The Water Trough — Restaurant in Austin

Update: The day after this experience, my credit card has multiple charges on it. As a business owner myself, this business needs to look into this bartender/“manager”. Something shady is going on. Patrons - check your charges after visiting this establishment.

Horrible customer service - as a local, I have loved walking to this bar to grab an old fashioned. After the experience I had tonight, we will not be back. I ordered a $22 smoked old fashioned off the menu and was up charged an additional charge for it being “smoked”. ?? I expect a charge for an alcohol upgrade but he explained that there was a second up charge for a smoked drink…even though the one I ordered from the menu said smoked. I mentioned my concern thinking there was a mistake and the bartender told me he was the manager and he was unwilling to do anything to help - “Sorry you had the wrong expectations”. Long story short- as someone who is okay expecting to pay $25+ for a drink, I am not okay being disrespected and talked down or paying over $60 for 2 drinks. Keep walking- plenty of other great options...

Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else! This place needs new leadership! Everyone is so lost! If I could give it zero stars I would. With the choices available within steps of this restaurant don’t waste your time here. We stayed at the hotel onsite and came over in the morning to get my daughter to-go breakfast for her birthday. The service was absolutely terrible, the worst I have ever had. The restaurant wasn’t busy at all. Everyone working there was so lost. We waited an hour and a half for a to-go order. We had to get up and ask for our coffee and for refills as waited. No one waited on us or served us at all. We had to get up and beg for everything we got. We finally begged for our bill, they brought it and it was completely wrong. We asked politely for it to be corrected as it wasn’t any of the food we ordered. They didn't know how to correct it. It was just such an overall mess all around! For the restaurant in what is supposed to be a higher end hotel, I was thoroughly...

Selective service. We sat at an outside table. I asked the bartender if there would be a server/ outside. And she will send her to us. 15 minutes of sitting there, we didn't get service.. no waters, no menu, or any acknowledgment. 2 people sat on the table next to us and got greeted, menu, and service within 5 minutes.

I went to the bartender and explained this to her. She just gave me an excuse that they were busy and the server will be there when she can. No apologies from her. I walked back and caught the waitress and explained that to her. Asked why other people were served before me. She said she was busy and just walked away.

It feels like they were selective with who they wanted to serve. And didn't really care enough...