Lambert's Downtown Barbecue
401 W 2nd St
Austin, TX 78701 (512) 494-1500
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
54 Reviews for Lambert's Downtown Barbecue
Lambert's really impressed me on my last trip to Austin. The interiors are beautiful and charming and we didn't have to wait at all even though they suggest reservations and we didn't have one!
I tried the pulled pork BBQ and it was very tender, smokey and delicious even before I added their tangy sauce. My friend and I shared an order of the incredible Mac & cheese. It's really creamy--not too dry, but not too runny-- and has an amazing crunchy browned cheese top. Yum!
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Oh No! Lambert's what happened? Oh how I want to give you 5 starts as I had such a wonderful birthday there! Typically I would not knock down someone's rating on just one visit but you are a fancy schmancy place you better have your ducks in a row. I went there last night with a friend who just moved into town and happens to love Chimay. They have it on tap, I hear they have a kick ass burger so let's go give it a try.
They were out of Chimay
There were out of Hoegarden
They were out of pineapple juice and could not make whatever martini that the bar tender just sold the woman next to me on... yes, he convinced her to get the drink and when she agreed to it, he was like, um, we are out of pineapple so I can't make it.
I ordered my burger, the bar tender didn't ask how he wanted it cooked. It came and it was not that good. It felt like it was handled too much, packed too tightly and maybe overcooked? Eh, either way, not stellar.
I will still go back, I still love the place... The frosty mugs, the music trickling down from the upstairs and just the overall good time.
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Lamberts was really, really good. It was short of great, though i can't 100% put my finger on why. It's deemed as fancy BBQ, but I wouldn't really call it a BBQ place. More like high-end southern comfort food?
I ate at the bar and both bartenders were very nice and helpful.
I drank a Campala (I think that's what it was called), grand marnier, grapefruit, orange and lime juice with tequila. And that my friend, was truly great. The juice was super fresh and I would have ordered a second one if I wanted a girls gone wild kind of night.
For an appetizer, I had the fried green tomatoes with lump crab. It was beautiful and tasty and just short of fabulous. Did it need more salt, more acid, less aioli? I don't know, my powers of ascertain fell just a tad short. But it was lovely, and though the portion was generous I couldn't stop myself from eating the whole thing.
Ditto on the steak (Niman Ranch) portion. It was quite large but disappeared quickly. I ordered it medium rare and forgot to check with them on whether to them that means hot pink center of otherwise, cause it seems to vary so much per restaurant. So it was slightly more done than I would have liked, but like I said, my bad. The baked garlic bulb on the plate seemed a bit random but the collared greens I ordered on the side were good.
All in all, good service and a yummy food experience.
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The food was decent, if not a little overpriced, as other Yelpers have suggested. I had the pulled pork Cuban sandwich with Mac & cheese. The food was ok, but nothing compared to BBQ that I have had at shacks all across town (i.e. House Park, Smokey J's, Ben's Longbranch). The ambiance was fine, the staff was courteous and attentive and the hostess was quite attractive. Would I go back? Yes...there were a couple of other entrees which sounded tasty, but if the food taste and quality does not wow me the next time, it will be hard to justify the funds spent.
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I went to Lambert's for lunch for the first time last December my boss and colleagues just before the holidays. The lunch menu was scaled down and included sandwiches and such. Everything was delicious! The queso has made its way onto my top-5 list (I'm kind of a queso snob). I could go there just for the mac & cheese side dish.
I've returned a handful of times for dinner, especially to take out-of-town friends.
Their tagline is "Fancy Barbeque", and that pretty much sums it up -- everything is nicely presented. Modern dining in a rustic yet contemporary atmosphere.
They carry local brews. I like that.
I have yet to be seriously disappointed by them. The waitstaff and bartenders are attractive AND provide great service. My favorite thing about this place is the live jazz on Sunday nights -- wow. I also was there during swing night once... seemed like a good date idea.
Very, very overpriced--and not worth the price, as other reviewers have said.
I also know a number of musicians who have been screwed by this establishment--playing shows where they had been led to understand it was a paying gig and then being handed something like $5 at the end of the night with an explanation that payment was "from the upstairs bar proceeds only and it was a slow night."
I will not support ANY business that screws the musicians that made this city what it is in the first place. This place can definitely afford to pay the bands. No good. Boycotted.
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I took a friend to Lambert's for lunch yesterday for his birthday. We got there right at noon and were seated immediately. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, waffle fries and a small wedge salad. The sandwich was amazing, with tender tasty pork, carmelized onions and oozy cheesey goodness. The fries were very good too. The wedge was fine, cute even, in its petiteness, but arrived with our meal instead of before as requested, so that was a bit of a drag. But they do score some points for bacon on the wedge. My friend had the chicken, mac and cheese which is awesome, and a wedge as well. He had to send back his Dr. Pepper several times because it was off, but they worked it out, and we don'l like to sweat the small stuff. The place was packed by the time we were through eating and a line was forming out the door. Overall, a very good dining experience. I will go back again for lunch, dinner, and their amazing Sunday brunch, which is awesome.
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I had a nice lunch here a few weeks ago for someones birthday.
The stacked ribs were a really, really good appetizer!
The mac-n-chez was ok. The chicken salad sandwich was probably the best I've ever had!!! I know, its just chicken salad, But IT WAS SOOO GOOD!
I'm not sure if anyone even ordered BBQ,(other than the little plate of ribs) so I can't comment on the bbq. But, I can't bring myself to drop a lot of money on something that's probably better at much cheaper places.
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Yes, it's pricey... and yes, there are probably better BBQ joints in the area. But who wants to go to Lockhart on a Saturday night?
But... if you're looking for a more upscale dining experience that involves BBQ in the downtown area, Lambert's is an excellent choice. The BBQ beef brisket we ordered was delicious and butter smooth, but the appetizer/bar menu is what really shines. The achiote rubbed chickpeas were friggin awesome... one of the best appetizers I've had in recent memory.
We went during SXSW weekend, so it was a bit raucous, but it made the atmosphere even better (in my opinion anyway). After all, it's not every day that you get to see two hipster twit "rockstars" with their coked out groupies begging for a table.
We'll definitely be back, particularly when we have out-of-town guests in for the weekend
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Meat from responsible sustainable growers, no hormones etc, so I can actually eat it. I love the lamb from San Angelo. My guy favors the hangar steak -- it was amazing. Completely. He's also a huge fan of the green chili grits. Family style sides all good: grilled asparagus especially. I recommend the chickpea/goat cheese appetizer. It will make you weep, in a good way.
Servers have always been prompt and thorough. Nice bartenders too. A bit pricey and sometimes noisy--we save it for our special occasion place.
I heard of Lambert's before it was open, how? At the downtown farmer's market. The owner was talking to Thunderheart Bison, saying he was opening a place that featured meat NOT produced on the industrial model: only grass raised and sourced as local as possible. I was rude and interrupted him to ask where his restaurant was going to be. He pointed to a historic brick building two blocks away.
The kind of business I like to support. And I leave well-fed and happy.
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What can I say about Lambert's. I have been to Lambert's four different times all spanning across the eating medium that is dining out. First off i must say what some may not at first realize prior to eating at Lam's(I'm going to shorten Lambert's to help me) is that YES! it is BBQ, but they are not a traditional BBQ joint. If you are wanting to take someone out for BBQ go to a Barbeque restaurant. It's not that there BBQ isn't good it's that you get so much more of a dining experience and a wide menu at Lam's. OK let's get started. First off the main reason I'm writing this review now is because I had dinner at Lam's tonight. As i said before I have eatin at Lam's four different times. My first experience was lunch where I was embraced with the lunch menu on a weekend so it was sort of brunchish. Being that it was the first time I had been there I went for the BBQ. I got a mix plate of my choice which was chicken and brisket with a side of potato salad and beans. My brisket was good and chicken quite moist while the sides where of average bbq descent. No memories. I'm going to move things along a visit(second visit being drinks). Upon my third visit to Lam's I had gotten wind on how good there burger was. The burger can be found on the Bar Menu. Although we where not in the bar the waitress let us get it. I must warn you though we made quite the scene to get it(we faked blindness where burgers were the only cure). What i had heard was the they trimmed there steaks in house, and used the good bits for the patty meat. Either way it was a really good burger that in my opinion came with some lovely waffle fries. It would be close to a Kobe-esq burger. OK down to the reason I'm writing this review. Tonight was honestly incredible. WARNING! we made reservations and i would recommend it on a weekend. I had dinner tonight with two very good friends of very differing tastes. First things first APPETIZERS: We had the Achiote Seared Chickpeas with Goat Cheese. A melange of flavors from the Achiote shrub with hints of citrus and sweetness from the red onion. Its served with a wonderful grilled pita and dollops of goat cheese that are slightly warmed by the roasted goodness below. We were also treated by the chef to an improvised sampling of there special of the evening. Lightly grilled baby octopus atop a bed of chilled Yukon gold potatoes and a light vinaigrette. They were both very delicious.
ENTREES: My male friend had the Crispy Wild Boars Ribs and a classic Wedge Salad. The ribs are great because they have a slow spice build-up to them so you don't get burnt out to fast. There crispy and slightly sticky form what I'm guessing is an in house made sauce. I only had a small bite of the salad, but it was all there for a wedge salad,but with more care. My female friend went for the special. It was a lovely piece of pan roasted or pan seared Halibut. It was served with trumpet royals and a watercress salad. I am getting back into fish from being off it for quite a while, and I must say this fish was exquisite. It was so light and perfectly cooked. Very lightly seasoned to save the fish and not a bit of dryness. She enjoyed it to the point of near hospitalization. I had the Bone-In Niman Ranch Pork Chop. Its served with a unique take on the Waldorf salad as well as a whole grain mustard laden with different fruits to sweeten and cut some of the natural mustard heat. The chop was beautifully cooked, very well seasoned and the mixing of the Waldorf salad and pork chop where a match made in my mouth turned heaven. What I enjoyed most about our meal was how Lam's allows the food to speak for its self. They don't tend to over season and they take pride in plating as well as the use of non-commercial and local ingredients. I realize now this review has run on quite a ways, but I really think that as a whole Lambert's has solid consistent cuisine that keeps you coming back for more. From the atmosphere to the attentive management staff as well as the rotation of seasonal beverages and ingredients Lambert's is the perfect example of what a restaurant should embody. Thank you Lambert's for making me the proud father of a beautiful food baby.
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alcoholic drinks superb - we had the vodka martini (w/jalapeno juice), the michelada, the white wine sangria - all were delish and prepared exactly as you would expect and with an original twist. The food was also much better than we expected, the fried green tomatoes with crab meat as a starter were crispy, not oily and the crab meat was large lump and fresh - other items were bacon wrapped quail, hangar steak and salmon, all perfect - the sides are capable of stealing the show as well, the herb fries, green chili cheese grits and collard greens were all perfect compliments to our food and last but not least fried blackberry pie with lemon ice cream - tart and refreshing after a substantial meal - we'll be going back for sure! They also have live music upstairs but it's quite loud, we were there for Sunday night jazz and it was enough volume to fill the entire restaurant so wouldn't recommend eating up there (although you can). They have beer specials on wed. night and wine discount on Sunday night - enjoy!
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I know that I've eaten here once, and I don't really remember what I got - it was that unmemorable. The little Asian ribs on the appetizer menu were a tasty, well-constructed stack. The mac n cheese wasn't terrible. The bell peper soup was okay. The BBQ reminded me of going to the town cookout and having really un-stellar meat, where quality was sacrificed for quantity. Or to your hippie neighbor's house who doesn't believe in seasonings such as salt and pepper. But if you looked at our bill when it was all said and done, you must have thought we had an out-of-body culinary experience. Not so.
I also detest the idea of fancy BBQ. BBQ doesn't need to be dressed up; it shines most when it's at its un-sophisticated best.
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We've been to Lamberts a handful of times for drinks and dessert and always had a great time. Their drinks are a little pricey but really good. The bread pudding is warm and buttery balanced with cool, sweet vanilla bean ice cream.
At the urging of a friend, we finally went for dinner. We shared the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. The little saucers topped with lump crab meat were a nice blend of hot and cold, tart and salty. The Black Angus filet was melt-in-my-mouth delicious and topped with creamy hollandaise. It was one of the best steaks I've ever had. My boyfriend had the ribeye crusted with mustard and brown sugar. It was a little heavy on the sugar but still very good.
The staff is cool. They're all people you'd want to hang out with; friendly, outgoing, professional folks.
Overall, it's an expensive place to dine. But if you're looking to treat yourself to a good steak in a comfortable place, this is it. I can't wait to bring my family here when they visit.
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I really liked this place. It was smaller than I expected downstairs--think the bulk of the area is actually the bar upstairs--and more comfortable and cozy than I imagined being "upscale" bbq. We didn't think we were going the right direction cause there isn't much out this way yet, but we found it.
Highlights:
- BBQ sauce: tangy with just a little bit of spice to make it interesting. Bonus points for the cute little family of self-labeled bottles from large to small sized like the 3 little bears: house, mustard, and hot.
- Friendly service: our waitress could take and even participated in our silly joking
- Pulled pork: SO tender. Best dish of the night.
- Root vegetables: wouldn't think this would be a high point but the mixture of veggies (sweet potatoes, onions, etc.) and flavors was great.
- Queso: white version with long skinny triangle chips vs the usual equilateral shape. Thick enough to handle the dipping but not too thick to be overbearing.
I had the brisket and it had great flavor, but I would have liked it a bit more moist. The fries were good as well as the Velveeta-y textured mac and cheese. Wine was good and served in thick rimmed shorter stemless glasses than the glasses of water.
I didn't find the prices to be bad, but hey, I'm from California so my cost expectations may be skewed on the high side.
Overall, great experience. Everyone left happy and I'd come back here on my next trip. :-)
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Lambert's bills itself as fancy BBQ but I rather like to call it "overpriced" BBQ.
I went there with a group a few weeks back. We were seated on the patio & they were very accommodating regarding extra people that decide to crash. The building itself is gorgeous with lots of details and nice wooden floors.
For appetizers we ordered the wild boar ribs which must have been from a baby boar b/c boy where they tiny. They must be the tinniest ribs I have ever had. They were tasty even if small. The cornmeal fried rock shrimp were good but tasted like any other good fried shrimp I've had.
For the entree, I ordered the Cold Smoked Bandera Quail "Lizzies" Isn't that a mouthful just to sound fancier? Basically it was bacon wrapped quail. The quail itself was tasty but the bacon wrapping it was limp and soggy. I was disappointed that it was not crispy or at least a little crisp. It was supposed have some Jalapeno cream cheese but I don't recall anything like that showing up on my plate. The best thing on the plate were the green chili grits. YummY!
The only reason I gave 3 stars instead of 2 is because of their great sides. They come family style and are $6 each & feed 2-3 people. The roasted root vegetables was a lovely cornucopia of sweet potatoes, and different kinds of white potatoes. The Mac & cheese was nice even though I prefer mine with a bit more crispiness on top. But I loved the cauliflower gratin. Even veggies haters loved this creamy, flavorful dish with a breadcrumb topping.
Our servers were nice if not a bit absentminded with forgetting to bring out 2 of our sides.
If I return, I might just get all sides next time & a beer and call it a night.
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Fancy barbecue - that's their claim. I was afraid that when I told the locals that's where I wanted to eat, that they'd call me a city slicker or something. But they didn't - probably because people in Austin are so darned nice. And I'm glad I went, because I had an amazing dining experience, which is pretty hard to do when you're going solo in a new town.
Cute waitstaff, friendly fellow diners, and kick ass food. The maple and coriander crusted pork ribs were amazing - fatty, juicy, flavorful and tender. My side of french beans were buttery and perfect - not to mention the first real vegetable I'd eaten in days.
Of course I had to order the fried pie for dessert! And I immediately called my California friends to tell them about it. I mean - fried pie! Like a fruit empanada, it was amazing and perfect with my glass of port. I suppose they don't see women eating alone often, because folks really took me under their wing. Another diner even forced me to eat bites of his steak off his own fork. The steak was incredible - again, rich and fatty and amazingly full of flavor. Thanks for showing me a good time, Lamberts! I'll be back to try your fried green tomato salad.
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Fancy Barbecue? That really is Lamberts motto, which I find amusing. This is my second time to try Lamberts I feel you should try a place at least a couple of times before yelping it. Unless it sucks of course, then you can just yelp it right away. Lamberts did not suck. It was in fact really, really good.
The first time we went we did an appetizers for dinner evening. We tried the Cornmeal Fried Rock Shrimp, the Green Chili Queso, the Frito Pie, and The Fried Green Tomatoes. Then the kitchen sent out the Achiote Seared Chick Peas and Goat Cheese for us to try. The kitchen sent out the additional appetizer, because I'm kind of a big deal.
Actually, they sent it out because I had met one of the chefs the night before at Barfly's and he invited me to come down to the restaurant. Great guy, he knows everyone in town and everyone knows him, I like guys like that. Anyways, Lulu positively adored the Fried Green Tomatoes, and I really liked the Chick Peas. The Frito Pie is a meal in itself, I just like that it is on the menu. The shrimp and the queso were very good as well.
I also had an Old Fashioned, they mix a mean cocktail at the bar. I'm serious, be careful. I have a pretty damn high tolerance, and one old fashioned had me pretty loopy.
Anyway, this time some of my friends who work at Little Woodrow's on Sixth had given Lulu and I a gift certificate to Lamberts for Valentines' Day. What? Your bartenders and waitresses don't buy you Valentines' Day gifts? Are you sure you are tipping properly?
Actually, I think it was a trick to get me out of the bar so they could have some peace and quiet. Fooled them though, since we went to Little Woodrow's after Lamberts anyway. Thank you ladies! Now we are in a "nice" war though, just wait until I win the lottery.
One of the things my wife and I have in common is that we both enjoy sitting at bars. At a restaurant, even a nice one, at Denny's at The Waffle House, diners, at other bars, we just enjoy bellying up to the bar. We have found it is quicker (I have a patience deficiency), you get better service, and you get to know the place and its people alot quicker.
This works well at Lamberts, at least early in the evening, because they have a big bar right where you walk in, plus they have a bar menu, and you can order from the dinner menu as well.
This time, I ordered a Sanchez cocktail. Titos, Olive Juice, a pickled jalapeno, a caper-berry and crushed ice. Basically it was a dirty martini in a highball glass. I drank about half of it, and realized I was freaking loaded. Lulu had a Chapala, which was a big fancy strong margarita with orange juice. She pretty much saved hers until after the meal, then she was loaded too. The cocktails are pretty pricey. Eight bucks and up, but they are mixed James Bond strength, and you really only need one.
Lulu had to have the Fried Green Tomatoes again, she said they were wonderful again. She loves the crab topping on them. I for one don't know why you would want to ruin a perfectly good fried green tomato, with a crab topping, but Lulu loves it. I ordered the iceberg wedge, which was nutritious, delicious and quite delightful. For dinner I had the cheeseburger. It was smoked perfectly, the meat really tasted good. Try Lambert's mustard and hot sauce on it. Really packs a zing. It came with Herbed Waffle Fries, they were good with the mustard too. Normally, I'd scoff at a $10 cheeseburger, but I'd pay $10 for it again. Lulu ordered the Hanger Steak off the bar menu. It is a hanger steak, which I guess is like a skirt steak, with a fried egg in the hole and some cholula butter. I don't know what Cholula butter is, but apparently it is spicy goodness. Lulu said the steak was amazing, and even better the next day as leftovers.
I hesitate to like anything in this new downtown district. Namely because I'm still very bitter over Liberty Lunch having to close. But I have to admit, I like Lambert's. I love that it is the only old building left around that part of town. I like the ambiance, I like that they get their hostesses from the secret land of incredibly beautiful hostesses (Denton?) I like that they know how to mix a drink. I still haven't tried the barbecue really, I guess I will have to go back.
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Lambert's is better than expected for fancy bbq. It does kind of a steakhouse a la carte thing, where the meat dishes do not necessarily come with sides.
We ordered the ribs and brisket and both were tasty. The mac n cheese was good, the roasted potatoes even better. Bread pudding dessert was very sweet but good.
Our server was VERY nice, although I can't say the same for the rest of the staff. The hostess might as well have been sitting at our table for all the times she stood and stared pensively at the padded banquet wall seat just to the left of our table. (I think she thought maybe an extra table would pop out of the wall if she stared at it long enough.) After the first 4 times it was quite obvious she was waiting for our table and actually made it very uncomfortable to eat. Part of our table arrived late, and other than pouring the food down our throats we were trying our best to hurry it up. Did not really need the extra pressure.
Make reservations as the dining area is a bit small.
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I had lunch at Lambert's Downtown today and was more impressed than my first visit during SXSW (also lunch). While this location was starting up at the time, I take that into consideration for this review. Despite having eaten there during SXSW, the place wasn't crowded, but wasn't "broken in" either and had some rough edges.
I decided to try a sandwich instead of an entree and had the smoked pulled pork cuban sandwich with the jicama and carrots slaw on the side.
The sandwich was filling with the right blend of spices. I loved the way pickles are tucked into the sandwich! The meat was tender and delectable. I really enjoyed the slaw too. Jicama is a very interesting crunchy vegetable. The herbs and seasonings are perfectly blended. For just over $10 pre-tip, this restaurant can't be beat (certainly not DT)!
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Maybe we caught it on a bad night but this was some of the worst food I've ever eaten.
The boar ribs were more like Barbie ribs and they smelled funny. The brisket had more fat than actual meat. The macaroni was bland.
The cornbread muffins were good though.
You can find much better bbq at those little joints off the side of the road.
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Lamberts has a great casual atmosphere. I tried the beef ribs in jalapeno salsa and was pleasantly surprised by how tender they were. The meat literally fell off the bone. I'm still not sold on an upscale BBQ joint, but the setting and feel off this establishment make up for any short comings or odd juxtapositions. Try the bar upstairs if you're only looking for drinks.
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Brunch=Heaven
Mimosas, Decadent Desserts, and a Delicious menu-OH MY! Seriously folks for 24.00 you can have heaven for brunch on Sunday. This place is amazing. The set up is as follows: Step One: Order unlimited mimosas for 8 dollars. Step Two: Order your egg choice off the menu (it comes to the table like a little present just shortly after you have had a trip to the "buffet"). Imagine fresh fruit, dill potato salad, bacon, hash brown, pork ribs sliced off the bone by a handsome man in white...sorry I digress. The deviled eggs with caviar melt in your mouth and the baked mac and cheese has a hint of goat cheese which as my friend put it-POPS! Just think fresh pastries, rich cake, and a loosened belt. We were only able to make one trip to the bar because everything is so rich, but you will be more than pleased. Perfect place for long discussions with friends about Saturday night shenanigans, pats on the bellies, and sighs.
Mmmm mmmm good!
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I really wanted to love Lambert's. I had heard great raves from friends and read the Yelp reviews in preparation of ordering some upscale bbq. I had my mind set on the hangar steak after reading the mind-blowing reviews and my husband and I split it due to the fact that the portions are huge. We ordered it medium rare and it was much closer to black and blue...and it was chewy. The flavors were outstanding but the chewiness factor kind of killed the pleasure.
The service was a little iffy from the moment we sat down. It took at least 10 minutes to get our drink orders taken and another 10 to get our drinks. It was off and on throughout the night and eventually she made a comment about how busy she was. Yes, it is Friday night in Austin and the restaurant should be prepared for "busy".
The highlights were definitely the rock shrimp and the oysters (according to our friends...we don't do oysters) as appetizers. Also, the mac n cheese was good but was trumped by Fleming's the following night. The asparagus was also well prepared. I loved the special soup for the evening, which was a jalapeno matzo ball soup. Delicious. I would definitely try Lambert's again, I would just try something different and not have my hopes set so high.
Oh, and parking is a bitch.
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WAIT. Lambert's is a restaurant? Man... I've got to stop drinking.
Anyway, I've only been upstairs... at the bar... and outside in the courtyard (its beautiful at night). It has good music at night ((sometimes)) - check the website to see if there's a cover.
Awesomness: Wednesday nights = $3 Guinness (Chimay used to be $3, but is now $7. See update below).
I think its $3 pints, $2 long necks, and $1 cans. Friggin' amazing.
The first night I was there, it was a bunch of late-teens/early 20somethings (not of drinking age) trying desperately to dress like hipsters but not quite pulling it off. It was amazingly hilarious watching them awkwardly shift their hips to techno while wearing red RuPaul platform heels. They haven't been back since, but I have. The crowd is normally good - and mixed. Small beer selection, but full bar.
The Lambert's beer of the week is a risky gamble. They're clearly liquor people. It has been awful every time except once they had Hoegaarden (I could hardly contain my excitement).
UPDATE: All of a sudden, the super-friendly bartenders and waitresses were gone. Now they have these stuck-up hipsters with major attitude barely serving you. And the Chimay no longer costs $3 on 3-2-1 night. It now costs $7. What? I actually argued with a waitress about it - she said it had always been $7 on Wednesdays, but she hadn't been working there long.
What's up with that, Lambert's? At least the Guinness is still $3 on Wednesdays.
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Tried to eat lunch today at Leaf...but for some insane reason they are closed Wednesday thru Friday this week. Ugh! So we walked up the street and saw Lambert's. We decided to give it a try.
Wow!
First of all, I love the decor. Upscale but homey. Upstairs looks like a super cool lounge for happy hour.
Service was incredible. Fast and efficient. They anticipated our needs and kept them iced tea glasses full!
The food was soooo good. L. had the Brisket Sandwich with caramelized onion on homemade whole wheat toast. It looked great! I had the Anchiote and Lime Rubbed Free Range Chicken (moist and smoky) with Roasted Root Vegetables(yams, potatoes, turnips, red onion and garlic) and Carrot Jicama slaw (chunks of napa cabbage and jiciama with a light dressing). All with homemade pickles and bread!
YUM!!!
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This is exactly the type of restaurant that Austin needs to cultivate -- no, not another barbecue joint -- a restaurant that isn't afraid to take a cuisine and do something totally different with it. In San Francisco it's called fusion cooking. In this case it's Texas tradition mixed with Austin funkiness mixed with world flavors.
The piped-in music was all over the map, which was sometimes a bit jarring, but certainly contributed to the funkiness. We were just there for lunch, but I poked my head around in the upstairs bar; very cool. They also have live music several days a week. Oh, and the food, of course, was extremely tasty. The brisket is fabulous, and the rubs are very different. If you're one of those who have already made up their minds about "what brisket is supposed to taste like" you won't be converted because this is more than just meat and sauce. However, if you want to branch out a bit, this is the place to go.
More importantly, Lambert's is a totally different experience than the traditional BBQ joints (e.g., the Salt Lick, Iron Works). This is where you take your snob guests, but that doesn't make it a snob-only joint. The food is expensive, but when you add in the service and presentation it's really not that high. It only seems high because people aren't used to paying $20-25 for barbecue. And besides, when was the last time you went to a BBQ restaurant and got oysters on the half shell served warm topped with wood-charred tomatoes, and mixed with apple-smoked bacon and pesto butter? And believe it or not, it didn't overwhelm the oysters.
I do have two complaints:
1) the entree portions really are too large to have if you're going to have anything else. I'm sure that's because people are used to getting grotesque amounts of food from other BBQ places, plus they need to justify the prices. Still, I would like to see the option of smaller plates at a slightly reduced price.
2) I know the chefs are going for "gourmet," but you're also in animal-friendly, liberal-minded Austin. Do you really need to put foie gras and kobe beef on the menu? I think there are better choices than two foods that come with the potential negativity. If you're not going to do Texas beef (which, quite frankly, you shouldn't) how about midwestern beef instead? And why not various pate choices instead of the foie gras?
All in all, though, a must-check-out place.
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One of the many reasons I love Brette is that she will not steer you wrong. She's like an encyclopedia of knowledge on shopping and dining in Austin, and the first person I went to when I needed to escape the Hilton food I'd been subsisting on for three days (which was fine, but left me crying uncle after the 9th meal).
The cold martinis and hot band upstairs were the perfect combination to help unwind on my last night in Austin. Mixed, mellow crowd of fun-somethings also seemed to be enjoying the start of their Friday. A gorgeous, literally blue-haired hostess with blue boots to match seated us in lovely Raquel's section, which turned out to be a huge boon. She knows her wine and food and made excellent recommendations (of course, she is originally from San Francisco, *ahem*). The hangar steak special was melt-in your mouth good and went perfectly with the South African Merlot. I could eat here once a week, and will definitely make it a habit when I'm back in town!
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Lambert's gets 4 stars because I believe that only Wink and Uchi deserve 5. That said, this is an excellent addition to Austin. I hope it's around for years and years to come as it's a low-key, aesthetically-pleasing spot serving great food and tasty drinks.
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Disclaimer: I'm not from Texas, and my California-attitude to BBQ sets me up for failure in rating this place, but I am giving it 5 stars on account of the restaurant, not specifically the "authentic BBQ" experience.
We had awesome food all-around, with a knowledgeable server who could give us an explanation of "oak-smoked" vs. "oak-grilled" (my epiphany = your "duuuuuh"). I had a hard time deciding between the Cholola-spiced hanger steak or the ahi, which sounded delicious, accompanied by a grapefruit & jicama salad and chimichurri but when in Rome...so I did the steak. I also grubbed off my friend's plate of the achiote-lime rubbed chicken, the waffle fries (seriously, I can never contain my excitement when it comes to waffle fries), fried blackberry pie (which, to me, is a bit rich, especially in following to an already-indulgent meal), and a cauliflower gratin that is now M.I.A. on the menu. I sort of remember a giggle amongst our group about a "Mexican Coke" on the menu, however I seem to forget the joke...Anyway, I would totally head back to this joint if there were locations here in Nor Cal, but there aren't, so I conclude hopefully convincing you natives to check this out if you haven't already.
P.S. - Stay for the band. We went on a Thursday, which I want to say was karaoke night or something fun, but either way upstairs was cute and had a nice, "pre-game drinks" vibe.
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I have been wanting to try Lambert's for quite a while. A few people on different occasions raved about their brunch, so I had high expectations. What a disappointment! I'll admit, the cheesy grits were fantastic, and the deep-fried capers as a garnish for the salmon are a stroke of genius. But everything else was uninspired. The prime rib and brisket were both fatty and tough. The table bread looked and tasted as though it had been bought in a box at HEB the night before. The biscuit gravy was... I don't know. I think it had fennel in it, which I don't like. It wasn't like any gravy I know, that's for sure. The desserts didn't even look appetizing. The coffee sucked - they claimed it was Little City. That may be, but it was really weak. It was "mom" coffee. The service was mediocre.
Worth $24? Nope.
There were 4 of us at brunch, and we all had the same reaction - we won't be back.
The building itself is great - I'd gladly go upstairs for a drink and some music.
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This is the first restaurant experience I had in Austin. The food was yummy! I tasted the following:
. Spicy Deviled Eggs
--- I liked it, I really liked the caviar on top. I was expecting it to have a bit more bite to it. I'd order it again.
. Cold Smoked Bandera Quail "Lizzies"
--- I still do know what "Lizzies" are however, it was very tasty. The quail was moist and fell apart at the bone. I have to say I have NEVER tasted grits this good before! ---
. Pan Seared French Beans
--- OH! It was cooked to perfection, the color was great and so was the texture! I loved the finishing salt. ---
. Lambert's Baked Mac and 3 Cheeses
--- This was the best dish yet! I could have just ordered a couple of plates. I do now know what cheeses they put in but we (my guest Alex and I) swear there was Velveeta (this is meant as a complement) the cheese sauce was so velvety and creamy but yet, the viscosity was thick enough to stick to the pasta and your ribs. ---
. Maple Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
--- All I can say is I am not a big fan of bread pudding however, this was the best. I would eat this again any day! ---
The food was good. They had a band playing upstairs in the bar area which made it hard to hold a conversation. We sat outside which was pleasant enough. I would definitely eat here again.
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We'd been trying to step in here to check out their whiskey drinks for a while. Last night it was un-packed enough to get a table. I had the mint julep. It was freaking strong. I liked it. I drank it pretty quickly. They have similar drinks on hand, like the old fashioned. Love that stuff.
I could talk about that, but the real awesome part of this drink was the bread pudding we ordered. It was hot, and melting, and was full of super-gooey pecans and some kind of bourbon sauce, and who knows what else, and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Like the old style "ice cream serving spoon" bean-shaped lump of ice cream. Jesus Christ, this is probably the best dessert I've ever had. The table next to ours was trying to decide on a dessert and I wanted to punch them and force the bread pudding upon them.
Our waiter was a real nice guy, too. We asked him if there was a cover to go upstairs (there was, and it was ten freaking dollars to see Scott H. Biram). "Well, hmm, I usually just take the stairs in the back" and pointed us that way. Thanks.
In the evening time, you _can_ park in City Hall's underground garage for something like $5. There's a really complicated system of hallways that will spit you out right across Guadalupe from Lambert's.
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Lamberts is a total mystery to me. I thought it was all awesomeness after catching a band upstairs and enjoying a couple of beers. The decor is simple and chic with warm lighting, hardwood floor through and exposed brick. And the bartender was friendly and helpful.
But when I went for dinner, Lamberts was totally lacking. Their appetizers were deliciousness incarnate, deviled eggs, Asian ribs, salads, yum yum yum. Their entrees were not even close. I thought the BBQ was bland and the dryness of the meat a little absurd considering how much fat was on it. I will add though, that the sides were pretty delicious, i second the orders for root vegetables and the mac n cheese.
The prices are a little steep, and the mixed drinks are tasty (try the spiked Lemonade), but a little weak. Also the service was a little spotty, our waiter only seemed to show up when my drink glass was empty and would very punctual about getting me a drink but not anything else. Multiple asking was needed.
This is a place I really wanted to like: the drink menu is creative, the furnishings are total lodge meets lounge style and the apps were again, amazing. So I do recommend this as a place for a nibble and a brew, but avoid actual meal eating here.
So I would totally recommend Lamberts as a hangout for drinks and apps, just don't actually for real eat there. Just nibble, like a mouse, a drunk mouse.
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