Matthew W.

One really cool thing that Hestia did for my fiance's birthday is that every single person from the wait staff to those taking dishes away to the sommelier all wished her happy birthday. That's a really cool detail. The scallop and halibut in particular are the best I've had. Great service, amazing food, and if you go à la cart, it's really not as expensive as you might think.

Vincent X.

Hestia slightly disappointed me. The service was not bad, but it didn't stand out. More importantly, the food did not meet my expectations. Even though I might've missed the mark for my orders, I don't really see myself coming back unless I'm particularly curious about something. The Wagyu Tartare was decent. For beef tartare, I look sweet, juicy bites with a crunchy texture and a signature finish. Hestia mostly delivered in that aspect, but it was missing that signature finish like some acidity or a standout ingredient. I actually recommend the Napa Cabbage. It looks like a timidly sized plate, but the surface area gave me a satisfactory amount of bites. I also enjoyed the sharpness from the sauce and fermentation. However wasn't happy with the entrée and dessert. The red ranger chicken was quite small, bland, and priced at $48. I didn't taste the chilli in the honey, and the honey itself was incredibly mild. The sourdough ice cream was exactly as the name implied. The quality of the ice cream itself was okay, but the flavor definitely leaned on the unique side. I got it because it was different, so I'm not particularly upset with the dessert. All in all, like the many other places that I've been to in Austin, the platings definitely outshined the flavours. And these price points don't make a compelling argument to comeback.

Danielle D.

What a lovely surprise to have an Austin restaurant live up to both the hype and the expensive price tag that comes with it. We went to Hestia to celebrate my husband's birthday and went all out with the chef's tasting menu and wine pairing. It's important to note that the table must agree to the tasting menu and surprisingly and wonderfully, the wine pairing can be split between two people. We were delighted to find this out, as the wine pairing provided approximately a full bottle to whomever indulged and while that seems like a great value for price, it's just not something we could do as individuals. Being able to split the pairing allowed us to enjoy the experience while not suffering the next day. Let's go with the ambiance and service first. We were able to easily make a reservation online but be warned, this did require us to plan pretty far out in advance because we wanted a Friday seating. When we arrived onsite, our table was set with a birthday card and we were promptly helped with water and the menu options explained. We were given notice that the taster menu would take approximately two hours and honestly, the time flew by. Our courses were served quickly but not overwhelmingly fast and our servers took great care to explain each plate along with the wine accompanying it. Honestly, we were blown away by how friendly, knowledgable and quick the service was throughout the night. Multiple people took care of us and it was certainly a well-oiled machine. No missteps, no mess ups. The tasting menu was prolific and honestly, one of the best we've ever had outside of our normal omakase experiences in Austin. The premise Hestia is fire/hearth and local farming partnerships. The menu outlined all of their local partners, highlighting their commitment to farm-to-table sourcing. There were MANY highlights from this tasting but our favorites were the sun choke dish with caviar, the scallop and the beef skewers. The flavors were rich, layered and every bite was delicious. The menu was truly varied in protein selections and flavors and each was really wonderful. The wine pairing was very white forward and also fairly sweet in nature. As not huge wine drinkers but when we do liking dry reds, this was an interesting experience but not necessarily a favorite. While some dishes truly felt complimented by the wine selected, others for us missed the mark. But, again, we know we aren't true wine people so take this aspect of the review with an understanding that more wine forward folks may truly enjoy the pairing top to bottom. The biggest hardship for me with tasting menus is feeling overwhelmingly full by the end and this was true again with this experience. I was pushed over the edge in our second to last savory course, which was delicious and super rich. It made it challenging for me to enjoy the final savory course and I was truly unable to do more than the smallest taste of the dessert course. We were given the most AMAZING sweet buns to go and they were spectacular to enjoy the next day. A wonderful reminder of a delightful experience. The bill was as expected, very high. The two tasting menus and the wine pairing (split) came to just under $600. Tip is on total and again, the service we had was exceptional. While a very expensive experience, for us it was worth the price. We would absolutely return to Hestia to enjoy the delicious food and excellent service. Next time, I'd definitely want to try the table side martini cart! I passed it up this time because of the wine pairing but the items you could select looked amazing. While we didn't have cocktails when we went, it is important to note they are PRICEY! The table side martini starts at $30 and can go up depending on add ons and most other cocktails were $25+. Again, if you are looking for a beautiful foodie experience, Hestia is worth the trouble to secure a reservation and for us, it was worth the price. We will very likely return.

Mark S.

Ok, admittedly this yelper has been silent for way too long, but the fact that I'm writing this review speaks to how much this experience moved me tonight. I've been to many amazing nights at @hestia and tonight was no exception. The service is knowledgeable, personable and beyond attentive. The atmosphere was eloquent and approachable and yet oozing with people there to celebrate their celebrations. And if that were not enough, let's talk about the food and drink. Off the chart. From the home made bread to the hamburger inspired wagyu tartar to the brilliantly prepared Texas wagyu brevette, each dish was created with care and precision. And last but not least, don't go here and not order the sourdough ice cream. I love this place. Worthy of every star they have.

Chris H.

The fixed course experience at Hestia ( @hestia_austin ) was legendary. Every aspect of this feast was dialed in, the flavors were powerful, perfectly cooked and prepared, and a roller coaster of tastes. The wine pairing felt like a solo cup kegger that tasted like magic and never ran dry. Above all of this, our host and waitress for this adventure was one of the best I've ever had. Mind blown.     People, the right people, qualified, talented, A players only will make or break a business. It doesn't matter if it's code or plates of wagyu, the wrong person is never worth it. Our care taker flawlessly explained every little detail of every single component of each dish and pairing. I've been to numerous spots across the country including multiple Michelin starred establishments and she was easily a top 10 performer. So much so, that at one point, I stopped the experience to tell her. I understand & appreciate how hard that job is, & how more often than not the 8th deadly sin entitlement makes her life a living hell. She didn't believe me at first. After my buddy, noticed, & explained, "he's not fucking with you, he does this frequently!" She finally trusted and accepted the compliment. I told everyone as we exited.     Another timeless memory on the books!

Michelle E.

Hestia was incredible! I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype, especially after receiving a Michelin star, but I was still blown away by the food quality, flavors, and service from the staff. It's truly a 5 star experience and is the perfect spot to celebrate a special occasion! FAST FACTS: * Parking - valet available on Friday and Saturday for $12 but nearby garages available as well * Reservations - available online through Open Table * Closed on Mondays * Tasting and a la carte menus available * Bar seating available SERVICE - We arrived at 8:40 pm for an 8:45 pm reservation and had to wait in the lobby for a few minutes before getting seated at 8:50 pm. There was a card waiting at the table since I was celebrating my birthday. Our server, Jackson, was fantastic and took great care of us from start to finish! PRICING - The total was $198.11 after tax ($15.11) but before tip for 2 orders of charred corn ($8 each), 2 orders of crab tostadas ($12 each), 2 orders of profiteroles ($8 each), oysters ($28), wagyu tartare ($22), long beans ($15), halibut ($48), and sourdough ice cream ($14). It's pricey for small portion sizes (as to be expected at a Michelin star restaurant) but I left feeling completely satisfied with the quality of food I received for the price! You get complimentary bread service with butter that's delicious! CHARRED CORN (6/10) - This bite was good but was my least favorite of the 3 bites I tried... it's topped with popcorn so there are some nice textural differences but it's a little messy to eat. I'd skip this one next time. CRAB TOASTADA (7/10) - I love crab and this bite was good but didn't blow me away. There's a little too much garnish on it. I'd skip this one next time for the cost. PROFITEROLE (8/10) - This was my favorite of the 3 bites I tried... the chicken liver mousse is jam-packed with flavor! I'd order this again. OYSTERS (9/10) - This was my first time ever having raw oysters so take my rating for what it's worth but I thought these were amazing! The wiri wiri hot sauce is absolutely delicious! You get 6 oysters on the half shell. I'd order this again. WAGYU TARTARE (7/10) - I love tartare and this was very fresh! The pickled mushrooms added a nice acidity and the smoked aioli added a depth of flavor. I'd order this again. LONG BEANS (8/10) - These were coated in XO and the peanut chili crisp so they are kind of heavy instead of fresh as you'd expect a veggie dish to be but they're delicious! I'd order this again. HALIBUT (10/10) - One of the single best dishes I have ever had! The halibut was cooked well but the shiro dashi is the hero! It's insanely flavorful! The corn adds a nice sweetness and texture along with the trout roe. I'd come back just for this dish! SOURDOUGH ICE CREAM (9/10) - Order this for dessert and thank me later... it sounds like a crazy combo but it's AMAZING! The shoyu caramel is delicious and the tomato and orange jam adds a nice acidity. The strawberry ash powder is so unique and delicious! I'd order this again. This was my first time dining at Hestia and I had an incredible experience celebrating my birthday there! I'd definitely come back to celebrate another special occasion and would recommend it to others. The interior is stunning and the plating is pristine along with the service. The halibut is a must order for anyone coming!

Brian Q.

Amazing experience at Hestia! You're treated like VIP from the moment you step in the door. Upon being seated, our amazing waiter Anderson introduced us to the menu including the tableside martini menu which was so fun! We opted for the tasting menu which was like 12 or so dishes and more extras thrown in. Also got the wine pairing which made the food taste even more amazing. Each dish and accompanying wine was carefully explained to us. Among my favorite dishes were the scallops that literally were like butter in my mouth and the NY wagyu which had an amazing sauce. For a birthday the staff also signed a card and each staff member that came by said happy birthday. The ambience was both intimate and modern. You could see their famous wood fire from where we sat and there was plenty of room and. It overcrowded and noisy. Well worth the cost for the food and experience!

Kristin S.

Parking: Park at the garage in the same building as the restaurant and they validate parking for 2.5 hours! Highly recommend a reservation The ambience was so cozy and the servers were very knowledgeable and attentive. Their house made sourdough bread was spectacular with the butter and great to use as a dipping vessel for some of the dishes. The lightspeed cocktail was so light and refreshing and had a hint of vanilla to it which I really enjoyed. Bites: The charred corn is a MUST get! It's so flavorful and my favorite bite that we tried. The crab tostada was good too and was very refreshing. The caviar tart was my least favorite bite because it was too salty for my taste. Raw: We tried the Wagyu tartare which was very good! It had toasted white Sonora which gave it a nice crunch to the raw tartare. Hearth: The grilled zucchini was surprisingly very yummy with the blistered tomatoes and the epazote. The scallops come in twos and was so yummy with the beef tallow. This is where the sourdough bread is worth having to dip it with. Mains: The halibut is MUST have! It's been on their menu for at least 3 years which is when I first had it and I've still dreamt about how delicious this dish is. Dessert: Get the mesquite cake if you are chocolate fan, even more so a dark chocolate fan. It was soooo delicious!

Jim G.

Hestia has slick, cool look as soon as you as you walk in the door. A view right into the kitchen prior to seating was a nice touch. We sat in the room towards the back of the restaurant. Im old, but not that old in spirit, unfortunately you practically had to scream for the person across from you to hear you. We should have moved but it was a packed house. The stars for me were the long beans and the pork chop. The long beans made me feel like I went to high end Chinese restaurant from all the awesome flavor. The pork chop was cooked to a perfect medium rare. Many restaurants overcook pork in fear, not Hestia which was impressive. I would pick from the meno instead of ordering the prefix. Seemed like a better deal too in terms of price.

Julia P.

I honestly, expected more from this establishment. We arrived to the restaurant about 5-10 minutes late just to find out we have to wait an additional 20minutes because our table was not available- they completely ignore our reservation time. It was very uncomfortable- the staff were pushing for us to get drinks which we end up getting. After all that waited, we didn't know they validated parking until I saw it on a previous review. When we finally sat at our table. We were greeted with a glass of complementary champagne. Our waiter Jackson was as quite rude and Kept undermining our decisions. As if that wasn't horrible enough, he took our plates before we were finish, I felt as if it was a joke. Especially, since the plates are about $65 average. The atmosphere feels like an over price Outback Steakhouse Overall, very disappointed and underwhelming experience.

Amanda C.

Puts the fine in fine dining! Everything about this place was 10/10. The food was immaculate and service even better. It was fine dining without it feeling stuck up which is one of my favorite things. You can have conversations with the wait staff and service and still felt elevated. Do the Tasting Menu. I repeat, do the Tasting Menu. It is such a fun experience and the wine pairing made it that much more fun! The food was well presented and very full of flavor and freshness. My favorite things were the scallop, halibut, and ribeye! All of it was excellent though. Gabi, Angelyn, and Blake were SO FUN! They checked up on us, brought their personalities, and really made the evening one to remember. They epitomize the definition of service and set the bar high. Bonus ifykyk, the pretzel sticks stole the show.

Melinda N.

Ordered charred corn, crab tostada, grilled zucchini, scallops, halibut, smoked mushroom, and sourdough ice cream. The food was very tasty, esp the scallops. The sourdough ice cream was unique. We also ordered drinks called Daisy Duke and Laissez-Faire. I had the Daisy Duke which had the perfect blend of yuzu. Service is what you would expect in a 1-star Michelin restaurants. They gauge your preference and provide recs. The restaurant has dim lighting, perfect date night spot. They also validate your parking ticket in the garage closest to the restaurant.

Candace B.

This is the second year my friend took me out for my birthday and he chose Hestia. I know very little about the place and for me that is on purpose because I like experiencing a new restaurant without setting expectations. Starting with parking- downtown parking is never my favorite but I wasn't driving so I didn't mind at all. After parking we had a short walk to the restaurant where we were warmly greeted and quickly seated as we had a reservation. The vibe of the restaurant was relaxed and chill despite its busyness. There was a card on the table with birthday wishes from the staff when we sat down. Nice touch. When our waiter came over he also wished me happy birthday and took our drink orders. I ordered the lightspeed and my friend ordered the hestia no. 5. He stated he enjoyed his drink, and I enjoyed mine, particularly the lightness and freshness of it. We both decided on the tasting menu as it felt like a great way to try their menu and try new and interesting dishes I might not try if I ordered individual dishes off the menu . I will say for a tasting menu it is pretty hefty with more than enough food to leave you satisfied. I was not able to finish every course by the end due to being full but wanted to make sure I tried everything. While I will post pictures i won't get into every dish because the menu will better serve that role. I did have favorite dishes like the scallop and salmon which were divine. I also thoroughly enjoyed the beet dish and the dessert with ash bark was a marvel. However, there was not a dish that I didn't like. I will say it is not a rush and eat kind of place-we had a 5:45pm reservation and left a little after 9pm but it didn't feel nearly that long. I also love the window that they pull the curtain back from near sunset. Yet another reason to sit back and enjoy the evening.