Best Contemporary Italian Restaurants in Central Austin

We were visiting Austin and we always like to try new places. The amazing thing is we were able to get a last-minute reservation unlike other venues. When we got there, it was very quaint, the waiter was excellent and the food stellar. Just realize this is an Italian restaurant, and the portions are probably small. We ordered two appetizers and quickly went to three. I think this is a hidden gem.

I had such an amazing experience at Intero with my husband last night, the food was beyond my expectations, and the service was impeccable. I highly recommend the gnocchi with duck confit, and the risotto with duck breast. The Wagyu beef appetizer was phenomenal as well. Don’t skimp out on the Butter cake if you have room in your stomach for a tasty dessert. I can’t wait to come back for more! 

Poeta is truly a gem and one of my absolute favorites in Austin. Ian and his incredibly talented team consistently deliver an exceptional dining experience. The food is nothing short of extraordinary, with a menu that evolves beautifully to showcase the freshest, seasonal ingredients at their peak. Every visit is a journey of creativity and flavor that leaves a lasting impression. Whether it’s the impeccable service, the thoughtfully curated dishes, or the inviting atmosphere, Poeta never fails to create an enjoyable and memorable experience. Highly recommended!

It was a very cute restaurant. The truffle cheesy garlic bread is the best Italian food appetizer I’ve ever had, and the drinks were really good.

Our dinner last night was so lovely. We're parents of a toddler so we don't get out much. We had a babysitter and decided to use a gift card for one of our past favorite restaurants. Everything was absolutely delicious. We started with the rosemary sourdough bread with butter, escarole and Frisee salad, and Polpette meatballs. The bread has a great flavor and good texture. Every aspect of the salad was incredible - the dressing, the grapefruit, the honey Aleppo almonds. And the Polpette were some of the best meatballs I've tried. We really enjoyed the chicken milanesa and the black pepper Pappardelle dish had amazing texture (all their pastas are made in-house) but I feel could have had a more interesting flavor. I had really wanted to try the Tiramisu, one of my favorite desserts, but we were so stuffed. All the wine and cocktails were tasty. We sat on the patio since we wanted to order off the A la carte menu but it was so quiet and dead outside. Some music or something piped outside might have been nice. We used to frequent L'Oca d'Oro before the pandemic and before having kids, but we hadn't been back since Fall 2019. I was happy to see the ways in which the restaurant pivoted during the pandemic and all that they have done to care for their employees, very admirable. Overall, we really loved our meal and we will happily be back!