French Italian Restaurant Gina’s Opens in Downtown Austin on Congress | Eater Austin
"Opening December 9 in the long-vacant La Traviata space at 314 Congress Avenue in downtown Austin, Gina’s on Congress is a new French-Italian bistro from Flavor Hospitality Group. I expect a menu focused on house-made pasta — including mafaldine with mushrooms and conchiglie with pork sausage and broccoli rabe — as well as steak tartare with quail eggs, shrimp with prosciutto, mussels and frites, and larger meat dishes like a veal chop, braised lamb shank, and cod; desserts listed are affogato, gelatos, cannoli, and lemon tarts. Drinks will include cocktails such as the It’s Raining in My Champagne (gin, limoncino, sparkling wine), the Kiss Kiss (sparkling wine, raspberries, mint), seven types of Negronis, plus wine and espresso. The name references the Italian word regina (“queen”) and actress Gina Lollobrigida; executive chef Jason Tallent (who opened Gràcia and previously worked at Cipollina) will lead the kitchen. Initial hours are dinner daily from 4 to 10 p.m., with lunch and brunch planned to be added in January 2024, and the restaurant occupies a storied 1800s building that has been a jail, brothel, office, saloon, and restaurant over the years." - Erin Russell
