March 7, 2009
LA CONDESA We’ve come to have very low expectations when a new restaurant first opens in Austin, but La Condesa pleasantly surprised us last night. The salsa trio, $4 but worth it, is supposedly made fresh daily and provides hummus-like and creamy textures (Ed note. there is currently a charge for refills, though I imagine there will be customer push back on this). The drinks were first rate, and we were especially excited to see pisco sour on the menu, which was proportioned perfectly. The spicy-glazed guava ribs, topped with a sauce more sweet than spicy, is accompanied by even sweeter plaintains bathed in cojita cheese. The quinoa-spiced (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa) chile relleno has a mushy consistency, but nonetheless was enjoyable from a flavor profile standpoint with minced chunks of butternut squash. Aside from the cuisine, we think you’ll love other aspects of Austin’s try at replicating NY’s LES stalwart Stanton Social. The restaurant is for seeing and being seen (there are two outside decks with patio seating overlooking the street), and coating the stomach before ascending the stairs to the sister bar on the roof. He says: Arriving at 8:30, the hostess told us we would be seated by 10:00. We were lucky to bogart a first-come, first-serve patio table, but prepare to wait. We saw tons of friends at the bar — clearly the buzz is out that La Condesa is open for business. She says: Finally, the first restaurant in Austin where you won’t feel out of place dressed up. On the roof, I managed to totally forget that we were above sleepy Second St. boutiques and bloggers making a night of it at Jo’s. Meet us for drinks- we’re ready for a repeat visit!

LA CONDESA

We’ve come to have very low expectations when a new restaurant first opens in Austin, but La Condesa pleasantly surprised us last night. The salsa trio, $4 but worth it, is supposedly made fresh daily and provides hummus-like and creamy textures (Ed note. there is currently a charge for refills, though I imagine there will be customer push back on this). The drinks were first rate, and we were especially excited to see pisco sour on the menu, which was proportioned perfectly. The spicy-glazed guava ribs, topped with a sauce more sweet than spicy, is accompanied by even sweeter plaintains bathed in cojita cheese. The quinoa-spiced (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa) chile relleno has a mushy consistency, but nonetheless was enjoyable from a flavor profile standpoint with minced chunks of butternut squash.

Aside from the cuisine, we think you’ll love other aspects of Austin’s try at replicating NY’s LES stalwart Stanton Social. The restaurant is for seeing and being seen (there are two outside decks with patio seating overlooking the street), and coating the stomach before ascending the stairs to the sister bar on the roof.

He says: Arriving at 8:30, the hostess told us we would be seated by 10:00. We were lucky to bogart a first-come, first-serve patio table, but prepare to wait. We saw tons of friends at the bar — clearly the buzz is out that La Condesa is open for business.

She says: Finally, the first restaurant in Austin where you won’t feel out of place dressed up. On the roof, I managed to totally forget that we were above sleepy Second St. boutiques and bloggers making a night of it at Jo’s. Meet us for drinks- we’re ready for a repeat visit!

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