Love visiting this cafe in the historic Driskill Hotel. We had a delicious breakfast, I had the Almond crusted french toast with the fresh berries and REAL maple syrup, my husband had the Brazos Huevos Rancheros which looked really good and he said tasted as good as it looked. We like eating in the cafe better since it is a bit dark in the foyer but we were hungry and there was a 30 minute wait. Always a pleasure to visit Austin and this fine hotel and cafe.
(5)
Jamie R.
Service was OK, but the food was incredibly disappointing. The grilled chicken fusilli listed sun dried tomatoes and herb- infused EVOO, so I was surprised to find feta and pear tomatoes on my pasta when it arrived. I would have removed the feta had I known. My date's mixed green salad with chicken tenders was equally problematic. The chicken and vegetables were dry. A couple at the table behind us returned their pie because they didn't like it.
(2)
Mark L.
It's not very good. If you are hoping for any semblance to the upstairs neighbor, The Driskill Grill. You better look elsewhere. The service and the kitchen seem highly disorganized and ill informed to the menu that they are serving. There where about 6 groups of people in the restaurant at 7pm and they were already out of items on the menu. My fish dish even came with rice pilaf (which was flavorless) instead of the sweet potato fries that the menu said it is to come with. The "famous" 1886 cake, was okay but not worth ordering again. It just tasted rather bland and sat in an annoying soup of chocolate sauce. The decor is pretty cool and I like the booths and old tile floor that hearken back to another era. But the wallpaper had water stains on them that makes me think that management of the hotel just doesn't give a damn about this place.
(2)
Michelle M.
This was a great place for breakfast. We sat on the covered patio. I had the scrambled eggs with spinach and goat cheese (so good), with the delicious crispy potatoes. My friend thought the $4 mimosa was reason enough to come back, and I certainly will, the next time I am in Austin.
(5)
Keith R.
Ate here every day during my stay at the hotel. The food: phenomenal. Texas Pecan Waffle the size of, well, Texas. Of course. Amazing. Brisket Sandwich about the best I've ever had. Blackened Salmon Salad... my last meal here before I head home. I'll miss this place. I'll have to come back for sure. Michelle, the bartender, is an absolute sweetheart. Can't recommend this place more.
(5)
David H.
Location: In the Driskill Hotel, so it's a very nice atmosphere. It's a block from my office, so I walked. I highly suspect parking would suck if you weren't on foot. There's a valet for the hotel, but this place isn't nice enough for that (unless the valet is free, which I doubt). Service: We were seated immediately and greeted promptly. Our drinks were on the table very quickly. Our waiter forgot to bring us the fancy-schmancy bread sticks. My order was wrong (my hamburger had mushrooms on it, I didn't order mushrooms). My tea glass sat empty for more than 5 minutes on two separate occasions. It took forever to get the check. They didn't charge us for our drinks (just tea). Food: I got the hamburger and it was decent. The bun was dry, but the meat patty was cooked to order and tasted great. The pickle was on the side (which I hate) and they use tiny tomatoes which tended to fall out of the burger as I ate it. Though I didn't order the sauteed mushrooms, they turned out to be a nice addition. The fries are the seasoned, large-cut variety and were excellent. Be sure to ask for extra ketchup, as all you get is a tiny dish of it, not a bottle. Price: I spent about $14 for a burger, fries and a glass of tea. They forgot to charge me for the tea, but I made it up to the waiter (though he probably didn't deserve it). Bottom line: Very nice atmosphere (especially for business) and decent food. If you can stay on top of your waiter, this place will work out well for you.
(3)
Justin P.
Want a great meal, easy location, fast service, and a simple menu? Then go ahead and find your way to the 1886 Cafe & Bakery inside the Driskill Hotel at the corner of 6th Brazos in downtown Austin. The food was amazing, to say the least! Award winning chef de cuisine Shannon Tune and his team of highly skilled professionals really know what they're doing. Me and two friends sat in a booth in the corner which made for a great view of the entire exquisitely decorated and well thought architecturally pristine cafe & bakery; whomever designed this place sure knew a lot about culture! My friends and I both agree, this is a great place to get dinner any day of the week. So if you're looking for something to fit your budget, but still stay mildly classy (minus the attitude), dine at the Driskill's 1886 Cafe & Bakery! (oh, and try the bread pudding dessert, too...AMAZING!)
(4)
Katie A.
Walked into this place randomly on a visit to Austin. We had no idea what to expect, but it was open, it looked very pretty, and it had air conditioning. Sold. First of all, the place is beautiful. Very pretty. We went for an early dinner with a toddler, and it was perfect. They had a pretty extensive menu, tasty beers on tap, and everything was remarkably affordable considering it is a restaurant in a fancy hotel. We had a veggie pizza with artichokes, and a three-course meal with steak and a chocolate cake. Totally yummy. We even snagged some fresh pastries for breakfast the next morning.
(4)
Nadia G.
After a Saturday night of partying on 6th Street, our group of 8 needed breakfast/brunch STAT on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, we ended up at this place on the recommendation of a cab driver. The crowd is older and not very diverse ... I assume guests of the Driskill Hotel. We were told the wait was 30 to 40 minutes for our group of 8, but it was more like an hour, even after we saw empty tables and we talked to the hostess TWICE about getting seated. After finally getting seated, the food took forever to come out and the service was terrible, which is why this is a 2 star review. We all actually really enjoyed our food. I had the huevos rancheros and it was loaded with all kinds of goodness, but the service was so bad that it took away from the meal. I would only recommend this place if you had to take your parents out for dinner. It is terrible for large groups or for anyone under the age of 40.
(2)
Jason S.
They weren't serving the Paris, Texas (eggs benedict served on a croissant with brie) during weekend brunch, and this was a problem because it was the wife's favorite, and it was her birthday. Not only did they make an exception, they brought it out with a candle. Logan rocks.
(4)
exploring f.
We liked the place. Was looking for a place with a good ambience which would be open till around midnight. 1186 didnt dissapoint; the food was pricey as expected but tasted good. This place is a good option for people looking to have a late night dessert in the 6th street area....
(4)
Solomon W.
Well, well, well... what have we here? A famous Easter brunch buffet, something not foreign to Austin. The "private event" was offered on the mezzanine level of the 1886 Cafe and was prepared by the executive chef. Sadly, he picked some pretty ordinary food to whoo the crowds of upscale Austinites, who IMO wasted their Easter money. It is quite apparent that most of the premium goes into the atmosphere of feeling exclusive to the downstairs patrons that dine on pedestrian breakfast or lunch a la carte. To dine with the top dogs is to dine extravagantly. I must admit that the settings, presentation, and the entire upstairs as a whole were awesome. It still maintains the whole historic ballroom feel. The food was; however, as plain as you could get for the piercing price. Breads ranged from rolls to crossaints, nothing more. They didn't even have cold cut meats or cheeses! Breakfast favorites were even more disappointing, with offerings such as bacon, sausage, and WHOA! eggs Benedict? With hollandaise! What a surprise! Well... I figured I might have better luck with the hot food and seafood... Nope. Seafood entree? Atlantic Salmon... I kid you not, that's all the tag said. OH OH, mussels! Darn...these don't have any flavor. Land entrees? Chicken breast with mole sauce. Dry. Pork turnovers? Soggy empanadas soaked in tomatillo sauce. Rice pilaf? Eh... Tomato bisque? Totally tasted like canned soup. With alcohol in it. Ok ok...better luck with the cold items? Mmm... plain ol' smoked salmon... even better.... salty mackerel. Well, I'm just glad I ate 20 crab claws to make up my money. And a few shrimp. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the mustard laced potato salad. Last effort? Carving station. Prime rib! Wait a minute.... it's NOT EVEN SERVED ON THE BONE! Tender, but lacking in flavor. I'll just smother it in horseradish. Well, I really did enjoy the ham though. No flavor, but it was mighty juicy for a carved ham. Desserts consisted of cakes and cookies, and no more. All in all, a poor spread for the cost, but I guess if you get whatever you want, it's not a bad deal. I saw the table next to me take home 10 Easter cookies. I got 9 different hot teas. Every time I went for a new plate, I was given a new choice of Mighty Leaf Tea. Yes... I had 9 plates of food, followed by a long, long pee. Tea and pee? Good way to end an experience of mediocre offerings.
(2)
Anthon F.
Having their veggie pizza and salmon burger for dinner. The food and beer (pecan porter) are fantastic.
(5)
Coco M.
I came here expecting charm and warmth - so perhaps my disappointment is a product of my overblown expectations. I arrived for Sunday brunch, alone, and was told that I could sit at the bar or wait 30 minutes. Upon entering the restaurant, I saw multiple empty two-seater tables that didn't fill the entire time I was there. I received the bare minimum of service and ate mediocre food that left me feeling I'd payed just a little too much for some soggy potatoes and diced turkey. Maybe it's better at night - unfortunately, I probably won't bother finding out.
(2)
icacosgrrl C.
Fantastic! I went for Sunday brunch at 3pm (they do it til 5pm for my fellow late-nighters). Of course at that time there was no wait, the place is lovely, and the huevos rancheros are AWESOME! I never had them with crispy tortillas before - is that an Austin thing? The waiter was very VERY attentive. I guess that's what a single girl having breakfast in the afternoon gets. Anyone staying downtown should not miss out on this great place. And walk around the hotel a bit, too. It's beautiful.
(5)
Amanda W.
This was a great place to get breakfast or a late night sweet while staying at the Driskill. The Gingersnap Pancakes are super light and fluffy, tasting more like a delightful dessert than anything you ought to have for breakfast. The skillet I had was also good - the potatoes were crispy and well seasoned, though the eggs (over-easy) were cooked solid. The tea (organic!) was very good, and they kept refilling it, which was great! They make fresh pastries in-house every day and I highly recommend the chocolate croissant... de-lish! For a late-night treat I had the 1886 Chocolate cake which was super light and spongy, drenched in chocolate sauce. Really good! (Someone posted a picture of it; check it out!)
(4)
Dawn E.
I've eaten at the 1886 Cafe and Bakery several times. The food is always fantastic. I've enjoyed breakfast, lunch, coffee. Unlike many hotel restaurants, they have a vast variety of coffee options, and even their lattes are very good. Pizzas, burgers, pasta....I've tried a good deal of their lunch menu, and I'm never disappointed. I've eaten there with friends and colleagues alike. The service is sometimes a little slow, but always courteous and willing to go the extra mile.
(4)
Esther K.
Great service and delicious food!!!!! Bakery was so good! Coffee fresh and hot! Grits was tasty and huge portion! Loved every food we ate there!!!! Hotel was awesome too!!! Definitely worth staying there again - at least for this cafe and bakery!!!
(5)
Diana N.
Pros: The prime rib portion is HUGE! For $17 you cannot get a better deal for prime rib. We had a restaurant.com coupon for 1886 so our meal came out to only $25-$30 for two large meals and a soup. The service was quick because we came in at around 9PM. They give a variety of breads when you sit down. Cons: There is no parking around this area, so expect to walk a little. Our soup was alright and a little cold. We will definitely be back for the prime rib!
(4)
Lisa C.
Went here for after dinner dessert. I ordered the pecan pie and it was one of the best I've ever had! It was small, but it was perfect. Not too much of that overly sweet gooey pie filling you usually find in pecan pie. It has tons of pecans, tasty crust, beautiful fresh fruits on top, a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and a drizzle of lovely caramel sauce around the pie on the plate. It was absolute perfection! My rating is for the pecan pie alone... I'd love to come back and try having dinner here along with more desserts, though.
(4)
Jessica B.
I went to a late brunch here a couple of weeks ago with five other people. We had a reservation, but it was not necessary because it was not crowded. Food was delicious. I had the Paris, TX benedict, another ordered the regular benedict, and everyone else had traditional breakfast items. Everything came out well. One in our party tried to order a chocolate croissant, but they had run out for the day. We got dessert as well, chocolate cake (sooooo gooood) and there was homemade ice cream. The only problem that I had was that the service was very slow, especially for the few people in the restaurant. Our waitress barely checked on us throughout the meal. Several of us found ourselves needing things and she was nowhere to be found. Otherwise, great experience.
(4)
Sonia V.
I can't say I go to 1886 all that often, but someone took me there for a birthday brunch recently, and it couldn't have been a more spectacular experience. There's a particular dish called the Paris, Texas that they usually have on their menu, but it wasn't on the weekend brunch menu for some reason. Didn't stop them from making it for me when I told them that's what I'd had my heart set on. Tasty mimosas, wonderful service, lovely atmosphere. Good stuff, all around.
(4)
Rebekah O.
Went for breakfast with a friend on a Saturday morning: 1. Poor service... the hostess and waitress were ill mannered and snobbish. They would do better to work at the Gap. The service does not match the price you pay. 2. The food was acceptable, but a bit cold and I would have said something but feared the waitress would throw a temper tantrum. 3. It is very beautiful inside the Driskill, but I would not recommend the 1886 Cafe & Bakery.
(2)
dean h.
This once favorite restaurant has really gone downhill the last couple of times we've been there over the past 4 months. I had the pork loin last week and it came with 3 skinny dried out pieces of pork covered in a maple sauce I can only describe as 'old and burnt'. The 'mixed greens' on the side were a dark brown color and were not edible. It tasted like they had been sitting in a pot of heavy sauce for most of the day. The kids meal came with fries covered in so much hot spices they couldn't eat them. We used to love this place but our last two meals there have been a combo of very disappointing food and very mediocre service. We're done with this place.
(2)
Larry M.
So glad that other yelpers got some good service, because when I dined here, felt like the invisible man. When I came back here, bartender kept sighing as I just wanted an iced tea while I waited for a client. Chill OUT DUDE....it's going to be ok.... Not comfortable. Menu (at least for sandwiches) is pretty standard, and if you have a choice, eat inside, since 6th street gets pretty loud. Would like to go back to sample the 'soul' part of their self-named soul food menu. Nice bistro-like space inside with tile floors and wooden furniture. Without feeling a lot of love, however, not a happy place.
(3)
Tatiane M.
Wonderful Service and delicious food!
(5)
Jennifer P.
Food was great! Amtosphere is nice (inside the gorgeous Driskill Hotel). Service was wonderful.
(3)
Bill W.
On a recent visit to Austin, I really liked this place ... so much so that I went back a second time! The building itself is a real treat, and the decor of the restaurant is also quite nice. It has a posh but casual old-world diner feel. Everything about the food and atmosphere just really fits in this space. The first time out, I had granola and a croissant. The croissant was $3.50 and worth every penny. I could probably eat a dozen! It's crispy, flaky, chewy ... everything a croissant should be. And it's served with strawberry jam (I think it was homemade). The granola is a large serving topped with plain yogurt and fresh fruit ... really more than one person could/should eat. The second time out, I split the eggs benedict and cinnamon roll with my date. The cinnamon roll is huge and begs to be shared. It comes with a steak knife, after all! Make sure to get it warmed. The eggs benedict were seriously the best I've ever had. It's a typical portion of two, served over a variety of roasted potatoes. The sauce is divine and the ham is tasty. This is how you do eggs benedict. I also had a cappuccino, which comes with a small biscotti. This complimented my meal perfectly. I can see where the service may be spotty in this cafe, but the second time out we were in a hurry and I let the waitress know this. She took great care of us and even offered my date a to-go cup of coffee. If I lived in Austin, I'd be a regular at 1886.
(5)
Kim L.
We decided to try 1886 during restaurant week for brunch. Each meal comes with a drink, entree, and desert. I got the mimosa, which is champagne with orange juice. It was okay...but my boyfriend got the Hooch which was really yummy! Our entrees came and at our table we had ordered the huevos, ahi tuna burger, and green eggs and ham. I expected soft tortillas with the huevos but it came with crunchy ones and it tasted okay. It wasn't mind blowing or anything. The ahi tuna burger and green eggs and ham were really bland and we had to ask for more condiments to use on them. We were really disappointed with the food...and then the desserts came. I think the desserts by themselves made up for the bland entrees...the homemade banana pudding and chocolate cake were delicioussss! I would definitely come back here for the desserts. I'm drooling just thinking about the banana pudding...
(3)
Kevin N.
This place is, in my humble opinion, another one of the reasons Austin gives and keeps on giving..all of the amenities you might expect from the grand tradition that is the Driskill hotel, patio dining if you'd like it, and none of the stuffy pricey fare you'd necessarily have to endure in your typical high-end historic hotel setting. The staff are on point and the honey truffle chicken is 2 for 2 on satisfying the tastebuds, there is a sweeth tooth's dream of a dessert menu, and a nice set of bar selections to boot. Fantastique.
(4)
Don P.
My coffee is haunted!!! I've lived in Austin for a long time but hadn't been in the Driskill... well, ever. So when I saw this cafe during the Austin Ghost Tour, I KNEW I had to try it. The next weekend I hit it on a Saturday with a friend new to Austin. We just had coffee and sat on the porch, but it was awesome. I can't comment on anything other than the coffee drinks and atmosphere, but I HIGHLY recommend it for a coffee date... wander the Driskill, check out the ball room upstairs, check out the little vault right by the front desk, the bar upstairs, and the Maximilian room. Your homework is to do some research on Maximilan and Carlota (his wife and the likeness above the mirrors). Turns out that the mirrors were a gift to Carlota from Max when he sailed from Europe to overthrew Mexico. His reign was very brief (apparently Mexico didn't enjoy being overthrown) and soon both Maximilan and Carlota were executed. In the 1930's the Driskill folks found the mirrors in a San Antonio flea market and purchased them and soon thereafter, the ghost of Carlota decided that it'd be fun to haunt the Maximilian room at the Driskill. Who knew?
(4)
Natalie D.
Deeeeeeee-licious! Stopped by the 1886 Cafe & Bakery for a light dinner during the week. I had soup and salad. The gazpacho was incredible. Flavorful, the right amount of crunch and vegetable bits -- not completely pureed like sometimes gazpacho can be. It was great. The salad was the mixed greens (?) salad with this incredible goat cheese. So creamy. It was a great, simple, flavorful, light meal. The atmosphere was nice, though we were practically the only people there so it was a little weird dining in a big empty room. It was neat being able to see in to the pastry (?) work area. The room sort of reminded me of an old fashioned ice cream shoppe. Service was a little slow initially (weird because we were practically the only ones there) but adequate. The soup and salad are definately worth going back for.
(4)
Jenny D.
OH, so good, so good, so good! I've been here for brunch, lunch and dinner on a few occasions now and have been impressed every time with the menu offerings, the service, and the food. Rich, fresh, decadent. I'm not even a fan of banana pudding and theirs is amazing, just like our server recommended. The chocolate cake could be better, as could the chicken dish we got once. They have great happy hour specials on appetizers, drinks, burgers and pizzas. Awesome chocolate croissant, too! Love the potato and egg based breakfast options. Enjoy! (And enjoy the free breads and sesame sticks before your meal - yum!)
(5)
Jaye B.
Since this was a favorite of my crazy old boss, and she often paid for it, I've been here a few times. Cafe 1886 confuses me. I really want to like it, I do! But nothing has ever really blown me away at this place. First, I find the atmosphere odd. I've been seated both in the cafe and in what feels more like the lobby of the Driskol. Being seated in the "lobby" is off-putting for some reason. I'm not sure whether to order from the waiter or give my purse to the bell-hop. It seems like 1886 is known for their desserts, but I'm hard pressed to remember one that really stood out to me. In fact, the only thing I've ever had here that was remotely memorable was the Pizza Bianco, a white pizza that had a nice, sharp bite to it that's missing in so many white pizzas.
(3)
Lauren L.
I have to say, I am fairly disappointed in Cafe 1886. I expected more from the Driskill. We did get to sit on the patio, which was lovely, but our waitress was completely non-existent. Outrageously bad service, in fact. My beer took 20 minutes to come out and finally the bartender brought it to me, obviously confused as he stood on the patio and looked around until one of us signaled him. My sandwich was just okay - I've definitely had amazing sandwiches for half the price. All in all, a pretty mediocre lunch experience. p.s. Just in case you go here against my better judgment, I had the Salami sandwich. I would recommend ordering something else. The empanadas looked pretty tasty from a distance.
(3)
austin m.
well, let's just say that I ordered a cake from this supposed "high quality" establishment and I was sorely disappointed. Cake was okay, but for almost $150 you would think it would have been fabulous. Tried addressing the issue before putting this hear...no one even responded to my issues, not good customer service in my book. Both the manager of baker and manager of the hotel ignored my input. If you are planning a wedding, important event or even a simple birthday party....I would just stay away from the Driskill just to be safe. Lucy's went out of business which is the ONLY reason I went here, sad situation.
(2)
Tom S.
I was looking for a place to eat breakfast downtown on a Saturday afternoon (1pm) and I stumbled upon 1886. I ended up ordering the Hippy Hollow which is Eggs, Spinach, and Goat Cheese with Tomato, Basil and Country Potatoes for $11. It never would have occurred to me to mix those ingredients but it was quite tasty although a tad expensive for breakfast; no big surprise after all as 1886 is part of the Driskill Hotel. I am glad someone serves breakfast downtown in the afternoon on weekends. Breakfast is served until 2:30PM on weekends. I've been impressed with the wait staff here; once, I was in here & they insisted after I had a cup of coffee that I should have a cup of coffee for the road. Very nice. Edit - I made it back to 1886 and I ordered a piece of the Chocolate Tres Leche cake & it was great. So moist that it basically just melted in my mouth.
(4)
Mike C.
The 1886 Chocolate Cake is absolutely amazing! If I was just talking about the cake then I would rate it 5 stars.... We go there often for late-night cake about once a month. The service is just ok. We ate there recently for brunch and it was a horrible experience. Our server kept forgetting things, never brought my daughters breakfast even though it was just a breakfast pastry and I reminded him 4 TIMES! The food was brought out in an odd order and he messed up several items. Bottom line is that the food can be ok, the cake and desserts are some of the best ever, but the service is very, very spotty and poor.
(2)
Irene S.
I was here for dinner and found the dishes to be very well executed and very reasonably priced. Our waitress was very attentive and did a good job taking care of us.
(4)
Sarah M.
I am so happy to be able to finally review one of the two famed restaurants at The Driskill! My lunch here with 7 co-workers was fabulous. Here's the breakdown: Service - excellent. Very pleasant, accommodating and surprisingly fast. Ambiance - awesome. Like the rest of The Driskill, the cafe is a sight. Beautiful chandeliers, dark wood, windows that filter in the sun perfectly. Also, I love the layout. The tables are spaced out so that your party's conversation is contained and the music is incredibly subtle (if there even was any...I can't be sure). Food - good. I can't say great because my Pizza Bianco was a little heavy on the cheese and my Caesar salad had barely any dressing. But, it was still quite tasty and every single one of my co-workers enjoyed their food immensely. Try the Mama's Meatloaf, the yellow fin tuna, or the Cobb salad with chicken. Oh, and the 1886 chocolate cake was among the best slices I've ever had. The 1886 Cafe & Bakery is open for breakfast from 7 am until 11 am (and until 2:30pm on the weekends). The "All Day Cafe" menu begins at 11am until 10pm (12am on weekends). Their bakery is open during all of these hours and I would highly recommend picking something up, as Mark Chapman has been rated among the top 10 pastry chefs in America. Scrumptious.
(4)
Eva R.
Visited here during SXSW for some dessert. The atmosphere is calm, quiet, and the service we experienced was decent. The food, however, was unremarkable... at least not what I would expect from an establishment that prides itself on its desserts. A bit overpriced for quality similar to a typical dessert at Chili's.
(3)
Cyrus M.
I practically am living here for the "Great Blizzard of 2007" since it is the only place feeding the folks cooped up in the Driskill while the airport and all downtown eateries are in lockdown... and my kitchen cupboards are empty and Whole Foods is closed down... what is going on.. I feel stranded in my own city?. Restaurant has high ceilings, plays soft jazz music, classy clientele (mostly Driskill inhabitants), equally Texas-classy atmosphere, and of course serves excellent breakfast and lunch/dinner food. I had the Pasta Primavera and added some grilled chicken yesterday... I never really cared for pasta primavera.. but damn they made me a believer... Also tried the vegetable lo mein.. was pretty good... But I gotta say the Steak Salad was fantastic! It seems all their meat is of really high quality. I was slightly dissapointed by the Texas Pecan Waffle.. expecting Texas-sized portions.. instead was a Texas-SHAPED portion.. the panhandle was slightly larger than a postage stamp. Granted it was very good.. was just itching for more. The 1886 Cake is very good.. as expected... I'll add on more to this review.. as the "blizzard" continues... UPDATE: Just tried the Mama's Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and gravy... very balanced meatloaf.. doesn't have anything scary mixed in there.. so is safe for anyone. Was expecting it to be really greasy.. but I think my heart survived that round ok.
(5)
T S.
The building is awesome! The food is good. Tried the eggs benedict on a croissant. It was good. Tried a burger. It was good too. Very pricy, but you pay for the decor`
(3)
Monty B.
The Original 1886 Chocolate Cake tasted like cake from a box. It's ridiculous that they charge $8 for this tasteless piece of crap. We got it to go and they didn't even include the cookie that the cake is usually plated with. Fail.
(1)
Megha K.
My girlfriends and I decided on the 1886 Cafe & Bakery as our "dress up" Restaurant Week pick this season. Luckily, it turned out to be a perfectly adorable choice, complete with high ceilings, the decor of the Driskill, and the "fancy-for-an-evening" appeal for us ladies. To start, we consumed a boatload of 1886's addictive breadsticks. Delish! The appetizer I picked was the GLORIOUS black bean hummus, which had a vibrant roasted garlic flavor and was served with wonderfully thick and large pita chips. Easily my favorite dish of the night. Next came the main course, and I picked the salmon, topped with melted cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, onion, and greens. It was satisfactory, and I feel like the steak may have been the more impressive choice. But I was happy with it and particularly happy with the freshness of the greens and onions. Finally, the 1886 chocolate cake - caramelized butterfly, powdered sugar, and two shy little raspberries on top - was delightful, though dreadfully rich, as you might expect. Also, the layout and look of the food was just gorgeous, dovetailing nicely with our Driskill setup. Definitely recommend it for a nice dinner out!
(4)
Jim W.
I was in town for the holidays and wanted to find a special place for Christmas Dinner for my family as I was hosting. The Driskill Hotel has always been a special place for me. It's a beautiful building steeped in history. When I saw they had availability, I immediately called. I asked if they were doing anything special for Christmas Day and was told yes, they would be serving a "brunch" menu. This sounded wonderful, I made the reservation in anticipation of a brunch, worthy of the Driskill Hotel. Instead, it was their normal brunch menu (which is lame) including the "Hangover Omelette", the "Hangover Burger"and the "Hippie Hollow". The only thing on the menu that remotely resembled "brunch" was the Eggs Benedict. A letdown... Good service, but they had nothing to work with. The Chef should probably go to brunch from time to tome
(3)
Sandra I.
My husband and I did a split of the Hangover Burger and the Turkey B.L.T. Croissant. Real good! The staff here is so pleasant to be around.
(5)
Treena R.
The Cheese Danish is delish. The Au Jus, a little dry and perhaps in this case five pounds of roast beef is a little much. Okay there wasn't five pounds but seriously 1886, I would be more impressed with my sandwich if I didn't have to deconstruct it prior to consumption. The fresh squeezed grapefruit juice? Heavenly.
(4)
Jennifer B.
If this place is a bakery, then I'm an effin' astronaut! Of course this place would be very awkwardly placed at the bizarro-entrance at the Driskill. It smells aweful and the decor looks like the walls threw up on themselves. The desserts were supposed to be "amazing". Whatever. The peach cobbler was not peach cobbler. It was pound cake with a scant amount of canned peaches on the bottom. No glace (or glaze for the ghetto-folk) in sight! It was dry, not moist and lacked in every way. The banana pudding looked like Taco Bell tried making flan. It smelled "off". DH wanted a moon-pie. Want to know how that was? Couldn't tell you: I chucked that mess in the garbage faster than a pack of wolves pouncing on a three-legged cat. Presentation was horrid! Little Debbie could make a better moon-pie than that! All-in-all, $30 down the drain.
(1)
Eliza H.
DESSERT! So my friends and I had just finished lunch at Cozzoli's and needed our usual sweet fix. So we walked a bit farther downtown to this lovely little cafe. We walked up the steps of a gorgeous building and we were greeted by a very friendly host. We got seated and were immediately greeted by our server. He quickly brought us out our waters and took our orders quickly. In maybe 5-7min (it felt like), out came three BEAUTIFUL dessert plates. The Buttermilk Pie, Strawberry Banana Cheesecake, and Pecan pie (i'll post pictures at a later time). The buttermilk pie was probably my favorite. Sweet and creamy and came with blueberries and strawberries. The texture was soft and fluffy. Pecan pie wasn't extraordinary. it was still good- a classic a la mode. Cheesecake was different for me in a good way. I have never had a banana flavored cheesecake so when it came out i thought, "ooh. that's different." It was chocolatey crust with a layer of strawberry cheesecake, then banana, topped with a dollop of whipped cream carmalized banana slices and a chocolate straw with strawberries on the side. It looked gorgeous as well. I didn't want to eat it since it was so pretty, anyway, i did and it was great. Tasted like a strawberry banana smoothie in cheesecake form. Atmosphere was very light and casual and relaxed. The place was bright, well lit, and there's a connecting bar. :)
(4)
Julie T.
Very tasty breakfasts. Want a waffle shaped like the state of Texas? You got it! Want a delicious eggs bennie on a croissant with brie and ham? You got it! Going back again. Delicious!
(4)
Rhianna B.
1886 Cafe is currently my first choice for indulging in breakfast or brunch. Not only do they have excellent illy coffee, but I always find myself indecisive about what to have from the menu. So far, the 'Hippie Hollow' is a perfect omelet portion with mushrooms and goat cheese. 'Green Eggs and Ham' is for larger appetites; grilled pork loin with green chile, eggs, and purple potatoes. I think a large part of what makes this place work is the ambiance. Nice dark wood with cloth covered walls and honeycomb beige tile make this place classy, yet not uptight. You also can see into the kitchens, right next to the main bar. I forsee this place coming to my breakfast rescue many times in the future.
(4)
Emi H.
Sometimes when you're far away from home all you need is a good meal to make everything right again. I woke up early just so I could have a big breakfast at the 1886 Cafe. I was staying at the Driskill while training for work and the cafe was conveniently located right in the hotel lobby. I ordered their french toast with strawberries ($10) and a side of bacon ($2.50) for breakfast. My order came really quickly and I was excited to each because the bread that they used was nice and thick. No one likes scrawny french toast, right? The french toast was honest to God some of the best I've ever had and it was so good that I had it two more times while staying at the Driskill. The bacon was also very good as they served up nice big pieces that were cooked crispy, just the way I like it! Megan my waitress was so friendly and accomodating, and really helped to make my overall experience wonderful. I got really homesick during my stay in Texas for various reasons and I don't know what I would have done without my morning french toast fix. Tex Mex and BBQ doesn't always agree with my stomach so it was nice that each morning I had a hearty and soul feeding breakfast to help me make it through the day.
(5)
Jessica S.
Dedicated to the bakery.... My Birthday Friend chose this place to round out the evening. We arrived late in the evening and only a few tables were taken, so it was easy to get going right away. There were 4 of us, and we each ordered something different (well, my friend brought in a cupcake that was one of her gifts). Of course one had the 1886 cake with ice cream. I had a bite and it was delicious. Another had the bread pudding. I tried it. It's still not my thing, but it was much better than some of the other ones I've tasted in my life. And this one was much prettier, too. I had the hot fudge sundae. Be sure you get the peanuts on it because the saltiness of them is so good with the sweet of the sundae. The Sundae is so "plain," considering you can order that just about anywhere, but I surely did enjoy it.
(4)
Michael K.
Nice ambience. Good service. Food just ok. Served on an Ito chafing dish (nice touch) except the dish was not hot so the food was room temp. Value for money is poor.
(2)
Lisa N.
My friends and I were quite excited to do Sunday brunch at 1886 Cafe & Bakery for restaurant week but the food, unfortunately, was not so exciting. To start, I had the mimosa and it was delicious. Next came the most bland burger I had ever sunk my teeth into, the Ahi Tuna Burger. My friends ordered the same and we were all astonished at how under seasoned our burgers were. But being the amazing chef that I am, I decided to add "flavor" to my burger by slathering a substantial amount of ketchup onto the buns (ketchup makes everything taste better, jk!) While that may sound slightly disgusting, the ketchup adds a nice tang to the burger. Another downside to the burger was the poppy seed buns. It was extremely dry. This burger definitely needs revision. Despite the disappointing burger, the 1886 Chocolate Cake was moist and delicious. I am a chocolate fiend so I devoured this cake within minutes. The banana pudding was also quite scrumptious. I would definitely come back for the desserts.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Valet, Street, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Grace G.
Love visiting this cafe in the historic Driskill Hotel. We had a delicious breakfast, I had the Almond crusted french toast with the fresh berries and REAL maple syrup, my husband had the Brazos Huevos Rancheros which looked really good and he said tasted as good as it looked. We like eating in the cafe better since it is a bit dark in the foyer but we were hungry and there was a 30 minute wait. Always a pleasure to visit Austin and this fine hotel and cafe.
(5)Jamie R.
Service was OK, but the food was incredibly disappointing. The grilled chicken fusilli listed sun dried tomatoes and herb- infused EVOO, so I was surprised to find feta and pear tomatoes on my pasta when it arrived. I would have removed the feta had I known. My date's mixed green salad with chicken tenders was equally problematic. The chicken and vegetables were dry. A couple at the table behind us returned their pie because they didn't like it.
(2)Mark L.
It's not very good. If you are hoping for any semblance to the upstairs neighbor, The Driskill Grill. You better look elsewhere. The service and the kitchen seem highly disorganized and ill informed to the menu that they are serving. There where about 6 groups of people in the restaurant at 7pm and they were already out of items on the menu. My fish dish even came with rice pilaf (which was flavorless) instead of the sweet potato fries that the menu said it is to come with. The "famous" 1886 cake, was okay but not worth ordering again. It just tasted rather bland and sat in an annoying soup of chocolate sauce. The decor is pretty cool and I like the booths and old tile floor that hearken back to another era. But the wallpaper had water stains on them that makes me think that management of the hotel just doesn't give a damn about this place.
(2)Michelle M.
This was a great place for breakfast. We sat on the covered patio. I had the scrambled eggs with spinach and goat cheese (so good), with the delicious crispy potatoes. My friend thought the $4 mimosa was reason enough to come back, and I certainly will, the next time I am in Austin.
(5)Keith R.
Ate here every day during my stay at the hotel. The food: phenomenal. Texas Pecan Waffle the size of, well, Texas. Of course. Amazing. Brisket Sandwich about the best I've ever had. Blackened Salmon Salad... my last meal here before I head home. I'll miss this place. I'll have to come back for sure. Michelle, the bartender, is an absolute sweetheart. Can't recommend this place more.
(5)David H.
Location: In the Driskill Hotel, so it's a very nice atmosphere. It's a block from my office, so I walked. I highly suspect parking would suck if you weren't on foot. There's a valet for the hotel, but this place isn't nice enough for that (unless the valet is free, which I doubt). Service: We were seated immediately and greeted promptly. Our drinks were on the table very quickly. Our waiter forgot to bring us the fancy-schmancy bread sticks. My order was wrong (my hamburger had mushrooms on it, I didn't order mushrooms). My tea glass sat empty for more than 5 minutes on two separate occasions. It took forever to get the check. They didn't charge us for our drinks (just tea). Food: I got the hamburger and it was decent. The bun was dry, but the meat patty was cooked to order and tasted great. The pickle was on the side (which I hate) and they use tiny tomatoes which tended to fall out of the burger as I ate it. Though I didn't order the sauteed mushrooms, they turned out to be a nice addition. The fries are the seasoned, large-cut variety and were excellent. Be sure to ask for extra ketchup, as all you get is a tiny dish of it, not a bottle. Price: I spent about $14 for a burger, fries and a glass of tea. They forgot to charge me for the tea, but I made it up to the waiter (though he probably didn't deserve it). Bottom line: Very nice atmosphere (especially for business) and decent food. If you can stay on top of your waiter, this place will work out well for you.
(3)Justin P.
Want a great meal, easy location, fast service, and a simple menu? Then go ahead and find your way to the 1886 Cafe & Bakery inside the Driskill Hotel at the corner of 6th Brazos in downtown Austin. The food was amazing, to say the least! Award winning chef de cuisine Shannon Tune and his team of highly skilled professionals really know what they're doing. Me and two friends sat in a booth in the corner which made for a great view of the entire exquisitely decorated and well thought architecturally pristine cafe & bakery; whomever designed this place sure knew a lot about culture! My friends and I both agree, this is a great place to get dinner any day of the week. So if you're looking for something to fit your budget, but still stay mildly classy (minus the attitude), dine at the Driskill's 1886 Cafe & Bakery! (oh, and try the bread pudding dessert, too...AMAZING!)
(4)Katie A.
Walked into this place randomly on a visit to Austin. We had no idea what to expect, but it was open, it looked very pretty, and it had air conditioning. Sold. First of all, the place is beautiful. Very pretty. We went for an early dinner with a toddler, and it was perfect. They had a pretty extensive menu, tasty beers on tap, and everything was remarkably affordable considering it is a restaurant in a fancy hotel. We had a veggie pizza with artichokes, and a three-course meal with steak and a chocolate cake. Totally yummy. We even snagged some fresh pastries for breakfast the next morning.
(4)Nadia G.
After a Saturday night of partying on 6th Street, our group of 8 needed breakfast/brunch STAT on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, we ended up at this place on the recommendation of a cab driver. The crowd is older and not very diverse ... I assume guests of the Driskill Hotel. We were told the wait was 30 to 40 minutes for our group of 8, but it was more like an hour, even after we saw empty tables and we talked to the hostess TWICE about getting seated. After finally getting seated, the food took forever to come out and the service was terrible, which is why this is a 2 star review. We all actually really enjoyed our food. I had the huevos rancheros and it was loaded with all kinds of goodness, but the service was so bad that it took away from the meal. I would only recommend this place if you had to take your parents out for dinner. It is terrible for large groups or for anyone under the age of 40.
(2)Jason S.
They weren't serving the Paris, Texas (eggs benedict served on a croissant with brie) during weekend brunch, and this was a problem because it was the wife's favorite, and it was her birthday. Not only did they make an exception, they brought it out with a candle. Logan rocks.
(4)exploring f.
We liked the place. Was looking for a place with a good ambience which would be open till around midnight. 1186 didnt dissapoint; the food was pricey as expected but tasted good. This place is a good option for people looking to have a late night dessert in the 6th street area....
(4)Solomon W.
Well, well, well... what have we here? A famous Easter brunch buffet, something not foreign to Austin. The "private event" was offered on the mezzanine level of the 1886 Cafe and was prepared by the executive chef. Sadly, he picked some pretty ordinary food to whoo the crowds of upscale Austinites, who IMO wasted their Easter money. It is quite apparent that most of the premium goes into the atmosphere of feeling exclusive to the downstairs patrons that dine on pedestrian breakfast or lunch a la carte. To dine with the top dogs is to dine extravagantly. I must admit that the settings, presentation, and the entire upstairs as a whole were awesome. It still maintains the whole historic ballroom feel. The food was; however, as plain as you could get for the piercing price. Breads ranged from rolls to crossaints, nothing more. They didn't even have cold cut meats or cheeses! Breakfast favorites were even more disappointing, with offerings such as bacon, sausage, and WHOA! eggs Benedict? With hollandaise! What a surprise! Well... I figured I might have better luck with the hot food and seafood... Nope. Seafood entree? Atlantic Salmon... I kid you not, that's all the tag said. OH OH, mussels! Darn...these don't have any flavor. Land entrees? Chicken breast with mole sauce. Dry. Pork turnovers? Soggy empanadas soaked in tomatillo sauce. Rice pilaf? Eh... Tomato bisque? Totally tasted like canned soup. With alcohol in it. Ok ok...better luck with the cold items? Mmm... plain ol' smoked salmon... even better.... salty mackerel. Well, I'm just glad I ate 20 crab claws to make up my money. And a few shrimp. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the mustard laced potato salad. Last effort? Carving station. Prime rib! Wait a minute.... it's NOT EVEN SERVED ON THE BONE! Tender, but lacking in flavor. I'll just smother it in horseradish. Well, I really did enjoy the ham though. No flavor, but it was mighty juicy for a carved ham. Desserts consisted of cakes and cookies, and no more. All in all, a poor spread for the cost, but I guess if you get whatever you want, it's not a bad deal. I saw the table next to me take home 10 Easter cookies. I got 9 different hot teas. Every time I went for a new plate, I was given a new choice of Mighty Leaf Tea. Yes... I had 9 plates of food, followed by a long, long pee. Tea and pee? Good way to end an experience of mediocre offerings.
(2)Anthon F.
Having their veggie pizza and salmon burger for dinner. The food and beer (pecan porter) are fantastic.
(5)Coco M.
I came here expecting charm and warmth - so perhaps my disappointment is a product of my overblown expectations. I arrived for Sunday brunch, alone, and was told that I could sit at the bar or wait 30 minutes. Upon entering the restaurant, I saw multiple empty two-seater tables that didn't fill the entire time I was there. I received the bare minimum of service and ate mediocre food that left me feeling I'd payed just a little too much for some soggy potatoes and diced turkey. Maybe it's better at night - unfortunately, I probably won't bother finding out.
(2)icacosgrrl C.
Fantastic! I went for Sunday brunch at 3pm (they do it til 5pm for my fellow late-nighters). Of course at that time there was no wait, the place is lovely, and the huevos rancheros are AWESOME! I never had them with crispy tortillas before - is that an Austin thing? The waiter was very VERY attentive. I guess that's what a single girl having breakfast in the afternoon gets. Anyone staying downtown should not miss out on this great place. And walk around the hotel a bit, too. It's beautiful.
(5)Amanda W.
This was a great place to get breakfast or a late night sweet while staying at the Driskill. The Gingersnap Pancakes are super light and fluffy, tasting more like a delightful dessert than anything you ought to have for breakfast. The skillet I had was also good - the potatoes were crispy and well seasoned, though the eggs (over-easy) were cooked solid. The tea (organic!) was very good, and they kept refilling it, which was great! They make fresh pastries in-house every day and I highly recommend the chocolate croissant... de-lish! For a late-night treat I had the 1886 Chocolate cake which was super light and spongy, drenched in chocolate sauce. Really good! (Someone posted a picture of it; check it out!)
(4)Dawn E.
I've eaten at the 1886 Cafe and Bakery several times. The food is always fantastic. I've enjoyed breakfast, lunch, coffee. Unlike many hotel restaurants, they have a vast variety of coffee options, and even their lattes are very good. Pizzas, burgers, pasta....I've tried a good deal of their lunch menu, and I'm never disappointed. I've eaten there with friends and colleagues alike. The service is sometimes a little slow, but always courteous and willing to go the extra mile.
(4)Esther K.
Great service and delicious food!!!!! Bakery was so good! Coffee fresh and hot! Grits was tasty and huge portion! Loved every food we ate there!!!! Hotel was awesome too!!! Definitely worth staying there again - at least for this cafe and bakery!!!
(5)Diana N.
Pros: The prime rib portion is HUGE! For $17 you cannot get a better deal for prime rib. We had a restaurant.com coupon for 1886 so our meal came out to only $25-$30 for two large meals and a soup. The service was quick because we came in at around 9PM. They give a variety of breads when you sit down. Cons: There is no parking around this area, so expect to walk a little. Our soup was alright and a little cold. We will definitely be back for the prime rib!
(4)Lisa C.
Went here for after dinner dessert. I ordered the pecan pie and it was one of the best I've ever had! It was small, but it was perfect. Not too much of that overly sweet gooey pie filling you usually find in pecan pie. It has tons of pecans, tasty crust, beautiful fresh fruits on top, a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and a drizzle of lovely caramel sauce around the pie on the plate. It was absolute perfection! My rating is for the pecan pie alone... I'd love to come back and try having dinner here along with more desserts, though.
(4)Jessica B.
I went to a late brunch here a couple of weeks ago with five other people. We had a reservation, but it was not necessary because it was not crowded. Food was delicious. I had the Paris, TX benedict, another ordered the regular benedict, and everyone else had traditional breakfast items. Everything came out well. One in our party tried to order a chocolate croissant, but they had run out for the day. We got dessert as well, chocolate cake (sooooo gooood) and there was homemade ice cream. The only problem that I had was that the service was very slow, especially for the few people in the restaurant. Our waitress barely checked on us throughout the meal. Several of us found ourselves needing things and she was nowhere to be found. Otherwise, great experience.
(4)Sonia V.
I can't say I go to 1886 all that often, but someone took me there for a birthday brunch recently, and it couldn't have been a more spectacular experience. There's a particular dish called the Paris, Texas that they usually have on their menu, but it wasn't on the weekend brunch menu for some reason. Didn't stop them from making it for me when I told them that's what I'd had my heart set on. Tasty mimosas, wonderful service, lovely atmosphere. Good stuff, all around.
(4)Rebekah O.
Went for breakfast with a friend on a Saturday morning: 1. Poor service... the hostess and waitress were ill mannered and snobbish. They would do better to work at the Gap. The service does not match the price you pay. 2. The food was acceptable, but a bit cold and I would have said something but feared the waitress would throw a temper tantrum. 3. It is very beautiful inside the Driskill, but I would not recommend the 1886 Cafe & Bakery.
(2)dean h.
This once favorite restaurant has really gone downhill the last couple of times we've been there over the past 4 months. I had the pork loin last week and it came with 3 skinny dried out pieces of pork covered in a maple sauce I can only describe as 'old and burnt'. The 'mixed greens' on the side were a dark brown color and were not edible. It tasted like they had been sitting in a pot of heavy sauce for most of the day. The kids meal came with fries covered in so much hot spices they couldn't eat them. We used to love this place but our last two meals there have been a combo of very disappointing food and very mediocre service. We're done with this place.
(2)Larry M.
So glad that other yelpers got some good service, because when I dined here, felt like the invisible man. When I came back here, bartender kept sighing as I just wanted an iced tea while I waited for a client. Chill OUT DUDE....it's going to be ok.... Not comfortable. Menu (at least for sandwiches) is pretty standard, and if you have a choice, eat inside, since 6th street gets pretty loud. Would like to go back to sample the 'soul' part of their self-named soul food menu. Nice bistro-like space inside with tile floors and wooden furniture. Without feeling a lot of love, however, not a happy place.
(3)Tatiane M.
Wonderful Service and delicious food!
(5)Jennifer P.
Food was great! Amtosphere is nice (inside the gorgeous Driskill Hotel). Service was wonderful.
(3)Bill W.
On a recent visit to Austin, I really liked this place ... so much so that I went back a second time! The building itself is a real treat, and the decor of the restaurant is also quite nice. It has a posh but casual old-world diner feel. Everything about the food and atmosphere just really fits in this space. The first time out, I had granola and a croissant. The croissant was $3.50 and worth every penny. I could probably eat a dozen! It's crispy, flaky, chewy ... everything a croissant should be. And it's served with strawberry jam (I think it was homemade). The granola is a large serving topped with plain yogurt and fresh fruit ... really more than one person could/should eat. The second time out, I split the eggs benedict and cinnamon roll with my date. The cinnamon roll is huge and begs to be shared. It comes with a steak knife, after all! Make sure to get it warmed. The eggs benedict were seriously the best I've ever had. It's a typical portion of two, served over a variety of roasted potatoes. The sauce is divine and the ham is tasty. This is how you do eggs benedict. I also had a cappuccino, which comes with a small biscotti. This complimented my meal perfectly. I can see where the service may be spotty in this cafe, but the second time out we were in a hurry and I let the waitress know this. She took great care of us and even offered my date a to-go cup of coffee. If I lived in Austin, I'd be a regular at 1886.
(5)Kim L.
We decided to try 1886 during restaurant week for brunch. Each meal comes with a drink, entree, and desert. I got the mimosa, which is champagne with orange juice. It was okay...but my boyfriend got the Hooch which was really yummy! Our entrees came and at our table we had ordered the huevos, ahi tuna burger, and green eggs and ham. I expected soft tortillas with the huevos but it came with crunchy ones and it tasted okay. It wasn't mind blowing or anything. The ahi tuna burger and green eggs and ham were really bland and we had to ask for more condiments to use on them. We were really disappointed with the food...and then the desserts came. I think the desserts by themselves made up for the bland entrees...the homemade banana pudding and chocolate cake were delicioussss! I would definitely come back here for the desserts. I'm drooling just thinking about the banana pudding...
(3)Kevin N.
This place is, in my humble opinion, another one of the reasons Austin gives and keeps on giving..all of the amenities you might expect from the grand tradition that is the Driskill hotel, patio dining if you'd like it, and none of the stuffy pricey fare you'd necessarily have to endure in your typical high-end historic hotel setting. The staff are on point and the honey truffle chicken is 2 for 2 on satisfying the tastebuds, there is a sweeth tooth's dream of a dessert menu, and a nice set of bar selections to boot. Fantastique.
(4)Don P.
My coffee is haunted!!! I've lived in Austin for a long time but hadn't been in the Driskill... well, ever. So when I saw this cafe during the Austin Ghost Tour, I KNEW I had to try it. The next weekend I hit it on a Saturday with a friend new to Austin. We just had coffee and sat on the porch, but it was awesome. I can't comment on anything other than the coffee drinks and atmosphere, but I HIGHLY recommend it for a coffee date... wander the Driskill, check out the ball room upstairs, check out the little vault right by the front desk, the bar upstairs, and the Maximilian room. Your homework is to do some research on Maximilan and Carlota (his wife and the likeness above the mirrors). Turns out that the mirrors were a gift to Carlota from Max when he sailed from Europe to overthrew Mexico. His reign was very brief (apparently Mexico didn't enjoy being overthrown) and soon both Maximilan and Carlota were executed. In the 1930's the Driskill folks found the mirrors in a San Antonio flea market and purchased them and soon thereafter, the ghost of Carlota decided that it'd be fun to haunt the Maximilian room at the Driskill. Who knew?
(4)Natalie D.
Deeeeeeee-licious! Stopped by the 1886 Cafe & Bakery for a light dinner during the week. I had soup and salad. The gazpacho was incredible. Flavorful, the right amount of crunch and vegetable bits -- not completely pureed like sometimes gazpacho can be. It was great. The salad was the mixed greens (?) salad with this incredible goat cheese. So creamy. It was a great, simple, flavorful, light meal. The atmosphere was nice, though we were practically the only people there so it was a little weird dining in a big empty room. It was neat being able to see in to the pastry (?) work area. The room sort of reminded me of an old fashioned ice cream shoppe. Service was a little slow initially (weird because we were practically the only ones there) but adequate. The soup and salad are definately worth going back for.
(4)Jenny D.
OH, so good, so good, so good! I've been here for brunch, lunch and dinner on a few occasions now and have been impressed every time with the menu offerings, the service, and the food. Rich, fresh, decadent. I'm not even a fan of banana pudding and theirs is amazing, just like our server recommended. The chocolate cake could be better, as could the chicken dish we got once. They have great happy hour specials on appetizers, drinks, burgers and pizzas. Awesome chocolate croissant, too! Love the potato and egg based breakfast options. Enjoy! (And enjoy the free breads and sesame sticks before your meal - yum!)
(5)Jaye B.
Since this was a favorite of my crazy old boss, and she often paid for it, I've been here a few times. Cafe 1886 confuses me. I really want to like it, I do! But nothing has ever really blown me away at this place. First, I find the atmosphere odd. I've been seated both in the cafe and in what feels more like the lobby of the Driskol. Being seated in the "lobby" is off-putting for some reason. I'm not sure whether to order from the waiter or give my purse to the bell-hop. It seems like 1886 is known for their desserts, but I'm hard pressed to remember one that really stood out to me. In fact, the only thing I've ever had here that was remotely memorable was the Pizza Bianco, a white pizza that had a nice, sharp bite to it that's missing in so many white pizzas.
(3)Lauren L.
I have to say, I am fairly disappointed in Cafe 1886. I expected more from the Driskill. We did get to sit on the patio, which was lovely, but our waitress was completely non-existent. Outrageously bad service, in fact. My beer took 20 minutes to come out and finally the bartender brought it to me, obviously confused as he stood on the patio and looked around until one of us signaled him. My sandwich was just okay - I've definitely had amazing sandwiches for half the price. All in all, a pretty mediocre lunch experience. p.s. Just in case you go here against my better judgment, I had the Salami sandwich. I would recommend ordering something else. The empanadas looked pretty tasty from a distance.
(3)austin m.
well, let's just say that I ordered a cake from this supposed "high quality" establishment and I was sorely disappointed. Cake was okay, but for almost $150 you would think it would have been fabulous. Tried addressing the issue before putting this hear...no one even responded to my issues, not good customer service in my book. Both the manager of baker and manager of the hotel ignored my input. If you are planning a wedding, important event or even a simple birthday party....I would just stay away from the Driskill just to be safe. Lucy's went out of business which is the ONLY reason I went here, sad situation.
(2)Tom S.
I was looking for a place to eat breakfast downtown on a Saturday afternoon (1pm) and I stumbled upon 1886. I ended up ordering the Hippy Hollow which is Eggs, Spinach, and Goat Cheese with Tomato, Basil and Country Potatoes for $11. It never would have occurred to me to mix those ingredients but it was quite tasty although a tad expensive for breakfast; no big surprise after all as 1886 is part of the Driskill Hotel. I am glad someone serves breakfast downtown in the afternoon on weekends. Breakfast is served until 2:30PM on weekends. I've been impressed with the wait staff here; once, I was in here & they insisted after I had a cup of coffee that I should have a cup of coffee for the road. Very nice. Edit - I made it back to 1886 and I ordered a piece of the Chocolate Tres Leche cake & it was great. So moist that it basically just melted in my mouth.
(4)Mike C.
The 1886 Chocolate Cake is absolutely amazing! If I was just talking about the cake then I would rate it 5 stars.... We go there often for late-night cake about once a month. The service is just ok. We ate there recently for brunch and it was a horrible experience. Our server kept forgetting things, never brought my daughters breakfast even though it was just a breakfast pastry and I reminded him 4 TIMES! The food was brought out in an odd order and he messed up several items. Bottom line is that the food can be ok, the cake and desserts are some of the best ever, but the service is very, very spotty and poor.
(2)Irene S.
I was here for dinner and found the dishes to be very well executed and very reasonably priced. Our waitress was very attentive and did a good job taking care of us.
(4)Sarah M.
I am so happy to be able to finally review one of the two famed restaurants at The Driskill! My lunch here with 7 co-workers was fabulous. Here's the breakdown: Service - excellent. Very pleasant, accommodating and surprisingly fast. Ambiance - awesome. Like the rest of The Driskill, the cafe is a sight. Beautiful chandeliers, dark wood, windows that filter in the sun perfectly. Also, I love the layout. The tables are spaced out so that your party's conversation is contained and the music is incredibly subtle (if there even was any...I can't be sure). Food - good. I can't say great because my Pizza Bianco was a little heavy on the cheese and my Caesar salad had barely any dressing. But, it was still quite tasty and every single one of my co-workers enjoyed their food immensely. Try the Mama's Meatloaf, the yellow fin tuna, or the Cobb salad with chicken. Oh, and the 1886 chocolate cake was among the best slices I've ever had. The 1886 Cafe & Bakery is open for breakfast from 7 am until 11 am (and until 2:30pm on the weekends). The "All Day Cafe" menu begins at 11am until 10pm (12am on weekends). Their bakery is open during all of these hours and I would highly recommend picking something up, as Mark Chapman has been rated among the top 10 pastry chefs in America. Scrumptious.
(4)Eva R.
Visited here during SXSW for some dessert. The atmosphere is calm, quiet, and the service we experienced was decent. The food, however, was unremarkable... at least not what I would expect from an establishment that prides itself on its desserts. A bit overpriced for quality similar to a typical dessert at Chili's.
(3)Cyrus M.
I practically am living here for the "Great Blizzard of 2007" since it is the only place feeding the folks cooped up in the Driskill while the airport and all downtown eateries are in lockdown... and my kitchen cupboards are empty and Whole Foods is closed down... what is going on.. I feel stranded in my own city?. Restaurant has high ceilings, plays soft jazz music, classy clientele (mostly Driskill inhabitants), equally Texas-classy atmosphere, and of course serves excellent breakfast and lunch/dinner food. I had the Pasta Primavera and added some grilled chicken yesterday... I never really cared for pasta primavera.. but damn they made me a believer... Also tried the vegetable lo mein.. was pretty good... But I gotta say the Steak Salad was fantastic! It seems all their meat is of really high quality. I was slightly dissapointed by the Texas Pecan Waffle.. expecting Texas-sized portions.. instead was a Texas-SHAPED portion.. the panhandle was slightly larger than a postage stamp. Granted it was very good.. was just itching for more. The 1886 Cake is very good.. as expected... I'll add on more to this review.. as the "blizzard" continues... UPDATE: Just tried the Mama's Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and gravy... very balanced meatloaf.. doesn't have anything scary mixed in there.. so is safe for anyone. Was expecting it to be really greasy.. but I think my heart survived that round ok.
(5)T S.
The building is awesome! The food is good. Tried the eggs benedict on a croissant. It was good. Tried a burger. It was good too. Very pricy, but you pay for the decor`
(3)Monty B.
The Original 1886 Chocolate Cake tasted like cake from a box. It's ridiculous that they charge $8 for this tasteless piece of crap. We got it to go and they didn't even include the cookie that the cake is usually plated with. Fail.
(1)Megha K.
My girlfriends and I decided on the 1886 Cafe & Bakery as our "dress up" Restaurant Week pick this season. Luckily, it turned out to be a perfectly adorable choice, complete with high ceilings, the decor of the Driskill, and the "fancy-for-an-evening" appeal for us ladies. To start, we consumed a boatload of 1886's addictive breadsticks. Delish! The appetizer I picked was the GLORIOUS black bean hummus, which had a vibrant roasted garlic flavor and was served with wonderfully thick and large pita chips. Easily my favorite dish of the night. Next came the main course, and I picked the salmon, topped with melted cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, onion, and greens. It was satisfactory, and I feel like the steak may have been the more impressive choice. But I was happy with it and particularly happy with the freshness of the greens and onions. Finally, the 1886 chocolate cake - caramelized butterfly, powdered sugar, and two shy little raspberries on top - was delightful, though dreadfully rich, as you might expect. Also, the layout and look of the food was just gorgeous, dovetailing nicely with our Driskill setup. Definitely recommend it for a nice dinner out!
(4)Jim W.
I was in town for the holidays and wanted to find a special place for Christmas Dinner for my family as I was hosting. The Driskill Hotel has always been a special place for me. It's a beautiful building steeped in history. When I saw they had availability, I immediately called. I asked if they were doing anything special for Christmas Day and was told yes, they would be serving a "brunch" menu. This sounded wonderful, I made the reservation in anticipation of a brunch, worthy of the Driskill Hotel. Instead, it was their normal brunch menu (which is lame) including the "Hangover Omelette", the "Hangover Burger"and the "Hippie Hollow". The only thing on the menu that remotely resembled "brunch" was the Eggs Benedict. A letdown... Good service, but they had nothing to work with. The Chef should probably go to brunch from time to tome
(3)Sandra I.
My husband and I did a split of the Hangover Burger and the Turkey B.L.T. Croissant. Real good! The staff here is so pleasant to be around.
(5)Treena R.
The Cheese Danish is delish. The Au Jus, a little dry and perhaps in this case five pounds of roast beef is a little much. Okay there wasn't five pounds but seriously 1886, I would be more impressed with my sandwich if I didn't have to deconstruct it prior to consumption. The fresh squeezed grapefruit juice? Heavenly.
(4)Jennifer B.
If this place is a bakery, then I'm an effin' astronaut! Of course this place would be very awkwardly placed at the bizarro-entrance at the Driskill. It smells aweful and the decor looks like the walls threw up on themselves. The desserts were supposed to be "amazing". Whatever. The peach cobbler was not peach cobbler. It was pound cake with a scant amount of canned peaches on the bottom. No glace (or glaze for the ghetto-folk) in sight! It was dry, not moist and lacked in every way. The banana pudding looked like Taco Bell tried making flan. It smelled "off". DH wanted a moon-pie. Want to know how that was? Couldn't tell you: I chucked that mess in the garbage faster than a pack of wolves pouncing on a three-legged cat. Presentation was horrid! Little Debbie could make a better moon-pie than that! All-in-all, $30 down the drain.
(1)Eliza H.
DESSERT! So my friends and I had just finished lunch at Cozzoli's and needed our usual sweet fix. So we walked a bit farther downtown to this lovely little cafe. We walked up the steps of a gorgeous building and we were greeted by a very friendly host. We got seated and were immediately greeted by our server. He quickly brought us out our waters and took our orders quickly. In maybe 5-7min (it felt like), out came three BEAUTIFUL dessert plates. The Buttermilk Pie, Strawberry Banana Cheesecake, and Pecan pie (i'll post pictures at a later time). The buttermilk pie was probably my favorite. Sweet and creamy and came with blueberries and strawberries. The texture was soft and fluffy. Pecan pie wasn't extraordinary. it was still good- a classic a la mode. Cheesecake was different for me in a good way. I have never had a banana flavored cheesecake so when it came out i thought, "ooh. that's different." It was chocolatey crust with a layer of strawberry cheesecake, then banana, topped with a dollop of whipped cream carmalized banana slices and a chocolate straw with strawberries on the side. It looked gorgeous as well. I didn't want to eat it since it was so pretty, anyway, i did and it was great. Tasted like a strawberry banana smoothie in cheesecake form. Atmosphere was very light and casual and relaxed. The place was bright, well lit, and there's a connecting bar. :)
(4)Julie T.
Very tasty breakfasts. Want a waffle shaped like the state of Texas? You got it! Want a delicious eggs bennie on a croissant with brie and ham? You got it! Going back again. Delicious!
(4)Rhianna B.
1886 Cafe is currently my first choice for indulging in breakfast or brunch. Not only do they have excellent illy coffee, but I always find myself indecisive about what to have from the menu. So far, the 'Hippie Hollow' is a perfect omelet portion with mushrooms and goat cheese. 'Green Eggs and Ham' is for larger appetites; grilled pork loin with green chile, eggs, and purple potatoes. I think a large part of what makes this place work is the ambiance. Nice dark wood with cloth covered walls and honeycomb beige tile make this place classy, yet not uptight. You also can see into the kitchens, right next to the main bar. I forsee this place coming to my breakfast rescue many times in the future.
(4)Emi H.
Sometimes when you're far away from home all you need is a good meal to make everything right again. I woke up early just so I could have a big breakfast at the 1886 Cafe. I was staying at the Driskill while training for work and the cafe was conveniently located right in the hotel lobby. I ordered their french toast with strawberries ($10) and a side of bacon ($2.50) for breakfast. My order came really quickly and I was excited to each because the bread that they used was nice and thick. No one likes scrawny french toast, right? The french toast was honest to God some of the best I've ever had and it was so good that I had it two more times while staying at the Driskill. The bacon was also very good as they served up nice big pieces that were cooked crispy, just the way I like it! Megan my waitress was so friendly and accomodating, and really helped to make my overall experience wonderful. I got really homesick during my stay in Texas for various reasons and I don't know what I would have done without my morning french toast fix. Tex Mex and BBQ doesn't always agree with my stomach so it was nice that each morning I had a hearty and soul feeding breakfast to help me make it through the day.
(5)Jessica S.
Dedicated to the bakery.... My Birthday Friend chose this place to round out the evening. We arrived late in the evening and only a few tables were taken, so it was easy to get going right away. There were 4 of us, and we each ordered something different (well, my friend brought in a cupcake that was one of her gifts). Of course one had the 1886 cake with ice cream. I had a bite and it was delicious. Another had the bread pudding. I tried it. It's still not my thing, but it was much better than some of the other ones I've tasted in my life. And this one was much prettier, too. I had the hot fudge sundae. Be sure you get the peanuts on it because the saltiness of them is so good with the sweet of the sundae. The Sundae is so "plain," considering you can order that just about anywhere, but I surely did enjoy it.
(4)Michael K.
Nice ambience. Good service. Food just ok. Served on an Ito chafing dish (nice touch) except the dish was not hot so the food was room temp. Value for money is poor.
(2)Lisa N.
My friends and I were quite excited to do Sunday brunch at 1886 Cafe & Bakery for restaurant week but the food, unfortunately, was not so exciting. To start, I had the mimosa and it was delicious. Next came the most bland burger I had ever sunk my teeth into, the Ahi Tuna Burger. My friends ordered the same and we were all astonished at how under seasoned our burgers were. But being the amazing chef that I am, I decided to add "flavor" to my burger by slathering a substantial amount of ketchup onto the buns (ketchup makes everything taste better, jk!) While that may sound slightly disgusting, the ketchup adds a nice tang to the burger. Another downside to the burger was the poppy seed buns. It was extremely dry. This burger definitely needs revision. Despite the disappointing burger, the 1886 Chocolate Cake was moist and delicious. I am a chocolate fiend so I devoured this cake within minutes. The banana pudding was also quite scrumptious. I would definitely come back for the desserts.
(3)