Simply not good. Its literally two "actors" walking around a room full of tables talking as loud as they can. They don't wear microphones or have speakers so dependent on where they are standing at the time in the room, you can or cannot hear them. The "clues" made no sense and you really have no idea what's going on or what part of the "show" you are in. You also have no idea what to do with any of it. The actors tried their best but you could barely hear them. Food was decent though - give them that. Overall not worth the money and the experience was dull. Better off just going to a comedy club or to a movie theatre that serves food. At the beginning of the night they give you a sheet of paper and you are supposed to walk around to other tables asking random folks who are there like you for the experience random "questions" to see if you can figure out "clues" as to who in the crowd might be the hidden actor (killer). So if you have family members or members of your party that do not want to do something like this, then you are better off going elsewhere. They also randomly pick folks from the tables to do random silly stuff - like "re-enact" the death scene at the beginning of the experience. We left at the second "break" and went across the street to Stubbs to enjoy the live music. The show was at Hotel Indigo. read more

Disappointed in this experience. The positive is that the actors tried to make the experience interactive and fun. However, the jokes were tired. The presentation of the facts of the murder was disjointed and the whole evening just seemed choppy and incoherent. The "big reveal" of the murderer at the end was just loosely based on all of the "evidence" we were given to review. Expected the whole "solving of the mystery" to be a bit more clever. Don't get me started on the food......terrible read more

It was incredible night out , never done anything like this before. Will definitely be recommending to friends and family!! Thank you all!! read more

Now at the double tree hotel. Parking was double what they advertised. Bartender was so slow that it took over 30 minutes to get one beer. Alcohol would have helped. The actors were nice, but the story didn't come together. Clues were not exactly fitting, so if you were going because you're a crime buff - you will be disappointed. If you are going for a unique experience out, even worse. We were in a bland hotel conference space, no decorations, only props were 50¢ cop badges. The food they advertise as "gourmet" is a fish filet with Lima beans - cold, no sauce, rock hard and cold pasta - again no sauce. Didn't try the chicken, but it looked gross. Don't serve inedible food!! This could be done really well, but location, story, food, drinks, parking, atmosphere were severely lacking. Why bother if you're not going to try. I doubt the actors would choose this for a night out. Really poorly done. read more

I pre-purchased tickets to drive 90 minutes to Austin on 10/21/2023 to see this show, just to be told when I arrived by someone else who had come to watch the show that it was cancelled. To this day, nobody from The Dinner Detective has contacted me to tell me the show was canceled, and they have not refunded my credit card yet either. What a sh*tshow. read more

I don't leave reviews but I was sadly disappointed with this show. Good things first, the actors are very interactive and try their best to make it funny and enjoyable for everyone on the show. The murder mystery and clues were engaging and provided a fair challenge to figuring out who the murder was. Now unfortunately there are more downsides. Although the actors try their best with the comedy and some jokes were good, a bit more were just okay. It was decent enough but not notable. The show itself does not have any special effects, music, microphones, lighting or any other use of supporting performance materials except for a few pieces of paper used for clues. To me, it was more of a improv group performing in between the tables around us than a typical show. I was expecting much more scenery and inclusion into this murder mystery. The venue itself was very simple as well. It was a small conference room at a hotel with no decorations to set the mood other than the classic dead person tape outline on the floor. I was also looking forward to the food and service as well but it was not up to par either. The service often confused who gets what plate and initially had to get everyone's attention to warn people of a certain allergen the salads might have had after people started eating it, which was concerning. Turned out to be a false alarm thankfully, but could have been a disaster as a few people I knew here had this allergy. On their website, it mentioned that their menu is the following: Appetizers, Salad, Main course and Dessert. We did not get appetizers. The salad was hilariously very small, with a few leaves of green and 2 small tomatoes. The main course was decent, but had issues. I had the fish option, but the salmon was very very dry. I love salmon but I couldn't finish it because of this. The mash potatoes they gave with it is the only reason I was able to eat it. My table all agreed on this. Many people asked for more mashed potatoes but the service couldn't provide everyone with extra. The chicken option was also hilariously small. It was at most 1/4th the size of the salmon, with the same amount of sides. The vegetables were good, no complaints. The dessert was cheesecake, which was good but I suspect it was store bought with how the other food has been. Gluten free options were entirely different rather than modified meals. At least for dessert, it was just strawberries and blueberries. The drinks were iced tea but after that you get only water that you serve yourself. Drinks with alcohol are purchased separately. Lastly the reveal of the mysterious murderer caught my table and myself in surprise because at first it seemed only one small detail of this suspect was connected to the murder. By this point, my table knew who the murderer's alias was but none of the suspects fit the part. It wasn't until after the show, the actors explained why this suspect was the murderer but it didn't seem clear enough during the act. I don't entirely blame this on the crew, as it was hard for me to keep attention at this point and I was ready to go home, but being louder would have helped. Overall, the actors were lovely but the venue and food really failed expectations. I was excited for this as well, but it seems like this show was made more on the cheap side. I wouldn't pay over 70 dollars for this again. read more

The interactions were great! The food was so bad...it probably would have been more reasonable to order from Olive Garden or something. The group that performed were really personable and did a fantastic job. Oh..I solved the mystery!! read more

So much fun! We really enjoyed it and loved making our friend a suspect! They were funny and the food was pretty good! Very intimate group - which made it more fun read more

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This was such a fun show, the environment was great and the improv was pretty funny. Definitely recommend for a fun date night :)

I took a date here. She had a very positive experience. She said the food was ok, the acting was ok and funny, and that the service was great. She said the actors could have been a little more engaging with the audience. The important part to me was that she was happy, it made a great memory for us to laugh at and overall nothing negative was a take away. I saw many bad reviews and had my expectations. In the end it was worth the try and I tipped the bar the actors and the picture guy. Relax have a laugh and watch people smile. Life is meant to be enjoyed friend. read more

As a previous reviewer mentioned, there is a lot of insult comedy used in this show which may be your preference. They did not mention, however, that the main actors (or the script used) are aggressive and bullying and very demeaning to women. I was extremely uncomfortable for most of the show, feeling like I was never sure when I would be singled out and mocked or bullied into doing something embarrassing or uncomfortable. Here are some objective examples: Actor threw a guest's chair across the room while yelling, "Rookies don't get chairs!" Actor sent another guest around the room to find out which women were with their significant other and which were "willing to stray." Actor told a woman to "twerk across the room" and mocked her when she politely claimed she didn't know how. Actor joked about police brutality saying that he puts a phone book on top of someone before he beats them so as not to leave bruises. Out of a room that was maybe 15% African-American, actor picked an African-American man as the first person who "looked shady." Actors rubbed a large pair of mens briefs on several guests' heads without warning or consent. I wish we had known better what we were getting into, so I hope these examples will help someone make a more informed choice. Note: I was also "top sleuth" of the night and the prize was an XL Dinner Detective t-shirt, a Dinner Detective mug, and a reusable Dinner Detective bag. read more

So much potential...but a great let down. Don't waste your money. Nothing more and nothing less than a street show. Bring lots of singles because everyone has there hand out. I knew it was going to be held in a hotel conference room (not my choice), but I had hope it would be transformed into a stage of some sort. It was not anything but a hotel conference room. Bright lights, round tables, partitioned walls...no ambiance. The food was a tick above airplane food and taken away from you whether you were finished with your food or not. The story line was not intriguing. Be sure to get bored within the first hour. The kicker for me was the constant 'begging' for money, after paying a substantial price for a show and food which was sub par. Cash only bar. The actors then request a tip because they were "poor". This was offensive. read more

I'm not trying to be paranoid, but TRUST NO ONE!! No, really. Don't. One of the suspects could be at your table! I was given The Experience as a gift. (I don't think I'd buy it for myself) The website said that the game would start as soon as you walked in. I jokingly (or not; I'll never tell) grilled everyone in line as we we waited to check in. Oh, and come up with your pseudonym now so you don't have to think of one under pressure. Everyone has a name tag and "fake" name. See? You don't know if those other guys are using real names or not! I was Miss Understood. After awhile, we were seated and given a paper to take notes. A murder happened in front of our faces and the races were on. A scene or two would happen and then there'd be some down time as food was served or as we ate. We were told not to get up during the performances. Yeah, it's in a hotel conference room, so that means it's hotel food. No, it's not the best food ever, but I wasn't there for the food. And there's a cash bar, with a few choices, but there's plenty of stuff in walking distance should you want to go drinking afterwards. And you could potentially have a drink in the hotel lobby bar beforehand if you wanted to. In all reality, I don't think I'd have bought this for myself, but sure did enjoy the night. It was fun taking on a different persona (I think I said I was a veterinarian, while the guy next to me said he started the Ramen empire) and meeting new people. read more

With what's written here it makes me wonder how many of these reviews were faked. My overall experience left me feeling swindled out of a good chunk of money. The murder mystery itself was a total joke, essentially you have only two cop actors throwing clues at you forcefully at the end of each round. The other actors are all clumped up leaving you to solve what's basically a word game on paper. The crude humor was expected, but it was in such a vast amount it left some at the table feeling put off. $6 for Texas beer, $8-10 for mediocre wine, and $9 for what they consider top shelf liquor drinks. Bar is *cash only* - which isn't as explicit as it should be. That out-of-the-way, the food is poor quality even for a hotel. Considering this IS in Austin I was expecting at least somewhat decent fair, but instead you're offered Rice-A-Roni & previously frozen steamed vegetables with your choice of chicken breast doused with an excuse for some sort of red sauce, previous frozen tilapia, or a veggie wellington. I wouldn't have minded the Vegas priced drinks and reheated TV dinners if the venue was at least interesting, I think the thing that made everything fall apart the most was the location & presentation. Being in a bright auxiliary hotel room with no music/fanfare during the dining experience killed the mood. I felt like I was at one of the corporate events I'm sometimes forced to go to. To put a positive spin on this for the people running this (who did genuinely seem interested in putting on a decent show): Don't gouge patrons on the drink prices. (The show would go a lot smoother if people were at least inclined to drink a bit) - Get out of the hotel, run it at some restaurant or local venue, and create more of a theatrical experience beyond the B-movie buddy cop shtick that is currently a majority of the show. read more

Enjoyed the night. I will come back with my co- workers as bonding event. The actors are great.

The food was moderate. Taste was decent, but not special. Real weakness was having sat in a warmer so long it had frozen dinner consistency. Mashed potatoes were gummy and the breaded fish was not crispy. Show was very enjoyable. Lots of folks were drawn in and there were several surprises. I wasn't able to identify and assemble clues and I expect few folks were. Kind of a should do once, but certainly not addictive. If the food was great I might be tempted every few years. read more

Dinner Detective is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I'm married with children and have a six figure job.

Very nice way to spend an exciting, mysterious evening, watching theater and having actors mixed in with audience creates added charm. The acting was excellent, only wish their was more time and a bit of guidance in how to decode clues. Each table was given clues but limited time and some at table took long before passing around the room. Surprisingly good, the food! The Vegetarian Plate was definitely worth it--had family member order fish and resort To eating part of my Vegetarian plate! A- acting Food A- (include a beverage, wine, etc, we paid 75 bucks) ambiance a C (maybe have at a real theater) read more

The Dinner detective at Austin is so much fun. Makes for a great date night and everyone is suspect. Don't trust anyone!

I really wish I could be more positive about my experience. I guess I just expected something different. I envisioned more of a dinner theater setting....you know, actors on stage....small tables around, dimly lit, servers providing food/drink. Or perhaps in an old mansion where the house is as much a character in the story as the actors. The setting of a brightly lit conference room in a hotel with ZERO theatrical decor was underwhelming. It kept me from getting into the story and wanting to figure out who the killer was. With that said, the actors really did a good job...the two "cops" did a good job of keeping everyone laughing and helping the night stay entertaining. There wasn't much of acting out a plot in order to figure out the mystery. Clues were handed out at the breaks and we were left to figure things out on our own. This had a somewhat anti-climactic effect as most people at our table had trouble figuring out the mystery which left us less than engaged in the show. The food was bad. Cafeteria quality and cold. Drinks were super expensive. To sum up, I liked the actors and their energy for the production. I think they could do something great but need a new venue, better food and a little more of acting out the plot to better engage the interest of the audience. Right now, it's not worth the price. read more

I learned about this place after purchasing the deal on Groupon. Before I bought the deal I read some of their reviews first. After reading through some decent reviews I figured I'd try something new for my boyfriend's birthday. Honestly I didn't regret my choice! I had some issues at first purchasing tickets for four other friends but Mike -who was standing in for the office manager- took great care of me. He answered a lot of my questions and the staff was excellent. The show overall was great. My group and I had a lot of fun. My beloved boyfriend thought it was awesome! The food wasn't as good as the show but it was good enough for me. There was a bar available as well. The only down side was that the bar did not accept cards so you had to pay by cash. Other than that it was a splendid night and we all had fun watching the actors included the guests -including my boyfriend- into the show. If anyone is looking for something different I would suggest this for a night. Oh yes a word of caution for those who do not like being made fun of, there is an actor makes fun of people often. If you don't like being call names or made of fun by weight, looks, or what you're wearing then I would not advise going to this show. He doesn't do it just to put you down. It's all in good humor. We all have our laughs about it. Don't take it seriously. Just laugh and proceed on the show. read more

Had a fabulous time opening weekend of The Dinner Detective. Think of it as a dinner and show except you are basically sitting in the middle of the show! The cast is hilarious and believable and keeps you laughing. It's crazy how you can enter a room of 80 people, most of which you probably don't know, but leave feeling like you just shared a secret show with a big group of friends. Having lived in Austin for 10+ years, I've never experienced anything quite like it. So next time you are thinking of an out-of-ordinary date or group celebration, look these guys up. Plus you are short walking distance from the downtown festivities for your post show merriment. read more

Took a friend here as a Birthday Gift. Neither one of us had ever been to something like this.It was so much fun. Food was average to above average. Wait staff was fun as were all the characters in the show. I thought I'd be good because of all the crime dramas I watch. I was sadly mistaken, although my theory seemed to make a whole lot more sense as the table agreed with my "vision". Haha. I would definitely recommend for a birthday or unique first date.You definitely will not leave disappointed. read more

I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner and we both loved it!! Such an entertaining, funny, and engaging dinner show. We had such a great time! To be quite honest, I was worried about the food after reading a couple of reviews on here from people with such negative feedback. The food wasn't horrible but it wasn't amazing. The main course (chicken) was great! The salad was okay and the dessert consisted of pecan pie- which, I think, could have been better. The bar is CASH ONLY and sucks a bit. I honestly think they would make more money and it would be a little more convenient for the customers if they accepted card. The staff gets 5 stars! All so friendly and the waiters are very kind and polite as well. Definitely recommend this show. read more

We had Dinner Detective come to our facility for our Christmas party and they were fantastic. We have a mid sized family service business with about 45 employees. We did our best to keep the Dinner Detective a surprise until the night of the party. Mike and Tavis and their cast members were very professional, showing up early to fill the people who were in on it in with some ideas. They were hilarious during the performance and we had a lot of fun with how they brought out some personalities that we had yet seen in our employees! Thanks to Dinner Detective we are going to really have a hard time topping this year's Christmas party! Thank you!! read more

What a fun and different experience in Austin! The actors who play the detectives are insanely hilarious. The dinner was delicious as well. If you are looking for something other then the typical, this is a great and entertaining experience that we throughly enjoyed! read more

4.5 Stars! My husband and I attended Saturday and had a great time. The show was engaging with a variety of actors (only one of which, the lead detective, was really good, but hey, it doesn't take much talent to play dead LOL). The crime and clues were challenging enough to give your brain some work. My only complaint (without giving spoilers) is the solution could have been much better. As for the food, this isn't gourmet by any means, but we both had chicken and it was moist and had been de-boned so we got more meat than we expected. All in all a great time! read more

We were celebrating the end of tax season and had a wonderful time! We mingled with everyone and made up stories about our life based on our pseudo names. Had a great time mingling with the other people at our table. The food was good and the entertainment / detectives were fun. read more

Don't waste your money! They don't want you to actually solve the murder. Food is boring hotel food. Humor is not very good. Actors are terrible. And what the real clincher was when I got Into the mystery and tried to solve it, I went around to each table to learn their pseudonyms by introducing myself and asking them or just reading their name tags. I was told that someone spoke to them about it and implied I should not. So you ask us to go around and talk to people to learn who the murderer is, you ask us to try to solve it, and then you ask them to stop. Thanks. Btw 2 other people did the same later (went around trying to learn people's names). Why didn't you tell them to stop? read more

Fun evening. The meal was better than expected; good main courses and side entries, buffet table of veggies. The actors were entertaining; they engaged the diners and created a fun atmosphere; altogether a fun evening. read more

Highly disappointed. The food was the best part of the show and that's not saying much as it was just decent hotel conference catering. The show seriously lacked in humor though they strived greatly to make it funny. It also greatly lacked in creativity and showmanship. The actors were dispersed through the crowd and acted just as well as if it they were a random patron of the show. The show would present itself far better if there were a distinct separation of crowd and actors with actors wearing costumes and there being props and an actual set. Instead it was just a bunch of people sitting in a spartan/stark hotel conference room. In conclusion, a waste of money, highly disappointing, and would never recommend to anyone! read more

What an awesome night. Dinner Detective Austin is just what our city needs. A great night out with fantastic entertainment, delicious food and a beautiful setting in the Marriott ballroom. I know where I'm going to have my next birthday party! HAVE FUN! read more

My daughter and I went to this show in Austin as an 18th birthday present for her, as she is a mystery fan. The dinner is held in a Marriot Hotel conference room. The tables are set up for 10 per table, and when you arrive you are assigned to a particular table. You are also asked to create a pseudonym for a paper name tag. BTW, they don't stay on very well, and you might make sure you wear something that has space for a name tag. The head waiter Nicky is a hoot, and shortly began bringing around some appetizers. After a welcome speech with rules, you are "encouraged" to walk around and interrogate your fellow diners. Not sure that is necessary, but it breaks the ice. The rest of the evening follows with 3 courses (limp salad, decent entrée, and cheesecake) interspersed with two "police detectives" trying to figure out what's going on. They frequently pull members of the audience into it, and everybody seems to have fun with that. All in all, the actors and dinner servers did a great job, the food was eh, but we had a fun time. I would go again. read more

Pretty expensive for what it is. The food isn't good nor is the decor. The actors are amusing, but you could get the same entertainment value at any improv comedy event. I didn't care for the customer service either while trying to book my tickets. I would go for free but I wouldn't recommend it to my friends. read more

The food was great and the show was very funny and enjoyable! Highly recommend this for large groups of people looking to entertain. The host opening the show was hilarious and seems like he is a really good artist. I found myself fixated on his majestic eyes and finely toned physi. read more

Great fun. I was enjoying the talking to my table mates so much I really did not start focusing on solving the case until the last ten minutes. Don't forget that piece because it was a bit of a puzzler. Lots of comedy and if you don't want to be a part of a group interactive experience you might want to stay home and just watch Columbo. Hint.... be sure to talk to people, be sure you like comedy, be sure you want to have fun, be sure you don't get offended by slightly off color humor, be sure you are ready to be a part of the show. read more

Went to the Dinner Detective on our 35th wedding Anniversary. Food was good. They took our anniversary and incorporated it not the plot of the murder. Loy's of people wanted to know what we had to pay to have that done. They wanted to do the same. The cost was nothing they just incorporated it into the plot. Actors were good,it was very entertaining. Would do it again. read more

If you have any dietary needs at all. I would not go. It was not worth it at all. I contacted them 3 times in the past week telling them in ADVANCE about what I am allergic to. What did I get out of that? I got 3 meals in front of me.. and NONE was what I asked for. They lure you into going there saying "yes we will take care of you." No. they wont. The service was not good at all, the food was horrible, The line of communication was the worst I have seen, the managers excuse was "I have the wrong menu ". They have lots of work to do. I would NOT go there if you have any allergies at all. You would think they would take care of you if you are bringing in 13 people with you. No, they do NOT take care of you. Spend your money somewhere else. NOT worth it at all!! read more