Wink Restaurant Reviews

Visiting from out of town, celebrating our anniversary, couldn’t have been more pleased with our decision to dine here. Presented with a personalized menu identifying the anniversary. Decided to try the 5-course tasting menu with wine pairings. The restaurant utilizes locally sourced products as much as possible and this was apparent in the quality and freshness of the courses. Our waiter, Alfredo, and our hostess, Shelley, tag-teamed the meal seamlessly, with full and interesting descriptions of the courses and providing a dialogue to discuss each presentation. The spacing of the courses was appropriate, never rushed, never delayed. All in all we had a delightful evening, and enjoyed some of the best, most creative dishes we’ve experienced in a long time. The scallop, the duck, the tenderloin and flourless chocolate cake were all exceptional, and the starter of Hamachi sashimi was amazing. Wouldn’t hesitate to return in the future.

Whether in the Wine Bar or Restaurant, we always enjoy Wink. Service is wonderful with emphasis on the ability to inform you about wine and beer in the cute, less fancy pants Wine Bar. I prefer it. During HH, you can typically walk in and find a table or sit at the bar. Grab some delicious small bites at half price during Happy Hour. Have the fabulous Duck dish. Gab with your friends. Enjoy the dim lighting. Ask the server what his tats mean. Learn about "Vivino" a wine app you will crush on. Leave really, really happy.

One of my favorite dinners in a long time! It was our anniversary & I have wanted to go to this restaurant for quite a while. They have a regular menu & a tasting menu. We had the Chef's 5 course tasting menu. Started with hamachi sashimi, seared scallops, (my favorite), flounder, hanger steak & finished with a trio of a lemon tart, choclate bomb & creme brûlée. Each course was served with a well chosen wine. Service was excellent, not rushed, the restaurant is charming and make your reservations early. The highlight of the evening for me was a signed menu from all the chefs, with our names printed on the menu. It was presented to us in an envelope upon our departure. Perfect meal, discreet service, made for a very special evening. A big thank you to all @ Wink! Nobody, does it better!

Best farm to table fine dining we have found in Austin! Vincent, our wait person was enthusiastic without being intrusive. He was also our very capable sommelier, recommending wines to each of our individual tastes and NAILING it from a quick verbal description for each of us. His food recommendations were equally good. When i said i needed to be gluten free he said to pick whatever looked good to me and they would make it gluten free. We had a delicious salad then moved on to the main course, venison, which I ordered with a little trepidation because I don’t usually eat red meat. I did not regret my choice. My husband and i agreed it was THE best venison we had ever eaten. Served on pistou (a simplified version of pesto) with microgreens and okra greens. Amazingly good! Then dessert. We got the dessert trio - all gluten free and all delicious, but the lemon meringue pot was indescribably, out if this world, hands down best dessert ever. I won’t even try to describe it, but i will say that the candied lemon rinds elevated it to a new dimension! BEST find in recent memory!

I heard nice things about WINK and I am so happy I decided to visit. Darcy and Emily made me feel at home and I was able to do the tasting menu at the bar which was a nice twist! Great wines with great food and great company. I will certainly be back for more!

Creative farm to table cuisine with top notch wine list. The best dinner service in Austin. Meticulous and unobtrusive wait staff. Menu changes daily. We are frequent fibers and have never been disappointed.

The five course chef's meal was disappointing. Two of the courses were virtually flavorless. Four of the five wines were very disappointing inexpensive screw cap imports. Give me a break! Very overpriced, bring your magnifying glass so you can find the vegetables that are supposed to be on the plate.

A highly recommended bijou restaurant that has great food and excellent service. Ideal for that special meal or a family celebration. If you have a special occasion they give you your own headed menu. Which later they all sign and give to you.

My husband and I chose based on the reviews and proximity to hotel. What an amazing dinner! We chose the 5 course tasting menu which was paired beautifully with wines I had never tasted. Each course was very different from the previous and I kept saying "this is my favorite one!" Chef knows how to excite your taste buds with unique twists on classic dishes (pickled hearts of palm made the sashimi pop or the fingerling potatoes combined with the steak wasn't your run-of-the-mill steak and potatoes). Another delight was to be greeted at the door with a handshake and to be called by name upon exiting. The service was impeccable and the quaint dining room felt like a group of friends enjoying the best meal ever (don't misunderstand, the tables aren't on top of each other but you can tell across the dining room that everyone is discussing their fav dish with the severs). If I lived in Austin, I'd be a regular.

My husband and I recently went to Wink to celebrate our anniversary, and we both agreed that the experience fell at the top of both our lists of dining delights. (I say top 3 because I'm trying not to oversell it, but I honestly can't remember having had a better meal in my life!) Wink's focus on the whole customer experience is absolutely second to none. We were greeted at the door by name; our menus came printed with our names and happy anniversary wishes at the top, which we found to be totally charming and an unmatched attention to detail. The staff was fantastic, from our host to the servers, sommelier, and chef. The food was even more amazing. We had the 5-course wine pairing dinner, and each course was more superb than the last. The wine pairings were excellent as well. The place looks very humble from the outside. It's not a fancy dress place. It came highly recommended to us by friends, but we were in no way prepared for the level of quality dining we found once inside. We were treated and fed like royalty, and we will definitely be back! Make reservations when you go and prepare to spend some money, but know that you will not be disappointed.

Recently had dinner with my wife and daughter at Wink after hearing great things and reading the reviews. We were a bit disappointed. While the food was very good, it fell well short of our Austin favorites (Uchi, Uchiko, Lenoir, Odd Duck, Mulberry, etc.). We had a variety of dishes (red pepper soup, two types of salad, mussels, lamb, fish, and a couple of desserts. While all were very good, none of them jumped out as outstanding. Perhaps just an off night.

Wink is a restaurant tucked into a small space on Lamar where everything is done right: cozy, comfortable dining area, excellent welcome and service, along with delicious, locally-sourced food. We were greeted with an amouse-bouche when seated and, when we were deciding between two wines, tastings were made available to help us make up our minds. I enjoyed terrific guinea confit egg rolls and duck breast with sweet potatoes, while my wife had the hanger steak with oyster mushrooms and fingerling potatoes. French, Spanish, Italian and domestic wines are on the list. It was our anniversary and Wink surprised us with a wonderful dessert sampler to top off the great meal. We ordered a la carte, but five and seven course tasting menus are available, too.

We love this restaurant. Small, intimate, attention to detail! Super wait staff - every time! host Mark has been greeting guests at the door for years, and he's always cheerful and friendly - a great start to a great evening. The menu varies every day, and each menu item has a story, it seems. Wink grows a lot of their own produce, and offer unique menu items that are super delicious. Chef owner Mark P is a fantastic dessert chef too, so make a plan to indulge. Portions are just right (not heavy of voluminous), and presentation is superb.

Wink is way ahead of the pack in terms of quality of food and service - an innovative menu, creative and skilled chefs and a wait staff that is unsurpassed.

Briefly, extremely overpriced, poor service, very disappointing. Was hoping to enjoy a delicious romantic meal with my wife, unfortunately our experience was anything but. The restaurant was small , loud and crowded. The waiter constantly leaned over us onto the table, even spitting onto my wife at one point while talking. We ordered the 5 course vegetarian tasting menu. For some reason they made both meals vegan despite only asking for my wife's to be vegan. Dishes were mediocre especially considering they charged the same ridiculous $73 each for their regular tasting menu. And for the last course (dessert) we specifically asked for 2 chocolate cakes yet they brought one cake and one fruit cup with liquor, despite my wife being 7 months pregnant and specifically asking not to have alcohol.

The food here is very creative, but not over the top. The approach blends unusual flavors without becoming cute or precious like a number of Austin restaurants with their molecular style. We had grilled shrimp, romaine salad, scallops and steak. While the lineup sounds simple, it was anything but. The beef had a smoked tomato sauce. The romaine salad had heavenly goat cheese. The scallops shared the plate with fennel and cucumbers. The shrimp was amazing. Let's not forget dessert. Every dessert is a mouthwatering adventure. Only Uchi can match wink. Go!

We had a wonderful dinner here. Food and service were excellent. My only complaint is the waiter unfolding and putting our napkins on our laps. Feels a bit intrusive. But this is a great farm-to-table place and not hard to find at all.

What a treat! Thanks to Emily and the Chef for making our evening special! We chose the five course tasting menu and we r stuffed! Of course, we had the wine pairing too!

When reviewing a restaurant, it's always important with what you compare and where you put your standard. After my visit and checking out the reviews, I was surprised by the number of good reviews versus the bad ones. After some thought however, I can understand that compared to the typical American restaurant, this restaurant is much better. That being said, when you see the price they charge and if you compare with European 1 Michelin star restaurants (they are in the same price range and often even cheaper), you will understand that this restaurant is way too expensive. If you want to play at this level, everything needs to have the right quality: - If you make a reservation and you arrive on time, your table must be ready. You don't ask your customers to go to the Wink Wine bar or wait outside. - You want a quiet room where people can understand each other. The music was also too loud. - You want enough space between the tables to have the right amount of privacy. About the food: we both took the 5-course tasting menu. My wife took the seafood version and paired wines. Overall, the food is well seasoned and tasty. But the courses are too simple and sometimes too small. You want to do more with your base products, more refined, presented in a better way. At this level, I expect more than risotto with a well-cooked piece of meat on top of it. The wines were good, no comments there. Address the main issues and you could have a real fine-dining restaurant.

I had the hamachi sashimi with beets to start and the flavors were rich but refined. My entree was the axis antelope with sweet potato and oyster mushrooms which was prepared perfectly. My wife had the seared foie gras with vanilla-parsnip purée and duck breast with creamy polenta. Both were wonderful. The service was first class in this cozy special place. And they even let you bring your own wine.

This place is outstanding. The tasting menu was one of the best dinners I've ever experienced. We had reservations for my love's birthday - they even personalized the menu for us! Service was top-notch. This place is definitely fit for foodies. We rank it up there as one of our favorite meals. A great place for a special occasion.

Extremely friendly service from owner and staff. Great food, good wine selection. Can't ask for more. We will be back.

I love the concept of this place! Small, quaint, dainty. About 17 tables in the entire restaurant and are by reservation only. I definitely reccommend making one. We were a larger party and were told that for every person who wouldn't show it was a $50 cancelation fee. We all showed and didn't have to worry, but they are serious. They have a regular menu and a tasting and pairing menu, some of us were interested in the tasting but everyone at the table has to do it in order for anyone to be able to. Instead we all ordered entrees and a couple of apps. We did order two bottle of champagne for the table which I enjoyed. Someone ordered duck, another scallops, steak, salmon. The creme brulee was outstanding! Everything was great and the service was even better! We even met and took pictures with the chef outside!

What an experience! Fantastic. We have had the chance to travel all over the world, and this is some of the best food we have ever tasted. We tried the 5 course tasting menu, without the matching wines. We tried 4 tasting wines in the wine bar beforehand and decided on the Brady Estate Petite Syrah to accompany our meal. Superb wine, superb food and great night. All round greatness. Please don't go to this restaurant if you are not a foodie and familiar with fine dining. All these comments in TripAdvisor on the subject of raw duck and raw lamb are offensive. The food is superbly coked, sourced served and described. It is amongst the finest dining in the country, in our view. Give yourself a treat, and get down to Wink ASAP! Mark and Patrick will make you welcome, by name!

My husband and I went to austin to visit our son. While there, we dined at Wink. We ordered the seven course tasting. The service was excellent. The wait staff is beyond any I've ever encountered. They went out of their way to make our dining experience exceptional. Our waiter, Dickie, was very funny and kept us totally entertained. The food was the most amazing I've ever eaten. Innovative, exciting, unusual and totally wonderful. When we return to austin, we will definitely be dining there again.

We have eaten at Wink over the years and have always had good experiences. The staff is friendly, professional, knowledgeable and gracious. Food and wine were excellent. Loved the Cuatro dessert & especially good coffee. Highly recommend.

One of the best meals we've had for months. Lovely cosy, hidden away spot. A basic interior means everything is about the perfect service (from the lovely April) and the magical food. We had a 5 course tasting menu with wine pairings - the highlights of which were delicious scallops, perfectly cooked hanger steak and a delicious basque white wine. We'll be back very soon!

We reserved here because of the daily vegetarian five course set menu. At $73 per person without drinks we expected something special. I found three of the four main course small plates to be almost inedible. The first one was a pile of raw onions with some greens completely drenched in much too spicy jalapeno dressing. The second seemed to be a piece of pita with some feta cheese piled on top. The third was a legume dish that had so much chili powder in it that I couldn't take more than a few bites. The fourth dish consisted of some diced roasted potatoes with some other root vegetables that was the only dish I was able to finish. We were really sorely disappointed in this place.

Loved our 5 course tasting dinner with wine pairings. The food was creative and delicious -- and wine pairings worked very well. Very friendly and intimate venue that allowed for nice conversation for our party of 4.

Wink was so noise-afflicted on our visit that it was impossible to enjoy the experience. My partner reported above the cacophony that her food was excellent, but like me could not enjoy the dining experience. My food was rather pedestrian - a somewhat unexciting salad and nicely cooked moist chicken served with rather bland vegetables. Staff made no effort to get a noxiously noisy table to tone things down, did not acknowledge the problem nor apologize to other diners for the drunken bellowing and screaming from the offending table. Given that Wink operates in constrained space with low ceilings this cannot be a unique problem, and Wink needs to get much better at dealing with the problem. Along the way, we were served the incorrect vintage of a fairly expensive wine. Fortunately I know enough about the wine in question to suspect the mistake and get the correct vintage served. If you really want to dine here, I recommend that you ask if they will be serving any large drunken parties at the time you wish to dine. But really why bother? There are so many other great dining options which are not housed in a low-slung, noise polluted, secondary strip mall building, and which deliver better or comparable cuisine at similar prices. My advice is skip the noise risk and go elsewhere.

This restaurant reaches for fine dining but falls short on food, location and space. The foie gras appetizer dish was delicious, beautiful, interesting and balanced. Yet, the skirt steak was burned rather than seared. The overall dish was boring and badly cooked. The lemon meringue pot desert was ok but didn't rise above chain restaurant quality (think Applebees). So, it was promising but all over the place. Any restaurant that offers tasting menus raises expectations to a level this restaurant does not deliver on. The location is in the dark corner of a strip mall and the space is cramped as soon as you step in. Despite much effort to fix the acoustic with sound-panels, it is still hard to hear yourself think, especially if you're squeezed in next to a large group. This is not a restaurant to bring a date but to bring someone you'd rather not talk to.

I mention this hint because my wife and I were eager to try the meat tasting and fish tasting menus, but our daughters wanted to order a la carte. Our first server (who did not seem to be intimately familiar with the menu) said that everyone at the table had to order one of the tasting menus if at least one diner did. But then someone (who may have been the owner or manager) stopped by the table shortly thereafter and allowed us to order as we wanted. Your mileage may vary, so if this is a deal-breaker, you should check when making reservations. Overall the dishes and wine pairings were very enjoyable. Others remarked that the place can get noisy. We did not have that problem, although we ate on a Monday night and the restaurant itself was no very busy. The location is not the most desirable, but it is still close enough to downtown to get a taxi, walk (for those who like walking) or even scooter.

One of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Creative, fresh cuisine with a menu that changes daily. Although pricey compared to some other places well worth the visit. Next time I am going to try their bar food at their back across the hallway.

This is probably one of the best meals I have had in a while for the $$$. Went to wink this past Saturday with another couple. Made reservations (highly recommended) and was glad we went at 6:30 because it filled up fast and there is not a whole lot of parking. Our waitress was so wonderful. Led us through the menu, which was not extensive but exceptionally varied. We each ordered something different in order to try a taste of as much as we could. All organic and as much locally sourced food as possible. The wine list was not what I would call huge, but offered great selections for every budget. Two of us had the romaine lettuce with chevré, walnuts, pickled berries, and vanilla vinaigrette (wow!) The vanilla vinaigrette was what made this dish. Our friend had the duck breast with navy beans, shiitakes, heirloom carrots, beet greens, and yozu kosho. The waitress suggested a medium rare and it was perfect. It was a lively and fun atmosphere and we will definitely be going back. My girlfriend ordered hanger steak with criminis, green beans, bitter greens, red potatoes, and crushed pepper mayonnaise. All of us shared a taste except her - would not give up a single bite! Hubby ordered black buck antelope with israeli couscous, fennel, kumato tomatoes, feta, and herbed goat yogurt, If you have never eaten antelope, I highly recommend this mild and tasty dish. I ordered the quail stuffed with farro and believe it was the best dish on the table. Roasted to perfection but the farro stuffing was what really made it shine. Desserts were amazing! I highly recommend the lemon meringue. You will not be disappointed by any of these selections! Make a reservation and go!

First visit to Wink. Was there for a business dinner. The host is a regular and we received excellent service. We had a variety of dishes that were all rated as excellent by the table. This is a BYOB, which is a plus. I look forward to going back soon.

First visit to this marvelous little place last weekend. One of those strip shopping center locales that have you wondering on what to expect when entering. Cozy, well appointed. Very friendly maitre'd Mark introduced himself at the door! Sat down to delicious complementary demitasse cup of cardamon celery cream. We scraped the sides of the cup. Everything from there on was a taste experience. Scallops were perfectly grilled and a distinctive seafood taste. The lady had the grilled antelope entree - crusty and crunchy on the outside, medium rare in the middle. Perfectly done. After this, we decided dessert couldn't be as good- we were wrong. Lemon curd in little meringue cups with whipped cream - superb and perfectly tart. Warm and attentive service throughout from Dickie. A new discovery in a town where we already had favorite restaurants. If there were one, the only negative was that you may find Wink more expensive than anticipated for a similarly small sized, medium class locale, but I found the quality of the food and friendly treatment well worth the somewhat pricy tab. We will return.

Ordered five course tasting menu with wine pairing, could not be more pleased. Service very attentive and answered each question asked.

The little gem tucked into a corner downtown by a laundromat is one of best restaurants I’ve ever had and the pleasure of dining. The food is creative, exquisite, and so delicious. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and happy to be there. It is tiny so make reservations. I haven’t been to there wine bar yet but I’ll absolutely check it out in my next trip to Austin. Check out their menu online and you’ll be compelled to go! ❤️❤️❤️

Sorry, but ambivalent staff, seemed bored with the menu and labor routine, decent flavors on a couple of items, but a plateau below what we have recently tasted on some menus at destinations in Austin with menus reaching for stratoferic tasting levels. Outdated perhaps. Maybe a neighborhood hangout. Might try again , but, doubt it.

Chefs Scruggs and Paul have created spectacular food and wine parings. Four of us stayed 3 1/2 hours in the wine bar enjoying some of the best pate and foie gras that I've ever had. I was impressed not only with a nice wine list $$$$ but also they have one with bottles starting at $26. And, they encourage you to bring your own wine. Muscles and smoked salmon were fresh and prepared perfectly. Local farms supply all veggies. Quaint and hidden in west downtown, off the beaten track but easy to get to. Great for couples. Top notch service, very personable.

Wink is a small, cozy out of the way restaurant on Lamar. The service is really outstanding from the time you enter until you leave. They have a decent wine list and the food is above par. On this our first visit, I had the froi gras followed by the quail. The froi gras was outstanding but the stuffed quail were just average. The wife had the spinach salad which had a bit too much truffle oil and the scallops which she described as delicious and well prepared. Definitely a place we will try again.

Austin's flooding provided one benefit when Wink's re-opening coincided with our availability & a colleague's recommendation. It is not often that one finds such a synergistic culinary experience and the teamwork that produces truly great dining! The "Five Course Tasting with Wine Pairings" is a unique menu daily that results from the entire staff's participation and input and do they love working together! This is a championship dining experience that visitors to Austin should not miss! My wife and I have done many of these meals, but Wink's is at the tip of our pecking order. Ask for Emily; she talked us through the menu and the wine with an enthusiasm that only added to a perfect evening!

The winebar has excellent wine service and food fromthe restaurant. A great atmosphere. excellent host and a place where you could get to know other guests and enjoy very good food wine and company. would heartily recommend

My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed our early April dinner at Wink. The food and service were both excellent . And the presentation was lovely. I have some eating issues. The wait staff were concerned and helpful in assisting me in making my choices.

In Austin for a meeting, found Wink's 3 years ago and came back again this time. It is pricey but worth it. Dinners we ordered included red deer, roast duck and amazing scallops. Waitress happily recommended perfect wine pairings. Almost all offerings could be made gluten free. But the top recommendation is for out of this world desserts: flourless chocolate cake, lemon custard pot & (I am not making this up) chocolate soup with chocolate mousse pillows & candied ginger. Died and went to heaven in a bowl of chocolate soup! Will be back.

Don’t miss this Austin favorite - Best red snapper I have ever eaten! Served with truly outstanding service and grace! The desserts are indescribable - ask for the trio!

Location has no ambience- back of a strip center, have to cover windows, but the focus is all on the food. Loved the vegetarian tasting menu, barley with trumpet mushrooms and risotto was amazing. Wine pairings were well selected. Our server, Brad, was very attentive.

Everyone had been raving about Wink in Austin so my husband and one of our close couple friends decided to give it a go. The location is in a small, old retail plaza - very laundromat esque. My husband's first comment when walking in was that it smelled like your grandmother's closet. The food was pretty good but super high pricing. I don't think we will be giving it another go.

Being in Austin on work, I checked tripadvisor for a restaurant recommendation. After picking my way through Japanese (don't like raw fish), barbeque, po'boys (??) and popdoddys (????) I picked Wink. Food was mixed (seared fois gras was barbeque, duck was great) but the wine list was great. I had a very happy night drinking chablis and dolcetto.

My husband and I went for our anniversary and we could not have asked for a more romantic evening. They even customized the menu for us and they all signed it for us. We had the escargot, oysters, scallops and steak - followed by the Quattro dessert platter. They change the menu every day and the food was out of this world. The service was just as lovely, personalized and not rushed. We really enjoyed it and would recommend for anyone looking for a lovely date night,

We booked at Wink for our joint birthday (we are 10 days apart) and the experience was wonderful. It was a warm welcome and we were seated at a wonderful table off to the side of the restaurant. We both had the five course tasting menu. The first two courses were outstanding (hamachi and scallops). We left with a signed copy of the menu which was a very nice finish. Thank you Wink for making our evening memorable.

Celebrating our anniversary, we went to one of our favorite restaurants, Wink. We chose the 5-course tasting menu with wine pairing and it was delicious. Hamachi sashimi, scallops, duck breast, hanger steak, and el Rey chocolate cake for dessert. The staff was nice, knowledgeable, fun, and perfectly attentive. We will continue to go back.

Unique fabulous food, original creative menu, nice ambience, excellent service, fairly priced wine. Loved it!

My wife and I went to this restaurant for our anniversary last week. It was delicious! The owner greeted us at the door, asked our names, and remembered them as we were leaving. The service is wonderful here. Be sure and make reservations, it is a very small location. Vegetarians, there is a decent amount of choices, but it is very expensive and, in my opinion, not worth it. Good for a very special occasion or if someone else so buying. Don't expect to get our for under $100.

The culinary forces behind WINK put a lot of care, creativity, effort and energy into their food, and it shows. I dine there often and the menu is constantly changing. New to WINK? I recommend one of two levels of tasting menus that provide the full range of WINK's offerings. Individual entrees are also available. Wait staff exemplify the casual quality that is the hallmark of WINK. Any choice you make here will be a test sensation. Note: WINK also has an adjacent Wine Bar offering a separate bar menu, happy hour, as well as the full dining room menu. Restaurant door on right, bar to the left. GF options.

We go here several times a year, never disappointed. Great tasting menu with wine pairings, but all menu items are always good. They also have an adjacent wine bar, so we usually arrive early. Great dining atmosphere, and the best service in Austin

The red snapper tonight was perfect. A thin crisp peppery crust over a generous serving of succulent mild tender fish. A sweet soy sauce and a sautéed of yellow squash completed the dish. A bowl of edemame with crunchy kosher salt added another veggie to the meal, and was half off because we were eating in the Wine Bar between 5-7 pm. My husband had the sliders at half-off, too.

If you are looking for a fine dining farm to table experience, this is your place. We had the seven course tasting menu with the wine pairings which included hamachi sushi, seared scallops, fried red fish, duck breast, red deer tenderloin and a wonderful chocolate desert. Everything was fabulous and our server, Brad, we excellent. Cannot believe that this was my first time going here, but it won't be my last!

We had reservations for an 8:30 dinner, which is late and I'm sure the wait staff were tired. However, our table of 9 were treated so rudely by our waitress, it turned everyone off. Comments from her were, " hurry up and order, OK?" She wouldn't answer questions about the menu or the wine. The food was over salted or overcooked. Totally underwhelmed - won't be returning.

My husband and I had our New Years Eve dinner at Wink. I had read many great reviews so we decided to try. I’ll start by saying the staff is sooooo friendly! What a great first impression They have a fantastic wine list and a great area to wait until your table is ready. The meal was awesome. Menu was creative and food was delicious.

I love this place and make my husband take me here at least a couple of times every year. The chef works with fresh, local, in-season stuff and does amazing things with it. I have never had a bad meal! The tasting menu is top notch - there are always things on there that surprise me and that I wouldn't expect to like. Reservations are a must for this place, and expect to take a while with your dinner - don't come if you're in a rush. But, it's a small, intimate romantic setting, amazing food, and really good, personalized service. If you mention that it's an occasion (birthday anniversary, etc.) when you call to make your reservation, they'll print you up personalized menus congratulating you on your.....whatever.

Our family of six celebrated a birthday at Wink on a recent weekend. The staff did a nice job of delivering excellent service as we enjoyed the tasting menus...three of us vegetarians and three meat eaters. The matching wines were perfectly paired and each dish was delicious with the freshest of ingredients. We will definitely return for future celebrations!

We had a tasting menu. It was a bit on the pricy side although we enjoyed the food. Our server disappeared a lot sometimes with large gaps between courses so that could have been better.

We visited Wink on March 22, 2018, for dinner. Our dining experience actually began earlier in the day when Fernando called to confirm our reservation. He told my husband, who is also named Fernando, that their shared name was the reason he called to confirm! He greeted us like old friends and we were introduced to the wait staff! Wonderful was to start our dinner! The menu was amazing and the wine selection was awesome. Our server was very attentive. Excellent! Can't wait to visit again!

My wife and I were in Austin for the weekend and found Wink via TA and were not disappointed. Very welcoming service and excellent food beautifully prepared. We had the two fish options and were both pan fried to perfection. The desert medley was very good too. Totally recommend

First off, I selected this place based on TripAdvisor reviews as well as a few Austin journalist reviews. I could be biased, but so could many of the reviews here be as well, but in my experience the Wink was average at best. The concept is nice, using fresh locally procured ingredients from the area with a menu changing daily based on ingredients, but the day I went was lacking. The location of the place is definitely unique...tucked into a back corner of a sort of strip-mall type complex. Seating is limited and the decor is...not sure how to describe it but it's drab. The owner was very welcoming and took a minute to personally greet everyone and remember everyone's names which was nice. The tasting menu which we selected had our hopes up but in the end a few of the dishes just left us wishing for more of something that it was lacking. Again, I could be biased having eaten at Michelin rated restaurants and having lived in Europe for over 15 years so my experience in tasting menus with fresh daily ingredients could be a bit on the higher end of the tasting palette and experience. Overall, if you live in Austin I guess it's worth a try but if you are an out of towner I'd recommend looking elsewhere.

This farm to table restaurant is oh so good. Let me start with dessert. The lemon curd was tart and velvety. And the perfect finish to a well thought out menu. What makes this restaurant so special (besides the food), is how everyone who works at Wink makes you feel at home. From a maitre d who welcomes you when you arrive. And remembers your name when you leave. When the chef will adapt everything on the menu for dietary concerns (in our case it was the need for gluten and lactose free). And a wait staff who are engaging and helpful. This was hands-down our best meal while in Austin. Highly recommend you make this a stop.

This restaurant is very well known in Austin and If I had eaten here 4 years ago I might have been impressed. The competition is really high right now with so many great restaurants in town. I had scallops with corn which was good but a little salty. In my opinion, there is also an air of "formality" at Wink as if you were eating at a fine dining establishment, which is OK if you they could have backed it up with outstanding food. Again, the food was good but I know I could have spent a lot less money and had a meal that was just as good.

Four of us had dinner at Wink. We started in the bar with a couple glasses of champagne. The bubbly selections was unusual, but found a rose we enjoyed. For dinner, we ordered a la carte. We had a selection of appetizers and salads that we shared. I thought that worked pretty well and they were all very good. For entrees, our group had primarily fish dishes, with one antelope. Everyone enjoyed their main. The servers were knowledgeable, professional, pleasant and efficient. Almost all wines are available by the glass, and it is a large selection. Only two minor complaints: 1) it was quite noisy, tables are close together and it was full; 2) we were celebrating a birthday and were charged for all deserts (generally I find they comp the B-day desert. I will definitely go back, but probably not for a business dinner.

Definitely one of the most memorable dinners I have ever had. A beautiful, however understated dining room, genuine yet superb service and the food just delicious. Visited the restaurant based on a friend's recommendation and I am very glad I listened! I enjoyed a five course tasting menu with deliciousness that included foie gras, scallops, duck, hanger steak and great cheeses. The wine pairings were spot on and all presentations just like art. The biggest treat of the night was meeting Debra and having her take care of me and my friend. Upbeat, knowledgeable, fun, genuine, I can go on and on about her! At the end of our meal Debra presented me with a copy of the menu signed by her and the rest of the staff which was a great farewell to this experience. Foodie or not, everyone should experience Wink and trust me...food will not taste as wonderful anywhere else. Can't wait to be back in Austin and visiting Wink and Debra again!!!

I've been several times to WINK and no two experiences were the same except for the qualify of the food, which is fantastic! The restaurant is usually packed, so make a rez with OpenTable and if it's full there, call and be really nice (you never know, right?). Last week I met friends in the wine bar, which has both low and tables as well as stools at the small bar. The employees there are hilarious and I've watched them squeeze people into tables and take orders over heads of the pack! They keep it moving out there because it's become so popular that people like me go just to the wine bar if we don't have restaurant reservations. The wine list in the bar is odd in that while the mix of US and intl wines is good, you cannot find a California Pinot or a big Chardonnay - at least on my last 2 visits. I wish they would expand that list! It's a fun experience and the dining experience the best in Austin!

I was traveling to Texas to celebrate a milestone birthday with my family. I wanted a place that had great food/ wine list, but not too fancy or typical Texas BBQ. After researching on line, chose Wink. They offered a fixed price menu. One in my party didn't like an or two and they were very accommodating and made changes. Well, the food and service was over the top. This is a birthday I will never forget and Wink made it a special evening. HIGHLY recommend this place.

Dined here with my wife Sue for our 30th anniversary. The food was absolutely superb and the service was very good too. I would say you could call the menu Contemporary American and it changes every day based on the availability of fresh produce. Wine list, although limited, does provides a wide range of choice.

This is a small restaurant with a limited menu. It is more of a foodie’s restaurant since you won’t find routine fare on the menu. It looks like the menu changes daily. The food was very good, but the service was somewhat slow considering the size of the restaurant. The wine list was reasonably priced. Six adults three bottles of wine and appetizers and entrées and dessert $540 including the 20% gratuity that was added onto the bill.

We like Wink enough to pick it for a birthday dinner. The venue is nice. We selected the fixed menu with wine pairings and all were outstandingly selected, prepared and paired. The service was outstanding. We will go back.

This was our second time at Wink and we brought another couple with us as we had an excellent time the first time. We all chose the 5 courses tasting menu after Noel explained that we could substitute other menu items if one or more courses didn't appeal to us. This was very helpful as one of us has a shellfish allergy and two of us chose to switch to the venison rather than the hanger steak. Noel was very helpful and made the experience more enjoyable by explaining each of the courses. Each course was artfully presented and just enough food to leave you waiting for the next course. Even though each of us ordered our wine by the glass, Noel brought each of the bottles to the table for each of us a taste of the our wine selection before pouring the glass. As a very nice finish she arranged the dessert course on a single plate so that we could each try all four of the desserts. We will be back. (tip: the restaurant is at the back of the lot and a bit hidden from Lamar St. and is easier to get to from 11th St. )

Loved the escargot and duck. Great selection of wines and reasonably priced. Business casual. Small. Great background music.

This little hidden gem was perfect to take my wife to for her birthday. A cozy, tucked in the corner place with excellent food, great service, and an intimate atmosphere was just what the doctor ordered. While one can order individual entrees, we both opted for the five-course meals (my wife did swap out the duck for the venison). From the salad to the dessert and everything in between, everything was amazing, and we were both struffed by the end of the evening. To cap everything off, the menus were personalized to fit the birthday occasion, and the entire staff signed it and gave it to my wife. Very nice touch. We will be back...

Went here with a group of friends to try a better dining experience while we were in the area. After a local recommendation we decided on wink and went for the 7 course tasting menu with wine. The first course was actually rather excellent with good sashimi and the missus of citrus and pepper going very well. However it was here that we discovered why the wine option was so cheap with just a sniff of wine per person. Very unusual portions for the us. However after that the food went rapidly downhill, sometimes bland sometimes far too sweet sometimes just awful such as the red deer which just tasted wrong. Steak tartare had the wrong kind of herbs and was not cut small enough so was chewy. Anyway all in all pretty poor for the price. We ended up buying an additional 2 bottles of win to stop waiting with empty glasses all the time. The waiter would come without enough cutlery most times and was clumsy to the point of dropping a dirty knife onto one of laps without so much as an apology. Considering the price ended up over $200 a head it was pretty outrageous that after all that the bill came out with an added 20% tip which had in now way been earned. All in all a wholly dissapointing experience and we will not be back.

We enjoyed the variety. The menus change daily. They were very accommodating as we shared duck and venison entrees. Delicious! And we had to try a variety of deserts with a creamy cappuccino. Ahh Austin you are a foodie town! Everything is made in-house, so very fresh. The service was exceptional. My water glass was never 1/2 empty. Parking is easy. Glad we were able to enjoy this dinner, yummmm

I really enjoyed getting to taste all the freshest ingredients in each of the chef's creations. The wines paired superbly with each course! Can't wait to dine again!

I went here with a friend for her birthday. We were traveling Texas for a week and I found Wink on Trip Advisor. I am glad I did. The restaurant is tucked away in a little strip mall, but what a find it was. The service was great and the food even better. Granted, it is a bit more pricey, but in my opinion worth every penny. Would definitely come back here if I am back in Austin.

The food is made with local products from local farms Nicely served but not many flavors Place is outdated We return the escargot as it was missing any flavors , we were told “it’s not for everyone “ Cheese crostini was good The foie gras was cooked perfectly but remaining dish was pale Both fish dishes saved the day Good wine selection , not expensive Small selection of beer No cocktails Service is very slow

We really enjoyed our night. Outstanding food! The wine pairings were just ok. Service was a little slow at the end. But all in all a great, great night. These people are truly passionate about what they do which is an incredible thing. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

This neighborhood favorite is tucked away in a corner behind the Whole Earth Provisions, but its well worth the search. A separate wine bar serves up hard to find bottles and glasses. The restaurant is small, but well worth the wait for a table (and the host/hostess will work hard to get you a table while you wait in the bar. Great place!

We happened upon this restaurant while walking around and exploring Austin. Although not yet open for the evening, we were shown around and given menus to peruse. The main restaurant was fully booked for dinner, but it was suggested that we come back for bar seating, which offers both a bar menu and the full menu. We did return, and are so glad we did. We were greeted as “ friends” and enjoyed the bar setting. Wine tastes and recommendations were graciously given (and received) and we loved our choices. Food was delicious and creative. Highly recommend this neighborhood gem.

My girlfriend and I came here on a Friday for the tasting menu and it was really amazing! The food was so fresh and delicious! This is one of the best restaurants in Austin! I highly recommend!

I was invited there to celebrate my birthday recently and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, here are a few or my observations of my 5-meals-w/wine sampling menu enjoyment: Cons: - the place is a tidbit hard to find, stashed in a corner of buildings, tiny and thus tables a bit crammed together - similar to what I see in somebody's else review, I felt like the server was rushing us through the meal a little, as soon as the fork was down the plate disappeared and the next one popped up. Not sure why since I don't believe they turn the tables 2x in an evening. Hint: to prevent it keep a bit on your plate and fork on it so it doesn't look like you are done already :-) Pros: - the service was otherwise perfect, each dish described down to the detail and visually appealing - the wine pairing impeccable / the dishes amazing when it comes to flavor - the portions small but you won't leave hungry, it is a sampling menu (if you decide to do that) They also have normal menu, which looks super appealing when you read it, but I cannot comment on from personal experience.

I absolutely love tasting menus. They give you the opportunity to try foods you wouldn't normally order and I always have a hard time settling on just one entree when there are so many great choices. Wink has outstanding tasting menus. We did the 5 course with wine pairings and the food was absolutely stellar. The wines were a bit less exciting, but they still matched well with the entrees. Next time I think we will try the 7 course menu. We love that they have a seasonal menu with local ingredients. The location is a bit hard to find, but the service was good. We will definitely return.

Pricey but worth it. Intimate setting, Inventive menu, local ingredients and professional staff make for a relaxing experience. Wine list covers a good ground, is reasonably priced but wait staff (at least the one waiting our table) could use more knowledge to understand the diners' taste and recommend just the right wine. Will definitely go back but with BYOB even with $20 corkage charge.

High quality, very well prepared food. A little on the pricy side but the food is excellent and so is the service.

As always the food here is outstanding. This is our third trip here for an anniversary celebration.My beef"tataki", think slightly seated, was delicious, the mussels were outstanding, as was the roasted red pepper soup. Moving on to entrees, my husband is an avid sweetbreads fan and they did not disappoint.My venison was tender and the sauce was very flavorful.The hanger steak was a hit as well. We shared the Quattro dessert which was a sampling of their popular ones, a crane brûlée, goat cheese cake and flourless chocolate cake.Delicious, and more than enough for a sampling by all. The atmosphere was a bit noisy,but, the service was outstanding, not only by our waitress, but, all the waitstaff. We will definitely return for another special occasion while we are visiting our kids. We live in Dallas and U wish we had one there too

We are here for a conference and our guide brought us to this restaurant. We had a 7 course meal. The servings were bite size but tasty. Presentation was very good, it reminded me of a competition like masterchef!

We had a group of 7 for dinner at the wine bar and had an amazing time eating exceptional food. Down to the bread and butter, every detail was beautifully executed. My favorite was the sweetbreads which were perfectly cooked. Other highlights were the scallops and foie gras. And, definitely save room for dessert!

We've dined at Wink a couple times now and I have learned a few things I wish I had known before: 1. They have wine and beer. I chose to drink wine by the glass and found good wine at an affordable price. 2. The portions are small and you will need 3-4 courses in order to feel satisfied. 3. The salads were not the best choice here. My favorite starter was the navy bean soup with bacon and it was delicious, it got rave reviews from all who ordered it. 4. Bread and butter are an important part of the meal, really good! 5. By far the best dessert was the chocolate cake. Warm, moist, served with ice cream. Do not be tempted by anything else! 6. The tasting menu is a fun thing to do -- but everyone at the table must choose to do it. When we did this, the wine pairing added to the experience. 7. We found the server's recommendations to be spot on -- so don't be shy about asking. Bon appetit!

My daughter was traveling in Austin and said this was an amazing spot for a Saturday night! She said the food, ambiance and overall experience was absolutely incredible and everyone was so, so nice. My daughter was there alone, and she said everyone at the restaurant treated her like family. This is a terrific restaurant run by incredible people!

The food was amazing. The scallops were delicious and not over cooked at all. And try the foie gras. It's a must. The restaurant itself is small but nicely decorated and has a comfortable intimate feel. The waiters are very knowledgable of their menu and welcome any questions you may have. This is a true austin treasure.

Now you wouldn't expect this when you walk into the strip mall that you find Wink in, which just adds to the magic. Hidden at the back is this gorgeous locavore restaurant (although the decor itself also sets your expectations down), with an amazing tasting menu & excellent wine pairings. I took an important client for a dinner and it was a super evening. The dishes were clever but never "too clever", and the wine selection included some nice surprises like good Texas wine(!). Maybe the service was a bit too easygoing in presenting the dishes (it would've been interesting to hear a bit more about both the food & wine), but that's a minor complaint about a superb place!

My wife and I decided on the 5 course tasting menu at $100 a head. All five courses were delicious, the service was excellent and very friendly. Total for the night, including one bottle of wine, $280. If that sounds reasonable to you, go, you won't be disappointed. If my review sounds a little underwhelmed, let me explain. We are from the UK and not experiencing a great £/$ exchange rate, so the night was very, very expensive. The cost did not match the location or setting for Wink as it is very unassuming from the outside. Once inside, it was pleasant. So don't let the outside put you off.

We had been at Wink two years ago as a guest of our out-of-town son, and decided to celebrate a birthday with friends. We chose the five item tasting menu with wine pairing. It was a great choice! The portions aren't huge - a good thing - but large enough to satisfy. The wine choices were excellent matches with the food and were ample pours. The ONLY tiny downer was that the service moved more quickly than we would have liked. A five item tasting menu (let alone the seven item menu!) deserves time to absorb and reflect and we felt a bit hurried, as if someone outside was waiting for our table. Plainly that was not the case because when we left there were vacant tables available. That aside, we'd return with enthusiasm - it's a very "foodie" meal in a very "foodie" town. We appreciate that Wink patronizes local producers and the menu varies with what's available - not with what the wholesaler has frozen in bulk. If the main courses aren't enough, the desserts are to die for!

First, the food: Amazing. We did the chef's tasting and everything was superb. Not one item was a let down and the food was as interesting as it was delicious. Now, the service: My husband took me here for my birthday and because the menu changes based on what's fresh, they printed a birthday message to me on my menu, and then all signed it at the end of the night. Likewise all the servers and the manager/owner came by to wish me a happy birthday and attended to us as if we were the only people in the restaurant. Overall they seemed to be genuinely friendly, down to earth and extremely professional people, and not just to me but to everyone in the restaurant.

We had an all around great experience for my special sister's special birthday. The birthday girl was presented with delicious desserts and an autographed menu. A Lambrusco paired with chocolate dessert really tickled my taste buds Alfredo provided great service and I was able to use a Restaurant,com certificate.

I've been going to this place at least once a week- for a very long time. I love it. The service is EXCEPTIONAL, and I love the atmosphere!

We were in Austin for the Formula One race - and made the reservation at Wink based on reviews. What a gem! The chef knows his craft, and is REALLY good at what he does. Our waiter, Dicky, is one of the best ever. He made us feel really welcome. He asked if we had any food issues or sensitivities. I indicated that I had a problem and Dicky brought a sample of the sauce that contained the type of pepper. I had seared duck breast as an entree, and it was the best duck I've had outside of China. We loved everything we had, from appetizer to desert, and desert was amazing! My wife had a sampler of three deserts, and the little lemon tartlet was the best - the flavor was truly deep and had awesome breadth. I had the Chocolate soup - truly unique in both textures and flavors. I would have that desert every time! Wink is a little noisy, but the Chef and Dicky made it all worthwhile. Thanks!

We had steak tartar as an appetizer, a bottle of wine, the duck and the halibut. All great. I recommend the tartar on toasted sliced French bread. The tartar is course and a really nice texture. Great mild spices. The wine selections were good. The service was superb. Plates are smallish. I recommend a dinner here.

We’ve been meaning to eat at Wink for some time now, because it’s been years since we’ve eaten there. It’s no wonder that in a brutally competitive restaurant scene like Austin’s, that Wink is still in business. We were with another couple, all 4 of our appetizers were beautiful and delicious, and our entrees were on point. And to make our meal even more memorable was the service we received from Nicole. It was above and beyond, and it’s so obvious that she truly enjoys her job. I even told her so. After our meal, we decided to skip dessert and an after dinner drink, but Nicole treated us to a round of port and 3 desserts to share. We were all blown away. She’s a credit to the service industry and to Wink as well. We’ll definitely be dining there again soon, and we’ll be certain to request Nicole. I highly recommend this restaurant and our lovely server.

This place is truly amazing, food is off the charts. Let me start by saying they have a wine bar adjacent to restaurant and offers different menu - we dined at both. Menu changes daily. Wine list is perfect, not HUGE and expensive like the franchise joints. I will definitely return many times.

Visiting from out of town and our group ended up here for a fabulous dinner. Service was good but certainly not great however the quality of the food and the presentation made up for any lack in service. They had two tasting menus that we did not participate in. Plan on spending about 70 to $80 per person. I was very appreciative that the sizes were appropriate the sea bass was delicious. By the way not the easiest place to find if you were driving along the street

Very quaint and lively operation, the menu selection paired with wine was very well done. The standout was the exceptional friendliness of the staff. Every person there was just terrific. Great meal, good vibes and the ability to relax on business for a few hours.

When pulling up thought we were in wrong place. Tucked into a small non-descript corner of a unremarkable building. Location deceiving- BECAUSE- the food- oh the FOOD - the tasting menu ranks up there with the best in the USA. Kudus to the chef. What a great surprise. Seek it out when in Austin. its worth it. and the wine pairing was perfect. Not a negative word. Worth flying to Austin for the meal. Dont miss this one!!!

Had the seven course tasting menu and from start to finish with the pairings it was a progressive revelation. Subtle at first professing to the bold. Our culinary adventure was curated by what felt like friends whom had had you over for a special dinner.

We read the great reviews for the restaurant. For us the food was just OK. It's small inside and is noisy because of that. There were 4 of us for dinner....the hamachi was great, the soup was not terrific, cold, and uninteresting. The lamb was delivered raw...when immediately sent it back, I was told that the glaze made it look raw...when it was brought back after recooking, it was still raw (even though I was told it was now medium)....extremely fatty. Maybe 3 or 4 bites of meat from 2 small chops. Veggies in the dish were good. The other dishes were fine....not great, just ok. Wine was a decent value and service was good. Won't be back.

We absolutely loved Wink. They have wonderful multi course dinners and wine pairings or items can be ordered a l carts. Food quality was superb and fresh, lovely presentation and spot on service. Readily available parking too. If you want to have a delightful meal you can savor over two hours, this is the place. Love it and totally worth the price. Same meal in bigger city would be 2x the price.

We visited this restaurant for a couple's date night (us & another couple). It is a bit tricky to find (tucked away behind some other shops). I was surprised how tiny it was once we found it, but that is part of its charm. The host staff is so incredibly friendly and makes a point to remember your name. They are part of the slow food movement, so don't expect that lightning fast service we are accustomed to. Be prepared to take your time and enjoy. The bread & butter was super delish. We all loved our entrees. They are on the small side, which one of our diners wasn't super happy about. I had a fish dish and it was very light and yummy. My friend had the scallops and she raved about them. This is really a wonderful place for a date night to linger and enjoy.

This restaurant hits my top tier for restaurants with fresh food in sensible portions that are artfully presented. After a poor first impression with a mundane and flavorless dinner roll, Wink recovered quickly. My husband and I both noted the obvious attention to detail in the construction of the antelope dish we both ordered, and each of us detected flavors that the other didn't. The sashimi dish we ordered was equally flavorful. While the restaurant is small, it remained comfortable, even when full. The service was friendly and felt very personal. We will be back.

Amazing food and excellent local wine selection! The mac and truffles was to die for...and definitely best we ever had. We got great customer service even though they were busy. I was very impressed with the delicious $27/bottle local wine the waitress recommended. We had two bottles and it went great with our dinner. Great wine, amazing appetizers, and good entrees (least impressive part of meal).

We started going here because of the options of small plates, but we keep going back because of the knowledgeable service, and changing menu. We went again last night - we prefer to sit in the bar rather than the restaurant, it just feels more comfortable with the high tables and leather bar stools. The wine list is not overly long, but has wines for all tastes. The bartenders are helpful and can steer you in the right direction to pair with your food perfectly. We usually do two smaller plates and then a larger entree, but this time we centered on the scallops and PEI mussels in a Vermouth sauce. I needed a soup spoon to get all that buttery goodness left behind! And the scallops were nestled on a smear zipper peas, beautifully accented with Spanish Chorizo. We shared the Brie Burger from the bar menu, along with the Mac & Cheese with Black Truffles - more like crack & cheese. Even the lactose intolerance in me was shoved to the side, ignored once I tasted the cheesy, earthiness of this dish.We finished with the dessert trio - nope, not sharing. Mini ramekins of creme brulee, lemon pots, and mini chocolate lava cake finished the meal off with a purr. Go to Restaurant.com and purchase a discounted coupon - it's one of the few great restaurants on this site and well worth the price. Go! You won't be disappointed.

well, i guess i can say for texas it is good, but not really. the scallops were over salted and fishy. the salad was good, but tiny and a basic small starter salad for $14? or was it more? my boyfriend took me for a romantic dinner. i felt bad, the food was just average, definitely below standards for anyone who has dined in new york city, chicago or los angeles... over-priced. the service staff was polite, kept touching our shoulders which is odd i have to say, my boyfriend counted 12 shoulder touches during our 1.25 hour dinner. i get friendliness but i prefer good food. skip it and save the money. no offense meant to texans, i appreciate your bbq and tex mex, just this was... a waste :(

The restaurant was like the city of Austin itself, eclectic and cozy. Owner and people who work there were unbelievably warm and kind. They took their food creativity very seriously but above that took care of their customers. I felt sitting among my friends having a very nice meal. Thank you!

Let me start off by saying that the first time we dined at wink, we had a very great time. My second time around, my mom was in from out of town , so we wanted to treat her somewhere nice. We decided that wink was a good candidate . The second time we visited, we were disappointed at our experience. After we sat down, we ordered a bottle of wine, upon pouring our glasses, my wife drank from her glass and noticed that the top of the wine glass was cracked. The cracked part actually did go into her mouth and thankfully did not cut her . We immediately grabbed the waitress and notified her. She then offered to replace the glass. We accepted the replacement glass, and she bought another out. We also lost a glass of wine, which was not replaced or credited. The waitress also did not notify a manager. After that , my moms food was ordered wrong and they brought out the wrong entree. The waitress then took the food back to get the right entree brought out. So we then had to all wait there for 15 minutes for my moms correct dish to be brought out. Since we all anted to eat at the same time, we waited to eat our food until the replacement entree came out. By then, all of our food was cold. No manager came to the table to apologize and correct the issues. For us spending over 300 dollars for dinner, we expected a lot more. We will not be returning. Thank You.

Very impressed by both our meals and the service. Our server was both Texas friendly and highly attentive, while our dinners and desserts were clearly attentively and thoughtfully designed and prepared. Great Christmas Eve experience!

Even though we’re here for a short 5 day visit we have to go back to Wink for our last meal before we head home. Our experience there the other night was fabulous: the food and service were exceptional

Me and my girlfriend dined at Wink about three weeks ago and I must say that the experience was less than stellar considering the price. We opted for the chef's tasting menu plus an order of steamed mussels. We had a total of six items. The only ones that stood out were the sashimi, mussels and the medley of desserts. The other three items were quite ordinary. Of course this is our opinion. If asked, I cannot in good honesty recommend this restaurant to anyone.

Our friends are real "regulars" of Wink and asked us to go with them to see how good it is and to possible use it for an event. They are very experienced culinary experts and have a wide range of food/wine interests. We were really excited to give this one a try. You HAVE TO HAVE reservations to get in here on busy nights. Every table was full and only a few empty chairs at couples tables. The owner/chef is a very knowledgeable and friendly person. The wait staff is good and knowledgeable of the menu. The decor is OK, but nothing special or outstanding. The curb appeal is very "strip center" looking and dull. The wine list is good and reasonably priced for what you get. The food is well prepared, decent tasting (not great) and reasonably well presented, but not up to the standards of some of our top Austin restaurants. We were disappointed in the small portions, and the lack of any accompanying side items--I do not remember seeing them on the menu, but I may have had a bit too much wine.... The prices are a little higher than the product merits, but it is reasonable for Austin. Parking is a bit of a pain--not much of it, and some of the spaces are challenging to get into. Bottom line: a good restaurant experience, but not a great one for us. There is a very loyal following here, but we will probably not do it again unless we are with a group of friends that are regulars. The good news is that Austin has such a large number of quality restaurants that we can all easily find places that match to our expectations. It is good to remember that "one size does not fit all!"

Just outside the center of the city. The menu changes regularly but everything looked great. Went with a friend who is local and we started with a soup, delicious, and then chose different entrees and both were outstanding. I had the Arctic Char and it was perfectly cooked. Recommend making reservations; we didn't, and the restaurant was full because it is so small but the staff was very friendly and accommodated us by letting us order from the restaurant menu while sitting at the bar. On the pricey side--soups/salads $12-15 and entrees $28-35 but definitely worth it if you want to treat yourself!

We had an incredible meal at Wink this past week. All of our choices were excellent. The roasted lamb rack was one of the best meals we have ever eaten with the duck breast and scallops close seconds. Service was attentive despite the restaurant being very busy. All in all a wonderful splurge!

We visited Wink for the first time recently on our anniversary. The staff had printed and signed a custom menu commemorating our celebration. The food was all outstanding and the service even better. If you can get Brian as a server you will not be disappointed.

Hot in Austin; 97 degrees, calls for chilled roasted mushroom and white bean soup. Delicious! Topped with aioli. Main course of red deer with French lentils, long beans, and dandelion greens was a first time treat. The deer was spicy and tender. Sea scallops on chilled spaghetti squash salad made my taste buds jump for joy! Finish with a quatro of mini desserts: a grande finale! Anyone visiting Austin must try this out of the way restaurant. From the mural on the wall to dessert, you will have an unforgettable experience.

We made a reservation four our anniversary. It is an intimate place so be prepared for a rise in the noise level as the seats fill. Our waiter was engaging and attentive even with a large 10 top. We really enjoyed the 5 course tasting. It started off with a quail egg amuse bouche. This is a farm to table although the duck, scallops, and hamachi were from other regions. The himachi wasn't the star and was fishy to me but not to my husband. We both loved the buttery scallop and the perfectly seared hangar steak. The finishing touch was a dessert assortment we swapped out for the cheese course. The lemon meringue was my favorite. They customized the menu by printing with our name and the staff signed it. Memorable experience that you should go and dine!

Ate here with my wife over the labor day weekend. we had a nearly dinner reservation before a show at ASL live. Our waiter was a real pro and very attentive. The menu is not extensive, but what they do, they do well. The wine list is small but well selected and reasonable for the quality. No $7 a bottle at $25 offerings. More like $25 at $50. The duck, mussels and scallops are great. There were definitely a lot of birthday and anniversary couples in the place. Make a reservation as they have I guess 20 tables. Dinner with a tip for two is going to run $200. Oh and the bread is great, just wish they had salted butter!

We made 845 Friday night reservations here on our drive to Austin - thanks to cell phones and a late start from Houston. We have eaten here before and loved it. It is tucked in back of a nondescript strip center - you really have to know the address. Even late, the place was quite busy, with good reason. The menu has two tasting selections or a la cart choices. We went a la cart. I had scallops to start followed by a nicely prepared flounder and a world class lemon meringue dessert. We ordered two wines for the three of us, the selection is good but limited. Service and food are very good and I recommend this place for a special treat! It is expensive but worth it! 😎

Everything from the ambience to the service to the food presentation exceeded my expectation. The nouveau cuisine experience was delightful, the wine list agreeable, and overall my husband and I had the perfect dining experience.

I recently tried the seven-course wine pairing meal. It was one of the best dining experience in Austin or anywhere. Anyone coming to Austin should try it and then call Uber. The food was excellent and not overwhelming, plus I did not need to be wheeled out. Was not overstuffed at all. Great concept. I believe this place has been around some time.

We've been dining at Wink a few times a year for ten years. It's easily one of the best innovative restaurants in Austin. This past Friday we took friends for the five Course Tasting menu, which included hamachi sashimi with pico de gallo and green curry, seared scallops with charred eggplant purée, seared duck breast with creamy polenta, hanger steak with red fingerling potatoes, and a Texas cheese plate. Absolutely perfect with fantastic wine pairing with each course. Wink's pricey but really and truly you get what you pay for and they always knock it out of the park. Go and then go back and then go back again!

Have been to this restaurant several times and they are consistently excellent. Creative food and excellent service. Highly recommend the tasting menu with wine pairing.

Great food but service needs improvement with friendly attitude. Amuse bouche delightful and refreshing.

My husband and I had a lovely dinner last night at Wink. We split a tasty variation on a spinach salad. My waiter offered to switch up the accompaniments for the flounder I wanted, and the result was delicious; even though the piece of flounder was quite small, the preparation was meticulous and enticing. My husband enjoyed a generous portion of equally well prepared lamb. Desserts were a highlight; I ordered the trio, and found all three offerings exceptional. Still cannot identify a favorite! My husband still raves about the creme brûlée. Service from Alfredo was personable, professional, and attentive.

It's a little hard to find, but worth the effort. The menu range from lite and raw to gamey and slow cooked. The flavored are complex and clean, but the chef has a sweet tooth, all dishes had a sweet element. While it was interesting, i thought the sweet was out of balance on the sashimi.

It all starts with the owner (Michael, I think) coming over to welcome you. Then the fun really begins. We had the 7 course degustation dinner. We substituted for some of the courses and shared the wine matches. The food was clever and the combinations of flavour mostly really good. some of the courses were a bit heavy handed with the salt but other than that everything was great. We enjoyed this little restaurant. The ambiance is pleasant, the food very good and the wine spectacular. Service was excellent. The noise level was a little high but it didn't bother us. Might have been more of an issue if this was a romantic dinner rather than a Mother/daughter outing. The place is tucked away so was a little tricky to find. I would return

JoJo was our server and we couldn't have been more well taken care of. It was our first time at Wink so we decided on the 7-course tasting menu which did not disappoint at all. The hamachi and antelope were the two standout stars and we had excellent wine pairings throughout. I would highly recommend Wink if you're looking for an excellent experience.

In Austin wink restaurant is truly I foodies restaurant. Each course has a perfect wine pairing if you're interested. Not only is the food delicious it is beautifully plated. I particularly like to dine there when James Bailey is in the kitchen. However anytime you go you will not be disappointed. I ordered the five course with pairings.

I travel to Austin for work and dine solo. I favor going to the wine bar and happy hour is great! Half price bar menu and the wine selection by the glass is more extensive than most restaurants. Wait staff have always been friendly.

Went to Austin for the weekend to celebrate my birthday. I am always amazed by the food scene here, for a city its size, the amount of culinary innovation is really impressive and there are so many great independent restaurants to choose from. The restaurant is a bit difficult to find, even with a GPS and fair warning from the restaurant staff when they called to reconfirm the reservation. Went around the block 2X (past the graffiti garden) and even went up to rooftop parking across the street, it is really tucked behind that Earth Provision Company and not easy to see. Of course now--I will never forget how to find it. The restaurant is split into 2 parts, the bar in on the left and the restaurant is on the right--but with 2 outdoor entrances. The dining room is small and cozy. Service was very good and efficient, not particularly friendly at first, although our server did warm up towards the end. My wife and 2 daughters (12&9) joined me for this celebration and while I would not say the restaurant is completely family friendly, my girls were made to feel right at home. The overall feel in the restaurant is mostly casual, although there were a few patrons who dressed up for the occasion. Really a very nice ambience! Now to the food. Warning, we are light eaters and do not have Texas sized appetites--so we found the portions to be well sized. My wife and I shared an appetizer and had 2 main dishes and were very full. Some people might want to make sure they have individual appetizers. After an amuse consisting of a lentil preparation on a silver spoon, we started with the appetizers. My wife and I shared the seared foie gras that is served with grilled bread, chicken liver mousse, Kumato tomatoes and green pesto. Freshness is the key in this restaurant and the pure natural flavors of the food are not overpowered by the spices and sauces. The foie gras was perfectly prepared and even though you might say why mix with the chicken liver?--somehow it worked really well. The only minor critique was that the bread was a bit too grilled in that it was slightly hard. But overall a wonderful dish! My girls both had the hamachi sashimi with cucumber, jalapeños, basil, scallions and spiced oil. The freshness of the fish was very impressive, as was the subtle flavorings. The portion size was quite good/ They loved it! It was almost enough to fill them. For the main dishes, I had the venison, medium rare with mushrooms, sweet potatoes & leeks in a wine sauce. Delicious! The meat was super fresh and tender. My wife had the duck breast with swiss chard, baby eggplants, mushrooms & carrots in an orange sauce. Another winning entree! Again, super fresh meat and wonderful flavors. Since my daughters were just a bit hungry the waitress offered to bring them a small item from the bar menu (which is usually not allowed in the dining room side)--so they shared a small dish of gourmet mac n cheese--the joke in my family is that even after traveling the world and visiting many Michelin starred restaurants and sampling exotic food and ingredients--my girls sometimes love their comfort food like mac n cheese... We were all stuffed after this but somehow had to order at least one dessert and shared the Wink Trio--consisting of their lemon pot, chocolate cake and creme brûlée - all were delicious and we wish we were not so full that we could have ordered a bit more. A wonderful evening out, despite the rainy weather. Wink is a fantastic restaurant that believes in the purity of its ingredients. They source everything locally and proudly list their suppliers on the menu. If it is not super fresh and perfectly in season-I imagine they will not serve it. Menus are printed daily to reflect what they are able to source. While the current trend is overly complex food and exotic flavors and multi-fusion everything-it is so refreshing to find a restaurant like Wink that believes in the true flavors of the food they serve and does not need to contract with an organic chemist to enhance the natural flavors. Perhaps Wink's pure interpretation of its food and their true flavors will not win them any Michelin stars--but it will win them many ardent fans of their cuisine. Can not wait to return!

We had a wonderful dinner at Wink in late July. The menu is great and the food preparation is unique and competent. The seating is a little tight and it was a very hot night, and I must say, the AC was not working very well. I enjoy sultry weather, but many guests appeared to be sweating. Despite this, we really enjoyed our meals. I had a fish dish that was delicious. I plan to return to Wink on my next visit to Austin.

This is my 2nd time at Wink. The food is always good, but not excellent. The service was great, so what went wrong? 2 things: it's overpriced for the food you've got. It's good, but not THAT good. And the most disappointing thing was the wine pairing. I've chosen the 5 courses menu and they bring me wines in small glasses (Please, buy better glasses!). The quality wasn't good. After the 3rd wine in a row that wasn't good, I decided to check all the wines online for reviews and everything they served was under 14$ a bottle (for an imported wine...) In a place like that for a paired tasting menu, you can't give me that kind of wine. Really disappointed. So the food is good but overpriced, and the wine list is mediocre.

I graduated from UT in 1969 and I promise there was nothing like Wink in Austin then. I return for friends, football and now Formula 1. Wink is on my go-to list for visiting Austin. The last two trips have ended with a family dinner here.

We had the pleasure of celebrating our anniversary tonight at Wink. Not our 1st visit actually our 54 visit over 21 years. We are always impressed by the non rush dining experience. From starting in the cozy wine bar with excellent suggestions to the front of the restaurant ensuring you have a table that meets your needs. The waitstaff is professional and attentive while allowing you time to converse and enjoy your meal. This is what a dining experience should be! We are fans of the establishment.

Wink is an excellent restaurant with great food and service. They have a 5 course and 7 course tasting menu but we opted to order a la carte. The fois gras was innovative and delicious. The duck and the arctic char were perfectly prepared. Service was very professional, extremely helpful and nice. Their wine list is excellent as well.

Great and very creative French food paired with some amazing wines in a cozy and romantic atmosphere. My wife and I love this restaurant when we're out on date night. Each course is unique and delicious and the wine pairings are fantastic!

Small and tucked away with great atmosphere for conversation. Worth the price. Could add to the Merlot selection. Duck was a bit undercooked but very good. Good choice, try them.

Once again Wink proved to be one of my favorite places to eat in the world. The menu changes daily and offers only the very best in local and seasonal food. The service is impeccable from the moment you walk in the door. We have eaten here several times and always find it to be creative and perfectly satisfying. Try it, you will love it.

A rather unique restaurant. HIgher end. No liquor store, only beer and wine. Our group had the red deer, hangar steak and grouper and all of us enjoyed what we had. The dessert trio was wonderful. One of those dining experiences

We too visited Wink based upon reviews. However, what many failed to mentioned was the lack of Ambience non pictures on walls and poor entrance image. The worse part of our experience, is the owners wife (aka waitress) attempted to educated in great detail despite our gracious request to leave us to own vices. Our waitress attempted to push more of the menu that we wanted to commit to. The 5- course & 7- course meals did not have prices, and again was pressured to share the experience. We had the Duck entree was very good, and myself skirt steak. Service was punctual and attentive. And the final disaster was the TRIO desert of the sequence of how to eat our desert. She was culinary wrong. Obviously, we will not go back nor recommend.

Was with a large group so choosing the 5 course seemed the easier way to go. We did opt for the wine as well which made it spendy. The tastes of wine were generous. The portions of food smal but filling. Random acts of Protein is how one of our group put it. Raw fish, scallops, duckand venison.. all very tasty as was the dessert sampler we chose over the cheese sampler. I would recommend for special occasion.

We so enjoyed dinner at Wink. Our server Debra took such great care of us. The foie gras appetizer was wonderful. The wine recommendations were spot on. The duck breast was prepared perfectly. A nice selection of menu choices. I would definitely return.

I've lived in Austin for years and have always heard of Wink, but never got around to trying it. Well, I am so glad this past weekend I did. The restaurant is very small and intimate which I liked. The staff was extremely warm when we arrived and that continued until we left. They used our first names throughout our meal and made us feel right at home. The food was absolutely delicious. We went with 5 course tasting menus with wine pairings. As a vegetarian, I honestly never have an opportunity to do a tasting menu because restaurants hardly ever have a vegetarian menu. Not only does Wink have one, but it was incredible. The produce that was used in these dishes was so fresh. Each dish and glass of wine was explained to us and the presentation was beautiful. Definitely could be the best meal I have had in Austin...or in my life.

Came here with a group of friends, loved the explanation for the whole tasting menu and the wine pairing. It really shows off the knowledge and the care they put in pairing off every dishes. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who's visiting Austin!

We booked a work dinner at this restaurant one evening. It turned out we suddenly needed to switch nights to the very same evening at the last minute. They were very accommodating and tried to fit our large party in as much as was physically possible. When we first arrived, it was kind of strange seeing the restaurant in a mini strip mall parking lot beside a dry cleaners. However, don't judge a book by it's cover. We started in the wine bar next door which had a good selection of wines but got crowded as everyone from our party arrived. We moved next door to the restaurant for dinner. Wink is part of the slow food movement and tried to source locally as much as possible. We had a tasting menu of five dishes. All were very well done, tasty and well presented with friendly Texas service. I can't comment on the value since I wasn't footing the bill. What I specifically liked about the restaurant was that it was very good quality food but without the pretension of a place or service where you would usually expect to get this level of food. Overall, we all enjoyed our meal. We got a little carried away at the end of the meal when we were thanking the staff for the evening and applauding anyone who walked through the door, to the bemusement of our CEO, but it was still a fun night if you kept your sense of humour. So I can recommend this place for both the food and the service if you are looking for something a bit more upscale for a dinner out.

You will have a nice meal here but it will not consistently knock your socks off. I had the romaine salad with grapes and blue cheese. Pretty straight forward, no element of surprise (which I secretly had hoped would be there). Had the duck entrée which was cooked PERFECTLY to my specifications. It was the best duck I have ever had. Dessert trio was a fun way to try some of their best. Our server was a little preoccupied or perhaps new? Nice snappy casual atmosphere. Restaurant is tucked in corner of strip center behind Whole Earth Provisions. You can park across the street, which was good to know in advance.

Food quality was inconsistent. Some dishes like the venison and salad were very good, others like the stuffed quail and tomato/seafood soup were average and needed ALOT more seasoning. Not acceptable at the prices payed. Portions were also small for a la carte dishes. Wish I had turned my dish back like some other reviewers. You can find better options in Austin.

Our group of six friends gets together every year around the holidays to celebrate at one of the area's fine dining establishments. Wink was the choice this year and we couldn't have been more pleased with the food or the service. The menu changes daily and our group chose to forego the tasting menu in favor of ordering individual appetizers and entrees. Everything from the duck to the halibut to the scallops was excellently prepared and presented. The wine selection is not the biggest I've ever seen but is more than adequate. Be sure to order the dessert trio. Three great selections in one. The restaurant can be a bit difficult to find and parking is always a challenge in this area of Austin but that just makes the adventure that much more fun. Highly recommended.

Been here a couple of times over the past 4-5 yrs and every meal has always been excellent. Was it the best meal ever? Perhaps not the entire meal but the foie gras certainly counts in the top 3 best foie gras ever. In fact I have ordered the foie gras as an appetizer and back as a dessert during the same meal. We had two little kids with us during out last visit and we decided to call ahead that at times dinner may be challenging. But the waitress was very understanding and even entertained our kids when possible. GREAT visit, GREAT food, and certainly will return.

We had an enjoyable dinner here. I had the beef tartare which was delicious. This was followed by sweetbreads which melted in my mouth. I had the cheese plate which was a nice finish to the dinner. My husband had the duck breast which he rated 4 out of a possible 10. He said it was tough and had too much fat. He had the lemon pot for dessert which he said was delicious. The food is creative and delicious. The only have a beer and wine license. They have a nice wine list. The wines are quite reasonable. The place is virtually impossible to see from the street. It is tucked away in the dark corner of a strip mall. I feel that the parking is inadequate. All ingredients are locally sourced.

Foodie alert. Recently dined here for the first time...Truly a little gem of a restaurant hidden in a small strip shopping center. Almost missed it but for Waze. Has an adjacent wine bar where we waited for the rest of our family to arrive. Incredibly pleasant waitstaff at the bar and the restaurant. Every item on the menu was beautifully prepared and presented. Earned a well-deserved spot on my Austin dining list.

If you like wine, wink is your place. I always take newcomers here because it’s one of those off the beaten path, cozy, personal places that serves exquisite farm to table meals, even at the bar. The bartenders are always welcoming and personal and also spin records. A little Gem of a place!