Wink Restaurant

After we were seated it took our waiter 10 minutes to greet us and another 10 to get us our first glass of wine. The time between each course seemed to take forever. The food was original, fresh and had great combinations of flavor. I'm not real picky when it comes to service having been a waiter at one time in my life but the attitude and inattentive service I received will not get me to return. Pros: Good Food Cons: Slow Service, Limited Parking, Small Portions more

Loved everything we got... but it was too expensive for what we received. Appetizers were 4 oz and entrees were 8 oz... thats fine unless youre paying $17 for TWO scallops. Yeah, that is 8.50 per scallop. We had the crispy duck breast (amazing) and the NY strip (great!) but half the strip was fat which i thought a bit ridiculous as the steak was $28. I had screw top riesling for 5.5 a glass, not wanting to pay the $12 for something with a cork. All in all, we spent about $100 with tip. I really loved my food... but for that amount I expect a lot more than a scallop and fatty strip steak in a small, loud venue. Pros: Menu changes daily, excellent flavors, new ingredients Cons: small venue, LOUD, Too $$$ more

The person who said this is a great place to spend and extra $150 was right! Our tab come out to $140 after tip. The portions are about right for 3 or 4 courses. I had an incredible glass of wine, paired by our server after I chose my meal. It was a perfect pairing with the spice in the tomato soup and peppered salmon. The price was WELL worth it for our anniversary dinner. The food was just superb! If you are not particularly food savvy the menu is a bit cryptic! Be prepared to ask your server questions. Our server was very helpful, and he answered all questions we had with good detail. The one negative I need to mention is that our reservation was lost. We were lucky! It was a Tuesday night and there was space for us! Pros: Incredible food, knowledgeable servers, great wine Cons: , lost reservation more

If you have an extra $150 to spend on a romantic dinner, this is the place to do it. Everything about this restuarant was absolutely amazing...from the service to the ambience...from the foie gras appetizer to the duck confit to the heavenly creme brulee...this is a must try for anyone in austin! Pros: awesome food, great servers, romantic Cons: , small restuarant, limited parking more

2/4/2004 We went there to celebrate and when I made the reservation, I was asked what the occasion was. When we were shown to our table, there was a small note on our menu congratulating us!! How SWEET!! Our food was another step closer to heaven. I had the grilled/chilled shrimp salad and my partner had the sumptuous spinach/w panchetta salad. Both were terrific. I had the Lamb and my partner had the crisp duck breast. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth-fresh and delicious. FOr dessert, we had the raspberry souffle and chocolate cake and enjoyed them thoroughly although I lean more towards the latter. Overall, the service was terrific too. Although the place is small and crowded at times, the quality of the food and the ambience makes it really worth it. Oh and all the fuss about the portions size--dont pay any attention to it. It is all manageable. more

Having just moved here from San Francisco, I was a little concerned I wouldn't be able to find the right kind of restaurant for my fiance's upcoming birthday. I searched and found Wink and it went WAY beyond expectations- the tasting menu was SUPERB, the wines fragrant, and the service very classy. They addressed us by our first names all evening and wished my fiance a happy birthday at the end, with the signed menus of the evening and all. Anyone who is wary of small portions, don't worry-- with the amazing fresh bread they graciously keep dropping on your plate, you will not go hungry- we practically had to roll ourselves out of there, which is a new experience for us in such a classy restaurant. This is definitely our new ""special"" restaurant- SO happy to find it!! Pros: classy, delicious Cons: pricey but worth it more

Though perfect for a not particularly- special occasion, too, I went on my birthday and was blown over by the attention and care of the maitre d' Mark, our waiter Brandon and the chefs. We tried the 5 course ""sampler"" and everything was delish, though the duck confit crepe with golden beet emulsion and frisee was a major standout. At the end of the dinner, Mark presented me with an autographed menu (by the chefs) that had a personalized happy birthday message at the top. Fun, not fussy, very unpretentious. Pros: Service, Charm, Food more

What an amazing experience! We decided to treat ourselves and try the tasting menu along with the wine pairings. The service was perfect and the food was beyond words. If you're looking for a Texas sized dinner, this is not the place for you. If you're looking for the freshest ingredients and the best flavors that you could imagine, then this is your spot. Wine prices and food are very reasonable and we'll be back over and over again! Pros: Fabulous Food & Wine, Romantic Atmosphere, Service more

Wink is incredible. Having lived in both San Francisco and New York, I am comfortable saying that Wink is one of about three restaurants in Austin that could survive in those cities. The food is amazing and inventive (the portions are perfect and not too expensive), the service is expert and friendly, and the wine list is well-chosen and diverse. Pros: amazing food, service, great desserts more

The food was really good, however Wink was incredibly overpriced for the size of the portions. I think there was a scene in that 80's film, L.A. Story, which pokes fun at these kind of restaurants. My friends and I, unfortunately, won't go back. If you want to serve these tiny portions, please price accordingly. We are the kind of people who love to share our foods so that we can all taste something new. At Wink, one feels guilty taking a small nibble of someone else's food. Before delving into this kind cuisine, please decide if there is even a valid market for it. I predict this restaurant won't be around very long unless they try to cater more to Austin preferences. Pros: service, taste of food, good parking Cons: size of portions, lack of ambiance more

I hate doing this because if I give my favorite restaurant the highest rating then the secret will get out. WOW! We love this place. Everytime we're in from L.A. this is our little hang out. Amazing food and the service is personal and impeccable! WOW! more

But Wink is a great dining experience. Damn, now it's going to be impossible to get a reservation. Wink definately has one of the more complex menus offering dishes found in few other Austin restaurants. I ate there the first week they opened and was very impressed. I have returned several more times and the quality has remained outstanding. The staff are friendly, but not chatty, and the it is always a pleasure to dine there. Cons: can be noisy, tiny more

You need to experience Wink restaurant! The food is extraordinary and will leave you wanting more. The price is incredibly reasonable and affords you the opportunity to experience a gourmet 3-4 course meal at half the cost. They serve smaller entrée portions, but the flavors are grand and flavorful. By all means, save room for deserts (deliberately plural) they are fabulous! Winks restaurant takes attention to detail to heart through their wonderful dishes, presentation, and the professional restaurant staff. Pros: Incredible food, Intimate atmosphere, Outstanding knowledge Cons: Smaller portions, there may be a bit of more