L’Oca d’Oro – Austin, TX

07.30.18

Trips

One of the funniest things about travel is how unexpected it can be. No matter how much you might research and plan, you can’t know until you have experienced a place, an excursion, a restaurant which you will actually love and which will fall flat. If anyone had told me that I would leave Austin, Texas dreaming about an Italian restaurant there, I would have laughed at them…but here we are.

I read about L’Oca d’Oro in a few different places while doing my restaurant research and while it intrigued me, Italian is almost never my default. Each of the kids asked to have a special date night with me alone while we were visiting, and when I asked Caroline what sort of food she wanted on our night out together, she answered, “Pasta!” without hesitation. I circled back to this option and after perusing the menu for the third time, I concluded that the food sounded pretty wonderful and if nothing else, the wine list would be worth checking out.

We experienced a lot of very good food during our time in Austin, but nothing has captivated my memory quite like L’Oca d’Oro. Read on below to get all the details of our experience there but suffice it to say, this was my top favorite dining experience over the course of our trip.

L'Oca d'Oro

1900 Simond Ave.
Austin, TX 78723
(737) 212-1876
website

Fair wages for workers makes for the BEST vibes

01/08

Warm and welcoming

From the moment we walked in the door here, we felt welcomed and at ease. While my kids are great about eating in all sorts of restaurants, some establishments instantly give us the side eye and seat us at out of the way, inferior tables when better options are available. Not so here! The hostesses were warm and seated us right in the midst of other tables of diners.

Beautiful bright and airy space

I was instantly struck by the gorgeous interior design of this restaurant. With high ceilings, pretty arches, bold colors and unique wallpaper, I loved everything about the style and character of this space.

Fair wages for workers makes for the BEST vibes

In addition to the wine list, this message regarding fair wages for the staff was the thing that sold me on dining here. The restaurant industry is long overdue for a culture shift in regards to treatment and compensation of their workers, and I am happy to support those leading the charge. You truly can feel the difference in atmosphere where the staff works collaboratively and is treated well. Those good vibes radiate outward, leading to a more enjoyable experience for all.

Side note – how amazing does the pasta tasting menu sound? Sadly Caroline was dead set on classic spaghetti and meatballs – maybe because I almost never make it at home? While even that was of excellent quality, I was sad to miss the pasta tasting menu. I will make sure to try it next time I visit!

Incredible wine program!

The wine list here was a total dream for me. Unsurprisingly, Indianapolis restaurants haven’t quite caught up to the natural wine movement and finding great options is honestly a lot of work here. I was thrilled to see so many delicious and interesting options at L’Oca d’Oro. Just as important as offering great wines, the waitstaff needs to be able to discuss them with customers. I loved chatting with our waitress about what wines she thought I might enjoy and both of the glasses I tried were unique and incredibly delicious.

Dreamboat

I am not exaggerating when I say that I still daydream about this meal. It was a tough choice deciding what to order but I eventually opted for the casarecce with blue crab, brown butter, and basil. It was phenomenal. The pasta is otherworldly and the dish overall is a perfect example of letting a few good quality ingredients shine without being overcomplicated.

Service makes all the difference

Just another note regarding the excellent service here, because it really did set this place apart from everywhere else. A very kind man stopped by a few times over the course of our meal to inquire how things were, talk to Caroline about her bunny, and learn more about us. Eventually she asked him, “Are you the manager?” As it turns out, it was the manager and co-owner. It was very clear that he and the rest of the staff are committed to a great customer experience, and they really delivered. They are setting the bar high for hospitality and I hope everyone else rises up to meet them!

This face says it all.

I think this photo perfectly captures how much both of us enjoyed this experience! I also love that Caroline’s outfit unintentionally matched the decor perfectly.

The perfect finish.

If there is a more perfect dessert than affogato, I have yet to find it. We loved our experience from the first to last bites and it’s safe to say that if we lived in the area, we would become regulars. Can’t wait to come back!

View as a List

Warm and welcoming
From the moment we walked in the door here, we felt welcomed and at ease. While my kids are great about eating in all sorts of restaurants, some establishments instantly give us the side eye and seat us at out of the way, inferior tables when better options are available. Not so here! The hostesses were warm and seated us right in the midst of other tables of diners.
Beautiful bright and airy space
I was instantly struck by the gorgeous interior design of this restaurant. With high ceilings, pretty arches, bold colors and unique wallpaper, I loved everything about the style and character of this space.
Fair wages for workers makes for the BEST vibes
In addition to the wine list, this message regarding fair wages for the staff was the thing that sold me on dining here. The restaurant industry is long overdue for a culture shift in regards to treatment and compensation of their workers, and I am happy to support those leading the charge. You truly can feel the difference in atmosphere where the staff works collaboratively and is treated well. Those good vibes radiate outward, leading to a more enjoyable experience for all.
Side note – how amazing does the pasta tasting menu sound? Sadly Caroline was dead set on classic spaghetti and meatballs – maybe because I almost never make it at home? While even that was of excellent quality, I was sad to miss the pasta tasting menu. I will make sure to try it next time I visit!
Incredible wine program!
The wine list here was a total dream for me. Unsurprisingly, Indianapolis restaurants haven’t quite caught up to the natural wine movement and finding great options is honestly a lot of work here. I was thrilled to see so many delicious and interesting options at L’Oca d’Oro. Just as important as offering great wines, the waitstaff needs to be able to discuss them with customers. I loved chatting with our waitress about what wines she thought I might enjoy and both of the glasses I tried were unique and incredibly delicious.
Dreamboat
I am not exaggerating when I say that I still daydream about this meal. It was a tough choice deciding what to order but I eventually opted for the casarecce with blue crab, brown butter, and basil. It was phenomenal. The pasta is otherworldly and the dish overall is a perfect example of letting a few good quality ingredients shine without being overcomplicated.
Service makes all the difference
Just another note regarding the excellent service here, because it really did set this place apart from everywhere else. A very kind man stopped by a few times over the course of our meal to inquire how things were, talk to Caroline about her bunny, and learn more about us. Eventually she asked him, “Are you the manager?” As it turns out, it was the manager and co-owner. It was very clear that he and the rest of the staff are committed to a great customer experience, and they really delivered. They are setting the bar high for hospitality and I hope everyone else rises up to meet them!
This face says it all.
I think this photo perfectly captures how much both of us enjoyed this experience! I also love that Caroline’s outfit unintentionally matched the decor perfectly.
The perfect finish.
If there is a more perfect dessert than affogato, I have yet to find it. We loved our experience from the first to last bites and it’s safe to say that if we lived in the area, we would become regulars. Can’t wait to come back!

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