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A plate of cut-up steak.
Steak at Garrison.
Garrison

The Best Splurge-Worthy Austin Restaurants

The city’s nicest fine-dining restaurants for special occasion meals or for no reason at all

by Erin Russell and Nadia Chaudhury Updated
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Steak at Garrison.
| Garrison
by Erin Russell and Nadia Chaudhury Updated

While Austin is more often recognized for its taco joints and barbecue spots than its high-end restaurants, there are still quite a few pricey places that fit the bill for super special occasions. These restaurants range from a once-in-a-lifetime omakase sushi experience at ultra-cool Otoko to the always-creative tasting menu from Barley Swine. With this guide, you’ll find a fine dining establishment for every occasion, from group dinners in luxe and modern spaces to charming and cozy choices for two. (Find a wider variety of date night solutions here, as well as tasting menus and caviar destinations.)

And not all break the bank if you keep it simple. Check out the dinner options from James Beard Award-winning chef Iliana de la Vega’s El Naranjo, or visit during happy hour, when some of these picks — like Jeffrey’s and Uchi — have the same great food for much less.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

DipDipDip Tatsu-Ya

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Opting for shabu-shabu may sound a little odd for a dressed-up occasion, but the Crestview higher-end Japanese restaurant is definitely an experience. At beautiful, intimate tables, diners can choose high-quality cuts of meat like A5 wagyu rib-eye from Japan and specialty dishes like the cold-smoked duck breast paired with a melting duck fat candle. Or, pick the $125 omakase to sit back and enjoy, while sampling a little bit of everything. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

7301 Burnet Road, TX 78757
(737) 701-6767
(737) 701-6767

Also featured in:

Barley Swine

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Of chef Bryce Gilmore’s three restaurants, it is the Brentwood restaurant where the team offers up more experimental seasonal New Texan dishes through its multi-course chef’s tasting menu for $115, with optional beverage pairings. Expect items like the pig face carnitas with sweet potato mole and honey-fermented radishes and spicy greens or eggplant olive oil cake with dukkah milk crumble. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

6555 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757
(512) 394-8150
(512) 394-8150

Also featured in:

Craft Omakase

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In under a year since the Rosedale omakase restaurant opened — by Uchiko alum no less — Craft has quickly become one of the city’s finest Japanese tasting menu destinations. The $175 22-course meal focuses on simply well-craft nigiri and small plates without any of the showiness of other places, and excellent hospitality. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

4400 North Lamar Boulevard, Suite 102, Austin, Texas 78756
(512) 887-8889
(512) 887-8889

Also featured in:

Lutie’s Garden Restaurant

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Planning ahead is essential at this tiny restaurant at the Commodore Perry Estate. The verdant New American restaurant, from lauded Austin chef couple Bradley Nicholson and Susana Querejazu, has dishes like chickpea and green corn salad, bluefin tuna with caviar and citrus kosho, and the kouign amann ice cream. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

4100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 675-2517
(512) 675-2517
The grand aioli features fresh vegetables including some cut into rosettes with poach shrimp and boiled eggs on a tower made from marble. A white plate with a single English muffin sits off to the side along with a crystal dish of dip and a clear stemless glass of white wine.
Grand aioli at Lutie’s
Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection

Also featured in:

Tsuke Edomae

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One of the city’s hottest omakases that is highly difficult to get to tickets for is this Mueller Japanese restaurant led by chef Michael Che. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you’ll experience a thoughtful 21-course sushi journey for $135 with such top-notch quality ingredients. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

4600 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723
(512) 825-3120
(512) 825-3120
Three pieces of fish sushi.
Sushi at Tsuke Edomae.
Tsuke Edomae

Also featured in:

Este

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Inherently, seafood makes for a pricier meal, and the menu at the Blackland Mexican seafood restaurant is well worth the extravagance. Chef Fermín Núñez pulls off fantastic, flavorful, and fresh dishes like the creamy trout a la pulla or the messy fun camarones “el ricas,” and a decadent seafood tower with clams preparados and morita-drawn butter lobsters. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2113 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 522-4047
(512) 522-4047

Also featured in:

Jeffrey's

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This Clarksville fine-dining institution was reimagined by the entrepreneurs at McGuire Moorman Hospitality in 2013 (now McGuire Moorman Lambert), turning it into a perfect spot for special occasions. The menu changes often but it is centered on dry-aged steaks — go all in with a bone-in ribeye. “Oohs” and “aahs” are guaranteed thanks to both the martini carts, caviar service, and absolutely top-notch hospitality. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

1204 W Lynn St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 477-5584
(512) 477-5584
A restaurant dining room.
Jeffrey’s.
Jeffrey’s

Also featured in:

Olamaie

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The modern Southern restaurant in downtown Austin is back, under executive chef Michael Fojtasek and chef de cuisine Amanda Turner. The menu focuses on expertly executed Southern faves like smoked cabbage with an Alabama barbecue sauce, fried catfish with blue crab rice and caviar, and grilled pork chops. For something even more special, snag one of Turner’s weekly six-course dinners for $150. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

1610 San Antonio St (17th St.), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-2796
(512) 474-2796

Also featured in:

Fabrik

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One of Austin’s most exquisite dining experiences is centered on vegan fine dining in the Blackland neighborhood. Through seven courses, chef and owner Je Wallerstein executes incredibly thoughtful meat- and dairy-less dishes, from the butternut squash agnolotti to the springy foccacia topped with a house-made garlic “butter.” Even better: it’s only $85 through January 12, 2025 (increasing to $95 after that). Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

1701 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Unit 102, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 222-9816
(512) 222-9816

Also featured in:

QI Austin: Modern Asian Kitchen

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Of chef Ling Qi Wu’s many Austin restaurants, it’s this downtown restaurant that is a bit more upscale. The modern Chinese menu includes knock-out fancy dishes such as lobster dumplings, salt-and-pepper lobster tails, loads of spicy fish, and corn soup with crab meat. Takeout orders can be placed online; book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

835 West 6th Street, TX 78703
(512) 474-2777
(512) 474-2777

Also featured in:

Hestia

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Named after the Greek goddess of the hearth, the downtown restaurant — which comes from the much-lauded team behind Emmer & Rye — centers on live-fire cooking. That means dishes like a scallop with beef tallow and mushroom gelee, dry-aged wagyu rib-eye steaks, and oyster mushrooms with watermelon radishes. There’s also a tasting menu available for $195 with wine pairings for an additional $150. The creative desserts from chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph are not to be missed. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

208 Nueces St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 333-0737
(512) 333-0737

Also featured in:

Garrison

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Though the windowless ambiance at this restaurant within the downtown Fairmont hotel may not be to everyone’s taste, the kitchen is doing everything right. The menu rotates frequently and ranges from super-fancy tater tots with black truffle and aerated gruyere to caviar with brioche to large steaks. Expect five-star fine dining service as well. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

524 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(512) 600-2000
(512) 600-2000
A whole grilled fish on a board.
Garrison’s whole grilled branzino.
Courtney Pierce/Eater Austin

Also featured in:

Toshokan

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The Japanese restaurant within East Austin venue Holey Moley is one of the most fun higher-end omakase experiences around. Led by chef Saine Wong, the $160 14-course meal showcases his global culinary experiences in tasty dishes. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

807 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702

Also featured in:

Uchi Austin

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The Zilker restaurant’s modern take on Japanese cuisine has rightly earned its national acclaim. While you can’t go wrong with the exquisite a la carte menu, choose the adventurous market-priced omakase menu to truly experience the chefs’ expertise with fresh cuts of fish with flavorful adornments to one-of-a-kind desserts. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 916-4808
(512) 916-4808

Also featured in:

Intero

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The Holly restaurant is ever-so-considerate about its comforting Italian food, from hearty large meats like wagyu beef shoulder or full pasta plates such as the ricotta gnocchi with duck confit. Everything is thoughtfully sourced and prepared. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2612 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Also featured in:

More in Maps

Otoko

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Shrouded in exclusivity, the 12-seat Japanese restaurant located at the South Congress Hotel in the Travis Heights neighborhood offers a multi-course omakase-style ticketed dinner, which incorporates influences from Kyoto's kaiseki and Tokyo’s sushi traditions. At $250 per person for sushi omakase or $200 for the classic omakase, the multi-course journeys from executive chef Yoshi Okai and chef Domonic Candy are one of Austin's most expensive dinners — but it’s unforgettable. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

7068 East Monroe Street, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 994-0428
(512) 994-0428

Also featured in:

El Naranjo

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James Beard Award-winning chef Iliana de la Vega serves dishes from Oaxaca at her South Lamar Mexican restaurant. Expect items like duck breast served in mole negro, tlayuda oaxaquena, and ensalada a la jamaica. Most of the dishes in the restaurant are gluten-free. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

2717 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 520-5750
(512) 520-5750

Also featured in:

More in Maps

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DipDipDip Tatsu-Ya

7301 Burnet Road, TX 78757

Opting for shabu-shabu may sound a little odd for a dressed-up occasion, but the Crestview higher-end Japanese restaurant is definitely an experience. At beautiful, intimate tables, diners can choose high-quality cuts of meat like A5 wagyu rib-eye from Japan and specialty dishes like the cold-smoked duck breast paired with a melting duck fat candle. Or, pick the $125 omakase to sit back and enjoy, while sampling a little bit of everything. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

7301 Burnet Road, TX 78757
(737) 701-6767
(737) 701-6767

Barley Swine

6555 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757

Of chef Bryce Gilmore’s three restaurants, it is the Brentwood restaurant where the team offers up more experimental seasonal New Texan dishes through its multi-course chef’s tasting menu for $115, with optional beverage pairings. Expect items like the pig face carnitas with sweet potato mole and honey-fermented radishes and spicy greens or eggplant olive oil cake with dukkah milk crumble. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

6555 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757
(512) 394-8150
(512) 394-8150

Craft Omakase

4400 North Lamar Boulevard, Suite 102, Austin, Texas 78756

In under a year since the Rosedale omakase restaurant opened — by Uchiko alum no less — Craft has quickly become one of the city’s finest Japanese tasting menu destinations. The $175 22-course meal focuses on simply well-craft nigiri and small plates without any of the showiness of other places, and excellent hospitality. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

4400 North Lamar Boulevard, Suite 102, Austin, Texas 78756
(512) 887-8889
(512) 887-8889

Lutie’s Garden Restaurant

4100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78751

Planning ahead is essential at this tiny restaurant at the Commodore Perry Estate. The verdant New American restaurant, from lauded Austin chef couple Bradley Nicholson and Susana Querejazu, has dishes like chickpea and green corn salad, bluefin tuna with caviar and citrus kosho, and the kouign amann ice cream. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

4100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 675-2517
(512) 675-2517
The grand aioli features fresh vegetables including some cut into rosettes with poach shrimp and boiled eggs on a tower made from marble. A white plate with a single English muffin sits off to the side along with a crystal dish of dip and a clear stemless glass of white wine.
Grand aioli at Lutie’s
Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection

Tsuke Edomae

4600 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723

One of the city’s hottest omakases that is highly difficult to get to tickets for is this Mueller Japanese restaurant led by chef Michael Che. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you’ll experience a thoughtful 21-course sushi journey for $135 with such top-notch quality ingredients. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

4600 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723
(512) 825-3120
(512) 825-3120
Three pieces of fish sushi.
Sushi at Tsuke Edomae.
Tsuke Edomae

Este

2113 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

Inherently, seafood makes for a pricier meal, and the menu at the Blackland Mexican seafood restaurant is well worth the extravagance. Chef Fermín Núñez pulls off fantastic, flavorful, and fresh dishes like the creamy trout a la pulla or the messy fun camarones “el ricas,” and a decadent seafood tower with clams preparados and morita-drawn butter lobsters. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2113 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 522-4047
(512) 522-4047

Jeffrey's

1204 W Lynn St, Austin, TX 78703

This Clarksville fine-dining institution was reimagined by the entrepreneurs at McGuire Moorman Hospitality in 2013 (now McGuire Moorman Lambert), turning it into a perfect spot for special occasions. The menu changes often but it is centered on dry-aged steaks — go all in with a bone-in ribeye. “Oohs” and “aahs” are guaranteed thanks to both the martini carts, caviar service, and absolutely top-notch hospitality. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

1204 W Lynn St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 477-5584
(512) 477-5584
A restaurant dining room.
Jeffrey’s.
Jeffrey’s

Olamaie

1610 San Antonio St (17th St.), Austin, TX 78701

The modern Southern restaurant in downtown Austin is back, under executive chef Michael Fojtasek and chef de cuisine Amanda Turner. The menu focuses on expertly executed Southern faves like smoked cabbage with an Alabama barbecue sauce, fried catfish with blue crab rice and caviar, and grilled pork chops. For something even more special, snag one of Turner’s weekly six-course dinners for $150. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

1610 San Antonio St (17th St.), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-2796
(512) 474-2796

Fabrik

1701 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Unit 102, Austin, TX 78702

One of Austin’s most exquisite dining experiences is centered on vegan fine dining in the Blackland neighborhood. Through seven courses, chef and owner Je Wallerstein executes incredibly thoughtful meat- and dairy-less dishes, from the butternut squash agnolotti to the springy foccacia topped with a house-made garlic “butter.” Even better: it’s only $85 through January 12, 2025 (increasing to $95 after that). Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

1701 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Unit 102, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 222-9816
(512) 222-9816

QI Austin: Modern Asian Kitchen

835 West 6th Street, TX 78703

Of chef Ling Qi Wu’s many Austin restaurants, it’s this downtown restaurant that is a bit more upscale. The modern Chinese menu includes knock-out fancy dishes such as lobster dumplings, salt-and-pepper lobster tails, loads of spicy fish, and corn soup with crab meat. Takeout orders can be placed online; book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

835 West 6th Street, TX 78703
(512) 474-2777
(512) 474-2777

Hestia

208 Nueces St, Austin, TX 78701

Named after the Greek goddess of the hearth, the downtown restaurant — which comes from the much-lauded team behind Emmer & Rye — centers on live-fire cooking. That means dishes like a scallop with beef tallow and mushroom gelee, dry-aged wagyu rib-eye steaks, and oyster mushrooms with watermelon radishes. There’s also a tasting menu available for $195 with wine pairings for an additional $150. The creative desserts from chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph are not to be missed. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

208 Nueces St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 333-0737
(512) 333-0737

Garrison

524 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Though the windowless ambiance at this restaurant within the downtown Fairmont hotel may not be to everyone’s taste, the kitchen is doing everything right. The menu rotates frequently and ranges from super-fancy tater tots with black truffle and aerated gruyere to caviar with brioche to large steaks. Expect five-star fine dining service as well. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

524 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(512) 600-2000
(512) 600-2000
A whole grilled fish on a board.
Garrison’s whole grilled branzino.
Courtney Pierce/Eater Austin

Toshokan

807 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702

The Japanese restaurant within East Austin venue Holey Moley is one of the most fun higher-end omakase experiences around. Led by chef Saine Wong, the $160 14-course meal showcases his global culinary experiences in tasty dishes. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

807 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702

Uchi Austin

801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

The Zilker restaurant’s modern take on Japanese cuisine has rightly earned its national acclaim. While you can’t go wrong with the exquisite a la carte menu, choose the adventurous market-priced omakase menu to truly experience the chefs’ expertise with fresh cuts of fish with flavorful adornments to one-of-a-kind desserts. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 916-4808
(512) 916-4808

Intero

2612 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

The Holly restaurant is ever-so-considerate about its comforting Italian food, from hearty large meats like wagyu beef shoulder or full pasta plates such as the ricotta gnocchi with duck confit. Everything is thoughtfully sourced and prepared. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2612 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Related Maps

Otoko

7068 East Monroe Street, Austin, TX 78704

Shrouded in exclusivity, the 12-seat Japanese restaurant located at the South Congress Hotel in the Travis Heights neighborhood offers a multi-course omakase-style ticketed dinner, which incorporates influences from Kyoto's kaiseki and Tokyo’s sushi traditions. At $250 per person for sushi omakase or $200 for the classic omakase, the multi-course journeys from executive chef Yoshi Okai and chef Domonic Candy are one of Austin's most expensive dinners — but it’s unforgettable. Book reservations online; there are indoor dine-in services.

7068 East Monroe Street, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 994-0428
(512) 994-0428

El Naranjo

2717 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

James Beard Award-winning chef Iliana de la Vega serves dishes from Oaxaca at her South Lamar Mexican restaurant. Expect items like duck breast served in mole negro, tlayuda oaxaquena, and ensalada a la jamaica. Most of the dishes in the restaurant are gluten-free. Book reservations online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

2717 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 520-5750
(512) 520-5750

Related Maps