custom Mocktail

Strawberry Custom Mocktail

Seven Spirits - Inside

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Inside

Casa Bianca - Mushroom lasagna

Casa Bianca

4.3(111 reviews)
0.8 mi•East Cesar Chavez, East Austin

Some truly outstanding food for a nicer meal that still feels casual, and a great option to please…read moreeven picky eaters. I came into town to visit a friend who is a massive foodie and this spot is a favorite of hers, so I was excited to try it! There's some parking in a private attached lot, but it was full when we came and very easy to find free parking one block away on ten street, so immediate win! On a Friday evening, it was starting to get pretty busy when we came, so I was grateful we made a reservation in advance. The inside is spacious but feels intimate, with low lighting, making the ambiance feel nice for a cozy night out. One huge benefit of the menu is they offer half portions of most of the larger entrees, allowing you to order smaller plates for sharing and try more. The menu is Italian-leaning, but not fully authentic, which I'm okay with. For this visit, because I went with someone who has been many times, we largely relied on her favorites. I'm not a big drinker these days, but one of my favorite things of my visit was my initial cocktail, the salted lime leaf gimlet, which is a must to me. Our first appetizer ended up being the highlight our meal: the savory cannoli filled with bluefin tuna and nduja. Absolutely perfect light but rich bite. Other favorites: the artichoke Caesar salad has great crunch and brined-mess from the artichoke, the caramel whipped butter on the foccacia was insane, the crispy spicy and sweet chicken wings were SO large but so full of flavor, the lamb rags wa athe perfect blend of sweet and savory without being too heavy, and the pumpkin espresso Mille-feuille was just absolutely one of the best things I've had this month. The branzino was the one letdown of the meal. The fish was perfectly cooked with really incredibly crispy skin but was unfortunately too salty for either of us to eat a ton of it, which was a bit disappointing. It seemed like that was an atypical experience, to my friend, so I let it slide. Service was kind and pretty fast, helping us get to go boxes quickly to pack our food at the end of the night. Overall we loved our meal here and I definitely want to come back on a future visit.

Came here for my birthday dinner. Unfortunately it was not what I had hoped it to be…read more Our server was rude and dismissive. He made no effort to acknowledge my birthday or even smile because of it. We had a large party of 7 and seemed annoyed we weren't all there at once. My first drink I ordered was this salty and savory tomato martini and it tasted like lightly salted air. No flavor. We got a variety of dishes- fried olives tastes like nothing, the tuna cannoli was way over fried with almost no filling. However the sourdough focaccia was amazing! I enjoyed my shrimp and pork belly pasta and my boyfriend enjoyed his pork belly plate. I like that there are half and full sizes of the pasta. The oysters weren't anything to write home about, and they gave us a single piece of dessert to share across 7 people. We each got like half a forkful. Very celebratory. The thing that really made this experience less than pleasant was that we were sat in a big U shaped booth right next to the server station. Someone dropped plates or mugs right there, and the ceramic went FLYING. Little shards. It was under the table and landed ON ME. I pulled a piece out from between my legs! When I told the server and handed him the shards that WERE ON ME AND OTHERS, he stared at me like, okay and? Took them and walked off! And we had food on the table! No one checked to make sure our food was safe, no one swept under the table, no one even just said I'm sorry! Here's the best part- I posted a picture in my insta story of the birthday card on the table and tagged the restaurant. They wrote to me a DM and said glad you enjoyed your birthday. I wrote them back explaining the whole situation and funnily enough....radio silence. Never even apologized over DM. That situation was a huge liability! So now I'm posting it public. Screenshot of the DM attached.

Photos
Casa Bianca - Interior

Interior

Casa Bianca - Crispy chicken Wings - amazing

Crispy chicken Wings - amazing

Casa Bianca - Mezcal drink

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Mezcal drink

Uptown - Fried shrimp poboy

Uptown

4.1(226 reviews)
1.0 mi•East Austin

Daughter and I came here just for dessert. She had been here before, said their Bread Pudding was…read morefantastic. We came we ordered it, and she was exactly right. A dynamite, fantastic dessert indeed. The caramel is a salted caramel without a doubt, and the texture and taste were nothing short of phenomenal. Highly highly recommend. We had already eaten dinner, only here for dessert. Would like to return & try their gumbo and one of their po'boys.

Atmosphere | 5/5 I…read morereally enjoyed the ambiance here! Both the indoor and outdoor spaces are nice, but I personally prefer the patio. If you're sitting outside, I'd recommend avoiding the tables closest to the street. The patio offers a much better atmosphere. Food | 3.5/5 The oysters were REALLY good! So fresh! I especially loved watching them shuck the oysters right there. There's something about seeing them freshly opened that makes the experience even better. The steak, however, was disappointing. It was pretty flavorless and really needed more seasoning. I'm not sure if a marinade or a more generous amount of seasoning would help, but it was definitely missing something. A good steak should have plenty of flavor on its own, and this one just didn't deliver. The fries were good, though! No complaints there. Drinks | 4/5 I enjoyed my drink! It was well-made and tasted great. Service | 5/5 The service was excellent! Everyone was friendly and attentive, and I really appreciated the hospitality. Overall Experience | 4/5

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Uptown - Interior (Saturday at 12:30 pm)

Interior (Saturday at 12:30 pm)

Uptown - Just say "Make it Salad," and your Bloody Mary shows up looking fresh--topped with our wedge salad and creamy house-made ranch.

Just say "Make it Salad," and your Bloody Mary shows up looking fresh--topped with our wedge salad and creamy house-made ranch.

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Mama Dearest - bars - Updated November 2026

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