Emmer & Rye

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....

Emmer & Rye is worth the hype. It's a culinary experience at a rather reasonable price all things considered. I love that their small plates have more than decent portions. You can get full rather quickly here. I was full after 3-4 plates. 1. Sourdough bread w/ butter assortment: a must. It's a very pleasant (and tasty) culinary experience. 2. Carpaccio: very tasty. So many great flavors with various texture that work so well together.3: Johnny Cakes: Good. Very filling. 4. Cacio e pepe. Not my favorite cacio e pepe. I can't articulate exactly what I didn't like about it, but it was different than most cacio e pepes that I have had, and not in a favorable way. Also, shoutout to our hostess Gary Jean for finding us a table inside (without us asking)! We booked our res in advance, and there was only outdoor seating available. Unfortunately, that day ended up being very cold. Highly appreciate her for proactively finding us a table inside so we didn't have to bare the cold. Hales Scale: 8/10

I give it two stars for the ambiance and service that was decent/good. I am taking three away for the food and pricing. I would have taken pics of the food but none of it looked good as much as none of it tasted good. My fiancé got the bread which he loved and it had a neat presentation. That's about it. Who charges almost $50 for the chicken dish? More expensive than the fish and the other dishes... anyway we chose two dishes- the fish dish and pork/lamb dish which were both over $40 each... I normally wouldn't complain about pricing except it was not worth it AT ALL. I've never been to a restaurant that I didn't like the food. Usually it's the other way around- I'll complain about service or something, but this food was not appetizing- I couldn't even finish it. The dish tasted so fishy and off with some weird clear-ish white gravy sauce on it. Then the lamb/pork dish tasted like beans... it was weird. Like meatballs kind of with just weird flavors. Not flavors you'd think would be in $40+ dishes. I ate at this place a long time ago and the food was amazing... not sure what happened to them but I will not be eating here again. Oh and the overly expensive wine glasses... $20 each with horrible options. Almost all were from California. California wine sucks. Should put some Argentina, Spanish, Italian in there. They only had one that was French that was overpriced for the tiny pours they give you. At the very least give people decent pours!I know austin to be overpriced for everything but usually at least the food is good... this was overpriced and not good. Sorry guys but it's the truth! Hate to bash a restaurant instead of boosting them up, but it was a painful experience.

Emmer & Rye is an absolute gem in the Austin dining scene, offering an upscale, modern, and glamorous atmosphere that makes it perfect for a special night out. This restaurant is proudly recognized with a prestigious MICHELIN Green Star for its commitment to sustainability, sourcing the majority of its ingredients from local Texas farms. It's clear that every dish is crafted with care and respect for both flavor and the environment.The menu is nothing short of incredible. The starter, Johnny Cakes, with perfectly golden corn cakes and a shishito relish, sets the tone for an unforgettable meal. The Cacio e Pepe, made with blue beard durum spaghetti and fresh black pepper, is a flawless execution of a classic dish, while the Gnocchetti with herb butter, green garlic, zucchini, and feta delivers a delicate yet flavorful experience. The Pappardelle with smoked wagyu beef ragu is rich and indulgent, leaving you craving more with each bite.Beyond the food, the service at Emmer & Rye is impeccable. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and passionate about the food they serve, enhancing the overall dining experience. Do note that a reservation is absolutely necessary, especially on weekends, as this restaurant's reputation draws in both locals and visitors alike. Emmer & Rye is a must-visit for anyone seeking a refined, sustainable, and unforgettable dining experience in Austin.

Get it all! So so good! The pasta is amazing, the little breads app was amazing, get a bottle of wine to share too! Service is good and it's a cute little spot

We visited Austin recently, in search of exceptional dining. The recommendation: Emmer & Rye. This restaurant has been recognized by Michelin, granted the rating of Bib Gourmand, not quite a Michelin star rating, but prized nonetheless, granted for quality and consistency. The restaurant sits on Rainey, street parking difficult to find, though it seems valet parking may be available. We finally worked our way through the area road construction and found a nearby lot. We were visiting on a Saturday night and were immediately seated at our reserved time. The contemporary restaurant was bustling, but we noticed bar seating, tables and booths available. The open kitchen is seen fronting the dining room, a wall of wine separating two major areas of the restaurant. The ambient sound level was significant, not surprising given the large open area that describes the restaurant, the sound somewhat compromising our table conversation. Review of the menu confirmed what had been described: a menu of limited appetizers, limited second courses and limited entrees. This is a restaurant that features the "shareable menu", the limited nature allowing guests to fully explore the crafted offerings of the chef. The dining party selects a couple of items from the offered courses, and the selections are presented at center table, with the selections to be ...well...shared by the diners. Think BBQ family table dining, or sharing a mound of crawfish at Perino's in New Orleans, or sharing tapas at Toro Kitchen in San Antonio. This approachable notion of dining is growing in popularity with gastronomes, and it gives talented chefs free rein to ply their avante-garde skills. The menu at Emmer & Rye changes frequently. The eve of our visit, we selected Gulf Oysters and their Sourdough Bread. The oysters were presented on shell, beautifully seasoned and dressed with roe. Our group considered the appetizer excellent. Our waiter, Tre, recommended the sourdough bread, served with three differently seasoned butters, telling that this was the best in the city. We considered the bread...just OK. For second course, we selected the Gnocchetti and the Papardelle. The gnocchetti was presented with basil butter, peppers and pecorino. The flavors were exceptional, praised by our group. The papardelle was prepared wagyu with a tangy cream that we devoured. Next up: Carnitas and Texas Wagyu Steak. The carnitas were medallions of lamb and pork, served with sweet potato and candied nuts. We considered the carnitas slightly overcooked, but the flavor, especially the sweetness of the pecans complemented the dish. The Wagyu was presented as several slices, dressed with creamy mousse and garlic mojo. The protein was literally melt in the mouth, the flavors superb. Marjan after conversation with the sommelier, selected Oltrepo Pavese Pinot, a perfect selection for our dinner. We found the staff to be appropriately attentive, not intrusive, and we particularly found the sommelier (sorry, I cannot recall her name) well versed with their wines, and her perceptions completely matched the nuances of Marjan's preferences. A word about the "shared menu" restaurant. Some diners remarked that they left the restaurant "hungry". It is true, that portions are smaller, and when shared among diners, may not satisfy those in search of say, a 16 oz. ribeye. But if one is looking for true culinary bliss, the creative restaurant may be the answer. We totally enjoyed our dining experience, and we will definitely return. Marjan rates Emmer & Rye 5 origami boots. Enjoy Yelpers!!

I would give 4.5 stars, across-the-board! Food, service, and ambience, overall. Blackjack point oysters - 3 stars. Not the best flavor and we couldn't taste the oysters due to the strong vinegar flavor of the mignonette. This was our least favorite dish of the night.Red Snapper Crudo - 5 stars. Very fresh and delicious with a little kick of heat.Tartare - 5 stars. Texas Wagyu beef! Probably some of the best beef tartar I have ever had. Very flavorful and tender.Roasted Squash - 5 stars. This dish was beautiful and tasted out of this world. It had so many flavors, but was so well balanced. Definitely one of the best dishes of the night.French Ravioli - 5 stars. This was deliciously decadent! I would order this light but cheese stuffed pasta, that is taken over the top by the use of fennel oil, again in a heartbeat!Rigatoni - 5. A very umami rigatoni, probably due to the black garlic aïoli. Pasta was made fresh in-house and cooked to perfection. What order again. Berkshire Pork - 4.5 stars. This was actually pork belly, which is not in the description on the menu, just an FYI. Not the star of the show tonight, but was a nice take and definitely good. Wine selection was decent by the glass and by the bottle. Service - 5 starsAmbiance- 4 stars. Loud (like every place now days) and the wooden back of the booths were quite uncomfortable. The chairs at the tables looked cushion and more comfortable. Thank goodness for valet parking due to its location!We would definitely return here to eat and not just for a special occasion because it's that good!!

There's a reason why Emmer & Rye made it onto two of the Michelin Guide's awards for: Bib Gourmand & a Michelin Green Star. The dining room is contemporary and inviting, setting the stage for a truly memorable meal. Compared to the rest of Rainey Street's offering for food, Emmer & Rye left me feeling refreshed and inspired. The textures and flavors in the dishes are carefully curated and perfectly balanced. Unfortunately, portion sizes run small and the pricing is exorbitant at Emmer & Rye.

The evening started with promise that Michelin had acknowledged this restaurant even though it did not award distinction. However, it quickly became clear to us that they will likely face difficulty in achieving Michelin distinction. Before turning to the challenges, I will say that the food was fantastic. We ordered the sourdough bread with trio of butters, the pappardelle, the gnocchetti, and the carnitas. The sourdough was great and the accompanying trio of butters provided balance and options. The flavors were distinct but not overpowering. The two pasta dishes were enjoyable and a nice combination. The gnocchetti had a basil based sauce with some peppers to add some spice. The pappardelle had the richness you expect with a beef-based pasta but it was cut with the heat of some peppers as well. Finally, the carnitas had a farro and lamb combination for the base and small bites of pork layered in top. The cucumber and yogurt brightened the dish. Again, the balance of flavors was great. Overall, the food was a win, and I can see why Michelin noted their restaurant.The issues we faced were all in the service aspects of our experience. Our table was not ready at the time of our reservation, and we had to wait approximately 25 minutes beyond our specified time to be seated. Our server wasn't the most helpful at the beginning of our meal and was engaged with us minimally throughout the dinner. Then three dishes came concurrently, which meant we couldn't fully enjoy the bread, and it also meant that the pastas had cooled off by the time ate them. It's small stuff that added up across the meal. On a closing note, the environment was mostly fine but there were a lot of conversations that contributed to background noise making it difficult to hear our server and ourselves.

TL;DR - modern atmosphere, delicious food, and great service. Favorites were the crudo, sourdough bread, and French ravioli.I was lucky enough to score a day-of reservation here using OpenTable on a recent work trip. We had one person join us last minute but they were gracious enough to accommodate us if we were willing to wait a half hour since it was pretty busy. It was worth the wait! What we ordered:Crudo - tasty and freshBlackjack point oysters - did not hit the mark for me, my least favorite dish of the nightSourdough bread - get this! It was super delicious and the presentation was unique.French ravioli - another must order IMO!Cacio e Pepe - really good Texas wagyu steak - tender and tastyWe were stuffed so no desserts for us. Their cocktails were decent as well though the one I ordered was a little sweet for my taste (sorry couldn't remember what it was called). Also love it when establishments (like this one) have their hand washing station outside of the bathrooms. Would come back if I'm ever in the area again!