Space Cowboy — Restaurant in Austin

Went to Space Cowboy for the first time tonight. This has made my list for top food experiences of my life. The space theme with robots was a lure when I spotted it on Google. What sealed the deal for me was spotting the duck ravioli on the menu. I had to try it Google said they didn’t have open reservations for the time I wanted but I called and they were able to get us a spot for 2 within the hour. The minute I walked in I knew it was gonna be good. It reminds me a bit of a Wes Anderson movie. There’s the cactus desert built into the sides. Clouds and moons hang from the ceiling and the lovely track for the robots to navigate down that winds through the guest tables. They brought me a stool for my purse and the bathroom was very clean. I was in awe of everything. A sign says only employees and robots allowed back there. Where we were seated You can see the bartender loading drinks onto the boys and it was so so cool. Didn’t get a cocktail but the ones going around looked cool. I think one of the drinks comes with a cotton candy? We saw a lot of tables getting them. Our waiter went above and beyond. Even though the refill bottle sat on our table, she would pick it up and pour our glasses fuller. That’s something I’ve never experienced before and felt very appreciative. She asked if we had any allergies which I liked. I wish I could remember her name, I think it started with a c or k, she was super awesome and had us laughing. I was worried that the robot service would be a bit sterile or slow but it was so fun! I loved that they all had different names and descriptions. Kevin and Stuart were my favorites. They were so cute. (Kevin the lead, norbit bringing that new energy, Stuart the new guy, and Dave the best one). Everything about it created an atmosphere of excellence and wonder. The staff and servers seemed to flow well together and were attentive. And I haven’t even gotten to the food yet We got the space balls as our starter and ate them the way recommended. The salmon was light and melt in mouth. The tuna had more of a bite and was meaty. Loved the smooth crunchy ness. We got the corn ribs with the hummus and sweat potato chips. The corn ribs were spicy with good flavor and the hummus helped to cool down my mouth. I wasn’t expecting to like the chips but they were great. Best corn ribs I’ve had and I wish all the other places had them like this. They take a lot of effort to make so I’m glad that it was good. For the mains. We got the duck ravioli (with a side of focaccia) and the braised short ribs That duck ravioli was probably the best ravioli I’ve ever had in my life. A delicious creamy sauce with the cutest mushrooms and tomato’s that helped break up the richness of everything. The short rib my fiancée loved. I tasted a little bit and I think that it was cooked well. I’ve had a Guinness braised short rib and nothing can top that but this did come close For dessert we chose the special, a shaved ice with peaches pop rocks strawberry and cream anglaise. I was so stuffed I’m not sure how I fit it in but it was refreshing to have after everything. Well worth ever penny. Normally my fiancée complains about me taking him to small plate expensive places but he was already talking about who he wanted to take to it next. I would definitely make the trek to Austin again just for space cowboy. Keep up the hospitality and cooking! All...

The customer service at Space Cowboy was outstanding from the moment we walked in until the moment we left.

I had made a reservation for myself and my 7-year-old son. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the host, Kai, who promptly showed us to our seats. My son was immediately captivated by the decor and the sight of robots delivering food to other diners. Having visited Space Cowboy before, I knew there wasn’t a dedicated kids’ menu, but I wanted to introduce my son to new flavors and expand his palate.

Our server, Kristyn, started by asking if we had dined here before and explained which meals could be customized to suit my son’s tastes. Her knowledge and attentiveness were impressive, and I appreciated her recommendations. The menu also highlighted which cocktails could be transformed into mocktails, so I let my son choose one for himself.

For him, we ordered the Cowboy Ribeye Sliders, Stardust Fries, and the Life Water mocktail. The sliders and fries were prepared without extra toppings, and ketchup was provided, which my son thoroughly enjoyed. The Life Water was a fun and flavorful choice—fizzy like soda but more unique and refreshing.

I started with the Seafood Aguachile, a dish I fell in love with during my first visit in April 2024. Since then, I’ve tried aguachile at other restaurants, but none compare to the version at Space Cowboy. I was thrilled to see it still on the menu, as their offerings change frequently. The serrano sauce was thoughtfully placed on one side of the bowl so my son could try it. To my surprise, he enjoyed it, though he stuck to the shrimp.

For the main course, I had the Piri Piri Chicken and Seafood Risotto. The chicken was perfectly smoked, and the accompanying sauce elevated the dish. It was generously portioned, enough for both of us to share. The risotto was our favorite—it was my son’s first time trying scallops, mussels, and clams, and to my delight, he found them tasty. While the dish was flavorful, I felt the seafood-to-risotto ratio was slightly off and would have preferred more seafood.

For dessert, my son chose the Ube Foam Panna Cotta, which he described as tasting like vanilla ice cream. He wasn’t wrong—the texture was different but delightful. It was a perfectly sized, satisfying dessert. To top off our meal, my son was surprised with a UFO-shaped cotton candy, which absolutely made his night.

What I appreciated most about our outing was the exceptional service from Kai and Kristyn. Although Space Cowboy doesn’t seem specifically geared toward children, they went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and ensure my son had a...

Rating: 4.2/5 [dine in]

Upon entering, we were captivated by their beautiful interior design with hanging clouds and moons. We had 6 people in our group and they put us in a booth with an extra table and chairs on the end. I sat by the conveyor belt, so I couldn't hear the server well, but he made sure to check for any dietary restrictions or food allergies. They also automatically charge 20% gratuity for parties of 5+.

My husband chose this place since they serve drinks and appetizers in these cute-looking space capsules. They do close fast and aren't motion-sensored, so the first time it came, we were too slow and didn't get our drinks out. They had to resend it back to our table.

We were celebrating my husband's birthday, and they gave him a complimentary cotton candy at the end of dinner, which was nice. The cotton candy was huge, so we shared it with the table.

Their cocktails are pretty solid, and both were delicious, but I liked the Moonlit Cabana a bit more since it's sweeter. Moonlit Cabana ($16): tequila reposado, naranja, coconut, pineapple, nutmeg Smoke House ($17): mezcal, tequila blanco, poblano, agave, lime

Texas Ribeye ($46.75): green onion, potato pavé, smoked Maldon salt, bourbon demi-glace, white wine, & chimichurri. It was highly recommended by our server, so 3 of the guys ordered it medium rare. I tried some from my husband and thought the meat was alright. I couldn't help but think it was lower quality than marketed and had that supermarket taste. The chimichurri and potato pavé were good though.

Torched Crispy Rice Trio ($16.75): salmon tataki - coffee infused gravlax, avocado, morita aioli | seared tuna - citrus crust, serrano aioli | seared beef filet - brown butter, béarnaise sauce. We probably let this sit too long because the rice got hard. The idea sounded great, but the flavors were kind of underwhelming and all blended together. Nothing really stood out.

Space Balls ($16.65): 2 pieces of salmon tartare, goat cheese, tangerine, capers, & puri + 2 pieces of tuna tartare, lemongrass, cilantro, ponzu, puri. This is a menu highlight, and I can see why. I really enjoyed it. Love the play on texture, especially that thin & crispy puri shell which was the star of the show. They were unique and tasty.

Hamachi ($21.95): coconut leche de tigre, lemongrass, ginger, serrano pepper, lime zest, and grapefruit. I didn't expect this to be good since they're not a sushi restaurant, and I wasn't sure how I felt about hamachi with coconut leche de tigre, but this one blew me away. The flavor combo totally worked, and I enjoyed this more than the...