Sawyer and Co Reviews

First time at Sawyer & Co For an after work group eat/drink. The building itself is very cool - check out the AstroTurf on the outside patio. We were seated immediately and given plenty of time to mull over the eclectic menu - it takes me forever to decide. Our server suggested an appetiser and drinks while I decided. Good idea. The Happy Hour cocktail menu has plenty of tasty treats. Do try the Boudin - it's very tasty. And ridiculously good value. In fact all the food and drink offerings are well priced. Our server Matt looked after our group really well, knowing almost intuitively when more mains or desserts and drinks were needed. I think I just discovered my new go-to place in town. I'll be back very soon

I loved this place - unpretentious, great food! Good for families with kids as well as adults. I adored my Eggs Benedict.

If you like grilled oysters, you have to try Sawyer's! If you don't like them, try these and it may change your mind. The rest of the menu at the Cajun/Southern food diner is wonderful too as they have the best grits I have ever tasted. Their happy hour has specials on food and drink ($1 oysters!) and I have been there for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. The Grits and Grillades plate (a pork stew) was fabulous served over grits with the best flaky biscuit you will ever taste. Our server, Jeff, really knew his menu and recommended just the right dishes for our brunch. They also have a bar and outside patio with lots of free parking and easy access off east Cesar Chavez.

We stopped in at Sawyer's for Sunday brunch. This place is really interesting and worth a visit. The 60/70's décor is authentic, and my kids really enjoyed looking around. The waitress we had could not have more attentive and friendly. And my family really liked the brunch menu items. The salads, gumbo, grilled cheese sandwiches, and BLT's were great tasting. Plus the prices were reasonable. This place is a little underrated and definitely worth a visit.

This is quite the retro re-do of the old Arkie's Grill. Of course the majority of patrons here don't have any idea about that old classic Austin eatery, but whatever. The food is very good. We had the 5-napkins required Frenchy breakfast sandwich and loved it. That you can get a cocktail with breakfast was the lagniappe we needed on this particular morning. The interior of this place is very cool. Lots of neat touches throughout. The light fixtures over the diner style booths are awesome. We'll be back...,

It hasn't opened for a long time - nice place, retro atmosphere. New Orleans inspired food. They are now open for dinner Wed-Sat. Menu : http://www.sawyerand.co/menusawyeronline/ We tried breakfast for our first visit - which was fantabulous. 2 weeks later we tried the Sunday brunch. The place was packed, and we were seated outside, which was equally nice, weather permitted. However, on that day, September 21, 2014, the service sucked! I don't know if it was the kitchen's fault, or the wait person's fault. Only the 4 of us with a 6 months old baby. When we were seated outside, there was only 1 other table filled - there were still plenty of 'booths' empty - but we chose a table under an umbrella. Put in our order, waited and waited, meanwhile, the table next to us who came in after us, had started to eat, and we only had our appetizer. Waited some more, while the booths were now filled, and started to eat, we had not been served, refilled coffees and finished our orange juices. Finally asked the wait person, a girl, didn't catch the name and was told 'will be right out, there was a confusion in the kitchen' (right, the kitchen's fault!) - waited another 15 minutes, finally called the manager. He checked, and said there was a confusion in the kitchen after our appetizer was served, they just started doing other orders. He offered to bring out a plate of corn bread - I said, 'well, something. Before I start to eat the table!'. Although food was good, we were so turned off by the service. We are going to have to give them some more time to get their training done right before we go back, I guess. It may be better if we didn't sit outside - someone who had worked as a wait person said that outside is always forgotten. Then it was a bad wait person? Hmm...

It would be nice to find a first-rate Cajun restaurant in Austin (or anywhere else outside of Louisiana), but that's easier said than done. Sawyer & Company makes an honest stab at it, but if you eat there, you won't think you're in Lafayette. I'm not an expert on boudin, but I thought that Sawyer's version is OK. There's a definite liver flavor to it, but this offering is made up of various meats, so something has to dominate. The gumbo had some positives, with ample pieces of tasty sausage and chicken. But it also had a slightly bitter taste, suggesting that the roux had been a bit burned. Our oyster po' boy (divided in two) was huge, but half of the oysters were exceedingly tough. And the kitchen was out of remoulade sauce, which is pretty much a standard accompaniment for this sandwich. Rather than announcing its absence, however, the kitchen simply omitted it, and when we inquired about it, they provided a "home made" tartar sauce, which was a poor substitute. If I were craving this cuisine in Austin again, I might give them another chance. But if I were headed in the direction of Louisiana, I would wait.

This food is cooked like you're family!! You can taste the love in their dishes and if I could eat everything on the menu, I'm certain it would be just as amazing as the Bananas Foster French Toast and Crawfish Omelette that was made for me! Please don't let the wait discourage you, because you'd definitely miss out on an EXCELLENT meal!

I love their gumbo! It's one of my favorite foods already, and they really take the cake! Also, they make an amazing cocktail!

Stop by here for some Cajun food. This place is awesome! Old diner style with amazing food and quick service! Definitely worth the stop!

Came for a quick bit with coworkers. Quickly seated and served! The house made tartar sauce deserve to be on the shelf In stores. Good portions and fun vibes.

I met an old friend there and it was great. Tasty food, cold beer, quiet atmosphere. The lighting was on the dim side which I appreciated. The Jambalaya was excellent.

This diner style restaurant has good food, good service and reasonable prices. The creole items add some special flavors.

Took a big group here for seafood, b'c we were all fans of the old Arkie's. Everything was just OK (except the Sazeracs, which were fantastic). Will probably try again to sit on patio, as I like the space, but kitchen needs to know that just one bad oyster (as I had in our grilled plates) can ruin the whole game.

Sawyer & Co is just a little off the beaten path in an area of E Austin that is rapidly being transformed with interesting restaurants and all kinds of quirky houses. But it's still mainly old industrial buildings. I was passing by decided to stop in for late lunch. As you enter there's a long,very long bar/counter down one side and booths on the other. There is also covered patio seating with fun retro seats and astro turf! It has this cool retro vibe. I sat at the counter and there were all of 4 people for 2 bar tenders. I looked at the menu and it was appetizers/ salads/sandwiches/burgers/po-boys and 2 muffeletta's (traditional and veggie). For some reason nothing sounded appealing but a BLT. Apparently I misread the menu because what they have is a BLTC ...a BLT with cheese. So I chose cheddar- why not? What I got was a perfectly adequate white bread, iceberg lettuce, thin bacon, thin cheddar sandwich and thin ok fries. Blah. Boring. Seriously nothing like I was expecting and hoping for. I expected a tastier bread, delicious bacon and some serious cheese. The service was fine. After I ate I asked the bartender what I should have ordered and he immediately said "a po boy" and then continued to say they were out of rolls already. He also mentioned on Wed they have oysters at happy hour for $1. I guess I need to go back at least one more time. .

My husband and I had brunch at Sawyers this morning and it was terrific. The biscuits and gravy were delicious and the eggs were cooked perfectly. I had cheesy grits and they were worth a return trip. We did have to wait about 20 minutes for a table but the food makes it completely worth it.

Great fun clean open seating friendly staff this tasty very reasonably priced kitschy definitely worth a visit food was tasty.

Great eastside lunch with a cajun touch. Today i had the cheesburger and hand battered rings. I was impressed. Top quality ingredients from top to bottom. The bun was delicious and accented the crunchy dill pickles, fresh tomates and lettuce. I opted for mustard, hold the mayo. I am not sorry! There are lots of great dishes here and this is surely one of them. Love this place!

Exterior is misleading. Be adventurous and time wrap once you walk pass the entry way!! Hostess was prompt and accommodating with our seating request. Server was friendly and provided great service. The menu followed well with great choices! Breakfast ALL DAY...total win!! If you are a fan of deviled eggs- these are a must try! Fan of fried green tomatoes? I am and so glad I had the the shrimp were cooked perfectly and the remoulade sauce was enough to cover shrimp but not drown the beautifully fried tomatoes. Definitely going back for family meal!

Went for lunch today and the food kills. Great service, awesome coffee and tremendous food. Try the boudin balls, and combo seafood platter. I had the fried catfish and fried oysters. I can't wait to go back.

My wife and I travel the country in our motor. home. We just had a luncheon/ dinner at Sawyer and company in Austin. We shared shrimp and grits with catfish etoufe. Look out, now. This food is as good or better than anything in NOLA. I know, I’ve been to New Orleans dozens of times and this place does it up double mighty fine. Even the red beans and rice were so good. When got here we thought it might be a dive but no,sir… it ain’t. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Our server was wonderful, too, and gave us perfect suggestions. Wonderful, wonderful!

As one of our favorite places for breakfast, we were very disappointed yesterday. Poor service and cold food. Biscuits that wouldn’t melt butter, cold cheese grits and even weak coffee! Not acceptable! Staff’s attitude was detached and not interested in serving customers. So long to an old favorite.

We happened to be visiting Austin friends at Mardi Gras, and when we walked into this casual, funky place for lunch, they were handing out glass bead necklaces to their patrons. Our waitress was fun and friendly as well as giving very good service. Loved the Cajun menu. I had one of the several small plates available - excellent fried catfish, thin fries, coleslaw and 2 tender hush puppies - yum! My husband enjoyed his fried oyster small plate. All the food was well prepared and delicious. There's a good selection of beers to accompany the food and prices are reasonable.

Jambalaya was good a little dry for my taste but the Gumbo was very good and the wait staff friendly and helpful. eclectic decor clean and a fun place to try while in Austin and pricing was moderate

Had terrific shrimp and grits at this little gem! An old diner from the 40's, reconditioned in a way that maintains the gritty late-40's character but feels stylish and fun. Great prices too! Unfortunately, they were out of the coconut cream pie, so I'll definitely be coming back.

I enjoy a place that serves breakfast all day, especially when I bring my kids to places where they can be a little picky about what they order. BUT, that being said I've been here for brunch and dinner. I'm a sucker for eggs benedict and they have a couple good ones on their brunch menu. Their shrimp and grits are good as well as the Catfish Orleans. I think pricing is reasonable here for what you get. It good quality, great service and you can't beat that! Def recommend this place - it's a cool joint!

I've long been a big fan of Sawyer's, especially for breakfast, but a recent visit was disappointing. When we were first seated, we were forgotten in a back corner, and ultimately had to get up and go look for a server. Jamie came and did a good job thereafter. I always love their delicious, bold coffee from Community Club, and Jamie kept our cups full. I ordered the "Huey P. Benedict", which was a poached egg atop a bed of pulled pork, all resting on half a biscuit, topped with creole hollandaise sauce. This dish sounded good and looked good, but is seriously flawed! It is a huge mistake serving the deliciously gooey egg/hollandaise/pork on a biscuit half! The biscuit is crumbly and soaks up all the tasty liquids from the egg and the sauce and becomes a yucky, disgusting blob of dough that became quite unappealing. This dish would have been delightful had it been served using a toasted sourdough or an english muffin which would retain their texture and be more pleasant to eat. When I offered my feedback to Jamie, she immediately snapped "We don't have english muffins at this restaurant!" I replied "THEN YOU SHOULD GET SOME!" I ask the chef and the manager "What harm would it do to offer your customers a choice of muffin, biscuit, or toast as the base for the Huey P. Benedict, or for any other 'eggs Benedict' as well, especially if it gives you the chance to better please your customers?" Unless they lose the biscuit, I recommend AVOIDING the Huey P. Benedict.

One of the best brunches I've had. Cool little place that's retro and includes a spacious patio complete with AstroTurf. The brunch was delicious as was the Bloody Mary I enjoyed with my Boudreaux's Breakfast. Our order also included the Sawyer's Benedict as well as an omelet and the three of us all enjoyed our brunch. Everything was very tasty and very good. We will definitely be returning here for brunch and there can be a wait - so it's best to get there early!

I had the Boudreaux breakfast and gumbo. The Boudreaux breakfast included scrambled eggs with cheese, onions, shrimp, crawfish, and lots of spices. Yummy yummy. The cheese grits was just the right amount of cheese and cooked to perfection. The gumbo was just so so. My brother and I shared a Ramos gin fizz - you have to try it! Really neat diner!

Sawyer and Co is an awesome place to have brunch. The food is traditional diner style with a twist. The service is always good and there isn’t a bad thing on the menu. The restaurant is pretty loud and space is limited due to the compact style of their tables and booths. All of the eggs Benedict are my favorite. Their chili is also amazingly savory. Get there before 11am or after 1p if you’re trying to get in quick.

I really enjoyed the unique atmosphere and setup of the restaurant. Cool place!!! Food was very good. Don't let the counter fool you, the food served here is top notch. I'll be back.

A must visit for delicious breakfast. I order the crab cake eggs benedict and oh My!!! it's a trip to food heaven every single time. You have to order the cheesy grits with no matter what you order. Order something exotic from the menu, the regular pancakes and toast and stuff are good but ordinary. Go with the more elaborate breakfast for a unique experience for your taste buds!

Best brunch we had in Austin, not badly priced I had pancakes and they rocked my world my mates all had eggs Benedict which looked beautiful. Good mimosas and nice bathrooms really couldn’t complain at all

The menu is pretty much exactly what you’d expect in a diner down here, the niceness is in the quality of the dishes, the friendly staff, and the pleasant ambience. And yeah, excellent for day-drinking 😅

What a great find! If you are looking for a cool breakfast spot or just enjoy great waffles, French toast and omelets any time stop n here. But don't limit it to breakfast food. I had the fried chicken special, 2 pieces with 2 sides and corn bread for $7.99 and it was awesome. My son had the French toast with fresh fruit and loved it.

Visiting a new place always makes me want to try the food and this place didn’t let me down. Great selections and atmosphere. Oh and the mimosas was buzzful lol

This spot is new and very cool. Awesome Cajun Diner vibe. Packed on Sunday brunch with a 45 minute wait and well worth it. I have the Breaux Benedict eggs with boudin and it was outstanding. Bloody Mary's just average. I would go back and check out the other menu items. Fun experience. We ordered grilled oysters, they were good too! Cute waitress.

I’m not even fully done brunch and it was so good I felt like I had to write a review. I got a bacon and eggs breakfast with a biscuit instead of toast. The eggs were light and fluffy and perfect and the biscuit especially was the platonic ideal of a biscuit! My friend’s fried chicken biscuit sandwich was also excellent! Great ambience, friendly staff and a wicked fun playlist - generally a great start to a Saturday!

Went with a pretty large group for lunch today. What a fabulous surprise. This place has a really nice, homey, 1950s sort of feel. It was very busy because it was raining and the patio was closed so we were lucky we made a reservation. A few of us had drinks, which everyone enjoyed. The table shared a Fried Green Tomatoes appetizer which was really good with delicious, cold shrimp on top of the tomatoes. I had the daily special of Chicken Fried Chicken, with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, a Corn Muffin and side of Sauteed Spinach. Every item was fresh and delicious. My Wife had the Eggs Sawyer (one of their versions of Benedict I think) which was just as tasty. We all tried a little of each others different dishes and there was not ONE item that wasn't just marvelous. Even the coffee was great. Our waitress, Emily, made the meal a exceptional experience with perfect attentiveness. Our meal was not terribly expensive either. This gem of a place has some of the best Cajun style comfort food I've ever eaten, I will go back again, probably sooner than later.

Obviously a place for the cool people (hipsters?) to hang out for brunch. We were really looking more for lunch. But, from 9-3 on Saturdays, they do a brunch. There is a wait, which means it's pretty good. However, it also meant we were seated at the counter, not a table, after about 15 minutes at 11am. By the time we left, the wait was longer. They do take reservations and you should make one! The food was good. The staff looked rushed, as best. But, everyone was polite and happy. The menu was breakfast-focused. So, I missed the cajun food I came for even though the brunch items are cajun-themed. I need to come back in the evening.

I love this place for brunch (no buffet, but great menu), but with a full bar, anytime is a good time for Sawyer & Co. The wife swears by their shrimp poboy. Their authentic bread is just the right ratio to shrimps, with no bite imbalanced or containing too much bread. If you do go for brunch, either show up right at open or right before the end of brunch to avoid the bulk to the crowd. Or don't because then you would mess with my plans =)

We family and I came for brunch and I order a po-boy sandwich that came with an over-easy egg, lettuce, and tomato. I thought it was okay and very messy to eat. I thought it could've had more flavor and should've been toasted on regular bread for better results. The pancakes were good and my sister said the potatoes were awesome. I tried the French toast and thought it was good just a little soggy in the middle. The atmosphere on the other hand was awesome, I felt like I was back in the 50's at a dinner.

Pretty good food, portions maybe a bit small for the price. Seafood Combo of Catfish ands Shrimp with fries and Mac & Cheese.

Service was very friendly, more room than looks like from the outside. Patio outside also. The food was good large pancakes fresh blueberries. The bar was good selection. Eggs and cheese grits were good. Biscuits were good but different than what I’m accustomed too.

DELICIOUS perfect down home comfort food (all served VERY HOT TOO!). Started with the Grilled Oysters (fabulous - not over buttered) and Fried Green Tomatoes (not gluten free) with Shrimp - plentiful (about 7) large shrimp with aioli-like topping over shredded lettuce. Should have stopped there but waiter recommended Pork Grillades (gf) over grits - yum, tender, flavorful, slightly slightly smokey w side of brussels sprouts - good. Mme M had the (gf) crawfish etoufee with a side of corn w/peppers. She raved (and did not share) a bite. It was so good we got one "to-go" for her. Unfortunately they had just run out of the King's Cake - my stomach thanked him profusely. Many Gluten Free options - but written very very very tiny on menu. Will definitely go back - place was PACKED, we were lucky to get seated (Thursday 12:00) Service was extremely attentive.

Great food and atmosphere. We showed up with 7 people with less than an hour to close and they were wonderful. Everything we ordered was absolutely fabulous. The cheesy grits are to die for. The wait staff were very personable and knowledgeable. The drinks actual contained alcohol and were not watered down. Definitely will go again.

Lovely evening last Saturday so sat outside, partially covered. We ordered the devilled eggs with praline bacon. Tasty but the smallest eggs. Should use large eggs. We ordered meatloaf, nice, chicken & sausage gumbo, crawfish cheese bread and crawfish etouffe. All were tasty except that the etouffe was cold and requested to be heated. Hot it was good. This was done and the waiter explained when the bill came that there was no charge for the etouffe. Very decent. The sides, fried okra and corn weren't worth ordering. Not tasty.

Austin is a city of hype... over-hype actually, in pretty much all things. Things in the dining world are seldom as 'fantastic' as promised, and the service provided by the current generation of 'entitled' waitstaff can border on the maddening. Sawyer & Company is a delightful exception. I arranged to meet some out-of-town friends for a Saturday brunch at Sawyer & Co., lured by the promise of New Orleans/Cajun styled offerings.( I'd say it self-consciously leans more toward the Cajun end of the spectrum). The food was solid and very good. Very flavorful and interesting, with honest portions (neither overwhelmingly large nor New American petite). I had the Trailer Park Eggs Benedict, which consisted of traditional Eggs Benedict served on a Frito Pie bed (chili and Frito corn chips). I would order it again. Although the food was very good, and the quirky former '50s dive bar architecture was entertaining, it was the service that will bring us back. Everyone, from one of the owners to the hostesses to the bus and line workers were all happy to be there, and happy to have us there (by all appearances). The service was cordial and relaxed without any irony or faux friendliness. Smiles abounded. Our waiter, Scott, was especially helpful and responsive to our requests.

We finally got to try Sawyer for a late lunch while out doing the more fun holiday errands. Sawyer is a retro-oriented spot out on E Cesar Chaves past Pleasant Valley. It is a historic spot for old east Austin. The new look says they are trying to stay retro and capture what you feel on the old Sunset Strip, old southern Route 66 and old east coast Route 1 with the Sawyer diner vibe. The aesthetic appeal is there from the street sign to outdoor booths and other seating to the communal hall for hand-washing sinks to the long bar with round stools and booths. It's a good vibe - except for no sun screen in the front window when the all metal building across the street (operated by your friends bringing you ACL in the park) blasts your eyes with solar reflection - total bummer! The egg white & veggies omlette was a solid A, the grits B+(if you don't want them runny but creamy) and the biscuit a B was the winner. Meanwhile it is disappointing to say that the meatloaf plate was a B-. The meatloaf (C-) wasn't meaty in texture but more creamy than the mashed potatoes (B). The green beans smothered in cooked down onions and bacon (B+) were old school style and tasty while the cornbread muffin was too dry (C-). Maybe should have tried an omlette, too, a chicken fried something or burger instead on first visit - but shouldn't meatloaf be a really safe bet? There are no great Austin coffee options here as it again it is going old school diner down to the coffee - so we got tea and water. That is a shame as Austin has great local roasters that take care of a lot of restaurants with hearty coffee and espresso offerings. Our server was very distracted and that was a weakness. We may try it again for a casual weekend breakfast or brunch but coffee is a big part of our breakfast or brunch. It's a little too far for us for a happy hour trip. Still - we were really glad we finally made it out to Sawyer.

Housed in an old Austin land-mark building, Sawyer and Co. have kept the funky, mid-century aesthetics of Arkie's Grill (and the Arkie Burger is still on the menu). It's a fun, cozy, retro setting for some slap-yo'-mama New Orleans Cajun cooking. I have real problems getting past the Creole shrimp and grits, but all of the very fresh seafood is fried (NOT over-fried) to perfection and the corn macque choux is wonderful.

I went to Sawyer to get some true Texas fare for dinner. I decided to go with something I couldn’t get back home and that was catfish. I got the fried catfish poboy as I’ve had poboys before and have liked them. I wasn’t a fan of it unfortunately and it ended up making me sick a little later. Also for it not being super crowded or anything the waitress was hard to track down after receiving my meal to get more water.

Kind of out of way very old retro but Cajun was really really good. I had red beans, gumbo and blackened red fish. Really good job of Cajun Creole cooking. FGT fried green tomatoes roasted peppers olive spread on muffalato. All very good had to eat red fish no bread had a lot of food. Done very well, really different 50 ish look

I made a point to stop here for brunch last weekend. Nice atmosphere (I used to come here when it was Arkie's) great service & food. I started with gumbo, loved the flavor! I definitely want to go back because they have a great menu for lunch as well.

I have been here for dinner, for a catered party, and, most recently, for brunch. Sawyer & Co. does Southern food with a Cajun twist or Cajun food with a Southern twist, depending on what you are looking for. Brunch has been my best experience so far with heavenly biscuits, griddled ham, and a Cajun hollandaise that was insaaaane. Very busy spot, but worth the wait! The cocktails are a good bet too!

Our family of 7 came here for Saturday brunch and had a fabulous meal. There was plenty of parking and no wait, and we were quickly seated at a nice indoor section decorated with a cool retro decor. Service was quick and friendly, and our food was great. Biscuits were a hit, as were pancakes, scrambles, cheese grits, and benedicts. We will definitely be back so we can keep trying their amazing food!

Sawyers is not particularly easy to get to for an out of towner. What did the good people of Austin do to deserve a catastrophe like US Hwy 183? My GPS alternated between telling me to exist to the left and exit to the right from 183, the 1st time I drove to Sawyers. I went miles out of the way then doubled back and eventually found the location. After all that, I loved my meal that evening and went back for lunch before leaving Austin. I love Cajun cooking but I’d never come across Pork Grillades, described as “NOLA classic pork stew over cheesy grits.” The waitress told me that it was good so I gave it a try and it was wonderful. Thick and tasty. Returned a couple of days later for lunch of more standard red beans and rice, also good. Eat outside if possible. Will definitely go back if in the area.

I went there with my boyfriend and son for brunch around 1pm on a Sunday. After waiting 40ish minutes for a table we were seated (after several people who arrived AFTER us were seated before us). We were obviously frustrated off of the bat. We quickly ordered some scrambled eggs, sausage and fruit for our one year old son.... The food we orders for him took 30 mins to come out..... Ours still wasn't anywhere in sight.... We asked and asked and asked and after 55 mins of waiting for our food were told they had run out of grits or something like that... No one told us and we were left waiting forever... We actually left the restaurant without EATING! Our son couldn't last any longer so we were stuck..... I've never left a restaurant without eating.... After wasting over 2 hrs of our day on nothing we were livid.... They comped our meal and gave us a gift card to return in the future but we were so angry and hungry that we don't even want to use it..... Sadly trip advisor won't let me give this place zero stars. Please don't ever eat here... This place is poorly run and has zero communication.... I'm so upset I wasted 2 hrs of my precious weekend on this place..... I'm still irritated about it....

A very good restaurant that's on the older, southwest side of Austin. Parking can be difficult to find some what. The décor reminded me of a retro 1960's restaurant, yet it was clean and larger than it appeared from out in the parking lot. Our breakfast was great, hot and delicious. A lot of the food on the menu had a Cajun feel to it. I had the Cajun Scramble and I highly recommend it. The service was tentative and friendly, The entire staff was wonderful. We will dine here again.

This place is a real find! Eclectic decor is a throw-back in time - think upscale diner. The whole place is decorated classy 50's-60's. Washroom is super clean. Patio and shaded outdoor seating area is adorable! Food was delicious. Daily specials for a good price - daughter had smothered pork chops that were Cajun flavored. She cleaned her plate. Muffulettas are huge and could easily be split, unless you are super hungry and eat a lot. Boudin balls were best we've had and the sauce they are served with is divine. Peanut butter chocolate shake for dessert - yummy! The owner greeted everyone and was attentive to all tables. Give this place a try!

Was in Austin for the Formula One race and my wife and I met my nephew at this little gem of a restaurant for Saturday morning breakfast before heading to the race track. As soon as I opened the menu I knew I was in heaven. I asked the waitress where the owner was from and I knew I was right. He was from Louisiana. The items on his menu are like not other. You need to make time for this place. The atmosphere, the staff and best of all the food was awesome. I will be back. Maybe even a trip to Austin just to go here to eat.

Came by on a Monday evening with two coworkers. We were seated right away and the service was great for the whole visit. I had a shrimp po boy and it was great. My co workers really enjoyed their meals as well. Good food, good vibe, we’ll be back!

We picked up king cakes for Mardi Gras. Its the real deal. Crawfish etouffe on spot. Po boys& fried seafood. Quality ingredients well prepared excellent service. We'll be going back

Sawyer & Co. is my go-to breakfast/brunch spot in Austin for several reasons. First, as a fan of all things Cajun, this place has got it goin' on! From appetizer boudin balls to boudin sausage, creole sauce, and Cajun-infused eggs benedict dishes, any Cajun connoisseur will be satisfied. Second, the 60's diner decor is coolio and tragically hip. Third, the waitstaff is always friendly and knowledgeable. Fourth, with an east Cesar Chavez address, you have plenty of driving/parking space (so you don't have to deal with the ridiculousness of downtown construction and parking.

Went for breakfast which was delicious. The breakfast shareables (appetizers) is an awesome idea which we took advantage of. The atmosphere is laid back, pet friendly, with a cool Austin vibe. The service was fairly quick and the servers were pleasant. The food was excellent and the presentation was executed well. Every plate looked good.

We went to Sawyer and Co. for breakfast during the week in mid August. It was completely empty at 830 am and we saw only one other customer come in between then and 10am. The three rating is based on: 5 for ambiance, 3 for food and 1 for service. It is located on East Cesar Chavez almost to 183. The ambiance is fantastic - very 1950's or 1960's with turquoise and chrome. Loved the diner feel. The menu is very basic and what you would expect from this kind of place - eggs, pancakes, toast. Nothing really interesting. My egg white omelet was good. But, I was very surprised that they don't have pico or salsa. I try to eat vegetarian or even vegan as much as possible and their choices are extremely limited for this. The service was so bad that it was hilarious. We were the only people in there and it took fifteen minutes to order. And when the food came, I had no silver ware. The server almost acted irritated that we were there. I have heard that this place is all the rage for breakfast during the weekend and that people wait sometimes for more than an hour. I strongly suggest that you do NOT do that. The food isn't worth it. I wouldn't recommend this spot because of the location (too far down Cesar Chavez) and the terrible service. The food wasn't good enough to compensate for that.

What a cool diner! It is a bit off the beaten path but groovy and the food is amazing!! Loved the crab cakes and the fish and shrimp were Divine!!!

Sawyer & Co. has a cool 60's diner atmosphere with attentive and friendly service. The menu has plenty on it to choose from and certainly has something for everyone. I ordered a scramble with cheese grits and biscuit. My partner ordered eggs Benedict. The scramble was not greasy at all and the biscuit was light and fluffy. However, the cheese grits stole the show and were the best I've ever had. My partner loved the eggs Benedict - they looked delicious. When offered a bite, I declined since the task before me (the scramble) was too daunting. The location is a little off the beaten track, but is well worth driving a couple miles east of I-35. See you there!

This is such a good place to to try for brunch (the only time I've been) Our book club met here about 3 months ago, and I can't stop talking about it. I had the biscuits and gravy with a side of home fries... (I love potatoes) and it was OFF THE CHAIN. It is super crowded on Sunday, but it's easy to see why. Also, it's so cute. You get the feeling that you've just walked into a little 50s diner. So cute. We all loved our food, so give 'er a whirl!

Looking for a quick spot for dinner. The atmosphere is reminiscent of an old diner with an updated character. The salad ordered had homemade blue cheese dressing. The staff is kind and responsive. I highly recommend.

This is not the Arkies that lived in that location for years, it's much better, cleaner and fun. I think there is more attention paid to the ambience than the food, but it still all works. If we hadn't been there so early, I think the bar for cocktails might have been nice. The unisex sink station is tastefully decorated, go there if for nothing else, to wash your hands.

Recommend the chicken fried steak. There is an actual steak with cream gravy. On another visit I enjoyed the grilled oysters.

Our group of six had a phenomenal meal at Sawyer and Co. They offer free coffee and water while you wait. The cocktail menu is varied and fun, as is the food menu. We had the Breaux Bridge Benedict, the trailer park Benedict, the bananas foster French park, the eggs sardou, and everything was delicious. Service and ambience were great ("lounge diner"), music well-chosen surf and lounge. The only drawback was it was noisy. Recommended.

The real deal not tricked up faux-Texas 6th street tourist fare. Legit biscuits and gravy, like you used get at the dinner by the courthouse that was only open for breakfast. Grits so good you'll order more to take home.

Their creamy grits are the stuff that dreams are made of. I am a huge grits fan and Sawyer & Co. served me - by far the best grits i've ever had. They were rich and decadent and smooth. I also had the breakfast sandwich on a fresh biscuit which was fluffy and buttery yet had a little crunch around the edges with a perfectly cooked over medium egg that gently and deliciously oozed out of the side when i bit into it. Bottom line, this spot is cute and eclectic and reasonably priced with fantastic comfort food.

Just had a delicious breakfast at Sawyer's! Reminiscent of the '50's diner with its' decor, Sawyer's offers a very nice brunch menu that smacks of NOLA with such items as Grits & Grillardes, an eggs benedict with boudin, and a muffaletta sandwich! Plus they serve Community dark roast coffee, which was excellent! The muff was good, but it had too much mayo (any mayo is too much on a muff!) and not enough olive salad. The biscuit and gravy were topped with two perfectly done over-easy eggs, with smoked sausage and cheesy grits on the side, and were delicious! We also had a pecan sticky bun that earned a B+. Not really sticky or gooey, but had good cinnamon flavor. Their menu of daily lunch specials looks quite good, so I'll definitely be back during the week. I'd gladly recommend Sawyer's to friends and family! Good service from Shea.

Delightful experience! This was my first visit to Sawyer & Co although it was recommended to me a while ago.I am so glad I finally ate there. The decor is very mid-century and extremely well done; the atmosphere is comfortable with both indoor and outdoor seating. I ate there mid-morning and enjoyed a simple meal of scramble eggs, toast and coffee. The prices are very reasonable. My only critique was the coffee; for my taste is was a bit strong. Otherwise a perfectly pleasant casual dining experience and I will eat there again.

Tried this for our first time today. I had the catfish awlins and she had the blackened chicken. The catfish was great. Would rate it 5/5. The red beans and rice had amazing flavor but their rice was stuck together in one piece and almost impossible to break apart. Wasn’t able to eat it. The chicken was dry, but was ok to eat since it had a sauce. 3.5/5 Stars on the chicken. The Brussel sprouts had good flavor but were cold. 3/5. The last part was the service was slow. We had to waive down the waitress and only saw her twice.

I had a quick business meeting before my flights home, and they didn't disappoint. Very friendly upon arrival, and that continued through the experience. Great food, excellent portions and great prices! Definitely return and they also serve lunch and dinner!

Very good. We arrived early for dinner at 4:45. Ordered the following: 1/2 broiled oysters Fried Okra 2 Modella beer Broiled Cajan Catfish with crawfish Etteufe Keylime pie Oysters is April were large & perfectly prepared. Catfish Etteufe very good too Back porch Crawfish boil was going on and it looked very good Louisiana style.

We had been wanting to eat at Sawyer and Company for some time and finally had the chance. We met some friends at the restaurant and found the exterior to be brimming with charm. Once inside we were immediately greeted at the door and given a table (we came early for lunch as we have heard the place gets packed) Just inside the door is a charming 1950s TV playing old 50s shows....FANTASTIC attention to detail. The décor is amazing and I immediately deemed it "very Jetsons." The booths, the chairs the light fixtures........even the clock were just marvelous and set the mood for a fun dining experience. We had such difficulty to order as we wanted to experience the true flavor of the place. We settled on the Gumbo and Fried Seafood Platter - The Whole Shabang!! Oh forgot, we started with Happy's Boudin with Saltines, Pickles and Pearl Snap Mustard.....well that appetizer promised a delightful meal. We were not disappointed, The Gumbo was thick, rich and oh so very tasty. I have to admit that yes, I did lick the bowl. Then here comes the Seafood Platter......what a marvelous display of fresh succulent seafood! Giant fried oysters, plump Gulf shrimp and the crispy and tasty catfish filets. This was a meal fit for a Cajun King. By the time we had received our meal the place was PACKED and people were waiting outside. I could see why.......this was excellent food in an amazing place. Even the restroom design was cool, upscale and eclectic. This will very quickly become one of Austin's premiere dining establishments. Sawyer & Co. mixes excellent cuisine with a New Orleans twist with a most delightful and comfortable environment and perfect service. Wish we lived closer we would become Sawyer groupies on a daily basis. We highly recommend this fantastic establishment. No negatives what-so-ever.

It had been nine years since I last visited Sawyer and Company, and it has grown in popularity over the years. The food is delicious - I had the shrimp and grits with gumbo - and the service is friendly and attentive. Reservations are imperative for this casual dining venue.

Fun place, retro decor. Got there ahead of lunch crowd so got seated fast. Was raining so limited outside spots, food order came fast and even with half orders lots to eat. Staff very friendly. Thanks

I actually like this place a lot. The drinks are strong and the wait staff is great. The last time there my chicken fried steak was a little off but the gumbo was swell. A great place both indoor and out.

Let me just give you the menu items my hubby and I tried on our date night. Keep in mind there was about a dozen more we REALLY wanted to try. Fried green tomatoes and shrimp remoulade, Deviled eggs with praline bacon, Grilled oysters with reggiano and parmesan herb butter with an entre of New Orleans pork stew served over cheesy grits and a biscuit. We thought we would go with a bunch of appetizers to try many. Wow, we are going back!

Wonderful atmosphere & delicious food! My family & I met up in Austin and had a great meal together here. For appetizers we enjoyed boudin balls, gumbo, and red beans & rice. All was delicious. I ordered the Catfish Orleans and it was AMAZING!

This restaurant is quite a ways away from downtown Austin--you can get there by bus but you have to walk an additional .8 miles to get to the restaurant! I would recommend a lyft because we missed the bus stop and had to go through a giant loop!! The outside of the restaurant is really cute and they have a cute patio in the back for people to eat outside or wait in. When you walk inside, it looks like a retro cafe complete with cute booths with a mint and wood theme. We were seated immediately just before 3pm, the end of brunch. We ordered the mimosa carafe ($20 only!), the breaux bridge Benedict, the strawberry salad, and a side of fried pickles. I loved the pineapple and orange mimosa that might be better for three people instead of two ;). The breaux bridge was interesting because it contains boudin, which is a sausage made of pork and dirty rice. It was completely new to me and it tasted like morningStar breakfast patties. I personally thought it was a little too crunchy for my taste and it definitely needed some hot sauce! I did really enjoy their cheesy grits and wish I just ordered that with their homemade biscuit!! The fried pickles were nicely fried but the pickle slices were a little hard to chew. I tried a little of the salad and thought it was just pretty normal. Overall, very cute restaurant, but the food was just average. We definitely spent some time snapping a bunch of photos of their interior and the servers were really nice about letting us leave our bags at the booth.

Delicious, affordable food and friendly staff make this place a frequent stop. Fully stocked bar and a nice outdoor patio make this place worth a visit. Food with a Louisiana twist. Save room for pie. This is in the completely refurbished Arkie's Grill location on east Cesar Chavez!

Went here with college kids and ate outside, it was awesome. Great atmosphere seated quickly drinks arrived quickly and coffee was hot. Had the big easy it was excellent, everything we had was good.

I read a lot about this place and decided to give it a try while in Austin. It did not disappoint. I had the fried catfish and shrimp with fried okra and brussels sprouts. Everything was cooked perfectly. The brussels were cooked like I have never had them before. Seemed to be fried and drizzled with honey. I'm not completely sure about the cooking method but that is my guess. Regardless, I could eat a whole bowl of those if they were given to me! The waitress was really nice and told me about a couple of places to check out. I would definitely recommend this place!

This was our first time to visit this East Austin restaurant; it will not be our last. This restaurant serves breakfast, brunch (on Saturday and Sunday), lunch, and dinner – we were there for brunch. My companions had the Eggs Sardou (poached eggs, artichoke hearts, and creamed spinach on a griddle corn cake) and I had the Grits and Grillades (pork stew with cheesy grits and a biscuit). A couple of us also had cups of chicken and smoked sausage gumbo. Everything we ordered was delicious, and servings are large. This restaurant, decorated in a 1960 motif, has an impressive bar area. This is a popular place so it is a good idea to come early for brunch on the weekends.

This place came highly recommended by a fellow Louisiana friend. I was super excited to try their brunch. We arrived on a Sunday morning, around 1030. The place was packed, but we were seated within about 15 minutes at the bar. The air in the place was stifling and super hot. I don't know how the poor servers and cooks were dealing with it. The food was ok, not super good, nor was the long wait for drinks, food, and refills. I don't know if they were short staffed, or if their air conditioner was broke, but this place was completely disappointing.

I ate at Sawyers for the third time today, and the experience was worth coming back for. Sawyers was recently remodeled with a very stylish but casual decor that lets you know it's not a dive, but not pretentious either. The food is mostly Cajun influenced. I had the muffaletta (1/2 sandwich) and green beans, both Southern and very good. There's a long bar to sit at, booths around the perimeter, tables in the back and some seating outside when the weather is good. It has drinks and beer, although I've never been there for happy hour. Easy access on far East Cesar Chavez, and also accessible from 183. Watch out at lunch, parking could be tight, which confirms the quality of the food. I recommend it!

I wanted to try a sandwich on the menu but breakfast is the only thing served in the am so I had an egg sandwich. Reminded me of those Chicago Greek diner egg sandwiches only somehow better. Over all quality of ingredients were very fresh and the rye bread toast fresh inside and toasty outside. We found the cheesy grits to be a little bland, needed salt and a little love or something. Our biscuit was under cooked which is much worse than being slightly burned. Coffee is adequate showing off the Arky's heritage. Wished for a rich cup. My orange juice tasted freshly squeezed. Over all experience was good. Waitress took good care of us.

Everything was so yummy! The creamy grits are some of the best I’ve ever eaten, not the bland blob made with water at other places.

This is one of the fine dining experiences in Austin. It is better Cajaun food than I have had in New Orleans. Even more remarkable, there is plenty of parking, the service is great (which is unusual in Austin.) and the prices are very reasonable. I'll be going back and try everything on the menu. The red beans and rice is a meal in itself but get a side of stewed okra too.

My sisters and I visited this place for the first time for brunch on a Sunday morning and did not regret it. Our appetizer of grilled oysters was divine - we were all licking the shells clean! My entree of Eggs Sardou was delicious and my sisters loved their Bananas Foster French Toast. And the finale of Praline Iced Coffee topped off the meal with style. My only complaint was the extra $2 I was charged to change the vodka in my Bloody Mary when the waiter suggested it!! I should of known better! Anyway, Sawyer and Co was delicious and highly recommended!

Excellent food, full bar, friendly helpful servers, indoor and outdoor patio seating, cool decor, plenty of free parking—what more does one need?

The best Bloody Mary I've ever had! They make the tomato juice base on premises every morning - pure wonderful! It's the perfect drink to have while waiting in their long Sunday brunch line - out on the patio while reclining in a chaise lounge! Food has a Cajun flair, which means their Cajun hollandaise has a certain kick - delicious! It makes the Cajun Benedict a real winner, though the boudin slices contribute to that overall yumminess. Go early for any hope of getting a pecan sticky bun - folks take boxes of them to Sunday school and they run out quickly. Really good, friendly service. May take a while to get seated and served, but it's soooo worth it.

Great food at a great price. Cajun food and other options. Everything is delicious and prices were very reasonable.

Check out the Southern Classic menu where you’ll find authentic Louisiana cuisine. Like it spicy? Try the Creole Shrimp and Grits!

Definitely for breakfast. I could also make this to be a formidable lunch spot as well. Brunch it is. WITH A BAR!!! Very nostalgic. Very interesting decor. Service staff were all very cool. The best breakfast treat of our 7000 mile journey. Do eat here! CritDicks

Great find. MetroRetro vibe. Beautiful sweet scent of gumbo file' hits you as you enter. Interesting and eclectic menu has something for everyone, with a dash of Creole and Tex Mex. Sizeable portions. Decent pricing. Dedicated and friendly servers. We loved the chicken fried steak, crawfish etouffee and crispy chicken salad.

The outdoor seating was really fun and the decorations were fantastic. They also have specials everyday of the week alongside the happy hour that goes until 6:30. The food was great and the setting of restaurant is a great place to hang out and chat.

I didn’t eat here because we couldn’t get seated with a reservation. Their policy is that they delete your reservation after 10 min if your whole party isn’t there. 3 of 4 of us were there the other was stuck in traffic. When he arrived at 13min past the reservation time the hostess said “I’ve deleted your reservation you’ll have to get on the waitlist”. Which at this point was 40 min deep. The staff is pompous and for that reason I’ll never be back or ever recommend it to anyone. Your hostess has zero charisma. I hate places that act like you should be happy you are in their presence. On top of this I noticed a family with a small child seated then left outside for 10-15min with no one having gotten their drink orders, they ended up leaving without even talking to a server. This isn’t a five star place, but apparently they feel customer service is a privilege to paying clientele…..

I like this place a lot. I've now been to Sawyer twice in 1 week. On Saturday I had the egg scramble with crawfish étouffée. It was terrific. The atmosphere is that of a 50s diner but with a modern menu. The service is nice and they have a patio that has both sun and shade. The atmosphere is relaxed, not stuffy which is getting hard to find in Austin where overall restaurant prices are up. Sawyer is fairly priced...4 of us had brunch for under $50 including coffees. Check it. It's on E Cesar Chavez but with the drive.

We had a fabulous bridal shower in this retro breakfast spot. Fabulous food in a fun spot with throw back to days gone by. Would highly recommend a stop to Sawyer and Co. while in Austin. Great way to start the day!

I chose sawyer and Co as I wanted something different. The reviews on TA were accurate. This is not a fancy downtown restaurant and you should never judge a book by its cover. It is kitted out as a no frills diner, but we were made to feel welcome immediately. Our server, Amber, was very friendly. My gumbo starter was great. My wife had chicken fried chicken - the way it should be. I had to go for the full.shrimp platter and all in all it was one of the best meals I had all week. Make the effort to get down to cesar chavez, you won't be disappointed.

Sawyer and Co has been on my list of places to try and I finally made it! Now I want to go back. The outstanding items we had were: Fried Shrimp, onion rings, remoulade sauce, cornbread muffin. My husband loved the boudin balls, I was OK with them. The fried catfish was good. Gumbo was OK, etoufee was good but too herby for me. The only fail was the bread pudding-and it was a hard fail for me. The staff were nice and there was free parking. We will be back!

Go any night for happy hour. It's the best deal around and their gumbo is super tasty. They have plenty of seating and the prices are incredibly fair.

We decided on an early breakfast after dropping a friend off at the airport, and Sawyer's came to mind. We were ushered to our booth by our fabulous server who proceeded to lavish us with his full attention. He was friendly, accommodating as well as able to fulfill all of our requests. As always, breakfast was delicious and we were able to continue our day well fed and extremely well treated!! What a great way to start a Monday! We will be back soon - but maybe for a fun happy hour, Sunday brunch or Thursday 2 fer burger :)