Andiamo Ristorante

Andiamo Ristorante

Friday, 23 May 2008

Located in a small shopping center a block away from The Domain, Andiamo is a hidden gem just north of US 183 in Austin. The local restaurant is easy to miss in the shadow of the colossal retailers surrounding it, but the simple strip-mall façade of Andiamo’s masks an elegant Italian eatery that serves five-star cuisine at a fair price.

Owner Joe Melomo calls Andiamo one of Austin’s best secrets and said the location means the restaurant continues to grow, thanks to word-of-mouth referrals from pleased patrons. “Our best reviews come from our clients,” he said. “They love it and they keep coming back.”

Opened in 2004, Andiamo is the perfect place for a romantic dinner or a leisurely lunch meeting. Small crowds and a quiet atmosphere make it ideal for conversation. And the service is top-notch: servers have an intimate knowledge of the menu and are helpful in selecting the right wine to pair with different plates. The relaxed pace of dining – a meal at Andiamo’s could easily last more than two hours – doesn’t keep the kitchen from getting plates out in a timely fashion. As soon as one course is finished the next is promptly served.

While bread and olive oil have become the requisite chips and salsa of the Italian-dining experience, Andiamo’s complimentary prelude to the main course is miles above the ho-hum French loaf you’ll find in most bread baskets. Even before being dipped in olive oil and grated parmesan cheese, the aromatic soft bread is a joy and sets the stage for the mealtime magic to follow.

For those who can’t settle on one dish, the Menu Dello Chef ($52) is a safe bet. This five-course meal lets the chef get creative and serve a one-of-a-kind dinner with antipasto, pasta, fish, meat and a desert. On the evening we ate there, the appetizer was lobster ravioli in a saffron cream sauce topped with one lone magnificent shrimp, followed by an arugula salad with artichokes and Pecorino Romano cheese. Next were swordfish with shiitake mushrooms and roasted red peppers and a crispy lamb rib chop with spinach and a balsamic reduction. For dessert, crepes with a cool vanilla filling garnished with raspberries and mint were served with warm blueberry compote.

The menu is diverse, featuring everything from prosciutto and melon ($9.50) to gnocchi with fontina cream sauce ($16.50) to gelato ($5.50) and even includes vegetarian entrées. Specials highlighting foods from the different regions of Italy are changed out monthly, ensuring those who work their way through Andiamo’s 30-plus options will always have something new to taste.

But no matter the time of visit, the sea scallops ($10.50) are an appetizer that should not be missed. Pan-seared to perfection with capers in a dark brandy cream sauce, Andiamo’s scallops are surely among the best in Austin.

The same may be true for most everything about the restaurant. With perfect portions, flavors and presentations, authentic Italian dining in Texas doesn’t get much better than Andiamo.

Tour of Italy

Each month Andiamo features a new menu celebrating the diverse foods and wines from one of 20 regions of Italy.

The next regions to be featured will be Abruzzo (May 23-31), Lazio (June 20-28) and Campania (July 18-26). In addition to an ever-changing menu, Andiamo features live music on Friday and Saturday nights, Italian movie nights and language lessons and wine tastings. A backroom is available for private parties and special events.

Hours: Mon. – Fri. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Sat. 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Andiamo Ristorante, 2521 Rutland Drive • 719-3377

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