Snack Bar

A coworker and I went here for lunch the other day. This is a pretty cool place, and a great place to go to on a sunny day. The seating inside is a little limited, but sitting outside is where it’s at. I have never been to a restaurant that had blankets draped across the backs of the chairs, just in case it’s cold out. That’s cool.
The menu in my opinion, was limited. I really didn’t see anything else appealing besides the burger, so I got that. Actually, we both did. The waitstaff was nice and cordial, and our waiter was attentive and accommodating. The burger comes with cheese, but ask your waiter what cheese options there are. We both got a three cheese blend on our burgers. And included with the burger was fries, but I believe you had a couple of things to choose from.
This burger… man. Seriously, this is one of the best burgers I have ever had. No lie. I ordered mine medium, and it was juicy, tender, and flavorful. The three cheese blend on top really set this burger apart from the many, many others I’ve had before. The fries were good too… I mean, it’s almost kind of hard to mess up fries right? These were fried just right, not too big or not too thin… good fried. I also ordered a to go coffee and was surprised at how big the cup was.
This was a great place that I would def visit again.

I came here for a Saturday brunch. I had the egg and gravy biscuit. I got the bacon gravy and also added a side of bacon. It was amazing. The biscuit was crispy on the outside and fluffy and delicious on the inside. Eggs were cooked sunny side and placed on top of the biscuit with the gravy on top of that. Such a good combination. I also had a dirty chai to drink (espresso and chai tea) which was amazing and nice pick me up! I ate outside on the patio and it was beautiful 70 degree day so it was perfect atmosphere. I will be coming back!

You must try the okonomyaki pancake. The bunny chow tasted healthy, hearty, warm, and delicious.

Why do I love Snack Bar?
I love it because it’s easy breezy, it has classic tastes but a little flair. They don’t overthink their menu, they keep it nice and simple. And it’s good!
They have great coffee. Sometimes I go to Snack Bar just for the coffee… sit at the short 70s style bar with midget stools. I am 5’9″ so my knees kind of get in the way of my jaw when I eat at the bar here, soooo.
GREAT happy hour, lots of wines to choose from as well as beers and ciders. They have all the cool, no-one’s-ever-heard-of-that-beer kind of thing going on.
GREAT patio, in any kind of weather, because they have spritzers for hot days, warmers for cold ones, and the little zip block cover stuff for when it’s raining… everyone likes to sit out there.
I like sitting at the bar next to the window and people watch. All different kinds of people walk by this place, mostly people wondering what the heck SoCo is really all about. What is it really?
And Leah is awesome.

Great food, cocktails and patio. They only serve wine and beer but they make plenty of cocktails using sake. Food wise I’d suggest all the appetizers and avoid the entrees. The Brussels sprouts, fried cauliflower, and asparagus is amazing. Avoid the ceviche. Try the quinoa salad.

I have eaten here +3 times. Each time we were on the outdoor patio that is great for people watching and relaxing. They serve really fresh and interesting food combinations. The service was very good. On our last visit we had the BLT with avocado and egg with a couple of their vegetable sides. Great place to take a friend if they are vegetarian. It’s a bit pricey for lunch. Serving sizes are big, so consider splitting entrees. Overall great experience.

Best descriptive word: Meh.
This place was just OK on Christmas Day.
Service: ²⁄₅ After a bad experience at another restaurant, we came to the Snack Bar extremely hungry from a long road-​trip. We asked the older, blonde, hostess what our options were, meaning– what’s the quickest way to get food? Any food. She told us our only option was to wait an hour and a half. We agreed.
Then we saw the bar countertop. Empty seats. Self seating. Full service. UM… thanks A LOT, hostess!!!
We sat down at the bar. A gentleman behind the bar said hello to us, then didn’t come back for 20 minutes. He took our drink order and meal order at the same time. We didn’t see our food for another half hour. This is after a manager saw me on Unilocal,asked us how everything was going, saw our impatience, and pushed our ticket to the front of the line.
Food: We ordered the Mac & Cheese, and burger.
–Max & Cheese: ⁵⁄₅ Super great when hot, got a little too cheesy after it cooled down. $ 7
–Burger and Fries: ²⁄₅ The fries were on point. The burger was TERRIBLE. The meat was a little less than medium cooked, and was completely tasteless. After drenching it is salt, it still tasted like bread on bread. The lettuce had more taste than the meat. For $ 12, no way!
I might come back when it’s less busy just for the Mac & Cheese, but wasn’t too impressed by the service, or the food. Just meh.

I tried Snack Bar a few times, over the course of about a year and I really wanted to like it but between the wait, the tiny portions, and the price I just can’t justify it. The food is pretty good, but for sure not the place to go very hungry. Things are priced reasonably until you get enough food and drinks to qualify for a substantial meal, then it gets pricey. Everything is great there, the quality of food is high, the mimosas are a good mix of alcohol and the service is always quick but when you are ball’in on a budget like I am, I much rather go to a place with no wait, huge portions, cheap drinks and fair prices for my regular meals. I have nothing against the place, just doesn’t really fit my weekend budget. I would recommend for a special occasion or guest in town.

Only worked half day so made it a point to come for brunch. I just love this place. Seriously the best Caesar Salad dressing I’ve ever had. Dogs with their people eating lunch. Blankets at every outside table to keep you warm. If you ever make it to Austin don’t miss this gem.

Drawn in by the name and kitschy outside, I went during happy hour, during that very happy hour when I’m still working and need to switch from coffee and real food to wine and nibbles. Was a great spot to park on the patio in those twilight hours between lunch and dinner and pound out some work. They were super accommodating about finding me a plug where I could set up and work, and were still pretty attentive to checking back on me without it being too much. Daily happy hour specials include $ 6 draft wine from 4 – 7, and daily specials make happy hour even more special, and some last all day.
A friend met up with me and we did some snacking with a cheese plate, olives, and edamame. Perfect conversation nibbles, and everything was delicious.
Didn’t get a chance to try it since I wasn’t there for actual dinner, but I think their «flights» where they pair food for two in different themes is highly adorable. Choose a meal from Latin America, North America, Europe, or Asia, and take the guess work out of your pairings while getting to sample some goodies. They’ll be more than happy to recommend some drinks to go with your vibe.

I admit it, I’m a SoCo Junkie. I love the atmosphere, I love the stores and the food! Snack Bar is becoming a quick favorite. My first experience at Snack Bar was on the Austin Eats Food Tour where we got a taste test of the Tamago Yoko, a brunch item with niman ranch bacon,
wild gulf shrimp, cabbage & leek, topped with eggs, wasabi aioli, sriracha, bonito, and nori. It seemed like an adventurous dish, but it tasted unlike anything I’d ever had before. It was easy to want to come back when we got a coupon for $ 5 off on our next visit.
We were happy to return. I love that they serve ethical food with excellent vegetarian options. When we got the full experience I was very happy with the service, and we got to bring our puppy on the patio. Many of the servers stopped by and complimented her, and she even got some water and treats without us having to ask.
We had delicious burgers and yummy french fries, all fresh and worth going back for! The owners are Bethany and Karl. Bethany has so many great stories about the history of the restaurant and hotel next door, and she is very hands on with the service experience. Karl is very involved in making sure the guests are enjoying themselves. This place is nostalgic, and an Austin staple. I recommend everyone check it out.

Great waiter. Attentive but not in your face constantly. That was nice! Everything we need was done.
I ordered the Brussel Sprouts which were excellent! They didn’t seem fried but we’re very good. I also ordered the skirt steak and it was also good. Perfect snack size. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Would come back when in town.

A couple of coworkers and I stopped here for lunch. The food and service were both inconsistent and I won’t be back.
I ordered the ceasar salad and fried brussel sprouts. The ceasar was compromised of sad pieces of romaine lettuce, flavorless dressing, lackluster croutons, and two oily anchovies. It was also about $ 10. So disappointing. The brussel sprouts were good but I wasn’t a fan of their dipping sauce.
Service was good at the beginning of the meal, but our waiter disappeared near the end, when we were trying to pay our check.
The ambiance was really nice. I enjoyed eating out on the patio. I would imagine if you just got drinks and appetizers, you’d have a better experience.

Snack Bar is hit or miss food, and consistently bad service.
There are certain things on the menu, like the Tamago Yoko, that are really delicious. But, because I’ve been coming here since it opened, sadly I’ve seen them take some of the best dishes off the menu. The eggs and gravy biscuits, the veggie burger (which was one of very few veggie options), etc.
There are also a few things on the menu that are just bad, like the rice noodle dish. The noodles are dry, the herbs taste old. The «crème brûlée» just shouldn’t be served.
For bad service and long wait times, there are places with much better food.

Our group walked into Snack Bar about 20 minutes before closing because we were all in need of a snack (hehe). I tried the Flash Fried Brussels and Avocado Quinoa with an egg on top.
Flash Fried Brussels: Mmm. These are some brussels sprouts that don’t disappoint! They were the perfect amount of fried, definitely not overdone. The green sauce that they came with was also delicious. I’m not exactly sure what it was but it added another layer of flavor to the dish. ⁵⁄₅
Avocado Quinoa: I’m not a huge fan of quinoa, but I can definitely say I liked it in this dish! It went really well with the cheese and avocado. However, it seemed like there was too much quinoa, but, no worries, that meant there was plenty for everyone else to try. My egg was overcooked, but still added some good flavor to the dish, overall. ⁴⁄₅
My chief complaint is that our waiter was a bit sassy. He came right up to us with no greeting, pen and pad out to take our order, and seemed confused when we looked at him expectantly. Also, my friend asked how exactly the bread and butter worked because there were several different options and he just replied «well…it’s bread and it’s butter.» Okay.
So overall, the food was pretty good! I’d originally give the place 4 stars but the service was off-​putting so I’ll give them a 3. I wouldn’t mind coming back for the food, though!

What up with Snack Bar? Well it seems that they care about your experience there.
Food is almost definitely the most important aspect about your satisfaction at a restaurant, but what else?
Well I suggest ambience, friendly attentive service and well just the intangible factor of enjoyment and not wanting to leave.
I agree especially for me that I am not near a 5 star review here but something felt very good here.
The patio is dog friendly. The shade and fans cooled us down a lot. Everyone was in the moment having a great time.
What about the food? Well they are revamping the menu and this was my first visit but I found a way for it to work for me.
In-​house made Kimchi and nuts I highly recommend as a starter. Also thought Sake was a good choice but wait let’s add some Duchman red from the keg.
Not blown away by the food but no problems at all. S.O. Loved the quinoa and avocado add an egg (thanks Amanda M.). I tried it and loved it.
All in all if I toss a coin it is definitely 4 star with potential to rise. A nice second chill choice on South Congress. My número uno is the nearby big P. seafood joint, oh yum!

We were in that awkward after lunch/​before dinner period where I am too hungry to wait but I can’t order too much or my wife will crush my soul with a disapproving glance. And what better place for a snack on South Congress than Snack Bar?
That question was rhetorical. And even if it wasn’t, I can’t really answer it. We only stopped at Snack Bar, and it was good. I only have two complaints:
1. The woman who interrupted our streetside dining to try and sell us make-​up,* which clearly isn’t Snack Bar’s responsibility.
2. I expected them to have, well, more snacks. Perhaps it’s just because it was brunchtime, but I was hoping for more small plates to choose from (wasn’t interested in kimchi nuts, personally).
Then again, if they had more options, I never would’ve ordered this Avocado Quinoa Salad thing… which turned out to be a great decision. It’s arugula, cotija cheese, a pineapple ring, a fried egg (added on the lovely waitress’s recommendation) tied together with a banana pepper-​pineapple vinaigrette. And it’s awesome. And reasonably healthy, which I needed after two days of smoked meat.
Even better, Snack Bar’s drink game is seriously fantastic. I don’t drink coffee, but I would’ve mainlined the nutella/​chocolate espresso thing that the wife got. It was one of the tastiest things I had in Austin, truly.
Also, they had a jalapeño pilsner on their lengthy menu of locally sourced beer that I stuck in a michelada, and it’s the only beer I want in my micheladas from now on.
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*Do you see this face? You don’t mess with perfection.

Snack Bar is a casual eatery at the top of the SoCo strip. It’s so casual that they forgot about my mother’s order (perhaps because she and my dad got the same thing: the BLT). The place isn’t big, so they can’t be balancing too many orders.
My brother likes this place, but I wouldn’t really rush back. Food was decent, but there are more inspiring places to eat down the way.

I love small bites! This was a healthy snack bar to begin our night. Basic food but necessary before the big meal.
A: Brussel Sprouts — it came with a green sauce on the side, very crisp and tasty
B: Kimchi — it is what it is, regular kimchi with some peanuts
B: Black bean dip — no bueno, I no like black beans :/​
A: Spiced edamame — exactly as it sounds
A: Cucumber sakitini — refreshing!
A: Jalepeno sakitini — spicy!
I was so upset they did not have the pâté! :(Service was great, food was delicious, company was great. Recommended!

We stopped in here for a drink and to feed my man after a disappointing breakfast elsewhere. We grabbed a seat out of the fabulous patio and had a very nice tattooed up server! He laughed when we said we ‘had a bad experience’ and promised he’d make up for it!
We ordered a few mimosas, and then he asked if we planned on having more than one. Of course we were, so he recommended the flask. Sure why not. He wasn’t kiddin — it was a true chemist flask LOL Great presentation for that. We also had some Brussels to snack on and they were oh so good. I need to come back for a full breakfast for sure!