Hillside Farmacy is Finally Open!

Ryan and I had a lunch date yesterday at the new Hillside Farmacy, a just-opened cafe on the east side of Austin, right next to the Muddy Water Shop and AC4D’s Hackberry House. Officially the Farmacy opened on Monday, and being Thursday I expected most of the kinks of the new restaurant to be resolved, but we were in for a very, very long treat.

1. The new interior is delightful. Modeled after the original pharmacy, the simply-appointed spaces are instantly comfortable – a Maine market vibe with a Wisconsin farmhouse feel prime the airy space for great conversation over classic cocktails.

2. Lunch is, simply, good. The selection is of soups, salads and new twists on traditional sandwiches, but at $6-$12 a pop I’m left feeling torn, because even though the food is solid the lunch should not have ended at almost fifty dollars for two people. Our lunch took one hour and fifty minutes and we weren’t checked on during that time but we were offered duplicate drinks due to some kitchen mix-ups. The sandwiches were immensely flavorful despite lacking substantial ingredients, and the pickles in oil with a smoked salt were a delicious addition.

3. The restaurant is in a great area that needs more of its kind, and I hope the community will grow with the restaurant. But with the newness comes a long wait and poor service. I’m really excited for the Farmacy to work out all the little miscommunications, duplicate orders and lost checks and begin practicing the art of excellent restaurant experience. And I’m so excited to go for drinks and oysters after the buzz dies down a bit and this becomes a staple of the neighborhood!