(512) 479-8117
606 Rio Grande St
Austin,
TX
78701
30.2701
-97.7496
Neighborhood: Downtown
What People Are Saying About Aquarelle
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short – A well-tended garden flanks the entry to this gracious yellow cottage with neat white trim. Inside, the small dining rooms feature long wood-planked floors, tall ceilings and vases of garden-picked flowers on the tables. A decidedly upscale clientele of older couples and businessfolk dominates the space. The soft shell crab is a hearty appetizer, covered with Japanese bread crumbs. The beef tenderloin is seared and shrouded in stout blue cheese, button mushrooms and walnut persillade.
07/18/09
Enjoyed entire experience.
by Tessa2008
First of all,we had great service. Our server was friendly and unpretentious. We started with the goat cheese in pastry which was fabulous. We also had arugula salads w/ peppered goat cheese and the duck appetizer with cherries and reduction. Awesome! Our group ordered the duck, steak and scallops. We were all very pleased with our entrees. We had a couple of bottles of wine and shared a couple of desserts. It was roughly $100 for each of us. The house is charming and the chef asked how our dinner was. I love the garden outside. We will all return. Recommended!
- Pros: Duck is fantastic!
- Cons: might be considered expensive
12/22/07
Not pleased
by nataliegray
This place has got to be the farthest thing from French there is. I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to eat mediocre cooking for big bucks.
- Pros: None
- Cons: mediocre food at a high price
11/04/07
Aquarelle is as French as La Madeleine
by rzwood
Please do yourself a favor and go somewhere else if you are really in the mood for authentic French food. Aquarelle seems to be stuck in an eighties mentality where the only place to get Arugula salad and chicken with goat chesse is a pricey French restaurant. Hello People... this is 2007, I can get this stuff prepackaged at the Whole Foods cafeteria for a chepear price and more authentic taste. I'm serious, this what we got for our menu rapide (set menu)!! The appetizer was arugula salad sprinkled with some walnuts and a couple slices of canned apricot. The entree consisted of chunks of chicken with a whole drum stick thrown in with some goat cheese. What's so french about that? I could have gotten this at any Austin Cafe. The shells in our profiterole dessert tasted dry and old. Maybe this place used to be good 5 years ago, but now it is simply horrible. Has it changed ownership? management? It just feels like they are trying to squeeze every drop from a long-gone good reputation. Aqarelle is americana food with a french price tag. Stay Away.
- Pros: None
- Cons: Price, quality of food, staff indifferent
The Details on Aquarelle
Parking:
Aquarelle has a parking lot, but it's limited in size. Leave yourself plenty of time to find parking in case the lot is full.
Know Before You Go:
In the way of the French, a meal here is meant to be lingered over. The staff allows each course to be enjoyed for longer than some Americans are used to. Sit back, relax and enjoy.
Smoking Permitted:
No
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