Moonshine Comfort & Cocktails in Avery Ranch features menu items that take a contemporary spin on Southern comfort food, such as the shrimp corn dogs and fried green tomatoes. (Haley McLeod/Community Impact)
Steeped in the early history of the Austin area's original settlement, Moonshine Comfort & Cocktails displays a modern installation of “grandma’s kitchen.”
A look inside
A soft fire greets guests as they head into the establishment, setting the tone for the warm ambiance of the Northwest Austin-Cedar Park restaurant and bar. Once inside, the concept boasts a large bar with a hefty assortment of whiskeys and tequilas on the left and to the right a spacious dining area and outdoor patio.
Stone walls and soft browns complement the soft light from a series of large windows that wrap around the space. Tables are adorned with candles, plates and silverware are set, ready for patrons to enjoy a meal.
Both the atmosphere and fixtures are designed to meet a range of local needs, from family-friendly outings to celebrations of life’s milestones. Moonshine aims to be the neighborhood gathering spot, general manager Kyle Lane said.
“We want big groups, friends, families—we want to be the spot that the community can [gather] at, and we have enough room and space to facilitate that.
He said the dining room, designed with long benches and tables, reinforces the family-style gatherings the concept is meant to support. He added that the restaurant also includes a dedicated event space for larger parties.
“We want to be everyone's favorite place—nice enough that you can totally have an anniversary or date night here, but you can absolutely come in here with your friends, laugh and have a good time,” Lane said.
The Moonshine Comfort & Cocktails Avery Ranch location features long bench seating and tables to accomodate family-style gatherings. (Haley McLeod/Community Impact)
On the menu
Described as “Southern comfort meets Texas ranch,” the menu features dishes inspired by classic regional flavors, reimagined with a contemporary touch.
Lane said the award-winning corn dog shrimp appetizer is among the crowd favorites. Breaded in a traditional corn dog batter, the dish includes four pieces and is served with honey mustard swirled with raspberry puree.
Other shareables include fried green tomatoes—which come topped with smoked shrimp, tomatillo aioli and pimento—crispy brussels sprouts, honey-buttered biscuits served with in-house preserves and more.
From the entree menu, guests will find platters of southern staples like chicken and waffles, Creole shrimp and grits and chicken-fried steak. The menu also features a hearty center-cut pork chop served over Yukon mashed potatoes, topped with a dollop of seasonal fruit chutney.
For those looking to pair their meal with a libation, Moonshine offers a curated selection of whiskeys and tequilas. The drink menu also includes several craft cocktails, such as the bourbon slush, a frozen drink sporting a concoction of Benchmark bourbon, sweet tea, lemonade and orange juice—a “bourbon Arnold Palmer” type drink, Lane said.
The Moonshine Comfort & Cocktails entree menu includes a center-cut pork chop served with mashed potatoes and a seasonal fruit sauce. (Haley McLeod/Community Impact)
A lesson in history
The restaurant remains rooted in local history, with its original concept first opening in downtown Austin.
Downtown’s Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill is located in part of the historic Waterloo Compound, one of Austin’s oldest commercial areas tied to the city’s original Waterloo settlement.
The site traces back to the mid-1800s, when German settler Henry F. Hofheintz built structures that served as a home, store and trade hub, including what became known as the “Sunday House,” now the last of its kind remaining in Austin, according to the company’s website.
Over time, the property expanded into a multiuse complex with a store, saloon, cellar and carriage house, later operated for nearly a century as a continuous dry goods store by the Reissig family. Many of those original structures and materials = remain today, including the limestone walls, cedar posts and underground cellar.
Now operating as Moonshine since 2003 under owners Chuck Smith and Larry Perdido, the space blends the restaurant and bar areas within the preserved historic building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Avery Ranch location opened in 2018, carrying on the history of its flagship locale in downtown with a modern interpretation of Southern comfort.
Looking ahead
The Parmer Lane fixture will soon be opening for weekday lunches, the first time since COVID-19, Lane said. The restaurant also opens early on Saturdays and Sundays for brunch.
