Murray's Tavern

"Murray's Tavern: Tiny Martinis, Epic Fish & Chips, and an Ambiance That'll Make You Think You're in New York (But Without the Traffic)!"On my last day in Austin, I meet friends for dinner at Murray's Tavern and immediately felt like I'd stepped into a cozy New York pub -- the kind where you're greeted like a regular even if it's your first time there. The ambiance, picture this: warm, lively, and so welcoming that you'd swear they were giving out free hugs (but they weren't, because, you know, personal space).Let's talk food. The fish & chips were so perfect, I'm convinced they were fried by actual angels. Crispy fish, hand-cut chips that were fluffy on the inside and crisp on the outside -- basically everything other fish & chips wish they could be when they grow up. And the house salad!! So fresh, with gorgonzola dressing that was creamy, tangy, and made me question why I don't eat salad more often (spoiler: because I'm usually too busy stuffing my face with fries).Then, of course, there was the staff. These guys were a hoot. From the moment I walked in, they treated me like I was their long-lost cousin from New Jersey (which I loved, because who doesn't want that level of attention?). They surprised me with a complimentary mini dessert that was so good, I almost asked for the recipe. And the tiny espresso martini? It was so small I thought it was a joke at first, but one sip and I was wide awake and ready to take on the world -- or at least the rest of my meal.Murray's Tavern didn't just serve food and drinks -- they served an experience. It felt like New York had taken a little vacation to Austin, and the staff went above and beyond to make my last day a memorable one. I left with a full stomach, a big smile, and a new addiction to espresso martinis that are too small for their own good.10/10 -- Highly recommend for great food, drinks, and a staff that makes you feel like family.

How I long for days when I was a kid in the tristate area and my family would meet my grandmother at the pub after church. We would enjoy some great soup and crackers while mom and dad would take grandma out for a pint. This place feels like a slice of a memory I'll always cherish....Drop in and find a seat fast as this place gets packed up quick. On cold days I prefer to hunker down here with their amazing chicken pot pie and a Guinness.The bar is long and nestles a few round ends that make it the main attraction for me. The seating is plenty but did I say it gets busy fast? Parking isn't bad however don't be surprised if you have to street park and wander up.Fish and Chips are a generous portion, their burger has to be one of the best in town, and did I say they can pour a proper Guinness? Yes they can!There is something on the menu for about anyone and they do not skimp on a thing. All the items are prepared fresh and I could stay here all night if it wasn't for the bill which can add up fast here. I would say it is reasonably priced for the portion however I wouldn't mind it if the portions were a tad smaller for a reduced price.Stepping in here you will be reminded of the Irish Pubs and even lose any sense that you are in Austin. It is a legit establishment with attention to the details. The bar staff are great and the grey-haired pony tailed guy in the Le Cog Sportif attire was a chill dude who makes you feel at home. I wish they had soccer on 24-7 however I will settle for the awesome music they play here.I think this place is a great replacement to what was here and the bar out back is perfect on a good day.Drop in during the week and you may find it easier to get a seat or plan ahead on the weekend but regardless you want to add this to your itinerary now!

Came in on a Saturday around 6 PM for a dinner for 5 and were able to luckily find a table as a walk in since there were no available reservations online.Our server was super sweet and attentive. Took our orders right away and food came out in no time! Captured photos of a few of our meals. The Fish and Chips comes with a massive fish the length of the plate! One person could definitely share this and still be full. We would have preferred the batter to not be so thick, but it had good taste with the little sprinkle of vinegar on each bite. The Reuben sandwich was also filling and perfect to share. It came originally with a side of fries, but we opted for a Cesar salad. Ended up charging an extra $3. The salad was so large and very delicious. Would definitely order again. The Reuben bread wasn't too thick and crispy with each bite. Lots of cheese pulls, meat was tender with flavor and the sauerkraut gave it that perfect hint of sour flavor.I really enjoyed the ambiance. It was a full house, but not overly loud for a bar and felt cozy with the dim lighting. Our table had a birthday to celebrate. They brought over a complimentary mini espresso martini and dessert to share. I don't know the name, but I believe iit had ice cream and lady fingers with chocolate drizzle on top. Another employee came by to check on our table and ask how everything was. Very nice staff! I can't wait to come back next to check out their Happy Hour!

I heard from my coworker that this place was really good and I felt it was just ok. I made a reservation and came with a group of four. We started with beef tartare, which I really enjoyed! Honestly, I have yet to have bad beef tartare so my enjoyment was to be expected. It comes with saltine crackers, which paired perfectly with the beef. BUT, the first server who put the dish on the table accidentally dropped one of the crackers on the table and I was expecting at least some kind of apology but they didn't acknowledge it or didn't care. They just left it and went away lol. From there, I felt that the other dishes fell short. The goulash (I actually didn't know what that was, but it's featured on the menu) is just macaroni that I can easily make at home. The ravioli was ok, but also nothing special. I didn't try my friend's burger but the extra bacon ($3 more) was so salty. The meal was overall mediocre and I didn't care to see the dessert menu. I'm a hugeeee dessert fan so that's pretty rare. It's cool how the main server gave us a bucket of caramel hard candies though. Also, it took the main server forever to check up on us. Water is self serve and comes from a pitcher at the table but we ran out of it pretty quickly since a lot of the dishes were salty. Water was not filled and it took forever to get our check. I heard this was a chain and this location is like less than a year new? I probably won't come back.

A classic tavern with American food!They have a small parking lot that fits about 10 cars but I was able to find free street parking around the corner no problem. Ambiance is great, I would recommend making a reservation if you want a table at a booth, otherwise it's high tops. I got the "Goop" burger which was their caramelized french onion cheese on top a burger. Honestly the burger was one of the smallest I've seen at a restaurant - even Whataburger's burgers are bigger. I think I might've enjoyed the Tavern burger better because it would come with all the toppings. The portion of fries was good. I added the thick cut bacon which was flavorful but too salty for my taste. Our waiter was nice but service missed the mark a bit and wasn't super consistent - they would refill our water sometimes and other times they'd just hand us another jug, and a couple of our plates were cleared but not all. If I were to come back, it'd be for their specials of the steak frites or half off burger (Wednesday and Monday respectively I believe).

Meh. Came in for an offline offer and I don't think it was worth visiting/coming back. I do like the ambiance, the mood lighting and decorations were decent but I think the dining table is a bit too small for four people (felt like you are sitting so close to each other and running out of space for food). The service was not great. The server dropped one of the saltine crackers and didn't even acknowledge it and left without saying anything. We kept running out of water because the food was so salty but no one seemed to care to give us more water without deliberately asking for it. The beef tartare was probably the most "alright" dish, the taste surprisingly reminds me of salsa - it combines well with saltine crackers. However, the main courses were such a let down. The grandma's goulash tasted like I can make it easily at home. The ravioli was a bit too salty and there weren't that many in there as well.Parking was alright, there weren't that many spaces in their lot but there was street parking available. Would not recommend it and I will probably not come back.

Murray's Tavern just sleighed the Christmas dinner game. (Yes they're open on Christmas Day!) Their prime rib was the star of the show - a juicy masterpiece that had me singing carols of joy with every bite. Tender enough to cut with a candy cane and seasoned to holiday perfection, it was like unwrapping the meatiest gift imaginable.The vibe? Cozy as Grandma's living room, but with cocktails that'd make even Santa blush. Speaking of which, their dirty martini was naughty and nice in all the right ways.Murray's may be the new kid on Austin's block, but they're carving out a reputation faster than you can say "Rudolph." This spot is so good, you'll probably find me here for new years, valentines, and Halloween as well!

I thought the service was excellent. Nice atmosphere. Very nice bathrooms. A nice place for a date night. Ample parking on the street (the night we went at least) and a small parking lot. My Reuben sandwich was good.

I visited here on a Wednesday when they do their $35 Steak Frites dinner! I was excited to finally try it and had heard so much about the special. Parking here was pretty tight (in their private lot on the side of the restaurant), but there is ample parking on the street or a paid parking lot too nearby! There's also plenty of seating on the inside, but would still recommend booking a reservation just in case. On the inside, they've decorated the place to be more Christmas themed, and have some of the best music playing that I've ever heard in a restaurant (mix between old school and new school)! The waiter was very informative + attentive and always made sure that I had everything I needed. Onto the food - the food was fantastic. If I could give it 6 stars, I would. The chimichurri sauce that was on top of the steak was a perfect touch to the entire meal - and left me wanting more once my plate was already empty! I will definitely be returning and bringing a group of friends next time!

Jan 31: My dad's birthday dinner after his actual birthday. We went to Murray's Tavern and walked in to a very welcoming vibe and atmosphere.We then got seated and got introduced to our server Oscar and if you ever come here, ask for Oscar, He's the man. Our first food of the night were the classic oysters. And they were some of the freshest I've ever had. They are apparently shipped the day of catch and were shipped the day before we came.We next had the garlic bread and crab cake. Both were amazing with the garlic bread having a cheese pull longer than the table we sat at. The crab cake had a wonderful remoulade sauce under that and the lettuce. I could bathe in that sauce.For the main course, I had a burger goop style. The goop is basically cheese and French onion soup made into a paste of sorts. And it had a very goopy texture, which was fitting since it is literally called goop.The burger was cooked perfectly, very tender and juicy, and that toasted bun soaked up all of those beautiful beefy juices. The fries were kind've average though.Lastly, since it was my dad's late birthday, we got an amazing New York style cheesecake and honestly if it is made right, nothing beats it in both flavor and topping options.This is an excellent establishment which you should definitely go to if you want a restaurant with a good vibe, food, drink, service, and price for the kind've food you are paying for.5 stars.