Fabi and Rosi - LOVES it!!

*****

Location: West Austin
Price: $$
Reviewed: Dinner
Reviewer: Cat
Attire: Business Casual (jeans and heels are appropriate)
While this charming restaurant appears to be a small Austin house on the outside, its walls have been knocked down to create a beautiful and modern dining area on the inside. Tiny mirrors and candles line the walls  of the dining area, and around dusk, a waitress lights the tea candles floating within dozens of glass spheres hanging from the restaurant's ceiling. The menu boasts an impressive assortment of authentically European dishes, so ask your waiter for recommendations if you're in a spontaneous mood! A delightful find, and the perfect venue for a special night out with a special someone.
Great for: Date, Family Outing, Friend Outing, Dinner

Tiefenbrunner Pinot Blanco: ****

I asked my waiter for a white wine to pair with my seafood. He recommended the Italian-made Tiefenbrunner Pinot Planco. He described it as a fruity Pino Grigio, but I found it more comparable to a drier but fruitier Riesling. Overall, it paired nicely with both the es cargo and the trout. If you choose either, you should absolutely consider this divine wine to compliment your meal.

escargot: ****

I generally only trust the French with escargot, but this dish came highly recommended. So I dove in! The snails were sweet yet well seasoned. Each tiny piece was tender and rich with flavor. Sans the slime that bad escargot tends to be covered with...so you must understand why I was sorry to share. Paired with a basic white bread, and garlic-infused butter, the escargot was a wonderful tease to the meal ahead. I have to assume the head chef is from Europe, studied in Europe, or knows someone from Europe, because this dish was authentically European. Delish.

 
rainbow trout: ****
The presentation of this phenomenal dish was clean and modern. Trout is generally a mild fish, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that this rainbow trout was sweet. It had been marinaded, and each tender bite melted in my mouth. I found the sauteed spinach to be a bit salty for my taste, but a fork-full of trout, potato nest, with a bit of the persillade on the side, made for a fork-full of heaven. The chef brilliantly layered textures and flavors. From the sweet trout, to the crunchy potato nest, with a dab of the preserved lemon, this dish is head-to-toe superb.


 

chevre tart: ***
This circle of citrusy goodness was a bit more tart than sweet. But it was delicious. The chef topped the tart with a candied meyer lemon. This citrus-infused simple syrup was the perfect topping to an already delightful dessert. The only critiques I have involve the texture and sweetness of the crust. The thin gingerbread crust was scalloped at the edges, but softer than the usual crust of the same kind. I would have preferred it to be slightly thicker and a bit crunchier. Because the chef clearly displayed restraint in sweetening the tart, I would have liked her/him to let loose with the crust to allow it to juxtapose the citrusy elements of the tart with a burst of molasses, ginger, and sugar. Still, the combination was pleasant, and an appropriate ending to a wonderful meal. If you’re looking for an authentically European meal, without exhausting your monthly rent budget, this is the restaurant for you.