Had such a fun time at Yamas on their Wednesday Mamma Mia night. The night is all about music,…read moredancing, and the traditional plate-breaking celebration. Our table wasn't quite ready at our reservation time, but the host made up for the delay by offering us complimentary champagne when we were seated, which was a nice touch. We ordered several dishes from the mezzes menu along with cocktails, and everything we tried was delicious. The highlight was definitely the lively atmosphere, music, dancing, and plate-breaking, which started after 9 PM. We also celebrated our friend's birthday with a complimentary kunafa cake and napkin-waving ceremony by the servers. It was a gala time!

Decided to give this place a second chance for an early Friday dinner for 2. I ordered more and sat…read moreat the bar and had a much better experience, though the music was still as loud as a club at times. The tiger prawns and lamb chops were both phenomenal, and the tiger prawns are a show stopper as the presentation is phenomenal, they are HUGE! The service was good at the bar but this place does add up in price quickly. Definitely worth it once in awhile though.

Visited for the first time today- and as a New York Italian I was excited to try this…read more The place is cute, has a good Jersey vibe, I liked the Italian hero napkin boxes. You order at the counter, the staff was friendly and explanatory. They don't have a huge wine menu and it's pretty pricey, 13+ dollars a glass or more. They had a frosé for $8 but it's not on menu or advertised so we didn't notice the machine until after. There were three of us and we ordered under the same number- but for some reason one persons food came out before the appetizer so- timing was weird on that. We got the arancini for appetizer and it was good but absolutely not worth $12 for 3 small to medium sized arancini. Would not order again based on price. I had the chicken parm grinder with the house salad and my boyfriend the chicken Alfredo. Our friend had the Italian sub. Charging $5 to have fries or a salad added is highway robbery when you are already charging $15 for a sub. A chicken parm grinder in my hometown is $9.99. And this was not that great. The sauce was acidic, and the bread was way too thick. It wasn't toasted so most of my sandwich bites were just bread. The chicken coating also should have been crispier. It was sooo mid. The Italian house salad was actually pretty good- but really overdressed. My boyfriend's chicken Alfredo was pretty dry and nothing to write home about for $23. And they don't give you any bread!! How does an Italian restaurant not give out bread?! They charge you $2.50 for bread regardless if it's for the focaccia or the plain house bread- which I found out when I tried to order focaccia and they were out. No I don't want to pay the same for plain bread as focaccia, esp when I shouldn't be paying for bread in the first place. So we ended up paying $76 before tip for a grinder and side salad, a plate of Alfredo, 3 arancini and a soda and glass of wine, all mid. I feel like they know about the lack of affordable Italian food here and thought they could come in and be more affordable than like, Sammie's but are still overcharging because they can. Come back to pay those prices? Fuhgeddaboutit.

Service was awesome - everyone we encountered was friendly and attentive. They noticed we needed…read morethings and were chatty and sweet. Can't up this staff enough. Ambiance was great, they had clueless playing on a tv/vcr by the register, kinda 90s kitsch all around. We ordered: Cabbage Caesar slaw - this was solid. Nice flavor, not too much red onion or prosciutto Toasted Italian melt - we lived in New York and are always on the hunt for a solid Italian. This one was okay. The bread was pretty dense and not very toasted. I took most of mine home and it was MUCH better on the reheat. I just toasted the bread and put it back together. Italian stallion - this was great. The gardiniere breaks up the fattiness and the jus was awesome. Also solid on the reheat. Lasagna end piece - I'd agree with another reviewer to change the name. It was tasty, lots of thin layers of pasta, sauce and some cheese. But I prefer a good melty cheesy top. This one had fine grated cheese on top instead. The crispy edges were awesome and the red sauce was perfect.

Such a good find in Austin!…read more If you're ever craving pasta, this is the place to stop by. We went on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy, but everyone who came in was still able to get a table. It feels very authentic. No Italian-American staples like Alfredo, meatballs, or garlic bread, which was actually refreshing since I'm so used to that style. You can either sit down first and take your time with the menu, or order in line before grabbing a table. Either way, they're very chill about it. Another cool thing: they're BYOB and will even cork it for you. Saw other guests bring their own glasses too, which was a nice touch. The pasta is clearly fresh. I'd recommend the macaroni with mushrooms and sausage. I got the tagliatelle with lemon shrimp cream sauce and loved it, though now I'm curious to try one of their non-cream-based sauces next time. Also spotted another table's lasagna go by and the portion was huge. Already excited to go back next time I'm in Austin. Definitely check this spot out!

A wonderful Italian cook…read more Who has to work with the same not wonderful ingredients that all of us Americans have to put up with. Italian cooking is ingredient dependent - Even if the cook is a combination of Escoffier, Paul Bocuse and James Beard, An American tomato is an American tomato. To see what the amazing chef of Artipasta can do if he can get the materials worthy of his talents, Try his Pasta and Sardines. There is nothing wrong with American sardines. That dish will fly you to the moon. Other more tomato-dependent items on the menu are pleasant enough. It is sad to see this enormously talented individual being as underutilized as he is. But nothing here is bad. If you think like a cook yourself, You will find other items of glory on the menu.

This place is such a gem! Food is amazing and service is even better, if that is possible. Just…read moreheavenly! Everything is flavorful and authentic Greek. It tastes like elevated fine dining because they've added all of those small touches. I met the owner and she's adorable. It's tucked away in a part of Austin that looks like Southern California. The drinks are fantastic and they have amazing specials. The waitress was engaging and knowledgeable and comes back there to work when she has time. It speaks highly to a place when staff are so committed they return because it feels more like family to them. I started a review for this amazing restaurant in July and just realized it's not posted nor is a draft of it saved. Will do my best to recreate the review. But it should tell you something that it made such an impression that I've come back 3 months later to finish the review. Adding photos. Apologies that I can't remember the names of the people, dishes or drinks anymore. But I do remember how I felt there: well cared for with a delightful mix of delicious flavors swirling around my palate in a charming, cozy and comfortable environment. You definitely should stop by, you won't regret it! :) :) :)

Cute atmosphere, good food and delicious cocktails…read more 3.5 stars - My group had the Evia Fizz and Greek God Bless You cocktails - both delicious. While good, the spreads are a bit underwhelming compared to similar Greek restaurants in the Austin area. Similar thoughts on the skewer and rice (not pictured). Inside is adorable but loud. Cute date spot but not good for yapping; it was hard to hear girlfriends over music and bar noise. They do have a patio with fans.

I've had the shawarma here and it's phenomenal. This time around I got the kebab platter and some…read morefries on the side. I must say, the kebab was juicy and absolutely to die for! In my experience kebab tends to be served kinda too dry but that was not the case here. The grilled jalapeno was a great addition too, added a great kick to the meat for sure. Service time was reasonable. It's not fast food! But it's food made with love and I loved every bite! The ambiance was also nice and the place was very spacious. I haven't been to the outdoor section but saw there were many trees and you could see birds flying to and fro. Very beautiful on a nice day This is my new go-to because the kebab was certainly higher quality than other places I have been to and I have been to many

I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while as I drive by this restaurants virtually…read moreevert day. Old Jerusalem restaurant is located on Spicewood Springs Road between Mesa and MOPAC in a strip mall. Walking into the restaurant you feel like you are standing in a home v restaurant. The front wall looks like a built in bookshelf or what not cabinet. The restaurant is filled with a great deal of wood...booths, chairs and walls. In addition, you can dine outside at two large patio areas. Two bright and beautifully painted murals grace the walls of the restaurant. I was out running errands and was looking for a snack. My snack de jour was lemon mint tea and falafel. Both were deliciously prepared. The lemon mint tea tasted like it was made from fresh lemons and mint...quite tasty. The falafel was crisp on the outside with a blast of flavor inside. The seasonings inside the falafel was not recognizable but fragrant and enjoyable to eat. In addition, service was friendly and personable. Look forward to exploring more menu items...

Oria has great food, great vibes and great service. There is free parking in a garage right behind…read morethe restaurant. Cozy outdoor area with fans and lighting, in addition to the indoor seating. The menu is unique with a good variety. For appetizers we tried the hummus and glazed carrots & feta. The hummus was tasty, but the pita bread dried out rather quickly. The carrots were two very thick halves. For some reason, I was expecting smaller fingerling carrots. The whipped feta and pistachios were really good. I ordered braised short rib for an entree, which didn't really fit the Mediterranean theme of the rest of the options. However, it was excellent. Overall, we had a great experience. Shoutout to our server Lex who was friendly and attentive the entire evening.

I came here a couple nights ago with my partner. I loved it! We ordered the olives, sourdough pita,…read morehummus, roasted nappa cabbage, and the lamb shank. All of the food was really delicious and filling. My only comaint is that the cabbage didnt have enough toppings or flavour to fill all the layers of the cabbage, and the bottom layers of cabbage tasted pretty plain. The service was great, our server was very attentive and kind! The ambiance was amazing. I loved the string lights and the fountain, definetly a very beautiful restaurant and I would come back if i have some money to spend. Another small issue i had was the parking - I came during ACL so this couldve only been an issue because of that, but we had to pay $10 for parking, and we were not guaranteed a spot. However, like i said, this might have only been because we came during ACL.

Okay just...WOW. This is getting added to the rotation! I absolutely adore this place. From the…read moreambiance to the food to the service - it gets 10s across the board. The ceviche was absolutely phenomenal and we also ordered a potato flautas appetizer that was very tasty as well. I haven't had ceviche that good in Austin! The fish was fresh and it was very refreshing. The steak and eggs were well seasoned but the macha con huevos is what blew us away. It has this Smokey flavor that had me reaching back for more. It is served with fresh made tortillas too which is a great addition. The chilaquiles obviously also were a stand out. I felt transported to Mexico City. They stick to their true Mexican flavors while providing a little twist. Must check this place out!

If you're looking for a nice brunch or lunch spot during the weekday, this would a great place to…read morego to. The service here is fantastic and the staff really does go above and beyond to make sure customers are happy. At least that's what my experience was like. Guac y Salsa 3/5 -- the guac pretty standard but the salsa was very acidic making it almost inedible personally for me then later I found out it's because they finish the salsa with apple cider vinegar Ceviche de coco 5/5 -- very tasty and refreshing, thoroughly enjoyed this starter Tacos de Carnitas 3/5 -- extremely meaty and porky, I could barely finish one taco as it was pretty heavy. I think if they added some type of fresh topping (their spin on pico de gallo) it would help make it more balanced Chilaquiles with asada 4/5 -- the asada is super tender but definitely a dish you'd have to eat quickly if you like your tortillas crispy Conchas 5/5 -- I've never had a concha before so eating theirs really set the bar high because it was so delightful to eat and very moist. I just wanted to keep eating it. When I mentioned it was my first time trying them, the manager (?) gave me an extra one on the house so thoughtful! Overall I'd come back again.

My running group went there after a run at the Grove. They were nice enough to offer free…read morecroissants - plain, chocolate or raspberry with cream cheese - with a purchase of coffee . A friendly hostess greeted us as we arrived inside to order. The Ukrainian decorations were incredibly interesting to view. The coffee was good, with a choice of milk - Califa Farms oat milk, whipping cream or almond milk. I didn't eat the croissant, but it looked very good. As an additional plus, the had a large jug of infused water with slices of grapefruit and lemon. Very refreshing! Our group sat outside to chat and play Loteria, a Mexican bingo-like game.

Such a cute cafe at the grove. The owner and her hubby run the restaurant. The food portions were…read morenot large but adequate. We came for dinner but the owner encouraged us to come again for Sunday brunch or to try one of their traditional Ukrainian dishes. Total cost:$129.50 appetizer, two entree & etoh drinks