5406 Balcones Dr

Loved the food our waiter chris was amazing, but the young host was so rude never saw her smile the whole time we were at chez zee. It really threw off our whole experience

Chez Zee is an old school Austin favorite and I'm glad to see it's still here. I haven't been here forever and came to town for 4th of July and enjoyed lunch there yesterday. They have added a private banquet building and additional outdoor seating since I was here last. There is a bubbling fountain outside and a variety of seating options. Right near the entrance is a red baby grand piano, I would love to see music here some time! Also, there is a bar with a few seats around and a pasty case. There are string lights hanging through out give a warm glow. The walls are painted a cheery yellow with artwork for sale on the walls. There looks like an addition to the side with additional seating. Since I went at lunch they had portions closed off. I ordered a mimosa and enjoyed it while trying to narrow down my option for lunch. I had the Brussels spouts to start. They were wonderfully seasoned and drizzled with balsamic. I tried the shrimp and corn bisque soup and had a small side salad. All was delish. The restaurant was never too full while I was there but I imagine it stays quite busy in the evenings. If you looking to sample an Austin original, be sure to give Chez Zee a try!

It took 10 minutes before our server even acknowledged us and took our drink order. It was another 10 minutes before we got the drinks. We ordered iced lattes and received hot ones. We never got our croissants with strawberry butter and that is half the reason you go to Chez Zee for brunch. My quiche was burnt so bad the crust was black. Someone else delivered the food. We did not see our server at all between dropping off the drinks to when we needed the check. My sister likes to go to Chez Zee for her birthday and we had the same horrible experience last year. Totally bummed. I loved Chez Zee.

I went for Mother's Day brunch and ordered their French toast breakfast. French toast tasted stale and bland. I think the only good thing is their strawberry butter and croissants. This place is only worth visiting for dessert, but even that's not impressive. The parking lot is terrible for a place that's not in downtown. Austin has many other restaurants with tastier brunch.

Good place to go to keep everyone happy. Wide ranging menu from burgers, fish, steaks, chicken, salads, pasta, pizza. Everything is very good. Nothing life changing. But nothing disappoints. Big plates but try to save room for dessert. Huge selection that are generally all excellent. Full bar. Wine and beer. Friendly service and generally fast kitchen. Eclectic interior. Moderately quiet compared with. Most restaurants. A neighborhood favorite.

Went for brunch on a Sunday with a reservation. They have a live piano player and were also hosting an Austin Jazz event that day. We sat on the patio. Great food, great prices, decent bubbles selection and list (although bottles were definitely on the pricey side - likely priced so they can slash to 50% off during happy hour but wish it was more affordable for every day). Dessert list was fire. We had the biscuits and gravy, crème brûlée french toast (very dense, more of a dessert), pecan chicken and fried chicken. Also had bloody marys and bubbles by the glass. Everything was lovely... just good, solid food overall and friendly service. :)

We ordered delivery & am always concerned with how food arrives -vs- when served in the restaurant. The food arrived still warm & well plated. Chez Zee has been one of neighborhood "go-tos" since we moved here and is consistently high quality!

I stoped in Friday night just before 6, in time for a happy hour glass of wine. The salmon was amazing! Great service even though the bar was full and tables filling up quickly.

Office wanted a change of venue from our usual holiday soirée joint and Chez Zee got the nod. Scheduling was okay - not terribly responsive but not ghosted. Day of: arrived 15 minutes early to find all of the food laid out (it was supposed to come in waves). Everything was cold by the time the majority of our group arrived. Isn't there a code about warmers? No one got sick, so I guess it's okay? Food was good despite being cold. Semi-private room. Carpet in restaurants is weird and gross, especially when it's "sticky." At least the cocktails were good and service was pleasant, but we'll head back to our usual haunt next year.

Crazy busy but we knew it would be. We sat at the bar area. Justin was our guy. He was one busy dude. We loved everything we ordered. It's a really cozy place and the staff seem to all work well together. Check out the special of the day! The sandwiches are great. And that chicken fried chicken was some dam yummy chicken. There's a piano so they must have a performance during brunch. I used to come here often for happy hour after work. I'll have to see if they still have one.

Chez Zee is an Austin favorite. We've come for Brunch -- win! Lunch -- win! Private events -- win! Dessert -- win! Chez zee is in my opinion an approachable-fancy Austin restaurant where you won't ever feel out of place. They often have live music and the desserts are great. For breakfast they have inventive favorites like the carrot cake French Toast and lots of Eggs Benedicts to choose from. The warm croissant is also second to none. Chez Zee, here's to dozens of more date nights and brunches!

The ambiance is certainly one-of-a-kind and I'll post some pictures below. The food is great, but the service was even better. At every brunch spot, I always seek out the crab cake Benedict, and this place's version is a bit small, but possesses wonderful flavor. Storytime: my friend and I were under the impression that the crab cakes would be a bit larger and only ordered two for the both of us, but we were mistaken. So, we decided to order a chicken fried chicken and split it. The waitress noticed this and offered the split the plate without us even asking. Tip generously. These are great people. Cheers!

We tried this place for the first time a few months ago and were hooked. The breakfast is so very good. This from a married couple where the wife is a lover of almost all things breakfast and it is their favorite meal and me who can take it or leave it. We both agreed this place is amazing. Since I got the breakfast last time I went with a burger this time while Shana tried a different breakfast as she does. She got a Pecan Waffle plate which had quite a bit of food and I received a bacon Cheeseburger with fries of course. I do want to talk about the rolls/bread and the butter they bring as the opener. The butter is flavored and is amazing and the bread is soft and tasty so you have to stop yourself from eating too much and filling up before the food comes. The first trip here they had us wait in a area that seems to be used for parties or group functions. Had its own little bar area, places for buffet style food service and even a piano! It was not in use so they seemed to be putting people to wait in there while their tables were prepared to keep the walkway clear maybe or people out of the cold as this was during December. It may have been in use on our more recent visit as everyone was just kept outside in the walkway area in the heat. They did have water for you which was nice. That may be the one sticking point, even if you reserve your table you are waiting. Get there early or on time and there will still be a wait. The staff is fast and friendly, the drinks are good and so far we have enjoyed all the food we have tried. Nothing has been subpar, we had favorites but nothing was underwhelming. The décor is fun and unique and the place has a fun vibe. Classy without losing charm if that makes sense. They have free valet parking as well which is nice as parking is never good in Austin. Shana wanted it mentioned that she LOVES everything about it, the food, the services, the drinks, the decorations and lighting. She has nothing bad to say. Which means we will be returning for sure!

Great Valentine's Day dinner in a beautifully themed "love day" motif. Welcoming staff. Our server, Jillian, was well-versed in the menu, genuinely friendly, and quite efficient. My vodka martini, with blue cheese stuffed olives, was a nice pour and my wife enjoyed her Malbec. Shared a caprese salad for two. My seafood pasta was delicious -- lots of seafood and tasty sauce. Pasta yummy too! My wife's Margherita Pizza was great! Cheese was plentiful and the crust was nicely crisped. Delicious double espresso Americano coffee and apple pie for two ended a great meal. Reasonably priced in my opinion. Thanks again Jillian and three cheers to the chef!

Chez Zee is good for romantic dinners, brunch, and even quick dessert/meal pickups.  I've celebrated my birthday at brunch. I've also taken many meals and desserts to go. The quality of the ingredients used and the attention to detail are both excellent. While dinner is wonderful, I have to encourage you to go to brunch. And definitely try one of the bread puddings or the coconut cake.  You won't be disappointed here.

I just returned from joining a friend for happy hour at Chez Zee. As it was a Thursday special, we had a bottle Of Chardonnay for half price. My friend ordered humus and asked for vegetables for dipping so she received an assortment of cold veggies. I had fried pickles which came with two dipping sauces and were quite tasty! Mary was our waitperson and served us well, leaving us time to chat. This is a favorite place to meet for a couple of hours and we'll be back!

We went here a month ago and had some items we brought to the attention of management and they were really responsive and addressed all our issues. We will be back for sure Thank you

I was very happy with the brunch I had here. The food is wonderful, and I left QUITE full. They have quite a variety of menu options plus the bakery list of desserts, so we also got some cake to-go. Our server whose name I cannot remember for the life of me was so friendly, courteous, and made a lot of jokes. He was attentive as well, we were happy with the service. The restaurant itself isn't huge but there's a decent amount of space between the tables and a large venue space next door to accommodate meetings and receptions etc. It's not an overly "pretty" or upscale looking place on the inside but there are a lot of Austin-y aspects to the interior design in my opinion (eg the light fixtures, patio design, and colors of the interior. Overall I think this is a great place to have brunch esp if you want to try the bakery items which I do very much recommend!

Came here one evening with an ex-lover. He said he wanted to get some dessert and "talk". Chose this spot because it looked like they had a pretty good selection of sweets, and it was a different location than where we'd normally meet up. Walking into the restaurant gave me a very homey feeling, like it was one of those restaurants that families frequent for years down through the generations. The inside looked and felt exactly like that, which to be honest, we both liked. It wasn't one of those places that were designed specifically for the influencers, and it was actually quite refreshing for once... but maybe we're just old (ha!). We had two types of desserts, which we shared - one was the strawberry panna cotta, and the other was this decadent chocolate cake which he and I almost fought over but were too nice to eat the last bite so even the last bite we ended up sharing. I'm telling you, it's really nice to find a place like this in a very unassuming location. I would definitely come back for that chocolate cake!

Very nice. Second time dining here. Food is delicious. A lot of options to choose from on the menu. I had the all American breakfast this time. The smoked chicken omelet and the crab omelet are great! Our server was attentive and made food recommendations. The place was not crowded today like it was the first time I ate here. I missed watching and hearing the pianist filling the place with music as he did the first time. Still a wonderful dining experience and there will be a third.

Attended a birthday dinner at Chez Zee, flat iron steak. Was delicious with steak fries and broccoli with feta and pecans. Absolutely wonderful!! Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Great location for all to get to. Brunch is also great.

A great place for a casual American food with a French twist AND a southern twist. Seems strange but it somehow works very well. We got seated pretty quickly for breakfast on a busy day without a reservation. They immediately brought out croissants with a butter/strawberry jam mix that was so good! Great service and great food with decent portions that really hit the spot. Ambience is moderately loud, family friendly, and upbeat with bright colored decorations and string lights. Their dessert menu and the display shelf of desserts looked so good but we were too full. Can't wait to come back for lunch and dinner and dessert!

It is a darling place. Food was good. The service was good. The ambiance is great. Wonderful place for a get together with friend(s) and visit. Or a celebration. I want to try more food. We will be back.

I have dined here several times for years. What I have come to notice is that when I pay in cash they never deal in coins and always error on the side of the restaurant. They round off your total and they benefit. Now this may seem like a minor thing. But if I think of all the times this has happened while dining here they owe me around a hundred dollars. DO NOT PAY CASH

Went for desserts on my birthday because the dinner restaurant didn't have much of a selection.

The amazing mimosas, delightful strawberry butter, and the addition of shrimp and crab to the lobster omelette made for a delightful meal. The staff was very attentive and made sure we were taken care of.

Came for brunch, enjoyed the heck out of it. The ambiance was amazing, food was stellar, service was great. Definitely will come back. Get the Crème Brûlée French Toast!!!

We just went for Sunday brunch and it's just not that good. I think I recall it being flavorful before but now things seem mostly bland. Had the chicken and waffles and the thin breaded chicken breast is just bland. The waffle brings nothing to the table and even the pecan syrup is surprisingly tasting like nothing. My wife's country potatoes had no seasoning and the bacon was bacon. In short they should reduce the menu by 60% and instead make the remaining 40% great. No place to talk either due to loud life music

Great brunch place in Austin! My husband and I got a reservation for 9 AM brunch. This place is super cute! The parking lot is big and it was not that hard to find a place to park. We sat outside. The tables are a little dirty, but I thought the decor and lights were really cute. We got the creme brulee french toast bite which was crispy and soft, with whipped cream and strawberry. Delicious! We shared a blueberry buttermilk pancake which was really fluffy. I got a veggie quiche which was a little small portion size wise, but very smooth and rich, and the breakfast potatoes were great. My husband got Zee Migas which he really liked. Overall would definitely recommend checking this place out!

Atmosphere great, as ever. Service good too. But food, never the best but OK, has gone downhill for some reason. The Creme Brulee for example: I could get better at Randalls across the street, which is maybe where mine came from. My companion's salad was similarly uninspired, with croutons out of a bag. My crab salad sandwich was soft and sad and almost without flavor. Good thing I ordered chips to accompany. Sorry Chez Z, I used to luv ya!

I don't know if we came on a busy week night or if they are just short staffed but I can't say I was impressed. Came with my sister and we walk in and stand at the hostess stand. She walks up and asks my sister how many and she says two (as it was just the two of us standing there) and she says I'll sit you in just a minute let me see how I can help her (to which I look around and realize she's talking about me) and I politely said I'm with her, which she replied "oh" She then proceeds to take us to a table that is crowded with a bunch of ladies that apparently were meeting for book club. So what we thought would be a nice quiet dinner was a bunch of loud ladies all talking over each other. Not sure if our waitress was new but there seemed to be a lack of knowledge regarding some of the menu. We ended up ordering the crab cakes, two salads (adding salmon to one and steak to the other) and a glass of red wine, and the chocolate cake for dessert. The total cost was about $85. I can't say I was impressed with my experience or meal on this visit.

My sweetie and I went to Chez Zee this evening for my birthday. I've been to Chez Zee many times, starting when it opened in 1989. I have many fond memories of having wonderful meals there back in the day while listening to a live pianist. The most recent time I was there was maybe 6 months before Covid, and again the food was beautifully presented and delicious. Tonight I was looking forward to renewing my relationship with a long-time favorite spot. Tonight was very, very different. The food was more "diner" than "bistro." Nicely presented, but the flavor was just 'meh.' I had the New Orleans pecan crusted chicken with bourbon sauce -- the waiter described it as a signature dish. To my disappointment, the chicken and bourbon sauce weren't particularly flavorful and the chicken itself was positively dry. The side of sautéed vegetables was the tastiest dish on my plate. I think I would have been happier if I'd ordered a burger. The service was nothing special, either. Our waiter was attentive enough, and he sent me home with a complimentary slice of lemon cake. However, the person who delivered our food was positively surly. Perhaps someone in the kitchen was roped in to delivering food to tables? Maybe it was just a bad night. Maybe my expectations were too high based on my past experiences there. But I didn't want much of my dinner, and an hour later I'm in my kitchen having a snack. All in all, I was pretty disappointed. Nothing was absolutely terrible. The atmosphere was pleasant, portions were generous, and the prices reasonable. But I went expecting a delicious meal and definitely did not get one.

I went here for my Mom's birthday. The food was very pleasant as always. I worry that this testy may go out of business. I notice less and less people every time I come. The crow is definitely much older now. Food is great and Sharon's angel hair pasta is great. Crème Brûlée is my fav desert here.

Atmosphere is very nice. Low lights, and jazz piano in background. Services was a bit spotty , our appetizer came out right away. Our entree took a little while, although they were very busy. I was a little surprised there wasn't any French wine on the menu. Just California and Argentina. I prefer a good French Pinot Noir, but Pinot noir was not on the menu. Our entrees were good. My wife chose the crab cakes, which she said was very good. I had the Chicken Adrano. It was good, tasty sauce, could've used a few more mushrooms and less capers. Some calamari olives would've worked nicely as well. We had the Blueberry Cheesecake for dessert. It was very good. All in all, a very nice evening for a date night. Maybe not so much as a celebratory dinner, but very nice.

Chez Zee American Bistro- it's been too long since I've been back!! Shout out to Norah, our server, who was absolutely wonderful! Went just for desserts tonight and they were great! I loved the coconut tres leches although I'd like more tres leches cake. Mmm, such a great place!!

Came here for a family brunch & the food was so good. The servings are pretty size-able and priced fairly. We come here a few time a year & they usually give a bread basket with croissants & other breads prior to you receiving your food, we had asked our waiter multiple times and everytime he was said "oh yeah I'll be right back with that" and never brought it. That is the only thing that was upsetting about our last visit but the food and atmosphere is worth the stop.

I absolutely love Chez Zee! Consistency-from service to hot fresh food-you never disappoint!! Desserts are pretty fantastic too! I've been enjoying you for years.

Oh my goodness I can't say enough good things about this place! We visited during Sunday brunch and will definitely be returning. First of all, our awesome waitress surprised us with free fried pickles because it was our first visit! since there 6 of us we pretty much ordered one of everything. The strawberry cream cheese croissants are only available on Sundays and were so good! But don't skip the creme brûlée French toast or the biscuits and gravy those were definitely table faves. The jazz music as we walked in set the tone for our entire meal but beware if you sit by the desserts as it's hard to concentrate on what you ordered. We'll definitely be back as parking in Austin was actually easy here!!

I feel chez zee is one of those austin staples that doesn't get talked about a lot. I've taken clients here for lunch, I've had memorable girls nights here before & have taken dessert to go when it's just been one of those days. I usually opt for their salads and soups. Mostly the bellaire salad or their corn and shrimp bisque. Their plates are decent but not memorable so that's why I stick to soup/salad I tried their spinach & artichoke dip this go around and was a little disappointed with their portion. A lot of chips for a very small amount of dip. The vibe is cute & kitchy - and the walk up to the door always makes me feel like I'm in Alice in wonderland. #supportlocal

Food was wonderful and the lemon, rosemary cake was divine. Staff was friendly and professional but didn't hover.

This was such a fun experience! The vibe is really cool and Bourbon Street like. The food was excellent! Had a combo platter and couldn't come close to finishing it!

Our evening at ChezZee was a movie! Cody provided outstanding service and even brought out Coconut Tres Leches for my birthday. His recommendations surpassed my expectations. His energy was super chill! Will definitely return and ask for him

I've eaten here several times and it's always delicious. Today I had the corn & shrimp bisque and it was delicious and filling. I took the dessert sampler home with me and the desserts are always the best. They had valet parking today (Tuesday) at noon and that's new. There were lots of open spaces at 11:00 so I parked myself and don't know what they're charging for the service.

Sophie was a phenomenal waitress ! Everything was out In a timely manner, the food was made with love! Definitely a hidden gem. WOW.

I've been eating here since the 90s. Fun, cool atmosphere and delicious food. It's a great place for a date, girls happy hour, celebration, or work lunch. The quiche is great. I like sitting in the main room near the windows. Also, BEST DESSERTS IN TOWN.

Sooooooo delicious!!! Beautiful cozy interior and a fun whimsical outside. The food is so good, I can't wait to go back. I ordered the lobster Benedict - thought I had died and went to heaven when I took that first bite. The eggs were poached perfectly and the lobster was cooked perfectly as well and had the best flavor! I look forward to going back and trying the challah French toast next time. My friend ordered the pear mimosa with her meal and she said it was good and strong!! Once we were seated complimentary warm croissants and strawberry butter was brought to the table as well which I thought was really nice. I highly recommend this restaurant!

I almost got the chance to eat here with the wife before the dinner rush. But unfortunately it was of time coming here got sat with no menus, no water, no server just has to walk out more than likely didn't even notice we walked out. The kids at the host stand were to busy playing in the iPad. The other customers looked like there have a good time eating food and drinking.

In general, not worth the money or the calories. Currently, not helped by the labor shortage. * * * We had stopped going to Chez Zee thirty years ago. At Chez Zee the desserts were always amazing. The desserts were a treat that would absolutely be the basis for a destination visit. But you put up with a lot to get those desserts. The dinner before your dessert would generally be expensive and mediocre. Plus they always had a cocktail pianist from hell. Loud, uncreative, and awful. Vamping in the left hand. Pointless noodling in the right hand. All of the "opposite-of-coolness" of Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians - with none of the retro charm. It was a place grandmothers took their families to treat them (or vice versa). The teenagers got through it putting on their "be nice to grandma" faces. * * * Flash forward thirty years. We give them a fresh try for old time's sake. Everything bad is still there. There is new bad stuff. The place is mobbed. They need to have valet parking at 11 in the morning. With the prices they charge and the people pouring into the house, They could run the place as a cash cow. They are way past having to listen to Yelp Reviews. Integrity wise, management believes in what it is doing. Management is trying to produce a "nice" restaurant that is highly traditional, serves classic upscale American dishes, appeals to a straight-arrow audience, and has a polished celebratory special-occasion kind of feel. Canada is full of restaurants like that. That is a harder kind of place to find in Austin. The Tarrytown, Mesa and Jester Estates markets like that kind of restaurant. Chez Zee serves a legitimate need. * * * But the Execution is falling apart. I blame labor shortage for a lot of this. My "reason-for-coming" dessert was an Italian Cream Cake. It was an utterly mediocre version. Tasteless cake and frosting. Overly rich and excessive frosting. Dead coconut. No thrills. A tuna salade nicoise with tasteless tuna. They provide tartare sauce in which to dip the tuna. It needed it - because the tuna might as well have been tofu. Boring vegetables in the salad and boring dressing. Average omelet with a lot of filling (good point on quantity.) Good shrimp bisque. Mediocre boring bar programme. I had a marginal jalapeno margarita. * * * The piano is now MUCH MUCH worse than before. The piano now has a boom box making it twice as loud and the music twice as stupid. * * * But the big crash is in service. They had too few workers to be able to remotely handle the brunchtime rush. Everything fell apart. A dish with salsa came with no salsa. Coffee was served out of the pot lukewarm. A waiter was terribly confused when he found we had already gotten our shrimp soup. Silverware was cleared between courses and never replaced. Coffee was spilled all over the floor while being poured. Table cleanings were partial leaving finished dirty ingredients on the table for the rest of the meal. And there was more than that. The workers were nice enough, trying to do their jobs, and were working their bananas off. But they were simply overwhelmed. * * * For a memorable dessert, I am willing to put up with a lot. For cloying and tasteless, my tolerance goes way down. The bill settled the matter once and for all. There are people out there in the waiting area who want my table. They can have it.

My go-to place for the last 16 years. ALWAYS reliable food, great service by well-trained staff, and pleasant ambience. Brunch on the weekends is crowded so make reservations. My lunch favorite is their quiche. Dinner faves are pecan crusted salmon or Sharon's angel hair pasta, in a delicious garlic cream sauce. You can add the protein of your choice. The pasta is a big enough serving for two! That way you can save room for their huge array of desserts.

I have been a patron of this place for more than a decade. It has been more than a year since I have been back, and let me tell you, I have some opinions. First off, The receptionist was quite rude, taking a cake order, without greeting us properly. Luckily a nice sweet waiter managed to greet us and and ask us for our preference. There was a 10-15 minute wait with an empty dining room. No literally. Empty. I did not see any reservations. I did not see any rational for waiting. As I stood waiting to be seating I watched the hostess think very hard , as if she was solving a complex mathematical equation:or where to seat us. Now here is the real sign of the restaurant if the receptionist apologizes for the wait this rating will increase by 1 star. If she just seats us with no platitude it will be reflected in the rating. Also, her answer for everything is "5-ish more minutes" I have now been here for 20 minutes by the way. No apology. I said "thank you" she responded "yea." Lol. We contemplated walking out and brining the other 4 parties who were mad at here it's us. But hey it's Chez Zee and we're loyal...we won't give up that easily. But fortunately, my servers were so Darn amazing that it literally dispelled anything bad I had to say. The hostess was rude(and I say that very difficulty as I normal do not make such comments). But my servers were accommodating and literally beckoned at my every need. So let me get down to the down and dirty 1.) tuna Niçoise salad ....MUST have perfectly cooked Tuna with an amazing flavorful salad and dressing (Greek vinegrette is my choice) 2.) Trout-the protein was cooked to perfection but the vegetables were Al dente almost raw. 3.) Tequila Like Chicken - protein nailed. Vegetables again raw 4.) Chocolate Decadence and Coconut attestation Leches...To.Die.For. So here is my major critique in terms of food, on reality the demographic while diverse is mostly elderly people (such as parents or grandparents who are probably long term patrons. While I understand their balancing and ice shocking technique to have these beautiful colored vegetables on the plate, they Simply are inedible at some point. I recommend you ask them to "thoroughly cook" all vegetables. And I recommend the restaurants take note of this and learn how to cook vegetables longer. Either way at worst scenario I'd give this place a 2.5 because of the hostess experience and the vegetables, but because the servers were so highly accommodating (they brought out actually cooked vegetables and corrected any complaint) I have to restore their marking to-the highest rank, a 5. Remember restaurants are not perfect, but if they are willing to correct things that's what counts to any Foodie Just be patient and communicate your needs to the restaurants. They can't fix a problem they don't know about.