Get in My Winebelly

This post is long overdue as Winebelly is hardly the newest spot in Austin. The night I shared this candlelit meal with Mr. Betty and took these dark photos, well, it was at least a couple months ago. But the memories are vivid and I maintain that Winebelly is one of the best restaurants in Austin, in food, wine selection, and ambiance. It has, without question, stolen my heart.

The simple wooden tables and chairs, dark lighting, and instant coziness remind me of my favorite eateries on the East Coast. Old gastropubs, quaint bars, fabulous hideaways for relaxed nights. Hard to believe this little spot is on Oltorf, not in Philadelphia’s Old City.

We started with Shishito Peppers topped with ricotta salata, a pressed, dried, salty version of ricotta. I pretty much order shishitos whenever they are available. One thing I don’t typically order is liver of any type, but I’d heard good things about the Chicken Liver Mousse. I’m glad I gave it a try; it ended up being my favorite dish of the night. Accompanied by pickled shallots, baguette slices, and stone ground mustard, this was a plate made just for my tastes. Everything I love!

Emboldened by our success with the mousse, we ordered Cured White Anchovies, another dish out of our comfort zone. They were fishy and strong in the very best way. The Brussels Sprout and Parsnip Soup was velvety and decadent. It tasted so fresh and green. The sweetness of the parsnips was cut with bacon, chili oil and fragrant lemon zest. Damn, this was a brilliant soup.

The Panzanella Salad was dressed with a tart vinaigrette and Idiazabal cheese, a pressed Spanish cheese made from unpasteurized sheep’s milk.

Our final, heaviest plates were to-die-for delicious. Duck Confit Pappardelle was sheer perfection. Not too heavy or rich. The succulent Braised Short Rib was glazed and beautiful, plated with celery root puree. We were too full to order dessert, but hopefully next time we can partake. Winebelly is a great addition to South Austin and we are thrilled to have it close by.

What are you favorite dishes (or wines!) at Winebelly?

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