Stopped into the Summer House while staying at the Hotel Magdalena and I wish we would've discovered this place sooner than our last day! Beautifully decorated on the inside with amazing courtyard/outside seating. The drinks were super refreshing and delicious and the black eyed pea hummus was just enough to hold us over until our late lunch plans. The menu had great offerings and I can't wait until my next Austin trip to have a full meal here. If you stay at the Magdalena, any room service or food you order through the hotel comes from Summer House!
Taylor Thorne
A little hidden gem on south congress. For whatever reason, it’s much easier to get a table here than any other popular restaurant on south congress. The menu is short and sweet, and everything we ordered was delicious. The special: pasta carbonara was incredible, as was the steak dish. We will be coming back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Minerva A.
French toast was tasteful but the service was terrible. Our waiter was inattentive and uninterested, which was weird because the place was empty (Wednesday morning). Cappuccinos were flavorsome but they were already cold when we they were brought to our table. The place and overall ambiance was nice and inviting but definitely would not come back due to the service.
Ivette Orozco
I’ve eaten here 3 times and the food is excellent, but service is usually not great. Staff is very friendly and it is always easy to grab a table without a reservation even on a Saturday but service can be super slow and inconsistent. Also, the ambiance is cute but the outdoor patio basically has about 6 good tables on gravel while the tables facing the bar can be loud and busy with traffic. There are not really vegetarian entree options but the starter salads are large enough to eat as an entree.Vegetarian options: Not many - wish they were clearly labeled
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Smash Burger and Fries
Breanna P.
Really well done ambiance in here. It can be hard to miss if you're walking in front, just go up the stairs near the hotel Checkin outside. I wish k had more time in Austin to try the full menu, everything looked amazing. We got the salmon tartare and, eggs in purgatory and the burger. All really tasty. The folks working here were great at answering our questions about the unique menu.
Andie O.
The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. We enjoyed a little table with banquet and chairs on the patio. We had views of the lawn and the restaurant interior. Our server Clint provided us with good advice and fun conversation. We started with the whipped ricotta which we both enjoyed a lot. My only quibble was how think the bread was cut. It was toasted to perfection but with the thick cut, biting through the crust was nearly impossible. I would have loved if each slice was 1/2 the depth which also would have given me twice as much bread to enjoy the feta with. The subtly of the mint and occasional touches of honey made each bite slightly different in the best way. Next we shared the Kale Caesar. The kale was cut small and massaged well, so each bite had good texture without being too chewy. I was hoping for a bit more of the caper flavor from the dressing but it did have a hint of brine. The bread crumbs stayed crisp throughout the salad for a great light crunch. I ordered the Ricotta Gnocchi while my companion ordered the Smoked Heritage Ragu. The truffle Parmesan sauce was balanced and not overly oily. The truffles added a bit more depth to the braised muchrooms, which were a good size and not mushy. I was a bit disappointed that the gnocchi itself seemed a tad undercooked, being harder rather than the pillowy texture I was expecting. I got to taste the Ragu and had no complaints at all. My companion really enjoyed it. Finally we shared the Chocolate Budino and Strawberry Crostada. These were both the best plates of the night. The coffee crunchies were an expected surprise in the Budino but all parts of it were delicious. The balsamic on the ice cream of the Crostada took the whole dish over the top. I've heard Summer House is known for brunch, but I would recommend it for dinner. Nice place for dinner with friends. Disclaimer: My companion had a credit towards our dinner in exchange for some pictures but I covered tip and parking (which were about 1/2 the cost of our meal). And the pictures used in my review are mine.
Steve B.
My girl and I had walked by this little hidden gem many times exploring the plaza area along Music Lane - and promised to come in for dinner sometime. Last night was the night. I really want to give this place 5 stars. The place is super cool - and beautiful - and the staff were awesome. BUT - the food just wouldn't allow more than 2 stars. After some celebratory tequila, we started with the Burrata Toast. And I have to say, plated, it's freakin' gorgeousI My first taste of the arugula was absolutely incredible. Super complex and wonderful flavors in the dressing. Then the egg, guanciale, cheese - just incredible. The problem was that after the first couple of bites - the salt just started overpowering everything. It was kind of a bummer to start off so great - then end up cotton-mouthed with the last bite. Next, we split the Steak Frites - cooked medium. Again, though it was a bit overcooked, the plating was gorgeous. And the bark on the outside of the meat was absolutely perfect. The first couple of bites were awesome. BUT... THE SALT! Damn! Yet again, both the fries and the steak were just WAY over-salted! What the hell? It's more than clear that the mix of ingredients in the food is top-shelf. But whoever is throwing the salt around in the kitchen is really doing that great work a disservice.
Sal S.
Horrible. If you want to wait for over an hour for your food then this is your place. Staff doesn't care and make you feel like you're doing them a favor by patronizing the restaurant
Grace S.
My 2 girlfriends and I came her for a Saturday brunch. The food was very good, especially the Bread Pudding French Toast and the Eggs in Purgatory. We were hoping to share all of our dishes, but I wouldn't say they were super sharing friendly and harder to eat this way. The service was very spotty and at one point had to wave down our waitress from across the patio after she had not been by in a while.
I came here with my sister who was visiting from out of town. The ambiance is absolutely wonderful and the food was even better! Our server Kelsey, took extraordinary care of our table and went above and beyond in every category. I would recommend this place to anybody who loves a great experience. Thanks kelsey!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matthew Ryan
New menu is absent the best brunch dishes from the old menu which was the reason we and so many friends loved this spotBring back the pancakes, hash browns and pozole PLEASEOur server told us the change was the new manager making his/her mark on the menu - certainly not for the betterListen to your customers - pure speculation but customers seem to be voting as the restaurant was unusually quiet for Sunday BrunchIf menu remains the same we will not be backAll the best
Taylor W.
Summer house was beautiful and has an amazing view. It's tucked back so it's not too loud. The food is amazing! While it doesn't break the budget it is on the more expensive side of things. The service was a little slower than I would've liked but the food overall made up for that snafu. Happy eating!
Roberto Flamini
Great restaurant, very good cocktails!
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
D M
Awesome food and friendly staff. Cam provided amazing service while they were at peak busy hours. Staff is accomadating and lively. Highly recommend for brunch!
Stopped into the Summer House while staying at the Hotel Magdalena and I wish we would've discovered this place sooner than our last day! Beautifully decorated on the inside with amazing courtyard/outside seating. The drinks were super refreshing and delicious and the black eyed pea hummus was just enough to hold us over until our late lunch plans. The menu had great offerings and I can't wait until my next Austin trip to have a full meal here. If you stay at the Magdalena, any room service or food you order through the hotel comes from Summer House!
A little hidden gem on south congress. For whatever reason, it’s much easier to get a table here than any other popular restaurant on south congress. The menu is short and sweet, and everything we ordered was delicious. The special: pasta carbonara was incredible, as was the steak dish. We will be coming back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
French toast was tasteful but the service was terrible. Our waiter was inattentive and uninterested, which was weird because the place was empty (Wednesday morning). Cappuccinos were flavorsome but they were already cold when we they were brought to our table. The place and overall ambiance was nice and inviting but definitely would not come back due to the service.
I’ve eaten here 3 times and the food is excellent, but service is usually not great. Staff is very friendly and it is always easy to grab a table without a reservation even on a Saturday but service can be super slow and inconsistent. Also, the ambiance is cute but the outdoor patio basically has about 6 good tables on gravel while the tables facing the bar can be loud and busy with traffic. There are not really vegetarian entree options but the starter salads are large enough to eat as an entree.Vegetarian options: Not many - wish they were clearly labeled
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Smash Burger and Fries
Really well done ambiance in here. It can be hard to miss if you're walking in front, just go up the stairs near the hotel Checkin outside. I wish k had more time in Austin to try the full menu, everything looked amazing. We got the salmon tartare and, eggs in purgatory and the burger. All really tasty. The folks working here were great at answering our questions about the unique menu.
The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. We enjoyed a little table with banquet and chairs on the patio. We had views of the lawn and the restaurant interior. Our server Clint provided us with good advice and fun conversation. We started with the whipped ricotta which we both enjoyed a lot. My only quibble was how think the bread was cut. It was toasted to perfection but with the thick cut, biting through the crust was nearly impossible. I would have loved if each slice was 1/2 the depth which also would have given me twice as much bread to enjoy the feta with. The subtly of the mint and occasional touches of honey made each bite slightly different in the best way. Next we shared the Kale Caesar. The kale was cut small and massaged well, so each bite had good texture without being too chewy. I was hoping for a bit more of the caper flavor from the dressing but it did have a hint of brine. The bread crumbs stayed crisp throughout the salad for a great light crunch. I ordered the Ricotta Gnocchi while my companion ordered the Smoked Heritage Ragu. The truffle Parmesan sauce was balanced and not overly oily. The truffles added a bit more depth to the braised muchrooms, which were a good size and not mushy. I was a bit disappointed that the gnocchi itself seemed a tad undercooked, being harder rather than the pillowy texture I was expecting. I got to taste the Ragu and had no complaints at all. My companion really enjoyed it. Finally we shared the Chocolate Budino and Strawberry Crostada. These were both the best plates of the night. The coffee crunchies were an expected surprise in the Budino but all parts of it were delicious. The balsamic on the ice cream of the Crostada took the whole dish over the top. I've heard Summer House is known for brunch, but I would recommend it for dinner. Nice place for dinner with friends. Disclaimer: My companion had a credit towards our dinner in exchange for some pictures but I covered tip and parking (which were about 1/2 the cost of our meal). And the pictures used in my review are mine.
My girl and I had walked by this little hidden gem many times exploring the plaza area along Music Lane - and promised to come in for dinner sometime. Last night was the night. I really want to give this place 5 stars. The place is super cool - and beautiful - and the staff were awesome. BUT - the food just wouldn't allow more than 2 stars. After some celebratory tequila, we started with the Burrata Toast. And I have to say, plated, it's freakin' gorgeousI My first taste of the arugula was absolutely incredible. Super complex and wonderful flavors in the dressing. Then the egg, guanciale, cheese - just incredible. The problem was that after the first couple of bites - the salt just started overpowering everything. It was kind of a bummer to start off so great - then end up cotton-mouthed with the last bite. Next, we split the Steak Frites - cooked medium. Again, though it was a bit overcooked, the plating was gorgeous. And the bark on the outside of the meat was absolutely perfect. The first couple of bites were awesome. BUT... THE SALT! Damn! Yet again, both the fries and the steak were just WAY over-salted! What the hell? It's more than clear that the mix of ingredients in the food is top-shelf. But whoever is throwing the salt around in the kitchen is really doing that great work a disservice.
Horrible. If you want to wait for over an hour for your food then this is your place. Staff doesn't care and make you feel like you're doing them a favor by patronizing the restaurant
My 2 girlfriends and I came her for a Saturday brunch. The food was very good, especially the Bread Pudding French Toast and the Eggs in Purgatory. We were hoping to share all of our dishes, but I wouldn't say they were super sharing friendly and harder to eat this way. The service was very spotty and at one point had to wave down our waitress from across the patio after she had not been by in a while.
Service was a bit
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
I came here with my sister who was visiting from out of town. The ambiance is absolutely wonderful and the food was even better! Our server Kelsey, took extraordinary care of our table and went above and beyond in every category. I would recommend this place to anybody who loves a great experience. Thanks kelsey!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
New menu is absent the best brunch dishes from the old menu which was the reason we and so many friends loved this spotBring back the pancakes, hash browns and pozole PLEASEOur server told us the change was the new manager making his/her mark on the menu - certainly not for the betterListen to your customers - pure speculation but customers seem to be voting as the restaurant was unusually quiet for Sunday BrunchIf menu remains the same we will not be backAll the best
Summer house was beautiful and has an amazing view. It's tucked back so it's not too loud. The food is amazing! While it doesn't break the budget it is on the more expensive side of things. The service was a little slower than I would've liked but the food overall made up for that snafu. Happy eating!
Great restaurant, very good cocktails!
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Awesome food and friendly staff. Cam provided amazing service while they were at peak busy hours. Staff is accomadating and lively. Highly recommend for brunch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5