This was just pure happiness in my mouth! Everything was executed perfectly! The Odd Duck is now one of our favorite restaurants in Austin! Always try to take people visiting me here so I can try the new menu items! In general the service was friendly, the ambiance trendy..... and of course the food was delicious, flavorful and unique. HIGHLY recommend for a nice fancy date as it is not cheap, but worth every cent you spend there! read more

As of the writing of this review, Odd Duck is my favorite restaurant in Austin. I was happy to see it on Bon Appetit's 2014 "Best New Restaurants in America" list. Not that I want it to become even MORE difficult to get a table. My few cents / things I've learned after eating here a few times: - Not particularly strong in the vegetarian arena - They have brunch now (and it's GOOD) and it's often easier to get a brunch res (AND they have many of their dinner plates on the brunch menu) - While it's a great place for a date, I highly recommend going with at least four or five people. This way you can try a significantly larger percentage of the menu, which is almost impossible with two people. - If you have an aversion to sharing, don't come here (and please, remember that SHARING IS CARING). Make a reservation several days in advance. Try the cocktails. Tip your server extra bc the service is excellent. read more

The ambiance and service at odd duck are 5 stars on their own. Wonderful wait staff, and a delightful patio area. We went for Easter brunch, and the menu was fantastic. It's constantly changing, but we ordered a good sampling of all that was available. The only negative thing I have to say is that if you're celiac or gluten free, there are lots of modified options (they were very attentive and careful about allergies)- but none of the modified dishes really "wowed" me the way everyone else was wowed by the baked goods. From the blue cheese biscuits to the French toast to the carrot cake donuts, everyone raved about the items I was unable to eat. The items I did eat were good, but not mind blowing or quite worth the hefty price tag on their own. The exception to this is dessert (modified to remove gluten containing granola) which was a beet sherbet with triple cream cheese and Meyer lemon and thyme. It was perfection and made me forget all about not having those blue cheese biscuits. Was it the best gluten free brunch of my life? Certainly not, but my allergies were respected and I got to see everyone else have one of their favorite brunch meals ever, and that alone was worth the trip. read more

Odd Duck - Beet sherbet with triple cream cheese, Meyer lemon and thyme. - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

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It's time to find a new fave. The food is good, but the atmosphere is so obnoxious that we felt offended. Ok, so maybe the hip formula is to have 22 year old hostesses and we've ignored that since you opened. But on this trip they were snotty and seemed inconvenienced when we didn't want to sit on the patio in 100 degree weather--we had a reservation! So, after rolling her eyes, arching her back and literally huffing back into the building (past empty tables--again, we had a reservation) she seated us at the bar. The bar was backed up and after 10 minutes of being ignored, we left. Went down the road, and were seated after a short wait at Olivia. We won't be back, odd duck read more

Great restaurant with a hipster feel. Tapas- is the name of the game. We had ceviche, parker rolls, marinated noodles, whole chicken taco kit, and apple pie. What caught my attention: Marinated noodles- gulf crab with noodles and watermelon. Awesome Whole chicken taco kit- Blue corn tortillas were great and chicken was cooked just right. Apple pie/ice cream perfect way to end the meal. You may want to order several of the tapas as they feed probably two people per order. read more

My Me Ma was born on a farm in NE Texas in 1920. Farming life is back-breaking and not glamorous. You raised and slaughtered your own meat, you grew everything you ate and hoped for the best when the fickle Texas weather did its thing. There was no indoor plumbing. It's survivalist to the extreme. When I was a little girl I used to ride on her tractor with her for hours at a time as we worked on her farm, which included feeding the cows, tending to the vegetable gardens and baling hay in her hay fields. Fast forward to last night's official opening of the new upscale farm-to-table restaurant in hip and cool Austin called Odd Duck: I'm sitting at the communal bar ordering a fancy-pants dish that is described in part as "carrots roasted in hay". There was a definite part of my Native Texan self that immediately had images of Me Ma shaking her head at me in disgust of the ridiculousness of this saying something like "Name of God child!". The distance between the lifestyle of the grounded farming people of Texas and the upscale class of farming fare at Odd Duck in Austin is far. I read in my New York Times this past Sunday in the food section a featured article of some of the best restaurants in Austin that included Bryce Gilmore's original brick and mortar that is still going strong called Barley Swine. After last night's meal I can say with confidence that in the future the all-important Times will likely have a story that includes the quaint farming food concepts of Odd Duck. I say this with tremendous love because secretly I have a mad crush on the amazing skill set that Bryce and his dad Jack Gilmore posses when it comes to cooking. Their smoked meat at this past year's Austin Food and Wine Festival was phenomenal. These guys are the real chefs of Austin and you cannot go wrong with any of their restaurants whether it be Barley Swine, Jack Allen's Kitchen or Odd Duck. The concept behind the farming food of Odd Duck is community. This means that you will officially have a waiter or waitress but you may also deal with others. Most of the seating at Odd Duck is communal. The bar is massive and wide and very comfortable to sit at with the open kitchen centered in the middle. There are a few indoor seating spaces and then a massive enclosed patio with communal seating. The atmosphere here is awesome. Last night they were playing classic rock softly in the background. Plates are small meaning you will want to order a few dishes. I would spend time listing what I ate but the menu is going to change all the time so this is probably pointless. I would direct you to the pictures I posted and others reviews of food for this to get an idea. Just understand that you don't come here to get full unless you want to spend a lot of $$. If getting full is a goal you can go down the road to Olive Garden and have unlimited soup/salad/breadsticks. Just like other upscale places this place is meant to spark your 5 senses. Take in the colors of the creativity and the mixing of flavors and smells. This food is meant to be delighted in. Having said that my favorite dish last night was dessert: Sticky toffee pudding served with sweet pickled apples and St. Maure sauce. Major props to the creator of this dish. The flavors of toffee mixed with fresh goat cheese was orgasmic. Having a cup of their Cuvee coffee with this is recommended. Other personal touches: They make their own ginger beer so the Moscow Mule is very authentic. Everybody's plates are vintage so they are all different. They used accessories and actual part of the original Odd Duck trailer as part of the building of this restaurant (Odd Duck was originally a food truck that was parked on these very grounds). Odd Duck has a parking lot with 26 parking spaces...all for the free valet. If this fills up Odd Duck has worked out other options for valet parking so you should be able to valet when you visit but if you don't want to do this you will have to find street parking nearby. Overall I love the classy yet laid back atmosphere of Odd Duck. The food is inventive and different yet delicious. There were only a couple of dishes that I was less than crazy about but nothing actually disappointed. Odd Duck is a great addition to the growing foodie scene of Austin. read more

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ZOMG. Just...ZOMG. My chef partner and I headed from Dallas down to Austin this weekend for some culinary inspiration, and we hit many of the city's legendary cheffy dining spots. Qui. Uchi. Travaasa. Olivia. And I have to say, while we had some lovely dishes at them all, none of them blew our minds, and we were starting to wonder if we had become jaded foodies. We were still wandering around the city in a daze, searching for that perfect bite. We went to Odd Duck on a whim for our last dinner, and BOY did we find some perfect bites. Literally everything we ordered was stunning. And we spent half what we spent at the other restaurants. (!!!) LOVE the setup of the restaurant, the majority of diners sit around the bustling kitchen watching everything go down, most everyone else sits at communal tables...this is the way dining should be. First, cocktails. Rock Dog was first, grapefruit soda and resposada tequila infused with smoke. I sucked in down in 3 glugs it was so yummy. Next came Aunt Polly, mezcal, elderflower liqueur, and ghost chili...not as spicy as I was hoping, but delicious nonetheless. Finally an Odd Fashioned, a boozy anejo tequila with bourbon bitters and orange. All executed flawlessly. Food. FOOD! It took a lot of very painful deliberation to narrow it down, I literally wanted to taste the entire menu. We settled on: Parker House Rolls with Pig Face. First bite of the night. Mind blowing. Amazing. Everything a kolache should be, but never is. Buttery, crusty, moist bread filled with savory braised and smoked pig face with whole grain mustard. Simple and oh-so-stunning. Next, spent-grain bread with cultured butter. The bread was smoky from being freshly baked in their wood fired oven. Remarkably light in texture for a whole grain bread. Butter...luscious, churned fresh at the restaurant. I don't know why more restaurants don't make their own butter, it's as easy as falling off a log, and it's SO lovely. Charred broccoli, scrambled egg, and apple. We were intrigued by such an unusual combination, and the flavor was incredible, but the most fascinating part was the interplay of textures. Went great with the bread. Tater tots with French onion dip. But OH. Not your typical tater tot, it was composed of fluffy mashed potatoes formed into a giant cube and fried crispy, sitting in this impossibly rich dip of crema infused with onions and scallions. Tater tots all grown up. Kill me now. I'd eat them until I exploded. Beef heart salad. Best heart I've EVER tasted, without question. Tender, not too minerally, and oh that dressing! Intense ginger and sesame. And then this fantastical puffed black wild rice. SO crunchy. SOOOO crunchy. How do they do it? Chicken fried egg with mushrooms and hot sauce. I thought I was the only one who took such great pains to make scotch eggs with runny yolks. It's NOT easy folks. In fact, it's almost impossible. But theirs is a masterpiece. On earthy mushrooms and a smoke, dark, spicy housemade hot sauce. Probably my favorite dish of the night. And finally, goat pasta. Canneloni wrapped around tender, succulent braised goat on butternut squash puree, an intense mole, and a mesquite smoked granola on top. GRANOLA? Yes. And it works. Boy, does it work. Odd Duck was a revelation. Seeing as how it's still impossible to get into Uchi 12 years after it opened, I'm predicting gridlock and 10-hour waits for Odd Duck once more folks realize how incredible and cheap this food is, served in a stylish but casual atmosphere in a restaurant that was clearly designed entirely by its chefs. I cannot speak highly enough of this restaurant. My favorite in Austin BY FAR. read more

I took my mom here for brunch and it was delicious! I can't justify a 5 star review though. It cost over $100 for brunch for 2. Come here for the "tiny plate" atmosphere and when you have at least $100 burning a hole in your wallet. Even though the food was good, it wasn't worth the price tag. Also, the menu they showed online for brunch wasn't the same as what they offered us. Disappointing cause I had my mouth set for a plate they weren't even serving. read more

If you love unique, crafted, flavorful dishes this is the place. It's tapas style (small/medium dishes to be shared). For three we had: - Redfish Ceviche -- loved it, and crunching the chips does make it better - Marinated Beets -- yummy and fresh, but hey they add candied hazelnuts so of course it'll be great - Grilled Mushroom Nachos -- these were good, not awesome - Vegetarian Noodle -- without the goat chile (one of us was vegetarian), still this was an excellent dish - Head-on shrimp with pork belly -- not sure the combo worked but the shrimp were succulent and the pork belly was excellent with just enough crust - Chocolate Cake -- it had sweet potato chips and orange rind on the top, the rind worked with the cake but the cake needed more chocolate punch -- wouldn't order this one again - Donut Holes with candied pecans and amazing ice cream -- this was fantastic -- the donut holes had a great crust to them and were awesome when paired with the ice cream and nuts Old Fashioned cocktail was a bit on the "punch-like" side -- the bourbon was too masked. The waiter was "bossy but in a charming way," attentive and really knew his stuff. Overall, loved the experience. read more

I consider myself a bit of a Bryce Gilmore roadie. I've followed him from trailer, to Barley Swine, to volunteering for an event in order to serve him beers all night, and now to Odd Duck again. I love his relaxed, rooted, yet modern approach to food. Odd Duck feels like Bryce Gilmore has hit his stride. There is nowhere else in Austin that focuses and allows vegetables to shine the way they do here. While I couldn't fault any of the meat dishes and they were all cooked beautifully, in fact a couple of them were my favorites of the night, vegetables are really honored here. Texture is something that is closely paid attention to and since I adore good mouthfeels (ugh what did I just invite into my life?) OD wins this game hands down. The menu evolves, more than changes, ingredients get switched out as seasonal availability changes until they form a new dish. This won't stop me from gushing about my faves- the shitake doughnut, pea fritters, chowder, quail, and beef tongue all stood out. Since it was the first time, we had to order all the savory things, but I think I've learned I just don't care enough for pickled shrimp and I don't love bread enough to order the spelt bread when there are many other dishes to enjoy. Though kudos to making bread from the leftover process of beer brewing. The two desserts I tried were tasty and exceptionally made, but they just weren't what my sweet dreams are made of. I love the big glass box setting, "good for rainstorms bad for zombie attacks", I thought to myself during dinner. The atmosphere is lively, setup nicely for a few different settings- outdoors, intimate kitchen bar, 4 seat tables, and loud community tables. The mix of eclectic serving plates is a great sign of just how comfortable Odd Duck is, all of the dishes felt confident. Very approachable and down to earth, and another great gem in what makes Austin's dining scene different. Lunch hours, supposedly, starting Feb 3rd! read more

Items Selected; Southport - Tawny Port, Ransom Gin, Cherry, Cava Parker House Rolls, Pig Head, Mustard Seed Shiitake Doughnut, Popcorn, Mushroom Cream, Balsamic Baked Sweet Potato, Yogurt, Peanuts, Cilantro Chicken Fried Chicken Egg, Mushrooms, Hot Sauce Andouille, Cornmeal Pancake, Coffee Mayonnaise Bread Pudding, Malted Ice Cream, Beer Caramel Brownie, Milk Chocolate, Sweet Potato, Sorghum The brick and mortar iteration of Chef Bryce Gilmore's Farm-to-Trailer truck and a relative newcomer to the local dining scene it was a foregone conclusion after Thursday's dinner at Barley Swine that a visit to Odd Duck would find its way into my Austin agenda - a late night walk-in seat at the bar mine for the taking as a nightcap after a great meal at Uchi. Larger in size and far more casual than its older brother but no less innovative in cuisine or effusive in service it was under the watchful eye of two bartenders that my meal took place and quickly making friends with a pair of locals seated next to me it would not be long before drinks and several small plates would arrive. Featuring a large list of local vendors and a slick yet rustic style as great tunes played over the din of the crowd it was first with a cocktail that my Odd Duck experience began and balancing the heft of port with cava's dry bubbles plus notes both sweet and herbal the Southport shined - its bold but diverse flavor profile effortlessly pairing with the all but the most mild of the savories much to my delight. Moving on to the food, a pair of breads began my tasting and featuring a pair of yeasty Parker rolls stuffed with tete de cochon tinged with dijon the meal kicked off with a blast to the tastebuds only to find even more oomph in an umami-laden doughnut complete with smoky popcorn and rich mushroom cream kept in check with just a touch of acid. Starting plates proper lightly with sweet potato in textures and flavors that would not have been out of place at Barley Swine before moving into two of the restaurant's headstrong signatures suffice it to say that both the crunchy poached egg with house made hot sauce and the spicy sausage with light chicory cream over soft hoecakes are 'must orders' - a sentiment shared equally by a pair of decadent desserts, each better than any of the sweets at Barley Swine and the buttery bread pudding with toasty marshmallows, salty caramel, candied nuts, and hoppy top notes a veritable essay on balancing discrepant, complex flavors into something far better than the sum of already impressive parts. read more

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The food is always amazing, but I am never going back. I had a reservation for 5:45 for first night out in FOREVER, and the babysitter for my two boys was late. Since Odd Duck assumes long reservations, I was told I could still come as long as we were done by 8:00 pm (we had 7:00 pm Alamo movie reservations, so no problem). The sitter was taking so long, and since they were holding my table anyway, I called and begged them to let me pay for our food and drinks in advance, promised to tip well, just wanted it fired so it was ready when we got there so I could still make my movie, and they refused. I said, "PLEASE?! I am so hungry, am trying to pay you for food I haven't had in forever because I have small kids, a to-go order would be fine I?!" I'd have eaten in the car but they refused. As I told them, I unfortunately will never be back. Seems like Odd Duck is too proud of themselves for the likes of me. read more

What was good: The food, except for our raw doughnut. Everything else was exceptionally good. What was bad/awful: Being treated like a scumbag by our condescending server, Christine. Pretty much ruined the experience. read more

I've been wanting to try Odd Duck Farm to Trailer for over 5 years now. Unfortunately, never went and then I graduated / moved to Houston. A few months ago, I found their brick and mortar while surfing the net and immediately showed it to my boyfriend since we planned on going to Austin. He secretly made reservations for us for dinner this past Saturday. Ladies, guys do pay attention.... sometimes! ;) It was pouring when we went, but luckily the valet guys came over with huge golf umbrellas! FYI valet is complementary. I'm sure there is parking elsewhere, but I did not bother to look as it was raining cats and dogs. Inside, it was cozy. There's a bar area that wraps around the center of the restaurant. Long bar-like tables line the outsides of the room and similar to Barley Swine, you might have to share the communal table (which I definitely don't mine since the lady next to us gave us some great recommendations!). There's also patio seating, and it's still accessible in the rain because they put down those heavy plastic covers. My boyfriend and I were seated at the end of one looooong bar tables near the windows at the front of the restaurant. The wooden bar stools have grooves for your butt cheeks which made them more comfortable to sit on. We immediately start studying the menu.. drinks first, of course! We ordered "Nordic by Nature" (Belgian IPA, elderflower, lemon) and Aunt Polly (wahaka mezcal, elderflower, ghost chili). I LOVED BOTH. The IPA cocktail was sweet with a hint of bitter from the beer. Not sure if I could taste the lemon, but it was in there somewhere. Our server, Kasey (Casey? sorry, I have no idea how she spells it) recommended the ghost chili cocktail. I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have ordered it without some convincing. She said that there was only a hint of ghost chili and the spicy kick stayed just long enough for you to have a taste but also be able to taste your food later. And she was exactly right! Both were great and I'm sure their other cocktails are too! Similar to Barley Swine, Odd Duck is all about sharing! I love love love this way of eating because you get to try a lot more than just one entree. As strange and nerdy as this sounds, I also enjoy making the perfect bite and trying various combinations using the ingredients on each plate. It's recommended that each person orders 3-5 dishes each and this also depends on the size and heaviness (veggies vs. carbs) of the item. The bf and I decided to start with 7. Here's what we ordered and I've ranked them from my favorite to least favorite, to the best of my ability because I enjoyed EVERYTHING! 1. Chicken fried chicken egg I love eggs, so of course this would be one of my favorites. It sat on a bed of phoenix-tail mushrooms, some greens, and the most interesting hot sauce. Deliciously unique combination of flavors. 2. Carrots roasted in hay, chevre, pistachio crumb (aka carrots 3-ways). Gosh darn, that goat cheese was freaking delicious. I scraped off every last bit with bread and my spoon. 3. Raw cobia, grilled bacon, soy, grapefruit Cobia... what are you? You taste like the white fish version of salmon. Yum. 4. Andouille, cornmeal pancake, coffee mayonnaise This was our second to last course and it almost served as a sweet-savory dessert. The cornmeal pancake and coffee mayo was OMGGGG! The sausage prevented the entire dish from being too, too sweet. I would have liked to ended with this dish as a nice transition into dessert. 5. Beets, mole, cultured cream, corn nuts, charred olive I usually love beets but this dish didn't jump out at me. I'm not a huge fan of blue cheese either and it was quite pungent here. Eat it with the candied corn nuts for milder flavors. They also give you a bit too much. Regardless, I thought it was perfect for our first course though. Light pairing of different flavors and textures. Also left a huge pinkish purple mess on your plate. Luckily, you'll get new mismatched plates for each course :) 6. Black olive pasta, braised goat, sage, parmesan This is almost an entree. They give you a TON of pasta. The goat was super tender. The entire dish was a little too salty for my taste, so that kind of ruined it for me. It was also served last (I was hoping it would be earlier since it's rather heavy), so my boyfriend and I were struggling to finish it. Salty + full bellies + impending food coma = bad combo. 7. Bread, spent grain, cultured butter. Translation: sourdough bread with whipped sour cream butter. Our server highly recommended this and my boyfriend wanted it. I preferred the pretzel bread/ham/mustard or the Parker house rolls. However, since it was our first time, we decided to go with this one. Let's just say it wasn't the best loaf of sourdough I've ever had. We both intended to order the bread pudding for dessert but we were extremely stuffed after those 7 wonderful courses. Definitely trying some next time!!!!! read more

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Location/Ambiance Right on S. Lamar, the location is in a popular part of town. There is indoor and outdoor seating, both have a very warm feeling. Odd Duck is a great option for a large party who is willing to broaden their culinary horizons due to the tapas-size portions. I haven't been here for Happy Hour, but I've heard it's one of the best in town. It is not dog friendly. Service Very good service. The wait staff are great about walking you through the menu and helping you decide what might be best for you to try. No complaints at all! Food (Dinner) I've been here twice, once as part of a food tour and another for a full meal. I believe the entire menu had changed when I was there the second time, so I won't bother listing any specific dishes. Part of the experience seems to be trying whatever's available. That said, if you see anything with pork belly on the menu, I suggest trying that as it was my favorite dish between both visits. My best advice is to set aside any reservations you have about the concoctions and trust that the chef is going to do a great job pairing items you think wouldn't necessarily taste good together. The portions are small, so you will want to order several small plates. Overall, very impressed. Portion Size: small plates read more

Felt like the odd one out! Small plates full of flavor and sometimes not so good! Very spendy for small amounts of food. Very Portlandia! Plus side beautiful place and the service was great! read more

Very good spot for hanging out with friends and family. Pastries and breads are excellent. The vibe is AUSTIN.I would definitely recommend going here read more

Odd Duck is amazing. Brunch, dinner, whatever, this is a place you must visit in Austin!i I love that the menu changes so often, and the items on the menu are always so imaginative and original. The four times I've been, I've left with a happy tummy already planning my next visit. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, patient and accommodating. I would give this place 6 stars if I could! read more

Odd Duck is on several "must try" lists for Austin and I was lucky enough to have a few friends bring me here for a birthday brunch. I had been wanting to try it for quite some time and was very excited; but left a little disappointed. The waiter was very friendly, talkative and excited about the food. But that's where my excitement ended. His service was spotty and we found ourselves asking for things a few times (club soda, coffee) and I found myself wanting another cup of coffee that never came. The food was inspired and beautifully presented, but lacking. We tried the corn dog and tostada appetizers to share - not served for sharing (as was recommended) and just...ok. My friends got the corn pancakes and I got the Trotter (decided to give it a shot at the waiter's recommendation). The pancakes were good, and the melon that topped them was flavorful and ripe; but overall underwhelming. The Trotter cake with egg and pesto had a good flavor combination; unfortunately I couldn't get through it due to the texture of the meat - which I knew was a risk. We were celebrating the end of my 20s so they surprised me with their celebration fortune cookie. The cookie was good, and large enough to share. The fortune was cute. To be honest, I expected better due to the reputation and prices. The ambiance and decor is great, "upscale casual" I'll call it. Unfortunately the rest of the experience just didn't follow suite. It's just not worth the money. It was $80 for three - 2 apps and 3 entrees and I'm pretty sure we all left to make ourselves a sandwich. read more

Had brunch at the recommendation of friends while visiting Austin. So many great things on the menu - we ordered just about everything and had a tasting. I especially enjoyed the biscuit, croissant sandwich, and Cory's Coffee! Seriously that drink was amazing. read more

I won't go back. Ever. The menu is a little overwrought but the food was good. Not great. The atmosphere is fun. But the manager came up and told us to leave because he needed the table. So if you go there, be prepared to eat, drink and then get the heck out. I mean, that's what you came for. To eat and drink. Take your socializing elsewhere. Unbelievably rude treatment. read more

Hands down definitely my top 5 for best brunches in Austin. Everything about this place was what a restaurant should be (minus having to valet park, sorry I'm possessive of my vehicle, otherwise it was fine, they only drove it 10 feet) The atmosphere off the bat was incredibly welcoming. The staff just had a very cool, laid back vibe. We ordered a ton of food, because that's how we roll. Let's go down the list, shall we? French press coffee - solid press served in mis-match cutesy coffee/tea cups! They bring by a baked goods basket! yes it's as fucking fun as it sounds. Filled to the brim with amazing carbie goodness. Most of us ordered the pain au chocolat, but a couple got the buttered biscuit? I think it was. Okay buttered biscuit doesn't sound all that thrilling I'll admit, but it SO was. It was a square shaped scone looking inconspicuous mother of a pastry. Let me explain: the outside was crisp like thick crisp, like every corner - every side crisp! inside was somehow dense yet fluffy, boring yet tasty? it keeps contradicting itself! It was so damn good. The top was just lightly sweetened with a drizzle honey syrup. It left me wanting more and went perfectly with coffee. Thank you Ricky and Sara for ordering this..I owe you because I never would have looked twice at it and now I can't stop thinking about it. Corn Dog: I'm going to say, the most fanciest corn dog I've ever consumed. The corn batter wasn't super crisp and I was okay with that (which if you know me I'm hardly forgiving about). The meat itself was really tender and flavorful and that whipped egg foam? WUT! yea that shit was good. Bacon Salad: was okay, it didn't get any love or hate from the table. The winner of that dish was the fried chicharones. The egg was perfectly poached, the only thing that was a bit too much was that the bacon was super salty. Waffle: Husband ordered this all to himself, he was defeated too sweet and definitely not a meal. I begrudgingly had a taste and didn't love it. The chocolate ice cream was a bit over the top. Everything came across as sweet and I couldn't find distinct flavors. Bummer. The English Muffin sandwich was loved by the person who ordered it, I didn't try it. I however ordered the holy grail of plates. It was their daily special. I seriously felt like I had won the lottery that day. Also when the waiter says to you with a grin of superior but friendly confidence: "get it, it will bet the best thing you ever eat" you kinda have my attention. Bacon & Eggs as they call it..your basic bacon & eggs it was not! It was a pork belly chop (bone in) that was rubbed in a smokey,sweet, spicy mix dry seasoning. Charred to utter greatness. I don't even know where to begin.. So lets work bottom to top of how the dish complied. Crisp dense bed of hash brown patty, 1.5 lb pork belly chop, 2 fried eggs, pickled onion, fried brussel leaves, grapefruit segments, and the chefs heart and soul splattered about. It was SO GOOD. I had died and gone to heaven. I would be in such trouble if this was a staple on their menu, and it seriously should be. My only regret was that I didn't take a picture because it was a piece of work. It was everything anyone could ever want on one dish. I wouldn't change a damn thing! And for that dish alone, I will return. read more

Price is worth the quality of food presented here at Odd Duck. For some reason my review was still in my drafts but I am still happy to share my wonderful experience. So with out further delay. Total spent $87.93 Guests- 3 (29.31/person) Reservations here are a great idea. A dinner date with the girls. My first problem was that there was only vale parking not a parking lot so i had to park a couple blocks down. When you first walk in you see a culinary display of preserved and fermented jars of pickles, fish and more. Just lovely; rustic but on display in a way it showed a modern show of tail-to-snout, everything is used, no waste. Menu is seasonal. It changes regularly to what is available. Even with a reservation it took us sometime to be seated unfortunately it was packed! I rejoice for Odd Duck and its popularity but with a reservation booked i would think a table would have been... well reserved. 2 cocktails, 3 regular drinks. 2 apps shared, 3 meals (1 for ea person) and 3 deserts. read more

One of my top five favorite restaurants in Austin, and a great go-to for a celebratory or date night. Also, the bread and butter app - so simple, so good. read more

Traveled across the country on a self explored culinary tour. Odd Duck was the best stop on the trip and would travel to Austin again just to experience the Odd Duck. read more

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Okay so I think I may need to go again to really give my honest opinion on the new Odd Duck. I was a big fan of the trailer- BYOB, delicious, warm and shareable small plates? YES it was great! I really do still miss the trailer. Anyhow, my brother who is in the restaurant business was coming into town so naturally I wanted to show him the best Austin has to offer. I had originally planned on taking him to Barley Swine but for those that are unaware, Barley Swine has changed its menu. It has become a tasting menu starting at $60 pp. Soooo I ended up making resos at Odd Duck. I have had it on my radar so was really excited it actually worked out that way. The reservation system was flawless. I called and they took my name and number with no fuss and with great ease. The restaurant layout is cool with a completely open kitchen and big bar around. The seating is communal (this seems to be the new thing with restaurants opening in the area) and they have a heated patio on the side. Staff was friendly and service was spot on. The food was good to great. Here is why I say I think I may need to come back. I had some REALLY great things but I also had some just okay things. We ordered the baked sweet potato, carrots, chicken fried egg, goat rolled in pasta, grilled cow tongue, field green fritters and ice cream macarons. The dishes that would make me come back and had me wanting more were the chicken fried egg, goat rolled pasta and carrots. ALSO the macarons were soooo good, esp the ginger one. The other dishes we ordered were bland and just did not leave a lasting impression on me. I did not try the cow tongue but I heard it was unreal, so if this is your thing do yourself a favor and get it! I do want to come back and try more dishes, if nothing else I guess I can stick to what I know and already love! CHICKEN FRIED EGG! I do want to share a weird thing that happened during our dining experience, which is also maybe the reason I am hesitant to give a higher rating. We were seated (party of 3) with another couple. The tables are not huge so you are literally sitting right next to the other party. Well during our meal the woman leaned over and said "You know part of the process in communal seating is we get to see what you ordered and then ask you questions" This was when we ordered the cow tounge. I told her what it was and to much of my horror she then picks up her fork and asks if she could try some and to use her fork to get it? Ummm WHHHAAT? I was in such shock. I mean who does that? It was not like we were chatting the entire time or anything... very strange and very inappropriate in my opinion. Anyhow just beware when seated with others! LOL read more

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If I could give this place zero stars then I would! Where do I begin, the portions are incredibly small and pathetic. The service is lukewarm and slow. The drinks are watered down. A friend and I were enjoying the patio and were told we have to leave our seats because we have stayed too long. They moved us to a sad seat in front of the restaurant on a bench. When they brought the check it had more drinks than we ordered and they would not correct the bill! DO NOT COME HERE!!! read more

Ambiance/Decor: friendly. Wait: very long. One of the hostesses (short blond hair) was very courteous though. Noise: loud but not an issue. Bar: good size, quaint. Food: Worst food we/I have had in many a times out! My fried egg burger was cold and tasteless; we had a cabrito substitute - not a good move! I was violently ill that evening. My guests ordered a b'fast taco - small, meager looking and with a rubbery tortilla. Service: very friendly and courteous. Price/Value: Very pricey, bad food. Worst value for money. Bottom Line: First and very last..... read more

I'm allergic to small plates establishments so the four stars here is a testament to the deliciousness of the tiny tiny morsels that were presented to me - and the lovely relaxed unpressured service. And free valet parking. No one does that in Austin. Everyone should! We popped in for a five o'clock happy hour catch up and three hours later had just about made it on to desert via wine and cocktails and wine. Highlights were ALL the vegetable dishes and the pork belly. And the cheddar Apple pie. Bl**dy hell that was excellent. I loved how many of the dishes were vegetarian. And how extremely varied the menu was. If the plates were even a tiny bit bigger i'd bump it up to five stars in a heart beat - I recognise its a matter of taste - but much as I like to taste everything. I also like to be more full than I was after 4 or 5 plates plus desert. I'm a greedy creature. I embrace this about myself. I ate at PTerry's on the way home as well (I am going to be an extremely fat old woman) I'll be back repeatedly for happy hour snacks, and with people that won't judge me for ordering double portions! read more

I came here for a bachelorette party dinner a few weeks back. The hostess made reservations since there were about 16 of us. We were able to get a great spot out on the patio area in the corner, which was good because we all had a few cocktails before heading out, so we were a bit rowdy. The sister of the bachelorette party (aka the hostess), ordered ahead of time so we wouldn't be floundering at the menu amongst our cackles to decide what we wanted to eat. This place does small plates right. Each one that came out was delectable and had so many interesting and unique flavors. Here is just a sampling of what we had: - Grilled carrots, avocado, mole, orange, feta: The combination of the mole and orange was perfect. It was sweet with a little bit of tangy and the avocado mellowed it out. - Lamb meatloaf, caraway mustard, pickled radish, almonds: I'm not a big fan of radishes, but when you took a bite of the meatloaf and had just the littlest bit of mustard with the radish, my mouth was watering! Incredible! - Cast iron pintos, smoked pork, grilled cabbage, sage: This little dish right here was unreal. The sage intensified the flavor of the beans and the smoked pork without overpowering it. They also served us dessert which I don't really remember eating (not after 3 glasses of wine....) because we all just dug our spoons right in. All I know is we were all part of the clean plate club that night. Not a plate left untouched nor an empty stomach in the house. I can't wait to come back and try some other dishes on the menu. As a side note, what really made me excited to give this place 5 stars was the atmosphere and the wait staff. They were hospitable, knowledgeable and insanely polite. read more

I can't even with this place. I've been twice - once in June and once in July so there were several items on the menu that had changed. Both times I didn't eat a single thing that I didn't like - and we tried a lot of dishes. Even some of the dishes where you read the description and think... hmm, not sure about that - even those were out of this world amazing. The first time I went there were 6 of us; the second time I went there were 3 of us. Both times, I think we almost ordered everything on the small plates menu. I won't go dish by dish because by the time you get to Odd Duck, the menu will have changed. I will say that whatever you do, start with their bread and house made butter. After that, pick whatever you want off the menu and you won't be disappointed. The time and thought that goes into developing each recipe can be seen, smelled and tasted when the dish comes out. Even something as simple as an heirloom tomato salad will change your life at Odd Duck. The service is excellent - personable, friendly, attentive. The ambiance is fun - inviting, relaxed with class. The view of downtown Austin from the patio is breathtaking. And the food... several days after going to dinner at Odd Duck I was still saying.. "Damn, that was a good meal." I want to come here every month so I can keep trying the new offerings off the new menu! read more

I really liked the "austinty" modern feel of this place. Wooden benches, planters, stringed lights, tall glass windows. For brunch we sampled a little of everything. Cast Iron Duck Eggs, Egg Sandwich, Kolache, Popcorn Grits. Everything was super rich and very decandent. Loved it all especially since I love having all my dishes topped with an egg. The servers were quick and very accommodating for the group. I'll be back to try out more for dinner. read more

You don't need me to review Odd Duck. With over 250 reviews, you should be able to decide if you want to eat there or not. But I hope that you fixate on the reviews by the whiners and people who bitch about EVERYTHING so that you stay away from Odd Duck, because I always, always want to be able to get a seat there. And I really don't want you to know that Odd Duck is probably my new favorite restaurant in Austin, because then you might go there. So I won't tell you about the awesome bar service, the fantastic, fresh, farm-to-table eats, the pork belly (I love you, pork belly), or the delicious drinks. You should just go somewhere else. Especially if you're with all your hipster friends. That barstool is mine. read more

Food-wise, everything about Odd Duck was on point. Standout menu items were the Shrimp (well seasoned and perfectly cooked) and the mushroom tamale (interesting spin on a regional classic), but we tried a bit of everything. Anyway, it was solid across the board and while we only tried those two awesome dishes, there wasn't a dish that was below par. But what took the experience over the top was that the service was excellent. Our waitress was fun, knowledgable, and made us feel like we were having a unique experience. The wine list was global and accessible; when I presented a decision-making dilemma, our server helped us navigate it expertly. The sign of reaching transcendence as a waiter is when you're presented a problem, can think on your feet, come to an answer, and make it seem effortless in the process. Not a bad thing to say about our visit and will be coming back. (Half of wine bottles for happy hour!) read more

Part of me didn't want to believe the hype, but I'm happy to say the hype is there for a reason. The entire experience was superb and I can't wait to do it again. I arrived and was having a mild parking panic attack on approach when I saw the sign for free valet - yes, please! We knew there would be a wait, but they have it set up so you can give them your phone number and walk over to Gibson for drinks while you wait. About an hour later we got a text and were promptly seated at the bar. If you can, I highly recommend sitting here as it is an open kitchen and our bartender, David, was really what made our evening over the top. And everyone else who worked there as well. They obviously care about this place and love what they do (we ended up sitting next to an employee who was there on his day off - he even "made" us try his strawberry float with chamomile rhubarb cream, which was incredible). After harassing us for living in Austin and never having been there before, David said we had to try the Draft Moscow Mule, and it was, as he claimed, the best Moscow Mule I've ever had. They start by making their own ginger beer, add the vodka and citrus, keg it and pump it through the draft system. As we were discussing how a pre-mixed drink could be better than mixing it on demand, he also gave us a sample of the Orange Margarita...I will most certainly be back for more of those this summer. We then sought David's input on practically everything we ate, as well as what to drink with it. Our menu is below, but if you stop reading now, I just want to make sure you understand you should listen to the staff and their opinions on what you should eat. And you MUST get the pasta!! Parker house rolls filled with pig head - after the pasta, you MUST get these! Mustard seed tater tots with pimento cheese dip - Great, but if I had to rank, my least favorite dish of the night. Chicken fried 1/2 quail with cheddar biscuit, hot sauce, buttermilk. Paired with Brooklyn Sorachi Ace draft beer. It was the perfect beverage and the quail was amazing. Black olive pasta with braised goat, sage, parmesan. Paired with Lorenzo Sassetti Istriciaia IGT Sangiovese. I cannot communicate how good this pasta was. I will most certainly be back for more. We thought we were through eating, so I ordered the Barrel Aged Manhattan for dessert. This is another pre-made cocktail that blew my mind. They actually create it by adding the ingredients to small barrels then aging them from 6-12 months. Once ready, they bottle the cocktail to preserve the flavor and serve from the bottles with the best cherries ever. I was blissfully happy :) But then, we felt we might as well have a real dessert. Bread pudding with malted ice cream, beer caramel, pecans. Paired with North Coast Old Rasputin RIS Nitro. It was the perfect end to an awesome meal. We also bought a couple of beers for the kitchen, but considering how much we consumed, I felt our bill was totally reasonable. I can't praise this place enough and will most certainly be back to try lunch and take advantage of their Happy Hour! read more

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To put it in perspective, I've gone to the Odd duck practically once per week since they opened. It's been just over a week since I have been back for the deliciousness, and I am having withdrawals! Lol. The staff are all stellar, management is superb, and the food is to die for! Check this place out if your even just a little curious, you won't be disappointed. read more

Odd Duck - "For the lushes" bottle of bubbles, 3 fresh seasonal juices. - American Near Me - Austin, Texas

I went there to celebrate my birthday. I had driven by Odd Duck several times and always observed a lot of patrons through the windows, so naturally, I thought it would be an excellent restaurant. The service was excellent and the decor of the restaurant was really interesting. They offered free valet which is always very helpful considering the difficulty in finding parking around the area. We ordered 9 different dishes consisting mostly of the more expensive ones, but also including a few of the cheaper ones. I must say that after having had a good variety of their food, my general conclusion was... It is NOT very good. In fact, I'm convinced that most of the customers must go there to drink as there bar scene was definitely tip top. It would be one thing if it was just me, however there wasn't one person in our group that liked the food. To be fair, there were maybe 2 of the 9 dishes that were okay, but none that were worth visiting this restaurant again. Some might enjoy this restaurant, but I certainly do not understand how it could obtain 4.5/5 stars. read more

We decided to go here on a whim for lunch. They sat us at the bar.. We ordered two dishes and they were both very good. We got the taco salad, and the red fish tacos. It was super filling. They had some really interesting drinks, that i didn't try, but we will be back Odd Duck! Thanks for the lunch! read more

If you're looking for the most farm to table spot in Austin, look no further. Had the quail, so delicious. Did take us like 25 min before we finally sat down. Other than that, service was impeccable, food was amazing. Overall 9/10 read more

I love anything that Bryce Gilmore is involved with because it means that the food will be good! After having gone to Barley Swine for dinner one evening, I knew that Odd Duck would quickly follow thereafter. So I was turning 28. Or 21. :D And my friends and I had been want to come here for quite some time so we bit the bullet and came at 6:30 on a beautiful Wednesday evening to Odd Duck. A word of warning. This restaurant is probably made up of glass windows for 3/4 of the restaurant so I'd imagine if you came during the summer in the dead heat of the afternoon, this place probably gets pretty warm. Patio seating is available but indoors, it's quite bright and sunny despite the shades. Just something to think about. We ordered the full menu that they printed for us that had a happy birthday message. They even created a dish for us vegetarians that was a mushroom based fettuccine. There were various courses that came out. What I remember most was a pickled beet type salad, a sweet potato dish with crispy fried potato skin, that fettuccine which was hands down...BEST THING EVER. I will say, these people know how to elaborate on my much loved sweet potato dishes. It comes out velvety soft with the textural contrast of the crispy potato skin. Aside from the revelation of Sway's version, I found this to be a good stand in. I loved it. The fettuccine had this earthy, salty (pleasantly so), and just...richness about it that coated the pasta noodles so perfectly. It was wonderful. The desserts here...left something to be desired. The butterscotch pie was a nice way to end the meal but we got this rhubarb ice cream float and it was just...odd. It came with this ice cream that had crumbles in it that did not go together. Maybe I'm a purist but in a float, all I want is soda and smooth ice cream. I need to sip it through a straw. As always, service was impeccable. I give the edge to Barley Swine for sure but for a more casual meal, I'd recommend Odd Duck. They are very accommodating and if you call to set the reservation, just tell them if you have some odd dietary requests. read more