treat yourself

I didn't think we'd be able to top last year's celebration at Uchi, but this Valetine's Day managed to surpass even that wondrous combination of sushi and friends thanks to the magic of Sicola's. The restaurant is a family effort fronted by Tom Sicola, co-founder of the SicolaMartin advertising firm in Austin, and their personal touch shows in every detail. Tom engages guests in various conversations and culinary recommendations in between managing the iPod-driven ambiance, and his son Stephen confers with diners about the astonishingly good dishes he prepares for them.

In between socializing, the family serve up the most extraordinarily flavorful dishes in Austin. Everything from the salmon-topped artichoke hearts to the crème brulée made my mouth water uncontrollably as it tickled taste buds I forgot that I had. The food and drink flowed together perfectly with a wine selection matched to each course. Even the haricot verts served with my steak and Rachel's snapper were amazing, convincing me that I would have grown up much healthier if I'd known that green beans could taste that good.

Sicola's only serves private dining, which means you'll need to organize an event or seek them out around holidays to indulge in their excellence. But by all means, make the effort. It was the finest dining experience I've ever had.