Monica Fabbio, Top Westlake Luxury Realtor March 4, 2026
Whether you're working with the best real estate agent in Austin to find your dream home, or you've already trusted a top realtor in Austin to close on a stunning Westlake property, one of the first questions new residents ask is: where should I eat? At The FAB Property Group — home to the most experienced real estate agents in Austin TX — we believe understanding a neighborhood means knowing it from the inside out. That includes its dining scene. As your trusted Austin realtor and local Austin real estate expert, we don't just help you buy and sell homes — we help you fall in love with the community you're joining.
Westlake, TX — officially straddling the cities of Austin and Westlake Hills just west of downtown — is synonymous with exceptional schools, breathtaking Hill Country views, luxury real estate, and a surprisingly sophisticated restaurant scene. If you're searching for a top real estate agent in Austin who understands not just property values but true quality of life, The FAB Property Group is your guide to everything that makes Westlake exceptional.
A chef-driven restaurant is one where a culinary visionary — typically the executive chef or chef-owner — personally shapes every facet of the dining experience, from sourcing ingredients to plating philosophy. These aren't chain operations running standardized playbooks. They are living expressions of a chef's identity, training, and passion.
In Westlake, this philosophy aligns perfectly with the community's values. Residents here tend to be discerning, well-traveled professionals and families who have experienced the best restaurants in cities around the world. They expect — and receive — that same caliber of dining right at home. For anyone relocating to Westlake with the help of an award-winning real estate agent in Austin, discovering these culinary gems is one of the true delights of settling into the area.
If any single restaurant defines Westlake's culinary ambition, it's Sway. Named one of Bon Appétit's 50 Best New Restaurants in America upon opening, this award-winning modern Thai restaurant brings genuine chef-driven vision to the Bee Caves Road corridor — right where Westlake residents live, shop, and gather. Led by corporate executive chef Charles Schlienger, Sway offers an experience that's as architecturally striking as it is culinarily adventurous.
The Setting: String-lit garden seating, communal-style tables downstairs, and a sweeping rooftop bar with panoramic views of the Austin skyline. The chef's counter — where guests can watch the kitchen team at work — is one of the most coveted seats in all of Westlake.
Signature Dishes: Son-in-law (braised pork shoulder with crispy farm egg), whole market fish, blue crab fried rice, Brussels sprouts with nam prik, and a selection of aromatic curries that showcase Schlienger's command of Thai spice architecture.
The Cocktail Program: Sway's cocktail menu blends Thai botanical flavors — lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal — with classic spirits in ways that feel both inventive and perfectly suited to the food. Happy hour runs weekdays 4–6pm and draws a loyal neighborhood crowd.
Pro Tip from The FAB Property Group: Request the rooftop bar for sunset — there's arguably no better view in Westlake. It's become a favorite spot for our clients to celebrate a successful closing on a new home.
Perched atop a hill inside the boutique Hotel Viata with canyon views and country breezes, Laurel is Westlake's most genuinely beautiful dining setting. The restaurant blends authentic coastal Italian cuisine with locally sourced Texas ingredients — a union that feels entirely natural in the Hill Country landscape surrounding it.
Laurel's culinary team works with local vendors daily to ensure peak-freshness in everything from handmade pastas to composed small plates. The result is a menu that honors Italian tradition while celebrating the best of Texas's seasonal pantry.
The Experience: Refined indoor dining with soaring windows overlooking the canyon, or al fresco on the pet-friendly patio with a grand fireplace for cool evenings. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights adds energy without overwhelming conversation.
Menu Highlights: Handmade pastas that change seasonally, burrata with house-cured accompaniments, wood-roasted proteins with fresh herb sauces, and a cocktail and wine program curated by expert sommeliers and mixologists.
Private Dining: Laurel's private dining spaces — from the modern dining room to the breezy terrace — make it one of Westlake's premier venues for intimate celebrations, corporate events, and milestone dinners.
Insider Note: Several of our clients who've purchased luxury properties in West Lake Hills have held their 'welcome home' dinners on Laurel's terrace. With canyon views, candlelight, and exceptional Italian fare, it's a fitting way to begin a new chapter.
For over a decade, The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen has been woven into the daily fabric of Westlake life. Located on Bee Caves Road — the same corridor where some of Austin's most desirable luxury properties sit — The Grove is the restaurant Westlake residents return to again and again for its honest food, outstanding wine program, and outdoor seating beneath sprawling oak trees.
The Wine Program: The Grove's wine list is genuinely impressive for a neighborhood restaurant: 50 wines by the glass and 250 by the bottle, with thoughtful flights designed for exploration. Servers are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about helping guests find the perfect pairing.
Must-Order Dishes: The specialty thin-crust and Roman-style pizzas, salt and pepper shrimp, Maryland-style crab cake, fresh halibut preparations, and a pineapple upside-down cake that regulars insist is dessert-of-the-year material.
The Patio: Nestled beneath a majestic oak tree with warm ambient lighting, The Grove's outdoor dining area has become one of the most social gathering spots in Westlake. It's a place where neighbors run into neighbors, real estate deals get celebrated, and evenings that started with 'just one glass' end three bottles later.
Hours: Open daily 11am–10pm (11pm on weekends). The Lola Savannah Coffee Lounge inside serves morning cappuccinos before the kitchen opens.
Lee's Kitchen + Cocktails is one of Westlake's most heartfelt culinary stories — and one of its best-kept secrets. Owner-operators Sara and Pat Lee built this restaurant around the flavors they grew up with: Pat's Vietnamese heritage and Sara's childhood spent in her family's Chinese restaurant in San Antonio. The result is a menu of Asian-comfort food elevated with a refined, modern sensibility.
Westlake residents who've discovered Lee's tend to become fiercely loyal. The combination of a quiet, elegant setting, a shaded outdoor patio described as 'private and serene,' and genuinely delicious food rooted in family tradition makes this the kind of neighborhood restaurant every community wishes it had.
The Philosophy: "Food is our love language and Lee's is our way of spreading that love to our Westlake community," says Sara Lee. This ethos is palpable in every detail — from the carefully sourced proteins to the warmth of the service.
Standout Dishes: Chicken rice, Vietnamese rice rolls with a house sauce that guests rave about, an innovative brunch menu, and cocktails that bring sophisticated mixology to familiar Asian flavor profiles.
"Lee's Kitchen is one of those Westlake discoveries that makes residents feel like insiders. Our clients who've moved here from coastal cities are often stunned — the quality rivals anything you'd find in a major metropolitan area." — The FAB Property Group
Chef and owner Jack Allen Gilmore is one of Austin's most beloved culinary figures, and his Westlake location brings his Southern-inspired, farm-to-table Texan cuisine directly to the community. Since 2009, Jack Allen's Kitchen has championed relationships with local farmers and ranchers — sourcing what's seasonal and celebrating what's distinctly Texan.
The Westlake location, near Lake Austin, puts Jack Allen's in the heart of the community it serves. Families, professionals, and neighbors fill the dining room daily for food that feels both elevated and deeply comforting — a rare combination that Gilmore has spent a career perfecting.
Signature Dishes: Chicken-fried oysters, green chili pork tacos, seasonal steak and seafood specials, hearty farm-fresh salads, and taco platters loaded with locally sourced proteins.
Brunch: Jack Allen's weekend brunch is a Westlake institution. The combination of scratch-made Texan breakfast fare and the warm, neighborhood energy of the dining room makes it a community gathering ritual.
Community Commitment: Gilmore's dedication to local farmers is more than philosophy — it's practice. The team works directly with area purveyors to ensure every season's best ingredients reach the table.
Named the #1 Rooftop Restaurant in the World by Robb Magazine in 2020, Quince Lakehouse brings its celebrated 'Quince Experience' to the shores of Lake Austin — perched right in the 78746 zip code where Westlake's most coveted waterfront properties sit. Chef-driven menus inspired by culinary journeys through New Orleans, Lima, New York City, and Mexico City combine with spectacular multi-deck lake views to create an experience unlike anything else in the area.
The Menu: Quince describes its cuisine as 'global collective' — think Peruvian sashimi (ceviche verde with avocado and green apple), fresh sushi and hand rolls, upscale Mexican specialties, Gulf seafood, prime steaks, and creative shared plates that reward adventurous ordering.
The Setting: Three wooden decks — both covered and uncovered — provide lakeside seating, while the indoor space features a dramatic industrial ceiling with basket-shaded lights. Sunset here, with a craft cocktail in hand and Lake Austin shimmering below, is one of the quintessential Westlake experiences.
Perfect For: Out-of-town guests and relocation buyers being shown Lake Austin waterfront properties — Quince perfectly demonstrates the lakeside lifestyle that makes this area so extraordinary.
Insider Note: Request a lower deck table close to the water for the most immersive Lake Austin experience. It's one of our go-to spots for showing clients why waterfront living in Westlake is in a class of its own.
Baldinucci Pizza Romana is the kind of restaurant that raises a neighborhood's culinary self-regard. Receiving an 8.1 rating from The Infatuation — one of Austin's most respected dining publications — Baldinucci brings the art of Roman-style pizza to the heart of Westlake with craft and conviction. The giant glass display case of whole pizzas and pre-cut slices invites you to window-shop before committing to what is honestly a very difficult choice.
The Pizza: Baldinucci serves both round New York-style pies and puffy Roman-style squares — the latter achieving an almost physics-defying combination of shattering crust and pillowy, airy interior. The pizza al taglio format lets you mix and match toppings across styles, a joy for groups with diverse tastes.
The Experience: A small, welcoming dining room with beer and wine service, efficient and friendly staff, and a straightforward menu focused entirely on doing one thing extraordinarily well. It's a refreshing counterpoint to the area's more elaborate dining options.
Why It Matters: In a neighborhood where families need reliable, exceptional weeknight dining, Baldinucci fills a crucial role. It's equally suited to a Tuesday solo slice as it is to feeding a group after an Eanes ISD soccer game.
What makes Westlake's restaurant landscape so exceptional isn't just the individual establishments — it's the community that sustains them. Westlake attracts executives, entrepreneurs, physicians, attorneys, and creative professionals who demand quality and reward it with loyalty. These are diners who have eaten at the world's great restaurants and choose to come back to Westlake's local gems again and again.
As a local Austin real estate expert and trusted Austin realtor, The FAB Property Group has watched this dining scene evolve alongside the community over the years. New chef-driven concepts continue to open near Westlake's most sought-after corridors — Bee Caves Road, 360 Corridor, and the Lake Austin Boulevard stretch — because restaurateurs know this community will embrace quality with genuine enthusiasm.
Part of what makes Westlake's restaurant scene so vibrant is its integration with community life:
• Eanes ISD sports seasons bring families together at Westlake neighborhood restaurants before and after games
• Lake Austin and Lake Travis boating culture creates a natural ecosystem for waterfront dining experiences throughout spring and summer
• The holiday season sees Westlake's finest restaurants book weeks in advance for private dining events and celebration dinners
• New Year's and Valentine's Day omakase and tasting menus sell out within hours of opening reservations
At The FAB Property Group, we frequently hear from buyers relocating from major metropolitan areas who have a non-negotiable requirement: world-class dining within reach of their home. Westlake doesn't just meet this requirement — it exceeds it.
As the best listing agent in Austin TX for luxury and waterfront properties, we've seen firsthand how quality-of-life factors — including the dining scene — influence purchasing decisions. Buyers who tour Westlake properties and then dine at Juniper, Uchiko, or The Grove on the same day rarely need much more convincing.
Whether you're searching for Lake Travis waterfront homes for sale, luxury properties on Lake Austin, or a commanding Hill Country estate, Westlake's dining scene is part of the exceptional value proposition we help our clients understand and appreciate.
• Laurel Restaurant at Hotel Viata (tasting experiences, canyon views, private dining)
• Sway Thai (rooftop bar, stunning city views, impressive for any guest)
• Quince Lakehouse (waterfront setting, global menu, festive energy)
• The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen (50 wines by the glass, oak tree patio)
• Laurel Restaurant (hilltop terrace, live music on weekends, Italian romance)
• Sway Thai (chef's counter bar seats, craft cocktails, incredible views)
• Quince Lakehouse (Lake Austin views; instantly communicates the Westlake lifestyle)
• Sway Thai (award-winning, nationally recognized, uniquely memorable)
• Laurel Restaurant (elegant yet approachable; great for business dinners)
• Jack Allen's Kitchen (farm-fresh Texas comfort food, welcoming for all ages)
• The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen (reliable, diverse menu, beloved patio)
• Baldinucci Pizza Romana (kid-friendly, shareable, consistently excellent)
The most acclaimed chef-driven restaurants in Westlake, TX (78746) include Sway Thai on Bee Caves Road (Bon Appétit Top 50), Laurel Restaurant at Hotel Viata (coastal Italian fine dining with Hill Country views), The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen (neighborhood wine bar institution), Lee's Kitchen + Cocktails (chef-owner Asian-comfort food), Jack Allen's Kitchen (farm-to-table Texan cuisine by Chef Jack Gilmore), Quince Lakehouse (global fusion with Lake Austin views), and Baldinucci Pizza Romana (artisan Roman-style pizza).
Absolutely. West Lake Hills offers genuine fine dining at Laurel Restaurant at Hotel Viata — a sophisticated Italian coastal menu on a hilltop with canyon views and a premier wine and cocktail program. Sway Thai brings award-winning modern Thai cuisine with chef-driven precision to Bee Caves Road. Quince Lakehouse provides upscale casual dining right on the shores of Lake Austin. The area's dining scene is more sophisticated than most people expect from a residential suburb.
Beyond top-rated Eanes ISD schools and luxury real estate, Westlake offers Hill Country natural beauty, Lake Austin and Lake Travis waterfront access, vibrant community culture, and — as this guide demonstrates — a dining scene that rivals much larger metropolitan areas. As your trusted Austin realtor and local Austin real estate expert, The FAB Property Group helps buyers understand the full lifestyle picture, not just the properties.
The FAB Property Group specializes in Austin's luxury and waterfront real estate market, with deep expertise in Westlake, West Lake Hills, Rollingwood, Bee Cave, and the Lake Travis corridor. Our team of experienced listing agents in Austin TX brings market knowledge, negotiation expertise, and genuine community insight to every transaction. Contact us to learn how Austin's most trusted real estate professionals can help you find — or sell — your perfect Westlake property.
The chef-driven restaurant scene is just one chapter in the story of why Westlake, TX consistently ranks among Austin's most desirable places to live. When you work with The FAB Property Group — Austin's most trusted listing agent team — you gain access to the full picture: exceptional homes, outstanding schools, spectacular natural settings, and a community that has chosen to invest in quality in every dimension of life.
Whether you're looking to sell your home with an Austin listing agent who knows how to showcase Westlake's unique lifestyle advantages, or you're searching for your first luxury property in this extraordinary community, The FAB Property Group is ready to guide you.
📞 Contact The FAB Property Group today — Austin's award-winning real estate specialists — and let us help you make Westlake home.
"We don't just sell homes in Westlake — we help you fall in love with a community. The restaurants, the schools, the lakefront sunsets: that's the real estate story worth telling." — The FAB Property Group
Where Culinary Excellence Meets One of Austin's Most Coveted Communities
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Monica distinguishes herself as an exceptional professional in the real estate industry, consistently exceeding all expectations by delivering unparalleled service. Leveraging her extensive market expertise, Monica excels in optimizing property market values when entrusted to list or search for a property. Whether you're interested in buying or selling, Monica collaborates closely with clients to pinpoint their ideal properties, secure the most advantageous deals, and consistently provide a truly FABulous real estate experience.
THE FAB PROPERTY GROUP
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