Congress/Congress Bar/Second

(Community Matters)

Steven and I love the new dining/drinking complex located at the Austonian launched by Jeff Trigger and Chef David Bull – Congress (their very upscale dining room), Congress Bar (manned by mixologist Adam Bryan, formerly of Eastside Showroom) and Second (a casual, high energy restaurant with outside seating for 120+).  Food in their Congress dining room brings to four in Austin I’d give a Michelin – joining Fonda San Miguel, Uchi & Hudsons on the Bend. [updated to include Uchi, duh]

We dined at Congress as guests of Jeff’s and were blown away. The two without-peer courses: 1) Chef Bull’s escolar (medallions of white fish wrapped in chicken skin on a bed of chopped brussel sprouts with bacon & chicken ju) and 2) the white lobster bisque (w/ a fresno tomato jam & a lobster ricotta fritter). Cindy Lo & Scott Francis dined on the side of us and agree about the bisque.

Other exceptional courses included: 3) Beef tartare w/ fried oysters, black truffle & parmesan, 4) confit leg of rabbit in a provencal sauce on a tomato speck crust with basil, 5) rack of lamb with salsify, cardamom yogurt and candied orange, and 6) hamachi (Steven’s – I didn’t taste I was so engrossed in the lobster). John Tofflemire took exquisite care of us and paired our courses well. Dave Shaw (a partner in the complex) launched our tour of the three spaces which Jeff guided. And, we met June Rodil, their beverage manager/sommelier who I’m calling on for a second go at Italian wine tastings.

Thrilled, thrilled, thrilled that these restaurants and bars are here – can’t wait to try the pizza at Seconds & book the patio for an event.