Hillside Farmacy

About

Half-price oysters and half-price wine bottles in the same sitting is a rare combination, and Hillside Farmacy runs exactly that on East 11th. Happy hour is Wednesday through Friday, 3 to 5, and the discount is unusually broad: the entire sharing menu drops to half price, oysters included, and every bottle of wine comes down the same way.

Anyone who knows how raw bars and wine lists are usually priced understands how good that is. A dozen oysters and a real bottle of wine for half of what you'd expect turns a casual afternoon into the best kind of accident.

The space has earned its East Austin character honestly, exposed brick and good light in a converted old pharmacy, the kind of room that came together over time. The crowd is mostly locals and creative types who live nearby and have opinions about their food. Hillside Farmacy happy hour is one of the better-kept value secrets on the east side. Go midweek, sit near the windows, and start with oysters.