The Most Fun Dinner Spots In Austin Right Now

"In a city where the names Uchi and Uchiko have become synonymous with date nights, anniversaries, and special occasions, Uchiba had big shoes to fill—and it hit the ground running. Despite the slightly more casual, izakaya-ish menu at Uchiba, the midcentury-inspired dining room Downtown—built around a massive, backlit 270° full bar—doesn’t feel like the type of place you want to show up to in a T-shirt. Expect to find a combination of Uchi/Uchiko classics, plus a bunch of new items. Show up for fancy cocktails and sushi after work, or dress up a little and make dinner out of it, starting with a few “perfect pairs”—a small menu of tiny apps, paired with tiny cocktails.  " - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs