CongressExperience this place! Wow!Please experience this place. Food is amazing! Service is outstanding. Please open more days of week and we will come more often5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experienceEvery thing was very good except
We felt like our food was little more salty5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMtasting menu was excitingtasting menu was exciting with excellent wine pairings4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMSecond time here, and it livedSecond time here, and it lived up to the memory of our previous visit. One of our favorites anywhere, and it just happens to be in our town.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMLast time we had such a wellLast time we had such a well balanced, elegant meal with a highly competent service staff was at a top rated Michelin restaurant on the Place de la Concorde.
Ambience was warm, not over detailed.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I went to CongressMy wife and I went to Congress to collectively celebrate our birthdays. Upon finding out it was a birthday celebration, the staff gave us each a complimentary glass of champagne. Throughout the evening the staff was attentive without being overbearing. The food was excellent, if a bit salty at times, but definitely an experience. I don't think I'd make this sort of dining a regular thing- it's expensive and time-consuming- but it is the perfect spot for the occasional romantic evening with good food and a great atmosphere.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMHad the 7-course tasting menuHad the 7-course tasting menu with wine pairing. The dessert was the only miss. Everything else was tremendous. Our waiter and the sommelier rocked the house!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWow Chef David Bull neverWow Chef David Bull never disappoints! What an incredible meal, thank you!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMInteresting though quite expensiveInteresting though quite expensive place in Austin, offering a more formal dining experience than offered elsewhere in this town. Courses are served in a nouvelle cuisine style with an emphasis on presentation and taste. Some find this overly fussy and without a doubt, If you're looking for a 48oz Porterhouse and french fries, this is NOT the place for you! If however you are looking for a sophisticated fine-dining experience in the style of Per Se in New York for example, you'll enjoy this experience.
Menus are in a Prix Fixe format and some may find the choices limiting. Be adventurous with your choices, step out of your normal comfort-zone however and you will rewarded with some excellent dishes.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our second time atThis was our second time at Congress and it confirmed our feeling that it is the finest overall dining experience we get in Austin. Food is excellent. Service was easily a notch above other fine dining establishments we go to. We are blessed in Austin with many places to get excellent and innovative food or a fine meal but Congress stands a notch above when considering the entire experience - mainly through the level of service provided. The waitstaff was very prompt, attentive, and had recommendations that turned out very well when we asked for assistance. Food was even more interesting on the plate than it sounded in the menu.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was an all around delightfulIt was an all around delightful experience and one that lived up to the expectations. All the courses were crafted exceptionally well and the service was both flawless and gracious. It was one of those memorable experiences which we hope to enjoy again when we visit Austin.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMShould have a Michelin StarWe tried the 7-course tasting menu with the wine paring. The chef really nailed 5 out of 7 of the courses. Some of the best dishes I've ever had and I've eaten at many Michelin star restaurants. The other two courses were very good though a bit too many things going on without something to pull them together. The notable dish was the prime ribeye cap with smoked beets, mustard greens, and onion soubise. It was an ode to BBQ ;-) The wine paring was also spot on for my taste. This is a great restaurant in an great city. Highly recommended.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFine dining in Austin...Finally!The food and service were outstanding. Each course offered a unique blend of tastes, textures and presentation. The ambiance was very upscale neutral. White table cloth dining in large white booths with oversized crystal chandeliers that seemed more West Elm than Tiffany's. The portion sizes were modest but we didn't leave hungry. Attention was paid to each detail and flavor in each dish. If you are a discerning diner, you will enjoy and appreciate this restaurant. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant to savor the experience with wine pairings rather than rush it to make our theater reservations. This was one of the best meals we have eaten in Austin in years. It was expensive but worth it.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMVery creative food presentationVery creative food presentation and layering of textures and flavors. But silly expensive.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMA Prize in Downtown AustinThe current preparation of steak tartare is outstanding, the lamb was the most perfectly prepared I've ever eaten. I love the Walker Manhattan and the Burgundy recommended by the sommeliere Paula was lovely. Our gluten-free guest received the most wonderful kale chips with spicy oil in lieu of bread and everything was accommodated. The service is flawless yet friendly and the restaurant genuinely comfortable.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMNot to be Overlooked !Congress doesn't get its fair share of attention relative to the other top tier restaurants in Austin, but it should. The food is special, albeit a bit precious, but overall excellent and unique for Austin.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMMy husband and I celebratedMy husband and I celebrated our anniversary here. The food and service were incredible-just what we were looking for. I will definitely be back and recommend this place to others.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMCongress never disappoints.Congress never disappoints. Consistently outstanding food and service.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMOur third time to eat at thisOur third time to eat at this gem and the food has yet to disappoint. The service is exceptional and the staff graciously accommodated our request to be moved from the table closest to the kitchen door, as its constant opening made it difficult for my husband and me to hear well. This is our favorite place to go for a special occasion dinner because of its beautiful ambiance, its notable service, and some of the most creatively delicious food in Austin.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food, Not So Great SaetingFood was excellent and the service was very good.We did the 3 course prix fixe and shared each item so we got to taste a lot of the menu.Ordered the torchon which was fantastic.Banquette seating is odd if you're just two people.You can end-up sharing a large banquette with another couple, two tables per banquette.It's odd in that one person in the party really is sitting opposite a person in the other party.Unfortunately for me that was me and the other couple "made-out" during the entire service.The restaurant was very embarrassed and offered to re-seat us.We stayed where we were.From my chair not only did I get to see the other couple's romance but outside to the street and the valet parking. They should have a curtain between the dining3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ServiceThe tasting menu items were delicious and wine pairings for each course were customized to suit my personal tastes. Expensive but quite a treat if you crave culinary adventure.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMBy far the best dining experienceBy far the best dining experience in Austin, or just about anywhere. I travel a lot and love to eat inventive food. Congress is truly world class cooking.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWnderful special occasionCongress is absolutely one of the most innovative, and one of the best restaurants in Austin. Expensive .. but quite a dining experience. Great for special occasions -- we started with complimentary champagne for a birthday, and a small but great dessert with a candle at the end.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGive your review a title (optional)We were blown away by the food. Normally we like to eat a la carte but this really was worth it. Amazing!3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had the 7-course tastingWe had the 7-course tasting menu with wine pairings. The food, wine and service were all great.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AM