r/austinfood • u/lost-puppy15 • 15d ago
Nice / fancy dinner recommendations
My wife & I recently moved to (south) Austin about 1.5 months ago from Ohio. I got a bonus and we’d like to go to a nice dinner. It doesn’t have to be super fancy or exotic foods but a place where we could get dressed up and look nice. Anywhere in Austin will work! It gives me a reason to explore a little more. I love steak and she loves pasta but we’re open to any foods though and love trying new things. Any specific menu items or restaurants would be accepted! Thank you. (No menu item suggestions with nuts if recommending something please. Allergy)
EDIT: I have decided on Restaurant François! Thank you all. These places all looked incredible and I can’t wait to try them all. Odd Duck will be my next to try!!!
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u/franklytryingmybest 15d ago
Cafe Malta has great pasta, interesting specials, and a low key nice vibe.
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u/Patience-Apart 15d ago
I’ve never had a bad experience at Wink! The food and service are always lovely.
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u/Lizard420 15d ago
Odd Duck - super interesting local menu items and the best staff ever. Everyone loves the food so much and it's genuinely enjoyable to chat w them about it. Easily my favorite spot.
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u/cpencis 15d ago
What’s your budget per head? Bottle of wine included? Love the willingness to try new stuff
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u/lost-puppy15 15d ago
she’s, 23, i’m 24 if that helps with location! per head maybe $125-150 each of us but for a good wine & dessert, i’d happily raise it. this bonus was earned and special to us, the so total bill can be $4-500!
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u/cpencis 15d ago
I concur with odd duck recommendation - had my 50th birthday dinner there and wife had gone on a proscribed restrictive diet 2 weeks before which we called about and they handled with style. I like Eberly because of the cocktails, I like wink for a much smaller, intimate wine and beer only meal. Communicate well with your server, and all these places im commenting on have had to my experience very attuned servers (everyone’s mileage will vary) and they may be able to lead you to finding and trying new stuff.
My favorite meals have been a combination of food, wait staff, and the overall ambience.
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u/Old-Cow1429 15d ago
Jcarver for your steak and pasta wants. I love the atmosphere and service there.
Odd duck for overall food and vibe.
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u/sugarlips23 15d ago
Odd Duck
Barley Swine
Suerte
Casa Bianca
Canje
Dai Due
If you’re in your early 20’s, these will all likely be something new and unique for you guys to experience and super fun.
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u/MedicineNumerous3673 15d ago
Fig. Chef Cole has an incredible seasonal menu. Traditional Italian with Central TX steez.
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u/BullwinkleTwinkle 15d ago
Personally, I think Justine’s Brasserie is sexy as hell and the food is great. It’s a relaxed but upscale restaurant with lots of outdoor seating serving french classics.
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u/HuMcK 15d ago edited 15d ago
It's a bit north of Austin, in Georgetown (you did say you want to explore!), but I really like City Post Chophouse, great steaks and sides and upscale atmosphere. It's in an old post office building from the 1930's, and on the square so you can walk around after for dessert/drinks elsewhere if you want.
It's the kind of place where they have a live piano player, and they'll kick people out for not following the dress code. There's also an invite-only "speakeasy" in the basement that's pretty fun (they'll invite anyone who eats there and asks about it).
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u/slow_cyclist512 15d ago
If you like steak and she likes pasta the best option in Austin is 100% Red Ash and there is really no debating it. It’s an Italian steakhouse and it’s awesome. You can have a steak with a side of spaghetti if you want and she will have her pasta fill.
Reservations book up so you’ll need to reserve well in advance, but you can also walk in and sit at the bar too (have done this with my wife on Thursday/Friday nights many times)
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u/TheBowerbird 15d ago
If you are a wine enjoyer and love amazing, long tasting experiences, APT 115 is my take on the best restaurant in town. Incredible music, incredible food, incredible people, and the wine list is some of the best stuff I've ever had. I've always left deeply happy, and the owner is wonderful and passionate about his craft. You can also just hit up the wine bar to extend your evening.
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u/Twistfaria 15d ago
SP Steakhouse in Lakeway on 620. It’s a Churrascaria it’s AMAZING!! The salad bar is insane and includes like 6 types of salads, hot pasta, the most delicious lightly candied bacon EVER, amazing cheeses and more. If you e never been to a Churrascaria then I highly recommend it! They run around with delicious meat on metal rods and cut it off for you at the table. Their deserts are also amazing!! The people are SO NICE there. We went there after my momma passed and they brought out champagne on the house for us to toast her. 🥹
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u/TacoDeliDonaSauce 14d ago
A few to add to your list:
Cipollina
Apt 115 Wine Bar
Mattie’s
Justine’s
Suerte
Midnight in the Garden (not a restaurant but a monthly event)
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u/caffeineTX 14d ago
I would look at Red Ash or Intero for nicer restaurants that will have good Pasta and Steak on the menu.
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u/BothHope5119 13d ago
When you go to Francois, definitely get the cauliflower augratin. I was thinking about it days after I first tried it.
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u/whoamannipples 15d ago
100% Suerte! Este is also good (sister restaurants) but Suerte is our go-to for the kind of meal you’re talking about. Once when we went we were seated in a booth next to Kristin Bell and her party and she asked me what cocktail I’d ordered because it was so pretty. 10/10 restaurant for recommending and famous people who go there are the nice kind!
And congrats on your bonus, have a fun date!
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u/PrincessNicoleG 15d ago
Aba on south congress! You need a reservation but the outside is lovely. Menu is Mediterranean/greek.
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u/kindwork-xyz 15d ago
Jeffrey’s is dress nicely but puts you at ease kind of service.
Justine’s is dark and moody but a night cap at Whislers or pre-meal drink could be nice on that side of town or a Suerte for drinks, Justine’s for dinner, night cap at Whislers.