The Eleanor — Restaurant in Austin

The worst mistake I made in 2019, was choosing The Eleanor to host my event. Even the smallest task proved too much for them to handle and the entire affair was a failure that left me humiliated,.

For example... Frank told me, I could have my video projected on the wall for guests to view throughout the night. Then he showed up the day of and propped up a stadium sized projector ( at eye level in the walkway ) that spread the video over the entire wall, light fixtures and all... and then he walked away. It was completely unwatchable, but it met the bare minimum of what I requested and that's all he needed to move on.

The decor, the food, the cocktails... there wasn't one part of my event that they actually took the time to get right. They even double booked the venue, but because we arrived first, the other party was pushed next door. We left the night defeated and told Shana we wanted to talk about the bill before we were charged, but after several days with no word... I checked my card and found they charged me the full amount, the moment we left.

It took two weeks to get a sit down with Frank and Shana, where they fully recognized how badly they botched their job.

Just like every conversation we had leading up to my event, he sounded so sincere, but it was only more lies. Three times he admitted to failing us, once he even referred to how Shana yelled at him over it. They both knew "the ball was dropped" ( Frank's words, not mine ) and assured me, we would come to an agreement on a refund amount that we could all be happy with.

it's now Jan 17th ( my event was Oct 19 ) and I don't even get excuses anymore.

My last communication with Frank was more than a week ago and I received nothing back. Keep in mind... I paid $9,000 for my event. If that's not enough for them to get it right, ask yourself, what is? And are you willing to gamble you're hard earned money at the venue. From my recent experience, I can tell you there is a strong possibility that "the ball will be dropped" but you will still be expected to...

Rating: 4.5/5 [cocktails only]

We originally went to The Roosevelt Room but found they were fully booked without a reservation. They recommended their sister bar, The Eleanor, next door, describing it as a more casual option. After checking out The Eleanor’s cocktail menu—which looked similar to The Roosevelt Room’s—we decided to give it a try.

The vibe inside is intimate and moody—great for a date night or a chill evening out. The cocktails are definitely on the pricey side, so this is more of a special-occasion spot for me. On top of that, they tack on a $1 per person charge for staff benefits, which feels like something that shouldn’t be passed onto customers. However, the cocktails are expertly crafted, making The Eleanor one of our top five bars in Austin right now.

Long Farewell ($20): A mix of RR coconut vodka, Mizu lemongrass shochu, cucumber, pandan, Thai herb syrup, whey, pineapple, lime, yuzu, neroli, Thai chili & Himalayan salt powder (contains dairy). This one was seriously delicious—smooth, well-balanced, and all the flavors worked well together.

Mauna Loa’s Plume ($20): Suntory Toki Japanese whisky, brown butter-washed Calvados, jasmine green tea syrup, mint, shiso, orange bitters, and a salt tincture (contains dairy). This cocktail was equally impressive—smooth, clarified, and tasty. My only gripe? Way too much ice, so it felt like there wasn’t much...

Oh man, where do I begin! I first reached out to the Eleanor events email address in early July to inquire on renting the space for my 30th birthday party. Frank promptly responded and answered every one of my questions (spread over the course of 50+ emails) with never-ending patience. On the day of the event, I arrived to the venue where I was introduced to the staff and catered to through the entirety of the night. The drinks were delicious, the music bumping, and the vibes impeccable! When my boyfriend surprised me with a proposal the lights were turned up and the music turned down right on cue - Frank even surprised me with sparklers! I have nothing but the highest praise for Frank and the Eleanor team. They were on top of everything and completing requests before I even had the time to make them. My friends and I can't wait to return and make the Eleanor a regular hang-out spot. The compliments keep coming in - how cool the venue looked, how great the drinks were, how kind the staff was. Thank you Frank! You made this girl's...