The Whip In is doing its part to help keep South Austin Weird. I love this place! What's not to like?? Let's start with the crazy unique vibe inside- part grocery store, part bar, part live music stage and outdoor patio. Did someone mention beer? They have a shitload of beers on tap, AND they brew their own beer! And these guys hustle and wear a lot of hats running their business - the guy who took my order helped me decide on a beer to try out, and he happens to say as I pay that he brewed that batch of beer himself- now is that awesome or what?? Good luck finding that knowledge of microbrews from your typical chain restaurant server. If you need to pick up some bottles of wine or beer on the way home, they have quite a refrigerated section of alcohol as well. This building was a converted grocery store I assume, and it's neat they retained some of that flavor with the current setup. And they have a small but intimate stage for live music, they pull in some decent music talent there. The whole Indian fusion theme is really fun and unique. My attached picture below says it all :) This is one of those places you have probable driven by it for years and never stopped to take a look. Well get out of that I-35 traffic one evening and stop by! Only negative, and it was more a rant from the female guests in our group, is the indoor bathroom is a just a single toilet and a bit repulsive. The outdoor porta-potty is , well it's a porta-potty :( But don't let that spoil the experience! I would easily recommend this place as a truly unique Austin Experience to go out and get a drink and be weird! read more

Whip In - Poster inside the Whip Inn - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Austin, Texas

Live music / Delicious Grub /Awesome Staff The wine selection is crazy and the atmosphere is so laid back! I've never been disappointed after many many visits always consistently amazing and we always have a great time, all this equals 5 stars!! read more

Whip In - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Austin, Texas

Below is my review for the last several years but I feel the need to update... New ownership, in an effort to recoup their exceedingly foolish purchase price, have decided to layoff the integral management, which had a domino effect of losing other incredible staff. I have no idea how a place recovers from eliminating all the best parts of the formula but I imagine it'll fail impressively. Kinda like when Jerry jones chased away jimmy Johnson and the cowboys sucked for 15 years. Brilliant. "Great food, amazing service, knowledgeable staff. I love being able to tell a bartender my mood and they always can pick out the perfect bevvy for me. Oh yeah, great music and a sneaky good spot to catch a big game on occasion" read more

We're so happy that one of the quintessential South Austin hangouts is only getting better. This was the first time we'd been back pre-pandemic, and we loved the way they've re-arranged the space. It's still funky, but now you can move around easily. And the food is fantastic! Keep in mind that this is not the place you go in Austin for authentic, perfectly-spiced Indian food. For us, that's the Clay Pit. But the Clay Pit will look at you funny if you come in in your old shorts. For a place where you can grab a weeknight dinner in friendly, unpretentious surroundings, the food is darn good! The beer selection is great, as always, and the wine section is much improved. They also have lots of good ciders. We were surprised to see the old crowds weren't back yet! But I'm sure that won't last long. I know we'll be there. read more

I love this place! Brunch is always delicious, staff is great! Lots of beer and wine selection. read more

Whip In - Grilled Ham Steak & Eggs - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Austin, Texas

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what an amazing, unique place. the draft beer collection was vast, and the Indian food was memorable. We look forward to going back again and again. read more

Oh, Whip In, how far you have fallen! There was a time when your 40+ taps were full, your wine list was accurate, and your food had the same ingredients as listed on the menu!! You've been taking a deep slide since new ownership 2 years ago. We had hoped you would rebound. Instead, your restaurant smells of sewage and you can't seem to get anything right. We're done. Die your slow death, Whip In... you're not welcome in my hood anymore. read more

Great place for Beer, wine and music. A little snappy on appearance and a bit spicy on food. Our team of 8 had chicken korma, chilly chicken, bhindi masala, samosa and chole. Out of that chilly chicken and bhindi masala stood out. Kheer is more like phirni here but, one of the best austin has to offer. read more

Maybe my favorite bar I visited while visiting Austin, good thing it was right next door to where I was staying. Live music, delicious Indian food, cheap beer, outdoor seating and a small area to take things to go ie beer, wine, toilet paper, snacks. The happy hour is amazing, buy one app get one free and my cider was only $3. I went here 3 times during my stay bc I liked it that much. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. One of the girls gave us the history of the place which is very interesting. I ended up leaving with a hoodie to remind me of the Whip In and how much I wish San Diego had a Whip In of it's own. A must try when in Austin. read more

I really like this place. Just wish they had the huge Belgian draft selection they used to. First time I went, they had 8-10 Belgians on draft, including numerous triples. Now the menu only lists 4 - a saison, dubbel, tripel and one other. Won't keep me from going here. Just have to get my Belgian fix elsewhere. read more

Family curry deal is the bomb! A great deal and the service is always spot on! Whip In provides a very comfortable environment as well which is perfect for anyone with a bit of social anxiety like myself. read more

We've always loved Whip In and we read in the news that they were changing ownership but keeping some Indian-inspired dishes. The time inevitably comes when we need our fix of beer and curry. The new menu has a lot less for veggie lovers like me. I had the daily chicken dish and it was very tasty, except it only had a couple of tiny pieces of carrot and red bell pepper instead of the several larger pieces I would expect at Whip In before. The new menu also includes pub fare like fish and chips and a Scottish egg, which sound intriguing, so I may have to reset my expectations and try those next time. The service was great and overall it still feels like Whip In, but with a slightly lesser menu (for now, I hope). Bring back the veggies please! read more

I am so disappointed. I've had some pretty terrible Indian inspired food but this one takes the cake. As an Indian who understands the divide between fast casual and authentic, this falls in the "I took a can of tomato sauce and added a spice pack." I got the paneer dish. It was way too tomato sauce-ish and had zero flavor. The rice served was also crunchy - way too dry. It's a fun ambiance for drinking but I wouldn't recommend the food at all. read more

BE FOREWARNED: The owner of this establishment may be a TOTAL DICK to you for absolutely no reason. The first time I came here I got smirked at for not pronouncing some wine correctly. Shrugged it off, whatever. The next time I came here for a bottle of wine however, the (supposed) owner was so unbelievably rude to me that I will NEVER be coming back. When I handed him my ID he just kept looking at it and then glaring up at me. No really. GLARING at me...and making me feel very uncomfortable. Then he said my name out loud in an exaggerated, condescending way and was like, "89...89...I can't do the math, YOU do the math." I laughed nervously and said "You do the math, I'm 22."And he just KEPT glaring at me. So I said "You're being very rude," after which he went OFF on me, letting me know that he was "actually the owner of this establishment" and that he "usually doesn't sell to people who tell me I'm being rude." I could feel my heart starting to race and my face flush and I wondered what the HELL is wrong with this man. He begrudgingly rung me up as fast as he could, huffing and puffing. (I was glaring right back at him at this point.) Before I left, I paused for a split second to make sure this had really just happened and and he threw his hands up as if to say "what the fuck do you want from me?" and said "Get out." I looked at him in disbelief and got the fuck out and I won't be coming back, obviously. I was as honestly speechless. I know that I did nothing to deserve such disrespectful treatment from that pathetic excuse for an owner. Please save your money and go Specs...Twin Liquors...online...ANYWHERE but this place. They will decide whether you are worthy of their respect when you walk in and if they decide you're not...well, you're in for an experience similar to mine. And MANY other people. Keep reading. read more

Marijuana is gateway Spanish. Whip In is gateway Indian food, but I truly dig it. I arrived before the kitchen opened fully, so only ordered from the apps menu, but the fried dates are the tits! HUGE beer/wine selection. I'll probably be back. IH35 and potential south of the border criminals don't scare me. Who gets mugged while ABBA plays in the background?! read more

The only thing that could make the Whip In better is if it had a dirty book store attached, sold boiled peanuts and lowered their prices. Other than that, the place is a charming compliment to the I-35 corridor and an easy spot to make it to make it to after I have been drinking at home. Amazing beer selection, lot of wines to choose from, and helpful staff. Be sure to pick up one of their posters for your office, refrigerator, etc... read more

we have a friend who does not yelp, thinks it's a strange thing to do. we forgive him, ignore the fact that he benefits from all the knowledge we harvest for outings. so for his birthday, I surprised him with the whip in. the only info I shared was "it's ok to dress casual". so they assumed I was lost when I was driving up to whip in. they thought I was joking when I announced "we're here!". after all, the whip in appears like a convenience store from the i35 frontage entry. his face lit up like he'd won the lottery when he saw all those beer taps. he walked back and forth, taking in the glorious view. then he ran back to the register where I was already ordering beers, "they have chana masala! INDIAN FOOD!" yes, mr jason, happy birthday to you. I shared my yelp knowledge of the best beer and indian food option available, imagine my joy when I asked if any of their belgian offerings were in the saison style, and the server replied with "we have three saison belgians" oh my... I'm getting all dizzy just thinking about that magic moment we found a cozy booth. enjoyed a nice variety of belgian beers. the table next to us played games, and soon we all had a conversation about Tom Waits as we sang along, two booths of strangers, in a convenience store turned indian gastropub.... only in austin? possibly. chana masala was good and the somosas were fantastic. it was a great crowd, even a few kids. all the staff and servers were extremely helpful, friendly and knowledgable. I tested their limits, and if they didn't have an answer for me, they FOUND the information and came back informed. we filled a growler with live oak hefeweizen and we left happy. oh, and my friend who doesn't appreciate yelp? he had this to say "YOU GOTTA GIVE THIS PLACE A GOOD YELP REVIEW! FOUR STARS, FIVE STARS HOWEVER MANY STARS YOU CAN, GIVE THEM THE MAX! this is in my top ten list for sure" so this five star is for you jason (who won't see this as he doesn't yelp). and also, thank you Whip In and yelp.com, thanks for a fun saturday afternoon and making it possible to impress a friend for his birthday best poster on the wall said "drink your beer, there are sober kids in india" read more

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I keep trying to love this place. I keep thinking that the rotten experience I had was surely a fluke, and so I get dragged back with another group of starry eyed friends only to be let down again and again. First of all, it is still called a convenience store, but the mid-life identity crisis freak-out this place has been having for the past couple years has stripped away any kind of convenience it may once have had. When you stop in to the corner store there are certain things you think you can grab and go. The Whip In tries so hard to have everything, that the simple things get overlooked. There is no consistency. Need bread? Forget about it, unless you want to pay four bucks for a piece of dried out, two day old naan. Milk? Sometimes. Just never when I have needed it. How about cigarettes? Not only are they likely to be sold out of this simplest of convenience store staples, but the owner will chastise you harshly for wanting them at all. I also keep hearing how great the Indian food is. The food is sometimes good, sometimes not. Another inconsistency. The menu itself is trying to be fusion, but just comes off as schitzophrenic and confused. Chicken fried steak? Frito pie? For $17??!! At an "Indian restaurant"? PASS. Okay so how about the awesome beer selection? Sometimes. Yes there are something like 65 beers on tap, but most of them will be tapped out. There are plenty on the shelf but if you want one of those you get charged extra. You got up and got it for yourself, but there is a service charge for the bottle opener. You can try to get some help from the bartender, once he gets off his phone -an ironic problem, as they have a "store policy" to not wait on any customer who is on THEIR phone, but it is apparently alright for the ever changing staff. I have been in and out of the Whip In on and off for about 3 or 4 years. When they first began to change things around, it seemed promising and I wanted to be excited for them and with them, but between the complete lack of consistency, the horrible live music, and the rotten attitude of the owner... it's just not worth trying to keep up with all the 'Hey Look At Me Now!" changes it's going through. From the menu to the shelves, this place has a complete lack of focus or sense of identity that is keeping them from getting any one thing really right. read more

It's not you, Whip, it's me. I know this break-up is going to take a lot of going over, so here's the shorts: I don't like walking into a convenient store and feeling like the people working there are looking down on me; the booze is marked up like a madman; the food tastes (surprise!) like it's from a convenient store; the service? There is none. Now to particulars, like, my drinks. I need less commitment than you are offering, Whip: cheap, fast, get in, get out. (and no, I do not tip at a convenience store--even if you act like I'm a complete inconvenience to you. I almost want to stick up the joint just so they know what it feels like. ["Alright! Now veery slowly, veery calmly, sign this small piece of white paper....hey, Hey! Tip a buck at least: I gotta gun."]) Also, an ancedote: my 2nd favorite beer (sorry, you just can't beat a MF'n Mickey's) is Icehouse, the 5.5% beer brewed by penguins in the Arctic from an old shamu bird recipe and now 97% beak-free (allegedly); what happened was: this beer, through some insane reckoning of karma, was 99 cents for a 2x4 (be still my heart)...yes, that's right, gentle reader, less than 50 cents a can! I immediately bought them out of stock and asked the guy to look in back for any scroungers. No dice. And now? Oh cruel, wanton Fortuna, they've jacked the price up to 1.89 (!!!), much more than the going rate in any state, much less a gun-toting, knuckle-dragging mook of a state like TehXas. They also do not carry dip (I know, I know, I don't even like it...though I indulge). Living next door in the Brook, I've been here dozens of times, and it's always the same scene, a scene I'm always at a loss to explain to myself; what are they now, hipsters?, scenesters?, speedracers?, podcasts?; whatever that aura is about how much you care about not caring (especially customer service) I told you, it's me: I don't want to be judged when I buy malt liquor at noon on Saturday, I don't want to be taken for 'ironic' when I ask why the hell you don't carry 4-Loko (and yes, I am partial to a drink that will not respect you in the morning and does not care about your feelings; this isn't one of those 'this one time we drank 4-Lokos,' 'oh yeah, us to, let's talk about it, yuk yuk yuk,' no, just no...I drink it because I'm a slush of a lush and a cheap sonabitxx and it taste like purple Popsicles when I was 8). So yeah, it's me, and not to hate, so here is some dope stuff about the Whip In: -they have a dollar 'corking fee' for beer, meaning if you wanna sit down and see whatever abstract awful musicians they have there you can crack an Icehouse 24 for less than a 3 spot -relative to places that specialize, they do have an impressive selection of wine, though some bottles are marked up just because they are refrigerated (I'm not even kidding), though why someone would buy wine from a convenience store is baffling to me, even though the ol lady, having forgotten a housewarming gift on the way to said party pulled in like a lunatic and out I went, grabbing some crushed grapes for a 15-spot and then giddy up, we're off in 1, 2, 3 minutes. Word. -uh, that's really it I don't mean to crack the Whip-In too ragged w/o constructive criticism, so let me here offer some Things That Could Improve This Establishment Immediately: -at all times a cowboy is present and occupying the first stool at the bar; every time a patron comes in he looks at them and, like from somewhere out of his murky past, says: "I reckon you ain't from around these parts, pard-ner," and tips his hat rakishly -the homeless dudes that live under the Woodland overpass are allowed to drink for free and panhandle everyone's spare change -Icehouse is restored to it's noble heritage of being cheap and potent -another cowboy leans against the wall, one knee elbowed against the door, staring down at the ground; upon completion of a purchase, said cowboy says, "You need a right bit help with that there, ma'am?," regardless of the customers gender -the music is no longer esoteric, 'out there,' or terrible Alas, the thing is this: the Whip-In is not a convenience store. Cash Counter across the street is a convenience store. They have a much better beer selection and more reasonable prices (wine, not so much), and when I perused his fine dips he did not have what I wanted; so, praised be to customer service, he asked me what it was I wanted (what a concept!), I told him sans expectations, and he straight busted out a 3-hole binder and looked it up like th-, that! Marked me down. "Anything else you want, we get for you," cuz I understand the dudes predicament; right across the street he's got the trendy (see: soulless) Whip-In, with it's Chronicle Customer Choice Awards (which usually belie better days, though Whip-In has an undeniable run of, like, a million straight?) on Austin's Best Convenience store....at least for most people. As for me? I'm happier now, seeing someone else from those other side of the tracks. read more

I finished moving in 100 degree heat and I couldn't be bothered going to HEB that's a couple blocks close to me. So I decide to go to the Whip In. It's definitely a place to go when you don't like to go to HEB and all you need are organic food and all the drinks galore. It's definitely worth the trip if you don't like crowds. Also there's live music too. In the times I've gone during the evening, there was an acoustic guitar playing all kinds of music. read more

I don't get it. Mediocre music most nights, decent beer selection that is half gone half of the time (kegs tapped), overpriced fairly mediocre Indian food. People talk about the patio... it's essentially a parking lot with a traditional residential privacy fence and some picnic tables. Ambiance is supposed to be hip and welcoming... I just get patio next to urban gas station vibe. read more

We came here for a tap takeover featuring Real Ale brewing. This place is unique to say the least. If someone asked me to describe the "South Austin vibe" I would send them here and they would definitely experience it. It's a relaxed place that combines Indian food, convenience store, wine bar, numerous beer taps, and a nice outdoor patio. The feel is eclectic and the place defies classification. read more

Whip In - Brewers cut session IPA - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Austin, Texas

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What a great Austin find! Ok, so maybe in terms of 'find' there wasn't too much in 'finding it' since it's right off I-35 but still. I like the sweet potato pecan tamales (in the freezer section). Really good! There's a lot to the Whip In other than just beer and various alcoholic beverages. When you step out of your car, you can smell the wonderful aroma of Indian food coming out from the building. Whoa! Too bad I had already eaten though since looking at the menu, I was REALLY interested in the Barton Springs version of the naan panini (bacon, swiss, turkey and raspberry jam) - it sounded SO good. All the organic food, Boarshead sausages, dolmas, foods from Brazil and other countries... even the different flavors of yerba mate really impressed me. I'll definitely be swinging back to try that panini though. read more

"Can I get that beer to go?", said the beer snob bar patron. "Why, yes you can, how about a six pack?" said the friendly neighborhood bartender. I love the concept of a beer/wine mart that also has a very good selection on tap, ingenious (I'm sure it increases sales as you can try then buy). Plenty to peruse on the shelf as well as the taps, with a huge selection of local brews as well as other micros and a decent selection of Belgium ales (although not all are actually Belgium, just Belgium "style"). Every time I go I ask what the bartenders favorite ale, IPA, etc. to figure out which to try and generally they have very good taste and in all rarity I get to imbibe in something I have yet to try. read more

I'm sorry, but adding chutney to pepperoni and cheese and charging $7 bucks for a tiny serving is not "gourmet naan panini". It's an overpriced quesadilla. Jesus Christ people, can you not even identify a naan bread? "Oh but it has chutney on it! OMFG I never eat that so it's like totally gourmet, right?" The fact there's some annoying hippie whining on his guitar does not help. Also, not very clean. Luckily I sat at the bar and got to see for myself. Minifridge and microwave all covered in sketchy residue and our "cook" was touching all these unwashed surfaces and then glopping toppings on their "panini". When she finally flung the tiny dish in front of us, it was in a very ungrateful and self-congratulatory manner, as if we were lucky to be spending our money there. Here's what the Whip In has going for it: convenience, local ownership, and a decent selection of beer and tobacco products. I think it gets great reviews here because there aren't many other options in South Austin, unless you never get sick of TexMex. read more

I have been stopping by the Whip In for years for a bottle of Argentinian Malbec or a Chilean Carmenere. For a convenience store the sales people are highly educated on food, beer and wine pairings. I have never been recommended a wine here that did not perfectly compliment my meal. But, now I can also pick up Indian food here at a reasonable price - all are around 6.00. The Naan bread is perfectly toasted on the outside and soft on the inside and is a happy party when topped with mushrooms, spinach masala and feta cheese! I also highly recommend the Blackeyed Peas in Spicy Yogurt Sauce and Garbanzo Bean and Carrot Stew (nicely spiced with cumin, ginger, garlic and turmeric)! Check out Whip In! It is a convenience store gone gourmet! read more

Now let me tell ya'll boutta little fantasy-land we folk here in Austin call Whip In - It's formerly a tiny liquor store many people used to refer to as, however incorrectly, a convenience store. While that term may hail to it's approximate size of olde, it doesn't even begin to hint at the service, knowledgeable staff, or breadth and quality of selection contained therein Thesedays, to our surprise & sheer delight - this tiny liquor store has purchased the space next door and expanded into part brewpub, part indian diner, with yards of gorgeous silk lining the ceiling,amazing bowls and "panini" sandwiches made with naan. 5 stars for many years of liquor store excellence, and your expansion into a combo indian joint / brewpub, thereby blowing our collective motherlikkin minds. You, my dearly beloved, are a shining example of a local business that's keeping austin weird and chock full of awesome. I salute you, Whip In. That is all. read more

I had always wanted to try this place. I had heard it has great reviews and is always packed. We roll up and the place was bumper to bumper. We grab 2 chairs at the bar. I ask the bearded bar guy for a food menu. I asked for a Margarita, not realizing they only had beer or wine. The guy rudely points, "Beer is here and wine is over there! We do not have alcohol!" Well gee, beer is not made with magic. Beer has alcohol in it, so you are pretty much lying to me. They guy looks at me disgusted. I look over the menu, noticing that the guy never wiped the bar down and I have my arm laying in spilled beer. Nice. We stood up and proceeded to walk out. If I wanted rude, nasty service, I would have gone to Dicks Last Resort. Apparently , I was not the only one that thought the bartender was an ass, there was a tip on Foursquare that pretty much described the same level of service as I go. Sure this place has a great beer selection, the bartender needs to get a clue or perhaps he would not lose customers. Thanks but NO thanks. Thanks for wasting my time. I will not be back. read more

On most days I would give Whip In three stars but today they don't deserve a single star. They took an unauthorized photo of customers in traditional attire and posted it on facebook, strike one. The photo was then captioned with words that could be construed as racists, and indeed was by most Facebook readers, strike two. Lastly, the owner did not have the courtesy and sensitivity to apologize and take the offending post down, on the contrary he defended it and turned a blind ear to the sincere requests from the targeted ethnic community in Austin, strike three. Let's talk about the establishment itself, it has unimpressive interiors, takes too long to serve the food, and the prices are a mockery for the content. They do have a large selection of beers, which is the only thing I liked about the place. read more

(Pardon me as I address the elephant in the middle of the tiny room.) Whip In! Why are you slowly turning into a bar/venue? You used to be my little Mecca in South Austin, where I could zip in and walk out with a decent (read eclectic and wonderful) bottle of wine or beer for a relatively small amount of money. I know you just have a few tables and a stage the size of a coked-out singer/guitarist, but what am I to think when you don't restock your wine section? Betrayed. Back on point: I have been a fan of Whip In for over fifteen years. It is THE best convenience store, that has now morphed into a beer/wine store, with few grocery items, a slew of Mary Louise Butter's brownies, empenadas, and now taps behind the register and a cramped stage area. The employees are extremely friendly and are willing to offer advice, suggestions, and general help. It's not hard to find a decent bottle of wine for under $10...well as of yesterday, make that $13. My friend and I bought the last bottle under $10 last night. Seriously. That is, unless, the shelves have been restocked. I mentioned my favorite prepackaged brownies earlier, and want to give them yet another shout out. I haven't seen a larger selection of Austin's finest baker, ML Butter's anywhere. They're by the register; it's awesome. Regardless, if you are looking for that bottle of Delirium Tremens, La Fin Du Monde, and even just the random Chimay, Whip In is your place. read more

They have a wide selection of beers here but the staff aren't very welcoming. I recently moved walking distance from here and was excited to make it my new usual bar but I felt like I was more of a burden on the bartenders. I tried to come back a few times but its was just the same story. read more

I went here for the first time this weekend in my quest for Clove Cigarettes (yeah, i'm that chick). Oh my, I really dig this place. I reminds me of a couple of places back home that I miss. They have SAMOSAS!!!!!!!! I didn't try them as I had a singular mission in mind, but I did case the joint and they have a nice selection of items. I will return. I want to eat in the restaurant part as it looked quite cozy. The lady who rang us up was cool. Of course I can't tell you her name because I suck. read more

Oh no... I'm a former fan who will probably never be back. Today we had unexpectedly terrible service. After waiting 40 mins for some basic eggs that we never got, we decided we just needed to leave, because we had other things to do. So we walked up to the counter and simply asked to cancel our order and get our money back. We were treated with immediate disdain and zero apologies from two employees. The defensive manager who grudgingly opened the cash register to provide our refund scowled at us through the whole transaction. By calling them out on their slow service, we had clearly broken a Whip In rule, and we were no longer welcome. This place is pretty absorbed in its Austin-weird, craft-brew hipness (which I used to like about it!) But it's too bad they don't think friendly customer service is cool. read more

When I was in college I lived in a co-op in West Campus where one of our cooks ALWAYS made curry. I was unable to eat curry for years because I got tired of it. But guess what? Whip-In recently broke my curry strike!!! I also like that you can make your own six pack from selected beers. Live music is a plus! read more

Whip In - Chana masala #1 rice bowl - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I know I give a lot of five star reviews. For one thing, as a long-time Yelper, I am snobby and don't bother going to places that are below three stars; life is short, food and drink are my most favoritest things so I search out the best. Secondly, it is a both a great strength and great weakness of mine that I try and see the best in everything/everyone. Thus, a lot of places I go to deserve a five star ranking, for a specific experience. Example: Zandunga had good food but it was overpriced and the menu was limited, atmosphere was lacking. But good god, they had the friggin BEST guacamole (served with plantains and yucca chips!) and a one-of-a-kind fantastic frozen guava margarita. So they get 5 stars for that. Another way to look at is, I'm not going to knock a star off Estacia because they don't have enough vegetarian options and Craft Pride doesn't get dinged for not having international beers. See what I'm saying? Anyway, if you don't know what you are getting yourself in for at Whip In, well, I can see where you might not be thrilled. Otherwise, I think it ranks right up there! Hard to say anything about this Austin favorite that hasn't already been said, but I'll try to present a quick review of both the good and bad: Cons: It's always crowded. Trying to get a beer can be annoying, finding a spot to sit, even moreso. This also means parking can be a bitch. Food can be a hassle unless you are sitting right at the bar. Bathroom is a port-a-potty. Ew. If band is playing, you are listening to music. (That is, forget about trying to have a conversation unless you are in the very few locations where you might not have to scream) Pros: BEER. Newbies note there is the regular laminated menu you should get your hands on in addition to the selections on the board. Save a buck during daily happy hour (4-7) Interesting bottle selection to go (that is, you're gonna find way more than just BudLight here) WINE. Tons of bottles here to go (can you buy one and hang out? I'm not sure, if so, even more awesome) They also serve wine so you are still covered. FOOD. I like the food. It's Indian. Mostly. The goat sliders are fantastic and the spicy fries are to die for, especially when drinking beer. Possibly the most interesting selection of food items ever at a "convenience store," everything from gourmet chocolate to grass-fed meat. A fun, lively atmosphere that provides an energy you can feel....Go solo, grab a beer, and just sit and observe. Good stuff. Always an eclectic crowd. Live music inside and out. There is an awesome drawing of a penis dragon inside the pink port-a-potty. read more

I am by no means a hipster, I own a BMW station wagon so I'm pretty sure that trumps the fact that I have tattoos older than most everyone in this place. So those that are hating on the hipsters that frequent this place can come sit by me. I'll be the one sitting outside with my two dogs, drinking something over-hopped and eating something raised within a 50 mile radius of this place. 5 stars for the creative interpretations of Indian food, 5 stars for the knowledgeable bartenders, 5 stars for supporting local farmers AND brewers, 5 stars for the genius idea of the "convenience store" with a great wine beer selection & Amy's foods among others. This place is a prime example of why I love Austin and why I really don't miss my hometown of Chicago at all. read more

Haven't been here in years. Pleasantly surprised with the new lay out. Ordering food was easy and it was solid. You know who my favorite people are in Austin? Bartenders. They work their butts off and put up with morons all the time and they do nothing but deliver me the good stuff. This place loses two full stars based off that a-hole behind the bar. Completely rude, condescending and made the entire experience horrible for me. This is sad. Because I won't be coming back. And I spend like a million dollars every time I frequent establishments, so they'll probably go out of business. Jokes aside, hey bartender, everybody hates their job. But you chose an occupation where you have to deal with people. Treat em just a little nice, if you can. "Oh rats!"-That's what I say. read more

Ok, here goes. Honestly, I wasn't a fan. I know... this is a niche place and I'm sure it has a big history and they are trying to make the most of their already augmented space and that is pretty cool...but let's discuss what's not cool. 1. So little parking...we were super lucky to get parking but it was tight as hell, and not in the good way. 2. While yes, they have re-organized their ordering into one station, (wine, beer, and food together) it's just not working guys. There's too many people in that space and everyone is jam packed. You know I guess that's a sign of a popular business but I'm just not a fan, sorry. There were tons of people just standing around with their food markers waiting for a spot, and clogging the entry/exits - as we actually did in order to place our orders. It was a fiasco waiting to happen. 3. When we were standing to order drinks, you guys had a live singer in there and while she was good, the space is way too small to have a live venue inside. My ears were toast after standing there for a few minutes. The speakers were also not handling her belt well which was creating a screeching noise that was not pleasant. 4. So after that we went outside. Outside was nice... unless you were sitting by the giant line of port-a-potties that wreaked to high heaven. Dear god... it was awful. And where we were sitting, considering how busy it was - we were lucky to have the real estate. Thankfully, the smokers covered up the smell a bit which we were fine with but we left shortly thereafter. So honestly, the lady who served us at the bar was super nice... and I really liked the idea of the place but those are all the stars I'm awarding. Maybe if I would have tried the food, which is supposed to be great, my opinion would be more uplifted. I just think I've experienced better and I know that there are places doing what this place is doing, and doing it better. No offense, I'm sorry! read more

I graduated college early. Thanks, AP classes! Is anyone else from the San Antonio area? Like the "thanks, Career Point" ads that came on during commercials while watching Maury? If they have them here, sorry, I don't have cable. Well, graduating a year earlier than planned really stressed me out so when I nearly at the point of a breakdown I pulled in to Whip In on my way to school to have beer before class and ponder life after graduation. Why not. I loved the laid back feel of the bar, and had a delicious 512 pecan porter. They have my favorite local beers on tap, as well as really great, interesting food. I only had a few minutes to wallow in my sadness, so I came back that same weekend to buy a variety pack of the bf's favorite beer for his birthday (10% off when you buy 6, I think?). After experiencing porter heaven,he had to check the place out, so we went the next weekend and listened to some music and had the black bean nachos. I love the patio area, and it's great during summer evenings. Every experience at Whip In has been a great one. Try it. Go to the bar and grab some food, or shop the grocery section and take it home. I don't come nearly as often as I'd like anymore since life took me away from 35, but it's definitely worth the trip. read more

Man... Whip In has been awesome for years and years. Then something happened... Not sure if there are new owners, management, etc.. don't know.. But now they are serving all sorts of food, and groceries, and there's an idiotic manager/owner? that is just so irritating... gotta be scaring customers away. And they made the stupid decision to move the cigars next door to the liquor store.. so you can no longer get cigars there after 9pm. Anyway, the liquor Store next door is still great. Sad to say that Whip In is fast becoming a silly freak show. They do still have a good beer selection... despite all the other out of place BS read more