The secret to this East Austin hangout is to come during the week and snag a spot at the bar. There, you’ll be entertained by the creative cocktails that bar manager Steven Robbins whips up; even the classic Pimm’s Cup gets a tasty twist. Bar Bites like duck fat–white bean purée always makes a great start, but a recent visit offered up a few new seasonal dishes such as crispy roasted Brussels sprouts with a relish of capers and green olives. A roasted-beet salad with tart green strawberries, fresh greens, and crisp snap peas had a zippy lemony dressing that gave the dish a playful Pop Rocks feel, while a cast iron skillet pot roast, with carrots and herbaceous house-made spaetzle, had the heft and soul of a German grandma’s kitchen. (6/13)