Top 5 Italian Restaurants in Austin

Load up on those carbs to prepare for winter weather!

Vespaio 
1610 South Congress Avenue

Vespaio has been a staple on South Congress since it first opened in 1998. The name ‘Vespaio‘ means ‘buzzing’ in Italian and was inspired by the beehive that was found within the walls during the original demolition project on the building. The name fits, Vespaio is always ‘buzzing’ with excitement as guests enjoy some of the city’s best Italian cuisine. The restaurant offers a rotating menu full of delicious pasta dishes and everything is made in house. One constant that they keep on the menu that seems to be everyone’s favorite is the Pansotti Di Zucca – half moon pasta filled with butternut squash and amaretti and topped with sage brown butter, walnuts, crispy sage, and parmigiano reggiano. Vespaio opens at 5:30pm Sunday – Friday and at 5:00pm on Saturdays. If you’re craving italian on your lunch break, next door is Enoteca Vespaio, an extension of the original Vespaio that is open for both lunch and dinner as well as for Sunday brunch!

Patrizi’s 
2307 Manor Road

Originally a family run restaurant in Beaumont, Patrizi brothers Matt and Nic reopened the family business in 2013, this time as a trendy Austin food truck! This little italian gem is hidden behind The Vortex and Butterfly Bar and offers up some of the most delicious fresh pasta with homemade sauces. Their red sauce, an old family recipe, is heavenly and will transport you right to Italy. Other fan favorites include the Cacio E Pepe, Pomodoro, and The Great Leopold. What makes Patrizi’s truly special is their Dinner Night, hosted on Wednesday Nights. A special menu is prepared and guests can sit at the outdoor tables and relax while enjoying a full 3-5 course meal while sipping wine from the Butterfly Bar. The inviting and lively atmosphere, delicious food, and exceptional service will make you feel like part of the Patrizi family!

Andiamo Ristorante 
2521 Rutland Drive

Andiamo is truly authentic Italian cuisine – the owner Daniela Marcone hails from Naples, Italy and uses many old family recipes in her restaurant! Marcone often travels back to Italy to keep up to date on Italian cuisine and culture and then brings her knowledge back to Austin to make sure the restaurant is serving every course, dish, and bite as it would be in Italy. Every dish is made with fresh ingredients found at local farmers markets and the wine list features many wines from small Italian producers. The Linguine Cozze e Calamari, linguini pasta, sauteed calamari, black mussels, and fresh tomato in a light spicy white wine sauce, is absolutely mouth watering, and the Orecchiette and Gnocchi dishes are some of the Marcone family’s best work! Andiamo is open for both lunch and dinner Monday – Friday and for dinner on Saturdays.

La Traviata 
314 Congress Avenue

La Traviata has been one of the most popular restaurants in Austin ever since its opening in July of 2000. Their specialty, the homemade ravioli is made fresh and prepared differently everyday, so while your favorite version might be gone tomorrow, you can bet the new dish will be just as delicious! The Rigatoni with Spicy Lamb Meatballs and the Spaghetti a la Carbonara are also cooked to perfection. For lunch they offer some awesome daily specials and don’t even get us started on the mouth watering dessert menu! Perhaps even better than the food is the restaurants amazing staff and service. Chef Marion Gillcrist is exceptional, putting love and care into every dish from the ingredients he uses to the plate’s presentation, and the level of hospitality is unmatched. La Traviata is open Monday – Friday for lunch and Monday – Saturday for dinner.

Italic 
123 West Sixth Street

Italic is a part of the ELM Restaurant Group family which includes Austin staples 24 Diner, Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden, and Irene’s. With a delicious selection of pizzas and pasta dishes and an authentic Italian wine menu, Italic is a combination of a classic Italian restaurant and a trendy Austin wine bar. The menu is updated and printed daily with locally sourced dishes that might include a butternut squash agnolotti, roasted mushroom and pumpkin gnocchi, or a classic linguine or fettucine dish. Italic also offers an impressive happy hour with half price pizza and bottles of wine available every weekday from 2:30 – 6:30pm. Their weekend specials are also worth checking out, with a late night pizza menu with drink specials including half priced wine on Friday and Saturday nights from 10:30 – 12:30 and a Sunday dinner special for $30 that includes an appetizer, pasta or pizza, and homemade gelato or sorbet for dessert!