The Little Darlin'
American restaurant · Pleasant Hill ·
Craft beer, global bistro fare, spacious yard with games
Craft beer, global bistro fare, spacious yard with games
"Nothing says “it’s Saturday” quite like Little Darlin’s michelada—made up of a draft beer with a bloody mary ice pop. It’s a fun and tasty way to start the weekend, and a great accompaniment to fried chicken and waffles, farmstand frittatas, and french toast off Little Darlin’s brunch menu. This is one of the best bars in Austin, and when the weather is nice, it’s one of the best patios to be on, too. Throw in a solid brunch menu and it’s one of the best places to spend a weekend." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion, matthew jacobs
"The fried chicken sandwich at The Little Darlin’ off William Cannon and South Congress is a classic done right—pairing a crispy fried chicken thigh with a bit of Duke’s mayo, a few slices of housemade pickles, and a small mound of sweet and sour coleslaw that adds some great texture and crunch to each bite. Of course, there’s also a full menu of burgers, sliders, salads, and more that we like to rotate into our orders every now and then. Or just make a night of it. The kitchen’s open until 2am nightly, so there’s plenty of time to work your way through a few different items." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs
"Every Tuesday steak night looks a little different at The Little Darlin’ in South Austin. They like to have a little fun—they never offer just a normal steak, or even the same steak. We’ve seen one served with chimichurri and smashed potatoes, Korean-marinated with grilled shrimp, and even a loco moco variant served over a bed of rice and topped with mushroom gravy and a fried egg. Show up on Tuesdays at 4pm if you want a surprise, or check their Instagram where they announce it a few hours before. When: Tuesdays, 4pm until sold out The Deal: Some type of steak, usually with sides, for $20 (the dish changes weekly)" - nicolai mccrary
"The Little Darlin’ in South Austin is 80% patio, though you’ll find a pretty large indoor area with pool tables and lots of seating. Across the spacious dog-friendly lawn are long rows of picnic tables, games, and a big stage for live music. Try the fried chicken sandwich while you’re there—it’s one of our favorites in town." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs
"You might think you traveled back to 2016 (the year The Little Darlin’ first opened) when you see the cocktail prices at this friendly South Austin spot. There’s a full shelf of infused liquors in tall glass jars behind the bar, so you can kick things up a notch by adding grilled-pineapple tequila or a strawberry-vodka shot to your soda for about $7. The space is 80% backyard—though you’ll find a decent indoor area with pool tables and lots of seating—and across the lawn are long rows of picnic tables, games, and a big stage for live music. Get the burger or the fried chicken sandwich for lunch or dinner (food is served until 2am), or show up on the weekend when The Little Darlin’ busts out the brunch menu featuring micheladas made with bloody mary ice pops." - nicolai mccrary
