In a lively area of the Domain lies The Yard Milkshake Bar. A charming shop known for bringing quirky combinations of flavors together and putting a spirited twist on the classic milkshake, in addition to their options of ice cream and edible cookie dough. Each shake is presented in a signature mason jar with their logo boasted proudly on the front in bold. As I arrived, I noticed that the downside of it being so popular is that there was not enough space to accommodate those inside, and it felt cramped at times. On the outside, there were a few tables but not enough to comfortably hold the capacity of customers. The interior design of the shop was quaint and comfortable, with brown wood contrasting with the paler cream-colored walls.  The most notable design was a sign that denoted a part of their title with “The Yard” displayed in comfortable lighting.

The first dish I tried was the Birthday Cake Shake. It came out as a powerful wall of birthday batter ice cream milkshake that could be seen as a bright white mixture through the mason jar. Peeking through the creamy color were light blue drips cascading down. Above it all stood an Everest of whipped cream, topped off with sprinkles covering the cream all the way down to the rim of the jar, reminiscent of snow on a mountain, while a classic cupcake with orange frosting stood like a prize on top of it all. The frosting of the cupcake had a taste that was more sugary than what was hoped for, while the rest of the treat reminds the tongue of a classic cupcake, less extravagant than the presentation of the dish implied, and more like a childhood birthday party, matching the name of the shake. The ice cream section of the milkshake was smooth with sprinkles that fall on the tongue, but in the end, tasted more similar to milk than a strong flavor. However, the presentation, in the end, was still memorable.

Another dish with an enticing name was The Sea Turtle shake. It was displayed with stunning details throughout the drink. The ice cream was a strong blend of butter pecan and praline pecan ice cream that could be viewed through a jar where the insides were surrounded by chocolate, in a way that resembled a waterfall that was frozen in time in a photograph. The toppings were a museum of different items, exciting to the eye as the shake was covered with caramel, fudge, whipped cream, and a unique implicit mention to its ice cream roots with a crushed waffle cone topping. Lastly, true to its name, there were two chocolate cookie-like toppings, in the form of sea turtles. The sea turtles were a bit dry and not as satisfying as expected for the flavor of the outside of the cookie. However, the inside of the cookies was of better quality with its crunchy texture, and hints of caramel bringing even more taste to the tongue. The actual shake was well-made and resembled a mix of nut flavor with touches of caramel to bring it all together. The real hero of this drink was the crushed waffle cone toppings. They added a delightful pop of taste, conveying the idea that for food, it can all be in the details.

The Peanut Butter Brownie Bliss was another shake I tried that was presented with a jar that had a covering of peanut butter and chocolate chips on the inside and the visual gave memories of an abstract art piece with a mix of shades including brown, caramel, and a paler cream color that were representative of the basis of the shake: the Brownie Batter ice cream. Above the Brownie Batter were a range of toppings: peanut butter cups, whipped cream, and a fudge brownie, in addition, these were topped off with drizzles of peanut butter and fudge. While the outside covering of the brownie didn’t add much flavor, the first bite gave a feeling of warmth and good memories through its ability to balance a soft yet hard texture at the same time. The drink adds to the spirit with a subtle yet memorable flavor that’s similar to chocolate mixed with coffee.

A very noteworthy shake was the Cookie Butter Me Up that was bestowed in a jar with vanilla covering the inside, bringing the visual of the cookie butter ice cream with flavored drizzle tumbling down together. The toppings included whipped cream, cookie butter drizzle, a blondie (a treat similar to a brownie, but vanilla-based), and the most unique topping I had seen, some cinnamon toast crunch at the top to relate to the fact of the shake having a dip of cinnamon sugar. The blondie had a comforting taste from the first bite, and the whipped cream added a nice effect to flavor felt by the tongue. The shake gave an amazing flavor similar to a mixture of nuts and chocolate chips which expressed the variety of flavors the cookie butter mixture could remind one of. The hints of cinnamon throughout the drink brought the nostalgia of a comforting day in the fall, which this drink is perfect for. At the end of it all, the cinnamon toast crunch was the most memorable as it made this already unique drink even more special by bringing a creative hint of breakfast memories.

My personal favorite shake was the Old School Banana Split. It was brought out with a creamy pink look inside the jar with chocolate dripping down the inside representing the strawberry and banana pudding ice cream that was the basis of the drink. The toppings included a chocolate drizzle and chocolate with peanuts covering the drink that seemed to overflow out of the jar, whipped cream, and of course, a banana on top of it all. The shake was reminiscent of a creamy strawberry and banana smoothie that was both comforting and sweet. What made this drink especially unique was how a seemingly simple ingredient, the banana, was brought to new heights with the chocolate drizzle and peanuts. The whipped cream added to this effect with a soft, pillowy taste, that seemed to melt into the mouth. 

Five pint-sized drinks added up to about $93 so this shop is a bit more on the pricey side so it is better for a treat to have with friends and family on a nice day. Creatively bringing a classic drink to extravagance with an innovative combination of taste, the Yard Milkshake Bar is an experience that cannot be missed.

Rating: three out of five stars

The Yard Milkshake Bar

3400 Esperanza Crossing, Austin, TX 78758

Monday to Sunday 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.

https://www.theyardmilkshakebar.com/austin