606 Rio Grande Street
Austin, TX 78701-2718
(512) 479-8117
Aquarelle has been providing a classic, French, fine dining experience to the Austin public for more than a decade. The restaurant is located in a quaint, little, yellow house on a side street from the main thoroughfare, sixth street. The atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed - an ideal date spot as well as a great spot to go for happy hour.
The wine list is by no means expansive. It is decently edited with a strong focus on French wines (though you can find wine from other locales such as Argentina and the USA). They do make a consistent effort to offer well-priced wines. The most expensive one on the list, the last time I ate there, was around $100. This commitment to general affordability has forced them to be a bit more daring in their selection. My last time in, we sampled a nice Chénas – a lesser-known Beaujolais made from the Gamay grape. You would be hard pressed to find this wine in any retail shop – it’s nice to treat yourself to something unusual when you go out!
As I mentioned, the food is pretty classical French, but it does vary to incorporate ingredients that are more locally abundant. If you have the time and inclination the set menus – the Menu Rapide and Menu Marché – are good options. The courses are different from the a la carte menu and seem to be more seasonally focused. In addition to the set menus, there is an a la carte menu which is not too huge. It is divided simply into starters, mains and desserts. We recently went there and had the Menu Marché. Highlights included the Herbed Laura Chenel Goat Cheese in Butter Puff Pastry, which was excellent, and the Pan-Seared Day Boat Scallops, which included a potato pancake and a smoked salmon-jalapeno mousse. I really enjoyed their profiteroles as well. Everything is lightly and delicately prepared, with a nice seasonal focus. Though I've been generally pleased with every dish I've had, I've never been wowed. It's all good, just not fantastic. Still it's a excellent place for a nice night out.
If you're looking for elegant, yet unpretentious, french fare with a seasonal focus in downtown Austin, check out Aquarelle. You're in for a pleasant experience. ☆☆☆
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