Best Open Kitchen Restaurants in Downtown

12 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Lamberts Downtown Barbecue restaurant

1. Lamberts Downtown Barbecue

4.7

Exceptional(2258)

Price: Expensive

• Barbecue • Downtown

Booked 42 times today

BBQ ALWAYS, LIVE MUSIC OFTENLocated on the corner of 2nd and Guadalupe Streets in downtown Austin (a block away from Town Lake & Moody Theater), in a historic 1873 Victorian building once home to J.P. Schneider general store, Lamberts features modern Texas classics including expertly smoked barbecue, grilled prime steaks, simple yet elegant apps and mains, and homestyle sides. We are open daily for lunch and dinner.The two-story dining room features an open kitchen, two bars (with one of the best whiskey selections in town) as well as an outdoor patio surrounding our Mill Scale smoker. The design includes black leather banquettes and repurposed sinker pine table tops. The vibe is laid-back Austin and not afraid to get a little rowdy at times—especially when there's live music Upstairs at Lamberts. *If booking an outdoor table, please note that patio seating is weather contingent. During those times, we will do our best to accommodate indoor seating depending on availability.

2. Verbena

4.4

Awesome(416)

Price: Moderate

• Contemporary Mexican • Downtown

Booked 18 times today

Verbena is a restaurant and bar located in the heart of West 6th Street occupying the street side ground level of the award-winning Canopy by Hilton Hotel. The venue is comprised of a 36-seat bar and lounge, a 60-seat dining room with open kitchen, and wood-burning hearth, both which open to a lush open-air courtyard. Journey through Chef Paolo's gastronomic narrative where he pays homage to his contemporary Mexican roots. His menu is highly influenced with essences of French techniques and contains stories and flavors he's discovered throughout his travels. It is truly a memorable dining experience. Come grab a coffee and freshly baked pastry on your way to work or spend a Sunday morning over a bountiful brunch. Meet a friend for a vibrant patio lunch or gather with co-workers for drinks and dinner. You’re always welcome at Verbena.

A photo of Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar restaurant

3. Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar

4.9

Exceptional(3711)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Downtown

Booked 72 times today

Perla's offers fresh fish and oysters flown in daily from both coasts with an emphasis on sourcing from the gulf and locations around the world. The bar makes delicious coastal cocktails and the wine list is stocked with fun sparkling, rosé & white wines.Perla's has Austin’s prettiest oak-shaded patio and a comfortable airy dining room featuring a huge saltwater fishtank, poured concrete oyster bar and open kitchen. Learn more about McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality and their family of restaurants at www.mmlhospitality.com.

4. Juniper

4.7

Exceptional(2650)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • East Austin

Booked 24 times today

Consistently listed in the top 10 best restaurants in the city by the Austin American-Statesman, Juniper combines locally-sourced, hyper-seasonal Texas ingredients and old world technique, creating comforting yet innovative dishes that connect Northern Italy to Central Texas. Rounding out the offerings are a world-class beverage program and a special 6 course Pre Fixe Menu at $95 per person, which guests can pair with an optional 6 course wine tasting at $65 per person.Located on the 2nd floor of Juniper, our private event space can accommodates groups of all sizes. Perfect for holiday parties, networking events, corporate dinners, luncheons, birthday parties, and weddings. Select the Private Dining below to view additional information.

5. Vespaio Austin

4.7

Exceptional(1706)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Downtown

Booked 33 times today

Vespaio Restaurant is one of the original South Congress eateries and remains one of Austin's favorite Italian go-to's among locals and visitors. This casual dinner venue is a popular choice for date nights or evenings out with friends, seating every day at 5pm. The interior of Vespaio Restaurant is decorated with ceiling tiles, ceiling plans, vintage pendant lighting, classic table seating, a plethora of wine racks and vibrant accent walls.In addition to a full bar menu, Vespaio Restaurant offers a lengthy selection of mouth-watering and flavorful authentic Italian dishes. Menu items include carpaccio, mixed seafood stew, lasagna, mussels, calamari, spaghetti carbonara, chocolate hazelnut cake, panna cotta and green pasta with shrimp. Everything on the menu is sourced locally and prepared in-house, including the pasta, bread and pastries.

6. Cannon+Belle

3.9

Excellent(141)

Price: Moderate

• Unspecified • Downtown

Booked 1 time today

With a menu as ambitious, inspired and unexpected as Austin itself, Cannon + Belle - a 2023 recipient of the OpenTable Diners' Choice award - captures the taste and the texture of the weird city everyone loves to love. From the Bourbon Bar Experience to fresh cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients, Cannon + Belle's bar, indoor biergarten and dynamic (open-view) kitchen are Austin's answer to Texas-fresh.

7. Cipollina

4.8

Exceptional(1202)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Downtown

Booked 15 times today

Cipollina is a beloved Italian restaurant in Clarksville, known for its dedication to fresh, handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and other traditional Italian dishes, all made from scratch. Since 1999, we’ve been serving the Clarksville community with high-quality ingredients and a welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're a local or a visitor, Cipollina is the perfect place to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in a relaxed setting. Join us and taste why we’re a favorite spot for Italian food lovers in Clarksville.

A photo of VERDAD True Modern Mexican restaurant

8. VERDAD True Modern Mexican

4.7

Exceptional(547)

Price: Expensive

• Mexican • Austin

Booked 52 times today

VERDAD pulls from traditions cultivated throughout Mexican history to authentically capture and appreciate the relationship between the past and the present – a focus that inspired the concept’s name VERDAD. VERDAD translates to “truth”. VERDAD will bring this promise to life with authentic, ingredients-focused Mexican dishes modernized through high-end cooking technique and innovative presentation, providing an elevated dining experience inspired by a steakhouse point-of-view. Follow the history as it unfolds through the VERDAD menu, robust collection of tequila, sweet treats and more!

A photo of Carillon Restaurant restaurant

9. Carillon Restaurant

4.9

Exceptional(940)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Downtown

Booked 6 times today

The Carillon is a New American restaurant featuring familiar food with a refined twist. The Carillon provides a sophisticated and approachable dining experience for all occasions. Our culinary team masterfully creates dishes with local, fresh, and seasonal produce and organic, grass-fed or free-range proteins. The Carillon offers ‘a la Carte’ or 3-course dinner for $45 tasting menu, which can be skillfully paired with award-winning wines.Located at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin, The Carillon delivers an impressive and memorable experience. Complimentary self-parking in the Conference Center Garage. Bring your ticket to be validated. We look forward to seeing you soon.

A photo of Paul Martin's - Austin restaurant

10. Paul Martin's - Austin

4.7

Exceptional(2282)

Price: Expensive

• American • North Central

Booked 32 times today

Be it a succulent filet mignon or flavorful marinated skirt steak, Paul Martin’s American Grill in Austin is serving classic American cuisine set to a higher standard. Our premium beef, chicken and seafood are mesquite grilled over a live fire to ensure a perfect sear every time. Located in the Domain NORTHSIDE, our lively bar is the ideal venue to gather with friends and try a few of our extensive wines by the glass while sharing a plate of tacos.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

J
Jennie
Atlanta Metro •11 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Enjoyed dinner on the patio. Nice higher end bbq option. Everything was delicious and very good service.
More info
Lamberts Downtown BarbecuePrice: Expensive• Barbecue• Downtown
•
4.7
M
Marcellevip
New York City •30 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
The food is tasty, innovative, and rich (option for smaller portions for the pastas). The service is friendly and attentive but not intrusive. The restaurant is busy and not quiet, but the room in the front on the left is good for smaller parties of 4-7 because you can still have conversation above the background noise. This is my third visit to Vespaio, and I plan to return for their fresh, rich, innovative Italian dishes. Note: the entree sizes are huge and shareable.
More info
Vespaio AustinPrice: Expensive• Italian• Downtown
•
4.7
M
Mikevip
Austin •10 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
This is a beautiful restaurant! We have loved every meal that we have eaten here. The menu is small, but thoughtful. The service is kind. But professional. Parking is a little tricky, but we'll worth it.
More info
JuniperPrice: Expensive• Italian• East Austin
•
4.7
J
Jennifervip
Austin •93 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Perla’s food and service are always wonderful. Today’s server, Kristen, upped the bar. She was fantastic. It was a gorgeous day, so the deck was packed but we had a relaxed, easier to talk and to “take our time” lunch with an old friend in from out-of-town inside. Insanely yummy oyster po’boy. Love you Perla’s.
More info
Perla's Seafood and Oyster BarPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Downtown
•
4.9
R
Ron
Idaho •7 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
Very friendly. Subtle flavors were very intriguing. Well done.
More info
VerbenaPrice: Moderate• Contemporary Mexican• Downtown
•
4.4

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Best Open Kitchen Restaurants in Downtown

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12 restaurants available nearby

1. Lamberts Downtown Barbecue

2. Verbena

3. Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar

4. Juniper

5. Vespaio Austin

6. Cannon+Belle

7. Cipollina

8. VERDAD True Modern Mexican

9. Carillon Restaurant

10. Paul Martin's - Austin

See what locals rave about

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