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    The Backspace

    4.1 (778 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Pizza
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    The Backspace Photos

    Business Info

    THE BACKSPACE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - The Backspace

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    Derek T.

    Came for a quick dinner and it did not the disappoint. I got a red sauce pizza that had pork and fennel and it was so flavorful. One of my favorite pizzas for sure. The crust is thin and crispy just how I like it. You can see them make the pizza right in front of you if you sit at the bar. The service was so friendly and they are quick to get you more water or wine. The quality of the pizza you can really taste how fresh everything is. The inside has a nice dim ambiance perfect for a date night or dinner!

    Pizza Oven...can't wait to taste our Margarita!
    John C.

    What a terrific little restaurant located on a side street and as the name implies, it is behind another restaurant in a "backspace". You won't be disappointed, We had a wonderful Margarita pizza and a salad. We ate early on a week night so the place was not busy yet. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. The decor is very nice and the restaurant was very clean. We are looking forward to our next visit.

    Margherita
    Laura C.

    The pizza here is so good! Be sure and grab a dessert too! Love the look of this little place-they definitely make the most of it. Service was outstanding!

    Giselle C.

    I met my brother for dinner in Austin and we were wandering around near his hotel when we happened upon The Backspace. I'm always down for pizza, and they has this amazing brick oven pizza that was delicious! We also had the burrata (yum) and a glass of wine. The atmosphere is cozy and makes for a perfect date night spot. Every single table was full, including the bar. Service was on point and we had a really nice time there! I was pleasantly surprised and glad we took a chance on The Backspace. I will defintely be returning when I'm back in Austin!

    Jen B.

    I'd read good things about The Backspace before we went, but I truly wasn't prepared for exactly how wonderful everything would turn out to be! The service was welcoming and accommodating with truly fantastic food! The mains were first-tier, the desserts were excellent, the pizzas were tasty and even the starters were tasty and fun :-) Tip: There's not a lot of seating space within; their capacity is only about 15-20 people, but if you end up waiting, eating here will be worth it

    Pepperoni Americano
    Hayli C.

    Wow! What an amazing find! I was attending a conference at the convention center and stumbled upon The Backspace. The service was amazing, super nice and helpful waiter. He was polite, accommodating, and knowledgeable. The food was just as incredible. There were 4 of us and each had a different pizza and loved every single one. The restaurant is very small but we arrived right as they opened and had no issues getting a table.

    Dessert

    SO GOOD! From the quality of the food, the service and the great prices! Wow. The space is super cute and the food is insanely good. Christopher my waiter was also amazing! Would drive from downtown to this just to experience it again and again.

    Fennel pizza
    Ruth H.

    Wow wow wow ....checked into the Westin hotel and was craving pizza! Hoping there was something local that was incredible. Found this place just around the corner! Ya'll this place is legit!!! We started with a Baked Ricotta...it was amazing but rich! We then ordered one of each : Fennel Sausage and the Roasted Mushrooms pizza. I so missed the roasted mushroom pic .....they were ALL INCREDIBLE Heads up: they have HH 5-6:30....show up early and save on a bottle of wine.

    Pizza oven

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    2 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Meatballs need to be seasoned better. Watch pizza so crust doesn't burn. Service was good. Salad fine- well dressed

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    7 months ago

    Always have a great slice here. Easy downtown location. I like a thin and crispy crust. This was just the right balance.

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    Page 1 of 20

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    Sammie’s - Rigatoni Bolognese

    Sammie’s

    4.1(430 reviews)
    0.7 miMarket District, Downtown
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    Who would have thought an Italian red sauce joint would go straight to my top tier Austin recs?…read more Place is just legendary. Sammie's has been hyped up on social media for a long time and I gotta say it's still underrated! I will gladly have Sammie's take the Pepsi challenge against red sauce joints in NYC/NJ etc. In fact, I've told friends and family that I am going to take them to Sammie's when they visit from there. We just had such a fantastic experience - everything..the vibe..the red light fixtures and the color of the booths and the floor..the service - our server was great..loved their outfits..really had an old school little italy feel to it. The food was much better than I even anticipated - as a guy who grew up on NJ diner mozzarella sticks, I have a high bar for them and these were magnificent. And seriously...taking the "everything's bigger in Texas" slogan and applying them to mozzarella sticks?! top 10 achievements of the decade. The chicken parm was perfect - well seasoned, proper amount of crisp..the basil on top...the perfect browning of the cheese. Also the lasanga was excellent..and best part - the leftovers..took it home and the next two days put them in a small cast iron and re-heated them..and the magic was right there in my hill country kitchen! Lastly and certainly not least - the cannoli...just look at the photo below.. I'll say, yes, the place is pricey but you can really easily split these entrees and then it becomes cheaper than a jersey strip center Italian joint. I haven't stopped raving about Sammie's since I've been there, and I cannot wait to return, recommend it, and take friends and family that visit.

    I have to apologize that it has taken me this long to write this sweet and short love letter to…read moreSammie's. Back in the Dec. we did a guys trip to Austin and the culinary highlight of the weekend was Sammie's. Stepping through the doors felt like stepping into elegance and onto the set of Goodfellas. From the hostess to the waiters to the manager everyone was super attentive and on top of their game. You can't go wrong with anything from the bar. I have never been a fan of Negronis but the one at Sammie's changed my life! I order them everywhere I go now searching for that Sammie's Negroni high but nothing comes close to it. The food was EPIC! Take a look at my pics everything we ordered was prepared to perfection but I still dream about the veal which took the whole table to devour. Also the Caesar Salad was .

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    Sammie’s - Bar is the best

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    Cousin Louie’s Italian American

    Cousin Louie’s Italian American

    4.0(91 reviews)
    14.8 mi
    $$

    Nothing typical here folks! Some of the best Italian I've had in forever.....sorry NYC! Fresh…read more bread, hand made pasta and sauces! Sangria to die for with a twist! ( I have had some of the best in Barcelona) cousin Louie's us Michelin Star folks! My fettuccine sauce was perfection and even when I cleared the plate the sauce was so creamy and thick no butter or oil in sight! OMG to die for!! My husband's family is Italian from Milan and he said (sorry Momma and Nona) was better than families!! That's a Hugh statement!! Won't disappoint Thank you for such a lovey, delicious dinning experience! Keep up the good work Louie Epic!!

    Never heard of this place but got a coupon in the mail for a buy one lunch, get a free lunch…read more Decided to try it as I'm always looking for decent Italian food. As it turns out the coupon was only good during the week and it was Saturday. No big deal. I ordered a Meatball Sandwich, my friend an Italian Sandwich (after asking our excellent young waitress about it). She brought out two very tasty types of bread with olive oil for dipping. The sandwiches came with Garlic Fries. The Fries were delicious but unfortunately mine were lukewarm. I certainly could have asked for a fresh portion, but was hungry enough not to bother. That's the reason my rating wasn't 5 Star. Because the restaurant was pretty empty on this Saturday afternoon, I feel the Chef shouldn't have sent out fries that weren't piping hot. The Meatball Sandwich however was marvelous. Freshly made, tasty meatballs with sauce and cheese on their focaccia bread was a real treat. I took half home and ate the rest for dinner. All in all, I'd come back here again as the food was excellent as well as the service.

    Photos
    Cousin Louie’s Italian American - Inside

    Inside

    Cousin Louie’s Italian American - Rocket salad

    Rocket salad

    Cousin Louie’s Italian American - Seafood Fra Diavolo

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    The Backspace - italian - Updated May 2026

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