Where To See & Be Seen In Austin - Austin - The Infatuation

"The footpath outside Aba is like a catwalk—long, narrow, and full of heads turning to see who’s approaching the restaurant next. This hard-to-book Mediterranean spot has commandeered its little area of South Congress, with a chic outdoor bar, tables on either side of the runway, enchanting string lights overhead, and a sea of people who might be carrying bags they bought at Hèrmes around the corner. The picture-perfect patio and the perfectly nice dining room are both likely to be filled with couples celebrating anniversaries, business types regaling clients with a bottle of wine from Slovenia, and weekenders trying not to spill hummus on their cutest shorts. Instagram boyfriends agreeing to snap “just one more photo” near the oak tree Reservations during normal dinner hours are typically available about six to eight weeks out, but if you just want to stop in for afternoon drinks and snacks—or you're okay with a 9pm meal—you can usually grab something about a week or two out. If you want a patio seat, you can make a request when booking, but they’ll be seated on a first come, first served basis. And when the weather’s nice, the patio is where everybody will want to be. That means you can sometimes grab a seat in the dining room as a walk-in, but then you’re missing one of the few redeeming things about Aba." - matthew jacobs, nicolai mccrary