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Austin Grill
Categories: Restaurants Tex-Mex Restaurants Mexican Tex-Mex, Mexican [Edit]
8430A Old Keene Mill RdSpringfield, VA 22152
(703) 644-3111
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
46 reviews for Austin Grill
Review Highlights
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"the chips & salsa are GREAT - unlimited, tasty, free." In 6 reviews -
"the fried ice cream was also." In 3 reviews
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"For example, I tried the fried avocado tacos." In 6 reviews
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45 reviews in English
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Review from Chang P.
Chantilly, VA
5/1/2012
Great wings and nacho chips...
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Review from William P.
Lincoln, CA
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like unique options on a menu so I tried a taco plate with one brisket and one fried avocado taco (yes, they will let you mix and match.)
Brisket taco was good, but fried avocado taco...meh. The idea sounds good, but execution was lacking. It just came across a bit bland. It did have the jalapeno jelly, but the avocado pieces could have used some seasoning too. Points for effortand creativity.
Chips and salsa were a hit. Fresh made chips still warm from the fryer, mmmmm. The green salsa is worth a try as well, after all it's free, right? You'll have to ask for it though, since the red variety is the default.
Don't miss the strawberry lime-aid. very tasty, and very sweet. If you're not a big fan of sweet stuff, it might be too much for you.
guacamole was fair. Not my favorite, but not bad. Enjoy! 3.5 stars if I could... -
Review from Megan K.
Alexandria, VA
2/27/2012
Good food and chips and salsa, not great service. Even if it's a slow day, expect to wait a while for everything.
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Review from Tim B.
VA
2/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
We had a nice family dinner, with friendly service. I highly recommend the wings as an appetizer. It's small and a bit loud, but a good experience for us. It's a chain restaurant, but it has some personality and uniqueness feel to it. It's quite popular, so expect a wait on weekend nights.
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Review from Bentley B.
Springfield, VA
4/12/2012
A few years ago, this was one of my favorite places, not anymore. Service has slipped, food portions have gotten smaller. New menus aren't as good, but much more expensive when you consider raise in prices and decrease in portions. Very disappointing to see the change for the worse.
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Review from P D.
Burke, VA
10/20/2011
Good wings! Nice BBQ taste to them. Salads are big am will fill you. Try a swirly magarita if you can.
This is good for a family. Tortilla chips are fresh -
Review from Min Sae C.
Clifton, VA
5/13/2011
Went here for the first time in a few years with my wife. Menu has changed quite a bit, both good and bad. Overall the experience was wildly inconsistent. I'll start with the positives.
Everyone from the host, server, bartender to the manager was very friendly and eager to please. The grilled wings were some of the best I have ever had. Guess we got lucky because these wings have been very inconsistent over the last few years. The salsa was nice and spicy and the weedkiller hot sauce is very tasty. The steak for my steak fajitas were nice and tender with nice flavor. The fried ice cream was very good Now for the bad and some of it is real bad.
Why the hell are the chips put into some ridiculous spiral tower?? Looks totally out of place and must be a pain in the ass for the staff. The guacamole was inedible. All I could taste for the next 12 hours was the overwhelming amount of onions in the guac. Also the guac was severely over mixed and was more like a porridge. Where are the chunks!!!
The red rice and green rice were disgusting. Looked and tasted like they were sitting out all day. Refried beans were the worst I have ever had. Undercooked and lacking any flavor. Terrible value with a lot of overpriced items from drinks to food. I had the combo steak/carnitas fajita's. The protein portion was an absolute joke for $18.99. Rio Grande has better quality with fresh tortillas for the same price. The Carnita's used to be one of my favorites until now. They came out very dry and crumbled (I almost cried when I saw them).
This place deserves a 2 star rating but the great staff got the 3rd star. Its too bad that an old neighborhood joint has fallen so far and lost its way..... -
Review from Jonathan M.
Arlington, VA
5/26/2011
When keeping it blah goes wrong....
Ive been to Austin Grill twice. To say I was unimpressed would be an understatement. The food is dry, the service is slow, etc. I really applaud the attempt, but feta cheese on the Steak Fajitas is nothing short of a valiant bust - albeit a bold bust.
Both times my meat doubled as dental floss, and that concerns me. I mean, I'm all for a clean mouth, but there's a time and a place; I didn't see a dental chair, so I imagine it wasn't the correct place.
I cant say that you shouldn't go, that's not the case at all. But if average, boring Mexican fusion is your forte' this is your spot. Its edible, its semi affordable for a lunch spot, and its nothing that I look forward too. -
Review from Foodie C.
McLean, VA
5/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pass on this place
Thats all -
Review from Vanessa D.
Burke, VA
10/8/2011
*Yawn* Oh, excuse me. The food at Austin Grill is putting me to sleep.
I really want to give them more stars. I wish I could. A few years ago, I would have given them an easy 4 stars. Not now. No way.
My family and I had always thought of Austin Grill as our "go-to" Tex Mex restaurant. As of late, we have been disappointed too many times to even consider going back. We have tried different seatings (brunch, lunch, and dinner) in hopes of finding that wonderful food that kept us coming back. It's gone; and it seems to be gone for good.
On our last visit, we went to brunch. We had a party of six. Half of us were served our food STONE COLD. The cornmeal pancakes were awful. I was really dissapointed, because in the past, the pancakes were a family favorite. The Austin Eggs Benedict were OK. They were served luke warm. My son ordered the steak and eggs. The steak was totally overcooked and tough. No one seemed satisfied by anything we ordered. The highlights of the meal were the chips, salsa and strawberry limeade. What a shame.
The service was very slow. We were ignored for most of the meal.
I am not sure what happened here. A change in managment, perhaps? A change in kitchen staff? Whatever happened, they need to fix it.
We won't be going back. BRING BACK THE OLD AUSTIN GRILL! WE MISS IT! -
Review from j b.
Burke, VA
12/28/2011
Chips and green salsa are the only good things about the place. Have been here several times and keep going back with the hope of improvement. The last time, I paid with a Austin Grill gift card and the waitress kept the card even though it still had a balance. When I asked her for it, she said "well it only has two dollars left on it". What kind of "service" is that?
It seems to be a popular place, because every time I go, it is very crowded. They pack the diners in very close to each other and it is very loud. overall, not a very enjoyable environment. -
Review from Harvey E.
Centreville, VA
4/3/2011 1 photo
I had $30 on my Rewards Club card which were going to expire on April 1, so we headed in there on 03/31 for dinner.
We had to wait a few minutes to be seated and we were seated in the back.
I usually go to the one on Penn Quarter near my office so I was familiar with the menu. I always enjoy their salsa but here they served red and green (all the times I went to the one in Penn Quarter, they only served red).
My wife ordered the fish and chips (something safe to feed our 16 mo old daughter) and I ordered the Texas chili and Carne Asada Steak. While we were waiting the people next to us (who had two young boys) got some sort of children's meal, which we were unaware of (I did not see any children's menu section, nor were we offered one).
The chili seemed a bit spicier than I remember, but I always love a good tortilla. My daughter likes tortillas, so we asked the server if we could get an extra order of them and he brought them out, no charge.
My wife said the cole slaw was a bit spicy, as was the sauce for the fish, but the fish was fine and she shared that and the french fries with our daughter.
My steak was fine, with a roasted ear of corn and garlic mashed potatoes. My daughter had about 1/4 of my steak and mashed potatoes.
Fried ice cream sounded good for dessert but my wife said it was too cold. He did say they had sopaipillas, which I like and haven't had in a long time. We got ours with coconut ice cream and it was good.
I can't complain too much since it was a mostly free meal. It is sad that they are "modifying" their Rewards Club though. -
Review from Padraic C.
Falls Church, VA
10/22/2011
A local watering hole personality from the onset. Happy Hour is busy and hectic from 4:30 to 7:00. Pints of Texas brew well priced. Horrible bar tender. A tall woman of short demeanor and crass in tone and substance. I went 8 times for happy hour. Each time I ran in to her I was greeted with ridiculous happy hour rules of no take out of food even though I sat there for an hour eating the food and had to run home. No beer this day, no wine that day. The customers were the saving grace of the establishment. Nice local people. Hard working and in need of a pint, glass of wine, and a bar tender without an attitude. She kept saying she hated the place and that it had gone down hill and that she had told management what to change but her words fell on deaf ears.
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Review from Chris B.
Annandale, VA
6/27/2011 3 Check-ins Here
The food here probably deserves 3 stars, but I bumped it up because it is one of the few places my kids like.
Most of the food is average bar/grill with a southwestern tilt. Stick with the basic Tex-Mex dishes (burritos, quesadillas, etc.) which are pretty good. Chicken is your best bet, pork and beef/steak are very erratic. Most of the rest (sandwiches, salads, etc) is average to blah. The chips and salsa are good. Service is usually good as well.
Two items to definitely skip. (1) Anything with fish (think Starkist), even the specials. (2) Ordering a mixed drink. It will take FOREVER and taste like margaritta or Tom Collins mix, no matter what it is. Stick with soda or beer. -
Review from Nate P.
Alexandria, VA
10/26/2011
Good Service and food comes out really fast. Seems like they recently changed their menu - looks better.
Happy hour is a great deal. I think its 4-7 - good food and drinks at great prices. -
Review from Brian E.
New York, NY
10/1/2006
I love Tex-Mex, and I'm a fan of the Chevy's restaurant chain. Walking into my first Austin Grill, I said to myself "This place looks just like Chevy's". Unfortunately, this particular restaurant served up some of the most depressing tex mex I've had.
When you walk in, there is one of the tortillia machines which makes fresh tortillia all day long. At Austin's, the machine was unplugged and didn't look like it had been working for quite some time. Neither did the hostess stand have fresh balls of dough that were made in the morning.
Every Tex-Mex restaurant serves up chips & salsa. The better ones serve warm, lightly salted chips, and fresh salsa. The salsa was just average, and the chips were cold. I didn't order a margareta, although my friends report they are quite good.
Every time I go to a Tex Mex restaurant, I order some fresh guacamole. Some places make your guacamole table side, which is quite fun, and most Tex Mex have a good guacamole. The menu states that the guac is 'made fresh daily'. We'll guac is one of those things like fish, that it's best served immediately after it's made, and thinking that some prep cook might have made it early that morning didn't appeal to me. Despite this, I ordered a large bowl of guac, and it was very disappointing. It had no flavor at all. It seemed to only contain avocado and tomatoes.
For my entrees, I like an idiot, ordered the ahi tuna. I love ahi tuna, and I often ordered it at seafood and Japanese restaurants. I knew I shouldn't be ordering tuna a Tex-Mex restaurant, and should stick to tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. The menu describes it as:
Chile Crusted Tuna Ahi Tuna filet dusted in chile
spices, cooked to order and served with rice and
today's veggie. $14.49
It really sounded good at the time, so I ordered a rare filet. When the waiter brought it out, it was not red, but white, and cooked most of the way through. This clearly was not ahi tuna, but probably albacore. It tasted just like your Chicken of the Sea tuna that you can find in a can. The spices on it were good, and had this been ahi tuna I probably would have liked it.
The 'Austin Grill' claims to be 100% wind powered. I'm not quite sure how this can be, as I didn't see any power generators at the strip mall where this restaurant was located. Perhaps, there wasn't enough wind power to run the tortilla machine. My advice, if you like Tex-Mex, avoid the Washinton D.C. based Austin Grill restaurants. -
Review from Bro H.
Syracuse, NY
2/2/2009
My girlfriend's family loves this place for reasons I don't quite understand, as the Mexican food is, in fact, quite bland. The first couple of times I went here I would have rated this place one or two stars, but this last time I went I discovered their chile glazed tuna sandwich, which was excellent. The waiter suggested ordering it medium-rare, claiming the tuna was sushi grade. I went with his suggestion even though I have a slightly hard time believing that this place actually has sushi grade tuna, but the sandwich really was delicious
If you're checking Yelp because you're about to get dragged to this place, avoid the Mexican food at all costs and try the tuna sandwich.
edit: trying to balance out my ratings - lowered from 3 to 2 stars -
Review from Rebecca S.
Washington, DC
1/25/2010
OK, I've been to Austin Grill before. 2 others besides this location, even. And if they hadn't changed the menu recently, I'd probably have given it 4 stars. However, I love Mexican food, and the changes to their menu really did take Austin Grill from a Tex Mex Grill to a grill with a couple of Tex Mex selections. I was bummed when I went with Dad the other day and realized the menu choices were MUCH fewer than they used to be
The salsa is good - hotter than many tex mex places. The chips aren't too salty, which is good for most people, but I salt them anyways so it works out. I'm pretty sure my dad gets the same thing every time he goes there - the Roadhouse Burrito. I've had it before as well, and its good, but nothing to write home about. I had a margarita - I used to always the get the El Cheapo, because it was just tequila, triple sec, and lime juice, like a margarita should be. They shrank their drink menu too, and this one isn't even on there any more. They tell me the lowest level margarita is that, but I swear I tasted sour mix. Boo. I had the fish tacos for dinner. They were good. I generally get fried fish in my tacos, but these were grilled, and that was fine with me. It came with black beans and a white rice with cilantro, so it kept it a bit on the lighter side. Not bad.
I like the place. I do. But they get 2 stars because I don't like the menu changes. I'll eat there without complaining with my parents or if someone wants to go there, but I doubt it will be my suggestion, and I won't go out of my way to eat there. -
Review from B B.
Alexandria, VA
2/2/2009
I used to go to the Alexandria store quite often, but stopped years ago for some unknown reason. Walking around King St one day last Nov and decided to try it once more. Not my greatest idea.
The place was messy, and not very busy either. Employees were standing around everywhere. Service was passable, but the food has gone downhill. Even the salsa/chips are not up to speed. I have to agree with another poster that Chipotle has better food. -
Review from Ann P.
Springfield, VA
2/20/2011
My fiancé and I were disappointed when we dined at this location. We were served margaritas and the regular taco combo dinners. We were not impressed with this location. The restaurant needs to hire better bartenders, cooks and waiters. Hoping management will step it up to make the food, drinks and atmosphere better. We're a big fan of the chain and since this location is close to where we live we are hoping that it improves.
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Review from Dice G.
Burke, VA
6/8/2011
That was one pricey seafood quesadilla. I guess I expected a chef's specialty eighteen dollar option to be more than a four serving appetizer.
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Review from Meg B.
Arlington, VA
1/11/2010
I feel in love with one meal, and I've been eating the same thing here ever since. I go here as often as every other month.
I love the chips and salsa, the upgraded margarita, Dr. Pepper and the grilled veggie burrito. That's all I've ever and all I will likely ever order. -
Review from Ronnie V.
Gainesville, VA
1/28/2010
I think I'm being generous giving this establishment two stars. The reason I didn't give it one star is because the quesadillas I ordered were okay (I mean for real how you could mess up quesadillas).
I showed up for a happy hour and noticed no one was there. I immediately noticed the cheesy decor that seemed plastered on their walls. What was most disturbing was the anaconda/python that was on their walls. It kind of creeped me out on my way to the bathroom. It looked like a third rate Red Robin. It was pretty sad.
The staff seemed nice, but impersonable... Would I recommend this place to someone most definitely NOT. It seemed like a popular establishment for families for which I don't know why. Not a good idea for a first date. -
Review from Nicole S.
Springfield, VA
5/10/2010
If I could have no stars, I would.
I came here on Cinco De Mayo, 2010. All I wanted was a simple to go order of Tortilla Soup.
I waited a half hour for a bowl of soup at the bar. They charged me five dollars for less than 8 oz. of soup. I took it home and measured. The soup was also cold when it arrived, so it appears to have been waiting for awhile. I will NEVER return to this place. Also, the food was HORRID. just AWFUL.
If you want a quick meal at a reasonable price...go get pizza at Victors, or chicken at Village Chicken. Do not waste your time and money. -
Review from Ginny I.
Burke, VA
4/29/2011
Ugh. Can't think of much redeeming about this place. The place was a mess, with chips all over the floor, our server never came around with refills, the salsa was nasty, the meal was bland....oh yes. I thought of a positive. The hostess was friendly.
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Review from Ashley V.
Alexandria, VA
11/6/2011
We recently moved farther away from the city, and were looking for a place to bring some family in town. Being familiar with the Old Town location, we decided to bring them to Austin Grill for some Tex-Mex. I feel like they've recently added some new (and different) items to their menu, contrary to other reviews. For example, I tried the fried avocado tacos. Although, not the best dish I've ever had, they were good and definitely interesting to try. My husband ordered the variety taco platter (Willie Nelson?), and his favorite was the brisket taco on that platter. What pushed me from the "A-OK" 3 Stars to the "I'm a Fan" 4 Stars category with this rating was our waitress. She was a younger girl, who was very friendly and always had a smile on her face. Again, I'm from the Midwest and the thing I notice most about being a patron at restaurants and shops in DC is that employees of these places don't seem to understand good customer service and that being polite, friendly and having a smile on your face really does make people want to come back to your restaurant. We'll be back!
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Review from Leanna K.
Fairfax, VA
3/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
So austin grill is pretty amaze. me and my sister frequent this austin grill fairly often (weekly to biweekly). We have specific waiters we like and ones we def dont like. We have had a few slow/bad expierences, but overall good. The food is really good and so are the apps at happy hour! I really like the fish tacos and the beef barbacoa enchiladas. The wings are really good too!
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Review from Jim H.
Chantilly, VA
11/30/2011
This local chain has REALLY gone down hill over the past 10 years. It used to be one of the best places to get authentic, fresh tex-mex.. not anymore. They no longer make soft tortillas home made and the margaritas have become substandard yet more expensive. The food has gone from outstanding to sub standard. I will not be back after being a regular for the past decade.
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Review from j. l.
Arlington, VA
5/27/2011
I remember coming here once a long time ago and thinking it was so- so .. now, i have 2 little kids and i see austin's in a new light. it is very family friendly - like u can get loud and the staff is very nice/accomodating. it's like a little neighborhood place maybe?
if u're looking for some amazing culinary experience this is not the place, but it's great for what it is. the chips & salsa are GREAT - unlimited, tasty, free .. picky kids eat the food (quesadilla & taquitos).
i don't get out much but lately i've had 2 girls night outs here recently and it was very comfy. the portions are so generous (i had the side caesar salad and some appetizers, the salad was huge!! and good too ..) and the service was good. the fried ice cream was also
it is close to my house and i find it a very comfy environment to chill and eat .. -
Review from Demetria W.
Killeen, TX
We've ate here a few times at the bar while watching UT and Cowboys play. Food seems good so far. Just moved to the area and will continue to go w/ my Hubby for drinks and help keep "Austin Weird" female bartenders are Great and Friendly even tho I'm a Cowboys Fan. And Hubby is Eagles.. They make us feel welcomed. Love the decor maybe cause it makes me feel at home. Good job Baby on picking out this place for us. Hook em Horns and Go Cowboys!!!
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Review from Karen C.
Springfield, VA
2/8/2007
I agree with the previous reviewer. This place is uninspired. Having spent much time in Austin, I would say this is a poor imitation. Chipotle has better food.
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Review from K L.
Northern, VA
9/28/2011
This is one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. The food is always tasty. My favorite is the Shrimp Tacos . We have come here a lot. The service is always good and the endless bowl of chips and salsa are tasty. Their margaritas are delicious too.
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Review from Allen T.
Springfield, VA
1/17/2011
I bought a Groupon for this local eatery and my wife and I grabbed lunch there this past Sunday. To be blunt, I'm glad I didn't pay full price. Even at roughly half off, I'm don't think I got my money's worth.
The only thing good about the experience was that our waitress was very pleasant, though I'm not sure how competent she really was. We ordered a 12-oz ribeye and the steak fajitas. First it took forever to get our food. Our waitress claimed the kitchen was backed up and aplogized profusely, but when we finally got the food, it was clear that both had sat under a hot lamp for a while. The steak was medium well instead of medium rare, and the fajitas were like chewing shoe leather. But I suppose that was a good thing, because we would have otherwise been diappointed with the rather pathetic portions.
Maybe they were just having a bad day, but I cannot understand how they get away with charging the prices they do for the quality and quantity of food provided. Not that there are that many great choices for Tex-Mex around here, but frankly I'd rather go to Taco-Bell... I wouldn't be any happier with the food, but I'd be out of there sooner with a much heavier wallet. -
Review from Laura M.
Falls Church, VA
5/18/2009
The Bevo's salad is my favorite! Grilled portabellas, cheese, greens, grilled corn, pieces of tortillas... The combination of everything they toss in makes it vibrant, exciting, and the perfect kind of salad--one that fills you up and leaves you energized for hours.
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Review from Thomas R.
Woodbridge, VA
9/10/2010
The food at this Austin Grill is alright -- most of the dishes are fairly uninspired, though a few do stand out. The fajitas are great and the new fried chicken dish is quite tasty. The salads though are at least a third smaller than they used to be, but they raised the prices! Austin Grill is not a great bargain, but they fill a hole in the local cuisine.
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Review from Mike T.
Springfield, VA
8/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
Sunday brunch a winner. Cornmeal pancakes, smoked bacon, spicy grits all wonderful but Steak & Eggs not best dollar value because the seasoned, juicy steak is puny. Check size before you order. It matters. BTW, I wrote to management and they agreed to review pricing and portion size of that meal.
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Review from Mitchell F.
Burke, VA
4/26/2009
I am pretty much done eating here. We have been several times, but the best meal we have had rose to level of "meh . . . pretty good". It is a tough place to review because its crime is just blandness. Lots of cheese and it looks like any other Tex Mex, but I have never been surprised by anything I have tasted and I never feel like I want to go back after eating.
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Review from Julie T.
Washington, DC
12/12/2010
Pros: Attentive waitstaff. Syrupy margaritas.
Cons: Most bland taco salad I've ever consumed. Sit by the windows if you like to burn calories while consuming calories via shivering. -
Review from Peggy R.
Springfield, VA
8/1/2011
Meh. Is exactly my thought on our dinner tonight from Austin Grill. My husband's steak salad came out quite rare when he ordered well done. The manager on duty stopped by and was fairly accomodating when we told him and he offered to make it right. I also ordered a salad meal and mine was missing guac (WHAT?!). When they returned his, he realized, 'hey, where's the bacon' and asked our waitress. She agreed that she thought it was supposed to have bacon. I assumed when the bill came his meal would be comped - Nope! Needless to say, it will be our final visit for a very long time. Nothing here to draw us back, average salsa, average queso, average service, blah, blah, meh. Why bother! There are so many great places, this just isn't one of them. A shame, I really want to love this place, but this isn't the first time that they have disappointed.
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Review from Kristen C.
Baytown, TX
Updated - 5/24/2009
We still continue to visit this Austin Grill at least once every few weeks. One thing that I'm not too excited about is that they changed their menu a bit. Their green rice is no longer vegetarian as they cook it in chicken stock. You can ask for plain rice though and according to my last server, the plain rice is still vegetarian. They also have removed all the little asterisks on the menu indicating when something was vegetarian. I liked that feature because it made my ordering less involved. But all in all, still the same place with the same really good Shiner Bock queso dip! I can get full off of chips, salsa and queso. Throw in some guacamole and I'm out the door stuffed to the max!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/30/2008
My husband and I have been to this Austin Grill numerous times and have always enjoyed our meals.… Read more »
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