Pecan Square Café

Vegetarian options: Chef accommodates

Had lunch here today. Pecan Square advertises itself to be the Austin equivalent of Chez Panisse cafe. While the ambience and service are very good, the food is very disappointing - it doesn't come close to Chez Panisse Cafe. A salad of very interesting greens was ruined by the heavy-handed/drenched application of a way-too-salty dressing. In no way like the delicate dressings served at Chez Panisse. My main course, Weiner Schnitzel, was dry, over-breaded and over-salted; the green beans were also overly dressed and very salty. The mousse was uninspired with dull flavors. Our server was friendly and helpful. This is my second meal at Pecan Square and my first review; it has not improved.

This is my second brunch at Pecan cafe and the dishes are unique and delicious. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. The chickpea crepes are divine. I will dream about them. The eggs are extra fluffy. They use Mill King milk for their lattes which makes all the difference in taste. The restaurant is tucked in a bit from west 6th and adjacent to an art gallery. It’s serene, yet just steps away from the west downtown action. The outdoor patio is pet friendly. This is the place to be for a special brunch in Austin.

So, I need to preface this by saying I’ve had several lovely meals here, and I live nearby. the atmosphere is gorgeous and until today I haven’t had any issues with either the food or service which is why I felt compelled to write this review in the hopes that they can improve a few things. My partner and I got the seasonal special, a purple potato pizza, 1/2 off on happy hr, as well as drinks and an appetizer. While the flavors were on point, the potatoes on the pizza were really obviously undercooked (think crunchy, in a raw potato way). When we pointed this out, the staff manager was nice but suggested it was “supposed to be that way” which…I’m sorry but raw undercooked potatoes can’t possibly be intentional. I’ve also had the same pizza at Pecan Square off season (with regular potatoes) and everything at the time was tender and appropriately cooked. We let it go and they gave us a different pizza which was delicious. The real surprise came with our bill, when we were charged full price (not the happy hr 1/2 off pricing) for the replacement pizza. The bill read “did not like” as the reason for sending back the original. I have many people near and dear to me in the restaurant industry, and for upscale dining this is really not how to deal with a simple issue like undercooked food. Even a small gesture like comping a drink goes a long way if things just aren’t right, and nobody appreciates being charged extra for a chef’s mistake like undercooking. Still hoping to have a better experience in the future and I’ll add the waitstaff and bartenders were all very nice and professional.

A friendly & popular place with delicious food & sips; be sure to snag a reservation to make sure you can get in (though they accept walk-ins when there is space but be prepared for a wait then).

This is one of our favorite restaurants in downtown Austin.. and it never disappoints! From the moment you enter and Nick, the host greets you to Ryan and Maddie providing stellar service to Kevin, the bartender, making the perfect Cosmo.. it is such a wonderful experience! The food, service and atmosphere are all 5 stars! Can’t wait to return! Check it out! Mary Denise