As a Southern woman of a, cough, certain age, I contain multitudes. I love red meat, especially burgers, but I’m equally obsessed with vegetables and have been since childhood. I cook pretty healthily at home but gravitate toward beefier pleasures when dining out. I also hate to admit that my husband is right about one thing: Chicken isn’t always a lame restaurant choice.
Rosewood Social Club, the new neighborhood spot in the former Saddle Up and Micklethwait BBQ space, pulled me in all those directions at once. On my first visit, I went straight for the burger. On the second, I found myself craving vegetables while my husband ordered the Not So Fried Chicken Sando, proving, yet again, that he might actually be on to something.
The East Austin address carries plenty of neighborhood history. After Tom Micklethwait moved his beloved barbecue operation, owner Terrell (T.J.) Williams, whose family helped establish Habana Restaurant decades ago, joined forces with his wife Amy and chef Kendrick King to reimagine the corner. Early rumors of pickleball courts eventually gave way to something far more useful: extra parking.
Rosewood isn’t trying to be one thing. Depending on when you visit, it functions as a coffee shop, remote-work hub, family hangout, cocktail bar, and restaurant. Against the odds, those identities fit together.
Inside, the small bungalow leans hard into a 1960s Barton Springs-inspired aesthetic. Illustrated swimmers drift across deep-blue wallpaper next to a stylized diving board mural. Midcentury barrel chairs surround a handful of tables, while a sage green and yellow banquette wraps around one corner. Kitschy touches abound, from a tiny vintage box TV tucked into shelving to old-school analog screens perched behind the counter.
During the day, the air-conditioned indoor sanctuary acts as a magnet for remote workers. The counter-service coffee program pours Roasty Buds espresso and whisks Zhi Tea matcha into colorful drinks like the blueberry matcha latte and the Barton Springs Pool Latte, sweetened with blue spirulina, vanilla, and orange blossom water.
The sprawling outdoor footprint reveals the property’s true identity. A giant oak tree bursts through the center of a spacious wooden deck, throwing a canopy of shade over outdoor seating. Beneath a bright-blue-trimmed tent, kids scramble across a fully enclosed playground complete with swings, a playhouse, and padded flooring. Parents settle into lawn chairs with cocktails in hand. Elsewhere, groups gather around cornhole games, a covered dartboard, and outdoor TVs or spread out at shielded picnic tables surrounded by cactus-filled planters.
Like Rosewood itself, the menu pulls in several directions at once, embracing local sourcing, seed-oil-free cooking, and beef tallow frying. The occasionally whimsical menu names can make ordering more complicated than necessary, but the food mostly backs up the ambition.
During a Friday lunch visit, the Honey Butter Breakfast Biscuit proved to be an absolute mountain of a morning dish. Built on a Southern-style biscuit, it delivers a deeply crispy bottom with a pillow-soft center. Layered with a fluffy Japanese egg patty, melted cheese, and a sweet-and-savory jalapeño jam, it’s incredibly satisfying, though greasy. Pro tip: Don’t fully unwrap the paper lining, as I foolishly did, unless you’re prepared for immediate butter fingers.
The I’d Smash Burger ($17) features two thin Wagyu-X Kobe beef patties with wonderfully frizzled, crispy edges, American cheese, and shaved shallots on a squishy bun. It nails the classic griddle-burger ratio. The not-thick-not-thin fries hit the table beautifully seasoned, flirting with the edge of salty. While the burger delivers on flavor, it feels undersized for the price, especially when fries cost another $8.
The beverage program matches the Texas heat with serious proof. The frozen “Stronger Than De Nada” margarita (them’s fighting words!) swaps fresh yuzu for traditional lime, delivering a serious citrus punch. It’s boozy as hell, so potent that the staff actively enforces a strict two-drink maximum. There’s also the Frozen Mexi Coffee, which tastes like a richer Wendy’s Frosty. Meanwhile, The Stokely Rose, named after the owners’ daughter, blends vodka, ube, and elderflower into a vibrant red cocktail that drinks surprisingly light and juicy. Budget-conscious visitors can turn to the aptly named Help Me I’m Poor menu, which offers $9 Old-Fashioneds or vodka martinis, $8 glasses of wine, and $4 beers.
Returning at night, the vibe shifted toward a louder, high-energy dinner crowd. Thumping dance music pumped through the indoor speakers while the AC put up a brave fight against the humidity. Out back, the Cockti Fried Chicken food truck is now parked, which might compete slightly with Rosewood’s own options.
The Not So Fried Chicken Sando quickly emerged as one of the menu’s standouts, served on a toasted, buttery potato bun shipped in from a Philly bakery (it’s one of the restaurant’s few non-local ingredients). The kitchen bypasses the deep fryer, opting instead for a charbroiled chicken thigh coated in parmesan crisps and paired with crunchy mustard cabbage slaw and a tangy, slightly spicy remoulade. A po’boy/bánh mì mash-up, it offers a welcome alternative to fried poultry.
For my vegetable fix, I ordered the Sweet Potato Power Bowl. The base of sweet potato noodles comes topped with charred broccoli, bok choy, garlic sauce, and deeply savory sautéed portobello mushrooms. While the added grilled chicken amped the protein, the overall dish feels a bit like something you might throw together in your own kitchen. At $19 before adding a protein, you might expect a bit more restaurant zhuzh.
A side of garlic wok-fried green beans packed plenty of savory punch, though the vegetables were cooked a touch beyond their prime. The crispy Brussels sprouts landed on the opposite end of the spectrum, arriving slightly underdone but still tasty.
For dessert, there’s a case of daily pastries and cookies, but the espresso chocolate torte is an absolute must. It eats like a dense, rich hybrid of a fudgy brownie and concentrated espresso cake, studded with chocolate chip bites. Though not overly sweet, it’s so decadent you’ll likely crave a cold glass of milk.
Rosewood Social Club succeeds as a chameleon, easily shifting from a quiet morning workplace to an afternoon playground and a lively evening drink destination. That’s not an easy balancing act, but this East Austin newcomer mostly pulls it off. The massive shade-covered yard and frozen drinks ensure the place will stay busy, whether guests come with a laptop, a stroller, or a craving for a burger and a strong margarita.
Editor’s Note: This review has been updated to reflect that the Stokely Rose cocktail is named after TJ and Amy Williams’ daughter, not son.
This article appears in June 12 • 2026.
