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Bacon
Categories: Food Specialty Food Restaurants American (New) Specialty Food, American (New) [Edit]
900 W 10th StAustin, TX 78703
Neighborhood: Downtown
(512) 322-9777
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 8 am - 10 pm
Sun 9 am - 4 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
132 reviews for Bacon
Review Highlights
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"I had the chicken and waffles." In 14 reviews -
"the double grind burger ($11) not overly greasy cooked to..." In 9 reviews -
"...enjoyed the Tabasco Bacon and the breakfast tacos." In 11 reviews
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132 reviews in English
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Review from Sara B.
5/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Finally made it to Bacon, and I'm in love! I used to come to this restaurant when it was Screaming Goat, and they've made several improvements to the location that made the flow much better. I used to be claustrophobic every time I stood in line to order, but now they've opened up some walls (and maybe added a door), and the whole atmosphere is much more welcoming.
As for the food, I ordered the American breakfast, my dad ordered the french toast. Mine was amazing -- the cheesy grits were perfection. My dad's french toast was beautiful and delicious. We both loved the bacon. Not much more I can say for that.
Another major plus? Self-serve coffee. I hate nothing more than sitting with an empty cup of coffee during breakfast, and so I love it when a restaurant just throws a coffee pot up on a counter and lets me take care of myself. I think Bacon has won me over, and that I'll be back often for weekend breakfasts. -
Review from Mark K.
Austin, TX
5/20/2012
I went here with the intent of trying the breakfast tacos, and they were solid, though not exceptional. The bacon itself came in two different flavors, tabasco or hickory, with them tasting about as you'd expect. The bacon is thick and generous, so it follows through on the restaurant's name.
The rest of the breakfast taco was solid, but not unusual or unique. I mixed in some cheese with egg and tomatoes, and that was a pleasant combination. They didn't do anything unusual with the way they cooked the tacos; it was simply eggs plus bacon plus whatever other ingredient I mixed in. They added in a spicy green creamy salsa that was pretty great, so thumbs up to that. Apparently the jalapenos have been particularly hot of late, so the salsa kicked a bit harder than I expected.
One unique thing about the breakfast tacos was that they allowed you to add as many ingredients as you wanted. Typically you get dinged for each additional ingredient after two, so that was a pleasant and generous addition.
The rest of the menu looks interesting and is worth exploring on another visit - the chicken and waffles looked greasy and delicious, and the big salad sounded yummy.
I'd recommend this place as a way to mix it up from the normal weekend set of restaurants. -
Review from Ben W.
Austin, TX
5/13/2012
So I ate at Bacon on a Saturday morning with my fiancé. The idea of this restaurant intrigued me so we decided to give this place a try.
I ordered the "Bacon Reuben" and my fiancé ordered the "Best BLT" (w/ egg). I had high hopes for this diabolical sandwich; it seemed crazy enough to work. When my Rueben arrived I saw the huge mound of protein and approved. When I took my first bite my heart hurt. Not figuratively, literally. I interpreted this sharp pain as a survival mechanism of sorts, a distress letter from my pulmonary artery. After a brief inner monologue that played out like a conversation between Lassie and Timmy's parents, I realized what my heart was trying to tell me. I removed the soggy bun and further examined the sandwich. I'm aware that there are several different types of bacon, largely varying by thickness and method of curing. I prefer bacon that is as thick as possible, while still remaining crispy (up to 1/4 in. or so). Once you can no longer produce crispy bacon, the cut is too thick for my taste. With that being said, I HATED this sandwich. It was littered with very thick (over 1/2 in.), soggy pieces of mildly flavored, fatty bacon. I know it isn't fair to say that my bacon was "too fatty"; I understand what I signed up for...but the thickness of the cut accentuated the lack of lean meat. I tried to take a few more bites and make my way through my gluttony pocket. You when you take a bite of something that you really wanted to like and it tastes terrible? Then you go back for another, as if your taste buds were lying to you? I did that an extra time because I was so hungry. I had to throw in the towel. Imagine eating a soupy sandwich full of the fatty portion the fat and grizzle left on your plate after a nice ribeye.
I immediately began the pathetic stare technique. Many men are likely familiar with this. If not, take notes. It involves staring across the table at your lady's food. Usually you will get a bite within a minute or so. If not, try following the actual piece of food all the way to her mouth with your eyes. It will become so awkwardly obvious that you'll be eating her food within seconds. The key is to show restraint with your first bite, you know, to earn another bite in a minute or so. On the second bite it is customary to decimate the sandwich. Treat it as your last bite...it will be.
My plan worked. I was eating her sandwich, and it was excellent. If BLTs read Maxim magazine, this sandwich would be the centerfold. Young BLTs would have pictures of this BLT hanging on their walls. The yolk of the egg drizzled all over the perfectly crisp bacon and cold tomato. This was food porn.
If you find yourself at Bacon, I highly recommend the "Best BLT" with egg. Stay away from the "Bacon Reuben". -
Review from Nathan I.
Austin, TX
Bacon is one of those foods that apparently can summon some of man's deepest and most passionate emotions. I feel left out--if you can call it that--of the growing movement to treat bacon as some sort of Holy Grail of the culinary world, the end all be all of ingredients. Mention bacon, and otherwise rational, grown adults will light up like Christmas trees and make such bold declaratory statements as "Oh yeah! Everything is alright if you've got bacon!" or "Bacon fixes everything!". As one reviewer put it: "[Bacon] has swept the cultural zeitgeist like no other food can.". Riiiiight...
To me, bacon is a cured meat prepared from a pig. It's delicious, but I fail to see how or why it possesses the power to change the world. If you disagree with me, please...save your hate mail for a more worthy cause. I'm simply not going to fight over bacon's cultural importance. I'd just like to gently take the notion of bacon down a few notches before proceeding.
That said, I adore bacon and when I go off my diet, it's usually one of the first culprits to rob me of my willpower. This happened last Thursday, and I figured if I was going to indulge my bacon cravings, I may as well do so at--where else?--Bacon.
This restaurant has intrigued me for quite some time, and not just because I've been eying it since it opened, or when I visit my friends across the street at Cheapo Records I always noticed the sign. What made it so interesting was the wildly divergent star ratings and completely contradictory reviews that made up its Yelp page. People whose opinions I respect seemed to either love it or despise it. When a business is this inconsistent in reviews, it's almost a compulsion for me to go and see what all the fuss is about.
I arrived, and parked on the street. It's a nice, albeit small place with what looked like both indoor and outdoor seating. I had the place to myself except for some guy with a laptop who appeared to be engaged in some version of the "Starbucks writing" shtick, but apparently was too cool for a coffeehouse and decided to park it at Bacon. Whatever floats his boat.
The staff behind the counter offered a warm greeting, and a man slid the menu towards me. I'd done my research, and without hesitation ordered the Double Grind Burger (All natural house ground steak and bacon blend, hydro bibb lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and house mayo.) Would I like to add bacon? Yes. But only because I was in a restaurant called Bacon.
I requested my side be a house salad, as a token gesture to my health. I'm kicking myself for not inquiring whether they had bacon ranch dressing to really get in with the theme.
I took a number and poured myself a Big Red in a cup that declared "Bacon Loves Austin". As I was wearing a white dress shirt and tie, I figured I was in the mood to tempt fate and see if I could leave the place completely unscathed by red soda and bacon grease. (Thankfully, I did.) Apparently, that's my idea of living on the edge. I'm dangerous.
The friendly waitress brought out my food. It took a little while to prepare, but in this case, it meant they were taking the time to put out a high quality dish, so I took that as a good sign. The burger meat was fresh and clearly homemade, and their house bacon was that unique type of bacon that was the thick, greasy (in the good way) kind that resembled neither the burnt crisps you might find in a diner or that awful "wet" bacon that I despise. Both the burger and the extra bacon were deliciously smoky and cooked perfectly. The bacon mixed with the ground beef was complimentary to the taste and not at all overwhelming when it came to the burger as a whole. This bacon burger was definitely a cut above the rest.
As I sat back, contented and with only a twinge of dietary guilt, I couldn't figure out for the life of me what people found so objectionable about the restaurant. Other reviews cited long lines for ordering and a crowded dining area...something I didn't experience since it was just me and Laptop Guy. I can see how the venue's small size might lead to some uncomfortable quarters, but the food was just fine. A couple of my friends cited the breakfast as their weakest area, but after I gave Bacon my lunchtime seal of approval, they promised to give them another shot.
In summary, I dealt with friendly staff, ate a hell of a bacon burger, and left happy. And while I'll still never approve of bacon sundaes or bacon-infused vodka, this experience reminded me that when applied correctly, bacon CAN be a truly wonderful food. And it turned me into a Bacon fan.
4 Stars. -
Review from Sandra H.
Downtown, Austin, TX
This is a favorite of mine for a few reasons. It is close by, the staff is always friendly and responsive, the prices are reasonable and they serve an awesome Wedge Salad. The homemade fresh bacon makes the salad! The breakfast tacos are also great - build your own - always fresh.
Great place - thanks for your existence!! -
Review from Jenna W.
5/1/2012
So as a vegetarian, I'm aware that I'm not exactly in the target demographic for a restaurant called "Bacon," but some meat-lovin' friends wanted to try this place and I tagged along.
I ordered the Black Bean Burger ($8.95), and it was....salty. Very, very salty. And also very crumbly. As soon as I picked up the burger it crumbled into about 20 pieces. The french fries that came with it were fine, nothing special. Some of the people at my table received shoestring fries and some received steak fries, although when ordering we weren't told that there was a choice between the two.
My meat-lovin' friends all really seemed to enjoy their meals - they tried the Texas Toast, the Chicken BLT, and tacos.
Parking was easy, as they have a small lot behind their building. Also, the decor at this place is hilarious - their door handles are shaped like bacon, there's a giant pig on the roof, and there's some sort of American flag/bacon thing painted on the side of the building.Listed in: Veggie Burgers
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Review from Greg L.
4/24/2012
One of my favorite foods is bacon. To my delight, then, I discovered that there is a restaurant called "Bacon" in Austin. During my most recent visit I went to Bacon, not once, but twice. Yep, it's that good.
One of my visits was for happy hour. Amongst other deals, they have $2 Imperials which brings the "pura vida" spirit of Costa Rica to the heart of downtown Austin.
The chicken BLT is fantastic and if you get a salad I recommend the bacon vinaigrette dressing. It almost goes without saying, but I think should be mandatory that you get a side of bacon with your meal too.
Anyway, the staff is super friendly, the food is tasty, and they have a nice outdoor (and mostly shaded) seating area. -
Review from Mara F.
Austin, TX
I could wrap my hand in bacon and eat it!
Such a cute little place. Decent amount of parking, so that's a refreshing for this area of town. When you walk in you place your order, then sit down and they will bring your food out to you.
No bar (bummer) - would have LOVED a bloody mary today - but they do server beer and their coffee was really good.
We were so happy to find BACON. I had the Broken Yolk....more like a sandwich and super tastey.
Chicken and Waffles were very good. Nice chunks of bacon in the waffle and the batter on the chicken was very crispy (just how we like it).
Looking forward to going back for lunch.Listed in: Chicken and Waffles in AUSTIN…
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Review from Brandon B.
Austin, TX
5/12/2012
I've been meaning to try Bacon for a really long time. After doing some shopping on South Lamar earlier today, my wife suggested we finally give it a try. Unfortunately, I think my high hopes for this place made it almost impossible for the restaurant to live up to my expectations. My wife ordered the Best BLT with the house bacon selection. She loves bacon, but she prefers the thin, crispy bacon, and her bacon was so thick and chewy, it just didn't appeal to her. I ordered the Bacon Reuben sandwich, and was just not really impressed. I love the concept of this restaurant so much, that I'll probably give it another try sometime soon to see if perhaps I just ordered something that wasn't that good. I'd like to try their breakfast tacos. But for now, Bacon just isn't near the top of my list of favorites.
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Review from Christine A.
Austin, TX
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
When this restaurant was Chuco's Tacos, and afterwards, Screaming Goat, I did not care for the layout. Or the acoustics. Or the restrooms. Or the parking. So, why come here? Fair questions. For the meat candy.
Pros:
+The Garlic Pepper Bacon Breakfast Taco was very good with the addition of sharp cheddar cheese and avocado. (More about the disappointing eggs below.)
+Hubby enjoyed his Grits and Eggs Special layered in a bowl with marbled toast and the House Bacon which looked like two long strips of succulent pork belly.
+Service is gracious but slow.
+Both the creamy green and roasted red salsas were delicious.
Cons:
-Line up at the counter to order. It took us 10 minutes to get to the cashier.
-There are no soft surfaces to soften conversations or the constant blaring television. (Don't discuss your freaky sex life or the entire restaurant will hear you.)
-Get your own drinks. This can be a good thing if you run out but you have to get up from your table and squeeze past people to stand in line in a corridor by the restrooms.
-The eggs tasted bad. Not just iffy but bad. I don't believe they were fresh so I did not finish them. Hello, Salmonella?
I'd just as soon fry up some thick slab bacon at home barefoot and in my jammies. -
Review from Everett T.
Austin, TX
3/18/2012
Sometimes life is filled with unexpected setbacks. You run across those moments where your expectations get crushed into oblivion, and you're left sobbing quietly in the corner.
Your smokin hot date off Plenty'o'Fish...ended up being a dude
Your little cough...was really SARS
Your trip to Bacon.....was kind of crappy
The premise of Bacon is self explanatory, as was the golden ray of optimism that it fostered within me. Wife and I went for brunch, bacon waffle, biscuits & gravy, BAM!
Except there was no BAM. More of a whimper. The waffle was more flaccid than...well, lets just say it wasn't crispy. And a little bland. Where's the bacon? Oh, there it is, in microscopic bits embedded in the "waffle."
The wife's biscuits & gravy saved the day, they were delicious, and ENORMOUS. As in, man vs. food challenge worthy. Definitely left me with a serious case of plate envy. Which is where I'm going to leave this review. Maybe we didn't order the right thing. Maybe Bacon was having an off day. I believe Bacon deserves a second shot, but on this occasion, they just couldn't bring home th......screw it, puns are played out. -
Review from Valeri L.
3/13/2012
I was excited to try this place. I was able to make a trip a few weeks ago. My husband and went through the side entrance. I used to frequent the place when it used to be the Screaming Goat and I was a little sad that the Screaming Goat was no longer, but Bacon is a better alternative. The staff was pretty cool, even as we entered the wrong side of the building. The TVs were definitely not blaring, but at the same time there were people talking and it really wasn't any different that sitting in a coffee shop.
Unfortunately, we were witness to an angry customer who felt like she waited for her food too long. I don't know why she made such a big deal (I'll get to that later) but she got the point where she was screaming at the staff because she was late to work.
I had the chicken strips with the bacon gravy and my husband had the biscuits and gravy. We got it at a decent time and everything tasted fresh and out the oven. My husband, a HUGE critic when it comes to his biscuits and gravy and he was in love. The gravy was perfectly creamy, he enjoyed the bacon bits in it. He said the biscuits tasted like they were freshly made and not pre made. I loved my chicken strips. The chicken was tender and yummy, the gravy was very creamy and melted in my mouth.
I don't what people's expectations are when they go to an eatery. I hope guys don't think you're Chef Ramsey. I for one, know I'm not qualified to be a food critic. HOWEVER, I do enjoy good food. Bacon being a smaller eatery, venue setting, more intimate, you're gonna get intimacy, you're going to hear people's conversations and occasionally it's going to take a little time for really good food to come out. I would be more upset if my biscuits and gravy took 15 minutes, I mean that's what Whataburger is for right? Fast food? I didn't wait an hour for my food either, but I can taste the freshness and for that I was really thankful for.
I love this place and I will come again! -
Review from Laura G.
Austin, TX
2/28/2012
I like to go to therapists and when they ask what's wrong, I tell them that I'm addicted to bad advice and then ask them if I can pre-book appointments.
That's what it felt like eating at Bacon. I normally love the suggestions in Yelp, and it's absolutely where I go when I finally get a night out and want to know what's new & flashy in Austin. But this time...
The staff is PLEASANTLY blase; they are young and hipsterific, but I don't want that held against the establishment because they are also quite polite.
It's just that the food is slightly like sodium-on-a-shingle. On paper the menu sounds terrific, but the execution is...meh. It looks to be an OK place for kids, and there is parking on the street. I wouldn't say that I loved it enough to WAIT to be seated, but they're OK.
But...you don't need to take MY advice. -
Review from Randall B.
Austin, TX
4/26/2012
I've been there 3 times and have been really excited each time only to be let down. The food is mediocre. I've sampled many of their dishes and they have all been passable. I always expect a decadent, savory meal and I've never had it. The only thing decadent are the portion sizes. Ridiculously large. For what you get it is overpriced. Additionally, the layout of the restaurant is awkward and can become confusing and unmanageable while trying to place an order during busy periods.
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Review from Liza K.
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Oh for the love of bacon. I have to give it to this place for taking firsties on devoting their menu entirely to lovely swine.
The place is colorful and cozy. Cute details like the bacon strip door handle. The menu is pretty self explanatory. We went for breakfast and ordered the bacon waffle & biscuits and gravy.
The waffle was not so great. Although it looked nice, the flavors were just okay. The deal breaker was that it wasn't crisp! and because of that it actually tasted like a pancake..BOOOOOO!! HISSS!! BOOO!!!..
As the Waffle Bot would say...":Paaaaancaaaakes suuuuuuuck"
Moving on to the biscuits. A sheer winner I'd say. For $4.95 we got 2 giant ones. I mean hand size biscuits drenched in tasty white bacon gravy. This could easily feed 4 people or 1 Oinker. The Biscuits were very fluffy, tender and the gravy had bits of bacon BUT not nearly enough *SAD FACE* C'mon take it to the next level and let bacon crumbles rain down on those glorious mounds of dough.
NOTE: They warm in the microwave nicely and still taste fluffy and tender. YUM!
All in all..although I'm IN LOVE with the concept of Bacon..I feel it doesn't really push the envelope....Which is why I'm giving it just an "A-OK" -
Review from Ryan L.
Bacon is the new ambrosia, food of gods, and it has swept the cultural zeitgeist like no other food can. We live in a time of baconnaise, bacon salt, bacontinis, and any other iteration of bacon that you can think of. Consequently, I'd expect a regular bacon-alia from a restaurant called "Bacon" but I was disappointed.
Don't get me wrong, this place is good. The food is delicious and the bacon was amazing, but I expected more, more bacon specifically.
I went for breakfast one day and the menu was not huge. The offerings consisted of the ubiquitous breakfast tacos of Austin, bacon waffle, biscuits and bacon gravy, chicken and waffles and eggs and bacon. The breakfast taco had two thick slices of delicious bacon and a mix-n-max offering of fillings for the taco. It was very good. I also had the biscuits and bacon gravy. Honestly, the white gravy didn't taste too much like bacon and wasn't seasoned enough for me. The drop biscuits are really dense but delicious. It's difficult to finish one.
The interior was bright and cheery. The staff was nice enough. It was all self-serve. You order at a counter and get your own drinks.
Overall, this is a decent place to have breakfast or lunch. However, those who are like me who expect something divine from a restaurant called Bacon will probably think it didn't live up to its name. -
Review from Irish Rochelle E.
San Jose, CA
Bacon, bacon where do I begin? Ah, let me start with bacon! How do you like your bacon? Crispy, thick or chewy? Would you like house, hickory, or maple pepper?--WOW! We have baconoptions?! Good lord, I'm in heaven!
Every thing is a MUST try. Incredibly friendly staff, including cooks. What cook comes out and asks how your food is? At Bacon, they do :) Did I mention everything is delicious? -
Review from Walker P.
2/21/2012 7 Check-ins Here
Even though I have only been once and it was on trivia night so i got a unique experience I feel like i need to write a review. Mostly because this place has had a bunch of hype. So I had a great time, fun trivia, nice wait staff, great decor, we even got second place and that was a first for me. It was a very quaint place and enjoyable but it didn't meet my expectations of the idea of a "Bacon" focused restaurant.
I heard from everyone who has been that they have the craziest stuff with bacon and my mind went wild with ideas. But that's not really the case. Its just kind of normal stuff, nothing to wild or off the charts. You can get most of the stuff on the menu in most places. There were bacon waffles, that was kind of interesting. They didn't even have dessert. No chocolate covered bacon, no bacon muffins, no bacon cookies, i mean, come on, those are easy and everyone knows they are delicious. I also heard a rumor you couldn't actually get just a slice of bacon on its own. Not true, they have slices of bacon for a dollar.
Overall, not bad, but it was pretty poor showing of a great idea, this could have been a big five star spot, I mean I will probably go back it was very cute inside and a pleasant place to be. But to sum it up in one word:
Underwhelming. -
Review from Jeff Y.
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was craving a bacon waffle, so I figured Bacon might be a good place to try. The place is tucked pretty snugly behind a used-car lot, with plenty of street parking available around 10 AM. The order counter is right as you walk in, with plenty of tables, comfortable even though it's a bit tightly packed.
I ordered my bacon waffle and coffee (4-5 self-serve canisters filled with decent, better than your average diner, different brews) and sat down in front of the quiet but easily visible television. I don't know anything about feng shui, but the feng shui here has to be kicking.
Food was quick, and the waitresses were very friendly and quick with everything we needed. As far as the taste was concerned, the bacon was really juicy even packed within the waffle, and there's no secret why the place is called bacon. The waffle was a little dry and cakey for my taste. Luckily they'll give you plenty of syrup and butter so you can soften it to your heart's desire, but my lazy ass would have appreciated the waffle being more buttery to being with.
Overall, it was a pretty fun little place to try, though it was starting to get crowded as we left and the brunch crowd was arriving. It's a pretty good breakfast place for the bacon-philes. -
Review from Paul N.
Austin, TX
3/4/2012
Great name!.....unfortunately, way below average performance......most of what they offer is below par chow with skimpy portions of commercial bacon.....I was expecting either:
1) a wide selection of gourmet bacons from around the world....
2) locally sourced chemical free bacon from pastured pork...or...
3) unique dishes with bacon as an unusual ingredient.....
I found none of these.....more importantly, when I asked questions about some of their dishes ingredients, they said they didn't know....when I asked if there was anyone who did know or could they find out, the response was "probably not"....with such pitiful customer service mindset, I don' t think they're long for this world...at least it didn't take an hour to get a cup of coffee.... -
Review from samuel c.
Austin, TX
3/23/2012
I think this place is amazing - but I am not totally sure.
At first I was skeptical.
I saw the menu on the web and thought "big stinking deal. they put bacon in tacos - but so does my convenience store. and do they really think putting bacon in a sandwich is rocket science?"
what i did not understand - is that they are not just selling bacon.
they are selling THEIR bacon.
and THEIR bacon is very very very very good.
home made - completely artisanal - comes in different flavors and totally amazing.
absolutely good enough to justify building a restaurant and a menu around it.
so it almost doesn't matter what the vehicle is for bacon delivery services.
whatever dish they serve is just an alternative set of sides for
THEIR bacon.
the kitchen seems otherwise strong and very solid.
i decided to have their bacon, fried chicken, cheese, egg and avocado salad - with the homemade bacon dressing.
hey - if its a salad its got to be heart healthy, right?
the bacon was wonderful - as were all the other ingredients.
however special kudos have to go to the fried sliced chicken breast which is one of the top fried chicken dishes in austin.
(and with the chicken and waffle craze, and the asian fried chicken craze, a lot of people besides traditional southerners are frying chicken these days.)
bacon's fried chicken commands serious respect.
the location is fant-aculous .... right on a very pretty section of shoal creek with a mini waterfall and a nice view of the castle on castle hill. so heat permitting you can sit in a little piece of paradise and eat well.
so what is the only downside of this high fat high decadence eden?
about five minutes after i left the restaurant - a bad taste appeared in my mouth.
it is the bad taste that i usually associate with stale grease on a griddle or stale fat on a deep fat fryer.
the chicken was done with such craftsmanship - that i can not bring myself to believe that they would let the fat go bad in the fryer - or that they would not clean their grill.
so i am somewhat in a state of denial here - and certainly willing to give them another try.
however - usually bad grease on the grill or bad fat in the fryer means a one star rating from me and a vow never to return to the establishment again.
these people seem like such serious cooks that either my understanding of what is going on is erroneous - or this was some kind of crock.
however, if they do get sloppy with fat and grease ...
well a bacon restaurant is a bad business to be in for people who are sloppy with fat and grease.
so i give them four stars - - - but with a quality of execution watch. -
Review from Mike L.
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Summary: Recent change in head chef hopefully means this will change soon (January 2012), but for now, they should consider renaming the restaurant "bacon in name only."
Breakfast tacos had a single, thin strip of weakly flavored bacon. Bacon strips ordered on the side ($2 each) were a bit thicker, but nothing special. One of them was rubbed with Chinese Five Spice, which was somewhat creative and appreciated.
Plates of other patrons were unfinished, leaving me with the impression that Bacon is in danger of sizzling out in the near future if they don't get things in order.
I'll give it another try in a couple of months. -
Review from Steve M.
Austin, TX
4/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's okay. Screaming Goat are big shoes to fill. I think it's a high bar to theme a restaurant on bacon. The menu is simple. I had the Best BLT and it was average.
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Review from tess l.
Los Angeles, CA
1/9/2012 1 photo
Common sense tells me that it's pretty hard to go wrong with a restaurant where ALMOST everything on the menu includes bacon -- but this place does it really extra right.
After drooling over the menu for way too long trying to make the almost impossible choice of which bacon-loaded entree I wanted, I finally decided on the chicken and bacon waffles (yes, it can indeed be done). Soon after, a delicious mountain of crispy, juicy fried chicken perched atop a thick, fluffy vanilla waffle with bacon-y goodness baked inside every bite was placed before me -- and almost as quickly, entirely devoured. Even the vegetarian in our group was impressed with the super manly (though baconless) black bean burger. To top it off, the staff rules and the atmosphere is perfect right down to the golden bacon strip handles on the doors. Already looking forward to my next Bacon experience, I walked away with a full, happy tummy and an awesome "bacon flag" tee shirt. -
Review from Jerry E.
San Marcos, TX
1/10/2012
FRIED CHICKEN & BACON WAFFLES!!!
This was the 1st time I've ever had the combination but it was hands down Amazing!!
The actually dining area is relatively small, so eating might be a little hectic and inconvenient if eating with a large party.
1st thing to remember is: Order and have your friend find & hold a table! Then switch off so they can order, since all orders are placed at the main counter.Service was Great, very friendly and helpful.
My buddy had the bacon burger, he described it as "it's tasty, but just okay..." so I don't what to say about that other, i'll prob skip out on the burgers if/when I return. I had the fried chicken (boneless chicken breast) and bacon waffle (yes, chunks of bacon not bits were in the waffle!)....it's not a heaping order but very filling & very Damn Tasty!!!
If I never order anything else off the menu, just this One dish is enough to keep me coming back!! -
Review from Michelle S.
Austin, TX
4/9/2012
I really wanted to be super gung ho about bacon but it was just ok. The place is super cute and I thought so when it was that goat taco place. Overall the chicken strips and the corn fritters were awesome but everything else was just ok. I'd say go for the experience of saying you've been to Bacon but otherwise there are plenty of other places to go in Austin. Plus it's a little pricey.
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Review from Sean C.
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Man, I really, REALLY wanted to love this place. Much like the other reviews on here, I found the food to be perfectly adequate, but rather underwhelming. Was it a terrific BLT? Sure. But I no longer feel the need to drive to 10th and Lamar for a BLT. Where are the innovative bacon dishes? Where are the off-the-wall combinations using bacon in ways I couldn't fathom? Come on, is a BLT and fries topped with cheddar and bacon really the best they can do?
the service was good. The place is kind of cool in that porky kitschy way. They offer Maine Root sodas and Dublin Dr. Pepper... but all in all, now that I have been, I don't feel the need to go again. -
Review from Chelsea V.
Austin, TX
4/2/2012
This place is great for all age groups. Kids love it! Your inner-kid loves it! I highly recommend the Bacon Waffle and Chicken Strips with Bacon Gravy! The only thing I have had here that I wasn't particularly fond of was the bacon leak vinegarette dressing. It was an unusual combination of flavors that I wasn't prepared for. One of my favorite places to eat downtown.
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Review from Christopher G.
Austin, TX
2/29/2012
I wanted to love this place but ehhhhh.
orderd the BLT. I was expecting HUGE BACON. got average portions. -
Review from Jeff P.
Austin, TX
1/18/2012
I'm somewhere between a 2 and a 3 on Bacon. Service was great, really friendly people,passionate,excited but food and cost needs much improvement. I mean some places around town give bacon away at their happy hours and bacon wants to charge $2 per slice for slightly above average bacon. Don't get me wrong I understand food cost and the scheme of a restaurant vs. a bar and how they each make money but it did seem a bit over staffed when I was there. Another thing I don't like is the tipping conundrum. So I tipped after ordering at the register, then I felt obligated to tip at the table because the food was brought out to me and dirty dishes taken away. I had to get my own drink though. Kinda strange.
I'm not cheap but $45 for a waffle,bacon cheese fries, and a pork belly is pretty high. Presentation on the pork belly was beautiful. The waffle wasn't anything genius but ok and fries were good.
I will give them another shot but I just hope next time I go to Bacon there is a bit more bacon to be had. -
Review from Loren S.
Austin, TX
1/23/2012
My coworkers ordered Bacon for lunch the other day so I decided to join in and order the one thing I thought a place called Bacon could get right, a BLT. I was dead wrong. The bacon, yes the BACON, was chewy and grey in color and the sandwich was oozing with soupy mayo. I was so grossed out, I ate the tomato and potato chips and threw the rest away.
A coworker had the chicken and waffle and she said it was really good, so maybe just don't order bacon...at Bacon. -
Review from Andrea K.
Houston, TX
11/28/2011
I came to Bacon specifically to try their chicken and waffles. Now, I pride myself on being a chicken and waffle connoisseur: I have consumed crisp tender poultry with fluffy carb and butter from Roscoe's in LA to Amy Ruth's in Harlem to Gladys Knight's in Atlanta... And you can catch me regularly stuffing myself on Chef Andrew Curren's chicken and waffles at 24 Diner on Lamar.
Bacon's chicken and waffles really disappointed. Maybe it is my vast experience in the c&w world, maybe it was the hype I'd heard about the new restaurant that put actual STRIPS of bacon into the batter with your waffle (!!!)... but the dish really left me rather sad, and in need of a lot of water. I'll explain.
Chicken: too salty. Too, too salty. Please learn how to cook with a pinch of salt, not a fistful. Waffle: the waffle itself was actually pretty good, warm, fluffy.. but the bacon inside was chewy beyond belief, kind of cold in places, and in the end, it was just bacon. Nothing special. On top of that, the service was sub-par at best.
I love the idea of this restaurant. The idea has potential. The idea has a spark of whimsy and playfulness that I like, centered around a food that the entire (non-Jewish) world likes: BACON!
But when it comes down to execution, they're falling far short of the mark. I might come back to try one of their burgers, but probably not anytime soon. First impressions count for everything, and mine wasn't great. -
Review from Leigh F.
Austin, TX
12/9/2011
I love bacon. I love Bacon.
I actually went to this place when two friends came into town. We all loved our meals.
It's a typical Austin restaurant where you go in, order at the counter and they bring it out to you. Honestly, they don't do a lot of this in Michigan so, it's become kinda the Austin thing for me. For those who rated this and said it was hard to decipher the menu or there were not enough bacon options, I say, you are crazy.
First, the menu is pretty darn easy to figure out. Second, I like that they aren't trying to be too fancy with what they do with the bacon, but that they do what they do well.
It was actually the best bacon I have had since being in Texas. It wasn't served over crispy (which, for those of you who like crispy bacon, you probably just don't like bacon - you like burnt things) and it wasn't served raw and nasty either. It was perfect and it tasted great.
I will go back here again and recommend it to friends. In fact, I think I bring it up whenever someone talks about breakfast or bacon.
Also, I did not get the hispter vibe from this place, so, if you care more about being seen than eating good food, not the place for you. But there was a good deal of futbal fans there!
And I'm sorry if this seems feisty, I'm in a feisty mood. -
Review from Sara-Mai C.
Austin, TX
12/7/2011
I fear the karma of giving lousy reviews, but, come on people. You should have done better. If you're going to call yourself "BACON" I expect either...
A. Large quantities of bacon
B. A large selection of bacon
C. Extremely high quality bacon
This place offers none of the above. You might as well go to Whole Foods for better bacon and a much wider selection. There's more bacon on a Gourdough's donut. You get to choose from 2 types of bacon, and the breakfast tacos give you just 2 slices of bacon. So does the "bacon waffle" - this is no different than a regular waffle with a side of bacon, except the bacon is IN the waffle! Extraordinary. But not really.
Let's also talk about how on the past TWO Saturday mornings that I went there, they were out of coffee. On the last occasion I had to wait almost an hour for them to brew a new batch, and the waitress got really pissed with me when I kept asking if the coffee was ready. What kind of restaurant doesn't have a second batch brewing at all times on a Saturday morning? I took my coffee to go after we had all finished our meal and were leaving. Come on. Get your act together. Get more bacon. -
Review from Nick Q.
Austin, TX
11/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Finally was able to stop in a grab lunch yesterday......wow, "says Nicks tastebud's and belly!"
I went with the burger, which they blend bacon into the meat......hehe, sneaky sneaky swine! Kettle chips were great. I suggest ordering a slice of whatever special bacon they have on the board. We had Hickory and also Pecan Coffee.....I would like to wear a suit made out of Pecan Coffee Bacon and eat myself...its that good! -
Review from Alan B.
Travis, TX
1/12/2012
Not impressed. Fries had little bacon. The fries themselves were not browned well. The mayo topping didn't fit with the bacon. Cheese was cheap commodity stuff and wasnt even completely melted. Yuck.
The BLT was ok. Nothing special but decent. It has an accepable quantity of bacon.
We also got a basket of chicken strips (tenders or whatever). It was ok but, again, nothing special. It has some kind of gloppy dip that congealed as it cools. Blech. -
Review from Ian A.
1/8/2012
Now, I'm coming into this with a bias, because, as my profile notes, I love bacon, but not THAT much.
The bacon here IS fantastic, but I didn't order that well. The chicken and waffles just aren't that great. There's nothing special about the waffle, and the chicken very good, but a little too crispy. Then again, I've been spoiled by chicken and waffles in Oak Cliff, so take this with a grain of salt.
On the other hand, the biscuits and gravy were phenomenal, as was my friend's bacon waffle. I'm not giving four stars because something just seemed uncomfortable about the place. Seating is a little cramped, everyone seems hurried and not super happy. . .I just didn't love it. I really would like to come back in the evening for bacon fries, beer, and trivia, though; maybe we can bump this up. -
Review from Rob M.
Austin, TX
10/26/2011
Nothing makes a bad product stand out than great branding. Bacon is such a disappointment that I do not recommend anyone to go there. The name its attractive, the brand design is great and overall concept is a winner. Sadly the buck stops there though.
When you hear a place is called Bacon your pallet goes wild. What great things will this new place show me that I never knew could be made out of or paired with bacon? Well let me tell you. A BLT, not original, cheese burger with bacon strips, not original, chicken and waffles with two strip of bacon. not original not original not original. Where is the pork belly sandwich, chocolate cover bacon pops, the baconator?
We received our order after some time and immediate our table agreed that our bacon alone had been siting under a heat lamp for some time drying out. No sizzle nothing. I had two friends toss their bacon in the bushes as it was fatty and inedible.
They pride themselves on tasty bacon but again there was none. I like the idea of having cured bacon of many different styles but again the offering was two types that didn't taste like anything. Here's a concept for you, at Meulers BBQ they always give you a bite of brisket when you order, maybe you should give people pieces of your bacon to try so they know how good the key ingredient is.
Overall it's sad to see this place be so terrible as the concept isn't one that seems it should be hard to mess up. It's bacon people, get it right. -
Review from Jenny L.
So, the last time I ate bacon... hmm, maybe 18 years ago? I can still remember the crispy salty strips of porky goodness.
Then I ruined everything, and became a vegan. Damn it!
I was downtown today, which never happens if I can avoid it, and I was hungry. I checked the Bacon menu, and saw a Black Bean burger. Hooray! The place was shit-packed, around noon, when all the suits go for lunch. It seemed as though all of downtown fancy people were here.
I order the Black Bean burger, minus mayo. The meat eater ordered a BLT. We sit. And wait. After 25 minutes, some guy comes out with a complimentary appetizer, a pile of fries, cheese, bacon and sour cream. Meat Eater said it was good.
Almost 40 minutes after the order was put in, the waiter guy brings lunch. The Black Bean burger is a monster. Huge patty, crispy onion strings, avocado, lettuce and tomato. Giant ass burger. And freaking delicious.
The Meat Eater wondered about how a place called Bacon wouldn't load a BLT with a massive amount of bacon. Maybe it's because the restaurant owner doesn't want you to die of a heart attack in the dining room.
Honestly, I don't care at all about the bacon that Bacon serves. Try the Black Bean burger. Its awesomely tasty, and you won't feel your arteries clogging as you enjoy your lunch.Listed in: Vegan and the Beast
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Review from John M.
12/9/2011 5 photos
Atmosphere and Cleanliness : Love the Layout...Small for the size...outdoor seating..Flies in area..
Service: Mostly self serve....Tea, napkins, Etc..
Food: Grinder Burger... Top notch BURGER...juicy and full of flavor...Fries with Bacon/cheese..wonderful...and Cookie was too sweet and bacon should be crispy for texture... But Still a great Find..
Worth the Adventure: Yes..But the add ons for the Burger and Fries added to the $$$..Damn Good Burger..Its on the Map..
