I’m curious to know who’s been there and what they thought. I know a few people who went to preview events/the soft open and they raved about it, so I’m wondering if it’s just that the kitchen is figuring out how to deal with the demand.
​
For what it’s worth, I can confirm that the review is spot on about the dining room, I tried (unsuccessfully) to get a table last week, there’s no host stand, so we waited about 5-7 minutes in what I guess you’d call a very cramped entryway practically hovering over people eating until someone came up to tell us it’d be a 2 hour wait, and it was easily the loudest dining room I’ve ever been in.
throw989
Love Loro, love Franklin (though I haven’t been back since the pandemic) but I was disappointed in Uptown. I agree that the gumbo was poorly seasoned, and the potato salad was bland too. It is a beautiful space, but noisy. I sat at the bar and both the service and cocktails were excellent. I might give it a second chance in a little while to see if they get better. Also, it’s criminal to charge $12 for a can of Electric Jellyfish or Secret Beach.
Jared-Macomber
I was disappointed. I had the opposite problem with the gumbo. The flavor was overly concentrated to an almost unappetizing degree and insanely salty. The shrimp on the poboy were fried well but didn’t have a shrimpy flavor and the number of pickle chips was preposterous. I ended up removing 3/4 of them and the sandwich was still too sour. Red beans and rice sucked. They don’t seem to use any meat or animal fat in the beans, so they have no flavor. Bloody mary was okay, but too spicy. Wouldn’t go back.
centex
Only had it once and thought it was solid.
Agree with the gumbo review, it was nothing special even though they advertise it as “3 day” gumbo if I recall.
Shrimp poboy was great though!
Overall, I’d say it’s fine and would meet friends there for a drink and a sandwich.
ThrowawayLumber555
I went a few weeks ago. Shrimp po boy was fire and reminded me of the ones I used to get as a kid in Houston. The (Cobb?) salad was also amazing.
I was in a group of 8 and we all shared different small plates and ordered sandwiches so I got to sample 95% of the menu.
We got oysters and they tasted good but were small, expensive, and out the 6 I ate at least 3 of them had small bits of shell I bit down on. I only eat these a few times a year and don’t know how common that is though.
Gumbo was under seasoned and mediocre. Every other side was also very mediocre.
Ordered a $17 dollar cocktail that sounded good, and low and behold it shows up and it’s an entire 3 ounces of liquid in a teeny cup.
If I ever go back I will just get a shrimp po boy (and nothing else) and walk across the street to violet crown and eat it there while I drink.
TrailofDead
Went about a month ago. Very disappointed. The menu needs to be expanded significantly. The Po Boy we had was basically flavorless. Not going back.
RVelts
This sounds like every review I’ve seen on this subreddit as well.
stevendaedelus
I’ve been about 10 or so times, and it is passable. I’ve never had a problem with the gumbo or the balsa and rice, but they are just… fine. Nothing really stands out except the fried green tomato poboy. Add bacon to really make it sing.
titos334
I’ve been twice and although it’s a little pricy for what it is I’ve enjoyed all the food I’ve had. The service/dining experience leaves a little to be desired but not a major detraction for me.
BattyBatBatBat
The author lost me when she claimed okra was a required gumbo ingredient. Including okra is fine (and can thicken the gumbo if added at the appropriate time), but okra is just an add-in that may be incorporated.
To answer the follow-up question, cajun gumbo should include at least the following: (1) roux; (2) andouille sausage (preferably from [here](https://jacobsandouille.com/) but locally, [Stuffed Cajun](https://stuffedcajun.com/) is good quality); (3) cajun trinity; (4) chicken (or other protein such as shrimp, turkey, rabbit, etc.); and (5) cayenne pepper and other spices.
eWaffle
I’ve been like 7-8 times and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thought the gumbo was pretty good. Shrimp poboy is amazing. Maybe I’ve just been lucky?
PolarBearLaFlare
Agreed. I had the roast beef and it was too salty to enjoy. Shrimp po boy was also overpriced and nothing special.
ascot21
I’ve been three times now. Went during soft open and service was the worst I’ve had in the city and the food was meh. Waited a few weeks and went back. Service was better but still not great. Last week it was more of the same. Food is fine but nothing special. Shrimp in the cocktail were pretty small and definitely not fresh (had some at Holiday the next day that made me realize how not fresh Uptown’s were). Wish they had more than gumbo (etouffee, jambalaya, etc.) and the prices are still too high for what you get. They dropped price of Electric Jellyfish from $15 (!!!) when they first opened to $12 but that’s still ridiculous. Probably won’t go back.
cnull
VINCENT: Did you just order a 12-dollar shake?
MIA: Sure did.
VINCENT: A shake? Milk and ice cream?
MIA: Uh-huh.
VINCENT: It costs 12 dollars?
MIA: Yep.
VINCENT: You don’t put bourbon in it or anything?
WAITOR: Nope.
VINCENT: Just checking.
schild
Bar service better than table service. Cocktails are pretty good. Food is ok. Menu is weird.
Place is a definition of a 6/10. Nothing really flows. Name menu and drinks are all completely disconnected.
Edit: just fully ignoring the okra bit. Nothing about this place says Aaron Franklin to me. I feel like that’s worth mentioning. It feels like a marginally upscaled local bar/restaurant. And by local I mean just shy of “boomers love it here” but it doesn’t quite stoop to that.
team26folife
Went during their soft opening. Crowded as expected and way louder than expected. Had the gumbo to share, thought it was tasty! Shrimp po’boys were also really good, well put together and fresh! Had the bread pudding and loved it! Creamy and delicious. We were put off by the price of the cocktails so stuck to iced tea and water. They were clearly working out the kinks but service was really over the top and they were coming by to explain delays and honestly we had a great time! The noise and the price of the cocktails were the only downside for us.
Immediate_Cellist_47
Oh man, I actually really liked this place! Loved the vibe, and thought the gumbo was delicious, as were the sandwiches. Didn’t go crazy for the trout dip, and the oysters weren’t to my liking, but that isn’t really the restaurant’s fault; I just prefer a brinier oyster. Overall I was a fan. Great concept, solid execution, will be back.
nrojb50
I thought it was fantastic, if a tad pricey.
I had the gumbo, loved the smokiness of it, but needs more Cajun spice.
And the fried green tomato sandwich + bacon. The bread was impeccably toasted and the tomatoes delightfully crunchy. Sandwich was perfect but should come with fries for the price (16).
All the drinks were pricey, but they had a “double play” which was 8oz of a nice beer and a shot of bourbon for 6 bucks.
I’ll go back but will be splitting a sandwich, bathing my gumbo in crystal, and only ordering the double play.
RazzleDazzle58
I was there Friday too and it was crazy busy and loud, but that’s also because it was 110 outside. There were plenty of unoccupied tables outside. I really like this place but also want to revisit in a few months when the hype dies down and the kinks get worked out. The food is fantastic but it’s a bar, not a restaurant, so you’re not getting Michelin star food. I had the oysters on Friday and omg they’re amazing! I live near here and plan on going during a weekday to try more of entrees.
Austinfoodadventures
I went on it’s first day being opened. I wouldn’t say it was amazing but it wasn’t bad. I definitely have had worst meals in town that people have raved about. Our beef sandwich wasn’t cold like the reviewer and came out hot. The milk shake was expensive but it was pretty good imo and I think if you’re paying 12 dollars I’d hope it doesn’t taste like a freezee orange creamsicle from orange julius. The bread they use really is a game changer as they ship it from NOLA, fresh. I believe the shrimp poboy was only 16, another fair price imo for the location. I thought the gumbo was alright, I prefer seafood gumbo and am not sure why they chose chicken gumbo. Overall, It was cheaper or about the same price as any casual hip spot on downtown. I would say if you’re expecting amazing cajun food just because it’s owned by Franklins then you’ll be disappointed. The service was awful when i went but that’s to be expected with new restaurants, i’m hoping they resolved that by now! My point being, there are definitely worst meals to be had in Austin , and even the poster said her favorite restaurants in town were Canje which i find even more overpriced for what you get at Uptown.
LonesomeBulldog
Anyone who orders pulled pork at an Austin BBQ joint, particularly Franklin, has suspect opinions on food.
thewaragainstsleep
I went three times during the first week they opened and everything was really good except the time I went an hour or two before closing but that’s expected. Probably just need some closer hand holding by Franklin for a bit
_Jimmy_Rustler
I thought the food was good but not great. I had a pretty great wedge salad though. That was the dish that stuck with me.
Definitely not on Loro’s level. Hopefully they will take these reviews to heart.
myn4m31sj1m
I had the fried green tomato poboy and thought it was great. The place is too loud though. I agree that the trout dip was boring and it smoky at all.
Peepeepoopoobuttbutt
I liked the gumbo and the salad I got, but I’m not going to defend, or criticize it to save my life.
25 Comments
I’m curious to know who’s been there and what they thought. I know a few people who went to preview events/the soft open and they raved about it, so I’m wondering if it’s just that the kitchen is figuring out how to deal with the demand.
​
For what it’s worth, I can confirm that the review is spot on about the dining room, I tried (unsuccessfully) to get a table last week, there’s no host stand, so we waited about 5-7 minutes in what I guess you’d call a very cramped entryway practically hovering over people eating until someone came up to tell us it’d be a 2 hour wait, and it was easily the loudest dining room I’ve ever been in.
Love Loro, love Franklin (though I haven’t been back since the pandemic) but I was disappointed in Uptown. I agree that the gumbo was poorly seasoned, and the potato salad was bland too. It is a beautiful space, but noisy. I sat at the bar and both the service and cocktails were excellent. I might give it a second chance in a little while to see if they get better. Also, it’s criminal to charge $12 for a can of Electric Jellyfish or Secret Beach.
I was disappointed. I had the opposite problem with the gumbo. The flavor was overly concentrated to an almost unappetizing degree and insanely salty. The shrimp on the poboy were fried well but didn’t have a shrimpy flavor and the number of pickle chips was preposterous. I ended up removing 3/4 of them and the sandwich was still too sour. Red beans and rice sucked. They don’t seem to use any meat or animal fat in the beans, so they have no flavor. Bloody mary was okay, but too spicy. Wouldn’t go back.
Only had it once and thought it was solid.
Agree with the gumbo review, it was nothing special even though they advertise it as “3 day” gumbo if I recall.
Shrimp poboy was great though!
Overall, I’d say it’s fine and would meet friends there for a drink and a sandwich.
I went a few weeks ago. Shrimp po boy was fire and reminded me of the ones I used to get as a kid in Houston. The (Cobb?) salad was also amazing.
I was in a group of 8 and we all shared different small plates and ordered sandwiches so I got to sample 95% of the menu.
We got oysters and they tasted good but were small, expensive, and out the 6 I ate at least 3 of them had small bits of shell I bit down on. I only eat these a few times a year and don’t know how common that is though.
Gumbo was under seasoned and mediocre.
Every other side was also very mediocre.
Ordered a $17 dollar cocktail that sounded good, and low and behold it shows up and it’s an entire 3 ounces of liquid in a teeny cup.
If I ever go back I will just get a shrimp po boy (and nothing else) and walk across the street to violet crown and eat it there while I drink.
Went about a month ago. Very disappointed. The menu needs to be expanded significantly. The Po Boy we had was basically flavorless. Not going back.
This sounds like every review I’ve seen on this subreddit as well.
I’ve been about 10 or so times, and it is passable. I’ve never had a problem with the gumbo or the balsa and rice, but they are just… fine. Nothing really stands out except the fried green tomato poboy. Add bacon to really make it sing.
I’ve been twice and although it’s a little pricy for what it is I’ve enjoyed all the food I’ve had. The service/dining experience leaves a little to be desired but not a major detraction for me.
The author lost me when she claimed okra was a required gumbo ingredient. Including okra is fine (and can thicken the gumbo if added at the appropriate time), but okra is just an add-in that may be incorporated.
To answer the follow-up question, cajun gumbo should include at least the following: (1) roux; (2) andouille sausage (preferably from [here](https://jacobsandouille.com/) but locally, [Stuffed Cajun](https://stuffedcajun.com/) is good quality); (3) cajun trinity; (4) chicken (or other protein such as shrimp, turkey, rabbit, etc.); and (5) cayenne pepper and other spices.
I’ve been like 7-8 times and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thought the gumbo was pretty good. Shrimp poboy is amazing. Maybe I’ve just been lucky?
Agreed. I had the roast beef and it was too salty to enjoy. Shrimp po boy was also overpriced and nothing special.
I’ve been three times now. Went during soft open and service was the worst I’ve had in the city and the food was meh. Waited a few weeks and went back. Service was better but still not great. Last week it was more of the same. Food is fine but nothing special. Shrimp in the cocktail were pretty small and definitely not fresh (had some at Holiday the next day that made me realize how not fresh Uptown’s were). Wish they had more than gumbo (etouffee, jambalaya, etc.) and the prices are still too high for what you get. They dropped price of Electric Jellyfish from $15 (!!!) when they first opened to $12 but that’s still ridiculous. Probably won’t go back.
VINCENT: Did you just order a 12-dollar shake?
MIA: Sure did.
VINCENT: A shake? Milk and ice cream?
MIA: Uh-huh.
VINCENT: It costs 12 dollars?
MIA: Yep.
VINCENT: You don’t put bourbon in it or anything?
WAITOR: Nope.
VINCENT: Just checking.
Bar service better than table service. Cocktails are pretty good. Food is ok. Menu is weird.
Place is a definition of a 6/10. Nothing really flows. Name menu and drinks are all completely disconnected.
Edit: just fully ignoring the okra bit. Nothing about this place says Aaron Franklin to me. I feel like that’s worth mentioning. It feels like a marginally upscaled local bar/restaurant. And by local I mean just shy of “boomers love it here” but it doesn’t quite stoop to that.
Went during their soft opening. Crowded as expected and way louder than expected. Had the gumbo to share, thought it was tasty! Shrimp po’boys were also really good, well put together and fresh! Had the bread pudding and loved it! Creamy and delicious. We were put off by the price of the cocktails so stuck to iced tea and water. They were clearly working out the kinks but service was really over the top and they were coming by to explain delays and honestly we had a great time! The noise and the price of the cocktails were the only downside for us.
Oh man, I actually really liked this place! Loved the vibe, and thought the gumbo was delicious, as were the sandwiches. Didn’t go crazy for the trout dip, and the oysters weren’t to my liking, but that isn’t really the restaurant’s fault; I just prefer a brinier oyster. Overall I was a fan. Great concept, solid execution, will be back.
I thought it was fantastic, if a tad pricey.
I had the gumbo, loved the smokiness of it, but needs more Cajun spice.
And the fried green tomato sandwich + bacon. The bread was impeccably toasted and the tomatoes delightfully crunchy. Sandwich was perfect but should come with fries for the price (16).
All the drinks were pricey, but they had a “double play” which was 8oz of a nice beer and a shot of bourbon for 6 bucks.
I’ll go back but will be splitting a sandwich, bathing my gumbo in crystal, and only ordering the double play.
I was there Friday too and it was crazy busy and loud, but that’s also because it was 110 outside. There were plenty of unoccupied tables outside. I really like this place but also want to revisit in a few months when the hype dies down and the kinks get worked out. The food is fantastic but it’s a bar, not a restaurant, so you’re not getting Michelin star food. I had the oysters on Friday and omg they’re amazing! I live near here and plan on going during a weekday to try more of entrees.
I went on it’s first day being opened. I wouldn’t say it was amazing but it wasn’t bad. I definitely have had worst meals in town that people have raved about. Our beef sandwich wasn’t cold like the reviewer and came out hot. The milk shake was expensive but it was pretty good imo and I think if you’re paying 12 dollars I’d hope it doesn’t taste like a freezee orange creamsicle from orange julius. The bread they use really is a game changer as they ship it from NOLA, fresh. I believe the shrimp poboy was only 16, another fair price imo for the location. I thought the gumbo was alright, I prefer seafood gumbo and am not sure why they chose chicken gumbo. Overall, It was cheaper or about the same price as any casual hip spot on downtown. I would say if you’re expecting amazing cajun food just because it’s owned by Franklins then you’ll be disappointed. The service was awful when i went but that’s to be expected with new restaurants, i’m hoping they resolved that by now! My point being, there are definitely worst meals to be had in Austin , and even the poster said her favorite restaurants in town were Canje which i find even more overpriced for what you get at Uptown.
Anyone who orders pulled pork at an Austin BBQ joint, particularly Franklin, has suspect opinions on food.
I went three times during the first week they opened and everything was really good except the time I went an hour or two before closing but that’s expected. Probably just need some closer hand holding by Franklin for a bit
I thought the food was good but not great. I had a pretty great wedge salad though. That was the dish that stuck with me.
Definitely not on Loro’s level. Hopefully they will take these reviews to heart.
I had the fried green tomato poboy and thought it was great. The place is too loud though. I agree that the trout dip was boring and it smoky at all.
I liked the gumbo and the salad I got, but I’m not going to defend, or criticize it to save my life.