Five-Million-Star Vibes at Caroline If I could bottle the magic of my first visit to Caroline on 7th & Congress, I'd wear it like a signature scent......truly bold, unforgettable, and absolutely divine. From the moment I walked in, the energy was electric. The greeting? Warm and welcoming. The atmosphere? Straight-up banging~~~~~think downtown chic meets effortless cool. Now let's talk food: exquisite doesn't even begin to cover it. Every bite was a love letter to flavor **** rich, balanced, and plated like edible art. The creamy pasta dish? To die for. The vibrant salads? Fresh, fierce, and fabulous. Whoever's running the kitchen deserves a standing ovation and a key to the city. Service? On-point with a capital P. Attentive without hovering, friendly without being fake, and timed like a well-rehearsed symphony. From the champagne to the check, it was smooth sailing with sparkle. I'm already planning my return ***** heels, appetite, and high expectations in tow. Caroline isn't just a restaurant; it's a whole mood. Highly recommend for anyone who loves their dining experience served with style, sass, and a side of downtown dazzle. read more

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I must say I don't commonly come across deviled eggs on a menu thus had to try. Verdict - mind blown! Spicy aioli underneath perfect executed eggs. If I can back here for nothing else, it would be those eggs. Moving on. Eggplant BLT - nice size sandwich, large sizes of heirloom tomato, thin slices of eggplant with some sort of sauce. Tad on the ok nothing exciting part Chicken enchiladas- generous portion. Tomatillo sauce is very smooth and flavorful, carries that brightness in both color and flavor. Nice little assortment of vegetables on top When it comes to service, prompt. Polite. Couldn't be better. Now finding the bathroom is a challenge, take the elevator the stairs are confusing and enjoy! read more

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Caroline is a SUPER CUTE restaurant in downtown Austin. The location is perfect and they have an upstairs that we waited at as we were on the waitlist (about a 30 min wait). It was packed once we got there so I was excited to try the food. I tried the Wild Mushroom Bolognese (rigatoni gigante, shaved parmesan, baby basil) which I got because it was recommended so much on Yelp! The pasta was cooked perfectly but the sauce was SO SALTY. I honestly came in thinking I would have to add salt to it but boy was I wrong. I probably drank 6 glasses of water just so I could eat it - the waiter was probably annoyed because I kept asking for water. It had a lot of potential but the saltiness was too overpowering. Unfortunately, at the price point of $23, it was not worth it. The brunch menu looked delicious tho so maybe it'll be more of a brunch spot in the future! read more

Caroline - Mild mushroom bolognese - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Good coffee. Wasn't a fan of the chocolate croissant (too sweet and not crispy). Nice service. I enjoyed my food and drinks on the patio while people watching read more

Caroline - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

We came back to Caroline this time for brunch after the Austin Marathon. I was very happy with my chicken and waffles. The waffles were crispy without being dry. The chicken was juicy and chunky. The breakfast burrito was delicious too. It was the perfect post run fuel. Biz gave us excellent service! The interior is modern and fun. I'm grateful we returned and had a great experience! read more

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This was one of the most insulting and infuriating experiences I've ever had at a restaurant. The host clearly assumed we were clueless and could be pushed around. We told the host very clearly that we had a flight to catch and needed to be seated as soon as possible. There were four of us, and the host insisted we "must wait 15 minutes." Fine -- we tried to be patient. But the moment we stepped outside and came back less than a minute later asking whether two of us could sit separately just to save time, suddenly a table became "available right away." And unbelievably, the table they took us to was a 4-person table that had obviously been empty the entire time. The host wasn't just being unprofessional -- they were being blatantly deceptive, wasting our time on purpose even after we explained we were on a tight schedule and trying to make a flight. This kind of behavior shows a complete lack of integrity, zero respect for customers, and absolutely no sense of responsibility. It is impossible to trust a restaurant that treats people this way. read more

Caroline - Sign - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We try to eat breakfast or brunch here whenever we are staying in Austin. Today was no exception. I had the Sweet Corn Cake Benedict. Absolutely decadent. The presentation was eye candy worthy. The portion was just enough to be full but not miserably full. My husband had the ham and cheese omelet. The restaurant is always busy and the wait time can be long. However, the bar has open seating and full service. Needless to say that is where we sat today. The staff is very welcoming. We appreciate that they have military discount. Thank you Caroline for honoring and supporting the military families. read more

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The food here was amazing!! I added a lime squeeze ‍ to every taco and wow wow wow it was delicious! I would definitely come here again. And the service was great. The games on each table (roof top) was perfect. The ambiance was lovely. Thank you for an amazing experience. read more

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We loved this spot. We came on a week day for Brunch. There was lots of availability. The breakfast potatoes were amazing. The food overall was great. Our server Aaron was exceptional! He was super friendly, attentive and shared lots of tips for our trip to Austin and San Antonio. Really good coffee here. read more

Caroline - Ham & Cheddar Omelet - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Not really sure a better place to get a late night meal in Austin (or really anywhere) than Caroline. If you've hit up the Mothership (like I did on my trip) or jumped from a couple bars and want a high quality meal, walk your way over to Caroline. I was in and out in about 20 minutes, and my mushroom bolognese was absolutely delicious. I would love to come back for a longer, more formal dinner here, but for an 11pm meal right before going to bed, Caroline is the best option you'll find. read more

Caroline - Wild Mushroom bolognese - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

The service here is tremendous! Twenty of us came for Sunday brunch, a time when you cannot make a reservation, and they were able to accommodate us on two tables (after a wait, of course). That's not remarkable, necessarily; what I found nice was that despite flooding the restaurant with our crowd, the hosts were composed, amiable, and were immediately willing to find a way to help us. I've been to many places where a host would not have been so chill in this situation. Our server was friendly, and the food was prepared in a reasonable time. Everyone was very happy with what they ordered. The whipped ricotta pancakes were fluffy, and the added fresh fruit was delicious. The sweet corn cake Benedict was a hit at the table! The marshmallow latte was quite a treat--just like other reviewers say. Only two of us ordered it, and everyone else had marshmallow envy. It's a must try! Now that I've enjoyed brunch, I'd like to return at regular dining times to explore some other meal offerings. read more

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We checked out Caroline for breakfast on a weekday, and it was a cute place. The atmosphere was really relaxed and felt like you could hang out for a while. Mari was our server, and she was absolutely lovely! She gave us some suggestions and was very attentive. Our food was delicious and came out pretty quick too! Definitely recommend coming here for breakfast! read more

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The service was impeccable and the food was spot on. We had the eggs Benedict, breakfast burrito and bloody Mary's

I came with two of my friends for brunch. This place was below average. I got the steak sandwich which was like maybe 2-3 pcs of small steak in the sandwich it was mostly bread and greens. No flavor. The Cesar salad looked old. Arugula in the Cesar salad was also weird but it was wilted and lettuce was brown and croutons tasted stale. The corn dip is good but it's so tiny they give way more chips than actual dip. I also got a drink broken and split on me by a waiter walking by obviously an accident but they didn't seem too concerned. Wouldn't come again read more

Great service!!! Excellent food and as requested made my omelette perfect!!! Thanks again.

The doorman at the W Austin recommended Caroline to us because he had heard it was a good brunch spot. Entering the restaurant, we see it's a contemporary style with ferns hanging and a beautiful open kitchen. Very clean and very busy! We waited about 2 minutes for them to clear our table, and our server, Mari, quickly greeted us with a huge smile. I asked what was popular and she said the omelets, but also said her fav is the Huevos Rancheros. I asked about the biscuits and gravy and she said customers are about 50/50 with reviews. I took the chance with them, and my W ordered the Huevos Rancheros. We both ordered the marshmallow latte with almond milk, and fresh berries. The Huevos Rancheros did not disappoint! W gobbled them down in record time! The biscuits and gravy were good, but I've definitely had better. The biscuits were a little heavy, but I did like the crunchy edges. The eggs were very good and also liked the crispy edges. For me, I prefer a sage-forward sausage, and the chicken sausage used is more on the sweet side, and there was a lot of sausage cut in large chunks. Again, my preference is for smaller bits, but some people may like the larger cuts. But I loved the texture of the gravy overall when I pushed the sausage to the side. The bowl of berries were a combo of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. It's off-season, but they were all sweet and yummy. Now the lattes--soooo delish! I'm telling my local coffee shop about these. It's like an adult hot chocolate with lots of lightly torched marshmallows. Mari was attentive and friendly through our entire meal, and the supervisor came by and asked how everything was for us. That's always a good sign especially when the restaurant is packed and busy! If we lived in Austin, I'd come back for sure! Would love to try lunch and dinner. read more

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The ambience is pretty nice here with comfy chairs near the bar. The host is a bit more transactional than friendly. He took a while preparing another large group but didn't acknowledge us at all and we almost just decided to leave before he finally came over and asked "how many?" The burly waiter who walked over to serve us from the bar is really friendly and attentive though. On to the food! Wild mushroom bolognese - rigatoni gigante, shaved parmesan, baby basil This dish came out piping hot and cheesy. It is not as creamy and thick as I'd like but the mushroom flavor really stood out and made up for it. I do wish they added some more meat to this though. Overall portion size is good and filling. Mahi Tacos - iceberg, guacamole, pico de gallo & baja sauce Two big tacos and very generous thick pieces of delicious fish. Flavor is on point and the street tacos that came with it is one of the best I've tried. read more

Caroline - Wild mushroom bolognese - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

The cinnamon roll was good but breakfast overall was bland and expensive. I'm not sure how you make a burger bland...

We were looking for a brunch spot in downtown Austin for a larger group and came here! They got a table ready for us with hardly any wait. We came late in the afternoon, so they weren't very busy. There are a lot of fun drinks on their menu, I got the marshmallow latte which I really liked! Plenty of marshmallows for toppings but the drink itself wasn't overly sweet. We were bummed to hear that they were out of their cinnamon rolls, we wanted to share some for the table. I got the Huevos rancheros for my meal and loved it! The salsa had a nice level of spice and every bite tasted fresh and flavorful. Serving size was just right. My husband got the biscuits and gravy which came with chicken sausage gravy. He was a bit surprised by the gravy but still thought it was good! Some others in our group weren't very impressed with their food, saying it tasted pretty average to them. Our servers came by to check on us regularly, drinks were refilled in a timely manner, and the wait for food wasn't very long despite having a larger group. A lot can go wrong when out to eat with a big group, but I'd say things went pretty smoothly here and we had a nice experience overall! read more

Caroline - Marshmallow latte - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The service was amazing. Loved the Street corn bennies. I actually crave them and have been looking for something similar near me. If I ever get back to Austin, I will definitely stop by. read more

We ordered the "fork and knife" cinnamon roll and it was just two cold tiny cinnamon rolls from the bakery next to the restaurant. My partner ordered the steak and eggs and it was the smallest steak of all time. Food was also a bit cold. It's a fine brunch place but I don't think the reviews should be very high. Staff seemed to be having a meeting for about 15 minutes during peak brunch hours. Would not go back. read more

Fantastic collection of what makes Austin great. The collections Caroline, Coffeehouse at Caroline, & Upstairs at Caroline. Each offer their unique flavor and all together are a culmination of rich decor, eclectic atmosphere, fine dining, and laid back culture to be a perfect spot for a quick bite, and intimate date, girls night, or a family dinner. Its also pet friendly ans when the weather is great, a perfect place to gather. Ive had both brunch & dinner here & honestly I couldn't find a fault in anything I've ordered. Biscuits & Gravy are a staple & you know how us Southern gals are particular about our B&G. These are fluffy but filling and rhe sawmill type gravy is great! I splash a lil' hot sauce in mine but that's just me. For dinner try the deviled eggs, or watermelon gazpacho omg. Flavorful is an understatement. Ive gotten to try the wild mushroom bolognese, & the misa glazed salmon and both were perfection. Id love to go back and try a cocktail or their stellar bar. When we've gone its been packed. This is definitely a have to stop place everytime im in Austin. Gorgeous! read more

Ambiance: Upscale eatery in downtown Austin perfect for any occasion, lunch, or dinner! I went here with a friend to celebrate her birthday - the staff was friendly & service was fast. Their quinoa bowl is literally the best quinoa bowl I've ever had (and I used to be 100% vegan so I've had some quinoa bowls in my life!). I get it nearly every time I'm visiting Austin. Highly recommend ordering it! They have several vegan/vegetarian options as well as a diverse menu for all flavors & preferences. Great wine list & cocktails. The deviled eggs were amazing and their strawberry cake for dessert hit the spot. I highly recommend Caroline - good pricing & ambiance! read more

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The food is overpriced. The ambience sucks. It is deafeningly loud. Went to dinner with a small group of friends and could not hear each other, sitting 1 foot apart. Leaving the restaurant with a splitting headache. Ate about 20% of the dinner... Because the food was terrible. Steak, undercooked, and still somehow tough as leather. Cocktails watered down. Save your money and go somewhere in Austin with better service and a better environment. read more

Came for drinks. Atmosphere is fun. Inside/outside seating. Festive. Just had beer, which was pricey, but sort of expected downtown. Trendy, young people spot. read more

Came here while on a visit to Austin. My take on this place: One of those trendy places that probably has some great dishes along with some that are so-so as well as some that are plain rip off. Guess what category we fell under? I'll make it quick. Whatever you, Do Not pick the poke tacos. You get four micro taco looking things that are barely bite size. No kidding! Each one is barely bite size and they're $18. Each bite is nowhere worth more than $4 per bite--LOL! See my pics and compare to my wife's fingers and my fingers. I am reading the reviews after the fact and see that others have said the same thing so management is aware if this from at least 2 years ago. Almost as bad a rip off is the Avocado Toast. Tasty but I've had much better. Underwhelming, but not nearly as much as the Poke Tacos. Very disappointed Caroline! read more

Caroline - One of the four Poke Tacos you get for $18. 1/8 the size of a typical mini taco you would get for $5 at a taco stand. - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

Caroline was a last-minute decision for our Monday morning brunch, and it turned out to be a great one. We arrived around 10:30 and quickly got a table outside. The temperature hadn't quite hit 90 yet, but with the fans and a gentle breeze, it was comfortable and relaxing. The atmosphere was super cute, though I will say the only downside was that the bathrooms are located upstairs. Their menu offered a variety of fresh juices that I couldn't pass up. I ordered a lean green juice, which was refreshing, and for my meal, I opted for the huevos rancheros with scrambled eggs, on the recommendation of our waitress. I hadn't been considering it at first, but I'm glad I did--it was delicious. Overall, it was a great brunch spot, and I'm already looking forward to returning, maybe for a different dish or one of their tempting pastries. read more

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Recommend coming for brunch. Breakfast sandwiches are bigger than what we expected! They are also served with delicious potatoes! ***Make sure to check their menu online to see when specific items are served*** Friendly service and beautifully atmosphere! read more

Caroline - Everything Sandwich $16.00 over easy egg, everything cream cheese, peppered bacon, baby arugula - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I saw the rave reviews, and I was looking forward to trying brunch at Caroline. The Marshmallow Latte was a unique beverage that I was happy to have ordered. The Whipped Ricotta Pancakes were tasty, hot, and fresh. I also had a bowl of yogurt to go with my meal. I was impressed by how quickly we received everything that we had ordered. We were in and out of the restaurant in hardly no time at all. Caroline is also surrounded by a bunch of other fun shops and places within walking distance. It's just a short walk to the Texas Capitol, and there is plenty more to do in the area. read more

Caroline - Marshmallow Latte - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Checked out Caroline's on Thanksgiving day. Very cute place with games like chess, Jenga, pool and cornhole. Small bar with plenty of TVs, comfortable seating with pillows. Part of the attraction is a partial outside seating. Nicely decorated with Christmas theme, loved it! Recommend. read more

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Overall: 8/10 Food: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Ambiance: 9/10 Value: 8/10 A really good, nice, friendly place. Food is fresh and tasty. The Caesar could use a bit more dressing. The inside is modern and quaint. Love the music mix. Brunch was fun! Super popular place so plan accordingly during high times. read more

Caroline - Corn dip - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Based on the reviews we had high expectations but we were very disappointed. We came for the biscuits and gravy only to find out they are available only for weekend brunch. Breakfast potatoes under cooked, steak burnt on the outside, toast was cold and hard like the butter. Only bright spot was tue service. read more

The food and service were both fantastic. Our waiter was Austin P and he was very kind and knowledgeable and gave stellar recommendations on what to order based on your likes etc. I had the Fall Spiced Old Fashioned that was just the right balance of sweet and bitter with a bit of a fall twist. The Charred Short Rib with the cheesy cauliflower grits was outstanding. The side salad was good as well, albeit a tad salty. I finished my plate before everybody else so that's a testament to how good it was because I tend to be a slow eater. And to end the night, got Gooey Butter Cake. This original Midwestern girl was delighted that it was a menu option and it was so dang good! I will be back for sure! read more

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I was excited for this place but it ended up being average. The service was off - after an intro and providing us water, our server disappeared for 15+ minutes. Then we had to decide all of our food at once (apps, salad, entrees). The green goddess salad was amazing. I wish I would have ordered that as my main dish. We also tried the deviled eggs. Average. I ordered the miso glazed salmon, the glaze wasn't strong. We did order desserts and fair warning, they do not hold back here! The peanuts butter pie is a solid 5 inches of PB on a very hard (but balancing) Oreo crust. The butter cake was also very sweet. I would suggest eating inside if you want ambiance. We ate outside and the scenery was "interesting." All together, it was ok but in a foodie city like Austin, I wouldn't go back. read more

Came here for a birthday celebration and the food was good, but the surroundings were incredibly noisy which made it difficult to enjoy the dining experience. The ahi tuna poke taco appetizer was the best (wish it would have been a larger portion)! The chicken schnitzel was tasty and paired well with the shaved fennel and green bean salad but it felt like it was missing something and an accompanying starch or carb would have completed the meal. The birthday dessert cookie was a nice finish. Service felt rushed and somewhat impersonal. read more

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I came in from out of town and really enjoyed Caroline! I ordered the Sweet corn cake benedict and thought it was delicious, I just wish there was more! Service was average, wait time was good for a saturday morning! I enjoyed the ambush ambiance too. read more

Caroline - Sweet corn cake Benedict - Bakeries Near Me - Austin, Texas

The front host provided a very poor experience. When we arrived, we were told no tables were available, even though I noticed several empty high-tops at the bar. When I asked about them, the host said we could only sit at one specific table in the aisle, while the others were "reserved" with at least a 45-minute wait. Trusting his word, we sat where he directed us. More than an hour later, those "reserved" tables were still completely empty. I don't appreciate being misled. The food itself was mediocre, and service was inattentive--I even had to request another drink after mine had been empty for some time. Overall, a very disappointing experience. I won't be returning. read more

This place is super convenient when starting at the aloft. I got in late the first night and ordered take away. I went down to pick it up and brought it back to my room. I got the green goddess with salmon and the beet and citrus salad. Both were good, but very small portions. The beet came with an abundance of dressing and the green goddess needed more. Well, I had dinner with a friend the following night there, and she got the green goddess and I did another salad with salmon. The salads were 2-3x the size. The salmon was burnt. I knocked down 2 stars for inconsistencies in both portion and cooking. read more

This review is for the Coffee house at Caroline's & NOT the restaurant. Nice location but very disappointing food. How OLD were the FEW pastries that were in the display case at 9:00AM on a Tuesday? Had they been setting in the case over the weekend? Those we tried were totally dry & unpleasant & far past their prime. Would definitely not return to the Cofeehouse, but may try the restaurant since it receives such positive reviews. read more

We went into this reservation with high expectations after hearing great things about this restaurant. The evening started off well -- the appetizer was good, though nothing particularly memorable. Unfortunately, after that point, the experience went downhill. This was a five-course meal that took over two hours to complete. I had to extend my parking three separate times because of how long everything was taking. What made it even more frustrating was watching tables that were seated 30 minutes after us receive their meals and leave well before we did. There were long, unexplained gaps between each course. When we asked about our food, we were repeatedly told it would be coming out "soon," yet we continued waiting for extended periods. The pacing felt disorganized and poorly managed. The food itself was also disappointing. The lamb entrée was mostly fat with very little actual meat. The tomato soup was extremely salty -- we could barely eat it. For a restaurant offering a five-course experience at this price point, the quality did not match the expectation. To top it off, a 20% gratuity was automatically added to the bill despite the slow service and overall experience. It's frustrating to be charged a mandatory tip when the service did not reflect that level of hospitality. Overall, the cost was far too high for the quality of food and service we received. I'm not sure if this was an off night, but based on this first experience, I would not recommend it to others. read more