Chez Zee American Bistro — Restaurant in Austin

I had been wanting to visit since we moved here 2 years ago. Many people have recommended it , including on reddit as a romantic place but also family friendly. We went with the intent to only order dessert as a celebration of a special event. We were not asked if we were celebrating, as per custom but I also didn't mention it so whatever. After we noticed other gluten free and dairy free options we decided to order meals. The server was friendly and attentive despite it being very busy. She was careful with our children's allergies which I truly appreciate. The atmosphere is very 90s grandma's house but with all the cousins and crazy aunts over, which is too say loud, chaotic and drunk people all over. I would not call this place romantic or family friendly. The food was priced accordingly with other similar Austin restaurants, about $25 per plate. I had the pecan salmon, it was fine. Definitely not what the other reviews suggested. Something I would make at home on a weekday. Mine didn't have any delicious sauce. I added the sauce that came with the fried pickels to it bc it was very dry and had several bones which is expected. The fried pickels were very good. The batter was light and crunchy . We also ordered a burger it was fine. Kids meals were the usual with the exception of a healthy option which we love to see. it was a very small serving of protein even for a child, but a win is a win . The chocolate mouse was thick pretty much solid and very bitter but for a vegan gluten free option I'm glad there was something on the menu they could have at all. The creme Brule was runny and lacked flavor. We spent about $120 for 5 people but for that we could have gone to our regular place , kerby lane for similar price but better environment for a family already feeling over stimulated. The best thing we ordered was the side salad that had a great ceaser dressing , maybe house made ? Overall I don't understand the hype. Maybe we went on a bad day or time but the flavor and food quality wasn't what I expected after what I've heard. Very chain restaurant with only microwaves in the back. Good service and server doing her best with help. Also restrictive deit...

Chez Zee American Bistro is one of those places that "works" for a multitude of occasions: you'll be equally comfortable here having dinner with out-of-town family members, celebrating a friend's birthday, or having a romantic dinner with a significant other. As the name suggests, the menu offers upscale versions of American classics, with some Southwestern and French influences. My go-to item here is also one of their most popular: the Gorgonzola Jalapeno Pasta, a linguine dish topped with a rich, spicy cream sauce. The flavor of the Gorgonzola balances out the heat from the jalapenos perfectly, and the result tastes incredibly decadent. The pizzas are also excellent, and if you want to go all-out, try the pecan-encrusted brie as an appetizer. While the menu here stands on its own, you're missing out if you come here and don't save room for dessert. Chez Zee is justifiably famous for its bakery, and they offer some of the most delicious cakes I've ever tasted, in Austin or anywhere else. I'm usually torn between the chocolate raspberry truffle cheesecake and the Kahlua crunch pie (of course, if you convince the person you're with to order their own dessert, you can have both!). The atmosphere adds to the romantic atmosphere. There's a beautiful arched walkway and front patio (complete with waterfall fountain) at the entrance, and the whole restaurant is decked out with twinkling white lights and a rotating selection of local artwork. Every time I've been here, service has been prompt, friendly, and thoughtful- there's even a selection of board games to play while you wait to be seated. Prices here are a bit high, especially considering portion sizes, but not exorbitant compared to most comparable restaurants in town. This is one of the places I most look forward to visiting for a special occasion, and one of the best "date night"...

My wife and I have been going to Chez Zee for more than 10 years. Our last few visits have not been great. The service at Chez Zee has declined continuously. The last time we were there, the hostess actually answered the phone on speakerphone. Not only was it loud, but the caller had no idea that she was on speakerphone for everyone to hear, and the hostess was not exactly kind; she was kind of terse with the caller. No one but the hostess needed to hear that loud conversation. I had never seen a hostess answer a call publicly; laziness and/or poor manners are the only reasons I can think of.

The food service has declined, too. The last few times we've gone, the espresso machine is either not working or breaks down. And the Americano my wife has ordered is frequently not hot, requiring a re-do. The server has told us many times that the machine is old and needs to be replaced. Why would an establishment like Chez Zee known for their breakfast not fix or replace their machine. We think they simply don't care anymore.

We both order entrees that require syrup, yet they deliberately don't bring syrup. You have to ask for it every time. We think they do this so you will have to ask for syrup and they will then ask if you want regular syrup or real syrup. Naturally, we want real syrup (who doesn't?) We've discovered that when you ask for the real syrup, they charge you $4.95 without telling you it costs extra. These are just a few of things we've experienced.

Going to Chez Zee used to be a special thing for us, primarily because of the warmth and professionalism of the servers and how you were treated from the very start. That is gone now so, sadly, it has lost its specialness. We are not in a hurry to go back. There are far more places with better service. It's too bad that they have let their service go...