I had really high expectations for Olamaie after hearing so many great things since it opened. The restaurant space really is quite charming and feels cozy yet elegant at the same time. We got a table right by one of the house's windows, which I thought was pretty cool. As most reviews have pointed out, service is really great, but I did feel like they took a bit to get to us after we were seated. Once they did, they were very attentive, friendly, and helpful. The biscuits really are as good as it gets. Crunchy, flaky, airy, buttery deliciousness served with perfectly flavored honey butter. I'll be craving them for months to come. Unfortunately, some of the other dishes weren't as great for me. The Autumn salad, with fresh, in-season beets and arugula (two of my favorites, so what could go wrong!) was beautifully plated, but my first bite was incredibly salty. I still can't figure out what made it so salty, as the vegetables and dressing seemed fine on their own. Maybe they sprinkled some finishing salt before serving, and I just happened to get a mouthful of it all at once. Nonetheless, the saltiness overwhelmed my palate, and I feel like it lingered for the rest of the meal. I also ordered the chicken and my girlfriend ordered the pork chop. Both dishes were more filling than we anticipated, which made the price of both entrees seem a bit more reasonable. The chicken was cooked really well with its crispy skin and juicy meat, but like the salad, it was a bit too salty for me. The seasoning on the pork chop was much better, but it was cooked a little too long and seemed dry for a thick cut of meat. Overall, there were definitely some hits, but a surprising number of misses for a place with such a great reputation. I'll be back for those biscuits though! read more

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For years, Olamaie's been on our list of places to try and I'm so glad we decided to do a date night here. Olamaie was a wonderful dining experience. It was a small, initimate setting and that seemed to keep the room quieter than most Austin restaurants. Our server guided us through the menu with great recommendations and the staff were attentive (though never absent nor overbearing) the whole meal. Their daily punch was fantastic--aptly named as it tasted like bourbon meets Sweettarts or Pixie Stix. We started with their beef belly and hushpuppies. Our main course was their pork chop with fall flavors (jerk seasoning and spiced beans and apples). For sides, we chose biscuits and their salad. Can I just say life is better when your vinaigrette tastes like steak--kudos on that one. We ended with their sweet potato semifreddo with something addicting in that crust. Everything tasted great and I am most impressed with their carb dishes--they did the Southern tradition right on those! Overall, it was a great experience--the food was delicious and the staff were attentive. It fast became one of our go-to spots for date night. We'll be back! read more

As you walk in you're greeted by a quaint bar, about 7 barstools long. You're also not greeted by a tall male bartender with a dour look, no personality, no smile, and takes forever to serve you and fix drinks. We ordered Old Fashioned's which were way too sweet with a lemon peel! Ok, fine, hopefully the dining experience will turn things around. Nope. The beef tartare was saturated with beets, so much so the beef could not be tasted. A cabbage thing was ok but nothing special. It took over 40 minutes for the main courses to come out. One person ordered the $65 pork chop, which came out saturated in succotash, onions, and who knows what else, none of which was mentioned on the menu. This person can't eat onions so we mentioned this and the fact it didn't state onions on the menu. The response was "we can't print everything in the dish on the menu". UM, ok. Then instead of taking the dish off the tables they let it sit there saying, maybe someone else would like it. Eh? They already had their meals. The other dishes were reported as "nothing special and certainly not worth the high prices". They ended up charging us half ($32.50) for the pork chop. BY then we just wanted to leave. Then, to add insult to injury, they presented the bill which had an automatic 15% added for, as a little card that came with the bill stated, was a "for the health and well-being of our employees". And there was also a separate line for a tip on top of that! This restaurant acts like a highly arrogant person. Like it or don't come. We've opted to never come again. read more

I finally tried Olamaie after its long dine-in hiatus. Southern food is not usually at the top of my list but I have heard many positive things about this spot. The service was excellent, the employee wellness charge is well deserved. Our waiter gave thoughtful recommendations and paced the meal appropriately. The pumpkin soup was a hit - so flavorful and comforting on a chilly night. I now understand why folks rave about the biscuit with honey butter pairing - yum. I was excited for the tilefish with Carolina gold + crab sauce but it was very rich verging on bland and could have been brightened up with some citrus or balancing component. There's valet available and also free street parking in the surrounding neighborhood after 6pm. read more

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A small chef driven establishment... The biscuits were just like I learned in 7th grade home economics class. Perfectly flaky on the outside and tender on the inside. Brings you back to a simpler time. We shared a wagyu steak and salad. Both delish. The vinaigrette salad dressing was interestingly made with beef tallow. Very good. Wine and mixed drinks spot on. We ended the meal with dessert and coffee. All around good experience... read more

Celebrated our wedding anniversary here. Everything was delicious. No complaints at all. Wonderful and attentive service as well.

Olamaie is really good but not perfect. The place is very cute and romantic. It is rather loud, so it can be a bit difficult to have a quiet conversation. The cocktails were very nice and the first course items we had, smoked beef belly & shrimp w/ red rice were amazing. The biscuits are also crave worthy. The main entrees we tried were good but could have been a bit better. The grilled pork chop was nice and thick but a little over cooked. The beef cheeks were nice but the grits were a bit lumpy and the tomato sauce was kind of bland. The sweet potato side was also amazing. The service was great and I would go back. Next time I would just order some first course items, biscuits, and sides. Their portion sizes are really good. read more

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Delectable food; I had the fish special. We saved the biscuits for last and they were light, fluffy, and absolutely scrumptious. Service was excellent and the cocktails were pretty amazing too. read more

We went in for their special Valentine's Day dinner so I can only comment on that and not the normal daily menu. In summary, the dinner was AMAZING. Was it expensive? Yes. Was it worth it? Also yes. Every single course was delicious and not something run of the mill that we would just order anywhere. The pictures speak for themselves. I can not wait to go back for dinner and to try brunch!! read more

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Soooooo disappointed in Olamaie. We ordered the biscuits and smoked cabbage app (always a crowd pleaser/ consistent with previous visits) but everything else we ordered... was a miss. We ordered the brassicas (broccoli), beef tartare, dayboat fish, duck grits and potatoes. The beef in the tartare was really gristly and the beets and the mustard overwhelmed the dish. We ended up having to spit out bites of the beef that were hard, not to mention the taste was off. The dayboat fish was snapper and had several bones in it. That dish, the grits, potatoes and the broccoli were entirely too salty. It would have been better if just one dish was oversalted so we could pivot but ALL of them were so oversalted, it was a such a let down. The waitress also forgot our drink, even after she asked for clarification on the brand of mezcal we preferred. $300 later for a table of two, we will not be returning and you should think twice before you do. read more

Was looking for a nice place for my visiting parents and boyfriend to have dinner. Olamaie caught our eye when we saw that it was ranked the number 1 restaurant in Austin by Austin-American Statesment pre pandemic, and that chef de cuisine Amanda Turner was a James Beard emerging chef semifinalist.  Was not disappointed! Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Food: Biscuit with Salted Honey Butter - 4.5/5 Smoked Cabbage - 5/5 Gulf Crudo - 4/5 Braised Beef Cheeks - 4.5/5 Blackened Dayboat Fish - 4/5 Grilled Pork Chops - 4/5 Drinks: Drinks selection was good, though we didn't order from the cocktail menu. Ambience: Nicely laid out restaurant with romantic atmosphere - 4.5/5 Service: Very attentive staff - 5/5 read more

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Amazing food from start to finish, and the service was impeccable. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. The biscuits are a must-have. read more

Wonderful food and lovely service. Tough to get reservations w/o long range planning but worth it. Thanks

Exceptional food and service. We set on the porch, and were quite comfortable. The server was knowledgeable and friendly. My favorites were the oysters "rockafella", beef belly and the biscuit. Great atmosphere! Two thumbs up. read more

Great food and great service. A special Place to celebrate events. The southern influence with delicious spins on cooking specials. The beans were other worldly. read more

Food was great!! Service was amazing. Would go back for sure. Love everything about this restaurant.

I've wanted to try Olamaie for years and it did not disappoint. Every foodie I know in Austin, anyone I talked to in the service industry always recommended this restaurant as the best Austin has to offer. First Course: Roasted Pumpkin Soup - 5/5 Beef Tartare - 4/5 Jefferson Red Rice with Gulf Shrimp - 5/5 Entrees: Blackened Dayboat Fish - 5/5 Sides: Biscuit with Salted Honey Butter - 5/5 Dumplings with Beef Taro - 4/5 Dessert Course: Apple Pecan Cobbler - 5/5 The pumpkin soup is super flavorful and tasty. The red rice and shrimp is delicious. You have to order their biscuits, it's a no brainer. The best thing I had was the blackened fish. The fish was cooked perfect and the blue-crab sauce is phenomenal. It's a must order. The apple cobbler needs to be shared, it's massive and amazingly delicious. Such a great dining experience. Definitely one of the best in Austin. read more

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Truly delicious. One of my favorite places in Atx. Drinks are incredible. The biscuits are insanely good, no disappointment here. ...and they have insanely delicious vegan options, who would think. But they do. read more

The service was top notch! Our server was very helpful in helping ua choose what we should try from the menu. The food was fantastic. We had pork chop, blackened day boat fish, heirloom tomatoes, gulf crudo and biscuit. The biscuit is the best I have ever had! Will definitely be back when in Austin. read more

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After trying almost the entire menu, I can safely say that this restaurant has some mesmerizingly delicious items but none of those happened to be appetizers or entrees (maybe just the one entree - read below). Our table started with a complimentary plate of chicken liver mousse on mini crackers, which was a yummy light bite but nothing noteworthy - the appearance would give away that it was pate but the taste would not. The other complimentary item was the biscuits and honey butter, which could put Whataburger out of business if they sold these with some chicken. The biscuits were so delightfully flaky like a croissant on the upper layers and the honey butter is literally melt in your mouth heaven. Service was excellent as expected. The staff were all very patient and made you truly feel as if the primary focus of the meal was on the people around you. Drink service was top notch, and I hardly noticed them refilling my water and wine glass even after 2 bottles of the Buehler Vineyards cabernet. They work with finesse and will be as present as you need them to be. Appetizers: 1. Skillet cornbread: served as a giant block topped with pickled onions and though the flavor came more from the toppings than the actual cornbread. 2. Carolina gold rice hushpuppies: slightly denser than the cornbread (very similar to the consistency of a Starbucks cake pop), but I enjoyed this one more because of the herb seasoning. 3. Ranger cattle beef tartare: pairing regular potato chips and tartare is definitely a way to make a dish more casual while also allow the tartare to have the spotlight - even so, it was mediocre. 4. Gulf white shrimp and red rice: generous portion of well-seasoned shrimp and rice - think fancy cajun shrimp and rice. A bit too heavy as an appetizer. 5. Field peas and peppers: very light and refreshing flavors that taste like a summer garden. If you have a good pesto recipe, you could probably make this at home on your own with black eyed peas and some soft cheese similar to ricotta. Entrees: 1. Dewberry hills farm chicken: cooked to the utmost perfection - I dare you to try and find a place that cooks chicken this moist and tender. The flavors were phenomenal and had some Asian influences. 2. Sorghum brined pork chop: I found the brine to be too salty and I had to cut it off to enjoy the actual pork, which was also cooked to perfection. The brown rice had an interesting sweetness and crispness to it that resembled rice krispies in flavor and texture. The entree selection is interesting as the only beef option is priced at $120. While it is accompanied by 3 sides, it creates an awkward situation for those who would prefer to have beef at a nicer restaurant, especially one that focuses on Southern cuisine. Without us mentioning anything, someone from management apologized for the long wait times on the entrees and brought out 3 desserts. While the wait time was quite long, we had filled up on appetizers and were enjoying each other's company, but we still very much appreciated the heartfelt apology and gesture. Desserts: 1. Sweet milk custard: as an avid lover of creme brulee and flan, I absolutely had to add this to my list of favorite cream-based desserts. I would highly recommend this as a dessert choice if you're looking for something slightly lighter than a cake. 2. Angel food cake: yum yum yum - such a fun Southern dish that reminded me of a gooey pecan cinnamon roll without the cinnamon part. I would 10/10 come back for this and these sweet milk custard. 3. Benne oil cake: this was my first time trying anything made with benne oil and I found it to be an overwhelming herbal flavor - too strong for a dessert. read more

Olamaie - Sorghum brined pork chop. - Southern Near Me - Austin, Texas

Olamaie: a foodies dream! So many bright spots at this place. The service is top notch and the food is outstanding. We had the pork and 4-first course items; the tar tar, egg plant, tomatoes and cheese grits. The pork and biscuits were he best I've ever had. Be aware there is a service fee for the staff, so they may acquire things like health insurance and a livable wage- it's awesome. Do not feel like you need to tip on top of the fee; they even encourage you not to. Matthew was a gem. I heard this restaurant was slighted for a James Beard award, which is why the quality is high and so are the prices. read more

This review is for Little Ola's Biscuits. Yikes we did not like this place. We had a bad experience sadly, I was really looking forward to getting to try to the famous Chicken Biscuits, it had gotten such great reviews. I had been planning on trying it for quite a while but it was either sold out by the time I remembered to order. I ordered ahead of time this time. The online ordering process was really easy and so was the pick up process. The process was easy, you drive up and text a number and they would bring it out to you and place it into your trunk. The biscuit was very oily/greasy. The chicken was chewy and greasy as well, the grease would ooze out on the side. The order of biscuits by themselves that we got were slightly better than that of the Chicken Biscuits, it was very dense though. They weren't soft or moist sadly, just real dense. The best thing that we got was the biscuit cinnamon roll, but it wasn't something I'd write home about. I hope to go back and give Olamaie's a try and a second chance. read more

Best dinner we had an Austin by far! The service is impeccable. I highly recommend the roasted cabbage appetizer!

Curbside pickup - Really convenient, even with a bunch of construction in the area these days. Park in the back alley, text, and they'll pop your order in the trunk in no time. House made chips - very good, nice flavor, well done. Chicken biscuit - huge thigh (musta been one bad ass bird), nicely fried, slipped into an enormous greasy biscuit. Glad I tried it, but so over the top I'd not order again. Six pack of biscuits - reasonable size, really special to warm up for breakfast. Score. Pimento cheese and honey butter - Honey butter with a topping of crunchy salt was a winner. Put it on everything. Pimento cheese had mixed success. It got eaten by the wife, but I'd pass on it. Bottom line - stock up on the regular sized biscuits. They'll be a treat for any weekend breakfast. read more

~LITTLE OLA'S BISCUITS REVIEW~ Olamaie has adjusted during COVID to be a biscuit shop. I hope to try the whole Olamaie experience when things get back to normal. As far as pick up, they have it down to a science. You order online in advance, text your parking spot once you show up, and they can place your order in the trunk. Everything is perfectly packaged and was still hot by the time I got home. I ordered the fried chicken and the bacon egg and cheese to split with my husband. These things will definitely fill you up and are a bit of a gut bomb. Tasty, but on the greasy side -- especially the fried chicken. Now for the star of the show - the biscuit. Honestly, a bit of a let down. It may be Little Ola suffers from over exposure, but I was expecting these biscuits to be perfectly soft and flaky. Instead, they were a bit hard and again, on the greasy side. I ordered 4 extra to enjoy the next day and they were even more tough the next morning. These are not your grandma's biscuits - or at least my grandma's! Maybe I got a bad batch, but I was a little disappointed. I would say Little Ola's is worth a try but just ok for me. read more

Olamaie - Perfectly wrapped biscuit! - Southern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Best biscuits I've ever had. The sweet potatoes are to die for. Hush puppies? Crazy good. Loved this place for a fancy shmancy night out! read more

Olamaie - Southern Near Me - Austin, Texas

4.50 stars. Olamaie has a stellar reputation in Austin, and it's clearly well deserved. There isn't a true miss between the service, the atmosphere and the food. Essentially, this is a must stop for anyone who enjoys the elevated Southern concept that was beginning to take the country by storm pre-pandemic. Olamaie is a charming white house located close to UT Austin's West Campus in a rather non-descript neighborhood. The inside of the restaurant isn't overly eye catching save for the well-adorned bar stocked with a disarmingly great selection of spirits. While I did stick with the cocktail menu drinks, I wouldn't mind going back for a freestyle cocktail session. Olamaie will carry on about their biscuits and they should because they are probably the best ones you will ever eat in your life. I'm not sure if it is a honey butter, but it goes well with a perfectly textured biscuit that will make you wonder if you've ever had the real thing. Take it from someone who grew up in the Deep South. These are AMAZING. Better than anything I've had in Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia, and that is one hell of a compliment. Some of the items on the menu here are just ridiculously well executed. I had a grilled purple cabbage served with Alabama white BBQ, chow chow and mushrooms. The texture was incredible. I wouldn't have thought the combination of flavors would have worked but they did and regardless, each worked separately as well. An order of turnip and ham was also interesting with the tender turnips resting under what tasted like prosciutto. I was less impressed with my actual dinner order. While the red snapper was undoubtedly prepared well, the Cajun spices seemed overpowering and didn't whisk into the Carolina gold rice as well as I anticipated. I probably should have gone with a different entree. Overall, this is a top notch restaurant serving high-end food in novel manners within a fun space with friendly service. It's worth multiple visits. read more

Fabulous hospitality. Classy and comfortable atmosphere. A modern Southern menu that takes traditional garden ingredients and elevates the restaurant's dishes to complex and exceptional flavors. Creativity is the secret ingredient here. Oyster appetizer, fish, pork chop, steak, and shrimp entrees do not disappoint. And don't forget the biscuits. Bon Appétit, Y'all!! read more

This fancy establishment is reservation based so make one in advance. It's inside of an house and you don't know it's a restaurant until you see the name. I only went for the Biscuit and grits which I ended up taking to go. The grits were very cheesy, it masks' the grits and to me it taste like I was just eating cheese. The biscuit though is a MUST get!!! The outer shell is crunchy and firm while inside is fluffy and soft OMG!!! read more

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We did an early start of 5:15 which was perfect. The servers were just starting so on point. Had the tartare which was to die for! Highly recommend. Ordered the duck which was only ok and the wagyu which was subpar to Bohanas in San Antonio. Biggest complaint was sitting on top of each other. I had several people interrupt my personal conversations because all the tables are so close too each other all while an adjacent table dominated the whole ambience of the small house with their own daily college complaints. I'll pass on this location for future reservations. read more

From start to finish this was a fantastic experience. We initially made a reservation for a table on the patio, but then a late heat wave hit, and the staff were thoughtful enough to call us and offer to reschedule. Very nice touch. When we arrived at the restaurant the host staff were friendly and welcoming. They led us to a cozy little table and our server was there immediately to give us an overview of the menu and had some great suggestions on what to order. We started with some cocktails, and rather than entrees, we opted with a sampling of (just about) all the starters. While they were all tasty bites, the stars were the cabbage, tomatoes, butter beans, and of course the biscuits. The wait staff did a great job of making sure we had enough food that went well together, but not too much so we were overwhelmed. The portions were very generous and we walked away very full and very satisfied. We'll definitely be back and highly encourage others to give it a try. read more

Disclaimer: I have only tried Olamaie as it's pre-ordering model: Little Ola's Biscuits From the restaurant with the crowned Pastry Chef of the year (huge shoutout to Jules Stoddardt), Little Ola's Biscuits prove they have a bunch of masterminds in the kitchen. Michael Fojtasek brings us his fried chicken honey biscuit sandwich [$10] which tastes better than it looks, hard to believe I know! RISK IT FOR THE BISCUIT. (talking about risking my diet, of course ) These biscuits are INCREDIBLY made, flaky, crispy, and then topped with some of the best, local meats (house-made sausage!!) and eggs. my faves 〰 sausage, egg, & cheese biscuit 〰 fried chicken honey biscuit 〰 regular biscuits 〰 cinnamon roll biscuit (bake @ home) 〰 whiskey punch (OMG.. this drink is underpriced with how DELICIOUS and punchy it is but shhh don't tell them that) They just started offering Celebration Cakes (requires at least 48hrs in advance) and dinners! Curbside only for THURS - SUN via preorder which is OPEN at https://toasttab.com/Olamaie/v3 read more

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Beautiful restaurant, well trained staff, and really poorly seasoned food. We ordered three starters and two entrees. All were very bland and unexciting. We had the butter beans. The waitress explained how they were prepared to make sure they were cooked evenly. Well, they tasted like they were out of a can. No, wait, I wish they had come out of a can, they would have had some seasoning. And the cabbage, well, I asked the waitress what chow chow was, and they gave me a great description of how it should taste. Well, they were living in a dream world. I still don't know what chow chow tastes like. There was either so little of it, or maybe they forgot it, that all I tasted was cabbage. No smoke, no bright notes, just a lump of cabbage. There there were the blue corn hush puppies! With onion dip. You guessed it, it had no flavor either. But we splurged for the additional caviar, which also was very drab. Never had boring caviar before. Now I can cross that off of my bucket list. And the entrees! Ah, the entrees. These, too, we're uninspired. Especially woeful was the chestnut mushroom glop that was served with the duck. The waitress was very sweet. I think she could tell that we didn't like it very much. At the end of the meal, she asked us what our favorite dish was, and there was silence for like 5 seconds while we formulated polite but cagey answers. Then she asked, what we wouldn't order again, lol. I was thinking "everything," but I won't ever come back. Seriously though, I think they were going for comfort food, and really trying to bring out the umami in all the food. Appealing food, for me anyway, also needs some acid, some salt, maybe pepper, some herbs and some imagination. This was like eating dinner at grandmas house, but grandma was a bad cook. I've had more inspired meals at the little Amish restaurant near my grandmas house in southern Illinois. It tasted like southern comfort. This place is expensive, beautiful, but do t go for the food. read more

Let's focus on good things - top notch service - amazing biscuits - nice decor - amazing coffee Cons: Everything was a tad bit salty. If they can bring it down a bit the dishes will be perfect. Desserts were blah! The flan was too dense. The sesame seeds were sort of overwhelming. Had a good experience with my family But would have been epic if they are mindful of the salt. read more

Wow, given I haven't wrote a review in close to a yea! I should preface by saying that I really and I mean really enjoyed this meal. It was perfect. The service was prompt, fitting me in at the bar, and the friendly staff knowledgeable on every dish on the menu. It's in the residential neighborhood which is perfect for parking right outside the restaurant! The food was complex take on the classics! The meal was intriguing part on its level of complication required to create each dish. I was amazed that something simple on the surface requires such refinement. The detail by the team to each dish was perfect. Beautiful dishes each more delicious then the next. read more

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Had a wonderful anniversary dinner here. My husband and I were very impressed by the service, food, and atmosphere. I definitely recommend the beef tartare. read more

Everything was just so salty, unbearably salty, by the end of the night we even joked about we should take a shot when someone says salty. I couldn't eat much cuz I had to drink a bunch of water with every bite. Other than it being extremely salty, the food was also a bit underwhelming for its price. The portion size is extremely big but I'd rather having something smaller but tasted better. I wouldn't be going back and wouldn't recommend this place to any of my friends. read more

The food is inedibly salty. While the service was lovely and bartender wonderful, and location beautifully done, inedible food for that much money is ridiculous. We don't leave food on our plate and we left quite a bit. So disappointing. read more

YOU HAVE TO TRY THIER WAGYU RIBEYE, PLEASE!!!! -Best wagyu steak I've ever had in America. Not sure if that was American wagyu or Japanese wagyu (the menu doesn't say it), but the meat had so much fat which I like about wagyu in general. It was perfect medium rare served with creamy mushed potatoes that you should eat wagyu with. -Biscuit aren't on the menu but ask your server for availability. You don't want to walk away from this place without trying this. The outside is so crispy and you eat with their sugary butter.... out of this world. -Table service is excellent. The restaurant looked packed the whole time so you should make a reservation. read more

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The best way to describe this restaurant is that it's for the top 1% of the country. The part that doesn't care that you are spending $65 for a pork chop or $125 for a Ribeye that feeds one. For everyone else, the prices are absurd and they set themselves up for disappointment. I ordered the pork chop because I love pork chops. But for $65, it has to be the best pork chop I've ever had in my life because it's the most expensive pork chop i've ever ordered in my life. Was it? No, it definitely wasn't. Was it good? Yes, but that's my point. My date wasn't feeling well but she ordered the Jefferson red rice and Gulf Shrimp. She took one taste and complained it was way too buttery. I tried a quick taste and agreed but I would have eaten it. Again, $45 for local shrimp and some rice. The star of the show was the Heirloom tomato dish. It was fantastic. The bartenders were great and the service on point but for a teacher, even for a special occasion, it's simply not worth the prices. $18 for a Manhattan, $18 for tomatoes, you get the point. To the 1%, enjoy your meals. read more

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