When most Texans and football fanatics hear about the Cover 3, they know this as a zone pass defense where the field is divided into three deep zones. In Austin, our Cover 3 is a little different... Since their opening last October, Cover 3 Downtown has gained the reputation of being a go to spot for upscale dining with a love of the game. This ain't your cookie cutter sports bar. This is true Austin; locally owned, and Austin grown. At Cover 3, their three “zones” include a made-from-scratch menu, a varied and potent drink selection, all the while creating an enjoyable experience for diners, sports enthusiasts and causal sports viewers.
This spot is what downtown Austin has been waiting for! Owners Matt Dodson and Doug Young, native Austinites, have joined their shared passion for outstanding food, exceptional service and a pure love of sports into one unique establishment. With 3 total locations (Downtown, Anderson Lane in North Austin and San Antonio), we can see that their concept is working! We are stoked to name Cover 3 Downtown on West 6th Street Do512’s Restaurant of the Week!
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“Go for the food and great drinks, stay for the game” is a motto Cover 3 loves to live by. With fresh fish and meats delivered daily, all sauces made in house and fresh desserts baked on site from pastry chef Chris Mong, we couldn’t wait to see what their completely scratch kitchen could cook up! We were blown away at the variety and quality of
Cover 3’s menu, a pleasant departure from your basic bar food. We started with the seared scallops with a white wine and goat cheese sauce, Applewood smoked bacon, asparagus & toasted almonds. A great play on varying textures, this was a great way to kick off the meal.
Jumbo North Atlantic Scallops[/caption] The two salads that followed were both light and flavorful, an eye opening experience when stacked up against bland renditions typically found on bar menus. The ‘Shrimp and Crab Tower’ was a perfect summer choice, layering fresh lump crab meat & chilled shrimp with avocado and pico de gallo. Pair it with the refreshing Strawberry Basil Lemonade Ketel One Citroen Vodka, Patrón Citrónge and Sweet N' Sour with fresh strawberries and basil) and you have yourself the perfect snack.
Shrimp & Crab Tower w/ Strawberry Basil
Lemonade[/caption] The ‘Allendale Salad’ is a Cover 3 best-seller and we can see why! Baby spinach and mixed greens with chicken, Applewood smoked bacon, dates, avocado, chopped egg, red onion, bleu cheese & candied walnuts with honey balsamic vinaigrette. Aptly dressed, this salad maintained a great balance, despite having a number of well-chosen ingredients. It was a real hit at our table.
Allandale Salad
Next came their happy hour special ‘Steak Tostada’. Shaved beef tenderloin, southwestern slaw, roasted poblanos, and house-pickled chiles and onions, served with a side of Guacamole & Salsa. Coming in at $5, this is a real steal! Cover 3’s offers Chef’s Happy Hour at the Downtown restaurant(4-7pm every day and all night Monday and Tuesday) featuring drinks and small plate menus that are filled with crazy good deals with all dishes priced out at just $5, $4 premium well and frozen margs, $3 off starters, $2 off cocktails and $1 off draft beer and wine. Their Happy Hour is a deal hard to pass up! This is on top of the buy 1 get 1 free burgers and enchiladas on Sunday’s, Monday’s and Tuesday’s from 4pm to close. Insane!
Beef Tenderloin Tostadas
The real show stopper on our trip was the ‘Brick Chicken Mac n Cheese’. This Italian riff on a classic mac-n-cheese brings a kick to their cheese sauce with crushed red pepper and Italian spices, and tops the luscious and creamy noodles with toasted breadcrumbs, crisp skinned brick chicken & crunchy pancetta. We seriously couldn’t put our forks down!
Brick Chicken Mac-N-Cheese
They closed out our meal with the biggest chocolate brownie we have ever seen, topped with vanilla bean ice cream, homemade chocolate and caramel sauces and candied walnuts. When dropped off at our table, GM Jordan Fowlkes said “You can call it heaven if you want”. We heard angels' trumpets sound when we dug in. This was heavenly! With other dessert options like the Peach Pudding Cake, Key Lime Pie and a rotating seasonal cheesecake (this week’s flavor was Coffee Caramel), a sweet finish to your meal is not to be missed.
The aptly titled "Brownie"
To round out the food, Cover 3 offers up a premium bar with a spectacular selection of spirits, serving some of Austin’s coldest beer, courtesy of 10 iced Cobra taps and 3 chilled liquor taps that flow with Deep Eddy Ruby Red, Peligroso, and Don Julio. The Cover 3 Press (Hendrick's Gin, lemon grass, fresh cucumber and lime with club soda and sprite) is super refreshing - the perfect drink during the hot summer months on their shaded patio. With 70+ wines from their distinctive wine cellar, their wine list runs the gamut from very affordable bottle to some high priced rare finds. They take advantage of their selection by hosting wine dinners with specialized menu pairings created just for the events.
Keep your eyes peeled for their next one in July, with recent pairings featuring Cakebread Chardonnay and Rombauer! Nursing a serious hangover? Swing by over the weekend for one of the best Bloody Mary Bars in town. With every bloody accoutrement imaginable (even bacon and shrimp!) to mix with $4 Titos pours and $4 mimosas, along with a killer weekend brunch menu (with dishes like Eggs Tournedos and Blueberry Stuffed French Toast) that runs from 11am-3pm on both Saturdays and Sundays, we are looking to become Cover 3 brunch regulars.
Cover 3's Bloody Mary Bar Whether you’re looking for a place to watch your favorite team, eat an exceptional meal or mix with the diverse Austin crowd, Cover 3 has what you’re looking for. They've really made this space so warm and inviting while keeping true to the sports bar theme. Their 34 huge HD TVs are perfect for the Woman’s World cup starting next week, the NBA finals or Stanley Cup Final hockey games starting this week. They even take reservations to have your seat on lock down. On top of ample garage parking and free valet parking at lunch, Cover 3 couldn’t make your life any easier!
You can check out their Instagram and Twitter (@cover3dining) or Facebook for updates on events or featured dishes each week (like their weekly featured buffalo wings) and be sure to visit Do512 for your chance to win a $30 gift card to Cover 3. This is a restaurant with a love for the game, but the food and drinks are holding their own at Cover 3’s West 6th Downtown location. We can’t wait to get back!
http://cover-3.com/
-- Contributed by Drew Nordstrom --
