The Foundation
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
11 Reviews for The Foundation
Before I begin, you should know that I'm not a nightclub/danceclub type guy. I'm more of a regular-old-bar type guy, and this review should be read with that in mind. But with that out of the way, I gotta tell you,
I fucking hate this place.
I'm convinced that the owners installed a teleporter (or "jaunt", if you're into Steven King short stories) right next to the door. Because as soon as you walk in, you find yourself transported smack dab into the middle of 'the place to be' on Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles. Guys with fake tans, product'd up hair with frosted tips, and shiny/striped shirts unbuttoned to show off their recently waxed chests. The kind of guys that wear "No Fat Chicks" shirts out in public, use bluetooth earpieces, and say things like "That's how we roll - bottles and models..."
The music is too god damned loud, but I assume that this is a request from the regulars, as I can't imagine someone actually hearing what they have to say has ever had any positive results. I guess I'm just from the old school of thought in wanting to hear the person that I'm talking to. Not that that would ever be a concern, as the majority of the girls I've seen there are of the I-just-got-my-new-boobs-and-wanna-get-drunk variety - the kind of girls those in the Rophynol business refer to as "wounded gazelles".
I'd rather take a cheese grater to the pills than ever walk in this shithole again. The place just sucks. My ex used to drag me in here a couple of times a month, and she sucked. It was 3 months after breaking up with her before I was able to wash all of the suck off me, and Foundation was responsible for at least 10% of that suck.
In fact, I think I'm gonna go jump in the shower. Just to be sure.
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Place is fucking huge and the past two times I went, practically empty! I don't know what happened to this place because it used to be crowded every night. Its not a college type bar and more catered to the yuppie crowd. I'm more into the college ambiance so it didn't do it for me.
People thought this was:
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Not bad. I'm a sucker for clubs with open spaces and balconies, so I have no problem settling in here. Although...hmm...I just called it a club, but it's really more like a bar with a lot of square footage. Sort of like what Lucky Lounge might be if you turned it sideways, added an open balcony, and took away the live music venue. Okay...so I'm thinking it's nothing like Lucky. Point being, there's no dancing. Lots of talking and drinking...definitely a schmoozing bar. Foundation has some key positives.
1. Aforementioned cool layout.
2. Fun bartenders who'll chat, high five, get you water (even when you don't ask), and participate in group shots (hard liquor, not kodak moments).
3. 5th St. locale - easier to navigate, less crowded, and better for cab snagging. (Hint: walk west toward the post office and you'll catch a cab in no time...all the cabbies have to go one-way on 6th and turn around to head back east, so they're forced to pass you by and pick you up!)
The music is somewhat erratic as is the crowd. Which can be a good thing, depending on one's mood. All in all, there's nothing to hate about Foundation. But there may not be anything to keep me coming back.
Worth a drink or two.
People thought this was:
Useful (7)
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Would I hang out here if it wasn't an open bar? Hmm.
Pros: hot bartenders, faster service once you've tipped nicely, sound system that pounds through every corner.
Cons: totally generic, SF/NYC urban chic decor (think oversized couches and glass partitions). No idea of actual drink prices. Layout isn't intimate, at all. This is the kind of bar that screams for dark little corners. Going to and from the upstairs can be treacherous when intoxicated.
If you want to have a corporate party and rent a bar, this would be it. It's like Light Bar, except without a rooftop patio. Otherwise, stop by and check out the crowd. Could suck, could be okay.
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I was here mid tipsy birthday romp with some out of town friends ( three of which looked like models.) Because of the overwhelming beauty of my friends we drank for free all night. They gave us strawberry martinis which were apparently like 10 bucks each, and believe me, we drank alot. The place is enormous and crowded. The bar was a frat boy scene with lots of beautiful people and hot bartenders. Go here if you've got some money to blow and wanna see and be seen.
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Useful (2)
After being asked not to come back to Foundation a couple of years ago, yelpers and I gave it a refreshed try and it was probably due to the company, but not so bad this time.
Inside is large and airy like any good downtown bar, the doorman was awesome lookin' and nice to the extent he was practically begging us to smoke inside (against the rules, sort of, here in Austin), so that was a definite plus.
Downstairs the people brought down the sleek environs, and if Austin had a version of a bridge and tunnel crowd, this would be it. Sad, sad, sad. Don't come here until after 11:30.
Upstairs, however, was a bit better vibe because of/ in spite of our bartender's thing for high fiving (was he cracked out? is he always like that?), but it did enhance the mood, and as 11:30 rolled around, the place filled up with just enough hotties to keep smiles, smiles, everyone.
Did hit a wall early, was thanked for coming by both bar and door staff, but heard they played Justin Timberlake after I left, so no 4 stars for that bullshit.
Stupid hip-hop, maybe, JT, hail no.
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
Not really in to the nighclub thing.. but as far as they go.. this one is pretty good I guess. Good looking people, crowded, huge, two levels, very trendy, and loud music.
I come here only when out-of-towners really want to go balls to the wall... and we rarely come out disappointed.
Just like Tom below.. I'm rating this on what it is.. not on my personal tastes..
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Definitely a trendier bar in the Austin scene and a hot spot for industry folk. Not sure which industry.... Film/TV/Modeling - whose to say ;O) (but if you are in one of these industries, you should be hanging here...if you're not already).
Love the feng shui of the place - very open when you walk in, large round bar and a balcony overlooking the large round bar so you can confirm its shape and check out the scene.
I know some of the crew here - very cool guys. Definitely worth a visit if you like a trendy scene.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
This place sucks. Get a new sound system already! Who wants to hear that loud music through your tired ass speakers? Jeez.
Fun little spot with 2 floors. 2nd floor is open overlooking the first floor, great way to spot the ladies ;) I was here for a sxsw open bar, so i thought the drink prices were great! I'm not sure how they normally fair up.
nightclub. a warehouse convert, so it is huge. everything is very modern and swanky inside. personally, i am not a nightclub kind of guy (mostly because you can never hold a decent conversation in one, which makes it hard to meet people), but I can see that this place is pleasant as far as nightclubs go. the 4 star rating is in relative terms rather than an effect of my personal tastes, since if I had my druthers, i'd be at a plain ol' bar instead.
People thought this was:
Cool (2)
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