Siena Ristorante Toscano

09/18/2008 Posted by dendo

Just had my birthday lunch at Siena. While the service was great and my friends seemed to enjoy their lunches, I ordered the Pollo Grigliato and it was AWFUL. The chicken was dry and tasteless and the salad greens were bitter and spotted. I didn't raise a stink because the lunch was a gift. But seriously after that experience I won't be going back for dinner. It is just a chicken breast and this is a nice restaurant....why can't they get it right?

07/20/2008 Posted by rhiamon

My husband and I went here last night with a friend of mine. The food was really delicious and the service was excellent. Our waiter was very friendly, and good at giving us suggestions. My only complaint was that the food was too small. This is not a complaint I would normally make about most restaurants, nor am I some 500 lb person that eats two entrees for dinner. Most places give you enough to feed two people. This place goes to the opposite extreme. I have gone to other "fine dining" restaurants (Emeril's and The Ivy in London, to give an example) and never had a problem with the amount of food. However, last night we ordered an appetizer that the waiter told us was "large" ... it was tiny and scarcely enough for two people, let alone four. Then I ordered the large ravioli dish and a cannoli for dessert. My entree came with seven raviolis, which I had thought would be plenty of food, but I was still starving afterward. The bill was not too outrageous, $60 for two entrees and two desserts (the appetizer was on my friend's tab). That wouldn't have bothered me in the least except that I walked away hungry. The other problem was that the service was pretty slow. I actually would not have minded that, except that we had plans to go to a play at 8pm. We arrived at the restaurant at 6pm and did not leave the table until 7:50pm. Normally, I do not mind a nice, relaxed meal but this isn't a restaurant to go to when you have somewhere to be.

06/30/2008 Posted by JenniferNiccole

Having had the pleasure to dine in great Italian restaurants in northern Italy in the last few years, I have been spoiled and have a hard time finding comparable restaurants in the states. I was introduced to Siena through a friend and was amazed by both the authenticity and quality of food, and absolutely blown away by the level of service! Our server not only knew the menu down to the smallest ingredient of each dish, but his passion and enthusiasm for the restaurant was contagious! We let him select our entire meals and loved it all. From the Cacciucco, to the Costata di Vitello al Funghi Trifolati, to the decadent chocolate and espresso dessert, everything was spectacular including his wine recommendation. What a great find.

Pros: Authentic, outstanding service

05/24/2008 Posted by AustinLlifer

While the menu is inventive and the dishes, once they arrived, are quite good, the service and attitude are indicative of what is wrong with service in Austin restaurants today. There are a few places that understand the nuances the high service that are the hallmark of fine restaurants, Siena falls short. Despite a beautiful environment and an eclectic menu, the service and attitude is quite poor, if not downright condescending. We came for a special evening and were seating right away (that in an of itself a warning sign, given that we arrived at 8pm on a Saturday night during a holiday weekend). THe server was gracious and drinks and appetizers arrived on time and were tasty. And then we waited. And waited. 45 minutes later, our entrees arrived, one fresh and steaming, and the other congealed and skinned over like only a heat lamp can do. I spoke with the manager to alert her to the problem and she instantly became confrontational and defensive. She clearly was not capably of managing an establishment of this ambition. I've had many business lunches here and have never had a problem, but I will likely not venture there again for a dinner meal and I'd advise you to consider some of the better options in Austin that understand the meaning of service.

Pros: Great menu, nice setting

Cons: Rude management, SLOW service, highly overrated for dinner

02/13/2008 Posted by mediums

My husband and I went here for an early-Valentines Day celebration. I agree with the other reviewers that the parking situation is just plain annoying, and would definitely limit how often we would want to come back. However, the entrees were flawless. We both ordered the Tagliatelli Bolognese, and the pasta was perfectly cooked and the meat sauce was delicious. The dessert was more average, and the cappuccino's were weak. The server was friendly enough, but we felt oddly rushed during our meal even though there were plenty vacant tables. At one point -- I am not making this up -- the server actually stood there and watched as I scooped the last bite of salad onto my fork, and snatched my plate before I had put it into my mouth!

Pros: Wonderful pasta

Cons: Average service

11/09/2007 Posted by s2001

The atmosphere is lovely and romantic. The food is delicious!! The pate appetizer left us wanting more, the trout and salmon were some of the best ever! We had reservations for a 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening dinner. We drove around for 20-25 minutes looking for a parking place!! When we finally found one about 2 blocks away I asked the hostess why they didn't have valet parking. Her response was that it was available on Friday and Saturday evenings only and that the owners were aware of the problem, but nothing could be done. If the restaurant had been full, we would have been more understanding. But there were very few diners. Most of the parking spots were occupied by those eating at Waterloo Ice House. Yes, it's a great restaurant, but there are others in Austin that are also great who provide valet parking or ample parking spaces.

10/03/2007 Posted by bigitalian

Dear, i love Ceasar Salad so much Well first of all i work in the kitchen (day time crew). I cant say much for the waitstaff cause im not up there but, what i do see dosent have anything to do with what you said. I think the foods very good im an italian from up north so i know GOOD FOOD! If ceasar salad is your thing you can try that fast food place i see FAGoleys or whatever. Im sure that is more to your likeing with a well done steak with ketchup and ranch. Im pretty sure if it was as bad as you say they wouldnt have 4 stars and be open for over 7 years! I think you need to lay off the booze and stick with virgin pink daquris and try us again sometime. Come anytime at lunch for daily specials and good reasonable priced lunch items............. And as far as musashino's goes its by far the greatest sushi i have ever tasted so take that and sprinkle it on your mexican salad.

Pros: Its NOTHING like the olive garden or other pre packaged italian joints

Cons: not enough people in north austin have heard about it

10/02/2007 Posted by cazzo2

Normally I would not respond to another reviewers comments BUT, I was in Siena the night this guy calling himself "lovesfood99" was in there. He was very drunk and obnoxious, harassing everyone at the bar. When the manager asked him to leave he screamed "FU, this place s__ks!!" The staff was very polite and handled him very well. We were celebrating my daughters birthday and waiting for our table, the night could have easily been ruined by this A-hole. Finally after threatening to call the police the manager got him to leave. We ended up having a great meal and a great time. It's unfortunate this site has become a forum for people carrying a grudge. He has also been thrown out of Mushishino, check out his review of that place!

Pros: years of experience means consistant quality

Cons: parking is a huge problem during the week

09/13/2007 Posted by lovesfood99

I have eaten at sienna a few times its nothing to tell anyone about. Some things i thought i would share was waitstaff seem to be all over the place. Very UN organized. Managment dosent seem to be much better. The food is totally sub par the menu dosent change that much with the seasons adding or takeing away a few things isnt season changing!!!! I think all this place needs is for whoevers in charge to go back to school and learn a thing or 2 and put ceasar salad on the menu who dosent love ceasar salad. That or just shut that crummy looking building down either or!!!!!!

Pros: i had a good bowel movement after my meal

Cons: they dont have ceasar salad

09/09/2007 Posted by habits

Siena is a Tuscan restaurant (named after a significantly historical town), "Tuscan" meaning from the Toscano region in Italy. This place breaks from the standard Italian food that most of us grew up with in America, being a heavy dose of red sauces and pasta dishes. Now I haven't dined everywhere in Austin, but this is hands down the most romantic place in town. The wine list is superb. The cuisine is superb. Sorry, no Caesar salad (which was actually created by an Italian in Mexico City). This is a place to experience a different kind of Italian that most people in this country will never have the opportunity to do so. Start with a bottle of Rocca Della Macie "Chianti" and the "Fiche" - black Mission figs stuffed with pecorino, wrapped with parma prosciutto, baked in a pizza oven and accented with an amazing balsamic vinegar reduction made with sugar. Siena is an opportunity to learn something new, an education, a new definition of Italian food. It's a little pricey, but not really when you consider the ambience, food, wine, and the location.

Pros: different kind of Italian experience for the average american

Cons: stay away from the weekends - it's better during the week