02/11/09

A taste of Italy

by foodlovinmom

I used City Search to research restaurants for a recent 5 day stay in Austin. I was impressed with the reviews others gave this restaurant. It did not disappoint. Beginning with the bartender who was so friendly and offered suggestions on the wine and the food and the waiter who made us feel we were the most important people in the restaurant. The food was spectacular...the Duck Bolognese was fabulous as was everything else to include the dessert which was a cappuccino flavored mousse that was to die for.

Don't miss this one!!

• Pros: Food, service
• Cons: no cons for us

01/25/09

love it

by ellenrose5

great menu, great quality, great service! it's a little small and can get loud so i wouldn't recommend if you are trying to have an intimate dinner.

• Pros: quality of food
• Cons: the wait time

08/11/08

LOVE!

by veggielaura

LOVE, LOVE this place. love everything about it really. (oh, except it can get pretty loud - but i won't be stopped!) everything i've eaten here has been delicious. the butternut squash ravioli - YUM, the pizza - great, salad - yes, dessert - give me more! i also love how slow it is. you are not rushed to give up your table for the people waiting. they bring you each dish with a pause between - it gives you time to unwind and relax and TALK! such a great place to go when the kids are home with the sitter!! give me more!!

oh, and we went a little early, put our name on the list, gave them our cell #, walked around the shops and they called us when our table was ready. love it!

08/01/08

Nice place for a date, night out, etc

by gourmethunters

It's a romatic place with pretty good italian food. Everything has so much butter and that's totally not italian at all though. Service is pretty good, not the most impressive. Quality of food is not consistent. I eat here pretty often and I order pretty much same appitizer/dish and the taste of food changes every time.

• Pros: better than other italian places in town
• Cons: i am curious to know if they clean their ice machine well

07/06/08

it's okay, too moo much hype

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

06/13/08

Best Italian in Austin

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!

05/19/08

Terrible! What gives?

by justeatit

My husband and I were looking for a new restaurant late on Saturday night. We gave up and tried Enoteca because we loved it, but it was closed. So we ventured next door to Vespaio, thinking you can't screw up Italian food. WRONG!

We started with a cocktail as we browsed the impressive menu and wine list. I was excited. it looked great! We ordered a bottle of wine, per our usual routine, and got vinegar! It was terrible! We ordered the flavorless, rubbery calamari and cesar salads (which were pretty good).

We then ordered our meal. The waitress recommended the veal which was tough and salty. It tasted like Luby's chicken fried steak. To be fair, the fried zuccini was crispy and fresh.

My husband's lasagna tasted like chef boyarde... plasticy and sausage-heavy.

The food was over-priced and all we could do is laugh at the experience. At least our hefty bill could count as entertainment. We learned to never go to a place just because it's open... and we will never again go back to Vespaio.

I just can't understand why there are so many great reviews. Either nobody knows anything about food or wine or they are just stacking their own blog.

• Pros: Great location, fun people watching, temperature
• Cons: everything else!

03/06/08

OMG! The food is outstanding!

by ek3113

Okay! So the wine we ordered wasn't our favorite. That has more to do with my complete lack of knowledge about Italian wine. But the food...Oh My Goodness was it good. The Funghi con Polenta appetizer consisted of fire-roasted (almost smoked) mushrooms in the most amazing gorgonzola cream sauce. I literally said to the table that "I'd like a little privacy so that I can be alone with my food". I didn't think they could top the app, but the Kurobuta Pork Short Rib over Risotta was one of the best things I've ever tasted. It was on the nightly specials, so be sure to look for it. The hostess managed the news that we were 9 people on a busy Wednesday evening without a hint of panic. (grace under pressure) Our server, Kenneth, managed our large table consisting of both foodies and several who "don't get out much" really well. He made sure that as the specials began running short, we knew it and could get ours reserved. I don't know why I have never been to Vespaio before. I've always been meaning-to-go. Now! I wonder if I'll want to go anywhere else?

• Pros: Food, Rustic Atmosphere, Lively
• Cons: The restroom was so cold you could have stored meat in there

03/03/08

maybe pretty ok

by dp2me

i thought it was ok (food). wife thought it wasn't too great.(food) we thought the server treated us like we should be lucky to be there (sunday night 3/2/08 - figure it out management..). he didn't know wine and was too hip for himself. a turn off for a pricey place - give me some pro's or people that can act the part. because of him, i wouldn't go back or recommend. i mean - i used to eat at italian restaurants in san francisco's north beach all the time and the servers and owners would treat me like their 2nd cousin and they were all young and hip too.

02/24/08

simply amazing!

by carterpatron

My favorite food in Austin. This place is great! Cost a bit more than I care to spend but you get what you pay for!

I love it!

• Pros: FOOD
• Cons: WAIT