Howling Rabbits Beerworks — Attraction in McAllen

SERVICE: The service, as another reviewer mentioned, is a bit of a mess. There needs to be a bit more accountability with assigning tables to staff. When we walked in, it did take a little longer than usual to get tended to, but once we were on our waitress's radar, the service was awesome. We noticed a couple that sat down and were about to walk out because no one serviced them. We actually notified our waitress and she jumped over to help them out. Maybe implement a radio with earpiece to give staff a heads up when a new customer sits down? The staff is awesome, just please work on the table assignments. 4 stars on service.

ATMOSPHERE: The TV screens. Holy tolinko... very impressive! Although the patio TVs could have been mounted in better locations (closer to the walls), this is definitely a venue to consider if you're looking for a place to watch the fight. The music was pretty cool, too. It toggled from old school r&b to modern hits and then jumped to Spanish/Mexican music. A little bit for everyone. The decor is really nice with fun wall art to look at, and the lighting is perfect. We sat in the patio because the inside was a bit too chilly for my wife's comfort. Atmosphere is an easy 5 stars.

FOOD: This is where we had the most issue. We ordered the "Classic Queso" for $9. Very overpriced for what it is. The queso is good and the chips are the typical, party, tri-colored chips. I'd have gladly paid $4 or maybe even $5 for this dish, but at $9 I'd expect the cheese to at least be real, garnished with queso fresco or something and for the chips to be a bit more authentic and homemade. As a reference point, a nearby local restaurant offers a choriqueso (skillet with real cheese and chorizo), with a nice toasted layer on top, and homemade tortillas for $10.99. We also ordered the sweet and spicy pizza. Again, pretty good flavor but extremely overpriced at a whopping $15. The dough was nicely toasted but not the stone-oven toast - more like pizza-stone toast. It was a bit flat, but that's ok. It did have plenty of toppings (pepperoni and jalapeños) which was nice. I didn't really detect the hot honey it says it came with. Overall, I'd have gladly paid $7 for a pizza of this quality. $15 is absurd. Again, for reference, I've had the privilege of eating a pizza that was awarded the best pizza in the US (Peperroni Pizza, White Rabbit, Frederick, MD) and that pizza costs $19. It's four large slices of a nearly 2" thick pizza, loads of sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. I can really tear through a pizza and I couldn't finish that one. This pizza, however, would probably fit better as an appetizer, and certainly not a $15 appetizer. Shockingly overpriced for what it is. My wife and I agreed, next time we'll grab dinner somewhere else before stopping by here for some drinks.

ALCOHOL: My wife had the Mexican Lollipop and she was blown away. At $10 it's a bit steep but the flavor really is there. It would've been perfect to have this served in a standard 16oz glass rather than the thin 10oz (?) glass. Or bring the price down to the typical $8 or $9. Nevertheless, the Mexican Lollipop is very impressive. I had the Guava sour to start and was highly impressed. The texture almost resembled that of a nectar, the aroma was strong with guava and peach, and the flavor was unique. I've had my share of sours and this one is definitely a memorable one. I'd love to stop by again and have another glass. Next up was the Honey Ale. At first, it tasted like most ales - somewhat single-layered flavor and very light profile. It wasn't until I got halfway down the glass that I started detecting the honey essence. I don't know if maybe it settled or what, but there was definitely a separation of flavor from the first half of the glass to the second half. Finally, I ended it with a 6oz serving of the Cosmic Coco porter. I should have ordered the 16oz because this one is also a winner. Although it's lighter than most porters I've had, the coconut flavor was very present and very authentic. ...rats, I ran out of space....

I was visiting the RGV recently from AZ. Originally from TX, but I haven't lived in the RGV since 2004. When I left the RGV, I would have never thought I would see restaurants similar to Howling Rabbits in this area; that definitely puts a smile on my face. As excited as I was to experience Howling Rabbits, my excitement was tempered by the reality of the situation. The place was okay. Nothing special about the decor(felt rushed and thrown together), food (basic menu options artificially enhanced with subtle twist to feign originality), or service (waitstaff seemed bothered and frustrated). Unclear what the concept of the restaurant was. Wasn't clear if it was a place to try craft beers, a sports bar, or a restaurant? If the goal was to marry all three concepts, it did not succeed in doing so. Perhaps they should take the time to match their craft brews with certain menu items or concentrate on enhancing one aspect of the restaurant to form a clearer identity. As far as the food was concerned, the corn dip was tasty, and the TX Philadelphia cheese steak was definitely above average, but nothing different from the cheese steaks I've had in other establishments. Their brews were ok. Tasted the Kolch and felt it was OK; again, nothing really to get too excited about. From what I understand, this place is fairly new, and I imagine that as time passes, it will hone in on its identity and create a better experience. Above all, it is definitely a place that is unique to the RGV but nothing people haven't experienced if they simply travel north a few hours to cities such as Corpus Christi or San Antonio. I truly hope that this place focuses on a specific aspect to create a unique experience that can cement the establishment as a "must try" in the RGV. I believe it has the...

Howling Rabbits just crowned victor of Explore McAllen's Food Madness contest. Yet, my visit left me… wondering...

HOW DID THEY PULL THAT OFF?!

First impressions were promising—the newly built joint looks great & has mad parking, cozy seating, and a charming outdoor patio for smokers. With TVs aplenty, looks like a good place to see your favorite sports team or a fight night. The manager on the April 27th was very inviting & accommodating to our needs, especially with three little ones in tow. He grabbed us a high chain for our toddler as soon as he saw him in our arms. But it was our waitress, with her signature SidetalkNYC Tim's boots, who truly stole the spotlight! Her attentive service elevated our experience, despite a nasty hiccup with the initial appetizer plates filled with crumbs and past food particles. Our waitress was very apologetic and replaced the plates very quickly. The dirty plates and bland food did not affect our waitress’s tip amount, as these errors fall on the dish washer & cook. Now, onto the main event—the food. I mean, that’s why we’re here! While the presentation was on point and dishes arrived mad fresh, flavor was extremely bland. Our fried pickles were the only item that had flavor! The burgers and Philly cheesesteak although large, failed to impress. It's clear that winning a popularity contest doesn't equate to culinary excellence. Despite the disappointment in the food department, I can't fault the staff. Their dedication and warmth salvaged what could have been a complete letdown. However, with a bill totaling +$90, I can't help but wish I had taken my son for his birthday lunch somewhere else. Howling Rabbits offers a pleasant ambiance and attentive service but falls short in proving that they are truly #1 in McAllen. If you go, I...