JapaneseChef Tyson Cole$$$$$95-165Book 2 weeks ahead
Uchi in Austin is Tyson Cole's James Beard-winning sushi room on South Lamar, the kitchen that codified modern Japanese in Texas, with omakase counter.
Order: The omakase route at the sushi bar; the bar tasting flows in real time.
Tip: Sake Social and the early seating run a discounted bar menu daily from 5 to 6:30pm.
JapaneseChef Tyson Cole$$$$$95-165Book 2 weeks ahead
Uchiko in Austin is Tyson Cole's elevated Japanese farmhouse room on North Lamar, the Hai Hospitality sibling to Uchi and a Top Chef alumni line.
Order: The Yokai Berry course; it has been on the menu since opening for a reason.
Tip: Sake Social runs 5 to 6:30pm and is the cheapest way to sit at the bar.
SteakhouseChef McGuire Moorman team$$$$$80-150 a la carteBook 1 week ahead
Jeffrey's in Austin is McGuire Moorman's heritage Clarksville steakhouse since 1975, a West Lynn dining room with tableside Caesar, oak-grilled steaks.
Order: The dry-aged ribeye on the bone with the tableside Caesar.
Tip: Josephine House next door is the sibling lunch room with the same kitchen and no booking required.
New AmericanChef Kevin Fink$$$$$95-130Book 2 weeks ahead
Emmer & Rye in Austin is Kevin Fink's grain-focused Rainey Street dining room, a Bib Gourmand tasting kitchen with a roaming dim-sum-style cart of small.
Order: Whatever pasta is on the daily card; the kitchen mills its own flour each morning.
Tip: The counter seats see the cart first; book one if you want choice cuts of the small plates.
Modern MexicanChef Philip Speer$$$$$120 tasting, $70-90 a la carteBook 3 weeks ahead
Comedor in Austin is Philip Speer's modern Mexican fine-dining room on Colorado Street downtown, a Michelin-recommended kitchen with an Olson Kundig.
Order: The bone-marrow tacos with hoja santa-pecan gremolata and smoked butter.
Tip: Book at the bar for a more spontaneous walk-in option; the same kitchen runs both rooms.
SteakhouseChef Fairmont Austin team$$$$$95-200 a la carteBook 1 week ahead
Garrison in Austin is the Fairmont's Michelin-recommended steakhouse on Red River, a wood-and-fire room built on Texas beef and a Wine Spectator-recognised.
Order: The wood-fired ribeye and the Garrison Dirty Martini, ordered tableside.
Tip: The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence cellar runs 600 bottles deep; ask for the sommelier route.