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    Gina's on Congress

    4.3 (103 reviews)

    Gina's on Congress Photos

    Business Info

    GINA'S ON CONGRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Gina's on Congress

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    Bread & butter
    Brittany L.

    A group of us came here for happy hour on a Saturday night. The happy hour is every day from 3 to 6 where you can get half off house cocktails and snacks. we thought it was a pretty good deal given that it's right on Congress Street in the middle of downtown. The inside of the restaurant is cozy and quaint with a cute bar and it makes you feel like you're really in a big city they have outside tables as well, but they aren't as cute. The appetizers were decent but if they weren't on happy hour I probably wouldn't order them again. We ordered a variety of drinks and they were all really good. I would definitely come back again for happy hour just for drinks at the bar. We each ordered a different pasta and I'd say they were all great. My favorite was the mafaldine mushroom pasta, which was a 10 out of 10! The sauce was creamy and flavorful. The noodles were the perfect. I would definitely order the mushroom pasta again! We finished with a tiramisu for dessert which was also really yummy. Overall, I'd say this is a hidden gem right in the heart of Austin's downtown. It's easy to get a reservation and the staff were very helpful. They have great deals for a date night, happy hour, and prefix menus so I would definitely consider this when looking for a dinner option.

    Mussels and fries
    Elle K.

    Wonderful dinner and drinks experience at Gina's! Inside is romantic and fancy vibes. Our waiter was amazing too. For drinks we had multiple rounds of the hot and skinny because we loved it so much! It tasted like a margarita meets a dirty martini, but definitely not too olive heavy. It was a perfect not too sweet drink and would come back just for this drink! For food we started with the smoked salmon dip and crab croquettes. Both were great, I liked the salmon dip a little more! We also got the bread and butter. It was exactly what you would think, nothing special but did its job. For entrees, we got the mussels and fries, bucatini and G.O.C Burger. I think the mussels and fries are what they are known for and they lived up to the hype! The sauce they are cooked in is so perfectly savory and creamy. I will warn it is a messy meal, but so tasty. The crunchy fries are a great texture mixed with the mussels. The bucatini was so delicious as well. Would come back for both of these dishes. My friend who got the burger enjoyed it. I enjoy a thinner burger patty so this burger wasn't for me, but the toppings looked awesome! We also got a side of the shells and cheese and it was cheesy and great! I really loved everything we ordered here and it was a great vibe for a girls dinner. Can't wait to come back and try the happy hour or their prix fixe menu!

    Pumpkin Soup ($12), Gougeres ($9)
    Wendi K.

    This is one of the best spots we have tried in Austin - my friend said it was his favorite spot in Austin thus far. I love French and Italian food, and Gina's has both. It's a cozy, classy, candlelit spot in downtown Austin. Our waiter was also a delight - he was patient, friendly, energetic, and kind. I wish we got his name! The Happy Hour is wonderful - It is 3-6 PM everyday and half off appetizers and drinks. They also have a $40 pre-theater dinner special that is 3 courses and from 4-6 PM. The drinks (I had the Straperol Spritz) were amazing. Food: -Pumpkin Soup ($12) - Creamy and delicious. -Gougeres ($9) - Like a cheesy, soft, choux pastry! -Rabbit Rillette ($17) - loved it. -Bucatini Brisket Bolognese ($25) - The pasta is seemingly homemade and fresh, and was some of the BEST pasta and bolognese we have had. The sauce itself is rich, flavorful, and textured perfectly. -Sourdough Bread & Butter ($5) - so yummy! Can't go wrong with high quality bread and butter. -Stracciatella (Cookies and Cream-esque) Gelato and Pizette - this was the dessert to the $40 3-course special. Cherry on top. What a wonderful meal!

    Gemelli
    Johanna J.

    I stopped by for lunch with a colleague who recommended this place. The restaurant is cute and cozy, with a comfortable atmosphere that makes the experience even more enjoyable. The service was great, and everything we ordered was delicious. I chose the Gemelli pasta, which was the perfect portion for me. Conveniently located in downtown Austin, it's a lovely spot for work lunches, dinners, or group gatherings. Overall, a solid and reasonably priced experience.

    Lamb Shank
    cassandra a.

    I brought my friend Jackie here to celebrate her birthday, and I had noted the occasion when making the reservation. The staff went had a sweet, personalized birthday note waiting at our table when we arrived. Such a thoughtful touch that really set the tone for the evening. We started with the Bone Marrow and the Gougeres. The gougeres were okay, but the bone marrow was absolutely fantastic -- rich, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. For mains, I had the Lamb Shank and Jackie ordered the Red Fish -- both were delicious and beautifully plated. We ended the night by sharing the cheesecake, which was a great choice, creamy and not overly sweet and they put a birthday candle in it! Super thoughtful. To drink, we ordered dirty martinis (a little on the small side, but still tasty) and each had a glass of wine, which felt like the better value with a good pour. The service the entire night was spot-on attentive without being overbearing, and clearly invested in making the night special. I'll definitely be back. Gina's hits the right balance of great food, warm ambiance, and stellar service. Highly recommend!

    Mocktail
    Marion W.

    Went on a Monday night and was happily surprised with all night happy hour, which is a really good deal on cocktails & apps! The bartender crafted me a special mocktail, I love when I can make a special request and it's a hit. The place is small and intimate, you could get a bigger table for a bigger group i.e. a work dinner, but I would book early cause most tables were for smaller groups & couples. The lights were dimmed around 8pm. They also have a small patio on congress (but right next to parking spots) The apps were really yummy, and worth it at happy hour price. Small portions for the full price though. The salmon is very fresh. The crab is more saucy. Both were a hit. The pasta were good, fresh, and perfect amount. The sourdough bread was homemade and served warmed with butter and salt, you can't go wrong! The gelato was ok, but to be fair I was very full. Pro-tip: pay with In-kind app and get cash back on your dinner!

    Shrimp pasta
    Roshini T.

    Went to Gina's for HH and enjoyed it. Snacks and drinks were 1/2 odd which is a pretty good deal in Austin. The smoked salmon dip was good as was the other appetizer, gougere. Pasta was good but I thought the mushroom pasta one of my friends got was even better, so if I come back, I would get the Mafaldine instead. Ambiance is nice with both indoor and outdoor seating

    Tiffany J.

    Stopped in for a quick drink while dilly dallying on Congress. The bartender provided delightful conversation while we sipped our drinks. Gave us some background on what certain ingredients are meant for and which drinks they are best mixed with. The place was cozy with a long bar and clean restroom.

    Bone marrow, Caesar salad, Gardiniera
    Kaycie Y.

    Gina's on Congress is such a great place for a date night! It's as if a Parisian bistro eloped with a Roman trattoria. It's French meets Italian! The space is just so charming. Perfect for a date night or dinner with friends. The decor is a lovely blend of old-world charm and modern chic! It's fancy without the stuffy. We start with the Gourgères, Gardiniera, and Crab Croquettes. The Gourgères were delicious, light, and warm. I do wish there were more than 2 per order. I could've eaten 4 of them. The Gardiniera was a nice contrast. Crunchy, tart, and refreshing. The Crab Croquettes were comforting without being heavy. Delightful. Next arrives the Bone Marrow and Caesar Salad. The Bone Marrow was SO good. I wish more sourdough was given to soak up all of that butteriness as it was very rich and the marrow to bread ratio was off. The Caesar salad was very unconventional. The escarole and radicchio are more robust than romaine, so the salad had a different kind of texture and more assertive flavor profile. Instead of chopped hard boiled eggs, the fine texture of the sieved egg smoothly coated the greens. I love this salad. For our entrees, we ordered the G.O.C Burger and the Mafaldine. The burger was a satisfying combo of savory, sweet, and nutty. Cooked perfectly. The shoe string fries were the perfect pair for this entree. The mafaldine was a little cold which made the dish a tad bit off putting. The texture of the pasta and the texture of the mushrooms went together so well, but would've been exponentially better had the dish been hot. For dessert, the Tiramisu Marquise. This take on tiramisu caught me off guard. It's 10x richer and extremely chocolatey more than anything. Very good but not what I expected. The service was good! Our server knew the menu well and his suggestions were great. Overall, it was a lovely date night!

    Malfardine added Chicken
    Lori C.

    This restaurant was very quaint and romantic. All of the waiters were men and I loved their uniforms. The service was a lot slower than expected especially since it wasn't super busy but they made up for it by giving us our tartare on the house. Both pasta entrees were amazing. The tiramisu had a bit more chocolate than I was expecting but the sorbetto was amazing! If they put the sorbetto and the chocolate together somehow that would be fire. Unfortunately the tartare was disappointing. It was doused in so much onion it was all you could taste. The salmon dip and chips, however, were delicious. Overall I would definitely recommend this place.

    Affogato
    Melissa B.

    The Good: Was fun to see how they're made over the old La Triviata space. Loved the Gouges and crab croquets! Our waiter was knowledgeable and made good recommendations. The Not So Good: Although tasty, the espresso poured into my affogato wasn't warm and never melted the ice cream. The Ugly: Nothing glaring to add here.

    Crab croquettes
    Lauren G.

    Really digging this place! Came in for happy hour and really enjoyed everything! Half off snacks and cocktails. Good menu. Friendly staff, fun atmosphere! ...oh and they have matches! Always a plus

    Croque Madame
    David L.

    Came here for lunch on a Sunday! We were only one of two tables occupied, and our server came to say hi right away. He confided that he wasn't supposed to have had to work, and so we were very empathetic! However, the service from there on out was extraordinarily slow. It took nearly 25 minutes for him to return and take our order, unfortunately. The food itself was pretty good! It was difficult to justify the price (~$20 plates), however. The vibe was bright and nice and clean, but I'm not sure we'd come again!

    Bone marrow

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    5 months ago

    Love their pasta. First time I had tartare. Liked it but had an onion aftertaste. Next time I'm in Austin will definitely go back.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Gina's on Congress

    Are here gluten free options?

    Absolutely! Smoked Salmon Dip, Giardiniera, Soup, Steak Tartare, Beet Carpaccio, Mussels, Redfish, Chicken, Steak, Big Salad, Sausage & Hash, Asparagus, Salad Verte, Fries, Affogato, Sorbetto. We look forward to hosting you.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    "No I've never been to Austin, but I kinda like the music...all the people say it's crazy but I…read moreknow they don't abuse it..." (RIP Chuck Negron) This was my "Must go to" spot on the first day we were here...and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! I made a reservation per recommendation on their website and I am glad I did. As the evening went on it got very busy. The foyer where you check in reminded me of the lobby of a small theatre. There were 2 velveteen curtains separating it from the restaurant. When the curtains parted a huge room with high industrial ceilings and architecture was revealed. WOW!!!! The hostess led us upstairs to the smaller loft bar and told us to sit where ever we wanted...So, we sat with a review to the entire place! We ordered food and drinks from their huge cocktail menu. We watched the bartender make both drinks with fascination. *BTW The bartenders here need to know how to make every cocktail by heart and there are over 50 specialty cocktails! Rosie and I went with: Vodkadora - Wódka Vodka, raspberry syrup, ginger syrup, lime, soda water Cigar Box - Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, smoked black tea syrup, RR lavender bitters, tobacco essence, served on an ashtray with a flamed cinnamon stick Food: CLASSIC REUBEN w/chips - 5/5 sooo good (Rye bread with Rosemary-Garlic Butter, Corned Beef, Swiss Cheese, housemade Sauerkraut & Russian Dressing) SALADE VERTE 5/5 - light and fresh Loved the industrial space and decor. Great for large groups - don't really recommend for children ~ and that's all I have to say about that...

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    The Roosevelt Room - BUCK TO THE FUTURE
 rye whiskey, manzanilla sherry, strawberry-basil purée, nardini amaro, ginger syrup, lemon, barrel smoked black pepper

    BUCK TO THE FUTURE rye whiskey, manzanilla sherry, strawberry-basil purée, nardini amaro, ginger syrup, lemon, barrel smoked black pepper

    The Roosevelt Room - ZOMBIE
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    Fortune Teller - Bar

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    4.9(30 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    Parking? Easy. They have a front lot off Congress and another one off Sandra (just South on…read moreCongress after you pass the bar). The drinks? Oh my gaaahhd. I'm usually not a fan of 'craft cocktails' out bc they're overpriced and not nearly as good as what my partner makes at home, but these were glorious. These drinks had layers of flavor. And fresh ingredients. And they were reasonably priced. Honestly, I don't even remember the last time we had such good drinks out (ok that's a lie but another review and it was at that place where Crowbar used to be - but these win hands down). The bartenders were nice and knowledgeable (Did I mention they make amazing drinks?). The outside has a similar feel to Cosmic but more secluded which is nice. They have plenty of seating, mostly outside, and food from an onsite truck, Sabor Tapatio. Honestly, I feel like this place is a unicorn. 78745 low key vibe but also with some old school Austin feels (I'm talking 2005 mid-Noughties - not 20-teen Rainey Street batch cocktails). They also have coffee in the mornings which we'll be checking out sooner rather than later. 10/10 recommend.

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    4.8(33 reviews)
    0.5 miDowntown

    I discovered Marlow through a Yelp Elite event and knew I had to come back. We stopped by on a…read moreSaturday night around 9:30/10pm and had a great time! Great house music from the DJ, friendly staff, and an easygoing atmosphere that's perfect for hanging out. I was having a sober night and tried a few drinks from their Dry January Specials menu. Wow, they did not disappoint. The Alrighty Aphrodite was delicious, and the So Fresh, So Clean was exactly that, super refreshing with a great pineapple flavor. My husband had the Dusty Trail (strong and perfect for bourbon lovers) and a Coquito that was creamy and smooth with a hint of cinnamon. Parking is limited, but we found street parking nearby. Overall, great drinks, great music, and a spot I'll definitely keep coming back to.

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    Whisler's - Left On Read - Delicious! (Tequila, Amaro, Bitters, Strawberry, Citrus, Spice, Egg White )

    Whisler's

    4.3(675 reviews)
    1.3 miEast Austin
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    These are moments I think why do I live in San Antonio ( and often work in Austin ) when I can just…read morelive here and enjoy great restaurants, bars and weird gothic haunts like this with weird dark goth decor, a scent of palo santo , superb music, a great crowd and amazing drinks! College me would have lived here !! Enjoyed a French 75, my husband enjoyed a smoked Old Fashioned and it was a great place to grab a drink prior to seeing Springsteen at the Moody seated amongst candles , a weird alter of sorts while enjoying some Stevie Wonder as is playing now though some weird NIN or Type O might have been more appropriate

    I went to Whisler's and had one of the worst bar experiences I've ever had…read more I had one drink. I was completely sober for all intents and purposes. The bartender claimed I was drunk and cut me off anyway. I was at the bar talking to a girl while waiting to get a drink (the wait was long because the service is very slow, despite the bar not being very busy at all). She was clearly into me, and the bartender kept jumping in trying to talk to her too (instead of doing his job making drinks). He was doing all sorts of things to try and flirt with her and make her laugh: pulling out and showing her buckets of pre mixed cocktails, running and sliding under the bar, etc. She was engaging with both of us , and right in the middle of that, I get cut off out of nowhere. No explanation other than claiming I looked drunk, which I very clearly wasn't. It felt very clear what was going on--he wanted me out of the way. I left and asked the bouncer on my way out if I seemed drunk. This was literally two minutes later. He said no, not at all, and asked me why I would even ask that. I then told him exactly what happened and asked him to let the owner or whoever was in charge know about this extremely unprofessional conduct so they can discipline the bartender. His response was that the bartender has discretion to cut anyone off, and let me know the bartender is supposedly married so he couldn't have been flirting with any of the customers. Well, sounds like his logic is flawed--not only COULD he flirt with his customers, he WAS, and was therefore cheating. I hope his wife finds out. This is perfectly representative of Austin customer service lately and not normal in other places. I was in Tampa for an entire month earlier this year and this would've been unthinkable there. I'm not coming back.

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    4.5(120 reviews)
    0.9 mi78704 (South Austin)

    It's a rainy night in Austin. My girlfriend is in town because my cousin and her fiancé are getting…read moremarried in Austin. It's also the weekend of our one year anniversary. An hour ago it wasn't raining, but now it's pouring. A few months ago, I heard of a newer bar and experience called Equipment Room just right off of South Congress. Music means everything to me. Nothing can express emotions and instill a feeling in 3 minutes like a song can. I live for that. Equipment Room is inherently Japanese in concept. Existing in Japan for over 50 years, listening bars combine high fidelity audio equipment with impressively crafted cocktails and alcohol combining the passion of music in a space to gather with comfortable chairs and a beautiful atmosphere. The concept has expanded westward as all cool things inevitably do, but I would never think a spot would be successful in Austin like it would be in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and so on. As I back my car into a parking spot on South Congress, I grab the umbrella out of my trunk and walk my girlfriend and me to the entrance trying to not get ourselves soaked in the process. This is not the first time we have tried to go to Equipment Room. We tried to get a walk-in table just to see out of morbid curiosity and that was a failure. I booked her and me a table for this night and I was madly looking forward to it. As we got to the small entrance, we were introduced to the hostess who brought us from the stairs into the main underground space and to our seats on the couch in a large wraparound sofa with other parties sitting near us. The music is faint from the entrance, but once you walk through the main walkway, a wave of sound hits your eardrums. You're immediately engrossed into the music like walking into a concert hall or putting a fresh pair of headphones on for the first time. As we sat down, selections from Outkast's Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik were playing through the speakers. Our hostess introduced us to their "User Manual" (their menu) where it contained all the snacks and drinks you could get your grubby hands on. There's more than just drinks and food on the menu. The first page introduces the concept and gives a few house rules. The second page shows all the equipment this so-called room has, from the premium Klipsch speakers, their preamps and amplifiers as well as their turntables and mixers. It's a dream page for music nerds. I want a $15k speaker in my apartment, but those noise complaints would never end. Our waitress came by shortly to give us water and take our order. Their menu is quite expansive, but the main pages we were told to check out were their A-side drinks or the classics and their B-side drinks, which are more experimental. We had to go with experimental for starters because who knows when you'll get to try something similar again. I started with a Goca Dünya while my girlfriend ordered a Deceptacon. The Goca Dünya was a vodka based floral drink with pistachio foam and Amaro Nonino, an Italian herbal liqueur. The Deceptacon was a rum-based cacao drink with a touch of lime and mint. It took a little time for our drinks to come out, clearly, as they are quite intricate. I loved my drink, bluntly. The pistachio foam was a great balance to the herbal flavors at the bottom. My girlfriend and I continued to enjoy each other's company as the music continued. The space we were in was decorated with posters and memorabilia from legendary artists coming through Austin and some general music decor like that purple album from that Prince guy. The DJ-curator that night was on a tear playing incredible soul music holding the bar hostage with a taste of funk. Jimmy Smith came next before transitioning to a few tracks from Bobbie Gentry. The last albums he pulled out were Steely Dan's Aja (a stone cold classic) and Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life (a top 10 album of all time). Not only was he playing classics like Isn't She Lovely, but he threw down some deeper cuts like Black Man and Contusion. Incredible. We both got another drink with my girlfriend getting their A-Side Espresso Martini while I got the Brown Sugar from their B-Sides. It was a seaweed and mushroom infused whiskey with a few more bells and whistles and it was super unique. Quite a bit of their menu is Japanese-inspired in homage to the originators of listening bars. This includes Japanese beer, sake, and Japanese-inspired food and beverages on their menu. Very cool. The worst part of the night came when our hour and 45 minute reservation came to a close. I could've stayed there for another 3 hours and never grown tired, but with how popular this space has become, they gotta kick you out at some point. This is an experience you have to have. It's worth it. I'll be strolling back in soon enough because there is nothing like this in Austin and it's truly a special space. RIYL: Actively listening to music.

    Loved this place so much..!!! If you want to go somewhere to just lounge with low lighting and have…read moresome delicious drinks with great music in the background , this is place is it! They play no digital music and their speakers are installed throughout the whole building. The sound is great! The menu was so cute and on theme. The furniture and decor is mid century modern. I went here for my birthday and they gave my table a round of Sake shots, which was nice! My table ordered drinks: the Brown Sugar, Goca Dünya, Suffer No Fool (non alcoholic), Vitamin C. They were all delicious and they did not skimp on the alcohol! It was well balanced! I seriously recommend the Goca Dünya--that pistachio foam was addictive! For food, we got the Cheese board to have something to pick on and we demolished it, haha. It came with marmalade and crackers. The cheeses were great, along with the dried fruits and nuts. The cheese selections seem to rotate every other season, which is cool.

    Photos
    Equipment Room - XS made NA -- Lustau Fino Sherry, Giffard NA Pineapple Liqueur, passionfruit, lime, blue spirulina, mirin, dragonfruit syrup, Liquid Rizz

    XS made NA -- Lustau Fino Sherry, Giffard NA Pineapple Liqueur, passionfruit, lime, blue spirulina, mirin, dragonfruit syrup, Liquid Rizz

    Equipment Room - Beautifully simple bar tops

    Beautifully simple bar tops

    Equipment Room - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Gina's on Congress - french - Updated May 2026

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