Taverna Austin (Downtown) | The Baci Room image

Taverna Austin (Downtown) | The Baci Room

Restaurant Bar Pizza restaurant Italian restaurant Seafood restaurant Cocktail bar Brunch restaurant Lunch restaurant Lounge Dessert restaurant Live music bar

Casual Italian chainlet featuring pizzas, risottos & sidewalk seating. People often mention good, great, service, Taverna, time, restaurant, staff, amazing, meal, dinner,


Address

258 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701, United States

Website

www.tavernabylombardi.com

Contact

+1 512-477-1001

Price rating

$$$ $

Rating on Google Maps

4.20 (1.3K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: good (16) great (14) service (11) Taverna (11) time (9) restaurant (9) staff (8) amazing (8) meal (8) dinner (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 3/5 Michael R. 2 years ago on Google
    Parking is terrible. The service was a joke. Plenty of staff members, small amount of customers, small amount of attention. Found that strange. The food presentation is amazing, however for me the food was bland. We had a 6 member party, 4 thought the food was bland, 1 liked it, 1 really liked it. All agree next time we go somewhere else to eat. Decent wine and beer selection and they serve coffee in the evening.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Shelbi D. 2 years ago on Google
    Enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Taverna Saturday night. Thankfully we had reservations because the place was packed (SXSW). We realized half-way through dinner that we were sat closer to the “back room” section of the restaurant which was a little more clubby than the restaurant. It didn’t really bother us, just different music and lighting. I ordered the Caico Y Pepe and it was AMAZING. Our server brought a giant wheel of cheese and made the pasta right at our table. The focaccia, dessert (tiramisu) and cocktails (espresso martini and mandarine mule) were very good as well. Parking was surprisingly easy for a downtown location - we parked for free in the city hall building across the street. Can’t wait to try their Dallas location!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Richard E. 2 years ago on Google
    Had a lovely sit down experience here. The server was very friendly and helpful with our party and their drink and food selection. The food came out quickly, the atmosphere and decorations were up to par, and I loved the open kitchen in the back where you could see the food being prepared. The appetizers were great, truffle fries and zucchini chips hit the spot. The main course was also lovely, veal parmigiana with a nice side of pasta. Overall great experience and I'd come again next time I'm in Austin.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rammi Q. 1 year ago on Google
    The BEST Italian cuisine in Austin, TX. A MUST VISIT location! They have authentic homemade pastas & desserts made daily! The quality of service, staff and food is hands down the best I’ve ever had. The GM Yuri took really good care of us and really made our experience unmatched! If your looking for a great vibe, great food & amazing service, Taverna is a MUST GO!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Michael D. 3 months ago on Google New
    I hadn’t been to Taverna since 2019. Looks like the bar is larger and the whole place had a refresh. This is still the place for awesome people watching. I don’t recall Taverna having a DJ, however this was my first brunch experience. Previously had only dined at supper time. The DJ made it hard to hear my dining companions. Service wasn’t what I recall either. Getting the attention of our server was next to impossible. Even saw them standing talking to the hostess and other waitstaff by the bar, signaling to him was a lost cause. The meal was absolutely awesome. My friends shared a carafe of Mimosas . We shared the Focaccia. Two of us had the chicken and waffles (after we saw it delivered to a table nearby) and the other had the eggs benedict. Everything came out hot, well seasoned and amazingly presented. While the vibe, service and interior have changed, the one thing that remains is the absolutely amazing food. I will be back. Food this good always deserves a repeat visit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nhat Tuc L. 8 months ago on Google
    Very cool place to sit outside and people watch. I ordered chicken waffle and was surprised when it came out, very nice. The staff is friendly and keep checking on you.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Clemen C. 7 months ago on Google
    The food is amazing. Last night I enjoyed a new special, The Surf and Turf. It included a Wagu filet mignon, Argentinian shrimp, colorful broccoli and fingerling potatoes. It was a very light but satisfying dinner and a MUST-TRY if you're in Austin, TX.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Jacqueline 8 months ago on Google
    Food - incredibly basic. These are the only words i have for it. Atmosphere - AC must have been broken. Our group was sweating the whole time. Service - the waitresses seemed overwhelmed, no patience, with our large group. Didnt seem happy about how we all wanted to split the check. Charged a service fee but didnt tell us. Really wish i read the review that starts with ‘large parties beware’ 😪😪
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rylee S. 2 years ago on Google
    Can’t say enough good things about this place. The atmosphere is upbeat and lively which makes it such a fun spot to enjoy brunch and the staff are all so kind and accommodating. My eggs Benedict was delicious and man do they have some good breakfast potatoes. Special shout-out to Jake and Alex for taking such good care of our group. 10/10 will be coming back!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sally T. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely spot for fresh, high quality food. I had the Taverna Salad and the Cacio e Pepe. The salad was so fresh and bright. The flavors were great. The pasta was heavenly. It was cooked well, great flavor, not overly oily. Definitely recommend both!

  • 5/5 Madison W. 1 year ago on Google
    Taverna is the best place in austin for brunch! The music is always a vibe and the food is amazing. Not to mention the servers are exceptional. My server, Jeff, was fun, professional, elegant, and all around amazing! Anyone who needs a great fun place to eat definitely recommend Taverna!

  • 4/5 Jessi K. 1 year ago on Google
    Stopped here for a drink and snack before afternoon shopping, and that Blood Orange Margarita (sub mezcal) was phenomenal. The blood orange purée made an impact, and the sweetness was well-balanced. The brunch bellini, on the other hand, was inexpensive for a reason. No peach purée, and tasted like an underwhelming peachy rosè. The Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese was good, but nothing to write home about. Down the street, Red Ash’s bolognese puts it to shame. I would love to come back for dinner, because some of the menu items look fantastic, and I believe their cocktails are worth a return visit.

  • 4/5 Ella H. 1 year ago on Google
    Great atmosphere for my friend’s birthday dinner! They brought out sparklers at the end to celebrate. Food was hit or miss - very good risotto, good not great bolognese, and carbonara that tasted like…flour? Drinks were solid. 4 stars for mostly the atmosphere. And our server Jordan was great!

  • 5/5 Christopher C. 2 years ago on Google
    I sat at the bar and met a wonderful bartender who was extremely good at her job. The meal was great. I had a ceasar salad and some fettuccine Alfredo. The funny thing is I couldn't find it on the menu and she was nice enough to say, we can make it happen. How wonderful is that?

  • 5/5 Tad O. 1 year ago on Google
    This is a MUST visit if your looking for an incredible Italian cuisine in Austin,TX. The GM Yuri is a an absolute gentleman, he's so respectful and truly cares for his customers and treats you like family! Everyone at our dinner party loved their meals, 10/10 must visit. Taverna will not disappoint!

  • 4/5 Analicia P. 9 months ago on Google
    Had a good experience here with the work staff for lunch. Got seated fairly quickly and their service was great. Spaghetti was ok, not big on pork so would of been nice to have the option to have beef only meatballs. On another note, their strawberry lemonade is amazing. Pizza was great, had a great stiff under carriage that held up toppings pretty well and nothing too heavy.

  • 5/5 Ryan S. 9 months ago on Google
    The sign of an awesome restaurant is not needing to add anything to the dish the chef made. Taverna is this restaurant. From the tenderness of the eggplant to the firmness of the pasta the meal was world class!! Bravo.

  • 4/5 Joe T. 4 months ago on Google
    I visited this restaurant on a work trip in March of this year. The food was incredible, however the service was just okay. It was a little expensive as I ordered the surf and turf, the antipasto and an extra couple of shrimp and it was 110. For the four of us total. It was just about $400 before tip. I would say that the food again, was incredible. If you can spend the time, I would definitely recommend eating here. My rating system consists of a 3-star being exactly what I expected and neither good nor bad. A 4 means something was extra special whether it was service, food, staff, etc., and a 5 means I was blown away. A 2 star rating was disappointing with no offer to correct the experience and a 1-star rating was terrible

  • 5/5 Shirley E. 8 months ago on Google
    I started at another downtown restaurant but was turned away because I didn't have a reservation. My daughter was at Taverna, for the same reason, so I joined her. We didn't find out about this on the restaurants website, which was disconcerting. As I am disabled I had to walk a distance, with my cane, to the other restaurant. I was exhausted! The Taverna Restaurant is beautiful. We were seated immediately. We sat by the window. Our waiter was attentive, bringing drinks right away. We took our time ordering because everything on the menu looked delicious. Our waiter was happy to come back later, giving us more time to look over the menu. After another family member joined us, we made our food choices, each trying something new. And each trying the others food! (Of course, I took pictures first) We will definitely go back. This time with the whole family.

  • 5/5 Grant F. 2 years ago on Google
    I give this place a 5 of 5 due to the price point. Neighboring restaurants have higher prices for less menue choices or choices that may not appeal to a picky eater. I had the Bianca pizza which was perfect size for me and thin crust. The restaurant also had what I think are clear boundaries just like people. My wife and I didn't have reservations, so, on a busy night if we wanted to eat inside we had to sit in small tables made for two between the bar and the patio wall. We didn't mind being tourists but I thought that was a good policy and guarantees having a good night in the main pit area if you do reserve a table. Thank you for being reasonable with your pricing!

  • 3/5 m. S. 5 months ago on Google
    Beautiful atmosphere ! The waitress was amazing patient kind wonderful ! The person at the front didn’t know much about the menu . Luckily my waitress did . I asked for a meal with red sauce . I was recommended the bolognese. I usually think that with multiple meats there would be a rich flavor . The meal was super bland and unsatisfying . I asked for red pepper before the meal came out and poured in on after . Waitress asked about the meal I was honest said it was ok. Super accommodating . Gave me some salt which gave like another star and then eventually gave me some cherry tomatoes . I felt bad that it came to that. What the meal needed ? Flavor - the taste of garlic the taste of all those veggies . The wine 🍷 All the meats tasted like generic meat (very one dimensional) I will go back and order something else ! This place is too beautiful picturesque and has a good wait staff that I experienced today. That kind of service can have me back I hope the menu can have more to give .

  • 3/5 Brandi B. 2 years ago on Google
    Atmosphere was great! Food was good. Service was mediocre 😕 waitress never checked on us. Asked for bread and never came back or offered parmesan cheese. Other server asked if they could clear our plates. Ready to leave and she finally showed up with check. OH, no, I don't need dessert.

  • 5/5 Adolpho M. 2 years ago on Google
    Great metal and service, overall. We got a bit disappointed for the staff to be closing down the place before we finished the food (it was barely 22PM), but were given a complimentary dessert for the table. Staff was friendly and helpful, food was honest - Italian with American twist.

  • 5/5 Beth G. 3 months ago on Google New
    This restaurant and its team are incredible! I’ve hosted two private room dinners here - one for 25 executives about two years ago and the other was for 36 people last night - and both times were a huge success. The food, the service, and the atmosphere were all perfect. A special shout-out to our servers Megan and Taylor. I don’t know how you kept track of everything - especially with people mingling and changing seats! Thank you for making it look easy. I’ll definitely call you again the next time I’m in town for a conference!


Call +1 512-477-1001 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
    • ✓️ Paid multi-storey car park
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Credit cards
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Happy-hour food
    • ✓️ Happy-hour drinks
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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