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    Este

    4.3 (427 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    ESTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Este

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    Reviews With Photos

    Ribeye tacos
    Diandra L.

    It's been almost a month and I am still dreaming of our dinner at Este. When we were planning our trip to Austin multiple of our friends in the restaurant biz from Miami recommended Este, so we knew we had to make a reservation. First of all - the vibes are immaculate. It's cozy yet chic at the same time, creating a space that is inviting but not too stuffy that you don't feel right at home. I wish I remembered our servers name, but she was SO nice an helpful in our ordering journey. We had some things in mind, but she also helped steer us in the right direction. One of my friends does not eat red meat, so that guided our choices which are below: +Tuna Tiradito: my friend who lives in Austin said this was a must order and she was correct. Insane. +Cachetada Taco: the two of us who eat meat opted for this wagyu ribeye taco and wow. Our server said it was the best steak taco in the city and who am I to argue with that. +tostadita de toro: stop what you're thinking about and order this dish. The most incredible tuna belly with the perfect amount of chipotle aioli and a hint of citrus. D I V I N E +Mushroom Quesadilla: so much cheese, but great. +Camarones El Ricas: so good, shell on shrimp with a great butter on top. +Bok Choy: we opted to get some veg, and this was great. I loved the tahini maple dressing. For drinks I got the tropical marg which as passionfruit. My friend got the Verde which was refreshing and delish. Shout out to the team for the Guavamente cocktail which is N/A - while I did not order it, the nod to Elvis Crespo was not lost on me. I also noted that they did have a good amount of N/A drinks on the menu that were quite interesting. I love to see a varied cocktail menu with something for everyone's tastes. Este also has a bar adjacent to the restaurant that is supposed to be great, but we did not get a chance to go. Once again our server was so friendly and helpful with recs of where to go for the rest of our trip. We could have probably done without one dish for our group of three, but what is a vacation if not to enjoy trying so many new things. Loved my visit here and would recommend to anyone in Austin. I also see they have happy hour, which is great!

    Tostada
    Vincent X.

    Phenomenal food and service but the noise levels are quite loud. It's warranted though since this establishment was filled with people, so I suggest booking a reservation to secure a spot. Everything was great, from the starter to the dessert. The half portion ceviche is a great decision because it allows a solo diner (like me) to enjoy more items on the menu. You can expect each device bite to be fresh, tangy, and slightly spicy. The Cachetada and Bokchoy both also had deep flavours, but are quite overpriced for their portions. I came here to find the best seafood spots in the area, and I think the Pescado a la crema delivered. The halibut completely melted in my mouth and was enriched with the salsa cremosa. The baby shrimps adds a nice texture and the squash completed the smoothness of the entree. The dish is still on the smallef end, so ordering starters dishes are necessary to acquire fullness. The Pineapple Tarte was suggested by my waitress Chelsea. The item did not intrigue me on the menu, but the recommendation completely proved me wrong. It is like a slightly milder Key Lime Pie, but with a smoother yet still denser texture. With the crumble bottom adding a nice crunch, the dessert wonderfully wrapped my experience at Este. The dishes can be adjusted to your preference, which is the cherry on the top to come back for more. I can't wait to share this soot with my friends and family.

    Edgar R.

    Ambiance: 4/5: Its what you expect to see at a nicer Austin restaurant. They have complimentary Valet Parking, but other than that you have to find street parking. Service: 4/5: Our waiter did a good job at checking in. A couple things to note: they will not seat you, until your entire party is present. Also, if you are celebrating a birthday and are planning to bring a cake, be ready to pay a good amount. Food: 3/5: The agua chiles and the shrimp dish were very tasty. We were a bit disappointed with the tacos and the quesadilla. They were very mid. For the price point I was expecting for every dish to be filled with flavor. Drinks: 3/5: Drinks were fine. A little too on the sweet side. I dont think I will personally come back, but open to trying it again if invited.

    Wendi K.

    4.5 Stars Este is a sister restaurant to Suerte - the interior is beautiful, the staff are super nice, and the food is beautiful and high quality. Prices are on the higher end. Think fresh, mexican seafood. We came for a group dinner on a Sunday with a reservation. Drink: BLUE TANG CLAN ($17) this is a fun drink! Like a blue, smokey Pina Colada. Food: -ESTE CEVICHE ($24) - both ceviches were small but beautiful plated and very fresh. -SHRIMP AGUACHILE Verde ($23) -CACHETADA TACO - Wagyu Ribeye Taco ($15) - this is a ginormous taco with plenty of protein - we split it between 4 -FISH TACOS ($19) - large, filling, and yummy -BOK CHOY A LA PARRILLA ($16) - I am not really a vegetable girl but this was pretty unique! We also tried 3 desserts - PAY DE PIÑA ($13) and BUTTERMILK PIE ($13). Love a good thick crust on a pie. so yummy. They were so lovely to bring out little vanilla chocolate cakes with candles for my mom and sister :) Such a lovely end to our meal!

    Wagyu tacos
    Elaine D.

    I've gone here twice and this is honestly my favorite restaurant in Austin. I had the same great waiter and ordered the same meals he had advised me and it never does the belly wrong. This is a must gooo!!

    Fish taco
    Love P.

    This spot sits in the former home of one of my all-time Austin favorites, Eastside Cafe. When it closed, I remember the owner sharing that whoever came next would prioritize both the quality of the food and the overall experience, and thankfully, that promise held true. I don't make it here as often as I'd like, but every visit reminds me why it's worth it. Everything I've had has been excellent, and the cocktails are a standout bonus. The Friday happy hour stretching through most of the afternoon doesn't hurt either. The fish tacos are a perfect example of what they do well, made with a crispy batter with a lightness that lets the flavors come through rather than covering them up. With a menu inspired by Oaxacan seafood, there's a cohesion to the dishes that makes the whole experience feel intentional. It's a great choice for a special occasion, or simply when you're in the mood for a really thoughtful, well-executed meal. The restaurant itself is gorgeous!

    Sombra margarita
    Samyukta S.

    Visited Este to celebrate my partner's birthday. Lovely place for a special occasion. Gorgeous interior design with coastal vibes that complemented the seafood based menu. Service was fantastic. Our server made great recommendations. We ordered: - Two Sombra cocktails - fruity mezcal margaritas. Very tasty! - Tuna Tiradito - this was my favorite, each bite was bursting with flavor. Phenomenal. - Pescado Zarandeado- a massive full fish of the day, served with black beans, slaw, and tortillas for a "make your own fish taco" experience at your table. Huge portion, more than enough to share! Fish + fixings were fresh and delicious. - Tamal - this was a vegetarian item and was so good for a break from the seafood. Highly recommend to balance out the meal. - buttermilk citrus pie for dessert - I was skeptical but this ended up being one of the best desserts I've had. Don't miss it!

    front
    Aruni G.

    A couple of friends took me here last evening as a birthday treat. The food was amazing! Everything was wonderful from the presentation of the chips and salsa to the desserts. We ordered some mocktails and the hoja en blanco cocktail. We shared all the items we ordered tapas style: ceviche, fish tacos, calabacita salad, tamal, and the pistachio cake desert. Since it was my birthday and I'm lactose intolerant Priscilla, our server, brought me a peach hibiscus sorbet birthday dessert, which was refreshing and tasty. They were extremely busy last night so a few times we had to try to find Priscilla for a couple clarifying questions since the food items seem to come at different times that we expected, but when we did get her attention she was really helpful in addressing our questions and guiding us to the best choices for us! I look forward to coming back to Este and trying more items!

    Este Ceviche
    Fazley R.

    Definitely one of my favorite meals in Austin in a very long time. The ceviche was a great starter. The market fish during our visit was a snapper. The chili oil along with the carrot and pepper salpicón was a great touch. My favorite from the barra fría section of the menu was the tuna tiradito. We ordered this dish twice. You got some bluefin, avocado and crispy leeks. Absolutely delectable. From the botanas y tacos section of the menu, the smoked whitefish dip is a must try. You got the chipotle aioli with the Serrano type relish, I could've had way more. The fish tacos were some of the best fish tacos I've ever had. It featured some masa battered swordfish, shredded cabbage, along with the habanero hot sauce. When I come back next time, I'm ordering three of these. The Camarones El Ricas is definitely worth a try. They call it their messiest dish and it requires hand to mouth shoveling. It's a butterflied shell-on shrimp with a very tasty chili garlic butter. I wish they served it with tortillas, but I guess you could ask. The Pescado Zarandeado is a half Spanish Sea Bass with a red chile marinade is once again one of the best dishes I've had. So the theme here is that just about everything that they serve is going to be an absolute banger. I cannot wait to be back!

    Paloma
    Erica C.

    An amazing experience start to finish. We arrived about 15 minutes early to our reservation and they didn't have the table ready but made us feel welcome and had a server come take our drink order to enjoy while we waited. Once seated, our server was awesome and explained the whole menu and listed off his favorites to us. We sat on the patio which was very comfortable and good ambiance. The food is so unique and flavorful. I can't wait to come and try more. My reviews of our meal below. Tuna tiradito - 10/10, great balance of flavors, not fishy at all, the tuna was perfect. Fish tacos - 10/10, incredible! The swordfish was so good and the breading was so light and crispy and not too heavy or greasy. I will come back for these hands down. They are the best fish tacos u have found here that remind me the most of Baja style in California. Cachetado taco - 9/10 - Wagyu beef taco was very good but just a little too heavy for our preference Pescado à la crema - 10/10, shrimp cream sauce and black cod with perfect crispy skin it all worked so well together

    Choco flan
    Sarin P.

    This was my favorite dinner on our little getaway. Staff was so nice!!! The food was the cherry on top! I loved their seafood forward menu. The tuna sashimi was some of the best I've had. The onions, shallots, and garlic combine creating the most beautiful umami flavor. The Spanish sea bass was so decadent and covered in a delicious base. I liked the build your own taco vibe it created. We also had to try the fish tacos, swordfish was phenomenal and hearty! As for dessert, I was sad they were sold out from the marigold ice cream but the choco flan was perfection. Thanks for having us!

    Ellie N.

    It's an upscale restaurant. I got 2 fish tacos for $19, but it's actually pretty decent. The service is great too, so I can't complain

    Ceviche
    Sasha D.

    Spectacular dining experience, we sat at the chefs counter and had the most lovely and friendly server. The interior of the place is gorgeous with a lot of natural light. We ordered margaritas, the tuna tiradito, ceviche and the whole sea bass. We were super impressed by everything, one of the more enjoyable dining experiences we've had recently, the food made us feel like we were back in Mexico City. Highly recommend

    Michelada 10/10

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    Este Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Este

    Thinking about going for a casual lunch, is this place more fancy?

    In Austin there are not many super fancy places for lunch. I think it’s more casual than fancy. However, in think you could go casual to fancy and everything in between.

    Is there gluten and dairy free options?

    I'm allergic to all seafood (fish and shellfish) would you still recommend eating here?

    There are items on the menu that do not contain any fish or shellfish, but the good majority of the menu has one of those ingredients. If you are really allergic, I personally wouldn't risk it.

    Is there a brunch?

    Este is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30am-10pm at which time, they offer their standard menu.

    Is there a happy hour?

    Yes, Sunday through Thursday only and from 5 to 6 pm.

    Can you snag a table without a reservation if you show up when they open?

    I asked our server, because I have family that eat vegan, and wanted to know about bringing them in. Our server explained that there were a couple of salads, and a mushroom… Read more

    View All 7 Questions

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    Rose Gose

    Rose Gose

    4.4
    (239 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    Family-owned & operated
    Free parking

    Some friends took us here for a birthday celebration, taking a chance because they'd never been…read morethere either. What a find! Rosé Gosé (note accents) is in an unassuming Airport Blvd location (right next to Jewboy Burgers, an Austin favorite). It is run by a couple from Belarus that came here right after Covid to open up a restaurant, with a sister in Minsk. Defying expectations, the menu is not Balkan at all. If anything, there is a strong Asian influence with poke bowls and a lot of seafood. But the menu also offers beef tartare on their raw bar menu, as well as a steak offering and grilled chicken. It's a diverse and adventurous menu, all the way from small plates to hefty mains and vegetable sides. For the dessert, try the pavlova, a meringue confection stuffed with coconut mousse and topped with lime sorbet and a grapefruit slice sidecar. Everything is superbly presented, and unquestionably fresh and healthy without veering into twigs and berries territory. The cocktail menu is also playful, with a lot of nontraditional glassware and slight spins on popular drinks; their version of a Paloma uses prosecco instead of a splash of soda. The servers are all dressed in rosé jumpsuits and very attentive. The space is amiable and elegant without being pretentious. The table spacing is a little close, so that conversations carry between guests. The table setting has some nice touches, like the little wooden bench that holds your fork and knife off the table. In European fashion, water can be asked for but it won't be served with ice. Plan on taking your time and enjoying course after course.

    My hubs chose Rosé Gosé for my Mother's Day brunch location. In full transparency, choosing a…read morerestaurant is not his jam. However, today major shout out to the hubs. Rosé Gosé was a delightful Mother's Day lunch spot. It is a whole vibe, and it is uniquely French! When we walked in an artist was playing romantic music on his keyboard, which set the tone for the brunch. It is a small restaurant inside with a larger area of seating on the patio. Of course, our reservations were inside in the comforts of air conditioning. You immediately notice a wine wall hence the name Rosé Gosé. The restaurant has many windows which provide lots of natural light. The tables house miniature yellow roses and utensils sat in a small wooden block...very French. All the servers were dressed in mauve clothing that resemble scrubs from a hospital. If someone stepped out in a French beret, I would have fallen over. Our server, Sergey, immediately served us water and took our order. The restaurant was highlighted as a modern European bistro. The atmosphere was charming, elegant, and stylish making it ideal for a Mother's Day brunch. My hubby ordered a ribeye, eggs and French Fries. I ordered the avocado toast with salmon and egg whites. While I'm not a huge red meat eater, I tasted a piece of the hubs ribeye and it was nicely prepared. My avocado toast was yummy to the nth degree! Everything was perfect. The avocado was precisely cut and at the right level of softness. The salmon was chopped into tiny little squares and so enjoyable to eat. We could not be more pleased. With a name like Rosé Gosé you would expect their drinks to be superb. My hubby ordered a hibiscus tea, which was delightful. I ordered a mimosa that had high quality ingredients and was perfectly balanced...so smooth. We were also pleased with the drinks. This was the first time at Rosé Gosé, however, it definitely will not be the last.

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    Rose Gose
    Rose Gose
    Rose Gose

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    Rocco's

    Rocco's

    4.0
    (69 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    5/5 You really can't…read morego wrong with anything at Rocco's. Start with the sourdough, beef carpaccio, and Caesar salad -- all are absolute must-orders and a big reason this place has become one of Austin's most popular Italian spots. The pasta is consistently excellent across the board, but my favorites are the rigatoni and mafaldine. Every dish feels thoughtfully prepared, and it's the kind of place where you'll already be planning your next order before you leave. One thing to keep in mind: the wait can be long, so it's worth getting your name on the list before heading over. If you're looking for great Italian food in Austin, I'd put Rocco's near the top of the list. I'll definitely be back.

    The food was great but the service was subpar…read more To eat I had the Malfaldine cacio e pepe, roasted asparagus, morel mushrooms, pecorino & lemon $29 + $8 for shrimp, so nearly $40. Pricey but delicious. I also had the sourdough bread which was great. My friends had the Rigatoni, fried olives, and Caesar salad all of which were delicious. It was my friend's birthday and we had a large group dinner planned to celebrate her and she left quite disappointed with her experience and won't be coming back. We called to make a reservation and were unable to, and when we showed up and got added to the waitlist we were told that they would not seat us until the entire party was present and that they could not seat our entire party together, instead we would be at all separate tables. Since friends were 15+ minutes late stuck in traffic she had to call them and tell them they could not come anymore due to the restaurant's policy. They wouldn't allow us to order appetizers until we were ready to order everything. They took the order of the other table in our group after the birthday girl's table (our table with the birthday girl had fewer people) and served them way before the birthday girl. They didn't offer any kind of dessert or wish her happy birthday at all. I don't see myself coming back to a restaurant with so many strange rules and lack of quality service. 3 stars because the food was really good but it ruined my friend's birthday.

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    Rocco's
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    Orichiette (no cheese)
    Rebel Cheese

    Rebel Cheese

    4.5
    (358 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    BUY IN STORE -- Not online…read more I truly hate writing this review because Rebel Cheese's products are excellent but the fulfillment and customer experience were a mess from start to finish. I ordered a holiday cheese box on December 3 as a Christmas gift. My card was charged immediately. The order never shipped, and I received no communication until I followed up myself, multiple times. After the holidays, I learned (only because I kept pushing) that my order had been internally canceled due to a system glitch, with no email, no refund, and no outreach. I was repeatedly told it would ship on specific dates that came and went. A replacement order was finally sent in January. It arrived late, wet, with melted and ruptured ice packs, and the cheese was very soft to the point my friends weren't sure it was safe to eat. The box also lacked the gift note that was supposed to be included. What bothers me most is that my card would have stayed charged indefinitely if I hadn't chased this down myself. That's not okay especially for perishable food. It's a real shame, because the product itself is great. But based on this experience, I can't recommend ordering gifts or anything time-sensitive unless the fulfillment and communication processes dramatically improve.

    An update full of nostalgia and sadness. This location is closed now, but this seems like a great…read moreplace to review their online shop too. Up until it's final day Rebel Cheese has been excellent in food, atmosphere, and service. The space was always clean and there were plenty of foodstuffs to peruse in their store. On more than one occasion I got myself a bit of snacky vegan deliciousness to go. It wasn't all cheese, there were sauces, spreads, and sugary treats too. Every single cashier has been kind and friendly. The food always came out fresh and hot. Online ordering is easy and my products arrived right on time. No complaints! This is a great place to at least try to make the switch to vegan cheese. There are plenty of options and everything is flavorful.

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    L'Oca d'Oro

    L'Oca d'Oro

    3.9
    (594 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$

    Tried L'Oca d'Oro on one of their pay-what-you-will nights (they do this on Tuesdays) and had mixed…read morefeelings. The tomato salad was my favorite -- really fresh, simple, and well done. I also tried the mozzarella, which was good but fairly straightforward. Honestly, I probably would've been happier just sticking with those two dishes. Unfortunately, the pasta didn't work for me. It felt a bit dry and heavy, and just wasn't something I enjoyed or wanted to finish. I also found the payment process a bit confusing. They do provide menu pricing, but you're given a sheet to fill out what you want to pay, and I wasn't totally sure what was expected. It made the overall value feel unclear--and that's even considering I paid quite a bit less than what the meal would normally cost. That said, the atmosphere and the people were enjoyable, and I do like the idea behind offering this kind of night. It just didn't fully come together for me from a food and value standpoint.

    The food was tasty, not traditional Italian. So don't expect that on the menu…read more The spaghetti is very southern I think. It had the texture of Alfredo, very cheesy, salty and lemony. The lasagna, was interesting. It was flat and is encased in a spinach pasta which looks and is almost the consistency of a 'wrap'. The rigatoni was a little dry. But flavorful. Just be cautious as it has a very large amount of crushed red pepper. The wine list is OK. They did have a very nice rosé, but ran out of bottles and we had to switch to another one. Although I can appreciate farm to table and seasonal dishes, this one was a little out of their depth. Dishes were just very polarizing. I've been here before and remember how welcoming the service was, but today unfortunately was very off putt. Long long waits in between orders. The inside is small, but has a lovely bar, overlooking a beautiful kitchen with, a wood fired oven, I would come back here, knowing that things might be the same, but they treat their employees well and understand how important eating seasonal is. Crossing my fingers that next time the seasonal menu is a little more comforting.

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    Fresh mozzarella with fennel and strawberries
    Fresh mozzarella with fennel and strawberries
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    Gino's Vino Osteria

    Gino's Vino Osteria

    4.3
    (470 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$

    I was looking forward to meeting a friend here for dinner. Since I had already been to the Round…read moreRock location, I had confidence the food would be good here as well. With this place coming up on almost 500 Yelp reviews and sitting at four+ stars, that says something. It's located at a convenient location on 51st just a few blocks from I 35 and sits at the corner of Lancaster beneath three stories of apartments. There's only about six parking spaces available in front of the restaurant, otherwise you'll have to park in some other retail spaces further away. Inside it's quite small and intimate with about a dozen tables on the floor and 8 chairs at the bar. They do post some daily specials on the board when you walk in or you can stick to the menu. They do have a wine menu, but it's only limited to 22 choices at 2-3 times retail. We started off with some fried cheese ravioli and calamari. I loved the light breading on the calamari rings and no tentacles were included. My main course of chicken Parmesan was some of the best I've ever had. My guest enjoyed his entrée of shrimp and muscles. We washed it all down with a glass of their organic primativo. We then finished it all off with a dense chocolate fudge cake. You can easily spend $200 a couple for apps, entrées, wine, dessert, and tip. We showed up on a Friday evening without a reservation and there was just a few people in the restaurant, but it's best to make reservations for Valentines. If you're looking for pizza, you won't find it on the menu here. It's a place I'd come back to. Check out the informative photos.

    I was less enthusiastic about this establishment than was my dining partner, Steve W…read more On a Friday night, Gino's was less than 1/5 full ... So other people might share my point of view. However, there was really only one objective thing wrong with Gino's on 51st street. Everything else was a matter of personal taste. Personal tastes can vary in what one wants to see in an American Italian restaurant. * * * The only objective fail was a fried calamari appetizer. The fry job was not good and the calamari were tough and not too tasty. People don't go to Italian restaurants just to get fried calamari, even though it is a common enough appetizer. * * * The one objective WOW WOW WOW was their chocolate cake. Steve W and I split one of these babies. It is kept in the refrigerator and served ice cold. The stuff is totally addictive. No matter how the rest of your meal goes, The chocolate cake will atone for all sins. * * * Now for the matters in dispute. The big question is do you like your American Italian tomato forward or tomato restrained? I grew up in Boston in the 1950s and 1960s where all the Italian food was tomato restrained. This included the famous Italian houses in the North End and our family's favorite, Simeone's in Cambridge. The recipes at Gino's could have come out of any those establishments. This explains Steve W's vigorous thumbs up. * * * American Italian in Philadelphia is tomato forward. Boston has evolved into a tomato forward town although exceptions do exist in particular houses. After I graduated high school and went out in the world, I discovered tomato forward. (Including, in Manhattan, a Legendary Spaghetti Caruso which was tomato forward with chicken livers. Sarah Vaughan was singing gospel to the diners. Now THAT was one meal I will never forget!) Once I discovered tomato forward, there was no going back. Whenever I cook Italian, I cook tomato forward. Whenever I encounter tomato restrained, I go "That's Nice, Dear." * * * Steve W.'s chicken parmigiana and my cioppino were both tomato restrained. I make a killer cioppino myself (although I have been bested by more than one West Coast seafood establishment.) Cioppino needs to be tomato forward all the way - and when you get down right to it, totally heavy-handed with the tomato. Needing tomato was especially important at Gino's where the seafood was on again off again. (Scallops and clams were legitimately superb. The shrimp like the calamari, not so much.) So I enjoyed part of my meal. * * * Fortunately, Steve W. is a dazzling conversationalist with a wealth of knowledge about a wide range of topics. So the dinner was marvelous, when I thought less about my food and more about the ideas he was putting forward. And there was that cake. So as a total experience, the night was five stars. * * * However, if you are going without Steve W., Then watch yourself on the menu. Something like an Alfredo or a Piccata might be a better main dish call. That - and be sure to order dessert. (Heh heh)

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    Take out !
    Take out !
    Gino's Vino Osteria
    Gino's Vino Osteria

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    Este - seafood - Updated June 2026

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