19-02-2025
Violette serves up fancy pastries and desserts
Acting on the belief that some of Austin's best food can be found in its (relatively) low-rent strip malls, I recently stopped by Violette Bakehouse, a patisserie that opened in November.
It's by the corner of East Dean Keeton and Medical Arts streets, just across from the University of Texas and right by a CPL lab — so you can celebrate your blood draw with an exquisite éclair.
The scene: Low-key fancy. Little tables in front of a display of delectables.
You can go savory, with gorgeous small quiche (broccoli-cheddar or chicken-tomato-zucchini, $5.15) and flaky ham-and-cheese croissant ($5.85), or sweet.
Dig in: I grabbed a slice of vanilla flan cake, which looks a little like a cheesecake ($4.95), a just-what-the-doctor-ordered pain au chocolat ($4.85) and a berry vanilla mousse ($6.25), which, with its beautiful little rosette on top, was almost — almost — too pretty to eat.
Worth mentioning: Stephanie Dmytryk, the French owner of Violette, told me after my visit that she did her training in France — and has two French diplomas, one in pastries and the other one in pastries, chocolate, candy and ice cream.
Six-word review: The best of Paris, in Austin.
📍 If you go: Violette is open Wednesday to Friday 7:30am to 6pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday 8am to 2pm.
