Workhorse Bar — Restaurant in Austin

Just went earlier tonight for a beer and dinner after being recommended by a friend last week. To say I was not disappointed would be a CRIMINAL UNDERSTATEMENT. It's rare to walk into a bar nowadays that seems like a genuine hangout spot, from the TV's to signs to taps; this place feels like a sitcom backdrop in all the right ways, and I fully understand why I've been recommended before. Having been a multi-year Epoch regular just down the street, I now feel like I've been missing another integral part of the North Loop neighborhood.

The tap and liquor selection were small enough to not feel overwhelming but big enough to know that virtually anything you could've wanted was sure to be available. The same with the food; I only got a grilled cheese and fries but if that was only a fraction of what's on the menu I can't imagine how good the rest is.

Lastly, I genuinely could not believe my eyes when I saw my tab. While it often feels like most places now are trying to suck your wallet dry for a beer and a sandwich (they really aren't, y'all are just cheap and don't understand operating costs), Workhouse has managed to find a way to keep everything so affordable I know I can feel indulgent without breaking the bank (It was $13.50). For anyone like me in the service industry, this is a place to go to! I'd leave a million stars if I could off the first impression tonight, but I guess 5/5...

We have been here 2 times, first time was good second time not so much. We ordered burgers and margaritas. And when our burgers were brought to us I asked about our drinks and she said “oh ya they are up there” so I walked to the bar to get them and when I asked the bar tender who was sitting on a stool watching tv he said ya they are ours but he needed to check my ID. So I gave him mine and he inspected it with his blue flash light for about 20 seconds (it was also day time and I’m almost 40 years old) then he said he needed to see my girlfriends ID too so I had to walk back to the patio to get hers and he did the same thing, inspected it closely with the flash light. Neither of us are even close to being under 21. I get checking IDs and if you want to go by the book, sure check IDs. But why do it after we ordered the drinks and paid for them and they were already made and sat there for 10 mins. By the time we got our drinks all the salt slid in the glass and they tasted like salt water and there was also a pepper seed in mine. It seemed like the bar tender had a grudge against me for some reason and wanted to give me a hard time making me go back and forth and bring him our IDs after the alcohol was already sold to us. He could have asked for our IDs when we were both at the counter ordering. Poor, unfriendly and unwelcoming service. Won’t...

Drinking at the tigress but want to get some food and cheaper drinks? Walk next door to the Workhorse! The drinks are reasonably priced and the food is good, so why aren’t ya here yet if ya want good food and reasonable drinks.

The food was delicious, I personally had the grilled chicken and my date had the workhorse veggie. The grilled chicken was great, they didn’t skimp on the avocado and it was a good size to sober you up after drinking all day. , the jalapeño cream corn was AMAZING, perfectly mixed with a hint of spice that even those that can’t handle spice could enjoy. My date seemed to really enjoy her meal and I snagged a few sweet potato fries and they’re as good as any, nothing special but meet your expectations for fries.

The drinks were solid as well, not as good as tigress obviously but still solid. The racehorse shots were sweet and bitter, the NoLo Paloma was AMAZING, I got the lazy pony and had to admit the NoLo was better, probably the best drink I tried at workhorse. The drinks are surprisingly good for the price!

Overall if ya want to drink, a veggie friendly bar food option or just want good food in general this spot is perfect. If you’re in the neighborhood I highly recommend ya check...