These Austin restaurants sold the most alcohol in May

Matthew Odam

modam@statesman.com

Visiting Matt's El Rancho? Chances are you might be enjoying a margarita or beer. [Laura Skelding/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

You start a meal with a cocktail. Maybe you move to a glass (or bottle) of wine during the meal and conclude with a digestivo. Or, maybe you just nurse a beer all evening. Whatever the case, a large percentage of diners at Austin restaurants often consume some alcohol with their meals. With that in mind, we take a look at the leaders in gross alcohol sales for the month of May, according to an American-Statesman analysis of state data.

Whether it’s a boisterous, family-friendly Tex-Mex legend that sells margaritas to go with their famous fajitas, or an upscale steakhouse that features a martini cart, these are the leaders in alcohol sales.

Keep in mind: This list does not include establishments generally considered bars or hotels, which have stand-alone bars (sometimes multiple bars) in addition to their restaurants. The grouping is more focused on businesses that one would primarily consider a restaurant. Also, keep in mind: Some places sell a low volume of very expensive bottles of wine, while others specialize in quantity over quality, so comparing establishments on this list won’t always be apples to apples.

A big takeaway: people who eat steak and Tex-Mex (aka Texans) like to booze. Also, patios are good for drinking.

Top alcohol sales at Austin restaurants in May

Matt’s El Rancho ($517,280)
The Oasis ($383,071)
Jeffrey’s & Josephine House ($340,638)
Eddie V’s ($329,056)
Culinary Dropout ($315.760)
Perry’s ($312,580)
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill ($292,868)
Perla’s ($274,930)
Guero’s ($263,731)
Loro ($259,362)