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Escargot from Chez Nous
Escargot from Chez Nous
Nathan I./Yelp

Where to Enjoy French Fare in Austin

Breads, pommes frites, mussels, duck confit

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Escargot from Chez Nous
| Nathan I./Yelp

Even though Austin is thought of more of a messy-eating haven, where barbecue and tacos reign, the French cuisine in the city is quite good. The city has a fine variety of restaurants serving French fare to choose from.

From Chez Nous’ classic and modern fare, casual bistros like Blue Dahlia Bistro, to the boisterous vibe at Justine’s Brasserie, these places have that right je ne sais quoi quality for an evening or late night out. Look through to find traditional dishes and updated takes on pommes frites, croque madames, escargots, and of course, freshly baked baguettes. Bon appétit.

For other like-fare and drinks, scope out Austin’s best wine bars and restaurants, spots for wine and cheese, macarons, and baked goods. For the real thing, look through Eater National’s extensive Paris guide.

If there’s a major missing restaurant serving stellar French food below, let Eater know in the tipline or in the comments.

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Toulouse Cafe & Bar

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The Texas chain mimics a traditional French café, The quiche du jour, trout almondine, escargots, and mussels stand out against an already impressive menu. Order the petite gougères, a basket of classic French cheese pastry puffs drizzled in truffle oil, for the table.

Mussels from Toulouse
Mussels from Toulouse
Toulouse/Yelp

Epicerie

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French-American comfort food with a twist is what you’ll find at this café and grocery. The Sunday brunch menu includes a croque madame, while the main entrées include steak and frites. A French onion soup and quiche also don the menu.

The French onion soup at Epicerie
The French onion soup at Epicerie
Iris H./Yelp

Foreign & Domestic

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The North Loop restaurant offers American and European fare. French dishes include the crispy beef tongue, duck eggs and grains, pommes frites, venison tartare, and pots de crème

The venison tartare from Foreign & Domestic
The venison tartare from Foreign & Domestic
Foreign & Domestic/Facebook

Hopfields

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Offering a diverse, yet decidedly French menu, Hopfields uses fresh, seasonal ingredients to create its offerings, ranging from cheeses to steak frites to chicken liver mousse, lamb meatballs, and duck confit for dinner. Weekend brunch options include the classic croque madame and jambon buerre, which is a combination of Parisian ham, French butter, cornichons, baguette, greens, and a Dijon vinaigrette.

Trout Amandine at Hopfields
Trout Amandine at Hopfields
Hopfields/Facebook

Blue Dahlia Bistro

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Light French fare anchors the all-day menu at this east side café. Under petit déjeuner (“small lunch,”) diners will find croissants, blueberry crépes, and egg white frittatas. Other specialties include cheese and meat boards, salads, tartines, and a variety of entrees, like the French meatloaf, ratatouille, and mussels dijon. All salads and entrees are served with freshly baked bread.

The Parisian sandwich from Blue Dahlia
The Parisian sandwich from Blue Dahlia
Blue Dahlia Bistro/Facebook

Péché

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Austin’s absinthe bar offers much more than just pre-Prohibition style cocktails. The rich French fare includes meat-centric dishes like ranch lamb bourguignon, duck confit, braised short ribs, and grilled pork chops. Other offerings include mushroom fritters, escargot, and a classic French onion soup.

Peche’s escargot
Peche’s escargot
Jassiline Q./Yelp

Chez Nous

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Family-owned and operated, this Austin staple serves a selection of regional French fare like crêpes, fish dishes, housemade confit duck legs, and grilled lamb chops, served with a white bean purée, herbs, and vegetables.

The confit duck at Chez Nous
The confit duck at Chez Nous
Chez Nous/Yelp

Le Politique

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New to downtown’s restaurant scene, Le Politique invites diners to experience French fare in a welcoming environment. Small bites include escargot, charcuterie, and steak tartare while entrees range from boeuf bourguignon to marinated mussels to a variety of seafood options, too. Be sure sample a few desserts, like the crème brûlée.

The boeuf bourguignon from Le Politique
The boeuf bourguignon from Le Politique
Le Politique/Facebook

Justine's

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This dimly lit bungalow offers traditional French fare like escargots, classic French onion soup, and cheese and charcuterie plates. Entrees include steak frites, duck confit with roasted red potatoes, and moules frites, traditional mussels marinière served with pommes frites. Accompany the meal with a glass of French wine.

Steak frites from Justine’s
Steak frites from Justine’s
Lila L./Yelp

Elizabeth Street Cafe

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While, yes, Vietnamese dishes dominate the menu at this south Austin favorite, breakfast is all about French fare. People can choose from an array of croissants, stuffed French crêpes, beignets and jam, and the house-baked brioche French toast. The restaurant also features daily French macarons available all day long.

A crepe from Elizabeth Street Cafe
A crepe from Elizabeth Street Cafe
Tori M./Yelp

Crepe Crazy

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This aptly named restaurant offers savory and sweet crêpes any time of day. Breakfast includes the Norwegian, a lox, scrambled eggs, lemon-dill cream cheese, pickles, red onion, and capers crêpe, while lunch and dinner boast savory options like the caprese. The menu also includes dessert crêpes, panini options, and salads.

The Oreo crepe at Crepe Crazy
The Oreo crepe at Crepe Crazy
Crepe Crazy/Facebooka

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Toulouse Cafe & Bar

The Texas chain mimics a traditional French café, The quiche du jour, trout almondine, escargots, and mussels stand out against an already impressive menu. Order the petite gougères, a basket of classic French cheese pastry puffs drizzled in truffle oil, for the table.

Mussels from Toulouse
Mussels from Toulouse
Toulouse/Yelp

Epicerie

French-American comfort food with a twist is what you’ll find at this café and grocery. The Sunday brunch menu includes a croque madame, while the main entrées include steak and frites. A French onion soup and quiche also don the menu.

The French onion soup at Epicerie
The French onion soup at Epicerie
Iris H./Yelp

Foreign & Domestic

The North Loop restaurant offers American and European fare. French dishes include the crispy beef tongue, duck eggs and grains, pommes frites, venison tartare, and pots de crème

The venison tartare from Foreign & Domestic
The venison tartare from Foreign & Domestic
Foreign & Domestic/Facebook

Hopfields

Offering a diverse, yet decidedly French menu, Hopfields uses fresh, seasonal ingredients to create its offerings, ranging from cheeses to steak frites to chicken liver mousse, lamb meatballs, and duck confit for dinner. Weekend brunch options include the classic croque madame and jambon buerre, which is a combination of Parisian ham, French butter, cornichons, baguette, greens, and a Dijon vinaigrette.

Trout Amandine at Hopfields
Trout Amandine at Hopfields
Hopfields/Facebook

Blue Dahlia Bistro

Light French fare anchors the all-day menu at this east side café. Under petit déjeuner (“small lunch,”) diners will find croissants, blueberry crépes, and egg white frittatas. Other specialties include cheese and meat boards, salads, tartines, and a variety of entrees, like the French meatloaf, ratatouille, and mussels dijon. All salads and entrees are served with freshly baked bread.

The Parisian sandwich from Blue Dahlia
The Parisian sandwich from Blue Dahlia
Blue Dahlia Bistro/Facebook

Péché

Austin’s absinthe bar offers much more than just pre-Prohibition style cocktails. The rich French fare includes meat-centric dishes like ranch lamb bourguignon, duck confit, braised short ribs, and grilled pork chops. Other offerings include mushroom fritters, escargot, and a classic French onion soup.

Peche’s escargot
Peche’s escargot
Jassiline Q./Yelp

Chez Nous

Family-owned and operated, this Austin staple serves a selection of regional French fare like crêpes, fish dishes, housemade confit duck legs, and grilled lamb chops, served with a white bean purée, herbs, and vegetables.

The confit duck at Chez Nous
The confit duck at Chez Nous
Chez Nous/Yelp

Le Politique

New to downtown’s restaurant scene, Le Politique invites diners to experience French fare in a welcoming environment. Small bites include escargot, charcuterie, and steak tartare while entrees range from boeuf bourguignon to marinated mussels to a variety of seafood options, too. Be sure sample a few desserts, like the crème brûlée.

The boeuf bourguignon from Le Politique
The boeuf bourguignon from Le Politique
Le Politique/Facebook

Justine's

This dimly lit bungalow offers traditional French fare like escargots, classic French onion soup, and cheese and charcuterie plates. Entrees include steak frites, duck confit with roasted red potatoes, and moules frites, traditional mussels marinière served with pommes frites. Accompany the meal with a glass of French wine.

Steak frites from Justine’s
Steak frites from Justine’s
Lila L./Yelp

Elizabeth Street Cafe

While, yes, Vietnamese dishes dominate the menu at this south Austin favorite, breakfast is all about French fare. People can choose from an array of croissants, stuffed French crêpes, beignets and jam, and the house-baked brioche French toast. The restaurant also features daily French macarons available all day long.

A crepe from Elizabeth Street Cafe
A crepe from Elizabeth Street Cafe
Tori M./Yelp

Crepe Crazy

This aptly named restaurant offers savory and sweet crêpes any time of day. Breakfast includes the Norwegian, a lox, scrambled eggs, lemon-dill cream cheese, pickles, red onion, and capers crêpe, while lunch and dinner boast savory options like the caprese. The menu also includes dessert crêpes, panini options, and salads.

The Oreo crepe at Crepe Crazy
The Oreo crepe at Crepe Crazy
Crepe Crazy/Facebooka

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