Home Destinations USA Texas Austin Restaurants Bess Bistro

Bess Bistro Review

Read our Austin restaurant reviews. Or post your own.

Austin Categories:

• Overview
• Sights
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Activities
• Travel Tips
• Features
• Fodor's Choice
• Deals

WHAT'S NEARBY

• Sights
• ArtHouse at the Jones Center
• Austin Children's Museum
• More >>

• Restaurants
• Casino el Camino
• Castle Hill Café
• More >>

• Hotels
• Carrington's Bluff
• Doubletree Guest Suites
• More >>

Bess Bistro

Fodor's Review:

In the restored cellar of a 1918 brick building on the more sedate end of 6th is this casually chic boîte owned by actress Sandra Bullock. (But if you come here to gawk at celebs, you'll likely leave disappointed.) Bess wins out with an eclectic mix of European and Southern American comfort food, including an artful croque monsieur: country ham, béchamel, and Gruyère piled atop sourdough toast, served with crisp, thin fries. Other popular entrées include shepherd's pie, grilled wild salmon on toasted herb spaetzle, and porcini-crusted halibut. Bullock designed the interior, which suggests an early-20th-century artists' sanctum, with framed French ads, exposed brick pillars, some half-clad in quilted red leather. The staff is quietly efficient. Sunday brunch is served, and the bistro is open until the small hours.

Get Advice From Other Travelers

• Long Weekend in Austin, TX
  29 responses; most recent on 09/17/2008, 03:23 pm
• Relocating to Austin
  8 responses; most recent on 08/24/2008, 11:58 am
• Moving to Austin.
  5 responses; most recent on 08/14/2008, 10:27 pm
• Trip Report - Weekend in Austin
  2 responses; most recent on 08/13/2008, 05:44 pm

Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip >>

Buy the Guidebook

• 
  $16.95

• 
  $19.95

Get the Fodor's Newsletter

Read the current issue
For more travel ideas, tips, and deals, sign up for the Fodor's newsletter here. Browse previous issues.