I am so impressed with how delicious this spot is and was even more impressed at the price point given the quality of the food. We parked at the hotel and had a reservation for a table, but chose to be seated at the bar. I loved their interior design and color palette of the whole place. We shared a handful of small dishes to start based on the recommendations of our amazing waiter, Will. The olives were meaty and flavorful, the mozarella paired nicely with the seeded sourdough, and the whipped white beans were such a highlight. The arancini were a must order, and for my main I got the malfadine - it was absolutely perfect. Every single dish was perfect - so flavorful and plated beautifully. I'd love to come back and try more dishes and try their brunch menu as well! read more

Austin, Tx. Coming here was an enjoyable experience, mostly due to the exceptionally crafted food that was innovative and perhaps a bit daring. It goes without saying that the food was also delicious. The restaurant is on the small side, somewhat intimate, the bar seating occupies about the same amount of floor area. The lighting is dim but thankfully not too dark. The overall ambiance is casual, possibly romantic. On my night of dining it was party time at a couple other tables so there was a lot of alcohol infused laughter and revelation. It was all good, nothing was distracting me from the presentations offered plate by plate. The hostess was nice with an edgy look, I thought I was going to be immersed into a hipster punky situation, but no, all was good. The waitstaff were all exceptionally friendly and not at all stuffy. I mention this only because perhaps being Michelin recognized might bring forth a bit of attitude, but not a trace of that. Things I tried on that evening: Arancini, very tasty, the chili pesto reached out and gets your attention without being dominate. I'd share this one though, it's a filler upper. Sourdough bread, fresh baked on the premises served sliced and warm with black garlic olive oil. Wonderful. Gnocchi, a most unusual and surprising version of this classic. Each morsel is wrapped in prosciutto and fried, served with a honey sauce and Parmesan. Nothing like the gnocchi in a sauce that is so familiar to me. I loved this creation. Simple salad, with a champagne vinaigrette. Fresh and crisp Bibb lettuce with flavor bursts of mint. Very nice. Caesar Salad, a light and tangy example with awesome fresh and crisp greens. The lemony infusion into the dressing is just great. Lasagne, a truly awesome rendition of this old standby, it was not overly cheesy, nor was there any sharp tomato sauce annoyances, it was just pretty much a perfect lasagne. I loved how a slight crust was formed on top with the Mozzarella, Bechamel, and Parmesan. Tuscan fried chicken, a very moist, boneless piece of chicken that was of good size, served on a bed of lemon rosemary yougurt. The surprise was the peach pieces that made this dish so interesting. A beautiful presentation included. Rib Eye Steak, this steak reminded me a lot of a Koji marinated one. It was too salty (As Well As the Sauce) for my liking, and the texture of the beef, while tender, yes, but just not "Steak" as I've come to know it. Probably not 16 ounces either but that is a minor point. Bottom line is that this steak is not worth $90. Steelhead Trout, in this case it was not trout, but a small piece of salmon instead. I was underwhelmed by this serving, it was just a bit too blah compared to my expectations of this restaurant. Ok, I get it, not every dish is going to be a "Wow!" The chili sauce was very good however and saved the dish. The pistachio mix accompanying the fish was excellent but lost in the grass like garnish. Olive oil cake with sherry poached peaches and whipped ricotta, a superb dessert without being too sweet. Budino, roasted white chocolate on top of a decadent chocolate espresso type of mousse that tasted like dark Belgian, with a hint of bitterness. This dessert is close to being dangerous. Affogato, the espresso here Is top of the line as evidenced by their great lattes (Even though too small). However for this dish the gelato is not vanilla but maple or banana. I tried a scoop of each. The maple did well with the espresso but the banana was a total failure. Chèvre cheesecake with pistachios and amareno cherries. My first goat cheese cheesecake. I'm a believer. This is the best cheesecake I've ever had, and the topping was just amazing. The pairing was a bit of a mind blower. The pastry chef is most likely some kind of genius. We enjoyed these dinners for two and walked out totally satiated and impressed. The total bill only came to $128 (Steak Night $184) which included beer and coffee. read more

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All the staff, from hostess to waiter to bussing, were amazing. Food was wonderful with unique, really tasty dishes for brunch. We'll be back for dinner! read more

Nice quaint place with cute decor and ambiance. Very green and nature like. I think the pasta is really good here. We got the Mafaldine and it was really good. Right noodle texture and creamy mushroom sauce with just enough cheese and greens. Originally came here because the Carbonara looked really good, but unfortunately I guess their pastas rotate so they only had Cacio E Pepe, though that also looked good despite us not getting to try it. The pork chop was tender but the sauce or whatever was underneath (the white creamy part) was a bit over-powering. All in all the service was great, not too fast, not too slow. read more

Poeta - Mafaldine - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The owner Ian is one of the rudest & most condescending people I have ever interacted with. Would not recommend this place to anyone. Highly unprofessional. read more

We tried brunch at Poeta, and it was just fine. The service was a little spotty--food took a while to come out, and the server was a little awkward. The food was good--a friend and I split the biscuits and gravy entree and a sweet kolache (mascarpone and some kind of fruit jam). The biscuits and gravy were good, and, though a bit doughy, I liked the sweet kolache too. Our table split the wafflegato for dessert, and it was tasty--it was just what it sounds like: waffle and gelato, with an espresso pour-over. read more

Our food was absolutely delicious. The brunch menu was limited, so we were really expecting much. We were all pleasantly surprised with the depth of flavor. Not pictured, but an absolute must is a mug of the best coffee in Austin. Service was attentive and friendly. The dinner vibe was perfect for brunch. read more

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First meal on my most recent trip to ATX and I started it off with a WAFFLEGATO. The waffle was so crispy and perfect that Leslie Knope would love. I also wanted to drink the espresso butter, it was DELIGHTFUL. I then proceeded some Kolaches (all of them - I ordered all of them) as well as side salad. The overall vibe of this place is awesome and the servers couldn't be more nice and friendly! Poeta is located inside the East Austin hotel! read more

This newly reopened Italian restaurant in East Austin is a perfect fit for the neighborhood. The inside is gorgeous and the staff is friendly and courteous. Our fav dishes of the night were at the start, which was the tuna and the end with the pork. Both were two of the best dishes we've had in Austin. My husband and I could not make up our minds between the two pasta dishes, the rigatoni or carbonara. Both outstanding! The cheesecake was just okay but it was on the house in celebration of my husband's birthday. We chose it but next time we'll be trying the Olive Oil cake or gelato. My husband had 3 cocktails and all were unique and fresh. Don't hesitate, just go! read more

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We just went to the newly opened spot at east Austin hotel. Overall it's a cute vibe but the menu options were just ok (nothing exciting) and the pastas (mafaldine and the trottole) were slightly overcooked/too soggy. The sauces were also just ok. The goat cheese dessert was good. read more

Poeta - Gnocchi with lamb - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

I visited Poeta for a solo birthday dinner, and I can honestly say it was one of the most special dining experiences I've ever had. From the moment I walked in, the entire team made me feel incredibly celebrated. The ambiance is spot-on, it's sexy and sophisticated without being too dark or overly moody. It's the kind of place that feels high-end yet welcoming the second you step through the door. I started with the Arancini, followed by the Caesar salad, and finished with the Carbonara. Every single dish was outstanding. The flavors were authentic, fresh, and perfectly executed. To top off an already amazing meal, the team gifted me the Budino for my birthday dessert, which was the perfect sweet ending to the night. I have to give a massive shout-out to my server, Ethan. He was fantastic and truly deserves all the accolades. He was attentive, kind, and went above and beyond to make sure my solo celebration felt significant. That hospitality extended to everyone I encountered; from the hostess to the food runners and the person clearing my table, the entire staff made me feel amazing. I felt like the happy tears emoji the entire time. I'm already counting down the days until I can come back and share this gem with my friends and family. If you want incredible food and world-class service, go to Poeta! read more

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Oven Roasted Swordfish. It was good. This is the 85 characters.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... read more

Poeta - Oven Roasted Swordfist - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Small menu, drink tasted like gasoline, my 17 yr old brother makes better pasta. Rude staff. Save your time and calories. Pastries also bad

My new favorite Italian spot in Austin! We went here for my birthday dinner and had a great experience. I can't wait to go here more often now that I know what to expect. We parked on the street and arrived at the time of our reservation, and were seated right away. They had a cute little Happy Birthday sign on the table for me. I started with a glass of the Super Tuscan and we decided on our menu. My fiance and I could have ordered so many things, so we just will have to go back again soon to try more! We shared the caesar salad and the arancini: taleggio fonduta, herb pesto and parmesan. The cheese sauce was amazing and the arancini had the perfect chewy and crunchy texture. Loved both! The caesar salad was so fresh with lemon juice to brighten it from all the salty cheese. Perfect. I went with the trottole for my pasta: pesto genovese, pine nut crumble. It also had sundried tomatoes mixed throughout. I absolutely loved this dish and the fresh pasta was delicious. I loved the shape too! I've never heard of trottole! My fiance loved the carbonara. We finished with the budino dessert that we will absolutely get again. It reminded us of a pot de creme, but with a very fudgy bottom layer. The salty crunchies on the top with the smooth chocolate pudding? were chef's kiss. We also thought prices were so reasonable and expected it to be much more expensive. I also enjoyed a glass of barbera with dessert. 5 stars- can't wait to go back! I have been raving about this dinner to everyone!! read more

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We came here luckily on their last night at this location. Thankful they are just moving locations because the service was great and the food was absolutely delicious! One of our friends is vegetarian so they provided us with a vegetarian friendly menu. Our group was so full but we did get some of their desserts back to our air bnb and thank God we did because it was DELICIOUS! They are opening their new spot spring 2025 at swoop house and swoop events according to their IG! * Spaghetti - carbonara, grilled pork, leek, black pepper $22 * Arancini - eggplant ragu, parmesan, basil $10 * Tagliatelle - mushroom, arugula, parmesan $24 * Chicken Milanese - prosciutto, endive, caper, parm $24 * Gnocchi - beef confit, tomato butter, crispy onion $26 x 2 *Trottole - basil pesto, tomato, cured olive $18 x 2 * Chèvre cheesecake, pistachio, cherry $8 x 3 * Classic tiramisu $9 * Sovereign Throne N/A orange hop water lime basil $7 read more

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We love to stay at Frances Modern Inn whenever we are in Austin. We've been coming here since it was Cat Noir. Poeta is a new addition and it is a gem. We started with the Racecar and the Poeta Spritz. The Racecar was very heavy and sweet. It had a good flavor but was too sweet for me. The Poeta Spritz was refreshing and had a great flavor. For the antipasta, we chose mozzarella and mortadella along with the grilled cauliflower. The mortadella had a chili jelly and was so good. The mozzarella was very tasty but the cauliflower stole the show. Next, we shared the gnocchi. It was so good with the beef and the fried onions, giving it just the right amount of crispiness. For dessert, we had the tort. It was delicious and had such a great constancy. My husband had a cortado and I had an earl gray tea to finish off. Every bite of food was delicious. It was thoughtfully made and a great blend of flavors. The only slight downside were the cocktails but otherwise you can't go wrong here It is a tiny location, so be sure to make reservations early! read more

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Marinated eggplant sandwich on toasted focaccia bread - simple but delicious! Will return to try what looked like a fabulous beet salad (FOR REAL)! read more

Poeta - What a beauty - marinated eggplant. - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've had Poeta on my foodie list for a long time - and it was totally worth the wait! I attended for a friends birthday dinner, so we had a rather large group. The group ordered a handful of starters to share. We tried the fresh mozzarella, mortadella, arancini, grilled cauliflower and beef tartare. The mozzarella cheese was absolutely delicious - accompanied by delicious warm fresh bread. For an entree, I ordered the blue crab mezzalune. I was torn between this and the gnocci (which I tried and was INCREDIBLE!). I thoroughly enjoyed my dish and the portion was large enough for a midnight snack later that evening. The service was also excellent. The waitress was incredibly attentive and well informed on the menu. I look forward to returning and trying out their gelato truck! read more

Poeta - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Had the spaghetti carbonara and wow. Perfectly al dente pasta coated in the creamiest, silky sauce with just the right amount of richness. The balance of savory and peppery notes was spot on. The vibes? Moody, warm, and intimate -- the kind of place that makes you want to linger a little longer. Definitely a spot I'd come back to for both the flavor and the atmosphere. read more

Poeta - Spaghetti Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Poeta recently moved to a house with gorgeous outdoor area on Gonzalez street. There is ample parking as this space is tucked away but still in the heart of the East side. You're greeted with a beautifully staged patio upon arrival followed by a very well furnished restaurant inside with open kitchen. The service was friendly and attentive. The menu is a pre-fixe so that makes it simple -- you can choose pescatarian or vegetarian if you need mods. There's an optional wine pairing or you can order from their full bar / cocktail menu, including NA options. The outdoor area is expansive, would be a fun place to host an event! read more

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I had a beautiful evening all alone at the bar here. I was in town for work, so I made a night of it sipping all the cocktails and having a four-course meal. The staff was amazing and I enjoyed conversing with them. The food was every bit as delicious as I expected it to be. I loved the chicken liver mousse and the mezzalune. I did get the grilled Caesar, but I think I would opt for something else next time. The cocktails were all fantastic as well. Overall a very enjoyable evening of food, craft cocktails, and people watching! read more

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Amazing - lives up go the hype! We stopped in without a reservation around 6 pm and were able to get seated before the reservation at 7:30 arrived. Staff was super helpful and we appreciated it! The indoor is decorated so well - love the lamps and dark, floral vibe happening inside. We ordered: The arancini - great starter with eggplant ragú - personally I wish it had a lil more cheese inside but it was still great. The beet salad - amazing!! So delicious and refreshing- beets with avocado, orange and some nuts and dill I think with a vinaigrette- truly worth getting. The spaghetti - my personal favorite of both pastas we ordered - creamy and rich! The rigatoni was also warming and flavorful with the sausage and both pastas cooked perfectly with the right amount of bite. The olive oil cake - WOW. Just get it. Grapefruit and whipped cream - we ate this in less than 2 minutes. I got the belon - tequila based cocktail - sweet but strong - loved it! My partner got the spaghetti western - he loved it - strong whiskey cocktail with lemon peel - super fragrant. We loved everything and hope to return soon! read more

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I visited for lunch with a coworker on a quiet afternoon. The restaurant has a moody, intimate vibe, and the service was attentive. The menu includes paninis, pasta, antipasto dishes, and even some sweet options, with a gelato truck outside. I tried the meatball sandwich with a side salad and it was satisfying but not too heavy. They also offer a weekday happy hour on drinks and antipasto, which I'd love to check out sometime. One downside though parking is limited, so plan accordingly. read more

Poeta - Meatball Panini - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Cute place with excellent service! The food was 10/10. Everything we had was so good and rich in flavor! Definitely would recommend ! read more

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Service was incredible and food/drinks absolutely top notch. The vibes were immaculate for an intimate friendship to have a business-related dinner. The night cap on the rooftop bar was perfect and the entire experience just exactly what I would want for a nice dinner out and away from my kiddo. WORTH IT, if you know what I mean. I heard the rooftop bar is considering putting in a little bookshelf and it would be so cool to fill it with local poets. Also the price is just so good for the experience and cuisine offered. Bless! Thank you for being a lovely memory during these dark times. Xoxo. read more

The service was excellent, and I was seated promptly with my reservation. For the cocktail, I had the Antica Sour, which was perfectly balanced--definitely a great choice for gin lovers. For my entrée, I went with the Mezzalune, and it was absolutely delicious! The lemon flavor was subtle and complemented perfectly by the fennel and sauce. As for dessert, the Chèvre cheesecake was just okay for me, but if you enjoy goat cheese, I would highly recommend it. My personal favorite, though, was the tiramisu--it was exceptional! read more

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This restaurant is full of creativity, carefully curated ingredients, and a wonderful atmosphere. Italian food with fine flair, elegance, and impeccable service., Our favorite restaurant in Austin for sure. read more

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I've been meaning to come to Poeta for months, and I finally made it! My friend and I made a reservation a few days prior and snagged one of the last 2 reservations available for the night. I received a text roughly 15 minutes before our reservation time saying our table was ready and to feel free to come early if we wanted. We arrived at the time of our original reservation (5:45) and were seated immediately. Service was attentive and knowledgeable. Our server let us know about the menu, asked about dietary restrictions (pretty standard), and was helpful throughout the meal. We were told to order all plates from the start, because our server would course it out for us. We started with the tuna carpaccio (this was a surprisingly large portion) and the grilled Caesar salad (this was very flavorful!). Then, we got the mezzalune pasta (came with about 6 pieces, but they were each pretty big) and the Wagyu beef (the risotto in this dish is superb!). It was a 10/10 dining experience. The only downside is the parking. I ended up finding free street parking in the neighborhood behind the restaurant, and my friend paid for street parking in front of the restaurant. I wish Poeta had a lot for customers, but in this part of town, that is hard to come by. Nevertheless, parking is the only "con" I can think of, and it won't stop me from coming back to Poeta to try more of the menu! read more

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Off the bat, parking is a little annoying just because you have to find street parking. But it isn't too bad, and poeta is pretty lenient on if you're a bit late to your reservation due to trying to find parking. Your best bets are probably to try either Lydia St or Waller St. The interior of Poeta is also so pretty. And it's not overcrowded so that you can actually appreciate the interior design. And the servers are all so friendly and attentive. The food is also so good! With Italian food, the impression (for me at least) is usually that everything is so heavy and you're gonna leave feeling super bloated. But that wasn't the case at all. And I love that most of the dishes come with veggies like a side salad. The Arancini was really good. It was hot and crispy. And the rice itself was well flavored and still really moist. The tuna conserva was not fishy at all. And it was nice that there were also some bigger chunks. And they were really light on the mayo so the whole dish was super light. The chicken milanese was so delicious. The chicken was super crispy, while the meat inside was still so juicy and buttery. And the sauce paired really well with it. But my personal favorite was the blue crab cake. I was a little shocked at how expensive it was at first. But it makes sense, considering how much crab is actually in the cake. Most places barely have any crab, so you can barely taste it and it's all just breading and filling. But this was practically all crab. And the lemony sauce with it was addicting. To end it all, we got the olive oil cake. Also super light and super delicious. But I was indifferent to the citrus cream on top. read more

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OUTSTANDING!!! 10/10!Delicious pasta and great service! The tuna was incredible!Will definitely be back!

2nd time coming to this place for brunch and I absolutely love it. This time I sat in the back patio bc the weather was so nice. The service is amazing and food is fresh and unique. This is a must try for brunch in Austin! Arancini: 10/10 If you love a savory breakfast then this is a must. I got mine with extra poached eggs simply for more protein. The lamb is so tender and the crunch of the Arancini is a perfect combination. Wafflegato: 9.5/10 ordered this for dessert but could be eaten as a main dish if your someone who has a sweet tooth. The espresso butter is the perfect addition to tone down the sweetness. If you like affogatos you'll love this. Mozzarella: 6.5/10 really fresh mozzarella. Can tell it's made in house. My only complaint is I wish it come with some bread or crackers to eat with it. read more

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This is such a hidden gem. If you are looking for some good Italian then add this to your list! Their menu selection was solid, having a large amount of dishes to pick from. We had the mortadella, arancini, and the ceasar salad (so good!) Honestly the best ceasar salad I've had in Austin. For mains, we got the rigatoni and the carbonara which were both absolutely delicious and fresh. I would also like to highlight the service! We were very taken care of the entire dinner and the servers were very attentive. Anthony was great! Highly recommend coming here! read more

More like 3.5 stars than 4 stars. Arrived on Friday night around 9pm, half of the restaurant was only filled. Ambience of the place is nice. Waitress was very nice, got drink order quickly but then took like 10 minutes for her to come back to take the food order and it wasn't that busy. It happened to be restaurant week, they're offering a 4 course tasting menu for $60. Not great but it had. Arancini was the best appetizer out of the three we got (arancini, beets and chicken liver mousse). The grilled Caesar and Bibb salad was fine, it's a salad. Halibut entree was good except for the aioli sauce and the crouton underneath became soggy real quick. Meatballs was solid but the sauce that comes with it was just mid, nothing special. The gnocchi lamb was the best entree of the three we ordered. We were excited for the dessert, tiramisu and the pistachio cheesecake. The cheesecake slice was tiny!! The tiramisu was decent size but it was meh not the best tiramisu we've had. Overall, another mid place in Austin that's overpriced for what it is. And suggested tips 20 - 30% ...outrageous. Would come back to try another pasta on the menu though. read more

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I love living within walking distance of Poeta. Italian fare at decent pricing. Accommodating staff. Cute decor. Fave part...the adorbs gelato trailer with the most delicious and unique gelato flavors. Always reminds me of trips to Italy. read more

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Delicious! The gnocchi is wonderful. For some reason Yelp thinks it's permanently closed, but was just there a couple weeks ago. read more

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I cannot say enough good things about my last visit here. It was for a friend's birthday and it was so perfect. The table was ready on time, the waiter was nice, food was delicious and super easy. The crab stuff pasta and small appetizers plates were my favorite. The drinks were very good and so worth the price. I wish we would have stepped on the back patio but the restaurant isn't super big but there's a lot of tables. Definitely recommend making a reservation. I can't wait to come back here!! read more

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I can't say enough good things about this place. From the outstanding customer service to the exquisite dishes, our experience at Poeta was excellent. Staff took good care of us, menu was concise but so creative, ambiance was beautiful, and the bill wasn't outrageous although I would've paid more for that meal! read more

Poeta - Malfaldine and Spaghetti Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I'm screaming. Screaming with joy and a belly full of happiness as I write this review. I came here for a brunch date and shared our tapas styled plates. We ordered the Arancini, Tagliatelle, and the Blue Crab Cake. As soon as we took our first bites of the Arancini, we became mute. We were so engrossed in the delicious food that we ended up eating probably more than we did talking. The tagliatelle was perfectly al dente and drenched in a velvety sauce. The Arancini, *chefs kiss* our favorite dish, was unlike anything we've ever had. The outside had the perfect crisp, while inside was warm and creamy. I'm not typically a fan of lamb, but felt it elevated the ragu sauce. We couldn't get enough of our dishes! We also saw they had Tuna Carpaccio and Risotto, but both dishes are only served during dinner-- which we'll have to [happily] return for. Plates are quite pricey averaging around $23/item, but so worth it! For dessert, I recommend stopping at Poeta's gelato truck out front. Vegan and gluten free options available. read more

Poeta - Arancini for Brunch - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Cute interior. Pasta was yummy. Great for date nights or a girls night out. Service was super friendly and helpful. read more

Poeta - Tuna carpaccio - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

I love this new space - the vibes are cosy yet chic. The food and drinks are delicious and I'm definitely excited to come back and try this spot for brunch one weekend. Love this area of e 11th where you can still find parking easily too. Food we tried: - trittole pesto pasta - so good but a bit strong for me and not that unique flavor wise - beef filet - really enjoyed this dish and so well seasoned - arancini - good but nothing unique read more

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