Luminaire

Name: Luminaire
Address: 721 Congress Ave., Austin, TX, United States, 78701-3216
Telephone: (737) 257-3211
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.3

4.3

108 Reviews

$31 to $50

American

Top tags:

An all-day restaurant on Congress Ave. Seasonal Texas local fare and charcuterie, led by Chef Steve McHugh, six-time James Beard nominated chef. Luminaire will continue the Chef's philosophy of incorporating Texas' diversity of local and seasonal ingredients, working closely with farmers, and making sustainability a top priority.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 5, 2023

10:30 p.m.

Booked 6 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
American, Contemporary American, Tapas / Small Plates
Hours of Operation
Daily 6:30 am–11:00 pm
Phone number
(737) 257-3211
Website
https://www.luminairerestaurant.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Business Casual
Executive Chef
Chef Steve McHugh
Catering
All inquiries can be directed to veronica@landracegp.com
Private party facilities
All inquiries can be directed to veronica@landracegp.com

Location
721 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701-3216
Neighbourhood
Downtown
Cross Street
Congress Avenue and 8th Street
Parking Details
Valet
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Offers

Tapas Hour
Multiple dates available
Sun - Sat - 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Enjoy our limited menu from 3-5PM with small bites and discounted libations. Who knows what might end up receiving at the table, make your reservation today for this fun Tapas Hour!

Popular dishes

Local Yogurt BowlUS$10.00
Granola, Berries, Bee Pollen, Coconut, Honeycomb, Poppy Seed
Luminaire SaladUS$15.00
Mixed Greens, Red Onion, Smoked Paprika Potatoes, Marinated Green Olives, Egg, Citrus Vinaigrette
TorrijasUS$15.00
French Toast, Sherry Berries, Cardamom Creme
Spanish TortillaUS$15.00
Leeks, Eggs, Potatoes, Caramelized Onion, Manchego
Baked Eggs en PiperadeUS$21.00
Pancetta, Roasted Peppers, Tomatoes, Served with Thick Crusty Bread
Grilled Steak and EggsUS$32.00
Salsa Verde, Toasted Tortilla
Huevos RotosUS$25.00
2 Eggs Any Style, Spanish Fried Potatoes, Tortilla, Orange Juice, Coffee Choice of Chorizo, Bacon or Jamón

Desserts

Cajeta FlanUS$9.00
Berries, Meringue
ChurrosUS$9.00
Chocolate, Contains Nuts
Gâteau BasqueUS$9.00
Sherry Berries

What 108 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3

4.3 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.2Service
4.3Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

108 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The wait staff and manager were very friendly, knowledgable, and welcoming! The atmosphere was really beautiful and it felt special. The day after Thanksgiving was pretty quiet, but the way the tables and seating were arranged we did not feel 'alone' and the staff checked in regularly to ensure we had everything we needed. While the resturant is in the Hyatt, it felt very "local" due to the attention of the staff and the menu! Would recommend and visit again!
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N
Nelson
San Antonio
30 reviews
vip
3.0
30 reviews
Dined on November 24, 2023
overall3food3service1ambience4
Food was OK, nothing spectacular, but service was the mediocre. The waiter continued forgetting the items we asked for and seemed like he wanted to leave instead of work.
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M
Mabey
Austin
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on November 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Such a great meal on Thanksgiving day. The staff was friendly, food was amazing and service was exceptional! Thank you for taking such good care of us and working so hard on a holiday!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I went for their thanksgiving day special and the food was fantastic. The service was top notch and the ambiance was perfect. I will be back again to try their normal menu food!
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m
mjbkj
San Francisco
23 reviews
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on November 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
great place to visit, good food, good service, beautiful location and prices are spot on I'll go back
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l
luvatxdowntown
Austin
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on November 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
A very enjoyable evening in a beautiful restaurant. The staff are attentive and very knowledgeable about the food. We shared everything - started with a large board which could have been shared with a few more people. We each had 2 chops and shared 2 sides - more than enough food, but it was very good so we managed to finish it off. The hotel the restaurant is in is quite interesting and has a fantastic bar which you find if you go off to the restroom.
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T
Tanya
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food was excellent (the whipped hominy is a special delight!) and comes in very generous serving sizes. The staff were all friendly and helpful, making suggestions for food and beverage which were excellent It's a bit noisy with the doors open to the street, but for some that's probably a plus rather than a negative. Will definitely go back!
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B
Basta
San Francisco
2 reviews
1.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall1food2service1ambience4
Service was terrible. Menu limited. It was one mistake after another.
1 person found this helpful
S
Stephanie
Austin
16 reviews
vip
4.0
16 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
Shared a bunch of starters and sides. All of it was yummy!
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LC
LatishaC
Austin
23 reviews
vip
4.0
23 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Great service. Loved the staff and the happy hour menu from 3-6 is very good.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Austin
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was slow at 1st since they were short staffed, but we were very well taken care of. The manager really made sure we had a great time.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Dallas
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Celebrating a big birthday and we were so happy we chose Luminaire. Great food, exceptional service and attention! Definitely recommend.
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f
foodfun
Austin
13 reviews
vip
2.0
13 reviews
Dined on October 24, 2023
overall2food3service2ambience2
Having tried this restaurant a few times, we won't be going back. Service is slow and sporadic. Bolognese and trout entrees good. Lamb chop all fat. Ambience is lacking.
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LC
LatishaC
Austin
23 reviews
vip
4.0
23 reviews
Dined on October 22, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience5
Great service. Everyone was very nice and made every effort to make it an enjoyable experience I will return here for sure. Nice ambiance and it wasn’t crowded which was awesome !!! Good view of Congress and try the rooftop bar.
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CK
CaraK
Austin
40 reviews
vip
4.0
40 reviews
Dined on October 20, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Our server, Gigi, was incredible! She made the night for us. She was friendly, fun, attentive, caring and made us feel very taken care of.
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SL
SylvieL
Austin
4 reviews
vip
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 15, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Great place! menu is inventive, food is very good and service has always been excellent.
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DJ
DJBran
Central Coast
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on October 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We loved the friendly service and fabulous food! We will be back!
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M
Michael
Austin
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service. Cool bar on the 8th floor with a nice view of downtown and Congress. Will definitely go back.
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R
Renfren
Austin
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We loved this place for dinner before a show at the Paramount! And a drink afterward, in the rooftop bar on 8th floor!
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AB
AnnieB
Austin
24 reviews
vip
5.0
24 reviews
Dined on September 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My new favorite downtown spot - doesn't hurt that the french fries are the best and they have Graham Beck by the glass. Who can resist bubbles and fries?!
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N
Nickname
Omaha
9 reviews
vip
3.0
9 reviews
Dined on September 21, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
Honestly… I always want to love every restaurant I try. I saw mixed reviews, but wanted to give the benefit of the doubt to Luminaire. Space is fine… it’s a bit corporate, but no problem. Service was… odd. 1. Ordered starters and mains. They all plopped on the table at the same time. 101 right?… but fine, whatever. 2. Not once did they check on us for water or drinks. And no…. Not busy, so not an excuse. Again… whatever, I can track you down if I really need something. No problem. 3. But, the food…. Meh. Not bad. Definitely not great. Just…. there. We ordered some empanadas for the table. Pretty average. Egg and cheese was better than the chorizo and potato, surprisingly. The gnocchi looked really good on the menu. Unfortunately, it was just kind of an uninspired, muted flavor, (now cold) mess. The server suggested the shrimp and hominy. Again. Sounds great… again…. Engh. Almost no spice. Shrimp were a touch rubbery, everything was cold, which didn’t help. Back to 101… this is why you serve the starters… and then fire the main course later…. Luminaire…. I wanted to love you… but you’re way better on paper than in real life. You’re just missing on every front…. And not by a ton. I want to be fair. Some tweaks can make it work, but there are too many places in this city that don’t miss. So I can’t see you anymore… I’m sorry.
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AD
AustinDiner
Austin
71 reviews
vip
4.0
71 reviews
Dined on September 17, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience4
The food is top notch. Love the white gazpacho and shrimp with whipped hominy in particular. Service was courteous, but very slow.
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SC
StephanieC
Austin
3 reviews
vip
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 14, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience3
We started our Austin Restaurant week with a birthday celebration and a hidden special occasion for me. As a food enthusiast I was excited to try Luminaire. A poetic symbolism to light my way after a hard season. We started with both the: White Gazpacho As an Austinite, this is my favorite gazpacho in town thus far! The notes of cucumber & almonds coated our palate in a refreshing taste of summer and spring. All of the flavors danced together so delightfully. Sweet yet nostalgically savory as if of something my grandmother would serve if she was a chef. We love the grape and toasted almonds pieces and thought it added a great combination of texture! Which made it fun to eat. Five stars for this —or better, five hearts! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Crispy Croquettast Unfortunately, the plate came out almost cold and the cheese was hard. The flavor was there, but I know the dish would have been 5 stars if hot. Instead, I would give it a 3. Followed by the: Chicory Salad Was absolutely delicious! The blue cheese was light with the slightly tart chicory and strawberries in sherry vinaigrette accompanied really well with the warm sweetness of the glazed pecans! Gambas Al Ajillo Was beautiful, but for me, the dish was a little heavily salted. Carrillada Of Pork The whipped Hominy was my favorite and pork was soft and melted together. As a finally, we had the: Natilla Custard, Churro The Churro was perfectly crispy yet soft on the inside. While the custard made the dessert light which was wonderful and an experience with the dessert wine. Sorbete De Limon Was delicious, however I felt it was still a little salty even paired with the dessert wine. For our service, we notice the bad reviews and wanted to try it out. Our server was nice, however she did make me feel a little uncomfortable. I think she believed that my partner was going to pay so she tended to him more (to say the least) which left me a little disappointed in experience because I was celebrating too! 😞💔
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MD
MandyD
Austin
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 10, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Run, don’t walk, to this lovely new restaurant. Every dish was poetry, the servers and chefs were warm and lovely, and the meat melted like butter. Many of the dishes were really inventive - tomato tartare! - and all the ingredients flowed together. This is fine dining at its best - with a Texan warmth in ambiance and service. Go before the secret’s out and you can’t get a table.
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B
Beth
Austin
47 reviews
vip
5.0
47 reviews
Dined on August 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The chef was loving making us things that we would love and find extraordinary …. I wasn’t expecting their level of excellence in a hotel restaurant It’s a special place
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Dallas
5 reviews
vip
1.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 9, 2023
overall1food2service1ambience1
It was so empty it was eerie. There was only one other two top at the restaurant the entire time we were there yet the service was terrible. So incredibly slow and server was super soft spoken. The restaurant was very quiet and we still could hardly hear the server. Food was ok, unfortunately nothing stood out especially given the price point. Had high hopes but am unlikely to return :/
1 person found this helpful
SC
SkyCar
Austin
6 reviews
vip
2.0
6 reviews
Dined on August 5, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience1
The ambiance is majorly lacking. It feels like the lobby of an office building. Grey everywhere. We ordered drinks first, then apps. While we were eating apps, we ordered entrees. The drinks didn't come until our entrees. The food wasn't anything special, but it's priced as if it is very special. $17 for a gin & tonic. Wasn't a bad experience, but I wouldn't recommend it...or ever go again.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place was more than I could’ve asked for on my birthday celebration. It was so special and we had the upmost service. Everything was well placed and put together for the best experience! We had so much fun.
1 person found this helpful
GT
GwynT
New York Area
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 4, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
We enjoyed the atmosphere, it was quiet and we ate and enjoyed cocktails at a leisurely pace. Very European! We loved the Dinner Board! We loved the Luminare Salad! The Gnocchi was our least favorite dish. We tried both Lamb and Beef Chops and one of the Lamb chops was all Fat no meat. Order of 2. Beef chops were good, but small portions. We also had the vegetable paella which was okay. Overall, pricey and the cocktails especially pricey! But will maybe try other foods or happy hour in the future!
1 person found this helpful
m
markeymark
San Francisco
38 reviews
vip
4.0
38 reviews
Dined on July 29, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience4
The food was great as was our server, however we found the speed of service to be slow and often times having to ask when drinks/food would be coming? (And it wasn’t packed) Overall food was quite delicious…just bummed about speed. Hope they can improve on this. I would recommend if not in a hurry. Waitress (GiGi) was very sweet and friendly.
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B
Bestfoodwithfriends
Austin
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 25, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience4
The food was wonderful. Staff helpful and prompt.
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AD
AustinDiner
Austin
71 reviews
vip
4.0
71 reviews
Dined on July 20, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience4
Its a beautiful space, but the afternoon sun can be blinding with all the glass on the west facing wall. The food is delicious, particularly the white gaspacho. Good wine list and cocktails. Loved the pre-theatre menu, in particular. The staff is very friendly -- but needs some training. Some are not familiar with the menu. Some tend to disappear and not come by for long periods of time. Servers are awkward about bringing out the food, and seeming not to know how to sit it down if other plates have not been picked up.
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D
Dino
Toronto
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wow. Wonderful food and service. Everything tasted amazing. Great use of citrus and winegars. Luminaire salad and smoked duck was beautiful.
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R
Regulars
San Antonio
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous! Five-time James Beard Nominee Chef Steve McHugh hits it out of the park again. Robert, the GM, made us feel right at home. It was the perfect long relaxing dinner to enjoy before going next door to the Paramount/State Theatre show. (Save room for dessert, and don't miss the white gazpacho as a starter!) Afterward, a drink in the rooftop bar at Las Bis is a divine idea, too. Bravo! Chef! Chef! Parking was easy: it's only $15 to valet park at Hyatt Centric if you ask the restaurant staff to validate your ticket and then don't stay longer than 3 hours.
1 person found this helpful
LR
LeoR
Corpus Christi
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
1st time eating there with my wife an it was a good experience, enjoyed the food an the service we received.
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A
Annette
Austin
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on July 3, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience4
Service was great. Food was meh. Fine if you just need a quick meal like we did.
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DJ
DuckJibe
Austin
39 reviews
vip
5.0
39 reviews
Dined on June 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautiful place right beside the Paramount theater. Great for pre-show dinner. We had a yummy appetizer courtesy of the kitchen, and ordered the butter lettuce salad, Delgado chops and cauliflower. I enjoyed a cool and light Froze’! The service was very friendly but relaxed.
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JA
JennATX
Austin
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We loved our first visit so much that we are already making plans for our next visit.
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AH
AprilH
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love Luminaire and thank you for your presence on North Congress Avenue. The food is great, the service is better, and it's a great space for a business lunch.
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s
sjstallard
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a birthday dinner at Luminaire and our group was sat upstairs in the restaurant. Norris was our server and he was amazing. There weren’t many other people there at the time because the restaurant is new, but the space could be an amazing place for late night drinks downtown. It had a high end lounge feel. Norris had some thoughtful ideas of how to bring more people to the restaurant. He was great and made our night even better. The food was delicious and the chef came out to check on us after the meal. Overall we really enjoyed our night here.
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FAQs

Luminaire offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (737) 257-3211.

Luminaire is rated 4.3 stars by 108 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 5, 2023

10:30 p.m.

Booked 6 times today

Order delivery or takeout

721 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701-3216

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
Congress Avenue and 8th Street
Neighbourhood
Downtown
Hours of Operation
Daily 6:30 am–11:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
American, Contemporary American, Tapas / Small Plates
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress Code
Business Casual
Parking Details
Valet
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Chef Steve McHugh
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.luminairerestaurant.com/
Phone number
(737) 257-3211
Catering
All inquiries can be directed to veronica@landracegp.com
Private party facilities
All inquiries can be directed to veronica@landracegp.com

Luminaire

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Tapas Hour

Gnocchi

Shrimp and Whipped Hominy

Steak & Potatoes

Breakfast Board

Breakfast BoardUS$45.00

Toasties

Smashed ChickpeaUS$15.00

AvocadoUS$15.00

Goat CheeseUS$15.00

Smoothies

Prickly Pear and Mesquite BeanUS$7.00

Super GreenUS$7.00

Empanadas

Chorizo and PotatoUS$9.00

Chicken, Idiazabal, FigUS$9.00

Goat Cheese, Roasted Red PeppersUS$9.00

Dishes

Local Yogurt BowlUS$10.00

Luminaire SaladUS$15.00

TorrijasUS$15.00

Spanish TortillaUS$15.00

Baked Eggs en PiperadeUS$21.00

Grilled Steak and EggsUS$32.00

Huevos RotosUS$25.00

Desserts

Cajeta FlanUS$9.00

ChurrosUS$9.00

Gâteau BasqueUS$9.00

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

Does Luminaire offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Luminaire restaurant rated?

Is Luminaire currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information