The Salty SowScrumtrulescent Sow, fo sho!What are you doing? Your reading this when you could be grabbing friends and heading down to the Salty Sow for their happy hour and enchanting your taste buds with a prismatic spray of flavours and speciality drinks! In the immortal words of Weird Al Yankovic, "Just eat it!" and drink it too while your at it.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMInventive food in a casual settingWe had a creative dinner from start to finish in the open air. The service was friendly and attentive. Although we enjoyed the duck fat fries, we weren't sure what the hype was about. The beet salad beets were somewhat undercooked and could have used a touch of acid. If you're not a "fat" lover, steer clear of the pork belly. The beef shoulder melts in your mouth. The bananas foster beignets are worth every calorie and them some. It was a special dinner and we would definitely return.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was great, service wasFood was great, service was pretty haphazard. Our food was slow and it took the server a long time to take orders. The brussell sprout ceasar was great, as was the charcuterie plate.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent restaurant -- doesn'tExcellent restaurant -- doesn't look like much and we were very surprised. The food was delicious and very well prepared -- the presentation was lovely. Wait service was very attentive. As soon as we walked into the restaurant employees were gracious and friendly. The desserts are to die for! Can't wait to go back.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMMy friends and I enjoyed HappyMy friends and I enjoyed Happy Hour prices and small plates for dinner before the show at Bass Concert Hall. Yummy!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat job across the boardI've been to the Salty Sow several times and the experience has been consistently great. As always, the food was delicious; the staff was friendly, prompt and solicitous. Our waiter gave great recommendations. My companion and I were there on a Friday night and the place was packed. We couldn't have gotten a table without our reservations. Seating was immediate. The energy there was high, which was fun, but it also made for lots of noise. We had to lean in to hear each other. For quality and quantity, as well as overall dining experience, prices were quite reasonable.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMPorktasticGem of a restaurant on the east side with a huge following. Inside or out, great service and delicious yet unique choices in across the board. Among other things, love the pork belly tacos, the roasted Brussels sprouts, deviled eggs, drafts and pours, all served with a smile from a great crew.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMVery popular, judging by theVery popular, judging by the amount of customers. There is the fancy looking part in the front, facing Manor, and there is a more casual "parlor" atmosphere in the back with a bar. The back also has outdoor seating if you prefer that. Girlfriend and I arrived early so they sat us in the back til our seats were clear in the front. The whole place was packed, and there was a lot of seating. I've learned to expect a long wait on food if the menu is generally more expensive but it came out surprisingly quick and was delicious. I've waited longer for much less food at family restaurants like Roadhouse and Chili's.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved it!The food was fantastic. I will definitely go back whe. I'm in Austin again.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazeballs!!!!!I came to the salty sow for a birthday dinner with my family. We had an amazing server and the food was outstanding! Everything from the cocktails to dessert, and everything in between, was absolutely divine! I can't wait to go back soon!!!!! :)5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I visite SaltyMy wife and I visite Salty Sow for the first time. It was a bit cold outside with outdoor area enclosed for the evening. So we dined in the front room. It was active yet cozy, energetic without being too loud. The menu has so many great options that we said more than once that we did not have to try them all on this one visit. Everything that we ordered was great! Cocktails, wine, appetizers and entrees. Our server Alicia was just as good - attentive but not too much, very knowledgeable about the menu and wines and she gave us some great recommendations. We can't wait to get back.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best in AustinSalty Sow has rapidly become my favorite restaurant in Austin, and probably one of my favorites in the country. The food is outstanding. Their vegetables are comparable if not better that Otto (NYC), fish is close to Bernardin (NYC), and meat is just outstanding. Good atmosphere. Great brews.
In the otherwise vastly over-hyped food "scene" of Austin, Salty Sow is an exception that is at par with Michelin star rated restaurants of the east coast.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMEntrees were outstanding,Entrees were outstanding, as were the apps. The beef/steak options were particularly good and my wife loved the vegetable medley plate.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food here is excellent.The food here is excellent. We were there during happy hour, and the $4 truffle duck fat fries and pork belly tacos were amazing.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was amazing. We hadFood was amazing. We had a group of four and just ordered several plates for the table. The petite bone in filet was perfect! My only complaint is that parking is terrible.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMCan't Miss Dining ExperienceThis was truly a great experience. Kara, who served us, was phenomenal. Her recommendations were outstanding from soup to nuts. She even surprised us with complimentary Champaign for a special occasion. I highly recommend getting her for your service. An experience to remember!4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat placeFood was great, and a nice variety of options. We had : big appetizer platter, bone marrow, collard greens, and pig shoulder.
Waitress was actually helpful with wine choices and let us sample first.
Great experience.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMSave room for dessert.Bananas foster were the best part of the meal. You would be mistaken if you do not try them.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was great and soThe food was great and so was the service. We look forward to a return visit.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMTotally awesome. Crazy tasty.Totally awesome. Crazy tasty. Really beautifully presented flavors - especially the marrow.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat dinner at the SaltyGreat dinner at the Salty Sow. We arrived with reservations on a Friday afternoon during happy hour. We had to wait a few minutes for our table but it wasn't long at all. The happy hour had some great specials. The wine,food and atmosphere were great.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved everything about thisLoved everything about this place. Would have given a Five overall but they kind of forgot about us while we were waiting for our table. Our server was great. It's very laid back so don't expect over attentive servers. It's about the company and food, not getting in and out quickly.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMContinues to be one of myContinues to be one of my favorite palces in Austin4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMUnique, great food. Our waiterUnique, great food. Our waiter was terrific. He was engaging and very friendly; however, he took quite a bit of time to bring the check, but that could have been due his many tables and talkative personality. The only bad thing was that we were seated outside and every few minutes my wife's legs were sprayed by some water hose/pipe that was connected to the side of the building.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMCool Restaurant with Fabulous FoodWe visited the Salty Sow during Restaurant Week. We will go again, and again. The service was as great as the food. The waiter was so helpful for us newbies at the restaurant. I had their fish special and was completely wowed. My husband had a mixed meat dish with marrow and he loved it also. The wine list was more than adequate and we got to meet the groovy owner. The ambiance was as groovy as Austin is. We enjoyed a fun Swine Wine with our meal. Really great experience.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMPork and moreThis place was recommended by 3 people whom I have asked. All said to put it on my must visit list. I did, I went and was amply rewarded. The Oyster Fritters were luscious with a heat that slowly built and then filled my mouth with delight. The tarter-like sauce (I think ketchup was added) rounded out the flavor. Next we had the charcuterie plate. It was okay but did not wow me. My mail course was the candied pork belly - the most wonderful thing I have ever eaten. It sent me and my entire family into another dimension. The braised Brussels Sprout leaves was a nice surprise. We disliked the very bland cauliflower dish, which the waiter promptly removed and replaced with the Yukon Gold mashed potatoes that were outstanding. Beignet dessert!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time visit was wonderfulLoved it. Best meal we have had in our first year of Austin living. Next time we will sit in the outdoor patio and bring our dogs!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything from the saladEverything from the salad to the bonemarrow was amazing! Daniel was very friendly and knew the menu very well!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I went to SaltyMy wife and I went to Salty Sow for our 5th anniversary. The food was pretty spectacular. My wife had the halibut special and I had the beef shoulder. Both entrees were terrific. The star of the mean, however, was probably the deviled eggs.
Our server wasn't the best, but wasn't bad either.
We'll be back (and definitely get the deviled eggs again).4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMSalty Sow = Pork???This was our first trip to the Salty Sow. Having made reservations, we were seated promptly. Service was great throughout the whole dining experience. The restaurant is composed of two houses and the yard between (covered). Overall, the noise level was high enough to make conversation difficult, and to have to repeat orders to the waiter. It is obviously a popular restaurant, and all seating was full.
All of the appetizers, food, and drinks we tried were pretty good. The menu selection was very southern and somewhat limited. The deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes were nice, as was the pork belly. Unfortunately the menu didn't provide as many pork based selections as the restaurant name suggests. But the food we ordered was OK4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMDon't miss Happy Hour at the SaltyOur first visit could not have been any more enjoyable, best food on the NE side we have had since living in Austin.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMJust a great spot for comfortableJust a great spot for comfortable dining with exceptional service and excellent food.
Not my first time and certainly not my last.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMtrev was our waiter for thetrev was our waiter for the night. Great service!!! Delicious food! We had the fixed menu, which was awesome. Austin restaurant week is what brought us in this week. will be back.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWe truly enjoyed our eveningWe truly enjoyed our evening at Salty Sow. The food was delicious, the ambiance was great and the server was friendly. The service was a bit slow, but since the restaurant was packed, and the server was obviously working hard to stay on top of things we didn't mind. We will be back soon.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was excellent. We wereFood was excellent. We were late for our reservation but called ahead to let them know our babysitter was late but we were almost there. They still had a table ready for us even though there was a wait for those without reservations.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMI'm speechless!!!My vocabulary is inadequate to properly credit the Salty Sow. Where to begin... The decor and atmosphere will more than adequately entertain you while waiting, ordering and receiving your order, although the time for this was incredibly fast, given it was a busy Saturday night at the end of happy hour. The staff was friendly, warm & attentive, praising your menu choices and making suggestions. We started with cocktails, which were AMAZING! Our appetizers were charcuterie & cheese board and the duck fat fries topped by perfectly-cooked eggs. Both dishes were incredible, but the fries were insanely good! Our main courses were the blade steak and the pork shoulder, which were amazing. Dessert? Heaven! Overall, this restaurant is a MUST!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food choices. UniqueExcellent food choices. Unique drink choice (lemon meringue martini). To die for desserts. It's a must!4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was incredible! LovedThe food was incredible! Loved it! Will be back soon!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMA must go in East Austin!Phenomenal experience during my first visit to The Salty Sow. The Triple Fried Duck Oil Fries with 110 minute eggs were decadent. The Candied Pork Belly with chili was amazing. Like eating gourmet carnitas! Finally, the Crispy Brussel Sprout Leaves with pecorino cheese and golden raisins were incredible. Will definitely try to make that last dish at home (the others might be too hard to reproduce).
To boot, our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly and made us feel at home.
A must go!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was a great experience,This was a great experience, recommended already to friends! Excellent.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMI've eaten here twice andI've eaten here twice and have had a fantastic dinner experience both times. Service is friendly and professional, ambiance is cozy and inviting, and the food finds a perfect balance between creativity and simplicity. I forget exactly what cut of pork I had, but it's the only one that has a honey based sauce on it; it's one of the top 3 pieces of meat I've ever eaten. We got two orders of banana fritter beignet for two couples which were delicious, but it came with four large pieces, so we would have been fine with just one order. A great spot to bring parents or friends from out of town to ease them into East Austin.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent, unusual menuExcellent service,very noisy,they have varied seating options but we were stuck with a high table and very uncomfortable metal stools.Definitelt need a reservation.Bone marrow beet salad, duck fried fries and bananas foster beignets with nutmeg ice cream(enough for 4 but need a second scoop of ice cream,were outstanding.the grits were tasteless. Duck and ahi tuna entrees were very good3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat inventive drinks, reallyGreat inventive drinks, really good food and a good atmosphere. The only reason I didn't give more stars was that our server wasn't the best. We were double charged for a few things and had to have her fix the bill. It was totally awkward the way she handled it. She also didn't refill waters and sort of disappeared during the second half of our meal...oh and she gave my dining partner the wrong salmon dish that cost twice as much as she ordered. However my friend didn't notice because I picked up the tab.
I don't judge a restaurant by one server and will def go back, the food was great! And the happy hour specials that we had before dinner were a great value too!3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous Happy HourThe Salty Sow was fantastic. I went with a group of 5 for an early dinner. There was plenty of seating inside and on the lovely patio. We happen to be there for there for happy hour and were blown away by their specials. The pork belly taco was fantastic! They also had some great handcrafted cocktails on the menu. I was in town from Minneapolis but if I lived in Austin this would be a restaurant that I would frequent. My friends will definitely be back.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFantasticFantastic! Order the brussel sprout leaves and the pork shoulder - you will not be disappointed.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWOW. Rich and Different!Wow. A friend had recommended it and I am so glad she did! The truffled deviled eggs were great with small bacon bits. They served 4 halves (2 eggs) but wish I had more of them. I had the candied pork belly and fried Brussels sprouts leaves with golden raisins. All of the flavors were rich and strong. The candied pork belly was not fatty-it was perfect. I splurged on the dark chocolate pudding with banana whipped cream and peanut butter crunch-ins. It was so rich and the chocolate pudding was smooth and deep. They had lots of other things that I wish I could have had. They do a lot of extraordinary items called Things in a jar. I had to try the Duck Fries, french fries in duck fat served with an egg and Bernaise sauce. WOW.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely love this place!Absolutely love this place! Food and drink were excellent! This was my second time here and there will be many more. Braised Pork Belly and Collard Greens were amazing. My friend had the Chicken Thighs YUM!!!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThis unusual menu was delicious.This unusual menu was delicious. We had the charcuterie which was great. The Maple Syrup Old Fashioned was really good. You have to try the side dish brussel sprout leaves, they were amazing. My husband had the evening's special and I had the pork shoulder for entrees. Our waiter Chris was personable and the trainee Abraham was doing an excellent job. Definitely a great new East Austin treat.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMTook my best friend thereTook my best friend there for dinner. Everything was great. We did family style as suggested and tried a bit of everything. Will definitely go back!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMSecond time here and againSecond time here and again nothing we did not love about the experience.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AM