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Austin lunch restaurant reviews & photos
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Riata Bar and Grill--Info & Reviews
12221 Riata Trace Pkwy
Ste 100
Austin TX 78727
336-3838
- Service: Waiters
- Cuisine: Sandwiches, Salads, Hamburgers, Cheesesteaks, American
- WiFi
Overall Rating: +1.5/+3
About Riata Bar and Grill
Strip center bar and grill located in the Riata office complex.
Elsewhere Online
- Yelp Reviews
- All quite positive reviews, one reviewer even gushing "Best burger I have ever had."
Staff Reviews (Your Reviews Below)
Boring Bar Burger
Reviewer: Chris
Original Review Date: 01/10/2008
Rating: 0/+3(Ho hum)
I figured this place would be very bar-centric, (it is named "Bar and Grill" after all), and that's exactly what you get. The interior is dominated by a large bar in the center of the single room, with tables lined up along the perimeter. Overall, the place felt kind of cold and not-so-inviting. Generic bar rock was playing.
I had the 1/3 lb burger with cheddar. The menu refers to this selection with the following information: "generously seasoned with our chef's special blend of herbs and spices." First off, a place like this does not have a "chef". Secondly, I did notice a sprinkling of dried herbs on and around the burger, but I certainly did not taste anything out of the ordinary.
Pros: cheddar is available (but it's 50¢ extra), burger was fairly flavorful (seemed to be cooked on a grill), bun seemed fresh and was nicely toasted, burger+fries affordable at $6.00 ($6.50 with cheese).
Cons: burger was quite dry, fries were not good--curly fries with just kind of a bad flavor, cheap-o ketchup ("House Recipe" brand--where's the Heinz?!).
So the food was just ok, nothing to go back for in my book. Attractive waitresses are a plus for the nerdy male high-tech professional (which seemed to comprise a large part of the clientèle, myself included), but overall the place was too bar-focused, too cold and uninviting, and the food was nothing special.
Your Reviews (add a review)
Reviewer: terry
Review Date: 06/01/2008 06:38PM
Rating: +2/+3(Goooood)
We love this place for burgers. The mushroom swiss and the some like it hot burgers are great!
Good neighborhood place
Reviewer: Jason
Review Date: 03/05/2008 11:13AM
Rating: +2/+3(Goooood)
I have actually had pretty good luck with the burgers here. My burgers were not dry, but cooked medium well, fries were ok, but I was able to get grilled onions on my burger, which I like and do not see at many other places. The place is a little bare, with the bar, tables, TVs and pool table and not much else. And even though the pool table is a little beat up, it's been free every time I was there.
Good for a quick bite
Reviewer: Jeff
Review Date: 02/28/2008 01:05PM
Rating: +1/+3(Not bad)
Wow, first non-staff review.
I have to agree with Chris that the burger is pretty good, but could be better. We go there on the weekends alot since it's pratically next door and we want a quick bite. Better than alot of other quick choices. They could do with out the sprinkled-on chopped parsley though (the chef's special spices?). I've never felt that parsley really add anything to a meal and they sprinkle it over everything. The battered fries a really not that bad, but sometimes they are inconsistent in quality. However, if you go, be sure to order the fried mozzarella. It comes in wedges instead of the usual Farm Rich sticks that most places have. This stuff is on a par with what you'd get at a high-end itallian joint.