ATXReview
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Launderette
Included In
Housed inside (you guessed it) a converted laundromat from the 1960s, Launderette is one of the most attractive restaurants on the East Side. A few blocks away from the hustle and bustle of East Sixth, it’s a great spot for a quiet dinner or a romantic date night, but it’s also bright and airy enough to be one of our favorite brunch spots in Austin. Just don’t come here with a sack of dirty clothes—those days are long gone.
photo credit: Holly Dirks
In many ways, Launderette is very “Austin.” It’s a place to enjoy fancy small plates in a very pretty atmosphere, where you’ll feel perfectly welcome in a nice polo or in your favorite sundress. It’s unstuffy and unpretentious, with a bright and airy dining room that feels just as well-suited for second dates as it does for Sunday brunch. But the biggest draw here is the patio—it wraps around half of the building, dotted with tables, couches, and big blue and white umbrellas that look like they belong on a beach somewhere in Greece. It’s where you want to be on a weekend afternoon when the weather is nice.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
The menu is vaguely Mediterranean leaning, but it falls more into the “New American” category that kind of pulls from a lot of global influences. That means you can expect to find things like beet hummus with labneh or a striped bass crudo, right next to sticky pork ribs with a sweet chili sambal or an ultra-simple, yet perfectly balanced burger. But the overarching theme that spans the menu is light and bright. Most of the menu feels like something you can eat when you’re just feeling a little peckish, but you still need to get to yoga in the morning. Whether you’re ordering off their brunch, lunch, or dinner menu, you’ll probably want to finish your meal with the birthday cake ice cream sandwich—just don’t ask them to sing any songs when they bring it out.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Roasted Carrots
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Crab Toast
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Plancha Burger
photo credit: Roger Ho
Birthday Cake Ice Cream Sandwich