Aquarelle

We have ""experienced"" Aquarelle about 3 times since it opened about 3 years ago. The chefs and waitstaff made sure that every detail was taken care...flawless, perfect. From the start we knew that dinning at Aquarelle would be a wonderful experience. Our family was delighted with ""little surprises"" from Chef Rob Brady, who acknowledge our presence by preparing delights for our birthday celebration. Chef Teresa and Chef Brady came to our table and made us feel at home. Bon appetit, mes amis!!! Pros: Originality, Ambiance, Privacy more

The atmosphere is intimate and homey as well as romantic and elegant. However, I felt that the food was a bit heavily seasoned and overwhelming to eat. When I expected the beauty of subtleties, I ended up getting an overdose of salt and garlic better. But do not be discouraged...the pate appetizer is the best I've ever had and the desserts are delightful. more

The service and ambience of the restaurant are outstanding. Aquarelle is quaint, private, and the wait staff is very attentive. Plus, the chef provides a welcome appetizer and good bye dessert for free! However, the main course and appetizer leave much to be desired. Most of the food is on the salty side, not terribly tasty or original, and did not remind us of the cuisine in France at all. For a true French experience, Chez Nous is your best bet and not as overpriced as Aquarelle. Pros: Service, Cozy atmosphere Cons: OVERPRICED, Salty, Unoriginal more

The food at Aquarelle was absolutely sublime. I can't afford to go there often, but for those rare, special occasions when you want to go all out, I recommend it highly, both for the food and the romantic ambience. Now, each individual dish tends to be small- if you're used to the usual ""value size"" dishes from standard American restaurant, you may find that disturbing. But don't! You'll actually get a chance to sample several dishes and still have room for dessert, especially if you go for a fixed-price combination. The ONLY dish they had that was less than inspired was the chicken. It was okay, but nothing special (it's probably the ""safe"" dish for unadventurous diners). This restaurant rewards those who are willing to try new things. Pros: Sumptuous food, Romantic ambience Cons: Expensive, Limited parking more

We were very happy with the 6 course meal at this restaurant, but dissatisfied with the 30 minute wait between most of the courses. Even fine dining should not last more than three hours and our other plans had to be cancelled. Hats off to the chef that catered to our every culinary need! more

This was one of the BEST dining experiences my boyfriend and I have ever had in Austin. The food was wonderful (comparable to a wonderful dinner we recently had at Le Maire in Montreal). The service was also the best we have had in Austin, very attentive, but not intrusive. Our waiter had great recommendations for wine, desert, port. The atmosphere was hushed, yet audible enough to have an private conversation. A very delightful evening. We will definitely become regulars at this delightful French restaurant. Pros: easy parking, no children, great atmosphere more

Aquarelle is, in my experience, consistently the best restaurant in Austin. The food is magnificent and inherently, traditionally French. The service is exquisite and highly attentive. For my family, There is really no other choice for special occasion dinners. I would recommend, among other things, the beef with truffles and foie gras and the chocolate souffle cake. Aquarelle is a gem, and Austin's restaurant scene is all the richer for it. Highly recommended. Pros: great service, very romantic, unusual menu choices Cons: yes, it is pricey more