Le Rêve French-American Restaurant — Restaurant in Brownsville

Le Reve is a shiny and delicious new gem in Downtown Brownsville.

We were lucky enough to dine at Le Reve on Friday night of its opening weekend, a time when you'd expect a few hiccups as staff learn the ropes. There's a big difference between dress rehearsal and a real performance with audience, but this "cast" put on a Tony worthy performance.

Le Reve's historic building in Market Square in downtown Brownsville has been lovingly renovated. The bar, kitchen and several tables are located at the ground floor level, while the main dining room and private dining room are located on the second floor. We had a table for two tucked into a nook overlooking the staircase, and we loved watching patrons and staff coming and going. Our server was friendly, attentive and seriously passionate about the food and drink offerings.

We started with the Roasted Beets, served with burrata cheese, strawberries, pistachios and strawberry vinaigrette and an order of the decadent Golden Kaluga Caviar served on tiny hash brown rounds sizzled in duck fat then topped with smoked creme fraiche and lemon zest. A glass of the house Champagne was the perfect accompaniment to the caviar. This combo is something I'll order on repeat.

My husband ordered the Grilled Branzino for his entree. The perfectly cooked fish was served with yellow corn, leeks and yuzu beurre blanc. He pronounced it the best fish he's ever eaten, and he's had fish at The French Laundry! My seared half chicken was amazing. I was told that Le Reve has arranged to source young local chickens (Weslaco born & bred) for this dish, so I couldn't wait to try it. It did NOT disappoint! You might think that going from caviar to chicken would be a letdown, but not with this chicken topped with morel mushrooms (wow, a real delicacy), potato puree and vin jaune sauce. I am going to have to force myself on subsequent visits to work my way through the rest of the entrees after eating this chicken. It was that good.

Service was attentive and friendly without being overbearing. One moment that stands out for me is that the minute my husband put down his empty wineglass a server appeared to offer another glass. We never saw her hovering, but she obviously was paying attention, which we very much appreciated.

I wish I could tell you about dessert, but we were so full from our starters and entrees that we didn't even peruse the dessert menu. Next time we'll look at that menu first and get an order in before we fill up.

Brownsville is lucky to have a restaurant like Le Reve. I can't recommend it highly enough, and everyone I've talked to who has been lucky enough to dine there is eager to return. Starters range in price from $8 to $48 (caviar!) and entrees begin at $24 and go to the market priced dry aged bone in ribeye. We felt that we received excellent value for what we spent at Le Reve and we look forward to inviting visitors from out-of-town to experience French-American cuisine with us at Brownsville's...

Le Rêve is the best restaurant in the Valley. From the moment we arrived, it was an experience. The host was extremely friendly and welcoming, setting the tone for the evening. The decor and layout made me feel like I was in a charming boutique restaurant in France. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable. She made fantastic recommendations for appetizers. We started with the rolls, which were absolutely delicious –I had to take some home haha!. We also tried the yellowfin, which was fantastic, but those rolls… they were on another level. The wine list was impressive, offering a great selection, and the option for wine by the glass was excellent too. For dinner, I had the agnolotti pasta, and it was nothing short of incredible. I absolutely loved that dish. We also ordered the potato purée, which was made even more special with the addition of bone marrow – a brilliant touch. I ate every bite of everything! One of the highlights of the evening was when the entire team came out with candles, which truly felt like a cherry on top of an already fantastic experience. You could tell everyone in the restaurant was equally impressed. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food and the level of service. Congratulations you’ve truly created...

Every visit has been a stunning experience from beginning to end. It’s all about the details, and you can tell they take all that into consideration. Being greeted by delightful Yessica always puts a smile on my face. Not only is she absolutely pleasant, but she is also exceptionally knowledgeable as wine director giving the best suggestions based on your preferences and taste. Behind the bar, Luis Zuni, facilitates making every cocktail so well balanced. My favorite house cocktail is the Strawberry Spotted Handkerchief and classics are the French 77 and mezcal paloma. Then what sets them apart is their consistently, phenomenal dishes. The beef tartare is one of the best I have ever tasted. So savory and pairs perfectly with the delicious toast. The grilled asparagus, shown in the middle of picture, has such a light yet flavorful citrus butter sauce. The mild flavor of the seared yellowfin tuna was enhanced so well by the soy sauce and yuzu oil. Any steak is cooked perfectly and of course you can’t go wrong with their juicy burger. Sous chef, Noe, and the whole team are able to exquisitely craft chef Eugenio’s stunning vision...