Why: Luxe opened Aug. 14 at Washington and Seventh streets. This is the third restaurant venture for owners Joey Nutting and Joel Nehm, who also own Cream & Sugar just uptown from Luxe.
Luxe’s menu offers a few appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts, along with wine, cider, beer, margaritas, coffee and other beverages without alcohol.
What I tried: To start our meal, my dining companion and I tried the hummus plate and the Asian-style rib tips. For our entrees, I had the chicken and waffle sandwich, which came with french fries, and my dining companion had the strawberry and balsamic chicken, which came with a salad with dark greens and diced tomato. For dessert, we sampled the lemon bars and cannoli.
Both of the starters were sharing size for two to three people. The creamy wasabi dressing served with the rib tips complemented the tangy, sweet marinated meat, which was tender and juicy.
The hummus plate included sliced cucumbers, kalamata olives, whole peperoncini, quartered marinated artichoke hearts, feta cheese cubes and warm pita bread. As with most hummus plates, the flavors were predictable.
The chicken and waffle sandwich was stacked with greens, Gruyère cheese, bacon, tomato and breaded chicken on a fresh waffle that was pleasantly not too dry. A liberal amount of honey Dijon dressing was added, as well. The only thing I would change about this sandwich is the type of chicken. I would prefer a fresh-grilled, thin, breast cutlet instead of the breaded chicken used. The breading on the chicken with the thick waffle on top and bottom was a bit too much. Also, the saltiness of a breaded piece of chicken took away from other flavors in the sandwich.
My dining companion enjoyed her entree and said it was a good summertime dish. Her chicken was topped with cubes of mozzarella, sliced strawberries, basil and a generous drizzle of balsamic reduction.
Desserts are all made in house at Luxe. Of the two we tried, my favorite was the cannoli, which was comparable to most I’ve tried. It had a pleasant, crisp shell with a delicious, sweet, creamy filling dotted with chocolate chips. The lemon bar was somewhat dry around the edges of the lemon layer, though the flavor was classic.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: The peach-prosciutto-mozzarella salad with balsamic vinaigrette sounded tasty. The shrimp tacos made with white corn and flour tortillas, Greek yogurt and avocado cream intrigued me, as did the Southwest egg rolls served with a spicy jalapeño-ranch dip.
A menu update since my recent visit includes macaroni and cheese with barbecue pulled pork.
The assortment of baked goods is not always the same, but there’s always a variety from which to choose.
Atmosphere: The space is sparsely decorated with just a few pictures on the walls. A modern minimalist feel is enforced by bare concrete floors, simple shaded lights above tables and fully upholstered dining chairs. Cool, muted colors create a mellow vibe, and floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to flood the space during the day. A bottled drink cooler and a bakery case at the order counter display items not found on the menu. Patio dining offers a few outdoor seats, weather permitting.
Other observations: The service at Luxe was excellent, the atmosphere was fitting for a hot summer day and the food offers some appetizing surprises, along with the predictable tried and true.
Cost: Appetizers are $9.50 to $11. Salads are $8 to $12. Entrees and flatbreads range from $8.50 to $12.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Happy hour is 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily.
Where: 700 Washington St., Suite 103, Vancouver.
Contact: 360-735-9007 or www.eatatluxe.com
Health score: Luxe has received a preopening inspection and is scheduled for a routine inspection in the near future. Zero is a perfect score, and Clark County Public Health closes restaurants with a score of 100 or more. For information, call 360-397-8428.
