After Fat City skinnied up, the food slinging space at Yard Bar sat empty until the owners pitched the tent poles in October 2023 for Camp Out, a glamping food concept. Painted Coleman Green with picnic tables, fire pits, lanterns, and cast iron griddles, Camp Out delivers the camping experience but with a full bar and a menu conjured by Candace Landberg, formerly of Cenote.
For a space no bigger than a doghouse, the Camp Out kitchen produces a howlingly good array of dishes more fitting for a doily-draped downtown feast than a picnic table. The All Nighter Burger (espresso rubbed 44 Farms beef patty, smoked gouda, sauteed onion, BBQ sauce, garlic aioli, with fries or side salad; $15) was a darn decent burger kaleidoscoped with flavor I’ve never experienced out in the sticks. The Cluck Norris (panko-breaded fried chicken, brioche bun, dill pickles, cabbage slaw, cilantro aioli, and habenero jam; $15) warrants a permanent place on the menu instead of being the weekly special. The Ruidoso Caesar (grilled romaine heart, cherry tomato pico, Parmesan cheese, garlic toasted sourdough, grilled chicken, and caesar dressing; $15), another special, prompted ooos and aaahs from The Bride at the presentation and quality of the leafs (all the salads here look legit). The Truffle Fries (Parmesan, parsley, garlic aioli; $8) were thinly sliced, perfectly fried, and deliciously tossed.
Since we are currently on an Old Fashioned kick, I tried the Camp Out one (Still Austin Bourbon, Vanilla demerara, Angostora bitters; $10) and found it too bourbon forward, the harshness of the high alcohol dominating the palate. Most of Camp Out’s cocktails, at least on this side of the box, are on tap, except for the New Yorkie Sour and the Hooked on Tonics. The Bride tried the canned Rose by Bev and found it lacking. We both agreed that it is probably best to drink beers while camping instead of the “fancy stuff.”
Given that this is a private dog park, dogs are, of course welcome, with fresh water bowls and a few menu items “for the pups” including Chicken & Cakes, Waffle Cone, and Howlin Hash Brown, all of which sound good enough for a human to eat. There’s also a menu (and playscape) for the rugrats if you have a few of those.
Dining is a la fresco with many of the tables under a large awning with fans. We were actually a little cold during our most recent visit, but with summer rasping at the cabin door, those misty fans will be appreciated. Despite two misses on the adult bevs, we left happy campers, looking forward to our next Camp Out.
Camp Out , 6700 Burnet Road, (512) 900-3773
I wrote this review for the Allandale Neighbor. (August 2024, v 39, i 4, p 10)
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