Al Fico

My wife and I moved from New York to Austin a couple of years ago. We already knew that we were giving up a plethora of NYC area Italian favorites that would be difficult to match in Austin. Therefore, we have had low expectations. However, Austin has taken a great step forward in the last two years on a number of different cuisines, including Italian. Al Fico has taken Austin a step in the right direction on creative Italian food with a classic upbringing at a reasonable prices for connoisseur level cuisine. We arrived as party of four. Service was attentive and waiter was well versed on the menu items and advised us of changes we could make to order size. Wine list was mainly Italian from a variety of regions and nicely priced. We had vino tinto from Campania recommended by wine steward that was excellent for $ 30. My wife only drinks vino rosato so nice to see it by glass during the winter season. The meatball appetizer was fantastic. The burrata had the consistency of goat cheese but was tasty. Not our preference in texture as we like the classic soft and creamy kind. The wood fired bread was very good but was small for a party of 4 and needs to be sliced or a bread knife provided for table. We shared the pasta Radiatore with Ragu and the Ravioli Mezzaluna which were both outstanding. I had the Salsiccia Pizza. The toppings were very good but pizza crust is thin and tough. I would have preferred the toppings on the wood fired bread. My wife’s Gamberi was too wet and rice was under cooked. Shrimp was good quality and cooked right. Our friends had the roast chicken which they said was very good. For a restaurant open for only three months, it performed relatively well. We got there early and ordered after each course. The waiter should have guided us to order the last two items (pastas and entrees) together, b/​c the restaurant reached full capacity and kitchen slowed down. Our last course took 45 minutes to arrive. Chocolate cake with olive oil was rich and a big hit. When the full bar comes and they get better quality control, Al Fico could reach a five star.

Best Birthday Dinner EVER!
I could go on and on for pages, so I’ll just tell you what I ate and why I liked it.
*Brushcetta– Finger licking good! Seriously. No joke. You will lick your fingers. Trust me. Impressive amounts of speck & other delicious goodies on top. An excellent start.
*Funghi Pizza– This pizza made a mushroom lover out of me. I ordered this thinking I might like it, only to be blown away by how much I loved it. The Roman style thin crust was my favorite thickness, lending way for so many flavors and gentle crispiness. The mushrooms were like thin slices of tender steak. They had such a presence, yet didn’t take away from the lovely cheese and egg.
*Cacio e Pepe– Classic Italian made their own with a subtle flare of carnivorousness. Incredible. With a slight al dente firmness of the noodles to the assistance of a sprinkle of rich cheese, this dish was Italian perfection.
*Duck Tortellini: At first glance the dish was a bit visually unassuming. It’s minimal simplicity almost had me fooled. The savoriness that came out of that bowl was indescribable. I really liked the gentle hint of earthy game from the duck stuffed into that perfectly cooked pasta. I had to ask for more bread, unable to leave a trace of that incredible sauce behind.
*Branzino– I have never enjoyed excavating a fish the way I did this. The outside was slightly crispy while the inside was delicate and flaky. I have never wanted more to be the cartoon bear that could hold the fish by its tail, put the entire thing into their mouth and pull out the perfect naked skeleton sucked clean. Being born and raised coastal, I can tell you that this is one fantastic fish dish!
A huge parking lot welcomed me in off of the streets to a delicious new hideaway. From the moment I walked in the door I was so smitten with this restaurant. If there had been an Italian accent greeting me, I would have thought I was in Italy. Walking through the dining room past the gorgeous kitchen I noticed the oven. Flames danced in promise of the food that would warm my plate and my nourish my soul. The photography on the walls was gallery worthy. People looked curiously at me as I slowly floated past their booths as I tried to take in every scene depicted in epic black and whites hung above the tables. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating answering all of my many questions and lending great advice. Such attention to detail is greatly appreciated. I felt so at home and yet so pampered. A knowledgeable cocktail expert crafted incredible drinks for us to begin. A wine lover guided us patiently through their impressive list to find us the perfect bottle for our celebration. The level of service was exactly what I was hoping for. Attentive yet we were left to romance. Helpful yet not pushy. Informative yet not pretentious. A true class act. Bravo! I had such a wonderful birthday here. I will be back!

The service was decent. A bit loud in the restaurant, but good atmosphere. Felt like a typical Italian bistro. The host was very sweet and friendly. The food was ok, but on the salty side. We tried the sardine, bruschetta, zuppa, funghi-​shitake pizza, short rib and a black linguini dish. No one was really impressed, but I think I might go back again to try one more time.

Very good, fresh, rustic and traditional Italian food. White table cloths with unpretentious and attentive staff. The owner checked in on our table multiple times throughout the evening. Great pizzas to share, smaller entrees than expected but all worth it. We will be back!

Top quality food, wine, and service. I grew up in and traveled in Europe. I was pleased to see my favorite pasta shape on the menu last night, rigatoni. It’s made in-​house and the mushroom ragu sauce was full of flavor with a hearty texture that was so gentle it melted in my mouth.
I love to drink wine and enjoy picking wine for a particular body and finish. One of these days I will study up more on the regions and the grapes. I would like to pick out the good stuff myself, but for now, I will rely on knowledgeable staff and rate my experience on whether or not restaurants get it right. Well, Al Fico got it right. Tom helped curate the perfect wine experience last night. He looked so familiar I had to ask if I recognized him from their sister restaurant/​wine bar, Vino Vino. Yes. It’s lovely to see a familiar face when you’re trying something new.
We (party of four) had a couple of bottles over four courses. After salad, soup, bruschetta, fried olives, rigatoni, tortellini, and short ribs, our final bites included fried donut holes sitting on a lemon sauce. Wow! I love the savory sweet desserts and could describe this gem in more detail but I should probably bring this to a closing soon. We ordered a couple cups of cappuccino and espresso to seal the deal. Our meal cost a few dollar signs but it’s worthy of the quality and excellence we experienced last night.

Hands down the best Italian in Austin!
Bruschetta, mushroom pizza and duck ragu were all amazing. Al Fico cares about the little details that make a restaurant great.

We loved AL Fico. A restaurant unlike any place I’ve ever been to. The food was so different and delicious. The wine selections was excellent, the service was incredible.
We live in California, and we haven’t been to any place like it. The Chef definitely knows his trade, and it’s like being on Top Chef, but better because you get to eat his food.

Great dinner! First time to visit. Everyone loved the appetizer pizza. Friends loved the fish soup. We shared the fish of the day and an excellent pasta with clams. Three desserts were all excellent. The photos tell it all.

Al Fico is the neighborhood Italian restaurant we’ve been waiting for. The décor is simple and authentic and transports you to a osteria in Rome. The service is on-​point– the wait staff is very knowledgeable and attentive. The food! The food is perfection. We had the burrata with beets, the rigatoni, the margarita pizza and the short ribs. Everything was delightful and we can’t wait to return.

Loved Vino Vino. I heard that the owners were opening Al Fico, and I got excited! Unfortunately, I didn’t love Al Fico as much as I love Vino Vino. Sad, I know… I still had a good meal, but there are so many other good Italian options that makes this place a bit forgettable.
The standouts were the mushroom bruschetta and spaghetti with cauliflower and roasted parsnip. The braised shortrib had good flavor but some bites of it were dry.
Dessert was a cinnamon panna cotta that was pretty darn good. I don’t know why, but I was expecting tiramisu. A little sad to discover tiramisu wasn’t served.
Service was excellent, and the restaurant looked great. A little loud though, but then again I had a party of 8 and a bottle of wine.
Al Fico, I’ll give you another chance, but as of now, I have other Italian places that I like more.

Respectable initial effort from a promising new entry into the woefully underrepresented Italian food scene in Austin.
Good service upon initial seating and throughout the meal was slightly overshadowed by some very easily-​corrected details (e.g., serving spoon had to be requested for the appetizer, request to consult with the sommelier for a second bottle of wine purchase was never responded to).
Several dishes were entirely too salty (e.g., meatball appetizer, duck ragu, and the perfectly-​roasted and crispy chicken), but great recovery on the bruschetta appetizer and clams with linguine.
Had a sour end to the night with the leftover chicken «boxing» request never being met by our server.
Soft openings exist for a reason, I suppose — will try back again later next year to see how things have progressed.

Service was mediocre. House wine selected by waitress was great but served in a soiled glass. No apology. Appetizers were tasty but pizza disappointing.

Love, love love!
Read Deji’s review for our full soft opening experience a few weeks ago. She takes pictures. I eat.
The only thing she left out was the tripe. It was cooked perfectly… not a hint of stank or chewiness. It’s a bit rich, so I couldn’t finish it all. Definitely something to share with others on a cold night.
I am excited to go back. And you can park your car… in an actual parking lot! I’m not sure if some of y’all youngsters even know what that is… seems they have gone the way of the CD… but yes, it’s always good to have this kind of throwback in town.

This is a stunningly good restaurant.
A small group of us visited Al Fico last week and we were all blown away by the experience. Even the parking lot was great! Seriously. It’s large and easy to get in and out of!
They do not yet have their stand-​alone bar but it should be completed in the next year. In the meantime the service bar turned out gorgeous and tasty craft cocktails. I had the Sinistra. 3 times. And I will again.
The space is very reminiscent of a neighborhood café in Italy. A large open space with tables spaced far enough apart to allow good traffic flow. It could get a bit noisy when it’s packed but at ²⁄₃ full conversation was easy.
The menu is authentic Italian as well. The traditional six courses to choose from, plus dessert we all loved the antipasti offerings with the cappuccino being my favorite. ML had her favorite fish, Bronzini, and raved about it. I had the Rigatoni and I had to force myself not to gobble it down. The spaghetti with walnut cream sauce was another stunner and I stole a bite from one of the other diners.
Service was impeccable. Prices were very reasonable. I’m sure we won’t be able to get a res here very shortly because it’s going to be hugely popular. Go now, while you can still get in.

Amazing!!! everything was delicious. Great wine list… great service… Nice and very classic décor. I didnt tried the pizza but I tried almost everything. The burata very fresh and soft, the pastas were fantastic!!! great flavors. The wagyu steak was cook to perfection and the pork with the lentils!!! must have!!! I cant wait for the bar area to be open to hung out and try their pizzas and more vino!!! Best italian food I had have in Austin (I havent try Vino Vino)…Highly recommended!!!

New favorite. Favorite new. Dopamine meet Seratonin. Austin meet Italy.
Excellent Sinistra cocktail. Private parking. Beautiful space.
Cappuccina Insalate & Linguine al Nero di Seppia were perfect. Other meals at the table worth trying next time… Spaghetti was amazing, sweet, different and who knew brown butter, parsnips, walnut cream and cauliflower could taste like heaven? Whole fish looked amazing but that friend would not share. Yeah. It was good!
Thank me later. Go now.

Vino Vino has a sister I’d like to introduce you to. Her name is Al Fico. She was only 9 days old when I met her, yet she’s already a classy lady and very traditional. She comes with 5 star service, a great all Italian wine list, a pretty tasty Sinistra cocktail, and a delicious smoked mushroom bruschetta. Her Salsiccia pizza with its cracker like crust and zesty sausage and sun dried tomatoes is worth a try. Her Radiatori duck pasta dish is not her greatest strength, but don’t let that deter you. She comes from a good family and appears to have a bright future ahead of her.
**P.S. A big thanks to Anthony and Paul who helped facilitate an excellent first impression. With checkered floors and black and white photos of scenes of Italy adorning their walls, the atmosphere reminds me of traditional Italian restaurants from Chicago or New York. It’s more classic than flair and it works.

PROS:
Parking — There is actually a parking lot to park your car for free! This alone would have me bringing all my friends to eat!
Ambiance — Very nice, clean and beautiful layout. More coming too with outside terrace and wine room… and something about piano? Excited!
Waitstaff — All very accommodating and incredibly helpful.
Food: We had the following:
Zuppa — (Octopus, Mussels, Clams, Prawns, White Beans, Smoked Pancetta, Cured Lemon, Kale) –tasted absolutely delicious! Will definitely order this again!
HouseMade Burrata –crostini, sea salt (the one we had had beets on the bottom. Generous portion and incredible! Big fans of this!
Fish of the Day — Snapper — it was a whole fish and it was tender, flavorful and enough to share with 3 – 4 people! We even dipped it in the Zuppa broth.
Funghi pizza — I didn’t get to try this because the person that ordered it ate the whole thing by herself and said she relished it.
Wine selection — Really great wine. Sommelier ordered for most of us and he was ‘right on’!
CONS:
Cicoria -(Soft Egg, PanGrattato, Crisp Anchovy, Lemon, Radish) — This was very fishy as they used anchovy as the dressing. None of us were fans of this dish.
Sound — Very loud in there… When the place is full, it’s incredibly loud. Just in case you want a quiet dining experience you might want to come early before the place fills up.
Desserts — We tried the donuts and the chocolate torte. Those were good. I’ve had better so I might go elsewhere for a dessert option next time.
Hope to go back and try something else!

Came in for a quick preview. I don’t feel like it’s fair to give a full fledged review when you’re not having a full fledged meal.
We heard about the second vino vino opening and were hoping for a bar area to enjoy wine. I Understand that that’s still under construction. We’ll come back and review more thoroughly when it’s complete.
We already had dinner tonight– but we ended up having mussels anyway… they were pretty wimpy. The octopus and clams were good. And the broth was fantastic! A little bread with the broth… delicious.
Espresso was decent-​service was great-we’ll be back for the whole shebang.
The décor was simple. Black and white tile, wood paneling and exposed rafters. Simple everything. Good parking. The entrance is around the side, ps not on the street. The wine list was great.
I think they have great potential to be a fabulous restaurant, will be back.

Al Fico held a friends and family soft opening last week, but I’m fairly certain, as of October 22, that this place is more than ready for it’s close-​up. This is a space made for impressing a date: as far as fine dining goes, this is on the unbeaten path, complete with tasteful wall art, light fixtures and cozy wooden booths. Vino Vino, Al Fico’s sister restaurant, is a classy joint, and I was fairly certain Al Fico would not disappoint.
Giddy with excitement, my dear friend and I ordered beverages. With several by-​the-​glass wines and three liquor-​based offerings, there was plenty to delight in. I like that the wine menu has not just bubbly/​red/​white sections, but further groups them by light, structured, and full-​bodied. Having secured our libations, we ordered several food items to try. My taste buds can tell you our favorites from memory:
1. Bruschetta with mushrooms, arugula, and the most lovely soft egg I have ever eagerly destroyed atop a bruschetta. This we shared with so much glee that we could barely contain ourselves.
2. Arugula salad concocted with special grapes, walnuts, and thickly-​grated grana padano, the likes of which we nearly fought over for.
3. A sausage pizza with an amazingly delicate crust, caramelized onions (rivaled only by pickled onions in the natural world order), ricotta salata and chile oil. Mind you, I am a sauce gal, but this pizza was everything one could hope for: juicy, light, fragrant and absolutely not missing a red sauce. The sausage is made in-​house and I’d be very interested in going to the back of the kitchen to take all of it.
4. Mussels, octopus and clams in a fabulous broth, with softened kale and white beans. I declare this to be some of the best-​prepared, most succulent octopus I have ever encountered. Had we not been approaching dangerously-​stuffed levels we would have requested bread to sop up all the sauce.
And dessert: they have a pastry chef on site. This person thought it clever to render a lemon custard to accompany the fig-​stuffed donuts nestled safely in the center of the plate while caramelized nuts danced around them. The pumpkin torte was everything pumpkin, and everything chocolate garnache. I may have combined both and cried with joy.
I could write long passages about each dish, tell you there’s a sizable attached parking lot, or describe the wonderful service (Christian was the sweetest). But I’m going to go ahead and upload these pictures while I relive the meal while checking my calendar for the next time I can visit Al Fico.