Tavel Bristol-Joseph is an acclaimed pastry chef and restaurateur, co-owner of the Emmer and Rye Hospitality Group. He is recognized for his innovative dessert creations and his commitment to mentoring and supporting...
5
Emmer & Rye absolutely delivered. We had dinner there on July 3rd while in Austin, and it was one of those meals where every course felt thoughtful, creative, and completely dialed in.
We started with the smoked Gulf oyster, which had this awesome balance of smoke, brightness, and heat. It was bold without being heavy, and a perfect way to kick things off. The sourdough bread was ridiculous in the best way — great texture, deeply flavorful, and that cultured butter with smoked blackberry honey took it over the top.
The tortelloni was probably one of my favorite bites of the night. Rich, savory, and beautifully balanced, with just enough uniqueness to make it memorable without feeling like it was trying too hard. The arepa was another standout — comforting, buttery, and full of flavor. Simple idea, executed at a very high level.
Then came the Texas Akaushi wagyu, and it was exactly what you hope for when you order wagyu in Texas: perfectly cooked, deeply beefy, tender, and paired with flavors that complemented the meat instead of covering it up.
Dessert was a fig pudding-style dish, and I wish I remembered the exact name because it was fantastic. Fresh figs, glossy syrupy sweetness, beautiful texture, and just enough richness to finish the meal on a high note without feeling overdone.
Service was excellent, the pacing was smooth, and the whole experience had that rare mix of creativity, hospitality, and serious culinary skill. Emmer & Rye is easily one of the best meals we’ve had in Austin, and I’d go back in a heartbeat.
Finally able to try Emmer & Rye. Customer service was superb. They even changed my plate after the appetizers without me having to ask. :) The place itself was nice too, and since the weather was great, we sat out on the patio.
For appetizers, we got the empanada, which was okay, the flavor leaned more Mexican than Peruvian. Our server suggested pairing it with the tomato and honeydew dish, and that turned out to be a great recommendation. Everything sat on top of a curry sauce that surprisingly worked really well together.
For mains, we had the gulf fish and the pork loin with black chow chow, which I really liked. The pork was moist with a crust. Overall, it was a great experience. They rotate the menu often, so we may come back to try again.
Unfortunately, they didn’t have a chocolate dessert that appealed to me, so I skipped dessert. One thing to note: the portions are on the smaller side, so you may want to order more dishes than you normally would.
This restaurant just became one of my top 5 in Austin. Food was very good and the service was outstanding. Our server Ellie was attentive and knowledgeable. I got a bit over zealous with my hands describing something while talking at the end of our meal and accidentally spilled my last bit of wine. She was so nice to bring me a bit more to make up for the loss.
We were celebrating our anniversary and everyone that we interacted with acknowledged that, and there was also a card signed by the staff waiting at our table when we arrived.
The sourdough bread presentation did not disappoint and the Cacio e Pepe was another highlight. The salad suggested by our server was also perfectly balanced and dressed. We ended the night with the chocolate chip dessert… one of the most unique palate cleansing experiencing ever.
We will be back!
Every dish that came out was amazing. They started us with a tea to awaken our palates. We ordered the crudo, Johnny cakes, sourdough bread, pappardelle and wagyu steak. Finished off with the sorbet. Mikki was our server and made sure the course came at the right time and that we always had water. We had a great dinner experience at Emmer & Rye. Would definitely come back or recommend others to visit!
Had a wonderful experience for a date night. Our server Damian was so friendly and attentive. All the staff were great- keeping the table clean, bringing new cutlery etc. loved the presentation of the delicious focaccia bread and butters. The fish was so tasty and my husb said his chicken was really good too!
