Restaurant plans to expand menu, locations

With a menu described as "good old American flair" and a few Tex-Mex options, Doc's Backyard is getting ready for some changes, Operating Partner Charles Milligan said.

This spring, Doc's Backyard in Sunset Valley is expanding its menu, switching to natural sodas and bringing back live music starting in March, Milligan said.

Doc's aims to open two new locations—one in Houston in 2013 and one in North Austin by 2014, he said.

"We need to add another 15–20 servers [at the restaurant] because business has picked up so much," he said.

Milligan oversees Doc's Motorworks, which opened in 2005 on South Congress Avenue, and Doc's Backyard, which opened in 2007.

The City of Sunset Valley's support has played a major role in Doc's success, he said, noting the city playground nearby attracts many to the shopping center.

Many parents eat on the outdoor patio with their children and then visit the slides. Healthy menu options such as yogurt and applesauce made it onto the children's menu in March.

Milligan and partners Ted Karam and Neil Francois collaborated to come up with the menu, which includes burgers, sandwiches, salads, Tex-Mex options and appetizers. Doc's uses certified Angus beef and tries to use as much Texas produce as possible, Milligan said.

The restaurant also offers fresh-cut french fries, fries covered with three types of cheese, fish tacos, fish and chips, fajitas, tacos and miniature tostadas.

Doc's plans to add a portobello mushroom and jack cheese burger, a blackened jalapeo cheddar burger, and a Stubb's barbecue pulled-pork sandwich, he said.

"I think it's important to keep the menu changing because we have a lot of people who come in here two or three times a week," Milligan said. "It's good to offer them something different."

Daily specials

Monday

• Half-price burgers
• $2.50 Bud Light or Budweiser draft pints
• $9 Bud Light and Budweiser draft pitchers

Tuesday

• $5 sliders (beef, chicken, pork or fish) and $5 bacon-wrapped mini dogs
• $3 Texas draft and Dos Equis pints
• $3.50 Tito's Vodka

Wednesday

• $1 beef, chicken, or bean and cheese crispy tacos
• $2 Tecate, Tecate Light, Modelo and all Mexican canned beers

Thursday

• $5 basket of wings
• $15 platter of wings
• $2.75 Corona, Corona Light and Pacifico longnecks
• $13 buckets of Corona, Corona Light and Pacifico

Saturday

• $3 Dos Equis pints
• $10.50 Dos Equis pitchers
• $8.50 Flying Longhorn pints

Sunday

• $2.50 Miller Lite draft pints
• $9 Miller Lite draft pitchers
• $3 mimosas

Burger options

• Cheeseburger — Lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and cheese ($8.99)
• Tort burger — Guacamole, cheddar cheese and pico de gallo, served in flour tortillas, quesadilla-style, plus a side of tortilla chips and queso ($9.99)
• Stubb's BBQ bacon cheddar burger — Bacon, cheddar cheese, Stubb's barbecue sauce, grilled onions and pickles ($9.99)
• Bleu cheese and peppercorn sauce burger — Peppercorn sauce, bleu cheese, lettuce and tomato ($9.99)
• Green chili burger — Goat cheese, green chilies, lettuce and tomatoes ($9.99)

5207 Brodie Lane, 512-892-5200, www.eatdrinkdocs.com

11 a.m.–midnight daily