Zachary S.

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.

Michelle M.

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.

Paramasivan K.

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.

Karla D.

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.

Christina G.

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.

Destinee R.

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.

Candice N.

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.

Katie G.

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.

Tayo F.

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

Michelle V.

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

Michelle T.

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

Nhu L.

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!

Hannah K.

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.