1886 Cafe & Bakery — Restaurant in Austin

It never occurred to me during my 20+ years of living in Austin to enjoy a meal at the Driskill’s 1886 Cafe & Bakery.

This weekend, while hunting for a good Sunday breakfast at any downtown restaurant, I made a stop at two other establishments that had a waitlist that was longer than I was willing to accept. My final Google maps search suggested the 1886 Cafe & Bakery. After scrolling through the patron photos and reviews, I was convinced that it would be worth the additional 8 minute drive.

Downtown parking during the final day of ACL weekend was easier than expected. After a brief one block walk, I arrived at the Driskill. As I grabbed the door and began to pull it open, the doorman rushed to finish the task. Door handle on one hand and his cell phone in the other, he welcomed me to the hotel and ushered me in. I thanked him and made my way to the cafe.

It was hard to determine my position in line. I was close enough to access the menu from the QR code just under the vintage stained glass welcome sign. After a few minutes, I learned that each guest is addressed by a greeter who offers polite instructions on the ordering and seating procedure. In less than 10 minutes, I was near the main counter. During my wait, I managed to take a few tourist-style photos and chat with a few other patrons-in-waiting.

I arrived at the register having narrowed my selection down to two choices.. It was either the Chicken and Waffles, or the Brazos Huevos Rancheros. Since I already have a favorite restaurant to experience an exquisite chicken and waffles, I chose the Brazos Huevos Rancheros.

Pricing is a bit high. But, I wouldn’t quite call it expensive. After placing my order, I took my neatly bundled utensils with my table marker(a numbered wooden spoon) and found a table in the main area of the hotel. My steaming meal arrived minutes later. The waiter staff seemed light. But, “Wolfie” stopped by to check on our table at least twice.

The chefs at the 1886 Cafe & Bakery present their signature Brazos Huevos Rancheros in a non-traditional fashion. Instead of simply covering the plate with separate and familiar portions of food. This dish is served with layers of fresh flavorful ingredients. The foundation starts with a mixture of papas(potatoes) and chunks of sausage. Next is a crispy fried corn tortilla which is coated with a smooth layer of refried beans - and, if I’m not mistaken, a light layer of crumbled sausage. Finally, another crispy tortilla is added. This time topped with ranchero sauce, scrambled eggs, pico, sliced avocado, and a dollop of sour cream!

The combination of fresh ingredients and contrasting textures made for a delightful experience. Although both are delicious, there is a discernible difference between a chef-prepared dish and one that is traditionally home-cooked. Is it worth paying almost twice what you might pay at a local Mexican restaurant? I would recommend visiting the 1886 Bakery & Cade at least once so that you can decide...

The Fat Man’s wife loves brunch. So, we found a neat little café around the corner from our hotel. 1886 Café and Bakery serves baked goods plus daytime American fare in a Victorian tearoom-style setting in the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas.

My wife tried the Austin American Breakfast. This came with two eggs in any style (ordered scrambled), a choice of bacon, sausage, ham (bacon ordered), country potatoes, and multigrain toast. Her eggs were fluffy but lacked seasoning. The yellow and purple potatoes were seasoned well but could use a crunch from the grill, as they were exceptionally soft. The sweet potato, though, was lovely and cooked well. The bacon was thin but crunchy and had a good flavor. The toast had a good amount of butter, crunch, and chew.

I had the Croque Madame made with shaved ham, gruyère cheese, sourdough bread, sunny-side egg, pepper jack mornay, crispy fingerling potatoes, and jalapeño chimichurri. The potatoes were cooked and seasoned perfectly, and the chimichurri was fresh and had a good heat level. The egg was overcooked, but it had a creaminess to it. The bread was lightly toasted and offered a good chew, while the ham was sliced thin with a nice saltiness. The cheese melted perfectly and gave a nice gooey texture to the bite. The pepper jack mornay was good but lacked a heat punch that the dish needed.

I also tried Breakfast in a Cup with Jameson, orange Juice, butterscotch syrup, and spicy maple bacon. The bacon has an excellent spicy flavor; it was crunchy and good to chew, but it lacked sweetness. The orange juice was refreshing, and the butterscotch came through on a sweet note at the end. It had some Tajin on the rim.

1886 offers a good-sized menu of sandwiches, signature entrees, and brunch items. They also have a full bar. The Fat Man says that 1886 Café and Bakery is Fat Man Approved...

I absolutely will not support an establishment that wants to charge gratuity ahead of service, better yet 22%?! It is wild how the tipping culture has gotten to these days. I worked at a restaurant, I understand tips! I am a tipper. However, THIS is absolutely unacceptable! It’s not 15-18%, 22?!! For what?! We order and pay at the counter. Not a soul came and checked on my table once, because ‘why put the effort in if you’re tipped already’?! At least this is the impression it gives to your patrons. I saw an older gentleman (employee) in blue shirt walking by and I asked if he was a manager, he said “kinda”, I asked if my Hyatt number can be added to the bill, so I could get points. It literally says that we could for dining on the receipt. He said he doesn’t know anything about that and directed me to the register. I also wanted to chat about the concerns listed above, and asked if has a second to sit and chat about a few concerns, he said he “doesn’t have time currently, but if it’s something quick I could chat with him while he’s standing.” He didn’t offer a business card to chat about my concerns later on or anything. He didn’t even look interested or concerned. Sir, how are you trusted with this responsibility?! What a shame! On my way out I chatted with Greg (Aussie accent?),a gentleman at the counter who had taken my order. He understood my concerns, acknowledged and apologized. He said he’d also look into adding points for the meal. While I’m waiting on an update on this, I want to mention how pleasant he was to talk to, he listened and agreed with my concerns. Thanks for listening, Greg! The 2 stars are, one for the look of the hotel. It’s a beautiful vintage feel hotel. Second star for the potatoes that came with the omelet. I will...