Moonshine Grill
Bar & grill · Convention Center District
303 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
Highlights
Southern comfort food with chicken fried steak and cocktails
Southern comfort food with chicken fried steak and cocktails
"Compared to some of the other freebies in Austin, a small basket of popcorn might not seem all that flashy. But considering that Moonshine is in the heart of Downtown, where things trend toward the expensive, we’ll take anything we can get. It comes out at the beginning of the meal while you’re still deciding between chicken-fried steak and pork chops. It’s just a little spicy, which may or may not trigger a call for a round of margaritas. The Deal: Free popcorn with your meal" - nicolai mccrary
"Moonshine was designed in a lab to impress out-of-towners—and we don’t mean that in a bad way. Located a few steps from the convention center, Rainey Street, and most Downtown hotels, it checks all the boxes for a Southern comfort pit stop: massive patio, friendly servers who manage to refill drinks before you even ask, and portion sizes that guarantee leftovers. If you’re visiting Austin and want to say you had blackened catfish or shrimp and grits in a nice atmosphere, this is where to go. And if you live here, you probably already know all about Moonshine. The menu reads like a Southern starter pack—deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, chicken-fried steak. Most of it leans classic, though you’ll find a few twists, like wagyu in the Salisbury steak or chile sage butter on the seared rainbow trout. None of it is reinventing the genre, but that’s kind of the point. The food is dependable, the prices are fair (especially for Downtown), and the whole place runs like a well-oiled cast-iron skillet. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Food Rundown Center Cut Pork Chop The pork chop is well seasoned and cooked to a well-done finish. It’s a little dry, but the peach chutney on top does enough heavy lifting to make up for it. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Chicken-Fried Steak If you’re at Moonshine, there’s a 75% chance you’re ordering the chicken-fried steak. It’s a classic take, topped with a chipotle cream gravy that adds subtle heat. It’s not the crispiest we’ve had, but it hits the spot. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary Banana Cream Pudding This is a little too sweet, but it’s an otherwise fairly standard banana cream pudding that hits all the nostalgic flavors you’d expect. photo credit: Nicolai McCrary" - Nicolai McCrary
"Set in a beautifully restored 19th-century building just steps from some of Austin’s most iconic Downtown landmarks, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill offers a warm, rustic setting steeped in charm — and possibly a few ghost stories, too. The restaurant is ideal for gatherings of all kinds and has several private and semi-private event spaces. The cozy Sunday House fits 25, while covered patios, some featuring vaulted ceilings, host larger events. For something moodier, the underground Kinfolk bar offers a speakeasy-like feel for up to 25 people. Work with Moonshine’s events team to create custom buffet menus featuring its beloved Southern-inspired fare — think shrimp and grits, green chile macaroni and cheese, and signature cocktails." - Darcie Duttweiler
"This rambling Southern restaurant with a covered outdoor patio is a classic stop for cocktails and comfort foods. That means chicken and waffles, chicken fried steak, and green chile macaroni and cheese. Even better: There’s a speakeasy bar on the property, Kinfolk, which has an elite whiskey selection and well-made cocktails. Moonshine is also rumored to be one of the most haunted places in Austin, so scaredy-cats might want to get food to go." - Erin Russell
"Both locations of the Southern restaurant (this in downtown Austin and the other in Avery Ranch) are hosting Thanksgiving brunch. The menu isn’t available yet, but it’ll be $39.95 for each person, available from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Book reservations online (downtown, Avery); there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury
