Hudson's on the Bend

My wife thought the special lobster bisque had a little too much chile arbol, but I did not. I thought the green salad had a little too much wine vinegar, and she thought it a touch over dressed. Nonetheless, we both enjoyed its subtle yet fresh flavors. The grilled meats were all prepared to perfection, the sauces not too sweet or salty, and the sides were al dente perfection. Yes, it is not inexpensive, but the preparation, service and ambiance are all first rate. more

The watermelon pork chops were only about $15-17 and were very good. The elk back strap was amazing, as was the trout. If I am paying a lot, I expect a lot and not something I could get somewhere else for far less. This food was awesome and the service was great. I already bought some gift certificates to go again! more

This restaurant is so over-rated based on my experience. I went for Restaurant Week and the food was not good. They also decided to change the menu at the last minute and exclude wine that was advertised to go with the $35pp menu. I ordered the Duck: Way too salty and loaded with preservatives. I would never go back. Eddie V's is my Austin Favorite. If you are going to go out, don't go here. Sucks ass, especially for the price. (Server was an idiot too.) Cons: Poor Quality Food for Price more

Consistently good food! Great exotic game and a great place to go for a special evening. It is very very expensive so it's definitely not a weekly or nightly place, but it's wonderful for special occasions. Love the crunchy shrimp!! more

I almost didn't go after reading these reviews but my curiosity overcame. I've been wanting to go for so long, there just aren't enough places serving wild game around Austin. I loved it enough to write my first online restaurant review. The Wild Game Sampler was just what I was looking for, and I may never forget the Rattle Snake Cakes which looked like crab cakes, tasted like what you would get if a chicken made love to a shrimp, and having the texture of fish. Even though I didn't have room for desert, the chef blessed each of us with a small carefully packaged piece of chocolate turtle pie, which I will be eating as soon as I finish this review. With that said I'm off to the pie! Pros: So many uniqe dishes Cons: distance from Austin more

I have eaten at almost every fine dining restaurant in austin and worked at a few also. Hudson's was one of the few left I had not been to. First, what is with the horrible paintings? The apples hanging from the ceiling? The biggest candle holder for a table piece known to man? Second, anyone like salt? If you do, there will be plenty of it all over the duck. Good thing there is a nice barbeque sauce that resembles something my four year old pours all over her HEB chicken fingers. The food is a cross between Bobby Flay and KC Masterpiece. Third, the waiter was great. If you want to spend a couple of hundred bucks on a meal, find a chef who has not removed his tongue. Hudson's has interesting cuts of meat, but Uchi or the Driskill, it is not.\r \r more

We are fairly recent residents of Austin, and we had heard many good things about this five star restaurant. We also knew about the exotic menu and prices. However, our experience was not up to par by a long shot. I ordered the horseradish encrusted halibut with spinach in a corn broth. The halibut wasn't encrusted with anything, rather had a few, what looked like, bean sprouts on top. The fish was extremely salty tasting with no hint of horseradish. There wasn't enough spinach to even mention. My husband ordered the strip steak with polenta parmesan fries. He said his steak was at best average tasting which you don't expect at a five star restaurant and that the polenta fries were totally tasteless. Our waiter was practically non-existent. He never came to the table after we were served to check on us once. Rather, we only saw the busboy for water and removing our plates. The waiter appeared at the end to hand us the dessert menu and then our bill. He had zero personality. We went on a Sunday evening at 7:00 and the restaurant was practically empty---only four other tables that we could see were being occupied while we were there. We felt totally ripped off considering the prices and certainly will not be back. Pros: water glasses kept filled Cons: overpriced, poor service, food quality not acceptable more

Hudson's on the Bend was recommended to us for dinner during our recent anniversary celebration weekend on the banks of Lake Travis. To say that we were disappointed would put it mildly...disgusted was more appropriate. You are disappointed if you have a sub par meal at average to above average prices. You are disgusted if you have a terrible meal that cost you $160 for two entrees and 3 glasses of wine. Let's start with my entree selection presented on the menu as: Open Fire Grilled Prime Tenderloin of Beef topped with Jumbo Lump Blue Crab served with Smoked Tomato Hollandaise and Asiago Polenta Fries...WOW, sounded soooo nice on the menu...then it arrived and should have been more honestly presented on the menu as: 2-3 ounces of a small flat piece of non-prime steak with a glob of melted cheese wiz (they call it Hollandaise) with a FEW small specs of crab meat (less then a tablespoon) and five square soggy french fries stacked up next to this unappealing mess...oh, I forgot, we are going to serve this $52 entree to you COLD on a COLD plate. Honestly, that description is not exaggerated...that is what it looked like when it arrived and after the first bite I knew that we were punk'd by this over priced, over hyped eatery. My wife's entree, #1 Hawaiian Tuna was sliced so thinly as if they were conserving portions, topped with ONE boiled in water scallop, a tablespoon of crab and the only tasty item that was delivered to our table was one shrimp. The wait staff was not very attentive but, quite honestly, if I served such pathetic food I would stay away from the table as much as possible. But hey, it was our anniversary weekend and we were having such a nice time that we were not going to let Hudson's on the Bend ruin our trip...but they tried real hard to do just that. Stay as far away from this place as you can get...believe the negative reviews you are reading on this site...we wish we would have paid closer attention to the honest reviewers. Pros: Seated promptly Cons: Food, ambiance, price, service, overall quality was extremely poor more

We had gone to Hudson's about 15 years ago before we were married and decided to return for our 13th anniversary. It was great to stir those memories again as the place has changed very little, and has been well maintained. Starting from the top, we had to wait a few minutes for the hostess who was not at her station despite the fact that there were few people there on this Tuesday night. Our server was prompt, courteous, attentive and non-obtrusive. The menu was/is incredible and adventurous which is the real reason for one to choose to eat here! Yes, the prices are rather high but in line with those you'd find at fine restaurants in any city with high caliber eateries. Plus, this is a place for special occasions anyway. Onward....the decor was interesting, and I'm not sure how I feel about most of it---some of it was tasteful and subdued, some was tasteful and bold, some oddly did not fit even this scheme (autographed guitars and Armstrong jersey hanging in waiting area?), and some was outright tacky---like the red picnic tables lining the front lawn adorned with big plastic advertising bottles of wine. huh??? One element was noticeably absent: music. We were a bit shocked by that one. Not even background music. Finally, we were impressed by the romantic glow of the courtyard in the back as well as the bite-sized turtle pie desert that was decadent and given to us compliments of Hudson's. \r All in all, it was a pleasant evening and repeatable experience, if only annually. more

I've had better service at diners where 10 people could dine for the cost of serving one here. Our ""special occasion"" dinner for 5 had the worst service I have experienced in 20 years. The waitress did nothing to explain or promote the menu, brought the wrong food and walked away despite our protests, never came back to check on us, and never apologized. The food itself was mediocre. She then awarded herself a tip of $95 under the restaurant's self-serving group gratuity policy. To add insult to injury, when I called the restaurant the next day to complain, the manager with whom I spoke volunteered to mail us a gift certificate to compensate for the experience, asked for my name and mailing address, and then did absolutely nothing. This restaurant may impress some with its Lance Armstrong yellow jersey on display, but there are dozens of better places in Austin. Pros: None we could see Cons: Price, service more

Our first visit was the evening of May 24, along with some very good friends and we all abslutely loved it!! The restaurant had been recommended to us as one for serious diners who appreciate good food, wine and service. We had a near corner table which had the advantage as being great for people watching. Despite the restaurant being very busy that evening, the service was outstanding. Starters were very good, especially my scallops. My salmon wellington was delicious, as was my wife's lamb and the mixed grill that our friends had. The portions are Texas generous. We enjoyed a selection of white and red wines after cocktails. Next time we'll try to leave some room for one of the eye catching deserts on the menu. We recently purchased a property by the lake and we expect to become regulars at Hudsons. Our next step is to purchase the cook books for presents to friends who appreciate good cooking. Cons: No telephone number in view outside the restaurant. more

From the gardens, to the intimate seating in the cottage, to the wonderful food, everything is A+. My husband and I went to Hudson's for our 1st date 15 years ago and still love it everytime we go. We try and go at least twice a year. It is a special occasion restaurant to us and lives up to every bit of a special occasion. Customer service is impeccable, wine list is fabulous, presentation is wonderful, and the portions are perfect. It is pricey, but well worth the money! Enjoy!! Pros: Easy access and easy parking Cons: A little expensive, but worth it.. more

I thoroughly enjoyed my evening here. The service was fantastic and the food was amazing. I was on a date, and between the two of us we ordered the rattlesnake fritters, the bore and the elk. The rattlesnake fritters were undoubtedly one of the best items I have eaten in my entire life. Their pistachio crust along with chipotle sauce was great. The bore was good but nothing all that special in our opinion. The elk, however, was fantastic and the sauce that accompanied it really worked well. I would definitely recommend this place to my friends, but with the warning that the prices are indeed up there. In terms of portion sizes, I felt they were appropriate for the entrees, but I did want the appetizers to be a little larger. However, I feel Americans (a category in which I am included) are spoiled into thinking that a plate should be completely covered in food in order to be satisfying. If you can get over this, and accept some white areas on your plate, this restaurant choice will not be regretted. Pros: Food more

I had heard great things about Hudson's. I was prepaared for the high prices. What I was not prepared for were the microscopic appetiser portions. Come on, two scallops on a plate for $20. And a good thing they didn't cook the Tuna Tartare, it silver dollar sized portion would have disappeared.\r \r The entrees varied from great to not so good. The wild boar was gamey. The bison on the mixed grill was tough, and I mean really tough! The bison stuffed with venison sausage was excellent, but the beans on the side tasted like they came out of a pork and beans can. The duck and snapper were also good.\r \r As for dessert, don't get the fruit. We counted about ten berries, so for $10, that's a dollar per berry.\r \r As a nice touch since it was my wife's birthday, they brought out a pound cake dessert (which no one ordered) topped with a candle - and then charged us for it!\r \r For icing on the cake, our no so friendly wait person added a 20% tip to our bill for us. In our case that meant she got paid $50 an hour for the two hours we were there, but since she was only at our table for 10 minutes an hour - gee, I wish I got paid that much!\r \r Well, we went, we were mildly impressed, and will not be back. Fellow diner beware. Pros: Some good food. Cons: Some bad food. more

My husband and I really enjoyed our experience here. We are big foodies and have been to tons of restaurants. I have to admit for Austin this place is very pricey, but if you had the same meal in New York or LA it would cost double. The staff was friendly and the place was very warm. I highly recommend the lobster risotto, the venison, or elk. The only thing that wasn't that great was the dessert. I had the turtle dove pie and it was just too sweet and dense, but still fun to try. We will definitely be going back for another occasion. When making reservations for Valentines Day make sure you call at least one month in advance. Pros: Food Cons: A little far away more

When I first learned of Hudsons On The Bend, I didn't know what to expect. I heard it was ""the best"" and that it served exotic food. So, I went with a sense of adventure. I can describe it in one word: WOW! What an extraordinary place. We arrived a few minutes early for our reservation, so they offered us a complimentary glass of wine of our choice. We were seated at our scheduled time at a quaint table in one of the small dining rooms that dot this older facility. The restaurant was crowded as it is a polular choice, but our server was always present, friendly and excellent. There are not sufficient words to describe this wonderful dining experience. With menu selections out of the ordinary, and sauces that one can only dream of, there is no place to compare.\r \r I have since been back a second time, and will again on return trips to Austin. It is not a place for people who like to ""budget"" their life, or order the same thing every time they go out. This is a special Texas experience.\r \r For value received, it is right on. It is sure to impress your finest guests. \r Pros: One of a kind Cons: Parking can be a challenge, but the dining reward is so great. more

When I first heard about this restaurant I was excited to try it. Imagine my surprise that such a high priced establishment has an unpaved parking lot and their additional parking consists of parking in wilderness and then having to stumble in the dark in heels down a steep incline. When entering the establishment the decor was charming, but there was also no host/hostess at the stand.\r \r The servers seemed friendly and knowledgeable, and quick to explain what items on the menu were and refill drinks. My boyfriend and I ordered the Duck Duck Goose appetizer, the Mixed Wild Grill, and the Venison Chops with Lobster. Our appetizer was nicely presented, though the garnish on the duck confit would best have been left off. The flavor of the confit and prosciutto was excellent. I wish I could say the same about the goose. It was wrapped around some sort of jelly concoction and topped by what tasted like sprouts gone bad. At first we thought the Venison chops were a mistaken order when it came out as the ""lobster"" in the description would have been more accurately named, ""Pears with a side of venison Chops with two melon ball scoops of lobster."" The two chops were no more than two bites each, and there was more pear in this dish than meat. The mixed grill was decent, the vegetables, venison and bison being my favorites. The rabbit tenders were dry and overcooked, and the mixed game sausage may have been the worst thing I've ever eaten. If you can imagine someone taking a five day old piece of roadkill, scooping out it's putrid meat and putting it into a casing, you will come close to experiencing the full flavor of this sausage. For dessert we tried the olive oil rosemary cake and the caramel apple spice cake. The olive oil cake tasted like a lemon square, but the spice cake was lovely. \r \r This restaurant does not live up to the hype, and certainly is not worth the $40-52 per entree they demand. Pros: Easy to get reservations Cons: Bad parking, overpriced mediocre food which must be why it's easy to get reservations more

My spouse and I recently dined here for our anniversary. We knew it was expensive, but the menu looked intriguing and it's supposed to be one of Austin's best restaurants. After dining there we pray it's not the best the city has to offer! We couldn't find any meat in the rattlesnake cake appetizers. The escargot was good except for the sauce being way too lemony and salty--it literally made us wince. The wild boar trio entree was disappointing. I like wild boar, but not fried, taquito'd, and sausaged. Very poor choices by the chef! The sauce served with it was both overpowering and uncomplimentary to the meat. The elk chops were pretty good, but the serving size was very stingy. It was also served with an overdone sauce. The rosemary olive oil cake dessert has the potential to be lovely, but was overpowered by the lemon curd. There's an obvious area for improvement at this restaurant?back off on the sauces and competing strong flavors! Sometimes a light hand is needed in cooking. The atmosphere was also disappointing. I was expecting casual hill country chic, but many interior elements were cheap and shabby. The wait staff couldn't have been more boring and bland. Oh well...we just won't go back. Pros: Large menu with exotic meats Cons: Food not very tasty; old, tired atmosphere; very expensive more

We were staying at a Bed and Breakfast close by and they recommend this restaurant. \r First of all the waiter was rude and continued to ignore us. We waited 30 minutes before we could order. \r I had the Lavender Crusted Lamb, which sounded intriguing. It was awful. The lavender lime jelly was inedible, it had a very harsh flavor. The lamb itself was cooked well and presented well, then the waiter added the dirty pink colored beurre blanc at table side. It would have been fine without the sauce, it didn't look appetizing and it wasn't. I had to scrape it off the meat in order to eat it. I ordered a glass of red wine to go along with my meal and it was served hot. I couldn't drink it, there's a difference between room temperature and wine that tasted like it had been stored outside in the heat or next to a fireplace. \r There's so much going on in their food that they're not letting the main ingredients speak for themselves. \r Thank goodness for the bread and butter in the beginning of the meal, it was the only part of the meal that we enjoyed. Cons: Service and Food more

Aug.2,2007 celebrated aniversary at Hudson's. What a disappointment! Server[Dellon] was terrible. Started at 8pm and didn't get entree untill 9:40. Food ,elk backstrap and a beef tender loin was dry,and served luke warm.Lights were dimmed while still eating and we were not even offered dessert. For $240 I don""t need a server acting like he is doing me a favor. A wasted 2 1/2 hours. Average food can be overlooked if service is great,but this was below average on all points. One good thing was the martini. Save your money and gas. Pros: Bar drinks good Cons: service more