Holiday — Restaurant in Austin

Writing this review with mixed feelings as a neighbor who is excited to have new places on the East side that I want to succeed while also acknowledging I probably won’t be back soon.

We spent $90 on 3 drinks and fries. I can afford that occasionally, but I know I’ll favor places down the street for the price point.

On that note, while the business model may be predicated on filling a luxury or more upscale niche I think unless they host good live music or other events it isn’t serving the vibes and crowd I love about the East side. Realistically, to get a buzz I don’t want to spend 50% more on drinks for interior design that is currently lacking in window treatments. The afternoon sun caused our group to shift around several times and I could tell was annoying to others. Acoustics could use some work too as it was straining to hold a conversation.

Drinks. My partner ordered their frozen Mexican martini which was a little too sweet for his taste, slushy consistency, and with a glass 3/4 full compared to what they displayed on their Instagram image. I opted for an off menu “non-frozen” Mexican martini. When I asked if this was possible I did get a hesitation from the server. For a menu with these prices I expect a bartender that can make pretty much anything, let alone a variation to what is already carved out as several martini options. They did make it and it was fine but could have been stronger. It also came in an old fashioned glass with a solid ice cube which I found a bit odd.

Fries were good but at $8 I expect that side sauce container to be filled to the brim (was about...

Holiday is simple, nice and inviting. We didn’t know what to expect walking in, but this place just feels comfortable. The place is bigger than it looks from the outside. There’s a nice indoor area with the bar and plenty of tables. If you walk out to use the restroom, you’ll see there’s additional outdoor seating that can accommodate several others. The lighting was great and the menu was simple, but perfect. We didn’t order food here, but grabbed a few drinks. They have a variety of drinks and since we’re in the holiday season, they had a nice selection of holiday drinks. I ended up getting the Coquito and my wife ordered martini flight. The martinis were strong! She enjoyed them, but it seem like they were almost all gin. The Coquito was perfect. They give you small serving glasses with your drink, so if you want a bigger drink, you’ll probably have to order two. There’s a nice bar area and we saw about four people working back there. The staff was nice and friendly and the layout of the place was good, although it’s not just one big open room. There’s an addition off to the side of the main room. Overall i’d give this 4.5 stars, a thumbs up and a...

I was the guest who had an umbrella fall on her face while sitting on the patio. We were genuinely enjoying our meal, but after the umbrella struck me, the kind waitress who witnessed it said, “Let me go tell my manager.” I reassured her that I was okay — but what was disappointing is that no one from the staff, not even our server, came to check on us afterward. We didn’t expect anything special, just a simple acknowledgment or concern for my well-being. Unfortunately, the lack of follow-up left a bad taste in our mouths - we won’t be returning.

The owners followed up with an apology through Instagram, and while there’s residual disappointment in regards to the experience, I appreciate the time and effort that went into finding my profile and messaging me. They assured that this won’t happen again and the management team discussed the...