Austin Club

The Austin Club is a beautiful old place, brimming over with charm and history. Rife with a particular kind of ambiance and elegance, its cozy dining room and massive ballroom make it a singular location located in the heart of Downtown Austin. With exceptionally high demand across Austin for elevated dining and social experiences, this place should be packed on a regular basis - and it once was. The food was excellent; the bartenders were incredible; and the servers were snappy. As a service experience there was nothing in the area to rival it. It was a truly wonderful place to come. It is now dying a fast death as a going concern. At any moment, the General Manager might wander into a room and begin shouting. He shuffles in and yells at employees right in front of members and guests, often for simply doing their jobs. In one instance he yelled at an employee for accommodating another employee with a disability per ADA requirements. He is known to regularly pull employees into the President’s Room; close the door; and yell so loudly that anyone present in the bar down the hall can enjoy his every complaint along with the targets of his tirades, who then frequently depart in tears. But Ken Richardson’s abuse is not limited to employees. He is known to yell at members just as often as anyone else, often shouting random ramblings about cheapskates and expenses and how no one understands or appreciates how great he is. But with his one unfocused eye, no one is ever really certain if he’s yelling at a person or a wall. Temp agencies will no longer send their staff to work any club events, unwilling to subject any of their people to his vitriol and abuse. And with new employees leaving as quickly as they are hired because of his radically toxic management style, this usually leaves operations severely short-staffed. Which means he usually has to attend most functions himself, where he gleefully tells banquet customers that they are stupid as he sticks his dirty fingers into their wedding cakes. Members are embarrassed to bring guests, not knowing if the food will be completely cooked or if the Grade D steaks will be served still frozen in the middle. At any moment Ken could wander in and begin shouting - hopefully at an actual person. The event programming caters to members who have been gone for decades, instead of capitalizing on an entire population actively seeking the kind of place this establishment once was (and could-be). Because he cuts legitimate costs at every opportunity, lack of any pest control has resulted in roaches regularly falling from the ceiling in both back of house and front of house spaces, and skimpy little cocktails get served in tiny dessert glasses. It is heart-breaking to see a once vibrant and grand establishment get run into the ground by a tired old man who yells at everyone in sight. The Board of Directors have been terrible stewards of The Austin Club, choosing to lazily overlook the horrendous behavior of a toxic General Manager who should have been invited to retire long ago.

My daughter’s wedding and reception were held there and it was a magical experience. They took care of everything in Grand style.

The food at the Austin Club is good, but the atmosphere and decor are outstanding. It feels very traditional and the service is great.

Great food, solid drinks, and charming atmosphere!

A classy and historic "members only" urban country club commonly utilized for political fund raisers, annual corporate meet ups, and the occasional upscale private celebration. Historic landmark (Millet Opera House) converted into an exclusionary space for Texas business owners to lobby for themselves. Oh, did I mention the food is great? Breakfast, lunch and dinner served daily. 5/5 would recommend!

The reception for Retired CSM John Sampa on 4/23 was awesome! The food and wait staff were all excellent.

Beautiful place! Went to a wedding reception with my wife and we both loved it. Very classic and elegant style and the food at the reception was incredible! Also plenty of dance room for at least 50 people at a time. Beautiful long wooden bar for the adult beverages and their is a parking garage literally next door. Note: I didn't see any children so I'm not sure if that was intentional or that is a requirement of the establishment. Downtown Austin.

Very elegant and beautiful venue. My son had his Classical Conversations Challenge B protocol evening here tonight and he raved about how amazing it was. He's looking forward to next year and hoping for the same venue.

This is a beautiful historic building in downtown Austin. That still has the classic traditional of service of white tablecloth and personalize Staffing. Classic menu. Outstanding staff. Food and ambience. It doesn't get any better than this. If you get the chance to have dinner or lunch? Please do so I was fortunate as this is a private dining club.

Super nice staff and decent food. Went for New years with my girlfriend. Had the best oysters of my life there and the dessert was great. The main course was okay. Salmon was a little dry but overall it was a nice atmosphere with okay food. Wines and drinks were more reasonably priced. I wasn't a fan of the service fee which was around 20% and didn't go to the waitress so I then tipped on top of it. Basically turned what I thought was a decent value of $75 per meal ended up being a bit pricey in my opinion.

This place has absolutely no respect for anyone. I had an interview scheduled at 1 pm, just for them to text me that they filled the position "10 minutes ago" I spent my own money and time printing out a resume, putting myself together, and driving all the way out here, just to get no heads up. This place is very disturbing, and the manager obviously has some issues. I am not upset over the fact that I cannot interview, it is the blatant disrespect and no care for other people and what they might be sacrificing. I texted at 12:25 to make sure we were still good, and didn't get a response until 12:50 saying to go home. Absolutely insane. You can get good food anywhere in austin, but you can't get love. And this place definitely doesn't have any.

This was the perfect venue, the former Millett Opera House, for the KMFA (Klassical Music For Austin) membership brunch on February 29, 2020. It was indeed a pleasure to be amongst those who share the love of classical music allowing us to engage in stimulating conversation in elegant surroundings. On my plate you'll notice a little aluminum cup with cubed French toast that had already been buttered with maple syrup added as well. The mimosas were rather weak so I had more than one. A saxophone quartet performed and they were amazing. The entire staff was very attentive and professional. I would most definitely recommend The Club Austin to those with the need to entertain in style and elegance.

We went to Brunch last Sunday! The manager Ronny Martinez was awesome! He made us feel so comfortable at this private club which is open to the public on Sunday! Food and service was outstanding and we will be going back!

I ate here for dinner and lunch the following day. The service was beyond exceptional, thanks Luke. Such delicious oysters. True baked New York style cheesecake. The coffee presentation alone included containers of: -Half and half -whipped cream -chocolate chips -coarse sugar (also with other sweeteners) Pricey yes, but very worth the visit if you can afford it. Lunch was a first class buffet...beef Wellington, so many choices. I wish I could afford to return!

I love the Austin Club! The staff and food are wonderful. It is so great to call and easily reserve space for any event or dinner I want to host. It is also conveniently located downtown near parking! Such a wonderful gem of a place!

I have been an enthusiastic member of the Austin Club since I first moved to town to work for a startup software company. Have you ever wanted to own your own restaurant or have an elegant secret lair staffed by the best where everyone knows your name and your favorite cocktail? If so, this is it. The Austin Club is a private membership organization with its own restaurant in a lovely historic building downtown that is run by the most caring, thoughtful, and friendly staff around. Best kept secret in Austin ... well, I guess it was until Yelp. Membership is very affordable, especially for young professionals. It is really a steal when you consider the very reasonable prices that members pay for excellent food and classic cocktails. If you are interested in a tour and possibly becoming a member, just call and ask to speak to Brittany. She is the membership director and will hook you up.

I have been eating and socializing at the Austin Club since the early nineties. Both the food and service are top rate and there is just a comfortable feeling as you enter through the front door. The menu is varied enough to satisfy the most particular diner and the weekday buffet is the best in town. The club is available for social events a and business meetings. So if want to be well taken care of, eat a good meal or just relax, the Austin Club is the best. A word of advice, order the Texas pecan ball just because you'll be glad you did.

The Austin Club is a gem for anyone looking for a quality private club in downtown Austin. A great place to grab a meal or a cocktail in an historic friendly setting. High quality in all respects, and at an extremely reasonable membership rate.

Old school classic is the best way to describe the historic Austin Club. It's my home away from home, and has been my branch office for as long as I have been in Austin. The service, the quality, the location, the camaraderie - all unmatched and unchanged in the 40 plus years I have been a member. It is the place to be, if you want to be in the know, around the Capitol. The staff specializes in VIP service - from knowing your name, to your favorite drink, to just how you like your steak, no detail is overlooked.

The Austin Club offers so much to so many. If you are working downtown and looking for a quite place for lunch with an excellent choice of food that is always good with an excellent variety then I suggest that you try the Austin Club. If you are looking for a quiet, (non hip), upscale restaurant at night with a beautiful and impressive table setting with truly world class dining then i suggest you try the Austin Club. The dinning room is the most beautiful and historic in Austin. The service is impeccable. It is almost like dining in a museum. They even offer free parking the garage next door at night. I encourage everyone to try the Austin Club. You will not regret it.

Five stars for the historic atmosphere, Five stars for the elegant food, Five stars for the attentive and caring staff, Five big stars for the adventure of coming to this grand place. If you can find an excuse or an invitation to come to the Austin club, go ahead and take advantage of it. This redefines the way we think about elegance, The Austin club brings us back to the past, in the present. It's the kind of place where when you meet someone important, you exchange information written on a black and gold embossed matchbook.

Don't turn down an opportunity to go here. It is members only, so if you get a chance to go, go. I am not a member, but I am lucky enought to have been invited a few times. Service is impeccable and the food is outstanding. Even if you are just going for cocktails, it is a unique Austin experience that is not to be missed.

This is a beautiful place but I was working a wedding as a temp. However, the older lady and the older man who I'm guessing are in charge treated us with great disrespect, very rude, degrading. They allowed their permanent employees to scream at us as if we were animals AND one employee physically pushed 2 temps who didn't speak English. I have NEVER seen anything so unprofessional.

Elegant venue for the annual George Washington Birthday dinner sponsored by Patriots, Ladies and Associates of Chapter 1919 Purple Heart Veterans. The meal of Southwestern Butchers Tender beef was delicious and all the salads and side dishes were perfect. The staff worked very hard to serve and accomodate the large group. They did an excellent job.

Love this place! Mmm Mmm Mimosa is quite nice! The eggs Benedict is what it is all about! Wait can be challenging, but worth it!

My husband and I got married at the Austin Club in the fall of last year. I wish that I could give separate reviews for the space, the service staff, and the event coordinator. Since I cannot, I will give the Austin Club an overall rating of two stars. I would not recommend this place to any brides looking to hold their wedding in Austin. The beautiful space and the wonderful service staff could not overcome ALL of the problems that we had with the event coordinator. Lillian made our wedding planning SO DIFFICULT. If we had not hired a wedding coordinator, we would have cancelled our contract and moved our wedding to a different location. Even with our coordinator, planning a wedding with Lillian was hard. She was not present for any walk through or visit that we made to the space, and we made several. Lillian was difficult to communicate with via email and phone; she would frequently not respond to either for weeks, despite reminders and follow-up inquiries. Then, she would submit contracts to us and request that they be returned with the required payments four hours later. On top of this, we had to fight to have our guests' dietary needs accommodated. We had requested that the chef combine a few items that were already on their menu and to remove a cheese sauce, so that our gluten-free and vegan guests could eat at our wedding. This was a battle for over a month. OVER A MONTH. Finally, she agreed to serve our guests the requested dish. On our wedding day, our guests were served the original dish with the cheese sauce, which wouldn't be a big deal if many of our guests were not vegan or gluten-free or dairy-free. My own mother did not have a proper meal at my own wedding! Lillian did attempt to make amends by refunding some of our money. However, that did not nearly make up for all of the difficulties that we dealt with over the fourteen months of wedding planning with her.

I recently had my wedding reception at The Austin Club, and this venue was a big hit with our family and friends. I got many compliments on the ambiance and the food. The Austin Club has a unique, classic 1940s/50s vibe, a great bar and a fabulous balcony overlooking 9th Street downtown. The staff is very helpful and professional- they know how to put on an event! I was not worried at all the day of my wedding- I knew this group would accommodate our guests every needs. The only negative things I have to say about the Austin Club as a wedding/event venue is the food tasting while very well presented was overpriced for what we actually got. I also found the club to be a bit old school. They have a dress code! Though not surprising of a private club, it just seems very un-Austin. Stuffy or not, the venue was perfect for my wedding, and I would recommend for receptions with 250 guests or less. -Carly P.S. You can have a wedding reception here even if you're not a member. Just an FYI

The buffet is always delightful- I especially love their pasta days. Since the Austin Club is members only, you should always jump at the chance to dine here! This building is full of history, character and elected officials. Never turn down an invite to the Austin Club!

We've been to several other private clubs, but no others compare on food. The dining experience here is excellent. Seafood extravaganza is the best deal around. We wish they had it every month. Mouth watering but classy, ideal for family celebrations, date for 2, or client lunch.

Built in 1878, this beautiful building was once an Opera House - and is now home to The Austin Club. Membership is required to dine here - or do like I did, and tag along with family. Lunch was traditional American fare - awesome salad bar and a variety of meat-and-potatoes entrees. Dessert was a tad boring, but the service was great and the decor was plush and beautiful. A bit stuffy, perhaps - but a nice quiet getaway right downtown.

Although I am not a member I have been invited to dinner and lunch several times by members and was also a guest at several weddings. The dinners I had there were the best meals I have ever eaten in Austin, Texas. The service is impeccable. Parking is in a garage 5 steps from the entrance. Leave your Austin Weirdness at the front door. This is old world cool; an oasis from the noise, hubbub and waiters who just picked up their first tray yesterday. Although you cannot dine there without being a member or as a guest of a member, you can rent it for a special occasion.

The Austin Club is a beautiful venue for special events! I had my wedding reception there and everyone in the staff was absolutely wonderful and attentive. They went out of their way to make sure everyone had a great experience and every detail was taken taken care of and the food was absolutely delicious!

We needed a room to bring clients during SXSW and the Austin Club has been outstanding. Elegantly appointed, a full bar (YAY!) and terrific food (the house made potato chips are an absolute must) add up to a great experience for us and our clients. Lillian and the staff were outstanding.

We held our daughter's wedding at the Austin Club on June 6, 2020. Wow! Could not have been more perfect. What a beautiful event!! The venue is perfect! In the midst of this pandemic, we were even able to have a drive by parade after the wedding (held right there in their space, which was perfect!) The bride and groom exited for pictures on the balcony and much to their shock and awe, friends drove by after having watched the wedding online in a near by parking lot (Austin Club's internet connection was great and thanks, Red Speck Media). What a surprise! Still brings tears to my eyes. The staff was amazing! From set up to clean up they were extremely attentive. We received amazing compliments about the staff, the food, (fabulous menu and hors d'oeuvres still make my mouth water) the venue (what a BEAUTIFUL place) and the entire wedding. At a time when weddings are not really happening, we walked away knowing our daughter experienced beyond the wedding of her dreams. Thanks Julie and the entire staff of the Austin Club! You all are amazing! We can't say enough good about this place!

Not a bad spot. Very high end. Food is great service is top notch (what else would you expect). If you get the chance tag along. Don't turn a meal down.

We are members and love this club. We recently had our daughter's wedding reception at the club. It was incredible. They were so wonderful to work with, very personable as well professional. I felt so confident in the process. The room looked enchanting that evening. The food was so delicious, as well as presented with such artistic flair. The staff was kind and very attentive. It could not have been more perfect. Our guest were treated so special. I highly recommend this venue.

This is a nice special occasion place. They have great steaks and seafood, and the place is beautiful inside. One of the finest dining establishments in Austin. Members only.

I got really tired of bad service in restaurants in Austin, so I became a member here. The food is spectacular, the service almost without fail perfect. The desserts are out of this world. Old world charm and culture. There is a dress code and it is appreciated, but you can always eat off the full menu in the bar. It has been great for my business, I have private meetings in their private dining room. It has made a great impression on new clients. Awesome place, I do not know why it isn't full to the brim. The lunch buffets are out of this world and can't say enough about the CEO Ken.

The Austin Club was not only an elegant and gorgeous venue to host our ceremony and reception, but the service from planning to execution was impeccable. Lillian and her staff were invaluable to us through the entire affair, the food was amazing, the attention to detail flawless and several guests commented that our wedding was the best they had ever attended. All the services we needed were catered to from full set up/break down of the room, private bridal rooms for prep, private dining are for my husband and I to relax for a short time, to the exquisite take home picnic basket. I highly recommend the Austin Club to anyone planning a wedding in Austin, they are truly the best in town!

We had our wedding reception here last year, and it was simply perfect. The wedding coordinator, Lillian, was fantastic. She really met our every need, and on the night of our wedding, the main server, Jessica, was extremely attentive to us the whole time. I'm pretty sure that my wine glass was never empty. I was a bride who was able to drink on her wedding night! They even stocked the bar with my husband's favorite beer, reserved for him and the groomsmen! The ballroom is so beautiful that it doesn't need much in way of decorations. It really allowed us to have a simple and lovely reception in a historic building in downtown Austin. The food was incredible, and they offer the option of allowing you to eat with your new spouse before everyone else arrives--thereby avoiding the "you don't eat on your wedding day" general notion. They arrange a private dining room for you and your spouse before you head up to be announced. The send off was wonderful, too, as they sent us away with champagne, our cake top, and other goodies to enjoy! The Austin Club really went above and beyond with our reception. It was perfect, and the price was great, too, especially when compared to the other places in town.

I recently had my wedding at The Austin Club. It proved to be the PERFECT winter wedding site in downtown Austin. It seemed a bit pricey at the beginning of our planning, but in the end, was worth every penny. It's nearly a one-stop-shop; I didn't have to rent linens, tables, or chairs, or bring in extra lighting. Because my wedding was in December, the Club was decorated for Christmas. It was less decorating for me have to do, and looked tastefully festive. The waitstaff was also included in our package and very professional. The food was FANTASTIC. No mediocre wedding food found here, folks; only the best. Guests continue to rave about how delicious everything was! If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing.

I had my daughter's wedding and reception at The Austin Club and it was truly amazing!!! Lillian was a joy to work with and made everything so easy for us. Joe and the staff on the evening of the wedding, went above and beyond. Our guest were treated like royalty. We had so many comments on the food at how good it was and our guest also comment how great the wait staff was and what a pleasure it was to have "old school" waiters (one hand behind the back etc). We were allowed to begin setting up at 2 for a 7:00 wedding which was ample time to have everything perfect. The third floor where the bride and party gets ready, Lillian had champagne, soda's and a lovely cheese tray waiting for us. The men got ready in a room behind the bar and had ample drinks, nuts etc to snack on. The weather was perfect and our guest really enjoyed the balcony. Being we had the wedding and reception here, after the ceremony the room had to be "flipped" for the reception. I was concerned that the guest might notice and really have no where to go. The minute the ceremony was over the staff had appitizers and drinks ready to go and the guest had plenty of room to mingle in the bar area and the balcony and the room was ready to go before I even noticed it had been done. Highly HIGHLY recommend The Austin Club. It just doesn't get any better than this. Oh, and we LOVED the sign that was personlized greeting the guest!! (Picture has been posted) Thanks to everyone at The Austin Club!