Vespaio Restaurant
Austin, TX 78704-3522
Phone: (512) 441-6100
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Milton Street
- Best of Citysearch:
- People Watching 2005
- Hours:
- Tue-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm, Sun 5:30pm-10pm, Bar opens at 5pm daily
Editorial Review for Vespaio Restaurant – by Susan Kirr
In Short
At the entrance, a lighted deli case beckons with glittering plates of antipasti. The restaurant has just 15 tables, and faces a brick oven and open kitchen. At peak hours, the din can be deafening, and diners may have to strain to hear conversation. Starters include oven-dried tomatoes with fresh basil and a pairing of sliced braesola with aged provolone. Bigeye tuna is gently seared; eggplant caponata is complemented with white polenta.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoDaily specials run almost as long as the regular menu and merit a good perusing, since they draw on what's fresh and in season.
What to DrinkIn addition to a full bar, Vespaio also offer a considerable wine list, plus ports, grappas, calvados, brandies and dessert wines.
The ExtrasOn your way out, check out the garden, which supplies fresh herbs and greens to the restaurant.
Local FavoritesVespaio remains one of Austin's most popular restaurants, and the wait can still be one to two hours on weekends. Still, reservations are not accepted on Friday and Saturdays.
User Reviews for Vespaio Restaurant
07/06/2008 Posted by jellibeans
This place was so crowded, we bumped elbows with the table next to us. It was my date's favorite italian in town. We made reservations but still waited half an hour. Nice rustic brown interiors, the ambience might have been good if it wasn't so darned busy. Prices were pretty high. The food was really oily and not as tasty- I felt like I was missing some essential italian herbs. I was pretty dissapointed.
Pros: Nice decor, popular so good for people watching
Cons: crowded, food ok but overpriced
06/13/2008 Posted by skwasniak
Vespio is the best Italian in Austin--and probably one of the top restaurants in Austin. Here's the little known secret: The best way to have fun and enjoy Vespio is to sit at the bar, which is much livelier than the restaurant. Tom, the bald bartender with glasses, is among the best mixologists ever. Sit at the bar and let him recommend the food and wine pairings. The tuna tartar is to die for, so that's a must. And Tom will set you up with a nice antipasto plate and maybe a pasta for sharing. Maybe a salad too, and you're full. No need for entrees for each person. After reading the prior review, I felt obligated to share my opinion. It's so weird that those people thought Enotica is fabulous and Vespio is not. Hello...it's the same owner and chef, except Enotica is a little cheaper / casual and doesn't serve the tuna tartar. They're both great!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
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