Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Austin

OpenTable

Updated 05 November 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Austin? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

APT 115

4.9

4.9 (60)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

East Austin

About the restaurant

APT 115 is a Michelin Recommended, restaurant, wine bar, and wine shop. Offering a seasonal tasting menu and a la carte dinner menu created and executed by Chef Joshua van den Berg. Our classic wine list is comprised of mostly small production and low intervention wine, with thoughtful selections from around the world. We only play vinyl records, and look forward to your visit.

Top review

Stephen

Dined on 31 Oct 2026

We had the tasting menu with daily wine pairing. Every taste was outstanding. It is hard to say which was my favorite. The pacing of service was very good. We had about 2.5 hours at our table which felt nice and laid back. The service was friendly and very attentive. Will definitely return to try their a la carte and bar menus as well.

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4.9

4.9 (751)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Kimberly is a culinary oasis in the heart of Austin, led by renowned chef John Carver. This restaurant offers an unforgettable dining experience where every dish is a masterpiece. The menu features a symphony of flavors, highlighting the finest seasonal ingredients from local purveyors. Enjoy wood-fired grilled steaks that showcase the chef's mastery, fresh seafood prepared to tantalize your taste buds, and vibrant vegetarian options bursting with flavor. The ambiance complements the cuisine, with modern décor creating a sophisticated yet inviting atmosphere ideal for romantic dinners or celebratory gatherings. As you dine, the gentle hum of conversation and soft lighting enhance your experience. The Kimberly is not just a restaurant; it's a destination for those who appreciate the finer things in life. Come and experience the magic of culinary artistry and create lasting memories.

Top review

AngelaGold

Dined 4 days ago

Thank you for making Russell’s anniversary dinner fabulous!

Foreign & Domestic - Austin

4.8

4.8 (2239)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Central Austin

About the restaurant

We are a bustling neighborhood restaurant in the heart of north loop. We are one of Austins oldest farm to table concepts. Our menu is foreign in style, while domestically sourced. Our menus change with the season, farm availability, & on chefs whim. Join us for our nose to tail tasting menu nightly if you appreciate whole animal usage. Our wine program is aimed toward biodynamic natural small production wines. If you'd like to have pre or post dinner cocktails, our awesome neighbors include the tigress bar & drink.well.
Please note that we have a 15 minute grace period on reservation arrival times. Should you find yourself running late, please give us a call or the table may be released to a waiting guest.
Tables of 1-2 guests will be reserved for 1.5 hours, tables of 3-4 will be reserved for 1 hour and 45 minutes, tables of 6+ will be reserved for 2 hours. These times reflect standard dining times of our guests. Should you feel that you need additional time, please notate this.

Top review

bethany

Dined 4 days ago

Tuesday night $1 oysters and 1/2 price wine is the best!!!

Parkside

4.8

4.8 (1604)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Shawn Cirkiel’s flagship restaurant, Parkside, opened on Austin’s historic 6th Street in 2008 and first introduced the “farm-to-table” concept long before it became commonplace in town. The restaurant quickly became a significant influence in Austin’s growing culinary landscape as the city’s first gastropub and set the standard for local, sustainable dining. Parkside’s seasonally changing menu offers classic American fare, elevated with the highest quality, locally sourced, and sustainably grown products. Parkside is also known for its extensive raw bar and superior selection of oysters from all over the East Coast. Now a dining destination for locals and tourists alike, and recently fully renovated, Parkside’s ingredient-driven menu, convivial setting, and consistent service have made the restaurant a 6th Street landmark.

Top review

Jerry

Dined on 2 Oct 2026

Great vibe and food. I would visit again. Good location, too.

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Experience

Happy Hour

Experience

Oyster & Bubble Wednesdays

The Kitchen American Bistro - Austin

4.7

4.7 (264)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Kitchen Austin is a modern American restaurant located on West 6th Street at San Antonio in downtown Austin. Led by Chef Michael Bertozzi, our menu is built around share plates rather than traditional individual entrées. Guests are encouraged to order several dishes for the table and enjoy them together as they are ready, creating a relaxed and social dining experience.

The menu highlights seasonal ingredients, bold flavors, and elevated yet approachable food, with thoughtful options for guests who are gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, or looking for something lighter. Join us for weekday lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, daily happy hour, cocktails, or a night out in downtown Austin.

With a lively bar, beautiful dining room, warm service, and private dining spaces, The Kitchen Austin is a welcoming place for everything from a casual meal to a group dinner.

Top review

YanniGold

Dined on 17 Oct 2026

Savannah is the bomb!

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4.9

4.9 (2319)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

How many of the great moments of your life were experienced at a table over a meal with friends and family? Dinner at wink is like coming to big dinner party where great food, quality ingredients, and Austin hospitality set the stage for yet another memorable experience at table. Wink happily embraces omnivores, vegetarians, vegans, pescetarians, and special dietary issues based on what we have in our larder! "The way we eat represents our most profound engagement with the natural world." - Michael Pollan

Top review

Dan

Dined on 27 Oct 2026

Best food in Austin. Service is unbeatable. Special occasion place. Will not let you down.

Honey Moon Spirit Lounge

4.8

4.8 (522)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Central Austin

About the restaurant

Join us for LUNCH—walk-ins only, no reservations needed. Brunch and Dinner reservations are available online but walk-ins are welcome.
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Honey Moon Spirit Lounge is a vintage-chic restaurant/speakeasy with a well curated menu of elevated comfort food and modern American share plates. The menu includes a craft cocktail list emphasizing fresh juices and classic ingredients, and an extensive and diverse wine list featuring varietals from around the world with a selection of beers and ciders, and a tap of local craft brews.

Top review

JeffGold

Dined 1 day ago

My first time there. GREAT SPOT! Food and drinks delicious. Music and design flawless. Staff friendly. Will definitely be frequenting!

Hestia

4.7

4.7 (2651)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Hestia is downtown Austin's Michelin-starred live fire restaurant. A custom 20-foot hearth anchors the dining room and nearly every dish is shaped by flame. Choose from a 12-course tasting menu or à la carte. The wine program features 400 bottles with iconic producers and has been awarded the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2023. Our sommeliers are on the floor every night to guide you.

We accept reservations 60 days in advance. For parties over 6, please email us at info@hestiaaustin.com. Private dining and full buyouts available for groups.

Top review

heatherGold

Dined on 30 Oct 2026

Been dying to check out Hestia & finally got a reservation far enough in advance to make it happen for our wedding anniversary. It did not disappoint. While there was a bit of a snafu with the Valet, the rest of the eve was a delcious delight. We loved the martini w/cavier & olives. The oysters, corn bites & peppers were perfect starters. But the Halibut & Dry Aged steak were the stars of the show. Incredible. Food is flawless and the service stellar. Wonderful dining experience!

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4.7

4.7 (160)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

West Austin / Westlake

About the restaurant

The Well brings clean, craveable eating to Westlake. Our menu is completely free of seed oils and refined sugars - made for people who want food that tastes great and actually supports how they feel. Whether you're grabbing a post-workout bowl, meeting a friend for coffee, or feeding the family something worth eating, The Well is here for all of it. Real ingredients, real flavor, no compromises.

Top review

MoninaGold

Dined 5 days ago

Very accommodating for my team lunch meeting for 7 people. We were the last bunch out. Service was great the food was very good. There was only one missing item in the chicken Caesar rolls but the server brought it and took the extra cost off the ticket. They took care of us. Thanks

Emmer & Rye

4.7

4.7 (4187)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Named one of Austin's best farm-to-table restaurants, Emmer & Rye holds both a Michelin Green Star (for sustainability) and Bib Gourmand. The menu changes constantly and is driven by small Texas farms, ranchers, and foragers. Heirloom grains are milled fresh for house made pastas, breads, and desserts, whole animal butchery is done on site, and an extensive in house fermentation program captures flavors at their peak and preserves them for the off season.

We accept reservations 60 days in advance. For parties over 6, please email us at info@emmerandrye.com. Private dining and full buyouts available for groups.

Top review

JonathanGold

Dined 2 days ago

Amazing - phenomenal experience. Can’t wait to come back.

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