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FINO Restaurant Patio & Bar
Categories: Restaurants Spanish Restaurants Mediterranean Spanish, Mediterranean [Edit]
2905 San Gabriel StSte 200
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 474-2905
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri 11 am - 11 pm
Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 3 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Trendy, Upscale, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
239 reviews for FINO Restaurant Patio & Bar
Review Highlights
"Fino is one of my favorite happy hour spots."
(in 61 reviews)
"The small plates are perfect for my appetite."
(in 46 reviews)
"Chorizo Stuffed Medjool Dates- incredible."
(in 4 reviews)
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239 reviews in English
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Review from Jake O.
1/28/2012
Yep yep! I heard rumors of a glorious patio, tapas and a super good bartender. I was happy to find all of these things on steroids. It was better than I could have imagined.
I only had the privilege of tasting the glory of one of their tapa plates, the blistered shizitzo (got the spelling wrong) peppers. I fancy myself a lover of the spicy and these little fellas got my mouth on fiya! They were wonderful and only for a fee of $6. It's one of their cheaper items. Before I got them I noticed a few other Yelpers complained about the extreme saltiness of these peppers. I guess the chef listened because the salt was almost non existent, so problem solved for you sodium haters. I added a little extra.
The real winner was a combination of the patio, sun and beverages. I had the patio all to myself on a beautiful 70 degree day around 3:00. I grabbed a seat that maximized sun exposure and the waiter came out to take my drink order. I asked him just how good the bartender was. He proceeded to give me a 5 minute explanation, but all I needed to hear was "critically acclaimed and the best ever." To which i replied, "Have him make me whatever he would be drinking if he were on this patio right now." Minutes later I was sipping an Old Time with gin that tasted like bourbon (but better) with an oversized ice cube in the glass. Hoooooooly crap, this was one of the best drinks I have ever had! It was a perfect drink for the atmosphere and weather. I was a happy, happy kid. The tender knows what he is doing. Yes, the drinks are $10 and up a piece but you are drinking an experience as well as booze.
I can't wait to come back and try some of the other tapas and beverages. Do yourself a favor and tell your waiter to let the bartender make you whatever he feels like. Resist getting your regular Budweiser and go out on a limb. -
Review from Frank D.
Austin, TX
2/4/2012
Things looked encouraging as we walked into Fino. The word patio doesn't do it justice, the enclosed outdoor space is beautiful, with real furniture instead of the usual plastic chairs. Looks like a great place to stop in for drinks after work. The inside looked good too with a modern decor without going overboard on the "design" aspect.
We started with the charcuterie plate, which was fantastic. Chorizo, salami, prosciutto, chicken liver pate and a great head cheese accompanied by a nice grainy mustard and some tiny pickles. After that we ordered some small plates to share and that's when things took a turn for the mediocre. Everything was prepared well, but flavors were so so. Most dishes were oily and after a few bites they all tasted the same. Maybe it's because last weekend we ate at one of our favorite restaurants that Fino suffered by comparison.
Bottom line - would we come back? Yes, for drinks on the patio and appetizers. As far as dinner goes, we've said fino to Fino. -
Review from Jessica M.
Austin, TX
1/26/2012
In a valiant effort, my boyfriend looked up the most romantic restaurants in Austin and Fino came up. So, no yelp influence involved (I know, the terror), we went there last night for dinner.
The ambiance here is really nice, dark, cozy, warm. They have open booths which I think kills the romantic vibe, because when it's not busy (like last night), you can hear the conversation directly next to you. Which can also be entertaining, but I'd rather have a wall between me and the two girls next to me tossing back cocktails and talking about their hubbys.
We got a nice bottle of wine, ordered some tapas/small plates (aren't they the same thing?) and finished off with the paella. At full price, because we were both unaware that it was half price on Tuesdays and we went on a Wednesday. Whoops.
Shishito peppers: pretty good. Really salty. They warn you about that on the menu, but I'm talking rock salt on my peppers. But I still really liked them and ate them all. After brushing off some of the salt.
Brussel sprouts: delicious. I'm obsessed with brussel sprouts recently, I have had better at other restaurants nearby, but these were definitely delicious. Mmmmm.
Charcuterie: impressive. They give you a really decent selection, and it was really good as far as cold meats go. My boyfriend was a big fan.
Chicken and chorizo paella: Bland. Really bland. And I thought the chorizo was olives for a while because they don't slice it up. But seriously, $48? No. $24 worth? Maybe. The rice was stuck to the bottom of the pan, there wasn't a lot of it, and the whole thing tasted like chicken and rice. I could make a better version of this at home. Really disappointing.
The paella was such a downer that we went and got dessert elsewhere. Our server was in and out, no personality, nothing to write home about. I can see if you order better than we did, this place could be nice, but still overpriced. Will we be back? Probably not. -
Review from Holly A.
12/5/2011
You walk up, and before you even open the door, you know you want it bad. When you walk in, you know you are going to get it ...
A delicious atmosphere dripping with sexiness that forces the uncontrollable in thought just waiting to be executed.
How?
Design - gorgeous layout that encompasses intimacy but doesn't feel cramped or bare, dirty lighting, perfect flow of lines, hot contrasting textures and colors that melt. Fino actually puts the comfort in lounge.
Menu - you can eat eccentric and healthy, AND drink the best Cosmo in Austin, all in one place. You can have the chef cooking up ridiculously sinful concoctions at inviting prices during happy hour.
Accessibility - you can have it whenever you want it. Plenty of parking. Plenty of seating. Location is so convenient, however, once you completely arrive your mind will probably tell you that you are in the middle of downtown.
Pleasure - every breath is sensory intensity. There's genuine warmth and awareness served along with your bites and beverage. There's lack of noise yet a complex presence of intoxicating lush notes. There's a definite need to undress *all* of the above to get the full effective pleasure.Listed in: ZZZZzzzzzzz, Ooooh La La
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Review from Jens B.
Updated - 1/8/2012
Traditionally, I really don't want to brag on places that are truly special. It is completely a narcissistic tendency. I don't want folks to show up and create a longer wait than usual. However, I just totally need to update my review of Fino. It's hard to believe it's been almost 5 years since I reviewed them. Since then some truly special and awesome things have transpired.
A bump in a star is justified by one simple act of kindness by the manager. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor a couple of years back. I got the news on a thursday and surgery was scheduled on the following monday. It was a pretty big deal. Suzie and I really didn't know what to expect, and it was certainly something that life can throw you up the ultimate curve ball.. no-one is expected to hit it and it's your third strike.... We were basically still in shock on friday, after spending most of thursday weeping and wondering if my miss spent youth had created this issue for me. In my usual fashion, I was ignoring the obvious and making plans for death basically. Suzie was petrified and had just returned to town from her fathers 90th birthday party. She had left me with a headache to return to my tumor. I wanted to to have a relaxed dinner, somewhere where it would be intimate and not one of our frequent stops, since we really were in no mood to celebrate. Fino, is just down the street from my office and since I was in my office, being all diligent and crap, we wandered down to Fino.
The location happened to be where I took my now bride for our first afternoon date when it was Granite Hill Cafe. Seemed like we had come full circle. We grabbed one of the little two tops in the main dining area and previewed the menu. Always such wonderful options available. Fried Anchovy Stuffed Olives, yup get them. Hummus if it's on the menu, get it. Their daily specials are usually something you may not have heard of, so get that as well. The lamb burgers are sublime and some of the best calamari with an amazing pepper sauce which I always forget the name of. We got our entrees and some great wine and adverted eye contact since that just brought tears and enjoyed our meals. I ordered some Champagne, why the heck not, and started talking to Suzie about all the things I have in place for her just in case. I was all about being properly prepared. We eventually finished and it was time to go. Our waitress, who happened to be fantastic came over and I asked her to tab us out. She told us the tab was taken care of...
What the... She wished me the best and told us again, the tab had been taken care of. I asked for the manager to come over, that we didn't expect any special treatment. He came over and just simply said, we wish you the best on Monday, get well and come back and celebrate with us... Suzie and I were just dumbfounded... I threw a couple of twenty's on the table for our waitress and we left. Touched and just gobsmacked. Apparently our waitress had overheard our conversation and related it to the management. Yes, I had been coming into Fino for awhile and perhaps they recognized us, but nonetheless, completely unnecessary, but graciously accepted.
This is one of the many reasons why Fino has such a place in my heart. The food has consistently been exceptional and the bar.. well snort down a few Indian Paint Brushes with KK or Holly and it becomes a high end PARTY. The care and attention which the bartenders take in making your drink is phenomenal. Great care and a multitude of different ingredients will make you a unique drink, not found anywhere in Austin. Always plenty of parking. Now that the season is here to be able to enjoy being outside, the patio is fantastic to enjoy our one month of spring. Do it..Listed in: Our Favorite Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/9/2008
I have eaten at Fino's several times now, and really love the concept, the atmosphere, and for me… Read more »
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Review from Sue P.
Austin, TX
2/1/2012
My husband and I went there with 2 other couples for Happy Hour last night. We ordered a couple paellas and had one of each appetizer on the happy hour menu. This was our third trip there. Our waiter tried to push more expensive wines and tried to convince us to order more food than we wanted. He was not happy about the amount of food we ordered and the wine we ordered. When we got home we checked our bill and he put a 25% tip on it for himself!!! I would recommend the food here, but not the waiter we had.
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Review from Jonathan G.
Austin, TX
Updated - 12/11/2011
Turns out their brunch is awesome too. They do bloodys and champagne cocktails properly. The donuts are fabulous. I loved my sandwich. The rest of the menu tends to veer off a bit - I'd like it if they stayed home. More eggs, less seafood - if you get my brunch drift. Was gonna go 4 stars, but they get bonus points for having a handsome bartender who recognized our superior palates because we like gin in our bloodys rather than vodka. Flattery will get you everywhere, especially if you serve it with booze.
Listed in: Fancy Dining
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/21/2011
FINO continues to raise its own bar. Each time I go, there's something new to check out while the… Read more »
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Review from Christine L.
Cedar Park, TX
12/31/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Came here for girl's night and it was GREAT! Come for a drink and the chance to try a different variety of dishes (which is great for indecisive people like us!). The waiters and staff were so helpful in guiding us to must trys...highly recommend the fried goat cheese and different humus and spreads!
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Review from Lily Y.
Austin, TX
11/23/2011
Went here for my two year anniversary and loved it!
The overall ambiance is really romantic with the candles and the low lights throughout the restaurant.
Now the food-- Ordered the fried goat cheese and loved it~ The avocado beet salad was pretty decent too.
For the entree we were lucky that our anniversary is on a Tuesday because they have a deal where their paella is 50% off! We ordered the squid ink and calamari paella, and in retrospect wasn't such a good idea because of the ink making our mouths black, but the taste was wonderful. I think it was worth a few blackened lips~
Most importantly the service is so wonderful here! I think the manager came over at some point and asked us how it was, and even remembered that it was our anniversary and congratulated us. He also asked how I liked my hotti totti and I had commented on how it was a little strong for me but that I was fine with it. However, after awhile our waitress brought over a different drink that's sweeter and less strong for me and my boyfriend. They absolutely made my anniversary special. :) -
Review from Levi J.
Bryan, TX
1/22/2012
Well its time. I've spent enough incredibly happy moments in this place that its time to give it its due. But where to begin?
Booze: Cocktail wunderkind Bill Norris lived here, and that was a great thing. Standing in for him, head bartender Josh Loving is all that you could want and then some. Yes, I said "bartender," The odious word "mixologist" will never cross my lips, and Josh would rightfully punch me in the face if it did. You got to respect a guy with the stones to wear a "Yelp is for Pussies" t-shirt. And I do. A lot. because Josh knows booze, inside and out, backwards and forwards, and wine and food as well to be sure. But do yourself a favor and let this man make you a drink. Let him choose. When he and rising bartender on the Texas scene Andy Arrington (now sadly departed. Left, not died) were on call, magic happened. Get the Fernet Sour, a drink that looks like what shot out of LInda Blair's mouth on the exorcist, and tastes like angels in Heaven just whipped it up in some celestial bar. Mustn't forget the wine list. See this is a wine list I desperately wish some place...just ONE place in my town of Bryan-College Station would concoct: small, well-chose, idiosyncratic wines, mostly skewed Old World. Yup. Brilliant. Good time to mention the prices for drinks here are quite reasonable.
What comes out of the kitchen is...very nice. Home cured pig by products, oh my. And if you think you know what anchovies taste like and are convinced they are some type of bile spewed from Futurama's Zoidberg, then order the white anchovies here. And prepare to meet that little fish for the very first time. I'm not kidding.
I'll close on an especially nice note, for me. This aint 6th Street. Nope, douche is kept to an absolute minimum here. Not really tolerated. I love this place. -
Review from Molly W.
Austin, TX
12/16/2011
We started our meal out with a great bottle of wine--a bottle of Sigalas from Santorini--which was very crisp and refreshing and tasted like an Aegean breeze. The bottle of wine created unreasonable high expectations which were soon dashed.
We ordered four tapas and the seafood and saffron paella. The grilled octopus should've been called "charred beyond recognition" because I probably consumed more carcinogens than octopus, although I did enjoy the parsley mojo. I wasn't able to tell if the seafood was fresh until I tried the paella, the biggest disappointment of the night. The rice had a glue-like consistency and...wasn't crunchy at the bottom like our waiter said it would be. The mussels, shrimp, and squid tasted like they had seen better days, such as the day they were caught and shortly after, but not tonight. The beet and avocado salad was bland, something I could whip up at home. The fried goat cheese, though, was quite good, according to my dinner companions, although I couldn't enjoy it due to my lactose intolerance.
There was an uncomfortably long period between the tapas and the paella, where we felt abandoned and alone. The plate they brought me for my paella also came dirty, and I had to ask for a new one!
Maybe the other tapas and entrees are worth it, but I would honestly go back if someone else was paying. -
Review from Andrew F.
Austin, TX
9/24/2011
I had the best burger of my life here.
My mom came to visit a while back. She's the coupon/article-clipping type and remembered seeing a feature in like... Gourmet Magazine from a few years back and wanted to eat at FINO when she came to visit. Sure enough, the place still existed and turned out to be a real treat!
I liked the dim atmosphere. The food was practically art both in presentation and taste. Also had a cool waiter, though I don't remember the dude's name. And, as stated before, literally, the best burger of my entire life was consumed at this restaurant.
I don't usually order burgers at a sit-down type fancy restaurant but this burger on the menu seemed to call to me. And, as an advocate of In-n-Out burgers, I set my standards particularly high when judging my beef and bread.
If you're looking for a fine dining experience, FINO is an enchanting experience with many delicious menu options. -
Review from Katie H.
9/6/2011
Upon arrival at FINO, I was immediately impressed by the cozy outdoor lounge area and wished it were cooler outside so I could enjoy it more! We opted to sit inside and were just as happy with the laidback vibe on the bar side of the restaurant.
Drinks: I went for the not-gin-and-tonic and loved the citrusy yet light flavor. My husband tried a couple of the specialty cocktails and was really impressed too.
Food: YUM. We started with the blistered peppers (thanks to other Yelp reviewers for that tip!) - our server likened them to edamame in that they're easy to eat, simple, yet delicious. They really were. We also tried the butter lettuce salad w/ manchego cheese - again a hit, especially with the almonds and slightly spicy dressing. For meat dishes, we had the special chorizo w/ squid ink pasta - delicious, even the green peas in the dish (which are usually not my favorite); the lamb ribs (sooooo good, especially with the yogurt sauce); and the pork belly (maybe my least favorite of the 3, but only because I was getting full by then - the flavor was still very good).
Dessert: At our server's recommendation, we went with the quail-egg vanilla pot de creme - SO creamy and delicious, especially paired with the caramelized figs on top. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. Also had some good coffee to round out our meal.
Definitely try FINO when you're in the mood for a laidback evening with some great food. It's a nice relaxing atmosphere, not at all rushed, and you can try a lot of different dishes even if there's just 2 of you. -
Review from Nicole S.
Austin, TX
7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
My fiance and I came here during happy hour today. They're a little north of campus so traffic wasn't bad at all (south to north). They're located on the 2nd floor but they have elevators too. I was happy to see their outdoor patio area because it's really cool and there's lot of room outdoors. If it wasn't 103 degrees every day I might enjoy it!
We were seated and started off with a couple of Fireman's 4's (how the hell do I pluralize that?) The beers on happy hour range from $2-3 so that's a win for sure! The cocktails are $2.00 off but they generally range from $8-12 per martini, before discount. We started off with the salted peppers on their happy hour for $3.00. They were fantastic. They reminded me of the shishito peppers at Paggi House on their happy hour. They weren't too spicy, they were the perfect balance of salty flavor and pepper. We also tried the walnut, pomegranate dip with red pepper. This was $6 and pretty delicious, came with pita bread. We also tried the shrimp aijillo (garlic, lemon). I did not like these. They tasted like pork fat or like their were cooked in pork, but nowhere on the menu did it state they did this, and I don't eat pork so I hated the flavor. But it's okay. I forgive.
My fiance tried all of the above but also ordered his own appetizer off the happy hour menu: the $3 pork pinchitas were a win for him.
We also tried the stuffed Poquito pepper with crab for $4. This was pretty teeny tiny, but it was delicious.
I think overall, these guys are okay, their food is on spot: but their prices are a little bit over the top in range. You just don't get a good value for your money unless you do happy hour here. For example, the shrimp I ordered were a tapas priced at $6.00, but they were more of like a bite. There were about 6 tiny shrimp in there with some shredded peppers, in a cup the size of a ramekin. Same thing with the pita "hummus" thing, they should price that during happy hour as $3.00.
Their paella for 2 is 1/2 price on Tuesdays, but it's regularly a whopping $48.00, and I can't imagine it's a generous portion.
So, other than price I would like to say our server was incredibly attentive and friendly. She was very nice to recommend dishes to us since we were newbs and it was our first time here. I would come back, but only during happy hour. I'd like to try their sister restaurant Asti. -
Review from Jeff L.
Manhattan, NY
11/28/2011
Went to Fino tonight since the other restaurant we were going was closed on Mondays...
The decor and service was great and have no absolutely complaint about it...however, the food definitely did not match up to the price nor the decor...
Potato chips were great...hummus was okay..you can get better at whole foods or central market for 1/5 of the price with the quantity supplied...pork ribs were tender but tasteless...octopus had no flavor other than charred taste...squid paella was good but not $48 worth..seafood paella was okay and yet not $48 worth...
Another friend ordered a burger and ate half of it..and usually he is not a picky eater..drinks were okay...strong but not tasty...
Not sure who has better Tapas in Austin but this is definitely not somewhere we would go back....honestly..we went somewhere else after dinner... just because...after $300 for 5 people..we were still starving!!!!...not something we expected and not sure what the buzz was about!..maybe just us. -
Review from William H.
West Los Angeles, CA
6/16/2011
I would give this place 3.5 stars and i rounded up just for the fact their walnut, red pepper & pomegranate spread was so amazing, i found the recipe online and made it myself.
Grilled Octopus
fennel / grapefruit / parsley vinaigrette / pimenton - it was okay, a bit too charred for my taste.
Chorizo Stuffed Medjool Dates
house smoked bacon / valdeon blue cheese / PX sherry - pretty much like candy, chorizo and blue cheese was balanced.
We had some other items, but they were forgettable. -
Review from Anna B.
5/12/2011
Hot mini donuts
romanced by olive oil
ice cream. Perfection. -
Review from Vinita G.
Austin, TX
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Right int he middle is where I found it to lie...
Walking into FINO, I wondered what my experience would be like. Lots of yelpers say "YES!! FINO is everything we say it is and soooo much more!!" while others (including a close friend and fellow yelper) say, "Eh, not so much. It's not worth it." I couldn't wait to see what my own experience would be like!
I met a girlfriend here on a Thursday night for drinks and some appetizers to catch up. As I walked up the stairs and saw the patio decked out with gorgeous, fluffy furniture that I imagine would be on a beach patio over-looking the ocean, I knew we picked the perfect place to meet. I walked inside and was greeted with a smile and what seemed to be the start of a great customer service experience. The hostess took me over to a small table in the bar area and as I waited for my girlfriend to meet me, the waiter came over and took my drink order. He helped me figure out which would be the best one for me since all the drinks are very generously made. I ended up with the Singapore Sling...this is supposedly the sweetest drink on the menu...Ladies and gents, please don't be fooled!! The drinks are definitely very strong, so if you're a "I don't like the taste of alcohol" type of drinker like I am, you may want to stick to a traditional drink, like Sweet Tea with a splash of sprite. If you do order a specialty drink and end up not liking it, don't be afraid to ask your server to exchange it out. I almost never send any drink back, but my girlfriend made me do it and I was suprised to see how open and ok with it the staff was.
Once we were seated, food was ordered and it was delicious!! We ordered a variety of apps, including the Olive & Cheese plate and Hummus, as well as a couple of salads, all of which was just enough to fill us up. While the food was good, nothing really stood out as something I'd want to go back for.
So, to sum it up: Service great, drinks very strong (good or bad depending on the person), food good but not memorable, atmosphere/ambiance wonderful, price point seems a little high for what you get. And that's where the "middle" lies. -
Review from Leigh M.
Austin, TX
7/21/2011
This place is cool. Seriously cool. The unassuming location sets you up with a little insecurity, but once you're inside, you know you've made a good choice. Sidenote, the split decor of this place was an awesome concept, but I did find myself wishing I was seated on the other half... odd.
We opted for coffee, beer, and tapas and couldn't have been happier. Pork? Good. Hummus? Yum. Spanish Tortilla? To die for. My favorite part though? The coffee. I know this is weird, and you can get a pretty little mug with a leaf etched into your foam anywhere these days... but this coffee was GOOD. Best cuppa I've had in years, seriously. I don't know if there's crack in it or not, just sayin'.
Keep up the good work Fino! -
Review from justin d.
Austin, TX
Updated - 6/16/2011
I went back after my last experience. It's a testament to how much I liked this place the first time I went. Unfortunately, the food was still not that good. The squid with smoked paprika had way too much smoked paprika. Worse, the paprika tasted old and a little bit bitter. We got sweet potato chips which were nicely fried, but didn't have salt. After putting some salt on them, they were much improved. I also got the piquillo peppers stuffed with crab, which I think have gone up in price. The crab inside the pepper had too much mayonaise.
The service was great. I had a much better time here than last time I went.
Also, the general manager messaged me on yelp to apologize for my last experience.
I really like this place, but it's pretty expensive, and my past two experiences haven't been that good. Considering the cost, it's not really worth the risk.
If you want nice small plates of delicious food, I recommend spending a little bit more and heading over to Uchiko.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/18/2010
The last time I ate at Fino was mother's day. We ordered the brunch menu and the food ranged from… Read more »
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Review from Ahsan C.
San Antonio, TX
4/19/2011
This is as good as tapas gets! This restaurant also has a bar to match.
My girlfriend and I love tapas and arrived at the tail-end of a Friday happy hour. We were excited to try this place at the recommendation of a friend. We started off with an Aviator cocktail and sangria at the bar. Not only was the bartender outstanding, but so were the drinks. They were so expertly crafted... I've never had better drinks anywhere. And I dine and drink at a lot of restaurants. We had so much fun talking with the bartender and watching him craft drinks that we decided to eat dinner there as well, rather than at a table or out on the covered balcony.
To start off, we order the olive, cheese, and Marcona almonds plate. Delicious and just what we needed to match the drinks we just downed. I ordered the crab-stuffed piquillo pepper, which was very nice. The slight sweetness of the pepper nicely complemented the briny, yet sweet, goodness of the crab. We also order the eggplant and Manchego flatbread. I have to admit that I am a sucker for anything with eggplant, and this appetizer did not fail us. It was very distinctive and richly flavored because it came with a fried egg. The egg and flatbread was very much needed, as it helped us soak up some liquor!
Considering all the appetizers we ate, I am surprised we made it to our entrees! My girlfriend is vegetarian and she ordered the Moroccan spiced vegetable cazuela while I ordered the Harissa roasted chicken. Her dish was unforgettable. It was so delicately cooked that the veggies still retained their flavor and texture. The sauce was liquid heaven and seasoned just right. Outstanding. My roasted chicken was perfectly cooked. Not dry but not undercooked either. The saffron added such a wonderful depth of flavor to the chicken that went great with the earthiness of the arugula and olives.
Needless to say, we were STUFFED. However, we the food that we were treated to was so fantastic we felt it would be an injustice for us to leave without dessert. We opted for the pear galette. The honey creme fraiche that accompanied the warm, just baked pear was indescribably complex and satisfying. This is a must-have, indulgent dessert when you visit.
All in all, we had such a wonderful experience that we just did not want to leave. The bartender was so welcoming and the food was so stellar, I wish I could visit from San Antonio every week.
This is the perfect place for a romantic dinner any night of the week. If you decide to go on a weeknight, having dinner here will feel like an escape. If you decide to go on Friday or Saturday, try to make a reservation, as the place fills up quickly. Take a date and get your party started here. There's no better place to start off the weekend night!
I can't wait to return to Fino! -
Review from Michael K.
Austin, TX
5/1/2011
Really good tapas restaurant. I came here a few weeks ago, and we went with a mixture of tapas and small plates, along with a bottle of wine. Each one of plates was delicious, and the service here was excellent as well.
At first look, when you park at this place, it almost looks like you're walking up to a small office or dentist, rather than a central Austin restaurant. The restaurant layout is very nice as well, with plenty of seating on their patio (which they can pull down shades to block out the sun.
I need to come here again, to try their paella. (their seafood paella sound amazing) -
Review from Trent Z.
Austin, TX
10/2/2011
This is another upscale-ish restaurant. There is a cool outdoor lounge area with big padded seats that are great for relaxing in with some friends and drinks. The inside decor is contemporary and tasteful. The atmosphere felt pretty laid back. I had the FINO burger, which I LOVED. Probably the best burger I've had the short time I've been in Austin. It's made with both beef and lamb with a unique spice blend, and manchego cheese. I added berkshire bacon and fried farm egg options (for extra). It was so delicious that I wanted go back there again just for that! I also had the John Colins cocktail (bols genever / lemon / superfine sugar / soda) which was pretty tasty as well. Dinners run about $20-25 and drinks are around $10. They do have a special on Tuesdays though where dinners are 50% off before a certain time (I forgot what time). They also have a happy hour.
Comment from Caroline F. of FINO Restaurant Patio & Bar 10/3/2011
Tuesday Night is Paella Night | 50% off Paellas from 5-7 pm… More » -
Review from Sood P.
Austin, TX
1/10/2011
Overall: One of the top dining experiences that we have had in town. Do yourself a favor, and come towards the end of happy hour to take advantage of their food and drink specials and then move onto the main course.
Food (7/10)
(9/10) Gulf Prawns & Cilantro-Tomato Charmoula
Charmoula is a Moroccan marinade made of herbs, oil and spices. This appetizer is simply outstanding. The shrimp is juicy and flavorful. The charmoula was comparable in taste to pesto sauce. We could eat a couple bowls of this one and is on the happy hour menu too!
(6/10) Blistered Padron Peppers & Smoked Sea Salt
Padron is an area of Spain where these peppers are fried and served with olive oil and coarse salt. Fino stayed true to its roots and served them in a similar fashion. Some of them tasted tame, while others were a little spicier. We found the salty taste overpowering and took some of the salt off. They were also too oily.
(7/10) Braised Lamb Shank with Romesco
With fideos parmesano (angel hair pasta), scallions & garlic aioli. We ordered this one with apprehension, due to our disappointing experience with the lamb chops at Aquarelle. Well, this may sound cliché but the lamb fell right off the bone. It was very soft and tender, and we were impressed by the amount too. The Romesco sauce is mild and slightly nutty, but pleasant. The pasta complemented the meat well and was cooked nicely. Fino's chefs made this lamb shank a very enjoyable entrée, and we'd order it again.
(8/10) Pan Roasted Sea Bass
With Serrano ham, green beans, brown butter and Marcona almonds. The sea bass is crisp and flaky on the outside and succulent on the inside. The brown butter really comes through, and the almonds on top added a nice crunch. There wasn't enough Serrano ham, but when we had a bite of it with the fish - it was yummy! Also noteworthy - the bass sat on a big bed of beans. This isn't the kind of place that will put just three green beans on the side of the plate as decoration. Every element of this entrée was carefully thought out because they all harmonized together.
(8/10) Warm Bittersweet Chocolate Cake
With vanilla cream and cocoa-espresso sauce. This little cake is lovely. Normally we don't like espresso flavored desserts, but this one is an exception because there is only a hint of espresso in the sauce. The cake is soft, warm and almost melts in your mouth. The cream didn't do much for us as we would have preferred some ice cream.
Service (9/10)
The service here is on point. We made reservations and the sweet hostess seated us immediately. Because it was our first time there, they gave us a sherry to drink while we ordered appetizers. They also brought out one of those tiny complimentary snacks - which is another sign you are at a classy restaurant! Our waitress was friendly, chatty, and knowledgeable of the menu. We never felt rushed and she answered questions thoroughly. During our meal, she was attentive without being overbearing. I called beforehand and asked if they could put a candle in the dessert but they either forgot or it was lost in passing down this message. When I found our waitress and asked if they had a candle - she said they would bring it out in a scoop of ice-cream for the birthday boy! They also said the dessert would be complimentary. How gracious... this restaurant is definitely tops for service.
Ambiance (8/10)
Fino is tucked away in a small shopping center, and complimentary parking is available in the adjacent garage. It has a large, covered outdoor patio/lounge and two dining rooms inside. One room is slightly quieter, more formal, and may be more suitable for couples. The other side is a little noisier and could be better for groups. The interior has table and booth seating available, but keep in mind the tables are rather close together. There is a large window that lets a lot of natural light in, and low-lighting for when it becomes darker outside. This restaurant has a trendy vibe but still remains somewhat contemporary/casual. It is unexpectedly charming and appears to be one of Austin's hidden gems. When you consider the fabulous service, great food and hip atmosphere - it explains why Fino was packed on a Friday night! -
Review from Eliza C.
3/29/2011
The only thing missing from this place is VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA!
We went there for sunday brunch after having completed the Cap10k and were pretty ravenous. The patio is as inviting as they come and will be perfect for early summer sunsets and happy hours. We started off with some fresh off the fryer donuts, still hot and dipped in a vanilla bean whipped cream.
Fino knows how to master the basics while throwing in their own zest. I had eggs benedict which were served on toasted and roasted potato slabs. PERFECTION! Prices are fair and ambiance hits a perfect medium between relaxed and polished. Service is casual, friendly while still maintaining complete attentiveness. Will definitely be going back soon! -
Review from Maureen S.
Austin, TX
1/8/2012
The decor is soothingly hip and inviting which is always a good sign...right? When we first sat down I ordered an aperitif that I've had at many other local restaurants in the recent past. The pour was a little less than half of what I normally receive elsewhere and I was charged several dollars more than I usually pay. Little did I realize it would be the theme for the evening. We started with the Hummus plate which was unremarkable as well as several other plates and although some dishes were a little better than average, many were executed and presented in ways I could have done easily in my own kitchen and for a lot less money. We actually all stopped ordering dishes not because we were full, but because each plate delivered became increasingly disappointing . Our group enjoys fine dining and if the quality and creativity are there, cost is not an issue. However, it was here for these reasons plus a few others.. Like many have stated in previous reviews, we paid $$$ per person and left feeling only partially sated and economically depleted for the privilege. The place was not packed and yet our service was marginal. I would not recommend this eatery for groups larger than 4. I think Happy Hour is the way to go here.
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Review from Elizabeth C.
Austin, TX
1/24/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Hands down, this is the restaurant that my husband and I frequent the most in Austin. Supporting local farms, check. Creative menu, check. Great happy hour appetizer prices, check. Best cocktails in Austin, check!
Seriously though, the atmosphere is great, perfect for a date night away from the kiddo. The service is always fantastic and the food . . . oh the food! I dream of the next opportunity to get back to Fino very often!Listed in: Date night!, Locavore Restaurants
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Review from Vindaloo T.
Austin, TX
5/9/2011
Recently, on a blustery, rainy evening that was more November than May, my friend and I had tapas at Fino (Austin, TX). I had been jonesing for several days, in serious withdrawal from beautiful food and beautiful wine that I did not have to cook myself or think about selecting. I also needed to be pampered, coddled, rescued from the mundane. My friend had no idea he was participating in a rescue mission because I offered no informed consent. I just set the stage: "I want to have some inventive small bites and some good wine. Some place moody, atmospheric and evocative. Join me?" Apparently, that was all it took.
This is what we ate:
Olives & Pickles / Marcona Almonds / Manchego
Blistered Padron Peppers & Sea Salt
Piquillo Pepper with Gulf Crab & Basil
Pork Pinchitos with Sea Salt
Tortilla Espanola with Almond Romanesco
Fried Olives with White Anchovies and Smoked Paprika
This is what we drank (sorry, vintages not available):
Mencia Tempranillo
Fontsainte Rose
Berger Gruner Veltliner
Mencos Rioja
This is what we said about what we had to eat and drink:
The blistered Padron peppers were definitely my favorite. Earthy, smoky, slightly bitter and only about two inches long, each had its own way of jumping into my mouth without much assistance. The olive oil and sea salt made them totally addictive (which was why halfway into the first dish, we ordered a second). The heat was subtle, but every few peppers would yield a surprising little kick. My friend really liked the crab-stuffed poquillo pepper. The filling was creamy, with plenty of crab, and the rich, velvety texture of the poquillo pepper along with its deep, sweet flavor was entirely lovely.
The pork pinchitos arrived hot, succulent, crispy on the edges, infused with olive oil, garlic, cumin, paprika. With two skewers of pork apiece, there was no jousting over who would get the last few bites. The Spanish tortilla, served at room temperature, had a generous amount of coppery-hued romesco sauce, rich with olive oil and ground almonds. And the fried olives, a close runner up to the Padron peppers as my favorities, were a revelation. The right amount of salt from the anchovies, perfumed with smoked paprika and really crispy (probably due to panko), it was too easy to pop these in my mouth one after the other.
I drank Mencia Tempranillo, a lively Spanish red that is full of tannins beautifully balanced by tart red fruit, spice and an elegant finish. The perfect foil for tapas. I followed that with a Mencos Rioja, another tempranillo that is rounder, richer and full of cherry and spice dovetailing to a slight anise note. Lovely, warming, perfect also with tapas. My friend drank the Domaine de Fontsainte Rose, a gorgeous rich salmon color in the glass and full of raspberry, strawberry and tropical notes. He followed with the Berger Gruner Veltliner, one of my food-friendly favorite whites that I love for its great balance of acid and minerals.
And for dessert, I had Goat Cheesecake with Poteet Strawberries, Rosewater and Fried Rosemary, lovely, tart and sophisticated with the herbal notes from the rosemary. I drank a lovely Sauternes, but regrettably did not memorize the label. My friend had the Salted Caramel Pot de Creme with Bruleed Banana, wonderfully rich and the bananas a surprise for their firmness and greenness, a brilliant combination with the burnt sugar topping. And my nightcap: Sercial Madiera, a domestic madiera that was very lovely. Soft, dry, and pale topaz, it was a fabulous finish to a great evening.
The atmosphere is very chic/sleek but warm and luxurious. Lots of wood, textured fabrics and earth tones make this large space seem less cavernous and antiseptic. The lighting level is perfect. I must also mention that the service at Fino was outstanding. We sat at the bar and were regaled by Clinton, mixologist extraordinaire, who will make a hot toddy with seared orange peel and cloves in a flash for customers with sore throats, who mixes his own bitters and infuses his own spirits. Clinton will tell you anything you want to know about what he stocks on his bar, and he is knowledgable about and helpful with his wines. He will give you clever answers to your queries and laugh at your jokes. He gives impeccable, personable service. He knows his menu and his ingredients. He is, in short, a Renaissance Man. So thank you, Clinton. You made my evening very memorable. -
Review from Tara C.
Austin, TX
9/19/2010
Caveat this is another experience set off by a poorly timed Groupon deal.
The atmosphere is pretty cool for a strip mall restaurant, outdoor bar menu was fairly tasty and the $14 glass of Tempranillo was what you'd expect for that price. This part gets 3.5 stars
Now to the reason for the 2 stars.
I made the unfortunate error of actually going there one day after work on a date to use a Groupon deal i had bought. When the waiter pointed out that it was applicable for brunch only & they wouldn't honor it with a raincheck I figured fair enough & I guess that is something i will have to ask Groupon about.
HERE'S THE AMAZING PART: The manager for some reason, decided to come out & give me a lecture about it. He actually said, "Not to sound like a Dad, but you need to start reading the fine print". He interrupted my date for a good 10 minutes to lecture me. My date & I laughed it off as a self-important blow hard and decided to stay for another glass of wine since we were having a good time, and we liked our waiter.
I made another unfortunate error in mentioning the lecture to our waiter when we got the check, he was shocked & must have mentioned it to his manager . SO the manager came out ONCE AGAIN, sat down and this time apologized, but then went on to say that i had given them a hard time & accused me of being there before. Now i was really shocked. It was my first experience there & there is no reason a manager should come out to hijack a customer's date or dining experience just to hear themselves talk.
For a small tapas and wine bar in a strip mall, they have incredible attitude. I will never go back. -
Review from Khiem L.
11/30/2010
I had a chance to try out the paella here on their Tuesday happy hour. We also tried some of the tapas.
We had the crab stuffed pepper, chips with the house sauce, pork skewers, calamari, and one other dish for tapas. The crab stuffed pepper order was small but was one of the tastier items. The dip for the chips was addicting. The pork skewers were moist and had plenty of flavor. The calamari came out good but the dipping sauce wasn't that great.
I guess the reason for my low rating is what I expected from the paella. I have been spoiled by paella in Barcelona and I have had some good paella in the US. So for the regular price of 50 bucks for a serving of two sounded okay and seemed likt it should produce a quality product. I was not impressed. The flavor was missing. They did throw a good variety of seafood on here. I am just saddened because the paella wasn't really even worth the Tuesday happy hour price. -
Review from Kelly S.
Feeling rushed, running late, zooming through meals, emails, life in general... sometimes it's nice to find a spot that makes you want to take your time. That spot is Fino. In fact, I tweeted to that effect sitting there sipping my bee sting cocktail. After I met the girls who write the cleavage chronicles. Not kidding. Random stuff like this always happens to me. http://bit.ly/djQMnC
To the right of me, a couple was ordering tapas off the menu -- cheeseboard, friend anchovy olives, mussels -- and to the left, a couple canoodled while discussing the merits of smoky mescal. I ordered the blistered peppers and the bee sting cocktail. It tasted of honey and featured cracked black pepper and those two flavors worked amazingly well together. When my padrons arrived, sitting snug and hot in a little bowl, i waited patiently for a fork until informed that you just "pick them up and eat them." What! I get to have cocktails AND eat with my hands? In!
Though i only stayed for that small app and another drink -- a spicy sassy bloody mary that left my lips burning and my heart happy -- I'm totally and madly in love with Fino. It's definitely a unique experience on the affordable side that made we want to hug to servers and lick the remaining sea salt off the bottom of the pepper plate. And not the other way around.
Oh and they have a huge sweet outdoor area that will be DIVINE when it's cooler.Listed in: North Central Noshes
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Review from jane t.
Austin, TX
11/21/2010
I have been to Fino many times before for dinner and counted it as a favorite spot in Austin, but this time something just seemed "off". We split some mussels to begin with - I know this is "tapas" style, but we seriously got a plate of v. small mussels - around 10/12 for $10. It came with one slice of bread. The sauce was delicious, so we asked for more bread (note - there wasn't any when we sat down). We received one small slice to share. I'm not one for huge portions, but this was a joke.
We followed up with the salmon (v. tasty, but again a small piece of fish - more of a sliver than a decent size fillet) and the pork shoulder. Pork shoulder was tasty, but priced at just under $30. Total bill, with the cheapest bottle of white wine on the menu was over $100. No dessert, no coffee. It seems like the tapas deals/brunch are better value for money. The dining room was empty at 8pm on a Saturday night, so maybe everyone else has figured out to stay away from full price dining in the evening. -
Review from Anthony D.
Austin, TX
3/16/2011 5 Check-ins Here
One of my new favorites. Enjoyed a dinner at Fino late last night; both the food at atmosphere were great.
The room is a great setting for a date, dinner alone at the bar, or even a smaller dinner party
Food is some of the best I have had in Austin, especially try the Cucumber Salas and home made Pappardelle pasta with farm raised egg.
Service is casually attentive, just the right amount of attention and very knowledgeable waiter.
I highly recommend FINO for a great night our with excellent food. -
Review from Jennifer O.
Austin, TX
9/3/2010
Fino's Happy Hour menu is small but *fierce.* If you're there with a couple of friends, order every HH small plate available. Our favorites were the pork pinchitos skewers and the almonds/olives/manchego plate, but the chips with lemon yogurt were delightful as well, and we never got around to the calamari and possibly another dish or two. I wish we had. Their beer selection is small, but being $2 off during HH makes a Fireman's #4 all of $2 (so full of win!) and a Shiner 101 a whopping $1. Yeah, a buck for a Shiner - that's dive bar pricing transported to a swanky patio with excellent service and delectable noshes. What more can you ask from a Happy Hour?
From their small plates menu I sampled the fried goat cheese (*drool*), the chorizo-stuffed dates (*double drool*), and the pork belly with crispy egg (total "mhm-gasm" territory). Only one small plate wasn't delectable, and it was still quite good - the veggie escalivada (I have no idea if I spelled that right). These are quite possibly some of the best tapas I've ever tasted.
From their larger selections I tried the paprika-glazed chicken and the pork chop, which were both solidly tasty but paled a bit in comparison to the small plates - which really seem shine at Fino. Next time I'm here I will probably stick to the small plates menu or order the paella for two - it LOOKS delicious but I've gotta talk the hunny into it, or risk looking like a worse glutton than I already am. :)
Also, who I gotsta knock off or sleep with to get a wall in my house exactly like their super-awesome mid-century-mod-looking wood one?! -
Review from Omar Z.
11/21/2010 2 Check-ins Here
We have eaten dinner here a few times but it was the Sunday Brunch which finally inspired me to review Fino. We recalled our neighbor Chef Emmet Fox recommending Fino's patio during brunch as a great place for our little girl to run around. Being a hot day, they were equally willing to give her the run of the inside. Now, sophisticated child free readers, do NOT let this scare you off. This place is NO Chucky Cheese. It's a dynamite eating experience with a very laid back adult clientele. And they trusted us (rather than mandating us) not to ruin that for others. In my book, that says a lot.
Now the brunch. It was perfecto. We had a Spanish tortilla (look it up) with heirloom tomatoes and a hash of short ribs and fries. The former had a wonderful olive oil and herb sauce and the latter....not that I'm surprised...black truffle oil. After all, this IS one of Emmet's restaurants. The short ribs hash was very good and heavy as expected, but complemented the tortilla excellently.
Had it not been a hot Sunday with work in the attic ahead of me I would have gone for the always tempting cocktails. But as it was, I was Teetotaling, so it was water and juice for me, for a memorable brunch.
I think of Fino as the "big brother" of ASTI, but it's really a different beast altogether. It covers the Mediterranean more completely, which is a hugely ambitious goal. And maybe that is it's downfall at the end of the day. Having so many fancy options from all over the Med will, of course, tend to drive up prices and drive down the overall food experience. We recall an evening working through a selection of small plates and being impressed, particularly with a concoction involving dates. We then went for the gusto, ordering the "Paella for two". This is where the beach ball suddenly started to go flat. We found it a case of having the right ingredients but not quite the right balance and execution. There was something in the chemistry that didn't quite allow this dish to dance. With the entrees we found ourselves asking: Is this really worth the price?
Fino is fortunate to have an elevated deck which doesn't look down upon total desolation. The parking lot is one of the better looking ones in town and the outdoor deck is well adorned. So I am going to recommend Fino as a super place for brunch, drinks and small dinner plates with your mates. -
Review from Gwen M.
Round Rock, TX
3/20/2011
Perfect all the way around.
The food was amazing. We tried a variety of dishes from each section of the menu. The mussels were some of the best I've had. The Burger is one of the best in Austin. We ended the meal with the cheese plate and were in heaven. Additionally, the wine list and locally sourced beer choices really made the pairings perfect.
The food at FINO will not only disappoint; it will excite. But with all this being said - the evening was really delightful because of our server, Chris. He took time to really explain the menu, answer our questions, and offer over and above service. He delivers the kind of service that makes you loyal to an already good restaurant. -
Review from Meg S.
Brooklyn, NY
6/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sigh. FINO FINO FINO- my happy place on a Sunday morning! Fabulous patio, amazing bloody marys, stellar waitstaff, and delicious food! We always get a creative amuse bouche, and I have tried almost everything on the menu at this point. I highly recommend starting with the anchovy-stuffed fried olives, and for brunch you can't go wrong with the shrimp and grits or enormous plate of waffles. There are always new additions to the menu, but one thing that never changes at FINO is the all around top notch quality.
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Review from Lisa M.
7/5/2010 Seated via OpenTable
A gastronomic rainbow: foods of many colors and flavors that were a delight to my senses. That's how I would describe my Sunday brunch experience at the beautifully appointed Fino.
We started with the red pepper, pomegranate, and walnut Mediterranean spread. It came with pita for spreading or dipping. It was de-lick-table. (I challenge you to drop your last little bit on the table. And leave it there. Can. Not. Be. Done.)
I had the lamb/beef burger, which was layer upon layer of opulent richness. Juicy meat. Arugula. Caramelized onions. Bleu Cheese. Aioli. It's no wonder I couldn't finish it. When he heard me oohing and aahing over the burger, one of the waiters sneaked over and offered me an illicit tip, in hushed tones of course: he said that if I liked the burger at Fino, I would love the burgers at Casino el Camino. (Cloak and dagger is so. much. fun.)
I would have given Fino 5 stars if not for a couple of service issues. My dining companions both got their entrees WAY before I did. In fact, I had to flag down my waitress to ask when my order would arrive. And later a server brought biscuits to us for dessert instead of the doughnuts we had ordered. It appeared that he had words with the waitress over this miscommunication. If not for that bit of unpleasantness, we wouldn't have even cared about the dessert mix-up.
But without the rain, there would be no rainbow. -
Review from Chas E.
Austin, TX
1/16/2011
I always love both the food and wine here. Staff is helpful and they have interesting cocktails in addition to a wine list with variety. Special pairing events are pricey but have been awesome. Nice patio when the weather's decent. Tapas style plates so you can try lots of things.
Pros: wine, food, cocktails, staff, patio.
Cons: bring a fat wallet. -
Review from Cody R.
Austin, TX
7/19/2010
I hate to go against the grain on this one.... but I wasn't lovin' Fino.
First, the atmosphere. When you are spending a lot of money on food you expect the ambiance to go along with it. I wasn't feelin' it at Fino. It looked a lot like Galaxy Cafe.... and that's not to say I hate modern decor, I just expect a restaurant like Fino to separate themselves from Galaxy, or, the IKEA cafeteria.
My second issue with FINO was surprisingly the food. I don't think any of us ate anything we were crazy for. Everything was fine, but it certainly wasn't "OH MY GOSH THIS IS INCREDIBLE." It was just a simple "it's good". I guess I just expected more.
Now that I've insulted FINO I'm going to twist the knife a little bit more. I read multiple reviews before going that said I needed to try and hamburger. Now, I'm not one to usually get a hamburger at a fancy restaurant, but I was giving into peer pressure and just like all teen movies and TV Shows... .giving into peer pressure is never a good idea. 24 hours earlier to this experience I had indulged in a Whataburger... it was delicious, don't judge me. So, a lamb burger from one of Austin premier restaurants should certainly taste better than a fast food Whataburger. Well, it didn't. Someone we NUTS with the aoili.... and thank God I had him remove the blu cheese.
Brunch at FINO? I say FI---NO! I feel like I'd have much better food at Kerby Lane. It's going to take some convincing to get me back here for dinner.
