Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Austin

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in Austin? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

It's Italian Cucina

4.9

4.9 (941)

$31 to $50

Italian

South Austin

About the restaurant

Northern Italian Cuisine, A True Piedmont Restaurant, Martini and Wine Bar, along with an Award winning Patio (il Cortile) Comfortable and cool in Summer with misting fans, and warm in winter with heaters.
Our philosophy - is one of Cucina Italiana! We cook for you as we do for our family with “Una Passione Grande” in a polished casual atmosphere.
Our focus on the menu, includes fresh handmade pasta, seafood, meats, cheese, and desserts, along with handmade craft cocktails and award winning wine list.

Top review

KarinVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Rather than each of us ordering an entree and one appetizer, we decided to go the tasting menu route. We ordered a half a dozen small plates and shared. Each plate was uniquely prepared and simply delicious. The Pianist added a nice, quiet, ambience.

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Experience

Half Prices Bottles of Wines Wednesday

Experience

Happy Hour Tues-Fri in Bar & Patio Only 5-6:30 PM

Experience

Complimentary Wine Tasting Thursday

Red Ash Italia

4.9

4.9 (4360)

$50 and over

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Wood Fired hand crafted Italian food set in a rustic modern open space in the warehouse district in ATX. A wide range of specialty dishes created by Chef owner John Carver and his staff on a nightly basis. Our house made Pastas, Fresh Seafood, and Prime Steaks are all prepared on wood fired grill, oven and plancha. An International wine list, specialty craft cocktails, and local brewed beers to choose from. Dolce and some Grappa, Amaro or Vino Dolce to add to your dining experience at Red Ash Italia.

// We happily accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and cash. We are unfortunately not able to accept tap to pay.

Top review

Danielle

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent food and outstanding service from Miles!

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Popular dish

Red Snapper Crudo

Popular dish

Hot Chocolate Gianduja Cake

Popular dish

Pappardelle alla Bolognese

Intero

4.9

4.9 (1790)

$31 to $50

Italian

East Austin

About the restaurant

Just as in Italy where the food is genuine and locally sourced, you'll find the same at Intero with farm-to-table Italian cuisine. At its core, the concept behind Italian cooking stems from necessity and gratitude for regionally available ingredients. Intero, translating to “whole’’ in Italian, embraces this concept utilizing local ingredients from their entirety, paired with traditional Italian techniques and cooking sensibilities. This naturally sustainable approach allows for innovative, yet familiar dishes that highlight the seasonal availability of what’s grown and raised in Texas.

Additionally, Intero provides an authentic nod to the sweet side of Italy offering specialty house-made artisan chocolates (including truffles, barks, and sipping chocolate) along with other traditional Italian desserts in classic, seasonal and unique flavors.

Enjoy various Amari, select wines and craft cocktails indoors or out, set in Intero's modern casual atmosphere.

Top review

Erin

Dined 4 days ago

Very good service and food, would recommend for a date or nice evening out. They were great about accommodating dietary restrictions and it’s so nice to see a restaurant take an inclusive approach to their menu and show genuine care for our experience.

POETA at Swoop House & Garden

4.9

4.9 (19)

$50 and over

Italian

East Austin

About the restaurant

Escape to the heart of Central East Austin, where a hidden gem awaits at Poeta... This captivating Italian inspired restaurant offers a new Chef's Tasting-Menu each month, crafted by award-winning chefs with seasonality and approachable in mind. Re-established in 2025, and embraced within the inviting, 1930’s historic bungalow “Swoop House”, Poeta exudes rustic charm combined with modern sophistication. From dinner to happy hour, specialty brunches and events, Poeta provides an unforgettable dining experience. Wander through the garden space for extended evening drinks and dessert...
Poetry / like food / is meant to be shared. Our words can evoke, comfort, inspire, fulfill, provoke, ultimately adding meaning to our lives and nutrition to our souls. Akin to putting words on a page, bringing ingredients together on a dish is our poetry; the love of preparing and sharing food from the heart is what brings out the poet in us…

Top review

Erica

Dined 2 days ago

We had an amazing experience at Poeta. Service was impeccable and the food was all outstanding.

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Experience

JULY Chef's Tasting Menu

Quattro Gatti Ristorante e Pizzeria

4.8

4.8 (1566)

$31 to $50

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

A neighborhood gem! This family-run Italian restaurant offers a chic, rustic atmosphere in a downtown Austin landmark historic 1876 building. Enjoy outdoor sidewalk cafe dining just steps from the Texas State Capitol (dog friendly).
We feature a wide variety of authentic Italian pastas, pizza, meats, seafood & unique daily specials. (GF and Veg options). Daily specials highlight the freshest and most seasonal offerings, such as Rigatoni Alla Norcina (sausage with truffle oil), house-made Gnocchi Sorrentina, and Whole Roasted Fish. Gelato, sorbets and desserts are delicious and made in-house.
The cozy full-bar offers classic Italian cocktails and a sizable wine list representing Italy’s diverse regions.
All breads and pizza are made daily using naturally leavened dough and an ancient fermentation process; this improves digestibility and creates a delicious flavor. Neapolitan pizzas are baked at 1000 degrees in a wood-fired brick oven. Your new Austin favorite.

Top review

Dined 6 days ago

Service was great and the restaurant is so cute! Prices are reasonable and the food was amazing. I can’t wait to go back!!

Vespaio Austin

4.8

4.8 (1871)

$31 to $50

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Vespaio Restaurant is one of the original South Congress eateries and remains one of Austin's favorite Italian go-to's among locals and visitors. This casual dinner venue is a popular choice for date nights or evenings out with friends, seating every day at 5pm. The interior of Vespaio Restaurant is decorated with ceiling tiles, ceiling plans, vintage pendant lighting, classic table seating, a plethora of wine racks and vibrant accent walls.In addition to a full bar menu, Vespaio Restaurant offers a lengthy selection of mouth-watering and flavorful authentic Italian dishes. Menu items include carpaccio, mixed seafood stew, lasagna, mussels, calamari, spaghetti carbonara, chocolate hazelnut cake, panna cotta and green pasta with shrimp. Everything on the menu is sourced locally and prepared in-house, including the pasta, bread and pastries.

Top review

WilliamVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Always the best! Thanks to the bar staff for making our day awesome and making the birthday girl happy!

Sammie's Italian

4.8

4.8 (1630)

$31 to $50

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Sammie’s is a little taste of old Italy in downtown Austin. It celebrates the great ‘red sauce’ institution—inspired by old school, legendary Italian-American restaurants. The menu offers classic dishes in a casual but sophisticated, retro-designed space that is both lively and comfortable, capturing the essence of a night out at your favorite neighborhood joint. The space consists of a central dining room overlooking Shoal Creek and 6th Street, polished wood bar, Mildred’s Room (a private dining/wine room), and wraparound patio dining area. Please note that patio seating is weather contingent.

The menu offers riffs on standards including Housemade Mozzarella Sticks, Clams Casino, and Caesar Salad a la Tommy; timeless pastas like Spaghetti with Meatballs, and Linguine Vongole; and Sammie’s Classics: big portions of iconic plates like Chicken and Eggplant Parmigiana, Veal Marsala, and Baked Manicotti.

Top review

Vita

Dined 2 days ago

Food was phenomenal. drinks were strong, but still very tasty. service was spot on. I forget our servers name but he was very attentive and kind. definitely will dine again, thank you for making my birthday special, really appreciated the special touches!

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Popular dish

Caesar Salad alla Tommy

4.7

4.7 (523)

$31 to $50

Italian

Georgetown

About the restaurant

We offer a seasonal menu to ensure you receive only the freshest ingredients year round. All pasta is freshly handmade daily for a truly amazing taste and texture profile. Do not forget to explore the high end; climate controlled wine cellar to find the perfect wine. The onsite wine director and owner, Vira will be more than happy to help you pick the perfect vino to enhance your elegant meal.

Top review

LisaVIP

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

A night out to celebrate and La Riv was a wonderful choice. Highly recommend the restaurant.

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Siena Ristorante Toscana

4.7

4.7 (2702)

$31 to $50

Italian

Northwest

About the restaurant

For over 20 years Siena has been Austin’s premier destination for authentic Tuscan cuisine. Locally owned and operated Siena's owners wanted to share their love of Tuscany with Austin diners. Utilizing the talents of long time veteran of the Austin food scene, Chef Harvey Harris, Siena's goal is to transport the dinner from the hills of North Austin to the rolling hills of Toscana. Chef Harvey received his Master's Chef in Italian cuisine while attending culinary school in Piedmonte Italy, but his heart is in Tuscany where he lived and worked. All food at Siena is prepared to order, pasta is made fresh daily as well as all stocks and sauces. Our food is complemented by an award-wining wine cellar and served in rustic, elegant surroundings of thick stone walls and tall wood-beamed ceilings. Whether visiting for happy hour, special event, or a romantic evening, experience the welcoming charm of Tuscany close to home.

Top review

Christopher

Dined 4 days ago

Everything was wonderful. Love the interior of the building, it’s beautiful. Great service!

Juniper

4.7

4.7 (2807)

$31 to $50

Italian

East Austin

About the restaurant

Consistently listed in the top 10 best restaurants in the city by the Austin American-Statesman, Juniper combines locally-sourced, hyper-seasonal Texas ingredients and old world technique, creating comforting yet innovative dishes that connect Northern Italy to Central Texas.

Rounding out the offerings are a world-class beverage program and a special 6 course Tasting Menu at $110 per person, which guests can pair with an optional 6 course wine tasting at $65 per person.

Located on the 2nd floor of Juniper, our private event space can accommodates groups of all sizes. Perfect for holiday parties, networking events, corporate dinners, luncheons, birthday parties, and weddings. Select the Private Dining below to view additional information.

Top review

AlanVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Excellent service matched by excellent cuisine. The only thing we did not like was the high-end music, better than most, but sort of blah.

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