51 Rainey St

Emmer and Rye (E&R) restaurant was recently awarded a Michelin Green Star and Bib Gourmand in 2024. Of course, my Yelp friend and I were anxious to try this restaurant. I did not realize that there is a E&R group of restaurants some of which I love like Canje and Ladino (located in the San Antonio Pearl District, where we lived for two years.) Hestia is also part of the E&R group, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2024. E&R menu changes daily dependent on seasonal, locally sourced food finds. E&R has a modern, contemporary vibe with architecturally clean lines. Although the restaurant is spacious it has a minimalist feel. Both indoor and outdoor seating (not last night because it was too cold) is available. Gary Jean did some magic to book us a table inside due to the cold weather as we originally booked for outside...much appreciated! We sat near the window with a full view of the restaurant and outdoors. In full transparency, I am the ultimate people watcher. So, I had the best of both worlds. Notably, E&R is located on Rainey Street, so I immediately had some angst about parking. We ended up using Public Parking costing us $33.00. We had six courses: First, we had the sourdough bread that was accompanied by three butters (sea salt, Greek yogurt flavor and blue cheese flavor all with extra virgin olive oil.) We both LOVED this bread and butter!!! Ashley, our server, said that this bread was from a starter over 10 years old. The Greek yogurt flavor was my personal fav. Second, we had the Johnny Cakes made with yellow bolita corn, shishito relish and lira rosa picante. The relish was especially tasty. While the first four courses were considered small plates, they had generous portions. In fact we had leftovers to take home. Third, we had the Cacio e Pepe, one of their signature dishes. The Pepe was comprised of blue beard Durum spaghetti, black pepper (lots of black pepper) and challerhocker. I've had spaghetti all over the world and this one was quite unique. Fourth, we had Carpaccio with wagyu beef, tonnato, pickled mustard seed and cured egg yolk. This was another unique and delicious course. It was superbly executed. The carpaccio was tender you could cut it with a fork. All the other ingredients made it texture heaven! Fifth and final course was the Carnitas - smoked lamb and pork, dirty farro, cucumber, and herb yogurt. I love the different textures and the layering of flavors. This was another fav! While the restaurant was not extremely busy, our food came to our table quite slowly. Ashley did a great job letting us know what stage of preparation we were in. It reminded me of being in Europe where a meal is savored with no time limit for dining. In America many restaurants have strict time limit allocated per party and they give you indirect and some direct signals when they are ready for you to leave. I had a long, leisurely conversation with my friend which I personally enjoyed. This was a great dining experience trifecta - fresh and impressive dining environment, excellent food and personalized service. Highly recommend Emmer & Rye....

I give it two stars for the ambiance and service that was decent/good. I am taking three away for the food and pricing. I would have taken pics of the food but none of it looked good as much as none of it tasted good. My fiancé got the bread which he loved and it had a neat presentation. That's about it. Who charges almost $50 for the chicken dish? More expensive than the fish and the other dishes... anyway we chose two dishes- the fish dish and pork/lamb dish which were both over $40 each... I normally wouldn't complain about pricing except it was not worth it AT ALL. I've never been to a restaurant that I didn't like the food. Usually it's the other way around- I'll complain about service or something, but this food was not appetizing- I couldn't even finish it. The dish tasted so fishy and off with some weird clear-ish white gravy sauce on it. Then the lamb/pork dish tasted like beans... it was weird. Like meatballs kind of with just weird flavors. Not flavors you'd think would be in $40+ dishes. I ate at this place a long time ago and the food was amazing... not sure what happened to them but I will not be eating here again. Oh and the overly expensive wine glasses... $20 each with horrible options. Almost all were from California. California wine sucks. Should put some Argentina, Spanish, Italian in there. They only had one that was French that was overpriced for the tiny pours they give you. At the very least give people decent pours! I know austin to be overpriced for everything but usually at least the food is good... this was overpriced and not good. Sorry guys but it's the truth! Hate to bash a restaurant instead of boosting them up, but it was a painful experience.

Emmer & Rye is an absolute gem in the Austin dining scene, offering an upscale, modern, and glamorous atmosphere that makes it perfect for a special night out. This restaurant is proudly recognized with a prestigious MICHELIN Green Star for its commitment to sustainability, sourcing the majority of its ingredients from local Texas farms. It's clear that every dish is crafted with care and respect for both flavor and the environment. The menu is nothing short of incredible. The starter, Johnny Cakes, with perfectly golden corn cakes and a shishito relish, sets the tone for an unforgettable meal. The Cacio e Pepe, made with blue beard durum spaghetti and fresh black pepper, is a flawless execution of a classic dish, while the Gnocchetti with herb butter, green garlic, zucchini, and feta delivers a delicate yet flavorful experience. The Pappardelle with smoked wagyu beef ragu is rich and indulgent, leaving you craving more with each bite. Beyond the food, the service at Emmer & Rye is impeccable. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and passionate about the food they serve, enhancing the overall dining experience. Do note that a reservation is absolutely necessary, especially on weekends, as this restaurant's reputation draws in both locals and visitors alike. Emmer & Rye is a must-visit for anyone seeking a refined, sustainable, and unforgettable dining experience in Austin.

Get it all! So so good! The pasta is amazing, the little breads app was amazing, get a bottle of wine to share too! Service is good and it's a cute little spot

We visited Austin recently, in search of exceptional dining. The recommendation: Emmer & Rye. This restaurant has been recognized by Michelin, granted the rating of Bib Gourmand, not quite a Michelin star rating, but prized nonetheless, granted for quality and consistency. The restaurant sits on Rainey, street parking difficult to find, though it seems valet parking may be available. We finally worked our way through the area road construction and found a nearby lot. We were visiting on a Saturday night and were immediately seated at our reserved time. The contemporary restaurant was bustling, but we noticed bar seating, tables and booths available. The open kitchen is seen fronting the dining room, a wall of wine separating two major areas of the restaurant. The ambient sound level was significant, not surprising given the large open area that describes the restaurant, the sound somewhat compromising our table conversation. Review of the menu confirmed what had been described: a menu of limited appetizers, limited second courses and limited entrees. This is a restaurant that features the "shareable menu", the limited nature allowing guests to fully explore the crafted offerings of the chef. The dining party selects a couple of items from the offered courses, and the selections are presented at center table, with the selections to be ...well...shared by the diners. Think BBQ family table dining, or sharing a mound of crawfish at Perino's in New Orleans, or sharing tapas at Toro Kitchen in San Antonio. This approachable notion of dining is growing in popularity with gastronomes, and it gives talented chefs free rein to ply their avante-garde skills. The menu at Emmer & Rye changes frequently. The eve of our visit, we selected Gulf Oysters and their Sourdough Bread. The oysters were presented on shell, beautifully seasoned and dressed with roe. Our group considered the appetizer excellent. Our waiter, Tre, recommended the sourdough bread, served with three differently seasoned butters, telling that this was the best in the city. We considered the bread...just OK. For second course, we selected the Gnocchetti and the Papardelle. The gnocchetti was presented with basil butter, peppers and pecorino. The flavors were exceptional, praised by our group. The papardelle was prepared wagyu with a tangy cream that we devoured. Next up: Carnitas and Texas Wagyu Steak. The carnitas were medallions of lamb and pork, served with sweet potato and candied nuts. We considered the carnitas slightly overcooked, but the flavor, especially the sweetness of the pecans complemented the dish. The Wagyu was presented as several slices, dressed with creamy mousse and garlic mojo. The protein was literally melt in the mouth, the flavors superb. Marjan after conversation with the sommelier, selected Oltrepo Pavese Pinot, a perfect selection for our dinner. We found the staff to be appropriately attentive, not intrusive, and we particularly found the sommelier (sorry, I cannot recall her name) well versed with their wines, and her perceptions completely matched the nuances of Marjan's preferences. A word about the "shared menu" restaurant. Some diners remarked that they left the restaurant "hungry". It is true, that portions are smaller, and when shared among diners, may not satisfy those in search of say, a 16 oz. ribeye. But if one is looking for true culinary bliss, the creative restaurant may be the answer. We totally enjoyed our dining experience, and we will definitely return. Marjan rates Emmer & Rye 5 origami boots. Enjoy Yelpers!!

There's a reason why Emmer & Rye made it onto two of the Michelin Guide's awards for: Bib Gourmand & a Michelin Green Star. The dining room is contemporary and inviting, setting the stage for a truly memorable meal. Compared to the rest of Rainey Street's offering for food, Emmer & Rye left me feeling refreshed and inspired. The textures and flavors in the dishes are carefully curated and perfectly balanced. Unfortunately, portion sizes run small and the pricing is exorbitant at Emmer & Rye.

I would give 4.5 stars, across-the-board! Food, service, and ambience, overall. Blackjack point oysters - 3 stars. Not the best flavor and we couldn't taste the oysters due to the strong vinegar flavor of the mignonette. This was our least favorite dish of the night. Red Snapper Crudo - 5 stars. Very fresh and delicious with a little kick of heat. Tartare - 5 stars. Texas Wagyu beef! Probably some of the best beef tartar I have ever had. Very flavorful and tender. Roasted Squash - 5 stars. This dish was beautiful and tasted out of this world. It had so many flavors, but was so well balanced. Definitely one of the best dishes of the night. French Ravioli - 5 stars. This was deliciously decadent! I would order this light but cheese stuffed pasta, that is taken over the top by the use of fennel oil, again in a heartbeat! Rigatoni - 5. A very umami rigatoni, probably due to the black garlic aïoli. Pasta was made fresh in-house and cooked to perfection. What order again. Berkshire Pork - 4.5 stars. This was actually pork belly, which is not in the description on the menu, just an FYI. Not the star of the show tonight, but was a nice take and definitely good. Wine selection was decent by the glass and by the bottle. Service - 5 stars Ambiance- 4 stars. Loud (like every place now days) and the wooden back of the booths were quite uncomfortable. The chairs at the tables looked cushion and more comfortable. Thank goodness for valet parking due to its location! We would definitely return here to eat and not just for a special occasion because it's that good!!

The evening started with promise that Michelin had acknowledged this restaurant even though it did not award distinction. However, it quickly became clear to us that they will likely face difficulty in achieving Michelin distinction. Before turning to the challenges, I will say that the food was fantastic. We ordered the sourdough bread with trio of butters, the pappardelle, the gnocchetti, and the carnitas. The sourdough was great and the accompanying trio of butters provided balance and options. The flavors were distinct but not overpowering. The two pasta dishes were enjoyable and a nice combination. The gnocchetti had a basil based sauce with some peppers to add some spice. The pappardelle had the richness you expect with a beef-based pasta but it was cut with the heat of some peppers as well. Finally, the carnitas had a farro and lamb combination for the base and small bites of pork layered in top. The cucumber and yogurt brightened the dish. Again, the balance of flavors was great. Overall, the food was a win, and I can see why Michelin noted their restaurant. The issues we faced were all in the service aspects of our experience. Our table was not ready at the time of our reservation, and we had to wait approximately 25 minutes beyond our specified time to be seated. Our server wasn't the most helpful at the beginning of our meal and was engaged with us minimally throughout the dinner. Then three dishes came concurrently, which meant we couldn't fully enjoy the bread, and it also meant that the pastas had cooled off by the time ate them. It's small stuff that added up across the meal. On a closing note, the environment was mostly fine but there were a lot of conversations that contributed to background noise making it difficult to hear our server and ourselves.

where to begin. dined in on super bowl sunday with my girlfriend .. this place was spectacular can't say enough good things we shared two pastas and the wagyu steak highly recommend.. the only downside for me was when they brought out the foods at separate times call me weird but i like to eat my food all together .. by the time the steak came out one of the pastas was cold... also a shortage on beer choices the star of the show was the Cacio e pepe chefs kiss the steak was amazing also but ive always wanted to order that pasta somewhere and not too places have it so for a first time it was a homerun thanks for having me and my gf in for our first anniversary

TL;DR - modern atmosphere, delicious food, and great service. Favorites were the crudo, sourdough bread, and French ravioli. I was lucky enough to score a day-of reservation here using OpenTable on a recent work trip. We had one person join us last minute but they were gracious enough to accommodate us if we were willing to wait a half hour since it was pretty busy. It was worth the wait! What we ordered: Crudo - tasty and fresh Blackjack point oysters - did not hit the mark for me, my least favorite dish of the night Sourdough bread - get this! It was super delicious and the presentation was unique. French ravioli - another must order IMO! Cacio e Pepe - really good Texas wagyu steak - tender and tasty We were stuffed so no desserts for us. Their cocktails were decent as well though the one I ordered was a little sweet for my taste (sorry couldn't remember what it was called). Also love it when establishments (like this one) have their hand washing station outside of the bathrooms. Would come back if I'm ever in the area again!

Inventive and tasty food at this spot on Rainey. After visiting multiple times over many years, can confirm that the flavor is a bit hit or miss. However, always great service and clearly a ton of care put into their dishes and their concepts. The Cacio e Pepe is a must try, anything on their "appetizer" menu is always a hit. Sit at their Chef's Counter for an immersive experience and the ability to chat with the chefs.

Had a great experience at Emmer and Rye, we started with the Johnny Cakes, and then got two pastas (Pappardelle and Tagliolini) and ended with the Grouper, the Berkshire Pork, and the Carnitas alongside the sourdough (was pleasantly surprised by how good the sourdough was). We were a bit unsure when ordering because the menu descriptions are somewhat vague, but everything ended up tasting great. If I had to give one criticism it would be that the dishes are advertised as "family style"/shareable but they don't give you any serving utensils, so we were using our own spoons repeatedly across each dish to serve ourselves. A fresh plate and silverware in between the pastas and the entrees would have also helped.

Alex was our server and absolutely phenomenal! We had this restaurant recommended by our Airbnb host and she was totally spot on. We sat outside and while it was windy it was still very comfortable. The restaurant itself has a clean, modern feel and while it was busy, it didn't feel rushed. I love that they are so conscious about their sourcing and getting local products - we loved every dish we got! We started with a beet salad, poplar mushrooms, and the roasted cabbage, all of which were great - but the roasted cabbage was an especially unique and delicious dish! We then moved on to the housemade sourdough bread which came with 3 different types of butter. For 4 people, we ended up requesting an additional serving of bread which was an upcharge but very needed! We then moved on to the pappardelle and rigatoni for our pasta course - the pappardelle had a delicious ragu and the rigatoni was a more classic tomato sauce. Both done beautifully and with great flavor and sauce to pasta ratio. For the main courses, we had the chicken with soccoro sauce and the wagyu - our only complaint was that we had the chicken after the wagyu, which was truly unfair to the chicken! The wagyu was probably one of the best things I've ever had - so tender and beautifully cooked with a delicious chimmichurri! After all of that, of course we had to have dessert and ended up accidentally getting the sorbet in addition to the other 3 desserts - though it ended up being our favorite dessert of the night. It has a lovely cream/foam on top that made it beyond delicious. Overall, this is a can't miss!

Emmer & Rye is a conscientious restaurant with intentional thought to their menu. I came here specifically to try their cacio e pepe. Valet is $12 but you might as well park on the street. The inside is nice and dim. I recommend coming with more than another person since the two seaters are a bit small. For two people: a cocktail, a starter, two smaller plates, an entree, and a dessert ended up being around $160, so about $200 give or take depending on tip. Without the cocktail and dessert, the meal size was the recommended amount by the waiter. I found it a bit pricey considering I wasn't full, but I was also being mindful about how much I ate that day. The beef tartare was good, had a slight bitter taste from the tahini dressing but it paired well with it. The cacio e pepe was good. I think you could get better cacio e Pepe elsewhere but it wasn't bad by any means. The rotolo is a type of almost lasagna-like pasta with lamb. It definitely was heftier tasting, but all of these were more on the small side. Our last dish was the pork, which was probably the best dish of the night. Carrots were great, pork was cooked nicely. It wasn't huge by any means but it was tasty and well made. The dessert was a panna cotta with toppings that were a bit too hard and honestly hurt my jaw. I suppose I could say I had a good time. The service was great, after all. But I would keep in mind that it's a bit pricy and the dishes aren't too big. It's a solid date night area but I consider some other places in downtown Austin to give you a more 5 star experience with bigger portions, food that makes your jaw drop, and an ambience that dazzles.

My husband I dined here last night with friends and we truly enjoyed our time. The service is top notch, and the food is above average. I especially loved how they made serving sourdough bread a work of art and gave three delicious butter options. Thank you to the staff for making our anniversary feel extra special. Highly recommend and will be back for date night.

The Wagyu tasting experience was truly exceptional. An eclectic mix of dishes with a dash or splash of Texas wagyu, beef tallow or some bone marrow concoction. Seven courses all with a varying degree of complexity and flavors. We were told the menu changes periodically. The chefs here are masters at composing very ingenious takes on traditional favorites. Incorporating various techniques, they come with some very unique dishes that will delight all your senses. This was a wonderful dining experience. If you get the chance, sit at the kitchen bar to watch and interact with the chefs. Service was 5 star.

The food was extremely delicious. We split 5 dishes between two of us - Carpaccio, Johnny cakes, gnocchetti, golden tilefish on a tostada, and a PB&J ice cream. The Johnny cakes and gnocchetti were our favorite dishes were by far our favorite, but all the other dishes were still quite good. I would say the Carpaccio was a little on the acidic side and the fish was a little salty, but I still enjoyed them both. I don't have pictures of all of the dishes. I will say the restaurant is a bit loud, but that is too be expected with the warehouse chic decor and hardwood. Lastly the service was excellent. The server was kind and willing to explain everything. They even were able to pair the dishes with the appropriate wine. I would definitely go back for a multiple-course, specialty menu.

Wanted to give great reviews as the flavors and dishes were outstanding! However the service is far from ideal! Food without utensils, waiting for server rather than some anticipation is far than appealing. More than one occasion I had no utensils to eat the food which sat in front of me for 7-15 minutes at a time. Recap: Great drink and cocktail choices - eleveness was a great start! We had all the apps - Johnny cakes were worth all the hype- along with the crudo and inspirational carnitas with a nice balance of flavors- definitely a must try. Bread with house made butter is a try for sure. My issue/point here is coordination. My experience showed clearly kitchen has no idea what is going in the dining and vice versa. Food coming without meals being taken away- what is this a dive bar! Easy to say- service ruined a possibly a flawless meal. . If changes to the flow, may be a great place to go, otherwise get used to eat without any utensils or get used to smelling your food for 10-15 minutes while the wait staff has time to check back on you. ( Many food trucks may offer flavor with similar level of service!) I would strongly give the dessert menu at the beginning. Waiting 25 minutes after finishing my main course to be told dessert menu is also not ideal. Do better!

Great end to our daughter's 21st on Rainey. After allot of loud and rocking bars, took her to Emmer& Rye for a final espresso martini, great service, relaxed vibes and air conditioning! As always, a great job by the staff, welcoming, fun and gave her an extra treat for her Bday! Highly recommend and the food is awesome as well, but just drinks tonight!

A light 5 stars! Had an amazing experience and our servers recommendations were spot on. I've got to say, do make a reservation as it can get a bit busy. We ordered the johnny cakes, the berkshire pork, roasted cabbage, and the ravioli. I have to say the star of the show was the least expected- the roasted cabbage! I'm not a huge fan of vegetables but this one blew me away. The blend of sauces with jalapeno, cilantro, and the cabbage grilled to perfection with garlic aioli was absolutely amazing. This is the dish i would come back for 10/10. The johnny cakes were my second favorite, it being fluffy and the dip was amazing. The pork was a bit underwhelming and a little over salted- so although it paired nicely with the cabbage i would not get it again. The ravioli was rather very light and the hint of lemon went well with it. Overall i'd recommend this place and give it another try!

Wow wow wow!!! This place is truly something special. I was blown away with the incredible service, the quality of the food, the extensive wine list, and overall ambiance. Brandon was my server and he was so knowledgeable on the whole menu, so kind with his detailed explanations and patient with my many questions on all the dishes! Everything tastes so fresh, I am already planning out my next visit, couldn't recommend more.

We opted for the Texas beef wagyu showcase, which is only a few days old to the menu. It consists of a 10 course meal and the table must participate. In addition we ordered the raw oysters and crudo which were a nice addition. The meal coursing with the 2 added items was the perfect amount of food and everyone left satisfied. My favorites were the oysters on the rice crisps, the crudo and the tortellini in the beef broth, yes please - the broth alone was bathable. The service was fantastic and so were the cocktails. $12 valet available. I'd definitely go back and try other items.

Service was great. Ambiance warm and cozy. The food was amazing. Fantastic vegetarian options. The sourdough bread is incredible. Super fluffy and crunchy...hard to describe. Just get it.

This is a really sad update to write, but Emmer & Rye is definitely not as good as it used to be. I haven't been in a few years, so perhaps I was hyping it up in my head and therefore my recent visit didn't live up to my expectations. My friends and I ordered a few things: sourdough bread, tartare, cacio e pepe, pesto pasta, and crudo. The sourdough bread was probably the best thing that we ordered, which is a sad statement to make. The crudo was okay but nothing memorable. The tartare was also a very standard dish, but they only brought out three measly chips for two people to share. How do we even split 3 chips? Not to mention, three chips are definitely not enough to eat the entire tartare with. I asked a server for more chips and she brought out some other chips that were definitely not the original chips that came with the tartare. The new chips were also very stale and hard. The cacio e pepe was pretty decent, but I've also never had a cacio e pepe that was so good that I would order it again. The same applies to Emmer & Rye's cacio e pepe. Overall, it was just a very okay meal. I felt bad because I was hyping up Emmer & Rye to my friends, but no one really felt as if it was worth the visit. I probably won't be coming back, but it is really interesting that they have a set menu that's focused on corn. I love corn, so if I hear any good things about it, then I'll definitely come back for that.

Amazing food and service. Good cocktail selection with interesting options. Loved both of the ones I tried "Come & Take It" and "Moon Dance". Both very good. We shared the oysters, crudo, French ravioli and Texas Wagyu Steak. All delicious!! Small portions so we probably could have ordered another but they do require you to order all at once, which I am not a fan of. Overall recommend and hope to come back to try more! Their menu changes daily!

We had an amazing experience last night. Menu always changes so take what you see on the socials with a grain of flakey salt - seasonal and full of flavor is what you can expect. One of the chefs mentioned that, because they use local (Texas) ingredients, dishes will change and ingredients will too. Garlic isn't available year-round so they need to do creative things to preserve! Fascinating discussion. Sitting at the chefs counter gave us an up close view of the food, process, and communication (through food) without speaking! Pictures speak for themselves - but French ravioli (with the parm whey) was incredible, 8-Ball squash amazing, and Blueline Tilefish was delicate and superb! Thanks to Sarah, Alex, and the team for an epic evening!

Oh. Em. Gee. I'd give this place 6 stars if I could... I already can't wait to go back. Staff was incredibly hospitable and knowledgeable about all food/drinks, ambiance was very posh, and presentation as well as taste of every dish was incredible. We walked here from the hotel nearby we were staying at, but there is street parking available (no lot). Cocktails not pictured, but very creative drink menu with ample selections. I'd highly recommend the Moon Dance! That was the best Wagyu Tartare I've ever had in my life.

The quality of the food is highly disappointing and falls far below expectations. The ingredients and preparation seem subpar, and it does not meet the level of care or attention I would anticipate.

Really nice staff! It feels a little too crowded in there though, tables are so close to each other and quite dark lighting. I loved the bread and honey! Amazing! The main plates were a little mediocre but it is a very nice place and I would give it another try!

I returned to Emmer and Rye for an exceptional evening at the chef's table overlooking the kitchen! The food was once again incredible and the staff work so well together as a team. I'm so impressed with Emmer and Rye. Special shoutout to chefs Jen and Alexa preparing great dishes in front of us the whole night and to Aaron and Tyler for the fantastic service. My favorites this time were the Cacio E Pepe and Johnny Cakes. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu!

Came here for our anniversary and was welcomed with a little postcard signed by employees and bubbles - a very nice touch! We also sat at the chef's counter, which is something we try to do everywhere we do that offers the option to get a much closer look into the craft. Jose, the chef that worked in front of us all evening was so attentive in answering our questions when possible and even provided recos on cocktail places nearby for afterward. Ambiance was nice, parking around there area is tricky and largely based on luck. Sitting at the counter actually seemed much quieter compared to the rest of the dining areas, so we appreciated that. Was slightly hesitant before making the reservation from reaching other reviews regarding slow service, which we did experience a little bit here and there especially toward the end of the meal, but nothing too frustrating to write about. We ordered a la carte, since the chef's menu was focused on corn, and while we love corn, there were other dishes in the regular menu that caught our eyes. Appetizers: Crudo and Tartare were both good, smaller portions but hey, food is so expensive anywhere nowadays. Bread service was honestly great - can't believe how much we paid for a few slices of bread, butter and honey ($16), BUT they were great! Pastas: Cacio e Pepe was just okay; Rabbit Tajarin was better - if you don't absolutely have to have pasta here, don't. Main: the duck gnocchi was good - duck leg with everything else confit, which really, what can be better?! Dessert: we got the chocolate chips without really understanding what it was, and to our surprise, the execution is definitely there - sweet and salty all in once! Overall, we'd probably give Emmer & Rye another try or two, especially if there's a chef menu focus we're particularly interested in.

It's rate this place as a 3.5, because it's pretty average food and very overpriced for what it is...but it's still worth a try and I'm glad we've checked it off. The ambience is nice, and I love how child friendly and date friendly it is. The tuna crudo was fresh and delicious. I recommend it. The beef tartare was good but not the best since it was a bit chewy. Their version of caccio e' Pepe was definitely yummy, but nothing you can't create yourself at home (just add a ton of butter and cheese and there you go). The wagyu steak was a miss.... It was the worst Wagyu we've ever had and the fact it was $125 just poured salt in the wound. The texture was incredibly tough and chewy. The only good thing about the dish was the white sauce, which kind of made up for it since it was the best I've had. We ended the evening with the lemon sorbet and which was so fresh and delicious! It was refreshing and light, I'd recommend ending your meal with this. Overall the service was great, my only feedback is that it just felt a bit salesy at times when they kept trying to upsell us on the wagyu steak.

Super strange experience all around. We walked in a few nights ago as a group of 15. The hostess (young college student) seemed super annoyed and said she couldn't seat us despite the restaurant being over 75% empty. She said the size of our group would be too much of a burden on them and that they were closing an hour later. I asked if she'd prefer for us to split into three tables of 5- and she said it wouldn't make a difference. We walked over to anthem and had a great experience there instead.

I had such a lovely experience at Emmer & rye! I went on a Wednesday night with my friend and we had a reservation at 5:30 which we were running a little bit late for, but they were very accommodating even though we arrived about 15 minutes late. It's actually very easy place to find. I parked on the other side of the bridge near Congress Ave and I took a Lyft over, but you can easily walk on the trail next to the lake and It only takes about 20 minutes to get there each way. The food was really good! We got the sourdough bread with three different types of butter spreads; it was delicious, and was $15. An extra half loaf of bread is an additional $8. We also got the rigatoni pasta dish which was really good, and got the Cobia which is a white fish similar to grouper that is wrapped in a leaf and steamed some way. The pasta was a decent size; the fish dish was a bit small but VERY tasty esp with the Mayan sauce, and the and it was served with a couple tostadas and peppers to make like a little taco. The drinks were also excellent, I had the water lily and the velvet moon cocktails which were both very refreshing, flavorful, and not too sweet, both were $16. They don't have happy hour prices, it's just a single dinner menu with drinks. The service was great, everyone was helpful and kind, especially our server Brooke, who was sweet and helpful with my many questions, plus very attentive. The whole bill for me and my friend for three drinks plus the bread and the fish and the pasta was about $141. On a separate note, the bathrooms are very clean! Overall, I would absolutely recommend coming to try Emmer & Rye, although given the prices are a little high for me I don't think I'll be back anytime soon necessarily, but I would gladly go back if someone invited me. The vibes are very much immaculate!

The food was delicious but I felt the value was not there. The dishes were small and expensive for their size. We got the crudo, pappardelle, carnitas, and grouper. We were pleased with this selection and got a good mix of what this restaurant has to offer. For two people, we probably could have used one more dish. Everything we got was incredibly tasty and well presented, but for the price I was disappointed in the portions. I felt the cocktails were well made but they I personally didn't love the flavors. I may crave some of this food again, but I think there are restaurants in Austin with similar food for better value.

After many months of waiting, we finally made time to check out Emmer & Rye. This place definitely lived up to the hype. We booked through OpenTable, used their valet (might only be available on the weekend) and sat at the counter that overlooks the kitchen. Every dish was packed with unique flavors & combos that you wouldn't normally see like cantaloupe & heirloom tomatoes or carrot cake with lemon curd, sorbet and salted cream. Really enjoyed the overall experience and vibe. Will definitely be back sooner than later.

Again, amazing service amazing food. The lemon tarte is in the tops for the finest thing I've ever eaten

Shared plate concept is to me, annoying anyway. Having said that, I really don't understand how 4 people share a single serving of pasta. Emmer & Rye's wait service emphasized the shared plates and that's what we did but it makes more sense to me for each of us to order our own entrees and share apps or what was referred to as lighter fare. Carpaccio was tasty if a little oddly plated.

Perfect spot for a quick bite and drink at the bar, a large group dinner with friends, date night, or any occasion. It feels like a neighborhood spot you and stop by to grab a glass of wine but also a place where you want to go to have a nice dinner because the food and service is consistently incredible. I love the crudo, cucumber, Johnny cakes, cabbage (I'm not a cabbage girly but this is actually insane and a MUST order), sourdough bread (love the cart service concept and the bread and butter are divine), rigatoni, cacio e pepe, French ravioli, carrot tamal, and grouper. Definitely want to try the steak and gnocchetti next time. The chef and team know what they're doing and it's been so fun to see what Emmer has evolved into. The breaking bread series this summer has also been incredible and I wish that continued through the year as a monthly series. Highly recommend dining at Emmer if you want a wonderful experience that won't disappoint you. Don't be intimated by the limited parking and construction happening on Rainey St, it's well worth the visit.

Man I really wanted to like this place. Came here last month for dinner after seeing all the glowing reviews and articles on almost every food blog site. I'll start off by saying the staff was wonderful from the host to the waiters. They all were very friendly, checked in often, and took my criticism very well. I was even comped an item off my final bill. The problem here is the food. We ordered about nine items between two people. Portions for the most part were small, drinks were good, but there was much left to be desired here. We ended up boxing almost everything up because it was so mid. - Crudo: strange choice to put corn on here. I get it's for a more unique texture with the corn themed farm to table vibe, but there are many other choices that work better. Also, $22 for four slices of snapper is abysmal. - Tartare: a bit stringy in texture, but it was tasty. Just gotta chop it more finely in the back kitchen. - Johnny Cakes: our waiter described them as little grilled cheeses but I'd say they're more like fluffy corny pancakes. Probably the best of the top third of the menu, but nothing to write home about. - Sourdough: too hydrated and hard to cut. The tallow butter leaned too heavily on the tallow side. Smoked honey was an interesting choice, hot honey would've been a better one. - Cacio e Pepe: it was a very average cacio e pepe. - Strozzapreti: do not order this. Way too much veg in proportion to pasta. Flavorless. - Grouper: best protein of the night on doneness, but that sauce was way too salty. - Berkshire pork: I've never had a drier piece of pork nor have seen it served on so much veg. This was what the waiter ended up comping for us. - Duck breast: cooked both blue and medium for some reason. Average tasting, boring sauce. For about $300 before tip, this was not a good dinner as far as the food was concerned. The staff was what brought this up to a 2/5

A year later, Emmer & Rye is still hands down a top 3 favorite restaurant of ours in all of Austin. The food is always on point, but it's the service that really makes the experience. We were sent a few dishes to try that we wouldn't normally order which made it that much more enjoyable for us. I can't say enough good things about this spot, I could go on and on, but I want you to just go and see for yourself. I am still reminiscing months later about the cocktails they surprised us with. Will come back just for these and the cacio e pepe, always the people's favorite! Big shoutout to Zenil for all of his hospitality. He is the reason we will always come back!

Ugh this review could go as low as a two and as highly as a five. I was really surprised and disappointed by how amateurish the service was. Friendly busboy brought us water and menus. We then waited 15 minutes before a server came to the table. She took our drink order (finally) and came back a few minutes later asking to take our dinner order. WITHOUT bringing our drinks. They really push the notion of sharing but it's pretty hard to share a bowl of spaghetti. No utensils are brought to aid in "sharing." You have to be ok using your dirty fork to serve your guests. We finished wet spicy course of cucumber salad and then they brought out a bowl of pasta to share but no fresh plates or utensils. Cacio Pepe pasta doesn't taste great when spooned into a plate that's been used for a spicy wet salad. I mean CMON that's obvious. This kind of stuff is so JV and frustrating at a place that bills itself as fine dining. Tons of staff walking by but most didn't appear to be doing much. Our table could have used bussing. We would have ordered another round of drinks but server was MIA. All that said, food was delicious, beautiful, fresh and inventive generally. My pasta was lukewarm but the flavor was quite nice. We loved the food. I hope the amateurish service was an exception, as we really enjoyed the food.

Cute small restaurant, friendly service but incredibly slow. Food was decent but absurdly overpriced (even for this area)--they literally charged $23 for 3 pieces of bread with some butter, a little cheese wedge and scoop of cherry jam (which came out nearly at the end of the meal? Maybe it's just me but it's kinda strange to get bread after pasta). They also describe the menu as "all meant for sharing" but a lot of the food itself is not really portioned or what you would expect for typical "shared plates"-- seems like they just use this as a crutch for why the plates all come out at different times vs together.

Another fabulous dinner in Austin. We were seated the Chef's Table at Emmer & Rye in the Rainey Street neighborhood. We got to see the chefs in action and chat with a few. I would call the menu Modern American farmhouse food. "Emmer wheat" is an heirloom grain that is milled fresh for house made pastas, breads, and desserts, and whole animal butchery is done on site. The care and creativity with each dish shows! We wanted to try everything from the small, but mighty menu. We shared two starters and two entrees, but the chef sent out a few extras. The sommelier made perfect wine pairings and the service was top-notch. Can't wait to go back to this place!

I had a really subpar experience recently with the service and the food. I sent multiple emails about the issues and never received a response. I have dined with them multiple times and can no longer recommend Emmer & Rye.

Wow what a nice place! Good: - Super aesthetic and modern interior - felt like it was special the moment we walked in - super energetic staff, they all convinced us to try the Gulf of Mexico set course - each dish was different, my favorites were the cabbage, the mushroom risotto, the ceviche and the oysters. Every dish was unique and so so tasty. Bad - A little expensive for the portions we got, but overall I didn't regret getting the Gulf of Mexico! Overall loved this place as a romantic date location for me and my boyfriend!

Ambiance is great. Drinks were really good. Service was great. This was the worst the meal we've had, but that's because we've had such amazing food. The carpaccio was soooo good. That was the best thing we ate there. The bread was ok. The ravioli was also just ok. Then had the carnitas and again that was just ok. It was overall kind of overwhelming. It's sad because it's really highly recommended.

No way. Across the board. No way. I've been contemplating for over 2 years if its even worth writing a review. Still on the fence but here we are. This establishment is so bad it takes de-evolution of human existence to spend money on such tasteless fruit. You're paying to have a joke played on you. Trashcan blues. All the while the staff articulates and insists how good the food your eating is. As if you wouldn't understand why it's so amazing. But it's not. To be clear it's not. It's Gross. Please save your time and money. Cook at home, get a new hobby. Promote yourself on tinder. Spend your money on something you can enjoy With lasting core memories. Anything. But no sense in belittling your senses with such sad food.

Anniversary dinner. Thanks, for the warm welcome and complimentary bubbles. Attractive place with attractive people. No parking. Uber/Lyft/walk. Indoor/outdoor spaces. Love the farm to market concept. Go with the chef's menu. You'll get a better variety. Sommelier on site is great. Monthly themes. Check the menu weekly. Duck and rabbit...Bring it Elmer. You can't catch Bugs. Food was great. Service was great, although maybe a little too attentive. It's loud (or we're old). It's pricey (but worth it).