Aba - Austin

Food: I have been here a lot, and I have never been disappointed in what I ordered. The food melts in your mouth. It is absolutely worth every penny. Portions are very big and shareable. Drinks are so refreshing and fun too. This place is not for not having tables open to walk in, so make sure you make a reservation far in advance. It's absolutely worth the wait. I have two favorite spots in Austin, and this is one of the two.

Ambiance: probably the most beautiful restaurant you'll walk into in Austin. Inside or Austin, the vibe is 10/10. Always a good time weather you're going with friends, family, or even work meetings. I personally love sitting outside. Amazing location in south Congress to spend a day here in the area.

Portions: order to share because there's a lot to try and you don't want to limit yourself with only one plate. Order a few as a table, you won't regret.

I have absolutely no complaints, I'd come here everyday if I could. Hope they open more locations!

A culinary oasis blending Mediterranean flavors with Austin charm! Dive into their sumptuous lamb kefta kebab, bursting with aromatic spices and served with velvety hummus. The chic and inviting ambiance, complete with lush greenery and cozy seating, creates an atmosphere of relaxed sophistication. Attentive service and exquisite flavors make Aba Austin a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts seeking a taste of the Mediterranean in the heart of Texas.

I will mention, that our last visit was not the best, our reservation (made over the phone) was lost due to a change over in staff/management. We were granted a gift card for our next visit, but sadly the gift card could only be used during the week - we have yet to return. The food - no question, is good

Trendy for a reason - it's delicious! Located right off Congress, this restaurant isn't cheap or easy to get into but it's worth it!

I think by now I've tried half the menu and everything has been absolutely amazing! The apps are all light and not too filling. The entrees are decadent but approachable. If you haven't tried something you see before (at any restaurant), then go for it! This is a fantastic restaurant to try new things at. The waitstaff is also helpful and can be your guides to a world of new flavors!

April 2024 update to my review: Aba needs to investigate to be sure they don't have a hive underneath the metal grate flooring or something... I've been to Aba many times and dined outside around this time of year in the past and never had issues. Everyone knows you want to dine outside on a nice day because the outside dining has far better ambiance.

Unfortunately, we and all the tables around us were swarmed by bees and giant wasps. My friend was sadly stung by a bee during our meal. It didn't matter what we ordered, the bees were in our food and landing on us -- the brussel sprouts, orzo, potatoes -- everywhere. The food was delicious, but this really impacted the entire experience.

If you go to dine outside (again, April 2024) beware of the bees and wasps!! I shockingly may request indoor seating for the first time in the future.... IF I go back that is.

We walked in and were able to be seated for two indoors. If we wanted to have waited, we could've waited 15 minutes to be seated outside. Our waiter Laura was very nice and super helpful in picking out what to order. We got the feta, the falafel, and, the hearts of Romain salad. Highly recommend everything. Great Mediterranean restaurant. Really pretty ambience and bar area. Great for a special event or just an every day lunch.

I have a serious nut allergy, and Laura was able to check with the chef and all our food came tag with an allergy toothpick. I really appreciate how they were.

Will be reminiscing about our dinner here for a long time! I made a reservation far in advance and you should too. There's a reason they book up quickly. From start to finish everything was 10/10.

Sean B. was one of our favorite servers anywhere ever. Big statement, but he was seriously awesome!

I know everyone loves the whipped feta but skip it and do the stracciatella. This was such a stand out dish. Also was mind blown by the diver scallops!

For dessert you have to try the frozen yogurt. We also had the halva which I had never tried before but totally loved. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu here. Come hungry and try as much of it as you can!

I had the wonderful opportunity to return to Aba to give this place a second try. And honestly I have to say that it's simply just alright. But it was definitely a much better experience than what I had last time. Our server Garett did a wonderful job of explaining the menu to us, letting us know his recommendation for how many dishes to order, dish sizes, and fan favorites. My problem here is the quality and quantity of food for how much these dishes cost. The overall value of our meal was $150 after tip for 4 small dishes and 2 cocktails. I can justify spending a large sum of money if I believe the food matched its worth but, not every dish hit the mark here for me.

Cocktails:
Aloe? It's me: 4/10 I think this drink is a fan favorite but it just wasn't my cup of tea, it was strong, not very sweet, and spicy. I think the flavors could possibly work, but they just weren't the right ratios for me.
Sneaky Link: 9/10 great frozen cocktail, perfect sweetness from the passion fruit flavor, we loved this drink.

Food:
Wild Mushroom: 9/10 Now these were definitely the best dish of the night, succulent caramelized mushrooms laid upon a bed of creamy hummus great aromatics, buttery, it was heavenly atop bread.
Yellowtail: 6/10 I really liked this dish great flavors, great mix of textures, but I can't justify spending $22.95 for like 4-5 sashimi style cut pieces of fish.
Brussels Sprouts: 8/10 What a treat, little sweet, little spicy, nutty, great flavors and textures here too great way to enjoy a set of roasted brussels sprouts, only thing was that it was a little too charred.
Tamarind Braised Short Rib: 3/10 these were so dry and cold it was the last dish to come out of the night and we were most excited for it but it just wasn't impressive at all. And for $29.95 this dish was not worth it at all.

YES YES YES! 900/10. One of my favorite visits when in ATX! Aba is unexpected, beautiful, delectable, and fun!
My friend and I were looking for a place to grab appetizers and drinks on a Friday night. Aba came highly recommended from a bartender at another establishment. We dropped in without reservations and luckily got two seats at the outdoor bar. It is BEAUTIFUL here. It's off South Congress, so parking is...you know. But the surrounding area is popular and fun. This patio was gorgeous!

Our bartenders were super busy but did a great job. It was happy hour, so it was doubly packed. The bees were swarming around them (and us!) and they fought through it.

We ordered the Smoky Garlic Hummus and Whipped Feta. Times like these I wish Yelp had a GIF feature because I'd 100% utilize a fainting one. That's the only way to properly describe just how piquant these dishes were. The warm, pillowy pita was a perfect complement to the luscious texture of the hummus and feta. Light, but filling. Spicy, but sweet. The only thing I can imagine would make the feta even better would be a drizzle of hot honey. My friend loved her margarita and I just had a glass of pinot noir, which was a nice pairing with these apps.

Aba is a must visit! For not only Mediterranean, but light apps and drinks. Go for happy hour, stay for dinner!

We sat at the bar because they were so busy at lunch on a Tuesday. Go figure. After having drinks and sampling the food, we can understand why. The bartenders are great and the food is fresh and creative. We added to short rib and hummus to the combination spread plate and it was so good and so filling, it limited us trying anything other than the shrimp appetizer. Which was good not great.

Aba has a beautiful dreamy ambiance, european evening vibe. The food here is delicious with plenty of vegan options. My favorites are muhammara and spicy garlic hummus. For dessert, their halva is awesome! The service team is very patient with their patrons, who generally tend to come in larger groups and take their own time looking at the menu (sorry!)

Definitely my go to place, highly recommended!!