Emerald Tavern Games and Cafe

Went with friends who are board game enthusiasts and had an amazing time. Yes, the food/drink are premium in quality and pricing AND TOTALLY WORTH IT. The staff are incredibly friendly and wonderful, and I loved the atmosphere of the store. It's in a strip mall but you really feel like you're in a tavern and you're experiencing someone's dream come to life. I hope to go back at least once a month. What a wonderful, inclusive, friendly place! Highly recommend!

Great atmosphere, great people and selection of games! But some food/drink is grossly overpriced. A pint of stout is $12? And some menu items are now lower quality but same price. For instance the pretzels used to be two awesome fluffy 'logs'. Now it is a single, scrawny, dry pretzel for the same price? People notice these things.

Food is pricey, but good. Theme is amazing. You're there for the tables to game, not the food, though, so I understand the extra charge. I usually get a side of fries or a side salad as a snack. Good selection of games, so a great place to hang out. I'm there upwards to twice a week with various groups.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Lo and behold! Emerald Tavern Games & Cafe, where adventurers of all ages may gather, feast, and roll dice till the final bell tolls! My party and I, comprised of valiant kinfolk, did journey into this realm for a grand session of board games, snacks, and merriment. For a fair sum of roughly 90 gold coins (alas, in mortal currency, mere dollars), we acquired a mighty meal and an all-day pass that allowed us to plunder their impressive horde of games.

Our feast commenced with foods worthy of bards’ songs—classic British pub fare. The fish and chips I ordered were nigh unto perfection, crisped to a golden hue that even Smaug himself would envy. The younger adventurers feasted heartily upon garlic bread and grilled chicken breast, a simple yet satisfying repast. Yet, beware ye who seek the “Bavarian pretzels.” They arrived with a beer cheese dip, and combined dare I say, they were of average enchantment. Not horrid, but it lacked the +2 to taste we sought.

As for the potion of wakefulness (a latte, in commoner’s tongue), I confess it packed a bit more power than expected, teeming with espresso as if brewed by a wizard with a heavy hand. A bit more milk would have balanced the brew, but it served its purpose in keeping this Dungeon Master alert!

The true magic of Emerald Tavern lies not only in its victuals but in its glorious atmosphere. Here, wanderers of all lands gather in harmony to play games both great and small. Within one chamber, we witnessed warriors locked in miniature battles of Warhammer—armies clashing upon miniature fields as epic as the Battle of Helm’s Deep. Elsewhere, parties of heroes and rogues slung cards in Magic: The Gathering, while others delved into Euro-style games that tested both wit and resolve. A veritable hoard of indie and Euro board games awaits those brave enough to try them.

Whether you’re a Dungeon Master weary of hosting in your own hovel, or a Ranger in search of fellow players, Emerald Tavern welcomes all to its halls. The game library and shop are vast, so take care: you may leave with more than you intended!

In all, a delightful quest. I shall return with my fellowship, for Emerald Tavern is a place of camaraderie, laughter, and grand adventure—where each roll of the dice may lead to untold tales.

Kid-friendliness: Very kid friendly during the day.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bavarian Pretzels

Nice varied menu, wonderful (if chaotic) gaming space, huge range of games.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bavarian Pretzels

Went to play games and eat dinner with the family. Had an excellent time on both the patio and indoors. Great food great service great game selection. Handful of vegetarian options. Delicious drinks (alcoholic and non alcoholic).

Vegetarian options: There was mostly appetizers but a good selection of them

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bavarian Pretzels

We have booked one birthday party a year here for the past couple of years and also come in every few months to play games with smaller groups. I love being able to pay $10 to play any of their extensive collection of games! The drink menu is also fantastic – coffee drinks, teas, beer, cider, mead, cocktails, mocktails, Italian sodas – the drink specials are delicious and there’s something for everybody.

The food has always been sort of… meh. The best dishes have typically been traditional pub fare. As someone who eats gluten-free and minimizes dairy, I have always struggled to find food here that works for me, and the new menu changes took away a couple of dishes I had relied on (such as the latkes -- I loved those! D: ).

My partner and I came in this week to celebrate an anniversary, and it was the first time we’d been in since the kitchen dropped the electronic ordering system. I miss that system a lot. It was a great way to keep food and drinks coming while concentrating on a game. Now we either have to chase down a server when we’re ready to reorder, or have them interrupt what we’re doing at random times, neither of which is ideal for gameplay. Our server was friendly and efficient, so that part of the evening was on point.

I was uncomfortable with the price hikes on the food since my last visit. There didn’t seem to be any real increase in quality, although the names of the dishes and the descriptions are much fancier. We had rented a booth for the evening ($55) and already ordered an appetizer, entrees, and several rounds of drinks, when my partner got an Italian soda they didn’t really like. (I didn’t either – the flavor was strange and cloying.) They asked if they could trade it for something else. Word came back from the manager that the best they could offer was a 20% discount on another drink. We didn’t say anything, but what I thought was – seriously, you can’t comp a $4 soda for customers who are dropping $150 a night?

I really want to love this place, and maybe there are some serious financial struggles going on that I don’t know about. But an evening out here is EXPENSIVE, and I didn’t come away feeling that my business was valued. As much as I love the idea of a board game pub, I don’t like being nickeled and dimed when I’ve already put down over $50 just to reserve a table.

Drinks 5/5
Food 3/5
Waitstaff 5/5
Overall Customer Service 3/5
Atmosphere 4/5

Dietary restrictions: Very few options for gluten-free eaters. Vegetarian options are weak.

Kid-friendliness: You would think it would be a kid-friendly place, but I have rarely seen any children in there at all. Feels like an adult venue.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

The staff was great. Cameron was my server. Was warm and talkative. Management is doing the right things.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Burger, Bangers and Mash

Large unique restaurant - board game hybrid with unique dishes and great service! Great rates for unlimited board game plays too!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and play games at the same time, super fun atmosphere and servers are really nice and help answer any questions you may have

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Burger

Definitely not what it used to be sadly. I hate that they took away the QR system. It seemed so organized then, now it's the complete opposite. I also didn't like the limited menu when I last came on a Sunday. It was around "brunch" time so they only had "brunch" items, but they weren't even that good. The vibes are always good, but the service is lackluster. I definitely miss the old Emerald Tavern and if it continues as is, I probably won't be coming again.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 1

Sadly, this gem of North Austin is no longer what it once was. I have been coming to Emerald Tavern since early 2018, often on a weekly basis, and since the change to full service, I have not returned, and have no plans to.

The tavern used to be very simple:
You could book a table online ahead of time if you had a big group or just wanted a private table.
Once you were at your table, you snagged your QR code and got some drinks or food on the way.
There was no confusion about what table had ordered what, or how much the bill was, or who owed what for what. It was simple, and elegant.

The servers were fantastic, they could focus on the tables that needed things, and tables that didn't need anything didn't take up any unnecessary time.

To the new management/ownership:
The change to full service is an extremely misguided attempt to change the character of the tavern and will ultimately kill it. PLEASE DO NOT KILL OFF THIS PLACE. Listen to your customers and change back to the QR code system. If there's a long queue, you could even have an automated notice at the top of the menu to let people know that there's a longer than usual wait time. Open the whole menu up from the opening of the tavern. Focus on your customers, who just want a place to chat/game with friends, have decent food, good drinks, and don't want anyone coming by to ask them about their meal.

You're not a gastropub or an Austin staple. You're a Domain-adjacent tavern that a lot of gamers come to hang out at. You can't compete at being a restaurant when there are far better options within minutes. Focus. Please.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 1

Great gaming store to sit down and play games with friends, if you didn't bring anything they have a game library you can borrow from to play for a nominal fee. Great tasting themed food, drinks, and cocktails. Service can be a tad slow on busy times, but they're worth the wait.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Not Your Father's Root Beer Float, Irish Nachos, Aioli Fries, Latkes

Great food, great drinks, friendly service, and let's you play a huge variety of games while you're at it. Love this place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We LOVE this place! Top notch hangout for gamers! The food and drinks are excellent! Nice selection of merch, games, and crafts. Large room dedicated to Warhammer fans. D&D room. Inside and patio seating. Ordered the Draconic Wellington, and Brisket Pie, chef's kiss!

Vegetarian options: Smashed potatoes and carrot sticks were well seasoned and delicious!

Parking: Plenty of free parking, but it does get busy in the evenings.

Wheelchair accessibility: Smooth roll, tables and chairs, wide aisles.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5