Whip Yourself if you Haven't Tried the Whip In

Is it a convenience store?  Is it a restaurant?  Is it a liquor store?  Yes!

Just whip in to the Whip In and satisfy any number of desires, from a pack of gum to a bowl of Indian food or a six pack of good, quality beer or wine.

Friday evening, the family and I headed directly there after our daytime obligations had been fulfilled.  We were looking to fulfill our bellies and hopefully get a little entertainment value at the same time.

A quick order returned a quick response time.  The bowls and our glasses of tea, which are refillable by self-service, landed on our table with authentic aromas and a cozy, warm family atmosphere that can only be provided by this south Austin treasure.  The tables in the cafe are arranged close to each other, and there aren't that many.  The room is intimate and charming, separated by a tall partition to close it off from the beer and wine side of things.

Friday, the group Ragavatar, created by world music performer, composer & recording artist Rick Henderson, took the stage.  Henderson's web site says the Ragavatar is "a constantly evolving venue for a variety of musicians from diverse cultural and stylistic backgrounds."  This evening, Henderson was joined by a guest, as he played the sarode, a 25 string fretless lute.  It's one of the most popular instruments of  north Indian classical music, according to Ragavatar's web site.

Perhaps the best part of the dinner, aside from looking at my beautiful family and feeding the little tyke, was the people watching opportunities.  I'm especially talking about an elderly Indian woman, whose son played percussion on the small, make-shift stage.  She seemed entrenched with the music as she closed her eyes, lowered her head, and nodded from side to side at intervals which really spoke volumes about the journey she was on.  I can only imagine how the music moved memories of her heritage and days as a little girl.

The food was great; we shared the butter bourbon chicken and potatoes and the vegetarian selection chana dal.  Plus, we spent half what we shelled out the first time we visited Whip In.  The reason: we didn't drink any beer this time around.  Then, for an after dinner excursion, just pack up your belongings and head on over to the convenience store side to peruse the beer selection.

If you haven't had the chance to whip in to the Whip In just yet, you need to try it soon.  Personally, it has all I ever could ask for - Indian food, beer, a comfortable place to sit and a place to park (a hidden lot is around back if the front is full).  If you're an Austinite, you know how hard parking is to come by.

ACS gives Whip In: 4 out of 5 spheres!