Gino's Vino Osteria — Restaurant in Austin

UPDATE: spoke with woman owner, she did not even offer an apology when I wasn’t asking for anything free just an apology, she said waiter had a different story but a great owner would know when a terrible worker is causing strife and APOLOGIZE at the least!

This darker hispanic waiter is super rude and condescending... he claimed to be a manager when I asked for one when I saw the owner wasn’t there anymore..but with his lack of respect and with his super abruptly rude attitude I highly doubt it. My pasta was not al dente at all...I specifically asked if it would be and he said yes.. I said ok bc I don’t want Anything mushy please ask the chef to make it more al dente or I’ll order something simple.: I’ve lived in Italy for 10 years Fresh pasta can be.. I cook it al dente, it means in This case more chewy to tooth NOT MUSHY. WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!! was yelled at, called names, cursed at.. REALLY?! This is how u allow servers to treat your customers?!

..by the way al dente literally means “to the tooth” or with a bite in Italian..again I’ve lived there for TEN YEARS!! He said, YOU DONT KNOW WHAT AL DENTE MEANS.. SO FUNNY SINCE IM OBVIOUSLY MORE ITALIAN THAN HIM!!

When It first came out I voiced my concern and that it was bland, he did Not offer to change plate and walked away quick! Previously I ASKED HIM WHAT WERE THE MIXED VEGGIES AND SAID I WANTED THE MIXED VEGGIES WITH LEMON BUTTER SAUCE LIKE IN THE OTHER SNAPPER DISH.. he said OK... then he came out with mushrooms and sliced green bell peppers.. I said, these are not the mixed veggies YOU DESCRIBED.. he then said OK THIS IS WHAT YOU ASKED FOR.. I saiD I SPECIFICALLY ASKED YOU WHAT WAS THE MIXED VEGGIES AND SAID I WAS ON A SPECIAL DIET THST NEEDED A MIX OF VEGETABLES AND HE BLAMED ME FOR HIM GETTING IT WRONG!! I LITERALLY POINTED AT THE VEGS I WANTED!

He then laughed in my face FOR HIS MISTAKE THEN SAID.. OK IF YOU DONT WANT TO PAY FOR IT I WILL TAKE IT ALL OFF YOUR CHECK.. I said it’s not about that! I just want to eat dinner I haven’t eaten all day and I would have ORDERED ANOTHER DISH IF YOU DIDNT LIE AND SAY IT WAS OF COURSE AL DENTE IN THE FIRDT PLACE I SIMPLY WOULD’VE ORDRED FISH AND VRGETABLES PERIOD!!

Only after my friend was almost done eating his food did he ask if I wanted something else(he was Sparse during meal and only 3 tables! Only we were his!) I didn’t want to inconvenience my friend with waiting for another meal first of all , also the red fish was already cold and I was so hungry so I was forced to just eat the fish bc he rarely came! I didn’t even get veggies I asked for, so he then further lied and put the fish on the check, when If he had even asked me prior to everything when I was dissatisfied I could have ordered something else but the point is this was the WORST SERVICE AND worst COMPROMISE EVER.. if he was Honest about it I would have just ordered something to go with it since I HAD to pay, BE HONEST! So rude!! I go to a “nice” restaurant and except GREAT OR EVEN NICE SERVICE.. I’ve been to Every italian restaurant here and didn’t even offer my glass of wine for free, NOTHING FOR THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER!, I will NEVER BE BACK, nothing is worth BEING CURSED AT it IS UNPROFESSIONAL and uncalled for!

LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, RUDE CONDESCENDING BEHAVIOR,I ASKED EXTENSIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT EACH ENTREE I was interested in, I said “Sir do you Not remember I asked you what were the mixed veggies and said OK GREAT, I WANT THAT..” (laugh in my face and walk away, grabbed card and ran!) so upset To be treated this way!!!!!!And at $30 a plate this is not even “normal” service it was HORRENDOUS! It should be exceptional at these prices!!! I’m so upset to be treated so badly disgustingly! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, NO MANNERS! Also if you had JUST LISTENED and not been so impatient to stand around and do Nothing you would have gotten a great review and nice tip. lucky we still tipped! I CANT EVEN BELIEVE WHAT...

We've lived in University Hills for 3 years now, and when GV originally opened, we had planned to go, but were dissuaded by some early reviews, and hadn't gotten a chance to try it until now. I'm disappointed we didn't go sooner, as there really isn't another good option in the area (other than L'oca D'oro, and I now prefer GV), but we will definitely be returning. Even at lunch, as every other review says, Gino is there, greeting you, and if you suspend disbelief for even a moment, you can imagine you're in New York City, at some mom and pop Italian place. Gino will remind you that he has the best rated Italian restaurant in the city, and after trying the putanesca, I concur. It was bold, incorporating an apparently homemade fine ground spicy Italian sausage that seemed wrong at first, but really was so right for the dish. I'll have to try it next time I make my own. Squid ink linguine really contributes to the sinfully putrid nature of a good putanesca in this dish, and if this dish is representative of the rest of the very large menu then you can't go wrong. Portions are quite large too, and I recommend going at lunch, there were plenty of tables, and the prices seem reduced.

Edit: We went back a week later and were again the only ones there at lunch, but our dishes took 30 minutes to come out, and my wife's dish, vegetable lasagna (under the section Al Forno) appeared not to have seen the inside of an oven at all. The noodles, which were fresh, were slick and uncooked and the vegetables were entirely raw. This was in contrast to the plate, which was scorching hot, implying that the plate had been under a heat lamp for a while. It was enough of a bad experience, if we do ever go back it won't be for a while. It appears that your experience may vary wildly, and it doesn't seem to be based upon them being crowded. (Original review...

Excuse me but there really are limited great dining spots left. Now I'm not talking about a to die for steak or the town's greatest taco. I'm talking about the venue, the food, the ambiance and all the other factors of an excellent dining experience. There were no parking spots in the front so my daughter and I parked around back. You pass the windowed wall of the bar as you approach the front door to the restaurant. I could see someone inside waving wildly at us as we walked past. I thought, "This guy must think he knows us." The front door swings open and a sweet lady, Gino's wife, waves us inside. Ha! There were other shops and restaurants along the strip center, so I guess she's probably grabbed a few extra customers this way. Inside there is a cozy dining area with white table clothes and cloth napkins, candles, the whole bit. Wait staff is on point with menu suggestions and offerings of a few off menu items. Momentarily, Gino makes his rounds. The feel here is family. Guests appeared to have been coming here forever. Selfies with the owner, lots of laughter and celebrations going on. The cocktail list is something to celebrate itself. The food here is stellar with all pasta made in house. Lots of unique items and plenty to treat any taste bud. The musician sings softly in Portuguese and English as she plays the keyboard. We had fun trying to identify the pop songs. Save room for the dessert tray that comes table to table. I'm already planning my next trip there when I return to Austin. And I'll park out back, just to get the extra greeting from the bar....