Cafe Malta

Nice place, and the food was good. I didn't like the panisses, but I did like my croque madame. The menu is limited, but there's still options available. I'll definitely go again.

Favorite restaurant in Austin, hands down. The atmosphere is delightful and the staff is so friendly. Everything we ate was somehow better than the next. The gnocchi was silky and pillowy, the peach salad was fresh and delicious and the lamb fettuccine special was out of the this world. The pasta was so fresh. And can’t forget the flourless chocolate cake. Speechless. Everything came out fast and piping hot.

Perfect neighborhood bistro! It's just the right size with a delicious local and seasonal menu at approachable prices. I love taking my Dad here when he visits. Everything is super flavorful but also feels so nutritious. Service is great and food comes out fast and hot! It gets busy at peak times so go on off hours or make a reservation. Highly recommend the brisket ravioli and gala apple salad!

Hidden gem! The food was authentic, well portioned out, flavorful, and all dishes (if not mistaken) are homemade. The price for lunch was affordable considering the quality of the food was that of a $$$ restaurant. Our waiter was friendly, communicated well, and knew the menu. You know a restaurant is good when new customers coming in say, “they’ve heard great things about this place.” You must try the GNOCCHI BLEU!!! You will melt for it :)

The most forgettable food you could ask for. Not necessarily bad, but definitely not good either. Also, pricey considering the did is sub par. The waiter seemed like she'd rather be doing anything else.

After reading reviews, I was really looking forward to trying some of their great looking drinks. Stopped by to get started. It's too bad they have decided to not take cash. It would have been easy to accept the mismanagent and enjoy a fancy brew. But they ran me off with their NO CASH policy. SMH

For a cafe located in a strip mall, this restaurant has an unexpectedly cozy and faintly European ambience due to the light fixtures and decor. This created a great, "hole in the wall" vibe. The price point was very reasonable and affordable when compared to the quality of the food. I ordered the Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop and my dinner companion ordered the Bistro (grilled marinated hanger steak.) Both dishes were good and the vegetable saute was exceptional. For dessert, we ordered the Basil Panna Cotta with Strawberry which was flavorful and fresh. The Apple Crumble is an easy crowd pleaser and was flaky and food. It took a while to get the check or drink refills but this is understandable due to the server shortage. Not pictured, we also enjoyed some excellent decaf latte which can be attributed to the expresso machine at the bar. The I can Explain Everything ( limoncello, cachaça, sweet lemon juice and prosecco) was delicious and dangerously strong. I'll definitely be heading back again!

We (4 of us) recently dined at Cafe Malta. It was a huge disappointment. We waited an hour for our food with no apologies from the staff. The food was sub par. The snapper was rubbery and the risotto was under cooked. The pork chop was heavily salted. The coq au vin was a very small potion. The wine list is not exciting. We will not go back.

I love this place. When my dad turned 80, back in 2014, he requested his birthday party to be held at this spot because this was his favorite restaurant. I love the lombatello salad, the mussels, the cocktails... This restaurant is in an unassuming strip mall. After you get inside though, you'll feel like you're in a nice bistro. Prices are good. Wine is well priced and good. Service is thoughtful and unobtrusive. My takeaway is that, even though I've been going here for many years, I haven't mentioned this lovely place. I enjoy lunch here, with my Kindle, sit at the bar, and eat my lombatello salad with a glass of wine. Never happier.

It's gone downhill alot over the past year... My wife and I discovered this restaurant a few years back and it was such a gem! Despite being located in a somewhat sketchy strip center, it had great food, fair pricing, and a nice ambiance. We were loyal fans and repeat customers. We talked about it to all of our friends and always were excited to return. I guess the word got out because now it's super crowded and somewhat difficult to get a reservation. To make matters worse, they increased their pricing substantially and the food/service took a nose dive. It's so hit or miss now! Many plates either over salted or not salted enough. Some items are spot on and some are mediocre and forgettable. Really hoping they take the time to do some quality control and work to improve their standards to how they used to be.

Cute little restaurant located on a strip. Yummy, good quality food. Variety of Mediterranean/ European items. We split the Brisket Ravioli ($17) and the Cheeseboard ($14). The ravioli was obviously handmade with toothsome, chewy dough and protein rich filling in a pesto sauce. I love how nicely they split items. The cheeseboard had a nice variety of items. Staff was very polite.

I had a great lunch here recently and hope to go back soon! This was my first time to visit Cafe Malta, and it was a delicious meal with a nice ambiance. We came in the afternoon and it was not too busy and the service was great. The menu is labeled with gluten free options, but the server was also able to provide additional clarifications and was knowledgeable about dietary restrictions. The Bistro plate was great and the prices were very reasonable. The lavender crème brûlée was also delicious and a great way to end the meal!

Been going here since they opened. We always have a great experience and then beat ourselves for not going more often. Food is divine and reasonably priced, especially at lunch. My wife's favorite is the Lombatello Salad. I'm particular to the Bistro hangar steak. Mussels are great, we tend to eat in the winter months. Panna cotta is delish. All to go packaging is compostable!

Lord love a duck. Delicious even after all these years. One of our favorite places to eat during lunch

Ate at Café Malta for about the fourth time, with my wife, although it was pre-Covid when we were there last. A charming, small venue, when not crowded, that quickly deteriorated into a hard to hear yourself talk fully packed venue that has a completely different, and not overly enjoyable, vibe once it filled up. Thus, unless you want an Irish Pub/more raucous vibe for dinner, I suggest you show up around 5 pm, unless it's a quiet evening, in terms of patrons. Menu had good variety, service was friendly and attentive, the food was mostly delicious, and the prices were 30% or so below typical Austin prices for similar food options. The PEI mussels were in a tasty tomato-based sauce served with bread pieces. Delicious. The gnocchi was a definite must try dish for anyone that likes gnocchi and gorgonzola cheese. My wife had a salad with steak that she thought was delicious. My pork with polenta and grilled veggies was good, but nothing special. Candidly, the pork, although really tender, did not have much flavor. The apple crumble for dessert was a nice way to finish the meal, and my cappuccino was tasty. We definitely will return to this restaurant sooner than later, but will show up at 5 PM next time, instead of 5:30 PM -- as, although the first 45 minutes were lovely and very European bistro-like, the last half hour was an overly noisy, crowded, and not particularly pleasant experience. And, if you're going to be at this place, when it fills up, I would strongly recommend you sit in a booth in the corner, or sit as far away from the front door as possible.

We were visiting Austin and decided to give Cafe Malta a shot. This was a home run. Quality recipes and execution. Highly recommend.

Continues to amaze with high quality food, great wine list, cool ambiance for every occasion, great prices and first class personalized service. Nick, the owner, is hands on and very friendly and knowledgeable about Mediterranean foods and cuisines.

Food was ok. Had lunch. Hubbie had the flank steak and I had the croque monsieur with broccoli. My broccoli was hard and under steamed. The croque was bland. We also tried the bruschetta appetizer. This was pretty bland for being Jalapeno sausage. Was missing something. Pesto didn't have kick either. Quiet ambiance for lunch. Won't go back.

Once inside Cafe Malta, I was genuinely transported from the SW Austin strip mall (outside), and I could have been in any bustling cafe in the world. Cafe Malta was busy on a Friday night, with a vibrant atmosphere. We had good food and good service. This is a gem, and it's nice to not have to make the trek downtown. We started with crostini and the mussels. I really enjoyed the mussels, but I was not a fan of the crostini. Nice pesto, sausage, and Brie on them, but there was no crunch at all. Just like toppings on bread. The mussels, however, were full of great flavor. We both had pasta for our main: the brisket ravioli for me, and the L'Amfette fettuccine for my wife. Both were good, and I should say that the prices for everything were more than reasonable. I also saw some complaints on portion sizes, but no complaint at all from me. The portions were good and were typical of what I've experienced in Europe. Reasonable, but not the super size American portions maybe some expect. I thought it was great. Split a flourless chocolate cake with butterscotch. We were a little disappointed, as there was not much butterscotch, and we couldn't really taste what was there. Otherwise good. Out Cafe Malta on your list.

Awesome little place! I went for lunch on a Tuesday and it wasn't busy at all. It's very relaxed and has great service. They leave you a wine bottle of water at the table to stay hydrated. The waitress is great about asking if you need a refill on your wine I ordered the mussels which were cooked well and tasted wonderful with the baguette I really liked my glass of Sauvignon Blanc paired with it. Definitely will be returning to try dinner!

The first time we came here in July the food was GREAT and the service was NOT great. But after reading the other reviews, I wanted to give it another try. I told the person who checked our reservation our story. The owner came over and sincerely was concerned about what happened. To make a long story short, once again our food was outstanding with impeccable service. We now are huge Cafe Malta fans and look forward to returning there again!

This is sort of a hole in the wall kind of cafe. It offers surprising warmth and a quaint bistro feel inside a shopping center. I have been to Cafe Malta years before, and it never disappoints. Glad to see the business doing so well. It was a full house at 6:30 pm on a dreary Saturday. The entrees are fulfilling with decent portions. Unlike the summary Mediterranean dishes people normally expect, I considered the dishes we picked similar to home cooked comfort foods. We enjoyed the Bistro (marinated hanger steak with potato Gorgonzola gratin) and the Catalan (chicken leg quarter). The gnocchi appetizer didn't have a very potent bleu cheese taste, which I preferred, but my boyfriend thought it was blend. It's a small restaurant; it can be intimate. The lighting is also dim, great for a casual dating spot. Probably ok for kids too, but I don't recommend it for the evening crowd. We had wine all night. The only cocktail we tried was the "Thank you sir, may I have another", which was quite delicious.

I would define go back to this restaurant. From the outside, it's like where am I going. It's in a strip mall. But inside, it's so nice. So welcoming. The staff was great and so was the food.

My lovely neighbor choose this charming restaurant for her Birthday dinner with 2 other neighbors joining the celebration that was an awesome meal. The waiter guided us to satisfying Masso Antico Primitivo Red Italian wine after we sampled another red wine we didn't enjoy. My Levant salad was tasty with the preserved lemon vinaigrette on Butter lettuce. My main of Snapper Ras-Al-Hanout was served hot with the right touch for spices rubbed into the fish. Most importantly my widowed neighbor loved the whole experience with the good service, wine, food and neighbor companionship from a dining environment that truly has that neighborhood feel for the locals near the location. We were the last ones to leave because we were enjoying our good stories & the staff sung Happy Birthday to my neighbor as we departed.

Cafe Malta is an unexpected gem! The food is delicious, the wine menu extensive, and the staff was warm and friendly. The pricing was very affordable and made it feel like a hidden treasure. I had the night's special of a Moroccan braised beef, and it was one of the best I've had. Ambiance is friendly and is a true neighborhood spot. We will be back!

I really liked their pistachio cheesecake at one point. It was amazing. But the last couple of visits weren't great. Service was slow and food was ok

Cafe Malta, I want to love you, but you're making it difficult. My dinner partner and I dined with you last night and to say we were underwhelmed is an understatement. I've dined with you before and now I remember why it's been three years since my last visit. The food is just not very good. I had the braised chicken leg and it was incredibly slimy and lacking in flavor. The pork shoulder with vegetables was the same. Both dishes looked and tasted like they were made hours ago and reheated in the microwave. The mussels we ordered as a starter were good, but not good enough to save the meal.

Decided to check this place out on a whim. With a little guidance from my waiter I chose the gnocchi. It was delicious! I also had an Arnold Palmer which was exactly what I needed to go with this lunch meal. I will definitely be back try other items on the menu. Very classy interior. Hidden in a strip mall behind 7-Eleven.

I LOVE this place. The bourbon cocktails and the gnocci appetizers. Th ambiance. The portion sizes. The food quality. The friendly neighborhood feel. I'd live here if I could. If hope too many people don't get to love it too too much (which is selfish-because they deserve massive success), but then you'll never get a seat at the bar again, and sitting at that bar is really the best!

Nice waiter. Nice space. Food has been good in the past. We waited forever for drinks. But that's not a big deal. The turnip tart had two ingredients: turnips and a clog of gruyere thrown on top. Raw (not lightly sautéed -truly raw) side of squash and zucchini. Nada mas. It looked like hospital food. I know vegetarian options get phoned in a lot. But this was off the charts disappointing.

Excellent service from Avery and others! Prices are very reasonable, food was excellent. Our part of seven tried several entrees and we were all happy. Also $5 wine at happy hour. Perfect place for a group too.

We are in from out of town and decided to go for dinner based on the reviews. This place is forgettable. Atmosphere is nice but service was lacking. Took nearly 20 minutes to get someone to take our drink order. The drinks were good. The starters were ok. We got the hummus and the crostini. Not bad but not anything special. The entrees were not good, lacked flavor, low quality and did not taste fresh. I had to add salt to everything and I am actually very sensitive to things be too salty. We had the steak special which was ok, the chicken dish which was dry and the vegetables where rubbery, lacking in flavor. My son had the pasta. He said the apples in the pasta was weird and the pasta was clumped together. The sauce needed salt and pepper to be palatable. The dessert was ok. The flourless chocolate cake was good but forgettable. The menu said peach crumble which we ordered. It was apple. It was cold and a fruit crumple should be served warm, in my opinion. It was also overpriced for the quality of food.

This is located in an unassuming strip mall in far south Austin. It would be great for date night with its intimate lighting and booths. This place has classic style yet has an unpretentiousness about it. We had the crostini and lombatelllo steak salad. Service was excellent - we were offered a switch from the original l'amfette pasta to the lombatello.

Excellent food and sweet ambiance. The Provençal chickpea fritters were a wonderful start to the meal. The seared salmon salad came out with a hearty piece of a salmon on top, classic French dressing, very tasty. The carbonara (special) was perfectly executed with house made pasta. Great cocktail and wine list. Very fair prices. Highly recommend

Service was incredible and I'm still drooling over the gnocchi! It's a bit loud inside BUT has great ambiance for a place in the middle of a strip mall. Could've used a lot less ice in my drink (try the Licosa! It's refreshing and tasty!) but, overall a great experience after three years away.

Always love Cafe Malta. Coke for a great happy hour and stay for dinner. Everything on the menu is delicious. So glad to have this local treasure close to home in south Austin.

food mediocre, service downright mean. Will not return. I really don't have anything more to say, but I needed to write more o get this posted.

After being closed due to Covid this gem is open again! Fabulous meal last night (salmon salad) and delicious wine! Service was on point- super! Make a reservation- this place fills up quickly!

I went in on impulse because my family was waiting at home at dinner time and I didn't have a plan and didn't want to cook. I ordered from the parking lot and waited for the food to be prepared so that I could pick it up and take it home. I was surprised to see that their dining room wasn't open but the guy at the bar said that they were hiring and would be opening soon. I hope they did because I'd like to go back. The food is so good and the ambiance is just lovely!

There were ten in our group and we received great food and great service. We each ordered something different and I heard only compliments and no complaints. I had the pork chops with mashed potatoes and sauté squash. Yummy.

Maltese food in the era of coronavirus. Maltese = a mix of country Italian and North African. At Cafe Malta, that means mostly Italian with some North African sauces and condiments. Maltese food is good food. * * * Coronavirus changes everything. Never mind the strip mall location. Nowadays, the cafe might just as well be a French Cafe in a World War II movie. The resistance is meeting to plot the next rescue. Everyone is wearing a bandana or a mask. People stand - faces obscured - in the corners. The chairs are kept distant. There is the possibility some of the other people could be carriers. But no one can be absolutely sure. The masked customers eye the rest of the crowd warily. Those who come too close are treated with suspicion. The chairs are stacked in the center to provide a barrier. Those who wait, stay covered, keep back in the corners and watch the crowd. The owner, on the phone, has an air of urgency. He is taking orders from dial-in customers. He writes frenetically. In his mask, he could be taking orders from Headquarters. A woman, also masked, brings in bags from the back. They are probably food parcels. In their bags, they look like roadside bombs, The flatter ones could be courier dispatches. The bags on the bar, wait for their pick-up. No one speaks - except the owner on the phone. Matters concerning packages are resolved with hand signals or terse whispered phrases. Without showing my face, I take my own parcel and leave. * * * How is the food at Cafe Malta? Serving sizes are small, but the food is uncompromising and excellent. Butter rules. Dairy pervades but also shares the stage. Every dish has a main flavor that makes a statement. Red Sauce is nowhere to be seen. My gnocchi gave a stern statement about blue cheese. The ravioli spoke of brisket, tempered by white wine. The polenta spoke subtly but spoke subtly about cream. I did not taste my wife's trout - but the fish spoke to her compellingly. * * * It was not a night for the house arancello although that would have finished off the meal perfectly. It was not a night for savoring cheesecake or coming back to reality with coffee. It was not a night to sit in a magical room and let the wine craft its own particular story. It was a night for running out of restaurants hoping that the treat in my hands would not be my last. * * * The house arancello is calling my name. We will have to return to this establishment in peacetime.

Thoroughly impressed by their experience, charisma and shear willingness not to give up on a beautiful dream of having a restaurant with quality,etc etc....wow Thank you for hanging in there.....Corey..Word of Mourh moving...

My husband, I meet up with a group of friends for dinner. We were a bigger party and Cafe Malta luckily does take reservations. However, I felt that our party may have been a little too large to accommodate. We were there, I felt, longer than we needed to be which was fine since I was not in a rush. I started off with a glass of the Chianti wine which is $4 dollars during happy hour. The Chianti was quite decent and a great price. They have other drinks on the happy hour menu to try. Be sure to check it out. My husband and I ordered the hummus platter. On the menu, it is described as a Creamy dip of chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and tahini, with crudité & grilled flatbread. I was able to get gluten free crackers and raw veggies to enjoy since I don't eat gluten due to food sensitivity issues. The gluten-free crackers were really good and were a score in my book. The hummus was good but I felt it was missing something overall. For our main meals, I ordered the grilled salmon salad. The presentation looked amazing but the salmon was overcooked and I felt it was also overpriced for the size of the salad. My husband ordered the LOMBATELLO, hanger steak salad, which was really good. It was funny to me because my husband was confused by it being called a salad when he got his plate (see my pics). It was a fancy version of a "salad". Overall, the food was hit and miss. I would like to come back maybe another time to try some thing else and be in a smaller party. I had looked around at other people's dishes and it looked really good so maybe I ordered the wrong thing?

It was definitely worth the trip to S. Austin for this food!! This is a rare experience where I want to give a place 6 stars. Don't be fooled by the shopping center that Cafe Malta is located in. Once inside you will be surprised how nice it is inside. I especially liked the way they built the bar and shelving. I had the pleasure of enjoying the Bistro plate which has grilled & marinated hanger steak with a Cabernet demi-glace, potato gorgonzola gratin and balsamic redux with a local vegetable saute. OMG it was all delicious! I would strongly recommend the Bistro main to anyone. While the portion of meat appeared small, I had to remind myself I was not hungry afterwards and with an $11 price point it was well worth it. My BF ordered the L'amfette which was fresh fettuccine tossed with Texas lamb, apple, rosemary, garlic and arugula. It was also delicious and would be something I would recommend ordering. After our meal we noticed it was Happy Hour (starts at 3). For Happy Hour they have excellent prices on select cocktails, wine and beer...starting at $3. But the show-stopper for HH is the $5 Crostini de Hill Country. You get 4 crostinis topped with smokey Denmark jalapeno sausage, parsley-pecan pesto and melted brie. Pro Tip: Cafe Malta offers "Tour de Forks" on the 1st and 3rd Tue of each month. Where guests can enjoy a pre-fixe menu for $25 pp with a reservation. In January they will be offering dishes inspired by Malta (Jan 2) and Israel (Jan 16).

Great service and amazing food! Next time we will go for happy hour, we missed it by 15! Not sure when it starts but ends at 7

We took a staycation and looked for restaurants we'd never tried in our own city. Cafe Malta was a great find! We ordered several dishes and were able to pick them up during social distancing. The food was fantastic! We had the grilled caesar, gnocchi bleu appetizer, the special salmon entree, and a flourless chocolate cake. All of the food tasted fresh, all flavors were decadent and complementary. That's tough to do with takeout! It was plenty of food for the 2 of us, as well. We were so pleased and impressed. We will definitely return in the future, hopefully to eat inside after all this distancing is over.

Pleasantly surprised with this hidden South Austin gem! We definitely don't have enough good restaurants in this area and I'm glad I finally checked this place out. Really small inside so we were glad we made a reservation for a busy Friday night. Our server was amazing and the prices are great. Any other place you go for this quality of food and cocktails would be close to double the price I'm sure- so that was really really awesome :) My favorite was the brisket ravioli, although the dough was a little thick. But the sauce and flavor was incredible. We also got the crostini, bistro, and champignon- all of which were good! I wasn't blowwwwn away like I've been at 5 star restaurant spots, but the service and awesome pricing would definitely make me come back here! We ended with two desserts, the lemon tart and the peach crumble. Both were OK. The crumble seemed to be all peaches, no crumble... Like I said, the food isn't insanely amazing or the best you can find in the city... But the service, pricing, and cute local small family feel makes up for that!

LEGIT 12/10 experience. The food OMG I am coming here all the time. Like the brisket ravioli was to DIE FOR! I will be back and then again and again. If you are not going here and overpaying for authentic food. You are not doing it right. Great prices, above and beyond staff, and the food is...I will put it this way. I was full and was trying to figure out how to order more food.

Watch out for this place. I was overcharged on my bill--the bartender added $40 on the tip. Check your credit card bill after dinning there

I was impressed! I have heard great things about this place and was eager to try it out. I was a little skeptical when I drive up and realized it was in a strip center, but decided to give it a chance. I was not disappointed. The food was delicious! The staff was very attentive and friendly despite the large crowds. All of the food was a good portion size, lots of flavor, and very reasonably priced. I will definitely be back to try it out. Make reservations....this place stays packed!

Family​ ​of​ ​5​ ​visiting​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time,​ ​came​ ​by​ ​recommendation​ ​from​ ​friends. We​ ​were​ ​seated​ ​right​ ​away,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​busy​ ​for​ ​a​ ​Tuesday​ ​night​ ​but​ ​not​ ​crowded. We​ ​started​ ​off​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Hummus,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​all​ ​were​ ​disappointed.​ ​​ ​It​ ​had​ ​a​ ​bad​ ​finish​ ​so​ ​we​ ​just finished​ ​the​ ​veggies​ ​that​ ​came​ ​with​ ​the​ ​appetizer​ ​and​ ​ordered​ ​the​ ​Mussels.​ ​​ ​That​ ​was​ ​well​ ​worth it...​ ​the​ ​sauce​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Mussels​ ​was​ ​great...​ ​that​ ​was​ ​finished​ ​very​ ​quickly. Next​ ​the​ ​main​ ​courses.​ ​We​ ​had​ ​the​ ​Lamb​ ​Pasta,​ ​Lasagna,​ ​Bistro​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Brisket​ ​Ravioli. The​ ​Lamb​ ​Pasta​ ​was​ ​good,​ ​but​ ​nothing​ ​special. The​ ​Bistro​ ​was​ ​good​ ​also,​ ​too​ ​much​ ​wine​ ​sauce​ ​on​ ​the​ ​meat,​ ​but​ ​my​ ​son​ ​did​ ​finish​ ​it...​ ​oh,​ ​the potatoes​ ​on​ ​the​ ​dish​ ​were​ ​great. The​ ​Brisket​ ​Ravioli​ ​was​ ​very​ ​good,​ ​came​ ​with​ ​a​ ​cream​ ​sauce​ ​but​ ​it​ ​was​ ​a​ ​good​ ​combo,​ ​and​ ​we finished​ ​it​ ​off​ ​quickly. The​ ​Lasagna​ ​was​ ​ok,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​not​ ​something​ ​I​ ​would​ ​order​ ​again.​ ​​ ​I​ ​am​ ​not​ ​sure​ ​if​ ​they​ ​were​ ​trying to​ ​mix​ ​traditional​ ​Italian​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Mediterranean​ ​cuisines,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​did​ ​not​ ​work​ ​for​ ​me... Would​ ​I​ ​recommend​ ​this​ ​place​ ​to​ ​anyone​ ​?​ ​​ ​no...​ ​unless​ ​you​ ​are​ ​there​ ​for​ ​the​ ​wine​ ​&​ ​mussels.. Loving​ ​Mediterranean​ ​foods,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​disappointed​ ​with​ ​the​ ​overall​ ​appeal​ ​of​ ​this​ ​place.​ ​​ ​I​ ​will​ ​find another​ ​local​ ​spot​ ​for​ ​that​ ​flair​ ​... also, the portions were small, and for the price of $120 for 5 of us with no drinks and two deserts, well, that was a bit pricey...

Only been once. The food was extremely good, but the entree portions were more like appetizers at entree prices. My boyfriend almost ordered a 2nd entree, but decided to have me make him something instead.

Brunch can be a fabulous experience or torturous, no matter where you dine...it's been only delightful for each of our visits to Cafe Malta. We've enjoyed fabulous service at the bar; Classic beverages coupled with masterful Mediterranean food, pure joy for a Sunday. Get the muscles...

What a delicious treat to find this hidden gem . The lamb burger was out of this world. I can't wait to try out all the other items . The hummus was creamy and the pita wedges were soft pillows of deliciousness. This is a return every week kind of place . I was going to post pics but I got so excited about the food ... I forgot to take any.

My partner and I had a wonderful anniversary meal at Cafe Malta five years ago and always wanted to visit again. The restaurant is on the other side of town from where we live so a trek to South Austin doesn't happen too often. I was very excited to visit again and this anniversary, our twentieth together, would include a memorable visit to a place we really liked. We made reservations and arrived to find a bustling restaurant. There was no one at the door to greet us and after a couple of minutes someone came to seat us. We sat and waited a few minutes for our waiter to appear. He read the specials and asked if we had any questions. He did not inquire about our visit or otherwise engage with us. I later counted that he was working seven tables. After explaining the menu he went away for a few minutes and reappeared with water. He then went away for another few minutes and returned to take our order. He then went away for another few minutes...are you sensing a theme here? We were in the restaurant for 30 minutes before getting our appetizer and wine and another 20 minutes before our main course came to the table. The food is actually very nice but the portions here are simply too small and do not match the cost of the plate. We ordered the gnocchi appetizer, a pasta mushroom main, and the brisket ravioli main. These items all came in a smallish bowl, about 7 in in diameter, that not only wasn't full of food but didn't make a particularly impressive statement on the plate. Our meals were also not hot...just warm. To be blunt it was boring. Take aways: clearly homemade, fresh, local food but it arrives lukewarm, boring, and it leaves you wanting more. I left the restaurant still hungry. The service is not good. While I cannot fault someone that has to manage seven tables I can fault management for clearly not making service a commitment. A manager did acknowledge the long wait and comped our drinks. The visit from the manager should've happened earlier in our visit. Our twentieth anniversary meal was a disappointment.

We learned about this place through a mutual friend, and we absolutely loved this place. During all the COVID-19 situation this restaurant really came through and shined through it all. The food was fine dining quality, EVEN with it being delivered. The food was flavorful, fresh, and so good! 100% recommend.

Yesterday I attended a gathering with some serious food partners in crime and had an absolutely incredible time however, Cafe Malta let me down with their 2018 Late Winter Dinner menu as a couple of my favorites were missing nevertheless, I wasn't going to get up and walk out in protest, I just ordered a libation to calm my nerves, 'I Can Explain Everything', very soothing and therapeutic, Limoncello, cachaça, sweet lemon juice, and prosecco. As an appetizer, I was able to sample the Crostini di Hill Country, Smokey Denmark (Austin local) jalapeño sausage, brie, parsley-pecan pesto on baguette. After ordering my main course, Canneloni, I requested another libation, Dark and Stormy, Cruzan Blackstrap rum and Maine Ginger Brew over ice with lime to further calm my nerves. I enjoyed the Cannelloni, fresh housemade pasta filled with roasted maitake, beech, and oyster mushrooms in a porcini stock, topped with gruyere béchannel, pastured egg yolk, and porcini crumble. As a rule, i usually pass on the desserts but I could not resist the charms of the Chocolate chili Crème bruleé, with a snifter of Père François Calvados, for digestive purposes only. Indeed I will return whenever the Gnocchi Gorgonzola returns to the menu. Last, but certainly not least, our server, Mary, was extraordinary, beyond measure.

Friendly service Not a long wait Trying Steak/Eggs for brunch Cappuccino too Limited tables Big parking lot