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

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

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

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

Yee haw, Texas... A good place for a steak and to entertain the local clients. I thought that the rib eye was an amazing piece of meat, the oysters were great and the ambiance was perfect. read more

I can't even begin to say how phenomenal this meal was. I had the tasting menu paired with wine -- extraordinary. At the time there was a great deal of confusion over our reservation so they brought us a complimentary glass of champagne as an apology. The server was extraordinary. He made excellent suggestions and was extremely knowledgeable on the wines. He was the perfect balance of attentiveness and allowing us to enjoy our meal. Dinner was rather expensive ( I want to say $400? with tax and tip in that?) but it was worth every single penny. Thank you Driskill Grill...amazing!!! read more

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

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

I have two words for this place. Over and Rated. I went with a group for ARW and we were uniformly disappointed. The amuse was a strange progression from an onion and cream puff to lemon sorbet. "Why," you ask? I have no idea. The bacon wrapped dates were the highlight of the meal and the salad wasn't bad. The snapper was by far the worst dish I've had in a long time. I couldn't even cut through the rubbery flesh. Finally hacking into it's almost impenetrable exterior the fish was undercooked. The lentils were a miss and the gastrique was a bizarre choice. I sent it back and was presented with the lamb, but not until the rest of my party had finished their meals. The dessert was an opportunity for redemption... apple tarts all around... yet another failure. Sliced apple atop a square of puff-pastry. My god--aside from the clearly impressive knife work of the delicate apple slices--this had all the inventiveness of an 8th grade home ec. project. The Driskill Grill could not have fallen more flat. I was loathe to hand over $35/pp for this utter disappointment. ARW is a chance to win fans and I would rather take my chances with Taco Cabana than ever return. read more

Came here with a group of 6 people and it was WOW!!!! First of all the service is incredible. Utter perfection! Next was the extensive wine lust. Very impressive! We ended up ordering several bottles of Nuit St. George and they were phenomenal. The food presentation was amazing and rated even better! I felt like I was dining at La Tout D'Argent in Paris without spending the $$$$ it cost to eat in Paris. A very impressive dinner indeed. I can't wait to go back. I only wish the dining room was better designed. Chandeliers perhaps and some lovely wall screens would spicy up the place in a jiff. Huge flower arrangements would also be grand. read more

The WOW factor starts the moment you enter the beautiful hotel lobby filled with stained glass and plush seating alcoves. We made our way through the Mezzanine level piano bar area to the restaurant where we were cordially greeted and seated at a lovely table. We truly enjoy visiting historic restaurants, hotels and such around the country (and if there is an accompanying ghost story, all the better!) and the decor was in standing with the restaurant's historic location. There is fine dining and then there is "fine dining." We regularly dine at upscale restaurants but every once in a while we like to really make an evening around town into an event. The Driskill is one of those go-to places for just such an occasion. Initially, we were disappointed by the casual, daytime clothing of the couple seated nearby (really sir - a t-shirt, cut off jeans and flip flops?). Hardly respectful attire for such magnificent surroundings. Our server was very helpful but unobtrusive. His table-side wine presentation was impeccable (very important to the wife with her fine dining background). We both chose the 3 course menu with different appetizer, entree and dessert selections. The bread basket delivered to our table contained a delightful selection, one which seemed to have apricots? baked into the dough. All the food was well prepared and beautifully presented, plates were appropriately cleared (yep, in that environment the wife deducts fine dining points if the server does not serve from the left and clear from the right) and the wine glasses were kept filled. A definite highlight of the meal was the Chef's creative digestif. We actually returned to the bar on another occasion hoping to enjoy a glass and lounge near the piano and we were disappointed to learn that the digestif is not a menu staple but created specifically to complement the prix-fixe menus. A glass of Tawny port did bring a smile back to the wife's face! Overall, our dinner at the Driskill was a memorable event, just as we had intended. The ambiance, staff and the dinner execution were exactly as they should be and the complimentary digestif pushed the rating from "as expected" to "WOW!" read more

Fantastic food, good service & wonderful ambience! We were dining with a large party of 12 and they did a great job. We couldn't have been treated any better. read more

This is great place for a cool or rainy day! The cheese soup is something that everyone should ingest! Classy, convenient.... why not? A safe bet to take anyone to! The atmosphere is very classic so don't go in you're in the mood for something sleek and modern. read more

Over-the-top great appetizers. My favorite, the Brussels Sprouts with Jalapeño Soy Glaze, Spanish Chorizo, Ginger, and Roasted Peanuts for $5 during the Thursday 4-7 P.M. Happy Hour. You should know I play music at the Driskill Bar on an occasional Thursday so you might expect me to recuse myself, but try it for yourself and you'll believe. The $$ rating is for the Happy Hour, expect a $$$ or $$$$ price range if you're having dinner & wine. read more

The food was delicious, and they worked with me to create a vegetarian entree I would like instead of pasta. The portion size was small, but with all the delicious bread I was full and skipped dessert. My husband had steak and thoroughly enjoyed it. read more

My aunt called the driskill by mistake normally we go to the four seasons, so we thought we would try it. Showed up 15 min early and the host made us wait outside, there was two people in the restaurant. We went in on time and was seated. It took thirty minutes to take our order and then another thirty to eat. I had to ask for bread. It was a five course meal and they missed a course and had to tell them. When I got the bill the added 20 percent there was only three of us. I didn't say nothing but the waiter came over and said because it was thanksgiving. The food wasn't that great and the host was jerk. You would think for what they charge it would be better. I've been to three forks and four seasons it's a lot better. I sent a email to the driskill and they never responded. I know better next time. read more

A friend and I came here to have a Bday dinner, it is in the hotel lobby which is cool. The Jerky Chicken is great and wine selection is great. We had a great time. read more

The Hangover Omelet is perhaps the finest breakfast entree that I've had in Austin! I give it six stars for the blend of chorizo and cheese ensconced in a very thin skinned omelet. read more

If you are a 60+ year old Texan, you won't notice the ambiance is boring. I have noticed, but I still give Driskill Grill 5 stars. The food is exceptional - quality ingredients and well prepared. It's the best food I've had in Austin in this category or price range. Even the pepper in the shaker tastes like nature intended. It's pricey, but not pretentious. You're just paying for the food. I've dined here only one time. Each time I thought of going back, I ended up going some place a little more fun where I can also people watch. One of these days, I will shed my vanity and go back to Driskill, and I will not regret it. read more

The tasting menu was fantastic! I suggest the Driskill Grill for a special occasion.

Tasting Tuesday's! It's one of a number of ways in which the Driskill Grill is trying to market itself to price-conscious and not-all-that-gourmet-savy diners. There are a number of 3-course, 5-course, 7-course and 12-course eating experiences from which Driskill diners can choose and improvise. Wines are also either paired with a food-flite (the waiter said Pinot Noir went with six of the seven items on the mini-menu) or you can choose half-glasses or full-glasses. The four of us chose a 7-course tasting ($45), but we all chose different items. Many of these are nothing more than an hors douevres, the recipes for which can be found on-line (e.g., cheese-stufred Majool dates wrapped in crisp bacon). Others give you pause and make you wonder how such an idea was conceived. The courses come rather rapidly, a mixture of hot and cold, and all are nicely presented. In general, it's a sophisticated dining experience and at the end, unless you have a need to pig out, you'll feel satisfied, both with the quality, the creativity, the flavors and the amount of things you have tasted. And, oh yes, the wait staff is great. read more

Well, this used to be a 4 to 5 star restaurant a couple of years ago, but now it is just a hotel restaurant. They remodeled and took away all of the ambiance and class and replaced the white table cloth tables with bench seating and plain tops. The only thing that is the same is the high prices. I have previously been to this restaurant 6-8 times and it was one of the finer restaurants downtown. Not anymore...from classy to bland! Plus, the wine list is 25-40% higher priced than fine restaurants. I will NOT be back. read more

All we had here were drinks - so major caveat. Classy 5-star hotel, Austin-style - with a little cowboy love - in the heart of the action. Drink prices were a little steep, but the ambiance was certainly there. Chill and excellent. read more

The service is amazing. They are very attentive, even the hostess. The staff here is very friendly. The chef is amazing at his delicious work of art. My fiancé and I will definitely be coming here again for special celebrations. If you are looking for somewhere to celebrate I recommend coming here. My fiancé and the staff here have made my birthday a special and unforgettable evening. read more

I've long been a fan of the Driskill for dessert, but haven't gone for breakfast in over a year. Although the menu has changed since I was last there, I was astounded by the yumminess of the huevos rancheros... my eggs were perfectly cooked to order atop a crunchy fried tortilla. Just the right amount of cheese, crema and salsa, and some roasted white, purple and sweet potatoes were hidden beneath (they weren't listed on the menu). Not the healthiest meal I've had, but ohhhhh so good! read more

Great food, with unique combinations and flavors in downtown Austin, and some of the best service in town!

We went here for my fathers birthday dinner. The service and food were good at the time of dinner service. However, my partner got the lamb chops while the rest of us got steak. My partner got violently ill that night (assuming from the lamb) since that was the only thing that no-one else ate. I looked at his lamb and it did look undercooked and had a bit of a smell/slime to it. We really should have sent it back but we didn't because we thought lamb could be treated like steak in the sense of rareness level. We regret getting the lamb and probably won't be back due to that unfortunate experience. There are a ton of other places to get amazing steak and lamb with no worries of getting ill. An establishment that has been around for a long time with the reputation of what the Driskill has, they really should know how to handle/cook meat regardless of any circumstance and there really is no excuse for it. read more

there is this thing at the driskill grill called the farm-to-table three-course menu and it may possibly be one of the best things i've ever experienced. so, right now you could get, potentially: saffron potato leek bisque (when i went, it was butternut squash bisque, which had some sort of bacon purée and was INCREDIBLE); ricotta gnocchi, quail, or rabbit (when i went, it was pan-seared hawaiian sunfish (which was totally awesome and is still on the menu) and wagyu flatiron (which i tried and was absolutely amazing), and a chocolate-raspberry gâteau or apple tart (i had the gâteau and it was heavenly). they also bring you awesome stuff all through the dinner: sun-dried tomato biscuits (i think) and a crab remoulade (miraculous) and all kinds of other samples of amazingness every time you run out. it is such extravagant decadent awesomeness, and, compared to this kind of fanciness elsewhere, it's actually reasonable ($39 for all of that), so it is perfect for any kind of austin date-night. read more

Service was excellent but food was nothing special, especially given the price point.

The quintessential fine dining experience. Service was impeccable and food was on par with the finest restaurants I've visited. This is how it should be done. read more

I was in Austin for a week on vacation. I met up with some friends that were also in town but on business. We had a group of six people and we had to make reservations. This is one upscale place and it is expensive but I don't mind paying for the quality of service and food that The Driskill provides. The manager who is also the sommelier was attentive but not intrusive during the whole dinner. Every one at the table ordered the five course tasting menu. I was one of the most memorable meals that I've had in the last couple of years! By the time that I was done I wish I could have ordered the seven course one. The portions are perfect and was satisfied with the five course but I wanted more to taste more of what the kitchen had to offer. read more

Came here expecting ok to decent food from previous reviews but it turned out Pretty damn good, most of the food was well cooked and seasoned but they served a hamachi ceviche sampler that was spectacular. Great service and the bar right outside that has live music looks fun! read more

I contacted this establishment and made a reservation for dinner for two in about a month. I specifically stated that I wanted to do the tasting menu. My friend and I arrived on time and were quickly seated. We started to order the tasting menu, but the waiter said that since it was Austin Restaurant Weeks, they were only serving the prix fixe three or four course dinners. They had a month to tell me that I would not be able to do the tasting menu. I rechecked their website, which included not only the Restaurants Weeks menu but also the regular menu. Nowhere on their website did they say that only the Restaurants Weeks menu would be served and no where on their website did they say that I could not order from the regular menu. They also had a month to inform me that the tasting menu would not be available the night of my visit. One of the staff members mentioned that it was because the chef could not handle the Restaurant Weeks menu and anything else. My friend and I were able to get tasting menus at other local establishments in the days before our visit to the Driskill Grill even though they were also dealing with a Restaurant Weeks menu in addition to the tasting menu. I guess this was because the chefs in the other two restaurants were more efficient and are able to handle more than one thing at a time. In any case, I am awarding one star because I was offended by the Bait And Switch. read more

We dined at the Driskill for Yelp Eats week, and the decor when you walk in really feels like you're in a more classic era. The service is impeccable and the food was marvelous. The portions are not large, my appetizer (The panzanella salad) was larger than my entree of pea and goat cheese tortellini - which was about 5 tortellinis on a plate. If you're expecting huge heaping portions this is not the place to go. They definitely believe in quality over quantity. read more

We had to ask the chef to come back out to let him know how amazing the food was. The prefixed menu is the way to go. It starts at $65/person but is worth it. The 4th course of sea bass was so phenomenal, we enjoyed it in silence savoring every moment. The service is top notch. Wow! read more

My husband and I stayed at the Driskill on our wedding night. We went down to the restaurant for breakfast the next morning. It is super fancy and unfortunately I only had my wedding dress so my husband had to purchase a pair of UT basketball shorts from the convenience store across the street for me! Despite my embarrassing attire, our server was friendly and welcoming! The food was incredible and we will definitely be back!! read more

I was looking for a place to take my fiance and I came across this fine establishment. The service is second to none. They make you feel like royalty. Thank you for making it a great night out. She enjoyed every minute. You truly are a professional 5 star dining establishment. read more

It's a table of 3, and a 400 dollar tab. I am happy to say. It's worth every penny and I loved it. The tab was probably at least 10 orders of the $18 smoked quail appetizer that we couldn't stop eating. The food here is beautiful, and dinner is an experience. read more

The service were great, the food were amazing, and the experience is the best I've ever had! I went there for restaurant week with my fiancé and a friend. We all ordered different main courses, and each of us enjoyed our meal with nothing by happiness! ! We all decided we will return even without restaurant week discounted price. read more

the bf and I went here late on a Saturday afternoon whilst it was HH..the interior was old/fancy and had a charm about it. we settled in on a cozy couch..the bf had his usual 512 IPA and I had a glass of cab...ordered some various snacks...I think everything was half off for HH? The angus beef sliders were expertly done and were served on skewers which was fun. shared some chicken tacos that were very flavorful. still wanting to nibble and curiosity had the best of us we ordered the hatch green chili popcorn..which was more salty than spicy but addictive. Would def go back for HH snacks and drinks for a cozy date with the bf or for a girls night. read more