7 splurge rooms in Austin, editor-picked. tasting menus and the full big-night-out treatment in Austin. All Austin food.
Uchi ★ 4.8
south-lamar · 801 South Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
Uchi in Austin is Tyson Cole's James Beard-winning sushi room on South Lamar since 2003, the kitchen that codified modern Japanese on the south side of the river.
Tip: Sit at the sushi bar; the omakase is built in real time and the chefs talk you through each piece.
Uchiko ★ 4.7
rosedale · 4200 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78756
Uchiko in Austin is Tyson Cole's elevated farmhouse sushi room on North Lamar, the second of the Hai Hospitality kitchens and a Top Chef alumni line.
Tip: Happy hour from 5 to 6pm at the bar runs a $5 sushi list; it is the cheapest way into the kitchen.
Hestia ★ 4.7
downtown · 607 W 3rd St, Suite 105, Austin, TX 78701
Hestia in Austin is Kevin Fink's Michelin-starred live-fire room downtown, built around a 20-foot custom hearth that anchors the open kitchen.
Tip: The chef's counter on the hearth side is two booking-clicks deeper than the dining room and worth chasing.
Olamaie ★ 4.7
downtown · 1610 San Antonio St, Austin, TX 78701
Olamaie in Austin is Michael Fojtasek's Michelin-starred Southern dining room in a converted house near downtown, named for three generations of women in his family.
Tip: The four-course prix fixe is built with chef de cuisine Amanda Turner; vegetarian path is available on request.
Jeffrey's ★ 4.5
clarksville · 1204 W Lynn St, Austin, TX 78703
Jeffrey's in Austin is McGuire Moorman's heritage steakhouse on West Lynn since 1975, a Clarksville room with tableside Caesar and oak-grilled steaks.
Tip: Josephine House next door, by the same operators, is the no-booking sibling for a more casual lunch.
Barley Swine ★ 4.5
burnet-road · 6555 Burnet Rd, Ste 400, Austin, TX 78757
Barley Swine in Austin is Bryce Gilmore's farm-driven Burnet Road tasting room, the chef's first kitchen since 2010, with a Texas-only sourcing rule.
Tip: Odd Duck and Sour Duck Market are Gilmore's sibling rooms; book Barley Swine for the most kitchen-led experience.
Garrison ★ 4.3
downtown · 101 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
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 cellar.
Tip: The bar runs walk-in cocktails and the same beef; book the dining room only for the full tasting flow.