If you’ve tiptoed into any virtual corner of social media within the past few years, you’re probably familiar with the term “girl dinner.” The definition? A meal that satisfies cravings and vibes. The focus is less on nutritional density and more on what nosh will add some razzle-dazzle to your evening.

In comes the holy trinity of girl dinners via Hank’s, an all-day cafe in East Austin: A Caesar salad or chicken Caesar salad wrap, sweet potato or french fries and the dealer’s choice of martini. That religious experience is a reality each Thursday at the popular Eastside eatery, all for a very affordable $20 a pop.

As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of many a girl dinner, I, of course, had to venture on out from my South Austin turf to experience the hype myself on company time and dime. Come 2 p.m. on Thursday, I breezed my way into Hank’s and lucked out with a booth cozied up next to the restaurant’s swath of windows overlooking the outdoor patio.

When it comes to Caesar salads, fries and martinis, there are a few standards I’m seeking out. I’ll be bold enough to say it: If my breath doesn’t reek of garlic and anchovy paste, then the Caesar dressing ain’t it.

The fries? Crispy on the outside with a soft pocket of salty goodness on the inside. As for the martini? As a tried and true dirty ‘tini gal myself, I crave the tang and bite of a healthy dose of olive brine in mine.

Now, in case the photo above isn’t any indication, the $20 girl dinner meal deal slapped, and I clearly wasn’t the only girlypop seeking out a Caesar, ‘tini and a dream on a Thursday afternoon. Most patrons around me were sipping on their own ‘tini of choice and nomming over a mealtime gab with friends. 

For a city with a culinary scene as bustling as Austin’s, a healthy lunch or dinner portion size for $20 is nothing to scoff at. Paired with a tip, my bill came out to around $25 — which, if we’ve learned nothing else about girl dinner culture, is a fair cost for a treat yourself kind of lunch.

And, for the record: While my plates were cleared, I did make sure to pop that olive as a snack on my way out…followed up with plenty of breath mints, naturally.

Find it: 5811 Berkman Drive, Austin, TX 78723