Blue Dahlia Bistro

Recommends

Kyle E.

Joined 2 months ago

Fresh. That is the best way to describe the way this little gem feels. The food is perfect. The wait was a little long, but that is understandable - place this good is going to be busy all the time.

The food that they serve here is the type of food that will make you feel good for the rest of the day. All kinds of fresh baked breads, fresh green, fresh veggies, fresh fruit, fresh meat, fresh, fresh, fresh. They have house made lemonade that is perfect and they have fantastic coffee. A very satisfying experience all around. I will be back.

Recommends

Kathryn H.

Joined 1 year ago

Wine and cheese, please. The best tables in this charming bistro are actually behind the restaurant in a lush courtyard. The cheese plate, egg salad tartine, and brunch items are menu standouts.

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FadedGray

Joined 4 years ago

Eastside Gem!. With a small and inviting garden like setting out back, additional outdoor seating in front and an indoor dining room, this looks-to-be former house is a great find. I have been a couple of times and my only reservations would be that the service can be slow and they do not have equal for ice tea (byoe). Blue Dahlia offers good food at reasonable prices that appears attractive when served.

This could be a nice alternative to hanging out at a coffee house or the like with your lap top or book (they have wi-fi). You may want to look elsewhere though if you are in a time crunch though.

Pros: Outdoor seating, yummy food

Cons: Inconvenient location for me, sometimes slow service

(republished review from 2008)

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sundrops

Joined 7 years ago

Quintessential Breakfast Place. Finally, I have found the quintessential breakfast place in Austin and concluded my search for belgian waffles at the same time. Having come from Santa Cruz, California where breakfast places abound, minus the normal migas and breakfast tacos you find in Austin, I missed having a breakfast place to go to for fresh breakfast fare. Blue Dahlia fits the bill perfectly with their belgian waffles, blueberry blintzes, frittatas, fresh fruit salad, and delicious mimosas. Their lunch fare is just as delicious, with their unique style of sandwiches with the inside of the sandwich served atop a huge slice of fresh baked bread cut into triangles.

The decor of the place is as charming as their food is fresh and delicious. With all wooden floors, and solid wooden chairs and tables it exudes an aura of curling up in a corner with a steaming cup of coffee and chatting with a good friend. Which is exactly what I do when I go here, minus the curling up in a corner.

Located in East Austin on 11th just east of 35, it's the perfect downtown location without being in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of downtown. If you haven't been to East Austin yet, you are missing out on the best part of Austin. Part of my love for Austin is it's similarity to the parts of California that I'm familiar with - Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Los Gatos, Capitola, and everywhere in between. Much to my delight, East Austin embodies the parts of California that I love even more than Austin itself, with Blue Dahlia being my favorite corner of it thus far. It took me four years to discover this - don't let it take you that long!

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HONEST01

Joined 3 years ago

MMMMM.... I really like this place... been here twice... sadly- the only con was both times- the servers were SLOW... the first time I was on my lunch break, so that WAS a problem... as I was then 20 minutes late to work!

Second time, it was a Sat., so it didn't matter- I had tons of time... the Blueberry Blintzes... mmmmmmmmmmmm... the soups... mmmmmmmmmmm...

Cute place, great prices... just wish they'd up the service a bit... there was one waiter (he was not waiting on us unfortunately) the 2nd time I was there who seemed to be ON IT... he even checked on US and we weren't his table... I wish I knew his name- he gets props...

Doesn't Recommend

therins

Joined 5 years ago

Unfriendly Service. According to our waitress and the manager, the policy of this establishment is that if you order a bottle of wine, there is no service. They will open the bottle, re-cork it, and leave it at your table. Do not expect water, ice in your water, or to be checked on.

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JimTremoz

Joined 4 years ago

I love this place. I really enjoy The Blue Dahlia. It's a warm, inviting place to grab breakfast or lunch... or just a coffee and a pastry.

The staff is always very friendly and pleasant. You really get a sense that they care about the place, the customers and the quality of food.

The outside area in the back is really nice too.

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HoboBunny

Joined 4 years ago

Delicious, fresh & healthy. Not being from Austin and having the impression of Texas eateries being limited to barbeque joints and Pappas chains, we didn't have high expectations of the evening meal. On a tip from local, we decided to try this place. The atmosphere was immediately inviting with heavy wood farm tables dappled with lit candles, soft chatter from families or groups of friends, and a charming back-garden warmed by heat lamps and a roaring chiminea. The food was equally amazing. I see why the owners chose to have family-style seating: you can't help but covet your neighbors meal while magnanimously also wanting to share your own. Between the three of us, we had, loved and devoured the: butternut squash risotto (hands-down the best risotto ever...exciting and still subtly flavorful); some sort of pumpkin spicy soup; and two pasta dishes. Fresh pesto, perfectly al dente, not drowning in sauce, perfectly sized portions. We had appetizers, a glass of wine, entrees and two desserts...all for under $70. This gave me hope that Texas restaurants may be finding their nirvana and no longer following the fat-ball trends of oversized and over-sauced options. Kudos!

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calteg

Joined 6 years ago

Beautiful Cheese Plate, Intimate setting. I had the cheese plate which was absolutely fantastic. The only complaint was that the brie wasn't room temp so it was a little stiff to cut into and I wish the bread was warmed a little. Overall generous portions, perfectly ripe fruit accompaniments, great variety, the service was good too. The cheese plate was so large my husband and I had a hard time finishing it! Can't wait to try more stuff off their menu!

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curlsz

Joined 5 years ago

I could go every day - So fresh and tasty!!. I literally could hang out here just about every day - there menu has so many choices and it's all so fresh and great - I never leave feeling stuffed but always leave feeling satisfied. I highly recommend the brie and preserves and the bread pudding.