Matthew Hughes
Some people might assume after over two decades in business, a restaurant may become stale. They could rest on the tried and true, deftly serving a loyal clientele favorite dishes, fine wines and sweet desserts.
ASTI Trattoria has been in business since 2001. Forget stale: Their menu is innovative offering true Italian cuisine, some straight traditional and some with a little twist of new ingredients and presentation.
Chef and owner Emmett Fox works in the front-facing portion of the kitchen line, making sure each dish looks beautiful before heading to the table. It also gives him the chance to greet guests and table check how the food tastes.
We had two courses going with the Stuffed Mushrooms ($14) and the Burata Caprese ($16) as an antipasti and the Grilled Rainbow Trout ($27) and a pair of pastas for the Primo course.
The mushrooms were stuffed with three cheeses – ricotta, goat and parmesan topped with bread crumbs and truffle oil. Six to an order. They go great with an opening cocktail.
The trout is served with skin on and plated with an eggplant caponada (sweet and sour Sicilian version of ratatouille) and herbed fregola (small round pasta). Also served with a grilled half lemon you should squeeze it on the fish. Trust me it a really good idea and tastes different than a raw lemon.
Our waiter Mitch did a fantastic job all night. I had a hard time deciding between the Seafood Risotto ($36) and the Saffron Spaghetti Carbonara ($21). Apparently I am not the only one who had a hard time choosing. As a result, he explained that ASTI offers half portions for half price. Problem solved. Note: The prices listed for pasta are for full portions.
ASTI’s carbonara is as authentic and delicious as any you will find in bistro in Rome. They use real guanciale, not bacon or even pancetta. NO cream, and mixed with pepper, egg and parmesan cheese for that salty, creamy flavor. When I return, it’s a full portion for me.
I equally love risotto, particularly when it is made properly. It takes time and attention. For those who cook it at home, you know what I mean. Topped with clams, mussles, shrimp and calamari. The full portion is the most expensive dish on the menu…worth every penny. Seriously, if love Italian seafood dishes you must try their version.
Getting long winded, so hop on line and make reservations as soon as possible. You need to put this on your places to visit. One trip and you’ll be hooked. Grazie al cuoco! #MattGoodEats
… moreJ G
We have been twice recently. We understand that it has received good reviews and wanted to give it our best shot. The meals were just mediocre. My meal had almost no flavor and the fact that it was a huge amount of food detracted rather than added to the experience. If it had been tasty, we would have been happy for that size of serving so that we could take it home and enjoy it. The bean dip was very runny and made a bad presentation and was not nearly the quality that we are used to. We did like the atmosphere of the restaurant. It felt like a neighborhood experience. Overall, there are too many other choices in Austin to have Italian food, which in our experience have been significantly better.
… moreM B
Nice place for date night food is amazing I had the spaghetti carbonara and it was amazing. We had a reservation made about 2 hours before the time and it was 715 on a Friday night so it was expectedly busy but you still got to chose where you wanted to sit and the service was lovely the server was so kind and friendly and came up at the same time. My parents came to the opening in the very beginning they have improved so much the food is amazing now.
… moreBrad Kilbourn
My wife and I stopped in on a whim and were treated to an outstanding experience by our server, Justin, who has been here for 13 years. Justin expertly guided us through the menu and made suggestions that absolutely enhanced our enjoyment of our meal. We would like to formally suggest that you rename the restaurant after him and buy him a corvette.
We also love your tiramisu.
… moreMANUEL GOMEZ
I can’t say enough good things about this place. To start the wait staff is very inviting and polite. The food was amazing. My 2 year old is a picky eater, and he loved all the food. Even the area is super inviting. I definitely put my stamp of approval.
… moreBarbados Pearl
We got here 10 minutes before they closed on a Sunday and they still treated us with the utmost respect. We gave respect and return and only ordered coffees and desserts. Our waitress was a delight. The food was amazing and I’m glad the three of us split two desserts. They were so decadent and Rich. We got the bittersweet chocolate cannoli and the tiramisu.
… moreGK
Old school vibes. Fantastic menu. Wait staff are incredibly pleasant.
Occasionally under seasoned but that lets some of the freshness shine through.
Amazing breadsticks and focaccia.
… moreSara Ness
Hands down our new favourite restaurant! As someone who has lived in Italy, I can attest that their dishes are not only delicious but authentic – some of the best carbonara I’ve ever had stateside, a great vegetarian butternut squash pasta, and wonderful desserts.
Even more impressive than the food, however, is Asti’s service. We went there to try their tiramisu, which is my best friend’s favourite. I’m making her wedding cake, which will be tiramisu, so of course I had to try Asti’s!
At the end of the meal, our server offered to ask the baker for the recipe. I wasn’t expecting it – these things are closely guarded secrets! But she came out a minute later with the full recipe, complete with handwritten annotations. Then the manager offered to let us come back and watch the baker make the tiramisu, and even use their kitchen to make the wedding cake!
I’ve never received such hospitality from a restaurant. Asti is truly something special. Thank you for making our night, and my friend’s wedding, an incredible experience.
… moreElizabeth Gardner
Every time I eat at Asti I have a great experience. The service is always excellent and I’m always warmly greeted by the owner and the staff. It is my restaurant of choice for every celebration and fun night out 🙂 I always have the sparkling rose prosecco to start the meal, and the wine list is very thoughtful with a lot of choices that you can’t find anywhere else. We usually get the Caesar salad which is always well dressed, and they will split the salad to two plates if requested. I usually have the trout dish, the linguini with clams, or the special for the weekend. My husband usually gets a dish with red sauce and sausage. Everything is always well seasoned and enjoyable. We end most dinners with the chocolate cannoli which is VERY indulgent and enough to take home. My favorite thing about Asti is how comfortable I feel and how kind the staff is. They thoughtfully package our to-go items and add labels of what is in each box, they always respond with “absolutely” to requests, and they are always very thoughtful about the service 🙂
… moreLupe Torres
Friendly and prompt service. Food is priced on the higher end but it is worth it. The carbonara was perfect. I haven’t had been looking for good carbonara and was happy I found a place.The house made noodles was perfect. Overall great atmosphere and great food. The focaccia was airy and fresh. Everything we had was really good.
… more