La Condesa

Order steak medium to medium rare it came out practically raw. I sent it back to have it cooked more. That took 20 more minutes to get it back to the table. Management did not seem to care very argument.

It was hard to know what to expect at La Condesa, given the write-​ups I saw before going there: On the one hand, Texas Monthly has it in its Top 50 Mexican restaurants in Texas. That’s a heavy-​duty accolade. But, on the other hand, La Condesa’s taken a recent beat-​down here on Unilocal.Lots of complaints about prices and service, among other things.
Sounded like it was going to be an adventure.
It was, but in mostly a good way. Maybe we got lucky. There were seven us, and given that this is yet another upscale restaurant dedicated to small-​plates sharing, we decided to let our lead server set up a meal for the entire table, with us throwing her a suggestion or two. This turned out to be a great idea, because she was enthusiastic about this project, and we got to try one or two things from just about every section of the menu. The server provided for a very evenly-​paced and balanced dining experience through this variety, and did a great job.
And it was quite a variety:
–Guacamole tasting (which came with some fresh salsas, too)
–Hamachi ceviche
–One of the masa deals with mushrooms and huitlacoche
–the Arabicos (or seared venison) tacos
–the El Kalifa (or NY strip) tacos
–a carrots-​done-​four-​ways dish
–Brussels sprouts (w/​bacon & grapes)
–Elotes, or the Mexican-​style street corn
(Damn, I feel like there are one or two things I’m leaving out.)
For the most part, this stuff was fantastic, the vegetables especially. (The carrot dish was the third carrot dish the wife & I had consumed in four nights in Texas, and the third that was totally different and yet delicious and imaginative. So I must ask: What the hell is the deal with Texas and carrots?) The ceviche was pretty great, too – it was cut more like sashimi, rather than chopped up. The tacos were less great – the venison ones were tasty, but were served cool for some reason that I can’t remember – I suppose to highlight the bright-​tasting Med-​tilted garnishes. The biggest dud was the steak tacos, which had crispy manchego and registered somewhat like Steak-​ums. (Of course, Steak-​ums can be a guilty pleasure, but the only guilt in this case ought to be in spending $ 15 on two of those little things.)
Anyway, La Condesa is indeed pretty damn expensive for what you get. With two or three drinks each, and a shared dessert, we dropped $ 65 – 70 each, tax and tip included. Obviously this is not standard-​issue Tex-​Mex, with its basic ingredients, but $ 12 – 18 dollars apiece for sometimes tiny servings of even higher-​end Mexican-​influenced fare adds up in a hurry.
Décor is slick and very much of the 21^st century, but it may already be starting to date a bit. Seating was very comfortable. And damn, the AC seemed to be struggling on this May evening. It was about 92 outside, and felt like about 85 inside. That’s too MFing hot for the Great Indoors in Texas.
Our experience was mostly up, but the few downs make me think that the negative reviews aren’t necessarily off the mark, either.

Got food poisoning here on cinco de mayo. Had the poached shrimp ceviche. Be careful of this place.

Wow, I wish I worked or lived nearby so that I could enjoy this food more often. Met some friends at work. Great and quick seating. Very good staff. And the best Mexican food I’ve had in Texas. I had the mixed salsas and qua online that I highly recommend. Also Thad the tosdas al pastor. Very very good. Wish it didn’t come with chips and slightly more heat than expected, but I’m a wuss and it was very good.

Uh-​Oh! According to the reviews, I am enjoying a «tourist trap». Hmm, I did first read about this place in Sunset magazine, the same way your Mom first learned of Facebook.
Oh well. Might as well dig in. The Condesa margarita is sublime and the food is quite good at happy hour prices. No regrets.
Advice from a trapped tourist:
— Utilize happy hour
— Sit inside (unless you like being blasted on a traffic corridor)
— Finish up about 20 minutes before the bats come out, their bridge is a short walk away.

This restaurant is in a great location, both in terms of being downtown and in terms of the beautiful outdoor seating and overall décor they have especially in terms of the weather. As a result, the prices will match this (no free chips/​salsa here).
The drink selection was good but the two drinks we had were pretty bland. We had a margarita and a pisco sour, and while both were pretty mediocre, the latter was nothing like a pisco drink should be, and at first iv wasn’t even sure which drink was which.
That being said, their 4 salsa set is more of what I’d call «craft salsa», and being served in small bits and without a lot of texture or flavor, but pretty colors. We also ordered the pork, and while it was pretty tasty as was the mashed potatoes, both were a bit too salty and the pork itself was very much RARE in at least 25% of the meat. Mind you, I LOVE medium-​rare meat, but for PORK this is not ok.
All in all, not a fan.

Amazing taquitos, ‘lil tacos. Tried the NY strip one. Perfectly cooked thin with crispy edges, surrounded corn tortilla heaven.
Enjoyed the mole, fresh salsas and velvety guacamole.
Will be back.

I read about La Condesa’s happy hour from different websites and blogs. It is located on West 2^nd Street, not too far from the main downtown area.
The atmosphere in the restaurant was pleasant with outdoor seating as well. The happy hour area was VERY crowded after 6 PM when we arrived. It had the bar section, some seating and small outdoor patio seating as well. We got lucky and scored two seats at the bar. I ordered the Margarita La Clasica and my boyfriend got Margarita La Condesa. We both liked the classic better. It was sweet without being too much and very strong — beware. We also got the happy hour salsa samples which featured 4 types of salsas with chips. We both enjoyed this! This was a good experience, but due to the wait time for a real table we did not eat dinner here.

Salsa and guacamole were eh… ok I guess
Grouper was pretty good
Service was no where near what u would get at uchi or odd duck.
Music
Good god I’m not sure what they were thinking but bad bad bad bad. Bad!
Ok once
Probably won’t go back.

Not much here appealed to me in both food and atmosphere. Service was pretty good. I’ve always heard how well designed the inside is, but I didn’t see anything all that special. it does look nice from the outside.

Only stopped in briefly to have a quick pre-​dinner drink. Tiniest $ 8 sangria, ever. Not impressed. However, the service at the bar was quick. That saved them from only one star.

Ambiance:
The location and interior of this restaurant saves the rating. I love how bright and colorful it is, perfect for Instagram pictures. Laugh if you like, insta-​ratings should be a thing.
Cuisine:
I don’t think there is anything special about the food at La Condesa. It’s good food for sure, but the price point is a bit high for the portions and quality. I have yet been for brunch, which they are known for. It was good enough to try again and maybe edit my rating.
Service:
I tend to give staff the benefit of the doubt, so when I say the service was bad it’s pretty serious. I would say the service was ok erring on the side of mismanaged.

Food: many inventive options consistently delivered well. Vegetarians are well-​received with dedicated items on the menu plus staff is open to easy modifications of plates. Favorites: Avocado torta, hongo y huitlacoche anything.
Ambience: creative high-​design space is unique and inspiring. Patio space fills up fast in good weather.
Service: consistently fast and effective.

One of the better happy hours in Austin. My favorite drink is their watermelon martini. Also don’t forget to try out their nachos on happy hour :) You won’t be disappointed.

I had nothing short of a fabulous experience here. I have two separate parts for this place — Malverde, their upstairs private event space and the downstairs restaurant, La Condesa.
Malverde – I arrive to assist with setup and to ensure the place is up to the client’s standards. I was greeted very nicely by the manger upstairs that evening and we went over a few things the client wanted and he was more then willing to oblige and even knew of these requests before I got there. He didn’t seem bothered when I talked to him about the request. He offered me water and I waited for the clients to arrive. Malverde is a cute and perfect place for a little cocktails and apps. There’s a small outdoor patio for people to visit also. The bar is large and aesthetically pleasing — the staff was wonderful up there!
La Condesa– While the clients are drinking and chatting away upstairs, I came down for dinner. I ate a late lunch so I had a small dinner but boy was it yummy! The house salad is WONDERFUL. I need that dressing recipe ASAP. The salsas are fantastic, something for everyone. Avocado blended with tomatillo, tomatillo, chipotle and some other one that was the hottest of the 4 but I wasn’t disappointed. My server was on it. Extremely patient and courteous — and well versed with the menu and ingredients. When I ordered my salad without cheese it prompted him to let me know there’s butter in the rice. With his help, I stayed away from all the dairy tonight and I’m thankful for that, haha.
I will be back with my girlfriends — even the upper bar is cute for drinks before a night on the town. Service was perfect and the food was delish. No complaints here.

I hate when a place I used to really like just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Here’s the nitty gritty:
Got rid of manzana salsa, best thing E-​v-​e-​r, why is it gone?
Tortillas are store bought now. Yep. Hubs realized just by looking.
Chicken Rostizado still good but way too much chicken to salad ratio. It was perfect before. Now, not so much.
A surprising good:
Pambato sandy was good. But note: Very messy
The biggest thing: prices. We very quickly realized after a few things: no one around us the past 2 times had ever been been there, out of towners = tourist trap, hence prices that are out of range for what you get. IMO. Sad, as they had some items I’ve always liked. But it’s just not worth the effort for us.

We came as a large group and we were seated in the basement level in the private dining room. Because of that, they only offer the prix fixe option for the entire group.
With that being said, I enjoyed everything that was placed in front of me. Nothing was poorly made.
The 3 salsas and guacamole that they served with the chips at the beginning was delicious. I could have become full from that alone.
I really enjoyed the appetizers particularly the mushroom flatbread was a hit with the group. My husband really enjoyed the grilled corn.
The meat in the entrees were cooked perfectly — juicy and not overdone whether it was the chicken or the beef.
The pitchers of margaritas that were made were great and not watered down. They were strong but still delicious.
Service was prompt and friendly.
The private dining room is absolutely gorgeous and a must if you are celebrating a special event! It’s the perfect space.
I’d return just to order off the regular menu. I have no doubt if they’re this good at serving a large group, the food will not disappoint.

While in Austin one evening, we searched Unilocal for a recommendation. While the rating was middle of the road, it was the Tips and photos that got us there.
We went in on a Saturday night without reservations and waited 5 mins.
The food selection was great and we ask for help from our wait staff.
A local beer was recommended with the meal and we enjoyed every bit of our visit.
Make sure you give them a try!

La Condesa has been one of my go-​to spots in downtown Austin for several years. Whether its for a yummy and unique brunch, cocktails with friends, a business lunch or a scrumptious dinner date, La Condesa always meets my expectations and leaves my tummy completely satisfied.
Some of my favorites include:
* The Alma Blanca — best.cocktail.ever. Not kidding, sometimes I literally stop in just to sip on one of these babies. A habanero-​infused cazadores blanco, muddled with corn and pineapple juice, and topped with a hibiscus-​rose-​infused salt rim. I mean, how could you go wrong. Try it, I promise you will love it!
* Guacamole Tasting — its a tasting of all their guacamoles & salsas, including: traditional, chipotle purée & toasted almond, and jumbo lump crab with apple. Super delish. #JustDoIt
* Chilangos — one of the most unique brunch dishes in town. Its a quinoa croquette topped with chorizo, poached eggs, baby arugula and salsa verde. Nom, nom, nom.
* Acapulco Ceviche — I always go this route when I am looking for something light. Its extremely refreshing.
* Pescado Tacos — If I am a little more hungry I go with this dish: snapper, cabbage, chipotle mayo, and salsa. Yum in my tum!!!
* Elotes — this is their Mexican-​style street corn, and the perfect side dish. I always ask them to take it off the cob for me. But be sure to have them remind the chef to mix up all the ingredients for you pretty well, otherwise it can be pretty messy.
* Boca Negra — this dessert is actually a new find for me. I highly recommend it, and promise you won’t be sorry you ordered it. Its kind of like a molten cake with a bit of a spicy kick, caramelized banana and brown sugar-​banana ice cream.
If you are in the downtown area, you should definitely stop by La Condesa. Friendly staff, great atmosphere, cool bar area, and delicious food and beverage. I will continue going back for years to come!

Interesting place we wandered into because the BBQ joint across the street had a 90 minute wait. (I noted that the couple in front of us did the same thing)… So, overall, the food was good, but the concept was a little strange. More on that shortly. I will start by saying the various salsas and Crab infused Guacamole was good. not outstanding, but pretty decent. There were four salsas and they mixed well with it.
The waiter said that the meals were more in the line of family style and they were meant to be shared. We opted for a couple of different options. Mole Dominguero was good, but why give 4 people 3 tortillas if its «family style»… also had the El Califa* aka Steak Taquitos. Not bad either but definitely not enough — the waiter did warn us to his credit, but we weren’t that hungry after the quac and chips, but still, this was a small portion for one person let alone 4.
We ended up ordering another of the Mole dishes and that sufficed. I would just suggest they ditch the «family style» concept and they will be better off. Food did not disappoint.
Picture of the El Califa to follow.