Saba Blue Water Cafe

I came to Saba recently with some co-workers for happy hour and we had a feast for less than $100 for 8 people. We ordered several appetizers and everyone had a cocktail...or two. Their happy hour prices can't be beat. The calamari and tuna appetizer are especially yummy!

Pros: Prices, Atmosphere

Cons: Parking?

Posted 07/28/09

I used to love this place and go there every Wednesday... well the last time I went they started charging an 18% mandatory tip...not that it's THAT big of a deal...but when you have 3 people drinking it's not like the waiter is not going to get a tip... even if the service is a bit sketchy...I mean our waiter must have been stoned or something! He forgot 2 "sharable plates" that we ordered and then took FOREVER to get our first drinks out... then when we ordered the second round he completely forgot and then came around again and asked us how we were doing and if we needed anything... WHAT HAPPENED SABA'S???? You used to be my favorite place...now I would not touch you with a ten foot pole! Forget the mandatory 18 % and get rid of Smokey the waiter and hopefully I'll be seeing you again.

Pros: Great happy hour and sharable plates

Cons: stoned wait service, long waits for orders, and mandatory 18% tip (on any ammount of people)

Posted 03/03/09

My fiance from the Eastcoast and I absolutely LOVE this place!!!!!!! I cannot put into words how romantic and FUN this place is.

Whenever he is in town, our weekend ritual is: 1)Drive to Saba, 2) check the car in at the Valet, find our favorite secret spot (we have 2 and I'm not telling). 3) I order the Fresh Mint Mojito and he orders water with the crusted shrimp appetizer, 4) I order the grilled Talapia with Jasmin rice instead of the pinneapple rice & he orders the steak dinner. 5) We both praise how wonderful Saba is and marvel at the excellent customer service from all waitresses and staff.

One time, the owner offered to make arrangements for my guy to access cash from his card, in order to pay valet. He went above and beyond to make it happen and we've been patrons ever since!

Their Mojitos are the BEST here! And the fun part kicks in as we wait for our car outside and listen and dance to whatever live band is playing in the neigboring courtyard. WE BOTH LOVE YOU SO MUCH SABA and my guy can't ever stop talking about visiting again whenever he is back in town.

Pros: Outstanding staff, best Mojitos and UNBELIEVABLY quality and tasy food.

Cons: Need to have more all over the country.

Posted 09/19/08

I love coming here to meet up with my friends and catching up on life over a few cocktails. The appetizers are great and I especially loved the ceviche. Weekends can get busy though, but being a former server myself, I can understand there's things that are out of your control.

Pros: Happy Hour, Drinks, Atmosphere

Cons: Noise, parking, no service when it's busy

Posted 07/24/08

Just wanted to give a shout out to Nate the bartender at Saba Blue. Thanks man for making every Thursday my gateway tot he weekend. I don' t have to work on Friday's and I always start "my" weekend at saba. Thanks Dude.

Pros: I can't get enough Mojitos

Cons: I can't get enough Mojitos

Posted 02/07/08

Just had the new scallops on the menu at saba. great butter sauce, high quality...I would recommend to anyone. After being around for so long, they sure take a while to put out new stuff. The reward is that it is always great!

Posted 02/07/08

I'll never step foot in here again. The owner is very rude and does not care about his patrons. Avoid at all cost.

Pros: The owner is not always there.

Cons: But he also might be there.

Posted 01/31/08

I felt compelled to write this review and I am trying to post everywhere because it is rare in Austin to truly find service with that personal touch. My, then boyfriend...now fiance had reservations this month at another restaurant in the warehouse district which will go unnamed. They cancelled it because we were 20 minutes late. My fiance proposed to me earlier in the week and we were out to celebrate a very special night. We ended up at Saba and although there was a wait, we explained our predicament and the manager found us a table right away. Dinner, drinks you name it...we enjoyed it. At the end of our meal, the manager presented us with a complimentry bottle of champagne and arranged a carriage ride for us with Austin Carriage (?) because we had such a rough time before getting to saba. We can honestly say that we will be back every year on or anniversary...A+ job....kudos to the Saba!

Pros: Thoughtful, great drinks, excellent staff

Cons: None....are you kidding me!

Posted 12/21/07

It takes allot to impress me. I've been going out downtown regularly for a while. I usually stop at one of three places for dinner or happy hour before hitting the party bars. I usually go to Fado, Saba, 219 West or Malaga. They are all pretty decent for the price. Saba's Happy Hour is cheaply priced for what you get. Their dinner menu is contemporary and takes some getting used to. They have a pretty good liquor selection ? they have allot of girly drinks. The service is ok. I think Saba's main drawbacks are: 1. it gets really busy on the weekends so call ahead and expect a crowd 2. It gets pretty loud sometimes because they are right next to Cedar St. (Outdoor music venue). 3. Is downtown, so parking can be a problem.

Pros: Good Drinks and Food

Cons: Noisy and sometimes crowded.

Posted 11/20/07

Probably the fourth time I have been to Saba on first dates. Really great vibes from the music, cool art. Usually, I order the tenderloin...cooked as I requested with a great mash potato side. Shrimp enchilada (sp?) is a common favorit for the ladies. Mojitos remain the absolute best in Austin base don my endless quest and the staff is very fast and friendly. They seem to know when to leave you alone and when something is needed. Overall, I would suggest to anyone trying to avoid a chain. Prices are very reasonable...a good value.

Pros: Food is phenominal, Best Mojitos around

Cons: None

Posted 11/16/07

I had the best time there. I have been back several times. I got on the net to show my friend whos never been there some reviews and came up with this. I cant believe some of these people. I think the place is great...quit trying to pull ya'lls businuss over to the other bars. That the only reason I can think of this annoying review.

Pros: Food GREAT!!!

Cons: loud

Posted 10/17/07

Had a good time at Saba with some friends on Labor Day Sunday. Service was good, I think they were really busy. A good selection of appetizers...lobster shooters, mushu pork, and one of the better calamari I have had in a while. Good drinks. A gin martini with cucumber and onions was my favorite. I will definately be back.

Pros: Good selection, unique fodo and drink ideas

Cons: really busy for a sunday, had to wait

Posted 09/08/07

Looking through CitySearch as a new member and found saba at the behest of some friends. Went to Saba on the weekend...a really good meal. I am not sure what restaurant the other reviewers were at but I found my experience from the front door to our table a back to be really enjoyable. I will go back.

Pros: Good service, good food

Cons: crowded

Posted 05/09/07

My new husband and I recently held our wedding reception at Saba. I must admit that we had a lot of demands...they were all taken care of. A big aloha thanks for Fabian, Rob, and the staff for catering to our every need and the music was perfect. A perfect ending to a perfect day.

Pros: Memories--perfect reception place

Cons: I am leaving Austin

Posted 05/03/07

I really enjoy Saba and we visit regularly. The food (last time had the Kaffir mussels) and the drinks (authentic caiparina) are always great and the staff takes care of us everytime. We miss you on Friday's Jenna.

Pros: Food and Drinks are FANTASTIC...staff really cares

Cons: Need to have a Saba in Dallas

Posted 05/03/07

My girls and I love going to Saba. A neat place to have a bite and meet some new people. I would highly recommend their mojitos also. I do agree it is a bit noisy but its not fine dining and its defiantely for the 25-35 crowd. Just my style.

Pros: Thumbs Up...beautiful people, beautiful music, beautiful drinks, cool art

Posted 04/17/07

Saba is a restaurant slash bar, so if you're looking for a nice, quiet place to eat, this isn't it. My wife and I ventured in based on the high reviews but the place was so noisy, we could barely have a conversation. The food was decent enough and the staff was very friendly, but you can get that at any number of places across town. But on the other hand, if you like noisy restaruants, you might give it a go.

Posted 04/17/07

I was really happy to find Saba. Online reservations.....and they will take a large party with cakes and decorations. A great space, casual lines, great art. The food and drinks matched with a good selection of both. Items seemed to be hand made with really unique elements, fresh ginger martini's, good sauces on the food with artistic elements such as the Tempura tuna. The service was perfect from the door back...a really good experience. I would recommend to anyone. Can get very crowded for such a small space.

Pros: Online Reservations, great service, style to boot

Cons: Crowded...a place to be

Posted 04/17/07

I'm not sure what all the hype is about. This bar didn't offer anything spectacular. If you're wanting something special, keep looking.

Posted 04/17/07

Showing support for an Austin gem....love my Saba, love my Apple Ginger Martini. One quick tip for the adventurous, ask for the cucumber Hendrick martini but only on a Friday night. Fabian will make it for you!

Pros: Hendricks Cucumber Martini to die for, cutting edge drinks unique in Austin

Cons: Huh?

Posted 04/15/07

I really enjoy hanging out at Saba, usually late night after going out. A good place to take a date or friends for a nightcap. Some of the most unique and varied music around.

Pros: Great atmosphere, strong drinks

Cons: Hard to get a table during prime time

Posted 04/15/07

Wow, I am not sure who is writing the nasty reviews but I am sure of one thing, the crew at Saba is fantastic. My name is Tina and I have worked with the "management" for many years on behlaf of various non-profits. From organizing a fundraiser in March for a fallen staff member to the upcoming Mexican Arte gallery support, Saba has always been generous. St. Edward's Student orgs, UT Student groups, Dining For Life, AIDS Sevices Austin, Austin Childrens' Shelter, Team FX, LGACC Pride Weekend, SafePlace, Capital Area Food Bank, Mobile Fishes and Loaves, ....you name it and they are there. Anonymous detracters may come and go but if you want a quality experience from a staff and and owner that cares about Austin, Saba is definately a good business to support. Stop in and see Rob, tell him Tina sent you. If you want social activism, go beyond restaurant reviews and check out the walls at Saba.

Pros: Benevolent to a fault, food to good to resist

Posted 04/15/07

So I can see a few haters on the page but the karma's all wrong boyz. I work local to the fourth street area and it is basically a tradition to go to Saba on Friday Happy Hour. $3 buck mojitos, calamari and lobster empanadas....yum. A great place to look for a weekend thing.

Pros: $3 mojos and discount food selection

Cons: Keep your peeps under 6 in number

Posted 04/15/07

Some friends and I ate at Saba recently to see what all the hype was about. We didn't make it to the half price happy hour, so we were paying full price for all the appetizers ($7-10). The food was pretty tasty. The shrimp chips & oil are nice to munch on while waiting for your food. The ceviche was very good, just the right texture and flavor, and served in a large portion so I could share with my group. The mojito was refreshing and didn't skimp on the alcohol. Unfortunately, the waitress was nowhere to be seen pretty much the entire time we were there. Looong pauses between ordering, getting our drinks, and then our food. :( We probably would have ordered more drinks, but it was such an ordeal to get her. The restaurant is tiny! It's really more of a bar...and popular. You'll be bumping elbows and hips trying to get anywhere in there. Also, they favor those high tables and stools...which are a big PITA to get into if you're short like me.

Pros: tasty food, portion size good for the price

Cons: service, high tables

Posted 04/14/07

my experience at saba was horrible. the waitstaff took 15 minutes to get us our drinks and the food was waaay too salty. i could not hear what anyone at my table was saying and the restaurant is too small for groups larger than 4.

Pros: looks good from the outside

Cons: food, service

Posted 04/13/07

What is the responsibility of the owner of a business establishment? Well, there are many, but do courtesy, respect to patrons, and manners fall into the mix. They should. The owner of Saba Blue Water Cafe may have gotten a big head over the years because evidently he does not think twice before screaming at his customers so that the entire restaurant can hear. This man did not make us feel welcome at his establishment the entire time our large party was there. He repeatedly made rude comments to people at our table when he needed to rush by and he did not have enough room. (The restaurant is narrow) And when he dropped his tray full of dishes near our table he screamed, I THOUGHT I TOLD YALL TO SIT DOWN AND GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!! Whoa! I believe that as a business owner you never have enough business and there is no excuse for the way this man treated us. Even after I let him know that it was unacceptable, he continued to huff and puff saying "if you don't like it, then leave" The waitstaff was nice. One of his employees even had to take him into the back to calm him down. After telling him that the incident would be in the paper, he said in a cocky manner "which one--the Statesman?" "Oh--I'm not worried about that." Ha! Needless to say, we left and went to a much nicer place...Manuels. I do not recommend Saba unless you like a good fight.

Posted 04/13/07

I was sat directly aside from a large group of people whom have obviously posted the reviews before. Some mentioned they were UT law students. If taunting workers at the restaurant, purposely dancing in front of them while they are working, making loud comments, being disruptive to other parties in the restaurant and being abusive is acceptable, then the "owner" was totally wrong. If maintaining a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone as a whole is "the owners" goal, then way to go.

Kids who feel the need to abuse restaurant employees as part of their night out need to go elsewhere anyhow. I'll be back next weekend where hopefully the clientele is as it usually is...not a bunch of huligans.

Pros: Great service, quality food and drinks

Posted 04/13/07

If you are entertaining friends from out of town, take them to Saba. You will be treated to some of the best food and service in the Warehouse District and when you are ready to go, you're right in the heart of all the action. Highly recommended. Saba is one of the few restaurants I have frequented that will book large parties.

Pros: Location, location....great food

Cons: Can be very busy

Posted 04/13/07

I usually don't like small plates restaurants, but this one wasn't bad. I really can't place the food, but it was a big mix of island, asian, spanish, latin and western flavors. Usually, I would say that is too confusing, but I think the food was really good.

One thing that I didn't like about the restaurant is the dimly lit atmosphere. I'm a big believer in eating with your eyes before anything else. If the food doesn't look appetizing, then I don't want to eat it. In this case, it was too dark, so I guess I had to give the chef the benefit of the doubt. I'm assuming that the food had great presentation and color, but it was really too dark for me to tell.

Overall, I thought the restaurant was great. If you go, it might make sense to bring a flashlight.
;-)

Posted 03/24/07

Had the Mussels with a kafir lime sauce. I think I found a new favorite restaurant. We had great service and a good time.

Pros: Food is remarkable, service was prompt and descrete

Cons: None of note

Posted 03/09/07

I wanted to let the town know about the Lemon Basil Martini at Saba...Wow!!!!! The drinks are super and the bar staff are actually trained mixologists...can you believe that! They also make a grey goose Pear and champagne drink that is out of this world. Thanks y'all. Go to Saba for great drinks and bartenders that know what is up.

Pros: Great Bartenders, Fantastic Drink Ideas

Cons: NONE

Posted 02/10/07

Normally don't right reviews but I figured I would use my boyfriends account so here goes. Colin and I went to Saba last night and it was packed to the rafters. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. What impressed me was the way the staff moved so quickly to take are of everything. We had a show to go to so we wanted to get in an out and at 8:00 on a Saturday, I was a little worried. We were seated quickly and served in a timely manner. I woul high recommend the tempura coated tuna and also the lobster empanadas. Very tasty. I ordered a blue martini but it was very strong. When I asked the waitress, the exchanged it for an apple and ginger martini which was great. I think it took about 2 minutes. For our entire meal, it took about 45 minutes. Next time, we'll sit and relax. Either way, it's a great place. We'll be back for Valentines.

Pros: Stupendous Service, Tempura Tuna A+

Cons: We had to leave for a show

Posted 01/27/07

Went to Saba Cafe last saturday and had a great time with my fiance. I would recommend the martini with basil and lemon. Really cutting edge and a well made drink. Thanks Fabian!

Pros: If you are looking for a real drink....there's no place else

Cons: bar gets busy late night

Posted 01/25/07

A couple friends and I went to brunch on Sunday at sabas. We have gone before at night on the wekeends. I didn't even know saba's had brunch. In short, it was great. The restaurant is not too crowded, we got a table right away. the waitress gave us a cup of fresh fruit and some croissants (sp?) with butter that had strawberries in it...right on. I have the Benedict florentine. they said is came with chipoltle (sp?) hollandaise sauce, which was great. Very rich. Mimosas were only 3 bucks, many flavors. We had black current and mango. Ummm. I would recommend Saba's brunch to anyone....JoJo

Pros: Killer food, unique tastes, not too crowded

Cons: None that we could see

Posted 01/22/07

I have been into Saba on many occassions and I have to say, the food is always very consistent and the service is always fantastic. Saba is not a place to go if you want to hear blarring music etc. A nice restaurant and we have even come back for last call, a good place to have conversation. The bartenders seem to really knwo what they are doing and some of the martinis they make are very unique if you tell them the flavors you like. Cool blue wall backlights the restaurant. Beware, Saba can be very very busy on Friday and Saturday, especially happy hour.

Pros: Food is consistent, bartenders that are really bartenders

Cons: crowded

Posted 01/14/07

I was really happy to find Saba. A great space, casual lines, great art. The food and drinks matched with a good selection of both. Items seemed to be hand made with really unique elements, fresh ginger martini's, good sauces on the food with artistic elements such as the Tempura tuna. The service was perfect from the door back...a really good experience. I would recommend to anyone. I did see a sign for brunch so I'll try it next time.

Pros: apple ginger martini, thoughtful service, fresh food done right

Cons: none really

Posted 01/12/07

Saba has a terrific atmosphere (minus DJ) and amazing menu! Drinks are good and service is all around decent, we had a bartender, Stacy, who impressed us with her drink knowledge and friendly personality! She really went the extra mile to find a drink that suited my likes and dislikes while taking into consideration my meal for pairing purposes! Top notch!

Posted 12/28/06

Met some friends at Saba for happy hour and had a great time. The food is wonderful and the drinks were good too. Happy hour prices are really good. It gets crowded fast during the week. Great for singles.

Posted 11/19/06

Sabas might have been my favorite happy hour because it has great food and drinks at great prices, but isnt late enough for me to really enjoy it!! Their happy hour is from 4-7 and includes some drinks and appetizers half off. Their appetizers are some of the best I have had in Austin; including calamari, p0t stickers, mu shu pork, and spinach con queso which are some of my favorites every time! Also their drinks are terrific! They have some great flavored mojitos and a saba iced tea that definitely has some kick to it! I strongly recommend getting here early to get seated prompty, otherwise you might be waiting awhile. The place isnt that big to sit down large groups comfortably, but it's fun trying to stuff everyone together during happy hour. Overall, I strongly recommend this place for happy hour! You can even go on over across the street to 219 west for some more food and drinks!

Pros: Great Happy Hour at a great price.

Cons: Gets packed fast so get there early around 4 and 5 at the latest

Posted 11/19/06

I came here with my coworkers after work. I was great. The drinks were strong and well priced. The food was soo good. The quesadillas and the chicken skewers were out of this world. I would definitely go back.

Pros: people watching, food, service, location

Cons: parking, location, somewhat pricey

Posted 11/16/06

We ended up here on a Saturday night by accident to celebrate my father's birthday. He had wanted to go to malaga tapas, but it was 21&up which my younger brother does not fall under.
Well next door was Saba, and the menu posted looked good and we were hungry so we "settled" for it.
It was a BLESSING in disguise, I think we enjoyed it so much more than we would have the other place.
We were surprised that at 8pm on a saturday night we could get prompt seating!
We enjoyed delicious Caipirinha's, Apple-Ginger Martini's, Rum Runners, and Blue water Martini's.
But the food! was GREAT! we decided to do shareable plates, which is such a great idea because everyone gets to try lots of things. Our Favorite were the Plaintain Encrusted Shrimp. but everything we tried was good, and we tried A LOT.
Steak Churassco, Cilantro Pork and Shrimp Potstickers, Lobster and Brie Empanadas, Crawfish Cakes, Tempura Tuna, Masa Fried Oyster Tostadas, Creole spiced Calamari, Soba Noodle (in a spicy peanut sauce), and Mango Spinach Salad (with almond crusted goat cheese)
Those were all Great, but deffinitly get the Plantain Encrusted Shrimp!!!

It was a great way to Celebrate his birthday!

Posted 10/23/06

I went with 2 friends and it was dead quiet, most likely because it's doubtful many people know they are open in the day time now....well let the word spread. Their brunch is amazing!!! But let me take you through it. Upon being seated you are given a pretty blue bottle of water looks like a Tynant bottle but has no label.. Honestly i don't know if it was tap but I didn't care it was all about the presentation. We were also given a basket of croissants (1 croissant per person) but happy to give you more if you ask. The croissants were a little too flaky and dry, not moist in any way but edible. At least they give you spreadable butter/margarine. I hate it when they give you a frozen patt of butter, you know? Anyway they did something unique; instead of giving you packets of jelly they give you strawberry butter. It was sooo freakin' good, it made you forget that your croissant had turned to dust and you were buttering your fingers! Next were the cocktails, they had different flavor mimosas and Bloody Mary's for $3. sweet deal. I had a Banana mimosa and it was perfect and the best mimosa I 've ever had. My friend had a Lemonade one. She liked it.. I tried it.. not too much lemon, to me it just tasted like champagne.
My one pet peeve was our waitress. She was nice and prompt but good god she wasn't much of a listener. My friend asked her what she thought of different things on the menu..was this good?.was that good? What her opinion was and all the girl kept doing was rattling off ingredients. You would have thought she had been speaking a foreign language!?? The food came out fast and looked amazing,definitely picture worthy. I had the Neptune benedict. (2 english muffins topped with poached eggs, lump crab meat and lemongrass hollandaise accompanied by a side of cajun potatoes.) My English Muffin was over toasted but other than that it was fantastic. Not all their food is all foo foo like mine. There is definitely something for everyone and the prices are decent.

Posted 09/30/06

When Saba exploded onto the scene in the late 1990's, my friends and I thought it was a fantastic place. Today, it's still fresh and remains a benchmark in Austin dining. With a very chic and unique decor, an innovative food menu, and some of the best cocktails going, Saba is defeinately somewhere I will continue to frequent. The staff has been around forever. Ask for Rob, he is always there to make sure everything is perfect.

Pros: Great location, wonderful food, BEST cocktails in Austin

Cons: gets very busy on weekends, get there early

Posted 08/21/06

Saba is a great place and is totally worthy of the Citysearch awards just received. My firends and I always start (an sometimes finish) our evenings at Saba when we party in the warehouse district. The mojitos are the best in Austin and the staff is always very attentive. It looks like they are actually having fun too! I can't remember a bad experience in the six years we have been going out. They have beautiful artwork and a really unqiue wall of blue glass great as a backdrop for taking photos.

Pros: Very busy with lots of cool people to meet, specialty drinks A++++

Cons: Very busy

Posted 08/21/06

I only get to go there when I am hungry and never understood a Dj in this club. Anyway I say it is fair place to visit has an interesting water fountain in the back and great large tank.

Pros: not very happy place to be just people stare and all

Cons: average for all

Posted 08/20/06

My husband and I frequently go to Saba for happy hour. We love to bring out-of-towners here to start off our evening. They consistently have great service, food and drinks. For as long as we've been going, we always recognize the staff, so maybe happy employees equal good food and service? They definitely have the best mojitos in town. Try the tempura tuna, it's fantastic. I can't say enough good things about this place.

Pros: Happy hour price, mojitos, yummy food

Cons: This is a popular place, so arrive early for a table.

Posted 07/10/06

This is a great place to hang out and get some appetizers and drinks. The music is not too loud and is a good mix of genres. The ambience and decor are great and the waitress's are good at checking on you. All in all, a good place to hang out without the loud music and crowds!!

Pros: good food, drinks, music

Cons: no patio for outdoor dining/smoking.

Posted 07/01/06

Saba continually exceeds my expectations and has some of the best food on 4th and in that area. I'll be back.

Pros: Great food, unique drinks

Posted 07/01/06

Admittedly we haven't been in for a while, but the place used to be so good. It lacks the personal touch and freindliness it used to have. Most of all, what happened to the food. It used to be great. We shared several of our old favorites and tried some new things all of which were mediocre. Bring Chuck and Larry back.

Posted 06/30/06

Saba's brunch is really great. Not too busy and the food is fantastic. Three friends and I have the chiliquiles, migas, crepes. Also the Neptune Benedict was perfect from the poached eggs to the lumped crab meat. I would recommend to friends and family.

Pros: Service, Food, Ambiance

Posted 06/09/06