Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Round Rock

We made reservation via Open Table. Our table is ready when we arrived. Only one of us chosen an adult beverage-she ordered a Mimosa made with cranberry juice. The large French press coffee came right to the table. We asked our server for an app recommendation and she said the goat cheese fondue was the most popular and also her favorite. It was delicious and an adequate appetizer for our table!! My daughter-in-law chose the Farmers Breakfast which she shared with her mom. She did not ask for a separate plate and there was no additional charge. Her plate came loaded & delicious and it was pretty much gone by the time I got around to taking pictures. Our server was very responsive but there were some hiccups- it was still pretty noticeable that they are fairly new. They also must be struggling with staffing just like everybody else! The breakfast didn't come with any butter or jam for the biscuits, there was no ketchup or hot sauce or anything of that nature brought to the table- I had to ask for salt and pepper and then it was evident the shakers must've been rare items because another waitress came by and took them from our table so another table could have them for their meal- anytime we needed some thing our dear waitress had to go all the way back into the kitchen for it .....even the refills of ice tea. This caused a significant delay in an already very slow service. *FARMER'S BREAKFAST sunny side up local eggs, millionaire's candied bacon, herb potatoes, jalapeño-cheddar biscuits, white cheddar-roasted green chile grits My daughter had the Chicken Cheese Melt sandwich and said it was absolutely delicious. She also ordered a side of fries which escaped my camera. I don't know where they disappeared.... but I do know that her sandwich was very much enjoyed-Just a note any side is à la cart. I had the Smoked Chopped Chicken Salad. It was chock-full of deliciousness and very low carb which is what I was looking for. The salad came with two styles of dressing one vinaigrette and one mayonnaise-based herb mixture. I tasted both they were both very good I personally enjoyed the vinaigrette more. I have to be honest and say I can't wait until I'm able to go and try the biscuits as they looked absolutely delicious!!! Actually I saw probably half a dozen things go by our table (as we were seated next to the kitchen doors) that caught my eye!!! My husband ordered a bowl of the tomato soup. I chose not to taste it because of the carb thing but I could see the black pepper in it. We were all too full for dessert or I probably would've gotten the Whiskey Cake just to taste it. From the table there were mixed reviews. Two of us were neutral, two of us said we would definitely come back and one of us does not plan to return. I think there needs to be some rearranging from leaderships perspective so that the servers are not at a disadvantage. It may not be possible to cluster their guests but avoiding having them serving into different locations of a large restaurant might help a little bit. Biscuits- if they're not coming with gravy- should have butter and perhaps honey or jelly available??-without having to separately ask for it? The person that doesn't plan to return food turned cold when eaten due to the waiting. Waitstaff would disappear behind the kitchen doors not to be seen again for quite some time-May haps the kitchen was also short staffed?? I didn't see anything come out of that kitchen that wasn't absolutely beautifully presented. That's why I will definitely be back .....I have to try some of the other incredible items I saw go by our table!!! We were celebrating two birthdays but nothing was mentioned and nothing is offered. My daughter paid for the meal and tipped our server but I also left a $20 bill for her. I thought she was delightful and trying her best and many of the obstacles are not devised by the servers but by management. The restaurant environment is beautiful!!! I would label it...

Whiskey Cake is a great place for a whiskey bar and whiskey tasting. The decor was reclaimed, rustic, and relaxed.

The ambiance is elevated yet laid back (think cigar room vibes), and their whiskey selection and flight options are an A+ bullseye, so it saddens me to say that their food is the complete opposite and a complete miss.

On my visit, I tried the “Butcher Board,” the “Fire-Roasted Veggies,” the “Smoked Chopped Chicken Salads,” the “Bone-In Pork Chop,” and, of course, the “Whiskey Cake.”

The “Butcher Board”: while some of the items were of acceptable quality, none of the items went together or complimented each other at all. The butcher board consisted of two slices of wagyu beef, jalapeno and cheddar summer sausage, marinated Gouda, pimento cheese/spread, mustard seed mustard, pickled carrots, three pieces of baguette (one of which was burnt and two undercooked), and red grapes. Again, while individually, these items were acceptable, the board as a whole did not come together.

The “Fire-Roasted Veggies” were more like an order of smoke with a hint of veggies. It didn't taste “fire roasted”; it was overbearing with smoke flavor. The medley consisted of cauliflower, broccoli, and baby/farmer carrots, and the smoke completely took over to the point the natural taste of the veggies didn't come through at all. It needed 10x less smoke and salt and pepper (cooking basics).

The “Smoked Chopped Chicken Salad” was more of a Cobb salad both in the ingredients and in the plating - see pic), and the chicken in the salad was bland (needed salt and pepper). The avocado and egg pieces were much larger than an appropriate bite-size chop, and the Romaine was overdressed and soggy.

The “Bone-In Pork Chop” was cooked well, and I thought redemption was on the horizon. However, they left the herb stems hidden (and charred) between the glaze and the chop. The stems were utterly inedible, and I am unsure why they made it on the plate. It was not an edible or presentable garnish and left diners/customers to fish out the stems before continuing the meal. There was also a half-inch bone on the pork chop, which lacked menu accuracy (just like the chopped vs. cobb salad)

Still, I held out hope and ordered the Whiskey Cake (since it's their namesake), and regrettably, it was an incredibly bland cake. The pecans were over-toasted and left a burnt aftertaste that was overpowering. The cake tasted like a sponge, with no flavor, and the accompaniments did not add additional flavor to make up for the bland cake, and the “bourbon anglaise” accompanied it was no help. It was also served with “house-made vanilla whipped cream” that was bland and over-whipped, so it was closer to a butter consistency than whipped cream for a dessert.

The establishment itself was immaculate, and the staff was incredibly friendly and professional (although many of them were doused in perfume/cologne, which affects the eating and drinking experience)

I have never left an establishment in such a conflicted state where half of their service was five stars (the whiskey, flights, and drinks) and the other half zero stars (the menu and food).

They aced the whiskey room part of the operation but would have loved to see simpler foods executed to a higher taste and standard.

I would recommend the place for the whiskey and drink menu, but it doesn't come with appetite or expectations for any food that is executed well or tastes delicious. The whiskey selection and experience were great, but the food was incredibly underwhelming, bland, and left much to be desired, both in flavor and...

Whiskey Cake recently opened, and I’ve been dying to experience the restaurant ever since. We finally fit a visit into our schedule, and I must say, we had the ultimate dining experience at Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar in Round Rock.

Whiskey Cake offers farm to kitchen dishes and gets their ingredients, flavors, and ideas from locals. They state, “…because good food tastes even better when it’s grown locally.” And are they ever correct! Their exceptional farm-to-kitchen dishes come straight from their from-scratch-only kitchen, and they use slow-cooking methods on their live-wood grill, smoker, and spit.

The minute you enter the establishment, you know you are in for a wonderful dining experience. The hostess greeted us warmly and seated us promptly at a beautiful table. Our server was at our table in a flash, and she was just a delight from her spectacular customer service to her engaging conversations. She was also one reason we had such a phenomenal dining experience at Whiskey Cake. Her knowledge about the restaurant and everything they offered assisted us in choosing the perfect choice for our meal, and her recommendations were spot on. We enjoyed every moment with her. She checked on us throughout our meal and made sure we had everything we needed. She was an absolute pleasure.

We started with the Fried Green Tomatoes: pimento cheese, Tasso ham, and remoulade sauce. They were by far the best fried green tomatoes I have ever had the pleasure of eating. Just divine!

For my main course, I had Smoked Tri Tip Dip: melted Swiss, slow-roasted onion jam, arugula, and horseradish mayo all on a ciabatta roll served with smoked garlic Au Jus and French fries. And oh, my goodness, y’all, it was simply phenomenal. All of it! From the sandwich to the homemade ketchup, and Au Jus, I was in Heaven with every single bite and dip. I like to call it an elevated French Dip with melt-in-our mouth meat. The flavors of this entrée are truly spectacular.

I also absolutely had to try their Mac & Cheese: Mac and Cheese with duck fat and topped with sourdough crumbs. I truly thought I had died again and fell into comfort food heaven. The flavor and cheesiness were out of this world. It was prepared to perfection and some of the best mac I’ve ever had.

My husband ordered the Shrimp & Grits: white cheddar-roasted green chile grits, wilted greens, garlic herb-cream, smoked bacon, blistered baby heirloom tomatoes, and micro basil. He raved about his perfectly prepared meal for days.

And, of course, for dessert, we had to try the Whiskey Cake: sticky toffee cake with bourbon anglaise, spiced pecans, and house made vanilla whipped cream. SPECTACULAR! Just simply phenomenal. I have high standards for desserts and baked goods, and their Whiskey Cake is divine. Be sure to save room to enjoy a piece after your meal or order one to take home and delight in this heavenly dessert.

Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar delivers a phenomenal dining experience from its exceptional customer service to their perfectly prepared and seasoned entrees. The restaurant’s beautiful décor and warm and inviting atmosphere make it the perfect place to enjoy a wonderful meal. We will be back....