I ordered a salad to go, so I did not get a chance to enjoy the restaurant although it looked cute. I ordered the big salad and it was good except it was missing the raisins and I assumed the salmon would be a smoked filet, but instead it was the sliced smoked cold salmon. I probably wouldn't order the salad again, due to the salmon, but the dressing was really delicious. read more

Nice restaurant for a nice lunch or just coffee and snacks. Happy hour is 3-6 pm. Everyone is so nice. read more

See all

We had a really nice evening at Gina's with a group of friends. It's a small, upscale & intimate restaurant and service is very attentive. Drinks were delicious. There isn't anything on the menu that is vegan, but they were able to modify a pasta entree for me. It would be nice if the servers were knowledgeable about vegan diet-they tried to recommend I order a Caesar salad, which is not vegan, but they were very nice and tried! The entree they did cook for me was very tasty :) My husband really enjoyed everything he ordered as a vegetarian. read more

Gina's on Congress - Vegan pasta entree - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

One of my favorite dining experiences in Austin!!! I came to Gina's during the soft open (I'm already a HUGE fan of Gusto and when I got the email they had another concept opening in the old La Traviata space, I booked a table immediately) and can't wait to go back. This is definitely an Uber and get dropped off situation unless you want to hassle with parking downtown. You know what you're getting into. The ambiance inside the space is incredible - gorgeous soft lighting, a color palette of cream, gold, reds and pinks. It would be a perfect spot for a girls dinner, anniversary, birthday, or even upscale happy hour. I gathered a group of foodie friends and we dove right in. I had an incredible martini with blue cheese stuffed olives right off the bat, then we made a few selections from the bottle list. They did a great job sourcing some fun bottles - just like Gusto. We ran the gamut of the menu and I really can't say anything disappointed. The gourgeres and the bone marrow toast were my favorite off the appetizers (and yes we saved the bone to do amaro luges at the end, like animals) and out of the pasta, the malfaldine and surprisingly the shells & cheese were the stars - do NOT skip the shells & cheese. I'm not even a Mac and cheese girl and I swear this is the best in town. I still think about it. The desserts were all incredible as well and as you can probably tell by the luge, we had a great time. The service was impeccable, the spot was adorable (do not miss the bathrooms, they're so cute) and writing this belated review really has me itching to book another reservation. I'm not sure why I don't hear more about Flavor Hospitality's concepts; they're easily some of the best in town. read more

Gina's on Congress - Gourgeres, smoked salmon dip, Caesars - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

The Best Osso Buco!!! Outstanding bone marrow, primal delicacy, if you are in downtown Austin you got to try it!!! read more

So glad we took them up on their Restaurant Weeks offering. We have been eyeing them since they opened but unsure whether we wanted to spend that type of money on an unknown. The prix fixe menu for Restaurant Weeks was the perfect incentive to visit. It was really beautiful and cozy inside but not at all stuffy. Everyone on the staff from the initial hello to the final goodbye was welcoming helpful and accommodating. I especially loved the offer of cracked pepper on my pasta and our waitress was happy to add as much as I wanted! The beet carpaccio was really refreshing and flavorful. Was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. The shrimp starter with the corn polenta could have a little more flavor and zing but it was great leading up to the entree. I had the pasta option and was thrilled with my choice. Perfectly cooked mafaldine, flavorful earthy sauce with the kale and mushrooms adding great texture. My husband's steak was cooked to medium rare perfection and incredibly tender for a Bavette. You can't go wrong with either dessert. Really just comes down to chocolate or sans chocolate preference. We added the wine pairing as well and what a deal! The pours were not skimpy! The selections varied and well thought out. I would have ordered a whole glass of any of them. I will definitely return. read more

See all

Gina's is a very cute and intimate restaurant, good for a date night. The pasta dishes were very good, especially the gemelli. My only complaint is that we orderd the bone marrow and I don't think half of it was fully cooked and the bread paired with it has a little too much oil. read more

We had a lovely evening at Gina's a few weeks ago. Last Saturday Jan 3 we had reservations to go again with another couple. We kept getting reminders - tomorrow don't forget! and You're due at Gina's in 30 minutes! When we got there it was completely closed. I did a quick google search (we were so disappointed!) and saw that it was one of three restaurants who had issues with payroll checks bouncing. I sure hope they aren't closed permanently and can fix their issues. Really is a charming little bistro! read more

We had a wonderful meal at Gina's on Congress last night. I used to dine here when it was La Taverna, and I'm happy to say Gina's lives up to an old favorite. It's still just as cozy and welcoming. It was happy hour when we came, so my It's Raining in My Champagne, was half-off. It was a fun take on a French 75 and a great deal. They also had half-off snacks, so we started with the gourgeres and the salmon dip with caviar. The gourgeres were warm, airy, and cheesy. The perfect combo! For our main meal, my husband and I shared the bone marrow (from the small plates section) and the veal chop (from the larger plates section). Both were rich and delicious. The veal was extremely tender, and the potatoes au gratin were a treat. The food alone would bring me back, but it was the lovely and kind service that really stood out to me. We chose this restaurant because I was celebrating my late mom's life, whose name was Gina. We used to dine here when it was the other spot. When I shared this tidbit with the host (manager?), he kindly told me the story behind the name and made me feel right at home. Thank you. We can't wait to be back! read more

See all

A fabulous neighborhood addition to downtown! We went in for the first time and we will definitely be back. The service was superb! The lovely waitress explained items on the menus and made recommendations, which were yummy! The manager checked in on us mid dinner to ask if all was good. We will definitely be back! read more

Really solid Italian/French bistro fusion food in a quaint little restaurant on Congress. Appetizers were lovely, but the real stand out of the night was the lamb shank! Were great and the service was spot on. Great romantic venue that delivers without being pretentious. Looking forward to going back soon! read more

See all

I got the Greener's chicken which was really delicious. The sauce was flavorful and chicken was tender with crispy skin. But the portion was slightly small and bread pudding was little greasy. The bone marrow was really delicious appetizer. The service was good and ambiance was amazing. read more

Gina's on Congress - Greener Pastures Chicken Bone Marrow - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

Stopped by Gina's for dinner on a Monday night and I wanted to love it, but the food was very underwhelming. The Party in Padua drink was good, but the Ricotta Gnocchi was not. I read a bunch of bad reviews on a few other items so I was lead to this gnocchi entree. It came with ham and peas and I just thought the dish was really weird and it's something I wouldn't ever come back to eat. I also got the Bread & Butter side and the bread was okay. On a positive note, the service was really good and the place had a nice atmosphere. I loved the wallpaper of kisses in the bathroom and I appreciated the matches they had by the register and in the bathroom. I collect them so it was convenient! read more

See all

Such a cute spot in the heart of downtown Austin! Loved the cozy vibes and the staff was very friendly. We got a few apps and the burger and the bucatini - everything we ate was delicious! Also loved their French and Italian wine selection. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Dined at Gina's on a Friday night, sat at the bar, we were promptly greeted, drinks were amazing. Appetizer and Salad came quickly. We order pasta and veal chop, both were very good. If we had any critique, it's a small restaurant so if there are large parties it can get loud. However, service and food were spectacular! read more

See all

What a pretty little restaurant!! Perfect for date night, very intimate. But i came with a group of 7 and they were able to accommodate to us as well:) Food was delicious! read more

Gina's on Congress - bar - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Great food, excellent service! Love the cozy feel of the place. Thanks, Cameron, for getting us seats! Thanks to you and Dal for the birthday cheesecake! Going out of your way to make people feel welcome and special is top notch. read more

Gina's on Congress - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Let me start off by congratulating this place on service. We got greeted by a nice young man at the bar who walked us to the table. Then another very pleasant young man which was our server was extremely helpful the entire dining experience. Food was phenomenal I loved the bone marrow appetizer or small plate. We had some lobster dip. Absolutely amazing. The pastas don't get me started. Love them! Place is clean, chic and over all an amazing dinner to our anniversary. read more

To be honest, I am feeling generous in giving this place four stars. It was really more of a 3.5 star experience. The service is top notch! The ambiance is nicer than the previous Italian restaurant in this spot. It is laid out better and the mirrors help open it up so it does not seem as small but it is the same size as previously. It can get loud due to acoustics but we go early enough that it is not an issue. The food is good, not outstanding. The bone marrow appetizer consist of two large bones accompanied by a lightly dressed arugula and shaved fennel (I believe, the server said it was onion but it definitely wasn't) It paired very well with the fattiness of the bone marrow. The flavor of the marrow is good but overshadowed by sooo much fat. Like big globs of fat without any marrow. I love bone marrow but there are 2-3 places in town where it is much better. I would not order this again. The menu is limited but there are several good proteins offered and one vegetarian large plate. The half chicken was good. There was decent seasoning on the skin but once that small piece of skin was gone, the rest of the chicken needed salt pretty bad. I'm surprised they did not season underneath the skin as well. The mushroom bread pudding was interesting, but not stand out. The braised lamb shank presented beautifully. The braise was nice and seasoning on point, but the lamb was just a bit gamey for my preference. It was served on top of a soft polenta that also was a bit thick and "gloopy" but the flavor was on point. To be honest, the best part of the meal was the dessert. The limoncello sorbet was fantastic and the dark chocolate pot de crème was out of this world if you like creamy, rich dark chocolate. They have a nice cocktail list and during happy hour the cocktails and snacks menu are half price during this time. I'm almost positive the server said happy hour is every day 3 to 6. No wine specials and I do not remember about beer. The wine list is quite extensive in comparison to their dinner menu. They have some reasonably priced wines and some very expensive wines. Parking is awful! As to be expected downtown. The surrounding lots and garage are very expensive and there is no valet and street parking is almost nonexistent. This is definitely always a consideration for us when making reservations to a restaurant. All in all it's a good place where I would like to try some more food options before deciding if it will be one of our go to restaurants. It's got to be a bit better though. And I can't believe I forgot to take pictures! read more

One guy front of house, a guy behind the bar and a packed restaurant. Oh and an indifferent and stoic manager. Delicious food aside and a fun interior, the service with the sweating server (yuck) is enough to not make me go back ever. read more

What a great cozy restaurant that we highly recommend. We were welcomed & sat down as soon as we walked in. Everyone was so friendly, especially Chris our waiter, who was Fantastic ! We started with the rabbit rillettes & golden beets and they were delicious. For dinner I had the Half Spring Chicken. It was moist and delightful. Next time we are in Austin we will be coming back here read more

So surprisingly nice from both a cuisine and service point of view. I actually want to keep this place a secret so it doesn't get too crowded. We'll be back! read more

This place is amazing. Service, food, drinks. Couldn't be any better. Billy the bartender is incredible, his espresso martini is required if you show up here! You never know what you're going to get when a new place opens in a super saturated area but this is a dime. Really nice ambiance with the candles, decorations and light music vibe. I'll be back regularly, keep up the great work. read more

The Short Story: Fantastic Meal! You Should Eat Here! The Long Story: The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating and well put together. The ambiance was fancy but not fussy. All dishes we ordered were expertly executed. The menu has a nice gradation from snacks to their larger format entrees. * I was hesitant to click the "$100+ a person" button offered. While we had decided to go nuts while eating and drinking all the things, We could have behaved and had just as great of a time. I'm quite the wine fan and the list has many gems to offer. Some glasses completely approachable. Some bottles dream worthy. We loved the creative twists on the cocktail list. It was a wonderful place for a delicious meal & we'll be back to try out the fun looking bar. The lunch & brunch menu is definitely in our future. The Long Long Story: Once La Traviata, "The Fallen Woman" and now Gina's, "The Queen". What a beautiful transition. When you lay eyes on the front of the building, you know you are in for a memorable dining experience. It's classy. It's cozy. For us, it was romantic. My husband and I had a few reasons we wanted to celebrate, the most special being our anniversary. We decided to roll them all into one and enjoy an over the top meal. From the moment we walked in the door until we left for the evening with our scrumptious (and soon to be devoured) cannoli, we were quite impressed. The host, the manager, bartender, floating staff members, all lovely. Even the chefs smiled. Our server's name was Ozan. What a delight! He was very knowledgeable and patient with my many questions. He was pleasant and attentive but gave us space gracefully showing up at the perfect times. A few people who came by the table and wished us happy anniversary. It was a sweet gesture and made the night especially memorable. If we are in town, we will be making a reservation there for next year's anniversary. The Food! Rabbit Rillettes had subtle and complex flavors. It was as pretty as it was tasty. (Blackcurrant mostarda?! Wow!) We really liked the firmer country style texture. Classic yet still unique. Don't Sleep On The Bones! Bone Marrow & Sourdough was a delicious and fun dish. The fresh buttery bread melted in my mouth. We got a smile and nod of approval when the amaro arrived that we ordered to luge any remaining deliciousness out of hiding. My favorite dish was the Mafaldine Pasta. Knowing of my husbands affection for mushrooms, I "let him" talk me into ordering it. I am relatively new to enjoying mushrooms and this cheesy flavor bomb was IT for me. Al dante, rich and satisfying but not heavy. Exactly what I didn't know what I wanted. I'm glad we ordered it. Consequently we will be grading all future pastas in the near future against it. You think I'm joking. We have both already mentioned it in conversations and it has barely been a week since we enjoyed it. My husband's favorite was the Veal Chop and rightfully so. The meat was perfectly cooked & accompanied with a delightfully rich demi glaze. The potatoes au gratin were the perfect vehicle to help finish off that incredible sauce. Between the mushroom pasta and the veal? Our taste buds were running through the forest naked. This may seem a little over the top, but so was that meal. read more

Gina's on Congress - Bone Marriw Amaro Luge - French Near Me - Austin, Texas

Menu is eclectic... to a fault. We were told it was going to be similar to previous restaurant( (Italian)). Disappointed with selection on menu. Appetizers were so so. Got the dip (came as an extremely small portions and maybe 7 chips). Got Caesar Salad that was extremely bitter. Beet salad was enjoyed (only item). Ambiance was the only thing that was outstanding... hope they're open to changing menu. Didn't bother with drinks and left before entree. read more

The food was delicious and not crazy expensive like you would expect . Yummy and cheesecake fab!!!

One of the best happy hours in austin (half price cocktails and snacks). Will definitely be coming back more! The rabbit rillettes are

Everything tasted homemade and delicious! We rolled in after a TU game and were pleasantly surprised by the warm atmosphere and friendly service. The food was flavorful and satisfying; I'd definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area, especially after a game! read more

I went to this restaurant with coworkers and the ambiance was very nice. Very welcoming but yet subtle. The story and how the restaurant got its name is very cool. I had the Spring Chicken. This dish was moist and not dry at all. It had very good balance of seasoning. The mushroom pudding and basil pesto was amazing. As I looked at my coworker plates, the dishes looked very good and all of them were healthy portions. No one complained and visas the dishes were delicious. I tried the New York Cheesecake and it was amazingly. Great flavor. I didn't take pictures but trust me, the food is amazing and well worth the stop. read more

Pleasantly surprised. Neat little Bistro on Congress Avenue. Small dining room had a kind of French feel. Sat at the bar. Menu was inviting, but we each settled on the Steak Frites for lunch. Was very tasty, and just the right sized portion. I will be back. read more

The service was not there. I got my food before my water and had to ask for a napkin even. Will not be going back.

Great atmosphere and good service. We started with the steak tartare, served with crispy waffle chips, and the tomato whipped crema as appetizers. Both were very good. For dinner, we had the lamb shank and gnocchi; every dish was excellent, and I would recommend them all. The cheesecake with lemon curd was my favorite, very fresh and flavorful. We will definitely be back! read more

EDIT SINCE OWNER REPLIED: 1. To the owner who responded - you were not even there to know how "loud" our party was. No one asked us to be quiet they just very passive aggressively stated others cancelled their reservation because of us (doubtful) 2. You have multiple other reviews stating the service/management is not friendly. Do better as an establishment. Rudest manager i've ever met. They claimed someone cancelled their reservation because our party of 6 was "too loud". So that means someone walked in and out because of the table sat in the BACK? It was a Friday night on Congress Downtown, be so serious. Will never be returning. Would give 0 stars if I could! read more

Great food. Super fast lunch. Service was excellent. Next time I stay near by I'll come back

Had a lovely date here the other day. We were surprised we hadn't heard of it before but saw it was well-rated and so we decided to give it a shot. It wasn't very busy for a weekend evening which made us a little concerned when we walked in, but I think they really only need some visibility! We sat at the bar and so the bartender served us - he was very responsive and accommodating, from helping us choose a wine to recommending some favorite dishes. We started with the rabbit terrine with was maybe the one less exciting dish for us (though to each their own - the bartender said it's one of his favorites). We got the bone marrow with sourdough toast which was so rich and delicious (and paired with a fantastic salad to complement) and the Bolognese which was really flavorful and very satisfying - it definitely tasted like it had slow simmered for a long time to develop. Finally we had the chicken Madeira, which also had a nice, deep flavor. We don't do a lot of chicken, but it was a nice compliment to how rich the Bolognese was - nice and moist as well, which isn't always the case for chicken. Except for that first dish, we were wonderfully surprised by how delicious everything was - it tasted like the chef really cares to put out authentic, quality food. The service was top tier as well, not rushing us at all, but also not having us wait very long once we were done with the course. Would absolutely come back to repeat a few dishes and try a few new ones - and hope to see it a bit more crowded next time as people get word of this french/Italian gem! read more

Gina's is located in the space formerly occupied by La Traviata--one of our formerly favorite Austin restaurants. Returning brings back fond memories, and our inaugural visit to Gina's in March brought great joy as the food was amazing, service enchanting, and the atmosphere was reminiscent of so many memorable occasions. Saturday, June 15, was not the same experience. While greeted warmly as we were shown to our table, we were overlooked for nearly twenty minutes before having the opportunity to order drinks. The $14 salmon starter was a glorified chip and dip--four spoonfuls of smoked salmon dip and house potato chips. The bone marrow was delightful, yet again, small portioned for the price. The lamb, frisée salad, hazelnut desert, wine and cocktails were quite nice, though the soft poached egg for the salad was overcooked--quite the shame as the running yolk is actually intended by the chef to complement the pancetta drippings as an impromptu dressing. Service was slow--both servers were particularly cordial, just over tasked. Our first two cocktails were comped in consideration. Gina's shows every sign of a team doing their best to live up to their intended standards, just understaffed. The restaurant is good, not great. Bidenomics has left all of the Austin service industry struggling to provide extraordinary experience for reasonable prices. We recommend the restaurant if you dine out frequently and find downtown convenient--otherwise, save your precious dining-out occasions for the truly extraordinary. read more

Outstanding experience! I visited with a group of friends and we shared many items on the menu. The steak tartare was the best I've ever had, and the Gruyère biscuits are a must-order! We had a Caesar salad as well as the beet salad which was dressed in a citronette that perfectly complemented the dish. We shared the veal chop, lamb shank and chicken. All were great, and I can't say for sure if the lamb or chicken was my favorite! The chicken was crispy on the outside and moist inside. It's not a "lesser" choice to order chicken here like at some restaurants. I loved the creamy polenta the lamb shank came with though, so that might give it the win! For dessert we tried the cannoli, cheesecake and chocolate pot de crème. You won't regret ordering any of them. So maybe order them all too :) The restaurant itself is located in a historic building from the 1800s which has been a jail, brothel, and was La Traviatta for over 20 years, now newly Gina's. The ambience is calm and sophisticated. There is a beautiful long wood bar to sit at alongside a room of tables (no booths), and the staff takes great care of you and is quite friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend it and will plan to return again! read more

We celebrated our anniversary at Gina's and had a wonderful time. The space is intimate and romantic which is perfect for a special occasion. We had the gougeres, conchiglie pasta, chicken, and braised kale, all of which were delicious with spot-on flavors. The dessert is not to be missed. And finally, our waiter was engaging, attentive, and just outstanding. It's a little quiet now since they just opened, but I'm sure this place will be bustling soon with all of its positives. We will definitely be back. read more

Food is mediocre and expensive. Their other 2 places, Gusto and Gracias, put out better food at a better price point. 3rd try at Gina's, will be our last. read more

The staff was great, but the food was WAY over salted. We were a party of 6, and we all said the same thing. The salt over shadowed the foods flavor. It was a bit pricey too, won't go back. read more