Italian Restaurant in Northwest Austin: What Siena Ristorante Toscana Offers the Neighborhood

Northwest Austin has no shortage of places to eat, but a genuinely good Italian restaurant — one that's been part of the neighborhood long enough to know its regulars and has the kitchen to back up the menu — is a different thing. Siena Ristorante Toscana has been at the corner of RM 2222 and Loop 360 since 2000. That kind of longevity in Austin's restaurant landscape means something.

A Destination That Happens to Be in Your Backyard

Part of what makes Siena work for Northwest Austin diners is that it functions both as a neighborhood restaurant and as the kind of place people drive across the city for. The Tuscan architecture — stone walls, wooden beams, a working wood grill, balcony seating with a view of the dining room below — gives the space a sense of occasion that most restaurants in the area don't have. It's the sort of room that makes an ordinary Tuesday feel like something worth showing up for, and makes a special occasion feel genuinely different from a regular dinner out.

What's on the Menu

The menu draws from Tuscan tradition. Homemade pasta — pappardelle with red wine-braised Texas wild boar ragù, fettuccine with wild mushrooms and truffle oil, tagliatelle alla Bolognese — runs alongside wood-grilled entrées that the kitchen has been building its reputation on for 26 years. A 16oz ribeye with Calabrian chili butter. A walnut-crusted trout with lemon butter. A 16oz pork chop with truffle honey mustard glaze. These are dishes that travel well — meaning people who don't live in Northwest Austin make a point of coming here for them.

The antipasti menu is built for sharing before the main event arrives: calamari fritti with capers and pepperoncini, arancini with buffalo mozzarella, carpaccio of raw Wagyu with truffle aioli and arugula, and the Antipasto Misto with cured meats and fig marmellata. The wine list has earned recognition from Wine Spectator, and the bar and covered patio open at 4:30 PM daily.

For Northwest Austin Residents: What to Know

Dinner service runs Monday through Saturday starting at 4:30 PM. The bar and patio open at the same time. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 PM in the bar, patio, and cocktail areas. On Mondays, there's a Steak and Lobster special — 8oz wood-grilled NY strip and 5oz cold water lobster tail with roasted potatoes. On Tuesdays, house and premium wines are available at reduced prices from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. Chef specials rotate Thursday through Saturday.

Private dining is available for groups — the Caminetto Room seats up to 30, the Terazza Room seats up to 12. Full restaurant buyouts are an option for larger events. Reservations are recommended and available through OpenTable at sienaaustin.com. Siena is at 6203 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78731. Phone: (512) 349-7667.