Haywire is useful for a haphazard "Texas experience" - Review - Austin - The Infatuation

"Haywire is smack in the middle of The Domain, but it looks more like a fancy ranch house that found its way into an outdoor shopping mall. Everything here is unapologetically Texas. Steer horns and cowhide cover three levels of dining space. Giant ice cubes are stamped with the Lone Star state. Frozen Texas teas are almost as refreshing as they are potent. Haywire flattens the state into a greatest-hits reel that feels a little run-of-the-mill Texas theme park-y. Nothing is bad and nothing is particularly good either. photo credit: Manny Rodriguez It’s probably not worth crossing town for the elk tacos or Gulf shrimp alone, but it’s a solid happy hour move if you’re already heading to Macy’s to pick up a new swimsuit for the pool this weekend. Bring your out-of-town friends who want a “Texas experience” but don’t want to dig too deep into what that really means. Food Rundown Mini Elk Tacos These remind us of Taco Bell crunchy tacos, but with microgreens and grilled corn pico in place of iceberg lettuce and soggy tomatoes (cold cheese is an unfortunate constant). These are a solid start to the meal. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Lump Crab Dip Think spinach artichoke dip, but with lump crab instead of artichokes. This is tasty, but it’s probably too rich and creamy for a party of two. Order this if you’re with a larger group. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Gulf Coast Ceviche Haywire’s ceviche is light, crisp, and refreshing. And the large slices of fresh citrus add a nice sweetness to the thick-cut fish and shrimp. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Bone-In Cowboy Ribeye A pretty standard ribeye that arrived a little overcooked, but otherwise satisfying. It’s a little tough, but it’s seasoned well. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Homestead Cake This is made with turnips, carrots, and a whole other medley of root vegetables baked into the alternating layers of cake and molasses buttercream. Don’t worry, it doesn’t taste as much like vegetables as it sounds. It’s very sweet, but an otherwise nice way to end the meal. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary" - Nicolai McCrary