We were greeted warmly for our reservation and made to feel special right away as we were having lunch to celebrate my friend's birthday.Thankfully, it was the perfect day to sit outside under the trees. We started with some delightful cocktails and then shared several dishes. The whipped feta was excellent, and we also enjoyed the green falafel, brisket kebabs, and melon salad. The melon salad was a favorite for us both and rounded everything out perfectly. Service was attentive throughout the meal, and the whole experience felt relaxed and celebratory. We're already looking forward to going back. read more

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Ema is great! Everything we got was amazing. Always recommend the whipped feta and hummus. We loved the brussel sprouts, Greek village salad and crispy potatoes to munch on. We also got the chicken kebabs and slow braised short rib which was insane. Honey cake was INCREDIBLE and the sticky date cake was good too maybe just a little burnt? Service was just a tad slow but they're new and still ramping up so give them some grace! read more

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Went to celebrate our son's birthday. I had made reservations a month in advance. We got there and were told there is a 20 minute wait. Apparently there were people sitting for 3 hours after eating and not leaving. It had rained so their outdoor seating was closed. The server was apologetic and tried to get us situated but it took a long time. Once seated our server told us it's best to put in everything up front because it would take Time to get anything else after that. He probably checked on us 1 time after the order was place. The drinks were okay. All non alcoholic, but wasn't a fan of any. The lemonade was quite tart for the kids. The hummus bowl came out quick. It was yummy. The lamb pasta, cauliflower and chicken kebab plates were good. The Brussels sprouts were by far the best in everything we ordered. While their crispy potatoes were compared to McDonald's potatoes, no one cared for them in our family. They don't celebrate birthdays. While most restaurants including Michelin stars we've been to give something small and special, Ema does not. They don't have to, but we've never been to a place that doesn't. So we bought our own dessert. They did give us a signed card for our son and he liked it a lot. Overall it was okay. They do. Have a lot of vegetarian options so that's a plus for someone looking to eat less protein more veg. read more

Ema - Birthday Card - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

Ended up at Ēma in the Domain after hearing it had that polished Mediterranean feel, as well as being the sister to Aba. Aba being one of my favorite top tier restaurants in Austin, I was excited to see what they could bring to the domain. Atmosphere: Beautiful space. Light, airy, plant-filled, and a little vacation-y without trying too hard. It has that "nice dinner" feel but still stays relaxed, which I appreciate. The patio is absolutely the move if the weather is cooperating, but the inside is just as pretty and has a good lively energy. I'd even recommend the outdoor bar area especially during Golden Hour, the placement of trees makes it perfect. Food: This is where Ēma really shines. Everything feels bright, fresh, and built for sharing. The spreads are a must--especially if you're into hummus, whipped feta, or anything you can drag warm pita through. My all time favorite and must get will now forever be Sweet Potato Latkes, the perfect crip with the avocado creme and japaleno just makes it delectable. Service: Polished, friendly, and helpful without being too formal. They gave good recommendations, paced the food well, and kept the table moving without making us feel rushed. Wrap-up: Ēma is an easy 5 stars for me. Gorgeous space, strong service, and Mediterranean food that feels fresh, flavorful, and genuinely fun to eat. Definitely one of the better dinner options in the Domain. read more

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Hospitality makes a big difference to me- great service can carry a meal even if the food is just okay, and that's exactly what happened here. Our waitress was incredibly friendly and attentive. We were celebrating a one-year-old's birthday, and she matched the energy perfectly, which made the experience feel special. The space itself is beautiful- very Tulum beach vibes with neutral tones that I loved. As for the food, I wouldn't say it was bad, but it didn't quite meet my expectations, especially considering the connection to Aba. A lot of the dishes felt like fluff without much substance, if that makes sense. That said, there were some standouts. The crispy potatoes with rosemary and scallion crema were easily my favorite. I'm slightly embarrassed to admit I almost finished the entire plate myself, but they were actually filling. The mushroom escargot was phenomenal. It had a subtle heat from the Calabrian chili oil breadcrumbs and felt really unique. We also ordered the branzino and brisket kefta, along with the spicy whipped feta, Brussels sprouts, and a few other items. While everything was fine, the meal as a whole didn't feel very cohesive or well-rounded. read more

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One of my new favorite spots to get a nice dinner in Austin I am absolutely obsessed with Aba, I've always loved it for years so I was super super excited when I heard about their sister restaurant Ema opening up rachel and I went last night and it was such a great experience. We sat down right as soon as we showed up everyone was so nice. It was a gorgeous inside, such a beautiful restaurant. The waiter was super nice. We got some classic hummus, some spicy whipped feta, some mushroom escargot, and Hamachi and charred avocado dish that was so so so good. The vibes were chill but luxurious and I really will definitely be coming back if I'm ever in the Domain and want a nice lunch or a dinner! read more

Ema - Hummus, whipped feta, Mushroom "Escargot" - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I wanted to love ēma as much as aba. However, I will give them the benefit of the doubt since it just opened. The hospitality was top tier and vibes were immaculate. Our spritzes were yummy and refreshing but not that memorable. The food was the thing that fell short. The lamb ragu hummus was underwhelming, the lamb was cooked well but the whole dish was covered by its grease. The sweet potato latkes were very salty in my opinion and couldn't been crispier. The avocado creams on the side was good but nothing exceptional. The spicy whipped feta was not spicy and the muhammara was not as good as aba's, I'm basically living the plate when I order that stuff at aba. The mushroom "escargot" was highly recommended by our server so we opted in for it. I was disappointed that I didn't like it since they was saying they didn't like mushrooms either but this was the dish that changed their mind. I didn't enjoy the texture and flavor was just garlic. The honey cake was massive and I wished there was more cake than frosting, it was very light and sweet though, I can see ordering it in the summer months. I would give them a 2 star for food but they earned 1 star for vibes and service. I would suggest coming here for an apretivo moment w spritzes and a snack but maybe not a whole meal yet. Let them sort out some kinks before spending your whole wallet here. read more

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THE BIG: Sister restaurant to Aba and located in the Domain in North Austin. Absolutely beautiful boho chic interior with lots of plants for the vibes. Garage parking available. THE BLACK AND WHITE: The wife and I came here with our newborn son on a friday afternoon. There was a long line and fortunately they were taking walk-ins. Our wait was about 20 minutes before we got seated. We ordered the spicy whipped feta, crispy maitake mushrooms, spicy brisket kefta kebab, and the ora king salmon. The mushrooms were amazing. Stringy and a blast of umami. The ora king salmon was a bit overcooked however the sauce was great. The kebabs are always a hit and was full of flavor. THE FINAL BAMBOO: All in all, we spent around $123 for the four dishes. Good meal however I think Aba is better down in South Congress. read more

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I'm still thinking about this meal, and honestly wish I lived in Austin just so I could come back regularly. We went here after spending the morning at Viva Spa in The Domain, and it ended up being the perfect afternoon lunch spot. The atmosphere felt light and elevated without being overdone, and everything we ordered was so fresh and flavorful. Our waitress was incredibly kind and informative, which made the whole experience even better. You could tell she genuinely knew the menu and cared about making sure we had a great time. This is one of those places where everything just works. The food, the service, the setting. It felt like the kind of place you accidentally turn into a weekly ritual. read more

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A friend was in town for the weekend, and invited me out for dinner and drinks. I had told her about this new place Ema in The Domain. So we made plans to meet up around 7:30pm I earlier had tried to make reservations on their website, but the earliest, EARLIEST was 10pm!!! But the bar outside is open seating. So we thought we would take a chance. We did see 2 people getting ready to leave, what perfect timing, so we snagged their seats at the bar. The bar was packed, the restaurant was packed, I mean, this place is just incredible. We both looked over the menu for cocktails. But as I was watching the bar tenders make drinks I was just ordering what looked awesome. This one drink had a rosemary sprig, lit on fire, smoking, smelled so good. I love everything rosemary. My favorite herb! I was like, I want that right there. I don't care what's it in, I want it. Most delicious, beautiful drink I've ever seen. The drink is called Don Higo. I also got a mockingbird which is a non alcoholic drink, but the bartender added vodka to it, I just liked the pineapple, and pomegranate combination. Really fresh clean, pineappley flavor with a little vodka. I had been here before with another friend who shared his salmon kebabs with me. So I knew tonight I had to get the Salmon Kebab's. Salmon Kebab's comes with fluffy warm, buttery white basmati rice. The salmon is on a metal skewer with red peppers and red onions. There is a green zhoug "sauce" which was minty. And a juicy lemon wedge. Love lemon on fish. The restaurant was busy, and it did take a long time for our meals to come out. I'm not even hating on that. My friend and I talked, caught up, had a couple cocktails, I mean, it was just a wonderful night. When our meals did come, we couldn't get over how wonderful everything looked. Plated beautifully. We just stopped our conversation and just enjoyed the flavors of our meal. Funny cause when we got inducted into the "Clean Plate Club" we both said, "notice how we just stopped talking" Just an amazing night. Really enjoyed catching up with my friend. I needed this night out. It's been an emotional exhausting week. Ema, you're my new favorite restaurant. Just stunning inside and out. Craig, you're my favorite server! read more

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Let me start by saying I wish I had the whole weekend just to explore this menu in it's entirety. If there were ever a time I truly just wanted extra real estate in my stomach it would be to eat here. I really, genuinely loved everything we tried. We set our reservation almost 2 weeks in advance and really wanted to sit outdoors but the day we ate there it was raining on and off and they gladly transitioned us into indoor dining. The restaurant is beautiful both inside and out, just like it's sister location Aba (which I love and have frequented, review posted.) The service is great, they take your order, bring it out, check on you, and leave you alone. It's perfect. We ended up coming here for lunch ( which we overheard ends at 4pm) so we ordered off the lunch menu. Spicy Whipped Feta - 10/10 this was delicious, light, flavorful, full of texture and spices, but not too spicy. We loved this spread, my husband ate it with pita (which he rated average) and I ate it with gluten free pita chips, which were delicious, great flavor and crunch. Melon & Avocado Salad - 10/10 this should not work. Nothing about these ingredients says, "oh yes that sounds great together." Yet here we are. It worked. It goes together. It was amazing. Sweet, salty, refreshing, perfection! Crispy Wild Mushrooms - 10/10 These were delicious. I have a weird obsession with mushrooms and these could not be more perfect. My biggest complaint is that there wasn't more. I need this to come in a big back portion. I could live off of these! Sweet Potato Latke - 10/10 These were so good I want to try with everything in me to recreate these at home. We almost always have sweet potatoes and these are definitely going to be attempted at home. The avocado and jalapeno crema was the perfect touch! Grilled Shrimp Kebab (Oishii Shrimp) - 8/10 I wanted to love this. The shrimp were good, the rice was good, the sauce was good, but the sauce was overkill. It covered the shrimp AND came on the side. It was too much. The dish was also not hot. Warm, not hot. We also didn't get the roasted tomato but didn't notice until after we left. This would be perfect with a small portion of roasted or grilled veggies. I understand that veggies can be ordered on the side but those feel more like apps not to go alongside a meal. Either way, it was the one slight of all the other dishes. The flavor was delicious nonetheless. Honey Cake - 9/10 This cake was SO good! Light, not too sweet, not heavy or dense, would be perfect in the fall with a cup of freshly brewed black coffee. I didn't really get the lemon zest that it says it has. I think the light citrus would've made a difference. The cake was still amazing and actually worked for a rainy day but for a sunny day, I would really have liked to feel that vibrancy from the lemon zest. Next time I go (because I will be back) I am hands down going to try the vanilla bean panna cotta! This menu is great for those looking for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, they truly have something for everyone! read more

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Ēma is the relatively new sister restaurant to South Congress' Aba. I was taken there to celebrate my birthday. Ēma is a Mediterranean mezze restaurant where you share small plates. This was a perfect concept for my daughter and I. On this lunch, we tried the Lamb Ragu Hummus, the Spicy Whipped Feta, the Sweet Potato Latkes, and the Mushroom "Escargot". My daughter enjoyed the zero proof, Hugo Spritz and myself the Palmer's Paradise. And we finished with the honey cake. My favorite dish was the whipped feta. Those were served with a cracker that seems to be house-made, and I forgot the name of. The other dishes were served with pita. I really enjoyed the latkes and mushrooms as well. All of those dishes were well seasoned. The Lamb Ragu Hummus was good but a little underseasoned at both the ragu and hummus level. The pita served with it was good and served warm. I personally would've preferred if they served warm, soft whole, pita versus cut and toasted pita. Both of our drinks were light and refreshing, and the honey cake was absolutely delicious. It got taken home since after sharing the other plates we were more than full and could only enjoy a few bites of the cake. It's very tall and sweet but moist and light at the same time. It feels like they're still getting out a couple of kinks from being new but it's definitely a restaurant that I would go to again with one more friends. read more

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Really solid place and a great addition to the domain! It's easier to walk in/get a reservation here than Aba from my experience. They are a new restaurant, but the service has been good and the vibes are immaculate. The standout dishes for me are the mushroom escargot and the RICE that comes with the kebabs. I don't know what they put in the rice but it's like crack. The mushroom escargot was bursting with flavor and a sleeper pick. For me, the kebabs themselves paled in comparison to the rice that accompanied them (the brisket kebab was especially sad, it's the only one that doesn't come with rice as a side afaik) read more

Updating my review to add a few more items we tried: Hits: -Spicy Hummus (they were great about being proactive with the extra pita, much appreciated) -sweet potato latkes (delicious, perfect amount of crunch) -mushroom escargot (not AS great as the first time BUT still solid. Make sure you add some of the crunch to your hummus for a little texture punch!) Miss: -Big eye tuna (boy noted that the marinade seemed to have been just thrown on. I get it keeps the brightness of the fish, but we would have loved a little more flavor/long time marinating) read more

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This is the sister restaurant to Aba, has a very summer villa vibe. We had our business team meeting here and it was a great spot! Food was all delicious and service was great. It's more of a tapas style and between 4 people we had 3 appetizers, 4 entrees, 2 sides, and a dessert. They also have really delicious mocktails so you can still feel fancy at lunch. Everything about the food was delicious, hard to pick a favorite item. We tried two different types of the whipped feta, the spicy was my favorite, the sweet one was a unique twist and delicious. Original hummus is a classic and delicious. We tried the recommended honey cake and trust me you have room for it at the end of the meal. It was so decadent but not overly sweet. It was a great end to good food. read more

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This place is gorgeous! I highly recommend trying it out. The server was so kind and attentive. He checked up on us and recommended the corn hummus. The food was so good! The chicken wrap wrapped lacked flavor and needed more sauce to go with it. read more

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The vibes were here but food was slightly a miss for me. My husband and I came on a Friday evening at around 5:45p. We didn't have a reservation, but we walked in and got a table in about 20min. The space is gorgeous with plants and boho furniture everywhere. Service is fantastic as well. They brought us the wrong dish and corrected it immediately. For the food, I wasn't a big fan. I liked the whipped feta and the salmon kebobs. The lamb kabobs and salmon main dish was very dry. We also ordered the fried mushrooms which was okay in my opinion. Pita and pita crackers were always fantastic. read more

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We love Aba in SOCO. So when we heard a sister-restaurant would be opening, we knew we had to give it a try. The vibe of the restaurant is great. Feels similar (but lighter and brighter) than Aba. It was quite busy, with most tables being full. There's plenty of Domain parking garages nearby, or a valet spot right out front. But that street gets quite busy, and hard to circle around. The hostess and service were great. The food was fantastic! Faves of the night were the beet and horseradish dip (though I couldn't really taste any/much horseradish). The chicken kebab was just the same as Aba, and great. And the sweet potato latkes. Amazing. If I happen to be up at the domain and need a spot to eat, then would def try and get in here. But otherwise will stay close to home to Aba! read more

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I was expecting something stellar from the Aba group when they added this restaurant to the domain area. Since this place just opened, it is still finding its bearings, and a lot of the dishes we ordered were overseasoned or underwhelming. We came on a Monday evening to check this place out, and since I had made a reservation online, we were promptly seated. The interior and all the decorations are aesthetically beautiful; for that aspect of the restaurant, I'd give the designer 5 stars! It's definitely a place to get some good social media photos. The service was prompt, and she gave us good suggestions on what to order. My husband and I started out with the whipped feta spread, which might have been a mistake, as the dish tasted overly salty; the Kofta that came with it was superb. We also ordered the hamachi and avocado crudo; however, the server informed us that the kitchen was out of it, so we opted for the salmon crudo. When the salmon crudo came out we were both underwhelmed by the size as well as the flavors that the chef tried to mesh together. When you ate the Salmon crudo, none of the flavors enhanced the fish quite right, and they all seemed to mesh together. The following items that came out were the spicy brisket kebabs and the crispy mushrooms. The spicy brisket kebabs were meatballs with tzatziki and BBQ sauces, slaw, lettuce cups, and mint. The flavors were good; however, the kebabs were dry. The last thing to come out was the Crispy mushrooms, which were probably the best item we had. The ambiance is quite nice here, as for the food, I'd have to say I'd rather go out to Aba. It was a miss for me, but hopefully on my next visit, things will have improved food quality-wise by then. read more

Ema - Spicy Whipped Feta - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Let me tell you that the inside of this place is gorgeous. You need to make sure I get a table in the middle of the restaurant so you can see the status of it. They also have an outdoor area which is sweet. Definitely get a reservation or you will wait forever for a table. Luckily, I made one and we got to sit in an amazing area. Our waitress was so nice and you exactly what to recommend cause we told her we loved this restaurant to this place and she gave us a whole background story to how it came to be and what the names mean and that was just so cool to know. So we didn't know what to start with we did say how much we loved the hummus from ABBA so she said to try out this sweet corn wine that it was delicious and she was correct. It was so good. You can literally lick the plate. We then also got the mushroom escargot and it was so good. It literally was almost like actual escargot. We also tried the Hamachi and it was very fresh and not fishy which means they get a good source of it. Lastly, we shared the chicken bowl and let me tell you the rice with the pomegranate and it was so delicious. The chicken taste tasted so fresh. Overall, this restaurant is great. They also have a full bar so you can get whatever drink you want and they had a great wine selection. I tried a Greek wine rosé, which was so nice and light. I will definitely be coming back to try out more stuff. It is a beautiful restaurant whether you're going for a date night or lunch or just a girls day or night. read more

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Today I met a Yelp friend for lunch at Ema (pronounced E mah) at the Domain Northside. It was my first time visiting whereas my friend has been there three previous times. She met me with her cute little son, who looks like a Gerber baby. Fun facts...Ema means Mother in Hebrew and Abba means Father in Hebrew. Abba on S. Congress is Ema's brother restaurant. When you walk into Ema you are totally transported to a Zen haven - lots of greenery, straw chandeliers and soothing colors. There is a tree inside the restaurant, and you literally can dine under a tree...how cool is that? Also, there is indoor and outdoor seating, with open windows which allows a small breeze to flow through. Another area of Ema is currently under construction. It looks like a hut you might find at a resort. We ordered Sweet Corn Hummus (aleppo, chive, black lime), Brussel sprouts (crispy shallot, pumpkin seed, agrodolce) and Crispy Potatoes (mizithra, rosemary, scallion crema). All dishes are shareable with good size portions. While I liked all dishes, Brussel sprouts were hands down my favorite. The Brussel Sprouts were crispy, airy and flavorful. Important to note, Ema has a rewards program. Also, there is ample free garage parking as well as street parking. The menu is a little on the pricey side, but well worth the price. Calen, our server, was excellent. He spent time sharing his favorite menu items. He was also very attentive. Really enjoyed the meal and catching up with my friend... read more

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Wowww, food, ambience, vibes and service everything is awesome!! Went last week with friends and this week with hubby. First off, ambience, transforms to a different place, simple yet elegant, minimalist style yet so inviting. Service both the times was great, usually new restaurants, service will be hit or miss, but not this place, from people who checks you in to your host to the people who bring your food, every one are friendly, welcoming and helpful. Vibes are so positive. Foods is equally delicious, definitely try their spicy hummus, and you can't go wrong with do not disturb me, espresso martini and Don higo(cocktails). If I have to say one disappointing thing, that's pan seared branzino, dish was perfect, but it doesn't come with any side, that dint make sense to me, you pay $43 + tax + tips, but you have to order a side again. But overall this has been added to our regular places in domain. read more

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Ok So first things wait time. I have heard a few people mention how long and hard it is to get in. We have to remember they just opened about 2 weeks ago. So it's gonna be tough. Now is it worth that wait. I found the menu very well created. Plenty of options for everyone. Even the drink menu has Zero proof options. My group ordered just about all of the main specialty cocktails. All tasted amazing. For the food we ordered two spreads and some brussels sprouts Then we all ordered something different from the sandwich space. All of it was delicious. The one thing I will say as to why I'm not given 5 stars was price. I feel the price could be knocked down maybe 2 dollars on everything. Other than that it was definitely worth it. For the space it's very well curated and welcoming. The staff especially was very kind and welcoming. Although I wonder how that will last with it just opening I'm sure they have the employees stacked to give off good turn over times for orders. But if it stays as such I will be pressed to find anyone else that can offer the amazing service. We had Maya as our main server and she was absolutely fantastic. She gave great recommendations and was so attentive. I'll be going back for sure even with the prices just maybe not as often as I would like. read more

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Vibes? Miami in the middle of Austin. When the decor is this good, you'd think the food would be bad, but not here. Listen to the reviews and try the whipped feta and salmon kebabs -- you won't regret it. Pricy, but you pay for what you get. Lunch was easy to score without a res, but make sure to grab one for happy hour and dinner any day of the week. read more

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What impressed me the most about Ema is the ATMOSPHERICS! So, so beautiful. I think that was worth the visit alone! The spicy feta was fantastic. Great texture, perfect level of spice. Beautiful presentation. NO NOTES. The sweet potato latkes were good. I recommend for sweet potato lovers. I liked the Spicy Beef Kefta more than the Chicken Kefta, but neither blew my socks off. I think they both could have been more moist. read more

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Love Ema! Great addition to the Domain. The whipped feta alone is worth going for--so good, (super creamy with just the right amount of flavor), and the salad was crisp and refreshing without feeling basic. Everything felt fresh, clean, and really well done, and the vibe is cute without trying too hard. Perfect spot for a light dinner and drinks. read more

Ema - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Sarah the server is amazing! We tried the brisket sandwich, chicken kebab, Greek salad, & lamb hummus. You really can't wrong here. read more

Ema - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

Absolutely stunning! Ema (Hebrew for mom) just opened in the Domain and its a sister restaurant to Aba on South Congress, while I believe there is another Ema up in Chicago. I knew reservations were tough but on an incredible February Texas Saturday, we figured let's see if we can get on the list or sit at the bar. We were able to get a bar seat after a little while, and the inside and decor is just as beautiful as the photos! it reminds me of the Israeli spots in Miami like Abbale or Motek kinda fused with Nomade in Austin and I dunno, 1Hotel. Just welcoming and airy vibe. As for the food - went with pita & hummus, Kefta kebab, sweet potato latkes, and branzino. The food was all fantastic - the pita, while not quite Motek level def had a wow factor. Great to have some potato latkes in Austin too! The kefta wasnt that spicy and was an incredible dish. The branzino is probalby the one that I wouldn't order again, Although it tasted great, it was a small portion for over $40. So I'll probably just head to a Trulucks or Eddie V's or something for that. Anyway, I've been raving about it all weekend and will def return, bring Austin friends to and bring my family & friends when they visit. read more

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Exceptional food, amazing service, fabulous ambience !! Favorite plate was probably their house-made Stracciatella. Even though it was a little on the saltier side, the creaminess was DIVINE. And the tomatoes were soooo juicy and crispy - they just POPPED in your mouth. I mean, what's better a combo than those two together?! I wanted to order every single item on the menu; HOWEVER, I failed at that lol. I'll definitely be returning! Oh! I forgot to snap a pic of their whiskey - 100/10. And the fig at the end was quite literally the cherry on top *smirk* P.S. Frankie is an incredible waitress! She's knowledge of the menu and super friendly and her timing cues are great. read more

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This is one of the prettiest restaurants I've been to! The indoor and outdoor patio area are equally beautiful. We walked in on Wednesday and didn't need a reservation. The service was professional and she had great knowledge about the menu. The food came out so fast and most of it was delicious. I would definitely order the tuna and hummus again. The tuna was so refreshing and the hummus came with fresh toasted pita. The only item I would skip next time is the kefta kabob. It wasn't as flavorful as I expected. I would definitely come back and try more items including a dessert! read more

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Service was very good. Food is also good but some were on the salty side. This place lives up to the beauty standard that its big brother has (Aba in SoCo). Pretty packed on busy peak times so take that into consideration. read more

Located in The Domain, this is the counterpart restaurant to Aba. I felt this menu is more seafood-forward which I love! When you walk into the restaurant, you'll find that it is beautifully designed. From the inside to the outside it felt very warm and inviting. I was with a party of five and we didn't have to wait to sit down and order drinks: Do Not Disturb and Slow Cheetah. Then we went family-style and shared: Charred Eggplant, Big Eye Tuna, Ora King Salmon Crudo, Crispy Potatoes, Octopus Cappaccio, and Faroe Island Salmon. Finally, we finished with Honey Cake. My recommendation is to make reservations. read more

Ema - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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OVERVIEW: Location is prime, and if you'd ever visited the previous restaurant, you can appreciate what they did with the space! It may be very beige and neutral but it's very coastal and summer-y vibes with fresh greenery throughout. Reservations are ideal since they're still new, so the waitlist can get packed fast. Service was relaxed and everything we tried was flavorful and solid. I enjoyed the visit and would be willing to come back! QUICK FACTS: - Parking? Yes, located in the Domain so plenty of garage parking. Blue garage is closest. - Reservations? Yes, via OpenTable. Highly recommend to avoid a wait. - Happy hour? No, not yet. I know their other locations have it but as of 3/13/26 there isn't one here. FOOD RATINGS: - Sweet corn hummus (3/5): Solid hummus all around but nothing to write home about. A bit pricy considering what it is, but it's made well. The pita is delicious (and served with all the dips/hummus)! - Charred eggplant dip (4/5): Pretty great dip. The smokiness is nice and flavor isn't overwhelming. The mint garnish feels out of place, but I guess it's there for color. - Hamachi and charred avocado (4/5): Loved all the flavors in this! Lychee, coconut, charred avocado. Pretty great crudo. - Mushroom "escargot" (5/5): Popular because who doesn't love garlic-y, buttery mushrooms with breadcrumb? Would definitely reorder. - Spicy brisket kefta (4/5): Disappointed it's only 1 kebab, but it was good nonetheless. Tender meatballs. The tzatziki was thick. The slaw was great - salty and fresh and nice with the meatball. Would be nice if it came with rice. - Sticky date cake (3/5): Like a warm sticky cake. Not bad, not something memorable. As expected. read more

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We went at lunchtime & 3rd day opening. Raul is the GM & Mattie was our server. My date got the kebabs & chicken, Caesar wrap with fries. Customer service is phenomenal above average. We sat inside because it was 60° that day and the heater is outside. We're not working in the patio. They have Renovato the exterior patio and it's more functional now. The interior is beautiful. It is one story so it's kind of cramped inside. They do have a full bar. I read it that way basically because my food was cold the sandwich the fries everything was cold. However, my dates food came out were good so probably they waited to have his cooked to serve mine. Raul came to our table and comped our tab because of my food. He apologized and he appreciate the feedback as they are fairly new. I wouldn't give up on this place. It is Mediterranean food. No gyro sandwiches. I would give it a chance.! read more

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Finally made it to Ema. Yum yum and more yum! Went for lunch and can't wait to go back for dinner. They have wonderful shareable plates. They could easily be split between 3-4 people. My friend is a vegetarian so I let her choose our plates. The Greek salad....delish, the green beans, delish, the whipped feta - holy moly! I added a side of grilled chicken to my salad. It was juicy. The restaurant itself is sexy and the outdoor patio is wonderful! It's the best spot in the Domain. We sat at the bar outside and Andrew took great care of us: P.S. this is Aba's sister restaurant...which is just as good but on Congress. read more

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Loved our first time at Ema. We sat on the patio with our adult children and two grandchildren, and it was perfect. Our server, Dan, was amazing. All of the wait staff were attentive and friendly. We shared the eggplant spread and whipped feta spread. We also shared the California chopped salad, chicken kebabs, green falafel, and sweet potato latkes. They also got a chicken Shawarma bowl. Our water glasses were kept full and it was a perfect lunch. read more

Ema - Eggplant spread - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I was really excited to try this place since I like Aba, and having something similar in the Domain sounded great. The ambiance is very good--lively and great for a night out. Service was also solid. Definitely make a reservation, as it gets busy. Coming to the food, it was a bit of a mixed experience, especially for vegetarians. The hummus with fresh pita bread was really good, but the Brussels sprouts salad was a miss. The falafel felt overcooked, and the grilled cauliflower was just okay. Portion sizes also felt a bit small for the price. On the non-veg side, the salmon was good. Overall, great vibe and service, but the vegetarian options and portion sizes didn't quite meet expectations. read more

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Both my parnter and I are are not fans of Aba so we were reluctant to come to Ema as it is the sister restaruant. We came here for a birthday lunch, despite out better judgement, and I am so HAPPY that we did! We ended up having a wonderful time! We ordered a few items including the corn hummus, beet horseradsih spread, the crudo, mushroom escargot, and blistered green beans. While this might not seem like enough food, it was plenty. My personal favorites were green beans and dips (hummus & spread) but the pita was also a star! While I enjoyed the mushroom escargot, it was slightly off putting as a vegetarian (but that is a personal dislike). We also tried a few of their drinks which were very refreshing. There were a few negatives that we experienced but I am willing to give them a pass as they opened very recently. Some of these negatives include: - While we had a reservation, it still took us about 30m to be seated on a Wednesday at noon! - We were told that the order would be spread out into courses but everything arrived at once. Our server was really apologetic about this and offered to send some stuff back but it just didn't make senese. - They were out of a few things that we tried to order Overall, much better experience than Ema read more

Given that this is by the same genius minds of Aba, I had to try it. The decor is insanely cute and makes you think you're in Greece but in the middle of the domain. I had my little one, and they happily stored my stroller away while we dined. They have both a high chair and a booster, which as a mom of a little one, I truly appreciate. We tried the following: Raw octopus: I would have liked this to be a little more tangy but overall it was great. California chopped: This was very fresh and zesty. White cheddar labneh: The combination of crunch, sweet, and tangy is a chef's kiss. Short rib Mushroom "escargot": I'm obsessed with this dish. I love escargot but never thought I would love the mushroom version as much. Melon & avocado salad: I was expecting the presentation of this to be a little nicer and the flavors but it was okay. Faroe Island Salmon: Loved this main dish but without the zhoug on the side it would be a very typical grilled salmon dish with basmati rice. So I wouldn't get this next time. Slow-braised short rib - this was flavorful but I'm not a short rib girl so I didn't care for it. Service was great and I do love that they have a QR code on the tables where you can pay the bill and split it as well. Makes it so easy. Will for sure go back and try other menu items & brunch on the weekend. read more

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YES Finally we have "Aba" up north! I'm a huge fan of their sister restaurant, but I hate that you have to go all the way to SoCo and fight for parking to eat there. Ema is probably not as well known because it was relatively easy to get a reservation, but I know Aba is notoriously booked even years after their initial opening. Our server described Ema as the "less-meat forward" version of Aba, and I'd say that's true. The menu is pretty similar, and if you've been to Aba, you'll even recognize a lot of the same dishes. I will say that's true out of the 6-7 plates that we got, I really was not a fan of two of them. DO NOT get the chicken Caesar wrap. It's quite possibly the worst chicken Caesar salad wrap I've ever had, and it looks so tiny for almost $23 with tax. There's hardly any flavor or sauce, and it's so small that the wrap folds over itself three times. I also do not recommend the falafel. It was really dry and hard to chew. However, Ema does have all of my favorites from Aba, and you can't go wrong with their (pretty much unlimited) pita bread and dips. The vibe and ambience are top notch, and our server was excellent. I'd say to be careful about what mains you get, but other that, it was a great experience and I will certainly be back again! read more

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