A shady porch, a flowing brook, a gentle breeze. Add to this a tall drink, a talented guitarist and hot appetizers, and you have to ask yourself, “Y not?”

“Why not?” indeed! Join your Austin neighbors in celebrating this especially green spring at the Y Bar and Grill, located just down from the Y at Oak Hill on Highway 71.

The outside bar offers three choices of moods, beginning with a nice long bar with TVs and lots of friendly chatter. Behind this is a line of tall bar tables that provide a scenic view of Williamson Creek and more privacy than the Cheers-type bar. And behind these tall tables is a full al fresco dining section which was at capacity, even on the random Thursday evening we dined there.

Thursday evenings feature Texas food, Texas wine and Texas Women and Their Music. This particular sundown, we were entertained by Jane Bond with Jaspar Cronem. Bond proved to be a most engaging singer, and the arrangement of outside drinking and dining spaces enabled the patrons to get close to the music if they desired, but also allowed plenty of space to let the music fade into the background for ease of conversation.

My friends and I chose to concentrate on the appetizers, and the Y Bar and Grill offered great flexibility. We could, of course, choose one appetizer per person, but we could also opt for two or three on a platter, or we could choose all of the appetizers, called the “Y Not Share,” for a reasonable price. There is an up-charge for the more expensive offerings, but we still thought it a good deal.

Our trio included Shrimp and Crab Cakes, Y Bar Shrimp with Chipotle BBQ Sauce, and Duck Quesadillas. Choosing a favorite proved impossible. The Shrimp and Crab Cakes were filled with luscious fruit de mer. The light corn meal coating gave the cakes a fabulous crunch, and the poblano tartar sauce was quite tasty. But it was the pineapple mango relish, filled with lovely sections of discernable fresh fruit, that really set this dish off. That salty-sweet combo can't be beat!

Wrapped in bacon and deftly grilled, the Y Bar Shrimp were cooked to perfection, not the least bit tough. The bacon was crispy and the shrimp savory. We chose the spicy and full-bodied chipotle BBQ sauce, and it was wonderful… but to tell the truth, we barely used it, because the shrimp stood so well on their own.

The Duck Quesadillas were ab fab. In Austin, quesadillas are ubiquitous, but these - filled with large pieces of flavorful duck enhanced with grilled onions, cilantro, and two cheeses - are in a high class by themselves. The crispy tortillas wonderfully offset the creamy stuffing. These little gems are served with guacamole and sour cream. As one person in our group was pregnant, we all chose not to drink alcohol, but the quesadillas fairly screamed for a cold beer, and most everyone around us had one.

We saw all types of drinks, though: pitchers of beer, pretty cocktails, and for one party, plenty of champagne corks were popping. And, when I went inside, I was greeted by two lovely bar areas. For all the Texas Hill Country feel outside, on the inside this stylish building is metropolitan and swank. The lines are clean and modern, and the oversized front door a dramatic work of art.

The warm wood wall/doors inside can be closed and reconfigured to allow maximum privacy and seating flexibility. By closing off the back space, a private dining room for 60-65 is made. This space can then be divided to make two rooms for 25 or 35. The high fashion color scheme is counterbalanced by tall, tall windows that overlook the shady creek outside; I can't imagine rooms better suited to show off Austin's beauty to out-of-town friends.

Even an evening of appetizers requires dessert. So, back outside, we rounded off our outdoor experience with a Trio of Sorbets. These are made in-house and served in a fruit puree that intensified the fresh clean flavor of the fruits. That night, Y served up mango, raspberry and strawberry sorbets artfully decorated with berries, mint and whipped cream. We also noticed that they had a full offering of after-dinner cordials, ports and brandies. This would be a terrific place for an “after the show” or “après-game” dessert and nightcap.

Chef Andre Le Jeune and his able sous chef, Robert Gordon Walczyk, turn out tasty, lively food in an atmosphere that can be not only special date worthy but also neighborhood bar inviting. The architecture and careful placement of dining/drinking areas offer practically unlimited uses for this congenial, modern building. Y Bar and Grill's amiable owner, John Laney, is offering the city a very Austin-friendly restaurant filled with live music and fantastic food. When “Y not?” is the question, the only answer is Y.