Texas Expresso

Now that I have a class at the stadium, I was looking for a nice place to chill, study, and eat lunch. So glad that I walked into the alumni center!
After you pass the receptionist, the café will be to your left along with a nice lounge/​study area.
I had their caprese panini which was reasonably priced and pretty good. After the second half, I did find it to be a little tiring to finish because it was the same flavor over and over. It came with two sauces to dip with. Next time, I’ll check Hooked because they have deals for a sandwich, chips, and drink for I believe $ 6! Or I’ll get the half sandwich and cup of soup.
I had their saffron soup today, and that was delicious! Their soups change and so do their meals of the deal. Currently it’s burrito bowl with chips and salsa.
The lounge area is a nice place to relax and study. However, seating is very limited and it does get busy during rush hour. There are seating options outside too, and it’s perfect during beautiful weather.

Delicious coffee, excellent staff, I highly recommend the cold sandwiches (chicken salad and tuna salad), and the Chicken Tortilla soup, the burrito bowl special (get it when you can and go with the chicken!), and breakfast quesadinis are all awesome. I had to move across campus and I am sorely going to miss my routine afternoon pick-​me-​up at Texas Espresso!

I am new to campus and couldn’t happier to have found this place! Just wish they had longer hours… I had the orzo pasta salad which was tasty and a sweet chicken salad sandwich. Location is so pretty especially when the weather is cooler.

Relaxed student hangout. Don’t miss the healthy salads in the fridge by the entrance. Laid back staff and really cool interior. You can sit on a bench by the window. Perfect campus break.

This is absolutely the best place to eat and study on campus. What a hidden gem full of delicious food and affordable prices! The cookies are great, as is the caprese panini and the quesadinis (truly amazing).

They have a website, and their website has a listing of the hours that they are open.
They also have a physical establishment, which has certain hours that it is open.
The two hours have no apparent correlation. The physical café *is* open some of the time, and when I am lucky enough to visit them during that time, I enjoy drinking Cuvée coffee espressi in the alumni center’s cozy lounge.
But I tire of having to call businesses to verify if they are open or not. This is the INTERNET, dammit — there is no excuse.

I have had some horrible service experiences recently, and when I stopped into Texas Espresso today, I was reminded at how wonderful their staff is, which prompted me to give them a little shout out. I am a lecturer at UT, and was teaching a class about sports nutrition. I had brought in some smoothie ingredients to do a food demo on post workout recovery drinks, but somehow forgot my Vitamix at home. In a panic, I called over to Texas Espresso and they were happy to let me borrow their industrial sized blender for the class… pretty awesome if you ask me. Thanks to all the wonderful people over at Texas Espresso — just want to let you know you’re appreciated :)

Sighs, nothing lasts forever. The food has been disappointing lately. The last time I came, I got the tomato soup with a half panini. The soup was horrendously salty, did someone mix up the teaspoon with a tablespoon? I threw away half my cup and I’m a stickler for not wasting food too, so you can imagine the unpleasantness my taste buds had to endure before I trashed the rest of the cup. My painini was well burnt on one side, so much that you can taste the bitterness of it.
Today, I returned having given them the benefit of the doubt… boy was I let down. I ordered the Saag panini and had a hard time finishing even the first half. If there was a color to describe the taste of each bite, it would be the blandest tone of tan that you can find on the color spectrum.

Caprese grilled panini is really good!
Slightly pricey for a quick lunch. Be prepared to wait 20 – 30 mins while your sandwich grills if they are busy during lunch…

Texas Expresso is the best place to grab lunch on campus. The food is good — for lunch I like the traditional chicken salad sandwiches. Maybe some time I will be more adventurous and try the saag paneer on pita. Savory and fruit salads are also on offer.
While it gets busy here at lunch time (between noon and 1.30pm), Texas Expresso is a great place to get a bit of work done earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon. The coffee is decent, there is a good range of teas and snacks. Plenty of tables or big couches in the adjacent alumni centre room if you prefer.
There’s also a nice patio outside when it is warm and sunny.

All praise the caprese panini. Also, the music and people are awesome. It’s in a nice lil secret location too.

Still the best place on campus to get lunch.
Also, they updated their menu.
Arugula salad: Prosciutto, goat cheese, almonds, grilled tomatoes.
Roast Beef: Ciabatta, Roast beef, cheddar, other stuff
Vegan option! — Kale salad — with raddishes, walnuts, and dried cranberries.
Alas, no more grilled cheese, but new version is goat cheese, arugula, carmelized onions.
Sad to see the blue cheese and cherry jam grilled cheese go away, but happy to have some new choices!
The folks are super nice and the place is not typically that busy (can have a line at noon).

Not quite sure what happened today. Giving 3 stars until I can reevaluate on my next visit.
I ordered a hazelnut latte to go and grabbed a spinach/​strawberry/​walnut salad. The salad was great, but I just could not finish that latte! I took one sip and almost spat it back into the cup — it was lukewarm despite the fact that I had just watched the barista make it, there was no hint of hazelnut whatsoever, and it tasted like it had been made with Splenda or some other kind of sugar imposter (I hate sugar substitutes). Yuck. Don’t know what happened. I was very confused.
This wasn’t my first time here; I have been a few times before and always ordered a macchiato just for the caffeine boost, and had been pleased with those which is why I am still giving 3 stars. I’m definitely willing to go back based on my past experiences. I’m hoping this was just a one-​time thing.
Another note, the service is always great. The food is good, though a bit pricey — try the sandwiches and desserts.
I don’t know, Texas Expresso. The next latte better be a good one.

Order the: Texas Cobb Salad
This is a great little spot to grab a quick bite to eat at UT. It may be a bit tricky to locate for those unfamiliar with campus, but you can find it in the back left corner of the Texas EXes Alumni center.
The students working here are extremely friendly and service is quick as there typically is not a very long line (if any line at all). The food is reasonably priced with most sandwiches and salads around the $ 5 mark and the coffee is pretty good too.
The outdoor seating here is fantastic as you’re surrounded by a crescent of trees that are just enough to briefly remove you from the busy-​ness of the campus and make you feel as if you’re just having a cup of coffee in a park.
Go there! Tasty, reasonably priced, perception of quiet and peace in the middle of campus. it’s a win, win, and win.

This is UT’s best-​kept secret for on-​campus food. My only reservation for posting this review is that lunch hour will get even more busy if more people know about this place.
They have lots of healthy options and prices are reasonable for a sandwich shop. I’ve come to rely on their mozzarella sandwiches, spinach salads, and hummus and pita when I’m too busy to make it home for lunch.
The students who work there are friendly and easy-​going, and the outdoor patio is one of the sweetest (and shadiest) spots on campus for an outdoor meal. It’s a much better alternative to anything run by Aramark on campus.

Stopped by again today around 3 pm, in the hopes that they might still have some sandwiches left. I was in luck! There were about 4 turkey melts, 1 caprese, and 2 pastrami sandwiches sitting in the display window, along with about 15 cold sandwiches (tuna salad and turkey club).
Since I had the turkey melt last time, I went for the pastrami and got an iced tea as well (calypso mango — how tropical sounding!). I was afraid the pastrami might be too salty, but I was pleasantly surprised. I also got the pesto dip to try, even though I wouldn’t instinctively pair pastrami with pesto, and was pleasantly surprised again by the combination.
On my way out, I noticed the salads, and the spinach salad caught my eye — it was beautiful. Fresh spinach, candied walnuts, fresh strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. In all honesty, I probably should have eaten that instead. One of these days.

I really, really like Texas Expresso… I just always forget that it’s there! Hidden away behind the Texas Exes center at 21^st & San Jac, TX Expresso is sometimes out of sight and out of mind. I frequented it as a freshman living across the street, but hardly make it by now that I live far off and away in west campus. I stopped by last Friday with a friend for lunch before the McCombs honors ceremony (which I really didn’t feel like attending, but hey). I regret not coming here more often! Graduating and moving away in May has me feeling a little regretful.
The caprese panini is the best mozzarella, tomato, pesto, basil concoction I’ve ever had. I’ve tried a great many caprese panini at other establishments, and somehow nothing compares to Texas Expresso’s spin on the sandwich! So simple, so good. I highly recommend it :) I also suggest ordering an iced tea — cheap, Mighty Leaf, and they often have an interesting flavor or two.
The staff is super friendly… sometimes the panini take a little while, but it’s because their grill is somewhat small & the line can get a little long around 12 or so. Checkkkk it out!

So I slept in and didn’t have enough time to make a lunch to take to work. My colleagues always wondered where to go, and end up eating at Wendy’s or some other equally gross place. I would always make the trek down the hill to Texas EXpresso. I discovered it at orientation, and have loved it ever since. I like to plan my class schedule so that I can grab some panini at least one day a week.
The Godfather is awesome because it has a very tasty olive tapenade on it.
If your not into the sort of meats that are on The Godfather, the Turkey sandwich is also an excellent choice.
If you are ever around campus on foot, I would strongly recommend you coming here for a sandwich. The panini here is much better than any sandwich you will find on the drag.

I was letterboxing (
) around campus today sweating like crazy, and stumbled upon Texas EXpresso like an oasis in the desert. That cran-​razz smoothie really hit the spot, and was easily within walking distance to my parking spot (30 minutes, loading zone, flashers on at all times). You saved me, EXpresso!
Oh, I almost forgot– although their logo leads you to believe otherwise, there is no longer any gelato served here. Sad, but good to know.

Located behind the Texas EXes Alumni center, next to a flowing waterway — er, Waller Creek — and encircled by trees, Texas EXpresso is a hidden gem on the UT campus. (And yes, all of the EXes are capitalized.) This place offers something a step up from campus food. Catering more to faculty and EXes, this little spot has grilled sandwiches, salads, breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and authentic gelato. Both the gelato and its creator, Matthew Lee of Teo, are award– winning (Austin Chronicle and Statesman). The Panino Caprese is pretty good, as are the breakfast sandwiches. Oh yes, and the espresso.
Since this place is connected to the alumni center, you can lounge in their leather chairs while listening to an afternoon pianist, or eavesdrop on the conversations of Texas Exes elites. Either way, this pint-​sized shop is the perfect stop on a hot day. Casual attire, credit cards accepted.
Scrumptious.