Ronnie's Real Food Bistro

Charming rustic setting under the mystical tangled trunks of Post Oak trees just outside the walls of windows. Yet the table setting, food presentation, and friendly service was classy. The prices were very reasonable.

This place is a hidden gem! It is located a bit off the beaten path but it is this location that enables Ronnie's to offer such a beautiful setting for dinner.We were fortunate to discover Ronnie's Real Food just a day before we went and ate there. Ronnie's popped up on our Yelp search when we were looking for a healthy option for dinner in the Bee Cave/Barton Creek area. The thing about this restaurant is Ronnie only offers his dinners from 7-8:30 PM Thursday- Sunday. The dining room is in what looks like the living room of this house with lots of windows that looks out to these beautiful trees on a wooden but well kept lot. Ronnie, himself, is also the person who greets you at the door and your host for the evening. It is honestly such a unique and intimate setting that you really can't experience anywhere else (at least I can't say I have).He offers a 4-course, prix fixe dinner that changes every week but includes your choice of protein as an entree, soup, salad, and dessert. We were also given some multigrain chips and artichoke dip to start. The food was actually really simple and healthy but also done really well! Best of all, you get all this for around $20/person (price depends on the protein you pick).I am so happy this restaurant exists! I love that there is a place my boyfriend and I can go to to have an intimate dinner knowing we will have a delicious, healthy meal with a view for such an amazing price!

Everything about Ronnie's was just wonderful! The setting is nestled in the hill country just outside 360 off Bee Cave Rd. The food was spectacular, my chicken was moist and cooked to perfection and my husband's fish dish was equally delicious. We were able to bring our own wine for only a $10 corkage fee. Love this restaurant! We'll definitely be back with more friends!

I think this is a great place, although I could see how people might not like it. It's fairly unique, not your typical restaurant. I was there Saturday night for a birthday party and the food I had was really good - the gazpacho was the best I've ever had, really fresh and a perfect consistency. The paella was very good also, though not outstanding. As far as the roasted grain beverage goes - well, I like to try new things, so I don't regret drinking it. I can't say I liked it, but I drank the whole cup.I don't think you can beat the ambience and food for the price. I think if you're one of those people that are picky about what you eat and always request changes to your food at a restaurant you might not like it here. However, if you are laid back about your food and just enjoy eating it this would be a great place to go - just look on their web site and pick a weekend when they are serving something you think you might like, and you'll probably really enjoy it.

This place is my favorite place to eat in Austin. You get a four course meal (plus a free appetizer to munch on) for the price of an entree! Dining here is more like a private chef experience; and the surrounding windows (looking into a quiet hill country forest) make it especially cozy. I think my favorite part about this restaurant is knowing Ronnie prepared and cooked the food fresh just for you. He has perfected his recipes and makes sure what he is serving exceeds the expectations that customers usually have when dining out at a restaurant. I love bringing guests here because it is unlike any other dining experience out there. Refreshing atmosphere, excellent service, and delicious fresh/healthy food. (check out his cookies and brownies too, they're sold throughout Austin at coffee shops, Juice Land, and Whole Foods)(support local Austin businesses!)

Charming, hidden spot where you can get an inexpensive full-service meal in a natural setting. Drive slow - it's easy to miss the turn as the building isn't visible from the road. The menu is prix fixe and changes regularly. Pricing is ~$20pp. Wines are a modest $15-20/bottle. Service is warm and attentive. Come here if you're in the area and looking for a local experience, but hard-core foodies should check expectations at the door.

Wonderful ambiance and delicious food! Ronnie's is nestled among hundreds of oaks with little lights decorating the exterior on Commons Ford Road as you head towards the lake. We made reservations the day before as the website requested. Several entrees are offered with the remaining courses being the same for all diners at one 7:00 p.m. seating. We chose our entrees when we made our reservation. Our fantastic meal was served in an intimate setting surrounded by oak trees as seen through the large glass windows. Our 4-course meal:*A unique and sumptuous pea soup with mint, peppered bacon and croutons (so good I wanted to chug it!)*Salmon Fillet with lemon ginger butter--fantastic! And Beef Carbonade a la Flamande both served with mashed potatoes--rich and flavorful*Fresh organic field greens with caramelized walnuts, cranberries and balsamic vinegar dressing*Rustic and soulful butterscotch pudding made with Scotch whiskey and topped with a brown sugar sauce - Oh. My. God.*Rich and bold organic coffeeWe were not charged a corkage fee for the bottle of Prosecco we brought with us. As a nice personal touch, Ronnie came around and spoke with us after each course to ask us how we liked the food.Prix Fixe for $25.00 a person which includes tax and gratuity. Ronnie's Real Food Bistro will beckon us back sooner than later.

Ronnie's is only open Thursday through Sunday. They only take reservations. They seat everyone at 7PM. The menu is fixed and posted on the Website, http://ronniesrealfood.com/. They only seat 40 people. The 4 course meal is a fixed $25.00 including tax and gratuity. He does not have a liquor license. You can BYOB and there is no corkage fee.The food is usually very well prepared, we have been there at least 10 times over the last 2 years. Check the menu because you do not get choices.Enjoy, I have no idea why I am sharing this gem. I need to get reservations too.

Look to the left.Ronnie's Real (Bad) Food.Maybe it was because we were in a large party? Maybe not. It was unimaginative at best, gross at worst. 4 courses:Potato Leek Soup - tasted like it was from a can.Some sort of 'beef' in a fig and balsamic reduction -hard to swallow - or 'Fish (Cod, to be accurate) Veracruzano?' Cod? And not fresh Cod at that - yuck.'Salad' -spinach leaves in garlic oil (seriously) with a tough (end) slice of grapefruit and dollop of store-bought-in-plastic-pouches-guacamole - gag.I was so turned off by all of this I didn't even try the completely unimpressive looking chocolate sheet cake desert.If not for the wonderful company and the great booze (byob), I would have bolted.Don't waste your time.

Ok....I guess I'm going to be the voice of dissent here. I went to Ronnie's a few weeks back, and I wasn't very impressed with the food. Ronnie was very friendly and great to talk to, but the food itself was bland and unflavorful.We started out a few tartlets, which were good (but I suspect they were the frozen kind you get at costcos). Then came the magenta soup.....I thought this pretty ok, but my friend didnt like it. The worst was the entree. We both got beef bourginogn and it was, well, blah! No taste, and the beef was quite tough. Dessert was a custard, which would have been great, had it not been for the overpowering raspberry sauce.I guess I had high expectations based on all reviews. I know its a really good value for $25, but I wanted more flavor in my food and I don't think price has anything to do with it.