French Quarter Grille — Restaurant in Austin

I made reservations in advance for a birthday dinner held yesterday. I was looking forward to a fine dining experience and great food I had read in all the positive reviews. That is unfortunately what we did not experience. I was extremely disappointed with the treatment we received from the staff, kitchen, and foremost our server! I've worked in the food industry a long time and was in fact a server myself. All the years catering to customers I was encouraged to make them feel welcome, smile and first impressions are always everlasting. As soon as we arrived they had our tables ready, but the server and hostess kept pestering our table if our guests were arriving since there was "supposedly " a 15 minute wait period and they would have to remove our tables for other guests. I understand how reservations work, however the man I spoke with mentioned nothing of this in our previous phone conversation. Also the server was rude and condescending from the start! When approaching a table your first impression will always make a huge impact as to how the experience will go and ours was unbelievably terrible! Our server rolled her eyes and sighed when we asked for waters to start since we were looking over the menu for our options and waiting for the rest of the party to arrive. She then made a smart remark as to why one of the seats were open at our table constantly asking if someone was sitting there. After the staff took away two of the tables to seat other guests, the rest of our party arrived. My sister in law had to go and grab chairs HERSELF for them to sit in because the hostess, server, & staff did not even approach us but stared from where they were. A couple of the kids ordered a soft drink, but after the server rolled her eyes and was annoyed by the rest of our party arriving she rudely wedged herself by a few members in our party and that was the defining moment we up and left. I told the birthday guest we are leaving never in all my years working in food service have I witnessed such rude behavior! I was embarrassed because I in fact picked this place upon postitive reviews. But I will tell you we will not be attending this dining establishment ever again! Also the chef made a rude comment "Thanks For Nothing!" I'm sorry but that's what we should've been saying all along. Also to the chef 3 fountain drinks will not impede on your inventory! He stated that it was $18 worth of unpaid drinks?! Wow that would be $6 a soda, that must've been some Godly thirst quenching soft drinks for that price... I was always told one bad experience can turn away dozens over one good experience. If the staff and owner continue such poorly behavior towards customers I'm sure French Quarter Grilles doors won't...

This is seriously and genuinely my favorite Cajun influenced restaurant that I have been to in the city. I just can't say enough great things about this place

The escargot here is, by far the best that I have ever had 🐌 Even over trying it in both France and Italy.

They serve it in these little trays with an incredibly deliciously flavored butter sauce, which I highly recommend dipping the bread they serve in it too. 😋

The first time I was here I had the blackened salmon and my friend had the ribeye. 🥩

Both were absolutely amazing 😍, the detail on the sauces and the way that everything was prepared and cooked was impeccable. Not to mention the presentation as well. It was not over seasoned or bland either. Just perfection.

The second and third time I ate here I had the filet with the red beans and rice and sauteed zucchini. My friend had the Fish Ponchartrain which was so delectable and, once again, nailed it with the Cajun style orange sauce which was mouth watering with just the perfect amount of spices, but also not too spicy that you could not eat it. 🥵

Also, the gumbo is really really good here and the red beans and rice are so fresh.

And I don't normally eat dessert, but my friend ordered the bread pudding with the rum sauce and ice cream and it melted in your mouth and was to die for. 🍨

The service was also top notch here too, all set ears I've encountered were all very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. The owner (one of them) always walks around during dinner checking on everyone and making sure that everything is okay, a very nice and friendly man, and we appreciated the greeting and all the attention to detail.

The other owner is hard at work in the kitchen making sure that you have an awesome meal experience!

Hands down, this is by far one of the best restaurants I have eaten in the city overall, and for sure the best Cajun style influenced one that I have ever gone to here in Texas. (And that says a lot since I was raised near the Louisiana and Texas border)

Do yourself a big favor for your next special occasion outing and treat yourself by trying out this wonderful Cajun style restaurant, it will be so...

A Recipe for Disaster

I had high hopes when I to this restaurant for a friends birthday, intrigued by its vibrant atmosphere and enticing menu. However, my experience took a very unfortunate turn that left me with a lingering sense of disappointment — and a horrible case of food poisoning, and unpleasant dining experience.

To set the scene, I assumed it would be a wise choice to indulge in their gumbo, a specialty that I’ve often enjoyed elsewhere. What appeared before me, however, was a bowl of watered-down brown liquid that didn’t seem fit for a reputable establishment. Undercooked and lacking flavor, it was a far cry from the soul-warming dish I had anticipated.

When I expressed my concerns and politely requested to exchange it for something more palatable, the waitress reacted in a way that made my stomach churn almost as much as the gumbo did. Instead of feeling cared for, I felt judged, as if I was making a scene by expecting a basic standard of food quality. Her dismissive attitude toward legitimate feedback was the ultimate letdown.

Regrettably, my dining experience took a nosedive into disaster shortly after. Just a few hours post-meal, I found myself in the grips of severe food poisoning, racing to the ER with nonstop vomiting, diarrhea, and a worry that would plague my mind for days. A hospital trip, a prescription just to regain some semblance of normalcy, and missing two days of work later, I now have to classify this restaurant as a hard pass for the foreseeable future.

It's incredibly disheartening that an evening meant for enjoyment turned into a lengthy ordeal that disrupted my life for days on end. We were also given paper menu’s when the every other table received hard back menu’s. It screamed racists vibes! I hope the management considers placing a higher priority on food safety and staff training in customer service, as the experience of feeling dismissed only amplified the distress I was already feeling. Until changes are made, I recommend steering clear of this spot — your stomach will...