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ALC Steaks
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses
1205 N Lamar BlvdAustin, TX 78703
Neighborhood: Downtown
(512) 472-1813
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
198 reviews for ALC Steaks
Review Highlights
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"Our steaks were fantastic, of course." In 52 reviews -
"On a business trip and found ALC via Yelp (thanks Yelpers." In 31 reviews -
"Next, the buffalo lamb chops were jammin." In 7 reviews
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198 reviews in English
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Review from Stacey T.
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Best steak I've tasted in Austin. I had the petite filet mignon prepared medium. Seared tuna appetizer was spot on. I was able to substitute a cesar salad for the typical steak sides no problem. ALC made me feel that it was easy to get what I wanted from them.
The place smells like fresh baked bread when you walk in. GREAT way to set the mood. Also, they have fresh baked bread. YOWZA.
Good wine list and a full bar. On par if not better than Truluck's/EddieV's but more relaxed ambience. The interior was like a classy homestead.
I had my leftovers the next day and it was still delicious. I'm tellin you, that steak cut like butter. BEST. IN. AUSTIN. Damn delicious. -
Review from Julia P.
4/17/2012
This place has awesome food at a great price and the portions are huge! My husband and I started off with the beer battered mushrooms and we barely made a dent in it and had to box it up. As far as the steaks go, I love how it automatically comes with vegetables so you don't have to order it as a side like at the "fancy" restaurants. The steaks are huge and flavorful and I was very impressed.
We went on a Friday night during dinnertime and I was surprised by how empty the restaurant was and I hope it was just an off night because this restaurant is really good and laid-back (I went to eat in my workout clothes). I do have to warn you that the parking situation SUCKS!Comment from Scotty M. of ALC Steaks 4/18/2012
Julia, Thanks for the review, and for giving us a try! You… More » -
Review from Diana D.
Austin, TX
4/12/2012
Amazing steak and the buffalo lamb chops are TO DIE FOR!!! Also high on my list is the Clam Chowder with Sweet Potato.
The service, which is my biggest issue in restaurants, is alway fantastic.
The ONLY reason I don't give them 5 stars is because it is always freezing wherever they sit us. Ladies, bring a light sweater if you are going couture style so you can enjoy your food without frost bite.Comment from Scotty M. of ALC Steaks 4/12/2012
Diana, Thanks so much for the great review! It's wonderful… More » -
Review from Gary K.
4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
We packed ourselves into the Batmobile and headed to ALC for restaurant Week. We found it and was immediately seated.
Service: Excellent, the receptionist was a wow! Our server fantastic!
Food: We all three ordered the Ribeye, cooked to three different choices, mine was medium rare. Our sides were mashed potatoes, garlic mashed taters for two and mine non garlic, yep I was able to finally get mashed potatoes somewhere without garlic, or onions or skins, Yeah, I like It.
This is a nice steak house; we all liked it and will be back. (ie Would I go back?)Listed in: Best Service!!!!!!!!!!!
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Review from Mark G.
3/15/2012
Yes, it was a good steak and a good meal: ALC passes muster for its price category. Here's the rundown:
Beer-battered mushrooms - great texture but bland; chipotle dipping sauce made for an overcompensating kick in the pants.
Filet mignon - an excellent cut of meat well-prepared, with peppery seasoning reminiscent of family-style steakhouses of my youth. That's a comfort food bonus for me but may not be for everyone.
Carrots, Spinach and Garlic Mashed Potato sides - Nice touch that they serve sides with each steak but I make better at home and bet you do, too.
$10 side sampler of sauces - Brings a lot of flavor to the table for not that much extra, in the scheme of things. Still, between two people and four sauces there was no pairing that either of us thought really improved the steak. I know it sounds gauche but I got more mileage using the sauces to give the spinach that little something-something it was begging for.
ALC Cheesecake - Nope. I love sour cheesecake and I love Oreo crust, but I don't think they belong in the same dessert. Your mileage may vary.
Service - Good.
Vibe / ambiance - More quaint from the outside than the inside.
Parking - I avoid valet service but they should offer it. I'm fussy about my car and when I drove through the lot and saw a beautiful 993 Porsche Carrera squeezed next to an SUV parked over the line, I fled in terror (there were no spaces to be had, anyway).
The upshot - like I said, it passes muster for its price category. Three stars. -
Review from Michael F.
Danville, CA
5/9/2012
Had diner there this evening with my boss. We are both from out of town but always like to try new places. ALC stood out on Yelp so we gave it a shot. Food and service were very good. We started with the mushrooms which were really well done. I had the filet and he had the rib eye and we both commented that it was the best steak we had in a while. Be sure and the try the Blue cheese sauce on the side, it is really good.
All in all a very good experience and appropriately priced for what you get. -
Review from Mark S.
Austin, TX
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was assaulted by another patron after he harrassed myself and my girlfriend. Jordan the manager essentially did nothing. They finally had to ask the other party to leave and they thought that was sufficient. They didn't even comp us a drink or desert. NOTHING.
We called to talk to another manager "Katherine". They offered us $100 gift card (the first meal was almost $200). You cannot eat at this restaurant for $100. Why would I pay money for another meal at a place that helped ruin my anniversary dinner with my girlfriend.
Once I mentioned YELP, Katherine (the manager) said they were really gonna comp the whole thing......then WHY tell us an hour earlier that we were only getting $100.
Scared of YELP, Katherine?
My dog who can barely talk could run a restaurant better. There are a dozen (at least) better steakhouses in Austin......I suggest finding them, unless you want to eat in an establishment that has no class. -
Review from Paul B.
Sterling, VA
3/29/2012
The last time I visited Austin Land & Cattle Company was in 2007 or 2008, so if it's changed since then that's too bad.
One of the best steak experiences I've ever had occurred at Austin Land & Cattle.
The year was 2005. I had just finished Marine Corps Boot Camp in San Diego, CA and I was back in Texas on 10 days of leave. I decided to drive down to Austin to visit my best friend, and knowing that I would be in the mood for a hearty, big steak, he suggested we visit Austin Land & Cattle. I was of accord.
I ordered the 28 oz. porterhouse steak. 28 oz. is just under two pounds. It's a lot of meat. The steak was huge, and impressively enough, it was cooked expertly. It wasn't too tough, and there wasn't too much cartilage or sinew running through it. Perfect. The side of garlic mashed potatoes was quite good as well.
In addition to the food being delicious, the service was professional, attentive, and quick, and the ambiance of the restaurant is nice and refined.
I might go as far as saying that Austin Land & Cattle Company is a landmark that all Texans should visit at least once. Well... even if not all Texans, all Austin Texans.
If you're a big fan of steak, visit Austin Land & Cattle Company. It may be a little pricey, but I believe it's worth it.
Enjoy!Comment from Scotty M. of ALC Steaks 4/9/2012
Paul, It makes me so proud to hear that we make one of your… More » -
Review from Chris D.
Austin, TX
2/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really wanted to give Austin Land & Cattle a 4-star rating. It's local, organic, and they pay attention to their ingredients and methods. I wanted to glow about it , but I just can't.
ALC dining history:
I've been here 3 times-- once to try it out, and twice since for Valentine's Day. Last year's V-day menu featured a 16 oz. Chateaubriand that was just fantastic (though, really, how could you mess that up?) So I chose to go again this year and enjoy another 4-star experience. Unfortunately, it didn't pan out.
The setting:
Valentines Day (a Tuesday), 9:30 PM reservation
The service:
The hostess was very nice. Our server was friendly enough, but extremely casual. Her attitude made me feel like we were at Chuy's and we were her flip-flop wearing friends who'd come to visit and eat free chips. Both of our previous waiters had been very classy & professional, so this was a surprise.
She was not helpful selecting a bottle of wine. She hadn't tried the majority of the wines I asked about, and when I told her I wanted a big, bold red, she recommended a weak-tasting Claret. Luckily, she did let me sample the Claret (because they sold it by the glass), so I was able to avoid that mistake. The wine I ended up ordering was still a shrinking violet compared to what I wanted.
She also recommended an appetizer we hated and didn't notice our disappointment or ask how it was. Otherwise, service was fine. We would have loved her at Chuy's or some local diner. Not sure fine dining is her forte, though.
Food:
I'll give sub-heads for people who want to scroll past the starters...
Scallop appetizer:
Our waitress recommended the "giant" scallop appetizer, which the menu said was crusted with panko and sesame seeds. It was on the special menu and turned out be the biggest disappointment of the night. The scallops were small and overcooked. I've been seeing scallops twice as large in the Whole Foods fish case for weeks.
Additionally, the scallops were not crusted with anything. We counted maybe 10 sesame seeds spread between the 3 scallops, and not a single panko bread crumb. I almost asked her if she brought the wrong scallop appetizer, but there was only one on the menu. They were dry & rubbery from overcooking, and they had an oily dipping sauce (sesame oil, I think), that didn't help very much. They were also bland.
Asparagus:
We ordered a side of asparagus because we love asparagus, and we were very disappointed. It's a hard vegetable to get wrong, yet... the tips were burned (charred), and parts of the stalk tasted like char. They were all very skinny and didn't taste like asparagus at all. The flavor was overwhelmed by the char flavor and by some sort of thin, sweet sauce or marinade that had been poured over them.
Spinach, Carrots, potatoes:
The sides that came with our steaks were really excellent- julienne carrots, fresh spinach, and potatoes (I had mashed potatoes, he had a baked/loaded). The spinach was cooked perfectly. The carrots were covered in butter (delicious) and tasted sweet and fresh, with just the right texture (not too mushy).
STEAK:
And that brings us to the main attraction- the main reason I eat out, and the best thing on any menu- the steaks.
He had a ribeye; I had the 12 oz filet. He ordered his medium-rare, I ordered mine very rare. I have a habit of pointing to something very red to emphasize my point when i order a steak. It should be at least as red as a 5-star review.
He was very pleased with his ribeye, though I thought it tasted a little too charred and a little bit like lighter fluid. It was good-quality meat, though.
Both steaks were a little under-seasoned. I am a true steak lover, to the extent that I almost never order a steak with a sauce on top and I appreciate subtle seasoning. When I cook my own meat at home, I use only salt, pepper, and sometimes garlic powder. I never add salt to my food at the table. Yet, I still found these a little bland.
My filet needed a little something extra to really make it sing, but it was still a good piece of meat, and it came out cooked correctly (and evenly). I finished most of it at the table, which is a feat for me, considering it was 12 oz.
Next time, I think I will try a new place or just go back to my favorite - Sullivans. -
Review from Tiffany W.
Austin, TX
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Let me preface my review by saying that I'm not a huge fan of steak but I can definitely appreciate a tender cut of meat so skillfully cooked it melts in your mouth. To my disappointment, Austin Land & Cattle did not deliver.
We were enticed to visit ALC since it was one of the few restaurants offering ribeye on their Austin Restaurant Week menu. Little did we know they typically offer an identical Sunday Prix Fixe menu for $35 -- as opposed to the advertised $36 for ARW.
The meal started out with a basket of complementary dinner rolls. Sourdough ( one of my favorites) delivered warm next to a ramekin of whipped butter. Next out were the appetizers -- Shiner Bock beer battered mushrooms and sweet potato clam chowder. The mushrooms were quite bland. I much prefer my mushrooms fried without the stems in a much thicker, more flavorful batter. However, the accompanying chipotle sauce added a nice kick. On the other hand, the sweet potato clam chowder was excellent. The sweet potatoes added a unique flavor to the creamy soup and created a very tasty appetizer!
For my entree, I ordered the 10oz ribeye (medium rare) with the ALC house sauce. The presentation of the food was spot-on but everything on the plate was lacking in the taste department. My steak was delivered with a beautiful char but came out at more of a medium than the requested medium rare. How does a steakhouse get this wrong? The meat was tough and reminded me of something I once ordered at Outback Steakhouse for $10. I tried drenching tiny bites of the steak in the house sauce (which was nothing more than A1 steak sauce) hoping to fool my mouth into thinking I was in fact eating the $30 ribeye I ordered instead of a slab of meat I purchased on clearance at HEB and threw on the stove for much too long, but alas, I could chew no further. I ended up taking home 9 of the 10 oz home in hopes of masking the subpar flavor and texture of the meat in some new creative kitchen creation of mine.
Steak lovers, take your business elsewhere. You won't find what you're looking for here.Listed in: BEST Complimentary Bread
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Review from Mary D.
Leander, TX
4/20/2012
I love this place! It's the best place to get steaks in Austin and they are locally owned. Thank you ALC Steaks!!
I was also surprised to find they have an incredible fish and chips on their bar menu.
Service is exceptional.
Parking is challenging, but I don't mind walking if I have to park off site. The dining experience is well worth the effort.Comment from Scotty M. of ALC Steaks 4/23/2012
Thanks, Mary! We take great strides to make sure our steaks… More » -
Review from adam h.
Longview, TX
2/14/2012
I'm a little unorthodox in my thinking, so ALC fans might be offended at one very important point I'm going to make about this place. But, first, to the review.
The Food
Austin Land & Cattle Co. serves up a wonderful steak. I ordered a 22 oz. bone-in ribeye, cooked medium. It came out perfectly cooked, with nary a spice blend or evidence of marinating -- which is how a good steak should be served. It is served with a lightly sauteed portion of spinach and julienned carrots. The spinach was crisp tender and delicious. Same for the carrots, though they seemed to have some additional sweetener (brown sugar, maybe?). The baked potato was just that -- a baked potato. It was fine.
The Service
I've seen several reviewers mention that the servers are upscale, and so on. I didn't get that feeling, other than they all wore black pants and white shirts. Our server was humorous and good-natured. She was not overbearing in any way, allowing us to enjoy our dinner, with occasional stops to see how we were doing. I couldn't get over how much she looked and sounded like Food TV's Rachel Ray. Fortunately, she didn't use corny catchphrases like "sammies," so all ended well.
Atmosphere
It's nice. Linen napkins. Tile floors. A little dark, which is fine, and possibly romantic. There are various black & white screen prints scattered throughout the place ... mostly western. The atmosphere is definitely fancier than Texas Roadhouse, but it's not exactly the Petroleum Club.
Bottom Line
I would come back here in a New York minute. The service was impeccable. The atmosphere is nice. And the food is superb. -- But ... If I were to take a blind taste test between the bone-in ribeye at Texas Roadhouse and the one served here, I would have a difficult time distinguishing them. If you are on a tighter budget (than the $38 ALC charges for the bone-in ribeye) and are in the mood for beef -- and don't mind cheesy waiters yelling 'yee haw' when someone comes in to celebrate a birthday ... the Texas Roadhouse is not a bad substitution. - - - If you want to impress a client or a dinner date, you need to come to Austin Land & Cattle Co. -
Review from Keith K.
Austin, TX
2/20/2012
My second time here proved to be a WINNING experience. I love this place! To define the ambiance; Its a fine dining place without the snootiness. A great, fun, chill vibe at the bar as you walk in, with a nice, relaxed atmosphere in the dining area beyond. Our server Meagan was incredible and took very good care of us. The shiner bach beer battered mushrooms are a great start. I had the ribeye cooked medium rare and was heavenly. Giggity giggity, I wanted to slap somebody it was so delicious! The only possible draw back if there was one, are the mash potatoes. They seemed a little on the thin/runny side as the consistency of instant taters. Perhaps they ran out of the real ones and had to sub. temporarily.
All in all, it was a great experience. Wine selection was super as well. I will be a returning customer. -
Review from Chosen O.
Austin, TX
3/28/2012
As always the food was delicious.
However, the service here has gone downhill quickly. It took our server almost 10 minutes to get our app and drink orders after we where seated. It then took another 15 minutes to get our cold app to the table.
During the meal there where no problems as the food is always excellent.
After the meal, when the server took my leftovers to be boxed up, they where thrown out instead of boxed up. When I pay 40$ for a steak, I expect to get the whole steak. I got the 16oz rib eye and ate just under half of it. To replace the 8oz of steak that where tossed, I was offered the steak sampler and assured that I was getting my 8oz back. The server boxed up my leftovers and my date's duck(which was also just excellent) in the back and bagged them in front of us without presenting them to us.
I ended up getting 3 bites of steak. 3 bites that I essentially paid 20$ for.
5 stars for the food reduced to 2 because the service was simply horrendous.
Update: In the comments section of this review, I was "contacted" by the owner and given a number to reach her at. The number is the general number of the restaurant. I called 5 times over 2 weeks during normal business hours trying to reach this person and every time I was told "She is not here and we never know when she will be." I even left my number several times asking her to contact me.
I understand this is a night-shifted business but with no attempt to actually contact me outside of some lip-service on yelp lowers this rating from 2 stars to 1 star. I am done with ALC.
Stick with Flemmings. The service is excellent and while a bit more expensive, Flemmings has the best steaks in Austin, hands down.Comment from Scotty M. of ALC Steaks 4/9/2012
It's always disappointing to hear when a guest walks away… More » -
Review from Henry Z.
Austin, TX
2/7/2012
Once you walk in, you will realize that this place is really fancy! The hostesses were dressed professionally, and the clientele were very clean and upscale. Also, the lighting in the restaurant was perfect.
The only downside to the place is that their cheapest steak was $26. However, the vegetables were tender and delicious, the garlic mashed potatoes were creamy and consistent (no chunks of unexplainable items), and the steak was cooked to perfection. I highly recommend the food here.
The service was very good here too. They refilled my water and took our orders rather quickly. Be sure to try the Porterhouse steak here! -
Review from Chas E.
Austin, TX
2/17/2012
I really like AL&C and have been there many times. I'm a big fan of their pork chops and as a side, the 'crispy' spinach. I don't know how they make that spinach, but it is awesome.
Routinely go when there is a group of us and we manage to get the 'John Wayne' room. Service has almost always been excellent.
The deep fried mushrooms and the stuffed peppers they do as appetizers are always tasty.
The bar menu is a deal. Burgers, chicken sandwich - with fries no doubt - always tasty. That steak sampler dish though is the best deal going.
My only complaint is wine list with not much variety. Wish they would have a few new things on the wine list on a regular basis. Seems like it's been the same for a long time. -
Review from Dave F.
Austin, TX
Updated - 1/9/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I recant the bad things I said about the Buffalo Lamb Chops. They are indeed delicious.
Also, the fillet here is great. I'm switching over to it from the rib-eye.
When you're done, ask for the vanilla cheesecake.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/18/2009
The steaks at ALC are very good. I love the rib eye here. It is as tender and delicious as any… Read more »
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Review from Mark F.
Austin, TX
1/4/2012
Best, by far, Happy Hour in ATX. And fantastic food. They age their own beef, which is some of the best in town.
But what really counts is the service. These folks just make the dining experince exceptional. On a recent visit, my Rib Eye looked like it had been prepared "black and blue", but was actually more medium well with a hard char. I had just cut into the beast, and was going to ask (politely) to replace said steak when our waitress, from behind me reached over, grabbed my plate, and shrieked "that's not black and blue", and raced off to the kitchen. Never, have I had a meal replaced so fast!!! Without even asking or having to explain. The side dishes are enormous (share a couple, and you'll have plenty left over), the menu selections are varied enough for meat lovers and non meat lovers (you know who are) to dine together and both get some great grub.
A few years ago, Scottie and Theresa helped me plan a small (25 people) surprise Birthday Party for my wife. What a fantastic event. The Buffalo Lamb Chops are worth fighting over, and the Shrimp were the size of my fist. With a platter of small sandwiches and a Crudités platter. What a hit.
Great folks, locally owned, fantastic service!!!! -
Review from Jennie K.
12/19/2011
Definitely yes. This is Austin - simple, delicious cuts of beef without any judgement on how much you want to spend, what you're wearing, or what kind of hurry you're in.
I've been here a few times - the first was after a long summer day in San Marcos and I was sickeningly sweaty but still hungry. They didn't blink an eye at the table for two relaxed and slightly disgusting Austinites. I swear the complimentary bread has crack (aka bacon) in it, as it's highly addictive.
I've had the ribeye which was good, but the recommended garlic mashed potatoes just weren't up to the hype. I feel like they were a little raw garlicky for me. Then I went back recently for a pre-show dinner (Beauty and the Beast by Broadway w00t) - I didn't want any leftovers sitting in the car and we were in a bit of a hurry. Drinks start at 5pm on a Sunday and steaks at 5:30 -- we were there are 5:30 on the dot, had an appetizer of buffalo lamb chops, split a new york strip, and were out by 6:20 for the show.
So the buffalo lamb chops - you get four, and I ask for the 2 kinds of dressing on the side so we can drip. I'm personally a fan of the jalapeno bleu cheese (not too spicy in small quantities) instead of the spicy buffalo sauce, but whatever floats your boat.
Also -- they split a steak plate for us and gave us each half the steak, half the baked potato, and the veggies with no fuss, no muss, and no "split plate surcharge" (that's how your waitresses get extra tips!) AWESOME. Unfortunately, this did mean I only got to eat my half, and it was more obvious if I dug into the boy's half...on his separate plate... -
Review from Leah R.
12/1/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. It's pricey, so it's not often I get here, but when I do, I find that I want to live here and eat steak every day. I mean, I'm sure their other menu items are just as delish, but how can you come here and not get steak?
Every cut of meat is probably superb if you like that cut - but for me it's filet or nothing. And their filet does not disappoint. Their garlic mashed potatoes are super yummy, and their veggie are great too (carrots and spinach). Their bread is to die for. The only thing that could make it more spectacular is if salad was included too, but what's an extra couple bucks when you're already splurging, right?
I love this place, and pretty much get any groupon/deal I can for this place to justify going more often. :)
Another great thing is the atmosphere - it's nice, and I didn't feel out of place in either a fancy dress or just jeans. Usually we are a big group and have a big hidden table which is extra special, and it was missing a little something when we got one of the middle of the room tables for 4 last time, but everything else was just awesome. -
Review from Sam H.
Austin, TX
1/15/2012
Parking sucks...that's about the only negative.
Service was great - nothing over the top but nice friendly service that you would expect.
Food was fantastic - between our party we had the escargot, new york strip, filet, and gulf shrimp. All of us were really impressed.
Great value, cool laid back atmosphere, we'll be back for sure. -
Review from Kelly O.
3/10/2012
We just had dinner here unplanned during SXSW 2012. The only reason I won't give it 5 stars was the service- it was a tad slow. Just a tad, nothing crazy but we were seated for at least 5 minutes before the server took our drink order. The food was delicious, I ordered filet-- not the best most perfect filet I've ever had but good. I'd rate this place as GOOD not fabulous, not great, but GOOD. We had the brownie dessert pie with ice cream for dessert- delicious, as was the Creme Brulee my colleague had. Would I go back? Yes. Would it be my top top top #1 choice for steak- no, but again, I'd say it is very good. ;-)
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Review from Sara B.
11/28/2011
My Dad was in from out of town, and so I thought we should take him to a local steakhouse. Dad and I both got a steak (New York strip and ribeye, respectively) and were impressed. Unlike most steakhouses of this caliber, the sides are included with the entree, which I appreciate. The BF is not much of a beef eater, and so he went with the chicken breast. As was to be expected, the chicken wasn't amazing. But this is a steakhouse, and I won't dock stars for mediocre chicken.
On top of having great food, the service was impeccable and the atmosphere was perfect. I'd definitely recommend this place, and I can't wait to come and try their happy hour! -
Review from Aaron G.
Austin, TX
1/13/2012
Back in December, my date and I decided we wanted to have a fancy steak dinner before hitting the town. We scheduled a reservation for 5:30pm, braved the rain and traffic, and arrived right on-time. To my surprise, we pulled into the parking lot and were able to find one of many spots directly in front of the restaurant. I had expected to have to hunt for spots or rely on valet to get in the door, but no!
Once in the restaurant, we were greeted with very friendly and helpful staff. The bar area offers a full dinner menu, in addition to a bar menu with burgers, fries, and the like. I was very impressed to discover that ALC offers great prices during happy hour: Mon - Fri, 5-7pm. They're only available in the bar area but, since we got there early, it wasn't an issue.
The food is incredible. The Black and Blue Salad is delicious, and was a perfect appetizer to split between the both of us. The New York Strip was cooked perfectly, and was good with their sauce sampler. We paid a little bit more for a "second plate" and split the steak up, getting our own sides. This was a nice way of enjoying high quality food without overeating. One quick note: If you get the sauce sampler, I would recommend getting it first thing so you can try it with all your appetizers in addition to the main course. Loaded baked potato? Yes, please. For dessert, the pumpkin praline [pastry] was amazing! Our server boxed it up to-go and recommended that we heat it up a little and add some vanilla ice cream. She was right!
All in all, we had a fantastic experience at ALC, and can't wait to get back out there for round two! -
Review from Mark G.
Austin, TX
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was our first time there, and we were really looking forward to it. And ALC certainly didn't disappoint. For our appetizer we had the New Mexico Green Chilis which were stuffed with goat cheese. Nice combination. I would definitely get it again, and I'm usually wary of spicy foods. The complementay rolls were also very good; fresh out of the oven.
For our entree we both chose the 8oz Filet Mignon with a baked potato. The spinach and julienne carrots were very good. I added Bernaise sauce for my steak. Dilectable. I also added on 4 shrimp cooked in a Shiner Bock batter. They were huge. Well worth the upsale. They came with a dipping 'sauce' that had, mayo, chipotle, and other ingredients. I asked our waitress Megan about wine pairings, and she suggested two (a Cab and a Malbec) which I got to sample first. I chose the Cab. I can't remember the name but it was very good; no aftertaste. It was $10/glass.
Our server took good care of us by checking in several times. She didn't rush us at all. She was well worth her $25 tip. ALC is quite probably my best steak experience in a long time. Can't wait to go back again, maybe for Happy Hour. -
Review from John G.
Reno, NV
3/6/2012
Wanted to get a nice steak in Austin and decided to go with a local joint. Steak was a little over cooked but tasted good. Good sized portions and friendly service. I wish the tables and chairs were a little nicer but maybe that was just our table. I would prolly try another place before going back but I wouldnt be opposed to eating at Austin Land & Cattle again.
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Review from Parker R.
Austin, TX
2/12/2012
Great Place, Great Steaks. Get the Cheese Cake.
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Review from Michael C.
Phoenix, AZ
3/8/2012
Excellent meal. this is Texas so it's all about the beef. I ordered a 30 oz porterhouse, requested that it be cooked medium well. I know that it's against the law here to order it that way but I did it anyway.
The steak came out the way I wanted it, juicy and very tasty.
I've been here before and never pass up a chance to have a meal here when I'm in town. -
Review from Rachel M.
Austin, TX
10/5/2011
Austin Restaurant Week is a great reason to go out and try fancy smancy restaurants you would never consider other wise. I talked my family into trying out ALC this past weekend and over all we had a good time.
The menu: Expensive if you're not dining during restaurant week or at happy hour. The Bar/happy hour menu looked awesome though, and the prices were all half off. Awesome deals on food, I will be back to try this for sure. Everything is separate on the menu. You order your main meat, and then pay extra for whatever side you want to have. You'll easily be paying $50 a person before drinks.
The Food: Great! However my dad still makes the best steak around, so I'm not inclined to go back and pay $50 for a steak dinner... They also had great homemade steak sauces- I recommend the bourbon one-Mmmmmmm
The experience: Our waiter was attentive but not annoyingly so. He was kind of sloppy when re filling out water glasses- dribbling water on the table, and sloppily placing silverware down because somebody forgot to beforehand. The restaurant is a lot more casual than I expected. However you could wine and dine with a date, or show up in jeans and tee shirt and not feel out of place either way. -
Review from Don S.
Leander, TX
3/21/2012
First off The parking is very limited and tight!! There is good tight and bad tight, this is Rosie O'donnell in a tutu tight!! Not good!! Ding me was my first thought when we parked! When entering you walk through the bar area up to the hostess stand. The bar was very busy and had food selections in it. Next visit we are gonna hang out there only and will update this review. We were seated quickly, but waited 11-12 minutes for a server to show to order our first drink and after the steaks arrived never got asked for another drink! She literally disappeared! This could kill a binge drinker like me!! Not much of a wine selection, but it was fine, the beer was ...well beer! We started with an Ahi appetizer and it was not great. Outback Steakhouse blows it away if that gives you some idea. We shared a large filet and they split it up for us. It was very good! Cooked perfect. We tried several of the steak sauces 4 for $10 and they really were not very good at all. Their salad was ok but the crunchy or crispy spinach was awesome. We added two jumbo shrimp to dinner, and WOW!!! They are 5 star rated!!!! Amazing flavor!! We will go back, but have to admit for the price this cost we had hoped for a much better overall dining experience. Too many misses on our visit for a higher rating.
Comment from Scotty M. of ALC Steaks 4/9/2012
Don, Thanks for giving us a try. I really appreciate you… More » -
Review from Kimberly G.
Austin, TX
12/31/2011
This is a wonderful place for a special meal. My husband & I like to go here for our wedding anniversary.
Yes, it's pricey...but in my opinion, worth every penny. The ambiance is quiet, refined - yet very comfortable. Service is always outstanding.
The food is expertly prepared. Be warned though, portions are huge! On our most recent visit, we got the Shiner battered mushrooms for an appetizer, and it could have easily been enough for four people! My husband had a bison ribeye (the special the night we were there); I had a lobster tail. His steak (yea, I tried a bite) was melt-in-your-mouth tender and seasoned "just enough". My lobster tail was as fresh tasting as any I've had on the East coast - and not overcooked! (why do so many restaurants seem to overcook shellfish?) Veggies were fresh & delicious.
The wine list is extensive, but not overwhelming. A good variety, from moderate-priced to somewhat expensive.
This is a wonderful place to go for a romantic, quiet evening. -
Review from Chester W.
Austin, TX
10/21/2011
My favorite fine dining restaurant in Austin hands down. I'm a Texas native but have been in Austin close to 10 years. I imagine this place is a relic of Austin past - very fine, lacking pretentiousness.
Steaks, chicken, fish, soup, salad, cocktails, desert - all are 5 stars top notch! Never had anything less than delicious.
Equally great is the ambiance. Dress to the 9's or come in casual and it's all the same here.
GREAT service from waiters, bussers, bar tenders & management.
They've been around for 30 years for a reason & have captured magic in a bottle - 5 stars all the way, keep it up ALC! -
Review from Rebecca L.
Austin, TX
12/27/2011
The service was excellent, as was the food. Even though we were using a Livingsocial deal, the waiter didn't make that judgemental face when we gave him the coupon. I had the special of the night; top sirloin with chimichurri sauce and my boyfriend ordered the NY strip steak. Both were cooked to our specifications (med rare) and were juicy and flavorful. We were both very pleased with our choices, and were full very quickly. It's nice, but not too nice. There were families and people in jeans. Definitely an Austin staple.
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Review from Curtis G.
Austin, TX
2/6/2012
Took a friend here for her birthday. The steaks and the service were excellent. It is a great place for a special occasion - as long as you're of the carnivore persuasion. Love to go local when I can.
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Review from Staci B.
Austin, TX
7/21/2011
Happy Hour with the Bosses and will be back for my Anniversary too.
Sat in the bar and ordered the Sampler with Sweet Potato Fries. Had the Makers Mark dipping sauce and their House Sauce. Topped off with 2 Dirty Titos (Martinis).
Each sample of steak was like a classy party on my tongue. The fries were, sweet, salty and oh so good.
The waitress was awesome (my bosses are regulars) and I think this is a new watering hole for me. Pricey - so only once a month for me. -
Review from Rik W.
Austin, TX
2/8/2012
Better than any of the mega-chain formula steak houses in Austin (Sullivan's, Fleming's, Morton's, Perry's, Ruth's Chris--any with an apostrophe in its name, even that is a formula).
And they allow corkage, which seems to be unusual in the Austin steakhosue market. Others force you to buy their overpriced and not-ready-to-drink young vintages. When I want a good steak I go here. -
Review from James F.
4/11/2011
First try AL&C for restaurant week, had high expectations with folks telling me that it was the best steak they ever had. My mom had heard that, I heard it as well. The only diner that had actually visited previously was the wife; but that was over 10 years ago in her college days and she had a pork chop! Anyway, the space is well thought out considering the building is ancient because my neighbor worked here as a Mexican restaurant in the 70's. Oh, before I forget this was an anniversary dinner for my parental units with one being somewhat pickier than the others.
I chose the Caesar while others chose the fried mushrooms. I personally didn't care for their spin on the dressing, the rest of the salad was a salad. Very in-depth there Rooster, lettuce, house made garlic crouton, and shaved parmesan. Was that better? I ended up trying the mushrooms because the portions were huge, interesting spicy thousand island esque dipping sauce. The bread they serve is divine, like your own tiny baguettes.
Moving onto the meat or in my wife's case the grilled shrimp. She wasn't crazy about the portion (4 large) for the price tag even with the RW price point, super sweet and tasty none the less with the drawn butter. The rest of the family chose the ribeye. All steaks were cooked perfectly to order, and I totally was sold on my experience. Tasty rub with a tenderness that is hard to find on a steak cooked rare. Mom cast her vote for another steakhouse; but said that AL&C was a serious contender. Dad didn't care for the rub but commented on the quality of the steak and its perfect temperature. All entrees came with the regular menu potato, blanched spinach, and carrots. No complaints on the veggies from any of us.
Little Rooster had skinny fries and rice, no kids menu at all. He instead ate off the bar menu, the edible portion that is. We all chose the brownie pie, quite delicious for the bites I could manage to swallow. Service proved decent but not stellar. I can attribute this to the amount of patrons thanks to AWR. For my first visit to Austin Land & Cattle, I can see what all the fuss is about. That steak showed years of refinement and a skilled hand on the grill. Totally worthy of another visit yet just a shade under exemplary. Can't wait to go back and try that chop my wife had. -
Review from Anh P.
5/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Completely disappointed!!
I will rate the steak as 4 (quite delicious), but service was 2.5.
I've lived in Austin since 1998. I've seen this place next to the tavern and always wanted to go especially after reading reviews etc. But for some reason, I never stopped by, until this past weekend. A friend from out of town was visiting and wanted to eat steak. I suggested Perry's, but he did not want to dress up and go downtown, so off to Austin Land & Cattle we all went. I was excited. Years of thinking about this place....
And that's where it went down hill.
You go in and you see a full bar right at the entrance. Yes, I love full bars. We sat down to order and I ordered one of my favorite drinks: a sazerac. This will tell me immediately if it is a full service bar. Nope, they cannot make a sazerac. I did have a black & tan though....
Next, our table of 5, asked about the steaks. If you are a waiter at a steak restaurant, you should KNOW something about the steaks you are selling. Perhaps our waiter was new, but he couldn't tell us anything and said he could get someone else. I would think they would train new-hires about their job first before putting them out as a waiter.
Third and most important fail. I am specific about what type of steak I want. I want medium rare. Mmmmmm. My sister and brother in law wanted their steak "medium well." Not my idea of a good steak, but that's what they wanted. Well the COMPLETELY mixed the orders and my steak turned medium well, while their's was medium rare.
Once you get a steak and take a bite and/or are prepared to eat and have to have it taken away to either be re-made or cooked more, it's game over. You've lost your appetite. My sister's steak was re-cooked, but incorrectly the second time. My new one came out RARE and not MEDIUM RARE. FAIL.
However with that being said, the steak was good. Actually pretty darn good, but it was not as enjoyable as it could have been b/c of all the issues. The garlic sauce was good, but when I eat steak, I want to taste the flavor of the steak, so as such, used the sauce sparingly. I will also say that the carrots were DELICIOUS. They were so sweet. I have never tasted carrots THAT GOOD.
We did mention it to the manager and he comped us our drinks.
I was disappointed, but that won't mean I won't ever go back here. I will likely choose any other steak house, but if someone wants to go here, I will go here again. I would however be upfront and tell them the issues I had last time. -
Review from Maya G.
3/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was awesome! I was in Austin for SXSW when a group of co-workers and I went to this steakhouse on a recommendation. It was surprisingly dead for a Sat. night, so I was a little skeptical. Regardless, once the food came out, we were in heaven.
The steak was perfectly cooked, the sauces that it came with were delicious, the drinks were great, and there was not one part of my meal that I didn't love. Even the service was great. This was another home run meal in Austin with great good and great company. -
Review from Allison A.
Austin, TX
12/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
We liked this place a lot.
Pros: First few bites of the giant filet mignon melted in my mouth like butter, the baked potato was awesome (hard to mess that up), the carrots were pretty good, and while I personally do not like cooked spinach, it looked like it would be a hit with someone who does. The rolls before were nice, especially with that butter; not that it was anything fancy, but it was really good for plain butter. The brownie pie thing afterwards was great; the slice is a bit small but it's not like you really need much after such a huge meal anyway. Even my husband who isn't crazy for chocolate desserts loved it.
Cons: (1) I had the huge 12 oz filet mignon and once I got past about two thirds, it became very, very dry (even though I had ordered it between medium-rare and medium). However, I'm used to eating a 7-8 oz filet at most places so maybe that is an unavoidable problem with such a large, lean cut of meat? (2) I usually enjoy Christmas decorations but we were right next to the Christmas tree and the LED lights were a bit blinding/distracting.
Lastly, I wouldn't exactly say this is a con but the service was somewhat aloof. We had a living social coupon despite the fact that I usually avoid coupons when eating out. Why? Because while I always masked the sense of dread I felt when seeing those little buggers at the previous restaurant I worked at, many servers tend to have a visible, less-than-enthusiastic reaction when the coupon is brought out and then the service will often suffer. **Please don't think too poorly of a server that does this, I had many a lackluster tip from the customers taking advantage of these deals (either tipping on the discounted amount as opposed to the total or leaving no tip at all if the voucher covered the entire cost of the meal).** But back to the review- I may have just been paranoid that he wanted nothing to do with us as we were coupon-users tonight, maybe at ALC, being an expensive steakhouse, servers tend to leave their tables alone so they can have sparkling conversation?
Overall, a lovely experience and we will definitely return.
