Justine's Brasserie

Justine’s is where you go to dress up and feel sexy while eating french fries, either with a date or in hopes of finding one. This French brasserie in East Austin is easily one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. And it’s become a top destination for special date nights, classic French food, and when you want to mingle with a dirty martini in hand. 

There are two ways to experience Justine’s—the dark and intimate dining room and the sceney patio. The latter feels less like a place to eat and more like a ritzy, garden cocktail party to show off flowy summer dresses or pressed linen shirts that would never recover from a buttery escargot stain. Decked out with chandeliers, a large wooden bar, tiny marble tabletops, and a handful of private cabanas, this is where you want to be at sunset.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

If you’re here for something more intimate, grab a table inside, which has an old-school Parisian feel—complete with worn wooden floors, warm lighting, and framed photos on the wall. In the background, you might hear Edith Piaf, The Stones, or whatever smooth jazz the bartender decides to grab from a library of a few thousand records behind the bar. It can get a bit loud, but in a way that adds vibrancy to the whole experience while giving you an excuse to sit a little closer to your date.

The scene might be the main draw, but it would feel hollow without some solid food to back it up. French classics arrive as textbook-ready versions of themselves—the escargot is rich and buttery, and a plate of glistening steak tartare could pass for a movie prop. The steaks are occasionally a little too thin to allow for huge differences between medium and well done, but they’re seasoned well and pair great with a side of creamy au poivre sauce, crispy french fries, and a dry glass of red burgundy. And the best part of it all is that the full menu is served until midnight. In a city with sparse late-night dining options, Justine’s is a welcome way to end a night out. Just don’t forget the french fries. 

Food Rundown

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Escargot

Rich, buttery, and cooked perfectly, this is our favorite escargot in Austin. The baguette on the side arrives cold but it warms up quickly after a plunge into a shallow pool of bubbling garlic butter.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Steak Tartare

This tartare is about as classic as it comes and exactly how we like it. It’s served as a main, but we’ve found the generous portion also works great as a starter for the table.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Royale With Cheese

The burger is seasoned well and cooked to a perfect medium but doesn’t really leave much of a lasting impression. It’s a solid burger all around, but unless you’re really in the mood for a burger, skip this and get a steak, the mussels, or a pork chop instead.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Steak Frites

This is usually what we’re here for. The steaks are seasoned well, though on a couple of occasions have arrived a little bit overcooked. We like ours topped with garlic butter or with a side of au poivre sauce (or both).

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Crème Brûlée

The crust is thick and caramelized, and the custard below is perfectly set. This feels like an almost obligatory end to the meal. Grab a digestif or an espresso martini to go with it.