Central Market Cafe

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4001 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78756

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(512) 206-1000
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Central Market Cafe - Austin, TX
Central Market Cafe - Austin, TX
Central Market Cafe - Austin, TX
Reviews
( 8 )
( 18 )
( 4 )
( 3 )
( 1 )

Best

Central Market is a great place to go, whether you want to order off a menu or create your own salad or pasta dish. It is always a great quality and I would definatly recommend it...

Worst

That's all it is - trendy. The food & service are actually nothing special. Pros: healthy Cons: yuppies

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nice store, terrible cafe 4/4/2006

I still prefer Central Market to Whole Foods when it comes to grocery shopping. Their prices are better in general, and the store is large without being overwhelming. The produce selection is great as is the alcohol, seafood, and bulk goods sections. The staff is very knowledgable and pleasant. However, the Cafe is not just not good. The south location is currently being remodeled, but the Lamar location is the cafe I have visited most frequently. Clearly, most of the food is reheated. I have verified this with a former employee. They often run out of food near closing. Also, the food just isn't very good. My former employee friend told me they focus very much on cutting costs and after all, Central Market is really just a dressed up HEB. more
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Love the produce and cheese 3/28/2006

I love going to Central Market for their produce and cheese selections. They always have the freshest organic fruit, and you can always find specialty cheeses. Their selection of wines is also very diverse. I am not a huge fan of their bakery or cafe, because honestly it's not that special. A good place to shop for groceries, not s good place for lunch. more
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Central Market Cafe - Decent Food, Overpriced 3/21/2006

Ohhhh, they get me every time! I keep going back to the Cenetral Market Cafe even though I think the food is only okay and the service is ... wait a minute, there's no service! You stand in line to order from a counter. You have to pick up your own food. It's always busy at the drink station. Even though you pay the same price you would at a sit down place, you get to do the work yourself. Hmmm. They got a pretty good racket going here. Of course, I still love their fries. Gosh! more
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Really Nice Store 12/29/2005

I like the variety of fruit and vegetables. People are friendly and knowledgeable. Love when they have things to try. The store is nice and clean and well orgazined. more
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Cafe has gotten worse 10/31/2005

Central Market used to have the best food in their cafe. However, they took out all the different sections and turned it into one cafe. They used to have wonderful Penne Cubanara and a brick pizza oven. You could go to different areas to order stuff like at Whole Foods (sandwich stand, pizza/pasta section, bakery, etc). Now they're trying to cut costs and they've changed their menu (not as good at all). They do have a wonderful margharita pizza. If they ever get rid of that, no use in going there. more
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Great selection, better prices than Whole Foods. 8/17/2005

Not everything in this store is organic and natural, but they carry plenty of organic options. Imagine my delight when I purchased "Sweet corn hand-picked by the Ute Indians of Colorado" last week. It was the best corn I had ever tasted! They also carry plenty of "mainstream" foods so you don't have to worry about losing "mainstream" variety. A great plus is that the employees are ever-so helpful and provide service with a smile, which is a HUGE requirement with me. more
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Wonderful Grocery, Wonderful Take out 8/16/2005

If you are looking for a great price on cheerios, head to HEB. But if you need to pick up some wonderful chocolate for a hostess gift, a bottle of wine to go with dinner, a showstopping dessert or a bag of tortillas- hit up central market. This gourmet grocery store in central Austin is also a wonderful way to stay off I35 during rush hour. Prices are high on somethings, but probably lower on others (things that normal grocery stores wouldn't sell enough of like marscapone cheese). The beer and wine prices are actaully very reasonable and they sell a wide assortment and run specials. Particuarly nice are the single bottles of beer and ale and prices on brands like Dos Equis. The produce at Central Market is beautiful with a price to match the quality. Samples are abundant-- in the produce section, in the meat market, in the bulk food aisles, etcetc. Not your everyday shopping experience, but all the foods are delicious, fresh and interesting. The attached cafe makes the best tortilla chips on the planet. more
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Eat your way through your weekly shopping chores. 8/11/2005

Central Market would definitely make my list of the top 5 things I would miss if I left Austin. CM excels at making grocery shopping an enjoyable and educational outing rather than a weekly chore. I always try to leave plenty of time to wander the departments and try the cooking samples and check out all the fresh foods to inspire the week's recipes. What's great is that Central Market isn't really even more expensive than HEB or your regular grocery store and we usually SAVE money due to the fact that we can buy just the amount of herbs/grains/spices we need, like a small 5¢ baggy of curry powder or $1 worth of sugar. And the regular grocery section, while focused on Organics and natural foods, does carry enough national brands and "regular" foods that you won't need to make another trip to a traditional grocery store. The staff is friendly as hell and very helpful when you ask their advice. The seafood guys routinely throw in some disposable gloves so my girlfriend can devein the shrimp. And once when having a wine party, the wine staff recognized our invitations in the guests hands while shopping and recommended different wines for people to bring that evening! I'm also conviced the coffee is among the best in Austin (I can never seem to replicate the magical ratio they have in their sampler coffee pots) with selection that's unmatched anywhere else in town. What's more, the cafe is icing on the whole deal... Great tasty food and we'll routinely eat dinner there before shopping so we don't buy the store on an empty stomach. Even though I can walk to the new flashy Whole Foods downtown and buy $6 tomatoes, I'll make the extra effort to go to CM for the week's shopping. It's selection is more mainstream, the staff down to earth, and the prices more in line with my five-figure income. more
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Great food on the park! What could be better 8/4/2005

Central Market (North) is located in central park. The cafe offers a wide array of delicious and gourmet items but also things like burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas. There's something for the kids as well as the high-brow foodie. They can even spice up a burger by making it a smoky poblano cheeseburger. MMM! =) Get the Roast Beef and Brie Croissant! You won't be disappointed. more
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Great place to eat, shop, or hang out! 8/4/2005

I Love Central Market! The diner is located inside the market, which I highly recommend going. I usually dine at the diner every Fri or Sat night because in addition to the great food they have, there are also live music to enjoy on the patio. It's a great place to take the family! I just love the setting- very laid back! The only negative thing I can say about the diner is that the prices on the menu are a bit high. I would however, highlyl recommend their fries because I think they're the best in town! more
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A Healthty alternative 7/25/2005

Central Market is a whole foods store that specializes in offering organic products. If you are looking for a healthier alternative to the foods you currently eat this is the place you will find it. They have a large selection of organic fruits, vegetables, and meats. Shop here and begin the journey to find a healthier you. The only draw back is that organic food costs a good bit more than the food that you buy in any other grocery store. more
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Fine Groceries 7/16/2005

I go here to get wine, good cheeses and basically anything and everything imported. This place even has a resturaunt with live bands. My favorite thing about Central Market is going on the weekends and tasting all the samples that they out. It is a great way for you to try things new. One thing I love buying here is their breads. They have jalapeno and cheese bread and basically any type. more
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Menu for Central Market Cafe


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Editorial

  • In Short
    One of the top tourist spots in town, Central Market features an 18,000-square-foot produce section, a 75-foot seafood counter and a bakery stocked with 60 varieties of...

  • 6/26/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: Master Card, American Express, Visa, Discover
  • Neighborhoods: Triangle State
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