Kick in the gut
Cocktail bar and kitchen drop kicks into East Austin with 'elevated' American fare
Drop Kick, a new restaurant and bar, is now offering elevated American food to east side diners. The new concept from El Paso-born chef Francisco Baca opens on Thursday, February 20, on East Sixth Street, across from The Grackle.
“Drop Kick came to fruition in order to give the people of Austin a fun, approachable, and elevated cuisine and drink program. We wanted to create a place where those searching for classic bar food could be wowed at the way we simply, and sometimes elaborately, elevate dishes that have everyone coming back for more,” said executive chef Francisco Baca in a release.
The simply, sometimes elaborately prepared dishes include fan favorites with "culturally inspired twists." Not sure what to expect? Think apps like kimchi queso with a pretzel and house pickles, creamy burrata and roasted carrots with ancho vadouvan vinaigrette, and toasted grains and corn masa tempura vegetables with brava aioli.
As for main dishes, Drop Kick offers high-brow bar fare like the "Woo Burger" with smoked gouda and secret slaw, braised short-rib flautas, and even a New York strip. A release also notes that dishes will rotate seasonally.
“We’ve got two rules in the kitchen: have fun and do your job. We expect our guests to have as much fun as we’re having, and we aren’t doing our job if they aren’t,” Baca continued.
And so the fun continues at the bar where the menu ranges from White Claw cocktails like the El Pasoan (Knob Creek Rye, elderberry, and White Claw) to classic drinks like Old Fashioneds. Drop Kick also offers a "healthy mix" of red, white, and rose wines and craft beer. Try these and other kickin' drinks during happy hour, which runs Friday from 4-7 pm.
The 2,500-square-foot space, designed by Nolan Architects, offers a sit-down dining area, bar, and patio.
"The balance of light and dark highlights throughout the interior evoke a welcoming, lively atmosphere that can be amplified by what’s playing on the TVs or the music setting the tone," notes a release.
Drop Kick is now open at 1630 E. Sixth St., Suite 100, six days a week. Restaurant hours run Tuesday through Thursday from 4-10 pm and Friday through Sunday from 4-11 pm. The bar is open Tuesday through Sunday, 4 pm-2 am.
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