Austin Axis Guide to French Food

Austin Axis welcomes all comments about Austin-area French food (No, french fries do not count). Although Belgiun cooking draws heavily on German and Dutch influences, it will also be included in this list for the sake of convenience. Please send remarks to:

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Amandine

917 West 12th Street

Austin, Texas 78703

Tel: (512) 476-1956

Reader Remarks

Amy Moseley Rupp (12/18/95)

A wonderful lunch spot. Mama Mia's has taken over their old Shoal Creek and Anderson location, and turned it into the eponymously named "Bistro." (Someone should review *this* place.) However, I believe the 12th and Lamar location is still open. This is by far the best French pastry bakery in town. They also have very good lunch specials; the Key West chicken salad plate is a wonderful change of pace. In addition, they serve fresh homemade sorbets in about a dozen fruit flavours.

Alain Braux (4/29/96)

I would totally agree with Amy Moselley Rupp. Of course, I happen to be the owner of Amandine. We had to close down the Shoal Creek location in August 1995 for financial reasons. Neverthles we are still providing the finest French Pastries and Fruit Sorbets in Austin.

We are providing pastries for Restaurant like Bertram's, Jean-Luc Bistro, Austin Hilton, Expresso Roma at various locationsand more. Our French Fruit Sorbets are sold in Pints under the name Amandine French Sorbets at places like Whole Foods MArket (both) HEB Central Market, Wheastville, Fresh Plus ( both ), Bon Market and a continuying list of fine quality stores. Our Sorbets are served as well at Restaurants like Bertram's, Jean-Luc Bistro, Four Seasons Hotel, Omni Hotel, Barton Creek Country Club, West Lynn Cafe, Chez Zee Cafe and more. Our current flavors include Lemon-Lime, Aple-Mint, Caban a (pineapple, banana, coconut and lime) Mango, 4 Star, Strawberry, Raspberry and last but not least (our best seller) Chocaccino (chocolate-expresso sorbet).

My Sorbets are all natural, nothing artificial, low sugar, no fat, no cholesterol frozen desserts.

I plan to start selling them over the Internet within the next two or three months, in gallon size, overnight.

Thank you for your complements on my products.

Sincerely, Alain Braux. Executive Chef & Owner. Amandine Fine European Desserts.

Belgian Cafe

Reader Remarks

Thomas Kough (2/28/97)

This place is touted as too wonderful on most tourist lists for Austin. It falls far short. Even the rolls were COLD and store-bought.

Susan Kough (4/6/97)

Highly overrated reputation. Crowded on weekends, uneven food quality, COLD store-bought rolls. We had reservations & still had to wait for table with half the tables empty but unbussed.

Belgian Restaurant (L'Estro Armonico)

3520 Bee Caves Road

Austin, Texas

Tel: (512) 328-0580

WWW: http://www.ebiz.com/belgian/

Reader Remarks

Amy Moseley Rupp (12/18/95)

Definitely more upscale than Chez Nous; located in tony West Lake Hills (watch out for the speed traps). You can experience the essence of the restaurant at lunch, for astonishingly little: the very popular quiche-soup-salad combo goes for $5.25 (choice of salmon or quiche Lorraine, leek soup or soup d'jour, and the Estro salad, which is a notable combination of green leaf lettuce, vegetables, a hearty, grainy Dijon vinaigrette, and -- here's what sets it apart -- lots of Swiss cheese, walnuts, and raisins). That's a theme repeated here quite a bit: Swiss cheese and cream dominate the menu, and that's my one complaint. All entrees are served with potatoes au gratin (with little or no cheese, but a lot of cream) and vegetable du jour; the honeyed carrots are wonderful, but you could end up with peas. Try the sweet and sour pork crepes for a change -- the sauce is oh-so-subtle. I prefer my sauces more in-your-face with the peppercorns, but this is a very good example of restraint.

At night the place transforms into a fairly expensive restaurant, and on weekends, a harpist is usually present and a rose presented to every lady in the house (I bet a gentleman could have one if desired)... they do serve a homemade chocolate truffle with coffee, which is a nice touch. Many of my friends love this place, and it's often mentioned as the most romantic spot in town. Perhaps.

Chez Nous

510 Neches

Austin, Texas

Tel: (512) 473-2413

Reader Remarks

Amy Moseley Rupp (12/18/95)

To my mind, the truest French restaurant in Austin. Here you will find French-speaking waitpersons, owners, and chefs, in a casual, bistro-like atmosphere, with lace curtains and fresh flowers in various glass bottles. There is a prix-fixe menu, which includes appetizer, entree' and dessert; there are typically three entree choices a night, with at least one a fish dish. Rabbit occurs frequently (another sign of authenticity); chicken, almost never. My favourite dishes are their beef dishes; no one does a peppercorn sauce better than Chez Nous, and there are pommes dauphines (potato puffs of the gods) and better-than-average sauteed vegetables to soak up any extra sauce. Fish often comes in a heavenly tomato saffron cream. The choice of appetizer is soup, salad Lyonnaise (highly recommended, a hearty, grainy Dijon vinagrette tops fresh leaf lettuce, petits verts (tiny chopped pieces of aromatics), and a poached egg creates an ersatz half-cooked egg dressing). Oh yes, and there's pate. After the entree' you can choose between creme brulee, chocolate mousse, and brie. The creme brulee is very different from our flan; it's much less sweet but has a beguiling taste, as does the mousse. Both go well with coffee, which is usually flavoured with chicory in the French fashion. The bread is always fresh and hearty when paired with the house red wine; take someone special and live the cliche'.

Jean Luc's Bistro

7th and San Jacinto

Austin, Texas

Reader Remarks

Rachel Mattews (3/5/96)

Next round, be sure to include Jean Luc's Bistro at 7th and San Jacinto. Maybe you saw the write-up in last Thursday's Statesman? I've eaten there (lunch) and was absolutely delighted. Their all-you-can-eat lunch buffet featured two main courses and three salads. Everything was fresh and really nicely prepared. I'm going back for desert!

Jean-Pierre's Upstairs

3500 Jefferson Street, 2nd Level

Austin, Texas 78731

Tel: (512) 454-4811

Reader Remarks

Amy Moseley Rupp (12/18/95)

A *very* upscale place, located in Jefferson Square. Owner Jean-Pierre is almost always there to meet and greet the mostly well-heeled crowd; a nice bar section, and private, Japanese-reminiscent seating is available. The food has slipped a bit (in my mind) in recent years; it doesn't have quite the sparkling flavour it once did. However, there are many dishes deserving mention; foremost, the dessert souffles, which must be ordered at the same time as the entree in order to be cooked, are excellent combinations of frothy warm souffle and sauces of chocolate, fruits, nuts, and liqueurs. The only other place I know with souffles like this is the Four Seasons. Another dessert item is a favourite of mine: Strawberries Jean-Pierre are marinated in Pisco brandy and lime juice, and served with ice cream and whipped cream. A potent, heady combination. My favourite entree is the Tequila Beef Tenderloin; the filet is served over a hearty tequila-laced sauce with a rainbow of julienned vegetables to anchor the dish. The Southwestern Caesar salad is also good. So go hungry, and make sure to take the Passbook coupon (there's also a coupon for the Belgian Restaurant). New Years' Eve is an especially nice night to visit, though tuxes and sequinned dresses are the norm then.

La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe

3418 North Lamar Blvd.

Austin, Texas 78705

Tel: (512) 302-1485

Reader Remarks

Amy Moseley Rupp (12/18/95)

This Dallas chain, conveniently located on Lamar near 38th, is probably as close to a French bistro as Austin has, save the more upscale and substantial Chez Nous. Though there are definite Texas and American influences on the menu, the simple breakfast of crossaint or petite baguette, butter and jam, and coffee can be had for surprisingly little. The tomato-basil quiche and soup are wonderful, and their breakfast sandwich would make McDonald's weep in shame.

Tony Petro (2/28/96)

Note: A new La Madeleine just opened in the old Bookstop location, next to the Great Hills GCC theaters in the plaza at the northwest corner of 183 and Great Hills

Lupin Restaurant

3300 West Anderson

Austin, Texas

Tel: (512) 454-6054

Reader Remarks

Amy Moseley Rupp (12/18/95)

My officemate and I tried this one day a couple of weeks ago. The waitstaff was at that point still suffering greatly from growing pains and we waited many minutes for water refills; iced tea I ordered never arrived, but wasn't charged for, either. The food was pretty good, and the menu eclectic and varied, but with Satay right across the parking lot, it had better get a little better in order to compete.

Special Bonus Section -- Best French Food Anywhere

Contributors

Alain Braux (alainGB@aol.com)

Susan Kough (SGraham333@aol.com)

Thomas Kough (rmstrk@texas.net)

Rachel Matthews (rachel@learningcurve.com)

Tony Petro (tony.petro@amd.com)

Amy Moseley Rupp (amyr@mpd.tandem.com)

Created and maintained by Brian Combs (combs@awpi.com).

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