I've always liked this cafe. The breakfasts have always been delicious, and the salads are very fresh. Food comes out in a reasonable amount of time, depending on the time of day. The menu over time has had some interesting changes. I have had some favorite items disappear (*tears*) but growth has to happen. read more

See all

I ordered the chimichurri mahi mahi which was delicious... the only problem I had was that they didn't text me that my order was ready... I saw when they put my food up for me to grab but the text came 15 minutes later. If I didn't go up and check my food would've been cold. So make sure you check and don't wait for the text!! The cafe has indoor benches to dine in... kinda like picnicking indoors I didn't see the outside.. but kinda reminded me of a bbq place... without the picnic tablecloth. read more

Central Market Cafe - Chimichurri Mahi Mahi with Jasmine rice - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

This Central Market Cafe has a really nice patio for some relaxing time in the sun. They sometimes have live music. Their food options are what you would expect at a grocery store cafe. They have a small menu with salads, sandwiches, burgers, and pizza. I got the roasted turkey club, which is an unnecessarily multi tiered sandwich with a side of fries. This was a solid meal and felt good on the stomach. They also have some pre-made sandwiches in the fridge that my friends got. read more

Central Market Cafe - Roasted turkey club - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

I was invited by friends to listen to Salsa music on Friday evening on the patio of the Central Market cafe. The salsa band was quite good with many folks dancing - couples, singles, families. The music was upbeat and engaging. That's the good news. The not so good news...the patio was jammed back with people and no place to sit. We managed to run into friends who allowed us to alternate sitting down and putting our purses down. We went in several time to get some food and drinks from the Central Market cafe to no avail. The lines were massively long, which was a deterrent from standing in the line. I ended up going into Central Market grocery store to purchase some items as it was much faster than standing in the long lines. Suggest Central Market cafe hire more staff when they are having entertainment on the patio. read more

Central Market Cafe - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is a very nice spot to grab a meal and enjoy some music. There's an outdoor stage and patio when the weather is nice, and they bring it inside cto the covered porch when it is not. They offer nice sandwiches and pizzas and salads, along with various seasonal specials. It sits right nest to the park, snd there are picnic tables and a playground for the kids. They have quite a variety of musical acts from country to blues to jazz, Food is reasonable, and not too pricey. Counter service is quick and efficient and the use text messages to let you know when your food is ready. They typically have 4-5 varieties of local beers on tap or you can grab beer or wine from the market section. read more

Groceries, live band, and good food? Sign me up! I always have a good experience when I come here. On Saturdays, they have a live band. There is plenty of seats outside and shade. There is also a walking trail at the back. The service is pretty efficient and doesn't take super long. I have been here for dinner and breakfast and the food is tasty. Lunch/Dinner : I love the burgers and fries. The burger is a very good quality. It isn't dry and is flavorful. It is a good value for the sizes. The fries are just fries, but they are good and nothing special. Breakfast: I got the French toast with fruit and breakfast potatoes. The French toast is amazing for the prices. You get three vs just one. The syrup was warm and tasty. The French toast was flavorful and not lacking. It was very well executed. The potatoes wouldve been amazing with a sprinkle of salt. The potatoes were cooked well but lacked flavor. Overall , quality meals for reasonable prices. Highly recommend. read more

See all

I like central market cafe a lot. Good and tasty food, always fresh, and I know for sure it is clean and up to health standards. The breakfast menu is simple but has everything basic in it, not too expensive. Coffee is always there, just grab and enjoy. I prefer this spot over any Whole Foods one. Especially because it's Texan. There are plenty seats outdoor, indoor, on the second floor, playground and clean bathrooms. read more

See all

Who doesn't love being able to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner when grocery shopping? I like that there are a lot of choices but not so many that it's overwhelming. The menu items I've had are as follows: Challah French Toast = YUM! Definitely not what you would expect at a grocery store cafe. That vanilla custard, OMG. Mediterranean Salad = This salad is so good and fresh, I could eat it on the daily. All fresh, typical ingredients, olives, lettuce, red onion, etc., served with hummus-topped pita. Cheese Pizza = What is that sauce? Because it is so good. I don't know if it's jarred or fresh-made, but either way, it is really flavorful. Fresh cheese, basil...pizza perfection. I've had sides like rice and fries that were good and not overcooked, a bonus in this kind of setting. read more

Central Market Cafe is a convenient and healthy spot for relatively cheap prices. I've been coming since I was in undergrad and the food never really disappoints. It is all counter service and a very chill atmosphere with a mix of indoor and outdoor self seating to just grab and go or eat there before grocery shopping. While I do miss the fish tacos, the newer menu items are a welcome addition to their menu. I would highly recommend trying their seasonal offerings as well as their sweet potato fries. The wet potato fries are the best I have ever had and they are not an up charge over regular fries. The cuban pork sandwich is a hearty option that is well balanced with rich and smoky pulled pork, plantains, black beans, and pickled red onions. Again, be sure to get the sweet potato fries as your side! We also got to try the seasonal lemon ricotta pizza. The pizza was a surprisingly delightful. The balance between the lemon infused ricotta and fatty prosciutto was nicely brought together with a hint of red pepper flakes and a very, very crispy cracker like crust. Overall, this is a must try if you're ever in a pinch or are looking for something light and healthy without breaking the bank. The Central Market Cafe can also be a good option for indecisive groups as their diverse menu can cater to many different tastes. read more

Central Market Cafe - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Nice seating area on the side of the store that was kept clean and plenty to space to move around without bumping into someone while attempting to navigate with grocery bags. Seating area outside if the the weather is nice to enjoy read more

Ordered the CM burger ($12.50) and kids burger ($7.50), added cheese to both ( it's extra for cheese) and it was probably one of the driest burgers I have ever eaten in my life. Also it took almost 20 minutes to get our order which was wild to me. Save yourself a trip and just get P Terrys down the street which is not only the same quality but faster, cheaper and way way tastier). read more

We're longtime fans of Central Market in Dallas and Fort Worth, but this Austin café was a huge disappointment. I ordered a sandwich and was met with curt responses and no flexibility, which was fine but then I overheard staff in the back complaining about our order and even mocking my husband's outfit when he picked up the food. Completely unprofessional and unwelcoming. We left feeling uncomfortable and disrespected, which is the opposite of the experience we've always had at other locations. read more

It's been about a year since the last time I ate here. There never really is anything to complain about other than when they run out of my wife's favorite, their hibiscus mint tea, or when the live music on the patio is too loud. Other than that, this is a place I have been going to forever and it just gets better all the time. Lucky me, it is June, and that means special taste of Texas month at this location. The wife went with her go to standard Salmon salad. They do a great job with the salmon, but no surprise. If you shop the store, and visit their pre-cooked section, you'll see tons of grilled salmon. They must have a direct quantum worm hole portal between Alaska and Austin, considering all the salmon they cook and sell every single day of the year. I honestly didn't believe there was that much salmon on earth! Onto the taste of Texas. They added a special menu on the wall, which I forgot to take picture of, will try and do that next trip to the market. It included BBQ brisket pizza, and other great TexMex foods. We went with the grilled goat cheese melt with chicken and the Campechana tostadas. The goat cheese melt was fantastic. Grilled chicken seasoned just right with nice medley of spices, on various pickled veggies, arugala, and smothered in goat cheese. Sit that between two famous nicely toasted Central Market ciabatta rolls and you are in Yum heaven. Mmmm, Yum! The Campechana wasn't bad. Came with shrimp and blue crab laid on top of avacado, tomatos, grilled chilles, and onions. We couldn't find the crab, but no big deal. My wife used to work here, and she laughed saying sometimes they call it something, but it is not actually what they say it is. Guess it was the famous unicorn crab. You hear about it, look for it, but just seem to never find it. Either way the tostadas were very crispy and the topping fresh and tasty. It came with large salad which was a nice add. Will definitely be back this week to try the pizza and some of the other Taste of Texas menu and grocery items. read more

See all

This place has gone a bit downhill since Covid. Everything comes out in plastic. The menu is unimaginative and rarely changes unless they drop popular items like even a basic omelet. Now it's just pre-made tacos. Could use an overall upgrade. read more

Central Market: My go-to for fresh veggies, top meats, frozen pizzas, and great cheeses!

Today I came in for Wagyu and decided to hit up both the meat market and deli for variety. I got great tips on how to cook the Wagyu from the guy at the counter (wish I've gotten his name but I'm too short to see over the counter). At the deli Robert was very good at pairing and allowing me to try the options they had. He recommended a sirloin with a Swiss. I ended up getting those with a Wagyu by the slice. All were delicious. Clean store! Central Market is always good for that. I love HEB! Thank you guys! read more

Love coming here - whether it be for a meal or to study or just to delay going home after grocery shopping - the atmosphere is just a nice place to sit. The patio is so welcoming, it's truly a happy place. You can't really go wrong with anything on their menu - everything is very high quality, really fresh ingredients. The salmon burger, I would recommend. The salmon is very tender and pairs very well with the avocado and seaweed. I have never had salmon and seaweed together before but decently surprised! The fruit is not as sad as I have seen most fruit sides, but it was kind of lackluster. Would recommend to anyone! Great place to come :) read more

Central Market Cafe - salmon burger and a side of fruit - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Not sure about the cafe. My main issue is with their salad bar. I have certain dietary restrictions and I do wish that CM would list the ingredients used in some of their food. I can't do olive oil and have found out the hard way which of their salad bar items, and the Deli items as well, are prepped using olive oil. Whole Foods lists the ingredients they use and I wish CM would do so too. read more

Pretty standard cafe food there's something for everyone. Different types of sandwiches, salads, and even pizzas. You order at the counter and they text you when your order is ready. The inside is what you would expect from a grocery store cafe. Lots of seating. There's even covered and uncovered patio seating outside. What makes this place special is the live music that's often playing outside. As for the food, it's just ok. Last time, I got the salmon burger and I didn't really finish it because it was too fishy. But that's always the risk with ordering fish at these type of places. read more

This place needs an overhaul. The menu is unimaginative and rarely changes and they are still serving bland meals in distasteful, bad for the environment plastic containers eve well after covid. HEB needs to step it up here. read more

Central Market - the Supermarket - is one of the great places to go grocery shopping in Austin. Given that Whole Foods kind of fell apart after Amazon bought them out - Central Market is pretty much the best grocery shopping in town. Alter that slightly if your shopping list requires 38 esoteric items from an ethnic specialty supplier. But if what you are cooking tonight is USA All the Way - then Central Market is the place to go. No one else can really compete. (That means YOU, Randall's and Trader Joe's.) No one else can really compete. * * * The Central Market Cafe is another story. In the old days - the status report on Central Market Cafe was a) gorgeous patio b) mediocre cooking c) overpriced cooking d) terrible bands on the bandstand. But the patio really IS gorgeous. So we learned to put up with a lot. * * * So how did you make the most of this beauty in the Old Days? I. You studiously avoided music days. The music schedule warned you when not to come. II. Instead of ordering from the cafe - you got goodies from the supermarket itself. The prepared food stand had and has food to die for. There are lots of grab and gos all over the store. With cleverness, you could put together the picnic of your dreams - check out through the cash register - bring the goodies on to the patio - and eat like a king. * * * What's the current update? You still have to avoid music days. They continue to book awful bands. But the kitchen at the Cafe itself has improved a lot. You can actually order cafe food and it will be pretty good. It will be fairly priced for what you get. The picnic option from the grocery shelves is still an option - and still a very good option. You can make your own antipasto from the deli counter worth dying for - along with all of the trimmings like olives, scallions and feta cheese. You can get their killer meatloaf from the premade counter - get some grilled vegetables to go with it - add a fancy soft drink or a hard to find energy drink and eat better than you can eat in most restaurants on Lamar. But the actual kitchen now cooks hot food that is pretty superior. So you can just order lunch if you don't want to do a major shopping expedition first. * * * The most recent fine dish was a great great chicken breast sandwich - With a gigantic thick perfectly sauteed chicken breast, Nine hundred thousand interesting garnishes, and A decent side of fries. There were so many garnishes it hid the taste of what was actually a distinguished and noteworthy chicken breast. But the whole concoction chowed down at once was still pretty good. With no awful band on the stage, there was no reason not to hang out, enjoy the foliage and the architecture, and get mellow on one of the best porches in town. Which is exactly what I did. * * * P.S. Just for the record. .... In case you are interested ... You don't absolutely positively HAVE to put all the garnishes on your chicken breast sandwich. In theory, you COULD pull out the micro-sliced purple onions and put them on the french fries instead. Sliced onions on french fries are some good. Just sayin' read more

This place is awesome! But since they took the Asian Chicken wraps off of the menu, I'm pretty pissed off. As soon as they can rectify the situation, then I'd be more than happy to return to listen to some tunes. read more

I had their biscuit and gravy the other day! It was so good! The biscuit was soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. I had a HUGE sausage patty on top and just smothered in gravy. It was so tasty. I am going to get it every time now! read more

They have a new and improved deck. They pared down the menu, & the rotating specials don't seem to rotate. But they still have the delicious steak salad, and their new buffalo tender wrap SLAMS. I'm *always* here eating food. read more

If you want a quick and highly decent breakfast, stop at the Central Market. Very friendly prices and excellent service. The biscuits and gravy are especially good. Everything tasted fresh even though I am sure that the gravy was a pre-mix variety. That's fine, probably 90% of restaurants do the same thing and then add butter or other flavoring. read more

Pretty solid spot for food! I got the Alabama White Grilled Chicken Club which was one of their chef specials. It came with a large piece of chicken and bacon, along with a heaping amount of coleslaw. There was a good amount of fries served on the side as well. The fries were nothing special, if anything, I needed ketchup as the herb seasoning didn't provide enough flavor to the fries. The sandwich was delicious and tender. Overall, not a bad place or price for the amount of food served. read more

Central Market Cafe - Alabama White Chicken Club - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Really nice place to grab a meal before you shop for groceries. Its not the cheapest but the quality and quantity of the food is well warranted. The chicken sandwich here is dope and really juicy! Better than a bunch of resturants! I'll definitely be eating here more when I swing by for groceries. read more

Central Market Cafe - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Easily the best food I've had at a market cafe. It's probably because these places exist to showcase the food and products available at said supermarket. Table 620, the cafe attached to the HEB near Lakeway is a pale shade of this place (I believe I gave it 2 or 3 stars) by comparison. The pair of chicken tacos were superb - Each one was a triple layer of corn tortillas stuffed with huge chunks of roasted chicken and around 1/4 of an avocado. Not particularly spicy, but extremely fresh and clean-tasting. Even better was the classic traditional cheese pizza, served with a flavorful slice of tomato on each slice and a crunchy bit of cornmeal on the bottom. On a side note, kudos to the cafe staff for a) having Maine Root soda on tap...and also offering glasses of a surprisingly good Riesling! Service was fast (granted I was not there during the rush hour), reasonably friendly, and something of a bargain considering what I got. This place scores a 5 out of 5 on the 'CTJ Scale', as noted below. 5 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Jesus good. Would be OK passing away after finishing a plate here. 4 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Mary good. Would be OK being seen eating here by Mother Mary. 3 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Joseph good. Would be OK having a beer here with Jesus' Dad. 2 out of 5 stars: Come-to-the-Apostles good. Meh. Wouldn't have my last supper here. 1 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Nobody good. I wouldn't have my penultimate supper here, either. read more

Central Market Cafe - Pair of excellent chicken tacos! - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Much better than Wholefoods . Cleanliness, service & variety is superior. Cafe area is large. Wonderful to sit, relax eating healthy food. read more

Solid choice for dinner. They have a set menu plus a couple of daily/seasonal(?) specials. When I went last week, I got the burger special whose defining feature was a thick slice of fried mozzarella. It was yummy, huge, and filling. The fries were very garlicky which could be a good thing, but the flavor was a bit too strong for my taste. I've gone multiple times in the past and have never been disappointed. read more

Central Market Cafe - Burger special and fries - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

I was disappointed with my breakfast this morning. My two egg, cheese and bacon tacos arrived cold. I sent them back and the replacement arrived semi warm. The chef is making cold tortillas with cold cheese, steam table scrambled eggs and pre-cooked bacon. This is not the way to make restaurant tacos and not the way this very cafe used to make them. read more

Kids eat free on Lamar on Tuesdays 5-9 pm! Wish the menu was bigger, their food is great. The kids live the playground. Have been coming here since I was young, so it's nice and nostalgic. read more

Central Market Cafe - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Like Kerby Lane Cafe or the bats at Congress, the Central Market Cafe on Lamar has always been there. They now incorporate live music on their outside patio area. For a more quiter cafe experience, head up the stair at the front entrance to the upper deck. This cafe is a favorite of both rambunctious kids and studious writers. I got the cheese burger this time around. I've tried MANY of the items on their menu over the years. I don't see why they wouldn't use the same quality meat and other ingredients that they sell in store. The burgers are thick and just the right amount of juicy. Non-greasy sweet potato fries and crispy, fresh veggies take this taste quality to star level. Self service concept, where you grab your own food at the counter. I love the relaxed, summertime feel of this cafe. Don't forget the gelato!! read more

Central Market Cafe - Burger with fixings and sweet potato fries - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

They have changed their fries and these were terrible, soggy and cold. The bun on my chicken sandwich was smashed also cold and the kind of meat you could buy frozen at a big box store. Very disappointing and not the Central Market it used to be. read more

Love central market and I'm sure the food here is good, but I know I ordered the wrong thing so I will give it 3 stars for the food and 4 stars for the atmosphere and service overall. I ordered the roasted veggie sandwich which actually came in between two burger buns rather than sandwich bread. The sandwich buns made the sandwich more difficult to eat and was a lot more starchy that regular bread because all the contents of the sandwich kept falling out. This was the weirdest sandwich and most poorly constructed sandwich I have ever eaten even though it tasted good! There were grilled squash, artichokes, tomatoes, and arugula in the sandwich but they were all sliced in cubes and there was nothing to hold the ingredients together so when I took a bit of the sandwich, everything came tumbling out. It says there is fontina cheese but there was barely any in my sandwich. Melted fontina cheese probably would have helped with binding the cubed vegetables together. I was basically eating a side of grilled vegetables slabbed in between burger buns. Wasn't a huge fan of it. The sweet potato fries were good though!! $8 for the sandwich is decently priced but maybe I should have just gotten a veggie burger instead... read more

Central Market Cafe - Roasted veggie sandwich- $8 - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

After a rather unpleasant visit with my cardiologist, I wanted to have lunch outdoors since it was a gloriously gorgeous day. I ordered the Roasted Salmon & Quinoa, roasted salmon served with stir-fried quinoa and seasonal veggies in a light orange sesame sauce plus a side caesar salad and of course, a nice Pinot Grigio paired well with all. It was very therapeutic to sit out on the deck and savor my lunch, however, I'll see if they can grill the salmon next time as the roasted salmon was a bit too dry for my liking. And one big tip is to sit far away from the station where one leaves their dishes after their meal. The black birds love to speed fly in to feed off of anything left on the plates and in the bowls. read more

Visited for the 1st time. Ordered pasta w salmon from the cafe and picked up some bread, salad, and delicious freshly made cookies from the market to sit outside to enjoy live music on their outdoor deck. There is a fun playground for children too and a park next to it. I wish markets near me have the same setup. read more

Central Market Cafe - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Nothing gluten free - no bread, pasta, pizza crusts. Interesting.....for a "speciality cafe"

I go here more often than I like for many reasons. Meet-ups with college and when kids were little, the playground or to wait for mom's medical appointments next door. I love shopping here but it's food is hit or miss. However certain things aren't bad. Their burgers and fries or chicken sandwiches can't be done too wrong. One time the chicken was sort of dry and burger not done but lately it hasn't been bad at all. Plus recently I have had the chance to try out their breakfasts a lot because of morning meetings here and it's not bad at all. Their breakfast tacos are cheap at less than $3 and huge, greasy at times but filled with lots of eggs. Salsa not bad. This last time I had a croissant breakfast egg tomato sandwich and wow it's huge. Egg overflowing. It comes with a small container of fruit too. I liked it a lot. It was $6 not too bad at all. If I prefer lighter breakfasts, I have gotten a muffin by the coffee area. Its a bit pricy for a muffin but when made fresh, it's good. Pleasantly surprised and wouldn't mind regetting it next time I am here. I like how there's ample seating upstairs or below and noise level just right. And if I need something to take home, the store is right there. Definitely a go to place! read more

See all

This place has really gone downhill. It's dirty and the cashiers are rude. I'm done.