3 Best Restaurants in North Austin, Austin

The strictly seasonal, locally sourced daily specials at the celebrated Barley Swine blend the artistic style of Japanese sushi with the familiarity of Southern comfort food. Be sure to list any food allergies when reserving as dinner comes in the form of a fixed daily menu of chef-selected small plates ($115 per person) with expert beverage pairings (starting at $65 per person). Executive chef and owner Bryce Gilmore and his team deliver innovative dishes like duck-blood crepes with sweet chiles and pear-and-turnip soup with apple cider and chanterelles. Reservations are essential at this intimate eatery and can be made well in advance or sometimes the day of.

On the glamorous grounds of the Commodore Perry Estate, this chic garden restaurant seems far removed from the daily aesthetic of Austin. The hotel's dreamy Italianate mansion lends to the restaurant's Jazz Age vibes, with opulent, floral decor and a decadent menu of Texas heritage cuisine to match. The atmosphere of an exclusive soiree hangs over the artful presentations of signatures like barbecue scallops and Delta Blues rice with halibut and smoked trout roe.

Whether you're grabbing a cocktail at the bar, sharing a few appetizers with friends on the treehouse-like outdoor patio, or settling in to one of the elegant-yet-cozy booths for a romantic dinner with your honey, this Bryker Woods locale in northwest Austin serves up a satisfying lineup of fresh, Italian-inspired fare. Top picks from the popular picolo piatti (small plates) menu include scallop crudo with butternut squash and thinly sliced zucchini involtini wrapped around a decadent mushroom filling.