L'Oca d'Oro

I went to this restaurant for dinner with my boyfriend. I love the ambience, we sat on one of the tables online. We made a reservation online so we didn't have to wait, but there were some tables available to sit if needed.We ordered two pastas and also got some complementary champagne in the beginning, which was delicious. Our server was really sweet and helped us decide which dishes to order as we wanted to only order vegetarian food.The flavors were delicious, would 100% visit again!

If you are expecting a nice Italian dinner this place is NOT what you're looking for. the food is just bizarre and the service / ambiance doesn't make up for it. Got sat 10 minutes after my reservation. Service was bad throughout. Food ranged from strange to straight up unappetizing. Dishes came out cold. Somehow still cost me $250+Would not return. Only giving it 2 stars because the meatball dish was fairly decent. Other than that might be one of the worst meals I've had in Austin. If you wanna try something odd, this place is is spot on. But if you're looking for a tasty Italian date night you should pass

Bad meal, bad service, shady added charges. Did not inform of a 20% upcharge on solo meal in advance - NOT before I ate, like a decent place does, NOT in reservation clickstream, terms, "what you should know before you go", payments, etc. They ADDED FOOD I SAID NO to, overcharged vs menu too. But the BAD FOOD & SERVICE, READ ON. It gets worse.** The pasta was bad - drizzled with spicy hot MOUTH BURNING oil I could NOT taste any flavor. I've eaten Italian all over the world and in NYC, Boston, etc. This was JUST BAD, inedible, weird. I was STARVING. I ate HALF the pasta with spicy oil drizzle, little slivers of meat. I would've let it go to support locals. BUT...** I told the server NO I did not want bread, we discussed it. I said JUST PASTA AND THE ORANGE NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK. * DINING ROOM WAS EMPTY so I thought comp'd 2 little pieces of BLAND bread they brought. They charged + MARKED UP 20%. I had a few small bites to cut the terrible heat.** OVERCHARGED $6 for non alcoholic drink** I had to ask 3x for orange drink ordered 1st. Brought AFTER the miserably hot noodles with garnish came.** AFTER I ate part, I got the bill ON THEIR COMPUTER with MULTIPLE extra fees that SERVER MISINFORMED me about when he finally told me AFTER the meal. He WRONGLY said we have a small service fee added of about 3% (it's 20%) & a 2.5 % credit card fee. NO PRINTED CHECK. **I said you only got a few dollars tip in service fee of 3% that goes to you? He said yes so I added on more. FALSE INFO.** I OBJECTED when he showed me computer price without clear info on 20% upcharge. HE SAID I'm explaining it to you NOW AND DID NOT. He gave misinfo.** I ADDED $ ON TOP for him based on mis-info he gave when I questioned all** I got home & EMAIL RECEIPT SAYS 20% SERVICE FEE ON ALL PLUS MY ADDED TIP. ** $65 for a BAD experience...for noodles main w bad mouth burning oil. * I PAY 2-3x THAT FOR GOOD FOOD, SERVICE. * I TIP 20-40+% USUALLY.** I would've given another try but all was SO BAD. I could not even order dessert. ** BAD tasting food, overcharges, shady, bad service, ignored complaints.**** Starving, I ATE FOOD AFTER AT HOME. Try at your own risk. Inconsistent at best. ********* UPDATE ********1. They have the nerve to answer my complaint by saying I wish you had told me. WHAT IS UNCLEAR?I OBJECTED AT THE BILL TIME TOO, TOLD THEM CLEARLY, and was misinformed on top of it. See #2...2. I TOLD THE SERVER: "I WOULD NOT ORDER THAT MEAL AGAIN" and joked if I was sick to clear my sinuses maybe, I TOLD HIM "I DIDN'T LIKE IT " and on and on. 3. EMAIL RECEIPT SAYS THE UPCHARGE PART ALONE IS 20%. SERVER WRONGLY told me 3% when he MISINFORMED ME AFTER the meal.THIS CAUSED ME TO ADD EVEN MORE TIP on an INFLATED bill!! 4. They claim its online. IT IS NOT in reservation clickstream, terms, payments, "What you should know before you go" etc. PLUS misinfo after I ate. I see NOW its buried at end of long paragraph after paragraphs somewhere. THEY ARE ADDING IT. 5. NO PRINTED BILL GIVEN THAT THEY NOW CLAIM ITS ON.6. MGMT didn't address ALL ISSUES where they are padding the bill. THE FOOD WAS WORSE & SERVICE! SO SHADY on several aspects. 7. I TIP 20 - 40% NORMALLY. It was NOT the fee itself. It's how badly it was handled, AND EVERYTHING. I TOLD them in person. I would've let it go w/o MORE stress, had I not seen the email receipt showing the waiter's false info after the meal that had made me tip EVEN MORE. 8. STRESSFUL HASSLE. I went home TO EAT THERE. Money on Uber, a terrible overcharged experience for noodles & spicy oil, etc. 9. I didn't take any of it home, ate 1/2 of the pasta, a few little bites of the bread TO CUT THE BURNING IN MY MOUTH from the bad pasta -- bread I DID NOT ORDER & SAID NO TO at $10 for two little pieces of BLAND BREAD. 10. NOW THEY WANT ME TO BEG for a credit. NO ACCOUNTABILITY for all that went on either.THEY REPLIED AFTER YET ANOTHER WRITTEN COMPLAINT... that if it was truly bad food AFTER I was clear MANY times, ignoring the rest!! I said it to the server's face as kindly & direct as I could. I took my time to write them first when I got email receipt. POORLY RUN with alot of potential so it's too bad. I LOVE neighborhood places. I also like spicy food, just not BAD so hot you can't taste flavor MOUTH BURNING inedible food.* THEY SHOULD PUT EFFORT INTO COOKING DELICIOUS, HIGH VALUE FOOD CONSISTENTLY instead of overcharging at every turn. MAYBE THEN their dining room WOULD NOT BE EMPTY at dinner & loyal foodies like me would LOVE to come back. I spend a lot per meal solo, even more w friends / clients & eat out often -- but this was AWFUL. I won't be referring or dining here. TOO bad to try another dish. Try at your own risk, as it is inconsistent at best. Also VERY limited menu vs online. UPDATE 2: Management was even worse after, defensive. A GREAT restaurant grows on rep & it's leadership, and doesn't resort to all of this. No wonder the dining room was EMPTY.

This was an interesting experience for sure. I wanted to sample a variety to see what the craze is about and for me this wasn't it. I've been to Italy and am use to a variety of well made authentic dishes. None of these dishes really stood out. The flavor profile was bland. Our waiter was not friendly and in a rush the entire meal. There's not really an ambiance here--I wish it was cozy and well decorated so the prices match the setting but this is not the case. The menu is very limited which, isn't necessarily a bad thing but, what is listed for the mains isn't very descriptive and the waiter didn't explain things well. They don't really have any wine by the glass so, I opted for the Limoncello Spritz which was standard but had way too much ice. Notable items I tried: The focaccia ($10) was good and you get 2 slices. Swordfish tartine ($14) was bland and expensive for 1 slice of toast. The Rigatoni was okay ($24). The portion sizes are incredibly small and that's disappointing. I cannot justify spending $200+ here on any celebratory occasion nor did anything stand out to come again for me personally. The menu is rotating so give it a try if you enjoy Italian food.

Been wanting to try this place for awhile so finally made it here on a Sunday evening, and just in time for happy hour (4-6pm everyday)! They have great HH specials and I would highly recommend stopping by during that time, because otherwise the menu is short and pretty expensive (overpriced IMO). There's only 2 pastas that are on the HH menu and we got both - they were both great but would never pay regular price for them (almost $30 each). The Rosemary sourdough foccacia to start was great, especially with the honey butter that it's served with. Spritz's were good (fairly standard) and it's a cute little spot; just limited menu and I don't know how often it changes.

I highly recommend L'Oca d'Oro for dinner and happy hour! We visited a long time ago when they opened and it was amazing! We did the full tasting menu with the wine pairing. The limoncello was such a treat. My daughter and I went back recently for happy hour and enjoyed it just as much. The prices were great, service was above and beyond, and the food was fantastic. We enjoyed the half-off pasta immensely. It can be romantic if that's what you're looking for or just a chill meal. Go check it out!

Chef Fiore Tedesco's L'Oca d'Oro is an Italian neighborhood restaurant that celebrates the traditions of Italian cuisine but innovates in a surprising way with whimsical dishes and surprising combinations. Located in Austin Texas, Chef has painstakingly created a fixed and standard menu that provides folks an opportunity to try many dishes or follow a path along a curated trajectory Chef Fiore Tedesco has selected.The fresh mozzarella and cima di rapa (w/ parmigiano & anchovy) are delightful and standard dishes as appetizers and carry that tradition; but it's the daring combinations like the beet cashew dip that open up your imagination. I was lucky to try several dishes when we dined and was surprised and in awe of many of the dishes including the spaghetti alla limone which was a very different take with its lime kosho & grana padano; airy and fresh, it resonated with everyone who tried it. Other standouts included the chicken milanesa marsala, the blue moon panna cotta, and the pistachio chocolate chip cookie.Chef Tedesco's philosophy of creating everything in house is seen in the freshness and quality of the ingredients. Chef Tedesco has founded a memorable restaurant but more importantly has created a consistency that is hard to replicate. It's this constant commitment that drives not only the quality but the passion of L'Oca d'Oro.Even more impressive is the philosophy of his restaurant; from L'Oca d'Oro's website:"All of our dishes are prepared with sustainable, locally grown produce and meats--a reflection of a farm-to-table philosophy that extends to our handmade pasta, cheese, salumi, bread, vinegars and liqueurs. We care for our team members by including a 20% pre-tax service charge to guarantee a base wage of at least $17/hr, Direct Primary Care, PTO & low costcounseling for our entire team. Since 2016, L'Oca has paid above the federal minimum wage, accompanied by benefits like healthcare and retirement plans. During crises, L'Oca prioritizes community health and social justice, collaborating with organizations like Good Work Austin, co-founded by L'Oca owners, and Lilith Fund, setting an example for culinary excellence and positive societal impact through unwavering dedication to quality and responsibility."In 2018, Chef Fiore Tedesco spoke on behalf of restaurants before the City Council in defense of a paid sick leave ordinance. In 2019, he and his co owner the pair co-founded Good Work Austin to continue pushing for increased pay, better benefits, and now improved family practices. Thanks to those efforts, L'Oca D'Oro earned its reputation as a leader for redefining industry standards. At a panel discussion, he discussed the recent election and how so many folks within Good Work Austin now had a tension, unsure of what changes have come. Chef addressed this and his words were comforting to folks like myself who understand the challenges in the restaurant industry and the community who works in it, namely the hundred if not thousands he represents in Austin."I very rarely straight up copy paste website info on a post but this summarizes Chef's goals with his restaurant. To have such a high standard for the ingredients, the staff, and the culture shows how wonderful L'Oca d'Oro.

My friend and I enjoyed a really lovely happy hour meal yesterday (8/28).We sat at the bar where we had a front row few to the open kitchen which I really enjoyed. I'm a big fan of watching the kitchen staff work. The cooks working did a wonderful job and looked like they had great attention to detail as they prepared dishes.The bartenders were very attentive throughout our entire meal as we ordered a few drinks and several dishes to split.My friend had a few glasses of wine and I had the Orange Cream Soda with Tito's and Limoncello Spitzers. We were happy with all of our drinks.For dinner, we split several items: Rosemary Sourdough Focaccia, Fresh Mozzarella, Zucchini Fries, Spaghetti alla Nerano, and Pappardelle. We ate every single bite and were impressed by the quality of the meal. You can tell the pastas were made fresh and were cooked perfectly. The beef shoulder in the Pappardelle was tender and insanely flavorful. The focaccia was crunchy and soft in all the right places. The mozzarella was super smooth and paired nicely with the onion jam and thinly sliced melon. I think my least favorite item was the zucchini fries only because the zucchini got kind of flabby during the frying process. I think I would have liked them more if the zucchini was thicker cut to hold up better, but I still enjoyed them.Overall, we had a wonderful experience and I look forward to returning.

L'Oca d'Oro Brunch Review Experience: It was our first time brunching here since they reopened after the pandemic. I've been here for dinner and happy hour before, but it's been a while.Parking: Parking is easy if you arrive early--plenty of street parking, and the McBee garage is close by.Food: Brunch was delicious but a bit pricey. The fresh mozzarella with fennel and strawberries was particularly fresh and tasty.Dog-Friendliness: They have a dog-friendly outdoor patio, making it an awesome spot when the weather is great, especially with the view overlooking Lake Mueller.Overall: A delightful brunch with great food and a lovely atmosphere--perfect for a sunny day out with your pup!

This restaurant is a gem. We had a great meal on a relaxed Sunday summer night. Our server was good at explaining their local, in-season concept, and was quick to point out the vegetarian options for us. The radiatore pasta with pesto was the highlight of the meal for us, and fresh mozzarella with balsamic and orange was a close second. Chips and olive oil with olives was a refreshing way to serve house-made chips.Good ambience. Easy street and lot parking at Mueller. The staff were up front about their 20 percent service charge, and the credit card surcharge; we had no surprises at the end. Their menu apparently changes often based on produce availability, so we're looking forward to trying new foods here on our next visit.