(September 12, 2008) Several years ago there was this interesting restaurant out by Volente Beach called Café Bleu. It featured Northern African cuisine and was quite good. What a difference a few years and the reversal of two letters can make. At the same location today stands a restaurant called Café Blue featuring Northern American comfort cuisine. And it's really good.

Café Blue is beautifully situated at the lake near Volente Beach. What a nice spot to sit and graze while the rays of the sun sparkle off the crystal waters. For me, there are mandatory appetizers. The Blue Crab Cakes are some of the best around Austin. Featuring very little filler and huge amounts of fresh crab, the cakes go beautifully with the white stone ground mustard sauce.

The Calamari is unusual in that it is sesame crusted and served with a specially blended Asian dipping sauce (teriyaki sauce with rice wine vinegar, sesame seeds, and sriachi). This creates a refreshingly different but no less appealing flavor. And for tuna lovers the Pepper Crusted Tuna is again one of the better versions of this dish you'll see. Each slice is seared rare (for the love of God, please don't order it any other way) and the pepper crusting along with the sweet soy just rocks my taste boat. Beautiful texture!

The entrees at Café Blue run the gamut from Steaks to Island Jerked Shrimp. And you should take your time working you way through the list. The Snapper Louisiane is a dish that sneaks up on you in a most intriguing manner. The snapper is blackened and topped with crawfish and shrimp in a Cajun cream sauce. Like a good cabernet, the flavor unfolds on your palate and leaves you most satisfied. Also try the Shrimp Brochette. Shrimp wrapped in bacon can be problematic: reference numerous mediocre Diablo dishes at restaurants that should know better. But Café Blue gets it. The tender shrimp are cloaked in equally tender bacon and accented with jack cheese and jalapenos. The garlic butter takes it over the top. And please sample the 10oz. pepper-crusted New York Strip. As if the candied pecans and bleu cheese didn't lend enough, the perfectly grilled strip is further enhanced by the pepper crusting. This is a perfect steak to eat outdoors.

Café Blue serves up a neat Sunday brunch on the weekends from 10-2pm. The Eggs Benedict Arnold is delicious and will take care of your caloric needs for the entire day! And equally enormous while no less compelling is the Devil's Cove Breakfast Burrito. I was only able to eat half of mine but it warmed up nicely the next morning. Tasty mix of eggs, cheese, sausage, onions, peppers and et al.

The bartender's role at a place overlooking the water is no less important than the chef's. And Café Blue has some killer cocktails to help you pleasantly pass the day. Not to mention a reasonable and well-designed wine list.

The next few months as we head into the Central Texas version of fall will be perfect for sunning, sipping and noshing at Café Blue. Remember, that's B-L-U-E!

Top of page