Eat Drink Anthem
If you’re skeptical about another tiki spot coming to town, you’re not to blame. However, Anthem is different (and they categorize themselves as TexAsian, which you’ll understand soon). The minute you step in, you’re transported to an oasis. Bright floral wallpaper, woven chairs, and even indoor palm trees greet you in the entryway. The high-top bar leads way to a large seating area with more beautiful tropical decor (and the aroma of brisket rangoons).
The drink menu is a behemoth. From classic tiki drinks to in-house creations, there’s a lot of alcohol. A lot. Their Mai Tai comes from a keg, so yeah, they mean business. The Drunken Dragon has three types of rum. The Pina Old Fashioned takes, you guessed it, the classic old fashioned and adds brown sugar grilled pineapple. The glassware is half the reason to order these themed drinks. If you’re not into the strong cocktails, there are plenty of beer, wine, and sake options.
The menu consists of several categories: hot and cold starters, pupu platters, salads and main entrees. The Queso Loco is complete with shishito peppers in melted cheese, chopped five spice BBQ brisket, ginger & yuzu guacamole, Polynesian pico and a mountain of tortilla chips. This might be the best new indulgent queso in town. The ceviche which was incredibly fresh and full of lump white fish like tilapia and shrimp. The kung pao chicken bites contrasted well with the mustard dipping sauce and cucumber sunomono. And these are just the starters.
The Fish ’n Chips are not what you would normally expect… the seasonal, sustainably sourced fish (sometimes shrimp but this time Red Fish from the coast), tempura beer batter with cilantro, Cajun panko, furikake fries with sriracha ketchup, mashed mint & edamame, Chinese grain mustard aioli, and malt vinegar injection tube! This twist on a normally straight-forward dish is worth the venture.
The Hawaiian Shrimp Ceviche comes with plump shrimp, avocado and a healthy sprinkle of yellow curry and spicy cherry pepper. If you’re looking for a blend of sweet, spicy, acidic and fatty, this is it.
Brisket. Rangoons. What else could you want?! These are only $7 on the happy hour menu and are full of flavor (and brisket).
Now for dessert – the Hong Kong Waffle comes with green tea bubble waffle, vanilla or chocolate ice cream, Oreo cookie crumble, salted caramel, mochi candy, chocolate pocky sticks. It all comes together in perfect harmony.
Every visit is somehow better than the last – the flavors are well developed, the service is on point, and the drinks are irresistible. Put this on your list of must-visit spots in Austin!
