100 East 6th Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 826-3414
East Side Show Room is an eclectic/funky restaurant on the east side of town. It serves up unexpectedly well-prepared, homey, locavore food to a small set of tables on a daily basis. In addition, it has a great bar that crafts intriguing cocktails while delivering consistent classics. If you're over on the east side and feel like some tasty food in a relaxed and unusual atmosphere, this is the place for you.
I read in an early review that the decor had a very post-apocalyptic feel and now, every time we go, my husband Stephen remarks upon how accurate the description was. The space is in a little old store-front. Walking through the old glass-paned doors you immediately see the bar, which is a mesh of metal and wood and odd piping. The coolest feature is the draft beer dispenser! The dining area is small with an oddball assortment of mismatched tables and chairs. There are knick-knacks all over the place and they have a lot of artwork hanging up on the wall from various artists. All-together, an experience.
The wine list and even the beer list are tiny. This place is not about the vino; it's about mixed drinks. They have quite the list of old-timey classics like the Sazerac and the Manhattan. However, they also have an interesting selection of new creations with the requisite fresh ginger, or blackberry or thyme syrup to make them unique. I've never been just for a drink, but I get the feeling it would be a very pleasant experience.
I go for the food. As I said, the place does not scream gourmet, however, I've had some creative, excellent dishes. They are not completely consistent, but I've had enough good to definitely want to go back for more. They have a cheese plate and a charcuterie plate and a few salads and tartares. These are all ok, but not stunning. Where they excel is with their main courses. I've had quite a range, from a middle-eastern inflected bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes) to a non-traditional but delectable coq au vin (tomato in the sauce - not classic but nice) to a perfectly prepared grilled pork-chop with blackberries. There isn't a clear direction to the food. It seems like the cook what inspires them from day to day and, probably, what is available from the farmer's market. I will say that all of the dishes are substantial. This is more of a cold weather dining spot than warm...
Overall, I think East Side Show Room is a fun and unusual restaurant that is expanding the Austin dining scene in new directions. This is not a luxe place, but a spot to go when you feel relaxed and what a great drink. The bonus is that you also can get some good food! ☆☆☆
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