The Mill — Restaurant in Texas

First time there, walked in to get a drink and some dinner after the gym. I sat at the few places open at the bar, there was a large platter of eaten food left there for I'm sure, longer than I had sat there without being acknowledged or a "hey, be with you in a minute"....sat there for about 10 minutes without a hello or anything. 2 Bartenders, not busy, probably about MAYBE 30 people scattered throughout the bar. When I finally did get acknowledged by one of them, I ordered a drink, a medium rare steak salad and 6 raw oysters. Tell me how or why it took 40 minutes before I had to tell the bartender that I just wanted to cancel my food and pay my drink. He asked me if I would keep it, if it was up in the window, I said sure. It was brought to me well done. I looked at the bartender and said "I ordered medium rare" his reply was "I know, I'll eat it" there was no solution offered whatsoever so I Told him I didn't want it, he could eat it, asked to pay for my drink so I could leave, fine, tabbed out. Then some old drunk blonde lady ( pretty sure she works there, or hangs out there a bunch) gets up from the bar and stands at the door pretending to take a picture with some Halloween prop to then follow me ( a woman by herself) out into a dark parking lot to my car, to take a picture of my license plate. For what? Not sure. It was weird AF and that lady was creepy, the bartenders weren't accommodating or welcoming. The food , I can't tell you how that is because I didn't get any.

I'm pretty easy going and understanding, I don't cause problems at bars, I rarely even go to bars. I've also been a bartender myself for 12 years, it's how I make my money. I'm industry to this day here in Austin. I'm not really sure what happened there. Maybe it's because I'm not a local and they could tell, maybe it's because I'm ethnic? I don't think it was because of those things though, there was a man who came in shortly after me to get a drink and order dinner as well and he was treated the same way. Just bad standards displayed by industry members I guess. That was my experience of the place. Can't say I'll return to give them another try, since I was followed out to my car by a weirdo.

I think the disheartening part about this establishment is that this is a business that I'm sure supports a lot of families. If the owner is cool with their bartenders not trying to bring in more in sales, try to accumulate more clientele who you could than turn into regulars which would ultimatley make everyone more money, isn't that the point? I just don't understand the "logic" of those...

I know I sound like a Karen complaining about a discount. I know I'm just one person, and they are only losing $50 a week in business, but it still felt super gross. How I was told, zero compassion, honestly rude to make the bartender do the GM's dirty work.

So I eat at the Mill a few times a week because I work next door but no longer. I'm super disappointed; I've been coming to the Mill on Thursdays for fried pickles and half-price burgers because I only get a 15-minute break. I work three doors down from them. They are great burgers, but now you must eat in to get the deal. Mind you, I've been going for months. There is nowhere where it says dine-in only. Not the menu, specials board, their website, nothing. I was super surprised and disappointed when the bartender said “Sorry the GM says we can't honor that deal for you anymore” No warning, I'm a regular, they can't honor that deal for ME but they can for others? Is it because I'm fat? Gay? Make minimum wage? Like damn y'all went and ruined my favorite thing.

So don't not eat there but do know that the GM is a jerk and this isn't a place to be a...

💥 Hidden gem alert! This neighborhood dive bar is everything you want in a chill local hangout 🍻. Cheap eats? ✅ Friendly vibes? ✅ A suspiciously high number of Boomers and Daryls ✅😂 (Shoutout Daryl! 💪)

🥗 Don’t sleep on the grilled chicken salad — it’s like $9 but could honestly feed a small village 🏘️. Giant. Delicious. Slightly terrifying in size. Also, shoutout to the 🥗 itself for being a star.

🎰 Be warned: the coin pusher machine is wildly addicting. You will lose some money and feel great about it anyway. 🪙💸

🍹 Drinks are lightning fast ⚡, the atmosphere is super laid-back, and there’s plenty of space to sit, chat, and people-watch 👀.

Major love to the amazing staff — Lindsay, Mike, Nicole, and everyone else who keeps the good times flowing 🙌💖. You make this place feel like home!

10/10 will be back. Probably...