Offering entertainment options such as karaoke competitions to trivia nights, TopSpin Karaoke & Wing Bar hosts so many interactive events that Marketing Director Danii Rivers said people show up for more than just the food.
The business opened in late December 2014, and the food is what keeps people coming back, owner David Huynh said. With nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant and bar industries, Huynh said he brought together his favorite components of previous establishments he owned to create TopSpin.
“I wanted it to be a fun place and [a] fun environment,” Huynh said. “We have a shorter menu here. … But we do it well.”
The full-service bar offers signature house drinks with names to reflect the business’s personality, such as the Anti-Depressant and the McLovin. Huynh said the most popular drink is the Chili Patron Shot, which is made with tequila that is infused with habanero peppers.
The menu includes wings served with housemade sauces, including Sweet Sriracha and Honey Bourbon Barbecue; a variety of appetizers, such as the queso and Santa Fe eggrolls; and Huynh’s favorite—fish street tacos.
For Huynh, operating a successful bar means trusting the bartenders. He has a policy of not questioning a bartender’s judgment if he or she decides to stop serving alcohol to someone.
Huynh said creating a good environment for staff translates to better customer service. He said he works alongside his staff, working about six days a week at the bar and getting to know patrons.
Though the bar charges a cover fee for those patrons younger than 21, anyone 18 and older can enter the bar and participate in karaoke challenges, trivia nights or watching sporting events such as mixed martial arts fights on the 120-inch projector screen. When there are not special events being aired, the nine TVs in the bar play music videos.
Huynh opened his first bar in 1997 and has since opened and sold various bars and restaurants in the Austin area.
Huynh, a Cedar Park resident, said he opened the bar to be closer to his family and have a more calm and smoke-free environment. He also owns TopSpin and Local Slice Pizza, which is opening its third area location this summer.
“I’ve been around the industry,” he said. “I thought I would eventually change industries, but it always draws you back in.”
TopSpin Karaoke & Wing Bar
1851 S. Lakeline Blvd., Ste. 106, Cedar Park 512-258-3388 www.topspinaustin.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 4 p.m.-2 a.m., Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
