If you live in Austin, then you know that Austin is a haven for amazing and traditional ethnic cooking. One such type of cuisine that’s increasingly popular in Austin is Italian, and for an Italian restaurant that also offers food prepared with local and seasonal ingredients, you’ll love Andiamo Ristorante on Rutland Drive.

Why Andiamo’s is Unique

Andiamo Ristorante is unique for three primary reasons. First, Daniela Marcone owns the restaurant, a woman from Naples, Italy, which helps to lend to the true Italian feel of this place. Second, every single dish that’s served is traditional, and is almost exactly the same as what would be served if you were in Italy herself. And finally, the restaurant strives to use only local and seasonal produce in their cooking, being purchased from Marcone’s twice a week trip to the local farmers’ market. Plus, everything is home made and made from scratch, which adds to the flavor and freshness of every dish here.

Events and Monthly Wine Dinners

We love wine dinners—amazing food perfectly paired with robust and flavorful wines; what’s better? And that’s one more reason why we love Andiamo Ristorante, which hosts a monthly wine dinners that feature Italy’s finest boutique wines with authentic Italian foods. The wine dinners also offer gluten-free and vegetarian options for those who would love to attend but have dietary restrictions. The wine dinners are held the last Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM, and cost $50 per person. If you’re interested, seats go quickly, so make your reservation well in advance. If you need a place to host your private event, Andiamo has large rooms available for everything from business meetings to wedding rehearsal dinners.

Best Menu Items

While there aren’t any complaints about any dishes that are served here, there are certainly some that stand out more than others. Diners rave about the linguini ai frutti di mar, or seafood linguini, as well as the fettuccine al ragu Napoletano. The baked salmon with black olives, Dijon mustard, and asparagus, arugula, and green onions is also a favorite, as is the veal scaloppini in rosemary lemon butter sauce served with potatoes and peppers.

Diving into Dessert

After you finish your main course here, make sure you try one of the decadent desserts available. The cheesecake is rich and creamy, and is sure to provide you with all the pleasure that cheesecake should. The tiramisu is also pretty fabulous if you like tiramisu, and the gelato is sweet and light, perfect if you’re incredibly full. If dessert is just too much to think about, at least opt for one of the yummy coffees.

No Liquor, No Outdoor Seating

Our only complaint about Andiamo is the fact that despite the great selection of wine and beer, no liquor is served here. Additionally, there’s no outdoor seating, which is kind of a bummer if you were looking for a nice patio to enjoy your meal on. Otherwise, the food is great, the service is friendly and efficient, and the restaurant is very memorable.