Aquarelle   

Take a crash course in coursed dining at Aquarelle, Austin's little French restaurant where the cheeses are unpronounceable and field rabbits do the backstroke in a hot pot of bordelaise. Beef is served with Gaul-ish flair, cooked with unhurried ease, bathed in French specialty sauces and then marked up accordingly. Aquarelle's admirable bright yellow cottage with attached garden provides a perfect setting for colorful desserts from France and elsewhere, such as chilled strawberry soup, garlic flan and a number of different pastries filled with goat cheese, honey and beets. Patrons not up for that seven-course commitment (and the accompanying second mortgage) may order any item a la carte. Don't neglect this little eatery's fine selection of French red wines and champagne. -- Barrett Brown