Bar 96 / Ms. P's Electric Cock - Austin, TX

Two Words:  Tailgate.  In.  A.  House

Yep.

Skee Ball.  Ring Game.  Cornhole.  Dogs allowed inside and out.  Hotchicks inside and out.  TVs inside and out.  Fried chicken.

All we're missing is the game.  Which is just fine.

Yeah, this place is great.  Down in the Rainey Street district, this is a fantastic bar to sit outside, drink beers, play games, and watch whatever games are on.  And while it may not look like there's food available, there's plenty of it, with Ms. P's Electric Cock serving up fresh fried chicken and upscale country sides out back, Mexican food across and down the street at Lustre Pearl and El Naranjo which you can bring in, as well as G'Raj Mahal (Indian) and Cazamance (African) on the same block, also able to be brought in while you enjoy your drinks on a great outdoor porch surrounding a renovated old house turned bar and watch whatever is on the tube.

Dogs.  This place and the people who run it and work there love dogs.  And here are ours enjoying their evening there, sober of course...

They're welcome inside and out, they set out water for them and have a canister of treats, and the place sets up well for them.  After a decent walk to the place, if that's what you choose, your pup can conk out on the wooden deck without getting covered in dirt.  Head out back and there is a large dirt lot where the cornhole games are played and picnic tables are set up, and your dog can run a round a little and get dirty.

And this, folks, is where Ms. P and her Electric Cock trailer is set up.  So look left, look right, make sure you don't get hit with a flying bean bag, and head over to put in your order.

We decided earlier to go with something healthy for dinner, but opted instead for convenience, and split a three piece dark with some truffled macaroni and cheese on the side.  Truffled macaroni and cheese seems to be at a whole lot of places these days, which as a macaroni and cheese lover, I am grateful for, but most seem to be of the white cheese variety.  Ms. P's, however, has that rich sharp cheddar flavor with even an underlying hint of worcestershire or something of the sort giving it almost a meaty, hearty quality, with a drizzle of truffle oil rounding it out.  Listed on the menu as breaded, deep fried, and served on a stick, ours actually came in casserole form, topped with breadcrumbs, and if I were Ms. P, I'd keep it just like that, because it was excellent.

WARNING:  This chicken is not crispy.  But then again, neither is the Colonel's, and how many heads has he chopped off in his tenure to please his adoring public?   Simply put, it works.  Why?  Great flavor and plenty of meat.  This meal takes you right back to that tailgate, and hits the spot after several beers in the hot sun.

Additionally, Electric Cock t-shirts are available for just $5, so come on down, have some beers, eat some chicken, get your t-shirt and wear it around town to help Ms. P's marketing campaign.  She's a great lady serving up some good food.

Summary

Atmosphere: renovated old house turned bar, games, televisions inside and out, plenty of outdoor seating  and space inside which is really open to the outside just sheltered, good for groups, good for an afternoon of drinking, good place to meet up with old and new friends, good place to hit on a bar hopping tour of Rainey Street, and a good place to belly up alone

Food:  fried chicken

Dog Friendly:  buddy, more than you can imagine

When to Go:  happy hour, dinner time, late

Crowd:  mix of hipsters, preppies, old guys, hotchicks, groups of girls, groups of guys, groups of girls and guys, drunks

What to Order for the First Timer:  fried chicken and macaroni and cheese