Ben and I recently celebrated his 32nd birthday with drinks at Peche and then dinner at Wu Chow- both located in Downtown Austin and within walking distance of one another. The evening was perfect; filled with creative drinks, delicious food and relaxing conversation. It made me think that this little birthday adventure might be the perfect date night for other couples so I wanted to share these restaurants and the overall experience with you.
Plus, I added in a few other ideas for after dinner fun that will help enhance your evening out!
Ben’s a huge fan of whiskey and so I was looking for a spot downtown for pre-dinner drinks that was known for their whiskey cocktails. Peche has an extensive drink menu and an atmosphere that can’t be beat.
Tucked away on 4th street, this little spot looks like every other storefront from the outside, but once you enter you’re instantly submerged in a romantic space inspired by the look and feel of New Orleans.
Serving up french inspired comfort food and an extensive list of cocktails, this restaurant is perfect for a pre-dinner drink and appetizers. The lighting inside is dim and the bar commands the space with shelves upon shelves of bottles of liquor and old school library ladders.
Peche is on Happy Hour from 4-7pm Tuesday through Friday and all night on Sunday and Monday. Talk about a deal! Happy Hour features $5 cocktails and ½ off select menu items. When you swing by, I would suggest getting the Escargot with garlic herb butter for an appetizer and either the In the Beginning (Monkey Shoulder scotch, chamomile honey and lemon) or, if you have a sweet tooth, the French 75 (gin, lemon, sugar and bubbles) for a beverage.
If you stay for dinner, the Duck Confit is the way to go. It’s very rich (but oh so delicious) with duck sauteed with apple, red cabbage and an herb dijon sauce. Yum!
Photo by Peche
Next we walked over to Wu Chow for the main event- dinner! This spot is one of my favorites for brunch but this was the first time we were able to test out their dinner menu and it did not disappoint.
Wu Chow is located on West 5th Street and serves up farm-fresh Chinese food in a beautiful contemporary space. They have a standard brunch and dinner menu and then a dim sum menu as well. They also have a bar with standard drinks along with flashy cocktails in animated glasses. Overall, the food and drinks are amazing and the vibe is cool and modern.
The dinner menu was absolutely perfect and between the meat and vegetarian options, it covered a wide range of flavors. The one thing you have to order are the Shanghai Soup Dumplings, they are incredible and will change your life. These delicate little dumplings are filled with pork shoulder, ginger, garlic, scallions, and concentrated pork broth with a delicious dipping sauce. They do run out of these sometimes so if you’re lucky enough to get an order then sit back, relax and savor them.
For our entrees, we ordered two separate dishes to share. My pick was the Honey Pecan Gulf Prawns which were made up of fried prawns, sweet aioli and candied local pecans. This dish may not be good for the waistline, but it was definitely good for the soul. It was a perfect mix of sweet and savory and heavy enough to get to you full, but still leave you some room for dessert.
Ben’s choice was the Gong Bao Chicken which is organic chicken thigh, peanuts and local bell peppers mixed in a spicy sauce. He loved the flavors in this dish and was not a fan when I ate his leftover the next night (whoops!). If you’re a fan of spicy chicken dishes, this is a great one to try out.
AFTER DINNER:
Here are some of my favorite activities to help top off your evening!
Violet Crown Cinema: Catch a flick at Violet Crown Cinema located in Austin’s Second Street District–walking distance to Wu Chow. This theater plays unique and indie films in an funky and fun location. They also serve up local Austin snacks and cocktails in their lobby if you’re looking for something sweet.
Halcyon: Looking for dessert? Head down the street to Halcyon and grab one of their s’mores platters and relax out on their patio. They bring you out all of the fixings, plus a small fire to help you heat things up!
Garage: Get a nightcap at this swanky speakeasy hidden in the back of old Austin parking garage. You’ll be able to sip and chat with your date in this cozy little space.
I hope you enjoy!
