Met up with a friend for happy hour. Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by the bartender,…read moreKyle. He told me about the happy hour specials and also informed me that it was free pool night (on Mondays). I'm not a huge fan of whiskey, but I've found that whiskey bars tend to have amazing craft cocktails. I browsed the HH menu and noticed a Whiskey Sour. I actually like a Clarified Whiskey Sour and was curious to see how it compared. The Whiskey Sour wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as the Clarified Sour that I've had at Reserve 101 in Houston. Kyle told me they're working on some clarified cocktails. I also ordered a Boulevardier (which isn't on the HH menu). Kyle admitted that he had never made one. He quickly looked up the ingredients and made one for me and it wasn't bad! I've only had this cocktail one other time before so I didn't have much to compare it to, but I did enjoy it. They have a small cigar menu. Cigars can be smoked outside on the patio (which is shared with Las Perlas and Caña Rum Bar). I liked the laid back feel between the pool tables and the rustic decor (it felt like I was in a lodge). Though I'm not a big whiskey drinker, I did enjoy the cocktails as well as the ambiance.

If you are a whiskey drinker, you will find a fine collection of bottles here…read more Or rather - you will find a very very fine collection of scotches here. There are some highly interesting bourbons as well. The selection of ryes is thin. If you read Whiskey Advocate (which I have been known to do), the rye curating will give you no thrills. The selection of Irish is thin as well - but no blame on that point. The population of upscale Irishes is just not that large, once you pass some over-rated cliches like Redbreast. * * * Seven Grand however is not an abstract name. That is how much you will pay in order to drink here. The prices for two ounces of many of those beverages will make the eyes pop out of your head sideways and go running out the front door. In more than a few cases, two drinks here will cost you close to what you would pay for a full bottle purchased at a liquor store. Now to be sure - bar drinking is expensive. That kind of percentage markup is not unheard of in the industry. But when you move up the price range for the raw material, The absolute amount of money you are overpaying to have that drink goes up astronomically. I will pay big for a peak experience I will remember for the rest of my life. (See my review of Craft Omakase.) I will not pay big for a random experiment with a bottle that could be wonderful and could be overrated. It is more economical to just buy the bottle. If the experiment works, I get a free month of legendary drinking. To my mind, bottle testing at Seven Grand just doesn't make sense.

The group chats were accurate about WR. I'm so impressed by this cute little local joint!…read more We sat on the patio and it was perfect weather. What a gorgeous ambiance. I went for happy hour with another couple but missed it by 30 mins... our wait staff, Mason was very accommodating and attentive. My party shred an app and our sides. My husband and I shared the chicken fried steak, definitely large enough for two. we were all satisfied with the portions and food! Collectively we had: Brisket nachos- must order! Chicken fried steak x2 Creamed corn/spinach Bacon wrapped shrimp -VERY good. Has a hint of horseradish Banana pudding...you must like artificial banana flavors to enjoy this one. Brownie sundae -basic. We each had 2 drinks. The frozen old fashioneds are great! I like the etched ice cubes for non frozen cocktail. Cute little touch. The total was ~$250. Which is very reasonable for 4.

We expected the same level of food as lunch and dinner, but were highly disappointed for brunch!…read more It was disgusting, disorganized, looked dirty and picked over, many items were needing replenishment so lots of waiting, there was no omelet station or anyone supervising the Buffett room. There were no salads, nor the usual cheese, fruit display that you would find at a typical nice brunch, nor bread and pastry options (only cheap Texas Toast that they were pulling out of a bag.) The butter bowl, yikes! It was disgusting! Denny style grape and Apple jelly by Smuckers was the offering. If you like chips and quest or Mexican breakfast things, then you could find that. There were no desserts. It was like a basic Holiday Inn buffet. Sad.

I came to Whiskey Cake for the first time last weekend to celebrate my friend's birthday. My…read morefriend, who was building out the reservation, asked why we would need to be there for three hours, from 6 to 9 pm, before our next plan on our itinerary. By the end of the night, when we were rushing to make it to our 9 pm event, she understood. Whiskey Cake is one of those New American craft kitchens that has a great bar and consistently great food, even if it doesn't immediately blow you out of the park. I drank a few drinks here, starting with their Texas Barrel Aged Old Fashioned, made from Still Austin Bourbon, a honeysuckle liqueur, vanilla, and orange bitters. A really strong but full-bodied cocktail with a lot of great flavors at play. I drank a local Austin beer on tap that I'm suddenly blanking on off the draft, and ended the night with a Montucky Cold Snack combo with a small pour of bourbon (maybe 1792, don't quote me). We only ate appetizers and sharables while at Whiskey Cake. I'll try to run through everything we had: Local Goat Cheese Fondue: A uniquely sharp experience. The bread was fantastic, but I'm very particular on my cheese and decided goat cheese wasn't for me. Roasted Garlic Hummus: The pita bread rocks, and so did the hummus, which is the actual selling point of the dish. Fries & Friends: Literally a basket of fries and dipping sauces. Not bad at all, but I don't know what you would expect. Deviled Eggs: I can't truly get behind hard-boiled eggs for some reason, but if I don't perceive that it's a hard-boiled egg, I can imagine that these are killer. I really enjoyed this. Charcuterie Board: A little bit of this, a little bit of that. A really excellent collection. The cheddar, the sausage, the cured meats, and the honey were all standouts, and it is probably the best table appetizer to get if you're also getting a full meal. Just little snacks for everyone! We ended the night with some of their Whiskey Cake, which is absolutely delightful and is obviously what they are known for. The waitress that served us was fantastic and timely and super friendly. The atmosphere was generally very nice and led to good conversations and had a solid energy. Ultimately, Whiskey Cake impressed me for what it offers and what it can be. They also definitely got whiskey. Tons of whiskey.

I came to Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar for a casual dinner with family and received so much more…read more No reservation and there was plenty of seating. We were able to change tables to accommodate more privacy. Casey was our server and so helpful. One of my family has dietary restrictions and Casey let us know the kitchen could rework almost anything to accommodate us. She also helped us get an order in before the happy hour ended. The artichoke dip well presented and good but not memorable. The old fashioned and margarita are excellent. For the main event I had the smoked pork chop. There is not a part of the dish I don't think was perfect. The chop, sauce, broccoli and slaw combined perfectly. I would say come back for this alone, but the tavern burger and chicken sandwich were great as well. The fries are crunchy on the outside and flaky inside. Grilled vegetables are an excellent side. You shouldn't leave without an order of the whiskey cake. "I only want a bite," doesn't exist. If you aren't very hungry start with dessert and add the main dish to go. Whiskey Cake has an exhaustive whiskey list and Wednesday has $7 pours which makes tasting easy. I hear brunch is excellent; I can't wait to try it.

The cutest little spot in downtown Georgetown is The Golden Rule! I was seated in their outdoor…read morepatio which was very cute. My waitress was excellent and accommodating. Great cocktails - I ordered their new old fashioned. Classic steak frites dish that was cooked to perfection (medium rare) with bbq seasoned fries. Street parking can be difficult to find close to the restaurant so be prepared to walk! Not to worry as it's a beautiful downtown to explore with plenty of shops.

Rude bartenders (3 women) told us they're closed at 9:13..maps says 10pm, but only the bar. Needs…read moreto specify on maps so they don't waste peoples time. I don't say they were rude just because of the closing, but the attitude about it. Happily turning us away. Hardly any people were in there, ratio was more employees waiting around hoping to close & not make $$ but ok Came to another bar downtown ;)

Decided to finally pay a visit to the distillery while I was…read morein town. This is such an awesome spot. The staff is so amazing. Absolutely knowledgeable of the product of the product. They have a great variety of in house cocktails. There is some seating inside and a chill seating area outside with a stage for when they have live music. Next time I'm in a Austin, I will definitely be stopping in again

I was very excited to take this tour and have been a longtime supporter of Still Austin. Before the…read moretour began, I purchased drinks and was encouraged to buy a bottle I already planned to purchase because it was close to the 9:00 PM sales cutoff. Unfortunately, the bartender who sold me the bottle failed to note my purchase or communicate it to the other staff. When I later picked up the bottle and informed a different bartender that it had already been purchased, he took the bottle from me and refused to verify the transaction, even after I showed proof of payment from my bank account and asked him to look up the purchase by amount and time. Only after the original bartender was located and confirmed the sale was I allowed to leave with my bottle. The entire situation was embarrassing and completely diminished what should have been a great experience. I have a whiskey review channel and have been a devoted fan of Still Austin. A brand is defined not only by its products but also by how it trains its employees to treat customers. Unfortunately, this experience fell far short of that standard.

How cool is this? Crowded Barrel is funded by whiskey fans. It's done so through an online method…read more So essentially all of the people backing Crowded are owners in a way. The truest sense of crowd funding comes to life and seemingly thriving. Distillery tours are available for $35 and I strongly encourage folks to give them a visit and check out what's going on. The tasting room is cool + rad. It's like spending time with the greatest people you know. Or maybe it's just the great booze that makes it feel that way? Lol, I kid. It's totally a combo of both. They don't just make whiskey, they've got a gin, tequila (a few) and a vodka as well. I'm a big fan of the vodka. Haven't tried the gin yet. This is a Dripping Springs gem.

Crowded Barrel Whiskey was a great experience overall with excellent spirits, very reasonable…read moreprices, and friendly/fast service! The business is tucked away off the road in a nice neighborhood but it's worth the exploration and drive. The interior of the bar is nicely decorated with a consistent midevil/knights of the round table theme that is tastefully executed with music that wasn't loud and cold AC! The bartenders were knowledgeable and expedient while providing a detailed overview of the spirits lineup. Most importantly, the bartenders did not pressure us into purchasing bottles, memberships, or noticeably more expensive drinks. As a result, I was inclined to spend more money! I'll definitely return to CWB and wish I would have found it earlier.

Great drink selection love the place, great meetup area and chill - not inexpensive thoread more

I went to a networking event at DuMont's Down Low and I was pleasantly surprised. I've walked past…read morethis place a few times and never actually went inside. When I entered the event, I was blown away. First, the food was fantastic. Second, the bartenders and staff were friendly. Third, the cocktails were great. Lastly, I liked the vibes and ambiance in the venue. I absolutely plan on returning here again.

These are moments I think why do I live in San Antonio ( and often work in Austin ) when I can just…read morelive here and enjoy great restaurants, bars and weird gothic haunts like this with weird dark goth decor, a scent of palo santo , superb music, a great crowd and amazing drinks! College me would have lived here !! Enjoyed a French 75, my husband enjoyed a smoked Old Fashioned and it was a great place to grab a drink prior to seeing Springsteen at the Moody seated amongst candles , a weird alter of sorts while enjoying some Stevie Wonder as is playing now though some weird NIN or Type O might have been more appropriate

What a cool place. I absolutely love the vibe, the decor, the people and the cocktails. WE stopped…read morein for one last drink before heading to the airport and fell in love with this place. It looks like an old Catholic church and has fun cocktails made with ingredients like yogurt and yakult. Very interesting menu. I want to go back and try more drinks. They are very creative here.

This is one of Austin's Best cocktail lounges that specializes in Whiskey cocktails. Their…read morecocktails have converted a noob like me into a whiskey lover. Their collection is insane and the communal table has given us some incredible memories and helped us make some incredible friends and conversations!

For my birthday we wanted to experience Kinfolk and we loved the intimacy of the experience! Cam…read moreand Blake were very informative and helped us make great choices for the evening. I love beautifully crafted cocktails and the cocktails here did not disappoint. We enjoyed our time and the atmosphere and will definitely be back for another visit!

One of my favorite bars in Austin. Some people might see it as a little divey, but that's honestly…read morepart of the charm. The atmosphere is always friendly, relaxed, and easy to settle into whether you're there for a quick drink or hanging out for the night. The drinks are consistently great, and they also have really solid weekday food specials. The sliders and tots are definitely the go-to items on the menu and always hit the spot after a few drinks. One thing I especially appreciate is how much effort they put into the themed décor during Christmas and Halloween. It really adds personality to the space and makes coming back during the holidays feel fun and memorable every year. Just an overall great neighborhood bar with good vibes and a lot of character.

I realize I haven't updated this review since relocating to Austin two years ago. As you may have…read morenoted from my previous review, I'd come here twice a year when visiting from the east coast. One of my stipulations for relocation was to be within walking distance of my beloved Nickel City. Guess what? I am! Less than a five-minute walk. I love this place so much. It's not always about drinking. In fact, quite often I'll do mocktails, water, or soda. It's about community and friendship. The vibe at NC can't fully be expressed in words. It has to be experienced. The staff treat locals and tourists like friends. And, if you're lucky enough, you actually become friends. They're like a family. Same can be said about patrons, whether regulars, sometimers, or tourists, everyone feels the love. Everyone just gets it! They have some of the best cocktails around. The frozen Irish coffee is incredible. Espresso martinis on tap? Yes, please! And if you want the best bar/comfort food ever then order from their food truck, Delray Cafe. Crinkle cut fries A+ Smashburgers A+ Hot Dogs A+ Grilled Cheese A+ Pizza Logs A+ Tater Tots A+ Everything on the menu A+ Be sure to give the gang in the kitchen (food truck) some love! They're putting out the real deal. Oh and let's not forget Steak Night! Much love to my fave neighbor, Nickel City!