Emmer & Rye was such a good dining experience. We met up with friends for their dinner event featuring visiting chef Rockman, and I'm so glad we did because everything was delicious. A quick parking tip: street parking was hard to find. We ended up parking in a garage, and I was shocked when my husband told me it cost $28. In hindsight, we should have just used the valet for $20. We had reservations and were seated immediately, which was a great start to the evening. The restaurant was busy and lively. The noise level was definitely on the higher side, but we could still carry on a conversation without having to shout across the table. Service was attentive, and the drinks were excellent. We started with the bread, and I don't say this lightly, it was the best bread I've ever had. It was a beautiful brioche stuffed with whipped ricotta and topped with candied pecans. I actually had to force myself to quit eating it so I'd have room for the rest of the meal. We also tried the Johnny Cakes, which were good, but they didn't stand out compared to everything else we ate. For our shared entrees, the Cacio e Pepe was outstanding. I've had this dish at a lot of restaurants, and I honestly can't remember having a better version. The Texas Akaushi Wagyu was very good as well. The tortelloni was another great choice, and the pappardelle was equally delicious. By the end of the meal, we were completely stuffed and couldn't even consider dessert, which is probably the best compliment I can give. Between the food, drinks, service, and overall experience, this was a memorable meal and one I'd happily repeat. read more

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Wow what a fantastic experience. We came here for a friends birthday dinner and loved it. It's a small but can't-go-wrong menu. Here's what we ordered: 1. Smoked gulf oysters - delicious! 2. Tomatoes & peach salad - refreshing and a delicious unique dressing 3. Sourdough bread - amazing freshly churned butter and cheese spread 4. Cacio e Pepe - perfectly made all around 5. Rigatoni - this was the only dish I didn't really care for 6. Gulf fish - light and perfectly cooked 7. Blue corn empanada - (complimentary for our birthday girl!). It was vegan and you'd never know! 8. PB blackberry dessert - literally the best dessert I think I've ever had. I would come back just to eat that over and over again. What an incredibly made dessert with so many different flavors and textures. Amazinggggg! Our server was amazing too so just all around a great experience! read more

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This was one of the BEST meal experiences I have had in Austin from start to finish! Emmer & Rye has been on my list to try for 5 years now aid it exceeded my expectations... fantastic service, phenomenal flavors, and beautiful presentation. This is the perfect spot for a special occasion and I highly recommend the chef's counter if you can get a reservation for it! NOTES: - Reservations: Use OpenTable - Parking: Valet is available for $12 (best option because Rainey St is crowded so street parking is hard to find and the garages nearby are expensive) - Menu changes based on what's available THE HIGHS: - Sitting at the chef's counter: If you have the option to reserve these seats, DO IT! Sitting directly in front of the open kitchen adds to the overall experience (and it helps you decide what to order as you see different dishes coming out) - Fantastic service: We were celebrating my husband's birthday and there was a signed birthday card at our seats. Multiple workers wished him a happy birthday and we were even brought non-alcoholic drinks to celebrate Shea gave us personalized attention and even asked what my husband's favorite color was for the candle next to the dessert. All of the interactions felt genuine and their overall hospitality is next level. - Flavors: There are so many unique ingredients and methods used in the dishes like fried egg foam, smoked peach honey, and persimmon gravy. It all works and every dish is incredibly balanced. - Meal pacing; You order everything at once but the kitchen does a great job of pacing the different dishes throughout the meal. - Presentation: Every dish was plated beautifully and garnished well but you still get a great portion size. THE LOWS: - The end of the meal... seriously, I have no complaints other than being sad when it was over! - It can be hard to get a reservation if you don't plan ahead. THE PRICE: The total was $159.14 after tax ($12.14) but before tip for: - Sourdough Bread ($15) - Johnny Cakes ($16) - Cacio e Pepe ($20) - Caramelle ($23) - Pappardelle ($24) - Lamb & Pork Carnitas ($36) - PB & J ($14) It's obviously a pricier restaurant but I was pleasantly surprised by the portion size... I was so impressed by the flavors in everything we ordered that I didn't even think twice abut the price. BEST BITES: - Johnny Cakes: The fried egg foam is INSANE and the shishito pepper relish at the bottom adds so much flavor (the order comes with 6 but you can do a half order of 3) - Caramelle: This was a new addition to the menu and they hit it out of the park! The pasta is so thin and the smoked house ricotta inside is incredibly soft so it feels like you're biting into a little pillow. - Lamb & Pork Carnitas: You definitely taste the pork more than the lamb but the textures are fantastic because the outside is crispy but it's so moist and tender inside. The sauerkraut adds the perfect acidity, the persimmon gravy is rich and flavorful, and the spaetzle on the side is delicious! THE VERDICT: Emmer & Rye is a must-try for locals or anyone visiting who wants a gourmet dinning experience without breaking the bank. Plan ahead and make a reservation because it's definitely a popular place. I've also dined at their sister restaurant Hestia and loved my meal there as well but I think I personally enjoyed the menu offerings at Emmer & Rye a little more. I recommend sharing the dishes so you can try more things and definitely save room for dessert because the PB & J is delicious! read more

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Unfortunately I did not make a reservation and decided to sit on the patio to avoid the 1.5 hour wait time. It is super hot on the patio even though it's covered and lots of flies, but this is my fault for not planning ahead. Despite the weather, I really enjoyed the Jonny cakes and this chicken is absolutely delicious. It is the star of the show and I can't wait to go back and try other dishes. read more

Emmer & Rye - Chicken - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

Visited Emmer & Rye for the first time and it was a nice date night! Our favorite was the Johnny Cakes, they are so savory and addicting I could eat a whole plate! All of our dishes were good, but we were disappointed by the price/portion size of the Empanada. This experience could have been a 5 but service was extremely slow. We did not receive appetizers until about 45 minutes after our reservation - after that things came out relatively quickly. read more

Absolutely wonderful experience at Emmer & Rye with the fam tonight! This is one to try for sure! First off, beautiful restaurant with great people and great ambiance - service is attentive, kind, and genuine. Second - they have Michelin Green Star and are ZERO waste - and they explain throughout the meal how they make this happen. So very cool. And the food - 5/5 for sure! So good to know - we learned that the best way to order is sharing. The restaurant makes items as they're ready, and that means if you order a pasta, and someone else orders the chicken; you might be eating your dishes at different times. Good news! We love to try everyone so don't have to ask me twice! Standouts - Johnny Cakes with toasted egg foam. Delicious and decadent - not to be missed. The bread - everyone loved it. The butters and honey made on site using leftover cheese, yogurt and fruits (aka zero waste). All the pasta, but specifically the Cacio e Pepe - perfection. I could say something about everything but to suffice to say it was all wonderful!! Thanks for a great night! read more

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Overall: 4.5/5 [Dine In] The staff was welcoming, and the restaurant is dog friendly! We brought our friend's dogs to the outside patio, and the staff even brought out a water bowl for them which was sweet. The food came out at a good pace. They recommend 7 plates for 3 people, but we only ordered 4 since we had a heavy lunch. If we had a bigger appetite, adding an extra pasta or protein would round out the meal nicely. Smoked Gulf Oyster ($18): Four oysters served in a delicious pork and miso butter. I am not an oyster person, but this one completely won me over. The flavor is already perfect on its own, so the peach hot sauce on the side is entirely optional. Johnny Cakes ($16): Six small corn cakes with an egg foam sauce. The cakes were a touch salty, but the egg foam rounded things out nicely. Pappardelle ($24): Oh my goodness, the pappardelle was so bouncy and fresh that we were perfectly happy eating it on its own. That is not to say the smoked wagyu short rib was not equally enjoyable. The meat was tender and beautifully flavored. Texas Akaushi Wagyu ($65): The wagyu leaned on the saltier side, though it may be intentional. What really shined were the beef tallow sweet potatoes in black garlic sauce and chimichurri. They were delicious on their own and did a wonderful job of balancing out the richness of the meat. read more

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Took my boyfriend here to celebrate his birthday and it did not disappoint! We spilt a few appetizers and three pastas, and everything was so delicious. Some of the most tasty oysters I've ever had. The service was great, everyone was very nice and overall a great experience and space. I think Emmer & Rye is slept on, and we cannot wait to go back. read more

Emmer & Rye - Oysters - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Went here for a date night! We were seated on the patio which was all that was available when reserving a few days ahead. The place was quite crowded and I saw they had to turn away some walk ins. Everything on the menu looked good and we ordered 5 dishes. Smoked oyster - very interesting taste! The peach sauce was hot but I thought the flavors were unique Crudo - light and tangy. I thought this dish was alright and that the fish was a bit too chewy. Tartare - I liked how this was paired with lettuce, which made it more refreshing than when served with bread. Bread - I usually am turned off by having to buy bread--esp at $15, but it was recommended so we gave it a shot. It was good but I wished it was a bit warmer. It did help us get fuller though since we were worried about the smaller earlier dishes. Paparadelle - our heaviest dish. I enjoyed it but after a while it did feel salty. Chocolate chip - our dessert that still skewed on savory--probably should have gone with something lighter. read more

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You just can't go wrong with any restaurant in the Emmer & Rye group! We live out of state but each time we go to Texas, we try a different one and they all have been fabulous! Our server gave us time to look at the menu and said if we wanted any help rounding out our choices, she'd be happy to do that. We left space for one suggestion from her but when she recommended the carpaccio we were unsure since most of us didn't think it sounded good, but we decided to take the chance and go ahead and get it. At the end of the evening, when she asked for our favorite dish of the night, several of us said the carpaccio! fantastic recommendation! The noise level is quite high because it's a bustling place, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for a romantic dinner, but it was fine for our table of 5. read more

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Wow! This place is utterly amazing. I've lived in Austin for three years and I cannot believe this is my first time trying this place. My wife and I shared a bunch of dishes to try different items on the menu. Every dish was phenomenal. My personal favorite was the Gulf Oysters. I've never eaten oysters so flavorful in my life! The Crudo, Johnny Cakes, Rigatoni, Empanadas, and Carnitas were all great as well. It felt like every few minutes, they brought out another dish that blew us away! Also, the service was top notch. Our waitress provided us with great recommendations for food to order. She was extremely friendly and attentive the entire evening. We liked the ambiance and music. The music was soothing and relaxing. The venue felt small and intimate, which was perfect for date night. We will absolutely be returning here. I've been told that their menu changes regularly so I'm excited to see what new dishes we can try when we return. read more

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I really wanted to love this place, and while there were some highlights, the service and price point didn't make it worth it for me. Our server was friendly, but his recommendation for ordering didn't make sense. He suggested 12-13 dishes for a group of four, which sounded excessive but was framed as tapas-style. In reality, several dishes could easily be a full entrée. We wisely started with six dishes and could barely finish them. The pacing was also off, about 20 minutes between dishes, with plates coming out randomly rather than in a thoughtful progression. We also ordered a bottle of wine and were confused when the sommelier presented the bottle and cork, then disappeared for 15 minutes before bringing it back. By the time the final dish arrived, we were already uncomfortably full and had even tried to cancel it, but were told it was already being prepared. Some of the food was very good, but they need to refine their service style and pacing to justify the cost. My reviews of our dishes below: Crudo - 3/10, really tough and fishy. Would not get again. None of us could finish it. Sourdough - 10/10, so good we wanted more and the house made butter was a perfect addition Pappardelle - 7/10, decent but the short rib was not fork tender and was more like chunks of stew meat Cacio e pepe - 9/10, very good! Good cook on the noodles and very good flavor Texas wagyu, 9/10, cooked perfectly and the potatoes were super good and crispy Berkshire pork - 8/10, good flavor but it just arrived so late I wasn't hungry and didn't eat much of it read more

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Absolutely delicious and well worth the visit! I was recommended to this spot by my hair stylist who is on Rainey Street as well. I went there on my own without a reservation and was seated by the window at a high table to myself. Otherwise would suggest poking a reservation. The bartenders and waitresses were so helpful and immediately came with suggestions for food based on my dairy allergy. I took all the suggestions and had the best meals in Austin. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu and I would suggest trying their desert too! Can't wait to stop here again on my next visit through Austin! read more

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I went to this establishment and Canje before being aware of the hospitality group. The quality of their food have been great so far, so I look forward to trying their other restaurants. I started with the Carpaccio and it was one of the best that I've ever had. It was sweet, salty, crunchy, and fibrous. I absolutely loved every ingredient, especially the peanuts. This is a must get. The Pappardelle was elegant in presentation and in flavour. The long pappardelle was a joy to consume, while the rest of the dish had a mild, savory taste. The Crème Fraîche was a nice addition, giving the plate a smooth finish. The Berkshire pork was another beautifully plated dish that was accompanied with carefully prepared greens. Honestly I think the pork itself could've been a tad sweeter, but was overall still alright. I was quite impressed with the greens, and wished the was an easier way to consume the Cabbage kimchi. They pickle levels were modest (which is my preference), but they kept getting lost in the broth. For dessert, I got the Chocolate Chips and Pb & J. Chocolate chips were too mild for my liking, but I still respect its crunch and artisanal shape. The Pb & J was alright. It's definitely another stunning dessert, but I wanted a stronger peanut flavor. Overall, Emmer & Rye had beautiful plates that are picture worthy. The carpaccio was the only plate that really got me, but the overall service and food quality were still exceptional. I can't wait to try the rest of the Emmet & Rye Hospitality Group restaurants. read more

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Great place the service is on point and explained not only the ingredients but the techniques to make the food. All ingredients are locally sourced and the menu changes to reflect wha5 is in season. The cocktails and wine selection is impressive we had an amazing meal. We were seated with a view of the kitchen, which is always fun! read more

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The service at Emmer & Rye is truly unmatched. The food is phenomenal. The Papperdelle was a good mix of flavors, while the crudo had a bite that was unexpected but very flavorful. I will be thinking about the sourdough with the blackberry honey for a HOT minute. I would recommend grabbing a reservation for this Michelin Rated spot, whether it's at the bar or at a table, it's a beautiful place with lovely food and fantastic service read more

Emmer & Rye - Papperdelle - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

First visit here and it did not disappoint. We had a reservation and were promptly seated, with the special treat of sitting where we could see into the kitchen and watch the food being prepared. The space has a relaxed vibe with a nice energy level, and it was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday evening. We started with the sourdough and opted for the add-on that included ham, a habanero jam, Caldera de España, and three different butters--an absolutely wonderful way to begin the meal. We also tried the Johnny cakes, which were delicious and perfectly balanced. For the main course, I ordered the grouper. While it was flavorful, it wasn't my personal favorite. The evening ended on a high note with one of the best desserts I've had in a long time: a cocoa-infused chip over homemade ice cream. The texture and flavors were absolute perfection. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience, and I look forward to returning to try more dishes. read more

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Ambience is lovely. Food is truly incredible; more on that in a moment. Our server Max was delightful and so attentive, careful and dedicated to making sure we had an incredible experience. The bread. Was. So wow. Sourdough from a 10 yr old starter. The salad was delicious. The Johnny cakes were incredible. Cacio e Pepe was deluxe yum only topped by the Pappardelle. I love a short rib and this delivered. The only thing I felt was Meh was the lions mane mushroom. The sticky toffee dessert was also SO delicious and complex and not too sweet. Really overall perfection of a meal. Thank you! Will recommend and be back. read more

Parking - valet recommended for $14; Mellow handles the cars and is a great driver. Patio - pleasant but music is quiet and tons of flies. Suggest indoors. Staff - friendly and attentive; although we did have a switch in our server with no reasoning or much communication Food - a bit overpriced for what you're getting. I loved that it was food from local farms! Presentation is beautifully executed. We decided to not order more. Cacio de Pepe spaghetti was too salty, not flavorful, don't recommend - didn't eat 90% of it and told the staff we didn't like it but it stayed on our bill. Crudo - pleasantly Smokey although a bit chewy. Presentation was colorful and elegant. Dirty martinis here are well done. Bathrooms are clean, gender neutral, with upscale decor. read more

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Decided to do early birthday dinner at E&R, made the reservations and they have valet parking, which is such a relief on Rainey st. Ordered sourdough bread, cacio e Pepe and hubby got something with mushrooms(pasta dish), I told my server I like tropical drink, so bar tender made me a tropical drink with rum, off the menu, which I liked. Loved loved cacio e Pepe, hubby liked his pasta dish, bread was good but burnt, overall can't wait to go back for some more cacio e Pepe. read more

Emmer & Rye - Really loved Blue Beard Durum Spaghetti 'Cacio E Pepe' - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

Not a good experience outside in the cold. There was inadequate heat and nothing blocking a strong wind, making it uncomfortable and ridiculous to try to dine outdoors this past Saturday night: They should not be making reservations if that's the situation. I don't know why the beef carpaccio was served before the fish crudo, as I expected. I only ordered cold dishes myself since I didn't expect anything to stay warm in the 30s temperatures. The stuffed pasta dish looked undercooked but my guest didn't complain. The jonny cakes didn't come with the rest of the food for our party of 4, and we said to forget about them. Instead we waited 10 minutes or more after asking for the check apparently so they could bring the jonny cakes we didn't want. None of the food was remarkable - the crudo was boring, carpaccio was good but I've had that preparation elsewhere and no one at the table mentioned anything about what they were eating- it was that unexciting. read more

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We had a reservation but still had to wait for our table despite arriving on time. Parking was also tough and pricey if you used the garage. We were seated at the chef's counter, which was nice, but compared to past chef counter experiences, this one didn't feel exceptional. The staff was friendly and checked in a few times, but it wasn't anything above and beyond. Now, the food? Excellent. Everything we ordered was delicious, and the menu changes often, which adds an element of surprise. Prices were reasonable and the portions were decent--we left full! The bluefish crudo was outstanding--bold and fresh with beets, blackberries, and chili crisp was such a creative sweet-and-savory combo. Oysters, flavor-wise were some of the best we've had. Johnny cakes were light and fun, and the jalapeño relish with whipped butter was a standout. The pappardelle with wagyu was flavorful and tender, though it arrived lukewarm since it sat for a bit before being served since our server were absent when it was ready. We celebrated our anniversary early, and they gave us a melon sherbet topped with melted white chocolate--the perfect ending. We appreciated that thoughtful touch! read more

A friend and I went to Emmer & Rye for my birthday, just before Christmas. From the moment we arrived, the service was personal and attentive without being cloying or making us feel rushed (especially when we were so busy chatting that we forgot to even review the menu for a while...). We never felt rushed, and our server was articulate and well-informed, really able to enhance our selections with her insights. It's one of those places that emphasizes sharing dishes, so we shared 2 starters, a pasta, and a main. In my opinion, the two starters were the best of the bunch, highlighting brilliantly bright flavors and fresh ingredients that were novel and very satisfying in flavor and texture. The pasta was a favorite dish of mine, the cacio e pepe, and it was the second best I've had anywhere (which is still very good!). The main (a fish dish) was excellent also, even though I'm admittedly not much of a fish fan. Finally, we got a dessert and a dessert wine for which the server was able to recommend a really good pairing. It was a really great evening from start to finish. Everything about the restaurant, from ambiance to food to service, really enhanced it all. Finding great service is reason enough for me to love a place these days, but Emmer and Rye is doing it all right. We'll be back! read more

Emmer and Rye is a restaurant serving yummy dishes but neglecting the most important tenets of good service and fine dining. First, we were sat in the farthest corner table despite the restaurant being far from full, resulting in us being neglected by all of the wait staff for the majority of the night. Our table was not even set. One of the waiters helped get us get water and set the table, then left for another 30 minutes until coming back to take our orders. The food itself was very good. Their focaccia was crunchy and served with fancy flavored butters. The papardelle with smoky wagyu beef was delicious and the pasta was perfectly cooked. Their grouper was well cooked and came with a rich sauce. There were flies all over the outdoor area of the restaurant. All over the table and the food. They didn't seem like they prepared for having an outdoor eating space. They offered us a little fan to help with the flies which didn't do anything. I'm not sure why there are so many flies outside their restaurant and why they aren't taking greater measures to keep them out. The dishes weren't paced properly - they brought out each main dish separated by 20 minutes in between. That doesn't make sense. Everything came out very slow from the food to the drinks to the check at the end. I wouldn't come back because of the service. read more

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house-made cacio e pepe was a gift from the kitchen and our favorite - on the menu since the very beginning. We felt fortunate to not have missed out. Tuna tartare nice but not outstanding. read more

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Top notch creative food. Great drinks and very fun wine list. Service was great at the bar. Loved everything we ate but the pork was pretty salty. Must try the PB&J dessert. Insane with textures and flavors. Cannot wait to go back! read more

Hummmm. We arrived at 7:45 for our dinner reservation and were asked to wait outside (we were to we seated on the patio). There's no designated waiting space, so we stood by the door for a while just trying to stay out of the way. We were seated at 8. Our server was nice, and helpful with the wine list. We ordered all of the appetizers plus two pastas to share. All the food was good and more than enough for three people. That said, the pacing of the meal was very odd. They served us 4 dishes at once, then we waited for ages before more appetizers came out, then waited again for what seemed an extra long time before more came to the table, and so on. Not the most pleasant dining experience. Also, while our server was pleasant he didn't really check in on us and we had to finally ask one of the food runners what was going on. I would rate the food here five stars, but the dining experience did not match the quality of the food. By the end of the evening I was very ready to be done and go home. read more

Food mediocre. They push you to order way too much food. We were 5 people, they said to get 10-12 dishes. We ordered 5 and the waiter gave us an attitude. It was plenty of food, had leftovers. They brag they're Michelin Green, which is different than Michelin stars. read more

This was my second time at this restaurant and I would say I am not sure unfortunately if I will be back. Upon arrival I had to wait 10-15 minutes before my table was ready although I had a reservation made. Then upon sitting although the waiter was very kind but they kept mixing orders or trying to provide my order to someone else. It also took so long for my meal and drinks to come out which is not the impression I had received the first time I had gone to this restaurant which was truly amazing. The restaurant itself is also very beautifully designed. During my visit at this restaurant I sat at the chef table and ordered two different pastas as well as a potato appetizer which quality wise and flavor wise they were truly great however unfortunately the level of service truly needs work. read more

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Came here on a Thursday night to celebrate my girl's younger brother's graduation. This was a cool restaurant that didn't exist in Austin when I last visited in 2019. The farm to table concept was there back then, but I didn't get a chance to eat anything like that back then. We got outdoor seating. It's pretty cool sitting outside near the fire place most times. When it's a bit breezy and even drizzling, the outside seating can admittingly be hard, especially if you're closer to the door. This place is basically a tapas style. Plates are fairly small, so we ordered like 5 items to split amongst 3 people. Of the vegetarian items, we got the following: Johnny cakes: this was one of my favorites. The relish was so good, but I really liked the lira Ross's caciotta. Was so addicting and was sad when we finished it all so quickly. Gnocchetti: this was fine, but nothing too otherworldly. Sweet potato tamal: probably my most favorite. Just an excellent variety of ingredients that blended so well when eaten. It was so savory. I had 2 good cocktails here. The Elevenses and Suze the day were very good. I think i just got more into mezcal and tequila over time so that I've developed a fond taste for it in cocktails. All in all - one of my favorites during this Austin trip. Will highly recommend, if you can secure a reservation. French ravioli: solid choice. Needed it ordered after the fact since we under-ordered initially. read more

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Food was alright but service was excellent! I tried the cacio e pepe, grouper, and bread and all were decent. The bread was a particular standout as the sourdough had a great crisp on it and served with three different types of butters. All three butters were amazing and different. We were also told that their sourdough starter was over 10 years old. However, the sauce on the grouper was very unexpectedly spicy, and there was a bone left in the fish. Portions were a solid size to get full off of. However, we were told that the items on the menu were meant to be shared. Service was the standout of the night. Every server that came to our table was very knowledgeable about each of the dishes, and our main server was very attentive and came by at all of the right times. Restaurant is suitable for a date night. The lights are turned low, and it has a very moody, romantic vibe. However, I would probably not return. 6.5/10! read more

Emmer and Rye (E&R) restaurant was recently awarded a Michelin Green Star and Bib Gourmand in 2024. Of course, my Yelp friend and I were anxious to try this restaurant. I did not realize that there is a E&R group of restaurants some of which I love like Canje and Ladino (located in the San Antonio Pearl District, where we lived for two years.) Hestia is also part of the E&R group, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2024. E&R menu changes daily dependent on seasonal, locally sourced food finds. E&R has a modern, contemporary vibe with architecturally clean lines. Although the restaurant is spacious it has a minimalist feel. Both indoor and outdoor seating (not last night because it was too cold) is available. Gary Jean did some magic to book us a table inside due to the cold weather as we originally booked for outside...much appreciated! We sat near the window with a full view of the restaurant and outdoors. In full transparency, I am the ultimate people watcher. So, I had the best of both worlds. Notably, E&R is located on Rainey Street, so I immediately had some angst about parking. We ended up using Public Parking costing us $33.00. We had six courses: First, we had the sourdough bread that was accompanied by three butters (sea salt, Greek yogurt flavor and blue cheese flavor all with extra virgin olive oil.) We both LOVED this bread and butter!!! Ashley, our server, said that this bread was from a starter over 10 years old. The Greek yogurt flavor was my personal fav. Second, we had the Johnny Cakes made with yellow bolita corn, shishito relish and lira rosa picante. The relish was especially tasty. While the first four courses were considered small plates, they had generous portions. In fact we had leftovers to take home. Third, we had the Cacio e Pepe, one of their signature dishes. The Pepe was comprised of blue beard Durum spaghetti, black pepper (lots of black pepper) and challerhocker. I've had spaghetti all over the world and this one was quite unique. Fourth, we had Carpaccio with wagyu beef, tonnato, pickled mustard seed and cured egg yolk. This was another unique and delicious course. It was superbly executed. The carpaccio was tender you could cut it with a fork. All the other ingredients made it texture heaven! Fifth and final course was the Carnitas - smoked lamb and pork, dirty farro, cucumber, and herb yogurt. I love the different textures and the layering of flavors. This was another fav! While the restaurant was not extremely busy, our food came to our table quite slowly. Ashley did a great job letting us know what stage of preparation we were in. It reminded me of being in Europe where a meal is savored with no time limit for dining. In America many restaurants have strict time limit allocated per party and they give you indirect and some direct signals when they are ready for you to leave. I had a long, leisurely conversation with my friend which I personally enjoyed. This was a great dining experience trifecta - fresh and impressive dining environment, excellent food and personalized service. Highly recommend Emmer & Rye.... read more

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This is absolutely the most unique restaurant I've ever been to. The menu changing daily is wonderful. Staff are very friendly and each dish that is brought out is explained in detail of its composition. The chefs really put in the time to make the dishes very presentable. See images for what was ordered but will say the oysters were a very unique and refreshing taste. Served on rocks. Where do you get served rocks?! The best dish of the night was the bread with the sides. The pasta dish with meat was severely lacking meat. For the price you get only like an oz of beef, that was disappointing. The other dish that looks like a triangle, was beautiful, some sort of mushroom chorizo thing. Excellent presentation but drastically over salted (this coming from a guy that loves salt) Overall, excellent but expected better balance of flavors across the dishes. Pasta was under seasoned while the other dish was over seasoned. Oysters on point. A truly unique experience and I would highly advise checking it out read more

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I had high expectations for this place, but unfortunately they were not met. I went for a New Year's Eve dinner and paid close to $450 for the prix fixe menu for two ($150 per person, with tax and a mandatory 20% gratuity included). The experience started off poorly with parking. There is no convenient parking available, the valet is extremely expensive, and nearby garages charge a minimum of $30. The service was extremely disappointing. After ordering drinks, it took nearly 30 minutes for them to arrive. The food courses were also very slow to come out, and when they finally did, they were underwhelming across the board. There wasn't a single dish that stood out or felt worthy of the price point. The duck in particular was shockingly bad, it was incredibly chewy and essentially inedible. I actually had to spit a piece into my napkin because I couldn't chew through it. Overall, this was a very disappointing experience, especially considering the astronomical price. For a special occasion meal at this cost, both the service and the food fell far short of expectations. read more

Emmer & Rye - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Austin, Texas

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While the food was good, we had asked about doing wine pairings with our coursed dinner. We planned to start with a rose with our appetizer and bread, and then they brought out all of the dishes at the same time. We were there for a special birthday celebration, however totally rushed, and we were in and out with a reservation in one hour. read more

Beautiful presentation and great service, but the flavor combinations felt overly experimental and didn't really work for us. A lot of the dishes mixed ingredients and textures in ways that seemed more focused on being creative than actually tasting cohesive. Some bites were interesting, but others had clashing flavors that made it hard to enjoy the meal overall. We left appreciating the effort and atmosphere more than the food itself. read more

Emmer and Rye is a Michelin star restaurant and so you know it's good, at least in that way that gets you a Michelin star. But here's the thing, nothing was truly stand out to me. Let's stay with how many plates you should order. Our server recommended 2-3 plates person for our table of four. That seemed excessive and it turned out it was. We hedged and order 2 per person and it was honestly too much. The Cacio y Pepe was solid as was the pappardelle pasta. I really liked the sourdough bread and the oysters. Roast chicken was fine as were the carnitas. Service was slow and the timing on drinks and food was a little off. I can't even remember what else we had and we just ate there two days ago. Also, a two ounce pour of wine should not constitute anything a restaurant charges for. But again, it has a Michelin star so.... read more

Everything about our Emmer & Rye experience felt special and magical. After being recommended this restaurant by a fellow Yelper at a Yelp event, we promptly made reservations for my partner's birthday. We weren't sure what to expect but had been told that their food was to die for and that they were accommodating to dietary restrictions (super important to us as I am a vegetarian and my partner is pescatarian). We were pleasantly surprised to learn about their Michelin status when we arrived. Upon our arrival, they made sure to say Happy Birthday and when we got to our table, there was a handwritten card with sweet birthday messages from the staff. That was such a small but incredibly thoughtful touch! We were also given a glass of champagne (on the house) because we were celebrating. That's when we knew that we had truly stumbled upon something amazing. We ordered a few different items, I am angry at my stomach for not being able to hold more food because I wanted to try everything. They had plenty of vegetarian and pescatarian options so we opted for a salad (the country fried sunchokes were divine), the crudo (no clue what it tasted like but based on how quickly my partner ate it, it was probably fire), johnny cakes (ask them how they make fried egg foam; it's fascinating), and the lion's mane chorizo. Everything was sooooo good. Our cocktails were also great and definitely unique. My partner claimed that it was the strongest old fashioned he'd ever had! We somehow managed to find room for dessert and got the toffee option. Many of their desserts had a peanut butter element but as a certified peanut butter hater, I had to stay away from them. Our server, Isabell, was really kind, attentive, and informative. We had questions and she definitely delivered with information. She gave us a great rundown of the fried egg foam. read more

Emmer & Rye is worth the hype. It's a culinary experience at a rather reasonable price all things considered. I love that their small plates have more than decent portions. You can get full rather quickly here. I was full after 3-4 plates. 1. Sourdough bread w/ butter assortment: a must. It's a very pleasant (and tasty) culinary experience. 2. Carpaccio: very tasty. So many great flavors with various texture that work so well together. 3: Johnny Cakes: Good. Very filling. 4. Cacio e pepe. Not my favorite cacio e pepe. I can't articulate exactly what I didn't like about it, but it was different than most cacio e pepes that I have had, and not in a favorable way. Also, shoutout to our hostess Gary Jean for finding us a table inside (without us asking)! We booked our res in advance, and there was only outdoor seating available. Unfortunately, that day ended up being very cold. Highly appreciate her for proactively finding us a table inside so we didn't have to bare the cold. Hales Scale: 8/10 read more

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Always great food. Always great service. We actually dined on the patio this time. Nice vibe! read more

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