Opal Divine’s Freehouse

March 16, 2008 [ Updated April 28, 2008 ]
A semi-above average selection on tap, but they also have some greats in bottles and cans. A great place to go if you’re craving both food and beer - they provide a good selection of both. The location at Penn Field has a wonderful outdoor seating area - just about always have available seating. Just south enough so you don’t get the hordes of people as you would a restaurant/pub downtown. One of my southside faves.

March 6, 2008
Out of all of the locations - this is the most chill and relaxed (when it isn’t a weekend night). It has a quirky Austin feeling to it. Friendly and fun servers. It can get really packed but I usually sit outside on the patio. The food is actually really good. The beer selection is better than your average bar. All in all a pretty cool place to go to every once in a while.

December 8, 2007 [ Updated April 27, 2008 ]
Marina (North) location- I have been told never go to a resturarant on a Saturday night that isn’t jam packed, it’s like that for a reason. The decor is great- lighting was very good, everything clean in appearance, decent music. Beer menu was very good- close to 40 taps +(All the local brews and Chimay on tap, cool) and about the same in bottles and cans. They have a listing of scotch that is on par with places in Vegas for swankiness, which is very impressive. However, this is where the positives end. The food selection- very sub standard premade frozen pub fare. Had a food order, and wasn’t very impressed, didn’t even eat half the meal, and there wasn’t much to start with. Waitress did not seem to care much, she had other important things to do such as talk to her friends and co-workers. Waited over 15 minutes to pay by card after the check was dropped by request- finally got up, broke change with the bartender, got the hell out, and ate somewhere else with a good drink. For a place that has a genuinely good beer and scotch selection,it’s a shame that it is going to waste due to the hired help. UPDATE- revisited on 4-27-08, food has improved, but not by much. Drinks took on the average of 10 minutes to be served (timed, with multiple witnesses) from ordered- dead on a Saturday night again. New score? Nope, keep it where it is.

August 9, 2007
NW location. Pretty damn good selection for a place like things. Food looked pretty darn good too...fries were fantastic. Be strategic in your waitress orders....she’s not around much.

March 24, 2007
They’ve got 3 locations, but the downtown joint is by far the best just due to tw. Decent tap selection including quite a few locals (Live Oak, Real Ale, Independence) and some good seasonals (SN Celebration and Harvest). Good nachos. :)

May 22, 2006
Going in the post lunch rush is never good for service (anywhere), and Opal Divine’s is no exception...after sitting and waiting for a long while at the small bar downstairs I FINALLY had the bartender come to take my order...otherwise the experience was awesome...food is definately above average for pub-fare...again, small selection but a great one...lotws of seating and very comfortable all the way around...

December 9, 2005
Another fine addition to the Austin British pub scene, Opal Divine’s is a split level building on the west end of Sixth Street, built in what appears to be an old converted house with just as much outdoor seating as what you’ll find inside. They have around two dozen well selected taps, a mixture of seasonals, local brews and import favorites. The staff is very attentive and the food just this side of above average - some food items are just mediocre while others are friggin’ great, such as the unique-to-Opal’s Philly cheese steak tacos (they’re exactly what they sound like). Opal’s fosters an extremely laid back attitude and if you’re sitting inside the jukebox has one of the best selections in town (assuming your tastes don’t run toward Sting or Garth). Opal’s opened about four years ago and has done well enough for itself that they have a new location opening this month down on South Congress, near St Edward’s University. As for the original location, with Mother Egan’s and newbie the Molotov Lounge across the street Opal’s is helping to anchor a new alternative pub scene just outside the chaos of the rest of downtown. When you’re stopping off at Whole Foods to check out their beer selection be sure and drop in on Opal’s on the way back to the house.

November 18, 2004
A very cool feeling place. I have only ever been here for lunch. But after talking to owners and employees, I found that they really enjoy and appreciate great beer. The food is also way above par for a pub. Great sandwiches.

November 18, 2004
Stopped by for a quick pint on the way back to my hotel. Seemed like a very friendly place. Had about 20 beers on tap - plenty of locals. I had a Real Ale Coffee Porter. Will stop by again sometime to try out the food.

January 12, 2004
I rate this as high as I do due to a complete bias in having known the proprietors from there working at another pub years ago. A place I feel very at home. Take my kids there I do. While their selection is nothing like BIG bars, they ALWAYS have a good beer or five on, support he locals and get things like SN Harvest and other seasonal faves. Fantastic selection of single malt scotch if that's your fancy and someone that knows them and his beers (Michael).