Serenade

We were first introduced to Serenade on 12/23 when we stayed at the W for our daughter's 8 y/o birthday. Conveniently adjoined to the hotel and open at 11am, it made for the perfect brunch spot. The staff were so nice and accommodating. The manager even came to speak to us and brought us a plate of sugar and gingerbread cookies because they heard it was her birthday. The food was excellent! I LOVED my beet salad and the grilled shrimp were cooked to perfection. My husband ordered the duck confit hash and it was so flavorful! Our 12 y/o ordered the pancakes and they were to die for! The birthday girl ordered a grilled cheese and fruit - not on the menu but the chef accommodated us. She was so happy! As if the meal, service and ambience weren't enough, they also sent us "home" with another box of cookies to continue celebrating her birthday! Fast forward to 2/1/25, we came back to the W because we were going to see a show at ACL. This time, it was closer to an early dinner service (about 430ish pm). They provided us with the dinner menu, but then changed it out with the brunch menu because the chef said they had not set up the dinner line yet. While that was OK for the (now) 13 y/o, husband and I didn't want breakfast-y kinda food. So we ordered the kids food first, then waited about 15min to place our dinner menu order. The seafood board was interesting. Love the crab claws, ceviche and the oysters. Did NOT enjoy the mussels. They had a weird aftertaste. I ordered the cauliflower steak. The veggies tasted good but it was not a "steak." It was more like purple cauli florets and a piece of the cauli stem. Not a problem but I was mentally prepared for it to be a knife and fork situation. There was also a purée of sorts underneath. Not a fan of that, so I'll omit that next time. Husband ordered the sea bass. The fish was a delicate texture but could have used some more seasoning. He didn't care for the green sauce, which one of the hostesses described as an onion flavor. The 13 y/o ordered French toast (decadent and so good!) and the 8 y/o repeated her grilled cheese. All in all, we will still come back to serenade. Just maybe stick to brunch time lol.

We came here for a brunch during my bachelorette, and while this was the perfect establishment for vibes and pictures, the food was simple not it. I got the duck confit hash, and the theme of my dish was underseasoned. My duck was dry and tasteless and the potatoes and eggs were saltless. I had to drown my dish in cholula. My friends all had similar sentiments about their dishes- many got the serenade breakfast. Our server was very nice though! He was very attentive and gave us a good mixture of juices for our mimosas. He also gave us a complimentary plate of delicious fruit and honey.Overall, I probably wouldn't be back, especially not for the food. But Serenade is well cleaned and nestled in JW, has many beautiful single stalled restrooms, and is perfect for vibes and pictures.

The W Hotel opened its restaurant! We arrived toward the end of their Sunday brunch and were seated immediately. The ambiance is airy and refreshing, a big departure from the previous dark, velvety vibe. John, the host and manager, stopped by to chat about upcoming renovations and even showed us the tucked-away Blue Room. The pastries are a must-try, especially the puff pastry with mascarpone, fruit compote, and cream cheese--absolutely delicious. The pastry chef came from Swedish Hill. I had the duck confit, which was slightly overcooked but still enjoyable, especially with the perfectly crisped mashed potato rectangle. My companion ordered the crab cake eggs Benedict and really liked it, He loves eggs Benedict. The space is lovely, the service was excellent, and the bar is absolutely gorgeous. They had run out of the Chilean sea bass, which happens to be the chef's favorite dish, so I'll have to come back to try it!

Serenade, previously Trace restaurant has a Texas flare with French undertones. The newly renovated restaurant was convergence of a French brasserie combined with an American speak easy. We were treated to four passed bites: Miniature Endive bite, Housemade Gougeres, Chevre Spread and Beef Tartare. Hands down, the Housemade Gougeres was my favorite...the bacon was sweet and savory at the same time and quite crunchy, which soothed my palate. Beef tartare was not my favorite...it was a bit bland and uneventful.The two welcome beverages were served and were quite refreshing: De Soi Sparkling non-alcoholic sparkling aperitif and Daylight, which was highlighted as a lemon martini (wow: alcohol content TBD...but let me just say you only needed one and should be experienced slowly). I carefully selected the Oscar Winning Tears - a gin cocktail with whisked egg white and mixers. I loved the miniature clothespin that attached mint to the side of the glass. The drink was a little on the foamy side.Truly the crescendo of the evening was the chef highlighting some Serenade signature dishes. He described the dishes with intricate detail with onlookers salivating as the dishes were unveiled. He epitomized an individual that loved what they did.All in all, a lovely evening and great opportunity to meet yelpers!

Had really high hopes for this restaurant but was very disappointed by the drinks, food, and service here. The restaurant itself is beautiful, but the experience and service were very much lacking.As another review mentioned, the bread served with the Whipped Chèvre was cold and the dish overall was underwhelming. The fish and french toast dishes were decent, but nothing that really sets it apart from other restaurants.We felt rushed during our time here and were not very satisfied with the wine recommendations we received from our server. We were hoping to receive recommendations that paired with the dishes we ordered, or that were generally popular, but realized we were simply recommended the wines with the highest prices on the menu. Really wished the service was more similar to other restaurants in Austin, where servers aren't trying to upsell you on drinks. Would not recommend sitting at the bar for a casual brunch, or visiting if you aren't staying at the hotel.I'd say this is a decent spot if you're staying at the hotel, but definitely wouldn't come to mind when recommending restaurants to locals. There are lots of restaurants around town with better service, tastier dishes, and a more pleasant experience.

I used to frequent the W as the brand has always been associated with the party crowd, but now that each hotel is rebranding itself, the vibe is more sophisticated, grown up and chic. I have been eagerly awaiting the reopening of this space and it was so worth the wait!A few little nuggets of info:They offer brunch all day, everyday and during lunch, valet is free!

Had an amazing brunch at Serenade in Austin! The atmosphere is stylish yet relaxed, perfect for a leisurely meal. The service was excellent, and the food was incredible. The pancakes were some of the best I've ever had, and my friend's duck confit hash was exceptional.Chef Johnny Ray really made the experience special--his passion for food and attention to detail were evident in every dish. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for fantastic food and great service!

Overall: Serenade might be one of my new favs in Austin! The decor is beautiful, the wait staff is attentive, and the food was good! I went during brunch and they had so many options for me to choose from. Also, they have a huge patio, perfect if you prefer to sit outside. What I Got: - Blue Crab Benedict - This was delicious. I love the sweetness of the corn cake paired with the crab. I wish the corn cakes were thicker or more crab was added. Get this if you want a healthier or lighter option to eat. - Chicken Cordon Bleu - this sandwich is THICK! The chicken is crunchy, which I love, and the bread is a brioche bun, which I love even more. It also comes with a whole bunch of fries. Definitely get this if you're hungry hungry. - Serenade breakfast platter - This was a simple platter which is always a good option to have. The bacon was crispy, the bread was chewy, and the potatoes were good!

Decided to check out this new restaurant with friends and was super underwhelmed. 1. Whipped Chèvre was pretty good but even the naan served with it was cold so nothing great 2. Tomahawk steak was insanely overpriced and not well cooked or a good cut of meat in this instance 3. Mussels were just OK 4. We had a birthday and had requested a birthday dessert and were charged for this which was not a great touch when you've just opened.

This is the new restaurant in the renovated W hotel, formerly Trace. Unfortunately, despite a nice facelift of the overall hotel space it still feels like a mediocre hotel restaurant. There's no validated parking, it's $30 for 2-3 hours or $45 if past that. It's worth it to park at a garage around the hotel. They just opened so still figuring out the kinks, which is why service gets a pass. Food wise, nothing stood out as unique but we tried a couple things:- whipped chèvre - crudo - mussels - this was probably my fave dish - tomahawk - very medium rare but was just ok for me - duck fat potatoes - not crispy , don't recommend