Long story short: The food at a bar has no right tasting this good Short story long: I've been here twice at this point and the drinks were fabulous both times but during my last visit, I went with some friends for lunch and was really blown away. We had an assortment of foods including a burger, the chicken sandwich, whipped feta, queso, and churros. Every single items was delicious! The whipped feta was really good and I'm not sure what they did with the queso but it tasted unique when compared to your run-of-the-mill queso you might find at a Tex-Mex joint (to be clear I love regular queso too!). As expected, the churros were heavenly and the dulce de leche took it to a whole other level. Looking at the menu again, I know I have to come back for the falafel burger and Thai Brussels Sprouts! Something to note: considering this is right on East 6th, parking is limited to nonexistent, so keep that in mind! read more

Food was absolutely delicious. Fun place to come chill and eat. Thai Brussels Sprouts Cashews, Chickpeas, Cilantro, Lime & Whipped Feta Dip Whipped Feta, Ricotta, Greek Yogurt, Charred Tomato Jam, Chives, Grilled Sourdough read more

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I'd been to Mother's Ruin before and thought it was good, but on a random Thursday night for my best friend's birthday, it became unforgettable. The whole night felt like a movie, mostly thanks to our bartender, Johnny. It felt like he was one of our friends we'd known forever. He kept our drinks flowing, was the ultimate vibe curator, and even noticed and rescued us from two wildly drunk guys. If you go, enjoy the dimly lit vibes, yummy sweet potato fries, and the best drinks made by Johnny! read more

Mother’s Ruin - The best bartender ever! - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I went here for a birthday party over the Summer and really liked the place! We had a few tables in the back and everyone ordered their own food and drinks. I had one of the mezcal cocktails and LOVED it! My friend had a frozen cocktail and really enjoyed that too. I just wanted something to snack on so I ordered the whipped feta and it turned out to be a huge plate! Whipped Feta, Ricotta, Greek Yogurt, Charred Tomato Jam, Chives, Grilled Sourdough. OMG so good! I could only eat a bit of it, but I will definitely order this again as an appetizer for a group. Friendly service, and cool bar. I liked it here a lot! read more

Great food We got the burgers with waffle fries with bay seasoning Yummy Our bartender gave us lots of tips and we used their photo booth to create a memory of the weekend read more

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My buddy told me we should hang out tonight with a place already in mind: Mother's Ruin. We showed up a little past 8:30 pm to no line and got ourselves some beers served in mugs and sat at two seats by the window facing East 6th. The bar service is pretty snappy for the amount of people coming through, which was impressive, and their drinks are on par with the prices at most spots on East 6th. I picked up on the music at Mother's Ruin quickly. Though you have your classic bar anthems of Timbaland and Nelly Furtado, I also heard Method Man, The Game, and Kanye West, and a classic Beastie Boys and Q-Tip joint. They just play music on an iPad on Spotify. That's sick. The line to get in slowly grew and by 10:00 pm there was a line all the way to the edge of the building. My buddy and I had the UT-UCLA game playing on my phone and multiple people would come by and watch it and chat it up with us. It felt like the people inside were cooler than your typical bar. Not just a bunch of random ragers. The feeling of the joint with the windows, the wrap-around bar, and the low lighting makes the place feel very New York. I think it's a cool spot. Their food seems decent in price but looks really good, so I want to come back and try something of their menu. They have an award for the best brunch served in a bar in Austin too which is oddly specific, but go off! It's a very casual and conversational spot in Austin that I found myself lost in for a few hours. RIYL: A NYC-style bar with many windows to gaze out of. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Lone Star - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

One of the most recommended places people in Austin ( on the cool side of east Austin). My best friend and I were looking for a good place for drinks and we were happy to find this on Valentine's Day. They have a cool menu for the holiday and we felt extra special since they served our drinks with hearts straws. I love when bars and restaurants dress up for the holidays so we were happy we stepped into the right bar. This seemed to be the spot for the locals because at night the line was so long! Can't wait to come back. read more

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Mother's Ruin has quickly become my new favorite bar. The ambiance inside is warm, lively, and just feels right -- the kind of place you want to hang out in for way longer than planned. I was pleasantly surprised by the food portions. I ordered the pork carnitas bowl (served in a crispy tortilla bowl), and it was so filling and so delicious that I had to get my friend to help me finish it. Zero complaints -- everything was flavorful and satisfying. Yes, it gets packed, but in the best way. The crowd is fun, social, and full of people you'd actually want to meet. It really feels like the new happening spot at night, with great energy without being overwhelming. Safe to say I'll be coming back here a lot more often. This place has officially earned a spot in my regular rotation. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Mother's Ruin is a relatively new and fun bar located in the heart of East Sixth. Welcoming and modern establishment with great service, attention to customer needs and wants, modern design and decor. Cocktails and drinks are on par with other similar spots. What sets them above is the elevated bar food they serve. The whipped feta is crazy good, gang! Everything we had on our visit was top-notch. read more

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As my meeting downtown ended early and my Limo (Cap Metro Rail) was not arriving for an hour, I channeled Tony Bourdain (sort of) and decided to have a cold pint at 4 o'clock in a mostly empty bar. Mother's fit the bill perfectly. On a Monday afternoon, the vibe is low-key with a few out-of-towners, regulars, and me enjoying cocktails. I'm sure the nighttime vibe is opposite. High-end whiskey options are sparse except for Eagle Rare (surprise?). They do have some signature cocktails, such as the Bathroom Buddy, made with Tito's Vodka, hazelnut, espresso liqueur, brown sugar, and cold brew. Interesting that they do not offer more local beers. I settled for a good, strong Old Forrester pour. They do have some decent food options geared toward satisfying your late-night cravings. I did see the taco bowl, and it looked delicious. , For a lazy Monday afternoon, Mother's was a great find! read more

Visited this bar for a casual cocktail midday Friday. The restaurant was well lit with big windows and ample seating. Our bartender was pleasant and conversational. I love the addition of the photo booth they have inside, as well as the gender neutral bathroom stalls. I ordered the gin membership- a grapefruit cocktail that wasn't overly sweet. I also had this as a shot. I would visit here again to try other drinks or their food menu. read more

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A few (7 gals) of us decided to walk over to Mother's Ruin after a fun Galentine's brunch at Industry! This is my first time here, So you know I was excited to try some things. When we walked in, My girl Christine said "The party has arrived", everyone at the bar agreed We all sat down around the bar and immediately the bartender came over with shots, She wanted to make sure the party was taken care of The bartenders were super attentive and fun and just made our experience even more better. They brought water over to us all and we ordered drinks and visited. I ordered the chips in queso and it was really good. My friend ordered the mozzarella sticks and they were real good. Super cheesy. The let's talk about that drink I ordered because it was a Drank!!! It's called the space Billboard and it's a tequila drink. Super super strong! So I had to take my time and sip and savor. Anywho, This seems like a really cool spot especially for the people that live in the area and that are just regulars and come in and hang out. I would definitely go back again and try some more of those drinks and appetizers. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

We were searching for a brunch spot on the East side this past weekend and landed here. I had really high hopes given the OG belongs in NYC, but it was kind of a let down. They had a live DJ on Sunday who was playing some great tunes. A little tough to have a convo due to the volume but we managed -- you won't know until you get there kind of thing. We spoke to the bartender (1 of 3 behind the bar) a total of three times -- when we ordered drinks, when we ordered food, and when we asked for the check. It was really hard to get anyone's attention and they weren't busy at all. When we first sat at the bar, my husband asked what beers they had on tap and the bartender directed us to look on the letter board above the bar. There were 2-3 beers listed, but way more than 2-3 taps. We resorted to using a QR code to pull up the full menu and found a beer that wasn't on the letter board. We thought this exchange was odd but ordered food anyway. Maybe it's expected to get up from your seat at the bar and walk all the way around the letter board to find what you're looking for? Def recommend just using the QR code. The burger was okay; mirroring another review here, we've both had better smash burgers in Austin. The breakfast burrito was the star. We were both blown away by it and wish we would've split it. We left confused -- came here for the come as you are vibe they say they have but didn't exactly feel welcomed. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I really enjoyed the food here!! When we arrived for brunch, I expected the food to be on the mediocre bar food side, but was pleasantly surprised. The avocado toast is vegan with fluffy bread and great flavor. The waffle fries are also insanely good- so crispy and no hint of sogginess!! It's very casual and you order at the bar. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Vegan avocado toast - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Dude, what world did I walk into? We were leaving revelry to go to another bar and we just happened to come across this one spot that had some banging music and a decent crowd. We got ourselves, "eh, why not check it out, it's still pretty early in the night". We ended up staying for four hours. I couldn't even tell you what it was, the vibes were there that night read more

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Try acknowledging a couple who sit down at the bar even though you're busy even a Hello, I'll be right back , anything . We sat for while and felt really awkward bc we made eye contact with each other and we decided to take our business elsewhere . Very not austin . I'm Sure the cocktails and food are amazing . But I have a bad taste and don't like the vibe as a first impression. I'll stick to the OGs on 6th. I hate writing bad reviews but I had to say something. read more

Cool new spot on e 6th! Very dark and moody inside at night - cute spot to catch a drink at We stopped by Saturday night and I got the strawberry frozen and my husband got the regular Paloma - both great drinks! I notice they also have a pretty big food menu for late nights / brunch too! Service was great - bartender saw us and helped us immediately which is lowkey rare with busy bars lol read more

Mother’s Ruin - Menu - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Didn't get a drink so I can't comment on that but the chicken sandwich and waffle fries were amazingggg read more

Mother’s Ruin - Chicken Sando - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I love this NYC inspired bar! Came in they were playing Drake back to back - so the vibes check out! They play a variety of music but definitely on the better side compared to the other bars in East. What stands out with this bar is it serves food until 1:30 am. Like wow! The waffle fries were amazing with the ranch and the drinks were flowing. The bartenders are really nice and prompt service. Def one of my go to spots in East now! read more

Mother’s Ruin - Amazing Waffle Fries - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Only open for about a month now but they came out of the gate swinging. They kick off with brunch and run through late night, which means they have a strong coffee program, classic American comfort foods, and simple munchies to pair with your drinks. I love the fact that they care about offering zero proof options alongside their creative cocktails, which means you can go out, celebrate, and not get sloshed. The snacks are what seal the deal for me: Hummus is fresh, creamy, and topped with toasted pine nuts. Brussels sprouts are well cooked and have an addictive sweet and spicy glaze. Even the waffle fries are noteworthy, seasoned generously and perfectly crispy. Easy street parking if you don't mind walking a few blocks when it's busy. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is a cool new spot on East 6th and you should check it out now before it's too popular to get in easily. The cocktails are interesting with some funny names. I tried the whipped feta and it was really good. The tomato relish really added to the flavor profile. There's a good amount of searing, which surprised me. It's all elevated, so even if it gets crowded, you will be at eye level with people standing. The height of the barstools can be adjusted, which is nice. Service was good. Bartenders engaged in conversation with patrons quite a bit. Maybe because it was early and slow. Maybe it's how they always are. Fun place to not just grab a drink, but hang out. Best things are brunch until 4pm daily and late night kitchen! read more

Everything of this place was awesome! The vibes, the food and the service. The food was AMAZING, specially the falafel burger and the fries. Do not sleep on this place, it is a hidden gem with great cold beer. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We went here with a big group and found a space to stand around and drink too much - it was perfect! I love their frozen kiwi margarita.

Been wanting to try this spot since it opened a couple months ago. I've been hesitant to post a review bc it's presently the east side's best kept secret. Really chill vibes, friendly bartenders and excellent food (I mean really yummy, not just standard bar food). Can't wait to return to try more items! read more

Mother’s Ruin - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Amazing experience for the 7th time.... Possibly new go to after work. The food is amazing!! And Ivan the bartender.?.?.? Dude literally kicked Ass!! Completely in the weeds and didn't skip me once... serious... good place. Good people. Great crowd!! Very fun!! Strongly recommend spending some time here. read more

Mother’s Ruin - San Cosme mezcal - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've heard pretty decent things about this place so I was excited to try it out. I went on a Saturday afternoon so I was expecting it to be pretty busy, but it wasn't too crowded, yet the kitchen was moving a little slower than I thought they would. Could have been an off day though. Ordering took a little while as well because there were only two people working at the bar so it took them a while to get to me. But I ended up ordering the fish tacos and the waffle fries. The fish tacos were solid, refreshing, and filling. I'd say it's a pretty decent value. But for me, the real winner was the carmelized onion dip that came with the waffle fries. That alone made the fries amazing and worth getting. Is this place worth checking out? I'd say so. Do I plan to go back anytime soon? Probably not. read more

Mother’s Ruin - Waffle fries - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My partner and I always walk here for our evening nightcap. It's a beautiful bar with electrifying energy. Ruby, Bee, and especially Scott are so warm and inviting. We love everything from the sweet and warm welcomes from the door as we walk in, to the laughter and well wishes we get from security when we leave. The music selection is outstanding and the food always hits the spot. Love this place. read more

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This is my favorite bar! Everyone is so nice. I always have fun here Cocktails are great and the food is very good. It gets crazy on the weekends! read more

Bartender was getting into it and had to be taken outside by another employee to calm him down. Thought we were about to witness a fight before 5 PM on a weeknight. The drink I had was mediocre and there were too many fruit flies joining my conversation for me to be comfortable. read more

The food was good and the drinks were fine. The service was fair and the ambience was festive. I will be back if I'm in the area.

East Austin's Best Kept Secret -- For Now Mother's Ruin is one of those rare spots that nails everything you want in a bar. Every time we come in, Scott behind the bar sets the tone with his welcoming energy and top tier service. Whether it's your first time or your fifth, he makes you feel like a regular. We usually roll in with a group of ten or more and never have an issue finding space for everyone, which is honestly a miracle on the East Side. The layout is smart, the vibe is laid back but still lively, and you can actually hear your friends talk without shouting over bad music. What really sets this place apart though? They serve food late! That alone makes it a standout compared to most bars in the area. Combine that with great drinks, great service, and a setup that can handle groups, and you have a recipe for a place that is going to blow up very soon. Would not be surprised if there is a line out the door in the next few months. Love coming here and will definitely be back soon. read more

Ducked in here one day and was surprised how great the food is. Mushroom burrito was delicious! Friendly staff.

Top notch service. Ben is the most charismatic and kind attendant. Such a professional and ALSO the food was fantastic. Cool vibe and ambience. Coming again soon xxx read more

Mother’s Ruin - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

The beer is cold and service was great! The food is also amazing! Rocky was great! We will definitely be back.

Great place, great vibes! Food is awesome for a bar and the brunch chilaquiles are some of the best I've ever had. Their frozens are always great. Danny and Sam and Scottie were all great at helping me out :) read more

The bartender made my whole night. She's warm, attentive, and genuinely great at what she does. Amazing energy and even better drinks. If she's working, you're guaranteed a good time!! Ask for Amy. read more

Hmm. A little shady. After a shift change, the ladies closed us out without telling anyone and added the 20% gratuity and a large group charge for just my wife and me. Then opened us back up under the new shift...so, basically screwing out the second shift. That wouldn't happen in Nashville...for sure. Just bad form. read more

Not my favorite thing to do to a business but unfortunately this place really let me down with the Wings. I saw multiple people online raving about their wings saying they were great, but I 110% disagree. I received some wings that bones were broken, half a flat, no-crisp, not much (if any) flavor/sauce on the whole basket, it was honestly very disappointing. I would give this place a 1/5 if it were solely based on the wings but I gave it an extra star due to the waffle fries with onion dip being good and the service there being great. I write this review in hopes the business can step up their wing game because its a cool bar with a great vibe and great location but currently as they sit, I do not recommend the wings. I went in on a slow service day to so maybe could've just been a down day but lots of room for improvement on the wings here! read more

It's ok, typical bar. Not too much to write home about. Drinks were fine, staff was somewhat rude.

What a killer spot on E 6th. Badass staff, badass food, and badass drinks. What more could ya ask for?