Siena Ristorante Toscano

Honestly, I don't know how someone could give this place a positive review. I do not write reviews very often, but it was such a bad experience that I had to do something about it. When you walk into the place, it has the appearance of a great restaurant. However, as soon as we did not order alcohol, the waiter's entire demeanor changed. Even though we ordered well over $100 worth of food, apparently, he felt that we were not worth his time. While my wife was ordering, the waiter interrupted her by yelling at a passing bus boy and interrupted me to yell at another bus boy. The food was average and the dessert was downright awful. How does this place stay in business? Pros: Beautiful ambience Cons: expensive, average food and deplorable service more

we went there on a sunday afternoon. it was slow. so was our service. the food came out cold and tasted lousy. definately NOT ITALIAN. even the chef is not italian, how interesting? prices were high food quality was low. dont waste your time. seriously. Pros: nice atmosphere Cons: food sucked more

We went on Mother's Day & service was awful. We were seated upstairs & our poor server was friendly, but he must have had too many tables assigned to him. \r \r Did like the fact that the upstairs was much quieter than the main restaurant. \r \r My husband likes to come at lunch, the lunch prices are much more reasonable.\r \r Best rolls in town. Mother & I ate 2, lost count on my husband!\r \r Food was quite tasty. Mother had the Mele e Speck salad with apples, Gorgonzola, Walnuts and bacon in , apple cider vinaigrette.\r \r I had the fixed price menu with ravioli stuffed with braised veal, ricotta and spinach in fresh sage butter \r with lemon and pine nuts (outstanding), $11\r \r Chicken breast stuffed with sun dried tomato pesto (almost undetectable, over grilled asparagus (one spear), goat cheese and roasted potato torta with black truffle cream - DELISH! $26.\r \r Husband had Cacciucco - a stew of shrimp, scallops, fresh fish, calamari and mussels sautéed with red chili, spring onions and roasted tomato sauce with (not over as the menu says) grilled bruschetta $28. His stew was large & outstanding, but the bread was burned. \r \r \r \r Dessert of Semi-frozen ""Dreamsicle"" mousse with honey, orange compote and shortbread was just OK - very mild. $6.\r \r White chocolate mascarpone tart with strawberry coulis was good, but not outstanding. Crust tasted like maybe it had been frozen $7.\r \r \r \r Pros: beautiful architecture, good food Cons: EXPENSIVE, bad service more

My husband took me to this restaurant for lunch on my birthday. The decor is good and the food is quite tasty, even though the portion sizes of the food are on the small side considering the big price tag. While polite, the waiter did not seem to be very interested in serving us. We only saw him when it was time to order our drink, food and dessert and when it was time to bring the bill. Our water glasses were not refilled even once, we were not offered more than one small piece of bread roll each with our soup and when I gave the waiter my camera to take our photograph, he did not check to see if our eyes were closed or not! As it was lunch time on a week day, the restaurant was pretty empty except for a handful of us. I cannot understand why the service was that bad. We will definitely not go again and we do not recommend this place. The food is good but for the small portion size, big price and bad service, it is not worth the money, time and trip. Pros: Tasty food, good atmosphere Cons: Small sized food portions, big prices and bad service more

Despite the somewhat odd location and interesting staff- we love the food and atmosphere here. Don't get me wrong the loaction is fine just seems out of place in that shopping center. The wait staff is fine just seems inexperienced (clueless front desk and wait staff that is friendly but just a little odd). \r The food is very good, we've loved the dishes. The calamari was alittle too much deep fried goodness for me but the pasta with mushrooms - amazing! Looking forward to heading back to try the veal...it just looked too good at the table next to us last time.\r Funny note, been two-three times and the same late 50's dude with a biker bandana and sleevless vest/tshirt with motorcycle tour was at the bar. Seemed waaaay too comfortable there. We get it, you have a bike and a mid life crisis...\r Also very loud, cement floors. If you want cozy ask for the back room. more

My fiance and I went to Siena for our 10 month anniversary dinner and we absolutely loved it. The food was yummy and the atmosphere was cozy and romantic. We picked this place because it got Best of Fireside Dining and when we got there we got a nice half booth for two right next to the fireplace in the cocktail area. It was exactly what we wanted, very romantic and cozy. The decor of the restaurant, inside and outside, was very nice, almost like a modern twist on Italian decor.\r \r We ordered the Ravioli with Artichokes, Spinach and Goat Cheese and the Walnut Crusted Rainbow Trout. The menu is extensive but both these dishes caught our eye. I'm rarely left speechless over food but SIena's food really exceeded my expectations. The Ravioli was covered with a delicious creamy tomato basil sauce and you can taste the goat cheese in the filling mixed in with the spinach and artichoke. The Ravioli pasta had a nice texture too. The Trout was a large portion of flaky and moist fish with a tasty nutty crust and covered in a light lemon butter sauce. Five sauteed shrimp topped the Trout which I thought was a nice touch. We thought both were so good that we totally cleaned our plates! Needless to say, we were very satisfied with our selections and would definitely recommend those two dishes. After our main entrees, we looked at the dessert menu but I don't like flourless chocolate cakes or coffee flavored desserts, so we skipped dessert, which is not our norm. So if anything, Siena could come up with better desserts.\r \r The service was great and just what I expected from a restaurant of this caliber. Our waitress was very nice, professional, and attentive without bothering us too much. The hostesses were very accommodating with our request to be seated near the fireplace, especially since there was only one fire burning that night. We left feeling we had a good upscale dining experience and Siena will definitely go on our favorites list for Austin. Pros: quality food, ambience, good service, large menu selection Cons: limited dessert menu, expensive more

Just had my birthday lunch at Siena. While the service was great and my friends seemed to enjoy their lunches, I ordered the Pollo Grigliato and it was AWFUL. The chicken was dry and tasteless and the salad greens were bitter and spotted. I didn't raise a stink because the lunch was a gift. But seriously after that experience I won't be going back for dinner. It is just a chicken breast and this is a nice restaurant....why can't they get it right? more

My husband and I went here last night with a friend of mine. The food was really delicious and the service was excellent. Our waiter was very friendly, and good at giving us suggestions. My only complaint was that the food was too small. This is not a complaint I would normally make about most restaurants, nor am I some 500 lb person that eats two entrees for dinner. Most places give you enough to feed two people. This place goes to the opposite extreme. I have gone to other ""fine dining"" restaurants (Emeril's and The Ivy in London, to give an example) and never had a problem with the amount of food. However, last night we ordered an appetizer that the waiter told us was ""large"" ... it was tiny and scarcely enough for two people, let alone four. Then I ordered the large ravioli dish and a cannoli for dessert. My entree came with seven raviolis, which I had thought would be plenty of food, but I was still starving afterward. The bill was not too outrageous, $60 for two entrees and two desserts (the appetizer was on my friend's tab). That wouldn't have bothered me in the least except that I walked away hungry. The other problem was that the service was pretty slow. I actually would not have minded that, except that we had plans to go to a play at 8pm. We arrived at the restaurant at 6pm and did not leave the table until 7:50pm. Normally, I do not mind a nice, relaxed meal but this isn't a restaurant to go to when you have somewhere to be. more

Having had the pleasure to dine in great Italian restaurants in northern Italy in the last few years, I have been spoiled and have a hard time finding comparable restaurants in the states. I was introduced to Siena through a friend and was amazed by both the authenticity and quality of food, and absolutely blown away by the level of service! Our server not only knew the menu down to the smallest ingredient of each dish, but his passion and enthusiasm for the restaurant was contagious! We let him select our entire meals and loved it all. From the Cacciucco, to the Costata di Vitello al Funghi Trifolati, to the decadent chocolate and espresso dessert, everything was spectacular including his wine recommendation. What a great find. Pros: Authentic, outstanding service more

While the menu is inventive and the dishes, once they arrived, are quite good, the service and attitude are indicative of what is wrong with service in Austin restaurants today. There are a few places that understand the nuances the high service that are the hallmark of fine restaurants, Siena falls short. Despite a beautiful environment and an eclectic menu, the service and attitude is quite poor, if not downright condescending.\r \r We came for a special evening and were seating right away (that in an of itself a warning sign, given that we arrived at 8pm on a Saturday night during a holiday weekend). THe server was gracious and drinks and appetizers arrived on time and were tasty. And then we waited. And waited. 45 minutes later, our entrees arrived, one fresh and steaming, and the other congealed and skinned over like only a heat lamp can do.\r \r I spoke with the manager to alert her to the problem and she instantly became confrontational and defensive. She clearly was not capably of managing an establishment of this ambition.\r \r I've had many business lunches here and have never had a problem, but I will likely not venture there again for a dinner meal and I'd advise you to consider some of the better options in Austin that understand the meaning of service. Pros: Great menu, nice setting Cons: Rude management, SLOW service, highly overrated for dinner more

My husband and I went here for an early-Valentines Day celebration. I agree with the other reviewers that the parking situation is just plain annoying, and would definitely limit how often we would want to come back. However, the entrees were flawless. We both ordered the Tagliatelli Bolognese, and the pasta was perfectly cooked and the meat sauce was delicious. The dessert was more average, and the cappuccino's were weak. The server was friendly enough, but we felt oddly rushed during our meal even though there were plenty vacant tables. At one point -- I am not making this up -- the server actually stood there and watched as I scooped the last bite of salad onto my fork, and snatched my plate before I had put it into my mouth! Pros: Wonderful pasta Cons: Average service more

The atmosphere is lovely and romantic. The food is delicious!! The pate appetizer left us wanting more, the trout and salmon were some of the best ever!\r We had reservations for a 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening dinner. We drove around for 20-25 minutes looking for a parking place!! When we finally found one about 2 blocks away I asked the hostess why they didn't have valet parking. Her response was that it was available on Friday and Saturday evenings only and that the owners were aware of the problem, but nothing could be done. If the restaurant had been full, we would have been more understanding. But there were very few diners. Most of the parking spots were occupied by those eating at Waterloo Ice House. Yes, it's a great restaurant, but there are others in Austin that are also great who provide valet parking or ample parking spaces. more

Dear, i love Ceasar Salad so much\r \r Well first of all i work in the kitchen (day time crew). I cant say much for the waitstaff cause im not up there but, what i do see dosent have anything to do with what you said. I think the foods very good im an italian from up north so i know GOOD FOOD! If ceasar salad is your thing you can try that fast food place i see FAGoleys or whatever. Im sure that is more to your likeing with a well done steak with ketchup and ranch. Im pretty sure if it was as bad as you say they wouldnt have 4 stars and be open for over 7 years! I think you need to lay off the booze and stick with virgin pink daquris and try us again sometime. Come anytime at lunch for daily specials and good reasonable priced lunch items............. And as far as musashino's goes its by far the greatest sushi i have ever tasted so take that and sprinkle it on your mexican salad. Pros: Its NOTHING like the olive garden or other pre packaged italian joints Cons: not enough people in north austin have heard about it more

Please do not use this forum to slag Siena just because you were fired from there. It's slanderous and unfair and they know who you are. I am a loyal customer who has been eating there for eight years and I too know who you are. ( it's bad to lie to your boss)They stay in business because they rock!! Pros: great food Cons: ex-employees more

I have eaten at sienna a few times its nothing to tell anyone about. Some things i thought i would share was waitstaff seem to be all over the place. Very UN organized. Managment dosent seem to be much better. The food is totally sub par the menu dosent change that much with the seasons adding or takeing away a few things isnt season changing!!!! I think all this place needs is for whoevers in charge to go back to school and learn a thing or 2 and put ceasar salad on the menu who dosent love ceasar salad. That or just shut that crummy looking building down either or!!!!!! Pros: i had a good bowel movement after my meal Cons: they dont have ceasar salad more

Siena is a Tuscan restaurant (named after a significantly historical town), ""Tuscan"" meaning from the Toscano region in Italy. This place breaks from the standard Italian food that most of us grew up with in America, being a heavy dose of red sauces and pasta dishes. Now I haven't dined everywhere in Austin, but this is hands down the most romantic place in town. The wine list is superb. The cuisine is superb. Sorry, no Caesar salad (which was actually created by an Italian in Mexico City). This is a place to experience a different kind of Italian that most people in this country will never have the opportunity to do so. Start with a bottle of Rocca Della Macie ""Chianti"" and the ""Fiche"" - black Mission figs stuffed with pecorino, wrapped with parma prosciutto, baked in a pizza oven and accented with an amazing balsamic vinegar reduction made with sugar. Siena is an opportunity to learn something new, an education, a new definition of Italian food. It's a little pricey, but not really when you consider the ambience, food, wine, and the location. Pros: different kind of Italian experience for the average american Cons: stay away from the weekends - it's better during the week more

This is the most delicious Italian food in the most romantic setting...worth every penny! I plan to go back for the next anniversary or birthday...so incredible! more

Service in the restaurant was excellent and friendly, while service at the bar was haughty and poor. I had the salmon and scallop(s) and felt the food was mediocre and overpriced. It's possible I would have fared better with a pasta dish. The dining room was spacious and made it easy to have a conversation which was lovely. Pros: Dining Room Service Cons: Quality of the food more

My husband and I went there recently for a romantic dinner! We 10 minutes bit late for our appointment, it was a Friday night, so maybe that's why we ended up in ""Siberia"". Anyway, menu. We both chose the appetizer with the white asparagus. Being European, these things are only on the market from May to June and are considered a delicacy when cooked with ham, melted butter and boiled egg. These asparagus were RAW, and therefore quiet tasteless and not the slightly salty, soft, melt in your mouth stuff that I was expecting. I just ate the prosciutto and salad that came with it. My husband ate it all, but then he would! For our main course he had the pasta with lots of wild mushtrooms and cream. This was delicious (I finished his plate for him) and it come in 2 sizes: appetirzer or main course - or ""entree"" as they call it in this country.\r I am doing this silly thing trying to avoid to many carbs, so I had the seafood / fish soup dish. The mussels were overcooked, as were the clams and I think the clams were frozen. Also, the soup needed a lot more garlic and other herbs, as it tasted quite bland to me. I didn't like the fish in it. For dessert we shared the vanilla icecream with strawberries and a balsamic reduction. The strawberries were actually 3 slices of half a strawberry. The ice cream was a good quality, though and the balsamic reduction was good. The staff (apart from the snooty hostess) was very nice and helpful and they tend to be everywhere in this country. I would go there again, but I was a bit disappointed, maybe because my expectations were too high. So 7 out of 10.\r \r more

I made reservations for 4 people and celebrating a birthday. I ordered the tomato basil soup with a salad was very good. Then followed the salmon and everyone else sitting at the table with me ordered the lamb very large portion I might add. The waiter brought me just the salad and no soup as I waited to speak to him regarding the soup that was not brought to me. He then acted like he didn't hear me was a little annoying I had to beg for him to bring me the salmon dish.I wasn't impressed with his behavior nor happy with his not being attentive to our table. Next visit I will make sure I have a good waiter.But if this happens again I will not return. The birthday celebration would have been better if we had a attentive waiter. Pros: food was good Cons: POOR COMMUNICATION SKILLS NOT PERSONABLE more