04/28/19
Emmer and Rye is a great restaurant in Austin's happening Rainey Street neighborhood. Saw a great report on BTB and gave it a whirl. My wife and I came here for dinner and had a really interesting dining experience (in a good way). Their approach to food is quite creative and thoughtful. We sat at the chef's counter (4 seats and you can call to reserve a spot there) so we really noticed and appreciated the chefs' attention to deal. We had several great dishes here. Standouts include the caccio e pepe (shoutout M. Cayabyab) and the roasted oysters, which came around on dim sum carts. This lamb dish however, was our favorite plate of the night. The lamb itself is slow cooked and is extremely tender. I'm guessing they finish it at a high heat because the outside was very crisp and added great texture. It is served with roasted sweet potato and tossed in a lightly spicy harissa based sauce, then topped with fresh mint to lighten and freshen things up. All told a very yummy and balanced plate of food. Emmer & Rye is a casual yet high end spot that'll provide you a fun night of dining.