Swift's Attic — Restaurant in Austin

Swift's Attic, oh boy, where do I even begin? This place is like a culinary carnival for your taste buds, set against the backdrop of Austin's quirky charm. Nestled somewhere between upscale chic and funky eccentricity, Swift's Attic is not just a restaurant; it's a gastronomic adventure that takes you on a wild ride.

The first thing that strikes you is the ambiance – it's like stepping into a bohemian dreamland where vintage meets avant-garde. The decor is a mishmash of eclectic elements, with hanging birdcages, mismatched chandeliers, and walls adorned with an assortment of curiosities that make you feel like you've stumbled into a gastronomic Wonderland.

Now, let's talk about the menu, or should I say, the edible poetry that unfolds on your plate. The culinary maestros at Swift's Attic have mastered the art of turning ordinary ingredients into extraordinary creations. Take their "Sweet Potato Fries with Espresso Aioli" – it's a flavor symphony that dances on your palate. The crispiness of the fries, coupled with the unexpected kick of espresso in the aioli, is nothing short of genius.

And don't get me started on the "Bacon-Wrapped Dates." Whoever thought of pairing the salty richness of bacon with the natural sweetness of dates deserves a culinary Nobel Prize. These bite-sized delights are like little parcels of happiness that explode in your mouth with every savory-sweet bite.

Now, let's talk about the main courses, which are basically culinary wizardry disguised as dishes. The "Truffled Mushroom Risotto" is a creamy concoction that transports you to umami heaven. Each spoonful is a blissful journey through the velvety richness of the risotto, punctuated by the earthy notes of truffle that linger on your taste buds like a fond memory.

The "Seared Scallops with Mango Salsa" are a tropical delight that proves seafood doesn't have to be reserved for coastal escapes. The perfectly seared scallops, paired with the zesty mango salsa, create a symphony of flavors that's as refreshing as a beach breeze.

And let's not forget the cocktails – oh, the cocktails! Swift's Attic doesn't just serve drinks; they craft liquid masterpieces. The "Basil Gin Fizz" is a herbal delight that tickles your taste buds in all the right ways, while the "Spicy Cucumber Margarita" is a fiesta in a glass, with just the right amount of kick to keep things interesting.

Service here is not just efficient; it's delivered with a side of charm. The staff seems to genuinely love what they do, and their passion for the food and the experience is contagious. They'll guide you through the menu with the enthusiasm of someone recommending their favorite book.

In a city known for its food scene, Swift's Attic manages to stand out not just for its culinary prowess but for the sheer audacity of its creativity. It's not just a restaurant; it's an experience, a celebration of flavor, and a testament to the idea that dining out should be an adventure, not just a meal. So, if you're in Austin and craving a dining experience that's as bold and vibrant as the city itself, Swift's Attic is the...

Came here on a swanky date and it is definitely a great spot for that sort of thing!

First time here, but I had been wanting to check it out for ages! I made a res on their website and even though we were almost 30mins late due to the parking nightmare that is downtown Austin on a Sat night, they still sat us immediately!

My date and I had almost every cocktail on the menu (so I can't recall each one), but the Ice Ball Oldie was great and as the ice ball melts releasing more and more of the flavor, you can order additional shots of the Woodford Reserve Rye to keep your cocktail going. We also had the Prince Edward's Ass (which was very refreshing) and the Blackberry Bonded which was just fantastic all around! I also ordered their only armagnac (because it is a rarity to find one, let alone a decent one) to pair with one of their desserts (which I will get to later) and it was divine!

For the food portion, my gracious date and I started with an order of corn fritters (omg, that rum raisin butter though!?!) and pop rocks edamame. I had been looking forward to trying the edamame since I'd heard about it because, c'mon, Poprocks!! I am sad to say, while tasty, it was underwhelming as the sea salt poprocks are served on the side instead of already sprinkled on the edamame, which I think would have been better served.

I ordered the goat shoulder and my date the Korean flank steak and shared our plates. I was enamored w/the flavor and savoriness of the meat and smoked-fig tomato ragout. I was not so smitten w/the Korean flank steak. My date loved it, but I can't exactly put my finger on why I did not really care for it. It didn't under or over, it just kinda "whelmed" me...

We then got the desserts! We got two and shared, once again. We had the Commander Crunch (which paired surprisingly and exquisitely well w/the armagnac) and one of the seasonal desserts that I cannot recall the name of because I was close to 6 cocktails in at that point (I had my cocktails and then the remaining half of my date's because it turned out he was a lightweight whose eyes were bigger than his liver) and already close to a food coma. Whatever it was, it was also delectable!

I have to say, food and drinks aside, the standouts for the night were the service and the decor! Seriously top notch service! Our waitress, who was abfab was able to make thoughtful and informed menu suggestions for both the cocktail and food menus, which I appreciate. Also, I like that, even though you have a waitress, everyone kind of works together, so our table was always bussed, our water glasses always full, and when we needed extra small plates a passing by waitress to another table turned right around and brought them to us. The decor was just great, you feel like you are walking into a rustic speakeasy w/a contemporary vibe.

I definitely want to go back and explore more of their menu (maybe their happy hour) and a friend's recommended Big Ass Burger Monday. Either way, Swift's Attic, you have not seen...

Dark moody vibes. We were seated in the lounge by the DJ so it was quite loud but they were nice enough to turn down the volume when we asked. They told us we had to order at the bar since our area wasn't going to be serviced, but we were still checked on enough that it wasn't a big deal. This place is on the pricier side with tapas-sized portions, but most of the dishes we ordered were good.

Wagyu Short Rib ($32): galbi-braised wagyu short rib, black garlic dirty rice, pickled mushrooms, galbi reduction. Solid dish overall. The short rib was tender and the flavors were cohesive.

Salt & Pepper Gulf Shrimp ($25): lettuce, herbs, sunflower sprouts, sautéed sweet peppers & onions, tiger cry sauce. Really good with a unique batter--one of our favorite dishes. But they only give you like 4-5 shrimps.

Duck Gumbo ($22): duck breast, grilled orange duck sausage, charred local okra, rice. Sounded be like than it tasted. Didn't see much duck meat or love the taste, and it was too salty for me.

Popcorn Pork Cheeks ($19): chicken-fried Niman Ranch pork cheeks, mala chili crisp, bread & butter pickles. Nicely fried and you can really taste that mala chili. Great starter to share.

Tiger Apricot ($14): bacon-wrapped apricot, arugula, chipotle honey mascarpone, cilantro emulsion. Delicious. All the flavors worked really well together. Nice sweet and savory combo.

Passionfruit Margarita ($19): Lalo tequila, Giffard passionfruit, house sweet & sour. Tasted like straight alcohol--no real passionfruit flavor.

I Don't Want No Shrub ($18): Roku gin, honey, yuzu, BLiS Ginegar, habanero shrub, lemon. Strong with a distinct shrub flavor. Tasted better than the passionfruit margarita, but I liked the Strawberry Lemon Drop more since it's sweeter.

Strawberry Lemon Drop ($15 | $7 HH): Tito's vodka, strawberry, lemon, tarragon simple. Best-tasting drink of the three. The strawberry balances out the lemon...