Pricey but worth it. 4.5 Service was excellent. Ambiance is elevated but approachable. The gnocchi is special, y'all. Do not leave here without trying it. Chicken liver mouse was also a highlight, but the bread was an anchor on the dish as a whole. Red snapper was meh, but I'm not a mole guy. Wagyu with au pois was enjoyable, but a chewy cut (ribeye?) and sauce was very-good-not-quite-great. This review would have been 4 stars as for the money it isn't great value, but the gnocchi alone raised this to 4.5 - It's that good. read more

Le Calamar - Gnocchi‍ - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The first time I came here this place was an absolute disappointment because I got their tasting menu that felt like it was such terrible value for money compared to what we could've gotten if we had ordered everything Ala carte. However, this time around that experience fully turn around. Every single thing we ordered was absolutely mind blowing. I typically don't love chicken liver mousse because of the gaminess, but these guys made it so freaking good. The Seabass was absolutely incredible. The fries were done so well and had such a great aïoli with it, but the showstopper was the gnocchi. They literally took puff pastry and cheese and made gnocchi out of that it was out of this world. And that wasn't even the best part. That chicken wing when it showed up look like a little bit of a disappointment because it was a tiny bite for a nine dollar price point however that was literally the best bite I had throughout the meal. The wing was boneless and was stuffed with sweet breads and a bunch of other things that made for the perfect bite. I could eat so many more of those and be incredibly happy. The only thing that ended up being a huge disappointment was the fact that we all expected to spend our in-kind credits at this place and so that's why we went all out, but ended up with nearly a $400 bill that we had to pay for otherwise because they just came off of inkind a few days ago. Obviously not their fault. We should've been proactive and asked them, but that part definitely left a huge gap in the overall experience. read more

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With the influx of "Michelin Recognized" places in Austin, I've been on a mission to check then out to see what the hype is all about. Upon walking in I'd say the vibe was average, the food was just OK (not worth the price), was surprised that they batch make some of their cocktails and were out of the brown butter old fashioned, even though we were the first guests that night. The biggest letdown was the service. Portion recommendations were off, they took forever to clear plates (especially since we had a toddler with us) and it was difficult to get drink orders in. read more

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Nice french restaurant, with good service and food!! Highly recommend to try the Gnocchi and the Fish read more

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Went on steak frites night. Reservation for 2 at the bar. Service was pretty good, food was pretty good (standout steak tartare), place is very cute. Nothing crazy. read more

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French Feast !! We made a resy for Saturday night about 2 weeks in advance and got a prime time and spot. I recommend you make a reservation! The staff were fantastic and the atmosphere was perfect for the cuisine. The dining area is cozy and full which makes you feel like you're where you need to be. It was just two of us and we did everything a la carte as it was slightly cheaper than the prix fix. I will start by saying the Steak Tartare that we ordered was the best I have ever had. It was unbelievably flavorful in the best way -- this is an absolute must get! We also had the Crawfish Rice, the pan roasted chicken, the green cabbage, and the gnocchi. We were recommended by many to get the chicken so this was a must, it was very delicious. Very similar to a chicken Marsala but more so in a light way. The cabbage was an outstanding dish, flavors we haven't had ever and was a MUST get for the table. The gnocchi is such a safe bet. It was crispy on the outside but fluffy like mashed potatoes on the inside, all tossed in brown butter. So comforting and tasty! We did not get any dessert as 5 dishes for 2 people was more than enough. Our waiter Noah was so fantastic as well. We also had cocktails and they are also exquisite. Next time I stop in, we will do wine as their menu is so extensive and very wide selection of French wine! read more

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The Good: I don't usually order chicken out but my boyfriend did. The sauce that accompanied the poulet was devine! The Not so Good: If I was being hyper critical I'd say that the thinnest piece of my lamb was a on the firm side (but still full of flavor) The Ugly: Nope! No glaring issues or problems. The waiter was attentive and I liked the updating of the space after the restaurant format change. read more

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Unique concept with French inspired dishes. If you're thinking traditional bourguignon, confit or escargot, this isn't it. Mostly a la carte dishes or choose to do a prix fixe menu (but the whole table needs to go in on that). Make reservations. Parking ramp in the back with validation for 2 hours is great! Cocktails were wonderful with emphasis on French spirits used. Recommend the pate and chicken wing for starters. Red snapper beautifully plated and flavorful. read more

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I had been wanting to try La Calamar after being a fan of its previous concept, Underdog. Walking in you immediately notice the shift in ambiance as it's much darker and moodier than its predecessor. The menu has also evolved, leaning more into French cuisine, though I was glad to see they maintained a stellar wine selection. I was especially excited to find Beaujolais Nouveau by the glass, which is rare to come across in the States. It tasted just as elegant as its name suggests. Their martinis are also a strong choice if you're in the mood for a cocktail. For starters, the steak tartare was a standout. The chicken wing, however, felt a bit underwhelming as it lacked the crispness and depth of flavor I was hoping for. For my entrée, I chose the Yelloweye Snapper and I'm glad I did. The brown butter brought rich, balanced flavor and the almond crunch added a lovely textural contrast. To finish, I tried their take on baked Alaska. The presentation was uniquely shaped and visually striking. While enjoyable, I've had stronger versions elsewhere.Service was stellar throughout the evening, and validated parking was a thoughtful touch. I'm happy to see them receive Michelin recognition and hope they continue to refine and elevate the experience. I'd love for my next visit to be even better and maybe even a happy hour added! read more

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I was a little skeptical of a French Texan fusion but omg the food was delicious. I highly recommend the gnocchi, the chicken, and the steak tartare. Service was phenomenal and definitely an upscale vibe. read more

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Came here for a birthday dinner and they were very thoughtful to put a Personalized Happy birthday card on the table! The ambiance was dark and romantic and very French. The service was amazing and our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. The only hiccup that I didn't like was that they don't do substitutions for the prefix menu (I am allergic to shellfish and one of the dish was oyster). I really wanted to try it but ended up doing A La carte. All the dishes I had were amazing though. The stuffed chicken wing was really good and the chicken liver parfait with strawberry surprisingly worked well. I would come back for a special occasion! read more

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Went to Le Calamar on Saturday July 11, my reservation was at 9:30PM. Place was pretty much empty myself, two couples, and two largish parties. I went with the Prix Fixe menu, which unless you've been before, I would recommend as the way to go. Everything on the menu this night was pretty good, but nothing I would say really blew me away. read more

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Pricing for the pre-fixed menu is great, but I really wish they would portion the sizes among the guests. It feels really awkward to spend $80+ (including tip and tax) but have to portion control yourself and your party. Service is incredible, and our waitress was so sweet and helpful the entire time. The vibe is also intimate and great for dates and friends. The food itself is just okay. The tartare in the beginning was wonderful, but everything else was just okay. Nothing stood out, taste was just meh, and it felt like one mediocre dish after another. They also ran out of the chocolate dessert puff (I forgot exactly what it's called), so they gave us a free rice pudding that we also all had to share with multiple spoons. read more

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The interior was much nicer than expected: intimate, romantic, and dim. Some chairs were not as comfortable, but they do have cushioned seats. The service was good, but not fast. The drinks took awhile to come out. We tried several of the most popular items, and we liked the beef tallow fries the best. The steak tartare was decent. Gnocchi was filling. We had high hopes for the pan roasted chicken, which was tender as advertised, and the chicken wings stuffed with chicken and veal, but they were not extraordinary. The waygu petite tender steak au poivre was also not as delicious as expected but good enough. The golden beets dish was pretty refreshing. It cleaned the palate. We had to order a second order of the fries because they were so good. I also enjoyed the roasted Lion's mane mushroom. They made my Old Fashioned just right. For our birthday celebration, they brought our dessert out with two candles on it. It was a double birthday. We ordered the quatre epices cake with butterscotch & crème fraiche. Not bad! Overall the experience was good. read more

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Le Calamar is very unassuming. I have walked by this place quite a few times while dining at Dish Society and I did not know that they were there. The evening that we dined here, it seemed as if it was empty until I walked in to a packed house! I was shocked! I really love the front room that you pass through on your way to the main room; the decor is really nice and I loved the bathroom-super cute. For a girls dinner, we shared the chicken wings, steak tartare, pan roasted chicken, yellow eye snapper, gnocchi parisienne, and the salad. For dessert, we shared the baked Texas which is their take on baked Alaska. The food was incredible! The only reason that I am giving them 4 stars as opposed to 5 is because I find it extremely tacky when the hostess reminds guests that they have a time limit. I will definitely go back when they change their menu. read more

Le Calamar - The salad, snapper, roasted chicken and gnocchi - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

I showed up without a reservation with a friend and they accommodated us immediately, I had the salad, a cocktail and the main dish that was memorable was the wagyu au pouvre with the gnocchi, you must get the gnocchi, it melted in your mouth. The ambiance has dimmed lights and very upscale, great for a romantic date night read more

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It's a beautiful interior. We sat a the bar and ordered a few items. We did try chicken liver parfairt which came with texas toast. The liver had the consistency of a mousse and had gelatin on top of it. I didn't think it was that good and thought that it was too light for the texas toast. The other item we had was the baked texas, honey, olive oil, pecan dessert. Looked almost like a cactus, pretty cool, but it must have been frozen because we had trouble cutting thru it with the small dessert spoon. The margarita was good - the list of wines by the glass was small. We liked our bartender. read more

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This is a limited review since I went for Monday Steak Frites night. The French fries and steak was cooked to perfection. The service at the bar was wonderful and they even accommodated and replaced the martini with a mocktail. The service to bring out the plates was somewhat of a disaster and seemed uncoordinated. I assume it was their first week working. At first they were confused and gave our oysters and have them to another table. Same thing happened to our streak frites where 1 plate went to another group. They did not come out at the same time. They took the plate a from the other table and gave one to us. Then we sat there waiting for a second plate. The food doesn't feel as appetizing, to be honest, when you've seen it handed to another table and then brought to you... despite these mishaps I will say the bartender was wonderful and the steak quality itself was great. I just expect more coordination and better service. I'll have to come back for a regular night to gather a better assessment of the restaurant. read more

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Absolutely delicious meal and excellent service! The chicken and fish entree were some of the best I've ever had. Incredible flavor on the fish and with the squeeze of lime. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the pickled mushrooms on top were the perfect pairing. For appetizers the chicken liver parfait was the perfect sweet and salty combo on crunchy toast. I had never tried chicken liver before so was apprehensive but it was so good. The tomato salad appetizer was good but the least exciting thing we ordered. Would try something else next time. It was basically just cherry tomatoes in a vinaigrette, but they were very fresh. The side of potato was a pretty small patty but it was tasty. I would order two if you have more than 3-4 people at your table. The baked Texas dessert was a bit underwhelming. The olive oil martini was hard to get down but the dirty martini was great! Highly recommend for a nice dinner with some great flavor. Inside is also beautifully decorated. read more

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In south of Austin. We ordered chef menu. My favorite is shrimp and steak. The shrimp is very fresh. $77 for two people dinner is very reasonable for Michelin recommended restaurant. read more

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I'm hesitant to write this review as I had such high hopes for this newly revamped restaurant. Previously the Underdog, it is now La Calamar. I'm not sure why they completely changed a good thing. I absolutely loved the Underdog food, I still remember the cucumber kimchi. The food at La Calamar is just okay. We did enjoy the crispy chicken wing, the snapper and I loved the spice cake. But the other food was so bland. Especially the crudo and chicken. The fries were pretty good but they were just fries. Overall I felt they had something really special and much more flavorful with the Underdog menu. I know they are going for a French bistro but we just got back from France and this food can't compare. Sometimes a revamp it's not always better. read more

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We were running quite late (25 mins!) and they were very accommodating - we let them know we were going to be late through the chat on OpenTable. Their flexibility was much appreciated. Ambiance is fantastic - moody with a bit of Texan eclectic flair. Service was prompt and friendly. We got the crudo and beets to start, followed by the au poivre, snapper, and gnocchi. Everything was very solid and very rich. The crudo could have used a bit of acid, and the steak wasn't quite as tender as I would have liked, but otherwise we enjoyed the dishes. I got two of the mezcal cocktails - the electron and the el diablo. The electron was particularly good, very well balanced. Recommend stopping in for a date night! read more

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If I had to dream the perfect ambiance/décor, Le Calamar would be what I would dream up. It is dimly lit, modern, but cozy with intricate attention to detail. Tables are perfectly spread out throughout the restaurant to create an intimate, but also lively energy (I'm not sure how they manage both). The menu is a mix of items that you would recognize and are comforting along with very creative options. We ordered the Beet Salad along with pistachios and goat cheese as well as the Yellowfish Crudo, both were tasty. For our main, we split the Waygu Flat Iron Steak, which was perfectly cooked and doused in a delicious sauce. The Beef Tallow Pommes Frites are not to be missed. We had been looking forward to the Baked Alaska, but it was not on the menu for the night, so leaves one of many reasons to return. read more

The space is beautiful. It's dark, intimate, and the service was superb. The food, however, was a hit or a miss for me. The best thing we ate was the chicken liver parfait. The sweetness of the fruit offset the iron taste of the liver. It was so addicting that we ordered more bread. The steak tartar was unimpressive. It was way too salty from the capers and the chips were rock hard. The fish with almond and brown butter was so, so tiny for almost $40 that it didn't seem worth it. The pan roasted chicken has good flavor, but it was dry, as if it's been sitting out for a while. It's also worth noting that the cocktails are premade. I asked about replacing mezcal with tequila and they were unable to make those drinks from scratch. For the price of the cocktails, I expected better. read more

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Beautiful new restaurant that took over the Underdog space! It's an interesting French fusion concept and heavy focus on yummy wines. Parking is easy in the garage (the restaurant validates!) but a reservation is a good idea. We tried the cucumber salad, steak, duck fat fries, and chicken. All of them were delicious! read more

Le Calamar - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

The green salad was exquisite. The chicken was excellent and steak au poivre was delicious. Definitely a fantastic choice! read more

I definitely gotta go back because I feel like I missed out. Was really in the mood for steak tartare so got that and then wasn't sure if I was hungry enough for a full main, so I got the wahoo cru per the server's recommdation. Both were good, but obviously that's not really a full meal that I could judge them on. read more

I came to Le Calamar with a friend just for dessert. It's a really lovely space on S. First, in an area with lots of restaurants and bars. There is a parking garage directly underneath the place and they validate you for 2 hrs there (per my friend who'd been before, it was $10 for him when he left after 3 hrs). The hostess and waiter were very attentive and helpful with recs. I ordered the riz au lait (french rice pudding) with blueberry compote and pistachios ($14) and I really liked it! My friend got the fig duck liver appetizer which comes with toast to spread it ($18). I really enjoyed what I had and I tried his appetizer which was also pretty good - that's coming from someone that doesn't really like liver/patè but I do love figs. The toast is really good too, excellent texture. The cocktail menu was a little bit limited for my liking but they did have a solid 15 or so options so it's not "short" by any means, I'm just picky. Overall I really enjoyed my visit here! It's a nice open space, would make for a great date night spot. read more

Le Calamar - The fig and duck liver app - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

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4.5 stars Excellent service. The food was fantastic. Food: Steak tartare - delicious Chicken liver - must try with the brioche Chicken legs - ok Wagyu coulotte - good Gnocchi - good; a little too oily, soft, and mushy for me Baked Texas - good read more

I finally got to try Le Calamar, and I'd been looking forward to this dinner date all week. We had been there back when it was Underdog, and Le Calamar feels like the sultry French version of the bright Asian cuisine I remember. Parking in the garage is validated for 2 hours. We happened to come on Beaujolais Nouveau Day, so after our yummy martinis, we tried a glass for just $12. It smelled floral and tasted pretty straightforward. As for the food, I thought the chicken wing was a little bland, but the whole process behind how they prepare it sounded so intricate that we had to try it. It's a chicken wing and flat that's stuffed and deboned, which is impressive. The snapper crudo was unfortunately too warm and a little fishy. We enjoyed the beef tartare the most, although the presentation could've looked better. We also loved the red snapper entree because the sauce was delicious. I was hoping for the pommes frites to be crispier since it's fried in beef tallow. The dipping sauce was just mayo, i think. They put so much effort into all their other sauces, I wish this one got the same attention. For dessert, we were looking forward to the Baked Texas, and it ended up being a really yummy take on a Baked Alaska. Our server, Morgan, is also the bar manager and was great! I'll definitely be back, especially because they have Chartreuse. IYKYK. read more

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Had the opportunity finally try the dinner on their third day of service. I always expect new restaurants to have some operational things to work through, but we found that the meal was coursed out and served in a pretty timely fashion. Drinks we sampled: * Classic martini - perfectly crafted with a twist * Olive oil martini - think dirty martini but without the heavy salinity * Hanky panky martini - slightly sweet and fruity * gruenepoint manhattan - alcohol forward but with nicely balanced sweetness * Clos de Toilette, Fleurie - a red wine from Beaujolais. Very nice wine - light to medium bodied that holds up with the meal. We tried to order almost everything on the menu and have a rundown on what we had: * chicken wing à la koffman - stuffed (mousseline - think eggy mix) deboned chicken flats with the wingtip. These were a hit * yellowfin tuna, piperade, espelette - thinly sliced tuna in a light pepper sauce * steak tartare, pain de mie, comte - a slide of bread cut into triangles with steak tartare and a crisp covering it. Very nice * chicken liver parfait, preserved blackberries - this comes with half slices of thick toast. I'm a sucker for chicken liver mousse and this one is so very good. Had to ask for some more toast to polish the dish off. * dill & cucumber salad - this is a light appetizer with a few cuts of cucumber. I like that it's refreshing when accompanying something richer like the chicken liver or the chicken wings * pan roasted chicken, sauce vin jaune, chestnut mushroom - my favorite dish of the evening. Perfectly roasted chicken without any dryness. Mushrooms add slight earthiness and the dish is tied together by the flavor bomb of a sauce. * wagyu bavette, café d'austin butter, texas red onion - perfectly cooked beef sliced for convenience glazed with some butter and melty onions. * pommes paillasson - think hash brown - but better since there are a few things mixed in that makes it so savory * tallow pomp frites - French fries cooked in tallow - so crisp * maque choux, pork jowl, tarragon - a corn medley that reminds me a little bit of elotes (minus mayo). Has a tanginess to it that adds brightness against the richer dishes * salad de laitue, soft herbs - a fairly simple salad with a strong tangy dressing. I liked this as a contrast against the richer dishes (and it paired really well with the gnocchi) * smoked gnocchi Parisienne, brown butter - little bites of pillow potato goodness with buttery richness. I dipped these through the sauce from the chicken. The flavor of these also really pop if you have one after a bite of the salad. * riz au lait, strawberry, pistachio - a bowl of rice pudding lightly flavored with strawberry and a pistachio crunch. Surprisingly my favorite of the three desserts * baked texas, honey, olive oil, pecan - think baked Alaska Texas style. A nice soft crunch to it with honey sweetness and toasted meringue. If you like sweet, this is the sweetest of the desserts * local peach sorbet - another crowd pleaser and great since the peaches are all sourced locally. read more

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Food is very bland and no taste. Steak au poivre (beef stock, cognac, black pepper, cream) don't even taste like it. Service is poor lot of staff but not fully attentional to your table. read more

This place had been on my list to try since it opened. Mainly because a good steak au piovre in South Austin sounded great. As you walk in you're struck by a chic French bistro vibe meets the Texas cowboy aesthetic. It's dark and vibey with really cool decor. The staff were all very kind and offered great service. We started with the chicken liver parfait and the wahoo cru. Of the two we much preferred the chicken liver parfait, it was deliciously savory with a sweet balance from the orange preserves on top and the house made bread it was served with was so fluffy and delicious. The cry was good too but overall was kind of flat on flavor and had too much kohlrabi which made it taste too earthy for our taste. We then got the steak au piovre, the chicken, the frites, and the gnocchi. Overall the chicken was really the star. It was perfectly cooked, juicy, savory, and the sauce it was served with had a deliciously intense umami chicken flavor. The steak was good but the au piovre sauce was somewhat unusual in flavor in our opinion. The frites were also delicious and were great dipped in the sauce that was served with the chicken. We could have done without the gnocchi but they were also good. Overall, everything was solid. We would probably return to try some other items we didn't get to try on our first visit. read more

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This spot was SO delicious!! We came for date night and ended up doing the pre fixe menu so we could try and share lots of different bites. Everything was exceptional and a we left the evening feeling full. Service was a little slow between bites but everyone was kind and knowledgeable to explain each dish as it arrived. The ambiance is classy and elevated with dark vibes and candle lit tables. They also offer outdoor seating. Highly recommend checking them out for your next special occasion! read more

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This was a fantastic meal in the heart of Austin's gorgeous Bouldin Creek neighborhood- Sophisticated and swanky yet not pretentious vibes, beautifully decorated and a fabulous menu of cocktails and tasty and thoughtful bites. The one not to miss? Chicken liver appetizer (generous portion!), gnocchi and Roasted chicken entree- all perfectly prepared, flavors in excellent harmony and overall delectable. Can't wait to return! read more

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Le Calamar is my new favorite restaurant in Austin! Had the prixe fixe menu, which I highly recommend. Every dish was fantastic. Especially loved the steak, fish, and salad. For dessert, I would've preferred a creme brulee rather than a rice pudding.Had a delicious olive oil vodka cocktail (Happy hour was til 6pm). This place is 1000x better than Underdog. Chef Casey is excellent!! Highly recommend! read more

We had such a wonderful experience when we came here for our anniversary. Greeted with bubbles and a beautifully hand scripted happy anniversary note. Our top two favorite dishes (and we ordered many) were the snapper and the chicken liver parfait. We are definitely coming back! read more

Le Calamar - Beautiful check presenter and anniversary note - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

At the Le Calamar, you will be eating so well, all the dishes leading up to the climax at the end, the baked Texas. This place is nothing short of delicious on a plate, the savory deliciousness will keep you in your seat, ordering more until the point where you feel almost full enough to leave, but you can't because the baked Texas beckoned you. Don't leave this place without getting it. The servers in the owners are pretty cool too. It's kind of noisy in there. read more

Le Calamar - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

We went on a night with a special fixed menu. Quite pricey for 6 of us but delicious.

Ambiance of the restaurant was very beautiful, service was exceptional and the food was all very delicious. We throughly enjoyed this meal and looking forward to visiting again soon. read more

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