We had a great time and the food is outstanding. The grouper fingers were a very pleasant surprise. Everyone in our party raved about everything we ate. read more

So awesome!! New Austin favorite. Everything tasted fresh and high quality. Highly recommend the shrimp cocktail and Bill's burger! Cute atmosphere, staff was friendly & collaborative. Truly a perfect spot. read more

Absolutely love this place and every now and then you come across a place that serves a dish that you will remember for the rest of your life and Bills had just that dish! Quaint, unassuming location and decor that makes it just perfect! It is quite small and intimate with a bar area and handful of tables. We began with a dozen oysters which were fresh and perfectly shucked with delicious accompaniments including what I think was an absinthe mignonette?! Then we tried three dishes - scallop ceviche which was delicious as was the poke but the absolute standout that was the perfect bite were the lettuce wraps: perfectly cooked crab, fried shallots, and a delicious spicy butter which we assembled into the wraps and it just worked together so, so well it was out of this world! Service was fantastic all night , drinks werr fantastic and the food was delicious! Will definitely return!! read more

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Sat at the bar for HH. Service was decent. Ordered oysters and two drinks. Oysters were fresh. Upbeat atmosphere.

Bill's Oyster is a trendy, small restaurant downtown Austin--not upscale in anyway. Our food order consisted of 6 oysters (the smallest I've ever had--delicious but TINY! Crab lettuce wraps that came with 3 tiny leaves of butter lettuce and a few morsels of crab. We ordered mozzarella sticks (2 per order) dressed with "caviar" and a horseradish dip. Lastly grouper fingers---5 small deep fried pieces of fish. Wine and Aperol Spritz later we escaped with bill equal to a small car payment. Albeit the food was outstanding, we left hungry with a much lighter wallet. Try Bill's during happy hour if you are on a budget. read more

We had a reservation at dinner time, but we end up being late. We called them ahead of time and they were kind enough to move our reservation time by 15 minutes. Our waitress was friendly too. I enjoyed their oysters, and I also tried their special one with uni and caviar. It's a little salty but I enjoyed them. I also got their jumbo crab cake and their special that day which was cod. Both were good and mild in flavor. One thing to note is that the restaurant is small so the tables were better fitted for a couple. read more

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got the burger and oysters! the burger sauce was delicious and tangy. oysters always taste great so i would come back read more

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A friend had recently gone to Bill's and was going on about the burger. I just so happened to have an opportunity to go to Bill's during happy hour on a Tuesday evening. I had considered getting reservations, but it was only two of us on a Tuesday evening. How bad can it be? We walked in the door just before 5 to get the last two chairs at the bar facing the kitchen. The place was packed. Do not casually go here if you have an opportunity to make reservations. The happy hour specials are so good it brings in a bunch of people. They were making stacks of burgers. Normally $21, HH burgers are $10. The burger visibly is nothing special. In your mouth, it's pretty good stuff. Decent size and a wonderful application of American cheese. The fries were pretty perfect. We also ordered some oysters ($4 regular, $3 happy hour) which were tasty. It's just hard after only eating 3 trying to stop. Then I remember that was almost $10 for those three so I move on. We noticed the hush puppy batter as they were scooping it into the fryer, so had to order a batch of hush puppies. They were tasty, but we'd had Turf n Surf's hush puppies recently enough that Bill's were not better. Their space is rather cramped. We probably foiled an additional 2 top from being sat because we took up all 4 spots at the oyster bar. There was a larger group at the table next to us and if we had made room for others, people going to the bathroom would have had to crawl over us. We were also fortunate to have been on foot and not trying to find parking. I think the sad story here is that once happy hour was over, the place started to clear out. The prices are pretty steep. They do a very capable job though. read more

The restaurant is small, but so very pleasant. All servers, as well as the general manager, is warm and friendly. We ordered the Colorado seafood tower - and the seafood was fresh and served in generous portions. We especially enjoyed the variety of sauces as well as fresh horseradish. The meal was completed with NY cheesecake. I am from NY and won't attempt to describe in words just how perfect this cheesecake is. I'm surprised I had to come to Austin to find the best cheesecake in NY (or anywhere), but Bill's Oysters certainly has it. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Seafood tower - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've been in the restaurant industry for a long, long time, and this place is absolutely perfect. It's a small, hospitable restaurant with great, high-quality seafood! Their other offerings are incredibly complementary, and would urge you to talk to your server about their offerings as you're ordering. I had half a dozen oysters... And got two of them Royale. You will not be disappointed if you follow this menu... The broccolini was amazing, and while I am not normally a "cheese stick "kind of guy... The cheese sticks were lightly breaded, not heavy... And topped with caviar and a crème fraîche on the side... One is enough for me, but they were delightful and I'm really glad that I tried them at my server's recommendation. read more

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I liked the retro style of the place, the music, and the HH food was pretty good. We did not do cocktails (taking a break) but they were priced well and a great list. I was not impressed with the glassware they chose for martinis. Great bartender Nick and his nice mom sat next to us. That was fun. We will go back soon! read more

Lobster roll was just okay (too much sauce) but the burger is absolutely incredible. One of the best I've had. The reason why I'm leaving 3 stars is because the happy hour menu is deceptive. On the happy hour menu "Bill's Burger" is advertised as costing $10. On the regular menu, it's advertised as costing $21. However, upon receiving the bill, I learned that I was charged $15 for said burger ordered during happy hour. Apparently fries are an extra $5 during happy hour, but come included normally. There is no mention of this, and my server didn't even ask me if I wanted to add fries. I'd be happy to pay $15 for the burger (and fries) but at least advertise it as such. Or, keep the burger for $10 on the menu but clarify that fries are not included for the happy hour version. However, pretending you're getting "Bill's Burger" (which includes fries on the main menu) for $10 is super shady. read more

Biggest disappointment was the service. Our server was in and out, I'm guessing because they were busy with tables inside. The seating was incredibly uncomfortable, the table was lopsided and set up too close to the front door and another table. When I asked to move, they made up an excuse about a reservation, even though the tables were the same size and had the same server. Conveniently, about 30 minutes before we left, some random white guy just sat down at that "reserved" table, and they let him stay. Not long after, our lopsided table tipped over, with my full martini. Another waitress helped clean it up while our server was nowhere to be found. Nothing was comped, and we were left with just an above-average meal and the constant chatter of tech bros less than an arms length. We'll be sticking to Clark's and Perla's. read more

Check this place out for their happy hour, will definitely be back. $10 martinis and $10 mouth watering burgers. The service was amazing, my waitress took great care of me. When you walk in you feel like you're in a time capsule, with beautiful architecture. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Happy hour $10 burger plus $5 French fries - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

We got the scallop crudo special and burger and fries. The burger and fries were why we went and it lived up to expectations. The shoestring fries are perfection. However, got the scallop crudo special that just wasn't good. The flavors were muddled and you could barely taste the scallop. I will say the tuna tartare the people next to us ordered looked insane, I'd try that. Overall don't really need to go back but if I did it'd be for the burger. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Scallop crudo special - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This is one of my favorite happy hours in Austin. When you go... Definitely do a dozen oysters and get hush puppies. Those hush puppies are so amazing. Has both sausage and crab. I was hesitant but worth it so much. The oysters are some of my favorite in the city. Constantly rotating in different ones to try. On happy hour oysters are $3 apiece. And the martini is $10. Everyone that works there absolutely knows the menu like they wrote it themselves. you get really great service here. Sitting at the bar or at a table you're attended to quickly and with a very friendly attitude. I like to make small talk and banter, and they are willing. It's kind of a bougie place, but don't let that stop you from going in as you are. I do often. It's very quaint and there's plenty of seating at the bar or there are tables scattered throughout. I like the colors they use if that matters to y'all. I brought a friend here, but I've also taken my boyfriend a few times. Good for all kinds of occasions. Happy hours is my favorite though. read more

Intimate space with a fun atmosphere. Jesse was our server and he was so attentive, personable, and helped us with our first oyster experience! The menu is small but had a lot of great options. I'd come back for happy hour. We loved the burger (and the fries were perfect). Cesar salad was large but needed more dressing. Mozzarella sticks were a bit chewy (but the caviar is a nice touch). Ahi was good, but it was sweet, which isn't common. Also wish they validated for the garage since street parking is non-existent (esp during valet hours). read more

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Smallish restaurant with both inside and outside seating. If you need to, get on the waitlist and wander down to Royal Blue to get a sip of something while you wait (they'll come find ya if you're waiting outside). The outdoor seating was comfortable for us - we'll see what's in store when the Austin summer hits - the shade from the buildings does help. The restaurant itself is shotgun with the kitchen in the rear. When we went the interior was hazy with smoke (but it didn't smell strongly), but I would think better ventilation would help. Services was really great - our waiter Alex was helpful in explaining choices and the rest of the staff was attentive but not obtrusive. I would call attention to the hostess though - she was really doing a great job of hosting, helping to run food, taking some drink orders and occasionally bussing/setting up tables. Overall it was great to see staff using care. Drinks. Red Hand - nice crisp gin martini. Pimm's Cup - cause I get these whenever I can. Refreshing for when it gets hot. As for food - we dined on: Mozzarella Stix & Caviar - Two sticks come with this order and they come out hot with a dollop of caviar in the center of each stick (and some shredded horseradish). These were good but we had to get two orders - a little pricey but hey you do get caviar. Fried Group Fingers - these were really great - flaky and tasty. It comes with a spicy slaw (red cabbage) which was just alright. Caviar ranch as a dipping sauce was good (by caviar - I think it was salmon or trout roe). Asparagus - as a side - it wasn't a huge portion but it was definitely tasty. The Colorado - seafood tower of oysters (a dozen), shrimp (4 large shell on), clams (a dozen with Tajin and a sauce) and a mound of lump crab. Mignonette, cocktail sauce and a couple of other sauces that I can't recall were on ice. NOTE, condensation from the top pan tends to drip down to the bottom, so scarf those oysters quickly or move them to avoid the drips. read more

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The fries were amazing! I highly recommend getting it with the remoulade. Oysters are really great here as well. I loved the oyster royale and if you like uni and caviar, definitely try it. I wanted to love the watermelon cocktail but there was something off about it... couldn't quite put my finger on it. My only complaint is that due to the size of this place and lack of ventilation, it can get quite smoky and when seated near the kitchen, my eyes were burning a bit (and also heard a girl next to us complaining as well). I can't wait to come back and try more food! read more

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Food: amazing Service: amazing Environment: amazing! Every appetizer and entree tasted so flavorful and fresh. Will be coming here every time I find myself in Austin. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Shrimp & Grits and Johnny Cakes - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Had a great time at Bill's Oyster with friends last Thursday after listening to Sarah Sharp sing jazz at the Elephant Room. Even though online it showed no reservation spots available, we were able to walk in and get a table quickly. They were fairly empty. The drinks and food were really good. My favorite dish was the fried tomatoes! read more

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Salty Dog cocktail was very good. Good raw oysters, and really good steak tartar. Best hush puppies I've ever had.

Coming from Houston, I get all excited hearing about a new seafood spot in Austin, but my bar is set pretty high. Bill's brings in a powerhouse set of owners - one longtime Austinite (you'll see lots of local references on the menu) and a Michelin-decorated chef from NYC. For opening night, they were surprisingly polished, giving no hint of usual hysteria from the kitchen or service. Joe was exactly who I'd hope to meet at the counter - warm, genuine, knowledgeable, always on point. He hooked me up with some fried oysters (nestled in with the Miss Mae's oyster pairing - get yourself a cocktail!), however; these deserve a permanent spot on the menu. A light tempura-like crisp topped with (THE ONLY BACON) Neuske's, blue cheese, and a base of truffled honey, only comment is to punch up the honey to stick to all that bleu and GIVE ME MORE. It's decidedly a cocktail bar, which is a little disappointing since oysters go best with wine in my bougiest opinion. Selections by the glass are limited and not ideal, some room for growth. The cocktail sauce is fantastic, some proprietary blend striking a balance of the usual citrus & horseradish notes, but also something richly umami and slightly sweet... just right. Mignonette is not as exciting. Yellowfin Tuna Tartare was generously portioned and beautiful, perfectly tenderized ahi caramelized in molasses with a smear of avocado mousse. Did I like it? Very much. Chips were clever, but didn't provide enough crunch to contrast with all that lovely fish, and the garlic was lost in molasses, not enough salt to make it all shine. Minor tweaks and this will be an all-star. Excited to explore more of the menu, especially with different service times as they evolve. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Tuna Tartare - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Seriously the best smash burger in Austin---and it's only $10 on happy hour! The oysters are also super fresh and delicious !

The prices for the amount of food is a joke. Over priced & still hungry. The service was quick, friendly and well-knowledgeable. The atmosphere was energetic and cozy as tables are close together. Food presentation was lovely, two of our entree's arrived on polished silver platters and food was set photogenically. Can't believe we were charged $40 for that King Crab. A unique, cozy restaurant and delightful experience. Just wish we had more food to eat to spend more time there. - $38 for 1 crab leg and 2 slices of lettuce - $16 for 4 Jumbo shrimps - $18 for 4 fried oysters (our favorite choice) - $12 Andouille sausage & crab hush puppies - $10 mocktail - $17 glass of wine ------------------------ - $9.15 sales tax Total: $120.15 read more

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It is so stinky inside from something they are frying or grilling, ventilation is really bad. The food was not very good at all. The service was okay but it just couldn't make up for the bad food and the smell. read more

Good experience downgraded by an unexpected finish. I work a few blocks away and enjoy lunch at a bar, at all price points. Had Bill's on my list and tried it today for Friday lunch. Slower than I would have guessed, but I immediately liked the vibe and there was ample seating at the bar. Greeted immediately by the bartender, I ordered a gin martini with blue cheese-stuffed olives. Delicious. Ordered the Crab BLT. Came with fries and a small serving of ketchup. Asked for aioli and she offered their tarragon aioli. Sandwich was good, fries were just right, aioli was okay. I got the check was surprised to see I'd been charged $1 for the blue cheese olives and $3 for the meager portion of aioli. Perhaps that's a reflection on their usual customer (tourist? tech bro?) but if I am paying $20 for the martini and $28 for the sandwich, don't nickel-and-dime me. Wouldn't have blinked if cost of the sandwich and cocktail was $4 higher, it's the tackiness of the additional charges that will keep me away. *Shoutout to the bartender at Mongers a couple years ago who, when I asked for some mayo, responded, "Is that for your fries? I'll get you some aioli." There was no additional charge. read more

Food, service and vibe was great. This was our first time here and will be back for the lobster roll next time. But the burger has to be a top 5 in Austin. Perfect spot for lunch! read more

Bill’s Oyster - Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I can concur with other reviewers when they say that Bill's reminds them of a New York eatery, as that was my first thought when I entered. I was able to get a great photo of the restaurant empty so that you have a clear understanding of what to expect. My gf and I met here for lunch and because I was clearly overdressed, we almost left, but I am glad that we decided to stay because the food was fantastic. The service we received was decent, but if you keep in mind that you are dining at essentially a diner and not a high end restaurant, you will not be too disappointed. The only reason I am giving Bill's 3 stars is because if you have followed me for the past 10 years, then you will know that my #1 pet peeve is when the waiter presents the check without first asking if there is anything else they can get for you. Not only does it make the patron feel as if they are being rushed, but you run the possibility of receiving less of a tip. In my case, when I told our waiter that I did not want another glass of wine, he brought our check and did not realize that I was contemplating ordering dessert and also food to go. Had he been trained properly, he would have left that day with more money. What we did enjoy were the fresh oyster selections from Canada and Massachusetts. Bill's knows how to make a crab cake! Their crab cakes are a pretty hefty size in my opinion and pretty much all meat. I have never been a fan of lobster rolls with aioli/mayo as I prefer my lobster rolls hot with drawn butter and although my preference is not offered on the menu, they honored my request and it was delicious! Fries also come with the lobster roll and they too were really good. Besides my irritation regarding the check, I do highly recommend Bill's and I will be back for another visit. read more

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When I think of New Orleans influenced oyster restaurants, Acme in the French Quarter comes to mind. It's been there forever and they serve a wide range of food, and especially Po-Boys. Bills seems to want to emulate this but falls a tad short. The ambiance is "dinerish", but instead of booths there are tables set very close together. The bar is very inviting, which is where we sat. Bartenders were very friendly. The menu is somewhat limited aside from the fresh oysters and clam dishes. There were no Po-Boys available except a some special one that I couldn't quite comprehend. The crab cake I ordered looked nothing like the ones in the pictures. Mine has been smushed down into the sauce and resembled a stew instead of a crab cake. Given that, it had a nice taste to it, but the lump pieces I equate to a great crab cake were missing. A friend had the burger and she said it was "fine". The fries were tasty but were very, very slim shoestring fries. The drinks were good. I'm generous with the 4 stars as I feel the place has potential and is trying. We'll be back. Hopefully they'll expand their menu and try to keep that crab cake together in the future. read more

This place was adorable!! It is a small place so be sure to get a reservation in advance for inside or patio seating. The ambiance is great but the food and service are even better. Our waiter recommend several options and each one was terrific. The crudo was some of the best I've ever had. I will definitely be back soon! read more

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In my opinion this is the best seafood I've had in Austin. We ordered the Colorado Tower and the caviar mozzarella sticks. The oysters were delicious, the shrimp was even better. The crab was yum and I'm not a huge clam fan but even those were good. The caviar mozzarella sticks were the best mozzarella sticks I've ever had. The only thing I wouldn't recommend was their menu cocktails only because they were made with barely any alcohol so not worth the price. We ordered dirty martinis after trying the salty grapefruit cocktail and the martinis were delicious and so much better. I will definitely be back as the seafood is just beyond delicious!! read more

Bill’s Oyster - Colorado Tower! - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had my first date here with my boyfriend and I'm in love with him. Whatever was in those oysters worked.

Came in for brunch and got the chicken fried steak, a dozen oysters and the Mexican martini. Chicken fried steak did not taste like wagyu, more like skirt steak. But other than that, service was great and the Mexican martini was surprisingly the best martini I've ever had. Would come back just for the martini read more

Love to see downtown get strong food destinations. This is one of them. Really happy experience interns of the overall vibe and service style. Crazy delicious burger too boot. Yee Haw, Look forward to more. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Excellent spot in downtown Austin for oysters. I loved the decor. They have a great happy hour that I'll definitely make my way back to. read more

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.....where to start. The service was tragic. Top 3 worst service experiences in Austin. First, they sat us at a table outside next to the door- the foot traffic was annoying but fine. Next we order drinks and food. We get the appetizer within 2 minutes from an outside staff. Then, for the next 10 minutes, we watch new people get seated and get their drinks before us. Our waitress was nowhere to be seen so i literally had to ask the bus guy to help us find our drinks. He did (shout out). Sadly, I couldn't stand mine. Surprise surprise, our waitress never checked in so I couldn't order a different one. Thank god my boyfriend is a saint and offered to switch. Next we get our food, which was good, but the sun starts to set and i am literally roasting, can't see a thing, miserable. When we tried to get the check, our waitress literally dropped it on the table and disappeared. She didn't even comment on how I had switched seats. I get not being able to do anything, but she could have at least acknowledged the situation we were in. Anyways, I wanted to leave ASAP but she didn't come back to get it. I eventually asked a separate waitress to take it, so that we could just leave. Again, our waitress asked how we were doing ONCE throughout the whole night, and it was about 5 minutes in. I don't care how good the burger was because the service was just SO bad. We came for our four year anniversary and left so sad. read more

Crowded! But, it was on a Saturday evening. We were seated immediately, however, at the bar. The oysters along with the other food was outstanding! Definitely one of the top three oyster spots we've been to. read more

Great food and atmosphere. We didn't have a reservation but they accommodated us fast. Everything we sampled was really tasty from the fresh briny oyster sampler, crawfish Mac and Cheese to the crab cakes. The service was excellent. Very professional and attentive. Great job read more

Jesse and Emily were so attentive and delightful! It was our anniversary, and they brought out cheesecake, caviar mozzarella sticks, and lobster hush puppies for us. (Which were sooo good!) Everything was so delicious and brought out quickly. The vibes were immaculate on the patio! We will definitely be returning! read more

Bill’s Oyster - Oysters and cocktail shrimp! - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas