Diner Bar - Seafood Bistro & Lounge
Permanently Closed
Southern dishes, raw oysters, craft cocktails, and unique twists
Southern dishes, raw oysters, craft cocktails, and unique twists
"The downtown spot from famed chef Mashama Bailey is a hotel restaurant done right, from the bar full of raw oysters and vodka drinks to the comfortable dining room full of thoughtfully crafted dishes for the mornings through evenings, ranging from the Low Country breakfast to burgers to peach salads to foie and grits. There are indoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury
"Southern restaurant Diner Bar, co-founded by chef Mashama Bailey and Johno Morsiano, is closing on July 14, 2023. The restaurant is known for its Southern and East Coast port city-style cuisines." - Nadia Chaudhury
"This downtown hotel restaurant within the Thompson is helmed by renowned James Beard Award-winning Savannah chef Mashama Bailey (her first and only in Texas). The breakfast/lunch/dinner menus are Southern by way of Bailey’s region with Texas touches, which means items like fried ugali with salsa macha, curried chicken, and, for dessert, a decadent benne bar. The oyster raw bar is exceptional, and it makes a mean martini. There are indoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury, Erin Russell
"The Thompson Austin in downtown serves as the Texas home base for acclaimed Savannah-based James Beard Award winner Mashama Bailey as the location of her first restaurants in the state and city. The expansion of the existing Diner Bar into Austin is an upscale casual all-day restaurant that focuses on New American dishes with global influences and a heavy dose of Southern flair. Think bucatini with pork belly; dirty rice with braised rabbit and chicken livers; and crisp fritters made with corn-based Kenyan porridge ugali, which are paired with zesty, nutty salsa macha. The lively beverage menu (with a mix of classic and original cocktails and a locally-focused beer list) pairs perfectly with the food, as does the space’s abundant natural light and relaxed, unpretentious energy. There are indoor dine-in services." - Taylor Tobin
"As upbeat staff revolve around tables, don’t be surprised if passersby are peeking through windows for a sighting of James Beard Award-winning chef Mashama Bailey. The Savannah transplant's initial step into Austin is a dance of Texan, African, and Mexican—with an overarching sprinkle of Southern—across a menu that’s as optimistic as the clientele. The crisp-crunch fish over grits that couldn’t be more smooth or creamy are a must-order, as are the fresh-catch raw oysters that won’t let you down. The Chicken Country Captain intertwines curry, almond, and currants; the Fried Ugali and Rabbit Dirty Rice with chicken livers are delectable twists on what’s traditionally expected. For a finale, let Bailey’s take on Orange Dream Tea Cake, with Earl Grey diplomat cream mingling amongst warm candied ginger, be your choice at meal's end." - Mandy Ellis
