FINALLY, there is an amazing new bar on the East Side. I love this place. For months, I was so blah about deciding where to grab a drink. I had grown tired of the same old places, and was in desperate need of a great new bar. I felt a sigh of relief once the Yellow Jacket Social Club opened. I couldn't wait to check it out. It's in the space where Cafe Mundi used to be. So, it's in a great location, away from all of the Sixth Street madness.
I walked in through the front wooden gate and stepped in to the beautiful outdoor seating area. This is, by far, the best outdoor bar area in Austin. The ambiance is amazing... picnic tables set under beautiful trees, with strings of globe lights lighting the area. I was blown away, and I hadn't even walked in to the bar yet. Upon entering the bar, I was stunned by it's transformation. It is beautiful. Every detail, from the gorgeous woodwork throughout the bar to the purse hooks, which are recycled railroad ties, is absolutely amazing. Now this is a bar. Oh, and did I mention how amazing the ladies room is? The nicest bar bathroom I've ever seen.
BOOZE TIME. As I walked up to the bar, I was welcomed by the bartender with a "Hey there, how's it going? You look thirsty". And, I was. I scanned the liquor on the wall, the nicely displayed beer taps, the bottled & canned beer offerings, and the extensive wine list, and was again, extremely impressed. I decided to start with a beer, while I waited for my friend to show up. I was tempted by the 32 oz Carte Blanca, but went with a Tecate instead. And, I'm glad I did... the bartender handed me my can of Tecate wrapped in a Yellow Jacket Social Club koozie. HELLO, are you kidding me? That was the best thing ever. They are not doing that all the time, so SCORE, I chose a great night for my first visit.
The smell from the kitchen was intoxicating. While sippin' on my koozie wrapped beer, I glanced over the food menu and suddenly became hungry. YUM. Once my friend arrived, we ordered a bottle of Prosecco. The bottle of Prosecco showed up in front of us in a bucket of ice, with two nice champagne flutes. What a lovely sight. We placed a food order: a grilled cheese, the spicy house crackers, and a frito pie- hold the beef, then went outside with our bottle of Prosecco to enjoy the courtyard. Right after we set down, our crackers arrived. Can you say, delicious? They were so tasty, the perfect bar snack. Those yummy treats got me even more excited about the food coming our way. The frito pie is served as it should be, it the bag. And, it was yummy. The grilled cheese was gooey and ohhh sooo good, we inhaled it. We loved the food, there wasn't a crumb left.
I am so happy that Austin finally has a bar like the Yellow Jacket Social Club. Friendly bartenders and staff, delicious food, wonderful cocktails, and amazing ambiance. What more could you ask for?? This is definitely my new hangout. read more