One of my favorite places to dine in Austin. My boyfriend and I's new go to spot + take my family here whenever they visit. Promise me you'll try the mozzarella appetizer, the in house orange liqueur (perfect with soda!), and the tiramisu. A tad pricy, but worth it for date night or a special occasion. All salamis, liqueurs, bread, and cheeses are made in house and you can tell the thought and care that is put into the menu. Atmosphere is gorgeous and the Mueller location is ideal. read more

Went here on a local whim! Went for the drinks , which were honestly the BEST I have ever had !!! And I drink ALOT OF CRAFT COCKTAILs. Bonus is the food, which is just as good, if not better than the drinks!!!!! Everything was made fresh and local!!!! Simple things like Brussel sprouts were made into heaven!!! read more

TL;DR: Best Meal I had in a long time.! The place was fairly busy on a weeknight and seemed like a good idea that we called ahead for a reservation. Staff was friendly and they announce upfront on the menu that they charge a flat 20% service charge upfront so that they can pay everyone a one flat wage which I incredibly appreciate about this place. Half our party was vegetarian and they had enough options for every body. We ordered two appetizers, Zucchini fries with aioli sauce was a standout dish and Fried Mozzarella was not bad either. I had their Mafaldine (pasta with ragu sauce and sausage) which was delicious. One of the most flavorful dishes I had in a while. We tried the olive oil cake with fig, custard, creme and nuts for dessert. The fact I remember all these details fondly a week after I ate them says a lot about that meal! P.S - Their menu is limited. So it is a good idea to take a look at it before you make the reservation. read more

WOW. Top notch service and great food! We came here for my birthday, as suggested by a fellow Yelper friend, and it did not disappoint at all! Usually, I'd expect staff to just be friendly and maybe treat us to a free dessert or something, but our waitress went above and beyond to make us feel at home! We got our own booth area that was separate from the main dining area of the restaurant, which was great for our large party. Our waitress also did a wonderful job explaining each item on the menu and how almost everything was locally sourced and made from scratch in the kitchen. We started with the Zucchini Fries, House Salumi Plate, and two Polpette dishes. All were great, the polpette was my favorite. Ordered the Rigatoni all'Arrabiata, and loved it! It was quite saucy, and the pasta was a perfect al dente. I also ordered the Immondizia Partito (partito for short), really liked it, too! Parking usually isn't an issue in this area cause there's a huge parking garage nearby, but we happened to come when there was a huge event in the area, not that it's L'Oca d'Oro's fault! Overall would come again and try out their happy hour! read more

I was lucky enough to live in Rome for a year and Europe for several more. So, I'm really picky about my favorite food--Italian. L'Oca d'Oro is AMAZING!! I have never been disappointed and consider myself a regular now. Everyone I've brought has also loved it. One large friend didn't quite get full, but I I am always stuffed. Even when just coming to happy hour and getting 4 appetizers for two of us. And I have a big appetite! The only thing to remember, is that they change their menu frequently. One of my absolute favorite appetizers and entrees is off the menu for a while. But it's always exciting to anticipate when it might pop back up. And I love that I will never tire of a small menu. Their wines are also fantastic. Again, I will try one I simply love, and it won't be available next time. But the new one they suggest is also fabulous, so I never actually am disappointed. Even the ones available for half price at happy hour are delicious. And none have given me a migraine, an important plus. The wait staff is impeccable--knowledgeable and professional. They are never pretentious and actually very sweet. I like them all! They never mind all my questions and really give honest answers, no upselling. They understand that it is still a splurge for many of their customers. I feel so fortunate to have this caliber Italian restaurant as my local place. Please don't change a thing!! read more

We stopped into L'Oca d'Oro on a bit of a whim a few nights ago and I am still left pondering the odd experience that we had. Decor-wise - the restaurant is very lovely. I liked the color scheme and the plants. Feels homey and welcoming while still being upscale and hip. Unfortunately, as several other reviewers have mentioned, the acoustics are very hot. I felt like I was yelling at my bf and the server. This was particularly frustrating because I had wanted to ask some questions about the menu but I kind of gave up after the waiter couldn't really hear me for my first few attempts. Ok this second point, well it's a little "first world problem-y" and I understand that. I don't eat meat or gluten. It's not a choice it's a necessity for not becoming ill. Even the meat part. I promise you guys (lol). I know not to go to like a BBQ place and expect options that will work for me. Or a pizza place. Like I get it, my eating habits make me a pretty niche diner. But still, after all these years I'm kinda shocked when restaurants boast to have local, fresh faire and everything on the menu caters to those who consume a Standard American Diet. I know, it's Italian-inspired and I wouldn't have expected there to be gluten free pasta, that's cross-contamination waiting to happen! But maybe something with awesome fresh veggies or legumes? I ended up getting a salad without the yogurt dressing. I think it was my only option. It was $10 and featured giant chunks of cucumber, approximately 7 green leaves, an unidentifiable citrus product and some chick peas. This was doused in about as much olive oil as I eat in a month. It was tasty and I'm grateful that I HAD DINNER like I get it - again first world problem. But I left hungry and kind of bummed. It's gets so old going to a fancy cool restaurant that everyone is talking about and my one option being a salad. I love places that add gratuity. As a prior food service worker I know how key this is. Our bill came all together and when I asked a woman who appeared to be a manager if I could pay for my salad separately she made some quippy remark. When I received my portion of the bill it had the gratuity added (which is fine!) and then a line to add more? Need I have paid more than $13 for the one option I could eat that I wasn't even able to order in it's entirety? Ok I'm really rambling now y'all, I apologize. Y'all may be wondering, "WELL DID YOUR WHINEY A** ASK ABOUT ALTERNATIVES FOR YOUR PICKY AF DIET?" No, my friends. I did not. Because remember how I said when I asked any questions beforehand our sweet server literally could not hear me? I didn't really want to yell about my insane digestion issues in this restaurant. I did see the part that read on their menu, "Any questions? Please ask." Perhaps I should bring a bull horn? After all this I went to their website to read about the establishment. Maybe I was missing something? I uncovered this, "Our dedication to treating our farmers, their ingredients, our guests, our team and the local community with equal care is uncompromising. When you dine with us, you become--if only for an evening--part of a community of kindred spirits that is reviving the lost art of togetherness." I love this message. How awesome is this? I think this is so valid, so real, so worth paying for. So where was this dedication? Should I go back and try again? read more

Food and service was good. Portions are on the smaller side and the menu is limited. My main gripe about our experience was I just think it's insanely overpriced. They nickel and dime you at every corner...bread, overpriced drinks (who charges $6 for a lemonade?), high prices for small food portions. When spending that kind of money, I expect to be really impressed, and we were not. Overall, nice people and good food, but if you are price-conscious or care about value, not for you. read more

The brunch food was average, but restaurant itself is pretty. My friend didn't like the way that food came out. How we, they made it again to fit to her taste. The server and service was great, I wouldn't mind coming back again. read more

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Best. Cheeseboard. In. Austin. Be prepared for a tasty visit with amazing food, great happy-hour prices, and a cheeseboard that will change your life. The model of paying fair wages and automatically charging a 20% tip works for the betterment of all guest. The service was consistent, even after we closed our bill, and the servers did not skip a beat at checking on their guest at the perfect moment. So grab your girls' night crew (or your bromance partner) and check out this spot! read more

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

Fantastic experience. The food was incredible - everything was fresh, seasonal, and sustainably sourced. None of the dishes were over-the-top or trying to hard to be "fancy" - they relied on the taste of the food to justify the price tag rather than gimmicks. The menu can be a bit intimidating at fist glance, but we asked our waiter for help in choosing our dishes, and she was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful throughout the meal. The service was excellent - we never ran out of water or waited very long between courses. This meal was exactly what I was looking for on a Valentine's Day dinner! read more

My husband and I have dined here twice, both times on the patio with our infant. One time was an impromptu date night in cold weather and they had a heater, and the other time was this past Monday night when it was 90 degrees and they had a fan. My suggestion to them is have a fan with higher output, or maybe put more fans in. I just sweated a little too much and had sweat spots on my anniversary dress. Next time we'll try eating inside. Anyway, the FOOD! Both times we've been here the food was excellent. The last time we were here my husband got the grilled focaccia bread with the spring onion butter (incredible), spaghetti with these amazing, thick noodles (unsure if they still have this dish), and tiramisu. I'm just not a tiramisu lover, but he said he thought it was great. The last time we were here, what I got was their lasagna. Literally the best lasagna I've ever had. Everything they did to this lasagna was amazing (pine nut pesto, the cheeses and sauce, the pea tendrils). The service we had that evening was great, by the way. The server was very knowledgeable and friendly. So this week when we went, we ordered the the zucchini fries with dill aioli, and roasted carrots to start off with. I love carrots, and these had to have been some of the most visually interesting and delicious ones I've had. The zucchini fries were just nuts, so delicious, and the dill aioli was a great complimentary flavor. I ordered for our main course the waygu ribeye, and my husband had the short rib confit. The ribeye had a little too much gristle for my preference, but the way they cooked it was great. Easily one of the best steaks I've had at any restaurant. The blackberry sauce was great with the charred flavor, and the bed of charred corn relish underneath was delicious. My husband's short rib confit was delicious and very tender. My mouth is watering now remembering it. I had never had polenta before, and the short rib meat was resting on top of a big piece of polenta, and it was so good. The mushrooms and daisy petals on top of this dish was visually very pretty. I was happy to try a few bites of flower petals. Our server was fun and knowledgeable, and helped us choose a very good wine. Because it was our anniversary we were going to keep the bottle, so it was nice of her to let us choose based on the label as well as the description/pairing. She also brought us out two glasses of champagne as a complimentary surprise, and we appreciated the gesture. I'm pretty sure it was a chef who brought out my ribeye, and the manager(?) kept checking on us, and the owner also stopped by our table. Great staff. We continued on to dessert, and my husband got some sort of pudding thing with blueberries and crumbles (I forgot what it was called), and I got an icy scoop of mango sorbet (perfect for the hot summer night, of course). Both were wonderful. read more

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How do I love L'Oca, let me count the ways. First off, I love that they pay their people a living wage. Worth every penny; I don't see much turn over and the folks are happy. It shows in the service and the food and the atmosphere. 12/10. Secondly, the food is ... strange? But delicious? Don't expect "normal" Italian food or Italian-American food. It's yummy, don't get me wrong, it's just unexpected combinations and styles of cooking. The menu changes so much it would be silly to rec something here but I'm rec'ing the risotto anyway. Cheesy deliciousness. The roast carrots app/side dish is exquisite. Third: Happy Hour is to die for; great wines by the glass that are half off (!!!) (the rose is the best!) and great small plates that are half off (!!!). 4th: THE BOOZE IS GREAT HERE, and I mean that in all caps. They have a really great selection of wine, interesting cocktails, and delicious dessert wine options. You will be very impressed. Fifth and lastly: Desserts. Wow. Ever changing on the menu, but always a culinary delight. SIDE NOTES: I definitely recommend the bar area/ bar itself or the bar tables nearby. I haven't sat in the main dining room in ages because the acoustics are awful -- but they may have fixed it by now. Haven't been back to brunch since their early brunch days because it was just too weird for my morning palate but I'm due to try it again. Definitely try it out! read more

*edit* Originally gave this place 5 stars as the food was and still is off the chain. We have been about 6 times. Then changed it to 1 star because we had horrendous service and received check with auto-gratuity (unbeknownst to us is on every check). However, I have been talking with the manager for nearly 8 months (with time in between each response of course). Despite a difference in opinion, it is clear that the staff, owners and managers have genuine care about their customers. Changing it to a three until I have a chance to visit again. Look, the food is really great, go here if you want good pasta. read more

Stay away. Austin is great because its un-pretentious. But this spot does absolutely the opposite. What happened to places that want to treat you well, give you good food and a great experience. Both food served and drinks they basically give you the minimum possible. $130 for 2 small plates and a salad? Too bad, the food is not bad per se, just one of these places that attempts to be more than it is, and you leave feeling cheated. read more

We've been here before and remember it being delicious, so we decided to try out their Valentine's Day pre fixe (the theme was yacht rock vs grunge!). For the price, I was disappointed in the number of courses, portion size, and ingredients. Like another review said, I left thinking the menu was intentionally vegetarian/pescatarian - there was trout roe. Starter was bread, butter, cheese and roasted carrots, entree was pasta and risotto (that mentioned beef shank but we didn't find any meat), and dessert was panna cotta and macerated strawberries with whipped cream. The cocktails were tasty and my fiancés beverage pairing was a nice touch, but our dinner bill total came out to $300 with an auto added gratuity. As a comparison, Hopfields NYE dinner was 5 courses with things like oysters and wagyu beef for $150/pp. read more

The food is outstanding and attention to detail is the same. This is a casual, comfortable spot to dine on the most creative and delicious Italian offerings in Austin. I cannot stop thinking about the homemade tortellini. All the pastas were delicious. I also love that you have really good vegetable options which are often missing in Italian restaurants. I loved the Romaine salad as well. There is something familiar yet different about every dish on the menu. It is Italian food taken to a new culinary height. Also, no pretensions in the service which is appreciated. A very friendly place. Do not skip dessert. Enough said. read more

Amazing food, al dente pastas to die for, drinks were all carefully made and the taste of everything here from the starters to the drinks, to the food were top notch! We had the blue crab which my friend chose and was my favorite, the carbonara was peppery goodness, and wagyu tartare & tomato crostini fabulous starters!!! A must when in Austin! Also, we had a reservation at 530 when they opened and were happy that we did, since it got fully packed shortly after, although surprisingly the service was still on point! read more

Great appetizers, solid main dishes, underwhelming salad. The drinks were also very tasting, and the atmosphere is cozy and engaging. A solid 4 stars that could push toward 5. Definitely try to make the happy hour if you can! read more

Cute, airy place with a European vibe. We enjoyed happy hour snacks and drinks at the bar, and will definitely have to go back for their pasta tasting option. read more

Great place in Mueller, sitting at the bar and watching the kitchen brigade is a treat! Awesome food and drinks! Try the specials since they rotate but you can't go wrong!!! read more

Fun place for a nice dinner! Went for my birthday and we got to sit in a small private room with a sliding door so that was fun. Delicious pasta and the bread is to DIE FOR! Our waitress was friendly and super nice. It's a bit more on the expensive end so I wouldn't just pop in whenever, but it's a great less-than-super-special-occasion restaurant to keep in your back pocket. read more

Chose this place for my birthday dinner after a friend suggested this place. What got me interested was the homemade pasta! We made reservations at 7:30 but arrived 10 min late because of traffic but they were so accommodating and they sat us down right away. The menu was very simple and had many sections like appetizers and breads and they had a section for shareable dishes! Different than most places, which I liked! The service was so good and there were 2 waiters that attended to our table. Everyone ended up getting something different and we tasted everything. The best entree was the Gigli with the pepper ragu, chicken confit and breadcrumbs; the texture was so interesting and all the flavors combined well together! Dessert is what stole the show, we got the s'mores tarfuto and the olive oil cake. They're both must haves! Can't wait to come back read more

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

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Made a reservation and showed up right on time. Girl hostess was more concerned with balancing her stress level as she was pulled in "many directions" due to being on the phone. Stood there and told her to take her time as she answered two phone calls while we waited to be seated. She was still a frazzled mess afterwards. Maybe she needs a different gig cuz she can't seem to handle the host-pressure that is SO daunting in an empty restaurant. Got seated along the wall (this place is pretty stepford-y in the sense that many of the places in the area look and are laid out the same. Nothing new. Nothing cute or memorable about it.) We received a lot of stares from other patrons and this place had a very weird and unwelcoming af vibe. Yeah I'm Asian (not a lot of those around these parts and esp not many without an accent) and gay so what? So with the patrons staring and the servers ignoring us, we sat there. And sat there. Reviewed the menu and had to ask for water after about 15mins of no table service. All we wanted was to drink heavily and have a few bites. I guess that was too much to expect. Finally a girl came over with water and to tell us she would be right back to "chat you up" about the menu...ok hunny how about instead of a planned "chat up" you ask if we want a drink?? Nope she doesn't want this place to make money either! So we waited another 15mins and nothing. So we left. Maybe the food is good and drinks are worth it but with this kind of "service" and unwelcoming vibe, I will never know and that is fine with me. read more

The food here is so flavorful and beautifully presented! I really appreciated the garnishes of flowers on top of everything! You can tell this restaurant cares about the food they are serving. Everything is so freshly made. I even had a great recommendation from the server on a cocktail for a limoncello spritz! Service was impeccable and I appreciate they pay their employees fairly and tip is automatically added to check! I will definitely go back! read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Squash Frittata - super flavorful! - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This review is past due! Tenderly made, elevated Italian cuisine in a lovely light-filled room. read more

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I'm amazed that this place doesn't have solid 5-star reviews. We came on a whim for some happy hour snacks, and the food was phenomenal. The snapper crudo was a perfect dish--fresh, bright, balanced. They seemed to have used some kind of foam application with the bagna cauda that made the richness of the dish more palatable for a hot day; and the accompanying crudités were allowed to shine in all of their spring glory. We also enjoyed the salumi plate and the cranberry bean purée--both top notch. I thought the prices were VERY reasonable considering the responsibly-sourced, local ingredients used. We randomly selected a budget bottle of red from the wine list and were pleasantly surprised with the quality. This will definitely be our new go-to dinner spot. I should also mention that we had our 3-yr-old son in tow and the owner went out of his way to welcome him. This place is a local gem! *update* Would still give them 10 stars if I could It took me way too long to make it back into L'Oca d'Oro. What was I doing with my life? My son who was 3 at the time of my last review is now 5, and I swear this place has only gotten better. I've gone recently for a few happy hours and one dinner service and have been blown away each time. I was compelled to have a conversation with my kid at the table about how sometimes a meal can be art--that we were eating art. Every flavor and texture mattered. You might expect to endure a snooty front-of-house in exchange for such a culinary epiphany. But the service/management at this place is at once unpretentious and knowledgeable, efficient and warm. Everyone should hurry up and get in on that mushroom + green corn polenta dish and the shortbread dessert from the Restaurant Week menu. And that sauce on the meatballs...I might cry. read more

My wife and I dined here two weeks ago for dinner. The ambiance is nice, although quite noisy, and the wait staff were very friendly. When they presented the menus to us, we were told that they expect customers to order 2 or 3 portions to be properly fed. I figured that this was similar to the dining style in Italy, where you have anti pasti, the first pasta course, and the 2nd meat course. However, the portions that arrived were actually what I would consider tapas portions, with enough for 3 or 4 bites, at most. The price per dish, was definitely what you expect for an entree, being over $20 each. The quality and flavor of the food was good, but the tiny portions are a very big negative. We ended up spending about $70 per person, without alcohol, and still ended up feeling hungry. And we're both not big eaters by any stretch. I won't be returning to this restaurant, since for $70 per person, there are many better alternatives here in Austin. read more

GReAT food and even better service! Been waiting for a chance to try this place and glad I did. Such a relaxing and inviting environment with tremendous food. The service was outstanding. Will certainly return! read more

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

Nothing out of the ordinary here, just another fantastic 5-star experience. My wife and I took my parents to L'Oca d'Oro this past Saturday morning to welcome them to town. We started off with coffees around the table (fantastic), and a shared a bostock. We then had cocktails (the Bloody Bartolo was amazingly fresh and unlike any bloody mary-esque drink I've encountered). The table then had the Porchetta Hash, Broxton Burger, Garlic Sausage and Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe. All of these dishes were absolutely sublime! We each shared a bite of the other's dish but kept he rest for ourselves! There was a table of cleaned plates and happy customers. Huge bonus points: 3 of us added eggs to our dishes. One poached, one fried, and one over-medium. They were all perfectly executed. The prices were extremely reasonable for the quality of food. And, again, their pasta is out of this world good. If you normally don't think Italian for brunch, change that this weekend and get to L'oca d'Oro. read more

Very small serving sizes. They rushed is in, required that we order everything all at once and then added a 20% tip to the bill. The restaurant was mostly empty so there was no need for them to rush us like that and because we required minimum service it was shocking that the bill came with a 20% tip already added. I always tip 20% anyway, but it's annoying when they just assume and add that, especially when the service was so mediocre. read more

I want to update my review of six months ago. I had the absolute honor of being served the perfectly executed Dorade by the chef himself. From his hands to my mouth OMG. Dorade is a small fish with tender white flesh, shimmering silver skin and, when grilled or braised, has a rich, succulent, meaty flavor, similar to that of pompano or red snapper. In English it's also known as gilt-head bream. It was exquisite, I wanted to plotz Grilled and slightly charred, smoky, salted to perfection and so juicy. Better than Branzino any day or night. The cheeks are the best part although the fish is second to none. The roasted cherry tomatoes on the side were so rich and dreamy. Such a simple ingredient heightened to the moon. read more

Bravo! This place is amazing. The staff, the food, the drinks, and the atmosphere were all phenomenal. The homemade pastas are to die for. Seriously just unbelievable. The branzino was absolutely amazing!!!! And the fresh muzadel is also great way to start your meal. read more

Food was amazing. The blue crab cassarecce and the Mafaldine were my favourites. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauces flavoured just right. I am always afraid of overly salty and cheesy sauces, but tonight was not the case at all. Will definitely be back, maybe a little earlier to enjoy the happy hour. read more

On the cusp of SXSW, creatively full, I oh-by-the-wayed L'Oca d'Oro with my brother and his squeeze. I was expecting, well, food and a drink, and not much more. Let us not forget, there used to be an airport here, and not the good kind of airport. The service was spot on throughout. We were welcomed as neighbors though I live in New York City, supposed food mecca. They obliged turning on a heat lamp to warm up the perfect 69 degree night with nary an eye roll. Friendly, charming, well attired. We kicked off with the 6-month sausage direct from their semi-larder and a homemade romano with a side of "fun pickledy thingies". Killer cured meats, this. When asked about the process, out bounds a meat guy with an entire sausage en platter, with stories of aging, curing, and flavor...ying. A thousand small plates immediately follow, like boxcars on a toy train to Mouthton. Meaty, sweaty mushrooms you can't stop eating, carrots swirling around in some kind of surreptitious butter-baste, smokynutty broccoli wading in turnip for what, a fava bean green ravioli lilypad, and a couple other bumper cars in some kind of fantastical flavor carnival. It's at this point we started to ask ourselves, "What is this fucking place? Why aren't I always eating here all the time no matter whence in time I find myself?" What did we do to deserve this? I haven't even been particularly good this year. Then, dinner. Entrees. Oh...this is lasagna. This. Is. Lasagna. I never knew. Oh. Homemade pasta, perfectly dente, with pops of unctuous sausage and bright roasted tomatoes. My bro's squeeze didn't order an entree of her own. With envious avarice, her fork invaded each plate 2 more times than is socially acceptable. We take pity. We let this occur. This is her mulligan. Limoncellos all around and 2 deserts. StickyDateCake that reveals a buttery spongy surprise that invites some delicious ice creamy thing to the spoon. It's amazing mouth action. And a 6 layer, brittle-adorned cake with a whipped creme fraiche topping that hides a salty puzzle--some bites with a salty kick, some notsomuch. Fun and yummy, my mind turns to naughty things. Time to get the check. Let's not ruin a perfect meal. And it was, functionally, perfect. What is this place? What was this night? Why can't we all just agree to stop using Facebook? We pay, we tip heavily, and we stumble out into the night. We are ourselves, given the gift only food can give. Our most basic needs met with an elevated solution, there's hope for civilization yet. read more

You owe it to yourself to give this place a try. I'm no foodie by any means, but even I can tell when owners and chef's are passionate about making/serving good food and drinks. My GF and I love it, and try to eat here at least once a month. read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Holy shit son, that's really good - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

These folks "get it." As someone else said, they are a treasure. They are a treasure because they appreciate their staff, have a wonderful environment and don't try to be all things to all people, and they make great food and are a good business neighbor. They pay a living wage and don't apologize for doing it. (They advise you on each menu and on each check.) That sets a great tone and environment in the restaurant. I generally see the same staff members every time we visit. That means I'm greeted and staff come by to visit even if I'm not at their assigned table. They are local and right in my neighborhood--walking distance from my house. They've been my family's "go to" Italian restaurant for as long as they've been around. The food--is to die for. I measure every Italian restaurant to them. They have wood-fired bread that is AMAZING. Their menu changes periodically because they operate as a farm-to-table restaurant. From having grown up on a farm, I can tell they are using available, seasonal vegetables. And, gosh, do they ever know what to do with them. Very creative dishes that are just fun and light. They KNOW how to cook pasta. I've never found any place outside of ITALY (the country) where they didn't overcook the pasta. This place cooks it just perfectly! They make their own mozzarella cheese and use it in stunningly flavorful ways! I go there just to be surprised at the ingredients they use to make the dishes they have. It's always a fun adventure and for a local restaurant, it is reasonably priced but it is not a "low dollar high quantity of food" place. We love their business model and love this staff and will keep coming back. Thank you for bringing true Italian to our wonderful little neighborhood. read more

Another wonderful dinner at the Goose. Everything is always so fresh and the flavor combinations are amazing. We started off with the Sourdough Focaccia with cultured butter. The butter is whipped with a little honey making it very light with just a hint of sweet. It was very nice with the Focaccia. We shared the Grilled Costata Zucchini. The lemongrass vinaigrette set off the flavor of the grilled zucchini quite well. For the main course, I had the Polpette paired with the Bucatini Cashew e Pepe and my husband had the Rigatoni alla Amatriciana. Their fresh house made pastas were cooked perfectly and melded beautifully with their amazing sauces. And the meatballs...just delicious. I could have just had a bowl of the sauce they were in and been most happy. We finished up the meal with an order of Sweet Corn Cannoli. Crispy shell with a very creamy filling that was to die for. Thanks for a wonderful dinner. Looking forward to our next visit and what new and wonderful choices your menu will offer us. read more

We visited this place on Valentine's Day and, quite frankly, had an awful time. To begin, we arrived for our reservation and they asked if we wanted to sit in the bar area or the main dining area...an odd question for people with reservations, but alright. Well, we go to the main dining room and I see why they asked. It's so loud in there I can barely hear my significant other across the table from me, and we are seated literally one foot away from another table - it felt like we were eating together. For reference, we were so close that the man next to me burped and my boyfriend not only smelled it, but TASTED it. Yeah, not a pleasant experience for him. They had a lovely looking set menu, however just as we're about to order they informed us that they had run out of one of the main entrees. Mind you, this was on the first of two nights of the set menu and only at 7:30 pm. Absolutely unacceptable. As we continued, the staff had no energy about any of the menu items and were not able to provide much knowledge. Meals and drinks were rushed out at an odd time to the point that we had 3-4 drinks a piece sitting on the table for us. The first two courses were fine, but the third course (the entree) was lacking and uninspired - it tasted like microwaveable chicken parmesan that just happened to be rolled up, and perhaps that's what it was. Next was dessert - one of which was so frozen and hard we couldn't break off a piece despite trying to whack at it with a spoon. To top this all off, there is a MANDATORY 20% tip under the guise of "providing living wages for their employees". Now don't get me wrong, I am an excellent tipper and all for that, but if you want to pay your employees well, GIVE THEM HIGHER SALARIES and charge more for your food. Absolutely ridiculous to pass that extra cost on to the customer under the guise of being "ethical". Maybe if they didn't have a mandatory tip, the waitstaff would have been more skilled and attentive. We ended up paying $220 for a dinner for two with mediocre food, inedible desserts, and a rushed and awful dining experience. I highly recommend you never, ever try this place for yourself. read more

4 star service, 4 star food, 2 star portions, 1 star price. I have to echo some of the other reviews with respect to the small portions. I had the Cobia for $20+ and got a piece of fish that I ate in 3 small bites. Yes, it was very good and well prepared, but less than 2" in size is a little parsimonious. I was with a party of 6, and all had the same basic experience with their portions. I guess not everything is bigger in Texas. Total $$ for 4 adults and 2 kids = $350 (and the kids ate from the kids menu!). Food was good though. read more

Came here for dinner, party of 3 adults and 1 infant. We sat outside because they were able to seat us faster that way. We truly enjoyed our experience. Dined family style. The highlights of the night were the main pasta courses. So very, very good. Food came out quickly despite it being a busy Saturday night. Drinks were a little slower. Our server, TJ, was very kind and attentive but not overbearing. He made helpful suggestions for what to order. We felt that the cost of the meal was extremely reasonable given the quality of the food. Appetizers: Roasted carrots (4/5, we thought they could have been cooked a little longer. The pistachio butter was insanely good). Focaccia with cultured butter (5/5) Shrimp zeppole (5/5) Mains: Risotto verde (5/5, lemony, flavorful with roasted broccoli on top) Tagliatelle with sausage (5/5- the house made sausage was one of the best things we ate there. Wished there was more in the dish because we were fighting over it. Surprisingly light dish) Sweet potato gnudi (5/5, not too sweet, you can really taste the leeks, perfect texture gnudi) Desserts: Olive oil cake (5/5, omg- strawberries, ice cream, white chocolate whipped cream) Tiramisu (3/5- I didn't think it was that special but it did taste good) Drinks: Partitos- 3/5 Manzanilla sherry with the dessert (3/5, avg quality sherry, was great with the olive oil cake) read more