Bureau de Poste / French Bistro — Restaurant in Austin

EDIT/Update - I feel compelled to update my review. As you can see below we ate here a few days after they first opened and were a bit disappointed with the execution (not seasoned/bland flavors, etc). We tried it again last night for the first time since that initial experience and we had a GREAT meal. Not sure what they did in the back of the kitchen but all the dishes came out either solidly good or great. Seasoning was on point. The mussels are not a massive bowl but they definitely served a fair bit larger portion than our first time. We had a very good meal and were very happy. Our waiter was also excellent this time.

I hope the owner/chefs take this as constructive criticism. We live a cpl short blocks away and would love for this to be a new go-to spot, but they are missing the mark in a few spots. I'm not a professional food critic but before moving to Austin 4 years ago we lived in NYC for 15 years and have eaten at plenty of fine French restaraunts along with casual French Bistros. I think a good casual neighborhood French bistro is one of my favorite.

Atmosphere: Great! They did a wonderful job with the design. And Tiny Grocers is great.

Food: French Onion - Was a solid "good". Yeah, I've have better but also had many not nearly as good as this.

Endive - This was decent to just "OK". Another reviewer stated it was "bland", I kind of agree but still thought it was decent but would not order again unless its changed up. Just needs a little extra oomph. Maybe little extra dressing or something. I had a beet salad from Tiny Grocers that was fabulous and much better. Put that on the menu!

Ocean Trout Tartare - A little better than the Endive, but still missing that something special. I would say it was good but could be much better. The fish was fresh and tasty and the occasional bites with a citrus segment were good but a little bland/lacking outside of that.

Bureau de Poste Moules Frites - One of the most flavorful dishes but also completely missed the mark. The serving is just too small for an entree. Its a joke to put this under large plates. This is an appetizer size at best. If you want to charge more money for a larger serving then go for it. The flavor of the broth/sauce was really good. Unfortunately out of the small serving of mussels, three of them were completely closed tight and one was just a shell (lost mussel in cooking I guess, but not in our broth). This was basically a quarter of the dish since it was so few mussels. Ive cooked tons of mussels and clams, and this was probably just not cooked long enough. I kindly mentioned something to the waiter about the unopened mussels. He walked off to talk to the manager, which I just think was stressed out (per the waiter) and the waiter came back to assure us the manager says, "they are good mussels and not bad". I don't have any doubt they aren't good, just not fully cooked. Sure enough I get my knife to pry open the mussels and they are just raw. You can see and feel they were raw mussels. I didn't bring it up again bc I already did once and that should've been enough. This dish could be great though. Up the portion size even if you have to charge more and cook the dang mussels till they open. Ive had experiences with a few unopened mussels but that's typically been with a huge bowl so its like "whatever".

Steak Frites - This was probably my favorite dish, even though the mussels had the most potential. Good ribeye, cooked to order medium rare. I got the au poivre sauce, which was ok. Id try the maitre d'hotel butter next time. That said it was a good steak frites.

I gave 3 stars overall but would really give this 2.5, but in reality the potential is there for this to be a 4/5 star spot, but they need to work out some menu items and hospitality (lack of manager response) especially for the price point. I don't want this to discourage others as I do see the great potential here and it might be a 4/5 star spot in short time if they...

We were really looking forward to trying this new place in the neighborhood, a French restaurant in walking distance sounded quite appealing.

Let's start with the positive: the location is nice and the service was good. We sat out on the patio and the overall vibe and atmosphere is good, the theme reminded me a bit of a maritime vibe, perhaps because of the blue and white striped seat cushions.

Unfortunately, the food was of mediocre quality at best and considering that quality, in my opinion is highly overpriced.

For starters we had the beef tartare and the escargots. The beef tartare was OK, in my opinion the beef was not chopped finely enough, but the overall dish was acceptable. One thing that immediately stood out here is that for two dishes that both go with bread, we were served 4(!) tiny slices of baguette. We did get 4 additional tiny slices after asking but the fact that we would even have to ask seems absurd.

For the mains we had the moules et frites and the pork chop which was the daily special.

Here, it really started to unravel. The mussels were served in a standard broth and that in itself was still OK. The issue I had here is that for $24 we were served a tiny portion. Even worse, the French fries that came with the dish were also served as a tiny portion. Aside from the serving size, the French fries were also not good, they resemble McDonald's style shoestring fries and that is definitely not what you want with moules frites. If you want to fashion yourself as a French restaurant and can't make proper French fries, then that is a big issue.

Hopfields down the street, as a comparison, serves excellent moules frites for $21. They serve it with a large amount of actual, twice-fried French fries, a large amount of mussels and a very tasty and savory broth. The Hopfields version provides a highly satisfying experience that I am looking for in mussels with French fries, the version at Bureau de Poste feels like an amateurish attempt to imitate the real thing, and at an inflated price at that.

On first glance, the pork chop seemed fine, a bunch of issues here as well though. While the chop seemed properly cooked for the most part, as we were getting closer to the bone, we started seeing raw pork. This is simply not acceptable and is a sign of either bad planning or extremely sloppy execution. The seasoning was fine, but overall the taste here was again mediocre at best, the same can be said for the mashed potatoes on the side. And here again, the price of $36 seems highly inflated considering the quality of the food.

As a comparison, the pork chop at Justine's is much, much better, both from a perspective of preparation and taste.

In summary, the culinary experience here was very poor. And while one might be inclined to provide some leeway as the restaurant just opened, a lot of things here are not just attributable to execution problems but demonstrate a fundamental lack of understanding of what "French" food is actually like.

It's a pity, as we really wanted to like this place. In essence, what the place has going for it is the location and overall setup, however the culinary experience just doesn't measure up.

If you are looking for French-style food, both Justine's and Hopfields provide a much, much...

If you’re looking for a cozy yet sophisticated spot for brunch in Austin, look no further than Bureau de Poste. This charming French-inspired bistro has truly won me over with its thoughtful and delicious brunch offerings. Whether you’re in the mood for something savory or sweet, they’ve got you covered with a menu that combines classic flavors with creative twists.

I started with the avocado toast topped with perfectly poached eggs. The bread was thick, toasted to golden perfection, and the creamy avocado was balanced with the richness of the eggs. It’s a simple dish, but done so well. The mixed greens on the side added a nice, refreshing contrast to the richness of the toast.

For something sweet, I couldn’t resist trying the crêpe, and it was nothing short of amazing. The crêpe itself was light and delicate, filled with a luscious orange crème that was both creamy and just the right amount of citrusy. The vibrant orange flavor was refreshing without being too sweet, and it paired beautifully with a dusting of powdered sugar. Inside the crêpe, fresh berries added a burst of natural sweetness and color, making this dish feel both indulgent and refreshing. It’s the perfect balance of flavors—comforting yet sophisticated.

For something a bit heartier, I also tried the croque madame, and it was everything I hoped for. Rich, cheesy, and comforting, the toasted bread was smothered in melted Gruyère, with smoky ham and a perfectly fried egg on top. It’s the perfect dish for anyone craving something warm and satisfying.

And of course, no brunch is complete without a drink. The house-made mimosas were a refreshing treat, with the right balance of orange juice and sparkling wine to brighten up the meal. The brunch drinks here are simple but well-made, adding a bit of sparkle to your weekend.

The service at Bureau de Poste was top-notch—friendly, attentive, and quick without being rushed. The ambiance is just as welcoming, with a cozy, bistro-style feel that makes you feel right at home. Whether you’re dining solo, with a friend, or enjoying a family gathering, it’s the perfect place for a leisurely brunch.

I left feeling full and satisfied, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit to try more of their creative brunch dishes. If you’re in the area and want a brunch that feels a little special, Bureau de Poste is definitely...