Dining Guide

Wink

Sandwiched between Whole Earth and a dry cleaners, upscale (but never stuffy) Wink has served a solid West Austin clientele for almost twenty years now, quietly bearing witness to the trendy newcomers coming and going and carrying on with the business of serving imaginative food that’s consistently well executed and interesting. À la carte ordering is just fine, but one of the two tasting menus (five or seven courses, with or without wine pairings) is the best way to sample items like a fat seared scallop crowned with a jaunty parsnip hat atop inky-black squid ink risotto and an astonishing beef tataki in a honey-sriracha reduction, the slender slices of rosy meat accented with zesty mustard frills and delightful rounds of finger lime. Each course builds on the next, intriguing but never confusing the palate. (Bonus: the full menu and a selection of burgers are available at Wink’s cozy wine bar next door.)