Austin Eatery: épicerie

Nestled in the quaint neighborhood of Rosedale, Austin, épicerie has established itself as a purveyor of fine cheese, groceries, fresh drip coffee, and refined comfort food. It's the corner market every neighborhood wishes it had.

As promised, we made our way back. So maybe it took us a year and a half, but I would NOT be denied my beignets. I'll get to those a little later, though.

Every once in a while MJ and I will try a restaurant and after that first bite of food, I'll make a mental note - "we're coming here again." épicerie was one of those places. To this day, I still marvel at how beautifully executed my chicken quarter was. I was happy to miss the lunchtime rush on this occasion as it gave me and MJ some time to just...be. With our hectic schedules, I cherish those quiet moments when we can catch up and enjoy each other's company.

I love the light, airy feel of the restaurant, and I was happy to see that little had changed over the course of the year...still hand pouring the coffee through the filter, still offering the wide selection of artisan cheeses, and still preparing quality food in the kitchen. I would have no need for a menu on this visit, as there was only one thing on my mind - cheeseburger. I couldn't quench the burgervore inside.

With an all-natural, grass fed beef patty as the cornerstone, the burger came dressed with English cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles and aioli. Now I'm all for keeping things rustic, but the tomatoes and pickles were so thickly cut that had I actually added both to the burger, it would have easily gained an inch and a half in height. I opted to include just the tomatoes and ate the pickles on the side to give my jaw a break. I couldn't get over how delicious the patty was. I kept picking at it to savor its flavor, but quickly stopped to avoid ending up with a lonely bun.

MJ had the unenviable task of choosing just one dish to eat from all the exquisite options on the menu. She wavered between salad and sandwich, sandwich and sandwich, salad and fish... In fact, she ordered a salad, but ultimately ended up changing her mind and went with the Porchetta - a sandwich with provolone, frisee, dijon, ham, giardiniera, and mayo. I know it's no fun for her, but it's quite entertaining for me to watch the whole ordering process she goes through nearly every time.

The sandwich was packed with big, bold flavors and reminded me of a cross between something from a New York deli and a muffaletta. The bread was crusty and perfectly toasted, and the frisee lent a freshness to cut through the vinegar and salt.

And the beignets...fluffy, golden pillows of goodness! Definitely not to be eaten in your Sunday best. The more carefully I tried to eat them, the more the powdered sugar flew in all directions. It was the perfect end to a wonderful meal.

épicerie

2307 Hancock Dr, Austin TX 78756