Honey Moon Spirit Lounge - Review - North University - Austin - The Infatuation
"Austin has plenty of cute dinner places, but few feel as tailor-made for date night as Honey Moon Spirit Lounge. Set inside a renovated old house near UT, it still has the creaky wooden floors, narrow staircases, and visible attic doors to remind you that someone probably lived here not too long ago. But these days, the focus is wraparound bars, plush velvet chairs, vintage chandeliers, and walls decked in boldly patterned wallpaper—one part antique shop, one part Victorian fever dream. photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel Pause Unmute The menu jumps around the world in creative ways, with a versatility that matches the eclectic decor. Creole shrimp and grits share real estate with Seoul fried chicken. But small plates and cocktails are where Honey Moon really shines. Split the fried mushrooms and charred cabbage with blue cheese, order one of the cheekily named drinks (we like the Berry Me Alive), and spend a couple of hours wishing this could be your house for more than just the night. RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE Food Rundown Chilled Roasted Carrots & Burrata A great way to start the meal. The carrots are perfectly tender, the burrata is creamy, and the whole thing gets dusted with pistachio for a little nutty crunch. photo credit: Richard Casteel Charred Cabbage This is a wedge salad that traveled the world and came back inspired. The savory cabbage base gets topped with blue cheese, buttermilk dressing, chili oil, and five-spice pecans—an excellent combination of textures and global flavors that work great together. Make sure it’s part of your order. photo credit: Richard Casteel Shrimp & Grits A fairly classic Creole take, and a solid one. The grits are creamy, the shrimp are nicely seared, and the sauce balances acidity and sweetness. The tomato chunks can be a little aggressive in size, but overall it’s a tasty dish. photo credit: Richard Casteel Seoul Fried Chicken This one leans more “inspired by” than traditional Korean fried chicken. It’s not as crispy as some of our favorite spots around town, and there’s a lot happening flavor-wise, but it’s pretty satisfying when you want something fried and filling. photo credit: Richard Casteel" - Nicolai McCrary
