Este Review - East Austin - Austin - The Infatuation
"Back in the 9th grade, we had a friend who would constantly tell stories about spending the summer in a small town on the Mexican coast, riding yachts and eating fresh seafood. These stories made the waters sound magical—complete with clams dancing like butterflies while old sea turtles crooned out jazz tunes from a Disney musical montage. We can only imagine that similar stories are what inspired Este, a Mexican seafood restaurant on Manor Road that feels like you just floated into a small coastal town in Baja, California. This is the second spot from the folks behind —a place we like very much—but here, seafood is the star of the show. Whether that’s in the form of a half dozen top neck clams swimming in a fiery pool of habanero pico de gallo and chile oil, or as the larger-format pescado zarandeado—a whole butterflied fish, brushed in a sweet, peppery annatto red chile marinade, then grilled to a perfectly-charred finish. Masa plays a supporting role here, in the form of crispy, masa-battered swordfish tacos, or as excellent house-made corn chips acting as a platform for giant scoops of bright and punchy ceviches, aguachiles, and tiraditos. The dining room feels like a bright, seaside diner. Tall vaulted ceilings with exposed rafters, and a golden backlit bar give the place a regal look, while the blue/gray tones throughout the dining room add a bit of coastal flair. It’s upscale-casual and chic—the kind of place where you’ll feel like you can finally pull off that big hat you own but have always been too afraid to wear out in public. On the covered patio you can look out over the large garden where they grow most of their own produce. When the weather’s nice, there are very few places in the neighborhood better to sit outside and enjoy a passionfruit-pineapple tropical margarita or a glass of orange wine. Este is a place you go to when you want to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or just being alive, with some of the best seafood that Austin has to offer. It’s a place where you can dress up, just a little bit, and escape to a small coastal town where the seafood is always fresh. Because even if the fish aren’t actually singing, and the clams aren’t dancing, it’s an experience that would even make your old pal from the 9th grade jealous. " - Nicolai McCrary
