Otherworldly Cocktails
Launching Drinks into Another Stratosphere
Words DEVEN WILSON | Photos PARKER THORNTON
A restaurant themed around a night in a Texan desert with robotic pods utilizing AI to deliver guests their orders might instill a fear of being a victim of a gourmet gimmick. However, owner Rikki Wang and her down-to-earth team concoct an experience that is both show-stopping and full of flavor.
Chef Juan Diego Solombrino and Rikki Wang both knew that there was a chance people would assume that Space Cowboy is all flash and no substance, but they’d be wrong. Their new concept filled with robots might simply get people in the door, but the creative concoction of flavors they were serving had to leave guests coming back for more. Rikki shares, “The quality of the food and the drinks had to be great… That’s what brings people back.”
With the creative license a space theme grants to a menu, Rikki and Chef Juan have dreamt up international flavor fusions with conceptual cocktails that complement Chef Juan’s dedication to curating a dining experience. His pursuit to bring in unexpected ingredients is matched by Rikki as she introduces unique flavor palates to her drinks. For example, the pink dragon fruit in the Venus Seduction cocktail adds a whimsical touch while the concept of Angel’s Share (the portion of whiskey evaporated in barrels) plays with what that heaven-sent whiskey tastes like in a new cocktail aptly named Angel’s Share.
Every drink on their menu embodies Rikki’s creative eye, with twists on old familiars and inventive concoctions that deliver on both flavor and visuals. She takes a staple Old Fashioned and elevates it into the Tuxedo Cowboy, their most popular cocktail that playfully takes the classic bourbon-based drink and introduces it to the rich, bittersweet notes of Caffo Amaro. Then there’s The Cloud 9 which comes with a fluffy pink cloud of cotton candy to add a textural touch of sweetness to the spiced rum and lavender, resulting in a drink that’s a delight from first sight to final sip. Even the newcomer, Angel’s Share, will use cognac, French chartreuse, and maraschino to bring an ethereal taste to the menu.
No cocktail choice is the wrong choice, and with this team’s vision to deliver an out-of-this-world experience, each visit is based in style and finished with substance and service.
Chef Juan’s menu is borderless, inspired by the concept that space belongs to everyone. Featuring dishes from all over the globe, he ensures every ingredient reflects international cuisine with the utmost respect for the ingredients themselves. Recently, he’s added a dish with chourico de Goa, a sausage delicacy born out of the culinary blend of Indian and Portuguese traditions that can only be found in Goa, India, proof that Space Cowboy leaves no culinary corner untouched in order to deliver a celestial dining experience.
Contact:
1917 E 7th St.
spacecowboyatx.com
@spacecowboy.atx
