Driskill Grill

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

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.

The food was good. Excellent beef options. The service was disappointing, both in the amount of information provided and the attitude. Not what we expected.

We had a really nice experience the evening before Valentine’s day. The food was good, but the service was really exceptional. My wife’s steak wasn’t quite right the first time, but they were very apologetic and got it perfect on the second try. While we were waiting they brought us a bowl of soup and 2 extra glasses of wine, neither of which they had to do, but it made us feel very well taken care of.
Nothing on the dessert menu grabbed us and we mentioned we might just head out to the bakery in the front of the hotel instead. In just a few minutes they brought us back a very nice chocolate cake from the bakery without us even having to ask.
All the food was very nice, as was the atmosphere. It’s not a cheap place to eat, but they really did a fantastic job for us.

I reviewed the menu in mid-​January when I made a reservation for Valentine’s Day. At that time the food selections were excellent, and I knew that the menu changes on regular basis, which was no problem. However, rather than a full menu, the restaurant chose to offer a «special Valentine’s Day» menu at a set price of $ 125 per person, which included 7 courses but a very limited selection and no appetizers – bad idea. I was expecting to spend more than $ 200, no problem, but was also expecting a full menu. The food was nothing outstanding for an upscale restaurant, but was fine and I give it a 3. The service, however, was beyond unacceptable. I won’t go into detail about that, though. Also, the menu said that a 20% gratuity would be added to parties of 6 or more, which is understandable, but the 20% was added to our bill even though there were only 2 of us. We will not be going back.

We celebrated our anniversary here and it was a memorable dinner. You can reserve a table through their website. The place is nicely decorated and looked very classy. The wine selection was really good. We ordered the soft shell craw fish, steak and quail which were very good. They provided us a complementary dessert and red wines for our anniversary. People were not at all intrusive, we chatted for hours without being disturbed. The price is expensive ($ 200 for two people), but it is worth the experience.

My Lord, where do I begin, and I wont even get into the beauty and historical charm of the Driskill hotel itself
Let’s get on with the review. I enjoy writing one like this, because it means I was sufficiently moved beyond a simple thumbs up or down.
A somewhat pricey place, but not overly so. My wife and I were served the 7 course tasting with wine pairing, which came to a little over $ 400 which included a $ 75 tip, and we almost felt like we were cheating them. The wine pairing is not required to indulge in some of the freshest, tastiest food a person could ever have, but I highly recommend it. The sommelier and chef obviously work long and hard to find the best possible combinations, and this is no small feat, considering how often the menu changes, but my wife and I were beneficiaries of their efforts. From a starter of fresh tomato consommé, which was not part of the seven courses, through the duck, beef, cheese, mussels, wild boar, squash soup, heirloom tomato salad, and scrumptious dark chocolate dessert, to include a seventh inning stretch palate cleanser of tomato sorbet that had overtones of black pepper, salt, and a hint of sweetness, this dinner lacked nothing. The wine pairings were as varied in flavor and depth as the food. From sparkling whites from Spain and France, to various reds from Europe and America, the wines complemented the meal to such an extent that you would miss half the flavor and nuance from the combination if you decided against them, opting for tap water. Further, and almost as important, the attentiveness, professionalism, and apparent caring were so obvious, my wife and I wondered how a consumer could do without. When we were waiting for our bill, with leftovers in hand, the sommelier even took the time to talk with me for five or six minutes, in spite of how busy the restaurant was, to inquire on our experience this evening. He asked me which wine was my favorite of the evening and I almost couldn’t answer, because they were all so good. When I finally told him the Langhe Nebbiolo that accompanied my wild boar chop was my favorite, he poured me a full glass to take out of the restaurant to enjoy (staying within the hotel, of course).
We will be back, of course, because I cannot imagine not returning to a place that puts so much love and caring into the food, and customers, they serve on a daily basis.
My thanks to the entire staff, and especially to the sommelier and chef for a memorable evening, one which I hope is repeated many times to come.
Sincerely, Steve and Sara

Impeccable service, great food. You can’t go wrong. The sommelier was a true professional. Atmosphere is lovely. Perfect place for Christmas Eve dinner.

Phenomenal dinner service — it sets the standard for Austin. Any time you have four or five different employees coordinated and all waiting on different aspects of your table, you’re at a nice place. The food is great and on the expensive side, but a great option for anniversaries or birthdays, etc. I was really amazed at how quiet the restaurant was with a packed bar on the other side of the glass. Very special place.

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.

Have to update this review because I shared my comments with the maitre d after the meal and he was extremely accommodating and understanding. He apologized and refunded the entire meal. I hope to be back again and give it another try.

Had a difficult time choosing a meal! So took the waiters recommendation and was very please. It’s bright and clean in there!

One of my favorite places in Austin. This restaurant does everything right. Great food and great service. Celebrating a special event? Call ahead and they’ll make accommodations for anything you need.
Experience and knowledgable wait staff — if they don’t know your answer to a question about a wine on the menu, they’ll find someone who does.
My husband and I had a very small wedding and had our dinner here.

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.

We enjoyed our meal and the service was decent, but I would say there are MUCH better restaurants in Austin for the price (I’m looking at you Uchiko and Congress). It is very expensive and the food was quite good, but it really lacked the WOW factor I expect from a restaurant at this price point. This pretty much goes for the whole dining experience. The service was decent, but I wouldn’t say they went out of their way to make us feel special. We did inform them we were celebrating our anniversary after all. And again, same goes for the food. Good, but not great. When I’m paying $ 250.00 for a meal, I expect to be blown away, unfortunately I was just whelmed.

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.

I did a tasting menu here and it was a phenomenal experience that I highly recommend!
Reservations are a pre-​req, of course, and as is usually custom for a restaurant that has a total of (from what I could see) 12 tables, being on time for said res usually means a tacked on 15−20mins or so for your table-​in-​waiting to finish dessert and be re-​set. Which is why having the Driskill Hotel Bar right there in the waiting area is so fortuitous. A great way to kill the time is to order a «Batini”-The Official Cocktail of Austin (in case you were wondering).
This clever concoction of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Hibiscus & Ginger Simple Syrup, Agave, and Sweet n Sour is made to resemble a bat, Austin’s Official Mascot, floating in your drink. The libation itself, for $ 9, was not an overpriced novelty, I’m happy to say. It was actually pretty tasty, fusing what one might assume would not be good-​flavor/​alcohol combinations surprisingly well… and with a heavy-​handed bartender, a nice way to get a gateway buzz.
Our reservation was finally called and after being sat at our «center of the restaurant» table and immediately being surged upon by two very attentive waiters for our drink orders, we began the full perusal of the extremely impressive menu options!
A few minutes after putting in our orders and being served some delicious, warm breads with adorably shaped butter we were brought an amuse bouche, compliments of the chef. My bouche was definitely amused, among other reactions, by the lobster cakes with raspberry mustard and side of hot «lobster –insfused» green tea.
The lobster cakes were absolutely delicious w/​just a hint of sweet succulence that was enhanced by the conflicting sweet/​spicy flavors of the raspberry mustard. The «lobster –insfused» green tea, however, was not something to be sampled by the faint of heart. The only way it was at all drinkable was if you had a bit of lobster cake already in your mouth. I am now a firm believer that the only thing that should ever be lobster-​infused is lobster.
A cleansed palate later and we were presented with our appetizers. Everyone ordered a different one so that would could all have a sampling. And there was not a «bad choice» amongst them! Though, while the House smoked Duck Pastrami Sandwich was absolutely fantastic and the beer cheese soup was phenomenal, after trying the mouth-​placating flavor explosions that were the Roasted Walnut And Caramelized Pear Bisque and Compressed Watermelon, I was immediately stricken with order envy!
The Main Event that was our entrees soon followed and again, nothing was a disappointmen or sub-​par. The only entrée that I didn’t try was the vegetarian option. Though the Juniper smoked Alaskan Halibut was exquisite and the Maple-​Pecan Fried Bandera Quail was delectable, they could not hold a candle to the Strube Ranch Wagyu Top sirloin!
There was world of flavors, textures, and sheer decadence to be discovered here! The kobe beef itself was beyond any justifiable word of deliciousness. It was so rich and juicy and felt like melting silk on the tongue. The full-​flavor of the meat was spectacularly enhanced by the Foie Gras Bordelaise. The Bacon-​Cornbread Purée was a textural and flavorful enhancement as well and added just enough starchyness to offset the sweetness cooked into the Honeyed Black Eyed Peas & baby carrots.
It was as if my tastebuds were under full assault and only resisted surrender to prolong the enjoyment!
Momentarily entering a food coma and not yet fully recovered from the ecstasy that had been my meal thus far, the onslaught was only briefly stinted and continued with dessert.
Now you know it’s a good meal when the most unimpressive part of it is still damn good! I did not try the PB&J for fear of spontaneous combustion, but, the Spiced Honey-​Amaretto semi-​Fredo accompanied by a cup of fresh French Pressed coffee did not disappoint. While it wasn’t as rich or decadent as the rest of the meal, the flavor combinations were interesting and a nice surprise. It was a wonderful end to a exceptional meal!

I had brunch at the Driskill, and I loved the ambiance with the old timey décor. The service was great, but I found the food to be slightly lackluster. The tuna BLT was a little dry for my taste, and the toast was burnt.
My husband ordered the the Huevos Rancheros, which were pretty tasty. It was served on a skillet with sunny side up eggs, pico, sour cream, refried beans, tortillas and salsa. It was pretty tasty.
Be aware though, that this place is very, very touristy. I mean Hawaiian shirts and muumuus galore. Sure it’s a nice place to check out, as I always wondered what the castle-​looking building is like on the inside but, honestly, I think there are better brunch places in Austin.

Wow, just wow. My wife took me here for my birthday and surprised me with the 7 course tasting menu with wine pairings. One of the beauties of the tasting menu is you get to try things you wouldn’t normally try and discover you like things that you wouldn’t think you would.
The Service: I was really impressed with the service being that I like fine dining but I don’t like pretentious restaurants. Our server was really cool and down to earth but new her stuff really well. She orchestrated the wine pairings for us and did a stellar job. I told her the more red the better being that I’m not a big white wine fan. She went above and beyond to find red wine that would substitute the white.
The Food: With 7 courses you would think you’re bound to have some not so great. Entirely not the case. Here’s the line up: Beef Tartar, Beet Tar-​tine, Carpaccio with Truffles, Fish Cheeks with Orzo, Halibut with Chorizo stuffed Potatoes, Antelope with Parsnip Purée, Cheese Course, Watermelon Sorbet with Berry Tart and Hazelnut Mousse. It was heaven. At first you think, «Really?!» with the portion size but it’s a marathon, not a race. By the end of meal, you have had way more than enough to eat.
Overall it was one of if not the best meals I have ever had. Although it is pricy, the wine pairing is definitely worth it. The wine and food together really enhance each other and makes the experience ever more special. At $ 400 (per couple after tip) it obviously isn’t something you do every day but for a special occasion, it is certainly special.

Move over, Cabernet, I had a ribeye at Driskell Grill that is now at the absolute top of my list! Although I ordered the halibut cheeks, and they were very tasty, I robbed my hub’s plate repeatedly to get to that gorgeous piece of meat adorned with blue cheese potatoes (which amped up the love all the more!). Just a fabulous dish, could not have been better. The chilled cucumber soup my guy had as an appetizer was also delicious, but meanwhile he was hankering & reaching for my beef tartare, which was the absolute best of that I’ve ever had, authentic French renditions eaten on location in France included. My conclusion? Driskell just knows how to do beef, period.
The wines were fantastic, too (see pics), and I LOVE the fact that they offer half bottles of so many wonderful wines so that we didn’t have to devote our affection solely to a bottle of red or white. I HIGHLY recommend the 2010 Chablis pictured, and double my recommend for the 2005 D’Arie Zin pictured, it moved to the top of my list of favorite reds, surpassing even the heretofore love of my red wine life (MacMurray Cab Franc).
I should have called it a day after such a delightful piece of cow, and such insanely good glasses of grape, but I disregarded my instinct and went for the panna cotta anyway. Never, ever, EVER ignore your instincts — they’re almost ALWAYS right. Don’t get me wrong, the panna cotta itself was every bit as great as I expected, but it was buried in an inch of overly sweet white chocolate rice-​crispy like crunchies that were more of a turn-​off than a titillation. I daintily suggested to the waiter, and hope he passed the word to a receptive dessert chef, that a single layer might be more in order as it would be less likely to rob the the very delicate and lovely panna cotta of its rightful role as star of the show.
Not to worry, however, as my impression of the restaurant, the atmosphere, the stellar service, the delicious wines, and the mind-​blowing ribeye & steak tartare remains wholly unshaken — and no future trip to Austin will be considered complete without a repeat performance of this absolutely fabulous dining experience.