TX · Fancy
The 10 best fancy restaurants in Austin.
The birthday restaurant is the one people cite for years. That is the bar. Not the balloon. Not the complimentary dessert. The meal. Harry's list is ranked by Harry Score, and when you're paying for the scene, the card says so.
Austin's fancy restaurant scene is younger than it appears. The city got serious about expensive cooking relatively recently, and the best rooms reflect that — innovative, self-conscious, sometimes overcorrecting. Uchi changed what Austin thought it could be. What came after has mostly been good.
What earns the price
Expensive ≠ good. Harry has opinions.| Top two price tiers | Only restaurants priced in the top two tiers. The price tier Harry falls back to when a source says nothing is the second-lowest, so every place here is priced high by a real source. |
|---|---|
| Harry Score 75+ | A higher floor than Harry's other lists: at these prices the room has to be clearly better than fine. Critic coverage feeds the score, so a Michelin or broadsheet trail counts. |
| No warnings | Anything Harry rates a tourist tax or a false economy is out. A room that's mostly paying for the scene can stay if the food scores, and its card carries that verdict. |
Harry's ten — Austin
Ranked by Harry Score.- 01Barley Swine
american · gastropub — 6555 Burnet Rd #400, Austin
4.7 across 1.5k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; named by Michelin Guide and James Beard Foundation.
Occasion WorthyHarry
93
Worth It
77
- 02Dean's Italian Steakhouse
steak-house · italian — 110 E 2nd St, Austin
4.9 across 3.4k Google reviews; named by Eater and The Infatuation.
Occasion WorthyHarry
93
Worth It
77
- 03Casa do Brasil
steak-house · brazilian — 10515 N Mopac Expy NB, Austin
4.9 across 6.0k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; a $$$ steak-house option.
Occasion WorthyHarry
90
Worth It
78
- 04Dai Due
steakhouse · american — 2406 Manor Rd, Austin
4.6 across 1.4k Google reviews, and Tripadvisor lands in the same place; named by Eater 38 and Eater.
Occasion WorthyHarry
90
Worth It
78
- 05Odd Duck
american — 1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin
4.7 across 3.8k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; named by Michelin Guide and Eater 38.
Occasion WorthyHarry
90
Worth It
78
- 06APT
cafe — 2025 E 7th St, Austin
4.7 across 251 Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; laid back bar located in a converted apartment serving wine, craft beer, cheese, &….
Occasion WorthyHarry
89
Worth It
76
- 07Nori
sushi · vegan — 3208 Guadalupe St B, Austin
4.8 across 1.3k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; ranked #658 of 4,220 locally on Tripadvisor.
Occasion WorthyHarry
88
Worth It
77
- 08Hestia
steak-house · american — 607 W 3rd St #105, Austin
4.5 across 1.0k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; named by Michelin Guide and World's 50 Best.
Caveat: You're getting an experience. Whether you needed it is up to you.
Paying for the SceneHarry
87
Worth It
75
- 09Uchiko Austin
sushi · japanese — 4200 N Lamar Blvd, Austin
4.7 across 3.5k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; praised by Eater 38 (Eater 38 — Austin (2026)).
Caveat: You're getting an experience. Whether you needed it is up to you.
Paying for the SceneHarry
87
Worth It
75
- 10Este
seafood · mexican — 2113 Manor Rd, Austin
4.6 across 1.2k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; named by Michelin Guide and Eater 38.
Occasion WorthyHarry
86
Worth It
76
How this list is built Restaurants across Austin in the top two price tiers with a Harry Score of 75 or more. Nothing Harry rates a tourist tax or a false economy. Chains with several branches get one entry. Ranked by Harry Score. No restaurant pays to appear. Scores last recomputed .