Austin Grill's Secret Weapon Is Right Outside
By Fritz Hahn
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, August 15, 2008
The buzz: Weather permitting, I'm a big fan of spending happy hours outdoors. Rooftop decks, sidewalk terraces, poolside cabanas -- I've tried them all. Some are more relaxing than others, but I don't think I've felt more at ease than at a table on the back deck at the new Austin Grill in Centreville, cold beverage in hand, listening to the scratchy sound of frogs singing to one another in the nearby shallows of Trinity Lake.
It's pastoral, even with the occasional roar of jets descending into Dulles Airport, and is the kind of setting you're never going to find in the city proper. As a friend and I sat outside one recent night, enjoying drinks and the frog chorus by the flickering gas light, watching the moon reflected into the water, we were interrupted only by the piped-in soundtrack of Madonna, Salt-N-Pepa and New Order, which was just slightly too loud for the calm surroundings.
"You know," she said, "if it wasn't for the music, this would be pretty romantic."
Ordinarily, another branch of the locally based Austin Grill chain isn't especially newsworthy. There are eight, including locations in Baltimore, Penn Quarter and Springfield, and I think of the Tex-Mex restaurants as the equivalent of a good neighborhood hangout: decent happy hour specials, crowd-pleasing margaritas, room to gather at the bar and, at most locations, live country bands or singer-songwriters.
The Centreville restaurant, which opened in June, sticks pretty closely to the formula. It resembles a mix of roadhouse and ranch house, with exposed brick columns leading up to wooden beams. Concert posters advertising the likes of Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams hang on the dining room walls and in the restrooms. But the outdoor setting feels like something special.
Two things to take notice of: The budget-friendly happy hour deals are available on the deck but generally not at the terraced patio on the side of the building. Sometimes, if you ask nicely, you might be allowed, however. The area for diners is a lot bigger than the scenic bar seats. Only a half-dozen tables for two are available in the latter, along with a bit of room for smokers to congregate. (The bar and the restaurant are smoke-free.)
Apparently, it's not just visiting city boys who are impressed. "Very few places [in the Centreville and Chantilly area] have a view or a nice patio," says Nancy Jones, a sales rep from Chantilly, who's having dinner and drinks on the patio with her husband, Eric.
"We've been here about 14 times since they opened," says Eric, a financial adviser, who raves about "the view, the outdoor patio and the music." Though he thinks "the food is better" at the chain's Old Town Alexandria location, he says "I come here more for the atmosphere."
The scene: At happy hour, Austin Grill's crowd includes large office groups, dating couples and families with children. It's fairly crowded and doesn't really let up until the drink specials do. Even after 7 on a Friday night, although there are empty tables in the restaurant, bar-goers are stalking any stools that look like they might become available. Earlier in the week, though, a friend and I stopped by for the tail end of happy hour and had the whole patio to ourselves.
Wednesday nights feature singer-songwriters with acoustic guitars on the patio from 5 until 8.
In your glass: Austin Grill's frozen margaritas are always popular, especially the "swirlie," which combines lime and strawberry flavors in an oversize glass. (The straight-up house margarita on the rocks is made with Sauza and fresh lime juice, but consider the Cadillac, which adds a splash of Grand Marnier.)
On your plate: The menu is loaded with the Tex-Mex favorites. The carnitas fajita, with pork marinated in garlic and oranges, delivers a spicy tang, and the Austin Special serves three sauces with the chicken and cheese enchiladas.
Need to know: Despite the extended happy hours, night owls should pay careful attention to the clock, because the restaurant and bar close at 10 Sunday through Thursday and at 11 on Friday and Saturday.
Nice to know: If you're going to sit outside after sunset, wear pants or bring mosquito repellent. One dining companion received numerous bites on her legs.
Price points: Happy hour is a bargain-hunter's delight. From 4 until 9 on weekdays and 2 to 5 on Saturday and Sunday, the specials include $2.50 domestic drafts (including Lone Star favorite Shiner Bock) and half-price margaritas, which comes to about $3.75 per glass. Fill up on $4 plates of quesadillas, taquitos, wings or sliders. Entrees start in the $10 range, and outside of happy hour, appetizers are a few bucks less.
