Barley Swine

The story

Barley Swine Austin – Michelin-Starred Farm-to-Table Tasting Menu by Chef Bryce Gilmore

Barley Swine

In 2010, Austin native Bryce Gilmore opened Barley Swine with a simple, rigorous commitment: to support regional farmers and ranchers by putting their ingredients at the center of every dish. More than a decade later, that ethos has earned the restaurant a Michelin One Star, a recognition of its high-quality cooking and unwavering dedication to local sourcing.

The restaurant’s seasonally driven tasting menu changes constantly, shaped by what Gilmore and his team find at nearby farms. As Gilmore puts it, “We have fun cooking with bold flavors through multiple courses, all the things that we as chefs enjoy eating. Our seasonal tasting menu is inspired by the ingredients from our local farmers and we’re just trying not to mess them up.” That philosophy is evident in dishes like a Cured Hiramasa with fermented beet-strawberry jam and berry consummé, or a Smoked Pork Shoulder with creamed corn, peach, and citrus caramel. A 30+ day dry-aged Akaushi Ribeye with mushroom cream and green beans speaks to the kitchen’s precision with meat, while a Celery Chiffon Cake with fenugreek cremeux and chamomile ice cream shows their playful, confident pastry work.

The restaurant’s farm-to-table approach is not just a menu note. In 2023, Gilmore and Farmer Phil Green founded River Field Farm in Dale, Texas, to supply Barley Swine and its sister restaurants with vegetables grown from seed and harvested by hand using organic techniques. This allows the kitchen to feature several seasonal vegetables from their own land, fulfilling a long-held dream of true farm-to-table cooking.

The atmosphere is relaxed but focused. The small, intimate space—with counter dining and table service—puts the kitchen’s work front and center. The beverage program, overseen by a dedicated sommelier, offers thoughtful wine pairings and creative cocktails that match the kitchen’s bold, ingredient-driven style.

Barley Swine is a place where the love of food and drink is celebrated simply, with friends and family, driven by the hospitality and passion of a team that takes great pride in its values. It is a distinctly Austin restaurant, rooted in its community and its land, and worthy of its Michelin star.