I went here for Austin Restaurant Week and overall had a positive experience with a few missteps. Unfortunately the meal started on a low note. They served the table a shrimp ceviche with fajita tortilla strips on the house which generally means it is some sort of old dish they are trying to get rid of. But this was on a whole other level. The ceviche smelled like a rotting sewer. It was one of the worst smelling food dishes I have ever been served, possibly the worst. I was too scared to eat it because I did not want to get sick from raw fish (and I normally love ceviche). Driskill quickly redeemed itself with the complimentary bread which is baked daily at the 1886 Bakery downstairs. There were two kinds, an amazing sourdough and a nice wheat bread with nuts and apricots. Both were great, especially with the salted butter. One general note about the ARW portion sizes. Most restaurants really skimp on ARW portion sizes and you get tiny little plates. Not so at the Driskill. The portion sizes were huge so they get at least 1/2 a star for that alone because it is pretty rare during ARW. Appetizers: Charcuterie Plate - The house cured meats of the night were a fruit terrine (I think with figs/dates and livir, I forget), smoked salmon, and I think a prosciutto or some other cured meat that I also forgot. There was also a speciality mustard and a variety of other vegetables on the plate as well as grilled bread and crackers. The terrine was by far the best part of the plate, the rest was just average. Wagyu Beef Tartar - This was nice but needed more caviar to add another component to the dish. You mostly just tasted the beef and dijon which weren't that great. Compressed Watermelon - This was the best appetizer, there were so many components that all blended wonderfully, feta, balsamic jam, and huckleberries. Duck Pastrami Sandwich with Live Oak Beer Cheese Soup - This was OK although pretty messy to eat. It would probably be better as a few bites instead of a large sandwich portion. The beer cheese soup was a let down, I would have loved more beer taste, it was very thick and more like drinking melted cheese. Walnut and Pear Bisque - This was great when you got a spoonful of candied pepper walnuts which gave it an interesting texture and a perfect blend of flavor. I have to say the bisque had a ton of different tastes going on but I just wasn't overall a fan without the walnut. Since they only give you one huge walnut you don't get many bites with it. Entrées: Wagyu Top Sirloin - The best entrée for me. It came with lightly cooked black eyed peas that were pretty firm. The Wagyu pieces had great taste, especially with the awesome foie gras bordelaise which had incredible flavor. Alaskan Halibut - The Mascarpone whipped potatoes stole the show here. The Halibut was just OK. Pecan fried Quail - This was OK, they give you a whole half quail which is a lot of meat. I didn't really like their smoked cheddar grits at all though. I am spoiled after Odd Duck trailer's cheesy grits. This dish was pretty good when you got a large bite of crispy fried onions though, it really needed that crunchy texture and sharp taste to round it out. Desserts: PB&J - This was a deconstructed PB&J sandwich. The peanut butter and strawberry jam were pretty boring but the valrhona chocolate mouse had some incredible depth of flavors. I really liked it. Spiced Honey-Amaretto Semi-Fredo - This dessert was ruined by the fact that their equipment to slowly raise its temperature was still broken. There was no "semi" about this fredo. It came out very hard with ice crystals inside. Not what you ever want to eat in a semi-fredo unfortunately. read more

I really enjoyed my experience here. We came here my first night in Austin and for me, it was very quintessential Texas. The interior was dark oak, with animal heads on the walls, and comfy looking couches. The decor is very Southern and homey and the people were really friendly. We came here for happy hour and it was excellent. Great place to chill and have drinks and appetizers in the heart of downtown Austin... We didn't have dinner here, but highly recommend happy hour! read more

My husband and I started going here since 2008 for most of our special occasions. Every experience has been great and unforgettable. The food is always amazing. Everything about the food has always been perfectly can tell the chef really cares about flavor, creativity, and presentation. I think its pointless to talk about every single dish we have had because they always change the menu since everything is super fresh and seasonal. Sometimes, they even have a free "taster" at the beginning of the meal, and sometimes at the end, which is usually to see how many people enjoy and it helps the chef decide whether or not to turn it into an actual dish later on. We recently celebrated our third year anniversary and since they were closed and the person that made the reservation didn't let us know about it until a few days before the date, the manager Charlie offered us to make a reservation for us at Congress (which was the restaurant my husband and I decided to go to) and then offered us a free five course dinner any day we wanted to go and dine. At Congress, we had a three course dinner which was just okay. At Driskill grill, our five course dinner was Amazing! We had a salad which was really fresh and light. The flavors were amazing and it was just a salad. The blue marlin was so flavorful and so meaty my husband would of thought it wasn't a fish. The sticky purple rice it came with was like nothing I have ever had and tasty. The grits with wagu steak was amazing and it melted in my mouth. The grits were soooo creamy and awesome...my favorite! The dessert, a chocolate crunch bar, which was also amazing, with a creamy chocolate shake was very tasty and the portion was perfect. Anyways, we have also tried their tenderloin which is always cooked to perfection. Their veggies are always cooked so delicately bringing out their natural flavors. And the drinks are very strong and refreshing. Their complimentary homemade bread is irresistible and even their homemade butter is sooo tasty. Service is always great, very attentive, and friendly. We always ask for John, he is an excellent waiter. The ambiance is really romantic and has a antic look. We can't wait to see how the restaurant is going to look after the renovation which is taking place in August. It suppose to keep all the nice wooden walls and antic look to it but change the carpet and a few other things. Overall, great friendly service, amazing food, great decor. We will definitely continue to frequent this romantic place. read more

Tough to decide whether to give out 4 or 5 stars on this but the service pushed it up a notch. We were there to surprise our son on his graduation from University of Texas and wanted to try the Driskill. Comments are: Service: Could not be better. Although the table our son and his girlfriend were at only had 2 place settings the Host immediately followed us to the table with additional place settings. Constantly checking in without being overbearing. Knowledgeable about the wine served with the tasting menu and did not bat an eye when I went with Shiner instead of wine. Food: This is where I could take away a star. Although the food itself was very good in general the amount for the five course menu was amazingly small in quantity. The fish was one of the best seafood dishes I have had but I doubt it was even 3 ounces of food. I am not a fan of tasting menus for this reason but when my wife (very petite) has me stop for snacks after dinner there is a problem. If we return would probably sit at the bar and order off that menu. Again excellent quality but slightly lacking in quantity. read more

The bar left much to be desired, I went for happy hour before our dinner reservation. The bartenders were less than attentive and there was no where to sit. The live pianist was amazing though. But the service at dinner was phenomenal. Our server was engaging and knowledgeable. We got the tasting menu with the wine pairing. Everything was spot on, and I would definitely go back again for a special occasion. read more

I went to the grill with my family for Christmas dinner. I became a little nervous ahead of time because I had called the restaurant and the hotel a few times earlier that week to confirm our reservation but no one in the entire place picked up the phone. When we arrived, the bar was packed with people snacking on typical bar fare but the grill dining room was almost totally empty. It was also very bright, freezing cold and smelled terrible. We were disappointed to find when we sat down that the menu was a very unappetizing prix fixe. We chatted with our waitress, who was very understanding and even gave us suggestions for another place to go. All in all, we spent maybe five minutes inside the Driskill but it took 30 minutes to get our car from the valet, which seemed to be struggling even though we were the only ones waiting to leave. If you're planning on doing a holiday dinner here, try Trio or Geraldine's instead. You'll get a much better meal and nicer atmosphere for your money. read more

I really liked my meal , me and my wife went for our 13 year anniversary . Only problem I had was with fellow patrons who acted like they never seen a interracial couple and they were staring , which obviously took away from experience a little . Im not a bougie uppity person so it was pretty dope . read more

Service was good and the atmosphere was as well. The food fell extraordinarily short for us. We got a Cesar salad and the nights fish selection, Chilean sea bass. Both had very little flavor and the texture of the couscous served with the bass was too close to the texture of the bass itself. For the price of the food and the hotel it was in we excepted a lot more than we got. read more

At least a 2 hour wait for just an entree to arrive. (We did not order appetizers.) Once our food came, the veggies were undercooked & food was barely warm. VERY disappointing for the price and the location. During our wait, 5 different staff members came by our table to assure us food was on the way...it wasn't. To his credit, the manager came by at the end of our 'meal', apologized, and comped it. He also offered to have us back another time for a better, truer experience. However, we found the menu was really too limited to warrant returning. Another caveat: the bar outside the restaurant got so crowded we had a hard time getting out the door, thru the bar, and back into the lobby! read more

What a disappointment. I made a reservation for brunch at 4 pm understanding that was an awkward time but when I booked it, the reservation site indicated it was the last reservation available at that time. Because of that I expected they would be serving all day. I was called three times to ask if I was going to make my reservation with the last time 25 minutes before the arrival time. I then asked if there was any issue with the reservation. They said no. When we arrived the restaurant was empty and we were the only table being served. They OBVIOUSLY did not welcome us there as we were 'greeted' cooly. The table wasn't set properly, my glass had a chip in it and those details weren't important except that the server seemed to not care a stitch. The only information she offered was that we would choose our second and entree courses and could have mimosas free flowing for $12/person. She never invited us to the bakery table or offered anything in the way of details about the menu. When I asked a question she seemed taken aback and answered with the fewest words possible. Eventually we took our cues from our server and just ignored her, too. The food was terrible-and I mean terrible. Obviously, when I booked and saw there was only one reservation available I thought that meant they would have an active kitchen all day. It was absolutely not the case. The food had been sitting around-and while the bread pudding had a nice flavor, it was tepid and aged. The tomato tart OK, foie gras below average but the wild boar tenderloin was actually disgusting. You had to saw through it because it was so dry, overcooked and cold. None of us could finish it and most of us couldn't even eat it. At $110/per person it was a shock. We quietly told the server about the issue with the 'tender'loin and their resolution was to bring an extra dessert tray (which they are trying to get rid of anyway-geez, people). By then we had all lost our appetites and weren't interested in eating the desserts or bringing them home. When we left we were so frustrated-we had a guest with us and had attempted to have a very special meal for her which clearly was not the case. We told the manager about our experience and her answer was that she would tell the kitchen. I'm quite certain the kitchen knew what stale food they were sending out. So with 3 glasses of wine and 4 brunches the bill, without gratuity, was $525. Thanks a lot Driskill, you really managed to not only provide an uncomfortable service experience but serve us extremely unappetizing food. If you wanted to cancel the single table you had booked at 4 pm YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE IT. Instead you took our money and left us feeling really, really bad. You should know better and I'm sure you do. With the options in Austin I can't imagine ever wanting to go back or recommending you for anything at all. What an absolute shame on you. read more

We stopped in for coffee and some dessert. We had a slice of the the pistachio raspberry fondant cake and a hazelnut cake. Both were excellent and hit the spot. The coffee and cappuccino were also good. This is a regular stop when we come to Austin. read more

The Driskill Grill - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had to create a yelp account just to express how wonderful our experience was at the driskill grill tonight. From the moment my boyfriend and I walked in we were greeted immediately by the manager and were shown to our table promptly. He informed us that our captain was going to be John (last name Phillilps?) and server, Maria. We had a couple of questions that John was happy to assist us with and gave us his knowledgeable recommendations. He came to the table when necessary and was not intrusive at all. Maria did a great job making sure everything was set up for our next courses as well as keeping our beverages filled. The management & staff was superb! We enjoyed our visit and will definitely be back! We recommend this dining experience to everyone! =) We ordered off the Austin Restaurant Week menu with some extras/adjustments. What we ordered: Beef tartare Pork belly terraine Roasted tomato and crab bisque Wagyu flatiron Halibut Extra side of grits (which my boyfriend said was the best he's ever had) Chocolate crunch bar Pear ice cream dessert read more

The Driskill Grill - Beef tartare, pork belly terrine, wagyu, halibut, pear and ice cream, chocolate crunch bar - New American Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've come here once a year for the past decade and this year's dining experience had some disappointments. I'll start with what's great: the impeccable service, the included bread (the sourdough with dried fruits and the wheat with walnuts) and sea-salt butter, the roasted beet and goat cheese salad, and the rich flavorful Gruyere Risotto. The side dishes are pricey at $10 each, but they are good for sharing among 2 people. Of these the Risotto is the clear winner and the pork belly Brussels sprouts were good too. The fingerling potatoes were okay but not worth the spend. For my entree I had the scallops (my photo skills makes them appear larger than actual); considering the $25 cost it was kind of shocking when the large plate arrived with 3 medium sized scallops centered on it and no other accompaniment save tiny flowers to add color. Three people in our group ordered the New York strip with Goldilocks mixed opinions: one thought it was over cooked, one thought it was under cooked and one person thought it was cooked just right. read more

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Great place, loved it. What's to complain about? The staff was on top of their game the entire time. GREAT staff and they are WELL educated on their menu. Before we could even think to ask for refills, they were on it. They had no rush to get us out of there. They took their time and let us enjoy ourselves. Food was perfect. I had some soup, (that I cant remeber the name) it had a touch of crabb salad that was great) I had the stuffed qual. which was super tasty. It had a great sauce beneath it. Really enjoyed it. Everything was fab. The enviorment was to die for. Great place. read more

First you will read about my first visit here, and then you will read about my 2nd visit here which earned the 5 stars. My first visit was definitely a 1 star but Mark handled the issues perfectly and turned everything around for my 2nd visit. I wanted to try this Driskill Grill considering the reviews of others on Yelp, so my husband made us a reservation for our 3-year wedding anniversary. I was expecting to have an amazing dining experience, since others on Yelp raved about how the Driskill Grill will make your occasion (anniversary, birthday) a special night. My husband and I didn't receive that treatment. The Driskill Grill should enforce a dress code. For the price point, I did not expect to be sitting by someone in cargo shorts and a t-shirt. I felt very overdressed. I couldn't even hear myself speak because of the loud party at the table close by. They were talking very loudly about someone's fake breasts for a very long time; not the conversation I wanted to hear while I'm trying to enjoy my anniversary. The mix between Frank Sinatra on the speaker and the bass line from country music playing at the bar did not help. When my husband called to make the reservation, he was told that the Driskill Grill was very accommodating to vegetarians and if I didn't want the cauliflower steak that was on the menu then the chef could prepare something else. The hostess was very aware that I was a vegetarian; she said she noted it and when I arrived she reminded me that the chef was aware that I was a vegetarian. The waiter, however, was not aware. When I told our waiter that I was a vegetarian and I asked was there anything outside of the menu that I could order for an appetizer besides the cheese plate he was absolutely no help and told me that was the only thing. When I asked about the entrée he told me the cauliflower steak was the only thing I could get. I was then told the Caesar salad had anchovies in the dressing so I ordered a different salad. I was then told the Caesar salad didn't have anchovies in the dressing and I was brought the Caesar salad (even though at that point I had ordered a different salad). Our waiter didn't care at all that I was a vegetarian and offered absolutely no help at all. I ordered the cauliflower steak and the smoked grits. I took one bite of the cauliflower and it was so bad I couldn't eat it. One side tasted like straight up salt, and the other side just tasted extremely sweet. It smelled like rotting fruit. My grits tasted like salt. I had to send everything back. After my husband was almost finished with his entrée, I was then told that if I had 6 minutes to wait the chef could prepare something else. The 2nd entrée was a lot better, though. The lady that brought out my 2nd entrée told me that she would be bringing out a dessert for us for free because of the issues with my food. About 20 minutes after I finished my entrée our waiter came back with the dessert menu. I was very confused; I thought I was already waiting on my dessert. Another waiter saw the dessert menu sitting to the side of our table and offered to take our order. We order the apple pie ice cream dessert. I was expecting the complimentary dessert I was promised, or a dessert with 'Happy Anniversary' on it like everyone on Yelp received for their special occasion, but we did not receive that. The whole experience was a bad time. I was hoping that The Driskill would at least meet my expectations or maybe even exceed my expectations, but no thought or care was put into our special day at all. The next day I did contact the Driskill and told them of my issues. Mark called me and listened to my complaints and apologized. He also asked me to return and we stayed in contact via email. I did return for my birthday and I let him know when I was returning and he made the reservation for me. I must say, my 2nd time was so much better. I don't know if it was because everyone was aware that I had complained but either way, everything literally went perfect. If Mark had never reached out to me, I would have never returned. Thanks to him, I will be spending more special occasions at the Driskill. read more

Outstanding service and delicious food. A great place for date night or to celebrate a special occasion. Kevin, the wait staff and Chef Cody go out of Their way to make your dining experience a 5 star one. I would highly recommend the Driskill Grill. read more

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday last night because we first heard of the Driskill when we first visited Austin and we love the history behind the building. The atmosphere is beautiful, you almost feel like you've been transported back in time. The food was amazing. We shared a crab cake and I had the risotto while my boyfriend ate the halibut. I was in a food coma before we left. Risotto is tricky and the chef did it perfectly. The only thing that kept this from being 5 stars is that my boyfriend had a little trouble ordering a cocktail. When I ordered my wine he said he'd think about it. The waiter never asked him again about it until we brought it up. We asked for a cocktail list, the waiter didn't offer it. Then he visited the tables around us several times before he finally asked what my boyfriend would like to drink. Once the drink was ordered, the waiter brought it in a timely manner and it was delicious. Other than that little hiccup the service was prompt and the waiter was friendly. The back waiter was also incredibly prompt. They even brought us a digestif and two tiny chocolates on the house with 'Happy Birthday" written on the plate. I would recommend eating here. read more

My wife and I ate here on our anniversary. We chose the Driskill Grill because we had our honeymoon at the Driskill hotel and absolutely loved it. If one word could describe the grill it would be, "snooty". There were servers who popped up at every chance to present us with a wet wipe or a juice to clear our pallets during the course of our meal. My wife ordered vegetarian off the menu, which was a chefs choice and I ordered a fillet. The entire time I enjoyed pints of Chimay and she ordered cocktails and wine. The most spectacular thaing about the meal was the dessert which was unlike anything that I have ever had, It was delicious. We chased dessert with espresso and were presented with a 200 dollar bill. Although the manager, the host and the servers all knew that we were celebrating our anniversary there, nothing special was offered to us other than to write Happy Anniversary to us on the dessert plate. The pints of Chimay and the dessert stood out the most. I would have been happier having dinner at Benihanas in retrospect. Next time we are feeling nostalgic we will just visit the bar and rent a suite. read more

The Austin, TX historical monument. This place has so much history and ambiance. You can sense the souls of the departed as soon as you walk in. Each one of them in a tuxedo and dancing with their soul mate. The Grill is a superb place to dine, the dishes are savory and the beverages in the bar are always stout. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. While the place is old and historic, its not pretentious, nor is it only for the affluent. Ask for Scott Ota or Nathan Prater as your wine captain. They know their stuff and they are super friendly. Their motto... expensive isn't always good. That's the kind of service you need when you are on a business meeting or dinner date. read more

I hate to do this... as the place has so much history... but the reality is that this place (the grill) should either close... or re-think their existence. If they just want to be a hotel restaurant... well, we all know what you get there. Basic food. But if you want to call yourself fine dining and compete with other restaurants in Austin... they just have to re examine their game. This place is NOT fine dining. Its just overpriced meh food. The guy that greets you at the door was so shabbily dressed... sad really. His communication skills were non existent. He just stood around all night, doing nothing. Of course the bar was hopping... which seems to be the niche for the Driskill... GOOD FOR THEM... I MAY COME BACK FOR THAT. I was shocked to see we were the only people in the restaurant. The server was trying to do the best they could. We ordered... appetizers... Meh... then ordered the pork among other entrees... remember we were the only people in the restaurant. It was taking a long time for us to get our entrees... all of the sudden the server brought us each a portion of their "french onion soup"... the server said that the pork had not turned out as the chef wanted it so it would take longer. OOOOk... so we tried eating the soup... So sad... It was basically heated up soy and Worcestershire sauces with water... a few strings of onions and a few pieces of bread. Unbelievably bad. We kinda just tried to eat it. Eventually... the pork and an order of scallops showed up... 2 portions of pork. They had both been ordered medium. Well... they were both different. After a super long wait... they still messed up the order. One medium, one well done. We didn't say anything. The scallops... 3 little scallops... over the worst driest grits I've ever seen or eaten. The server was very sweet... we didn't say anything because it was so sad. The server would disappear for long periods of time... our joke was that she was actually having to do the cooking. We left the server the appropriate gratuity... as they did a good enough job, they are not responsible for managing the place, and were very sweet. I am so sorry to say... but I wouldn't recommend this place at this time... to anyone. It is tired. It is poorly managed. I am sure they are trying... but It is obvious they need help. It is NOT fine dining... they charge fine dining prices. It is NOT fine dining service, its just OK. It is at a par with a chain restaurant. I know chefs and restaurant people abhor people that write negative reviews... I am so sorry. I am sure you all are good people. But this place should not be trying to be what it is not. Its just a hotel restaurant. Hope you up your game. Sorry! And as for you all trying to get with me... don't worry... no need. I am just being honest... I dont need apologies, or anything of the sort. Lastly... under no circumstance get the servers in trouble... they were the only bright spots. read more

New Year's Day I take my best friend to brunch at the Driskill. We are both locals and had yet to try this brunch. We were both excited after being out late the night before to enjoy a delicious brunch. It was also my friend's birthday. :) I wanted to treat her like a princess and start our fun day off right. Tracey was our server and I have NEVER in my entire life been treated the way we were treated this day. It started off a nightmare. She refused to bring us a small bottle of water insisting they didn't have any, which would have been fine if she had brought me a glass. She instead brought an obnoxiously large bottle. I proceeded after 15 minutes of waiting for a glass to pour it in the provided coffee cup on the table and drink from that. My friend ordered a grapefruit juice and I ordered a mimosa. 20 minutes later and Tracey walking by our table SEVEN times no mimosa. She comes back by, still no mimosa and asks what we want. I asked a very simple question. We were trying to start off with some croissants and I asked what the 1886 one was. She very rudely replied "It's the brand, DUH" I sat in shock as I quietly mumbled I'd take that one and my friend ordered the chocolate one. The pastries sit at the front in a small cabinet. We kept watching for her to get them over the next 15 minutes. Nope. nothing. No mimosa, no croissants, no food, terrible service. We both walked out upset and still starving. Mind you this is all before 10 am, so the place wasn't even that busy. We strolled on down South Congress and visited one of our regular places. Never again will I attempt to take a friend to brunch here. Embarrassed and mad. Tracey was unbelievably rude and basically refused to wait on us. I have no words for how upset we both were and I am easy to please with food in front of me. ugh. The worst part on our way out the hostess runs after us demanding we pay for our bottle of huge water we didn't want and my friend's grapefruit juice. I just laughed. That was the most service we received our whole time at the Driskill grill. read more

The best meal I have EVER had in Austin was at the Driskill Grill. It was a fundraiser, so we had a tasting menu with wine pairings, which didn't hurt. But damn, I don't think I have ever tasted food so good. I came home and blogged about it, if that gives you any indication. It's pricey, to be sure, but if you have a special occasion and want a stellar meal, the Driskill is a great bet. read more

For a special occasion in Austin, can't be beat. First, I'll admit my bias--both of my superb meals were not paid for by me. First was a friend who I'd given a job referral to. To thank me, he said he'd take me anywhere in Austin for dinner. Anywhere? I can have expensive tastes...but he insisted. The food was wonderful, the wine great. Unfortunately this was over a year ago & I can't remember too many details, but we felt pampered but not fussed over, & left pleasantly full. Things to watch out for: it's cold in winter, especially in the back corners near the windows. [yes, Austin does get cold] It's dressy. Dress up. Second meal: Transition meal from my male friend being a male friend to my boyfriend. He wanted to "take me to the nicest place in Austin."...well...we went to the Driskill & got the 9 course tasting menu. Start to finish, absolutely scrumptious. Driskill really gets that a tasting menu is not putting all of your entrees out to the diner, but picking tasty morsels to build up a great meal. The service & pacing was outstanding. Around course 5, they asked what we were celebrating. It sounded a bit weird to say "our first date", so we said it was "our anniversary" (our zero anniversary). When they brought a dessert, it said "happy anniversary". Look out for the over-abundance of wine if you do the wine pairing. They bring a glass of wine per course, which adds up. Our table quickly looked like we were going to play wine glasses, as we had so many backed up. My advice would be to split a wine pairing, unless you have the stomach and tolerance for 9 pours. I wouldn't go to Driskill every week, or even every month--but it's definitely the place to go for a big splash. read more

If anyone ever asks me "what is the best restaurant in Austin" I send them to the Driskill Grill. What an amazing experience. But be prepared to drop a lot of cash for the dinner. I'm vegan, and they made me a special off the menu vegan meal, which was awesome. The folks I went with were not vegan and also loved it. read more

No exaggeration, this was an amazing meal and worthy of 5*. From reviews, you can see not everyone has the same experience, but ours was good. Highlights: - This place is spendy--if I had not been expecting that, I would have docked stars so do plan accordingly. - Great recommendation for a special occasion--I brought my mentor here for her bday and made reservations in advance online. If you want a specific type of table, specify. The dining room is pretty cozy but it is quiet as it is set apart from the very lively/huge bar area. - Food was absolutely delicious--I highly recommend the chef's tasting menu. I don't eat pork and they adjusted accordingly for me and it was truly delicious. It included an appetizer, mussels in the most amazing broth, beet/goat cheese salad, soup/pork belly, flat iron wagyu and a made from scratch "kit kat" for dessert - Both my guest and I remarked multiple times how good everything tasted. - The bread is solid and hard to resist--walnut apricot - Was able to collect Hyatt points for dinner read more

The Driskill Grill just didn't impress on a recent outing to celebrate my anniversary with hubby, Bryan L. I have my suspicions that they somehow messed up our reservation, because they sat us at the worst table open and did not mention our special occasion as was noted in the reservation. The service was sub par. Our main waiter was okay, but not the caliber of what this place should enforce. He never asked if our food was okay and he did not explain the absence of the tastings menu until we asked about it. Apparently they had a surge of people show up at the same time and they were 'out' of menus. When we left for the restroom mid dinner, no one ever came by to fold our napkins in our seats. As noted in Bryan's review, we were also served by what appeared to be a trainee waiter. He was so nervous that the spoons cradling the amuse bushe rattled as he set them in front of us. Just not what you expect at one of the nicest (and most expensive) restaurants in town. Food was okay, although inconsistent. The tuna in the Ahi Poke was fairly tasteless. It was saved only by potent accompaniments. The beet salad was very good. Bryan thought the cheese a bit overwhelming, but I loved it. My fish was overcooked, while Bryan's was perfect. My husband is a gentleman and let me finish his since I adore fish. For the main, the chef let me sub out the lamb for a scallop. It was perfect. My only qualm with this round was the small pour of the wine pairing. Dessert was fabulous, but they didn't write happy anniversary on the plates like I had expected them to. Overall, the food was good, but coupled with mediocre service, definitely not worth the price. Save your money and go to Wink for about half the price. read more

Very highly overrated and overpriced. Ate dinner there on Dec. 25, 2019. Was served an inedibly tough steak. Wait person simply took it to the kitchen to have it sliced and brought it back to me. When I again complained after attempting to eat the gristly beast, she still did nothing. I had to complain to the maitre'd who called over an asst. manager who did lower my bill by $50. However, the Grill then proceeded to submit the bill TWICE to my credit card account. After 17 days, one of the duplicate charges remains pending on my account. I have now called and left two detailed messages for the assistant manager, who has so far ignored my calls. Takeaway: don't bother with this place which is attempting to coast along on its past reputation. read more

Went for restaurant week and was very disappointed with our meals. I love the Driskill bar and 1886 cafe, so I assumed the grill would be good. I had the 3 course option with salad, the market catch and a dessert. The salad was fine. The trout was very small and thin and overall bland. My husband got the 4 course meal. The best part was the beef carpaccio. He had the pork medallions for his main dish and it was not good. The desserts were very tiny, but weren't bad. Our waiter did not pay much attention to us. For the two meals and a couple drinks, the tab was over $100 and the whole experience was extremely disappointing. This was our first time dining there, so I don't know if they take better care of guests outside of restaurant week, but I don't think we'll be back to find out. read more

Please don't skip this review just because it's 5 stars and seems inflated. Just read: Last night I was given the gift of the 7-course tasting menu at the Driskill Grill for my birthday. This was hands down the best dining experience I've had in recent memory, not only in terms of food but also of service. This morning I just couldn't wait to sign in to Yelp (it's been a while, oopsie!) and review our dining experience! We were served by a team of friendly, well-trained servers and wine captains but the stand-out was definitely Mr. Scott Ota. His enthusiasm for wine, for his profession coupled with his sense of humor added a special touch to our evening. It's true to say that his enthusiasm was contagious! The amuse bouche was oyster with caviar. Fantastic. Next, the roasted root vegetable salad with honeycomb and goat cheese. Not only was the salad artfully prepared and tasty, it was a good portion for a tasting menu (usually the portions are exactly that - just a taste. This was a hint more.) The fish courses were lovely, especially the Poke which, served as tartare with yuzu butter, caviar, sesame seed, beet caramel and baby arugula, served with a mini ginger-lemonade was divine. The Barramundi was also exquisitely prepared. The next course was shrimp over polenta which wasn't our favorite. It was the only slight-miss in the experience. The meat course was a Wagyu beef over a corn and white bean succotash with purple Peruvian potato puree (truffle oil here), mushrooms and a reduction. I asked for a room freshener scented to match as a take-away. Unfortunately this isn't available and it really needs to be. The cheese course: gruyere, humboldt fog and stravecchio with a red wine reduction, apricot puree and little elevations for each cheese made for perfection. Blackberry with gruyere. Honeycomb (and for the man - hazlenuts as I am allergic) with the humboldt fog. Strawberry with the stravecchio (sublimely subtle pairing). Dessert was to be a chocolate crunch bar with miniature malted milkshake. The man had this but it contained nuts so I had the 1886 flourless (and nutless thankfully) chocolate cake with dark chocolate ganache, bacon chocolate ice cream and garnished with a little dried bacon and tiny little balls of chocolate. !!! WHAT was that??? yes, Yes, YES! Now here's the truly delightful part and I hope I am not going to get anyone in trouble for this but I must share this: Our wonderful wine steward offered us a complimentary wine pairing with our dessert course for my birthday and because he was very much in a holiday spirit. Why yes sir, thank you, we'd love it! The man had a wonderfully aged tawny port and I, for the first time, had a Fonseca LBV ruby port (2005). I might just have to buy a few bottles of this Fonseca as it was delicious, beautiful (deep garnet red) and an exquisite compliment to my very rich dessert. I'd ordered coffee before the offer of a pairing and it arrived via french press which I love as well but it was quickly abandoned for the dreamy, silky port. Our dinner was a truly memorable, lovely dining experience and I urge you to choose them for your next special night! read more

We received a $200 gift certificate for the DG and happily contemplated a delightful feast. Alas, we were gravely disappointed. The least expensive dinner appetizer was $15. That was for a beet salad; about the size for someone on a strict diet. The least expensive entree was $40; no, wait, there was some chicken for $38. I had a $42 steak that was very tasty, but about 3 ounces tops, accompanied only by a few shreds of vegetables. Ruth Chris at least gives you enough to eat. And a glass of house white was $15. All the food was very pretty in appearance, but minute in quantity and extremely overpriced. Suffice it to say we left unsatisfied with about another $35 to pay. Frankly, I'm sick of overpriced restaurants with dim lighting, good quality paper menus, and wait staff who recite the menu and leave out the prices on the specials (like here). Sorry if I seem naive, but if a restaurant starts its entrees at $20 or more, it should not leave you hungry or disappointed. I do a certain amount of business-related expense account dining, and experience shows that most expensive restaurants are rip offs. So unless you are extremely well off, or somebody you don't care about is paying, avoid the Driskill. There are so many wonderful restaurants in Austin that serve the tastiest, best quality food at very moderate prices. read more

Nothing more than the fancy corporate restaurant for out of town business travelers staying at the hotel (and who are too lazy to walk a few blocks). Food was very good (but not exceptional), but everything else lacked, from the impersonal service, the garish lighting, and the awfully bad maitre'd .. Probably the worst experience at this price point in the city. The best experience at this price point right now is Congress at 2nd and Congress; light years different experience. read more

We went for one of their fixed price set holiday meals, but it had strangely questionable choices for food. A lukewarm pumpkin soup with granola and yogurt in it, a salad, then a filet and salmon served family style with creamed spinach and spaghetti squash for sides. The redeeming feature was the desert bar, which had a great selection (but the bread pudding was strangely bitter with chocolate). Not worth $130 per person plus the service fees and included gratuity that comes with a hotel. To boot, we had a kid who was a vegetarian, and we were informed by the waiter that they didn't have a special kids' menu, but they sold the fixed price at a reduced children's price. So I paid $65 for my child to eat desert and bread. When we left at the end of the meal, I saw all the other families with children had been allowed to order off the bar menu, and they were eating pizza and sliders. For the three of us, we paid $440 and ended up ordering pizza later in the evening from down the street because we ate so little of what was served. What a waste of money. If you want to pay less and have good food in this area, go to Eddie V's or the Roaring Fork, or eat at the Driskill bar--really, eat anywhere else but here. read more

Old west luxury enveloped us as we moved from the bar to the dinning room. The gracious staff helped us feel comfortable throughout the 2 1/2 hour dinner. They eagerly and easily dealt with one diet restriction and accommodated all of our other needs. The five course Thanksgiving meal was filling and replete with the right holiday flavors. The Kale salad started us off crisply and paved the way to the beet and goat cheese terrine. The rich pork belly, perfectly prepared, came next. I opted for the turkey roulade while my daughter had the black-rimmed, red interior beef tenderloin. Finally the Driskill version of a pumpkin pie escorted us to the end of our dinner. Can't wait to get back to try their regular menu. read more

I created this Yelp account to write this one review, that is how bad my experience was. This is the most absurdly overpriced restaurant for Valentine's Day imaginable. $130 for an average at best tasting menu. How do you make lobster this bad? No prices on the menu, now I know why. You give people one option for Valentine's Day and price gouge the hell out of them. I have paid $100+ for a meal before and I'll do it again but this is inexcusable. Such bad food for such an outrageous price. I almost vomited when I saw this bill. The seating is so close I heard every word the two couples next to us said throughout the entire meal. Pack them in tight + charge them $200+ for weak food = Driskill Grill profit. This was everything I hate about high-end dining. You think you can put white tablecloths down and serve terrible souffle, how do you justify this price? Shame on the chef and shame on the owner of this place. read more

Disappointment, We had friends from the DC area and really wanted to impress them with Austin fine dining. We were torn between Jefferey's and the Driskill Grill and chose the Driskill based on review in Texas Monthly and the associated Texas history. We have enjoyed both restaurants in the past, but will never return to the Driskill. Arriving at 7:00 on a Thursday night, we were the only people seated which should have been our first clue. (The Driskill bar was full). Our waiter was amateurish and it took 25 minutes for our cocktails to arrive. I had to ask the hostess where our waiter & drinks were. She was very helpful. The waiter kept asking if we were ready to order and it felt like he was rushing us. When one of our group ordered a glass of wine, he left our table before the others could order wine. When asked why, he replied that he wanted to get our food order to the kitchen. Our food was OK, but not up to Jefferey's standards and we all were ready to leave before coffee and desert. My wife tried to call the dining room manager, but never received a return phone call. read more

So if you add up meals and drinks we are talking about 1500 bucks.... will not return.

Very good food. The hotel is gorgeous. Excellent service. Great wine list.

My husband and I came here for dinner to celebrate his birthday. The wait staff was attentive when necessary, but otherwise left us alone. The food was beautifully presented and plated. Each of our four courses were delicious. Our check was surprisingly low, but maybe that's not a surprise as we don't drink wine. We were both enjoyed the experience very much. read more

We took my mother-in-law to High Tea for Mother's Day. The Tea consisted of Specialty Teas, First, Second and Third Courses. The first and second courses were acceptable. The third? It was desserts by Chef Tony Sansalone-don't know who he is but he might want to stop making desserts. They were all somewhat pitiful, but one, get this---was a rice krispie treat. Yes, a rice krispie treat. Keep in mind this is not an inexpensive endeavor, $60 per person and 25% gratuity. Not a lot of people I know go to High Tea, but if you do, I would look elsewhere. On the plus side, the service was good and as always the Driskill is beautiful. read more

We went here last night for Austin's Restaurant Week and the experience was pretty much everything we wanted it to be. The restaurant is right next the bar which makes for easy waiting if you get there before your table is ready. The restaurant itself is incredibly small with soft lighting and intimate table spaces. The waiters were all very friendly and accommodating to what I suspect were slightly less refined manners than to those they are accustomed. The food itself was amazing. For the appetizer course, the BF ordered the medjool dates which were stuffed with chorizo and manchego cheese and wrapped in bacon. His dates were amazing and trumped my carrot ginger soup with micro greens in taste. We both ordered the honey glazed grilled Bandera quail with cannellini bean cassoulet. The flavors of the quail were very bright and vibrant and paired well with the salty cassoulet. The quail were also much plumper than quail I've had in the past. Finally, for dessert I ordered the apple tart with vanilla custard and ice cream whereas the BF ordered the chocolate raspberry gateau. His order trumped mine again. My apple tart tasted like a typical apple tart. His gateau was absolutely exquisite, a creamy chocolate raspberry masterpiece. For those who are concerned about the smaller portions that fine dining generally entails, the Driskill Grill staff will keep your bread plate full of slices of a brown bread with dried fruit and nuts in it as well as slices of French baguette. They also provide whipped butter with chives to go along with the bread. The one downside of the evening was that our sommelier accidentally gave us the wrong bottle of pinot noir with our dinner.We didn't notice until he pointed it out, so clearly it didn't effect the enjoyment of our meal and bonus points to him for his honesty. I just thought it was an odd error for someone employed in such a top-notch restaurant to make. Otherwise, the evening was perfect and it made Monday night feel like Friday. We were quite disappointed when we woke up today to discover it was still Tuesday. read more