THE BIG: Located in Mueller and L'Oca d'Oro specializes in italian pasta dishes and all pasta is made in house! Parking is limited to the street. THE BLACK AND WHITE: The wife and I came here on a tuesday afternoon and managed to squeak in a HH. We got the spritz's that they make in house which is a great way to cool off during a hot Austin summer. For the restaurant week, we got the conchiglie, the beef cheek pappardelle and panzanella. All were delicious however my favorite was the beef cheek papardelle. Something about thick pasta noodles. For dessert we rounded off with a cannoli. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall, damage done was around $115 for the Austin Restaurant week pre-fixe menu, 2 spritz and a conchiglie. Tip is already included at 20%, but if you want to tip more you can! read more

See all

Chef Fiore Tedesco's L'Oca d'Oro is an Italian neighborhood restaurant that celebrates the traditions of Italian cuisine but innovates in a surprising way with whimsical dishes and surprising combinations. Located in Austin Texas, Chef has painstakingly created a fixed and standard menu that provides folks an opportunity to try many dishes or follow a path along a curated trajectory Chef Fiore Tedesco has selected. The fresh mozzarella and cima di rapa (w/ parmigiano & anchovy) are delightful and standard dishes as appetizers and carry that tradition; but it's the daring combinations like the beet cashew dip that open up your imagination. I was lucky to try several dishes when we dined and was surprised and in awe of many of the dishes including the spaghetti alla limone which was a very different take with its lime kosho & grana padano; airy and fresh, it resonated with everyone who tried it. Other standouts included the chicken milanesa marsala, the blue moon panna cotta, and the pistachio chocolate chip cookie. Chef Tedesco's philosophy of creating everything in house is seen in the freshness and quality of the ingredients. Chef Tedesco has founded a memorable restaurant but more importantly has created a consistency that is hard to replicate. It's this constant commitment that drives not only the quality but the passion of L'Oca d'Oro. Even more impressive is the philosophy of his restaurant; from L'Oca d'Oro's website: "All of our dishes are prepared with sustainable, locally grown produce and meats--a reflection of a farm-to-table philosophy that extends to our handmade pasta, cheese, salumi, bread, vinegars and liqueurs. We care for our team members by including a 20% pre-tax service charge to guarantee a base wage of at least $17/hr, Direct Primary Care, PTO & low cost counseling for our entire team. Since 2016, L'Oca has paid above the federal minimum wage, accompanied by benefits like healthcare and retirement plans. During crises, L'Oca prioritizes community health and social justice, collaborating with organizations like Good Work Austin, co-founded by L'Oca owners, and Lilith Fund, setting an example for culinary excellence and positive societal impact through unwavering dedication to quality and responsibility." In 2018, Chef Fiore Tedesco spoke on behalf of restaurants before the City Council in defense of a paid sick leave ordinance. In 2019, he and his co owner the pair co-founded Good Work Austin to continue pushing for increased pay, better benefits, and now improved family practices. Thanks to those efforts, L'Oca D'Oro earned its reputation as a leader for redefining industry standards. At a panel discussion, he discussed the recent election and how so many folks within Good Work Austin now had a tension, unsure of what changes have come. Chef addressed this and his words were comforting to folks like myself who understand the challenges in the restaurant industry and the community who works in it, namely the hundred if not thousands he represents in Austin." I very rarely straight up copy paste website info on a post but this summarizes Chef's goals with his restaurant. To have such a high standard for the ingredients, the staff, and the culture shows how wonderful L'Oca d'Oro. read more

See all

My husband and I went to L'Oca d'Oro to celebrate our anniversary and had a great night! We arrived a few minutes early for our reservation but got seated right away with a choice between indoor seating and patio seating and the hostesses were very friendly. Within minutes of sitting down, we were brought two small glasses of wine to celebrate our anniversary which was very appreciated. Our server was EXTREMELY attentive the entire meal... he was constantly dropping by the table to refill our water glasses and made sure we had everything we needed. Rosemary Sourdough Focaccia (8/10) - Delicious! The bread wasn't overly oily or buttery but the honey butter that comes with it is INCREDIBLE! A little pricey though at $10 for 2 small squares of focaccia. Spaghetti Carbonara (9/10) - This was a fantastic carbonara! The pancetta cubes were crispy and flavorful, the spaghetti was cooked perfectly, the sauce was creamy and thick, and the chili crisp on top added a slight heat that balanced the flavors nicely. Beef Cheek Pappardelle (7/10) - Very good but the portion size seemed a little on the smaller side compared to the carbonara (especially considering it was $2 more). The flavor was good but didn't blow me away and the pappardelle was pretty al dente. Tiramisu (9/10) - Loved this! It wasn't overly sweet and the espresso taste was strong which is exactly how I love my tiramisu! It was the perfect size to split at the end of a meal. Overall, L'Oca d'Oro was a wonderful meal in a nicely decorated space with fantastic service. I can appreciate a paired down menu because it makes it easier to decide what you want to eat, but I don't think I'd be in a hurry to go back unless there was a new menu item that really excited me. read more

See all

Bad meal, bad service, shady added charges. Did not inform of a 20% upcharge on solo meal in advance - NOT before I ate, like a decent place does, NOT in reservation clickstream, terms, "what you should know before you go", payments, etc. They ADDED FOOD I SAID NO to, overcharged vs menu too. But the BAD FOOD & SERVICE, READ ON. It gets worse. ** The pasta was bad - drizzled with spicy hot MOUTH BURNING oil I could NOT taste any flavor. I've eaten Italian all over the world and in NYC, Boston, etc. This was JUST BAD, inedible, weird. I was STARVING. I ate HALF the pasta with spicy oil drizzle, little slivers of meat. I would've let it go to support locals. BUT... ** I told the server NO I did not want bread, we discussed it. I said JUST PASTA AND THE ORANGE NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK. * DINING ROOM WAS EMPTY so I thought comp'd 2 little pieces of BLAND bread they brought. They charged + MARKED UP 20%. I had a few small bites to cut the terrible heat. ** OVERCHARGED $6 for non alcoholic drink ** I had to ask 3x for orange drink ordered 1st. Brought AFTER the miserably hot noodles with garnish came. ** AFTER I ate part, I got the bill ON THEIR COMPUTER with MULTIPLE extra fees that SERVER MISINFORMED me about when he finally told me AFTER the meal. He WRONGLY said we have a small service fee added of about 3% (it's 20%) & a 2.5 % credit card fee. NO PRINTED CHECK. **I said you only got a few dollars tip in service fee of 3% that goes to you? He said yes so I added on more. FALSE INFO. ** I OBJECTED when he showed me computer price without clear info on 20% upcharge. HE SAID I'm explaining it to you NOW AND DID NOT. He gave misinfo. ** I ADDED $ ON TOP for him based on mis-info he gave when I questioned all ** I got home & EMAIL RECEIPT SAYS 20% SERVICE FEE ON ALL PLUS MY ADDED TIP. ** $65 for a BAD experience...for noodles main w bad mouth burning oil. * I PAY 2-3x THAT FOR GOOD FOOD, SERVICE. * I TIP 20-40+% USUALLY. ** I would've given another try but all was SO BAD. I could not even order dessert. ** BAD tasting food, overcharges, shady, bad service, ignored complaints.** ** Starving, I ATE FOOD AFTER AT HOME. Try at your own risk. Inconsistent at best. ** ******* UPDATE ******** 1. They have the nerve to answer my complaint by saying I wish you had told me. WHAT IS UNCLEAR? I OBJECTED AT THE BILL TIME TOO, TOLD THEM CLEARLY, and was misinformed on top of it. See #2... 2. I TOLD THE SERVER: "I WOULD NOT ORDER THAT MEAL AGAIN" and joked if I was sick to clear my sinuses maybe, I TOLD HIM "I DIDN'T LIKE IT " and on and on. 3. EMAIL RECEIPT SAYS THE UPCHARGE PART ALONE IS 20%. SERVER WRONGLY told me 3% when he MISINFORMED ME AFTER the meal. THIS CAUSED ME TO ADD EVEN MORE TIP on an INFLATED bill!! 4. They claim its online. IT IS NOT in reservation clickstream, terms, payments, "What you should know before you go" etc. PLUS misinfo after I ate. I see NOW its buried at end of long paragraph after paragraphs somewhere. THEY ARE ADDING IT. 5. NO PRINTED BILL GIVEN THAT THEY NOW CLAIM ITS ON. 6. MGMT didn't address ALL ISSUES where they are padding the bill. THE FOOD WAS WORSE & SERVICE! SO SHADY on several aspects. 7. I TIP 20 - 40% NORMALLY. It was NOT the fee itself. It's how badly it was handled, AND EVERYTHING. I TOLD them in person. I would've let it go w/o MORE stress, had I not seen the email receipt showing the waiter's false info after the meal that had made me tip EVEN MORE. 8. STRESSFUL HASSLE. I went home TO EAT THERE. Money on Uber, a terrible overcharged experience for noodles & spicy oil, etc. 9. I didn't take any of it home, ate 1/2 of the pasta, a few little bites of the bread TO CUT THE BURNING IN MY MOUTH from the bad pasta -- bread I DID NOT ORDER & SAID NO TO at $10 for two little pieces of BLAND BREAD. 10. NOW THEY WANT ME TO BEG for a credit. NO ACCOUNTABILITY for all that went on either. THEY REPLIED AFTER YET ANOTHER WRITTEN COMPLAINT... that if it was truly bad food AFTER I was clear MANY times, ignoring the rest!! I said it to the server's face as kindly & direct as I could. I took my time to write them first when I got email receipt. POORLY RUN with alot of potential so it's too bad. I LOVE neighborhood places. I also like spicy food, just not BAD so hot you can't taste flavor MOUTH BURNING inedible food. * THEY SHOULD PUT EFFORT INTO COOKING DELICIOUS, HIGH VALUE FOOD CONSISTENTLY instead of overcharging at every turn. MAYBE THEN their dining room WOULD NOT BE EMPTY at dinner & loyal foodies like me would LOVE to come back. I spend a lot per meal solo, even more w friends / clients & eat out often -- but this was AWFUL. I won't be referring or dining here. TOO bad to try another dish. Try at your own risk, as it is inconsistent at best. Also VERY limited menu vs online. UPDATE 2: Management was even worse after, defensive. A GREAT restaurant grows on rep & it's leadership, and doesn't resort to all of this. No wonder the dining room was EMPTY. read more

L'Oca d'Oro - CAUTION! Bad pasta, undisclosed service upcharge 20% Even SOLO. Misinforms after meal on $. Brings food you said NO to. Overcharge vs menu. - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is a real cute place! It's right it the heart of mueller, near a paid lot that is free on Sundays (which is when I went). I went during restaurant week to get the $60 four course menu and support a business, and I'm glad I did! They actually had phenomenal portion sizing during that week, i felt like it was $60 well spent. Our server was really attentive, and the ambiance inside was nicer than your average sit down place, but I wouldn't call it "very" fancy by any means (ie it's no candlelit dinner). That said, I hadn't had Italian food at a restaurant for a long time and I really enjoyed it! 4/5 stars - good quality, very tasty, but not innovative/fancy enough to blow me away. Nevertheless, I would rec a visit to try it. My favorite thing on the menu was the tiramisu dessert - it was just lovely! read more

See all

You know it's good when I tell my family in the middle of the meal that I feel like I've been transported back to Italy L'Oca D'Ora Thank you for such a wonderful experience and amazing food!! This place reminds me of a Italian version of odd duck! The sophisticated yet inviting environment represents Austin! The menu is à la carte style just like Odd Duck so you can get a bite of every plate! You don't have to order like this if you don't want to, but I think it's fun! 1. Sourdough Focaccia & Cultured butter: 12/10 literally one of the top 5 things I've ever eaten. Just trust me. We ended up ordering 2 plates & were tempted to order a 3rd to go. - My lemon drop was also amazing!!! 10/10 2. Green Corn Panisse, black garlic puree, pickled chestnut mushroom, Louisiana shallot: I personally didn't love this, but my family did!! 3. Polpette, Waygu brisket & heritage pork, tomato jam, pecorino, oregano: 8/10 this isn't shown very well in the picture but they're meatballs! very flavorful!! 4. Ricotta Cavatelli, broccoli greens, gouda, pesto di pane: 9/10, I really loved the flavor and textures of this dish! 5. Apple Pie Cannoli, cheddar mascarpone, apple-caramel, I wasn't a fan but my family loved it!! To me the cannoli shell was too greasy. 6. Tiramisu, White Sonoran sponge cake, mascarpone, Plantation OFTD rum, espresso: 10/10 I could've eaten a whole bowl!! read more

See all

The happy hour on their wine bottles are a steal! Such a great place to pop into if you're in the Mueller area. The bread is great and the pasta dishes are good. The service has been good every time I've gone and they've never steered me wrong on the wine selection. I've learned that I do enjoy orange wine! Highly recommend for a girl's HH or cute date night. read more

They only have brunch and dinner. Coming at 1 pm, I didn't want small bites. I feel like the price doesn't justify the tastes/portions. The server is nice and gave refills of the iced tea, although it was hard to hear him because of his mask. I like the simplistic, wooden interior. 20% tip is automatically added to the bill. This would be a good place to just go for drinks. Not sure if dinner meals are a lot better. read more

See all

OVERVIEW: A solid 4/5 for quality, taste, and creativity. Fresh, seasonal, local ingredients. Menu can shift based on this. Portions are quite small for the price/value, but if you go during their 5-6pm happy hour you can get a much better deal (1/2 off all pastas). 20% gratuity is auto-applied to all checks, so be wary of that - anything you tip on top is extra. There is also a credit card fee so you may want to use debit or cash. Service is more on the casual side, but food came out pretty fast! QUICK FACTS: - Parking? Plenty of street parking throughout Mueller and the lake/park parking lot is directly across (free parking - technically for the park only but). Garage parking also available. - Reservations? Yes, you can make online or call. Not required but recommended for weekends and/or larger parties. - Happy hour? Yes, daily from 5-6pm! Half off all pastas (so $13-$14 pastas), bottles of wine, and wine spritzers. FOOD RATINGS: - Rosemary sourdough focaccia (4/5): Soft and fluffy, pretty standard. Served room temp. Honey butter is delicious. $10 for 2 pieces (could be shared amongst 4, maybe). - Fresh mozzarella (4/5): Seasonal herbs and flavors. I enjoyed the citrus notes and golden beets. A subtle but tasty flavor. Bright and colorful. - Bucatini di Alici (4/5): Bright and summery. Perfect balance of saltiness and savoriness all around. The tomatoes could do more for the dish but pretty good. - Rigatoni alla Bolognese (4.5/5): Rich with flavor and very good. Love a good bolognese! Probably my favorite and definitely the most meaty option. - Radiatore (3.5/5): Simple and light. Love the twist on pesto with zucchini, and tarragon is a nice touch. No protein though so quite steep in price. - Fusilli alla Paesana (3.5/5): This one was also just okay for me. A creamy garlic sauce almost, with the salty pancetta and olives. - Pecan pie cannoli (4/5): Very sweet. I took two bites and was good. Nice caramelized flavor and cream filling was good with the crisp shell! read more

See all

Amazing food and amazing service! We made a reservation for 6 people while visiting Austin. There is paid street parking available. Our server was truly exceptional and provided great service. I ordered the Pappardelle pasta and the Caponata Glazed Pork Ribs. You could tell the pasta was freshly made and the pork ribs were so tender and very flavorful! read more

See all

L'Oca d'Oro may be tucked into the Mueller development -- giving it a bit of a shopping mall vibe -- but they've done a commendable job of creating a cozy and inviting ambiance. Given the setting, they've truly made the most of it. Our server was warm, attentive, and accommodating which set a great tone for the evening. The menu changes frequently, and though the Casarecce is typically served with sausage, I lucked out: on this particular night, it was completely vegetarian. The dish came in a unique sauce made from potato purée, dill, and grana which had a velvety texture that definitely was not like eating mashed potatoes; it was more of a light cream sauce. It was surprisingly satisfying, and everyone at the table loved it. Some of the standout dishes included the Slow Roasted Carrots with 'nduja spice, whipped crème fraîche, and crispy fried scallions, as well as the Fresh Mozzarella, which was paired with an unexpected but delicious strawberry mustardo. One of my friends wasn't sure what to order but after giving the server a few details about her preferences, she immediately recommended the Cacio e Pepe which turned out to be a perfect match. Similarly my husband, who is notoriously picky about Italian food, was more than happy with an off-menu red sauce suggestion. The drinks were equally impressive. My cocktail, "Cleanest Dirty Shirt," was a beautifully balanced mix of bourbon, Scotch, Vermut Roselle, limoncello, and toasted rosemary. Every drink at the table was exceptional, from the bottle of Pietradolce Etna Rossa to the Italian vermouth, limoncello, and even the orange cream Italian soda. While I wouldn't place L'Oca d'Oro above Sammie's, it's absolutely a step above Vespaio and Juliet Italian Kitchen. If you're unable to secure a reservation at Sammie's, this is a solid backup with some truly excellent dishes. read more

My family came here for their 2021 New Year's Eve Dinner. We've been to quite a many "nice Italian restaurant" so we had high hopes. I believe they were also newly opened at the time. I liked their Mafia theme for the tasting menu, and we ordered a few plates of each course to share amongst the 4 of us. I don't remember the appetizers very well, but the entrees were not exceptional. We all felt they were too salty. Other than the salt, I thought they still had great taste and ingredients. Perhaps they have improved this since then! read more

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

Tonight our hearts were set on happy hour and although L'Oca d'Oro ended up not having one, we left not regretting our decision one bit! We arrived just as they opened and were sat outside on the (very cute) patio. The weather was so nice and the view of the park was extremely relaxing. Our server was knowledgeable and really helped us navigate the menu. We started with the Capicola - the crunchiness of the sourdough paired with the fluffiness of the buffalo ricotta easily made this my favorite item. We also ordered the Kohlrabi and Kale salad. It was light, refreshing, and perfectly matched the vibe we were experiencing We ended with the Cavatelli. The brown butter sauce made it nearly impossible to not lick the bowl in public. I do wish the portion was bigger. We've been here on a date night before but I was hammered so I don't really remember much other than leaving with nothing but good things to say. Now that I've returned pregnant and sober, I'm happy to say drunk me was spot on. We will be back! read more

See all

Staff was friendly, welcoming, and gave us a good overview of the concept/rotating menu during our first visit. Favorite dishes were the hanger steak and shrimp pasta. Would not order the gnocchi or grilled salad (with honey mustered vinaigrette) again. Overall, give it a shot if you're looking for a tapas-style restaurant serving lighter Italian-inspired fare. Personally, thought the prices for most dishes were a bit too high for the quantity. May keep an eye out for their upcoming menu options! Note: There are street parking spots available, but on most busy days/times in Mueller, you're likely going to struggle finding a spot. I highly recommend arriving early and settling on a nearby garage. read more

See all

L'Oca d'Oro Brunch Review Experience: It was our first time brunching here since they reopened after the pandemic. I've been here for dinner and happy hour before, but it's been a while. Parking: Parking is easy if you arrive early--plenty of street parking, and the McBee garage is close by. Food: Brunch was delicious but a bit pricey. The fresh mozzarella with fennel and strawberries was particularly fresh and tasty. Dog-Friendliness: They have a dog-friendly outdoor patio, making it an awesome spot when the weather is great, especially with the view overlooking Lake Mueller. Overall: A delightful brunch with great food and a lovely atmosphere--perfect for a sunny day out with your pup! read more

See all

My friend and I enjoyed a really lovely happy hour meal yesterday (8/28). We sat at the bar where we had a front row few to the open kitchen which I really enjoyed. I'm a big fan of watching the kitchen staff work. The cooks working did a wonderful job and looked like they had great attention to detail as they prepared dishes. The bartenders were very attentive throughout our entire meal as we ordered a few drinks and several dishes to split. My friend had a few glasses of wine and I had the Orange Cream Soda with Tito's and Limoncello Spitzers. We were happy with all of our drinks. For dinner, we split several items: Rosemary Sourdough Focaccia, Fresh Mozzarella, Zucchini Fries, Spaghetti alla Nerano, and Pappardelle. We ate every single bite and were impressed by the quality of the meal. You can tell the pastas were made fresh and were cooked perfectly. The beef shoulder in the Pappardelle was tender and insanely flavorful. The focaccia was crunchy and soft in all the right places. The mozzarella was super smooth and paired nicely with the onion jam and thinly sliced melon. I think my least favorite item was the zucchini fries only because the zucchini got kind of flabby during the frying process. I think I would have liked them more if the zucchini was thicker cut to hold up better, but I still enjoyed them. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and I look forward to returning. read more

See all

This is now the go-to spot for one of my friends and me when we're feeling a little fancy, though the daily happy hour (1/2 off pastas and spritzes) makes it feel not too splurge-y. Service is always friendly and fast. The food, it goes without saying, never misses--I'm always excited to see what's new on the menu and if any of my favorites are still on there! My friend is vegetarian, and there are always several vegetarian-friendly options for her to choose from. Here are a few photos from our most recent visits :) read more

Love that this chef does lots of special meals--some collaborations, some special occasions, some donations for non-profits. They keep it fun, special and interesting. The creativity is really unique and they work to keep the experience different yet of a predictable high caliber. I especially love the "Pasta Paisanos" which are dinner Collabs for food justice every month on a Monday. Those evenings support important causes and result in very creative and delicious dishes. The staff are friendly, easy, helpful. The restaurant has lovely sidewalk dining, bar seating as well as an intimate dining room. Street, garage and park lot parking makes it easy to visit. This is a great Mueller restaurant. read more

See all

Oddly, the food wasn't great. My friends had said wonderful things about this place, so I was let down. Pros: The handmade pasta shapes are so unique and elegant. The dishes were very pretty and it was a great night to sit outside. I love their focus on locally sourced ingredients. Cons: We got the green corn panisse and meatballs as starters. The green corn was beautiful and piping hot, but the meatballs were room temperature. The two pasta dishes we had were too salty...especially the pesto one. I imagine it was just an off night for them considering so many have such good reviews. I thought about saying something when the pastas were both too salty, but I just wanted to enjoy a stress-free night. Tiramisu was good, but a little too much cocoa powder on top so if you inhale as you take a bite you end up choking. read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Creste di Gallo, hazelnut-lambsquarter pesto, puffed amaranth chili crisps - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

If you are expecting a nice Italian dinner this place is NOT what you're looking for. the food is just bizarre and the service / ambiance doesn't make up for it. Got sat 10 minutes after my reservation. Service was bad throughout. Food ranged from strange to straight up unappetizing. Dishes came out cold. Somehow still cost me $250+ Would not return. Only giving it 2 stars because the meatball dish was fairly decent. Other than that might be one of the worst meals I've had in Austin. If you wanna try something odd, this place is is spot on. But if you're looking for a tasty Italian date night you should pass read more

So I only ordered a kids marinara pasta for my daughter which was so not worth it. (They don't even give sides or drink for kids and they only have two options). The pasta was bland, undercooked and tasteless! I asked for cheese with the pasta but there wasn't any cheese on it and it was literally was flavorless and rejected by a toddler! This place has great reviews so maybe I could be wrong and shouldn't judge by one item! But overall I was disappointed with the pasta and disappointed with a service charge and credit card using fee charge on a to-go item! I'm ok about charging gratuity when dining in, but charging it on to-go take out orders is preposterous. And charging a fee for paying with credit card when we all pay digitally is also absurd! read more

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

I so wanted to love this place. It was good but not great. On the positive side, the service is fabulous! And I absolutely loved the ambience. What fell short for me was the food. The menu is a mix of traditional Italian dishes and some contemporary. The stand out dish was Conchiglie. It was outstanding, one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had! But everything else was pretty basic. I would pass on the more traditional dishes. read more

See all

L'Oca d'Oro is a good date spot, right next to the Mueller Lake Park, so you can walk off all the carbs that is Italian food. There's plenty of other stuff nearby as well: Lick, Alamo Drafthouse, Lady Quackenbush's Cakery. Getting into the food. Food is set up to be shareable (which I think all food should be!). Portions are a tad small for the price but you're getting fresh pasta so it's hard to complain. Texture is almost al dente so not quite firm, but still enjoyable. Beet Cashew Dip - The beet dip was very tasty, and the chips were good as well. Fear not, if you run out of chips, they'll bring more. Not sure what happens when you run out of dip before the chips... (hot dog / buns problem) Grilled Costata Zucchini - Looks good, but somewhat too simple of a dish. Rigatoni alla Amatriciana - My and my date's favorite dish. Very classic, familiar flavors. The negative I would say is it makes one wonder if they could just replicate this at home. Bucatini Cashew e Pepe - Clever take on the classic cacio e pepe dish. This was very savory and peppery, almost spicy in fact. Right up there with the rigatoni in terms of enjoyment Squid Ink Spaghetti - I appreciate exploring new food but after having had squid ink pasta, I'm not a fan, I'm sure it's an acquired taste. If you like oysters, you might like it! Texture-wise it was really good spaghetti, and the visuals look fantastic Service was pretty good, they came around, cleaned up the table (after I got dip on it), and I didn't get the feeling they were rushing or interrupting us. They communicated verbally and on the check that the 20% gratuity is automatically included, which might catch some people by surprised, hence why they make sure to let guests know. Parking was a little difficult but there's paid street parking. The visuals of the dishes at L'Oca D'Oro are fantastic, I'm not quite sure that I'd choose it over something much more simple (and cheaper!) like the pasta you'd find at Patrizi's. read more

See all

This place is really a gem of a place. I always end up here when I want to treat myself or have a meal that I know uses high quality and local ingredients. Most items range from $10-$25 and definitely shareable with a nice cocktail or glass of wine. I got this gin cocktail and sat at the bar. It was fun watching them work and prep all the dishes. And I believe their pasta and bread dishes are all made in-house Food is 5 stars easily and I don't think there's ever been a dish here I've gotten that I didn't like. The focaccia came with cultured butter and the olive oil on top was lemon-y and bright. The mozzarella came on top of this green sauce that amazing & the zucchini on top gave it a really savory touch. Honestly, everything I ate was so good and I didn't even realize I didn't have any meat products. It's just the quality of the food really speaks for itself. read more

See all

4.5 stars ... the pasta and mozzarella app were amazing. The 20%service charge is annoying.

Cute, chic Italian place with great homemade pasta and mozzarella. Pasta is thick with a bite, just the way I like it. We ordered quite a bit of the menu, and honestly not a single item disappointed. The service was also over the top friendly and attentive. The cocktail I had was delicious too. Items I personally absolutely loved: Beet Cashew Dip Ricotta Cavatelli Toasted Oat Panna Cotta Close/Stone cocktail But honestly everything else we got was spot on too. read more

Second time dining experience at L ' OCA d'Oro and it was a really great experience. I had made reservations for a Saturday @ 5pm for. Party of 5. We were promptly seated and I love we had our own private room towards the back which was much quieter. We had ordered drinks and every drink we had was super tasty. None of their mix drinks were sweet. We had ordered: Polpette , Charred Beets , (2) Conchiglie , (2) focaccia bread, and Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe. The polpette was as good as what I last remembered. The meatball just so soft, juicy, and so freaking good. The sauce was thick and so flavorful. Honestly the best meat balls I've ever had in my life and I highly recommend this dish! To our surprise the Charred Beets was phenomenal! I am not a fan of beets because it's too "beety" rooty earthy taste for me but the way they prepare it, it's not that taste at all. This dish made a non beet lover to a super fan! There was two different types of beets they used on this dish and with the lemon sumac it brought such a great balance and really made this dish one of our favorite dishes. The conchilgile with the shrimp was also one of our favorite dishes! It was so good! The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the flavor of the sauce with pasta was incredible. The pasta was cooked perfectly and was so fresh! We loved this dish. I remember the first time we had the focaccia bread here it was really amazing but to my surprise this time the focaccia bread was more sourdough taste then I remembered. The Rosemary didn't shine through as it did last time which was a bummer. From my first experience compared to this seconding one, I had such a better experience. Our waiter was charismatic and friendly. He checked on us several times throughout our dining experience. He listened to what we liked and didn't like and gave us really great recommendations on drinks and food. Would I recommend this place... yes! I enjoyed the food and it was great. Great place for a double date. :) read more

See all

It's hard to explain. With every dish that came out the food just kept getting better and better. And we kept telling ourselves, "we ordered way too much, save some for lunch tomorrow!" But ourselves just wouldn't listen. Their pasta dishes rival some of the best Italian restaurants in NYC. There. I said it. Meant it too. We ate outside on a warm evening and it just made the food taste better. If we ever get back to Austin we're definitely going to return. Maybe order a bottle of wine or two, and sit a spell. You should too... read more

See all

This place is legit. Hard to say that about Italian in Austin. But their pasta's are great. Cooked al'dente and sauces have great flavor. You can tell they cook both together before they plate. Service is also on point. read more

I've been to this restaurant a few times last year but I recently returned for a late night dinner. I feel like the menu options were greatly reduced from the other times I'd visited. None of the options included a protein and a pasta, which was disappointing. The rosemary sourdough focaccia bread was good but a little hard and room temperature. $18 for three small meatballs was not worth it in my opinion. The cacio e pepe was alright but the portion was also small. We asked the waiter if those options would be enough to split between 2 people and he said "I guess it depends on how much you're eating." It definitely wasn't enough for one person, let alone two. $100 for bread, 2 drinks, 3 meatballs, and a small portion of pasta seems a bit unreasonable to me. I probably won't be returning to this restaurant any time soon. read more

3.5 Stars! We went in on a Saturday night, a party of 3 and did reserve before hand. I'd definitely recommend doing that since it's pretty packed on a weekend night. This place is an Italian-inspired restaurant more so than fully Italian dishes. They have dishes that are a bit more experimental and fusion style (Wagyu beef tartare, fermented sweet potato chips, pork katsu) We ordered the Wagyu Tartare, Rigatoni, Red Snapper and Heritage Pork (essentially Pork Katsu with some greens sprinked in), capping things off with Tiramisu. The tartare was the best out of all the savory dishes, balanced and light. The rigatoni was alright, nothing special with tomato sauce and bacon, the shapes look more like huge macaroni rather than rigatoni to me. Red Snapper was a bit too salty for my liking, heritage pork was meh, honestly I'd have a much better katsu in a Japanese restaurant. Tiramisu was the highlight of the meal, the rum really comes through, texture was soft and light. They actually make it with sponge cake rather than traditional lady fingers but we enjoyed the tiramisu nevertheless. Service was brief and friendly. Servers were very helpful and attentive. read more

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

See all

The limoncello spritz knocks my socks off! It tastes like fresh lemons and magic. For apps, be sure to treat yourself to the rosemary focaccia bread. It's off the charts delicious (with a smoky flavor) and is strategically paired with a butter and oil well that's amazing. For my main dish I ordered the rigatoni pasta. It too was absolutely delicious and bursting with tomatoey goodness. Service here is always on point. The staff is very helpful and make great recommendations. To note, they do add on 20% to all bills but they fully disclose this. Pro tips: 1. Go right when they open to have the best chances of getting a table (if you didn't make a reservation). 2. There is free garage parking when visiting this restaurant in the AMLI Mueller parking garage. Be sure to read the signage to park properly in case anything changes. I do wish they had some kind of Happy Hour here as I would probably visit more often if they had it. read more

Admittedly, I can be a bit of a pasta snob, and it's been hard finding a decent pasta place in Austin since moving here. Had this place bookmarked for awhile and decide to stop by for an early dinner today and was so glad that we did. The food was amazing, service was lovely, and vibes were on point. Food: - Polpette: 10/10, just a well executed meatball, no complaints - Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe: 6/10, flavors were there but just overly salty. The pink peppercorns were gorgeous though - Conchiglie: 10/10, the highlight of the meal, heavenly. Loved that we were able to get a perfect bite with every bite - Cannoli: 10/10, a comforting, thoughtful dessert - the cherry was definitely the star here All in all, we are so happy to have found a great pasta restaurant close by. Excited to try new menu items as they rotate in! read more

See all

This place is extremely underrated! The pastas were delicious. The Bucatini was a real winner. I loved the use of all fresh and seasonal vegetables. The patio is nice! The service was good too. read more

Fantastic place! The food, service and place are great! So if you're not sure whether to come, stop thinking and just go. The food is really really good. It's a great take on Italian food and all the dishes were very flavorful. I would recommend ordering a lot of different dishes and sharing. And that tiramisu, one of the best ones I've had. Really good mocktails as well. If you're getting a drink as the bar tender for recommendations. He was spot on Witt us. The place is also great. You can see the kitchen and it's a lot of fun seeing the mozzarella being done. The service was also great, from our server to the bar tender were all great. read more

See all

I love L'Oca d'Oro! It is one of my favorite places in Austin. The menu is always changing so every time you go, there is something new and exciting to try. I was very excited to try the new Tomato Salad and the pasta dish with shrimp today. Unfortunately, they have changed their hours and not updated their website so I couldn't partake in such deliciousness. :( It wouldn't have been such a heartbreak but I don't have a car and I really wasn't in the mood for anything else in Mueller. I ran to the bus to try to make it in time to Bar Peached for the steak frites before they run out. Hopefully they will be open tomorrow so I can fill the pasta void. The lesson here is not to rely on trusting the internet so much. Here are a couple of pictures of amazing dishes I've had at various points from L'Oca. read more

See all

We ate here for the first time Valentine's Day and everything was wonderful. So we decided to make a reservation for my husband's birthday last night. Although the food was very good, the service was awful. Two of our drinks came out wrong, and we had to ask about our drinks after we ordered them because it took over 15 minutes to arrive after we ordered them. The waiter never checked on us that see how the food was or if we needed anything - we had to flag him down. He never asked us about dessert or aperitifs, and did not ask us if we were ready for a check, he just brought it to the table. And the restaurant was not that crowded. We brought a couple with us who had never eaten there, and we were embarrassed because the service was so awful. I doubt we will return, and I will definitely stop recommending this restaurant to my friends. read more

If you are looking for great Italian food in Austin, while I could definitely tell that L'oca d'oro does indeed make theirs fresh, but for the price point if you want a wonderful atmosphere, service, and experience included, you are better off going to Juniper. From the photos online, it looks as if it is a quaint, almost romantic restaurant but the feeling is rather bland and the service was just as bland. When we sat down, we were approached by Andrew and we did not enjoy our experience with him. First off, he talked so fast that I am not quite sure if it was nervous energy or if there was something else going on. We felt extremely rushed and I do not like when I have to ask about specials or the market fish of the day as that is something that should automatically be included when explaining the menu. Just when I was about to ask him to slow down and take a breath, he turned us over to Emily G who was a tad better. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that for a Sunday, happy hour was available and we took advantage of the tempranillo, garofol verdicchio, the focaccia, mozzarella and broccolini and for our main course, we chose the tortelli. The tortelli and broccolini were both delicious, but the focaccia and mozzarella were exceptional! For dessert we chose the pistachio cannoli and tiramisu. Warning, the cannoli is made with pork fat which was a first for me. I usually like cannoli, but I was not a fan of theirs. Honestly, I do not enjoy tiramisu, but the way it was prepared almost like a pudding, I actually enjoyed it. The reason for the 2 stars is for two reasons: 1. As a waiter, you NEVER present the ticket without first asking if there is anything else you can get the diner. Not only is it rude to just place the ticket on the table while the patron is in the middle of eating, but it signals, you are rushing them and in the process, you are cutting into your tip because if more food or drinks are ordered, you receive more of a tip. Which brings me to the second reason... 2. I DO NOT appreciate being surprised with an already included gratuity without prior notification which Andrew and Emily both failed to mention. Thankfully, somebody took it upon themselves to highlight it on the check although I would have caught it anyways as nowadays with added health benefits and etc restaurants like to secretly add, I check my ticket before I add any gratuity. Let's be clear, I always tip 20%+ for a great experience, but when you have already added the "service fee", the service is not always that great and for these reasons, unless I have a compelling enough excuse, I cannot recommend L'Oca d'Oro. read more

A delicious Italian restaurant nestled in Mueller. This place is definitely worth checking out. The staff is incredibly friendly, the pasta is made in house, the food is really delicious and it has a fun little ambiance. Both of the pasta dishes we ordered were absolutely amazing and I do not believe you can go wrong on your choices. They also change up their pasta menu so you get new things when you come back which is super cool! (However there have been some items on yelp that I have seen and make my mouth water and wish they were always on the menu! Ha). In my opinion this is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Austin and will absolutely go back and definitely recommend checking this place out if you are looking for a good Italian restaurant in the area. read more

See all

Cute little Italian spot in Mueller. Love their progressive activism/mission/events they advertise. They also offer an off-menu vegan pasta dish and the focaccia is vegan without the butter!! I highly recommend the focaccia omg it's so soft, flavorful, and perfect. The vegan pasta was good, but a bit too salty and noodles were a bit over cooked. Thank you for offering vegan options!!! read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Vegan pasta dish, off menu! - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas