This was our first time at Lenoir, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience. We had originally booked indoor seating, but since the weather was beautiful, we asked if we could sit in their wine garden--and they were happy to accommodate us. The outdoor space was warm, cozy, and added so much to the overall ambiance. For drinks, we ordered the Blood Orange IPA draft beer, which was absolutely fabulous. We started with the fried blue corn and pecan hushpuppies with caramelized onion dip, and the roasted beets with orange wine vinaigrette, goat cheese, and breadcrumbs. Both appetizers were unique, flavorful, and very well executed. For the main course, we had the roasted half chicken with chili lime butter, gremolata, and greens. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and cooked just right--tender, juicy, and full of flavor. Every dish we tried felt thoughtfully prepared and distinct. Since our main course took a little longer, the server brought us their house-made Pullman bread with fermented pepper pimento cheese, which is one of their specialties. That was a really nice touch and much appreciated. The service stood out for its attention to detail--each dish was presented with a full explanation of the ingredients, which added to the experience without feeling overwhelming. Portion sizes were just right. My husband and I shared everything and still had some leftovers, though we are light eaters. The appetizers felt like great value for money. The chicken dish was a bit on the pricier side, but the quality and flavors made it worth it. Overall, every single dish was unique and prepared to perfection. Lenoir is definitely a must-try and a great choice for a special occasion. read more

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For the cost, I give it a 4. If it was cheap it would be a 5 but since it is not cheap, it is a 4 The hamachi tuna was amazing. No notes. Pan seared fish honestly was amazing too... lots of flavor very fresh not overly fishy beautiful Presentation Hankerchief pasta was good not great Crab salad was mid Service wasn't great but it made sense with their model. Our table wasn't ready but they said they don't like to rush people which i get but like... come on dude we booked a reservation 2 weeks in advance and you're gonna make us sit at the bar? Thats weird. Then I had to flag the guy down like 3 separate times, one to ask him if we could order and another because we never got waters I just thought that was strange for an expensive Michelin recognized restaurant Once we settled in the waiter was super nice and helpful and they did comp the hamachi for not having our table ready which was nice! So while it's not fair to say service/experience was bad I do think it's fair to say it was disappointing I'd recommend this place. Especially for restaurant week. Fresh food with good ingredients and great presentation. A nice staff. I am surprised this place doesn't get more hype here in Austin cause it is really good. Check them out read more

Lenoir - Hamachi - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Absolutely the worst dining experience I've had in years. We were a few min late because of all the road closures for the pride parade. We called to let them know and apologize for any inconvenience. When we arrived at the restaurant we requested a latte or coffee as a little pick me up. We were told "we don't have coffee this is a restaurant". Thought this was strange so we requested a soft drink or anything with caffeine. We were told "no, we have alcoholic beverages, lemonade and sparking water". I have never been made to feel silly for requesting a basic common beverage at a restaurant. Moving on. We had a cockroach fly to our table and land in our water glass which the staff responded "ohhhh well we are outside" and didn't even offer to replace our waters. Then the sommelier introduced herself and asked if she could assist us in choosing a bottle of wine. We told her we love a Cabernet Sauvignon especially from the Paso Robles region. She was so sweet and said she would find us something to satisfy our taste. She came back with a bottle that she said "was the only Cabernet they had". Strange. We googled the very average bottle of wine and it retails for $50ish there charged is $150 without letting us know the cost. Finally, we ordered 5 appetizers. They were all disappointing. With such a small menu I was excited that each dish would be fresh and exceptional. It was ok at best. The bread was good. That's about the only compliment I can give them. We were going to order a few entrees to share but our waitress never came to our table again. We had to get up and find our waitress to request our bill. $375 later we were treated as though we were a inconvenience. I can not fathom a restaurant that is so proud that they treat their guest like we were waisting their time. Staff was rude. Food was less than mediocre and I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone. Get over yourself Lenoir. read more

Cute ambiance- the inside is small. Way more seating on the patio which is cute and perfect for a date night or girls catch up. The food is nothing to write home about but it's good! The okra was surprisingly my favorite thing. Bread is a staple with the pimento cheese. And the fish was phenomenal. Portion sizes are small - I think for the price they should be more generous. Skip the crab roll. This is mainly a wine bar - no liquor. Staff is friendly read more

Lenoir - Patio vibes - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The last time I dined here was May 2025 with one of my friends in early summer/late spring. I was a little disappointed but it might have been due to their lack of vegan options. This time around was much better. We ate the first night of 1/2 off chef's choice and were given additional portions on all courses except the duck since we were 3, not 2. Nothing disappointed me and the vibes were immaculate too. All other diners were respectful and gave Lenoir a neighborhood regular "feel". For my cocktail I got the true romance, a Sangria inspired one. It was stronger than I expected but I knew I still would like it more than the other options (which included ones inspired by an old fashioned -- my mortal enemy). I also got to try a sip of the Tokaji, a popular dessert wine. It was the best thing I've ever had, the price point well worth it. I couldn't even pick a favorite course because that's how good everything was. My mom said the wine pairings were perfect as well. The desserts could use improvement - especially the orange cake. It was a little too citrusy for me, I preferred the banana pudding TLDR: Michelin is sleeping on them and they deserve to knock some of the Bib Gourmands off the list!!! read more

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Had a decent birthday celebration here. Staff was friendly but it wasn't ideal for a birthday dinner. It's a nice and intimate restaurant with seating inside and outside. Started off with the crab fingers and was surprised as to how small they were and how difficult it was to get the meat off, the sauce was really delicious. 8/10 The oysters needed something to balance the strong initial flavor. 6/10 The street corn was not a favorite, it was too big of a dish for something fairly basic. The taste got boring after a couple of bites and we couldn't finish it. The main dishes, the meat and chicken were good. Given that the restaurant has Michelin recognition it didn't wow me. Overall nice experience :) read more

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Great meal at Lenoir. I started with the crab fingers which were leaned on the small edge of a little dish tipped in a delicious sauce (see the menu for description) and the cobia crudo with blueberry ponzu, lime, cucumber, and basil. Life was good while eating these two dishes. I also highly recommend the opulent pullman bread (made in house) with sides of pimento cheese, and tomato-based "chow chow'. Not only is the bread delicious with the spreads, but even more importantly, you can use it to soak up the juices from the other dishes. You won't want to let those go to waste. The two main dishes that night were the red fish and the wagyu tri-tip steak and I opted for the latter. The tri-tip was excellent - sliced and perfectly cooked to medium, it had a slight crust on parts of it which enhanced the flavor and texture, a green gremolata, and hot peppers which I chomped on in between steak bites. I also liked the parmesan butter on top which you could melt into the pieces. One of the reviews mentioned that the steak was chewy and i guess mine had a bit of chewiness to it but i actually enjoyed it more than some of wagyu I've had that basically melts away in your mouth, that's just me. The restaurant has both an indoor area and a large backyard with tables and mellow lighting. My server at the bar was friendly, interesting to talk to, and very attentive. Go here, I think you'll like it. read more

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I came here in October with a friend and my brother. The place is all outdoors which was only unfortunate because there did seem to be some little bugs bitting our ankles. We ordered the hush puppies because I love mole. And then the chef menu. All of it was good but particularly the fish which was excellent, and we even went home with leftovers so while even on the more expensive side, you definitely will leave full. I hope they open up indoor seating and then I would love to come back. read more

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Ambiance and service 5 out of 5! Came here on a date night during a weekend getaway in Austin. It was a bit of a chilly night, but they had nearby fires and heat lamps. First impression is that the place is absolutely beautiful - it was magical sitting outside at night amongst the trees and lights. The service was seriously Michelin level quality, from the host, waiters/waitresses, and the people bringing out each dish. Everyone was so kind and attentive. With that said, I'd say overall the food was a average? Everything tasted a bit one-note when we were there...and perhaps a bit on the saltier side. It may have been an off day, or just that we did not know how to order. I do think it may be a seasonal menu. I would 100% come back again, and want to give the menu another shot! read more

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The best experience we've had in Austin along with the seasonal tasting menu. The new pastry chef along with the menu has different complexities you expect from a Michelin restaurant and find it in the classic restaurant in Lenoir. A must have when you're in Austin. Ps order the blue masa ice cream sandwich read more

Lenoir - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

Bf and I enjoyed a lovely date night in the wine garden. Madeline was a friendly and attentive server. They were featuring a french cajun chef's tasting with wine pairing. We also added the crab fingers because why not?! They are talented chefs and gracious hosts. Go now! read more

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This place was so charming. The glowing fire pits and the glittery lanterns hung in the trees, what a vibe! This farm-to-table restaurant was our chosen destination to celebrate this year's Valentine Day. The food and service did not disappoint. The Valentine's Day menu came with 5 courses shared family style. The oysters and crab fingers started the night out with a bang! The crab fingers were nicely de-shelled which made them easy to eat. The dipping sauce made up of curry leaf leche de Tigre and smoked chili oil gave every bite so much umami. The murder point oysters were seasoned with the perfect chili mignonette and pickled shallots. Next was a refreshing strawberry and little gem salad. Each mouthful had a crunch to it. The crunch came from the popped sorghum which tasted like popcorn. The next two courses were the one long noodle and the Pullman bread. The bread had a nice buttery texture. Then it was the wagyu hanger steak followed by the chocolate pot de creme and cinnamon churro. The cinnamon churro was perfectly cooked: crunchy and moist. We had a great time. The portions were not huge and the food was on the pricey side. It was a treat! read more

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AUSTIN RESTAURANT WEEK #3 I was delighted to try Lenoir with another Yelp friend this evening. It was a unique and memorable dining experience. For our time slot of 6 pm only the Wein Garden was available. As the name implies it was outside filled with hanging green plants with a forest like backdrop, a covered canopy, pulled curtains and a Zen sounding water fountain. There is also a main building with inside seating of about 6 tables and bar seating...rather small. We opted to have the Austin Restaurant Week fixed priced meal which included several courses. Each course presented a unique and memorable dining experience. Ratings from 1-5 with 5 being the best. Course 1 - Crab Fingers (2/5) - While the crab fingers and leche de Tigre sauce were tasty, they had veins similar to what is in shrimp when it is not deveined hanging from all the crab fingers. More care should have been done to clean the crab fingers. Course 2 - Seared Summer Zucchini Squash Salad (4/5) - The grilled Zucchini appeared to have been grilled on a BBQ grill with a tasty finish. It was combined with differed sauces, spices and avocado...an explosion of flavors in your mouth. Course 3 - Glazed Catfish with Grits cake (5/5) The Glazed Catfish was the standout with a seared top (no greasiness) and super moist inside. In addition, I had a grits cake which was quite unique and drew me in from the first bite. Course 4 - Chocolate Zucchini Bread with Jaggery Kulfi (5/5) This standout dish is one of the most unique desserts I have eaten. It was toasted zucchini bread with a gelato like top...so stinking yummy!!! Tonight was the first time I tasted orange wine...did not know that it even existed. It was refreshing and a bit stronger than white wine. Now for the watch outs...the table had a fan to blow away random flies. My initial thinking was how thoughtful. There was not a lot of flies, so no issues there. Can we say mosquitos? OMG...there appeared to be a swarm of mosquitos. My friend and I were bitten about 20+ times before we asked if they had mosquito spray. Luckily, Lenoir staff provided a natural tick and mosquito repellant. Unfortunately, it was not very effective and we left with many mosquito bites. Pro tip: Use mosquito spray at home before dining at Lenoir. Interestingly, all of their foods are sourced from local farms and their menus are adjusted accordingly based on food availability. Also all their cocktails are wine based, so no hard liquors (vodka, gin, scotch, tequila). Gabby, our server, and Patrick the host were cordial and welcoming. Gabby frequently visited our table making adjustments as needed. She was the one who brought the mosquito spray. All in all, the food was good and it was great catching up with my friend, read more

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My girlfriend and I recently visited Lenoir for a date night and were a bit underwhelmed by our experience. The first mistake we made was choosing to sit indoors. I'd recommend sitting in their outdoor wine garden, as the inside space is small and nothing special in terms of ambiance. They had their curtains closed which made it feel a little suffocating. They offer innovative wine based cocktails which we enjoyed. We ordered four items to share: - Hush Puppies - these were awful. Dry and totally flavorless. Disappointing. - Bread with Dips - the pimento cheese dip was okay, bread was freshly baked, but it was just too much and too filling. I'd skip. - Chickpea Socca - this was like a flatbread with pickled vegetables, it had a nice bite and I enjoyed the flavor. - Grilled Wild Kanpachi - best dish of the evening. Fish was cooked well and the sauce it was served in was delicious. Average experience for a hefty price tag. Don't think I'll be back. read more

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THE BIG: Came back to try Lenoir's birthday tasting menu at half off! THE BLACK AND WHITE: The wife and I got a reservation at 6pm and the place was packed. Talk about a great deal when it comes to the tasting menu. We couldn't do the wine pairing but the wines available looked great and they had a variety of orange wines that I was curious about. For the food, we started off with a gigantic brioche bread that had some nice spreads to go with it. It reminded me of Japanese milk bread due to how soft it was. Thn we had the usuals with the crab arms on the leche de tigre sauce. The beets was pretty good and was a nice palette cleanser (for me) to get into our main dishes. The main dish was the boar and it was alright. It was a bit gamey and I do like the concept of farm to table, however the game taste needed to be removed for me to enjoy. We ended with a grapefruit cake desert that was a nice finish to the meal. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall for 2 five-course tasting menus, the damage came out to be around $130 at half off. It wasn't bad but it didn't wow me when I came in the first time. I would come again and try out some new dishes and the wine tasting when we're not doing dry January. read more

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Came here last night for restaurant week and would highly recommend! Especially if you're coming as a group bc then you get to try a little of all the options! 1. Starter you have an option between crab fingers and hush puppies - we got both since each of us wanted one or other. I was disappointed that the crab fingers were cold bc the sauce it came with would've been amazing had the entire dish been hot. The hush puppies were different and came with an apple butter that was very tasty. 2. Summer squash salad - 10/10. So fresh with all the herbs and labneh. 3. I ordered the tri-tip but also got to try the chicken fried eggplant and catfish. Both the steak and eggplant were delicious! Highly recommend. 4. Lastly we ended with all of the desserts and my favorites were definitely the chocolate zucchini cake and lemon posset. A few of us did the wine pairing and they were all delicious and complimented the meals perfectly, and thanks to our Server for the healthy pours! Parking is the only hassle at this place but all in all a great experience! read more

My husband and I came back to try their special tasting menu at half off! We were really excited to try out a full menu and their favorites. The hush puppies and crab are always a favorite of mine, so we really loved this starter. Pumpkin puree is soooo good. Next menu item was the beets. WOW this dish was refreshing. I loved the bit of horseradish in the crème fresh. After, was the shrimp toast and boar. To be honest, these were my least favorite dishes. I loved the Pullman bread, but I thought the shrimp had a weird flavor. I also didn't see the point of the mint too. Our boar was thick, but also very dry and gamey. It was tough to chew all throughout. Finally the grapefruit cake was a nice ending. It wasn't too sweet and tasted very homemade. Overall, I was full at the end, but could be due to all of the carb heavy dishes. read more

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I had the pleasure of dining at Lenoir tonight after nearly 6+ years since my first and last visit! It's just as beautiful as I remember it to be, and it's honestly a really good spot for a date night. I sat at the bar, and the bartender was really nice and gave some great recs. I really enjoyed the crab legs. They're smaller than I expected, but I loved the acidity of the chili oil. I'm usually not a curry fan, but I actually loved the curry sauce and doused each leg in the sauce. The bartender also offered some great advice of keeping the curry sauce for the pullman bread, which was fantastic. I did not think I was a fan of pimento cheese, but the bread was lightly toasted and pulled apart so well. The combination of the chow chow with the pimento cheese is probably one of my most favorite bites in Austin in a while, and dipping the bread in the curry sauce from the crab legs was a great call. The last appetizer I tried was the apple salad. It was quite refreshing, but I do think the miso butter was an unnecessary component of the dish. It made the salad feel slightly too heavy, so I was basically avoiding having any of the greens or apples touch the butter at the bottom. The entree I tried was the rigatoni... and I honestly really did not like this dish. I saw the ham and trout roe and immediately called out to the bartender that it might be too salty for me, and he kindly suggested that I could have the ham on the side. Even then, the roe made the dish way too salty. I have no idea how people are eating this dish untouched/unmodified because the sauce is really weird and heavy, and the roe was quite literally like eating a bite of salt with every bite. Salt + heavy pasta + weird heavy sauce... probably one of the worst entrees I've had in a while. The ending to the meal was still quite nice. I tried the rice pudding ice cream, and the cherry was a really great touch. I would've eaten the whole thing, but the pullman bread was a lot and quite filling. Overall, a really nice meal. I know why Lenoir has been able to withstand the test of time as one of Austin's most memorable restaurants. Gorgeous interior and a great garden area as well. read more

We have lived in walking distance for a couple of years and have yet to try Lenoir, despite being to Boni's several times since they've opened. Tonight we decided to stroll in and try the full service side and we were greatly surprised. Being from an Italian-American background, I was excited by the Wet Hot Italian Summer special pre-fixe menu and it did not disappoint! It was full of elevated spins on classic comfort foods that brought me back to my childhood. Clinton provided a curated experience through the set menu that made our Independence Day dinner a stand out. The quaint, indoor bar setting was a win. The mis-matched plate ware was a great touch. Can't wait for their fall menu! read more

I've been wanting to try Lenoir for years! I even had a gift card (had some issues using it ... see below) I had saved for when the chance arose to go there, so when a fellow Yelp Elite friend suggested we try it out during Austin Restaurant Weeks, I was in! PSA: bring/wear bug spray if you sit in the garden area. The spray they provided when we asked didn't really work for us and we left with multiple bites. Their $75 ARW menu was fun and different. I chose the crab fingers for course one, the wagyu tri-tip for course three, and the toasted chocolate zucchini bread for the dessert. Course two had one option of seared summer squash salad. I loved that they didn't hold back on the spice in the crab fingers (unique Peruvian leche de tigre dipping sauce) and the squash salad. Our waitress, Gabby, made sure we were properly prepared for the spiciness, especially in the salad. The wagyu tri-tip was tougher/chewier than I expected it to be. I tasted my friend's catfish dish and thought that was very well done. In my opinion, the best item of the meal was the chocolate zucchini bread. It was delicious and so big that I took some home to eat later! The cocktails they serve are all wine based so don't go thinking you can will get a gin, tequila, or vodka drink. I tried a glass of the heaviest of their reds that were available by the glass and that was pretty light, but decent. If they had offered a cabernet by the glass, I would have had one. My friend tried a glass of the orange wine. Now back to the gift card. Both Patrick, the welcome host, and Gabby, checked on my $25 gift card, that had no expiration date on it, and were told by the manager that because they switched accounting systems a few years ago they couldn't find it so they couldn't honor it, which was kinda uncool, imo. When I asked for the 4th time about it, Gabby offered to bring the manager over, and we spoke to her. She gave us the same statement and asked me where I got it so I told her what I remembered. And when I mentioned (again) there is no expiration date and just because they changed systems, it seems odd they wouldn't honor it she kind of reluctantly say she'd apply it and she did, which I appreciated. I guess asking for the 4th time made the difference but given it was only $25 and we spent close to $200, it felt a bit odd to have had to escalate the request. It wasn't really about the money since I had been wanting to try Lenoir for a while and for such a nice restaurant, we thought it would have been almost a no brainer from a customer service perspective to honor it. We had an early reservation so we were lucky to get a spot in their small parking lot. Otherwise, we were told there was a place to park a bit further away. read more

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Beautiful space and such a kind, welcoming staff--but the food just didn't live up to the vibe. We started with the hush puppies (not part of the tasting menu), which were decent--nothing standout, but solid. We then ordered the tasting menu, and unfortunately the food was surprisingly bland in flavor but somehow still overly salty, which made the whole meal feel unbalanced. I really wanted to love the food but did not. read more

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Amazing food as always! Super dog friendly! Staff is very knowledgeable and helped guide the evening experience and definitely had a wonderful relaxing time after a long road trip back to Austin. Ask for Alberto! read more

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One of the best meals I've had in Austin during the past 3 years. Every dish was incredibly fresh and perfectly balanced. The food style is eclectic but it works. read more

Incredible food, amazing service and great vibes. We brought the whole family and everyone loved it! By far our favorite restaurant in Austin! read more

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One word to describe our dinner was "Magical." The service, atmosphere and food was incredibly excellent and so enjoyable. The food was so well curated, prepared and presented. Delicious tastes, textures, and colors were in abundance! We had dinner for four with dessert and although not inexpensive, it wasn't overpriced. This was a true food experience with delicious flavors and interesting ingredients in every order. I can't remember a better or more memorable meal in Austin. If you're looking for that one special place to have a special or just memorable meal, just go! You won't be disappointed! Madeleine was our server and deserves a ton of credit for making our experience exceptional!! Thanks again!!! read more

This is a cute South Austin spot. They have a lovely back yard area backing up to the creek and an intimate inside dining area. We had a bottle of wine and shared a few dishes. The service was really good and I enjoyed our dinner. read more

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Fun place to try something different than what you may usually eat. A little expensive, but lovely place for a date night. Service was great..I'd come again. read more

We went for restaurant week, which tried their $75 prix fixe menu. All the dishes in their prix fixe menu were in good portion size and super delicious. We sit at the wine garden, it was so beautiful and for Greta ambience. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. The only down side is they got very small parking, and we took uber there. read more

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What a bummer. Was so excited to celebrate our anniversary here. The summer menu did not hit AT ALL. Sadly the best bite (and smallest portion) was the lamb strozzapreti. The antipasti was underwhelming and the meat fatty. The garlic knots were undercooked and the cheese cold. The wagyu short rib - no way this was wagyu. It was rolled and smothered in a cream sauce and so chewy. Worst bite of the night. Way overpriced and just a a weird vibe. Wish I could get my $ back. read more

Drum fish perfectly cooked on an oyster sauce melange. Great flavor combo! Radish salad w/ pea compote was also superb. Loved the garden seating; and Madeline the server was a real gem. Overall: great experience, and I got away w/out spending a ton. read more

Great service - Rey rocks. Awesome out door vibe in the wine garden seating. A little unexpected rain but the staff made it work with umbrellas & moving tables under cover. Hush puppies 10/10 Beef carpaccio 11/10 Half chicken 1111/10 Awesome celebration / date night spot. Will be back read more

My wife and I came here for Valentine's Day and had a really great time. We did the 4-course meal and honestly, everything was amazing. Each dish was so good that we felt like we finished it too quick. The drinks were excellent too -- definitely worth trying. Overall, it was a great experience and we'd definitely come back. read more

Very, very average. I was looking forward to this cute place with a small, eclectic menu. But the food was just so-so. The wagu steak was chewy and a few pieces were mostly gristle. Wouldn't go back. read more

This restaurant has been on my list almost as long as I've been back in Austin, and I really wanted to love it, and while I have considerable constructive feedback, I did have an amazing time, but not for the reasons you'd think. The highlights - it's beautiful, cozy, and intimate. The staff is just as warm and accommodating, everything I love about Austin culture and our exceptional service. I can imagine coming here for a date, anniversary, or with family - it's suited for all occasions and has an emphasis on a strong wine program (and thoughtful pairings). But for me, the main reason I seek fine dining is for the food, and there were some important misses here that didn't seem aligned with the recent Michelin distinction. The menu lacks cohesion (ingredient-wise and thematically), so I'm curious whether this improves when following the Chef's Choice menu. We were told when calling in that items could be adjusted for vegan patrons, but upon arrival, were only given 2-3 options to suit my friend's diet. 2 of our 3 mains were so severely over-salted we had to send 1 back, and my Lasagna (described with béchamel) was dry due to being overcooked, and robbed of any rich sauce that may have cushioned generous portions of meat between the layers of crisped pasta. A Spiced Carrot Tres Leches was beautiful but bland in texture and flavor. A nice idea, but fell flat on the palate. The most extraordinary thing was a Honeycrisp Apple Salad with Orange Wine Vinaigrette and Pecan Miso butter that blended up into crunchy, sweet, and savory bites of delightful goodness. A truly original salad that was as delicious as it was beautiful. The Housemade Pullman Bread with gobs of pimento cheese was another surprise indulgence - comforting but perfected. Overall it was a lovely experience due to the kind company and the warm atmosphere, but this would not be my first choice for the next occasion without seeing some improvements. read more

Lenoir - Honeycrisp Apple Salad - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I was really excited to try this place as I always drive past it on South 1st. It's a beautiful spot with an incredible patio area that is equipped with both heat lamps and fans. They are really prepared for any type of weather we might have. It was a very chill spot, however, the food was not for me and I can't recommend it to anyone. I tried the marinated olives, hush puppies, sunchokes, caesar salad, and the linguini. Unfortunately I only enjoyed the hush puppies, thought they were nice, crisp, and warm. However, everything else was very one timed and the flavors were not mixing well. They leaned way too sour and made my mouth pucker. Even the linguini was odd, more soy sauce and hoisin based. Overall, I didn't enjoy any of the flavors and was not impressed by the restaurant's offerings. read more

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Lenoir has been on my list of "must visit" restaurants for several years, but I didn't make it happen until recently. It was less expensive than expected, especially if you're lucky enough to visit on a Wednesday for their half-off bottles of sparkling wine and champagne promotion. Our server was funny and extremely nice, and was passionate about every detail of our meal, including the local origin of each ingredient. We started off with Lenoir's signature blue corn and pecan hushpuppies with sweet corn queso fresco. I love hushpuppies but am often met with disappointing dry blobs of cornmeal. This was not the case at Lenoir. Lenoir's hushpuppies are everything I look for -- crispy on the outside, soft and buttery on the inside, and perfectly cooked. We next ordered the blistered gai lan with chili crisp, fresh valley citrus, and hakurei turnip. It was like broccolini with a flavor explosion in your mouth. The spaghetti alla chitarra was equally delicious, with homemade noodles, garlic caramel, fried shallots, and Fresno. Don't skip dessert - we ordered a candied hibiscus torte with chocolate mousse that was perfectly fruity without being too sweet. Overall, Lenoir was an experience that was even better than I expected. I love their incorporation of local produce and the small, cozy vibe of their restaurant. I don't recommend visiting starving, to avoid making a larger dent in your wallet, but I found every course we ordered to be priced and portioned well, and cheaper in comparison to the similar quality Odd Duck and 1417. I look forward to my next visit. read more

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We'd been wanting to try Lenoir for quite some time and decided to take advantage of the half off chef's tasting menu during their anniversary week. Boy am I glad we did! To start, the ambiance out in the wine garden is unmatched. It's extremely charming. The food was unlike anything we've ever had not just in Austin, but perhaps ever. The flavor combinations were so unique and memorable. We loved everything we had from the Pullman bread, to the crab fingers, cauliflower, gnocchi, pork and chocolate mousse. The service was excellent and our courses were paced out perfectly. All in all this was a 10/10 experience and we will be back to try more! This is one of the few restaurants left in Austin where the food is actually worth the price. read more

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My husband and I went for our wedding anniversary. The staff all signed a card and told us happy anniversary too! (A sweet touch!) We went around 5:30 on a Saturday but decided to book a reservation just in case. The crowd really picked up around 6:30. We decided on the 4-course chef's summer special for 2. We were worried at first that it wouldn't be enough for the two of us.. but boy we were wrong! We were very full at the end. Everything was delicious and it was nice that we didn't have to choose our plates, and that each dish was something unique. I wish I had taken a photo of the food but it was well worth the price! I highly recommend this spot for a fun date night or anniversary dinner. read more

I've been to two group events at Lenoir a year apart so I can only comment on those since I haven't had a proper sit-down dinner, but I can say that this is probably not the best venue for a summer event with hors d'oeuvres. The good part is that the back patio area is charming with large live oaks and small flickering lanterns for ambiance, tables shaded by trees and permanent tent-like covers, and plenty of plants to give it a lush backyard feel. There are also fans with misters to help cool things down and even with 100º+ weather it was surprisingly survivable outside in the evening as long as one isn't in direct sunlight. I still dearly missed air conditioning, though! When it comes to the hors d'oeuvres, however, none of them were a hit this time. I hate to complain because I can tell they used good ingredients and imagination, but the results just weren't good. The beef cheek on compressed watermelon was the most neutral and okay but just weird. But the pullman bread with buffalo feta and peaches was inedible. So incredibly salty and all the flavors clashed. But the diced peach scraped off and eaten by itself was divine! Since this was a group event there wasn't much contact with servers, but the shocking part is that there were no plates on which to put ones hors d'oeuvres. The only choice was to go to the table where they were laid out, pick up a napkin, pick up a wet piece of watermelon or cucumber with your fingers since there weren't tongs or anything either, then feel it soak through your paper napkin while trying to act dignified. Unfortunately the wines were just as bad as food, and we even tried three different varieties, white, red, and rosé. I feel that part of the fault may lie with the event's choices this time so I hate to lay all the blame on the restaurant, but I would have given fewer stars otherwise. The restaurant may be a lovely place to have a dinner, but there are better places for special events. read more

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Previously very good, but, on last visit I was served quail stuffed with wild boar sausage... completely raw in the center. I'm not normally queasy about raw foods but wild pig is an exception. It's a vector for 2 serious "-osis" pathogens & raw wild boar is an absolute full stop for me. So planning & execution failed in the kitchen that nite, & I didn't see a reason to actually mention to the staff.. "Uh, hey... so maybe your cook should actually cook the food?" Prob just need better supervision in the kitchen. Also... the pullman bread. It's a tired menu item at this point, and a profit hack. Really needs changing out with something else, at least seasonally or something. read more