Hestia

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

The Hearth Comes First

At Hestia, named for the Greek goddess of the hearth, a 20-foot wood-burning fireplace is not décor — it is the kitchen's organizing principle. Every plate, whether ordered à la carte or as part of the twelve-course chef's tasting menu, is shaped by what fire does best: raw and smoked, roasted and embered, each stage a deliberate step in a single continuous idea.

The restaurant earned a Michelin star and landed at No. 4 on Esquire's list of Best New Restaurants in America, and has since been recognized by Condé Nast Traveler, Food & Wine, Robb Report, and the Wall Street Journal Magazine, among others. Wine Spectator awarded Hestia its Best of Award of Excellence in 2023 — a fitting distinction for a dining room where a 400-bottle wine list is treated as seriously as the food it accompanies.

Tasting Menu and the Table

The tasting menu runs twelve courses at $215 per person, built around wood-fire technique and Texas sourcing. The progression moves deliberately — from lighter raw preparations through deeper, smoke-driven courses — with wine pairing available throughout. For those who prefer to set their own pace, the à la carte menu covers the same live-fire American territory without the fixed sequence. Reservations for the tasting menu are accepted up to 60 days in advance.

The dining room can seat parties of up to fourteen as a non-private reservation, and groups of seven or more receive a set menu crafted to give them a complete Hestia experience. Private event options are also available for occasions that call for something more exclusive.

The Team

Chef de Cuisine Paul Wensel leads the kitchen alongside Executive Sous Chef Megan Brijalba. General Manager George Swanson and Assistant General Manager Blake Gamez oversee the floor, while Wine Director Alicia Schmidt stewards the cellar. Hestia is also a proud member of Good Work Austin, an organization dedicated to professional development and more equitable practices across the local food and beverage industry.

The restaurant sits at 607 W. Third Street in downtown Austin — a straightforward address for a place that has become one of the most recognized names in contemporary American dining in Texas.