Bess Bistro

In our quickly evolving restaurant environment, it’s nice to see some of our older eateries hanging in there. Now most people wouldn’t classify a business that opened in 2006 as old but given that most places we talk about in Austin came into play after 2008 or so, let’s go with it. I believe each generation of Austinites has a valid point of view in the Old Austin vs. New Austin debate, as old means something different to all of us.

Anyway, Bess Bistro has been around for about eight years, a mainstay on West 6th for locals and tourists alike. Sandra Bullock’s name brings a bit of glamour and a lot of cache, but Bess doesn’t want to ride on that indefinitely. To keep up with Austin’s changing tastes and constantly elevating standards, they’ve reinvented their New American menu, while keeping the same cozy, romantic ambiance.

In fact, it’s so dark and cozy in there that my photos didn’t come out. Luckily, I was able to snag some professional photos* of what we ordered. First—my favorite dish of the night—mussels sautéed in a rich tomato broth with lardons and crunchy ciabatta to soak it all up.

We also had Mushroom Arancini as a starter, and they were crunchy on the outside with a dense and fragrant center.

For our entrees we had the Diver Seared Scallops and Berkshire Pork Chop. Of the two, the chop was better cooked. But I’m a professional scallop eater and am extra particular about my sear. It should be noted that when I ate at Bess my plates looked just these, so beautiful and artfully presented.

The Chocolate Hazelnut Napoleon was a perfect finish with its comforting flavors and satisfying textures. The hazelnut mascarpone ice cream was so decadent and would be a fantastic dessert on its own.

Have you been to the new Bess Bistro yet? What are your favorites from the fall menu? What do you think Sandra’s favorite is? Probably something light…

*All photos by Jody Horton

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