This is one of my favorite new restaurants in town. The service is prompt and caring. The space is clean, lively, and well decorated. They source locally and make many of their ingredients in house which is Very Cool! They charge gratuity on all parties which is a great policy that ensures fair treatment of employees, something the restaurant industry at large could pay attention to. Please give this spot a shot and try the mushroom lasagna, the house bread, and all of the pasta dishes. Their pasta is made in house and is so good! read more

We had an amazing night- many thanks to the kitchen staff for everything!! I've never been anywhere in town where each dish literally was perfection- good luck picking a favorite! We had the most awesome server, which just made everything even more perfect. Thank again. We'll be back more often than should probably be allowed! Update 12/30/17- I'm always a little nervous going back to a new favorite after such an outstanding meal. It seems less special the 2nd time around and there's always a let down...but L'Oca D'Oro blew me away A-G-A-I-N! Different server at the bar this time but she was just as awesome and made a mean Moscow Mule with tequila. It's so nice to go to a place where the staff actually enjoy what they do & have fun. We tried some of the same dishes we had last time and added in some new ones, too. Absolutely nothing was even in the same universe as "mediocre." Hands down the best restaurant in town for amazing service, delicious dishes, and perfect drinks. Sit at the bar to watch the talented kitchen team. Katherine on desserts is only missing a crown & wand because that lady is making magic! The most beautiful dessert on Earth isn't on the menu and I'm not telling you the name because they only have so many available per night and if you people get the last one before I do, I'll hunt you down. read more

The food was good. But really, a single egg for $4 in addition to the small servings? This is the place to go if you are dieting or have a small appetite. read more

Went to restaurant after reading on Austin Statesman "8 out of 10", "some of the best Italian food in Austin"(totally overrated). Our service was good but with built in 20% tax for "providing staff living wage" you would expect so. Our food was cold and mediocre at $18 price point. My eggplant parm plate looked like frozen food dinner, but not warmed. My husbands dish with shrimp was easily, 1 shrimp cut into pieces to look like more. Will not go back. Left disappointed. read more

Enjoyed our dinner here last night. They just opened so there are still a few kinks to work out but to make up for it, they gave everyone 10% off the bill. We intended to start with the shrimp crostini, but it was delayed and it didn't end up coming out until after the rest of our food. As an apology for the wait, they sent us out a complimentary small order of the chicharones which we thought felt a bit out of place on the menu. Not something we would have ordered but we appreciated the courtesy. We ordered the larger "family style" mezzaluna and tagliatelle which are supposed to feed 3-4 people. The portions were quite small and there were only three of us sharing the dishes. To accompany our pasta we ordered the smaller portions of the roasted carrots and the potatoes. The carrots with the pistachio butter and honey were delicious! The potatoes were unimpressive. They were basically baked purple potatoes with a little pecorino sprinkled on top. They were bland and I would not recommend ordering them. When our shrimp crostini did come out, they ended up being my favorite thing we ordered. They were probably the largest or most substantial dish we ordered. The combination of flavors with the seaweed butter and chiles was amazing and very satisfying. We enjoyed the mezzaluna more than the tagliatelle carbonara because we felt the carbonara was not velvety enough, and contained too much liquid. It could have used a bit more pecorino as well. Overall, our biggest complaint was the noise factor. The larger dining room, set apart from the bar/kitchen was so incredibly loud that we had to yell to hear one another as well as our soft-spoken waiter. This is definitely something they will have to address moving forward. For the noise alone, I cannot recommend this restaurant at this time but I hope it is something they are able to correct in the near future. read more

After reading the reviews I felt as if I had to visit and see for myself. It was amazing!! The service, the flavors, the presentation, and the space were all amazing!! The chef even came to our table to explain the meats and pasta ingredients used for his dishes, which I thought was super cool! He also explained how he felt his servers should be paid a fair wage, and in doing so he had to weed out some staff that didn't live up the customer service values he expected for his restaurant. I really appreciate his love for his restaurant and customer service! Love this place!! read more

We were there on the third night after their opening. The food was delicious, though a little pricey for what you got. The Share sizes really weren't to share. I had the eggplant Parmesan and it was delicious. They have a great wine menu as well. Our waiter, I believe his name was Shane, was superb. The hostess at the front desk was a little lackluster. Never smiled, head down...maybe because they just opened and were very busy. We had been by two days before and asked her some questions about the restaurant and she had no idea about any of them. Not a good first impression, but the food, atmosphere, friendly, efficient, and knowledgable waiter and, of course, the camaraderie made this a very special dinner! read more

Amazing flavor combinations! Each dish we ordered (carpaccio, roasted tomato & burrata crostini, mushroom lasagna, pork milanesa, and olive oil strawberry cake - yes, we were hungry) had a complex and delicious layering of flavors. The restaurant is very cute and the waiters and staff were super friendly and obviously take pride in their work. We'll be back! p.s. - the included gratuity is clearly indicated on the menu and bill and actually saved us the hassle of calculating it ourselves... no complaints here! read more

Pretty good but not great. Went with a large group had a little bit of everything. It almost seems like Japanese Italian fusion. The bread and jam was awesome as was the grilled cobia, all of the vegetables were great as well. The frito misto was more batter than substance. The meatballs were more like falafel. The pastas were good but stingy with the sausage. Love their wood fired foods. I would if someone wanted to, but I wouldn't go back of my own accord. read more

Awesome place! They have worked out the kinks from when they first opened and one of our favorite date night places now!

Very good quality food and very friendly staff! Try the Gnocchi pasta! Also the kitchen side seating makes it a great experience!

This place is such a typical soulless investment property for a New York restaurant group. The food is terrible and the lack of caring is evident. We sat between two other tables who I overheard being unhappy with their food as well. The table to the left got the Fresh Mozzerella and commented that it tasted store bought. We got it as well and I agree, it was tough and plasticy like you get from the packages at Whole Foods. We also got the rigatoni which was hard and the meat was mostly fat. The gnocchi was nearly burned on one side and almost raw on the other: pure goo. We didn't finish any plate we were given and ended up going somewhere else after spending $100 on food we didn't eat. The waiters were super nice and friendly and I feel bad that they take the brunt of people's displeasure. The table to our right were much more vocal about how bad their food was and sent back two dishes while we were sitting there. Definitely not up to Austin food standards for what you have to pay. read more

So my kid and I have been here a few times as we live very close. To start off the service is phenomenal! I have been met by the owners a couple of times, been served by one of them, the staff are fun as well! As for the food, a little on the pricey side so we can't come here as often as we'd like... But dang we wish we could come every weekend! The "small' portions are only small if you expect typical food for the masses. I appreciate the time and care put into getting top notch local ingredients to make our dishes... And can finally share an appetizer and dessert as well as have my own main course without felling I ate 3 times as much as I should have. It's such a pleasure to come here and watch my foodie kid in ultimate food bliss! I highly recommend coming here when you want a treat! Definitely coming back on my birthday to have tye 4 course meal and wine pairing! read more

Great inventive food in servings you don't need to swallow in one bite, friendly service, and a cute decor with music that you can hear but doesn't overpower your conversation. We will be back! read more

I had the good fortune to attend an especially prepared dinner last night at L'Oca d'Oro. Chef Fiore skills at preparing Sicilian cuisine really shone through in his selection of courses. The appetizers (canapes) were spot on. His handmade Hazelnut Ricotta Tortellini with summer truffle butter was the best tortellini I have ever eaten. The Wagyu beef entree was perfectly prepared absolutely delicious. L'Oca d"Oro's desserts are not to be missed and the wine selections offer a perfect pairing. We will be back! read more

If you haven't discovered the exquisite experience that is L'Oco D'Oro, get thee to Mueller. We sat at the bar and got to see the team making our food while we sipped well-described, new and delicious wine. We started with Burrata and a Cucumber salad". Both were delicious: the pine nut romescue was a delicious, tangy companion to the creamy rich cheese, while the fresh crisp lemony cucumber and fuels green salad cleansed the palate for the next course. Our mains were the Spinach Ricotta Raviolo (giant ravioli stuffed with spinach snd ricotta bathed in a delicious beet crema) and the Casarecce (house-made garlic sausage with mushroom and fresh tomato and grana). Both were expertly paired with wine and utterly delicious: beautifully presented and well-portioned. We had just enough room for dessert - the olive oil cake with strawberry gelato. YUM. Can't wait to come back and try the panna cotta. If the food hasn't convinced you, the ownership and employee policy will hopefully sway you. Everyone is paid a living wage - no tip needed, though we were happy to thank them for their time and attention, and of course, the great food. Don't let this gem escape your attention - celebrating a year next week! read more

Fiore, Adam and all the people at L'Oca D'Oro do a magnificent job at making you feel at home. Each person is a great host. I am from Rome and I love our culinary tradition of course. I went there the first time for a brunh with my girlfriend. I open the menu and i read "spaghetti alla gricia". i could not believe it. everyone knows carbonara but who could imagine that in Austin, TX i could find the gricia. I tried it. i finished it. i loved every sigle bite of it. the week after we went back. i decided to order off the menu. i ask for Carbonara. Fiore made it. i devoured it and i ordered another one. It was perfect. I could make a list of the wonderful appetizers, the entrées, the desserts the wines.. it is just a great place, great food great people. the atmosphere is simple like a sunny sunday morning. For me, definitely the best place in town! Grazie Fiore, Adam and each and everyone at L'Oca d'Oro. read more

Made brunch reservations for my birthday a few weeks ago for a party of 10. Our reservation was set for 12:30, when we arrived our table was ready (I was happy about that) there were only a few other table being served at that time. After this it all goes down hill for us, by the time the server was ready take our order around 12:40 they had ran out of a few things in the menu, our food took about 1:20 mim (needless to say we were all starving), no one came to apologize for the wait or bring a few baskets of bread to make our wait a bit more enjoyable. The food was good but not worth the wait! It was definitely worth the 2 hour wait. At the end of our meal we wanted to order some coffee and we were told that they only had cow milk, no other milk substitutions.. really??? in Austin where half the population has food restrictions. I think this place has the potential but they need to get their act together!!! read more

Great meal last night! Everything we ate was wonderful. The entire staff seemed to be involved with our experience. Top notch wine list. These folks know what they are doing and a welcome addition to the Austin restaurant scene. Go now before it becomes impossible. read more

I recently went to L'Oca d'Oro for a weekday happy hour. The upside, I will describe below. The downside is that I have been missing out on this place for the last year. I was greeted by Adam, who was charming and immediately sat us in the sunlight-filled open dining room. The space was natural, bright, and inviting. And, I look forward to watching as the vines grow above on the high ceilings. We started out with a "Lake Como" - which was rum, juniper cordial, w rosemary syrup, which was delightful and well worth the $6 hh price and a glass of dry Rose. The "Bread Plate" with cultured (in-house) citrus butter was the beginning of many highlights to come - and a steal at $2.50. (I later jokingly asked our server if I could get a tub of that butter to go - and he offered to oblige. My better judgement and self-control declined.) We ordered the fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Tecolote Farm Nantes Carrots (http://tecolotefarm.net/), (in-house) Smoked Brisket Meatballs, & Ricotta Gnocchi with Beet puree & Pistachio Relish. It's been almost a week and I am still thinking about that Mozzarella (with wild dewberry jam). I have been ambitious in the past and tried to make my own Mozzarella and have enjoyed it at Bufalina before.. but THIS. The bite! The flavor! I had completely forgotten about the grilled bread that accompanied it, until the end. I may or may not have been a savage and put the remaining triangle in my purse. Who knows? The Ricotta Gnocchi had really stuk out to us on the menu, and it did not disappoint. I could seriously order just that and a glass of wine and call it a night. I say that with a bit of jest as I fully intend on trying the Lasagna Bolognese & grilled zucchini on my next visit (which can't happen soon enough). Overall, we were delighted by our experience. It was comforting to see a place that has organically become a neighborhood spot in the Mueller development, without it feeling like I was in a development (did I mention the high ceilings and natural light?). There were (well behaved) families, couples celebrating, and singular diners among us, all having a good time. Lastly, I would like to commend the owners on their fair wage gratuity policy. As someone who has previously worked in the service industry, I have experienced the pros and cons of fine dining, first hand. Often times, the server is rewarded and the kitchen staff works endless hours for minimal pay. I gladly support a system that benefits ALL employees and respect this trend of thoughtful restaraunt owners. read more

I had the pleasure of eating brunch here today- my second time at the restaurant but my first time at brunch. I had the garlic sausage with polenta and fried Brussels sprouts. I never thought I could be so excited by polenta, but it was seriously amazing. It was creamy and buttery, and the perfect compliment to the slightly spicy sausage. My dad had the burger, and it was fabulous as well. Next time, I'll bring my daughters, sit outside, and order a cocktail. What a great addition to the Austin dining scene! read more

Food was "ok." The problem with the automatic gratuity is that service suffers. I think I understand what they are trying to do, but they should consider the reason tipping servers is customary.... it encourages better service and rewards those who give stellar service. I won't be back mainly because I paid an 18% tip for service I could have gotten for free at a place where you aren't even expected to tip.... read more

Worked our way through as much of the menu as three people could! Favorites were the crostini and the raviolo, but menu changes based on availability of local produce. Watermelon cocktail was perfect. Our server Alyssa's suggestions were spot-on. We look forward to our next visit and applaud their commitment to fair wages for their staff. read more

This place was honestly just OK. I really liked what I got, the Squash Frittata and the Caprese Risotto. Didn't know the frittata was going to be served cold, but the flavor made up for that. My husband also got the meatballs as an appetizer and liked them as well. Though his meatballs weren't cold, they were on the side of lukewarm. Again, flavor was good so we gave them a pass there. My main complaint with this place was the noise. I could barely hear myself think much less talk with my husband. When you are a going to a fancy Italian place with expensive food, you want some intimacy and quiet, at least I do. I would not recommend this place for a date or for older people who struggle to hear. The seating is in an open area with high ceilings and concrete floors. When I'm eating a nice dinner with my husband I don't want to feel like I'm at a concert or bar with everyone screaming around me. The big disappointment food wise was my husband's sausage Rigatoni, no sauce, the noodles were al dente to the point of being almost under cooked, and they gave him like 2 measly crumbles of sausage. For $16 you shouldn't be skimping on the meat like that. The risotto was good but oily. For fancy Italian that actually matches the price point, I recommend Andiamo Ristorante or Gino's Vino just down the road which is really high dollar but has an excellent atmosphere and amazing food. read more

Decor & Atmosphere: Rate 3 Stars. Clean except for handwashing sink area in restroom corridor not which was not well maintained. The small restaurant is new, well lit, and the decor is modern and nice but seemed cramped with narrow isle and no room for waiting customers. Food: Rate 2 Stars. My $16 hamburger was way too salty and accompanying few potato wedges were almost rock hard and dry. Other brunch plates ordered at our table were just OK. Portions rather small and on pricey side for what you get. Service & Management Policy: Rate 1 Star: Very inflexible in accommodating individual customer preferences such as making the poached egg white firm throughout but for which there would be an additional $2 charge. Additional toast was requested for another order when it arrived but did not come until after she had finished her meal. Although the waitress was pleasant service was rather slow. The bill came without any mention of the routine 18% charge on all bills here regardless of party size. Such an obligatory tip amount shows little respect for the customer's ability to properly reward for services rendered. In summary, except for it's proximity to a busy area with the Thinkery, playground and Farmer's market, dining here is not recommended with so many other better food choices in this city. read more

Wow!! I am in the retiring business and have dined around the planet . This was truly an amazing experience . Attention to detail, creativity, presentation, all superb . Fun play with food . Subtle smoke flavors and combinations . Service was amazing . Will be back with my two executive chefs to have them enjoy this delight ! read more

Wow! Wow! Wow! We had an EXTRAORDINARILY delicious meal of fresh made dishes: Fresh grains ground in-house for the wide variety of homemade pastas cooked just right, a grilled romaine salad with loads of extras and a light, lemony-fennel dessert that is unmatched!! This is a "must" for Austin locals and visitors. Service was exceptionally friendly and attentive, without smothering us. We will definitely be back!!! read more

We are here for dinner last night for the first time. The food is delicious- best restaurant meal I can remember in a while. We had the meatballs to start and everything about them was wonderful. For our entrees we had the Doppio Ravioli and the Wood Roasted Mushroom Lasagna. The plates look a tad small but it was ok with us since we were able to eat every bite of it (which is unusual for me) and did not want to leave any on the plate since it was so tasty! We sat at the bar to eat and enjoyed the thorough explanations and recommendations from the server who you could tell truly enjoys what he does and sharing that information with his customers. It is pricey but we will definitely be back for special occasions or when we want to treat ourselves again to a wonderful dinner. They do automatically charge a 20% gratuity but circled it on the receipt to make sure we were aware of that. Given the service and excellent food, you will want to tip 20% or even more- it is well deserved. read more

I had one of the best meals I've had in Austin in a very long time! Everything was delicious, creative and unique.

Dropped in for Sunday brunch without a reservation. Greeted pleasantly and given a good table. Great service. Good drinks....interesting, refreshing, adult. (Tried the cucumber Rita and bloody Bartolo) Really enjoyed the food. Was a bit apprehensive when the frittata arrived, as it looked more like a strata. Delicious by any name! Nice salads and yummy dressing. Just right! The Full Italian was a lot of food! Also delicious. Multigrain toast...simply perfect. Did I say we got great service? Not on my regular route, but I will go back. read more

The atmosphere is very nice, the service was very good. Our issue was the food. The first time we went we had the mushroom lasagna and it was very dry and over-cooked. We just went again a few nights ago and the appetizer meatballs were over-cooked, unless they are meant to seem burned. My sausage seemed very under-cooked, though the flavor was good. But the sauce with the sausage was far too salty to eat. The olive oil cake was good as was the bread. I hope they improve their food. read more

Another fantastic meal and pleasant experience at this amazing spot! The happy hour is a great addition, and though I love sitting at the bar and watching the action, I was glad to be able to sit on the side patio and enjoy the weather. Friendly, attentive service and overall great vibe. Can't wait to go back already. Did I mention the incredible cocktails!? read more

Very mediocre meal, especially for the price we paid. And to add insult to injury, they AUTOMATICALLY add an 18% tip! I didn't notice that tiny line on my bill, but did notice the large line "+TIP ___________" so I added my standard 20%. So these guys got a tip of almost 40% for slow (though friendly and kind) service. Two of our three meals were very, very salty - one to the point of being inedible. The cheese/veggies/meat plate was good, though, and I would order it again. The space itself is lovely and I hope this restaurant gets it together so we can go there again. read more

We were in from Houston visiting our daughter for her birthday and she suggested L'Oca d'Oro. We are so glad she did! The food was delicious! It isn't your typical Italian restaurant so don't go expecting your grandmother's lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs. It is innovative and delightful. I agree with others that the noise level is higher than preferred, and Sunday evenings appear to be popular with families, but we didn't let that deter us. We took advantage of the seasonal items such as figs and enjoyed homemade stracciatella (the cheese not the gelato) and mozzarella, mushroom lasagna and pasta. We were treated to a special dessert by the sous chef and our waitress was charming. This place is a must try if you live in Austin or are just visiting! It's worth the trip! read more

Brunch... Zeppolis? ( pumpkin puffy.. Like donuts, except better. The frittata with sweet potato, kale and peppers was yummy too... With garnish fingerling potato chips. And, starting brunch off just right, melon juice with prosecco cocktail. Their first day for brunch. Impressive, attentive, friendly staff . Can't wait to return! read more

Fantastic! Beautiful and creative food in a sophisticated, yet very Austin-vibe, environment. Adam, the co-owner, is welcoming and is helping move the Austin food scene fresh and forward! read more

The food, what I got of it, was good. The portions are small for the price but the worst thing about this place is the service. Sides came after the entrée was finished, my companion asked for more bread which never arrived. The servers don't seem to care much because they know they are going to get a 18% tip no matter how bad the service is. Yes folks, they add 18% to every table, read more

Great, fresh, and very tasty food, and amazing management. We had a celebration for a couple of friends at L'Oca and the management (kudos to Adam!) and Chef Fiore were nothing but extremely gracious, and accommodating. They worked with us every step of the way. We had the pork leg with polenta and mushrooms (I believe it's off-menu and was brought out by the chef himself) to share for our large party, along with the omnivore app and several pasta and veggie dishes. The quality and taste of the dishes were superb. The drinks were also very good. Every single item was delicious and liked by everyone in our group. It really couldn't have been a bigger hit and we walked out with very happy bellies. The menu has small portion or to share options. One note, as others have mentioned, 18% gratuity is added automatically to your bill so keep this in mind. All in all, this is a great addition to the Mueller area. We will definitely be back! read more

This place is such a gem! Everything tastes so fresh and is so thoughtfully prepared. Today we visited for brunch and I had a pasta dish that was absolutely divine. The pasta is homemade and combined with just a few expertly chosen, high-quality items--I was not expecting it to taste SO incredibly better than any I'd ever had before. Really remarkable. My husband had the french toast, which was also beyond delicious and better than any we'd had before. Even the tea and coffee was measurably better than average. The last time I visited I had a pastrami and egg dish that was not typically something I would order, but I tried it because it came recommended. Oh my gosh--it was so good. The menu changes based upon the freshest available ingredients. These people know what they are doing and we are so lucky to have their expertise in Austin. Sitting on their pretty patio, I felt like I was in a fine Manhattan restaurant. Lately I've found that brunch pretty much anywhere in Austin costs $35-$40 dollars for two. That's what you'll pay here, but the quality is significantly better than any other brunch in town. Their happy hour and dinners are also amazing. It's such a treat to have this wonderful restaurant in Austin! read more

We had a graduation dinner here that was arranged about a month in advance. From the start, L'Oca D'Oro was great at communicating with us about what we wanted. We were able to pick the food and wine before the dinner, where everything was served family style. This made the whole event really easy since no one had to order anything individually. The food was outstanding from the appetizers to the dessert. Even the vegetable sides almost stole the show. The service was attentive without being overbearing. The servers were also accommodating when we had a few last minute changes. The best part was that we were able to give them our payment information in advance so that there was no fighting for the check at the end. It was a seamless and easy process. Overall, I highly recommend using L'Oca D'Oro for a large dinner party. They handled everything wonderfully, and we may have to go back again for another big occasion. read more