Imperia Modern Asian Dining
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 472-6770
05/12/2008 Posted by dorian_doppelganger
I was not planning on writing a review of Imperia, but the poster immediately preceding this one made me feel the need to stick up for one of my favorite restaurants. I've been in a few times, and usually rely on my server for recommendations, because the menu has a few less-than-stellar items. That said, the seabass in either form (dim sum or entree) is delicious-- a decadent texture and a nuanced flavor. Other items that I've enjoyed include the dragon rib (a giant braised beef short rib), the Peking duck (for which one doesn't have to call ahead; a rarity), the chicken dumplings, the samosas, the eggplant, the jade salad, and several others that I'm forgetting. I agree with the aforementioned poster that the chicken satay is forgettable, though I really haven't found a decent chicken satay in Austin. I'd add that there are a couple of other dishes that I wouldn't order again-- namely the Korean ribeye and the wok lobster, but the number of items I've enjoyed vastly outnumber those that I wouldn't return for. One last note-- I can't think of an Asian restaurant that serves bread. The comment (found in the review below) begs the question: Have you seen Garden State? Also, I like the service at Imperia, although that's probably aided by the fact that I would label servers as people before I would label them as servers. Imperia is a great restaurant that's completely worth visiting. The food, atmosphere, and service are generally exceptional, and I'll gladly keep returning.
Pros: posh atmosphere, wonderful food
Cons: typical warehouse district crowd, can be noisy
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