Lonesome Dove Western Bistro Reviews

I was here with my wife an adult daughter for Thanksgiving and what an enjoyable wonderful time. First of all the seating allows for your table conversation to be somewhat private by not being right on top of other patrons table , that is something that I personally don't really appreciate in a restaurant for the most part, now the service was great our waiter was very knowledgeable on the menu and the menu was a little different by it being Thanksgiving. The food , I was adventurous and had a starter of rabbit and rattle snake meatballs ! it was fantastic , very tasty ! I went on from there to order Elk Loin that was prepared to the max ! it was very good, my wife had the traditonal turkey , my daughter had sword fish and we shared burnt carrotts that were delicious. All in all we had a really enjoyable evening will definitely go back for me when ever I'm in Austin.

I hosted a group a in the wine room after considering many dining options in Austin and I was not disappointed nor were my guests. They are all foodies, many from northern CA and Tim Love Impressed and gave us a night of dining to remember for a long time. The staff was easy to work with to put a menu together and the sommelier paired the wines for us as we enjoyed a fabulous 5 course meal. Afterward we stepped out into the bar are the front of the restaurant and enjoyed live music, which was yet another delightful surprise

We stopped in the day before my wife's birthday for a drink and check out the menu. Menu looked great so we talked to the bartender about reservations. She said where would we like to sit. We like to sit at the bar so she literally said where at the bar. We pointed out a couple of seat and gave her the time. Next night we arrive and tell the host we had reservations at the bar, they knew exactly who we where and took us directly to the bar where two settings had been placed and there was picture frame with a note in it. "Reserved, Happy Birthday Linda ..." We had a great meal with a complementary dessert. Thank you Kayla and Lonesome Dove restaurant.

The restaurant scene in Austin has gotten more and more competitive. Its important that you stand out and Lonesome Dove definitely has a vibe and menu that is unique. Ive been here several time and am always pleasantly surprised with their offerings. Service is on par with other high end restaurants. I love the decor and coziness of the restaurant only wish it was slightly bigger. Fun place you should definitely try if you havent been

Our family of five adults had a reservation at 7:30 and were seated immediately. Jeramiah was our server and he was outstanding. He spent time explaining and recommending the perfect meal for us. He has a great sense of humor, remembered everything perfectly and had excellent timing! We started with the Wild Game Fettine....WOW! Just incredible! Then we shared the Hamachi Tacos and the Wild Boar Ribs....we were in awe! Salads included the roasted beets and the Brussel sprouts...fresh and unique and delicious! For our entrees, we all focused on the filet and the Elk Loin!! The filet was one of the best I have ever enjoyed!! The Elk was tender and so flavorfull!! The burnt carrots were really special too! Believe it or not...we shared cheesecake and churros for dessert....Perfect ending to a really extraordinary meal!!

I will definitely go back to this place. You can fix and match the appetizers and get to try several types of game if you ask the servers! The Antelope was great. The wild boar was great. The Elk was great. The rattle snake-rabbit sausage was good, but I'd get the others over it in the future since they were all 5 stars and the sausage was more like 4.

Although I’m not a big meat-eater myself, I appreciate the selection here for those who are, and I did enjoy the wild boar ribs that came with the tasty lobster hush puppies. My Idaho Rainbow trout was especially good.

Definitely one if the top meals of my life! And the decor and ambiance was perfect! We started with the wild game fettine black buck pork belly blueberries and black garlic had no idea what to expect and were delighted with our choice. Next we had the wood fired blue point oysters, delicious! And our main course was the beef tenderloin, melt in your mouth goodness! We didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar and chatted with the delightful bartender and manager. It was a perfect evening!

At first we we’re greeted by a crisp, clean, and creatively different atmosphere...then our pleasant waitress added to the ambiance. She suggested the jalapeño cucumber margarita to start us off which was surprisingly delicious (combo sounded odd but it really works)and was the start to a great meal. We definitely got a taste of western culture with, rattle snake, elk, and wild boar offerings. Trust me not something I would normally try but I really enjoyed it. Beef tenderloin was the end to a great culinary experience. Kudos to the chef and staff...great experience from start to end. From a couple of 🇨🇦 neighbours.

Eight of us went for a graduation celebration and it was delightful. The ambiance was decidedly masculine (in a good way), our server was quite helpful and our food was very good. Only minor disappointment was the very limited lunch menu - 4 or 5 items. All eight of us either got the prime rib or the trout and everyone was pleased with their choices. Would definitely like to try dinner there next visit to Austin.

The menu is unusual (in a really great way), drinks are great, love the vibe in the place, and the service was amazing. Our server was Christopher and he went over the menu well and helped with suggestions which were spot on! Make reservations!

Came here while visiting my family in Austin and really enjoyed our service and food. We got a bunch of apps and drinks to share. My favorite was the rib bite but everything we had was really good. It was very nice on the inside and we had excellent service.

Everything was 5 star for our anniversary dinner. Great drinks, service and ambiance. We tried boar, rabbit, elk and other game. Our sever was attentive and knowledgeable Save room for dessert- the chocolate cake is award-winning!

Five of us had dinner on a Friday evening. The meal was as about as close to perfect as I can imagine. A few of the excellent aspects: efficient valet parking, seated immediately, original cocktails, original starters , excellent/original first course (fideo with baby octopus), excellent main course (elk loin with hen of the woods mushrooms), and an excellent wait staff led by our man Jeremiah. It is nice to go to a restaurant with a big name chef and find that he has really thought about every course and trained his staff to execute them so well. Expensive but worth it.

Excellent food and service. We've been several times now. Celebrating a birthday with a group of family, to a nice evening with another couple, to just having a night out to ourselves. Perfect for any occasion. We've been at a regular table, a booth table and at the bar to dine. All wonderful. The stuffed tenderloin is a must!

Great atmosphere, great cocktail menu and great food. Their charcuterie plate is excellent to share as an appetizer. Service was excellent as well.

Intrigued by the menu found in the hotel guide, our party of 3 decided Lonesome Dove was where we wanted to dine during our evening in Austin. Upon arrival, we were not disappointed. Lonesome Dove has an incredible ambiance and service to match. Being a native Texan and a hunter, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of LD and marveled at the beautiful trophies adorning the walls. We dove headfirst into the menu and ordered a number of appetizers. I was really looking forward to the different sausages, but when they arrived, the portions were razor thin. So minuscule it was hard to differentiate the flavors. Very disappointing. If all 12 portions were stacked, they would've measured less than 1/3 of an inch wide. The South Texas Antelope Nachos were a similar experience, as there were just 3 small blue corn chips and a razor thin slice of antelope meat. On the positive side, the blue crab was delicious, as were the boar ribs. At $5/per, the lobster hush puppies were disappointing. There couldn't have been more than a tablespoon of lobster amongst the 3 puppies. As far as the entrees go, the pork belly was the star of the show. Absolutely melted in the mouth. The lamb saddle was a close second and cooked to perfection. The Wagyu skirt steak was also cooked perfectly, but the sweet potatoes were the best part of the plate. Finishing the dining experience to perfection was the ancho chocolate cake. Absolutely delicious and could be considered an aphrodisiac! Be careful when ordering cocktails, as there are no prices on the drink menu. At $15-20/per, they add up quickly and make for a bit of sticker shock when the bill arrives. If we ever return, we'll have drinks elsewhere, skip courses 1-3 and go straight to the entree and dessert. While the entrees, service, and ambiance were fantastic, I know the cost of wild game. Having also spent many years in the bar industry, I cannot find reason to justify paying a $400 price tag for the portions received for our party of 3 a second time. However, if money is no object to you, enjoy!!!

This is a really nice restaurant located about a block off the 6th St entertainment district. They have a lot of game options, most of which are not for me, but we did try a few and they were delicious. We started with the Butter Lettuce Salads. The bread basket for the table deserves a place of its own. For dinner, I had the Swordfish, which was just recently added to the menu and the wife had the beef tenderloin. Service over the top attentive and a very extensive wine list. Not to be missed.

What a memorable meal! The menu is so interesting, with all sorts of unique proteins (rabbit-rattlesnake sausage for example) in creative preparations to taste. The service is excellent—our server really listened to our questions and gave great recommendations based on dietary restrictions. I wouldn’t suggest coming here if you are a strict vegetarian, as there are few non-meat options. However, if you are open to trying new things, this place is a gem!

I've been looking forward to eating at one of Tim Love's restaurants for forever now. It did not disappoint! I got all the flavors I expected and some new ones! Every dish was balanced and flavorful without being too heavy though I did leave full. The tapas remind me of Baco's but with a cowboy flair and the pig ears were amazing (really!). Margarita with jalapenos the perfect cocktail for this restaurant. I ordered the house speciality steak and loved it. My boyfriend had elk with mushrooms and both were so good. We had two waiters (Jeremy and another one I can't remember) were making jokes the entire time and were so much fun. Its a great place for special occasions and out of towners. Thanks to my boyfriend for surprising me!

Food amazing, service amazing. Whiskey served in a smoking jar of cherry wood amazing. Rabbit, rattlesnake and elk steak fantastic. Such a lovely restaurant Austin is lucky to have somewhere as great as this. Tyson - our waiter - was brilliant and really knows his stuff. Worth every penny

We had an impromptu dinner at Lonesome Dove and Super impressed with all aspects of the restaurant. I must call out the food which was absolutely superb. The menu is original without being ridiculous but the quality and flavour do the food was outstanding. Service and decor also of exceptional standard. Will return as soon as possible.

First of all, all of the food that was actually available from the Friday lunch menu was excellent. The 6 ounce tenderloin was perfectly cooked. The rabbit and rattlesnake sausage was spicy and flavorful. The double cheeseburger was, no offense to Texas even though it came with a lone star flag, more Alaska sized, actually. The oysters came grilled, succulent and garlicky. The fideos with baby octopus and the raw hamachi tostadas were each in their own way a showcase for the seafood. Even the humble egg salad was rich with added potatoes and peppers and garnished with grilled bread. The service was professional and prompt and minor errors like forgetting to deliver a dish were corrected quickly. So, what’s not to like? Well... The online menu on the website promised but fails to deliver a number of choices and the restaurant had run out of others very early despite a light dining crowd. Our first three choices, including the advertised wild boar ribs and the prime rib were unavailable by 12:30. The wild boar was actually not even prepped. The advertised salmon from the online menu was not on the actual day’s menu. The trout that was a potential alternate was disclosed to be frozen. The goat cheese cake was nonexistent as a dessert option, another disappointment. This excellent restaurant needs to be far more attentive to their online presence as there is a jarring disconnect between the professionalism of the execution of what is actually available and the snake-oil salesmanship of the website. We were able to overcome a disappointment that we should never have had to experience. This is truly outstanding food, just not what we came in for.

An interesting and delicious menu. Great service to go with it and fun wine list. Something for everyone but if you like game, this is heaven. Quail , antelope, elk, rattlesnake and all tasty. wine list that fits the food. Real class act here.

We met friends for a nice dinner - the food was fabulous. We ordered rabbit ravioli, elk tenderloins and trout - there was not one complaint - the presentation was beautiful and the flavors were perfect. I will definitely be back.

We visited with a large group for a work event. Food, service and atmosphere were fantastic. Most of the menu is meat-based, but server was very knowledgeable and provided me with options that the chef could prepare vegan. It was delicious. I would definitely recommend.

The best meal I had in Austin. The service was very good. The Elk-foie gras Sliders were good. One of my table mates said they were better than the stuffed poblano pepper entree. I had a butter lettuce salad that was better than average and the signature stuffed garlic tenderloin and that was to die for. Finished off with their by the glass Syrah, the meal was very enjoyable. My tab with tax and tip came to $100. This eatery is highly recommended.

Though we liked the venue, the service was really bad. Our server was more into small talk than actually providing food service…she kept forgetting to bring things and failed to keep us updated on the (lengthy) wait for items. It’s also very overpriced for a restaurant in Texas …It’s hardly Michelin starred!

I really, really wanted to love lonesome dove. I thought the menu design was fantastic and many of the dishes were really creative. Unfortunately I have a number of issues with the restaurant and really can't recommend it, especially given the price. We had relatively slow service. It was a Friday and them being busy is very expected, but refills on our drinks were very slow and we had a few issues that took a long time to correct. My wife had a salt bomb of a tenderloin steak, which is rare for us to complain about because we have aggressive salt palates, and after they remade the steak it took them almost five minutes to bring silverware after bringing the new steak. Drinks were slow to be refilled and it was difficult to even flag our waiter down. The biggest issue for me personally was the Chili. I love traditional texas chili, I make it myself and it's one of my favorite foods. I liked the different take on chili with larger pieces of steak and trying to be creative, but wow this was some really terrible chili. It was served lukewarm, which was a really bad start, and covered in guacamole and sour cream. I'm find trying to be creative but that was a lot of creamy/cold ingredients - so hopefully the chili would have some nice spice to it right? Wrong - barely any seasoning in the red sauce at all. No heat, limited spice, it tasted like a New York City take on chili. The mixology was fine, some of the dishes we had were spectacular (my Ribeye with the gnocchi was fantastic), but I expect a lot more from a place that charges this much.

Great selections of wild game and good drink menu. We ate a variety of appetizers instead of entrees due to their interesting nature. We were not disappointed.

This was our first visit to LD but not the last. We ordered the Wild Game Fettine with Duck & Rabbit-Rattlesnake Sausage, Blue-Corn Lobster Hushpuppies, Texas Red, Swordfish, Elk Loin, and French Fries with Porcini Salt. The fettine was delicious with a nice-sized portion. The hushpuppies were outstanding! The chili was very tasty but a small portion. The swordfish (7 oz.) was moist, flaky, and delicious. The rice served with the swordfish was cooked to perfection. Some of the best rice I've ever had. The elk loin (4 oz.) was cooked medium, tender, juicy, and delicious. The candied grapes were amazing! For dessert, we had the Cinnamon Churros which were the perfect size with just the right amount of sugar. The Dulce de Leche dipping sauce was fantastic! The raspberry dipping sauce was delicious. They were out of the chocolate dipping sauce but our server provided us complimentary brownie bites which were very good. The service was outstanding. The prices are comparable for this type restaurant. Reservations are highly recommended. This is definitely the place to go for a unique meal, special occasion or just for fun.

Do not skip the meats and the Hamachi tostada. I’m serious about this. We started with the pressed meats and they were spot on delicious. The filet was also tasty but I would skip the fish. Service was top notch; just a little over priced to be nestled in a city with so many great options.

Enjoyed a lovely meal here on a Saturday night. Texas was playing USC in town so the city was wild with college football fans. Pretty calm with lots of open seating at 7:30. The house special is a beef tenderloin that is stuffed with garlic. It was cooked very rare and melted in your mouth. The Elk was superb - garnished with candied grapes and flash fried spinach. Dessert was the chocolate cake which was pretty much flourless and extremely intensely chocolate - true to its name. Wine list was enormous and the prices were very high - with the average bottle priced five times higher than the market prices. While most places are 3-4 times the bottle price - I was surprised to be hit this hard in Texas.

Had crab and Texas red chili.. both had a kick and presentation/service excellent. Real heavy forged steak knifes, hide covered booths, smoking drinks....my husband had a great steak and asparagus ...wonderful. Loved everything about it -service , atmosphere, and of course food -will be back often.

I recommend it for special occasions as it was super expensive and I am used to nyc prices. I also felt our waiter was aggressive with trying to up sell us. However the drinks were great. The chili was amazing and so was the sweet potato succotash and the boar ribs. Again would recommend it.

This place is awesome. Our waiter Hunter was top notch and all the food was delicious. The wagyu skirt steak melted like butter and blew our minds. Highly recommend!

Picked Lonesome Dove on a visit to Austin based on great reviews and an unusual menu and picked a definite winner. We shared the Fettine trio to begin. Unusual meats all tasty. Elk foie gras sliders and lobster corn hush puppies were outstanding and the beef tenderloin perfectly prepared and delicious. We finished with hot churros with three dipping sauces - the best possible ending to my favorite meal of our trip. Service was excellent from start to finish. I highly recommend Lonesome Dove for anyone visiting Austin!

This is by far one of our favorite restaurants. We could not have asked for anything better from the cocktails all the way through the desert. We will be back! My recommendation is to try it ALL!

This is probably in my top 3 Austin dining experiences... A beautiful restaurant with an extensive wine list (they also made a ton of effort with non-alcoholic drinks). Our waiter was enthusiastic and made brilliant suggestions. I think the rabbit ravioli and wagyu were the favorites around the table. Can't wait to go back to try the bison!!!

Great atomospher with interesting menu that gets you to step outside of your comfort zone. The fettine is delicious and the blue corn lobster hushpuppie with smoked tomato butter are decadent! Finally, treat yourself to the roasted garlic stuffed beef tenerloin that melts in your mouth! The Willie is the best smokey old fashioned anywhere around.

We were invited to a business dinner last Thursday at Lonesome Dove. There are 2 parking garages across the street with easy access to the Colorado Street bistro entrance. We were not certain what to expect of the food and decor as hype often clouds reality. What is hyped locally as a meat place is in fact a well refined menu with lots of greens along with the turf and surf in creative dishes. This is not a cowboys beef and beans joint but instead a comfortable space not overly decorated, with great service and food, where you can actually have conversations and only hear those in your own party - which is harder to find every day in Austin! Service was on point and the food was as described in the menu. We shared several starters to include the hamachi tostadas, R&R sausage and the sliders. Then we had the grilled corn & kale salads. Our entrees were the rainbow trout and elk loin with crispy collards. Wines and a full bar gave us options and among us there were both cocktails and wines enjoyed. For our purpose - a little business and a lot of good dinner conversation, Lonesome Dove was an excellent fit.

I was meeting colleagues for dinner at this restaurant, and I was the first to arrive. It was not my reservation, so I waited at the bar for the rest of the party. I let the hostess know they were going to be a little late and a smaller group. Immediately, the GM appears behind my chair and demands to know exactly how many people will be in our party because they want to be able to turn over another table that night. I told him I didn't know as it wasn't my reservation, but I would try to find out. I heard back from a colleague and informed the hostess. Honestly, I felt so uncomfortable being put on the spot for a reservation that was not mine. I understand the need to know, but there was absolutely no tact or politeness in the approach - he said it best, he wanted to give his server another table that night. I decided to leave and not attend the dinner, only to be chased out onto the street by the manager who yelled after me about how I should have told him I was leaving. I was never the person named on the reservation, and I had no idea if the rest of the party intended to show up for their reservation. (The restaurant had multiple empty tables and open bar seats, so I'm not sure why it was necessary to chase after me outside and yell down the block at me.) I have never been made to feel so uncomfortable at a restaurant. Totally unprofessional, and I will never go back.

We went last night on the recommendation of the hotel concierge and loved it. The place was lovely, full of atmosphere, the food was GREAT and our server (Jenson) was exceptional. The GM (Christofer) also spent time to check on us and that we were having a good experience. Always a good sign We have the a salad, blue crab and BBQ wild boar as appetisers. Then the Elk Loin and Idaho Rainbow Trout. All really good. Would absolutely go again!!!

Great service and ambience. We had rattlesnake and rabbit sausage along with wild boar ribs to start. Very tasty. Main course was a delicious elk and a 14 ounce buffalo steak. So nice! A must visit!

We had dinner here last night with our daughter and it was fantastic. We loved everything from our bartender to our waiter and the food was incredible. We started with the elk and foie gras sliders. Had the anchovy vinaigrette salad and the faro salmon salad. For mains we had the skirt steak and the swordfish and the crispy brussel sprouts. You have to taste the fresh baked breads. Seriously one of the best meals ever. Great atmosphere. Friendly service. Top notch drinks with a smile. I would highly recommend eating here. Great way to be introduced to Austin.

I sat at the bar for dinner and drinks. Great happy hour food. Really good service. Place was busy by 6pm. Even the simple mixed drink was tasty and the bar food was excellent. Particularly the albondingas. I had to google it too.

Lonesome Dove is our "Go To" restaurant for a great evening. We've been many times and always have a super dinning experience. I suggest you arrive a bit early and sit at the bar for a pre-dining drink. You get a lot of history of the Lonesome Dove story and the bartenders are always a helpful source if it's your first time there. The menu selections are top notch and there is a nice eclectic choice. In addition to wonderful food, the service is also top notch. The timing of the arrival of each course is perfect to give you time between each to relax and enjoy you experience. Overall, when we think of a great evening Lonesome Dove is our first on the list.

Valentines Dinner prefix menu was delicious. A variety of food, favoriate may have been the pheasant ravioli. Beef tenderloin you could cut with a fork, so tender. Enjoyed a meal at the bar, the team was pleasant and efficient.

Excellent! We had a fabulous meal. Their elk tenderloin was the finest cut of meat I have had. The banana cream pie was my wife's all time favorite dessert. Great service. Loved it!

Disheartened by the racism experienced here. As the only dining party that wasn't Caucasian, we noticed that all other tables received complimentary bread except our own. While it could have been an oversight if I was seated in a corner of the restaurant, it was clear as both tables to the left and right were served bread. Other tables throughout also had bread. We didn't mention it since it's just free bread, but the disregard speaks volumes. The valet was listed to be $10 but we were charged $15. I learned of the $10 price after and regret tipping an extra $5 to the dishonest valet. Racism in 2022 at what I thought was a higher end establishment was shocking.

Let me preface by saying this is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Daniel, our server, could not have been more charming and attentive, and was especially cognizant and expressive over the fact that it was my wife's birthday. As always, the food was delicious, and the cocktails were outstanding. As a taster, our table split a bowl of chili which Daniel arranged to be divided into 4 little bowls. Nice touch on the chili which, BTW, has no equal. Garlic stuffed beef was once again delicious. The only thing disappointing was the quantity of food provided. Perhaps I was hungrier than usual, but all of the portions, from appetizer to main course, seemed minimal. For the price, which is well short of charity, the portions seemed small. Dined at a competitor down the street the previous night and had no such complaint. What we ate was excellent, and the service was impeccable, but in this competitive environment that is the Austin dining scene, a little more for the money might be worth considering.

This place is spectacular!! Staff was amazing and friendly. Food was to die for and my favorite was the burnt carrots! It may not sound appealing but trust me, it was delish. I will definitely be returning. The drink “Willie” is also worth a try if you like whiskey.

We have eaten insects and snakes in SE Asia. But this was our first full meal of unusual items. Had the wild game fettine, rabbit ravioli, carrots and French fries. All well done. Staff was gracious and ambience is pleasant. Wine selection is extensive. Overall a fun evening.

We were really looking forward to having the duck,rattle snake and rabbit sausage. We ordered it and to my surprise you don’t get a link of sausage. Instead you get pieces that are so sheer that you can see through it. Not worth the money. The steaks were okay. The service was good. The stuffed tenderloin is not really stuffed either.

My friends and I really enjoyed the food, ambience and service in our recent lunch experience. Our server, Naomi ,was attentive, helpful and efficient. Unfortunately she also had to keep delivering bad news regarding unavailable menu items like the prime rib special and fresh bread. It seems like management needs to plan better regarding these two poaular items at least. Either that, or just don't open for lunch.

Two appetizers, one side, two entrees, and two deserts - only one item was positive. The wild boar rib appetizer was completely burnt - could have been eating leather in sauce for all I knew. The crab was not good at all. The tenderloin was under-cooked (they recommended medium rare - got less than rare) and was extremely salty. They recommended the burnt carrots - do not get them. They were inedible. When they came to take the plates away, they could see we really did not touch the carrots. They made no mention of whether we liked them or that they would give any discount for us leaving the entire side dish (they did not discount the carrots). The recommended banana desert seemed under-cooked as well as was so-so at best. The chocolate cake was the only redeeming item of the night. Really have no idea why people seem to like this place. Perhaps we just got a bad combination of server and cook. Austin has so many great restaurants - this is not one of them. We won't be going back and recommend you try other restaurants.

To begin with, restaurant is so dark you need to use your phone's flashlight to even read the menu! Server did not put in an appetizer order for me, then made it sound like a 'miscommunication', when we had specifically discussed it. Then when I finally got the order it still wasn't correct. IMO, Food is way overpriced for what you get. To top it off, after touting the wonderful chocolate cake for dessert, which the whole table then ordered, the server came back and announced they were out of it. On a Friday night! Also heard the table next to us complaining to manager about their meal.

The place is confortable, the bartender did a great job. The snake-jackrabbit entries are delicious and the filet very good.It is expensive, the value is fair.

I have been fortunate to travel to 40 US States, plus Europe and Asia, and I have to say my experience at Lonesome Dove Austin rates as my best dining experience ever. No exaggeration. We had a party of 7. It was easy to make the reservation and we were greeted in a friendly way and seated quickly at a large round table. I appreciated the round table because it was much easier for our group to stay engaged with one another vs. the typical long tables groups of our size tend to be seated at. The Devore is elegant but not overdone, making the place feel homey, upscale and comfortable all at the same time. The server was fantastic. She offered to allow us to create our own appetizer sampler, with 7 of each item so we could all have the experience. The rabbit and rattlesnake sausage was amazing, as were the lobster hush puppies. When you go be sure to try both. For my main course I did the filet, which really melted in your mouth. One of the best steaks I’ve ever had. For dessert I tried the special, which was a cinnamon peach cobbler that was amazing. As we talked through the evening everyone was amazed at the quality. It’s rare that every dish is divine, but that was our experience. This was a business group with folks from the Philippines, France, Virginia, Wisconsin and Tennessee and every person was thrilled with the meal. As we were leaving one of my team members from the Philippines said “thanks for making this trip memorable.” Much thanks to Lonesome Dove for the memorable meal and outstanding service.

The food was good and you did get some sides included. My husband order a drink and I asked for a red wine. We did not know that the one glass of wine was going to cost $26 We also order espresso coffee after dinner it was terrible so I asked if it was from one of those pod machines. At $4 a piece I expect better coffee. I do not think it measures up to the Ft Worth location but I have not been there for a while.

I love going to places that have game meats. Most steak houses do not offer game, but Lonsome Dove does and they are delicious!! If game isn't your thing, the steak is stellar too.

Came here for dinner with my team on a Friday, we had a private section set-up for our group of 16 people. We started with cocktails (the smoky whiskey based drink I got was great) and appetizers: Wild Boar ribs were great... not very meaty but tender and flavorful with a great BBQ sauce Lobster hushpuppies were good as well, I think they could have used more sauce but the flavor was good In terms of the rest of the course, I got the bowl of Texas red chili, the garlic beef tenderloin, and ended with the cheesecake Texas red chili was great - it was flavorful, spicy, and had tender chunks of beef tenderloin Beef tenderloin was a bit overly sauced for me, they could have cut down on that a ton. However, the tenderloin itself was very tender and had plenty of flavor. The asparagus was good... like most other asparagus. The dessert was meh, I didn't feel like finishing it which meant that there wasn't anything special about it. The service was on-point, the waiters were attentive and got us whatever we needed (waters were always filled). The place itself is also very contemporary and well-designed. Highly recommended.

I recently added to my list of Worlds Best Restaurant’s the Mexico City option of Pujol which I will not review here . I went to dinner at LD without a reservation after reading the reviews and was not disappointed at all. I was well taken care of by the bar staff who recommended items from the menu . My mentioned to my server/ bartender that I wanted to eat small portions so he suggested not to pass up on several items so I went with his suggestions . I tried the rattlesnake/rabbit sausage (40/60) , the lobster blue corn hush puppies and the elk slider with fois gras and blueberry jam. I was thrilled by this opportunity to do my own “tasting menu” and agreed that the sausage was very good but as was the spicier option I tasted, should be served last to do justice to the other plates. I opted for the Ancho Chile chocolate cake dessert, to go ,once I was reminded that the chef went to his battle with Iron Chef Morimoto with this selection. Try LD I don’t think that you won’t be disappointed. I certainly will be back.

I have been there several times, especially when out of town guests with a taste for game meats are around. The ambience is bright and relaxed, and the menu is pretty cool. Also, if you do not want to make a reservation or not sure what to try, their bar menu is, all things considered, affordable and lets the adventurer in you explore new meats, so you have a better idea what to order next time you are down for a full entrée. I definitely recommend you try the duck, sliders, rattlesnake-rabbit sausages and various pork/boar cuts.

We went to the lonesome dove on our last night in Austin a couple weeks ago and I don’t regret. It taking any photos. The experience was above anything we expected. The menu was creative and each platter was perfectly well made. Next time we’re in Austin. We shall return!

A perfect meal and amazing staff. As was the case last time, the food options were outstanding. We loved that everyone at the table could get bites of whatever they wanted to start and the cocktails were awesome. Wine recommendation was spot on. Asked about a couple of bottles, the sommelier came over with three and asked what we were looking for. First bottle was spot on and we loved it so much we have been trying to find bottles of it back home. The dessert wine (2015 Inniskillin Cab Franc) was equally outstanding. Jeremiah was an awesome server- funny, helpful, gave us our space/time, and provided excellent service. This place is on our "must visit" list for whenever we visit Austin.

Attentive & friendly staff. Great atmosphere. Good wine and drink selection. We started our meal with the Fettino Trio - a delicious and creative combination of distinctive flavors. We tried many different things from the menu as we enjoy wild game; many of the meats and seafood were bland and tasteless, which was surprising as usually restaurants play up the unique flavors of these meats. The meal ended pleasantly as the antelope short ribs were delicious. So we would return for two of the six dishes we ordered and would recommend those two if you have a desire for some wild game.

I took a group of 7 here during a conference we were attending. The food was just outstanding. The Willie - signature cocktail - smoked whiskey drink was really unique and delicious. The Fettine (meat appetizers) were unique and delicious and adventurous! The garlic stuffed beef tenderloin was divine! Simply fantastic. The sides - smoked carrots - were really a treat. This was just a great dining experience and a must-do in Austin. Lonesome Dove - really well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting menu with wild game, venison stew is wonderful in cold weather. Western décor. Very good bar.

I could not believe the quality of the service. At the very end of our meal we were finally brought the bread and butter and only because we asked. My husband enjoyed his food a lot more than I enjoyed mine but we both agreed that the restaurant was grossly overpriced, the portions small and certainly not worth the money. I would avoid this restaurant unless you absolutely must have wild game. We often eat at very expensive restaurants and it is not generally a comment that I would consider making. However, this restaurant was so overrated and so overpriced that neither I nor my husband could get over it.

They called me about my reservation, which I found very nice, and the woman on the phone was very polite. She tried to answer my questions as best she was able to, and I couldn't have been happier with the whole experience.

My colleagues and I met for dinner here while in Austin for a work meeting. We ordered lots of different things. The steaks were outstanding as was the trout. Also delicious was the rattlesnake sausage. The oysters were a little too cheesy for my taste, I really want the oyster flavor to be way out front and the cheese sort of covered that up. The chili pepper chocolate cake was a HUGE hit for the table. Well done food, lovely atmosphere, absolutely delightful and attentive staff. If I lived in Austin, I’d be a regular.

My wife and I discovered this place during an afternoon walk. We went in and checked out the menu and decor and decided to go back for dinner. We sat at the bar and had the most amazing meal and service with our server (bartender) walking us through each dish. The menu could not be more creative and each of our dishes was perfectly prepared. I simply cannot say enough good things about this wonderful find. I only hope that I can get back to Austin to dine here again. This was the gastronomic highlight of our 4 day stay in Austin!

Great meal including Bison, Rattle snake and Rabbit sausage, real chilli, great corn bread, Brussels... all sensational whee did it go wrong, quite simply it didn’t. Forget Trulucks etc this is a real modern twist on the Wild West! Well worth the visit with service and attention to match. Well done keep it up.

Weekend getaway to Austin for wife's birthday weekend. We decided on Lonesome Dove and it was incredible. Food was great, menu was diverse and unique with a Texas flair. The mac 'n cheese is amazing. Emma was our server and she was awesome! She really made the experience great for my wife's birthday dinner. We will certainly be back and highly recommend!

The service: Jonathan at the bar was somehow able to hold a friendly conversation while in constant motion making drinks. Great bar service! Rick (my server) was both friendly and very knowledgeable about the food. The food was fantastic! Elk Sliders (which I failed to take a picture of for some reason) were rich and flavorful. The bone marrow was fantastic. Perfectly balanced with a salty crust, SO good. The scallops and risotto were delicious. And the chocolate chili cake was a great surprise of spice cutting through richness! A great restaurant overall.

Lonesome Dove The bartender and server were friendly, helpful with both the drink, bar, and dinner menu. I would suggest "Happy Hour" vs Dinner. The drink specials were great and the Bar Menu is nearly half off the normal prices. Portions are reflective of the price. That being said, we started with the Fettine Trio: A selection of Cuts Spit - Roasted Over Open Mesquite Fire, Rolled, and then cut Charcuterie Style - 1) Duck, Rabbit-Rattlesnake Sausage, Pistachios, & Black Mission Figs, 2) Black Buck, Pork Belly, Blueberries, Black Garlic, 3) Texas Wild Boar, Lamb, Pine Nuts, & Smoked Mozzarella. All were very tasty. $18. At Dinner, the waiter suggested the following appetizers: 1) Wild Boar Ribs, Lonesome Dove BBQ Sauce, Escabeche 2) South Texas Antelope Carpaccio Nachos, Avocado Corn Salsa, Huckleberry Demi-Glace, with Guacamole 3) Blue Corn-Lobster Hushpuppies, Smoked Tomato Butter All were tasty as well! He gave us the Happy Hour Price of $7/each which consisted of one rib, one tortilla chip with the Antelope Carpaccio, and one Hush Puppy. $21 for the three. A bit pricey...even for Happy Hour Price. I had the Elk Loin with Hen of the Woods, Crispy Collards, Salsify, and Candied Grapes. The Elk was cooked perfectly. However, the Hen of the Woods were terrible. No salt or pepper and it appeared they were put on the flat top. The Collards were not crispy, but they were very good. I had the Freemark Abbey Cabernet, which paired well with the Elk. Julie had the Roasted Quail, Rabbit-Rattlesnake Foie Gras Stuffing, Haricot Verts, with a Sweet Corn Puree. The quail was cooked perfect and the stuffing was decent. Overall, the staff was great, but there were a few hiccups on the food. Our meal with tip was $325. A bit pricey in my opinion. 4 out of 5 Stars

9 for 9! When my husband and I bellied up to the bar and first saw the menu, we were thinking we made a mistake. We aren’t used to elk, rabbit or pig eats. Thankfully the bartender did a great job of explaining what the menu choices were and what he liked. Crab appetizer, lobster hush puppies, wedge salad, great bread, beef tenderloin and a chocolate cake along with the best margaritas I’ve ever had and we were thrilled. Everything we tried was unbelievably great. Will definitely try it again when we return to Austin.

The menu contains a number of items you won’t find at many restaurants. That’s one of the main reasons we booked a dinner reservation. Food: We enjoyed trying some new things. The Elk Loin was our favorite dish (tender and flavorful meat). The Blue-Corn Lobster Hush Puppies, and Antelope Short Ribs were also good. The pig’s ears in the Kale Salad provided a nice chewy/salty contrast to the kale but they overwhelmed the vegetables and were too greasy. The Burnt Carrots were unremarkable. The Ancho Chile Chocolate Cake was good but it needed a larger portion of ice cream to help cut the sweet richness of the cake. Service: Professional, friendly. Ambiance: Classy with a western motif. Tip: There is not much separating the bar from the restaurant. We had the ‘pleasure’ of listening to some very loud people during our meal. Request a table away from the bar.

What a wonderful venue with 5 star food. We had quail as well as beef tenderloin and both just melted in our mouths. Staff was very attentive. Glad the groom's family hosted 60 of us and paid for the open bar!

We arrived early and happily waited at the bar until our table was ready. Good selection of local bottled beers (Thirsty Goat Amber Ale hit the spot for me), some uncommon whiskeys and other liquors, and the bartenders are knowledgeable and fun. Once at the table, we started with the Wild Game Fettine, which comes with enough slices for however many people you are dining with. Similarly, we shared the Elk Sliders (fabulous), Albondigas (not so fabulous), and the Hushpuppies (should have ordered it all for myself). Then for the second course, we shared the Butter Lettuce salad (delicious) and the Fideos (loved the bits of crunchy octopus against the chorizo). After that, the men had actual Main Courses that they raved about: the Rainbow Trout and the Skirt Steak, and we convinced them to share (slightly). The dessert menu was tempting, but we were comfortably stuffed. Lovely wines, excellent wait staff, and the noise level allowed us to have enjoyable conversation without shouting. This place is as entertaining as it is deliciously creative. Looking forward to our next visit!

My wife and I had dinner at Lonesome Dove on Saturday Night before the Fleetwood Mac concert. The restaurant offers a nice ambiance, although I found the seating for two a bit cramped with couples very close on either side of us. It was hard to have a conversation without yelling and hearing the next table's conversations. We started with wine, which was quite good. For the appetizer (or maybe course 1) we had the rattlesnake and the lobster ball. While good, I thought the portions were exceptionally small. My wife had the Elk as the main course and I had the Beef Tenderloin. Both were cooked to perfection and quite flavorful. We had the mushrooms and brussells sprouts. Both were good. We ordered creme brûlée' for dessert, but there's only one problem - it's not on the menu and our server didn't tell us. Instead she brought an ice cream/coffee dessert, and only one.. That was a major disappointment. I wish there was a "Good" review I could give for the overall rating. It wasn't "Fair" and it didn't meet the threshold of "Very Good." Overall it was a good experience, but Lonesome Dove has a long way to go before hitting the top tier of fine dining.

Exemplary shout out to our server tonight, Jensyn. Warm and sweet hospitality. She was very detailed with her explanation of the menu which always helps make or break a good dining experience. The food is what you would expect from Chef Love, excellent. Order everything at once and let them do the rest as they will course it in a timely fashion. Plates were always removed when finished so there was room for the next course. See photos of what we ordered. Too bad we were too full to order dessert but Jensyn was so sweet she brought us bite sized samples of their chocolate cake which was the perfect way to end such a decadent dinner. Such a memorable way to end our Austin visit.

I can't tell you how much fun we had trying out of the ordinary food at Lomesome Dove Bistro. The menu contains a lot of game, including rattlesnake, rabbit, wild boar, elk, etc. The staff took the time to explain dishes and answer our questions...they were excellent. We said -- why not -- let's go for it. All of the items my husband and I tried we had never tried before....but will have again when we are back in Austin. We shared the Wild Boar and Lamb Fettine -- an inspiration of Chef Tim Love. Served like a charcuterie and resembling a roulade, it was sliced paper thin and served with homemade pickles -- wow.,..this was truly delicious. Then, my husband opted for the Rabbit and Rattlesnake Sausage, Manchego Rosti (great potatoes/cheese) and Creme Fraiche -- this too was delicious. I decided to have the Elk Loin served with Hen of the Woods mushrooms, Crispy Collards, Salsify and yummy Candied Grapes. The elk was full of flavor -- but not at all gamey, and tender enough to cut with my fork. Another Wow dish!! Great atmosphere and decor, staff, and food (oh...we also loved the bread basket so don't forget to ask for it). Try Lonesome Dove...and try everything out of the ordinary. You won't be sorry. .

We were recently here for a "pre" rehearsal dinner evening, since many of the guests were in Austin from out of state. We had a group of about 15, and had our own spot in the front of the restaurant, with our own waitstaff. The food was wonderful, and the service was excellent. I especially enjoyed the jalapeño margaritas!

Limited drink and food menu, but all of it really good -- especially the 'rita's and sliders. Welcoming decor. Not too rustic, not too fancy. Friendly staff. Sit at the bar. Watch TV and nosh.

First, I judge restaurants by what my expectations are. Lonesome Dove is judged more severely than a BBQ or burger joint. I have mixed feelings about this place. Some things are pretty good others not so. It is an attractive place with attentive waitstaff. The food is expensive for what you get. And, the portions are oddly sized. First, our waiter Michael was very attentive, informative and personal. He got a well deserved 20+% tip. The drinks are salty, as in costly. My "The Willie" was a smoky Manhattan, it came under a glass cloche with burning cherry wood embers - quite a show and worth the extra cost. The wine list is extensive - eleven pages long - with many of the bottles being over $100. I am a very strong believer in drinking fine wines at home, not out at four times the cost. There are always a few of the lower price options on any list that work well; our waiter guided us to a good choice. The appetizers is where things began to unravel. The lobster hush-puppies were quite good but two little, almost ping pong ball sized bites for $10 stretched my good humor. That was not buoyed by two quail thighs at $4 each. Both were tasty but quite tiny portions more suitable for a long multiple course tasting menu. The main course is where things got weird. My wife's crispy skin chicken ($34) was a huge serving of three chicken thighs which oddly were three different sizes. The flavor was great, but I thought the meat itself was far over cooked. My wife disagreed with me. The fried olives were interesting, tasty and they complimented the dish. This large serving also came with a cylindrical shaped potato, a little smaller than a soup can. That is a lot of food and worth the price. On the other hand, my elk loin ($44) was tiny and came with a few hen of the woods mushrooms on a white puddle of sauce, decorated with crispy collards and some candied grapes scattered about the plate. The elk loin was ordered medium rare but came out somewhere between very rare and bleu with a just-warm-but-not-actually-cooked interior. I hate sending underdone meat back because it always comes back like reheated leftovers and is usually overdone. I usually do not complain because it upsets my wife. The elk itself is a total waste of time and money. It had almost no discernible flavor, significantly less than beef tenderloin. The white sauce it sat upon was also flavorless; it's primary description would be just "white and wet." The mushrooms were tasty but even with the elk, not remotely filling. The crispy collards were not actually food, just a few stiff-fried decorations. The candied grapes had nothing to do with the rest of the food and seemed gratuitous at best, more like just a silly affectation. This dish needs something else to complement it like a risotto or polenta. I find it odd and somewhat annoying to have dishes in each course category being such different sizes. I think they should all be pretty much the same size portions. We split an ancho chocolate cake ($10) that was truly exceptional, a great item to share. It is pretty obvious that this place caters to the downtown visiting business folk on an expense account. You can get a lot better imagined, more sophisticated and better prepared food at better prices at a number of other places about town.

We went here with a group of 10 for a business meeting. As most all of us were traveling (and couldn't take leftovers), I suggested that we each pick some favorites and then pass the food around family-style!" so that we could try all of the interesting things on their menu. Our host said, "Just bring us a taste of everything!". I believe we tried most everything on the menu and had 4 full to-go boxes left. I had a car and a cooler, so we got the leftovers which we are still eating on. Many animals were harmed in the making of this film. All of them were delicious. The wild boar was a bit boring, pun intended. My favorite was the bison and the elk, and the rabbit-goat cheese dumplings were amazing. I didn't see the bill, but when cost is not an object, you can get an amazing meal and wine list.

This place did not let us down. We heard great things about it and when we got there we were so excited. The servers were great and staff was so knowledgeable but extremely fun as well The rattlesnake and bison sausage was amazing and the rabbit ravioli was amazing.The signature plate Beef Tenderloin was off the charts!! Going back again !!!!

Texas has a tradition of larger than life stoic, heartful welcoming, testing and living. Often this relationship begins with a vast, humble welcome to the land and its weather, flora and fauna. The state is named by a tribe which resided in the meeting of the Southernmost Plains and Northernmost Edwards escarpment between Waco, Fort Worth and Dallas. The name is ‘Tejas’~ ‘New Friend of Another Tribe.’ ‘Howdy’ is the complete experience from welcome to ambiance, to our every adventurous, delicious dish, a fine, delicious Tejas time. We hope y’all have as fine a special evening as we so gratefully experienced. Our waiter, Michael, was superb.

We took a group of seven people to the Lonesome Dove for a double birthday celebration. We were shown to a large and well located booth and the restaurant itself is an interesting and 'Texas' space, which was a good beginning. From there things generally went downhill. We were quickly served water, we were slowly served drinks. Our waiter explained the menu and made some suggestions. We had the rattlesnake sausage which was actually good as well as the lobster hushpuppies and the hamachi item. All were very good. For dinner we ordered a range from the trout to the wagyu steak. Items arrived properly cooked and at the same time. We had ordered French fries as a side and one of our guests had a peanut allergy and asked how they were cooked. The waiter responded that "everything' was cooked in peanut oil. 'The steak?' asked our guest. 'Everything.' replied the waiter. As he had already had a bit, needless to say he became somewhat stressed out. Shortly, the waiter returned to say that it was only the fried items. Phew! Though we never really got over that scare and the staff didn't seem to realize their error. Our meals were fine. The trout was very spicy, Bison expensive and a little dry. Then they brought the dessert menu. We looked it over and nothing really jumped out at us. We had two birthdays and assumed they would bring something for the table as we had seen a sparkler brought out to other tables. One odd item on the desert menu is the option to buy 'shots for the kitchen' this would have cost $80-100 and is also something I would never do as I find it a little too far down the line of possibly enabling alcoholism which is a big problem in the restaurant biz. Our waiter seemed offended we didn't choose this option. Anyway, they did then bring us something. It was our bill. Over $1000 and not a sparkler or piece of cake in sight. We told the hostess we had two bdays, we told the waiter (who seemed to know as he brought it up) and it was noted on our reservation. Maybe you have to buy desert to get the sparkler? Needless to say, we left with a bad taste in our mouth and won't be back, the food alone would have caused that response but the service really drove it home and motivated me to make sure to write this up. I have never been to a restaurant at that price point that doesn't do some kind of birthday item free of charge. Maybe he was still pissed about the shots? I suppose we could have said something but who wants to sing happy birthday when you have to make a stink to get your cake and candles?

Hunter was a great waiter, and didn't miss any chance to make our meal amazing. The charcuterie appetizer was really fabulous, and the entrees were hits with all 4 of us. this landmark restaurant is not to be missed.

We came here with business associates and they handled our party beautifully. We started with cocktails and the smoked manhattan is delightful. For starters we tried the salmon ceviche and the elk fois gras they are small bites and delicious. The entrees were the stuffed tenderloin, the antelope short rib and the Idaho trout. All were succulent. The sauce on the tenderloin is deeply flavored, the antelope is very tender and delicious. The trout is surprisingly flavorful was my favorite dish. The brussel sprouts were tasty but a tad oily, and we were not impressed by the mac and cheese flavor was ok, not very cheesy and the fried artichoke on top was bland. They serve it in a cast iron pan so some crispy edges or bottom would have improved the depth of the dish.

We considered last night’s dinner to be a TA bum steer. On a Friday evening there were many empty tables, so maybe word is out on the streets that the praise for Lonesome Dove doesn't match the experience, but late to arrive to TA. Compelling happy hour drink specials. Decent cocktails. Pre-dinner hamachi crudo tostadas and rabbit rattlesnake sausage distinctly average. Smoked oysters excellent. Our dinner experience was marked by a lack of seasoning and lack of flavor (corn kale guanciale salad, Wagyu skirt steak with potato churro). Other than the oysters, the sweet potato succotash chile relleno was the best bite of the night. Echoing my thoughts, the server indicated he replicates this dish at home. Nothing complex about it, easily reproduced, but at least it was well seasoned. Even the banana empanada dessert was distinctly bland, with the dulce de leche flavor in the accompanying ice cream barely discernable. Nice, varied bread basket. Extensive wine list. Great decor and ambiance. Multiple staff members arrived to inquire as to our satisfaction with the dining experience. They seemed strangely unable to take in our honest reply that we found the experience underwhelming and why, and pressed for praise. Bummed that, as visitors with limited evenings to dine in Austin, we probably missed out on a GREAT meal somewhere else.

This is a beautiful place with exceptional service but the food was not great. The prices are high so I expected more but got soso. The Brussels were tasty once you found one not burnt but the carrots were good. My husband had a cut to order steak that was very charred on the outside, not edible, but the very center was raw. He ordered it medium rare. The part he could eat was good but not worth what we paid. After drinks and desert and tip we spent over $300 for a less than spectacular meal.

We had an crab cake appetizer & heirloom tomatoes salad- it was so simple but delicious! Had a butterfish that was the special paired with a wine they suggested- all was over the top! These waiters know their stuff! It was our Anniversary & they gave us a desert again just perfect! Needed to be carried out we ate so much!

The wild game fettine made up of Duck, Rabbit-Rattlesnake Sausage, Pistachios, Black Mission Figs was amazing....

Only comment we have about this overrated place which ruined the entire evening is my wife ended up with a hair in her steak. First time to Austin, next time we will not be dining here.

If you cant decide what to eat and have an open mind, try this place out. Step out of your comfort zone and try some of the unique dishes. I couldn't make up my mind so I grazed on appetizers until I was ready to explode. A little pricey, but hey........you only live once.

In no way is this a "bistro" since it is neither small nor moderately priced. It is a carnivore's heaven serving elk and other uncommon meats in addition to various cuts of beef, pork etc. They do have a few fish dishes on the menu and their appetisers are more varied and served tapas style. The wine list is extensive but very California focussed.We had crab, shrimp and seviche apps, all good but not remarkable. Beef tenderloin cooked as ordered ,also good but not great.Decent mashed potatoes and roasted carrots. Service attentive and helpful. check with 4 glasses of wine wine well over $100 per person. There are so many creative chefs in town and lots of other steakhouses.

Service was supreme!!!! Food was so damn good! Great, great , great food!!!! You could not beat the service. It seemed there were 4 or 5 people always attending to our needs!!!

This review is strictly on bar service! That alone earned a solid 5. Our bartender was absolutely phenomenal and she made fantastic drinks! We started off at Londsome Dove for drinks before hopping to a few other places. It made for the perfect start to a crazy and wonderful evening! Next time I'm around I'll visit again and try the food!

An excellent dinner spot in a cozy, well-curated space! Their menu is full of unique dishes you’ll have trouble finding elsewhere. I was immediately sold when our server shared that we could order however many pieces per appetizer we wanted! We came in for a tapas-style meal, but everyone got exactly what they wanted without having to monitor and limit how much they’re taking from each appetizer. Will definitely be back! (By the way, the elk and foie gras sliders are a-freaking-mazing!)

The place was great. It was a food experience and we tried rattlesnake, rabbit and more. It was great!

Meats that might have been served 150 years ago in the West, rabbit, snake, elk, and steer, are prepared masterfully in modern and creative ways. There is a casual elegant atmosphere with attentive, friendly service. This is not New York chic. A pair of Lucchese cowboy boots would fit in just fine.

The Lonesome Dove has a high-end steakhouse look and menu. And prices to match. I opened the meal with the rattlesnake/rabbit sausage. It was very good but as exotic in flavor as it sounds. For dinner, I had the skirt steak washed down with a nice merlot. It was a smaller serving but very tender for a skirt steak and very good flavor.

Great food and attentive service in a delightful atmosphere. Comfortable environment. Reasonable level of noise allowing for visiting with our dining companions.

Came in wo reservations. With the professionalism displayed by every single employee, we were seated graciously and provided impeccable service. From recommendation after recommendation it was sheer class. My friends have been speaking of nothing else and Lonesome Dove has lived up to and exceeded my reasons for coming back here. The tenderloin was luxury with hints of chocolate and coffee. Rabbit and rattlesnake sausage with creme fresh was perfectly balanced. My new favorite was the rabbit ravioli.

Went without reservations but got seats at the bar instantly. Very good margaritas, not sweet or messed about. Full menu available at the bar. We were looking forward to something different. Had the trio of fettine to start. It was billed as spit roasted but you couldn’t tell - a dozen wafer thin slices of cold, fatty sausage with little flavour. Couldn’t really tell them apart and there wasn’t a shred of garnish. DH wanted to try the Bison ribeye; it came with fancy gnocchi but DH doesn’t do many carbs. No substitutions, although he did swap the gnocchi for some (overdone) fries. The steak was OK, nicely black and almost blue, but not particularly different to any other steak. I had pork chops, very well cooked but so overseasoned I didn’t eat them all and the “crispy onions” were just overcooked breaded onion rings. Not impressed and wouldn’t bother again.

Incredible experience. Our server, Ashley, was incredible and led us well on every part of our experience. She suggested we enjoy the wild game fettine as we took the menu in and made our selections. Great suggestion, as them menu is unique and interesting. The first course menu is fun because you can mix and match. We trusted Ashley, and were well rewarded with her recommendation of wild boar ribs, elk-foie grad slider, blue corn hush puppy and deviled gulf coast blue crab. All were very good, with the elk being over the top amazing. We ordered the garlic stuffed beef tenderloin and elk loin. Wow. Incredible. They secured the fact that we will be back, and soon. Dessert- while we didn’t have room for it, we ordered it to go, and that was a good decision. The flourless chocolate cake and the banana cream pie- heavenly. And I wouldn’t usually waste calories on something banana, but again, took Ashley’s suggestion, and would go back for that alone. Cocktails- delicious, smooth, tasty and satisfying. If you drink manhattans, treat yourself and order the Willy. Very cool presentation. Very Texas, comfortable, creative, top notch, enjoyable, special, and makes Austin proud.

We were staying nearby at the JW Marriott (also recommended!), and a friend said we HAD to go there. The wide variety of meats were especially appealing to my husband, but there were ample choices for me. We suggest the deviled blue crabs, boar ribs, garlic stuffed tenderloin, and rabbit ravioli. My husband said that was the best rabbit he has ever had. We were told the chef won Iron Chef in 2007 for the ancho chocolate cake and we know why - delicious! Wonderful service.

***FOOD: For something different, they have rabbit elk boar snake bison duck meats. We have been wanting to come here to try the different meats. Did not disappoint with the varied menu. ELK SLIDERS - very good, right amount of juiciness. Never had elk so it was lean and so good. WILD BOAR RIBS - tangy goodness, didn’t taste gamey. Although slightly tougher than we’re use to. Fall off the bone good though. MAC N CHEESE - used orzo pasta hint of truffle and loads of premium cheese Gouda & Manchego. Good but so creamy rich. BEEF TENDERLOIN - cooked perfectly and was excellent MONTANA BISON RIBEYE - very very good, tender and juicy flavorful, not sure if it’s $99 good though. ELK LOIN - absolute STAR of the meal. Lean delicious, cooked perfectly. Love the pairing with fried hen of the woods mushroom and fried kale. Just unusual delicious food. ***COST (OUT OF 4$) $$$$($) yeah extra $ ***DÉCOR: elegant cowboy western, like upscale ranch lodge feel. Love the booths. Valet parking ***SERVICE: Food came pretty fast. Service was good although the server was a little pushy with recommending drinks twice and getting a second course and recommending the most expensive items on the menu. ***RECOMMEND: RECOMMEND just to try the different types of meats one normally wouldn’t find elsewhere.

Unusual menu. We had antelope carpaccio nachos, lobster hush puppies, rabbit,duck and rattlesnake sausage to start. Then roasted garlic beef tenderloin and elk tenderloin. Everything was terrific and the service was fantastic.

Wonderful place - excellent service and food. Not known for seafood but could have had more options - scallops?

Celebrated a family birthday here and ordered items you won't typically see on other Austin menus, making it an altogether more memorable experience. Was upscale casual/trendy vibe.

I do not like game so found the menu a little reduced. However my wife loves game and thought the restaurant menu was fantastic. She loved the Elk Loin. Very tender and great taste. My pork Berkshire double chop was huge very good but for me a little under done. If you want you chop cooked right through I suggest to as for that. Try the crispy Brussels please. Atmosphere, the Chablis wine and service outstanding.

We were lucky enough to stumble in for happy hour - what a GREAT deal. Its a really good way to experience the place if you cant get a reservation or aren't sure about the game dishes. Its also a lot more affordable. Kayla was our bartender and she was AWESOME !! We tried a bunch of the specialty cocktails and some small plates - everything was really enjoyable.

Our experience at this place is nothing short of amazing, from beginning to end! The menu may look daunting, with multiple courses and what you think may be heavy fare for each course. But I highly recommend partaking in each one, from the Fettine to dessert! The Duck/Rabbit/Rattlesnake Fettine, Elk-foie gras Sliders, Fdeo with Baby Octopus and the Roasted Garlic Stuffed Beef Tenderloin are mind-blowingly out of this world! Each item is properly proportioned and just chock-full of flavour and flavour combinations. Lonesome Dove is really great for just about anybody - we saw families, couples and large groups of friends dining. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the servers are all personable and accommodating. High-end food without the snootiness! And a huge thank you to Nathan and his cohorts for taking care of us throughout the meal - his recommendations are spot-on, and his service was exemplary. I highly, highly, highly recommend this place, especially to show off this foodie city.

Love love love this place. We've booked NYE private dinners here, large groups and date nights. Service is always amazing, only topped by the awesome food. Great bar, great atmosphere and one of the only restaurants that will saber a champagne bottle!

My husband and I visited for an early Saturday night dinner. We were seated at a quiet table and our service was outstanding. We ordered from each course, but shared so we didn't eat too much:). Each plate was beautiful and tasted devine! Our main entree was the elk, to die for and beautiful! Go here for the ambiance, service and outstanding wild game menu.

I would like to give this place 5 stars but cannot. We had a party of 6 celebrating two birthdays and one anniversary. It was a special occasion Friday lunch. There were gifts on the table and we were asked if it was a special occasion. We explained. I asked for veggies instead of the baked potato for my order and was charged $5.00 extra when the check arrived. At the end, there was not even an offer for a birthday or special occasion dessert. It was as if we were being hurried out the door. The food was good the atmosphere was very nice, the service was good but it seems they do not really care about their customers.

Cozy restaurant, generous menu and wine list. We had a mix of starters, all of which were virtually tasteless. The main course was Beef Tenderloin, which tasted delicious. Expensive price range. Price/quality not in proportion. Service was too awesome 🤩

From the eclectic menu to the smoke infused cocktails, it’s certainly not your average high-end restaurant experience. If you are looking for something different; look no further. While some restaurants try exotic menu items just to be unique, these items are actually very tasty! Knowledgeable staff and well rounded wine list make for a great meal if you don’t mind some damage to your wallet.

I was so excited to try this restaurant and man was I left bummed out at the end of the meal. We started with one of the rolled meats and it was fine. The sliders were also good, but nothing special. The entrees were the real bummer, I ordered the short ribs and it was so dry and chewy it was hard to eat. I love a good short rib and I found myself leaving over half of it on the plate, it was just inedible. The sides were ok, but again did not match the price point of the restaurant. Overall we left feeling taken advantage of for average food.

There were so many good things to choose from on the menu that we asked our waiter Mark to select the most popular and his favorites for us. It put all the pressure on him, but we were definitely not disappointed. We tried several things we probably would not have ordered, but were amazing. The hamachi starter, the boar ribs, the quail and the awesome chocolate cake were just some of the highlights. We will definitely be back on our next trip to Austin.

Are you willing to eat game? If so, this establishment is an absolute must on your list of places to dine. The environment is elegant and the wait staff is truly accommodating, willing to adapt menu items to the size of the group and your taste buds, wherever possible. We started with the Wild Fettine Trio consisting of a variety of meats presented as thin carpaccio-like slices. This was a stunning and tasty starter. For a first course we tried the rabbit-rattlesnake sausage, elk foie gras sliders and wild boar ribs. Each a wondrous mouth watering marvel. For the main course, the beef tenderloin and the elk loin were superb. Everything was prepared perfectly made my taste buds go wild. The wine paring was very good. If I have one warning for a first-time diner, the flavors are intense and rich so pace yourself accordingly. It is easy to order too much food. Bravo Lonesome Dove! I can't wait to eat there again!

New age kind of western cuisine that was delicious. Who'd have thought I would develop a taste for rattlesnake sausage? I sampled my fellow diners' dishes and they were all outstanding. My only criticism would be the Caesar salad equivalent was overly lemony. Excellent atmosphere and serving staff was friendly and attentive.

Dropped into the restaurant by chance when I was on business travel in Austin, Tx and I dropped into the Lonesome Dove Westren Bistro by chance. We did not manage to get a table and we ended up sitting down by the bar. We were greated by the bar by very friendly and knowledgeable staff. We ordered a few starters and a steak for a main course. The whole meal was really good but the steak was exceptional. By far the best steak, I had all year. Truly recommend this restaurant.

The meat was over cooked, the appetizers were ok but overpriced. Very limited wine by the glass. The sides were very good.

If you are up for trying food that pushes you out of your comfort zone, go to Lonesome Dove! Starting with the appetizer trio, you will try foods you never knew you would try. All the food was very flavorful and fun to eat. Good wine and great atmosphere too! Would go back next time in Austin!

We enjoyed a fantastic meal, celebrating our 38th anniversary! The menu is creative in a wonderfully Texan way, totally satisfied our desire for an elegant, delicious meal with a nod to the Lone Star state(my home state, though we live in Colorado now). Chris, the wine steward and manager, was helpful and fun to discuss a rare and amazing wine, Rafanelli! The whole staff was great! Don't miss the gem!

My husband and I enjoyed a delightful meal at this restaurant! Delicious drinks were served as we perused the menu. Lots of interesting items to choose from! We decided on the quail and lobster hush puppies for our appetizer.....wonderful! Our entree was the beef tenderloin which was tender and very tasty. The Mac and cheese was very tasty. A wonderful bread basket was served also. Our dessert was the Banana Cream Pie.....awesome!! We will return!

Be prepared to pay up, very expensive. Unique menu with attentive service. Ordered Elk tenderloin and was served but 3 small medallions, one of which was an end cut well done. However, party member raved about the lamb chops. Not the greatest location if walking on a seedy 6th Street.

Highly recommend you try it out. Only on Friday's and delicious. Pair it w/ the Willie Nelson, you'll thank me later.

Picked this as it was close to the bat bridge. So happy we did. The food was amazing. Tried the rillette trio to start with some cocktails. I’m not a large eater so chose the lobster hush puppies and the wood fired oysters. Yummmm. Hubby’s steak was 14 oz of goodness - couldn’t finish it. Also got the crispy Brussels sprouts. He loved them. The wait staff was friendly and let us try the two Texas wines before choosing.

overall, the food is very good. My steak was supposed to be medium rare. It was their signature steak. It came out overdone. When I asked for a steak to be recooked medium rare, the chef sent and manager brought me out a basically RARE steak. It was obvious that this was a statement by the chef to NOT send back a steak. I had to send it back again to be cooked appropriately. The manager did not even offer an apology. I do not usually complain, but that is NOT the way to treat your customers when we are spending over $200 for 2 people.

This is a wonderful place to eat lunch - the bar is especially fun and a great place to spread out your work papers if taking a moment of quiet time to review things. Fun with friends as well.

Everything was awesome, local Austin beers (Fire Eagle and Porter Culture), filled Trout, crispy brussel sprouts, Lobster hushpuppies as starter... I can do it everything again the same way and still be amazed. The banana pie at the end was definitely the deserved closure... creamy, fresh and delicious!!! Man... please ship to my house!!!

At $39, Easter brunch was a steal. Terrific food and service in a true ‘Texas’ atmosphere. Good wine list also. My 8 yr old had the chicken fried quail for the first time and said it was the best thing she had ever eaten.

We had an amazing time there last night! Wonderful service! We both had filets, that were melt in your mouth! We would highly recommend this place!

I went here during the week and enjoyed a great meal! At first glance people may be intimidated by the menu, but the servers are great and walk you through everything. We started out with the Quail buffalo wings and Elk Fois Gras Sliders (favorite dish of the night)! Then split the butter lettuce salad with the lardon croutons. Lastly we split the rabbit Ravioli, Garlic stuffed beef tenderloin, and Brussels sprouts. The whole meal was amazing!

We'd eaten at Lonesome Dove in Fort Worth, and were thrilled to find there was one in Austin. Different chefs of course (and different menus) but our expectations were exceeded. Dinner on Thursday night, starting with cocktails. I had the Willy, which is something I'm glad I experienced. They smoke a Manhattan under glass, for a presentation and taste that are excellent. Her Cosmo was also great. We had the Fetine trio (since we couldn't decide on 1) of sausages. Very creative and delicious. We had the quail legs with blue cheese fondue and the wild boar tenderloin lbondigas, which was a delicious meatball. She also had the bowl of Texas red chili, which was exceptional. Still craving it. For entrees (though we were both full by then), she had the garlic stuffed tenderloin and I had the pork secreto. Again, excellent preparation and presentation. Could we stop there? No, though we should have! We shared the ancho chile chocolate cake. Needless to say, we packed leftovers back to the hotel, and enjoyed them throughout the weekend. Service was excellent. We were glad to have had an early (5:30) reservation, before they got really busy. Hoping to come back one day.

Let’s start with I have been dreaming about getting another jalapeño cucumber margarita for the past year since I first visited Lonesome Dove! I made my way back in November and sat at the bar (was on a solo business trip) and my memory did not disappoint. The menu is unique, but they have the basic steak selection if you are shy with your food. Dessert was AMAZING - I ordered the banana cream pie and let me tell you this was like NO other banana cream pie for have ever had. Also, the bartender said I looked like I needed another margarita and gave me one on the House - talk about service and she was rewarded in my tip. Can’t wait to get back!

We went here for happy hours and had great experiences with the food and the services. They have exotic meat in the menu.

Fantastic meal and experience. Great atmosphere and cozy dining experience. Rattlesnake sausage, lobster hush puppies and bison all fantastic. Wait staff was attentive and extremely knowledgeable. We split an entree had numerous cocktails and bill was about $120/head. Would highly recommend for a business meal or date night experience. Everything served was cooked/done perfectly and taste was excellent. A nice break from the standard steakhouse or seafood joint. The western food selections were awesome. Will definitely return.

Food was fantastic, service was great, really enjoyed the experience, will come back to Austin just to visit Lonesome Dove

Arguably the best Manhattan cocktail ever! Highly creative chef. Quality from the beginning to the end. Staff knowledgable, friendly, and professional. If you are a foodie, this is a MUST visit during your trip to Austin.

This was the best meal in a while. Had the fideo with baby octopus first then the stuffed beef tenderloin. The demi glacé takes three days to make! It was worth it. My girlfriend didn’t want to eat it too quickly. Wanted to savor every bite. Staff was super friendly and attentive.

The service and food was amazing. When in Austin, this restaurant is a MUST stop. Book on Open Table at least a week in advance. Love the elk lion and amazing seafood too.

There are so many good things about this place- only minor negatives. First, the menu isn't what you think. Starting at the top: (1) wild game fettine: best, most innovate charcuterie plate you'll have seen in a while. Order all three and you'll get four slices of each. Perfect amuse bouche for your evening. (2) First Course: you don't need to choose! When we arrived they let us know that the menu was a little misleading. First, all starters are made up of things you can eat in 1-2 (maybe 3) bites- nothing is big. Second, each item is priced for 2-3 people. For example, the rattlesnake-rabbit sausage (which is worth trying) is actually 3 pieces, each $5. So my husband and I didn't have to negotiate what we wanted to try and, instead, just picked what we each wanted-- we each ended up with 5 "starters" on our own plates (again, each just a bite or two big). Awesome. That actually filled us up and all was great. We loved the sausage, the catfish, the oysters and the carpaccio nachos. The wild boar ribs and the elk sliders were okay-- the elk sliders were better when you removed the bread, the ribs just weren't as good as the rest. We had the octopus and burnt carrots - both good and completed the full meal. Service was good- almost too good. Only negative note is that we felt we had to delay in ordering to keep a good pace-- otherwise, it felt a bit too fast. Other notes: churros for dessert- the berry dip was the best. Definitely go for "The Wille" (their amazing take on a manhattan); great wine by the glass list.

Every course was incredible! Especially the first and second. Part of the fun was pig ears for bacon bits, and rattlesnake sausages. The bison ribeye was a perfect medium rare and seasoned just right.

Everything we ate was absolutely incredible. Service from Ashley and the staff was impeccable. We will highly recommend Lonesome Dove to friends and family!

Took a team seven for a business celebration over dinner. Jeremiah took our reservation over the phone - friendly and helpful. Turned out he was our waiter too - he was great. Interior design and ambiance felt "just right" to us out-of-towners. Bartender very friendly and knowledgeable. Background music was shazamable. I selected the restaurant for the wild game on the menu. But Lonesome Dover is so much more than that. The menu was amazing - every course. Bountiful wine selection. Everyone in our party LOVED it. I'm glad we chose it.

Delicious food, excellent service with particular attention to food allergy issues, great atmosphere, and a pleasantly quite dining room.

Well we had a wonderful evening. Thought we would try this restaurant which prides itself on game food done well and what a great meal we had. The servers were knowledgeable and attentive with answers to all our questions. All courses were excellent and it certainly lends itself to a place where you have to be willing to try something different to fully savour the experience. So glad we went.

I had a great time. The bartender is top notch. Service was first rate. I had the rattlesnake sausage and lobster hush puppies to start. Both were delicious. I had the elk. It was cooked perfectly and was tender and delicious. I will return.

Lonesome Dove in early January 2020 was an awesome experience. From the welcome, to the meal, and the farewell, this restaurant treated us right, and the food was fantastic. I'll go back anytime.

From walking in the door to walking out the door, this place was everything great about dining out. The food was an experience, not just a meal. The Appetizer Samplers are to die for. The Fido with Octopus was amazing. And the Garlic Stuffed Tenderloin was as described- big flavor, smokey, sweet, everything that's good. The ambien of the room is very wild west and perfect. There isn't a more "Texas" experience in the State. Our waiter Jeremiah was hilarious and quick with great recommendations. I will ask for him WHEN I come back in the future, not if. The whole staff was very talented and professional. I didn't want anything I didn't recieve right away. Highly recommended. I will be back. Thanks to my sister for a great dinner choice!

Honestly I cannot rate this restaurant and quality of food high enough. Me and a friend from the UK were looking for a ‘Texas steak house’ and from a random ask in the street for a decent steak restaurant we stumbled across this place. I have eaten steak all round the world and the steak I had here was by far the best. Exceptional! The dinning experience from start to finish was top class. From the front of house, the waiter and the quality of food! The starters were great , the drinks great, the ambience as well! Great work! The only down side is I live 5000miles away. I am in the states three more weeks, very tempted to take a 300 miles drive back to Austin for another superb night of dinning!

We are from Houston and travel for work to Austin periodically. Husband is a big hunter- and the menu sounded unique and amazing. These guys absolutely know their way around wild game. We had wild boar ribs, lobster hushpuppies and elk sliders as appetizers- we could have stopped there. It was all amazing. Entrees had the elk tenderloin and quail- again, just all cooked perfect- nothing dried out- tons of pepper and lots of flavor. We will be back soon just to come back here. Great service- a lot better than the usual high end chains around the Austin downtown area that you can get to anytime. This was more than a meal- it was the full on experience.

We stopped in to Lonesome Dove for a nightcap and sat at the bar. Kayla was our bartender and she was fantastic! She gave us timely service without being intrusive and was very helpful in recommending things for us to do while visiting Austin. Her drinks were delicious! One of us left our wallet and she even ran outside after us to return it. Thank you Kayla for ending our night on a wow!

Date night, out with friends, business dinner-Lonesome Dove is your place. The menu is very unique with rattlesnake sausage, boar ribs, elk, etc. my husband and I love trying new foods and this restaurant is on point. Great cocktails and atmosphere. Will be back again, and again and again!

Spotless and awesome decor, amazing food, definitely will be back to try more of Tim Love’s menu selections in Austin.

We've been a few times for dinner and it's really really good. Love the unique dishes and the great wine list and so much more. But the real deal is the Happy Hour menu with good drink specials and super tasty bites (like the special/fresh sausage, great sliders and their special Fettine). If the catfish and the boar ribs are being offered, don't miss them either! Do the whole menu actually for a little evening foodie indulgence. Daily 4pm – 6:30pm -- TX Tuesday Happy Hour --- 4pm – Close

In a western bar-type atmosphere with upscale food choices is where you'll find yourself at this restaurant. The waitstaff are very knowledgeable about the exotic food selection as well as the regular comfort food fare. A prime rib lunch was featured as the special of the day when we were there. A truly unique outing.