Riata Bar & Grill

10/29/09

World Series Game 1

by alanfeldstein at Citysearch

I have no significant complaints about this venue.

My wife was watching the way the bartender was cleaning the glasses and thought the method wasn't thorough enough, but that's how my wife is. Anyway, she's just a guest and not an Austin MLB member, so she doesn't get a vote.

The only other concern I have is about what a manager at Riata told me a couple of days before World Series Game 1. With a scheduled game start of 18:57 and scheduled bar closing of 00:00, I asked what would happen in the unlikely event that the game was still going at 00:00. He cited "TABC law", claiming that it requires that all customers be out by 00:10. I checked with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and there is no such requirement. "...In Travis County, if those establishments do not have a Late Hours Permit or License they can sell/serve/deliver Alcoholic Beverages to customers up until [00:00]..." In other words, let the people who filled the bar stay without drinking until the event is over.

The bottom line is this. If you want the best possible Major League Baseball-viewing experience in Austin, join Austin MLB. (Citysearch doesn't allow a URL, so use your favorite search engine with the following keywords: Austin MLB meetup) With our numbers, bar and restaurant owners are on their best behavior when Austin MLB schedules an event.

• Pros: baseball on both large screens, audio on
• Cons: Are they committed to the best possible baseball experience?

08/29/09

Customer service is horrible

by LAAF at Citysearch

We went there several times and at first the service was great. I can't say anything bad about the food and prices. But the service just got worse ever time we went. We would go in a group that some of the group would over hear the employees talking bad about different customers in the bar. Not really a place we want to hang out at. If you want to try the food then order for pick up. We don't want to chill out after work with these type of people (employees/bartenders) who talk about their customers.

• Cons: Rude

10/09/08

Best Burgers!

by heidismom at Citysearch

It's a typical bar menu - not extensive, but everyone can always find something. The burgers are great!!

• Pros: Parking, quick service
• Cons: Loud when busy