Classy but affordable surprise-party venue in Austin?

August 25, 2010 3:17 PM

I'm throwing a surprise birthday party for a friend. Please recommend an Austin restaurant that'd be a good venue for the "Surprise!" moment. Criteria inside.

I'd like for this place to:
- have a classy atmosphere
-be relatively inexpensive (good selection of dinner entrees for under ~$20)
-have good food!
-have a physical layout that's amenable to a big group (15-20 people)
-serve booze
-be close to the Highball. The closer the better. I was originally planning to do the party at the Highball (which would have been perfect), but they're already booked for dinnertime, so now the plan is to gather somewhere nearby to yell "Surprise!" and eat, then head over to Highball for the rest of the night's festivities.

Forgive me for retreading old ground--I've looked at some of the other Austin-restaurant threads, but I gather there are some new places in town, and I'd like to hear your cutting-edge suggestions for my specific situation. I'm not in Austin, but I have a friend who can scout out places for me.

Thanks!

posted by aka burlap to Food & Drink (5 answers total)

The best surprise party I ever threw was in the lobby of our local performing arts venue. I had some friends hang a few banners, saying "Happy Birthday Ms. DanF" and be gathered not early but not late, either. So so the lobby was full of people waiting to get in.

We had cupcakes with candles, and got most of the lobby to join in "Happy Birthday," when we sang it.

Additionally, if I ever throw any kind of surprise party for my wife again, I'm a dead man.
posted by Danf at 3:53 PM on August 25, 2010

Any place on Barton Springs Blvd restaurant row would be within one mile of the highball; Chuy's is always crazy crowded, but it's fun, not too expensive, and they have that room in the back that would be good for the "surprise" moment. I'm pretty sure you could make it work at Austin Java or Shady Grove as well.

If you do this, the trick is to walk up Kinney and then go into the mall where the Highball is via Dexter. Should be a pleasant walk, except for that hill on Kinney.
posted by adamrice at 4:02 PM on August 25, 2010

Some contenders. Keep in mind classiness is subjective, especially in Austin. Chuy's never struck me as classy, for example, though the Bush twins were rumored to be fond of the place.

Zax

El Chile
(Barton Springs Rd. location)

24 Diner

Hyde Park Bar and Grill (south location)

Romeo's
Fits your criteria pretty well, except maybe the "good food" part.

Paggi House
Entrees are pricey but they have a great outdoor deck and some good happy hour deals. Just a thought.
posted by jamjames at 4:09 PM on August 25, 2010

Parkside? You could just order a lot of small plates and pass them around. It's downtown, so you can get to the Highball in a pretty straight shot down Lamar. I believe they have a deck, though I wouldn't recommend it in this stifling heat.
posted by Gilbert at 4:33 AM on August 26, 2010

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions! Those look promising.
posted by aka burlap at 11:20 AM on August 26, 2010