ChrisStein78727

I just wanted to post this message because the tastes are fresh in my mind.

I live in Austin, which is not known for being a hot bed of great italian cooking. There are basically two types of Italian dining experiences you can have in town: 1) Incredibly over priced over blown fussy italian meals like at Siena. or 2) Italian-American checkered table clothes spaghetti and meatball meals.

Well tonight my wife and I found something much much better. The restaurant is called Andiamo and it owned and operated by a fellow named Giovanni who is from Rome. The restaurant is located in very boring (and one might might say, run down) strip mall on North Burnett. And he appears to be struggling to get started. But this is as close to authentic italian cooking as I have had in the last 12 years stateside.

We decided to go with the Menu Gastronomico, which is essentially the "Chef's Choice", five courses for $40 per person. Well worth it. For antipasti we received a plate of proscuitto, mozarella, grilled fennel, cherry tomatoes, roast pepper and garlic. Dressed with Olive Oil and a pesto sauce. Next was the pasta. Freshly handmade ravioli stuffed with veal. They came topped with a light sauce (perhaps a veal reduction) and sauteed portabello mushrooms. Then the fish course. This was a prefectly prepared snapper. done with a very light egg wash, golden brown, topped with a caponata sauce of capers, olives and tomatoes. On the side were the freshest, most perfectly cooked green beans and carrots (tossed with a little garlic and olive oil). For the meat dish we were served Filet Mignon with another great veal reduction sauce. This was placed on a very delisicous polenta and some spinach on the side. The meat was perfectly medium rare and could be cut with a fork. The polenta had a very light cheese flavor, not sure what kind of cheese, maybe asiago??? Spinach was great. For il dolce, Taramisu, amaretto gelato and strawberries and a cream sauce. Incredible.

Giovanni was extremely attentive, and told us all about where he gets his local produce and breads. In fact, we talked about a trip to Italy we are taking next week and he gave us the name of his relative "Pasquale" who owns a restaurant in Roma. He put the address on his business card and said: " Just tell Pasquale that Giovanni sent you" , corny but cute! he also insisted that we walk out with a loaf of the their delicious Sicilian bread.

My only less than glowing comments:

1) This is not a four start environment, the chairs look like they came out of an American Legion reception,

and

2) Andiamo does not yet have a liquor license so you must remember to bring your own bottle of wine, which they will be happy to uncork for you.

In conclusion: Austinites and Visitors to Austin, you gotta check this italian restaurant out. I think that Fodors might frown on me giving out the web site, but the name of the Restaurant is Andiamo and its on the corner of Burnett and Rutland. That's all, Ciao, Buona Sera!

Budman

Some of those out-of-the-way places are the best!! I especially like the BYOB aspect. I thought that was only in NJ and parts of PA.

Chris, you may be interested in this thread about a GTG in Austin. Maybe this restaurant would be ideal. You could ask the Yountville GTG group to exchange some wine.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34535734

P_M

Budman, as the organizer of this GTG, I would like to thank you for your support!! I wish you could be there, but I know you live very far away.

Maureen

We'll be in San Antonio this year--how far a drive?

P_M

Maureen, it's about an 1 to 1 1/2 hours from SA to Austin, depending on traffic and what part of SA you're coming from. If anyone is interested, see the other thread for details of when and where it will be and my e-mail address. The more the merrier!!

mcmomx4

We ate at Andiamo last week! I cannot say enough wonderful things about this place. The food was so wonderful! Until we dined at Andiamo, Vespaio was my favorite restaurant. No longer! Giovanni was so personable, the wait staff was present, attentive, yet unseen, and the presentations were marvelous. We will return and I urge all to give ANDIAMO a try!

Pumpy

Though it's been a while since I've been, Basil's used to be great Italian (small out of the way place in Austin). Anyone eaten there recently?

mikemo

Do they still have a BYOB policy?
M

ilovetulips

Hey Pumpy, I liked Basil's too, but it closed down almost a year ago. I think the owners got burned out or something. Thanks for the tip on this italian restaurant, it sounds great. My husband and I like new places. If anyone goes to Georgetown, it a little out of the way, we have a pizza place called Brooklyn Pie Co. that is so awesome!

abp

For the best pizza don't forget Saccone's (183/620)!! We eat there once a week and the only pizza my 6&8 yr old will eat. They have good taste!

brianwvu

I fully agree with Chris and we had a great time @ Andiamo's around the first few weeks they had opened up.

I believe WE should throw THEM a party as a Thank You / Happy Anniverary (whatever month it may be) / Congratulations on obtaining the Liquor License. It meant a lot to Austin for them to leave their previous city and restaurant and start a new beginning / continued legacy here!

ilovetulips

I just took Chris's recommendation about Andiamo and went there for dinner with my husband last night. The servers and lovely hostess provided some of the best service I have ever received. My husband and I did splurge and started out with escargot and mussels as an appetizer. I hadn't tried escargot since French class in high school and I must say it was tasty. We then had a fennel salad with goat cheese, walnuts, and truffle oil. It was good, but very different from any other salad I have had. Some people across the table seemed to have ordered brushetta sp? and it looked fabulous. My husband had salmon stuffed with crabmeat and spinach along with mashed potatoes and carrots. I had a spaghetti dish with crabmeat and a spicy tomato spice. It was good, but because the sauce was very thin I got it on my white sweater. My husband said his salmon was wonderful. Last was the finale, dessert. I love tiramisu, but no two places are the same. This one was one of the best I have had. The mascarpone cheese was creamy and smooth, the top was dusted with cocoa (some places use actual chocolate and I don't like what it does to the texture of the dessert) and the presentation was very pretty. This is a restaurant that I will go to again!

kansas59

I will be heading to Austin in a few weeks and was tickled to find a (good) italian restaurant recommendation. Thanks to everyone for posting their feedback on Andiamo. Having just come back from Rome (this past February) my family was tired of me talking about good italian food - now that we're meeting up in Austin I look forward to trying it out.