by Halley Deschene on Austin has experienced Renaissance of the trendy - funky - bar - east - of - I35 scene. So much so that many bars are now victims of their own success where you must claw scape, circle the parking lot, cry and flash your business before you can get in and get a drink. (See Long Branch Inn) The Red House Lounge is a refreshing exception to this trend. There is ample seating indoors and out, and I have never had to wait long for a drink even on a Friday night. On Sunday night, the folks there are more than happy to chat about great drinks of the world and share their own experiences, and reconcile their menu with your own personal drink tastes. Ambiance here is truly magical, with a sort of faux hunting lodge decor, you find yourself at that Neo Mannerist (Thanks Liz W.) Texas crossroads of Metro and Redneck. I say Mannerist, because the deer heads on the wall are really small as though chopped off an aborted deer fetus and then coated with the tips of real dear horns and patch with real deer skin. Okay maybe this is kind of gross. All of this is lit with romantic candles. Many of their drinks are served in these large round beer glasses on stems that have a magical interaction with the candle lights on the tables. Outside you sit and stare at the neighborhood and wish you could afford to live there. Tomatoes and Peppers grow like weeds along the romantic wood and chicken wire fence. The seats rock and bounce as you sway to the booze in your drink. If the Long Branch Inn is the Renissance period of East Austin Bars, then Red House Lounge is the Mannerism Period.
by Yan M. on Large club, nice open space patio, wasn't super keen on the music but it drew quite a crowd the night we were out there.... Interesting VIP area; one with a glass enclosed room, seemed a lil stuffy and another area which was part of the dance floor but had barricade surrounding it differentiating it as another "VIP" area. We didn't stay very long. Interesting to check out but not my cup of tea.
