Epicerie Cafe & Grocery Reviews

Service was excellent. Good beer and wine selection - and cheese selection. That being said, a few beers, an appetizer, a sandwich or two and we were at $160 for a party of four. Quaint setting - most seemed to enjoy their food but my shaved beef sandwich was very average. Not likely to return when considering all other options in Austin.

Really, really like this little tucked-away gem. The food is consistent, genuinely country French--simple but delicious---and varied in range. The frites are AMAZING--and this from my spouse, who's from Paris! (I so agree!) It's a cafe-like setting in that it's small, not super quiet, but conducive to chatting, and please don't be in a huge hurry as anyone can tell the food is prepared to order. Good wine list, truly remarkable cheese selection. Not super cheap, but consistent quality of the food, wine, cheese!

Situated a few miles north of the city, this is what so many people have said is a "typically Austin" eatery. If typically Austin means quite good food but virtually non existent service, they hit it on the head. Some pointers to my experience with two friends: - 10 minutes before we were offered a drink - another 10 minutes before we were asked for our order - 25 minutes later our order arrived and there was a problem: two of us ordered the same dish but we were brought only one. - we decided to share rather than wait - after all, this was lunch - and asked for another plate. - despite their error, the plate took five minutes to arrive by which time the food was only vaguely warm. Why would the server imagine that two orders with three customers was OK? Really not good enough.

This is a charming place to visit for lunch or dinner and they typically have a few GF (gluten free) options. There is a cheese case for something there or to take home. Excellent selections. The meals are very good. The service level is sporadic. Very charming neighborhood restaurant.

Returned home from a trip to New Orleans and we were craving beignets. Wanted hot, freshly made New Orleans style beignets. Searched online and decided to patron Epicerie. Not disappointed. We also had the fancy iced tea and fried green tomatoes. Cute, clean, friendly staff and prices are average for Austin. Recommend!

I am very happy to see a locally owned restaurant such as Epicerie Cafe pop up in this small Austin neighborhood. It is a favorite of many, it is appealing for certain purposes. I had been there for coffee and a cookie another day and it was delightful. However, tonight I met friends there for a glass of wine, and I would say it is not the right place to do that. There are very few wines by the glass on the menu. The one Cabernet is $16 a glass. That's high. Also, as others have mentioned, the wine is unappetizingly served in a tiny juice glass, which is NOT the way to serve red wine. Everyone knows you serve it in a glass large enough for it to be exposed to air so it can breathe and become it's best "self." Besides, it's not elegant or fun or enjoyable to sip wine from a tiny glass. I highly recommend to the owners that if they want to be taken seriously with their wines, that they purchase wine glasses so that their customers can be delighted, not disappointed. The appetizer list could be more accommodating for friends who want to sip wine and have a nibble. The only real option was the cheese plate to share easily. The cheeses were delicious. Our bill for 3 people which included 3 glasses of wine, 2 beers and cheese was $130. I would go back for coffee but not in the evening for wine. (they also have a food menu for dinner which I have not tried).

Several friends and I were in the area visiting at The Christi Center and decided to have lunch in this wonderful bistro across the street. It was lunch so we shared the Fried Green Tomato App - and it was wonderful - we could have made the whole meal be that. Two of us had the mixed green salad while the other had the Beet Salad. I don't think we left any crumbs. We then went to the counter and sampled/bought cheeses and meats - absolutely delicious, and the young man behind the counter gave us all the time in the world. What a wonderful new find.

Terrible service. One breakfast item on the menu and it was greasy, no vegetarian or vegan options. Great wine and cocktail menu, probably better for lunch or dinner. For brunch find somewhere/anywhere else.

Small but friendly and great food! The deli food looked good also. I only wish we could have tried more things on the menu!

Had a nice brunch at Epicerie on Sunday. Arrived about 2:30 PM and was glad to see that they were not closing up yet. Members of my party had fruit and yogurt with granola and honey, shrimp and grits, biscuits and gravy with bacon and french fries. All was delicious and enjoyed. French fries are perfect-thin, crisp and salty. Overall a very pleasant dining experience!

Good food, prepped to order with fresh and fine ingredients, but the place was terribly noisy. Not a single square of fabric in this charming bistro to soften the sounds of kitchen and chatter. We went for brunch on Sunday and enjoyed our sinfully delicious croque madames with frites. But conversation was difficult, which made the experience somewhat less than pleasant.

Caesar salad dressing tasted like mayo. Chicken terrine on the salad was an extra $10 and was like canned chicken. Limited cheese on the salad. WTH? Completely different from what my wife ate inside the restaurant weeks ago. Ordered through through Favor.

NIce setting, but food is not that good and very expensive. We spent $60 on lunch for 2 and hardly got any food. My quiche (onion/mushroom) was greasy and didn't have any taste. My husband had the pear salad which had way too much salad dressing on it and was a very small size for the price. For dessert we split a chocolate chip cookie which wasn't that great. The restaurant itself is very nicely decorated and the setting is nice, but would not go back. Very bad value.

Tried the much touted cheeseburger and frites, wasn't impressed with anything but fresh yummy bun, aioli and fresh made pickles. Burger was bland but oversalted. The rest of burger veggies were so tiny, it was kinda funny. One tiny piece of butter lettuce leaf, smaller than burger, 2 quarter sized thin slices of roma tomatoe and 2 paper thin rings of red onion. Couldnt even taste them over the heavy salted burger. Frites didn't appear or taste fresh, more like your generic frozen shoestring potatoes. They were very oversalted, to the point of being inedible. Also half of the fries were soggy and limp and half overcooked and hard, as if old fries sitting under heat lamp mixed with new. The grapefruit rosemary soda was soooo refreshing, I'd come back for one of those any hot day. Was mixed bag. So I will return and try something else before writing this cute quaint neighborhood Frenchish cafe off my radar. It just didn't hit the target today, I'm blaming it on heavy handed cook, as wait staff were friendly and efficient.

This used to be one of my favorite spots to treat myself or enjoy with friends. I’m not sure why a bowl of French onion soup would cost $21.00 and then not come with anything else. I ordered a side of baguette and a salad too. I felt ripped off. The disappointment came with the fact that the menu said $14.00 and it was crossed through and changed to $21.00. If you are going to change the price to $21.00, then print another menu instead of increasing the price for all to see. It was not a $21.00 bowl of soup. I won’t say that I won’t be back, the food is always amazing. Just do it better next time.

I've been here 2 times now. Both times were at the suggestion of others, because I wouldn't choose this place myself. It's pretty cute inside and a cheese shop, so you would think that cheese would be the main focus of the cafe's dishes. You would be wrong. The menu is small and really limited. I'll state for the record that I'm a cheese lover, the stinkier it is the better. I thought about getting a "Porchetta" sandwich, but the provolone it came with sounded a little blah to me, so I asked if I could change the cheese for another more flavorful cheese. They said the only cheese they could serve with it would be Comte because of the "head cheese" in the sandwich. The menu said there was ham on the sandwich, it made no mention of head cheese. If you include head cheese in a ham sandwich it's something you list on the menu, since head cheese has a very strong and unique taste that some people (like me) don't like. After that my friend suggested the grilled cheese and tomato soup. I said great but again asked if I could swap out the comte cheese which sounded bland and not flavorful for another cheese. I was told provolone was available. This is a CHEESE shop and the only two cheese they apparently offer are provolone and comte - both boring and kind of blah. My grilled cheese sandwich was also boring and blah. I don't know about you, but for I think a $12 grilled cheese from a CHEESE shop should really be fantastic. I highly suggest that the owner of this shop taste the food she is serving, because boring and blah aren't adjectives ever used about good, fabulously stinky cheese or the food it is used in.

The bouillabaisse was delicious but tiny. It was more of a starter dish rather than a meal, which is what I expected. My husband enjoyed a delicious sandwich, for "what there was of it."

Have been to this place a couple of times and will return often. A quaint bistro with a euro-flair has quality food, wine and excellent service. Our waiter was genuine and excited to talk to us about menu options. The chef was flexible when we asked for a couple of minor changes (much appreciated). The triple cream on the cheese plate was melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness and the home-made cured meats were stellar.

Hopefully more people don't discover this little gem of a French cafe; there's a long wait at peak hours. Limited menu, but each dish is excellent; I especially like the Steak/Frites. Good choices of beer and wine available. And the beignets are a "must have" for dessert. The "grocery" is very limited, but there is a good choice of cheeses for purchase.

The Beef Pastrami was really fresh and delicious. We also had a special appetizer, a salmon tartare, that was really tasty.

This place does in house Cured Meats really well love the grits. Really good table service from the staff who were all really friendly. Went here for Brunch after a friends wedding, the perfect place to go.

Epicerie is an elegant, white tablecloth bistro with some well-prepared French classics. I particularly restaurants that have a menu is that varied but not huge so you can have a reasonable expectation what they do offer might be good. That is Epicerie and they did exceed my expectations. They offer a delicious charcuterie board which we tried and found excellent, particularly the French cheeses. Their gnocchi was likewise tasty - with toasted gnocchi and a light creamy sauce. Vegetables offered were likewise prepared as well as you would expect from an authentic French restaurant. Wine by glass was well-priced with unexpected offerings of some known and less known wines. I recommend venturing out to try something new. I did and it was worth it. This is a place where you can talk, where professional service is taken seriously, but it is not formal or stuffy. Definitely worth a repeat trip.

I recently went for lunch and had the beet and barley salad which was out of this world!! Highly recommend for a lunch spot - small but diverse menu and great portions.

Very tasty dishes, reasonably priced, and a cozy down home atmosphere. On Hancock Drive between Burnet Rd. and Mopac. Good food!!

I have visted two times now hoping to be impressed by what others have described as a little gem of French style. But as someone who has spent considerable time in France, I have to say that Epicerie is a BIG disappointment. Everything is way over-priced (including its so-so baguette). The piece de resistance came when we ordered a sparkling wine which arrived in an over-sized shot glass. It looked like a urine sample. This stylization needs rethinking.

No price posted for beignets. It's 8 dollars for three. Not worth it. Beignets were tasty but nothing special. It's a cute bungalow restaurant.

After a short wait during their brunch, our order was served flawlessly and we found our entrees to be extradordinary. Had the eggs benedict and the salmon tartar which were both very good. The eggs benedict came with a perfect hollandaise sauce featuring a flaky buscuit rather than the traditional English muffin. Their house coffee is also a star on the menu. They have an inhouse grocery which features a lot of cheeses and an assortment of French delicasies to purchase to take home including some sausages. Order the awesome beignets which are a must along with their coffee or an expresso. Be ready for a bit of powdered sugar to possibly makes it way onto your clothing but it will hardly be noticed while you are enjoying this treat.

There were four of us and among the group we had the croque Madame, quiche, and cured salmon, plus beignets. Everything was very good and service was very good and helpful as well. The final cost will be higher than a more mass produced venue but it’s justified by the ambience and quality and options of the food. The Madame kept us full for the remainder of the day.

Epicerie is a unique experience in Austin that reminded me of a European cafe. It's cozy, but not overly crowded. The cheese provide plenty of choices including the expensive and rare variety. This is a great place for a glass of wine or beer and appetizers, a romantic 4 course meal, or coffee and desert. The patio does not provide a good view of the outside world, but provides a nice outside option for those that prefer it [or have a dog].

While visiting Austin, we enjoyed a delightful lunch on the shady patio. Our server made very good recommendations - fried tomatoes with pickled veggies and shrimp for starter, mixed green salad and a cheeseburger that we shared. We will return.

This cozy little restaurant mimics a country french cafe but the food is all Paris. Amazingly designed dishes with some real surprises. The burger is one of the best I've had and you don't really expect that from a French restaurant. The wine list is very reasonable and mostly french.

An unplanned stop one evening found us at Epicerie. Both the mixed green salad (with smoked tomato vinaigrette) and the boudin were inventive, approachable and flavorful. Quaint atmosphere, quiet, with attentive and respectful service. My only wish is for REAL wine glasses. I am not a fan of the little juice glasses for the quality of wines they offer.

Having just been to Café Du Monde in New Orleans, we were curious to try the beignets at Epicerie Café. They did not disappoint. In fact, they were better! Also had a cheese platter with an aged gouda,which came with almonds and a fabulous Sqirl raspberry vanilla bean jam. A couple next to us was eating what appeared to be very good eggs benedict. Coffee was very strong and hot. Great place to stop for a snack, coffee or try some awesome cheeses.

The staff was very friendly and attentive, the food was rich and filling, and the atmosphere was great for catching up with an old friend.

First of all, do not skip the fried green tomatoes with smoked shrimp and pickles. Even if you've eaten fried green tomatoes everywhere and feel like there's nothing new under the sun, there is. And it's at Epicerie. Our other dishes, both special were very nice and obviously used great quality ingredients. As for the service, it's beyond compare. I waited for over an hour for my friend to arrive, and the waiter never did more than check in to see if I wanted anything every 15 minutes or so. No one ever suggested I move on or leave the table, and the restaurant was almost full.

Great cocktails, wine, food selections. Super affable and helpful staff. Such a friendly vibe. If you need a 14 page menu of selections then this is not for you. If you enjoy an evolving menu of well prepared items (food or drink), then hasten to get here.

Lunch with a friend included a very tasty Ruben sandwich. It seemed somewhat pricey to me. We planned to meet in the outdoor area because the weather was nice. I expected the patio to be more inviting. There's a lengthy selection of beers (pricey, again, for most of them) and wines. The interior looked pleasant. I would eat inside the next time. It would be nice if there were a few more selections on the lunch memu that cost under $10. Long story short, I'd go there again for the food, but would take my lunch to work a few extra times to stay on budget.

This is our go-to restaurant in our family's neighborhood when we want to get out for a lunch during our stay. The menu is limited, but everything is specially prepared and excellent. There also is a nice wine and cheese selection, if that is what you want. Definitely give it a try.

Ducked in for lunch with a girlfriend for the first time and neither of us were disappointed. There's a relaxed, sort of, corner delicatessen vibe inside with cheese and wine filled fridges and preserve lined shelving along the wall. Our waitress was seriously awesome // very knowledgeable and friendly; and our meal (eggplant salad, beet salad and charcuterie board) was perfection. Love this place and will definitely be back :)

Ate at this newly opened self-styled French bistro-like eatery end of last week. Not ready to say it's fabulous, but nice neighborhood addition and some outstanding offerings. The pickled beets and pair salad was phenomenal (and I don't like beets!). Pappardelle (sp?) also fantastic, loaded with fresh mushrooms. Ox-tail stew offering delicious. Tomato soup as good as tomato suit gets, but some grocery store offerings (Pacific brand) and Le Madeleine, for example, equally as good. $18 for 3 cheese offering pricey, tasty cheeses but not special, compare Vino Vino or Swift's Attic.Ordering at counter and paying $56 for the above selections without wine or dessert on high end, but without the cheese, reasonable and well worth it (and 5 stars for value, but 3 with the cheeses). Rather small, not spread out eating area indoors is going to be a problem when lunch or dinner crowds show up -- and they will. I'll be back to try other things on the varied, interesting menu. Good start!

Epicerie is a little off the beaten path but well worth the search. Located across the street from Fonda San Miguel in a remodeled home, this little oasis offers some of the most unique dishes around. Hunt this place down and be prepared for a taste of heaven.

I LOVE this place!! The food is GOOD, make that great! Every sandwich I've had here has been "made with love," and the soups and salads are equally good. Should I even mention how great their beignets are with the nice blue bottle coffee cappuccino? If you enjoy supporting local business, this is a good place to leave some cash!

Good cheese and bread for take away. Maybe ok for coffee, but the several times we have tried it seems to miss the mark. Service was ridiculously slow and disorganized.We were ignored as were other diners.Outside diners seemed to get priority. Dirty rags were kept on clean shelves in the eating area and a mop and pale were obvious. We wondered what shape the kitchen was in.We have been several times and each time it gets worse. It is an interestedly designed space, but we have no reason to return.

We have visited this restaurant several times for lunch . It is a small neighborhood restaurant with fresh, quality food. The menu is not extensive but everything we have ordered has been delicious. Some of the dishes we have tried and loved are the boudin, a beet and barley salad, and the shaved beef sandwich. Our daughter went with on the last visit and had a cheese and sausage plate that she said was excellent. The very best item to order are the beignets. They come three to an order - perfect for sharing. Other reviewers have stated that the prices seem high here. We disagree. For the quality of the food, they are very competitive with similar restaurants.

Went for brunch, had eggs Benedict, iced coffee and beignets. Beignets are out of this world good, and coffee was great, but eggs benedict was underwhelming. And for $50 for two people, didn't feel like it was worth it.

Epicerie is light, white, and sparsely decorated....just what I was looking for a solo lunch during a recent trip to Austin. I ordered a delicious and well-priced pint of beer to go with my meal and have no complaints in that department. The restaurant has a generous selection of brews for every budget as well as a FEW wines by the glass at typical restaurant price range. The food options, however, were not comparable in value. I ordered an entrée sized mussel plate and while the green sauce was wonderful I had to order a side of bread to complement and I still left feeling a little hungry! Of course, I could have ordered an appetizer or salad along with my meal but this was a quick lunch for me and it was not my intention to break the bank. Perhaps the best choice would have been to order a sandwich or a burger. Live and learn!

My husband and I were more than pleasantly surprised by this quaint and delicious cafe in our neighborhood for an impromptu dinner date. We split the oysters, cesar, pork special (photo) and apple streusel. Each dish was incredible, the server was friendly, prompt, and provided helpful recommendations. All around this was a smile-generating experience that we will share again in the near future.

Stopped by with friends for a late afternoon lunch. Ordered a green salad with grilled shrimp which was fresh and delicious. Shared a cheese board with friends which was also good. Sat next to the nice big windows which allowed in the warm sun. Overall the food and service were fabulous.

This quaint house screams charm on the inside and out. Once inside, the grocery is open and welcoming with unique food items and interesting wine. Sit outside if weather permits. I was with a group of 6 girlfriends for a night out and everything we tasted was fabulous. Definitely try the beet and barley salad - arguably one of the best. The mussels were fantastic and I definitely wanted more! The gnocchi was delicious and what I liked the most was that the sauce was on the bottom rather than drenching the entire dish. The beignets for desert are a must. Good wine list. Great for lunch or dinner.

This place exceeded my expectations. I had the drum fish with carrots and it was delicious. Fish was perfectly seasoned and baked. The carrots were scrumptious. Had the apple streusel with a scoop of ice cream. The topping on the streusel was a perfect mix of rolled oats and pecans and baked just enough. The streusel spices were just right too. As you can tell, I enjoyed my lunch.

I have dined at this place twice within the past week with remarkably different experiences. The food is excellent. However, our experience with the service tonight was totally different from the one several days ago. We had to wait way too long for service in every instance of our dining experience, and finally had no option other than to approach the front of the house in order to pay the bill. The hostess seemed to be attempting to intervene and help out, but I could not observe any evidence of management. I would suggest they turn away customers if there is not sufficient wait staff to accommodate efficiently.

Enjoy dropping in after dark. Has a cozy feel, although no lounging on the couch area. Definite French/Euro Cafe feel. Nice selection of cheeses and meats, and nice food offerings. Attentive, likable staff. Place is a great neighborhood restaurant, with a feel good quality about it ... after dark.

The menu is limited, which in my opinion is a plus. Make sure you check the daily chalkboard as those tend to be my favorites, and the servers don't usually point them out. The food is good, fresh and somewhat original. I was at Epicerie recently for lunch (in the past we have only eaten dinner here) and ordered iced tea instead of wine. I was totally shocked to find they serve instant tea! Unforgivable in the south! Shame, how difficult is it to brew tea? So I would give them a 4 on the food but don't order iced tea here, only drink the wine. The other reason they didn't get a 4 from me is that they (along with all other trendy Austin restaurants) insist on making an environment that is so loud you can't possibly have a conversation with the person you are dining with!

Fresh and delicious food and amazingly good cocktails and freshly fried beignets for dessert — an amazing find! We highly recommend!

Customer Rule #3: do not try a place that does not post a menu (even partial) online. Sounded interesting, but no. Lots of competition to choose from.

We used to live in this neighborhood and we miss this place. We used to order at the counter and now a server takes your order at the table, which I really enjoyed. I had a lovely Rose and my husband had a 1667 Kronenbourg. The cheese plate was excellent and we were able to select cheeses for it. I also had the garden salad with a goat cheese crostini and it was very good. Husband had the shaved beef sandwich and was really happy. Good service, clean, and great food!

This small French café is easy to find even though not on a major thoroughfare. The limited menu offers a nice variety including a couple of American items. We had rabbit and bouillabaisse followed by chocolate mousse. It was excellent. Service was polite and efficient.

i was sick. just got off the ER room 1 day before go to this place. wanted some beignets. ordered egg benedict. i was chewing the meat and found 2 pieces of white and thick plastic on my mouth. called the waitress. he said sorry and gave me another plate. but i didnt touch the new plate at all. was scared cuz i just got stomach ache the day before. the place was so crowded. even my husband said this place has too much noise. the only i gave 3 stars is the beignets was super good. i will come back to this place just to order beignets to go. this place is not a good idea to seat and enjoy your morning coffee. people was too loud.

Excellent breakfast with a cozy comfy atmosphere The quiche was spot on...crust crispy, egg filling creamy Beignets to dye for!!

The BEST BLT I've ever had! Definitely a must try when in Austin. Try the tomatoe basil gazpacho. Fresh assortment of cheeses and nice paring jams. Delicious through & through.

Likes: Perfect neighborhood location, relaxing environment, friendly staff, beautiful decor, the cured salmon toast. Really like the cured salmon toast: this dish by itself is a reason to eat at Epicerie. The atmosphere is perfect for sitting down over a snack and enjoying great conversation. Not so much: The coffee. Bitter. Immediately afterwards, we went to another local place for a cup of coffee. On the fence: The breakfast sandwich (not bad, but not a taste sensation either). Conclusion: Really like the atmosphere and location. Since the cured salmon toast was so yummy, want to go back and try other items on the menu! (Maybe try a glass of wine instead of coffee.)

Good spot for breakfast just across from Fonda San Miguel on Hancock. Pastries are rich but large. Beignet are excellent though not small -- three to an order. Service is outstanding (especially Sam). Parking and tables may be limited when they open. The rooster symbol reminded me of places in Berkeley. The wine bar looks good.

We went to Epicerie upon the recommendation of a friend whose taste I respect. Therefore, it’s likely that we caught them on a lackluster night. We ordered red wine and were surprised when the wine was served in a small water glass, not a glass that would do the wine justice. We looked over the rather limited menus and chose the hamburger and the chicken thighs. It was only after we’d eaten dinner that we found that specials were offered on a chalk board. (Our server never mentioned the specials.) We had the mixed greens salad, which was very good. The chicken thighs were very good. The server didn’t ask how we would like the hamburger cooked when we ordered. It came came well done, the favorite temperature of few... Our server never asked if the meals were cooked to our liking and was uninformative and rather unpleasant. The ambiance of the restaurant is more what you expect at brunch than dinner. I doubt that we’ll go back.

Have been to this local unusual restaurant three times. Unfortunately, the quality of food has gone down each time. Plates are small, prices have increased and wine selections mundane.