El Bistro de Las Elecciones

We visited El Bistro de Las Elecciones, located within Highland Mall, on a Friday evening. I called ahead to try and get a reservation for the five of us, but yeah, it’s one of those new-​fangled trendy places that thinks it’s a privilege for you to go to. So you just have to check in at the door and wait your turn. Parking is plentiful, on the southwest side of the mall, facing Airport Blvd. Look for the door with cars near it. I came in on the MetroRail train, and it was a short walk across Airport and the mall parking lot.
When I arrived, I looked nearby to see if I could find a place that serves Lone Star, or perhaps organic bluebonnet-​infused berry ice cream to kill time, but alas all I saw was an Avon Store.
Wait… An Avon store? What the???
Check-​in was relatively easy. The bulk of us just used our driver’s licences. One used a utility bill and her honest face. And really, there wasn’t a wait. Which is why to come here instead of waiting for General Election day on November 6^th.
Like a previous reviewer, I’m not a big fan of long/​shared community tables, and the voting machines were all in a row along the wall. The glory days of the curtained booths are long gone. If it had been crowded, it would have been a little uncomfortable with how close things are. I even left a gap between me and my wife when I chose my machine.
And where’s my touch screen? C’mon! You’ve lost a star.
Extended hours until they close. 7am-​9pm now through November 2 for all your Travis County voting needs. Then you’ll have to fight the lines on Tuesday, after you figure out where your real voting precinct is.
Anyway, we did our civic duty, and it was mostly painless. And I got a free sticker! El Bistro, you are A-​OK with me!

Sometimes, you just have to wonder how long a new place will last. I’m first to appreciate what they’ve done here, but I’ll be really surprised if they’re around a month from now. At the Wednesday lunch when I was here, there were far more staff than customers. Perhaps it’s just the newness of the place.
Once inside, it’s a huge space divided into three sections, like a giant «U.» The host chose which side of the U to direct me to, and the other two sides seemed far away. The bad news is anyone next to you on your side will feel pretty darn close, but it’s not that uncomfortable or prying.
If you hate those hip & cool electronic menus, you’re out of luck, because that’s what they have here. You have the option of doing a quick one-​click prix fixe entry, but c’mon — half the fun is perusing those odd entrées you’ve never heard of before. I will tell you if you’re a longtime Austinite, much of the vast City Charcutèrie selections will seem pretty familiar.
I don’t know — I could argue the more things change, the more they’re alike, and places like El Bistro de las Elecciones just come and go. But then again, what’s the alternative? To not even give it a shot and then whine about it? Pffft, that’s too easy. Sometimes, what we get is as good as it gets.
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(Editor’s note: Errol M. did early voting today at Highland Mall, and then submitted this review. We’re slightly concerned he may be off his meds.)