The Most Delectable New American in Austin

Flower Child

★★★★☆ 4.2 (61) • $$

"I am a total Flower Child. No, wait. Let me try that again. I am a total fan of Flower Child. There. That's better.So until last week I didn't know this location existed. I was looking for a place to have lunch with a friend and I thought they'd be coming from their house in Central Austin. Instead they were coming from their place of business in West Austin. I was looking for a new places to try that were reasonably priced. I did not know this location existed because I've only gone to their Domain location previously.This is a much more open and airy location than the Domain. There is inside and patio seating available on the deck. It can be quite pleasant when the weather cooperates. The day I went it was a bit chilly so inside would have been a better choice temperature wise (and for another reason I'm about to explain).It's best to arrive early for lunch. When I first arrived about 12:30, there were still inside tables available but 10 minutes later the place was packed with a second wave of lunchers.I usually have the Ginger Miso Crunch salad but I decided to explore today and went with the Mushroom Bolognese. As usual Flower Child never disappoints. Topped with almond ricotta, the combination of squash zoodles and marinara was quite filling and delicious all at the same time. (Okay to be quite honest I would have liked a little more generous portion, but this was enough for lunch)That having been said, I take one quibble and it's a situational one with the outside seating. Even in early January, the bees are active. I almost made the mistake of swatting at one myself, mistaking it for a housefly that have been on the table a bit earlier. Unfortunately my co-diner made that actual mistake and got stung. This happened despite moving the cute bud vase of wildflowers to the opposite end of the table. Of course you can't cover all perils in an outdoor environment. It would be nice if the bud vases were filled with something less attractive to honey bees, because getting stung is a real bummer to an otherwise fun lunch. I ran in and got some ice in it to go container and luckily my friend didn't experience a reaction.That quibble aside, this is the place to go for lunch in the Walsh Tarleton and Bee Cave Road area. For the best experience, arrive early, and dine indoors.Highly recommended."

The Alcove Cantina

★★★★☆ 3.6 (215) • $$

"I was in RR with my husband and we stopped in for dinner. I'm gluten and dairy free. I worked with the staff to be able to eat a meal here. I wouldn't recommend for someone with an allergy. I ordered the barbacoa tacos. I did end up with cheese on my beans. I didn't eat it and they got me a separate cup without cheese. My husband got the beef enchiladas meal. The meals and drinks were just okay. Nothing amazing except I did like the salsa. I don't recommend the stale chips though. Our serve was good and attentive."

Paw-Paw's Catfish House

★★★★★ 4.5 (467) • $$

"Visited again in Bastrop and still good as it was 2 yrs ago!!! Service was good and food was delicious."

Tiny Boxwoods

★★★★☆ 3.8 (360) • $$

"I came here for lunch yesterday and had a wonderful time! Tiny Boxwoods is such a charming and classic restaurant. The ambiance feels like a cozy cabin, with the fireplace going and the pretty patio with a classy backyard feel. There is parking onsite but it fills up quickly. Thankfully there is street parking nearby. Our server Tristian was a sweetheart and recommended some great drinks. I started with the South Congress 75 which is just a twist on a French 75. All cocktails are $15 each across the board. I ended my meal with the chai cocktail which surprisingly did not taste like it was described, nonetheless it was still refreshing. For lunch I ordered the Crab Cake Benedict which came with house potatoes. The crab cakes were a bit too firm and not very fresh. The potatoes were the star of my plate!! so delicious and crispy. Bacon was standard and the biscuit was too firm and needed to be warmer when served. My meal overall was consistent and tasted good, portions were nice. The lunch menu needs a bit more variety in my opinion. I would love to come back and try the dinner menu the scallops sounded great but the don't serve it during lunch."

Hold Out Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.2 (200) • $$

"We came here on a Wednesday night for a meet up. The parking was pretty packed but we manage to find a parking space. There is a lot more parking in the back. The outdoor patio is really nice and the weather was also accommodating. The picnic style table and the easy going environment promotes networking with new people and a good time talking with friends. We had to go inside to order food but they give us a number and bring out the food. I ordered some fried and burger and it was good. Although it was pricy for what it was. I spend 25 on fries and burger. But I also pay for the environment and the atmosphere. So it was kind of worth it. Overall, a great experience/place to just meet new people and hang out with friends. Will come back in the future to hang out."

Colleen's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.9 (654) • $$

"This was my first visit to Colleen's Kitchen. My friend--a seasoned regular--recommended we meet for Happy Hour. The weather was too good to pass up, so we grabbed a table outside.We were enjoying ourselves outside when a bee decided our Happy Hour needed some extra buzz. This bee was determined to join the party, and after several failed negotiations, we decided to move indoors. I had a French 75--it was light, refreshing, and slightly fancy, it was the perfect drink to kick things off. For food, I went all-in on Southern staples: a Cobb salad, deviled eggs, and fried green tomatoes. Everything was absolutely delicious.The service? Impeccable. The food? Fantastic. The bee? A little overenthusiastic. But hey, even they know Colleen's is worth the buzz."

Emmer & Rye

★★★★☆ 4 (945) • $$$

"Emmer and Rye (E&R) restaurant was recently awarded a Michelin Green Star and Bib Gourmand in 2024. Of course, my Yelp friend and I were anxious to try this restaurant. I did not realize that there is a E&R group of restaurants some of which I love like Canje and Ladino (located in the San Antonio Pearl District, where we lived for two years.) Hestia is also part of the E&R group, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2024. E&R menu changes daily dependent on seasonal, locally sourced food finds. E&R has a modern, contemporary vibe with architecturally clean lines. Although the restaurant is spacious it has a minimalist feel. Both indoor and outdoor seating (not last night because it was too cold) is available. Gary Jean did some magic to book us a table inside due to the cold weather as we originally booked for outside...much appreciated! We sat near the window with a full view of the restaurant and outdoors. In full transparency, I am the ultimate people watcher. So, I had the best of both worlds. Notably, E&R is located on Rainey Street, so I immediately had some angst about parking. We ended up using Public Parking costing us $33.00.We had six courses:First, we had the sourdough bread that was accompanied by three butters (sea salt, Greek yogurt flavor and blue cheese flavor all with extra virgin olive oil.) We both LOVED this bread and butter!!! Ashley, our server, said that this bread was from a starter over 10 years old. The Greek yogurt flavor was my personal fav.Second, we had the Johnny Cakes made with yellow bolita corn, shishito relish and lira rosa picante. The relish was especially tasty. While the first four courses were considered small plates, they had generous portions. In fact we had leftovers to take home.Third, we had the Cacio e Pepe, one of their signature dishes. The Pepe was comprised of blue beard Durum spaghetti, black pepper (lots of black pepper) and challerhocker. I've had spaghetti all over the world and this one was quite unique.Fourth, we had Carpaccio with wagyu beef, tonnato, pickled mustard seed and cured egg yolk. This was another unique and delicious course. It was superbly executed. The carpaccio was tender you could cut it with a fork. All the other ingredients made it texture heaven!Fifth and final course was the Carnitas - smoked lamb and pork, dirty farro, cucumber, and herb yogurt. I love the different textures and the layering of flavors. This was another fav!While the restaurant was not extremely busy, our food came to our table quite slowly. Ashley did a great job letting us know what stage of preparation we were in. It reminded me of being in Europe where a meal is savored with no time limit for dining. In America many restaurants have strict time limit allocated per party and they give you indirect and some direct signals when they are ready for you to leave. I had a long, leisurely conversation with my friend which I personally enjoyed.This was a great dining experience trifecta - fresh and impressive dining environment, excellent food and personalized service. Highly recommend Emmer & Rye...."

Cody's Restaurant Bar & Patio

★★★★★ 4.5 (523) • $$$

"Food was 10/10Service was 10/10Ambiance was 100/100 very chill relaxing vibes and of course drinks were spot on!! Margarita pleaseP.s I didn't realized I took the napkin with me till my boyfriend was like why did you steal the napkin haha omg! Sorry!"

Juniper

★★★★☆ 4.2 (717) • $$$$

"I can't believe it took me so many years to finally dine-in at Juniper. I had ordered take-out here during Covid and fallen in love with their cacio e pepe. I was excited to return for my birthday. I loved everything about this place - what a hidden gem in Austin. This place has elegant and minimalist decor, with a large open kitchen which is delightful to watch, and excellent service with attentive staff through and through. Our food was incredible - every dish we tried from the appetizers to the entrees to dessert. The only one aspect they could improve upon was their cocktail menu but I'm guessing their bigger focus is on their wine selection. And oh, I was a bit surprised at the dog seated inside (hygiene and all). That pea risotto was out of this world and the puffy potato fritters as well as the eggplant appetizer were mouth-watering delicious. The cacio e pepe was also as good as I remembered it to be. Once again, I renew my request to add a fresh vegetable side (the asparagus was not vegetarian) to complement the carb loading. But, hey, I'm not complaining when the carbs are this gratifying."

Fixe Austin's Southern House

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$$

"Southern Fixe is a gem in Austin that knows how to serve up Southern Louisiana comfort. My visit was made even better by the accommodating staff, who went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed. Their warmth and attentiveness added to the overall experience. They accommodated us with deviled eggs which was whipped and dressed to perfection.The highlight of the meal was their biscuits--soft with a perfect crumble, paired with whipped butter and apple preserves. It was the ultimate fall comfort food, simple yet bursting with flavor. I also tried the Brussels sprouts, and they did not disappoint. Cooked to perfection, they were glazed with a sweet sauce that had just the right amount of heat. This "sweet heat" flavor made the dish standout. The fish and chips dish was okay, but only because I'm not the biggest catfish fan. Otherwise it was well seasoned and the fries and hush puppies were great.Southern Fixe delivers both in food and hospitality, making it a must-visit for anyone looking for Southern classics done right. I'll definitely be back!"

Rockin Roadrunner

★★★★★ 4.5 (148) • $

"Very Fresh good served hot Great vegetables, Tasty noodles wonderful food service with a smile and helpful caring your food out to your car. Charming little house pleasantly placed in the neighborhood."

Travis Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (58) • $$$

"We only had breakfast here, as guests of the hotel, but I just had to pop in here and leave a review. We sat out on the balcony and enjoyed lovely views and excellent service. The menu had plenty of options; I selected the French toast with coconut butter and bananas and my husband had a typical eggs and sausage breakfast. The food was served quickly, hot and was delish! We were most impressed by the staff working that Sunday morning, 9/26, very sweet, friendly and hard-working. People were moving around tables and making special requests, and they granted each with a smile."

Parkside

★★☆☆☆ 2.1 (57)

"Fries are seasoned with Texas heat in mind. I didn't want the heaviness of a bun before a flight so a lettuce wrap was just the ticket. Service is weird because the kitchen isn't attached but the food still comes out hot."

District Kitchen - Anderson Lane

★★★★☆ 4.3 (346) • $$

"I went for the first time a coupleof nights ago with my daughter and a friend and what a treat! First, if you didn't know it was there, you'd never notice it just passing by. The restaurant itself is a neighborhood spot with a casual but well designed yet unpretentious vibe and an equally creative menu. And the noise level was low so as to allow for actual conversation, a rarity these days.Parking is super easy right in front and free, and the staff were all wonderful with great service. But the food was the star! As a starter, we shared the whipped feta with herbs, a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds accompanied by warm slices of pita. I could have licked the plate: Do not miss this one! As an entree, I ordered the night's special which was a blackened drum fish filet with a lemon cream sauce. Unlike many blackened fish dishes, this was not overly blackened where you can't taste the fish. It was prepared to perfection and the fish was super fresh. My only wish is that it was a regular menu item because I'd probably never order anything else it was that delicious. My daughter had the Chicken Milanese and our friend had the Bison Burger, both of which they loved. Even though we were comfortably full, we made room to share the zucchini carrot cake for dessert which was heavenly and a large enough slice for 3-4 people to share. I'm already planning my return here when my son is in town in two weeks. This is now my favorite Austin restaurant and it will take a lot to knock it out of first place."

Caroline

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"We came back to Caroline this time for brunch after the Austin Marathon. I was very happy with my chicken and waffles. The waffles were crispy without being dry. The chicken was juicy and chunky. The breakfast burrito was delicious too. It was the perfect post run fuel. Biz gave us excellent service! The interior is modern and fun.I'm grateful we returned and had a great experience!"

Lonesome Dove Western Bistro - Austin

★★★★☆ 3.5 (83)

"My friend and I came here for Happy Hour. We both ordered the delicious smash burgers and the Burnt Carrots and Crispy Brussels as sides. As for my beverage, I had the Pineapple Express Daquiri, which was excellent, especially how it was presented. Under glass and smoked. You would have to see it to believe it. I regret not taking a photo of it. As mentioned, the Burger was delicious and could have been split between two people. Very filling. The Carrots are missing something, and we felt adding some brown sugar to it would have added more flavor. The Crispy Brussels seemed a bit saturated in the bacon vinaigrette and black garlic and was not crispy. They were savory yet lacked that crisp, so I was a bit disappointed. The interior has a rustic-modern flair to it, which was appealing to the view. Our server was great, despite having her handful tending to the bar as well as other patrons including us. I appreciated that she replaced my friend's second cocktail for another as the first one was not to her liking. Truly kind of her to do that."

Swift's Attic

★★★★☆ 4 • $$$

"Amazing food, incredible drinks, wonderful service. We had the bacon-wrapped apricots, the gem salad, the short rib, and the delish churro dessert. I'd go back again and again!"

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille - Domain Northside

★★★★☆ 3.7 (548) • $$$

"I had the pleasure of going to Perry's steakhouse again for a Friendsgiving. I have to say the service and the food and the price was amazing.Jason, our waiter was super attentive got all of our orders correct it was a large group plus he was always coming back to see if we needed anything else and cleared our tables and then packed our leftovers because it was a big group. They did charge us an 18% gratuity but because Jason gave such great service, I went ahead and gave him another 10% on top of that . Jason was a super awesome waiter.We got the big pork chops that they only serve on Fridays and I have to say it was cooked perfectly great smoke flavor and was very tender. I got the fully loaded mash potato and it was great. I also got a side of their grilled veggies, and I have to say the flavor and the texture the veggies was super great.This restaurant has superior ambience, even though it was busy everyone there could hear each other talking without a lot of unnecessary noise Perry's is always packed so if you're going to go there, please make a reservation. This is fastly becoming one of my favorite steakhouses.The manager came by our table and welcomed us, which was an extra added touch. Great food, great service and wonderful ambience. Perry''s steakhouse is now on the top of my list."

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille - Downtown Austin

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$$

"First a disclaimer that this review is based on visiting for a Christmas Eve dinner as our families weren't able to get together. We brought kids knowing that this was going to be fancier than a place that we would typically bring them, but they weren't out of place as there were many families with kids. My wife and I ordered the prix fixe dinner which did not disappoint. Not that I needed more food, but I would have wished that we could get the soup and the salad. My wife had the salad and I had the onion soup. I would say the onion soup was ok, but heavy on the bread and light on the onion. For the main course, we both ordered the filet of mignon with lobster topping. Both of our steaks were cooked perfectly with a generous portion of whipped mashed potatoes.The kids of course ordered sliders and chicken fingers that came with what my daughter described as fancy ranch. No complaints were heard.For dessert, my wife ordered the trio to try, but probably shouldn't have. The pumpkin cheese cake was amazing and plenty to share for all of us.The big surprise though was that Santa made an appearance. The kids were over the moon with the experience. The only trouble was settling them back down after he check if they were on the naughty or nice list. This was unexpected and really made the night.While we typically would visit for a date night without kids (strongly recommend the steak flight with the Wagyu A-5 steak), we recommend coming here with family for a special occasion as well."

Honey Moon Spirit Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.4 (269)

"Love this place! It's super cute inside and outside. The weather was perfect so we sat outside on the covered porch. They have happy hour food and drink specials M-F from 4-6 which I totally recommend if you're on a budget. Portions are shareable. Definitely get the biscuits! This spot is great for date night, girls dinners, brunch, and everything in between!"

The Golden Rule

★★★★☆ 4 (279) • $$

"My wife and I enjoyed our dining experience. The staff was great, and the atmosphere was awesome. The Golden Rule has a great menu, and a nice full bar. Everything that we ordered exceeded our expectations. If you are ever in Georgetown, this is a must visit. Parking can be a bit difficult, but garages are close by. Stay hungry my friends..."

Maie Day

★★★★☆ 3.6 (135) • $$$$

"When I give a 5 star review it's because a restaurant does at least 1 thing better, or as good, as any restaurant I've been to. Maie Day earns that distinction for the divine prime rib I ate last Friday. Incredibly tender interior, a little finishing salt to bring out the flavor, nicely marbled, roasty exterior crust, intense umami/beefy jus, and flavorful & spicy creamy horseradish sauce, I can't remember a prime rib better than Maie Day's (that includes iconic House of Prime Rib in San Francisco & my dad's Christmas roast). At the end of lunch, I seriously wanted to order another slice; it was that good We sat outside at one of the big tables in the protected courtyard shared w/ Manana and the South Congress Hotel. It was a beautiful mid-70s day, and the courtyard provided a lovely environment for lunch. On Fridays, Maie Day sells their prime rib for $19. They say it's a 10oz cut, but honestly our 2 slices seemed closer to 12-14oz (a very welcome surprise!) We actually tried to eat at Maie Day twice before and they'd already sold out of the prime rib by about 1:30pm, so I suggest getting there before 1pm if you're really craving the prime rib.The service was also friendly and prompt, food was on the table w/ in 5 minutes of ordering."

The Lighthouse Restaurant & Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.9 (215) • $$

"Cute local spot with a airy patio overlooking the lake. We came for a weekday lunch (they also had brunch items available).We ordered the - Avocado Toast ($10.95)Migas ($13.95)Chicken Gyro ($14.95)Everything was homestyle-esque and wonderful. Awesome portions for the prices. Staff is super friendly."

FTG ATX

★★★★★ 4.9 (59) • $$

"Some of the best food in Austin. Best jerkChicken I've ever had. And that's on Uber Eats! Can't imagine how good it is in person"

Barley Swine

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$$$

"Did you know that Barley Swine was featured on an episode of No Reservations in 2012? No, well neither did I and I'm an Anthony Bourdain fan. When we had decided to go to Austin for a family wedding, I started researching places to eat. Barley Swine popped up in my Chase Sapphire Dining under Austin and I did a quick search. Michelin Star? Check. Tasting menu? Check. Best restaurants in Austin? Check. I decided to make a reservation for the weekend of the wedding when we would be in town. I used points to made the reservation for the Chef's Counter aka deposit on Tock. Our reservation was set. We were going. We arrived via Lyft from our hotel and were greeted by the hostess. We were seated at the bar adjacent to the kitchen where we could watch the kitchen staff execute the tasting menu throughout the evening. We were celebrating and our server was nice enough to bring us some complimentary zero proof champagne. The Hiramasa dish arrived first. The fresh fish was delicately paired with the carrots and shiitake mushrooms. It was a refreshing start to our meal. The Turnip and mushroom bite came out next and it was served with a preserved lemon goat cheese. Truly delightful in the contrast of different flavors. The fish-n-chip bite was an interesting take with the crunchy seaweed and uni tartar sauce combination. Not my favorite. Next, we had the Cajun spiced blackened cod with fennel and sunchoke butter was a hit with my husband who welcomed the flavors. The pig faced carnitas with sweet potato mole was a delicious interpretation of a homey dish. The Akaushi ribeye and the Donut with rib cap skewers came out simultaneously. I started on the donut with the beer cheese and skewers first and was delighted in the uniqueness of the dish. The Akaushi ribeye was just as I expected, tender with the broccoli sauce bringing brightness to accompany the fatty meat. As we were moving into dessert courses, we were asked if we wanted any coffee or tea. I hesitated for a second until she said they had cappuccinos and lattes. I ordered a cappuccino to have with dessert. They brought out the Sunchoke and olive oil cake and the Tarragon pavlova. Both were really tasty but the pavlova's different textures won my tastebuds. The sourdough stroopwaffle was a surprise addition to our tasting menu. Almost everything was really good and we really enjoyed the tasting menu. We did not add anything onto our menu other than the cappuccino. There are additional items you can order should you want them. The tasting menu is a set price and you have to make a deposit when you book a reservation. Pricing seems to have increased since they received their star. If you're willing to eat within the first half hour of opening on Sundays, you'll get happy hour pricing with $30 off your bill."

Nate's

★★★★☆ 3.5 (169) • $$

"Hey if i drink, i drink here, you should too. Great cocktails. Nice vibe, lovely people. I feel lucky to sip and sit here."

The Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4 (12)

"My new favorite spot. The food and service were exceptional and extremely unique. The fried oyster was ridiculous. The restaurant was beautiful and very clean."

Nido

★★★★☆ 4.1 (285)

"We were looking for a great "girls night out" spot and found Nido during a Google search! It was incredible y"all! We reserved a table outside on the patio and had a beautiful view of downtown Austin. We ordered drinks and shared a bunch of dishes. The drinks were good and the food was absolutely delicious! Pictures below!Highly recommend for couples or groups. Make reservations ahead of time and do the valet parking for $10."

The Well Westlake

★★★★★ 4.5 (50) • $$

"Parking was ample on a Saturday for brunch. The place is cute and clean. We had a reservation so was seated right away. The food was good! The chilaquiles was amazing as was the guacamole. Unfortunately the espresso Martini fell a little short for me because it was bitter and didn't have enough sweetness that I'm used to. The iced vanilla maca was OK. It just had a weird flavor profile that I guess I'm not used to. It was definitely one of the more expensive brunches I've had. I liked that they were health conscious and nothing was greasy or heavy. Definitely give the chilaquiles a try!"

Garcia's Mexican Food Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (149) • $

"Food was delicious. I didn't care for their water. I think it's soft water. So I just ordered another drink. Otherwise the food was good. We had a variety of food as well from their spinach enchiladas, hard tacos, veggie quesadillas, and kids grilled cheese. The waitress was awesome as well. Very attentive and friendly."

Dos Olivos Market

★★★★☆ 4.1 (237) • $$

"Two unforgettable things here are the Mac and cheese and the churros with chocolate dip. It's a restaurant that serves fusion of American/Spanish dishes. There's a store on the side with speciality items such as salsa dips, artisanal snacks, olive oil, and chips that are not usually found at regular grocery stores. Been here twice and each time always left satisfied with overall service and food."

Parkside

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$

"It's a pretty, upscale place right on 6th...a little oasis of fancy. Server seemed a bit annoyed but warmed up as we went. They are known for seafood and the oysters were fresh and one of us had the bass that was really good. We had "blade steaks" which were pork??? Ok flavor wise but didn't realize had bones. The salmon was good sized and good so would probably stick to the fish. The sweet potato w miso side was buttery and delicious. Nice wine and cocktail list."

CARVE American Grille - Barton Creek

★★★★☆ 3.9 (498) • $$$

"My coworker suggested Carve American Grille as a halfway point to meet up and I'm so glad we picked this spot! Making a reservation was simple and easy, and I'd highly recommend it--when we arrived on a Wednesday evening, it was busy, but thanks to our reservation, we were seated immediately.The service was exceptional. Our server was amazing--knowledgeable, attentive, and helpful with menu and drink recommendations. I tried the Orange You My Favorite Mule and the Daiquiri Down Under, and both were absolutely delicious. For starters, we had the gruyere topped popovers and the filet tenderloin toast, which came highly recommended by our server. Both were excellent choices! The Gruyère was so big! Thankfully it's hollow inside. I didn't want to get stuffed from bread. The tenderloin toast comes with five pieces. It's an explosion of flavors; bacon jam and horseradish cream. We also shared the Cheffy Whipped Mashed Potatoes, which were creamy and flavorful. You can definitely share this as the three of us shared it. The capers in the mashed potatoes was an interesting choice. It was good. They know what they are doing when combining flavors and ingredients. For my entrée, I had the Fireworks Chicken. It comes out with a sparkler on it. The chicken was very tender and easy to cut, and the potatoes it came with had a nice spice and kick to them. The restaurant itself was clean and inviting. The bathrooms were spotless, and I appreciated the separate family bathroom--thoughtful details like that make a difference. Parking was a breeze, which is always a plus!Knowing that Carve is a sister restaurant to Perry's Steakhouse (which is on my list to try), I was really impressed with this first experience. I'll definitely be coming back again for the great service, drinks, and atmosphere."

Tillie's

★★★★☆ 4.1 (413) • $$$$

"I really wanted to like this place as my father in law knows the personal history of Whit Hanks as well as the development of Camp Lucy and Tillie's. However, as beautiful as this place is, it missed the mark in so many areas and was not worth the 40 minute drive from downtown Austin. When we arrived for our reservation at 5:30 on a Sunday, there were only 3 other tables that were occupied. It was very slow and very quiet which does not make sense that it took us almost 1 & 1/2 hours to receive our main courses. Within 15-20 minutes of being seated, we ordered a bottle of wine followed by the focaccia and the winter greek salad. The focaccia was cold and the salad was bland with no seasoning and soaked in oil. We placed our main courses of the duck, crispy chicken breast and the cumin crusted cauliflower. About 10 minutes after placing our order, I realized I forgot to include the crispy potatoes. 20 minutes later, the crispy potatoes arrived and we were confused because it's a shareable side and for some strange reason, our waiter, Pierce, put the order in ahead of our meal. Nonetheless, we ate them and they were a lot better than the previous bites. We received not a single word or update and really, not even a check in from Pierce and were left to ask other waiters about the status of our meal. We then place an order for a second bottle of wine and halfway through it, we received our lukewarm main courses. There was nothing "crispy" about the chicken breast, the duck was a bit too chewy and the cauliflower had a huge inedible core. We were not pleased, but forged ahead with the nostalgia dessert and that was the best part of the meal. For the price tag of $415, there are better places I can think of to spend that kind of money."

La Plancha

★★★★★ 4.6 (189) • $$

"Super yummy, fresh and beautiful.Meat is juicy taste just right.Service super friendly.Hope i live next door."