Nestled in between both old and new real estate marvels in the downtown Austin area sits The Odd Duck, a food service that began as a “farm to trailer” mobile restaurant, is now a full restaurant and bar known for their small plates and appetizers. Upon my first visit to the modern, yet quirky, restaurant I was immediately thankful for making a reservation. The parking lot was full and the bar and waiting areas were packed with local foodies waiting to have a taste of the hot new American Bistro.

The Odd Duck features a seasonal menu of small plates and desserts served on unconventional and mix-matched table-wear. Upon my first visit with my mother and four friends last Friday, I was very impressed, both with the quality of cuisine and with the menu’s variety. Since it was my party’s first visit, we went slightly overboard with tasting several dishes on the menu. While all dishes were good, there were definitely some that stood out. One dish that really stood out to me was the gouda and ham stuffed pretzels. Warm and salty, these delicious stuffed pretzels were bundled together in a cup of a warm cheese and mustard sauce. The fried sweet potato dish was another one of my favorites. Laid on a coconut cream, covered in an orange-honey glaze and topped off with crushed peanuts, The dish had the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors and maintained a crunchy breading on the outside and a warm potato center on the inside. The last stand out entree for me was a braised pork taco with avocado, sprouts and a house-made tortilla. The pork was extremely tender, the tortilla light and fluffy, and the toppings fresh and crisp, making for a great and satisfying bite. For dessert, my favorite dish was the coconut rice pudding, a chilled rice pudding with flakes of coconut, chunks of mango, and sprinkled sea salt for the perfect combination of salty and sweet.

Overall, I was impressed with the restaurant. The only issue I had were the portion sizes. Although each dish was a small plate, they weren’t all easy to share with multiple people. Nobody left hungry, but there was a slight but noticeable awkwardness in the size of each dish. For the most part I do think The Odd Duck is worth visiting, however, and encourage customers to try whatever stands out to them on the menu.