The Verdict
The chicken shawarma arrives on its own spit, carved tableside onto warm laffa with caraway cabbage, sumac onion, tahini and amba. It anchors Ezov, the Eastern Mediterranean room that chef Berty Richter opened in spring 2023 at 2708 East Cesar Chavez Street in East Austin, in partnership with the Emmer & Rye group. The cooking is Tel Aviv by way of Texas: mezze, kebabs and vegetables built for sharing, named MICHELIN Recommended in the Texas guide in 2024 and 2025.
The Kitchen
Chef Berty Richter, an Israeli chef who also runs Ladino in San Antonio, leads the kitchen at Ezov, the Hebrew word for the herb hyssop. The menu is family-style and meant for a table: mezze to start, then lamb and beef kebabs, seafood and charred vegetables. The signature is the chicken shawarma, marinated in yogurt, fire-roasted on a personal spit and carved at the table onto laffa with caraway cabbage, sumac red onion, tahini and amba.
The clearest way to eat here is the chef’s set dinner, eight dishes for $95 per person, with an optional $40 Mediterranean wine pairing; Michelin lists the room in its $$$ band. Ezov sits at 2708 East Cesar Chavez Street in East Austin. Its dated proof is recent and verifiable: MICHELIN Recommended in the Texas guide for 2024 and 2025, on top of the 2023 opening.
The Room
Ezov is loud in the good way, a bright East Austin room built for groups passing plates. Tables are close, the energy high, and the soundtrack and chatter sit well above a hush. Lighting is warm rather than dim, and dress is whatever East Austin wears on a Friday. The wine list leans on Greek, Lebanese and Israeli bottles, with cocktails built on raki, arak and ouzo. It is made for elbows-on-the-table sharing, not a quiet two-top.
Best for Team Dinner
Book Ezov for a team dinner or a birthday because the menu is built to share, the chef’s set lets a table eat the kitchen’s best in one sweep, and the fire-roasted shawarma carved tableside gives the night a centrepiece. The drinks list of eastern Mediterranean wines keeps a group exploring. Examples: a work crew celebrating a launch, a birthday table of ten, a reunion over mezze and kebabs.
Not For
Not for a quiet date or anyone after a hushed tasting room. The space is lively and tightly packed, and the family-style format assumes you came to share rather than to linger over a private two-top.
Common Questions
What is Ezov known for?
Ezov is known for its chicken shawarma, marinated in yogurt and fire-roasted on a personal spit, then carved at the table onto warm laffa with caraway cabbage, sumac onion, tahini and amba. The wider menu is Eastern Mediterranean and family-style, with mezze, lamb and beef kebabs, seafood and charred vegetables made for sharing.
How much does it cost to eat at Ezov?
The signature option is the chef’s set dinner, eight dishes for $95 per person, with an optional $40 Mediterranean wine pairing. There is also an à la carte menu of mezze and larger plates, and the Michelin Guide lists Ezov in its $$$ price band. A Sunday brunch is served separately.
Is Ezov in the Michelin Guide?
Yes. Ezov is listed as MICHELIN Recommended in the Texas guide for 2024 and 2025 for its Israeli and Eastern Mediterranean cooking. It does not hold a Michelin star; the Bib Gourmand associated with chef Berty Richter belongs to his other restaurant, Ladino in San Antonio, rather than to Ezov.
Where is Ezov and does it take reservations?
Ezov is at 2708 East Cesar Chavez Street in East Austin, Texas. It takes reservations through OpenTable, usually bookable up to around sixty days ahead, and also welcomes walk-ins. Dinner is served from the early evening, with a Sunday brunch; hours vary, so confirm directly with the restaurant before a visit.
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