Live music, strong drinks, and great food are a way of life in Austin. While downtown is usually my go to spot for all those things in one evening, I always enjoy the quick drive north to The Domain, where top shelf is the standard. Culinary Dropout is one of those spots where you can hit happy hour, grab some dinner, and check out some live music all in one setting. Throw in an outdoor patio area complete with fun things like Cornhole, Ping Pong, and Foosball, and you’ve got a spot guaranteed to entertain all your senses.

My husband and I got an early Thursday evening reservation as part of his birthday celebration. The night we went, the outdoor area was rented out for a private party. I can’t wait to go back for their Happy Hour so I can check out that space and defend my honor as “Cornhole Champ”, a superlative that exists solely in my mind. We were seated to the side of the main dining area. The red banquette seating, industrial metal walls, and windows that allow guests an inside view of the kitchen all added to the kinetic yet laid back vibe of this spot.

We started with a round of drinks while we perused the menu. I opted for the Tijuana Spa Water which muddles together mint, cilantro, jalapeno, and pineapple shaken together with tequila. This tastes like a drink your bartender friend would make you in their home kitchen. It had a good amount of spicy flavor and the earthiness of this drink blossoms the flavors of the tequila. My husband ordered the Watermelon Mezcal Daiquiri. Don’t let the name or its dainty presentation fool you: This is a STRONG drink! We also decided to share a Thai Beach Club for our round 2 beverage. This must order libation at Culinary Dropout is a refreshing mix of ginger, agave, lemongrass, and cucumber mixed into the house-made Green Tea Vodka. The green tea bags are steeped in vodka for 24-48 hours per batch. The green tea fuses so well with the taste of the vodka so well that I could see myself drinking several of these next to a pool in the summer.   

For our appetizers, we opted to split a few items that came highly recommended. First we ordered an elevated pub favorite, Pretzel Bites with Provolone Fondue. This was a huge portion of large, soft pretzel balls that were perfectly chewy and the fondue was creamy, smoky, and delicious. I would have liked more coarse salt used on the pretzel bites, but overall it was a good introduction to the other food we’d be trying. The second appetizer was the showstopper of the evening for me. It was Heirloom Tomatoes, Watermelon, feta tahini, za’atar, toasted pine nuts, and served with some beautifully toasted bread. This was a combination of everything Mediterranean. The tart fruits, the creaminess of the feta, and the crunch of the pine nuts all on top of the bread made me wish I could recreate this dish in my own kitchen. We also ordered 2 items from the “Snacks” section of the menu. They were the Deviled Eggs and the Gochujang Brussels Sprouts. The deviled eggs had a good taste made better by the bacon crumbles sprinkled on top of them, but the Brussels sprouts were out of this world with flavor! They were the right combination of spicy and sweet all while being roasted to absolute perfection. We also ordered the Chopped Chicken Salad, which was probably my least favorite thing at Culinary Dropout.

I ordered the Spicy Korean Skirt Steak as my entree. I saved some of the Brussels Sprouts to go along with my entree and I’m so glad I did! The steak was a perfect medium rare and the spice in the chili oil brought out the sweetness of the zucchini. It also came with black forbidden rice and topped with cilantro. My husband ordered the Pub Burger with fries, another elevated pub food classic to which Culinary Dropout has added their signature. The burger is topped with bacon, havarti cheese, and house made barbecue sauce. The highlight of this burger for my husband was the barbecue sauce. He ordered it well done and was not disappointed. The char on the outside of the burger was exactly right for well done. It was the perfect combination of sweet and tangy. The fries were hand cut and very crispy.    

As we were leaving, the live music was starting up. We had to leave to catch a movie, but I can’t wait to go back, order up some drinks, and enjoy more of the vibe. Whenever you’re not in Austin, you can also enjoy the food, fun, and drinks of Culinary Dropout in Colorado, Alabama, Arizona, and North Carolina.