I booked this place for my birthday on one of the coldest nights of 2017, Friday the 6th! With my indecisive friends the guest list immediately bubbled up to about 14 people (cause everyone has to bring their bae). So seating is limited here and in the case you need a table for 14 on a friday night it is hard to come by especially when talking to the hosts. So i booked a table for 12 and a table that sat 4 for the remaining 2 people...which was a hassle. When we got to the place at 8 there was definitely enough seating for 14 people at our table and the waiter was kind enough to make sure that we could all sit together. Aside from the seating situation the ambiance, food, and cocktails are all on point! Even the jazz band was amazing! It's a tapas type dinning menu so be prepared to order a lot if you are super hungry. What we ordered was the: chicken liver mousse tart- it was beautiful and different, you definitely taste the liver but it has an interesting texture paired with fruit and on a tart instead of your general bread pairing Goat tartare- i recommend not waiting too long to eat it since the cracker on the bottom tends to get soggy, it was okay but not my favorite due to a bit too much salt Jalepeno Short Rib- these are super tender and flavorful, probably my favorite item of the night As for dessert i'm not entirely sure what my boyfriend ordered but i believe one was the lemon desert with a beautiful sugar disc on top, the desert was super light and probably my favorite. The other desert was some sort of brownie with ice cream which is very decadent but also has the right amount of sweetness, not too little or too much. The service is great, the cocktails and food, and the ambiance is beautiful! I'm glad that i came out to Geraldine's for my birthday and look forward to coming back again this year! read more

This place was amazing. The service was great, the view was even better, and that short rib! Ugh. To die for! read more

Geraldine's - Dessert menu - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

The wife and I stopped in for brunch this morning, driving crosstown to Rainey based on the buzz we've heard. Walking into the restaurant, the energy of the hostess was pretty low. Yes it was a dreary morning, but this person was in a self-created fog. We asked a question on the way to our table and it was like it didn't even compute. Perusing the menu, I was disappointed to see the food was pretty standard breakfast fare (buttermilk pancakes, French toast, omelette, etc.) It was right when we were about to order that the hostess came by and said she'd forgotten to give us the brunch menu. My wife ended up trying the masa pancakes and I ordered the tater tot hash with poached eggs and pulled pork. The pancakes were fine, but due to allergies my wife had them hold the apple topping. I thought they might have compensated with a few more blueberries, but laughably there were only three on the entire plate. I was pretty underwhelmed by my meal, so much so that I sent back the first attempt. One of the poached eggs was runny as it should be, but the yolk in the other was congealed to the point of hardness. When the dish came back, the eggs were perfect but they were now buried under a pool of hollandaise sauce. I gave up and just sawed my way through a couple chunks of pork and four cubes of fried potatoes. It was kind of a weird dish -- trying to be clever, failing to be satisfying. From the welcome to the service to the food, it was clear that no one was really that invested. The service got better as the meal went on, but part of our food order was never put in. We also had to remind the waitress for things we'd previously asked for. In a nearly empty restaurant, there wasn't much else competing for her attention. It's a shame we disliked this place so much, cause I was thinking about suggesting it for Christmas Eve dinner. I thought it'd be a nice way to celebrate with no family in town. But while the space is lovely, I come to restaurants for the food. Our experience at Geraldine's was lackluster at best. Oh, insult to injury: we were in the restaurant for just under an hour and was charged $13.95 for valet because the restaurant doesn't validate. All in, it ended up costing a $60 for a small plate of "hash," a few pancakes, a couple of sides and parking. read more

A lovely place for a taste & melodies of paradise. I expected nothing less.., because my mom's name is Geraldine & she's the BEST!! Extraordinary food & service!! I will be back!! read more

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Stayed at Hotel Van Zandt and went to Geraldine's for drinks and the espresso cocktail was one of the best drinks I have ever had. Went back for dessert and the almond tart was good but nothing I would race back for. Ordered breakfast/brunch and got brioche French toast which were two huge slices of heaven and crab toast that had a huge amount of crab meat that my tummy gave two thumbs up! Looking forward to exploring more of the menu next time. read more

Geraldine's - Crab toast - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Ambience is top notch and their band was. Service was ok. Veggies were great, but the meat dishes didn't cut it for me.

One of my favorite spots in Austin...if not my #1 spot. They can do no wrong...amazing ambiance, service, food and cocktails. This is where I take my friends who are visiting from out of town! Amazing every single time! read more

Branching with five friends. The short rib Quesadilla - was delicous and perfectly paired with a Bloody Mary! Everyone loved their meals!! Can't wait to come back - loved the music!!! read more

We had a 10:15 reservation on Easter Sunday. When we arrived, we were seated immediately. Our server was attentive but kept rushing us to order as soon as we sat down. The ambiance was spectacular. The restaurant was really beautiful. They also had a jazz band playing but they were low key and not too loud. For food, I was there with a group of four and no one though their entrees were too small. I didn't even eat all mine. We started with the biscuits. The biscuits were yummy. I then had the masa pancakes (3 large pancakes). At first, the masa was overpowering, but I quickly got used to it an enjoyed my pancakes. I also tried the grits with pork, which were awesome. My husband ordered the fried chicken sandwich and it was very flavorful. read more

This is what you get when you judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a restaurant by pictures. I came here for the stunning interior, both in the restaurant itself and the lobby and bathrooms of the Hotel Van Zandt. The menu was promising at first glance, but food was actually boring. I cannot believe my bland omelette was $15 for no flavor to speak of, hardly any fillings, and a pitiful smattering of breakfast potatoes. I thought it was the heartiest option, and went with it after seeing how small the tot hash and other brunch "mains" were coming out to the tables around me. I would just come for a drink during happy hour or a date at the bar, if you want the environment. read more

Great bar scene! The drinks are fresh and amazing. It gets a bit sceney but that's what it is. The ceviche is delicious and the chicken sandwich is insane! The bar drinks change frequently and the staff is kind, funny, and awesome. Fun spot! read more

I came to Geraldine's with my family and we were conflicted on our opinion of the place. I'll split my reviews into the good and the bad and then a final verdict. The good - Everything tasted great and was perfectly plated and at the right temperature. Good food is the foundation of every restaurant and in this sense, Geraldine's knocked it out of the park. The crispy ribs were probably my favorite, but the beef short ribs were great and the grouper had great bite and flavor. - The ambiance was really neat - we sat at a really lovely live edge table with a great view of the city. The music playing wasn't overly loud, the lighting was through old-timey incandescents, and I was able to have intimate conversation. The bad - Man, the portions are small. I thought everything was supposed to be bigger in Texas but I think my family was caught off guard by the portion sizes. Our waitress did mention that the plates are for sharing but to all of us, "for sharing" means LARGE portion sizes. Like Maggianos' portion sizes. Am I the only one who thinks this? I didn't see any other reviews mention this fact. Our plate of roasted cauliflower, while delicious, looked like someone had eaten most of it before it got to our table. Our snapper ceviche, while perfectly done, only allowed each person to have one spoonful (we had a party of 5). So what's my verdict? I'm so torn because the food tasted so good. So perhaps this restaurant adheres to the adage that good things come in small packages. I can see Geraldine's as a GREAT place to go for drinks and some tiny appetizer-style dishes while you sip on the creative cocktails. However, as a restaurant it sort of falls short; I go to restaurants when I am hungry. When I am hungry, I like to eat. However, at Geraldine's, the hungry will get a taste of something delicious, but stay hungry. read more

Went here for Mother's Day -- such a wonderful dining experience. The menu is centered on small plates, where you share with those around you. Since we had 8 in total, the waiter offered to have him and the chef prepare our meal for us. This alleviated the questioning of how much we needed to order and the debacle of everyone chiming in and making requests. Two plates of each dish ordered were brought out so all of us had a chance to try each dish. Each dish was FABULOUS -- I loved the chocolate sourdough. All the vegetables were grilled to perfection (especially the carrots) and all the meats were delectably seasoned and sauced. I would absolutely come again. Not sure if the menu changes seasonally, but their current menu had great offerings. We also had excellent service. We had two guests with multiple food allergies. Our waiter was very accommodating and worked with them to make sure they would have something delicious to eat. While they could not prepare a dish that was not on the menu, they were able to modify the current offerings to fit dietary restrictions. Would recommend this restaurant for any special occasion. There is a beautiful outdoor pool deck. Has a great view of the sunset. The restaurant also offers Sunday brunch on the deck. read more

Geraldine's has received plenty of attention lately. My family and I were interested in checking it out on a pretty busy weekend (February 13). We are Austinites and were actually staying at the Hotel Van Zandt for the Austin Marathon weekend. I attempted to make reservations 4 or 5 days before our stay and was unsuccessful. I was told by the hotel that we should just stop by when they opened Saturday night and we would likely be able to be accommodated. I explained to the dining room attendant at 4:59 Sat night that we were guests of the hotel and wanted to see if they would be able to seat a party of 3. We were surprised by the distasteful un-Austinite overt rudeness of the attendant in terms of her inability to even consider such a request. We were treated as if I lived under a bridge in I-35! Austin is boomtown - I get it. And I also benefit from it. But this is not New York City, LA, or Napa. There is a diIapidated shack in front of our venerable HvZ, and I would think of you were a guest of the hotel and spending around $500 a night, that they could probably slip you in for an early seating. Or at least explain this to you in a non pretentious fashion. Oh well, as I complete this write-up I am at Via 313 getting some real & awesome pizza to carb-load for tomorrow's Marathon. Too bad Geraldine's didn't have the opportunity to benefit from some sustainable local business. read more

The service was terrible. My waiter showed up every 20 minutes empty handed. The food is subpar and took over and hour to come out just for it to be cold and gross. read more

I am disappointed to say that I will not be coming back here. In short the management needs to teach the staff that at a luxury hotel customer service should always come first. The bartender made my drink poorly. it did not taste good. I asked him to add more of --- to make it taste better and he charged me $11 to do so, after I had already paid nine dollars for my original drink. Also they have a beautiful roof and pool... I would assume... because I was not able to enjoy it. They close the area with a bouncer every night at 12, which seems like a waste. Other places successfully have people around a pool at night with no problem... Won't be coming back. I can't understand places that still have bad service- there are too many options in this town for you to not treat customers well. read more

We were in Austin for a quick weekend and stayed at the Hotel Van Zandt, which was wonderful! It turned cold on our last day here and so not really wanting to venture out, we decided to dine in at Geraldine's. I'm so glad we did! We started with the grilled corn cakes, which we both loved. It was salad greens with small, delicious corn cakes and ham-way better than I'm making it sound. Next up, barbecued short ribs. Omg, so good! Then, the sunflower risotto. Not our favorite; on the salty side and the texture was a little off. The salt roasted beets with goat cheese more than made up for the risotto! Lastly, the strip loin with house made tater tots and cheese fondue. Delicious. I can't leave out the wonderful service that we enjoyed. Micah was our server and what a sweetie he was. I highly recommend Geraldine's and the Hotel Van Zandt. read more

My friends and I had brunch here -- Geraldine's inaugural brunch. And it was delicious. I didn't know it was such a special occasion; the live jazz band might have given it away, but considering the restaurant is located in a place called the Van Zandt, I just thought it was a regular thing for them (and it is; they play live music all through the meal service). I had the brioche french toast (I notice I've been heavy on the carbs recently; gotta watch that) and it was covered in pecans, fresh fruit, maple syrup and little nutty chunks that gave it a slightly burnt flavor, in a good way. My companions likewise enjoyed their meals and I could see that the cooks took the time to offer excellent presentation along with the flavorful food. Service was great; our server corrected a couple of misunderstandings with a smile and we were very satisfied. Mostly satisfied. Remember the live jazz? It was very well played, but a hair on the loud side, so we had to talk loudly, and now, in retrospect, I wonder how much of that contributed to our miscommunication? Or was I just slurring my words from the intoxication of their wonderful maple syrup? read more

The food, service and atmosphere were all amazing. The waiter was very friendly when he greeted us and throughout the entire meal. He explained that the plates were small and really meant for sharing, much like tapas. He was able to give us an estimate of how many dishes we would need for our party size and offered some great suggestions. Both the food and drinks were served in a timely fashion. All of the food we ordered was spot on and they brought it out in courses so our table wouldn't be over crowded. My favorite dishes were definitely the tacos and the crispy ribs.. Mmmm.. going back for brunch later this month. Can't wait! read more

Since my first review was deleted for some 'reason' let me resubmit it with more details and information. Upon walking into this establishment, we were not greeted promptly. We stood waiting at a host stand populated by no one for at least 5 minutes. When someone finally did bother to greet us, they were snobby and rude like they were doing us a giant favor to do their job. If you work in the service industry, service is your job and also your paycheck. It's not rocket science. 90% of the restaurant was empty. We were then told that since we didn't have a reservation (90% of the tables were empty and THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE WAITING EXCEPT US) that we could wait 1.5 hours for a table. I will never return to this place and will frequent other local businesses that have some idea of what customer service means and have staff that are polite and well mannered. read more

If *Basic is your business this is your place. Hotel food. B-team service. Chain - feel .. Maybe a nice place to have a drink by the fireplace read more

Hostess tonight was rude and a bit of a B$&#%. Food was great two nights in a row. But service was horrible and dismissive. We sat at the bar but bartender was only interested in the basketball game. So he forgot to charge us for 75% of our order. Massive fail tonight. read more

Brunch at Geraldine's is excellent. I had scotch eggs, he had potato tots hash with pulled pork. Both were delicious. Portion sizes aren't too big, so you won't leave feeling like a glutton. Live music is a good touch. read more

Geraldine's - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This place was a solid 4 stars for Brunch. We didn't have reservations and arrived right at 11 when the music started and were just barely able to get a table, so it might be a good idea to make a reservation on their website or through open table. Service was very friendly, but on the slower side to receive food. (about 50 minutes) We had a bloody mary and a mimosa between us and both were well made. The patio area is nice, and the music is visible and well within earshot of the nearby indoor stage and was easy to hear, but light enough to still carry a conversation. We ordered the Corn Skillet breakfast, the potato tot hash and the blueberry pancakes and everything was good. I actually liked the corn skillet that I ordered the least as it definitely had less flavor than both of the other two dishes, but still was nicely cooked and tasty. The pancakes where really hearty from the whole grain and not too sweet with a good splashing of the blueberry compote topping. The potato tot hash was great with crispy, and soft fried potato hash cubes and a flavorful braised pork rib. Definitely a nice ambiance and the view from the outside patio over downtown and by the pool is nice as well. Prices are reasonable, but keeping in mind that the plates are all pretty small servings (with the pancakes being the cheapest and most filling) its not the cheapest of brunches, and we definitely needed the 3 plates between the 2 of us to really feel satisfied. The hotel Van Zandt itself is quite nice and worth taking a peek at before or after you come here. Nice spot. read more

We had the pleasure of attending their soft opening and it was fantastic. We were a party of 4 and sampled most of what was on the menu. For me, the sunflower seed risotto was the most interesting and delicious offering, but everything was outstanding. Oh, the fried quail was another standout. We tried so many dishes it's hard to remember them all, but each was unique and deliberate. They also had a really great Texas red wine which I was surprised by. Their wine pairings were spot on. The service was also top notch. Ant was our server, and he rocked it. The ambiance of Geraldine's is sophisticated without sacrificing the Texas charm. You can tell a lot of thought went into this place, and it shows through in the overall experience. This will sound strange, but the men's bathroom was very cool. The sink and copper faucets might make it one of the coolest restaurant bathrooms I've seen. read more

Had Xmas dinner here and it was a good choice. Dining room is real big. Live music came on around 10pm. Gets pretty loud if you have a table close to the stage which we did, but we didn't mind. - hushpuppies - heavy. well done. - farmer's market salad was recommended by the server and was a nice contrast to the heavier items that we ordered. loved the goat cheese. - pork ribs and short rib both tender. would consider ordering both again. - grouper - ended up being possibly the best thing we had. Wasn't looking forward to Xmas dinner at a hotel restaurant but this place was a pleasant surprise. Music really adds a lot. I'd consider coming back here for a drink and an app while listening to the band. read more

We went to Geraldine's on Thu (2 days after opening) & the only thing not ready yet was the specialty frozen drinks. (I didn't inquire, but I assume machinery not in place yet.) Roman was our server & he was incredibly service oriented & menu savvy. He suggested things & described them to a tea. Endive salad with blue cheese - very tasty, even though I don't love endive. Grilled cauliflower - perhaps the best cauliflower dish I've ever had. Cured meats - interesting & tasty. The grilled bread could have had some olive oil on it. Ceviche tacos were amazing. We got 2 which is how it should come. The short-rib was amazing...very tender & the sauce was great. The strip loin presentation was stellar. Perhaps the board could have a lip...the jus/sauce eventually ran off the board onto our table. Chess pie & chocolate swirl dessert both tasty. The chocolate swirl could have used some ice cream or perhaps served warm with a warm sauce. All in all - the experience was a 10. We'll definitely be back...and since we live so close it will be easy. read more

Well that was aggressively average. We were at the bar the night before and the drinks were fun and music great, but Sunday brunch was not fun. We got our food over an hour after our reservation, 45 min after ordering. Small portions and the ONLY tasty thing we received was the Cuban Benedict. Brioche toast, crab toast, and buratta omelette sounded so delicious by description, but were bland and below average. Luckily it wasn't too expensive, but it was a waste of a meal for our group. However it's beautiful setting and staff was nice... read more

Food was fantastic - I had the pulled pork eggs benedict - and their pomegranate sparkling drink was delicious. Docking one star because they're definitely a bit more expensive then I think it should be. But I would definitely still return. read more

Geraldine's - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Came here with friends this past weekend for an early dinner. We were all pretty disappointed. The design of the space is beautiful, but the rest was unimpressive. A martini ordered "slightly dirty" came out VERY dirty, smoked fish taco had a large hunk of bone/cartilage in it, strip loin ordered medium came out well done. Portions were tiny for the price. I'm fine with small portions, as long as each bite is amazing. Unfortunately, that just wasn't the case at Geraldine's. Nothing was that great or noteworthy. The rest of the night we kept joking about what chumps we were for paying $13 for that mediocre cauliflower. At least we can laugh about it. Ugh. With tip (service was pretty good; they comped the dirty martini), our bill came to just under $80 per person. We will not be returning. read more

soooooooo lovely!!! This was bookmarked as something I definitely wanted to do for my birthday-- and it lived up to the hype that was in my head :D Loved the service, the cocktails, the ambiance, the views! Can't comment on the food b/c we didn't have any but I would totally come back in a heartbeat if I get the chance! Definitely reserve this for a special night :) read more

ENVIRONMENT Located on the 4th floor accessible by its own elevator, this is a large open restaurant decorated with Derek masculine accents. Great city views and outdoor terrace. STAFF very knowledgable and friendly. MENU Changes every few months, but embodies Austin cuisine (BBQ, local food, tex mex). *Ask about portions as you may need two options. Roasted Callower -- I WISH I COULD EAT THIS DAILY. prepared like a streak, this dish is incredible! Seasoned perfectly. The Thai basil cream is amazing. Braised short rib -- 6oz of delicious meat. It has the flavor profile of a bahn sandwich, without the bread. read more

Used to be good, still like the food, but now service so poor that i won't go back. And don't ge me started on my wife experience trying to buy a gift certificate. These guys don't think their customers are very important. read more

Solidly mediocre brunch offerings, and dismal service. Second visit here... First was for dinner and cocktails, which was actually quite pleasant. Our brunch visit was totally underwhelming. Two entrees of middling quality, one mimosa... 60 bucks. The biscuit was a high note, but you can get a much better one at Stella San Jac anyhow. Also worth noting... Restaurant guests are no longer welcome at the pool, which is a new development. Access to the pool was the primary reason we decided to dine with them today, and apparently their policy has changed. No real reason to come back here any more. Let's hope this place goes under, and gets replaced by a better quality establishment that does more than schlep boring food to tourists. read more

This was our second time visiting Geraldine's, the first being a big event and the second on our anniversary. This trip we had a much less quality experience than the first. We ate dinner on a Friday night, the restaurant was slow and ambiance very mellow. My primary complaint was about the service, with medium good food experience. We sat for about 15-20 minutes after being greeted and our server said she would return for drink orders. She attended to the others in our section, then left again without coming back around to us. After I notified the host about how long we had been waiting for drinks and bread, our server came back with a clearly annoyed and offended attitude. Great start to the next couple of hours. Service continued to be slow, inattentive, and mildly annoyed. We enjoyed the shrimp hushpuppies and roasted beets to start, with the amazing bread and butter. We also had the red fish, which was a little bland by itself and needed the tomatillo pico on the side. The scallops were very good, but small quantity (3) for over $20 for the plate. No veggies with these entrees, so we ordered the smoked/grilled carrots, which were very good. Dessert was the macaron, and I thought it was a little dry and not as light as I've had them. The server delivered short pours of sparkling rose for our anniversary, and took care of our dessert, so that was a nice gesture. As always the atmosphere is beautiful, and it's a fine dining experience. We expected for things to be slightly over priced, and with better service we would have been very happy. read more

This was truly the best birthday brunch. Such a pleasant atmosphere last Sunday with a live band playing in the background sipping mimosas and enjoying the lovely view of Austin. The staff were great and very attentive. The food was fresh and season perfectly. This is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion! We will most definitely be back! read more

Geraldine's - The Brioche French Toast. A must have! As well as their scrambled eggs. - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is a great Austin stop. We came for a quick cocktail and the view. Set atop the Van Zandt hotel Geraldine's provides one of Austin's best views of Lady Bird lake. Cocktail menu is great and the overall vibe is happening. Had the tequila old fashion. Complete winner. If you are in the hood stop by! read more

We ordered chocolate martinis which were awful! Manhattan 9 in Lubbock Texas makes better martinis, LUBBOCK! We came to Austin for my sister's wedding and got poor service - when we were able to track down a bartender. When we informed them the martinis were terribly bitter and didn't seem mixed at all, they seemed annoyed and didn't apologize. We gave Geraldine's a chance after enjoying brunch there once but honestly I wouldn't come back for the martini or the service. I understand these are hard times for everyone, and the bartenders were relatively busy, but it's truly a bummer. read more

Love the atmosphere and the musically themed decor. Service was quick and the food was delicious. It was during the week my husband and i both visited so not super busy. Our waitress was quick witted and kept us satisfied through our breakfast. The bussers were quick and attentive. And our dinner couldn't have been better. Cocktails were creative and fun. Highly recommend you order the pork grits for breakfast and the ribeye for dinner (make sure you share; IT'S HUGE). read more

Geraldine's is such a lovely space. The experience starts outside. We drove up and somehow the valet knew the rest of our party had already arrived and guided us into the hotel, which was truly impressive. The gorgeous entry of the Hotel Van Zandt is worth taking a moment to experience (the record birds are really cool). You'll feel swanky as you meander over to the elevator with the guinea fowl on it. And once you step out into the restaurant, be prepared for a swanky space overlooking a very lovely patio/pool and view of Austin. We came with family for brunch a couple of months ago and were really impressed. We had my young niece with us and yet were able to piece together a breakfast made for champions that she would actually eat (picky kid). The rest of us ordered a variety of really tasty dishes. I ordered the ricotta fritters and they warned me it was a small plate. Well, let me warn you IT'S A SMALL PLATE! I ended up ordering a biscuit as it was maybe 4 of these tiny round fritters. They were delicious, but I, who typically eats like a bird, was still hungry after. For the price, I don't feel they are worth it because you are going to need another dish. My biggest disappointment was the one brunch cocktail I wanted was not available. I have no clue why as it was a cold brew drink, but it was definitely a downer as my coffee was really good, but not as good as that cocktail would've been. I really wanted to try one of their cocktails because of the bar manager and her reputation. Needless to say this coupled with the fritters were disappointing. Our service was really great. The food was good and Mom was happy with her special breakfast. The fire alarm even went off midway because of burnt toast? Funny thing was no one moved. Flash lights and everything and all the customers acted like nothing was happening. Thankfully, the staff made sure we knew nothing was truly amiss. The only reason I have removed stars was because of the missing cocktail and the miniature, overpriced fritter dish. I should add this was Mother's Day, so how do you not have all the cocktails!? read more