Bess Bistro

I have been here many times: some good, some not so good.\r I think I am leaving well enough alone now and will not be back. The food was absolutely horrible this past visit. With a small, limited menu everything should be fabulous. The Bess hamburger was weird and super salty, the ""bread"" salad was soggy and flavorless, even the mac-n-cheese was different this time. Our group left feeling like we needed to cruise through a drive through on the way home.\r \r To top matters off the manager was kind of a jacka**. (Citysearch edited my other choice of words.) Where did you find him Bess? Seriously. You would think that you of all restaurants could get the absolute best people and run a tight ship. I will say that our waiter was great and attentive.\r \r With all of the places to eat in Austin, i think it will be awhile before we venture out to Bess again. more

My partner and I went in this last weekend and were pleasantly surprised, especially now that I read some of these reviews (I hope my spelling is up to par). I think everyone agrees that the design of the restaurant is one of the best in Austin. The hostess was very nice and the bar staff seemed to be on top of things while we sat at the bar waiting for our table. We ended up in the middle of the restaurant, which might be my only complaint, some of the tables did seem a little close together. We started with a cheese board, which is exactly what it says it is, a great mix of cheeses and fruit simply presented on a wooden board. I ordered a quail salad that was perfectly put together, my partner order the chicken with a wine and butter sauce, again a very simple plating and was accompanied by asparagus, we both enjoyed it. Desserts were good, but could be great, the brownie with ice cream was delicious but the ice cream was a little hard, but we both agreed the tres leches was one of the best around.\r \r The service was fine as well, the gentleman that waited on us was friendly and attentive, even helped with a wine selection. We will be back! Pros: wine selection, food, ambience Cons: little loud, some tables too close together more

I am SHOCKED that there are any positive reviews for this restaurant. But, upon further inspection, the positive reviews are full of spelling errors, come from people who most likely never dine out, or come from people who work for Bess. I dine out 4 days a week and this is by far the worst food I've had in Austin. Is it pretty? Yes. Nice lighting, decent service? Yes and yes. Is the food good. NO. It is something you would expect to taste if you allowed your children to cook for you. There is no skill involved, no creativity... I doubt the chef has ever even worked in food before. It is at best badly prepared and completely lacking in originality and at worst repulsive and completely inedible. The flank steak was too chewy to even swallow and was so sickening sweet you wouldn't want it near your mouth to begin with. Every meal on every plate was inedible. LITTERALLY! I have never had such a bad food experience, even at the greasy spoon neighborhood restaurants. That's not hyperbole. I mean that. This is the worst food in Austin. Avoid it like the plague. more

The atmosphere was very pleasant and the entertaining wait staff at Bess made for an enjoyable evening. The food was very disappointing. The wine list was difficult but after way too much time we choose something we finally enjoyed.\r \r The croutons in the Spinach Salad at least appeared grocery store bought and were stale at best.\r \r The French fries were overcooked and greasy. The Cauliflower with Carmalized Onions was also very greasy, way too much cheese and we couldn't even taste or see the cauliflower. The beef in the beef dish was very hard to find and was overcooked.\r \r We were a party of two Austinites and three women visiting from California. \r We usually like to give a restaurant more than one try but there are so many other better restaurants in Austin that on our next annual trip we will pass up Bess and leave it to those who have lower standards than we do.\r \r nancy, Angwin, California Pros: Service, ambience Cons: Food more

We planned a important event at Bess. When we called for reservations we were told by Steve that they don't take reservations but they would be expecting us. We called as the weather was bad and we were running behind. The person said no problem we know you are coming, the party of 8 right? When we got there the girl at the front told us they dont' take reservations and don't seat parties bigger than 4. We explained that it was an important event and we had spoke to Steve. The reply was, we'll see what we can do plz sit at the bar. We were at the bar for 30 mintues before getting a drink. The hostess came by and said the parties were slow leaving so it would be a while. We ordered appitizers at the bar. The bar service was poor, they never asked if we need another drink or cleared the dirty dishes from in front of us. Hostess came back after we had been there over an hour and said we should eat at the bar. A table of 8 was just breaking up and we asked if we could sit there. We were told it was the waiters choice as he makes more with two tables of 4 than one of 6. So we ordered at the bar, the food was awful, my small lasagna was cold, the shepherds pie was awful and had to be sent back. The chicken cullets that replaced it were dry and over cooked. When the lasgana came back it was burned top and bottom and only the middle was editible. Portions were small with no sides and no one thought their meal was very special considering the price. I would have over looked all of this if ONE person had appologized or if we had been given a discount on our meal. Pros: Valet Parking Cons: small portions, cold food, limited menu, unattentive servers, no reservations more

Food:\r Let me start by saying that I dine out in hopes of tasting something different or something better than I can get at home. At Bess, this was not the case. I had the Chicken Paillard which was terrible. Tough overcooked tasteless chicken cutlets trying to save itself atop lifeless, overcooked asparagus drowning in a bath of salty overseasoned water which was supposed to be sauce. I decided not to finish the plate and ordered a side of mac and cheese. Big mistake, what arrived was a small skillet of mushy uncheesy mac covered by a hardened salty parmesan topping, again pretty much inedible. The (as per the menu) avocado dip to made at table side -- was not. It came as a bowl of chunky avocado with little else, a few slices of colorful tomato and some stale bread chips. I've made better at home. What was good? The water and the wine. \r \r Atmosphere: Warm lighting, with brick walls and wood beams. Very cozy. But, in a setting with warm, you expect to hear the person next to you, not 30 other people in the room. The noise level was deafening, very loud and didn't match the decor at all. Need to make major acoustic improvements. \r \r The service was average - probably due to the noise. The wait for a table is too long for the product received.\r \r My suggestions other than above, are if you can't cook something well, please don't serve it. Pros: Nice lighting, good wine list Cons: Food, parking, noise more

Well fellow Austinites. I been to Bess more than 9 times and did'nt have ANY bad experiances.\r Maybe I WAS THE LUCKY ONE HUH?? I left Bess feeling quite full and pretty glad I selected Bess to dine tonight. I was seated at Amy's table and she is a wonderful and attentive waitress and yes there was several tables that were full but didn't disturb my dining with friends we laughed and carried on. The food is very good and I had the special which was the King crab with buttered round potatoes with broccoli and the artichokes with fried spinich as an appetizer including a merlot. I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE WRITING BAD ABOUT BESS! After reading the reviews I actually had a chip on my shoulder looking for bad reports on this eatery. Guess what I found none! I asked for a pear mohito and boy was it great. I highly recommend! Dare you try this wonderful place!\r \r \r Pros: A really fun place withoutdoor upstairs cocktail tables to drink and chat. Cons: absolutely nothing!@@@ more

Five of us went to Bess' yesterday for lunch to celebrate a birthday. The food was excellent, our waiter was charming, funny and attentive (wish I could remember his name to give him kudos) and the hostess staff was cheerful. Three of us had the Chicken Paillard, one had the Caprese Panini, and one had the Croque Monsieur. We shared a bite of each others dishes and they all got rave reviews. We all shared a Lemon Tart, Texas Snowball and Apple Crisp (with a birthday candle). All were wonderful. Loved the intimate and charming atmosphere. From where I was sitting (next to the beautiful fish tank) I had a perfect view of the Frost Bank Tower out the little street level window. I have only one small suggestion...the side salads could use a little more pizzazz. The food tasted of all fresh herbs & ingredients and is wonderfully presented. Can't wait to take my husband back for dinner. Good job Sandy! Pros: Wonderfully creative, fresh food combinations. Romantic ambience. Great waiter and hostess staff Cons: Salad needs a little more pizzazz? more

I dined at Bess for the first time on a Wednesday evening for dinner. I had tried to go a few weeks before on a Saturday, but the wait that day was 2 hours or more, so we decided to try back on a less busy night. The restaurant was definitely less busy on our Wednesday eve visit - we only had to wait about 30 minutes. After we sat down at our table, our waiter proceeded to take drink orders for 2 of the 3 of us, and then promptly turn and walk away, apparently not seeing the third person at the table! Despite that, he did OK the rest of the evening, although he never smiled once. The food was quite good - I had the lasagna, which was classic & unique at the same time. It had a very nice blend of cheeses which included some stronger ones that you don't normally find in lasagna. The tomato sauce had a distinct flavor of something I couldn't place, but it was very good too. My 2 friends had the salmon plate and the halibut plate respectively, and both enjoyed their dishes. On the side, we ordered the asparagus and marinated vegetables; both were good but the marinated veggies were especially memorable. Overall, I would come back to Bess because of the food. The service definitely needs some work, and is what keeps me from giving this place a ""Highly Recommended"" rating. Come on Bess - this is Austin, we like our service unpretentious & friendly, not snooty and scowling! Pros: Good food, cute place, eclectic menu Cons: Service, somewhat noisy more

I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone unless they wanted mediocre food and less than impressive service. We called ahead to make reservations for Mother's Day Brunch and were told they didn't take reservations. We therefore, made it a point to get there as early as possible to get a table. When we got to the hostess stand, we were asked ""DO YOU HAVE A RESERVATION?"" HELLO?? WE WERE TOLD THE DAY BEFORE THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN TAKE THEM!! So we sat down (still with an open-mind despite the mix-up) and were served white and wheat toast as a pre-brunch snack. No special baked goods... no special muffins with fruit or nuts... just plain old white and wheat toast from the local supermarket. The meals we ordered weren't any better than the plain toast! I could've gotten a better brunch at IHOP. The fancy named dishes were really NOTHING SPECIAL and they didn't even try to hide that fact by garnishing the plate. The $16.00 Chef's Special brunch was simply- scrambled eggs, two sausage links, two pieces of bacon, cheese grits, and two blueberry pancakes (the only thing worth a lick on the plate). I could've gotten the same thing at IHOP or my local mom&pop diner for $7.99- (TOPS)! I guess we paid for the fact that we sat in a restaurant owned by a celebrity- Sandra Bullock. Big WHOOP! Most celebrity restaurants at least offer great, unique or above-average food to go along with the name and higher PRICE! Horrible.... don't even try it! The service was also horrible and there wasn't even a full house on this holiday morning! more

At first Bess Bistro appears patterned after a smart, cozy uptown nightclub, but it's more than that. Being a popular choice for stylish dining it's wise to make reservations especially on Friday night. We were met with an inviting staff that didn't need to encourage our waiting at the bar before dinner. This is a bistro where you can dress for dinner. Why skirt the feel of a civilized dining experience? \r \r You must try, their delectable breaded Pork Tenderloin cloaked with a dried cherry sauce, and a touch of some other tempting delight. My taste buds are still mystified. Our first visit we devoured Semolina crusted artichokes accompanied by crunchy fried spinach with Italy's grana padano cheese. They offer a broad medley of luscious choices from Mac and Cheese to my king of fish, Salmon. The decor at Bess is old world charm, stylishly renewed and offers comfort-food selections. \r \r If you prefer privacy under chandeliers we suggest dining later to avoid the occasional after work groups. About the no-camera rule, on our visit a party of six had one rule breaker who flashed his cellphone once but nobody gave him the boot. If you come and you eat, and you drink and be merry, you'll go home thinking, we'll be back! Pros: french cuisine and tangy sauces by professional chefs Cons: chairs appear stiff, but you sit straight more

I wish I could write a rave review here...but I was terribly disappointed by how rude and supercilious the hostesses were to our party. We got there early to enjoy drinks and welcome a recent Austin transplant from London. We thought the atmosphere, munchies and drinks would hold up fairly well to the urban jungle he'd just transplanted from. Sadly, we were encouraged to sit on the upstairs deck (in the 45 degree drizzle) and when we rebelled and relocated downstairs the host staff was rude to the point of eye rolling and asking us to leave since we weren't ordering enough food. I can understand wanting dinner tables cleared, but we were camping out practically on top of the DJ and if they regularly seat patrons there...it must only be the patrons they want to clear out fast since they aren't ""ordering enough food."" Pros: food and atmosphere Cons: host staff and space constraints for any party seeking to socialize more

Thank goodness we ignored the unjust reviews for Bess. If curiosity intrigues you, than the mystery and elegance of Bess will please you. Not many Bistros can master a Mac/cheese delight and flaunt salmon and sauerkraut together at the same delectable moment. \r Bess is quaint and uniquely designed. It screams of emotional appeal, and what a great place for popping the big question. Nobody can duplicate their Breaded Pork tenderloin or Braised Beef short-ribs which melt in your mouth. Just keep your mind on the experience and sensations of chewing your food and deliberately savoring each tasty bite before swallowing. The flavors at Bess are intense and magnificent. \r Your mind could drift from the tasty bites to the unbelievably restored old timber, original columns and iron railings straight from its original beginnings as the Stratford Arms Building. The prices are better than fair, even with out of the world sauces and crafty flavorings. Drink wine with a splash of lime and treat yourself to dessert. \r Bravo to the entire staff of gifted employees who made our dining experience comfortable. A wonderful tip about enjoying oneself is to clear your mind and live in the moment and let the flavors do the rest, and come back again and again. Pros: delicious seasonings and sauces, turn of the century feel Cons: reviews that aren't sincere, and clearly misrepresented. more

Bess Bistro-not recommended.\r First off, it was not that busy and it took nearly an hour to get our food. I ordered the beef tenderloin. It was over cooked and the smallest piece of meet I have ever been served. I let the waiter know it was over cooked and he offered no help. It was certainly overpriced for what I had. I'm not a penny pincher, but I had to eat after I left. The atmopshere was nice, but nothing special. I can tell you that it was a great disappointment and I will never go back. Cons: food was not very good, it took a long time to get served, very small portions more

Wow! I felt so compelled to write about my awful experience last Friday night and then I read the other reviews and it just confirms my experience. I took out of town family with the anticipation of a great evening out at Sandra Bullock's new restaurant that I'd been hearing about. It started off with a very rude hostess. Not even a hello or a welcome...just ""it's going to be at least an hour and 45 minute wait"" in an exasperated tone. The bartender was flippant during our ""wait"" and then we ordered an appetizer at the bar since we were told we had this long wait....only to get called to our table soon after ordering it. Then, our table waitress was pompous and condesending, to say the least. We were a party of 5 and 2 of our entrees were brought out (after a 30 minute wait).....then we proceeded to wait 10 more minutes for the rest of the table to be served....and most all of our food was luke warm at best...several entrees were cold! No attention from our waitress and not even a small apology for staggering out the food. So much for a nice evening out with my family from out of town! $125 later... I could have has a better meal at Jack-In-The Box. \r \r I would have talked to a manager but I didn't see anyone who fit that description! The ambience and decor is nice.....except for that DJ....what is that about? Probably will not go back.....it was that bad. Pros: Ambience Cons: Food, Service, Staff more

Horrible, horrible, horrible experience. I took my staff out for a nice dinner to celebrate an excellent quarter. We were seated quickly but had the worst waiter that anyone could possibly have. He asked us the same questions mutliple times and then after some of us receiving our cold food, we told him we were still short 2 meals. We told him 3 times. Then come to find out he had rang up the food wrong and had the manger tell us it was a computer issue.... WHATEVER! I will never go back and will never give as a recommendation. The food was also bad... more

I am not surprised that the restaurant is impart owned by an actor; as they pretend to be a restaurant. After the hour and fifteen minutes to get seated in their dining area, a half hour before they took our order it was another 20 minutes before they came and told me they were sold out of the Pork Medallions which I selected from their very limited menu. While my friends report an adequate meal their food was also held up so that all the food could be delivered together. Meanwhile, they have a wonderful patio area that you can buy drinks and appetizers but you can't order from the other (entree) side of the menu. If you call ahead to make sure they have your desired fare I don't doubt this can be a wonderful ""dining experience"" provided that you have a whole evening to spend their. Oh, and the DJ with the techno twist is there presumably to get you to eat to the crazy beat so they can get the next patrons to the trough; bring ear plugs! Why is it that entertainers think that they all have the restaurateur gene. Pros: The people watching is good Cons: This is not the place to go to if you are hungry more

I have been to Bess several times since it has opened and I must preface this review by first stating that the food has gotten much, much better (to be expected). Decent wine list and they sometimes even have off-the-menu wines available. Waitstaff not always on top of things (though there is one girl there- I can't believe I am spacing on her name- that is quite possibly the best server I have even had). That being said, the hostess staff really should be nicer to people (please don't roll your eyes when we look shocked that you just told us that the wait for a table for two will be 3 hours) and at least try to pretend they don't hate every patron that walks thru the door: I'm neither crazy about my job nor am I particulary crazy about the people I have to deal with on a daily basis, but that does not give me license to be mean to the very people that make it possible for me to cash my paycheck. Pros: sinful mac & cheese, wine list Cons: they don't accept reservations, not so friendly, complete mayhem when busy more

We?re planning a trip to Austin and after researching the area for intriguing places of striking character; I believe Bess Bistro depicts an idyllic setting. A review from Claudia Alarcon, food critic was quite supportive. It seems we can expect culinary inspirations inside a tastefully discrete dining/libations bistro similar to a gentle speakeasy from long ago. What good fortune to uncover a bit of yesterday?s magic inside an elegantly low key and perfectly sophisticated eatery. Most intriguing is how the entrance is secretly tucked away ?for those in the know? ensuring a romantic experience that?s pleasing to the soul. They promote home-cooking and after reading reviews from parties of 7 you need a sports bar. It seems if you wish to enjoy your private company, ideally parties of 2 over drinks and delectable delicacies instead of timing the help, you?ll be absolutely pleased here. Being from Minnesota nice, I am curious about the unfavorable reviews for Bess. Aren't Texans known for their hospitality? Guten Tag! \r \r Pros: Home-cooking, low key, charming, attention to detail, changing menu per chefs delight Cons: collecting dishonest reviews for personal reasons having a celebrity owner more

To be honest, I was very excited to try out Bess, I had heard a few people talk about it at work, mostly positive, so I was looking forward to something different here in Austin. What a disappointment! The only thing that I really liked about the place was the decor, it was spot on. My wife and I arrived at 6:15, and waited at the bar for the rest of our party, it took the bartender 5 minutes to recognize that we were there (there were only 3 other people sitting at the bar). When the rest of our party arrived I told the host that we were all here, and he said that he could not seat our party of 7, there were a ton of open tables, he could have easily have sat us in the dinning room, but told me that we would have to wait the duration of time that another party ate, he was the rudest person I have ever dealt with in Austin. We were sat in the bar 30 min later, the waiter took our order in a timely manner, but upon delivering the food, forgot to bring out the sides our table had order, and forgot half of them on his second attempt. My steak was fatty, my wife?s chicken was fatty to the point that she couldn?t eat it. Her asparagus side came out cold, and at $5 for 5 stalks, you would expect it to come out warm. Totally unimpressed with this place. The staff is horrid, the food is sub-par, the experience not worth remembering. Pros: Great Decor, Location Cons: Service, Food, Customer Service more