This year, in Austin for the Thanksgiving holiday; I insisted on taking my mother out to eat.  She told me that she’d make a reservation at Eddie V’s because they serve some of the best seafood in town and that their crab cakes contained a half-pound of jumbo lump crab.  I found this to be very specific (turns out she’s been more than once); but, being from Seattle, I couldn’t get past the name of the restaurant, and thought “A Pearl Jam Thanksgiving?  Sign me up!”

And while I was a bit chagrinned to find out that Eddie Vedder had not become a restaurateur, I’m pleased to report that whoever the restaurant’s namesake might’ve been, must sure have known his way around a kitchen, because our meal was terrific.  Come to find out there are 14 Eddie V’s locations across the country; but we were eating at the original, on 5th Street, in Downtown Austin.

So, fast-forward to Thanksgiving dinner, at Eddie V’s.  There was a Thanksgiving Special, featuring turkey with all the trimmings, and while it looked delicious, neither of us was really feeling it; so we ordered off the menu, and I’m really glad we did.

We started with the Chilled Shellfish Tower, with Mom taking the oysters, and the two of us going halfsies on the shrimp, jumbo lump crab, and the fresh Maine lobster.  On the side were a particularly piquant cocktail sauce, and a delicious remoulade – both of which I availed myself of, to tasty effect.

Next came the Truffled Steak Tartare, which was great, because (despite my dislike of mushrooms) it’s always fun to come across yet another dish that’s so beautifully enhanced by the use of shaved black truffles.  Actually, I’m rather surprised that Las Vegas eateries haven’t yet happened upon this – but, sadly, not too many places in Vegas are dishing out the tartare.

Anyhoo, on to the entrées!  Mom ordered the 12oz Center-cut Filet Mignon and assured me it was prepared exactly the way she wanted it.  And that’s all well and good, but the real takeaway for her was the accompaniment of Crab Fried Rice with Mushrooms and Scallions.  It was sensational and put a cool twist on a Chinese classic.

I figured that if I was in for a penny, I was in for the proverbial pound, so I ordered the Parmesan-Crusted Lemon Sole with tomato and herb salad, and lemon garlic butter.  I can’t recall the last time I ordered fish, but based on this dinner, I’m gonna be adding it to my repertoire, because it was practically perfect.  My accompaniment of Truffled Macaroni and Cheese was impeccable, and just this side of well-done (so the pasta was al dente, but the cheese was slightly crispy.  Yum!!)

And then came the deserts.  Talk about ending things on a high note!  Mom went old-school and got the Crème Brûlée with a Brown Sugar Crust and House Made Cookies (not a reinvention of the wheel, but very good).  I’d had good luck eating outside of my comfort zone, so I continued as such and opted for the Dark Chocolate and Toffee S’Mores with Toasted Vanilla Bean Marshmallow.  Holy Crap!  If I ever go camping (glamping?), I plan to use a Skor bar, for the chocolate.  Something about the toffee elevated the whole thing from merely another delicious dessert to a pastry revelation that, as I write about it, has triggered an onset of involuntary salivation.

So, the next time you’re in Austin (or Scottsdale, or La Jolla, or Chicago, etc…) do yourself a favor and make a reservation at Eddie V’s.  And remember to save room for dessert!

Eddie V’s
5th Street | Austin, TX
Click HERE for info

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