Top 10 Best Places to Eat in Austin
Austin is a city for foodies! This modern, ultra-swanky metropolis boasts of the best culinary talent married with a down-home hospitality that is uniquely Texan. Reserve a table at one of these Austin restaurants and experience culinary perfection in some of the most cutting-edge restaurants in the state!
- Driskill Grill
- Hudson’s on the Bend
- Wink
- Aquarelle
- Salt Lick BBQ
- Uchi
- Jeffrey’s
- Zoot
- Chuy’s
- The Four Seasons’ Trio
In any top 10 best places to eat in Austin, the Driskill Grill has to be at the top of the list. This historic restaurant and hotel was built in 1886 and is located on famous 6th Street. A proud member of The Historic Hotels of America, the Driskill Hotel houses the Driskill Grill, which has received many awards including Zagat’s ranking of “Extraordinary to Perfection” in 2009, and a 2009 Foder’s Choice Award. It is difficult to say which is more excellent: the atmosphere or the food! The stained glass domed ceiling and marble floors make this restaurant exquisitely beautiful. To view the Driskill Grill’s menu and book reservations please visit: http://www.driskillgrill.com/.
This upscale Austin restaurant features a 7-course chef tasting menu with wine pairings. Try the pecan smoked duck breast or the espresso-chocolate-chili rubbed Smoked Elk! Visit the Hudson’s on the Bend interactive website! It displays the menu as a book with pages that actually turn! To leaf through the Hudson’s on the Bend’s menu please visit: http://hudsonsonthebend.com/main.php.
If you are looking for the best places to eat in Austin, be sure to check out this culinary favorite! Wink’s philosophy is grounded in the pairing of good wine with good food. Consequently, the wine list at Wink includes 60-70 carefully chosen selections from small vintners. With a focus on the freshest ingredients, Wink also draws in specialty, hard-to-find ingredients such as Venezuelan chocolate. To view Wink’s culinary masterpieces visit: http://winkrestaurant.com/.
Aquarelle is Austin’s premier restaurant serving French cuisine. Aquarelle offers a wine bar & patio for pre-dinner socializing. Try the Clafoutis Aquarelle for dessert – a warm tart served with ice cream with one of Aquarelle’s 25 wines by the glass. Preview their mouthwatering menu at: http://www.aquarellerestaurant.com/.
This Texas establishment has several restaurant locations outside of Austin: in Round Rock and Driftwood. Austin’s Salt Lick BBQ is located at the airport. Don’t let this stop you from enjoying this meat-lovers Paradise, though! The Salt Lick BBQ sells their famous sauces and dry rubs. You can order their sausage, pork ribs, or beef by the ¼ lb., ½ lb., ¾ lb., or 1 lb.! This is a true Texan eatery! To check out their meat-heavy menu and spicy Tex-Mex sauces visit: http://www.saltlickbbq.com/index.html.
Uchi is the best Austin restaurant serving Japanese cuisine. Located in a refurbished home, this unassuming, stylish sushi bar serves up contemporary Japanese dining. Because Uchi receives a daily air shipment from the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo – it is able to offer the freshest seafood and authentic Japanese ingredients. With a décor of dark woods, rich reds and earth tones, the interior of this restaurant is contemporary and well suited for intimate evenings. To learn more about this Austin treasure visit: http://www.uchiaustin.com.
Jeffrey’s is without a doubt one of Austin’s top restaurants. Jeffrey’s diverse menu offers something for even the most eclectic palate! With a new chef changing things up, Jeffrey’s is making its mark with its signature Crispy Oysters. Tip: The Chocolate Intemperance is a popular Jeffrey’s menu item. Don’t miss browsing their extensive wine list complete with literary quotes! To learn more about Jeffrey’s – an elegant dining experience – visit: http://jeffreysofaustin.com/.
This Austin restaurant is operated by the same talented foodies who brought you Wink. Zoot is dedicated to bringing seasonal ingredients – and a seasonal flair – to their menu items. So, Zoot brings you the freshest produce and a cacophony of taste. At Zoot, it is all about the food. To check out their diverse menu visit: http://www.zootrestaurant.com/.
Chuy’s is a casual dining Austin restaurant sure to satisfy your Tex-Mex craving! With several locations in Texas – each Chuy’s establishment is unique. Their slogan “If you’ve seen one Chuy’s, you’ve seen one Chuy’s” says it all. This is the place to go for chalupas, enchiladas, rellenos and even vegetarian plates. Check out their flavorful, uniquely Texan menu at: http://www.chuys.com/#/austin.
The Four Seasons Hotel offers one of the best restaurants in Austin: the Trio. This elegant hotel restaurant is nothing like your run-of-the-mill hotel food. With views of Lady Bird Lake, the staff at Trio serves up cuisine in style. Named “the best steakhouse in the city” by Austin-area restaurant critic Dale Rice, Trio specializes in the classics. The wine list created by top sommelier Mark Sayre showcases a stunning variety of rare wines and classic favorites. To view Trio at the Four Seasons Hotel please visit: http://www.fourseasons.com/austin/dining.html.