Barley Swine, Austin TX

Great food - a mix of innovative and classic concepts with exceptional technique. The space and ambiance is warm and inviting. An odd name for a tasting menu that did not include any pork within any of 9 dishes we were served. Looking back on past reviews that compared BS to Cochon in New Orleans maybe the branding is a leftover from past concepts. Service is where they lost us. As industry people we were perplexed with the mixed signals. No dress code (jeans and shorts welcome!) but a strange service point of making a show of folding and refolding our used napkins every time we got up to go to the restroom or smoke - which happened a lot because this is a 2 hour+ ordeal. Also having 4 different people handle your napkin constantly is icky from a Covid-standpoint. Our water glasses were constantly being topped off as soon as a sip was taken out of them, which made for an unnecessarily stuffy interruption given the environment. I guess that's what an automatic 20% grat is for? Our server was a bit chilly and matter of fact at first, but we won her over by the end. We did receive some very nice comps on our bill once explaining we were industry folk (though we don't usually like to throw that out), but the overall cost - 3 tasting menus (no wine pairing), one cocktail, two glasses of wine, plus the grat, plus a bit more tip on top of that because we can't help ourselves - left our experience a bit soured. 500+.

TLDR: Great food, nice atmosphere, weird service, pricier than the experience warranted.

Impeccable service, immaculate kitchen, lots of friendly service. I recommend getting a seat at the chef's table. Went there for our 21st anniversary and were treated special. Best place for any special occasion.

Bryce is so much more than a world class chef and its apparent in all of his restaurants & dishes. If i could use one word to describe my dining experience it would be Adventurous. The contrast of flavors, impeccable. Being brought to a new place with every course, unmistakable. The ambiance, one you don’t want to miss. If theres one tip I can give anyone, its hurry up and get a reservation you wont be disappointed!

While we enjoy Barley Swine, it is too expensive for what it offers.

With the first four bites coming out together, it is hard to remember what tasted how!

Some of the favorites on the menu: yellowtail crudo, aged tartare, the dried age ribeye was amazing

Drinks:
Watermelon gear solid: it was so refreshing, not too sweet
Tejano Mai tai: it was really good
Late bloomer: it was good
Left Hand: meh

We added two supplements to the menu:
1. Shiitake dumplings with soft scrambled egg: soo sooo good
2. Foie Gras: it was good, not the best I had.wasn’t as fatty as I expected

Main dining room experience. I’m happy I followed advice and didn’t book outside, not worth it with this heat. We could have easily enjoyed our dining experience at the bar or chef counter. It’s a delicious treat that will leave you satisfied so definitely go hungry. We did the 7 course and added the dumplings supplement, it was a lot of food but the broth dumplings were so fun to eat. We should have ordered the to go cookies at the beginning just an FYU as they take 30 min to bake. A great way to remember the meal at home and share some with the rest of the family. We celebrated our 8th anniversary and had a lot of fun having a different type of dinner. Parking was easy on a Sunday, not crowded which we loved and oh forgot to mention that we booked 5: 30 and left at 7: 40 so do plan around that. It takes time but it is gooood!
My big con has nothing to do with food. The restrooms were clean but the handsoap was one of those cheap pink ones that leave a terrible scent which makes you question why so much attention to food, service and somehow they forgot that? A lot of people don’t care for this but to me that is a huge deal. I guess My review would be titled be prepared toto spend a couple hundred per person, love the food and bring your own hand soap. See? Not cool. I’m karening now so I will leave it at that. Kudos to the kitchen and service team, these turtledoves had a meal to remember. Can’t wait to see what’s the next seasonal menu.

This place is amazing! We did the tasting menu for 3 for a friend's birthday. The food was absolutely delicious, and the servers had recommendations for cocktails that went well with the dishes. The staff was very friendly and welcoming.

One of the best meals we have had in the US to date. Great friendly service in with a great atmosphere. Highly recommend booking the kitchen counter so you can watch the chef’s do their thing.

You probably won't walk out stuffed, but youwill be contented. That's not the point though, you will have an experience to remember. The peach sorbet was the pinnacle of our experience, but not the only taste sensation there.

Not worth the price. Be ready to pay at least $180+pp for mediocre appetizers in a strip center. Dishes had no real pattern or theme and there was an abundance of corn flavor in almost everything including the tres leches. The mushroom based items had the best flavor overall and the beef rib off the extras menu was the best dish overall. The Staff was great! If I could seperate the stars I'd give the servers 5.

I had such an incredible time here with a large group of friends. The staff was so attentive and kind during our stay (which was quite long) so that is very much appreciated.

We were able to add a few dishes to our tasting menu.

The dishes all popped with such robust flavor and we all left full.

Highlights were the yellowtail crudo, mushroom chip, confit duck leg, shiitake skewers, and the last dessert: Masa tres leches. (This dessert was euphoric, seriously incredible)

We had many drinks throughout the night as well.

Thanks for the experience and the flavorful, fresh food!

While I love a restaurant that takes pride in their dishes and offers a unique culinary experience, Barley Swine just didn't do it for us. Whether it was the Deviled Eggs (just not a fan) or the unusual dishes that didn't meet our fancy, I'll stick with a 3/5 for this place.

Service was great and the food was delicious. Very relaxing atmosphere that did not feel rushed. Menu had some welcome & creative takes on flavors. Great date spot.

I loved everything about this place! I wish they had one in Seattle. Sat at the counter and got to watch the chefs synchronize with one another. Every dish was outstanding and amazing service.

Food and service were fantastic. The servers and kitchen staff worked together like a well-oiled machine. The only negative was the forced valet parking. (The lot had plenty of spaces, but they all had cones blocking them and the valet would just move a cone and park your car in that spot.)

Always a pleasure to come here when we are in Austin. Creative and delicious, never a dull moment on the plate. The service was outstanding as usual, and the narrative our server gave us before each dish was informative and interesting. Well done to all! Looking forward to seeing you again next April.

I mean don’t get me wrong, this place is EXPENSIVE, but the food and experience are incredible. I added the wine tasting to my meal and was very pleased. I’m not much of a wine connoisseur but I could still appreciate how well the pairings complemented the food. The staff is thoughtful and attentive and the cocktails are great as well. The proportions of the food seem small at first glance, but you’ll be surprised by how satisfied you are by the end of the meal. All around great experience and I’ve already recommended to a friend who will be going for their birthday.

Went there with two friends. We had the tasting menu without the wine pairing. We spent much time arguing about which dish was the best! The meats were cooked to perfection and the flavor combinations were on point. Nothing was disappointing. The food was so good that I think Barley Swine could potentially have a Michelin star, if Michelin ever decided to publish a guide for Texas. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, excellent service.

Updated review from 5 years ago: still more of the same! $400/dinner for 2 that still feels like a reach.

Great location, great service, great ambiance. The chefs course was reaching REALLY far tonight. Wasn't impressed and it felt like a stretch on every course.

Such an awesome experience and wonderful food. Came here with one of my best friends for our friendaverserie or something like that lol and we loved it. Our waitress savannah was fantastic and super attentive. I hope to come back with my husband! Highly recommend!