Reviews of Chez Zee American Bistro (Restaurant)

5406 Balcones Dr, Austin, TX 78731, United States

Average Rating:

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You have all the opinions of people like you who are using the services and products of Chez Zee American Bistro (Restaurant) near to the state of Texas.

At present this firm gets a score of 4.4 stars over 5 and that score has been based on 1368 reviews.

You may have noticed that the average of ratings is really positive, and it's founded on a large number of scores, so we can conclude that the rating is quite faithful. If there are many people who bothered to evaluate when they are happy, is that it works.

As you know, we don't usually stop to give opinions when these are correct and we usually do it only if we have had a problem or issue...

This Restaurant belongs to the category of American restaurant.

Where is Chez Zee American Bistro?

REVIEWS OF Chez Zee American Bistro IN Texas

Emily Fabian

Love the atmosphere! The guy working the day shift at the bar was super friendly. However, the food fell a little short. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't worth the price we paid. I'll still give them another try.

Matt Rayhbuck

Had the angel hair pasta with shrimp. Sauce was very heavy which made pasta pairing a bit unusual - too much sauce and oil. I was hoping for something a little lighter and simple. Shrimp was well cooked. Our Party had dishes ranging from chicken to salad dishes. Everything looked fresh and appetizing.

AM D

Best brunch in town!! Is usually packed though so make reservations and valet your car.

Jessica Cannon

Excellent food and service. Love the live pianist

Thomas Meyer

We were celebrating my parents' 64th anniversary. The food and atmosphere were great and the service was even better! Thank you for taking such good care of my parents. See y'all soon.

Randy Britton

Consistently good food with quirky atmosphere. One of my favorite places for brunch. Very Austin!

Diana E.

First time eating here. It was very delicious! It's a very popular restaurant and I can see why. I tried the Crème Brulée french toast platter. Yum Yum good!!

Katherine Mendiola

Every time I’ve gone here, I’m met by a host/hostess that always seems confused why I’m there. Once being even met with, ‘Can I help you?’ as I was standing there for about 3 minutes waiting for someone to come & seat our party. Overall the food is okay, not spectacular. The happy hour is pretty good, pretty size-able ‘happy hour’ menu for snacks.

Christina Sebestyen

Great Austin classic. Table immediately under the AC vent was very cold. Food excellent

Perry Ashley

Happy atmosphere, polite waiters, and the best desserts in Austin.

Debbie Walker

Great Food..not super attentive wait staff

Kelly Powell

I stop in to grab dessert there at times. I was surprised/annoyed tonight as the price of a single slice of root beer cake was.....$14.00. I honestly asked the waiter to make sure I he did not misunderstand my order and thought I'd ordered a small entire cake. I've ordered dessert before and it not been that expensive. After tonight's "cake sticker shock" price AND the cake tasted NOTHING like root beer and totally like regular chocolate cake, I won't be back. For that price, you'd think they shipped the single slice from NYC on it's own private jet and sang to it. Disappointed overall.

Michael Van Doren

Chez Zee is such an established Austin institution, all Austinites deserve to treat themselves to C-Z's wonderful reptertoire of French-American plates. And thus your out of town guests deserve to be treated here. This is a really nice place for anyone with brunch on the brain. And as far as I can tell, their desserts (and they have an extensive listing from which my party tried three) are first class in the size and taste department. I've bee to Chee-Zee several times this past year and everytime it's been (consistently) good, including their hospitality/service. And lastly coming here you get to enjoy some bright & eclectic decor.

Linda Cline

Food was good. We went at lunchtime and I had chicken salad sandwich and my companion had onion soup and a Cesar salad with chicken. Both meals were very good. The chicken salad sandwich was overfilled with vegetables and had a wonderful flavor. The Cesar salad was quite large and the soup was excellent, according to my companion.

Patricia Phea

My husband and I had an amazing Valentines Day dinner. The food was incredible and the music was perfect for V day. We had a small wait because we arrived early and they upgraded our table to be closer to the music. I thought that this was very nice. We will return!

Katy Mccarthy

For many years my family enjoyed Chez Zee!! My Uncle John lived close by and it was the 5 Star service that brought us there. We celebrated together in the Chez Zee atmosphere, piano with Floyd Domino, and of course, the wonderful food and fine wines! My Uncle truly enjoyed the Popcorn Shrimp appetizer and during the last few years of his life... I'd stop by and grab him a dish! Just thought I'd thank you for the joy your restaurant inspired in his life and ours!

Ian Lane

Nice location. Great for breakfast. The Austin Jazz Society uses this location for Sunday afternoon jazz

Stephen Goggin

This place has consistently been great. Great people. Great atmosphere. Great food. 10/10!

Paula Thomas

I enjoyed steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, and mixed vegetables. All of my meal was very good; my only criticism was that the few pieces of broccoli could have been cooked a little more. My friend enjoyed all of her meal.

Roni Jenkins

Always a great spot to eat. An Austin staple!

Angie Pomeroy

Outstanding food selections, especially desserts. The flourless chocolate torte is delicious. And the service was top notch.

Nelly D

This bistro is phenomenal! The food was delicious. I had the porkchop and eggs and my friend had the French toast and eggs. So good! Before the meal they serve these lighter than air croissant and the butter they're served with is top notch. We chose to get a carafe of their pear mimosas... I could drink them all day! So I guess you know by now that I love this place.

Debbie Zappen

The grilled steak salad was yummy! I split the dessert sampler with the girls, but we couldn't finish it!

Gerardo Martinez

Love this place the food is always good, very good service.

Debra Kulow

The food is fantastic! Large variety of desserts. Best key lime pie ever. Very friendly staff.

Randy Lorensen

Went for happy hour. Solid. Apps were good.

Danielle King

Great food! Great atmosphere! Great jazz music by Pamela Hart and Dr. James Polk!

Michael Bryant

Chez Zee American Bistro should be considered a landmark in Austin, TX when it comes to restaurants. It's been around for 34 years. Located on Balcones Dr. And FM 2222 Chez Zee is easily recognized by its eccentric exterior sign with a rabbit with a martini followed by an eccentric interior, complete with ambient lighting, live music and their famous red piano. There's 2 buildings to Chez Zee. The main restaurant and The Gallery where you can hold most any type of event you can think of. There's a wide variety of food at Chez Zee from burgers to huevos rancheros. And many different types of pasta dishes. And when it comes to desserts Chez Zee has you covered from the all time favorite Lemon Rosemary cake to their Granny Smith apple pie. On the weekends you better make a reservation cause this is the place to be if you wanna take your family and friends to brunch. But all around from a romantic dinner for 2, for a business meeting with colleagues, or just a meal with your family Chez Zee is the place to go. And if you're visiting Austin Chez Zee should definitely be on your bucket list of places to try. You can never go wrong with Chez Zee American Bistro.

David Skirrow

It's an Austin original, well run and good to great food. Our last visit was for breakfast which wasn't busy on a Saturday morning at 9:30. The service was excellent and the food was very good. The creme brulee french toast has delicious flavor, especially the rum sauce with it. It wasn't the best I've had solely because it was extremely dense. I prefer challah bread french toast, and my daughter had that and loved it. Not cheap but very good food and service. At minimum worth a try.

Ricardo Morris

American food and the scene at this place is super good. very filling. the service was very friendly and kind. prices are fair i would say. this place has many reviews for a reason.

Taruna Ahuja

Beautiful ambience, great food and stellar service. Perfect place to celebrate special occasions with a separate private events room on the property.

Matt

Everything is perfect about this place. Be prepared to spend between 50 to 60 dollars for two people. Definitely worth it, been coming here for years, since the 90's. Tenderloin Benedict is my go to. They prefer reservations but I never make reservations, they'll gladly take your money.

Kevin Moore

The seasonal sweet potato, pumpkin, ginger bread pudding with ginger ice cream and ginger sauce is absolutely delicious.

Shuvodip Paul

Great vibes. Limited parking on their parking lot so valet parking is required. The food and the atmosphere is fantastic. The servers are very nice, knowledgeable and friendly. It's a good place for group events.

Shannon Strotheide

Confused. That's all I can say about this place. But first.. the staff is AMAZING. Our waiter was Tyler and he couldn't have been better. Our drinks were made well. But the menu... was just confused. From pad thai to pizza and pasta.. to steak and fish... chicken fried steak.. all grossly over priced. All we decided to order were the fried pickles. Which were just fine. But nothing worth coming back for. If you're looking for variety in a menu and eclectic decor... this is for you.

Elsie Wahlig

Food was good. Portion was enough for lunch, but not a dinner.

Franz Hofmann

A tad pricey but probably in line for what and where they are. My burger was one of the best I've had and my wife's breakfast was tops too. The only drawback was the room had a dank, musky, mildew odor, and there's always a wait, but that only shows that it's popular. We've eaten there for more than 25 years!

Myla Kuhne

Food is very good ,service great.

Kris Reed

This place was beyond disappointing. The atmosphere is outdated and dull. The food was just bad. I had the tuna and it was barely seasoned and covered in an awful mayo sauce. My son’s pizza was go greasy he would not eat it. We should have left when we saw it was 90% empty on a Saturday night.

Aditya Bali

One of the best brunch places in North Austin. Can't go wrong with anything here.

Dennis Robinson

Great atmosphere, very quirky Austin Original. Must try the fried dill pickle appetizer, so crispy and delicious. Great Meatloaf. Really enjoyed the crabcake sandwich. Great Service. Delicious desserts.

Jeff Burslem

I went there for a rehearsal dinner. We were a big group scrunched into a corner of the restaurant (which wasn't busy - they could've easily given us more space), split across two tables. There was only one server per table and as a result the service was terrible. The 'drinks token' system was weird. If people are only allowed two free drinks, I don't understand why you just can't give them two bottles of beer or one large glass of wine, rather than making them hand over bits of paper to a server. This isn't Chuck E Cheese or a music festival!! It's a restaurant for adults. The selection of food was limited and fairly average. Long wait times from the server meant that some of the dishes came out cold. While it's a decent spot for breakfast, I would strongly recommend choosing another venue for something like a rehearsal dinner.

Felicity F

I booked this restaurant for brunch. The place is cute, and the service was fine. But the food is terrible! My bill was $50 for two entrees and a cup of coffee. I had the chicken and waffles which was bland. My partner had a dish with poached eggs, and the eggs were overcooked and not runny. I was very disappointed.

RJ Labrador

I've driven by this place a number of times over the years but only recently dropped in for dinner. We had a great time and the food was great! We started off with the beef kabobs. They had plenty of flavor and had us licking our lips for more. My New Orleans pecan chicken was less savory, but still satisfied. My wife ordered the pasta primavera. She said the Alfredo sauce was a bit different than what she expected or maybe what she was used to, but she still liked the dish and would definitely order it again. The restaurant itself has its own character. It was well lit and the ambiance and decor keep the place in check with Austin's "uniqueness" without being overly done and gaudy. The pianist played a wide variety of tunes from Fiddler on the Roof to The Dark Side of the Moon. Towards the middle of our dinner he played a medley of Beatles tunes, then stopped to take a break from behind the bright red, baby Baldwin. We didn't hear any background music during the rest of our visit which was a bit disappointing. Regardless, we'll be back to try other items on the menu!

Paola Lopez

Brunch at this place is amazing! Plenty of options to eat and drink. The coffee was a little too roasted for my taste. Service was great and very friendly. The atmosphere is really nice. Stongly suggest to reserve, especially if you come during the weekend.

Andy Gros

Great brunch and desserts. A real Austin institution.

Joseph Nink

Great food. Wonderful atmosphere. Super awesome and friendly staff. This is a perfect place for catching up with out of town friends or family. Also, it's a great date night restaurant.

Martin Andresen

Very cool fun that creates a great atmosphere food is incredible service was attentive places just pure fun

Brittany Baschnagel

We went to Chez Zee with a reservation. Showed up on time, but still had to wait about 7min for a table (better than the 30min wait if we didn't have a reservation). The complimentary croissant appetizer was great, although we weren't told what fruit was in the butter...so my fiance could not use the butter as he is allergic to strawberries. When ordering, my fiance doesn't eat pig (all meat options with platters are) so he ordered the fruit bowl and we explained again that he is allergic to strawberries. Our server also asked if we wanted regular syrup or rum syrup, and we both opted for rum (mine on the side) because...why not?! Lol Anyways, when our food came out, fiance's food had strawberries and syrup was not on the side for me. I sent mine back but he just moved his strawberries to the side because he was hungry. Took a good 10min for my french toast to come back out. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan...but my bacon, eggs, and potatoes were great (perfectly seasoned and cooked just right). When we got the bill, we were shocked the rum syrup for both of us was a $5.90 upcharge! Had we known, we would have stuck with regular syrup. Our waters were empty for most if our meal and the latte left much to be desired (couldn't taste the hazelnut at all and very small). Overall, not sure we will be going back for the price

M

We found and drove here on a whim and now it is one of our favorites. Their espresso was fantastic. We added the Irish cream to it, which was thick and smooth. We skipped dinner and went to dessert. The creme brulee was perfect - light, creamy, not to sweet, with the perfect warm crunch of the torched sugar on top. The Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake was rich with each layer distinct and delicious. The decor and atmosphere is very Austin-y which we love but not overwhelming. The service was quick, the staff polite and friendly. We will 100% return.

JD Johns

Decent food and average wine list. Parking can be difficult.

janet barronjung

We had a Birthday Party there. Great food and great service. I ordered the daily special ( chicken & cheese enchiladas) it was fabulous.

Maria Hayes

Was part of a large party celebration. Staff was outstanding and went out of their way to serve food from an outdated menu. Much appreciated! Food was good too

Victor Marquez

Awesome location, very unique, I enjoyed my meal and the ambiance!

John Theiss

A very nice reasonably priced restaurant. If u are not using valet, it is hard to park at busy times. Reservations recommended.

Susie Hale

Our server, Luke, was great. No issues with him at all. Chief complaints were the Sharon's pasta with shrimp was way over cooked and Christmas music in February. Upon inquiry of Christmas music I was told there are two on a jazz CD they play. We have frequented this restaurant for over 20 years and it seems less than it used to be. Won't give up yet. This is just a heads up.

Heather Hart

I liked the layout of the different rooms. A very laid back atmosphere and the table side performers we're fun. The food was awesome. I suggest the stuffed french toast. It was heavenly. Make sure you check the hours before you go.

Steve Elliott

A lovely place for a pre-show dinner. The crab cakes were perfectly seasoned and sitting in the bearnaise sauce rather than being covered by it. The apple chutney was a nice accompaniment. The lemon rosemary trout was flaky and fresh. The smoked pork tenderloin was beyond tender. It was drizzled with black cherry sauce, which I would have requested on the side had I known, but it was not overpowering and the flavor of the smoked meat came through. All the sides were tasty, as was the crusty loaf of bread with its dipping oil. All-in-all, a great date night meal!

Brittany Maldonado

Really great food. And their desserts are always moist.

Fhire Starter

This was my first visit, It was ok...I loved the decor, friendly staff. I had a chicken quesadilla...uhhh so so. Is it a place Id give a second try?......I would just because I was in a group of ppl. Next time may be different.

Cindy Blue

Love this place and weekend brunch is the best!

Paige Scott

Wonderful American bistro with a really nice, comfortable atmosphere. Live piano at night

Sonia Matos

Our waitress was amazing! She even went outside with us to take photos for my bf's birthday. A guy was playing a piano, the decoration inside was so cute and the food was very yummy.

Kenn Lucas

I walked in and the teenager working the front desk was busy doing something with the phone. She wasn't ON the phone. She obviously just finished a call...but was kinda clearly not qualified to be doing the job. Bigger issue? She didn't care at all. I said hello and she didn't react at all. I stood there like an idiot. I walked into the dining room and back out. Totally confused. I asked her if I just sit anywhere and she was shocked that I was even there. ???? She said "oh yeah. One sec." I just told her I would go someplace else. She just said "ok" and ignored it all. Yeah. With service like that? Good luck. Maybe put someone in a greeter position who cares if people actually eat there? Or understands this is a business? Your livelihood? Meh. Reading other reviews, I'm not the only one things like this happened to here. I guess if you are not a regular, you are nobody.

Laura Redfern

Went with large group for a birthday brunch. Most ordered Benedicts or omelets. Food was OK but way overpriced. We felt we could get the same quality or better at Kerbey Lane at half the price. The atmosphere is what you go for: cute and eclectic and a little magical. :) But make reservations! The place was packed to the gills with other large parties.

Duane Hiller

Staff was very friendly and service was very quick. Good food, too!

BLANCA RODRIGUEZ

Have been here a few times, they have excellent desserts. Some of the food items are a miss but more often than not they’re delicious. The cheese board was okay. I love their brussel sprouts, crab cakes, salmon arugula pizza, artichoke dip, rosemary lemon cake is divine, coconut tres leches is to die for.

Noelle Boyle

This has been once of my favorite restaurants since I moved to Austin in 1994. It's incredibly warm and cozy inside. I love all the personality, lights, and little fun touches throughout the decor. I've come to look forward to attending the monthly Texas Women's In Business luncheon in the gallery room as well as the Author's Series, which is an event not to be missed. The Gallery room is a lovely space perfect for larger groups. The Chez Zee team do an incredible job with large groups from the service to the food! Speaking of food, Chez Zee puts some serious love into theirs. I had the pleasure of meeting the head chef and he is not only talented, but warm and down to earth. The flavor combinations they introduce to your pallet are mind-blowing awesome and the presentation is photo-worthy every time. I did know until recently that they make all their food fresh and to order which is very likely why the flavors are so outstanding! I love coming here for brunch, lunch or dinner! Any way, you won't be disappointed. Whatever you do, ORDER DESSERT! You'll thank me. ;-)

Ruxandra Duca

Just overall excellent experience. Waiting area outside was very nice with comfy chairs and coffee and mini muffins. While deciding on food they brought croissants with butter and strawberry cream for the table. There was a piano that someone played at some point. The service was great even though they were super busy. Will def go back when I'm in Austin

Raiya Jones

My best friend and I were craving brunch straight off of the plane, and google sent us this God sent place! The shrimp and grits were amaze balls! And the creme brulee french toast was out of this world! Definitely want to return before we head back to Jersey!

Kristina Esquivel

Fair biscuits and gravy. Service was quick. Coffee was horrible, though.

K Liu

Still going strong after all these years. Great place for dessert.

Mozz Arella

The best brunch around. We always enjoy spending time with family and friends.

Tomas Stockton

My first time at Chez Zee and it was amazing! I had the Zee burger and it was very juicy and delicious. Our waiter, Luke, recommended the Lemon-Rosemary cake (it was my birthday) and it, too, was scrumptious, as was the French roast coffee. Two thumbs up, for sure!!

John Connolly

Visited on a Friday for lunch with some colleagues... Popular place - we had to wait for about 10 minutes to be seated. Inside has a cozy atmosphere, and even though most seats were taken we could comfortably have a conversation. The food was served very quickly, and was great. I had the chicken salad sandwich and would order it again. Overall a good experience.

Penny Archibald

We received a recommendation for Chez Zee from personnel in my doctor's office. The restaurant was decorated in a fun & funky manner for Christmas. We enjoyed the abundance of twinkling lights. Our hostess was very warm & friendly. Our waitress was also friendly and very efficient. The menu offered a variety of dishes...it seemed to offer something for everyone. We chose the Wednesday luncheon special, Creamy Cheesey Enchiladas with black beans & Spanish rice. We had the option of our enchiladas being made with corn or flour tortillas. We chose corn and side salads, one Caesar, one Garden. Bread was served with seasoned olive oil. There was an array of desserts which we had to decline. We were very pleased with our experience and will patronize Chez Zee again.

Christin Cochran

Place had excellent food, staff was really nice and attentive as well.

Sameer Rao

Visited this old joint famous for American fare for brunch, ordered a biscuit and gravy which comes with two eggs to order and home potatoes, the eggs were perfect though they initially bought the wrong preparation but the service was excellent and efficient so he was apologetic, the biscuits were small sized and not soft to expectations. Ordered the creme brulee also which was excellent to taste. Got a take out of Tres Leche cake. Overall not a bad experience, would visit to try their extensive Benedict and Omelette variety. Price point is high, most Austin restaurants are pretty expensive when it comes to Brunch, guess it comes with the territory that people will pay the prices.

Jimmy Boggs

Great spot for brunch! They have amazing deserts as well. If you have an event that needs to be catered they have a separate place from the restaurant. Greg is amazing and pays attention to every little detail and will make you feel special.

Hokies Mama

I love this place. The atmosphere is awesome. Just so cozy. I love the string lights and piano playing. Very good date night place.

Luz Hernandez

I loved that the restaurant has a special menu written for my daughter's birthday party. The food is great and the service is awesome!

Doña Quixote

Quirky decor! Good food! The Austin Jazz Society holds concerts here. Come and see/hear/taste the reasons why.

Michael Christopher

this is a great place for date. we went the day before Valentine's. they specialize in dessert but everything is very good. An Austin original and well worth a visit. Soups are great and the steal was really good. we love it. i never take pics of food but I did here :)

Tracy Torbett

We brunched on 6/29/19 after some morning hiking. Valet parking was available if one wanted that service. The cute photo op spots on the porch welcomed us and the quirky, yet elegant decor continued inside. We had a cozy table conducive to great conversation. Our waitress was attentive and friendly and helped us customize our order. The pear mimosas were a wonderful compliment to our French toast and omelettes. The women’s bathroom was clean and convenient to the dining room and front entrance. Highly recommend Chez Zee!

Vaibhav Modi

Great service, great ambience, very friendly staff. And yes, the desserts are finger licking good!

Paula Gordon

Delicious and unique flare. Nice courtyard for visiting before or after dining. Reservations are recommended. I enjoyed the New Orleans Pecan Chicken. Save room for dessert or come here just for a dessert date.

Michael Nicosia

Great food. Not cheap, but definitely delicious. Pretty casual surroundings and very eclectic. Fun place.

Teddy Warner

Food, service and atmosphere are always great. Large menu with reasonabke prices.

Rk Bout

Awesome staff. Good food. Option for Valet parking. Order in advance for Holiday pies cuz they go very quickly. Great place for events also like bridal showers or engagement parties or meet-ups with friends. Brunch is a favorite. Let them know how they can accommodate you. Give them a call. Or walk in

Uno's Production

Great place. I recommend everyone to go!

Trish Marr

Great food, awesome cheesecake, excellent service!

Claire Cozzi

I LOVE this place! Always great service and food!

Faisal Hanafi

Great food. Good waiter. Front desk staff less than helpful when we asked if we could be moved when there was a table available. Disappointing

Alexa Sandford

I like how to have a reservation to go to this place. I love the food,drinks and desserts. I like the music and the magician.

meredith healey garraway

Really fantastic service paired with upscale casual food. Try the jalepeno cornbread chicken

Allie Rodgers

Went here for a birthday lunch with my coworkers. I've been here a few times and everyone has always been impressed with their lunch menu. Their desserts are delightful! And the lights and piano make it so cozy. 5 stars!!! Update: went again with my hubby. I had the Zee burger and he had the jalapeno pasta with beef. It was excellent. I'm a picky eater. So if I like it, that says something. I read the other views and was surprised to see people mentioned the food was bland. My food had tons of flavor.

Alisa Robinson

Love this place! Great food and no wait. Cornbread stuffed chicken- amazing, must try. 9/10 Lemon rosemary Trout- good, 6/10 Spinach and mushrooms side- good, a bit too oily for me, wouldn't get again. Coleslaw- tasty, mayo based, good tang to it 7/10

Stull Durham

Excellent food--our second time there. It's a bit noisy, so otherwise I'd give it 4 stars. But maybe you like the noise?

Business Hours of Chez Zee American Bistro in Texas

SUNDAY
9AM–9PM
MONDAY
11AM–10PM
TUESDAY
11AM–10PM
WEDNESDAY
11AM–10PM
THURSDAY
11AM–10PM
FRIDAY
11AM–11PM
SATURDAY
9AM–11PM

PHONE & WEBPAGE

Chez Zee American Bistro en Texas
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