Launderette — Restaurant in Austin

I highly, HIGHLY recommend this place. Everything was so good.

First off, there’s plenty of parking in front and to the side of the restaurant (although the side parking may be for the liquor store next door). The spots are wide and could accommodate the huge SUV we rented.

Our waitress, Selin, was superb. She was attentive and remembered our entire order, without needing to write anything down!

We were a party of 4 with 3 dogs. We made a reservation for the patio because we had our dogs with us. We were seated at a corner table on the patio, which gave our dogs more space to roam while leashed and tethered to us.

It was pretty hot and humid outside (we came here on November 7, 2024 at 1PM). There were lots of flies and mosquitos around. Thankfully, halfway through the meal, the waitress put out a mini fan on our table to keep the insects away from our food.

For appetizers, we got: Striped Bass Crudo - the fish was fresh and flavor was great. A bit too tart for my liking, but still very good. My partner said this was the best, but he usually really likes very sour and tart foods. Burrata - very delicious. Had the right amount of sweetness from the glaze and great textural contrast with the nuts. Deviled Eggs - my favorite appetizer! The truffles really put this dish up there. Usually I find truffles gimmicky, but they worked really well here. Potato Chips (with cheese) - my least favorite appetizer. The chips were good but the dip tasted too much like cottage cheese for my liking. Fried Shrimp - this was SO GOOD! The shrimp were huge and cooked well. Not too much breading either. The accompanying sauce was good too.

For our mains, we got: Fried Chicken Sammie - this was really good. The chicken was very crispy and moist and tender on the inside. The slaw on it wasn’t overpowering. And the accompanying sauce was good. Steak Sammie - I did not get to try this, but my friend said it was ok. Farro Bowl - This was the best dish we got. The salmon was perfectly cooked: flaky with a crispy skin. The faro was also a good textural and flavor contrast. Plancha Burger (protein style, buns on side) - At first, this looked mid (you can see in my photos). But, when I dug into the patty, the meat had such a good texture to it. And the flavor was amazing! I could tell that it wasn’t just a regular old frozen patty from the grocery store. The pickles and onions were also subtly tart and sweet, which I really liked.

Our friend originally booked a brunch reservation here so she could try the birthday cake dessert, but the waitress said that’s only served during dinner. We didn’t blame her because they close up at 2PM for brunch, and it was already 2:15PM by the time we finished our entrees and asked about dessert. However, our waitress was so amazing!! She asked the chef and they said they could prepare the dessert for us because it was my partner’s birthday. So, she brought it out with lit candles and added it to our bill (she gave us a new one because she already printed out our bill).

The price was fair for what you’re getting. Things ranged from $12-$22.

Overall, the food was phenomenal and the service was amazing. I highly recommend coming here when...

Launderette is a quaint and charming spot nestled in a lovely neighborhood with easy parking and thoughtfully curated decor. The ambiance is warm and inviting with great seating options that make it a wonderful place to enjoy a meal out.

The cocktail menu has some standout options. The Malfy Spritz was especially delightful, light, refreshing, and reminiscent of an upscale lemonade with butterfly pea blossom for a floral touch. In contrast, Kay's Coupe is more gin-forward and great for someone who enjoys a stronger drink.

Appetizers were a highlight. The pomme frites and house-made chips with pimento cheese were both solid starters. The pimento cheese was fresh and flavorful, a huge leap above store-bought versions. The sticky Brussels sprouts were slightly al dente, but the sauce and Parmesan made them very enjoyable. The striped bass crudo was delicious, with an intense heat that I personally liked, but the menu doesn't mention that it's very spicy, which could catch some people off guard. The burrata was excellent, especially paired with a huge piece of perfectly toasted bread. A delightful surprise was the tempura snap peas, crispy, unique, and full of flavor. The lettuces with citrus breadcrumbs were the only disappointment among the starters, as the citrus breadcrumbs made the salad heavy and soggy.

For mains, the bistro steak had good flavor but was a little bit tough, likely due to the cut of meat. The Texas redfish tasted good, though it was a bit oily and the portion was smallish. Those wanting more seafood might prefer the whole branzino, just be mindful of the bones. The sticky pork ribs with hoisin sauce came in a generous portion and would be ideal for those who enjoy a sweet glaze.

Desserts: the raspberry tart was a nice option for a light dessert and would appeal to fans of white chocolate. The carrot cake, however, was underwhelming. If you're expecting a classic carrot cake, this is not it. It’s more of a light surprise and misses the mark if you're looking for that rich, spiced texture and flavor of carrot cake. That said, the honey crunch served with it was absolutely amazing and the highlight of the dessert. The surprise of the evening was the decaffeinated coffee served on a beautiful tray that everyone appreciated, a perfect way to end the meal.

Service was impeccable with kind and attentive staff. Launderette is a wonderful place to visit for a well-rounded and memorable...

This used to be one of my favorite spots in Austin. I recommended it to everyone I knew. The changing menu never missed and it was my go-to spot for celebrations. Unfortunately, my last visit left a horrible taste in my mouth. The last seating is at 9:45pm and I’ve never been rushed in my meal here before but this time, we were practically kicked out at 10:23pm by our server. Plus our water was not refilled once during our entire meal, even though there were only 4 other tables. My understanding is that while a restaurant takes final seatings up to a certain time, you are still able to enjoy your meal in full after. Because I’ve always been so welcomed at Launderette in the past, I invited some friends from out of town to dinner to show them one of my favorite places. At 9:30, our server asked us if we wanted a box for our food. Keep in mind, our food came out of the kitchen at 9:05pm. We told him we were still eating and asked if they were closing soon. He informed us that we had 30 minutes left to eat (this didn’t make sense to me since I know the restaurant takes seatings up until 9:45). He didn’t bring the check out until a little after 10pm and we provide our cards immediately. After signing them, it’s about 10:20pm. During the whole process, we thank our server for his service and for allowing us to catch up. It was very clear that despite our gratitude for the meal that he was not happy with us for staying after 10pm (their closing time). When I visited for my anniversary, the Launderette staff explained to me that since their last seating is at 9:45pm that they actually allow people to stay later. Clearly this is not true and they do not want that. I would recommend booking your table for 8pm or earlier so you don’t keep their staff longer than they want to be there. We thanked our server at the end for allowing us to stay and were greeted with only stony glares and silence. Overall, very early on in the meal, I had the feeling that our server did not want us there and was very impatient with us (despite us ordering generously). This is very different from the Launderette I know and love and I’m sad that this place that I’ve loved sharing with new people has treated my...