Little Trouble

A Diamond Under the Streetside Rough

Smaller towns like Lockhart are not known for dimly lit intimate lounges or restaurants; instead, they scream beer joints and barbeque or burritos.  BUT… we stumbled upon a diamond (under) the rough when we ventured into ‘Little Trouble’ as we were bar-hopping trying to discover new places.

We’ve now been two times and there will be a third.  This last time we met the new owner – Jayden.  She and her husband, Granger, took the plunge and recently purchased this quaint, underground speak-easy style establishment.   Taken aback by her openness & honesty, Jayden has some serious plans for her new endeavor and we’re all on board to watch them materialize.  We’re rooting for you Jayden.

So why does this little underground lounge have such appeal?  For starters, it’s underground.  That alone got my interest.  Cool in the hot Texas climate and dark as in its sexy & slightly sinister appeal.  The piped in lighter classic rock music at a pleasant level made for a comfortable background ambience and easy conversation.  It is a bar or lounge or whatever naming convention you choose and thus the beverages have to be high on the list of patron questions.  We tried several of their ‘signature’ craft cocktails and all were right up there with the best… especially the well-seasoned bartender’s rendition of the classic ‘Old Fashioned’.  This one had a distinct orange essence that I swore had to be Grand Marnier, yet was told it was without.    Wine selection seems to be lacking at present but we were assured a new wine experience is in the planning stages.  Food menu is small but covers a nice selection of well-varied options.  We tried the ‘Bob’s Burger’ and the ‘Hoison Honey Salmon’.  Both superb and items we would definitely order again.

As an end note… we love their rest rooms!  Two His/Her/Their private restrooms with an open area wash area for all.  Different… and nice.

Summary:  ‘Little Trouble’ is definitely worth your exploration when venturing out in Lockhart.  It’s dimly lit, cozy atmosphere combined with superb craft cocktails, solidly decent food menu and a new owner with many visions for what it will become should fare as well with you as it did – and does – with us.  Look for the red brick wall with the black railing and stairs going down.

NOTE: We hear an upstairs, outdoor stage area is coming for live entertainment and a grand opening weekend event is being planned for the weekend of November 16, 2024.  We’ll see you there Jayden.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Great staff even better food. Give this place a visit

Gourmet food with great atmosphere

What a gem! Cozy speak-easy in historic El Dorado basement. Pleasantly surprised by the ambiance, cocktails and food. Try the savory empanadas!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great atmosphere and lovely ambience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bang Bang Calamari

Amazing place with speakeasy vibes. The cocktails are great, the food is on point. Highly recommend for a nice private evening.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My husband and I took a day trip to Lockhart and wanted a quick bite to eat & some A/C! We were pleasantly surprised by the calm atmosphere (we went at 3:30pm) and the very kind waitstaff. They seemed incredibly young but were so personable and gave great recommendations on the menu. They seemed to work as a team, but Brayden, one of our waiters was a delight! So funny and kind. We will definitely be back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Cool cave like atmosphere. Great place to get out of the bright sun and chill. They've downsized their menu. More of a tapas style. Very affordable. Still yummy ?.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is one of the best places to have drinks in Lockhart. I don’t know what this person is talking about, because she was very confrontational…was given free food and drinks to attempt to overcome her disappointment for some menu items changing since the establishment opened FOUR years ago. She had a very entitled attitude from the moment she walked in, she was never going to be happy—no matter what anyone was willing to do for her.

I was sitting next to the lady who posted the review attached. She seemed to be very upset that the management were lgbtq. She was commenting on the way they dressed and it unfortunately escalated from there. It’s very unfortunate to see someone bash a small business in our small community, where we all try to be very supportive of everyone.

I’ve been a patron here for about 4 years. I literally drive down from Austin for the steak tartare, no longer offered, but that’s completely fine. Here is where my issues come into play…if you are going to attempt Austin prices on a Subway sandwich caliber meal, please don’t have “management” that come off as unhoused people…due to the holes in their oversized t-shirts. What happened to the mature and attentive wait staff? Why replace them with teenie-bopping staff who don’t know classic cocktails or the menu? Make it make sense. Also, are we normalizing juveniles behind the bar, in an ADULT atmosphere?…and WHERE IS DOLLY?!

Edit: The two poorly dressed young adults in the photo are the managers and have a knack for spreading falsities about persons of color in the community. As an experienced manager, the choice in management here is egregious.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 1

Carlos and Madison did an AMAZING job taking care of my private party. They gave us a 5 course meal with drinks to match each course. We are coming back tonight!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Madison May be young but she’s very creative and has good bartending skills and great public relation etiquette!!! Her Paloma’s had a real kick, the barbacoa slider was AWSOME but the smores chocolate martini took the prize!!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I was predisposed to like this place based on the photos and location, but it was a weird experience.

Pro: Delicious cocktail for a reasonable price. Cool atmosphere and quirky decor - definitely good vibes. It would be a good bar to hang out in for a while.

Cons: absolutely not accessible unless there’s another entrance I didn’t see. The food options seem to have changed significantly from past reviews, and what they called their “summer menu” and “small plates” was a small selection of slightly fancy bar food options. I’m not sure why a tiny hamburger is a shareable small plate, and I wasn’t enthusiastic enough about the choices to order multiple plates. The empanadas were good, but again, not a full meal. It felt more like they were offering snacks to go with drinks - which would have been fine, but I thought this was a place to have dinner. Our server also seemed to be poorly trained.

I might go back for drinks, but I can’t recommend it for dinner currently.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 2

Loved this little gem in Lockhart. Had a great first time experience. Will definitely be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Little Trouble Burger

A Little Trouble is experiencing a rebirth under the management of two enthusiastic young women working through the growing pains of this new venture. It's got a SpeakEasy vibe in an underground setting in an historical downtown building. The weekly WineDown Wednesdays draws a crowd from as far as Austin and San Marcos. Jazz on Thursdays makes for a relaxing evening, and bring a friend! Arrive before 10pm and enjoy seriously good food from the kitchen. Be sure to try their signature cocktails, and you're in for a lovely experience!

Atmosphere: 4

Service: 4