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Bess Bistro
(Now Closed)French Restaurant, American Restaurant, and Cajun and Creole Restaurant$$$$
Downtown Austin, Austin
59 Tips and reviews
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Amanda GarciaApril 4, 2014OMG! I love this place. Fried green tomatoes were delicious. I wish I would have known of this place during my wedding, i would have had our rehearsal dinner here. Yummy! Cant wait to bring my mom!
AngellaOctober 12, 2013Best place in the city for brunch and happy hour! $1 Mimosas with fresh squeezed orange juice! Pecan Street cocktail is fantastic! Shrimp Bess and Bess Sautéed Mussels are to die for. Service rocks.
Nicole McAfeeApril 15, 2015Make a reservation. I highly recommend the fried green tomatoes as well as the short ribs. Others at my table raved over the sweet potato ravioli. Bonus: service is impeccable!
The Spoon & TrowelMarch 9, 2012Local food close to the convention center! Sit outside and order from the mix of French and Southern inspirations. You can order both fried green tomatoes and a Croque Madame. Welcome to Austin.
Trix H NavasDecember 30, 2014Great snapper with vegetables, chorizo and gnocchi. Definitely a must!! For dessert don't miss the Bess beignetes!
Kyle BunchFebruary 24, 2013Underrated upscale downtown option. Good food, good drinks, and a nice atmosphere that makes for a good escape from the hectic and sometimes douchey downtown scene.
Blair LewisSeptember 16, 2012We had a terrific birthday celebration here. Service was terrific and food was as well. Highlights were artichoke app, mac n' cheese and pork ribs that slid off the bone.
Natalie HenshilwoodFebruary 26, 2012Sunday brunch started with a lovely mimosa followed by Bess Benedict. English muffins, braised pork belly, poached egg and white truffle topped with crab meet.... Can you say YUMMY!
Us WeeklyJune 19, 2013Sandra Bullock is the owner of this cute (and eco-friendly!) Creole French café full of Texan hospitality. Order a plate of fried green tomatoes!
Half Past NowMarch 11, 2013New hours Mon-Thurs 4:30-10 Fri&Sat 4:30-11 Sun 10:30-2, 4:30-10 Check out halfpastnow.com for more details on restaurants to eat at!
Rachael J.January 23, 2012Best romantic restaurant. Such a wonderful atmosphere. The lighting and decor are perfect. The food is really good, too.
Dallas DeesDecember 4, 2011OH MY GOSH! Perfect meal! Food and service was awesome. Portions were just the right size too. Definitely a nicer date night restaurant.
I love the wide array of Happy Hour appetizers! Try the Jumbo Crab Cake & Fried Green Tomatoes on top of a lovely crab salad. Yum! :-9- CollegeFashionistaJanuary 14, 2014Bess Bistro, Sandra Bullock's restaurant in Austin, is a quaint and affordable brunch location perfect for all occasions!
Kat RussellMarch 10, 2010Shrimp and Grits special is great! Fried green tomatoes are a great appetizer, but ask for extra aoli. Don't order Mac & Cheese as a side - not good! Cozy atmosphere and reasonable prices!
Alba SandovalAugust 22, 2013Amazing Green Fried Tomatoes, Pine nut Olive Oil cake, and Passion fruit cheesecake!!!!
VoniaAugust 25, 2013Sandra I hate you and everything but Miss Congeniality, especially in The Blind Side, but it's pretty clear to me that you spent all the money on the decor rather than the food itself!
Mary WoodardFebruary 8, 2012Shrimp and grits with a bacon gastrique. Absolutely delicious! Need a reservation, though, for more than two people. (4 of 4 petals via Fondu) Read more
Lewis BelyeuMarch 17, 2014Total compliments to the chef! Wonderful food. The New York steak was AMAZING!!!
Christina LMarch 30, 2013Servers are awesome I want to make them thank you cards. Best Brussels sprouts of my life.
Lowell RocolcolAugust 13, 2012Perfect dining experience. We got the shrimp and grits, and pan-seared scallops.
Darrell MillerJune 30, 2013Seems cute and cozy must come back without a bachelorette group and a loud mouth next booth over.
Katherine FlansburgAugust 30, 2010Had lunch here midweek. Low noise level, great turkey and gouda sandwich. Great place to have a lowkey lunch without waiting for a table.
ecomaginationMarch 9, 2011Opened by Sandra Bullock in 2006, Bess Bistro uses biodegradable takeout products and is furnished with repurposed tables and chairs
Anthony NguyenJuly 10, 2012The place is pricey so get a Restaurant.com coupon for $2 and save $25 and watch out for Sandra Bullock, she eats there allot.
- Happy Hour from 230pm - 630pm. Get to the area early - plenty of CHEP paid parking on 6th St.
Nick PiescoFebruary 26, 2010Have a seat at one of the bar tables and gorge yourself from the wonderful (and cheap!) happy hour menu. Hurry, though -- it only goes until 6.30!
I second the fried green tomatoes! Also the croque monsieur is the best I've ever had. I asked though and no one here has heard of a salty walrus :(
RexAnn ShotwellJune 19, 2010This is such a cute place for date night. Its like an underground secret.
155 Photos
Foursquare © 2024 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Bess Bistro™ is an authentic bistro in the Stratford Arms building at 500 West Sixth Street, Austin's Old Pecan Street. Originally the Stratford Apartments built in 1918, the vintage building's old bank vault is Bess' kitchen, a treasury of great food.
Permanently closed (Show more)
- Mon–Thu, Sun
- 4:30 PM–10:00 PM
- Fri–Sat
- 4:30 PM–11:00 PM
(512) 477-2377
Features
Reservations
Yes
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Drinks
Full Bar, Cocktails
See More
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- 8.3
"Very cute place for a nice brunch. Their croissant and strawberry butter is really good!"
Divya Mulanjur - 8.0
"The mushroom and the lentils soups are my favorite at La Madeleine!"
Bogdan Negru - 7.9
"Yummy little French cafe. Good bottled beer and cheese selections. Tasty food. Service was a little slow. Despite other tippers, the chocolate cookie is not that amazing (see: Steeping Room)"
Josh A
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- 7.9
"A wonderful Sunday brunch. It's a little pricey at 18.95 per person (for $2 more you get bottomless mimosas), but the food is REALLY good. Take advantage of the a la carte items included in the price"
Nicholas Hudson - 6.8
"Great ritas. Love the location. My fav ATX bar"
Wendy Bryant - 9.0
"The BBQ resty inside is actually amazing. Short rib!"
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