Wife wants to get dressed up and go to a fancy restaurant. Do y'all have any recommendations?

Hard to find one in Austin anymore that is not downtown. Or maybe there is one that is small and unique i dont know of outside of downtown.

How dressed up? Suit/tie? Formal dress? Jeans/button up?

For us we drive to New Braunfels and go to Myrons steakhouse or McAdoos Seafood. I have worn slacks or Jeans depending on the time we go.

Lenoir
Tiny Boxwoods
Nido at the Loren
Olamaie
Suerte
Uchiko
Geraldines at Hotel Van Zandt

Plenty more I am sure but these are at least the few I have been too over the past 5 years

Martin Cash said:

---

in Austin, "Fancy" means wearing your new flip-flops.

---

Yep in a lot of areas we feel over dressed sometimes even in Jeans and boots. We also eat now at 3 or 4 on the weekends now just so we can enjoy the meal and conversation

Good question. Maybe not suit and tie fancy but so,etching that feels more special than just going out to dinner.

Emmer & Rye

Plan ahead and make reservations. Most places take them and some places are reserved out a couple weeks during the ideal dinner times.

top 4 in Austin

Canje
Bacalar
Luties
Sammies

Austin is more casual but you won't stick out in a sport coat at any of these

ignore opentable and resy and call the restaurant

swans list is good as well plus uchi

Tiny Boxwoods is one of our faves, several other really good ones mentioned. I feel like people are always sleeping on Mattie's, great upscale Southern food in a really cool setting.

Keeper of The Spirits said:

---

top 4 in Austin

Canje
Bacalar
Luties
Sammies

---

Interesting list as Bacalar has been open for literally 4 days. You've been?

I bleed maroon said:

---

Jeffrey's, for sure, is worth considering. Bring your wallet.

I haven't tried Perry's new place yet - Carve Restaurant, but it looks promising.

---

Went a few months ago, it's good but nothing exceptional. Was disappointed in the cocktails.

fig96 said:

---

I bleed maroon said:

---

Jeffrey's, for sure, is worth considering. Bring your wallet.

I haven't tried Perry's new place yet - Carve Restaurant, but it looks promising.

---

Went a few months ago, it's good but nothing exceptional. Was disappointed in the cocktails.

---

Well, I haven't been back to Jeffrey's since COVID, so your experience is probably much more relevant than mine. I'll give a few more recommendations to make up for it.

I would second Olamaie, but mainly because the biscuit is so good. Uchi or Uchiko is tough to top for sushi-ish fare. Lenoir is very inventive, and quite good (we love waiting for a table in the garden out back with drinks). Clark's Oyster Bar is also consistently good for seafood (just limit your caviar courses to keep the bill reasonable).

#1 on my list has long been Fonda San Miguel, as we've been going there for many, many years. I wouldn't call it fine dining necessarily, but it's a special place.

Sorry, was referring to Carve.

fig96 said:

---

Sorry, was referring to Carve.

---

Ahhhh. That makes more sense. I did notice some strange drinks on Carve's menu - probably pretty hit-or-miss.

Jeffrey's stays right up at the top of the list, then!

Barley Swine should be on that list.

I always recommend Jeffrey's to folks, even though they keep taking my favorite items off the menu. Having said that, the food is always fantastic and the service is even better!

fig96 said:

---

Keeper of The Spirits said:

---

top 4 in Austin

Canje
Bacalar
Luties
Sammies

---

Interesting list as Bacalar has been open for literally 4 days. You've been?

---

Big fan of Gabe Erales, I had been waiting on Bacalar to open for a while. I went saturday night. Very cool space at 44 east which some how seems quiet and secluded. Crowd was primarily well to do spanish speakers

We had

SIKIL PAK & GUACAMOLE
Pumpkin Seed Salsa | Avocado | Squash Pickles | Pan Arabe | Tostadas

KIBIS | BEEF & LAMB
Puffed Bulgur Wheat | Herbs | Curtido | Crema de Ajo

LITTLE GEM LETTUCE (Loved this one)

Masa Miso | Burnt Onion Vinaigrette | Cotija

CASTACAN TACOS (Outstanding)
Pork Belly | Frijol Colado | Salsa Verde

PANUCHO DE RELLENO NEGRO | BLACK BEAN FILLED TORTILLA
Duck Confit | Recado Negro | Quail Egg 'But'

PESCADO A LAS BRASAS | GRILLED FISH
Recado Rojo | Sour Orange Beurre Blanc | Creamer Peas

and this chocolate tamal dessert. Mezcal Margs and Cafe Barbons with Zacapa rum

J Carvers is also good

Sammies is the only one on my list that would be considered classic the other three are very modern

I bleed maroon said:

---

fig96 said:

---

Sorry, was referring to Carve.

---

Ahhhh. That makes more sense. I did notice some strange drinks on Carve's menu - probably pretty hit-or-miss.

Jeffrey's stays right up at the top of the list, then!

---

I haven't been to Carve but used to live right behind the Grove. I think they are struggling to get foot traffic. It's set back a bit and I see them trying hard to advertise. Get it while you can....probably gone in 3 years.

I bleed maroon said:

---

fig96 said:

---

Sorry, was referring to Carve.

---

Ahhhh. That makes more sense. I did notice some strange drinks on Carve's menu - probably pretty hit-or-miss.

Jeffrey's stays right up at the top of the list, then!

---

Yeah, went with a work group a few months back and a lot us tried the smoked old fashioned which was underwhelming. One of our VPs tried something else and was like "thought it might just be that drink...nope, mediocre bartender"

Awesome, we've been waiting for it to open and planning to go check it out hopefully soon. Haven't had his food before but really liked him and what he cooked on Top Chef.

fig96 said:

---

Awesome, we've been waiting for it to open and planning to go check it out hopefully soon. Haven't had his food before but really liked him and what he cooked on Top Chef.

---

the one thing i'd change was that the service was a little too tuned up. they had 3 people who had some responsibility for our table, so sometimes they duplicated what the other had said and then towards the end it seemed like whose responsibility was it to close us out was up for grabs, but to be fair we ordered our entrees then ordered another entree and then dessert

but it was opening weekend so I get that. we sat on the upstairs patio which was great

J Carvers or if you want real fancy https://www.scratchrestaurants.com/

We used to go to Mattie's a lot back when it was Green Pastures I think it was called.

Thanks for all the responses so far!

Eddie Vs

Random addition that's not an upscale place but a can't miss, if you're a Houston transplant like me and missing good Tex Mex check out Mama Betty's (between RR and Cedar Park). It was opened by a guy who's mom ran several locations of the Ninfa's chain (he worked there as well) and is easily the best Tex Mex I've had in Austin, very Houston style with creamy green sauce.

fig96 said:

---

Random addition that's not an upscale place but a can't miss, if you're a Houston transplant like me and missing good Tex Mex check out Mama Betty's (between RR and Cedar Park). It was opened by a guy who's mom ran several locations of the Ninfa's chain (he worked there as well) and is easily the best Tex Mex I've had in Austin, very Houston style with creamy green sauce.

---

Thanks for mentioning. Chuys sucks now.

ReloadAg said:

---

Good question. Maybe not suit and tie fancy but so,etching that feels more special than just going out to dinner.

---

Big fan of Odd Duck: https://www.oddduckaustin.com/

It's definitely not suit/tie fancy but they put out great food. Courtesy valet as well, like Canje.

I'll second Siena at the intersection of Loop 360 & 2222. Great Italian, seafood & steaks. Outstanding wine list, too.

Downtown Eddie V's is always dependable. Excellent service and great seafood/steak.