I visited Vespaio first time in 1993. Ever since the place maintains very consistently it's quality and established business practices. The employees are friendly and professional and the food is always up to a standard.
(4)
Jennifer K.
Vespaio is my fav italian in Austin. I don't love the noise inside the restaurant, but the food makes up for it and then some. The calamari is great, the pasta with pesto sauce is amazing, the fish dishes (swordfish and sea bass) are delish. The desserts are the best combination of flavors you will ever eat. I've always thought a cook can make a good dish, but a chef can make a combination of flavors come together in a way that makes your taste buds dance. Vespaio is definitely run by a chef. Go there! You won't regret it. Make sure you eat with a little of everything in every bite for the whole experience!
(5)
Grande L.
Austin G's comments from Sherman Oaks, CA. pretty much sum up the Austin restaurant scene that my wife and I have experienced for decades now. Luckily we didn't get that at Vespaio the one evening we went or we would have left as well, But it wasn't stellar by any stretch of the imagination. We were attempting to talk to one another but the noise level was so high we had to scream to hear each other. The food is good but the portions are really small, disappointing and expensive for what you get. If you do decide to go be patient because the service is extremely slow as others have mentioned.
(2)
Michael O.
Simply amazing! Atmosphere is intimate but not quiet. The menu is loaded with delicious options. Every night they make a different risotto dish. The lasagna was wonderful and the polenta appetizer was perfect. Yes, we will be back!
(5)
Robert M.
Best Italian food I have ever had! We were seated pretty quickly and given exceptional service. Lasagna melts in your mouth with the perfect amount of sauce---good size plate, always have left overs. Authentic, freshly made pasta and cheese. The mozzarella appetizer is great. My husband had the risotto with pork and said it was the best meal he has ever had and trust me, he's pretty hard to please when it comes to food because he is very picky about the way meat is cooked, loves to cook himself and was a Butcher. Creme brulee was tasty as well. We have been to the sister restaurant next door for Sunday brunch but definitely prefer Vespaio overall.
(5)
Katherine A.
I have heard so many great things about this place and finally had to try. There was four of us and we all thought it best to share like tapas. The mozzarella is made daily and melted in my mouth. The calamari was huge piece so the taste wasn't lost in the breading. Next we had the Tuscan pizza. The taste was amazing but a little too much sauce for me but that is the only bad thing I can say. Finally we had the scallops. When they first arrived I thought they were burnt because I have never seen such a deep sear. Come to find out they cook them in the 700 degree pizza oven. And it was finished with truffle mashed. Just a stunning dish all together. I can not wait to get to Austin again and eat there again
(4)
Judah R.
We had a wonderful experience at Vespacio. The staff was very quick and professional though they did seem a little overwhelmed at times. The manager also provided excellent service. The dishes were all perfect and I appreciated the free parking in back. We will certainly return.
(5)
johnny b.
Man food is definitely really good just standard though. I think its good just other places I'd rather go. Botticellis down the street I'd put a notch above and cool outdoor seating and bar.
(3)
Kady M.
HOLY ITALIAN FOOD! Definitely worth the wait and going to. You have to try the COZZE ALLA POSILLIPO, the CARPACCIO NOSTRA MODA, LASAGNE ALLA BOLOGNESE (handmade, people) Also, FYI, I copied and pasted those Italian words..easy peezy! Ok, I could seriously go down the menu and continue to copy and paste items I've tried and loved, but I don't feel I need to. They have a great, knowledgable wait staff and an extensive wine list. I'm just going to leave my review with this--my grandmother is full-blood Italian fresh off the boat from Italy and she doesn't make as good lasagna as Vespaio. Sorry, Mammaw. Just keepin' it real.
(5)
Brian B.
As an Italian (half) from the East Coast (Philly) I didn't think I would find amazing Italian food in Austin. I was wrong. Vespaio is top notch in all regards. Loved everything about the experience... food, service, atmosphere. Phenomenal, authentic food and great wine selections. Service was perfect. The only negative is parking... but that goes with the location.
(5)
Mandy S.
It's been a couple weeks since I've been here.. And I all Ive been wanting to eat is their prosciutto pizza! The prosciutto pizza is so delicious! If you are sensitive to salt than this pizza might not be for you. If you can handle sodium...you'll love this pizza. The crust, cheese and prosciutto are crispy and you'll want to keep eating even though you're full!!!!
(4)
Bethany F.
What a fabulous restaurant! If someone doesn't have an amazing experience here than i would have to suggest that you hadn't checked your "attitude" at the front door. The chef-owner Alan Lazarus was warm and courteous and couldn't have been more proud of his staff, his patrons and his establishment. Our waiter, Reid, was OFF THE CHARTS! What a personality! Passionate about the food he serves and so knowledgeable about the extensive wine list. We sat immediately and we were greeted with genuine Austin charm. Would absolutely dine here again and i highly recommend this delightful eatery!
(5)
Greg B.
I really enjoyed this very authentic, sophisticated Italian restaurant. A beautifully appointed dining room, attentive service and creative menu and wine list all contribute to a great dining experience. I enjoyed the butternut squash ravioli, which was truly the best butternut pasta I have ever enjoyed. Fresh and nicely accented with walnuts and savory herbs, it was truly delicious. Others in our party enjoyed tasty spinach salads and the authentic Italian pizza served with a fried egg on top. Everyone agreed their dish was perfectly prepared. The wine list is very extensive, albeit a bit pricey. If I were planning a romantic dinner out, Vespaio would definitely be at the top of my list!
(5)
Gaby C.
I was feeling lucky, coming from New Jersey and trying Italian in Austin. It was amazing!!!!And a great atmosphere! I had the Pappardelle Bolognese and it was great. The restaurant manager is very nice and the waiting staff is great! I recommend it all the way!!!!
(5)
Dana H.
I have to say this is one of my favorite restaurants on south Congress. The suppli (rice balls with homemade mozz) are to die for. They have a garden out back where they grow their herbs. I go there at least once a week and they are always consistently good. If you have a sweet tooth like me, the chocolate mouse will melt in your mouth. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Larry M.
Amazing food! Amazing service! Jeff was on his game, and made sure the food was spot-on! Our guests from out of town are still talking about their meal as an "experience!"
(5)
Elizabeth R.
My dining partner and I were disappointed in the food last night at Vespaio. I had the prosciutto wrapped prawns and he had the mixed meat grill. I chose the prosciutto wrapped prawns because the servers immediate praise of the dish. It's possible we ordered some of the worst dishes on the menu judging from all the hype that Vespaio gets. It was most definitely not worth the price and I'm only giving it two stars because of the ambience, it was a very romantic atmosphere.
(2)
Leslie G.
Went for dinner with my husband on a Tuesday evening. The crowd was pleasant and the staff was friendly. We started off with a bottle of wine and calamari which were both excellent. Next came the Ceasar salad which is big enough for two to enjoy. I ordered the lasagna which in my opinion is the best in town. The only down side is you can see the kitchen staff and unfortunately everything they touch and/or do but I can honestly say it didn't stop us from enjoying our dinner which was amazing!
(4)
LeBain L.
I had a great meal here with a friend-of-a-friend while visiting Austin. Based on a list of 5 restaurants he suggested, everyone I was with before dinner recommended Vespaio. They didn't let me down! They thought it might be hard to get into, but we had no problem getting a table at 8pm on a Friday. I started with a martini at the bar, then sat down for dinner. The bartender and waiter were very helpful. We ordered the mushroom and polenta appetizer, which was delicious. I had the lamb medallions special, which was delicious. My new friend had the linguine, which he said was delicious. We ended it after 3 hours of conversation with 2 macchiatos. Total for dinner, including tax and a generous 20% tip was $112.
(5)
Kevin K.
Amazing food, great ambiance. Service was fast and very efficient. Nice decor. Just a great place to relax for a nice dinner.
(5)
Lane C.
Recently had a wonderful date night with my husband at Vespaio. We ordered the caprese salad as an appetizer and split the lasagna, which was heavenly and the wagyu beef small plate/appetizer dish. Our waiter was wonderful and the atmosphere was perfect for a romantic evening. The lasagna was seriously the best we'd ever had. It was a great evening and we highly recommend Vespaio!
(5)
Eva B.
I went again few days ago, The pasta was so good as well as salad. I wanted to write longer and more review of the reataurant. Because its really good italian food! And also the service is very good!
(4)
Bryan H.
Yummmm. We had lunch at this little place while walking/shopping on South Congress. Pizza was wonderful Fresh. Tasty. Moderately priced. Small wine bar. Cool staff. Engaged owner (I think owner...seemed to be). Wait staff was great. Hibiscus tea was smooth and tasty. Just a cool place for a quaint lunch. Will go back when I can.
(5)
Gayle G.
After a stellar lunch next door at the Enoteca, we really wanted to try the Cafe. Not so much...we should have stayed in the Enoteca. The food wasn't as good, the service really suffered and the experience just wasn't as nice. Our server took over 15 minutes to come to our table to acknowledge us. The food wasn't hot enough, which is a peeve of mine. I might try it again, but I'm much more inclined to just enjoy my meal next door.
I was craving freshly made pasta so my boyfriend and I decided for an impromptu date night. Our server was wonderful, offering any advice we needed but patiently allowing us to peruse the menu. I knew from Yelp that they also made their own mozzarella, so we started there. The cheese was soft and mild in flavor but could still be detected underneath the tasty marinated peppers served with it. My boyfriend tried the lasagna and especially appreciated that the sauce was not too acidic and yet not too sweet either, things he's extremely picky about. I had the lamb ragu and asked the server to choose a red wine for me. It was soft with a hint of buttery finish that was surprising but delicious. The lamb was flavorful without losing its characteristic taste, the lemon - mint ricotta added a bright surprise every few bites, and the fresh pasta.... just wonderful, nothing beats fresh pasta. Creme Brule is my favorite dessert so I forced myself to save some room for it. Thank God I did. It had a soft hint of almond and just enough of a smear of chocolate sauce to rub the raspberries in to make every bite absolutely delectable. Server paired it for me with a pear brandy that accented it perfectly. My boyfriend was concerned that he'd have to throw a glass of water on me by the time I was finished. He also tried the espresso martini and enjoyed it but said it might not be worth $10. Overall great experience, only downfalls would be that I found the table placement rather crowded, people and waitstaff were constantly brushing my shoulders to get by. That, the fact that the food wasn't QUITE up to par with my fave fancy date place (TRIO!), the considerable time it took to get the check when it came time, and the slightly lackluster martini stole a star away from this otherwise lovely place.
(4)
Dawn H.
Among the Italian places I've been to in Austin, Vespaio delivers the best dishes. The pasta is amazingly fresh, the sauces and other ingredients in the dishes I tried were far better than other places in town. The wine list is also great. You will, of course, be paying for this difference in quality. The service is also among the best in town. Professional, attentive, yet unpretentious. If you want the best Italian food in Austin and price is not a concern, Vespaio should fit the bill.
(5)
Julie H.
Okay, I definitely did NOT come all the way to Austin from Chicago to eat some Italian food because in Chicago you can barely walk one block without tripping over a delicious Italian restaurant, however, Vespaio is good. No, I mean like really, really good. When you walk in, you're presented with a display case of all the beautiful, daily anti pastas (which will make your stomach growl, if it isn't already). Once we were seated, I went overboard with the bread basket (you know, because when you're on vacation, the carbs don't count). The bread was soft and warm, with this unidentified spread that tasted like pesto and white beans. For dinner, I had a tuna steak with arugula, tomatoes, kalamata olives, and polenta: wow. I tasted my friends eggplant parm and butternut squash ravioli, both of which were delicious. Overall, the restaurant is cute and cozy; all this goodness packed into a little storefront in Austin... who knew?
(5)
Yvonne R.
Meh..I want to give this place a better review, because I remember it being so much better last time around (back in 2004), but I am reviewing based on a recent visit. Calamari appetizer - good, but not the best, not a crisp on the outside, little bit rubbery on the inside. Seafood Mixed Grill - Mahi Mahi had a good grilled flavor to it, but left something to be desired. Crab cake was too salty. Shrimp, just tasted like shrimp, not much flavor..probably not worth the $34 that it was. Out of the whole plate, i think I enjoyed the asparagus most. Lasagna - the good is that it is really huge, could make 3 meals out of it..It did have way too much cheese on it. Maybe it was just an off night, or what was ordered. If there is a next time, I'll go for a pasta dish...
(3)
Carol L.
My friends and I came here for a birthday, and sadly, was disappointed. The interior of this place is nice, but extremely dark. Service was slow, and even though we had reservations, we still waited a bit. Now onto the food... Lasagna: Huge portions, good Pizza: Interesting. They put two well-done sunny side up eggs on top. Its an interesting idea, but the flavor of the eggs were too overpowering. Risotto with pork shoulder: Way toooo salty. Cioppino: Impressive appearance, mighty tasty Veal Saltinboca (sp?): Not too great. Server asked if we wanted the side pasta, we said yes - got charged $5.50!!! It was not worth $5.50!! So everything was average. Why the low rating? All of this was not worth the price. Pretty steep prices for all this...
(2)
Mandi F.
This may be an inappropriate way to describe a food dish, but you know that feeling right after you climax? That warm, soft, relaxation right after release? That feeling is the same feeling I got after my first bite of the lamb risotto with blue cheese. It made my entire body melt. Sure the homemade bread was delicious, the atmosphere quaint and romantic, and cocktails artistic. But the risotto...
(5)
Rik W.
The food is very good. That said, it is way too noisy a space, and generally too crowded, for an enjoyable dining experience.
(3)
texas in a.
Terrible service, presentation, and food made for a disappointing evening at Vespaio. I moved to Austin from the east coast and have long believed that there's no good Italian food in the city - it's the trade-off we make for having such excellent Tex-Mex. Our experience at Vespaio tonight further confirmed that belief. I don't know where some of these reviews get their ideas about what constitutes an upscale Italian dining experience, but soggy carpacchio, simple salads we could have made at home, and pasta that can't be tasted for all the cheese under which it is submerged is not worth the price. That you can barely hear your dining companions speak just adds to the unpleasantness. Vespaio is an exercise in mediocrity and in no way deserves its reputation.
(1)
Cody R.
I'm going to have to go with a 5 star rating on this one. I'm not going to drag this review out..... just the facts. This place is great! I'm surprised by some of the bad reviews from below..... the food was excellent, the service was great, making the over-all experience fantastic. The best dinner at our table was definitely the Risotto..... It was amazing. By far the best Italian food I've had in Austin. They don't take reservations on Friday and Saturday, so I would stay away on those nights. Also, they have a private lot in the back, there was plenty of parking.
(5)
Pete V.
Vespaio is a restaurant that is nicely put together, but my dish fell short of spectacular. My guest and I arrived on a Friday evening before the dinner rush. We were seated promptly and, a huge selling point for me, were treated well the entire night. I can't tell you how many times I've been shunned by a server at an higher class restaurant because of my age. The table settings are intimate with candles on the tables and a simple heavy fork and knife combination to accompany you through the first course of your meal. The dining room layout, on the other hand, is severly packed, intruding on the intimacy of your table. We had a "ghetto-rigged" six top positioned adjacent to our table which was obviously a four top. One of their patrons chair's leaned against our table! The bar area is severely crowded, and I suspect this is THE place to go get drunk after work. There were plenty of LOUD tables with suits occupying the seats. The food was the most inconsistent part of my meal. I've heard great things about this restaurant and had high expectations. The veal sweetbreads risotto I ordered in a delight was more watery than creamy. The rice, although freshly made, was undercooked and had not released all of it's starchy goodness. My dish arrived much later than it was prepared, with a skin on top and room temperature. The sweetbreads' excessive amount of Madeira sauce spilled into the rice, causing the sloppy result. The sweetbreads, on the other hand, were cooked divinely, maintaining a tender, velvety bite and accompanied by a mild sauce accentuating the sweetbreads; definitely the defining and redeeming part of the dish. The prices are what you'd expect, and reasonable for what you get. All in all the experience was on the positive end of the spectrum, but I feel wary rounding the 3.5 review up to a four instead of down to a three. I'll be visiting again, because the simple mistakes made on my dish are easily fixable, and part of me WANTS to believe I just came on a bad day.
(4)
Shane M.
I keep going back here because so many friends say the love it. I've yet to find anything that i think is worth the price. Service is always below average.
(3)
John L.
Outstanding food and service (once again)! Had a birthday dinner there last night with 10 of my best friends...Vespaio did not dissapoint! The food is decadent and the service is outstanding. Need I say more?
(5)
Jordan W.
I can easily admit that this is some of the best Italian food I've ever had. I don't normally go for Italian food because it's usually too heavy for me. Not that the food here wasn't also insanely rich, it was just better for my taste. I left off one star just because our appetizer was delicious but it was poorly presented. We had the carpaccio and it tasted great but there are far better presentations than the one we received. I had the mixed Meat Grill plate which was decadent... four types of meat (quail, steak, pork, etc.) and some awesome marscaprone mashed potates. My fiance had a seafood pasta dish that was stellar as well. Great date place but be ready to pay for it. The wine is good but that definitely bumped our check up significantly.
(4)
Bobby S.
The food was decent, not great. I tried to make up for quality with quantity. But didn't work. Did not have a good experience with our waiter to put on incredible amount of attitude. When asked what was better between two dishes his response was quote which do you prefer". But we asked again say we don't have a preference but we recommend response was the same. And then he gave some long analogy about a mother's case been given to the girlfriends guess. Overall, and came across extremely rude and offensive.
(2)
Jeff G.
One of the finest meals I have had. Don't miss the wagyu carpaccio and the prosciutto with egg and truffle oil pizza.
(5)
Scott R.
I was only in Austin for one day. Every time I travel out of Southern California I fear I will not find good food, but I was lucky to hit two restaurants that I would be proud to take my visitors in Los Angeles and Pasadena. This one rocks, in a cool, delicious, jazzy sort of way. When back in Austin, I won't miss it again.
(5)
Sam A.
Mmmmmmm my taste buds have orgasms when I even drive by.
(5)
Maxine M.
This review is for brunch we were seated quickly, service was pretty "meh"- not too good or too bad 4.5 stars for the polenta....that stuff was off the hook husband said the pancetta was too salty to eat i found everything too salty- but I have been eating a super reduced sodium diet lately so I am not sure if mine really was too salty or if i was just being over sensitive whatever... I ate my polenta and then traded my spinach to a Friend for her polenta nice atmosphere- inexpensive for good brunch food
(3)
Rob M.
Their special risotto of the day is always so good I would eat it off a dead horses ass. yeah, it is always that good. go there, eat, drink and see if you can become a member of the clean plate club. wait staff is top notch here, which is something you don't find very often in austin. we have become accustomed to crappy service, but thank god Vespaio understands the importance of good service.
(5)
t s.
One of the best Italian dinner I've ever had came from Vespaio. Fantastic dining treat. Get the full treatment if you go. Apps, dinner, desert, drinks. One of the best in town.
(5)
cool c.
By far the best Italian food I've had in town!!! Absolutely love their Margherita Pizze and Spaghetti Pomodoro. I would'nt recommend their Tiramisu (just go over to Enoteca and have their Tiramisu!) Pricey but definitely worth it for those special occasions in your life!
(5)
Dario S.
SPECIALS SPECIALS SPECIALS!!!!!!! Thats what I always seem to go for when I go there. LOL I have tasted a couple off the regular menu appetizers but THATS IT the regular menu just dosent stand out to me. Every risotto dish is heavenly u dont want to stop eating it. It can very hard to grab a table without reservations on the weekends. Parking can be troublesome as well. Its pricey but the food makes up for it. They have a case of antipasti selections which u cant go there without trying them.
(5)
Larry M.
I truly feel sorry for those who have had a bad experience here (Lija H. that sucks that you got here on a very off night...bummer), since every time I've been here, I've found something completely innovative on the menu (which changes often), and once I taste it.... I stare off into space...bewildered that something could taste that good...then start to ask questions like "What does it all MEAN????" Then struggle deeply with my conflicting thoughts of sharing my meal to give others the deep and utter joy I'm having, or just gorge on it quickly before anyone has a chance. Regardless, the message is clear. FUCK Olive Garden. Getting here early is key. I come here about once every two or so months, usually with parents (who have deeper pockets) and try to get at least five of us, so we can sit in the front rooms that feel like you're inside a wine cellar of sorts. More spacious and better acoustics, which the back dining area has some problems with, despite the huge curtains. Service here has gone from quick and efficient, to please let me take you home so you can school me, gently, on expert Italian cuisine. Wait staff here are some of the best in town (second only to Wink) and are truly proud to be part of the experience. Hate to over-hype, but it never fails to inspire.
(5)
Rahul B.
4.50 Stars. Despite being slightly overpriced ($25-$30/meal), the food is excellent. I say overpriced because I believe the food should be in the $15-$20 range. My first time eating here was a week ago with my family and my girlfriend, and we all enjoyed our food. The food was delicious and well presented. Everything looked great on the plate, and everything tasted amazing in our mouths. The environment is very nice, with adequate lighting, and a great view of the lively street. The service is excellent. The waiters are enthusiastic, and at least 3 people are continuously swarming by to check and make sure the food is great, and the table is clean. If you're looking for a great place to take your date, your family, or just to eat some amazing food, Vespaio is for you.
(5)
austin d.
I've been to Vespaio a few times. Yeah, its a little loud, the wine list is expensive and could be better but you know what.. thats not a deal breaker for me unlike some people. First off that canneloni paste dip stuff, I think it is VERY good. A lot of Italian places have some variety of such to dip breads in. Stortini also has one thats good, a little more lemon-y.. I think Vespaio's is great and seems to be good for you too. Last night me and the fiancee went for my birthday and I decided instead of going with the tuna or the salmon, I would go for some lasagna. I just wanted something hearty. VESPAIO'S LASAGNA IS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD, HANDS DOWN. Also had the crab claws and poached prawns for appetizers.. Wonderful flavor. try the lasagna.. i promise you wont be disappointed.
(5)
M T.
I confess...I am guilty of bashing Austin's Italian food. I had to shut my mouth after eating at Vespaio's. This is without a doubt the best Italian food I've ever eaten. Everything is great--my favorite dish is the mixed seafood grill. They don't take reservations and there is always a wait but you can sit at the bar and are in and out in 45 mins!
(5)
Stephanie H.
having gone to italy for 2 weeks last summer, I feel like I was well versed in authentic Italian cuisine......this hit the spot, it felt like I was in a little mama's kitchen in the heart of Florence. We started out with the green salad with the lemon dressing OMG, then the truffle, proscuitto, and arugula pizza, followed by the hangar steak....way too much food, but couldn't make a decision. the wait staff was AMAZING....please please go here if you are in Austin!!!
(5)
Ashley B.
HEAVEN ON A PLATE! I heart Vespaio! Everything on the menu is wonderful and the service is fantastic. The wine list is vast and the server is always so helpful when pairing wine with your ordered dish. My husband proposed here and the entire staff was so amazing, kindly helping prepare his surpise. Whenever I have a special night planned or have out of town guests, I always choose Vespaio!!! Sunday brunch is great too!
(5)
Omoniyi O.
This has got to be one of the best places to eat italian food here in Austin.......and that's saying a lot. Austin doesn't have that many good italian places. I'm not big on italian, but this place is serious. The food and atmosphere are great. It's not cheap, but it's good for a "nice lunch or dinner".
(4)
Judd C.
Vespaio is one of the best restaurants in Austin along with Hudson's on the Bend, Wink, Aquarelle, and Uchi. The pasta is homemade and everything on the menu is terrific. Energetic and fun atmosphere.
(5)
Charles C.
One of my top 5 places to eat in Austin. Always consistently great food on anything on the menu. Great bar but can get crowded fast. Had my daughters graduation dinner in private room and everything was first class just as I expected.
(5)
Melissa S.
Overlooking the almost inevitable long wait time and impossible parking situation, you'll definitely enjoy your dining experience at Vespaio. The service is impeccable, and the owner of the restaurant is often milling around and surveying how people are enjoying their food... he's a cool dude. The Italian food is incredibly unique, without being off-putting in the sense that it strays too far from the traditional. My personal favorite has remained the spinach-lemon ravioli, but everything on the menu that I've tried has been exceptional.
(3)
Philip G.
I'm a fan of Vespaio, but I can't see going here more than once every 9 months to a year. It's just too expensive. Vespaio Enoteca next door is a great alternative. We went last night. It was excellent. First visit in over a year. The polenta appetizer, fried with mushrooms in a gorgonzola sauce was incredibly good. I could have had it as a meal. Would have saved me considerably. My friend had gnocchi with quail sausage. He said it was very good, and I had a taste. It was. I had the spaghetti carbonara. It was ok. I've had better at Sagra for less than half the price. It was bland, even though there was a good bit of pancetta. I had a small Caesar salad and regretted it later. $8 is just absolutely ridiculous for some romaine lettuce and dressing. The taste was good, however, Where Vespaio excels is the service. Our waiter anticipated our needs and was extremely attentive. The trend in Austin dining seems to be serve quickly and get the customer out. I'm glad to see our waiter let us enjoy our meal without rushing through each course. I'd go more often, but it is prohibitively expensive. For the two of us, two entrees, a salad, appetizer, and 2 glasses of wine each, it was $120 before tip. Pasta should not be that expensive. The ingredients are fresh and the tastes are great, but this is Austin not San Francisco or New York.
(4)
Meridith H.
I am so sad to read the bad review about this gem of an Italian restaurant in the awesome South Congress area in Austin. First and foremost, I have to address the wait. If you live in Austin, you kind of know that it is expected at a very popular restaurant that does not take reservations. However, it can get ridiculous at times and for that...and for being too cool to take reservations, I knock off one star. However, of the three times I have been to Vespaio, I have not had one bad experience with the food or service. In fact, it is one of the better high end Italian restaurants I have ever tried, if not the best. The duck gnocci with foie gras is heavenly and every appetizer I have ever order has been delicious. That is why there is an hour to two hour wait every weekend night. It is hard to find good Italian in Texas and they have succeeded with high marks. Note - if you don't know what you are looking for, Vespaio can be hard to find. I think the name of the restaurant is on the door but there is not a big sign to point you in the right direction.
(4)
Lamby A.
Went here once with a large group (there were about 10 of us) and not a single person liked their meals. Some came out cold, some bland. It may have been an off night but we were all really disappointed. On top of that, our waitress wasn't having a good day either and she took it out on us. Yes, a lot of us sent our dishes back but we didn't want to pay for something we weren't enjoying! Not sure if I'm willing to give this place a second try.... for the time being I think not.
(1)
Kelly B.
Living in Austin for 23 years I have tried almost every fine dinning restaurant in this great city. My top 3 picks are consistently Uchi, Vespaio and Jezebel (in that order). Last night I visited Vespaio and once again had a wonderful experience. Get there early (7 or before during the weekdays) if you don't want to wait but if you do have to wait the bar area is a great place to grab a drink. I'm a martini drinker and the martinis are always perfectly chilled with a thin layer of ice floating on top. Food: Appetizer - I recommend the tuna tartar which i believe is the best in Austin. Entree - I enjoy the sea food mixed grill but the pizzas, seafood stew and short ribs are all great choices too. Dessert - I always order the blackberry zeppoli for dessert which is basically 3 cake style cinnamon sugar donuts with blackberry puree in the middle and is also served with vanilla gelato... yum so delicious. On top of the delicious food and romantic ambiance Vespaio is located on South Congress, one of the last neighborhoods that still has the Austin original feel and is also located across the street from the historic Continental Club. Here is the website: austinvespaio.com
(5)
Laura O.
I have eaten here twice. Once for my anniversary and second with a group of co-workers. It is phenomenal. Everyone must try it.
(5)
Edwyn A.
i like this place - veal ... veal ... and more veal. no fu fu fusion italian cuisine like some other spots in town - just classics and classic cocktails. btw susan is awesome
(4)
Aileen P.
What an awful experience. I really expected more from a restaurant that serves $35 entrees. My friend and I split fried calamari and wahoo fish. First the fried calamari were super salty. The entree took forever to come out and when it came out it was totally not what I had expected. The waiter had told me that the Wahoo was like Mahi Mahi....yeah right, this was more like a fish steak. It was so tough. They were kind enough to cook it again but this time the fish came back raw. So we left the $30 fish untouched ate our veggies and left. I am now home on the computer with such a bad stomach ache. Never again.
(1)
Brad C.
I went for lunch and it was great, I had some sort of a pork sandwich, and switched off with the meatball sandwich then the third turn was one of the salads, everyone really liked what they got. I really want to go back and try some of the pasta dishes, which is always a good sign for any restaurant.
(3)
Austin L.
The food: great. I wish I could give this place all the stars the cuisine deserves. However. 1). I find it disconcerting when the waiter serving me has on as much carefully applied eyeliner and foundation as any woman in the room. I don't know why. Call me old fashioned. Something about the white shirt and black pants and clean haircut and...foundation. Not to mention the somewhat effete rudeness garnishing the whole thing. 2) I find it even more disconcerting to be in any establishment where most of the men appear to be Mel Gibson wannabes. The food is good, though...
(3)
Matt Q.
Summary: cozy and great, with some minor flaws My wife and I are big fans of Vespaio Enoteca, but had never been to Vespaio, the big brother next door. Last night was our first anniversary, so we decided to celebrate with dinner at Vespaio. We rolled in around 7PM on a Monday night and were seated after a very brief wait. The main dining room is nice, but not stuffy. The tables are wood and not hidden under white linens. It's all very cozy and not a "scene" like some of our other high end favorites. (Uchi, I am talking about you.) We started with their carpaccio, which was incredible. Note to self: Vespaio has carpaccio, Enoteca does not. I love this stuff. My wife had a caesar salad and a big bowl of ciopino and I had jumbo shrimp, wrapped in prosciutto and grilled. Both were excellent. I have only two minor complaints: (1) Not much depth in the wine list. We wanted a sparkling wine and Vespaio only offers two selections in the "under $85" price range. We liked the prosecco ($32) that we picked, but more choice would have been nice. In comparison, Enoteca has five sparkling wines under $85, including Veuve Cliquot, which is $14 less expensive at Enoteca than at Vespaio. (2) Not much depth on the dessert list. When I go out for a nice meal I expect to end it with a decadent chocolate dessert. Sadly, there was no chocolate on the dessert menu, except as a component of their s'mores, which isn't what I was hoping for. We had the pumpkin zeppole, which was very good, but it didn't satisfy my chocolate jones. After dinner I was tempted to walk over to Enoteca and buy a chocolate mousse as take-out. Service was excellent: helpful and friendly without being intrusive. Our waiter happily poured tastes of the two least expensive sparkling wines before we picked a bottle. Some people have complained about the prices. This seems unreasonable to me. Vespaio clearly uses top notch ingredients which are artfully prepared and served in generous portions. If you don't want to pay the price for Vespaio, go next door to Enoteca. BTW... we had carpaccio, a small caesar, two entrees, a bottle of Prosecco, a dessert and a glass of port. The total before tip was $131, which is perfectly reasonable in my book.
(4)
Jeremy C.
great selection, excellent service, my favorite place to take my parents out to dinner to show them a little of what austin has to offer. the wine menu is sneakily comprehensive and the staff is exceptionally knowledgeable.
(5)
Dan K.
Best Italian in town!
(5)
Charles D.
It seems like two years since I last dined here (maybe not quite that long, the demanding hours of a new position at work makes it feel like forever), and my last dinner was the BEST pork chop I have ever enjoyed, I still remember it to this day. Tonight, driving through SoCo, I chanced upon an open parking space directly in front of Vespaio. Karma pulled me in and I was greeted by 'Marissa', with a effervescent smile that made me feel as if I was being welcomed into someone's home. I was seated immediately and taken care of by 'Jennifer', who found the perfect wine to end a long week. The special for tonight...glazed pork chop, au-gratin potatoes, and jumbo asparagus! The pork chop was another culinary success, melt in your mouth tender with the right amount of a smidgen of fat; the potatoes and asparagus were excellent, as well. I heartily recommend Vespaio to those looking for culinary excellence. Kudos to all, especially Marissa and Jennifer, for wonderful evening.
(5)
Christopher H.
Went with date, intimate for that. Food was pretty good. I had the veal saltimboca which was mouth watering. Their calamari is number 2 on my list, my fav being Saba (only because I like the Caipirinias there). Date had the beef tenderloin which was pretty awesome too. I would go back, but save for something special - a little $$
(4)
Roger R.
Nice menu with a good selection. Very easy to go multiple times and not eat the same thing. Great atmosphere. Wonderful for all occasions. Highly Reccomend.
(4)
Simon M.
My girlfriend took me here for my 30th birthday. To anyone who is thinking of going here for your 30th birthday, this restaurant will only add to your depression. For $30 and up for a plate, I want my world to be rocked. Vespaio, you did not rock me. You simply made me feel bad that my lovely, sweet girlfriend was wasting a lot of money on me. Seriously, when you pay $30 for a piece of lasagne, it better be a freakin' religious experience. Despite it's nice presentation, it was still just a piece of lasagne. It tasted fine, but to be honest, I make it soooo much better (I'm Italian, so I think I've got some legs to stand on here). The tri-color salad was really good, and the chevre-stuffed cherry peppers were nice, but my girlfriend's $20 pizza was just pathetic. It was wet with oil, and the crust had no crispness to speak of. And yes, as someone else mentioned, the wine is marked-up... a lot. So, it would seem that I should have followed my instincts and insisted we eat at Homeslice. Seriously folks, the pizza is better over there.
(2)
Julie B.
Really this is 3.5 stars; I actually enjoyed eating at Enoteca Vespaio better than its more upscale incarnation. The pasta was incredibly fresh and it was perfectly cooked. I had the ravioloni di magra with was filled with ricotta and rapini, and it was good, but I don't think it was $23 good. Our server let us get an order of suppli (those addictive fried risotto balls) even though those are only on the menu at Enoteca, which was nice. I had the chocolate tart with caramel gelato for dessert, and the tart was oddly flavorless, so that was kind of disappointing. I think next time I'd prefer to go back to Enoteca, though I'd be willing to come here again.
(4)
Brian L.
Best Italian in Austin hands down. Highly recommend. Have eaten here numerous times, each time ordering something different, and haven't had a bad experience.
(5)
Tony T.
Best food in Austin (by far). Scott Bolin (the owner) is the perfect host and the service is top notch. Not only is the rissotto always "to die for" but try the Sausage Pizza sometime... WOW. great wine list as well
(5)
Ryan O.
Authentic Italian, like Mulberry Street, in the heart of Texas! Homemade pasta, homemade limoncello, what else you need to know? Stop in, have something nice to mangia, you won't regret it.
(5)
nic f.
i knew i loved vespaio when, forced to take an obligation friend (you know: that friend you're pretty sure you don't like but somehow you feel badly about ditching them) there for a "poor me" b'day dinner, the waiter passed me notes all night about what a bitch she was and how sorry he felt for us but then was sweet as pie to her face. oh and the food is very, very good. it feels rustic, authentic and not too perfect, as if hulaboy's mawmaw was in the kitchen cooking up something divine just for us.
(4)
lee a.
I took my fiance to Vespaio one night hoping for a nice romantic meal. It was not to be. Vespaio is absolutely and easily the most overrated restaurant in Austin. The dining room is noisy to the point of having to shout at your date. The food is okay at best. Our service was lousy to the point of being laughable. I could not believe this was the same place everyone claims to be one of the best restaurants in Austin. That's a sad state of affairs if true.
(1)
Shannon O.
Vespaio consistently has one of my favorite veggie plates in town. I like proteins (meat, chicken, fish), but I routinely skip them for the veggie plate when I come here. We went there last night, and the vegetable plate has mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, and potatoes. The potato was like a gratin and was just okay. The broccoli was completely forgetable. The mushrooms... omg, if they would make these the centerpiece of an entree, I'd probably lick the plate. They are smoky, tender, and full of flavor. The carrots were sweet (chopped in cubes and looked a little like they belonged on a plate for a toddler) but complemented the mushrooms perfectly. I left very happy.
(5)
Kari H.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Austin when it comes to Italian food. The specials for the day are always amazing and well worth the $25+ you'll spend on each dish. Most of the days of the week you will find a wait of 30-45 minutes unless you get there closer to 10pm. Waiting can be a pain depending on how full the bar area is, which is fairly narrow. If you can, belly up to the bar and ask the bartenders for suggestions on wines, usually they let you taste many different ones before deciding on a glass.bottle (one bartender was voted best bartender in Austin for 2006 so they know their stuff). Ordering an appetizer while waiting has always the time go by faster, especially the tuna tar tar. Once seated, you will notice that the acoustics are not the best; it can get fairly loud of you are in the main center room where you can see all the chefs cooking. When you finally see the menu, take a look at the specials page and take time to notice which ones are sold out. If the risotto is out, which many times it is, be sad because it is amazing. Additionally as savory is the seafood mixed grill, which has been different every time I have been there. Anything with prawns has proven to be wonderful as well as the beans and vegetables picked directly from the garden behind the building. If you are looking for something off the regular menu, I would recommend the Pomodoro, although I think they use a bit too much oil in making it (still fabulous though). I usually skip dessert, but the few times I have eaten it there, the trio of chocolate has been delectable. A few additional notes would be that 1) the service is wonderful and the waitstaff very helpful. 2) If you can sit in one of the 'side' rooms, do so. 3) After your meal, walk around South Congress if you can. 4) Beware of First Thursdays if you go, you will not be able to find parking anywhere.
(5)
J J.
I love this place. Food and atmosphere are great. Don't go though if you don't have the money to do it right. It's not cheap, but it's good for a "nice dinner". Great for a date.
(5)
K B.
My husband and I love Vespaio - yummy Italian food with a modern twist. I love the cioppina and the gnocchi, as well as the pistachio donuts for dessert. Service is extremely helpful, and although its one of the pricier spots in town, it doesn't feel pretentious at all. Definitely worth a night out!
(4)
Layla P.
This place is fabulous. I've eaten here several times and I am amazed every time. They make their own pasta and I believe they get most of their herbs from the garden out back. The atmosphere is hip and romantic, good for dates or for dinner with a friend. Ask the waiters for advice, they have tasted everything. My favorite dish is the veal ravioli and my favorite appetizer is the tuna tartar.
(5)
Marie C.
As always Vespaios is something wonderful. The service at the bar was top notch. We had ordered a sausage/garlic pizza and a tuna tartare appetizer. The pizza was outstanding & the tuna tartare is one of my favorite appetizers here. The staff noticed that our two top became a four top and graciously offered for us to move down to a space that just opened up for four. Very thoughtful! Most of us had specials of the evening, and all were delicious. I had the roasted Halibut on a bed of polenta mixed with crab meat with a side of sauteed broccolini : simply divine! Our waiter who we hadn't met before was attentive and helpful with our menu selections- all of us were pleased. The only minus of the evening was that our table was near the pizza oven area, and the temperature of that space was hot. I'm talking sweaty yoga vida class hot. So, we walked down to Amy's Ice Cream to end our evening. Anyhow, I'm giving 5 stars for the food and service.
(5)
A S.
Love the food and the Austin atmosphere. It reminds me of the warmth of old Austin. The staff is incredibly helpful when ordering or just finding you when it is time too be seated. There are always lines around this establishment due to the fact the food is excellent. Each meal wakes up my tastebuds in a different way. I can always taste the garlic oregano and basil in everything I order. And the freshness is so apparent.
(4)
Meredith F.
Notice most of the bad reviews were from several years ago. And back then, I felt the same. I used to bitch about how over priced and mediocre this place was, but like a fine wine, it's gotten better with age. I have been eating here since 1999 and it just gets better. It has definitely kicked up a few notches in service and food quality in that time. Hands down-By far, one of the best lasagnas I have ever had. Have not had a bad meal here in the past several years. Some of the best wait staff and you feel like you are being spoiled while dining here. Great fancy night out or date night spot. This past time I had to try the two primi's. I had the carbonara and the bolognaise. Both were delicious and perfectly portioned since I did not get an appetizer or salad this time. Great extensive wine list. Hubs went ape shit over the mixed seafood special. It was "fucking amazing" per his review. Tiramisu was delicious and too much for 1 person. We were out about $180 with tip for my 2 small pastas, hub's salad, seafood grill, decent bottle of white, tiramisu, cheesecake for hubs, and a double espresso. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
michelle k.
Absolutely love this place. We always sit @ the bar and Rochelle and Tom provide outstanding service, make great wine recommendations and remember what we like. The butternut squash in sage butter appetizer is heavenly. It's rich and creamy and a good size for sharing. The carbonara is also excellent. Pasta is made onsight and always cooked perfectly. Daily specials are varied and inventive.
(5)
Lauren U.
Stick to traditional Italian here. Everything is very high quality. Fresh pasta. House-made mozzarella. Great service. Great wine list. Awesome tiramisu.
(5)
Ilsa M.
This is my personal favorite restaurant in Austin. I lived in northern Italy for 1 year and constantly return. I have never found food quiet similar to real Italian since being back in America until I came here! My boyfriend and I always order the pasta dishes . The pesto and the butternut squash are our favorite . The butternut squash pasta with walnuts on the side is almost more like dessert but truly heaven like quality and flavor . The atmosphere is so classy and intimate . It is the perfect date location . It is for sure worth every penny!
(5)
Delia S.
I had high expectations for Vespaio. I had always heard wonderful things and somehow, had never gotte. Around to trying it. We decided to come here to celebrate my daughter getting her driver's license and even let her drive me...a hilarious story for another time. We showed up at 9:30 on a Friday night and were seated immediately. Our server was a pleasant young lady with a warm smile who noted our wobbly table right away and promised to come back and place a shim under the short leg. Unfortunately she said it three more times during the next three visits to the table as if it was the first shed noticed. After we reminded her after nearly spilling a glass of wine, she sent someone over and it was remedied. The space is dark and divided into a couple of main rooms with some smaller rooms for parties. The kitchen area is partially exposed and the wood burning over is the centerpiece of the main dining room. The noise level is a bit high, but understandably so given the size of the room and the number of hard surfaces. The menu is divided into appetizers, primi pasta selections, secondi or main courses and house specials. We were not hugely hungry, so both decided to just order a main course. The server brought out a basket of freshly baked bread with what, in the dim light, appeared to be seasoned butter, but was in fact a white bean spread (I think). It would have been nice to be warned in advance so my palate would not be expecting butter, but taste beans. My daughter had the spaghettini carbonara - house made pasta with pancetta in a cream sauce with a poached egg on top. It was very rich and creamy and plentiful. I ordered the hangar steak with fries, Parmesan roasted tomato and spinach. The steak was cooked perfectly and was tender and flavorful. The fries were certainly plentiful, but entirely too salty for me to enjoy, as was the spinach. I do love a generous sprinkling of kosher salt on wilted spinach, but this was too heavy handed in my opinion. The Parmesan tomato was delicious, bursting with fresh tomato goodness. The wine list was extensive and I enjoyed the valpolicella immensely. Overall, I was satisfied and every restaurant can have an off night. Also, what is too salty for me, may be perfect for you. I wish I had ordered the lasagna, but hindsight is always more acute than foresight. I would give it 3.5 stars for this visit, but I rounded up since that option wasn't available.
(4)
Andrew M.
The first time we dined here they got me. We were a group of three. We were seated and enjoying a cocktail, a group came in and the waiter asked us if we would mind moving tables so they could accommodate the larger group. We said no problem and were moved. The waiter then brought us complimentary appetizers, and at the end of the meal. a complimentary desert to share. We did not have any issue moving and we certainly did not ask for or expect anything in return. But, what a great gesture on their part. On top of that the meal and service were excellent. Needless to say we have been back a few times since then and have always been delighted with the food and service.
(5)
Annette B.
The food was delicious authentic Italian food in Texas, BRILLIANT ! ! ! We shared the calamaris and I enjoyed one of the special pasta dishes, very good, yes indeed. The food deserves 5 stars. Even so we were recognized by the owner from the previous year and welcomed. This is a very popular busy restaurant, if you don't have a reservation you need to arrive 15 minutes before opening time to get a seat. Of course the waiters and waitresses are busy and maybe not too used if a customer is particular; as we are from NYC (and we all know New Yorkers are spoiled) one of my friends had a special request and always takes longer to order... yes sometimes its so unnecessary ....and I want to sink into the ground from embarrassment... but in the end its their job to cater (we always tip 20% which is generous); the waiter certainly was attentive but I knew he couldn't wait to get rid of us and at one point I saw him pulling a face to another waiter about our table or rather my friend. Ok its all childish and it doesn't matter, still am thinking who is spoiled here .... I think its the waiter who is lucky to work in a very busy restaurant making a lot of money but hasn't the extra time to care of a generous demanding New Yorker, even its his job. The decor is cute low key like an Italian village eatery, the seats were a little uncomfortable, hard wooden seats. This place is great to enjoy your food and to move on!
(3)
Darcy P.
Great place, all around. Sat at bar and Ryan was fantastic bartender! Offered samples of different wines to help choose and also brought over sommelier (or maybe manager. Either way, he was also awesome). weren't being picky, just indecisive :) got spinach salad which was the only disappointing part of the meal. It wasn't bad, in fact the components were delicious. The "prosciutto" vinaigrette (yes I put it in quotes) was super super acidic with no hint of prosciutto. Sort of mixing in the Blue cheese hunk and park crisp made it better tho. :). Got side of buttery string beans (hardcore beets if you will. I'm actually leaving that spellcheck correction bc it is funny. Meant haricots verts). They were good but even better after they Cooled. Absorbed some additional flavor, I think. Then spaghetti carbonara. Delicious. Heavy. Delicious (though I did add a good bit of black pepper which seemed to be missing). HUGE portion, especially for homemade pasta. I was shocked. If I could give 4.5 I would. Stuck with 4 bc it just wasn't a 5 (white bean dip sort of meh, salad dressing off, pasta needing a bit more seasoning) but I would (and will) def go back. And the service was phenomenal. Oh, side note: the print on the menu is teeny tiny. I have good vision but between dark setting and tiny (like font size 8) print, I'd suggest bumping up he type. :)
(4)
Larry E.
Very very good' this is a very good and popular place. It can get quite crowded, so be prepared to chill if you have to wait. Anything, and I do mean anything on the menu is excellent. A thing to do is try here one week and La Traviata the next week. They are so different, but also the same and are excellent! Make your own choice!
(5)
Marie W.
Brought friends here to celebrate a birthday. Started with carpaccio, which was to die for (and I'm not a beef eater!). I had the baby neck steamed clams in a white wine sauce, over a bed of linguini. Very nice restaurant-but plan to eat early or you will be waiting, as they do not take reservations. Pricey-but so worth it-spent $200 for dinner for 3 (included a cheap bottle of vino for $40).
(4)
Andrea T.
Overall, our experience was great and the food was delicious! Our waiter was very informative about what was in each dish since there were a lot of ingredients on the menu I couldn't even pronounce. Ambiance was very romantic as the lights were dimmed and everyone there was drinking wine. Great place to have either a date or dinner with a few friends. I got the Bistecca Tagliata Con Patate Fritte which was just fancy for medium rare steak and french fries. My boyfriend got their Lasagna. Both were delicious and cooked perfectly. I did prefer the Lasagna over my dish. Only setback was that my boyfriend and I were not aware that we went to the wrong restaurant. We meant to go to Enoteca Vespaio, but we ended up going to Vespaio Ristorante. We were completely unaware that the two restaurants were next to each other since they have the same address. We came in thinking the dishes were supposed to be around $15, but it ended up being roughly around $30. Next time, we won't be making that mistake!
(4)
Tracy B.
It's exciting to see Austin's food scene take a place in the national spotlight, but Vespaio was one of the first to put Austin on the map. Back in the day when we were wrapping up our educations at St. Ed's, we had nary a choice for food on South Congress other than disgusting El Gallo, bland Guero's and Texas French Bread. Then, in 1998, came along Vespaio. There was a two hour wait on most nights and we were right there in line with all the rest. I suppose we were the "OH"- original hipsters? {{Shudder}} no thanks. But brave the filthy and prostitute infested streets we most certainly did, as Vespaio was and still IS worth the wait. All these years later she still purrs like a wizened cat amongst the kittens. We recently revisited with friends and left just as happy as we were back in 1998 when we first sampled their velvety hanger steak. On our recent visit we savored classics such as calamari, carpaccio, fresh tomato caprese, and a sumptuous cioppino that rivals Clark's. The highlight was my culotte of beef with truffled risotto and bordelaise sauce that was reminiscent of a similar dish I had last year at SPQR in San Francisco. I think it's safe to say this risotto was even better. So in a city that is exploding with imaginative, luscious food served with unappetizing pompousness (Qui), it's nice to return to a familiar place that put "SOCO" {{shuddering again}} on the map.
(5)
D K.
The best. The apps were great, pizzas phenomenal, and the pastas/lasagnas were absolutely delicious. I will be going back to this place on every trip!!
(5)
Shameem A.
This place was ok. We went with reasonably high expectations based on yelp and word of mouth/ prime location etc. Ambience is good, we were seated next to a gigantic wine shelf and I found our seats drafty due to a lot of vents and fans around the area. The service was good. The food was incredibly rich and too heavy, making both my husband and I remark on leaving "...we do prefer eating at home." I mean .. We love eating out, but as a substitute for the labor of shopping and cooking and cleaning, not to sacrifice on health and eat food extremely laden with cream and oil and butter. Fave was a cannellini bean spread they brought out with bread instead of the usual Olive oil // balsamic most places bring. My margarita pizza was ok.. Nothing special. Our appetizers were so so heavy.
(3)
Austin G.
After coming here for years, I'm sad to say I will never return. We had the worst experience we've ever had at any restaurant period!! It started out pleasant with a delightful hostess. She was kind and gracious. However that's where the good stops and the awful begins. After being seated we waited a couple minutes, and then a few more... I know that 5 minutes isn't a long time but when you're sitting at a table waiting for service, it can be an eternity. I then to ask the hostess if the server knew we were there (sometimes they don't know when they've been sat). The host was busy setting a table and then a young server with the most condescending and bitchy tone I have ever had the displeasure of hearing asks... "Can I Get you something, you look anxious?" Now, just so you know, I am the GM of a restaurant, I eat out a lot and I tip very well and I know the challenges of being a server. However it's a job that you as a server have written a resume for, sent out said resume, interviewed for said job and accepted said job. So, there is no excuse for being an asshole!! It really wasn't the question, it was the sleazy shitty tone that pissed me off. After, little miss poopy pants asked me if she could get me something because I looked anxious. My wife and I decided to leave, and we sent off by a "good" by the server. However, first I wanted to speak with the manager. He introduced himself as the owner, proceeded to tell us that he knew we were in the "biz" because he saw us at the restaurant supply store earlier that day. He then told us that they were better than the service that we were given and he then let us leave. He never used the word sorry and didn't try to keep us there or make things right. I was speechless... We then went across the street and spent $262 on a fantastic Italian dinner. Get it together Vespaio, you're not the only game in town anymore.
(1)
Dawn H.
I have walked past this place so many times - I have no idea how I missed it! And, nobody has ever told me about it.??? Appears to be a great Italian joint right in the heart of SoCo area of Austin. When you walk in you are greeted with friendly faces and a glass case full of a variety of amazing looking anitpastis. Who could resist?! Even though my husband and I had dinner plans a little later at another locale we decided to take retreat from the heat and choose a seat at their lovely wooden bar. Very large bar area, that includes bar tables as well as separates the bar from the beautiful main dining area. During this visit we only had a bowl of assorted Italian olives (huge portion for the price) and a wedge of extra creamy Cambozola served with tiny spring figs and perfectly toasted crustini. Great wine by the glass selection. Vespaio does not offer happy hour - ever. They don't run specials (i.e., in price). They don't even offer house wines. I guess after over 16 years (wow!) Vespaio does not have too. Defeintely looking forward to coming back for a romantic date night with the other half and enjoying a full meal and too much wine. Until then...Salute! ***URTD
(5)
Tiffany T.
We had reservations and the wait staff seemed a little unorganized, but what made up for it was the delicious wine choice and the menu! It was so difficult to choose: wanted to try everything! I will be coming back again to try the risotto! The Carbonara with the poached egg on top was scrumptious! The white wine choice was divine with my entree!
Nice, intimate quaint atmosphere. Hubby and I went here for anniversary dinner. Enjoyed the pumpkin ravioli and branzino. Lasagna was a bit too sweet for my husbands taste--meaning the bachamel sauce or the sweet peppery italian sausage they used was a bit domineering in taste. They also use green noodles for the lasagna, so we weren't sure if there was spinach or some herbs in there that made for a non-traditional taste in lasagna. Anyhow, good service and food. We will come back.
(4)
Analisa C.
Vespaio is worth its price tag. The environment is comfortable, not snobby at all, and the service is wonderful (there, but not annoyingly always there). Definitely make reservations. I liked that I never felt rushed to finish my dinner. I had the lasagne alla bolognese, delicious.
(5)
Taylor V.
Delicious. When I asked the waiter what was good on the menu he mentioned a few things and then said that the lasagna was the best in the world. We all chuckled at that comment, though he ensured me it was true. That enticed me to try it. He was right. Best in the world. Made to order. Homemade marinara sauce. Cheesy, creamy, savoy, to die for. Chocolate hazelnut cake was amazing too.
(5)
Kim S.
Mmmmm... Loved this place. My bestie took me for my bday bc I wanted mussels and I polled all my friends and thy said this was the place to come. So...we did. They were DIVINE. Not quite like home (NY/NJ) but...the sufficed. Also, we shared the grilled seafood plate and wow!!! Talk about fresh and yummy. The prawn was buttery and cooked perfectly. The tuna was amazing. And the crab cake was awesome. And surprisingly...the arugula was so crisp and lemony peppery...it was the perfect compliment.
(4)
Amber E.
This is definitely price below what it's worth. It's authentic food for 1/2 of what you'd normally pay for it. I didn't know what to eat and the waitress ordered for me! I was a little scared but it was delicious and everything tastes so ridiculously fresh.PS: get zucchini fries! They are amazing with the sauce!
(5)
Jenny A.
Phenomenal! What an amazing place! Roasted Oysters were the best I have ever had. Caprese mozerrella appetizer with pesto was to die for. Open kitchen with a brick oven was very impressive. Veal scaloppine was fantastic, as well as, the duck. Outstanding service! This restaurant has a phenomenal atmosphere and the plates are well presented. The reason it loses a star is because no one acknowledged us at the bar. We wanted to enjoy a cocktail while we were waiting for our table. Also, they refuse to accept reservations for Sat or Sunday, so we had to drive up there a few hours before just to put our name on the list. This is a highly romantic restaurant but what's the point, if your date can't reserve a table? I guess since they always seem to have a line out the door I understand their logic, but I like the ideas of a reservation and think it should be accommodated for a restaurant of this type.
(4)
Pamela R.
Outstanding service along with outstanding food. Their pastas are house made and I don't think you can go wrong with anything on their menu. I got a shrimp dish (which I can't remember the name) and it was delightful! My husband always gets the carbonara and he was happy as always. I completely understand why this place gets high ratings. They certainly live up to it. The ambience is cozy, romantic and unpretentious. I love that they are not snooty but rather, give their customers the best service. Thanks vespaio!
(5)
Jon M.
I went here with 3 of my coworkers for a business dinner/unwind. Dinner was superb. All the staff was super welcoming and accommodating as we were a bit undecided. Food was fantastic and they even accommodated a special dietary request.
(4)
Romy G.
Love, love, love. It doesn't get much more classy than this. The food is always mind-blowing. My only caveat: the wait.
(5)
Liz H.
Incredible. My husband and I went here on a date Tuesday night and before we were through our first dish had decided we will be returning. We had Carpaccio as an appetizer, scallops, lamb, and three different gelatos - all delicious. The wine - also fantastic. Our waiter Reed was very knowledgeable and had many recommendations, all of which we loved. I can't wait to come back again. It is a little noisy but I personally think it adds to the atmosphere of the place. It's completely booked and they don't even advertise, it's exciting to see a restaurant so alive. You can see everyone in the kitchen preparing food and the pride that all of the employees share in this place is quite obvious. I will be recommending this place to everyone I know. Another thing I really loved, you can show up in a little black dress and heels or take the route I did and go jeans and Star Wars tank. There was people around us casually and well dressed, no matter what, the food will make you feel comfy and at home.
(5)
B B.
Great food and good service. I had the vegetarian lasagna and it was sumptuous. My dining partner had scallops and risotto which she said were excellent. Vespaio was Recommended to me by a local. We ordered a bottle of Nataly Primitivo at $40. I had to send it back after a few sips. It wasn't good at all. This is the first time I ever had to send a bottle if wine back. The waiter was very accommodating and offered his recommendation for a Tuscan "Moro" which was very good. /$53
(4)
Eric B.
We've tried to eat here the last few times we were in Austin, but the timing never worked. We live in Houston and planned this trip around making time to go to Vespaio. The don't take reservations on Saturdays, but I called and they let me know that a table for 6 wouldn't be an issue as long as we arrived around 5:30pm. I don't have a single criticism. We waited in their bar for our friends to arrive. A bartender came over immediately to see if we needed anything, and even though I let her know we would just wait on our friends and table to order anything, she gave me a great suggestion for a new wine they just received that wasn't on the menu yet. The recommendation was great! The mushroom, polenta and gorgonzola appetizer was delicious and one of the best appetizers I've ever had. The butternut-filled pasta dish I ordered was really good and friends that ordered the lasagna said it rivaled the best lasagna they've had elsewhere. Unfortunately, I don't remember the other dishes ordered at the table. The service was perfect, neither neglectful and slow or overwhelming and invasive. We will definitely return on our next visit to Austin. As a side note...we arrived early and had about 20 minutes before friends would arrive at the restaurant. There was a cute book store next door where we spent the time (and I even found an out-of-print book in hardback that I've been wanting to get for some time).
(5)
M C.
Great food. Better than most restaurants. Your dish might sound like in any other restaurants but they've always come out really amazing. There's always a "wow" factor.
(4)
Ramy A.
Best Italian in Austin, hands down. Alan and the team are the real deal: food, wine, service, ambience, all top notch!
(5)
Laurie W.
Probably one of the best dining experiences I've had in my life. We started with the gnudi which had a crisp exterior and creamy interior and was served in a luscious tomato sauce. For my main dish I got the carbonara. It's probably the best carbonara I've ever had. The noodles were handmade and fresh and a poached egg sat on top of the heaping pile of pasta. When I cracked open the egg and mixed it into the pasta it created a velvety texture. My husband ordered the risotto which I felt rivaled the ones we've tasted in Milan. I highly recommend this place and hope to visit the next time I'm in town.
(5)
Brad S.
The management at this establishment is rock solid. They must have an excellent training program for employees because attention to detail is impeccable. Here is our experience: You can put reservations in for first seating only ... but we don't eat with the 'gray hairs', so we arrived at 7:30pm to find a full restaurant and a waiting list. That was not a problem for us since were not in a hurry! We put our name in at the hostess station and sauntered back to the bar for cocktails and appetizers. We were approached by a bar staff member and the greeting was, "Welcome Mr. Stevens, may I get you both a drink and an appetizer?". Class, just class. The hostess station must have conveyed our name to the bar .. or maybe the person overheard me at the hostess station when I put in my name ... either way, it was just class. We felt like we were inside someone's home. We were on our second adult beverage and had consumed a couple of delicious appetizers when another staff member approached me and said, "Mr Stevens, your table is ready". Yeah, more class. I had not seen this person at the hostess station when I put in our name, so somehow they tracked where we sat in the bar. That person told me that they would transfer our drinks to our table for us and also told us that the tab would automatically transfer to our table. Right then and there, I made a mental note to bump the tip from 20% to 25%. Any establishment that would reduce the hassle of having to quickly cash out at the bar when a table becomes available is absolutely golden in my book! We get seated at our table. The waiter approaches and uses my name again to greet me and my partner. The service we received from the waiter was top notch ... not overpowering ... certainly not snobbish (thank God!) ... and, certainly not overly "fake-friendly" that one experiences at many other establishments. This guy told us that he has worked as a waiter at Vespaio for many years and it showed. He provided excellent recommendations on food selections and wine pairings. OK, this place is not the cheapest .... nor should it be. For the two of us, we got our wallet out and plunked down $187. But I tell ya, this is one of those places that paying that kind of money is a pleasure. Ya know, I just realized that I wrote an entire review of a restaurant without writing about the food. Ha! Yeah, the only thing I'm going to say about the food is that it matched the service we experience. Delicious!
(5)
Suzie B.
I've never reviewed Vespaio? Really? WTF is wrong with me? There is absolutely no better local Italian in the ATX, in my humble opinion. Everything from the cozy atmosphere, wonderful staff and phenomenal cuisine keeps us going back time after time, for every special event we can think of, or just to stop by after a Saturday SoCo shopping spree. Be prepared to wait for a table if you go after say, 6:00 or so. That's ok, waiting in the bar area is lively and fun, and if you're like us, you'll wait around to nab a couple of seats there to enjoy a fabulous meal and fine wine and/or cocktails.
(5)
Laura W.
Vespaio went beyond expectations tonight. The food was flavorful, presentation was awesome. Jeff our Server was outstanding! The lasagna noodles melt in your mouth and crazy meaty. Hands down best chocolate chocolate hazelnut cake in town. Great place for date night!
(5)
Courtney W.
For my birthday dinner, I wanted to pick a place that served good pasta and wasn't too expensive. I came across Enoteca Vespaio and it seemed to fit the bill and was very close to my apartment. Excellent! When we entered the restaurant and saw the menu, I had sticker shock. Why was everything so expensive? I swore that I checked the menu online and it said that hardly anything was over $20. Was the menu outdated? Did Yelp have incorrect information? No, I'm just dumb and walked into the wrong restaurant. You see, Enoteca Vespaio is on the left side and Vespaio is on the right side. This issue could have easily been resolved if I had looked at the menu that was posted outside of Vespaio, but I did not because I thought I had already read it. Whoops. I started stressing out because I never eat at "fancy" restaurants. I don't remember the last time I paid more than $20 for a single entree, which means that it has never actually happened. (I'm not even kidding. Not once in my 24 years of life have I paid more than $20 for a single dish.) I apologize profusely to my family because I swore I checked the menu online and I price checked everything. My Mom thought maybe I had seen the lunch menu on accident, but I knew I didn't see anything saying lunch only. My Mom tells me that it's okay and that it's my birthday, so we'll just enjoy it. After all, we never eat at places like this, so it will be a treat for everyone. Okay, I'll try to calm down, but anxiety is already running on high. Bread will be brought to your table with herb butter on the side. That butter is the stuff of which dreams are made. I would have been perfectly happy eating the bread and herb butter all night, and that's coming from someone who doesn't even like bread. We got the Cozze alla Posillipo to start and it was delicious. The mussels were so good, as were the tomatoes. I did not eat any of the bread that came with the dish, but my parents said it was very good. I went with the Spaghetti alla Carbonara and it was very tasty. The portion was decently sized and there was more than enough food. The sauce was good, the egg was nicely done, and the pancetta was delicious. My family ordered the Toscana pizza, the Spaghetti Pomodoro E Melanzane, and another dish with angel hair pasta and scallops. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and said they were quite good. After dinner, my family ordered coffees and the tiramisù. I didn't try the tiramisù, but the espresso-mascarpone sorbetto on the side was wonderful. Overall, even though I have no experience with fine dining, the food was fantastic and seemed to be worth the price to me. The service was prompt without being overbearing. The only complaint I have is that the restaurant gets crowded and loud very quickly. That's wonderful for the restaurant and I'm so glad that people love what they do, but loud, crowded spaces make me very nervous. I'd come back here, but perhaps not on a Saturday night.
(4)
Mike W.
Amazing food! Spent 18 days in Italy and this is the closest thing WE HAVE TASTED. Service is slow and long wait but a lot faster than traveling Italy. Highly recommend
(4)
Stacey L.
Wonderful ! Some of the pizza I have ever had - pastas were great. Lasagna was really good !!! Will be back when in Austin.
(5)
Lindy L.
Myself and my boyfriend love vespaio and I will be more than happy to change my yelp stars from 3 to 5 once they fix some hiccups in their system . I wasn't sure of their hours on Sunday. I called all day (even after 5pm) and received voicemail every time. They said they close after brunch on Sunday. I made reservations at another Italian restaurant instead. I continued to call vespaio over and over and received same message until I found a different phone number on a restaurant website that provided me with different information. Which is they are open Sunday night. PISSED! Change your voicemail! Answer your phone prior to 7:45 on a Sunday night, I hAd been calling all evening! No answer, just a voicemail that was outdated. Boooo I heard from the manager and everything has been taken care of. Thank you.
(5)
Timea D.
I love everything about this place. The ambience and the food are splendid, and I can't wait to bring my friends and family here. Vespaio is a quaint and cozy restaurant, and hundred of bottles of wine line the walls. The dining area is an escape to Italy in Austin! The meal starts off with warm complimentary baked bread. I ordered the pasta bolognese and it was delicious. Everything was quite cheap, too. Based on the quality of the food, and ambience, Vespaio is quite a deal for the experience they offer. You could definitely bring someone on a nice date here, without spending too much, but pretending to spurge :)
(5)
Suzie Q.
Less than impressed. Very expensive. Not great service and the food was ok. We went for a fancy night out but I don't think we will be back.
(3)
Monique H.
Here is what you need to know about this restaurant. You must eat here before you die. Do it. Don't think twice. It's Ahmazing! It's one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Everything on the menu is or will be delicious. Insider tips: Their pasta is homemade. They make their own mozzarella every day. They have the best lasagna I have ever eaten. I don't care if your mama is Italian. The lasagna will be better than hers. So based on my tips you can just order all of the above and be happy. Or, you can check out their daily specials too. My last visit included scallops, in a hatch chile sauce with lump crab frites. Oh and their risottos (they have a selection) are also delicious. To top it off, they have a great wine list and the perfect atmosphere for a date night or a small group of friends.
(5)
Brian B.
Best Italian in Austin, hands down. I've been coming to Vespaio for several years now and have had outstanding food and service 99% of my visits. I'm not a huge fan of the ambiance in the main restaurant area, so unless I have a party of more than 2, I always choose to grab a table or chairs in the bar area. If you are lucky enough to get the front "rock star" table, consider yourself privileged (other than in the summer when the A/C vent drips on you again and again). Incredible bartenders who are extremely knowledgeable about the various wines that are available and can also make some really good classic cocktails (try Tom's Sidecar - my favorite ever). I almost always start off with something from the antipasti fridge up front and an order of their excellent carpaccio. After apps, I typically get something from the daily specials menu. which never disappoints. They also have many extremely good items on the regular menu, including the carbonara, the lasagna, linguine, the hanger steak and the prosciutto wrapped shrimp. Fresh pasta with fresh ingredients - even a garden out back. The bar area is a really good spot for both nationally known and Austin celebrities, especially during SXSW and ACL. If you are coming to Austin and have a corporate card or high dining budget, you must visit Vespaio and Uchi (see my other review). Fantastic locally owned experiences. Vespaio also is located in the very trendy South Congress area, with tons of shops, some bars, and additional restaurants all in a 4-5 block area. Try "First Thursday", on the first Thursday of each month (duh), where businesses stay open later than normal and thongs of people line the streets. Be prepared to wait for a table at Vespaio (I think you can make a reservation for the main dining area), or look for spots at the bar...
(5)
Mark P.
Best Italian restaurant in Austin! This place is expensive.
(5)
Matt R.
Food was excellent. What impressed me the most about this restaurant is the hostess. My friend and I arrived smack in the middle of dinner rush hour and were told that we'd have a 45 minute wait. We glanced over into the bar area to look for available seating but since nothing was around we informed the hostess that we'd come back another time. We stepped outside and were discussing our dining options when a minute later the hostess joins us and asks us if we were interested in sitting in the bar area. After hearing our affirmative reply she led us back inside and let us swap places with a party that she was about to seat. We're not regulars, this is the first time we had ever entered Vespaio. A fine dining establishment that goes out of its way to welcome guests, instead of simply tolerating them, is a refreshing change.
(4)
Jeff K.
If you see a curly-haired guy at Vespaio sitting solo in the bar area, eating an early-ish dinner while reading The New York Times, it's probably me. If I'm in the mood for fine dining, it's gonna be here or Uchi 99% of the time (whether alone or with others) -- and not just because they're roughly equidistant from my house. I have at one point or another sampled the entire menu, with the exception of foods I know I don't like, and I can't recall a single one that I didn't love. My sole complaint about the place -- and the reason I usually eat here early -- is the inevitable table-wait for any meal after 7pm ... unless it's a Monday night in the middle of a freak cold front or something. I have the same complaint with Uchi, but unfortunately Vespaio lacks Uchi's pleasant outdoor bar area to hang out while waiting for a table, and its bar seats get snatched up quickly. Still, the *reason* it's so crowded is because it's so good, so I still give it an unhesitant five stars.
(5)
Lija H.
i so hate to give places only one star, but this one is well-deserved. we stayed at the four seasons in austin to celebrate our anniversary and called ahead to get suggestions from the concierge on where to eat. i requested a hip, fun yet romantic restaurant in austin. without hesitation, she recommended vespaio. we arrived on time at 8:30 (no resies but the 4S told us they could help us not have to wait as long) and were told that it would be about 30 minutes (our name was actually on the top of the list, as the concierge had promised). we happily went to the bar and ordered a few glasses of wine. first bad moment, both my husband and i were underwhelmed by our wine choices, and we're not too picky about the vino. after about 30 minutes we grabbed a table at the bar (still waiting for our table in the dining room) and a waiter came by. i let him know that i wasn't loving my wine and ordered another (after leaving 3/4 of the glass). another 45 minutes later we were finally seated in the restaurant. no apologies, and no one ever came to tell us that things were running late... we'd waited 1:15 minutes for a table. we were literally the last people seated that night. i am certain people came in after us but we were completely forgotten. our service was lackluster. they brought my entree before bringing my first course but brought my husband's first course alone. at the end of the night, instead of apologizing, they brought us free sorbet but we were already stuffed and had asked for the bill 15 minutes prior. all in all, a bad experience. decent food but completely overshadowed by poor service. we loved austin but will never go back to vespaio.
(1)
Tristan C.
This review is not so much in regards to the food, Vespaio is one of my favorite Italian restaurants around. This review is however about the poor service and cocky manager who I unfortunately had to deal with. A few Friday's back myself and 5 friends decided on Vespaio as for a fun night including drinks (as we knew there would be a long wait) and a good meal. Just to double check before arriving I called Vespaio just to make sure they don't have a waiting list which I discovered they do not. my friends and I arrived to Vespaio and put our name on a list and were told the wait could be up to two hours, but they would do their best to seat us quickly. We all head to the crowded bar to begin our wait. About an hour and a half into our wait a "celebrity" from Friday Night Lights walks in with her two friends. They also Begin their wait at the bar along side my friends and I. A few minutes later one of the girls in my party went to check with the hostess on when we may be seated. She pointed to a table in the corner of the bar and told her as soon as the people sitting there are done, that table is ours. About fifteen minutes later the patrons from that party get up and leave. The staff quickly put a reserved sign on the table. The hostess walks into the bar area and and approaches the "celebrity" and sit her and her two friends at the table for six with only three people that was promised to my party. After seeing this happen we all begin to get upset. I ask to speak to the manager, Daniel and never once get a formal apology although I was told if I ran a business I would have done the same thing... I actually run two businesses her in Austin, and would never talk to someone the way he talked to me, or treat patrons who had been patiently been waiting as second class because a pseudo celebrity entered my business. He does say he will send a bottle of champagne over to the table for the "misunderstanding", which was far from a misunderstanding as he admitted he purposely sat the celebrity and her party first after only being there for thirty minutes tops. After we try to get over the obvious snub we had just been subjected to the bill comes and low and behold the first item on receipt a bottle of champagne. Needless to say I spoke with Daniel again and once again received no apology, simply a "oh I'll take that off the receipt" and a nod. I pay for our nearly $300 dinner and leave Vespaio extremely upset and embarrassed that we would be treated so poorly at such a typically great restaurant. All in all this was the WORST restaurant experience I had ever had and the manager was one of the most unprofessional and unhelpful cocky people I have ever encountered. If service is at the top of your list, steer clear of Vespaio.
(2)
James C.
Went to Vespaio for the first time last night. I had the Seafood Mixed Grill, my date had the Risotto of the Day (yesterday it was served with King Crab). Dang - this food was good. My plate had two perfectly cooked scallops on a bed of stick-to-your-thighs polenta (I would have swam in a bowl of that stuff!) ... second on my mixed grill was a delicious crab cake, and last was a fillet of some kind of fish. I forgot what kind because although perfectly seasoned, it was a bit overcooked and therefore tough. Maybe it sat under a heat lamp. My date's risotto was served in a sauce with marscapone, which I thought would be too rich and heavy for such a hot night. It was clean, not heavy and divine! The King Crab was perfectly cooked and buttery. Overall the dish was a bit soupy for me, but still exceptional. Kinda working backwards here, but my meal started with a salmon riatt (totally spelling that wrong) with egg crumbles and crispy capers. I'm vegetarian (other than seafood) and could tell the capers were crisped in pork fat (probably bacon). FYI to anyone else out there. This antipasti was amazing! My date began with a corn chowder with pieces of tempura King Crab. It tasted of ginger or mint. Really great soup though probably too hot for the summer. Our waitress was exceedingly polite, communicative and knowledgeable. I'd call her out, but haven't decided if it's weird to name people online yet. Overall, definitely 5 stars. My advice if you go is to not cheap out.
(5)
Catherine Y.
Love the food there, plenty of variety of authentic Italian cuisine but the wait was LONG. They only allow reservation if it's before 6:30pm. We were there around 7pm but waited till 8+ to be seated. The service was good, the wine was good, and look at the food we ordered (I added a bunch of pics)!!! They are fresh and delicious.
(4)
Ben B.
I have begun a mission, a mission to find the best cioppino in Austin. Based on my yelp research it looks like there are only a handful of places in Austin that serve cioppino. My rating is based on Cioppino alone. For my first attempt I'd narrowed it down to Vespaio or La Traviata. I went with Vespaio because it is one of their specials and not always on the menu, although I've heard it is a pretty regular special. Vespaio is a nice enough restaurant, the service was nothing to write home about, but it wasn't bad. Just cold and lacking any semblance of personality. Then again I came for one thing, cioppino. Truth be told, I wouldn't come back for their version. It was served piping hot, which was good. No crab, which was bad. The broth was okay, but very heavy on the tomatoes. It almost tasted like it hadn't cooked very long with the seafood. There were only two shrimp and they were tough and chewy. The bread was very dry and crunchy and even though the broth wasn't great, there wasn't a whole lot there in the shallow bowl to sop up with the bread. Lastly, it was the most expensive bowl of cioppino I've ever had ($32, I think) and probably the worst. Not a winning combo. Next Up: La Traviata, Shoreline, Truluck's
(2)
Andrea R.
My lovely hosts, Mr. Kevin N and Ms. Allison P., took me here for brunch before I say good-bye to Austin and boarded a plane back to Chicago. Unfortunately, when we got there we realized that Vespaio only serves brunch on Sundays (not Saturdays). When we asked our very non-conventional waitress about this she told us all about other brunch spots in the area rather than trying to sell us on lunch. Despite our waitress encouraging us to leave we decided to stick it out and order from the regular menu, which wasn't a problem since there was lots to choose from! I ordered the mozzarella panini and while a bit greasy, messy, and cheesy (although what was I expecting since I did order a cheese panini?) it was quite good. But what really blew me away was the cherry Italian soda. I'm not an Italian soda drinker, but if all Italian soda is this good I may be including it in my diet from now on! So make sure you get one of their Italian sodas (& don't forget the cream) with whatever you order! Oh, and a side of fries too! I stole a few of Kevin N's fries that came with his steak meal and they sure were tasty!
(4)
Amanda S.
Bad service (based on water being empty and us refilling it for the table twice and for our cocktails taking 25 minutes to arrive). Note that we arrived for dinner at 5 PM (on the dot) and it was pretty empty. Bad food (based on the greasy and inedible butternut squash ravioli and greasy bread). Bad pricing. Given the above, for a party of 4 (3 of whom had cocktails and one group appetizer), why was the bill $180? The food and service certainly didn't earn the price tag.
(1)
Daniel B.
Vespaio is excellent, gourmet Italian food in a casual setting. It's true that sometimes that wait take a bit of the fun out it. I have tried some really good rustic Italian wines at the bar as a result, so it's not all bad. Going earlier in the week usually takes care of that problem. Either way, it's worth the wait for my favorite Italian food in Austin by a long shot. I love Homeslice, but I consider that more of a pizza place than an Italian restaurant. The ossobuco was particularly good. Dessert was not too memorable, but solid and delicious enough. The wines have been excellent meal companions and the staff has been very knowledgeable and ready to suggest pairings.
(4)
Solomon W.
Vespaio does some pretty cool food, and it does it pretty well, but it lacks that certain "I-factor" that real Italian food needs. No, not intangibles, but it's the unexplainable satisfaction you get from true Italian cooking. I think the it lacks that oomph to make it not Americanized. Nonetheless, the place is busy, loud, and proud. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, service, and food. My friend and I had the mushrooms and polenta, the Toscana pizza, and the lasagna. Mushrooms and polenta: For $11, I want a bit more than a scoop of mushrooms and 3 strips of fried polenta. Overall, the polenta was flavorful and crispy, but it wasn't anything special. The mushrooms had a nice blue cheese sauce, but with 3 or 4 mushrooms, all I wanted was more mushrooms. Toscana pizza: Delicious combination of house-made sausage, spinach, and a mild blue cheese. The combination was perfect, but the dough near the middle was extremely soggy. The rest of the dough was tender and had the perfect crispness. Great pizza. Lasagna: Definitely the disappointment of the night. The house-made spinach dough was too thick and not tender. The tomato sauce was boring, and the house-made mozzarella was somewhat stiff. There wasn't much of the house-made sausage. A disappointing lasagna, in my opinion. Overall, a great dining experience that was sadly brought down by a few mishaps on minor food details. Do come and see what they have as the daily specials. They have an ever-changing specials menu with plenty of things to choose from.
(3)
David R.
I'll write the review later!
(5)
Shelley B.
My husband and I went here for our anniversary this year. We had not been to Vespaio in several years, but had always enjoyed it. We were really disappointed in both the service and food. It seems like alot of other Austin restaurants have caught up to Vespaio over the years (and are surpassing them). Vespaio was one of the first upscale Italian restaurants in Austin, but doesn't appear to have updated their menu since their opening. The food was good but nothing special. I figured they would have some new things on the menu, but it was the same items I remember from years past. The waitress was decent until she had a 8-top to serve and then they kept her attention. My husband ordered a glass of wine with appetizers and then sat with an empty wine glass through most of our entree before he was ever offered another glass. The wines by the glass selection was lousy (I couldn't drink b/c pregnant at the time) and was really expensive for what they were offering. Getting the check and paying the check also took way too much time. We skipped dessert and ate it at Wink instead, which has a much better (and more reasonable) wine list as well. Disappointing, especially considering we don't get the opportunity to eat out much anymore (3 yr old and now have an infant)
(2)
G I.
Had a taste for Italian, not sure why. Great inside design, very comfortable and a GREAT GREAT GREAT wait staff. Ordered a Margarita Pizza but substituted Goat cheese for the mozzarella. First the hostess made sure it could be made and she came back with a quick answer. Seated promptly near the bar, great design inside, simple, understated but classy and comfortable. Drinks OK, wine a little pricey but the waiter was very good and describing it and not pushing price. Gave an unasked for sample to try. The pizza was WOW. Unbelievable thin crisp light crust, the goat cheese hit the spot. Was so good went back the next day for the same thing and got the same excellent service.
(5)
Kerry B.
Enoteca/Vespaio is located on South Congress tucked between all the funky stores on South Congress. Enoteca does lunch/brunch I believe, and Vespaio is open for dinner. They do have a small parking lot and it's easy to find free parking on South Congress. I ordered the veal ravioli and my fiance ordered the snapper with orange butter and fennel stuffed with crabmeat it was good but not a lot of meat on the fish itself or a lot of crab inside. She said the orange butter was overwhelming and didn't seem to jive with the dish. My future mother in law ordered the Veal - she really enjoyed this. My future father in law ordered the Ciopinno - he said it was watery and not as thick as it should be like the good stuff from Fisherman's wharf. But there was a decent amount of seafood so it was a good value. It was my mother in law's birthday and we told them when we made the reservation,but they don't give free desserts here so don't expect one. We ordered the zeppolis and weren't too impressed. They were small and full of air, but the pistachio gelato that came with it was good. We also ordered the creme brulee and I've had better. We did get a chance to meet the owner and he was very nice. Our server was great as well. Overall, I think the prices here are pretty exorbitantly high. The food is good, but I have had better in Austin. I might come back to try Enoteca for lunch.
(3)
Sarah S.
Exceptional service. The hanger steak and fries with cooked spinach and tomato is awful. The lasagna (3 meats) is always a five-star feast that gives leftovers a guarantee. The fish plates are also delicious. The zuppa was superbly flavored with fennel and the vegetables were perfectly cooked. They have a good selection of appetizers, and a complete beverage menu. Take your friends out for a nice dinner, but leave the children at home. This place is best suited for adults, the atmosphere is comfortable.
(4)
A C.
Generally a favorite restaurant of mine in the past for Italian food and known to be rather difficult to be seated if you don't have reservations. However, luckily - reservations were had for New Years Eve. We arrived on time and were seated quickly and the service was pleasant and attentive. The menu was specifically made for the evening and our table ordered 3 different things along with a crab bisque. The crab bisque had great flavor but was lacking any crab bits or shrimp to give it a bit of texture. Some soggy mini croutons were strewn into the bisque that added bursts of buttery flavor. Our entrees were the Lasagna Alla Bolognase (which is on the regular menu and good as usual, a pasta dish with scallops (delicious albeit it seemingly a bit buttery after several bites) and some mezzaluna which were simply amazing. My dish was a special rissoto with caviar and lump crabmeat and frisee. I found the dish to be very salty - possibly due to the amount of caviar that was in the dish. The crab meat and frisee seemed to help cut the saltiness, but there wasn't enough to help with the entire dish. Interesting concept, but was not one of my favorite Vespaio dishes. We did have an odd part of the evening when the manager came to thank us for coming into the restaurant. It was nice, except for the awkwardness of the conversation since it was clear that the intent was to move us out so they could bring in the next guests. Understandable, but awkward for all.
(3)
Hillary V.
To my surprise, Vespaio was the best, most consistent "fine dining" experience I've had in Austin. Tuesday evening we headed to Vespaio for dinner after checking out the bat cruise that leaves from the Hyatt (where the bartender pours fab. Mexican Martinis). Upon walking in I was a little freaked out by the Antipasti sitting in the window of the cooler- it was late at night, it had probably been sitting there all day, I was praying they didn't serve it to me- whatever, I have issues with stagnant food and water. I got over my fears as I absorbed the cozy atmosphere inside the dining room- the open kitchen with brick oven really puts me at ease... I'll get to the point. The salads we ordered were amazing- the tricolore and the miticanza- so, so good. The best thing that came to our table was the chestnut flour papardelle- I asked the waiter if it was made in-house, he said he didn't know and flashed a smile that acted like the Will Smith brainwashing device from MIB. My Cioppino was good, the mussels tasted fresh, the shrimp were plump and not overcooked, the foccacia was sinful. The linguine with clams was also delicious. We tried the Attems Sauv. Blanc and a Nobile, both were satisfactory and went well with our respective dishes. Confession: I hate eating at fine dining Italian joints because I think a lot of times they serve schwag garlicky food and people slop it up and rave, but Vespaio is different. The food has layers of flavor and isn't overly greasy, cheesy, and mushy. I would take anyone I know to Vespaio and order these dishes again... def. a much better and more consistent dining experience than Wink.
(5)
Vivian W.
bleh, i had great expectations for this place after reading all the fantastic yelps down below. i'll make this one short for the readers: pricey, tasty but really, really heavy food. we ordered the vegetable grill, meat grill, 2 appetizers, and a seafood-like stew, and the scallops on top of some type of pasta. i don't know what it was, but half of the stuff we ordered was over-salted and loaded with oil/butter. if your body can handle the stick of butter and 5 tablespoons of salt that your about to put into your body, then go for it! the waitress was great, and the wine she suggested was awesome, but i felt like i needed an ambulance outside to wait for me as i finished my dinner in case of a mid-meal heart attack. i spent days detoxing afterward and probably sweat out cups of butter at the gym. the treadmill and i hated each other for the next few days after vespaio.
(3)
G. L.
I stopped in for a quick bite and had the mozzarella here. It was great!
(4)
Choosy C.
The food is good. But I have to say it's on par with good Italian restaurants not the kind that blows me away. Here's a tip and why I love this place. Eat at the bar--not in the dining room. The dining room feels to sterile and there's usually a long wait. There is a fabulous bartender, I think his name is Tom. He is the best bartender in town. Great cocktails, friendly and attentive. Don't even look at the menu. Have Tom put together an antipasto plate for you and recommend a wine or cocktail to go with. I totally trust him to simply prepare me a great meal! If you must look at the menu, the tuna tartar is out of this world!
(4)
Tara M.
It has been over 2 years since I was a regular here - I have been here twice now in the past couple months and I am really happy with the new menu. Both visits I was dinning alone and sat at the bar and had amusing conversation with both the bartender and the other total strangers sitting next to me. I have not had any of the entrees here recently - the 5 star upgrade is for the appetizers and service. I highly recommend the prosciutto arugula insalat topped with sunny-side up eggs fontina cheese & truffle oil and the oysters baked in shell with spinach cream and cheese. The Insalats and Antipasti run 10.00 - 18.00 and the wine averages 8.00 per glass and as I recall the entrees average 25.00. If you have a big appetite and like to drink wine with your food this place could get expensive easily... I really hate dinning out alone if I am not sitting on a patio with my dog; so, this is my new favorite place to dine alone and the very cute young bartender wrote his number on my receipt and made my night! Not because I plan on calling him; but, because I am probably old enough to be his Momma:)
(5)
Amber K.
Went here for a fancy date night with my husband this past Saturday. We got there around 6:30 and there was no wait (luckily people were watching the Longhorns). This is not the type of place you go to for a quick meal, it's the type of place that's intended for you to sit down and enjoy not only the food but the conversation of the person/people you are with. They take their time and don't rush your orders. We had bought tickets to a movie for after the meal that we ended up missing because of their "take your time" process but we didn't mind because our experience was so wonderful. The waiter had good suggestions, the ambiance was romantic yet still had some Austin flair and the food was fantastic, especially in a city that doesn't offer a lot of authentic Italian. We discussed the chances of us going again and we are very likely to hit it up again when we are looking for a special evening out. This would also be a great place to bring people who weren't from Austin.
(4)
Marcos F.
Pleasantly surprised... will return no doubt. My wife had the veal and i had pork meatballs with pasta. The flavor was out of this world. Reasonable wine selection. Sorry we waited so long to try you.
(4)
Monica P.
God bless America, I love this place. It's pricey, though, so be sure to save your nickels. I ate veal for the first time here (*guilt*), and as much as I wanted to dislike it, I just couldn't (*guilt*). I justified it in my head by reasoning that it was only a wee bit of veal (in a ravioli), but I suspect the poor calf chained to the wall would not approve (*guilt*). Every time I've been here, I've had a top-notch meal. I love that the menu changes, but they always seem to keep some polenta items on it (I love polenta). This is definitely a date place or parents-in-town place. Try it out; you'll love it. Warning: no reservations accepted here.
(5)
Scottie J.
The fried risotto are "Oh my," good. We take our kids here but they love interesting food and are very well behaved. The space is small. If your kids need to move around, a kids menu, or will be loud this is not the place.
(4)
Rebecca C.
This is the best restaurant I've been to in Austin. I'll be honest, I'm a food snob--and when it comes to Italian food, I'm an even bigger food snob, so I was more than a little apprehensive when my fiance took me here for my birthday. But boy was I blown away. We got there early, so there was no wait, and the wait staff was wonderful--unobtrusive, but always there as soon as I needed them. I ordered 2 appetizers instead of an entree (something I'd highly recommend) and got: - Polenta with Gorganzola-roasted mushrooms - delicious and perfectly seasoned. The polenta was sauteed (or fried?) so it was crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside - heavenly. - Butternut squash ravioli in a sage-brown butter sauce - my favorite dish, a perfect combination of sweetness and subtle flavors created a meal that I could see myself eating every day for the rest of my life. My fiance got Risotto Puttanesca, which he loved. To be honest, I wasn't as crazy about his this dish as I was mine, but I still appreciated the nice mix of flavors (olives, capers, and seafood) and the perfectly-cooked risotto. This is by far the best Italian restaurant I've been to this side of the Atlantic. Yes, the food is a bit expensive--entrees average $10-$15 more than what I generally pay when I eat out. But in my opinion I'd rather skip eating out a few times at a run-of-the-mill restaurant and use that money to go have a truly sensational culinary experience at Vespaio.
(5)
Sandy P.
We had a wonderful dinner at Vespaio last night. The service was so, so good; we loved the pizza (not quite as good as we found in Rome, but pretty close) the seafood dishes were terrific. All in all a very enjoyable evening - well worth the drive (with traffic) from Northwest Austin!
(5)
Kathryn D.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? Vespaio is an excellent dining experience down on South Congress where the wine flows freely and the food is wonderful. The last time I was there I had the lasagne alla bolognese, which I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who has no qualms with eating meat. The pasta was superb and the meats and cheese went together extremely well. I couldn't finish the portion even though I wanted to keep eating because it was so delicious. For a great meal at a pretty reasonable price in the ATX, Vespaio is one of your better options. Enoteca is an even more wallet friendly option and their Sunday brunch is great. The eggs, pancetta and carmelized potatoes make me want to make the drive down I-35 right now. If you're in Austin for a significant period of time, get yourself down to Vespaio and prepare to be swept off your feet by one of the city's better restaurants. You won't regret it :D
(5)
Brian W.
Fabulous! Had the Mixed Seafood Grill. What a wonderful pairing of foods and flavors. Never wanted for anything. The wait staff was wonderful. For a more intimate atmosphere ask for the small windowed room in the back. We went early and there was no crowd.
(5)
Sara K.
I absolutely adore the food here, but the less-than-stellar service put a dent in my experience. My fiance and I visited Vespaio for Valentine's Day a couple of years ago. I was SO excited because I had heard so many great things about the restaurant. While the food met my expectations, I had the cioppino - which was the best I've ever tasted, our server sucked (for lack of a better word). She rarely checked on us and got my order wrong initially. When I asked her what she had put in for my order, after she put down a steak knife when I had ordered a seafood soup, she got very defensive. When I politely told her that wasn't right she proceeded to tell me that I was wrong and walk off in a huff to change my order. Additionally, the room we were seated in was FREEZING. All of the couples around us were shivering and all of us eventually had to ask that the air be turned off - and no one received an apology. What was supposed to be a romantic dinner was tainted by the poor service.
(4)
Jason L.
Wow. This place is unbelievably good. A little pricey, but well worth the cost. I had the osso bucco which was arguably the best I've ever had. I have no idea how the chef was able to get the meat so tender without negatively affecting the texture. It all but melted in my mouth while somehow preserving its meaty texture. Our server could not have been better - it honestly seemed as if the second I needed something, there he was - but never before and never later. His pairing suggestions were spot-on. Gambling on his familiarity with the menu, I asked him to order for me - glad I did. Probably the best service I've ever had in Austin.
(5)
Pamela D.
One of the first fine dining, long awaited restaurants in South Austin. I have been coming back since the day they threw open the doors. Best pizza ever, the truffled, fried egg proscuitto pizza. Second favorite dish is the spinach lasagna with the bechamel and bolognese. sauce. Great ceasar salad. We like to sit over on the bar side. I find I like the atmosphere better and it is usually festive if not insanely crowded. Great Italian wines and the bartenders make great drinks. South Austin classic.
(5)
Joob B.
Okay, this is embarrassing. We meant to go to Enotoca (sp) Vespaio. Also located at 1610 S Congress (have never been to either). So we sit down, look at the menu and realize we are at the wrong one. Hey we were at 1610 S Congress! Who knew there were two of the same address! (Really, I have a college degree - no excuse). Anywho, the food was great. The Linguine with Clam Sauce was perfect. I've had this dish many times. Even had it with shelled clams. But this sauce was spectacular. Nicely lit, tables a little crowded. Our server was top notch.
(4)
vitter r.
Oh man I love this place. You must must try the risotto whatever risotto of the moment. You will not be disappointed if you listen to me! Hmmm....yep, I love everything about this place. The only thing I might not get is the steak w/fries...it basically a mound of fries. Service is superior here. Spot on. Great date place especially. Also a great place to be with family.
(5)
Tee D.
Vespaio helped me discover three things I had never known before: 1. The French make good wine. 2. "Fur" coats freak me out. 3. I am allergic to mussels.
(3)
Ben P.
I last went to Vespaio around a month ago. I was not impressed. It was a week night, but the place was very busy. I asked about a table and the hostess was dismissive at first. When I pushed, she surprised herself by finding a slot. Reservation recommended, or be prepared for a long wait. When I came back 15 minutes later, they had just seated someone else at my table. 10 more minutes and they had another table. The menu had some good selections, the wine list is varied and has some nice options. Prices are extraordinarily high for Austin and for what is really fairly standard italian food. The waiter rushed us at ordering time, coming by several times even though it was obvious we were still reviewing the menu. This is something I hate in a high end place. If you are paying at least $150 for dinner and drinks, then you should be able to have a table without feeling rushed. The food came, it was good but not great. My dish was warm rather than hot, had obviously been sitting under a hot light for a few minutes. Post dinner, again a rush to usher us out so another table could be seated. Overall, very dissappointing. I have had a much better time at their enoteca for much less money.
(2)
bess g.
The service was very good, unfortunately the food was not.The carpaccio was covered with peppered capers that took away the flavor of the beef, the greens where tough, bitter and dry. The butternut squash pasta was thick, tough and swimming in brown butter. The pizza was soggy covered in cooked spinach and raw garlic that was so overpowering it made it inedible. Needless to say i left hungry and disappointed. I will not be back
(1)
Austin S.
I really wanted to give this place a better rating but my heart wouldn't be in it. The only reason this place gets this rating from me is because the environment is cool. Lots of people, nice dining and bar area. It took a long time to get our food (approx 45 mins), but I can forgive that because they were slammed. The problem I have with this place is the salt content in their food, and I like salt. Even my salad of all things even was wayy too salty. I had the linguini with clams. The flavors were there, but it felt like I was eating almost pure salt. So much so that my mouth kind of burned. Until the chef addresses this problem I will not be going back. Again, I like salt, but this would have been a million times better if it had a quarter of the salt content. Gross. On a positive note, the pasta was cooked perfectly, and their dough was good. Like I already said, the flavors are there just way too much salt! Come on guys!!! Fix this and you will have a great place.
(2)
Ted R.
Great but expensive. $28 entres grilled prosciutto-wrapped jumbo gulf prawns was to die for $233 for the 5 of us (w 1 bottle of wine) and 1 dessert
(5)
Grover S.
I got what I should have expected. My wife and I went for our anniversary and I would say the overall experience was fine. The food was solid, but not excellent. However, the pricing, even though I expected it, seemed way out of line for the dishes themselves. The service was good, but not great. The server didn't really add anything to the experience and he was not helpful at all with the wine list. However, he was very attentive and that is always much appreciated. The wines are marked waaaay up. I love wine and don't mind splurging but was definitely disappointed with the list and markup. It was loud....but once again, I knew that going in so I'm not docking stars because of it. It's a small, busy place after all. Overall, it was a good enough experience but not one that will have me coming back anytime soon. However, I'd still recommend it to someone looking for good Italian.
(3)
Kevin N.
Had my first Vespaio experience in many moons and that alone seems reason enough to share the love on this place. We happened over on a special occasion -- in this case a friend's birthday celebration -- and settled in for a casual if protracted evening of fine dining. Say what you will about the crowded nature of this place (and they do draw), the layout of the room in my estimation seemed to dampen the high notes of the room, leaving casual conversation muted, not shrill, comfortable, not invasive. Our server was regular as rain, and given that we were in for a special occasion, necessary: none of us were without a cocktail or a selection from the ample wine list or, for that matter, a cold Moretti throughout. In the end I made after a plate of creamed asparagus with pasta and baked chicken, and it was just about right. Not too filling, with tastes just rich enough to appreciate the palate. I was a little non-plussed by the fact that our party of five was charged an automatic gratuity (isn't that usually something reserved for six or more? Did I miss the meeting?), and the adjective used here on the price range is about right. It can get spendy if you're not watching your pennies. But in the end, I can't claim that this meal wasn't memorable. Something about good food, good company, and amenable atmosphere ensure that most might see things much the same way.
(4)
Cameron M.
Vespaio earns three stars for food and waitstaff. I arrived at the restaurant with three others and I was told the wait would be fifteen minutes. With my name on the list I waited and waited, and was determined to try the food. Finally, after two hours my party of four was seated. Three times, with a very polite demeanor, I returned to the host to try and find out when my party would be seated. Each time my table was pushed back. As for the food, each person in the party ordered a different item from the menu, from pasta and pizze. We had also ordered antipastt, specifically calamari, carpaccio, funghi, tartare di tonno. The food was fantastic. The complexity of flavors could not have been more accurately produced, as they were equally delicious. The main dish proteins were perfectly cooked and seasoned and could not have complimented the waiter's wine suggestion any better. I could go on-and-on, but you should go on and give Vespaio a try. Some complain about the price, but my money was well-spent. I will go back, but maybe less often if the host inaccuracy occurs again.
(3)
A J.
Vespaio was recommended to me as *the* place to go for fresh and inventive Italian cuisine by some friends when I passed through Austin with my daughter. My experience was nothing short of the finest meal I managed to eat in Austin (and there were no shortage of excellent restaurants during the other days I spent here). For starters, the manager Daniel was incredibly friendly - I have a feeling he treats every new customer like family, because he's quickly able to make you feel welcome, at home and, well, like family. The antipasti were light and perfect to start the palette. My favorite was the fingerling potatoes with a pickle and pickled onion dijon vinagrette prep. Cold served mushrooms were also excellent. They make a hummous-like spread for their fresh baked bread (either Navy or Fava bean and garlic/olive oil with fresh herbs) that's unreal. I suppose anyone that's eaten there knows there's a garden in their back yard, and I'm pretty sure that at least some of the salad ingredients and herbs come right out of the ground the day you'll eat them. For entrees I had the Panko crusted oak fired "sashimi grade" tuna (ahi). I live in Hawaii, so I know a thing or two about sashimi grade tuna. This was the real deal. So much so, that I asked Daniel where they bought their fish - no surprise, from Honolulu fish company (delivered the day after line caught from Oahu). This is the same company that supplies the pacific-fusion restaurant Roy's (among others I'd guess) with all their incredible fresh fish in the islands. The fish and the prep were as good as anything I've ever eaten. Props on the perfectly ripe avocado and arugula cucumber salad to compliment the seared ahi as well. My daughter had a butternut squash ravioli spiced with sage and some sort of savory sauce (walnut or pecan based from the looks). The sweetness of the squash and savory flavor of the sauce were a perfect compliment. Being younger and with a little less adventurous palette, she was looking for "cheese ravioli" - so to see her light up on first bite was a relief, and by that point in the meal, no surprise. Bottom line is this: if you live in or are visiting Austin, you need to GO TO THIS RESTAURANT. Every now and then someone gets the right idea about combining foods and keeping things fresh, fairly simple and priced reasonably. Then they package it in a welcoming and well designed environment. Vespaio gets top marks on every aspect for my one visit. They were packed on a Sunday night, so I'm also guessing their regular customers feel the same way. I know I'll be back as soon as I can.
(5)
Austin T.
FIVE star Italian Bistro Lunch and Dinner Cafe We can taste the quality and care in every bite,everytime we're there and served by real waitstaff. A must go to place when in Austin and after dinner walk around and enjoy the street activities of Congress Ave. After your walk,go back to Vespaio and joy a second desert "we did".
(5)
Holly O.
This place is CLASSY. Not for the faint of heart...or broke. I love the bar, which you can eat dinner at. They have a fabulous selection of wine and beers. The service is top notch. The wait for a table can be extensive as they do not take reservations on the weekend but, they are packed and you will find out why. All the food is so well put together. They serve bread with a hummus like dip instead of butter. They have some great options like veal, seafood and fish. Everything is very rich but, suprisingly not so heavy. I am not a fan of pasta and have been able to successfully avoid it and still pig out here. It's a must try place in Austin.
(4)
Crystal C.
After living seven years in Austin, I though it was high time that I try one of Austin's most revered restaurants. I've heard "Austin's best Italian" or "phenomenal service and quality of food" attributed to this place, and I thought if I wanted to blow my budget on a great experience, I should try Vespaio. Two friends and I arrived at 6:00 PM this past Friday. There was no wait for a table, except the maitre'd was not present and we had to wait a few moments for her to seat us. The person waiting on us was Annie. She didn't introduce herself, I had to gather her name from the receipt. We were waiting quite a while to have our orders taken, and we weren't asked if had any questions about the menu. After about 10 minutes of waiting, our fresh bread arrived accompanied by a extremely cold and unspreadable cannelloni bean paste that I don't have an acquired taste for. Call me uncouth, but an olive oil dip would have been sufficient. I have no problem spending a good dollar on food, but when we tried to order their small plate appetizers, Annie was not helpful with explaining to us how they work. It was discouraging and frustrating, actually, and we ended up not choosing any appetizer at all. I ordered a caesar salad with dressing that seemed more healthy than flavorful. The parmesan that topped the salad was young and didn't have much flavor to it. I prefer more more aged, sharper cheese. I do give them kudos though on using real anchovies for the salad. I ordered a spaghetti plate, and I was not impressed. The pasta was fresh, but rather chewy. The portion wasn't all that significant, and I was left with much more to be desired. I would have expected more from a place that charges as much as it does. I also was unimpressed by their wine list. I'll go ahead and say that I'm an epicurean snob. I'm not a high roller, but I do think I have a good idea of what a good kitchen and wait staff should consist of. Vespaio missed the mark on both of these. I've received far better service and quality of food at less expensive places like Andiamo. I didn't appreciate the service we received. Perhaps it was b/c we weren't part of the geriatric Luby's crowd that was there at 6 PM, nor did we represent the South Congress hipster posers (where fugly bohemian chic seems to be the new black) that littered the bar area. Regardless, we did NOT feel welcome and Annie seemed to care less whether we were there or not. I was extremely compelled to not leave a tip. Tacky? Yes. But so was the apathetic attitude of the restaurant. Oh, and a popular Austin restaurant that does not take reservations? I'm removing a star. You've got some balls for thinking that you can run a restaurant like a club.
(1)
Abby W.
Enjoyed a meal here our first night in Austin with some friends. Had the Insalata Tricolore: Radicchio, Belgian endive & baby arugula dressed with balsamic vinegar, lightly dressed with extra virgin olive oil & shaved parmigiano reggiano and Cioppino as my main both were delish. Didn't have room for dessert. Didn't have a reservation (everyone was maybe beat from the previous weeks sxsw festivities) but got right in w/a table for 4. We had a leisurely meal and enjoyed it all. One friend got the risotto of the evening, another got lobster ravioli with marscapone cheese and the other got a delicious lamb soup (basically stew) and salad. Server was clearly a foodie and enjoyed her job...liked to talk but was entertaining and relevant. Would recommend. A bit on the pricey side, especially for Austin, but a nice once in a while treat.
(4)
C W.
Sardonic author Fran Lebowitz compared finding a cab in Texas to calling a Rabbi in Iraq...she should try tracking down decent Italian food in the Southwest. Sure there are lousy Italian joints all over; Texas just does them bigger and brighter with less imagination and more parking. It was with statistical improbability that I discovered fantastic Italian at Vespaio Ristorante in Austin. Vespaio, loosely translated means hornet's nest and the dining atmosphere is often times every bit the imbroglio its moniker suggests. Although the signage is modest, the lines and wait to dine are rarely so quaint. The smallish space is tucked within skipping distance to the San Jose Hotel and the always engaging Continental Club which, consequently, feeds the dining room diversity. On a recent evening I sat close enough to clink Campari with Harry Shearer and Charlie Sexton. Any visit should include an order of the Pansoti Di Zucca. This impressive dish perfectly contrasts the light with the robust by featuring pressed, half moon shaped pasta filled with butternut squash and amaretti. The perfectly proportioned pasta floats in a sage brown butter accompanied with toasted walnuts, crispy sage and biting parmigiano reggiano. The wine list is accessible (read modestly priced) without condescending and the service efficient without becoming brusque. Simply put, Vespaio is an essential eating experience in Austin.
(5)
Maggie L.
Had a great dinner @ Vespaio. . . I only wish I was with a bigger party sot that I could have enjoyed more of their dishes! I ordered the tuna tartare -- generous and very satisfying. Also the mushrooms with gorgonzola and polenta. . . VERY rich. A good appitizer to split at a table b/c I really only enjoyed a few bites b/c of the richness of the cheese. (but that's just me) When my glass was empty the man behind the bar filled it up again for me just to keep me happy . . . and comfortable since it was my one night solo during my week in Austin. I felt @ home and even though it was PACKED on this Friday night, the staff was attentive and working hard to keep everyone happy. Very good energy there -- workers and patrons alike. Highly recommended for that neighborhood restaurant with downtown sophistication.
(4)
Connor S.
Every time I'm in ATX we leave time to dine at Vespaio, which in my opinion, has some of the best Italian food in the country. The staff can be a little rushed, but that really is no big deal to me. I come in for the food. The chef's have a garden to the side of the restaurant for various herbs and veggies, and from conversations with the wait staff am told they also get most of their meats locally. Where else in town do the chefs go to Houston so they can get their seafood fresh from the docks?!? The risotto is made to order, another feat rarely tried in commercial kitchens, and the house-cured meats would make Mario Batali jump out of his Croc's. To me, the price is more then fair for the high level of cuisine, and the fact that they don't take reservations only adds to the fun (also try a well placed $20 to the host if you don't like the wait).
(5)
Amit K.
So, I guess there isn't too much Italian choices in Downtown Austin, but this is one. It's a bit over-priced for Austin type foodies, but the food is adequate. I had the pizza and it was a bit too oily and greasy for my taste. The wine list is a bit short in selection. Service is good and laid back atmosphere which we are all used to in Austin. A great location, and a good place to dine on first thursdays when the streets are closed off. Go in, put your name on the list and walk around the shops and street vendors until your table is ready. It seems like a good date place, but be prepared to wait. I prefer the Tex-Mex down the street, but still a decent change of pace if you crave some upscale Italian food in the heart of the city.
(3)
Lucy R.
My favorite neighborhood bar... Tom makes the best Cosmo in town, light pink and super cold....Carrie Bradshaw would be proud. My boyfriend and I try to eat there at least once a month and wish we could go more often. Our friends consider us foodies and I have acquired a taste for great wine and Vespaio has never disappointed...if you can find a better pasta than their handkerchief pasta with pesto, then you've accomplished something that we haven't after dining at virtually every Italian restaurant in town. Good Luck! Our "go to" dinner items are Beef Carpaccio, Caesar salad and the handkerchief pasta with pesto and a side of their homemade sausage. I start with a cosmo and finish with a bottle of Zenato Ripassa. And can you beat the aroma of a restaurant with a "wood" fired oven? Salute!
(5)
Byron L.
The food was great. The service was wonderful and fast. The server was knowledgeable on the food and had awesome suggestions.
(5)
Lori H.
We drive from San Antonio for Lasagna - and we own an italian restaurant : ) Does that say enough! Wonderful getaway for the evening!
(5)
Janet S.
Arriving at the late end of lunch, place was almost packed. We were tourists in Austin and The SoCo area was not working well for us, we were getting hungry. Inside has a very euro feel, bistro tables, tile on the wall, dark wood, bustling atmosphere, aromas wafting. I ordered Pizza, Proscuitto,,Fontina, Arugula and a truffled egg, thin and tasty, though salty I'm no pizza critic but I think I know now what the pizza buffs are twittering on about. Pablo had the calamari served in a cone with a scoop of arrabbiata on the side. Delish. Today we drank mineral water with it but others had romantic bottles of wine with their lunch. Service was OK, no more no less than it needed to be, I was indulged with my request for capers.
(3)
B N.
Where food in Austin is concerned, absolutely divine, fresh and straight from heaven. Loud place, so ask for the side room if possible. Amazing deserts and wine. Ooooh I will be back!
(5)
Allison P.
I really had a terrific evening with friends at Vespaio over the weekend. I was really impressed with the hostesses here. They went above and beyond to accommodate our little surprise party, meaning they had to seat an incomplete party, which I believe, goes against their rules. Luckily, everything was timed just right, and they set it up for a really nice experience. (There were 4 Yelpers at this dinner, so I bet you've heard this story before) Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, and with her help, I decided on the veal ravioli. I can't even describe all the flavors in that dish. It went together so perfectly and my wine glass was never empty. And we finished off the meal, with a birthday chocolate and espresso mousse. TO DIE FOR! A slight faux pas at the end when the waitress took our signed bill while we were still sitting at the table finishing our drinks (one of my pet peeves), but not bad enough to prevent me from wanting to go back here ASAP!
(4)
Hannah W.
I have lived in Austin almost 4 years now and had been very sad to not find any good Italian restaurants until a friend told me to try Vespaio. Then the fabulous owner, Scott Bolin, came into where I work to buy glasses and left me his card. I knew the time had finally come to try it. (This was about a year and a half ago already -pre Yelp) The vibe was really mellow and romantic. My hubby and I were celebrating our anniversary and it was perfect. Scott was there and came right over to welcome us and chat for a bit and I watched him talk to many other customers as well. The Peroni an tap was delicious and I had a couple glasses of fabulous wine. I can't remember what appetizer we had but I remember it being delicious. Damon got linguine and clams for dinner and that's one of his favorite dishes. Theirs was definitely one of the best he'd had. I got a vegetarian pasta dish with caramelized eggplant. It was SOOOOO good. I took my leftovers to work the next day and made everyone try it. They were all drooling over it like I was. Just a note of fabulousness- they have their own garden in the back where they grow all their fresh herbs, tomatoes and greens, they bake their own bread, hand-make their pastas, and for the meat-lovers out there, they actually butcher all their own meat to ensure you're getting the best possible cuts. The desserts are all scrumptious. I am a huge fan. I love this place. I've been back several times since then and I've never been let down!
(5)
Eve K.
Excellent upscale Italian fare without the ego. Cost to worth it ratio: 3 stars Highlights: - Mozzarella appetizer: biggest hunk of fresh mozzarella I've seen served in a restaurant with pesto drizzled on top. - Bread: soft and grilled sized in long triangular tips - Bistecca: cooked perfectly and very tasty with its jus. Salty potato fritte a hit as well. - Beef carpaccio: very tender and fresh superthin slices of beef. Not an inkling of toughness--all melt in the mouth action. My friend LOVED it and I thought she channeled Meg Ryan from "When Harry Met Sally" for a moment, but for me the horseradish was a bit overpowering. - Wine: unfortunately I have no idea what we ordered but it was a fantastic big Italian red. So fantastic we had to get another bottle. All I remember is my friend asked for "dirt, earthy," I was a bit scared of what we'd get, and our waitress brought us a delightful bottle of wine. - Atmosphere: pleasant and classic; nice without an attitude - Location: outside of the main can be crowded downtown area, across the street from the cupcake trailor. Note to self: I have to hit random spot on my next visit or miss bay area cupcake will kill me! Lowlights (my flip side to highlights): - Pasta: what was ordered was surprisingly forgettable. So forgettable that I actually don't even remember which one we ordered but the actual pasta was too tough for me and the flavor was just ok. Overall great food and nice dining experience. There are a lot of places I need to try in Austin, but after having more under my belt, I'd come back here.
(4)
Heather L M.
Initially I guffawed at the idea of going to an Italian restaurant in Texas. I'm an Italian American from New Jersey! There is NO WAY the food could live up to my lofty expectations. But Vespaio does and then some. I've been saving my 200th for a place worthy and deserving of such a milestone, and Vespaio is certainly the one. What makes the food so amazing is that it's simple and fresh with the finest ingredients. The carpaccio nostra moda is melt-in-your mouth delicious; the prosciutto, arugula and fontina cheese pizza (with sunnyside up eggs!) is drool worthy as is the pansoti di zucca, a pasta filled with butternut squash and amaretti in sage brown butter with toasted walnuts, crispy sage and parmigiano reggiano. We also tried the risotto of the day on our last visit which featured king crab and a lemon sauce that was worth every calorie. But the excellent food isn't where the awesomeness ends. The service is top notch too. Chris behind the bar is amazing. I pointed out to my boyfriend a wine on the list, wondering if I should try that one and look up to see a taste sitting before me. I was so stunned by the service; I was barely able to thank Chris. Jen and Jose are amazing as well. Though a tad on the pricey side, it's worth every penny. Fortunately I don't live nearby because I would drop some serious coin at Vespaio on a regular basis. But it is now on my "must visit" list for each trip to Austin.
(5)
Justin H.
Eh, it's ok. I'm from the northeast so am a bit spoiled with Italian cuisine, but this ain't nuttin' special. If you've given 5 stars, you need to get outside of Texas and try some 5-star stuff. Philly, NY, Boston, etc.
(2)
Charlene C.
Like. I started with the Insalata Spinaci, and it was okay. They could have put a few more candied walnuts, there weren't a lot of them. THEN, I had the Cozzee Alla Pospillipo (aka mussels). The white wine sauce was great...as in not too salty. I often feel like mussel broth/sauce can be high on the sodium side. The second best part of the this dish...the garlic rubbed brushetta. I usually feel like the bread is just something they throw toasted out there so you can soak up your bread, but this bread was delish. (and they gave me enough to slop it all up). Atmosphere is fun. The kitchen was also VERY accommodating. i was with a guest who doesn't eat anything that has flavor...literally can't handle anything fancy, and the kitchen made him a dish to his taste/liking instead of acting like they are too good to make their customers happy. That I think was very impressive.
(4)
Katherine T.
Vespaio is the best restraunt in Austin. We are regulars and bring everyone we know there.... I have yet to be dissapionted by anything on the menu but have been wowed more often than not.
(5)
Sis G.
Each time we have dined here, I have been thoroughly impressed! The service is top notch, not sure many restaurants can compete. Amazing wine list with great italian wines. Large menu with a variety of options. Great spot for a date night! You won't regret it :)
We relocated to Austin in October of 2010. After dining in what feels like every restaurant in this city, we finally found one EXCELLENT enough to not only yelp about but also visit again and again! If you have not been to Vespaio, don't walk, RUN as quickly as possible to enjoy one of the best meals of your life! We had an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert and all courses were beyond fabulous! We paired our meal with a fabulous glass of red Italian wine and that was the icing on one of the best evenings we've had thus far in Austin. Lastly, when you dine at Vespaio, make certain you ask to be served by Susan...she has been with the restaurant for overy 10 years and makes your experience more like an evening with family not just a night out on the town!
(5)
brian g.
Good food, our waitress was wonderful. The bartenders at this place crack the service whip and are awesome. My issue has to do with the hostess who had a huge attitude and asked us to wait at the bar until our party arrived and then said we would be seated. Well, they arrived and she said it would take 20 minutes. I don't mind having to wait, thats part of the business, but I could do without the attitude she had. I think that Home Slice has better pizza and its a fraction of the price. Dont get me wrong, the pizza here is awesome, but I dont think its worth the price. The Caesar salad was tremendous. I lived in New York for a while and compared to the italian up there, this place is around 3 stars. Its good for Austin, but compared to New York its nothing special. Similar, when I was up in NY the Mexican food was terrible compared to Austin, so I dont think its an unfair comparison. Ill try Vespaio again.
(3)
Tee C.
Wow... I feel a little like a Debbie Downer lately, but it's been a tough weekend for food & I was expecting more from Vespaio. I had the halibut cheeks that had been sadly cooked to death in the wood-fired oven...still tasty, but a total waste of a fine piece of fish. The man had veal-stuffed ravioli that was ok, but the meat was dry, the pasta was chewy, and the sauce was blah. I would have apologized if i served it in my kitchen. And what is up with the polenta spread served with the bread?? Polenta is like a pasta... Its NOT a yummy spread on bread...it's just not. I have tried time and time again to love this place but...nothing. I'm sorry Vespaio, I'm just not that into you.
(3)
Sarah M.
This probably negates or elevates my review for you, but I don't normally feel very comfortable in restaurants of this price range or above. I always feel like everyone around me knows about wine and can speak perfect Italian. And this restaurant isn't even that expensive--I think I'd probably die of shame if I ever even came near Joel Rubuchon. But Vespaio does a good job, I think, of elevating their food a bit while keeping the atmosphere really casual and upbeat. It's lively without being too noisy, dressier than the trailer park across the street without being stuffy. Most older dudes did the khaki/polo thing and I felt fine in a sundress. The service I experienced was attentive and friendly without being overpowering or too color-by-numbers; our server was more interested in hearing our thoughts on the food and emphasizing its strengths than dribbling platitudes about "checking if everything's OK!" And the food had a lot of strengths. Everything I ate seemed perfect in portion, ingredient quality and temperature. The spinach salad was probably one of the best salads I've ever had--really fresh greens, a bizarrely cute little coil of bacon, and candied nuts that balanced out the saltiness without getting too over the top. The only slightly off note was the sticky little pile of gorgonzola on one side of the plate; it may be my fault for being unfamiliar with this incarnation of the cheese, but it felt a little strange to have to sort of spread it onto the greens because it was too viscous to really mix with the rest of the salad. I chose the seafood mixed grill for an entree and was really happy with the choice--turbot (?), a crab cake over arugula, and bacon-wrapped prawns over a polenta that made me weep with joy. Not culinary rocket science, but everything was delicious and well-prepared. Dessert was kind of an afterthought, and maybe we chose wrong in selecting the creme brulee at an Italian restaurant. In any case, the pastry on the fig crostata was pretty dry, and the elements of the plate (the custard, the crostata, a sorbetto) didn't work well together for me. That makes me sound like a Top Chef judge, but it's true. Vespaio probably doesn't serve the most exciting kind of food, but it's very well-crafted and good enough that it surprised me. I agree with some of the other reviews on the slightly high prices, but I think that the quality of food is probably worth it. Michael Cera and Jason Schwartzman were eating there, too, so they probably agree.
I am giving Vespaio 5 stars b/c it is as good as it gets in Austin. Coming from the northeast where real Italian is actually real Italian and not just gravy on pasta... Vespaio is by far the closest thing to it here in Austin. The Beef Carpaccio... stunning... with crispy capers (i could eat a plate of just those little crunchy morsels!). The Caesar was great as well. And our main dishes were rich and subtle and inspired. . . ah. This is def a place I will be returning to. Next time to try the pizza though b/c I hear it is amazing. The Atmosphere was very relaxing and though the restaurant was full there was a slight calmness and tranquility to it all. Service was good, though a tad slow at times but we were always attended to. They were busy, it was expected and I can wait when the reward was that amazing.
(5)
James N.
First rate everything. Unique and immaculate.
(5)
Victor T.
This was the best Italian meal I have had in Austin thus far. We started off with the carpaccio nostra moda, and it was an insanely generous portion of Wagyu beef topped off with parmigiano reggiano abd extra virgin olive oil. I did shove the capers to the side, but my girlfriend didn't mind them one bit. For the main course I had the linguine con vongole and she had the scaloppine di vitello with marsala mushroom. The pasta was perfectly al dente on my dish. The littleneck clams were small, but the shallots and garlic really made the dish. My gf's entree was the winning selection for the evening. The veal was the right texture and the marsala-mushroom-tomato sauce had a wicked spicy kick at the end. I'll be coming back here as often as possible.
(5)
Betty B.
I love this place. The lasagna is amazing. Whenever my father flies in to meet me, this is the only place he'll go to eat. I try to show him other great restaurants around town but he always has the same response: "But I haven't had everything on the menu at Vespaio yet." I reply, "But you always get the same thing!" ha! great place. great for first dates.
(5)
D J.
Ive been to Vespaio about three or four times by now. I have to say their bar and bartenders are top notch. I find it a casual place to sit and have a drink while waiting to be seated or the rest of the party to show up. On the food side of things, Ive always enjoyed their muscles (no not the beefy waiters) as an appetizer. A majority of their fare is quite good - I usually aim for the fish, when given a choice. Overall, its a great place to go for a date night or when you're rolling the expense report. The price of a dinner + wine/drinks can usually get a little high at times.
(4)
Nick R.
Awesome!! We had the risotto daily special (lobster) and the carne mixed grill. Both were amazing. Service was great and attentive. Will definitely be back again
(4)
P F.
Fantastic food great service and consistently delivers.
(4)
Tim M.
For the south, this is very good. Love the lasagna, and the crowd is what makes Austin special.
(4)
Caleb J.
The food was amazing! The interior is a bit tight. With 2 people you can expect to pay around $140 with an appetizer, main course, desert and a bottle of wine. VITELLO SALTIMBOCCA - Very flavorful! only downside is you need some kind of starch with the meal. I wonder why they don't work in some amazing side to complete the dish. (I ordered noodles with oil, it didn't seam like a good match.) Strawberry Napoleon - Excellent! This was so tasty we almost ordered another one.
(4)
Christine W.
Have eaten at Vespaio several times now while visiting Austin and it is consistently inspiring with amazing flavors, outstanding service and attention to details yet relaxed and can accommodate gluten-free with best restaurant pasta option tried to date.
(5)
Rachel G.
what a shame. really. i had extremely high hopes for this place. i've actually been wanting to eat here for about 8 years. that's right. 8 years. i've always heard how amazing it is...the food, the atmosphere, the wine, the service...all, i was told many times, were the best in town. well, about two months ago, i was having a crap day on south congress. not to lay blame on the street...it was just that kind of day. we decided to stop in vespaio to sit at the bar and have a glass of wine. i ordered their most expensive glass of wine and it was exactly what i needed. our bartender was very knowledgeable, very professional, personable, and probably one of the few bartenders i wanted to come back and visit with while having a glass of wine. he was tops and we saw him there last night. maybe we should have asked to sit at the bar? we got a table for our first dining experience at vespaio. it was a cute corner table, the lighting was romantic, our waiter was courteous, and we felt welcome. good start. the bean spread they bring out is a nice treat and our waiter was super cool, letting me know it was vegan, since i had already expressed i was allergic to dairy. looking over the menu, i was a bit worried i wouldn't be able to eat anything with my limited diet. so. much. cheese... no worries though, there was a veggie plate on special that looked delish. we ordered a calamari appetizer and split both that and the veggie plate. the calamari is one of the best in town. not overcooked and served with a marinara sauce, my favourite way to eat calamari. the veggie plate, well, the vegetables looked amazing...the potatoes were good, the tomato was good, the seasoning on the broccoli was a bit off (too salty), the greens were good, but what threw us both off were the mushrooms. they tasted like meat. i think they were cooked in the wood burning oven? i hope so. i liked the flavor, but with an already upset tummy (from before dinner), the meaty flavor was too much for me. but the wine all around was perfect. we both loved our wine and had more. i just kept picking at my veggie plate and enjoying my wine. i was content, even if the meal didn't blow me away. (at this point, the review would have been a 3-star)... when a small roach crawled up the wall next to me, i lost my appetite all together. i don't know how most people react to this sort of experience, especially in one of austin's most beloved restaurants, but i scooted over and tried to keep my cool. moved my food and wine over. our waiter stopped back by and i told him. my husband had already tried to kill it by brushing it off the wall, but i wished he hadn't, because i didn't want them to think we were making it up. our waiter apologized profusely and the manager (i'm guessing) came over to move us to another table and offered us dessert on the house. he also apologized profusely. we appreciated the fact they took us seriously and didn't want us to leave with a bad experience under our belts. i would have rather they comped our meal (we would have happily paid for the wine); we didn't have any appetite left for dessert. we politely thanked them for dessert and ate most of it. the only dessert i could eat on the menu was sorbet and it was good. we won't be going back for dinner, but we might stop at the bar again.
(1)
Lindsay B.
Tried this place out after looking at a list of top restaurants to try in Austin. The meal was delicious and the service was fast and friendly. It isn't Olive Garden so if you're looking for spaghetti and meatballs this wouldn't be the place to go to; however if you're looking for tasty Italian it's worth checking out!
(4)
Kelly F.
I ate here Friday night with my girlfriend and her parents who were visiting from D.C. and we all really, really enjoyed our meals. Her parents said it was even better than the food they had in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago when they were visiting her sister who works in the restaurant industry. Way to go, Vespaio. Seriously though, it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time and I say this even though it was during my no cheese phase. A meal that's awesome without cheese is absolutely incredible. We started off with the complimentary bread basket that comes with Cannelini bean spread, blue cheese and pistachios from the Antipasto case, and the appetizer of the day which was freshly made mozzarella cheese with salami and focaccia. I couldn't have either of the cheese dishes, so I ate a large amount of bread, and let me just say that the wheat bread is delicious. I think it has some kind of nut in the dough and it is almost sweet, which pairs well with the mild white bean spread. As far as I could tell everyone else enjoyed the appetizers, though my girlfriend did mention that the mozzarella had little flavor (which I think is just how fresh mozzarella is and is also why it is so glorious). We ordered a bottle of wine as well, but I know absolutely nothing about wine, so I have nothing to say other than, as usual, I had a glass and a half and felt tipsy. For my entree I had the Big eye tuna grilled rare with spicy Sicilian salmoriglio with crispy organic white polenta & Kalamata olive, roasted tomato & arugula salad (yes, I just copied and pasted that off of the website), and seriously, it was SO delicious. The tuna had a mild flavor that went so well with the pepperiness of the argula and the saltiness of the olives. Also, those polenta sticks were INCREDIBLE. They were very creamy and the batter on them was very light, so I successfully consumed all three of mine. My girlfriend's dad (and this is how I refer to them in real life (not to their faces, obviously) because I am too nervous around them to call them by their names even though I'm 23.) ordered the hanger steak and LOVED it. He said he was going to dream about it that night. It came with French fries (though the menu likes to be pretentious and call them "patate fritte"), and they were some of the best fries I've ever had. They were very light (so you could eat a bunch), salty, and kind of sweet. My girlfriend's mom had the prosciutto-wrapped jumbo shrimp (the menu likes to call them "prawns", which makes me think of being on a British Airways flight. Like, the came out of the GULF. Have you been to Galveston? They're shrimp.) and declared them the best she's ever had. My girlfriend ordered the pasta with caramelized eggplant and liked, but wasn't gushing about it like the rest of us were. Though we were all reasonably full, we opted to order desert and shared the pistachio donuts and the sorbet of the day. The pistachio donuts are awesome. To me they tasted the way you always hope funnel cake will -- sugary, cinnamony, doughy, and a little cakey. The cherry compote was amazing. The flavor was very bright and intense and cut through the thickness of the donuts. The sorbet of the day was chocolate and it was superb (I'm running out of superlatives). The flavor was so concentrated and distinct -- kind of the way I would imagine very dark coffee beans to taste if they didn't taste like coffee (that makes no sense, but oh well). It was so good that my girlfriend's dad ordered another scoop to go. Our waiter was very helpful (he figured out a way to successfully transport the sorbet home), but never overbearing. The plates were clearly quickly and our water glasses were always full. It's not a restaurant I would go to for a really romantic date (though my girlfriend's mom has decided that she's going to send us back there for my girlfriend's birthday) because it's a little loud, but I had no problem hearing anyone at our table. The lighting is good (I hate it when places are really dark and you can't read the menu/when places are really bright and you feel like you're in an interrogation room on The Wire) and the atmosphere is pleasant (and I say this even though we sat by the kitchen). I'm sure there's usually a long wait, but we showed up at 6:15 on a Friday night and were seated immediately. It's a little pricey, but I think it was completely worth the quality of the food. Oh, and it's probably not the easiest place to find parking for, but my girlfriend lives right off of South Congress, so we walked. Winners! Anyway, I really can't wait to go back in April. Until then, pistachio donuts...
(5)
Shanna P.
I found the secret to Vespaio... After years of wanting to try it out, but being a little turned off by the supposed see-and-be-seen crowd and two-hour wait, we ventured out for a special date night on what happened to be basketball playoff night. Score! We had almost the whole restaurant to ourselves, minus a couple of tables (and one very loud, very drunk girl, which kinda marred the romantic vibe--for me anyway, I'm ADD sometimes). We split a bottle of pinot noir and had the tuna tartare (with capers--yum!), which was excellent. For dinner, he had the mixed seafood grill, and I had the risotto del giorno (with flash-fried softshell crab), both specials. His was excellent; I think I preferred it more. Something was slightly off taste-wise with mine, but it was pretty good overall. The he had some chocolate-pistachio gelato and I had the watermelon sorbet, which was crazy--more watermelony that watermelon! Only thing is, I just don't know that it quite lives up to the hype that I'd been hearing forever (and the price). It was good, but not overwhelmingly excellent. I'm tempted to give it a three, but just can't. It is good... The service was efficient and nice enough, but wasn't quite the caliber I'd expect from a restaurant this upscale. For another fancy, special date, there are other places I'd definitely want to go to first that offer something slightly more special, and I honestly prefer little sister Enoteca just as much, if not more.
(4)
Neil S.
I'm not so sure why this place is so well loved. K and I went for a treat, celebrating our finally secured employment status, and were disappointed. I had the butternut squash filled pasta and a tomato and mozzerella salad, and K had the marrowbones. Neither were spectacular. Dessert was quite bland too--gelato that tasted like Blue Bell and the semolina cake that was just wasn't appetizing. Both of us have had better Italian food at much better prices. I wish we had saved our money and went to Las Manitas the next day.
(2)
Rachel K.
Vespaio is truly in a class of its own. I can't speak highly enough of the food and the service. The antipasti are fresh, and I even enjoyed the blue cheese we had even though I'm not a strong-cheese kind of gal. I kind of copped out on my main meal and ordered the spaghetti with tomato and eggplant but it was really delectable. My parents were in town for the visit to Vespaio and my mom ordered the shrimp which was accompanied by Vespaio's scrumptious suppli. I know that I could probably make Suppli myself without too much effort but they really are so terrific as Vespaio. They are incredibly fresh and kind of just melt in your mouth. I can't decided which I liked more--the main meal of my own and the samplings of other dishes, or the dessert. We had a lot of difficulty deciding what to get. I was leaning toward the bread pudding which I usually love but we eventually decided on the Pistachio donuts. In the past, I have raved about the brownie dessert at South Congress Cafe, but the pistachio donuts at Vespaio might just put the brownie to shame. If you go, you HAVE to order the donuts. They are accompanied by a ice cream and a little bit of cherry compote that adds a delicious, slightly bitter taste that fits exceptionally well with the donuts. Vespaio, if you weren't out of my price range, your donuts would make me gain 10-20 pounds.
(5)
Jon E.
This was the last in my dining-on-someone-else's-tab-trilogy. I had a craving for Italian and I'd heard so much about this place, so when I called and they said we could be seated right away, I jumped at the opportunity. Vespaio was a solid performer. The atmosphere is nice and very convivial, but like Enoteca Vespaio next door, it can be rather loud. I was feeling gluttonous, so I ordered a mixed grill they were preparing with hanger steak, merguez sausage, and marrow-on-toast. The merguez was a little gamy for my taste, but if you're a big fan of lamb, the heat is almost right on (I would prefer a little more spice). The hanger steak was very tasty, and left me wanting more; it was fortunate that my father's fiancee ordered it as her entree and couldn't finish hers. But after eating a giant plate of meat, I couldn't finish hers, either. So I took it home in a foil container with the asparagus that she substituted for the fries that normally accompany it, and two slices of bread. Two days later, I decided to reheat the stuff. I put the entire foil container in a hot oven for awhile, and when I took it out, the meat was still tender and delicious. I mean seriously delicious. If I were to go back to Vespaio, the hanger steak would be at the top of my list of things to order (though having already tried it, I might think about branching out a little). In fact, I was so inspired by the meat that I went out and bought a slab for experimenting. Maybe I'll post a picture of the results (by the way, does anyone have a good time/temperature formula for taking one of these from stovetop to oven in a cast iron pan?). Anyway, Vespaio: snazzier than its sister next door, and would also be good for a date--though by coming here you'll be upping the expectations-ante over Enoteca.
(4)
Robert G.
For years, one of my partner and I's "Axis of Delicious" favorite three restaurants (including Wink and Uchi). Alan Lazarus (owner) is a true restauranteur - we see him keeping a hawk's eye on every detail of the restaurant all of the time. It's as common for him to bring your dinner to you as it is to see him sampling recipes in the kitchen, or chatting with regulars at the bar. At the end of the day, the best restaurants will always be run by passionate restauranteurs who tie their identity to their product and service. Vespaio is always exceptional - one of the best antipasti cases I've tried anywhere (the rabbit pate, fresh anchovies - (when available), and great cheeses are standout. The Caesar is the best in town - just the right amount of lemon juice, crisp romaine, and worcestechire/anchovy mix. The risottos are always excellent - though we often feel we could make three meals out of them (less is more!) The mixed meat grills are incredible, and only Lambert's can beat the gluttony of one of these trays. The Carbonara is exceptional (though maybe bested by La Traviata). The service is always top caliber - the servers know their product inside and out, and are a rare treat for Austin - they love their jobs, the food, and their restaurant. This is crucial to relaying a great experience to the diners. Thanks Vespaio - you're a huge asset to the Austin dining scene, and we love you!
(5)
alexio f.
not sure how this place doesn't have 5 stars.. I'd give it 6. unreal quality.. self=-made mozzarella, sauces to die for... this would be considered an excellent restaurant in italy. definitely try the lasagna, definitely try the pasta with spec and mushrooms. amazing stuff...
(5)
Jeff F.
This is the best Italian restaurant in Austin and an excellent place to bring out of town guests and clients. I bright my family here for dinner the after I got married. Sadao, the manager took care of everything from start to finish. The last night my family was in town I asked them where they wanted to eat. They said, out of all the great places to eat in Austin, they wanted to go back to Vespaio again. I didn't even argue with. I could eat there every night. The lasagna is the best I've ever had. I also enjoy the very generous portion of carpaccio every time I go.
(5)
Bo R.
Vaspaio... I had a review to finish, and it even made me think fondly of this place when I saw that I had a review to finish. I really like this place. We are always able to get sat quickly, and the service is always friendly and attentive. I've been there 3 times, all 3 times, I've tried something different on the menu, and all of it is good. Really, a 4.5 overall experience. Food is great, service is great, and the value is absolutely there. And the owner is always out mingling with the guests. It really is one of my faves since moving to Austin.
(4)
Stephanie K.
While this place hardly needs another outstanding review, I'm determined to give it one anyway! My partner and I splurged and decided on Vespaio for dinner last weekend. As usual, this was not a poor decision! While spendy, it is always well worth it! We started with their wonderful bread and cannelini bean spread - SOOOO much better (and healthier) than butter! I had one of their signature cocktails and my other half had a beer. For appetizer, we had one of the daily special antipastos: Fried Anchovies on toasted baguette slices - this was HEAVENLY! I really expected it to be salty (only having had brined anchovies previously) but it was fresh, lightly fried and delish! For dinner we shared their Mixed meat platter, which was plenty of food for us both and was delightfully satiating! It consisted of a chicken sausge, served with field pea succutash; hangar steak with sautee'd patty pan squash; and roasted quail with lightly oiled arugula. Every bite was absolutely delectable! For dessert, as always when it is an option, I ordered the Creme Brulee and a tawny port. The flavors were exquisite and although the port would have gone "better" with the flourless chocolate cake, it went very well with the Creme Brulee! I will always go back to Vespaio (and it's sister bistro next door, Enoteca)!
(5)
John C.
Here's the tough thing about my Vespaio experience. I went with a group with a corporate account paying for it, so we tried a LOT of the menu items. As to be expected, some were awesome and some were meh. I'll try to outline the full experience as well as I can. We started with: Calari - HUGE bowl of fried calamari. Seasoning was well spiced and you didn't always need the sauce accompaniment, but it was good too. Caprese Salad - Really good. Nice salty mozz paired with sweet/tangy tomatoes. Really just the classic caprese dong well. Pansoti de Zucca - little butternut squash purses surrounded by brown butter. YES PLEASE. These could have easily been dessert. The apps rocked it. I had the prosciutto wrapped shrimp for my entree. I think I had the more enjoyed entree out of our group. The prosciutto was done well but the shrimp were maybe a bit over. The haricot verts (green beans) were tasty. The supli (I had known them previously as arancini) were friend rice balls. They were good but needed the red chili pesto to add some flavor. We tried many of the desserts: Neapolitan - Chocolate Donut was really good. Not super sweet but rich chocolate flavor. Vanilla gelato. Tasty. Sweet and creamy. Strawberry jam. Weird. No thanks. Stawberry Sorbetto - the bomb. so so good. great flavor and sweetness. the shortbread cookie that came with it was forgettable. Cheesecake - nice, dense, not too sweet. raspberry sorbetto was awesome. Creme Brulee - forgettable. not terrible but nothing special. This one I actually wanted/needed to be a bit sweeter. Our server took pretty good care of us. We had a leisurely dinner (3 hours) but by the time we were ready to go we had a hard time catching his attention. There are definitely some great things at Vespaio. I would encourage folks to go and find what they like best.
(3)
Adam S.
To echo what many others have said, this is an extremely good restaurant. Tuna tartare: Bright, refreshing, meaty, with a lot of palate-waking zing. Spinach salad: Performed as expected; lots of different flavors, nice portions, although the gorgonzola was pretty weak. Risotto (du jour, ours was grouper with olive tapenade): Mind-blowing, mystically savory and rich...maybe a bit *too* rich. Wife and I split a portion (we split everything you see here) and we were both uncomfortably full. Yes, I'm going to blame the chef for my lack of self-control. Hazelnut Creme Brulee: Outstanding. Served with orange supremes and a small, dense chocolate cake with a tiny lump of ultrachocolate ice cream. The orange ties the cream to the nuts to the chocolate. Brilliant. We were so full we could not finish that awesome dessert, which was incredibly disappointing. None of the food struck me as classically Italian, but my palate veers toward the southern Italian peasant (where my people come from) variety. I need to have some pasta next time. Still, very very good stuff and well worth a visit.
(5)
Candy P.
Took a while to review, but I came here on a date. It was extremely crowded, there's a lot of back ground noise, but we sat in a smaller room on the side which made it better. We had the cozze alla posillipo, scampi con salsa all'agilo, and a lamb dish with gnocchi. They were heavenly!! I normally don't eat lamb but it was delicious here. The mussels were delicious and definitely shareable. The waiter was extremely friendly, great service, I love this place!
(5)
Gil R.
Don't order wine by the glass, they give you so little you might as well get a bottle.
(4)
Shar W.
Wonderful place. Splurge for an occasion...you will be so happy you did. The food and service are the best. We went early to have a relaxing time at the bar before dinner. Make reservations or you won't get in for hours. We were seated around 7:30pm and they were already out of 2 specials but the recommendations did not disappoint.
(5)
Austin V.
It's very close to being a 4.99 but I love this place. The food is always good. I with the bartenders had a little more top end skill.
(5)
Nicholas H.
Not going to join the crowd who slams a place for one uneven night, but I thought this might help some folks out. FINALLY got back to Vespaio last night after over a year away. Seated right away, treated awesomely, great drink and app selections. But we strayed off the usual fare and tried a somewhat experimental stuffed calamari dish which really didn't make it texturally or aromatically (not off, just ill conceived). And the lamb-ragu would be great if you wanted to dig into a fusion style - the mint brought things preciously close to Indian fare. Hey, not bad, just not what they do best. And they comped us our dessert (the extraordinary cholocate thingie) either recognizing we weren't blown away, or believing it was our 10th anniversary (it really was!). If anything it made me want to return sooner to get back to that Veal Saltimbocco or Linguine Carbonara!
(5)
Bloom B.
You can 100% count on a perfect meal, every time.
(5)
Annette B.
My husband and I have dined here a few times by ourselves as well as with friends over the past two years, and each time we have been a bit disappointed. Overall, the food is good, but just average, and the service is not bad, but, again, just average. The one exception is the mushroom polenta appetizer, which is consistently delectable! The polenta and the wine selection are worth stopping in for, but only if you happen to be in the area (otherwise parking is impossible).
(3)
Lynne G.
I have been to Vespaio before several times, but it has been a while. We went last night for our Valentine's dinner and it was amazing. The service was incredible. We got there early and weren't ready to eat yet and asked if we could have a drink in the bar and wait a little bit. They told us they would come find us if it started to get busy and would seat us. They did exactly that and offered us a table in the bar next to the window and we had the same waitress. It was a really great spot. The wait staff was so attentive, knowledgeable and genuine last night. The food was amazing and I would have to say that the cost of the dinner was totally worth it. What a classy place. I highly recommend it.
(5)
j s.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Their paninis and pizzas are great. Their prosciutto panini and pizzas are my favorite. I didn't know truffled eggs existed till I went here, but they are great. The only downside to these dishes is sometimes the ingredients aren't spread evenly or the eggs aren't really "truffled" (based on my first few experiences here). Their desserts are good too. I wouldn't recommend their pasta, however (which is why I only gave them 4 stars). I feel like the quality of their pasta and sauces are on-par with someplace like Olive Garden - not really worth the prices here and not as good as the other options you could get here. Everyone I've gone with who has ordered the pasta has been underwhelmed. I come from an area of the country where traditional Italian pasta is very important though, so I might be a rather harsh critic in this regard.
(4)
Paige S.
From the peach sangria to the tiramisu with espresso ice cream, everything we had was delicious! There wasn't even a wait Saturday evening.
(4)
Jackie V.
I typically go to Enoteca...but we decided to splurg and go to the real thing this time. We started out with the St. Edwards mussels--absolutely perfect. We had the Short Ribs/scallops special....WOW! that was really out of this world. The short ribs are braised all day long and just simply melt in your mouth. My husband had the Vitello Saltimbocca. it was good, but after those short ribs, there was no comparison in taste. Our only disappointment was in dessert, hence the four stars. For a nice italian restaurant, I would expect more. We had the chocolate milkshake/chocolate creme pot. The chocolate milk shake was just plain gross--it was luke warm, not sweet, and had a funky after taste. The creme pot was rich and decadent, but the accompanying milk just ruined it. The amaretto gelato was ok. Not spectacular. It was loaded w/ fresh cherries--which was nice, but no one informed us that the amaretto gelato was actually cherries & amaretto. The food overall was very similar to what we encountered in Italy itself. Definately good solid authentic italian food. Just Skip dessert, and you'll be fine .
(4)
Jim C.
This is good. My second choice to La Traviata. Before you think that is a real insult, I consider La Traviata as the gold standard. This is a good second. The deciding factor is the seafood stew. I will say that any place that has Duvel on the beer list obviously take care to all the small details.
(4)
jessica s.
yummy food, fabulous bartenders, always a great time! my favorite go to place when I have friends or family visiting...highly recommended!
(5)
Seiji C.
waaaay better than la travatia, and for the same price. some of the antipasti's are just what they sound like (beet salad, chick peas and tuna) w/o any added flavor, but there's a few gems in the bunch, and the spicy pumpkin tart is godlike
(4)
Mary T.
If you're looking for Italian comfort food this is not your place. I'm not knocking Vespaio, I'm just telling it like it is and my guess is they would agree. Coming from an Italian household and Chicago I'll be the first to admit that I'm a snob when it comes to Italian food and my preference is for Italian comfort food, you know the staples. Vespaio offers a large assortment of antipastas, I think the selection changes daily. The restaurant is cute and cozy, it has an interesting layout, all of the walls are curved and uniquely shaped. However, the acoustics are terrible, it was very loud in the place and hard to carry on a conversation. Service was very attentive, but not what I would consider friendly. Our server wasn't rude by any means he was just all business. We started with the calamari, which per the menu comes with a spicy arrabbiata dipping sauce. The calamari itself was quite good, but not the best I've ever had. The sauce I found spiceless. We also were given a bread basket, being a carb-fiend this is one of my favorite parts of the meal. I think there was an assortment of bread in the basket with some crispy Italian bread in it, but the rest of my party ate it before I could get any. The bread I did get was very tasty, just not what I was expecting, it was soft and chewy. I was disappointed that we didn't get any olive oil and Parmesan to dip the bread in, instead we got this white bean mousse. Our table found the mousse bland, in need of garlic or something else. For dinner I got the Mandilla de Saea and my friends the Margherita pizza and the Spaghetti alla Carbonara. My meal was ok, not fabulous; I found the pesto to be a little too heavy on the olive oil. It didn't look like a lot of food, but it was deceptively filling. For a simple, meatless dish I found it was pricey at $17. My friend who got the pizza was getting over the flu and didn't have much of an appetite. As a result he ate only a fraction of his pizza, but I don't think it was the pizza's fault. Based on appearance the pizza looked quite good and was nice sized. I was also mesmerized by the guy hand-tossing the dough. Again at $16, I felt this was pricey for a meatless dish - the more complex pizzas are only a dollar or two more. My other friend really enjoyed her spaghetti, her only comment was that the dish was quite rich and after a while got overwhelming. Given the ingredients, etc. I felt her meal was fairly priced at $22. Bottom line: I give this place 3.5 stars. The service was good, the food was solid, but overpriced in my opinion.
(3)
Todd B.
Best bar and bar staff in all of Austin in my book. Food is phenomenal as well. Get the spaghetti carbonara.
(5)
Jo M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Who knew it would be Italian but the food is AMAZING. It's great for an intimate dinner or for something with close friends. If you're looking for nice special night out, with great food and wine, head here.
(5)
Vinay B.
Vespaio is in my opinion one of the best Italian restaurants in Austin. They always have a lot of interesting specials. I highly recommend the funghi con polenta as an appetizer - it is delicious. As a vegetarian I order the pasta with eggplant for my entree which is also great. The Italian wine selection is pretty good too. My wife enjoys the seafood, in particular with the Diavola sauce.
(4)
Jim C.
After a great afternoon watching "Dark Knight" at the IMAX (which was as awesome as everyone says) which ended later than I had vaguely thought in my head, we decided to head straight to dinner instead of trying some wings at Pluckers, going to fly the trainer kite in Zilker for a while, then going to dinner. Our first stop was Restaurant Jezebel... where we were promptly shown the door when we said we didn't have a reservation. That made me really really happy - it's so great that they are that busy! I've always thought they didn't get the adulation they deserve, so it's nice that they're too busy for walk-ins even early (6:22 PM) on Saturday nights now. I'll be sure to book them on OpenTable soon. After that we decided to head to Soco and try some places there. We ended up doing Vespaio - they only had a 20-minute wait (they were very accurate), which we spent at a table in the bar area with drinks and an appetizer. When we got to our table, we then had: Appetizers: Pancetta wrapped oysters Citrus crab claws Hot Coppa with peppers Carpaccio Pork ritellini (sp?) For dinner we had as entrees: Halibut on capellini Prime ribeye and soft-shell crab An as dessert: Doughnuts with blackberry filling with blackberries and ice cream Everything was really good, though I thought they could have done a better job on the soft shell crab, all they did was bread and fry it. And I wasn't thrilled with the doughnuts. Overall though, the food was really really good. And I like how they have a whole bunch of little $5 appetizer plates now in addition to their regular sized appetizers... it's like getting a little tasting menu (which, unfortunately, they do not have). The primary downside was the service - it was slow. It took more then 10 minutes after we were sat for the server to come to take our order (although, to be fair, we had our drinks and appetizer from the bar transferred), and occasionally through the night I noticed the less than prompt attention to refilling tea, replacing silverware, etc. But all in all, still a restaurant well worth trying.
(4)
mayura g.
Went there last night for dinner with my friends ! The wait was long - and hour almost we we grabbed a drink elsewhere. The food was excellent - recommend the standard Italian we had pasta and sea food risotto both of which were excellent. The pompano is avoidable. The dessert was excellent ! The only thing I didnt like was the service - after a long hour wait we had to wait for another 20-25 min just to get some bread which was so frustrating
(4)
Nathan B.
Nice cozy little place, had a Saturday lunch at 1, and was seated with no wait. The restaurant gives a small, sort of coffeehouse ambiance. I had the mufaletta which was pretty good, but I feel like they could have chosen a better bread. My roommate had the bistecca with fries. The steak looked tender and juicy; the fries were great. The pizzas looked amazing and I think next time I'll have to try one. All in all, a solid Italian restaurant at a reasonable price!
(3)
Desiree P.
Perfect in every way! This is a great place to take out of town guests. I have never had a bad experience or meal here.
(5)
Lindley L.
My mother was recently in town and we went here for her birthday dinner. Right in my neighborhood, I was already a fan of the location. Even at 6pm, we were seated quickly and greeted by our server. We started with champagne and elected to split the gnocchi and each start with a salad. My mother had their caesar and proclaimed it to be the best one she's had (this is saying a lot since she is a caesar fanatic). The gnocchi special was amazing and we ended with watermelon sorbet. During the meal, our server checked on us many times and any requests were fulfilled almost immediately. It was clear that our server genuinely loved his job and was proud to work here. I will definitely be going back. LOVE IT.
(5)
jenn c.
I absolutely LOVED this restaurant. We turned the 1.5 hour wait into a nice time at the bar with drinks and appetizers. The calamari was delicious and there was plenty of it. The bartender's were friendly and informative. They helped us pick out a bottle of wine, and while it was a bit pricey, it was worth every penny. I ordered the VITELLO SALTIMBOCCA and it was fantastic! It melted in your mouth. My fiance ordered the mixed meat plate and as tasty as my meal was, his was even better. We had the Blackberry Zeppole for dessert and both of us were surprised when we realized we'd finished it! It was fantastic (and not too much). Overall, the service was excellent and we both enjoyed the atmosphere. Instead of worrying about the wait have a seat at the bar and talk to one of the bartenders. They "refreshed" my drinks a time or two free of charge. While most people were dressed for dinner, you still saw flip flops and your typical Austin garb. We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Brian A.
This is as good as it gets for fine italian dining in the Austin area! I've been here twice and after two amazing experiences, it required a review. Good food, good wine, good ambiance! You will not be disappointed.
(5)
George P.
Good stuff. Great service...great wine....great food. Will definitely be back. Always packed in the bar!!
(4)
Scott E.
went here with my wife and had a great meal. we moved here from Ny and did not think we had accents but the waitress picked it up and dropped some great restaurants from where we used to live so that was pretty cool.. we split everything and they did that for us with out charging extra which was cool. Even the split meals were big enough for both of us We had: Tuna Tartar to start: I would pass on this one next time, it was ok nothing speiclal and the bread was not like small pieces of bread to eat the tartar on but huge and did not make it easy to eat on. Ceasar Salad: Even coming out split already it was like we ordered two of them. Very good salad and big portion Lasagna: We split this and man was it tasty. Great sauce and very cheesy. If you order one on your own and finish it power to you because i just was able to finish my half. All in all a good meal i would go back, A little on the expensive side wish the dishes were a little cheaper..
(4)
Thomas D.
I ate here twice recently. The first meal was outstanding. I had Atlantic salmon that was slightly smoked and perfectly cooked. The carpaccio appetizer was delicious. Excellent wine selection. Outstanding service. The second meal was good, but our party of 6 had to wait nearly an hour to be seated. This was substantially longer than the original estimate of 20 minutes. I had a breaded duck dish that would rate only 2/5. Excellent wine and a nice dessert!
(4)
Kathryn S.
This place never disappoints. Had the Shrimp Scampi this go round - non traditional with a cream and pesto sauce - very nice. House Sangria was good as well.
(5)
Jennifer K.
So happy to find a true Italian restaurant in Texas. I was excited to see polenta on the menu which is one of my favorite dishes. The homemade pasta and pizza is outstanding. The pasta with pesto and scampi dishes are two favorites. Great wine list, desserts and Cappucino!
(5)
Cindy L.
Vespaio has been a favorite date - night destination for my hubby and I for years. The ambiance is perfect, and the food and wine selections are are always delicious. Tonight we took our 14 year-old daughter for a birthday dinner - she's quite the foodie who also happens to be a vegetarian with a nut allergy. Our waiter, Victor, was very helpful with her dinner selection - a paperdelle pasta tossed with mushrooms, brocolini and grilled peppers - and she loved it! Hubby had the lasagna (amazing/hearty/large!) and I had the salmon special, so good and satisfying. Love this place.
(5)
Bob D.
Simply one of our favorites in the area. We are regulars because of the service, the food and the wine. These guys know perfection. Sit at the bar for a great time and ask for Tom or Rachelle. Caesar salad is best in town. Anything from the grill or pastas too notch as well.
(5)
Herman H.
We had a really great evening - excellent food, great wine recommendation, and Jeff our server was friendly and helpful. The food had a lot of flavor "dimension", i.e. every dish had some interesting combinations of flavor that made us enjoy every bite. Jeff happily brought us 2 small tasters of different wines, so we could make an informed decision on the wine. Visiting from out of town, and decided to try Vespaio (based on Yelp reviews) and we were not disappointed. It was not low cost ... coming to $146 for the 2 of us (incl. wine, but without any dessert), but for a special evening it was well worth it!!
(5)
Ryan S.
We had an amazing experience. A large group of 9 including 2 children under four, which is usually a concern for a nicer establishment. Being from Boston we're used to good Italian food, let me tell you the food here was GREAT! If you're looking for a place to eat an amazing meal in an unpretentious setting this is it.
(5)
Brian C.
Hands down the BEST dinner experience that I've ever had. This place came suggested to me by a very close friend. Being newish to Austin, I took their suggestion. There are places for dinner and then there are places for an experience. This was an experience. The atmosphere (not too loud), the food (the spicy cherry peppers with gorganzola cheese and pickled veggies antipasti, insalta spicnaci, and vitello saltimbecco), and the staff were phenomenal! It comes by it's reputation for being the best Italian resaurant in Austin honestly. We definitely will be going back!
(5)
Alisha B.
Ordered the calamari, caesar salad, risotto special, and chocolate dessert. The food was awesome...especially the risotto...and dessert! Carlos was a great waiter! Very informative and gave great recommendations! The atmosphere is perfect for a date night!
(5)
Cindy K.
I came here because Enoteca was closed, and was a bit intimidated by the prices. However their portions are huge which sort of justifies paying a bit more money. I got their prosciutto, fontina and arugula pizze; it was a tad on the salty side plus I'm not the biggest fan of eggs over easy. If I come again I'll definitely try one of their other pizze options Our waiter was very friendly and checked up on us without becoming the pesky waiter that constantly visits. The food was a little slow to come out but I disregarded that, I feel that anyone else who comes in extremely hungry would find that factor harder to accept.
(4)
Cassi P.
Really lovely double date experience here! Came here on a double date one weekday evening and had a really lovely meal of shared dishes. Though the dishes here are not tapas by any means, there are still plenty of sharable items. We enjoyed the mussels, which I don't always love, and the Prosciutto, Fontina & Arugula pizza with sunnyside-up egg and white truffle oil sinfully delicious yet definitely a bit too salty. We also shared the caprese salad, which was light and yummy, and a fish special that was cooked perfectly. Really loved the atmosphere of this place, too: dark and quiet. Very appropriate for a date or a chill meal. Nothing totally blew me away here, but it's definitely a solid go-to for Italian cuisine lovers.
(4)
Armand D.
We went in search of Carpaccio at 9:45 pm on Thursday night. Many of the places on yelp's list for carpaccio were not serving it or ran out. A few of the restaurant kitchens were already closing. We opted for the Hilton Hotel on 4th st. The lobby bar had carpaccio listed on the menu. For carpaccio, they served us 4 tiny taco shells filled with something and wrapped with thinly sliced tenderloin. We sent it back and then called Vespaio ~ they hooked us up with carpaccio to go and threw in ciabbata loaf. We got home and it was wonderful! Thank you Alan and crew!
(5)
Tiffany V.
AHHHH!!! I'm going to die just writing this. I am in LOOOOOOOVE with their lasagna, but with Spaghetti noodles. ;) Yes, you read that right. So, the story begins... IT was a bright, sunny day, and we decided to head into... VESPAIO!! Crazy, right?!? No really, my first time, I ordered the Lasagna, but then requested they make it with spaghetti noodles instead of lasagna noodles. I really was having an off day, and didn't even really realize what I was ordering. The waitress kept asking me, and repeating the order, "is that right?". Yes. I get my 'weird' concoction and guess what?? IT WAS AWESOME!! I don't like lasagna usually. No 'Garfields' here. (does anyone even remember that anymore?) But their's is the bom-diggaty. Seriously the BEST I've EVER had! The little cafe next door is pretty dang awesome also. We can't quite figure out the relationship there, it's part of it, but not?? Oh well. The food still makes me salivate. And I'm not a huge Italian dining kinda gal. The Insalata Mista is awesome here, fresh lemon dressing, just like (someone's) mama used to make. The wine selection is nice. The lunch time specials are kinda all over the place. My hubby got a gourmet burger while I got a pressed panini. The only item here I've not loved: The vegetarian panini. It had raisin bread, and avocado with some greens and maybe tomato. It was just too much. Too many flavors I guess. But that one meal does not detract from all the other scrumptiousness. EAT THE LASAGNA, You HAVE to!
(5)
Tiffany N.
First thing's first. These stars are meant for the food and not necessarily the service. The service should probably get a 2 stars but... the food was so delicious.. I'll just give you that extra star to look over how weirdly we were served. My boyfriend and I came here on Valentine's day (yeah I know most busiest day ever). We were told it would be a half hour to hour wait. No big deal. We go there around 6:50 pm. We ended up waiting over an hour. But still.. Valentine's Day... still understandable. The thing that got me was how our server treated us. He definitely treated us like we were a couple of teenagers who were too insignificant to be treated like the rest of the guests... Yes, my boyfriend and I are tiny people so we look like we are probably 17-19. Nevertheless, we are 24 and 25 year olds that should be treated like the rest of the guests. This, I kid you not, was how he took our order... He walked over to our table and stared at us. No words. We both looked up at him and then looked at each other... At this point... still no words have been exchanged... He just came to us and just said NOTHING and expected us to tell him our order. We weren't addressed much throughout the night. It was like I AND MY BOYFRIEND had to force service out of him. I literally turned to my boyfriend and asked, "Does he hate us or something?" No one wants to feel like they are hated as a customer, especially on Valentine's Day. After dropping our check and we placed our payment in there, he continued to just stand there in front of us leaning up against the place they drop food before it gets the the customer. It came to the point where the manager? I'm not sure who but some other person picked up our tab to finish the payment. This review is based on my full experience and to be honest, the food was delicious but not too delicious to overlook the fact that I felt like I was not wanted at this restaurant by this server. Wish we could've tipped the water person and bread person instead of our server. They were much nicer. Sorry Vespaio, it will be a while until I'll be back.
(3)
Ryan H.
We had good meal but it wasn't great and it was VERY pricey. Most of the stuff was just a bit on the bland side. We had the king crab bisque and some cod croquettes. The king crab bisque was actually very good and probably my favorite part of the meal. The croquettes lacked any real flavor. For dinner we had the clams in linguini and the carbonara. Maybe we should have ordered off the specials menu but the two items we had were OK. The clams in linguini were good with plenty of clams but again lacked and defining flavor and it was very pricey at $29.00. The carbonara was Ok as well but lacked that overwhelming WOW that good carbonara has (la traviata). And at $24.00, again on the high side. For dessert we had the creme brulle which was very good. The pizzas looked great and maybe we will try those in a later visit.
(3)
Amy G.
This restaurant was recommended by our photographer to celebrate after our wedding at Chapel Dulcinea. It was a great choice. I'm so glad that we drove into Austin for our private celebration. Our waiter was wonderful and made our night even more special with complimentary champagne. The food was BEYOND AMAZING! I think my veal risotto might have been the best bite I've ever had. My husband's swordfish was also fabulous. I hope to have a meal here whenever I make it Austin way.
(5)
Shane M.
This place never let's us down. Impeccable service, great wine selection, outstanding menu with a healthy dose of specials on rotation. If you have a group of 5 or 6, be sure to request the window table, great nook for watching downtown Austin walk by. It's not inexpensive, table of 5 with appetizers and heavy drinks, dinner and dessert will set you back $400-$500, but the meal and service are well worth it.
(5)
Robert S.
The food was top notch. Probably the best lasagna I've ever eaten. The service was good but not excellent which is the reason for 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)
Lexi S.
Great wine, great food...lasagna is a must have for us. It is just done properly with the texture of the homemade pasta, to the rich bolognese sauce. The bread, salads, and apps are also good. We have ordered the specials before and they are very nice, but it's that damn lasagna that gets me!
I've been a couple of times, and it's always been awesome. Pizzas are great and great Wines
(5)
Liz O.
2 hour wait time means this place should probably take reservations... but unfortunately they did not on this Saturday night where I went with a friend of mine. Room for about 10 people to wait inside, any others had to hope there was space in the bar - or could suck up the cold nights by standing outside. The food must be that good, if people are willing to wait that long. I had a glass of wine in the bar area before we decided to head out to another place that could serve us much faster. The cab that I had (can't remember the name) wasn't bad though. Really was hoping to try it but when I'm hungry, two hour waits will make me a bitch!
(3)
Todd W.
Love the atmosphere and location. Food is awesome!
(4)
Reed R.
Great little Italian spot. I go in a lot to pick up sandwiches to go. It's just as good as their sister restaurant next door and half the price! It's very casual, so if you're looking for something fancy you should go next door. But if you're looking for good food at fair price then this is the place for you.
(4)
Valerie V.
First night in SoCo, it's nippy this wknd....arctic blast has us bundled up and ready for 'Hot Toddies'....which is exactly what Vespaio had on the drink menu! A little dirty-bird and clove to start our weekend getaway. Enjoyed the Seafood Mix special for dinner (3 kinds of fish) excellently prepared! Sat in the bar area, cozy and not too loud. Light background music. Good service....would come here again.
(4)
David B.
We dined at Vespaio for New Years Eve with our son. Heather was very gracious in arranging our reservations. It was our wedding anniversary and she seated us in the cozy romantic area by the wine bottles with a view of South Congress Ave. Jeb provided perfect service. Our food was delicious! My wife had lobster, our son had lasagna, and I had savory cioppino (a stew of fish, shellfish, tomatoes, and seasonings), perfect on a cold, rainy evening. For dessert we shared creme brulee with mixed berries and hazelnut gelato bathed in espresso with a hazelnut brownie. We enjoyed a wonderful family evening. Five big stars for perfectly prepared food and excellent service! This was our second New Years Eve at Vespaio and we will be back next year.
(5)
Nina H.
The Creme Brulee is go good....
(4)
Dillar S.
I went here last night for a birthday party, we called to make reservations and they do not take them. I was a bit worried, it was 7pm, we had a party of 6 and it was Friday night. We arrived, were told it would only be a second, they needed to sit two tables of 10 before us. I walked off and was prepared to wait 30 minutes or so, NOPE the hostess came back within seconds to seat us. I have been to Vespaio a few times, but never remember the food being amazing, however last night I had a wonderful dinner, topped off with an amazing server! I ordered the carbonara, full of flavor, and the table favorite! Others ordered the lasagna, veal ravioli, pesto pasta, and a pizza. All of the dishes were perfect. If I had to choose a sub par dish it would be the pesto. Vespaio is on the more expensive side, however the portions are large and justify the price for me. The restaurant is really loud and hard to hear others at the table, that would be the reason for the missing star.
(4)
Marcelino C.
If you are expecting a nice pleasant staff, who wants to make your experience a great one, DONT go here. It's unfortunate the experience we had was terrible in the first 15 minutes we had to walk out. On the way out I asked to speak with the owner, who couldn't have cared less about what transpired. Shame on him. Any business owner would have tried to make our short lived experience right, with an offering to give the restaurant a second chance. Maybe he was boozed up, maybe he genuinely does not care, whatever the case...they need a new staff. I unfortunately will have to be dragged back to even give it another shot...
(1)
Derek W.
My wife and I usually come here for special occasions, and have loved every meal. This is not the place to go if you're looking for $12 microwaved lasagna like Olive Garden serves, but if you're okay with spending the extra money, the payoff is HUGE! As a matter of fact, my wife and I just bought our first home. I think I know the perfect place to celebrate! Now that I think about it, I should wait until we save a little more money... ;)
(5)
Anna S.
Clearly I came here on a date for dinner, have to say was pretty impressed with my service and food. Everything was what I had expected and imagned no surprises. My only surprise was my date forgot his wallet, and the manager was so kind to let us just repeat the credit card numbers so he could still pay. Let's just say management, and the cooks saved my date and made me leave with a smile on my face
(3)
Tracy W.
You know how a meal always tastes better when you don't have to pay for it? This was not the case here. If I had been the one paying, I would have ordered everything on the menu, because it was so delicious! It's too bad I don't live anywhere near Austin because I've been dreaming for days about their spaghetti. I ate spaghetti pomodoro with caramelized eggplant, that's right, caramelized. I have had eggplant parmesan, eggplant bruschetta, eggplant risottos, but this caramelized creation was superb. We also devoured the caprese salad, and the housemade mozzarella was wonderful and fresh. Unfortunately, my friends enjoyed their meals too much that I wasn't able to steal any, but according to two hungry men, the pizza Toscana and risotto of the day were very tasty. The service here was extremely attentive. We were able to get in by only waiting about five minutes on a Friday night, which was awesome. They checked back often to see how we liked our meals and drinks. Our server even asked us about our trip, and deduced our homeland from the tiny font on my shirt.
(5)
brian m.
A
(5)
Scott H.
Austin isn't known for it's great Italian food, or it's service. And that reputation is well earned. But you will not want for either at Vespaio. I had the risotto, my wife the veal scallopini (they have variations of both entrees, but I'm pretty sure all of them are as great as ours) last evening. Hands down, the best Italian I've had in my twenty-plus years in Austin. Why have I not gone to Vespaio before? The atmosphere is a bit loud, so don't go there for a romantic dinner. But if you happen to like that sort of thing, as I often do, you will be fine. The calamari was good, not outstanding like the entrees, but above average. Wine choices were fine- a pinot gris for us, and dessert was fantastic. Our server was excellent, but I would be ignoring the rest of the team, if I just pointed her out. Hostess, Manager, and bussing were all on point- far superior to the service one would typically find in Austin. I can count on one hand, the times I've had impeccable treatment in this town, and last night was one of them. Obviously, I'll be headed back.
(5)
Chris S.
Vespaio is without a doubt my favorite restaurant in Austin. My experiences there have been consistently excellent. The wait staff and service is unparalleled. I've never had such lightly folded mozzarella, and I'm continually impressed with the freshness of their ingredients, the creativity that goes into each special dish, and the generous portions received with their meals. Everything about the restaurant is delightful. It provides a perfect example of the beauty in Austin's food scene.
(5)
Rob H.
A great restaurant. I have been twice; and, I have not been disappointed once. The ambiance is quiet and formal with a trendy side to it. The food is amazing as is the staff's attention to detail and service. I have enjoyed the veal scaloppini as well as a delicious thin crust, oven baked pizza topped with mozzarella, parmesan, mushrooms, truffle oil, and a few eggs over easy. Amazing! My wife did not like any of the desserts they were offering so they offered to go next door to Enoteca (owned by the same company) and get the dessert she was craving.
(5)
T W.
I have lived in austin 15 years and have never tasted what I experienced last night. Hands down the best meal Ive ever had. Starting with the white sangria($12) and the spinach salad w/red pepper, gorgonzola, bacon, etc. which we split for $10, omg even the salad flavor blew my mind. Then the veal special... there arent words to describe. Go eat at this restaurant! The homemade tiramisu was so good that I laughed when I tried it. There is a more casual cafe sister restaurant next door if you just want dessert or smaller meals.
(5)
Mimi V.
They have amazing service and a huge wine selection here! I love their fresh-made pastas - first time I've had green pasta and it was great! I had the lasagna, which came in a very large portion. It was definitely a new flavor I've never had before. My coworkers had many other things, but everyone loved their dishes!
(4)
Christine D.
We went Suday night with 2 other couples. Very dissapointing. Service was awful and we waited 25 minutes for our check. Food not what I expected. Veal buried in tomato sauce which.coming from Nj sucked. They don't know how to make it. Thick like paste and spicy.Spoke with Manager he could have cared less.
(2)
Britt B.
TOO LOUD! Food is good, but you have to shout to have a conversation with your dinner companions.
(2)
David C.
Food was extraordinary. Watch out for the $17 Don Julio margarita. I wasn't ready for that.
(4)
Danny V.
Vespaio is probably one of the best Italian restaurants in town. With that comes all the trappings of a great food. Long waits, loud dining, etc, but it all seems to melt away once the food arrives. Also having a great drink selection and well thought out wine list never hurts. Some of my favorite starters are the Calamari, whatever the white bean dipping sauce they give you with your bread, and the Misticanza salad. As for the main courses, all of which are quite large servings I recommend the Lasagna, the raviolini, and they also usually have great specials if you feel like trying something new. Overall I really like it here and Enoteca next door also is a treat so if you haven't eaten here already or need a fix of some tasty Italian food this is a spot you don't want to miss.
(4)
Will S.
Italian done right. Austin does not have too many Italian joints, but this one holds the undisputed title for best in Austin IMO. A little on the pricey side, but well worth it.
(5)
Mike M.
Creative menu with traditional and modern Italian cuisine. Good service, good setting, large wine selection and plenty of choices on the menu. The food is well portioned and very tasty. Good for business dinners and dates. A solid choice for Italian when in Austin.
(4)
Hao L.
Vespaio---Italian for beehive, and thus slang for a place that's really buzzing, as evidenced by the honeycomb design on their business cards, and this place seriously does that and more since opening in 1998. Having heard that they do not take reservations, my coworker and I arrived at 6:15PM on a Friday. Parking was not too difficult, as there's a parking lot off back, otherwise you may have to find street parking in the South Congress (SoCo) area. But maybe that's if you arrive early, as we did. Since they start seating at 5:30PM, we were told it'd be 45 minutes at least before a table opened up. Yes, they were already full! So we took a table by the wall in the bar area, and what a wonderful bar it is. And the decor is quite nice, an exposed-brick-and-glass fronted by an impressive antipasto case, and in back a seasonal garden filled with the likes of eggplant, tomatoes, chard, green beans, and squash. Here too the bar was already packed. It's also a very romantic setting, but not too dim. It can be noisy, but not uncomfortably so. By the end of our meal, the bar was packed 2 and 3 people deep. And quite a good-looking crowd as well. And what were all these people waiting for? There's a reason Vespaio is the number one restaurant in Austin, and it's the flawlessly prepared sublime and complex Italian cuisine by celebrity chef Ryan Sampson. The bar has a long list of antipasti on the wall, and the regular menu comes with a separate page full of daily specials. There's also an extensive wine list. Service is very good, as well. Our bread came with a cannellini bean dip with garlic and parsley oil, which was amazing. I loved it for not being commonplace butter, and being lactose-intolerant, I was further overjoyed as well. Not to mention that it tasted wonderful. And cannellini beans are known for their buttery taste. With this kind of start, you know the remainder of the meal will not disappoint. For my starter, I had the zuppa, a brandied fish bisque served with basil-wrapped gulf coast shrimp, $8. It was one gulf coast shrimp that came on the side, but it was huge, the size of a roll of quarters curled up into a spiral. I added it to my soup, which was so very yummy. Next I had the potato-crusted ruby snapper over creamed fennel and leeks finished with Tasmanian lump crab meat, $29, another daily special. It must be a Texas thing, to have two kinds of meat in one dish! The potato crust reminded me of hash browns, or shoestring pommes frites, and had a delightful crunchy texture. This dish was very delicious. And portions are large, enough to share. My coworker had the spinach salad and the prosciutto-wrapped gulf coast shrimp with risotto cakes and mustard greens. The risotto cakes, crabcake-like spheres, were a delight to eat. We were both nearly full by now, but managed to fit in dessert. I had the Fuji apple bread pudding, a warm brioche pudding studded with apples and golden raisins topped with Calvados (an apple liqueur) hard sauce and finished with a golden raisin syrup, $7. I enjoyed this dessert very much, the Calvados sauce an excellent pairing with the Fuji apples. My coworker had wanted something to cleanse her palate of the salty prosciutto, and the Meyer lemon sorbet did the job perfectly. You can eat more cheaply at Vespaio, but you'll wind up spending about $44 if you order one of the more expensive entrees, but no matter what you decide, it's all splendid.
(5)
Ben L.
Big fan of this joint. Consistent service and food. Specials can get pricey, but core menu is solid and decent wine selection. The atmosphere could be better and the dining room is noisy, but food is outstanding. Make sure to get the mussels!
(4)
Stephanie S.
I had a good meal here for my birthday dinner, but it was good, not great. For the price, I expected a little more. It is nice though and the service was wonderful. To start our starters, we had the pate. It was fabulous. Best part of the meal. Then we had the calamari that was limp and oily - not nearly crispy enough. Also had oysters baked with cheese and arugula. The oysters were cooked perfectly, but they were really overwhelmed with the thick coating of strong melty cheese and sauteed arugula. The whole concept of this didn't really work in our opinion. It was a very heavy appetizer. My better half had the lasagna, which was a huge portion and very tasty. The sauce was uber-meaty. I have to say that the sauce was almost too meaty. It seemed like it was made with Italian chili rather than a marinara sauce. Now, I love me some chili mac, but - not what we expected for lasagna. I had the fish special. It was paired with a chile that was stuffed with ricotta and fried crisp - kind of a Italian Chile Relleno that was sitting on top of a whole sliced avocado. Good, but a bit much. I love avocado, but it was just too much food and a waste of a good avocado. The fish was given a nice crisp sear, but left on the grill too long and unfortunately, the flesh was dry, overcooked and flavorless.
(3)
Brett M.
Went there this week and have not been to Vespaio since going Gluten Free. I was surprised to find Gluten Free pasta options. I've always liked this restaurant, but have avoided it after going Gluten Free. So for the first time in months I had pasta and it was wonderful. Vespaio has a great casual atmosphere, and is an ideal place for a date. By the way, the Gluten Free pasta was shockingly good.
(4)
Molly B.
There was a time i loved this place. That time is not now... 2 stars is my hope that that time will come again. We had reservations, and still waited 30 min. Our server was not just the most oblivious person on the planet he was also rude. The manager was really nice. The wine was great, the food sucked! It used to be so good not now, now it's over seasoned and it came out cold on plates that were so hot you couldn't get near them. 6 people a lot of money later I'll wait awhile to come back... I sure hope this was just a bad night.
(2)
L F.
Picture a beautiful and romantic restaurant with delicious food with great service. You have Vespaio! :) :) But, stir poor acoustics and lots of happy loud diners to the mix. There you have it. A romantic restaurant with delicious food where you can barely hear one another. Thank goodness the food is good, right? I just wish I could have had a conversation with my companion, too.
(4)
Kimberly L.
Veal meatballs with fontina. Warm, melted, all in your mouth! I LOVE this place! Food and environment are both great! They cater too and I SOOOO wish I could have had them for my wedding. If you can get them, you totally should! ;) It's off of South Congress and it's pretty busy but the lunch/brunch crowd is not too bad. I've also had their wonderful ravioli! Another must try! You'll be pleasantly pleased with the flavors and wonderfulness of their menu.
(5)
Eliza C.
What a diamond this restaurant is! I try to stay away from SoCo for dinner time since it is usually unbelievably crowded and can bring on the tourist vibe from time to time, but there is NOTHING in the ATX area like Vespaio. Vespaio is a medium to upper scale restaurant right in the heart of South Congresses' boutique district. Vespaio makes South Congress Cafe look closer to casual family dining. Its is a bit on the expensive side, but its menu has the flavors to back it up. The ambiance is perfect for a date night, foodie get together, etc...it's nice but not at all prissy or pretentious. The menu boasts incredible pizza's drizzled with truffle oils and fried eggs, homemade lasagnas and bolonegse sauces and poultry/meat dishes bursting with authentic italian flavors. The waitstaff are friendly and helpful, and meals are paced with precision. The restaurant can be a little loud on the weekends, so try a reservations or eating early/late.
(4)
sadao n.
most excellent meal thanks to a very creative chef and crew. Many thanks to Alan and Daniel and of course Susan. I look forward to returning soon. Keep up the good work. tomato antipasti tuna tare tare salmon belly crudo maryland softshell crab scallops with special succotash Fredricksburg peaches with peach and basil sorbet and house made marscapone WOW
(5)
Nathan W.
Great for a business lunch, less so for a date. Food is excellent, though for some reason they are very conservative with the garlic bread. (?) Rigatoni with pork meatballs is my go-to option.
(4)
Alexandra K.
I was disappointed :( I went with my cousin and boyfriend; my boyfriend really liked his meal and my cousin adored her meal...she dreamt about it for days! But mine was really quite mediocre. We got some green olives for a "small plate" with a very fancy-sounding name...they were pretty lame, and not worth $4. I ordered carpaccio, and this was quite excellent. It's still better at Olivia, but it was extremely enjoyable! Thank goodness I got it. My meal was their risotto of the day...I can't remember what type of risotto it was, but it was served with wagyu beef and a poached egg. The beef was cooked perfectly, but the cut was bad. I've had wagyu beef at several different "fancy" restaurants in the past year or two, and it's never been that fatty or spongy. The wine sauce it was served with was really nice. The risotto seemed very undercooked. When I'm at a fancy place, I tend to think everything must be good and I never complain...like, maybe I just don't "understand" the food. It tasted pretty good, but the texture just got to me. I still have it sitting in my fridge, and I don't think I'll ever eat it honestly. My cousin had a scallops special and my boyfriend had shrimp wrapped in bacon. I guess I just happened to get the wrong thing, but it was $60 I regret spending :( I will probably try again someday and hopefully I can upgrade the stars!
(2)
Christian K.
For the vegetarian crowd the Pasta Pomodoro with Melanzane ( carmelized eggplant) is to die for! The flavors and portion was perfect. The waiter brought us the wrong appetizer and it really wasn't very good anyway, we thought we had ordered stuffed tomatoes, but the tri color salad saved the day.
(4)
Laurie C.
If I were only rating the staff, this would have been 5 stars. The hostesses were friendly, and flexible when we decided to grab a few spots at the bar instead of wait for a table. The bar servers were also really pleasant and know their stuff, recommending great wine choices and giving advice on the food. We started with some great bread and a bean puree- sort of an Italian hummus. So far, so good. Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there. The overwhelming flavor profile of this restaurant? Salt, and lots of it. One of our party of three had a Ceasar salad. Passable, but not special. I had the spinach salad with pancetta vinaigrette. Great ingredients- mushrooms, raddichio, roasted peppers and candied spiced pecans- but it was extremely salty and bereft of any acid finish, something I expect from a vinaigrette. I chalked the salt up to the pancetta, though, and moved on. Two of us split one of their nightly specials. King crab and what I have to say was a perfectly prepared pasta. Unfortunately, the sauce was so salty that I gave up on the wine and mainlined water. This dish desperately needed some brightness and really? King crab without any sort of acid hit to it? The preparation was heavy handed and very one note. The other in our party had the linguine and clams. Clams were cooked to within an inch of their lives- a bit dry- and this time the sauce was not only so salty it almost hurt to eat it, it was very oily, heavy and far too abundant. The linguine- again, perfectly prepared- was drowned with it. All of the subtlety of this sort of dish was missing. Was there garlic in it? Who knows? It was all lost in the salt and drowned in the oil. All in all, a really disappointing meal for a neighborhood restaurant with good reviews that I was prepared to love. I'd go back in for a drink, but not for the food.
(2)
Joe S.
Came here while visiting my cousin in Austin. We went early so that we could get a reservation (reservations are only for before 6:30). Worked perfect, no wait, not crowded, great service. The restaurant has a nice vibe. Wine bottles on one side of the restaurant. You can see the bar and the kitchen and everything is clean. The lighting is a little dim but not dark and it was daytime so it was still well lit. They started us off with some bread and offered olive oil and/or butter. quick service with the water and they kept our wine glasses full. To start, we shared a prosciutto pizza which was so good. It had the runny eggs on top and a very clear truffle and prosciutto taste, no skimping on the extras. It was a large size to eat as an app for two but it would be perfect to share for a table of 4 or as an individual meal. It was a little salty but I looove salt so no complaints here (it is really just that all the toppings are naturally salty). For the meal, my cousin had a salad which was good, but obviously nothing to write about. I had the scaloppine di vitello con cinzano. They have two veal dishes, this is the breaded one, it sounded better to me because of the sauce. It was very good. Well cooked veal, the sauce was hearty and the pasta was cooked perfect with just the flavor of garlic and oil. Topped with tomato and arugula. Ended the meal with some raspberry sherbet. It was actually very good sherbet. We also walked across the street afterwards to get a second (less healthy) dessert: cupcakes from hey cupcake. The waiter was also very nice and was able to pronounce everything on the menu properly (which is a huge feat) and seemed able to explain what was in all the dishes and the difference between the two veal dishes. Overall, the meal was great, the restaurant was nice, service was perfect (never waited for food without food on the table). Left full and happy.
(5)
Monica G.
Pretty awesome. The wine, champagne, appetizers are all delicious. You get food that tastes like luxury. I think the lasagna has veal, and ask for a poached egg on top and it makes it even better. The portions are HUGE, surprisingly (at least for the lasagna), and I was able to save enough to take home. I was kind of bummed that it didn't taste as good reheated (you know how sometimes your leftovers taste better the next day? Still good, but not mind-blowing). It's pricey, but definitely worth the experience. Yelp also says this place is not good for groups, but I went with a group of about 10 or so, and we had a private room. So it's just fine for groups if you make arrangements ahead of time.
(4)
C J.
I had only been to Vespaio once, and it was quite some time ago, well before I had a Yelp account. A friend of mine and I were mulling dinner options last week and she suggested Vespaio. Recalling the lengthy wait times, I proposed we might have a back-up plan. Lo and behold when she called we learned they actually had open tables so we rushed over and were seated immediately. What luck! Our waiter, Mike, was great. Of the evening's offerings, he suggested the tuna tartare for an appetizer and then the osso buco (for two) for dinner. The tuna tartare was wonderfully fresh and a great, light start. Served with crisp endive scoops to convey the tartare, one could also pick up some capers and a little chile oil on the plate. It was bright, cool, and delicious. On to the osso buco which was amazing. It was easily the best osso buco I've ever had, and was an enormous portion. Although slated to serve two, it easily could have fed three. It was wonderfully tender with rich, deep flavors and very fragrant from roasted garlic. We found ourselves way too full to enjoy a dessert, so next time I'll have to pace myself with that in mind.
(5)
Chris D.
My friend and I popped into Vespaio yesterday, based on a random recommendation from Yelp. Service: No complaints. The hostess and waiter were both friendly. The waiter gave honest and straightforward recommendations. Our drinks came out quickly, and the waitstaff support was very quick to refill water glasses. Wine: Good. We ordered an average-priced glass, and it tasted good. No "I've been open for a week" edge to contend with. Appetizer: We had the Carpaccio. It was delicious. The meat was very good, and it had an arugula & red cabbage salad on top with a very light dressing and capers. I could see ordering this app as a light lunch and being very happy. Entree: We split the lasagna- spinach noodles with multiple meats. It was delicious and very filling. We were very glad to have split it, since the entree would have been HUGE for one person. The waiter warned us that it was very large, and we told him we'd share. They brought it out already divided into two plates, which was very nice. Atmosphere: We sat at a cocktail table in the bar area. It was intimate enough for us to chat and enjoy ourselves, and I could definitely see coming here for a date or stopping in for a glass of wine with a friend.
(4)
Warren G.
The food is good - not awesome. And it costs 2-3x as much as other good Italian food in town. So I always leave feeling like I should have gone someplace else.
(3)
Ashley H.
Went here from a tip from my husbands co-worker since I love italian food. Grew up in MA where my Pepe had his own secret saaaauce (insert Boston accent). I could eat pasta everyday of the damn week if my hips allowed me to. However, Vespaio was kind of a miss for me. I've had a much better experience at another Austin italian restaurant. Apps we ordered king crab bisque and croquettes. Husband loved the crab bisque but the croquettes were chewy, not as I expected. For dinner I ordered the carbonara and husband had the clams in linguini, both lacked defining flavor. For the price of the meal I was hoping it would be a home run. My favorite part of the meal was the creme brulle, which was tasty. I'm surprised that most italian restaurants that I've been to in Austin don't serve cannoli's. By far, a Boston italian staple. (Husband and wife reviewing the same restaurant = how cute).
I love Vespaio! I have been here many times since its first opened their doors. Food has always been great & service has never been bad. The chopino is my fav. The mixed grill is my husband's. We come for special occasions because its $$$ but well worth it!
(5)
Jennifer W.
My first time here for lunch today. I just had a massage and was looking for a light and "slightly" healthy lunch in a relaxing atmosphere - I got most of that. You can always judge a restaurant by how they treat their single customers. I have gotten exasperated looks and crappy tables - not here. I was seated right away at a small table near the bar. Well they are pretty much all small tables near the bar. ( and no exasperated looks :-) They have a nice menu of salads, pasta's, pizza's and sandwiches. Only one soup was offered however - seems these are daily specials (?) I ordered a small Cesar salad ( $7) and the minestrone soup ($6) and iced tea. What I got was a (what I consider) large salad plate and a good sized bowl of soup. Nice! Everything was great - not too much dressing on the salad, lots of cheese, crispy croutons, the soup was served hot with , again, lots of cheese. Flavor great on both. The waiter came by and asked if I would like bread ( uh of course!) only small disappointment here - I got a small plate of thinly sliced and crispy baguette. I really would have preferred a more substantial bread - something butter worthy. The atmosphere - was ..well .. boisterous and they really pack the tables in. I was seated at was was supposed to be a table for 3 - my food took up half the table folks, and while I didn't bump into my neighbors while puling out my seat - it was still a bit to close. Also the noise level is high. This is not the place to go on a 1st, 2nd or even 3rd date - but is probably good for a girls night out - if there are just 3 or 4 of you. So I did not get the relaxing portion of the lunch I was looking for. I did have a great waiter - wish I had gotten his name. Attentive but not overly so. I did order dessert - the Lemon Panna Cotta - yummo! It was a bit richer than I thought it would be but the taste was pure lemon. I ended up taking most of it home with me. I left full and happy and looking forward to a return visit.
(3)
Jay W.
I love the atmosphere at this restaurant. The bar is quaint, and can often times be crowded but if you can get a seat, take it and have a pre or post dinner drink. Excellent wine selection and they have my favorite "marollo camomile grappa." The food: I originally had some ups and downs with this place. The food always tasted good, but I thought they overdid a few dishes. They would always put one too many ingredients on their entrees. For example: mushroom risotto with shortribs on top. Leave the shortribs off and just give me risotto. However; over the past two years they have really put together some delicious dishes. Their cioppino is fantastic, as are most of the seafood dishes, and take the advice of the wait staff on the daily specials. This is fine dining, and even though it is Austin, I wouldn't show up in shorts and a t-shirt. They won't turn you away, but you'll feel out of place. Delicious, my favorite place to eat in SoCo, which is one of my favorite Austin neighborhoods.
(3)
Nanci C.
Amazing food! The lasagna is delicious! All the dishes are large enough to be shared.
(5)
Omar Z.
Hasn't disappointed yet, except maybe for dessert. That was deep. Might explain why I'm not Elite '10. This is fancy Italian that you pay for. It's not The North End. What is North End anyway? Exactly. I had a friend who lived above a hardware store in the North End of Boston. He asked his land lord where he could keep his bicycle. The land lord replied: Just lay it on the sidewalk in front of the store. NO ONE WILL TOUCH IT. Vespaio is a great date place. It's a bit dark and always buzzing. You can wait in the bar area for hours with your date and really develop an opinion as to whether to splurge on her/him/it before you are even seated! Yes, it's that popular! And practical! And as you wait, your senses will be invigorated by all of the tasties inside the glass box wrapping around the bar. I also know people who know people who eat here every week. And that's quite something. Food is somewhat creative and tasty. But I can't be much more specific than that because it has never really blown me away. But if you pair a dinner at Vespaio with a show at the Continental, you can't lose. Oh, and by the way, if you laid your bicycle in front of Vespaio, it wouldn't last 5 minutes.
(4)
Scott L.
I like this place, even though it can be expensive and some dishes are better than others. I've been going here almost once a year for about 10 years. I like the ambiance and I like to the sit at the bar. I like the specials, the pizzas and the wine. We had a great soup here once and the a mixed fried plate that was good. It's expensive and there is always a wait. The trendiness can be also, a burden. Go for fun to have wine at the bar and sample something first. If you like that, go for dinner one day. This is one of my favorite places in Austin. I somehow wouldn't expect everyone to like this place. It's definitely not macaroni grill.
(4)
Lindsay A.
My review is probably biased because I definitely prefer mom and pop kinds of restaurants. My boyfriend's mother lives out in Bastrop and wanted to go to a really nice Italian place. She picked out Vespaio based on all the excellent yelp reviews. The environment is nice, and it's on Congress which you can't beat, but it's very pricy for what everyone agreed was a pretty mediocre meal. I definitely have remorse about ordering a $30 lasagna, and the calamari was about as good as I've anywhere else in Austin. We didn't order drinks or dessert, so you might keep that in mind. Also I had some beef with our handlebar mustachioed waiter, who seemed a bit condescending to each of us in the party. So, personally, if you're on Congress and looking for a great place to eat, I'd tell you to keep walking past this one. There are plenty of others more worth a chance.
(2)
Witty P.
Food pretty good although a little pricey, the review would have been 4 stars but for the over attentive waiter. My friend was having a regular dish from the entre menu but I just wanted the squash ravioli which was on the starter menu for my main course, this made him less than happy. He making a 'disgusted' face and 'humf-ed', then his pretentious foreign accent got stronger as he pretended not to understand that I wanted a starter as my main course because I wasn't too hungry. We were scoping this place out for a birthday party location, but not happening here!
(3)
Melissa A.
I do love Vespaio: they have the best beef carpaccio in town, one of the best tuna tartars, excellent in-house pastas and sauces, salads, etc. Be forewarned that they do not take reservations after 6:30 PM, so insider tip is to make your reservation for 6:30, then very leisurely peruse the menu, chat with your dining companion(s), and then order when you start to actually get hungry. Barring that, go on an unpopular day, go when you are not starving, or go kind of later when it is slower. Or, like I just learned, order to-go. That's right, they do their whole menu to-go. This is a brilliant plan on several levels: no dealing with the no reservations policy, waiting for a table at this hugely popular place, no dressing up to go, no fiddling around for hours at the restaurant. I ordered the carpaccio to-go tonight and it was so awesome: ready only 15 minutes from when I called, they gave me a whole loaf of bread to go with it, and it was to the same quality and quantity as every time I have ordered it in the restaurant. Yum! Most brilliant plan ever! Pair with a bottle of wine that you bought at the grocery store and a pasta dish that you also called in to Enoteca next door (almost same quality and half the price). Viola!
(5)
eric q.
Here's the breakdown/summary: food: 5 (excellent!) service: 4.5 feel: 1.5 value: 2.5 We went here for an early friday night date (we don't eat at fancy places like this very often) and the restaurant was not busy (maybe 20% occupied). We had great, friendly service and the menu was not lacking options. First curve ball was when I ordered my one drink with dinner (chose glass of wine over a cocktail) and got a very very meager, subpar pour. I'm not chincy, but there's standards on what you should get when you order a "glass" of wine, esp when its $15. My woman worked at vino vino and she backed me up on this. I decided not to say anything and let it go... still, annoying. Food was really great. I had a snapper dish and the lady had cioppino (seafood soup) and we split salad. Fantastic. Our only other compliant was how the restaurant was laid out and how loud it was by the time we left (got busy). I'm skinny and still had a hard time making it through the smashed together tables to get to the bathroom. I guess I just expected a more relaxed, pleasant dining atmosphere when you get to the $75/person price range. maybe i'm crazy... or, maybe you just need to lower your expectations for a small space on S. congress. expect your neighbors to be within elbow distance.
(3)
Amanda P.
Five words: House Cured Whipped Lardo Bruschetta. Even our wonderful server who's name escapes me said it was the best thing she's had there in the 12+ yrs of working at the restaurant. I have to agree completely. It's like butter. Excuse me, I believe I just slobbered on myself. My boyfriend & I ventured there last night (Tuesday) and were seated immediately. Our $40-something wine was fantastic along with the Cioppino & the Veal Lasagna. Overall a perfect dining experience for our 4 year anniversary. The dishes were great but nothing was as outstanding as the Bruschetta. I think that might just be my hard judging considering I grew up on my grandmas Italian food though. -One full customer
(5)
Lionel F.
Sitting at the bar here, with a glass of wine or a Fernet or a Manhattan, I feel like a regular. The fresh, chewy bread and dip makes me deeply happy. There is nice buzz of people in here, enjoying themselves, ordering small lovely plates of tasty things. My pizza with truffled egg arrives and I have one of those perfect moments like you get when off the path at a little Parisian cafe or a country English pub in the Cotswolds. Vespaio does it all right. The food, the lighting, the music, the staff, the location, the everything. I hear people talk about a small plate being $4 and too much money, go to Olive Garden if you cant afford nice food. Nice food cost money, real money, nice food money. Vespaio is priced in line with what you would expect to pay at a great restaurant. In fact, i think it's pretty reasonable. I give it 5 stars but truly it's one of my top 3 of all restaurants in Austin and has been for a while.
(5)
Gary O.
Superb food, service, and wine selection. Had a dinner with several colleagues from work. Nice atmosphere, quiet enough to converse normally while still a lively place. I had the spaghetti carbonara - one of my favorite dishes when done right, but often it isn't. This was great, as was the somewhat unconventional ceasar salad (using spears of romaine). Parking? It's South Congress. But once you get in, enjoy the food and the service. I'll definitely return.
(5)
Lindsay J.
We arrived at Vespaio at around 7:30 PM on a Tuesday. Horrible table in the middle of a thoroughfare. SInce they don't take reservations, I cannot mention in advance that this is a special meal. (Boyfriend leaves table to use restroom.) Me, to waiter: "Hi! I just wanted to let you know that today is my boyfriend's birthday. Not sure if you guys do anything special for something like that, but anything would be appreciated." Waiter: "Oh! Yes, we usually comp the desert." Me, smiling, as boyfriend is returning to the table: "Awesome!" Out comes the bread, and a tasty cannelini bean spread and parsely oil. Waiter upsells us to a more expensive bottle of wine than what we had selected. I found this to be slightly obnoxious, because to me, that's saying, "You have bad taste. This is what you should get." Waiter mentions that a salad comes with the boyfriend's mixed grill special. Out come the salads- spinach with roasted red pappers, candied walnuts, and a pancetta vinaigrette. Delicious. Out comes my spaghetti pomodoro ($21) with about 6 small pieces of eggplant in it and the boyfriend's fabulous, three-part mixed grill special ($38). We choose a desert, which arrives with birthday canlde on it, and then the bill. The Good: Mixed grill special, spinach salads, and cannelini bean spread The Bad: One-note spaghetti pomodoro, expensive wine upsale The Inexcusable: We were charged for the second salad AND the birthday desert. I might come back if someone else suggests Vespaio, but it'll be with my suit of armor on, ready to fight the inconsistencies on the bill.
(2)
Cindy S.
Best place in austin for brunch crepes. Always friendly service. The atmosphere is casual and cozy.
(5)
Paloma M.
Gorgeous atmosphere and Delicious organic Italian food. My husband and I reserved their exclusive romantic corner spot overlooking the nightlife on South Congress on Valentines day. Needless to say my honey did an awesome Job! I recommend the Spaghetti Pomodoro e Melanzane with a red wine. The savory caramelized eggplant in a Chianti-tomato sauce with fresh basil & ricotta salata makes this dish an overwhelmingly high standard of eggplant parmesan:))
(5)
scott s.
I wish there were better Italian joints in this town. They all are average. None would survive in Chicago or SF. about 1 out of 4 visits here they get everything right. Usually it's one or two standouts. I think they overreach with too many options, honestly. Wine list well curated though could do better with finding values from Piedmont; nevertheless, probably the best italian list in town (la traviata better priced). Honestly, I'd rather go to botticelli's down the street for Italian food...or even that joint in the gas station on b skyway:)
(3)
Keren K.
Oh My Gawww... I just had my first foodgasm, and every girl remembers their first! My gawd, Vespaio was simply yummazing. Let's break it down- Service: 5 stars You're immediately greeted with a smile by such nice hostesses. Our server was attentive, friendly, and amazed at how much we could eat. Bar: 5 stars No dinner is complete without drinks, so this is VERY important to me. I drink a very juvenile drink, and am always kind of embarrassed to order it (cheapest vodka you have with diet coke). No judgement from the bartender. :) The drink was stingingly strong, just the way I like it. And they made sure to keep it flowing. Ambiance: 4 stars. Not the best table set ups I've seen...dangerously close to the other tables, and difficult to navigate through the odd set up to get to the restrooms, but it was not bad ambiance at all. I love the open kitchen to the dinning room (always a mark of a spotless kitchen), love the floor to ceiling wine shelves, and especially love the nostalgic Soprano's feel to it (can you say Vesuvios?). On to the most important point- THE FOOOOOOOOD - 5 Million stars. Always order too much, and this one of those restaurants where everything is ALL worth it- Mussels. Get it. Not a single grain of sand, not a single bad Mussel, and most importantly, it's seasoned so well, that there is NO gross metallic fish taste. Carpaccio. If you're a Carpaccio virgin like I was, this is the place to try it. There was nothing raw about it. The flavor was so amazing. Lemon caper chicken with butter arugula sauce. I've never had chicken actually melt in my mouth... Meat combo thing (forgot the name). Best dish for people who want to try a little of everything. The veal cutlet = SOOOO crunchy and tender. Risotto wagyu beef. This is where the magic happened. First bite had me closing my eyes and savoring every layer of flavor in the risotto. I don't eat carbs, but I will gladly be fat just to eat this risotto. Bit pricey, but totally worth it. And just like that...it was over. Can't wait to go back. Oh Vespaio...you'll always have a special place in my heart.,
(5)
Manoj I.
We were here for dinner a couple of times and had a really great experience. They don't have a great wine selection, but the mixed drinks and food is pretty good.
(3)
Jennifer B.
I had only been to Vespaio's little sister next door, Enoteca so when invited to dine at Vespaio...I immediately accepted. (Well that wasn't the only reason but it sounds good, no?) We were a party of seven and when I arrived, they had already seated some of the party (it was a Sunday night). In looking at the menu, there is a daily insert and a regular menu. (Meaning... they may not have everything I'm going to tell you about...all the time.) Several appetizers had already been ordered and they were all delicious. Sadly, I don't know what they were exactly but everything was tasty so if it sounds appealing to you; I'd suggest you order it. We didn't get it but whenever I go to Enoteca I always get the mussels (which are really from Vespaio but they still let you order them). They are soooooo good. Get extra french bread, you'll need it! I ordered the crab bisque to start and the Spaghetti Alla Cabonara. Handmade spaghetti tossed in a cream sauce with crisp pancetta, scallions, pecorino romano, parmesan frico, poached egg. I asked about the egg and according to our server, it's traditionally served with a raw egg that you then mix in. Since people get a little worried about raw eggs, the egg is poached, however, they can leave it out altogether if you prefer. I went ahead and left the poached egg on. Both items were incredibly tasty and I enjoyed every last bit of them. For dessert I ordered the Sweet Fritters. I was really full at the time and while they were good, I'd choose something else next time. Great food, great service and great atmosphere (as well as great friends/conversation). Couldn't have asked for a better night!
(5)
Patricia H.
Out of all of the "fine-dining" restaurants in Austin, this one is probably one out of 5 that you should go to for the food. Most other places are about style over substance. (I miss OLD Austin, please come back!) This place delivers. (as in, you can count on awesomeness, as opposed to knock on your door with take-out)
(5)
Sofia M.
Wonderful date night location. Great wine list. The tuna tartare was delightful, and the linguine with clams was delicious. The prosciutto and egg pizza was very enjoyable yet a little on the salty side. Can't wait to try this place again
(4)
Melanie C.
Authentic Italian classics. Delicious; no complaints. Nice bustling atmosphere.
(4)
Regina F.
TL;DR the food is so good, the tables are small and close together, and the desserts are insanely beautiful and delicous. The only reason I'm giving four stars is while the decor of the restaurant is lovely, the tables (at least the one my friends and I were at) are rather small and situated close together and the restaurant was full of people. Regardless, the food (I had the proscuitto panini and the fruit napoleon for dessert) is so good. It tastes amazing, even when I took the other half of my panini home and ate it cold a day later. The fruit napoleon was almost too pretty to eat. I also couldn't resist having my first macaroon, which was perfect. And it is a bit expensive, especially for a college student like myself. I paid $14 for my panini and $5.50 for both my desserts. Honestly though, after so much packaged or instant food it was worth it.
(4)
Jan W.
Always a go to for a good meal. We love this place! Food is always great and they have some of the best waitstaff/bartenders in Austin.
(4)
Brett L.
If you're looking for a good Italian place in Austin, this is it. My girlfriend at the time and I came here and, while it's a great place for a date, I wouldn't recommend it as a first date. It's very "cozy" but you never feel like you're sitting next to other tables. The lighting is dim and bottles of wine line the walls. I had gnocchi and it was some of the best I've had since my time living in New England (and visiting Boston's north end). The wine was good and our server was attentive, knew the menu and was willing to search for a particular wine we wanted (which she eventually found). I definitely recommend Vespaio for a date night. Good food, good service and good atmosphere.
(4)
Steve C.
This is one of my favorite places to eat in Austin because their consistent fresh Italian cuisine stands out above the numerous restaurants that pepper Austin's landscape. Vespaio is also the current home of my favorite pizza (yes, even though it is right across the street from Home Slice). Pizza is three simple ingredients: Dough, Cheese and Sauce. But combined properly those three simple ingredients add up to such complex flavors. Like Italian mad scientists, they've perfected the formula of combining flour, cheese, sauce, fresh toppings, and a very hot wood-fired oven to make the perfect pizza. And luckily I know where they're located so I can reap the benefits. As far as the other Italian fare, Vespaio has a very authentic Italian feel to it. The food is spot on. They have a variety of fresh salads and authentic Italian dishes to satisfy any Italian cravings. Risotto is definitely something to try and, even though not a typical Italian dish, their crab bisque is outstanding. Clean, relaxed atmosphere. Friendly staff. They have a good wine selection so be sure to indulge during your dining experience. Odds and ends ... They don't take reservations so be prepared to wait because their food is good.
(5)
Vince A.
Great ambiance the food is very good but a little pricey for the quality.
(3)
Shaun S.
Vespaio is the top-of-mind, go-to Italian restaurant in Austin. Located in SOCO, diners usually get a lively scene, especially on the first Thursday of each month. The bar -- you're not getting a reservation so expect to wait 1-1.5 hours. Head to the bar and get lost in the depth of their wine list. If you get overwhelmed the staff can help. I do wonder why they don't have a sommelier. The ambiance of the bar, and the whole restaurant for that matter, is fantastic. Lasagna -- Best.Ever.Period. Service -- always top tier service from know-how, can-do waitstaff. On this specific occasion, I ordered up the classic lasagna which blew me away yet again. My girlfriend ordered the risotto with scallops, where the fish beat the rice in a first round knockout. Partly because the scallops were amazing, partly because the risotto had an odd, old dish towel taste. This place is a 4.5 for me. I would eat here once a week if I could afford it!
(4)
A M.
Hidden gem on South Congress. How did I possibly not know this was here sooner? Thank you Yelp for discovering this place for me! We went here tonight, and it was absolutely fantastic. Super quaint little atmosphere, dark, tables close in together, kinda makes you feel like your in Europe. The service was only okay, but at the same time this is a place that definitely fills up. However at the same time there was no wait for 2, at 7:30 pm on a Friday night. Sure beats the places slightly North like Home Slice. The calamari was great, on many pieces though they keep the legs on. Very generous portion with a delicious garlic based sauce. I then had the ravioli and my boyfriend the veal meatballs with pasta. We were both completely floored with how incredibly tasty our meals were! On top of it they have great italian soda and wine. I am an Italian restaurant snob, so you should take this review pretty seriously. The only point to note though is that if you do not like close together tables in a small and loud environment, then this may not be the place for you. But the food makes it completely worth it!
(5)
Manish P.
My wife's favorite restaurant!! (I love it also) Great Service, Great wine list, Great fresh food!
(5)
Corey W.
Vespaio makes some really good Italian food, no questions asked. It's not the best I've ever had, and for the most part nothing stands out about it from most nice Italian places. If you think the Olive Garden is nice, Vespaio will blow your socks off and then some. If you're used to eating at places that start with Trattoria, you'll feel right at home. The service is good, if a bit impersonal. I can't figure out if they try to be extraordinarily ordinary, or if that's just how it comes across. Also worth noting: the waiter I had wasn't familiar enough with the wine list to have recommended what I was asking for. C'est la vie. And that's really all I have to say about that.
(4)
Jim D.
Just had to write a review as we enjoyed this place so much. There is so much average Italian food to be had - and this was thankfully not one of those restaurants. The food was just outstanding, we had a salmon/risotto special and lasagna for main dishes. Both were special. We had an excellent waiter as we sat in the bar and got a great wine recommendation from him. And the best part - we sat and enjoyed this awesome meal for over 2.5 hours. No throwing the food at you as quick as possible to clear way for the next people. Excellent food, excellent service, we will be back many times.
(5)
Kris U.
I recently enjoyed the crab risotto for dinner. It had a good portion of lump crab meat in the center, surrounded by a bright yellow risotto; it was quite a thing of beauty. For dessert I had the panna cotta with blood orange slices and it was perfect: simple, light yet creamy, and delicious.
(5)
Tara C.
Great Italian restaurant! My favorite is the butternut squash ravioli. Fun to sit at the bar and eat!
(5)
Aaron S.
Beautiful and comfortable restaurant and bar. Warm and relaxing ambience, especially at night. Lovely open kitchen. Excellent service. Peroni beer on tap! Very nice selections available in each category of the menu. Prices are average for Austin, while the execution of the food each time I've been here has been flawless and well presented. They even have their own herb garden out back. Good Italian food in this town is rare. Theirs is great and is among the best Italian food I've had in Austin. This is a great place to bring friends and family to when they come to town and is ideal for dates. Many thanks to Vespaio for providing Austin with such a fine dining option.
(5)
Magdalena T.
I go to Vespaio every time I visit Austin, and it never disappoints. The ambiance is homey and comfortable, the food is reliably delicious, the staff friendly and attentive. I'm a big fan of their clam linguine, tuna tartare, prosciutto pizza with sunny side up eggs and white truffle oil... and of course their desserts. Yum! I am looking forward to my next visit in two weeks!
(5)
walter u.
Went for Sunday brunch. The place was bustling. Our server seemed overwhelmed. He never brought our bread basket appetizer, but charged us. Also, had the scrapple and it was slimy when served to me. Scrapple should be either pan-fried or deep fried and have a crunchy exterior and slightyly firm interior. This place must be better than what I experienced. I'm willing to give it another try sometime, just not when they're so slammed.
(3)
Michael H.
We went for dinner Saturday night to celebrate our anniversary. Service was excellent. Food was excellent. We each had a salad. The shrimp dish I had was good, but could have used a little more sauce for flavor. The green beans were fresh-excellent. We also had a steak dish that was perfectly cooked. The after dinner coffee was good- dry Cappuccino made just the right way. They even brought us a little gelato for dessert.
(4)
Jill M.
Normally, if I waited two hours then paid $50 to split an entree and have a single glass of wine, I'd be disconsolate; however, that's exactly what I did last night at Vespaio, and I'm fairly content. The service and atmosphere at Vespaio are upscale but laid back, and the food is excellent. Jonathan W. and I are on a pretty strict nutrition plan right now, but some friends came in from out of town and just had to try Vespaio, and I really didn't think there was going to be anything there we could eat. But thanks to the recommendation of our excellent server, Jonathan and I decided split "Bistecca Tagliatta" which was a steak served in a red wine reduction. Normally it comes with fried potatoes, but the waiter recommended some substitutions that would be within our diet, so our sides were asparagus and spinach, both of which were delicious. Our friends really enjoyed the Caesar Salad, Spaghetti Pomodoro, and items off the daily special menu: lamb and gnocci, quail risotto, and beef risotto. When we're off the diet and feel like spending some money on a special night out, Vespaio will definitely be at the top of our list.
(4)
Jens B.
After a lazy morning/afternoon watching European Championship Footie at Cuatro's, it was wedding time at the Cathedral of Junk. The wedding was fine, but we were starving, so we split a little early with Vespaio on our mind. I was thinking, man 8ish on a Saturday night, this place will be packed, but the draw of awesome Italian was well worth the risk. We arrived, the wait was an hour, and the bar was pretty filled up. We were greeted by the wonderful french bartender, whose name I always forget, with a smile. Immediately, I made fun of the French national team, who just lost 4-1 to my home boys from Holland....he quickly retorted at least the French were in the tournament, as the English didn't even qualify.. nice one! I mentioned that we were on the wait, but would love to sit at the bar for dinner... we actually prefer it to being in the main dining area. So we ordered a bottle of wine, asked for his preference, and viola a perfect selection... It also happened to be the cheapest white on the menu, +1 star. I wasn't sure if that was a jab or not, but what was true it was great selection for us. A little more about the wine in second. It was about 10 mins, and we were able to sit at the bar... GREAT! For the appetizer we ordered the fresh Mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes and basil... No salmonella here, just truly fresh flavors and wonderfully presented. The fresh basil tasted like they had chopped it right out of their garden a minute before serving it to us. Small little green ribbon bits of flav o flav. I chose the Seafood Stew, and Suzie M ordered the Veal Ziti. Again, great suggestions from our French Dude. Now back to the wine. We were seated at the bar, and in front of us were two bottles, in chrome coolers. The bar was busy, and the bartenders were very attentive to serving our wine. I finished my second glass and decided to help myself to what I thought was our bottle....there was about a glass left, so I just filled up my glass, turned the bottle upside down and put it back into the chrome cooler. When Suzie M finished her glass, French Dude asked her if she wanted more, and I thought well perhaps another bottle since I had just drained it?.. however, it was then I realized when the French Dude, grabbed the other bottle to pour her a glass, that I had emptied a bottle of wine which belonged to a couple which was waiting for a table behind us... Dohh... French Dude looked at me, I looked at him, red faced, I told him, I just emptied the wrong bottle into my glass about 5 minutes ago.. we laughed, he said not a problem, went to the cooler and grabbed another bottle and served the couple behind us, and asked them if they wanted another bottle, they declined, and he saved the day.. didn't charge me for the "twit of the moment" event... +1 star for that! Their bottle was $20 more than ours, and I liked our's much better.. great choice! My seafood stew was chock full of goodness. 6 Mussels, 5 Clams, two huge 20ct shrimps and halibut mixed with a wonderful tomato broth, and two foot long brochette to sop up the broth with... perfection.. Suzie M's Veal Ziti was a perfect combination of spice, texture and sauce... we finished it later in the evening when we got home.. We have been to Vespaio's on many occasions, but I don't like to Yelp anything we haven't visited recently.. We almost always sit at the bar, so we can meet new folks, and laugh with our French Dude behind the bar... The food is always top notch and the atmosphere laid back...An Austin Gem..
(5)
Molly U.
This place had me at softshell crab risotto. We came here for my birthday - the seven of us - and despite it being a Saturday, they took our names and got us seated pretty quickly. The hostess was super friendly (bc I was totally afraid we weren't going to be able to get in) and showed us to our table. Our server (wish I had gotten her name) was wonderful dealing with us. She let us take our time deciding, but even if we were distracted got our attention without being obnoxious. She also came by to tell us there were less than 5 left of the special, softshell crab risotto. I thanked her. She was my hero that night. We then ordered a lot of drinks, a lot of appetizers, and each of us got entrees. OMG the beef carpaccio? DELISH. I can't remember the other appetizers we got but they were delish. Oh and my softshell crab risotto with scallops? Divine. I say this time and time again but it's really too bad we only have one stomach. And then my friends surprised me with dessert they had brought. The server once again was super gracious, brought out plates, spoons, lit candles even if it wasn't from the restaurant. I ordered a cappuccino and was in heaven. I had a severe food pregnancy going on but whatever. Thank you Vespaio for a wonderful, memorable birthday dinner. Thank you to the Asian lady server that was awesome - your service was top-notch.
(4)
Andy W.
I travel to Austin for work fairly often and this is a place I like to make sure I go to at least once. I've never had a bad meal here. They pay attention to all the little details. The bread at the beginning of the meal is always fresh and served with a pesto butter. The most recent visit, I had a risotto (which is made to order) with chicken on top. This is one of my favorite risottos I've tried. It was cooked perfectly, slightly chewy and the chicken was really a nice surprise - basically a chicken breast, that was seared and quartered and still had the skin on, much different (and better than I was expecting). The arrabbiata sauce served with the calamari is another one of those nice details. It has just a little subtle heat and make for the perfect dipping sauce.
(5)
Chris R.
First off, the food is ok. I go here quite often but after today i will never return. Just ran into the "owner" and have never been treated so poorly. He is a homophobic asshole and a racist and was very disrespectful to me and my friends.
(1)
Sam P.
Actually, probably 3 1/2 stars. Service was great. Ambiance very nice. Vibe good. Just that a couple of our dishes were meh-ish. Fresh pasta was good. I'd go back.
(3)
Israel D.
Went here last Friday and they knocked it out of the ballpark. The house wines were fantastic, the calamari was perfect, and the service was spot-on. My main course was a grilled seafood mix. On the left I had three huge garlicky grilled shrimp on top of some white cheddar polenta that I couldn't stop snarfing down. In the middle was a decent-sized crabcake with a garden chili aioli. To the right, a huge piece of whitefish on top of roasted cauliflower all drenched in a Meyer lemon butter sauce. I ate the whole damned thing and I'm still thinking about it days later. This is what happens when you keep the faith. I knew Vespaio wouldn't let me down.
(4)
Sydney T.
I was extremely impressed with this place. We came to Enoteca for a birthday party on a Monday night. I arrived ahead of the rest of the party and so sat at the bar for a bit. That was fun and if you don't feel like eating here (silly) it's still worth staying a bit at the bar to visit with the friendly regulars. Enoteca doesn't take reservations, and the leader of the party kept changing the number of people who were attending, so I was extremely impressed with our host, who not only worked really hard to get us a table, but when he realized we were in for a LONG wait, he called over to Vespaio to see whether they could seat us. They could, so he ushered us over. He was super gracious and helpful, and for that I will be visiting Enoteca again, hopefully to eat. On to Vespaio. Our waiter was extremely courteous and helpful. Even though we weren't a rowdy crowd there were quite a few of us and I thought he handled us well. The food was very good. This is an excellent choice for a celebration or a romantic dinner, but I would not choose it for a simple night out. The suggested red wine paired well with the pizza we chose, so that made our meal even better. One member of our party ordered a steak, which looked delectable. Everything came out beautifully presented, but I didn't try any food other than my own pizza, which had goat cheese and was delicious. I think this would be a good choice to treat out-of-town guests, as long as they're not picky. I didn't think the fare was super adventurous, but the meat-and-potatoes people in our party complained that the food was "too fancy" which detracted from the overall lovely ambiance of our dining experience.
(4)
Kirk F.
Excellent pasta--best I've found in Austin, and Vespaio would stand-up in any city outside of Italy. Service is professional, wine list is deep and fairly priced. I kinda wish they would take reservations, especially for larger parties, but on the other hand I appreciate the democracy of first come, first served, and South Congress is a cool place to kill some time while waiting for a table. Lots of places to get a drink or buy some boots or whatever and wait for them to call you. No worries...
(5)
Alex L.
well, what can I say about a restaurant I've eaten at 6 times and not once did anything suck? The carpachio(I probably spelt that wrong) was intense, probably orgasmic, if I can say that on here. The mixed greens with the lemon dressing turn on taste buds in my tongue I didn't know I had. Had a seafood soup that starts with C, that was phenomenal. I went home and realized that no mater how many cookbooks I buy, cooking classes I take, I will never recreate the flavors these guys/gals come up with. Since I never end up paying for my restaurant adventures, I can't comment on price, so if you are being invited here for whatever reason, TRY IT ALL!!!!!!!
(5)
Allison B.
Vespaio is delicious, solid Italian food, with many fresh seafood choices. The wine list isn't all that impressive, but the atmosphere and waitstaff make up for it. It's really expensive, but great for a special occasion.
(4)
Rebecca L.
This place is nice for dates, but I wouldn't really recommend coming here as a group. Especially if certain people in your group annoy the hell out of you. I will explain why later. Walking in, we were greeted promptly by the hostess and a guy who looked like the manager. We had a party of seven and they told us it would take a moment, so we went outside to take pictures. When we went back inside, they seated us in a room that I like to call the wine room, because the walls were covered with shelves of wine. It was like being in a wine library. Great ambiance. Something weird that I noticed was that every hour or so someone would turn the lights down even lower. Even though it was dark outside...? Confused about that. The restaurant wasn't too crowded. Our waitress came by a couple of minutes after we were situated and promptly brought us our waters and a glass of house white for moi. She was pretty good about checking in on us and keeping our waters filled and our bread basket stocked. So one of the girls decided to leave because she started feeling sick (I don't think this was related to Vespaio) and the rest of us decided to split entrees. There were two orders of Cioppino, one order of the clam linguine, and an order of the halibut. The portions were not two big and not too small. My friend said the halibut was a little bland, but I enjoyed the subtle smoky flavor of the fish. The accompanying PEI mussels were tender and also a little smoky, reminiscent of a campfire on a crisp fall night. The halibut was nestled on top of a bed of mashed spuds along with some vegetables and broth (sauce?). Overall, delicious. Didn't get to try the other dishes but they also looked really tasty. Everything was going pretty well until we were done eating. We waited for the check for what seemed like forever until we found out that someone had told our waitress it was my friend's birthday...so they brought out some ice cream with a candle in it. I thought that was what took our check so long, and we were expecting our check shortly after that but no. Another ten minutes went by before we got the check. Then came the headaching process of deciding how to split our astronomically large bill. (mmm that seafood sure adds up quick) During the time it took for our check to get here I had to listen to aforementioned annoying member of our party yammer on like the socially awkward freak she was. Summary: Great place to take someone on a date if you're trying to impress them and get in their pants. Not good for birthday dinners or poor college students. Also, be prepared to drop some stacks.
(4)
Louie G.
I went here with a couple of friends recently... WOW! The food bypassed all of our expectations. We all kept eating from my friend's seafood stew... yummy! Every dish at our table was wonderful... my carbonara had the world's most perfect poached egg on top. The salads were even fantastic! When we arrived there was over an hour wait, but the hostess asked for a cell phone number and encouraged us to visit the surrounding shops. I don't know why no other restaurants do this... very smart idea! The only reason I did not give this restaurant 5 stars was because of the pricing. I felt it was pretty steep for the neighborhood, and the prices were far removed from the menu on their website. Regardless, this will be a 'special occasions' restaurant for us in the future for sure!
(4)
Gary D.
Great restaurant! Food is fantastic, great European wine list! A must place to eat in South Austin.
(4)
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Address :1610 South Congress Ave
Austin, TX, 78704
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
V. N.
I visited Vespaio first time in 1993. Ever since the place maintains very consistently it's quality and established business practices. The employees are friendly and professional and the food is always up to a standard.
(4)Jennifer K.
Vespaio is my fav italian in Austin. I don't love the noise inside the restaurant, but the food makes up for it and then some. The calamari is great, the pasta with pesto sauce is amazing, the fish dishes (swordfish and sea bass) are delish. The desserts are the best combination of flavors you will ever eat. I've always thought a cook can make a good dish, but a chef can make a combination of flavors come together in a way that makes your taste buds dance. Vespaio is definitely run by a chef. Go there! You won't regret it. Make sure you eat with a little of everything in every bite for the whole experience!
(5)Grande L.
Austin G's comments from Sherman Oaks, CA. pretty much sum up the Austin restaurant scene that my wife and I have experienced for decades now. Luckily we didn't get that at Vespaio the one evening we went or we would have left as well, But it wasn't stellar by any stretch of the imagination. We were attempting to talk to one another but the noise level was so high we had to scream to hear each other. The food is good but the portions are really small, disappointing and expensive for what you get. If you do decide to go be patient because the service is extremely slow as others have mentioned.
(2)Michael O.
Simply amazing! Atmosphere is intimate but not quiet. The menu is loaded with delicious options. Every night they make a different risotto dish. The lasagna was wonderful and the polenta appetizer was perfect. Yes, we will be back!
(5)Robert M.
Best Italian food I have ever had! We were seated pretty quickly and given exceptional service. Lasagna melts in your mouth with the perfect amount of sauce---good size plate, always have left overs. Authentic, freshly made pasta and cheese. The mozzarella appetizer is great. My husband had the risotto with pork and said it was the best meal he has ever had and trust me, he's pretty hard to please when it comes to food because he is very picky about the way meat is cooked, loves to cook himself and was a Butcher. Creme brulee was tasty as well. We have been to the sister restaurant next door for Sunday brunch but definitely prefer Vespaio overall.
(5)Katherine A.
I have heard so many great things about this place and finally had to try. There was four of us and we all thought it best to share like tapas. The mozzarella is made daily and melted in my mouth. The calamari was huge piece so the taste wasn't lost in the breading. Next we had the Tuscan pizza. The taste was amazing but a little too much sauce for me but that is the only bad thing I can say. Finally we had the scallops. When they first arrived I thought they were burnt because I have never seen such a deep sear. Come to find out they cook them in the 700 degree pizza oven. And it was finished with truffle mashed. Just a stunning dish all together. I can not wait to get to Austin again and eat there again
(4)Judah R.
We had a wonderful experience at Vespacio. The staff was very quick and professional though they did seem a little overwhelmed at times. The manager also provided excellent service. The dishes were all perfect and I appreciated the free parking in back. We will certainly return.
(5)johnny b.
Man food is definitely really good just standard though. I think its good just other places I'd rather go. Botticellis down the street I'd put a notch above and cool outdoor seating and bar.
(3)Kady M.
HOLY ITALIAN FOOD! Definitely worth the wait and going to. You have to try the COZZE ALLA POSILLIPO, the CARPACCIO NOSTRA MODA, LASAGNE ALLA BOLOGNESE (handmade, people) Also, FYI, I copied and pasted those Italian words..easy peezy! Ok, I could seriously go down the menu and continue to copy and paste items I've tried and loved, but I don't feel I need to. They have a great, knowledgable wait staff and an extensive wine list. I'm just going to leave my review with this--my grandmother is full-blood Italian fresh off the boat from Italy and she doesn't make as good lasagna as Vespaio. Sorry, Mammaw. Just keepin' it real.
(5)Brian B.
As an Italian (half) from the East Coast (Philly) I didn't think I would find amazing Italian food in Austin. I was wrong. Vespaio is top notch in all regards. Loved everything about the experience... food, service, atmosphere. Phenomenal, authentic food and great wine selections. Service was perfect. The only negative is parking... but that goes with the location.
(5)Mandy S.
It's been a couple weeks since I've been here.. And I all Ive been wanting to eat is their prosciutto pizza! The prosciutto pizza is so delicious! If you are sensitive to salt than this pizza might not be for you. If you can handle sodium...you'll love this pizza. The crust, cheese and prosciutto are crispy and you'll want to keep eating even though you're full!!!!
(4)Bethany F.
What a fabulous restaurant! If someone doesn't have an amazing experience here than i would have to suggest that you hadn't checked your "attitude" at the front door. The chef-owner Alan Lazarus was warm and courteous and couldn't have been more proud of his staff, his patrons and his establishment. Our waiter, Reid, was OFF THE CHARTS! What a personality! Passionate about the food he serves and so knowledgeable about the extensive wine list. We sat immediately and we were greeted with genuine Austin charm. Would absolutely dine here again and i highly recommend this delightful eatery!
(5)Greg B.
I really enjoyed this very authentic, sophisticated Italian restaurant. A beautifully appointed dining room, attentive service and creative menu and wine list all contribute to a great dining experience. I enjoyed the butternut squash ravioli, which was truly the best butternut pasta I have ever enjoyed. Fresh and nicely accented with walnuts and savory herbs, it was truly delicious. Others in our party enjoyed tasty spinach salads and the authentic Italian pizza served with a fried egg on top. Everyone agreed their dish was perfectly prepared. The wine list is very extensive, albeit a bit pricey. If I were planning a romantic dinner out, Vespaio would definitely be at the top of my list!
(5)Gaby C.
I was feeling lucky, coming from New Jersey and trying Italian in Austin. It was amazing!!!!And a great atmosphere! I had the Pappardelle Bolognese and it was great. The restaurant manager is very nice and the waiting staff is great! I recommend it all the way!!!!
(5)Dana H.
I have to say this is one of my favorite restaurants on south Congress. The suppli (rice balls with homemade mozz) are to die for. They have a garden out back where they grow their herbs. I go there at least once a week and they are always consistently good. If you have a sweet tooth like me, the chocolate mouse will melt in your mouth. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Larry M.
Amazing food! Amazing service! Jeff was on his game, and made sure the food was spot-on! Our guests from out of town are still talking about their meal as an "experience!"
(5)Elizabeth R.
My dining partner and I were disappointed in the food last night at Vespaio. I had the prosciutto wrapped prawns and he had the mixed meat grill. I chose the prosciutto wrapped prawns because the servers immediate praise of the dish. It's possible we ordered some of the worst dishes on the menu judging from all the hype that Vespaio gets. It was most definitely not worth the price and I'm only giving it two stars because of the ambience, it was a very romantic atmosphere.
(2)Leslie G.
Went for dinner with my husband on a Tuesday evening. The crowd was pleasant and the staff was friendly. We started off with a bottle of wine and calamari which were both excellent. Next came the Ceasar salad which is big enough for two to enjoy. I ordered the lasagna which in my opinion is the best in town. The only down side is you can see the kitchen staff and unfortunately everything they touch and/or do but I can honestly say it didn't stop us from enjoying our dinner which was amazing!
(4)LeBain L.
I had a great meal here with a friend-of-a-friend while visiting Austin. Based on a list of 5 restaurants he suggested, everyone I was with before dinner recommended Vespaio. They didn't let me down! They thought it might be hard to get into, but we had no problem getting a table at 8pm on a Friday. I started with a martini at the bar, then sat down for dinner. The bartender and waiter were very helpful. We ordered the mushroom and polenta appetizer, which was delicious. I had the lamb medallions special, which was delicious. My new friend had the linguine, which he said was delicious. We ended it after 3 hours of conversation with 2 macchiatos. Total for dinner, including tax and a generous 20% tip was $112.
(5)Kevin K.
Amazing food, great ambiance. Service was fast and very efficient. Nice decor. Just a great place to relax for a nice dinner.
(5)Lane C.
Recently had a wonderful date night with my husband at Vespaio. We ordered the caprese salad as an appetizer and split the lasagna, which was heavenly and the wagyu beef small plate/appetizer dish. Our waiter was wonderful and the atmosphere was perfect for a romantic evening. The lasagna was seriously the best we'd ever had. It was a great evening and we highly recommend Vespaio!
(5)Eva B.
I went again few days ago, The pasta was so good as well as salad. I wanted to write longer and more review of the reataurant. Because its really good italian food! And also the service is very good!
(4)Bryan H.
Yummmm. We had lunch at this little place while walking/shopping on South Congress. Pizza was wonderful Fresh. Tasty. Moderately priced. Small wine bar. Cool staff. Engaged owner (I think owner...seemed to be). Wait staff was great. Hibiscus tea was smooth and tasty. Just a cool place for a quaint lunch. Will go back when I can.
(5)Gayle G.
After a stellar lunch next door at the Enoteca, we really wanted to try the Cafe. Not so much...we should have stayed in the Enoteca. The food wasn't as good, the service really suffered and the experience just wasn't as nice. Our server took over 15 minutes to come to our table to acknowledge us. The food wasn't hot enough, which is a peeve of mine. I might try it again, but I'm much more inclined to just enjoy my meal next door.
(3)Nichole D.
Vespaio was absolutely incredible. I have been there 3 different times now and gotten a new dish each time and loved every single one of them. The wait staff is profession, friendly, and personable and is very knowledgeable of the menu, ingredients, and preparation. The wine options are spectacular as well and the bartenders take the time to make sure you are receiving the perfect glass of wine or cocktail for your evening. My favorite thing about this restaurant is the new menu each night in addition to their standard menu. Fresh fish prepared in creative ways was the highlight for me, especially scallops. They do things with scallops that I have never seen before. SO ORDER THE SCALLOPS!!!! GET DESSERT. The food is incredible but leave room for dessert, especially the creme brûlée. I am pretty sure I am still dreaming about the decadence of that creamy goodness. The atmosphere is cool and eclectic, but a great place to spend an evening out with friends and family. It is a perfect location to wind down and enjoy a perfect meal.
(5)Lauren L.
I was craving freshly made pasta so my boyfriend and I decided for an impromptu date night. Our server was wonderful, offering any advice we needed but patiently allowing us to peruse the menu. I knew from Yelp that they also made their own mozzarella, so we started there. The cheese was soft and mild in flavor but could still be detected underneath the tasty marinated peppers served with it. My boyfriend tried the lasagna and especially appreciated that the sauce was not too acidic and yet not too sweet either, things he's extremely picky about. I had the lamb ragu and asked the server to choose a red wine for me. It was soft with a hint of buttery finish that was surprising but delicious. The lamb was flavorful without losing its characteristic taste, the lemon - mint ricotta added a bright surprise every few bites, and the fresh pasta.... just wonderful, nothing beats fresh pasta. Creme Brule is my favorite dessert so I forced myself to save some room for it. Thank God I did. It had a soft hint of almond and just enough of a smear of chocolate sauce to rub the raspberries in to make every bite absolutely delectable. Server paired it for me with a pear brandy that accented it perfectly. My boyfriend was concerned that he'd have to throw a glass of water on me by the time I was finished. He also tried the espresso martini and enjoyed it but said it might not be worth $10. Overall great experience, only downfalls would be that I found the table placement rather crowded, people and waitstaff were constantly brushing my shoulders to get by. That, the fact that the food wasn't QUITE up to par with my fave fancy date place (TRIO!), the considerable time it took to get the check when it came time, and the slightly lackluster martini stole a star away from this otherwise lovely place.
(4)Dawn H.
Among the Italian places I've been to in Austin, Vespaio delivers the best dishes. The pasta is amazingly fresh, the sauces and other ingredients in the dishes I tried were far better than other places in town. The wine list is also great. You will, of course, be paying for this difference in quality. The service is also among the best in town. Professional, attentive, yet unpretentious. If you want the best Italian food in Austin and price is not a concern, Vespaio should fit the bill.
(5)Julie H.
Okay, I definitely did NOT come all the way to Austin from Chicago to eat some Italian food because in Chicago you can barely walk one block without tripping over a delicious Italian restaurant, however, Vespaio is good. No, I mean like really, really good. When you walk in, you're presented with a display case of all the beautiful, daily anti pastas (which will make your stomach growl, if it isn't already). Once we were seated, I went overboard with the bread basket (you know, because when you're on vacation, the carbs don't count). The bread was soft and warm, with this unidentified spread that tasted like pesto and white beans. For dinner, I had a tuna steak with arugula, tomatoes, kalamata olives, and polenta: wow. I tasted my friends eggplant parm and butternut squash ravioli, both of which were delicious. Overall, the restaurant is cute and cozy; all this goodness packed into a little storefront in Austin... who knew?
(5)Yvonne R.
Meh..I want to give this place a better review, because I remember it being so much better last time around (back in 2004), but I am reviewing based on a recent visit. Calamari appetizer - good, but not the best, not a crisp on the outside, little bit rubbery on the inside. Seafood Mixed Grill - Mahi Mahi had a good grilled flavor to it, but left something to be desired. Crab cake was too salty. Shrimp, just tasted like shrimp, not much flavor..probably not worth the $34 that it was. Out of the whole plate, i think I enjoyed the asparagus most. Lasagna - the good is that it is really huge, could make 3 meals out of it..It did have way too much cheese on it. Maybe it was just an off night, or what was ordered. If there is a next time, I'll go for a pasta dish...
(3)Carol L.
My friends and I came here for a birthday, and sadly, was disappointed. The interior of this place is nice, but extremely dark. Service was slow, and even though we had reservations, we still waited a bit. Now onto the food... Lasagna: Huge portions, good Pizza: Interesting. They put two well-done sunny side up eggs on top. Its an interesting idea, but the flavor of the eggs were too overpowering. Risotto with pork shoulder: Way toooo salty. Cioppino: Impressive appearance, mighty tasty Veal Saltinboca (sp?): Not too great. Server asked if we wanted the side pasta, we said yes - got charged $5.50!!! It was not worth $5.50!! So everything was average. Why the low rating? All of this was not worth the price. Pretty steep prices for all this...
(2)Mandi F.
This may be an inappropriate way to describe a food dish, but you know that feeling right after you climax? That warm, soft, relaxation right after release? That feeling is the same feeling I got after my first bite of the lamb risotto with blue cheese. It made my entire body melt. Sure the homemade bread was delicious, the atmosphere quaint and romantic, and cocktails artistic. But the risotto...
(5)Rik W.
The food is very good. That said, it is way too noisy a space, and generally too crowded, for an enjoyable dining experience.
(3)texas in a.
Terrible service, presentation, and food made for a disappointing evening at Vespaio. I moved to Austin from the east coast and have long believed that there's no good Italian food in the city - it's the trade-off we make for having such excellent Tex-Mex. Our experience at Vespaio tonight further confirmed that belief. I don't know where some of these reviews get their ideas about what constitutes an upscale Italian dining experience, but soggy carpacchio, simple salads we could have made at home, and pasta that can't be tasted for all the cheese under which it is submerged is not worth the price. That you can barely hear your dining companions speak just adds to the unpleasantness. Vespaio is an exercise in mediocrity and in no way deserves its reputation.
(1)Cody R.
I'm going to have to go with a 5 star rating on this one. I'm not going to drag this review out..... just the facts. This place is great! I'm surprised by some of the bad reviews from below..... the food was excellent, the service was great, making the over-all experience fantastic. The best dinner at our table was definitely the Risotto..... It was amazing. By far the best Italian food I've had in Austin. They don't take reservations on Friday and Saturday, so I would stay away on those nights. Also, they have a private lot in the back, there was plenty of parking.
(5)Pete V.
Vespaio is a restaurant that is nicely put together, but my dish fell short of spectacular. My guest and I arrived on a Friday evening before the dinner rush. We were seated promptly and, a huge selling point for me, were treated well the entire night. I can't tell you how many times I've been shunned by a server at an higher class restaurant because of my age. The table settings are intimate with candles on the tables and a simple heavy fork and knife combination to accompany you through the first course of your meal. The dining room layout, on the other hand, is severly packed, intruding on the intimacy of your table. We had a "ghetto-rigged" six top positioned adjacent to our table which was obviously a four top. One of their patrons chair's leaned against our table! The bar area is severely crowded, and I suspect this is THE place to go get drunk after work. There were plenty of LOUD tables with suits occupying the seats. The food was the most inconsistent part of my meal. I've heard great things about this restaurant and had high expectations. The veal sweetbreads risotto I ordered in a delight was more watery than creamy. The rice, although freshly made, was undercooked and had not released all of it's starchy goodness. My dish arrived much later than it was prepared, with a skin on top and room temperature. The sweetbreads' excessive amount of Madeira sauce spilled into the rice, causing the sloppy result. The sweetbreads, on the other hand, were cooked divinely, maintaining a tender, velvety bite and accompanied by a mild sauce accentuating the sweetbreads; definitely the defining and redeeming part of the dish. The prices are what you'd expect, and reasonable for what you get. All in all the experience was on the positive end of the spectrum, but I feel wary rounding the 3.5 review up to a four instead of down to a three. I'll be visiting again, because the simple mistakes made on my dish are easily fixable, and part of me WANTS to believe I just came on a bad day.
(4)Shane M.
I keep going back here because so many friends say the love it. I've yet to find anything that i think is worth the price. Service is always below average.
(3)John L.
Outstanding food and service (once again)! Had a birthday dinner there last night with 10 of my best friends...Vespaio did not dissapoint! The food is decadent and the service is outstanding. Need I say more?
(5)Jordan W.
I can easily admit that this is some of the best Italian food I've ever had. I don't normally go for Italian food because it's usually too heavy for me. Not that the food here wasn't also insanely rich, it was just better for my taste. I left off one star just because our appetizer was delicious but it was poorly presented. We had the carpaccio and it tasted great but there are far better presentations than the one we received. I had the mixed Meat Grill plate which was decadent... four types of meat (quail, steak, pork, etc.) and some awesome marscaprone mashed potates. My fiance had a seafood pasta dish that was stellar as well. Great date place but be ready to pay for it. The wine is good but that definitely bumped our check up significantly.
(4)Bobby S.
The food was decent, not great. I tried to make up for quality with quantity. But didn't work. Did not have a good experience with our waiter to put on incredible amount of attitude. When asked what was better between two dishes his response was quote which do you prefer". But we asked again say we don't have a preference but we recommend response was the same. And then he gave some long analogy about a mother's case been given to the girlfriends guess. Overall, and came across extremely rude and offensive.
(2)Jeff G.
One of the finest meals I have had. Don't miss the wagyu carpaccio and the prosciutto with egg and truffle oil pizza.
(5)Scott R.
I was only in Austin for one day. Every time I travel out of Southern California I fear I will not find good food, but I was lucky to hit two restaurants that I would be proud to take my visitors in Los Angeles and Pasadena. This one rocks, in a cool, delicious, jazzy sort of way. When back in Austin, I won't miss it again.
(5)Sam A.
Mmmmmmm my taste buds have orgasms when I even drive by.
(5)Maxine M.
This review is for brunch we were seated quickly, service was pretty "meh"- not too good or too bad 4.5 stars for the polenta....that stuff was off the hook husband said the pancetta was too salty to eat i found everything too salty- but I have been eating a super reduced sodium diet lately so I am not sure if mine really was too salty or if i was just being over sensitive whatever... I ate my polenta and then traded my spinach to a Friend for her polenta nice atmosphere- inexpensive for good brunch food
(3)Rob M.
Their special risotto of the day is always so good I would eat it off a dead horses ass. yeah, it is always that good. go there, eat, drink and see if you can become a member of the clean plate club. wait staff is top notch here, which is something you don't find very often in austin. we have become accustomed to crappy service, but thank god Vespaio understands the importance of good service.
(5)t s.
One of the best Italian dinner I've ever had came from Vespaio. Fantastic dining treat. Get the full treatment if you go. Apps, dinner, desert, drinks. One of the best in town.
(5)cool c.
By far the best Italian food I've had in town!!! Absolutely love their Margherita Pizze and Spaghetti Pomodoro. I would'nt recommend their Tiramisu (just go over to Enoteca and have their Tiramisu!) Pricey but definitely worth it for those special occasions in your life!
(5)Dario S.
SPECIALS SPECIALS SPECIALS!!!!!!! Thats what I always seem to go for when I go there. LOL I have tasted a couple off the regular menu appetizers but THATS IT the regular menu just dosent stand out to me. Every risotto dish is heavenly u dont want to stop eating it. It can very hard to grab a table without reservations on the weekends. Parking can be troublesome as well. Its pricey but the food makes up for it. They have a case of antipasti selections which u cant go there without trying them.
(5)Larry M.
I truly feel sorry for those who have had a bad experience here (Lija H. that sucks that you got here on a very off night...bummer), since every time I've been here, I've found something completely innovative on the menu (which changes often), and once I taste it.... I stare off into space...bewildered that something could taste that good...then start to ask questions like "What does it all MEAN????" Then struggle deeply with my conflicting thoughts of sharing my meal to give others the deep and utter joy I'm having, or just gorge on it quickly before anyone has a chance. Regardless, the message is clear. FUCK Olive Garden. Getting here early is key. I come here about once every two or so months, usually with parents (who have deeper pockets) and try to get at least five of us, so we can sit in the front rooms that feel like you're inside a wine cellar of sorts. More spacious and better acoustics, which the back dining area has some problems with, despite the huge curtains. Service here has gone from quick and efficient, to please let me take you home so you can school me, gently, on expert Italian cuisine. Wait staff here are some of the best in town (second only to Wink) and are truly proud to be part of the experience. Hate to over-hype, but it never fails to inspire.
(5)Rahul B.
4.50 Stars. Despite being slightly overpriced ($25-$30/meal), the food is excellent. I say overpriced because I believe the food should be in the $15-$20 range. My first time eating here was a week ago with my family and my girlfriend, and we all enjoyed our food. The food was delicious and well presented. Everything looked great on the plate, and everything tasted amazing in our mouths. The environment is very nice, with adequate lighting, and a great view of the lively street. The service is excellent. The waiters are enthusiastic, and at least 3 people are continuously swarming by to check and make sure the food is great, and the table is clean. If you're looking for a great place to take your date, your family, or just to eat some amazing food, Vespaio is for you.
(5)austin d.
I've been to Vespaio a few times. Yeah, its a little loud, the wine list is expensive and could be better but you know what.. thats not a deal breaker for me unlike some people. First off that canneloni paste dip stuff, I think it is VERY good. A lot of Italian places have some variety of such to dip breads in. Stortini also has one thats good, a little more lemon-y.. I think Vespaio's is great and seems to be good for you too. Last night me and the fiancee went for my birthday and I decided instead of going with the tuna or the salmon, I would go for some lasagna. I just wanted something hearty. VESPAIO'S LASAGNA IS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD, HANDS DOWN. Also had the crab claws and poached prawns for appetizers.. Wonderful flavor. try the lasagna.. i promise you wont be disappointed.
(5)M T.
I confess...I am guilty of bashing Austin's Italian food. I had to shut my mouth after eating at Vespaio's. This is without a doubt the best Italian food I've ever eaten. Everything is great--my favorite dish is the mixed seafood grill. They don't take reservations and there is always a wait but you can sit at the bar and are in and out in 45 mins!
(5)Stephanie H.
having gone to italy for 2 weeks last summer, I feel like I was well versed in authentic Italian cuisine......this hit the spot, it felt like I was in a little mama's kitchen in the heart of Florence. We started out with the green salad with the lemon dressing OMG, then the truffle, proscuitto, and arugula pizza, followed by the hangar steak....way too much food, but couldn't make a decision. the wait staff was AMAZING....please please go here if you are in Austin!!!
(5)Ashley B.
HEAVEN ON A PLATE! I heart Vespaio! Everything on the menu is wonderful and the service is fantastic. The wine list is vast and the server is always so helpful when pairing wine with your ordered dish. My husband proposed here and the entire staff was so amazing, kindly helping prepare his surpise. Whenever I have a special night planned or have out of town guests, I always choose Vespaio!!! Sunday brunch is great too!
(5)Omoniyi O.
This has got to be one of the best places to eat italian food here in Austin.......and that's saying a lot. Austin doesn't have that many good italian places. I'm not big on italian, but this place is serious. The food and atmosphere are great. It's not cheap, but it's good for a "nice lunch or dinner".
(4)Judd C.
Vespaio is one of the best restaurants in Austin along with Hudson's on the Bend, Wink, Aquarelle, and Uchi. The pasta is homemade and everything on the menu is terrific. Energetic and fun atmosphere.
(5)Charles C.
One of my top 5 places to eat in Austin. Always consistently great food on anything on the menu. Great bar but can get crowded fast. Had my daughters graduation dinner in private room and everything was first class just as I expected.
(5)Melissa S.
Overlooking the almost inevitable long wait time and impossible parking situation, you'll definitely enjoy your dining experience at Vespaio. The service is impeccable, and the owner of the restaurant is often milling around and surveying how people are enjoying their food... he's a cool dude. The Italian food is incredibly unique, without being off-putting in the sense that it strays too far from the traditional. My personal favorite has remained the spinach-lemon ravioli, but everything on the menu that I've tried has been exceptional.
(3)Philip G.
I'm a fan of Vespaio, but I can't see going here more than once every 9 months to a year. It's just too expensive. Vespaio Enoteca next door is a great alternative. We went last night. It was excellent. First visit in over a year. The polenta appetizer, fried with mushrooms in a gorgonzola sauce was incredibly good. I could have had it as a meal. Would have saved me considerably. My friend had gnocchi with quail sausage. He said it was very good, and I had a taste. It was. I had the spaghetti carbonara. It was ok. I've had better at Sagra for less than half the price. It was bland, even though there was a good bit of pancetta. I had a small Caesar salad and regretted it later. $8 is just absolutely ridiculous for some romaine lettuce and dressing. The taste was good, however, Where Vespaio excels is the service. Our waiter anticipated our needs and was extremely attentive. The trend in Austin dining seems to be serve quickly and get the customer out. I'm glad to see our waiter let us enjoy our meal without rushing through each course. I'd go more often, but it is prohibitively expensive. For the two of us, two entrees, a salad, appetizer, and 2 glasses of wine each, it was $120 before tip. Pasta should not be that expensive. The ingredients are fresh and the tastes are great, but this is Austin not San Francisco or New York.
(4)Meridith H.
I am so sad to read the bad review about this gem of an Italian restaurant in the awesome South Congress area in Austin. First and foremost, I have to address the wait. If you live in Austin, you kind of know that it is expected at a very popular restaurant that does not take reservations. However, it can get ridiculous at times and for that...and for being too cool to take reservations, I knock off one star. However, of the three times I have been to Vespaio, I have not had one bad experience with the food or service. In fact, it is one of the better high end Italian restaurants I have ever tried, if not the best. The duck gnocci with foie gras is heavenly and every appetizer I have ever order has been delicious. That is why there is an hour to two hour wait every weekend night. It is hard to find good Italian in Texas and they have succeeded with high marks. Note - if you don't know what you are looking for, Vespaio can be hard to find. I think the name of the restaurant is on the door but there is not a big sign to point you in the right direction.
(4)Lamby A.
Went here once with a large group (there were about 10 of us) and not a single person liked their meals. Some came out cold, some bland. It may have been an off night but we were all really disappointed. On top of that, our waitress wasn't having a good day either and she took it out on us. Yes, a lot of us sent our dishes back but we didn't want to pay for something we weren't enjoying! Not sure if I'm willing to give this place a second try.... for the time being I think not.
(1)Kelly B.
Living in Austin for 23 years I have tried almost every fine dinning restaurant in this great city. My top 3 picks are consistently Uchi, Vespaio and Jezebel (in that order). Last night I visited Vespaio and once again had a wonderful experience. Get there early (7 or before during the weekdays) if you don't want to wait but if you do have to wait the bar area is a great place to grab a drink. I'm a martini drinker and the martinis are always perfectly chilled with a thin layer of ice floating on top. Food: Appetizer - I recommend the tuna tartar which i believe is the best in Austin. Entree - I enjoy the sea food mixed grill but the pizzas, seafood stew and short ribs are all great choices too. Dessert - I always order the blackberry zeppoli for dessert which is basically 3 cake style cinnamon sugar donuts with blackberry puree in the middle and is also served with vanilla gelato... yum so delicious. On top of the delicious food and romantic ambiance Vespaio is located on South Congress, one of the last neighborhoods that still has the Austin original feel and is also located across the street from the historic Continental Club. Here is the website: austinvespaio.com
(5)Laura O.
I have eaten here twice. Once for my anniversary and second with a group of co-workers. It is phenomenal. Everyone must try it.
(5)Edwyn A.
i like this place - veal ... veal ... and more veal. no fu fu fusion italian cuisine like some other spots in town - just classics and classic cocktails. btw susan is awesome
(4)Aileen P.
What an awful experience. I really expected more from a restaurant that serves $35 entrees. My friend and I split fried calamari and wahoo fish. First the fried calamari were super salty. The entree took forever to come out and when it came out it was totally not what I had expected. The waiter had told me that the Wahoo was like Mahi Mahi....yeah right, this was more like a fish steak. It was so tough. They were kind enough to cook it again but this time the fish came back raw. So we left the $30 fish untouched ate our veggies and left. I am now home on the computer with such a bad stomach ache. Never again.
(1)Brad C.
I went for lunch and it was great, I had some sort of a pork sandwich, and switched off with the meatball sandwich then the third turn was one of the salads, everyone really liked what they got. I really want to go back and try some of the pasta dishes, which is always a good sign for any restaurant.
(3)Austin L.
The food: great. I wish I could give this place all the stars the cuisine deserves. However. 1). I find it disconcerting when the waiter serving me has on as much carefully applied eyeliner and foundation as any woman in the room. I don't know why. Call me old fashioned. Something about the white shirt and black pants and clean haircut and...foundation. Not to mention the somewhat effete rudeness garnishing the whole thing. 2) I find it even more disconcerting to be in any establishment where most of the men appear to be Mel Gibson wannabes. The food is good, though...
(3)Matt Q.
Summary: cozy and great, with some minor flaws My wife and I are big fans of Vespaio Enoteca, but had never been to Vespaio, the big brother next door. Last night was our first anniversary, so we decided to celebrate with dinner at Vespaio. We rolled in around 7PM on a Monday night and were seated after a very brief wait. The main dining room is nice, but not stuffy. The tables are wood and not hidden under white linens. It's all very cozy and not a "scene" like some of our other high end favorites. (Uchi, I am talking about you.) We started with their carpaccio, which was incredible. Note to self: Vespaio has carpaccio, Enoteca does not. I love this stuff. My wife had a caesar salad and a big bowl of ciopino and I had jumbo shrimp, wrapped in prosciutto and grilled. Both were excellent. I have only two minor complaints: (1) Not much depth in the wine list. We wanted a sparkling wine and Vespaio only offers two selections in the "under $85" price range. We liked the prosecco ($32) that we picked, but more choice would have been nice. In comparison, Enoteca has five sparkling wines under $85, including Veuve Cliquot, which is $14 less expensive at Enoteca than at Vespaio. (2) Not much depth on the dessert list. When I go out for a nice meal I expect to end it with a decadent chocolate dessert. Sadly, there was no chocolate on the dessert menu, except as a component of their s'mores, which isn't what I was hoping for. We had the pumpkin zeppole, which was very good, but it didn't satisfy my chocolate jones. After dinner I was tempted to walk over to Enoteca and buy a chocolate mousse as take-out. Service was excellent: helpful and friendly without being intrusive. Our waiter happily poured tastes of the two least expensive sparkling wines before we picked a bottle. Some people have complained about the prices. This seems unreasonable to me. Vespaio clearly uses top notch ingredients which are artfully prepared and served in generous portions. If you don't want to pay the price for Vespaio, go next door to Enoteca. BTW... we had carpaccio, a small caesar, two entrees, a bottle of Prosecco, a dessert and a glass of port. The total before tip was $131, which is perfectly reasonable in my book.
(4)Jeremy C.
great selection, excellent service, my favorite place to take my parents out to dinner to show them a little of what austin has to offer. the wine menu is sneakily comprehensive and the staff is exceptionally knowledgeable.
(5)Dan K.
Best Italian in town!
(5)Charles D.
It seems like two years since I last dined here (maybe not quite that long, the demanding hours of a new position at work makes it feel like forever), and my last dinner was the BEST pork chop I have ever enjoyed, I still remember it to this day. Tonight, driving through SoCo, I chanced upon an open parking space directly in front of Vespaio. Karma pulled me in and I was greeted by 'Marissa', with a effervescent smile that made me feel as if I was being welcomed into someone's home. I was seated immediately and taken care of by 'Jennifer', who found the perfect wine to end a long week. The special for tonight...glazed pork chop, au-gratin potatoes, and jumbo asparagus! The pork chop was another culinary success, melt in your mouth tender with the right amount of a smidgen of fat; the potatoes and asparagus were excellent, as well. I heartily recommend Vespaio to those looking for culinary excellence. Kudos to all, especially Marissa and Jennifer, for wonderful evening.
(5)Christopher H.
Went with date, intimate for that. Food was pretty good. I had the veal saltimboca which was mouth watering. Their calamari is number 2 on my list, my fav being Saba (only because I like the Caipirinias there). Date had the beef tenderloin which was pretty awesome too. I would go back, but save for something special - a little $$
(4)Roger R.
Nice menu with a good selection. Very easy to go multiple times and not eat the same thing. Great atmosphere. Wonderful for all occasions. Highly Reccomend.
(4)Simon M.
My girlfriend took me here for my 30th birthday. To anyone who is thinking of going here for your 30th birthday, this restaurant will only add to your depression. For $30 and up for a plate, I want my world to be rocked. Vespaio, you did not rock me. You simply made me feel bad that my lovely, sweet girlfriend was wasting a lot of money on me. Seriously, when you pay $30 for a piece of lasagne, it better be a freakin' religious experience. Despite it's nice presentation, it was still just a piece of lasagne. It tasted fine, but to be honest, I make it soooo much better (I'm Italian, so I think I've got some legs to stand on here). The tri-color salad was really good, and the chevre-stuffed cherry peppers were nice, but my girlfriend's $20 pizza was just pathetic. It was wet with oil, and the crust had no crispness to speak of. And yes, as someone else mentioned, the wine is marked-up... a lot. So, it would seem that I should have followed my instincts and insisted we eat at Homeslice. Seriously folks, the pizza is better over there.
(2)Julie B.
Really this is 3.5 stars; I actually enjoyed eating at Enoteca Vespaio better than its more upscale incarnation. The pasta was incredibly fresh and it was perfectly cooked. I had the ravioloni di magra with was filled with ricotta and rapini, and it was good, but I don't think it was $23 good. Our server let us get an order of suppli (those addictive fried risotto balls) even though those are only on the menu at Enoteca, which was nice. I had the chocolate tart with caramel gelato for dessert, and the tart was oddly flavorless, so that was kind of disappointing. I think next time I'd prefer to go back to Enoteca, though I'd be willing to come here again.
(4)Brian L.
Best Italian in Austin hands down. Highly recommend. Have eaten here numerous times, each time ordering something different, and haven't had a bad experience.
(5)Tony T.
Best food in Austin (by far). Scott Bolin (the owner) is the perfect host and the service is top notch. Not only is the rissotto always "to die for" but try the Sausage Pizza sometime... WOW. great wine list as well
(5)Ryan O.
Authentic Italian, like Mulberry Street, in the heart of Texas! Homemade pasta, homemade limoncello, what else you need to know? Stop in, have something nice to mangia, you won't regret it.
(5)nic f.
i knew i loved vespaio when, forced to take an obligation friend (you know: that friend you're pretty sure you don't like but somehow you feel badly about ditching them) there for a "poor me" b'day dinner, the waiter passed me notes all night about what a bitch she was and how sorry he felt for us but then was sweet as pie to her face. oh and the food is very, very good. it feels rustic, authentic and not too perfect, as if hulaboy's mawmaw was in the kitchen cooking up something divine just for us.
(4)lee a.
I took my fiance to Vespaio one night hoping for a nice romantic meal. It was not to be. Vespaio is absolutely and easily the most overrated restaurant in Austin. The dining room is noisy to the point of having to shout at your date. The food is okay at best. Our service was lousy to the point of being laughable. I could not believe this was the same place everyone claims to be one of the best restaurants in Austin. That's a sad state of affairs if true.
(1)Shannon O.
Vespaio consistently has one of my favorite veggie plates in town. I like proteins (meat, chicken, fish), but I routinely skip them for the veggie plate when I come here. We went there last night, and the vegetable plate has mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, and potatoes. The potato was like a gratin and was just okay. The broccoli was completely forgetable. The mushrooms... omg, if they would make these the centerpiece of an entree, I'd probably lick the plate. They are smoky, tender, and full of flavor. The carrots were sweet (chopped in cubes and looked a little like they belonged on a plate for a toddler) but complemented the mushrooms perfectly. I left very happy.
(5)Kari H.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Austin when it comes to Italian food. The specials for the day are always amazing and well worth the $25+ you'll spend on each dish. Most of the days of the week you will find a wait of 30-45 minutes unless you get there closer to 10pm. Waiting can be a pain depending on how full the bar area is, which is fairly narrow. If you can, belly up to the bar and ask the bartenders for suggestions on wines, usually they let you taste many different ones before deciding on a glass.bottle (one bartender was voted best bartender in Austin for 2006 so they know their stuff). Ordering an appetizer while waiting has always the time go by faster, especially the tuna tar tar. Once seated, you will notice that the acoustics are not the best; it can get fairly loud of you are in the main center room where you can see all the chefs cooking. When you finally see the menu, take a look at the specials page and take time to notice which ones are sold out. If the risotto is out, which many times it is, be sad because it is amazing. Additionally as savory is the seafood mixed grill, which has been different every time I have been there. Anything with prawns has proven to be wonderful as well as the beans and vegetables picked directly from the garden behind the building. If you are looking for something off the regular menu, I would recommend the Pomodoro, although I think they use a bit too much oil in making it (still fabulous though). I usually skip dessert, but the few times I have eaten it there, the trio of chocolate has been delectable. A few additional notes would be that 1) the service is wonderful and the waitstaff very helpful. 2) If you can sit in one of the 'side' rooms, do so. 3) After your meal, walk around South Congress if you can. 4) Beware of First Thursdays if you go, you will not be able to find parking anywhere.
(5)J J.
I love this place. Food and atmosphere are great. Don't go though if you don't have the money to do it right. It's not cheap, but it's good for a "nice dinner". Great for a date.
(5)K B.
My husband and I love Vespaio - yummy Italian food with a modern twist. I love the cioppina and the gnocchi, as well as the pistachio donuts for dessert. Service is extremely helpful, and although its one of the pricier spots in town, it doesn't feel pretentious at all. Definitely worth a night out!
(4)Layla P.
This place is fabulous. I've eaten here several times and I am amazed every time. They make their own pasta and I believe they get most of their herbs from the garden out back. The atmosphere is hip and romantic, good for dates or for dinner with a friend. Ask the waiters for advice, they have tasted everything. My favorite dish is the veal ravioli and my favorite appetizer is the tuna tartar.
(5)Marie C.
As always Vespaios is something wonderful. The service at the bar was top notch. We had ordered a sausage/garlic pizza and a tuna tartare appetizer. The pizza was outstanding & the tuna tartare is one of my favorite appetizers here. The staff noticed that our two top became a four top and graciously offered for us to move down to a space that just opened up for four. Very thoughtful! Most of us had specials of the evening, and all were delicious. I had the roasted Halibut on a bed of polenta mixed with crab meat with a side of sauteed broccolini : simply divine! Our waiter who we hadn't met before was attentive and helpful with our menu selections- all of us were pleased. The only minus of the evening was that our table was near the pizza oven area, and the temperature of that space was hot. I'm talking sweaty yoga vida class hot. So, we walked down to Amy's Ice Cream to end our evening. Anyhow, I'm giving 5 stars for the food and service.
(5)A S.
Love the food and the Austin atmosphere. It reminds me of the warmth of old Austin. The staff is incredibly helpful when ordering or just finding you when it is time too be seated. There are always lines around this establishment due to the fact the food is excellent. Each meal wakes up my tastebuds in a different way. I can always taste the garlic oregano and basil in everything I order. And the freshness is so apparent.
(4)Meredith F.
Notice most of the bad reviews were from several years ago. And back then, I felt the same. I used to bitch about how over priced and mediocre this place was, but like a fine wine, it's gotten better with age. I have been eating here since 1999 and it just gets better. It has definitely kicked up a few notches in service and food quality in that time. Hands down-By far, one of the best lasagnas I have ever had. Have not had a bad meal here in the past several years. Some of the best wait staff and you feel like you are being spoiled while dining here. Great fancy night out or date night spot. This past time I had to try the two primi's. I had the carbonara and the bolognaise. Both were delicious and perfectly portioned since I did not get an appetizer or salad this time. Great extensive wine list. Hubs went ape shit over the mixed seafood special. It was "fucking amazing" per his review. Tiramisu was delicious and too much for 1 person. We were out about $180 with tip for my 2 small pastas, hub's salad, seafood grill, decent bottle of white, tiramisu, cheesecake for hubs, and a double espresso. Can't wait to go back.
(5)michelle k.
Absolutely love this place. We always sit @ the bar and Rochelle and Tom provide outstanding service, make great wine recommendations and remember what we like. The butternut squash in sage butter appetizer is heavenly. It's rich and creamy and a good size for sharing. The carbonara is also excellent. Pasta is made onsight and always cooked perfectly. Daily specials are varied and inventive.
(5)Lauren U.
Stick to traditional Italian here. Everything is very high quality. Fresh pasta. House-made mozzarella. Great service. Great wine list. Awesome tiramisu.
(5)Ilsa M.
This is my personal favorite restaurant in Austin. I lived in northern Italy for 1 year and constantly return. I have never found food quiet similar to real Italian since being back in America until I came here! My boyfriend and I always order the pasta dishes . The pesto and the butternut squash are our favorite . The butternut squash pasta with walnuts on the side is almost more like dessert but truly heaven like quality and flavor . The atmosphere is so classy and intimate . It is the perfect date location . It is for sure worth every penny!
(5)Delia S.
I had high expectations for Vespaio. I had always heard wonderful things and somehow, had never gotte. Around to trying it. We decided to come here to celebrate my daughter getting her driver's license and even let her drive me...a hilarious story for another time. We showed up at 9:30 on a Friday night and were seated immediately. Our server was a pleasant young lady with a warm smile who noted our wobbly table right away and promised to come back and place a shim under the short leg. Unfortunately she said it three more times during the next three visits to the table as if it was the first shed noticed. After we reminded her after nearly spilling a glass of wine, she sent someone over and it was remedied. The space is dark and divided into a couple of main rooms with some smaller rooms for parties. The kitchen area is partially exposed and the wood burning over is the centerpiece of the main dining room. The noise level is a bit high, but understandably so given the size of the room and the number of hard surfaces. The menu is divided into appetizers, primi pasta selections, secondi or main courses and house specials. We were not hugely hungry, so both decided to just order a main course. The server brought out a basket of freshly baked bread with what, in the dim light, appeared to be seasoned butter, but was in fact a white bean spread (I think). It would have been nice to be warned in advance so my palate would not be expecting butter, but taste beans. My daughter had the spaghettini carbonara - house made pasta with pancetta in a cream sauce with a poached egg on top. It was very rich and creamy and plentiful. I ordered the hangar steak with fries, Parmesan roasted tomato and spinach. The steak was cooked perfectly and was tender and flavorful. The fries were certainly plentiful, but entirely too salty for me to enjoy, as was the spinach. I do love a generous sprinkling of kosher salt on wilted spinach, but this was too heavy handed in my opinion. The Parmesan tomato was delicious, bursting with fresh tomato goodness. The wine list was extensive and I enjoyed the valpolicella immensely. Overall, I was satisfied and every restaurant can have an off night. Also, what is too salty for me, may be perfect for you. I wish I had ordered the lasagna, but hindsight is always more acute than foresight. I would give it 3.5 stars for this visit, but I rounded up since that option wasn't available.
(4)Andrew M.
The first time we dined here they got me. We were a group of three. We were seated and enjoying a cocktail, a group came in and the waiter asked us if we would mind moving tables so they could accommodate the larger group. We said no problem and were moved. The waiter then brought us complimentary appetizers, and at the end of the meal. a complimentary desert to share. We did not have any issue moving and we certainly did not ask for or expect anything in return. But, what a great gesture on their part. On top of that the meal and service were excellent. Needless to say we have been back a few times since then and have always been delighted with the food and service.
(5)Annette B.
The food was delicious authentic Italian food in Texas, BRILLIANT ! ! ! We shared the calamaris and I enjoyed one of the special pasta dishes, very good, yes indeed. The food deserves 5 stars. Even so we were recognized by the owner from the previous year and welcomed. This is a very popular busy restaurant, if you don't have a reservation you need to arrive 15 minutes before opening time to get a seat. Of course the waiters and waitresses are busy and maybe not too used if a customer is particular; as we are from NYC (and we all know New Yorkers are spoiled) one of my friends had a special request and always takes longer to order... yes sometimes its so unnecessary ....and I want to sink into the ground from embarrassment... but in the end its their job to cater (we always tip 20% which is generous); the waiter certainly was attentive but I knew he couldn't wait to get rid of us and at one point I saw him pulling a face to another waiter about our table or rather my friend. Ok its all childish and it doesn't matter, still am thinking who is spoiled here .... I think its the waiter who is lucky to work in a very busy restaurant making a lot of money but hasn't the extra time to care of a generous demanding New Yorker, even its his job. The decor is cute low key like an Italian village eatery, the seats were a little uncomfortable, hard wooden seats. This place is great to enjoy your food and to move on!
(3)Darcy P.
Great place, all around. Sat at bar and Ryan was fantastic bartender! Offered samples of different wines to help choose and also brought over sommelier (or maybe manager. Either way, he was also awesome). weren't being picky, just indecisive :) got spinach salad which was the only disappointing part of the meal. It wasn't bad, in fact the components were delicious. The "prosciutto" vinaigrette (yes I put it in quotes) was super super acidic with no hint of prosciutto. Sort of mixing in the Blue cheese hunk and park crisp made it better tho. :). Got side of buttery string beans (hardcore beets if you will. I'm actually leaving that spellcheck correction bc it is funny. Meant haricots verts). They were good but even better after they Cooled. Absorbed some additional flavor, I think. Then spaghetti carbonara. Delicious. Heavy. Delicious (though I did add a good bit of black pepper which seemed to be missing). HUGE portion, especially for homemade pasta. I was shocked. If I could give 4.5 I would. Stuck with 4 bc it just wasn't a 5 (white bean dip sort of meh, salad dressing off, pasta needing a bit more seasoning) but I would (and will) def go back. And the service was phenomenal. Oh, side note: the print on the menu is teeny tiny. I have good vision but between dark setting and tiny (like font size 8) print, I'd suggest bumping up he type. :)
(4)Larry E.
Very very good' this is a very good and popular place. It can get quite crowded, so be prepared to chill if you have to wait. Anything, and I do mean anything on the menu is excellent. A thing to do is try here one week and La Traviata the next week. They are so different, but also the same and are excellent! Make your own choice!
(5)Marie W.
Brought friends here to celebrate a birthday. Started with carpaccio, which was to die for (and I'm not a beef eater!). I had the baby neck steamed clams in a white wine sauce, over a bed of linguini. Very nice restaurant-but plan to eat early or you will be waiting, as they do not take reservations. Pricey-but so worth it-spent $200 for dinner for 3 (included a cheap bottle of vino for $40).
(4)Andrea T.
Overall, our experience was great and the food was delicious! Our waiter was very informative about what was in each dish since there were a lot of ingredients on the menu I couldn't even pronounce. Ambiance was very romantic as the lights were dimmed and everyone there was drinking wine. Great place to have either a date or dinner with a few friends. I got the Bistecca Tagliata Con Patate Fritte which was just fancy for medium rare steak and french fries. My boyfriend got their Lasagna. Both were delicious and cooked perfectly. I did prefer the Lasagna over my dish. Only setback was that my boyfriend and I were not aware that we went to the wrong restaurant. We meant to go to Enoteca Vespaio, but we ended up going to Vespaio Ristorante. We were completely unaware that the two restaurants were next to each other since they have the same address. We came in thinking the dishes were supposed to be around $15, but it ended up being roughly around $30. Next time, we won't be making that mistake!
(4)Tracy B.
It's exciting to see Austin's food scene take a place in the national spotlight, but Vespaio was one of the first to put Austin on the map. Back in the day when we were wrapping up our educations at St. Ed's, we had nary a choice for food on South Congress other than disgusting El Gallo, bland Guero's and Texas French Bread. Then, in 1998, came along Vespaio. There was a two hour wait on most nights and we were right there in line with all the rest. I suppose we were the "OH"- original hipsters? {{Shudder}} no thanks. But brave the filthy and prostitute infested streets we most certainly did, as Vespaio was and still IS worth the wait. All these years later she still purrs like a wizened cat amongst the kittens. We recently revisited with friends and left just as happy as we were back in 1998 when we first sampled their velvety hanger steak. On our recent visit we savored classics such as calamari, carpaccio, fresh tomato caprese, and a sumptuous cioppino that rivals Clark's. The highlight was my culotte of beef with truffled risotto and bordelaise sauce that was reminiscent of a similar dish I had last year at SPQR in San Francisco. I think it's safe to say this risotto was even better. So in a city that is exploding with imaginative, luscious food served with unappetizing pompousness (Qui), it's nice to return to a familiar place that put "SOCO" {{shuddering again}} on the map.
(5)D K.
The best. The apps were great, pizzas phenomenal, and the pastas/lasagnas were absolutely delicious. I will be going back to this place on every trip!!
(5)Shameem A.
This place was ok. We went with reasonably high expectations based on yelp and word of mouth/ prime location etc. Ambience is good, we were seated next to a gigantic wine shelf and I found our seats drafty due to a lot of vents and fans around the area. The service was good. The food was incredibly rich and too heavy, making both my husband and I remark on leaving "...we do prefer eating at home." I mean .. We love eating out, but as a substitute for the labor of shopping and cooking and cleaning, not to sacrifice on health and eat food extremely laden with cream and oil and butter. Fave was a cannellini bean spread they brought out with bread instead of the usual Olive oil // balsamic most places bring. My margarita pizza was ok.. Nothing special. Our appetizers were so so heavy.
(3)Austin G.
After coming here for years, I'm sad to say I will never return. We had the worst experience we've ever had at any restaurant period!! It started out pleasant with a delightful hostess. She was kind and gracious. However that's where the good stops and the awful begins. After being seated we waited a couple minutes, and then a few more... I know that 5 minutes isn't a long time but when you're sitting at a table waiting for service, it can be an eternity. I then to ask the hostess if the server knew we were there (sometimes they don't know when they've been sat). The host was busy setting a table and then a young server with the most condescending and bitchy tone I have ever had the displeasure of hearing asks... "Can I Get you something, you look anxious?" Now, just so you know, I am the GM of a restaurant, I eat out a lot and I tip very well and I know the challenges of being a server. However it's a job that you as a server have written a resume for, sent out said resume, interviewed for said job and accepted said job. So, there is no excuse for being an asshole!! It really wasn't the question, it was the sleazy shitty tone that pissed me off. After, little miss poopy pants asked me if she could get me something because I looked anxious. My wife and I decided to leave, and we sent off by a "good" by the server. However, first I wanted to speak with the manager. He introduced himself as the owner, proceeded to tell us that he knew we were in the "biz" because he saw us at the restaurant supply store earlier that day. He then told us that they were better than the service that we were given and he then let us leave. He never used the word sorry and didn't try to keep us there or make things right. I was speechless... We then went across the street and spent $262 on a fantastic Italian dinner. Get it together Vespaio, you're not the only game in town anymore.
(1)Dawn H.
I have walked past this place so many times - I have no idea how I missed it! And, nobody has ever told me about it.??? Appears to be a great Italian joint right in the heart of SoCo area of Austin. When you walk in you are greeted with friendly faces and a glass case full of a variety of amazing looking anitpastis. Who could resist?! Even though my husband and I had dinner plans a little later at another locale we decided to take retreat from the heat and choose a seat at their lovely wooden bar. Very large bar area, that includes bar tables as well as separates the bar from the beautiful main dining area. During this visit we only had a bowl of assorted Italian olives (huge portion for the price) and a wedge of extra creamy Cambozola served with tiny spring figs and perfectly toasted crustini. Great wine by the glass selection. Vespaio does not offer happy hour - ever. They don't run specials (i.e., in price). They don't even offer house wines. I guess after over 16 years (wow!) Vespaio does not have too. Defeintely looking forward to coming back for a romantic date night with the other half and enjoying a full meal and too much wine. Until then...Salute! ***URTD
(5)Tiffany T.
We had reservations and the wait staff seemed a little unorganized, but what made up for it was the delicious wine choice and the menu! It was so difficult to choose: wanted to try everything! I will be coming back again to try the risotto! The Carbonara with the poached egg on top was scrumptious! The white wine choice was divine with my entree!
(4)Gina C.
Vespaio is really, really good. I'm a snobby homegrown italian. I'm picky. I promise you, they're worth the price... In like nine times out of ten. Fiancé took me here tonight for a romantic and spoiling dinner. We started with wine/beer (I highly recommend the falanghina) and calamari. I love that service here never rushes you. We were allowed to linger with our drinks, and linger with our appetizer before having to order. Classy- I like that. Fiancé ordered the lasagna. It's fabulous. Not traditional, as its prepared with spinach noodles, but delicious all the same. The red sauce is subtly sweet and perfectly doused with herbs. The cheese was broiled and oh, yummy. I could only sneak a bite or two due to my hypersensitive tummy. He nearly finished the plate. I was a bit more disappointed tonight. I ordered the salmon, Scottish. It was advertised as served with a cauliflower potato purée, pea shoots, crispy carrots, and saffron bagna cauda. First of all, for 30 dollars I expect an adequate portion. I got maybe 3 1/2 ounces of salmon. It was a delicate plate. Pea shoots were bland. Crispy carrots were yummy. However, this "saffron bagna cauda" had no saffron flavor and tasted more like an herb blend. Overall, while it was good, I felt i overpaid for an unexciting dish. We love vespaio, but maybe stick to the pastas.
(4)Leslie H.
Nice, intimate quaint atmosphere. Hubby and I went here for anniversary dinner. Enjoyed the pumpkin ravioli and branzino. Lasagna was a bit too sweet for my husbands taste--meaning the bachamel sauce or the sweet peppery italian sausage they used was a bit domineering in taste. They also use green noodles for the lasagna, so we weren't sure if there was spinach or some herbs in there that made for a non-traditional taste in lasagna. Anyhow, good service and food. We will come back.
(4)Analisa C.
Vespaio is worth its price tag. The environment is comfortable, not snobby at all, and the service is wonderful (there, but not annoyingly always there). Definitely make reservations. I liked that I never felt rushed to finish my dinner. I had the lasagne alla bolognese, delicious.
(5)Taylor V.
Delicious. When I asked the waiter what was good on the menu he mentioned a few things and then said that the lasagna was the best in the world. We all chuckled at that comment, though he ensured me it was true. That enticed me to try it. He was right. Best in the world. Made to order. Homemade marinara sauce. Cheesy, creamy, savoy, to die for. Chocolate hazelnut cake was amazing too.
(5)Kim S.
Mmmmm... Loved this place. My bestie took me for my bday bc I wanted mussels and I polled all my friends and thy said this was the place to come. So...we did. They were DIVINE. Not quite like home (NY/NJ) but...the sufficed. Also, we shared the grilled seafood plate and wow!!! Talk about fresh and yummy. The prawn was buttery and cooked perfectly. The tuna was amazing. And the crab cake was awesome. And surprisingly...the arugula was so crisp and lemony peppery...it was the perfect compliment.
(4)Amber E.
This is definitely price below what it's worth. It's authentic food for 1/2 of what you'd normally pay for it. I didn't know what to eat and the waitress ordered for me! I was a little scared but it was delicious and everything tastes so ridiculously fresh.PS: get zucchini fries! They are amazing with the sauce!
(5)Jenny A.
Phenomenal! What an amazing place! Roasted Oysters were the best I have ever had. Caprese mozerrella appetizer with pesto was to die for. Open kitchen with a brick oven was very impressive. Veal scaloppine was fantastic, as well as, the duck. Outstanding service! This restaurant has a phenomenal atmosphere and the plates are well presented. The reason it loses a star is because no one acknowledged us at the bar. We wanted to enjoy a cocktail while we were waiting for our table. Also, they refuse to accept reservations for Sat or Sunday, so we had to drive up there a few hours before just to put our name on the list. This is a highly romantic restaurant but what's the point, if your date can't reserve a table? I guess since they always seem to have a line out the door I understand their logic, but I like the ideas of a reservation and think it should be accommodated for a restaurant of this type.
(4)Pamela R.
Outstanding service along with outstanding food. Their pastas are house made and I don't think you can go wrong with anything on their menu. I got a shrimp dish (which I can't remember the name) and it was delightful! My husband always gets the carbonara and he was happy as always. I completely understand why this place gets high ratings. They certainly live up to it. The ambience is cozy, romantic and unpretentious. I love that they are not snooty but rather, give their customers the best service. Thanks vespaio!
(5)Jon M.
I went here with 3 of my coworkers for a business dinner/unwind. Dinner was superb. All the staff was super welcoming and accommodating as we were a bit undecided. Food was fantastic and they even accommodated a special dietary request.
(4)Romy G.
Love, love, love. It doesn't get much more classy than this. The food is always mind-blowing. My only caveat: the wait.
(5)Liz H.
Incredible. My husband and I went here on a date Tuesday night and before we were through our first dish had decided we will be returning. We had Carpaccio as an appetizer, scallops, lamb, and three different gelatos - all delicious. The wine - also fantastic. Our waiter Reed was very knowledgeable and had many recommendations, all of which we loved. I can't wait to come back again. It is a little noisy but I personally think it adds to the atmosphere of the place. It's completely booked and they don't even advertise, it's exciting to see a restaurant so alive. You can see everyone in the kitchen preparing food and the pride that all of the employees share in this place is quite obvious. I will be recommending this place to everyone I know. Another thing I really loved, you can show up in a little black dress and heels or take the route I did and go jeans and Star Wars tank. There was people around us casually and well dressed, no matter what, the food will make you feel comfy and at home.
(5)B B.
Great food and good service. I had the vegetarian lasagna and it was sumptuous. My dining partner had scallops and risotto which she said were excellent. Vespaio was Recommended to me by a local. We ordered a bottle of Nataly Primitivo at $40. I had to send it back after a few sips. It wasn't good at all. This is the first time I ever had to send a bottle if wine back. The waiter was very accommodating and offered his recommendation for a Tuscan "Moro" which was very good. /$53
(4)Eric B.
We've tried to eat here the last few times we were in Austin, but the timing never worked. We live in Houston and planned this trip around making time to go to Vespaio. The don't take reservations on Saturdays, but I called and they let me know that a table for 6 wouldn't be an issue as long as we arrived around 5:30pm. I don't have a single criticism. We waited in their bar for our friends to arrive. A bartender came over immediately to see if we needed anything, and even though I let her know we would just wait on our friends and table to order anything, she gave me a great suggestion for a new wine they just received that wasn't on the menu yet. The recommendation was great! The mushroom, polenta and gorgonzola appetizer was delicious and one of the best appetizers I've ever had. The butternut-filled pasta dish I ordered was really good and friends that ordered the lasagna said it rivaled the best lasagna they've had elsewhere. Unfortunately, I don't remember the other dishes ordered at the table. The service was perfect, neither neglectful and slow or overwhelming and invasive. We will definitely return on our next visit to Austin. As a side note...we arrived early and had about 20 minutes before friends would arrive at the restaurant. There was a cute book store next door where we spent the time (and I even found an out-of-print book in hardback that I've been wanting to get for some time).
(5)M C.
Great food. Better than most restaurants. Your dish might sound like in any other restaurants but they've always come out really amazing. There's always a "wow" factor.
(4)Ramy A.
Best Italian in Austin, hands down. Alan and the team are the real deal: food, wine, service, ambience, all top notch!
(5)Laurie W.
Probably one of the best dining experiences I've had in my life. We started with the gnudi which had a crisp exterior and creamy interior and was served in a luscious tomato sauce. For my main dish I got the carbonara. It's probably the best carbonara I've ever had. The noodles were handmade and fresh and a poached egg sat on top of the heaping pile of pasta. When I cracked open the egg and mixed it into the pasta it created a velvety texture. My husband ordered the risotto which I felt rivaled the ones we've tasted in Milan. I highly recommend this place and hope to visit the next time I'm in town.
(5)Brad S.
The management at this establishment is rock solid. They must have an excellent training program for employees because attention to detail is impeccable. Here is our experience: You can put reservations in for first seating only ... but we don't eat with the 'gray hairs', so we arrived at 7:30pm to find a full restaurant and a waiting list. That was not a problem for us since were not in a hurry! We put our name in at the hostess station and sauntered back to the bar for cocktails and appetizers. We were approached by a bar staff member and the greeting was, "Welcome Mr. Stevens, may I get you both a drink and an appetizer?". Class, just class. The hostess station must have conveyed our name to the bar .. or maybe the person overheard me at the hostess station when I put in my name ... either way, it was just class. We felt like we were inside someone's home. We were on our second adult beverage and had consumed a couple of delicious appetizers when another staff member approached me and said, "Mr Stevens, your table is ready". Yeah, more class. I had not seen this person at the hostess station when I put in our name, so somehow they tracked where we sat in the bar. That person told me that they would transfer our drinks to our table for us and also told us that the tab would automatically transfer to our table. Right then and there, I made a mental note to bump the tip from 20% to 25%. Any establishment that would reduce the hassle of having to quickly cash out at the bar when a table becomes available is absolutely golden in my book! We get seated at our table. The waiter approaches and uses my name again to greet me and my partner. The service we received from the waiter was top notch ... not overpowering ... certainly not snobbish (thank God!) ... and, certainly not overly "fake-friendly" that one experiences at many other establishments. This guy told us that he has worked as a waiter at Vespaio for many years and it showed. He provided excellent recommendations on food selections and wine pairings. OK, this place is not the cheapest .... nor should it be. For the two of us, we got our wallet out and plunked down $187. But I tell ya, this is one of those places that paying that kind of money is a pleasure. Ya know, I just realized that I wrote an entire review of a restaurant without writing about the food. Ha! Yeah, the only thing I'm going to say about the food is that it matched the service we experience. Delicious!
(5)Suzie B.
I've never reviewed Vespaio? Really? WTF is wrong with me? There is absolutely no better local Italian in the ATX, in my humble opinion. Everything from the cozy atmosphere, wonderful staff and phenomenal cuisine keeps us going back time after time, for every special event we can think of, or just to stop by after a Saturday SoCo shopping spree. Be prepared to wait for a table if you go after say, 6:00 or so. That's ok, waiting in the bar area is lively and fun, and if you're like us, you'll wait around to nab a couple of seats there to enjoy a fabulous meal and fine wine and/or cocktails.
(5)Laura W.
Vespaio went beyond expectations tonight. The food was flavorful, presentation was awesome. Jeff our Server was outstanding! The lasagna noodles melt in your mouth and crazy meaty. Hands down best chocolate chocolate hazelnut cake in town. Great place for date night!
(5)Courtney W.
For my birthday dinner, I wanted to pick a place that served good pasta and wasn't too expensive. I came across Enoteca Vespaio and it seemed to fit the bill and was very close to my apartment. Excellent! When we entered the restaurant and saw the menu, I had sticker shock. Why was everything so expensive? I swore that I checked the menu online and it said that hardly anything was over $20. Was the menu outdated? Did Yelp have incorrect information? No, I'm just dumb and walked into the wrong restaurant. You see, Enoteca Vespaio is on the left side and Vespaio is on the right side. This issue could have easily been resolved if I had looked at the menu that was posted outside of Vespaio, but I did not because I thought I had already read it. Whoops. I started stressing out because I never eat at "fancy" restaurants. I don't remember the last time I paid more than $20 for a single entree, which means that it has never actually happened. (I'm not even kidding. Not once in my 24 years of life have I paid more than $20 for a single dish.) I apologize profusely to my family because I swore I checked the menu online and I price checked everything. My Mom thought maybe I had seen the lunch menu on accident, but I knew I didn't see anything saying lunch only. My Mom tells me that it's okay and that it's my birthday, so we'll just enjoy it. After all, we never eat at places like this, so it will be a treat for everyone. Okay, I'll try to calm down, but anxiety is already running on high. Bread will be brought to your table with herb butter on the side. That butter is the stuff of which dreams are made. I would have been perfectly happy eating the bread and herb butter all night, and that's coming from someone who doesn't even like bread. We got the Cozze alla Posillipo to start and it was delicious. The mussels were so good, as were the tomatoes. I did not eat any of the bread that came with the dish, but my parents said it was very good. I went with the Spaghetti alla Carbonara and it was very tasty. The portion was decently sized and there was more than enough food. The sauce was good, the egg was nicely done, and the pancetta was delicious. My family ordered the Toscana pizza, the Spaghetti Pomodoro E Melanzane, and another dish with angel hair pasta and scallops. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and said they were quite good. After dinner, my family ordered coffees and the tiramisù. I didn't try the tiramisù, but the espresso-mascarpone sorbetto on the side was wonderful. Overall, even though I have no experience with fine dining, the food was fantastic and seemed to be worth the price to me. The service was prompt without being overbearing. The only complaint I have is that the restaurant gets crowded and loud very quickly. That's wonderful for the restaurant and I'm so glad that people love what they do, but loud, crowded spaces make me very nervous. I'd come back here, but perhaps not on a Saturday night.
(4)Mike W.
Amazing food! Spent 18 days in Italy and this is the closest thing WE HAVE TASTED. Service is slow and long wait but a lot faster than traveling Italy. Highly recommend
(4)Stacey L.
Wonderful ! Some of the pizza I have ever had - pastas were great. Lasagna was really good !!! Will be back when in Austin.
(5)Lindy L.
Myself and my boyfriend love vespaio and I will be more than happy to change my yelp stars from 3 to 5 once they fix some hiccups in their system . I wasn't sure of their hours on Sunday. I called all day (even after 5pm) and received voicemail every time. They said they close after brunch on Sunday. I made reservations at another Italian restaurant instead. I continued to call vespaio over and over and received same message until I found a different phone number on a restaurant website that provided me with different information. Which is they are open Sunday night. PISSED! Change your voicemail! Answer your phone prior to 7:45 on a Sunday night, I hAd been calling all evening! No answer, just a voicemail that was outdated. Boooo I heard from the manager and everything has been taken care of. Thank you.
(5)Timea D.
I love everything about this place. The ambience and the food are splendid, and I can't wait to bring my friends and family here. Vespaio is a quaint and cozy restaurant, and hundred of bottles of wine line the walls. The dining area is an escape to Italy in Austin! The meal starts off with warm complimentary baked bread. I ordered the pasta bolognese and it was delicious. Everything was quite cheap, too. Based on the quality of the food, and ambience, Vespaio is quite a deal for the experience they offer. You could definitely bring someone on a nice date here, without spending too much, but pretending to spurge :)
(5)Suzie Q.
Less than impressed. Very expensive. Not great service and the food was ok. We went for a fancy night out but I don't think we will be back.
(3)Monique H.
Here is what you need to know about this restaurant. You must eat here before you die. Do it. Don't think twice. It's Ahmazing! It's one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Everything on the menu is or will be delicious. Insider tips: Their pasta is homemade. They make their own mozzarella every day. They have the best lasagna I have ever eaten. I don't care if your mama is Italian. The lasagna will be better than hers. So based on my tips you can just order all of the above and be happy. Or, you can check out their daily specials too. My last visit included scallops, in a hatch chile sauce with lump crab frites. Oh and their risottos (they have a selection) are also delicious. To top it off, they have a great wine list and the perfect atmosphere for a date night or a small group of friends.
(5)Brian B.
Best Italian in Austin, hands down. I've been coming to Vespaio for several years now and have had outstanding food and service 99% of my visits. I'm not a huge fan of the ambiance in the main restaurant area, so unless I have a party of more than 2, I always choose to grab a table or chairs in the bar area. If you are lucky enough to get the front "rock star" table, consider yourself privileged (other than in the summer when the A/C vent drips on you again and again). Incredible bartenders who are extremely knowledgeable about the various wines that are available and can also make some really good classic cocktails (try Tom's Sidecar - my favorite ever). I almost always start off with something from the antipasti fridge up front and an order of their excellent carpaccio. After apps, I typically get something from the daily specials menu. which never disappoints. They also have many extremely good items on the regular menu, including the carbonara, the lasagna, linguine, the hanger steak and the prosciutto wrapped shrimp. Fresh pasta with fresh ingredients - even a garden out back. The bar area is a really good spot for both nationally known and Austin celebrities, especially during SXSW and ACL. If you are coming to Austin and have a corporate card or high dining budget, you must visit Vespaio and Uchi (see my other review). Fantastic locally owned experiences. Vespaio also is located in the very trendy South Congress area, with tons of shops, some bars, and additional restaurants all in a 4-5 block area. Try "First Thursday", on the first Thursday of each month (duh), where businesses stay open later than normal and thongs of people line the streets. Be prepared to wait for a table at Vespaio (I think you can make a reservation for the main dining area), or look for spots at the bar...
(5)Mark P.
Best Italian restaurant in Austin! This place is expensive.
(5)Matt R.
Food was excellent. What impressed me the most about this restaurant is the hostess. My friend and I arrived smack in the middle of dinner rush hour and were told that we'd have a 45 minute wait. We glanced over into the bar area to look for available seating but since nothing was around we informed the hostess that we'd come back another time. We stepped outside and were discussing our dining options when a minute later the hostess joins us and asks us if we were interested in sitting in the bar area. After hearing our affirmative reply she led us back inside and let us swap places with a party that she was about to seat. We're not regulars, this is the first time we had ever entered Vespaio. A fine dining establishment that goes out of its way to welcome guests, instead of simply tolerating them, is a refreshing change.
(4)Jeff K.
If you see a curly-haired guy at Vespaio sitting solo in the bar area, eating an early-ish dinner while reading The New York Times, it's probably me. If I'm in the mood for fine dining, it's gonna be here or Uchi 99% of the time (whether alone or with others) -- and not just because they're roughly equidistant from my house. I have at one point or another sampled the entire menu, with the exception of foods I know I don't like, and I can't recall a single one that I didn't love. My sole complaint about the place -- and the reason I usually eat here early -- is the inevitable table-wait for any meal after 7pm ... unless it's a Monday night in the middle of a freak cold front or something. I have the same complaint with Uchi, but unfortunately Vespaio lacks Uchi's pleasant outdoor bar area to hang out while waiting for a table, and its bar seats get snatched up quickly. Still, the *reason* it's so crowded is because it's so good, so I still give it an unhesitant five stars.
(5)Lija H.
i so hate to give places only one star, but this one is well-deserved. we stayed at the four seasons in austin to celebrate our anniversary and called ahead to get suggestions from the concierge on where to eat. i requested a hip, fun yet romantic restaurant in austin. without hesitation, she recommended vespaio. we arrived on time at 8:30 (no resies but the 4S told us they could help us not have to wait as long) and were told that it would be about 30 minutes (our name was actually on the top of the list, as the concierge had promised). we happily went to the bar and ordered a few glasses of wine. first bad moment, both my husband and i were underwhelmed by our wine choices, and we're not too picky about the vino. after about 30 minutes we grabbed a table at the bar (still waiting for our table in the dining room) and a waiter came by. i let him know that i wasn't loving my wine and ordered another (after leaving 3/4 of the glass). another 45 minutes later we were finally seated in the restaurant. no apologies, and no one ever came to tell us that things were running late... we'd waited 1:15 minutes for a table. we were literally the last people seated that night. i am certain people came in after us but we were completely forgotten. our service was lackluster. they brought my entree before bringing my first course but brought my husband's first course alone. at the end of the night, instead of apologizing, they brought us free sorbet but we were already stuffed and had asked for the bill 15 minutes prior. all in all, a bad experience. decent food but completely overshadowed by poor service. we loved austin but will never go back to vespaio.
(1)Tristan C.
This review is not so much in regards to the food, Vespaio is one of my favorite Italian restaurants around. This review is however about the poor service and cocky manager who I unfortunately had to deal with. A few Friday's back myself and 5 friends decided on Vespaio as for a fun night including drinks (as we knew there would be a long wait) and a good meal. Just to double check before arriving I called Vespaio just to make sure they don't have a waiting list which I discovered they do not. my friends and I arrived to Vespaio and put our name on a list and were told the wait could be up to two hours, but they would do their best to seat us quickly. We all head to the crowded bar to begin our wait. About an hour and a half into our wait a "celebrity" from Friday Night Lights walks in with her two friends. They also Begin their wait at the bar along side my friends and I. A few minutes later one of the girls in my party went to check with the hostess on when we may be seated. She pointed to a table in the corner of the bar and told her as soon as the people sitting there are done, that table is ours. About fifteen minutes later the patrons from that party get up and leave. The staff quickly put a reserved sign on the table. The hostess walks into the bar area and and approaches the "celebrity" and sit her and her two friends at the table for six with only three people that was promised to my party. After seeing this happen we all begin to get upset. I ask to speak to the manager, Daniel and never once get a formal apology although I was told if I ran a business I would have done the same thing... I actually run two businesses her in Austin, and would never talk to someone the way he talked to me, or treat patrons who had been patiently been waiting as second class because a pseudo celebrity entered my business. He does say he will send a bottle of champagne over to the table for the "misunderstanding", which was far from a misunderstanding as he admitted he purposely sat the celebrity and her party first after only being there for thirty minutes tops. After we try to get over the obvious snub we had just been subjected to the bill comes and low and behold the first item on receipt a bottle of champagne. Needless to say I spoke with Daniel again and once again received no apology, simply a "oh I'll take that off the receipt" and a nod. I pay for our nearly $300 dinner and leave Vespaio extremely upset and embarrassed that we would be treated so poorly at such a typically great restaurant. All in all this was the WORST restaurant experience I had ever had and the manager was one of the most unprofessional and unhelpful cocky people I have ever encountered. If service is at the top of your list, steer clear of Vespaio.
(2)James C.
Went to Vespaio for the first time last night. I had the Seafood Mixed Grill, my date had the Risotto of the Day (yesterday it was served with King Crab). Dang - this food was good. My plate had two perfectly cooked scallops on a bed of stick-to-your-thighs polenta (I would have swam in a bowl of that stuff!) ... second on my mixed grill was a delicious crab cake, and last was a fillet of some kind of fish. I forgot what kind because although perfectly seasoned, it was a bit overcooked and therefore tough. Maybe it sat under a heat lamp. My date's risotto was served in a sauce with marscapone, which I thought would be too rich and heavy for such a hot night. It was clean, not heavy and divine! The King Crab was perfectly cooked and buttery. Overall the dish was a bit soupy for me, but still exceptional. Kinda working backwards here, but my meal started with a salmon riatt (totally spelling that wrong) with egg crumbles and crispy capers. I'm vegetarian (other than seafood) and could tell the capers were crisped in pork fat (probably bacon). FYI to anyone else out there. This antipasti was amazing! My date began with a corn chowder with pieces of tempura King Crab. It tasted of ginger or mint. Really great soup though probably too hot for the summer. Our waitress was exceedingly polite, communicative and knowledgeable. I'd call her out, but haven't decided if it's weird to name people online yet. Overall, definitely 5 stars. My advice if you go is to not cheap out.
(5)Catherine Y.
Love the food there, plenty of variety of authentic Italian cuisine but the wait was LONG. They only allow reservation if it's before 6:30pm. We were there around 7pm but waited till 8+ to be seated. The service was good, the wine was good, and look at the food we ordered (I added a bunch of pics)!!! They are fresh and delicious.
(4)Ben B.
I have begun a mission, a mission to find the best cioppino in Austin. Based on my yelp research it looks like there are only a handful of places in Austin that serve cioppino. My rating is based on Cioppino alone. For my first attempt I'd narrowed it down to Vespaio or La Traviata. I went with Vespaio because it is one of their specials and not always on the menu, although I've heard it is a pretty regular special. Vespaio is a nice enough restaurant, the service was nothing to write home about, but it wasn't bad. Just cold and lacking any semblance of personality. Then again I came for one thing, cioppino. Truth be told, I wouldn't come back for their version. It was served piping hot, which was good. No crab, which was bad. The broth was okay, but very heavy on the tomatoes. It almost tasted like it hadn't cooked very long with the seafood. There were only two shrimp and they were tough and chewy. The bread was very dry and crunchy and even though the broth wasn't great, there wasn't a whole lot there in the shallow bowl to sop up with the bread. Lastly, it was the most expensive bowl of cioppino I've ever had ($32, I think) and probably the worst. Not a winning combo. Next Up: La Traviata, Shoreline, Truluck's
(2)Andrea R.
My lovely hosts, Mr. Kevin N and Ms. Allison P., took me here for brunch before I say good-bye to Austin and boarded a plane back to Chicago. Unfortunately, when we got there we realized that Vespaio only serves brunch on Sundays (not Saturdays). When we asked our very non-conventional waitress about this she told us all about other brunch spots in the area rather than trying to sell us on lunch. Despite our waitress encouraging us to leave we decided to stick it out and order from the regular menu, which wasn't a problem since there was lots to choose from! I ordered the mozzarella panini and while a bit greasy, messy, and cheesy (although what was I expecting since I did order a cheese panini?) it was quite good. But what really blew me away was the cherry Italian soda. I'm not an Italian soda drinker, but if all Italian soda is this good I may be including it in my diet from now on! So make sure you get one of their Italian sodas (& don't forget the cream) with whatever you order! Oh, and a side of fries too! I stole a few of Kevin N's fries that came with his steak meal and they sure were tasty!
(4)Amanda S.
Bad service (based on water being empty and us refilling it for the table twice and for our cocktails taking 25 minutes to arrive). Note that we arrived for dinner at 5 PM (on the dot) and it was pretty empty. Bad food (based on the greasy and inedible butternut squash ravioli and greasy bread). Bad pricing. Given the above, for a party of 4 (3 of whom had cocktails and one group appetizer), why was the bill $180? The food and service certainly didn't earn the price tag.
(1)Daniel B.
Vespaio is excellent, gourmet Italian food in a casual setting. It's true that sometimes that wait take a bit of the fun out it. I have tried some really good rustic Italian wines at the bar as a result, so it's not all bad. Going earlier in the week usually takes care of that problem. Either way, it's worth the wait for my favorite Italian food in Austin by a long shot. I love Homeslice, but I consider that more of a pizza place than an Italian restaurant. The ossobuco was particularly good. Dessert was not too memorable, but solid and delicious enough. The wines have been excellent meal companions and the staff has been very knowledgeable and ready to suggest pairings.
(4)Solomon W.
Vespaio does some pretty cool food, and it does it pretty well, but it lacks that certain "I-factor" that real Italian food needs. No, not intangibles, but it's the unexplainable satisfaction you get from true Italian cooking. I think the it lacks that oomph to make it not Americanized. Nonetheless, the place is busy, loud, and proud. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, service, and food. My friend and I had the mushrooms and polenta, the Toscana pizza, and the lasagna. Mushrooms and polenta: For $11, I want a bit more than a scoop of mushrooms and 3 strips of fried polenta. Overall, the polenta was flavorful and crispy, but it wasn't anything special. The mushrooms had a nice blue cheese sauce, but with 3 or 4 mushrooms, all I wanted was more mushrooms. Toscana pizza: Delicious combination of house-made sausage, spinach, and a mild blue cheese. The combination was perfect, but the dough near the middle was extremely soggy. The rest of the dough was tender and had the perfect crispness. Great pizza. Lasagna: Definitely the disappointment of the night. The house-made spinach dough was too thick and not tender. The tomato sauce was boring, and the house-made mozzarella was somewhat stiff. There wasn't much of the house-made sausage. A disappointing lasagna, in my opinion. Overall, a great dining experience that was sadly brought down by a few mishaps on minor food details. Do come and see what they have as the daily specials. They have an ever-changing specials menu with plenty of things to choose from.
(3)David R.
I'll write the review later!
(5)Shelley B.
My husband and I went here for our anniversary this year. We had not been to Vespaio in several years, but had always enjoyed it. We were really disappointed in both the service and food. It seems like alot of other Austin restaurants have caught up to Vespaio over the years (and are surpassing them). Vespaio was one of the first upscale Italian restaurants in Austin, but doesn't appear to have updated their menu since their opening. The food was good but nothing special. I figured they would have some new things on the menu, but it was the same items I remember from years past. The waitress was decent until she had a 8-top to serve and then they kept her attention. My husband ordered a glass of wine with appetizers and then sat with an empty wine glass through most of our entree before he was ever offered another glass. The wines by the glass selection was lousy (I couldn't drink b/c pregnant at the time) and was really expensive for what they were offering. Getting the check and paying the check also took way too much time. We skipped dessert and ate it at Wink instead, which has a much better (and more reasonable) wine list as well. Disappointing, especially considering we don't get the opportunity to eat out much anymore (3 yr old and now have an infant)
(2)G I.
Had a taste for Italian, not sure why. Great inside design, very comfortable and a GREAT GREAT GREAT wait staff. Ordered a Margarita Pizza but substituted Goat cheese for the mozzarella. First the hostess made sure it could be made and she came back with a quick answer. Seated promptly near the bar, great design inside, simple, understated but classy and comfortable. Drinks OK, wine a little pricey but the waiter was very good and describing it and not pushing price. Gave an unasked for sample to try. The pizza was WOW. Unbelievable thin crisp light crust, the goat cheese hit the spot. Was so good went back the next day for the same thing and got the same excellent service.
(5)Kerry B.
Enoteca/Vespaio is located on South Congress tucked between all the funky stores on South Congress. Enoteca does lunch/brunch I believe, and Vespaio is open for dinner. They do have a small parking lot and it's easy to find free parking on South Congress. I ordered the veal ravioli and my fiance ordered the snapper with orange butter and fennel stuffed with crabmeat it was good but not a lot of meat on the fish itself or a lot of crab inside. She said the orange butter was overwhelming and didn't seem to jive with the dish. My future mother in law ordered the Veal - she really enjoyed this. My future father in law ordered the Ciopinno - he said it was watery and not as thick as it should be like the good stuff from Fisherman's wharf. But there was a decent amount of seafood so it was a good value. It was my mother in law's birthday and we told them when we made the reservation,but they don't give free desserts here so don't expect one. We ordered the zeppolis and weren't too impressed. They were small and full of air, but the pistachio gelato that came with it was good. We also ordered the creme brulee and I've had better. We did get a chance to meet the owner and he was very nice. Our server was great as well. Overall, I think the prices here are pretty exorbitantly high. The food is good, but I have had better in Austin. I might come back to try Enoteca for lunch.
(3)Sarah S.
Exceptional service. The hanger steak and fries with cooked spinach and tomato is awful. The lasagna (3 meats) is always a five-star feast that gives leftovers a guarantee. The fish plates are also delicious. The zuppa was superbly flavored with fennel and the vegetables were perfectly cooked. They have a good selection of appetizers, and a complete beverage menu. Take your friends out for a nice dinner, but leave the children at home. This place is best suited for adults, the atmosphere is comfortable.
(4)A C.
Generally a favorite restaurant of mine in the past for Italian food and known to be rather difficult to be seated if you don't have reservations. However, luckily - reservations were had for New Years Eve. We arrived on time and were seated quickly and the service was pleasant and attentive. The menu was specifically made for the evening and our table ordered 3 different things along with a crab bisque. The crab bisque had great flavor but was lacking any crab bits or shrimp to give it a bit of texture. Some soggy mini croutons were strewn into the bisque that added bursts of buttery flavor. Our entrees were the Lasagna Alla Bolognase (which is on the regular menu and good as usual, a pasta dish with scallops (delicious albeit it seemingly a bit buttery after several bites) and some mezzaluna which were simply amazing. My dish was a special rissoto with caviar and lump crabmeat and frisee. I found the dish to be very salty - possibly due to the amount of caviar that was in the dish. The crab meat and frisee seemed to help cut the saltiness, but there wasn't enough to help with the entire dish. Interesting concept, but was not one of my favorite Vespaio dishes. We did have an odd part of the evening when the manager came to thank us for coming into the restaurant. It was nice, except for the awkwardness of the conversation since it was clear that the intent was to move us out so they could bring in the next guests. Understandable, but awkward for all.
(3)Hillary V.
To my surprise, Vespaio was the best, most consistent "fine dining" experience I've had in Austin. Tuesday evening we headed to Vespaio for dinner after checking out the bat cruise that leaves from the Hyatt (where the bartender pours fab. Mexican Martinis). Upon walking in I was a little freaked out by the Antipasti sitting in the window of the cooler- it was late at night, it had probably been sitting there all day, I was praying they didn't serve it to me- whatever, I have issues with stagnant food and water. I got over my fears as I absorbed the cozy atmosphere inside the dining room- the open kitchen with brick oven really puts me at ease... I'll get to the point. The salads we ordered were amazing- the tricolore and the miticanza- so, so good. The best thing that came to our table was the chestnut flour papardelle- I asked the waiter if it was made in-house, he said he didn't know and flashed a smile that acted like the Will Smith brainwashing device from MIB. My Cioppino was good, the mussels tasted fresh, the shrimp were plump and not overcooked, the foccacia was sinful. The linguine with clams was also delicious. We tried the Attems Sauv. Blanc and a Nobile, both were satisfactory and went well with our respective dishes. Confession: I hate eating at fine dining Italian joints because I think a lot of times they serve schwag garlicky food and people slop it up and rave, but Vespaio is different. The food has layers of flavor and isn't overly greasy, cheesy, and mushy. I would take anyone I know to Vespaio and order these dishes again... def. a much better and more consistent dining experience than Wink.
(5)Vivian W.
bleh, i had great expectations for this place after reading all the fantastic yelps down below. i'll make this one short for the readers: pricey, tasty but really, really heavy food. we ordered the vegetable grill, meat grill, 2 appetizers, and a seafood-like stew, and the scallops on top of some type of pasta. i don't know what it was, but half of the stuff we ordered was over-salted and loaded with oil/butter. if your body can handle the stick of butter and 5 tablespoons of salt that your about to put into your body, then go for it! the waitress was great, and the wine she suggested was awesome, but i felt like i needed an ambulance outside to wait for me as i finished my dinner in case of a mid-meal heart attack. i spent days detoxing afterward and probably sweat out cups of butter at the gym. the treadmill and i hated each other for the next few days after vespaio.
(3)G. L.
I stopped in for a quick bite and had the mozzarella here. It was great!
(4)Choosy C.
The food is good. But I have to say it's on par with good Italian restaurants not the kind that blows me away. Here's a tip and why I love this place. Eat at the bar--not in the dining room. The dining room feels to sterile and there's usually a long wait. There is a fabulous bartender, I think his name is Tom. He is the best bartender in town. Great cocktails, friendly and attentive. Don't even look at the menu. Have Tom put together an antipasto plate for you and recommend a wine or cocktail to go with. I totally trust him to simply prepare me a great meal! If you must look at the menu, the tuna tartar is out of this world!
(4)Tara M.
It has been over 2 years since I was a regular here - I have been here twice now in the past couple months and I am really happy with the new menu. Both visits I was dinning alone and sat at the bar and had amusing conversation with both the bartender and the other total strangers sitting next to me. I have not had any of the entrees here recently - the 5 star upgrade is for the appetizers and service. I highly recommend the prosciutto arugula insalat topped with sunny-side up eggs fontina cheese & truffle oil and the oysters baked in shell with spinach cream and cheese. The Insalats and Antipasti run 10.00 - 18.00 and the wine averages 8.00 per glass and as I recall the entrees average 25.00. If you have a big appetite and like to drink wine with your food this place could get expensive easily... I really hate dinning out alone if I am not sitting on a patio with my dog; so, this is my new favorite place to dine alone and the very cute young bartender wrote his number on my receipt and made my night! Not because I plan on calling him; but, because I am probably old enough to be his Momma:)
(5)Amber K.
Went here for a fancy date night with my husband this past Saturday. We got there around 6:30 and there was no wait (luckily people were watching the Longhorns). This is not the type of place you go to for a quick meal, it's the type of place that's intended for you to sit down and enjoy not only the food but the conversation of the person/people you are with. They take their time and don't rush your orders. We had bought tickets to a movie for after the meal that we ended up missing because of their "take your time" process but we didn't mind because our experience was so wonderful. The waiter had good suggestions, the ambiance was romantic yet still had some Austin flair and the food was fantastic, especially in a city that doesn't offer a lot of authentic Italian. We discussed the chances of us going again and we are very likely to hit it up again when we are looking for a special evening out. This would also be a great place to bring people who weren't from Austin.
(4)Marcos F.
Pleasantly surprised... will return no doubt. My wife had the veal and i had pork meatballs with pasta. The flavor was out of this world. Reasonable wine selection. Sorry we waited so long to try you.
(4)Monica P.
God bless America, I love this place. It's pricey, though, so be sure to save your nickels. I ate veal for the first time here (*guilt*), and as much as I wanted to dislike it, I just couldn't (*guilt*). I justified it in my head by reasoning that it was only a wee bit of veal (in a ravioli), but I suspect the poor calf chained to the wall would not approve (*guilt*). Every time I've been here, I've had a top-notch meal. I love that the menu changes, but they always seem to keep some polenta items on it (I love polenta). This is definitely a date place or parents-in-town place. Try it out; you'll love it. Warning: no reservations accepted here.
(5)Scottie J.
The fried risotto are "Oh my," good. We take our kids here but they love interesting food and are very well behaved. The space is small. If your kids need to move around, a kids menu, or will be loud this is not the place.
(4)Rebecca C.
This is the best restaurant I've been to in Austin. I'll be honest, I'm a food snob--and when it comes to Italian food, I'm an even bigger food snob, so I was more than a little apprehensive when my fiance took me here for my birthday. But boy was I blown away. We got there early, so there was no wait, and the wait staff was wonderful--unobtrusive, but always there as soon as I needed them. I ordered 2 appetizers instead of an entree (something I'd highly recommend) and got: - Polenta with Gorganzola-roasted mushrooms - delicious and perfectly seasoned. The polenta was sauteed (or fried?) so it was crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside - heavenly. - Butternut squash ravioli in a sage-brown butter sauce - my favorite dish, a perfect combination of sweetness and subtle flavors created a meal that I could see myself eating every day for the rest of my life. My fiance got Risotto Puttanesca, which he loved. To be honest, I wasn't as crazy about his this dish as I was mine, but I still appreciated the nice mix of flavors (olives, capers, and seafood) and the perfectly-cooked risotto. This is by far the best Italian restaurant I've been to this side of the Atlantic. Yes, the food is a bit expensive--entrees average $10-$15 more than what I generally pay when I eat out. But in my opinion I'd rather skip eating out a few times at a run-of-the-mill restaurant and use that money to go have a truly sensational culinary experience at Vespaio.
(5)Sandy P.
We had a wonderful dinner at Vespaio last night. The service was so, so good; we loved the pizza (not quite as good as we found in Rome, but pretty close) the seafood dishes were terrific. All in all a very enjoyable evening - well worth the drive (with traffic) from Northwest Austin!
(5)Kathryn D.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? Vespaio is an excellent dining experience down on South Congress where the wine flows freely and the food is wonderful. The last time I was there I had the lasagne alla bolognese, which I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who has no qualms with eating meat. The pasta was superb and the meats and cheese went together extremely well. I couldn't finish the portion even though I wanted to keep eating because it was so delicious. For a great meal at a pretty reasonable price in the ATX, Vespaio is one of your better options. Enoteca is an even more wallet friendly option and their Sunday brunch is great. The eggs, pancetta and carmelized potatoes make me want to make the drive down I-35 right now. If you're in Austin for a significant period of time, get yourself down to Vespaio and prepare to be swept off your feet by one of the city's better restaurants. You won't regret it :D
(5)Brian W.
Fabulous! Had the Mixed Seafood Grill. What a wonderful pairing of foods and flavors. Never wanted for anything. The wait staff was wonderful. For a more intimate atmosphere ask for the small windowed room in the back. We went early and there was no crowd.
(5)Sara K.
I absolutely adore the food here, but the less-than-stellar service put a dent in my experience. My fiance and I visited Vespaio for Valentine's Day a couple of years ago. I was SO excited because I had heard so many great things about the restaurant. While the food met my expectations, I had the cioppino - which was the best I've ever tasted, our server sucked (for lack of a better word). She rarely checked on us and got my order wrong initially. When I asked her what she had put in for my order, after she put down a steak knife when I had ordered a seafood soup, she got very defensive. When I politely told her that wasn't right she proceeded to tell me that I was wrong and walk off in a huff to change my order. Additionally, the room we were seated in was FREEZING. All of the couples around us were shivering and all of us eventually had to ask that the air be turned off - and no one received an apology. What was supposed to be a romantic dinner was tainted by the poor service.
(4)Jason L.
Wow. This place is unbelievably good. A little pricey, but well worth the cost. I had the osso bucco which was arguably the best I've ever had. I have no idea how the chef was able to get the meat so tender without negatively affecting the texture. It all but melted in my mouth while somehow preserving its meaty texture. Our server could not have been better - it honestly seemed as if the second I needed something, there he was - but never before and never later. His pairing suggestions were spot-on. Gambling on his familiarity with the menu, I asked him to order for me - glad I did. Probably the best service I've ever had in Austin.
(5)Pamela D.
One of the first fine dining, long awaited restaurants in South Austin. I have been coming back since the day they threw open the doors. Best pizza ever, the truffled, fried egg proscuitto pizza. Second favorite dish is the spinach lasagna with the bechamel and bolognese. sauce. Great ceasar salad. We like to sit over on the bar side. I find I like the atmosphere better and it is usually festive if not insanely crowded. Great Italian wines and the bartenders make great drinks. South Austin classic.
(5)Joob B.
Okay, this is embarrassing. We meant to go to Enotoca (sp) Vespaio. Also located at 1610 S Congress (have never been to either). So we sit down, look at the menu and realize we are at the wrong one. Hey we were at 1610 S Congress! Who knew there were two of the same address! (Really, I have a college degree - no excuse). Anywho, the food was great. The Linguine with Clam Sauce was perfect. I've had this dish many times. Even had it with shelled clams. But this sauce was spectacular. Nicely lit, tables a little crowded. Our server was top notch.
(4)vitter r.
Oh man I love this place. You must must try the risotto whatever risotto of the moment. You will not be disappointed if you listen to me! Hmmm....yep, I love everything about this place. The only thing I might not get is the steak w/fries...it basically a mound of fries. Service is superior here. Spot on. Great date place especially. Also a great place to be with family.
(5)Tee D.
Vespaio helped me discover three things I had never known before: 1. The French make good wine. 2. "Fur" coats freak me out. 3. I am allergic to mussels.
(3)Ben P.
I last went to Vespaio around a month ago. I was not impressed. It was a week night, but the place was very busy. I asked about a table and the hostess was dismissive at first. When I pushed, she surprised herself by finding a slot. Reservation recommended, or be prepared for a long wait. When I came back 15 minutes later, they had just seated someone else at my table. 10 more minutes and they had another table. The menu had some good selections, the wine list is varied and has some nice options. Prices are extraordinarily high for Austin and for what is really fairly standard italian food. The waiter rushed us at ordering time, coming by several times even though it was obvious we were still reviewing the menu. This is something I hate in a high end place. If you are paying at least $150 for dinner and drinks, then you should be able to have a table without feeling rushed. The food came, it was good but not great. My dish was warm rather than hot, had obviously been sitting under a hot light for a few minutes. Post dinner, again a rush to usher us out so another table could be seated. Overall, very dissappointing. I have had a much better time at their enoteca for much less money.
(2)bess g.
The service was very good, unfortunately the food was not.The carpaccio was covered with peppered capers that took away the flavor of the beef, the greens where tough, bitter and dry. The butternut squash pasta was thick, tough and swimming in brown butter. The pizza was soggy covered in cooked spinach and raw garlic that was so overpowering it made it inedible. Needless to say i left hungry and disappointed. I will not be back
(1)Austin S.
I really wanted to give this place a better rating but my heart wouldn't be in it. The only reason this place gets this rating from me is because the environment is cool. Lots of people, nice dining and bar area. It took a long time to get our food (approx 45 mins), but I can forgive that because they were slammed. The problem I have with this place is the salt content in their food, and I like salt. Even my salad of all things even was wayy too salty. I had the linguini with clams. The flavors were there, but it felt like I was eating almost pure salt. So much so that my mouth kind of burned. Until the chef addresses this problem I will not be going back. Again, I like salt, but this would have been a million times better if it had a quarter of the salt content. Gross. On a positive note, the pasta was cooked perfectly, and their dough was good. Like I already said, the flavors are there just way too much salt! Come on guys!!! Fix this and you will have a great place.
(2)Ted R.
Great but expensive. $28 entres grilled prosciutto-wrapped jumbo gulf prawns was to die for $233 for the 5 of us (w 1 bottle of wine) and 1 dessert
(5)Grover S.
I got what I should have expected. My wife and I went for our anniversary and I would say the overall experience was fine. The food was solid, but not excellent. However, the pricing, even though I expected it, seemed way out of line for the dishes themselves. The service was good, but not great. The server didn't really add anything to the experience and he was not helpful at all with the wine list. However, he was very attentive and that is always much appreciated. The wines are marked waaaay up. I love wine and don't mind splurging but was definitely disappointed with the list and markup. It was loud....but once again, I knew that going in so I'm not docking stars because of it. It's a small, busy place after all. Overall, it was a good enough experience but not one that will have me coming back anytime soon. However, I'd still recommend it to someone looking for good Italian.
(3)Kevin N.
Had my first Vespaio experience in many moons and that alone seems reason enough to share the love on this place. We happened over on a special occasion -- in this case a friend's birthday celebration -- and settled in for a casual if protracted evening of fine dining. Say what you will about the crowded nature of this place (and they do draw), the layout of the room in my estimation seemed to dampen the high notes of the room, leaving casual conversation muted, not shrill, comfortable, not invasive. Our server was regular as rain, and given that we were in for a special occasion, necessary: none of us were without a cocktail or a selection from the ample wine list or, for that matter, a cold Moretti throughout. In the end I made after a plate of creamed asparagus with pasta and baked chicken, and it was just about right. Not too filling, with tastes just rich enough to appreciate the palate. I was a little non-plussed by the fact that our party of five was charged an automatic gratuity (isn't that usually something reserved for six or more? Did I miss the meeting?), and the adjective used here on the price range is about right. It can get spendy if you're not watching your pennies. But in the end, I can't claim that this meal wasn't memorable. Something about good food, good company, and amenable atmosphere ensure that most might see things much the same way.
(4)Cameron M.
Vespaio earns three stars for food and waitstaff. I arrived at the restaurant with three others and I was told the wait would be fifteen minutes. With my name on the list I waited and waited, and was determined to try the food. Finally, after two hours my party of four was seated. Three times, with a very polite demeanor, I returned to the host to try and find out when my party would be seated. Each time my table was pushed back. As for the food, each person in the party ordered a different item from the menu, from pasta and pizze. We had also ordered antipastt, specifically calamari, carpaccio, funghi, tartare di tonno. The food was fantastic. The complexity of flavors could not have been more accurately produced, as they were equally delicious. The main dish proteins were perfectly cooked and seasoned and could not have complimented the waiter's wine suggestion any better. I could go on-and-on, but you should go on and give Vespaio a try. Some complain about the price, but my money was well-spent. I will go back, but maybe less often if the host inaccuracy occurs again.
(3)A J.
Vespaio was recommended to me as *the* place to go for fresh and inventive Italian cuisine by some friends when I passed through Austin with my daughter. My experience was nothing short of the finest meal I managed to eat in Austin (and there were no shortage of excellent restaurants during the other days I spent here). For starters, the manager Daniel was incredibly friendly - I have a feeling he treats every new customer like family, because he's quickly able to make you feel welcome, at home and, well, like family. The antipasti were light and perfect to start the palette. My favorite was the fingerling potatoes with a pickle and pickled onion dijon vinagrette prep. Cold served mushrooms were also excellent. They make a hummous-like spread for their fresh baked bread (either Navy or Fava bean and garlic/olive oil with fresh herbs) that's unreal. I suppose anyone that's eaten there knows there's a garden in their back yard, and I'm pretty sure that at least some of the salad ingredients and herbs come right out of the ground the day you'll eat them. For entrees I had the Panko crusted oak fired "sashimi grade" tuna (ahi). I live in Hawaii, so I know a thing or two about sashimi grade tuna. This was the real deal. So much so, that I asked Daniel where they bought their fish - no surprise, from Honolulu fish company (delivered the day after line caught from Oahu). This is the same company that supplies the pacific-fusion restaurant Roy's (among others I'd guess) with all their incredible fresh fish in the islands. The fish and the prep were as good as anything I've ever eaten. Props on the perfectly ripe avocado and arugula cucumber salad to compliment the seared ahi as well. My daughter had a butternut squash ravioli spiced with sage and some sort of savory sauce (walnut or pecan based from the looks). The sweetness of the squash and savory flavor of the sauce were a perfect compliment. Being younger and with a little less adventurous palette, she was looking for "cheese ravioli" - so to see her light up on first bite was a relief, and by that point in the meal, no surprise. Bottom line is this: if you live in or are visiting Austin, you need to GO TO THIS RESTAURANT. Every now and then someone gets the right idea about combining foods and keeping things fresh, fairly simple and priced reasonably. Then they package it in a welcoming and well designed environment. Vespaio gets top marks on every aspect for my one visit. They were packed on a Sunday night, so I'm also guessing their regular customers feel the same way. I know I'll be back as soon as I can.
(5)Austin T.
FIVE star Italian Bistro Lunch and Dinner Cafe We can taste the quality and care in every bite,everytime we're there and served by real waitstaff. A must go to place when in Austin and after dinner walk around and enjoy the street activities of Congress Ave. After your walk,go back to Vespaio and joy a second desert "we did".
(5)Holly O.
This place is CLASSY. Not for the faint of heart...or broke. I love the bar, which you can eat dinner at. They have a fabulous selection of wine and beers. The service is top notch. The wait for a table can be extensive as they do not take reservations on the weekend but, they are packed and you will find out why. All the food is so well put together. They serve bread with a hummus like dip instead of butter. They have some great options like veal, seafood and fish. Everything is very rich but, suprisingly not so heavy. I am not a fan of pasta and have been able to successfully avoid it and still pig out here. It's a must try place in Austin.
(4)Crystal C.
After living seven years in Austin, I though it was high time that I try one of Austin's most revered restaurants. I've heard "Austin's best Italian" or "phenomenal service and quality of food" attributed to this place, and I thought if I wanted to blow my budget on a great experience, I should try Vespaio. Two friends and I arrived at 6:00 PM this past Friday. There was no wait for a table, except the maitre'd was not present and we had to wait a few moments for her to seat us. The person waiting on us was Annie. She didn't introduce herself, I had to gather her name from the receipt. We were waiting quite a while to have our orders taken, and we weren't asked if had any questions about the menu. After about 10 minutes of waiting, our fresh bread arrived accompanied by a extremely cold and unspreadable cannelloni bean paste that I don't have an acquired taste for. Call me uncouth, but an olive oil dip would have been sufficient. I have no problem spending a good dollar on food, but when we tried to order their small plate appetizers, Annie was not helpful with explaining to us how they work. It was discouraging and frustrating, actually, and we ended up not choosing any appetizer at all. I ordered a caesar salad with dressing that seemed more healthy than flavorful. The parmesan that topped the salad was young and didn't have much flavor to it. I prefer more more aged, sharper cheese. I do give them kudos though on using real anchovies for the salad. I ordered a spaghetti plate, and I was not impressed. The pasta was fresh, but rather chewy. The portion wasn't all that significant, and I was left with much more to be desired. I would have expected more from a place that charges as much as it does. I also was unimpressed by their wine list. I'll go ahead and say that I'm an epicurean snob. I'm not a high roller, but I do think I have a good idea of what a good kitchen and wait staff should consist of. Vespaio missed the mark on both of these. I've received far better service and quality of food at less expensive places like Andiamo. I didn't appreciate the service we received. Perhaps it was b/c we weren't part of the geriatric Luby's crowd that was there at 6 PM, nor did we represent the South Congress hipster posers (where fugly bohemian chic seems to be the new black) that littered the bar area. Regardless, we did NOT feel welcome and Annie seemed to care less whether we were there or not. I was extremely compelled to not leave a tip. Tacky? Yes. But so was the apathetic attitude of the restaurant. Oh, and a popular Austin restaurant that does not take reservations? I'm removing a star. You've got some balls for thinking that you can run a restaurant like a club.
(1)Abby W.
Enjoyed a meal here our first night in Austin with some friends. Had the Insalata Tricolore: Radicchio, Belgian endive & baby arugula dressed with balsamic vinegar, lightly dressed with extra virgin olive oil & shaved parmigiano reggiano and Cioppino as my main both were delish. Didn't have room for dessert. Didn't have a reservation (everyone was maybe beat from the previous weeks sxsw festivities) but got right in w/a table for 4. We had a leisurely meal and enjoyed it all. One friend got the risotto of the evening, another got lobster ravioli with marscapone cheese and the other got a delicious lamb soup (basically stew) and salad. Server was clearly a foodie and enjoyed her job...liked to talk but was entertaining and relevant. Would recommend. A bit on the pricey side, especially for Austin, but a nice once in a while treat.
(4)C W.
Sardonic author Fran Lebowitz compared finding a cab in Texas to calling a Rabbi in Iraq...she should try tracking down decent Italian food in the Southwest. Sure there are lousy Italian joints all over; Texas just does them bigger and brighter with less imagination and more parking. It was with statistical improbability that I discovered fantastic Italian at Vespaio Ristorante in Austin. Vespaio, loosely translated means hornet's nest and the dining atmosphere is often times every bit the imbroglio its moniker suggests. Although the signage is modest, the lines and wait to dine are rarely so quaint. The smallish space is tucked within skipping distance to the San Jose Hotel and the always engaging Continental Club which, consequently, feeds the dining room diversity. On a recent evening I sat close enough to clink Campari with Harry Shearer and Charlie Sexton. Any visit should include an order of the Pansoti Di Zucca. This impressive dish perfectly contrasts the light with the robust by featuring pressed, half moon shaped pasta filled with butternut squash and amaretti. The perfectly proportioned pasta floats in a sage brown butter accompanied with toasted walnuts, crispy sage and biting parmigiano reggiano. The wine list is accessible (read modestly priced) without condescending and the service efficient without becoming brusque. Simply put, Vespaio is an essential eating experience in Austin.
(5)Maggie L.
Had a great dinner @ Vespaio. . . I only wish I was with a bigger party sot that I could have enjoyed more of their dishes! I ordered the tuna tartare -- generous and very satisfying. Also the mushrooms with gorgonzola and polenta. . . VERY rich. A good appitizer to split at a table b/c I really only enjoyed a few bites b/c of the richness of the cheese. (but that's just me) When my glass was empty the man behind the bar filled it up again for me just to keep me happy . . . and comfortable since it was my one night solo during my week in Austin. I felt @ home and even though it was PACKED on this Friday night, the staff was attentive and working hard to keep everyone happy. Very good energy there -- workers and patrons alike. Highly recommended for that neighborhood restaurant with downtown sophistication.
(4)Connor S.
Every time I'm in ATX we leave time to dine at Vespaio, which in my opinion, has some of the best Italian food in the country. The staff can be a little rushed, but that really is no big deal to me. I come in for the food. The chef's have a garden to the side of the restaurant for various herbs and veggies, and from conversations with the wait staff am told they also get most of their meats locally. Where else in town do the chefs go to Houston so they can get their seafood fresh from the docks?!? The risotto is made to order, another feat rarely tried in commercial kitchens, and the house-cured meats would make Mario Batali jump out of his Croc's. To me, the price is more then fair for the high level of cuisine, and the fact that they don't take reservations only adds to the fun (also try a well placed $20 to the host if you don't like the wait).
(5)Amit K.
So, I guess there isn't too much Italian choices in Downtown Austin, but this is one. It's a bit over-priced for Austin type foodies, but the food is adequate. I had the pizza and it was a bit too oily and greasy for my taste. The wine list is a bit short in selection. Service is good and laid back atmosphere which we are all used to in Austin. A great location, and a good place to dine on first thursdays when the streets are closed off. Go in, put your name on the list and walk around the shops and street vendors until your table is ready. It seems like a good date place, but be prepared to wait. I prefer the Tex-Mex down the street, but still a decent change of pace if you crave some upscale Italian food in the heart of the city.
(3)Lucy R.
My favorite neighborhood bar... Tom makes the best Cosmo in town, light pink and super cold....Carrie Bradshaw would be proud. My boyfriend and I try to eat there at least once a month and wish we could go more often. Our friends consider us foodies and I have acquired a taste for great wine and Vespaio has never disappointed...if you can find a better pasta than their handkerchief pasta with pesto, then you've accomplished something that we haven't after dining at virtually every Italian restaurant in town. Good Luck! Our "go to" dinner items are Beef Carpaccio, Caesar salad and the handkerchief pasta with pesto and a side of their homemade sausage. I start with a cosmo and finish with a bottle of Zenato Ripassa. And can you beat the aroma of a restaurant with a "wood" fired oven? Salute!
(5)Byron L.
The food was great. The service was wonderful and fast. The server was knowledgeable on the food and had awesome suggestions.
(5)Lori H.
We drive from San Antonio for Lasagna - and we own an italian restaurant : ) Does that say enough! Wonderful getaway for the evening!
(5)Janet S.
Arriving at the late end of lunch, place was almost packed. We were tourists in Austin and The SoCo area was not working well for us, we were getting hungry. Inside has a very euro feel, bistro tables, tile on the wall, dark wood, bustling atmosphere, aromas wafting. I ordered Pizza, Proscuitto,,Fontina, Arugula and a truffled egg, thin and tasty, though salty I'm no pizza critic but I think I know now what the pizza buffs are twittering on about. Pablo had the calamari served in a cone with a scoop of arrabbiata on the side. Delish. Today we drank mineral water with it but others had romantic bottles of wine with their lunch. Service was OK, no more no less than it needed to be, I was indulged with my request for capers.
(3)B N.
Where food in Austin is concerned, absolutely divine, fresh and straight from heaven. Loud place, so ask for the side room if possible. Amazing deserts and wine. Ooooh I will be back!
(5)Allison P.
I really had a terrific evening with friends at Vespaio over the weekend. I was really impressed with the hostesses here. They went above and beyond to accommodate our little surprise party, meaning they had to seat an incomplete party, which I believe, goes against their rules. Luckily, everything was timed just right, and they set it up for a really nice experience. (There were 4 Yelpers at this dinner, so I bet you've heard this story before) Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, and with her help, I decided on the veal ravioli. I can't even describe all the flavors in that dish. It went together so perfectly and my wine glass was never empty. And we finished off the meal, with a birthday chocolate and espresso mousse. TO DIE FOR! A slight faux pas at the end when the waitress took our signed bill while we were still sitting at the table finishing our drinks (one of my pet peeves), but not bad enough to prevent me from wanting to go back here ASAP!
(4)Hannah W.
I have lived in Austin almost 4 years now and had been very sad to not find any good Italian restaurants until a friend told me to try Vespaio. Then the fabulous owner, Scott Bolin, came into where I work to buy glasses and left me his card. I knew the time had finally come to try it. (This was about a year and a half ago already -pre Yelp) The vibe was really mellow and romantic. My hubby and I were celebrating our anniversary and it was perfect. Scott was there and came right over to welcome us and chat for a bit and I watched him talk to many other customers as well. The Peroni an tap was delicious and I had a couple glasses of fabulous wine. I can't remember what appetizer we had but I remember it being delicious. Damon got linguine and clams for dinner and that's one of his favorite dishes. Theirs was definitely one of the best he'd had. I got a vegetarian pasta dish with caramelized eggplant. It was SOOOOO good. I took my leftovers to work the next day and made everyone try it. They were all drooling over it like I was. Just a note of fabulousness- they have their own garden in the back where they grow all their fresh herbs, tomatoes and greens, they bake their own bread, hand-make their pastas, and for the meat-lovers out there, they actually butcher all their own meat to ensure you're getting the best possible cuts. The desserts are all scrumptious. I am a huge fan. I love this place. I've been back several times since then and I've never been let down!
(5)Eve K.
Excellent upscale Italian fare without the ego. Cost to worth it ratio: 3 stars Highlights: - Mozzarella appetizer: biggest hunk of fresh mozzarella I've seen served in a restaurant with pesto drizzled on top. - Bread: soft and grilled sized in long triangular tips - Bistecca: cooked perfectly and very tasty with its jus. Salty potato fritte a hit as well. - Beef carpaccio: very tender and fresh superthin slices of beef. Not an inkling of toughness--all melt in the mouth action. My friend LOVED it and I thought she channeled Meg Ryan from "When Harry Met Sally" for a moment, but for me the horseradish was a bit overpowering. - Wine: unfortunately I have no idea what we ordered but it was a fantastic big Italian red. So fantastic we had to get another bottle. All I remember is my friend asked for "dirt, earthy," I was a bit scared of what we'd get, and our waitress brought us a delightful bottle of wine. - Atmosphere: pleasant and classic; nice without an attitude - Location: outside of the main can be crowded downtown area, across the street from the cupcake trailor. Note to self: I have to hit random spot on my next visit or miss bay area cupcake will kill me! Lowlights (my flip side to highlights): - Pasta: what was ordered was surprisingly forgettable. So forgettable that I actually don't even remember which one we ordered but the actual pasta was too tough for me and the flavor was just ok. Overall great food and nice dining experience. There are a lot of places I need to try in Austin, but after having more under my belt, I'd come back here.
(4)Heather L M.
Initially I guffawed at the idea of going to an Italian restaurant in Texas. I'm an Italian American from New Jersey! There is NO WAY the food could live up to my lofty expectations. But Vespaio does and then some. I've been saving my 200th for a place worthy and deserving of such a milestone, and Vespaio is certainly the one. What makes the food so amazing is that it's simple and fresh with the finest ingredients. The carpaccio nostra moda is melt-in-your mouth delicious; the prosciutto, arugula and fontina cheese pizza (with sunnyside up eggs!) is drool worthy as is the pansoti di zucca, a pasta filled with butternut squash and amaretti in sage brown butter with toasted walnuts, crispy sage and parmigiano reggiano. We also tried the risotto of the day on our last visit which featured king crab and a lemon sauce that was worth every calorie. But the excellent food isn't where the awesomeness ends. The service is top notch too. Chris behind the bar is amazing. I pointed out to my boyfriend a wine on the list, wondering if I should try that one and look up to see a taste sitting before me. I was so stunned by the service; I was barely able to thank Chris. Jen and Jose are amazing as well. Though a tad on the pricey side, it's worth every penny. Fortunately I don't live nearby because I would drop some serious coin at Vespaio on a regular basis. But it is now on my "must visit" list for each trip to Austin.
(5)Justin H.
Eh, it's ok. I'm from the northeast so am a bit spoiled with Italian cuisine, but this ain't nuttin' special. If you've given 5 stars, you need to get outside of Texas and try some 5-star stuff. Philly, NY, Boston, etc.
(2)Charlene C.
Like. I started with the Insalata Spinaci, and it was okay. They could have put a few more candied walnuts, there weren't a lot of them. THEN, I had the Cozzee Alla Pospillipo (aka mussels). The white wine sauce was great...as in not too salty. I often feel like mussel broth/sauce can be high on the sodium side. The second best part of the this dish...the garlic rubbed brushetta. I usually feel like the bread is just something they throw toasted out there so you can soak up your bread, but this bread was delish. (and they gave me enough to slop it all up). Atmosphere is fun. The kitchen was also VERY accommodating. i was with a guest who doesn't eat anything that has flavor...literally can't handle anything fancy, and the kitchen made him a dish to his taste/liking instead of acting like they are too good to make their customers happy. That I think was very impressive.
(4)Katherine T.
Vespaio is the best restraunt in Austin. We are regulars and bring everyone we know there.... I have yet to be dissapionted by anything on the menu but have been wowed more often than not.
(5)Sis G.
Each time we have dined here, I have been thoroughly impressed! The service is top notch, not sure many restaurants can compete. Amazing wine list with great italian wines. Large menu with a variety of options. Great spot for a date night! You won't regret it :)
(5)Ba L.
Vespaio is a warm and inviting Italian restaurant located in the hustle and bustle of South Congress. I had heard great reviews of the food so I had no choice but to check it out. I sampled two dishes - the Raviloini Di Vitella (Raviolini filled with veal & pecorino romano in grappa tomato butter with ricotta salata, basil oil & basil fritte) and Bistecca Tagliatta Con Patate Fritte (Oak fire grilled Niman Ranch hanger steak with a veal ridurre with patate fritte, sautéed baby spinach & a parmesan roasted tomato). The ravioli was some of the best I have ever had. The texture of the pasta and the filling was perfectly balanced. The sauce made with grappa tomato butter and basil oil was fantastic. I licked the plate. Can I have that sauce in a soup bowl? It's mostly butter you say? Awesome. Can't go wrong with butter soup. The hanger steak had a smokey flavor, and eating the fries brought me joy. The tomato was perfectly roasted with a crispy and bubbly layer of cheese. I'll be back for more.
(5)Leslie A.
We relocated to Austin in October of 2010. After dining in what feels like every restaurant in this city, we finally found one EXCELLENT enough to not only yelp about but also visit again and again! If you have not been to Vespaio, don't walk, RUN as quickly as possible to enjoy one of the best meals of your life! We had an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert and all courses were beyond fabulous! We paired our meal with a fabulous glass of red Italian wine and that was the icing on one of the best evenings we've had thus far in Austin. Lastly, when you dine at Vespaio, make certain you ask to be served by Susan...she has been with the restaurant for overy 10 years and makes your experience more like an evening with family not just a night out on the town!
(5)brian g.
Good food, our waitress was wonderful. The bartenders at this place crack the service whip and are awesome. My issue has to do with the hostess who had a huge attitude and asked us to wait at the bar until our party arrived and then said we would be seated. Well, they arrived and she said it would take 20 minutes. I don't mind having to wait, thats part of the business, but I could do without the attitude she had. I think that Home Slice has better pizza and its a fraction of the price. Dont get me wrong, the pizza here is awesome, but I dont think its worth the price. The Caesar salad was tremendous. I lived in New York for a while and compared to the italian up there, this place is around 3 stars. Its good for Austin, but compared to New York its nothing special. Similar, when I was up in NY the Mexican food was terrible compared to Austin, so I dont think its an unfair comparison. Ill try Vespaio again.
(3)Tee C.
Wow... I feel a little like a Debbie Downer lately, but it's been a tough weekend for food & I was expecting more from Vespaio. I had the halibut cheeks that had been sadly cooked to death in the wood-fired oven...still tasty, but a total waste of a fine piece of fish. The man had veal-stuffed ravioli that was ok, but the meat was dry, the pasta was chewy, and the sauce was blah. I would have apologized if i served it in my kitchen. And what is up with the polenta spread served with the bread?? Polenta is like a pasta... Its NOT a yummy spread on bread...it's just not. I have tried time and time again to love this place but...nothing. I'm sorry Vespaio, I'm just not that into you.
(3)Sarah M.
This probably negates or elevates my review for you, but I don't normally feel very comfortable in restaurants of this price range or above. I always feel like everyone around me knows about wine and can speak perfect Italian. And this restaurant isn't even that expensive--I think I'd probably die of shame if I ever even came near Joel Rubuchon. But Vespaio does a good job, I think, of elevating their food a bit while keeping the atmosphere really casual and upbeat. It's lively without being too noisy, dressier than the trailer park across the street without being stuffy. Most older dudes did the khaki/polo thing and I felt fine in a sundress. The service I experienced was attentive and friendly without being overpowering or too color-by-numbers; our server was more interested in hearing our thoughts on the food and emphasizing its strengths than dribbling platitudes about "checking if everything's OK!" And the food had a lot of strengths. Everything I ate seemed perfect in portion, ingredient quality and temperature. The spinach salad was probably one of the best salads I've ever had--really fresh greens, a bizarrely cute little coil of bacon, and candied nuts that balanced out the saltiness without getting too over the top. The only slightly off note was the sticky little pile of gorgonzola on one side of the plate; it may be my fault for being unfamiliar with this incarnation of the cheese, but it felt a little strange to have to sort of spread it onto the greens because it was too viscous to really mix with the rest of the salad. I chose the seafood mixed grill for an entree and was really happy with the choice--turbot (?), a crab cake over arugula, and bacon-wrapped prawns over a polenta that made me weep with joy. Not culinary rocket science, but everything was delicious and well-prepared. Dessert was kind of an afterthought, and maybe we chose wrong in selecting the creme brulee at an Italian restaurant. In any case, the pastry on the fig crostata was pretty dry, and the elements of the plate (the custard, the crostata, a sorbetto) didn't work well together for me. That makes me sound like a Top Chef judge, but it's true. Vespaio probably doesn't serve the most exciting kind of food, but it's very well-crafted and good enough that it surprised me. I agree with some of the other reviews on the slightly high prices, but I think that the quality of food is probably worth it. Michael Cera and Jason Schwartzman were eating there, too, so they probably agree.
(4)Diana B.
I had dinner last night, wonderful! The service, the food, and atmosphere was great! Save room for honey vanilla brûlée yummo!
(5)S P.
I am giving Vespaio 5 stars b/c it is as good as it gets in Austin. Coming from the northeast where real Italian is actually real Italian and not just gravy on pasta... Vespaio is by far the closest thing to it here in Austin. The Beef Carpaccio... stunning... with crispy capers (i could eat a plate of just those little crunchy morsels!). The Caesar was great as well. And our main dishes were rich and subtle and inspired. . . ah. This is def a place I will be returning to. Next time to try the pizza though b/c I hear it is amazing. The Atmosphere was very relaxing and though the restaurant was full there was a slight calmness and tranquility to it all. Service was good, though a tad slow at times but we were always attended to. They were busy, it was expected and I can wait when the reward was that amazing.
(5)James N.
First rate everything. Unique and immaculate.
(5)Victor T.
This was the best Italian meal I have had in Austin thus far. We started off with the carpaccio nostra moda, and it was an insanely generous portion of Wagyu beef topped off with parmigiano reggiano abd extra virgin olive oil. I did shove the capers to the side, but my girlfriend didn't mind them one bit. For the main course I had the linguine con vongole and she had the scaloppine di vitello with marsala mushroom. The pasta was perfectly al dente on my dish. The littleneck clams were small, but the shallots and garlic really made the dish. My gf's entree was the winning selection for the evening. The veal was the right texture and the marsala-mushroom-tomato sauce had a wicked spicy kick at the end. I'll be coming back here as often as possible.
(5)Betty B.
I love this place. The lasagna is amazing. Whenever my father flies in to meet me, this is the only place he'll go to eat. I try to show him other great restaurants around town but he always has the same response: "But I haven't had everything on the menu at Vespaio yet." I reply, "But you always get the same thing!" ha! great place. great for first dates.
(5)D J.
Ive been to Vespaio about three or four times by now. I have to say their bar and bartenders are top notch. I find it a casual place to sit and have a drink while waiting to be seated or the rest of the party to show up. On the food side of things, Ive always enjoyed their muscles (no not the beefy waiters) as an appetizer. A majority of their fare is quite good - I usually aim for the fish, when given a choice. Overall, its a great place to go for a date night or when you're rolling the expense report. The price of a dinner + wine/drinks can usually get a little high at times.
(4)Nick R.
Awesome!! We had the risotto daily special (lobster) and the carne mixed grill. Both were amazing. Service was great and attentive. Will definitely be back again
(4)P F.
Fantastic food great service and consistently delivers.
(4)Tim M.
For the south, this is very good. Love the lasagna, and the crowd is what makes Austin special.
(4)Caleb J.
The food was amazing! The interior is a bit tight. With 2 people you can expect to pay around $140 with an appetizer, main course, desert and a bottle of wine. VITELLO SALTIMBOCCA - Very flavorful! only downside is you need some kind of starch with the meal. I wonder why they don't work in some amazing side to complete the dish. (I ordered noodles with oil, it didn't seam like a good match.) Strawberry Napoleon - Excellent! This was so tasty we almost ordered another one.
(4)Christine W.
Have eaten at Vespaio several times now while visiting Austin and it is consistently inspiring with amazing flavors, outstanding service and attention to details yet relaxed and can accommodate gluten-free with best restaurant pasta option tried to date.
(5)Rachel G.
what a shame. really. i had extremely high hopes for this place. i've actually been wanting to eat here for about 8 years. that's right. 8 years. i've always heard how amazing it is...the food, the atmosphere, the wine, the service...all, i was told many times, were the best in town. well, about two months ago, i was having a crap day on south congress. not to lay blame on the street...it was just that kind of day. we decided to stop in vespaio to sit at the bar and have a glass of wine. i ordered their most expensive glass of wine and it was exactly what i needed. our bartender was very knowledgeable, very professional, personable, and probably one of the few bartenders i wanted to come back and visit with while having a glass of wine. he was tops and we saw him there last night. maybe we should have asked to sit at the bar? we got a table for our first dining experience at vespaio. it was a cute corner table, the lighting was romantic, our waiter was courteous, and we felt welcome. good start. the bean spread they bring out is a nice treat and our waiter was super cool, letting me know it was vegan, since i had already expressed i was allergic to dairy. looking over the menu, i was a bit worried i wouldn't be able to eat anything with my limited diet. so. much. cheese... no worries though, there was a veggie plate on special that looked delish. we ordered a calamari appetizer and split both that and the veggie plate. the calamari is one of the best in town. not overcooked and served with a marinara sauce, my favourite way to eat calamari. the veggie plate, well, the vegetables looked amazing...the potatoes were good, the tomato was good, the seasoning on the broccoli was a bit off (too salty), the greens were good, but what threw us both off were the mushrooms. they tasted like meat. i think they were cooked in the wood burning oven? i hope so. i liked the flavor, but with an already upset tummy (from before dinner), the meaty flavor was too much for me. but the wine all around was perfect. we both loved our wine and had more. i just kept picking at my veggie plate and enjoying my wine. i was content, even if the meal didn't blow me away. (at this point, the review would have been a 3-star)... when a small roach crawled up the wall next to me, i lost my appetite all together. i don't know how most people react to this sort of experience, especially in one of austin's most beloved restaurants, but i scooted over and tried to keep my cool. moved my food and wine over. our waiter stopped back by and i told him. my husband had already tried to kill it by brushing it off the wall, but i wished he hadn't, because i didn't want them to think we were making it up. our waiter apologized profusely and the manager (i'm guessing) came over to move us to another table and offered us dessert on the house. he also apologized profusely. we appreciated the fact they took us seriously and didn't want us to leave with a bad experience under our belts. i would have rather they comped our meal (we would have happily paid for the wine); we didn't have any appetite left for dessert. we politely thanked them for dessert and ate most of it. the only dessert i could eat on the menu was sorbet and it was good. we won't be going back for dinner, but we might stop at the bar again.
(1)Lindsay B.
Tried this place out after looking at a list of top restaurants to try in Austin. The meal was delicious and the service was fast and friendly. It isn't Olive Garden so if you're looking for spaghetti and meatballs this wouldn't be the place to go to; however if you're looking for tasty Italian it's worth checking out!
(4)Kelly F.
I ate here Friday night with my girlfriend and her parents who were visiting from D.C. and we all really, really enjoyed our meals. Her parents said it was even better than the food they had in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago when they were visiting her sister who works in the restaurant industry. Way to go, Vespaio. Seriously though, it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time and I say this even though it was during my no cheese phase. A meal that's awesome without cheese is absolutely incredible. We started off with the complimentary bread basket that comes with Cannelini bean spread, blue cheese and pistachios from the Antipasto case, and the appetizer of the day which was freshly made mozzarella cheese with salami and focaccia. I couldn't have either of the cheese dishes, so I ate a large amount of bread, and let me just say that the wheat bread is delicious. I think it has some kind of nut in the dough and it is almost sweet, which pairs well with the mild white bean spread. As far as I could tell everyone else enjoyed the appetizers, though my girlfriend did mention that the mozzarella had little flavor (which I think is just how fresh mozzarella is and is also why it is so glorious). We ordered a bottle of wine as well, but I know absolutely nothing about wine, so I have nothing to say other than, as usual, I had a glass and a half and felt tipsy. For my entree I had the Big eye tuna grilled rare with spicy Sicilian salmoriglio with crispy organic white polenta & Kalamata olive, roasted tomato & arugula salad (yes, I just copied and pasted that off of the website), and seriously, it was SO delicious. The tuna had a mild flavor that went so well with the pepperiness of the argula and the saltiness of the olives. Also, those polenta sticks were INCREDIBLE. They were very creamy and the batter on them was very light, so I successfully consumed all three of mine. My girlfriend's dad (and this is how I refer to them in real life (not to their faces, obviously) because I am too nervous around them to call them by their names even though I'm 23.) ordered the hanger steak and LOVED it. He said he was going to dream about it that night. It came with French fries (though the menu likes to be pretentious and call them "patate fritte"), and they were some of the best fries I've ever had. They were very light (so you could eat a bunch), salty, and kind of sweet. My girlfriend's mom had the prosciutto-wrapped jumbo shrimp (the menu likes to call them "prawns", which makes me think of being on a British Airways flight. Like, the came out of the GULF. Have you been to Galveston? They're shrimp.) and declared them the best she's ever had. My girlfriend ordered the pasta with caramelized eggplant and liked, but wasn't gushing about it like the rest of us were. Though we were all reasonably full, we opted to order desert and shared the pistachio donuts and the sorbet of the day. The pistachio donuts are awesome. To me they tasted the way you always hope funnel cake will -- sugary, cinnamony, doughy, and a little cakey. The cherry compote was amazing. The flavor was very bright and intense and cut through the thickness of the donuts. The sorbet of the day was chocolate and it was superb (I'm running out of superlatives). The flavor was so concentrated and distinct -- kind of the way I would imagine very dark coffee beans to taste if they didn't taste like coffee (that makes no sense, but oh well). It was so good that my girlfriend's dad ordered another scoop to go. Our waiter was very helpful (he figured out a way to successfully transport the sorbet home), but never overbearing. The plates were clearly quickly and our water glasses were always full. It's not a restaurant I would go to for a really romantic date (though my girlfriend's mom has decided that she's going to send us back there for my girlfriend's birthday) because it's a little loud, but I had no problem hearing anyone at our table. The lighting is good (I hate it when places are really dark and you can't read the menu/when places are really bright and you feel like you're in an interrogation room on The Wire) and the atmosphere is pleasant (and I say this even though we sat by the kitchen). I'm sure there's usually a long wait, but we showed up at 6:15 on a Friday night and were seated immediately. It's a little pricey, but I think it was completely worth the quality of the food. Oh, and it's probably not the easiest place to find parking for, but my girlfriend lives right off of South Congress, so we walked. Winners! Anyway, I really can't wait to go back in April. Until then, pistachio donuts...
(5)Shanna P.
I found the secret to Vespaio... After years of wanting to try it out, but being a little turned off by the supposed see-and-be-seen crowd and two-hour wait, we ventured out for a special date night on what happened to be basketball playoff night. Score! We had almost the whole restaurant to ourselves, minus a couple of tables (and one very loud, very drunk girl, which kinda marred the romantic vibe--for me anyway, I'm ADD sometimes). We split a bottle of pinot noir and had the tuna tartare (with capers--yum!), which was excellent. For dinner, he had the mixed seafood grill, and I had the risotto del giorno (with flash-fried softshell crab), both specials. His was excellent; I think I preferred it more. Something was slightly off taste-wise with mine, but it was pretty good overall. The he had some chocolate-pistachio gelato and I had the watermelon sorbet, which was crazy--more watermelony that watermelon! Only thing is, I just don't know that it quite lives up to the hype that I'd been hearing forever (and the price). It was good, but not overwhelmingly excellent. I'm tempted to give it a three, but just can't. It is good... The service was efficient and nice enough, but wasn't quite the caliber I'd expect from a restaurant this upscale. For another fancy, special date, there are other places I'd definitely want to go to first that offer something slightly more special, and I honestly prefer little sister Enoteca just as much, if not more.
(4)Neil S.
I'm not so sure why this place is so well loved. K and I went for a treat, celebrating our finally secured employment status, and were disappointed. I had the butternut squash filled pasta and a tomato and mozzerella salad, and K had the marrowbones. Neither were spectacular. Dessert was quite bland too--gelato that tasted like Blue Bell and the semolina cake that was just wasn't appetizing. Both of us have had better Italian food at much better prices. I wish we had saved our money and went to Las Manitas the next day.
(2)Rachel K.
Vespaio is truly in a class of its own. I can't speak highly enough of the food and the service. The antipasti are fresh, and I even enjoyed the blue cheese we had even though I'm not a strong-cheese kind of gal. I kind of copped out on my main meal and ordered the spaghetti with tomato and eggplant but it was really delectable. My parents were in town for the visit to Vespaio and my mom ordered the shrimp which was accompanied by Vespaio's scrumptious suppli. I know that I could probably make Suppli myself without too much effort but they really are so terrific as Vespaio. They are incredibly fresh and kind of just melt in your mouth. I can't decided which I liked more--the main meal of my own and the samplings of other dishes, or the dessert. We had a lot of difficulty deciding what to get. I was leaning toward the bread pudding which I usually love but we eventually decided on the Pistachio donuts. In the past, I have raved about the brownie dessert at South Congress Cafe, but the pistachio donuts at Vespaio might just put the brownie to shame. If you go, you HAVE to order the donuts. They are accompanied by a ice cream and a little bit of cherry compote that adds a delicious, slightly bitter taste that fits exceptionally well with the donuts. Vespaio, if you weren't out of my price range, your donuts would make me gain 10-20 pounds.
(5)Jon E.
This was the last in my dining-on-someone-else's-tab-trilogy. I had a craving for Italian and I'd heard so much about this place, so when I called and they said we could be seated right away, I jumped at the opportunity. Vespaio was a solid performer. The atmosphere is nice and very convivial, but like Enoteca Vespaio next door, it can be rather loud. I was feeling gluttonous, so I ordered a mixed grill they were preparing with hanger steak, merguez sausage, and marrow-on-toast. The merguez was a little gamy for my taste, but if you're a big fan of lamb, the heat is almost right on (I would prefer a little more spice). The hanger steak was very tasty, and left me wanting more; it was fortunate that my father's fiancee ordered it as her entree and couldn't finish hers. But after eating a giant plate of meat, I couldn't finish hers, either. So I took it home in a foil container with the asparagus that she substituted for the fries that normally accompany it, and two slices of bread. Two days later, I decided to reheat the stuff. I put the entire foil container in a hot oven for awhile, and when I took it out, the meat was still tender and delicious. I mean seriously delicious. If I were to go back to Vespaio, the hanger steak would be at the top of my list of things to order (though having already tried it, I might think about branching out a little). In fact, I was so inspired by the meat that I went out and bought a slab for experimenting. Maybe I'll post a picture of the results (by the way, does anyone have a good time/temperature formula for taking one of these from stovetop to oven in a cast iron pan?). Anyway, Vespaio: snazzier than its sister next door, and would also be good for a date--though by coming here you'll be upping the expectations-ante over Enoteca.
(4)Robert G.
For years, one of my partner and I's "Axis of Delicious" favorite three restaurants (including Wink and Uchi). Alan Lazarus (owner) is a true restauranteur - we see him keeping a hawk's eye on every detail of the restaurant all of the time. It's as common for him to bring your dinner to you as it is to see him sampling recipes in the kitchen, or chatting with regulars at the bar. At the end of the day, the best restaurants will always be run by passionate restauranteurs who tie their identity to their product and service. Vespaio is always exceptional - one of the best antipasti cases I've tried anywhere (the rabbit pate, fresh anchovies - (when available), and great cheeses are standout. The Caesar is the best in town - just the right amount of lemon juice, crisp romaine, and worcestechire/anchovy mix. The risottos are always excellent - though we often feel we could make three meals out of them (less is more!) The mixed meat grills are incredible, and only Lambert's can beat the gluttony of one of these trays. The Carbonara is exceptional (though maybe bested by La Traviata). The service is always top caliber - the servers know their product inside and out, and are a rare treat for Austin - they love their jobs, the food, and their restaurant. This is crucial to relaying a great experience to the diners. Thanks Vespaio - you're a huge asset to the Austin dining scene, and we love you!
(5)alexio f.
not sure how this place doesn't have 5 stars.. I'd give it 6. unreal quality.. self=-made mozzarella, sauces to die for... this would be considered an excellent restaurant in italy. definitely try the lasagna, definitely try the pasta with spec and mushrooms. amazing stuff...
(5)Jeff F.
This is the best Italian restaurant in Austin and an excellent place to bring out of town guests and clients. I bright my family here for dinner the after I got married. Sadao, the manager took care of everything from start to finish. The last night my family was in town I asked them where they wanted to eat. They said, out of all the great places to eat in Austin, they wanted to go back to Vespaio again. I didn't even argue with. I could eat there every night. The lasagna is the best I've ever had. I also enjoy the very generous portion of carpaccio every time I go.
(5)Bo R.
Vaspaio... I had a review to finish, and it even made me think fondly of this place when I saw that I had a review to finish. I really like this place. We are always able to get sat quickly, and the service is always friendly and attentive. I've been there 3 times, all 3 times, I've tried something different on the menu, and all of it is good. Really, a 4.5 overall experience. Food is great, service is great, and the value is absolutely there. And the owner is always out mingling with the guests. It really is one of my faves since moving to Austin.
(4)Stephanie K.
While this place hardly needs another outstanding review, I'm determined to give it one anyway! My partner and I splurged and decided on Vespaio for dinner last weekend. As usual, this was not a poor decision! While spendy, it is always well worth it! We started with their wonderful bread and cannelini bean spread - SOOOO much better (and healthier) than butter! I had one of their signature cocktails and my other half had a beer. For appetizer, we had one of the daily special antipastos: Fried Anchovies on toasted baguette slices - this was HEAVENLY! I really expected it to be salty (only having had brined anchovies previously) but it was fresh, lightly fried and delish! For dinner we shared their Mixed meat platter, which was plenty of food for us both and was delightfully satiating! It consisted of a chicken sausge, served with field pea succutash; hangar steak with sautee'd patty pan squash; and roasted quail with lightly oiled arugula. Every bite was absolutely delectable! For dessert, as always when it is an option, I ordered the Creme Brulee and a tawny port. The flavors were exquisite and although the port would have gone "better" with the flourless chocolate cake, it went very well with the Creme Brulee! I will always go back to Vespaio (and it's sister bistro next door, Enoteca)!
(5)John C.
Here's the tough thing about my Vespaio experience. I went with a group with a corporate account paying for it, so we tried a LOT of the menu items. As to be expected, some were awesome and some were meh. I'll try to outline the full experience as well as I can. We started with: Calari - HUGE bowl of fried calamari. Seasoning was well spiced and you didn't always need the sauce accompaniment, but it was good too. Caprese Salad - Really good. Nice salty mozz paired with sweet/tangy tomatoes. Really just the classic caprese dong well. Pansoti de Zucca - little butternut squash purses surrounded by brown butter. YES PLEASE. These could have easily been dessert. The apps rocked it. I had the prosciutto wrapped shrimp for my entree. I think I had the more enjoyed entree out of our group. The prosciutto was done well but the shrimp were maybe a bit over. The haricot verts (green beans) were tasty. The supli (I had known them previously as arancini) were friend rice balls. They were good but needed the red chili pesto to add some flavor. We tried many of the desserts: Neapolitan - Chocolate Donut was really good. Not super sweet but rich chocolate flavor. Vanilla gelato. Tasty. Sweet and creamy. Strawberry jam. Weird. No thanks. Stawberry Sorbetto - the bomb. so so good. great flavor and sweetness. the shortbread cookie that came with it was forgettable. Cheesecake - nice, dense, not too sweet. raspberry sorbetto was awesome. Creme Brulee - forgettable. not terrible but nothing special. This one I actually wanted/needed to be a bit sweeter. Our server took pretty good care of us. We had a leisurely dinner (3 hours) but by the time we were ready to go we had a hard time catching his attention. There are definitely some great things at Vespaio. I would encourage folks to go and find what they like best.
(3)Adam S.
To echo what many others have said, this is an extremely good restaurant. Tuna tartare: Bright, refreshing, meaty, with a lot of palate-waking zing. Spinach salad: Performed as expected; lots of different flavors, nice portions, although the gorgonzola was pretty weak. Risotto (du jour, ours was grouper with olive tapenade): Mind-blowing, mystically savory and rich...maybe a bit *too* rich. Wife and I split a portion (we split everything you see here) and we were both uncomfortably full. Yes, I'm going to blame the chef for my lack of self-control. Hazelnut Creme Brulee: Outstanding. Served with orange supremes and a small, dense chocolate cake with a tiny lump of ultrachocolate ice cream. The orange ties the cream to the nuts to the chocolate. Brilliant. We were so full we could not finish that awesome dessert, which was incredibly disappointing. None of the food struck me as classically Italian, but my palate veers toward the southern Italian peasant (where my people come from) variety. I need to have some pasta next time. Still, very very good stuff and well worth a visit.
(5)Candy P.
Took a while to review, but I came here on a date. It was extremely crowded, there's a lot of back ground noise, but we sat in a smaller room on the side which made it better. We had the cozze alla posillipo, scampi con salsa all'agilo, and a lamb dish with gnocchi. They were heavenly!! I normally don't eat lamb but it was delicious here. The mussels were delicious and definitely shareable. The waiter was extremely friendly, great service, I love this place!
(5)Gil R.
Don't order wine by the glass, they give you so little you might as well get a bottle.
(4)Shar W.
Wonderful place. Splurge for an occasion...you will be so happy you did. The food and service are the best. We went early to have a relaxing time at the bar before dinner. Make reservations or you won't get in for hours. We were seated around 7:30pm and they were already out of 2 specials but the recommendations did not disappoint.
(5)Austin V.
It's very close to being a 4.99 but I love this place. The food is always good. I with the bartenders had a little more top end skill.
(5)Nicholas H.
Not going to join the crowd who slams a place for one uneven night, but I thought this might help some folks out. FINALLY got back to Vespaio last night after over a year away. Seated right away, treated awesomely, great drink and app selections. But we strayed off the usual fare and tried a somewhat experimental stuffed calamari dish which really didn't make it texturally or aromatically (not off, just ill conceived). And the lamb-ragu would be great if you wanted to dig into a fusion style - the mint brought things preciously close to Indian fare. Hey, not bad, just not what they do best. And they comped us our dessert (the extraordinary cholocate thingie) either recognizing we weren't blown away, or believing it was our 10th anniversary (it really was!). If anything it made me want to return sooner to get back to that Veal Saltimbocco or Linguine Carbonara!
(5)Bloom B.
You can 100% count on a perfect meal, every time.
(5)Annette B.
My husband and I have dined here a few times by ourselves as well as with friends over the past two years, and each time we have been a bit disappointed. Overall, the food is good, but just average, and the service is not bad, but, again, just average. The one exception is the mushroom polenta appetizer, which is consistently delectable! The polenta and the wine selection are worth stopping in for, but only if you happen to be in the area (otherwise parking is impossible).
(3)Lynne G.
I have been to Vespaio before several times, but it has been a while. We went last night for our Valentine's dinner and it was amazing. The service was incredible. We got there early and weren't ready to eat yet and asked if we could have a drink in the bar and wait a little bit. They told us they would come find us if it started to get busy and would seat us. They did exactly that and offered us a table in the bar next to the window and we had the same waitress. It was a really great spot. The wait staff was so attentive, knowledgeable and genuine last night. The food was amazing and I would have to say that the cost of the dinner was totally worth it. What a classy place. I highly recommend it.
(5)j s.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Their paninis and pizzas are great. Their prosciutto panini and pizzas are my favorite. I didn't know truffled eggs existed till I went here, but they are great. The only downside to these dishes is sometimes the ingredients aren't spread evenly or the eggs aren't really "truffled" (based on my first few experiences here). Their desserts are good too. I wouldn't recommend their pasta, however (which is why I only gave them 4 stars). I feel like the quality of their pasta and sauces are on-par with someplace like Olive Garden - not really worth the prices here and not as good as the other options you could get here. Everyone I've gone with who has ordered the pasta has been underwhelmed. I come from an area of the country where traditional Italian pasta is very important though, so I might be a rather harsh critic in this regard.
(4)Paige S.
From the peach sangria to the tiramisu with espresso ice cream, everything we had was delicious! There wasn't even a wait Saturday evening.
(4)Jackie V.
I typically go to Enoteca...but we decided to splurg and go to the real thing this time. We started out with the St. Edwards mussels--absolutely perfect. We had the Short Ribs/scallops special....WOW! that was really out of this world. The short ribs are braised all day long and just simply melt in your mouth. My husband had the Vitello Saltimbocca. it was good, but after those short ribs, there was no comparison in taste. Our only disappointment was in dessert, hence the four stars. For a nice italian restaurant, I would expect more. We had the chocolate milkshake/chocolate creme pot. The chocolate milk shake was just plain gross--it was luke warm, not sweet, and had a funky after taste. The creme pot was rich and decadent, but the accompanying milk just ruined it. The amaretto gelato was ok. Not spectacular. It was loaded w/ fresh cherries--which was nice, but no one informed us that the amaretto gelato was actually cherries & amaretto. The food overall was very similar to what we encountered in Italy itself. Definately good solid authentic italian food. Just Skip dessert, and you'll be fine .
(4)Jim C.
This is good. My second choice to La Traviata. Before you think that is a real insult, I consider La Traviata as the gold standard. This is a good second. The deciding factor is the seafood stew. I will say that any place that has Duvel on the beer list obviously take care to all the small details.
(4)jessica s.
yummy food, fabulous bartenders, always a great time! my favorite go to place when I have friends or family visiting...highly recommended!
(5)Seiji C.
waaaay better than la travatia, and for the same price. some of the antipasti's are just what they sound like (beet salad, chick peas and tuna) w/o any added flavor, but there's a few gems in the bunch, and the spicy pumpkin tart is godlike
(4)Mary T.
If you're looking for Italian comfort food this is not your place. I'm not knocking Vespaio, I'm just telling it like it is and my guess is they would agree. Coming from an Italian household and Chicago I'll be the first to admit that I'm a snob when it comes to Italian food and my preference is for Italian comfort food, you know the staples. Vespaio offers a large assortment of antipastas, I think the selection changes daily. The restaurant is cute and cozy, it has an interesting layout, all of the walls are curved and uniquely shaped. However, the acoustics are terrible, it was very loud in the place and hard to carry on a conversation. Service was very attentive, but not what I would consider friendly. Our server wasn't rude by any means he was just all business. We started with the calamari, which per the menu comes with a spicy arrabbiata dipping sauce. The calamari itself was quite good, but not the best I've ever had. The sauce I found spiceless. We also were given a bread basket, being a carb-fiend this is one of my favorite parts of the meal. I think there was an assortment of bread in the basket with some crispy Italian bread in it, but the rest of my party ate it before I could get any. The bread I did get was very tasty, just not what I was expecting, it was soft and chewy. I was disappointed that we didn't get any olive oil and Parmesan to dip the bread in, instead we got this white bean mousse. Our table found the mousse bland, in need of garlic or something else. For dinner I got the Mandilla de Saea and my friends the Margherita pizza and the Spaghetti alla Carbonara. My meal was ok, not fabulous; I found the pesto to be a little too heavy on the olive oil. It didn't look like a lot of food, but it was deceptively filling. For a simple, meatless dish I found it was pricey at $17. My friend who got the pizza was getting over the flu and didn't have much of an appetite. As a result he ate only a fraction of his pizza, but I don't think it was the pizza's fault. Based on appearance the pizza looked quite good and was nice sized. I was also mesmerized by the guy hand-tossing the dough. Again at $16, I felt this was pricey for a meatless dish - the more complex pizzas are only a dollar or two more. My other friend really enjoyed her spaghetti, her only comment was that the dish was quite rich and after a while got overwhelming. Given the ingredients, etc. I felt her meal was fairly priced at $22. Bottom line: I give this place 3.5 stars. The service was good, the food was solid, but overpriced in my opinion.
(3)Todd B.
Best bar and bar staff in all of Austin in my book. Food is phenomenal as well. Get the spaghetti carbonara.
(5)Jo M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Who knew it would be Italian but the food is AMAZING. It's great for an intimate dinner or for something with close friends. If you're looking for nice special night out, with great food and wine, head here.
(5)Vinay B.
Vespaio is in my opinion one of the best Italian restaurants in Austin. They always have a lot of interesting specials. I highly recommend the funghi con polenta as an appetizer - it is delicious. As a vegetarian I order the pasta with eggplant for my entree which is also great. The Italian wine selection is pretty good too. My wife enjoys the seafood, in particular with the Diavola sauce.
(4)Jim C.
After a great afternoon watching "Dark Knight" at the IMAX (which was as awesome as everyone says) which ended later than I had vaguely thought in my head, we decided to head straight to dinner instead of trying some wings at Pluckers, going to fly the trainer kite in Zilker for a while, then going to dinner. Our first stop was Restaurant Jezebel... where we were promptly shown the door when we said we didn't have a reservation. That made me really really happy - it's so great that they are that busy! I've always thought they didn't get the adulation they deserve, so it's nice that they're too busy for walk-ins even early (6:22 PM) on Saturday nights now. I'll be sure to book them on OpenTable soon. After that we decided to head to Soco and try some places there. We ended up doing Vespaio - they only had a 20-minute wait (they were very accurate), which we spent at a table in the bar area with drinks and an appetizer. When we got to our table, we then had: Appetizers: Pancetta wrapped oysters Citrus crab claws Hot Coppa with peppers Carpaccio Pork ritellini (sp?) For dinner we had as entrees: Halibut on capellini Prime ribeye and soft-shell crab An as dessert: Doughnuts with blackberry filling with blackberries and ice cream Everything was really good, though I thought they could have done a better job on the soft shell crab, all they did was bread and fry it. And I wasn't thrilled with the doughnuts. Overall though, the food was really really good. And I like how they have a whole bunch of little $5 appetizer plates now in addition to their regular sized appetizers... it's like getting a little tasting menu (which, unfortunately, they do not have). The primary downside was the service - it was slow. It took more then 10 minutes after we were sat for the server to come to take our order (although, to be fair, we had our drinks and appetizer from the bar transferred), and occasionally through the night I noticed the less than prompt attention to refilling tea, replacing silverware, etc. But all in all, still a restaurant well worth trying.
(4)mayura g.
Went there last night for dinner with my friends ! The wait was long - and hour almost we we grabbed a drink elsewhere. The food was excellent - recommend the standard Italian we had pasta and sea food risotto both of which were excellent. The pompano is avoidable. The dessert was excellent ! The only thing I didnt like was the service - after a long hour wait we had to wait for another 20-25 min just to get some bread which was so frustrating
(4)Nathan B.
Nice cozy little place, had a Saturday lunch at 1, and was seated with no wait. The restaurant gives a small, sort of coffeehouse ambiance. I had the mufaletta which was pretty good, but I feel like they could have chosen a better bread. My roommate had the bistecca with fries. The steak looked tender and juicy; the fries were great. The pizzas looked amazing and I think next time I'll have to try one. All in all, a solid Italian restaurant at a reasonable price!
(3)Desiree P.
Perfect in every way! This is a great place to take out of town guests. I have never had a bad experience or meal here.
(5)Lindley L.
My mother was recently in town and we went here for her birthday dinner. Right in my neighborhood, I was already a fan of the location. Even at 6pm, we were seated quickly and greeted by our server. We started with champagne and elected to split the gnocchi and each start with a salad. My mother had their caesar and proclaimed it to be the best one she's had (this is saying a lot since she is a caesar fanatic). The gnocchi special was amazing and we ended with watermelon sorbet. During the meal, our server checked on us many times and any requests were fulfilled almost immediately. It was clear that our server genuinely loved his job and was proud to work here. I will definitely be going back. LOVE IT.
(5)jenn c.
I absolutely LOVED this restaurant. We turned the 1.5 hour wait into a nice time at the bar with drinks and appetizers. The calamari was delicious and there was plenty of it. The bartender's were friendly and informative. They helped us pick out a bottle of wine, and while it was a bit pricey, it was worth every penny. I ordered the VITELLO SALTIMBOCCA and it was fantastic! It melted in your mouth. My fiance ordered the mixed meat plate and as tasty as my meal was, his was even better. We had the Blackberry Zeppole for dessert and both of us were surprised when we realized we'd finished it! It was fantastic (and not too much). Overall, the service was excellent and we both enjoyed the atmosphere. Instead of worrying about the wait have a seat at the bar and talk to one of the bartenders. They "refreshed" my drinks a time or two free of charge. While most people were dressed for dinner, you still saw flip flops and your typical Austin garb. We'll definitely be back!
(5)Brian A.
This is as good as it gets for fine italian dining in the Austin area! I've been here twice and after two amazing experiences, it required a review. Good food, good wine, good ambiance! You will not be disappointed.
(5)George P.
Good stuff. Great service...great wine....great food. Will definitely be back. Always packed in the bar!!
(4)Scott E.
went here with my wife and had a great meal. we moved here from Ny and did not think we had accents but the waitress picked it up and dropped some great restaurants from where we used to live so that was pretty cool.. we split everything and they did that for us with out charging extra which was cool. Even the split meals were big enough for both of us We had: Tuna Tartar to start: I would pass on this one next time, it was ok nothing speiclal and the bread was not like small pieces of bread to eat the tartar on but huge and did not make it easy to eat on. Ceasar Salad: Even coming out split already it was like we ordered two of them. Very good salad and big portion Lasagna: We split this and man was it tasty. Great sauce and very cheesy. If you order one on your own and finish it power to you because i just was able to finish my half. All in all a good meal i would go back, A little on the expensive side wish the dishes were a little cheaper..
(4)Thomas D.
I ate here twice recently. The first meal was outstanding. I had Atlantic salmon that was slightly smoked and perfectly cooked. The carpaccio appetizer was delicious. Excellent wine selection. Outstanding service. The second meal was good, but our party of 6 had to wait nearly an hour to be seated. This was substantially longer than the original estimate of 20 minutes. I had a breaded duck dish that would rate only 2/5. Excellent wine and a nice dessert!
(4)Kathryn S.
This place never disappoints. Had the Shrimp Scampi this go round - non traditional with a cream and pesto sauce - very nice. House Sangria was good as well.
(5)Jennifer K.
So happy to find a true Italian restaurant in Texas. I was excited to see polenta on the menu which is one of my favorite dishes. The homemade pasta and pizza is outstanding. The pasta with pesto and scampi dishes are two favorites. Great wine list, desserts and Cappucino!
(5)Cindy L.
Vespaio has been a favorite date - night destination for my hubby and I for years. The ambiance is perfect, and the food and wine selections are are always delicious. Tonight we took our 14 year-old daughter for a birthday dinner - she's quite the foodie who also happens to be a vegetarian with a nut allergy. Our waiter, Victor, was very helpful with her dinner selection - a paperdelle pasta tossed with mushrooms, brocolini and grilled peppers - and she loved it! Hubby had the lasagna (amazing/hearty/large!) and I had the salmon special, so good and satisfying. Love this place.
(5)Bob D.
Simply one of our favorites in the area. We are regulars because of the service, the food and the wine. These guys know perfection. Sit at the bar for a great time and ask for Tom or Rachelle. Caesar salad is best in town. Anything from the grill or pastas too notch as well.
(5)Herman H.
We had a really great evening - excellent food, great wine recommendation, and Jeff our server was friendly and helpful. The food had a lot of flavor "dimension", i.e. every dish had some interesting combinations of flavor that made us enjoy every bite. Jeff happily brought us 2 small tasters of different wines, so we could make an informed decision on the wine. Visiting from out of town, and decided to try Vespaio (based on Yelp reviews) and we were not disappointed. It was not low cost ... coming to $146 for the 2 of us (incl. wine, but without any dessert), but for a special evening it was well worth it!!
(5)Ryan S.
We had an amazing experience. A large group of 9 including 2 children under four, which is usually a concern for a nicer establishment. Being from Boston we're used to good Italian food, let me tell you the food here was GREAT! If you're looking for a place to eat an amazing meal in an unpretentious setting this is it.
(5)Brian C.
Hands down the BEST dinner experience that I've ever had. This place came suggested to me by a very close friend. Being newish to Austin, I took their suggestion. There are places for dinner and then there are places for an experience. This was an experience. The atmosphere (not too loud), the food (the spicy cherry peppers with gorganzola cheese and pickled veggies antipasti, insalta spicnaci, and vitello saltimbecco), and the staff were phenomenal! It comes by it's reputation for being the best Italian resaurant in Austin honestly. We definitely will be going back!
(5)Alisha B.
Ordered the calamari, caesar salad, risotto special, and chocolate dessert. The food was awesome...especially the risotto...and dessert! Carlos was a great waiter! Very informative and gave great recommendations! The atmosphere is perfect for a date night!
(5)Cindy K.
I came here because Enoteca was closed, and was a bit intimidated by the prices. However their portions are huge which sort of justifies paying a bit more money. I got their prosciutto, fontina and arugula pizze; it was a tad on the salty side plus I'm not the biggest fan of eggs over easy. If I come again I'll definitely try one of their other pizze options Our waiter was very friendly and checked up on us without becoming the pesky waiter that constantly visits. The food was a little slow to come out but I disregarded that, I feel that anyone else who comes in extremely hungry would find that factor harder to accept.
(4)Cassi P.
Really lovely double date experience here! Came here on a double date one weekday evening and had a really lovely meal of shared dishes. Though the dishes here are not tapas by any means, there are still plenty of sharable items. We enjoyed the mussels, which I don't always love, and the Prosciutto, Fontina & Arugula pizza with sunnyside-up egg and white truffle oil sinfully delicious yet definitely a bit too salty. We also shared the caprese salad, which was light and yummy, and a fish special that was cooked perfectly. Really loved the atmosphere of this place, too: dark and quiet. Very appropriate for a date or a chill meal. Nothing totally blew me away here, but it's definitely a solid go-to for Italian cuisine lovers.
(4)Armand D.
We went in search of Carpaccio at 9:45 pm on Thursday night. Many of the places on yelp's list for carpaccio were not serving it or ran out. A few of the restaurant kitchens were already closing. We opted for the Hilton Hotel on 4th st. The lobby bar had carpaccio listed on the menu. For carpaccio, they served us 4 tiny taco shells filled with something and wrapped with thinly sliced tenderloin. We sent it back and then called Vespaio ~ they hooked us up with carpaccio to go and threw in ciabbata loaf. We got home and it was wonderful! Thank you Alan and crew!
(5)Tiffany V.
AHHHH!!! I'm going to die just writing this. I am in LOOOOOOOVE with their lasagna, but with Spaghetti noodles. ;) Yes, you read that right. So, the story begins... IT was a bright, sunny day, and we decided to head into... VESPAIO!! Crazy, right?!? No really, my first time, I ordered the Lasagna, but then requested they make it with spaghetti noodles instead of lasagna noodles. I really was having an off day, and didn't even really realize what I was ordering. The waitress kept asking me, and repeating the order, "is that right?". Yes. I get my 'weird' concoction and guess what?? IT WAS AWESOME!! I don't like lasagna usually. No 'Garfields' here. (does anyone even remember that anymore?) But their's is the bom-diggaty. Seriously the BEST I've EVER had! The little cafe next door is pretty dang awesome also. We can't quite figure out the relationship there, it's part of it, but not?? Oh well. The food still makes me salivate. And I'm not a huge Italian dining kinda gal. The Insalata Mista is awesome here, fresh lemon dressing, just like (someone's) mama used to make. The wine selection is nice. The lunch time specials are kinda all over the place. My hubby got a gourmet burger while I got a pressed panini. The only item here I've not loved: The vegetarian panini. It had raisin bread, and avocado with some greens and maybe tomato. It was just too much. Too many flavors I guess. But that one meal does not detract from all the other scrumptiousness. EAT THE LASAGNA, You HAVE to!
(5)Tiffany N.
First thing's first. These stars are meant for the food and not necessarily the service. The service should probably get a 2 stars but... the food was so delicious.. I'll just give you that extra star to look over how weirdly we were served. My boyfriend and I came here on Valentine's day (yeah I know most busiest day ever). We were told it would be a half hour to hour wait. No big deal. We go there around 6:50 pm. We ended up waiting over an hour. But still.. Valentine's Day... still understandable. The thing that got me was how our server treated us. He definitely treated us like we were a couple of teenagers who were too insignificant to be treated like the rest of the guests... Yes, my boyfriend and I are tiny people so we look like we are probably 17-19. Nevertheless, we are 24 and 25 year olds that should be treated like the rest of the guests. This, I kid you not, was how he took our order... He walked over to our table and stared at us. No words. We both looked up at him and then looked at each other... At this point... still no words have been exchanged... He just came to us and just said NOTHING and expected us to tell him our order. We weren't addressed much throughout the night. It was like I AND MY BOYFRIEND had to force service out of him. I literally turned to my boyfriend and asked, "Does he hate us or something?" No one wants to feel like they are hated as a customer, especially on Valentine's Day. After dropping our check and we placed our payment in there, he continued to just stand there in front of us leaning up against the place they drop food before it gets the the customer. It came to the point where the manager? I'm not sure who but some other person picked up our tab to finish the payment. This review is based on my full experience and to be honest, the food was delicious but not too delicious to overlook the fact that I felt like I was not wanted at this restaurant by this server. Wish we could've tipped the water person and bread person instead of our server. They were much nicer. Sorry Vespaio, it will be a while until I'll be back.
(3)Ryan H.
We had good meal but it wasn't great and it was VERY pricey. Most of the stuff was just a bit on the bland side. We had the king crab bisque and some cod croquettes. The king crab bisque was actually very good and probably my favorite part of the meal. The croquettes lacked any real flavor. For dinner we had the clams in linguini and the carbonara. Maybe we should have ordered off the specials menu but the two items we had were OK. The clams in linguini were good with plenty of clams but again lacked and defining flavor and it was very pricey at $29.00. The carbonara was Ok as well but lacked that overwhelming WOW that good carbonara has (la traviata). And at $24.00, again on the high side. For dessert we had the creme brulle which was very good. The pizzas looked great and maybe we will try those in a later visit.
(3)Amy G.
This restaurant was recommended by our photographer to celebrate after our wedding at Chapel Dulcinea. It was a great choice. I'm so glad that we drove into Austin for our private celebration. Our waiter was wonderful and made our night even more special with complimentary champagne. The food was BEYOND AMAZING! I think my veal risotto might have been the best bite I've ever had. My husband's swordfish was also fabulous. I hope to have a meal here whenever I make it Austin way.
(5)Shane M.
This place never let's us down. Impeccable service, great wine selection, outstanding menu with a healthy dose of specials on rotation. If you have a group of 5 or 6, be sure to request the window table, great nook for watching downtown Austin walk by. It's not inexpensive, table of 5 with appetizers and heavy drinks, dinner and dessert will set you back $400-$500, but the meal and service are well worth it.
(5)Robert S.
The food was top notch. Probably the best lasagna I've ever eaten. The service was good but not excellent which is the reason for 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)Lexi S.
Great wine, great food...lasagna is a must have for us. It is just done properly with the texture of the homemade pasta, to the rich bolognese sauce. The bread, salads, and apps are also good. We have ordered the specials before and they are very nice, but it's that damn lasagna that gets me!
(5)Jay C.
Being new to Austin and an Italian NYer, I've been spending months trying to find a good Italian restaurant here. So when a friend referred me to Vespaio I was excited to try it out. Known for their lasagna, I made sure to order this dish. Unfortunately I was served this green gummy pasta in which the béchamel was more like country gravy. Epic fail. I sadly continue my search for good Italian food in Austin.
(2)Nate C.
I've been a couple of times, and it's always been awesome. Pizzas are great and great Wines
(5)Liz O.
2 hour wait time means this place should probably take reservations... but unfortunately they did not on this Saturday night where I went with a friend of mine. Room for about 10 people to wait inside, any others had to hope there was space in the bar - or could suck up the cold nights by standing outside. The food must be that good, if people are willing to wait that long. I had a glass of wine in the bar area before we decided to head out to another place that could serve us much faster. The cab that I had (can't remember the name) wasn't bad though. Really was hoping to try it but when I'm hungry, two hour waits will make me a bitch!
(3)Todd W.
Love the atmosphere and location. Food is awesome!
(4)Reed R.
Great little Italian spot. I go in a lot to pick up sandwiches to go. It's just as good as their sister restaurant next door and half the price! It's very casual, so if you're looking for something fancy you should go next door. But if you're looking for good food at fair price then this is the place for you.
(4)Valerie V.
First night in SoCo, it's nippy this wknd....arctic blast has us bundled up and ready for 'Hot Toddies'....which is exactly what Vespaio had on the drink menu! A little dirty-bird and clove to start our weekend getaway. Enjoyed the Seafood Mix special for dinner (3 kinds of fish) excellently prepared! Sat in the bar area, cozy and not too loud. Light background music. Good service....would come here again.
(4)David B.
We dined at Vespaio for New Years Eve with our son. Heather was very gracious in arranging our reservations. It was our wedding anniversary and she seated us in the cozy romantic area by the wine bottles with a view of South Congress Ave. Jeb provided perfect service. Our food was delicious! My wife had lobster, our son had lasagna, and I had savory cioppino (a stew of fish, shellfish, tomatoes, and seasonings), perfect on a cold, rainy evening. For dessert we shared creme brulee with mixed berries and hazelnut gelato bathed in espresso with a hazelnut brownie. We enjoyed a wonderful family evening. Five big stars for perfectly prepared food and excellent service! This was our second New Years Eve at Vespaio and we will be back next year.
(5)Nina H.
The Creme Brulee is go good....
(4)Dillar S.
I went here last night for a birthday party, we called to make reservations and they do not take them. I was a bit worried, it was 7pm, we had a party of 6 and it was Friday night. We arrived, were told it would only be a second, they needed to sit two tables of 10 before us. I walked off and was prepared to wait 30 minutes or so, NOPE the hostess came back within seconds to seat us. I have been to Vespaio a few times, but never remember the food being amazing, however last night I had a wonderful dinner, topped off with an amazing server! I ordered the carbonara, full of flavor, and the table favorite! Others ordered the lasagna, veal ravioli, pesto pasta, and a pizza. All of the dishes were perfect. If I had to choose a sub par dish it would be the pesto. Vespaio is on the more expensive side, however the portions are large and justify the price for me. The restaurant is really loud and hard to hear others at the table, that would be the reason for the missing star.
(4)Marcelino C.
If you are expecting a nice pleasant staff, who wants to make your experience a great one, DONT go here. It's unfortunate the experience we had was terrible in the first 15 minutes we had to walk out. On the way out I asked to speak with the owner, who couldn't have cared less about what transpired. Shame on him. Any business owner would have tried to make our short lived experience right, with an offering to give the restaurant a second chance. Maybe he was boozed up, maybe he genuinely does not care, whatever the case...they need a new staff. I unfortunately will have to be dragged back to even give it another shot...
(1)Derek W.
My wife and I usually come here for special occasions, and have loved every meal. This is not the place to go if you're looking for $12 microwaved lasagna like Olive Garden serves, but if you're okay with spending the extra money, the payoff is HUGE! As a matter of fact, my wife and I just bought our first home. I think I know the perfect place to celebrate! Now that I think about it, I should wait until we save a little more money... ;)
(5)Anna S.
Clearly I came here on a date for dinner, have to say was pretty impressed with my service and food. Everything was what I had expected and imagned no surprises. My only surprise was my date forgot his wallet, and the manager was so kind to let us just repeat the credit card numbers so he could still pay. Let's just say management, and the cooks saved my date and made me leave with a smile on my face
(3)Tracy W.
You know how a meal always tastes better when you don't have to pay for it? This was not the case here. If I had been the one paying, I would have ordered everything on the menu, because it was so delicious! It's too bad I don't live anywhere near Austin because I've been dreaming for days about their spaghetti. I ate spaghetti pomodoro with caramelized eggplant, that's right, caramelized. I have had eggplant parmesan, eggplant bruschetta, eggplant risottos, but this caramelized creation was superb. We also devoured the caprese salad, and the housemade mozzarella was wonderful and fresh. Unfortunately, my friends enjoyed their meals too much that I wasn't able to steal any, but according to two hungry men, the pizza Toscana and risotto of the day were very tasty. The service here was extremely attentive. We were able to get in by only waiting about five minutes on a Friday night, which was awesome. They checked back often to see how we liked our meals and drinks. Our server even asked us about our trip, and deduced our homeland from the tiny font on my shirt.
(5)brian m.
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(5)Scott H.
Austin isn't known for it's great Italian food, or it's service. And that reputation is well earned. But you will not want for either at Vespaio. I had the risotto, my wife the veal scallopini (they have variations of both entrees, but I'm pretty sure all of them are as great as ours) last evening. Hands down, the best Italian I've had in my twenty-plus years in Austin. Why have I not gone to Vespaio before? The atmosphere is a bit loud, so don't go there for a romantic dinner. But if you happen to like that sort of thing, as I often do, you will be fine. The calamari was good, not outstanding like the entrees, but above average. Wine choices were fine- a pinot gris for us, and dessert was fantastic. Our server was excellent, but I would be ignoring the rest of the team, if I just pointed her out. Hostess, Manager, and bussing were all on point- far superior to the service one would typically find in Austin. I can count on one hand, the times I've had impeccable treatment in this town, and last night was one of them. Obviously, I'll be headed back.
(5)Chris S.
Vespaio is without a doubt my favorite restaurant in Austin. My experiences there have been consistently excellent. The wait staff and service is unparalleled. I've never had such lightly folded mozzarella, and I'm continually impressed with the freshness of their ingredients, the creativity that goes into each special dish, and the generous portions received with their meals. Everything about the restaurant is delightful. It provides a perfect example of the beauty in Austin's food scene.
(5)Rob H.
A great restaurant. I have been twice; and, I have not been disappointed once. The ambiance is quiet and formal with a trendy side to it. The food is amazing as is the staff's attention to detail and service. I have enjoyed the veal scaloppini as well as a delicious thin crust, oven baked pizza topped with mozzarella, parmesan, mushrooms, truffle oil, and a few eggs over easy. Amazing! My wife did not like any of the desserts they were offering so they offered to go next door to Enoteca (owned by the same company) and get the dessert she was craving.
(5)T W.
I have lived in austin 15 years and have never tasted what I experienced last night. Hands down the best meal Ive ever had. Starting with the white sangria($12) and the spinach salad w/red pepper, gorgonzola, bacon, etc. which we split for $10, omg even the salad flavor blew my mind. Then the veal special... there arent words to describe. Go eat at this restaurant! The homemade tiramisu was so good that I laughed when I tried it. There is a more casual cafe sister restaurant next door if you just want dessert or smaller meals.
(5)Mimi V.
They have amazing service and a huge wine selection here! I love their fresh-made pastas - first time I've had green pasta and it was great! I had the lasagna, which came in a very large portion. It was definitely a new flavor I've never had before. My coworkers had many other things, but everyone loved their dishes!
(4)Christine D.
We went Suday night with 2 other couples. Very dissapointing. Service was awful and we waited 25 minutes for our check. Food not what I expected. Veal buried in tomato sauce which.coming from Nj sucked. They don't know how to make it. Thick like paste and spicy.Spoke with Manager he could have cared less.
(2)Britt B.
TOO LOUD! Food is good, but you have to shout to have a conversation with your dinner companions.
(2)David C.
Food was extraordinary. Watch out for the $17 Don Julio margarita. I wasn't ready for that.
(4)Danny V.
Vespaio is probably one of the best Italian restaurants in town. With that comes all the trappings of a great food. Long waits, loud dining, etc, but it all seems to melt away once the food arrives. Also having a great drink selection and well thought out wine list never hurts. Some of my favorite starters are the Calamari, whatever the white bean dipping sauce they give you with your bread, and the Misticanza salad. As for the main courses, all of which are quite large servings I recommend the Lasagna, the raviolini, and they also usually have great specials if you feel like trying something new. Overall I really like it here and Enoteca next door also is a treat so if you haven't eaten here already or need a fix of some tasty Italian food this is a spot you don't want to miss.
(4)Will S.
Italian done right. Austin does not have too many Italian joints, but this one holds the undisputed title for best in Austin IMO. A little on the pricey side, but well worth it.
(5)Mike M.
Creative menu with traditional and modern Italian cuisine. Good service, good setting, large wine selection and plenty of choices on the menu. The food is well portioned and very tasty. Good for business dinners and dates. A solid choice for Italian when in Austin.
(4)Hao L.
Vespaio---Italian for beehive, and thus slang for a place that's really buzzing, as evidenced by the honeycomb design on their business cards, and this place seriously does that and more since opening in 1998. Having heard that they do not take reservations, my coworker and I arrived at 6:15PM on a Friday. Parking was not too difficult, as there's a parking lot off back, otherwise you may have to find street parking in the South Congress (SoCo) area. But maybe that's if you arrive early, as we did. Since they start seating at 5:30PM, we were told it'd be 45 minutes at least before a table opened up. Yes, they were already full! So we took a table by the wall in the bar area, and what a wonderful bar it is. And the decor is quite nice, an exposed-brick-and-glass fronted by an impressive antipasto case, and in back a seasonal garden filled with the likes of eggplant, tomatoes, chard, green beans, and squash. Here too the bar was already packed. It's also a very romantic setting, but not too dim. It can be noisy, but not uncomfortably so. By the end of our meal, the bar was packed 2 and 3 people deep. And quite a good-looking crowd as well. And what were all these people waiting for? There's a reason Vespaio is the number one restaurant in Austin, and it's the flawlessly prepared sublime and complex Italian cuisine by celebrity chef Ryan Sampson. The bar has a long list of antipasti on the wall, and the regular menu comes with a separate page full of daily specials. There's also an extensive wine list. Service is very good, as well. Our bread came with a cannellini bean dip with garlic and parsley oil, which was amazing. I loved it for not being commonplace butter, and being lactose-intolerant, I was further overjoyed as well. Not to mention that it tasted wonderful. And cannellini beans are known for their buttery taste. With this kind of start, you know the remainder of the meal will not disappoint. For my starter, I had the zuppa, a brandied fish bisque served with basil-wrapped gulf coast shrimp, $8. It was one gulf coast shrimp that came on the side, but it was huge, the size of a roll of quarters curled up into a spiral. I added it to my soup, which was so very yummy. Next I had the potato-crusted ruby snapper over creamed fennel and leeks finished with Tasmanian lump crab meat, $29, another daily special. It must be a Texas thing, to have two kinds of meat in one dish! The potato crust reminded me of hash browns, or shoestring pommes frites, and had a delightful crunchy texture. This dish was very delicious. And portions are large, enough to share. My coworker had the spinach salad and the prosciutto-wrapped gulf coast shrimp with risotto cakes and mustard greens. The risotto cakes, crabcake-like spheres, were a delight to eat. We were both nearly full by now, but managed to fit in dessert. I had the Fuji apple bread pudding, a warm brioche pudding studded with apples and golden raisins topped with Calvados (an apple liqueur) hard sauce and finished with a golden raisin syrup, $7. I enjoyed this dessert very much, the Calvados sauce an excellent pairing with the Fuji apples. My coworker had wanted something to cleanse her palate of the salty prosciutto, and the Meyer lemon sorbet did the job perfectly. You can eat more cheaply at Vespaio, but you'll wind up spending about $44 if you order one of the more expensive entrees, but no matter what you decide, it's all splendid.
(5)Ben L.
Big fan of this joint. Consistent service and food. Specials can get pricey, but core menu is solid and decent wine selection. The atmosphere could be better and the dining room is noisy, but food is outstanding. Make sure to get the mussels!
(4)Stephanie S.
I had a good meal here for my birthday dinner, but it was good, not great. For the price, I expected a little more. It is nice though and the service was wonderful. To start our starters, we had the pate. It was fabulous. Best part of the meal. Then we had the calamari that was limp and oily - not nearly crispy enough. Also had oysters baked with cheese and arugula. The oysters were cooked perfectly, but they were really overwhelmed with the thick coating of strong melty cheese and sauteed arugula. The whole concept of this didn't really work in our opinion. It was a very heavy appetizer. My better half had the lasagna, which was a huge portion and very tasty. The sauce was uber-meaty. I have to say that the sauce was almost too meaty. It seemed like it was made with Italian chili rather than a marinara sauce. Now, I love me some chili mac, but - not what we expected for lasagna. I had the fish special. It was paired with a chile that was stuffed with ricotta and fried crisp - kind of a Italian Chile Relleno that was sitting on top of a whole sliced avocado. Good, but a bit much. I love avocado, but it was just too much food and a waste of a good avocado. The fish was given a nice crisp sear, but left on the grill too long and unfortunately, the flesh was dry, overcooked and flavorless.
(3)Brett M.
Went there this week and have not been to Vespaio since going Gluten Free. I was surprised to find Gluten Free pasta options. I've always liked this restaurant, but have avoided it after going Gluten Free. So for the first time in months I had pasta and it was wonderful. Vespaio has a great casual atmosphere, and is an ideal place for a date. By the way, the Gluten Free pasta was shockingly good.
(4)Molly B.
There was a time i loved this place. That time is not now... 2 stars is my hope that that time will come again. We had reservations, and still waited 30 min. Our server was not just the most oblivious person on the planet he was also rude. The manager was really nice. The wine was great, the food sucked! It used to be so good not now, now it's over seasoned and it came out cold on plates that were so hot you couldn't get near them. 6 people a lot of money later I'll wait awhile to come back... I sure hope this was just a bad night.
(2)L F.
Picture a beautiful and romantic restaurant with delicious food with great service. You have Vespaio! :) :) But, stir poor acoustics and lots of happy loud diners to the mix. There you have it. A romantic restaurant with delicious food where you can barely hear one another. Thank goodness the food is good, right? I just wish I could have had a conversation with my companion, too.
(4)Kimberly L.
Veal meatballs with fontina. Warm, melted, all in your mouth! I LOVE this place! Food and environment are both great! They cater too and I SOOOO wish I could have had them for my wedding. If you can get them, you totally should! ;) It's off of South Congress and it's pretty busy but the lunch/brunch crowd is not too bad. I've also had their wonderful ravioli! Another must try! You'll be pleasantly pleased with the flavors and wonderfulness of their menu.
(5)Eliza C.
What a diamond this restaurant is! I try to stay away from SoCo for dinner time since it is usually unbelievably crowded and can bring on the tourist vibe from time to time, but there is NOTHING in the ATX area like Vespaio. Vespaio is a medium to upper scale restaurant right in the heart of South Congresses' boutique district. Vespaio makes South Congress Cafe look closer to casual family dining. Its is a bit on the expensive side, but its menu has the flavors to back it up. The ambiance is perfect for a date night, foodie get together, etc...it's nice but not at all prissy or pretentious. The menu boasts incredible pizza's drizzled with truffle oils and fried eggs, homemade lasagnas and bolonegse sauces and poultry/meat dishes bursting with authentic italian flavors. The waitstaff are friendly and helpful, and meals are paced with precision. The restaurant can be a little loud on the weekends, so try a reservations or eating early/late.
(4)sadao n.
most excellent meal thanks to a very creative chef and crew. Many thanks to Alan and Daniel and of course Susan. I look forward to returning soon. Keep up the good work. tomato antipasti tuna tare tare salmon belly crudo maryland softshell crab scallops with special succotash Fredricksburg peaches with peach and basil sorbet and house made marscapone WOW
(5)Nathan W.
Great for a business lunch, less so for a date. Food is excellent, though for some reason they are very conservative with the garlic bread. (?) Rigatoni with pork meatballs is my go-to option.
(4)Alexandra K.
I was disappointed :( I went with my cousin and boyfriend; my boyfriend really liked his meal and my cousin adored her meal...she dreamt about it for days! But mine was really quite mediocre. We got some green olives for a "small plate" with a very fancy-sounding name...they were pretty lame, and not worth $4. I ordered carpaccio, and this was quite excellent. It's still better at Olivia, but it was extremely enjoyable! Thank goodness I got it. My meal was their risotto of the day...I can't remember what type of risotto it was, but it was served with wagyu beef and a poached egg. The beef was cooked perfectly, but the cut was bad. I've had wagyu beef at several different "fancy" restaurants in the past year or two, and it's never been that fatty or spongy. The wine sauce it was served with was really nice. The risotto seemed very undercooked. When I'm at a fancy place, I tend to think everything must be good and I never complain...like, maybe I just don't "understand" the food. It tasted pretty good, but the texture just got to me. I still have it sitting in my fridge, and I don't think I'll ever eat it honestly. My cousin had a scallops special and my boyfriend had shrimp wrapped in bacon. I guess I just happened to get the wrong thing, but it was $60 I regret spending :( I will probably try again someday and hopefully I can upgrade the stars!
(2)Christian K.
For the vegetarian crowd the Pasta Pomodoro with Melanzane ( carmelized eggplant) is to die for! The flavors and portion was perfect. The waiter brought us the wrong appetizer and it really wasn't very good anyway, we thought we had ordered stuffed tomatoes, but the tri color salad saved the day.
(4)Laurie C.
If I were only rating the staff, this would have been 5 stars. The hostesses were friendly, and flexible when we decided to grab a few spots at the bar instead of wait for a table. The bar servers were also really pleasant and know their stuff, recommending great wine choices and giving advice on the food. We started with some great bread and a bean puree- sort of an Italian hummus. So far, so good. Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there. The overwhelming flavor profile of this restaurant? Salt, and lots of it. One of our party of three had a Ceasar salad. Passable, but not special. I had the spinach salad with pancetta vinaigrette. Great ingredients- mushrooms, raddichio, roasted peppers and candied spiced pecans- but it was extremely salty and bereft of any acid finish, something I expect from a vinaigrette. I chalked the salt up to the pancetta, though, and moved on. Two of us split one of their nightly specials. King crab and what I have to say was a perfectly prepared pasta. Unfortunately, the sauce was so salty that I gave up on the wine and mainlined water. This dish desperately needed some brightness and really? King crab without any sort of acid hit to it? The preparation was heavy handed and very one note. The other in our party had the linguine and clams. Clams were cooked to within an inch of their lives- a bit dry- and this time the sauce was not only so salty it almost hurt to eat it, it was very oily, heavy and far too abundant. The linguine- again, perfectly prepared- was drowned with it. All of the subtlety of this sort of dish was missing. Was there garlic in it? Who knows? It was all lost in the salt and drowned in the oil. All in all, a really disappointing meal for a neighborhood restaurant with good reviews that I was prepared to love. I'd go back in for a drink, but not for the food.
(2)Joe S.
Came here while visiting my cousin in Austin. We went early so that we could get a reservation (reservations are only for before 6:30). Worked perfect, no wait, not crowded, great service. The restaurant has a nice vibe. Wine bottles on one side of the restaurant. You can see the bar and the kitchen and everything is clean. The lighting is a little dim but not dark and it was daytime so it was still well lit. They started us off with some bread and offered olive oil and/or butter. quick service with the water and they kept our wine glasses full. To start, we shared a prosciutto pizza which was so good. It had the runny eggs on top and a very clear truffle and prosciutto taste, no skimping on the extras. It was a large size to eat as an app for two but it would be perfect to share for a table of 4 or as an individual meal. It was a little salty but I looove salt so no complaints here (it is really just that all the toppings are naturally salty). For the meal, my cousin had a salad which was good, but obviously nothing to write about. I had the scaloppine di vitello con cinzano. They have two veal dishes, this is the breaded one, it sounded better to me because of the sauce. It was very good. Well cooked veal, the sauce was hearty and the pasta was cooked perfect with just the flavor of garlic and oil. Topped with tomato and arugula. Ended the meal with some raspberry sherbet. It was actually very good sherbet. We also walked across the street afterwards to get a second (less healthy) dessert: cupcakes from hey cupcake. The waiter was also very nice and was able to pronounce everything on the menu properly (which is a huge feat) and seemed able to explain what was in all the dishes and the difference between the two veal dishes. Overall, the meal was great, the restaurant was nice, service was perfect (never waited for food without food on the table). Left full and happy.
(5)Monica G.
Pretty awesome. The wine, champagne, appetizers are all delicious. You get food that tastes like luxury. I think the lasagna has veal, and ask for a poached egg on top and it makes it even better. The portions are HUGE, surprisingly (at least for the lasagna), and I was able to save enough to take home. I was kind of bummed that it didn't taste as good reheated (you know how sometimes your leftovers taste better the next day? Still good, but not mind-blowing). It's pricey, but definitely worth the experience. Yelp also says this place is not good for groups, but I went with a group of about 10 or so, and we had a private room. So it's just fine for groups if you make arrangements ahead of time.
(4)C J.
I had only been to Vespaio once, and it was quite some time ago, well before I had a Yelp account. A friend of mine and I were mulling dinner options last week and she suggested Vespaio. Recalling the lengthy wait times, I proposed we might have a back-up plan. Lo and behold when she called we learned they actually had open tables so we rushed over and were seated immediately. What luck! Our waiter, Mike, was great. Of the evening's offerings, he suggested the tuna tartare for an appetizer and then the osso buco (for two) for dinner. The tuna tartare was wonderfully fresh and a great, light start. Served with crisp endive scoops to convey the tartare, one could also pick up some capers and a little chile oil on the plate. It was bright, cool, and delicious. On to the osso buco which was amazing. It was easily the best osso buco I've ever had, and was an enormous portion. Although slated to serve two, it easily could have fed three. It was wonderfully tender with rich, deep flavors and very fragrant from roasted garlic. We found ourselves way too full to enjoy a dessert, so next time I'll have to pace myself with that in mind.
(5)Chris D.
My friend and I popped into Vespaio yesterday, based on a random recommendation from Yelp. Service: No complaints. The hostess and waiter were both friendly. The waiter gave honest and straightforward recommendations. Our drinks came out quickly, and the waitstaff support was very quick to refill water glasses. Wine: Good. We ordered an average-priced glass, and it tasted good. No "I've been open for a week" edge to contend with. Appetizer: We had the Carpaccio. It was delicious. The meat was very good, and it had an arugula & red cabbage salad on top with a very light dressing and capers. I could see ordering this app as a light lunch and being very happy. Entree: We split the lasagna- spinach noodles with multiple meats. It was delicious and very filling. We were very glad to have split it, since the entree would have been HUGE for one person. The waiter warned us that it was very large, and we told him we'd share. They brought it out already divided into two plates, which was very nice. Atmosphere: We sat at a cocktail table in the bar area. It was intimate enough for us to chat and enjoy ourselves, and I could definitely see coming here for a date or stopping in for a glass of wine with a friend.
(4)Warren G.
The food is good - not awesome. And it costs 2-3x as much as other good Italian food in town. So I always leave feeling like I should have gone someplace else.
(3)Ashley H.
Went here from a tip from my husbands co-worker since I love italian food. Grew up in MA where my Pepe had his own secret saaaauce (insert Boston accent). I could eat pasta everyday of the damn week if my hips allowed me to. However, Vespaio was kind of a miss for me. I've had a much better experience at another Austin italian restaurant. Apps we ordered king crab bisque and croquettes. Husband loved the crab bisque but the croquettes were chewy, not as I expected. For dinner I ordered the carbonara and husband had the clams in linguini, both lacked defining flavor. For the price of the meal I was hoping it would be a home run. My favorite part of the meal was the creme brulle, which was tasty. I'm surprised that most italian restaurants that I've been to in Austin don't serve cannoli's. By far, a Boston italian staple. (Husband and wife reviewing the same restaurant = how cute).
(3)Walker S.
We celebrated Valentine's Day (Buon San Valentino Sunday), February 14, 2010 at this upscale SOCO (South Congress) restaurant. Overall, we loved the restaurant, service and food. Highly recommended. One half star lost for feeling a little rushed as they tried to push through as many customers as possible on valentines day. One half star lost for a little too much oil taste on the sea food. We enjoyed the Chianti Classico - San Fabiano Calcumala 2006 ($12 per glass). A Tuscany wine with a church on the estate which dates to 867 AD, The church is dedicated to Pope Fabian, one of the first Christian martyrs killed in the Coliseum. Our antipasto choice was a just made mozzarella ovouni, pereronata, baby arugula with serrano ham served beside two wedge shaped pieces of focaccia bruschetia ($12). It was very good. The focaccia was really good, the cheese ok and the ham very nice. We liked the combination and recommend it. For her entrée Dona ordered the vegan special, mista di verdure, a mixed vegetable plate. It consisted of a serving of roasted acorn, spaghetti squash, parmesan roasted tomato, grilled proccolini and black truffle mashed potatoes ($20): Dona loved the combination both taste and presentation. I ordered the grigliata mista di mare (seafood mixed grill). It was three separate offerings, an oak fire grilled red snapper with green olive tapenade, a crispy jumbo lump crabcake with gribiche aioli and a spice rubbed speckled trout with peperonata over creamy yellow polenta and garlic-chili rapini ($40). The portions were generous, beautiful presentation and delicious. We had to skip dessert because we just felt too full from all the delicious food. Too bad, the offerings looked great. I like the restaurant and recommend you give it a try. Our total bill was $130 including the tip.
(4)Christie B.
I love Vespaio! I have been here many times since its first opened their doors. Food has always been great & service has never been bad. The chopino is my fav. The mixed grill is my husband's. We come for special occasions because its $$$ but well worth it!
(5)Jennifer W.
My first time here for lunch today. I just had a massage and was looking for a light and "slightly" healthy lunch in a relaxing atmosphere - I got most of that. You can always judge a restaurant by how they treat their single customers. I have gotten exasperated looks and crappy tables - not here. I was seated right away at a small table near the bar. Well they are pretty much all small tables near the bar. ( and no exasperated looks :-) They have a nice menu of salads, pasta's, pizza's and sandwiches. Only one soup was offered however - seems these are daily specials (?) I ordered a small Cesar salad ( $7) and the minestrone soup ($6) and iced tea. What I got was a (what I consider) large salad plate and a good sized bowl of soup. Nice! Everything was great - not too much dressing on the salad, lots of cheese, crispy croutons, the soup was served hot with , again, lots of cheese. Flavor great on both. The waiter came by and asked if I would like bread ( uh of course!) only small disappointment here - I got a small plate of thinly sliced and crispy baguette. I really would have preferred a more substantial bread - something butter worthy. The atmosphere - was ..well .. boisterous and they really pack the tables in. I was seated at was was supposed to be a table for 3 - my food took up half the table folks, and while I didn't bump into my neighbors while puling out my seat - it was still a bit to close. Also the noise level is high. This is not the place to go on a 1st, 2nd or even 3rd date - but is probably good for a girls night out - if there are just 3 or 4 of you. So I did not get the relaxing portion of the lunch I was looking for. I did have a great waiter - wish I had gotten his name. Attentive but not overly so. I did order dessert - the Lemon Panna Cotta - yummo! It was a bit richer than I thought it would be but the taste was pure lemon. I ended up taking most of it home with me. I left full and happy and looking forward to a return visit.
(3)Jay W.
I love the atmosphere at this restaurant. The bar is quaint, and can often times be crowded but if you can get a seat, take it and have a pre or post dinner drink. Excellent wine selection and they have my favorite "marollo camomile grappa." The food: I originally had some ups and downs with this place. The food always tasted good, but I thought they overdid a few dishes. They would always put one too many ingredients on their entrees. For example: mushroom risotto with shortribs on top. Leave the shortribs off and just give me risotto. However; over the past two years they have really put together some delicious dishes. Their cioppino is fantastic, as are most of the seafood dishes, and take the advice of the wait staff on the daily specials. This is fine dining, and even though it is Austin, I wouldn't show up in shorts and a t-shirt. They won't turn you away, but you'll feel out of place. Delicious, my favorite place to eat in SoCo, which is one of my favorite Austin neighborhoods.
(3)Nanci C.
Amazing food! The lasagna is delicious! All the dishes are large enough to be shared.
(5)Omar Z.
Hasn't disappointed yet, except maybe for dessert. That was deep. Might explain why I'm not Elite '10. This is fancy Italian that you pay for. It's not The North End. What is North End anyway? Exactly. I had a friend who lived above a hardware store in the North End of Boston. He asked his land lord where he could keep his bicycle. The land lord replied: Just lay it on the sidewalk in front of the store. NO ONE WILL TOUCH IT. Vespaio is a great date place. It's a bit dark and always buzzing. You can wait in the bar area for hours with your date and really develop an opinion as to whether to splurge on her/him/it before you are even seated! Yes, it's that popular! And practical! And as you wait, your senses will be invigorated by all of the tasties inside the glass box wrapping around the bar. I also know people who know people who eat here every week. And that's quite something. Food is somewhat creative and tasty. But I can't be much more specific than that because it has never really blown me away. But if you pair a dinner at Vespaio with a show at the Continental, you can't lose. Oh, and by the way, if you laid your bicycle in front of Vespaio, it wouldn't last 5 minutes.
(4)Scott L.
I like this place, even though it can be expensive and some dishes are better than others. I've been going here almost once a year for about 10 years. I like the ambiance and I like to the sit at the bar. I like the specials, the pizzas and the wine. We had a great soup here once and the a mixed fried plate that was good. It's expensive and there is always a wait. The trendiness can be also, a burden. Go for fun to have wine at the bar and sample something first. If you like that, go for dinner one day. This is one of my favorite places in Austin. I somehow wouldn't expect everyone to like this place. It's definitely not macaroni grill.
(4)Lindsay A.
My review is probably biased because I definitely prefer mom and pop kinds of restaurants. My boyfriend's mother lives out in Bastrop and wanted to go to a really nice Italian place. She picked out Vespaio based on all the excellent yelp reviews. The environment is nice, and it's on Congress which you can't beat, but it's very pricy for what everyone agreed was a pretty mediocre meal. I definitely have remorse about ordering a $30 lasagna, and the calamari was about as good as I've anywhere else in Austin. We didn't order drinks or dessert, so you might keep that in mind. Also I had some beef with our handlebar mustachioed waiter, who seemed a bit condescending to each of us in the party. So, personally, if you're on Congress and looking for a great place to eat, I'd tell you to keep walking past this one. There are plenty of others more worth a chance.
(2)Witty P.
Food pretty good although a little pricey, the review would have been 4 stars but for the over attentive waiter. My friend was having a regular dish from the entre menu but I just wanted the squash ravioli which was on the starter menu for my main course, this made him less than happy. He making a 'disgusted' face and 'humf-ed', then his pretentious foreign accent got stronger as he pretended not to understand that I wanted a starter as my main course because I wasn't too hungry. We were scoping this place out for a birthday party location, but not happening here!
(3)Melissa A.
I do love Vespaio: they have the best beef carpaccio in town, one of the best tuna tartars, excellent in-house pastas and sauces, salads, etc. Be forewarned that they do not take reservations after 6:30 PM, so insider tip is to make your reservation for 6:30, then very leisurely peruse the menu, chat with your dining companion(s), and then order when you start to actually get hungry. Barring that, go on an unpopular day, go when you are not starving, or go kind of later when it is slower. Or, like I just learned, order to-go. That's right, they do their whole menu to-go. This is a brilliant plan on several levels: no dealing with the no reservations policy, waiting for a table at this hugely popular place, no dressing up to go, no fiddling around for hours at the restaurant. I ordered the carpaccio to-go tonight and it was so awesome: ready only 15 minutes from when I called, they gave me a whole loaf of bread to go with it, and it was to the same quality and quantity as every time I have ordered it in the restaurant. Yum! Most brilliant plan ever! Pair with a bottle of wine that you bought at the grocery store and a pasta dish that you also called in to Enoteca next door (almost same quality and half the price). Viola!
(5)eric q.
Here's the breakdown/summary: food: 5 (excellent!) service: 4.5 feel: 1.5 value: 2.5 We went here for an early friday night date (we don't eat at fancy places like this very often) and the restaurant was not busy (maybe 20% occupied). We had great, friendly service and the menu was not lacking options. First curve ball was when I ordered my one drink with dinner (chose glass of wine over a cocktail) and got a very very meager, subpar pour. I'm not chincy, but there's standards on what you should get when you order a "glass" of wine, esp when its $15. My woman worked at vino vino and she backed me up on this. I decided not to say anything and let it go... still, annoying. Food was really great. I had a snapper dish and the lady had cioppino (seafood soup) and we split salad. Fantastic. Our only other compliant was how the restaurant was laid out and how loud it was by the time we left (got busy). I'm skinny and still had a hard time making it through the smashed together tables to get to the bathroom. I guess I just expected a more relaxed, pleasant dining atmosphere when you get to the $75/person price range. maybe i'm crazy... or, maybe you just need to lower your expectations for a small space on S. congress. expect your neighbors to be within elbow distance.
(3)Amanda P.
Five words: House Cured Whipped Lardo Bruschetta. Even our wonderful server who's name escapes me said it was the best thing she's had there in the 12+ yrs of working at the restaurant. I have to agree completely. It's like butter. Excuse me, I believe I just slobbered on myself. My boyfriend & I ventured there last night (Tuesday) and were seated immediately. Our $40-something wine was fantastic along with the Cioppino & the Veal Lasagna. Overall a perfect dining experience for our 4 year anniversary. The dishes were great but nothing was as outstanding as the Bruschetta. I think that might just be my hard judging considering I grew up on my grandmas Italian food though. -One full customer
(5)Lionel F.
Sitting at the bar here, with a glass of wine or a Fernet or a Manhattan, I feel like a regular. The fresh, chewy bread and dip makes me deeply happy. There is nice buzz of people in here, enjoying themselves, ordering small lovely plates of tasty things. My pizza with truffled egg arrives and I have one of those perfect moments like you get when off the path at a little Parisian cafe or a country English pub in the Cotswolds. Vespaio does it all right. The food, the lighting, the music, the staff, the location, the everything. I hear people talk about a small plate being $4 and too much money, go to Olive Garden if you cant afford nice food. Nice food cost money, real money, nice food money. Vespaio is priced in line with what you would expect to pay at a great restaurant. In fact, i think it's pretty reasonable. I give it 5 stars but truly it's one of my top 3 of all restaurants in Austin and has been for a while.
(5)Gary O.
Superb food, service, and wine selection. Had a dinner with several colleagues from work. Nice atmosphere, quiet enough to converse normally while still a lively place. I had the spaghetti carbonara - one of my favorite dishes when done right, but often it isn't. This was great, as was the somewhat unconventional ceasar salad (using spears of romaine). Parking? It's South Congress. But once you get in, enjoy the food and the service. I'll definitely return.
(5)Lindsay J.
We arrived at Vespaio at around 7:30 PM on a Tuesday. Horrible table in the middle of a thoroughfare. SInce they don't take reservations, I cannot mention in advance that this is a special meal. (Boyfriend leaves table to use restroom.) Me, to waiter: "Hi! I just wanted to let you know that today is my boyfriend's birthday. Not sure if you guys do anything special for something like that, but anything would be appreciated." Waiter: "Oh! Yes, we usually comp the desert." Me, smiling, as boyfriend is returning to the table: "Awesome!" Out comes the bread, and a tasty cannelini bean spread and parsely oil. Waiter upsells us to a more expensive bottle of wine than what we had selected. I found this to be slightly obnoxious, because to me, that's saying, "You have bad taste. This is what you should get." Waiter mentions that a salad comes with the boyfriend's mixed grill special. Out come the salads- spinach with roasted red pappers, candied walnuts, and a pancetta vinaigrette. Delicious. Out comes my spaghetti pomodoro ($21) with about 6 small pieces of eggplant in it and the boyfriend's fabulous, three-part mixed grill special ($38). We choose a desert, which arrives with birthday canlde on it, and then the bill. The Good: Mixed grill special, spinach salads, and cannelini bean spread The Bad: One-note spaghetti pomodoro, expensive wine upsale The Inexcusable: We were charged for the second salad AND the birthday desert. I might come back if someone else suggests Vespaio, but it'll be with my suit of armor on, ready to fight the inconsistencies on the bill.
(2)Cindy S.
Best place in austin for brunch crepes. Always friendly service. The atmosphere is casual and cozy.
(5)Paloma M.
Gorgeous atmosphere and Delicious organic Italian food. My husband and I reserved their exclusive romantic corner spot overlooking the nightlife on South Congress on Valentines day. Needless to say my honey did an awesome Job! I recommend the Spaghetti Pomodoro e Melanzane with a red wine. The savory caramelized eggplant in a Chianti-tomato sauce with fresh basil & ricotta salata makes this dish an overwhelmingly high standard of eggplant parmesan:))
(5)scott s.
I wish there were better Italian joints in this town. They all are average. None would survive in Chicago or SF. about 1 out of 4 visits here they get everything right. Usually it's one or two standouts. I think they overreach with too many options, honestly. Wine list well curated though could do better with finding values from Piedmont; nevertheless, probably the best italian list in town (la traviata better priced). Honestly, I'd rather go to botticelli's down the street for Italian food...or even that joint in the gas station on b skyway:)
(3)Keren K.
Oh My Gawww... I just had my first foodgasm, and every girl remembers their first! My gawd, Vespaio was simply yummazing. Let's break it down- Service: 5 stars You're immediately greeted with a smile by such nice hostesses. Our server was attentive, friendly, and amazed at how much we could eat. Bar: 5 stars No dinner is complete without drinks, so this is VERY important to me. I drink a very juvenile drink, and am always kind of embarrassed to order it (cheapest vodka you have with diet coke). No judgement from the bartender. :) The drink was stingingly strong, just the way I like it. And they made sure to keep it flowing. Ambiance: 4 stars. Not the best table set ups I've seen...dangerously close to the other tables, and difficult to navigate through the odd set up to get to the restrooms, but it was not bad ambiance at all. I love the open kitchen to the dinning room (always a mark of a spotless kitchen), love the floor to ceiling wine shelves, and especially love the nostalgic Soprano's feel to it (can you say Vesuvios?). On to the most important point- THE FOOOOOOOOD - 5 Million stars. Always order too much, and this one of those restaurants where everything is ALL worth it- Mussels. Get it. Not a single grain of sand, not a single bad Mussel, and most importantly, it's seasoned so well, that there is NO gross metallic fish taste. Carpaccio. If you're a Carpaccio virgin like I was, this is the place to try it. There was nothing raw about it. The flavor was so amazing. Lemon caper chicken with butter arugula sauce. I've never had chicken actually melt in my mouth... Meat combo thing (forgot the name). Best dish for people who want to try a little of everything. The veal cutlet = SOOOO crunchy and tender. Risotto wagyu beef. This is where the magic happened. First bite had me closing my eyes and savoring every layer of flavor in the risotto. I don't eat carbs, but I will gladly be fat just to eat this risotto. Bit pricey, but totally worth it. And just like that...it was over. Can't wait to go back. Oh Vespaio...you'll always have a special place in my heart.,
(5)Manoj I.
We were here for dinner a couple of times and had a really great experience. They don't have a great wine selection, but the mixed drinks and food is pretty good.
(3)Jennifer B.
I had only been to Vespaio's little sister next door, Enoteca so when invited to dine at Vespaio...I immediately accepted. (Well that wasn't the only reason but it sounds good, no?) We were a party of seven and when I arrived, they had already seated some of the party (it was a Sunday night). In looking at the menu, there is a daily insert and a regular menu. (Meaning... they may not have everything I'm going to tell you about...all the time.) Several appetizers had already been ordered and they were all delicious. Sadly, I don't know what they were exactly but everything was tasty so if it sounds appealing to you; I'd suggest you order it. We didn't get it but whenever I go to Enoteca I always get the mussels (which are really from Vespaio but they still let you order them). They are soooooo good. Get extra french bread, you'll need it! I ordered the crab bisque to start and the Spaghetti Alla Cabonara. Handmade spaghetti tossed in a cream sauce with crisp pancetta, scallions, pecorino romano, parmesan frico, poached egg. I asked about the egg and according to our server, it's traditionally served with a raw egg that you then mix in. Since people get a little worried about raw eggs, the egg is poached, however, they can leave it out altogether if you prefer. I went ahead and left the poached egg on. Both items were incredibly tasty and I enjoyed every last bit of them. For dessert I ordered the Sweet Fritters. I was really full at the time and while they were good, I'd choose something else next time. Great food, great service and great atmosphere (as well as great friends/conversation). Couldn't have asked for a better night!
(5)Patricia H.
Out of all of the "fine-dining" restaurants in Austin, this one is probably one out of 5 that you should go to for the food. Most other places are about style over substance. (I miss OLD Austin, please come back!) This place delivers. (as in, you can count on awesomeness, as opposed to knock on your door with take-out)
(5)Sofia M.
Wonderful date night location. Great wine list. The tuna tartare was delightful, and the linguine with clams was delicious. The prosciutto and egg pizza was very enjoyable yet a little on the salty side. Can't wait to try this place again
(4)Melanie C.
Authentic Italian classics. Delicious; no complaints. Nice bustling atmosphere.
(4)Regina F.
TL;DR the food is so good, the tables are small and close together, and the desserts are insanely beautiful and delicous. The only reason I'm giving four stars is while the decor of the restaurant is lovely, the tables (at least the one my friends and I were at) are rather small and situated close together and the restaurant was full of people. Regardless, the food (I had the proscuitto panini and the fruit napoleon for dessert) is so good. It tastes amazing, even when I took the other half of my panini home and ate it cold a day later. The fruit napoleon was almost too pretty to eat. I also couldn't resist having my first macaroon, which was perfect. And it is a bit expensive, especially for a college student like myself. I paid $14 for my panini and $5.50 for both my desserts. Honestly though, after so much packaged or instant food it was worth it.
(4)Jan W.
Always a go to for a good meal. We love this place! Food is always great and they have some of the best waitstaff/bartenders in Austin.
(4)Brett L.
If you're looking for a good Italian place in Austin, this is it. My girlfriend at the time and I came here and, while it's a great place for a date, I wouldn't recommend it as a first date. It's very "cozy" but you never feel like you're sitting next to other tables. The lighting is dim and bottles of wine line the walls. I had gnocchi and it was some of the best I've had since my time living in New England (and visiting Boston's north end). The wine was good and our server was attentive, knew the menu and was willing to search for a particular wine we wanted (which she eventually found). I definitely recommend Vespaio for a date night. Good food, good service and good atmosphere.
(4)Steve C.
This is one of my favorite places to eat in Austin because their consistent fresh Italian cuisine stands out above the numerous restaurants that pepper Austin's landscape. Vespaio is also the current home of my favorite pizza (yes, even though it is right across the street from Home Slice). Pizza is three simple ingredients: Dough, Cheese and Sauce. But combined properly those three simple ingredients add up to such complex flavors. Like Italian mad scientists, they've perfected the formula of combining flour, cheese, sauce, fresh toppings, and a very hot wood-fired oven to make the perfect pizza. And luckily I know where they're located so I can reap the benefits. As far as the other Italian fare, Vespaio has a very authentic Italian feel to it. The food is spot on. They have a variety of fresh salads and authentic Italian dishes to satisfy any Italian cravings. Risotto is definitely something to try and, even though not a typical Italian dish, their crab bisque is outstanding. Clean, relaxed atmosphere. Friendly staff. They have a good wine selection so be sure to indulge during your dining experience. Odds and ends ... They don't take reservations so be prepared to wait because their food is good.
(5)Vince A.
Great ambiance the food is very good but a little pricey for the quality.
(3)Shaun S.
Vespaio is the top-of-mind, go-to Italian restaurant in Austin. Located in SOCO, diners usually get a lively scene, especially on the first Thursday of each month. The bar -- you're not getting a reservation so expect to wait 1-1.5 hours. Head to the bar and get lost in the depth of their wine list. If you get overwhelmed the staff can help. I do wonder why they don't have a sommelier. The ambiance of the bar, and the whole restaurant for that matter, is fantastic. Lasagna -- Best.Ever.Period. Service -- always top tier service from know-how, can-do waitstaff. On this specific occasion, I ordered up the classic lasagna which blew me away yet again. My girlfriend ordered the risotto with scallops, where the fish beat the rice in a first round knockout. Partly because the scallops were amazing, partly because the risotto had an odd, old dish towel taste. This place is a 4.5 for me. I would eat here once a week if I could afford it!
(4)A M.
Hidden gem on South Congress. How did I possibly not know this was here sooner? Thank you Yelp for discovering this place for me! We went here tonight, and it was absolutely fantastic. Super quaint little atmosphere, dark, tables close in together, kinda makes you feel like your in Europe. The service was only okay, but at the same time this is a place that definitely fills up. However at the same time there was no wait for 2, at 7:30 pm on a Friday night. Sure beats the places slightly North like Home Slice. The calamari was great, on many pieces though they keep the legs on. Very generous portion with a delicious garlic based sauce. I then had the ravioli and my boyfriend the veal meatballs with pasta. We were both completely floored with how incredibly tasty our meals were! On top of it they have great italian soda and wine. I am an Italian restaurant snob, so you should take this review pretty seriously. The only point to note though is that if you do not like close together tables in a small and loud environment, then this may not be the place for you. But the food makes it completely worth it!
(5)Manish P.
My wife's favorite restaurant!! (I love it also) Great Service, Great wine list, Great fresh food!
(5)Corey W.
Vespaio makes some really good Italian food, no questions asked. It's not the best I've ever had, and for the most part nothing stands out about it from most nice Italian places. If you think the Olive Garden is nice, Vespaio will blow your socks off and then some. If you're used to eating at places that start with Trattoria, you'll feel right at home. The service is good, if a bit impersonal. I can't figure out if they try to be extraordinarily ordinary, or if that's just how it comes across. Also worth noting: the waiter I had wasn't familiar enough with the wine list to have recommended what I was asking for. C'est la vie. And that's really all I have to say about that.
(4)Jim D.
Just had to write a review as we enjoyed this place so much. There is so much average Italian food to be had - and this was thankfully not one of those restaurants. The food was just outstanding, we had a salmon/risotto special and lasagna for main dishes. Both were special. We had an excellent waiter as we sat in the bar and got a great wine recommendation from him. And the best part - we sat and enjoyed this awesome meal for over 2.5 hours. No throwing the food at you as quick as possible to clear way for the next people. Excellent food, excellent service, we will be back many times.
(5)Kris U.
I recently enjoyed the crab risotto for dinner. It had a good portion of lump crab meat in the center, surrounded by a bright yellow risotto; it was quite a thing of beauty. For dessert I had the panna cotta with blood orange slices and it was perfect: simple, light yet creamy, and delicious.
(5)Tara C.
Great Italian restaurant! My favorite is the butternut squash ravioli. Fun to sit at the bar and eat!
(5)Aaron S.
Beautiful and comfortable restaurant and bar. Warm and relaxing ambience, especially at night. Lovely open kitchen. Excellent service. Peroni beer on tap! Very nice selections available in each category of the menu. Prices are average for Austin, while the execution of the food each time I've been here has been flawless and well presented. They even have their own herb garden out back. Good Italian food in this town is rare. Theirs is great and is among the best Italian food I've had in Austin. This is a great place to bring friends and family to when they come to town and is ideal for dates. Many thanks to Vespaio for providing Austin with such a fine dining option.
(5)Magdalena T.
I go to Vespaio every time I visit Austin, and it never disappoints. The ambiance is homey and comfortable, the food is reliably delicious, the staff friendly and attentive. I'm a big fan of their clam linguine, tuna tartare, prosciutto pizza with sunny side up eggs and white truffle oil... and of course their desserts. Yum! I am looking forward to my next visit in two weeks!
(5)walter u.
Went for Sunday brunch. The place was bustling. Our server seemed overwhelmed. He never brought our bread basket appetizer, but charged us. Also, had the scrapple and it was slimy when served to me. Scrapple should be either pan-fried or deep fried and have a crunchy exterior and slightyly firm interior. This place must be better than what I experienced. I'm willing to give it another try sometime, just not when they're so slammed.
(3)Michael H.
We went for dinner Saturday night to celebrate our anniversary. Service was excellent. Food was excellent. We each had a salad. The shrimp dish I had was good, but could have used a little more sauce for flavor. The green beans were fresh-excellent. We also had a steak dish that was perfectly cooked. The after dinner coffee was good- dry Cappuccino made just the right way. They even brought us a little gelato for dessert.
(4)Jill M.
Normally, if I waited two hours then paid $50 to split an entree and have a single glass of wine, I'd be disconsolate; however, that's exactly what I did last night at Vespaio, and I'm fairly content. The service and atmosphere at Vespaio are upscale but laid back, and the food is excellent. Jonathan W. and I are on a pretty strict nutrition plan right now, but some friends came in from out of town and just had to try Vespaio, and I really didn't think there was going to be anything there we could eat. But thanks to the recommendation of our excellent server, Jonathan and I decided split "Bistecca Tagliatta" which was a steak served in a red wine reduction. Normally it comes with fried potatoes, but the waiter recommended some substitutions that would be within our diet, so our sides were asparagus and spinach, both of which were delicious. Our friends really enjoyed the Caesar Salad, Spaghetti Pomodoro, and items off the daily special menu: lamb and gnocci, quail risotto, and beef risotto. When we're off the diet and feel like spending some money on a special night out, Vespaio will definitely be at the top of our list.
(4)Jens B.
After a lazy morning/afternoon watching European Championship Footie at Cuatro's, it was wedding time at the Cathedral of Junk. The wedding was fine, but we were starving, so we split a little early with Vespaio on our mind. I was thinking, man 8ish on a Saturday night, this place will be packed, but the draw of awesome Italian was well worth the risk. We arrived, the wait was an hour, and the bar was pretty filled up. We were greeted by the wonderful french bartender, whose name I always forget, with a smile. Immediately, I made fun of the French national team, who just lost 4-1 to my home boys from Holland....he quickly retorted at least the French were in the tournament, as the English didn't even qualify.. nice one! I mentioned that we were on the wait, but would love to sit at the bar for dinner... we actually prefer it to being in the main dining area. So we ordered a bottle of wine, asked for his preference, and viola a perfect selection... It also happened to be the cheapest white on the menu, +1 star. I wasn't sure if that was a jab or not, but what was true it was great selection for us. A little more about the wine in second. It was about 10 mins, and we were able to sit at the bar... GREAT! For the appetizer we ordered the fresh Mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes and basil... No salmonella here, just truly fresh flavors and wonderfully presented. The fresh basil tasted like they had chopped it right out of their garden a minute before serving it to us. Small little green ribbon bits of flav o flav. I chose the Seafood Stew, and Suzie M ordered the Veal Ziti. Again, great suggestions from our French Dude. Now back to the wine. We were seated at the bar, and in front of us were two bottles, in chrome coolers. The bar was busy, and the bartenders were very attentive to serving our wine. I finished my second glass and decided to help myself to what I thought was our bottle....there was about a glass left, so I just filled up my glass, turned the bottle upside down and put it back into the chrome cooler. When Suzie M finished her glass, French Dude asked her if she wanted more, and I thought well perhaps another bottle since I had just drained it?.. however, it was then I realized when the French Dude, grabbed the other bottle to pour her a glass, that I had emptied a bottle of wine which belonged to a couple which was waiting for a table behind us... Dohh... French Dude looked at me, I looked at him, red faced, I told him, I just emptied the wrong bottle into my glass about 5 minutes ago.. we laughed, he said not a problem, went to the cooler and grabbed another bottle and served the couple behind us, and asked them if they wanted another bottle, they declined, and he saved the day.. didn't charge me for the "twit of the moment" event... +1 star for that! Their bottle was $20 more than ours, and I liked our's much better.. great choice! My seafood stew was chock full of goodness. 6 Mussels, 5 Clams, two huge 20ct shrimps and halibut mixed with a wonderful tomato broth, and two foot long brochette to sop up the broth with... perfection.. Suzie M's Veal Ziti was a perfect combination of spice, texture and sauce... we finished it later in the evening when we got home.. We have been to Vespaio's on many occasions, but I don't like to Yelp anything we haven't visited recently.. We almost always sit at the bar, so we can meet new folks, and laugh with our French Dude behind the bar... The food is always top notch and the atmosphere laid back...An Austin Gem..
(5)Molly U.
This place had me at softshell crab risotto. We came here for my birthday - the seven of us - and despite it being a Saturday, they took our names and got us seated pretty quickly. The hostess was super friendly (bc I was totally afraid we weren't going to be able to get in) and showed us to our table. Our server (wish I had gotten her name) was wonderful dealing with us. She let us take our time deciding, but even if we were distracted got our attention without being obnoxious. She also came by to tell us there were less than 5 left of the special, softshell crab risotto. I thanked her. She was my hero that night. We then ordered a lot of drinks, a lot of appetizers, and each of us got entrees. OMG the beef carpaccio? DELISH. I can't remember the other appetizers we got but they were delish. Oh and my softshell crab risotto with scallops? Divine. I say this time and time again but it's really too bad we only have one stomach. And then my friends surprised me with dessert they had brought. The server once again was super gracious, brought out plates, spoons, lit candles even if it wasn't from the restaurant. I ordered a cappuccino and was in heaven. I had a severe food pregnancy going on but whatever. Thank you Vespaio for a wonderful, memorable birthday dinner. Thank you to the Asian lady server that was awesome - your service was top-notch.
(4)Andy W.
I travel to Austin for work fairly often and this is a place I like to make sure I go to at least once. I've never had a bad meal here. They pay attention to all the little details. The bread at the beginning of the meal is always fresh and served with a pesto butter. The most recent visit, I had a risotto (which is made to order) with chicken on top. This is one of my favorite risottos I've tried. It was cooked perfectly, slightly chewy and the chicken was really a nice surprise - basically a chicken breast, that was seared and quartered and still had the skin on, much different (and better than I was expecting). The arrabbiata sauce served with the calamari is another one of those nice details. It has just a little subtle heat and make for the perfect dipping sauce.
(5)Chris R.
First off, the food is ok. I go here quite often but after today i will never return. Just ran into the "owner" and have never been treated so poorly. He is a homophobic asshole and a racist and was very disrespectful to me and my friends.
(1)Sam P.
Actually, probably 3 1/2 stars. Service was great. Ambiance very nice. Vibe good. Just that a couple of our dishes were meh-ish. Fresh pasta was good. I'd go back.
(3)Israel D.
Went here last Friday and they knocked it out of the ballpark. The house wines were fantastic, the calamari was perfect, and the service was spot-on. My main course was a grilled seafood mix. On the left I had three huge garlicky grilled shrimp on top of some white cheddar polenta that I couldn't stop snarfing down. In the middle was a decent-sized crabcake with a garden chili aioli. To the right, a huge piece of whitefish on top of roasted cauliflower all drenched in a Meyer lemon butter sauce. I ate the whole damned thing and I'm still thinking about it days later. This is what happens when you keep the faith. I knew Vespaio wouldn't let me down.
(4)Sydney T.
I was extremely impressed with this place. We came to Enoteca for a birthday party on a Monday night. I arrived ahead of the rest of the party and so sat at the bar for a bit. That was fun and if you don't feel like eating here (silly) it's still worth staying a bit at the bar to visit with the friendly regulars. Enoteca doesn't take reservations, and the leader of the party kept changing the number of people who were attending, so I was extremely impressed with our host, who not only worked really hard to get us a table, but when he realized we were in for a LONG wait, he called over to Vespaio to see whether they could seat us. They could, so he ushered us over. He was super gracious and helpful, and for that I will be visiting Enoteca again, hopefully to eat. On to Vespaio. Our waiter was extremely courteous and helpful. Even though we weren't a rowdy crowd there were quite a few of us and I thought he handled us well. The food was very good. This is an excellent choice for a celebration or a romantic dinner, but I would not choose it for a simple night out. The suggested red wine paired well with the pizza we chose, so that made our meal even better. One member of our party ordered a steak, which looked delectable. Everything came out beautifully presented, but I didn't try any food other than my own pizza, which had goat cheese and was delicious. I think this would be a good choice to treat out-of-town guests, as long as they're not picky. I didn't think the fare was super adventurous, but the meat-and-potatoes people in our party complained that the food was "too fancy" which detracted from the overall lovely ambiance of our dining experience.
(4)Kirk F.
Excellent pasta--best I've found in Austin, and Vespaio would stand-up in any city outside of Italy. Service is professional, wine list is deep and fairly priced. I kinda wish they would take reservations, especially for larger parties, but on the other hand I appreciate the democracy of first come, first served, and South Congress is a cool place to kill some time while waiting for a table. Lots of places to get a drink or buy some boots or whatever and wait for them to call you. No worries...
(5)Alex L.
well, what can I say about a restaurant I've eaten at 6 times and not once did anything suck? The carpachio(I probably spelt that wrong) was intense, probably orgasmic, if I can say that on here. The mixed greens with the lemon dressing turn on taste buds in my tongue I didn't know I had. Had a seafood soup that starts with C, that was phenomenal. I went home and realized that no mater how many cookbooks I buy, cooking classes I take, I will never recreate the flavors these guys/gals come up with. Since I never end up paying for my restaurant adventures, I can't comment on price, so if you are being invited here for whatever reason, TRY IT ALL!!!!!!!
(5)Allison B.
Vespaio is delicious, solid Italian food, with many fresh seafood choices. The wine list isn't all that impressive, but the atmosphere and waitstaff make up for it. It's really expensive, but great for a special occasion.
(4)Rebecca L.
This place is nice for dates, but I wouldn't really recommend coming here as a group. Especially if certain people in your group annoy the hell out of you. I will explain why later. Walking in, we were greeted promptly by the hostess and a guy who looked like the manager. We had a party of seven and they told us it would take a moment, so we went outside to take pictures. When we went back inside, they seated us in a room that I like to call the wine room, because the walls were covered with shelves of wine. It was like being in a wine library. Great ambiance. Something weird that I noticed was that every hour or so someone would turn the lights down even lower. Even though it was dark outside...? Confused about that. The restaurant wasn't too crowded. Our waitress came by a couple of minutes after we were situated and promptly brought us our waters and a glass of house white for moi. She was pretty good about checking in on us and keeping our waters filled and our bread basket stocked. So one of the girls decided to leave because she started feeling sick (I don't think this was related to Vespaio) and the rest of us decided to split entrees. There were two orders of Cioppino, one order of the clam linguine, and an order of the halibut. The portions were not two big and not too small. My friend said the halibut was a little bland, but I enjoyed the subtle smoky flavor of the fish. The accompanying PEI mussels were tender and also a little smoky, reminiscent of a campfire on a crisp fall night. The halibut was nestled on top of a bed of mashed spuds along with some vegetables and broth (sauce?). Overall, delicious. Didn't get to try the other dishes but they also looked really tasty. Everything was going pretty well until we were done eating. We waited for the check for what seemed like forever until we found out that someone had told our waitress it was my friend's birthday...so they brought out some ice cream with a candle in it. I thought that was what took our check so long, and we were expecting our check shortly after that but no. Another ten minutes went by before we got the check. Then came the headaching process of deciding how to split our astronomically large bill. (mmm that seafood sure adds up quick) During the time it took for our check to get here I had to listen to aforementioned annoying member of our party yammer on like the socially awkward freak she was. Summary: Great place to take someone on a date if you're trying to impress them and get in their pants. Not good for birthday dinners or poor college students. Also, be prepared to drop some stacks.
(4)Louie G.
I went here with a couple of friends recently... WOW! The food bypassed all of our expectations. We all kept eating from my friend's seafood stew... yummy! Every dish at our table was wonderful... my carbonara had the world's most perfect poached egg on top. The salads were even fantastic! When we arrived there was over an hour wait, but the hostess asked for a cell phone number and encouraged us to visit the surrounding shops. I don't know why no other restaurants do this... very smart idea! The only reason I did not give this restaurant 5 stars was because of the pricing. I felt it was pretty steep for the neighborhood, and the prices were far removed from the menu on their website. Regardless, this will be a 'special occasions' restaurant for us in the future for sure!
(4)Gary D.
Great restaurant! Food is fantastic, great European wine list! A must place to eat in South Austin.
(4)