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Categories: American (New), Seafood [Edit]
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Service and the personable host of Wink made it tempting to give 5 stars. The reason I give 4 stars is the atmosphere. It's tiny inside, tables that are very close to each other (which i am not used to being a texan my whole life). It didn't help the party sitting next to us kept flashing pictures with their bigass dslr while describing flamboyantly how magnificent their meal last week was....
The food is good (even better knowing they support the local farmers), but just nothing that gets me excited or leaves me thinking "I can't wait to order this again" which i expected with the price range and the yelp reviews. My guest asked the sous chef/waitor what his favorites were, he rec'd the wild boar belly as an app, braised lamb, and duck breast. The ingredients were extremely fresh, they emphasized not taking the attention away from the main ingredient. They sat us with a broccoli puree with olive oil (compliments of the chef), which was light, fresh, perfect saltiness level. Duck breast were very tender, not even a hint of gaminess, sauce complimented very well with a sweet and sourness. Braised lamb tasted very earthy, reminded me of chinese herbal medicines, still good in it's own way.
Please note: My review might be a bit critical due to the fact that I'm a steak lover who would have much rather had a ribeye at Ruths Chris or ALC for the same price range.
Wink, I fell in love with you all over again after enjoying your perfect Monkfish and broccoli entree, and your tasty duck egg bruschetta. (For those of you who might be unaware, well cooked Monkfish has the texture and taste of lobster).
You would get 5 stars if your bar server didn't forsake us for long periods of time while he was busy chatting at all his tables. Dear Mr. Chatty Cathy, congratulations on your vast knowledge of wine, but we the patrons would actually like to opportunity to order some!
Our party of 4 had dinner at Wink recently on a Thursday evening. We had reservations which was… Read more »
Wink is always a delightful experience. The wine bar is a bit darker and more lounge/club-like than the restuarant area, although both are very initimate. Make a reservation for the restaurant side or walk in on the bar side and find a table. Definitely one of the top 5 restaurants in Austin (also see Uchi, Vespaio, Lamberts, Fino)
Daily menu changes with a serious focus on what is available locally or can be flown/trucked in fresh. Very limited vegetarian selections FYI but a ton of fish and meat dishes all prepared with love. Lots of unusual choices on the menu, including wild game and fish that you don't see at too many other locations. Foie gras to die for... I recommend stacking the items on your plate into flavor packed bites too. For example, take a small piece of the duck, add some sauce, add some of the vegetables and pop in your mouth. Incredible and even better than the individual items themselves.
The 5 and 7 course tasting menus are a steal at around $65 and $100 respectively. You can include wine pairings for a bit more. Or, order 3 or 4 different items for the table and share. Portions are smallish compared to your average restaurant but are adequate unless your favoriate place starts with Ryan's and ends with Steakhouse Buffet.
Fantastic service and incredible management to boot. Great place for a special occassion, assuming you like to be treated like a king. If you're more like the guy I recently saw on Venice Beach with a sign asking to be kicked for a dollar, then head on over to that Ryan's place...
In a slight wine-induced haze after my meal, the only word I could think of to describe Wink was succulent. Now a little further removed, I can provide a few additional comments. Wink lives up to expectation. We ordered the 5-course tasting menu which was definitely the way to go. Portion sizes were perfect and I didn't leave feeling overwhelmed. I was a bit squeamish about some things on the menu, but easily managed to conquer my fears after first bite.
Others have questioned the quality of the service, but I thought it was excellent. They are attentive but know that almost everyone dining is there for some sort of special occasion, so they let you enjoy your celebration (of whatever sort). Besides, you probably won't need anything extra.
Definitely pricey, but don't you expect to spend a lot here?
Hmm..I don't know if I'm being bitchy or fair. The food here is good; I doubt anyone would say it's just plain bad. And the prices are actually not as expensive as I was fearing. I guess I have dined at too many overpriced restaurants (mostly in CA) so I was happy to not have to spend as much as I was thinking. I went with about 5 or 6 other people, all from LA, and they were satisfied...that's definitely saying something. But, I've had better food presented in more interesting ways. I ordered the halibut which had some really nicely roasted brussel sprouts, and that was a pleasant surprise. But, I don't think it's a '5-star' restaurant. The service is very good, but the space itself is very cramped and too small. I'm not sure if the size really adds to any intimacy or positive experience. It just comes across as a lot of other restaurants I have been to, and I guess I'm just not impressed. And maybe I'm also a bitch. Go figure. Sorry, Wink.
The restaurant is nice, but after spending $220 (w/o tip) I expected more. We did the tasting menu. As a vegetarian, they said they could make something special. It was good, but not $68 dollars good. Lots of potatoes (in almost every dish). And they pretty much gave me the same thing as my boyfriend, but sans meat. A few of the dishes were not satisfying (a small halved potato + a sliver of trumpet mushroom when my companion is having lamb with the same?)
Pros: wine selection, cheese plate, dessert.
Next time we'll skip dinner and just have those.
Wine bar is fantastic. We have had the mac n cheese with truffles, olives, nuts, cheese plate… Read more »
The bar side (not the restaurant, turn left and go to the bar, it's a seperate building) is one of my favorite places downtown.
I've never had trouble finding a place to sit during happy hour, their wine list is fantastic and, most importantly, I go for the mac & cheese. Come on, cheese + truffles...who doesn't like that?
I have no desire to try out the restaurant - I've heard too many bad experiences...but, that's OK, I'll stick to the bar and endulge in their many cheesey, slidery, patey good dishes. At a fraction of the price.
Now, I do have to warn that the bar tenders aren't the most attentive...but, if you take your chill pill beforehand you'll be fine.
Place is tiny, 17 tables, decor isn't great. It's felt crowded.
On the other hand, I don't go out just for decor--I can stay home for that. I go for food, service, experience. Wink delivers.
Food was amazing. Creative. Tasty. Well seasoned. Perfectly cooked.
Service was remarkable. Cory was be server I've had in years--leaving a fat tip was a joy.
My wife and I ate dinner at Wink on a recent Monday evening. We went with another couple, and all of us agreed at the end of the evening that it was just "average" or "just o.k." We were surprised, of course, that our experience did not live up to the rave reviews we had heard and read of Wink around town.
THE FOOD
The four of us had the 5-course tasting menu with wine pairings and two people had one more glass of wine a-la-carte, and the table split two desserts. The bill came to $483 including tax, not including gratuity. The price of the meal, in my opinion, demanded extremely high quality, and we had a mediocre experience. For about $140 a person including gratuity, we expected much, much more.
The beef tartare to start was moderately good, moving on to a very unexciting scallop. The only truly "superb" course, in my opinion, came next -- the new guinea hen. The wine that was paired with the hen, a red blend made predominantly of Syrah, was also very good. The beef course (a trimmed portion of ribeye) was disappointing, as was the Cabernet Sauvignon paired with it. And the cheese tray at the end was just "o.k." The dessert trio tray also got mixed reviews at the table.
We regularly go to restaurants around town where $140 can buy an excellent meal for two people (think Parkside, Perla's, etc.) and we were disappointed to spend that amount per person and to have a lackluster experience.
THE SERVICE
Our waitress was excellent -- very professional, attentive, and the courses in our 5-course tasting were perfectly timed. She was clearly passionate about food and Wink in particular. We could not have asked for a better server experience.
So, here's what happened...
I had read the reviews on here before we left so I sort of knew what to expect. I had called in the make a reservation for my girlfriend's birthday and they were very polite and friendly for the most part. So that was nice.
So, we arrive and we are greeted by who I guess was the owner. He wished us a happy anniversary. Um, what? I guess whoever took our reservation didn't hear me right. They also got my name wrong. Oh well.
The atmosphere is awesome. Very intimate, very stylish. The service is very very very good. They were out of the wine we wanted, but our waiter made an excellent alternative suggestion for around the same price.
For some reason, they were playing country music. I have nothing against country music for the most part, but it didn't really seem to fit the atmosphere. It's like playing jazz in a bar that had a mechanical bull, you know what I mean?
The food was really good. The menu, as you have probably read, changes every day. So that's pretty cool. I ordered the duck for the first time, like, ever and I enjoyed it.
Don't buy into the cliche and tired criticism of the small serving portions. No, you shouldn't order the veal and expect half the baby cow to show up on your plate. The dining experience of a restaurant like Wink is all about quality, and care. If you prefer quantity then perhaps Wink just isn't your kind of restaurant.
I came here for my birthday last week, and the entire experience was fantastic. Our server was accommodating to any questions we had about the menu and made some excellent wine suggestions. The lamb rack dish was spectacular. Not only was every single bite packed with incredible flavor, but the dynamic between the different ingredients was executed brilliantly. I can see how someone preoccupied with not being able to sufficiently stuff their face, might overlook such a minor detail.
I really appreciate that they list the local farms that source their produce and ingredients. And also the fact that the menu changes daily, based on the availability and seasonality of produce. This is the kind of culinary responsibility that I wish more restaurants would strive to emulate.
I would most definitely NOT recommend Wink Wine bar to anyone looking for a nice, quiet place to go where the staff is stellar and knowledgeable and where the food is fresh, amazing and imaginative. No not at all. Its sooo crowded, I'm sure you could never get a table. And don't even think for a minute you could say, put your name down at Uchi (where the wait is something like an hour and half in the heat) and hightail it over here for a drink or two, maybe an appetizer and still make it back in time to be seated. It just wouldn't work.
Happy hour? Never. Date night? Nuh-uh. Girl's Night? Hell to the No!
(Disclaimer: my son told me today was opposite day:)... But seriously, stay away. Wink is all mine.)
Highly recommended. My fiance took me there the night after we got engaged, and I cannot imagine a more perfect place.
The food was spectacular, as was the service. In fact, the service was some of the best ever. Totally helpful, yet not at all pushy, and downright pleasant. We also had some incredible wine pairings, although I couldn't begin to say what they were. Perfect, though.
I definitely recommend Wink for any sort of special occasion - romantic birthday, celebratory dinner for two, etc.
Wink was a disappointment. After all the positive Yelp reviews and other write-ups, I was ready for an amazing meal. Sadly, it was ordinary. Nothing was bad, but nothing was great. There was no creativity in the dishes or anything so extraordinary that justified the price, $65 for 5 courses I think. The only dish of the 5 I remember was the scallops.
Maybe there aren't many local, organic, slow food sit-down restaurants in Austin, so Wink is great by default. But, for me, I've had better.
I generally do not frequent restaurants this expensive, so this was a special occasion for me. We called that morning to make a reservation, and it was a Saturday - not a holiday or anything, but still, I was surprised that it was that easy to get a same-day reservation.
On that note, I will also mention that in my day job I frequently make reservations at this restaurant for my boss. Every time I call, I seem to get the same guy - the manager, I believe - who is courteous, friendly, and always asks if it is a special occasion. He was equally as friendly and courteous as he is to me when I book for my boss. Always a great way to start looking forward to it, and the customer service I experienced on the phone was definitely congruent with the level of service we experienced that night. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful when we needed explanation of the menu or suggestions for wine.
The menu rotates and is changed daily or almost daily (I'm not sure), which is fun because you'll never see the same menu twice. It's all local, organic, and part of the slow food movement. Best of all, though, it was the most delicious meal I've had in a long time. I can still taste the amazing, luscious steak and sharp dandelion greens (who know they tasted so good?), but the dessert nearly knocked me over, it was so amazing. I have never, ever in my life tasted a dessert so delicious and absolutely perfect. We ordered the sampler trio to get the best of everything, and boy did we.
We each ordered three courses and a bottle of wine, and if I remember correctly the bill was about $125. I vowed right then and there that I would come back, and though I am not the high-flying sort at all, it's completely worth it to skip a few less amazing meals out per month and cook at home and save up for a meal at Wink. I absolutely can't wait to go back.
Dear Wink,
I wanted to write to thank you so much for such a lovely evening. I made a reservation (online no less, very handy) for dinner on my beloved girlfriends birthday, and you handled it beautifully. I really appreciated all the personal attention you lavished upon us, her in particular. I realize you uniquely create your menu on a daily basis, but the personalized menu with a birthday wish and her name printed on it was a nice touch. Our server was wonderfully attentive, helpful to me since I had never dined there (I like the wine bar, but had sadly missed the dining room before this,) and wonderful to her. She's a vegetarian, and he attentively asked her several things about what she enjoys and what looked good on some of the non-vegetarian items. Then, he took that info to the chefs, who custom crafted a unique dish, just for her, and it was delicious. Meanwhile, my steak was perfectly prepared and delicious. Throughout the meal we got wonderful service with plenty of first name recognition that made the experience personal and oh so enjoyable. She particularly enjoyed the custom copy of the menu she got to take home, autographed personally by the chefs. Carla had a truly wonderful birthday, and we will be back whenever we can be.
Thank you,
Jeff
While the food was very good, the price was high and the portion sizes small. My husband ordered the scallops and for $28 got 3 scallops and a smattering of thinly sliced onion and mango. I had the quail breast and got 4 small medallions with 4 tiny new potatoes, a few slices of zuchini and greens for $26. Everything tasted superb but be aware that you might still be hungry when you're done. The best bang for your buck was the El Rey Choclate Cake for $8. It was excellent.
Service was adequate but it was a nice touch to be greeted at the door by the owner.
You know that feeling when it seems like all the stars are aligned as they should and time just stops for a moment. Well, Wink did that for me.
The few times I have been here were nothing short of amazing. The dining area is small, but very intimate. The interior consists of walls painted with muted earth tones juxtaposed with stark white table cloths, wine glasses and silverware. All of these elements set the stage for the food, wine and the diners to be the focal pieces.
The people at Wink know their food and wine, so I would suggest getting the tasting menu with the wine and let them do all the work. I generally don't like duck, but here is amazing it was like butter melting in my mouth.
Wink is a place to go with loved one(s) because once you step into the restaurant it will feel like you are the only people in the world.
Last night was a night to remember. Eleven (can't believe I forgot Colette in the reservation) of us convened here to celebrate a birthday (Jessica S.'s). Mark was my initial contact for when I first set the dinner for SIX up. There were a few extra phone calls and an 11th hr addition for one more couple as the event approached.
Upon arriving with the unsuspecting bday girl, Mark immediately greets us both by name which I was impressed with, but dismissed it. I do however notice that he is remembering our names all evening (again party of 11). At the end of the night, he STILL knew all of us by name including the baby's. I'm both impressed and frightened of his steel-trap mind.
We are all served an amuse-bouche that might be the best I've ever been served. It was a basil-lime spritzer. Oh, folks, that was treat for the palette. I would have loved a whole glass of that. More of an assault-bouche. (Yeah, I just cracked myself up.)
It felt like it took me an hour to decide what to order. I'm sure it did to the staff too.
For the appetizer, I had THIS --- seared foie gras on brioche with Texas peach relish and crumbled almonds. Was this the most delectable taste treat I have had since setting foot on Austin's soil? YES!!!!!! O!M!G! it was incredible. I joked that I should order it again for my entree. I wish I had. I know everyone writes/says that something is like butter, and I personally roll my eyes when I read/hear that. I am afraid that is the best way to describe this.
For the entree. After much agonizing over quail, wagyu (is that the name?), antelope (yes, antelope as in "deer and the..."), snapper, and duck, I chose ---seared snapper on potato rostï with melted leeks, lamb's quarter, and alba mushrooms. I have to be honest, I was not super-fond of the snapper. It was a bit salty for my taste. I was kicking myself that I hadn't ordered what my companions did. (they LOVED the quail and i guess it was the wagyu, some sort of steak like dish). Now, the potato rostï - FANTASTIC!!
For dessert (hey, this is a bday party) I had ---- a sampling of lemon meringue pot, crème brûlée, & el rey chocolate cake. Okay, you need to go here just for the lemon meringue pot. WHOA. I'm not normally a fan. I am now, at least here. The crème brûlée, yum. The biscotti served with it DOUBLE yum. I have to admit, I was not loving the el rey chocolate cake. I DID eat it all, but I wouldn't marry it.
You what I would marry?
The amuse-bouche, foie gras, potato rostï, and lemon meringue pot. Totally, if they'd only ask...
You know what's better than having a menu printed up each day?
Having a menu printed up with your name on it! Yes! I walked in and was greeted by name and shown the menu with "happy birthday jess" nicely printed at the top. I don't know if other patrons had the same menu, but i don't care; it sure made me feel special.
Our server was wonderful. She was honest and real, not hoity-toity like you may expect at a place like Wink. She was super nice and her recommendations were perfect ( both food and wine).
The menu is never the same, she told us, but knew the style of cooking well enough to know what would be to our liking.
Besides the amuse busche, I started with the rabbit ravioli. It was good, but I'm glad it was only an appetizer. For dinner I had the quail with polenta and arugala tied together with applewood smoked bacon. I tried a few bites of other people's dinners and they were all good.
Dessert was the dessert trio. The lemon thing was amazing, as was the creme brulee. The el rey chocolate was a bit rich for my taste.
Awesome service always bumps up reviews in my mind. The service was awesome, but not so "In yo' face!" Mark had all our names down and probably could have told us the name of any one in the small restaurant.
It's a great, special little place and I was so glad to have celebrated my birthday here with so many special people.
When dropping the kind of money that this caliber of restaurant requires, I try and not hold it against them when the portion sizes are a bit small. The plates are more of a tasting menu size, and I've heard that the actual tasting menu portions are even smaller. That aside, I loved pretty much everything else about my dinner there. We were celebrating a friend's birthday, and the staff did everything in their power to make us feel welcomed and comfortable.
The menu changes daily here, based on what fresh produce and meat they can get from local farms and ranches. They list the food sources at the bottom of the menu for those who are interested.
Everything I ate was amazing. I had the rabbit ravioli and wagyu strip. The star of the show was a corned brisket stuffed baked potato. Seriously. Melt in your mouth, show-stopping good. I thought it would compete with the wagyu, but it complemented it perfectly.
If the lemon meringue pot is on the menu when you go, get it. You won't be sad. I was kicking my self that I ordered the trio (creme brulee, el rey chocolate cake, and lemon meringue pot) and gave up valuable desert real estate to the other two offerings. They were good, but nothing compared to the little bites of lemon heaven.
Despite the small portions, I actually left pretty full. Granted, I also snagged a piece of warm bread every time the waitress offered one. I guess that would be the key to eating well, and leaving full.
(This space reserved for a special Shout Out to Carla S. for organizing (yet again) a fabulous evening. Also a shout out to the birthday girl -Jessica S!!)
Wink has been a favorite of mine for the last 4-5 years.
The restaurant is tiny... and it gets very packed. Get there early.
I've always enjoyed the food here from start to finish, with one exception. Once I got a lamb dish that was just completely over salted.
The menu is always interesting, and usually has enough variety for just about anyone. Fish, Seafood, Lamb, Beef, Rabbit, Duck, Quail, Veal, Venison...
They use fresh ingredients from local sources, and usually have something different that you may not have tried before.
I personally love the El Rey Chocolate cake. The lemon meringue is also very good.
Nice wine list, great service, cozy atmosphere.
I like the size of the portions... smaller than many places... but I've never left hungry.
The Wine bar took a while to grow on me (probably due to the fact that the first time I went there, we were ignored and finally gave up and left) but it's a nice spot if you can get a seat before it gets too crowded.
Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink... say no more! One of my favorite Monty Python colloquialisms.. and it surely applies to wonderful Wink.
As I browsed through the reviews on Wink, I was struck at the reviews which mentioned small portions.. my suggestion to those who may be reading my review is, if you are used to walking around with a feed bag attached to your mug, you are not going to like Wink. Perhaps Golden Corral or Lubys would be more your speed.
I enjoyed the scallops which were semi sweet and perfectly sauteed. I liked the little tomato water which was served as an amuse-bouche. The bread was crunchy outside, soft and warm inside. The Tuna Tartar as the appetizer was seasoned to perfection. We found a wonderful bottle of wine which wasn't to expensive and ended our meal in their wine bar across the parking lot. More on that at in a later review.
The restaurant is petite, cozy and quaint. The meal is definitely worth every penny. And you will need to bring a few pennies to dine here. However, you won't be disappointed.. unless you equate expensive dinner with a feeding trough.
Portion sizes: Think HomeTown Buffet **Wink**
Food Quality: Think McDonald's **Wink**
Ambiance: Think Hooters **Wink**
Price: Think Taco Bell value menu **Wink**
Service: Think Ritz Carlton dining room ... Our server was disinterested in us as customers, but otherwise, Wink is a wonderful restaurant.
We had our first Wink dinner last week and I really did like it but our whole experience felt like a tug-o-war between casual elegance and foofoo haute cuisine.
The space is charming and warm and the menu has some beautiful offerings. The amuse bouche arrived promptly which was fun but seemed a bit more like something they felt they had to do rather than a whimsical 'hello' from the chef. Being that it was last week I'm fuzzy on exactly what it was but something like a chevre and red pepper tartlett.
We ordered the Bull's Blood Beet Salad to start (I have a hard time saying no to beets) and eh.. For a $15 beet salad you're just asking for me to be critical. Overcooked chunks of beets with a dollop and some arugula on a rectangular plate does not constitute a $15 salad - I'm sorry it just doesn't. Don't get me wrong I'm not overly concerned about pricing but that price is simply off.
Our entrees were wonderful delicious (venison and beef) beautifully presented and well priced. Nothing more needs to be said - they were perfect.
The wine list is wonderful and not overpriced at all they have a good selection of 'by the glass' which is the route we took. This is just me but if I'm ordering a wine by the glass I don't really need to 'taste' it prior to the pour. I completely understand that's all personal pref but it's just part of where the tug-o-war came into play for me.
I loved that they had a cheese offering for desert, I wish everyone did. But I had to decline because it was $15... I just want a nice little cheese plate for desert - if it's offered with the desert menu it should be priced in line with the other deserts (the others were $8). Just a little artisan cheese after my meal please not a whole 'nother meal..
I know it seems like I'm overly concerned about pricing but I feel Wink's pricing also lends to the tug-o-war. While I had a nice time and enjoyed the food for the most part I was just confused about what the restaurant is trying to be. High end or casual elegance?
I do love that they make an effort to get what they can locally. I think that's a big deal so kudos to them on that.
I would like to try out the wine bar at some point and I'm sure I'll be back to Wink in the future but I don't feel any real excitement or amour for the establishment right now.
I had trouble deciding how to rate this place. The food wasn't bad, per se. The service wasn't bad. Pretty much high class all around. Ya know, the kind of place you'd expect to come with a sexy, one-word name.
It's just not my cup o' tea.
My aunt from Jersey, a self-proclaimed "foodie" (which I presuppose is a combination of the words "food" and "snooty") was visiting last summer and wanted to take me and the fam out for the best dish Austin had to offer. We exclaimed with joy as a zillion possibilities leapt to our tongues. But before we could utter a word, she informed us that she had already done hours of research online and finally narrowed it down to two venues: Uchi and Wink. Deflated by Wink's exotic online menu, my mother and I began to regain a little enthusiasm after we reviewed Uchi's menu. Ya know, to make sure there were "alternative options" because, well, we refused to actually eat any sushi. Gasp if you must but after numerous efforts to assimilate myself with the Sushi Elitist Group, I've thrown in the chopsticks. At any rate, due to our "ridiculous" stipulation, Uchi was out.
So Wink it was. Here's the low down on our experience.
The Good:
Wink was booked solid but were somehow persuaded to squeeze in our party of five after my aunt pleaded that it was my birthday. (Sort of). The decor was sleek and trendy. They laid out personalized menus for us that read "Happy Birthday Sarah" at the top. I found steak on the menu (phew!). The dessert was EXCELLENT; we had the Wink Trio: a
sampling of lemon meringue pot (the best), crème brûlée, & el rey chocolate cake.
The Bad:
It's very small. And so are the portions. Yet expensive. And the menu is chalk full of exotic plates (which is good if you're an adventurous eater) featuring wild boar, duck, venison, and sweet breads. And I thank my cousin dearly for educating me on sweet breads before I made a TERRIBLE mistake.
Honestly, I don't think I'll go back. It wasn't a bad experience. It's just - I'm a meat n' potatoes girl. And my aunt? Well, she thought the food was 'meh.' But that's Jersey for ya. Wink.
Soooo Good. Good food, good service, good wine. When you order from Wink, don't expect the largest portion. There are plenty of places to pig out on large portions and Wink isn't one of them. The intention of the chefs here is to savor each bite of food. As part of the slow food movement, they want you to think about what you are eating in a more profound way then we typically do. Most of the food here is procured from local sources and is organic when possible.
The restaurant side can be a bit formal for some, if so, move next door to the wine bar, which has friendly service, a good soundtrack, and the same menu plus a few more bar bites. A little secret: Go between 5 and 7 and the bar menu prices are half price. Try the Truffle Mac and Cheese...it's insanely good.
Total bummer. I went here 3 weeks ago for drinks and some dessert. I've been here before and though it's a bit pricey, was always so happy with the service, that it didn't really bother me. Unfortunately this last visit was not the case. We seemed to sit and wait for extended periods of time for the menu, placing our drink orders, recieving our dessert, getting our tab. We weren't even offered water. Maybe that had to do with the drout, I'm not sure, but I did notice that every other table had water.
Went to Wink again after a long hiatus last night for a friends birthday. I have always enjoyed Wink, and think their food has always been fantastic. They do a great job of diversifying their menu each time I go there, so no matter what route I want to go with my dinner (meat, fish, or vegetarian) they have something that will fit the build for it.
Last night was a total debacle, but it was probably more our fault than the restaurants. We had a total of about 20 people there for dinner that all arrived at once, and we happened to be 2 people over the reservation amount. That left all of us on a few tables together, and literally left me alone at another table completely separated from the party by myself. Now I know that there are "fire codes" and such that prevent certain arrangements of furniture when you're in a confined space, but I was the only person that was left off of the table, and could very easily have been put on the end of one of them. I just was very unimpressed with the service we received, and being a frequent visitor of many of Austin's restaurants felt like it was definitely sub-par.
On the flip side I had some of the best foix gras I have ever had that was accompanied with some sweet toast and raspberry preserves, and my halibut was great. Ticket time wasn't bad for the size party that we had, and the wine, as always, was great.
Long story short: I wouldn't suggest Wink for a large or even medium-sized dinner party. Keep this one for the intimate dates, you'll enjoy it a lot more and I'm sure your waiter probably will too.
My wife and I returned to Wink last month where we once again left feeling that Wink is one of the best places in Austin.
Due to their smaller portions, we opted to split 3 starter plates. The arugala salad with fresh ricotta felt a little expensive for a smaller salad, but the flavor was there with the tasty locally produced cheese. The tuna tartare with avacado mayo came next, and might have been the star of the night. After having less than stellar fish at Uchi (insconsistent from prior experiences) it was nice to have Wink really slam dunk this one! Last on the starters were the reisling steamed mussels, which were just fantastic.
For my entree, I had the rack of lamb which was cooked to perfection with some delicious eggplant on the side. My wife had the halibut, which was a bit overcooked for her liking, but was still a win due to the top notch sides.
We finished the dinner with some champagne which was surprisingly reasonably priced and the el rey chocolate cake which was as good as we remembered.
The service was excellent from the host down to the girl bringing the bread, and we were reminded that Wink really is unique in a city like Austin.
I recently went to Wink for the second time, and half the time I kept asking myself why I don't come… Read more »
Hoodwink'd? I visited Wink recently for my S.O.'s birthday. We walked in and were immediately greeted by Mark (owner/pastry chef?) and escorted to the wine bar while our table was being prepared ( we'd shown up 15 minutes early). Brendan, the bartender was fabulous, friendly and knowledgeable. We had a champagne toast and ogled the bar menu which featured a limited, but deliciously appealing selection. Mark collected us from the bar, where we had decided upon the five course tasting menu with wine pairings.
Our food was good- not fabulous, but in the 3/5 range- they get honorable mention for supporting local farms and using mostly if not all locally grown/raised ingredients.
Standouts: Scallops were AMAZING, seriously. The duck was good, the skin was not crispy enough- it's a difficult feat, but for the amount we dropped at Wink I would expect them to have it perfected. The sides and sauces with each dish were perfect.
Getouts: really, Wink? I paired wines with my food because I was looking for a transcendent culinary experience- why else would I drop $60 for a babysitter and over $300 for dinner? So- that given, why would you start my meal with a riesling paired with sashimi (delicious) aside mayonnaise (wretch) atop an inedible "crostini" rock? Wait! Oh, right- the meal began with our amuse bouche that was definitely not the appropriate start to what I was hoping would be a sublime meal. A cold goat cheese mini tart? It did not leave me inspired, nor did it prepare my palate- better to do nothing at all than insult the customer with a crap amuse.
Moving on- the wine went from bad to worse when they paired the oh-my-freaking-god scallop with an overly sweet Alsace that had overwhelming anise notes on the finish. A flight is supposed to take off at some point and the lateral transition from sweet and fruity to sweet and heavy ruined the second course for me. If their wine list had included a Pouilly Fume or something dry and oaky I would have been happy- but they did not offer anything of the sort by the glass, boo!
The duck skin was not crispy enough- it was rubbery and not appealing- but the duck itself was very tasty and perfectly Med-rare.
The venison was awful. Very bad. Extremely gamey, and I am a relatively forgiving person when it comes to this. Before you offer venison you should be able to prepare it properly- luckily the Cabernet I was using to wash it down had deep enough flavors to over power the taste of blood and earth that wanted to keep crawling up my throat (I know, it's gross but that's how it was). The dessert was lackluster and lame, with the exception of the lemon meringue cup- it was too sweet, but better than the rest.
Staff was nice, Mark was cool, Brendan rules- they need to step up the game in the kitchen if they really want to realize what I assume to be their aspirations. I am not completely familiar with Austin haute cuisine, but Wink would not hold up against eateries of a similar concept in other major metropolitan areas. I want so badly to love it, but Wink lacks the soul that I expect from a restaurant that supports local food so strongly and it also falls flat in execution- basic things like properly rendering a duck skin and soaking venison in milk to de-game it should be mastered before you start charging $95 a person. And- think about the wine!! sweet on top of sweet on top of sweet- ugh- some people like sweet wine, I'm not one of them so how about switching it up a little?
Overall, I will wait to go back to Wink for a year or so, or maybe go to a wine dinner featuring a specific vineyard or something, this establishment needs to uphold a higher standard if they really want to be at the top of their game.
Definitely one of my favorite restaurants around Austin. Although we made reservations for the main restaurant, since we arrived early we sat at the wine bar and decided to have the rest of our meal there. The location is very unassuming from the outside (it's next to a laundromat), but when you enter you are in a completely different world. The wine bar and restaurant are in two separate spaces - the restaurant has a more formal feel which matches the picture posted, while the wine bar has a similar color palette and plays relaxed indie tunes in the background.
Love the team-oriented and attentive service - although we had our waiter, there was a manager the also helped to clear plates take additional orders or help out on the spot as needed, and never a need for "I'll get your server to take care of it." They're also great at recommending wines (maybe that's why they call it a wine bar!)
We started with the cheese plate, then each had a main and shared dessert which was a perfect meal. Contrary to other reviewers I didn't feel like the portions were too small. It's a pricier meal than many places in Austin, but the food is inventive and melts in your mouth.
They allow BYOB (corkage $15 in the restaurant, $25 in the wine bar), however the wines are reasonably priced and they have a great selection so I would advise avoiding the high corkage fee.
I second the comment that Wink is a younger, more modern version of Jeffrey's. The decor is more neutral tones with dimmed lights which makes a romantic atmosphere for twenty- and thirty-somethings. Great for date nights or getting together with foodie friends.
one of my favourite places in austin.
a menu that shifts to deliver the best food from the best ingredients, knowledgeable and courteous wait staff, and a pleasant impress-the-date atmosphere.
highly, highly recommended.
check the menu before visiting so you can try to take in all the amazing food delights at home (in case you faint from excitement).
my only sadness is that i don't have a bottomless wallet and stomach.
I wanted to like this restaurant. I did my research, read the reviews, and decided this was the place I wanted to take my mother when she came to town to visit.
Bad idea.
The food was good, but not excellent. And for the prices they charge, the food should be consistently excellent. My scallops were tasty and well-cooked, but my fiance's quail was just OK. Their portion sizes are WA-A-A-Y smaller than average, but the real kicker is the size of the garnishes they serve with the main course--if the meal says it comes with a potato, we're talking a slice of potato the size of a quarter.
It would cost the restaurant next to nothing to increase the size of the garnishes they serve with the meal, and it would cause customer satisfaction to increase dramatically. I've dined in some nice restaurants around the world, so I'm accustomed to (and prefer) small portions, but before Wink my heart had never sunk just by looking at how small the meal was. If their portions are going to be so small that a customer needs to order four courses to leave satisfied, their prices should be adjusted accordingly--right now they're charging higher than average for restaurants of comparable quality whose portions actually fill you up.
Overall:
Host - My mother is not a touchy-feely type and was immediately turned off when she was greeted by the host with a handshake and he made the unforgivable mistake of referring to my fiance (who had made the reservation) by his first name. That being said, I thought it was a nice touch. And you've got to remember, my mother's not from Austin.
Service - left a lot to be desired. For these prices, I expect the wait staff to anticipate my needs and to be there immediately when I need them. Our waitress seemed to pay far more attention to another table and we were kept waiting several minutes far too many times.
Food - As I said, the food was good. My scallops were the best meal by far, followed by my mother's fish (halibut, maybe) dish, which was good but not extraordinary. My fiance finished his quail in about 3 bites and said it was OK. For dessert, we ordered the Wink trio, which I found to be rather uninspired. Really--creme brulee and chocolate molten cake in this day and age? Hasn't that been done enough by EVERY other restaurant in this country? That being said, they were good--just a little boring and equally as good as I would expect from a chain restaurant. The lemon meringue pot on the plate was excellent and was the saving grace of the dessert.
Overall, I found that the value for money ratio was poor. The restaurant was packed, so people obviously like it, but to me it just seemed like a better than average restaurant at Michelen prices. I left the restaurant wanting more--and not wanting to go back.
So 160 peoples couldn't be wrong, right? This restaurant has 160 reviewers and is rated highly... they all can't be wrong?
Well, may be the high rating was true about a year ago. I've been to the restaurant three times since last year and I must say the quality and creativity of the food is gone (and somehow I suspect the Chef along with it).
The first time I went to Wink (about a year ago) the food quality was great and creative, portions were just right. I am not much of the all-you-can-eat type, you can get that at the nearest Chinese buffet, but rather quality food which I'm willing to pay for. The second time I came there, the quality was still good albeit not as good as the first time. I chalked it down as may be due to excessive eating at the same place (if you can call excessive eating at the same place, twice in a six-month period). One of the thing that Wink prides itself on was creativity, where the Chef makes up menu depending on the freshest ingredients available. About 6 months later, I came back to Wink for a third time, and surprise, surprise... The freshest ingredients available to the Chef 6 months ago was still on the menu 6 months later. The menu offered the exact same items as I recalled the last time I was there. May be Austin farmers don't grow anything new year round? May be the economic breakdown has blown over their menu-printing budget? May be their Sub-zero fridge kept food so fresh that what were fresh 6 months ago still fresh 6 months later? or may be, just may be the Chef just stop making new and creative menu items and now Wink is just another also-ran restaurant. I don't know, but it was a definite let-down for me, an even worse let-down when the dinner cost for three came to $150 before tip.
I guess as they say, "All good thing must come to an end", and Wink, as with any "good thing" must also come to an end. And thus, so is my relationship with Wink, it was good while it lasted and it shall last no more for me.
Time to go find another good place to eat in Austin....
We had the five course tasting menu which consisted of hamachi sashimi, pan seared halibut, crispy sweetbreads, bacon wrapped bison tenderloin and a lemon curd filled meringue cup with berries. I may post the menu. The wine pairings were flawless.
We were greeted by our names at the door (always a good sign) and then sat down to see our names and "happy anniversary" printed on the menu +1. Service was amazing all through dinner.
After dinner, we were waiting for our cab to arrive as were about 4 other parties. Mark, owner, brought out a couple of bottles of presecco for everyone. After waiting for about 20 minutes, the chef de cuisine came out and actually gave us a ride back to our hotel in his car.
We'll be back.
We went for New Year's Eve. The food was awesome. The service was great and the host was very accommodating and gracious. I can't wait to go back, again!
Wink...almost as disappointing as finding out your girlfriend listens to katy perry..
I want to buy into your hype Wink..you're so slumdog millionaire with all your acclaims and accolades..but theres no freida pinto in here..no jolly bollywood dance songs..I want to give this place 4-5 stars, but it simply hasn't earned it..
I think Wink has built a lot of momentum off of hearsay, people around you are saying they like it, reviews say its good, you WANT to like it..but do you really?
I gave Wink my first try a few months ago..we walked in and were told our table was running about 20 minutes late (cool, no worries) and were hurried into the wine bar for some "bubbles." Now I have to say, the wine bar is actually my favorite part of this place..intimate, classy, good selection, and a knowledgeable staff behind the bar.
Alas, our table was ready..Now, I like cozy spaces..I love when people can take tiny spaces and create something out of nothing..I think for all its praise the ambiance left something greatly to be desired. We, admittedly or not, are all suckers for presentation. If you walk into an amazing restaurant with shitty food and a rude staff you'll still give some credit to the amazing design/architecture/decor (i.e. La Condesa). But to be honest, this place bored me..and to be labeled as one of Austin's finest dining experiences, I felt it was lacking. Be artistic, be creative...impress me with your interior design and lighting and art selection (non-existent?)
Ok fine...maybe I'm being a design-snob..so let's put that aside..
On to the food..LOVE the local produce..love the slow food mentality..eat like an Italian..savor your courses..take time to chat with your friends/loved ones in between..I'm all for it..yet, after 2 apps, a soup, salad, and main course..nothing stood out to me. Was everything edible? Yes, most definitely. Were things good..you bet. Were things excellent, worthy of praise and a "man I am going back for that specific dish"..nope. If you promote your service style, local produce, and somewhat Astro prices..I want to be wowed. I was not. Dessert..possibly the biggest let down, and not that restaurants should be judged solely on desserts, but this had the "sitting in a fridge" for a few days taste. We ordered the sampler-esque dessert..nothing worth mentioning twice..
That simply was my experience, nothing here was memorable to me. I have no earthly idea what I ordered or ate. I can spit out a full list of items I ate at some shady taqueria on the east side 6 months ago, but I cannot for the life of me remember what I ate here. Z-tejas cornbread, Moonshine Hangar Steak, Maudies Queso..mmm gooood. Wink..umm..err..ahh..well..i got nothing.
If I am spending about $200 on dinner for 2 people that sh*t better be damn good!
Due to the glowing reviews on Yelp, I will give Wink another try...but this time I need to be dazzled, impressed, wow'ed, o-faced. something!
We waited at the host stand for about five minutes before someone greeted us. That was probably due to the fact that the hostess was also running food. The restaurant was not busy as there were several open tables. We waited a good ten minutes to be greeted by our server who did not bother to tell us anything about the menu or food except for the fact that there was an appetizer portion and a dinner portion for several of the dishes. He walked away with out asking if we wanted anything to drink. When he finally came back he asked if we were ready to order and after ordering and appetizer he darted off w/o asking if we wanted anything to drink. This is suppose to be a wine bar?! After I flagged him down he finally took our drink order. The steamed mussels were delicious however they were served with out shellfish forks which I had to flag our server for again. The service continued to be sub par the rest of the evening. The tables in the restaurant are close together and the waiters and hostess kept bumping into our table. All in all the food was great but the atmosphere and service was disturbing. Dine at your own risk.
Wink is the type of place you want to visit in a big group so that you can order family style and taste several things on the menu. For those times when you aren't out with a huge group of friends, Wink has a 5-course tasting menu, off of which my husband and I ordered when we visited for our anniversary dinner. While I don't know much about wine, I do highly recommend the adding the wine pairings, because they sure know what they're doing.
The food itself was amazing. The tasting menu from our dinner included the following:
- coriander crusted seared rare tuna with orange wheels, cucumber, and sudachi: Make sure you get tuna, cucumber, and orange in every single bite; otherwise, it's not that interesting.
- seared quail breast with grilled wink bacon, frisee, and black truffle vinaigrette: My husband's favorite dish of the evening. The bacon is incredibly thick and juicy, and the quail is perfectly cooked.
- braised calf tongue with seared herb gnudi, pickled radish, and sorrel aioli: My favorite dish of the night, and not just because I love anything that reminds me of gnocchi. The calf tongue was incredibly tender and flavorful.
- black buck antelope with farm shallots, collard greens, yukons, and roasted tomato butter: I agree with the reviewer who said this was nothing remarkable. A bit gamier than beef and not particularly interesting in taste. The yukons were tasty, but I couldn't taste either "roasted" or "tomato" in the accompanying butter.
- cheese plate (Humboldt Fog, Sottocenere Al Tartufo, Idiazabal, and Roaring 40's): For me, this was the perfect amount of cheese to cap off the evening. I love my stinky cheeses, but the Humboldt Fog was too pungent to eat without the accompanying bread. Sottocenere Al Tartufo definitely tastes like a cow's milk cheese. Idiazabal is the perfect snacking cheese, firm enough to be eaten in small pieces. My favorite was the roaring 40's -- a milder, honeyed, nutty blue cheese that was delicious on and off the baguette.
Service at Wink was impeccable. When we came through the door, we were greeted by Mark Paul himself, calling me by name (I must have been the only Asian woman who made a reservation for that evening). Our server was clearly excited about the food and enjoyed explaining the wine pairings to me; I nodded politely, too embarrassed to admit that I know next to nothing about wine except that I really like pinot grigio and pinot noir. As we left for the evening, Mark came back to shake our hands and wish us a good evening (seriously, how does that guy remember names so well?).
4.5 stars (taking off 0.5 for the underwhelming antelope), but I'm rounding up to 5. I ate there only last night, but I already find myself racking my brain for upcoming special occasions so I can return to Wink soon.
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