TRACE Restaurant Review
W Austin
200 Lavaca St. (W. Second St.) 
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Austin, TX 78701
512-542-3660 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu
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TRACE Restaurant is one of our 2012
Hot 10 Austin Restaurants | Top 10 Austin Romantic Restaurants
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| The interior of TRACE immediately gives the impression of a space comfortable in its sophistication. Dark woods and neutral walls shun flamboyance, which allows the imaginative elements---like a porcupine-Deco chandelier---to sparkle that much more. And that’s the approach that young chef Paul Hargrove brings to the menu. An emphasis is placed on sourcing local produce, meat and seafood (the restaurant’s forager, Valerie Broussard, is practically given equal billing). Meats and fish are simply prepared sans marinades or infusions, instead relying on deft pairing with peak-of-the-season ingredients. Given room to shine among the pure canvas, creative aïolis or dressings have a more noticeable impact, which makes for a winning approach most of the time. With its location next to the home of Austin City Limits, the outdoor seating area is a favorite for pre-show small, shared plates and people-watching. A lunch staple is the rabbit club---a rabbit pâté burger with crisp bacon and apple-curry mayo. Chickpea fries---shaped like steak fries though anything but---are a welcome crossover to the dinner menu’s snacks. For entrées, we keep finding ourselves leaning toward the Gulf seafood selections, such as grouper with a green papaya salad. |
RESTAURANT AWARDS
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