Bess Bristo On Pecan - Austin - TravBuddy

This was the third time I had been to Bess. The first visit (a year ago)I had joined friends for dinner. Service was slow and the food was at best average. The second time we just met for drinks and that proved to be a better experience. The bar staff was excellent and attentive. This third time, well once again it disappointed. This place has a wonderful decor and ambiaunce. The small terrace is a great place to meet up with friends on a sunny day! The menu is what really disappoints. My friends and I eat out a lot and we are use to eclectic menus. But when 3 out of 4 get the Shepards Pie (to be on the safe side), you know something is up! To be just though, it was very good. We had heard the menu (and chef)had changed here, so everyone wanted to give it a fair shake because we like the atmosphere. The appetizers weren't as appealing as we had hoped, so we went with the cheese tray. Four types of cheese: a brie, a calumbere (sp) and two types of bleu cheese that were tough for me. Though 90% of of both were left! The menu proved also disappointing. Odd combinations and flavors, turned us away from most choices. Cristina got the Seafood Rissoto, which was tasty enough, but lost my vote with the inclusion of salmon instead of a white fish. Once again the waitress, although sweet, was over burdened. Covering tables inside and out. A wrong order, timeliness issues. Though at the end of the evening, she did go out of her way to arrange a hot chocolate (not on the menu) for one of my group. I am done with eating at Bess. Drinking there is good though. A nice selection of wine, beer and other libations. The bar is smallish, broken up into two parts, but the barmen are on their game.