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Categories: American (New), American (Traditional), Vegetarian
Neighborhood: CherrywoodMon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
3 Courses, 2 People, $20. Juicy Burgers & Tender Ribs. You Choose!
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I can not believe i haven't reviewed this place yet as it is one of my very favourite restaurants.
Delicious, fresh, reliable food. Fabulous service from people who know what they are serving and want you to be happy. A cozy environment (it's a converted house).
Perfect date spot. Unless you like waiting, make a reservation!
I dread the days when my wife says she wants to go out for something healthy. Cross off BBQ, Chinese and almost any other choice with taste, right?
Well, not exactly. There is the East Side Cafe. She can have all the veggies and salad her little bunny heart desires and I can load up on the Jalapeno Corn Bread, lathered in butter and then some jalapeno pecan cornbread stuffing to boot. And the meals aren't that tasteless either.
Honestly, I'm usually a bit afraid to pay $20+ for nouveau american entrees unless it's a crazy night in Manhattan. So it's good to know that you don't HAVE to do it here. The mushroom crepes are alright and they don't set you back so much either. And they have some decent "Blue Plate Specials".
Though not strictly a vegetarian joint, East Side is Vegan and Gluten-Free Friendly. They boast a garden. My latest point of reference for "Garden Food" is Somnios. East Side will give you more in the way of flavors and sauces and spices, but you do pay more for it.
Nestled in the heart of the Manor District....(oh no..did I actually say that? Seriously, I can see this place becoming a "District" on the Austin Map. It's just too trendy to avoid)....the restaurant is imbued by all that is the Austin East Side volatility and versatility. OK, now let me take the tongue out of my cheek.... Flowery cliches aside, I can't really give ESC any more than 3 stars because at the end of the day I can' t tell you exactly what differentiates this place from any of Austin's other pseudo-healthy American offerings. Somehow it seems to do brisk business attracting the Older/Veggie/Ladies-who-lunch crowd as well as some younger lovers......but I'm convinced that it's nothing more than one of Austin's older habits.
If I needed to bribe God to please not flood the Earth again, instead of smoking one of every kind of animal I owned in order to tempt God's pallete like Noah did, I might invite him here. While God was pleased with the succulent smell of all that roast, he might also enjoy Eastside's bad-ass side dishes. No? Well, even meat-loving God would be at least impressed.
I was welcomed back to Austin a couple of weeks ago with a lovely dinner here on a pleasant Sunday evening where we shared the blue plate special, including chicken and spinach crepes, apple chutney, mixed greens and mashed sweet potatoes; and the pork tenderloin with the acorn squash in a ginger reduction glaze.
My North-Central Texas regional dialect began to melt away as soon as that creamy crepe touched my tongue. Man that was some fancy flour. I don't want to know how much heavy cream was added to the sweet potatoes, but God should come to know them, for sure. The greens were delicate. Acorn squash? Holy Mother of Abel. The tenderloin was slightly dry but was accompanied by a simple reduction that worked well, thank god.
The Sharp Palette Man was dually enthusiastic about Eastside's witty wine list (thank you for wine, Noah) and expansive garden (unlike Eden in that no serpent approached me), which is available for an after-dinner stroll and certainly adds to the experience. No apple trees available for sinnin' but plenty of garden goodness to fill up on in the midst of sinful city living.
I met a friend here when I happened to be in town for work, and we had a great dinner.
The food was good. Lots of good vegetarian options! I had sweet potato and greens cakes (an appetizer, but I had it for dinner) and a side of garlic mashed potatoes. The tomato basil sauce that came with the cakes was so good it made me wish I'd ordered some tomato soup. The mashed potatoes were creamy and delicious.
The gal I was with ordered chicken and it came with broccoli and...something else, I forget! She said it was good, the chicken looked pink on the inside but it was cooked, it was just something about the sauce or something that made it look pink which was disconcerting.
I love the concept of restaurants in converted houses, I generally like the atmosphere and how charming it is. In this particular instance the rooms are very small, so we were in the front room with just four tables, all pretty much within arm's length of one another.
On the one hand it feels intimate, on the other hand it's a little close, and sitting next to the window we were almost awkwardly close to people sitting on the front porch waiting for their table. (This place is popular and I'd suggest reservations, but I don't, as a general rule, wait for a table.) This also makes you feel like you do not want to sit and linger over coffee since you know there's a crowd waiting outside.
I would not recommend this as a place for small children, it's just way too small.
The service was good and unobtrusive. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable.
If I lived in Austin I would have this place in my regular rotation, but only during off-peak times.
Can I curse on Yelp? I want to drop the F-bomb all over this review, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Let's get the boring part over with: the service was prompt, otherwise pretty nondescript. I felt like the waitresses were all full of whimsy, if you know what I mean... I went on a lazy Sunday, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was spot on for the occasion. At first, I thought the menu looked a bit pricey. But read on! I think their speed of service is worth complimenting. My food came out surprisingly fast. I expected a much longer wait given the amount of people I was sharing the dining room with.
The best part -- the food -- incredible. Not one thing on the table didn't taste fantastic. Standouts--
-chicken, artichoke & mushroom soup. When I'm done writing this, I'm going to check their hours to see how late I can go back tonight. I'm going to request the largest portion of this stuff I can get. Maybe two of them. It was that good, and I'll even say that you HAVE to try it if you go.
-homefries. Yummm. So many places get homefries wrong(sorry Magnolia Cafe) but not here.
-pesto ravioli. Perfect pesto made this dish to die for -- did I really just use that phrase? I want it all over again.
After I ate, I took a short walk through their enormous garden. I imagine it could turn into a very romantic thing at the right time. It's cool because you can see what veggies, herbs and peppers they're putting in your food right there! I really appreciate that.
All in all, I'm craving Eastside again only hours after I just had it. That's a f---ing good restaurant.
Went here for the first time for dinner after reading all the rave reviews. They were right. The food here was awesome. I had the smoked salmon ravioli... mmm. But, no one told me how expensive it was and how small the portions were. For nearly $20, I'd like to get more than five raviolis. Granted they were kind of big, but the pasta rim accounts for most of that. I actually wondered if they accidently brought out the half order... maybe they did.
Very cozy atmosphere and friendly wait staff. I enjoyed it.
While I do like the food at Eastside, my last experience there was only so-so. I hadn't been in years and I always used to think, "this place would be great on a date!" since the atmosphere is intimate. But I went there with my new husband and we had such a boring time. Maybe it was our fault for not having better conversations, but the restaurant felt like a wet blanket. We were in a room with only 2 other parties, everyone whispered so as not to disturb the peace, the waitress spoke very softly and the music was so low you could barely hear it. We felt like we couldn't really talk much, as if we were in a monastary. Didn't feel like we could relax and be ourselves.
But, the food was really good and I love their philosphy of using fresh ingredients that they grow themselves. Will definitely go back when I need to have dinner with 80 year olds.
Ohhhhh, I have SO much to say about my experience here.
First things first. The food --- FABO!!!!
The mini-jalapeno cornbread that's served as the bread was great and different from the norm.
I had the beef tenderloin and this may be the best I've had in Austin so far. Truly delicious. Also had the garlic mashed potatoes. I opted for the field greens salad and it's worth the extra $2.50 in my opinion.
The crostatta was delicious and so rich that I have most of it in my fridge right now. I love desserts like that. A little goes a long way so you can enjoy it again later. (Also, the beautiful flower that garnished it was a great touch.)
Kudos to our waitress (Danielle I think her name was) who was as stunned as I was that the entree was brought to us about 3 or 4 minutes into our getting our soup/salad. She saw this and without hesitation apologized and offered us free dessert. She is an awesome server!!!
Now, a few things.
#1 make a reservation!!! I thought we were there early enough that it wouldn't be a problem, but we had a 45 min wait. They have a shop you can hang out it so that's cool if you have to wait.
#2 I was initially put off by the tiny room that 8 of us were in. By 8, I mean there were 4 tables for couples. I'm a tad claustrophobia so I felt closed in. However the man clumsily hitting on the woman he was with just 4 ft from us was WILDY entertaining. My companion and I could not stop giggly and quoting Cialis commercials.
#3 To my fellow lovers of high heels, this will be a test of your mettle!!!! The stones they have in the drive way are BEYOND treacherous. People were watching me trying to make it across. One guy gave me a "you have great balance" shout-out. So, be forewarned. :-)
#4 I dig the house converted into a restaurant feel. SO pleasant.
#5 The leaf on top of your bill. Awesome & appropriate touch ;-)
I'll be coming back here for sure, just don't follow me here because I WILL get you and me lost!!!
I love Eastside Cafe.
I usually only go here for brunch. And I almost always order the smoked salmon Benedict..which I like to alter by getting the eggs scrambled instead of poached, and adding spinach. Delicious. The blueberry muffins and cornbread are also very good.
I absolutely love and appreciate the fact that they have their own organic garden right there... supplying the restaurant with fresh herbs and vegetables.
Everything is always fresh, well cooked, nicely prepared and tasty.
I've always found the service to be friendly and attentive... though there can sometimes be a bit of a wait.
The interior is small but inviting and bright.
I have had lunch here.. and it was good, but a little expensive... this place remains a brunch spot for me.
absolutely amazing. every meal i've had here has exceeded my expectations. this is my first pick for food with the wife or friends.
the vegetables are outstanding, as are their pasta dishes.
i also really like the feel of this place. it's cozy, warm, and never too loud or crowded.
servers are prompt and friendly, and prices are agreeable.
Loved this place. Just went there today for the first time in order to try more "Austiny" restaurants since I'm going to be leaving Austin soon. :-(
I loved the atmosphere and it very much has that Austin look and feel to it. The waitress was super nice, and when I asked her for recommendations she gave me the best ones. I loved the strawberry (or was it raspberry?) vinaigrette on the house salad. The Penne Pasta Pomodoro was VERY good as well. Everything tasted so fresh and not heavy or greasy at all. I also had the garlic mashed potatoes and those were delicious as well. Now that I think about it they could've used more salt, but I guess that was my fault.
All in all, a wonderful experience with very healthy food options. Great for vegetarians! A little bit pricey but for the kind of food you get it's totally worth it.
Very welcoming, calming space. Food is good as well.
This is quite possibly my favourite restaurant in Austin.
Elegant, quaint, delicious, intimate, and a thoroughly enjoyable dining experience. Always good to call in a reservation regardless of the number in your party. Best part of the experience is that most of the veggies on the table have been grown on site. Organic Austin! Excellent!
We recently visited Austin and were told to try this place. I was going to give this place four stars, but then I had the meatloaf and fell in love.
My first order here was a standard hamburger, and I mostly cannot remember it. But, a few days later I ordered meatloaf and I swear it was the best meatloaf I've ever had in my life! The garden fresh vegetables made all the difference. We also had a garden sampler plate (I can't remember the name), that had various fresh vegetables. VERY good.
So, my advice is to make sure you order something that comes from the garden.
Eastside Cafe is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in town. It's my natural default when people are in town visiting, and I hit it up pretty often since it's so close to where I live and work. Much of what they serve is grown onsite in their gardens, and naturally the food is always very fresh. I suggest taking a stroll through their awesome garden before or after your meal.
Eastside's specials are usually very good, although reoccur frequently (I'm looking at you, mahi mahi fish sticks). I've ordered everything from the "pasta" section of the menu and love each one of those dishes--particularly the artichoke manicotti and salmon ravioli. Portions are adequate and the "half" order of pasta is more than enough for me. Prices are midrange (expect $12-17 for an entrée).
I always have good service at Eastside, even if it is somewhat slow. I strongly suggest making reservations for dinner (and lunch, too for that matter). Otherwise, be prepared for the possibility of a long wait. Even with reservations, I've had to wait a few times if preceding parties take longer to dine than expected. It's all ok, though. I just head to the little store for cookies, pet the lounging cat, and walk in the garden until the hostess finds me.
Overall, this is the type of restaurant we expect to find in Austin: fresh, casual, local, and timelessly cool in a grownup kind of way.
This is my go-to place for my birthday or when I'm taking out a visitor who has never been to Austin.
The service is always attentive and pleasant, the specials are always excellent. I don't think I've ever had a complaint. Even my mother (who 9 times out of 10 writes off restaurants for not allowing smoking) thinks the world of this place.
The artichoke manicotti is heaven and they somehow make me enjoy acorn squash even more. I have to agree with just about everyone about loving the jalapeno cornbread mini-cakes because I could probably go there and eat just that.
This is what you have to like about Austin. A great mix of vegetarian far, but nothing laking for a carnivore. The garden behind the house/restaurant supplies a endless fresh assortment of delectable veggies. There is something assuring about the quality when you see the care taken to grow such a bounty.
Five star's because for the money, experience, quaintness, and best of all Austin'ness this place hits on all cylinders.
Took my mom there for her 59th birthday. She absolutely loved it. We really enjoyed walking around the garden and seeing all the chickens as we waited for an open table. My mom had something similar to eggs benedict but with a shrimp and lobster cake in place of the english muffin. It was amazing. The veggies were all decicious and the chocolate tort and chocolate mousse pie were so rich. You could tell that they took pride in the types of ingredients they put into their dishes.
I ate here for the first time yesterday for brunch. All of my friends rave about this place, so I was super excited to go! I heard it was a great atmosphere for brunch and that the food was unique and amazing.
My experience was less than satisfying. When we (my boyfriend and I) arrived there was a 30 minute wait for a table. I never mind waiting so we went over to the gift shop across the way and ordered 2 mimosas and took a look around the shop. Very cute gift ideas - I saw many things I wanted! After about 25 min or so we were taken to the "garden room" where we were seated. We did feel a bit akward because it was only 2 of us and they sat us at a 6 top. We wouldn't have minded waiting so a larger party could have taken that spot, but that's ok.
It took a while - at least 10 min - for anyone to talk to us after we were seated. Our waitress seemed to be in a bad mood - I do understand, working in the customer service industry - but it was too noticeable for me. I felt like I was annoying her by being there.
We did purchase a bottle of champage and noticed by looking at another table they had a chiller for their bottle. We never got one until we were almost done with our bottle.
The food was just ok. We tried the Shrimp and Goat Cheese Quesadillas for an appetizer - very tasty, but a bit overwhelming. My favorite thing they brought out for us was these little cornbread muffin things! very nice!
I ordered Migas for my entree - I've had way better. After we got our food basically never saw our waitress again.
I really want to give this place another try, i like the concept of the fresh produce and all that ... maybe for dinner instead of brunch time.
Good food, everything had butter. Ordered a blue plate special and they were kind enough to split the plate before hand and charged only a little more. The acorn squash was great, but I don't think it needed the ginger sauce. I wish I knew more about what was and wasn't from their garden because when I took a tour out back, it didn't look like there was much in bloom. My mom and I thought the Garden Room was things about their garden but it was actually a private event room, and I blushed red when I peeked into the door window into a room of people having dinner. A notice would be nice :)
Overall it was a good experience, the waitress was nice, but we had to wait 5 minutes for someone to appear at the hostess desk and seat us. Maybe a bell would help?
Perfect birthday dinner.
This is probably only cool to me, but I'm writing Eastside Cafe's 155th review for my 395th review. I love when things end in the same number and other goofy coincidences. Coincidentally, my Eastside Cafe dinner was full of them.
The best meal of my year to date was, coincidentally, in celebration of the best day of the year (to date?), my birthday.
I love sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes. Coincidentally, Eastside Cafe serves awesome mashed sweet potatoes.
I was craving something decadent. Coincidentally, the artichoke manicotti is decadent and delicious. So decadent I could barely finish it, but I was so glad when I did.
I love tomato soup but hate when it's too milky or bland. Coincidentally, Eastside Cafe's tasted like TOMATOES, not cream, and was complex without being too odd, just the way I like it.
I'm not one to give places an easy 5 stars. Coincidentally, Eastside Cafe had a couple small flaws -- the sound system was weird and you could hear everybody's conversations, namely -- but I really didn't have a single other thing to complain about. So I get to feel like I gave the place a fair shake and came to a 5-star conclusion carefully.
Now that I've worn that "coincidentally" cliche to bits, I'll sign off.
Thanks, Eastside Cafe!
I came here after hearing several recommendations from friends.
The restaurant is a house, which I didn't like in this case because the room we sat in fit 4 tables. It wasn't cramped, but if there was a lull in my conversation, I could over hear the conversations of all 3 other tables in the room. I think it bothered me more that I knew the other tables could hear my chatting than anything. Otherwise, the restaurant is quaint and service was very good.
There were definitely some stellar items on the menu, including the salmon dumplings and the rosemary skewered pork tenderloins.
The salmon dumplings were cooked in a thin yellow curry sauce. It wasn't spicy, as the menu had listed, but was light and went very well with the light flavors of the salmon. It came a thai style cucumber and peanut relish that had a serious sour and spicy kick to it, that made the dumplings phenomenal.
The pork tenderloins were cooked medium, per the waiter's recommendation, and the aroma of the rosemary was intoxicating. The balsamic glaze didn't stand out when you eat the tenderloins, I think due to the overwhelming, albeit delicious rosemary. It was an amazing dish.
I also had the chicken, artichoke, and mushroom soup, which was very creamy and flavorful. A comfort-type soup.
The salad they brought out had a house made cherry vinaigrette, which was actually more like a cherry sherbet. The flavor of cherries was very strong, and my dining companion was not a big fan.
The salmon ravioli was good, but I think the flavor of the capers was a tad too strong, and they over did it on the Parmesan cheese, making the dish much more salty than it should have been.
The 2 sides we had were flops. The mashed sweet potatoes were watery and too mushy. It had the consistency of baby food and was actually really bland. The jalapeno pecan cornbread stuffing was basically just cornbread crumbs. It was very dry and very difficult to eat with a fork, as the tiny, dry crumbs just fell right through the prongs.
Overall, I liked the restaurant. The food has very bold flavors, but I agree with one of the previous reviewers when they said it was very one-note. I do like how the restaurant experiments with combining these big flavors with food items that is very unexpected. I think they fell short in execution in some of the dishes, the 2 sides I had are prime examples. I also really, really disliked how small the room was that I was seated, which I know shouldn't detract from my overall review of the place because it was neither loud nor disturbing, but it actually did make me really uncomfortable during the meal. I may have given the restaurant 4 stars, if not for my paranoia. I would come again, for the hopes of discovering a few other dishes as tasty as the salmon dumplings and pork tenderloins, but I will also come with the expectation that not every dish I will taste will be a winner.
I went to Eastside Cafe with my parents for Sunday brunch. I had heard wonderful things about it but in the end I just wasn't that thrilled. Yes, it has a uniquely Austin feel to it, and its cool that they have the garden in the back. Yes, the staff was friendly and attentive but for the price the food just wasn't that great. It was good food, don't get me wrong but it was expensive and it wasn't very much food.
This is restaurant is definitely worth going to. We went today on Easter Sunday and it was packed. I didn't know I had to make reservations. Next time I will but it was worth the wait. While you are waiting, you can stroll through their gardens where they grow their vegetables.
Their shrimp and goat cheese quesdillas is really good and I enjoyed their garden burger. Also they make really good coffee.
My sister talked about bringing me here for months, and we finally got to go when my mom was in town. The restaurant is so quaint, warm, and inviting - it literally felt like we were going to a nice neighbor's house...a neighbor who can really cook. Everything is freshly grown. The ambiance and service were impeccable. Our waitress went to great lengths to describe the menu and the specials for the day. I remember the acorn squash being wonderful. Everything tasted great! This is a nice place to take out-of-towners.
i had the rainbow trout and my husband had the meatloaf. O.M.G. the fish flaked onto my fork and melted in my mouth. i must admit, that i am no expert in meatloaf. i confess the first and last time i had it i remembered it was dense, heavy, and chewy. it almost tasted like minced, overcooked beef with ketchup sauce mixed it. =\ but double O.M.G. their meatloaf was light yet rich in flavor and texture. my husband got annoyed at me for exceeding my allotted 1-2 forkful maximum.
the portions were good enough to leave you satisfied but not stuffed.
it's worth a repeat and i've tried to return recently but quickly drove by once we saw the long lines and headed off to fonda san miguel.
I've been here twice, one for dinner with a Grilled Salmon w/ dill lemon cream sauce and brunch with Eggs Benedict and home fries.
The service here is very good, but the food itself is in need of an update. The menu is made of scattered standards with few personal touches (are you french-ish? Or mexican? Or Italian? Hey look, cornbread...) But its bland and tired. Needs more flavor! Perhaps I've come to expect this in Austin where many restaurants take standards and add their own personality to it. Rarely would I think I could not only make these dishes at home... but make them better.
I noticed the clientele here seems to be a little older so it could be catering to their palate, but at some point you've got to lure in new customers...
Seriously, a place that grows its own food? Yes, it was not true. It does not grow ALL of its food, but only some of it. Personally, after visiting their awesome garden, I think they grow only their parsley, but I could be wrong. The food was a gustatory orgasmic experience and we loved all the vegetarian fares we ordered. The place itself was quaint and homely. Actually, I quite expected the furniture to lift up and circle ominously before the books came crashing down, but maybe I had one too many. Also, I must confess, this is Cartman-esque business model at its best. They actually give away all their soup and entree recipes in cookbooks available for purchase.
Seriously? The lady is not actually sawn into two but there is a wooden plank inside her clothes?
Cute Cute Cute!!! I always take my mommy here when we're in Austin. It's so quaint and cozy!
The bread basket they give you to start is super good. So is pretty much everything I've ever had here, but my standard is typically the salmon ravioli with the lemony cream sauce. It's really divine. I am also a fan of the acorn squash. The soups are always good too. And the desserts!!! Don't forget to get a dessert!! They usually come with a fresh flower perched on top. Great for family, dates, or just a quiet meal anytime. They also have a garden and a little shop out back to check out.
I don't mind paying $10 or $12 for lunch every once in awhile. But if I do, I had better feel like I've eaten something. I didn't get that feeling last time I visited Eastside Cafe. I left feeling hungrier than when I arrived. And believe me, you wouldn't like me when I'm hungry. I don't like me when I'm hungry.
On my most recent lunchtime visit, I ordered the cup of tomato soup and a mixed-greens salad. The soup looked like it was 2 or 3 ounces only and I think I only saw about15 greens on my salad plate!! I was RIPPED OFF. My total bill, including tea and tip, topped $10.
I do admit that the soup and salad were very fresh tasting, as have been all the other dishes I've eaten there on many, many visits over a 15-year period. And I roundly applaud Eastside Cafe's efforts at growing their own organic produce. But sadly, I don't think I'll go back.
Eastside Cafe is a house. When you call, they always want you to come over. When you arrive, they are friendly but not invasive. Be warned, though, it is a house, so if you don't want people to hear your conversation or you are embarrassed when your dinner guest reads things aloud then don't go (my dad likes to read the entire chalkboard of specials and sides as though I am across the room from him). The ingredients are always fresh and paired well together. It is not that the combinations are awe-inspiring. The food is fresh and good and at a reasonable price. I have never gone and not been pleased. I have never taken a friend and regretted my choice.
Eastiside represents Austin.
I have been to East Side Cafe several times over the last few years and I really like the place. The food is simple and good and I've never had a dish there that I didn't like. I like the soups, I had steak and fish there and everything was very tasty. I think the vegetables and sides are really what makes East Side Cafe. I've also been there for brunch once but I much prefer the place for dinner. This is a great place if you are looking for a nice place to have dinner with really good quality food and a friendly, casual atmosphere. They have a store outside where they sell all kinds of cutesy things which is not really my cup of tea but I like the restaurant nonetheless ;)
I came here with my friends for a celebratory dinner. We were celebrating new jobs, a successful run with The Wonder Dog play at the Pollyanna and a 2 year anniversary of living in Austin for Jim L. I was excited since I heard from many people how good this restaurant was. I love the growing your own stuff concept. ( we have been doing that in California for years by the way. I am glad it has travelled here) I ordered the salmon with a corn-lime relish, garlic mashed and pumpkin cream soup. They were out of the corn-lime relish so they gave me a nice roasted red pepper sauce instead. It was delicious. Jim L. finally steered away from his salmon cakes salad and ordered a shrimp and spinach shells dish and split pea soup. I have been off the split pea soup since I saw The Exorcist but Jim knows how to make me try things so I did. It was yummy. I would actually order it next time!
I took off a star for crappy parking, sketchy service ( our server gave the other side of the table the appetizers Jim L. and I ordered) and the table next to the kitchen was rude considering we had 9 people which means the happier we are the more wine we order and the bigger the bill will be which means a nice tip.
I will be trying this place again for lunch and then dinner when my husband is down from Dallas.
Eastside has never been the same since they enclosed the outdoor patio a decade ago. Then again, I don't think over 100 degree weather was the norm back then, so maybe they were just being prophetically smart. I love the fresh from the garden eating. Literally. They have a large garden on site. Corn muffins greet you, great wine selection, blue plate specials, and their famous East Side Café Salad with goat cheese and raspberry dressing is a must. It is housed in an old home and fills up with French Place neighbors nightly.
Food is always good no matter what I order. The location is great and the little house it is in is adorable. Homey, comfey, and fresh food made with stuff from their garden!
great!
We rediscovered Eastside the other day. My husband and I had never been to the restaurant together. We both used to go back in the early 90's when we were in our twenties. Upon returning I found it has remained Austin-elegant and the food is still divine. I just appreciate it so much more.
I was pretty disappointed in this place after reading reviews here. The quality of the food was pretty good for what I ordered. The service was average at best. My biggest problem... there is no way that this place should have only two $$. It is easily a $$$. You can't find a normal entree under $12 and many are $20+. If I had an average appetizer, entree, and dessert my meal would have been well over $40. Besides that the portions are pretty small for the price. The corn bread was pretty delish and the chicken enchiladas I had were above average, but overall the whole place was just average for me. I just wasn't impressed by anything there. There are many MANY nicer better places with nicer better food for cheaper in Austin.
Another precious evening strolling the garden and dining on wonderful greens and wines from East Side. Some horrible person got the last piece of lime pie just before I ordered. So, the only person who loses a star is that other customer. Bastards!
Six of us dined in the garden room with excellent Sangioveses and Pinot Grigios. I had the special jalapeno grilled shrimp ($17). Not a favorite as compared with all of the wonderful foods I have had there over the years, but I still liked it. Of course, acorn squash and soy ginger glaze was a side -- Boy that is some yummy.
I have to start weaning myself off the salmon and shrimp cake salad at East Side. So, on Friday… Read more »
Garlic cheese grits- blueberry bran muffins. That's all ya need. I could live off em.
I wanted to like this more than I did. The menu sounded great. My food was just kinda good, no where near great.
They forgot to give me something I ordered, and I had forgotten, too, until she gave it to me in a To-Go box with the check and still charged me for it. When I politely told her I didn't want it anymore and would like it taken off my check she seemed perturbed. I didn't understand her attitude. I didn't order it to-go, and why would I want something after the meal is done?
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Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Either gay-owned or gay-roam'd, we're in your…
When what you eat is as important as the fact that…
I'm not a vegetarian, but I can confidently…
Here are some things to keep your out of town…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Yeah so here's my grubby grubb places and what I…
if you're like me, you're a veg. and if you're a…
