Best Budget Fine Dining in Austin Texas

Budget fine dining? Yes. Sitting on a corner of the sprawling lifestyle/shopping/work center known as The Domain, Ventana offers excellent food and better service than many Austin fine dining restaurants. Located just ten miles from downtown Austin on Burnet Road, the restaurant boasts a large lot, which provides ample parking, unlike many of the downtown restaurants. The building itself has high ceilings with floor to ceiling windows. Upon entry to the restaurant you are immediately greeted and seated at one of the white-tablecloth-covered tables.

In short order, a waiter appears with menus and to request your drink order. The wine list offers a nice assortment of red, white, and champagne. Appetizers include Escargot a la Bourguignonne and Crepes Mornay. Soups and salads include Onion Soup Gratinee and Duck Confit and Arugula Salad. Entrees include an incredibly tender Beef Filet, cooked exactly as specified, Poached Atlantic Salmon, and Duck Cointreau.

For dessert, enjoy choices such as Crème Brulee and the Dark Chocolate Dome.

The service is what I expect from a fine dining establishment. Our waiter was in view, but never hovered. He knew when we needed attention and when to leave us to our romantic candlelit dinner.

The restaurant was not crowded, even on a Friday evening. Our waiter was young, but then so were all the other staff members. That's because, although you would never know it by the décor, the service, or the quality of the food, Ventana is the classroom of the Texas Culinary Academy. Up and coming chefs and future restaurant owners wait on you and cook for you. That is why a fine dining experience can be had where appetizers range $5-$8, soups and salads from $4-$6.50, entrees from $12-$18, and all desserts are $4. Ventana offers similarly priced nightly specials in addition to the delicious offerings on their regular dinner menu.

Next I will try them for lunch. I'm looking forward to their Beef Carpaccio, Warm Spinach Salad, and Provencal Shrimp en Papillote.

Hours of operation: Tuesday - Friday
Lunch: 11 AM - 1:30 PM, Dinner: 5:30 PM - 9 PM

11400 Burnet Rd., Austin, Texas 78758.

Reservations are not required, but are requested. Phone: 512/339-3850

Ventana's web site - http://www.tca.edu/restaurant.asp