Tacos + a bar that makes me feel like I am in the Witcher universe

You would think from the only two dining and date night reviews that I am an insufferable companion who only goes out to complain. And to that I yell out a “No!” and a “YOU DON”T KNOW ME!”

There are times in which I enjoy myself, the people I am with, and the place I am in. While it would seem those times are in the past, it is possible for it to creep up again. My happiness it not completely tied to my youth and how I am feeling about myself at that moment.

All it takes is good food, a good amount of people watching, and getting to do something weird and nerdy. For me that is going to be Discada, staring down the bros on the east side, and experiencing The Tiny Minotaur for the first time. This was a date night that started and ended well.

The only thing that did not work for me was the heat, and there is nothing we can do about that other than to hold corporations accountable and use straws that break down and do not get stuck in the sea turtles noses. Off topic, but I am trying to do a meatless meal once a week with the family only the boys act like I am killing them with the lack of meat, it’s like they don’t respect me or Captain Planet.

Starting off around seven, we head to Cesar Chavez while there was still sun. Smart cause we are old parents and need to get home at a reasonable time, not smart because even with the sun down a Texas summer night can be heavy in the heat that settles on your skin and bones. It also limits how much we want to walk.

We found parking near Drinks Lounge and wandered over to Chalmers since they have a Michelin mentioned found truck within it’s premises. My husband had the tacos before, and even spoke about how a different location meant our (then) middle schooler could get some money off of him after school and pick some up for himself in case it was going to be a meatless meal day. No longer, they will card you if you want to go to the bar and pick up this worthy taco on certain days like the weekend. Discada’s website confirms the kids hours in which you can bring the under 21 crowd in for food.

Chalmers is a bro bar (gay bros, frat bros, international bros, city cowboy bros, all kinds represented) but the tacos are worth sitting around cowboy pools and big screens playing every game going on across the country through out. The truck is located on the fake green, and since they do one thing - it wasn’t that hard to order or that long of a wait to get our tacos. This is what makes them so appealing to eaters and prestigious tire company food guides, they have taken a specific cooking technique from Northern Mexico to make delicious greasy little corn tortilla tacos that taste like the ingredients that are listed (lime, pineapple, and marinated mix of beef and pork).

For Austin the price was a reasonable, between the two of us we ordered the 8 taquitos, Mexican street corn, and two Cokes, and it came out to about forty dollars. It was worth it, and because everything else in this city is so over priced, maybe the tacos are worth even more then what is being charged, but I hope they don’t raise the price because nothing ever deflates after inflation hits. Maybe it’s the hype, but I would say they are my favorite tacos in the city right now.

Although The Tiny Minotaur is just a mile or two away, Texas heat and shitty walking infrastructure means it is better to drive there. The worst thing about this bar is that there is no designated parking. This is a home turned into a tavern for the fantasy geeks to drink and game in. So you are stuck parking on the residential streets that become overwhelmed with the patrons and the driverless Waymos. Also it is at a light for Cesar Chavez where the lanes are fucked, so choose your path wisely when trying to get there. Anything could be an adventure!

This is a newish concept that utilizes Patreon subscription to help out with the regular door fee for none members (ten dollars for a day pass). I am old and very appreciative of this geeky space, so I say it is worth a cover charge. Poor and younger version of me would never, but I would be living with some hardcore fomo.

A lot of nights are themed (we went on pirate night), but dress is not mandatory. It is a space that being weird is allowed and accepted, the majority of the rules are that you should not be an asshole because it is a safe space. One of the co-founders is a woman of color who has lived on the east side for few years, and I am sure there has been an asshole or two that has made her want to create such a magical theme bar. The house has been converted into a little cottage with a fantasy/sci-fi little free library and gaming set ups for the regular DND and Magic the Gathering nights. The gardens have a labyrinth design with real life easter eggs for the gamers and role players. They have night markets and musical acts and let’s be real this is the closet I can get to a real life Witcher universe so of course I want to keep going back for more.

I am more into the vibes, then drinks, but that is what I am sure most people will know them for. They have fantastical names to match their syrup concoctions, and this can be had as mocks or cocks. I tried the unselkie water that was made with lime and pomegranate. Mixed with the lime from the street corn and tacos I was dying from indigestion by ten. So we had to head home for Tums, and even though I am now thinking I have to carry spare Tums around in my purse so I can stay out to say eleven or midnight, it was a date that is worth it all.