Knomad Bar — Restaurant in Austin

So, in the interests of full disclosure: my boyfriend used to work for the Nomad, first to help develop the bar's concept and serve as a manager, and later as a part-time bartender for a few years. He's no longer in their employ, but he's still friends with the owner and many of the bar staff, and as such, this is a frequent hangout for us. All that being said: this is, undeniably, a fun little dive in north Austin with better-than-average drinks, a friendly staff and clientele, and a propensity for booking entertainment which is slightly off the beaten path. The bar's original concept was that it would be a "globe-trotting" experience, with vintage maps decorating the walls and food and drinks from around the world. While that original (and admittedly, quite clever) idea never panned out, vestiges remain in the Nomad's name, the decor, and in some of the more unusual liquors hiding out behind the bar. Most of the longtime bartenders have been trained in concocting classic cocktails from around the world, so if you're looking for something with a bit more pizazz than a rum and coke, it's worth asking your bartender if they have a specialty or a favorite they like to make. While it's not quite international, I'm partial to the Bloody Mary (and yes, my boyfriend did develop the basic recipe. I swear, it hasn't swayed my option, though. I take my Bloody Marys way too seriously for any nepotism!) The gimmick here is that it's garlic-infused, balancing out the heat with a nice depth of flavor. It's REALLY garlicky- fair warning for anyone ordering this on a date- but, if you're like me, there's really no such thing as too much garlic. While food was originally served, and the patio has paid host to several food trucks in the past, there's currently no food options. Here's hoping this is a temporary situation and the Nomad amends it quickly. Creative, quirky food trucks have become almost de riguer in small bars like this, and, of course, it's always nice to have the option of grabbing munchies with your drink. The Nomad is often host to some type of entertainment to draw in the crowds: live music, Geeks Who Drink trivia nights, and most notably, frequent shows from Karaoke Apocalypse, Austin's resident live karaoke band where you sing along to live musical backing. The Karaoke Apocalypse shows never fail to draw a large, enthusiastic crowd, and many of the performances are really something to behold. Just be sure to get there early in the evening if you want to sing- the list usually fills up fast! If the noise is too much for you, there's a spacious outdoor patio which is a nice respite. This is a true neighborhood bar, the type where you're likely to recognize the regulars and no one thinks it's weird to introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you. In the less-than-exotic environs of north Austin, places like the Nomad are invaluable- sometimes you're just not up for the trek downtown. If you're in the neighborhood, it's well worth...

Nomad / Knomad bar. A delightful neighborhood bar. Dark inside vibes and friendly folks. The patio is often a little brighter and also friendly.

Drinks: On Mondays I think they have a $1 can drink special. Bartenders are good, drinks are very reasonably priced for the area. I wouldn't say cheap but nearing that. Everything in Austin is not cheap, but this place does pretty well.

Food: Inconsistent but usually good if you can get it. They used to have pizzas there regularly and they would get them delivered daily and then when they're out of pizzas the order more?. They have tacos now, and when I tried to get tacos they were just out even though it was 7:30 p.m. And I was there for a comedy show, it was a Tuesday, so?

So the spelling of the place is different depending on the year you went there. It was Nomad bar. But then some hoity toity place threatened to sue them for the name because they opened a bar that originally was in New York on West 6th or something. And I think the bar on West 6th went out of business, so I think it can be called either...

I am downgrading a previous 5-star review to a 1-star review based on a recent brunch experience. Nomad's brunch was previously a bastion of North Austin weirdness. They had bottomless mimosas, a decent catered brunch, and plenty of room to while the afternoon a way. However, on a recent visit, there were more children at the bar than adults. I'm not even being hyperbolic. There were three sub-13 year olds sitting at the bar, the side room had 5 shrieking 7-9 year olds, and there were at least four toddler and two infants in attendance. It's a bar! Not a restaurant, and definitely not a preschool. The blame is partially on the parents, but mainly on the bar. Institute a no 21-and-under policy. In other news, the bloody marys are now a "bloody mary bar" and if you ask the bartender to just make your bloody for you he gets annoyed; plus the brunch has gone downhill with no breakfast...