Ronnie's Real Food

A hidden gem! My wife and I have been here many times, and it's always a pleasure. Last night's Salmon with Tarragon-Common Wine Sauce was perfect. The atmosphere is a lovely blend of homey and elegant, and the Hill Country setting is just beautiful.

You have to order ahead, so the nice part you don't have to spend your time stressing over menu options while you're there. It's so personal (I've sometimes been there when we're the only group being served) and the food is delicious. I love taking my family here when they visit from out of town, or for special occasion dates with my husband. He and I are both picky eaters, but we always enjoy the courses

The is a Special Place for my family and I. Ronnie makes wonderful food. You'll need to book in advance, and select the meal you would like. Each time is a little different as the menu changes, it's a simple 5 course meal, with a meat, fish, or veg option. The finale is Ronnie's cookies, with a mixture of shortbread fudge and other sweet treats, which are also available for purchase at your nearest Whole Foods Market.

Ronnie's Real Food Bistro is an hidden gem of carefully crafted meals in a lovely, semi-wooded area in West Austin. Ronnie is a great guy who always genuinely greets you at the door. The restaurant is not fancy but it's comfortable and seats about 40 people total in one room. The restaurant is only open for dinner at 7pm on Wednesdays-Sundays. You have to call ahead to make a reservation. There is a prix frix menu that changes every week, which is available via their website and e-mail list. The four-course meal features an appetizer, entree (veggie options available), salad and dessert for $28 max which INCLUDES tax and tip. It's also BYOB with NO corkage fee. The menu tends to have a rustic French feel. Often it starts with an amuse bouche. Then a soup is served. One of my favorites has been the cold honeydew melon soup with cucumber chile ice. The soup is sweet yet sour in a perfect kind of way and then a piece of shaved ice flavored with cucumber & chile slowly melts in the middle offering a great spice yet cool flavor to the soup. The entree is usually quite substantial in size. I've enjoyed the Tuscan-style beef. It's a delicious Italian spiced beef stew served over polenta. Cooked in red wine with basil, winter squash and spices, this is a rich and hardy combination. The firm polenta is seasoned with oregano, rosemary, and sharp cheddar cheese. It's a fancier version of a home-cooked beef stew and is wonderful. The only criticism I can give is that sometimes I feel the entrees need a bit more salt but that could just be my personal taste. After the entree, there is a salad course because this is the European way to serve the meal to cleanse the palate and aid digestion. The salads tend to light with very fresh organic vegetables and homemade vinaigrette. Memorable desserts for me have been the espresso-rum creme custard. This custard is lovely and light. The flavors and textures of whipping cream, espresso, dark rum and vanilla compliment each other. What is so great about Ronnie's is that you feel like someone cooked gourmet food especially for you. Ronnie's has a great intimate feel and delicious food in a beautiful setting. But most of all, Ronnie's would not be anything without Ronnie's kind presence and wonderful conversation along with the care he puts into every morsel that passes your lips.

Really liked this place! A small, warm venue, terrific creative food serve and friendly service. Very different.