Hestia was an exceptional experience overall! I can't think of a time we felt more special or cared for. The team went above and beyond to ensure we had an unforgettable experience. We opted for the tasting menu and enjoyed some 14-15 innovative courses. The standouts were the beets (of all things!) and the halibut. The only dish I didn't enjoy (at all) was the Wagyu strip. I may have had a bad piece but I couldn't chew it and had to discard it out of my mouth. The rest of the overall experience was so good they don't lose a star for that. Seriously amazing staff. They all took incredible care of us for our special evening. We haven't stopped talking about it. P.S. it was dark so my pics aren't great. Please like this review and pics if you find them helpful. read more

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Hestia is a solid option for a special celebration. Service is 1000/10, they really know how to make you feel welcome and in a celebration mood. My fiancé and I were celebrating our anniversary, and this restaurant definitely has the upscale and cozy vibes we enjoy. We ordered the tasting menu and loved that the whole restaurant has a fire element to everything in their dishes. I will say there some hits and misses in the set menu - overall everything was a bit too salty. The scallop is one of their signature dishes and it is delicious with the wagyu fat, but just a tad too salty. The steak we had was on the tough side, and for dinner of this price I think we expected a nicer cut. I think my favorite course was the bread - the texture was perfect and paired nicely with the butter and mesquite jelly. Service really is outstanding, but I did have to knock a star off for the quality - the food didn't seem to match the price we are paying, but still a memorable experience and lovely ambiance for a nice dinner. read more

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Unfortunately, the Michelin star expectations were not met at Hestia. Firstly, service was fine, but seating at the bar (where we had our reservation) was far from the rest of the restaurant and felt a bit removed. We decided to split the Beef Tongue "Bite", Crudo, and Halibut. Each dish (as I have seen many others say here) is remarkably small. I am usually one who prefers smaller sizes so I can try more things, but these were so small that if sharing with one other person there is barely enough to truly get a sense of the dish. We were disappointed by both the Crudo and Halibut. The sauce for the Crudo was very mild and there was not much flavor. The Halibut was a bit overcooked and the sauce seemed to be quite heavy on the butter. We finished with the Sourdough Ice Cream topped with tomato jam. This was the most interesting item we had, but the salt flavor was quite overpowering. Overall, the size and quality of the dishes just did not meet the high hopes we had. read more

Was very much looking forward to this meal, I do have an issue with how the restaurant is setup. If you decide to dine at the bar you are completly cut off from the rest of the restaurant and the amazing vibe of the open fire kitchen.. it's almost like you're in the kids table. As far as the food I started with the chicken mouse bite which was not impressive at all, the scallop was nice but nothing to write home about BUT the halibut I have to say was Devine. The service was good (other than one of the bartenders coughing and spitting in the corner of the bar while I was trying to enjoy my $200 meal. I'm not sure I would go back but again the halibut was the only reason I'm giving this place a 4 instead of 3. read more

While I have always known that Austin has amazing restaurants, the recent 7, 1 Star Michelin restaurant designations are prima facie evidence that this is in fact the case. My plan was to tick them off one by one...three down, four to go. A good friend and I decided to try Hestia, one of the recent Michelin awarded restaurants. As I approached Hestia, I could smell the aromatic lure of the wood burning oven. Firewood lined the entry way in way you would envision in a log cabin. I arrived early and was asked to wait at the bar. A bar tender asked multiple times had I checked in with the host. Yes, was the answer the first time and continued to be yes! I had to ask for a bar menu. However, my order was not immediately taken. Low key irritated...it took about 15 minutes before he came to take my drink order. Only one martini was on the menu. I asked for a pear or chocolate martini, and he said he did not have the ingredients for either one. He proposed several martini offerings - melon, banana, cherry, and apricot. I chose cherry and it was tart. This was not a stellar start to this Michelin experience for us! My friend and I ordered the same cocktail after trying sauvignaun blanc at our table...lightning speed, which was refreshing. We were told that most of their white wines were a bit tart to balance out their food items. I ordered Smoked Crab Tart (Snack) and the much talked about Halibut (Entrée). My friend ordered the Salmon tart (Snack) and the pork chops (Entrée). We split the cavier cornbread (Small Plate). We envisioned a true tart for our snack; however, it was the size of a large thimble to be eaten in one bite. Both were delicious yet extremely small. The Cavier Cornbread was delicious with fresh corn that was crispy and moist simultaneously. It is important to note this was on the small plates menu with emphasis on small. The halibut was superior in texture and taste, one of the best halibut I have ever eaten. My friend was pleased with her pork chops. Rudy, our waiter warned that pork chop was a little on the fatty side. Agree with his assessment. Then the desserts...One dessert was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The sourdough ice cream is like nothing I ever had before. Rudy asked me to dip my spoon into the center. OMG! It had so many textures and flavors almost indescribable...super unique!!! Loved it!!! Hestia validates your parking for 2.5 hours in the garage next door via QR code. On Sunday, the garage parking gate went up when I drove in and automatically went up when I drove out even though I spent more than 2.5 hours in the restaurant. I have been to several Michelin restaurant in France and Italy including a few Austin Michelin restaurants like Olamaie, Barley Swine and Interstellar BBQ. Hestia was my least favorite of my Michelin restaurants to date. Most of the dishes did not meet my expectations related to the price and associated portion. Many Michelin restaurants serve palate cleansers in between courses or provide bonus items. Hestia did not. Also, we were incredibly surprised that the manager of the restaurant did not stop by to ask about our dining experience. read more

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Overall I had a good experience at Hestia. I've been prior trying a la carte items this was my first time trying the tasting menu. I will say the service is absolutely excellent here at Hestia. So many people checking on you and making sure your experience is great. For parking you can park in the third and shoal garage and as long as you there for less than 2 and a half hours they will give you a discount code to remove the charge. I was told they validated, but I was over the time limit because the tasting menu is at a minimum of 2 and a half hours. I wouldn't say I was wow'ed by the food but solid dishes. My favorites were the halibut in a butter caviar sauce, the wagyu with a grape sauce and mole, the blue corn tostada, the beef tongue. These dishes were all so balanced. They complemented the palate well. They give the essence of what Hesita was doing around the open flame concept. My least favorites were the scallops, the chicken hearts/chicken liver mouse, the cucumber. The scallop was cooked beautifully and I love scallops. However it came with, the equivalent of a shot, beef tallow liquid that overwhelmed the scallop and was so salty. I love a chicken liver mousse but I wish it came out with the bread course. Personally for me the apple wasn't a strong vessel. Also I'm all game for organ meats but having two in one dish was quite overwhelmingly metallic (because of the iron) as much flavor put in. The cucumber was an alternative because I wasn't able to eat the cold smoked salmon because of an ingredient. The cucumber was fine but I didn't think that was a strong alternative to cold smoked salmon. However I really appreciated Hestia takes dietary restrictions to heart and are so accommodating. read more

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Working hard for that Michelin star status, Hestia was creative and curious! Gorgeous location and 5 star staff. From the hostess, to table staff, nothing was forgotten or left behind. The wood burning ovens add a new level of heat to every dish! We tried the chef's tasting menu which didn't disappoint. The pictures speak for themselves with each item a culinary work of art. read more

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Incredible food, as you would expect from a Michelin rated restaurant. Drink menu was extensive and tasty as well. Definitely a place to bring a date. Make sure you get reservations in advance! read more

Experienced Hestia's 6 course tasting menu on January 12 during their Jan 9-22 pop-up collaboration at The Pershing. Started with welcome drinks and bites in the courtyard by the fire (pictured). Then a few separate parties were transitioned to the dining room for a communal dining experience. This was a fun concept and created a memorable experience. Course 1: Bread & spreads paired with caviar, mussel escabeche, smoked halibut dip, and crème fraîche. Nice spread of flavors but nothing that particularly stood out to me. Course 2: Smoked Quail Skewer paired with umeboshi, sausage, and pickles This was good but also nothing phenomenal. Course 3: Scallop plated with beef tallow, apple, kosho, and mushroom gelée (pictured) A staple dish on Hestia's menu and for good reason. The creativity and combination of flavors in this dish is truly enjoyable. I recommend trying this dish if you haven't been to Hestia or have been but haven't tried it before. Course 4: Whole fried fish served with lettuce, rice, and an array of dips including chili crisp and thai basil The flavor of the fish stood out to me in a good way. The dips paired with this dish were also delicious and a unique combination of flavors. Course 5: Texas wagyu and oxtail served with confit sunchokes and grilled broccolini The Wagyu was tough to cut with a steak knife which tells me it wasn't cooked well. Medium rare/rare on the inside and rather tough on the outside. The oxtail was delicious, though diners seemed to have difficulty getting a decent portion of meat off the bone. A favorite part of this course was the combination of the rendered fat from the oxtail and the scrumptious, savory confit sunchokes. Course 6: Mesquite cake, marshmallow, koji chocolate crémeux (pictured) As I've tasted the scallop dish before, this dessert dish takes the place of my favorite dish for this tasting menu. Well balanced, great texture and consistency, and very yummy over all. This was great. My rating is also due to the service and execution. I would not perceive this Hestia dining experience as in line with a Michelin rating. The pace was too quick. Course 3 was presented as I was still enjoying Course 2 which caused a backlog for me going into Course 4 as well. Additionally, personal tableware was cleared and reset for the first time before entering the 5th course. This perhaps would be okay with a different menu set but due to the various dips/spreads presented in the first few courses, a fresh plate would have been preferred as new courses were presented. Have dined at Hestia on 3 previous occasions. It has a relaxed dimly lit ambiance with a kitchen that opens to the dining area. Service is good and the servers are knowledgeable about the dishes. That said, on 2-3 separate dining experiences a drink order was forgotten or significantly delayed. Overall, the dishes are thoughtfully prepared, creative, and enjoyable but not often do they provoke a strong sensation of enjoyment. I'm always on the hunt for my next euphoric bite. @bellatastes :IG read more

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Amazing evening at Hestia with my best friend. They validate parking for 2 hours in their parking garage, and it was the perfect amount of time. We made a reservation a few weeks in advance and it only offered the patio as a seating option, but when we got there we were seated inside. Fine by me! When we sat down, we saw they were doing $30 martini carts and I had to partake. I learned the difference between shaken and stirred, as well as the ingredients in a Vesper: gin AND vodka. Service was great and attentive. My friend and I ordered 2 smoked crab tarts, the scallops and the pan de cristal, the halibut, and then the buñuelo for dessert. We are from the east coast, so some seafood in TX can be ... not our favorite, but Hestia absolutely blew us away. It's hard to choose a favorite. The scallops were massive and cut into 3 bites, they tasted so buttery and had that element of mushroom gelatin which was exciting. The crab tarts are a no brainer at only $8 a pop. The halibut was so tender and meaty, didn't taste fishy at all. The bread was perfect, nice crust and so fluffy inside. Nothing was ordinary here. The dessert was so unique I don't even know how to describe it. You just gotta try for yourself! Pricy but well worth it. read more

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I was able to get a last minute reservation here on a Sunday night and was very excited to try this new Michelin star restaurant in Austin! Right after walking in, I was very impressed with the ambiance of the entire place. The location is so good in downtown Austin and the interior of the restaurant really showcases a downtown view with the floor to ceiling windows. There is also a completely open view to the kitchen and fire stoves, which gives a really cozy vibe. The service was top notch during the entire dinner. And the food was very yummy as well! I thought the bread that was included for the pan de cristal was exceptional. The portions were smaller than I was used to for Texas restaurants but it was to be expected for fine dining. Overall, I'm glad I tried this restaurant! read more

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I was pretty excited about getting a table at one of Austin's first Michelin star restaurants, but I was a little disappointed. The service was absolutely fantastic! The food was just ok. Ambiance is very Austin in the most positive way possible: upscale decor with laid back vibe. To be fair, while we tried a bunch of food, we didn't try it all so you might have a better experience. We started with the squash bite and it was inventive but not impressive flavor. The bread was maybe oversold by the server. The apple butter was the only reason I kept eating it. The potatoes were the best dish we had. The halibut was prepared gluten-friendly, which was a nice option but not good flavors. The pork chop had potential because the flavors hit the mark, but it was rare in the middle. Maybe that's cool for some, but that's not how I feel safe eating pork. The drinks were fantastic and we wished we had time to try their dessert. We are torn on if we will give it another chance, but I'm hoping you try it out and have a better experience. I'm rooting for these Austin Michelin stars! read more

The food was tasty but insanely overpriced. Nice service but just the level you expect. It was super dark and insanely loud in there.

The best thing about Hestia is their service. We had the prix fix and ordered the Wagyu tartare a la carte. The tartar was excellent - extremely tender, and had a smokiness that was very pleasant. However, the rest of the courses only went downhill from there. For starters, the ten courses had very little variety in terms of flavoring. Every dish was just salty and sour doused over different ingredients. They do grill some of the items but it was hard to tell because the food was just so overwhelmingly heavy that you can't really taste anything else. As for the steak, I was semi surprised at how tough it was. Even if Texas Wagyu isn't as tender as Japanese Wagyu, I didn't really expect a steak that tough. Overall, I thought the food was well below average, and don't think it really deserved the Michelin star. read more

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Amazing food, great ambience. Their specialty is this fire oven smokiness that pervades all the food.

Omg! This place is well deserving of 2/3 Michelin stars! Amazing food!!! Desserts are the star though :) We did the chefs tasting menu and it was out of this world. The wine list is pretty amazing and they have two Soms to help you select a good pairing. My favorite, apart from the desserts, were the oyster and wagyu tartar. Great service! 5 Casual, sophisticated ambience- moody almost. Highly recommend one of the best tasting menus ever! read more

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Their leather coasters are incredibly stupid. They stick to your glass and pour water on you if you don't notice. If you do notice you have to peel it off the glass. Great tasting menu though! I wasn't thrilled by the two raw dishes (oyster and Wagyu tartare) at the beginning since I'm not a big fan of raw food but it got a lot better from there. The scallop, halibut, and steak were standouts. Even the veggie dishes were tasty. It's well worth a visit. Service was good, but there was too long between some courses. We found it too loud, but I guess that's what restaurants go for these days. It wasn't as loud as Uchi. Bathroom hallway was too dark, it was hard to see the occupied thing on the doors without going up to each one. Great location, it's a nice place to eat and walk around after or vice versa. read more

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Hands down the best restaurant in Austin! Went for anniversary dinner and the staff signed a card and gave us complimentary glasses of champagne. Favorite item on the menu - SCALLOPS. We skipped dessert for another round of scallops. read more

What a wonderful meal! We were immediately greeted by a server and warmly welcomed. Drinks and first bites arrived soon but not so soon that we felt rushed. One thing that I really appreciated was the short but informative explanation of how each dish was cooked, sometimes with a story behind it. I felt like the servers were friends by the end of the meal. This is one I will remember! read more

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Snagged a prime Friday night reservation for a special occasion. Romantic, intimate setting. Tasteful decor. Moderate noise level. Service is spot-on! Massive wine list. Great cocktails. Order one of everything from the app menu to share, then decide on your entree. Definitely try the crab tarts, oysters (fabulous!) and the scallops (A-mazing!). The crudo was fresh but the citrusy sauce overpowers the delicate fish. Halibut was top notch! Perfectly cooked and that brown butter sauce is amazing! Sirloin was cooked perfectly, but in retrospect, it was just a steak. I should've tried something more adventurous from the menu. Desert was whimsical and delish! Hestia doesn't disappoint but its not mind blowing. We'll definitely come back and try some more items off the app menu. read more

Hestia was a very unique experience. I went for a very special occasion and had their tasting menu. I am a true lover of food so I was very excited to experience Hestia and their unique take on fire based cooking. The tasting menu is an expensive experience, but is very filling in quantity. In full honesty, a lot of the tasting menu was not good. The amount of food cooked with grease was a turn off. They poured fat/grease onto a lot of our food which I understand is an ode to Texas, but it is not appetizing or appealing - honestly made me sick. Outside of the high quantity of greasy dishes, there were some that absolutely shined. The daikon dish with fermented carrot was truly mindblowing. I wanted to have 4 more of these. The texture was perfection, the textures that were layered was genius. Truly impressive. The next was the dry age Texas waygu with the potato foam. This was the most fun and unique way to innovate a traditional dish. This was so fun, so flavorful and really displayed the fire techniques of the kitchen. This dish was a MUST - honestly one of the best steak dishes I have had in ATX. I truly loved these two dishes but most everything else was too greasy to enjoy. I do want to come back in the future with a larger group and do dishes to share outside of a tasting menu. Cheers! read more

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Dining at Hestia is an experience that goes beyond the plate--it's a tribute to primal cooking elevated to fine dining. The concept of preparing every dish solely over a wood fire (with no electricity or gas) is bold and beautifully executed. You can taste the intentionality behind each bite. The tasting menu is well-curated, offering a diverse range of flavors that are deep, smoky, and satisfying without ever feeling overwhelming. It strikes that rare balance between creativity and comfort. Service is excellent--attentive, knowledgeable, and warmly professional. The staff enhances the overall experience, making the evening flow seamlessly. That said, one fair warning: you will leave smelling like you spent time near a campfire. It's part of the charm, but maybe don't wear your favorite dry-clean-only outfit. read more

My husband and I went here to celebrate our anniversary. We had forgotten to make reservations anywhere, and much to my surprise, when I checked on Thursday there were reservations available for that Saturday. We were greeted by a happy anniversary card signed by all the staff which was a nice homey touch (kind of felt like going to a friend's house). They also brought us glasses of champagne to celebrate so we felt very welcomed. Hestia had been on our list for a while, so I came with a long list of recommendations given to me by friends who went here. Y'all have to try the scallops and the halibut. They might change your life. The other courses were delicious too, but not on the same tier as those two. Everything on the food menu was well balanced and the portions are good for ordering 4-6 courses between two people. If you order the Berkshire pork chop, plan to order less of everything else because it's a huge portion. Cocktails were good too but a little more ordinary than the food menu. read more

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HESTIA is REALLY HARD to get into, even as a local in Austin. I finally broke through with some friends, and here's what I recommend if it's your one and only visit: Crab-bread-scallop-halibut-chicken-bavette-oysters (even if they are from Arkansas). Proteins, that is. Bread isn't complimentary but it's the most artful shit you didn't know you needed (unless you're Pastafarian like me, then it's on the TABLE) - GET MORE. The butter is magical. I think I ate vegetables. The wine list is excellent. Shaved ice is showy, but the chocolate dessert is UP there. They do an exceptional job with events, paying particular attention to details. Service was interesting. Paige was brilliant, and introduced herself as our caretaker, then disappeared for most of our 3H dining experience. Becky was lovely, always anticipating, never contrived, but still casual. Where did Paige go? Overall, I expected a lot more from the food & service, especially given their reputation. read more

Hestia - Sea_faring_scallops - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Exceptional experience here. Tasting menus are not always consistent all the way through but Hestia delivers in both food and service. And Rod Stewart was at the next table, do you know you're in the right place! read more

Amazing food. Fantastic service. Immaculate vibes. What else can a girl ask for? My husband dined at Hestia once before for a work event and absolutely loved it so, while we were in Austin together, he made a reservation for us to have dinner there too. We ordered a bunch of different things to share so we could try a bit of everything. One of my favorite dishes was the scallop. It was beautifully cooked and so succulent that I wanted to eat three or four more. The food presentation across the board was stunning and our waiter explained each dish to us after it was served too. Great experience overall and I'd totally come back again! read more

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This is one of hubby's and mines top restaurants..we went on a week night and decided to do the tasting menu and man it did not disappoint. Service was fantastic, loved the open kitchen and laid back vide...Food was 10/10. We cannot wait to go back and try even more! read more

Really expensive really salty great cocktails fabulous service. Vibes were very elevated with amazing service. The best thing we ate was the scallops. The halibut was too salty the mushroom dish was salty, rubbery, and cold (but they took it off the bill bc I asked about the temp). My partner has never left any dessert uneaten but the sourdough ice cream was so salty he took 3 bites and gave up. Started off strong w the table side martini and scallops and kinda went downhill from there. Huge disappointment considering the Michelin star and it wasn't a cheap meal. The last 3 dishes also came out way too spaced out, we waited almost 20 minutes between a course. Not good esp bc drinks were slow to come out too, so we sat there w an empty table waiting. Would like to think it was a fluke but 3 other groups that went recently said the food was too salty as well. Thought Michelin was based on consistency... read more

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Hestia's aesthetic is modern with a touch of dark Scandinavian minimalism. We arrived about 15 minutes early for our 8:45 PM reservation and were offered to be seated at the bar while we wait, an offer we were happy to take. We ordered the following drinks at the bar: * Akashi ume whiskey - Delicious, crisp and reminded us of the numerous plum wines we've had in Japan * The offering cocktail - sinfully decadent & sweet At exactly 8:45 PM, we were escorted to our seats. We ordered the following: * Crème brûlée - The cheese was incredibly smooth and velvety & the ikura was a nice contrast to the richness of the cheese. Personally, I thought it tasted too much like elevated mashed potatoes while my husband loved it. We likely won't order it again because we try to order dishes we both love. * Tuna belly tostada - Incredible layers of flavor in one bite. * Scallops - I would die for these scallops. The sauce complemented the perfectly cooked scallops without overwhelming the latter. * Halibut - The texture on this halibut was absolute insanity. This might be the best cooked halibut we've ever tasted. It was juicy, delectable & tender when we've long expected halibut to have a more flaky texture. The waiter described the cooking method for this halibut and I would happily pay for this entree over and over again. * Smoked mushroom - We thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic take on mushrooms. Completely nuanced flavors that change in every bite, and I loved the variety of textures that added to the complexity of this dish * Kakigori - I'm personally more of a bingsu fan in terms of shaved ice desserts but this was alright if not a bit bland for my taste. The ice was finely milled. I wish they went all in on the flavor as it was bland and didn't really have a lot of toppings that would have made this a bit more exciting. * Mesquite cake - Absolutely delicious. Gooey, chocolatey and well-balanced bittersweetness. Not particularly noteworthy but I have no criticisms for it. * Bunuelo - Ah, my favorite dessert. It reminded me of a treat from my childhood. You know that scene in Ratatouille where the food critic eats the dish and he is brought back to when he was a child? I had that moment with these bunuelos. Incredible treat. We also ordered more drinks once we were seated: * Paranubes rum - My husband specifically requested for a particularly rum & he was quite happy with this pick! * hestia no.5 - This cocktail was Hestia's take on an old-fashioned and it was delicious! Would definitely order this again! Overall, the immaculate service, the food and the drinks make Hestia an excellent dining experience, and we are definitely going back! read more

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The food was great, especially the steak, the mushrooms and the chocolate mousse. However, the music was mainstream and too loud read more

Hestia - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

I used to be a huge Hestia fan. I would recommend this place to everyone! At some point recently (1.5 years ago) the head chef left and this place went downhill FAST. We use to love everything on the menu and were blown away by the creativeness and unique dishes. This places feels like someone's nephew trying to run their uncles carnival without the instructions. The staff was rude when we pointed out our uncooked dishes, their service went down and the over all food quality is terrible. Stay away! Hopefully they fix the issues!! read more

It's not every day I get the chance to dine at a Michelin Star restaurant. Hestia easily delivers the goods to meet the high expectations that come with the coveted rating. The restaurant is quite beautiful though I ended up seated at the bar which was also quite nice. The bartender that served me was friendly and clearly professional. I was in between two choices and she helped me land on the Halibut. Every bite was exceptional! The textures, appearance, and flavor were quite unique in the best possible way. The roe added so much. The fish was perfectly prepared and pure joy in each bite. If I make it back I'll add the caviar next time. read more

Hestia - Halibut - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Hestia is an outstanding restaurant with excellent service. They highlight the role of fire in food, which is absolutely delicious Make sure you make reservations well in advance. We were greeted and brought to our seats. As other reviews noted, it is a classy atmosphere with attentive service. They have a good (but expensive) wine list. We got a nice red from Washington. You have a choice of a thirteen course tasting menu or ordering ala carte. If you get tasting menu, everyone at table must get it. We had just arrived in Austin and a couple were not sure about long meal, so we ordered ala carte (although we saw the tasting menu and it looked great). We started with the pan de cristal--which was a fancy name for bread. It was really good, but the star was the butter. It had kind of a caramel layer and top and might have been the best butter I have ever had. For the main course, I had the Wagyu bavettes. They were served with carrots (which were great, but they could have had a few more). The steak was beyond wonderful. The sear and seasoning were sheer perfection and it was cooked the perfect medium rare. I also tasted the halibut that was also very good. For dessert, I had the buñuelo. I cannot describe it, but it was very tasty with a mix of flavors and textures. We were very happy with our meals and I highly recommend Hestia. read more

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Truly outstanding. Worth every dollar. Our party of 4 tried virtually everything on the menu (which is short and focused) and each dish (starters, sides, mains, and desserts) was outstanding. Add to that very friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable waitstaff and a great sommelier and it's a winner. Our evening started off with a very unknowledgeable and unresponsive bartender as we waited for our table (so much so that we remarked to the waitress after we were seated that we still hadn't received our drink order at the bar and she could just cancel that). The waitress instead got us the drinks, comped them, and more than made up for the poor service we'd had at the bar. This is destination-worthy dining. read more

We were celebrating a special occasion. Unfortunately we were seated at an area that was very loud where we could not hear each other talk. The noise was mainly coming from the other customers seated right next to us. I would have preferred a quieter area, even outside. The service was great. Food was decent compare to what we had before (we've been there 4 times prior), the halibut dish this time was too salty, not sure if it was the sauce or vegetables. The halibut itself was great. We've had the chef's tasting before but prefer a la carte, which unfortunately hasn't evolved, though I do miss the lions mane main dish. This is our fifth time dining at Hestia and probably our last sadly. read more

To celebrate my husbands birthday and our 1 year wedding anniversary we decided to do the tasting menu and 1 wine pairing. We were VERY impressed by the overall service, presentation and food. The pacing was great and lasted about 2.5 hours. I was very stuffed at the end, while my husband devoured the steak. My favorites were the shrimp head, steak, and mesquite bread dish. We sat by the windows and loved watching the sunset by our meal. They treated us like kings and queens! Thanks Hestia for the memories! read more

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Took myself out on a date here & it was a lovely experience! The restaurant has this smoky smell as soon as you enter & it's not overwhelming at all, I loved the open grill concept. I started off with the bad rabbit cocktail, had the buckwheat cookie, scallop & ended with the mushroom entree. All 3 dishes tasted great, I also appreciated that they were able to serve a single scallop for one person (usually the dish has 2). I concluded with the buenello dessert & a glass of Nebbiolo. The service was also top notch, my servers were super friendly & gave great recommendations. This is perfect for a girls night out or date! read more

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This is a unique restaurant that was an awesome Find in Austin. All the food is cooked over a wood fire in an open hearth that gives a wonderful feel to the restaurant and a comforting smoky smell. The food here is exceptional. Every ingredient in the meal is well thought out, the favors are balanced, and just a pleasure to eat the food. I highly recommend the scallops which are a burst of flavor in the mouth; the halibut was also excellent as were the side dishes of mushrooms and carrots. Attention to flavor profiles is really well thought out here. Our server was knowledgeable of the menu and made some great suggestions. read more

Hestia - Kitchen - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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New year means getting a "taste" for what's to come and one of the best places to do that is the ultra chic, yet very approachable Hestia in DT ATX. With the Goddess of the Hearth at the center of the space and their menu, doing the $195pp full 13-course chef's tasting w/wine pairing is a no-brainer!  I loved the pacing, progression, and innovative fusion of the courses. The staff did an impeccable job of keeping the meal flowing naturally, w/o making it feel rushed or with large wait times in between courses. I also really enjoyed how each course's ingredients and suggested consumption methodologies were explained. I have to say, my fav course was the quail skewers for its air of mystery at presentation and then the fun interactive feature of the timer and mini-grill. The wine-pairing (for an additional cost of $150pp) was an evocative and exquisite experience in and of itself! Each wine was presented with explanation. The pairings were perfection and a varietal viticultural journey; they did not skimp on the wines themselves either as they did a stunning 2001 Merlot library release (if you're a wine nerd, you will understand why this is special) w/the TX waygu course! Definitely an occasion that exceeded all expectations! read more

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I really did not mind the high price tag of each dish because I thought they were all very innovative, most dishes I'd never had anything like that. If you are into a very special dinner experience, I would highly recommend Hestia. It's located right downtown and right when you walk in, the room is filled with a smokiness you'll honestly leave with it on your clothes too. It's a very luxurious mature restaurant, with large floor to ceiling curtains, various rooms for intimate dining, moody and dark decor. We ordered ala carte and picked dishes we were interested in. The service was very nice and attentive. Onto the food, I most recommend the bread and halibut. Pan de cristal ($18) - really enjoyed the fresh sourdough with a whipped butter like dip with mushrooms that I could just eat straight up. I loved the orange pate spread as well. Great balance of salty and sweet. Broccolini ($15) - all the flavors blended so well together, the broccolini was perfect in texture. I enjoyed the crispy bits along with the thin skin-like toppings (really not sure what they were but loved them). Scallop ($28) - it's really quite expensive, I'm not sure it's worth it as you only get a couple bits, but I did enjoy the texture of the scallop a lot. The mushroom gelee it was in was a little pickley so could be personal preference. Halibut ($46) - the halibut was a fantastic texture of super tender, juicy, but not chewy. It truly melts in your mouth. The buttery cheesy sauce it was in was amazing, yet it stayed super fresh with the fish and the bok choy and fresh greens. Really unique flavor and made me want to try everything on the menu because I was so impressed by the complexity of the tastes. My main critiques of this dinner is I was particularly disappointed in the presentation of the desserts. Peanut butter & jelly dessert - this looked kind of small and dinky on the plate. It just didn't feel as elevated and thoughtful as the other dishes. I did like the flavor and the crunchiness, although a lot of it got stuck in my teeth. Sourdough Ice cream - again with the presentation, it just was not impressive to have this cool smokey charcoal covered ice cream in a dark bowl, you couldn't really see it. But the flavor was great, actually reminded me more of peanut butter and jelly than the other dessert because it had this strawberry jelly in the center. The texture was really fun too, it was dry and matte from the charcoal but smooth and melty from the ice cream. Fun and cool dishes! read more

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