Date-night caliber food in AUS’s Barbara Jordan terminal
Second Bar + Kitchen sits post-security in the Barbara Jordan terminal, and it’s one of the few spots here that feels like a real sit-down restaurant, not an airport food court counter. It’s table service with a full bar, so budget at least 45–60 minutes if you’re trying to make a flight. You’ll pay downtown-Austin prices rather than fast-food prices, but the trade-off is better ingredients and slower, restaurant-style pacing.
Menu standouts lean American with Austin touches: think mains built around steak, burgers, and flatbreads instead of grab-and-go sandwiches. Expect most entrees to land in the mid‑$20s, with starters and shared plates under that. There’s a proper cocktail list and wine by the glass, plus the usual airport beers. Portions run restaurant-normal, not oversized, so plan on an appetizer if you’re actually hungry and have more than 90 minutes before boarding.
Service timing matters here more than at the spots near gates 10–13, where you can eat in 20 minutes. Second Bar + Kitchen works better for longer sits: outbound evening flights, lengthy mid-day layovers, or when a delay suddenly adds an extra hour to your schedule. Tell your server your boarding time and gate – staff are used to working around 7:00–8:00 p.m. bank departures and can usually pace accordingly, but this is still a real restaurant, not a 5‑minute turnover joint.
Prices and portions make this a smarter play for one or two people than for a family of five, especially compared with quick-service options near security. If you’re expensing a meal or capping off a weekend in Austin with one last proper dinner, this is the spot that feels closest to eating in town. One tip: check your gate first; if you’re out on a far end of Barbara Jordan, head here at least 75 minutes before departure to avoid a last‑minute sprint down the concourse.