Dog & Duck Pub

I love the Dog and Duck because I can go there with my 80-something yr. old parents, who have been going there for years and they are greeted and treated like celebrities.
They know more hip, creative and successful Austinites as a result of frequenting the Dog and Duck than I ever will. It's that kind of place...a true pub atmosphere of camraderie and comfort. A home away from home. The fish and chips are out of this world and they know how to properly pour a Guinness. No snootiness or cooler-than-thou
affectations. Go there.

You gotta love a place like this. Comfortable atmosphere, great beer, all 60 plus, fish and chips to die for. Please dont die though. They say the staff is unhelpful. Far from, they are just real people enjoying themselves.

Pros: Everything is great about it.

Cons: The beer can get expensive.

This is a great place to join friends for a few beers. They have a good selection and the service is quick and non-pretentious. The food is typical pub grub and the stuffed pub sandwiches are very good. I will definately be back.

Pros: Great Beer Selection

Cons: Does not serve liquor

Location: D&D has a great location for people that work around the capitol and unlike most places downtown, the parking is decent. Also, as a dog owner, I enjoy places that are animal friendly. They have water bowls and both times I have brought my dog they have offered and then brought her a milk bone! Very nice.

Drinks: Pretty sure this is a beer/wine only place, which I prefer. It tends to keep out the people who are trying to be seen and the sorority girls who order red b*ll & vodkas only to end up wearing them. The beer is what you'd expect from a decent pub. There are 60 or so, bottles and draft, mostly british/western european imports. I don't recall the prices being great, which is also very typical of pubs with a good variety.

Food: The fish and chips seem to be the consensus favorite fare and for good reason. The "small" protion could feed almost anybody and the "large" portion is basically 3 whole fish battered in that great beer batter style. The "bangers and mash" (bland English sausage and mashed potatos) is definitely filling and is the definition of "meat and potatoes," although the side of baked beans may be the best part. Overall, the food is good (like a 6 or 7), but you could always stick to the fish and chips.

Service: Some good, some bad. Like most places in Austin, even my favs, the servers tend to seem mad at the world and even more mad that our wretched society expects them to work and produce in order to enjoy the things they want. But you sometimes run into the nice ones or the ones that just need a little softening up. Of course my problem might be that I usually arive in formal work clothes and look nothing like the tatooed faux-philosophers slinging beers.

Overall: I will probably always like Crown and Anchor better but D&D is a good alternative. It's what you love about Austin, outdoor, dog friendly, duck friendly, beer.

Good selection of beers and ok food. The location is convienent. But, wading thru the disgruntled state workers and county staff, it is just too depressing. It may not be the bars fault but there it is. A bad scene, and the bartenders need to give some of the attitude a break. Negative vibe is not cool or hip.
The place is lucky to have those bitter workers, I don't know how else they would make it.

Pros: Cold beer, good locale

Cons: Smoke, bartenders attitudes, and the crowd is depressing

Been going here for 13+ years. Tucked away location helps keep the scene unpretentious. Pub food is very good especially the fisn n' chips. Surprisngly good burgers too (but stay away from the Mex). Good selection of beers and the bar keeps know their beer. Highly recommended if you like your pubs sans the "Planet Ireland" theme. Great jukebox. Only drawback is the TVs are too frequently tuned to TNT movies or the like instead of ball games.

...but I am certainly enticed by the Dog & Duck. They serve very tasty fish & chips, and the Guinness commands its proper respect. Categorically superior to B.D. Riley's (on 6th) and on the same field with Fado's (on 4th) -- both of which I would consider of a similar vein.

Pros: atmosphere, fish & chips, music

Cons: small

I loved this place, the food was above average, but I cannot get over that the management just lets the bartenders smoke behind the bar, the atmosphere was great, the service was adequate, but the bartender was smoking while waiting on us behind the bar and he pretty much blew it in our direction when he sat the pints down next to us, now I love bars and I don't mind smoke, but not blown in my face and not while you are serving behind the bar. Good beer selection will make me go back, but not for food.

I went to Dog & Ducks for the first time 2 weeks ago. It was right around the corner from where my brother use to live. I never knew about it, it's kind of hidden. He reciently took me there and I was blown away!!! I loved the place!!!!! It has a feeling of a great pub, someplace you could go after work or school and have a few beers and relax. It also has a wonderful little deck outside. Thumbs Up from me.