Ansolutely LOVE everything about place! Cool vibe, great service and outstanding food!! Happy Hour everyday from 3-5:30 . Great selection of oysters and raw bar items and hands down the BEST burger I've ever had! read more

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We got the scallop crudo special and burger and fries. The burger and fries were why we went and it lived up to expectations. The shoestring fries are perfection. However, got the scallop crudo special that just wasn't good. The flavors were muddled and you could barely taste the scallop. I will say the tuna tartare the people next to us ordered looked insane, I'd try that. Overall don't really need to go back but if I did it'd be for the burger. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Scallop crudo special - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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It is so stinky inside from something they are frying or grilling, ventilation is really bad. The food was not very good at all. The service was okay but it just couldn't make up for the bad food and the smell. read more

Biggest disappointment was the service. Our server was in and out, I'm guessing because they were busy with tables inside. The seating was incredibly uncomfortable, the table was lopsided and set up too close to the front door and another table. When I asked to move, they made up an excuse about a reservation, even though the tables were the same size and had the same server. Conveniently, about 30 minutes before we left, some random white guy just sat down at that "reserved" table, and they let him stay. Not long after, our lopsided table tipped over, with my full martini. Another waitress helped clean it up while our server was nowhere to be found. Nothing was comped, and we were left with just an above-average meal and the constant chatter of tech bros less than an arms length. We'll be sticking to Clark's and Perla's. read more

Check this place out for their happy hour, will definitely be back. $10 martinis and $10 mouth watering burgers. The service was amazing, my waitress took great care of me. When you walk in you feel like you're in a time capsule, with beautiful architecture. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Happy hour $10 burger plus $5 French fries - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is one of my favorite happy hours in Austin. When you go... Definitely do a dozen oysters and get hush puppies. Those hush puppies are so amazing. Has both sausage and crab. I was hesitant but worth it so much. The oysters are some of my favorite in the city. Constantly rotating in different ones to try. On happy hour oysters are $3 apiece. And the martini is $10. Everyone that works there absolutely knows the menu like they wrote it themselves. you get really great service here. Sitting at the bar or at a table you're attended to quickly and with a very friendly attitude. I like to make small talk and banter, and they are willing. It's kind of a bougie place, but don't let that stop you from going in as you are. I do often. It's very quaint and there's plenty of seating at the bar or there are tables scattered throughout. I like the colors they use if that matters to y'all. I brought a friend here, but I've also taken my boyfriend a few times. Good for all kinds of occasions. Happy hours is my favorite though. read more

Intimate space with a fun atmosphere. Jesse was our server and he was so attentive, personable, and helped us with our first oyster experience! The menu is small but had a lot of great options. I'd come back for happy hour. We loved the burger (and the fries were perfect). Cesar salad was large but needed more dressing. Mozzarella sticks were a bit chewy (but the caviar is a nice touch). Ahi was good, but it was sweet, which isn't common. Also wish they validated for the garage since street parking is non-existent (esp during valet hours). read more

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When I think of New Orleans influenced oyster restaurants, Acme in the French Quarter comes to mind. It's been there forever and they serve a wide range of food, and especially Po-Boys. Bills seems to want to emulate this but falls a tad short. The ambiance is "dinerish", but instead of booths there are tables set very close together. The bar is very inviting, which is where we sat. Bartenders were very friendly. The menu is somewhat limited aside from the fresh oysters and clam dishes. There were no Po-Boys available except a some special one that I couldn't quite comprehend. The crab cake I ordered looked nothing like the ones in the pictures. Mine has been smushed down into the sauce and resembled a stew instead of a crab cake. Given that, it had a nice taste to it, but the lump pieces I equate to a great crab cake were missing. A friend had the burger and she said it was "fine". The fries were tasty but were very, very slim shoestring fries. The drinks were good. I'm generous with the 4 stars as I feel the place has potential and is trying. We'll be back. Hopefully they'll expand their menu and try to keep that crab cake together in the future. read more

Food: amazing Service: amazing Environment: amazing! Every appetizer and entree tasted so flavorful and fresh. Will be coming here every time I find myself in Austin. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Shrimp & Grits and Johnny Cakes - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Seriously the best smash burger in Austin---and it's only $10 on happy hour! The oysters are also super fresh and delicious !

Salty Dog cocktail was very good. Good raw oysters, and really good steak tartar. Best hush puppies I've ever had.

The prices for the amount of food is a joke. Over priced & still hungry. The service was quick, friendly and well-knowledgeable. The atmosphere was energetic and cozy as tables are close together. Food presentation was lovely, two of our entree's arrived on polished silver platters and food was set photogenically. Can't believe we were charged $40 for that King Crab. A unique, cozy restaurant and delightful experience. Just wish we had more food to eat to spend more time there. - $38 for 1 crab leg and 2 slices of lettuce - $16 for 4 Jumbo shrimps - $18 for 4 fried oysters (our favorite choice) - $12 Andouille sausage & crab hush puppies - $10 mocktail - $17 glass of wine ------------------------ - $9.15 sales tax Total: $120.15 read more

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Had a great time at Bill's Oyster with friends last Thursday after listening to Sarah Sharp sing jazz at the Elephant Room. Even though online it showed no reservation spots available, we were able to walk in and get a table quickly. They were fairly empty. The drinks and food were really good. My favorite dish was the fried tomatoes! read more

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Good experience downgraded by an unexpected finish. I work a few blocks away and enjoy lunch at a bar, at all price points. Had Bill's on my list and tried it today for Friday lunch. Slower than I would have guessed, but I immediately liked the vibe and there was ample seating at the bar. Greeted immediately by the bartender, I ordered a gin martini with blue cheese-stuffed olives. Delicious. Ordered the Crab BLT. Came with fries and a small serving of ketchup. Asked for aioli and she offered their tarragon aioli. Sandwich was good, fries were just right, aioli was okay. I got the check was surprised to see I'd been charged $1 for the blue cheese olives and $3 for the meager portion of aioli. Perhaps that's a reflection on their usual customer (tourist? tech bro?) but if I am paying $20 for the martini and $28 for the sandwich, don't nickel-and-dime me. Wouldn't have blinked if cost of the sandwich and cocktail was $4 higher, it's the tackiness of the additional charges that will keep me away. *Shoutout to the bartender at Mongers a couple years ago who, when I asked for some mayo, responded, "Is that for your fries? I'll get you some aioli." There was no additional charge. read more

Food, service and vibe was great. This was our first time here and will be back for the lobster roll next time. But the burger has to be a top 5 in Austin. Perfect spot for lunch! read more

Bill’s Oyster - Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Smallish restaurant with both inside and outside seating. If you need to, get on the waitlist and wander down to Royal Blue to get a sip of something while you wait (they'll come find ya if you're waiting outside). The outdoor seating was comfortable for us - we'll see what's in store when the Austin summer hits - the shade from the buildings does help. The restaurant itself is shotgun with the kitchen in the rear. When we went the interior was hazy with smoke (but it didn't smell strongly), but I would think better ventilation would help. Services was really great - our waiter Alex was helpful in explaining choices and the rest of the staff was attentive but not obtrusive. I would call attention to the hostess though - she was really doing a great job of hosting, helping to run food, taking some drink orders and occasionally bussing/setting up tables. Overall it was great to see staff using care. Drinks. Red Hand - nice crisp gin martini. Pimm's Cup - cause I get these whenever I can. Refreshing for when it gets hot. As for food - we dined on: Mozzarella Stix & Caviar - Two sticks come with this order and they come out hot with a dollop of caviar in the center of each stick (and some shredded horseradish). These were good but we had to get two orders - a little pricey but hey you do get caviar. Fried Group Fingers - these were really great - flaky and tasty. It comes with a spicy slaw (red cabbage) which was just alright. Caviar ranch as a dipping sauce was good (by caviar - I think it was salmon or trout roe). Asparagus - as a side - it wasn't a huge portion but it was definitely tasty. The Colorado - seafood tower of oysters (a dozen), shrimp (4 large shell on), clams (a dozen with Tajin and a sauce) and a mound of lump crab. Mignonette, cocktail sauce and a couple of other sauces that I can't recall were on ice. NOTE, condensation from the top pan tends to drip down to the bottom, so scarf those oysters quickly or move them to avoid the drips. read more

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The fries were amazing! I highly recommend getting it with the remoulade. Oysters are really great here as well. I loved the oyster royale and if you like uni and caviar, definitely try it. I wanted to love the watermelon cocktail but there was something off about it... couldn't quite put my finger on it. My only complaint is that due to the size of this place and lack of ventilation, it can get quite smoky and when seated near the kitchen, my eyes were burning a bit (and also heard a girl next to us complaining as well). I can't wait to come back and try more food! read more

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Coming from Houston, I get all excited hearing about a new seafood spot in Austin, but my bar is set pretty high. Bill's brings in a powerhouse set of owners - one longtime Austinite (you'll see lots of local references on the menu) and a Michelin-decorated chef from NYC. For opening night, they were surprisingly polished, giving no hint of usual hysteria from the kitchen or service. Joe was exactly who I'd hope to meet at the counter - warm, genuine, knowledgeable, always on point. He hooked me up with some fried oysters (nestled in with the Miss Mae's oyster pairing - get yourself a cocktail!), however; these deserve a permanent spot on the menu. A light tempura-like crisp topped with (THE ONLY BACON) Neuske's, blue cheese, and a base of truffled honey, only comment is to punch up the honey to stick to all that bleu and GIVE ME MORE. It's decidedly a cocktail bar, which is a little disappointing since oysters go best with wine in my bougiest opinion. Selections by the glass are limited and not ideal, some room for growth. The cocktail sauce is fantastic, some proprietary blend striking a balance of the usual citrus & horseradish notes, but also something richly umami and slightly sweet... just right. Mignonette is not as exciting. Yellowfin Tuna Tartare was generously portioned and beautiful, perfectly tenderized ahi caramelized in molasses with a smear of avocado mousse. Did I like it? Very much. Chips were clever, but didn't provide enough crunch to contrast with all that lovely fish, and the garlic was lost in molasses, not enough salt to make it all shine. Minor tweaks and this will be an all-star. Excited to explore more of the menu, especially with different service times as they evolve. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Tuna Tartare - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had my first date here with my boyfriend and I'm in love with him. Whatever was in those oysters worked.

I can concur with other reviewers when they say that Bill's reminds them of a New York eatery, as that was my first thought when I entered. I was able to get a great photo of the restaurant empty so that you have a clear understanding of what to expect. My gf and I met here for lunch and because I was clearly overdressed, we almost left, but I am glad that we decided to stay because the food was fantastic. The service we received was decent, but if you keep in mind that you are dining at essentially a diner and not a high end restaurant, you will not be too disappointed. The only reason I am giving Bill's 3 stars is because if you have followed me for the past 10 years, then you will know that my #1 pet peeve is when the waiter presents the check without first asking if there is anything else they can get for you. Not only does it make the patron feel as if they are being rushed, but you run the possibility of receiving less of a tip. In my case, when I told our waiter that I did not want another glass of wine, he brought our check and did not realize that I was contemplating ordering dessert and also food to go. Had he been trained properly, he would have left that day with more money. What we did enjoy were the fresh oyster selections from Canada and Massachusetts. Bill's knows how to make a crab cake! Their crab cakes are a pretty hefty size in my opinion and pretty much all meat. I have never been a fan of lobster rolls with aioli/mayo as I prefer my lobster rolls hot with drawn butter and although my preference is not offered on the menu, they honored my request and it was delicious! Fries also come with the lobster roll and they too were really good. Besides my irritation regarding the check, I do highly recommend Bill's and I will be back for another visit. read more

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Bar tenders are out of this world. True professionals. Food is great. One of if not the best burger in ATX. I can sit at their bar for hours and its always a great time. The patrons always make the atmosphere even better. read more

Came in for brunch and got the chicken fried steak, a dozen oysters and the Mexican martini. Chicken fried steak did not taste like wagyu, more like skirt steak. But other than that, service was great and the Mexican martini was surprisingly the best martini I've ever had. Would come back just for the martini read more

.....where to start. The service was tragic. Top 3 worst service experiences in Austin. First, they sat us at a table outside next to the door- the foot traffic was annoying but fine. Next we order drinks and food. We get the appetizer within 2 minutes from an outside staff. Then, for the next 10 minutes, we watch new people get seated and get their drinks before us. Our waitress was nowhere to be seen so i literally had to ask the bus guy to help us find our drinks. He did (shout out). Sadly, I couldn't stand mine. Surprise surprise, our waitress never checked in so I couldn't order a different one. Thank god my boyfriend is a saint and offered to switch. Next we get our food, which was good, but the sun starts to set and i am literally roasting, can't see a thing, miserable. When we tried to get the check, our waitress literally dropped it on the table and disappeared. She didn't even comment on how I had switched seats. I get not being able to do anything, but she could have at least acknowledged the situation we were in. Anyways, I wanted to leave ASAP but she didn't come back to get it. I eventually asked a separate waitress to take it, so that we could just leave. Again, our waitress asked how we were doing ONCE throughout the whole night, and it was about 5 minutes in. I don't care how good the burger was because the service was just SO bad. We came for our four year anniversary and left so sad. read more

Crowded! But, it was on a Saturday evening. We were seated immediately, however, at the bar. The oysters along with the other food was outstanding! Definitely one of the top three oyster spots we've been to. read more

Absolutely loved the vibe here! The oysters were incredibly fresh and shucked perfectly. We sat at the bar and the service was top-notch. Their martinis are a must-try. Definitely coming back for happy hour soon! read more

Jesse and Emily were so attentive and delightful! It was our anniversary, and they brought out cheesecake, caviar mozzarella sticks, and lobster hush puppies for us. (Which were sooo good!) Everything was so delicious and brought out quickly. The vibes were immaculate on the patio! We will definitely be returning! read more

Bill’s Oyster - Oysters and cocktail shrimp! - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Came for happy hour and was blown away. We had Bills burger, hush puppies, clams, oysters, martinis and for old time sake had a shot and a beer. This restaurant is mimicking Clark's with the happy hour menu and prices and as much as I love Clark's I think this one is better. The burger was a 2 patty smash burger with a fantastic brioche roll that came with tasty crispy fries. The hush puppies had crab and a slice of chorizo sausage in the middle. They even had blue cheese stuffed olives for the martinis which was a nice little extra. Service was great and loved the old style decor. Felt like it dated to the 1920's. The parking is a pain- there are ramps nearby. We snagged a spot on the street but beware the parking police were out in force writing tickets on expired tickets. Will definitely be back. read more

This place was adorable!! It is a small place so be sure to get a reservation in advance for inside or patio seating. The ambiance is great but the food and service are even better. Our waiter recommend several options and each one was terrific. The crudo was some of the best I've ever had. I will definitely be back soon! read more

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The vibe was spot on! Had a burger and drinks. Bartenders are quirky and engaging. Burger was ok, not the best but not horrible. Fries were great and shoestring. Not greasy at all. Fun music and bar seating was easy on a Saturday night! read more

Great food and atmosphere. We didn't have a reservation but they accommodated us fast. Everything we sampled was really tasty from the fresh briny oyster sampler, crawfish Mac and Cheese to the crab cakes. The service was excellent. Very professional and attentive. Great job read more

In my opinion this is the best seafood I've had in Austin. We ordered the Colorado Tower and the caviar mozzarella sticks. The oysters were delicious, the shrimp was even better. The crab was yum and I'm not a huge clam fan but even those were good. The caviar mozzarella sticks were the best mozzarella sticks I've ever had. The only thing I wouldn't recommend was their menu cocktails only because they were made with barely any alcohol so not worth the price. We ordered dirty martinis after trying the salty grapefruit cocktail and the martinis were delicious and so much better. I will definitely be back as the seafood is just beyond delicious!! read more

Bill’s Oyster - Colorado Tower! - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Everything was great until our $39 crab lettuce wraps came out and I actually laughed out loud at how little crab meat there was for that price read more

Bill’s Oyster - Crab lettuce wraps - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Love to see downtown get strong food destinations. This is one of them. Really happy experience interns of the overall vibe and service style. Crazy delicious burger too boot. Yee Haw, Look forward to more. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Excellent spot in downtown Austin for oysters. I loved the decor. They have a great happy hour that I'll definitely make my way back to. read more

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What a wonderful surprise. Outstanding food, service and ambiance. Tiny restaurant and bar in downtown Austin. We had the mussels special (in a Dijon sauce), a lobster roll, half a dozen east coast oysters and the crab cake. It was all excellent but in particular, the lobster roll was outstanding. Pro tip: Every day during happy hour bottles of wine are 50% off. Will certainly be back! read more

Lively little spot with great music, fresh fun food, and cocktails! Service with a smile was timely and attentive. Can't wait to come back for more! read more

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I went to Bill's Oyster for dinner, we ordered the assorted oysters, king crab lettuce wrap (which requires assembly), lobster roll, brussels sprouts, and crayfish mac and cheese. Oysters were fresh, lobster roll was good, and brussels sprouts were tasty and had a kick of spice to it. The king crab lettuce wrap wasnt too great, the roasted shallots were too hard and felt like I was eating rocks. They have a full bar service with a nice whiskey/bourbon selection. The ambiance was dim and low light. But the air quality was bad, it felt greasy and stuffy from the kitchen. read more

It was busy! I knew I'd have to walk but I was excited to try Bill's for the first time so we also invited friends. I was met with two different waiters and neither of them accommodated nor put us on any list. I was met with "do you have a reservation" and "I don't think we can accommodate you" and walked away so we were left there just standing. Terrible experience read more

Man, finally got to try this place on Wednesday and was pretty disappointed honestly. We came for their happy hour which is from 3-530 where they have 20% of bottles of wine, $10 Tito's martinis and $4 per oyster (there's a beer deal too which I dont remember) We got a bottle of white wine which was delicious and perfect for this insane heat. They keep it cool in a chiller on your table which is a little hard to navigate when they start bringing the food out and you need to find room. We started with the oysters which were all delicious. We then ordered the fried green tomatoes with shrimp & remoulade sauce and this to me was not good at all - the tomatoes weren't even hot so then was surprised to have the shrimp and sauce on top which were suppose to be cold apparently. The sauce is way too much and overwhelming with its flavors and I just didn't care for this at all. We got the scallop ceviche which again was disappointing and lacking any kind of wow flavors. Lastly, we ordered the burger out of desperation of finding something we would enjoy and this was delicious including the fries. Service was excellent. Probably won't be rushing back here anytime soon as the menu is fairly small and 1 out of the 3 items we got was not good. read more

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Food was phenomenal and so was the service, the burger was out of this world, Bloody Mary on point