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✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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Step into The Diner Bar, where Southern seafood meets Texan flair! Led by Mashama Bailey and Johno Morisano, our menu features seasonal delights like Shrimp Toast with benne seeds and Seafood Towers brimming with raw bar favorites. Experience Southern hospitality with a Texan twist in the heart of Downtown Austin.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 500 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (737) 257-3047
Website: https://thedinerbar-austin.com/
Menu Photos
Related Web Results
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Reviews
Ryan Parkinson
Booked a table last minute after the heat went out on Christmas – so walked into the meal blind.
The design and aesthetics are nothing special, but the service and food are phenomenal.
Our server was able to talk to the chef to make a vegan dish for someone at our table who was vegan, and the other apps/entrees/desserts were exactly as described and of healthy portions.
We ended up eating out for a week and this is the only experience we will absolutely be repeating. Cannot recommend highly enough!
… moreThe design and aesthetics are nothing special, but the service and food are phenomenal.
Our server was able to talk to the chef to make a vegan dish for someone at our table who was vegan, and the other apps/entrees/desserts were exactly as described and of healthy portions.
We ended up eating out for a week and this is the only experience we will absolutely be repeating. Cannot recommend highly enough!
Amanda Libero
Great dinner on my trip to Austin. The most impeccable service all around. The host was so accommodating and personable as we were sat and out service continued with our waiter John B. He helped us choose our menu and was went above and beyond to make sure our courses were separate- even got our bread expedited without asking. The food itself was great. We got the southern chicken, schnitzel, pasta, and smashed potato’s. The best were the bread and chicken in my opinion. A couple espresso martinis to end the 10/10 night.
… morebethany dufresne
Great service, seafood and southern-influenced menu. Also fantastic new happy hour menu with good value, can’t beat the martini and food specials. Must try the shrimp toast, very unique.
… moreCraig Cumberland
Oh my God!! Has to be one of the best resturant we have been to in Austin. Amazing service, amazing food and amazing cocktails. Ben our server was an extraordinary evangelist for the James beard award winning chef and her experience she creates.
You should make early reservations so you can chat with the staff and hear more about the various dishes and thoughts behind them. Ask for Ben!
… moreYou should make early reservations so you can chat with the staff and hear more about the various dishes and thoughts behind them. Ask for Ben!
Ngoc Dang
We chose this place to celebrate our anniversary as we love to explore restaurants, especially learning that chef Bailey has recently earned her James Beard Award. We were very excited to try this place out.
The food is fantastic without a doubt. We ordered the Uruguayan Caviar, which was very rich and creamy, not as salty as American Caviar. My favorite was the Crudo and Foie and Grit.
The service, on the other hand, was very disappointed. The waitress was sweet, helping us take pictures. Though, when we asked about the food recommendations, she only said in general terms like “It tastes wonderful”, “you’ll love it”, “absolute my favorite”, but she was not able to describe the taste of the food so we could understand what to expect. When dining at a place like this, I want to have educated recommendations.
After almost blindly ordering the apertizers, the waitress, for some reason, did not ask if we wanted any entree. After the first apertizer, which is the caviar, we were supposed to get the Crudo to “clean our palate”, per the waitress suggestion, but they accidentally brought it to a different table, so we had to wait a little longer for that and had the Beef Tartar instead of the order of the food. It wasn’t a problem because we understand that sometimes the restaurant can get busy. The waitress offered the Crudo on the gouse, so that was nice. However, it happened again. We ordered and finished a dozen oysters as we were waiting for the last apertizer, which was the Foie and Grit. It took 30 minutes from the time we finished the oysters to the time the grit came out. Some other table of 4 arrived after us, but they finished their diner and dessert before we got to our last apertizer. When we got the check, I noticed the “on the house” Crudo was charged, so I had to wait for the waitress to come by again to ask about it.
The food was very delicious but the wait was ridiculous! The diner was 2 hours and 20 minutes long with 5 entrées, I wanted to at least try dessert but didn’t want to wait any longer. It somewhat ruined our anniversary night, but we walked around the block and got ourselves some Voodoo donuts! Sugar always makes us happy.
… moreThe food is fantastic without a doubt. We ordered the Uruguayan Caviar, which was very rich and creamy, not as salty as American Caviar. My favorite was the Crudo and Foie and Grit.
The service, on the other hand, was very disappointed. The waitress was sweet, helping us take pictures. Though, when we asked about the food recommendations, she only said in general terms like “It tastes wonderful”, “you’ll love it”, “absolute my favorite”, but she was not able to describe the taste of the food so we could understand what to expect. When dining at a place like this, I want to have educated recommendations.
After almost blindly ordering the apertizers, the waitress, for some reason, did not ask if we wanted any entree. After the first apertizer, which is the caviar, we were supposed to get the Crudo to “clean our palate”, per the waitress suggestion, but they accidentally brought it to a different table, so we had to wait a little longer for that and had the Beef Tartar instead of the order of the food. It wasn’t a problem because we understand that sometimes the restaurant can get busy. The waitress offered the Crudo on the gouse, so that was nice. However, it happened again. We ordered and finished a dozen oysters as we were waiting for the last apertizer, which was the Foie and Grit. It took 30 minutes from the time we finished the oysters to the time the grit came out. Some other table of 4 arrived after us, but they finished their diner and dessert before we got to our last apertizer. When we got the check, I noticed the “on the house” Crudo was charged, so I had to wait for the waitress to come by again to ask about it.
The food was very delicious but the wait was ridiculous! The diner was 2 hours and 20 minutes long with 5 entrées, I wanted to at least try dessert but didn’t want to wait any longer. It somewhat ruined our anniversary night, but we walked around the block and got ourselves some Voodoo donuts! Sugar always makes us happy.
Carla Mitchell
OMG. So good! The food was just out of this world. Even the host was friendly and knowledgeable. Our server, Ben, was nothing short of an evangelist for the restaurant AND the chef (a James Beard Award winner).
Great recommendations. Great pairings. All in all a wonderful experience. We cut our visit short to get to a comedy club. What a mistake! Shoulda stayed and explored the rest of the (regularly changing) menu. We don’t care for oysters – but probably would have loved ’em here! And if you want to learn more about the origins, check out the Netflix show, pictured. Admittedly, we spent more than necessary – but we tried several drinks, appetizers, and entrees.
… moreGreat recommendations. Great pairings. All in all a wonderful experience. We cut our visit short to get to a comedy club. What a mistake! Shoulda stayed and explored the rest of the (regularly changing) menu. We don’t care for oysters – but probably would have loved ’em here! And if you want to learn more about the origins, check out the Netflix show, pictured. Admittedly, we spent more than necessary – but we tried several drinks, appetizers, and entrees.
Samantha Duncan
We LOVED Diner Bar, it’s definitely a new favorite of ours! We came for our anniversary and are so thankful we did.
We enjoyed the oysters, deviled eggs, steak frites, martinis, affogato, and a special little anniversary dessert. Everything was spectacular, as was the service.
We can’t wait to come back!
… moreWe enjoyed the oysters, deviled eggs, steak frites, martinis, affogato, and a special little anniversary dessert. Everything was spectacular, as was the service.
We can’t wait to come back!
Jake Hewitt
Update: Chef Bailey continues to create spectacular dishes and she has some upcoming collaborations with other chefs that sound amazing. I tell everyone about The Diner Bar. I went again last night for an incredible evening. Mashama, thanks for chatting with us before the wonderful cuisine! We ordered the deviled eggs (fantastic with roe on top), the pork shoulder, ricotta gnudi, and pork raviolo, and for dessert the Benne Bar. All the dishes were incredible!! Is your mouth watering yet looking at the pictures?
The Diner Bar Austin and James Beard award winner Executive Chef Mashama Bailey have brought the authentic southern flavors of The Grey Restaurant in Savannah to Austin, just what the city has been needing! Congrats Chef Bailey on the 2022 James Beard award!!
I’m going to brag a bit on Chef Bailey before I get into the great flavors of The Diner Bar. Mashama Bailey and her business partner Johno Morisano opened The Grey in 2014 in what was an old segregated Greyhound station. The restaurant has been extremely successful and the two owners wrote a book: Black, White, and The Grey. It is a phenomenal read about the journey of Mashama Bailey, a black chef finding her way as she explores her roots. She is also featured on the lastest episode of Chef’s Table on Netflix.
Now on to The Diner Bar- I loved it!! You can’t go wrong with any of the options, according to Chef Bailey and she was right! We ordered the Pan Seared Trout, Country Pasta, and Shrimp & Carolina Gold Rice for our entrees. I was the biggest fan of the trout (what I ate). For drinks we went with the Graffiti Park, Autumn’s Harvest and Vieux Carré! For dessert, we had to cheat a little a get a Thrill over from The Grey Market next door.
Head to The Diner Bar! The grand opening is next week and it’s already filling up! Thanks Chef Bailey for stopping by our table. You have a great staff here in Austin.
… moreThe Diner Bar Austin and James Beard award winner Executive Chef Mashama Bailey have brought the authentic southern flavors of The Grey Restaurant in Savannah to Austin, just what the city has been needing! Congrats Chef Bailey on the 2022 James Beard award!!
I’m going to brag a bit on Chef Bailey before I get into the great flavors of The Diner Bar. Mashama Bailey and her business partner Johno Morisano opened The Grey in 2014 in what was an old segregated Greyhound station. The restaurant has been extremely successful and the two owners wrote a book: Black, White, and The Grey. It is a phenomenal read about the journey of Mashama Bailey, a black chef finding her way as she explores her roots. She is also featured on the lastest episode of Chef’s Table on Netflix.
Now on to The Diner Bar- I loved it!! You can’t go wrong with any of the options, according to Chef Bailey and she was right! We ordered the Pan Seared Trout, Country Pasta, and Shrimp & Carolina Gold Rice for our entrees. I was the biggest fan of the trout (what I ate). For drinks we went with the Graffiti Park, Autumn’s Harvest and Vieux Carré! For dessert, we had to cheat a little a get a Thrill over from The Grey Market next door.
Head to The Diner Bar! The grand opening is next week and it’s already filling up! Thanks Chef Bailey for stopping by our table. You have a great staff here in Austin.
Patrice Evans
I’ve visited the diner previously and was super excited to see a special event with the chef Mashama pairing black wines.
Overall I enjoyed the experience and felt that the money was well spent. They offered 2 event times 5 pm and 8:15. Initially I had an 8:15 seating but am so glad the restaurant accommodated and allowed me to attend the 5pm seating. When I first arrived I wasn’t sure how the evening would go as I was seated at the bar but to my surprise it went well. The servers and sommelier were attentive and never forgot about us. In addition everyone explained each pairing and wine that came out. I had the pleasure of meeting and having fantastic conversations with both Mashama and one of the McBride sisters.
The wine was well paired with the foods and my favorite part was that they kept the wine pouring and never got stingy
The restaurant did get busy so it became a little chaotic sitting at the bar so It would be great if the restaurant closed for events like this, which would allow a more personal and intimate experience.
Will I be back absolutely, will I attend the next event absolutely.
Do note valet is $10 but the event was over 2 hours so it increased to $32.
… moreOverall I enjoyed the experience and felt that the money was well spent. They offered 2 event times 5 pm and 8:15. Initially I had an 8:15 seating but am so glad the restaurant accommodated and allowed me to attend the 5pm seating. When I first arrived I wasn’t sure how the evening would go as I was seated at the bar but to my surprise it went well. The servers and sommelier were attentive and never forgot about us. In addition everyone explained each pairing and wine that came out. I had the pleasure of meeting and having fantastic conversations with both Mashama and one of the McBride sisters.
The wine was well paired with the foods and my favorite part was that they kept the wine pouring and never got stingy
The restaurant did get busy so it became a little chaotic sitting at the bar so It would be great if the restaurant closed for events like this, which would allow a more personal and intimate experience.
Will I be back absolutely, will I attend the next event absolutely.
Do note valet is $10 but the event was over 2 hours so it increased to $32.
Jacquelyn Pruet
Perfectly prepared Seafood, comfortable but elegant ambiance, and a great location. A nice high end but low-key spot right near the iconic Austin music spot, Antone’s.
The kind crab was perfectly cooked. The braised greens had the subtlest kiss of Serrano pepper. It is seafood with a whisper of the south. The chef is James Beard award winning MASHAMA BAILEY of Savanah, so that makes a lot of sense.
The vibe was relaxed but high-end.
They bill this as a southern spot. I think it is more a seafood place with a whisper of the South (not to be confused with “Texan cuisine” a cousin but something entirely its own thing.)
The restroom is hard to find – it is in the hotel lobby but they do not have good signage. It is buried in the back of a second elevator bank area. They have a neon sign in a different spot announcing that it is NOT the restroom – but nothing of its equal to show you where you should go / where it is.
They set up shop diagonally across from Eddie V’s (seafood and chop house) which has been there for decades.
… moreThe kind crab was perfectly cooked. The braised greens had the subtlest kiss of Serrano pepper. It is seafood with a whisper of the south. The chef is James Beard award winning MASHAMA BAILEY of Savanah, so that makes a lot of sense.
The vibe was relaxed but high-end.
They bill this as a southern spot. I think it is more a seafood place with a whisper of the South (not to be confused with “Texan cuisine” a cousin but something entirely its own thing.)
The restroom is hard to find – it is in the hotel lobby but they do not have good signage. It is buried in the back of a second elevator bank area. They have a neon sign in a different spot announcing that it is NOT the restroom – but nothing of its equal to show you where you should go / where it is.
They set up shop diagonally across from Eddie V’s (seafood and chop house) which has been there for decades.