I visited Cosmo Austin (1300 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702) today around 11:30 AM and parked in the restaurant’s parking lot, excited to enjoy some food and get work done. I ordered a rice bowl and a beverage.
When I went to get my car around 3:50 PM, it was gone. At first, I thought it had been stolen, then noticed a sand trail as if it had been towed. I immediately went back inside and spoke with a kind employee at the bar. She promptly reached out to the manager, “Preston,” who said he would be with me in a few minutes.
I patiently waited 15 minutes, followed up again, and was told it would be another 15 minutes. After 30 minutes of waiting, I followed up yet again. Only then did the manager finally come over.
He told me that another manager had made an announcement and asked everyone in the restaurant if the car belonged to them. This was very hard for me to believe because I had been sitting in the center of the establishment the entire time with my laptop out. There weren’t many people there, and I would have clearly heard an announcement. I also hadn’t even gotten up to order food until 12:50 PM, while he claimed the announcement was made at 12:15 PM.
Instead of genuinely investigating, the manager brushed me off and returned to his shift. This was my third week living in Austin, and unfortunately, this was the first time I felt I was treated unfairly — and frankly, singled out — in a way that felt racially biased. At minimum, it reflects poor management, lack of accountability, and dismissiveness toward a paying customer, which certainly feel discriminatory.
The food, beverage, and atmosphere of this establishment are nice, but the way I was treated by the manager left me with a very bad impression.
Alice @ Abba HVAC - Heating Ventilation \u0026 Air Conditioning
Cosmic Saltillo is hands-down my favorite morning spot in Austin. I’m here almost every day, and it never disappoints. The coffee is consistently excellent, the staff is friendly and efficient, and the space itself is just beautiful.
Plenty of seating indoors and outdoors, lush greenery, and a great energy that makes it perfect for working, meetings, or just starting the day right. It’s become part of my daily routine for a reason. A true Austin gem.
Oh, and I plan and host a lot of events there too.
Ps. and yes, their tacos are AWESOME.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Olive Mitchell
We always get 10/10 service from Alden, he is truly dedicated to his craft!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Frederich Ambrose
This place is zero percent interested in your business. But the people who work here appear dedicated to making sure you have a horrible time.
We’ve been coming since the day this place opened. We have, previously, ordered a wide variety of coffee drinks from the exact same spot - a hundred times. I had been out of town for a while. I had no idea that they had stopped taking orders from that spot, and seemingly now take all orders only from the long bar.
This would have been an easy situation to remedy on their part. And, to her credit, one of the people behind the bar began to try. Until this bastion of customer service began arguing with me, and telling me that I was flat out wrong - drinks were never ordered anywhere else. I was an idiot.
Well. The owner is great. His projects are fun, and he sincerely cares about the Austin vibe. With that in mind, I asked the guy at the entrance to have a quick chat with a manager. I was informed that was not an option - and no manager wanted to talk to me.
As someone who had previously had conversations with the owner about placing my clients as tenants in his new project in South Austin, this was the wrong answer.
Thank god I didn’t place my clients into any dealings with such a low rent organisation.
Service: 1
Benjamin O
Make sure you close out your tab before you leave. DO NOT LEAVE AND FORGET TO CLOSE OUT YOUR TAB!!! I had 3 drinks and they gladly tipped themselves on EACH of the drink I ordered at different times. Pathetic!!!! How would you ruin a good place like this with these kinds of scams. I am looking at my bank statements wondering why the same drink is $9.74, $17.32 and $15.99. Absolutely pathetic to be scammed across the tiny bar.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jacquelyn Pruet
Great spot on the east side of downtown. The atmosphere is beautiful, though it can be a little loud at times. The coffee is excellent, and the crowd is always an interesting mix of people. Everyone feels welcome here, and it is dog friendly too.
Parking is free. The lot is small, but they also validate at the garage around the corner, which I actually prefer since it is shaded compared to the lot that sits in the Texas sun. Just be sure to ask for your QR code when you place your order.
There is also a taco place attached, which makes it even better. This is my favorite spot for coffee in this part of town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Christian Tschoepe
Amazing location and vibes. Great drink selection!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amy Thiel
Gorgeous place to sit and hang in the heart of East Austin. Great options for Non drinkers. The Agua fresca with a tajin rim was excellent! ❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Lily Kley
Love this new location! The garden is so lovely, had a skinny spicy margarita and the tacos were scrumptious (Al pastor and mushroom)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A E
Terrible Service – Drunk, Rude, and Disrespectful Bartender(08-29-25)
I don’t usually leave reviews, but my experience at Cosmic was awful. The bartender was clearly drunk, rude, disrespectful, and completely unprofessional. I waited over 15 minutes for a simple cocktail, only to have it made carelessly and incorrectly. When I politely asked for a correction, she rolled her eyes and acted annoyed, making me feel like I was inconveniencing her.
She seemed more interested in chatting with friends than actually doing her job. Drinks were weak, careless, and wrong, and the service was painfully slow. Cosmic seriously needs to address this bartender’s behavior—no customer should be treated this way.
Accused of Not Tipping Despite Tipping Generously – Unprofessional and Intoxicated Staff member
I’m giving Cosmic one star because my experience was incredibly frustrating and unprofessional. As a bartender myself, I made sure to tip generously when I ordered two non-alcoholic drinks for myself.
Later, I was ordering nine alcoholic Lalo shots for a friend using their card. Out of nowhere, the bartender, who was clearly intoxicated, confronted me loudly and accused me of not tipping on my previous order. This was completely false. I had indeed tipped, and I even asked her to check my tab. Instead of apologizing, she doubled down on the accusation in front of other customers, which was both embarrassing and unacceptable.
It’s one thing to make a mistake, but it’s another to be intoxicated on the job and falsely accuse a customer who actually did the right thing. I left feeling extremely disrespected. Cosmic seriously needs to address their staff’s behavior. This was unacceptable.
Service: 1
Emily Hayward
AMAZING atmosphere! Solid coffee program and bar options as well. I was surprised how functional the space could be, both for work/coffee but also nightlife. Baristas were friendly and I’m obsessed with the miso syrup. Delicious. The area is spacious, has many tables, and both outdoor/indoor options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa Sullivan
Love this place! Was only visiting for two days and made sure to stop by on my second day for another Fresca! The drink was so fresh and refreshing while the staff were so inviting and friendly. The common space between businesses was also incredibly well designed for opportunities to relax and connect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
L. Overman
This team is amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christopher Garza
I love Cosmic Pickle Road I own a ton of their merch and have given them a ton of money over the years, but both have their problems.
Right now for instance they don't have iced black tea anymore which is a bummer when you don't want the full blast of coffee.
Saltillo parking sucks, but they do offer garage parking validation which is cool. However, while the location is awesome the tacos are mid. Pickle road just has them beat with their food trucks.
It is meant to be a more walkable location so I do understand it's limitations.
I visited Cosmo Austin (1300 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702) today around 11:30 AM and parked in the restaurant’s parking lot, excited to enjoy some food and get work done. I ordered a rice bowl and a beverage.
When I went to get my car around 3:50 PM, it was gone. At first, I thought it had been stolen, then noticed a sand trail as if it had been towed. I immediately went back inside and spoke with a kind employee at the bar. She promptly reached out to the manager, “Preston,” who said he would be with me in a few minutes.
I patiently waited 15 minutes, followed up again, and was told it would be another 15 minutes. After 30 minutes of waiting, I followed up yet again. Only then did the manager finally come over.
He told me that another manager had made an announcement and asked everyone in the restaurant if the car belonged to them. This was very hard for me to believe because I had been sitting in the center of the establishment the entire time with my laptop out. There weren’t many people there, and I would have clearly heard an announcement. I also hadn’t even gotten up to order food until 12:50 PM, while he claimed the announcement was made at 12:15 PM.
Instead of genuinely investigating, the manager brushed me off and returned to his shift. This was my third week living in Austin, and unfortunately, this was the first time I felt I was treated unfairly — and frankly, singled out — in a way that felt racially biased. At minimum, it reflects poor management, lack of accountability, and dismissiveness toward a paying customer, which certainly feel discriminatory.
The food, beverage, and atmosphere of this establishment are nice, but the way I was treated by the manager left me with a very bad impression.
Cosmic Saltillo is hands-down my favorite morning spot in Austin. I’m here almost every day, and it never disappoints. The coffee is consistently excellent, the staff is friendly and efficient, and the space itself is just beautiful.
Plenty of seating indoors and outdoors, lush greenery, and a great energy that makes it perfect for working, meetings, or just starting the day right. It’s become part of my daily routine for a reason. A true Austin gem.
Oh, and I plan and host a lot of events there too.
Ps. and yes, their tacos are AWESOME.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We always get 10/10 service from Alden, he is truly dedicated to his craft!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is zero percent interested in your business. But the people who work here appear dedicated to making sure you have a horrible time.
We’ve been coming since the day this place opened. We have, previously, ordered a wide variety of coffee drinks from the exact same spot - a hundred times. I had been out of town for a while. I had no idea that they had stopped taking orders from that spot, and seemingly now take all orders only from the long bar.
This would have been an easy situation to remedy on their part. And, to her credit, one of the people behind the bar began to try. Until this bastion of customer service began arguing with me, and telling me that I was flat out wrong - drinks were never ordered anywhere else. I was an idiot.
Well. The owner is great. His projects are fun, and he sincerely cares about the Austin vibe. With that in mind, I asked the guy at the entrance to have a quick chat with a manager. I was informed that was not an option - and no manager wanted to talk to me.
As someone who had previously had conversations with the owner about placing my clients as tenants in his new project in South Austin, this was the wrong answer.
Thank god I didn’t place my clients into any dealings with such a low rent organisation.
Service: 1
Make sure you close out your tab before you leave. DO NOT LEAVE AND FORGET TO CLOSE OUT YOUR TAB!!! I had 3 drinks and they gladly tipped themselves on EACH of the drink I ordered at different times. Pathetic!!!! How would you ruin a good place like this with these kinds of scams. I am looking at my bank statements wondering why the same drink is $9.74, $17.32 and $15.99. Absolutely pathetic to be scammed across the tiny bar.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Great spot on the east side of downtown. The atmosphere is beautiful, though it can be a little loud at times. The coffee is excellent, and the crowd is always an interesting mix of people. Everyone feels welcome here, and it is dog friendly too.
Parking is free. The lot is small, but they also validate at the garage around the corner, which I actually prefer since it is shaded compared to the lot that sits in the Texas sun. Just be sure to ask for your QR code when you place your order.
There is also a taco place attached, which makes it even better. This is my favorite spot for coffee in this part of town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Amazing location and vibes. Great drink selection!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gorgeous place to sit and hang in the heart of East Austin. Great options for Non drinkers. The Agua fresca with a tajin rim was excellent! ❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Love this new location! The garden is so lovely, had a skinny spicy margarita and the tacos were scrumptious (Al pastor and mushroom)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Terrible Service – Drunk, Rude, and Disrespectful Bartender(08-29-25)
I don’t usually leave reviews, but my experience at Cosmic was awful. The bartender was clearly drunk, rude, disrespectful, and completely unprofessional. I waited over 15 minutes for a simple cocktail, only to have it made carelessly and incorrectly. When I politely asked for a correction, she rolled her eyes and acted annoyed, making me feel like I was inconveniencing her.
She seemed more interested in chatting with friends than actually doing her job. Drinks were weak, careless, and wrong, and the service was painfully slow. Cosmic seriously needs to address this bartender’s behavior—no customer should be treated this way.
I recommend never coming here.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Accused of Not Tipping Despite Tipping Generously – Unprofessional and Intoxicated Staff member
I’m giving Cosmic one star because my experience was incredibly frustrating and unprofessional. As a bartender myself, I made sure to tip generously when I ordered two non-alcoholic drinks for myself.
Later, I was ordering nine alcoholic Lalo shots for a friend using their card. Out of nowhere, the bartender, who was clearly intoxicated, confronted me loudly and accused me of not tipping on my previous order. This was completely false. I had indeed tipped, and I even asked her to check my tab. Instead of apologizing, she doubled down on the accusation in front of other customers, which was both embarrassing and unacceptable.
It’s one thing to make a mistake, but it’s another to be intoxicated on the job and falsely accuse a customer who actually did the right thing. I left feeling extremely disrespected. Cosmic seriously needs to address their staff’s behavior. This was unacceptable.
Service: 1
AMAZING atmosphere! Solid coffee program and bar options as well. I was surprised how functional the space could be, both for work/coffee but also nightlife. Baristas were friendly and I’m obsessed with the miso syrup. Delicious. The area is spacious, has many tables, and both outdoor/indoor options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love this place! Was only visiting for two days and made sure to stop by on my second day for another Fresca! The drink was so fresh and refreshing while the staff were so inviting and friendly. The common space between businesses was also incredibly well designed for opportunities to relax and connect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This team is amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love Cosmic Pickle Road I own a ton of their merch and have given them a ton of money over the years, but both have their problems.
Right now for instance they don't have iced black tea anymore which is a bummer when you don't want the full blast of coffee.
Saltillo parking sucks, but they do offer garage parking validation which is cool. However, while the location is awesome the tacos are mid. Pickle road just has them beat with their food trucks.
It is meant to be a more walkable location so I do understand it's limitations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
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