Le Politique Serves a Taste of France in Downtown Austin

France has always been an interest of mine. In high school, I took French instead of Spanish and relished learning about the culture. Most importantly, I loved learning about the food.

Through my Austin food adventures, I’ve found a little piece of France. Le Politique, located in downtown Austin, is a local brasserie that doesn’t disappoint with its selection of classic and delicious French fare.

Thank you to Le Politique for treating me to my recent meal for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.

What to Expect at Le Politique

The name of the restaurant, which means “The Politician,” came from the Count DuBois De Saligny. This French diplomat had quite the reputation for being a “rabble-rouser” in Texas during the 19th century.

Today, Le Politique honors traditional French cuisine. Executive Chef Gerard Kenny likes to think outside the box operationally. He’ll take a look at the classics to break them down, figure out what customers like the most, and find a way to use those elements when building the menu with new items. The menu is also shaped by Austin as a whole, and what is growing in popularity locally. No matter where the inspiration comes from, though, Le Politique is a wonderful place to be transported away to France, if only for a short amount of time.

Located on the corner of 2nd Street and San Antonio, there are a variety of seating options: cozy indoor dining room, extensive raw bar, lounge with adorable macaron-shaped pillows, and outdoor seating for those beautiful days you need to get some fresh Austin air.

Day in the Life of Le Politique

“Every day begins with the undertone of ‘Let’s be the best version of ourselves for our guests,’ but truly begins with the question, ‘What do we need to get there?'” Executive Chef Gerard Kenny told me. The mornings are full of activity: communicating with the chefs and staff, receiving product, discussing product priorities, and sharing expectations for the day. Clear objectives are important, as the team knows they helps get everyone in the same mindset.

Chef Kenny’s favorite part of the day is when customers start coming into the restaurant and tickets begin to pour into the kitchen. That’s when the team forms one cohesive unit to get everything done. As Chef Kenny said of his kitchen staff, “The moves they make from that point are instinctual and harmonious.”

After everyone has made it through the rushes to the end of the day, the team is able to relax. They share laughs and some much needed high fives before changing their focus to planning for the following day.

A Taste of France

The trout almondine with haricots verts and toasted almonds, lemon, and butter is a popular item. You can also find the iconic escargot with parsley butter. Chef Kenny also shared a new favorite, Le Politique’s mushroom bourguignon, which has the flavors of a hearty dish with a twist. It’s vegan!

I visited the restaurant for a complimentary meal and tried the steak frites. I highly recommend trying out this classic French dish. It was cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious.

Le Politique has a wide variety of wines and cocktails, as well. Don’t forget to finish your meal by grabbing dessert or stopping by the patisserie on the way out. The macarons are divine.

110 San Antonio St. — Website

 

@theAustinot wants to know:

What’s your favorite French dish?