I really like this place. Good food, especially the pizza and some of the interesting pasta choices. Also great wine selection, one of the best I have seen outside some of the more "fancy" places. The reason I knocked off a star is due to the giant tree outside. Don't get me wrong, it looks nice, and provides shade, but it also sheds like a pack of dogs. I got so many leaves in my drinks and food I eventually had to keep my hand over my drink. Also got hit with a few nuts or what ever the seeds where. Still love the place, and I'm not saying get rid of the tree, I like it. It is just an annoying thing you have to deal with to be able to be blessed with their great food and service.
(4)
Paul M.
Unusual combinations of food and drink that will keep you guessing. I recommend the asparagus bruschetta, and any pizza on the menu.
(4)
Stylie C.
2nd visit to The Grove last night.. We have had great service and food on both our visits. We brought our dog, and ate on the patio. Wonderful August evening with nice temperatures and a beautiful sunset. They have a great deck. We started it off with the specialty cheese and fruit plate. A little pricey for what was delivered, but a decent Brie, and the compote in the center of the plate was wonderful. I had the Jerk Chicken pasta, the dish had a very full flavor and just the right amount of zing. Jen had Mac and cheese and I must say it was almost fluffy..very light yet still cheesy and delicious. The Grove gets a, " + " for the allowing our dog to hang out, but there is a little gouging going on like 2$ diet cokes and no refills, and the value on the specialty cheese plate. I cannot quite give it 5 full stars, You could consider this 4.5 stars. It's worth the trip.
(4)
Bobby S.
Fantastic outdoor patio. Had the pizza as so many raved about it on Yelp. Was really disappointed with it. Not that it was bad. But it certainly wasn't great like people on Yelp say it is. It is basically a Dominoes style crust with gourmet toppings. There is much to like about this place and much to hate too. They won't seat you until the entire party arrives. I totally get it when it is busy. But I have literally sat waiting to be seated when the place was empty at 4:30. You'd think they would want me seated and drinking like a fish while I wait! The waitstaff is friendly. However I strong advise against sitting inside. It can get so loud in there that you have to yell across the table which makes the room even noisier. I have left lunch there feeling exhausted from shouting and all of the noise. Parking is almost impossible. So show up way earlier than you need to. They are kid friendly but definitely not dog friendly as indicated by a sign posted on their door.
(2)
John E.
The gluten-free pasta is terrific. My wife had to stop eating traditional pastas and missed it. But The Grove has filled a huge need. The dish with mushrooms and prosciutto has a bit of a kick and is delicious, even for those who don't usually like gluten-free pastas. Pair with a nice wine from their broad selection and you'll get the evening off to a good start.
(4)
M B.
The Grove is a great place for 360/Bee Caves worker bees to go for lunch when you have a bit of time and want something nicer than Chik-Fil-A. (I'm not knocking Chik-Fil-A, which I love, by the way.) The food is mostly vaguely Italian - bruschettas, pizzas, paninis, and an excellent selection of upscale salads. I had a "Don't Have A Cow, Man" pizza, which was really wonderful - it came packed with grilled veggies, pesto, and was light on the cheese just like I had specifically requested. I also had a Reed's side salad - greens, crumbled blue cheese, pecans, and one of the best balsamic vinaigrettes I've ever had. I went with a group of work colleagues, most of whom got meal salads, and while I didn't get to sample them, I can report that the steak salad, the sesame ahi tuna salad, miso salmon salad, and crab cake salad all looked amazing and each without exception got high marks from their consumers. This is a very good place for the salad lover. Interior was standard trendy wine bar - lots of white and bold graphic elements. Very nice, must better than you'd expect from the strip mall location, but overall nothing particularly special, except I did like the wallpaper in the women's bathroom. Seriously - check it out - it's pretty neat. The main downside of the place was that it was really, really loud. All those hard surfaces made it very hard to hear, and our group was even seated a bit apart from the main dining room. It might be OK for conversation between two across a small table, but if you are going in a large group, call ahead and ask for the special separate seating area (seats up to about 10) or be prepared to have no idea what people are saying down at the other end of the table. If you don't like noise, don't go during peak times, or sit outside on the huge, tree covered deck. The other thing worth noting is that it is pretty expensive - meal salads run about $12-$15, for instance. My pizza, side salad and iced tea was about $20. I don't know about you, but in these tough times, I don't plan to indulge in $20 lunches regularly.
(4)
Susan A.
Awful! All around awful. Chucky cheese with wine. I have, unfortunately, been here many times. The food I have had was decent. Mainly salads and pastas. But everything else is awful and the food is just okay and therefore can't make up for all of the other shortcomings. Cons: service sucks. Once my husband was actually served his entree after everyone else at the table had completed eating. The waiter served him at least 20 minutes after everyone else at the table without explanation or apology and even had the balls to ask if anyone saved room for dessert as he out my husbands plate down. The other times the wait staff has either been MIA or snotty. Horrible. As everyone has said, the parking is unbelievably bad. There are horribly behaved children running everywhere. This place is really just Chucky Cheese with wine. Is that the managements fault? Yes! When you are a "wine bar" and every seat at the bar is occupied by a child with a sippy cup, that is your fault for allowing that to happen. They have a really ridiculously early cut off time for take out. They have now opened a take out restaurant next door to fill the void which is so stupid it makes me pray they quickly go out of business. You won't let people do take out from restaurant one, but will pay to open another restaurant just for take out? Stupid people should fail in life and these people deserve to fail. It is a great space and I am so excited to see what is going to take over when this place goes belly up.
(1)
Kris U.
This is a trendy place for the location, and so if you build it....they will come! And "they" (assorted Westlakians: soccer moms, golfers, women just from the tennis courts or yoga studios, executives, entrepreneurs, guys that still wear gold chains and yes, oh yes, cougars-a-plenty) keep the place hopping, especially on busy weekend nights. Two great things about this place is it's wine selection (and well put together flights) and the lovely outdoor deck centered around an enormous tree. I've been told the owners are very personally involved in the wine decisions and fortunately they seem to know what they're doing. The friendly bartenders/servers are very knowledgeable about their wines, and thus are truly helpful with recommendations. A good appetizer here is the bruschetta, which comes with a variety of spreads and you get to choose three (I highly recommend the olive tapenade and sundried tomatoes, and the roasted peppers with goat cheese). I also like the Mediterranean pizza (a fun twist on a veggie pizza, this one has grilled squash, kalamata olives, red onions and spinach, plus feta and mozzarella cheese with a nice mariana sauce).
(4)
Jorge A.
The Grove: WINE, WINE, WINE, WINE, STINKY, STINKY, STINKY CHEESE PIZZA! This is one of my beautiful wife's favorite restaurants in the area and I have to agree with her on the enjoyment of this restaurant wine bar. We like to order the wine lover's pizza... large please... Oh by the way let me have a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon! Funny because when the ticket gets to you the wine lover's pizza rings as THE STINKY CHEESE PIZZA. It is stinky, but very good! I do recommend this restaurant to all, the service is excellent, the food is great and the atmosphere out on the deck is very inviting during the evening hours. Don't worry about the heat if you want to sit on the deck next to that big oak tree, they have huge fans that circulate the air and it feels good. We have ordered several dishes and appetizers and so far everything we have tried is just below excellent, that means pretty GOOD! The J
(4)
John G.
The Grove is tucked away in a small strip center near the County Line BBQ on Bee Caves Road. I have never sat in the restaurant, so my comments are about the bar only. Everyone that I have encountered at The Grove has been very laid back and cool. The bartenders have been very knowledgeable about their wines and seem to be very in to what they do. We like to stop in for appetizers and a flight of wines. Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon, sometimes on a Friday evening. Either times, I have always had great service. The crab cakes are some of the best I've had! I love the fact that the wines come from smaller vineyards and have all been ones that I have scarcely heard anything about. This allows me to learn about something new while having a few drinks. I can recommend hanging out here for drinks, but I will say to be on the look out for the cougars. They seem to be in abundance and ready to pounce! Not that it is a bad thing...
(5)
DarthMulle T.
Not what I expected. It's OK for wine but the food was really lacking for the price, $16 entree salads lacked protein and the oils weren't very good on them. The server recommended fish tacos and they were practically inedible. I mean it, the fish didn't taste fresh and the cabbage was wet. The worst part was the tortillas tasted like mission tortillas warmed up in a microwave and the black beans were most assuredly canned. I was shocked at how poor the food quality was. The hummus and pita bread weren't that great either, which you would REALLY expect to be up to par at a wine bar. I remembered why it had been so long since I had been there driving home. Such a shame for the prices they charge. Worst fish tacos in Austin, I dare you to find worse.
(2)
Tara M.
My happy experience at The Grove has a story behind it so bare with me. Turn on Katy Perry "I kissed a Girl" and put it on replay while I tell my story.... I met a cute girl at the Bull Creek off leash dog park and we started talking about places we could drink with our dogs and one thing lead to another and we had a date at The Grove... I am a South Austin Gal and rarely venture into Westlake but this place and my cute new friend had me putting away my judgements and values for the night.. "It felt so wrong it felt so right"... We shared the Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna and Panko crusted Crab Cakes pared with the perfect red wine. Sorry I was too distracted to remember the wine... The Waitress recommended it and it was a perfect pairing... We enjoyed some amazing wine and yummy appetizers on the patio that allowed our butt sniffers. Which, led to much fun afterward.... Yay! I"m a fan of this place.....
(4)
Kevin N.
So I was charged Friday night with finding a place to dine that wasn't already part of our circadian rhythm dinner habit, and based on some of the flattering reviews of this place, I decided we'd try give the Grove a whirl. It doesn't take much detective work to sort out why this place is so decidedly likable. from the bright colors permeating throughout, to the overtly friendly service, to the fact that they'll whack 15% or so (as I recall) off of any unopened bottle you buy retail and take home here. We caught dinner on the patio on one of those perfect Austin nights when the breezes hold out like satin gloves, and pairing a tasty zinfandel with my Italian entree seemed only too natural. There are a few flat screens up in case you want to keep up with the game, but those aren't the star of the show. That would be you...and your date, and a perfect glass of wine in the moonlight that goes for days.
(4)
Jeff L.
The wine flights are worth a trip alone... We've adopted several European wines into our home selections just from being able to try them as part of one of the flights. There are some surprising values on the Grove wine menu. The pizza is consistently good as are the pasta dishes- and be sure to try the 'choose your combo' bruscetta. Service can be hit or miss with never a truly negative experience, but sometimes just unattentive. Weather allowing sit outside as the noise level inside can be annoying.
solid joint. good, fresh food at fair prices. the wines and outer deck are great. kind of a cougar den by night, ya dig?
(4)
Diana N.
This restaurant is a bit far from downtown and central Austin but we decided to give it a try because it had great reviews on Yelp. Pros: -Food: We ordered Fried Oysters, A pasta dish and a pizza. The food was very tasteful and portions were appropriate for the dinner menu. -Service: The waitress was friendly and processed our order quickly. -Atmosphere: Inside is very quaint and warm and outside patio is set nicely for dinner service. Cons: -Location: If not for the location, we would definitely give this place 5 stars. -Parking: Parking can be problematic if you go during rush. We came at an earlier time so we were able to find parking, but as the restaurant filled, people were driving around looking for spaces. We would come back someday when we are in the area.
(4)
Sarah T.
$12 beet and goat cheese salad - very very little goat cheese. Wondered if they ran out of goat cheese, there was so little sprinkled on the salad. Not worth the price.
(2)
Jackie C.
After seeking Gluten-Free options from yelp on our short stay in Austin my wife and I chose to try out The Grove. We did not have a reservation and were seated on the patio promptly. The patio is wonderful, the weather was perfect and the very large oak tree was very pleasant to sit under. Our waiter was very good, my wife use to serve at a wine bar in Columbus, OH and was impressed by his knowledge of their menu. I am not a big wine guy, but she loves it and was very pleased with our Chilean selection. (Very good and usually on the cheaper end). The real reason we came here is because of the gluten-free options. All of their pasta and pizza dishes are available GF. We decided to go with two different GF pizzas the "Top Shelf" and the "Popeye and Olive Oil". Both were delicious and after trying many different GF pizzas over the years I can say this is the best that we have tasted. If we lived in the area this place would surely become a regular spot!
(5)
Leslie R.
Tried this West Austin wine bar last night, and really enjoyed it. The service was great, there were at least ten different flights to choose from and they were generous with their pours! I had the sauv blanc flight and my fiance had the "que syrah, shiraz" flight. his flight paired well with their meat and cheese sampler while mine stood well on its own. As for entrees, I had a Reed salad which tasted fresh and had a generous mix of candied pecans and feta. Fiance tried the BBQ pizza. The pizza was ok, but the crust was a bit too chewy and didn't have much flavor. I highly recommend going for the wine and love sampler though. The main downside of the experience for me was that I sat outside next to some bushes and at the end of the meal a giant cockroach crawled from the bushes right onto my napkin, not really their fault though, just scared the crap out of me!
(4)
Holly M.
Awesome, charming yet family friendly place with a great wine list and yummy food. Service is great too. Amazing outdoor deck and fun, chatty bar inside! One of my faves.
(4)
Anna D.
Wow what a sweet find! Dishes are artfully prepared and tasty. They use lots of fresh herbs in dishes. Hip & trendy, patio under big old oaks! Inside feels like a restaurant on 2nd Street. Hidden off the street (bee caves) but look for it / so worth it. My favorite summertime patio lunch place!
(5)
Jill M.
Some friends and I dropped by here for wine and dessert this evening. We enjoyed the outdoor seating, especially since we were by the waterfall. The wait was about 20 min. on a Friday night at 8:30pm, which seemed pretty reasonable. The chocolate dessert, which we split between 3 people, was excellent. It seemed somewhere in between fudge and cake--very decadent! We also found the wines more than satisfactory, though some exceeded our price range. Even the lower priced wines ($6-8) tasted quite good though, and The Grove offers a wide variety of wines, both red and white by the bottle and glass. I'd like to return for dinner because the pizzas smelled REALLY good! I wore jeans, but many people were a little more dressy (not fancy, but very stylish). If I returned, I might snazz it up a bit, and I recommend you do the same. :)
(5)
Rick G.
I went there this afternoon for a working lunch with 3 other people. The big tree is amazing, and the giant ceiling fan is something to see. I had the chicken salad, a couple of people the Ahi tuna salad, and one person the Popeye and Olive Oyl pizza. The food was all very good. Only one person had wine. If I could split stars, I'd give them a 3.5, but since I can't, I'll round up. I'll go back again with friends to try some wines and a few of the appetizers, and I'll update my review then. For now, after 1 visit, I found it to be comfortable and the staff was friendly and efficient. The decor is a little modern for my tastes (I like lots of dark wood, but that huge tree certainly counts as some wood), but it was still very comfortable.
(4)
anne r.
So living on the border of SXSW - listening to the music (and traffic noise) and watching the moonrise from my balcony, I knew that when a (sick) friend called and asked me to bring them a steak salad, I wasn't going into the chaos DT to get it. Instead I headed to The Grove. Now mind you, I would much rather sit there an enjoy a glass of wine (or two) and socialize, I found it a very pleasant experience just to get food to go. Why I didn't call my order in, I don't know but Benny, the "wine-tender" took my order and it was ready in no time. And even on a busy Saturday night took the time to say hi between serving others. I think the steak salad there is one of the best in town and hope that my friend enjoyed it when I dropped it off. I had the tuna one myself to go and it was also awesome - Nice piece of fresh sushi grade tuna cooked (or in this case not cooked - the rarer the better), Great mix of fresh dark greens, and the dressing is awesome. And although I missed not having the wine this night, it was nice to get back to the balcony in time for the fireworks reflections off the city skyline and enjoy my dinner. Only regret - not getting dessert or a bottle to go....
(5)
Austin T.
THREE star good food and very ok wait staff. High volume lunch and dinner spot in Westlake and crazy parking.
(3)
Carrie S.
Yum!!! The Grove- - has a pretty good selection of wines by the glass for $8 and under - the patio is pretty - they have gluten free pizza crust AND pasta - and the Wine Lover's (aka Stinky Cheese) pizza is super good (prosciutto, blue cheese, fontina, and arugula!) I could see how your meal could get expensive if you ordered appetizers and sides, but I felt that our medium gluten free pizza and 3 glasses of wine were a pretty good deal at $38!
(4)
KC C.
A wide variety of wines at good price points with generous pour size. The pizzas are a must, always delicious. Service with a smile.
(5)
Lida Z.
I love this place, great atmosphere, great wine. I wii say, service is sometimes lacking... But, more important, heads up to puppy lovers--they no longer allow dogs on the patio. A real disappointment!
(4)
Melanie H.
One of my fave spots to hit on a pretty day, their deck under the big tree is awesome when it's a gorgeous day. They have a good wine selection and some tasty food. I'm a fan of the bruschetta plate, their house-smoked salmon is very good and I can never pass up the apple/brie/fig. I've never had anything on the menu that I've disliked.
(4)
Suzie B.
Met some friends for dinner here on a Wednesday night and had a great time. They were already there and had a table, so I didn't experience the wait time I've been reading about. The service was professional and unobtrusive, and the food was good. We had a couple of appetizers, and I had the Miso Salmon Salad entree. The salmon portion was small for the price, but the greens had yummy little crunchy fried onions in them, and it all mixed together nicely. I couldn't eat it all, which means I either ate too much bruchetta or drank way too much wine. Good wine. Yeah. Every time. The only negative was the noise level inside. Next time we'll check out the lovely patio.
(4)
Liza K.
I've had the salads, bruschetta, panini's and all were rather good. I haven't tried the pizza yet so I'll have to get back to you on that one. The food here is great and fresh tasting. Parking is sometimes a pain at lunch time, so get there early. The only thing I had there and hated was the cheese plate...it actually made me weep...j/k I was sad though...but hey, now I know. The cheeses were below average and they served it with really thin crackers, which broke every time I tried to spread the cheese on them. Which as you can imagine is highly frustrating. I have to say I can live with a less than perfect cheese plate if I have several other good options..and the Grove does!
(4)
Mica M.
If the Grove were a person, it would be that cute girl in your accounting class who didn't seem to try very hard, but somehow managed to pull straight A's. The atmosphere at the Grove is casual, and the crowd ranges from business suits fresh from the office to cut-offs right off the lake. The wait staff are always helpful with wine pairing recommendations, and are low-key but friendly. I really like the bruscetta, especially the fig, brie and apple concoction. They also have a nice Reed's salad with a tangy honey balsamic dressing that's quite tasty. The Grove is a nice little wine bar with good grub. The patio is my favorite part, and I always sit out there when the weather is nice. Be sure to check out Lola Savannah, the attached coffee lounge after dinner. Their coffee is super strong, and the beans are a deep, dark espresso roast. A great way to end a meal.
(4)
Erin M.
This restaurant was fantastic! From the service to the atmosphere to the food. I recently visited with three of my girlfriends and we enjoyed great company, service, wine and food. Really what more could a girl ask for! I can't wait to return to this gem soon.
(4)
Lorie M.
The Grove has one of my favorite patios, mainly because of the massive tree in the middle. Also notable, look up at the giant fan they have installed up there. It's actually brand-named, "Big Ass Fans." The wine list is incredible, and the food is very good and perfect for pairings with wine. Great place overall, one of my favorites. I like the salad with seared tuna and the bruschetta. I did have a run-in one time here with the staff over their attempt to KILL HONEYBEES with bug spray. HELLO??? They were attracting bees because they serve wine and maybe there were some spills or something-- and then they put cups of honey out to draw the bees away from the tables. Not a good idea. Someone came out with wasp spray and I had to say something. If you see a bee, let her be. :) They should have moved the honey out to the field behind the restaurant and then just left them alone. All that aside, it's a wonderful place to eat. People-- never, ever kill honeybees. They are responsible for pollinating 1/3 of the food on your plate. If you spray them with pesticide, they'll take some of that back to the hive and poison others. NOT GOOD.
(4)
Brandon J.
This is one of our favorite places to go for wine and dinner, especially if it's nice enough to sit outside on their great patio. We recommend sticking to their entrees and avoiding their pizzas. We've had there pizza a couple times and have never really cared for it. Their pastas are excellent and the waiter have great wine knowledge for recommending good wines. The carb cakes are also very good for a starter.
(5)
Susie G.
Can more amazing places like this exist? Any if they exist, can they exist closer to my neck of the woods ( north austin?) So the boyfriend has a mad craving for pizza... and I have a wheat allergy. Those two things kinda dont mix well together. After yelping "gluten free pizza" ...this little gem popped up. Excited by the reviews we booked it immediately to The Grove in Westlake Hills. What I loved. - They were packed but we were seated immediately - Our waitress was calm and friendly and attentive - The wine was yummy! - ANY pasta or pizza can be made gluten free!!! - The Pizza we has , Popeye and Olive Oil was amazing ( order With the bacon), and the tomato seafood bisque gets high points as well. - The pizzas were reasonably priced. - Our desert, a GF chocolate torte, was out of this world awesome. ( Nether one of us wanted to drink anything after so we could continue tasting it...that only sort of worked.) - All in all ...amazing experience What almost lost a star - Appetizers costing almost as much as pizza - Fairly expensive ( and extensive wine listing.) I wish they had 4 dollar wine, but hey its a wine bar so I won't fault them. - Having an additional 4 dollar charge for the GF crust. This would not have bothered me except that we were not told about it or read it on the menu before hand. Please put that on there, patrons will be understanding. - GF crust only coming in Medium, not large Really fabulous time. 2 glasses of wine, pizza, soup and chocolate dessert, under 50 bucks with tax and tip. A splurge, but a nice one.
(5)
Caitlin N.
This is a good go-to. They have a great wine selection and I agree that their pizza is probably one of the best choices on the menu. I've had varying service here and the food is usually adequate-to-good, not good-to-excellent--hence, the 4 stars. I'm not sure if I would classify the patrons as hoity-toity or preppy necessarily, as I see many different types of people dine here. But do keep in mind that it's in Westlake/Bee Cave and if you don't like that kind of atmosphere, then don't go (and complain when it isn't your cup of SoCo tea). :-P It's worth a shot! Especially if you like wine flights and hors d'oeuvres.
(4)
Kayte H.
RAAAAAGE! I was told to meet my friends here for lunch, as they both love wine. Apparently, every girl past twenty just loooooves wine, but I still think it tastes like easter egg dye. However! As I am not one to pass up a gossip fest, I drove over. First, why don't we start with the absolute NIGHTMARE that is the parking lot. HORRIBLE! I'm pretty sure I shaved off a few years from my life just from being so pissed off, and that is saying something for someone that parks downtown at least once a weekend. First, it's overly hilly and narrow. Two cars can't get past each other at once so there's that awkward stop-go thing. Second, the spots are too small. I kid you not, a very nicely parked VW beetle was still over the line. Anything larger just parked between two spaces. Third, 90% of the spots are reserved for businesses that are NOT the Grove, which is the ONLY reason people are in the center to begin with. Fourth, there IS a parking garage, but oh wait! It's blocked off completely for valet parking. ...I'm sorry...what? If you've read any of my previous reviews, you know I am cheap, and valet parking is something I do not do. Even if it's complimentary, I can park my car myself thank you. Also, unless you are a jacka**, its not going to be complimentary as you have to tip. So after ten minutes of circling like a hawk, I bit the bullet and paid someone to park my crappy car in a garage I could have very easily parked in myself. Me: *sarcastically* Great parking around here! Valet: *grin* That's why they have us. ...This was not a good start. So the place is already on a wait, but they tell us we can sit outside and that there are heaters set up. We sit down and...brrr, it's pretty cold! But a heater was right next to the table so surely we would be warm up soon, right? Wrong. Several minutes later we are still cold and you guessed it, the heater was not working. I got to spend the rest of the meal with a man squatting uncomfortably close to me while he tried to repair the heater (of course, nobody apologized). We all got the pizza/salad lunch combo, which was pretty fairly priced considering the level of pretentiousness, but it was not worth the money. I got the house salad and the 'Chicken Little' slice of pizza and all I can say is...bland. So bland. I would have killed for some hot sauce for my monochromatic bore of a pizza. Additionally, my friend ordered a diet coke. Not only was it not a fountain coke, they gave her a can with a straw in it. No glass, a can. With a straw in it. Two bucks. Like I said, RAAAAGE! Two stars for looking relatively pretty and having edible food.
(2)
Jim C.
Very nice little place with lots of outside patio space under big trees. Lots of tasty appetizers. Wine flights! Limited and mundane entree selection though... it's like the appetizer section and the entree section belong to two different restaurants. I'd just do a bunch of appetizers for dinner. Add a star if you're just going there for drinks and appetizers.
(3)
Katie B.
BY FAR THE BEST WINE BAR IN AUSTIN!!! I absolutely love EVERYTHING about The Grove. The wine selection is fabulous, the food is delicious, the prices are super affordable, the atmosphere is fun & fresh, & the service is TOP NOTCH! We ALWAYS choose the Grove Wine Bar for every single family special event as well as date nights & drinks with friends! Whether you sit inside in the cozy main room or on the fabulous outdoor patio, you WILL NOT be disappointed! Seriously! Try the LOVE PLATTER & the Chardonnay Wine Flight! YUMMMM!
(5)
Pizza H.
Picking up a late lunch I decided to stop at The Grove wine bar and kitchen. This place was started as just a wine bar and later added a full menu. We had heard good things about the pizzas they were making so we went to check it out. The place is about a 15 min drive from downtown Austin but is perfect for the area that lacks just about everything. It's in a strip mall on a hill with very limited parking, and features a beautiful outside patio that is warm and welcoming. We decided to have a seat at the bar to talk more with the bartender. We were quickly welcomed by our very nice bartender that went over some of the wines for us. The wine menu is pretty impressive and the crew is extremely outgoing, willing to teach and let you sample whatever wines you want. We ordered a fresh mozzarella with a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella. The pie came out and I could already tell they killed it. My hopes and dreams of loving this place that had a lot going for it were crushed. The crust was soft and airy with a beautiful chew; the sauce was light and non-threatening to the pie. The fresh mozzarella had little to no flavor as did the shredded mozzarella, but as you can see in the pictures, the pie was loaded with huge chunks of garlic. I don't mind a little garlic to enhance the flavor a little on a white pie, but barely cooked hunks of garlic on a regular cheese and sauce pie is not needed. With nearly every bite I crunched into a piece of garlic. It overpowered the whole pie, and killed what could have been just a good light pizza. Overall I think they are doing a lot right at The Grove though. If you are looking for a great salad or wine bar I think this place might be the best in town, but if you are looking for a pie with a glass of wine I would say grab a slice from somewhere else and eat it in your car with a wine bottle that you bought from there or something. I will be trying the pizza again minus all the garlic to better give a review of what their pizza flavored pizza tastes like.
(3)
Darren P.
Great patio and dinner spot (among very slim pickens in west Austin) for a family with young kids when you eat outside. Excellent wine selection but the entree menu could use a little more diversity. I recommend it for an easy option after a long day at work.
(4)
Benjamin C.
A nice gem in Westlake. Pizza and Pastas are really good. The wine flights are a great way to try several wines. They provide descriptions of each wine in the flight. The atmosphere outdoors is great on a nice afternoon. Great place to go for an early happy hour. A couple of wine flights and small plates and you'll be set.
(4)
Kristin S.
Yay! I loved it. I met a friend there for lunch today at her request; she is a regular customer and has exclusive tastes, so I trust her judgment. I had the crab cake salad, which was perfect. The crab cake was chock-full of crab with a light breaded crust, and the champagne vinaigrette had a tiny tang that went well with the crab. The service was attentive and sincere, and the patio clean and wonderful on day like this. I'm thinking date night there next week would be perfect.
(4)
Christophe B.
Besides the fantastic wine selection and the great terrace, their menu is something amazing for all the gluten and wheat allergic people out there. All the pasta and pizzas are available in rice flour. We were all able to enjoy the wine and dinner. This Grove is an absolute great place.
(5)
A N.
The good The food is super delicious and they have great selection of wines. The bad: Our waiter was negligent, inattentive, and downright apathetic about our experience. We were not offered silverware or napkins and had to wait a solid 10 minutes after our food came out to receive any. Not once were we offered water refills. When we wanted dessert, and later the check, the waiter was nowhere to be found. Finally, we were seated in the back corner where all the dishes were clanging together as they were being put away when there were plenty of open tables out in the open. In the future I'll probably just get food and a bottle of wine to go, not worth eating sitting down to eat. UPDATED: Matt reached out to me and explained that some new staff members are currently under training. My second visit to the grove was far more pleasant. The food and wine were both still spectacular and our waiter gave us a thorough briefing on their wine flights and appropriate food pairings. He was attentive, friendly, and seemed to genuinely enjoy having us as customers. I definitely recommend the fig, brie, and apple bruschetta.
(5)
Sherry G.
Love the Grove. Cara is an amazing server. I'd love to have her at our table every time we're there.
(5)
Tommy F.
Great location and a very fun place to grab a drink and/or bite to eat.. Ample seating for outdoor dining on a nice night. The past two visits I got the salmon dish which I feel like is a hidden gem. I have never had a salmon dish prepared as well anywhere else. The rice and asparagus with it are always fresh and properly cooked. I know they have a lot of pizza dishes but if you like salmon you can't pass it up. Great selection of wine and the servers are always friendly. Parking can be a little bit hectic on a busy night but there are some spots around back if you can't find something right away.
(4)
Vince A.
Good but a little pricey, I like this spot for a nice glass of wine in the evening. I suggest trying the different flights they have available. These are a great value and the staff is really knowledgeable. This is an elegant spot with a great Austin flair.
(3)
Jill H.
Stay away from the pizza!!! Soggy, bloppy, mess. Have NEVER had a good pizza here. Everything else is good. Nice modern decor, great patio. Great wine list, mediocre beer list.
(3)
Minnie E.
I've hearing about this little place. I love the ambience. The patio is awesome with the huge trees and the chairs are comfy. The service is a-ok. I split the bruschetta and the jerk chicken pasta. It was fantastic. I also did the salad and slice of pizza special. It was alright, nothing spectacular. I'd go back again maybe for dinner, I didn't get to try any wine. As Arnold says....I'll be back!
(4)
Jennifer G.
After I wrote my first review, I was contacted by one of the owners apologizing for the mussels. He asked me to give the Grove another try so I rounded up my 6 girlfriends and back we went! I arrived a bit early with one of my friends and the place was packed! It was a cold night so no one wanted to be outside. We stood in the bar area slightly overwhelmed and not knowing what to do when one of the bartenders came from behind the bar and made sure that everyone in the area was able to order a glass of wine. My friend and I were completely impressed by the service. Our entire party arrived and we moved back to the coffee shop area and sat in a big booth in the back corner. We all ordered more wine, mussels, bruscetta, and the spinach pizza. I am still dreaming about the pizza...mmm! The food was lovely and the service was top notch. We were never looking for the servers to refill a wine glass - they were on it! I really love The Grove because it has the trifecta of what makes a good restaurant - great service, food and ambiance! The people of the Grove are passionate and care about the restaurant which shines through to anyone who visits!
(5)
Joe V.
I called and asked for a reservation. They don't take reservations for parties less than 6, and for any time past 6:30. Weak. In a city this busy, it's nice to be able to reserve a table vs. wait, wait, wait. I've run across several places like this and it's just bad business.
(1)
Jacob M.
The pizza was good but my friend was served some sushi (tuna) that was dark brown in color. We mentioned we had never had sushi this color (including at Uchi, Mushashino, etc) before and that it seemed off. The cook came out and says that it was normal (normal but apparently not seen like that ANYWHERE else). It smelled funny and the lil tastes we tried tasted bad. B. A. D. We left it alone and did not eat it as we (my table) agreed it was either old, bad, or a big risk to eat. No reparations or a send back were offered by the staff or the chef which is a minus in my book as they could have offered an alternative at the very least. Looks like they were trying to pawn off old fish on us.
(3)
Hayley G.
Yay, I'm definitely a fan! Everything I've ordered here has been really delicious, as have the wines and the wine flights. And, of course, the only other place in the running for Best Trees To Eat Under In Austin is probably Shady Grove. The Fettuccine with Prosciutto & Mushrooms (yum)! The bruschettas (yum)! The crab cake salad (yum)! The Third Coast Linguine blows Enoteca Vespaio's similar dish right out of the water (double yum)! By the way, at Vespaio, the dish (seafood arrabiata) is ridiculously greasy. Parking, as with my Lola Savannah review, is very tight, particularly at lunch on weekdays. Just don't even try. Why they made so many compact car spots when 95% of the people who come here drive pickups or SUV's is beyond me.
(4)
Bryan M.
Went on a Sat., for lunch. Popular, but no wait. Good natured service staff. Food was good. Menu is limited to pizza (surprise), pasta, salads, a few sandwhiches, and a really good Kobe burger. Indoor and outdoor seating. Casual.
(4)
Sam Y.
This place was a good find. It's hard to get quality Italian food anywhere in town. You have your chain places like Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill. But if you are looking for a step, up from that, it's hard to find. Enter The Grove. The food choices are great. We've been twice and had the crab cakes both times. These are probably one of the best crab cakes I've ever had. They are made with fresh crab meat. Nothing fishy tasting about them. Chunks of crab meat. They also have a great crisp on the outside. The salad is nutty in flavor, and the sauce is a little thousand-islandish, but all complement each other. We've also had the bolognese, prosciutto and mushrooms, third coast linguine. The bad thing about the food is that it is heavy. Buttery, oily.. they have great flavors and the pasta is al dente. But it just feels heavy. There's also a great wine selection. And the flights are reasonably price. The bad part is definitely the service. Both times we went around 11:30am. Hardly anyone in the restaurant. Maybe just 1 or 2 tables. So you would expect to be seated immediately. Noooooo. First, all the wait staff and hostesses are just walking around aimlessly. They make you wait a few mins until they finally approach you. You ask for a table, then they take another 5 mins trying to find you a table. THE WHOLE PLACE IS EMPTY!!! You can seat us anywhere!! Then when you sit down, it takes another 5 mins for the waiter/waitress to come up and take your order. So bizarre...I can't imagine what this place looks like when it's actually busy! They are expanding right next door, so it seems like business is good..
(3)
Aimee B.
This place is all about deck. It's not the biggest deck I have seen, but definitely an above average deck. I have experienced many a deck in my day, and I would have to say that I wouldn't mind sitting on this deck again....ok, enough with the deck jokes. It's a great lunch spot for those of us not "cool" enough to work downtown. I have had the pizza (I recommend the Sausage Gone Wild), The Granite House salad, and the Seared Ahi tuna salad. All were great. Was it the best pizza or salad I have ever had? No, but it was definitely above average, and with the nice patio, i could definitely chill out here for an after work happy hour or something.
(4)
Chas E.
I like both the wine and food at this place. Great pizza. Decent wine choices. All that and views of the best plastic surgery Westlake has to offer. Kidding of course, but it does seem like this place is very popular with the Range Rover set. Pros: good wine selection, pizza, love the patio! The bar seating is handy for a quick lunch too. Cons: The wine pours always seem a little skimpy. Come on - fill 'er up. Gets pricey pretty quick.
(3)
Kevin K.
i just went here yesterday and the place was awesome!! They have a HUGE wine menu and food was very good. My friends told me about this place and said the wine selection is AMAZING but they said the food was just average... i have to agree with the wine part and STRONGLY disagree with the food comment... FOOD was awesome. I had the Reed's salad and a pizza- not just good- but GOOOOOD. As if the food and drank weren't good enough- the service was top notch!! The hostess was sweet- and our waitress was so sweet and funny- like a bangel!! She was very knowledgeable about the menu and VERY knowlegeable about the wine menu, yes MENU- not a winelist here. I would def go back here and plan to in the very near future... good job Grove and thanks Adrienne... you were wonderful.
(5)
Alex L.
I loved the place before, and was only a bit tired of the menu, but they listened and added a lot of great dishes. The wine list is intimidating, but the wait staff never make you feel like a wine moron- they don't blink if you screw up and ask what their "house red" is. They always gracefully suggest a good red or white, pronounce it properly, tell you abit about what type of grape it is made from- all without boring you to death. Fav food standbys still taste good: the Granite salad- make sure to ask for extra dressing on the side- sometimes they can be a bit skimpy with this fantastic dressing. The Calamari- it's some of the best I've tasted- in fact I now go around testing other restaurants to see how good their Calamari is and the base line continues to be their awesome appetizer. NOTE TO FEMALES: If you are trying to impress a guy by not eating, DON"T order this dish- I inhale mine every time, exhibiting a scary lack of restraint and general overall selfishness. I simply don't care if his mouth doesn't chew the tasty, crispy morsels fast enough. It's a squid eat squid world out there. The Pizzas- they continue to be good, and judging by the number of them flying out of the kitchen, other patrons agree too. My question to Reed: when are you going to listen to the collective plight of us sad Westlakers, tired of Papa John's, and open a takeout pizza stand? You could totally run it out of Lola Savannah and clean up. Don't even get me started on offering home delivery- Again, I don't understand why you don't want to fill a gap so clearly crying out to be filled.....
(5)
A M.
Nice atmosphere..mostly professionals. Great wine collection. No dedicated parking. Nice outdoor patio among tall trees.
(4)
Andrea S.
The flights they offer are amazing. The porch with the lit tree is gorgeous. A wonderful place to spend some time with friends!
(4)
Steve K.
Like the flights of wine with great food.
(5)
Scott B.
Crispy Brussel Sprouts are the best I have had!!!
(4)
DeLea B.
This is a great place for Happy Hour! Order some Bruschetta, you get to pick 3 different selections. The Artisan Cheese Plate is great too for munching. For a meal you can not go wrong with the Popeye and Olive Oil WITH Bacon. I always enjoy getting a flight of Champagne (3 glasses for $12). Great Deck for those beautiful Austin Days and plenty of people watching. (Note: people will be people watching you too). A lovely treasure of a place West of Downtown!
(5)
Isabella G.
I love their outside seating area, but there was construction in the adjoining lot when we were there. The food is fresh and they have many healthy options. Lots of wine options...hence the name. Dessert was lacking, but I'd eat there often for the ambiance and the wonderful menu options. The wait and host staff could use a smile on their face.
(4)
Robert W.
A friend and I recently experienced a very negative service-related issue at The Grove. The issue was severe enough to where my friend and I, both regular patrons, swore we would never return. I later shared our experience with Matt, the Grove's managing partner. Let me say that I have rarely experienced the level of good will and genuine concern that Matt showed when he became aware of our problem. An important measure of a restaurant's prosperity and success is not limited to the quality of the food it serves; it is also measured by the quality of its managment and how it deals with problems when they inevitably occur. Matt could have easily written off our complaint or paid us lip service but instead he chose to engage us in a very personal dialogue on problem-solving and worked to find out the root cause of our issue and a resolution. Most importantly, he turned a big negative into a profound positive and gained some very loyal customers in the process. Thank you Grove, you're a class act!
(5)
Lauren B.
I met someone here for coffee and a bite to eat after work and found the environment to be really welcoming. We sat in the bar area and ordered lattes and the Moroccan sampler - both delicious. It was storming terribly the day we were here, so I can only hope to return soon to partake more in the 'grove' atmosphere and try some of the wine and main dishes. The atmosphere alone though has me wanting to come back for more.
(4)
Caroline B.
I absolutely love this place! This is one of my absolute all-time favorite restaurants in Austin. I read someone else's review that said they "had to sweat through their dinner on the patio with no fan or mister" and I decided I had to write a review. That must have been when they first opened up and hadn't installed their trademark "Big Ass Fan" that covers half the deck. The deck (which is the only place I EVER sit at the grove) sits amongst the most beautiful and humongous tree. It is so peaceful and I love the atmosphere at the Grove. They have an exquisite wine list and the menu is to die for! They are so well priced for how fabulous their food is. For what you get the price seems super cheap! Everything about this place is fabulous! This is where I choose to come every date night or birthday dinner! LOVE LOVE LOVE the grove! And the waiters/waitresses are so helpful and so nice - they can really help you pick the perfect wine if you are unsure, picky (like me) or just want to try something new but don't know what you want! AND DEFINITELY get the "Miles of Chocolate" dessert! I recommend any of the pastas and any of the pizzas - no place in town does pasta like this place! ENJOY!
(5)
Marty B.
A faux California-Italio modern bistro. Super fans of the Grove thrive in the Noveau riche West Austin lifestyle. A pulsing mass of big city expats and retail-minded local blue bloods can soak it all in here. Aeropostale for adults. Overpriced with tepid service and deep yearning to be something that Austin ain't. Actually, the deck is incredible. Maybe you should go.
(2)
nick h.
For some weird reason, that we don't necessarily need to go into here, I found myself in Bee Cave the other day with some time to kill. It was suggested to me to "go have a glass of wine" at the Grove while i had to wait. Cool...i can drink wine. I decided to walk over and as i entered i only felt moderately awkward in my urban camo shorts and Life is Good shirt. So i bellied up to the wine bar next to a "suit" on his iPhone all into a business conversation. I laughed inside as for me personally...i leave work outside the bar...even in Bee Cave. But that's cool. I Chose a 2008 Viva Lobos "Felino" Malbec. Nicely and adequately poured...i sipped and enjoyed this Argentinian wine with pleasure as i looked over the Grove. I decided, since busy body had to leave, i would go sit out on the nice Oak shaded patio where most of the other patrons had gathered. 2008 Benaza Godello was up next suggested by the great waiter Daniel who was so friendly and helpful. I got 1 sip out of this tender wine before a gust of wind blew the menu up and across my wine glass and partially down my lap and onto the deck. Great...as folks tried to hide their laughter at my expense. So i jumped up and laughed at myself and wiped 10$ worth of wine off my pants. Daniel was gracious and brought my a new glass at no cost. Thanks bud. I ended my Bee Cave experience with one last glass of a 2008 Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina...I managed not to make a spectacle out of this one and simply enjoyed it. So ended my rare Bee Cave afternoon at the Grove. Other than the unwelcome wind, i enjoyed it enough to want to venture back some day for more...and more.
(4)
Nisha S.
Went here for two brunches with a large bachelorette party. Ambiance lovely, food was pretty good and service incredible for such a large party. This New Yorker after a weekend in Austin is convinced the people in TX got it right (right pace, right attitude, all around great!)
(4)
Robert S.
Since we were all lushes at work, my bosses decided it would be a good idea to go have alcohol with our lunch. I agreed. So here we were. Really nice inside. We would have sat outside if it didn't mean being scorched by the sun that day. My bosses created their own pizzas, ordered paninis and soups and pastas. I ordered a panini with prosciutto, but I don't think they serve it anymore (which is a shame - since it was really good). It came with homemade potato chips, which were a bit on the hard/tough side. On top of that, the wine selection is good. Hence our ensuing giggliness.
(4)
Brian J.
Salty, uninspired food coupled with a RUDE hostess makes for me officially boycotting this place.
(1)
Kamilla K.
The area outside is beautiful, and they've got fans to keep you cool on a typical Texas day.However, nothing I've ever tasted here has been out of the ordinary. The soups are usually too thick and not warm enough, the salads have some strange dressing that ruins the entire flavor, and the rest of it is just mediocre. Sadly, it's actually one of the better options in Westlake, however.
(2)
Debby W.
Great outdoor seating, fun indoor seating, nice bar. Parking at lunch is a challenge and the Valet is only ok. The hostess was not very frienldy or helpful, but the wait staff was great. Food is amazing! Great wine selection and worth it!
(4)
Jessica H.
A friend of my dads took me to The Grove for the first time last night. We decided to sit outside with the live oak tree. It was a great atmosphere. We ordered the crab cake, the ceviche, and a mixed bruchetta to start off with. The crab cake was one of the best I've ever had. Very little filler, lots of delicious crab. The ceviche had an amazing flavor. Very fresh, wish it was a little spicier, but great proportions. The bruchetta was a choice of three from like 6 and we picked the fig, the salmon, and the mozzarella. All three were fantastic. The salmon was out of this world. The fig had this really great flavor that I'd never had before. It was almost like dessert. For my entree I had the Seared Tuna Salad. Very fresh, perfectly seared. I'm glad my server warned me that the dressing on the side was ponzu instead of dressing. That would have been a big mistake. Overall the service was a bit rushed, but they were very busy. Server was a little pushy to get our orders, but I do understand. I would like to go back and do a wine flight soon! My big problem was how far south it was. If it were located closer to town I would probably go here a lot more.
(4)
Doris V.
I enjoyed my lunch here today. The service was a little slow. We chose to sit in the bar in order to avoid a wait. Our server did recommend a good bottle of wine. I tried the BLT and subbed the fries for a side salad. The BLT was tasty. Overall, my dining experience was decent. I would try this place again if I'm in the West Lake area.
(3)
Ryan S.
Another yelper and I took upon ourselves to visit the Grove tonight, and I believe we both enjoyed it. I know I did, at any rate. They've been open for about two weeks so far, and hopefully will stick around for a while. Sitting at the end of a small strip mall, The Grove is a classy-looking wine bar. There's a patio outside, the front third of the interior is set aside for the bar, and the balance is tables. A simple looking but respectable menu contains appetizers to match wines, salads, some entrees, and pizzas. The wine menu is extensive for bottles with a page devoted to by the glass and ten pre-selected flights to sample from. Some of the text hints at a playfulness that belies its location and potential clientele. We sat up at the bar, enjoyed a couple flights and several glasses, a couple appetizers, and a pizza ("Sausage gone wild"). Wines were good, pizza was quite good, and the apps were excellent. "Wine's BFF" was a cheese selection with a fig chutney and crostinis. The patio looks like it would be a nice place for an evening date, or to hang out and enjoy a bottle with friends. A steady stream of people came and went while we imbibed. The waitress was pleasant and helpful, and found out anything we asked of her, but was not as well-versed on some parts of the menu and wines as I would have hoped. The manager visited to refill our water glasses at one point and to check if we needed anything. It nice that he was cognizant enough to notice she was busy with a large table and took a moment to follow up with her section. I'd go back. I'd take a date here. I'd even take my parents here. Heck I might just go alone and get a glass of wine and a pizza one night when I feel like it. Not too frequently, but I am entertaining the thought. -- updated... I've been here...somewhere near ten times now. This proves two things. One, I like going here. Two, I'm in denial about how much I appreciate my liver. Full disclosure: I am familiar with a pair of investors.
(5)
Amanda M.
Very cute place with a great menu. The curried butternut squash soup was really good, although I wish it cost a little bit less. They seemed a bit disorganized--after I finished my soup another person brought out a second cup of soup for me (no thanks) and then they accidentally upgraded my pizza to a large when I ordered a medium (no charge). I got some extra pizza out of the deal, so that was a good thing. The service was a bit slow towards the end, but our guy had an 8-top that he was trying to get situated so I was somewhat understanding. As he was boxing up my pizza he started pushing the edges of my pizza into the box and I inadvertently blurted out "stop touching my pizza!" I wasn't yelling at him, it was more of a plea--I think I was just alarmed that he was touching my food. He was really just trying to be helpful...still, next time I think I'll box my own leftovers. I think I'm just a litte high maintenance today (It's not you that's not making the relationship work, it's me...) and the food and atmosphere are great, so I will definitely try it again and would certainly recommend checking it out.
(3)
Jessica S.
How exciting to realize that the Grove is basically in my back yard. It, along with the rest of the strip mall it is in, hasn't been around long. Heck, I remember when it was an open field. You can imagine my delight to find out this place is so close, and so good. Oh, and with wine! (the best part!) The hostess left something lacking in several regards. She seemed really out of it when we walked in. She hardly smiled and seemed thrown off that we chose to sit in the bar. Our waitress was much more appropriately dressed and much more friendly. I, too, wish she knew more about the wines, but I appreciated her honesty with not knowing and quickly found out answers. The place filled up quickly (yay!). I overheard one woman say it was already her second time here in a week, and I know there are already regulars. I really hope this place makes it! The brushetta trio was good. Good to share with one other person. There were approx. 8 in a list, to select three. There were 11 wine flights from which to choose. We enjoyed several glasses of wine. Still wanting more, I ordered the Curried Butternut Squash Soup. I know how much of a pain that is to make, so I gladly indulged. My friend called it a "paste," though, which was fitting, as it was too thick. Delicious, but a tad too thick. Yes, yes, you wine-drinkers, you need to try this place! And although i wouldn't take children there, there were several kids in the place, including a 5 year old at the bar, sitting between mom and dad, happily eating dessert.
(5)
Richard M.
I have a new favorite for happy hour. I met some friends at the Grove last night for drinks and a quick bite after work. The place was buzzing with activity and had a great vibe. Despite plans for a good glass of wine, I ended up opting for a pint of Widmer Hefewizen instead. On a hot day, the siren song of a cold pint of that summer beer from my youth in Oregon was too tempting. It turned out to be the perfect complement to the small plate food we ordered. The mussels are great. When they arrived, I reflected on how I haven't had a regular place to get mussels since Mezzaluna closed several years ago and someone informed me The Grove is run by the same owner. I love when fate smiles.
(5)
Kasey S.
Me and a friend "took flight" here two nights ago with wine flights and dinner. We had an amazing experience here with impeccable service. Our server, Abby, was one of the most attentive without being bothersome, I've had to date. I started with the Argentine Wine Flight which was composed of 3 different Malbecs all from Mendoza, Argentina. For appetizers we had the bruschetta - wherein you pick 3 different types. We chose the original with mozzerella, sausage, and a salmon and capers (very bagel and lox). Overall the original was by far the best and the salmon was the worst. For dinner I had the Penne with Spinach and House Cured tomatoes with fresh mozzarella. I opted for no meat since I had already eaten a hefty amount of bruschetta and wine. The atmosphere here is fantastic. Even though it's in a strip mall the outdoor patio is beautiful. However, we were inundated with flies attacking us quite frequently. It got to be quite irritating. My friend was saying they ought to get a bug zapper and I said that even if they wanted to cheap out they could at least get some fly paper. This is the reason I didn't give the grove 5 stars :\ I would definitely come back but definitely bring a fly swatter!
(4)
Kathy M.
Third time having a meal at The Grove. I love the Miso-Hi salmon salad. The dressing is out of this world! My husband had an Asian salad, which he loved. However, we both had intestinal distress within an hour of eating there today! I'd go back and try something else, but I do wonder why both of us wound up getting ill. Perhaps it had something to do with the lettuce leaves used? I've never been able to get a seat outside because it's always full, so I will try again and hope to get a seat outside. This time, I hope the experience is a more healthy one! Then I would boost my stars here....
(3)
Kitty M.
Been several times. So-so food, but very convenient to grab a drink. On Dec. 31, during the day apparently they were short on help. Fine with waiting; however, the hostess wouldn't let us just go to the bar to grab drinks then go sit outside. The patio nor dining room were crowded, and the bar was practically empty. We waited at least 10 minutes while the hostess ran around never acknowledging what was happening. We left and went downtown to House Wine.
(1)
James F.
First, I have to say the wine bar is peerless. The staff entirely cares that you select a wine that is good for you and that you like it. They aren't pretentious at any level. The prices are very fair and the selection is very impressive. This would be enough reason to make the trip there. The Pizza is also very good. I am a Pizza snob and have high standards for Pizza, and the Pizza at the Grove is very good at a reasonable price. The ingredients seen fresh, the crust is thin but firm, and the pizza is not oily. It is a very refreshing pizza to say the least.
(4)
J C.
I've been here countless times and the food is always superb, served hot and beautifully presented. The wine selection is fantastic as well. I have always had great service except for last night. I arrived at about 9 pm, 2 hours before they close and the waitress was very rude. I have never had a poor experience with servers at The Grove but last night our server was one of the worst I have ever had at any establishment. She forgot to put in one of our orders and did not apologize, was not helpful when we asked for a wine recommendation, rolled her eyes when we wanted to order an entree at 10 pm and was even more annoyed when we asked for dessert. My biggest complained was when my father pronounced "Prosecco" with an Italian accent our waitress corrected him and said it with a Texan slur. Usually things like this would not annoy me but the fact that she was in a terrible mood all night and treated us in a condescending manner was not something I expected from The Grove. My father has stated he will not go back and if I ever see her again I will ask to not be seated in her section. Other than last night I have enjoyed all my experiences at The Grove.
(3)
Erin S.
This is my favorite restaurant in Austin. If my husband asked me to pick where to go for dinner, without any restrictions, I would pick the Grove. The selection of wines by the glass is incomparable. There have to be at least 30-40 to pick from. They have 13 flights to pick from, and they're all interesting and reasonably priced. They have every wine you can buy by the glass available for retail purchase at a 25% discount, which I have taken advantage of on a couple of occasions. The food is the best I've had in Austin. That being said, it's my palate we're talking about. The food is definitely Mediterranean at its foundation and it's fresh, flavorful, and just plain good! Prices aren't too bad at all. Their granite house salad is so good--the citrus vinagrette is excellent and the veggies are fresh. I've had their pizzas which are very good, but my favorite dish is their penne with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. So, so good. We usually like to eat in the bar area because there is a nice big TV showing ESPN, but we've also eaten in the dining room which has been fine. Their outdoor patio is awesome though. It's a multi-level deck with oak trees in the middle and nice lighting. It's so pleasant on a warm summer night. The location is deceiving--it's in one of those new strip malls at the intersection of Bee Caves Rd. and 360, but don't let that fool you. It kind of sucks they're in Westlake. It would be nice if they opened up a location closer into town--maybe downtown or in south Austin? So obviously I'm in love with the Grove. I've eaten there at least a dozen times and it's been consistently great.
(5)
Allison P.
The Grove is one of my mainstays in the neighborhood. For me it's more about location than anything else. I understand both the five star reviews as well as Doryan's "Meh" comment. Like an important family member that you know you'll never cut off it's got its good days and its bad days. And overall there are more things I like about the Grove than I dislike. On the great side: the seared tuna. It's flawless and I've had it many times. The crispy oysters are too yummy to pass up even though I don't do fried food anywhere else. The Love Platter of antipasto is pretty out of this world, too, if you're looking for snacks to munch on with your wine while you talk. The bruschettas are just about perfect, other than one or two of them that are ho-hum. You just have to try them all to find your groove. On the irritable side: the furniture. I don't think I've ever returned to a restaurant that had less comfy seating. I usually move on and stick to those places that care to keep me comfortable while I'm eating. And for the reasons mentioned above I come back anyway. Also be aware that although the dining area is fine, if you want great service don't bother sitting in the bar area to eat. I've had to get my own water and tea refills and otherwise beg the busy bar area waitress for some love. And for me, I'll get up and go behind the bar myself before I let a rude or inattentive waitress ruin my meal. Be aware that the Grove is not a quiet place to chat. It's a noisy, hopping, "see and be seen" kind of neighborhood watering hole that for the local is always at the top of the list for a quick meet. And for this it's perfect. If you want a taste of yum on your way to a flick, or you want a lively place for a first date or business meeting, the Grove can deliver. Even though I may want to scold them occasionally like I do my children, I'll always be back.
(4)
Laura F.
I know there aren't that many great places to eat in Bee Cave- but my mom and I came here the other day and I wasn't really impressed. First of all- how can they not have happy hour at all? What kind of bs is that? So after paying at least $8 a piece for a glass of wine at 5:00 we decided to try the pizza. It was OK but nothing special. I would even venture to say that I could make a better pizza at home. The salad was good, but once again, nothing you couldn't make at home. I say instead of venturing out here just go buy a $10 bottle of wine and cook and you'll have saved a lot of money and had a similar experience with less kids running around. I will say that the atmosphere is nice and I love the trees on the back patio. They need a happy hour and it may be worth coming here.
(3)
judy f.
3 strikes and you are out. My last 3 visits made it clear that the staff does not care much for customer service. orders wrong, forgotten and no one seems to care if half the brisket on the brisket nachos was just large pieces of fat. started out really liking this place but won't be going back.
(2)
melissa c.
what a fun atmosphere! they have amazing wine choices, and great food options. Ive had several different things from here and i liked them all. Adrian was our waitress and she was great too! really informative about the food and the drinks. Totally will go back!
(5)
Doryan R.
Meh, is about right. I mean, I'll be back, likely, because I'm working down the street, and I want to give them another try to be fair. Granted, I like their wine list, and the decor is pretty swanky. I've gotta say though maybe I'd like it better on a spring day outdoors rather than inside on a cold rainy afternoon. The Veltliner is a great white wine. I just feel like the portion for $7 was a little slim. Yes, I know it's a big glass, but I also know how much a full pour in those glasses is. Heck, I've been doing it for years. The Jerk Chicken Pasta was recommended to me. Nice and spicy was the description. And it was spicy. Somehow, it lacked a cohesive flavor, though. The "jerk chicken" really didn't taste very jerked. It just tasted overcooked and dry. The sauce didn't really penetrate the chicken, pasta, or anything else, which leads me to believe it was just tossed together instead of finished in the sauce. Plus, the sauce itself was spicy, but somehow STILL lacked flavor. Adobo cream sauce shouldn't just be spicy. There should also be a nice smokey flavor imparted from a roasted pepper. Like I said, I'll try it out again, likely, but I just wasn't thrilled by the food.
(2)
Alex S.
A month ago I would've reviewed this at 5 stars, but they took the best thing off the menu! Bring back the ahi tuna wrap! Replaced with the ahi burger, it's ok.. but not as good as the wrap.. and you can't cook ahi! Seared is okay, but they cook it to medium/medium rare. The Grove has an awesome outdoor space and their menu is pretty good. Definitely the best place in the area to grab a nice lunch
(4)
Lawrence C.
The Grove is great! I was a bit hesitant as it is essentially in the burbs of Austin (as oppose to cooler spots along S. Congress, Downtown, UT, etc.). The setting is nice. A nice deck and patio off the side and a great interior with plenty of seating and wine. A total of 3 of us went and we ordered the Bruschetta board, Jerk Chicken pasta, and the Sausage Gone Wild Pizza. The Bruschetta board was great since we got to try 3 different kinds. Th Sausage Gone Wild Pizza was fresh and the toppings were plentiful. BUT my favorite dish had to be the Jerk Chicken Pasta. It was a great blend of spicy and saucy that was balanced with a rich creamy sauce. It was a big helping so it easily gave all 3 of us a chance to try it out. I always judge a restaurant's service by how empty my water glass is and I have to say my glass was rarely ever only half full. They were attentive and helpful when choosing the right dishes for a small group. Make sure to check out the Grove if you're ever in the West Lake area!
(4)
hope t.
I've been here for lunch and dinner and had enjoyable experiences both times. Their outside deck area is really nice when the weather calls for outdoor dining. Sitting outside with lights in the big trees, enjoying a glass of wine and good company makes for a good time! The service has always been very attentive. I've enjoyed all the food I've eaten but especially the seared tuna salad. The only troubling thing about going to the Grove is finding a place to park. Just based on this alone, I have chosen NOT to go to the Grove if I don't have time to drive around and around and around to find a parking spot.
(4)
Kurt G.
Three visits- all great. The latest was a Thursday night out to meet a couple we havent seen in a few years. We had much to catch up on and looked forward to talking. We sat inside and were seated promptly even though it was fairly busy. I have sat outside and the patio is a good one, lots of trees, big fan, and lights. Inside is where the big cats eat (cougars if you havent been). We had appetizers and wine and talked for an hour an a half before ordering entrees. Our waiter was attentive and seemed to be interested in fueling our conversation with more wine, water, and lots of "do you need anything looks" (as opposed to the waiter that won't look you in the eye and walks right by you as you try to get his attention). We ordered Halibut Ceviche and it was perfect. Served in a martini glass with avacado layered on top, with handmade thick cut tortilla chips sprinkled with dark smoked salt (kosher salt size). I ordered the Mac and Cheese for an entree. I was curious. I have had the pizzas and they are very good (have no idea where an earlier reviewer gets that the crust is like dominoes). I wanted to compare the mac and cheese to Moonshine, almost as good. It is large curly peices of pasta with bacon on top and then baked so that the parmesan on top crusts up. The people watching is always good (older women chasing younger guys, younger women chasing older guys, older guys chasing anything that smiles). Inside is a little loud for catching up with old friends but we powered through it. Some dont like the Westlake location but since we live in a little peice of Travis County sandwiched between Westlake and Rollingwood, its close to home. We ran into two different couples we knew that stopped by our table to say hello. I recommend it not as the ultimate dinner out but a good lively place to eat drink and be glad your married.
(4)
Hope W.
I was expecting more when I went to The Grove. There was a restaurant in Phoenix that I loved and was looking for something similar. The Grove had a similar menu but the food was not up to par. I shared the bruschetta and a pizza with someone and was highly disappointed. Neither had any flavor. I most likely will not be back.
(2)
Catherine R.
The food earns at least two stars, and the restaurant itself earns one more, but the staff scores a goose egg. When we entered on a Sunday afternoon, we waited at the hostess stand for a bit before the hostess sauntered over without making eye contact. She stood, looking down at whatever important info was on the podium, and after about 10 seconds muttered "hi" without ever looking up. Not sure if she was talking to us, we uttered "hi" feebly. "Two?" She finally looked up (so she could count how many pesky humanoids were filling her space). We were escorted to a crappy table (the place was maybe 1/4 full), and we asked if we could have another table. No answer, but more sauntering over to the desired table. The perky waiter showed up after a bit, but acted shocked - SHOCKED! that we didn't order wine. Baaaad start! We asked for a second plate so we could share a pizza, but that was too much information for him to process. Instead of eating cold pizza, we improvised. The food was delightful, as it has been the few times we've visited before, but the waitstaff needs to act like we're not interrupting their party with a loud expulsion of colonic gases.
(3)
Carla S.
Can these people do pizza or what??? (ohhh, they can do it!!!) I have been here twice now for Greenling Wine Tasting events and yummy, yum, yum. I think I've had at least four of the pizzas now. Maybe 5. Top Shelf , Meat Lover's Mother Load, Sausage Gone Wild (makes me giggle, because I'm immature like that), and Popeye and Olive Oil. These I know I've had for certain. I'd say it's a safe bet that they do all their pizzas well. I know I had some of their appetizers before, but I don't remember specifically what they were so I can't give a helpful opinion other than to say I remember they were fab-o!! They have a special bar/lounge area that we are in when it's for the wine tasting. If you are in this room, look up!! The ceiling is burlap coffee bags from all around. Also look down as I witnessed someone fall not seeing there was a step up for the back benches. If you fall around me I'll laugh, so look down and step up. I need to come back here and sample more of their delights. I cannot wait.
(4)
Amanda T.
My mother came into town for a little spa weekend at Barton Creek Resort. We asked the concierge for her suggestion for a casual dinner place that had outdoor seating. We met one of my friends there for dinner. I knew this place had to be good since it was packed on a Monday night! We were able to get seating outside on the back deck. Let me say, I love the patio. It has a wonderful large tree that covers the entire patio area and provides the much needed shade. They also have a string of lights that gives the deck a relaxed ambiance - perfect for a lazy summer day. The waiter was very attentive and patient with my sister's 100 questions about the menu. There was even a dog sitting with his owners! Normally, I would say that's so cute and Austiny except for the fact that he was a shedder and you could see his white fur flying around his vicinity. Even the waiter made a comment about it and told us not to worry because they had just paid their check and was about to leave. They have quite an extensive wine menu - there is definitely a reason that "wine bar" comes before "kitchen" in the name. Everybody at the table really enjoyed their food. My friend and I both got the spinach salad. I had some of my mother's penne with spinach and house cured tomatoes. The sauce was very tasty (a little too salty for my taste) and the tomatoes were oh-so-good. My sister got a medium "top shelf pizza." She said that she could tell that the ingredients were very fresh and the dough was very good (not too flat, yet not too doughy).
(4)
Jennifer S.
I absolutely LOVE The Grove! I go at least once or twice a month for wine and sometimes a meal. The bruschetta is something to rave about, get the tomato and mozzarella, it is the BEST! The Grove has amazing flights and great wines you won't find anywhere else. There is a great tree and deck in the back that is just amazing for sitting and laughing and sipping :-)
(5)
Monique W.
Service was excellent, very attentive and friendly. Wide selection of food, great prices, large portions, fresh and yummy! The mussels are to die for, I will be going here again (and again and again)! Not to mention they have a great wine list, that's the cherry on top :)
(5)
John R.
What's not to like, nice wine selection, wonderful deck, great seafood pasta dish, friendly people, and great wait staff. Friday night dinner with family? Late weeknight dinner? Grove is hard to beat!
(4)
Shari W.
Great food and environment. My husband and 2 daughters went for the first time tonight and even though we had a few rain rops as we dined outside in the patio, they immediately moved us under the porch and we were dry. We started with 2 small plates of the Moroccan Platter and the Hawaiian Poke which both were delicious. We shared a cuban sandwich and a medium Popeye and Olive Oil pizza and the entrees were just as tasty!!!! We are from Houston but come to Austin frequently and will DEFINITELY add this restaurant to our rotation of wonderful Austin restaurants to dine!!!!
(5)
Karon W.
Certainly an awesome patio and most certainly awesome food. We had the The Grove Crispy Oyster appetizer and Popeye & Olive Oil Pizza and Beth's Berry Salad that was absolutely great. This place is a keeper for sure and no doubt will be back. Good wine selection with wines that don't cost a fortune.
(5)
Lindsay B.
Went here with the client for lunch. Service was so-so, but the meal was tasty and well portioned. I'm happy we found a new place to add to the lunch options when we go out for the audit again!
(3)
Jennifer T.
Went here after work for happy hour. We all had wine flights and split several brushchetta apppetizers and a pizza. Appys and pizza were good. Wine was great. Really liked this place but the hostess was uber snooty, refused to seat our party until everyone showed up (even though we early arrivals knew our total number). The patio here is gorgeous, with fans and a gigantic live oak tree. I don't know why they call this place a cougar den, I liked it and plan to go back when the weather is nice to enjoy the patio.
(4)
James S.
I eat at the Grove too often. Even when I set out to go elsewhere, I end up there a lot. Reasons: 1. The vibe: it's one of those Austin kind of places not really found elsewhere: fun, casual, lots of outdoor seating (on a kick ass deck under a grove of old oaks trees, no less), and really good food. Although it is an almost elegant setting out under the trees, you'll sometimes see a customer who brought their dog and the servers quickly appear with a water bowl. Nice folks work there and it shows. The lovely outdoor space always impresses the out of towners and customers I take here. 2. Food: consistently high quality, interesting food. The Grove has something that literally everyone I go out to eat with likes, a lot. Example: one of my best customers only eats "gluten free." Big problem many places. No problem at the Grove, which has gluten free pastas and pizza crusts and more. My wife likes big salads; the Grove delivers with ahi tuna, salmon, crab cake, shrimp steak or chicken over a variety of interesting salads (my favorite: salmon seared medium rare over the Reed's Salad; second choice: steak with smoked gouda cheese on a big bed of mixed greens). The Asian salad is well done too. You can mix and match, ask for a different meat on any salad, and they're all good. There are several pasta choices. I am hooked on the bolognese sauce, which I order on farfalle instead of the spaghetti the menu states, a substitution they are happy to do. Appetizers, bruchettas, pizzas and soups are good too... The menu changes seasonally and the new rock shrimp fritters are rocking good. So is the tomato shrimp bisque and the Thai-inspired lemongrass coconut soup. My mom likes the melon gazpacho, lady-food but excellent. So, who is this place best for? Well, kids like it (excellent pizzas and pastas, or tenderloin sliders); grown ups on dates like it (wine flights? great seafood choices like the sea bass in an Asian broth, or the Scottish salmon); my past-80 parents like it... Even that boring client who only wants a steak can get an excellent pepper-crusted tenderloin here (served with vegetables and an excellent bourbon sauce). So, just about everyone. Who wouldn't like it? Only the stuffiest of stuffed shirts (Dallas refugees perhaps? OK that's not all fair, but SOME Dallas types) may find it to lack white table cloth formality. But they'll like the food. 3. The wine: labels you will not see at HEB, Specs or Twin Liquors -- really interesting bottles from Italy, France, Spain, Argentina, Chile, even Portugal and Brazil, along with California wines. Good prices (And I am el-cheapo). You can take bottles home at a 25% discount off the dine-in price. Some people buy a case. The wine buyers hold tastings every week and since they sell so much wine, they get bum-rushed by the wine reps. They know how to pick 'em, with an emphasis on affordable bottles, and the selection is always changing. The servers know their stuff and are great at helping you pick wines. LOTS of by-the-glass selections. Cold beers too. Good choices on draft like Fireman's Four, Thirsty Goat and a nice Belgian beer too. But scotch drinkers be aware: No hard liquor here. 4. The people who work there make it a pleasure to visit. They make great suggestions and know which wines go best with the dishes you order. You can eat at the bar where Benny (the bartender with some grey hair) works. He's an exceptional bartender and a great wine resource. 5. A different space for every taste: outdoors (my choice); the bar area is also nice; inside dining room for some (not for me); the BIG wine table where groups of 6 to 10 can eat around a large table surrounded by the wine racks, and there are tables and another long bar next door at Lola Savannah, the coffee shop that is connected and a part of the restaurant. I don't drink much coffee, but Lola is well-regarded by the non-Starbucks-coffee-drink crowd. They have breakfast tacos and pastries in the mornings. Free wifi everywhere, including on the large deck. There is free valet parking when the lot gets crowded. This place is on Bee Caves, just outside Loop 360, on the left before you get to County Line on the right. Not a bad drive from most of Austin and well worth it.
(5)
sherry c.
Great Wine Bar & Restaurant! A godsend for the hinterland suburbs! Located southwest of the Loop 360 and Bee Caves intersection, tucked into a small strip mall, this new wine and Italian restaurant is a jewel. Tasty food, great wine selection, and a friendly, upscale environment - The Grove provides an elegant yet casual interior and a tree shaded patio insulated from traffic by the sounds of a wall fountain. A friend and I checked out the new scene on a Wednesday night. Actually this was my second attempt, my family and another (with three 4yr olds) went last Friday around 6:30pm and it was packed - with a party of 40 reserving the patio, we didn't wait. The following Wednesday night was much better, our party of two was seated quickly, although by 7pm the place was full. Perhaps an indicator of the lack of upscale eating/drinking venues in the area! Did I mention that the ambiance is grown-up, elegant, and even flirty! This mommy was thrilled to have a nice place close to the casa! In addition to a dining area, and small bar, I noted two large community tables with some very happy people flirting and laughing with each other. A great way to meet new people I'm sure! Most of the crowd were well dressed older- than-30s professionals. The new Austin Architecture look prevailed - clean modern lines, concrete floors, softened by subtly colored walls and warm lighting, all made for an inviting and classy interior. I was afraid it was going to be LOUD, but found the noise level pleasantly lively and at our table my friend and I could easily talk and didn't have to strain to hear each other. The service was friendly and professional. I didn't count, but the wine list is extensive with reportedly 100-250 selections. I had a very nice 2003 Conde De Valdemar, Crianz Riojo $8 (so good I had 3 glasses!). For those who care, the wine is served in over sized wine glasses - great for sniffing and swirling, and sloshing if you aren't careful! Prices were reasonable with wine available by the glass, bottle and flights (and also cases!! Kind of odd, but I read that some where). The mediterranean/Italian menu offers appetizers, pastas, pizza, and salads. The crostinni appetizers were excellent as was the Cesar salad - fresh and just the right amount of dressing. Watching our waistlines, we split a dish of fettuccine with prosciutto, portabellas, and peas. Unfortunately the noodles were a bit heavy and thick and the dish not as good as at the owners previous restaurant - the Mezaluna, but my friend liked it a lot and one serving was plenty for two. Dessert was an excellent rum cake (something new for an Austin menu)- very rummy with crystallized sugar, pecans and whipped cream. Really good, almost as good as my mom's! Overall, a fun, relaxing evening. We will definitely visit again!. I didn't bring my 4 1/2 yr old son this time, but with good behavior & an early eating time kids how like to eat should do fine (no special menus for kids, nor did I note high chairs). Come moderate weather, I expect the patio will be particularly fine for kids.
(4)
Rick P.
A definite must go to. I stopped in for lunch on an uncharacteristic day that found me out on Bee Caves, west of 360. In a newly developed strip center, you'll see they have a great deck nestled within the oak trees... I had the seared tuna appetizer and a grilled chicken caesar salad, both were excellent. Not necessarily brave choices, but when folks do the simple things right you know you'll return again & again. It's not surprising that the food here is great, the same folks owned and built the Bitter End & Mezzaluna. Looks great for any occasion, date night or out with friends for lunch or dinner. The Grove is here to stay for a long time I'm sure-
(5)
Jeremy K.
5 stars for wine selection, ambience and layout; -2 stars for the spaghetti sauce. Really cool outdoor patio area, and good staff and wine selection. If you're looking for a place to sit outside and drink wine, this is a phenomenal place. However, I also ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, which the waiter described as "VERY good" -- but it was inexcusably bad. The meatballs were OK, but the sauce was inedible. It tasted like tomato sauce from a can of spaghetti-o's. Very little flavor, just plain tomatoes and barely even a taste of herbs or anything. I hope for the chef's sake that the sauce is not made on premise! The friend I was there with had a different pasta with a cream sauce and chicken that was decent if not especially noteworthy. I'll definitely go back, and will give their food another shot, but the spaghetti is an avoid-at-all-costs type of dish.
(3)
exploring f.
Favourite place to get chocolate bread pudding in austin... Nice casual place to go for dinners, like the ambience; even has a nicely lit patio. The food is good, but not that exceptional or different then other places in town.
(4)
Hank S.
Awesome restaurant. It takes a lot of for restaurants to be successful in Westlake, and The Grove doesn't disappoint. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and made awesome recommendations. I had the crab cake salad, it was delicious. Atmosphere was great. Highly recommend.
(5)
J B.
One of my all time favorite places to hand out, drink, eat and be merry. Great ambiance and delicious food mixed with great staff.
(5)
Ashley M.
Sorry not impressed! It's a great concept and sitting outside is really the only thing I feel the Grove has going for it. Their pizza is average (I eat a lot of pizza) and I'd honestly rather go pick up a pie from Homeslice and buy my own wine at Whole Foods and eat it outside somewhere in the park. The service was a little iffy and there are flies everywhere outside! The Grove IS good for a first date type of night, or just to try something new, but it's not going to become a seasoned favorite.
(2)
carla c.
Update: Since my diet has been upended by the holiday binge season, today I had a glass of champagne and the Avocado BLT panini. It was perfect. I'm a fan of hot pressed sandwiches, but this one was as good as they come. There was of course, the bacon, avocado, teardrop tomatoes that had been tossed in something olive oily and herby, and the whole sandwich was dressed with some kind of aioli. Yum. Friday was fried chicken special day, and I saw a plate pass by on its way to another table. It was atop mashed potatoes and covered in cream gravy, and looked amazing. The pizzas looked really great too. Can't wait to go back when it is warmer and eat on that amazing patio.
(5)
jane t.
Favorite lunch spot - love to see how the seasons change when you sit outside under the tree with the massive fan. I come here at least once a week, the service is relaxed and the wine list is fantastic.
(4)
Chery H.
Great place to go for a glass of wine because the bartenders know their stuff. You can tell them what you want in a wine and they will get it for you. Makes it real easy to concentrate on why you are there...relax with your friends and enjoy a night out. The food is well prepared and a consistently nice food presentation, although I usually stay with ordering several different appetizers for the variety. It is a great place to come to unwind although it can get a bit noisy, the energy is good. If you can snag an outside table then you are lucky as they are hard to get on weekends. This place has the whole package, great service, great food, reasonable prices, and great ambience.
(5)
Jimmy P.
Awesome pizza, great wine selection, amazing patio!
(5)
E D.
Brunch food was delicious! They must have one of the nicest patios in town and we took the dog. The hostess was kind (brought water for the dog) and knowledgeable of the menu items.
(4)
Shane M.
Good pizza and great line up of Wine. Definitely a Westlake Cougar get the night started kind of place. At least from the look of the Friday night crowd :)
(4)
Michelle C.
This Westlake restaurant-slash-wine-bar has experienced restaurant guru Reed Clemons at the helm (of Bitter End, Mezzaluna, Granite Cafe, and Reed's Jazz & Supper Club fame), so it's no surprise that the food and wine at The Grove are right on target. The patio is expansive, tree-shaded, and dog-friendly, and sports the largest overhead fan I have ever seen in my life. This thing could've been a propeller for a commercial jet turbine engine; it is that big. I've been a couple of times, and have sampled their pizzas, their salad, their crab cakes, their cheese/meat plate (hilariously named "wine's BFF"), and four of their desserts (creme brulee, Miles of Chocolate, chocolate bread pudding, and orange pound cake). Everything has been really good, and the extensive and well thought out wine list goes a long way toward making everything on the menu taste even better. So why the four stars? The Grove's location a bit off my beaten path means that it's not a convenient lunch spot, and that I'm unlikely to trek out here for a weekday dinner. And on the weekends, I'd just as soon relax in a more "come as you are" atmosphere than deal with the "see and be seen" vibe that I get here. Don't get me wrong; there are some families dining here, but The Grove's Westlake location nevertheless guarantees that it's generally full of well-dressed elite...and although the service is objectively excellent, I get the feeling they were hired with that clientele in mind, as my interactions with the staff always leave me feeing a bit like I've been bantering with somebody's golf caddy. Nothing against Westlake, or the people who live there, but I personally prefer to spend my off-hours in a more laid back place. But if you're in the mood for a minor scene and want an excellent meal with reasonably-priced wine, you can probably get your groove on at The Grove.
(4)
Ken H.
I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. My wife and I ate dinner here for the first time last Friday night. It is apparently a very popular place. We arrived at 5:50 PM and took one of the last two parking space in the lot. The restaurant does have valet parking, but who wants to use that? The parking lot spaces are also very, very narrow - even narrow for my compact car. We had to wait 30 minutes for a table. If we had shown up 15 minutes later, we would have had to wait an hour and a half! The restaurant should really take reservations on the weekends - no diner should be expected to wait an hour and a half. As the name of the restaurant implies, wine is a major component of the dining experience. It is unfortunate that the restaurant does not do a better job in this department. The Grove had several moderately priced wine flights available - a great idea. My wife chose the Australian Shiraz flight while I took the Tuscan red flight. All six of our wines arrived at the table warm. Not just room room temperature, mind you - more like sitting on the bar in direct sunlight for a half hour kind of warm. The wines actually cooled down to room temperature at our table. This is completely unforgivable in a restaurant that aims to be a wine destination. Looking around the restaurant, there is no proper wine storage - all the bottles being served at tables were pulled from racks in the middle of the one large room or from the bar. The night we were there, it was still in the mid-80s outside but the doors to the patio area were wide open. Every bottle of wine in that restaurant must live at 78F until it's consumed. On top of it all, of the six wines we tried, only one (the Yalumba Shiraz) was interesting, even when they'd cooled off. I know that not every wine in a wine flight is going to be great, but 1 for 6 is a pretty low success rate. The food, on the other hand, was good, and is the main reason I give the restaurant two stars. The mussels were excellent. My Caesar salad was OK, but my wife loved the house salad. She's not normally a salad person, so that was high praise. The chicken pizza was very well executed, with a nice crust. Our server was also pretty good, unobtrusive but at the same time prompt and attentive. The restaurant's main dining room was loud (as in volume) during the dinner service, partly a function of its interior design, partly a function of the patrons the restaurant seems to attract (young and loud). Finally, the white plastic chairs, while stylish, were very uncomfortable, with hard edges at the corner that dig into your legs. I really cannot understand why a wine-destination restaurant could fail so completely on competent wine service, at least on a weekend night.
(2)
Shane M.
This is a great place for dinner or just drinks outside. There is a extensive wine list and the food is always consistently good. The price isn't bad either.
(5)
sherrie n.
this place is absolutely lovely, and i never knew it existed. it's ideal to sit outside on the patio on a nice day and would be the perfect happy hour spot! i went for lunch the other day and ordered the mussels (delicious broth of white wine, lemon, garlic and basil), blue crab fritters, and penne with mozerella, tomato, garlic, basil, and chicken. simplicity at its best but oh so tasty! the pizza also looks really good (large thin slices), but I didn't try it. i'm definitely a fan and will probably go again tomorrow!
(4)
David H.
I went to The Grove on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in January around 1pm. Party of five. Here are my observations: --Really nice interior--has a high-end, modern motif --Seated quickly (outside) --Tremendous selection of wine. --Water arrived quickly, but the server never asked me if I wanted anything else (my party drank champagne, and while she promptly brought that out, I was forgotten). --I wish there weren't so many birds hopping around my feet. --We ate outside and the leaves from the tree fell into my food about 10 separate times. --I sat near one of the outdoor heaters and it fried the back of my head. --I ordered a pepperoni and cheese pizza--it was delicious. The cheese was nice and stringy and the crust was absolutely divine. Highly recommended. --My friend picked up the tab so I can't speak to the pricing, but based on the menu, they seemed somewhere between pretty reasonable and kinda high. For example, my medium pizza was $10, but if you wanted more toppings they were around $1.50/ea, which could start to add up if you were a topping freak. Bottom Line: Good spot for a decent meal, just don't be in a hurry or have a problem with things falling into your food.
(4)
Ryan S.
I always leave feeling like I treated myself to healthy food, awesome service- oh and Fireman #4 beer on tap.
(5)
Niki S.
I used to love this place. My friends and I have always enjoyed the food, the wine and the great patio. We went last night and everything has gone downhill. The staff wasn't friendly or accommodating. The service was barely mediocre. We ordered a wine that they were out of, but instead of letting us pick another the waiter just brought a replacement, but it wasn't even the same kind of wine. When we questioned it, she was rude. However, we were happy to see that the menu had not changed, so we ordered our favorite salad and pizza. The food was nowhere near as good as it used to be. We barely ate the pizza and I brought the leftovers home to my husband who eats anything and he thought it was disgusting. The menu was had the same descriptions, but it tastes like they are using cheaper ingredients. Sadly, this was our last time at The Grove. What a disappointment. This place used to be our go to place for great food and great wine.
(2)
Mark N.
The food here is what I would describe as yuppie. There is a lunch pizza special, but otherwise lunch is priced like dinner. Parking is a problem: even arriving at 11:30, there were no nearby spots unless I wanted to go with the valet parking. The penne with sun-dried pesto was nicely presented, but my friend's dish had too much pepper in it for him to be able to eat it. The service was generally good, and my friend was not charged for his original dish.
(4)
Maggie P.
Overall, we enjoyed this restaurant but wanted to like it more. The bruschetta selection we ordered was delicious, and our wines were reasonably priced. We thoroughly enjoyed the jerk chicken pasta. However, I ordered spaghetti bolognese which was easily the worst Italian I have ever had--there was hardly any meat, the sauce was runny, and the flavor of sauce was overpowered by too much cream relative to the other ingredients. I would return but would not order another traditional Italian dish.
(3)
Lisa D.
I've been there a number of times and have always had solid service a very good food. The patio is very nice (surprisingly so when first drive up to a strip mall restaurant...but check it out!). The pizza formerly known as the stinky cheese pizza (I think they call it wine lover's pizza now) is great, and does very well for take out / leftovers as well. Friends and I have even ordered one to go after a meal to enjoy the next day! I also really like the salmon salad, though they are a little heavy on the dressing, so I'd recommend getting it on the side. I wasn't as thrilled with the chicken and goat cheese panini - good, but there was actually almost too much chicken (sounds strange, I know) that interfered with the balance of flavors. The wine menu is creative, has flights, and the servers generally know their way around it which is always a plus. I've only eaten inside once, as I do love their patio. Location is a bit out of the way for me, but it is worth the drive for a good quality, flavorful but casual meal outside.
(5)
Kelly R.
I've had a great experience here every time. They have a fantastic wine selection and a very good menu. The bruschetta really stands out, and I do enjoy the steak salad. The atmosphere and vibe is nice also. I'm a fan of the tree and the patio.
(5)
chris c.
Yawwwnnn... oh yeah.. I was going to write a review... this place is so unremarkable I don't know where to start. It says a lot about westlake that most of the people wrote such raving reviews. I think most of the reviews are from folks who are in shock that they can do something legally in westlake that involves alcohol and the outdoors. If you live in Westlake, relax this comes from the heart.... I live here too as your neighbor so listen up! I am speaking as an insider looking out.... or rather an insider looking in I guess..... Five stars? Four stars? Ummm..... People... lets be honest.. This is a California Pizza Kitchen meets Macaroni Grill strip center eatery.... at best. Nothing, yet everything about this place concerned me. The pricing is out of line, the decor is not what I would call tacky, its just so cliche' that... well lets just put it this way... there's a reason no one does covers of Yanni songs... right? Why would someone imitate bad west coast design? Did the owner sit down with the decorator and say " You know I have been dying to have something from the 1998 SoCal econo food chain line" ...anyway, back to the points... the waitstaff is spoon sharp and the receptionists reminded me of a bad episode of The Simple Life. If you don't know what The Simple Life is then you definitely don't want to go to this restaurant. If you watch the simple life.... a lot... and like it... a lot.... then you really wanna go to this place. I walked in and thought to myself.. damn, this is gonna be great, a place to eat and drink in my own backyard... . from there things just kind of flatlined. Damn it, I gotta go back to The Good Life issue... if you wanna know how to train a hostess go ask the people at Z tejas. This is not a review on the Z in any way, Im just saying... pretty does not have to mean Vapid or detached or graceless.... well unless you work at The Grove apparently. If we were in Paris I'd understand... Europeans aren't into idle pleasantries or disingenuous smiles but in Texas and especially Westlake we are. Big time- I walk into a restaurant I wanna know I'm welcome- flash those pearls and make me feel like you mean it!... .. my ego needs it I mean really, why do you think I live in Westlake anyway? I felt more like I crashed a private party...nonetheless enough about the poor malnourished seating staff lets get to the real deal... the food! So.... aside from being mediocre my only concern was the price. The Bruschetta was 3 pieces of bread with stuff on it. This was not a surprise... I know what Bruschetta is, that's why we ordered it.... the surprise was the price for what we actually got. My friend read me the options because I was busy trying to get a drink so I never saw the price.... I was guessing it was going to be 6 bucks. Wrong- it was ten. Ok... thats just dumb.... just plain dumb. Bruschetta was invented specifically because its cheap... it would be like going to Rome, getting chips and salsa and being charged ten bucks. In fact Bruschetta is their version of chips and salsa. You wanna know something worth ten bucks? Go to Vespayo and ask for the: Forno roasted king trumpet & white button mushrooms with melted gorgonzola,crispy organic white polenta & watercress. You eat that and then tell me what ten bucks is worth. And they won't charge you a dollar more for the unreal service or remembering your first name the next time you go. So lets get back to the food shall we? The way overpriced Bruschetta was good, and it was even better at the time because I didn't realize that each one of those little suckers was over three bucks. I just couldn't believe those three little pieces of bread were ten bucks I was just amazed... im over it. Oh, and can I do some level setting here? I am not cheap-scate. I mean, not at all....My top five restaraunts in this city are Uchi, Vespayo, Bistro 88,. Fonda San Miguel and Salt Lick. Ill dig into my pocket for a good meal and thank you for it when its over but I want something in return... thats how it works right? ok ok ok... Ill leave the bruschetta thing alone now for real. Main course- I got a pasta dish and inhaled it. It had been a long day and I hadn't eaten so I would have forced turtle toes down at that point. It was good. Well.... it was decent and here's my complaint about it- again for 7 or 8 bucks that would have been a fine meal..... but it wasn't 7 or 8 bucks and honestly, I've had better pasta at Macaroni Grill. Not a huge fan of the chain eateria, but they do what they do well and the price is right... I go back whenever grandma want's to check it out and Ill even admit that I look forward to it a little. The food that is. Grandma is always hilarious. So, thats it- At lunch menu prices this place might have a place in my rotation but ill have to order extra and give the doggie bag to the hostess.
(2)
Tiffany Y.
We had such a great time at the Grove. Our neighborhood had a "couples night" there, and the service was excellent. My husband and I ordered the ahi tuna, and I absolutely loved it. There is a great wine selection, but if you like dark beer when you go out - maybe you should try somewhere else. The food is really phenomenal, though. Everyone at our (huge) table seemed to be happy with their food.
(4)
Bob D.
The food: delicious. However, you can only eat here about once a year because of the price. Went for lunch today, me and the wife, no alcohol, just a couple of entrees and it cost over $40. OVER FORTY DOLLARS. For lunch. Get real. We went for dinner a month ago and it cost about $60 - again, no alcohol. Who gets away with this? We live in Westlake and we're not "rolling in money." We have budgets, too.
(4)
B D.
Nice plant especially for a strip center. Once warm weather arrives, the outdoor seating will be packed. My friends that live out near Barton Creek are very excited to have a place to go that is not so far from their home. We ate at the bar and while the food was disappointing the service from the bartender was great. A little too pricey for what we received but it was fairly new and I am sure it will get better over time.
(3)
Daniel J.
My outing to The Grove occurred while visiting Austin after Hurricane Ike left us powerless in Houston. I went with family and another couple who used to be our neighbors back in Houston. It was their recommendation. As I am generally a fan of WIne bars, or at least restaurants who advertise an extensive wine selection, I was in. We were a party of nine and my first impression was great, they were able to sit us in the "Wine Room", even without a reservation. This was high table surrounded by racks of wine, overlooking the remainder of the restaurant. It was a quite pleasant way of taking in the ambiance of The Grove. Our waiter was energetic and friendly, with a good knowledge of the menu and wines. Advertised as a wine bar, and being surrounded by wines, by default, we had to try some. I chose a flight consisting of Malbecs from Argentina (Flight #9). All three samples where fantastic. Also sampled at our table was a flight of Shiraz from Australia (Flight #7), which was equally as tasty. We started the meal with Bruschetta, and then were asked to choose three different preparations from the menu. As there where nine to choose from, we asked for recommendations from our waiter. He suggested (bruschetta): fresh mozzarella with tomato, garlic and basil; house cured salmon, goat cheese and capers; and roasted artichoke hearts with romano. All three were delicious, however the salmon preparation was my favorite. We then moved on to salads. I split the Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna Salad with my girlfriend. It was also delicious. It may have even lived up to the waiters description as the "best in the area". After salads, we ordered a slew of pizzas for the table. My choice was the Stinky Cheese Man. It was good, however very heavy on the cheese. I can't say they didn't warn me. A "Top Shelf", "Popeye and Olive Oyl", and "Fire in the Hole" pizzas where also ordered. They were all very good. The "Fire in the Hole" was my personal favorite, mainly because it has jalepenos on it. I'm a huge fan of foods that make you sweat. This wasn't that spicy, but the flavor was enough to satisfy. All in all, I was thoroughly impressed with The Grove and hope to go back soon. The decor was casual and inviting, the waitstaff was friendly, and the food was delicious. Highly recommended! Side Note: The had an electric, commercial-grade wine glass cleaner that blew my mind. That thing was amazing to see in action. You must check it out when visiting.
(4)
hildreth e.
i suppose it says something that i created a yelp profile just to write this quick review - austin is so full of good places to eat, with great wine selections, that it's a shame this place appears to get more than its due praise. we gave the grove a 2nd try last night, and while the wine selection is great, the food is just okay, and the service is sub-par. both visits to the restaurant have yielded servers who forgot wine flights, or food orders (as was the case last night, and when we asked about the missing order, was given the impression it was our fault), and a mostly noisy, only mildly pleasant dining experience. have been in the service industry for years - just goes to show great wine and good food aren't the be-all end-all of a good eatery ...best to save your time and gas and head to the multitude of other Austin restaurants that know how to get everything consistently right.
(2)
Dawn G.
The first time I went here, I thought the food was fantastic. Everything was delicious from apps to pizza to main course, and their huge wine selection not only offers great decoration but gives you lots of labels to browse. The next couple of times, I felt the same, but then my adoration began to fade. Indoors, the place is very loud. The menu didn't change, and if they had specials, I either don't remember them or they were unspectacular. And arriving as early as 6:00 found no seat at the bar, a long wait to sit indoors, or the option of sitting in the hot Texas summer heat. On one hot day, we sweated our way through dinner with clothes damp and literally mopping perspiration from our brow. There are no misters or fans, and the flies flitted about enjoying dinner as much as we were. It is a nice place for kids, especially outdoors on a comfortable day. Overall, I think the food is good, but after a few visits, you get bored. It's been over a year since they've opened, and the menu is virtually the same. If you go, here are a couple of selections: the tuna with wasabi soy is outstanding; all of the pizzas are very good; "squash my linguine" and the bow tie pasta with chicken are both excellent. Avoid the Gumbo; Progresso makes a better one.
(3)
J J.
The good: I'm glad there is finally a place like this in West Austin that is being supported by the locals. The food was really good but I wouldn't mind more selection. The bartender (Drew) was very nice. Our waiter (Quentin) was also very nice and very knowledgeable about wine. Food was brought out in a reasonable amount of time. It was nice, I'll go back sometime. The bad: The wait was long...which isn't all bad because that is a good sign for the restaurant. You can enjoy a drink from the bar and take it outside while waiting......but they need to dedicate a spot at the bar that isn't lined with bar seating for doing this. We had to order over people sitting at the bar and that's a bit annoying. There were parts of the restaurant that had a "meat marked" type feel. Cheezy single dudes at the bar and women dressed like fishing lures. Then there would be a family at a table near them. It was a strange mix. If it were my restaurant, I would attempt to seat families with children in a designated area. I realize that's hard to do when you have a wait and it's in a neighborhood though. Parking isn't that bad, but The Grove should talk with the office complex next to their shopping center and gain permission for parking in the evenings....just to make it easier. The inside dining experience and the outside dining experience are quite different, so take a look and see what will be a better fit for you and wait for it to be available. Give this place a try if you like wine. Leave the kids at home or take them to Macaroni Grill. This is more of a restaurant for adults.
(4)
Tori T.
Just a quick review...we really enjoyed ourselves the two times that we visited the Grove. The 1st time was a girl's night out and it was nice & busy and the service was great! we enjoyed the food too. Try the sesame tuna app...the 2nd time was lunch and we took along our two boys ( age 1 and 5) and it was very kid-friendly and the boys loved their pizza. Overall, we had a great time both times...food was yummy and we plan to go back once a week for the PIZZA!! the patio was closed when we went but, we hope to sit outdoors the next time around.
(5)
Yolanda I.
5 stars for concept and patio - 4 stars for wine list - 1 star for food - 1 star for unprofessional, uninformed waitstaff. The Grove is a great place for gathering with friends and family. The atmosphere is lively and the bartenders are friendly and knowledgeble. The menu has a variety of pizzas, salads, pastas and apps-although I wish they included simple entrees like grilled chicken or fish w/ veggies. The Grove has the potential for greatness. That being said, first they need to fire their Chef. What sounds good on the menu fails miserably in execution. The only upside are the cheese and meat trays. The tuna salad was noticably overcooked-grey tuna! Any decent chef would've caught that before it left the kitchen. The next time I tried a pasta-chicken w/carmelized onions, expected robust flavor, instead boring and lacking complexity. This last time we shared mussels, a pizza and ordered the house salads-how can they screw that up? First the salad dressing was a lovely asian inspired delight, however it mustve been sitting in the window for a while because being mostly spinach and shredded carrots it was totally soggy and limp- tasted ok but would benefit from some crunchy greens. The mussels were chewy and bland, the broth was flavorless. We went for the garlic chicken pizza, sounded great, but it was so salty that we didnt finish it - three people didnt finish a small pizza! The service also leaves something to be desired. Its generally busy when we've gone so its been difficult to get your servers attention if you need something - then once you ask it takes forever to get it. The servers have also been unhelpful when it comes to choosing wine in stark contrast to the bartenders who were great and made awesome recommendations. Our last waiter, when asking to recommend a something dry, e.g., referred to the flight menu and told us to choose from there. In summary, great concept, great place to hang out with friends. Order your wine at the bar or otherwise get recommendations before you sit down, stick with the cheese and sampler trays and if you can grab a bite on the way!
(2)
T A.
The Grove is my new favorite wine and dine (yet relaxed) spot! My boyfriend and I went there on a Tuesday night and the place was poppin. We were quickly sat and our waitress promptly greeted us with a friendly hello and 2 waters on the spot. The ambiance is nice and seeing the nice patio outside makes me even more ready for springtime! We ordered the oysters for an appetizer and it is served with a nice chipotle aioli sauce and their house chips, one word...DELISH, and it is just the right amount to hold you over before the main entree. We ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir our waitress recommended and I'm glad she did because it did not disappoint! I had the steak salad and it was great and my boyfriend had a pasta dish and no complaints there as well. This is definitely on our list for new fave spots! I highly recommend going:)
(4)
Ha Na C.
Where shall I begin? I rarely find myself giving a 5-star rating to any establishment, but I cannot find a single thing wrong with the GROVE. Infact, I can not believe I've waited so long to give them their well deserved review! Their food, atmosphere, wine and staff are phenominal. I've dined at the GROVE for dinner, during busy lunch rushes and at slow times at random times in the day. They are always consistent with the quality of their food and service. I've yet to be disappointed! Service is definitely a huge factor in how I weigh my ratings. The lunch Manager is always accommodating and makes you feel extremely welcome. If you are or are not a mussel lover, you absolutely MUST try Grove's mussels. They are handsdown the best mussels I've ever tried, globally! If you're trying to eat light, plan on sharing a dish because they do not skimp on their portions. The salads are so satisfying on both portion and taste! I always take friends and colleagues to dine at the Grove and am always thanked for the selection. It will forever remain one of my top favorite spots to dine in Austin.
(5)
Lesley P.
I was excited to try out the Grove, as many friends had gone and loved it. It was a Wednesday and the place was busy and crowded. Our group tried to make our way to the bar to order a drink while we were waiting for our table - the hostess said it would be 20 minutes. Unable to make it to the bar, we hung out and caught up. 20 minutes had gone by, then 45, and then an hour. Now, I won't complain about the wait because that is something one cannot control; I will, however tell you about the lack of service at the restaurant. Parties were seated before us, the owner sat his "friends" as he felt fit - fine by me, but not when you have other patrons waiting to be seated. After arriving at 7:30, we finally sat down at 9 pm. Why did we wait that long? Apparently it was for the food, but alas, I was once again disappointed. Our waitress forgot to bring menus, took her time in serving us, this after the place had pretty cleared out. All in all, good concept, horrible service and lack of attention to the customer.
(2)
Disco L.
This is a frequent dining spot for my co-workers & me only because it is seriously convenient. I enjoy the food, but it can be a bit on the pricey side for a quick lunch. Their wine flights are absolutely out of this world though! I enjoy the happy hour, but I don't believe they really have a food & drink happy hour on a large scale like some places around town as you still spend a bit on not much. Just like a few have mentioned it is some kind of for real Cougartown, but it is fun to sit back & watch all of the 20s men with the overly botoxed/nipped 40-50yr old women. Overall, I think this place is okay, but the wait staff ALWAYS lacks. If you know that it won't offend. Does not matter if a table of two or when we go in our large groups we always receive shoddy service. Kinda sad actually since large groups usually spend more dough. Never receive a "how is everything" just a take our order, get drinks, drop off food & check, then server disappears for good (you won't get a chance to ask for anything else so you better get that extra side of xyz in with your order). Oh well, will return just for convenience & the crab cakes!
(3)
Taylor P.
I have heard a lot about this place lately, and the architect that is designing my house, Dick Clark Architecture, did the finish-out in here. He told me the other day how exciting it was to eat here, so my brother and I made the trip out off of the beaten path of downtown to try it out. the bartender that we met there was great with his knowledge of the menu, and knew that we were on a "power lunch" so he did his best to expedite our menu selections in a timely manner. We got our appetizer a little later than we would have liked before the main course, but he was nice enough to comp it knowing that we noticed and before we said anything to him. There isn't much else out here in this area, so if you're an avid Westlaker or live in West Austin this is the place to go for a glass of wine and some appetizers. Great atmosphere, and I felt like I could be in there in flip flops or a suit and feel just as appropriately dressed in either.
(4)
Brad S.
We went to eat at the Grove. for the first time. There were six of us, four adults, two teenagers, in town for a sports event. In the process of becoming a doctor, I waited tables and bartended. That means I understand when the server is busy plus I tip very well. Bottom line was this. The food was very good. The service was lacking. After 10-15 minutes after my pizza was served, with the waitress not busy, I saw where the plates were and got my own plate. Later in the meal, it's after 10pm and the restaurant is not busy, nor was the server, I got up and filled four empty tea glasses that had been empty for 20 minutes. I haven't ever gotten up and served myself in a restaurant before. We were still friendly but I believe the waitress knew we were disappointed with the service. When the check arrived, she had added 18% gratuity to the bill. She also was silent about doing it. The bill before gratuity, with tax, was about $160.00. A little more attention (just a plate, and not letting our beverages go, and stay, empty) and I would have totaled the bill at $200. That's my general MO. That's just for 'run of the mill' service. Again, I didn't let the poor service ruin our meal. And, it is not anger we feel, it is disappointment. We most likely will not return to the Grove. Even though the food was tasty, there are lots of places with tasty food, and with servers that appreciate the generous tips I like to leave for a job well done. (and I'm not that hard to please.) Enjoy your 18%, it's the lowest percentage tip that I have left in quite a while. The above review was written by me the night we returned from the restaurant, The Grove. Within 48 hours, I received an apology from the managing partner of the restaurant, with an offer of compensation. I turned down the offer of compensation because the money was not the important factor to me. The quick response from the managing partner, with the assurance that the situation would be addressed (we do not want her dismissed, we only want her to be a good server), was impressive to me and showed that the management of the restaurant is dedicated to a good dining experience for it's customers. Due to the response from the management and the unchanged fact that the food was excellent (taste and preparation), I have changed my rating and will be returning to The Grove to eat again when I am in Austin. Brad S.
(4)
Eric O.
This is a cool and fun spot to stop in for lunch! It's raining today, so unfortunately my party couldn't enjoy the awesome patio :( The service was fine, although i did order a beer (this is a wine place) and received a cider instead. I got the Asian salad with beef - great salad, the peanuts had a strange aftertaste though. Very popular and a bit noisy, but you can still easily hear the person next to you. 5/5 stars, look forward to trying more menu items!
(5)
John H.
UPDATE: the Grove is not Groovy anymore. Sorry Grove we must part ways. No dogs on the deck means I say what the heck? It was a good run but we will move on to the next place. The Grove is Groovy, really. At least on the fantastic multilevel deck with the million year old sprawling oak tree providing the shade. Did you know the Grove is all about wine? I bet you did but you may not know the selection is half decent and served on temp. Wine flights are cool too but limited. You also may not know that the vittles are better than you might think. Original made from scratch plates featuring local ingredients and prepared expertly to order. Just sayin this place is heads above the "other" wine bars and should be on your list.
(3)
Emily G.
Sesame encrusted ahi I love you!!! I can eat you anyday everyday! I love this restaurant. We come her after the lunch rush or right before. I suggest you do the same because parking is limited. Asked to be seated outside.Its the best spot IMO
(5)
Kelly S.
When you've just consumed your body weight in Pinkberry, what's your next move? Why, to eat of course! When certain individuals learned that I'd never been to the Grove, the were shocked! I immediately was coerced into joining them for a glass of wine. Which turned into four. We put our name on the list but then ended up blazing our own trail. We sat in the front waiting area, ordered apps and wine and then commandeered a table over in front of lola savannah. They were just as sweet as can be about it too - giving us a server and letting us order out there. I dont think they knew it was a table of Yelpers and so one would assume that they would do similar for other patrons. We especially enjoyed the hummus trio, the brussels sprouts and the pizza (with a huge side of bacon) for dinner. And of course the two bottles of wine, reasonably priced and chilled to perfection. Our server, Cara (sp?) was a dream. So accommodating and available despite our weird set up. A fabulous spot for a glass of wine outside with friends, a date or a nice happy hour nosh.
(5)
Jackie V.
I really love the wine menu. I haven't had a bad glass of wine yet. the food varies and is generally good. service is good. parking can be limited.
(4)
Mike M.
Our first time at Grove. I like that menu has gluten, dairy, vegetarian, and vegan indicators. That said, our very helpful server confirmed that the kitchen will prepare any entree to order and so I had the spaghetti and meatballs with no cheese and they were delicious. We also had some very fresh and strangely yummy calamari. For dessert, our server recommended we walk next door to their coffee shop and check out the pastry case. Unfortunately, the attentive service stopped the minute we left the Grove and we left the coffee shop without ordering.
(4)
Amanda P.
First off I NEVER give lower than a five star review, second the only reason why I am is because of the manager. I don't like posting things on social media but they do not have an email on their website and it would be pointless to call and have to talk to the manager that I already dealt with. I ate there with some friends on Sunday as I was visiting from out of town and they said they eat there a lot and love it. I was excited to go! When we first got there we asked if they could turn the heater on, they accommodated but actually turned the wrong one on. We finally got them to turn the right one on and life was good! We started with the crab cake appetizer which was phenomenal! I would highly recommend this! We then got our food and this is where things went downhill fast after that. I ordered the burger cooked medium and a caesar salad. I thought the salad would come out first but it came with the burger, this would typically not bother me but it was hot as like it was sitting under a food warmer. My burger was well done but I ate it and it tasted good but was a little dry for my liking. The big problem came when my friend ordered a chicken caprese sandwich, he ate his sweet potato chips and then took a bite of the chicken sandwich. He then noticed that it was pink, I asked if it was a smoked chicken as that is sometimes pink, no it was not. We asked the server to come back and she did and took the sandwich back. Life was good....so we thought! About 8 minutes later the sandwich was brought back, on the same plate as before (with the few chips left) and on the same bun and they just cooked the chicken. I have worked in the food industry for 20+ years and know that you should not put food that was bitten back on the grill and you should have recooked the sandwich. IF the food was not bitten they could have put on the grill but gave them fresh bread and sandwich toppings and more chips. The bread that came back was dry like it was sitting under the warmer and the cheese was gross by this point. The manager then came by and my friend asked for a new sandwich. The manager looked annoyed and never apologized and left the table with the sandwich in a huff. Ten minutes later a new sandwich arrived but without the pesto sauce (we did not say anything as we were over it). Me and my other friend were done eating and he had to eat alone with his food (not that big of a deal but annoying). First step of dealing with guests is LEAP (Listen, Empathize, Apologize, Problem Solve) -- this manager needs to go back to Management 101! We finally got the bill and they did not even take the sandwich off or offer us anything. I don't want anything but it is a nice gesture to make your guests happy, part of problem solving. It is interesting that we went to another restaurant the night before and the kitchen made a mistake and the manager gladly took care of it apologized profusely and brought a side of onion rings to munch on while waiting and took the burger off of the bill (none of this was expected). This was also a kitchen mistake, not something we ordered and then did not like. Guess which place me and my friends will go back to? I don't live in Austin anymore but know that the restaurant industry is tough there as it is everywhere. In my three restaurants I go out of my way to make sure the guests have a great dining experience, especially if it is our mistake. I also make my email and the corporate email easily accessible to our guests in case there is an issue and they are not comfortable talking to that restaurant. I don't need a response or anything for free, I just think that your policies on returning food to the kitchen should be reviewed and your managers need a little lesson in guest satisfaction.
(1)
Sarah R.
We went for the first time with some friends a few weeks ago. The food is great, and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed. It can get a little loud and at peak times parking is a little crazy, but the experience is well worth the effort.
(4)
Shannon B.
Don't be fooled by the "pizza / wine bar" categorization, as The Grove offer so much more. Delicious salads. Savory roasted and grilled meats. Wonderful soups. Excellent seafood - yes, really! And then there's that Kobe burger.... The menu is broad with fresh-fresh-fresh ingredients, and each entry is marked to let you know if it's gluten free, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian, or g-free option available. Can I tell you a secret? I've never even ordered the pizza or the wine. I usually go for any of the salads, the soups, or the seafood. Crab cakes? Be still my heart! Anytime there is a special occasion lunch at the office (birthday, new hire's start week, promotion, project success), I'm always interjecting, "Can we go to The Grove?" Even though the lunchtime traffic & parking situation is a nightmare (allow extra time for this!), The Grove is consistently wonderful in food, service, and ambiance (especially that lovely tree-shaded & heated-in-winter deck, weather permitting). We've eaten here many times with very large groups (5 - 10) during busy lunch service and our cheerful waiters have had no trouble keeping up with everyone's special requests, coordinating with the kitchen and making each diner's dream lunch come true. Oh, and speaking of lunch, do not miss the weekday lunch combo specials available from 11a-3p. You can get 2 slices plus a cup of soup or a side salad for $9, or just a single slice with either side for $7. If you want to go lighter and skip the pizza, get the soup & salad for $9. P.S. I certainly wouldn't mind coming in some evening to try out the wonderful flight menu, where you can try 3 wines for $13 to $20, depending on your taste. There are pages and pages of wines offered by the glass ($5 - 16.50) and you can even buy bottles to carry at a 25% discount off the listed price.
(5)
Judy U.
Such a wonderful atmosphere, delicious gluten free options and a great wine list. The wait staff is always great and friendly...feels like dinner with friend every time were here.
(4)
Colbie L.
Love this place! Came into town with my boyfriend and trying to decide on a place to eat and landed this gem! Walking in, felt a refreshing clean vibe. The extensive list of wines were amazing and very decently priced! Ordered the pork sliders and the brussel sprouts plate & thoroughly enjoyed both. The sprouts were seasoned perfectly with a few bites of sweet potato that was a good touch; and the sliders came with 3 and chips and the sweet bread rolls were so yummy! The food came out fast and the bartender was very attentive. A++
(5)
Kuheli M.
Great food, great wine, even better atmosphere. I highly recommend this wonderful place.
(5)
Nick W.
Tried this on a whim, and we were pleasantly surprised. Aside from a slight bit of snootiness here and there, this place was great. The food is what matters most, and our food was on point from start to finish. The Avocado BLT tastes a lot better than it looks. Give it a shot. It's worth it.
(4)
Jeffrey F.
One of my favorite places in Westlake to get a casual meal with a beautiful setting. Food is always tasty, and the price is not so unreasonable.
(5)
Amira K.
Romantic date night spot, especially when the weather is nice and you can sit out on patio with all the lights. Wine lovers pizza and the steak and Gouda salad are my favorite dishes. Although I would probably be satisfied with anything off this menu. Everything made with fresh ingredients and from scratch. Oh yeah and very knowledge staff when it comes to wine, just tell them what flavors you like and they'll have a recommendation for you. Cheers!
(5)
Cece W.
This place has a really good happy hour - the wine selection is plentiful and the food is always a hit. The only bad thing is the parking situation, but they have resolved this issue with complimentary valet parking. If you have a large group for lunch, it may take awhile. Recommendations: -Pizzas (all selections) -Spaghetti Bolognese $13.50 -Fried Calamari $9.50 -Blue Crab Cake $13 -Chopped Salad
(4)
Ashley N.
Wow. This place. I must say I was hesitant to try the fried oysters because I've never had them nor have I ever had the urge to try them. Just not appealing to me. That said, the photos and menu description left me curious, so a coworker and I decided to try it. To my amazement, I actually loved them. Thank you Grove for turning me on to oysters, no pun intended. Such a lovely explosion of flavor with a spicy aioli and mango-pablano pico. Can't wait to go back when I'm in town and the weather is warm to enjoy the beautiful patio and more great food.
(4)
Lauren B.
Wait, how many times have I been here? I don't always like to check in because frankly, I get embarrassed because it would be far too many. ANYWAY, I am in love.... lust... whatever - I adore 'The Grove'! Yes, it's in Westlake. Yes, it's normally packed and you have to wait. BUT, I can assure you that it is worth it. The food, atmosphere and service (usually) are amazing. The outdoor patio built around an enormous tree is beautiful and relaxing on a cool day or night. May I suggest starting off with one of their bruchetta's, fried calamari, crispy oysters or my favorite small plate, the crispy brussel sprouts. Before admitting that I could finish the plate of brussels, let me explain to you the deliciousness you're about to enjoy. You'll be served a beautiful mound of lightly crisp brussel sprout halves with caramelized onions, fresno chilis drizzled with a sweet, reduced balsamic vinegar. I normally stick to ordering just a few small plates but their salads and pizzas are amazing. Their "Grove Chopped Salad" isn't the most healthy but it gives me some of my favorite things all tossed together - romaine lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, asiago cheese & crisp, crumbled bacon with caesar dressing. The pizza is delicious as well - you can choose a specialty pie or build your own (for picky eaters or someone that wants it very customized, like me). Their breads & pizza crust can be made gluten-free (if i'm not mistaken) which is also nice for those who need it! Don't forget about the delicious vinos available. You can order by the glass, bottle, or be adventurous & get a flight to dry a few different things. Their bubbly flights are nice during HH. Get in your car, plug The Grove into your GPS and head over... now! You can call me and I'll probably go with you, brussel sprouts on me!
(5)
Robert A.
The Grove is a cute trendy wine bar located in Westlake just beyond 360. I have visited here many times and experienced great service. The Grove has quite the selection of wines from around the world, and a rather tasty menu to follow. Just recently I was able to dine in their huge tree covered deck. Very romantic and appealing to the senses, definitely a location to get away from it all and still only minutes from town. Weekends are amazingly active, expect to wait, however weeknights you can usually walk in and get seated immediately. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for something different. Cheers
(4)
Justin W.
I would have been higher, but their pizza is not great and seats are really uncomfortable
(4)
Scott W.
This place wildly exceeded expectations. Amazing menu. Big salads. Good wine selections! Fun crowd. Great bartenders. GET THIS: Sauv blanc flight Crab cake Salad
(5)
Alison L.
This place is adorable, it seems like a great place for a date, for a family dinner, or for sipping lots of wine. I came with a big group and while we didn't get to enjoy the actual patio with all the shiny lights (we sort of created our own table out front), it was a beautiful experience on an even more beautiful Austin evening. They have a huge wine list and lots of great appetizers for sharing - the brussel sprouts, hummus trio, and bruschetta are all highly recommended.
(4)
B G.
Had the miso salmon salad and it was DELISH. There's a lot on the menu that it gets a bit overwhelming to eventually try something, but what I chose was great. My husband enjoyed the cuban sandwich as well.
(4)
Sarah G.
Great outdoor atmosphere for kids, families, and groups. Inside looks like it'd be nice if you're wanting a quieter meal. We arrived around 5:45pm on a Saturday afternoon and waited about 30 min to be seated - 6 adults and 2 kids. In the meantime, we had wine and bruschetta. The bruschetta were lovely! Especially the mushroom one. Once seated, our waitress was attentive and helpful. I wanted to try the venison chili, but they'd run out for the day. The waitress suggested they shrimp bisque instead. THANK YOU! It was fabulous. Not too "shrimpy", but just right, with a little kick of spice in the aftertaste. Other meals at the table were: the grilled patagonian salmon, sausage gone wild pizza, top shelf pizza, and a cheese pizza for the kiddos. We initially came to this restaurant because the plethora of gluten free options (a couple people in our party have celiac). I'm sure the non-celiac people will be coming back soon though. I saw a lot more things on the menu that I want to try!
(4)
Shawna T.
Great wine flight selection, good food & service. Weather not so great would like to go back to enjoy the patio seating.
(4)
Mathews W.
Hit or miss. We loved this place the first few times we eat there. Lately it has really been a flip of a coin on the quality of the food and service. They are very lucky there is not much competition around.
(2)
Sunil R.
I love the pizza here and went back for lunch. Great casual spot with a big patio which is nice. I was there with a colleague at 11.45 and it was pretty busy already. I was told as long as we are there before 12, we should be OK since this is a pretty popular spot. The crisp Asian salad was OK. Dessert was awesome. The chocolate bread pudding was good and the chocolate brownie gluten free thingy was awesome. Service was spotty, our food took a super long time and our waitress kept disappearing on us for long periods of time. I finally took the check in myself.
(3)
John K.
First time guests. Went here with high hopes, walked away with some disappointments which hopefully they will rectify in the future so others won't experience what we did. The ambience is definitely nice, attractive, and unique. Reminded me of sitting outdoors at Mozart's. Their bruschetta is prominently displayed on the first half of the menu. We tried it -- you order three out of 10 choices. They bring you one small slice of each (three small slices total.) The servings are a little on the small side, the flavors are good, but for the taste and size it is overpriced. Our entrees were OK. I ordered the Bow Ties with Grilled Chicken and Sauteed Red Onions and my girlfriend ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese. My chicken was dry and tasteless and the pasta was OK -- nothing to write home about. The Spaghetti Bolognese was nothing to write home about either, and way too salty to make up for flavor. What disappointed us the most was the service. While our waitress (Jennifer) was friendly, she neglected us a lot. It seems like *we* always needed to get her attention. We both ordered water. Oddly enough, we both commented on how bad it tasted, so I ordered a bottled water for my girlfriend and a Coke for myself. I noticed the Coke tasted a little off; I attributed it to the ice they use which might be the same as the water they use. The waitress never asked us why we ordered these drinks and asked her to take the water away. Shortly thereafter, the ice in my glass melted so I had watered down Coke, but she would not refill my drink and I just could not get her to come to our table to refill my drink. When we finally got her attention (about 15 minutes later), she told me that soft drinks have no refills! Excuse me? She could've mentioned this at the time I placed the order. Or, she could've noticed that my glass was empty for a very long time and ask if I wanted a new drink. That was a big turnoff for me. We might try this place again, but we are reluctant to go back due to the service issues.
(3)
Shawn F.
The exterior ambiance is what makes this place in my opinion. I was a little disappointed that they used canned mushrooms on their pizza. It wasn't bad, but the food did not live up to the hype or reviews.
(3)
Marilyn R.
This is my "go to" restaurant for great wines, delicious food, and fun atmosphere. It is consistently great - never been disappointed. Bee Caves and Lakeway locations are equally nice, but I prefer the seating at the Lakeway location. Love the Salmon, Bruschetta, and pizza.
(5)
Lauren C.
Excellent food! Love this place. I love the steak salad, any of their pizzas, and the brussels sprout appetizer. Great place to go with friends or spouse. Great outdoor area. Wish they allowed dogs.
(5)
L H.
I used to go here a lot. Let me tell you what happened a few weeks ago. I call to ask about bringing 5 people at about 4:30 in the afternoon. They say "you don't need a reservation at that time, come on by". Now understand, I'm bringing my CEO and some other people. I show up with one colleague, the CEO and the 2 others are dragging behind. I show up, there's literally nobody on the patio. Which is huge. They refuse to seat us! All people in the party need to be there. I understand this, but not when it's empty anyway. So I say "fine, seat us at a two person table, and when they get here we can get a bigger one" since I don't want to sit around for no reason for a half hour. The hostess tells the waitress to seat us at a particular table then move us over to the big table right next to it. Turns out it's the worst table on the patio right by the station where they drop the dirty dishes and the waiter's station!!!! So I protested. No. This is not happening. I'm bringing my CEO and you're sticking me at the worst table in the place? Seriously? The rest of the evening went great, since i moaned and whined and demanded a good table. BUT. This is absolutely unacceptable. If it were a busy time I could understand. But, at 4:30 during the week, with nobody there, first you won't seat me, then you try to seat me at the worst table? will not be coming back here again, let alone bringing my CEO. Worst service I've encountered in Austin! And I'm a great tipping regular who talks a lot and shares info about great places.
(1)
Mark S.
Always get pizza here. Consistently friendly (not overly friendly) and good good. Only problem I've had is the size of the Togo salads, literally 1/2 the size as when you dine in. They were very responsive when I brought it to their attention.
(4)
Nathan I.
The time had arrived for another lunch with Mom, and so we met at The Grove, the restaurant I had been so eager to try ever since my first experience at the coffee shop next door. I was no novice to this venue. As you'll recall, I had spent time next door at Lola Savannah, as I waited on my friend Jen while she interviewed across the street. In between sipping refreshing hibiscus iced tea and stone cold yelling at the copy of "50 Shades of Grey" I was reading at the time, I noticed people emerging from a thick black curtain in the middle of the doorway. Some also disappeared behind it, never to be seen again. Forget the Iron Curtain; from that point on, I was determined to break barriers and experience whatever lay behind the mysterious Velvet Curtain. In the immortal words of Ronald Reagan: Mr. Whoever-Runs-This-Place, tear down this wall! Errr, this curtain!...and get me a menu! We arrived late afternoon. All the action inside the restaurant was concentrated around the bar, but since it was such a beautiful day, we requested to sit al fresco. We were led outside and seated a couple steps up by a long water feature running along the right side of the patio. Yes, this would do nicely. I did a quick scan of our outdoor surroundings: a nice, large patio; plenty of shading; the fountain was a nice, soothing touch. And despite its steady trickling stream, it surprisingly did not constantly make me want to pee. Our luncheon companions were a group of four bleach blonde housewives, calmly sipping their white wine and having a pleasant conversation. By the time we left, they had devolved into four bleach blonde housewives who were chugging whatever was in front of them, and getting increasingly testy with one another. Real Housewife fight? Our waitress brought our menus, and I began the arduous task of figuring out what I wanted. The Grove's menu is one of those that you can get lost in easily, especially if your eyes are bigger than your stomach. Before the waitress returned, I was ready to order bruschettas, blue crab cakes, seafood linguini, and an entire pizza they called "Sausage Gone Wild"...which I'm thinking could also double as a description of my life, circa 2003-2008. Fortunately for my waistline, I had pared down my options considerably when the waitress returned. I began with choosing three of their bruschettas: chicken liver pate w/ sage & bacon; grilled asparagus w/crescenza cheese and proscuitto; and house cured salmon and goat cheese w/ dIll & capers. (Note: gluten free bread is available for a slight upcharge). Now, I'm going to out myself as someone who normally is not a fan of bruschetta. No matter what type of restaurant or how sophisticated the rest of the menu is, I always find the ubiquitous "tomato and olive oil bruschetta" to be an uninspiring selection, to say the least. But what the The Grove has done is offer a multitude of diverse flavor options, so it's almost like a charcuterie board operating under an alias. My favorite was the savory pate and bacon, followed closely by the smoked salmon (think a deconstructed bagels and lox). All three of them were delicious and easily shareable. We were off to a good start. Next up, I ordered the small plate Sourdough Sliders: beef tenderloin, horseradish sauce and au jus. The beef was tender and juicy, and as a rabid fan of steak (and sourdough bread), I was really impressed. The horseradish sauce was an excellent touch, although nothing beats a nice au jus dip. I was fully prepared to order a specialty pizza after my small plate, but after this course, I felt completely satisfied. Of course I had to sample a dessert. I have it listed as a fudge brownie, and it came on the recommendation of the server. Warm, gooey, and complemented with walnuts and fresh strawberries, it was the perfect wrap up to my lunch. Not a bad presentation, either. The Grove receives high marks for atmosphere. It's certainly a ladies-who-lunch kind of place, and I mean that in the best possible way. Certainly you could have a nice, leisurely meal here, complete with their vast wine selection and comprehensive menu. The only room for improvement here would be in the service. Our waitress was not exactly the most engaging person, which put a slight but obvious damper on our surroundings. Like I've mentioned before, I don't require a huge song and dance, but a smile and a sunny disposition would have blended much better with the sunny atmosphere and excellent culinary experience. One final note: I truly, truly adore having lunch with my mother. Say what you want about your own parents or gay men and their mothers, but I love knowing that I have a partner in crime who will always be up for a casual lunch, where we can discuss everything from interior design to celebrity back fat. This partner in crime just happened to give birth to me. And I'm glad we had our time at The Grove. 4 Stars.
(4)
Miranda W.
UPDATE: Matt - The Grove's Owner reached out to me this morning and has explained they are working hard to beef up their staff. I truly appreciate Matt being so proactive and prompt with his response to me. I am looking forward to going back and enjoying The Grove in its original glory! I am back to being a fan! ***** What is going on with this place? This used to be a wonderful place to grab a bite and a great glass of wine. What happened, Grovers and Grovettes? When we arrived we were semi-greeted by a surly hostess who seemed in-the-weeds. I get it. I've been there and have had my share of bad days. However, the place just wasn't that busy. We got a front row parking spot. There were several empty tables inside (evidently everyone was sitting out on the patio) and only one other party was waiting. I didn't see any reason for her to be so busy...but maybe there was stuff going on behind the scenes that I was not seeing. Or they're very disorganized... Anyway, it was a nice day so we happily agreed to wait the 30+ mins for an outside table. Once seated, I saw that we were right next to the bus/beverage area in a small corner table. I immediately noticed the loud clash of silverware being poured into buckets behind me. It was annoying but I was hungry and I didn't want to over-react because of some low blood sugar. So we waited to meet our waiter/waitress. We waited and waited and waited. After another 15 mins, she/he never came. We left and went to Eleven Plates. The whole ordeal was disappointing. I really loved The Grove.
(4)
Jennifer D.
I went to Lola Savannah (next door to The Grove and owned by same people) in the late afternoon to avoid MoPac traffic, hoping to do some work and grab a tea. The coffee house part of the twosome was closed off for reserved dining seating for the Grove. They offered me a sweet spot at the bar, and while it wasn't convenient to work (no plug), I decided to have an early dinner. Lucky for me, one of the owners (Reed) was sitting next to me and gave me advice ordering. I got the Reed Salad and added the Grilled Patagonian salmon, even though that was really part of another entree. The salad was delish. The salmon was well prepared but not my favorite kind of salmon. I ordered the Miles of Chocolate dessert. It's a combo of fudge + brownie with chocolate sauce and pecans. Also, delish but REALLY RICH. I could only eat one piece and then I brought the rest home. The bar staff was really friendly and offered great service. And the menu offers a lot of gluten free options for those in need. Last, the place has an awesome wine menu including a variety of sampler combos. I didn't imbibe this time but I really wanted too! If I'm in that area of town again, I definitely would go back to sample of menu items.
(4)
Regina C.
Had Date night with my sister and some friends. GREAT place - delicious food but a little loud. So be ready for that if you come here. Kobe Beef Burger - tender delicious patty, could use some mustard but overall a VERY generous portion and uber delicious. Jerk Chicken Pasta - Creamy goodness with a kick too it. Steak Salad with Gouda - Yes I do love cheese, Yes I do like my protein, Yes I love veggies. LOVED this dish! (can you tell I ordered this one?) And we finished the night off with a Warm Fudge Brownie topped with Amy's Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream. =) Cheers to a loud date night! haha
(4)
Joe W.
Good food. Great atmosphere. The atmosphere was very 'Sex in the City' with tables full o' girlfriends sharing wine and stories. Truth: I've never seen the show, but I imagine it would look like this (apologies to Sarah Jessica Parker).
(4)
Dub W.
We had the Grove sampler with hummus and Greek sauce, very good. I had the salmon salad which was delicious, the manfriend had the Kobe burger, delicious... the cole slaw was the freshest, tastiest I've ever had. Huge wine selection we'll have to partake in next time. Their service was also amazing. I intend on coming back soon. Great outdoor atmosphere!
(5)
Lora M.
This place is delicious! We went for dinner and the ambiance was great. I love the big tree that wraps around the outdoor deck. We LOVED the nachos -- highly recommend ordering. I also ordered the avocado BLT, which was delicious and really filling. I love that despite being a wine bar, they still have some craft beers on tap. Parking is a little tight, but they do offer complimentary valet, which is really nice.
(5)
Arlene S.
I have been trying to find a really good restaurant in the lakeway area with great views and i finally found it. This restaurant reminds me of a restaurant in LA on the hill top.. Great food and service. This will be my go to place for the next six months that im here in Austin..
(5)
Jane A.
My home away from home ... Where everyone knows my name. Great wine selection, food selection, and service.
(5)
Aaron R.
The food is pretty good I had the pizza and the outside deck is nice. Only problem getting waited on. The bartender ignored my wife multiple times.
(3)
Shannon R.
Great food ! They don't seem to like children !!! Kinda snooty!! But awesome food keeps me going back
(3)
Jan M.
What a wonderful place to wine & dine. It's a great spot when you're wanting to enjoy Texas weather, which definitely doesn't come by that often. Their pizzas are great! I was lucky enough to visit with a big group & we decided to order an array of pizzas--BRILLIANT! I would highly recommend the Asian Crisp Salad & the Sausage Gone Wild pizza. Wine selection is quite impressive. Establishment is clean and service is great. Will be coming soon!
(4)
Hanna D.
This place is excellent and highly recommended. My family has been eating here for years (around 5?) and they have continued to improve: - excellent pizzas (if you order one, you are likely to have leftovers for the same price as the other meals where leftovers are less likely!) - gluten free menu (their gf pizza crust has improved since they first started serving it--now you can't taste that it's gluten free, the only difference is a slightly darker and crispier crust) - seating options--their outdoor deck has expanded to accommodate even more tables. They have large fans and a cooling waterfall in the summer, and tall heaters in the winter. Good outdoor seating year-round. Indoor seating is also good; although it is noisier, they have nice decorations and a pleasant atmosphere - all-around delicious food, even the salads
(5)
Mike S.
Nice place. First is the view. On the back deck the view is spectacular. Not of the lake, but of the Austin area hills. Food was okay. A little pricey. Our runner (the person who brings out the food) must have been new. He had a tray full of food and starting taking things off of one side, which unbalanced the tray and dumped one of our pizzas (on a hefty tray of its own) on to the floor. The poor boy was mortified. Waiting for someone to yell at him or be fired on the spot. We took it in stride, especially because he was so apologetic and our dessert was comped. I think the folks at the tables around us were more upset than we were. I would certainly go back. Downsides: 1. Not a lot of parking 2. Tables on the back deck are packed in there because of course that is where everyone wants to sit when the weather is nice. 3. A little pricey for me.
(4)
Kat K.
Great restaurant, pizza and wine were amazing! I had the meat lovers and my friend had the Popeye pizza, both would order again. It was so nice outside and they have a huge patio, great to sit outside. Will return again on another visit to Austin.
(5)
Kate M.
I went back again last week when I was in Austin. This time I had the Miso Hi Salmon Salad. It was excellent....salmon was cooked perfectly. The dressing was wonderful. Service was spot on! Looking forward to my next visit to Austin!
(5)
Courtney S.
Came here for a girls night and had a marvelous time! The have a huge selection of wine (duh, wine bar!), knowledgable staff, and wide array of foods. And let me tell you...the food was delicious. We got a cheese plate, pizzas, nachos, etc, and everything was 5 star quality. Even has a cute little patio!! They do take reservations up until 630pm I believe. I would recommend it, esp if you want to sit inside because the inside is not huge.
(4)
Tony S.
Great food and service. Never heard of this place and took a chance. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxing as well.
(4)
Cammy G.
What's not to like about the Grove? Great wine and beer selection Wide variety of food including pasta, pizza, salads, sandwiches, and appetizers Inside and outside seating I work right across the street from the Grove so I stop here often for lunch or a drink after work. Some of my favorite items include the Avocado BLT, Steak and Gouda salad, and the Pulled Pork sliders. The calamari, cheese platter, and bruschetta are also very good with some wine! If you are in the neighborhood, definitely check out the Grove!
(4)
Ryan W.
The Grove is a staple that is located very close to my home. This makes it an obvious choice many nights of the week. That, and the fact that they allow dogs, have great food, an extensive wine list, and really nice people working there. The only dish I did not enjoy was the sea bass. The salads, tuna, burgers (extra good), pizza, and pasta plates are all very good. The patio is large enough to have an event. The indoor space gets very crowded, and Thursday nights are always slammed. On busy nights, they offer valet parking. I always park in the lot to the right of the restaurant (if you are facing it) because there is almost always tons of space and no need to pay for it.
(4)
John P.
The grove is a really nice place with a great view. I particularly enjoy their sparkling wine flight. The wines included are good and different enough that it fun to compare them. They also have several gluten free option that are very good and you can request gluten free crackers for the cheese plate though it costs more and you don't get a lot.
(4)
Mark E.
I had a really great time here at The Grove. My Mom and I went with a few Yelpers to an impromptu after-party following the Pinkberry's event. We asked for a table on the patio, and were told that there would be a 20-minute wait. So about eight of us ordered apps and a few bottles of wine as we waited on the sidewalk outside their front door. it was then, that I got to witness first-hand, the go-getter, administrative skills of our CM, Kelly S, as she got the OK to put some tables together on the walkway, and we Yelpers had our own, private patio setup! I was totally impressed with not only Kelly, but The Grove staff in accommodating us! The wine was superb, and the apps were excellent too-- a nice bruschetta, with fresh tomato and basil, delicious brussells sprouts, and a hummus plat with three different kinds of hummus. The edamame hummus (with a hint of wasabi) was the best! The great apps, nice wine selection, and the overall way the staff treated our party is enough for me to want to go back again, even though I live nowhere near this place! It was a great experience, and most importantly--my Mom loved it!
(5)
Erin F.
Is it just the trees?? I used to be a huge fan of The Grove, and I suppose I still am...it's probably 50% the lovely patio (rivalling Shady Grove, with a different feel) and 50% the fact I used to love the food at the Bitter End. But some "uneven" experiences at the Grove have left me reevaluating my feelings wondering if it's just the amazing trees on the patio. Last time I was there, our server was incredibly surly. We tried to kill her with kindness to break her icy façade but nothing doing. Oh well. We had some bruschetta - and I recall the brie, fig & apples sounded great on paper, but the brie was the least part of the ingredients (I'd hope it'd be the MOST.) And our sliders were incredibly dry. But we had a decent time so...I forgot about these complaints. Fast forward to yesterday, where I dragged the girls for brunch. And after we left, I thought "I wonder what they thought of it??" I know they were in agreement over the killer patio (hot as it is) but...otherwise, I felt lukewarm about a rather costly lunch. Again we had bruschetta (having forgotten the miniscule brie issue) and again ordered, brie/fig/apple, gorgonzola/walnut, and artichoke hearts. The gorgonzola was alright...some cheese (not melted), lots of walnuts, but the bread is REALLY thick which tends to outweigh the toppings. The brie/fig/apple was just like last time -WHERE is the brie? Had to move off all the julienned apples to even LOOK for the brie, which was a pathetic little piece compared to the TON of fig spread. Too much fig spread, bread & not enough cheese = very unbalanced (and not worth the calories). Dunno what my friend thought of the artichoke. Definitely left me with the impression the kitchen is skimping. Trying to keep this short...but our Hawaiian Poke appetizer/salad was delicious, but the portion was rather small compared to the ton of wonton chips on the plate. I know ahi is somewhat expensive, but it still could have been larger. The brussel sprouts were tasty, but still $9 for roasted brussel sprouts. I feel weird mentioning the cost so often when I don't mind splurging, but I guess I do mind splurging if it's NOT worth the money. Ordered 2 salads to round out the grazing - one being my "ex" favorite salad, Reed's salad. That I used to adore. But now...I have to accuse the kitchen of skimping AGAIN. It looked like a plate of lettuces with a dry chicken breast on it - period. At least $12 I think. The feta & pecans were almost non-existent, and fell to the bottom of the plate...but almost none to begin with. And where are the roma tomatoes that used to grace this lovely dish? Gone years ago, I guess. I finally said something to the waitress, who graciously took it off the tab even though we said she didn't have to. I appreciate the gesture but how about PUTTING SOME STUFF on my $12 salad to begin with? Why is the kitchen giving so little when the prices aren't exactly cheap to begin with? At least our waitress was friendly this time. I'll probably keep going to The Grove when it's cooler since I can't fight my fondness for it, but that was a VERY expensive lunch for such uneven portions/presentation. At least our mimosas were tasty but...it really gave me pause. I want to give it 2.5 stars for the meh experience but you know Yelp doesn't allow that. Can't blame the trees, that's for sure...
(3)
Dawn C.
I had a tasty lunch here on Saturday after driving past a time or two. The impervious cover makes spotting it from the road a tad difficult but once you pull in you cant miss the place. We ordered the Kobe Burger and the Chicken Panini topped off with a couple fresh brewed Ice Tea's please! Our servers name was Derek and he was attentive yet not annoying and cracked a joke or two. I like a guy with quick wit and easy on the eye's, he was both (double standard alert). The food was good, very good. The wait was appropriate and when our food did make it out it was nice and warm. I ordered the Chicken Panini which was delicious, they top it off with Goat Cheese which oozed all over the chicken, yum! I did sample the Kobe Burger which was also very good. I don't eat much red meat so I may not be the best at reviewing beef. My lunch date loved it and ate the entire burger so I'm guessing it was delicious. The entire meal cost 26 bucks and some change(tip not included), not to bad for a nice sit down lunch and top notch service. The only negative here is the parking. Its a tad precarious to park in the front or side of the restaurant. They do have plenty of parking in the back but hey, who wants to park in the back? Lets just say I do not like hiking from the lot to the front door, especially if I'm about to part with some Jackson's, Franklin's, or Grants! If its more then that you better offer Valet service if you want my greenbacks!
(4)
Chris M.
Interesting and diverse wine list, but the food was a real surprise, and far better than most other Wine Bars. Only downside was service was a touch inattentive... otherwise, a lovely evening!
(4)
Chris B.
I really hate the fact that the majority of my reviews on yelp thus far are negative, so I'm going to have to work to highlight some of the awesome place I eat. That said, I'm not really going to leave much of a review -- other than to agree with Jacob M's assessment of The grove ( facebook.com/l.php?u=htt… ) To summarize: Good Wine, Decent Pizza, god awful Ahi Tuna. In addition, the waiter wasn't the best on this occasion either. Instead of offering to remove the bad tuna from our table/check and sub it for something else, he just insisted that it was fine (regardless of what the color, smell or taste suggested). I'm attaching a picture, so feel free to judge for yourself. Red or Pink tuna is fine...and from what I understand..a chocolate colored tuna can also be edible as it hasn't been treated with carbon monoxide. However, this fish was a dark brown color and smelled like Aquaman's ass after a bad case of the stomach flu. So my recommendation? Go here for the wine, pizza and the big ass patio fan on a cool summer day, but avoid everything else. Otherwise, save your money and go to Simplicity Wine & Eats or if you want to pay for better food, try North in the domain, or Vino Vino on 45ish street. Overall rating: I found Nemo and he's been dead for a while.
(2)
Charles C.
The Grove just gets better with time. There are menu changes each season, keeping the experience fresh and interesting. Try the new salmon preparation with a superb yellow curry sauce, bok choi and rice. The three soups on the fall menu rock, especially the tomato shrimp bisque. The quality is high and the prices reasonable , whether it's a salad with ahi tuna, steak or chicken; or one of the inventive and delicious pastas (try the Bolognese with bow ties -- yes they will substitute any pasta with any preparation, another plus), or the creamy chicken Gorgonzola, a nostalgic nod to the much-missed Mezzaluna, a predecessor restaurant. The wines are well-chosen and so very reasonable in price. You can take a bottle (or a case) home too, at a substantial discount. Micro-brews on tap go perfect with a pizza or burger. The servers, bartenders and other staff are unfailingly helpful, cheerful and informative. You cannot have a better dining experience for the price. This is my go- to place, whether on the deck under the impressive grove of old oak trees, or at the lively bar or even next door in the Lola Savannah coffee shop, where the full Grove menu is offered. They do private parties too, on a section of the deck or you can book the coffee shop space. The Grove showcases the best things about Austin.
(5)
Jacob B.
Their food is really good and healthy except for the pizza. I don't know why, but at lunch their pizza by the slice is always soggy and bland.
(3)
Anh P.
Ahhhh where to go in yuppie Westlake area? I host a monthly happy hour downtown, but during F1 weekend, I was worried it would be too crowded so reserved an area for 10-12 people here. This place would have gotten perhaps a 5, but the manager FREAKED OUT. I had called 3 weeks ahead to reserve an area and when I got there, evidently they mixed my name up with another person who also reserved an area for 10. They placed me in the back room (where there used to be a coffee shop back in the day) and then out of nowhere w/o introducing himself, the manager (who I eventually figured out was the manager) starts interrogating me about when I reserved this, who I spoke to etc in an accusative manner. Not very cool. He was very abrupt and unapologetic and seemed to imply it was my fault for the snafu. Besides that (he never came back to check or anything), the food was good and the service from everyone else was good. I'd go back and hopefully not have to deal with the stressed out/freaked out manager.
(4)
Liz K.
Great atmosphere inside and out. Delicious pizzas, pastas, and bruschetta. Awesome wine list (you pay a little more here, but it's a great selection of high-quality wines). They have vegan and gluten-free options. Great service always. Be prepared to wait for a table and have a glass of wine on the weekends. Love grove!
(5)
Greg P.
I love this restaurant! The gluten free and vegan options are abundant & the wine and view are breathtaking.
(5)
Cris G.
This update is to point out my fondness for the Grove's wine flights. Three different wines with a common thread served together with an informative sheet to tell you about each one. The glasses aren't full pours, but for what you get and how much the flight costs (typically less than $20) it's one hell of a deal to try a variety. I'm not typically a wine drinker, but this can get me interested. We got the cheese and nut plate to go with it. It's a bit more on the disappointing side. The cheese servings were on the small side and I found the blue cheese looking chunk unappealling. There was a mound of wet, semi-dried fruits. I guess they were soaked in brandy or something, but there was only so much of that I could eat. I could have just gone for a better variety of cheese, maybe some olives, and call it a tray.
(4)
Meera A.
I went for an impromptu date night with the husband, and we both loved this place. The first thing I liked was that seated next to me was a woman with her young (5 year old-ish) daughter. This said to me that I could go there for a mommy-and-me night with my kiddo and not be frowned upon. In a nutshell: Well made food with excellent taste balance, good service, great wine selection. Now on to the food in detail: I ordered the #9 South American wine flight. Every wine was yummy, volumes just right. Don't know how to rate this flight (4 or 5), so it gets 4.5 out of 5. Husband ordered #9 Syrah flight. We agreed that only the third one (2007 Pierre Amadieu) was a stand-out wine. Next time I will opt for a glass of this wine. That glass alone rates 5/5. We ate three shared apps and quantities were great for 2 people. 1) Moroccan sampler: While everything tasted good, I liked the tzatziki the best. We ran out of pita before we ran out of hummus. Not that it would have been better the other way around. Since we were getting pretty full, we didn't ask for more pita. This app rates 3/5. 2) Bruschetta. The slices were thick and nicely toasted. Each variety we ordered was well prepared. My only complaint would be that there was too much cheese. I can only handle so much goat cheese in a meal. This app rates 4/5. Salmon, goat cheese, capers: Excellent. I scraped some cheese off. Roasted pepper with goat cheese: Yummy. I took almost all the cheese off. I know, I know, but I had to pace myself. Asparagus, cheese and prosciutto - I saved my cheese quote for this one and it was divine. This particular one gets 5/5. 3) Artisan Cheese plate: (Why yes, I do have a complicated relationship with cheese) Once we ate the above two as dinner, we decided to stay on for a while longer with a fresh glass of wine and some cheese. The cheese plate was truly well prepared, though I have forgotten the cheese names by now. 4/5 If you don't drink too much wine, you can eat for less than $25 per person. Not that I have any experience with that kind of restraint.
(4)
Adam M.
This is a great place for dinner with a huge selection of great wines. The staff is awesome, especially the ones working the wine bar. They are extremely knowledgeable! My Asian salad was delicious and fresh. The atmosphere is casual. It's a great place for meeting friends for dinner/wine. I will be returning soon!
(4)
Natalie W.
Let me say, I have been to The Grove many times and have enjoyed it, but we had a horrible experience yesterday when we decided to have lunch at The Grove. My fiance was starving, so he decided to order the burger. After biting into his burger, he realized there was something seriously wrong. His burger was raw. Still moo-ing. And this is a guy who orders his steaks medium rare. Yes, burgers are sometimes undercooked, but this thing was still bleeding. He immediately felt sick to his stomach. He called the waiter over to show him the burger, and the waiter just looked at him and said "ok, do you want anything else?" My fiance was no longer hungry due to his upset stomach, so he did not want anything else. When we got our bill, he took the burger off, never mentioning anything about the burger. He never apologized, he never even addressed the issue. Horrible customer service.
(1)
Melissa E.
I loved this place ...great atmosphere, beautiful tree canopy on the patio, Pinot noir wine flight, the tomato basil bruschetta was packed with flavor, and the penne pasta with house-cured tomato was so tasty. We really enjoyed it and will drive up from San Antonio again for this!
(5)
Ann L.
LOVE The Grove! We have been here 4-5 times now... each time the food, wine and service is dynamite!
(5)
Glenn R.
Like the outdoor atmosphere under the sprawling tree. Decent wine selection. I didn't find the service to be amazing by any means. We went a little earlier in the evening, so we didn't have any noise issues that others have experienced here. Definitely would go back.
(4)
Ryan H.
Had a very nice dinner here on the patio. Reasonably priced bottle of wine was very welcomed. Had the Mediterranean sampler (pita, hummus, yogurt, and tabouli) which was very tasty, even was provided extra pita at no cost. I had the sea food linguine and the wife had the salmon both were very delicious. Finished it off with a chocolate dessert. The patio is excellent, well shaded and comfortable even on a warm night. We will certainly be back, just wish it was closer to home in Cedar Park.
(4)
Melany F.
The owner was very responsive to my review and offered a gift card if we returned. We arrived while it was busy but were seated promptly on the patio.Our waitress was excellent , the food was much better, and we really enjoyed the patio. We are so glad we had the opportunity to return and try again. Thank you to the owner and the staff- our experience was much better the second time!
(3)
Vanessa B.
Color me impressed, this place is great! The steak salad was exceptionally good, the pizza was yummy, and the fettuccine was delightful, but super spicy, be warned. Our server was a little strange, sort of a cross between creepy, solicitous and indifferent, but the patio was lovely. Highly recommend The Grove for a casual dinner with friends.
(4)
Erin M.
Excellent food and drink options and attention to detail. Weather permitting, the outdoor patio has excellent ambiance and the trees are magnificent. The pizza is outstanding and each entree is made with top notch ingredients. Could not be better!
(5)
Pam B.
This was such a disappointment. People rave about the Grove but it was a miss for us. We were seated by the door to the outside, which was constantly opening and closing and letting in the cold night air. We asked to be moved and we were moved one whole table over, with no apologies and more than a whiff of irritation from the hostess. And it was still plenty cold. The side salads were pretty great and the wine flights are cool. However, when we ordered a plain pizza, it came with tomatoes on top. The server did replace it but gave me instructions for ordering pizza in the future so it wouldn't happen again. The attitude was really surprising. I felt like I was back on the East Coast and not because the pizza was decent-- because it wasn't. The replacement pizza had an astonishing amount of weird gross cheese and very little sauce. Even my 8 year old son, who normally would have polished off 3 or 4 pieces, stopped at the middle of a second slice and asked for cereal when we got home. Oh Grove, I so wanted to love you. See you for happy hour, maybe. But that's all.
(2)
Mark M.
Went for lunch on a Friday. Crispy brussel sprouts for an app, a salmon salad, and a baked panini or something like that. Excellent, excellent, excellent. A lunch that tasted like a dinner. We sat inside, next to the glass looking into the patio. Only complaint was the flies - I hate when a restaurant has flies inside. Besides annoying, a little gross if you think about it. Service, attentive at first, then he got in the weeds outside in the patio - took forever to get the check.
(4)
FRO F.
Love this place! Recommend the salmon, pork chops and beef tenderloin. Always have had a great experience with food and wine. The chocolate bread pudding is fabulous! Unfortunately, they do not have a full bar, if they did they would get 5 stars!!! Great kids menu too:)
(4)
Paul S.
I have decided I need to put this into my heavy rotation stack, afterall it's just down the street from my house. we were excited about this place when it first opened, but somehow it failed to impress us on our first few visits. I can now committ to a regular seating as any of my earlier complaints I had about the food, service or prices seem to have been worked out. congratulations The Grove, you have grown into what I always hoped to have close to home. the bruschetta is always a home run and the wine flights are well sorted and a real value as well.
(4)
Jenny A.
Amazing romantic patio with large trees and Xmas lights. Good service. Quality food. Upscale. Wine flights are a great way to explore the wide array of wines offered and a lot of fun too, esp with a date. Wonderful bruschetta! The pasta was fantastic. However, I was quite disappointed that there was not a sangria offered at a wine bar! Liqueur is not served at this location so a sangria would have been a wonderful 'cocktail' to start on before the wine. Also, it would have been an easy upswell on a hot summer night... Please consider offering! This place should have the best sangria in town. Overall, thoroughly enjoy this place on date night.
(4)
Zach M.
This is a great place for a nice relaxing dinner or date night. My girlfriend and I couldn't decide what to get so we got it all. The brochette was amazing and I'm not particularly fond of cheesy bread, but it was SO GOOD! Then I got a grilled panini and she got some kind of pasta (both really good). On top of all that we got the wine lovers pizza (again REALLY REALLY GOOD). I thought our waitress was out there but we all have an off night every once and a while. As much as we loved the food and ambiance of the place, the bartender behind the bar was where it was at. He was very knowledgeable about the wines and suggested a perfect bottle for us, which is now one of my favorite wines. Great place. Not the best in Austin, but certainly one of the best in Westlake Hills.
(5)
Gregory J.
Disappointing. 2 out of the 3 wines in the Pinot flight were undrinkable. The pasta was mediocre. The Bolognese sauce was flavorless. The accompanying bread was lame - no garlic. The fish was acceptable. Service was fine. I like the location... just hope the quality of food comes up several notches.
(1)
Nicole W.
Almost bribed by my business partner to try this place, I can honestly say it was well worth our visit! After several previous days of rain, we had the pleasure of eating outside on a brisk sunny day. The atmosphere is tranquil, and this restaurant setting wouldn't be nearly as magical without the glorious tree that envelopes the outside eating area. (i.e. sit outside). Ordered the ahi appetizer (the most amazing single dish on our trip to Austin), and the margherita pizza, which was also delicious. We had a nice pinot and winter champagne flight to go with the meal. Everything tasted amazing!!
(4)
Megan L.
"Wine bar and kitchen" is a pretty accurate description. I wouldn't venture here hoping to find a wide variety of menu options but the ones they do have are very good. I had the slice of pizza and salad combo and loved the feta, pecan, honey dressing salad. I've had the pastas and pizza and everything has always been just as delicious as it looks. During the lunch hour there was not a wait, our waiter moved very quickly and the food arrived promptly after ordering. Not much more you can ask for than that. I've heard the happy hour is great but I'm not much of a wine girl so someone will have to check that out for me. :)
(4)
Irfan S.
Good quality food and great ambience. Nice to see a place like this in this part of Austin.
(4)
Susan K.
This hipster dufus place was so packed I thought it had to be good. We ordered the gazpacho, tortilla soup, kids pizza and brisket nachos. Everything is steeped in some sort of spice -- not cinamon but something similar. The Gazpacho was green and cinamonny. Inedible. Kids pizzas were big but had tiny onions and kids wouldn't eat them. Tortilla soup was half decent. They blend all the veggies first and then throw chicken in, which I like. The brisket was infused with the weird spice. Inedible.
(1)
Ryan P.
All things considered - quality, ambiance, service, value - The Grove is probably my favorite restaurant in Austin. The first thing you'll encounter, and one of the only negatives is a likely wait, especially if you want to sit outside in the spring and summer. I have found the waits to be generally under a half hour and the wait times given by the hostesses to be very accurate, which is nice. I made my first trip to The Grove strictly based on the wine list, but I was amazed with the food after trying my first bite. The Moroccan Sampler is a great way to start with a slightly spicy hummus, perfectly blended cous cous and hearty olives. As always seems to be the case with me and hummus, I could have used more pita, but I'm probably just eating it wrong. As for the mains, the pizzas are perfectly topped and cooked, with my favorite being the Popeye and Olive Oil - spinach, roasted peppers, bacon, garlic and goat cheese. The pastas are also well-done, especially the simple, but tasty Bow Ties with Grilled Chicken and Sauteed Red Onions. Throw on a pinch of crushed red pepper and you're good to go. The Gorgonzola -rosemary cream sauce keeps its creamy texture even as the dish cools. While I've been more adventurous, my wife enjoys the Third Coast Linguine so much, she refuses to order anything else. Having had a number of shellfish/pasta dishes in Italy and the U.S., she says it's the most authentic. Last, but definitely not least, is the wine list. The flights could use some work, but the overall wine program is solid and wide-ranging. On the whites, there are a few varietals you might struggle to find elsewhere that are fun to try, especially the Gruner Veltliner. California probably has a little too much presence in the reds by the glass, but there's also a good mix of quality Nebbiolo's, Malbec blends and other international varietals. All in all, one of Austin's best restaurants!
(5)
Sina H.
Great food, atmosphere, and service. Considering the other options in West Lake, this is our go to spot for a relaxing drink and few small bites. Parking can be hard during peak hours.
(4)
Jessica E.
I like how you have a choice of three types of Bruschetta. The Ricotta, Pistachio, Date was probably my favorite. For entrees, I took the Yelp rec on the Popeye pizza and I'm sorry but it was very bland. I would expect it to be perfect for an 80 year old with no sense of smell. It was made with spinach, bacon, roasted peppers, goat cheese and roasted garlic which sounds really good but lacked flavor. Also tried a slice the House BBQ Chicken which was better than the Popeye. I felt like they were sheisty on the BBQ sauce. The of crust of the pizza was nice. Soft border with a crisp base. My favorite was the spaghetti bolognese. Tried a few bites and it was amazing. Full of flavor! Complete opposite of the Popeye. The sauce was heavenly. Also tried the chocolate bread pudding. It wasn't anything to write home about. Our waiter was a complete douche. He had a snobby, holier than thou attitude. And to top it off, I hate it when waiters pick up the check with tip while you are still sitting at the table. Not cool. Would I come back? Yes...for the bolognese and maybe try other pasta dishes.
(3)
Jacquelyn M.
I gave the additional star only for the outdoor patio and good wine selection. If I wasn't with my family during Saturday brunch I would have got up and left. First off to all the people in the service industry,, IF YOUR CUSTOMER HAS A LEGITIMATE ISSUE WITH YOUR QUALITY OF PRODUCT AND SERVICE THEN YOU FIX THE PROBLEM YOU DONT START MAKING EXCUSES AND UNDERMINE THE PERSON PAYING FOR THIS PRODUCT!!! Im always on my best behavior and try to be more then pleasant to people making my food because I have been in service industry and have unfortunately witnessed what happens to rude customers; so when this server decided to talk to me like Im a stupid idiot that has never consumed food before I pretty much smiled and took it. First off we sampled the wine flight from Italy. Some I liked some I didn't, and one glass was very full of sediment. I kindly asked if she could re poor this glass and that I may have gotten the bottom of the bottle. Her response: "Well this is one of my favorite wines and it just so happens that Italian wines usually have sediment in them so its normal to drink it this way" Okay?? I dont care if you drink your wine with a bunch of dead yeast cells in it,,,,, the rest of the world does not. Sediment needs to be filtered before your serve it to your customer I dont care where the hell it came from. One would think a wine bar would be able to filter and serve a clean glass of wine to experience the different tastes without having to chew sediment. She brought a second glass of wine that was much better, but not clean enough to serve as they should. Now food. We ordered a whole bunch of small plates to share which was okay,,, strange tastes that I dont think work very well; wasabi cilantro hummus? Is this what I was tasting? Im not sure but it was a little strange. Butternut squash with cinnamon was also kind of unpleasing, I think the sodium and cinnamon taste threw me off. All in all it was mostly just meh. The one thing that was absolutely beyond disgusting,,,, which is not that hard to mess up,,,,, was the pita bread served with hummus. Pita bread: Had grilled lines on it as if it were just cooked,, but once I bit into it a cold watery substance came out and noticed the bread was cold and mushy. It really freaked me out and I almost lost it and started crying it was so gross. I poked at the other breads that were stacked in a bowl and the pieces underneath were swimming in water!! I informed the server and had her feel what I had just tasted,, I had said that these must have been previously frozen and not cooked through. Again I get an excuse from this server!!! ********** "Well actually,,,,,, we make everything ourselves in house and from scratch,,, and our chef will grill the bread and then cool it down because if you serve pita bread warm the it wont interact correctly with our house made hummus" WHAT?????? What in the world are you talking about???? Ms,, if you are reading this,,,,, please come off your high horse smug attitude and listen to what people are trying to tell you. I JUST TASTED GOOEY COLD WATERY BREAD WITH GRILL MARK LINES ON IT!!! FIX IT!!!! End of story is she did not fix anything she just left after her stupid little explanation.
(2)
Mark H.
I stumbled upon The Grove (tm) while banking nearby. I hadn't noticed that yet ANOTHER bland strip center had opened on Bee Caves. Kind of a turn of until I saw the mammoth deck under the oak trees at The Grove (tm). It's a combo wine store/restaurant (mainly restaurant) that, of course, has a pretty good wine list. I've had the penne with shrimp and roasted tomatoes which is excellent. The pizza margherita is noteworthy although House Pizza's is better. I even tried the cuban sandwich. Everything is tasty and not too badly priced given the locale. Nice place. Will be back when I'm in the vicinity.
(4)
Lydia C.
Met up with an old friend here. We waited around 20 minutes to be seated outside, and another 10-15 before the food arrived. During the wait, the waiter came by and filled our water, and explained to us that food was a bit behind due to the unusually large lunch crowd today. (+1 for taking the initiative) I order cappuccino, and a slice of pizza (Top Shelf) with salad (Reef's). Nom nom nom. It was the perfect portion for me. Friend order a steak salad, and hubby had Third Coast Linguine. Both looked and smelled amazing. It was gone before I had a chance to ask for a sample. :( Good food surrounded by great company and atmosphere. What more could you ask for?
(4)
Brittany N.
I am definitely a fan! I have been here twice now and both experiences were great. The food, atmosphere, and service were all equally amazing. The wine prices by the glass are extremely reasonable and generous pours! They are more than willing to let you try anything before you order a glass as well to make sure it is what you are looking for. *The people watching here is 2nd to none. Plastic city. Cracks me up. *You can also purchase wine by the bottle to-go in their market area and they often have great deals!
(4)
Nan-hee A.
Great atmosphere. Staff was awesome. Met the owner, who was kind to chat for a bit and really took pride in his place. We had the poke and it was fantastic. Great wine selections. I did the flights menu for wine and that was fun.
(5)
Michelle G.
First off, allow me to address the "Cougar" aspect. Ok, so I've heard it, too. The Grove is apparently THE place to go if you're a divorcee and open to meeting new people. That being said, I'm a people watcher. So I find it all very intriguing. I recently met up with some folks I hadn't seen in awhile and truth be told, it was really hard to stay focused on the conversation at hand when there was so much entertainment happening around me! As such, The Grove is very much a scene and be seen kind of place, worthy of "puttin on the dawg" as I like to call it....so yes, even though you may be sweatin' it out on the patio in 100+ temperatures, please be sure to do so Oh, so fashionably ;) It should come as no surprise that the food (and ambiance) are both done actually very well. Owner Reed Clemons is no stranger to the Austin restaurant scene. The service is EXCELLENT and the food is beyond what you would expect from a strip center off of Bee Caves. And simple, modern decor is always a bonus in my book. It would seem you can't go wrong with anything seafood: ceviche, calimari, crab cakes and the ahi tuna salad are all outstanding. I've had mussels here on occasion, too and they were soooo good. In fact, I was rather disappointed that they weren't offered on my most recent visit. Pizzas are imaginative and sport super thin crusts. (Gluten-free crusts are available, too...nice). And the flights. I'm sorry...what's not to love about flights? Can it get more festive than this? Yes. How about a sparkling flight (a sampling of three different choices) for $14? I only wish it ALWAYS included my favorite, Lucien Albrecht Rose. Pours are generous and I always feel like I'm getting WAY more than a taste:) One final note: Be sure to get a few desserts to share for your table. The "flourless chocolate cake" was To-Die-For.
(4)
Jessica F.
I want to like this place. We come here frequently and keep trying. The food is pretty good and relatively fast. Any time I have asked for anything extra, I get charged for it. Tonight, my $14 beets had just a little goat cheese and so I asked for some extra, bam it was on the bill. Really? They took it off when I complained but if I have to complain the experience is ruined. Another time I asked for a small side of veggies and avocado for my baby. Bam, $7 added onto my bill, $2 for 2 slices of avocado and $5 for a cup of veggies. I expected to pay something, but that was too much. Again, complained and they took it off or lowered it, I can't remember, but that ruined the experience. When I go out and am dropping the kind of money they are charging I don't expect to be nickeled and dimed. We were worried that with Jack Allen's opening their business would be hurt, but really it is them hurting themselves. Jack Allen's food is just as good if not better, they don't nickel and dime us and they are the same price if not cheaper. And they have a full bar. I'll go there instead.
(3)
Stacey B.
The Grove is a staple for my family. We always try to sit on the patio under the huge trees if the weather is nice. I'm a big fan of the wine flights. They have quite a few to choose from. I've never had a bad meal here. Some of my favorites are the bruschetta, pizza, and crabcake salad. The ceviche is also very good. Like I said, you really can't go wrong. I heard they have a new location downtown and am looking forward to checking it out. The only downside is the parking. The lot is often jam packed. They offer complimentary valet though, which is a nice touch.
(5)
Cari P.
Thought for sure I had written a review here as this is a favorite go to place! Lovely indoor outdoor establishment with a fusion of tapas and entrees you should pair with great wine! This particular evening I met the mom to start off Mother's Day with a bang! We started with the cauliflower & shishito peppers with Thai coconut curry sauce. Don't miss this fusion of favors! Next we shared the grilled redfish over orzo & wilted spinach with almonds, grapefruit and oranges. This dish shouldn't be missed either! My tastebuds wanted to scream! My first time won't be my last as this dish was bursting with wonderful favors that complimented each other! Don't forget to partake in the great wine flights while breezing it on the outdoor patio in the grove of trees!
(4)
Ryan P.
Wine bar with great food? Count me in! Staff knows their wine and nailed it on the head with what i was looking for. Couple of things to worry about though: Fruit flies at the bar- management, get on top of this! My water glass had lip stick on it. As much as I love to wear lip stick, today was not the day. Will be suggesting this to coworkers while on my business trip.
(4)
Amanda M.
I've consistently given The Grove a solid 4 stars simply because it's an awesome place but it's never blown me halfway across the universe. I've changed my mind now, because this place serves up some unique amazingness, and ALL of it is good. We went out of the box last time ordering bruschetta (which you can pick 3 different ones, just by the way, for those of you who love variety (ME ME ME)) and spaghetti bolognese. This was an unusual day, because I don't order spaghetti, because I consistently am underwhelmed when I try it. Maybe just because my mom makes it better, but whatever the case, it's never amazed me... but here I was ordering it. It must have been destiny. Well well well (3 holes in the ground), THIS spaghetti bolognese was one of the most amazing pasta dishes I've ever eaten. EVER. The flavors were so bold and fantastic and I couldn't stop. It was amazing. Next time I go, I'm ordering it. And the brushetta options were awesome! 9 Different options! Say what!? Awesome. They were all good, different, and yummy. And to put the cherry on top, our waitress let us mingle and eat our brushetta before even asking us what entree we would like. She let us sit, and sit, and enjoy, and it was soooo nice to be able to chill without feeling rushed or that we were wasting her time. She was a joy. I love this place.
(5)
Jeff U.
After debating where we were going for our date tonight, we gave The Grove one more try. We got our favorite server, Jen, and had a fabulous night. Our favorite bottle of wine is back on the menu, ordered the dinosaur kale salad, mussels, and gluten-free Mediterranean pizza. We also got to catch up with Jen and had an overall great experience. The manager came by our table and reassured us that they were thankful for our review and were working diligently to train the new staff. Thank you for the great night. Our last review is below: {Okay, I'm done. Love the atmosphere, the food and a cpl of servers. The Grove has had HUGE turnover in staff and it has effected our experience here. During our last few experiences here, we have had to pour our own wine (at a wine bar I expect the server to pour our wine) & tonight our server said his day was great until he had to come to work, twice. He then showed us that he was not happy to be here. We almost always make The Grove our weekly date destination. We decided tonight that if the poor service continues we will have to nix this place as our primary date destination. From now on We will call ahead to verify Jenn,Mariah or Laurie is serving or we are out. This is unfortunate to say the least and truly disappointing!}
(5)
Emily V.
Fantastic time! Great service and wonderful food! Loved the patio with the overhead trees. Crab cake salad looked and tasted amazing. Can't wait to go back!
The Grove has a great relaxed environment with an abundance of charm. Eat on the deck with the amazing 'grove' of trees wrapping around you. Though I was there in the day I imagine the charm only increases ten-fold in the evening. Each branch is carefully wrapped with lights to create an amazing evening setting that I am sure is magical. We started with a flight of wine, the white Italian flight of three as it was a warm afternoon and my boyfriend prefers whites and is Italian! All were different, from sweet to dry, to just a little tart. They were all very good and the pores on the flight were more than we expected for a tasting. Worth the money and adventure of trying something new. The food was excellent as well! There are several types of bruschetta to choose from for the best kind of appetizers to start with, and you can't go wrong with any of the choices. The entree was succulent streak with a fabulous gravy, fingerling potatoes and green beans. The veggies were good, the steak, though on the rare side for what I like was amazing! We ordered a pizza as well and I have to say, best pizza I have had in awhile and by far the best in Austin so far! Overall, great atmosphere with wonderful food and wine. Our server was a bit dry, though there were other servers chatting it up and being very engaging with their tables, and really, he could have been having a bad day. We were seated promptly and the experience all around was enjoyable and I will go back!
(5)
Mauriette W.
This place is a family favorite. We all love it & it's a great place to grab a casual dinner or bring your friends from out of town. They have great food & wine and the staff are very friendly. The Asian crisp salad is never a bad choice nor are the fried oysters.
(5)
Anne F.
They had me at 10+ different kinds of wine flights (including bubbly). Also a very nice interior and patio--it's in a strip mall but you basically forget that once you're there. Only complaint (which to some would be a gift) was that the waiter just brought the flights to the table and plopped them down without offering to walk us through the selections. This is not a typical presentation, in my experience.
(4)
Victor O.
UPDATE: I ate here again a month ago on a Sunday. I had a wonderful time. The food was fresh, appropriate temperature, and the atmosphere was fantastic. Service was excellent. I highly recommend going to the Grove for pizza, wine, date night, or just to enjoy a beautiful afternoon. Original Review in 2013: I ate here a 4 years ago and at that time would have given this place 4 stars. I went back this weekend and it was a letdown. Service was okay, but not great. They forgot to refill my hibiscus teas. The pork chop I got was really good, but room temperature. The pizza I tasted was also room temperature and not near the best barbecue chicken pizza I've had. The tomato and shrimp bisque was pretty good, but lacked flavor. I'll probably go to the Grove another time, but I won't be seeking it out. This was just an underwhelming experience that I find it hard to put it on my pizza radar.
(4)
kate a.
Worst service EVER!!!! I've been to this restaurant at least once a month since it opened (so at least 50 times) and never been treated so poorly. We arrived at 6:45 and checked in for a party of 5 for a birthday celebration. This was after having called earlier in the day to try to make a reservation and being told that they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more but that it would be no problem on a Monday night. We waited and waited as party after party of 4 or less were seated ahead of us. I certainly understand that it's more difficult to seat a larger party but this was ridiculous after 20, 30 and then 40 minutes. Several times I talked to the hostess about this and was basically told that there were only 2 tables in whole restaurant (one inside and one outside) that would accommodate a party of our size. I asked several times about moving 2 4-top tables together and was told that was not possible despite the fact that I personally pointed out two tables RIGHT next to each other on more than one occasion. Instead of trying to accommodate a customer, they were more interested in maximizing their through-put so as not to sacrifice a 4-top. The entire time we were subjected to the snobby and elitist attitude of the hostess (who was apparently a manager). Ultimately, we were seated at 7:30 -- exactly 45 minutes after arriving -- on a very slow night. And despite knowing how upset we were about this, absolutely no accommodations were made to our check. Not even the birthday brownie - which we had to pay for!! I'm just glad that Jack Allen's has opened just a couple of miles up 360 and has AWESOME food and, more importantly, customer service! The Grove has lost a customer for good!!
(1)
Hong L.
Service is a little slow with our waiter last night, disappeared for awhile when we needed service. Seating outside is beautiful with the lights wrapped around the trees, very romantic. Food here is okay, not great, but not bad. We ordered the meat lovers pizza and calamari, a little pricey. Crust is thin and calamari isn't doused in oil, which is a plus. Overall, decent.
(3)
V A.
I love this place, everything is always fresh and well prepared, plus they have at least ten wine flights. The restaurant is casual, the service is attentive and efficient, the prices reasonable. The Westlake location has the most beautiful patio, it's completely relaxing - like being on vacation. Try The Grove, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Georgette K.
Great food, great atmosphere, great service, great view!!! What more could you want!! I love the pizza here! The bruschetta is awesome! The Brussels sprouts are amazing! Never had anything I didn't like!
Best Bruschetta I've ever had. Try these: Goat Cheese, Strawberry, Arugula, Balsamic Gorgonzola, Walnuts, Asian Pear, Local Honey Fresh Mozzarella with Tomato, Garlic, and Basil
(5)
Adrienne A.
The Grove is a great spot for dining at night with the family or for date night. It's pretty crowded and the noise level can be high but it's still enjoyable. Lunch time is sooo crowded it's difficult to finding a parking space and ends up being quite a hassle to get in and out quickly. I highly recommend trying any of the wine flights - my favorite are the Italian reds and the Pinot 911. Reasonably priced and always delicious. The brushettta where you pick three styles is also great. I've enjoyed the Brussels sprouts here and most of teh salads. The only thing that didn't impress me was the Mediterranean platter - it sounded good but was ultimately forgettable. If the weather is nice, the outdoor patio is very picturesque and a nice alternative to the cold AC inside.
(4)
Jennifer M.
The Grove's outdoor seating was like a treehouse with twinkle lights..... I loved the atmosphere! We were seated shortly after arriving, and our drinks were brought to us very fast. They have wine flights which are perfect for trying multiple wines, as well as a nice beer selection. We ordered the Adobe Nachos, which had brisket, cheese, pico, and avocado. There was a large slimy fatty piece on one of the nachos, which totally grossed me out, but we still ate the other ones. They were very forgettable. I ordered the salmon, which was grilled with summer veggies and a cilantro pesto rice. It was delicious! My husband ordered the BBQ pizza, which he didn't think was much different than CPK pizza, but he still thought it was good. Prices were reasonable. I would definitely come back for the atmosphere, wine selection, and small plates and variety on the menu. Perfect place for after work girls night !!
Fortunately we arrived at The Grove on a stormy Tuesday night, so there was no wait, although the place was pretty full. We were impressed by the interesting and varied menu with an unselfconscious Mediterranean basis. We came for the pizza, but were diverted by the beet salad and the hallibut. Both were very memorable, and the wheat free chocolate cake was absolutely to die for. It was beyond excellent and was perfectly balanced by a large strawberry. The wine selections are excellent, and the the beer list is pretty good also. I really liked my glass of Multepulciano. This place is creative, cool, and has fantastic food and drink. We didn't get to try the out door space because of the heavy rain, but from what little we could see through the sheets of rain, it looked nice. The indoor area is kid friendly. The noise level was rather high, as could be expected from the acoustics and large number of people. Nevertheless, we really enjoyed the ambiance and could pleasantly carry on a conversation. We went for it again! The next night we had a very flavorful heirloom tomato salad, the chicken entre, and the bread pudding. All were excelent, particularly the heirloom salad and bread pudding. We loved the pecans in the pudding, and the great heirloom tomatoes.
(5)
Dennis S.
Great, well thought out selection of wines by the glass along with a nice fun variety of pre-paired flights that are well presented and generous pours. I know everyone is doing small plates these days, but really impressed with the quality of grazing here. The crispy oysters are a must have. The tuna small plate delicious with great sauce, the spicy shrimp very nice. The only dish that wasn't 5 stars was a sampling of bruschetta, and they were very good, just not on the stellar level of the other plates. Good service, a really pleasant place, great patio.
(5)
Molly G.
Coming from out of town we were looking for a place to hang out while we waited for our friends to meet up with us later in the evening. Scott our server took such good care of us we will always remember The Grove!
(5)
Alexandra T.
This is a good place for lunch or dinner in the Bee Cave/Lakeway area. I love their Avocado BLT sandwich. It's really good. Like really really good. The decor is beautifully modern and I appreciate that they took the extra step to add fabric to the ceiling to cut down on the noise. They view is amazing. Parking is limited but they have valet so it doesn't bother me. The staff has always been delightful.
(4)
Cory K.
The ambience here was vibrant, but the food was just okay. I had the Spaghetti Bolognese, which was a bit creamier than I would expect and the pasta was not as firm as I like. The flavors, though lacking in authenticity, were pleasant enough. Service was perfectly fine, no complaints.
(3)
David A.
The great news about The Grove - they've updated their menus and added MORE fantastic gluten-free items. You can now get the Bruschettas, Sandwiches (including their incredible Kobe Hamburger) and Pasta gluten-free as well as their great gf pizzas. One of the reasons my family goes there so often is that both the normal menu items and the gluten free items are so wonderful that everyone usually has a great meal. The tough news is that typically gluten free items there had a pricey upcharge. After some frustration about the price adders for the gf items, I finally wrote a mail to the info@ address on their website letting them know that I wasn't going to be coming as often as I used to because of the pricing. Surprisingly, within hours I received a mail back from their managing partner stating that they had met with the chef on the mail, reviewed the costs and the pricing, and immediately made adjustments to everything except the pizza (which has been at about the same price for their GF as other places in town so that's not as big a deal). They have reduced the gf adders on all of their items in the system. He said that the menus will take a little while to redo. These changes really do now make the differences in pricing 'nominal'. Three important things that are awesome about The Grove (there are more than three overall!), 1) the atmosphere and the wait staff are always fantastic, 2) the gluten free menu options are really incredible (bruchettas, paninis!!!!), and 3) they have a management team that really does care about their clients and responds. The bad news about this - any savings that I am now going to get from the lower adders for the gf meals is going to be spent away on more trips to The Grove! Whether you are keeping to a gluten-free diet or just love great food in a warm, comfortable environment, The Grove is a great experience.
(5)
Keri B.
If you are allergic to bees and wasps, beware! Me and a coupla my grrlz met for wine here yesterday as House Wine was inconveniently closed at 1 p.m. (I called and they said, Oh, noon is our SUMMER hours. oh, well that makes sense, since it is still 80 degrees outside and there was NO sign on the door to indicate summer was over). One of my friends I call my "lemon friend" cause just like a lemon car, she breaks down alot (I'm such a good friend I know) and it also so happens she's allergic to bee stings (she carries an epi pen with her). We were sat (satten? had been sat? sitted?) outside by the trash and server computer area. We had tons of flies (in fact one fly couple had sex in my friend's water glass...bow chica bow wow..pool sex is hot!), and then the wasps started settling in on our wine glasses. Our waiter, Tyson, was a wasp wrangler! He came on the scene like bug killin fiend! In fact he started wearing a fly swatter in his belt loop so's he could quick draw down on them buggers. It would have been quite amusing to anyone just walking outside to see several servers chasing wasps with menus and swatters and my lemon friend squealing and waving her napkin around. It was a freaking Jerry Lewis movie. Now, personal story aside, the wine list here is extensive and they have multitudes of flights as well. We split the cheese plate which was huge with meats, cheeses, olives and fruits but we weren't too impressed with the cheese selection. Only two of the four had any umph to it. The best part of this visit had to be our waiter. He brought water for the pups, killed several wasps, and when the bartender poured a random accidental glass of wine, he split it into three glasses and gave it to us. Tyson rocks, but next time I will know better than to sit next to the trash, with wine, with sugary fruits, and with a lemon girl who's allergic to wasps.
(4)
Jennifer B.
I have dined at the Grove twice this week- once for dinner and once for takeout lunch. Dinner was fantastic! We ate on the patio, had two salads and a pizza as well as some wine, everything was delicious. Jen was our server, she was attentive and friendly. For lunch I ordered some takeout for my office. When we got back my food was wrong, so I called to ask for the right meal. I was greeted by Michael. He was so helpful and kind on the phone. I work in the customer service industry and was so impressed by him on the phone. When we went back to get the food, he had overcompensated us with my meal and more desserts and greeted us at the door with the bag. So kind. I love the Grove! So happy they treated us so wonderful today. You know I will be back!
(5)
Dillar S.
I have a new place to grab lunch and drink wine! YEA!!! Great menu, slamming service, long wine list, and nice patio. The parking sucks, but it's Austin... what do you expect. I had a chopped salad today, full of veggies, huge portion and the cesar dressing was delicious. My friend had the steak salad and loved it, I didn't try it but the steak looked like it was perfectly cooked, and the portion was huge. I will be back.
(4)
Jens B.
A shrimps life is pretty mundane I would imagine... I mean fleeting around in dirty bayou water, in hopes of chomping on a piece of fish shit or fish wallop.. perhaps a little small micro bacteria thingy... I mean they are pretty much bottom feeders and will probably eat anything that comes their way.... then while blissfully minding your own business some MOFO comes along and rips you from the depths.. slams you on the deck of a boat, stuffs you in an ice cooler and slowly let's you suffocate to death, while freezing your little fins off.. water boarding has nothing on this, to the way a shrimp dies. As the day progresses, someone rips your poop shoot out and you get "cleaned"... ya baby, when I get reincarnated, I want to return as a shrimp... ONLY if I get to sit atop the grits I had for lunch yesterday at The Grove Wine Bar. The Grove is in the snooty part of Austin.. Bee Caves Road, in a shopping center which houses the worst parking lot ever. As I waited for my guest to join me for lunch, I was intrigued by the folks coming in.. Somebody in Bee Caves was driving a Pink Caddy for all the Mary Kay shit some of these wrinkly old crows were wearing.. but hey instead of looking 65.. they looked 64 so all is good.. and let's not talk breast augmentation and girls Capri pants should never be worn after 50.. Just Saying...Anyhow I was bored and then my guest arrived to declare this was a great restaurant and did I like brochette... We got the Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Brochette. It was quite good actually.. perhaps a little spritz of Balsamic would of been nice, but it was tasty. When the waiter came by and announced the specials, he mentioned he only had one. Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits with Wilted Baby Spinach, Apple Smoked Bacon and Shrimp....well slap me stupid.. I'll have 4 of those please.... oh it's an entree portion.. then one please. The dish arrived and the colors were beautiful and the taste was spot on. The grits had a little texture to them and the cheese sauce was awesome. My only detraction was that the tails were still on the shrimp. Unfortunately, I didn't notice so the first shrimp when down a little rough.. the little guy reminded me of what an ordeal he went through for me to eat him and tickled my throat all the way down my gullet. But, after that, the other five didn't stand a chance. I ate the whole bowl, everything.. I was stuffed afterwards.. this was quite a rich plate of food for lunch but worth every bite. I was pretty impressed. We will be having lunch there next Wednesday. and I will see what they have in store for me.... so far so good!
(4)
Colin T.
If you're trying to have a conversation at lunch, sit outside. The interior is unbearably loud. It's also advisable to get there before the rush -- 11:30 was perfect. If you get there later, the parking garage at the bottom of the hill may still have some spaces -- that's where the valets would put it. There are many gluten-free options, including pasta and bread. I went for the beet salad, and went ahead and had them "top" it with steak, so I'd get enough fat and protein to stay full. I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Doug F.
This is a decent wine bar outside of Austin city limits. I have visited here several times over the years. Very upscale as it is located in the West Lake area, so you may see some over-dressed people wearing too much jewelry and make-up , but it's all good :) Good selection of wines. There is a free parking garage nearby as the lot in front is often full. One of the best attractions is the huge oak tree they have outside in the patio area- just go for that alone!
(4)
Leah L.
I am just sitting back down at my desk at work after a 2-hour lunch break and still have not actually had my lunch. So yes, you could say that the following review might sound a bit frustrated - no doubt it will be. We spent so entirely long waiting for a table (only for 3 people) and then waiting for the food, that we actually had to ask them to pre-pay and then package it up to go. I'm frustrated enough that I'm writing this review even before eating my food - and believe me I'm starving. I was starving at 12:15 pm when I arrived. It's now 1:45 pm. I have no doubt that the food will probably be good, and maybe even worth the money I paid for it. Since this does happen to be a restaurant in Westlake, I tend to expect a bit less for my money (or if you'd rather view it as things being more expensive...same thing). It's unfortunate that "because it's Westlake" is the excuse around here. Thank goodness for some of the reputable businesses that don't feel they have to up their prices. Though I suppose if I were also paying for excellent service I would not feel so frustrated. It was not that anyone was rude or nasty either, but that they definitely could have been more accommodating and attentive. The excuse was that "yeah we just got so busy today" but I know good and well that this restaurant is busy every day at lunch. But the last time I was here, I had a much, much better experience. Yes, it was extremely busy and there were a few larger groups (which I know sucks) and I tend to have more patience than I used to but there is a point where it's a bit too much and that was today. There could definitely have been more staff on hand and better organization of the table assignments as well. One of my lunch-mates has worked in the restaurant business for years, and been a waiter himself, yet we all noticed how the waiters had both too many tables, and tables in scattered locations. Not good for them, or us. Believe me, I would like to be sitting here writing a raving review but I just can't. I had high hopes of enjoying a nice lunch in the wonderful weather out on the great patio. None of those things happened. The experience actually made me that frustrated. I do not work in a business where I have the leisure of leaving work for hours at a time. I lose valuable time, I don't get paid, and not to mention probably piss off my boss. I hope that the rest of today can go more smoothly. And maybe I'll be able to update this once I've actually had a chance to eat my lunch...
(2)
Karen P.
I love this place! Someone bought me a gift certificate so we gave it a try. I love the wine tasting menu and the cheese/meat platter was out of this world. I am not usually a fan of pate, but theirs was delish! We sat outside and it was a little hot, but I am sure in the Fall it will be among my top places so enjoy the beautiful weather here in Austin.... over drinks, of couse!
(4)
CIndy N.
I was dragged back to the Grove recently and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. The food was much better with some much welcome additions to the menu and our service was fine until after we were finished with the meal and then she made it abundantly clear that she did not want us to stay and visit. She never once offered to fill our water or tea glasses after they cleared the plates. It was not busy, so there was really no reason for us to be hurried along. Overall, it was a much better experience.
(3)
Fabricio d.
Ah, The Grove............one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Austin. It's a place where everything is backwards. It's the only place in Austin where people will wait 45 minutes in an air conditioned bar for the opportunity to sit outside and sweat, while bypassing the abundance of available seats INSIDE. Why would any sane person do such a thing? B/c outside is a collection of massive & beautiful oaks, under which you dine. It's elegant, it's relaxing, it's Austin. It's a place where the bruschetta is so incredible and rich, by the end of the meal, you can't bear the thought of dessert..........not b/c you're full, but b/c the bruschetta is so dang good, it feels like you had dessert before you even had the main course? How's the food you ask? Don't even look at the menu. Just randomly point at an appetizer and a main course, and no matter what they bring out, you'll leave happy and eager to come back. The Grove is the only place I can eat at, where I can walk away stuffed and still thinking about eating. The food is THAT GOOD. And, we didn't even talk about their killer wine list. Every last bottle is great. I formerly worked in the wine industry as a sommelier. These guys know their wine! So go, eat, and enjoy! It'll be the first of many trips to The Grove. ~ Fabricio
(5)
Mike H.
4 1/2 stars. This place flat out rips! Visiting Austin for a week in early Oct. I ended up eating twice at this place. The Bruchetta options are amazing. The Kobe burger was quite honestly the best burger I've ever eaten. Everything about the Kobe burger was perfect. It's one of those places, high quality food, and just seems everything on the menu is done very well. LOVED this place alot. Wish we had a "The Grove" up in Minnesota. Great bar area and patio too.
(5)
Julienne P.
The view!!!! GORGEOUS!!! The pizza was so good and my kids loved it! Yummy beets salad, bruschetta, calamari! The Hawaiin Poke was just okay. I can't wait to try more delicious items from there! Must have desserts there next time. :)
(4)
Linz Q.
I just got in from The Grove, and I will officially rank it up there with Cru as top wine bars in Austin. It was a beautiful evening and the deck atmosphere was beautiful! I enjoyed the wine flights and the food was delish! I can't wait to go back and try something else. It was Thurs night, and the place was packed! I can only image the crowd loved the place as much as I did. I recommend this place for an intimate date, girls/guys night out, or just a nice happy hour. This is a West Austin MUST!
(5)
Robert A.
Food is pretty good when they get the order right. Honestly, I have never dined in; we always take out. I would suggest checking your to go bag every time. Every time we order they get it wrong. The manager there is very nice though. Recently we ordered 4 entrees. Not one if them was correct. Sadly the person who picked up the food didn't know to look. I called to let the manager know that the staff was lacking. She was very polite, check my story and offered compensation; to which I declined. We ate it, no need to make it free. Any way my advice is to always check your To go orders- otherwise you might be unhappy to go again.
(2)
Tracy W.
We were greeted at the front by a hair twirling, eye ball rolling, gum smacking, bra adjusting, miniskirt wearing bimbo who rolled her eyes when she told us she couldn't seat a partial party (the restaurant was empty). She continued with the most disrespectful stare and pointing and talking loudly (while snapping her gum and twirling her hair and head nodding in our direction) about annoying customers and about partying with the equally inattentive co-"hostess". If there was a manager around I couldn't find one. The food was disappointing and overpriced, our waitress, however, was absolutely delightful, helpful and charming.
(2)
Lisa G.
When the weather is perfect, the Grove is perfect. There's almost nothing better in this world than sitting outdoors at the Grove with good friends, some wine and the Grove's delicious offerings. I love this place and the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars from me is that I decided to quit being so generous. Seriously, the food is great, the menu is unique and ambiance is great, There is nothing to not like about The Grove on a perfect day.
(4)
Dela P.
Grilled salmon was excellent, a nice glaze added alot of flavor. Wine selection was also great, and server was very knowledgeable. The place is very nicely decorated and spacious.
(4)
Austin F.
They make great food and they are super friendly! Absolutely delicious specialty pizzas like fig, prosciutto and gorgonzola. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Happy C.
Great food, great atmosphere! Good place to go after work for wine, or lunch time. They have a great Caesar salad that I pair with their fresh "fried" chicken breast that is wonderful! I love getting their prosecco with cheese platter. Yum.
(5)
Jennifer G.
Like most restaurants in Austin, this place is highly overrated. GREAT Ambiance but the selection of food kinda lacks in my opinion. Great service though.
(3)
Pedro Juan G.
Visiting Austin and my first time to try this place. Service was great and I tried their steak and it was excellent. Their Brussels sprouts was great and the wine selection is wide enough to please oenophiles like myself.
(4)
Lynn N.
Love this restaurant! Outdoor dining, casual, food and service are excellent. Easy to make healthy choices with their salads and proteins. My husband will even eat their Brussel Sprouts!
(5)
dean d.
Bruschetta: build your own practically since they give you so many choices. Venison Chili: a cup of tastiness that made me wish I ordered a bowl. Blue crab cake: so fresh and tasty I thought I was in Baltimore. Other than the need to Valet park, I like this place.
(3)
Brett M.
I've always been a fan of The Grove. It is a great place to eat lunch on business during the week, or with your family at night or on the weekend. They have an excellent menu with a number of different options. As a Gluten Free eater, I'm impressed by the number of GF items and the staff's knowledge around the menu. Most items if not already GF, can be made to suit a Gluten Free diet. They also have an expansive wine menu. I've typically tried wines I have not seen before, and I've usually been impressed. Service is always good and the ambiance inviting, comfortable, and lively at times. Try sitting outside on a good day.
(4)
Leslie J.
Loved everything about our dinner experience here. The atmosphere was amazing (we sat outside under the heater, the lights in the trees were beautiful.) we had the buttermilk fried quail, the fried oysters and the bruschetta trio. Fabulous food and wine!
(5)
Eethiee N.
Great spot for wine tasting. The Patio is a must! They have a great menu. We had the spaghetti bolognese, lamb chops and calamari (a bit over cooked) Try the wine flights!
(5)
Edward P.
Ok, So if you don't give these guys a 5 star review than there is something wrong with YOU! The wine selection is spectacular, correctly priced, and paired immaculately with all of the food; you really can't go wrong, especially with the wine lights! The food? INCREDIBLE! Taste is 5 star, presentation is Vegas-esque, and service is on point! If you can, ask for Laurie as your server! Atmosphere is out of control beautiful! The wine bar is intimate and sexy, the main bar is sleek and fun, and the dining room inside feels shiek....BUT it's the outdoor dining area that is over-the-top perfect. It's the perfect blend of Austin and Miami and Eden. You'll see when sit down. Perfect 1st date spot! Can't wait to go back!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Jacob R.
I really like this place. Good food, especially the pizza and some of the interesting pasta choices. Also great wine selection, one of the best I have seen outside some of the more "fancy" places. The reason I knocked off a star is due to the giant tree outside. Don't get me wrong, it looks nice, and provides shade, but it also sheds like a pack of dogs. I got so many leaves in my drinks and food I eventually had to keep my hand over my drink. Also got hit with a few nuts or what ever the seeds where. Still love the place, and I'm not saying get rid of the tree, I like it. It is just an annoying thing you have to deal with to be able to be blessed with their great food and service.
(4)Paul M.
Unusual combinations of food and drink that will keep you guessing. I recommend the asparagus bruschetta, and any pizza on the menu.
(4)Stylie C.
2nd visit to The Grove last night.. We have had great service and food on both our visits. We brought our dog, and ate on the patio. Wonderful August evening with nice temperatures and a beautiful sunset. They have a great deck. We started it off with the specialty cheese and fruit plate. A little pricey for what was delivered, but a decent Brie, and the compote in the center of the plate was wonderful. I had the Jerk Chicken pasta, the dish had a very full flavor and just the right amount of zing. Jen had Mac and cheese and I must say it was almost fluffy..very light yet still cheesy and delicious. The Grove gets a, " + " for the allowing our dog to hang out, but there is a little gouging going on like 2$ diet cokes and no refills, and the value on the specialty cheese plate. I cannot quite give it 5 full stars, You could consider this 4.5 stars. It's worth the trip.
(4)Bobby S.
Fantastic outdoor patio. Had the pizza as so many raved about it on Yelp. Was really disappointed with it. Not that it was bad. But it certainly wasn't great like people on Yelp say it is. It is basically a Dominoes style crust with gourmet toppings. There is much to like about this place and much to hate too. They won't seat you until the entire party arrives. I totally get it when it is busy. But I have literally sat waiting to be seated when the place was empty at 4:30. You'd think they would want me seated and drinking like a fish while I wait! The waitstaff is friendly. However I strong advise against sitting inside. It can get so loud in there that you have to yell across the table which makes the room even noisier. I have left lunch there feeling exhausted from shouting and all of the noise. Parking is almost impossible. So show up way earlier than you need to. They are kid friendly but definitely not dog friendly as indicated by a sign posted on their door.
(2)John E.
The gluten-free pasta is terrific. My wife had to stop eating traditional pastas and missed it. But The Grove has filled a huge need. The dish with mushrooms and prosciutto has a bit of a kick and is delicious, even for those who don't usually like gluten-free pastas. Pair with a nice wine from their broad selection and you'll get the evening off to a good start.
(4)M B.
The Grove is a great place for 360/Bee Caves worker bees to go for lunch when you have a bit of time and want something nicer than Chik-Fil-A. (I'm not knocking Chik-Fil-A, which I love, by the way.) The food is mostly vaguely Italian - bruschettas, pizzas, paninis, and an excellent selection of upscale salads. I had a "Don't Have A Cow, Man" pizza, which was really wonderful - it came packed with grilled veggies, pesto, and was light on the cheese just like I had specifically requested. I also had a Reed's side salad - greens, crumbled blue cheese, pecans, and one of the best balsamic vinaigrettes I've ever had. I went with a group of work colleagues, most of whom got meal salads, and while I didn't get to sample them, I can report that the steak salad, the sesame ahi tuna salad, miso salmon salad, and crab cake salad all looked amazing and each without exception got high marks from their consumers. This is a very good place for the salad lover. Interior was standard trendy wine bar - lots of white and bold graphic elements. Very nice, must better than you'd expect from the strip mall location, but overall nothing particularly special, except I did like the wallpaper in the women's bathroom. Seriously - check it out - it's pretty neat. The main downside of the place was that it was really, really loud. All those hard surfaces made it very hard to hear, and our group was even seated a bit apart from the main dining room. It might be OK for conversation between two across a small table, but if you are going in a large group, call ahead and ask for the special separate seating area (seats up to about 10) or be prepared to have no idea what people are saying down at the other end of the table. If you don't like noise, don't go during peak times, or sit outside on the huge, tree covered deck. The other thing worth noting is that it is pretty expensive - meal salads run about $12-$15, for instance. My pizza, side salad and iced tea was about $20. I don't know about you, but in these tough times, I don't plan to indulge in $20 lunches regularly.
(4)Susan A.
Awful! All around awful. Chucky cheese with wine. I have, unfortunately, been here many times. The food I have had was decent. Mainly salads and pastas. But everything else is awful and the food is just okay and therefore can't make up for all of the other shortcomings. Cons: service sucks. Once my husband was actually served his entree after everyone else at the table had completed eating. The waiter served him at least 20 minutes after everyone else at the table without explanation or apology and even had the balls to ask if anyone saved room for dessert as he out my husbands plate down. The other times the wait staff has either been MIA or snotty. Horrible. As everyone has said, the parking is unbelievably bad. There are horribly behaved children running everywhere. This place is really just Chucky Cheese with wine. Is that the managements fault? Yes! When you are a "wine bar" and every seat at the bar is occupied by a child with a sippy cup, that is your fault for allowing that to happen. They have a really ridiculously early cut off time for take out. They have now opened a take out restaurant next door to fill the void which is so stupid it makes me pray they quickly go out of business. You won't let people do take out from restaurant one, but will pay to open another restaurant just for take out? Stupid people should fail in life and these people deserve to fail. It is a great space and I am so excited to see what is going to take over when this place goes belly up.
(1)Kris U.
This is a trendy place for the location, and so if you build it....they will come! And "they" (assorted Westlakians: soccer moms, golfers, women just from the tennis courts or yoga studios, executives, entrepreneurs, guys that still wear gold chains and yes, oh yes, cougars-a-plenty) keep the place hopping, especially on busy weekend nights. Two great things about this place is it's wine selection (and well put together flights) and the lovely outdoor deck centered around an enormous tree. I've been told the owners are very personally involved in the wine decisions and fortunately they seem to know what they're doing. The friendly bartenders/servers are very knowledgeable about their wines, and thus are truly helpful with recommendations. A good appetizer here is the bruschetta, which comes with a variety of spreads and you get to choose three (I highly recommend the olive tapenade and sundried tomatoes, and the roasted peppers with goat cheese). I also like the Mediterranean pizza (a fun twist on a veggie pizza, this one has grilled squash, kalamata olives, red onions and spinach, plus feta and mozzarella cheese with a nice mariana sauce).
(4)Jorge A.
The Grove: WINE, WINE, WINE, WINE, STINKY, STINKY, STINKY CHEESE PIZZA! This is one of my beautiful wife's favorite restaurants in the area and I have to agree with her on the enjoyment of this restaurant wine bar. We like to order the wine lover's pizza... large please... Oh by the way let me have a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon! Funny because when the ticket gets to you the wine lover's pizza rings as THE STINKY CHEESE PIZZA. It is stinky, but very good! I do recommend this restaurant to all, the service is excellent, the food is great and the atmosphere out on the deck is very inviting during the evening hours. Don't worry about the heat if you want to sit on the deck next to that big oak tree, they have huge fans that circulate the air and it feels good. We have ordered several dishes and appetizers and so far everything we have tried is just below excellent, that means pretty GOOD! The J
(4)John G.
The Grove is tucked away in a small strip center near the County Line BBQ on Bee Caves Road. I have never sat in the restaurant, so my comments are about the bar only. Everyone that I have encountered at The Grove has been very laid back and cool. The bartenders have been very knowledgeable about their wines and seem to be very in to what they do. We like to stop in for appetizers and a flight of wines. Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon, sometimes on a Friday evening. Either times, I have always had great service. The crab cakes are some of the best I've had! I love the fact that the wines come from smaller vineyards and have all been ones that I have scarcely heard anything about. This allows me to learn about something new while having a few drinks. I can recommend hanging out here for drinks, but I will say to be on the look out for the cougars. They seem to be in abundance and ready to pounce! Not that it is a bad thing...
(5)DarthMulle T.
Not what I expected. It's OK for wine but the food was really lacking for the price, $16 entree salads lacked protein and the oils weren't very good on them. The server recommended fish tacos and they were practically inedible. I mean it, the fish didn't taste fresh and the cabbage was wet. The worst part was the tortillas tasted like mission tortillas warmed up in a microwave and the black beans were most assuredly canned. I was shocked at how poor the food quality was. The hummus and pita bread weren't that great either, which you would REALLY expect to be up to par at a wine bar. I remembered why it had been so long since I had been there driving home. Such a shame for the prices they charge. Worst fish tacos in Austin, I dare you to find worse.
(2)Tara M.
My happy experience at The Grove has a story behind it so bare with me. Turn on Katy Perry "I kissed a Girl" and put it on replay while I tell my story.... I met a cute girl at the Bull Creek off leash dog park and we started talking about places we could drink with our dogs and one thing lead to another and we had a date at The Grove... I am a South Austin Gal and rarely venture into Westlake but this place and my cute new friend had me putting away my judgements and values for the night.. "It felt so wrong it felt so right"... We shared the Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna and Panko crusted Crab Cakes pared with the perfect red wine. Sorry I was too distracted to remember the wine... The Waitress recommended it and it was a perfect pairing... We enjoyed some amazing wine and yummy appetizers on the patio that allowed our butt sniffers. Which, led to much fun afterward.... Yay! I"m a fan of this place.....
(4)Kevin N.
So I was charged Friday night with finding a place to dine that wasn't already part of our circadian rhythm dinner habit, and based on some of the flattering reviews of this place, I decided we'd try give the Grove a whirl. It doesn't take much detective work to sort out why this place is so decidedly likable. from the bright colors permeating throughout, to the overtly friendly service, to the fact that they'll whack 15% or so (as I recall) off of any unopened bottle you buy retail and take home here. We caught dinner on the patio on one of those perfect Austin nights when the breezes hold out like satin gloves, and pairing a tasty zinfandel with my Italian entree seemed only too natural. There are a few flat screens up in case you want to keep up with the game, but those aren't the star of the show. That would be you...and your date, and a perfect glass of wine in the moonlight that goes for days.
(4)Jeff L.
The wine flights are worth a trip alone... We've adopted several European wines into our home selections just from being able to try them as part of one of the flights. There are some surprising values on the Grove wine menu. The pizza is consistently good as are the pasta dishes- and be sure to try the 'choose your combo' bruscetta. Service can be hit or miss with never a truly negative experience, but sometimes just unattentive. Weather allowing sit outside as the noise level inside can be annoying.
(4)Allison P.
With The Grove being located out in Westlake, I had expectations that it would be over-priced or over-snobby, and it kept me from going here. Well, I finally got around to checking it out, because it is just too hard for me to resist a wine bar. And my assumptions were completely off. The Grove is cool and relaxed with a nice aesthetic. There were more families here than I expected, which I guess is understandable since it is not near downtown. I thought the menu was very reasonably priced and I had a hard time deciding on an entrée. I finally went with the grilled chicken and goat cheese pannini. I was disappointed that the mussels on the appetizer menu were no longer being served. We sat out on the patio for a nice, laid back dinner. It does sit in a small strip mall, so the view is not going to be that serene. I will be back for another glass of vino though!
(4)Timo R.
solid joint. good, fresh food at fair prices. the wines and outer deck are great. kind of a cougar den by night, ya dig?
(4)Diana N.
This restaurant is a bit far from downtown and central Austin but we decided to give it a try because it had great reviews on Yelp. Pros: -Food: We ordered Fried Oysters, A pasta dish and a pizza. The food was very tasteful and portions were appropriate for the dinner menu. -Service: The waitress was friendly and processed our order quickly. -Atmosphere: Inside is very quaint and warm and outside patio is set nicely for dinner service. Cons: -Location: If not for the location, we would definitely give this place 5 stars. -Parking: Parking can be problematic if you go during rush. We came at an earlier time so we were able to find parking, but as the restaurant filled, people were driving around looking for spaces. We would come back someday when we are in the area.
(4)Sarah T.
$12 beet and goat cheese salad - very very little goat cheese. Wondered if they ran out of goat cheese, there was so little sprinkled on the salad. Not worth the price.
(2)Jackie C.
After seeking Gluten-Free options from yelp on our short stay in Austin my wife and I chose to try out The Grove. We did not have a reservation and were seated on the patio promptly. The patio is wonderful, the weather was perfect and the very large oak tree was very pleasant to sit under. Our waiter was very good, my wife use to serve at a wine bar in Columbus, OH and was impressed by his knowledge of their menu. I am not a big wine guy, but she loves it and was very pleased with our Chilean selection. (Very good and usually on the cheaper end). The real reason we came here is because of the gluten-free options. All of their pasta and pizza dishes are available GF. We decided to go with two different GF pizzas the "Top Shelf" and the "Popeye and Olive Oil". Both were delicious and after trying many different GF pizzas over the years I can say this is the best that we have tasted. If we lived in the area this place would surely become a regular spot!
(5)Leslie R.
Tried this West Austin wine bar last night, and really enjoyed it. The service was great, there were at least ten different flights to choose from and they were generous with their pours! I had the sauv blanc flight and my fiance had the "que syrah, shiraz" flight. his flight paired well with their meat and cheese sampler while mine stood well on its own. As for entrees, I had a Reed salad which tasted fresh and had a generous mix of candied pecans and feta. Fiance tried the BBQ pizza. The pizza was ok, but the crust was a bit too chewy and didn't have much flavor. I highly recommend going for the wine and love sampler though. The main downside of the experience for me was that I sat outside next to some bushes and at the end of the meal a giant cockroach crawled from the bushes right onto my napkin, not really their fault though, just scared the crap out of me!
(4)Holly M.
Awesome, charming yet family friendly place with a great wine list and yummy food. Service is great too. Amazing outdoor deck and fun, chatty bar inside! One of my faves.
(4)Anna D.
Wow what a sweet find! Dishes are artfully prepared and tasty. They use lots of fresh herbs in dishes. Hip & trendy, patio under big old oaks! Inside feels like a restaurant on 2nd Street. Hidden off the street (bee caves) but look for it / so worth it. My favorite summertime patio lunch place!
(5)Jill M.
Some friends and I dropped by here for wine and dessert this evening. We enjoyed the outdoor seating, especially since we were by the waterfall. The wait was about 20 min. on a Friday night at 8:30pm, which seemed pretty reasonable. The chocolate dessert, which we split between 3 people, was excellent. It seemed somewhere in between fudge and cake--very decadent! We also found the wines more than satisfactory, though some exceeded our price range. Even the lower priced wines ($6-8) tasted quite good though, and The Grove offers a wide variety of wines, both red and white by the bottle and glass. I'd like to return for dinner because the pizzas smelled REALLY good! I wore jeans, but many people were a little more dressy (not fancy, but very stylish). If I returned, I might snazz it up a bit, and I recommend you do the same. :)
(5)Rick G.
I went there this afternoon for a working lunch with 3 other people. The big tree is amazing, and the giant ceiling fan is something to see. I had the chicken salad, a couple of people the Ahi tuna salad, and one person the Popeye and Olive Oyl pizza. The food was all very good. Only one person had wine. If I could split stars, I'd give them a 3.5, but since I can't, I'll round up. I'll go back again with friends to try some wines and a few of the appetizers, and I'll update my review then. For now, after 1 visit, I found it to be comfortable and the staff was friendly and efficient. The decor is a little modern for my tastes (I like lots of dark wood, but that huge tree certainly counts as some wood), but it was still very comfortable.
(4)anne r.
So living on the border of SXSW - listening to the music (and traffic noise) and watching the moonrise from my balcony, I knew that when a (sick) friend called and asked me to bring them a steak salad, I wasn't going into the chaos DT to get it. Instead I headed to The Grove. Now mind you, I would much rather sit there an enjoy a glass of wine (or two) and socialize, I found it a very pleasant experience just to get food to go. Why I didn't call my order in, I don't know but Benny, the "wine-tender" took my order and it was ready in no time. And even on a busy Saturday night took the time to say hi between serving others. I think the steak salad there is one of the best in town and hope that my friend enjoyed it when I dropped it off. I had the tuna one myself to go and it was also awesome - Nice piece of fresh sushi grade tuna cooked (or in this case not cooked - the rarer the better), Great mix of fresh dark greens, and the dressing is awesome. And although I missed not having the wine this night, it was nice to get back to the balcony in time for the fireworks reflections off the city skyline and enjoy my dinner. Only regret - not getting dessert or a bottle to go....
(5)Austin T.
THREE star good food and very ok wait staff. High volume lunch and dinner spot in Westlake and crazy parking.
(3)Carrie S.
Yum!!! The Grove- - has a pretty good selection of wines by the glass for $8 and under - the patio is pretty - they have gluten free pizza crust AND pasta - and the Wine Lover's (aka Stinky Cheese) pizza is super good (prosciutto, blue cheese, fontina, and arugula!) I could see how your meal could get expensive if you ordered appetizers and sides, but I felt that our medium gluten free pizza and 3 glasses of wine were a pretty good deal at $38!
(4)KC C.
A wide variety of wines at good price points with generous pour size. The pizzas are a must, always delicious. Service with a smile.
(5)Lida Z.
I love this place, great atmosphere, great wine. I wii say, service is sometimes lacking... But, more important, heads up to puppy lovers--they no longer allow dogs on the patio. A real disappointment!
(4)Melanie H.
One of my fave spots to hit on a pretty day, their deck under the big tree is awesome when it's a gorgeous day. They have a good wine selection and some tasty food. I'm a fan of the bruschetta plate, their house-smoked salmon is very good and I can never pass up the apple/brie/fig. I've never had anything on the menu that I've disliked.
(4)Suzie B.
Met some friends for dinner here on a Wednesday night and had a great time. They were already there and had a table, so I didn't experience the wait time I've been reading about. The service was professional and unobtrusive, and the food was good. We had a couple of appetizers, and I had the Miso Salmon Salad entree. The salmon portion was small for the price, but the greens had yummy little crunchy fried onions in them, and it all mixed together nicely. I couldn't eat it all, which means I either ate too much bruchetta or drank way too much wine. Good wine. Yeah. Every time. The only negative was the noise level inside. Next time we'll check out the lovely patio.
(4)Liza K.
I've had the salads, bruschetta, panini's and all were rather good. I haven't tried the pizza yet so I'll have to get back to you on that one. The food here is great and fresh tasting. Parking is sometimes a pain at lunch time, so get there early. The only thing I had there and hated was the cheese plate...it actually made me weep...j/k I was sad though...but hey, now I know. The cheeses were below average and they served it with really thin crackers, which broke every time I tried to spread the cheese on them. Which as you can imagine is highly frustrating. I have to say I can live with a less than perfect cheese plate if I have several other good options..and the Grove does!
(4)Mica M.
If the Grove were a person, it would be that cute girl in your accounting class who didn't seem to try very hard, but somehow managed to pull straight A's. The atmosphere at the Grove is casual, and the crowd ranges from business suits fresh from the office to cut-offs right off the lake. The wait staff are always helpful with wine pairing recommendations, and are low-key but friendly. I really like the bruscetta, especially the fig, brie and apple concoction. They also have a nice Reed's salad with a tangy honey balsamic dressing that's quite tasty. The Grove is a nice little wine bar with good grub. The patio is my favorite part, and I always sit out there when the weather is nice. Be sure to check out Lola Savannah, the attached coffee lounge after dinner. Their coffee is super strong, and the beans are a deep, dark espresso roast. A great way to end a meal.
(4)Erin M.
This restaurant was fantastic! From the service to the atmosphere to the food. I recently visited with three of my girlfriends and we enjoyed great company, service, wine and food. Really what more could a girl ask for! I can't wait to return to this gem soon.
(4)Lorie M.
The Grove has one of my favorite patios, mainly because of the massive tree in the middle. Also notable, look up at the giant fan they have installed up there. It's actually brand-named, "Big Ass Fans." The wine list is incredible, and the food is very good and perfect for pairings with wine. Great place overall, one of my favorites. I like the salad with seared tuna and the bruschetta. I did have a run-in one time here with the staff over their attempt to KILL HONEYBEES with bug spray. HELLO??? They were attracting bees because they serve wine and maybe there were some spills or something-- and then they put cups of honey out to draw the bees away from the tables. Not a good idea. Someone came out with wasp spray and I had to say something. If you see a bee, let her be. :) They should have moved the honey out to the field behind the restaurant and then just left them alone. All that aside, it's a wonderful place to eat. People-- never, ever kill honeybees. They are responsible for pollinating 1/3 of the food on your plate. If you spray them with pesticide, they'll take some of that back to the hive and poison others. NOT GOOD.
(4)Brandon J.
This is one of our favorite places to go for wine and dinner, especially if it's nice enough to sit outside on their great patio. We recommend sticking to their entrees and avoiding their pizzas. We've had there pizza a couple times and have never really cared for it. Their pastas are excellent and the waiter have great wine knowledge for recommending good wines. The carb cakes are also very good for a starter.
(5)Susie G.
Can more amazing places like this exist? Any if they exist, can they exist closer to my neck of the woods ( north austin?) So the boyfriend has a mad craving for pizza... and I have a wheat allergy. Those two things kinda dont mix well together. After yelping "gluten free pizza" ...this little gem popped up. Excited by the reviews we booked it immediately to The Grove in Westlake Hills. What I loved. - They were packed but we were seated immediately - Our waitress was calm and friendly and attentive - The wine was yummy! - ANY pasta or pizza can be made gluten free!!! - The Pizza we has , Popeye and Olive Oil was amazing ( order With the bacon), and the tomato seafood bisque gets high points as well. - The pizzas were reasonably priced. - Our desert, a GF chocolate torte, was out of this world awesome. ( Nether one of us wanted to drink anything after so we could continue tasting it...that only sort of worked.) - All in all ...amazing experience What almost lost a star - Appetizers costing almost as much as pizza - Fairly expensive ( and extensive wine listing.) I wish they had 4 dollar wine, but hey its a wine bar so I won't fault them. - Having an additional 4 dollar charge for the GF crust. This would not have bothered me except that we were not told about it or read it on the menu before hand. Please put that on there, patrons will be understanding. - GF crust only coming in Medium, not large Really fabulous time. 2 glasses of wine, pizza, soup and chocolate dessert, under 50 bucks with tax and tip. A splurge, but a nice one.
(5)Caitlin N.
This is a good go-to. They have a great wine selection and I agree that their pizza is probably one of the best choices on the menu. I've had varying service here and the food is usually adequate-to-good, not good-to-excellent--hence, the 4 stars. I'm not sure if I would classify the patrons as hoity-toity or preppy necessarily, as I see many different types of people dine here. But do keep in mind that it's in Westlake/Bee Cave and if you don't like that kind of atmosphere, then don't go (and complain when it isn't your cup of SoCo tea). :-P It's worth a shot! Especially if you like wine flights and hors d'oeuvres.
(4)Kayte H.
RAAAAAGE! I was told to meet my friends here for lunch, as they both love wine. Apparently, every girl past twenty just loooooves wine, but I still think it tastes like easter egg dye. However! As I am not one to pass up a gossip fest, I drove over. First, why don't we start with the absolute NIGHTMARE that is the parking lot. HORRIBLE! I'm pretty sure I shaved off a few years from my life just from being so pissed off, and that is saying something for someone that parks downtown at least once a weekend. First, it's overly hilly and narrow. Two cars can't get past each other at once so there's that awkward stop-go thing. Second, the spots are too small. I kid you not, a very nicely parked VW beetle was still over the line. Anything larger just parked between two spaces. Third, 90% of the spots are reserved for businesses that are NOT the Grove, which is the ONLY reason people are in the center to begin with. Fourth, there IS a parking garage, but oh wait! It's blocked off completely for valet parking. ...I'm sorry...what? If you've read any of my previous reviews, you know I am cheap, and valet parking is something I do not do. Even if it's complimentary, I can park my car myself thank you. Also, unless you are a jacka**, its not going to be complimentary as you have to tip. So after ten minutes of circling like a hawk, I bit the bullet and paid someone to park my crappy car in a garage I could have very easily parked in myself. Me: *sarcastically* Great parking around here! Valet: *grin* That's why they have us. ...This was not a good start. So the place is already on a wait, but they tell us we can sit outside and that there are heaters set up. We sit down and...brrr, it's pretty cold! But a heater was right next to the table so surely we would be warm up soon, right? Wrong. Several minutes later we are still cold and you guessed it, the heater was not working. I got to spend the rest of the meal with a man squatting uncomfortably close to me while he tried to repair the heater (of course, nobody apologized). We all got the pizza/salad lunch combo, which was pretty fairly priced considering the level of pretentiousness, but it was not worth the money. I got the house salad and the 'Chicken Little' slice of pizza and all I can say is...bland. So bland. I would have killed for some hot sauce for my monochromatic bore of a pizza. Additionally, my friend ordered a diet coke. Not only was it not a fountain coke, they gave her a can with a straw in it. No glass, a can. With a straw in it. Two bucks. Like I said, RAAAAGE! Two stars for looking relatively pretty and having edible food.
(2)Jim C.
Very nice little place with lots of outside patio space under big trees. Lots of tasty appetizers. Wine flights! Limited and mundane entree selection though... it's like the appetizer section and the entree section belong to two different restaurants. I'd just do a bunch of appetizers for dinner. Add a star if you're just going there for drinks and appetizers.
(3)Katie B.
BY FAR THE BEST WINE BAR IN AUSTIN!!! I absolutely love EVERYTHING about The Grove. The wine selection is fabulous, the food is delicious, the prices are super affordable, the atmosphere is fun & fresh, & the service is TOP NOTCH! We ALWAYS choose the Grove Wine Bar for every single family special event as well as date nights & drinks with friends! Whether you sit inside in the cozy main room or on the fabulous outdoor patio, you WILL NOT be disappointed! Seriously! Try the LOVE PLATTER & the Chardonnay Wine Flight! YUMMMM!
(5)Pizza H.
Picking up a late lunch I decided to stop at The Grove wine bar and kitchen. This place was started as just a wine bar and later added a full menu. We had heard good things about the pizzas they were making so we went to check it out. The place is about a 15 min drive from downtown Austin but is perfect for the area that lacks just about everything. It's in a strip mall on a hill with very limited parking, and features a beautiful outside patio that is warm and welcoming. We decided to have a seat at the bar to talk more with the bartender. We were quickly welcomed by our very nice bartender that went over some of the wines for us. The wine menu is pretty impressive and the crew is extremely outgoing, willing to teach and let you sample whatever wines you want. We ordered a fresh mozzarella with a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella. The pie came out and I could already tell they killed it. My hopes and dreams of loving this place that had a lot going for it were crushed. The crust was soft and airy with a beautiful chew; the sauce was light and non-threatening to the pie. The fresh mozzarella had little to no flavor as did the shredded mozzarella, but as you can see in the pictures, the pie was loaded with huge chunks of garlic. I don't mind a little garlic to enhance the flavor a little on a white pie, but barely cooked hunks of garlic on a regular cheese and sauce pie is not needed. With nearly every bite I crunched into a piece of garlic. It overpowered the whole pie, and killed what could have been just a good light pizza. Overall I think they are doing a lot right at The Grove though. If you are looking for a great salad or wine bar I think this place might be the best in town, but if you are looking for a pie with a glass of wine I would say grab a slice from somewhere else and eat it in your car with a wine bottle that you bought from there or something. I will be trying the pizza again minus all the garlic to better give a review of what their pizza flavored pizza tastes like.
(3)Darren P.
Great patio and dinner spot (among very slim pickens in west Austin) for a family with young kids when you eat outside. Excellent wine selection but the entree menu could use a little more diversity. I recommend it for an easy option after a long day at work.
(4)Benjamin C.
A nice gem in Westlake. Pizza and Pastas are really good. The wine flights are a great way to try several wines. They provide descriptions of each wine in the flight. The atmosphere outdoors is great on a nice afternoon. Great place to go for an early happy hour. A couple of wine flights and small plates and you'll be set.
(4)Kristin S.
Yay! I loved it. I met a friend there for lunch today at her request; she is a regular customer and has exclusive tastes, so I trust her judgment. I had the crab cake salad, which was perfect. The crab cake was chock-full of crab with a light breaded crust, and the champagne vinaigrette had a tiny tang that went well with the crab. The service was attentive and sincere, and the patio clean and wonderful on day like this. I'm thinking date night there next week would be perfect.
(4)Christophe B.
Besides the fantastic wine selection and the great terrace, their menu is something amazing for all the gluten and wheat allergic people out there. All the pasta and pizzas are available in rice flour. We were all able to enjoy the wine and dinner. This Grove is an absolute great place.
(5)A N.
The good The food is super delicious and they have great selection of wines. The bad: Our waiter was negligent, inattentive, and downright apathetic about our experience. We were not offered silverware or napkins and had to wait a solid 10 minutes after our food came out to receive any. Not once were we offered water refills. When we wanted dessert, and later the check, the waiter was nowhere to be found. Finally, we were seated in the back corner where all the dishes were clanging together as they were being put away when there were plenty of open tables out in the open. In the future I'll probably just get food and a bottle of wine to go, not worth eating sitting down to eat. UPDATED: Matt reached out to me and explained that some new staff members are currently under training. My second visit to the grove was far more pleasant. The food and wine were both still spectacular and our waiter gave us a thorough briefing on their wine flights and appropriate food pairings. He was attentive, friendly, and seemed to genuinely enjoy having us as customers. I definitely recommend the fig, brie, and apple bruschetta.
(5)Sherry G.
Love the Grove. Cara is an amazing server. I'd love to have her at our table every time we're there.
(5)Tommy F.
Great location and a very fun place to grab a drink and/or bite to eat.. Ample seating for outdoor dining on a nice night. The past two visits I got the salmon dish which I feel like is a hidden gem. I have never had a salmon dish prepared as well anywhere else. The rice and asparagus with it are always fresh and properly cooked. I know they have a lot of pizza dishes but if you like salmon you can't pass it up. Great selection of wine and the servers are always friendly. Parking can be a little bit hectic on a busy night but there are some spots around back if you can't find something right away.
(4)Vince A.
Good but a little pricey, I like this spot for a nice glass of wine in the evening. I suggest trying the different flights they have available. These are a great value and the staff is really knowledgeable. This is an elegant spot with a great Austin flair.
(3)Jill H.
Stay away from the pizza!!! Soggy, bloppy, mess. Have NEVER had a good pizza here. Everything else is good. Nice modern decor, great patio. Great wine list, mediocre beer list.
(3)Minnie E.
I've hearing about this little place. I love the ambience. The patio is awesome with the huge trees and the chairs are comfy. The service is a-ok. I split the bruschetta and the jerk chicken pasta. It was fantastic. I also did the salad and slice of pizza special. It was alright, nothing spectacular. I'd go back again maybe for dinner, I didn't get to try any wine. As Arnold says....I'll be back!
(4)Jennifer G.
After I wrote my first review, I was contacted by one of the owners apologizing for the mussels. He asked me to give the Grove another try so I rounded up my 6 girlfriends and back we went! I arrived a bit early with one of my friends and the place was packed! It was a cold night so no one wanted to be outside. We stood in the bar area slightly overwhelmed and not knowing what to do when one of the bartenders came from behind the bar and made sure that everyone in the area was able to order a glass of wine. My friend and I were completely impressed by the service. Our entire party arrived and we moved back to the coffee shop area and sat in a big booth in the back corner. We all ordered more wine, mussels, bruscetta, and the spinach pizza. I am still dreaming about the pizza...mmm! The food was lovely and the service was top notch. We were never looking for the servers to refill a wine glass - they were on it! I really love The Grove because it has the trifecta of what makes a good restaurant - great service, food and ambiance! The people of the Grove are passionate and care about the restaurant which shines through to anyone who visits!
(5)Joe V.
I called and asked for a reservation. They don't take reservations for parties less than 6, and for any time past 6:30. Weak. In a city this busy, it's nice to be able to reserve a table vs. wait, wait, wait. I've run across several places like this and it's just bad business.
(1)Jacob M.
The pizza was good but my friend was served some sushi (tuna) that was dark brown in color. We mentioned we had never had sushi this color (including at Uchi, Mushashino, etc) before and that it seemed off. The cook came out and says that it was normal (normal but apparently not seen like that ANYWHERE else). It smelled funny and the lil tastes we tried tasted bad. B. A. D. We left it alone and did not eat it as we (my table) agreed it was either old, bad, or a big risk to eat. No reparations or a send back were offered by the staff or the chef which is a minus in my book as they could have offered an alternative at the very least. Looks like they were trying to pawn off old fish on us.
(3)Hayley G.
Yay, I'm definitely a fan! Everything I've ordered here has been really delicious, as have the wines and the wine flights. And, of course, the only other place in the running for Best Trees To Eat Under In Austin is probably Shady Grove. The Fettuccine with Prosciutto & Mushrooms (yum)! The bruschettas (yum)! The crab cake salad (yum)! The Third Coast Linguine blows Enoteca Vespaio's similar dish right out of the water (double yum)! By the way, at Vespaio, the dish (seafood arrabiata) is ridiculously greasy. Parking, as with my Lola Savannah review, is very tight, particularly at lunch on weekdays. Just don't even try. Why they made so many compact car spots when 95% of the people who come here drive pickups or SUV's is beyond me.
(4)Bryan M.
Went on a Sat., for lunch. Popular, but no wait. Good natured service staff. Food was good. Menu is limited to pizza (surprise), pasta, salads, a few sandwhiches, and a really good Kobe burger. Indoor and outdoor seating. Casual.
(4)Sam Y.
This place was a good find. It's hard to get quality Italian food anywhere in town. You have your chain places like Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill. But if you are looking for a step, up from that, it's hard to find. Enter The Grove. The food choices are great. We've been twice and had the crab cakes both times. These are probably one of the best crab cakes I've ever had. They are made with fresh crab meat. Nothing fishy tasting about them. Chunks of crab meat. They also have a great crisp on the outside. The salad is nutty in flavor, and the sauce is a little thousand-islandish, but all complement each other. We've also had the bolognese, prosciutto and mushrooms, third coast linguine. The bad thing about the food is that it is heavy. Buttery, oily.. they have great flavors and the pasta is al dente. But it just feels heavy. There's also a great wine selection. And the flights are reasonably price. The bad part is definitely the service. Both times we went around 11:30am. Hardly anyone in the restaurant. Maybe just 1 or 2 tables. So you would expect to be seated immediately. Noooooo. First, all the wait staff and hostesses are just walking around aimlessly. They make you wait a few mins until they finally approach you. You ask for a table, then they take another 5 mins trying to find you a table. THE WHOLE PLACE IS EMPTY!!! You can seat us anywhere!! Then when you sit down, it takes another 5 mins for the waiter/waitress to come up and take your order. So bizarre...I can't imagine what this place looks like when it's actually busy! They are expanding right next door, so it seems like business is good..
(3)Aimee B.
This place is all about deck. It's not the biggest deck I have seen, but definitely an above average deck. I have experienced many a deck in my day, and I would have to say that I wouldn't mind sitting on this deck again....ok, enough with the deck jokes. It's a great lunch spot for those of us not "cool" enough to work downtown. I have had the pizza (I recommend the Sausage Gone Wild), The Granite House salad, and the Seared Ahi tuna salad. All were great. Was it the best pizza or salad I have ever had? No, but it was definitely above average, and with the nice patio, i could definitely chill out here for an after work happy hour or something.
(4)Chas E.
I like both the wine and food at this place. Great pizza. Decent wine choices. All that and views of the best plastic surgery Westlake has to offer. Kidding of course, but it does seem like this place is very popular with the Range Rover set. Pros: good wine selection, pizza, love the patio! The bar seating is handy for a quick lunch too. Cons: The wine pours always seem a little skimpy. Come on - fill 'er up. Gets pricey pretty quick.
(3)Kevin K.
i just went here yesterday and the place was awesome!! They have a HUGE wine menu and food was very good. My friends told me about this place and said the wine selection is AMAZING but they said the food was just average... i have to agree with the wine part and STRONGLY disagree with the food comment... FOOD was awesome. I had the Reed's salad and a pizza- not just good- but GOOOOOD. As if the food and drank weren't good enough- the service was top notch!! The hostess was sweet- and our waitress was so sweet and funny- like a bangel!! She was very knowledgeable about the menu and VERY knowlegeable about the wine menu, yes MENU- not a winelist here. I would def go back here and plan to in the very near future... good job Grove and thanks Adrienne... you were wonderful.
(5)Alex L.
I loved the place before, and was only a bit tired of the menu, but they listened and added a lot of great dishes. The wine list is intimidating, but the wait staff never make you feel like a wine moron- they don't blink if you screw up and ask what their "house red" is. They always gracefully suggest a good red or white, pronounce it properly, tell you abit about what type of grape it is made from- all without boring you to death. Fav food standbys still taste good: the Granite salad- make sure to ask for extra dressing on the side- sometimes they can be a bit skimpy with this fantastic dressing. The Calamari- it's some of the best I've tasted- in fact I now go around testing other restaurants to see how good their Calamari is and the base line continues to be their awesome appetizer. NOTE TO FEMALES: If you are trying to impress a guy by not eating, DON"T order this dish- I inhale mine every time, exhibiting a scary lack of restraint and general overall selfishness. I simply don't care if his mouth doesn't chew the tasty, crispy morsels fast enough. It's a squid eat squid world out there. The Pizzas- they continue to be good, and judging by the number of them flying out of the kitchen, other patrons agree too. My question to Reed: when are you going to listen to the collective plight of us sad Westlakers, tired of Papa John's, and open a takeout pizza stand? You could totally run it out of Lola Savannah and clean up. Don't even get me started on offering home delivery- Again, I don't understand why you don't want to fill a gap so clearly crying out to be filled.....
(5)A M.
Nice atmosphere..mostly professionals. Great wine collection. No dedicated parking. Nice outdoor patio among tall trees.
(4)Andrea S.
The flights they offer are amazing. The porch with the lit tree is gorgeous. A wonderful place to spend some time with friends!
(4)Steve K.
Like the flights of wine with great food.
(5)Scott B.
Crispy Brussel Sprouts are the best I have had!!!
(4)DeLea B.
This is a great place for Happy Hour! Order some Bruschetta, you get to pick 3 different selections. The Artisan Cheese Plate is great too for munching. For a meal you can not go wrong with the Popeye and Olive Oil WITH Bacon. I always enjoy getting a flight of Champagne (3 glasses for $12). Great Deck for those beautiful Austin Days and plenty of people watching. (Note: people will be people watching you too). A lovely treasure of a place West of Downtown!
(5)Isabella G.
I love their outside seating area, but there was construction in the adjoining lot when we were there. The food is fresh and they have many healthy options. Lots of wine options...hence the name. Dessert was lacking, but I'd eat there often for the ambiance and the wonderful menu options. The wait and host staff could use a smile on their face.
(4)Robert W.
A friend and I recently experienced a very negative service-related issue at The Grove. The issue was severe enough to where my friend and I, both regular patrons, swore we would never return. I later shared our experience with Matt, the Grove's managing partner. Let me say that I have rarely experienced the level of good will and genuine concern that Matt showed when he became aware of our problem. An important measure of a restaurant's prosperity and success is not limited to the quality of the food it serves; it is also measured by the quality of its managment and how it deals with problems when they inevitably occur. Matt could have easily written off our complaint or paid us lip service but instead he chose to engage us in a very personal dialogue on problem-solving and worked to find out the root cause of our issue and a resolution. Most importantly, he turned a big negative into a profound positive and gained some very loyal customers in the process. Thank you Grove, you're a class act!
(5)Lauren B.
I met someone here for coffee and a bite to eat after work and found the environment to be really welcoming. We sat in the bar area and ordered lattes and the Moroccan sampler - both delicious. It was storming terribly the day we were here, so I can only hope to return soon to partake more in the 'grove' atmosphere and try some of the wine and main dishes. The atmosphere alone though has me wanting to come back for more.
(4)Caroline B.
I absolutely love this place! This is one of my absolute all-time favorite restaurants in Austin. I read someone else's review that said they "had to sweat through their dinner on the patio with no fan or mister" and I decided I had to write a review. That must have been when they first opened up and hadn't installed their trademark "Big Ass Fan" that covers half the deck. The deck (which is the only place I EVER sit at the grove) sits amongst the most beautiful and humongous tree. It is so peaceful and I love the atmosphere at the Grove. They have an exquisite wine list and the menu is to die for! They are so well priced for how fabulous their food is. For what you get the price seems super cheap! Everything about this place is fabulous! This is where I choose to come every date night or birthday dinner! LOVE LOVE LOVE the grove! And the waiters/waitresses are so helpful and so nice - they can really help you pick the perfect wine if you are unsure, picky (like me) or just want to try something new but don't know what you want! AND DEFINITELY get the "Miles of Chocolate" dessert! I recommend any of the pastas and any of the pizzas - no place in town does pasta like this place! ENJOY!
(5)Marty B.
A faux California-Italio modern bistro. Super fans of the Grove thrive in the Noveau riche West Austin lifestyle. A pulsing mass of big city expats and retail-minded local blue bloods can soak it all in here. Aeropostale for adults. Overpriced with tepid service and deep yearning to be something that Austin ain't. Actually, the deck is incredible. Maybe you should go.
(2)nick h.
For some weird reason, that we don't necessarily need to go into here, I found myself in Bee Cave the other day with some time to kill. It was suggested to me to "go have a glass of wine" at the Grove while i had to wait. Cool...i can drink wine. I decided to walk over and as i entered i only felt moderately awkward in my urban camo shorts and Life is Good shirt. So i bellied up to the wine bar next to a "suit" on his iPhone all into a business conversation. I laughed inside as for me personally...i leave work outside the bar...even in Bee Cave. But that's cool. I Chose a 2008 Viva Lobos "Felino" Malbec. Nicely and adequately poured...i sipped and enjoyed this Argentinian wine with pleasure as i looked over the Grove. I decided, since busy body had to leave, i would go sit out on the nice Oak shaded patio where most of the other patrons had gathered. 2008 Benaza Godello was up next suggested by the great waiter Daniel who was so friendly and helpful. I got 1 sip out of this tender wine before a gust of wind blew the menu up and across my wine glass and partially down my lap and onto the deck. Great...as folks tried to hide their laughter at my expense. So i jumped up and laughed at myself and wiped 10$ worth of wine off my pants. Daniel was gracious and brought my a new glass at no cost. Thanks bud. I ended my Bee Cave experience with one last glass of a 2008 Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina...I managed not to make a spectacle out of this one and simply enjoyed it. So ended my rare Bee Cave afternoon at the Grove. Other than the unwelcome wind, i enjoyed it enough to want to venture back some day for more...and more.
(4)Nisha S.
Went here for two brunches with a large bachelorette party. Ambiance lovely, food was pretty good and service incredible for such a large party. This New Yorker after a weekend in Austin is convinced the people in TX got it right (right pace, right attitude, all around great!)
(4)Robert S.
Since we were all lushes at work, my bosses decided it would be a good idea to go have alcohol with our lunch. I agreed. So here we were. Really nice inside. We would have sat outside if it didn't mean being scorched by the sun that day. My bosses created their own pizzas, ordered paninis and soups and pastas. I ordered a panini with prosciutto, but I don't think they serve it anymore (which is a shame - since it was really good). It came with homemade potato chips, which were a bit on the hard/tough side. On top of that, the wine selection is good. Hence our ensuing giggliness.
(4)Brian J.
Salty, uninspired food coupled with a RUDE hostess makes for me officially boycotting this place.
(1)Kamilla K.
The area outside is beautiful, and they've got fans to keep you cool on a typical Texas day.However, nothing I've ever tasted here has been out of the ordinary. The soups are usually too thick and not warm enough, the salads have some strange dressing that ruins the entire flavor, and the rest of it is just mediocre. Sadly, it's actually one of the better options in Westlake, however.
(2)Debby W.
Great outdoor seating, fun indoor seating, nice bar. Parking at lunch is a challenge and the Valet is only ok. The hostess was not very frienldy or helpful, but the wait staff was great. Food is amazing! Great wine selection and worth it!
(4)Jessica H.
A friend of my dads took me to The Grove for the first time last night. We decided to sit outside with the live oak tree. It was a great atmosphere. We ordered the crab cake, the ceviche, and a mixed bruchetta to start off with. The crab cake was one of the best I've ever had. Very little filler, lots of delicious crab. The ceviche had an amazing flavor. Very fresh, wish it was a little spicier, but great proportions. The bruchetta was a choice of three from like 6 and we picked the fig, the salmon, and the mozzarella. All three were fantastic. The salmon was out of this world. The fig had this really great flavor that I'd never had before. It was almost like dessert. For my entree I had the Seared Tuna Salad. Very fresh, perfectly seared. I'm glad my server warned me that the dressing on the side was ponzu instead of dressing. That would have been a big mistake. Overall the service was a bit rushed, but they were very busy. Server was a little pushy to get our orders, but I do understand. I would like to go back and do a wine flight soon! My big problem was how far south it was. If it were located closer to town I would probably go here a lot more.
(4)Doris V.
I enjoyed my lunch here today. The service was a little slow. We chose to sit in the bar in order to avoid a wait. Our server did recommend a good bottle of wine. I tried the BLT and subbed the fries for a side salad. The BLT was tasty. Overall, my dining experience was decent. I would try this place again if I'm in the West Lake area.
(3)Ryan S.
Another yelper and I took upon ourselves to visit the Grove tonight, and I believe we both enjoyed it. I know I did, at any rate. They've been open for about two weeks so far, and hopefully will stick around for a while. Sitting at the end of a small strip mall, The Grove is a classy-looking wine bar. There's a patio outside, the front third of the interior is set aside for the bar, and the balance is tables. A simple looking but respectable menu contains appetizers to match wines, salads, some entrees, and pizzas. The wine menu is extensive for bottles with a page devoted to by the glass and ten pre-selected flights to sample from. Some of the text hints at a playfulness that belies its location and potential clientele. We sat up at the bar, enjoyed a couple flights and several glasses, a couple appetizers, and a pizza ("Sausage gone wild"). Wines were good, pizza was quite good, and the apps were excellent. "Wine's BFF" was a cheese selection with a fig chutney and crostinis. The patio looks like it would be a nice place for an evening date, or to hang out and enjoy a bottle with friends. A steady stream of people came and went while we imbibed. The waitress was pleasant and helpful, and found out anything we asked of her, but was not as well-versed on some parts of the menu and wines as I would have hoped. The manager visited to refill our water glasses at one point and to check if we needed anything. It nice that he was cognizant enough to notice she was busy with a large table and took a moment to follow up with her section. I'd go back. I'd take a date here. I'd even take my parents here. Heck I might just go alone and get a glass of wine and a pizza one night when I feel like it. Not too frequently, but I am entertaining the thought. -- updated... I've been here...somewhere near ten times now. This proves two things. One, I like going here. Two, I'm in denial about how much I appreciate my liver. Full disclosure: I am familiar with a pair of investors.
(5)Amanda M.
Very cute place with a great menu. The curried butternut squash soup was really good, although I wish it cost a little bit less. They seemed a bit disorganized--after I finished my soup another person brought out a second cup of soup for me (no thanks) and then they accidentally upgraded my pizza to a large when I ordered a medium (no charge). I got some extra pizza out of the deal, so that was a good thing. The service was a bit slow towards the end, but our guy had an 8-top that he was trying to get situated so I was somewhat understanding. As he was boxing up my pizza he started pushing the edges of my pizza into the box and I inadvertently blurted out "stop touching my pizza!" I wasn't yelling at him, it was more of a plea--I think I was just alarmed that he was touching my food. He was really just trying to be helpful...still, next time I think I'll box my own leftovers. I think I'm just a litte high maintenance today (It's not you that's not making the relationship work, it's me...) and the food and atmosphere are great, so I will definitely try it again and would certainly recommend checking it out.
(3)Jessica S.
How exciting to realize that the Grove is basically in my back yard. It, along with the rest of the strip mall it is in, hasn't been around long. Heck, I remember when it was an open field. You can imagine my delight to find out this place is so close, and so good. Oh, and with wine! (the best part!) The hostess left something lacking in several regards. She seemed really out of it when we walked in. She hardly smiled and seemed thrown off that we chose to sit in the bar. Our waitress was much more appropriately dressed and much more friendly. I, too, wish she knew more about the wines, but I appreciated her honesty with not knowing and quickly found out answers. The place filled up quickly (yay!). I overheard one woman say it was already her second time here in a week, and I know there are already regulars. I really hope this place makes it! The brushetta trio was good. Good to share with one other person. There were approx. 8 in a list, to select three. There were 11 wine flights from which to choose. We enjoyed several glasses of wine. Still wanting more, I ordered the Curried Butternut Squash Soup. I know how much of a pain that is to make, so I gladly indulged. My friend called it a "paste," though, which was fitting, as it was too thick. Delicious, but a tad too thick. Yes, yes, you wine-drinkers, you need to try this place! And although i wouldn't take children there, there were several kids in the place, including a 5 year old at the bar, sitting between mom and dad, happily eating dessert.
(5)Richard M.
I have a new favorite for happy hour. I met some friends at the Grove last night for drinks and a quick bite after work. The place was buzzing with activity and had a great vibe. Despite plans for a good glass of wine, I ended up opting for a pint of Widmer Hefewizen instead. On a hot day, the siren song of a cold pint of that summer beer from my youth in Oregon was too tempting. It turned out to be the perfect complement to the small plate food we ordered. The mussels are great. When they arrived, I reflected on how I haven't had a regular place to get mussels since Mezzaluna closed several years ago and someone informed me The Grove is run by the same owner. I love when fate smiles.
(5)Kasey S.
Me and a friend "took flight" here two nights ago with wine flights and dinner. We had an amazing experience here with impeccable service. Our server, Abby, was one of the most attentive without being bothersome, I've had to date. I started with the Argentine Wine Flight which was composed of 3 different Malbecs all from Mendoza, Argentina. For appetizers we had the bruschetta - wherein you pick 3 different types. We chose the original with mozzerella, sausage, and a salmon and capers (very bagel and lox). Overall the original was by far the best and the salmon was the worst. For dinner I had the Penne with Spinach and House Cured tomatoes with fresh mozzarella. I opted for no meat since I had already eaten a hefty amount of bruschetta and wine. The atmosphere here is fantastic. Even though it's in a strip mall the outdoor patio is beautiful. However, we were inundated with flies attacking us quite frequently. It got to be quite irritating. My friend was saying they ought to get a bug zapper and I said that even if they wanted to cheap out they could at least get some fly paper. This is the reason I didn't give the grove 5 stars :\ I would definitely come back but definitely bring a fly swatter!
(4)Kathy M.
Third time having a meal at The Grove. I love the Miso-Hi salmon salad. The dressing is out of this world! My husband had an Asian salad, which he loved. However, we both had intestinal distress within an hour of eating there today! I'd go back and try something else, but I do wonder why both of us wound up getting ill. Perhaps it had something to do with the lettuce leaves used? I've never been able to get a seat outside because it's always full, so I will try again and hope to get a seat outside. This time, I hope the experience is a more healthy one! Then I would boost my stars here....
(3)Kitty M.
Been several times. So-so food, but very convenient to grab a drink. On Dec. 31, during the day apparently they were short on help. Fine with waiting; however, the hostess wouldn't let us just go to the bar to grab drinks then go sit outside. The patio nor dining room were crowded, and the bar was practically empty. We waited at least 10 minutes while the hostess ran around never acknowledging what was happening. We left and went downtown to House Wine.
(1)James F.
First, I have to say the wine bar is peerless. The staff entirely cares that you select a wine that is good for you and that you like it. They aren't pretentious at any level. The prices are very fair and the selection is very impressive. This would be enough reason to make the trip there. The Pizza is also very good. I am a Pizza snob and have high standards for Pizza, and the Pizza at the Grove is very good at a reasonable price. The ingredients seen fresh, the crust is thin but firm, and the pizza is not oily. It is a very refreshing pizza to say the least.
(4)J C.
I've been here countless times and the food is always superb, served hot and beautifully presented. The wine selection is fantastic as well. I have always had great service except for last night. I arrived at about 9 pm, 2 hours before they close and the waitress was very rude. I have never had a poor experience with servers at The Grove but last night our server was one of the worst I have ever had at any establishment. She forgot to put in one of our orders and did not apologize, was not helpful when we asked for a wine recommendation, rolled her eyes when we wanted to order an entree at 10 pm and was even more annoyed when we asked for dessert. My biggest complained was when my father pronounced "Prosecco" with an Italian accent our waitress corrected him and said it with a Texan slur. Usually things like this would not annoy me but the fact that she was in a terrible mood all night and treated us in a condescending manner was not something I expected from The Grove. My father has stated he will not go back and if I ever see her again I will ask to not be seated in her section. Other than last night I have enjoyed all my experiences at The Grove.
(3)Erin S.
This is my favorite restaurant in Austin. If my husband asked me to pick where to go for dinner, without any restrictions, I would pick the Grove. The selection of wines by the glass is incomparable. There have to be at least 30-40 to pick from. They have 13 flights to pick from, and they're all interesting and reasonably priced. They have every wine you can buy by the glass available for retail purchase at a 25% discount, which I have taken advantage of on a couple of occasions. The food is the best I've had in Austin. That being said, it's my palate we're talking about. The food is definitely Mediterranean at its foundation and it's fresh, flavorful, and just plain good! Prices aren't too bad at all. Their granite house salad is so good--the citrus vinagrette is excellent and the veggies are fresh. I've had their pizzas which are very good, but my favorite dish is their penne with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. So, so good. We usually like to eat in the bar area because there is a nice big TV showing ESPN, but we've also eaten in the dining room which has been fine. Their outdoor patio is awesome though. It's a multi-level deck with oak trees in the middle and nice lighting. It's so pleasant on a warm summer night. The location is deceiving--it's in one of those new strip malls at the intersection of Bee Caves Rd. and 360, but don't let that fool you. It kind of sucks they're in Westlake. It would be nice if they opened up a location closer into town--maybe downtown or in south Austin? So obviously I'm in love with the Grove. I've eaten there at least a dozen times and it's been consistently great.
(5)Allison P.
The Grove is one of my mainstays in the neighborhood. For me it's more about location than anything else. I understand both the five star reviews as well as Doryan's "Meh" comment. Like an important family member that you know you'll never cut off it's got its good days and its bad days. And overall there are more things I like about the Grove than I dislike. On the great side: the seared tuna. It's flawless and I've had it many times. The crispy oysters are too yummy to pass up even though I don't do fried food anywhere else. The Love Platter of antipasto is pretty out of this world, too, if you're looking for snacks to munch on with your wine while you talk. The bruschettas are just about perfect, other than one or two of them that are ho-hum. You just have to try them all to find your groove. On the irritable side: the furniture. I don't think I've ever returned to a restaurant that had less comfy seating. I usually move on and stick to those places that care to keep me comfortable while I'm eating. And for the reasons mentioned above I come back anyway. Also be aware that although the dining area is fine, if you want great service don't bother sitting in the bar area to eat. I've had to get my own water and tea refills and otherwise beg the busy bar area waitress for some love. And for me, I'll get up and go behind the bar myself before I let a rude or inattentive waitress ruin my meal. Be aware that the Grove is not a quiet place to chat. It's a noisy, hopping, "see and be seen" kind of neighborhood watering hole that for the local is always at the top of the list for a quick meet. And for this it's perfect. If you want a taste of yum on your way to a flick, or you want a lively place for a first date or business meeting, the Grove can deliver. Even though I may want to scold them occasionally like I do my children, I'll always be back.
(4)Laura F.
I know there aren't that many great places to eat in Bee Cave- but my mom and I came here the other day and I wasn't really impressed. First of all- how can they not have happy hour at all? What kind of bs is that? So after paying at least $8 a piece for a glass of wine at 5:00 we decided to try the pizza. It was OK but nothing special. I would even venture to say that I could make a better pizza at home. The salad was good, but once again, nothing you couldn't make at home. I say instead of venturing out here just go buy a $10 bottle of wine and cook and you'll have saved a lot of money and had a similar experience with less kids running around. I will say that the atmosphere is nice and I love the trees on the back patio. They need a happy hour and it may be worth coming here.
(3)judy f.
3 strikes and you are out. My last 3 visits made it clear that the staff does not care much for customer service. orders wrong, forgotten and no one seems to care if half the brisket on the brisket nachos was just large pieces of fat. started out really liking this place but won't be going back.
(2)melissa c.
what a fun atmosphere! they have amazing wine choices, and great food options. Ive had several different things from here and i liked them all. Adrian was our waitress and she was great too! really informative about the food and the drinks. Totally will go back!
(5)Doryan R.
Meh, is about right. I mean, I'll be back, likely, because I'm working down the street, and I want to give them another try to be fair. Granted, I like their wine list, and the decor is pretty swanky. I've gotta say though maybe I'd like it better on a spring day outdoors rather than inside on a cold rainy afternoon. The Veltliner is a great white wine. I just feel like the portion for $7 was a little slim. Yes, I know it's a big glass, but I also know how much a full pour in those glasses is. Heck, I've been doing it for years. The Jerk Chicken Pasta was recommended to me. Nice and spicy was the description. And it was spicy. Somehow, it lacked a cohesive flavor, though. The "jerk chicken" really didn't taste very jerked. It just tasted overcooked and dry. The sauce didn't really penetrate the chicken, pasta, or anything else, which leads me to believe it was just tossed together instead of finished in the sauce. Plus, the sauce itself was spicy, but somehow STILL lacked flavor. Adobo cream sauce shouldn't just be spicy. There should also be a nice smokey flavor imparted from a roasted pepper. Like I said, I'll try it out again, likely, but I just wasn't thrilled by the food.
(2)Alex S.
A month ago I would've reviewed this at 5 stars, but they took the best thing off the menu! Bring back the ahi tuna wrap! Replaced with the ahi burger, it's ok.. but not as good as the wrap.. and you can't cook ahi! Seared is okay, but they cook it to medium/medium rare. The Grove has an awesome outdoor space and their menu is pretty good. Definitely the best place in the area to grab a nice lunch
(4)Lawrence C.
The Grove is great! I was a bit hesitant as it is essentially in the burbs of Austin (as oppose to cooler spots along S. Congress, Downtown, UT, etc.). The setting is nice. A nice deck and patio off the side and a great interior with plenty of seating and wine. A total of 3 of us went and we ordered the Bruschetta board, Jerk Chicken pasta, and the Sausage Gone Wild Pizza. The Bruschetta board was great since we got to try 3 different kinds. Th Sausage Gone Wild Pizza was fresh and the toppings were plentiful. BUT my favorite dish had to be the Jerk Chicken Pasta. It was a great blend of spicy and saucy that was balanced with a rich creamy sauce. It was a big helping so it easily gave all 3 of us a chance to try it out. I always judge a restaurant's service by how empty my water glass is and I have to say my glass was rarely ever only half full. They were attentive and helpful when choosing the right dishes for a small group. Make sure to check out the Grove if you're ever in the West Lake area!
(4)hope t.
I've been here for lunch and dinner and had enjoyable experiences both times. Their outside deck area is really nice when the weather calls for outdoor dining. Sitting outside with lights in the big trees, enjoying a glass of wine and good company makes for a good time! The service has always been very attentive. I've enjoyed all the food I've eaten but especially the seared tuna salad. The only troubling thing about going to the Grove is finding a place to park. Just based on this alone, I have chosen NOT to go to the Grove if I don't have time to drive around and around and around to find a parking spot.
(4)Kurt G.
Three visits- all great. The latest was a Thursday night out to meet a couple we havent seen in a few years. We had much to catch up on and looked forward to talking. We sat inside and were seated promptly even though it was fairly busy. I have sat outside and the patio is a good one, lots of trees, big fan, and lights. Inside is where the big cats eat (cougars if you havent been). We had appetizers and wine and talked for an hour an a half before ordering entrees. Our waiter was attentive and seemed to be interested in fueling our conversation with more wine, water, and lots of "do you need anything looks" (as opposed to the waiter that won't look you in the eye and walks right by you as you try to get his attention). We ordered Halibut Ceviche and it was perfect. Served in a martini glass with avacado layered on top, with handmade thick cut tortilla chips sprinkled with dark smoked salt (kosher salt size). I ordered the Mac and Cheese for an entree. I was curious. I have had the pizzas and they are very good (have no idea where an earlier reviewer gets that the crust is like dominoes). I wanted to compare the mac and cheese to Moonshine, almost as good. It is large curly peices of pasta with bacon on top and then baked so that the parmesan on top crusts up. The people watching is always good (older women chasing younger guys, younger women chasing older guys, older guys chasing anything that smiles). Inside is a little loud for catching up with old friends but we powered through it. Some dont like the Westlake location but since we live in a little peice of Travis County sandwiched between Westlake and Rollingwood, its close to home. We ran into two different couples we knew that stopped by our table to say hello. I recommend it not as the ultimate dinner out but a good lively place to eat drink and be glad your married.
(4)Hope W.
I was expecting more when I went to The Grove. There was a restaurant in Phoenix that I loved and was looking for something similar. The Grove had a similar menu but the food was not up to par. I shared the bruschetta and a pizza with someone and was highly disappointed. Neither had any flavor. I most likely will not be back.
(2)Catherine R.
The food earns at least two stars, and the restaurant itself earns one more, but the staff scores a goose egg. When we entered on a Sunday afternoon, we waited at the hostess stand for a bit before the hostess sauntered over without making eye contact. She stood, looking down at whatever important info was on the podium, and after about 10 seconds muttered "hi" without ever looking up. Not sure if she was talking to us, we uttered "hi" feebly. "Two?" She finally looked up (so she could count how many pesky humanoids were filling her space). We were escorted to a crappy table (the place was maybe 1/4 full), and we asked if we could have another table. No answer, but more sauntering over to the desired table. The perky waiter showed up after a bit, but acted shocked - SHOCKED! that we didn't order wine. Baaaad start! We asked for a second plate so we could share a pizza, but that was too much information for him to process. Instead of eating cold pizza, we improvised. The food was delightful, as it has been the few times we've visited before, but the waitstaff needs to act like we're not interrupting their party with a loud expulsion of colonic gases.
(3)Carla S.
Can these people do pizza or what??? (ohhh, they can do it!!!) I have been here twice now for Greenling Wine Tasting events and yummy, yum, yum. I think I've had at least four of the pizzas now. Maybe 5. Top Shelf , Meat Lover's Mother Load, Sausage Gone Wild (makes me giggle, because I'm immature like that), and Popeye and Olive Oil. These I know I've had for certain. I'd say it's a safe bet that they do all their pizzas well. I know I had some of their appetizers before, but I don't remember specifically what they were so I can't give a helpful opinion other than to say I remember they were fab-o!! They have a special bar/lounge area that we are in when it's for the wine tasting. If you are in this room, look up!! The ceiling is burlap coffee bags from all around. Also look down as I witnessed someone fall not seeing there was a step up for the back benches. If you fall around me I'll laugh, so look down and step up. I need to come back here and sample more of their delights. I cannot wait.
(4)Amanda T.
My mother came into town for a little spa weekend at Barton Creek Resort. We asked the concierge for her suggestion for a casual dinner place that had outdoor seating. We met one of my friends there for dinner. I knew this place had to be good since it was packed on a Monday night! We were able to get seating outside on the back deck. Let me say, I love the patio. It has a wonderful large tree that covers the entire patio area and provides the much needed shade. They also have a string of lights that gives the deck a relaxed ambiance - perfect for a lazy summer day. The waiter was very attentive and patient with my sister's 100 questions about the menu. There was even a dog sitting with his owners! Normally, I would say that's so cute and Austiny except for the fact that he was a shedder and you could see his white fur flying around his vicinity. Even the waiter made a comment about it and told us not to worry because they had just paid their check and was about to leave. They have quite an extensive wine menu - there is definitely a reason that "wine bar" comes before "kitchen" in the name. Everybody at the table really enjoyed their food. My friend and I both got the spinach salad. I had some of my mother's penne with spinach and house cured tomatoes. The sauce was very tasty (a little too salty for my taste) and the tomatoes were oh-so-good. My sister got a medium "top shelf pizza." She said that she could tell that the ingredients were very fresh and the dough was very good (not too flat, yet not too doughy).
(4)Jennifer S.
I absolutely LOVE The Grove! I go at least once or twice a month for wine and sometimes a meal. The bruschetta is something to rave about, get the tomato and mozzarella, it is the BEST! The Grove has amazing flights and great wines you won't find anywhere else. There is a great tree and deck in the back that is just amazing for sitting and laughing and sipping :-)
(5)Monique W.
Service was excellent, very attentive and friendly. Wide selection of food, great prices, large portions, fresh and yummy! The mussels are to die for, I will be going here again (and again and again)! Not to mention they have a great wine list, that's the cherry on top :)
(5)John R.
What's not to like, nice wine selection, wonderful deck, great seafood pasta dish, friendly people, and great wait staff. Friday night dinner with family? Late weeknight dinner? Grove is hard to beat!
(4)Shari W.
Great food and environment. My husband and 2 daughters went for the first time tonight and even though we had a few rain rops as we dined outside in the patio, they immediately moved us under the porch and we were dry. We started with 2 small plates of the Moroccan Platter and the Hawaiian Poke which both were delicious. We shared a cuban sandwich and a medium Popeye and Olive Oil pizza and the entrees were just as tasty!!!! We are from Houston but come to Austin frequently and will DEFINITELY add this restaurant to our rotation of wonderful Austin restaurants to dine!!!!
(5)Karon W.
Certainly an awesome patio and most certainly awesome food. We had the The Grove Crispy Oyster appetizer and Popeye & Olive Oil Pizza and Beth's Berry Salad that was absolutely great. This place is a keeper for sure and no doubt will be back. Good wine selection with wines that don't cost a fortune.
(5)Lindsay B.
Went here with the client for lunch. Service was so-so, but the meal was tasty and well portioned. I'm happy we found a new place to add to the lunch options when we go out for the audit again!
(3)Jennifer T.
Went here after work for happy hour. We all had wine flights and split several brushchetta apppetizers and a pizza. Appys and pizza were good. Wine was great. Really liked this place but the hostess was uber snooty, refused to seat our party until everyone showed up (even though we early arrivals knew our total number). The patio here is gorgeous, with fans and a gigantic live oak tree. I don't know why they call this place a cougar den, I liked it and plan to go back when the weather is nice to enjoy the patio.
(4)James S.
I eat at the Grove too often. Even when I set out to go elsewhere, I end up there a lot. Reasons: 1. The vibe: it's one of those Austin kind of places not really found elsewhere: fun, casual, lots of outdoor seating (on a kick ass deck under a grove of old oaks trees, no less), and really good food. Although it is an almost elegant setting out under the trees, you'll sometimes see a customer who brought their dog and the servers quickly appear with a water bowl. Nice folks work there and it shows. The lovely outdoor space always impresses the out of towners and customers I take here. 2. Food: consistently high quality, interesting food. The Grove has something that literally everyone I go out to eat with likes, a lot. Example: one of my best customers only eats "gluten free." Big problem many places. No problem at the Grove, which has gluten free pastas and pizza crusts and more. My wife likes big salads; the Grove delivers with ahi tuna, salmon, crab cake, shrimp steak or chicken over a variety of interesting salads (my favorite: salmon seared medium rare over the Reed's Salad; second choice: steak with smoked gouda cheese on a big bed of mixed greens). The Asian salad is well done too. You can mix and match, ask for a different meat on any salad, and they're all good. There are several pasta choices. I am hooked on the bolognese sauce, which I order on farfalle instead of the spaghetti the menu states, a substitution they are happy to do. Appetizers, bruchettas, pizzas and soups are good too... The menu changes seasonally and the new rock shrimp fritters are rocking good. So is the tomato shrimp bisque and the Thai-inspired lemongrass coconut soup. My mom likes the melon gazpacho, lady-food but excellent. So, who is this place best for? Well, kids like it (excellent pizzas and pastas, or tenderloin sliders); grown ups on dates like it (wine flights? great seafood choices like the sea bass in an Asian broth, or the Scottish salmon); my past-80 parents like it... Even that boring client who only wants a steak can get an excellent pepper-crusted tenderloin here (served with vegetables and an excellent bourbon sauce). So, just about everyone. Who wouldn't like it? Only the stuffiest of stuffed shirts (Dallas refugees perhaps? OK that's not all fair, but SOME Dallas types) may find it to lack white table cloth formality. But they'll like the food. 3. The wine: labels you will not see at HEB, Specs or Twin Liquors -- really interesting bottles from Italy, France, Spain, Argentina, Chile, even Portugal and Brazil, along with California wines. Good prices (And I am el-cheapo). You can take bottles home at a 25% discount off the dine-in price. Some people buy a case. The wine buyers hold tastings every week and since they sell so much wine, they get bum-rushed by the wine reps. They know how to pick 'em, with an emphasis on affordable bottles, and the selection is always changing. The servers know their stuff and are great at helping you pick wines. LOTS of by-the-glass selections. Cold beers too. Good choices on draft like Fireman's Four, Thirsty Goat and a nice Belgian beer too. But scotch drinkers be aware: No hard liquor here. 4. The people who work there make it a pleasure to visit. They make great suggestions and know which wines go best with the dishes you order. You can eat at the bar where Benny (the bartender with some grey hair) works. He's an exceptional bartender and a great wine resource. 5. A different space for every taste: outdoors (my choice); the bar area is also nice; inside dining room for some (not for me); the BIG wine table where groups of 6 to 10 can eat around a large table surrounded by the wine racks, and there are tables and another long bar next door at Lola Savannah, the coffee shop that is connected and a part of the restaurant. I don't drink much coffee, but Lola is well-regarded by the non-Starbucks-coffee-drink crowd. They have breakfast tacos and pastries in the mornings. Free wifi everywhere, including on the large deck. There is free valet parking when the lot gets crowded. This place is on Bee Caves, just outside Loop 360, on the left before you get to County Line on the right. Not a bad drive from most of Austin and well worth it.
(5)sherry c.
Great Wine Bar & Restaurant! A godsend for the hinterland suburbs! Located southwest of the Loop 360 and Bee Caves intersection, tucked into a small strip mall, this new wine and Italian restaurant is a jewel. Tasty food, great wine selection, and a friendly, upscale environment - The Grove provides an elegant yet casual interior and a tree shaded patio insulated from traffic by the sounds of a wall fountain. A friend and I checked out the new scene on a Wednesday night. Actually this was my second attempt, my family and another (with three 4yr olds) went last Friday around 6:30pm and it was packed - with a party of 40 reserving the patio, we didn't wait. The following Wednesday night was much better, our party of two was seated quickly, although by 7pm the place was full. Perhaps an indicator of the lack of upscale eating/drinking venues in the area! Did I mention that the ambiance is grown-up, elegant, and even flirty! This mommy was thrilled to have a nice place close to the casa! In addition to a dining area, and small bar, I noted two large community tables with some very happy people flirting and laughing with each other. A great way to meet new people I'm sure! Most of the crowd were well dressed older- than-30s professionals. The new Austin Architecture look prevailed - clean modern lines, concrete floors, softened by subtly colored walls and warm lighting, all made for an inviting and classy interior. I was afraid it was going to be LOUD, but found the noise level pleasantly lively and at our table my friend and I could easily talk and didn't have to strain to hear each other. The service was friendly and professional. I didn't count, but the wine list is extensive with reportedly 100-250 selections. I had a very nice 2003 Conde De Valdemar, Crianz Riojo $8 (so good I had 3 glasses!). For those who care, the wine is served in over sized wine glasses - great for sniffing and swirling, and sloshing if you aren't careful! Prices were reasonable with wine available by the glass, bottle and flights (and also cases!! Kind of odd, but I read that some where). The mediterranean/Italian menu offers appetizers, pastas, pizza, and salads. The crostinni appetizers were excellent as was the Cesar salad - fresh and just the right amount of dressing. Watching our waistlines, we split a dish of fettuccine with prosciutto, portabellas, and peas. Unfortunately the noodles were a bit heavy and thick and the dish not as good as at the owners previous restaurant - the Mezaluna, but my friend liked it a lot and one serving was plenty for two. Dessert was an excellent rum cake (something new for an Austin menu)- very rummy with crystallized sugar, pecans and whipped cream. Really good, almost as good as my mom's! Overall, a fun, relaxing evening. We will definitely visit again!. I didn't bring my 4 1/2 yr old son this time, but with good behavior & an early eating time kids how like to eat should do fine (no special menus for kids, nor did I note high chairs). Come moderate weather, I expect the patio will be particularly fine for kids.
(4)Rick P.
A definite must go to. I stopped in for lunch on an uncharacteristic day that found me out on Bee Caves, west of 360. In a newly developed strip center, you'll see they have a great deck nestled within the oak trees... I had the seared tuna appetizer and a grilled chicken caesar salad, both were excellent. Not necessarily brave choices, but when folks do the simple things right you know you'll return again & again. It's not surprising that the food here is great, the same folks owned and built the Bitter End & Mezzaluna. Looks great for any occasion, date night or out with friends for lunch or dinner. The Grove is here to stay for a long time I'm sure-
(5)Jeremy K.
5 stars for wine selection, ambience and layout; -2 stars for the spaghetti sauce. Really cool outdoor patio area, and good staff and wine selection. If you're looking for a place to sit outside and drink wine, this is a phenomenal place. However, I also ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, which the waiter described as "VERY good" -- but it was inexcusably bad. The meatballs were OK, but the sauce was inedible. It tasted like tomato sauce from a can of spaghetti-o's. Very little flavor, just plain tomatoes and barely even a taste of herbs or anything. I hope for the chef's sake that the sauce is not made on premise! The friend I was there with had a different pasta with a cream sauce and chicken that was decent if not especially noteworthy. I'll definitely go back, and will give their food another shot, but the spaghetti is an avoid-at-all-costs type of dish.
(3)exploring f.
Favourite place to get chocolate bread pudding in austin... Nice casual place to go for dinners, like the ambience; even has a nicely lit patio. The food is good, but not that exceptional or different then other places in town.
(4)Hank S.
Awesome restaurant. It takes a lot of for restaurants to be successful in Westlake, and The Grove doesn't disappoint. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and made awesome recommendations. I had the crab cake salad, it was delicious. Atmosphere was great. Highly recommend.
(5)J B.
One of my all time favorite places to hand out, drink, eat and be merry. Great ambiance and delicious food mixed with great staff.
(5)Ashley M.
Sorry not impressed! It's a great concept and sitting outside is really the only thing I feel the Grove has going for it. Their pizza is average (I eat a lot of pizza) and I'd honestly rather go pick up a pie from Homeslice and buy my own wine at Whole Foods and eat it outside somewhere in the park. The service was a little iffy and there are flies everywhere outside! The Grove IS good for a first date type of night, or just to try something new, but it's not going to become a seasoned favorite.
(2)carla c.
Update: Since my diet has been upended by the holiday binge season, today I had a glass of champagne and the Avocado BLT panini. It was perfect. I'm a fan of hot pressed sandwiches, but this one was as good as they come. There was of course, the bacon, avocado, teardrop tomatoes that had been tossed in something olive oily and herby, and the whole sandwich was dressed with some kind of aioli. Yum. Friday was fried chicken special day, and I saw a plate pass by on its way to another table. It was atop mashed potatoes and covered in cream gravy, and looked amazing. The pizzas looked really great too. Can't wait to go back when it is warmer and eat on that amazing patio.
(5)jane t.
Favorite lunch spot - love to see how the seasons change when you sit outside under the tree with the massive fan. I come here at least once a week, the service is relaxed and the wine list is fantastic.
(4)Chery H.
Great place to go for a glass of wine because the bartenders know their stuff. You can tell them what you want in a wine and they will get it for you. Makes it real easy to concentrate on why you are there...relax with your friends and enjoy a night out. The food is well prepared and a consistently nice food presentation, although I usually stay with ordering several different appetizers for the variety. It is a great place to come to unwind although it can get a bit noisy, the energy is good. If you can snag an outside table then you are lucky as they are hard to get on weekends. This place has the whole package, great service, great food, reasonable prices, and great ambience.
(5)Jimmy P.
Awesome pizza, great wine selection, amazing patio!
(5)E D.
Brunch food was delicious! They must have one of the nicest patios in town and we took the dog. The hostess was kind (brought water for the dog) and knowledgeable of the menu items.
(4)Shane M.
Good pizza and great line up of Wine. Definitely a Westlake Cougar get the night started kind of place. At least from the look of the Friday night crowd :)
(4)Michelle C.
This Westlake restaurant-slash-wine-bar has experienced restaurant guru Reed Clemons at the helm (of Bitter End, Mezzaluna, Granite Cafe, and Reed's Jazz & Supper Club fame), so it's no surprise that the food and wine at The Grove are right on target. The patio is expansive, tree-shaded, and dog-friendly, and sports the largest overhead fan I have ever seen in my life. This thing could've been a propeller for a commercial jet turbine engine; it is that big. I've been a couple of times, and have sampled their pizzas, their salad, their crab cakes, their cheese/meat plate (hilariously named "wine's BFF"), and four of their desserts (creme brulee, Miles of Chocolate, chocolate bread pudding, and orange pound cake). Everything has been really good, and the extensive and well thought out wine list goes a long way toward making everything on the menu taste even better. So why the four stars? The Grove's location a bit off my beaten path means that it's not a convenient lunch spot, and that I'm unlikely to trek out here for a weekday dinner. And on the weekends, I'd just as soon relax in a more "come as you are" atmosphere than deal with the "see and be seen" vibe that I get here. Don't get me wrong; there are some families dining here, but The Grove's Westlake location nevertheless guarantees that it's generally full of well-dressed elite...and although the service is objectively excellent, I get the feeling they were hired with that clientele in mind, as my interactions with the staff always leave me feeing a bit like I've been bantering with somebody's golf caddy. Nothing against Westlake, or the people who live there, but I personally prefer to spend my off-hours in a more laid back place. But if you're in the mood for a minor scene and want an excellent meal with reasonably-priced wine, you can probably get your groove on at The Grove.
(4)Ken H.
I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. My wife and I ate dinner here for the first time last Friday night. It is apparently a very popular place. We arrived at 5:50 PM and took one of the last two parking space in the lot. The restaurant does have valet parking, but who wants to use that? The parking lot spaces are also very, very narrow - even narrow for my compact car. We had to wait 30 minutes for a table. If we had shown up 15 minutes later, we would have had to wait an hour and a half! The restaurant should really take reservations on the weekends - no diner should be expected to wait an hour and a half. As the name of the restaurant implies, wine is a major component of the dining experience. It is unfortunate that the restaurant does not do a better job in this department. The Grove had several moderately priced wine flights available - a great idea. My wife chose the Australian Shiraz flight while I took the Tuscan red flight. All six of our wines arrived at the table warm. Not just room room temperature, mind you - more like sitting on the bar in direct sunlight for a half hour kind of warm. The wines actually cooled down to room temperature at our table. This is completely unforgivable in a restaurant that aims to be a wine destination. Looking around the restaurant, there is no proper wine storage - all the bottles being served at tables were pulled from racks in the middle of the one large room or from the bar. The night we were there, it was still in the mid-80s outside but the doors to the patio area were wide open. Every bottle of wine in that restaurant must live at 78F until it's consumed. On top of it all, of the six wines we tried, only one (the Yalumba Shiraz) was interesting, even when they'd cooled off. I know that not every wine in a wine flight is going to be great, but 1 for 6 is a pretty low success rate. The food, on the other hand, was good, and is the main reason I give the restaurant two stars. The mussels were excellent. My Caesar salad was OK, but my wife loved the house salad. She's not normally a salad person, so that was high praise. The chicken pizza was very well executed, with a nice crust. Our server was also pretty good, unobtrusive but at the same time prompt and attentive. The restaurant's main dining room was loud (as in volume) during the dinner service, partly a function of its interior design, partly a function of the patrons the restaurant seems to attract (young and loud). Finally, the white plastic chairs, while stylish, were very uncomfortable, with hard edges at the corner that dig into your legs. I really cannot understand why a wine-destination restaurant could fail so completely on competent wine service, at least on a weekend night.
(2)Shane M.
This is a great place for dinner or just drinks outside. There is a extensive wine list and the food is always consistently good. The price isn't bad either.
(5)sherrie n.
this place is absolutely lovely, and i never knew it existed. it's ideal to sit outside on the patio on a nice day and would be the perfect happy hour spot! i went for lunch the other day and ordered the mussels (delicious broth of white wine, lemon, garlic and basil), blue crab fritters, and penne with mozerella, tomato, garlic, basil, and chicken. simplicity at its best but oh so tasty! the pizza also looks really good (large thin slices), but I didn't try it. i'm definitely a fan and will probably go again tomorrow!
(4)David H.
I went to The Grove on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in January around 1pm. Party of five. Here are my observations: --Really nice interior--has a high-end, modern motif --Seated quickly (outside) --Tremendous selection of wine. --Water arrived quickly, but the server never asked me if I wanted anything else (my party drank champagne, and while she promptly brought that out, I was forgotten). --I wish there weren't so many birds hopping around my feet. --We ate outside and the leaves from the tree fell into my food about 10 separate times. --I sat near one of the outdoor heaters and it fried the back of my head. --I ordered a pepperoni and cheese pizza--it was delicious. The cheese was nice and stringy and the crust was absolutely divine. Highly recommended. --My friend picked up the tab so I can't speak to the pricing, but based on the menu, they seemed somewhere between pretty reasonable and kinda high. For example, my medium pizza was $10, but if you wanted more toppings they were around $1.50/ea, which could start to add up if you were a topping freak. Bottom Line: Good spot for a decent meal, just don't be in a hurry or have a problem with things falling into your food.
(4)Ryan S.
I always leave feeling like I treated myself to healthy food, awesome service- oh and Fireman #4 beer on tap.
(5)Niki S.
I used to love this place. My friends and I have always enjoyed the food, the wine and the great patio. We went last night and everything has gone downhill. The staff wasn't friendly or accommodating. The service was barely mediocre. We ordered a wine that they were out of, but instead of letting us pick another the waiter just brought a replacement, but it wasn't even the same kind of wine. When we questioned it, she was rude. However, we were happy to see that the menu had not changed, so we ordered our favorite salad and pizza. The food was nowhere near as good as it used to be. We barely ate the pizza and I brought the leftovers home to my husband who eats anything and he thought it was disgusting. The menu was had the same descriptions, but it tastes like they are using cheaper ingredients. Sadly, this was our last time at The Grove. What a disappointment. This place used to be our go to place for great food and great wine.
(2)Mark N.
The food here is what I would describe as yuppie. There is a lunch pizza special, but otherwise lunch is priced like dinner. Parking is a problem: even arriving at 11:30, there were no nearby spots unless I wanted to go with the valet parking. The penne with sun-dried pesto was nicely presented, but my friend's dish had too much pepper in it for him to be able to eat it. The service was generally good, and my friend was not charged for his original dish.
(4)Maggie P.
Overall, we enjoyed this restaurant but wanted to like it more. The bruschetta selection we ordered was delicious, and our wines were reasonably priced. We thoroughly enjoyed the jerk chicken pasta. However, I ordered spaghetti bolognese which was easily the worst Italian I have ever had--there was hardly any meat, the sauce was runny, and the flavor of sauce was overpowered by too much cream relative to the other ingredients. I would return but would not order another traditional Italian dish.
(3)Lisa D.
I've been there a number of times and have always had solid service a very good food. The patio is very nice (surprisingly so when first drive up to a strip mall restaurant...but check it out!). The pizza formerly known as the stinky cheese pizza (I think they call it wine lover's pizza now) is great, and does very well for take out / leftovers as well. Friends and I have even ordered one to go after a meal to enjoy the next day! I also really like the salmon salad, though they are a little heavy on the dressing, so I'd recommend getting it on the side. I wasn't as thrilled with the chicken and goat cheese panini - good, but there was actually almost too much chicken (sounds strange, I know) that interfered with the balance of flavors. The wine menu is creative, has flights, and the servers generally know their way around it which is always a plus. I've only eaten inside once, as I do love their patio. Location is a bit out of the way for me, but it is worth the drive for a good quality, flavorful but casual meal outside.
(5)Kelly R.
I've had a great experience here every time. They have a fantastic wine selection and a very good menu. The bruschetta really stands out, and I do enjoy the steak salad. The atmosphere and vibe is nice also. I'm a fan of the tree and the patio.
(5)chris c.
Yawwwnnn... oh yeah.. I was going to write a review... this place is so unremarkable I don't know where to start. It says a lot about westlake that most of the people wrote such raving reviews. I think most of the reviews are from folks who are in shock that they can do something legally in westlake that involves alcohol and the outdoors. If you live in Westlake, relax this comes from the heart.... I live here too as your neighbor so listen up! I am speaking as an insider looking out.... or rather an insider looking in I guess..... Five stars? Four stars? Ummm..... People... lets be honest.. This is a California Pizza Kitchen meets Macaroni Grill strip center eatery.... at best. Nothing, yet everything about this place concerned me. The pricing is out of line, the decor is not what I would call tacky, its just so cliche' that... well lets just put it this way... there's a reason no one does covers of Yanni songs... right? Why would someone imitate bad west coast design? Did the owner sit down with the decorator and say " You know I have been dying to have something from the 1998 SoCal econo food chain line" ...anyway, back to the points... the waitstaff is spoon sharp and the receptionists reminded me of a bad episode of The Simple Life. If you don't know what The Simple Life is then you definitely don't want to go to this restaurant. If you watch the simple life.... a lot... and like it... a lot.... then you really wanna go to this place. I walked in and thought to myself.. damn, this is gonna be great, a place to eat and drink in my own backyard... . from there things just kind of flatlined. Damn it, I gotta go back to The Good Life issue... if you wanna know how to train a hostess go ask the people at Z tejas. This is not a review on the Z in any way, Im just saying... pretty does not have to mean Vapid or detached or graceless.... well unless you work at The Grove apparently. If we were in Paris I'd understand... Europeans aren't into idle pleasantries or disingenuous smiles but in Texas and especially Westlake we are. Big time- I walk into a restaurant I wanna know I'm welcome- flash those pearls and make me feel like you mean it!... .. my ego needs it I mean really, why do you think I live in Westlake anyway? I felt more like I crashed a private party...nonetheless enough about the poor malnourished seating staff lets get to the real deal... the food! So.... aside from being mediocre my only concern was the price. The Bruschetta was 3 pieces of bread with stuff on it. This was not a surprise... I know what Bruschetta is, that's why we ordered it.... the surprise was the price for what we actually got. My friend read me the options because I was busy trying to get a drink so I never saw the price.... I was guessing it was going to be 6 bucks. Wrong- it was ten. Ok... thats just dumb.... just plain dumb. Bruschetta was invented specifically because its cheap... it would be like going to Rome, getting chips and salsa and being charged ten bucks. In fact Bruschetta is their version of chips and salsa. You wanna know something worth ten bucks? Go to Vespayo and ask for the: Forno roasted king trumpet & white button mushrooms with melted gorgonzola,crispy organic white polenta & watercress. You eat that and then tell me what ten bucks is worth. And they won't charge you a dollar more for the unreal service or remembering your first name the next time you go. So lets get back to the food shall we? The way overpriced Bruschetta was good, and it was even better at the time because I didn't realize that each one of those little suckers was over three bucks. I just couldn't believe those three little pieces of bread were ten bucks I was just amazed... im over it. Oh, and can I do some level setting here? I am not cheap-scate. I mean, not at all....My top five restaraunts in this city are Uchi, Vespayo, Bistro 88,. Fonda San Miguel and Salt Lick. Ill dig into my pocket for a good meal and thank you for it when its over but I want something in return... thats how it works right? ok ok ok... Ill leave the bruschetta thing alone now for real. Main course- I got a pasta dish and inhaled it. It had been a long day and I hadn't eaten so I would have forced turtle toes down at that point. It was good. Well.... it was decent and here's my complaint about it- again for 7 or 8 bucks that would have been a fine meal..... but it wasn't 7 or 8 bucks and honestly, I've had better pasta at Macaroni Grill. Not a huge fan of the chain eateria, but they do what they do well and the price is right... I go back whenever grandma want's to check it out and Ill even admit that I look forward to it a little. The food that is. Grandma is always hilarious. So, thats it- At lunch menu prices this place might have a place in my rotation but ill have to order extra and give the doggie bag to the hostess.
(2)Tiffany Y.
We had such a great time at the Grove. Our neighborhood had a "couples night" there, and the service was excellent. My husband and I ordered the ahi tuna, and I absolutely loved it. There is a great wine selection, but if you like dark beer when you go out - maybe you should try somewhere else. The food is really phenomenal, though. Everyone at our (huge) table seemed to be happy with their food.
(4)Bob D.
The food: delicious. However, you can only eat here about once a year because of the price. Went for lunch today, me and the wife, no alcohol, just a couple of entrees and it cost over $40. OVER FORTY DOLLARS. For lunch. Get real. We went for dinner a month ago and it cost about $60 - again, no alcohol. Who gets away with this? We live in Westlake and we're not "rolling in money." We have budgets, too.
(4)B D.
Nice plant especially for a strip center. Once warm weather arrives, the outdoor seating will be packed. My friends that live out near Barton Creek are very excited to have a place to go that is not so far from their home. We ate at the bar and while the food was disappointing the service from the bartender was great. A little too pricey for what we received but it was fairly new and I am sure it will get better over time.
(3)Daniel J.
My outing to The Grove occurred while visiting Austin after Hurricane Ike left us powerless in Houston. I went with family and another couple who used to be our neighbors back in Houston. It was their recommendation. As I am generally a fan of WIne bars, or at least restaurants who advertise an extensive wine selection, I was in. We were a party of nine and my first impression was great, they were able to sit us in the "Wine Room", even without a reservation. This was high table surrounded by racks of wine, overlooking the remainder of the restaurant. It was a quite pleasant way of taking in the ambiance of The Grove. Our waiter was energetic and friendly, with a good knowledge of the menu and wines. Advertised as a wine bar, and being surrounded by wines, by default, we had to try some. I chose a flight consisting of Malbecs from Argentina (Flight #9). All three samples where fantastic. Also sampled at our table was a flight of Shiraz from Australia (Flight #7), which was equally as tasty. We started the meal with Bruschetta, and then were asked to choose three different preparations from the menu. As there where nine to choose from, we asked for recommendations from our waiter. He suggested (bruschetta): fresh mozzarella with tomato, garlic and basil; house cured salmon, goat cheese and capers; and roasted artichoke hearts with romano. All three were delicious, however the salmon preparation was my favorite. We then moved on to salads. I split the Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna Salad with my girlfriend. It was also delicious. It may have even lived up to the waiters description as the "best in the area". After salads, we ordered a slew of pizzas for the table. My choice was the Stinky Cheese Man. It was good, however very heavy on the cheese. I can't say they didn't warn me. A "Top Shelf", "Popeye and Olive Oyl", and "Fire in the Hole" pizzas where also ordered. They were all very good. The "Fire in the Hole" was my personal favorite, mainly because it has jalepenos on it. I'm a huge fan of foods that make you sweat. This wasn't that spicy, but the flavor was enough to satisfy. All in all, I was thoroughly impressed with The Grove and hope to go back soon. The decor was casual and inviting, the waitstaff was friendly, and the food was delicious. Highly recommended! Side Note: The had an electric, commercial-grade wine glass cleaner that blew my mind. That thing was amazing to see in action. You must check it out when visiting.
(4)hildreth e.
i suppose it says something that i created a yelp profile just to write this quick review - austin is so full of good places to eat, with great wine selections, that it's a shame this place appears to get more than its due praise. we gave the grove a 2nd try last night, and while the wine selection is great, the food is just okay, and the service is sub-par. both visits to the restaurant have yielded servers who forgot wine flights, or food orders (as was the case last night, and when we asked about the missing order, was given the impression it was our fault), and a mostly noisy, only mildly pleasant dining experience. have been in the service industry for years - just goes to show great wine and good food aren't the be-all end-all of a good eatery ...best to save your time and gas and head to the multitude of other Austin restaurants that know how to get everything consistently right.
(2)Dawn G.
The first time I went here, I thought the food was fantastic. Everything was delicious from apps to pizza to main course, and their huge wine selection not only offers great decoration but gives you lots of labels to browse. The next couple of times, I felt the same, but then my adoration began to fade. Indoors, the place is very loud. The menu didn't change, and if they had specials, I either don't remember them or they were unspectacular. And arriving as early as 6:00 found no seat at the bar, a long wait to sit indoors, or the option of sitting in the hot Texas summer heat. On one hot day, we sweated our way through dinner with clothes damp and literally mopping perspiration from our brow. There are no misters or fans, and the flies flitted about enjoying dinner as much as we were. It is a nice place for kids, especially outdoors on a comfortable day. Overall, I think the food is good, but after a few visits, you get bored. It's been over a year since they've opened, and the menu is virtually the same. If you go, here are a couple of selections: the tuna with wasabi soy is outstanding; all of the pizzas are very good; "squash my linguine" and the bow tie pasta with chicken are both excellent. Avoid the Gumbo; Progresso makes a better one.
(3)J J.
The good: I'm glad there is finally a place like this in West Austin that is being supported by the locals. The food was really good but I wouldn't mind more selection. The bartender (Drew) was very nice. Our waiter (Quentin) was also very nice and very knowledgeable about wine. Food was brought out in a reasonable amount of time. It was nice, I'll go back sometime. The bad: The wait was long...which isn't all bad because that is a good sign for the restaurant. You can enjoy a drink from the bar and take it outside while waiting......but they need to dedicate a spot at the bar that isn't lined with bar seating for doing this. We had to order over people sitting at the bar and that's a bit annoying. There were parts of the restaurant that had a "meat marked" type feel. Cheezy single dudes at the bar and women dressed like fishing lures. Then there would be a family at a table near them. It was a strange mix. If it were my restaurant, I would attempt to seat families with children in a designated area. I realize that's hard to do when you have a wait and it's in a neighborhood though. Parking isn't that bad, but The Grove should talk with the office complex next to their shopping center and gain permission for parking in the evenings....just to make it easier. The inside dining experience and the outside dining experience are quite different, so take a look and see what will be a better fit for you and wait for it to be available. Give this place a try if you like wine. Leave the kids at home or take them to Macaroni Grill. This is more of a restaurant for adults.
(4)Tori T.
Just a quick review...we really enjoyed ourselves the two times that we visited the Grove. The 1st time was a girl's night out and it was nice & busy and the service was great! we enjoyed the food too. Try the sesame tuna app...the 2nd time was lunch and we took along our two boys ( age 1 and 5) and it was very kid-friendly and the boys loved their pizza. Overall, we had a great time both times...food was yummy and we plan to go back once a week for the PIZZA!! the patio was closed when we went but, we hope to sit outdoors the next time around.
(5)Yolanda I.
5 stars for concept and patio - 4 stars for wine list - 1 star for food - 1 star for unprofessional, uninformed waitstaff. The Grove is a great place for gathering with friends and family. The atmosphere is lively and the bartenders are friendly and knowledgeble. The menu has a variety of pizzas, salads, pastas and apps-although I wish they included simple entrees like grilled chicken or fish w/ veggies. The Grove has the potential for greatness. That being said, first they need to fire their Chef. What sounds good on the menu fails miserably in execution. The only upside are the cheese and meat trays. The tuna salad was noticably overcooked-grey tuna! Any decent chef would've caught that before it left the kitchen. The next time I tried a pasta-chicken w/carmelized onions, expected robust flavor, instead boring and lacking complexity. This last time we shared mussels, a pizza and ordered the house salads-how can they screw that up? First the salad dressing was a lovely asian inspired delight, however it mustve been sitting in the window for a while because being mostly spinach and shredded carrots it was totally soggy and limp- tasted ok but would benefit from some crunchy greens. The mussels were chewy and bland, the broth was flavorless. We went for the garlic chicken pizza, sounded great, but it was so salty that we didnt finish it - three people didnt finish a small pizza! The service also leaves something to be desired. Its generally busy when we've gone so its been difficult to get your servers attention if you need something - then once you ask it takes forever to get it. The servers have also been unhelpful when it comes to choosing wine in stark contrast to the bartenders who were great and made awesome recommendations. Our last waiter, when asking to recommend a something dry, e.g., referred to the flight menu and told us to choose from there. In summary, great concept, great place to hang out with friends. Order your wine at the bar or otherwise get recommendations before you sit down, stick with the cheese and sampler trays and if you can grab a bite on the way!
(2)T A.
The Grove is my new favorite wine and dine (yet relaxed) spot! My boyfriend and I went there on a Tuesday night and the place was poppin. We were quickly sat and our waitress promptly greeted us with a friendly hello and 2 waters on the spot. The ambiance is nice and seeing the nice patio outside makes me even more ready for springtime! We ordered the oysters for an appetizer and it is served with a nice chipotle aioli sauce and their house chips, one word...DELISH, and it is just the right amount to hold you over before the main entree. We ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir our waitress recommended and I'm glad she did because it did not disappoint! I had the steak salad and it was great and my boyfriend had a pasta dish and no complaints there as well. This is definitely on our list for new fave spots! I highly recommend going:)
(4)Ha Na C.
Where shall I begin? I rarely find myself giving a 5-star rating to any establishment, but I cannot find a single thing wrong with the GROVE. Infact, I can not believe I've waited so long to give them their well deserved review! Their food, atmosphere, wine and staff are phenominal. I've dined at the GROVE for dinner, during busy lunch rushes and at slow times at random times in the day. They are always consistent with the quality of their food and service. I've yet to be disappointed! Service is definitely a huge factor in how I weigh my ratings. The lunch Manager is always accommodating and makes you feel extremely welcome. If you are or are not a mussel lover, you absolutely MUST try Grove's mussels. They are handsdown the best mussels I've ever tried, globally! If you're trying to eat light, plan on sharing a dish because they do not skimp on their portions. The salads are so satisfying on both portion and taste! I always take friends and colleagues to dine at the Grove and am always thanked for the selection. It will forever remain one of my top favorite spots to dine in Austin.
(5)Lesley P.
I was excited to try out the Grove, as many friends had gone and loved it. It was a Wednesday and the place was busy and crowded. Our group tried to make our way to the bar to order a drink while we were waiting for our table - the hostess said it would be 20 minutes. Unable to make it to the bar, we hung out and caught up. 20 minutes had gone by, then 45, and then an hour. Now, I won't complain about the wait because that is something one cannot control; I will, however tell you about the lack of service at the restaurant. Parties were seated before us, the owner sat his "friends" as he felt fit - fine by me, but not when you have other patrons waiting to be seated. After arriving at 7:30, we finally sat down at 9 pm. Why did we wait that long? Apparently it was for the food, but alas, I was once again disappointed. Our waitress forgot to bring menus, took her time in serving us, this after the place had pretty cleared out. All in all, good concept, horrible service and lack of attention to the customer.
(2)Disco L.
This is a frequent dining spot for my co-workers & me only because it is seriously convenient. I enjoy the food, but it can be a bit on the pricey side for a quick lunch. Their wine flights are absolutely out of this world though! I enjoy the happy hour, but I don't believe they really have a food & drink happy hour on a large scale like some places around town as you still spend a bit on not much. Just like a few have mentioned it is some kind of for real Cougartown, but it is fun to sit back & watch all of the 20s men with the overly botoxed/nipped 40-50yr old women. Overall, I think this place is okay, but the wait staff ALWAYS lacks. If you know that it won't offend. Does not matter if a table of two or when we go in our large groups we always receive shoddy service. Kinda sad actually since large groups usually spend more dough. Never receive a "how is everything" just a take our order, get drinks, drop off food & check, then server disappears for good (you won't get a chance to ask for anything else so you better get that extra side of xyz in with your order). Oh well, will return just for convenience & the crab cakes!
(3)Taylor P.
I have heard a lot about this place lately, and the architect that is designing my house, Dick Clark Architecture, did the finish-out in here. He told me the other day how exciting it was to eat here, so my brother and I made the trip out off of the beaten path of downtown to try it out. the bartender that we met there was great with his knowledge of the menu, and knew that we were on a "power lunch" so he did his best to expedite our menu selections in a timely manner. We got our appetizer a little later than we would have liked before the main course, but he was nice enough to comp it knowing that we noticed and before we said anything to him. There isn't much else out here in this area, so if you're an avid Westlaker or live in West Austin this is the place to go for a glass of wine and some appetizers. Great atmosphere, and I felt like I could be in there in flip flops or a suit and feel just as appropriately dressed in either.
(4)Brad S.
We went to eat at the Grove. for the first time. There were six of us, four adults, two teenagers, in town for a sports event. In the process of becoming a doctor, I waited tables and bartended. That means I understand when the server is busy plus I tip very well. Bottom line was this. The food was very good. The service was lacking. After 10-15 minutes after my pizza was served, with the waitress not busy, I saw where the plates were and got my own plate. Later in the meal, it's after 10pm and the restaurant is not busy, nor was the server, I got up and filled four empty tea glasses that had been empty for 20 minutes. I haven't ever gotten up and served myself in a restaurant before. We were still friendly but I believe the waitress knew we were disappointed with the service. When the check arrived, she had added 18% gratuity to the bill. She also was silent about doing it. The bill before gratuity, with tax, was about $160.00. A little more attention (just a plate, and not letting our beverages go, and stay, empty) and I would have totaled the bill at $200. That's my general MO. That's just for 'run of the mill' service. Again, I didn't let the poor service ruin our meal. And, it is not anger we feel, it is disappointment. We most likely will not return to the Grove. Even though the food was tasty, there are lots of places with tasty food, and with servers that appreciate the generous tips I like to leave for a job well done. (and I'm not that hard to please.) Enjoy your 18%, it's the lowest percentage tip that I have left in quite a while. The above review was written by me the night we returned from the restaurant, The Grove. Within 48 hours, I received an apology from the managing partner of the restaurant, with an offer of compensation. I turned down the offer of compensation because the money was not the important factor to me. The quick response from the managing partner, with the assurance that the situation would be addressed (we do not want her dismissed, we only want her to be a good server), was impressive to me and showed that the management of the restaurant is dedicated to a good dining experience for it's customers. Due to the response from the management and the unchanged fact that the food was excellent (taste and preparation), I have changed my rating and will be returning to The Grove to eat again when I am in Austin. Brad S.
(4)Eric O.
This is a cool and fun spot to stop in for lunch! It's raining today, so unfortunately my party couldn't enjoy the awesome patio :( The service was fine, although i did order a beer (this is a wine place) and received a cider instead. I got the Asian salad with beef - great salad, the peanuts had a strange aftertaste though. Very popular and a bit noisy, but you can still easily hear the person next to you. 5/5 stars, look forward to trying more menu items!
(5)John H.
UPDATE: the Grove is not Groovy anymore. Sorry Grove we must part ways. No dogs on the deck means I say what the heck? It was a good run but we will move on to the next place. The Grove is Groovy, really. At least on the fantastic multilevel deck with the million year old sprawling oak tree providing the shade. Did you know the Grove is all about wine? I bet you did but you may not know the selection is half decent and served on temp. Wine flights are cool too but limited. You also may not know that the vittles are better than you might think. Original made from scratch plates featuring local ingredients and prepared expertly to order. Just sayin this place is heads above the "other" wine bars and should be on your list.
(3)Emily G.
Sesame encrusted ahi I love you!!! I can eat you anyday everyday! I love this restaurant. We come her after the lunch rush or right before. I suggest you do the same because parking is limited. Asked to be seated outside.Its the best spot IMO
(5)Kelly S.
When you've just consumed your body weight in Pinkberry, what's your next move? Why, to eat of course! When certain individuals learned that I'd never been to the Grove, the were shocked! I immediately was coerced into joining them for a glass of wine. Which turned into four. We put our name on the list but then ended up blazing our own trail. We sat in the front waiting area, ordered apps and wine and then commandeered a table over in front of lola savannah. They were just as sweet as can be about it too - giving us a server and letting us order out there. I dont think they knew it was a table of Yelpers and so one would assume that they would do similar for other patrons. We especially enjoyed the hummus trio, the brussels sprouts and the pizza (with a huge side of bacon) for dinner. And of course the two bottles of wine, reasonably priced and chilled to perfection. Our server, Cara (sp?) was a dream. So accommodating and available despite our weird set up. A fabulous spot for a glass of wine outside with friends, a date or a nice happy hour nosh.
(5)Jackie V.
I really love the wine menu. I haven't had a bad glass of wine yet. the food varies and is generally good. service is good. parking can be limited.
(4)Mike M.
Our first time at Grove. I like that menu has gluten, dairy, vegetarian, and vegan indicators. That said, our very helpful server confirmed that the kitchen will prepare any entree to order and so I had the spaghetti and meatballs with no cheese and they were delicious. We also had some very fresh and strangely yummy calamari. For dessert, our server recommended we walk next door to their coffee shop and check out the pastry case. Unfortunately, the attentive service stopped the minute we left the Grove and we left the coffee shop without ordering.
(4)Amanda P.
First off I NEVER give lower than a five star review, second the only reason why I am is because of the manager. I don't like posting things on social media but they do not have an email on their website and it would be pointless to call and have to talk to the manager that I already dealt with. I ate there with some friends on Sunday as I was visiting from out of town and they said they eat there a lot and love it. I was excited to go! When we first got there we asked if they could turn the heater on, they accommodated but actually turned the wrong one on. We finally got them to turn the right one on and life was good! We started with the crab cake appetizer which was phenomenal! I would highly recommend this! We then got our food and this is where things went downhill fast after that. I ordered the burger cooked medium and a caesar salad. I thought the salad would come out first but it came with the burger, this would typically not bother me but it was hot as like it was sitting under a food warmer. My burger was well done but I ate it and it tasted good but was a little dry for my liking. The big problem came when my friend ordered a chicken caprese sandwich, he ate his sweet potato chips and then took a bite of the chicken sandwich. He then noticed that it was pink, I asked if it was a smoked chicken as that is sometimes pink, no it was not. We asked the server to come back and she did and took the sandwich back. Life was good....so we thought! About 8 minutes later the sandwich was brought back, on the same plate as before (with the few chips left) and on the same bun and they just cooked the chicken. I have worked in the food industry for 20+ years and know that you should not put food that was bitten back on the grill and you should have recooked the sandwich. IF the food was not bitten they could have put on the grill but gave them fresh bread and sandwich toppings and more chips. The bread that came back was dry like it was sitting under the warmer and the cheese was gross by this point. The manager then came by and my friend asked for a new sandwich. The manager looked annoyed and never apologized and left the table with the sandwich in a huff. Ten minutes later a new sandwich arrived but without the pesto sauce (we did not say anything as we were over it). Me and my other friend were done eating and he had to eat alone with his food (not that big of a deal but annoying). First step of dealing with guests is LEAP (Listen, Empathize, Apologize, Problem Solve) -- this manager needs to go back to Management 101! We finally got the bill and they did not even take the sandwich off or offer us anything. I don't want anything but it is a nice gesture to make your guests happy, part of problem solving. It is interesting that we went to another restaurant the night before and the kitchen made a mistake and the manager gladly took care of it apologized profusely and brought a side of onion rings to munch on while waiting and took the burger off of the bill (none of this was expected). This was also a kitchen mistake, not something we ordered and then did not like. Guess which place me and my friends will go back to? I don't live in Austin anymore but know that the restaurant industry is tough there as it is everywhere. In my three restaurants I go out of my way to make sure the guests have a great dining experience, especially if it is our mistake. I also make my email and the corporate email easily accessible to our guests in case there is an issue and they are not comfortable talking to that restaurant. I don't need a response or anything for free, I just think that your policies on returning food to the kitchen should be reviewed and your managers need a little lesson in guest satisfaction.
(1)Sarah R.
We went for the first time with some friends a few weeks ago. The food is great, and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed. It can get a little loud and at peak times parking is a little crazy, but the experience is well worth the effort.
(4)Shannon B.
Don't be fooled by the "pizza / wine bar" categorization, as The Grove offer so much more. Delicious salads. Savory roasted and grilled meats. Wonderful soups. Excellent seafood - yes, really! And then there's that Kobe burger.... The menu is broad with fresh-fresh-fresh ingredients, and each entry is marked to let you know if it's gluten free, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian, or g-free option available. Can I tell you a secret? I've never even ordered the pizza or the wine. I usually go for any of the salads, the soups, or the seafood. Crab cakes? Be still my heart! Anytime there is a special occasion lunch at the office (birthday, new hire's start week, promotion, project success), I'm always interjecting, "Can we go to The Grove?" Even though the lunchtime traffic & parking situation is a nightmare (allow extra time for this!), The Grove is consistently wonderful in food, service, and ambiance (especially that lovely tree-shaded & heated-in-winter deck, weather permitting). We've eaten here many times with very large groups (5 - 10) during busy lunch service and our cheerful waiters have had no trouble keeping up with everyone's special requests, coordinating with the kitchen and making each diner's dream lunch come true. Oh, and speaking of lunch, do not miss the weekday lunch combo specials available from 11a-3p. You can get 2 slices plus a cup of soup or a side salad for $9, or just a single slice with either side for $7. If you want to go lighter and skip the pizza, get the soup & salad for $9. P.S. I certainly wouldn't mind coming in some evening to try out the wonderful flight menu, where you can try 3 wines for $13 to $20, depending on your taste. There are pages and pages of wines offered by the glass ($5 - 16.50) and you can even buy bottles to carry at a 25% discount off the listed price.
(5)Judy U.
Such a wonderful atmosphere, delicious gluten free options and a great wine list. The wait staff is always great and friendly...feels like dinner with friend every time were here.
(4)Colbie L.
Love this place! Came into town with my boyfriend and trying to decide on a place to eat and landed this gem! Walking in, felt a refreshing clean vibe. The extensive list of wines were amazing and very decently priced! Ordered the pork sliders and the brussel sprouts plate & thoroughly enjoyed both. The sprouts were seasoned perfectly with a few bites of sweet potato that was a good touch; and the sliders came with 3 and chips and the sweet bread rolls were so yummy! The food came out fast and the bartender was very attentive. A++
(5)Kuheli M.
Great food, great wine, even better atmosphere. I highly recommend this wonderful place.
(5)Nick W.
Tried this on a whim, and we were pleasantly surprised. Aside from a slight bit of snootiness here and there, this place was great. The food is what matters most, and our food was on point from start to finish. The Avocado BLT tastes a lot better than it looks. Give it a shot. It's worth it.
(4)Jeffrey F.
One of my favorite places in Westlake to get a casual meal with a beautiful setting. Food is always tasty, and the price is not so unreasonable.
(5)Amira K.
Romantic date night spot, especially when the weather is nice and you can sit out on patio with all the lights. Wine lovers pizza and the steak and Gouda salad are my favorite dishes. Although I would probably be satisfied with anything off this menu. Everything made with fresh ingredients and from scratch. Oh yeah and very knowledge staff when it comes to wine, just tell them what flavors you like and they'll have a recommendation for you. Cheers!
(5)Cece W.
This place has a really good happy hour - the wine selection is plentiful and the food is always a hit. The only bad thing is the parking situation, but they have resolved this issue with complimentary valet parking. If you have a large group for lunch, it may take awhile. Recommendations: -Pizzas (all selections) -Spaghetti Bolognese $13.50 -Fried Calamari $9.50 -Blue Crab Cake $13 -Chopped Salad
(4)Ashley N.
Wow. This place. I must say I was hesitant to try the fried oysters because I've never had them nor have I ever had the urge to try them. Just not appealing to me. That said, the photos and menu description left me curious, so a coworker and I decided to try it. To my amazement, I actually loved them. Thank you Grove for turning me on to oysters, no pun intended. Such a lovely explosion of flavor with a spicy aioli and mango-pablano pico. Can't wait to go back when I'm in town and the weather is warm to enjoy the beautiful patio and more great food.
(4)Lauren B.
Wait, how many times have I been here? I don't always like to check in because frankly, I get embarrassed because it would be far too many. ANYWAY, I am in love.... lust... whatever - I adore 'The Grove'! Yes, it's in Westlake. Yes, it's normally packed and you have to wait. BUT, I can assure you that it is worth it. The food, atmosphere and service (usually) are amazing. The outdoor patio built around an enormous tree is beautiful and relaxing on a cool day or night. May I suggest starting off with one of their bruchetta's, fried calamari, crispy oysters or my favorite small plate, the crispy brussel sprouts. Before admitting that I could finish the plate of brussels, let me explain to you the deliciousness you're about to enjoy. You'll be served a beautiful mound of lightly crisp brussel sprout halves with caramelized onions, fresno chilis drizzled with a sweet, reduced balsamic vinegar. I normally stick to ordering just a few small plates but their salads and pizzas are amazing. Their "Grove Chopped Salad" isn't the most healthy but it gives me some of my favorite things all tossed together - romaine lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, asiago cheese & crisp, crumbled bacon with caesar dressing. The pizza is delicious as well - you can choose a specialty pie or build your own (for picky eaters or someone that wants it very customized, like me). Their breads & pizza crust can be made gluten-free (if i'm not mistaken) which is also nice for those who need it! Don't forget about the delicious vinos available. You can order by the glass, bottle, or be adventurous & get a flight to dry a few different things. Their bubbly flights are nice during HH. Get in your car, plug The Grove into your GPS and head over... now! You can call me and I'll probably go with you, brussel sprouts on me!
(5)Robert A.
The Grove is a cute trendy wine bar located in Westlake just beyond 360. I have visited here many times and experienced great service. The Grove has quite the selection of wines from around the world, and a rather tasty menu to follow. Just recently I was able to dine in their huge tree covered deck. Very romantic and appealing to the senses, definitely a location to get away from it all and still only minutes from town. Weekends are amazingly active, expect to wait, however weeknights you can usually walk in and get seated immediately. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for something different. Cheers
(4)Justin W.
I would have been higher, but their pizza is not great and seats are really uncomfortable
(4)Scott W.
This place wildly exceeded expectations. Amazing menu. Big salads. Good wine selections! Fun crowd. Great bartenders. GET THIS: Sauv blanc flight Crab cake Salad
(5)Alison L.
This place is adorable, it seems like a great place for a date, for a family dinner, or for sipping lots of wine. I came with a big group and while we didn't get to enjoy the actual patio with all the shiny lights (we sort of created our own table out front), it was a beautiful experience on an even more beautiful Austin evening. They have a huge wine list and lots of great appetizers for sharing - the brussel sprouts, hummus trio, and bruschetta are all highly recommended.
(4)B G.
Had the miso salmon salad and it was DELISH. There's a lot on the menu that it gets a bit overwhelming to eventually try something, but what I chose was great. My husband enjoyed the cuban sandwich as well.
(4)Sarah G.
Great outdoor atmosphere for kids, families, and groups. Inside looks like it'd be nice if you're wanting a quieter meal. We arrived around 5:45pm on a Saturday afternoon and waited about 30 min to be seated - 6 adults and 2 kids. In the meantime, we had wine and bruschetta. The bruschetta were lovely! Especially the mushroom one. Once seated, our waitress was attentive and helpful. I wanted to try the venison chili, but they'd run out for the day. The waitress suggested they shrimp bisque instead. THANK YOU! It was fabulous. Not too "shrimpy", but just right, with a little kick of spice in the aftertaste. Other meals at the table were: the grilled patagonian salmon, sausage gone wild pizza, top shelf pizza, and a cheese pizza for the kiddos. We initially came to this restaurant because the plethora of gluten free options (a couple people in our party have celiac). I'm sure the non-celiac people will be coming back soon though. I saw a lot more things on the menu that I want to try!
(4)Shawna T.
Great wine flight selection, good food & service. Weather not so great would like to go back to enjoy the patio seating.
(4)Mathews W.
Hit or miss. We loved this place the first few times we eat there. Lately it has really been a flip of a coin on the quality of the food and service. They are very lucky there is not much competition around.
(2)Sunil R.
I love the pizza here and went back for lunch. Great casual spot with a big patio which is nice. I was there with a colleague at 11.45 and it was pretty busy already. I was told as long as we are there before 12, we should be OK since this is a pretty popular spot. The crisp Asian salad was OK. Dessert was awesome. The chocolate bread pudding was good and the chocolate brownie gluten free thingy was awesome. Service was spotty, our food took a super long time and our waitress kept disappearing on us for long periods of time. I finally took the check in myself.
(3)John K.
First time guests. Went here with high hopes, walked away with some disappointments which hopefully they will rectify in the future so others won't experience what we did. The ambience is definitely nice, attractive, and unique. Reminded me of sitting outdoors at Mozart's. Their bruschetta is prominently displayed on the first half of the menu. We tried it -- you order three out of 10 choices. They bring you one small slice of each (three small slices total.) The servings are a little on the small side, the flavors are good, but for the taste and size it is overpriced. Our entrees were OK. I ordered the Bow Ties with Grilled Chicken and Sauteed Red Onions and my girlfriend ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese. My chicken was dry and tasteless and the pasta was OK -- nothing to write home about. The Spaghetti Bolognese was nothing to write home about either, and way too salty to make up for flavor. What disappointed us the most was the service. While our waitress (Jennifer) was friendly, she neglected us a lot. It seems like *we* always needed to get her attention. We both ordered water. Oddly enough, we both commented on how bad it tasted, so I ordered a bottled water for my girlfriend and a Coke for myself. I noticed the Coke tasted a little off; I attributed it to the ice they use which might be the same as the water they use. The waitress never asked us why we ordered these drinks and asked her to take the water away. Shortly thereafter, the ice in my glass melted so I had watered down Coke, but she would not refill my drink and I just could not get her to come to our table to refill my drink. When we finally got her attention (about 15 minutes later), she told me that soft drinks have no refills! Excuse me? She could've mentioned this at the time I placed the order. Or, she could've noticed that my glass was empty for a very long time and ask if I wanted a new drink. That was a big turnoff for me. We might try this place again, but we are reluctant to go back due to the service issues.
(3)Shawn F.
The exterior ambiance is what makes this place in my opinion. I was a little disappointed that they used canned mushrooms on their pizza. It wasn't bad, but the food did not live up to the hype or reviews.
(3)Marilyn R.
This is my "go to" restaurant for great wines, delicious food, and fun atmosphere. It is consistently great - never been disappointed. Bee Caves and Lakeway locations are equally nice, but I prefer the seating at the Lakeway location. Love the Salmon, Bruschetta, and pizza.
(5)Lauren C.
Excellent food! Love this place. I love the steak salad, any of their pizzas, and the brussels sprout appetizer. Great place to go with friends or spouse. Great outdoor area. Wish they allowed dogs.
(5)L H.
I used to go here a lot. Let me tell you what happened a few weeks ago. I call to ask about bringing 5 people at about 4:30 in the afternoon. They say "you don't need a reservation at that time, come on by". Now understand, I'm bringing my CEO and some other people. I show up with one colleague, the CEO and the 2 others are dragging behind. I show up, there's literally nobody on the patio. Which is huge. They refuse to seat us! All people in the party need to be there. I understand this, but not when it's empty anyway. So I say "fine, seat us at a two person table, and when they get here we can get a bigger one" since I don't want to sit around for no reason for a half hour. The hostess tells the waitress to seat us at a particular table then move us over to the big table right next to it. Turns out it's the worst table on the patio right by the station where they drop the dirty dishes and the waiter's station!!!! So I protested. No. This is not happening. I'm bringing my CEO and you're sticking me at the worst table in the place? Seriously? The rest of the evening went great, since i moaned and whined and demanded a good table. BUT. This is absolutely unacceptable. If it were a busy time I could understand. But, at 4:30 during the week, with nobody there, first you won't seat me, then you try to seat me at the worst table? will not be coming back here again, let alone bringing my CEO. Worst service I've encountered in Austin! And I'm a great tipping regular who talks a lot and shares info about great places.
(1)Mark S.
Always get pizza here. Consistently friendly (not overly friendly) and good good. Only problem I've had is the size of the Togo salads, literally 1/2 the size as when you dine in. They were very responsive when I brought it to their attention.
(4)Nathan I.
The time had arrived for another lunch with Mom, and so we met at The Grove, the restaurant I had been so eager to try ever since my first experience at the coffee shop next door. I was no novice to this venue. As you'll recall, I had spent time next door at Lola Savannah, as I waited on my friend Jen while she interviewed across the street. In between sipping refreshing hibiscus iced tea and stone cold yelling at the copy of "50 Shades of Grey" I was reading at the time, I noticed people emerging from a thick black curtain in the middle of the doorway. Some also disappeared behind it, never to be seen again. Forget the Iron Curtain; from that point on, I was determined to break barriers and experience whatever lay behind the mysterious Velvet Curtain. In the immortal words of Ronald Reagan: Mr. Whoever-Runs-This-Place, tear down this wall! Errr, this curtain!...and get me a menu! We arrived late afternoon. All the action inside the restaurant was concentrated around the bar, but since it was such a beautiful day, we requested to sit al fresco. We were led outside and seated a couple steps up by a long water feature running along the right side of the patio. Yes, this would do nicely. I did a quick scan of our outdoor surroundings: a nice, large patio; plenty of shading; the fountain was a nice, soothing touch. And despite its steady trickling stream, it surprisingly did not constantly make me want to pee. Our luncheon companions were a group of four bleach blonde housewives, calmly sipping their white wine and having a pleasant conversation. By the time we left, they had devolved into four bleach blonde housewives who were chugging whatever was in front of them, and getting increasingly testy with one another. Real Housewife fight? Our waitress brought our menus, and I began the arduous task of figuring out what I wanted. The Grove's menu is one of those that you can get lost in easily, especially if your eyes are bigger than your stomach. Before the waitress returned, I was ready to order bruschettas, blue crab cakes, seafood linguini, and an entire pizza they called "Sausage Gone Wild"...which I'm thinking could also double as a description of my life, circa 2003-2008. Fortunately for my waistline, I had pared down my options considerably when the waitress returned. I began with choosing three of their bruschettas: chicken liver pate w/ sage & bacon; grilled asparagus w/crescenza cheese and proscuitto; and house cured salmon and goat cheese w/ dIll & capers. (Note: gluten free bread is available for a slight upcharge). Now, I'm going to out myself as someone who normally is not a fan of bruschetta. No matter what type of restaurant or how sophisticated the rest of the menu is, I always find the ubiquitous "tomato and olive oil bruschetta" to be an uninspiring selection, to say the least. But what the The Grove has done is offer a multitude of diverse flavor options, so it's almost like a charcuterie board operating under an alias. My favorite was the savory pate and bacon, followed closely by the smoked salmon (think a deconstructed bagels and lox). All three of them were delicious and easily shareable. We were off to a good start. Next up, I ordered the small plate Sourdough Sliders: beef tenderloin, horseradish sauce and au jus. The beef was tender and juicy, and as a rabid fan of steak (and sourdough bread), I was really impressed. The horseradish sauce was an excellent touch, although nothing beats a nice au jus dip. I was fully prepared to order a specialty pizza after my small plate, but after this course, I felt completely satisfied. Of course I had to sample a dessert. I have it listed as a fudge brownie, and it came on the recommendation of the server. Warm, gooey, and complemented with walnuts and fresh strawberries, it was the perfect wrap up to my lunch. Not a bad presentation, either. The Grove receives high marks for atmosphere. It's certainly a ladies-who-lunch kind of place, and I mean that in the best possible way. Certainly you could have a nice, leisurely meal here, complete with their vast wine selection and comprehensive menu. The only room for improvement here would be in the service. Our waitress was not exactly the most engaging person, which put a slight but obvious damper on our surroundings. Like I've mentioned before, I don't require a huge song and dance, but a smile and a sunny disposition would have blended much better with the sunny atmosphere and excellent culinary experience. One final note: I truly, truly adore having lunch with my mother. Say what you want about your own parents or gay men and their mothers, but I love knowing that I have a partner in crime who will always be up for a casual lunch, where we can discuss everything from interior design to celebrity back fat. This partner in crime just happened to give birth to me. And I'm glad we had our time at The Grove. 4 Stars.
(4)Miranda W.
UPDATE: Matt - The Grove's Owner reached out to me this morning and has explained they are working hard to beef up their staff. I truly appreciate Matt being so proactive and prompt with his response to me. I am looking forward to going back and enjoying The Grove in its original glory! I am back to being a fan! ***** What is going on with this place? This used to be a wonderful place to grab a bite and a great glass of wine. What happened, Grovers and Grovettes? When we arrived we were semi-greeted by a surly hostess who seemed in-the-weeds. I get it. I've been there and have had my share of bad days. However, the place just wasn't that busy. We got a front row parking spot. There were several empty tables inside (evidently everyone was sitting out on the patio) and only one other party was waiting. I didn't see any reason for her to be so busy...but maybe there was stuff going on behind the scenes that I was not seeing. Or they're very disorganized... Anyway, it was a nice day so we happily agreed to wait the 30+ mins for an outside table. Once seated, I saw that we were right next to the bus/beverage area in a small corner table. I immediately noticed the loud clash of silverware being poured into buckets behind me. It was annoying but I was hungry and I didn't want to over-react because of some low blood sugar. So we waited to meet our waiter/waitress. We waited and waited and waited. After another 15 mins, she/he never came. We left and went to Eleven Plates. The whole ordeal was disappointing. I really loved The Grove.
(4)Jennifer D.
I went to Lola Savannah (next door to The Grove and owned by same people) in the late afternoon to avoid MoPac traffic, hoping to do some work and grab a tea. The coffee house part of the twosome was closed off for reserved dining seating for the Grove. They offered me a sweet spot at the bar, and while it wasn't convenient to work (no plug), I decided to have an early dinner. Lucky for me, one of the owners (Reed) was sitting next to me and gave me advice ordering. I got the Reed Salad and added the Grilled Patagonian salmon, even though that was really part of another entree. The salad was delish. The salmon was well prepared but not my favorite kind of salmon. I ordered the Miles of Chocolate dessert. It's a combo of fudge + brownie with chocolate sauce and pecans. Also, delish but REALLY RICH. I could only eat one piece and then I brought the rest home. The bar staff was really friendly and offered great service. And the menu offers a lot of gluten free options for those in need. Last, the place has an awesome wine menu including a variety of sampler combos. I didn't imbibe this time but I really wanted too! If I'm in that area of town again, I definitely would go back to sample of menu items.
(4)Regina C.
Had Date night with my sister and some friends. GREAT place - delicious food but a little loud. So be ready for that if you come here. Kobe Beef Burger - tender delicious patty, could use some mustard but overall a VERY generous portion and uber delicious. Jerk Chicken Pasta - Creamy goodness with a kick too it. Steak Salad with Gouda - Yes I do love cheese, Yes I do like my protein, Yes I love veggies. LOVED this dish! (can you tell I ordered this one?) And we finished the night off with a Warm Fudge Brownie topped with Amy's Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream. =) Cheers to a loud date night! haha
(4)Joe W.
Good food. Great atmosphere. The atmosphere was very 'Sex in the City' with tables full o' girlfriends sharing wine and stories. Truth: I've never seen the show, but I imagine it would look like this (apologies to Sarah Jessica Parker).
(4)Dub W.
We had the Grove sampler with hummus and Greek sauce, very good. I had the salmon salad which was delicious, the manfriend had the Kobe burger, delicious... the cole slaw was the freshest, tastiest I've ever had. Huge wine selection we'll have to partake in next time. Their service was also amazing. I intend on coming back soon. Great outdoor atmosphere!
(5)Lora M.
This place is delicious! We went for dinner and the ambiance was great. I love the big tree that wraps around the outdoor deck. We LOVED the nachos -- highly recommend ordering. I also ordered the avocado BLT, which was delicious and really filling. I love that despite being a wine bar, they still have some craft beers on tap. Parking is a little tight, but they do offer complimentary valet, which is really nice.
(5)Arlene S.
I have been trying to find a really good restaurant in the lakeway area with great views and i finally found it. This restaurant reminds me of a restaurant in LA on the hill top.. Great food and service. This will be my go to place for the next six months that im here in Austin..
(5)Jane A.
My home away from home ... Where everyone knows my name. Great wine selection, food selection, and service.
(5)Aaron R.
The food is pretty good I had the pizza and the outside deck is nice. Only problem getting waited on. The bartender ignored my wife multiple times.
(3)Shannon R.
Great food ! They don't seem to like children !!! Kinda snooty!! But awesome food keeps me going back
(3)Jan M.
What a wonderful place to wine & dine. It's a great spot when you're wanting to enjoy Texas weather, which definitely doesn't come by that often. Their pizzas are great! I was lucky enough to visit with a big group & we decided to order an array of pizzas--BRILLIANT! I would highly recommend the Asian Crisp Salad & the Sausage Gone Wild pizza. Wine selection is quite impressive. Establishment is clean and service is great. Will be coming soon!
(4)Hanna D.
This place is excellent and highly recommended. My family has been eating here for years (around 5?) and they have continued to improve: - excellent pizzas (if you order one, you are likely to have leftovers for the same price as the other meals where leftovers are less likely!) - gluten free menu (their gf pizza crust has improved since they first started serving it--now you can't taste that it's gluten free, the only difference is a slightly darker and crispier crust) - seating options--their outdoor deck has expanded to accommodate even more tables. They have large fans and a cooling waterfall in the summer, and tall heaters in the winter. Good outdoor seating year-round. Indoor seating is also good; although it is noisier, they have nice decorations and a pleasant atmosphere - all-around delicious food, even the salads
(5)Mike S.
Nice place. First is the view. On the back deck the view is spectacular. Not of the lake, but of the Austin area hills. Food was okay. A little pricey. Our runner (the person who brings out the food) must have been new. He had a tray full of food and starting taking things off of one side, which unbalanced the tray and dumped one of our pizzas (on a hefty tray of its own) on to the floor. The poor boy was mortified. Waiting for someone to yell at him or be fired on the spot. We took it in stride, especially because he was so apologetic and our dessert was comped. I think the folks at the tables around us were more upset than we were. I would certainly go back. Downsides: 1. Not a lot of parking 2. Tables on the back deck are packed in there because of course that is where everyone wants to sit when the weather is nice. 3. A little pricey for me.
(4)Kat K.
Great restaurant, pizza and wine were amazing! I had the meat lovers and my friend had the Popeye pizza, both would order again. It was so nice outside and they have a huge patio, great to sit outside. Will return again on another visit to Austin.
(5)Kate M.
I went back again last week when I was in Austin. This time I had the Miso Hi Salmon Salad. It was excellent....salmon was cooked perfectly. The dressing was wonderful. Service was spot on! Looking forward to my next visit to Austin!
(5)Courtney S.
Came here for a girls night and had a marvelous time! The have a huge selection of wine (duh, wine bar!), knowledgable staff, and wide array of foods. And let me tell you...the food was delicious. We got a cheese plate, pizzas, nachos, etc, and everything was 5 star quality. Even has a cute little patio!! They do take reservations up until 630pm I believe. I would recommend it, esp if you want to sit inside because the inside is not huge.
(4)Tony S.
Great food and service. Never heard of this place and took a chance. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxing as well.
(4)Cammy G.
What's not to like about the Grove? Great wine and beer selection Wide variety of food including pasta, pizza, salads, sandwiches, and appetizers Inside and outside seating I work right across the street from the Grove so I stop here often for lunch or a drink after work. Some of my favorite items include the Avocado BLT, Steak and Gouda salad, and the Pulled Pork sliders. The calamari, cheese platter, and bruschetta are also very good with some wine! If you are in the neighborhood, definitely check out the Grove!
(4)Ryan W.
The Grove is a staple that is located very close to my home. This makes it an obvious choice many nights of the week. That, and the fact that they allow dogs, have great food, an extensive wine list, and really nice people working there. The only dish I did not enjoy was the sea bass. The salads, tuna, burgers (extra good), pizza, and pasta plates are all very good. The patio is large enough to have an event. The indoor space gets very crowded, and Thursday nights are always slammed. On busy nights, they offer valet parking. I always park in the lot to the right of the restaurant (if you are facing it) because there is almost always tons of space and no need to pay for it.
(4)John P.
The grove is a really nice place with a great view. I particularly enjoy their sparkling wine flight. The wines included are good and different enough that it fun to compare them. They also have several gluten free option that are very good and you can request gluten free crackers for the cheese plate though it costs more and you don't get a lot.
(4)Mark E.
I had a really great time here at The Grove. My Mom and I went with a few Yelpers to an impromptu after-party following the Pinkberry's event. We asked for a table on the patio, and were told that there would be a 20-minute wait. So about eight of us ordered apps and a few bottles of wine as we waited on the sidewalk outside their front door. it was then, that I got to witness first-hand, the go-getter, administrative skills of our CM, Kelly S, as she got the OK to put some tables together on the walkway, and we Yelpers had our own, private patio setup! I was totally impressed with not only Kelly, but The Grove staff in accommodating us! The wine was superb, and the apps were excellent too-- a nice bruschetta, with fresh tomato and basil, delicious brussells sprouts, and a hummus plat with three different kinds of hummus. The edamame hummus (with a hint of wasabi) was the best! The great apps, nice wine selection, and the overall way the staff treated our party is enough for me to want to go back again, even though I live nowhere near this place! It was a great experience, and most importantly--my Mom loved it!
(5)Erin F.
Is it just the trees?? I used to be a huge fan of The Grove, and I suppose I still am...it's probably 50% the lovely patio (rivalling Shady Grove, with a different feel) and 50% the fact I used to love the food at the Bitter End. But some "uneven" experiences at the Grove have left me reevaluating my feelings wondering if it's just the amazing trees on the patio. Last time I was there, our server was incredibly surly. We tried to kill her with kindness to break her icy façade but nothing doing. Oh well. We had some bruschetta - and I recall the brie, fig & apples sounded great on paper, but the brie was the least part of the ingredients (I'd hope it'd be the MOST.) And our sliders were incredibly dry. But we had a decent time so...I forgot about these complaints. Fast forward to yesterday, where I dragged the girls for brunch. And after we left, I thought "I wonder what they thought of it??" I know they were in agreement over the killer patio (hot as it is) but...otherwise, I felt lukewarm about a rather costly lunch. Again we had bruschetta (having forgotten the miniscule brie issue) and again ordered, brie/fig/apple, gorgonzola/walnut, and artichoke hearts. The gorgonzola was alright...some cheese (not melted), lots of walnuts, but the bread is REALLY thick which tends to outweigh the toppings. The brie/fig/apple was just like last time -WHERE is the brie? Had to move off all the julienned apples to even LOOK for the brie, which was a pathetic little piece compared to the TON of fig spread. Too much fig spread, bread & not enough cheese = very unbalanced (and not worth the calories). Dunno what my friend thought of the artichoke. Definitely left me with the impression the kitchen is skimping. Trying to keep this short...but our Hawaiian Poke appetizer/salad was delicious, but the portion was rather small compared to the ton of wonton chips on the plate. I know ahi is somewhat expensive, but it still could have been larger. The brussel sprouts were tasty, but still $9 for roasted brussel sprouts. I feel weird mentioning the cost so often when I don't mind splurging, but I guess I do mind splurging if it's NOT worth the money. Ordered 2 salads to round out the grazing - one being my "ex" favorite salad, Reed's salad. That I used to adore. But now...I have to accuse the kitchen of skimping AGAIN. It looked like a plate of lettuces with a dry chicken breast on it - period. At least $12 I think. The feta & pecans were almost non-existent, and fell to the bottom of the plate...but almost none to begin with. And where are the roma tomatoes that used to grace this lovely dish? Gone years ago, I guess. I finally said something to the waitress, who graciously took it off the tab even though we said she didn't have to. I appreciate the gesture but how about PUTTING SOME STUFF on my $12 salad to begin with? Why is the kitchen giving so little when the prices aren't exactly cheap to begin with? At least our waitress was friendly this time. I'll probably keep going to The Grove when it's cooler since I can't fight my fondness for it, but that was a VERY expensive lunch for such uneven portions/presentation. At least our mimosas were tasty but...it really gave me pause. I want to give it 2.5 stars for the meh experience but you know Yelp doesn't allow that. Can't blame the trees, that's for sure...
(3)Dawn C.
I had a tasty lunch here on Saturday after driving past a time or two. The impervious cover makes spotting it from the road a tad difficult but once you pull in you cant miss the place. We ordered the Kobe Burger and the Chicken Panini topped off with a couple fresh brewed Ice Tea's please! Our servers name was Derek and he was attentive yet not annoying and cracked a joke or two. I like a guy with quick wit and easy on the eye's, he was both (double standard alert). The food was good, very good. The wait was appropriate and when our food did make it out it was nice and warm. I ordered the Chicken Panini which was delicious, they top it off with Goat Cheese which oozed all over the chicken, yum! I did sample the Kobe Burger which was also very good. I don't eat much red meat so I may not be the best at reviewing beef. My lunch date loved it and ate the entire burger so I'm guessing it was delicious. The entire meal cost 26 bucks and some change(tip not included), not to bad for a nice sit down lunch and top notch service. The only negative here is the parking. Its a tad precarious to park in the front or side of the restaurant. They do have plenty of parking in the back but hey, who wants to park in the back? Lets just say I do not like hiking from the lot to the front door, especially if I'm about to part with some Jackson's, Franklin's, or Grants! If its more then that you better offer Valet service if you want my greenbacks!
(4)Chris M.
Interesting and diverse wine list, but the food was a real surprise, and far better than most other Wine Bars. Only downside was service was a touch inattentive... otherwise, a lovely evening!
(4)Chris B.
I really hate the fact that the majority of my reviews on yelp thus far are negative, so I'm going to have to work to highlight some of the awesome place I eat. That said, I'm not really going to leave much of a review -- other than to agree with Jacob M's assessment of The grove ( facebook.com/l.php?u=htt… ) To summarize: Good Wine, Decent Pizza, god awful Ahi Tuna. In addition, the waiter wasn't the best on this occasion either. Instead of offering to remove the bad tuna from our table/check and sub it for something else, he just insisted that it was fine (regardless of what the color, smell or taste suggested). I'm attaching a picture, so feel free to judge for yourself. Red or Pink tuna is fine...and from what I understand..a chocolate colored tuna can also be edible as it hasn't been treated with carbon monoxide. However, this fish was a dark brown color and smelled like Aquaman's ass after a bad case of the stomach flu. So my recommendation? Go here for the wine, pizza and the big ass patio fan on a cool summer day, but avoid everything else. Otherwise, save your money and go to Simplicity Wine & Eats or if you want to pay for better food, try North in the domain, or Vino Vino on 45ish street. Overall rating: I found Nemo and he's been dead for a while.
(2)Charles C.
The Grove just gets better with time. There are menu changes each season, keeping the experience fresh and interesting. Try the new salmon preparation with a superb yellow curry sauce, bok choi and rice. The three soups on the fall menu rock, especially the tomato shrimp bisque. The quality is high and the prices reasonable , whether it's a salad with ahi tuna, steak or chicken; or one of the inventive and delicious pastas (try the Bolognese with bow ties -- yes they will substitute any pasta with any preparation, another plus), or the creamy chicken Gorgonzola, a nostalgic nod to the much-missed Mezzaluna, a predecessor restaurant. The wines are well-chosen and so very reasonable in price. You can take a bottle (or a case) home too, at a substantial discount. Micro-brews on tap go perfect with a pizza or burger. The servers, bartenders and other staff are unfailingly helpful, cheerful and informative. You cannot have a better dining experience for the price. This is my go- to place, whether on the deck under the impressive grove of old oak trees, or at the lively bar or even next door in the Lola Savannah coffee shop, where the full Grove menu is offered. They do private parties too, on a section of the deck or you can book the coffee shop space. The Grove showcases the best things about Austin.
(5)Jacob B.
Their food is really good and healthy except for the pizza. I don't know why, but at lunch their pizza by the slice is always soggy and bland.
(3)Anh P.
Ahhhh where to go in yuppie Westlake area? I host a monthly happy hour downtown, but during F1 weekend, I was worried it would be too crowded so reserved an area for 10-12 people here. This place would have gotten perhaps a 5, but the manager FREAKED OUT. I had called 3 weeks ahead to reserve an area and when I got there, evidently they mixed my name up with another person who also reserved an area for 10. They placed me in the back room (where there used to be a coffee shop back in the day) and then out of nowhere w/o introducing himself, the manager (who I eventually figured out was the manager) starts interrogating me about when I reserved this, who I spoke to etc in an accusative manner. Not very cool. He was very abrupt and unapologetic and seemed to imply it was my fault for the snafu. Besides that (he never came back to check or anything), the food was good and the service from everyone else was good. I'd go back and hopefully not have to deal with the stressed out/freaked out manager.
(4)Liz K.
Great atmosphere inside and out. Delicious pizzas, pastas, and bruschetta. Awesome wine list (you pay a little more here, but it's a great selection of high-quality wines). They have vegan and gluten-free options. Great service always. Be prepared to wait for a table and have a glass of wine on the weekends. Love grove!
(5)Greg P.
I love this restaurant! The gluten free and vegan options are abundant & the wine and view are breathtaking.
(5)Cris G.
This update is to point out my fondness for the Grove's wine flights. Three different wines with a common thread served together with an informative sheet to tell you about each one. The glasses aren't full pours, but for what you get and how much the flight costs (typically less than $20) it's one hell of a deal to try a variety. I'm not typically a wine drinker, but this can get me interested. We got the cheese and nut plate to go with it. It's a bit more on the disappointing side. The cheese servings were on the small side and I found the blue cheese looking chunk unappealling. There was a mound of wet, semi-dried fruits. I guess they were soaked in brandy or something, but there was only so much of that I could eat. I could have just gone for a better variety of cheese, maybe some olives, and call it a tray.
(4)Meera A.
I went for an impromptu date night with the husband, and we both loved this place. The first thing I liked was that seated next to me was a woman with her young (5 year old-ish) daughter. This said to me that I could go there for a mommy-and-me night with my kiddo and not be frowned upon. In a nutshell: Well made food with excellent taste balance, good service, great wine selection. Now on to the food in detail: I ordered the #9 South American wine flight. Every wine was yummy, volumes just right. Don't know how to rate this flight (4 or 5), so it gets 4.5 out of 5. Husband ordered #9 Syrah flight. We agreed that only the third one (2007 Pierre Amadieu) was a stand-out wine. Next time I will opt for a glass of this wine. That glass alone rates 5/5. We ate three shared apps and quantities were great for 2 people. 1) Moroccan sampler: While everything tasted good, I liked the tzatziki the best. We ran out of pita before we ran out of hummus. Not that it would have been better the other way around. Since we were getting pretty full, we didn't ask for more pita. This app rates 3/5. 2) Bruschetta. The slices were thick and nicely toasted. Each variety we ordered was well prepared. My only complaint would be that there was too much cheese. I can only handle so much goat cheese in a meal. This app rates 4/5. Salmon, goat cheese, capers: Excellent. I scraped some cheese off. Roasted pepper with goat cheese: Yummy. I took almost all the cheese off. I know, I know, but I had to pace myself. Asparagus, cheese and prosciutto - I saved my cheese quote for this one and it was divine. This particular one gets 5/5. 3) Artisan Cheese plate: (Why yes, I do have a complicated relationship with cheese) Once we ate the above two as dinner, we decided to stay on for a while longer with a fresh glass of wine and some cheese. The cheese plate was truly well prepared, though I have forgotten the cheese names by now. 4/5 If you don't drink too much wine, you can eat for less than $25 per person. Not that I have any experience with that kind of restraint.
(4)Adam M.
This is a great place for dinner with a huge selection of great wines. The staff is awesome, especially the ones working the wine bar. They are extremely knowledgeable! My Asian salad was delicious and fresh. The atmosphere is casual. It's a great place for meeting friends for dinner/wine. I will be returning soon!
(4)Natalie W.
Let me say, I have been to The Grove many times and have enjoyed it, but we had a horrible experience yesterday when we decided to have lunch at The Grove. My fiance was starving, so he decided to order the burger. After biting into his burger, he realized there was something seriously wrong. His burger was raw. Still moo-ing. And this is a guy who orders his steaks medium rare. Yes, burgers are sometimes undercooked, but this thing was still bleeding. He immediately felt sick to his stomach. He called the waiter over to show him the burger, and the waiter just looked at him and said "ok, do you want anything else?" My fiance was no longer hungry due to his upset stomach, so he did not want anything else. When we got our bill, he took the burger off, never mentioning anything about the burger. He never apologized, he never even addressed the issue. Horrible customer service.
(1)Melissa E.
I loved this place ...great atmosphere, beautiful tree canopy on the patio, Pinot noir wine flight, the tomato basil bruschetta was packed with flavor, and the penne pasta with house-cured tomato was so tasty. We really enjoyed it and will drive up from San Antonio again for this!
(5)Ann L.
LOVE The Grove! We have been here 4-5 times now... each time the food, wine and service is dynamite!
(5)Glenn R.
Like the outdoor atmosphere under the sprawling tree. Decent wine selection. I didn't find the service to be amazing by any means. We went a little earlier in the evening, so we didn't have any noise issues that others have experienced here. Definitely would go back.
(4)Ryan H.
Had a very nice dinner here on the patio. Reasonably priced bottle of wine was very welcomed. Had the Mediterranean sampler (pita, hummus, yogurt, and tabouli) which was very tasty, even was provided extra pita at no cost. I had the sea food linguine and the wife had the salmon both were very delicious. Finished it off with a chocolate dessert. The patio is excellent, well shaded and comfortable even on a warm night. We will certainly be back, just wish it was closer to home in Cedar Park.
(4)Melany F.
The owner was very responsive to my review and offered a gift card if we returned. We arrived while it was busy but were seated promptly on the patio.Our waitress was excellent , the food was much better, and we really enjoyed the patio. We are so glad we had the opportunity to return and try again. Thank you to the owner and the staff- our experience was much better the second time!
(3)Vanessa B.
Color me impressed, this place is great! The steak salad was exceptionally good, the pizza was yummy, and the fettuccine was delightful, but super spicy, be warned. Our server was a little strange, sort of a cross between creepy, solicitous and indifferent, but the patio was lovely. Highly recommend The Grove for a casual dinner with friends.
(4)Erin M.
Excellent food and drink options and attention to detail. Weather permitting, the outdoor patio has excellent ambiance and the trees are magnificent. The pizza is outstanding and each entree is made with top notch ingredients. Could not be better!
(5)Pam B.
This was such a disappointment. People rave about the Grove but it was a miss for us. We were seated by the door to the outside, which was constantly opening and closing and letting in the cold night air. We asked to be moved and we were moved one whole table over, with no apologies and more than a whiff of irritation from the hostess. And it was still plenty cold. The side salads were pretty great and the wine flights are cool. However, when we ordered a plain pizza, it came with tomatoes on top. The server did replace it but gave me instructions for ordering pizza in the future so it wouldn't happen again. The attitude was really surprising. I felt like I was back on the East Coast and not because the pizza was decent-- because it wasn't. The replacement pizza had an astonishing amount of weird gross cheese and very little sauce. Even my 8 year old son, who normally would have polished off 3 or 4 pieces, stopped at the middle of a second slice and asked for cereal when we got home. Oh Grove, I so wanted to love you. See you for happy hour, maybe. But that's all.
(2)Mark M.
Went for lunch on a Friday. Crispy brussel sprouts for an app, a salmon salad, and a baked panini or something like that. Excellent, excellent, excellent. A lunch that tasted like a dinner. We sat inside, next to the glass looking into the patio. Only complaint was the flies - I hate when a restaurant has flies inside. Besides annoying, a little gross if you think about it. Service, attentive at first, then he got in the weeds outside in the patio - took forever to get the check.
(4)FRO F.
Love this place! Recommend the salmon, pork chops and beef tenderloin. Always have had a great experience with food and wine. The chocolate bread pudding is fabulous! Unfortunately, they do not have a full bar, if they did they would get 5 stars!!! Great kids menu too:)
(4)Paul S.
I have decided I need to put this into my heavy rotation stack, afterall it's just down the street from my house. we were excited about this place when it first opened, but somehow it failed to impress us on our first few visits. I can now committ to a regular seating as any of my earlier complaints I had about the food, service or prices seem to have been worked out. congratulations The Grove, you have grown into what I always hoped to have close to home. the bruschetta is always a home run and the wine flights are well sorted and a real value as well.
(4)Jenny A.
Amazing romantic patio with large trees and Xmas lights. Good service. Quality food. Upscale. Wine flights are a great way to explore the wide array of wines offered and a lot of fun too, esp with a date. Wonderful bruschetta! The pasta was fantastic. However, I was quite disappointed that there was not a sangria offered at a wine bar! Liqueur is not served at this location so a sangria would have been a wonderful 'cocktail' to start on before the wine. Also, it would have been an easy upswell on a hot summer night... Please consider offering! This place should have the best sangria in town. Overall, thoroughly enjoy this place on date night.
(4)Zach M.
This is a great place for a nice relaxing dinner or date night. My girlfriend and I couldn't decide what to get so we got it all. The brochette was amazing and I'm not particularly fond of cheesy bread, but it was SO GOOD! Then I got a grilled panini and she got some kind of pasta (both really good). On top of all that we got the wine lovers pizza (again REALLY REALLY GOOD). I thought our waitress was out there but we all have an off night every once and a while. As much as we loved the food and ambiance of the place, the bartender behind the bar was where it was at. He was very knowledgeable about the wines and suggested a perfect bottle for us, which is now one of my favorite wines. Great place. Not the best in Austin, but certainly one of the best in Westlake Hills.
(5)Gregory J.
Disappointing. 2 out of the 3 wines in the Pinot flight were undrinkable. The pasta was mediocre. The Bolognese sauce was flavorless. The accompanying bread was lame - no garlic. The fish was acceptable. Service was fine. I like the location... just hope the quality of food comes up several notches.
(1)Nicole W.
Almost bribed by my business partner to try this place, I can honestly say it was well worth our visit! After several previous days of rain, we had the pleasure of eating outside on a brisk sunny day. The atmosphere is tranquil, and this restaurant setting wouldn't be nearly as magical without the glorious tree that envelopes the outside eating area. (i.e. sit outside). Ordered the ahi appetizer (the most amazing single dish on our trip to Austin), and the margherita pizza, which was also delicious. We had a nice pinot and winter champagne flight to go with the meal. Everything tasted amazing!!
(4)Megan L.
"Wine bar and kitchen" is a pretty accurate description. I wouldn't venture here hoping to find a wide variety of menu options but the ones they do have are very good. I had the slice of pizza and salad combo and loved the feta, pecan, honey dressing salad. I've had the pastas and pizza and everything has always been just as delicious as it looks. During the lunch hour there was not a wait, our waiter moved very quickly and the food arrived promptly after ordering. Not much more you can ask for than that. I've heard the happy hour is great but I'm not much of a wine girl so someone will have to check that out for me. :)
(4)Irfan S.
Good quality food and great ambience. Nice to see a place like this in this part of Austin.
(4)Susan K.
This hipster dufus place was so packed I thought it had to be good. We ordered the gazpacho, tortilla soup, kids pizza and brisket nachos. Everything is steeped in some sort of spice -- not cinamon but something similar. The Gazpacho was green and cinamonny. Inedible. Kids pizzas were big but had tiny onions and kids wouldn't eat them. Tortilla soup was half decent. They blend all the veggies first and then throw chicken in, which I like. The brisket was infused with the weird spice. Inedible.
(1)Ryan P.
All things considered - quality, ambiance, service, value - The Grove is probably my favorite restaurant in Austin. The first thing you'll encounter, and one of the only negatives is a likely wait, especially if you want to sit outside in the spring and summer. I have found the waits to be generally under a half hour and the wait times given by the hostesses to be very accurate, which is nice. I made my first trip to The Grove strictly based on the wine list, but I was amazed with the food after trying my first bite. The Moroccan Sampler is a great way to start with a slightly spicy hummus, perfectly blended cous cous and hearty olives. As always seems to be the case with me and hummus, I could have used more pita, but I'm probably just eating it wrong. As for the mains, the pizzas are perfectly topped and cooked, with my favorite being the Popeye and Olive Oil - spinach, roasted peppers, bacon, garlic and goat cheese. The pastas are also well-done, especially the simple, but tasty Bow Ties with Grilled Chicken and Sauteed Red Onions. Throw on a pinch of crushed red pepper and you're good to go. The Gorgonzola -rosemary cream sauce keeps its creamy texture even as the dish cools. While I've been more adventurous, my wife enjoys the Third Coast Linguine so much, she refuses to order anything else. Having had a number of shellfish/pasta dishes in Italy and the U.S., she says it's the most authentic. Last, but definitely not least, is the wine list. The flights could use some work, but the overall wine program is solid and wide-ranging. On the whites, there are a few varietals you might struggle to find elsewhere that are fun to try, especially the Gruner Veltliner. California probably has a little too much presence in the reds by the glass, but there's also a good mix of quality Nebbiolo's, Malbec blends and other international varietals. All in all, one of Austin's best restaurants!
(5)Sina H.
Great food, atmosphere, and service. Considering the other options in West Lake, this is our go to spot for a relaxing drink and few small bites. Parking can be hard during peak hours.
(4)Jessica E.
I like how you have a choice of three types of Bruschetta. The Ricotta, Pistachio, Date was probably my favorite. For entrees, I took the Yelp rec on the Popeye pizza and I'm sorry but it was very bland. I would expect it to be perfect for an 80 year old with no sense of smell. It was made with spinach, bacon, roasted peppers, goat cheese and roasted garlic which sounds really good but lacked flavor. Also tried a slice the House BBQ Chicken which was better than the Popeye. I felt like they were sheisty on the BBQ sauce. The of crust of the pizza was nice. Soft border with a crisp base. My favorite was the spaghetti bolognese. Tried a few bites and it was amazing. Full of flavor! Complete opposite of the Popeye. The sauce was heavenly. Also tried the chocolate bread pudding. It wasn't anything to write home about. Our waiter was a complete douche. He had a snobby, holier than thou attitude. And to top it off, I hate it when waiters pick up the check with tip while you are still sitting at the table. Not cool. Would I come back? Yes...for the bolognese and maybe try other pasta dishes.
(3)Jacquelyn M.
I gave the additional star only for the outdoor patio and good wine selection. If I wasn't with my family during Saturday brunch I would have got up and left. First off to all the people in the service industry,, IF YOUR CUSTOMER HAS A LEGITIMATE ISSUE WITH YOUR QUALITY OF PRODUCT AND SERVICE THEN YOU FIX THE PROBLEM YOU DONT START MAKING EXCUSES AND UNDERMINE THE PERSON PAYING FOR THIS PRODUCT!!! Im always on my best behavior and try to be more then pleasant to people making my food because I have been in service industry and have unfortunately witnessed what happens to rude customers; so when this server decided to talk to me like Im a stupid idiot that has never consumed food before I pretty much smiled and took it. First off we sampled the wine flight from Italy. Some I liked some I didn't, and one glass was very full of sediment. I kindly asked if she could re poor this glass and that I may have gotten the bottom of the bottle. Her response: "Well this is one of my favorite wines and it just so happens that Italian wines usually have sediment in them so its normal to drink it this way" Okay?? I dont care if you drink your wine with a bunch of dead yeast cells in it,,,,, the rest of the world does not. Sediment needs to be filtered before your serve it to your customer I dont care where the hell it came from. One would think a wine bar would be able to filter and serve a clean glass of wine to experience the different tastes without having to chew sediment. She brought a second glass of wine that was much better, but not clean enough to serve as they should. Now food. We ordered a whole bunch of small plates to share which was okay,,, strange tastes that I dont think work very well; wasabi cilantro hummus? Is this what I was tasting? Im not sure but it was a little strange. Butternut squash with cinnamon was also kind of unpleasing, I think the sodium and cinnamon taste threw me off. All in all it was mostly just meh. The one thing that was absolutely beyond disgusting,,,, which is not that hard to mess up,,,,, was the pita bread served with hummus. Pita bread: Had grilled lines on it as if it were just cooked,, but once I bit into it a cold watery substance came out and noticed the bread was cold and mushy. It really freaked me out and I almost lost it and started crying it was so gross. I poked at the other breads that were stacked in a bowl and the pieces underneath were swimming in water!! I informed the server and had her feel what I had just tasted,, I had said that these must have been previously frozen and not cooked through. Again I get an excuse from this server!!! ********** "Well actually,,,,,, we make everything ourselves in house and from scratch,,, and our chef will grill the bread and then cool it down because if you serve pita bread warm the it wont interact correctly with our house made hummus" WHAT?????? What in the world are you talking about???? Ms,, if you are reading this,,,,, please come off your high horse smug attitude and listen to what people are trying to tell you. I JUST TASTED GOOEY COLD WATERY BREAD WITH GRILL MARK LINES ON IT!!! FIX IT!!!! End of story is she did not fix anything she just left after her stupid little explanation.
(2)Mark H.
I stumbled upon The Grove (tm) while banking nearby. I hadn't noticed that yet ANOTHER bland strip center had opened on Bee Caves. Kind of a turn of until I saw the mammoth deck under the oak trees at The Grove (tm). It's a combo wine store/restaurant (mainly restaurant) that, of course, has a pretty good wine list. I've had the penne with shrimp and roasted tomatoes which is excellent. The pizza margherita is noteworthy although House Pizza's is better. I even tried the cuban sandwich. Everything is tasty and not too badly priced given the locale. Nice place. Will be back when I'm in the vicinity.
(4)Lydia C.
Met up with an old friend here. We waited around 20 minutes to be seated outside, and another 10-15 before the food arrived. During the wait, the waiter came by and filled our water, and explained to us that food was a bit behind due to the unusually large lunch crowd today. (+1 for taking the initiative) I order cappuccino, and a slice of pizza (Top Shelf) with salad (Reef's). Nom nom nom. It was the perfect portion for me. Friend order a steak salad, and hubby had Third Coast Linguine. Both looked and smelled amazing. It was gone before I had a chance to ask for a sample. :( Good food surrounded by great company and atmosphere. What more could you ask for?
(4)Brittany N.
I am definitely a fan! I have been here twice now and both experiences were great. The food, atmosphere, and service were all equally amazing. The wine prices by the glass are extremely reasonable and generous pours! They are more than willing to let you try anything before you order a glass as well to make sure it is what you are looking for. *The people watching here is 2nd to none. Plastic city. Cracks me up. *You can also purchase wine by the bottle to-go in their market area and they often have great deals!
(4)Nan-hee A.
Great atmosphere. Staff was awesome. Met the owner, who was kind to chat for a bit and really took pride in his place. We had the poke and it was fantastic. Great wine selections. I did the flights menu for wine and that was fun.
(5)Michelle G.
First off, allow me to address the "Cougar" aspect. Ok, so I've heard it, too. The Grove is apparently THE place to go if you're a divorcee and open to meeting new people. That being said, I'm a people watcher. So I find it all very intriguing. I recently met up with some folks I hadn't seen in awhile and truth be told, it was really hard to stay focused on the conversation at hand when there was so much entertainment happening around me! As such, The Grove is very much a scene and be seen kind of place, worthy of "puttin on the dawg" as I like to call it....so yes, even though you may be sweatin' it out on the patio in 100+ temperatures, please be sure to do so Oh, so fashionably ;) It should come as no surprise that the food (and ambiance) are both done actually very well. Owner Reed Clemons is no stranger to the Austin restaurant scene. The service is EXCELLENT and the food is beyond what you would expect from a strip center off of Bee Caves. And simple, modern decor is always a bonus in my book. It would seem you can't go wrong with anything seafood: ceviche, calimari, crab cakes and the ahi tuna salad are all outstanding. I've had mussels here on occasion, too and they were soooo good. In fact, I was rather disappointed that they weren't offered on my most recent visit. Pizzas are imaginative and sport super thin crusts. (Gluten-free crusts are available, too...nice). And the flights. I'm sorry...what's not to love about flights? Can it get more festive than this? Yes. How about a sparkling flight (a sampling of three different choices) for $14? I only wish it ALWAYS included my favorite, Lucien Albrecht Rose. Pours are generous and I always feel like I'm getting WAY more than a taste:) One final note: Be sure to get a few desserts to share for your table. The "flourless chocolate cake" was To-Die-For.
(4)Jessica F.
I want to like this place. We come here frequently and keep trying. The food is pretty good and relatively fast. Any time I have asked for anything extra, I get charged for it. Tonight, my $14 beets had just a little goat cheese and so I asked for some extra, bam it was on the bill. Really? They took it off when I complained but if I have to complain the experience is ruined. Another time I asked for a small side of veggies and avocado for my baby. Bam, $7 added onto my bill, $2 for 2 slices of avocado and $5 for a cup of veggies. I expected to pay something, but that was too much. Again, complained and they took it off or lowered it, I can't remember, but that ruined the experience. When I go out and am dropping the kind of money they are charging I don't expect to be nickeled and dimed. We were worried that with Jack Allen's opening their business would be hurt, but really it is them hurting themselves. Jack Allen's food is just as good if not better, they don't nickel and dime us and they are the same price if not cheaper. And they have a full bar. I'll go there instead.
(3)Stacey B.
The Grove is a staple for my family. We always try to sit on the patio under the huge trees if the weather is nice. I'm a big fan of the wine flights. They have quite a few to choose from. I've never had a bad meal here. Some of my favorites are the bruschetta, pizza, and crabcake salad. The ceviche is also very good. Like I said, you really can't go wrong. I heard they have a new location downtown and am looking forward to checking it out. The only downside is the parking. The lot is often jam packed. They offer complimentary valet though, which is a nice touch.
(5)Cari P.
Thought for sure I had written a review here as this is a favorite go to place! Lovely indoor outdoor establishment with a fusion of tapas and entrees you should pair with great wine! This particular evening I met the mom to start off Mother's Day with a bang! We started with the cauliflower & shishito peppers with Thai coconut curry sauce. Don't miss this fusion of favors! Next we shared the grilled redfish over orzo & wilted spinach with almonds, grapefruit and oranges. This dish shouldn't be missed either! My tastebuds wanted to scream! My first time won't be my last as this dish was bursting with wonderful favors that complimented each other! Don't forget to partake in the great wine flights while breezing it on the outdoor patio in the grove of trees!
(4)Ryan P.
Wine bar with great food? Count me in! Staff knows their wine and nailed it on the head with what i was looking for. Couple of things to worry about though: Fruit flies at the bar- management, get on top of this! My water glass had lip stick on it. As much as I love to wear lip stick, today was not the day. Will be suggesting this to coworkers while on my business trip.
(4)Amanda M.
I've consistently given The Grove a solid 4 stars simply because it's an awesome place but it's never blown me halfway across the universe. I've changed my mind now, because this place serves up some unique amazingness, and ALL of it is good. We went out of the box last time ordering bruschetta (which you can pick 3 different ones, just by the way, for those of you who love variety (ME ME ME)) and spaghetti bolognese. This was an unusual day, because I don't order spaghetti, because I consistently am underwhelmed when I try it. Maybe just because my mom makes it better, but whatever the case, it's never amazed me... but here I was ordering it. It must have been destiny. Well well well (3 holes in the ground), THIS spaghetti bolognese was one of the most amazing pasta dishes I've ever eaten. EVER. The flavors were so bold and fantastic and I couldn't stop. It was amazing. Next time I go, I'm ordering it. And the brushetta options were awesome! 9 Different options! Say what!? Awesome. They were all good, different, and yummy. And to put the cherry on top, our waitress let us mingle and eat our brushetta before even asking us what entree we would like. She let us sit, and sit, and enjoy, and it was soooo nice to be able to chill without feeling rushed or that we were wasting her time. She was a joy. I love this place.
(5)Jeff U.
After debating where we were going for our date tonight, we gave The Grove one more try. We got our favorite server, Jen, and had a fabulous night. Our favorite bottle of wine is back on the menu, ordered the dinosaur kale salad, mussels, and gluten-free Mediterranean pizza. We also got to catch up with Jen and had an overall great experience. The manager came by our table and reassured us that they were thankful for our review and were working diligently to train the new staff. Thank you for the great night. Our last review is below: {Okay, I'm done. Love the atmosphere, the food and a cpl of servers. The Grove has had HUGE turnover in staff and it has effected our experience here. During our last few experiences here, we have had to pour our own wine (at a wine bar I expect the server to pour our wine) & tonight our server said his day was great until he had to come to work, twice. He then showed us that he was not happy to be here. We almost always make The Grove our weekly date destination. We decided tonight that if the poor service continues we will have to nix this place as our primary date destination. From now on We will call ahead to verify Jenn,Mariah or Laurie is serving or we are out. This is unfortunate to say the least and truly disappointing!}
(5)Emily V.
Fantastic time! Great service and wonderful food! Loved the patio with the overhead trees. Crab cake salad looked and tasted amazing. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Balinor I.
What a pleasant surprise and find. My high-school daughter did some searching for a nice place for Father's day. One heck of a large selection of wine, but we came for the food. The Calamari was divine. The Quail legs were awesome. Highly recommend both, but the red sauce that came with the Calamari was not appetizing. So we avoided it. We also had the pizza, lamb chops and pasta. All good. I liked the lamb chops, and the mash potatoes mixes with horse radish was a hit. The desert was creme brulé.. Yeah, get it... Nutella, salted caramel (our favorite), regular... Yeah, get it. We will be back Oh a shout out for Daniel, our server, he was great. As our first time there, we felt comfortable and relaxed...
(5)Danielle B.
The Grove has a great relaxed environment with an abundance of charm. Eat on the deck with the amazing 'grove' of trees wrapping around you. Though I was there in the day I imagine the charm only increases ten-fold in the evening. Each branch is carefully wrapped with lights to create an amazing evening setting that I am sure is magical. We started with a flight of wine, the white Italian flight of three as it was a warm afternoon and my boyfriend prefers whites and is Italian! All were different, from sweet to dry, to just a little tart. They were all very good and the pores on the flight were more than we expected for a tasting. Worth the money and adventure of trying something new. The food was excellent as well! There are several types of bruschetta to choose from for the best kind of appetizers to start with, and you can't go wrong with any of the choices. The entree was succulent streak with a fabulous gravy, fingerling potatoes and green beans. The veggies were good, the steak, though on the rare side for what I like was amazing! We ordered a pizza as well and I have to say, best pizza I have had in awhile and by far the best in Austin so far! Overall, great atmosphere with wonderful food and wine. Our server was a bit dry, though there were other servers chatting it up and being very engaging with their tables, and really, he could have been having a bad day. We were seated promptly and the experience all around was enjoyable and I will go back!
(5)Mauriette W.
This place is a family favorite. We all love it & it's a great place to grab a casual dinner or bring your friends from out of town. They have great food & wine and the staff are very friendly. The Asian crisp salad is never a bad choice nor are the fried oysters.
(5)Anne F.
They had me at 10+ different kinds of wine flights (including bubbly). Also a very nice interior and patio--it's in a strip mall but you basically forget that once you're there. Only complaint (which to some would be a gift) was that the waiter just brought the flights to the table and plopped them down without offering to walk us through the selections. This is not a typical presentation, in my experience.
(4)Victor O.
UPDATE: I ate here again a month ago on a Sunday. I had a wonderful time. The food was fresh, appropriate temperature, and the atmosphere was fantastic. Service was excellent. I highly recommend going to the Grove for pizza, wine, date night, or just to enjoy a beautiful afternoon. Original Review in 2013: I ate here a 4 years ago and at that time would have given this place 4 stars. I went back this weekend and it was a letdown. Service was okay, but not great. They forgot to refill my hibiscus teas. The pork chop I got was really good, but room temperature. The pizza I tasted was also room temperature and not near the best barbecue chicken pizza I've had. The tomato and shrimp bisque was pretty good, but lacked flavor. I'll probably go to the Grove another time, but I won't be seeking it out. This was just an underwhelming experience that I find it hard to put it on my pizza radar.
(4)kate a.
Worst service EVER!!!! I've been to this restaurant at least once a month since it opened (so at least 50 times) and never been treated so poorly. We arrived at 6:45 and checked in for a party of 5 for a birthday celebration. This was after having called earlier in the day to try to make a reservation and being told that they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more but that it would be no problem on a Monday night. We waited and waited as party after party of 4 or less were seated ahead of us. I certainly understand that it's more difficult to seat a larger party but this was ridiculous after 20, 30 and then 40 minutes. Several times I talked to the hostess about this and was basically told that there were only 2 tables in whole restaurant (one inside and one outside) that would accommodate a party of our size. I asked several times about moving 2 4-top tables together and was told that was not possible despite the fact that I personally pointed out two tables RIGHT next to each other on more than one occasion. Instead of trying to accommodate a customer, they were more interested in maximizing their through-put so as not to sacrifice a 4-top. The entire time we were subjected to the snobby and elitist attitude of the hostess (who was apparently a manager). Ultimately, we were seated at 7:30 -- exactly 45 minutes after arriving -- on a very slow night. And despite knowing how upset we were about this, absolutely no accommodations were made to our check. Not even the birthday brownie - which we had to pay for!! I'm just glad that Jack Allen's has opened just a couple of miles up 360 and has AWESOME food and, more importantly, customer service! The Grove has lost a customer for good!!
(1)Hong L.
Service is a little slow with our waiter last night, disappeared for awhile when we needed service. Seating outside is beautiful with the lights wrapped around the trees, very romantic. Food here is okay, not great, but not bad. We ordered the meat lovers pizza and calamari, a little pricey. Crust is thin and calamari isn't doused in oil, which is a plus. Overall, decent.
(3)V A.
I love this place, everything is always fresh and well prepared, plus they have at least ten wine flights. The restaurant is casual, the service is attentive and efficient, the prices reasonable. The Westlake location has the most beautiful patio, it's completely relaxing - like being on vacation. Try The Grove, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Georgette K.
Great food, great atmosphere, great service, great view!!! What more could you want!! I love the pizza here! The bruschetta is awesome! The Brussels sprouts are amazing! Never had anything I didn't like!
(4)Amanda B.
The pasta and lamb chops were great. Didn't get to taste the pizza but my colleague who ordered it said it was also great. I highly suggest getting the creme brulé, my family and I could not put our spoons down for a second to stop eating. Plus the calamari and quail legs for the appetizers were divine. Another thing, the waiting staff knew there stuff, were very friendly, and generous. I would definitely suggest this place to my friends and family.
(5)Normal P.
Best Bruschetta I've ever had. Try these: Goat Cheese, Strawberry, Arugula, Balsamic Gorgonzola, Walnuts, Asian Pear, Local Honey Fresh Mozzarella with Tomato, Garlic, and Basil
(5)Adrienne A.
The Grove is a great spot for dining at night with the family or for date night. It's pretty crowded and the noise level can be high but it's still enjoyable. Lunch time is sooo crowded it's difficult to finding a parking space and ends up being quite a hassle to get in and out quickly. I highly recommend trying any of the wine flights - my favorite are the Italian reds and the Pinot 911. Reasonably priced and always delicious. The brushettta where you pick three styles is also great. I've enjoyed the Brussels sprouts here and most of teh salads. The only thing that didn't impress me was the Mediterranean platter - it sounded good but was ultimately forgettable. If the weather is nice, the outdoor patio is very picturesque and a nice alternative to the cold AC inside.
(4)Jennifer M.
The Grove's outdoor seating was like a treehouse with twinkle lights..... I loved the atmosphere! We were seated shortly after arriving, and our drinks were brought to us very fast. They have wine flights which are perfect for trying multiple wines, as well as a nice beer selection. We ordered the Adobe Nachos, which had brisket, cheese, pico, and avocado. There was a large slimy fatty piece on one of the nachos, which totally grossed me out, but we still ate the other ones. They were very forgettable. I ordered the salmon, which was grilled with summer veggies and a cilantro pesto rice. It was delicious! My husband ordered the BBQ pizza, which he didn't think was much different than CPK pizza, but he still thought it was good. Prices were reasonable. I would definitely come back for the atmosphere, wine selection, and small plates and variety on the menu. Perfect place for after work girls night !!
(4)Emily W.
Spaghetti and meatballs was good. Meatballs were a little over-cooked and dry. What was delicious was the creme brûlée trio. Salted caramel, vanilla with a strawberry topping, and Nutella flavors were perfect. Would go back just for dessert and wine really soon! The dessert was a great decision.
(4)Paul S.
Fortunately we arrived at The Grove on a stormy Tuesday night, so there was no wait, although the place was pretty full. We were impressed by the interesting and varied menu with an unselfconscious Mediterranean basis. We came for the pizza, but were diverted by the beet salad and the hallibut. Both were very memorable, and the wheat free chocolate cake was absolutely to die for. It was beyond excellent and was perfectly balanced by a large strawberry. The wine selections are excellent, and the the beer list is pretty good also. I really liked my glass of Multepulciano. This place is creative, cool, and has fantastic food and drink. We didn't get to try the out door space because of the heavy rain, but from what little we could see through the sheets of rain, it looked nice. The indoor area is kid friendly. The noise level was rather high, as could be expected from the acoustics and large number of people. Nevertheless, we really enjoyed the ambiance and could pleasantly carry on a conversation. We went for it again! The next night we had a very flavorful heirloom tomato salad, the chicken entre, and the bread pudding. All were excelent, particularly the heirloom salad and bread pudding. We loved the pecans in the pudding, and the great heirloom tomatoes.
(5)Dennis S.
Great, well thought out selection of wines by the glass along with a nice fun variety of pre-paired flights that are well presented and generous pours. I know everyone is doing small plates these days, but really impressed with the quality of grazing here. The crispy oysters are a must have. The tuna small plate delicious with great sauce, the spicy shrimp very nice. The only dish that wasn't 5 stars was a sampling of bruschetta, and they were very good, just not on the stellar level of the other plates. Good service, a really pleasant place, great patio.
(5)Molly G.
Coming from out of town we were looking for a place to hang out while we waited for our friends to meet up with us later in the evening. Scott our server took such good care of us we will always remember The Grove!
(5)Alexandra T.
This is a good place for lunch or dinner in the Bee Cave/Lakeway area. I love their Avocado BLT sandwich. It's really good. Like really really good. The decor is beautifully modern and I appreciate that they took the extra step to add fabric to the ceiling to cut down on the noise. They view is amazing. Parking is limited but they have valet so it doesn't bother me. The staff has always been delightful.
(4)Cory K.
The ambience here was vibrant, but the food was just okay. I had the Spaghetti Bolognese, which was a bit creamier than I would expect and the pasta was not as firm as I like. The flavors, though lacking in authenticity, were pleasant enough. Service was perfectly fine, no complaints.
(3)David A.
The great news about The Grove - they've updated their menus and added MORE fantastic gluten-free items. You can now get the Bruschettas, Sandwiches (including their incredible Kobe Hamburger) and Pasta gluten-free as well as their great gf pizzas. One of the reasons my family goes there so often is that both the normal menu items and the gluten free items are so wonderful that everyone usually has a great meal. The tough news is that typically gluten free items there had a pricey upcharge. After some frustration about the price adders for the gf items, I finally wrote a mail to the info@ address on their website letting them know that I wasn't going to be coming as often as I used to because of the pricing. Surprisingly, within hours I received a mail back from their managing partner stating that they had met with the chef on the mail, reviewed the costs and the pricing, and immediately made adjustments to everything except the pizza (which has been at about the same price for their GF as other places in town so that's not as big a deal). They have reduced the gf adders on all of their items in the system. He said that the menus will take a little while to redo. These changes really do now make the differences in pricing 'nominal'. Three important things that are awesome about The Grove (there are more than three overall!), 1) the atmosphere and the wait staff are always fantastic, 2) the gluten free menu options are really incredible (bruchettas, paninis!!!!), and 3) they have a management team that really does care about their clients and responds. The bad news about this - any savings that I am now going to get from the lower adders for the gf meals is going to be spent away on more trips to The Grove! Whether you are keeping to a gluten-free diet or just love great food in a warm, comfortable environment, The Grove is a great experience.
(5)Keri B.
If you are allergic to bees and wasps, beware! Me and a coupla my grrlz met for wine here yesterday as House Wine was inconveniently closed at 1 p.m. (I called and they said, Oh, noon is our SUMMER hours. oh, well that makes sense, since it is still 80 degrees outside and there was NO sign on the door to indicate summer was over). One of my friends I call my "lemon friend" cause just like a lemon car, she breaks down alot (I'm such a good friend I know) and it also so happens she's allergic to bee stings (she carries an epi pen with her). We were sat (satten? had been sat? sitted?) outside by the trash and server computer area. We had tons of flies (in fact one fly couple had sex in my friend's water glass...bow chica bow wow..pool sex is hot!), and then the wasps started settling in on our wine glasses. Our waiter, Tyson, was a wasp wrangler! He came on the scene like bug killin fiend! In fact he started wearing a fly swatter in his belt loop so's he could quick draw down on them buggers. It would have been quite amusing to anyone just walking outside to see several servers chasing wasps with menus and swatters and my lemon friend squealing and waving her napkin around. It was a freaking Jerry Lewis movie. Now, personal story aside, the wine list here is extensive and they have multitudes of flights as well. We split the cheese plate which was huge with meats, cheeses, olives and fruits but we weren't too impressed with the cheese selection. Only two of the four had any umph to it. The best part of this visit had to be our waiter. He brought water for the pups, killed several wasps, and when the bartender poured a random accidental glass of wine, he split it into three glasses and gave it to us. Tyson rocks, but next time I will know better than to sit next to the trash, with wine, with sugary fruits, and with a lemon girl who's allergic to wasps.
(4)Jennifer B.
I have dined at the Grove twice this week- once for dinner and once for takeout lunch. Dinner was fantastic! We ate on the patio, had two salads and a pizza as well as some wine, everything was delicious. Jen was our server, she was attentive and friendly. For lunch I ordered some takeout for my office. When we got back my food was wrong, so I called to ask for the right meal. I was greeted by Michael. He was so helpful and kind on the phone. I work in the customer service industry and was so impressed by him on the phone. When we went back to get the food, he had overcompensated us with my meal and more desserts and greeted us at the door with the bag. So kind. I love the Grove! So happy they treated us so wonderful today. You know I will be back!
(5)Dillar S.
I have a new place to grab lunch and drink wine! YEA!!! Great menu, slamming service, long wine list, and nice patio. The parking sucks, but it's Austin... what do you expect. I had a chopped salad today, full of veggies, huge portion and the cesar dressing was delicious. My friend had the steak salad and loved it, I didn't try it but the steak looked like it was perfectly cooked, and the portion was huge. I will be back.
(4)Jens B.
A shrimps life is pretty mundane I would imagine... I mean fleeting around in dirty bayou water, in hopes of chomping on a piece of fish shit or fish wallop.. perhaps a little small micro bacteria thingy... I mean they are pretty much bottom feeders and will probably eat anything that comes their way.... then while blissfully minding your own business some MOFO comes along and rips you from the depths.. slams you on the deck of a boat, stuffs you in an ice cooler and slowly let's you suffocate to death, while freezing your little fins off.. water boarding has nothing on this, to the way a shrimp dies. As the day progresses, someone rips your poop shoot out and you get "cleaned"... ya baby, when I get reincarnated, I want to return as a shrimp... ONLY if I get to sit atop the grits I had for lunch yesterday at The Grove Wine Bar. The Grove is in the snooty part of Austin.. Bee Caves Road, in a shopping center which houses the worst parking lot ever. As I waited for my guest to join me for lunch, I was intrigued by the folks coming in.. Somebody in Bee Caves was driving a Pink Caddy for all the Mary Kay shit some of these wrinkly old crows were wearing.. but hey instead of looking 65.. they looked 64 so all is good.. and let's not talk breast augmentation and girls Capri pants should never be worn after 50.. Just Saying...Anyhow I was bored and then my guest arrived to declare this was a great restaurant and did I like brochette... We got the Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Brochette. It was quite good actually.. perhaps a little spritz of Balsamic would of been nice, but it was tasty. When the waiter came by and announced the specials, he mentioned he only had one. Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits with Wilted Baby Spinach, Apple Smoked Bacon and Shrimp....well slap me stupid.. I'll have 4 of those please.... oh it's an entree portion.. then one please. The dish arrived and the colors were beautiful and the taste was spot on. The grits had a little texture to them and the cheese sauce was awesome. My only detraction was that the tails were still on the shrimp. Unfortunately, I didn't notice so the first shrimp when down a little rough.. the little guy reminded me of what an ordeal he went through for me to eat him and tickled my throat all the way down my gullet. But, after that, the other five didn't stand a chance. I ate the whole bowl, everything.. I was stuffed afterwards.. this was quite a rich plate of food for lunch but worth every bite. I was pretty impressed. We will be having lunch there next Wednesday. and I will see what they have in store for me.... so far so good!
(4)Colin T.
If you're trying to have a conversation at lunch, sit outside. The interior is unbearably loud. It's also advisable to get there before the rush -- 11:30 was perfect. If you get there later, the parking garage at the bottom of the hill may still have some spaces -- that's where the valets would put it. There are many gluten-free options, including pasta and bread. I went for the beet salad, and went ahead and had them "top" it with steak, so I'd get enough fat and protein to stay full. I'll definitely go back.
(5)Doug F.
This is a decent wine bar outside of Austin city limits. I have visited here several times over the years. Very upscale as it is located in the West Lake area, so you may see some over-dressed people wearing too much jewelry and make-up , but it's all good :) Good selection of wines. There is a free parking garage nearby as the lot in front is often full. One of the best attractions is the huge oak tree they have outside in the patio area- just go for that alone!
(4)Leah L.
I am just sitting back down at my desk at work after a 2-hour lunch break and still have not actually had my lunch. So yes, you could say that the following review might sound a bit frustrated - no doubt it will be. We spent so entirely long waiting for a table (only for 3 people) and then waiting for the food, that we actually had to ask them to pre-pay and then package it up to go. I'm frustrated enough that I'm writing this review even before eating my food - and believe me I'm starving. I was starving at 12:15 pm when I arrived. It's now 1:45 pm. I have no doubt that the food will probably be good, and maybe even worth the money I paid for it. Since this does happen to be a restaurant in Westlake, I tend to expect a bit less for my money (or if you'd rather view it as things being more expensive...same thing). It's unfortunate that "because it's Westlake" is the excuse around here. Thank goodness for some of the reputable businesses that don't feel they have to up their prices. Though I suppose if I were also paying for excellent service I would not feel so frustrated. It was not that anyone was rude or nasty either, but that they definitely could have been more accommodating and attentive. The excuse was that "yeah we just got so busy today" but I know good and well that this restaurant is busy every day at lunch. But the last time I was here, I had a much, much better experience. Yes, it was extremely busy and there were a few larger groups (which I know sucks) and I tend to have more patience than I used to but there is a point where it's a bit too much and that was today. There could definitely have been more staff on hand and better organization of the table assignments as well. One of my lunch-mates has worked in the restaurant business for years, and been a waiter himself, yet we all noticed how the waiters had both too many tables, and tables in scattered locations. Not good for them, or us. Believe me, I would like to be sitting here writing a raving review but I just can't. I had high hopes of enjoying a nice lunch in the wonderful weather out on the great patio. None of those things happened. The experience actually made me that frustrated. I do not work in a business where I have the leisure of leaving work for hours at a time. I lose valuable time, I don't get paid, and not to mention probably piss off my boss. I hope that the rest of today can go more smoothly. And maybe I'll be able to update this once I've actually had a chance to eat my lunch...
(2)Karen P.
I love this place! Someone bought me a gift certificate so we gave it a try. I love the wine tasting menu and the cheese/meat platter was out of this world. I am not usually a fan of pate, but theirs was delish! We sat outside and it was a little hot, but I am sure in the Fall it will be among my top places so enjoy the beautiful weather here in Austin.... over drinks, of couse!
(4)CIndy N.
I was dragged back to the Grove recently and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. The food was much better with some much welcome additions to the menu and our service was fine until after we were finished with the meal and then she made it abundantly clear that she did not want us to stay and visit. She never once offered to fill our water or tea glasses after they cleared the plates. It was not busy, so there was really no reason for us to be hurried along. Overall, it was a much better experience.
(3)Fabricio d.
Ah, The Grove............one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Austin. It's a place where everything is backwards. It's the only place in Austin where people will wait 45 minutes in an air conditioned bar for the opportunity to sit outside and sweat, while bypassing the abundance of available seats INSIDE. Why would any sane person do such a thing? B/c outside is a collection of massive & beautiful oaks, under which you dine. It's elegant, it's relaxing, it's Austin. It's a place where the bruschetta is so incredible and rich, by the end of the meal, you can't bear the thought of dessert..........not b/c you're full, but b/c the bruschetta is so dang good, it feels like you had dessert before you even had the main course? How's the food you ask? Don't even look at the menu. Just randomly point at an appetizer and a main course, and no matter what they bring out, you'll leave happy and eager to come back. The Grove is the only place I can eat at, where I can walk away stuffed and still thinking about eating. The food is THAT GOOD. And, we didn't even talk about their killer wine list. Every last bottle is great. I formerly worked in the wine industry as a sommelier. These guys know their wine! So go, eat, and enjoy! It'll be the first of many trips to The Grove. ~ Fabricio
(5)Mike H.
4 1/2 stars. This place flat out rips! Visiting Austin for a week in early Oct. I ended up eating twice at this place. The Bruchetta options are amazing. The Kobe burger was quite honestly the best burger I've ever eaten. Everything about the Kobe burger was perfect. It's one of those places, high quality food, and just seems everything on the menu is done very well. LOVED this place alot. Wish we had a "The Grove" up in Minnesota. Great bar area and patio too.
(5)Julienne P.
The view!!!! GORGEOUS!!! The pizza was so good and my kids loved it! Yummy beets salad, bruschetta, calamari! The Hawaiin Poke was just okay. I can't wait to try more delicious items from there! Must have desserts there next time. :)
(4)Linz Q.
I just got in from The Grove, and I will officially rank it up there with Cru as top wine bars in Austin. It was a beautiful evening and the deck atmosphere was beautiful! I enjoyed the wine flights and the food was delish! I can't wait to go back and try something else. It was Thurs night, and the place was packed! I can only image the crowd loved the place as much as I did. I recommend this place for an intimate date, girls/guys night out, or just a nice happy hour. This is a West Austin MUST!
(5)Robert A.
Food is pretty good when they get the order right. Honestly, I have never dined in; we always take out. I would suggest checking your to go bag every time. Every time we order they get it wrong. The manager there is very nice though. Recently we ordered 4 entrees. Not one if them was correct. Sadly the person who picked up the food didn't know to look. I called to let the manager know that the staff was lacking. She was very polite, check my story and offered compensation; to which I declined. We ate it, no need to make it free. Any way my advice is to always check your To go orders- otherwise you might be unhappy to go again.
(2)Tracy W.
We were greeted at the front by a hair twirling, eye ball rolling, gum smacking, bra adjusting, miniskirt wearing bimbo who rolled her eyes when she told us she couldn't seat a partial party (the restaurant was empty). She continued with the most disrespectful stare and pointing and talking loudly (while snapping her gum and twirling her hair and head nodding in our direction) about annoying customers and about partying with the equally inattentive co-"hostess". If there was a manager around I couldn't find one. The food was disappointing and overpriced, our waitress, however, was absolutely delightful, helpful and charming.
(2)Lisa G.
When the weather is perfect, the Grove is perfect. There's almost nothing better in this world than sitting outdoors at the Grove with good friends, some wine and the Grove's delicious offerings. I love this place and the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars from me is that I decided to quit being so generous. Seriously, the food is great, the menu is unique and ambiance is great, There is nothing to not like about The Grove on a perfect day.
(4)Dela P.
Grilled salmon was excellent, a nice glaze added alot of flavor. Wine selection was also great, and server was very knowledgeable. The place is very nicely decorated and spacious.
(4)Austin F.
They make great food and they are super friendly! Absolutely delicious specialty pizzas like fig, prosciutto and gorgonzola. I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)Happy C.
Great food, great atmosphere! Good place to go after work for wine, or lunch time. They have a great Caesar salad that I pair with their fresh "fried" chicken breast that is wonderful! I love getting their prosecco with cheese platter. Yum.
(5)Jennifer G.
Like most restaurants in Austin, this place is highly overrated. GREAT Ambiance but the selection of food kinda lacks in my opinion. Great service though.
(3)Pedro Juan G.
Visiting Austin and my first time to try this place. Service was great and I tried their steak and it was excellent. Their Brussels sprouts was great and the wine selection is wide enough to please oenophiles like myself.
(4)Lynn N.
Love this restaurant! Outdoor dining, casual, food and service are excellent. Easy to make healthy choices with their salads and proteins. My husband will even eat their Brussel Sprouts!
(5)dean d.
Bruschetta: build your own practically since they give you so many choices. Venison Chili: a cup of tastiness that made me wish I ordered a bowl. Blue crab cake: so fresh and tasty I thought I was in Baltimore. Other than the need to Valet park, I like this place.
(3)Brett M.
I've always been a fan of The Grove. It is a great place to eat lunch on business during the week, or with your family at night or on the weekend. They have an excellent menu with a number of different options. As a Gluten Free eater, I'm impressed by the number of GF items and the staff's knowledge around the menu. Most items if not already GF, can be made to suit a Gluten Free diet. They also have an expansive wine menu. I've typically tried wines I have not seen before, and I've usually been impressed. Service is always good and the ambiance inviting, comfortable, and lively at times. Try sitting outside on a good day.
(4)Leslie J.
Loved everything about our dinner experience here. The atmosphere was amazing (we sat outside under the heater, the lights in the trees were beautiful.) we had the buttermilk fried quail, the fried oysters and the bruschetta trio. Fabulous food and wine!
(5)Eethiee N.
Great spot for wine tasting. The Patio is a must! They have a great menu. We had the spaghetti bolognese, lamb chops and calamari (a bit over cooked) Try the wine flights!
(5)Edward P.
Ok, So if you don't give these guys a 5 star review than there is something wrong with YOU! The wine selection is spectacular, correctly priced, and paired immaculately with all of the food; you really can't go wrong, especially with the wine lights! The food? INCREDIBLE! Taste is 5 star, presentation is Vegas-esque, and service is on point! If you can, ask for Laurie as your server! Atmosphere is out of control beautiful! The wine bar is intimate and sexy, the main bar is sleek and fun, and the dining room inside feels shiek....BUT it's the outdoor dining area that is over-the-top perfect. It's the perfect blend of Austin and Miami and Eden. You'll see when sit down. Perfect 1st date spot! Can't wait to go back!
(5)