Nice atmosphere, great local cheese plate. very nice service. Could be a little better in plating, the food tasted better than it looked. The local texas cheeses were terrific. And very nice wine list. Our server CHRIS was great. read more

I had lunch at 34 St Cafe. I was disappointed that it was different from their dinner menu, only salads, sandwiches and soup. Be sure to check the menu before you go, if you think you will have their dinner menu. The white bean soup I had was very, very thick, more of a dip consistency than soup. If I wanted a sandwich, I would have gone to FoodHeads. read more

I was extremely surprised at some of the low ratings I've read. My son and I dine here a few times a month. The food is always fresh and delicious, and the service impeccable. I often have the chicken piccata and my son usually gets the brisket burger. He's somewhat of a burger aficionado and claims that this is the best burger in town. I also like that it's one of the few restaurants these days where one can comfortably converse with dinner companions. I often take out of town company here, and everyone leaves happy. read more

I've been there twice for dinner - the first time was a 5 star and the second was a 3 star so averaging out to 4. I'm not sure which is more representative yet....need to try it again! The first dinner was excellent. A friend and I went late on a Friday (only one other table was still eating when we arrived, and we were the last folks there by far) but yet the service was excellent and we didn't feel rushed at all. We chose to share a few appetizers and salads, and truly enjoyed them all. We had the breadless crab cake, the BBQ shrimp, the watercress sald, and the heirloom tomato salad (and something else which escapes me at the moment). I absolutely loved the watercress salad, and everything we had was really enjoyable. Combine that with the service and it was absolutely a 5 star experience. I went again the other night and first thing I said when we sat down was that we had to get the watercress salad! We ordered that, the mussels in green curry, the charcuterie plate, the pizza of the day (which had goat cheese, proscuitto, fig...), and the halibut entree. The highlight was the truffle foie gras mousse on the charcuterie plate by far (excellent!), and the pizza was also very good. Everything else was fine but not excellent - not even the watercress salad I had been craving. I don't know if they changed it or just didn't execute it as well...it was fine, but nothing to write home about. The service was spottier as well. When someone was at our table, they were very nice and friendly and attentive, but it would take slightly longer than normal to get them to come back, and we had to ask for bread three times. One friend diner said her previous experience had been 5 star as well and agreed that this time it was good but not great overall (except for that truffle foie gras mousse!), so maybe they were just having an off night. I plan to try it again. read more

I can't imagine anyone not liking this cafe!!!! Their food is amazing! If you haven't tried their cakes, you are missing out! I have ordered full cakes also and the staff is very helpful in working around your schedule for pickup. This is one of Austin's hidden treasures. read more

I'd been here for dinner a few years ago but don't remember much about it, which says something. Met a friend from Seton for lunch and had a terrible last week experience. The place seemed to be in chaos. Maybe it was the decor, which made very little sense, dirty floors, or the surly service. Mainly it was the truly hacky Hack Salad. Oily chicken on a generic bed of greens with mayo dressing. Yuck. I'll leave this place for all of the old biddies that seemed inured of the low level of quality. read more

Avoid at all costs! This place is terrible! Food is plain and not well done at all. A child could produce a better experience. Don't waste your time or money. read more

They never have venison. They have it on the menu, but everytime I try to order it, they never have it. If you never have it in stock, take it off of the menu! Otherwise, the other food is great! Nice atmosphere. I am just always frustrated that the never have the venison. read more

Went here and ordered the Chairman's Reserve Ribeye. Ordered it medium rare and asked for it closer to rare. Got a steak the shape of a doorstop, super thin and well done on one side and thicker and medium on the other. Also, they need a new butcher, it was barely recognizable as a ribeye. One of my dining companions had a similar problem. If this wasn't such a well respected restaurant, I would say they were dressing up cheaper cuts to look like ribeyes and charging $29 to fleece the steak eaters. Probably my fault for ordering it on a Monday. On the other hand, third dining companion had the salmon and enjoyed it. read more

I used to like this place. A lot. Over time though the prices have crept up and they have pulled some of my favorite things off of the menu. Don't expect a quiet dinner either. This is one of those Austin restaurants where you can't hear yourself think (like the South Congress Cafe before the noise reduction). If you get sucked in, the specials are really expensive too. read more

the tortilla soup special and fish tacos were delightful. the atmosphere is casual, clean, and laid back. i love the bright colors and clean lines of the interior design. this is a perfect lunch spot to catch up with a girlfriend or two or have a little date. un-presumptuous, with decent portion sizes and great flavor pairings. the trouble spots are parking (tiny spots, busy street, pain in the butt) and prices - the $19 i paid for soup and fish tacos was a little exorbitant for a place without table service. still, the guys behind the counter were charming, and the overall experience is one that i'm sure i'll repeat. read more

Bravo 34th Street! You are in our hood and we have driven by for years wondering about you guys. The other night funny enough we had set out for Parlor on Guad for a slice of pizza but the two remaining slices in the display looked sketch so we headed your way. It was half price wine night and you guys were busy. We ordered the Tuscan Pizza and Chicken Picatta . The service and wine were great and I guess we hadn't noticed that the pizza was taking a while but our server showed up with complimentary Cauliflower soup and apologized for the delay. What a nice touch and good job of realizing a possible delay! Kudos, that is true customer service. The Tuscan pizza was great and splitting the Chicken Picatta was just the right amount. A very good time indeed. Thanks for turning our chill planned Parlor night into a pleasantly fun-filled date night. We will certainly be coming back and bringing friends. read more

We made online reservations for the last night of our groupon and parked out back. That worked out fine. Our very pleasant server handed us the prix fixe ($26) menu and pointed out that the "with groupon" price was $4 more. HUH? My friend ordered it anyway. One item listed in the set never arrived and the rest consisted of half-spoons of this and that arranged, not very artfully, on a series of plates. I had the hanger steak (pretty good), which came with the following: 3.5 over-roasted, oily brussels sprouts with several 1/2" squares of limp tasteless bacon on top (no relation to the brussels sprouts) and a 2" solid homogeneous cube of what was called potatoes gratin (aka scalloped potatoes). The potatoes were one with the gratin. Solid. Another couple ordered the same thing and sent their plates back twice because the potatoes were cold. Don't they know how dangerous that is? Anything could happen. Anyway, my potatoes were extremely hot! Hotter than anything else on the plate! The food was okay but not worth the price even with the groupon. Maybe they're going for Nouvelle Cuisine but if so, the food needs to be tastier and more beautiful. As it was, it was just sparse, stingy and not very interesting. The menu warned that some items listed might not be available, as well as "substitutions respectfully declined." Wow. That along with the $4 upcharge for the groupon indicates a bad attitude. We decided there is no need to go back to 34th Street Cafe. read more

We had dinner there last night. The appetizers, especially the oysters were very good. The wine list is limited but their choices were good. The prices are on the high side and the portions are on the small/tiny side. If you're hungry, go for the chicken piccata. Quite tasty and "..the largest food mound at the table..." I will repeat LLW's comment on the duck breast. It comes out looking like a rare, repeat, very rare tuna steak. I had to send it back to get it seared a bit more. I chatted with the manager after the meal, it turns out that the duck is brined before cooking, which is supposed to help the cooking process. I dunno, the duck entrees at Mirabelle or Dinh Ho have been a more enjoyable meal. On the positive note, the ribeye, chicken, and tuna were all well done with very complimentary sauces, rubs, vegetables. The waiter was attentive and prompt. The garlic bread and focaccia were very good as well. There is additional parking in the back, you can also park at the hospital garage and walk over one short block. I'll try it again, perhaps when certain vegetables are in season that I'm sure the chef will incorporate into his cuisine. read more

Went into 34th St. Cafe the other day for the second time. The first time was alright, nothing special, but I decided to give it another chance. The music playing inside was so obnoxious, loud, blaring elevator music. It felt cheap and old. The food took way too long to come out. The wait staff was rude and pretentious. For what they charge they should take your order at the table, rather than having you order at a counter. The food was ok. Not great. The bread used for both the sandwiches and burgers is too seed-y. read more

I've only been for lunch as well (dinners are more formal and expensive). They ahve great personal size pizzas--chicken adobo or spinach/goat cheese. Their sandwhiches can be good as well. The other reviewer comments on the service but at lunch at least it is order at the counter and get a number type service so no complaints their. This is a place of those that like the Central Market Cafe but don't want the crowds (though with the same parking hassles on weekday lunches). read more

If you like chicken picatta, you will love it at 34th Street Cafe. The chicken breast is perfectly seasoned, is a beautiful golden color, and melts in your mouth. The beurre blanc sauce is the best I've ever had, and they give you lots! Throw in sides of sauteed spinach and saffron rice, and you have a great meal. Try it - you won't be disappointed. read more

Best fries in Austin! The seasoning is amazing!!! The service is also extremely friendly and the manager, Luis, is excellent at what he does. The atmosphere is great and the food is equally matched. The salads are to die for and the sandwiches are mouthwatering! Five stars! read more

My husband and I love 34th Street Cafe as one of our regular "go to" places for dinner. The food is always good, the service great, and the price is reasonable. My favorites on the menu are the zucchini cake appetizer and the chicken piccata is fantastic. 34th Street is also one of the very best caterers in town. They catered the dinner after my son's wedding in May and the food was fantastic but the planning and service they provided was impeccable. We had a downpour of rain that day which made staging from the detached garage impossible. Eddie and his staff were calm and flexible and moved things to the main house with little fuss. They were truly pros at handling the disruption to our careful planning and we had the most magical evening ever. I will never think twice about what caterer to hire in Austin. 34th Street is the best! read more

My favorite place for dinner. They are consistently creative and their specials are always in season and on point. Great service too.

Great menu selection of yummy, innovative versions of favorites like BLTs and hamburgers. Waitstaff helpful and friendly. Seating can be limited at lunch during the week due to the nearby hospital/office crowd. read more

Last week, a friend and I were celebrating a special occasion and had lunch at the 34th Street Café. I had the salmon and beet salad and absolutely LOVED it! The salmon was cooked perfectly, the presentation was absolutely gorgeous and the different varieties of beets were fabulous in color and flavor. The heart shaped yellow beets were an adorable surprise! This is my official forever favorite salad! read more

Four stars for happy hour and two stars for dinner, so I'll give 34th St. Café a grand total of three stars. I've been to happy hour quite a few times and it has always been lovely - especially on Wednesdays when bottles of wine are half off. The sweet potato fries are delish, as is the Tuscan Pizza, even though the crust is sometimes a little too dry. Overall, though, it is definitely good value. But then I made the mistake of ordering dinner. After a bottle of wine and a few apps, my friends and I decided we would try a couple of entrées. I ordered the mussels, my boyfriend ordered the chicken picatta and our friend had the vegetable plate. My dish was, without a doubt, the saltiest food I have ever tasted (it should be known that I LOVE salt, but this had WAY too much). The "broth" the mussels came in was more like a brine. I literally felt like a horse at a salt lick every time I took a bite. The chicken was also over-salted (but not as bad) and the vegetables were ironically bland. If only we could have divided up the salt from all three dishes equally....wishful thinking. However, despite this bad experience, I am willing to give dinner at 34th St. another shot; the service is good, the wine is cheap and the atmosphere is comfortable. Just take it easy on the seasoning, please! read more

I was so disappointed with this restaurant. My boyfriend, dad, and I arrived at 7:00 PM on a rainy Monday evening. When we walked in, no one greeted us at all until I asked a server if we could sit anywhere. She said someone would be with us shortly. 5 mins after just awkwardly standing around, we were told there was a 15 minute wait (although I counted 4 empty tables). When we were finally seated, a server came and didn't introduce himself but started filling our glasses with water and removing plates from the table. Our "real" server finally came and although he greeted us with no smile he did tell us his name! We quickly ordered food and appetizers since we had already been waiting for a while but lo and behold we had to wait 30 minutes for our hummus appetizer (after having to remind another server for it). I was tempted to ask for an apron to put my own hummus on the plate... When we finally got our food (2 minutes after the appetizer came) my boyfriend began to cut into his supposedly medium-rare venison burger while my dad and I snuck fries off the plate. Our server comes up with another burger plate and informs us that we are in fact cutting into someone else's burger. I explained to him that we had already cut the burger and were eating fries off the plate and he said that's OK we'll take care of it. I expected him to leave us the wrong burger since we had already begun to eat off of the plate but he said that they would just switch the bun. I told him again that we had already eaten off the plate and he said that's OK and took the burger away. We cut into the second burger and it was well-done unfortunately. My brussels sprouts were swimming in oil, but the capers were a nice addition. My dad got the venison pizza which was OK but pretty devoid of any flavor. Our server came over at the end and never asked us how our food was and never smiled (ever) and we were left feeling slightly full but mostly disappointed. read more

I'm writing this review from the porcelain throne. That is because the food made my bunghole weep sweet chocolate tears. But seriously, it wrecked my innards. To give some context, imagine my colon is Sarajevo circa 1994. I had the "Burger." The meat was good because it was made from meat. The bread on the other hand reminded me of "wood bread." But Manny, what is wood bread? Wood bread is a delicacy that my Irish friend belligerently prepared for myself and others one sandy summer night. Wood bread is prepared (intuitively I hope) by placing wheat bread directly onto a burning camp fire log. It tastes about how you would imagine - like wheat bread covered in ash and sand. I guess what I'm trying to say is the burger's bun was burnt. My girlfriend had some other dish that they serve there. We were both very pleased with the water. You know, just the right amount of ice. Not too much, not too little. Goldilocks' loins would be moist, trust me. Also, speaking of Groupons, their Groupon system is f**ked. They have a deal - $40 worth of food (not including alcohol, fyi) for $20. However you can't use this unless you buy $40+ of food (not including alcohol). So our bill was $49 dollars. To calculate how much we owed independent of the Groupon, they used the following simple formula: Take the total, subtract $20, tax the remainder, add this tax to the remainder, subtract another $20 from the sum of the tax and the original total minus $20. Simple enough! Anyway, all of this to say, try the water, it rocks! read more

Once was more than enough. Went for dinner alone with a $40 Groupon for which I'd spent $20. Had the shrimp and grits app, in which the shrimp was primarily recognizable by it's shape - otherwise tasteless and bouncy, though the grits w/red peppers were somewhat okay. Entree of Texas drum was maybe a five ounce piece of bland, wet fish with a tough, inedible skin still on it (including a scale or two) on a pool of potato mash. Side of some kind of greens was bland, stringy, and cut in awkward sizes, many too tough and long to fit comfortably in a mouth. Dab of some kind of mushroom and sauce was good, if a little rubbery. Side of charred brussel sprouts w/capers was undercooked, flavorless, dry, and fibrous. The Reisling was lovely, but overpriced at a dollar an ounce. Total tab plus tip cost me another $21 dollars, so a total of $41 spent (witha $20 Groupon!) on a meal I wish I hadn't eaten. Server was good, though. read more

This is the only restaurant I have ever rated at a 1. I could not find anything I liked. It's worth skipping! When pulling into the restaurant it looks like a run-down, shady tattoo parlor that is unhygienic. When you go inside it is really nothing to brag about. They were not very hospitable when we stated we had never been there before and almost sounded like they were trying to run us out of there because they were getting ready for dinner. The food was very expensive and we had to pay before the meal. We had a piece of chocolate cake however it was dry and the frosting over-powered the cake. It tasted like a Hershey chocolate bar on the outside. We ordered the BLT and the lettuce was not fresh but limp as if it was placed in a microwave. The bacon was not crispy and was also put in a microwave. The fries we ordered were horribly seasoned and left a very bad taste in my mouth. This place is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THE QUALITY, QUANTITY, and SERVICE! Skip It! read more