Too trendy for its own good. I'm worried they've transitioned to optimizing for social media over providing a good dining experience. The service setup is a bit weird, you order at the register right as you come in, and then you separately order drinks. Lots of awkward interactions when it's crowded and there are more diners than tables. The food is generally pretty good, and the seafood is a particular highlight here. The prices are extremely high, about what I would expect to pay at a sit-down restaurant in the SF Bay area. Unfortunately, I don't think the food is good enough to justify the prices. Portions are pretty small. Cocktail prices are truly delusional. The drinks aren't that good, and they are priced in the stratosphere. The bartender corrected my German friend on his pronunciation of "Altstadt," and was generally rude to my friend, who is a senior citizen and who has an accent. read more

How have I never written a review for Vic and Al's? It's one of my favorite restaurants in all of Austin. My friend always raves about Vic & Al's (she even wrote in her own Yelp review that she will be raving about this place to all her friends and she did not lie LOL). It's actually such a pretty restaurant, and you can't really get a sense of how rustically elegant it is from photos. It's a casual spot, but wow. Their food is incredible. My favorite is the blackened catfish, and you have to replace the salad with rice. I love corn so much, and I love how their rice has corn in it. Every bite is so delectable, and I honestly find myself not eating as much just so I can save it to bring it back home. I've tried a lot of their other dishes too like their breakfast items, and everything is a home run. All of the employees are also so friendly and helpful. read more

Food: 5/5 Vic and Al's is PEAK Cajun in Austin Texas! The chicken thigh over rice was so crispy and tender I would have ordered another if the portion wasn't so huge! Insane value and flavor for such a fair price. Service: 5/5 Extremely welcoming and quick to break down their mission and menu. Suggestions of the chicken thigh and gumbo were absolutely spot on. Environment: 5/5 Great seating inside and outside with plenty of parking as well. read more

Vic & Al's - Fried Chicken Thigh - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Austin, Texas

10 stars for the STELLAR service by Travis! He was so attentive, helpful, and gracious! I will visit again just for the srrvice alone! The food was good! We ordered the following: - corn dog (was smaller than the average but definitely tasty. It had a delicious mustard and tomato sauce. - the red bean fritters were a tad on the dry side but quite filling and shareable. - blackened catfish with red beans and rice (we asked and they did it that way for us!). It was very tasty! - fried chicken with rice (instead of beignets) tasty but too much sauce on it so I could only taste the sauce. I would still recommend this. - Cochon boy boy. It was cooked with whole grain mustard so that was the predominant flavor. Very tender and huge. - gumbo - my favorite bite of the meal. It was flavorful but not heavy at all. - bread pudding to go so haven't tried it yet. - "fancy coffee" was a cold brew that was delicious. - kiddo had "light drizzle" with orange, passion fruit and grenadine. It was DELICIOUS! They had 2 outdoor areas as well as a nicely sized indoor one. They make everything from scratch and you can tell the quality is 100% there. It's a little bit hard to find, but it's in the same parking lot as Dai Due, around the back Thanks for the great experience, Travis! read more

See all

Walked-in on a Friday night and there was no wait. Order at the front and then find your seat. Loved all the dishes we tried except the boudin. Beet salad - tasty and paired well with the cheese Fried chicken thigh - two large pieces of chicken Fried boudin - interesting concept but least tasty dish Blackened fish - tender juicy fish paired with a delicious salad Gumbo - loved it, not overly salty like many other places and tons of filling cochon poboy - sizeable sandwich overloaded with toppings and juicy shredded pork read more

See all

My friend suggested this restaurant because her friend suggested it to her. We came during dinner time on a weekend and it was a bit busy. The concept of this place is that you stand in line to order your food, when you're done, you can get some drinks at the bar, while they prep your table. I guess I didn't get it at first because I didn't sit down right away, even though our table was ready. In any case, it wasn't too long of a wait. As for the food, just know that the menu changes. We ordered a salad with lots of mushrooms in it and it was delicious and plentiful. It was fresh and the mushrooms soaked up all the delicious seasoning and flavors. Then we ordered the cochon de lait. It was a burst of flavor. I appreciated the different textures this sandwich had. It was crunchy from the vegetables and the meat was tender. Then you get a nice crust on the bread but with a pillowy inside. As for the dessert, we ordered the beignets. I think that wasn't the best. It was a tad hard and we were disappointed by it. However, the other dishes made up for the lackluster beignets. We did order some drinks. I don't remember what it was called but mine had tea in it and non-alcoholic. My friend had the alcoholic version and she said hers was delicious, as was mine. I cant tell you about parking because we took a rideshare. But it looked like there was a good amount. I was also nice that there was seating outdoors but I can imagine getting super hot , though we did notice that they had strong misters outside. The decor and ambiance were beautiful. The price point were fair, as were the portions. We wanted to try more food but we were too full from our lunch. Next time, we definitely need to order other dishes because it was pretty delicious. I would definitely come back again. read more

See all

I found this on a list of "hidden gems" in Austin - I was expecting a run-down, hole-in-the-wall place but there were chandeliers, open bar, and the atmosphere was bustling but intimate at the same time. Their Instagram page showed Duck Confit as the daily special, but they ran out by 7pm. Come earlier than 7pm for their daily special! Plenty of parking in the lot and the street; Vic and Al's is on a lively street with bars and other restaurants. Order at counter, and your food/drink tab is open until you close it at the end of your meal. I was greeted by Travis (blue braids and super friendly) and he explained how the seating, ordering, and experience would go. It was quite chaotic getting a seat on a Friday night; the outdoor bar ran out of seats but luckily another party left so we could be seated. It was a free-for-all for seating when I visited, apparently, this is not a common issue. I ordered the Blackened Catfish and Potato Salad. I've been eating a lot of seafood from oceanside cities, and I was impressed with the catfish! I'm used to getting butter/garlic so this Louisiana / Texas style was pleasantly different - lemony, saucy, nice touch of parsley and veggies. Overall, the food and experience was pleasant! I'd love to come back to try the Gumbo, other entrees, and their daily specials. read more

See all

I had the blackened catfish over beans and rice, and it was absolutely delicious! Perfectly seasoned, with just the right amount of heat, and the beans and rice were a hearty, flavorful complement. My friends ordered the shrimp and grits without the bacon, and it was exquisitely prepared; rich, creamy, and full of flavor without being heavy. The kitchen clearly knows how to elevate classic Southern dishes. We'll definitely be back if ever I'm in this neck of the woods again! read more

Vic & Al's - Blackened Catfish; Beans and Rice - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Austin, Texas

The food was good, but the business model is a bit unfriendly. You step up to the counter to place your order from the posted menu. The guy who took the order was barely civil, not inclined to answer questions. I asked for coffee and he said I had to order my drink separately, "over there," indicating with a wave of his hand. Uihhh, okay.. When he took my card for payment, I had a moment to ponder the question of how much to tip for non-service, but I didn't have to decide. He ran my card and handed it back without the standard offer of a receipt via print or email. Or even a total. I was annoyed at having to place a separate order for coffee--especially since they didn't have anything but "fancy coffee." I said I'd just have water, and got another wave to show me where to pour my own. Room temperature. The food was actually pretty good. I had fried chicken thighs on rice. . . BUT I can get tasty fried chicken thighs and a side, served in the same little metal tray, along with friendly table service and refilled ICE water, for half the price over at my favorite chicken joint over on Burnet--and parking won't suck. I think I'll go there next time. . My friend and I agree that we won't be back read more

See all

The drinks and food were all so flavorful! We had boudin, blackened catfish salad and poor boy. And service was amazing!

The menu changes everyday with something for everyone. Incredible service, casual dining (easy to get a seat!) but somehow it also feels upscale. We ordered boudin balls as appetizers (yum!), fish special, pork poboy, blackened catfish, and fried chicken. Everything was delicious. We also got various cocktails and they were wonderful. All of the workers are super helpful and friendly and fun. We will definitely be back! read more

See all

Potato Salad & Gumbo is a must! All the side dishes were so yummy! Cocktails were great too! Only complaint is the texture is a bit inconsistent with the rice, found some harder grains of rice with my catfish. overall verryyy good! read more

Vic & Al's - Gumbo, blackened catfish, Potato Salad, Red Beans and Rice - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Austin, Texas

The food here was delicious and the service was very friendly. The location itself was a little hard to find because you can't really see it off of the street. Its by the side around the corner from The Pretty Kitty. Their sign isn't the easiest to sport but its there. There is parking in the back behind the restaurant designated for patrons. If you want the place to yourself, go on Monday during lunch hour when it opens. This was my first time there and it was spectacular. First, their menu is small which means that they really take care to make everything there when you order it. The place is a little smaller and cozy. Everything was decorated in a very intentional. I wouldn't call it rustic but it had a bit of that feel. For food, I had the cochon au lait which was seasoned spectacularly. It was a heaping pile of meet with delicious cole slaw and mustard with the actual seeds. The tangy flavors went together delightfully. I also was able to try the side car drink and the chicken with beignets. The side car presenting was a little interesting but the flavor was great. Very orange and citrusy without being to syrup-py sweet. The chicken and beignets were like their version of chicken and waffles. The sauce was delicious and the beignets were perfectly flaky. I could see this place being good for lunch, brunch and dinner. I'm not sure when are the busy times but even if there is a little bit of a wait, I'm sure it would definitely be worth it. read more

See all

Absolutely amazing place from the patrizi family. Great value and delicious options. Almost a hidden gem, and they just expanded the dining area. read more

Vic & Al's was a nice spot to have lunch while visiting Austin! I visited during a weekday afternoon, and I liked that they had both indoor and outdoor seating (though with the June humidity and heat, indoor seemed like the most comfortable bet). After you order at the front, you can choose your own seating, and I appreciated getting informative food recommendations and friendly service when I placed my order. I ordered the cochon de lait, which came as a tasty sandwich with tender roasted pork that was balanced by tangy pickled onions and mustard. This was a juicy and robust meal that was satisfying and left me curious about the rest of their menu. However, the sandwich was so filling that I will have to revisit to taste their other items. I also enjoyed their non-alcoholic shrub, which was tart and perfect for the hot weather. read more

Representing Austin, TX as a true foodie metropolitan hub Food: Fried chicken and blackened catfish were delightful, flavorsome and cooked to perfection! The rice that the meat was bedded on was also tasteful with the spicy aioli sauce. Then I added their homemade Tabasco sauce which elevated everything even more. My favorite side was the roasted beet salad topped with cheese was a fresh palate cleanser. The fried potatoes were not oily, seasoned well and topped which a nice grated Parmesan cheese. Beans and rice were hardy! Their style of Arnold Palmer was a Fancy tea: earl grey, sassafras and cello. Dessert: Beignets were good but I have had better; however, the bread pudding was the star dessert coated with powder sugar and a lovely berry compote at the bottom. The fried bread pudding had a hint of bourbon vanilla taste accompanied with nuts. Service: Shoutout to our waitress JoJo! She was absolutely amazing and welcoming beyond measure. She walked us through everything and ensured upmost Texas hospitality throughout the entire experience. If you have the pleasure of having her, I promise you will have great customer service Ambiance: It was a nice picnic style interior giving classy backyard with ceiling light decor and a wall of spices Overall: I been raving about this place to all my Californian folks and can't wait to go again when visiting the sibling at UT Austin! Go Longhorns read more

See all

Two words to describe this place: fresh and flavorful!! Came here with a group of friends and their drinks never miss. Delicious, you cannot go wrong! My friends love the gumbo but as someone who goes to louisiana often, this isnt authentic gumbo but its still delish! I got the fried chicken thigh on rice and i cleaned the plate. The fried chicken wasn't greasy, it was very well seasoned and fried to perfection. I asked for extra sauce because it was delicious and went well with the rice. My friends got potato salad, corndog, poboy and fried boudin...lets just say there was no leftovers! To top it off, the waitors were always walking around picking up plates and making sure we were comfortable and well serviced. I'll be back!! read more

See all

Outstanding food and service! Love that the menu changes daily. The gumbo is spot on and the po-boys are delicious.

Menu changes too often and the food was not tastey. Had the bread pudding but it was just two balls of bread with some sauce poured over it. Chicken was bland, seasoning was ob the too sweet sauce only. read more

I've heard a lot of great things about this place, so I was super excited to try it out for a friend's birthday dinner! We arrived as a party of three on a Friday night, and there was no wait for a table. When you first arrive, you'll be asked to start a tab at the host stand immediately in front of the door. You'll also order all your food at the host stand, and they'll bring it to your table once it's ready. This was definitely a different process than most restaurants, but luckily there wasn't much of a line to wait in to order. The host was very friendly and able to give us recommendations and advice on what to order based on my friend's dietary restrictions. The menu rotates often, so be sure to check their Instagram and website to see what they're currently serving! After ordering food, you can order drinks at the bar and choose any table you'd like. The restaurant itself has a casual vibe, almost like an apothecary with all of the jarred ingredients along the walls. We ordered: - Potato Salad (3/5): Personally, I'm not a potato salad person so I'm a little biased, but I wasn't a huge fan of this side. Roasted Mushrooms on Fresh Greens (5/5): This was such a delicious and fresh salad! The mushrooms were perfectly roasted and not mushy at all. The dressing was herbaceous and refreshing, kind of like a green goddess dressing. This was the perfect complement to all of the heavier dishes that we ordered. One of the staff members said this is their favorite dish, and I can see why! - Crawfish and Shrimp Etouffee (5/5): This was my personal favorite dish! The sauce was rich and flavorful, and the fried catfish underneath was perfectly crispy yet tender on the inside. The portion was massive, we split it between the three of us and almost didn't finish it. I highly recommend this one if they have it! - Beignets (5/5): These beignets were served warm, and topped generously with powdered sugar. They were surprisingly light! The best part of the experience was definitely the staff. When I went back to the host stand to order the beignets for dessert, one of the staff members overheard it was my friend's birthday and decided to make it extra special. Even though they don't have candles, they lit a corn husk on fire for her to blow out instead and gave us the beignets on the house! I love when restaurants do something special to celebrate birthdays, and I feel like Vic and Al's went above and beyond. Although it's more of a casual spot, if you're looking for a lowkey birthday dinner I would definitely recommend this place! read more

See all

While the service was great the food was just ok. I was not a fan of the breading on the fried chicken a bit to breast and lacked flavor. Definitely think the placed was over hyped on social media and nothing stood out to me as being worth trying again. read more

See all

A surprisedly great lunch place. Limited service with a simple ordering process. Lots of beverage selections. Although I just had water with a slice of lemon. Definitely worth coming back. BTW, my friend ordered gumbo on top of catfish and he loved it! read more

Vic & Al's - Blacken catfish over greens - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Walked in to be served immediately. Placed my order to go as the parking is scarce. I took a seat at the bar, Ben took care of me very professional and quickly. While I waited for my order I enjoyed a delicious Sidecar. I arrived home and engulfed in a house salad with crawfish/shrimp etoufee and it was by far the best outside of homemade. Like Gumbo I don't eat restaurant etoufee because it is often scorched and tomatoey. However, this rendition was Delicioso! Thank for great service and tasty Sunday meal. See you soon! read more

Vic & Al's - Crawfish Etoufee' - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

I absolutely loved everything about this restaurant, the drinks and the food were amazing and I loved the restaurant as a whole, it's a cozy little place with the staff going above and beyond. If you are in the Austin area I highly recommend this place! To the staff: Thank you! We will be coming back! read more

Visiting Austin and decided to stop in for brunch...and OMG, the food is amazing!! Being from Louisiana flavoring is everything. Not salt but flavor...and they hit all the taste buds. If you're in the area, check them out. read more

I visited Vic & Al's on a Wednesday evening close to closing and it was amazing. The building is very unassuming at first but inside is like a family dining room with friendly staff and ingredients along shelves on the wall to double as decor. I ordered the Shrimp and grits which was 10/10, and my bf got the blackened catfish over fresh greens. Everything was super flavorful and perfectly cooked. The catfish was tender and flavored with a nice spice. We ordered beignets for dessert before finishing our meal which was a bit of a a mistake because the portions were big and by the time they came out I was stuffed. The beignets were piping hot with a generous amount of powdered sugar. They were dense but pillowy giving it a nice mouth feel. Overall Vic & Al's was a great restaurant with decor to make you feel at home, really vibey music, and food to make your mouth water! read more

See all

Took one bite and knew it wasn't gumbo and never would be. They should not consider themselves a Cajun restaurant with the " flair" they say they put on the gumbo read more

Vic & Al's - Worst gumbo and potato salad ever. I took one bite and told them to take it back and take it off my bill. Lest and won't be back - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Austin, Texas

This was my second time to Vic and Al's and it was just as delicious as the first time! When you arrive there is a small parking lot in the back it shares with the place next door. They have both outdoor and indoor seating. When we arrived a hostess greeted us, assigned us a table and then let us know the order process. You place your order at a kiosk at the front by the menu and then order drinks at the bar. Everyone was very nice and helpful and staff were quick to clear plates and restock napkins. We got the Cajun corn, shrimp creole, and a pork poboy. The corn was delicious and flavorful, and that sauce around it was chefs kiss. The shrimp and rice was well seasoned and flavorful. And the poboy had a beautiful combination of flavors and textures all of a flaky/light bread. Great cozy vibes and 10/10 will be back! read more

See all

Like fresh beet juice and vegan bean patties choice and like the fact it's clearly label on the menu and it's limited choice but still nice flavor ! Like fact I can sit outside and call for a table ahead of time ! Parking lot is easy to find . read more

What a cute place! Parking was a little challenging and it's a bit hidden. Once you get in, there is a whimsical and quaint interior. Ordering was a little odd, you order when you walk in and then they assign you a spot. However before you sit you can also make your way to the bar and order there. They'll bring the food out when it's ready and you go back up to the front when you want to close out. Food wise, portions looked small but was actually quite filling. I got the fried chicken which wasn't crispy in a traditional sense but still juicy. I think the sauce may have made it a little soggy. The rice was good and the picked onions had a kick. I also ordered beignets to share and they were soft and delicious too. There's a couple patio tables and private tables inside with about 3 community tables. Casual vibe but could make for a cute date night spot too! read more

Vic & Al's - Fried chicken thigh - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Austin, Texas

We were in town visiting and we were taken here for lunch by our kids... really cool little place with great service... the menu changes with the seasons so these folks get creative with different ingredients all the time. The pork sandwich is really tasty with a schmear of mustard under a really juicy and flavorful shredded pork service and a crust bun... go try one read more

Vic & Al's - Cool decor - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place is super cute!! It gives off big Austin vibes with all the chandeliers and wood. The waiters here were all super nice as well. It was my first time there and one of the waiters gave me an explanation of their menu which was much appreciated. If you're looking for an authentic cajun/creole place, this is definitely not it. But the food here is still quite tasty with good portion. read more

Vic & Al's - the hash special - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Austin, Texas

Wow this place is incredible. Walking in the vibes are immaculate. It screams Austin with the wood and the chandeliers. The service is also super sweet and helpful. You order at the front and they bring the food to you which is cool. I got the Black and Red Bean Fritter. That was a delicious meal. The fritters were like falafels on a bed of a beautiful salad. Yum yum. Great portion size! read more

See all

I chose this restaurant because it was on my list of places to try in Austin. The menu and pictures looked great when I pulled it up on my phone so I convinced my husband and daughter to try it with me on a Saturday afternoon. The vibe is very chill and cute...Austin for sure! The staff is super friendly and helped us navigate the menu as it was our first visit. They have a mixologist who uses fresh juices, herbs and spices in your cocktail. And you can omit the alcohol to make it a mocktail! We each thought the food had some flavor and was interesting. We would visit again if we were in the area. We live in Pflugerville and wouldn't drive in specifically to eat here though. It is worth a try. Let's call it a healthier option for dinner and good vegetarian choices too. read more

See all

Loved the food and drinks and service there. Only giving four stars because I'm hoping that someone will read my constructive criticism. The business model layout was weird... you walk in and right up to what looks like a host stand, but it has a register. This is where you order your food... well before you order your drinks... (there is no drink menu at this station) One could say it's a little intimidating... You haven't had a chance to mull over a menu yet, WHILE SIPPING YOUR DRINK. An odd conversation ensues... where they describe their business model to you. So I'm like... can I just order a drink? They said sure, over here at the bar... And they essentially walk me over to the bar... But the bar isn't really a bar... It's a row of chairs abutting up to a low wall instead of a bar top. Then you see the register at the end, similar to the other host stand where you order your food. At this point, I'm now talking to a third person. They are also describing to me the business model... For the love of God... I understand the stand-up model... Either... A. Take food and drink orders from one place, or even both places... B. Hire waiters C. Put QR codes on the table "for food" to eliminate waiters D. Put QR codes on the table "for food and drinks" to eliminate waiters The two stand system... Needs to die! read more

Very casual order at the counter type of restaurant. Menu is small with rotating specials. Came here for happy hour. The gumbo was some of the best I've had. The red beans were also good and who can't go wrong with beignets. Service was quick but could have also been the time of day. I'll be dreaming of that gumbo until I get a chance to come back. read more

See all

I stopped by this place as a recommendation from an employee of Le Labo. I'm so glad that I tried it. The service was quick and courteous. We placed our order and had the food at our table within 15 mins. We sat outdoors and the weather and ambience was delightful. The food was super tasty and the red beans and rice were my favorite. Because I'm a wimp when it comes to spicy foods, it was a little hot for me. But the flavor of the food was great! I'll be back on my next trip to Austin. read more

See all

I'll go back but I was disappointed. Drink was really weak (ie no alcohol) but still refreshing. The choices on the menu weren't really what I was looking for in that night unfortunately- but I would go back as they seem to be 100% focused on the food and maybe I just don't know what to order here. Outside patio had bait stations next to seating (other side was parking lot) - and I really didn't like the ordering system- maybe it works better when it's busy but it kinda sucked the night we were there. I couldn't wait to visit Vic & Al's so this is a hard review to write, but I had to be honest with my experience. read more

The vibes here are immaculate. A nice place for friends or date. The food menu is very small though. I tried their salmon, and all the greens made it really healthy. Their fried boudin was good but nothing special to me. Their beignet are a nice dessert at the end. They do have a lot of drinks option with mocktails too read more

See all

when it comes to farm to table restaurants in austin, im not sure you will find anything quite like vic and als. idk how many times we've been since moving into the neighborhood, but the menu never disappoints. there are quite a few options, and i say just order whatever calls to you. their jambalaya is also a solid choice if it happens to be on when you visit. the po boys are great, but i feel like this is a sandwich that needs a rebrand because its been ages since ive seen one live up to the name, but hey thems the breaks in these Unprecedented Times (TM) we find ourselves living in, but i digress. also can we take a moment to appreciate places that put as much effort into their mocktails as they do their cocktails? read more