Mirabelle

Mirabelle

Written by Pitt Garrett Friday, 07 September 2007

Wine inspires seasoned chefs’ gourmet dishes.

At most restaurants, chefs start their menu creation at the entrees and work up to the wine. Mirabelle starts from the wine down with a menu inspired by the drink. This sister to Austin-classic Castle Hill Restaurant offers Mediterranean-style cuisine in an atmosphere that straddles the line between classy and casual.

Opening the menu ushered in a diversity of tantalizing items. Appetizers include Asian Duck Springrolls, Griddled Pork Dumplings, Asian Lobster crisp or Mushroom and Duck Liver Pate.

Some of the restaurant’s entrees are Bronzed Walu, Roasted Maple Leaf Duck Breast, Espresso Rubbed Venison with Sauce Diane, Beef Tenderloin w/ Cabernet, naming just a very few. The entire menu and wine list can be viewed on its website.

We started with a cup of Spicy Duck and Sausage Gumbo ($4.95) and the Picadillo Empanadas ($4.95). The Gumbo was rich and spicy with plenty of Duck and Elgin garlic sausage. The Beef Tenderloin Empanadas had a parmesan crust and the sour cream cilantro dipping sauce was excellent.

For entrees, I ordered the Roasted Chicken Enchiladas “Suizas” ($10.95) our waiter Bill suggested the Apple Cider Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Grilled Leek Sauce ($11.95). The enchiladas were amazing. Filled with achiote-lime rotisserie chicken and cheese, topped with white Swiss cheese and served with rice and black beans, each bite of the enchiladas was full of a perfect blend of chicken and cheese. The Pork Tenderloin was incredibly tender and the apple cider glaze gave it a special savor. It was served with creamy mashed potatoes, green beans with almonds and red cabbage.

For dessert, we again called upon the expertise of our waiter Bill. He suggested the Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler with Amy’s Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream ($6.95) and the Mocha Toffee Torte ($6.95). The Mocha Toffee Torte was served with whipped mocha cream and toffee: a chocolate lover’s ambrosia.

Throughout the meal, the service was punctual and friendly and the entire staff appeared concerned about each patron. Chef de Cuisine Joseph Bannister was trained at the Texas Culinary Academy and his experience includes the Headliners’ Club and Chez Zee.

Mirabelle is a five-time award winner in the Austin Chronicle’s readers poll in categories ranging from “most romantic” to “best seafood dish,” and it’s easy to see why this restaurant is the people’s choice.

Vino

For those who are intimidated by the myriad of offerings and foreign words, Mirabelle’s wine list is a welcome tool. The wines are categorized and each listing gives the province, year, and a complete description of its taste.

Mirabelle also creates dishes that are inspired from wine for the restaurant’s wine dinners. Co-owner Michael Vilim is one of Austin’s top sommeliers and has spent his career matching wine and food.

Mirabelle, 8127 Mesa Dr. • 346-7900, www.mirabellerestaurant.com, Monday - Saturday 11a.m. - 2 p.m., 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.

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