L'Oca d'Oro. Italian restaurant in Mueller. Definitely recommend getting a reservation for dinner. When it's nice out, try and get a seat on their patio. Apps: Straciatella Crostini: Slice of bread covered in pecan butter, charred kale, and red onion jam. There actually pecans in the pecan butter. The mix of butter, sweet and salty is amazing. The bread is amazing. One of the best items I've eaten - 9.5/10 Fresh Mozzarella: Solid quality mozzarella. The roasted tomatoes add a nice tart flavor to the cheese. Really good olive oil - 8.3/10 Entrée: Abruzzi Rye Pappardelle: To start pappardelle style pasta is one of my favorites. I prefer thick dense texture. The acidity of the grapefruit really adds a nice twist to the pistachio purée and charred fennel. - 8.2/10 Drinks: Debina, Glinavos '15, Eprius, GR: It's an orange wine. Citrusy and smooth. Very close to a rosè - 8/10 Overall: 8.4/10 read more

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6.5/10 Eat again? yes Overall The food was good, restaurant looked very clean and bright. Great place for a lunch or dinner if you're in the Mueller area. Favorite dish: casarecce Ambience Really like the ambience here! Everything was clean, in place, and felt fresh. There were plants hanging around the restaurant, and one wall was a floor-to-ceiling window. The restaurant looks beautiful on a bright sunny day. read more

L'Oca d'Oro - everything here was yummy! - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

We dined at L'Oca d'Oro on a Friday evening on the patio for dinner. Now, I'm not one to be finicky about salt content, in fact I like my food pretty salty, but my god all diners at our table agreed ... every..single..dish is terribly over salted. That was the biggest ding. 2nd ding was the 35 minute gap in between courses, right in the middle of the meal. No explanation, no, "sorry about the wait, would you like some bread?". After eating a few courses if you stop eating for 35 minutes then your stomach starts to assume there's no more food coming and you stop being hungry. When you're not hungry, food doesn't taste as good. Lastly, the cost. I'm happy to pay a premium for great food but as an example let's look at the $21 Spaghetti alla Nerano which is described as "zucchini, Provolone Picanté, basil". This is a small serving of pasta, with a few pieces of zucchini and a cheese sauce (and again, SO MUCH SALT). Guys, this is just a small basic poorly seasoned pasta dish that you could easily do better in your own kitchen. For $21. I did really enjoy their focaccia which was different than any focaccia I've ever had in a very welcome way. read more

My partner and I tried L'Oca d'Oro on Valentines Day for their Big Star vs Abba curated menu. It was our first time and we were absolutely blown away! We were immediately greeted upon arriving and seated when it was our reservation time. Our server was really knowledgeable and attentive and set expectations clearly which was nice. It was understandable that the bar was busy since the restaurant was in full swing, and the drinks were unique and delicious. Each course was fantastic and we loved that everything before the main courses were brought in advanced. It was nice to be able to eat everything with the focaccia. The main courses were so tasty and filling. We also liked that dessert featured two dishes that had a lot of different flavors that worked well together. My partner and I were in heaven! I did notice there wasn't video playing for the music theme, at least where we were seated.. but that's okay because it still felt intimate. To our surprise, they also gave us free/extra Jell-O shots that were floral in a nice way. We didn't know such an outstanding modern Italian restaurant was in our neighborhood. The price was really competitive and I didn't feel like we walked away unfulfilled. We'll certainly come back! And we highly recommend anyone to give them a try. 10/10 read more

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This place was listed on the Eater's 38 Essential Austin Restaurants so we had to try it for our Ladies Night Out. It did not disappoint! It's Italian cuisine and they make the bread, pasta, cheese, etc. all in-house. The attention to detail shows. From the appetizers (glazed carrots with pistachio butter, zucchini fries - yes, please!, and the fresh mozzarella salad with peaches) to the main courses (polenta, lasagna, and mafaldine w/ shrimp) to the desserts (tiramisu and cannoli), everything was deliciously executed. The dishes are small but very rich (a smidge oily, even) and sharing is definitely encouraged. On the drinks side, highly recommend you order one of the spritzes. It was cool, light, refreshing. They do add 20% surcharge to all bills since they're committed to the fair wage pay, an effort I can certainly get behind. It's on the pricier side so keep that in mind. The restaurant is located smack in the middle of the up-and-coming Mueller neighborhood (same area as the Alamo & The Thinkery) so lots of paid street parking available (free after 8pm). You can also park in the garage and walk over. We have definite plans to come back and try their pasta tasting menu read more

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Absolutely amazing. Everything was perfect from the servers attention to detail to the food.

I've been here several times now and have enjoyed my experience each time. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The food is great, and it tastes even better knowing it's local. They add 20% gratuity to every check to ensure their staff are taken care of. The zucchini fries were awesome. The mozzarella was light and refreshing. The risotto was out of this world! On a separate occasion, I requested to pick up an order of tiramisu for a special occasion expecting to be turned down as I know lots of places prefer not to do to-go orders since their work will not be served as they intended it to be enjoyed. To my surprise, they accommodated me without hesitation and were very responsive in my email request! Another great interaction with staff! Oh and the tiramisu was the best I've had in town! Highly recommend stopping in for happy hour or better yet dinner! The pasta tasting was great too! read more

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Super cute restaurant! I really enjoyed everything we ordered, the ambiance, and the attentive service. The roasted brussel sprouts were so well seasoned and roasted perfectly. The chicken milanesa was flavorful, and I really enjoyed the small salad served on top of it. My favorite dish was the lasagna. I would definitely order it again. I also loved the tiramisu. It is definitely meant to be shared and incredibly creamy. I like that gratuity is calculated in your check. My only complaint is that they don't validate your parking. read more

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The food was not great, the service was terrible, and it was so hot inside that everyone at the table was sweating. Some examples include: 1. We had to remind the waiter about the bottle of wine we ordered. 2. Someone forgot to put in one of our children's buttered noodles dishes, so they were the last ones to get their meal. 3. We had to return one of our dishes because there was a hair in it. I can't leave a review all negative. The restaurant is super cute and it is a great location. I just wish the food and service had been better. read more

This wonderfully delightful neighborhood restaurant is a treasure. The team members are true gems. But the food is an inspired revelation. Shockingly curated and sublimely executed. We tried the pasta tasting and it was not heavy non proteins so we almost passed. The waiter shared how this is what would bring us back and he was right on target! It was all so very delicious I completely forgot to take photos of the food. The host Mincho is a wonderful person and I wish I could brag about the others by name - they were a fabulous team! This is one of the best restaurants in Austin and it is tucked away in the idyllic Mueller Village across from a small lake and trails, next to a children's museum (The Thinkery) and a Block from the Alamo Drafthouse. I'd say see your movie first because this dinner is so good you have to end your evening here! read more

L'Oca d'Oro - This menu has expired - we enjoyed it the last night. I cannot wait to discover the next one! - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

I went here for New Years Eve and thought their offering was good but not great. The best item I tried was their tiramisu. I need to come back and try their normal menu. read more

[Summer 2021] Link to the menu: https://www.locadoroaustin.com/qr-menu/ My family and I came here for dinner. Due to COVID, they only do patio dining. I really appreciate that the staff saw us getting heated (93 F outside) and tried to set up umbrellas so we could be in the shade. I absolutely loved the ambiance here: lots of green, light, clean, cute, quiet, and opposite a lake. Very Austin-like! Service: 5/5 Our server knew the menu so well and gave great and easy-to-understand descriptions of the food. She always checked up on us, and came with a bright smile. Food: 4/5 - Sourdough Focaccia: the salted butter with olive oil complemented the sourdough very well. Definitely start off with this if you want food right away. - Fresh Mozzarella (w/ steelbow tomatoes, colatura, basil, peach): Love, love this. My dad never liked cheese but he cleared the dish. - Wagyu Sirloin Carpaccio (w/ coffee shoyu, kohlrabi puree): very light and fresh; doesn't taste raw or meaty at all. - Grilled Squid (w/ preserved meyer lemon, fennel, chile oil, basil): Hmm, could be a personal thing but I thought it tasted a little salty (order this if you like salty and spicy). not my thing. - Cavatelli al Pomodoro (w/ ricotta cavatelli, overnight roasted tomato, Boggy Creek arugula): essentially a red pasta, overall very good but I wish it was less salty. - Spaghetti alla Nerano (w/ zucchini, Provolone Picanté, lemon basil): essentially a green pasta, tastes very light, very summer-fitting. Highly recommend this dish. read more

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My aunts and my little cousin and I came here for girls' night out, and we were extremely impressed... Everything we ate was absolutely delectable--particularly the homemade mozzarella and focaccia bread. Wow. We could have made a meal of those alone! The service was attentive and friendly, and the ambiance was cozy. Just FYI: although we brought an older child, I would say it's more of an adult-friendly, romantic, date-night kinda place. Anyway, I will definitely be returning to this little gem of a bistro! read more

Hands down bar none the best food experience I've had in Austin. This is located in such an unassuming spot, it kind of excites me that it hasn't been found by Austin360 or other spots the blow up these local secrets. The food is homemade, locally sourced and delicious. Wine list was amazing accompanied by a Knowledgeable staff that gave great recommendations and service. Truly a hidden gem read more

Came here for drinks and the service was immaculate! Completely COVID safe with very speedy attentive service. Drinks were perfectly chilled and well balanced, with some very solid bread and whipped butter. Ambiance is great too, perfect for a sunny al fresco lunch. read more

L'Oca d'Oro - sourdough focaccia - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

My husband and I had an amazing opportunity to dine at L'Oca d"Oro for the first time for an Aaron and Stacy Franklin dinner collaboration to help benefit the Lilith Fund. We had a wonderful 3 course experience. We checked into our 6:45 pm reservation with the hostest on a Tuesday evening. We were immediately seated at a small outside table to the right of the front door. It was small, quaint and intimate with the outer string lights on the tress. We didn't have to wait long for the waiter to greet us and take our drink orders. Being that it was our first time, I wasn't sure if they even had a bar but on our specialized menu there were cocktail offerings, non at which included vodka and I was told there were no substitutes. I ordered a glass of red wine and my husband opted for the beverage paring which included cocktails and two wines for $50. As we waited for our first course to arrive, THE Aaron Franking co-owner of the famous Franklin BBQ, was walking around and chatting with people at their tables. He did come over to us for a hot min and I asked if he would take a photo with my husband and I and he to kindly accepted with no hesitation. Soon thereafter our first courses arrived which was a delicious Cold Smoked Ribeye, it included smoked beef broth, salsa verde, sauce peara and it was so good. I've never experience Ribeye cut so thinly sliced like prosciutto. So we were off to a great start. Our first course continued with a Chicory Salad w/creamy Italian dressing along with Confit Gold Potatoes w/pecorino Romano, grana padano both were very good. Our second course the stars of the show, starting off with the Smoked Short Rib Lasagna which included fresh mozzarella, ricotta and marinara. We also received the Tagliatelle, w/smoked pistachio cream, preserved lemon and shiro miso. Talk about yummy! Who would have thought to combine smoked short rib into a lasagna but it was a combination of my two favorite worlds, BBQ and Pasta! The only off putting thing to me was the Lasagna was a bit cold already by the tagliatelle was nice and warm. I don't know about you, but I like my food hot or at least warm but I didn't let that ruin my experience. Both were so delicious. Oh, and how can I forget about the Citrus-glazed carrots that complimented the to meals. Cooked to perfection! After having the first two courses, I couldn't wait for dessert. We were served a Chocolate and Beef Fat Cake which contained TCHO milk chocolate, toasted pecan, cacao nib, pickled turnip and whipped cream. WOW! I was so impressed. We ate every licking bite. We also received two Old Fashioned Donuts with grapefruit glaze in the adorable to go bags. I couldn't wait to try it so I halved one with my husband and we saved the other for breakfast. The grapefruit flavor was not in your face which we appreciated and it was just perfection. When we cashed out, if we didn't have enough already, the waiter gave us two different flavored Teho chocolates Toffee Time and Oat My Gawd, soooo yum. Oh and Aaron came by our table once more as we were about to leave and we chatted for a bit. I had the honor of meeting Phil Rosenthal and I had asked him who is food hero was and so now that I had the honor of meeting Aaron, I had to ask him the same question. He was caught a little off guard and named a couple of people but in conclusion said, if we meet again, to ask him the same question and he'll be ready for me next time, lol. read more

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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly THE GOOD Our tall waiter (I believe his name was Mike) was polite, helpful and well-informed about the menu. The restaurant's restrooms were clean and had a charming decor. The in-house made Sourdough Focaccia with Cultured Butter was delicious and arrived soon after we had ordered. The Chicory Salad arrived about 10 minutes later and was refreshing and interesting. The brisket and pork meatballs arrived about 20 minutes later and were also good. Our favorite dish of the evening was the Tiramisu dessert, which was moist and delicious. THE BAD The design of this main dining room was terrible. It was a large room with a very tall ceiling, the tables placed very close together. Nothing says "intimate dining" like a huge, noisy barn. That is exactly the atmosphere in this dining room, with the noise level so loud that one could hardly hear the conversation. The restrooms had no sinks in them. Guests washed their hands in two sinks located outside the restrooms, situated in the hallway. My husband discovered there were no paper towels left to dry his hands. When I used the restroom about 40 minutes later, there were still no paper towels available. I mentioned this fact to a staff member, so other people would not have to return to their dining table with wet hands. The menu of food choices was surprisingly very limited for an Italian restaurant. We waited a full hour after receiving our meatballs before finally getting our entrees. Our extremely busy waiter informed us that the kitchen was "backed up" with orders. We had ordered the Rigatoni alla Norcina. The dish had a good flavor, but the pasta was not cooked correctly. It was extremely chewy. We also received a meager portion of pasta, for the price we paid. The Chicken Milanesa we received was very overcooked and dry. A huge disappointment. When chefs are extremely busy, that is not an excuse to execute the food poorly. We had waited an hour to receive our entrées and we did not want to send them back to be properly prepared. THE UGLY The painted cement floor of this restaurant had chipped and peeling paint everywhere, which made for a very cheap looking, ugly floor. I've been fortunate to experience a few excellent Italian restaurants in my lifetime. These restaurants presented interesting, extensive menus and served delicious, well-prepared food. The wait staff made you feel welcome and you never got the sense that they were rushed when they talked to you. The atmospheres in these special Italian restaurants were elegant, intimate and romantic - not the frantic, impersonal and noisy atmosphere we unfortunately experienced at L' Oca d' Oro. We will not be returning to this restaurant. read more

My husband and I went here for our Anniversary. Let me start by saying the food is outstanding. The waiter we had this past Saturday was amazing. My issue with this restaurant is, I want to go there and enjoy a meal. What you get when you go there and scan for your menu is political garbage. I'm about to eat and they are promoting to come on Tuesdays to help fund abortion rights. Goodness. I lost my appetite. I would have tipped over 20% because our waiter was the greatest, but they already added 20%.... And also added convenience fees for the use of a credit/debit card... I will miss the food at the this place, but not the overbearing political stance they take. So sad. read more

The food at l'Oca d'oro is fantastic. I really enjoyed my plate of pickled veggies, cheese, and cured meats. The pasta was absolutely delicious (I regret not ordering a larger 'shared' size for myself). I have not had any Italian food quite like this in Austin yet. It may be that they're still working out the kinks, but service was s-l-o-w. I think we waited 30+ minutes to get our appetizer. Also, let's talk menu and pricing. Given that they recommend sharing many of the plates, the prices are a tad steep for the portion size. But hey, it's prime real estate in Mueller. And it's beautiful. Just be aware that the things that say it'll feed 2 people may only really feed just 1 really hungry person. But truly...this is some delish stuff. I'm confident they'll work out their opening week issues and be a wonderful addition to Mueller. P.S. They automatically include 18% gratuity! I've never really seen a place do that here in Austin. Very interesting. read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Tomato Casarecce (fennel sausage and mushrooms). This is the bigger "shared" size. - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Quite good Italian-cuisine, particularly good for Austin, but definitely a bit of a hit-or-miss affair. Their heart is certainly in the right place though, and between that and the reasonable prices, a lot of the "miss"es are made up for. Hits - Excellent wines on tap, at *very* reasonable prices - An exceptionally good wine list, with "by the glass" selections that are actually worth getting :-) - Good salumi and formaggi (yes, the sopresatta is more like nduja, but whatever) - A bunch of really good antipasti, long on vegetables, and most of which taste fresh (and thats a good thing) - Some of the mains are excellent (the sausage, the lasgna, and the bone-marrow pasta, for example) - The cookies, and the "leaning tower of s'mores" are *excellent* - The staff is *extremely* friendly and helpful, Misses - The pastas are long on "red-sauce" selections. Thankfully, no "alla vodka" around, but they all taste, well, the same - The porchetta should be retired. Its dry, chewy, and, well, bland. (Heck, it should be retired in America - i've *never* had acceptable porchetta here...) - The 'trenette' (in a pink sauce of some kind. meh) were actually something else - wide and flat (sagnarelli perhaps?). You gots to be able to name things correctly :-) - The blueberry crostata dessert (with the pepper creme-fraiche) *really* should be retired. Just Didn't Work. - Loud. Oh lords it's loud. The echo-chamber effect means you, literally, can't hear people across the table... The bottom line, i'll probably be going back. its early days, and I expect it'll get better... read more

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Honestly not worth it. Focaccia was alright but came out cold after it was on the grill. We asked to heat it up and they said they would just give us a new one (yay!), but then that came out cold as well. Fettuccine Alfredo just tasted like bland pasta with the only flavor being pepper. Pistachio risotto wasn't great either. Not worth the price. Also added in a 20% gratuity at the end (you could just put a note on the menu that food prices include fair wages already and increase the food price you know), which I definitely wouldn't have given if given the option. On top of this the bill came with an abortion meeting flyer? Just strange. All around wouldn't come again. read more

I went in a party of 2 at 10 am on a Saturday morning. Parking: We paid for 2 hours of street parking right in front. However, if you want to walk a minute or two, it looked like you could've parked for free further down the road towards the neighborhood. Environment: I'm not the biggest fan of cutesy brunch places that have that iconic "come here for brunch and take pictures" look, but I must admit, I loved it. Tons of natural lighting, rustic (?) interior decor and some neutral tones that are easy on the eyes. See my pictures!! Drinks: We had the chance to be the absolute first customers to try their apple cider (pseudo)mimosa and it was fantastic. Perfect for fall and went down nicely with some sparkling water. (Wow who am I what am I saying) Food: We had the zucchini bostock appetizer and !!hello!! it was easily one of the better (and fancier) pastries I've ever had. It was moist, well-cooked, and hearty (but not too heavy). I ordered the Croque Signora and was pleasantly surprised that the egg wasn't droopy. Each bite contained all the different elements and was preceded by a green breath of fresh air! Also, there was a considerable amount of prosciutto on the plate that I really enjoyed. Service: Great service. Our server recommended the drinks and appetizer for us and was more than willing to accommodate us on both tap and sparkling water. She was quick and attentive. I paid $56 for the two of us. In total, we had 2 mimosas, an appetizer, and two entrees. $56 included the 18% automatic gratuity FYI. Price was the one reason I give this place 4 stars. It's a little pricey, but if you're looking to take someone out for a date, or if you're just wanting to enjoy a fancy brunch, this is definitely worth a look! read more

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Great meal. Very nice restaurant. Service was good. I had redfish. Maybe the best redfish I've had. Wife had bucatini, a tad salty. Focaccia and mozzarella appetizers were outstanding. read more

Wonderful but expensive food well worth the price; the Mueller is a community rich in people from different cultures who do their work well. People should come and see what our former airport has become as a planned community with areas of well-done high density housing and single residences and people who care about people from diverse backgrounds and want to celebrate their significant holidays and festivals with them read more

Actually so gas. Will go back but will mentally prepare myself for the smaller portions because babe.. this isn't family style to me. Don't look at me like that. Had a vermut roselle to drink, loved that it as a spritz.The focaccia is insane with that honey butter. Needed more of that cacio e pepe. Fine dining with the changing of the plates and silverware between the appetizer, main course, and dessert. The best tiramisu for sharing between 3, I will say that. Felt like I was having my Italian summer dinner with the decor. Service was nice, what more do u want? read more

This place was unexpectedly good. The menu is very small and I'm quite a picky eater so I was a bit nervous. The waiter was very helpful talking through the items and helping us decide what is best to order. The focaccia is so good and the pasta is super yum as well. The table we were sat at was pretty tight but it worked. The ambience is also quaint and cute. read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Farm to table restaurant. Beautifully decorated inside and there is also a small patio area outside. Since the weather was actually really nice we decided to sit outside, but they sat us a table that had a giant bush pressing into the side of my face - not so pleasant. Since this comes off as an italian themed restaurant, I thought we would get some table bread or something, especially as they were telling us they make all their breads and pasta in house, but we didn't get anything to start. When our waitress was explaining the menu at the beginning of our service, she had mentioned that the serving sizes were not huge but were enough to satisfy a person's appetite. Both myself and the person I was dining with got a fish dish off the menu and were dismayed by the small serving that came out. The dish was plated beautifully and was delicious, but I was definitely still hungry afterwards and ended up having to get a snack on my way back to my hotel. 5 stars for quality of the food and service but not something I would come back to. I shouldn't leave a restaurant hungry after paying close to $100 for dinner. read more

This was a flavor tidal wave of wonderful deliciousness. We will definitely return. It was so good

This place was good but not great. Definitely not worth the price. I had the Grilled Watermelon it was good, they pulled an interesting flavor. My husband had the Ricotta Cavatelli. He didn't love the nuts in the dish. read more

This review is way overdue but here goes. This is without a doubt the best Italian restaurant in Austin, which is even more impressive considering it's not downtown. The ingredients are fresh, healthy, and inventive while remaining authentic. The constantly evolving small plates are like nothing we've had before (GET THE TURNIPS!) and the fresh pastas are toothsome and satisfying. We've been here too many times to list all the food with descriptions but take it from me, every small plate we've had (which is basically all of them) is packed with flavor! The staff here is also EXCEPTIONAL, and I love that gratuity is included in every check, so no need to tip unless you really want to. read more

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They make all their pastas, breads and cheeses in house. I vote 5/5 for the Pastas and bread. The cheese is 3.5/5. But every ingredient used in the various dishes we had were fresh and flavorful. I was there on a Friday night and it was as busy as it gets. Every table was occupied by 8 pm. But the indoor dining room is cramped. So, if you make a reservation ask for a booth or the side tables. The pasta tasting menu looked great but asking for the same price for a vegetarian option is not fair. Maybe when the pricing is fixed, I would try it. Staff are very friendly and make you feel welcomed. Highly recommend! read more

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With so many great restaurants in Austin, it's not easy to choose which places to hit with limited time. These are very very difficult decisions to make after all. My last two times i've been in Austin, I went here both times. The food is outstanding. What stands out for me are the pasta dishes. Great soul food with a wow factor. They also have a great wine list. They turned me on to a very nice Greek wine that paired well with my pasta. The staff here is top notch. Knowledgeable and friendly. A very welcoming vibe. Love the ambiance of the place plus I enjoy the music they play which is always a good thing. Next time I'm in Austin, yeah, I'll be headed there again. read more

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One of the worst dining experiences I've ever had, especially at this price and level of hype. Service was awful. Our server left halfway through our meal and it took them a while to even notice and find a replacement. Even after finding a replacement, we still had extremely slow service. We sat outside, in close enough proximity to their dumpsters to smell trash all night. The first few dishes we had were all under-seasoned, until the last dish, which apparently had all the salt they'd reserved from the first dishes dumped into it. Maybe we caught them on an off night, but to have a place listed as the #1 restaurant in Austin miss on all aspects seems pretty bad. read more

The food was tasty and very good. But the portions are EXTREMELY SMALL and barely enough for 1 person. Also, as usual they still charge the 20% service fee which they claim pays for all servers at the restaurant......... We would like to pay our server for the food quality and service offered; surely would not like to pay all servers at the restaurant. I can see many guests have complained about the service fee but the restaurant owners are adamant and would NOT take it out. The prices for entrees is not cheap either, so why charge a 20% service fee in the 1st place......... read more

A very impressive meal, from start to finish and an amazing twist on 'normal' Italian cuisine. I am foodie and in town from Phoenix, and this was an excellent find! We, also, had great service and the restaurant has a lovely atmosphere. read more

L'Oca d'Oro - The market fish - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

tl;dr pros: Food was excellent; wait staff was very accommodating and apologetic for the issues we had; gratuity included in the bill at about 18% - which some people don't like, but I think it's great that the restaurant is trying to fairly pay its staff via this policy. (fyi - in many other countries they just charge more for food and drinks and actually pay their staff, no tipping required) cons: Strange lack of awareness of our request for indoor seating via Open Table; a couple of strange menu issues; location for our reserved table left much to be desired. The experience just wasn't as relaxing as we had hoped for a birthday dinner. Now the details: After reading about L'Oca d'Oro my spouse took a chance on a new dining experience and put in a reservation for my birthday dinner via Open Table. When we arrived the greeter asked if we wanted to sit outside. Well, we thought that was strange since we intentionally did not select the "outside" option on Open Table. They seemed a bit perplexed about having us sit inside, so we waited a few minutes while they surveyed their options. They seated us at a very small table for 2 against a wall, right between a large party and the doorway to a service area. The in-and-out traffic of wait staff was incessant right behind my husband, and my position near the large party meant I was in the way of their servers the whole time. On the bright side, at least we had a table at 8:30pm on a Saturday without much of a wait, I guess. The wait staff was excellent at explaining how things work at the restaurant. We looked at the QR code menu and made our selections. We wanted to order the grilled snapper, but the server came back to tell us the snapper was replaced by amberjack, so we asked for a few minutes to select another option since amberjack isn't really what we wanted. My partner then ordered a cocktail which apparently should not have been on the QR code menu because the server came back to tell us they didn't have it any more. However, when my spouse said he would just stay with water our server checked with the bartender who said they had "just enough" to make another one of those cocktails. So, that was ok I guess? Why couldn't the bartender have said that the first time, though? On the VERY positive side, the two pasta dishes we ordered to share with each other were beautifully cooked and very enjoyable. (we had the garlic sausage pasta and the lemon marscapone with vegetables pasta) The sourdough focaccia with rosemary had a wonderful texture and flavor. And, the tiramisu was creamy but not overly rich, and the espresso and rum amounts were well balanced. We'll probably give this place another try in the future. For reservations we'll call instead of relying on Open Table, and we'll maybe ask on the phone about any changes in the menu so we aren't surprised next time. read more

Top 3 Italian restaurant in Austin (Red Ash and Patrizi's being the other two... no way to rank them 1-2-3... they're all amazing). Always a great meal. Best seat is at the bar to watch the chef's do their thing! read more

Much too overpriced for overly complicated food that was very loosely Italian. The Italian soda was flat in my cocktail, the pickled green tomato did not match with the mozz, and the meatballs were sooo small for the price. I understand that they were high quality meat but really... it's a meatball. I would have rather had a few more lower quality meatballs for $25. The extra forced service charge and the credit card surcharge made very little sense when the food was already so expensive. read more

The ambiance and food was really good! The service was quick and we were well taken care of.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in town. I love it here because every person makes you feel special. The menu comes from whatever is locally available at the time, so you don't always get to go back for your favorite dish, but each thing is created with an incredible flavor palette and it will become your new favorite thing. You've got to try whatever pasta dish they've created, and don't miss dessert. The mozzarella is home-made (as is the pasta) and it's always a treat. Go in with an open mind and expect to try things you may not have thought about before. You won't be sorry! read more