Bill's Oyster

Bill’s burger is a must-try in Austin! It was so delicious that I couldn’t resist getting another one. And guess what? They have happy hour with a beer and a shot for just $8!

If you like oyster can’t beat the tower. Cozy restaurant. We didn’t make reservations but we were lucky to be seated inside. I enjoyed Brussels sprouts. Fried green tomatoes are okay. But the oyster tower is where it’s at.

Great vibes and good food. Happy hour is very cool! Bills burger and oysters are a must, also 50% off wine bottles is awesome. Nice spot to hang in the afternoon and have fresh seafood.

Great service, seafood and drinks. Very good happy hour and friendly bar service. Recommend the martinis, burger, crab mac and ceviche. Oysters are also good.

+2

Love this place so much! I always get their seasonal oysters, fries and caviar mayo. The vibe is always on point, the cocktails are delectable and the dining experience is always a 10/10. It's a bit pricy, but worth it for me!

For you TLDR folks: You must get the Clams Michelada! The king crab has a sauce on top that my husband loved, however I was not a fan. If you have more than two people, get one of the towers! We thoroughly enjoyed dining here! Not only was the staff fantastic, and the food excellent, the atmosphere was laid back, which is the perfect combination. My husband and I ordered various items across the menu and were vary satisfied with everything we got. We talked about doing a tower, but it seemed like too much for the two of us (something like 18 oysters, for instance, plus larger portions of everything else vs ordering à la carte). We got the clam michelada and joked that we should have gotten 2 order each, they were delicious. We did every type of oysters and highly recommend the Royale Style. The king crab had an avocado sauce on it that wasn’t doing it for me, but my husband loved it. The snapper was good, but i think I should have just had more from the raw bar. The only negative: the space was smoky when we were there, like the exhaust in the kitchen was having trouble. That was unfortunate and I really hope they get that fixed. We didn’t make reservations (not sure they take them) and were able to grab a table around 7pm. While I would love to keep this place secret, I would hate for them to fail because people were being stingy. Highly recommend this spot!

Did a bike ride through downtown and stopped here for happy hour. Their smash burger with brisket short rib patties for $10 + shoe string fries for + $5 made for a great meal👌🏾. Ate outside while weather was decent and listened to loud music playing from a rooftop bar around the corner. 🤣

Incredibly friendly staff (Stuart and Noamm were so welcoming), seriously delicious food/drinks (we got the lychee G&Ts, oysters, michelada clams, hush puppies, and NY style cheesecake…all fantastic), and awesome atmosphere. Happy hour pricing was icing on top. Thanks for making our meal so special!

Fantastic little restaurant for oysters, seafood and wine. Ornately decorated modern interior with a nice patio for outdoor dining. We enjoyed the oysters, seared scallop, Caesar salad and lobster roll and enjoyed all. Will definitely come back. Note: they do not take reservations so just drop in!

+2

This was our favorite restaurant in Austin. We were becoming a little disappointed with the places we had been too. The service was excellent from the second we walked in, the food was full of flavor and very fresh so delicious, the place is set up to be social and friendly with people. Such good vibes, great energy, and incredible food!

Everything was great. Favorites were Caesar salad, clam chowder, and oysters, but the cheeseburger was also surprisingly good.

+6

Great oysters! The burger is also a must! Fries were thin and crispy!

5 stars all the way around. Every dish we got was super fresh. Service was great and you can't beat the happy hour menu! We got a few things from there and then added on from the main menu. Ate a ton of super fresh seafood for a very reasonable price.

Made a reservation for my sisters Bach this past weekend and OH MY GOD. Service was so nice and our server Chloe was so kind! Food was AMAZING (especially the crab cake) and my sister ate like 12 oysters and was in heaven lol. 10/10 RECOMMEND!

We’ve had our eyes on Bill’s Oyster for a long time, and we’re happy to report they are absolutely worth the hype everyone talks about! We originally knew them for their insanely fresh seafood (and yes, it really is that fresh), but what we weren’t expecting was how incredible their brunch would be! From the moment we walked in, our host Aubrey set the tone. He was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly, exactly the kind of person you want guiding you through a menu full of heavy hitters and what feels like big decisions in the moment! We made reservations ahead of time since the space is on the smaller side and wanted to ensure we get an inside spot since we were celebrating our anniversary. It wasn’t packed when we arrived, but I’d still recommend booking a reservation just to be safe. They also have a super cute and quaint patio which looks like it would be incredible when the whether cooperates! Now… the food. We’ve seen and heard lots about their seafood, happy hour and of course their famous burger, but hardly saw anything about brunch so we knew that was what we wanted to hit! Cause we're different like that! Honestly, brunch is where they surprised us the most. Every single dish was high quality, beautifully executed, and full of flavor! The oysters, seasonal crudo, and michelada clams (coming from a non michelada person) lived up to their reputation, but the brunch menu? Next level! We got the Chicken Fried Waygu Steak topped with a crawfish tasso gravy which was large, in charge and incredibly crispy! It was the hubby's fav! I had my eye on the Johnny Cakes topped with Smoked Salmon and the Banana Foster Stuffed French Toast and YUP, those were the stars for me! The Johnny Cakes aka basically an incredibly delicious fluffy cornbread muffin felt so light and refreshing paired with their salmon and creme fraiche. But honestly if you go, you HAVE to try the Bananas Foster stuffed French Toast. (Whether you want it as your main or dessert, not only is the presentation beautiful, the bruleed bananas on top, the luxurious filling, fluffy brioche, everything about it was like heaven sent an angel to my plate) It was hands down one of the best we’ve had in Austin! Absolute must-order! Drink wise, we're tequila and beer people and absolutely LOVED the Mexican martini! This was my second ever Mexican Martini and I can officially say I might be converted from a margarita lover! Perfectly balanced in flavors, but you might not be walking perfectly balanced after two of them (in the best way of course) haha! Since we were celebrating our anniversary they even brought us a slice of cheesecake (they made sure to ask if we still had room in the tank) and YUP, also worth it! They even fly it in straight from the bronx! Its like no other cheesecake we've ever had, seriously! If you love cheesecake and you want a taste of the east coast, then you better pull the trigger on this! Eat it there or take it to go, you won't regret it! Whether you’re here for brunch, seafood, or both, Bill’s delivers on EVERY FRONT! We left full, happy, and already know we need to head back for more! Highly recommend!

Such great place! Drinks were amazing, oysters with the mignonette were incredible and the burger was fantastic! The staff were also really great! LOVED this spot. Can’t wait to come back

Two words: happy hour. I stumbled in here on a Monday afternoon looking for a quick bite to eat before I had to fly out of Austin. I sat on Bills patio and was delighted to find out it was happy hour! They had $3 oysters that were phenomenal! I also had a glass of their Sancerre, bring a date and get the bottle for 50% off during HH. I also enjoyed the tuna tartare, people watching on the patio, and had amazing service.

Poseidon must have had his first Oysters here…then decided, due to his new found love for the sea, that is where he shall live. Prior to his departure from dry land, he was also graced with one of the best burgers these lands have yet tasted. Then upon his arrival to the sea, he returned the favor to Bills Oyster, by sending a crab cake so delicoussssss, the crabs line up hoping to be chosen. In all seriousness, I thought the bartender was gaslighting me saying it was the best burger in town, “ok…🙄”, I thought. To my great surprise, I was wrong, so incredibly wrong. This is one of the best burgers I’ve ever tasted. 🤩🤩🤩Simple, yet perfected. An amazing aioli that blesses the incredible short rib and brisket blended patties. Oysters = 9/10 Burger = 27/10 Crab Cake = 10/10

We’ve walked past Bill’s oyster bar a few times before and it looks so cute. We booked a reservation and were not disappointed. We ordered the Colorado seafood tower and it was delicious. The clams Michelada were so tasty and the oysters were amazing. The lump crab was also excellent and we all agreed it was a great order. As for the drinks the spicy margarita, and Chris Owens signature drink were delicious. My wife ordered the wine and really enjoyed the whites. For our entrée, we ordered the white fish special and it was really good. The tuna Tartar was also delicious as was the Mac & cheese and the scallop ceviche was pretty good. One of our favorites was the brussels sprouts which had kind of a smoky BBQ flavored that was very light, but was so tasty. The restaurant itself is kind of small, but nice and intimate. It was somewhat clean and the service was pretty good. Overall, the atmosphere and food at this place gets a thumbs up and a recommendation.

I walked in as I had an hour before my haircut. I am so glad I did! Their oysters are some of the best I have had in Texas! Very knowledgeable staff, sauces 10-10-10 and I decided to try their burger after some oysters! Wow! I would say this was a top 10 cheeseburger for me and I pride myself on a good cheeseburger. I will be back soon!

Obsessed with this place, it's quickly become a go-to for dinner or happy hour for date night or with a group of friends. Space is bright, intimate & modern, but with a bistro feel. Drinks are phenomenal - you can't beat their HH specials, including their ice cold martinis. Kendall at the bar is great, always quick with the service & fun conversations. Food wise, this place is consistent too. We love Bill's Burger - it's hands down one of the BEST burgers in Austin. They also always have a impressive selection of good quality oysters on hand (a must given the name). The Steak Tartare is a hit, as is the Crab & Andouille Hush Puppies. Can't go wrong with the side of fries but be sure to ask for the caviar ranch. No place is perfect - I'd skip the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake and Scallop Ceviche, save the calories for other fare.

We had a lovely dinner experience! Highly recommend trying both the Rockefeller and the raw oysters. The tuna tartare and king crab were so flavorful. If you can swing it, don’t skip out on the caviar! For drinks, Mr. Eddy Gabriel (sazerac) and the St. Joe (apricot vodka sour) were absolutely delicious. Great upscale New Orleans ambiance with soft lighting and elegant decor. The attentive waitstaff made sure our glasses were never empty. Can’t wait to come back and try the brunch menu!

Came down to try happy hour and and really enjoyed our selves. Everything we tried was really good but the burger was especially tasty. Worth checking out and the happy hour is a great deal.

First time in Austin and first time at Bill's Oyster and SO pleased! We sat at the bar and Nick was out bartender/server who was friendly, knowledgeable, and whipped us up some mean martinis. (Try the Mexican Martini - yum!) Hands down top three best cheeseburger I've ever had. Can't wait to come back for more!

Samantha Jogoleff

We’ve had our eyes on Bill’s Oyster for a long time, and we’re happy to report they are absolutely worth the hype everyone talks about! We originally knew them for their insanely fresh seafood (and yes, it really is that fresh), but what we weren’t expecting was how incredible their brunch would be! From the moment we walked in, our host Aubrey set the tone. He was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly, exactly the kind of person you want guiding you through a menu full of heavy hitters and what feels like big decisions in the moment! We made reservations ahead of time since the space is on the smaller side and wanted to ensure we get an inside spot since we were celebrating our anniversary. It wasn’t packed when we arrived, but I’d still recommend booking a reservation just to be safe. They also have a super cute and quaint patio which looks like it would be incredible when the whether cooperates! Now… the food. We’ve seen and heard lots about their seafood, happy hour and of course their famous burger, but hardly saw anything about brunch so we knew that was what we wanted to hit! Cause we're different like that! Honestly, brunch is where they surprised us the most. Every single dish was high quality, beautifully executed, and full of flavor! The oysters, seasonal crudo, and michelada clams (coming from a non michelada person) lived up to their reputation, but the brunch menu? Next level! We got the Chicken Fried Waygu Steak topped with a crawfish tasso gravy which was large, in charge and incredibly crispy! It was the hubby's fav! I had my eye on the Johnny Cakes topped with Smoked Salmon and the Banana Foster Stuffed French Toast and YUP, those were the stars for me! The Johnny Cakes aka basically an incredibly delicious fluffy cornbread muffin felt so light and refreshing paired with their salmon and creme fraiche. But honestly if you go, you HAVE to try the Bananas Foster stuffed French Toast. (Whether you want it as your main or dessert, not only is the presentation beautiful, the bruleed bananas on top, the luxurious filling, fluffy brioche, everything about it was like heaven sent an angel to my plate) It was hands down one of the best we’ve had in Austin! Absolute must-order! Drink wise, we're tequila and beer people and absolutely LOVED the Mexican martini! This was my second ever Mexican Martini and I can officially say I might be converted from a margarita lover! Perfectly balanced in flavors, but you might not be walking perfectly balanced after two of them (in the best way of course) haha! Since we were celebrating our anniversary they even brought us a slice of cheesecake (they made sure to ask if we still had room in the tank) and YUP, also worth it! They even fly it in straight from the bronx! Its like no other cheesecake we've ever had, seriously! If you love cheesecake and you want a taste of the east coast, then you better pull the trigger on this! Eat it there or take it to go, you won't regret it! Whether you’re here for brunch, seafood, or both, Bill’s delivers on EVERY FRONT! We left full, happy, and already know we need to head back for more! Highly recommend!

Ilya D

Such great place! Drinks were amazing, oysters with the mignonette were incredible and the burger was fantastic! The staff were also really great! LOVED this spot. Can’t wait to come back

Hannah Schaenzer

Two words: happy hour. I stumbled in here on a Monday afternoon looking for a quick bite to eat before I had to fly out of Austin. I sat on Bills patio and was delighted to find out it was happy hour! They had $3 oysters that were phenomenal! I also had a glass of their Sancerre, bring a date and get the bottle for 50% off during HH. I also enjoyed the tuna tartare, people watching on the patio, and had amazing service.

Victor Diaz

Poseidon must have had his first Oysters here…then decided, due to his new found love for the sea, that is where he shall live. Prior to his departure from dry land, he was also graced with one of the best burgers these lands have yet tasted. Then upon his arrival to the sea, he returned the favor to Bills Oyster, by sending a crab cake so delicoussssss, the crabs line up hoping to be chosen. In all seriousness, I thought the bartender was gaslighting me saying it was the best burger in town, “ok…🙄”, I thought. To my great surprise, I was wrong, so incredibly wrong. This is one of the best burgers I’ve ever tasted. 🤩🤩🤩Simple, yet perfected. An amazing aioli that blesses the incredible short rib and brisket blended patties. Oysters = 9/10 Burger = 27/10 Crab Cake = 10/10

Timothy Williams

We’ve walked past Bill’s oyster bar a few times before and it looks so cute. We booked a reservation and were not disappointed. We ordered the Colorado seafood tower and it was delicious. The clams Michelada were so tasty and the oysters were amazing. The lump crab was also excellent and we all agreed it was a great order. As for the drinks the spicy margarita, and Chris Owens signature drink were delicious. My wife ordered the wine and really enjoyed the whites. For our entrée, we ordered the white fish special and it was really good. The tuna Tartar was also delicious as was the Mac & cheese and the scallop ceviche was pretty good. One of our favorites was the brussels sprouts which had kind of a smoky BBQ flavored that was very light, but was so tasty. The restaurant itself is kind of small, but nice and intimate. It was somewhat clean and the service was pretty good. Overall, the atmosphere and food at this place gets a thumbs up and a recommendation.

Zoë D'Olimpio

First time in Austin and first time at Bill's Oyster and SO pleased! We sat at the bar and Nick was out bartender/server who was friendly, knowledgeable, and whipped us up some mean martinis. (Try the Mexican Martini - yum!) Hands down top three best cheeseburger I've ever had. Can't wait to come back for more!

Tony Siress

I walked in as I had an hour before my haircut. I am so glad I did! Their oysters are some of the best I have had in Texas! Very knowledgeable staff, sauces 10-10-10 and I decided to try their burger after some oysters! Wow! I would say this was a top 10 cheeseburger for me and I pride myself on a good cheeseburger. I will be back soon!

Tatiana Oh

Obsessed with this place, it's quickly become a go-to for dinner or happy hour for date night or with a group of friends. Space is bright, intimate & modern, but with a bistro feel. Drinks are phenomenal - you can't beat their HH specials, including their ice cold martinis. Kendall at the bar is great, always quick with the service & fun conversations. Food wise, this place is consistent too. We love Bill's Burger - it's hands down one of the BEST burgers in Austin. They also always have a impressive selection of good quality oysters on hand (a must given the name). The Steak Tartare is a hit, as is the Crab & Andouille Hush Puppies. Can't go wrong with the side of fries but be sure to ask for the caviar ranch. No place is perfect - I'd skip the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake and Scallop Ceviche, save the calories for other fare.

Melissa Jandreski

If you like oyster can’t beat the tower. Cozy restaurant. We didn’t make reservations but we were lucky to be seated inside. I enjoyed Brussels sprouts. Fried green tomatoes are okay. But the oyster tower is where it’s at.

Stephanie Jones

We had a lovely dinner experience! Highly recommend trying both the Rockefeller and the raw oysters. The tuna tartare and king crab were so flavorful. If you can swing it, don’t skip out on the caviar! For drinks, Mr. Eddy Gabriel (sazerac) and the St. Joe (apricot vodka sour) were absolutely delicious. Great upscale New Orleans ambiance with soft lighting and elegant decor. The attentive waitstaff made sure our glasses were never empty. Can’t wait to come back and try the brunch menu!

Charles Peralez III

Came down to try happy hour and and really enjoyed our selves. Everything we tried was really good but the burger was especially tasty. Worth checking out and the happy hour is a great deal.

Leo Chen

Incredibly friendly staff (Stuart and Noamm were so welcoming), seriously delicious food/drinks (we got the lychee G&Ts, oysters, michelada clams, hush puppies, and NY style cheesecake…all fantastic), and awesome atmosphere. Happy hour pricing was icing on top. Thanks for making our meal so special!

Loved the food and will be back for crab cake, Caesar, sneaky good steak tartare and a solid smash burger. Going to be great. Needs better A/C and a additions to the wine list.

Came here for just drinks and oysters. It was packed, and the dining area is very small along with a bar, so be sure to make a reservation on weekends. We sat pretty much in the kitchen, it gets smokey there from the food cooking. I’d rather wait for a table next time. The spicy margarita was delicious, with just the right amount of spice. The chef was nice and told us about the oyster selection. We tried two different sorts and they tasted fresh. The service was good for the most part. Everyone seemed on top of it, except when we waited for a check for a while but that might have been due to our seating location. A great place for drinks and bites. It can just feel a bit too crowded in there due to the amount of space.

The burger is worth coming back for! Great service, small tight space, feels very intimate. Bar tenders are great and make very good cocktails. AC was not working during my visit, but I still had a very good experience.

Recommend the hush puppies, burger and fries were great too.

This place is a nice little spot, with seating inside and nice on the front patio as well (hopefully they get more comfortable chairs for the inside one day) Its a nice vibe and pretty solid spot for a date. The service was pretty good and they were all nice and very accommodating. I wanted to give the food 5 star because some of it i do rate very highly but some others weren't quite there. To start the shrimp cocktail was good, the shrimp are massive and both sauces served with them are good as well. Bills burger (no tomato and grill the onions) is a Top 5 burger I have ever had, the patties are made with brisket and short rib and those things are flavor packed, and you combine that with great cheese, sauce and a great bun and its hard to beat. The chicken fried steak was a bit on the tougher side but not terrible, and the crawfish Mac & cheese was solid but not quite as good as I expected but was still solid for sure. I cant wait to go back and try more stuff! The burger I give a 9.0/10 and Overall I give the place an 8.1/10

Food was awesome, service was great. Only downside was the space. It is incredibly tight in there. But other than that. Place was great food was great though the oysters were a hit or miss (2 out of 6) drinks were awesome.. no complaints.

We had a reservation at dinner time, but we end up being late. We called them ahead of time and they were kind enough to move our reservation time by 15 minutes. Our waitress was friendly too. I enjoyed their oysters, and I also tried their special one with uni and caviar. It’s a little salty but I enjoyed them. I also got their jumbo crab cake and their special that day which was cod. Both were good and mild in flavor. One thing to note is that the restaurant is small so the tables were better fitted for a couple.

Daniela Heyliger

Food was awesome, service was great. Only downside was the space. It is incredibly tight in there. But other than that. Place was great food was great though the oysters were a hit or miss (2 out of 6) drinks were awesome.. no complaints.

tina do

We had a reservation at dinner time, but we end up being late. We called them ahead of time and they were kind enough to move our reservation time by 15 minutes. Our waitress was friendly too. I enjoyed their oysters, and I also tried their special one with uni and caviar. It’s a little salty but I enjoyed them. I also got their jumbo crab cake and their special that day which was cod. Both were good and mild in flavor. One thing to note is that the restaurant is small so the tables were better fitted for a couple.

Stopped by Bill’s Oyster and it was exactly what I was hoping for. The oysters were fresh and tasted clean, and the staff actually helped us pick a few different kinds to try. Everything came out fast, and the vibe was chill—not fancy, just a solid spot to eat. We also grabbed a couple other items from the menu and nothing felt greasy or overcooked. Prices felt fair for seafood, and with a 4.4 rating I can see why people keep coming back. I’d definitely return for another round.

Brendan Alvarado

Stopped by Bill’s Oyster and it was exactly what I was hoping for. The oysters were fresh and tasted clean, and the staff actually helped us pick a few different kinds to try. Everything came out fast, and the vibe was chill—not fancy, just a solid spot to eat. We also grabbed a couple other items from the menu and nothing felt greasy or overcooked. Prices felt fair for seafood, and with a 4.4 rating I can see why people keep coming back. I’d definitely return for another round.

I have mixed feelings about Bill's, but overall not too bad. Atmosphere- They have a really small and noisy interior restaurant but the patio (in front of the restaurant on the street) was nice, and easy enough to get reservations 1.5 weeks out. Even in pretty chilly weather they kept the patio warm enough with heaters to make it pleasant. Service- Good! No complaints, they were quick (especially with drinks and appetizers), knowledgeable, and polite. Drinks- My husband got a very fancy-lookin gin and tonic that didn't taste like a G&T at all, and I got the new orleans sour that weirdly had pinot noir in it? I wasn't super impressed with the signature cocktails, but maybe we got the wrong things. They made up for it with a FIRE dirty vodka martini, which is what I should've ordered all along. Food- I will admit to being a seafood snob, having lived in new orleans and baltimore. We got raw oysters, crab cake, the shrimp po-boy. The oysters were great and super fresh- we opted for the smaller east coast oysters because I like them salty and I wasn't disappointed. They came with a tasty little vinaigrette as well that we loved. The shrimp po boy was on Leidenheimer bread straight from NOLA which is super hard to find in Austin and is absolutely amazing and necessary for a good po boy in my book, and the shrimp was good. But then they just made it too "chef'y" with cilantro and red onions and did not do it for me at all. Sigh. They were SO CLOSE to getting it right, just need to simplify. The crab cake was the biggest disappointment of the evening. $29 for one, decently sized cake with no sides. The ratio of crab to breading was just so so sad. I know most Texans will not mind and will even think this is good. But if you have ever had a Maryland crab cake, this will look good on the outside, you will think that theres enough crab in it, and then you will take one bite and just... no.

Maddy Cayton

I have mixed feelings about Bill's, but overall not too bad. Atmosphere- They have a really small and noisy interior restaurant but the patio (in front of the restaurant on the street) was nice, and easy enough to get reservations 1.5 weeks out. Even in pretty chilly weather they kept the patio warm enough with heaters to make it pleasant. Service- Good! No complaints, they were quick (especially with drinks and appetizers), knowledgeable, and polite. Drinks- My husband got a very fancy-lookin gin and tonic that didn't taste like a G&T at all, and I got the new orleans sour that weirdly had pinot noir in it? I wasn't super impressed with the signature cocktails, but maybe we got the wrong things. They made up for it with a FIRE dirty vodka martini, which is what I should've ordered all along. Food- I will admit to being a seafood snob, having lived in new orleans and baltimore. We got raw oysters, crab cake, the shrimp po-boy. The oysters were great and super fresh- we opted for the smaller east coast oysters because I like them salty and I wasn't disappointed. They came with a tasty little vinaigrette as well that we loved. The shrimp po boy was on Leidenheimer bread straight from NOLA which is super hard to find in Austin and is absolutely amazing and necessary for a good po boy in my book, and the shrimp was good. But then they just made it too "chef'y" with cilantro and red onions and did not do it for me at all. Sigh. They were SO CLOSE to getting it right, just need to simplify. The crab cake was the biggest disappointment of the evening. $29 for one, decently sized cake with no sides. The ratio of crab to breading was just so so sad. I know most Texans will not mind and will even think this is good. But if you have ever had a Maryland crab cake, this will look good on the outside, you will think that theres enough crab in it, and then you will take one bite and just... no.

Downtown Austin so comes with expectations. I’d say really very bland. Everything we had. Not good. Not bad. Just sorta tasteless really. My wife had the crab cake, which was the only thing that was def up to standard. Doesn’t appear expensive on the menu. But coupla drinks, few oysters & 1 dish each… still $200+ all in Maybe it’s this place, maybe it’s me. But going out is super expensive now… And if standards can’t cut it, any place is gonna die. Sadly this place fits that description. One & done

Tuna tartare was the only good dish, the rest wasn’t worth it. You can go to Trulucks across the street for a similar price point and much more delicious food. The Freret Jet: very good Igor’s Laundromat: the alcohol was too pronounced Hotel Nacional: it is too light, no flavor Fleur-De-Lis: it was very good 1/2 dozen oysters: they were fresh and good Clams Michelada: meh, the clams were chewy Tuna tartare: it was very good Steak tartare: it was fresh but the description sounded more interesting than the actual taste MKT fish: meh! Zero salt. hush puppies: They were good but you couldn’t taste the crab or andouille

+6

I came here for a work lunch and was severely disappointed. I’ve been wanting to come here for awhile. Maybe it was just an off day? I was in between the burger and the crab BLT: my first mistake. I went with the BLT by our servers recommendation, and it came with a stout hair tucked into the crab salad. I sent it back, and I’m pretty confident the sandwich that returned was the same one, due to the way the bread and shape had been squashed. The bacon was not what I would call bacon. It was ridiculously thick and ridiculously undercooked. The avocado was extremely browned, and the cucumber slice was cold and soggy (overall seemed like this was prepped the night before and thrown together, a la airport sandwich). The server did not come back until the very end so I didn’t get a chance to just order the burger. The manager came at the end and told me the kitchen doesn’t know how to cook the bacon yet, but that they take this seriously (?). I left hungry. Fries were good though!

Pretty disappointing. I was excited because of reviews. The experience was a major letdown with both food and service. Here’s a breakdown: Started off with a dirty martini, service was quick on this and it tasted decent but wasn’t very chilled. The problem: they served my drink on a table that I would soon come to learn was incredibly uneven (more than you would expect). When my daughter reached to serve herself some of the tuna tartare, the entire table lurched spilling about 1/4 of my martini. We cleaned up as much of the spilled liquid as we could with one of our napkins just as the server was bringing the other appetizer. I explained that the drink had spilled a bit because of the table and asked for another napkin to replace the soaked one. The response was “oh. sure.” No napkin was brought, the table was left as is flipping back and forth throughout the meal as was the remainder of the liquid. The wet napkin was also left on the table throughout the meal. The tuna tartare was very mid. Think generic tuna tartare that you would get at any one of those airport restaurants with a mildly pretentious name like “Vine and Fig” or something like that. The “Applebees” of tuna tartares. Definitely not something I would order again. The lobster roll was…just ok. It wasn’t awful but I certainly wouldn’t order it again. Poorly portioned and lacking flavor. A bit overcooked and slightly rubbery. Oddly,no drawn butter served with it and no lemon wedges We had asked to bring the bun on the side but they forgot. The fries that came with the lobster roll? Oily and cold. My daughter and wife both disliked them to the point that we canceled the side of fries that we had ordered with our burgers. Was the server curious why we were cancelling the fries? No. I volunteered that my daughter didn’t really like the fries and that they were cold and the answer was, once again “oh” and then she turned around and walked away. I later learned she was finished with her shift when the manager took over table service. As we were sitting waiting for the burgers and finished with the appetizers, the manager came over, saw the plate full of fries and asked if we were done as he simultaneously grabbed the plate. He watched the table lurch dramatically as he picked up the plate. No concern, just another lurch-y table, I suppose. I said yes and that my daughter hadn’t liked the fries as they were cold when they arrived. He responded “oh” and looked down at the full plate of fries for a moment. It seems that the “oh” response comes from the top down. After a pause, he reluctantly offered “do you want me to bring another portion of fries or something?” I said “that’s ok, thank you” and left it at that. That would have been a nice offer earlier when we were still eating the lobster roll but I kept that thought to myself. On to the hamburgers. Ahh yes, the famed “Bill’s” hamburger which is supposed to be “oh so good.” It was just ok, cheap processed cheese on thin smash burger patties with little to no seasoning. My wife and I both ordered lettuce instead of the bun, my daughter had it with the bun. Much of the lettuce on both my burger and my wife’s burger was wilted and even turning black/spoiled in parts (see the photo). None of us enjoyed their generic special sauce, but it wasn’t awful, just a bit too mayonnaise-y. My wife and daughter asked for ketchup and the manager said no problem. A few minutes went by as my wife sat there waiting to eat. After about 5 minutes we noticed the manager standing by the pass chatting with other employees. I hailed him over and reminded him of the ketchup. He clocked my wife’s uneaten plate and said “oh, sorry.” A few minutes later the ketchup arrived. One little tin, for both of them. Neither of them finished their burger. Ambiance: Somewhat retro, very noisy & in need of sound treatment. They finished the walls with a weird stain that makes the place look dirty (see picture). Not sure why. Anyway, definitely not going back.

This place has a great and inviting atmosphere, but the staff seems slightly inexperienced, which I can understand in a new restaurant. However, this place's food was beyond disappointing. We had the Crab cake, which was a pile of mush. It was not crispy at all and had soooo much breading, making it soggy all the way through. We also ordered the Louisiana shrimp, and it was not impressive, to say the least, in terms of flavor. It seemed muddy with the texture of the sauce, and being served on cheap HEB Texas toast made the $28 price tag seem ridiculous and extremely overpriced. The mozzarella stick was so bland, nothing but breading. It was hard to believe a Sonic mozzarella stick is better than these oversized, flavorless mozzarella logs. The only good thing was the oyster pairing. It had the quality of a downtown meal I was expecting, but with prices like this, everything else was overpriced, badly made, and the atmosphere was nice. However, it's really hot inside, so it's not a great place for a date. It's a good place for a one-time visit, but not a place to revisit. Overall, it was disappointing.

D Brito

Pretty disappointing. I was excited because of reviews. The experience was a major letdown with both food and service. Here’s a breakdown: Started off with a dirty martini, service was quick on this and it tasted decent but wasn’t very chilled. The problem: they served my drink on a table that I would soon come to learn was incredibly uneven (more than you would expect). When my daughter reached to serve herself some of the tuna tartare, the entire table lurched spilling about 1/4 of my martini. We cleaned up as much of the spilled liquid as we could with one of our napkins just as the server was bringing the other appetizer. I explained that the drink had spilled a bit because of the table and asked for another napkin to replace the soaked one. The response was “oh. sure.” No napkin was brought, the table was left as is flipping back and forth throughout the meal as was the remainder of the liquid. The wet napkin was also left on the table throughout the meal. The tuna tartare was very mid. Think generic tuna tartare that you would get at any one of those airport restaurants with a mildly pretentious name like “Vine and Fig” or something like that. The “Applebees” of tuna tartares. Definitely not something I would order again. The lobster roll was…just ok. It wasn’t awful but I certainly wouldn’t order it again. Poorly portioned and lacking flavor. A bit overcooked and slightly rubbery. Oddly,no drawn butter served with it and no lemon wedges We had asked to bring the bun on the side but they forgot. The fries that came with the lobster roll? Oily and cold. My daughter and wife both disliked them to the point that we canceled the side of fries that we had ordered with our burgers. Was the server curious why we were cancelling the fries? No. I volunteered that my daughter didn’t really like the fries and that they were cold and the answer was, once again “oh” and then she turned around and walked away. I later learned she was finished with her shift when the manager took over table service. As we were sitting waiting for the burgers and finished with the appetizers, the manager came over, saw the plate full of fries and asked if we were done as he simultaneously grabbed the plate. He watched the table lurch dramatically as he picked up the plate. No concern, just another lurch-y table, I suppose. I said yes and that my daughter hadn’t liked the fries as they were cold when they arrived. He responded “oh” and looked down at the full plate of fries for a moment. It seems that the “oh” response comes from the top down. After a pause, he reluctantly offered “do you want me to bring another portion of fries or something?” I said “that’s ok, thank you” and left it at that. That would have been a nice offer earlier when we were still eating the lobster roll but I kept that thought to myself. On to the hamburgers. Ahh yes, the famed “Bill’s” hamburger which is supposed to be “oh so good.” It was just ok, cheap processed cheese on thin smash burger patties with little to no seasoning. My wife and I both ordered lettuce instead of the bun, my daughter had it with the bun. Much of the lettuce on both my burger and my wife’s burger was wilted and even turning black/spoiled in parts (see the photo). None of us enjoyed their generic special sauce, but it wasn’t awful, just a bit too mayonnaise-y. My wife and daughter asked for ketchup and the manager said no problem. A few minutes went by as my wife sat there waiting to eat. After about 5 minutes we noticed the manager standing by the pass chatting with other employees. I hailed him over and reminded him of the ketchup. He clocked my wife’s uneaten plate and said “oh, sorry.” A few minutes later the ketchup arrived. One little tin, for both of them. Neither of them finished their burger. Ambiance: Somewhat retro, very noisy & in need of sound treatment. They finished the walls with a weird stain that makes the place look dirty (see picture). Not sure why. Anyway, definitely not going back.

Dylan Moncada

This place has a great and inviting atmosphere, but the staff seems slightly inexperienced, which I can understand in a new restaurant. However, this place's food was beyond disappointing. We had the Crab cake, which was a pile of mush. It was not crispy at all and had soooo much breading, making it soggy all the way through. We also ordered the Louisiana shrimp, and it was not impressive, to say the least, in terms of flavor. It seemed muddy with the texture of the sauce, and being served on cheap HEB Texas toast made the $28 price tag seem ridiculous and extremely overpriced. The mozzarella stick was so bland, nothing but breading. It was hard to believe a Sonic mozzarella stick is better than these oversized, flavorless mozzarella logs. The only good thing was the oyster pairing. It had the quality of a downtown meal I was expecting, but with prices like this, everything else was overpriced, badly made, and the atmosphere was nice. However, it's really hot inside, so it's not a great place for a date. It's a good place for a one-time visit, but not a place to revisit. Overall, it was disappointing.

We were excited to try this restaurant and booked a reservation to celebrate just getting married. The hostess told us congratulations which was a great introduction, but unfortunately the night did not go up from there. Our waiter immediately came up to us after we were seated and basically screamed if we were ready to order, which admittedly startled us a little. We asked for a minute to look over the menu as we just sat down and hadn’t been here before, and then he disappeared for 15 minutes. We tried flagging him down as he was talking at the bar but no luck. When he came back we were able to order and luckily got our drinks and appetizers in a normal time, but we were underwhelmed except for the oysters. I was charged $1 extra for egg white on my amaretto sour which should just be standard, and was not told there was an upcharge until I received the bill. Mozzarella sticks with caviar were just alright. We ordered the burger (as we heard it was the best in Austin), the lobster roll, and crawfish Mac and cheese for our entrees. Our lobster roll had shell in it which should not be acceptable when it’s $39, and the burger was just okay. The main star was the mac and cheese, even though the burger is continually raved about. Our waiter never really checked on us or congratulated us even though we had a note on our reservation, leading to just a subpar experience for the price. When leaving, we also realized he never mentioned the oysters we could try from different cities which would have been something we preferred rather than the seasonal option. Could have just been a bad night, but we weren’t impressed for something that is an expensive date night.

I give 2 stars because of the the root beer and oysters were good. Otherwise I'm from the coast so If the fish is labeled grouper on the menu you should serve what is labeled but what I was served was not grouper at all. I even asked my waiter what type of grouper it was... and his eyes got huge and said that he would go ask the chef. So I waited and he finally came back to report to me that he asked the chef and I was fixing to go on break and would check in a couple of minutes when done with his break. So I waited again and he just brought me the Bill and said that he would go check back with the chef one more time... so I watched him. He just went behind the bar and rolled put a few pieces of silverware up and then came straight back to collect the payment and said the he doesn't know where the chef went because he looked everywhere for him and couldn't find him, and said I'll try 1 more time... he went and ran the card and came straight back and said yeah I still have no clue where he is. So conclusion is they charge you market prices for top fish but serve you cheap trash. I honestly wouldn't have like grouper at all if I thought that this was my actual first time trying it and wouldn't have ordered anywhere else again. But since im from the coastal area, and avid deep sea fish and catch and eat grouper or order it from restaurants that have it on menu and fresh catch of the day... I know the texture and flavor profile. What Bill's sold me wasn't it by any means but they definitely got a grouper price.

Stephanie Insalaco-Wyner

We were excited to try this restaurant and booked a reservation to celebrate just getting married. The hostess told us congratulations which was a great introduction, but unfortunately the night did not go up from there. Our waiter immediately came up to us after we were seated and basically screamed if we were ready to order, which admittedly startled us a little. We asked for a minute to look over the menu as we just sat down and hadn’t been here before, and then he disappeared for 15 minutes. We tried flagging him down as he was talking at the bar but no luck. When he came back we were able to order and luckily got our drinks and appetizers in a normal time, but we were underwhelmed except for the oysters. I was charged $1 extra for egg white on my amaretto sour which should just be standard, and was not told there was an upcharge until I received the bill. Mozzarella sticks with caviar were just alright. We ordered the burger (as we heard it was the best in Austin), the lobster roll, and crawfish Mac and cheese for our entrees. Our lobster roll had shell in it which should not be acceptable when it’s $39, and the burger was just okay. The main star was the mac and cheese, even though the burger is continually raved about. Our waiter never really checked on us or congratulated us even though we had a note on our reservation, leading to just a subpar experience for the price. When leaving, we also realized he never mentioned the oysters we could try from different cities which would have been something we preferred rather than the seasonal option. Could have just been a bad night, but we weren’t impressed for something that is an expensive date night.

Billy Cunningham

I give 2 stars because of the the root beer and oysters were good. Otherwise I'm from the coast so If the fish is labeled grouper on the menu you should serve what is labeled but what I was served was not grouper at all. I even asked my waiter what type of grouper it was... and his eyes got huge and said that he would go ask the chef. So I waited and he finally came back to report to me that he asked the chef and I was fixing to go on break and would check in a couple of minutes when done with his break. So I waited again and he just brought me the Bill and said that he would go check back with the chef one more time... so I watched him. He just went behind the bar and rolled put a few pieces of silverware up and then came straight back to collect the payment and said the he doesn't know where the chef went because he looked everywhere for him and couldn't find him, and said I'll try 1 more time... he went and ran the card and came straight back and said yeah I still have no clue where he is. So conclusion is they charge you market prices for top fish but serve you cheap trash. I honestly wouldn't have like grouper at all if I thought that this was my actual first time trying it and wouldn't have ordered anywhere else again. But since im from the coastal area, and avid deep sea fish and catch and eat grouper or order it from restaurants that have it on menu and fresh catch of the day... I know the texture and flavor profile. What Bill's sold me wasn't it by any means but they definitely got a grouper price.