One of our favorite restaurants in Austin! Almost everything they serve is made in-house. Start off with some incredible focaccia that's been lightly grilled for a delicious smoky flavor along with some whipped butter & olive oil. The rest of the menu changes throughout the year but I recently had the Radiatore Primavera, a delicious vegetarian meal with cute little spiral pasta, creamy lemon mascarpone sauce and tart pickled peppers. I also stole a few bites of the Rigatoni alla Amatriciana, which was rich with housemade guanciale in delicious sauce, sprinkled with pecorino cheese. We rounded out dinner with both the Sweet Corn Cannoli and Tiramisu, both exceptional. read more

Warning ::: incorrect grammar and repeated use of (THE) Enjoy ::: This place isn't a show stopper! The food is ok but not worth the price. This place has a great concept BUT, simple techniques not being executed are totally speaking for how this place will end up after the hype dies down. The service was ok for being busy and mostly all the staff was friendly . As far as the food goes my Short Rib Caramelle "Candies" where beyond Al Denté. I had to literally cut the ends off of each one because the pasta was so thick only the middle of each stuffed "Past Candies" became true Al Denté in the cooking process and where way to hard to chew ! It was hard for my fork to cut through without a knife, remind you I'm talking about pasta. The meatball with tomato jam app had the best flavor but the meatballs where beyond dry. Again awesome flavors lots of cloves especially tasty with the grilled bread. And the Frito Misto only had shrimp cauliflower and onion .?. Not what is stated on the menu but nevertheless tasty stuff. Last but not least they added 20% gratuity to my bill . Whether you get awesome service or they totally ignore you all nite... it's dinner roulette ! read more

This place has a revolving menu. I got carbonara when I went and it was so yummy. Also got some meatballs and their focaccia bread is out of this world. Highly suggest going during happy hour when their plates are half off. Otherwise it can tend to be a bit on the pricier side read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Food was amazing. Restaurant was so quiet even on Saturday night! Negroni was incredible. Service impeccable!!

This place is awesome! The handmade pasta is absolutely fabulous and has a very unique flavor. I also recommend getting the focaccia bread! read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Bucatini alla Gricia, Fusilli Rosso, Radiatori - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

This was such a fun experience! I came for Austin restaurant week with my boyfriend and we were able to try all the options on the special event menu since there was two of us. The Creste de Gallo pasta with mushrooms and sausage, and the mozzarella dishes were the stars of the show by far. The staff was very friendly and informative. Definitely would come back again! read more

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Met up with some foodie friends here after hearing it was one of the best Italian spots in town. So that we could taste as much as possible, we shared everything we had. Overall, this was a tasty experience that didn't break the bank! Grilled Focaccia with Honey Butter - I always get a little salty when upper scale type places make you pay for bread, but this was good bread. I liked the honey butter, the bread was good. I saved some to sop up sauce with our later courses and was pleased. Roasted Carrots - Is it weird that carrots were my favorite thing I ate at Loca D'oro? They were. They seriously were. The butter was absolutely incredible and I want the recipe so I can put it on every thing I eat for the rest of my life. Mozzarella - Can't really go wrong with fresh mozzarella but I was a little under-whelmed. I would have liked more accoutrements to eat with the cheese. Maybe some bread or crackers? Otherwise the flavors really worked together! Gigli Verde - "This is what I want pasta salad to be when I hear the words 'pasta salad'" is how my friend described the dish to us. Fresh noodles, fresh veggies, and it all pulled together beautifully. Not sure I'd pick this as my main course, as it wasn't quite as substantial as a full meal, but I definitely enjoyed sharing it as a side. Casarecce - My favorite main dish. I loved the fresh noodles, the sausage, and the sauce. It was perfectly balanced and the fact the proceeds go to helping youth in need made it even better! Creamy Oxacan Grilled Polenta - I wasn't blown away by this. Not overly flavorful and was a bit mushy. It was, however, one of my friends' favorite dishes of the night, so I suppose it could just be my taste. Really, aside from a few picky critiques of the food and the fact the waiter seemed to forget about us after we got our entrees (I wanted another drink, oh well!) this was a solid experience and a place I'm excited to return to! I'm interested to check out their happy hour next! read more

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The food was fine (although overpriced for the portions), some of the staff was less than friendly but it's the automatic gratuity that left a bad taste. Not going back because of that. read more

THE PASTA IS AMAZING. I love this place and dislike that it's not close to where I live. The place is usually packed with the hum of conversation - although with this whole coronavirus thing - I expect that when it opens it'll be a bit more spaced out prior to getting back to normal. The kitchen is open so you can see the chefs back there preparing everything and the servers are a whirlwind as they navigate the dining room and kitchen. You can order a la carte here or do the pasta tasting (which sounds crazy - but so worth while). Fresh made pasta with a lot of creativity. I haven't had a bad dish here and have been amazed that I can east as much as I have without feeling completely full (and we're talking carbs here). Can't wait to get back here for the next dinner. read more

Automatically adding a 20-percent "service charge" to an already over-priced dinner is not only presumptuous, but constitutes false advertising and an insult to the customer. I'll never go back. (BTW, I usually tip more than 20 percent.) As I see it, the owner's reply to this review explains that he cares more about woke politics than respecting his customers. read more

This place is really amazing and I highly recommend trying it if you haven't already!! Mueller has been blowing up over the past couple years and this is a real gem for Italian cuisine. Simple ingredients made with such time and care in house makes this place truly special. Girls night dinners are my faves because we get to explore someplace new, get away from the boys and truly enjoy our foodie experience. Some key highlights you just have to get is the tuna crudo (it tastes more like a dessert then an appetizer) and the polpette (meatballs) to start off with. For entrees definitely get a pasta, my favorite had to be the rigatoni. The sauce is so creamy and rich and the texture of the noodles is the right amount of Al dente to balance out the sauce. To end dinner the dessert menu is decadent but also light enough where it's not going to have you rolling out on a sugar high. The olive oil cake was my favorite with a pistachio semifreddo, white chocolate, and strawberries. Not to mention the service is wonderful, the server was super knowledgeable about the menu items and the accompanying drink menu. Expect a good time at L'Oca d'Oro!!! It's a nice little spot of authenticity within a city full of fusion and complicated ingredients. I'll be back for sure! read more

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Amazing food. Great service. This restaurant is an experience. Just a few bites and you are in heaven! Highly recommend. One of the absolute best restaurants in Austin! read more

Dining at L'Oca d'Oro really reminded us of our time in Italy. Simple, fresh, and perfectly cooked dishes and Aperol Spritzes. Friendly service. We sat outside next to a duck who nests there. Perfetto! Favorite dishes: Bucatini all Gricia The Bolognese Mozzarella Salad w/ Strawberries read more

Love this place. Their menu is ever changing and super fresh. The bar is connected to the kitchen so the food prep process is visible to everyone. The happy hour is great but limited to the bar area which is never an issue for me. Staff is super hip and on TOP of everything. My water cup was never empty. Highly recommend. read more

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Literally writing this review as I'm walking out, completely filled to the brim with delicious pasta and cheese. I'm in town for the 3M half marathon tomorrow morning, and my brother made dinner reservations here tonight to carb-load. We stepped in 15min late as is the norm when I go anywhere with my mom and brother but were still seated immediately. The restaurant is super cute and filled with Austin vibes. After taking a look at the menu, I was already overwhelmed by the delicious options available. After much deliberation, we ended up ordering the L'oca mozzarella, kale salad, and the focaccia to start, which were both delicious. The sauce/seasoning for both the bread and the cheese was incredible. The kale salad was very fresh and interesting; it was made up of fresh and baked kale and was absolutely divine!! For our mains, my brother ordered the beet risotto, I got the mafaldine, and my mom got the casarecce. I definitely liked my dish the best, the sauce was so unique and the short rib combined with the texture of the pasta was amazing. The beet risotto was made up of the perfect texture and was also seasoned to perfection. The casarecce is great in that each order gives a free meal to someone in need, in addition to being an amazing dish in itself. All in all, I was super impressed with the sustainability and local sourcing to which the restaurant commits itself. Everything was incredibly fresh and you could tell it was made in house. The pastas were super unique, but everything was spot on in every way possible. If I'm ever back in town I will definitely be coming back to try some of the other dishes that caught my eye! read more

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My friends and I had a reservation at 8:00 on a Saturday night. It was busy so I understand they were unable to seat us on time, so I ordered a drink while I waited. At around 8:30 (still had not received my drink), I asked about our table and the employees at the hostess stand were completely clueless and the supervisor said "oh yeah sorry about that". We were seated 35 minutes after our reservation, with no real apologies or regard from the employees. They gave me the drink I ordered as we were going to the table. I'm no "Karen" but at this point I thought an apology was in place. When we were seated my friends and I ordered drinks, received them 20 minutes later. It took one hour to receive our food, and I'll say it was pretty good. When I make a reservation at 8:00 and don't get my food until close to 10 with none of the employees giving a damn, this restaurant doesn't deserve a dime from anyone. read more

Still my fav restaurant. I had the Grilled Butternut Squash yesterday. It came with cashew fonduta, black pepper gastrique, and candied cashews. I don't like squash too much but ordered it cause I knew they'd make me love it!!! Fiore- teach me to make this squash please!!!!! read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Lemon Risotto, rutabaga with beet curry, bok choy and arugula with crispy shallots. - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great location by the park and parking is good. Have been here a few time. Menus change with what's in season so yes it's fresh and good! They do different flavors all the time it's a must for a date or group! Wine list is as good as the food they know how to pair. We will be back! read more

If you love scratch made Italian food, this place is a must! Excellent craft cocktails, extensive wine list, superb customer service. Nico was our Server and so knowledgeable/friendly - such a pleasure to chat with. Highly recommend! read more

Pros: meatballs were amazing!! Question marks: sweet potato gnocchi had an Asian flavor profile. Husband liked it but definitely not what we expected. Cons: tiny portions for the price, $10 for a mocktail that was lemonade with a splash of seltzer read more

We had an 8 PM reservation for Christmas Eve dinner. The three of us had never dined at this restaurant. Given the reviews, we were expecting an amazing set menu. Instead, we were terribly disappointed. The Feast of the Seven Fishes was absolutely NOT worth it. The Bacala tasted odd, but the focaccia was good. The scallops were served like a single person's dinner salad, far too cold, under a mountain of frisée, and too salty and watery. The crostini were a saving grace from the far too salty eel caponata, which only tasted good when eaten with the red onions. The calamari arrived at our table and it was dry, like cardboard. The sausage in the stuffing was also too much. I wonder if the calamari had been sitting under a heat lamp? The fried bay shrimp were not memorable. In fact, I wonder if they made it to the table? The prawns were the best part of the meal. The spaghetti was too salty and the clams in the sauce didn't help. The tiramisu featured a lovely rum flavor, but the entire dessert had become so wet, it was more of a pudding than tiramisu. The service was also slow. We had to ask multiple servers for refills and our glasses were often empty. We were also expecting a different sort of paced service--a third to half the menu came out at once. We didn't return anything because we didn't want to be a problem on a busy night. We didn't finish anything and left hungry, which was an absolute disappointment considering the cost. Given how disappointing the meal was, I'm not sure we want to come back. read more

This place is my go to for a nice Italian weekend dinner. This place is by far my favorite Italian restaurant in Austin, hands down. The menu is always changing depending on the season, and it is very obvious in the way that they use only the best ingredients. Last time I went, between two people we shared the Cavatelli al Pomodoro, Mafaldine, and the Conchiglie. Of the 3 I would definitely recommend the Cavatelli. The roasted tomato and ricotta sauce was out of this world, it was so rich and creamy and the roasted tomato brought out such an umami bomb. The hand made cavatelli pasta was cooked perfectly, and had such a nice chew. Lovely vehicle to enjoy such a lovely sauce. The other two pastas were also phenomenal. The Mafaldine was briny, with a strong anchovy flavor. The breadcrumbs on top added the perfect crunch to make this such a great, simple seafood pasta. The Conchiglie was unlike any other pasta I have ever had. Served in a chicken stock, the flavor was so rich and delicious. An absolutely stunning dish. Overall this place is amazing. The dishes are all on the salty side, but for someone like me it was delicious. Highly recommend. read more

I was visiting my friends in Austin and they said there was an Italian place nearby that they like and have frequented, but we could go anywhere I wanted. I figured I trust their taste and said let's go again, it's nearby, it's good, why not. Well I have to say I had an amazing experience here. The server was very attentive and the owner even came out to greet us. Ok on to the good stuff. Apparently the owner lived in Italy for some time and knows his stuff. We ordered many small plates, including the meatballs, braised octopus crostini, gnocci, grilled foccacia, a steak dish, and a special mushroom dish (they got some great wood mushrooms arriving that day). The dishes that really stood out were the meatballs, gnocci, and mushroom dish, though they were all very good. Paired with wine makes a great experience overall. Baby friendly also, lol read more

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After living in Sicily for two years, we were looking for that special Italian experience. Unfortunately, l'Oca d'Oro didn't deliver. The service was great and we did not have any wit issues. Our very kind waitress said everything was made from scratch and locally sourced. Maybe that describes the lack of herbs and available fresh greens this cold February Night. Our food was just ok; the portions were very small, nothing wowed us and of the four dishes we ordered, the caviatelli Al pomodoro was the only one we might try again. In the end, the food just didn't meet expectations. read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Beet Risotto with Brisket and Marscapone - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Fresh mozzarella and peaches was amazing. Definitely start off with this. Beat and cashew dip was very soft slightly sweet dish that was unique. Lavash chips came with it. I think it made have been with soft crusty bread, but I'm just being picky. A new flavor that my mouth hadn't experienced. Cheers for the experimentation! Whatever you do, get the tiramisu. Perhaps the best I've ever had anywhere.. and I used to hang in Little Italy in NYC. There was definitely more rum than your average tiramisu.. and all I can say is thank you. Though very present, it blended well with the coffee and cocoa flavors. Not any one taking over. Also recommend the affogato. Honestly this place may have the best desserts in town! read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Pasta is the king here. If we had only ordered pasta is would be a 5 star review. All freshly made with excellent sauces, and cooked perfectly. The other dishes were just not good. Foccacia was cold...should've been warm. The panisse was like a chickpea mush with no flavor. Sadly, the worst panisse I've ever had. The meatballs were good but heavy on the cinnamon or nutmeg-like seasoning and a small portion for the price while the other dishes seemed fairly priced. The chicken milanesa was a nice sized portion but needed to be breaded without the skin. The skin was flabby and all over. The mozzarella was not soft and the pistachio puree was too thick and dry. The tartare beef lacked flavor, was not soft and needed more egg to bind it into a dish instead of a crumbly too finely chopped beef dish. Service is very good and ambience is nice and lively neighborhood spot that would work for romantic date night too. But stick with the pasta! read more

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L'oca D'oro is a super cute Italian restaurant in Mueller Park. It's a perfect spot for a date night. It's definitely on the pricey end, but worth it!! The overall atmosphere is very aesthetic. I feel like a lot of Italian restaurants are usually known for their dark interiors, but this restaurant is light and airy. They have plants hanging from the walls, which I loved, and gives off a subtle romantic vibe. So now onto the food: We ordered 3 appetizers and one entrée. Everything was absolutely delicious, and something I really appreciated is it didn't feel super heavy. I think Italian foods are often synonymous with being rich because of the pasta and cheese, but L'oca D'oro did a fantastic job in preparing the food so it'd be a perfect balance of taste and satiety. For the appetizer, we ordered the Zucchini Fries (which I highly highly recommend); the L'oca Mozarella, which came with peaches for us- their current menu says figs; and the Polpette, which are pork and brisket meatballs that came with tomato jam and garlic toast and was heavenly. For our entrée, we split the Rigatoni alla Nerono, which was cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. All in all, I highly recommend this spot. Everything from the atmosphere to the food to the service was fantastic! read more

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I was excited to finally try this restaurant, but the experience was disappointing. The spritz I had was delicious. The food was very good for the most part but veered on too salty. The service was the problem. First, the host was very unwelcoming= just sort of stared at us stone-faced when we entered, like a caricature of snooty restaurant host. Our server was friendly but once we'd ordered our food, super inattentive- we sat there with empty drinks and water bottle for half the meal and couldn't flag anyone down to order more or ask for water. One of us got an entree a full 5 minutes before the other did. We waited 30 minutes for dessert, which was abruptly dropped on our table, without eye contact or "can I bring you anything else?" Finally, atmosphere was nice but it is a very loud restaurant- hard to hear servers or each other. For these prices, I don't think I'll be back. read more

My partner and I tried L'Oca d'Oro on Valentines Day for their Big Star vs Abba curated menu. It was our first time and we were absolutely blown away! We were immediately greeted upon arriving and seated when it was our reservation time. Our server was really knowledgeable and attentive and set expectations clearly which was nice. It was understandable that the bar was busy since the restaurant was in full swing, and the drinks were unique and delicious. Each course was fantastic and we loved that everything before the main courses were brought in advanced. It was nice to be able to eat everything with the focaccia. The main courses were so tasty and filling. We also liked that dessert featured two dishes that had a lot of different flavors that worked well together. My partner and I were in heaven! I did notice there wasn't video playing for the music theme, at least where we were seated.. but that's okay because it still felt intimate. To our surprise, they also gave us free/extra Jell-O shots that were floral in a nice way. We didn't know such an outstanding modern Italian restaurant was in our neighborhood. The price was really competitive and I didn't feel like we walked away unfulfilled. We'll certainly come back! And we highly recommend anyone to give them a try. 10/10 read more

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Absolutely amazing. Everything was perfect from the servers attention to detail to the food.

What a gem tucked away in a corner of Mueller! We started off with cocktails. I had an American Water, a cocktail combining gin, rosemary, and their housemade amaro. It was delicious. Next was an appetizer of Tonnato Crostini. It was topped with nice little slices of baby turnips, but the tonnato itself was really something. It's a blend of tuna and anchovies that gives it a great depth of flavor. For the mains, we had a Lasagna and a Mafaldine, both pastas made in-house. The Lasagna was very original. No red sauce, but a fantastic blend of pasta, sausage, caramelized onions, and mushrooms. The herbs were on point, really bright and zesty. The Mafaldine had short ribs and a house made "X.O." sauce. Not exactly traditional, but really fun. The pasta was firm and toothsome. Dessert was a Tiramisu. It was quite nice, but there was a lot of cocoa powder on top that we both accidentally inhaled, and made us cough. That was really the only down side of the entire meal. Other fun things: - Our server brought us a lovely glass of Dolcetto wine that had a bit of the dankness of fall leaves and tobacco, along with fresh ripe blueberries and plums, and a noticeable vanilla. - We also had a house made Amaro by itself, and it was quite nice. The wife said she instantly recognized chamomile, but I wouldn't know because I don't know what chamomile tastes like. They age the amaro in jars in the kitchen. - The staff is really, really friendly and professional. They made me feel very much at home. read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Menu for today - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

L'Oca d'Oro is located in a newer/hipster/modern part of Austin, where there are a lot of young professionals and new families coming to hang around the plaza or the park nearby weekdays after work or during weekends. My coworker and I arrived here right before happy hour (3-630pm) ends on a Monday. Our waiter was very nice and allowed us to order for happy hour minutes before it ended. We ordered the focaccia bread, along with 2 orders of Brussel's sprouts because of my obsession and that we were trying to be healthy. We each also ordered a sangria. There were other items on the menu that interested us, but was not on the happy hour menu. Our waiter even warned us that it's not an happy hour item and that we should just wait and see if we are feeling up for it. Very ethical! The focaccia bread, to be honest, was just mediocre to me. The honey butter was great, but the bread wasn't too impressive. However, the Brussel's sprouts were tossed in this refreshing dressing, and it was delicious! Our sangria was actually not like a traditional sangria, which caught me by surprise. It was a little stronger than I would like but I'm not complaining about more alcohol, amirite ;) All in all, the service was very friendly and the food was great. I enjoyed the decor here at L'Oca d'Oro and had a very pleasant meal. read more

I went here for New Years Eve and thought their offering was good but not great. The best item I tried was their tiramisu. I need to come back and try their normal menu. read more

This was our first visit at L'Oca d'Oro (the golden goose). I was looking for something a little different because my wife and I are going out often and are kind of bored with all these restaurants that copy each other and don't have any flair. I saw this one on OpenTable and it piqued my attention. We like the Mueller area and have actually considered living there. The day started well, I got a parking spot literally in front of the restaurant. The city makes you pay for parking there but it's still reasonable at $1/hr. We ordered two pastries. A sweet one (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kouign-amann) which the waitress thought was middle eastern (funny, probably because of Amann which she probably confused with the city in Jordan) but that I'm pretty sure I had before in France. And we ordered a savory one with cheese and tomato. Both were well executed, made in house (like everything else I'm told, including the cheese) and perfectly buttery. We started with the sweet pastry which went very well with my coffee and moved on to the savory one before enjoying our entrees. I had to have the Broxton burger for my entree because it has lamb, brisket and pancetta. How can you turn that down? Well maybe some people might not like lamb, but if you do, this one is for you. The bun was also very well made and though it is a bit pricey at $15, it has some unusual and expensive ingredients. My wife had the garlic sausage on a bed of polenta (not very much of it) and fried kale. I don't have a picture, but she finished it and was happy at the end, so probably another tasty dish. Overall, I recommend this place for the food quality and the service and cleanliness. However, the bill was a bit high because they automatically add a 20% tip to pay their waiters a fair wage as they say. I'm glad the service was great, but I'd rather tip well than be forced to tip high. So, they lose a star for that. read more

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Great Italian food for a rainy Austin night! My friend and I ordered the Polpette (which are meatballs, which we were not aware of), Radiatore Primavera, and Mafaldine. They were all very delicious and hearty. If anything, this experience introduced me to new pasta shapes. The bill also includes an 18% gratuity added in to help ensure equitable pay for their staff. Would definitely come again! read more

L'Oca d'Oro - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Hands down bar none the best food experience I've had in Austin. This is located in such an unassuming spot, it kind of excites me that it hasn't been found by Austin360 or other spots the blow up these local secrets. The food is homemade, locally sourced and delicious. Wine list was amazing accompanied by a Knowledgeable staff that gave great recommendations and service. Truly a hidden gem read more

L'Oca d'Oro. Italian restaurant in Mueller. Definitely recommend getting a reservation for dinner. When it's nice out, try and get a seat on their patio. Apps: Straciatella Crostini: Slice of bread covered in pecan butter, charred kale, and red onion jam. There actually pecans in the pecan butter. The mix of butter, sweet and salty is amazing. The bread is amazing. One of the best items I've eaten - 9.5/10 Fresh Mozzarella: Solid quality mozzarella. The roasted tomatoes add a nice tart flavor to the cheese. Really good olive oil - 8.3/10 Entrée: Abruzzi Rye Pappardelle: To start pappardelle style pasta is one of my favorites. I prefer thick dense texture. The acidity of the grapefruit really adds a nice twist to the pistachio purée and charred fennel. - 8.2/10 Drinks: Debina, Glinavos '15, Eprius, GR: It's an orange wine. Citrusy and smooth. Very close to a rosè - 8/10 Overall: 8.4/10 read more

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6.5/10 Eat again? yes Overall The food was good, restaurant looked very clean and bright. Great place for a lunch or dinner if you're in the Mueller area. Favorite dish: casarecce Ambience Really like the ambience here! Everything was clean, in place, and felt fresh. There were plants hanging around the restaurant, and one wall was a floor-to-ceiling window. The restaurant looks beautiful on a bright sunny day. read more

L'Oca d'Oro - everything here was yummy! - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

My husband and I had an amazing opportunity to dine at L'Oca d"Oro for the first time for an Aaron and Stacy Franklin dinner collaboration to help benefit the Lilith Fund. We had a wonderful 3 course experience. We checked into our 6:45 pm reservation with the hostest on a Tuesday evening. We were immediately seated at a small outside table to the right of the front door. It was small, quaint and intimate with the outer string lights on the tress. We didn't have to wait long for the waiter to greet us and take our drink orders. Being that it was our first time, I wasn't sure if they even had a bar but on our specialized menu there were cocktail offerings, non at which included vodka and I was told there were no substitutes. I ordered a glass of red wine and my husband opted for the beverage paring which included cocktails and two wines for $50. As we waited for our first course to arrive, THE Aaron Franking co-owner of the famous Franklin BBQ, was walking around and chatting with people at their tables. He did come over to us for a hot min and I asked if he would take a photo with my husband and I and he to kindly accepted with no hesitation. Soon thereafter our first courses arrived which was a delicious Cold Smoked Ribeye, it included smoked beef broth, salsa verde, sauce peara and it was so good. I've never experience Ribeye cut so thinly sliced like prosciutto. So we were off to a great start. Our first course continued with a Chicory Salad w/creamy Italian dressing along with Confit Gold Potatoes w/pecorino Romano, grana padano both were very good. Our second course the stars of the show, starting off with the Smoked Short Rib Lasagna which included fresh mozzarella, ricotta and marinara. We also received the Tagliatelle, w/smoked pistachio cream, preserved lemon and shiro miso. Talk about yummy! Who would have thought to combine smoked short rib into a lasagna but it was a combination of my two favorite worlds, BBQ and Pasta! The only off putting thing to me was the Lasagna was a bit cold already by the tagliatelle was nice and warm. I don't know about you, but I like my food hot or at least warm but I didn't let that ruin my experience. Both were so delicious. Oh, and how can I forget about the Citrus-glazed carrots that complimented the to meals. Cooked to perfection! After having the first two courses, I couldn't wait for dessert. We were served a Chocolate and Beef Fat Cake which contained TCHO milk chocolate, toasted pecan, cacao nib, pickled turnip and whipped cream. WOW! I was so impressed. We ate every licking bite. We also received two Old Fashioned Donuts with grapefruit glaze in the adorable to go bags. I couldn't wait to try it so I halved one with my husband and we saved the other for breakfast. The grapefruit flavor was not in your face which we appreciated and it was just perfection. When we cashed out, if we didn't have enough already, the waiter gave us two different flavored Teho chocolates Toffee Time and Oat My Gawd, soooo yum. Oh and Aaron came by our table once more as we were about to leave and we chatted for a bit. I had the honor of meeting Phil Rosenthal and I had asked him who is food hero was and so now that I had the honor of meeting Aaron, I had to ask him the same question. He was caught a little off guard and named a couple of people but in conclusion said, if we meet again, to ask him the same question and he'll be ready for me next time, lol. read more

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We dined at L'Oca d'Oro on a Friday evening on the patio for dinner. Now, I'm not one to be finicky about salt content, in fact I like my food pretty salty, but my god all diners at our table agreed ... every..single..dish is terribly over salted. That was the biggest ding. 2nd ding was the 35 minute gap in between courses, right in the middle of the meal. No explanation, no, "sorry about the wait, would you like some bread?". After eating a few courses if you stop eating for 35 minutes then your stomach starts to assume there's no more food coming and you stop being hungry. When you're not hungry, food doesn't taste as good. Lastly, the cost. I'm happy to pay a premium for great food but as an example let's look at the $21 Spaghetti alla Nerano which is described as "zucchini, Provolone Picanté, basil". This is a small serving of pasta, with a few pieces of zucchini and a cheese sauce (and again, SO MUCH SALT). Guys, this is just a small basic poorly seasoned pasta dish that you could easily do better in your own kitchen. For $21. I did really enjoy their focaccia which was different than any focaccia I've ever had in a very welcome way. read more