Drink Archives - Page 23 of 30

15 Over 15: Which Austin Eateries Have Survived the Years?

October 28, 2014 by Edwin Ochoa 16 Comments

It’s no secret that running a restaurant or bar is difficult, especially in Austin. With so many opening every month, only the truly exceptional have what it takes to compete long term. So how admirable is it when an establishment can keep the doors open for 15, 20 or even 50 years?

The purpose of this article is to celebrate 15 restaurants and bars in Austin that have served hungry and thirsty Austinites for 15 years or more. My list comes from Austinites who have lived here long enough to remember when quarter beer night was a thing.

This isn’t a ranking by any means. My goal is to focus on what led to the success of each establishment. To do so, I sat down with someone at each business to get the real story. I’ve included their explanations for the lasting success of their local businesses (spoiler: customers come first). Without further adieu, here are Austin’s 15 over 15.

Ross’ Old Austin Cafe

Don’t miss the live music on Tuesdays and Fridays

[Read more…]

See for Yourself: The Highball Is Back

October 22, 2014 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

The Highball at 1120 S Lamar

When The Highball closed its doors almost two years ago, it left a gaping hole in the Austin nightlife scene. Seriously. Where else could you grab a drink, sing a Miley Cyrus song and bowl ten frames without leaving the building? Now settled in its refurbished home, the South Lamar landmark is looking to reclaim its crown as one of Austin’s most distinctive hot spots.

[Read more…]

Austin’s Newest Brewery Preps for Biggest Beer Festival in U.S.

September 22, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena 2 Comments

The spectacular views at Oasis Brewing are amongst the best at any brewery, anywhere in the country (Credit: Oasis Texas Brewing Company)

Hops, Grain, Yeast, Water. A combination of these basic ingredients drives competitive brewers and beer nerds alike to Denver every year for the Great American Beer Festival.

Just as the first snow begins to coat the top of the Rockies, breweries and beer fans from across the country gather at the Denver Convention Center for a three-day beer festival of epic proportions.

By the end of the festival, only a few of the 600+ breweries that formally enter the competition will walk away with a coveted GABF medal.

Bringing home a medal can put a brewery on the map. Just ask Josh Hare of Hops & Grain. In 2012, Hops & Grain brought home a gold medal for their ALTeration, a German style alt-bier.

Yes, bringing gold back to Austin before even celebrating your first anniversary in business buys you instant credibility. This is the level of success Spencer Tielkemeier of Oasis Texas Brewing Company hopes to achieve less than two weeks from now. [Read more…]

Cuvee Coffee Finds New Home in East Austin

September 15, 2014 by Matthew Champion 1 Comment

Cuvee Coffee Bar exterior

Cuvee Coffee has long been in the hearts of Texans and Austinites alike, and visiting their new location in East Austin is an experience you’ll want to have again and again.

The company, founded over a decade and a half ago, has taken their time opening a cafe for customers and fans, and it shows. Everything from the modern, stripped down decor to the individualized ordering process makes it obvious that a lot of thought and hard work were put into opening the operation.

I recently stopped by their new place (2000 E 6th) and was immediately greeted with smiles and genuine warmth, something you won’t find at every coffee shop in Austin.

Having never been there, I asked for a recommendation and was astounded by [Read more…]

Move Over, Pumpkin Spice Latte! 6 Local Autumn Treats

September 11, 2014 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Guest article by Mia Moore

Like many others, as soon as the first autumn breeze hits, I go nuts for all things pumpkins spice. But I’ll be the first to admit that pumpkin is not the be-all, end-all of fall flavors. Apple, cinnamon, pecan, salted caramel, chai…there is so much more to choose from than your typical pumpkin spice latte.

This fall, why not challenge yourself to enjoy ALL the flavors of the season? Luckily, with Austin’s focus on keeping it local, many businesses offer seasonal treats for your delight. Here are a few of my personal favorite local Autumn treats.

Kerbey Lane Cafe – Pumpkin-Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Kerbey Lane Cafe pumpkin cinnamon pancakes (Credit: Kerbey Lane on Facebook)

It’s no secret that Kerbey Lane Cafe has a weekly pancake flavor. But once Autumn hits, Kerbey begins serving pumpkin pancakes and sometimes even pumpkin-cinnamon roll pancakes. With a pumpkin flavored base and cinnamon sugar swirl, one taste of these pancakes may inspire [Read more…]

You’re All in the Family at Eastside’s School House Pub

August 28, 2014 by Matthew Champion Leave a Comment

School House Pub Edgar and Christina Torres

Edgar and Christina Torres outside School House Pub

School is back in session, and there’s no better place to get “studious” than School House Pub in East Austin. Located off Manor Road among what seems to be an ever expanding collection of go-to bars and restaurants, School House Pub brings you inside the classroom where food and drinks are always allowed.

The small, but cozy interior is cleverly decorated with schoolbooks, chalkboards and charts galore. Their cocktails are quirkily named (Teacher’s Pet, Intro to Spanish, Extra Credit) and are some of the most reasonably priced in town ($7-9). When you walk in, look up and you’ll be staring at the pub’s flagship school bell hanging from a well-lit tower. [Read more…]

Best Austin Craft Beer Joints: North by Northwest

August 26, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena Leave a Comment

Now this is how you do a Vertical! NXNW has a flight of their barleywine from the last 4 years on tap during the holidays.

The craft beer scene in Austin is blowing up. For every new brewery that opens, there are at least three bars that pop up, eager to serve you the best local beers that Austin has to offer.

Continuing the tradition Eric started with his Best Burger Joint in Austin series, I’m profiling and reviewing the best craft beer joints in Austin, with the occasional stop or two at bars that have room for improvement. I’ll take into consideration everything from beer selection to ambiance to overall value, and everything in between.

Please join me as I try to catalog your favorite watering holes in Austin, and let me know what you think in a comment below.

North by Northwest

What is the oldest, still active craft brewery in Austin? If you guessed North by Northwest because of the title of this article, you’d be wrong. But not by much. Live Oak lays claim to being the first still active brewery, founded in 1997. Having opened their doors just two years later in 1999, NXNW is a relatively close second. It’s hard to believe that one of Austin’s first brewpubs has been open for 15 years now. [Read more…]

Which 3 Austin Bars Are Immortalized in Song?

August 4, 2014 by Guest Blogger 3 Comments

This guest blog article is by Kip Sikora.

Austin’s musical heritage is a well-worn, groovy tapestry woven with a kaleidoscope of sonic threads that make it worthy of a lone star. Not even a mixed up box of chocolates from Forrest Gump’s mama could match the musical diversity here. And in a town where you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a musician, it’s inevitable that some of its watering holes wind up immortalized in song.

Here’s a list of three Austin beer joints with such a connection. Check them out. Perhaps you too can draw a little nectar from their boozy wells of inspiration. [Read more…]

Found: Your Ultimate Sunday Funday on Rainey Street

July 31, 2014 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Let the Sunday Funday begin! (Credit: Bryan Pelz via Flickr CC)

This guest blog article is by Dawn Sarnecky.

As a transplant from Michigan, my typical weekend always started on Friday and continued through Saturday. I would potentially spend my Sunday nursing the after effects of those previous two days combined.

Little did I know that here in the ATX, Sunday is when all the cool kids go out, just as if it were a regular ol’ Saturday night.

Adapting to my adopted city, I set out to find the perfect formula for what many Austinites refer to as Sunday Funday. I quickly discovered I could happily spend the entire day in one neighborhood. Sunday Funday destination: Rainey Street. [Read more…]

Winebelly: Tapas Wine Bar with Surprising Influences

July 28, 2014 by Erin May 1 Comment

Welcoming interior at Winebelly

Winebelly is true to its name. It invites the purple-tongued, the cheek-flushed, the loud-laughers, and you are unlikely to leave without a satisfied stomach.

A comfortable wine bar on Oltorf and South 1st St, Winebelly’s dark paneled bartop wood and golden booths invite guests to relax. At the same time, the venue maintains the class and food quality demanded of any successful wine joint.

The tapas bar was opened in 2013 by the same family who owns the Hai Ky Vietnamese restaurants in Austin. The Winebelly tapas and vino bar is vastly different from the Vietnamese go-to, but its local Austin roots are unmistakable.

Local ingredients are used in many of their plates and local beer, including the potent Devil’s Backbone, is served on tap and in bottles or cans at decent prices. [Read more…]

Ross’ Old Austin Cafe

Kerbey Lane Cafe – Pumpkin-Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

North by Northwest

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