My first visit to The Grove was absolutely worth it, and I'll definitely be back! I had the…read moreHangover Burger and it hit every craving I walked in with..... juicy, seasoned to perfection, and just flat out delicious. It came with homemade chips that were so good I honestly wish they sold them by the bag because I'd buy them immediately! My cousin ordered the French toast and it was phenomenal too. The atmosphere was chill with great vibes all around, and the wait staff was amazing and super welcoming. Overall, such a great experience from start to finish. Highly recommend checking out The Grove!

You have to try their bruschetta!!!! Omg they have delicious…read morechoices to add to it. I also had the bacon wrapped quail, so very nice! Beautiful place to fo for lunch, but especially dinner. Very open and spacious with a long list of wines to pair your food. I love the ambiance and with the nice weather every now and then, (even in winter) it's great to have a patio dinner with your date or friends. The cocktails are delicious and you can't go wrong having an espresso after your meal. I've been to the cedar park location, but this one is also very nice and central.

This was the best birthday celebration I can recall having in years. It was over 100 degrees…read moreoutside so we were a bit worried about our reservations on the lake and the tavern being a hot day, but that was totally unnecessary. My group was given two boats for a very roomy experience with canopies for lots of shade if desired (but these were pulled back at night to enjoy the stars), there was even shaded areas on the lake (if you want to sip a cocktail with the boat shading you) on a lillypad to float if desired. The lake breeze and the wind as the boats cruised make it completely cool both on the lake and on the floating tavern. A rental of time at Floating Tavern is completely an experience that feels like you are out of the United States. It is so exotic! They cater your day totally to what you want to do. Want jet skis? Fine. Want to go cliff diving? Fine. Want to just cruise the lake or take a trip with music? That works too. Just chill out sipping a cocktail on a lillypad or floating? Go for it. Once your water time and cruise time is completed, the real fun begins. With expert captains having given us a great lake tour, we pulled up to the floating tavern and that was just incredible. I brought electric candles for the table to level up the experience a bit but they did it all so well with or without them and it was so roomy even for our large group! They had dimmed lights for ambiance, a mixologist squeezing fresh juices for us for amazing drinks she made with the alcohol we brought, (their alcohol package may be easier next time as it is very affordable) and we had two chefs creating small bites for us hot and cooked right there on the tavern as the sun set and we were surrounded only by lake and stars, docked right there in the middle of the lake. The service was exemplary and far beyond our expectations of fun and being catered to. You can bring some of your own food too to make a full party if desired. The communication leading up to the event was exceptional and I'll be honest, I would much rather book this experience with friends a few times a year then ever buy a boat. It is the best lake experience and lake dining you will ever have and the hosts are a huge part of the fun of the day. True experts at what they do and we are a group of well traveled, well dined foodies (including two professional chefs) and we were completely wowed at our evening. It's the vibe that gets you. You will completely shake off all stress spending an evening this way!

From the owner: Known for creating an intimate atmosphere, the Floating Tavern is a unique combination of cuisine,…read morelive entertainment and boat life. Only accessible by boat, our captains will navigate you to the Floating Tavern with options to visit any of the Lake Travis Northshore attractions along the way. Once arriving at the tiki tavern, patrons enjoy, dinner, drinks and a live show in the most unique setting.

Incredibly tasty happy hour! Not a single bad bite in everything we ate and we ate a lot! I'd say…read moreexpect them to be small bites as its tapas style but the burger is a nice touch to fill you up. The basque cheesecake was decadent and so tasty. I got the kalimotxo (wine+coke) which was nice but not as tasty as their tinto de verano (which was my personal fave when I was in Spain). They make their own chips too! They were so light and fluffy and felt like they melted in my mouth....being topped by jamon was just the pièce de résistance Service was great, the spot was decorated beautifully, and I enjoyed my visit. We only expected to get a few bites but everything just sounded so yummy and they do have valet which was nice (considering how hard it is to find street parking on the east side).

Definitely my new favorite tapas restaurant. Definitely make your own reservation because it was…read morefull when we went. When we arrived, they were still getting ready our table so we did wait a little bit. But the hostess was so nice and then our waiter was amazing. I love how they explained each dish and knew what to recommend. And when I ordered our wine, I loved that the person that brought it out was like a huge enthusiast on it and explained to us all about it, which is so cool. I was so excited to know that they had real hormone ego from Spain. It was pricey, but that's just because of the import, but it was amazing. I was so happy it felt like I was back in Spain eating this cause it's literally my favorite thing to eat. We also got the Popeyes bravos, which was delicious the sauce and it was so good. We did order other things that I didn't post here but let me tell you everything we got was delicious. Everything is for sharing so you do need to go with that mentality about it. And as for the wine we asked for it to be in that special bottle because we wanted to do the whole thing of where we poured in our mouth which was really cute lol. The place is really cute. Has good music nice date night vibes or even go with your best friend vibes.

short and to the point…read more... 30 day dry aged porterhouse "la fiorentina" - amazing spaghetti alla chitarra- perfect. wood roasted beef bone marrow & wild mushroom risotto - just..:.. the absolute best thing. just get this and only this it you don't know what to get.

This was my first dining experience at Red Ash and it was for my friends birthday dinner. We had a…read moreparty of seven and were seated at the high top in the front of the restaurant by the hostess counter. I had a great view of everybody walking by the restaurant outside :) Our server was fantastic! He was super friendly and attentive. We arrived at 8:00 p.m. and left a little after 10:00 p.m. The food was delicious. My man absolutely loved his seafood pasta dish! He doesn't even eat pasta but he scraped that plate dry. I highly recommend ordering family style for the table but make sure your whole party is on board with splitting the check evenly because the restaurant does not break up the check according to diners only split evenly, I believe up to four ways. Example: Our check was $822 (included gratuities) for seven people and we were only able to split evenly four ways. Roughly $118 each. It is what it is but I didn't even get a main course. Just a glass of wine, a half of a piece of bruschetta, some of the Caesar salad and a small portion of the gnocchi (all shared) I'm glad I got to experience Red Ash, but now that I've checked that off my list, I'm good.

Garbo's has created a new summer-time lobster roll just for this season! Delightfully light with…read morethe chunks of lobster tossed in a red wine vinaigrette dressing - no heavy butter or mayo needed. The corn salsa adds a bit of zest. The summertime lobster roll may sound unusual, but the taste is light, refreshing and super delish! It comes with your choice of sides, I love their Cesear as well as the garden salad with champagne vinaigrette. Always save room for the fool and creamy Key Lime Pie, created by the owner and made fresh every morning. You can even purchase a whole pie to really elevate your next event at home. The hospitality and service is always exceptional. I loved watching the 3 members of the wait staff assist each other- teamwork at it's finest!

Dropped back into Garbo for an early dinner before driving a while. Although I didn't partake in…read morethe Happy Hour ($5 off select appetizers), I went for the OG Fish Burrito (Mahi Mahi). I know last time I got the clam chowder but hey, it was 102° outside! One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the cleanliness of the restaurant. It's wasn't too busy but the music was on the loud side. Maybe a touch lower please? The burrito was really nice. I thought that maybe my Mahi Mahi would be a little thicker? The fish seemed slim in comparison to the whole of the "Maines" entree. Jalapeño slices accompanied for some pizzazz. The sauce was flavorful and left no shortage of drips. I chose the side of fries. Perfectly made and absolutely screams fresh cut & fried. There's only one problem with them. They tasted fishy. That's because they fry them in the same fryer as the fish is fried. Not my kind of expectation with perfectly golden crisps. I would advise using a stand alone fryer for potatoes only please. Knox my server was very kind and hospitable & we enjoyed talking about the best hot sauce in the world which is found here, Belize's Marie Sharp's. That's a real winner to accompany your meal. Garbo's is classy but to get lobster which is what they're known for, you're going to have to pay for it. It was unfortunately a higher ticket item than I was willing to go for. Definitely improved in value from last time, thank you Garbo's. It's a nice place to dine & I hope to continue getting a superb value when I'm able to visit there again.

W XYZ Bar is quietly tucked into the nightlife scene at The Domain shopping complex. While most…read morevisitors gravitate toward the energy of Rock Rose Avenue, this hidden gem sits just one street over, inside the lobby of the Aloft Hotel. If you don't know it's there, it's easy to miss. Stepping inside feels like walking into a stylish, oversized living room. A sleek bar lines one side of the space, while comfortable modern living room furniture occupies the center of the room. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between chic sophistication and laid-back fun, with clean architectural lines, modern décor, and dim lighting that creates an inviting ambiance. During our visit, we learned that the longtime bartender had recently moved on and been replaced by Sydney, who was absolutely delightful. When she discovered we were celebrating my friend's birthday, she rallied everyone at the bar and throughout the lounge area to sing "Happy Birthday." The gesture was unexpected, heartfelt, and instantly made the evening feel special. As fate would have it, another guest was celebrating a birthday as well, so the entire group enthusiastically sang for her too. The bar clearly has a loyal following, as several regulars were gathered throughout the evening...a testament to the welcoming atmosphere that keeps people coming back. Syndey crafted custom cocktails for both my friend and me, working with only two instructions: tequila for her and vodka for me. The results were refreshing, creative, and expertly crafted. What could have been just another night out became a memorable birthday celebration thanks to the warmth, hospitality, and personal touches at W XYZ Bar. For that, I'm truly grateful.

After having dinner at The Domain, my friend and I walked around. Stumbled on Aloft hotel where we…read moreknew they had a bar inside. It's such a cool looking lobby. Bumper pool table, couches and seating areas. A small bar with some pretty unique cocktails. Apparently it was a hopping place on Saturday night. By the time we got there, ordered our drinks and sat down on the couch, a group of people came in and sat near us with drinks in hand. Guess this hotel lobby is the trending place. The vibe is pretty cool. It doesn't feel like a lobby. Just seems like a chill place to talk and catch up without a lot of noise and distractions. I believe the bar in the lobby is open to midnight. I got a mint cookie drink. And literally tastes like a liquid mint chocolate cookie. I could have had 4 more. Yum, minty.

This was one of the BEST meal experiences I have had in Austin from start to finish! Emmer & Rye…read morehas been on my list to try for 5 years now aid it exceeded my expectations... fantastic service, phenomenal flavors, and beautiful presentation. This is the perfect spot for a special occasion and I highly recommend the chef's counter if you can get a reservation for it! NOTES: - Reservations: Use OpenTable - Parking: Valet is available for $12 (best option because Rainey St is crowded so street parking is hard to find and the garages nearby are expensive) - Menu changes based on what's available THE HIGHS: - Sitting at the chef's counter: If you have the option to reserve these seats, DO IT! Sitting directly in front of the open kitchen adds to the overall experience (and it helps you decide what to order as you see different dishes coming out) - Fantastic service: We were celebrating my husband's birthday and there was a signed birthday card at our seats. Multiple workers wished him a happy birthday and we were even brought non-alcoholic drinks to celebrate Shea gave us personalized attention and even asked what my husband's favorite color was for the candle next to the dessert. All of the interactions felt genuine and their overall hospitality is next level. - Flavors: There are so many unique ingredients and methods used in the dishes like fried egg foam, smoked peach honey, and persimmon gravy. It all works and every dish is incredibly balanced. - Meal pacing; You order everything at once but the kitchen does a great job of pacing the different dishes throughout the meal. - Presentation: Every dish was plated beautifully and garnished well but you still get a great portion size. THE LOWS: - The end of the meal... seriously, I have no complaints other than being sad when it was over! - It can be hard to get a reservation if you don't plan ahead. THE PRICE: The total was $159.14 after tax ($12.14) but before tip for: - Sourdough Bread ($15) - Johnny Cakes ($16) - Cacio e Pepe ($20) - Caramelle ($23) - Pappardelle ($24) - Lamb & Pork Carnitas ($36) - PB & J ($14) It's obviously a pricier restaurant but I was pleasantly surprised by the portion size... I was so impressed by the flavors in everything we ordered that I didn't even think twice abut the price. BEST BITES: - Johnny Cakes: The fried egg foam is INSANE and the shishito pepper relish at the bottom adds so much flavor (the order comes with 6 but you can do a half order of 3) - Caramelle: This was a new addition to the menu and they hit it out of the park! The pasta is so thin and the smoked house ricotta inside is incredibly soft so it feels like you're biting into a little pillow. - Lamb & Pork Carnitas: You definitely taste the pork more than the lamb but the textures are fantastic because the outside is crispy but it's so moist and tender inside. The sauerkraut adds the perfect acidity, the persimmon gravy is rich and flavorful, and the spaetzle on the side is delicious! THE VERDICT: Emmer & Rye is a must-try for locals or anyone visiting who wants a gourmet dinning experience without breaking the bank. Plan ahead and make a reservation because it's definitely a popular place. I've also dined at their sister restaurant Hestia and loved my meal there as well but I think I personally enjoyed the menu offerings at Emmer & Rye a little more. I recommend sharing the dishes so you can try more things and definitely save room for dessert because the PB & J is delicious!

Absolutely wonderful experience at Emmer & Rye with the fam tonight! This is one to try for sure!…read moreFirst off, beautiful restaurant with great people and great ambiance - service is attentive, kind, and genuine. Second - they have Michelin Green Star and are ZERO waste - and they explain throughout the meal how they make this happen. So very cool. And the food - 5/5 for sure! So good to know - we learned that the best way to order is sharing. The restaurant makes items as they're ready, and that means if you order a pasta, and someone else orders the chicken; you might be eating your dishes at different times. Good news! We love to try everyone so don't have to ask me twice! Standouts - Johnny Cakes with toasted egg foam. Delicious and decadent - not to be missed. The bread - everyone loved it. The butters and honey made on site using leftover cheese, yogurt and fruits (aka zero waste). All the pasta, but specifically the Cacio e Pepe - perfection. I could say something about everything but to suffice to say it was all wonderful!! Thanks for a great night!

I met some friends for an early dinner at Gracia Mediterranean this past weekend. Since we were…read morethere early, the place was pretty empty so we were seated at a nice booth/table near the bar. Our server gave us great suggestions and helped us make yummy choices. My friends had mocktails and I had the beet cocktail with alcohol. My friends forgot I like to take photos for my reviews so some of the photos of the items we ordered we started eating before I took them so they show as half eaten in the photos I shared (haha)...must have been good! I was also happy to discover they are on the InKind app so I was able to use some credits I had available to help pay the bill. I look forward to going back again to try more items!

This is a tapas restaurant so the plates are smaller and meant to be shared. It is on the pricier…read moreend but the food is really good. They have happy hour 5-6 pm and we got the hummus half off! The hummus was so good. I love the pepper oil on top that gives it a little kick. It comes with pita bread but if you order more, it's an extra $3. We also got croquetas (ham and cheese fritters). There are four of them and they are sooo delicious!! This is a must get especially if you love warm and creamy stuff. The outside is nicely fried and if you never had it, it's similar to Japanese takoyaki. Although I love it a lot, the portion was just right for sharing because it really fills you up. We also got the potatoes (nice, but nothing that blew my mind) and chicken empanadas that I thought had a strange, sour taste. I wouldn't get that again. I highly recommend getting different tapas instead of the main courses so you can try different things. We were completely satisfied with the meal after getting these but still made room for the orange almond cake!! This was extraordinarily good!! Not too sweet and the cake has a nice moist texture-not dry. It took a while for food to arrive so service was a bit slow. You can also sit outside if you want but we sat indoors since it was chilly. It's a smaller restaurant so it's nice for an intimate meal or date. They have a bar. There's parking in the back, which is where the entrance is. Btw, this is also on inKind so I got to claim $25 off $50.

Two words. Girl dinner. Espresso martinis and truffle fries…read more 10/10 absolutely you need to try both immediately. I've gone two years in a row for a work conference and the way I plan time around those espresso martinis and truffle fries. I'm not even kidding. It's reasonably priced, nicely laid out, and a great location if you are doing anything near the capitol building.

Pretty darn good!…read more The hamburger was what you would expect from a hotel bar, but the brussel sprouts and the turkey club were very good!!

I love Space Cowboy! Whenever I come to Austin, I always make a stop here for dinner. They're…read morealways able to accommodate small or large parties, but I tend to make a reservation every time. There's a pretty big lot in the front for parking as well! This time our experience wasn't the same as past times I've been because it seemed like only 2 robots were working. Nonetheless, the food came out quickly. They offer lots of mocktails here which is nice! My favorites to always get are the stardust fries, the corn ribs with hummus, and the short ribs! The fries are perfectly seasoned and crispy. The corn ribs with the chili oil crunch are phenomenal! They only come with 2~ per dish so plan accordingly when ordering! The sliders are always surprisingly good! I think the crudo and the baba ghanoush can be a skip -- a lot of our table felt the crudo was a bit too fishy and the flatbread was almost crumbly! For dessert, we tried their new pear tart and it is phenomenal! It is flaky and has a nice smoky caramel flavor to it! We also always get the chocolate ganache and banana ice cream. They also gave us a free cotton candy for the table!

Came here on a Sunday evening with family (4 of us total) and we were seated right away. I loved…read morethe ambiance and decor inside including the sparkly flooring in the bathroom without being tacky. There is a track along each table where a robot will drop off dishes directly to the table. Our server recommended that each person order at least 2-3 dishes (1-2 small dishes and 1 main dish). Our table shared the following: -Space balls (salmon tartare, goat cheese, tangerine, capers, puri; tuna tartare, lemongrass, cilantro, ponzu, puri) -Hamachi (coconut leche de tigre, lemongrass, ginger, serrano, lime zest) -Torched crispy rice trio (salmon tataki-coffee gravlax, avocado, morita aioli; seared tuna-citrus crust, serrano aioli; seared beef filet-brown butter béarnaise sauce) -Burrata and speck (seasonal fruit, tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette and caramelized pepitas) -Roasted octopus (spicy chorizo, house adobo, taro purée) -Corn ribs (citrus chili oil, serrano aioli) -Ube foam panna cotta (vanilla & thyme infused panna cotta with ube foam & torched seasonal fruit) All the small plates/appetizers were good but my personal favorite was the torched crispy rice trio (especially the seared beef filet surprisingly since I'm not a big meat eater). Our server recommended the space balls which we weren't going to initially order but we were glad we did. They were so flavorful but bite sized that I almost wanted to order another one. The roasted octopus was decent but I couldn't taste the taro puree. The burrata and corn ribs were both good but not standout dishes. I think we overordered on the small plates section since we weren't hungry enough to eat our main dishes and each of the dishes are not cheap either. We each ordered our own main dishes. I had the inked seafood risotto (shrimp, scallops, mussels, baby clams, speck, squid ink, fennel) while hubby had the braised short rib (port demi-glace, fresh herbs, truffle oil, vanilla mashed potatoes). We both enjoyed our dishes but I was already pretty stuffed from all our appetizers. We shared the ube foam panna cotta for dessert which was enough for us to take a bite but it was probably the most underwhelming dish of the night. It looked like it was the most popular dish on the menu per Yelp but it tasted like the fridge and wasn't freshly prepared. Overall, food was good (but expensive) and came out in a timely manner.