Vic & Al's

Vic and Al's is an East Austin Cajun hotspot located off Manor Rd. There is onsite parking in the front and the back of the restaurant, although it can be pretty tight and you may need to end up doing street parking in the neighborhood south of Manor.The food here is great - Cajun flavors at its core, and arguably not as heavy and unhealthy as one would typically expect. I think it captures an Austin palette well in being a little "healthier" and not too heavy on the gut. Ended up trying a whole spread of the menu, and would recommend any of the salads, blackened catfish, gumbo, etouffe, and red rice and beans. The portion sizes are moderate so you also won't be leaving overly stuffed.It's mostly counter service and also gets pretty busy on a weekend or Friday night. Expect it to be pretty packed with a good energy for a first date or group get together.

Great food, drinks, and service.It's not your traditional Cajun place, but I enjoyed my roasted beet salad. Our favorite item was probably the beignets (not shown). They were light and airy and not too oily. We loved the selection of non-alcoholic drinks. Can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu

Cousins, lean in and take a look at Vic and Al's. I met up with a girlfriend here for brunch and we had such a good time. I love the entrance and atmosphere from the ambience outside to inside with all the spices and herbs. Seeing this presentation, confirm that the food would be made fresh to order. Each day the menu may change slightly, however, be assure that the front desk support will provide you with all the details of why these items on the menu for the day I've been selected and how yummy they are. I ordered the blacken catfish and rice dish, which had a sprinkle of Black Eyed Peas and a side bowl of gumbo. Along with my food I ordered a nice cucumber hydration, which I'm not sure what it's called, but Travis can take care of you at the bar.I really enjoyed being able to just relax in this nice atmosphere and hang out with my friends. Interesting enough this is a family owned business and it's quite adorable. Additionally, I believe they have happy hour and they also have a different menu in the evening . This would be a great vibe after work on Monday, Wednesday and the close of a successful week on Friday. Even if you wanted to come and eat alone, the staff will take really good care of you and attend to all your needs while you visit.Everyone provided me with their names as they allowed us to select our seating and answered all of our questions regarding food. One person that particularly stood out was Travis the bartender. Not only did he allow us an opportunity to share with him what we would like to taste in our drink he made, and created quickly some samples and opportunities for us to have fresh samples of both a carrot base and a cucumber base drink. They were quite refreshing and I enjoy cold pressed drinks at home so this was right up my alley. Thank you again Travis for a great experience.In my experience of reviews, I typically don't remember individual's names, but this place had a special vibe of good energy. Typically, I would like to think people are happy when they eat, but this place make sure that you're happy on the inside both in your heart and in your tummy .

Overall: 4.4/5 [dine in]Vic & Al's is adjacent to the Vortex so we stopped by for a late night dinner. They have some parking in the front with a bit more in the back but there's street parking if they're all taken. Upon walking in, the restaurant has a market, antique, and moody vibe. They display fresh ingredients and spice jars on the right wall. When you check in, they ask you if it's your first time if it is, they explain the way their restaurant works which is 1) you put in your food order and open a tab, 2) move to the left and order a drink with the bartender, 3) grab your drinks and go to your assigned table, then 4) go to the check-in/bar to close our your tab. They have a different menu daily, serve super fresh food on these small metal lunch trays, and does last call for alcohol 15 minutes before closing. Fried Shrimp Po'Boy ($19): The menu says $18 but they charged $19. The shrimps were big and had a thin batter layer. The bread was nicely toasted but the filling could use a bit of work. I think the filling portion was not enough and there wasn't enough flavors to bring this home.Blackened Catfish With House Green Salad ($18): I loved this entree so much. Everything on this plate was delicious. Flavors & portion sizes were on point. I could eat this every day. Hurricane ($11): A sweet and delicious cocktail--definitely a favorite!Freeport Martini ($11): A bold, coffee-forward drink featuring cold brew. While I was hoping for some sweetness from the pecan bitters, it tasted more like straight black coffee. Not ideal for nighttime--it kept us awake for hours.

What an amazing farm to table spot!! Most traditional restaurants get their produce from other parts of the country or around the world. These ingredients need to be shipped long distances, and as a result, they are usually picked before they are ripe to lengthen their lifespan, or they are frozen to prevent spoiling. On the other hand, restaurants like Vic & Al's get their food from local farms, so the food is picked at peak freshness and is bursting with flavors and vitamins. This is also why the food here doesn't taste processed, instead it is super fresh.Chicken Gumbo All the flavors in this dish could be tasted. Ingredients tasted within the dish (the base for the roux) are onion, green bell pepper, and garlic cloves. The chicken and tasso (which is comprised of a spicy smoked pork shoulder) are earthy and lean and hold the flavor of the roux. This gumbo also calls for sassafras rice. For those who don't know what sassafras is, sassafras leaves are ground into a powder called filé, which is used to thicken and flavor soups and gumbo. This dish ranks high on flavor and great for those who may not be able to eat the traditional seafood gumbo. Shrimp Po'boy The fried shrimp boy was served on a toasted bun with pickled onions and fresh greens. The shrimp for this dish were plump and fresh. The batter used for the shrimp was punchie and flavorful. The batter had hints of cayenne and buttermilk, which paired well with the tartness of the onions. The food, mixed drinks and the atmosphere is really a vibe!

Food: 5/5 Vic and Al's is PEAK Cajun in Austin Texas! The chicken thigh over rice was so crispy and tender I would have ordered another if the portion wasn't so huge! Insane value and flavor for such a fair price.Service: 5/5 Extremely welcoming and quick to break down their mission and menu. Suggestions of the chicken thigh and gumbo were absolutely spot on.Environment: 5/5 Great seating inside and outside with plenty of parking as well.

Still one of my most favorite restaurants in Austin. They have a small and quality menu, which I like. I don't believe you can invest in quality if you have a massive 50-item menu. Their signature blacken catfish can't disappoint you.

Amazing stars across the board. Very tasty food and drinks. Beautiful ambiance. Great service. I went for brunch and the chicken and beignets - 10/10 would recommend if you like sweet food! The chicken juicy, flavorful, and at a great temp. I have a few critiques. My friend got the fish and it was cold. I tasted it and it would have been much better if it was hotter. Also, our drinks had a lot of ice in it which caused it to water down quickly. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place and I would like to go back and try something new (or get the same meal since it was

Had an amazing meal here and can't wait to go back. Went on a whim with a friend because he shared how good it was an it definitely didn't disappoint. I got the Shrimp Po Boy (8/10), Potato Salad (7.5/10) and the gumbo (6/10). Relaxed environment inside with fresh ingredients in everything they make. Really attentive hosts/waiters as well.

This place was awesome! Staff was super good vibes. Food came out really quick and was incredibly flavorful and delicious. My mouth was watering with every bite! Really cool interior design and decorations. Unique place for sure, which is always great to discover. Make sure you come here if you're in ATX.