Bess Bistro on Pecan

Ooo-la-la! For tasty food and a cozy atmosphere, Bess Bistro has the market cornered at the intersection of 6th and San Antonio Streets.

The casual dining restaurant has taken cues from French cooking and Southern American comfort food to create a menu full of dishes that can most accurately be described as yummy.

The menu offers a wide range of satiating selections from appetizers to dessert. The most popular entrées include Creole Shrimp Bess (found under the “Morsels” section of the menu) and the Bess Steak Frites (grilled top sirloin with a red wine compound). 

Ask the staff about their favorites for a range of answers, including the Smoked bacon Mussels (steamed mussels with tomato, herbs, and bacon ragout). The bartender will say he likes the Roasted Chicken (a split half in a beurre rouge sauce), the hostess will say she likes the Tuna Tartar (yellowfin with avocado and caper aioli), and the fellow at the next barstool will swear by the Croque Monsieur (sourdough toast topped with warm shaved ham, béchamel and gruyere cheeses).

The menu is always influx, however. Based on seasonal availability and new creations by the executive chef, Camden Stuerzenberger patrons can expect to find something new to try with every visit.

Bess Bistro has a sister restaurant, Walton's Fancy and Staple, that provides the bistro with all of its Artisanal breads and hand crafted desserts, including a flourless chocolate cake and chocolate pecan pie.

The décor mirrors the menu, portraying a romantic and intimate French Bistro, reminiscent of the 1800's with touches of the modern. Many elements were created just for the restaurant, including the bar which was handcrafted in France and the dining tables which were hand crafted from recycled hardwood floors. All of the floor tiles in the restaurant were hand painted and imported from Europe.

Everything has an angle toward comfort from the unusually forgiving barstools and booth pillows to the easy lighting and color scheme. The arrangement of the floor opens up the space just enough to make it perfect for mingling and networking.

For late evenings and Sunday brunch the terrace is the place to be to watch the city passing by on 6th Street while enjoying full menu service.

With a wide selection of wines and liquors, the bistro’s happy hour is a hit from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., weekdays. There are several lounge areas great for hanging out with the after-work gang.

The check could easily ring up higher, but the prices are easy and make the whole experience a value. For a special value, Bess Bistro hosts Date Night every Wednesday, which means $40 per couple for a two-course meal and a shared dessert. Plus, there’s a selection of $20 bottles of wine.

Bess Bistro is located in the basement of the Stratford Arms building, so patrons have to walk down a short flight of stairs to reach the double glass door subterranean entrance. However, there are accessible accommodations with an entrance in the back of the building.

HelloMetro Tips: The busiest times are Friday and Saturday nights with Wednesday night (Date Night) running a close second.  For those looking for a slower pace, Monday and Tuesday nights are usually less crowded. It’s a good idea to call ahead for reservations. However, the restaurant does take walk-ins. The entire restaurant is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.

Who in the world is Bess? Bess is the head madam of the restaurant. Her picture is above the fireplace, and the stripe stockings that she wears have been recreated as part of the restaurant’s identity on the web site and menus.
 

- by Jenn Emerson, Austin Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)