Barley Swine

THE BIG: Located in Central Austin and nestled in the middle spot between two other stores. Beautiful indoor/outdoor area with an open flame grill and focus on fine southern comfort food. Complimentary valet parking available.

THE BLACK AND WHITE: We came here on a Saturday afternoon at 4:30 to take part in their summer special pairing. It was priced right at $85 for 9 courses. We additionally did a wine pairing of 6 wines at $65 and a glass of pinot noir.

The pacing and service here was impeccable and smooth. The highlights included the hiramasa tostada that had a nice crunch and neutral fish taste. Then the halibut was nice and flavorful with its dashi. The Muscovy duck paired really nicely with the wine pairing and the pinot. Lastly the ribeye done 3 ways was a nice way to say, hey we ain't done treating yall yet.

THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall damage done for 2x summer special tasting menu, the wine pairing, and a glass of pinot noir was around $310. Great pricing for the tasting and if you're interested in the wine pairing, they had some great pairs, otherwise a bottle never hurt anyone ;)

Wow. Probably my favorite tasting menu in Austin! My husband and I came for an early dinner on a Saturday afternoon. We took advantage of their Summer Special ($85 tasting) and it was well worth it! We also did the wine pairing for one and I was thoroughly impressed.

Service is causal, but very thoughtful. The pacing was excellent. My favorites were the halibut, beef tartare, duck, ribeye, and carrot cakes each wine paired perfectly with each dish in my mind. The ribeye though, absolutely made the meal incredible. I was very full after the meal.

Overall the restaurant is small, but felt like we had amazing service at the bar. Looking forward to coming back!

Barley Swine is all about their tasting menu ($115), and they excel at it. They've joined the ranks of Uchi, Intero, Nido, and other top spots in Austin, reminding me why I love this city.

The raw fish on hummus on tostada and slow-roasted carrots were well-seasoned but not the most memorable; one was refreshing and the other warm.

The standout was a unique dish with a fuzzy leaf wrapped around a shrimp meatball--like an elevated siu mai and a true innovation.

The halibut was beautifully salty and reminded me of the one from Hestia.

The exploding shiitake dumpling with scrambled eggs was a crowd favorite, though I found the wrapping too thick for the extra $4.

The duck with strawberry vinaigrette was a peak, with sweet, smoky, and rich flavors, showcasing their mastery.

The $16 add-on duck liver was worth it--bursting with fat, sweetness, and a peppery tingle.

The ribeye with chimichurri and a savory donut topped with rib cap was amazing; the rib cap was incredibly fatty and tender.

Desserts! The strawberry and celery dip n' dots were a favorite, with a unique flavor combo on gelatin and marshmallow fluff. The carrot cake was beautiful and had a crystallized lime but wasn't as innovative.

Overall, I really enjoyed everything and had the best time. Barley Swine forever!

This was really a fantastic meal. I went to Barley Swine a while back (pre pandemic) and really enjoyed the tasting menu. It was great to see nothing has changed. The food was excellent and so balanced. My favorites were the oyster, yellowfin with sunchokes, ribeye, and grapefruit ice cream. The only thing was the donut course it felt oddly place and was quite overwhelming the fried dough with beef and beer cheese.
Service was really great and fast! The vibe is very intimate so a great place for date night. I also am appreciative of how accommodating they are to dietary restrictions.

Came here for a friends birthday and LOVED! It's definitely pricey with a preset menu but perfect for special occasions, it's also a more casual ambiance which was perfect as we didn't want to get super dressed up. The menu is obviously well curated and each dish was delicious, even if some of them sounded like odd food combinations. We started out thinking we might not be full by the end because the dishes were so small, but it definitely fills you up! Barley will definitely be a go to for celebrations in the future!

5/5 food - the menu is seasonal and you can check it out online! My favorite was the halibut, the flavor was amazing
5/5 service - multiple people were checking in on us and you can see into the kitchen where everything is being made, they even printed customized menus for the occasion
5/5 vibes - laid back and casual

Love this spot! Best meal we have had so far in Austin, and love that it is always in rotation so you can keep coming back! Its dishes rival that of 3-star Michelain restaurants we've been to. The ingredients are fresh, innovative and always well balanced. We are never disappointed.

The ambiance is nice but very humble. You wont find super flashy decor here- its rustic wood and mason jars. This adds to the aesthetic of getting a 3-star meal but it being acceptable to show up in jeans.

The one area I wish they'd work on a bit is the service. The meal is not cheap, yet twice when visiting the servers seemed rushed. They were all very friendly but at this level of dining you should strive to be exceptional. Things like better wine and drink pairing recommendations, pulling out chairs, making sure the pacing of the meal is comfortable would make this place near perfect- on par with the best restaurants in the country.

Overall still highly recommended! Cant come to Austin without trying it!

We celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary last night and it was made better by the team at Barley Swine. Im totally blowing this review because I didn't get our waiters name, but he was incredible.

Got us a couple champagnes and took expert care of us all night. Damn I'm sorry dude I didn't catch your name but you are amazing.

We had reservations for a table outside but the hostess got us inside cause it was damn hot:).

The food? Delish! So good good good. All around a great experience!

What a fantastic experience! I don't have any good photos as we just wanted to enjoy the experience and good company. From start to finish we were well taken care of and in utter bliss.

First off, the ambiance was ideal for me. The warm lighting and cozy, eclectic decor were spot on. You're getting upscale quality food in a comfortable, non-intimidating atmosphere. This was my first tasting menu and I don't typically splurge on meals like this, so I loved the casual atmosphere and never once felt "out of place."

We left hours ago and are still debating on what our favorite servings were. There was not a single thing that any of us disliked. Shitake dumplings were delicious and enjoyable to eat. Ribeye was my favorite, loved that they served it two ways! Beef tartare was a first for me and a surprise as it wasn't on the menu.

Service was great. We were well cared for and very hydrated. They clearly read my notes before coming in and I really appreciated their care and thought in personalizing our experience. Staff was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and willing to chat.

We came at 5:15 on a Thursday so we got $33 off each person's menu which was great. In all, we were there just under three hours.

So happy and will be thinking about this meal for a while!

Food: 5/5 Barley Swine serves up the perfect high end date night food! We tried the chefs tasting menu which included some funky spins on favorites like celery dipping dots and tuna. The food alone sets these chefs apart from any other restaurant we've been to.

Service: 5/5 Truly top tier staff from the waiters to the chefs! From wine pairing recommendations to suggested desserts, these guys got it down! They are friendly and the attention to detail is noticed.

Environmental: 5/5 Intimate and incredibly welcoming! Valet parking is available for those dining in and plenty of space inside. Our table truly felt like it was just the two of us!

Barley Swine, I have been wanting to go here for a long time, and it was worth the wait!! Sitting at the chef's table was the best way to experience this tasting! Shoutout to Cohen for curating this incredible evening. The drinks are well crafted and the whole night was great. My favorite dishes were the Hiramasa tostada and Akaushi ribeye. I will be back!!