A First Dinner at laV

Since the demise of Aquarelle and Mirabelle, Austin foodies been pining for an elegant and beautifully appointed French restaurant. The recent debut of laV on East 7th should make a lot of those foodies happy. As many of you know, I don’t like to rush to a new restaurant. So our first meal at laV this past weekend with friends Jim and Diana Olmstead was some four months after the opening, and was an adventure on many levels.

First, the restaurant has been beautifully designed and decorated. Each room has its own comfortable character. The staff is exceptionally well trained, and the thoughtfully written wine list is longer than the Buda phone book. The passion of Ralph and Lisa Eads, the founders, is evident at every turn. With the aid of Vilma Mazaite, Ralph is working on an exceptionally broad wine list that truly spans the gamut from powerful first growths to value wines. We had some reasonably priced wines by the glass but next time, somewhere in the northern Italy section of the massive wine list, I spied a Brunello that has my name on it!

We began with a Pate of Chicken liver that was just sensational. It was smooth and savory with a delightful first bite rush and long, lingering aftertastes. We tried a Shrimp Harrisa that was a cross between Moroccan and Parisian, and it was very nice. My wife tried the house-made Ricotta Ravioli. And then the Chicken for Two was a huge hit with our party. The chicken was moist and flavorful, and the dish was garnished with heirloom tomatoes and other goodies, while being served with Pommes Frittes with Bearnaise sauce. Indeed.

We finished with warm brioche doughnuts with a Texas peach jam. They were crisp yet beautifully tender and just a bit chewy.

Did I say we’ll be back? laV is full of promise and innovation. I look for great things.