Best Casual Restaurants in South Austin

85 restaurants available nearby

1. Sammie's Italian

4.8

Exceptional(1455)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Downtown

Booked 109 times today

Sammie’s is a little taste of old Italy in downtown Austin. It celebrates the great ‘red sauce’ institution—inspired by old school, legendary Italian-American restaurants. The menu offers classic dishes in a casual but sophisticated, retro-designed space that is both lively and comfortable, capturing the essence of a night out at your favorite neighborhood joint. The space consists of a central dining room overlooking Shoal Creek and 6th Street, polished wood bar, Mildred’s Room (a private dining/wine room), and wraparound patio dining area. Please note that patio seating is weather contingent. The menu offers riffs on standards including Housemade Mozzarella Sticks, Clams Casino, and Caesar Salad a la Tommy; timeless pastas like Spaghetti with Meatballs, and Linguine Vongole; and Sammie’s Classics: big portions of iconic plates like Chicken and Eggplant Parmigiana, Veal Marsala, and Baked Manicotti.

2. Elizabeth St Cafe

4.8

Exceptional(793)

Price: Moderate

• Asian • Bouldin Creek

Booked 59 times today

Elizabeth Street Café is a neighborhood Vietnamese cafe and French bakery in South Austin opened in December 2011. The little restaurant boasts sunny dining rooms and a shady garden patio and serves fresh breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as takeout.Elizabeth Street Café is known for: great croissants and Stumptown coffee, bánh mì served on house baked baguettes, fresh spring rolls, Kronenberg on tap, steaming bowls of pho, spicy curries, house cocktails, a fun kids menu, and flavorful macarons.Learn more about McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality and their family of restaurants at www.mmlhospitality.com

A photo of Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar restaurant

3. Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar

4.8

Exceptional(3740)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Downtown

Booked 62 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. El Raval

4.8

Exceptional(495)

Price: Expensive

• Spanish • South Austin

Booked 32 times today

El Raval restaurant and tapas bar celebrates the diverse cultural influences of Barcelona's iconic El Raval neighborhood. Grounded in Spanish cuisine, our menu incorporates the bold flavors and fragrant spices of North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, paired with an award-winning wine-by-the-glass selection, recognized by Wine Enthusiast in 2024, or savor world-class cocktails crafted in collaboration with Two Schmucks (ranked No. 7 on the "World's 50 Best Bars 2022").

5. Maie Day

4.5

Awesome(427)

Price: Expensive

• Steakhouse • Bouldin Creek

Booked 20 times today

Maie Day is a community chophouse located at South Congress Hotel. Helmed by three-time James Beard-nominated chef Michael Fojtasek and a MICHELIN Guide Recommended Restaurant for 2024, the menu is everything you love about a steakhouse, designed to be approachable and great for groups, and is a celebration of all people and always a party.

A photo of Clark's Oyster Bar - Austin restaurant

6. Clark's Oyster Bar - Austin

4.9

Exceptional(1813)

Price: Very Expensive

• Seafood • Downtown

Booked 52 times today

Clark's features classic American seafood with an emphasis on freshness, local products, simple preparation, attention to detail, and clean presentation. Classic coastal cooking from the Texas Gulf to the Northeastern Seaboard influences Clark's menu. A large portion of the concept is devoted to oysters, raw bar, seafood, and caviar. We procure the freshest oysters from small harvesters around North America and serve cold seafood platters featuring super fresh daily specials.Learn more about MML Hospitality and their family of restaurants at www.mmlhospitality.com.

7. Quince Lakehouse

4.4

Awesome(813)

Price: Moderate

• International • Austin

Booked 28 times today

Quince is an upscale casual, indoor/outdoor restaurant where all demographics and generations come together and enjoy a dining experience beyond normal expectations. People may initially visit for the terraces with exceptional views, but the food and the overall “Quince Experience” is what keeps them coming back. The "crave-worthy" and "global collective" menus & the team’s attentive and personal service are mixed with carefully-curated happy tunes which altogether create a positive-energy experience rarely found in a restaurant. This is how Quince in San Miguel de Allende (SMA), MX became rated top of its class and is the “# 1 rooftop restaurant in the world.” and the "#1 rooftop destination in the world" by Robb Magazine.

A photo of Neighborhood Sushi restaurant

8. Neighborhood Sushi

4.8

Exceptional(1090)

Price: Expensive

• Sushi • South Austin

Booked 66 times today

Located on Austin’s vibrant South Congress Avenue, Neighborhood Sushi serves high quality sushi and Japanese-inspired dishes in a casual and beautiful setting. Happy hour and-a-half will offer food and beverage specials weekdays 3pm - 5pm throughout the entire restaurant. Our front door is on the neighborhood facing side, in the Annie Street parking lot. Look for a black-stained door with a white and wood light-box sign. Our host will be waiting inside to welcome you! ADA accessible entry through the Sake Garden on the Congress sidewalk.

9. Edge Rooftop Bar

4.5

Awesome(537)

Price: Moderate

• Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service • Downtown

Booked 8 times today

Edge Rooftop + Bar at the JW Marriott Austin serves cocktails over Congress for an evening lounge experience. Enjoy tasty small bites and craft cocktails atop a luxury hotel for views of downtown Austin, the Texas State Capitol and Lady Bird Lake.Please be advised that Christmas Day was the final day of our Snow Much Fun Christmas event.

10. June's All Day

4.8

Exceptional(1056)

Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • South Austin

Booked 47 times today

June’s All Day is a little bit of Paris in Austin—a neighborhood cafe and bar offering late breakfast, brunch, and an all day menu late into the evenings, along bustling South Congress Avenue.The bistro-style food menu (think Croque Madame, Steak Tartare & Frites, Grilled Chicken Paillard, & Steak au Poivre) is complemented by a frequently changing wine & bar program including unique bottles and classic cocktails The restaurant has a wraparound patio (open year round) and is ideal for people watching and hanging with your friends.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

M
Michael
Austin •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Our dining experience was excellent. Our server in particular was terrific. He was friendly, kind, knowledgable and attentive.
More info
Maie DayPrice: Expensive• Steakhouse• Bouldin Creek
•
4.5
D
DavidVIP
Austin •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Great food, excellent service and overall, an excellent experience…we will be back.
More info
Sammie's ItalianPrice: Expensive• Italian• Downtown
•
4.8
R
RobynAnnVIP
San Diego •86 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
It was our first visit to Perla’s and we will definitely be going back! Our drinks were wonderful and our food was spectacular! The vibe is so fun!
More info
Perla's Seafood and Oyster BarPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Downtown
•
4.8
O
OLIVER
Austin •1 review
4.0
Dined 6 days ago
Service was awesome! Staff was very friendly and accommodating! Food was great! Could have been excellent if there was no hint of curry on the pulpo. We had the Chef’s Flight and it was really worth it! $70 per person. And we enjoyed every bite. We were so full and we even had the yummy cheesecake to go. There were 2 desserts! We finished the rice pudding which was really good! Everything was great, as I said, could have easily given 5 stars if not for that subtle hint on the pulpo. Will definitely come back!
More info
El RavalPrice: Expensive• Spanish• South Austin
•
4.8
D
Debbie
Austin •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 1 Jan 2025
This is my favorite place in Austin. The food and drinks are wonderful. The staff is always great!
More info
Elizabeth St CafePrice: Moderate• Asian• Bouldin Creek
•
4.8

Best Casual Restaurants in South Austin

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85 restaurants available nearby

1. Sammie's Italian

2. Elizabeth St Cafe

3. Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar

4. El Raval

5. Maie Day

6. Clark's Oyster Bar - Austin

7. Quince Lakehouse

8. Neighborhood Sushi

9. Edge Rooftop Bar

10. June's All Day

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