The Roosevelt Room: Austin, TX

The Roosevelt Room is a hidden gem in Austin’s downtown warehouse district. Behind their large doors and curtains, lies an award-winning cocktail bar/speakeasy that will surely be an experience you’ll never forget. First opened in 2015, The Roosevelt Room prides itself upon concocting unique and unforgettable drinks, food and dessert. Did I mention even the desserts are cocktail-inspired? (i.e. Mezcal cheesecake).

Interior

This hidden gem evokes the feelings of a 1920s speakeasy—from the dim-lit decor, jazz music, to the black-and-white paintings on the walls—one step past their curtained doors feels almost like you’ve been transported to one of Gatsby’s haunts.

There’s a variety of seating throughout the bar, from sitting at the bar, privates tables by the entrance, intimate booth seating against the wall, or a banquet-sized table down the center.

If you want to take home a momento of your experience, the bar will let you purchase the drink menu if you’re not in the mood to buy a souvenir t-shirt.

Menu

The menu is thick like a book, offering a variety of food, dessert, and cocktail options. We did not order any of the food, but saw many people order desserts, sandwiches, and salads to accompany their drinks.

What’s amazing about their menu is their the cocktail portions are divided up into decades. If you’re interested in trying a cocktail that was popular during the Roaring- twenties, there’s a portion only for that time. The menu starts from the 1800s, to the Victorian Age and Industrial Revolution, to the age of Old Hollywood in the 40s and 50s all the way to modern day. There’s even some drinks inspired by famous writers such as Fitzgerald and Hemingway.

The Roosevelt Room also offers a variety of Non-alcoholic beverages that are just as carefully crafted as their alcoholic counterparts.

Drinks

The cocktails at The Roosevelt Room were truly a piece of art. We decided on “Too Little, Too Late” and “Cigar Box.”

Too Little, Too Late: Arette Blanco Tequila, red grapes, thai basil, coconut, honey, jasmine water, lycheee juice, verjus

Cigar Box: Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, smoked black tea syrup, lavender bitters, tobacco essence, served on an ashtray with a flamed cinnamon stick

It was a beautiful presentation for both cocktails. “Too Little, Too Late” was fragrant, creamy and the perfect balance of refreshing and sweet. “Cigar Box” was served with a lit cinnamon stick, first making its way to our table with the sweet and smokey smell of cinnamon. Both were delicious, but between the two “Cigar Box” was my favorite for the presentation, taste and the transformation of flavor as you sip the drink.

My experience at The Roosevelt Room has me looking forward to trying their extensive drink and cocktail-inspired food/drink menu. It was truly an experience that I will never forget, and it’s a place I want to share with everyone in a heartbeat. If you’re looking for an amazing, hand-crafted cocktail experience I recommend if you find yourself in Austin to visit this speakeasy.

For more information about The Roosevelt Room, click here.

Roosevelt Room IG

The Roosevelt Room can be found at 307 W. 5th Street Austin, TX 78701

x Yzabelle

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill: Austin, TX

Moonshine is a local gem that we discovered on our first trip to Austin, and it’s one of the reasons why we look forward to each time we return. The restaurant reminds us that good ‘ole southern hospitality is always welcome, especially with a warm side of cornbread to take back to your Airbnb.

With all its charm, Austin is home to historic buildings including Moonshine—one of Austin’s oldest buildings that was formerly a trading goods store that also housed a saloon and domino parlor. Though now a restaurant, it retains that Texan charm with its Western style decor and candle-lit tables.

Food + Drinks

Initially when we sat down, we looked at the menu but to honor our first trip to this Austin gem, we decided to stick to what we ordered the year before. The only thing that we changed were our drinks, deciding on their house cocktails over their moonshine. If you enjoy moonshine—especially ones locally made with different flavor profiles—then this place is the one for you, offering a moonshine flight that we had tried previously. Each moonshine ranges $7-8 per serving, but for the flight you can mix and match for $18. If you’re not into cocktails and moonshine they have an extensive bourbon, whiskey, and rye menu as well.

Appetizer—The original moonshine “corndog” shrimp with honey mustard sauce topped with a blueberry swirl. Definitely an interesting combination but one of the items that Moonshine is known for. Mustard sauce + blueberry compote meld together well and complement the outer crunch and soft, warm pillowy center. Truly addicting, and after one bite you’ll be wanting more.

The restaurant also serves their in-house made popcorn that has a nice seasoning to it while you wait for your dinner, as well as a piping hot basket of jalapeño cornbread with a side of butter.

Dinner—Chicken fried steak with chipotle creamy gravy, side of Mac n’ cheese. Beeler’s center cut chop with bourbon spiked apples, side of garlic mash. Portions are Texan-sized, but we don’t mind leftovers as it’s going to be just as delicious for a next day brunch with piping hot cups of cafecito.

Drinks—The Waterloo: Waterloo gin, cucumbers + grapefruit juice. Silvermoon margarita: Silver tequila, Paula’s Texas orange. This time around opted for their house made cocktails to have with dinner; both were refreshing and paired well with our southern-style dinner. Definitely one of my favorite gin cocktails that I would order again the next time we go.

Waterloo cocktail, corndog shrimp and housemate popcorn

Corndog shrimp with mustard blueberry sauce

Chicken fried steak + Mac n’ cheese, Bourbon pork chops w/ peaches + garlic mash

After a long dinner and a few cocktails later we still had some food left on our plate. As big eaters, we often finish what’s on the table, but even at Moonshine they took care of us when we asked to take our food to-go—Our waiter gave us a full basket of jalapeño cornbread and more bread, even asking us if we wanted more.

Moonshine is an Austin staple, and it’s a stop that you should make even if you’re in the city for a layover. Reservations are not required, and walk-ins are welcome. Both times we did not have reservations and never had an issue with getting a table. If inside dining is too full, they also offer patio seating decked out with romantic lighting.

A big thank you to our waiter and the staff at Moonshine for the great food and Southern hospitality, we look forward to dinner the next time we’re in Austin.

You can find Moonshine’s Downtown location at 303 Red River Street, Austin TX 78701.

Website

Instagram

x Yzabelle

Josephine House: Austin, TX

Josephine House, found in the booming tech city of Austin, is a homey farm-to-table restaurant serving dishes with the freshest ingredients possible. On the corner of Waterson street, the restaurant fits right in making it seem like a person’s home but there is more than meets the eye. As you walk closer you’re welcomed into what feels like an old farmhouse, fullness of old world charm.

Through endless Yelp and Instagram searching, I discovered this gem as the place to celebrate my anniversary.

Interior

Food + Drink

Menu

Because the restaurant prides itself on providing the freshest ingredients, the first thing you’ll notice is a smaller menu. Even though the menu is smaller than what some may be used to, each dish is crafted with care. Other than the freshness of their ingredients and the decor, Josephine House is most known for their Steak Frites. It’s good to note if you’re only looking to try this dish specifically, Monday nights is Steak Frites night (Steak Frites + unlimited wine!). If you’re not able to visit them on a Monday, you can still order the Steak Frites as we did.

Josephine House accepts walk-ins, but reservations are preferable.

Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir

Their wine menu ranges from Rosé to crisp whites and drier Malbecs, but for dinner we decided on a full-bodied Pinot Noir to go with our dishes. If you’re not quite the wine drinker the restaurant also offers different southern-inspired cocktails as well as refreshing mocktails for those who prefer to skip out on the alcohol.

Drinks with dinner: Bottle of Ken Wright Pinot Noir

Homemade bread and butter with appetizer salad

For the appetizer we ordered one of their popular salads, aqua dulce lettuce topped with fresh ricotta, chopped hazelnuts, shallot vinaigrette, watercress, crisp radishes, and cucumber. The salad had a bite to it with the cucumbers and radishes, contrasted with the warm nuttiness of the chopped hazelnuts. Fresh and vibrant— definitely a combination of flavors I wouldn’t have thought of, but after the first bite we wanted more.

Appetizer: Agua Dulce Lettuce- Ricotta salata, watercress, cucumber, shaved radish, hazelnuts, topped with shallot vinaigrette

After a light and refreshing app, dinner quickly follows. After hearing about their steak frites (one of, if not the best in Austin!), I wanted to try it myself. Verdict: Would order it again, especially on Monday Steak Frites night for the unlimited vino. My boyfriend chose another well-known dish—the Berkshire pork chop. Deliciously tender and melt in you mouth, the flavor profile of the pork chop blended seamlessly with the cheesy grits, roasted corn succotash and crunchy celery salad.

An important thing to note about their pork chop is it’s not cooked well-done. Yes, your immediate reaction might be “oh no!" but the chef and the waitresses explained to us when the pork is this fresh, it’s okay to eat it medium as you would a steak. I wouldn’t trust eating a pork chop medium everywhere, but this is definitely a place you don’t need to worry about.

Dinner

Steak Frites (cooked medium)-seared Niman ranch New York Strip, steak sauce (on the side), topped with maitre d’hotel herbed butter

Berkshire Pork Chop (cooked medium)-Oaxacan green corn grits, charred succotash, topped with fresh celery herb salad

Dessert

To finish off our night, Maria our waitress helped me make our night extra special with after dinner cocktails and a surprise dessert. Their desserts also incorporate a farm-to-table element, such as using flowers in their cream for their desserts.

Anniversary dessert

Orange blossom pot de crème

Our experience at Josephine House was so memorable that I’m not only adding it to my list of favorite restaurants, but it’s a restaurant that I would dine again at in a heartbeat.

A big thank you to the Josephine House staff and our waitress Maria, who made our anniversary night extra special. Thank you also for the amazing southern hospitality.

For more info on Josephine House: Click here

X Yzabelle