1886 Cafe & Bakery
Categories: Food Desserts Restaurants American (Traditional) Desserts, American (Traditional)
116 6th StAustin, TX 78701
(512) 391-7066
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 7 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
123 reviews for 1886 Cafe & Bakery
Review Highlights
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"The 1886 Chocolate Cake is absolutely amazing." In 16 reviews -
"I am an eggs benedict lover hehe." In 8 reviews -
"Be sure to wander around the hotel after your dessert." In 32 reviews
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123 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica L.
Austin, TX
5/5/2012
Been here for brunches, dinners, and even stopped in for the sole reason of satisfying a dessert craving. If you go for nothing else, GET THE BANANA PUDDING! I don't even like bananas, but this is the best dessert i've ever had w/o a close second. Hm yum... it's just a perfect creation, enough said, you will have to try it to believe it.
But the rest of the restaurant is great as well. It's got the class and atmosphere you would expect at the Driskill without paying the Driskill prices. The food is well done, from the steak to the ribs to the fried chicken, the sides are always a healhty serving of fresh veggies. So whether for a week night dinner or date night, you can't go wrong at 1886. I think this place is underrated for the quality of food and atmosphere at one of the most famous spots in Austin. And after dinner you can always head upstairs and grab some free music at the Driskill Bar. -
Review from Emily P.
5/9/2012
Ok, I'm not usually one to give such a low star count, but there are times when it's warranted. This was definitely one of them.
The first problem was when my friend gave them our name. The hostess told her it would be about 15 minutes (there were at least 3 empty tables that were visible in the lobby area). So when I met up with my friend and she told me that I went back up to the hostess...gave her our name...and she seated us. Absolutely nothing had changed between my friend giving her name and me going back up there. The hostess was just not on her game. At one point during our meal (when we all had empty glasses), I tried to catch one of the THREE people's eyes that were standing up at the hostess station, to no avail.
I had a http://Restaurant.com gift certificate that acts as a discount of your meal (I paid $10 for a $25 discount, but to use it you have to spend more than $35 on food). I have used many of these gift certificates over the years, and it allows you to eat at a place that you might not be able to afford (or in my case, just don't want to spend so much) any other time.
I'm always leery of giving them the certificate because you can tell almost immediately whether the server is going to give 100% or ignore you because they can use the option of adding a tip (usually 15-18%) because you're using the certificate. This was one of the occasions where the service was pretty much non-existent, and the server added her tip on. I am a really good tipper, but I felt very taken advantage of considering the fact that she came to our table TWICE (including to welcome/take our order), and all the other times I had to literally call her over to refill our drinks that were completely empty.
To me, service is just as important as the quality of food because I can cook good food, but the reason I go out to eat is so that I don't have to cook it or clean up a mess. I expect, especially if I'm paying for a drink (not just water), that it should never be less than half full. I had coffee that didn't get refilled for almost 10 minutes, and the only reason it was refilled then was because I stopped a random person and asked them for it.
Now, on to the food! This was the only bright spot in the meal besides getting to enjoy the beautiful lobby of the Driskill. After waiting almost 30 minutes for what amounted to some eggs, breakfast meats, and bread...I was about ready to just get up and walk out. No one was checking on us, and our waitress was so MIA I couldn't even alert anyone to the fact that tables that had arrived after us were already eating.
The food, though, was delicious. I got one of the breakfast plates (don't remember the name). It was scrambled eggs with pepperjack cheese and an avocado on top. The eggs were perfectly cooked, and the portion was definitely enough for two people. Accompanying the eggs were two thinly sliced grilled pork chops that were juicy and very flavorful. I couldn't have been happier with my meal. My dining companions were also very happy with their meals.
We had ordered a cinnamon roll to share, but ended up having to take it to go because we needed to get my friend to work. Plus, we were all too stuffed to eat another bite! It was a yummy afternoon snack.
I wish my first experience here hadn't been so disappointing because, honestly, I would pay $13 for a plate like the one I had, again, if I knew that the service was good. I really have no way of knowing if the service is horrible in general or if they gave us bad service because they knew they'd get a tip regardless. I don't like either of those options, though!
The last thing was realizing just how expensive it would have been without the certificate. We each got a plate (averaging about $13) and a drink (coffee was $3-4), plus the cinnamon roll. Once the server added her tip (almost $10)...I ended up paying over $40 (even with the $25 discount!). To me, it wasn't a $40 breakfast. I could have eaten at a little taqueria for less than $10 and been just as satisfied. I guess this is one of those times where you pay for the atmosphere, and I knew that going in...I guess I just figured being housed in the Driskill, the overall experience would be breathtaking. -
Review from Eugene L.
4/2/2012 4 photos
Restaurant week was my fast pass into the fancyland known as 1886! It's a classy place, some sort of cozy old-fashioned magic about it. Lighting is wonderful and natural, coming in from the large windows, which somehow keeps you feeling like you're in some other time and place.
Tried the hangover burger and salmon burger, both delicious! Especially the brown sugar and chili rub bacon in the hangover burger - to quote Kelly S., "It had my eyes rolling around in my head." I really can't think of a better way to describe it - so good.
As for dessert, the chocolate cake literally melted in my mouth and was honestly, PERFECT. However, without the set menu prices for restaurant week, I definitely wouldn't have been able to get out of here with much left in my pocket, especially with the pricey menu desserts.
The waitress was also sweet and funny, and service was nice and quick! The manager stopped by a couple times to make sure everything was perfect, which pretty much, it was.
I'll definitely be back the next time restaurant week rolls around, but for now, I'll savor the 1886 in my memories! -
Review from Julie P.
3/29/2012
During the madness of SXSW, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is slip away to actually sit down and have one real meal. For me, sometimes I only end up having one and the rest are grab and go snacks at venues or late night street meat. The Driskill was just down the street from where we were posted up for four days, so I'd been looking forward to treating myself all week when I finally snuck over for some lunch. I had a turkey sandwich on a calorie-splurge of a croissant that was totally worth it. I also had a little salad. The food was wonderfully fresh, and the croissant basically melted in my mouth. Food alone would be 4 or 5 star worthy.
And while you should not judge anyone's service during SXSW because it is so crazy, I think what irked me was not the service per se but management who let it work this way. But from the time I was seated until the time a server spoke to me, ten minutes had ticked by. I was in their eye line the entire time, which just doesn't make a person feel good. The man who finally came over and took my order was nice, but that was the last I saw of him, since he was also one of the bartenders and busy making drinks. My food was delivered by the chef (who was lovely) and I was not spoken to again. I finally walked up to the bar to pay my tab. The bartenders had far too many drinks to make to also be waiting cocktail. Again, just blame it on SXSW, but I think next time I'll go to The Grill.
Bonus: Bumped into a hotel employee when we both balked at the long line for the downstairs ladies. She showed me upstairs to a beautiful bathroom that was basically vacant. Plenty of room to feel okay about touching up my makeup, changing into my nicer clothes for the evening. I even brushed my teeth, which is a luxury in and of itself when you're working for 18 hours a day in a music venue!Listed in: Austin!!
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Review from Kelly K.
Galleria/Uptown, Houston, TX
5/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Overall an ok experience, nothing special though. Waiter took 6 minutes before we were even acknowledged (yes I timed them because of our experience at another restaurant earlier in the day). I had the nachos and my fiancé had the spinach dip, once again it was only ok. Dessert was pretty good but not spectacular like I kept hearing. The banana pudding was nothing compared to true southern style banana pudding like you would find in more home style places. The cappuccino was great though.
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Review from carrie w.
Austin, TX
3/29/2012
They are getting 3 stars because our waiter, Greg was as good as he could be given the circumstances.
My husband and I went for lunch on Saturday. It was about 11:45, but they were serving lunch. We each ordered a french dip, his with fries, mine with fruit. We told or waiter that we were in a bit of a rush. 20 minutes later and still no food. Greg came over to apologize and said they were waiting on fries BUT, he could bring out the sandwiches if we wanted. We wanted. He disappeared. No sandwiches. I watched our french dips sit in the window for 5 minutes before the manager brought them to us. He did not apologize for the wait. In fact he delivered our sandwiches with no Au Jus. You've got to be kidding me. It's a french DIP. He did mention that the Au Jus was on the way. 5 more minutes and something they were claiming was Au Jus was delivered to our table. I wish I had taken a picture. The substance was beige with about 1/2 in of clear fat on the top. In no way was this Au Jus. We decided the sandwich was fine without it.
When we were waiting on our bill my husband noticed that the inside of his glass had chunky bits on it. It looked like citrus pulp. When the waiter brought our bill we showed him. He immediately took our bill back. He returned, told us there was no charge. I made a comment about the Au Jus. His exact words were "I have no idea what that is." He then gave us a card for 2 more meals on the house. We tipped him generously and were on our way.
Driskill, not everyone is a tourist who eats at the Cafe. Some of us are in town and, really expect the Driskill to stand out above the fray. -
Review from Kristina F.
Hoboken, NJ
1/29/2012
This review is almost solely based on the waffle.
As an adult tourist dining in an Austin tourist destination, I could not have been happier to order a waffle and upon it's delivery, find that it was thick, delicious and most importantly - shaped like Texas. I was just as happy as I was as a kid being served Mickey Mouse waffles in Disney World.
Nicely done, Driskill. -
Review from Nadia G.
Arlington, TX
4/30/2012
After a Saturday night of partying on 6th Street, our group of 8 needed breakfast/brunch STAT on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, we ended up at this place on the recommendation of a cab driver. The crowd is older and not very diverse ... I assume guests of the Driskill Hotel. We were told the wait was 30 to 40 minutes for our group of 8, but it was more like an hour, even after we saw empty tables and we talked to the hostess TWICE about getting seated. After finally getting seated, the food took forever to come out and the service was terrible, which is why this is a 2 star review. We all actually really enjoyed our food. I had the huevos rancheros and it was loaded with all kinds of goodness, but the service was so bad that it took away from the meal. I would only recommend this place if you had to take your parents out for dinner. It is terrible for large groups or for anyone under the age of 40.
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Review from Deji M.
Okay, everyone. Let's quiet down. We've gotten a lot done today. First, I want to thank you all for your commitment to 1886. Your ideas for these menu items are just delightful, and I don't doubt that our patrons will be pleased with these culinary masterpieces.
Now, I want to revisit the Brunch Brainstorm session. We need to add one more item here. But folks, I've got a special case: someone named Dej (and I'm not sure I'm pronouncing that right) has had an especially bad brunch experience this year. It may have been for his... oh - her? her 25th birthday or something - something milestone-y. Let's set aside something special for her, as a way to let her know there's brunches out there that care. Can someone read me a list of things she likes?
...
Okay. Wow. So that was ham, croissants, sweet potatoes, some starch her dad likes to cook? I... okay. And brie? Wow. Gosh.
...
Right, okay. So let's do this: we'll start with a bed of perfectly cooked potato pieces - and make it different kinds, right? So I'm talking potatoes, sweet potatoes, this batata of her dad's (which someone says Americans call Peruvian potato). Alright?
Then we'll take one of our already gosh-danged delicious croissants, opened it up, put some brie on it, and stick it in the oven a quick second so it gets all nice and toast-melty. Put that atop the potato mix.
Sounds good right? Then get the ham on there. Then throw perfectly poached eggs on top of that. Then the hollandaise. Okay? We'll call it the Paris, TX Benedict. Got a nice ring to it.
Now folks, when you see this Dej, be especially nice to her. I hear she's still hurting pretty bad over how Zax did her brunch wrong. So you go on and help however she needs. If she wants in on that dessert display case, you give her a helping hand - tell her what's good, what's traditional, what's special just for this season.
Be gentle, and remember: everyone deserves a happy brunch. Everyone. That's part of this whole protest thing happening around here lately. Everyone's angry - unhappy brunches. So let's turn those frowns upside down. Let's make it happen.Listed in: Brunch and lunch and something…
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Review from Christine A.
San Francisco, CA
8/1/2011 1 photo
We recently stayed at the Driskill Hotel...so we tried the cute cafe:)
I am an eggs benedict lover hehe...SO of course I ordered the "Paris, Tx Eggs Benedict" and I am so glad I did. 5 Stars for sure!
Rather than an english muffin...the base was a croissant (shooot probably a million calories) the eggs were cooked perfectly, canadian bacon is just pure awesomeness...hollandaise sauce was tasty and to make it even more special ..they added brie cheese:). Holy cow I feel like I just gained some weight. I split the dish with my sister and ordered some fresh fruit to help balance things out:)
Check out my pic!
BTW stay at the Driskill...it's beautiful and it's not even a block away from the crazy nightlife:)! -
Review from Adam A.
Austin, TX
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
1886 Cafe & Bakery is a nice, less fancy restaurant in the same location as the Driskill. You can either sit on the casual patio on 6th street or in the large interior with a cool view of the bakers at work.
I had the Hangover Burger (Black Angus Beef, Cheddar, Brown Sugar & Chili Rub Bacon, Sunny-Side-Up Egg & Crispy Hash Browns, served on a Whole Wheat Bun) and wow, it is as fantastic as it sounds. The Bacon flavor was just awesome, the most memorable bacon I have had in a while and perfectly cooked to a crisp. In fact the overall preparation of my burger was just done exactly right, the hash browns were well seasoned and a sticky clumpy delicious mess. The egg had a perfect yolk that oozed all over the burger. They actually cooked the burger medium as I asked, something that is surprisingly hard to get in Austin. I can't count the number of times I have had a burger over cooked when I ask for it medium or medium rare.
Desserts wise I sampled both of their ice creams, the Tahitian Vanilla Bean and the Valrhona Chocolate. Between the two the vanilla bean won but they were both fantastic.
I also had their famous 1886 Chocolate Cake. It was moist and delectable sitting in a pool of dark chocolate sauce.
Service was not the best but certainly not nearly as bad as some other reviewers have mentioned. I'm guessing service quality may go down when they are really packed but if you go on off hours I think you will have a great experience. -
Review from maisy d.
Austin, TX
12/4/2011
Went there for high tea. Way overpriced for what you get. The waitress could barely be bothered to refill our water. There wasn't much food (or tea) provided, considering we paid $50 after the mandatory gratuity. We had to sit in the lobby near the doors, and every time anyone went in or out we were greeted with a blast of cold air.
I won't go there again. -
Review from c g.
Austin, TX
10/26/2011
Please go there to try the Hangover Burger, it is the best in town! It has cheese, bacon and egg on it, what more could you want???
Scrumptious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
Review from Phyllis K.
Austin, TX
12/22/2011
The food here is good but you may find yourself un-wowed by your main courses. My suggestion is to skip the main and order 500 desserts. And by 500 desserts, I mean 500 orders of 1 dessert: the banana pudding!!! I will preface this by saying I love banana pudding, but I REALLY love this place's banana pudding. It's half-pudding, half-pie and all sorts of creamy, banana-ey wonderful-est-ness. Just go there for the banana pudding, it will make life worth living. I promise!
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Review from Katie A.
9/12/2011
Walked into this place randomly on a visit to Austin. We had no idea what to expect, but it was open, it looked very pretty, and it had air conditioning. Sold.
First of all, the place is beautiful. Very pretty. We went for an early dinner with a toddler, and it was perfect. They had a pretty extensive menu, tasty beers on tap, and everything was remarkably affordable considering it is a restaurant in a fancy hotel.
We had a veggie pizza with artichokes, and a three-course meal with steak and a chocolate cake. Totally yummy.
We even snagged some fresh pastries for breakfast the next morning. -
Review from Kelly S.
Though I've never been there before, the 1886 Cafe was just as I suspected -- classy decor, a feeling of refinement and privacy even as you're surrounded by the ravenous lunch crowd and the $10 Tuesday lunch menu. Well actually, that last part was a complete surprise.
If I hadn't been gunning for the hangover burger, I would have definitely taken some time to choose between the salads or the shrimp louie, the red chili or the chicken pot pie. But instead, I boldly ordered a gigantic burger. This thing was practically plate sized -- and believe it or not, I almost couldn't get my big ol mouth around it. This burger had hash browns, an egg, perfectly cooked medium meat and a slightly sweet bun. And bacon. Oh the chili rubbed bacon. It had my eyes rolling around in my head.
No need to rave further but I've eaten a lot of burgers in this town and if you consider yourself a connoisseur, stop in and try this monster. And if you work downtown, then this $10 lunch deal is one of the best in town. -
Review from Veronica M.
Austin, TX
6/28/2011
A friend and I went here for Sunday brunch. We opted to sit at the bar to skip the 30-minute wait for a table. The bartender was prompt in attending to us and friendly enough, but we overheard him complaining to several servers that they were out of straws and other bar basics. When I requested Tobasco, he told me they were out of that, too. Huh?
Pros: The grilled vegetable sandwich and steak fries were delicious.The brunch menu has a good variety.
Cons: Not what I'd expect from the Driskill. For our mimosas, the bartender poured the champagne first, then the juice which killed the bubbles. Overpriced for sandwiches and breakfast stuff.
If I go to the 1886 Cafe again, it'll just be for dessert. Theirs are fantastic. -
Review from Christina M.
Phoenix, AZ
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
The historic Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin is a landmark not to be missed. This historic hotel is grand upon entering, reminiscent of hotels of the past - tall pillars, plush sofas, parlor type entryways, and staircases with true presence. Within The Driskill, 1886 Cafe and Bakery can be found with ease as you walk into the main entrance of the hotel.
Both outdoor and indoor seating is available. 1886 Cafe and Bakery opened its doors on July 4, 2002 after having its predecessor, "1886 Lunchroom" which served recipes of those members from The Heritage Society who initially saved The Driskill from demolition. My friend and I were greeted and seated immediately inside, a plush booth by the window with history attached indeed.
They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Particularly for their lunch menu one can find soups and salads, various sandwiches and burgers, as well as flatbread pizzas. Their Griddled Four Cheese Panini ($10.00) is served with a cheesy combination of provolone, white cheddar, Swiss and boursin cheese on sourdough bread. A cup of tomato bisque is served as a perfect dipping soup for your cheese creation!
Dessert is a must for anyone dining at 1886. Their warm apple pie ($8.00) is made fresh from Granny Smith Apples baked inside a flaky pastry crust, crunchy oat streusel and served with a scoop of homespun vanilla ice cream. Warm apply pie at its very best!
A most perfect lunch in a historic surroundings, dining does not get much better than that! The history which surrounds The Driskill gives a glimpse of going back in time to grander hotels. Service with a smile and fresh made foods, 1886 Cafe and Bakery is a stop for anyone visiting downtown Austin. -
Review from AMY D.
4/10/2011
If you are doing brunch solo I highly suggest sitting at the bar. The regulars and the walk of shamers tend to sit there providing an abundant amount of entertainment. The bar stool also provides a bird's eye view of the pastry chefs in action creating beautiful cakes and other baked goods.
If dining with a group, the outside area is a nice place to take in a beautiful Austin day.
A couple items I enjoy here are the Hippy Hollow which has eggs, goat cheese, tomatoes and spinach and their buttermilk biscuits with strawberry jam. Not a big fan of their dinners but they do brunch very well. -
Review from Darla A.
3/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
WOW, such a beautiful hotel, such high expectations, such hype. Let's just say this was a lot like the Oscar Winning Movie Babel to me... I just did not get it.
In spite of having a reservation for a large party, they made us wait until the latecomers arrived to be seated, which I find very rude. That actually set the tone for what would become just a so so dining experience.
The positives:
- Beautiful old historic hotel
- $4 Bloody Marys
- Addicting complimentary bread sticks
- Very nice attentive Scottish waiter
- Texas shaped Belgian waffle
- The company of some great yelpers
Besides those, I found the food to be just ok. Nothing spectacular. I was pleasantly surprised to see a truffle hollandaise on the Smoked Honey Glazed Turkey Hash which was supposed to be Two Eggs, Caramelized Onions, Celery, Carrots, Country Potatoes & Truffle Hollandaise. Out of country potatoes, they substituted with French Fries without asking me, which defeats the purpose of a hash. It seemed like 2 tablespoons of onions, carrots and celery with about 5 half inch chunks of turkey underneath my 2 eggs with french fries around them and doused in the truffle hollandaise. I did like the hollandaise, but the breakfast was like a bad date. It left me regretting my decision.
They set up our table for 11 right by the entrance, which was awkward, because we felt jammed in a spot that the wait staff had to squeeze by to get to the patio and were exposed to every new arrival walking by.
The layout of space seemed crammed, not inviting. It felt like they tried to put as many people as possible in my grandmother's kitchen.
I can't put my finger on any one thing. I was expecting them to have menu items that knocked my socks off. I really wanted to like them, but I am afraid 1886 Cafe & Bakery is just not my type.Listed in: No, Just No
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Review from Kris S.
Cedar Park, TX
10/1/2011
I came here several times for desserts prior to my dinner visit. So when a friend out of town wanted to have a late dinner last night, I decided to take her here, thinking that I'd be a saver choice than what food trucks have to offer at those hours.
I was just going to order an entree, but the restaurant's week 3-course menu sounded like a good deal.
For appetizer, I had the fried oyster sliders; it was pretty good tho I couldn't really taste the presence of the oysters itself.
Then my entree of market fish came to the table. I had a bite of the mahi-mahi and all I could taste was SALT, A VERY SALTY & DRY OBJECT to be exact. Also, the long-stem way-dark brocolli next to it was too tough to break in, so I decided to just nibble on the potato fritters instead.
When the waiter came around to check on our table, I complimented the fritters and lightly commented on the extraordinary saltiness of the main entree. He delivered the message to the kitchen crews, but apparently they didn't think too-salty-to-eat dry main entree was a problem enough to be addressed.
I tried to give them a break when my banana bread pudding dessert was arrived. It's very good as usual, hence the incentive to try their full course dinner to the begin with. I tried to think to myself, how would I do if I had to work in the kitchen at 11pm on a Friday night. So I just asked for a to-go box for the dinner; hey, maybe I can fix a chopped salty fish fried rice for tommorow's lunch, right?
Well, I got home right after just to find out the I-thought-it-was-just-dark-green brocolli to be green-yellowie droopy borderline slimey, and it had touched the salty fish all over. I guess the cafe's dim lighting do them a big favor after all.
Later on, my friend told me that she didn't expect much from vegetarian entree from a bakery anyway. Her entry was just very oily. There went our $65 dinner. We could've spent 1/4 of the dinner cost for most probably better food taste & quality from the food vendors around the block. Now I know why the other couple tables next to us went straight ahead to order from the dessert menu.
I learned my lesson: do NOT ever order foods but bakery items in this place EVER again!!! Fellow foodies... save your $$$ and go somewhere else then maybe swing by this place for some desserts, and ONLY desserts. -
Review from Rhianna B.
Austin, TX
8/22/2011
1886 Cafe is currently my first choice for indulging in breakfast or brunch. Not only do they have excellent illy coffee, but I always find myself indecisive about what to have from the menu. So far, the 'Hippie Hollow' is a perfect omelet portion with mushrooms and goat cheese. 'Green Eggs and Ham' is for larger appetites; grilled pork loin with green chile, eggs, and purple potatoes.
I think a large part of what makes this place work is the ambiance. Nice dark wood with cloth covered walls and honeycomb beige tile make this place classy, yet not uptight. You also can see into the kitchens, right next to the main bar. I forsee this place coming to my breakfast rescue many times in the future. -
Review from Megha K.
Sugar Land, TX
4/30/2011 1 photo
My girlfriends and I decided on the 1886 Cafe & Bakery as our "dress up" Restaurant Week pick this season. Luckily, it turned out to be a perfectly adorable choice, complete with high ceilings, the decor of the Driskill, and the "fancy-for-an-evening" appeal for us ladies.
To start, we consumed a boatload of 1886's addictive breadsticks. Delish! The appetizer I picked was the GLORIOUS black bean hummus, which had a vibrant roasted garlic flavor and was served with wonderfully thick and large pita chips. Easily my favorite dish of the night.
Next came the main course, and I picked the salmon, topped with melted cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, onion, and greens. It was satisfactory, and I feel like the steak may have been the more impressive choice. But I was happy with it and particularly happy with the freshness of the greens and onions.
Finally, the 1886 chocolate cake - caramelized butterfly, powdered sugar, and two shy little raspberries on top - was delightful, though dreadfully rich, as you might expect.
Also, the layout and look of the food was just gorgeous, dovetailing nicely with our Driskill setup. Definitely recommend it for a nice dinner out! -
Review from Danielle C.
Austin, TX
2/27/2011
Lunch review.
Meh. My husband and I sat at the bar because the wait for a table was apparently 15 minutes. There were 5-6 empty tables, so maybe they were under-staffed for lunch service? Still felt weird.
I had a grilled portabella, husband had pork loin. Both were generous servings, but way over-seasoned. Too much vinegar, I think, and felt too heavy to have for a lunch. I assume they get a lot of business people who want a solid meal in 10 minutes, because both of our dishes were made earlier and had been sitting out for a while. Beautiful setting. Last night's beer fumes mixed with our lunch because we sat at the bar. Decent service and price, but next time I'll go for brunch or dessert. -
Review from Alberto N.
Austin, TX
1/24/2011
I thought I had some pretty good memories of this place from a few years back, but as I thought about it a little more while I ate my strangely salsa-esque chicken tortilla soup that tasted of sad tomatoes and lots of black pepper and sipped my my barely luke-warm just poured coffee I realized that those memories may have been worked up in my mind just a little bit. Certainly it could have been a fluke night for these folks but even the bread basket had stale bread (which normally would be fixable if your soup wasn't sad).
I (obviously) don't make it in here too often, but its nice to step inside the Driskill every now and again, so I'm hoping my next visit will be more like the memories of old. -
Review from Sarah N.
Austin, TX
5/8/2011
1886 was the perfect place to take my mom for Mother's Day.
Decadent pastries (displayed in a gorgeous case)
Dark, rich coffee
Classy atmosphere
Varied menu of yummy breakfast fare and lunch items
I ordered the turkey hash. It was delicious and came with poached eggs (a bit over cooked), baby purple potatoes, and smothered in truffle hollandaise. My mom had the green eggs and ham which was a pile of green chile scrambled eggs and several large pork medallions. The portions were huge - and made great leftovers later in the day. Service was great even when the place got really busy around 10 am. My mom loved it and said she felt very "elegant" surrounded by the beautiful stained glass windows and polished tables.
I will definitely be back to try lunch! -
Review from Steven R.
1/1/2011
This has always been a fun place to visit, especially around Christmas time, but today was just the pits. For such an established hotel as the Driskill is, one would expect excellent service and food. This place needs some serious intervention from senior management.
Service was S L O W . . . When I signed in, I was told that a table was available, but needed to be bussed. We were to be seated in the lobby, which was fine because of the Christmas tree. There were two empty tables in the lobby, which I assumed were for reserved parties. Turns out not. It just took 20 minutes to be seated at one of the two empty tables.....
Things did not go up from there. Our server was nice but inefficient. It took a long time to get waters, maybe 10 minutes? Food was not that long in coming after ordering, but was lacking. For one, we never got our appetizers. Our entree's came and the appetizers were never mentioned. At this point I was just glad to be eating.
The food. It was okay, but not like it has been in the past. The kid's food was fine, but not great. Can you really mess up French Toast or a cheese omelet? My wife and I both got Traditional Eggs Benedict. Stale English muffins and rubbery ham. Hollandaise was oddly sweet. The highlight was the roasted (fried?) root vegetables on the side.
I mentioned the missing appetizers when I asked for the dessert menu. Our server just kind of glazed over and said something about "not noticing because she was so busy with other people". Really? Did you really just say that? But this was a team effort. She did not bring out our food, so it was missed by many people before she "did not notice".
I will probably give them another try at some point. It is a great location and full of history, etc. But restaurants can't stand on history alone. History is not always kind. -
Review from Michael M.
Austin, TX
4/10/2011
I love to take out-of-town visitors to show off the Driskill Hotel, and we often stop in for a late lunch here. On a weekday mid-afternoon, I thought we'd have the place to ourselves, and we pretty much did.
Unfortunately, it seems that the waiter wasn't very interested in us. Given that he had no other tables to service, I thought he'd be more attentive.
I was also rather astonished to offer my guest a glass of Texas wine, only to discover that the Driskill has none on its menu. My conversation about this with the F&B manager proved unenlightening--they just don't have any, and he didn't know why.
Though I will return to the Driskill to show visitors its architectural splendor, we will eat elsewhere. -
Review from Keith R.
Santa Clara, CA
12/8/2011
Ate here every day during my stay at the hotel. The food: phenomenal. Texas Pecan Waffle the size of, well, Texas. Of course. Amazing. Brisket Sandwich about the best I've ever had. Blackened Salmon Salad... my last meal here before I head home. I'll miss this place. I'll have to come back for sure. Michelle, the bartender, is an absolute sweetheart. Can't recommend this place more.
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Review from Alix M.
Williamsburg, VA
What a delicious spot for breakfast! My boyfriend and I ate here twice during a recent trip to Austin. (Sidenote: we couldn't find many other breakfast places that open before 10am in the downtown area -- does Austin love to sleep in?)
Anyway, I enjoyed the breakfast tacos ones morning and almond-crusted french toast the next, while my boyfriend devoured a tower of huevos rancheros and then a turkey hash with truffle hollandaise on our second visit. Plates ranged from 10 to 12 dollars, not bad.
A chocolate croissant to go proved valuable later in the afternoon. Illy coffee, delicious. Lobby, beautiful; cowhide couches, awesome!
Thanks Driskill! -
Review from Aarial F.
Austin, TX
5/6/2011
I had the worst service of my life here several months ago. I am a server myself, and I understand that people have bad days. But the girl who served us was awful. We went in at 3pm, not a particularly busy time. She forgot our silverware, couldn't keep our waters filled, and sat and talked with other servers while our food was in the window. I don't mind sub par service as long as they try to make it up to me some how. Make a joke or something!! It's like she gave up half way through because she knew she was doing so badly.
The fish and veggies I got was really good. But the hummus was o.k. and my aunt's burger that she ordered well done was closer to medium/medium rare.
I love the rest of the Driskill! Awesome bar, beautiful hotel. -
Review from Sujata G.
Saint Louis, MO
2/27/2011
We came here late one night for a friend's birthday dessert. I love the ambiance in this place!! I may have spent a good part of the night just enjoying the decor!!
Their desserts are kind of small..... HOWEVER, they do taste amazing!! I had the apple pie, and tried a variety of other things that were ordered at our table (including, the 1886 chocolate cake, chocolate croissant, a cupcake, and a vanilla bean milkshake!) My friends and I like to share =)
Anyways, everything was really good, and the staff was very courteous to stay open a little later than usual for us, since it took our group such a long time to meet up and figure out what we wanted to order....
Definitely want to come back for brunch some day! -
Review from Emi H.
6/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Sometimes when you're far away from home all you need is a good meal to make everything right again. I woke up early just so I could have a big breakfast at the 1886 Cafe. I was staying at the Driskill while training for work and the cafe was conveniently located right in the hotel lobby.
I ordered their french toast with strawberries ($10) and a side of bacon ($2.50) for breakfast. My order came really quickly and I was excited to each because the bread that they used was nice and thick. No one likes scrawny french toast, right? The french toast was honest to God some of the best I've ever had and it was so good that I had it two more times while staying at the Driskill. The bacon was also very good as they served up nice big pieces that were cooked crispy, just the way I like it! Megan my waitress was so friendly and accomodating, and really helped to make my overall experience wonderful.
I got really homesick during my stay in Texas for various reasons and I don't know what I would have done without my morning french toast fix. Tex Mex and BBQ doesn't always agree with my stomach so it was nice that each morning I had a hearty and soul feeding breakfast to help me make it through the day.Listed in: Austin Spots That Made Me Go…
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Review from Rina L.
Austin, TX
2/21/2011
The breakfast is delicious here! It's a bit on the pricey side, but worth it. Everything was well flavored and not overwhelming at all. Service was great. I also enjoyed being able to watch the pastry chefs create intricate cake designs.
I also dined here for dinner once and I remember it being very delicious as well! -
Review from Jessica S.
Austin, TX
8/7/2010
Dedicated to the bakery....
My Birthday Friend chose this place to round out the evening.
We arrived late in the evening and only a few tables were taken, so it was easy to get going right away.
There were 4 of us, and we each ordered something different (well, my friend brought in a cupcake that was one of her gifts). Of course one had the 1886 cake with ice cream. I had a bite and it was delicious. Another had the bread pudding. I tried it. It's still not my thing, but it was much better than some of the other ones I've tasted in my life. And this one was much prettier, too.
I had the hot fudge sundae. Be sure you get the peanuts on it because the saltiness of them is so good with the sweet of the sundae. The Sundae is so "plain," considering you can order that just about anywhere, but I surely did enjoy it.Listed in: I feel the need. .... the need…, Birthday Season
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Review from t s.
Austin, TX
2/17/2012
The building is awesome! The food is good. Tried the eggs benedict on a croissant. It was good. Tried a burger. It was good too. Very pricy, but you pay for the decor`
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Review from Maria A.
Miami, FL
7/16/2009
Headed here in dire need of a carbillay delicious breakfast. I sat on the patio since this is Austin after all and patio culture is king. Respect.
It took me a while to order. I was starving but wanted to taste it all. Thankfully the server had some good suggestions. The service was fine but something was lacking. Also there was a minor but worth mentioning, in your face feel upon stepping into the cafe. I'd say less is more even when it comes to a restaurant.
The Paris eggs benedict were good. The buttermilk biscuit was slightly disappointing. I was told their bakery items are their claim to fame but nothing here is bad.
An ideal place for a breakfast meeting.Listed in: Austin is Awesome!
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Review from Mark H.
9/26/2008
Blech...this place sucks!
I can't believe I waited for 30 minutes to waste $12 on a turkey sandwich (oh, it WAS on a croissant..) with some Sysco fries (oh, they DID have a few slivers of Parmesan on them..) at this place. Yes, yes, the interior is situated in a historic building (the Driskill Hotel), but the service, food, and presentation need an upgrade for these prices.
The desserts looked pretty good. I guess if you are one of those chablis-quaffing, brie eating "Brunch" people, this place would suffice (Mr. Brasil, are you listening?). 1 star! Will say that the outdoor seating area looked loiterable. BUT you'd have to eat the food to sit there! Get it together Driskill - you seriously need to revamp the 1886 Cafe.Listed in: Boycott: Extreme Prejudice
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Review from Lisa N.
Fort Worth, TX
4/10/2011
My friends and I were quite excited to do Sunday brunch at 1886 Cafe & Bakery for restaurant week but the food, unfortunately, was not so exciting. To start, I had the mimosa and it was delicious.
Next came the most bland burger I had ever sunk my teeth into, the Ahi Tuna Burger. My friends ordered the same and we were all astonished at how under seasoned our burgers were. But being the amazing chef that I am, I decided to add "flavor" to my burger by slathering a substantial amount of ketchup onto the buns (ketchup makes everything taste better, jk!) While that may sound slightly disgusting, the ketchup adds a nice tang to the burger. Another downside to the burger was the poppy seed buns. It was extremely dry. This burger definitely needs revision.
Despite the disappointing burger, the 1886 Chocolate Cake was moist and delicious. I am a chocolate fiend so I devoured this cake within minutes. The banana pudding was also quite scrumptious.
I would definitely come back for the desserts. -
Review from Kevin N.
8/6/2007 1 Check-in Here
This place is, in my humble opinion, another one of the reasons Austin gives and keeps on giving..all of the amenities you might expect from the grand tradition that is the Driskill hotel, patio dining if you'd like it, and none of the stuffy pricey fare you'd necessarily have to endure in your typical high-end historic hotel setting.
The staff are on point and the honey truffle chicken is 2 for 2 on satisfying the tastebuds, there is a sweeth tooth's dream of a dessert menu, and a nice set of bar selections to boot. Fantastique.
