Neither being the evening before the Austin City Limits Festival nor a day filled with rain could stop the sold out crowd from gracing the Laguna Gloria’s Driscoll Villa for the annual AMOA-Arthouse La Dolce Vita.

The grounds were filled with white top tents set against the lakeside sunset, which transitioned to an illuminated light show at dark.

Each tent housed restaurants I either love or have been meaning to try. My stomach could hardly keep up. In retrospect, it was all a blur of delectable goodness, each seemingly more tasty than the last.

Trento’s lamb meat balls really did stand out in flavor and reminds me that I must make way to the West Austin eatery … soon! A lucky treat the day after opening their doors, Larry McGuire’s new Clark’s Oyster Bar was on-site serving delicious corn blini topped with lobster salad. I may have grabbed two.

At the foot of each glass, guests were given stickers to vote for their favorite dishes and wines of the night. People’s choice winners were: Best Food: Jasper’s Austin, Best White: Llano Estacado Winery and Best Red: Pedernales Cellars.

Related posts: