Cliff is an excellent server! We sat in the bar for HH and he remembered our order - great service @Roaring Fork managers Cliff is outstanding! read more

We had a wonderful meal. Filet mignon and bacon wrapped pork. Both were great. Our server, Miranda, was the best service we have ever had. It was a great experience. read more

It is a great restaurant with perfect food, great service, and nice people. Suggest trying it

This is the best restaurant I've ever eaten at! We all tried the steaks and the fish- my fav the Salmon. Then we ended it with A Creme Brûlée...that was the perfect ending. Along with Margaritas and wine! The best! Everything was soooo delicious! Thank you Roaring Fork for ever existing! Xoxo- an extremely grateful customer. :) read more

The bar manager, Jason Miller refused to put CNN on the main television on the evening of a historical election because "I don't want to have people get emotional in here, or talk about the election, and get loud". When asked if they show UT Football games in the bar his response, "yes" prompted me to reply, "so then it's not really about the emotions, or people getting loud then is it?". He then stated that as a manager, he doesn't pick sides, and chooses to not show the election results. I told him that I thought his response was funny, because he obviously just did. Shame on you Jason Miller. Shame on you. read more

Lunch time. Everyone was wearing a suit. Except for me who was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. (It was hot and humid as all dickens out, so how these people function like that is anyone's guess, plus they're older so more sweaty.) This is a business lunch kind of environment where people have conversations that I parody thusly: "Yes, I think we can do some e-business with the Russians." "Yes, the stock market is currently converting into a bond market, so saddle up, it's venture time, Amigo." "No, presently, I wouldn't want to be suing the banking sector. Nobody sues the banking sector and gets away with it. NOBODY, DAWG." After I parodied, I washed my hands. Then I talked about investment strategies with my partner. Which is weird because we've known each other for a year and have literally never talked about investment strategies before. In this environment, conversation just goes there. So that was weird. After that, I had the Austin restaurant week (.com TM) menu of tortilla soup, cobb salad, and pecan pie. Surprisingly and impressively good. No skimping whatsoever occurred due to restaurant week. (Actually, the previous sentence is ambiguous but probably true on both readings.) It was the best pecan pie I've had. The best, dawg. read more

Rooting fork is one of the places I never think of... So when we decided to come here, it was with a little bit of hesitation and curiosity. What would it be like? Will there be a lot of tourists? Will they try and promote that damn huckleberry margarita yet again? Pleasantly surprised as usual, the Roaring Fork is a bastion of excellent service, good food and inexpensive valet parking. I can't do justice to the giant meat dishes that we had. Suffice to say, if you're ever offered the truffled bone in ribeye. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars, immediately order it and you will the ecstatic. Don't expect to share because you will want to hoard the meat like gollum . That steak alone is worth the trip. Its pricey so make sure it's a special occasion. And go ahead and get a French 75 while you're at it read more

This review is for the bar, not the restaurant. Really cute outside area overlooking the street. My martini was good (three olives, thank you!), and my chop chop salad was better than expected. Cause you know, bar food, my expectation were not high. But it was fresh with a nice citrus vinaigrette and marinated steak. The waiter on the other hand, while pleasant, was not attentive. He cleared my plate, and then disappeared for 15 minutes. Only not really disappeared because I could see him inside talking to the bartender. I would have liked my check without having to go after it. read more

It's the Yelp Drinks week hump day. Also known as a yelp bar crawl. Needing to ensure we have proper sustenance prior to an evening of crawling from bar to bar, Yolanda G and I venture here to grab us some pre-pub crawl grub. Fresh of our rock star parking status after garnering a spot on Congress between 6th & 7th, we grab a pub table in the bar and look for the Yelp Drinks menu. Somehow, the menus are not out, but the server manages to read us the specials: Huckleberry Margarita and RF Mojito for $4 or a Skinny Rita for $7, we select a Mojito for me and a Huckleberry Margarita for Ms. G. We settle on a their "Big Ass" burger med rare with poblano, longhorn cheddar and smoked pepper bacon. Since it is HH, it is $4 off - so now $9. While $9 seems like a lot for a burger and fries, the name "Big Ass" is sooo accurate. You either need to split it or it will give you a big ass. Drinks arrive. We taste each others' drink and agree the Mojito is better. The Huckleberry Margarita is pink and a bit too sweet. The Mojito is tall and refreshing and really went well with the burger. The burger arrives dressed with lettuce, tomato, red onion, poblano, longhorn cheddar and smoked pepper bacon. They have have already split it for us (bonus points to the server) and brought two plates. Their version of Med Rare was spot on and the beef was flavorful. The fries were perfectly seasoned. Poblano, longhorn cheddar and smoked pepper bacon on a perfect burger - what more could a person want? World peace, winning lottery ticket, George Clooney (well maybe later in the evening ;)! Perfectly satiated, we headed out to brave the streets of downtown Austin for our pub crawl. Good thing we had a "Big Ass" burger to soak up the alcohol! Best burger in Austin! IMHO Well done RF! read more

I ate at the Roaring Fork four times in two days. Lunch and dinner, lunch and dinner. You might be thinking "oh he must have been staying at the Stephen F. and got snowed in." Then you realize this is Austin and that's quite impossible. You might say to yourself "I bet he works there" or " no, I've read some of his reviews, he's that weird guy, thinks he's some kind of restaurant Casa Nova. Yeah, he'll go to a place for the first time, fall in love, then go everyday for a couple of days in a row , stop and never go back again." Well, the truth is that I'm not going to tell you because it really doesn't matter. What matters is the food, atmosphere, service and price. Combine all of these and include your company(that's on you) and you should get the overall experience. Mine was four stars, should really be three in a half, but I can't just roll over half a star. Speaking of which and its to the powers that be at yelp*, I now speak. Come on now. Give us the freedom and responsibility to critique these places properly. In my world there is a huge difference between a three star and a five star restaurant and it's not just one star. I need to be able to vote half a star. Do you understand? I need to! Anyway, back to the review. I did have this "Big Ass Burger" and the Green Chile...Wait back to the stars thing real quick. If I can vote half a star and I just haven't figured out how please do forgive my ignorance. But if I really can't, I'm not just asking for that ability, I'm demanding it. It's my right as a yelper, is it not? Oh I know you might say that it would be a privilege, not a right. I say let the people decide. Oh and thanks in advance for that consideration!:) Where was I? Oh yeah, Green Chile Stew. Folks I used to live in Santa Fe, NM where they have the best green Chile everything. That being said, it was okay. I mean in Santa Fe they put green Chile's on the burgers at Sonic. I know, you're probably saying "Shut up igmo and review the freakin restaurant, nobody wants to sit here while you try to write a book." Fine. The first dinner was actually pretty good. The waitress was really weird. She was pretty, but looked like a wax sculpture and acted like a programmed robot, even moved like one. Chef Ramsey would have been pissed when he heard me ask the waitress if the salmon was wild caught and she said yes..Ah scratch that, I just called em and they confirmed that it is..wait, they said it was "fresh" but that doesn't mean "wild caught" now does it. I still don't know. The point is my waitress didn't know either. One member of my party complained that the Chilean Sea Bass wasn't cooked enough and sent it back. I'm sure it was fine though as this person does this kind of thing a lot(not creditable). The manager came out and apologized and sent her on her way with a free dessert. In the end the food was good, the service was good, the ambiance was nice and the price was a little high. I would have only given them three and a half stars, but since I can't do that they get four. read more

Bittersweet memories cloud my vision of this place. I have introduced this place to no less than one ex-wife, three ex-girlfriends, and about six "lovers". Let's see, if memory serves me right, there is an actual running inventory in my mind of small odd memories. One passed out girlfriend. (Who begged for a nice dinner, mind you) One drink thrown in my face. Two gorgeous evening dresses. Four bottles of wine at one dinner. (That was between two of us) One stranger trying to get me to show her my thigh tattoo at the bar. Seven times I've called a manager over. (Only for high praise) Two last dinners. Two times I've taken parents here. Numerous times I've made out, right after dinner, in front of your building. Never, and I mean never, have I had a bad meal. I will continue to come back, no matter how many times my heart is broken. The funny thing is, that usually human response is to avoid places you associate with heartache. Yet, this place is the exact opposite. P.S. One of the most attentive waitstaffs in the city. P.S.S. One word, "desserts", which all are amazing. read more

One more lunch in Austin.... where to go? Well there's that place we passed that had the cute name.... Roaring Fork. Its located off the lobby from the Intercontinental Hotel and I might have been leary but glad we did come in here as it was good! We had been eating at kind of weird hours based on the time change as well as coordinating 3 girls to pick a place. Everything just took a little more time to get ready, figure out where we were going...etc etc. So by the time we got here, it was about 2:15pm. Kind of late for lunch, but off we went. I got the salmon BLT and friend got a green salad and knew she wanted dessert before even ordering. I ended up deconstructing my sandwich as that piece of salmon was perfectly delicious all by itself. We might have waited over 30 minutes, but the waiters were cute and entertaining. One had told us about the kitchen wars going on in the back as it was about that weird hour that the changing of shifts happens in a restaurant. Now, we probably didn't need to know all this, but it was slow in there for a Monday and he was nice & chatty. Did I also need to know that he likes to drink for 5 hours and loves to dance by himself at home? Nope. But I do now know all this after eating at the Roaring Fork. Boys are funny when they are nervous and just get chatty, aren't they? read more

Happy Hour: I love popping into the bar for a nice glass of wine (the bartender will readily provide you with a taste before you decide) or a cocktail prior to dinner here or elsewhere, or before a show at the Paramount. All drinks are $2 off and appetizers are $4 off during happy hour. That makes the deliciously satisfying Big Ass Burger $9, or the fresh "made-to-order" guacamole a measly $5. The scene is a mix of posh and cozy, but the ideal spot on a chilly night is the coveted fireplace area. Dinner: This is one of the few restaurants in town where I can get an excellent piece of fish....so that's usually what I get. There's always at least one fish "special" of the day, but if that doesn't sound tempting to me I usually end up with the trout. For a relatively "simple" piece of fish like the trout it's all in the preparation, and the Roaring Fork just gets it right, every time. The delicious tortilla soup (with fresh avocado slices), guacamole or the wedge salad are all excellent choices for starters. The green chile cheese macaroni is a tasty side dish - it's mildly spicy and baked to form a crunchy texture on top. The complimentary bread basket comes with probably The Best mini corn muffins I've ever tasted, and come with a surprise ingredient; get them while they're still warm and with just a touch of butter they will melt in your mouth. My only minor frustration is that some main courses do come with a side, but it's not printed on the menu. So my companion and I ended up ordering a side of green beans ($6) only to discover that green beans were already on both our plates (it would have been nice if the server had mentioned this when we were ordering), thus adding an additional expense we could have either eliminated, or we could have selected a different side. So I recommend asking your server what comes on the plate, if they don't readily provide the information. The "Texacana" decor makes it a nice choice for taking out-of-town visitors. I personally adore (though I would not own one myself) the elaborate antler chandeliers. The vibe is upscale and livelier than other similar class restaurants. On any given night you'll likely find a mix of cocktail attire, suits and jeans, but rarely have a spotted an actual cowboy here. read more

DH and I went to The Roaring Fork for Christmas Eve with my sister and brother in law after visitin' that big ol' light tree. Was still a little queasy from all of the spinning but nothing that a little bit of wine couldn't cure. It was a great dinner and we had really great service. DH had the green chile pork stew and spilled it all over the place. Jeeze, he's been in the US for over 9 years and he still can't roll a messy taco. It was awwwwesome though. He also had the short ribs and they were amazing. I had a crusted white fish but it wasn't very yummy. I think I could have ordered much better. I don't see that it's still on the menu, so maybe it was taken off. We'll be bringing my mother in law there while she's here over Easter. She's a whippin' and we wouldn't bring here anywhere that she could find fault in. I think that's one of the best recommendations you can give! read more

We had a Roaring good time in Roaring fork. Specifically: Wait staff/hostess; quick, friendly, responsive, and professional. Big Ass Burger: Delicious! And so big we split it and both of us were still full, especially after we ate the Bucket O' Fries that accompanied it. Crispy, hot and Delightful! Maybe a bit pricey at around $12 but as an entrée for two, cheap! First Knob Creek; Stiff. Porn Star Stiff. And immediately made me smarter and more handsome. Second Knob Creek; Smooth, mellow, and greatly increased my suave factor. Third Knob Creek; like liquid happiness. Made me able to solve the US financial Crisis and compliment Mistress Linda's smokey, sultry eyes. Mistress Linda's 2 Margaritas: Made her find my fabulousness amusing. The atmosphere: we ate in the bar area and it was nice and comfortable. Dim but not dark, with enough pools of light to encourage whiskey fueled intimate conversation. The restaurant seating was much brighter, and although it looked very nice, we were glad we went bar side for our late night dinner. A lovely spot for a casual dinner in the bar, or a more formal dinner in the restaurant. We'll do this again. read more

Sorry, guys. I've got to slam a 1 on here for roaches. I'm not talking about one scurrying across the floor from afar; I'm talking 2, all up in my personal space. I sat at the bar and found the first little guy on my bar napkin, sniffing up all the goodness from my plate which sat just a mere inch away. The second was included in the bill. Literally. When the bartender handed me back my credit card slip to sign, there he was, chilling in the black thing. I'm not too picky about a few bugs here and there but these things were way too close for comfort. I told the bartender and got an apology and an excuse, but that doesn't take away from the fact that two roaches just got closer to me than my lunch date. The green chili pork is still great though. read more

We probably caught them on an off night. And the food was compellingly good enough that I would probably give them another shot. However, based on our experience with a recent business dinner, it was an embarrassing choice of venue. Obviously the ambience and decor are first rate. But the waitress must have just found out that her pet goldfish died. I don't remember her smiling at all. She interupted our guest as he left the table obviously searching for the bathroom, and asked if he were ready to order. When he continued to search for the restroom, she asked the table if we could place the order in his absence. FYI, we were hours from closing time. We were in deep discussion and informed her that it would take a bit of time for us to order. She asked if we were ready four times, to the best of my memory. All the while, allowing drinks etc. to run out. At the time of our order, one of our guests expressed that her dietary limitations confined her to eating raw vegetables and asked whether they could bring her cucumbers, peppers, etc? The waitress responded, "No." And then she stood there awkwardly staring while our guest fumbled to provider our WAITRESS with ideas to solve the problem. In the end, she enjoyed a SPECTACULAR SALAD. Once again, let me say, the food was PHENOMENAL. When they brought our order, she set the tray of food very close to the table and began passing out plates. She had a number of extra plates and bowls on the tray, and a passing bus boy knocked them to the floor, shattering the porcelain into flying shards and causing us to leap out of our seats in fright. His response was to stare in terror and flee the scene into the kitchen. The waitress simply grunted in annoyance, offered no apology, disappeared in the back and came out with the bus boy to clear the mess. At the end, they poured a bucket of bleach smelling water on the floor and we ate our meal bathed in that scent. FYI, a manager never visited our table after the incident. And we did not receive so much as a free dessert. We chose not to press the issue because our business guests had experienced enough drama already. I am not a negative reviewer. And our experience probably had much more to do with the particular staff member than it did with the restaurant, but that is what happened to us. I will update when we try it again. I still get hungry remembering that tender, flavorful steak, grilled to perfection, and the DELICIOUS salads. P.S. The server's name is omitted for two reasons. 1) I don't believe she gave it, and I forgot to ask. 2) I don't hold grudges. Just felt I should report my experience accurately. read more

To date I've had the burger and the Rib-eye. I don't see how people on here can complain that the burger is "too big" or "too messy to enjoy" - it's called the BIG ASS burger. You have clearly been warned. Ask for the small ass burger if you want something smaller, or the sliders. The 22 ounce rib-eye finished off with truffle oil.,... Oh man I got it rare and it was quite possibly the best steak I've had. They even come in with a flashlight to make sure you like how it's cooked. Got this with the mushrooms, excellent combo. You won't need any other sides. Great atmosphere, great service, great food, great complimentary corn bread mini-muffins. Only reason I don't give 5 stars is because they don't have beers on drought. Kind of unfortunate since everything else here is so delightful. read more

One of the best happy hours in Austin!! From really great drink options (wine, champagne, cocktails) to yummy food (queso, a fat burger, beef stew thing), there's something for everyone. And the price is right! I think their HH is daily from 4-7p. And the bar area is always full! read more

For lunch I recommend the big ass burger, it's so good. For dinner, the filet. They've got good martinis and their hh isn't terrible. I like their street corn read more

Five BIG Stars. Here's why: 1. We walked in by accident on the way to the Ralphie May show at the Paramount. We were casually dressed and popped in to ask the hostess if we were dressed okay. Both the manager and hostess said "C'mon in!" 2. It was SO GOOD we ate there two days in a row. And when I say we ate some food, WE ATE SOME FOOD! They have a fantastic (and VERY reasonable happy hour menu offered in the bar) Here's what we ate: Scallops: huge, delicious, on a bed of homemade grits with a mushroom sauce drizzled on the whole plate Green Chile Stew: AMAZING, delicious homemade-tasting tortillas, servied in a mini cast iron kettle Fondue: Lamb chops were cooked to perfection. Fondue was made from white wine and Monterey jack. Tuna Tare-Tare w/ chipotle vinegarette: YUM. Light and tasty with homemade REAL DEAL Guacamole Braised short ribs w/ au jus: Tender but not fatty Ribeye: I was straight jealous that my husband ordered this after I took a bite. These folks know how to rock a steak. Portabello and Spinach Enchiladas w/ jalapeno shrimp: huge shrimp, great sauce, two enchiladas and four large shrimp = 'nuff to share Creme Brulee: arguably the best we've had in Austin-- and we're creme brulee snobs! 3. THE SERVICE: Troy waited on us at the bar. Knowledgeable, friendly, funny, cool. Knew the menu down to the details. Brought new silverware promptly with each course. On top of the refills. Recommended all of the afforementioned dishes. HIGH FIVE! The assitant manager, Alan, overheard a trivia battle between my husband and I and went to the back, returning with googled results printed out for us to read. Totally unexpected. Then he did it again. (The triva involved the fact that a jalapeno has 40% more Vitamin C than an orange, and that Zeus is the God of Rain.) By the way-- did I metion that Troy and Alan weren't bad to look at either? Hottie alert! (Just 'cause you've already ordered doesn't mean you can't look at the menu, right?) 4. The atmosphere: relaxed, without being overly-swanky. Check out their wall of reviews. 5. I mentioned the brown sugar creme brulee with fresh berries and a really good chocolate cookie? I'm mentioning it again because it was that good! This is definitely one of my new favorites. A diverse and creative menu, and the best service and food I've had in months. read more

Classy American place in the heart of downtown Austin. Varied and innovative menu drawing on Texas and Mexican traditions. We came during the Austin restaurant week when they were offering a three course dinner for $25, a great deal. We had the tortilla soup and green chili pork appetizers, both excellent. The carnitas main course was also great although a portion large enough to overwhelm many. The pork tenderloin could have been more flavorful. Creme brule and cherry pie/tart ala mode for desert were an nice finish. Service is excellent. Professional and attentive, cheerful and happy to guide you through the menu. $7 valet parking fee is a bit steep. read more

We had 2 nights to party in Austin, so we figured we'd get started early on Friday at Happy Hour... Unfortunately, we severely underestimated the potency of Roaring Fork's happy hour and I am embarrassed to say that we were done in within 2 hours and had to go back to the hotel. Luckily, in those 2 brief hours, we managed to pack in a night's worth of revelry, tequila and astonishingly delicious food! Everything about Roaring Fork is appealing from the proactive and talented bartenders to the fun and rustic décor to the superb menu to the fantastic happy hour prices! All drinks are $2 off from 4-7pm, which includes their signature margaritas, which will knock you off your barstool. Consider yourself warned and consider taking a taxi home! We slid into some comfy bar stools and did our damndest to order the whole damn happy hour food menu: 1. Fresh Guacamole ($5) - little dish of tasty guac accompanied by addicting fresh tortilla chips 2. Kettle of Green Chili Pork ($6) - the best thing I ate! This could be triple the price and still be worth the money! It's a small cauldron of lusciously tender pork simmered with ample spices, green chilies and melted cheese and accompanied by four hot buttered tortillas. Even El Queso Grande, legendary pork antagonist, had to admit that this was DELICIOUS!!! Beware the pepper atop the pork! I took a rather large bite and spent a few minutes with tears rolling down my face and trying to ice away the burning with my margarita 3. Fresh Crab Cake ($11) - huge crab cake with green chili butter and Cajun style remoulade on top. It had quite a bit of veggie filler, but it was still delicious (and HUGE!) 4. Fondue Pot with Lamb Chops ($11) - these lamb chops were like lamb lollipops and you get three per order. They were so buttery and fatty that I could have easily downed 10 of them. As it was, we both lustfully eyed the third chop, but stomach constraints forced me to surrender it up to El Queso Grande...sigh... The fondue was very tasty and I really enjoyed the chili-pecan croutons that came with it 5. The RF "Big Ass" Burger ($9) - perhaps it was that we were completely out of stomach room by the time it came because I wasn't moved by the burger. The Big Ass doesn't compare to NYC classics like those served up at the Brindle Room and Dubuque. That being said, the burger was good and the fries were very good Drinks were awesome and dangerously potent! Happy hour prices listed: 1. Huckleberry Margarita ($6) - recommended by our awesome bartender as his favorite drink, we really enjoyed this margarita which features a classic margarita with huckleberry puree. The huckleberry cut the sweetness of the margarita and added complexity and body to the cocktail. This was our favorite as well 2. Mango Margarita ($6) - tasted a lot like Häagen-Dazs mango sorbet, which I find delicious. Still very strongly alcoholic, but you'd never know it from the taste! Danger! 3. Blackberi Stoli Martini (~$7) - excellent rendition with three blackberries on a toothpick as garnish! PARTING THOUGHT: Guy, Larry, Jim and John, please open a Roaring Fork in NYC!!! Pretty please? I'll come for happy hour ALL THE TIME! read more

Very disappointed. they were busy but not that busy. sat at the bar, took a while to get noticed. Girl was nice but the guy did not seem to be bothered. they asked what I wanted and I asked what the specials were, they got rattled off so fast and he seemed to almost apologies that the steaks were al a carte. well I ordered them anyway with mashed potatoes, did not even get a chance to ask about other sides he was off to putting it in the computer. Now for the bad part, steak showed up, and the delivery person politely asked if I would cut it open to make sure it was cooked ok.... odd but I have seen this before, I opened it up and with the help of his flashlight, it was raw. so sent it back and it came back after having been thrown on the grill a little longer, anyone can tell you when you do that it comes back dry... and it was. Oh well, mashed potatoes were barely warm as I am sure they were the same ones that went back with the steak. When I asked for the check it was placed in front of me and without so much as a thank you after I paid. Too bad I was hoping to find a new place . I read lots of great reviews, hopefully if they read this they can correct it. read more

This review is limited to the bar, rather than the restaurant proper. We went in for happy hour before going to Stubb's to see The Raconteurs. We were all dressed pretty casually - shorts, t shirts and flip flops, and stood out noticeably from the generally well-dressed crowd. It was packed, but we found a small table which the four of us could crowd around, and we ordered some drinks and some happy hour food specials . Two pulled pork sandwiches = very good. Meaty yet not fatty, sauce was good, not too sweet, and the bun was good. "Big Ass" burger = large and delicious, my favorite item we ordered. Little Lamb Chops with Fondue = they tasted very good, but weren't enough to be substantial. The french fries which came with the pork and burgers were shoestring, my particular favorite cut of fries, and I snuck as many as I could without being impolite. They had a good selection of beer, and I had a martini also which was made perfectly. The service was top notch - professional, friendly and attentive. So I have to say I liked the place, was not made to feel out of place despite our shabby appearance amongst the beautiful people, and the food and drink were spot on. Four thumbs up for the SFA bar, Roaring Fork. read more

The bf and I had our date here. I was more of fan of the food then he was I ordered the beef ribs dish and he ordered the pork loins dish. The beef was really tasty and the runny eggs was perfect on top. I love running eggs on anything. The pork loin dish was good but the Mexican corn that complemented the dish was a tad bit salty. The chili mac and cheese were more flavorful that I expected. The side was enjoyable but definitely more on the heavy side. To end the night, we shared a warm pecan pie with pecan ice-cream which was delish. Yummy. I suppose the dessert made up my boyfriends disappointment with his main entree. Portions size was awesome for the price. The service was good. The ambiance was nice enough to have a casual date night. Overall, food was good and with good service. read more

Great place for a special occasion: I came for a birthday party in a group of 15 and everything was just wonderful - food, service, ambiance...everything! My cedar plank salmon was absolutely fantastic and the 14 other people at the table loved their entrees too. We were all really impressed that we could bring in an outside cake and as a bonus, they lit the candles, surprised the birthday girl, and even then cut it up in the kitchen for us. This place WILL deliver. read more

I'm sitting here at the Roaring Fork enjoying the free wifi and finishing my local brew, Firemans #4. I'm visiting for SXSW and stumbled upon this place by chance: I was tired of the interactive seminars and panel discussions that I had been attending so I decided to take a walk and find myself some lunch. Bumbling around I made my way up Congress street. I had originally passed by the place because all of the people standing in front of it waiting to get movie tickets for one of the SXSW Film screenings made it seem closed. Luckily, two things changed my mind: I was tired of walking and I thought that the restaurtant was actually named the "Roaring Pork". I mean, who could pass that up, right? I visited around 3pm and it was dark (overcast this day with a chance of rain). There's a fireplace in the back of the restaurant which made the place seem all sorts of homey. As I sat at the bar, I waited for the bartender to swing around as he was busy with another patron. When he noticed I was here he quickly attended to me and asked for my lunch and drink order. Oh, nomz! The bartender gave me an emphatic 'OK!' when I ordered the carnitas and I must say that it was very well deserved. The carnitas were moist and the tortillas were nice and warm. It was definitely a delightful treat for lunch when I was expecting nothing more than a dry sandwhich. The blackbeans on the side had a itty-bitty kick to them but they were a lovely complement to the carnitas and the lettuce and avacado salad which accompanied it. Very balanced flavors and taste. The wait staff if very friendly and if you ever stop in during that time of the day, say hi to Alvin the bartender. read more

Took a client here recently while in town for a client, and though I remembered it fondly from two previous visits (both in the evening), this particular time (a busy lunch) the service was disjointed, and the dishes were average. Had to ask for the check twice, and waters sat empty on the table for too long. read more

Did someone say $2 off all drinks? Mr. Smidgens says Hells yeah!! 4-7pm Daily!! I only wish they had Powers whiskey.....Gentlemen Jack will do. We decided to order apps for the table and enjoy it all.... Mixed Market greens with candied walnuts and feta cheese The infamous Kettle of green chili pork with fresh tortillas Fried avocado with spicy crab remoulade Crab cake with fresh mango pico de gallo We went, we ate, we drank, and left smiling. read more

I really liked this place. Good quality traditional American food, you won't find anything super out of the box here. Service and atmosphere is great. Like any other restaurant on Congress, parking is terrible but can't hold it against the place. I got the pick 2 with the salmon and wedge salad. All around salmon cooked perfectly with this spicy sauce on it which made it very interesting. I added the street corn side and omg, best part of the meal... It tasted cheesy but also spicy and loved the char. My husband got the chicken sandwich which he said was spectacular, he enjoyed the spicy slaw in it. Good lunchtime portions, fair pricing. Will try to go back when in Austin! read more

My girlfriend Kimberly loves this place. I went with her for the first time 6 months ago. I must say our service was the highest 5 star available. The fillet was scrumptious, and the sea bass was incredible. The asparagus, corn, wedge salad, dessert, cocktails,,ect ect ect ect ,,, hmmm hmmm goood, That is a,,, 5+++++++ according to Kimberly and I !!!! read more

This place gives the impression of a fine dining establishment when you first enter but the menu seems to have the vibe of more of a bit of something different. Hummm what seems to be going on with this mysterious slight tingling I get like when I'm around an Applebee's? Ahhhh elementary my dear Watson this place is a CHAIN!!! Kudos to them for sort of being more of a local chain though so that does improve things a bit and may they make mounds of money. I would rank this chain's food slightly lower than Houston's but around the same price point. Overall a decent place to eat if you don't mind chain style food and they do what they do well but there are too many other local places to choose from doing better things in my opinion. There is a time and place for eating in a place like this but those times are not often in my life. read more

My Boss called me at 2PM and said "HH at 4:30PM at The RF" for employee HH with the Boss Boss in town from Houston. I was the first to arrive and remembered the last time I was here a Famous Country Musician was looking for his Wife's "sweater" and was late to go on stage at Stubbs as I looked over the HH menu.... I had 2 glasses of the only Red on the 5.00 HH menu a Malbec that was delicious! and I tasted my Boss' Huckleberry Marg and wished so badly I could consume Sugar + Tequila until the next morning when my Boss had a horrible hangover and I was up brite and early at 6AM:) I have only eaten in the bar area several times and most recently we started with chips and salsa and 2 orders of Lamb Lolli Pops (3 per order) served with butternut squash and chunks of bread to dunk in the fondue pot. Between the 6 of us I was the only one who did not love the Lamb - it was just too greasy, fatty and gameie for my taste but I LOVED the butternut squash and hoarded it all for myself as the others dug into the lamb dipped in cheese fondue. Next came a round of Ahi Tuna Tartare in a mold with Avocado and Mango with grilled Panini wedges and Guacamole topped with a pico mix. My favorite was the perfectly spiced Guac with a bite of raw Tuna on perfectly seasoned and fried tortilla chips! The HH Menu warns about "Euphoria"..... But, the Huckleberry Margaritas should have a warning more like "do not drink more than one with clients or coworkers or future in laws" Cause this Huckleberry Marg makes people say things that would be most inappropriate at most employee gatherings. Thankfully I work with a great group of affectionate folks who hug and kiss and say "I Love You" when sober at Breakfast and Lunch also.. read more

Taco Bell perpetuated general American Obesity by desensitizing denizens to the "Fourth Meal" concept. The Roaring Fork contributed to my bulging waistline by allowing me to indulge in a classy fourth-meal...because for some reason, I felt that a second dinner served by a snobby pseudo-attentive waiter over a clothed table under sexily dimmed lights could not possibly have counted as extra calories. I was wrong. What was supposed to have been a late-night snack of savory, jalapeño mini-cornbread muffins, as moist and buttery as my Auntie Mae Jo's (if I had a Texan Auntie Mae Jo), turned into a feast of Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon and a Spinach Chicken Waldorf Salad. Though my white mid-western father usually requests his salmon "well done" (thanks to my prompting and utter dismay), the Roaring Fork presented a light pink fish covered in succulent, sticky teriyaki BBQ that retained as much moisture as any medium salmon would have. The Chicken Waldorf Salad I spooned away from my mother offered a texture-flavor mecca combining the slightly tart crunch of green apples, the creaminess of perfectly ripe avocados, the vague saltiness of veritable parmesan cheese, and the slight sweetness of dates. So much for just munching on a few too many cornbread muffins - I had to go and eat my parents' dinners as well. Oops. read more

This review is for the Roaring Fork before they got a new chef. I haven't been since the new chef came on board. That being said, I've never had a bad dish here. My favorite dish of all time was a seared ahi-tuna steak served on top of the most unbelievable lobster enchiladas. It was a special that night and I've never seen it again, and I want to. Wow. In addition to the wonderful happy hour that everyone has described, I've found that the sides can make a meal themselves (this looks like it might have changed a little on the new menu though). And the Big Ass Burger? Wow. That's good eatin'. Those fries are some of the best in Austin. The price can't be beat at happy hour, as everyone here has noted. I've always had wonderful service and amazing food at the Roaring Fork. And you know, I think I've only sat in the restaurant once? I'm not sure on that, but I think it's true. I almost always sit in the bar. I've never had to wait by doing that. read more

I have come here many times and am surprised that I haven't made a review yet. I've come here for work dinners and also on dates and birthday dinners. Also, I have come here during restaurant week. I love this place. First of all, the ambiance is wonderful. It's casual and inviting yet upscale and modern. If I had a lake house, I would want it to look something like this. It's industrial...but comfortable. The back of the restaurant is open to the large pond so you get the nice backdrop. Every so often, they'll open the floor to ceiling windows/doors so you can get full exposure to the pond. Possibly good only once a bird flew into the restaurant... The service has always been great. I think the waitstaff have all been courteous, attentive, and respectful during all of my instances here. They have excellent well rehearsed menu offerings and always have a good recommendation or two. The food. Is great. I've had a lot of things here. The Green Chile pork stew with hot buttered tortillas is a winner. Write home about it, you won't regret it. I have also had their barbacoa plate. Very similar to what you'd find in a barbacoa taco from Chipotle (honestly, that was where my first thought went when I ordered it). Very filling and very tasty. The Pork Chop with bacon was delicious and the corn/vegetable salad that accompanied it was well made and perfect. They have street corn as a side dish...that's been cut off the cobb so instead of feeling like a heathen while eating it, you can feel refined while personally satisfying your inner fat kid (it's loaded with butter and mayo, I'm sure...that's been melted into this little cast iron pot with the corn). Desserts also are winners. I've had the pineapple upside down cornmeal cake, creme brulee, the pecan pie, the huckleberry cheesecake...yeah, they're all good. They don't disappoint. I lean towards anything other than the creme brulee though. The sugar is too bruleed...to the point of being bitter. Sad. I guess that's one bad thing. As a final note, the White Sangria...is amazing. Order it. If you're a a girl or guy who likes sweet but not too sweet, crisp, refreshing, and things with cherries in it...order it. Such a pleasant way to carry on through the meal. I HATE wine but love sangria. How unfortunate for me because I still haven't figured out how to make a good sangria! read more

I can't believe I didn't finish this review sooner!! Ohhhhh my goodnesss! Roaring Fork was seriously Delicious!!!! We had dinner here one night while visiting in Austin; and this was hands down one of the best meals I have ever had! We started with the queso with was delish! Obviously no one was dieting tonight! I ordered a drink with Ginger ale in it. I wish I could remember what it was called now. But it was great as well! Most of our party ordered the Ribeyes they were brushed with truffle oil and had sea salt on them. One person ordered the Carnitas, and one just ordered the Green Chili Mac & Cheese. We also all ordered sides to share. We got: mashed potatoes, asparagus, and another order of the Green Chili Mac & Cheese and we added bacon to it. Seriously. I have almost no words for this meal. It was amazing. It was one of those meals that when the food comes people basically stop talking. The steak was to die for, the mashed potatoes were great, but the green chili mac and cheese with bacon totally stole the show for the sides. Wow. Our service was great all throughout our meal we never once went without anything we needed. I can't say one negative thing about this place. If I'm ever back in Austin I will definitely be looking this place up again. read more

Delicious food. Great portions. Reasonable pricing for what seems like a fancy affair. Waitstaff was friendly. I had a rotisserie chicken that was splendid. This was also before an Aziz Ansari Book Reading, so I may have been hopped up on Aziz fumes, but I'm pretty sure the food was great regardless. Great place to stop for dinner and drinks before a show! read more

I took my bestie here for his birfday on a recommendation from a client. It was fabulous! We had great drinks and an awesome green chilie pork and cheese appetizer thingy and it was AMAZING! I ordered the swordfish and it was DELISH. My friend had a filet of beef and it was FANTASTIC! I really like the green chilie Mac n cheese! Spicy and gooey. read more

Roaring Fork - American Near Me - Austin, Texas