San Gines

Had an incredible experience here!! Every menu item we tried was absolutely delicious, including…read morethe ceviche, albondigas, escalivada, suquet de mariscos, arroz negro, etc! Our server Ash was amazing too, checking in regularly and making sure all was going well, and even helping us with our mom's birthday dessert + candle :) The inside is relaxed but classy, and the vibes are great- I would absolutely come back!!

Spectacular fixed price dinner with lots of flavor surprises. Combination of traditional tapas and…read morepaella with superb innovative use of spices and ingredients. Derrick was an extraordinary host. Only issue is we are from Los Angeles so travel time is an issue! Strongly recommend visiting El Raval and I strongly encouraged them to open a location in LA!

2.0 mi•Warehouse District, Downtown

Inside

Croquetas de Jamon Iberico

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Sinigang calamari

Austhentico

4.8(45 reviews)

Austhentico is a GEM. This food truck is permanently parked next to a Belgian bar downtown, and…read morebonus..there's actually parking right next door. What a foodie find. This tastes like it came straight out of someone's granny's kitchen in SPAIN. D E L I C I O U S. The menu isn't all vegan, but they've done an incredible job offering both traditional and vegan versions without losing any soul. Am I in heaven? Yes. The owner makes it a point to connect with customers, which was refreshing. You can tell this is passion-driven. You order via QR code at your table, then pick up out back when it's ready--easy. Everything is prepped daily in a Commercial kitchen and finished on the truck, and he proudly shared that the ingredients, spices, even the meats are sourced from Spain. Vegan paella? Incredible. Patatas bravas with vegan aioli? My personal favorite, sooo good. My husband loved the jamón serrano sandwich. And whatever you do, don't skip the sourdough rye with tomato spread. They also mix in a few Belgian items to match the bar, which adds to the whole European vibe. I already need to go back for the vegan fideuà and bombas..they were sold out, which tells you everything. Do yourself a favor: try this spot and support a small business that's clearly fueled by passion and flavor. Yum.

I will start by saying my taste buds are a bit biased as I'm married to a Spaniard and frequent…read moreSpain. We ordered the bravas, seafood paella, tortilla, and jamón croquetas. The croquetas and bravas are the best in Austin - better than Kalimotxo, San Gines, and El Raval. They were extremely delicious and the perfect texture and size. The paella was about as good as you could expect from a food truck. The tortilla was our least favorite - taste was good, but wasn't as liquidy as you'd expect in Spain. Overall, the food was great. We would definitely go back! Thank you for keeping this Spanish food authentic.

Paellas, Fideuas and Sandwiches

Flemish Frites - Belgian Fries with Andalouse Sauce

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Charcuterie

Kalimotxo

4.3(67 reviews)

3.0 mi•East Austin

Incredibly tasty happy hour! Not a single bad bite in everything we ate and we ate a lot! I'd say…read moreexpect them to be small bites as its tapas style but the burger is a nice touch to fill you up. The basque cheesecake was decadent and so tasty. I got the kalimotxo (wine+coke) which was nice but not as tasty as their tinto de verano (which was my personal fave when I was in Spain). They make their own chips too! They were so light and fluffy and felt like they melted in my mouth....being topped by jamon was just the pièce de résistance Service was great, the spot was decorated beautifully, and I enjoyed my visit. We only expected to get a few bites but everything just sounded so yummy and they do have valet which was nice (considering how hard it is to find street parking on the east side).

Definitely my new favorite tapas restaurant. Definitely make your own reservation because it was…read morefull when we went. When we arrived, they were still getting ready our table so we did wait a little bit. But the hostess was so nice and then our waiter was amazing. I love how they explained each dish and knew what to recommend. And when I ordered our wine, I loved that the person that brought it out was like a huge enthusiast on it and explained to us all about it, which is so cool. I was so excited to know that they had real hormone ego from Spain. It was pricey, but that's just because of the import, but it was amazing. I was so happy it felt like I was back in Spain eating this cause it's literally my favorite thing to eat. We also got the Popeyes bravos, which was delicious the sauce and it was so good. We did order other things that I didn't post here but let me tell you everything we got was delicious. Everything is for sharing so you do need to go with that mentality about it. And as for the wine we asked for it to be in that special bottle because we wanted to do the whole thing of where we poured in our mouth which was really cute lol. The place is really cute. Has good music nice date night vibes or even go with your best friend vibes.

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BOCA

4.5(37 reviews)

2.1 mi

•$

These days Boca is located inside the Container Bar…read more It has morphed from a Spanish truck to an Austin Tex-Mex truck and a pretty decent one at that. There are a lot of mediocre food trucks on Rainey Street. Making the Container Bar a good place to go if you have the munchies. Boca basically offers tacos, nachos and fries, all with stuff dumped in them or on them. I recommend the nachos because Boca does a very nice home-made chip. Their nachos have a) cherry tomatoes (thumbs up!) b) garbanzo beans (thumbs up!) c) minced fresh jalapeno rather than canned pickled jalapeno slices (thumbs up!) They pile on the toppings in industrial quantity And the chips are thick. So you can expect a real meal out of your boxload of nachos. The Container Bar is not strong on places to sit down while you eat - So you may want to pick a locale with better seating. Plus (and this is true of all Rainey street trucks) You are going to have to wait for your food because of the crowds. Still, if you are on Rainey Street, and you don't mind leaning on a wall or balcony while you eat ... You can do well at Boca.

Get the nachos! So perfect for some drunk munchies…read more Breakfast tacos all night long too... These guys give a huge discount to industry workers on Rainey....... I appreciate that! Very friendly cooks, and they take debit/credit

Number 2

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Number 1 in a salad

Ember Kitchen

4.5(404 reviews)

1.6 mi•Downtown

The restaurant is beautiful and the service was attentive and kind. What shined the most however…read morewas the way they utilized their oven to sear their food. Their special Josper oven can get up to 1100 degrees Fahrenheit which allows them to quickly cook and sear their food. They capitalize on this unique oven by having the seared skin hold sauces and toppings. Their chicken had the skin nice and crispy which held the butter sauce on the meat. Obviously everything you would normally expect to be great was great, the cook of the meats, the side dishes, the salads, the drinks, but what really stood out was the creative utilization of searing food hot and fast. Our server Olivia was very personable, down to earth, and really helped us navigate the menu.

Went here with my husband for our wedding anniversary. The staff was very kind and welcoming and…read morethe music was very nice, I loved that it wasn't so loud that we couldn't have a conversation. We ordered all the small plates but the caviar. Our favorites were the tuna tartar, the pulpo, chefs crudo and the shrimp. The sauce that the shrimp came in was delicious! We ended up taking the leftover sauce home. For main course I ordered the scallops and my husband ordered the halibut. Both dishes were fresh and seasoned perfectly. The sauces definitely brought everything together. For sides we ordered the plantains and carrots both were flavorful and amazing to eat. We will be back!

2nd Floor Views

Josper Halibut

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Salpicon de Pulpo

Este

4.3(445 reviews)

3.9 mi•Cherrywood

•$$$

- 10 stars - everything great!…read more- valet parking - good happy hour specials - good oysters - great margaritas i never had a wile berry or savory margarita - loved the fish taco and i hate fish - sunny, bright environment - free champagne for my anniversary - good ceviche - excellent service

The good: They offer oysters…read moreDrinks were tasty and beautiful Service was prompt and friendly Green beans were amazing( weird, but true) Salsas were unique and tasty. Very little heat. Not my favorite salsa but they tasted good. The not so good: Este ceviche flavor was not good. The market fish was orange roughy. I've eaten a lot of cevice. the taste of this one made so sense. It didn't taste like old fish, just bland weird flavor. I had to eat each bite with a lot of the salsa to make it palatable. And the tortilla chips are 6"x6" squares that tasted fine but if you try to break it into smaller bite sized pieces it ended up too small. I kept ending up trying to dip two thumb sized pieces into the salsa. I will give them another try. There were many other food options that sounded appealing.

Interior of restauranf

Tuna Tiradito

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Pescado Zarandeado

Emmer & Rye

4.0(1k reviews)

1.9 mi

•$$$

Open till 10pm. Parking is difficult since it's located downtown. I parked two blocks away on the…read morestreet. I came here because of the Michelin 2025. Made a reservation and was seated at the bar since I was dining solo. I was totally fine with that, I actually enjoyed chatting with the bartender. There were so many dishes I wanted to try, making it hard to decide. The staff was very helpful and recommended dishes based on portion sizes, which made choosing easier. I Ordered Sourdough Bread with Special Butter & Smoked Pear Honey. This was a nice way to start the meal. Bread crust was crunchy and paired well with the special butter and smoked pear honey. Pappardelle (Smoked Wagyu Short Rib, Crème Fraîche, TX Olive Oil) was really good. The beef was tender, and the pasta was flavorful. Definitely my favorite dish. Ruby Rind Cocktail ( Strawberry Top Aperol, Watermelon Honey, Pickled Watermelon), the bartender made a different drink for me, he realized the mistake and remade it for me, so I ended up with two drinks. I like the ruby Rind, it's refreshing with the watermelon flavor. 'Cacio e Pepe' (Blue Beard Durum Spaghetti, Challerhocker, Black Pepper). The person sitting next to me kindly let me try some of theirs. Glad I got to taste it before ordering because I found it quite bland. It wasn't for me. Overall, I enjoyed the bar experience, the helpful staff, and especially the pappardelle. There are many interesting dishes on the menu, so I'd love to come back and try more in my next visit to Austin

The meal I was most excited about while in Austin for a girl's weekend, and it did not disappoint!…read more We were seated promptly for our reservation and did not have to wait longer than 5 minutes for our table. Our server was very efficient, prompt, and said he would take the entire order all at once. We ordered drinks and then he left us to browse and make plans after he explained everything we were interested in. In the end, we tried several things and loved all of them: -Bolognese (kind'a fatty meat - didn't finish it - least fav) -Stuffed peppers - sleeper hit - we both loved this -Salmon Crudo - fresh and delicious. Light. -Johnny Cakes - must! -Empanada - huge and DELICIOUS. Loved it. For dessert: -My friend ordered the trio of sorbet and it was good and fresh -I ordered a PB&J dessert that was much better than I expected. Refreshing and sweet. It's a bit loud in here - it's a super popular place by Rainey Street - but, we enjoyed a very pleasant evening meal here with absolutely delicious, fresh and locally sourced food/ingredients. This is going to be on a "must eat" list for any future trips. It's that good.

Try to sit here if you can!

Dry Aged Beef Tartare

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Corn Johnny Cake

Ciclo

4.2(113 reviews)

1.9 mi

Each year, my husband and I participate in Lent by giving up something meaningful, such as meat and…read moredesserts. Lent is a 40-day period of spiritual preparation for Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday (symbolizing the need for repentance) and ending before Easter. Its main goals are reflection, repentance, and renewal. After observing Lent, our treat was brunch at Ciclo (Four Seasons Hotel). Ciclo hosted Easter Brunch and an Easter Egg hunt including the hotel's lake-level ballroom. The celebration included live music and lawn activities for hotel and brunch guests. The brunch included a cold buffet, hot buffet, carving station, benedict station, and dessert buffet. You also could order customized omelets from your table. Ciclo's brunch features gluten-free and vegetarian choices. OMG...the Four Season's Hotel and Ciclo restaurant looked as though a lush bright flowered garden had been quietly grown there. Flowers spilled over every surface from the hotel's entrance to the Ciclo restaurant out onto the patio. The floral arrangements were stunning. They also served as a beautiful backdrop for photos. In addition, we ran into ole friends at brunch, which was a pleasant surprise. The standout for us was the lamb chops (one of my favorites) and callosal-sized shrimp. The sweet potatoes and ham were memorable as well with perfectly spiced sweet potatoes. All desserts were good today, however, the Oreo cheesecake and sugar cookies were the highlights. Our server was so attentive and pleasant. Also, Abribal, the restaurant manager, came over to inquire about dining experience. Such excellent service... Dining a Ciclo today was superb! It was fantastic end to our Lenton season.

I decided to try lunch and it was great! The chicken Thai basil was perfect served over roasted…read moreveggie instead of rice. The mango sorbet was delicious as well. The ice tea was served with tea cubes! Very unique! The server was delightful as well:) Verdict: great! Glad I returned!

1.9 mi•Warehouse District, Downtown

Dessert bar

Tuna tostadas were tasty

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16 oz. Prime Bone-In Ribeye was delicious

Red Ash

4.4(1.6k reviews)

•$$$

Great pastas and steaks, and the atmosphere and service were excellent. Fairly priced for the…read moreexperience.

I wanted to wait until we had been here more than once. The food is great. The 10oz filet is really…read moregood along with their rigatoni paired with garlic bread and meatball appetizers. The waitstaff is always top notch. Most areas are a little dark so it's hard to read the menu but that's not a big deal. My only complaint is the amount of time it takes to get a reservation and the process. Now having visited a few times I would have to say the wait to get a reservation (1-1.5 months) is somewhat manufactured. I believe they could make that shorter but I also understand the benefits. Valet parking is great. Be aware of what time valet closes though. Between the valet and the waitstaff you are well taken care of here. My only complaint was seating The first visit we were seated upstairs. It was exactly what I expected. The second time they tried to seat us at the end of a serving bar in front of the kitchen. I politely explained to the hostess that we specifically requested a table for our reservation (we waited 1.5 months for). She stated they considered the seats at the end of the serving bar in front of the kitchen " standard seating". She did relocate us to a table immediately. My advice is maybe use that seating for walk ins like you do for seating at the bar (alcohol bar). Maybe read your customers a little better. I did not want to have dinner out with my wife sitting with the bathrooms 6' to my left, waitstaff preparing plates 4' to my right and the kitchen right on the other side of the bar. We were prepared to just leave and go somewhere else if no other seating had been available. I want to say again. The hostess relocated us immediately so thank you for that. This is not a complaint about an employee at all. Over all it was a nice dinner out both visits.

Nice wine selection

Fresh and crisp Caesar salad!!

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The current duck special is incredible!!

Inka Chicken

4.4(902 reviews)

14.4 mi

I found Inka Chicken to be awesome. If you like Peru's cuisine, you'd love Inka Chicken. The…read morelocation is easy to get, it's at the corner of Wells Branch and Owen Tech Blvd. It's not quite in Austin and not in Pflugerville, it's in the middle of the two. For lunch, I made ordered the Naked Burrito. It has the contents of the burrito but no tortillas to make it, made into a salad. They serve with a variety of dressings. The service was pleasant. And very alternative in the server's tasks. He deserved his tip (18 %). Yes, he was that good. They also have chickens in various dishes. I like the charbroiled style either a full size, half and leg quarters. They are open daily. Their hours are 11:00 am till 9:00 Monday thru Saturday. Sunday is 12:00 pm-8:00 am. The restaurant is decorated as if you were transported to Peru.

Hubby loves rotisserie chicken and we saw Inka while we were out and decided to try it. Needless to…read moresay, he and my daughter were pleased. They loved it! I got a beef empanada and my husband said, I thought you didn't like those. Well I'm not sure where I got the last one but this one was GOOD! It is seasoned well and the sauce on the side is perfect for it. If you like rotisserie chicken, then you need to try it.

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Tallarines Verdes - Pesto Pasta

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Tim B.

1 year ago

San Ginés on South Lamar is an absolute gem that brings the soul of Madrid to Austin with unparalleled charm and flavor. From the moment I stepped onto their vibrant patio, I was transported to a bustling Spanish café, complete with a chic open-air bar and a warm, inviting atmosphere. The modern interior with subtle Spanish flair is the perfect backdrop for a memorable dining experience. The star of the show, of course, is their legendary churros--crisp, golden, and perfectly light, served with a rich, bittersweet chocolate dipping sauce that's nothing short of divine. I also tried the filled churros with dulce de leche, and they were an indulgent treat that melted in my mouth. Beyond the churros, the menu is a delightful journey through Spanish cuisine. The papas bravas were perfectly crispy with a spicy kick, and the ham-and-cheese croquetas were creamy, savory, and utterly addictive. I couldn't resist the Bogota sandwich, which was a flavor-packed masterpiece, and the paella brought a taste of the Mediterranean that felt authentic and comforting. The drink menu is just as impressive. Their $5 happy hour cocktails (Monday through Friday, 2-6 p.m.) are a steal--sangria and Spanish-style gin and tonics were highlights, bursting with flavor and perfectly crafted. The La Rosa latte was a unique and delicious touch for my coffee fix. The service was impeccable, with friendly staff who made us feel like family, and you can tell they're passionate about sharing San Ginés's 130-year legacy. The patio is a standout, offering a sunny, relaxed vibe that's perfect for sipping coffee or enjoying a leisurely meal with friends. Despite the busy South Lamar location, the ambiance feels cozy and welcoming, making it an ideal spot for any occasion. San Ginés has quickly become my go-to for authentic Spanish flavors and a fantastic dining experience. Whether you're a churro fanatic or craving a taste of Spain, this place is a must-visit. I'm already looking forward to my next trip! Pro tip: Get there early for the happy hour deals and snag a spot on the patio--you won't be disappointed read more

A C.

2 years ago

San Gines Austin has recently opened its doors, and while initial reviews were mixed, I decided to give them time to find their footing. I'm glad I did! The Vibe: The restaurant has a fantastic ambiance. The music selection was on point, creating a lively yet relaxed atmosphere. The Food: The star of the show was undoubtedly the spiked hot cocoa. It was rich, decadent, and the perfect winter warmer. The churros themselves were decent, though perhaps a bit thinner than I'm accustomed to. The Service: Service was attentive and friendly throughout our visit. The Wait: The only minor drawback was a slightly longer-than-expected wait for our churros to arrive. Overall: San Gines Austin deserves its current 4.5-star rating. The vibe is excellent, the spiked hot cocoa is a must-try, and the service is top-notch. While the churros could be slightly thicker, they were still enjoyable. I highly recommend giving San Gines Austin a try. I can't wait to come back and try their savory tapas and cocktails. read more

Marisa G.

1 year ago

San Ginés Austin is an absolute gem tucked in the heart of the city! From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a vibrant and inviting atmosphere that's both modern and charming. It's incredibly Instagrammable--every corner feels curated for cute pictures whether you're inside enjoying the cozy decor or outside soaking up the ambiance. Now, let's talk about the churros--crispy, golden perfection! Paired with their rich, velvety chocolate dip, it's a combination that's downright addictive. My friend and I couldn't get enough. It's a sweet treat that hits the spot, whether you're popping in for a quick bite or lounging with your crew. This spot is perfect for a girls' day out or even a relaxed, romantic date. The energy is just right--lively without being too loud. Whether you're a local or just visiting Austin, San Ginés deserves a spot on your foodie bucket list. I'll definitely be back! read more

Patrick U.

4 months ago

We had an absolutely fantastic breakfast at San Ginés! We both got the breakfast sandwich, mine on the croissant and my partner's on the everything bagel, and both were incredible. We also loved the iced SH Choco-Latte. Oh and don't sleep on the churros! The Nutella stuffed churros, and the cinnamon sugar churros with the house chocolate sauce were the perfect sweet treat. Everything tasted fresh, rich, and thoughtfully made. A huge shoutout to our server Leslie, who was so warm, informative, and clearly passionate about the food and the San Ginés experience. Great service can turn a meal into a memory, and she absolutely did that for us. We'll definitely be back. read more

Avani R.

1 year ago

A beautiful spot in Austin. San Gines has wonderful food, great service, and a warm and inviting outdoor area that makes you feel like you're in a European cafe. Highly recommend! read more

Belinda V.

2 years ago

Supposed to be open until 10. At 3 pm it was closed. No reason given. Lots of bad reviews. Won't attempt again.

San Gines - cafes - Updated September 2026

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Opa! Greek Cafe

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In Austin visiting and being from Buffalo and having a Greek family I wanted to get some Greek…read morefood. No Yia Yia around so I had to go out and find a place. Well after looking at several restaurants on yelp I found that most restaurants were Mediterranean but more middle eastern than Greek. Until I saw Opa. Well my wife and I gave it a shot. And we were pretty well pleased. We had a Greek salad where all the ingredients were super fresh with a nice pita bread and a grape leaf and a 2 nice pieces of feta. I also had a chicken gyro. Again all super fresh veggies filled the pita wrap and very tasty chicken. They had outdoor seating for our dog who was our dinner guest. But you have to order inside. Which I did. The person who took the order was busy but did a great job. We asked for a couple of large glasses of water with lemon and she promptly took care of us. There were small glasses out on the table but we wanted large ones cus we didn't want to keep walking inside. No problem. Food arrived after a short while and was delicious. They have a nice parking lot however getting in and out can be a little bit crazy when you have everyone from Austin rushing home. Had to wait a long time to get to exit the parking lot cus not one Texan driver would give us a break and let me in the exit lane. Next time I see a Texas license plate in New York I will remember that. But I will still give them a break.

Stopped by Op's Greek Cafe for dinner before a show. It is an idyllic little cafe that serves…read morequality Greek food and Greek inspired drinks. Parking was a bit of a challenge but was able to park on the curb out front. Once inside, we placed our order at the counter and pre-paid and were given a number. They have an extensive menu with traditional Greek dishes and all-day breakfast options. As well as a full bar offering aromatic coffee, hand-crafted cocktails, fine wine, and a selection of local and international beers. The restaurant was busy we were able to place our order in a timely fashion. I opted for a cocktail along with lentils and rice and added chicken as the protein. There was indoor and outdoor seating available. After ordering, we sat outside in the most cozy and intimate outdoor seating area. Unfortunately, after waiting 30+ minutes, we never received our food. When we checked at the counter, the interaction felt pretty condescending, staff insisted the order had already been brought out even though we never received it and still had our number with us. At that point we had to cancel the order so we wouldn't miss our show. I do appreciate that they offered a full refund without issue, but overall the experience left us disappointed, especially with how the situation was handled.

De Nada

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(60 reviews)

The vibe transported me to deep into Mexico. Everything we ate from barbacoa enchiladas to chicken…read morenachos was amazing! The queso was the best I have ever had. Do your best to save room for the flan and chocolate mousse. We will definitely be back and often.

Got a gift card for my birthday from a good friend of mine. He knew I had been wanting to come to…read moreDe Nada. I was actually going to go to the East location which I believe is the OG. But I happen to be down this way. So I came to have a late breakfast/lunch. First time here. So thankful for a small parking lot. I did come in the parking lot the wrong way. I didn't see the sign that said wrong way. I did see it later when I left the correct way. Next time I'll know better. I did sit up at the bar. Told the bartender it was my first time. We talked about the frozen margaritas and the menu. To be honest I can't drink tequila like I used to. But I got the small strawberry marg, but couldn't finish it. I don't even think I got half of it consumed, I was already sh!t faced. Note to everyone, I'm a cheap date. Haha. For food, I ordered their 4 mini beef tacos which came with smoked black refried beans, which let me tell you, these are the king of beans. Wow! I ended up ordering the smoked refried black beans to go too. Had chopped white onions & cilantro on the side, and you just build your taco. Whole meal was outstanding, but those smoked black refried beans. I can't recommend them enough. Also I got queso to go too and they gave me chips. I can't wait to snack on them later tonight.

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I started with a vanilla concha, and it was scrumptious. The slight crispiness on top was exactly…read morehow I like it. I also ordered a marranito to go because they are so hard to find (as a child I called them piggy cookies for obvious reasons), and I couldn't resist taking a bite and absolutely I loved their version of this gingerbread cookie. For my meal, I had the empipianadas, chicken tinga enchiladas covered in pipián verde mole, and they were fantastic. The pipián verde had so much flavor and an amazing kick to it. I also ordered café de olla, which is nearly impossible to find in Austin, along with a French press. Both were great. The service was excellent as well and the restaurant is exceptionally beautiful (exterior and interior). I recommend coming earlier in the day because the satisfaction of this meal will easily last until dinner (plus the Mexican pastries are made daily and do run out)!

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4.3

(128 reviews)

I think pecan square cafe is a great spot and a place I continue to recommend!…read more I've been several times and the food is always really solid. The coffee & cocktails are good too. The restaurant is really cute, it's super cozy with all the warm wood, but feels very modern and elevated. It kind of reminds me of a restaurant you'd see in Copenhagen. That area, Blanco & 6th offers valet for the night for $12 which is a nice option to have. My one gripe is I think it's a little pricey for what it is. But in the Clarksville neighborhood, it's to be expected. Additionally, my company had its holiday party there last year and that was a really nice place for an intimate (50-60 ppl) gathering! They do buffet style, the food & drinks were delicious and it was a fun time.

What a lovely hidden gem in Clarksville. Everything about it is stunning- the tiered entryway, the…read moreinteriors. We went on a Thursday evening and were able to immediately sit on the patio. The prices are pretty high so you're really paying for the environment and experience. We had a few drinks and they were all very nice, the Negroni was quite strong. The service was ok, the waitress wasn't very friendly.

Numero 28

4.1

(770 reviews)

Absolutely loved this place. Great food and great vibe. It is downtown so parking is limited…read more The pasta was so creamy and pizza was amazing. Pizza had amazing texture and good amount sauce and toppings. Dessert was great with their tiramisu. Service was fantastic 10/10

I'm giving Numero28 two stars, and honestly, the only reason it gets two instead of one is because…read morethe service was genuinely good. Our server was fast and attentive, and I had no complaints about the service itself. We ordered the fried cheese ravioli, cacio e pepe, and bucatini all'amatriciana. The fried cheese ravioli was crispy, but otherwise pretty generic and didn't have much flavor. The cacio e pepe was creamy, and the tableside presentation of mixing it in the large cheese wheel was definitely a cool, but the actual pasta was incredibly bland. The bucatini was the same way: perfectly edible, but just remarkably bland. That was the biggest disappointment for me. The restaurant clearly puts a lot of effort into creating a trendy, fun atmosphere and making the food feel like an experience, but none of that really matters if the food itself doesn't have much flavor, like at all. The portions were average and would definitely fill you up, so I don't have an issue with the quantity. The problem was the value. We paid around $80 for an appetizer and two pasta dishes, including tip, and didn't order any drinks. At that price point, I expected considerably better. Both pasta dishes tasted closer to a mediocre frozen TV dinner than what I'd expect from freshly prepared Italian food at this price. The water also had a strange smell and taste, almost like old dishwater. I have no idea what caused it, but it was noticeable. It was also extremely hot inside. I understand that it's Texas and it was triple digits outside, but the restaurant honestly felt hotter than outside at times. It was somewhat loud too, but it's a small space, so I don't really fault them for that. Overall, the service was great, but the food simply wasn't worth the price. They do a good job making the restaurant feel trendy and fun, but for me, the actual food didn't live up to the presentation. I'd rather spend the same money at a hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant where the food has real flavor. I wouldn't go back.

El Alma South

(149 reviews)