Michael B.
Yelp
NONNA Osteria is regularly called the best Italian food in San Antonio. That may be true, but that doesn't mean it's a great choice for Italian food in general.
NONNA isn't your generic pizza and pasta restaurant. While there is a small pizza menu, traditional Italian appetizers like Burrata, pastas like carbonara, and desert like tiramasu are the focus. The execution is just, well, off. The carbonara is an over salted heavy dish with an off color. Egg yolk yellow is what you'd expect, porridge white is closer to what's served. The ravioli zucca had a decadent filling trapped inside an undercooked shell. Al dente is fine, undercooked is not. The red velvet cake was beautifully presented, but was dense like bread and filled with a semi solid compote. If this was a neighborhood Italian restaurant this would all be excusable. However, the culinary aim here is much higher. It just needs to be proven.
There a lot to like besides the disappointing dishes. The entry through the wine bottle cases is very inviting. The clean chic interior is perfect for a business lunch or date night. Staff is perfectly attentive and not overbearing. Waitress Lauren is as good a server as could be had anywhere and deserves compliment. A restaurant at this level must execute higher, especially given how many other things are going for them.