Blind Salamander Kitchen & Bar

This restaurant is wonderful- located inside the Omni resort with fantastic views of the valley and outdoors. The bar is fabulous and the food we had for the birthday party was delicious. The attendants were all very attentive. Highly recommended!

Parking: This is the Omni resort so there is plenty of parking at the garage. It’s about a 5 minute walk to the restaurant.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad

Wonderful in every way- service, food, wine, cocktails, ambience. My husband especially loved his French onion soup and crab Mac and cheese- big chunks of crab. Table next to us enjoyed their crab Mac & cheese as well. The chef graciously came out to discuss a vegan entree for me and it was both beautifully presented and delicious! Thank you!!!

It's hard to even start this review if I am being honest. Based on my dining experience, Blind Salamander has shown to be the pinnacle of perfection regarding curating guest experience. From ambience to server interaction to culinary creativity, presentation and taste; immaculate excellence. My family and I celebrated my Mother's birthday that evening. Mother was absolutely blown away from start to finish. The staff at Blind Salamander will go above and beyond to make your special occasions truly SPECIAL. Start with a delicious cocktail at the bar, and maybe even a dozen oysters to get you going (Bartender Ryan will most likely indulge you with rich conversation)! Head into the restaurant, where a server (every single one is unbelievably talented) will give you the best curated culinary experience ever. Share a bottle of wine with loved one's, become lost in the unique culinary flavors, and relish in your time there. Starters, mains, sides and desserts (Executive Pasty Chef Rosa is beyond gifted); you cannot go wrong. 5 stars to the moon and back. Keep rockin' Blind Sally Staff ❤️

High marks across the board. Dined as a non-guest at the resort, complimentary valet upon arrival - valet was helpful in providing concise directions to the restaurant within the resort. Greeted by hostess, who offered indoor or outdoor seating. Was a nice evening, so chose outdoors. There was a welcome reception for a conference going on in the courtyard below, which provided live music that was suitable for the environment (not too jarring or aggressive) that we enjoyed. Beautiful views of the hill country to the north, many guests sitting on the various balconies/verandas taking it all in. Waitress and rest of staff was friendly, attentive throughout meal. Menu wasn't overwhelming, and had some interesting options. We had oysters and beef tartar for appetizers (the latter was excellent). I tried the duck entree (great flavor profile and presentation) while the other member of my party chose scallops (feedback was that they were fantastic). Split the broccolini, also good. No dessert, but opted for tea and espresso (both presented properly) before our next stop of the evening. Didn't explore the cocktails or wine list this time around, but a brief review left me thinking that it was solid. If you're staying at the resort, live on the west side of the city, or are looking for something a bit off the beaten path, highly recommend.

I wanna start by saying I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian, and the halibut was great. But I guess it's dissapointing to see someone still selling foie gras in 2024. It just seems cruel to force feed a cute little duck. Hopefully they update their menu bc I really would like to come back sometime.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 5

Service: 5

Came here to celebrate my daughter’s 20th birthday and we were all happy with everything except for those extremely tiny oysters

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

**Review: A Memorable Dining Experience** I recently had the pleasure of dining at Blind Salamander and it was truly an outstanding experience from start to finish. The food and beverage offerings were simply amazing, with each dish crafted to perfection and the drinks expertly mixed. What truly set the evening apart was the exceptional service we received. Barry, our waiter, was attentive and knowledgeable, making sure every detail of our dining experience was perfect. He guided us through the menu, offering excellent recommendations and ensuring our dietary preferences were met with care. A special shout-out goes to Ryan, the bartender, who crafted some of the best drinks we've had in a long time. His cocktails were not only delicious but also creatively presented, making our night even more enjoyable. The chef went above and beyond by creating off-menu items tailored specifically for our vegan preferences. This level of personalized service is rare and made us feel incredibly valued as guests. Overall, Blind Salamander delivered an exceptional dining experience. From the incredible food and drinks to the top-notch service, it's a place I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a memorable night out. We will definitely be returning soon! Brian W

Beautiful atmosphere, and wonderful service. Great flavors, and creative cuisine. Unexpected flavor combinations. Some traditional dishes and flavors such as French onion soup, which was some of the best I've had.

Those were the smallest oyster appetizers I have seen in a long time, but they weren't cheap. Half dozen was 6 but they were tiny. Not a lot if taste to them either. Now the main entree of Redfish was excellent, menu states Blackened but I asked for grilled and they complied rather well. My wife had the Filet and was pleased with it. The waiter said they had our preferred brand of whiskey, they obviously did not but we didn't complain. The location was convenient as we were staying at the Omni Barton Springs Resort and Spa a beautiful facility with generally a wonderful and happy staff. No difference at any of the restaurants. They are quite polite and efficient.

The Good: Just about everything. Probably my favorite meal I have had since moving to Austin. Period. Fun, inventive, and flavorful. And our server was so attentive and pleasant. Afterwards we got to go out and roast marshmallows which was so much fun.

The Meh: I mean can you even say "price" at a place like this? You know what you're getting into in any hotel restaurant. So yes it was a shock when the bill came, but yes, we expected it. Definitely worth it for a special date night.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A Nightmarish Dining Experience at Blind Salamander Kitchen & Bar

Our recent visit to Blind Salamander Kitchen & Bar was nothing short of an abysmal dining experience. From start to finish, the meal was an exercise in absurdity, and I must say, the only redeeming feature was the polite and attentive waitstaff.

The evening began with a glimmer of hope in the form of the starter bread, which, to our dismay, turned out to be the pinnacle of the culinary offerings. We ordered the duck, anticipating a delightful dish, only to be met with the most repugnant flavor imaginable. The sauce accompanying the duck had a bizarre, plastic-like consistency that was impossible to ignore, and the black rice emitted an unbearable stench.

It seems the chef has a heavy hand with the salt shaker, as everything—and I do mean everything—was overwhelmingly salty. My onion soup starter was essentially a bowl of brine. The scallops, which we hoped would be a delicate delight, were instead an assault on the palate with their excessive saltiness. Even the side dishes did not escape this travesty; the potatoes were inedible due to the sheer amount of salt.

The pasta, while somewhat decent, could not salvage the meal. It was the one dish that managed to escape the over-salting, but it was far from remarkable. Our descent into culinary despair continued with the desserts. The cheesecake tasted as if it had been extruded from a cardboard box, with a distinctly chemical aftertaste that none of us could stomach.

Despite the horrendous food, the waitstaff were exemplary. Their professionalism and courtesy were the sole highlights of an otherwise disastrous evening. It is truly unfortunate that their efforts were overshadowed by the appalling quality of the food.

In summary, Blind Salamander Kitchen & Bar was a profound disappointment. The dishes ranged from mediocre to inedible, and the pervasive saltiness ruined what could have been a pleasant dining experience. I sincerely hope that the management takes these critiques to heart and makes significant improvements. Until then, I cannot in good conscience recommend this establishment to anyone seeking a satisfying meal.

Vegetarian options: Desserts.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Delicious! Very tasty

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Our dining experience on a date evening was great! The lobby of the Omni is well appointed and luxurious. The Blind Salamander restaurant itself has good decor and really nice views of the hilly topography. Food was excellent, filling and delicious. Our choice of seafood and duck were well paired with Mac and cheese. The staff was attentive and hospitable. We are sure to return to take advantage of more of the facilities like pool, spa and amenities.

Outstanding restaurant, especially for a hotel. Remarkably interesting and inventive menu. We eat a lot of nice meals, and this one really stood out. Nice, relaxed vibe. Not too crowded on a Thursday night. Great view of the property. Spectacular.

One of the best dining experiences in all of Austin, and the best in the Hill Country. Chef Baca's menu, combined with the outstanding service from our server Ramsey, was simply a perfect combination.