Having just returned from a whirlwind month of traveling, I'm ready to get back to business and catch up on the local restaurant scene. I've been eagerly anticipating the reopening of Apple Annies in it's new location at Congress & 3rd, and since the reborn Annies Cafe & Bar opened while I was in Italy last month, I made it my first lunch-date locale on the Austin circuit.

As I strolled into the inviting space with three of my girl friends, I was pleasantly reminded of Pastis, one of my favorite iconic bistros in New York City. The French-inspired logo, casual white tablecloths, and exposed brick walls called to mind the same Parisian-inspired flair, so I wasn't at all surprised to read an interview on Austinist with co-owner Love Nance in which she explained the European vision behind the design.

"Ernest Hemingway hung out around zinc bars all over Paris. Annies has recreated the scene by making the bar curvy and inviting... Annies bar will serve as a great place for a drink or a full course breakfast, lunch or dinner... The zinc bar is located next to a big coffee bar, outfitted with an espresso machine [that was] hand built in Florence, Italy—[it's] the same style of machine used in the world championship barista competitions.

As grandiose as this all sounds, the bar feels warm, cozy and iconic. The vibe is definitely not stuffy. Kitschy red iguana leather bar stools and a swirl of sparkling lights above make it a fun place to see and be seen."

On to the food: the lunch menu offers a mouth-watering array of selections from the grill, plus wood-fired pizzas, tons of salads, gourmet sandwiches, and their famous tomato brie soup. I settled on the Farmers Market Salad and was rewarded with a winning mix of baby spinach, roasted gold & yellow beets, caramelized baby carrots, and creamy goat cheese. My friends had a flavorful Thai Chicken Salad, a simple yet scrumptious chicken salad sandwich on ciabatta, and a field greens salad with roasted pears & caramelized walnuts. All was well-portioned, affordable, and absolutely delicious.

I'll definitely be returning to Annies for lunch, but there's so much else to try here! The breakfast menu calls my name with organic eggs, freshly-baked bread, and an espresso bar; the dinner menu features pastas, lamb, and other brasserie comfort fare, and I definitely won't miss the gorgeous confections artfully displayed in the glass dessert case. Annies fills a much-needed spot in Austin's dining scene for a French-inspired meal that's both casual and chic. And did I mention they stay open on weekends till 2am?

Annies Cafe & Bar, 319 Congress Avenue, Austin. 512.472.1884. anniescafebar.com.