Unforgettable! About 6 weeks ago, I sent an email to the Speakeasy Cigar Lounge in Lakeway to see…read moreif someone there might help me pull off a cool surprise for my man's birthday. I got the idea that Jason should have his own signature cocktail. I had the perfect name for it and a list of drinks he likes, but I'm no mixologist, so I needed help to pull this off. Sonya McKinney, the manager replied to my request saying she was all in. And boy was she! From her creative expertise, the "Liberty Risk" cocktail was born. Jason is a retired Navy fighter pilot with an ornery streak a mile wide. Whenever the aircraft carrier came into port, the crew was at liberty to enjoy time in town, unless of course, they'd done a mischief and found themselves on liberty risk, and thus restricted to the ship. Jason wasn't completely unfamiliar with liberty risk. "Liberty Risk" became the name of his boat, his most prized possession, making it also the perfect name for his signature cocktail. Sonya didn't just create an awesome cocktail, she hung a professionally made banner above the bar introducing the drink, wrote and laminated the backstory of the drink, and bought a special Navy veteran glass in which to present the drink, complete with real Navy wings that she attached to a golden cocktail skewer to garnish the drink! She also arranged for the musician who was playing that night to lead the whole bar in singing Happy Birthday to him. Thanks to Sonya, the whole experience was unparalleled and it's a special memory Jason and I will always cherish.

I went there for cigars... not awesome. Selection is weak, inventory doesn't seem to me managed and…read moreworst of all the "humidor" is not controlled. My cigars were on the verge of too dry. Also - oddly, this is not at all a speak easy.

Caddie Shack is the member's bar for the Point Venture Golf Club…read more It is open to the general public. Yeah, you will pay about twenty cents more for each beer than do the members. You will barely notice the extra expense. * * * The Caddie Shack is probably closer to the look and feel of a British pub than are most of the fake British pubs you find in the United States. No - it is not because they serve British beer. They don't serve bitters or microbrews of any kind. They serve Bud Light and Shiners and Coronas. No it is not because they have wainscoting or tartan carpets or the British Premier League on TV. The building is prefab aluminum sheeting. The decoration is negligible. They have basketball and baseball on TV. They got air hockey, shuffleboard and pool. This place could be a military canteen on an army base. It could be a rec room in somebody's house. * * * So what's so British pub-like about a prefab aluminum shack with bar games and cans of lager beer? What makes a real British pub is the sense of community. It is THE public house in the village. There is no other common place to meet - except church. There is no McDonald's. There is no Starbucks. Where do you go to meet your mates? The local. And there is one and only one local. The minute you enter the pub - you feel like you have walked into a family living room - Because this is where the whole family is hanging out. * * * Point Venture is at the very very tippity tip of Lago Vista. It is a good seven miles of twisty-turny driving from FM 1431. It is surrounded on three sides by water. It is far from everything else in the state of Texas. So the only people who go to the Caddie Shack are the people who live in Point Venture. There is one other restaurant near the marina in Point Venture. But otherwise - the Caddie Shack is what there is. So this is where people come and this is where people hang out. Management makes a point to have music most nights. There are regular poker tournaments. (Big cash penalty if you show up late.) There are big sheets of paper on the wall marking everyone's bet on who is going to win the NFL Divisional Championship games this week and what the point spread will be. A lot of people have signed up for bets. It is not that everyone is buddy buddy with everyone else. (People aren't buddy buddy with everyone else in a British pub either). Married couples sit at their tables by themselves playing Buzztime trivia or watching what's on TV. Groups of three and four play the various bar games. Some couples have conversations, soulful or otherwise, just sitting at the bar. This is the place you go in Point Venture, if you don't want to stay home and watch Netflix. Hanging out here is as routine as hanging out in the snack bar in your dorm. * * * I am not a Point Venture kind of a guy. I could never afford the spectacular houses on the lake. Those houses look small from the road. They go down three or four stories BELOW street level. The lower lakefront levels are palatial and magnificent. I don't play golf. I don't like boats. I don't drive a pick-up truck. (The mansions have two or three.) But Caddie Shack just melds in nicely with the Point Venture lifestyle. Any place that brings people together, serves the function of bringing people together. I like the vibe and feeling of Caddie Shack. * * * Now being a twisted Austin yuppie, I can go back to pursuing my obsessions. I like eight ingredient cocktails. I like unsigned bands with songs in 8/17 time. I like violent Korean movies. I like Iranian braised meat dishes with sour lime. What passes over my plate changes every day. I eat some of the most interesting meals in the world. But when I walk into a place where I am eating, I never recognize a single person.

Good entertainment Good environment…read more Wonderful people Great place Beer is cold Clean

This was the best birthday celebration I can recall having in years. It was over 100 degrees…read moreoutside so we were a bit worried about our reservations on the lake and the tavern being a hot day, but that was totally unnecessary. My group was given two boats for a very roomy experience with canopies for lots of shade if desired (but these were pulled back at night to enjoy the stars), there was even shaded areas on the lake (if you want to sip a cocktail with the boat shading you) on a lillypad to float if desired. The lake breeze and the wind as the boats cruised make it completely cool both on the lake and on the floating tavern. A rental of time at Floating Tavern is completely an experience that feels like you are out of the United States. It is so exotic! They cater your day totally to what you want to do. Want jet skis? Fine. Want to go cliff diving? Fine. Want to just cruise the lake or take a trip with music? That works too. Just chill out sipping a cocktail on a lillypad or floating? Go for it. Once your water time and cruise time is completed, the real fun begins. With expert captains having given us a great lake tour, we pulled up to the floating tavern and that was just incredible. I brought electric candles for the table to level up the experience a bit but they did it all so well with or without them and it was so roomy even for our large group! They had dimmed lights for ambiance, a mixologist squeezing fresh juices for us for amazing drinks she made with the alcohol we brought, (their alcohol package may be easier next time as it is very affordable) and we had two chefs creating small bites for us hot and cooked right there on the tavern as the sun set and we were surrounded only by lake and stars, docked right there in the middle of the lake. The service was exemplary and far beyond our expectations of fun and being catered to. You can bring some of your own food too to make a full party if desired. The communication leading up to the event was exceptional and I'll be honest, I would much rather book this experience with friends a few times a year then ever buy a boat. It is the best lake experience and lake dining you will ever have and the hosts are a huge part of the fun of the day. True experts at what they do and we are a group of well traveled, well dined foodies (including two professional chefs) and we were completely wowed at our evening. It's the vibe that gets you. You will completely shake off all stress spending an evening this way!

From the owner: Known for creating an intimate atmosphere, the Floating Tavern is a unique combination of cuisine,…read morelive entertainment and boat life. Only accessible by boat, our captains will navigate you to the Floating Tavern with options to visit any of the Lake Travis Northshore attractions along the way. Once arriving at the tiki tavern, patrons enjoy, dinner, drinks and a live show in the most unique setting.

Great vibe on a Friday night. Jules has put together an eclectic venue that is a great design store…read moreduring the day and then transforms to a club scene. Live music from Brian Andrew Lee is amazing. He has great guitar skills and rich, full vocals. A must try spot in Lakeway.

Absolute stunning bar and the interior is very Feng Shui. Love this place and Kelly is an amazing…read morebartender, not to mention how kind she was to us during closing. Can't recommend this place enough!

This place is honestly just a whole vibe. It feels like the neighborhood hangout--lots of people,…read moregood energy, and you can tell folks actually enjoy being there (not just eating and leaving). First thing I noticed? It's super clean and really comfortable. Like, the kind of place where you sit down and immediately think, "Yeah... I could stay here for a while." The ambiance is laid-back, cool, and just easy. Now let's talk food--because WOW. The tacos were packed with flavor and seriously delicious. No complaints there at all... I might've been a little too happy while eating them. I did get a skinny margarita, and I'm not gonna lie--it was good, but it showed up looking a little... shy. Smaller than I expected and a bit pricier than I would've liked. But hey, the food definitely made up for it, so I'll let it slide this time. And the staff? Super friendly across the board. The waiters, manager, bartenders--everyone was cool, welcoming, and just easy to talk to. Makes a big difference. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this spot. Great food, great people, great vibe... just maybe order two margaritas if you're feeling festive.

Love the food but went in 20mins before close and they told me the kitchen was closed already. Not…read morea great way to build flat sales

Great place. Great margarita. Great service. Amazing wings. Beautiful space! Clean playground.read more

If you're in Austin and haven't been to Farmand's Kitchen yet, you're missing out. This place is…read moresuch a gem. It's family-owned, warm, and genuinely welcoming in a way that feels increasingly rare. From the moment you walk in, you can tell they care deeply about both the food and the people they're serving. The food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. You can taste the quality in every bite -- nothing feels rushed or phoned in. The portions are generous without being over the top, and everything we've tried has been full of authentic flavor and perfectly seasoned. It's the kind of meal where you're already planning what you'll order next time before you've even finished. And Gio? Truly outstanding. He strikes that perfect balance of attentive without hovering. He knows the menu inside and out, offers thoughtful recommendations, and makes you feel genuinely taken care of. You can tell he takes pride in what he does -- he's warm, personable, and elevates the entire experience. Service like that makes a difference, and Gio absolutely delivers. What really sets Farmand's apart is that combination of incredible food and heartfelt hospitality. Austin has no shortage of great restaurants, but Farmand's Kitchen stands out because it feels personal and intentional every single time. It's one of those places we recommend immediately when someone asks where they should eat -- and we'll absolutely keep coming back.

Great spot to have a beer and watch a game with friends. It's covered from the rain and has a few…read morefood trucks that will bring food to your table.

Excellent additions to the menu this year. Old Austin BBQ is on point with their brisket and smoked…read morewings. The beef and lamb gyro from Sosa's also exceeded expectations. If you're in a football mood, swing by for lunch too!

What's another great round of the best chicken wings and full menu. The waiter was very nice to see…read moreset me down and my favorite chair and seat. I was humble by the friendliness in this restaurant. I didn't sat and ordered a mango beer my absolute favorite. I ordered the schnitzel which is a German dish absolutely out of this world delicious and they even serve it with some lemon that you can squeeze on top that gives it the flavor and the delicious taste of the crispiness on the top of the breaded chicken. The one thing I wanna stress is as you know the chicken wings is my absolute Favorite because it's not overwhelmed wit With noisy overdone seasonings and tons of barbecue which I do not like. Services top-notch very attentive I'm humbled and happy within great service I received today. If there's ever a problem they'll correct it immediately with no hesitation. I never had a problem here before Never had a problem here before and watch out for their specials too they do run special half off on happy hour chicken wings. Until next time!

Great service. Like meeting up here with my friend and her husband. We come Wednesday night for…read moretheir trivia. Food has always been really great. Like their cocktails. Patio is very large. We normally play trivia outside, but I guess with the humidity we had, they decided to do it inside. Great time, great food, great service