Trattoria Lisina

Was very disappointed by this dinner. The place looks nice. The prices are expensive but the food was very average. Huge letdown meat was not well cooked. The ambience seemed nice. It was a beautiful space but again disappointing they didn't open the curtain so it was dark and tiresome. It had the ingredients needed for something good and failed in every other regard. I would not recommend going here. It is not worth the trip or the money

We are so happy we booked Trattoria for our wedding cocktail hour and dinner reception! Ashton's communication was top notch, and everything went off without a hitch. Our guests loved the venue, and most of all the food! We will be back for future anniversaries for sure!

This place is so awesome. Best Italian food in CTX along with the best overall atmosphere and location. Chef Leon also creates impeccable dishes that are made from scratch. Yea...its a drive out there...but the remote feel is half it's charm.

The food was superb. The pan seared halibut with linguine in lemon cream sauce and capers was absolutely divine! the mezaluna was exactly as the waitress described "the ultimate comfort food" It definitely tasted like someone's Nonna lovingly made it. The pear and chianti martini and the kiss and tell were unlike any martinis i have experienced. Last but not least the fresh baked focasia bread was absolutely heavenly buttery,warm,light and the perfect balance of garlic and herbs. Everything about Trattoria Lisina exceeded expectations and raised the bar for fine dining. Will definitely recommend and return

Mandola's Trattoria Lisina restaurant is always a fantastic dining experience. We go here for special occasions, such as Father's Day, Anniversaries, Birthdays... their dishes are authentic and amazing Italian cuisine. Go here if you want to turn an ordinary meal into a special occasion!

August 2024 Trattoria Lisina is one of my favorite Italian restaurants where all the food is made in-house by an excellent kitchen staff. The restaurant is a great place to celebrate something special in your life or to enjoy great Italian cuisine. I recommend making a reservation either on their website of using the Resy app. This place a very nice so dress business casual but I actually wore shorts and a collar polo shirt since it was 100 degrees outside. I ordered the Mezzaluna which the menu described it as half-moon shaped ravioli stuffed with chicken, pork & Italian cheeses, in a tomato cream sauce. I also got a glass of Ca' Bianca, Moscato di Asti as a refreshing drink for this hot weather. It was not a perfect pairing for my meal so had a glass water for my meal. My wife ordered her usual off the menu spaghetti & meat balls. I believe it was the Mamma Grace's meatballs which was very tasty. The Mezzaluna ravioli was also delicious and had great flavor. It was presented very nicely and truly enjoyed it. Before out meal we also had bread and it was also wonderful with the olive oil. Overall we once had a great experience and walked outside to enjoy the gardens.

Beautiful place. Just driving on that area it gives you a french-italian country feeling. And the restaurant is inside a nice villa with the winery surrounding it. The food was delicious, well made cocktails and good service.

We decided on a whim to pop in and thankfully (because we were early) we were able to get a table. Never disappointed. Every dish we’ve had has been delicious. The service is always top notch and I was in the industry for 17 yrs. Karsen was super attentive and had such a great personality. We’d definitely sit with her again.

A hidden gem in Dripping Springs! This stunning Italian restaurant was absolutely incredible. We kicked off with house-made focaccia bread & drinks. The bread was soft and airy; paired well with the herby olive oil. For drinks we ordered the blueberry lemon drop, kiss and tell martini, and blackberry smash. The blueberry lemon drop was refreshing and well balanced! For appetizers, we had the Caesar salad and shrimp scampi. The salad was crisp and perfectly balanced, while the shrimp scampi featured tender shrimp in a flavorful garlic butter sauce. Our entrees included seafood risotto, pork chop, fettuccine Alfredo, and gnocchi. The gnocchi was rich and creamy with a nice crispy top, while the seafood risotto was loaded with fresh, succulent seafood. The pork chop was juicy and well-seasoned, and the fettuccine Alfredo was creamy and comforting. Portions were generous, making them ideal for sharing or leftovers! All in all, the food was outstanding, the service attentive, and the cozy ambiance made for a perfect dining experience. Definitely worth a visit for authentic Italian cuisine!

I start by saying that I was born and raised in Italy and have been in the US for about 5 years and lived in different States. I've been looking everywhere for a decent Italian spot and I found two places in and around Austin, this being one of them. Although I would say that this has a certain American influence to it. I wanted to surprise my husband, so I made a reservation an hour prior of going. On their website they have slots of 15-minute increments, so if you decide to go last minute, you don't have to worry about not finding a spot. We went on a Saturday afternoon and there were plenty of empty spots. One thing I noticed - you can see the kitchen, and I personally think it's nice! When we arrived, we were immediately checked in at the front desk, then seated after a couple minutes. I honestly loved how the place looks, it reminds me of a few restaurants from where I'm from in Northen Italy. Austin was our waiter and he was absolutely great all the time, I actually appreciated him asking me how to pronounce certain Italian words correctly and being curious about my culture. The menu has plenty of options, from Antipasti (appetizers), to Primi (main entrees), to Secondi (meat options to have after the main entree), to Contorni (sides) and Dolci (desserts), followed by coffee options and other drinks. While we were choosing, they brought us complimentary rosemary focaccia and oil to dip it in. The focaccia was really good, the oil has way too much garlic in my opinion. I'd give this a 6/10. We started off with "Antipasti e Salumi Misti" (an assortment of cured meats, cheeses, Italian style marinated vegetables, & nuts). Honestly this surprised me a lot! It was a spread of bresaola, prosciutto, salame, little tiny cherry mozzarellas, dried apricots, olives, parmiggiano reggiano, little marinated onions, artichoke hearts, grissini, pecans, and a little of basil pesto. I was definitely not expecting the onions, I haven't seen those anywhere in the US and reminded me of Italy! I definitely give this a 10/10. Then we decided to order two Primi and a Contorno. - Gnocchi gratinati (potato gnocchi in a 3-cheese cream sauce topped with a crisp layer of Parmesan & a drizzle of truffle oil) I really appreciated the crisp layer on top of the gnocchi, the truffle oil was very subtle, so it didn't take away the flavor of the cheeses. The only thing, it was definitely a lot and ended up taking the leftovers home. I'd give this an 8/10 -Mezzaluna (half-moon shaped ravioli stuffed with chicken, pork, & Italian cheeses, in a tomato cream sauce) These were not bad, my husband liked how the sauce paired with the inside of the ravioli. Personally I'm not a fan of chicken with pork together in the stuffing. I'd give this a 7/10. As Contorno we tried the Brussels Sprouts (tossed in a lemon vinaigrette, red pepper flakes, & pancetta). My husband loved the tangy hit to it, and the kick given from the pepper flakes. He gives it an 8/10. Then we moved on to the desserts & coffees. It seems weird to me that they offer Cappuccino on the menu, since it's something we Italians don't usually drink past late morning.. I ended up ordering a classic (or what I thought was a classic option) - tiramisù. I'm very well familiar with tiramisù, it was invented in the region where I was born and raised, so I didn't think much of it, I was actually excited to have some authentic tiramisù. Unfortunately it didn't live up to my standards. There was way too much heavy whipping cream, compared to Mascarpone. It ended up having a very different texture from the original recipe of tiramisù, and being way too heavy. I'd give this a 4/10. My husband decided to get an espresso and wasn't particularly impressed by it. Overall, the place is nice, the staff is well trained and kind, and the atmosphere is calm. Food is good, especially if you're treating yourself every now and then to American-Italian cuisine. I say every now and then because it tends to be overpriced. Funny enough, I had a call with my mom after having lunch (keep in mind she still lives in Italy) and after telling her what we spent, not only she was shocked but also said that's the price of a 6 people party in Italy. I recommend this place, treat yourself and enjoy the atmosphere.

This place feels like a bucket list item. You can do once an it is checked. First of all drive to the restaurant and restaurant location is amazing. It is like you are no longer in Texas. It is green and beautiful. I have been several times and food in the other hand is nothing extraordinary. It is kind of disappointing because you expect to be blown away, but the food and service were frankly bad, and it did not improve in each visit. Food is Not only overpriced, but also just plain. To add a great experience last time I was there they even did not serve bread because they turned off the oven? Why do you accept customers ? I think consistency is a key and trattoria lacks that. If you never been and driving around or passing the area, i would say give a shot, but you may not go back

We haven't been here in five years, and I was praying that would be as good as it had been in the past. Well, 'Jordan was a wonderful waitress so poised, and so pleasant. Came at just the right time when we needed her and was accommodating and very sweet. She helped make our experience a wonderful one. The food was amazing as well we had calamari, osso buço, The seafood risotto, a seller, chocolate Salted caramel cake, affogato, expresso. Everything from the bread to the coffee was excellent. Can't wait to return. Thanks Jordan for a great lunch experience.

Came here with a friend when going for a distillery tour nearby. I had seen this place on TikTok and it looked like a random classy restaurant in the middle of west Texas - that's exactly what it was! The sign is not obvious on the main road but it's there, so just follow your GPS. The restaurant is at the end of a dirt road after you drive 1-2 mins past some land, so don't be surprised by that. There is lots of open lot parking. The restaurant itself is pretty big too - there's a huge main dining area, and some surrounding tables in the other dining rooms. The servers and staff were all oddly young (like 20-30s) when we came just before Christmas; not sure what to make of that but everyone was super professional and helpful! Our waiter gave us great menu recs, I LOVED what I had including my cocktail which was both sweet and had a nice holiday spice to it the food was also delicious and serving sizes were good. We both felt quite justified in what we ordered, and after the meal they were able to serve us some slightly off menu options (I wanted some tea; they brought me a small personal pot of earl grey with a side of milk for about $5). It was the PERFECT lunch right before a distillery tour since we got lots of carbs with the bread/olive oil they serve plus the food and tea. Would absolutely go back for an experience just like we had that day! Couldn't have asked for better! :)

Trattoria Lisina is one of my favorite Italian restaurants where all the food is made in-house by an excellent kitchen staff. The restaurant is a great place to celebrate something special in your life or to enjoy great Italian cuisine. I recommend making a reservation either on their website of using the Resy app. This place a very nice so dress business casual but I actually wore shorts and a collar polo shirt since it was 100 degrees outside. I ordered the Mezzaluna which the menu described it as half-moon shaped ravioli stuffed with chicken, pork & Italian cheeses, in a tomato cream sauce. I also got a glass of Ca' Bianca, Moscato di Asti as a refreshing drink for this hot weather. It was not a perfect pairing for my meal so had a glass water for my meal. My wife ordered her usual off the menu spaghetti & meat balls. I believe it was the Mamma Grace's meatballs which was very tasty. The Mezzaluna ravioli was also delicious and had great flavor. It was presented very nicely and truly enjoyed it. Before out meal we also had bread and it was also wonderful with the olive oil. Overall we once had a great experience and walked outside to enjoy the gardens.

Amazing restaurant with great food, yummy drinks, and cute exterior. The outside of the restaurant is gorgeous and perfect for pictures. I ordered the It's About Thyme which was crisp and refreshing, as were most of the drinks. The complimentary focaccia bread was honestly the start of the show for me. It was soft and spongey with a crunchy exterior. The olive oil dip had plenty of garlic and seasoning. The Caesar had plenty of dressing and crunchy croutons, a very reliable salad. The Mezzaluna was a great portion size, especially for ravioli. The chicken, pork mixture inside went well with the tomato cream sauce. I would highly recommend this place for a special occasion! Great service as well!

A wonderful and delicious Italian restaurant to treat your guests. Next door vineyard is a nice stop before dinner. Ambiance is quaint. Service was great.

10 years of special memories in the making. Always make a reservation, if you don't you'll remember this suggestion and never make the mistake again. Your table is ALWAYS ready. Service is impeccable, Elisa provided 5 star service across the board. Even on an impossibly busy night. Rustic yet elegant with wood fire grill, soft lighting, and a vineyard that feels like Tuscany. The food is always fresh and fabulous, with recipes that keep bringing us back year after year. When food, service, and ambiance are 5s across the board, you know to add it to your bucket list. Wedding receptions, anniversaries, special events, client meetings, or a date night... it's a yes!

The food is delicious and great portions! I recc the brick chicken or beet salad, both options are shareable. The service is always great and they are all very thorough and take their time to explain everything. It is a great special occasion spot or for lunch in the beautiful secret garden up front. Def a local gem!

Food & Drink: Amazing. We sat at the bar in the kitchen. It was really cool to see everyone doing their thing. The chef in front of us kept making a dish with roasted vegetables, topped with halibut, topped with crab and it looked amazing. My salad and risotto dish were so good. I just had water but my friend had wine and she liked it. Ambiance: so beautiful. Loved the painting in the main area. The wine bottle opener picture near the bathroom is really fun to look at. Kid friendly: I didn't see kids. May be fine if seated away from people on dates. Service: excellent!

OMG I'm still drooling just thinking about the meal I recently had with some girlfriends at Trattoria Lisina. After a Saturday of wine tasting in the Dripping Springs area, we decided to pop-in to Trattoria Lisina after seeing all of its positive Yelp reviews. When we walked in at around 7pm, we could tell they were pretty packed but they graciously agreed to accommodate us, despite not having reservation, under the agreement we would be in and out in from the table in time to give it up for someone with an 8:15 reservation. My three friends and I decided to order a starter, pasta dish, and main entree and share it all family style which ended up being the perfect amount of food for everyone. For our appetizer we went with the meatballs (very flavorful and the tomato sauce was great), for our pasta dish the gnocchi (I LOVED the strong parmesan flavor), and for the entree the Pollo Menichino. If you've ever frequented Carabba's, this dish is EXTREMELY similar to their Chicken Bryan dish but 1000% tastier and better quality. Service was amazing, the food delicious, and the ambiance lively and fun. I will 100% be back here again the next time I'm in Dripping Springs.

What a great time drinking wine next door to walking over to the most delicious Italian food! We loved the gnocchi and the bread but everything by was spot on. Lovely place to enjoy company and eat good food! Highly recommend checking it out. They even got us in early and the service was great!

We have been going to Trattoria Liscina since it opened and it is by far our favorite restaurant! Everything is delicious except the Brick Chicken. I am on a very restricted diet and have always had to choose between the chicken and the fish of the day. This worked for years until they dropped the Pollo Rustica, which was juicy and wonderful, and added the Brick Chicken which does not compare to the Rustica. Brick is a good name for it. It. It is hard and dry and when I was there Friday, some was it was inedible. I have tried it many times, but that was the last. It is such a shame that a fine restaurant, otherwise, has switched to that on their menu. Instead of fish selections like Halibut and Chilean Sea Bass, they now offer the cheaper Mahi Mahi and Red Snapper. I know they are doing it to cut costs, but it has ruined the quality of the selections.

Always dependably good food and great service. Their Oso Bucco and pastas are awesome, with a wide variety of gelatos for dessert.

Everything is awesome. Our first time here. Read the reviews before deciding to have lunch. Reviews are spot on. Our server Andy is personable, attentive, knowledgeable and helpful. We started with a glass of wine and bread. Then had caprese salad and a Cesar salad. Our entree was veal piccata for the husband and lasagna for the wife. It was delicious!! The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. Prices are reasonable. We will return.

Oh my goodness this place was so yummy! My personal perk was the plentiful parking and the beautiful fountain and garden perfect for photos. It's beautiful old world design on the inside gives special occasion vibes but in this case just getting together with my girls. The service was fine, our waitress was a little hovering but I'd rather she check back too often than not enough so not a big deal! The food was so damn good y'all! They bring out some focaccia bread with lovely olive oil for dipping and the calamari was decent, I say try a different appetizer and don't be cliche like us lol. But the freaking food risotto was out of this freaking world. So creamy and tender and rich but delicate seafood cooked to perfection. It had this delicious seafood saltiness with a tons of umami and I just adored it. Highly recommend! The drive to this place is also beautiful with vineyards nearby. Can't wait to go back to have a favorite and try something new!

I just love this place. I think i bring every out of town visitor to La Trattoria Lisina and for so many reasons. Driftwood is a short drive from dripping springs and a pretty drive at that. Ample parking, large outdoor kids play area and one of the most beautiful front spaces to a restaurant I have seen in a while, this restaurant is impressive. I strongly recommend making a reservation on their website. This time they had a special that was swordfish with a lump crab and artichoke cream sauce which pretty much has everything I love wrapped into a dish. I substituted Brussels sprouts that were very good. I wouldn't say that this plate was the best I'd had but I really enjoyed it. Other table guests had the Oso Buco that was superb, the seafood pasta dish also delicious and we finished with the seasonal pumpkin cheesecake with praline pecan sauce. Good flavoring but not the best cheesecake I've ever had. Our server Robyn was awesome. She went above and beyond to recommend drinks for the table, she joked and held her own with some tough jokesters and her smile and disposition was just what you would want in a server. We finished the night enjoying the moonlit view outside. A great place for a great experience.

Fantastic Italian, great service and a beautiful setting! We started with the meatball appetizer. Meatballs are one of my favorite Italian foods. I often add a side of meatballs to almost any Italian dish. These were honestly some of the best meatballs I've ever had. The veal pork combination was perfect, but the sauce made them even better. They came with perfectly toasted garlic facoccia. My husband and I shared the osso buco with mash potatoes and the gnocchi. They were both superb. The osso buco was moist, fork tender and fell right off the bone. The mash was the perfect accompaniment and tasted great with the light tomato sauce the meat was cooked in. The gnocchi was amazing with a creamy sauce and a slightly crusty top from baked or broiled cheese. The tiramisu was a little heavy on the marscarpone on top, but the lady fingers on bottom were deliciously tender, soaked in just the right amount of alcohol. Our server, Madison, was very good - timely, efficient and friendly. We can't wait to go back!

We came out here after visiting the neighboring Duchman Winery. We had reservations and were seated immediately. The outdoor surrounding the restaurant was extremely picturesque with gorgeous landscape at every turn! Inside the restaurant was Old Italy but has huge windows that I enjoy the scenery. Our server, Bryson was great and attentive. We all ordered and the portion sizes were so large but delicious. Everything tasted good especially the blueberry lemon drop! If I'm ever on this side again, I'd visit once more!

The focaccia bread was amazing! Beautiful setting next to winery. Food was delicious but I don't personally like vinegar and I think the sauce may have had some kind of vinegar in it. Not their fault I'm weird :) but overall delicious

A terrific find just 30 minutes from Austin. On a beautiful winery property. Broad Italian menu and first class bar and wine selection. Salads were very fresh with many different ingredients. Main courses were excellent. A great dining experience

Great atmosphere on a large winery estate. The food is spectacular with homemade pasta after your starter of focaccia bread and a delicious dipping oil. Take your pick from the homemade gelato which is creamy and cold to cleanse your palate after your delicious meal. A perfect place for a casual dinner or date night.

This is a beautiful Italian restaurant in a small community south of Austin. It's a great date night or celebration place. But not so great for a ladies night or other such group. They require the check to either be paid by one person or split equally among up to 6. That doesn't work out well when some in the party don't have appetizers or alcohol and others do. Also we waited about 20 minutes to be seated even though we had reservations (that had to be held by a credit card by the way). The waiter was very attentive. The food was extremely good. The beef filet was 8oz but seemed larger and the sauce was mouthwateringly good. The gnocchi was excellent, however if you order chicken added, they bring a dried piece of chicken on a separate plate. The meatballs were perfect with a lovely homemade tomato sauce. All in all it is a great place but there's room for improvement. Definitely worth it for the quality of the food.

This is one of our favorite spots!! Their bread is truly out of this world. We have been many times for the amazing food (with big portions), great service, beautiful atmosphere. It's located on a winery so we have come to enjoy the sunset and views paired with some wine and delicious food! Highly recommend checking this spot out

Another sterling experience at Trattoria Lisina. I've covered the ambience and decor in past reviews, and all that remains both classy and comfortable in the Tuscan Villa style. Our server Bryce was extremely attentive and helpful. We don't need much cuisine advice or wine suggestions, but we overheard his conversation with the table next to us, and his knowledge is sound and delivered without condescension. My review of the night's dinner choices won't be of much help, as we selected the current chefs special. But a description will give insights into the quality of the general cuisine and the chef's philosophy. We had a lightly breaded halibut cut, offered over a creme sauce heavy with artichokes and some unique Italian olives. The halibut was warm on arrival and perfectly flaky. It was huge and fresh with that clean taste you get from cold water fish. The breading was complimentary in taste and thinly applied so it enhanced the halibut without distracting. The sauce (I can't decide whether to call it bechamel or Alfredo as it wasnt Alfredo-strong but heavier than bechamel) was delightful, the artichokes generously applied and the olives an interesting diversion. It's a big portion, so plan to either (1) share, (2) be stuffed,or (3) carry some home. Their bread and dipping oil is dangerously addictive. That bread resembles an Italian peasant bread, slathered with enough butter to prep a small elephant. The dipping oil is excellent EVOO with Italian parsley and another spice that we disagreed about. Since it was my birthday, they brought out a blue gelato with wafer and sparkler. We left full and incomparably pleased. Good job, TL.

Should be a 6 out of 5. This place is gorgeous and the food and service are impeccable. You must try Trattoria Lisina. Great cocktails and wine with a supurb italian menu and chef to match. The setting in the vinyard will make you think you're in Tuscany. It's perfect. We started with the Alpine Old Fashioned and a glass of Chardonnay, some of their bread and olive oil seasoned blend for dipping. We went in first with a Ceasar and Caprese Salads. Excellent. We then went on to the Lobster Risotto and a Filet Mignon with Marsala mushroom sauce with Asparagus. Both were perfectly prepared. The Risotto was amazing. This is a GREAT date night location, but a "don't miss" if you're in the area of Dripping Springs or Driftwood.

Incredible experience! #tableforone Food was excellent! I had the TAGLIERINI ALLA PORTOFINO Thin, homemade pasta with sautéed scallops, shrimp & spinach, tossed in lemon butter and it was delicious. I paired it with a light Brut and enjoyed fresh baked bread with a lovely bread dip. The service was outstanding. I sat at the bar which was great for one and it was a comfortable location. It was a little noisy but you are practically in the kitchen. The waiter was sharp and right on the entire experience. Fun and busy restaurant. My cost was $49 for entree, Brut and bread. The portion was large enough to take half home for a second meal. Definitely a must return restaurant!

An old friend of ours who used to own Italian restaurants, recommended this place. It is as beautiful as in pictures. The food: 4 out of 5 The pasta sauce is rich, creamy and tasty . Service: 3.5 of 5. Nothing bad but nothing extra. She greeted us, brought food, smile, that's all. Ambiance: 4 out of 5 Like they advertise, it is like a little Tuscany. We live in Leander, so for us to come all the way down here, won't be for a while. It is a nice place to celebrate special occasion. Price range for pizza and chicken dishes is $22 - $35.

For our anniversary, we did something different and drove out to Driftwood for an anniversary lunch with the entire family. It was a gorgeous fall day so the weather was perfect. They weren't doing outdoor food service on this day but the waiter thought it would start soon as the weather is more pleasant. We had great service from start to finish. It's not a fast paced dining pace so you can enjoy things at your own pace. We didn't order any appetizers or salads, because the bread and olive oil was plenty. Our entrees were seafood risotto and the fettuccine. Both were excellent but the fettuccine was the standout. The kids ordered a pepperoni pizza and spaghetti and meatballs. The pizza was so good that my 11 yo ate the entire thing. The spaghetti and meatballs was ok as my daughter thought it was too bland and runny. The desserts were also standouts. The chocolate torte and the gelato was divine. The serving size is hearty and all can be shared. Combined with a cappuccino, it was a great way to end the meal. Since the day was gorgeous, many people bought drinks and/or gelato and sat outside. There is also Duchman Winery next door, which also had lots of people on the outdoor lawn enjoying the weather with wine and small bites. This was a fun way to celebrate our anniversary in a different way. They also treated us to a complimentary glass of sparkling wine which was much appreciated.

Service was absolutely amazing! I was watching everyone and it was a well oiled machine. Everyone was working c constantly, no one was in the corner on their phone or idle. The ambiance was good but it was loud...that is the only thing I can think of that needs improvement. The food.....ahhhh!!! I had the thin handmade pasta with scallops and shrimp, hubby had the pork chop. For an appetizer we had the calamari and dessert was the chocolate caramel cake with sea salt. All were so good!!! I would eat here all the time if I lived close by.

When to celebrate a birthday. Friendly and professional staff since the moment we got there to the moment we came out. Main dishes ordered: lasagne, bistecca alla fiorentina, spaghetti kids menu, filet mignon. Pasta alla nino and the seasonal dessert. We all like the food and the portions. A peaceful restaurant located in a beautiful vineyard area. Not our first time and definitely we will be back again!

Tratattoria Lisina is a beautiful restaurant close to Driftwood (about a 45 minute drive from South Austin). Enjoy the scenery on the way and bonus: don't have to worry about parking once you arrive! The Texas stone building is surrounded by beautiful live oaks and lovely landscaping. Across the street, you can view the vineyards that go on and on. There is a winery in the building next door (not related to the restaurant), if you have time before or after for a tasting. As it was a birthday celebration, we enjoyed fancy cocktails, the best of which was a perfect combination of watermelon, prosecco and lots of mint! So light, summery and refreshing. We started with Calamari Fritti (fried calamari, peperoncini maionese & spicy marinara). Very tasty! I enjoyed the Insalata de Asparagi (grilled asparagus, mixed lettuce, sun dried tomato & basil pesto, goat cheese, balsamic vinaigrette) and my friends had Caesar salad with focaccia crouton; all delicious. As my primi, I couldn't have been happier with my selection: the Fetuccine con Proscuitto e Funghi, topped with grilled scallops. Homemade egg pasta was tossed with cream, prosciutto, mushrooms, peas, scallions & Grana Padano. And the scallops were cooked perfectly. My dining companions ordered Pollo al Mattone ("Brick Chicken", roasted chicken pressed with a heavy weight & finished with garlic, herbs & lemon, served with sautéed broccolini) and Pasta ala Nino (penne in a sauce of pancetta, San Marzano tomatoes, cream & Tito's Vodka with grilled shrimp). As sides, we had baked eggplant with marinara, Italian breadcrumbs, Grana Padano & fresh mozzarella; Grilled asparagus; and Mascarpone Polenta (creamy polenta with mascarpone & Grana Padano). Italian food in the Austin area doesn't get any better than this. After all this food, we decided to share simmering light--a scoop of cinnamon and a scoop of pistachio (the best!) Gelato. Our server also brought a scoop of birthday cake flavor gelato topped with a sparkler! Very festive! The food, the atmosphere, and the beautiful location made a special occasion even more special, but it wouldn't have been as perfect without the experienced wait staff who made our visit a true delight.

Great meal, but contacting event coordinator was like pulling teeth! Went to the restaraunt Nov 9th to sample the food in preparation forf our wedding planning. Spent the next 10 days trying to contact the event coordinator whose voicemail says she will respond within 48 hours... What a joke!!!!!

Food was undercooked, service was very poor, the ambiance is really nice it's too bad this place left a VERY bad impression for my birthday dinner celebration. Needless to say our waiter never mentioned my birthday celebration to begin with. The waiter even rolled his eyes when I asked for him to take our picture. This was supposed to be a special moment. R U I N E D by his attitude! The manager sent the food back but was rude when we left the restaurant. Never again, I'll spend my money elsewhere.

Delicious food and good service We were on our way to brunch in Dripping Springs and decided it was much too hot to sit outside so we decided to turn around and head to Driftwood for a delicious lunch inside! After indulging in a bottle of wine, fresh pasta, and bread basket, we decided to take the donuts home to enjoy after swimming. Italo Cescon Pinot Grigio was a wonderful choice for the meal as well as a light poolside treat.

Service: the service was good. Very busy so it took a little time to get drinks. He stop by but was still slow coming back around. Food: the food was ok. Ambiance: very nice out and inside.

It's funny, but you drive forever to get to this place and it's in the absolute middle of nowhere, but then it's this amazing big restaurant and there are tons of people there even though it's far away from everything. Food is traditional Italian, totally solid, consistent and just right

Hill country staycation/ destination food spot right Hyurrrrr!!! Gorgeous property & large playground, beautifully appointed grounds and vineyard lounge feel outside... upscale, lush indoor restaurant with top notch service! Our extended family party was excellently cared for & our food was divine! Excellent lasagne & tiramisu (that was my meal), most everyone at the table cleared their plates.

Scrumptious appetizers and generous servings for each specially the antipasti platter! The wine / cocktails selection was great and we enjoyed a wide variety with our dishes! It was a busy day and they missed out our table's pizza orders so it became a really long meal. Our server was attentive and friendly!

Food and ambiance were good. The food was amazing and they gave us procceco to celebrate our anniversary.

Absolutely fabulous service. The asparagus feta salad was delicious. I enjoyed a glass of Prosecco with it. The Brick Chicken with broccoli was healthy and tasty. Dessert was small sweet donuts plus lemon and strawberry sorbet and coffee. (I added ice cream to it) mmmm!! Our server, Robin, was attentive and so helpful. We will be back!

This restaurant is gorgeous. It's in a quiet part of the hill country. The outside is gorgeous and picturesque. It has a Tuscan feel. The inside is beautiful. The food is fantastic. I highly recommend the meatballs, calamari and fettuccine Alfredo. I would pass on the seafood risotto. The seafood is delicious, but I didn't care for the dish. The gelato is amazing as well. Our server was hospitable and kind.

The best Italian restaurant in central Texas hands down. Pleasant ambiance, flavorful food and excellent service.

I'm late to this review from (1/28/2023) - We eat at this restaurant fairly frequently, particularly when we have guests in town. It is located in Driftwood, Texas, a few miles south of 1826 on Country Road 150. There is also a winery on premise, so remember to check them both out. When you drive into the property, it feels like you are transported to Italy - the dirt road, the grape vines on the right, just feels relaxing. The restaurant looks like a chateau from Italy too, it is a large building with large oak trees and outdoor seating areas. It's a good idea to make reservations now since so many people have discovered its whereabouts. The restaurant is very large and can accommodate large parties. There are several rooms, many with excellent views. They also have real wood burning fireplaces in the seating area providing great ambiance. We have tried a number of dishes from their menu - the caprese, the taglierine alla portofino, the seafood risotto, the veal marsala ,and the osso bucco, just to name a few. You can't go wrong with any of the dishes, and make sure you try the wines. The wait staff is very courteous and helpful and can make suggestions on entrees and wine as well. They have a full bar too and a selection of delicious gelati e sorbettis. Our server this evening was Jourdyn, who was gracious and attentive and made sure our experience was excellent, which it was. If you are coming out to the hill country, I would definitely recommend this place. Five starts for sure, each and every time.

The pork chop is our favorite. We tried the ribeye steak for the first time tonight and very disappointed. The steak was dry and bland.

We have a family tradition most years to have a pre-Christmas supper here, usually with 8 to 12 people in our group. We start with a cocktail while waiting for a table, and then make it a leisurely meal of traditional Italian special dishes and dessert. Everything has been consistent and delicious.

I had no idea that the Italian wine country was in the hill country of CTX!! What an AMAZING experience. Was treated like a celebrity, ate some of the best dishes I have tried since moving here.

Service was glacial but friendly. Cabrese salad with prosciutto was excellent! Osso Bucco was tender and tasty...mashed potatoes were garlicky and over salted. Scallops with spinach were tender but needed an order of spinach to finish the dish. Garlic bread was awesome! Venue is beautiful!!!