The Brewer’s Table: Deliciously Beautiful Food

Even before it’s opening, The Brewer’s Table was one of Austin’s most anticipated restaurants of 2018. After a visit for brunch and dinner, it’s lived up to the pre-opening hype and is a sure contender for the city’s best new restaurant.

I heard whisperings of The Brewer’s Table ages before it opened. And, at least in my circle, it was the most talked about Austin restaurant opening which made me ridiculously eager to visit. Although the restaurant celebrated its grand opening in early June, I waited until it premiered its brunch menu for an initial visit.  A few days later, <3M and I ventured back to The Brewer’s Table for dinner.  

In full transparency, <3M and I treated ourselves to brunch the first time around and were invited back for dinner a few days later by owner, Jake Maddux.  However, all photos and opinions are my own.

Atmosphere

The Brewer’s Table is a beautifully designed venue.  In fact, everything about The Brewer’s Table is beautiful — decor, menus, kitchen, plating, the food. (Side note, be prepared to see the word beautiful used multiple times below because I truly can’t think of any other word to describe both The Brewer’s Table venue and food. Simply gorgeous.)

The restaurant’s atmosphere is airy with bright, natural light and pops of color giving it a modern feel. It’s full of natural wood and clean lines with a backdrop of neutral, calming colors. Inside there are loads of dried ingredients, including a large fish hanging from the ceiling.

The open kitchen and chef’s counter has views of food preparation including a large wood-fired grill which is banked with stacks of cookbooks by famous chefs and brewers.  Outside, the same airy, calming feeling extends to a patio and small bar where The Brewer’s Table offers up drinks and small bites during happy hour. I had serious decor and kitchen envy while dining.

Drinks

With a selection of their own beer, guest taps, wine, and house cocktails, The Brewer’s Table offers something for everyone. I found true love with the tap wine, a chilled Shiraz that was pure perfection for this red loving girl on a hot Austin day.  <3M enjoyed their twist on an old fashioned, the Hop & Bothered, that had a similar flavor palette but with a touch more sweetness than the standard drink.

And, although I only sampled one of their own brews, I was intrigued by the unique use of ingredients in each of The Brewer’s Table’s offerings — roasted beets, sweet potatoes, and dried jasmine.

Food

If I had to make one statement about The Brewer’s Table, it’s that they have the most beautiful food I have ever seen.  Each plating is exquisite and each dish has a combination of colors and textures that make each presentation a pure work of art.   I could truly stare and take photos of their food all day long. Below’ a look at the dishes <3M and I enjoyed during our visits.

Deviled Eggs

These looked divine and were again beautiful, however, I learned I’m not much of a fan of smoked chicken liver mousse.  Although I truly enjoyed the crunchy bits beneath, I recommend knowing whether or not you enjoy liver before ordering.

Summer Bean & Barley Salad

I really enjoyed this salad. It was light and full of fresh seasonal flavors with a subtle ranch dressing.  It had every note of flavor I could have asked for — salty, creamy, crunchy and I could have licked the plate clean. My only lasting desire was for more of the beans and barley.

Fried Chicken Sandwich

This chicken was perfectly moist and savory but the real star of this dish was the mesquite buttered roll.  It was soft, buttery, melt in your mouth goodness. And the chips were lick your fingers addicting.

Snacks for the Table

I’m a sucker for snack plates and this one was my favorite ever, anywhere. I was so impressed with the presentation, the mix of textures and flavors.  I also loved the different techniques presented in this dish including the beer compressed peaches with berry granita, lager chicharrones, and the crunchy beer grain falafel.

Hearth Bread

While this bread was delicious, just like the roll from the Fried Chicken Sandwich, the real star was the mesquite butter.  I will usually skip over bread and butter but this butter was everything.  Slightly sweet with a touch of smoke and salt. I wanted it on everything.

Chicken Paprikash

If you want comfort food then this is your dish. It was tenderly cooked, fall-off-the-bone chicken smothered in a tomato-paprika sauce served with soft, chewy beer grain spaetzle. And it left me wanting more. I hope the Chicken Paprikash remains on the menu throughout the winter months because I want to snuggle up with it again during a cold December night.

Green Tomato and Blue Crab Parfait

I went back and forth on the dish.  I loved it when I composed the perfect bite by incorporating each ingredient on my spoon which created a balance between the fishiness of the crab, the acidity of the tomato, and sweetness from the fruit.  However, if I got something alone it was a bit off balance which is why I’m torn on whether or not I’d order it again. But again, as with all the dishes, it had a beautiful presentation.

Whipped Chocolate Mousse

If I were dining solo, I would have chosen a different dessert because this mousse had bananas in it and I’m not a huge fan of bananas but <3M wanted the mousse and so it was. However, I was beyond happy with the result. The banana flavor was subtle and I loved the crunchy hazelnut pieces and the light, silky chocolate mousse. In truth, I’m usually unimpressed with restaurant desserts but this, I’d order again.

Ice Cream Cone

I loved that this dessert because of its miniature size and the different textures it offered.  It had pops of crunch from the toasted barley and the gooey caramel at the bottom of the beer grain waffle cone. It was the perfect little ending to the meal.

Final Thoughts

If you are a fan of restaurants like Barley Swine, Odd Duck, or Emmer & Rye then you need to make your way to The Brewer’s Table.

In my opinion, The Brewer’s Table has more to offer than the others in terms of unique craft brews, an outdoor space that’s kid & dog-friendly, and seating that can easily accommodate a large group.  On top of that, the food’s elegant, creative, and delicious while offering a memorable dining experience.

I honestly believe The Brewer’s Table has a bright future. With its gorgeous interiors, creative use of ingredients, and beautiful food it will definitely land itself on a few top restaurant lists this year both locally and on the national front. I’m excited to see where the future takes it.

Have you visited The Brewer’s Table yet? What were your thoughts?