Best Fine Dining in Austin, 2018
and from Ladybird Lake to MLK):
ATX Cocina, 110 San Antonio Street, Austin TX 78701. This newer hotspot from successful restauranteur Larry Foles (father of Philadelphia Eagles Nick Foles, who is a co-owner of this restaurant) bills itself as Modern Mexican. Its kitchen, which is entirely gluten-free, turns out delicious and interesting fare.
Austin Land & Cattle, 1205 North Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703. According to their website, ALC is the only independent, family-owned steakhouse in Austin. They've been around for over 20 years, which is quite an accomplishment in Austin's ever-changing restaurant landscape.
Café Josie, 1200 W. 6th Street, Austin TX 78703 - One of the few establishments left near downtown where you can have a conversation without shouting over a din. I've found the food to be delicious and consistent. If you're dining with extra-hungry people, they offer a $45 all-you-can-eat option (billed as "the experience" at dinner time in addition to their a la carte menu (there is a brunch "experience," as well).
Clark's Oyster Bar, 1200 W. 6th Street, Austin TX 78703 - The prices here are on the steep side for what you get, but everything I've tried has been excellent, and I am glad for a spot to add to the short list of locally-owned seafood restaurants.
Cippolina, 1213 West Lynn, Austin, TX 78703 - Charming bistro with a more casual feel.
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| Every seat is on the front row at Counter 3. Five. VII. |
Counter 3. Five. VII., 315 Congress, Ste 100, Austin TX 78701 - This all prix-fixe restaurant guarantees you a front row seat to the show of creating your meal.
Driskill Grill, 604 Brazos, Austin TX 78701 - Fine dining in a beautiful historic hotel. They have their own dry aging room.
El Naranjo, 85 Rainey Street, Austin TX 78701 - Quite possibly the best interior Mexican food in town.
Emmer & Rye, 51 Rainey Street, Ste 110, Austin TX 78701 - My first experience at Emmer & Rye could have been better, but the large majority of the people I know who have been really love it, so perhaps we were there on an off day. I'm a giant fan of their sister restaurant, Henbit, so I'm probably overdue for another visit here.
Fixe, 500 W. 5th Street, Austin TX 78701 - My favorite spot for upscale Southern food, serving amazingly fluffy biscuits and some of the best fried chicken I've ever tasted.
Geraldine's, 605 Davis Street, Austin TX 78701 - Housed in Austin's first Kimpton hotel property, Geraldine's offers live music every night.
The Grove, Three locations: Downtown, 800 W. 6th Street, Austin TX 78701; West - 6317 Bee Caves Rd, Austin TX 78746 and Lakeway - 3001 RR 620, Austin TX 78734 - A solid offering by experienced Austin restauranteur Reed Clemons. Fantastic salads and some of the best calamari in town.
Italic, 123 W. 6th Street, Austin TX 78701 - upscale Italian fare by the ELM Group (which also owns Easy Tiger and Irene's).
Jeffrey's, 1204 West Lynn, Austin TX 78703 - On the spendy side as far as Austin fine dining goes, but you can enjoy their excellent food for much less during happy hour - 4:30-6:30 Tues-Sun and all night on Monday.
Josephine House, 1601 Waterston, Austin TX 78703 - A very sweet restaurant in an old house. I'm partial to their Monday night steak frites night.
La Condesa, 400 W. 2nd Street, Austin TX 78701 - It took me a couple visits to hit my sweet spot here, but now I'm a fan. Flavorful, interesting Mexican fare in a gorgeous and interesting space. The small plates are the star of the show.
Lambert's, 401 W. 2nd Street, Austin TX 78701 - Not your father's barbecue. Think pork ribs with a fennel-coriander rub, brisket with a brown sugar and coffee rub, and brussels sprouts with bacon and brown butter.
La Traviata, 314 N. Congress Ave., Austin TX 78701 - Their carbonara will make you cry tears of joy. Blog post dedicated to this thing of beauty here.
Le Politique, 110 San Antonio, Austin TX 78704 - A bright and airy French spot, new to the scene in 2017.
Parkside, 301 E. 6th Street, Austin TX 78701 - New American fare. If you're dining with someone who wants a more casual meal, send them back to the Parkside's sister restaurant, a pizza joint adjacent to the Parkside and aptly called Backspace (while you eat at Parkside, of course).
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| Monkfish Sandwich at Olamaie |
Péché, 208 W. 4th St., Austin TX 78701 - Absinthe bar that also happens to have excellent food and service.
Ranch 616, 616 Nueces St., Austin TX 78701 - Quirky...like Austin. I'm partial to the jalapeno-maize trout, but I don't really think you can go wrong here. Strong cocktails and a nice patio round out the deal.
Red Ash Italia, 303 Colorado #200, Austin TX 78701 - A newer Italian spot that doesn't shy away from bold flavor. Their "hot & crispy Italian bread" appetizer is one of the most garlicky things I've ever eaten (in a good way!).
Swift's Attic, 315 N. Congress, Austin TX 78701 - Inventive small plates (for example, edamame served with pop rock salt) in a wonderfully steampunkish space.
TRIO, 98 San Jacinto, Austin TX 78701 - The Four Seasons Hotel is all about exceeding expectations, and its restaurant, TRIO, does just that.
Wink, 1014 N. Lamar, Austin TX 78701 - Another great spot offering New American fare with a focus on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and an emphasis on personal attention. If you're celebrating a special occasion, let them know; they'll print up special celebratory menus just for you.
Winflo Osteria, 1315 W. 6th Street, Austin TX 78703 - cozy Italian spot with an ample patio. If you get an opportunity, their Listen at Winflo live music series is a lovely experience.
Wu Chow, 500 W. 5th Street #168, Austin TX 78701 - The restaurant that proved to Austin that Chinese food doesn't have to be eaten in a dive - also, the home of the best soup dumplings in town.
EAST:
Buenos Aires Café, Two locations: East - 1201 E. 6th Street, Austin TX 78702; Lakeway - 13500 Galleria Circle, Bee Cave, TX 78738 - Lovely spot serving up - you guessed it! - Argentinian fare. It's all about the chimichurri here, which you should basically slather over everything you order. If you have room for dessert, they've upped the ante with their quatro leches cake. Extra leches is always a win in my book.
Chicon, 1914 E. 6th Street, Ste C, Austin TX 78702 - From the folks who brought you Contigo, Chicon has a similar "upscale ranch food" feel, with a few surprises like black rice with oyster mushrooms, root vegetables, and saffron aioli.
Dai Due, 2406 Manor Road, Austin TX 78722 - I struggled with whether to include Dai Due here; after two visits, it has yet to impress, and on one of these visits we suffered through a painfully chewy $90+ steak. This place gets a ton of love from other food writers, though, so I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.
East Side Cafe, 2113 Manor Rd, Austin TX 78722 - A glimpse into the good old days when Austin was more hippie-funky, with a large garden on the premises that sources many of their herbs, decorative garnishes, and some of their veggies.
Hillside Farmacy, 1209 E. 11th Street, Austin TX 78702 - This sweet little place is housed in a building that once was home to a pharmacy, and they've kept many of the accoutrements of the previous occupant intact. Their menu covers everything from raw oysters to shepherd's pie, and they've got you covered for every meal - opening at 9a daily and closing at 10 or 11 at night.
Intero, 2612 E. Cesar Chavez, Austin TX - I've yet to visit this brand new Italian spot, but everything I've heard thus far about it has been positive. Hard to go wrong with a spot that offers both pasta and chocolate.
Jacoby's, 3235 E. Cesar Chavez, Austin TX 78702 - This family-operated restaurant sources all of its beef from the family's ranch, and there's a really cool little mercantile on the premises so you can get a little shopping fix after your meal.
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| Seafood Pasta at Juniper |
Juniper, 2400 E. Cesar Chavez, Austin TX 78702 - Our first (and only, so far) meal at this Northern Italian spot was wonderful. The pasta was especially lovely, but there wasn't a single thing we tried that I didn't thoroughly enjoy.
Kyoten, 4600 Mueller Blvd, Ste 1035, Austin TX 78723 - I'm so disappointed in myself for not having made it here, yet, as Japanese food is one of my favorite genres. At dinner, it is all-omakase, though they have an a la carte menu at lunch time.
Launderette, 2115 Holly St., Austin TX 78702 - I'm a huge fan of Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki (both formerly of Sway and La Condesa), and their latest venture is one of my favorite spots in town. It's one of the few places where I actually get excited about ordering chicken; their brick chicken is outstanding.
Licha's Cantina, 1306 E. 6th Street, Austin TX 78702 - I have yet to visit Licha's, but one of the best home cooks I know (who also happens to hail from Mexico) raves about this place.
L'Oca d'Oro, 1900 Simond Ave., Austin TX 78723 - The kitchen seems to take a while to turn around orders here, but we welcomed 2018 here, and the festive New Year's Eve celebration earned L'Oca d'Oro a recommendation from me.
Monger's Market + Kitchen, 2401 E. Cesar Chavez, Austin TX 78702 - Before opening Monger's, owner Roberto San Miguel was a longtime fixture at the farmer's markets, offering fresh Gulf coast seafood. The market is now a brick & mortar with a restaurant for those who prefer to have a chef cook their treasures from the sea.
Old Thousand, 1000 E. 11th Street $150, Austin TX 78702 - a hip Chinese spot with sufficiently traditional flavors to keep most Chinese food purists happy. Don't miss the chongqing chicken or the brisket fried rice (blog post about my first visit here).
Pitchfork Pretty, 2708 E. Cesar Chavez, Austin TX 78702 - This newcomer to the restaurant scene is wowing Austinites with their gorgeous and inventive plates. I've only been to happy hour here, but based on that experience, I'd say it's definitely worth a visit.
Salt & Time, 1912 E. 7th St., Austin TX 78702 - It's a butcher shop! It's a restaurant! It's both, in one tasty package.
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| The happiest of happy hours at Salty Sow |
Yuyo, 1900 Manor Road, Austin TX 78722 - Yuyo is a newcomer to the Austin fine dining scene, brought to you by the El Chile group of restaurants. This is my favorite of the bunch, offering Peruvian food, which is hard to come by in Austin.
SOUTH OF THE RIVER (CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN):
Central Standard, 1603 S. Congress Ave., Austin TX 78704 - Located in the fabulous South Congress hotel, Central Standard offers a varied menu, including one of the 50 greatest burgers in Texas according to Texas Monthly magazine.
Eberly, 615 S. Lamar, Austin TX 78704 - The emphasis at Eberly is on the atmosphere. It's a beautiful and lively space and the service is attentive. The food feels a little like a pricey afterthought; it's good, but probably won't surprise you.
El Chipiron, 2717 South Lamar, Austin TX 78704 - I've heard mixed reviews on this new Spanish spot and am finally heading there later this week to form my own opinions. Watch this space for an update! I hear the gin & tonics aren't to be missed.
Juliet Ristorante, 1500 Barton Springs Rd, Austin TX 78704 - Italian fare in a lovely space reminiscent of my parents' home in the 70s (but modernized to be beautiful in this decade). My food experiences here have been a little inconsistent, but it's worth a visit.
June's All Day, 1722 South Congress Ave., Austin TX 78704 - June's is named after the force of nature that is June Rodil, a fabulous Master Sommelier who has been a light in the Austin wine scene for quite some time. The food is excellent and, of course, the wine list is perfect.
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| Crispy Wild Boar at Lenoir |
Mattie's, 811 W. Live Oak Street, Austin TX 78704 - This incarnation of the beloved Green Pastures restaurant is simply gorgeous. The milk punch that fueled many Green Pastures brunches is still on their menu.
Odd Duck, 1201 S. Lamar, Austin TX 78704 - A food trailer that grew up to be a brick & mortar, by the same chef-owner as Barley Swine (below). Full blog post here.
Otoko, 1603 South Congress, Ave., Austin TX 78704 - Paul Qui is behind this 12-seat, all-omakase experience, though I've yet to hear anyone say they actually saw him behind the counter. Honestly, I was a little disappointed by my only visit here - the food was wonderful and it was one of the most beautiful meals I can ever remember enjoying, but I was hungry shortly after I left, which is kind of a downer at this price point.
Perla's, 1400 S. Congress Ave., Austin TX 78704 - One of very few locally-owned seafood restaurants in town. One of Perla's best assets is the expansive patio right on South Congress, perfect for people-watching.
Soto, 1100 S. Lamar, Suite 2115, Austin TX 78704 - Soto's Cedar Park location has long been one of my very favorite Austin restaurants. The price point at their new South Lamar location feels a little more aggressive (likely necessitated by the rent here), but you'll find much to be impressed with on the menu.
South Congress Cafe, 1600 S. Congress Ave., Austin TX 78704 - New American in a casual-yet-upscale setting. They don't take reservations, and there can be a long wait at peak hours.
Sway, 1417 S. 1st, Austin TX 78704 - Modern Thai dishes that pack a serious flavor punch. Full blog post about it here.
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| Walu Walu (grilled escolar) at Uchi |
Vespaio, 1610 S. Congress Ave., Austin TX 78704 - Italian. Its sister restaurant next door, Enoteca Vespaio, also offers delicious food in a more casual atmosphere.
Zax, 312 Barton Springs Rd, Austin TX 78704 - A bright, laid back spot with a dog-friendly patio that I always enjoy. I have trouble veering away from the shrimp remoulade salad, but whenever I have, it's always been tasty.
NORTH OF DOWNTOWN:
Asti, 408C E. 43rd St., Austin TX 78751 - Solid Italian fare from experienced restauranteurs Lisa & Emmett Fox.
Barley Swine, 6555 Burnet Road, Ste 400, Austin TX 78757 - Interesting, innovative fare from a chef with a nose-to-tail philosophy.
Bonhomie, 5350 Burnet Road, Austin TX 78757 - French bistro-inspired food by Uchi alum Phillip Speer. The pomme rosti selection is wonderful.
The Carillon, 1900 University Ave., Austin TX 78705 - Located in the AT&T Conference Center & Hotel on campus, The Carillon could easily be a buffet restaurant in a large, well-funded university. And, in fact, during the day, it is. But at night, it transforms into a fine dining establishment with very good food.
Chinatown, Three locations: North - 3407 Greystone Drive, Austin TX 78731; Downtown - 107 W. 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701; West - 2712 Bee Caves Road, Ste 124, Austin TX 78746 - The OG favorite for upscale Chinese fare.
Fonda San Miguel, 2330 W. North Loop, Austin TX 78756 - Interior Mexican in a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Foreign & Domestic, 306 E. 53rd St., Austin TX 78751 - A tiny place with a completely open (and similarly tiny) kitchen surrounded by bar seating so you can watch the action while you swoon over your food. The food here can be a little adventurous (in a good way) - I once tried venison heart tartare here.
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| Chirashi Bowl at Hanabi |
Komê, 5301 Airport Blvd, Austin TX 78751 - One of the few sushi places in town where my non-raw-fish-eating husband gets excited about ordering sushi. Both the raw and the cooked offerings here are excellent - and surprisingly affordable (for sushi).
Musashino, 2905 San Gabriel, Austin TX 78705 - Consistently fresh sushi with some interesting offerings in the maki (sushi roll) department.
North by Northwest, Two locations: Northwest - 10010 N. Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin TX 78759; and South - 5701 W. Slaughter Ln, Ste D, Austin TX 78749 - Consistently decent, and they brew their own beer. 'nuff said.
Olive & June - This Italian restaurant from established Austin chef Shawn Cirkiel is a favorite of mine. I love their Sunday dinners, when they offer a very generous multi-course meal for $36 (children 12 and under are free!), A blog post about my first meal at Olive & June can be found here.
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| Mussels at Texas French Bread |
Uchiko, 4200 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin TX 78756 - The sister restaurant to Uchi. I've heard their food described as more "masculine" while Uchi's is more "feminine" - I guess my taste buds are hermaphrodites, because I love both spots.
Vino Vino, 4119 Guadalupe Street, Austin TX 78751 - Wine bar that also serves excellent food.
Andiamo Ristorante, 2521 Rutland Drive, Austin TX 78758 - This out-of-the-way Italian restaurant has a devoted following for a reason. Addictive bread, wonderful pasta, photo art that will make you want to get on the next plane to Italy. Their monthly wine dinners are not to be missed (reservations fill up quickly, so be sure to get on their mailing list!)
Apis, 23526 Highway 71 West, Spicewood, Texas 78669 - One of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Worth the drive.
Café Malta, 3421 W. William Cannon Dr., Austin TX 78745 - Tucked away in a strip mall that also contains a tobacco shop and a Taco Bell, Café Malta definitely qualifies as a hidden gem. To my surprise and delight, they make most everything from scratch, from their pastas to their preserves.
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| Trout Salad at Jack Allen's Kitchen |
Jack Allen's Kitchen, Four locations: North - 3010 W. Anderson Lane, Ste D, Austin TX 78757; South - 7720 Highway 71 West, Austin TX 78735; West- 3600 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78746; and Round Rock - 2500 Hoppe Trail, Round Rock, TX 78681 - Jack Allen, the founding chef of Z'Tejas, brings a breath of fresh air to otherwise-barren upscale restaurant landscapes. The flavors here are bright, fresh and innovative. Try the Navajo Taco or the trout salad - both are fantastic.
Soto, 11066 Pecan Park Blvd, Cedar Park, TX 78613 - Well worth the drive to Cedar Park. If you want to be really wowed by a meal, go find Chef Andy and tell him to surprise you. He will. Full blog post here.
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