

Foodie hot spot serving a fixed-price menu with seasonal American small plates & a deep beer list.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 6555 Burnet Rd #400, Austin, TX 78757
Phone: (512) 394-8150
Website: http://www.barleyswine.com/
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Order and Reservations
Reservations: barleyswine.com
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Barley Swine
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Barley Swine – Austin – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
Reviews
The best part of the night was sitting and watching them grill everything on a huge fire. Could even feel the fire at times when they stoked it.
Someone said this is the best restaurant in Austin and I can’t say for sure but I certainly can believe it if true.
Every single bite of every dish was perfectly balanced. Each dish had its own distinct profile that elevated the flavors of the ingredients in a cohesive and complimentary manner. It is literally the best meal I have had in my entire life so far.
The wine pairings were amazing as well. Every single selection had a lovely nose that elevated the experience. Each pairing was perfectly matched to the dish, in a complimentary manner in which neither competed with the other. I’m usually not a big fan of white wines or sake, and the selections challenged my conception of what an amazing pairing might entail.
Whether it was the presentation, the dish, or pairing, every aspect of this meal was perfect. I loved every bite, every spice, every drink, and the atmosphere! Our servers were absolutely wonderful. I couldn’t wish for a better experience!
PS I have a gluten sensitivity and they were lovely about it!
Upon arrival, we were seated in the lounge as our table wasn’t ready. However, no one came by in the 15 minutes we sat there to take our cocktail order. We didn’t get to order by the time our table was ready and we were now sat 15+ minutes late.
After that unfortunate start, the pacing of the entire rest of the meal was off. It took over an hour and a half to get 3 out of 8 dishes. We received the main “entrees” at almost 11PM for an 8:30PM reservation. I’m not sure if that is normal, but we asked to speed up the process and the service followed suit. I noticed other tables had their napkins folded for them when they went to the restroom and I didn’t even get a replacement napkin when mine was wet from a spill.
Besides those two complaints, our actual server was great and attentive. Our sommelier was the highlight. We chose the premier wine pairing and that was the best choice of our experience. The wines chosen were fantastic and the descriptions and presentations of each were perfect.
Overall, I wouldn’t return.
We sat at the chef’s counter, with the open fire grill keeping us warm all night and adding a great ambiance. Would highly recommended sitting here with the great view of the kitchen, just so you can see how easy the staff makes excellence look. We definitely left feeling both inspired and satiated.
The only issue was that several dishes came out lukewarm or borderline cold. The butternut squash dish, the steak, the rib cap, the shrimp and grits, and a few others just weren’t the right temp. The steak especially was just cold. Everything tasted incredible, but it happened on multiple courses which was disappointing for the price point (around $500 total with tip and deposit). I didn’t say anything in the moment because I didn’t want to make a fuss on my birthday, but in hindsight I probably should have.
Even with that, the food and service were great and I’d definitely come back. I just hope next time the temperature is dialed in because everything else was spot on.
For starters, I was given a champagne for my belated birthday. It was a wonderful sentiment and pleasant starter for what was to come.
My cocktail for the night was the Capo Rosa. It was a lovely mild, balanced drink with a slightly strong foam. It lasted me the whole meal, which was fantastic because I had many plates.
I’m a big fan of Crudo starters, and so the Hiramasa was right up my alley. Each bite had satisfying chews of savoryness and acidity, with moments of sweetness from the apples. My only criticism is the lack of a crunchy texture. Some greens, nuts, or even fruits can add another dimension of texture. However I was still content with the starter and would be delighted to have it again.
The Big Tree Oyster took me by surprise because I did not expect a savory raw shellfish. It deeply reminded me of a bacon wrapped h’ordevore, as supposed to a saline or cocktail infused approach. I don’t remember most oyster experiences, but this one will stay in my memory.
Next was the Butternut Squash with Quajillo Queso. The key notes of this plate were the smooth textures and slightly pungent flavours. The two blocks were surprisingly creamy, which was a good contrast from the starting plates.
The grouper was an introduction to the entrees to come, which is why it feels weaker in comparison to them. However this plate does check the things that I look forward to in a plate: a main ingredient, texture, and a flavour complexity.
As a Chinese person, I enjoyed Shiitake Dumpling, which is a take on the Soup Dumpling. As sacrilegious as it may sound, it’s interesting to have the vinegar aspect inside the wrapping instead of a sauce dip. The scrambled eggs is a pleasant addition, but I think it couldve used a little more salt, and think it would’ve been exceptional with some truffle. It’s not something to fall head over heels for, but I welcome the creation. Also I would like to thank the establishment for giving me this on the house as a belated birthday gesture!
The pig face carnitas is one of the best intensely seasoned meat that I have tried. Although it’s quite small, it’s best eaten in tiny bits because it’s incredibly packed with spices. The variety of additions surrounding it are just a plus, slightly changing each bites experience.
The Seared Duck Liver was also phenomenal. It was like a cooked eel, minus the sliminess and small bones. Definitely get this if you can, even if you dislike liver.
The Wagyu Tartare is a modest, crunchy bite of sweetness. It’s not on the menu, but is a nice starter for the rest to come.
Next came the Akaushi Ribeye skewer, dry aged wagyu, and scallion roll (plus smoked bone in rib if you get that as well). To save me from typing even more words, everything was simply splendid. Seeing everything plated and explained before me was breathing taking. Like most folks, I took the rest of the rib to go.
And lastly the Tarragon Whip, Sunflower & Miso Cake, and Grapefruit popsicle respectively came. The whip was a nice bingsoo-like starter, the cake was super dense in sweetness (a bit much for my liking), and the popsicle was a strong, bitter appetite cleanser.
In conclusion, the food is good, you can order to your stomach’s needs, and the staff was lovely. Definitely will be coming again.
The space is cozy, but a bit dim imo. The incandescent bulbs flicker at the same frequency as my camera’s frame rate, which made taking photos surprisingly difficult (possibly my camera’s fault). We were there to celebrate an engagement and noted the occasion in the reservation, but it wasn’t really acknowledged beyond a small “congratulations” stamp on the menu. Not a big deal, but a little underwhelming for such a special night. Parking is bad on a Saturday night. Can’t find a space in the lot front or back.
Service was solid throughout the meal. My water glass was never less than half full, and the staff was attentive and professional. We skipped the wine pairing since I don’t drink alcohol.
The tasting menu itself was interesting but a little uneven. The opening crudo was very light, and I wished the hiramasa had been cold-smoked for more depth, since the apple gel dominated the flavor. The second dish was carried mostly by the coppa; I didn’t taste much kim, and unfortunately, I also found a small rock in my oyster.
The third dish with butternut squash was my favorite. The combination of queso, squash, and grilled onions was well balanced, and the crispy masa added great texture. This was the first dish that gave me the “this is why you go to a nice restaurant” feeling.
The tilefish was cooked nicely, with a pleasant wood-fired aroma. The persimmon curry underneath was tasty on its own but felt disconnected from the fish. A more Thai-influenced curry might have paired better than the Japanese curry, which didn’t contrast enough with the rich, fatty fish.
The carnitas dish again had very good protein and nice textures from the crispy carnitas and chicharrones, but the overall flavor balance felt rough. I didn’t care for the beans, and while the cabbage was fine, it didn’t add much to a dish that was already very heavy. The salsa cuts through the fatty meat nicely, but it on the other hand is too strong for the side veggies.
We were served beef tartare before the main course, which was enjoyable. The dry-aged beef itself was good but not especially memorable imo. The rib skewers were super tasty, and the foamy beef broth and rib jam with the scallion roll was rich and comforting.
The palate-cleansing dessert was light and refreshing. The marigold whip was delicious, and paired with the hibiscus jam it reminded me of a cold foam milk tea. The orange sorbet felt very cold, and I would have preferred something softer (like some fruity shortcake crumbles?) to match the rest of the dish.
The final dessert was also enjoyable. The peanut pastry and miso opera cake were both good, but the apple gel on top pushed the sweetness too far for me. The pastry and cake didn’t feel very connected, and it was difficult to eat them together. Feels like you could serve them as separate dishes. The fudge ice pop at the end was a cute finishing touch. We also ordered cookies to take away. Good cookies, nothing too special.
Overall, Barley Swine offers a thoughtful and well-executed dining experience, but considering the price and reputation, it didn’t fully meet my expectations. There are other tasting menus that have given me more surprise and satisfaction, though this was still a pleasant and enjoyable evening.