Vespaio

I love Enoteca! I have had nothing but fabulous service & amazing food. The brunch is to die for & the daily specials are so good. It's just so hard to decide what to order! The staff is so knowledgeable. It's so great to go to a restaurant where the servers are excited about the food. And it's obvious that the management cares a great deal about the staff as well as the customers. I was actually there one day for lunch & witnessed a customer be so rude to the server & the manager. He had actually counted the minutes that it took for the waiter to come back with his drinks! The manager tried so hard to make him happy, but he wouldn't have it. He actually told her that he didn't want an explanation. Why did he want to speak to the manager then? I guess he just wanted to complain. On his way out he started yelling at the hostess & made her cry! The manager really took up for her staff & tried to make the customer happy, but when it was obvious that he refused to be rational she asked him to leave. I don't blame her! It was really good to see that Enoteca not only puts out great food & gives great service, it's also got the 'everyone is family' vibe. It's like they love what they do & they want everyone (staff & customers) to enjoy it, but they are not above asking someone to leave if they are being abusive to the 'family'. I'll be eating there for a long time to come. Pros: ambience, food, service more

My husband and I went to Vespaio last night for our anniversary, and it was absolutely everything we had hoped for. We started with the carpaccio, which was just right, flavors combining amazingly. The fresh bread was great, both kinds, combined with the hummus-like cannellini beans with parsley oil was unexpected, but suprisingly tasty. We shared a small Caesar salad. It is impossible to please my husband with a Caesar, there is never enough anchovy or Parmesan in the dressing--and they did it! And if you're worried that to please an anchovy lover they go overboard for the rest of us, never fear. I LOVED it, just the right amount of lemon, and the Romaine wasn't drowned in dressing. My husband had the Short Ribs with spinach, carmellized cippollini onions and some sort of mashed potatoes that HAD to have had something else wonderful in them, but I couldn't place the flavor.He made the comment, ""You know meat is perfecly roasted when you can chew it with your tongue."" I had the Spaghetti Carbonera.It was truly a magnificent combination of garlic, pancetta, cream, and I can't even imagine what else--it didn't matter, it was great. We skipped dessert, as we were close to being miserably full. When we opened the wine list, we were pleasantly suprised to not recognize any of the lesser-priced reds. As we are huge fans of red wine, it's been a long time since we picked blindly. The server, Chris, helped explain a few so we could select one.\r A note about service- it's alwayes hard to go out for a special occasion, because the expectations are so high. I called earlier in the day for a special request, Heather never hesitated, she made me feel comfortable right away. The staff--hostess, server, manager, bus staff, everyone was picture perfect. We couldn't have asked for anything more. Pros: SERVICE!! The server was prompt, the food was amazing, it was a great experience. Cons: A little loud, but when wine is involved, we all get a little boisterous. more

this place is has ups and downs on the service you get. i only been here 2 times first time was great second time was awful. the food is always good though. just hope you get a good wait person. our had like 3 tables and only came to our table 1 time. even when he gave us the bill he just dropped it down and left Pros: food is great Cons: service is poor more

awesome food, Austin classic!!!!! Recommend the antipasti. It's excellent and authentic. Enjoy!!! more

Wow...We came here based on reviews and I must regretfully say the food was... well it sucked. Thought for the fist time there I'd try a classic. Lasagne, oboy, green leather pancakes with ketchup soaked hamburger. Guys you deserve this comment just based on the cost of this culinary fiasco. And the bread. Come on. May I recommend visiting Italy again if you haven't yet. Or if you want to stay stateside, try dining at Genoa in Portland, Oregon. I'm sorry to say that if this restaurant can get so highly rated, then Austin knows not Italian. more

The food here is wonderful!! I went with my husband, and everything we ordered was delivered to us hot and fresh off the oven. Plus, you could tell that all the ingredients are fresh. My husband ordered a caesar salad, and they split it in half and served us both salad. (nice!) The suppli were warm, cheese laden delights. The panini is to die for, as are the french fries, which are sprinkled with cheese and parsley. The waitress was very attentive, and she was constantly refilling Enoteca's delicious iced tea. We finished up the meal with a perfect cup of coffee and an espresso eclair. It was an overall perfect meal, prices are good, service is great, and the food is outstanding! Pros: great tea, fresh ingredients, great service Cons: parking is tough at peak hours more

My husband and I visited for the first time and sat at the bar. The bartender who served us was so nice to us, answered tons of questions and really pampered us during our whole meal. He was so nice I thought he must be a manager but when I asked he said ""no, just a bartender!"".\r The bellinis are wonderful, the spinach salad was great and big enough for two and the main courses we had were great! We will be back - amazing food for such a nice price! Pros: price, service, food Cons: wait time more

With Vespaio you can expect the same quality food and service time after time. I always rate it a 10. However, I must include, that after three visits to their sister restaurant Inoteca, We will never visit Inoteca again. The service was beyond slow, the wait staff could not describe our dish in question, the place was dirty and the big we are open sign out front implies it all. more

This was our third visit and our last. We were seated at a dirty table to begin the evening. Our waitor disappeared for seven minutes before finally bringing water and a menue to the table. The explanation was that he was also working the patio. The restaurant was only 1/4 full at the time. The food is great from (past experiences) as it comes from the shared Vespaio recently renovated and expanded kitchen. Try another Austin favorite before you visit Enoteca or spend a little more and visit Vespaio. The service and management was a disappointment. Pros: food Cons: service more

Very rude service, from hostess to manager/owner. Would NOT recommend this restaurant for any large parties, as they are just not set up to accomodate them. And, there are many other restaurants in Austin that offer great menus, food and service. Don't bother with Vespaio. Pros: Location Cons: Service more

The place has a very nice atmosphere, but the espresso is VERY BAD (possibly because the machine is not kept clean). It is cloudy, murky and bitter, with a off-taste resulting from rancidity. The food is GOOD, and the people are nice ... more

We were there for Saturday evening dinner and went early so had no problem being seated. We were told we were in the newest section, previosly not used for dining, so perhaps an expanded dining area accounted for the prompt seating. Menu in Italian. Very helpful waiter though. Water waitress kept our glasses filled. Appetizers were ample and tasty. My face gave away my amazement at the large size of my three lettuce salad. The server explained that he would be right back with the rest of my salad. Cute! However, the real surprise came when we were presented with our entrees. My hanger steak was served with spinach, a baked tomato and a mound of fries that covered half my plate. All were well prepared and seasoned to perfection. The gravy was exquisite. Dessert too was a treat. Except for the noise, I would give it a Highly Recommended, but since it was very difficult to carry on a conversation, I am selecting a Recommended Rating. more

This was a pleasant suprise. For tasty, truly authentic Italian dishes served by a professional staff at a reasonable price, this is the place. I highly recommend the Gnocci, which is difficult to find in Austin. more

What once was a favorite place to eat is now off the list. The hostesses--unfriendly, distant--seated other guests in front of us--never explaining if there was a reason. The waitress was mechanical and cold. She didn't check in with us, didn't notice that our drinks were gone, and she had the I'm-above-it-all attitude, etc. I later notified the manager but got no response. When you lay out $100+ on a dinner for two, how about some courtesy? I can get better service at restaurants that are a better value, so I'm taking my money there. more

I have dined at Vespaio several times. Each time there is a wait, but it is always worth it. The staff is very friendly and polite. Most impressive is how everyone there is knowledgeable about the food and wine. The food is amazing, I always order off of the special list and I have never been let down. Try Vespaio if you are looking for a cozy place that has delicious food and great service. Pros: food, staff more

Saturday lunch 1-28-06 - very casual - hip, Austin vibe. The two rooms were full of diners. Prompt, professional and courteous service - ordered a *spinach salad, not sure of it's title; it was A+. *Spinach with some radichio, juliened marinated red bell pepper, sliced mushrooms, some chunks of gorganzola cheese hidden under the spinach leaves with some cheese croutons as well, blanced with a light vinegarette salad dressing. Outstanding salad. Then I went overboard and tried the meatball sandwich which was equally great. I'll return. Park in back. more

Enoteca has the best dining value for the dollar in Austin. Great food at great prices. more

Perfect price/value ratio... excellent pizzas, pastas, and simple wines. Love it! more

Enoteca Vespaio is a wonderful restaurant that is reminiscent of a small cafe in Italy. Excellent food: al dente pasta, housemade charcuterie, traditional thin crust pizzas, suppli and scrumptious daily specials all made with the finest ingredients for a bargain! The service is great, with a knowledgeable and friendly staff. Great wine selection. excellent brunch. Great pastries and deserts. Open at 8 if you want a latte and a muffin in the am. Yet another rising star in the Austin dining scene. Pros: quality, price, atmosphere Cons: sometimes noisy more

We always have a great meal here. Try the hanger steak. The best ceasar salad in town. Very simple! The dining room is a little noisey, we prefer the bar. Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Great Friends Cons: Loud, Crowded more