Austin chefs are kicking off National Pasta Month a little early this year with a true taste of Italy: pasta specials created for the Barilla Al Bronzo line, available at 20 restaurants throughout the city from September 22 through October 21. This pasta from the time-honored Barilla brand is made with bronze-cut dies that add a unique rough, porous texture perfect for absorbing flavor, so chefs can create truly perfect bites.
The Barilla Al Bronzo pasta specials highlight Austin as a culinary crossroads. There’s an Old World stone restaurant set in the hills serving up simple, classic pasta, and a lauded restaurant on busy South First offering a pasta take on cowboy caviar. Some chefs are clinging to the end of summer with tomatoes, peppers, and spice while others are celebrating fall with mushrooms and squash. From neighborhood favorites to downtown hot spots, here are some of the most delicious ways to celebrate the Italian way—with incredible pasta from Barilla Al Bronzo—leading into October, National Pasta Month.
Joan Gillcrist’s restaurant, Central Austin’s 68 Degrees, is named after the temperature of the water at next-door Deep Eddy Pool. 68 Degrees is a casual spot where diners (usually in-the-know locals) can stop in for great pasta and a glass of wine without too much fuss. For a comforting fan favorite dish, 68 Degrees is featuring Barilla Al Bronzo Orecchiette in a cream sauce with salty prosciutto di Parma and sweet Texas peas. The dish has oyster mushrooms to enrich the cream sauce and is brightened with lemon juice, Parmigiano Reggiano, and a breadcrumb topping. 68 Degrees has a sister restaurant, La Traviata (further down this list), owned by Joan’s sister Marion Gillcrist, who is also the chef at 68 Degrees, and shares the same casual, local vibe.
2401 Lake Austin Blvd. @68degreesaustin
The family behind Amici is originally from Naples and operated several restaurants in New York City’s Little Italy before landing in Austin—so expect warm hospitality in a lively atmosphere in Southwest Austin. Under the direction of Chef Fabrizio Sarna, Amici is highlighting a hearty dish from Naples that’s usually only found in home kitchens: Barilla Al Bronzo Penne Rigate Giulio Cesare. The sauce begins with a rich cream base layered with sautéed mushrooms, finely diced prosciutto, and a savory meat sauce, and is finished with Parmigiano Reggiano. The pasta is tossed directly in the pan so the silky sauce clings to the ridged surface of the Al Bronzo Penne Rigate.
9521 US-290 @amicitx
A neighborhood favorite in Hyde Park for 25 years, Asti focuses on classic, seasonal Italian dishes in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. For the special, Chef Bryan Beneke created a fall-lover’s dream pasta, serving Barilla Al Bronzo Fusilloni coated in brown-butter honeynut squash purée, with grilled patty pan squash, confit charred oyster mushrooms, crispy kale, parmesan, and pecorino. Though seemingly simple, the dish holds layers of flavor and texture: the confit charred mushrooms add umami richness to the sweet squash, and kale provides a crispy bite. Barilla Al Bronzo Fusilloni holds the rich, nutty purée well, so every bite is perfectly sauced.
408 E. 43rd St., Ste. C @asti_trattoria
Located in the Austin Marriott Downtown, Corinne offers a sleek dining room with an outside patio to watch the bustle of downtown. Chef Jeremiah Tydeman is always experimenting in the kitchen, and he created this Barilla Al Bronzo Orecchiette with lobster, preserved lemon, Sungold tomatoes, and basil to be both elevated and comforting. Tydeman chose Barilla Al Bronzo Orecchiette because it cradles sauce well, then added lobster for a touch of luxury and the savory preserved lemon to lift the richness of the lobster.
304 E. Cesar Chavez St. @corinneatx
This pizzeria and bar on South First is a relaxing community-focused spot where families and neighbors kick back with great pizza and cocktails. Dovetail uses very fresh, seasonal products and a lot of love to make dishes shine. Chef Robin Garcia collaborated with her sous chef and front-of-house manager to create a Bouldin Creek shrimp with mushroom salsa rosa, Calabrian chilis, and white wine, paired with Barilla Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni for a creamy, satisfying meal from the heart. She hopes people leave Dovetail feeling happy, nourished, and like they’ve experienced true Austin community.
1816 S. 1st St. @dovetailpizza
Beloved North Loop institution Foreign & Domestic is the kind of restaurant everyone wishes they had in their neighborhood. For 15 years it’s been serving a menu focused on nose-to-tail cuts and seasonal ingredients straight from local farms. In fact, the special Barilla Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni alla norma with eggplant and mint is based on what will be current and freshest from Hausbar Farms. Co-owner and Chef Sarah Heard created this dish because she loves pasta, but wanted something lighter during the Texas heat. The mint will be incorporated into a breadcrumb topping to provide a pop of texture and flavor.
306 E. 53rd St. @fndaustin
Located in a stone building from the late 1800s nestled downtown between the lake and the Texas State Capitol, Gina’s exudes Old World charm. With tapestries on the wall and a small, intimate space, Gina’s helps diners slow down, forget they’re in the middle of a busy city, and focus on the company they’re with. Chef Jason Tallent aims to stay true to the Italian palate with his dishes, including his special Barilla Al Bronzo Orecchiette with braised lamb sugo, confit tomato, mint, and ricotta salata. Though mint and salty ricotta salata are classic pairings with lamb, Tallent adds orange for a subtle note that brightens up the whole dish.
314 Congress Ave. @ginasoncongress
Gusto Italian Kitchen + Wine Bar
Gusto offers a classic Italian trattoria experience with locally sourced Texas ingredients. When not working at the casual Rosedale restaurant, Chef Daniel Morin loves digging into a bowl of spaghetti alla vodka, so he created a gussied-up version for this special offering. His Barilla Al Bronzo Bucatini with vodka sauce, shrimp, and guanciale uses a locally sourced Berkshire pig for the guanciale (and locally distilled Tito’s for the vodka). The flavor and bouncy texture of the Barilla Al Bronzo makes the pasta truly the star in this decadent dish.
4800 Burnet Rd. @gustoaustin
Located just down the street from Zilker Park, the first location of Juliet is a fun, casual spot with a spacious patio to savor a bowl of pasta and a cocktail after a long day at the park. Juliet reimagines old-school Italian-American dishes with a modern touch and Texas hospitality. Chef Dino Gonzalez turned an eye to the flavors of fall with his wild funghi Barilla Al Bronzo Orecchiette, a creamy dish that uses six kinds of mushrooms. The dish is topped with freshly grated black truffle for an elegant finish.
1500 Barton Springs Rd. @julietitalian
Chef Marion Gillcrist, also of 68 Degrees, has been in the restaurant business for 40 years and she’s not trying to create the next Instagram destination with La Traviata—just provide a welcoming, accessible place for folks to enjoy great pasta and wine any night of the week, whether for a special occasion or while on a budget. Gillcrist has been using Barilla pasta for 25 years, and is excited for this lamb and zucchini pesto Barilla Al Bronzo Orecchiette, which has spicy lamb but is still light for hot weather. It’s her take on the comforting spaghetti and meatballs her mother would make to feed her brother and his football friends, elevated with toasted fennel and a hint of nutmeg.
7415 Southwest Parkway Bldg. 4, Ste. 100 @latraviata_atx
After 13 years in Austin, Lenoir has perfected its menu of “hot weather food” using the bounty of Central Texas, and this South First staple has earned national acclaim. Chef de Cuisine Joey Attwater decided to show off late-summer produce to reimagine cowboy caviar in pasta form for his dish, Barilla Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni with creamer peas, country ham, squash, and Hatch chili. While the dish holds a nostalgic familiarity for Attwater and many Texans, it offers a fresh culinary experience for those just discovering Austin’s dining scene. As a restaurant that frequently uses wild-harvested ingredients like loquats and black persimmons, Attwater is excited to show that Texas is more than barbecue and Tex-Mex.
1807 S. 1st St. @lenoiratx
Every ingredient is fresh in Chef Alexis López’s kitchen—it may be more work, but she can tell when something is pre-made, so she knows her customers can, too. Though she serves out of a ghost kitchen and sometimes makes 1,500 orders of Bolognese each week, she takes the time to chop the carrots and celery in her mirepoix for the freshest flavor. For her Barilla Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni alla Bolognese, the featured menu special, she cooks her spices with the meat to fully capture the aroma. She’s happy to use the Barilla Al Bronzo pasta in her dish, as it suits her taste for the best-possible ingredients.
1300 E. Anderson Ln., Bldg. D, Unit 1204 @mangia_atx
Moonshine is known for its Southern comfort food, a stocked whiskey speakeasy, and for supposedly being one of Austin’s most haunted places—the historic stone building dates back to the 1850s. But while there’s a lot of history, Chef Larry Perdido and his team love putting a creative spin on traditional dishes. Given that pasta is comfort food for everyone, the featured Barilla Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni comes in a sauce enhanced with wild boar and crispy pork skin in a nod to its Southern roots, plus harissa cream and goat cheese for a bold twist. Moonshine’s easygoing vibe attracts a lively crowd eager to see what new traditions will be created at the restaurant.
303 Red River St. @moonshine_atx
Walking into Numero 28 will transport you to Italy. With decor of olive oil bottles and hanging prosciutto, lively kitchen banter, and of course excellent pasta and wine, there’s a lot of great energy in the small, cozy space in downtown Austin. Chef Sergio Hernandez and founding partner Marco Borghi rely on time-honored recipes, serving the kind of simple, perfectly executed dishes that Italians enjoy every day—including the featured Barilla Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni alla campagnola. With boar sausage, tomato sauce with a little cream, zucchini, arugula, pecorino cheese, and fresh basil, the dish benefits from Barilla Al Bronzo’s ability to grab the sauce.
452 W. 2nd St. @numero28austin
Second Bar + Kitchen (@ East Austin Hotel)
Located in the bustling heart of East Sixth’s main drag at the hip East Austin Hotel, Second Bar + Kitchen offers creative, seasonal fare in a sunset-hued mid-century modern dining room. Chef Von Rumsey loves playing with house-made sausage, and her take on Barilla Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni alla boscaiola uses sausage that emphasizes the cozy flavors of impending fall with fennel and herbs, with a nod to the heat of summer with Calabrian peppers. The hearty Barilla Al Bronzo pasta is finished in an arrabbiata sauce with local mushrooms and herbed ricotta.
1108 E. 6th St. @secondbarkitchen
With thick stone walls, wooden beams, and a location amid the rolling hills of Austin, Siena is a transportative place. Chef David Hernandez and his team focus on using quality ingredients in simple preparations—a formula that has worked for 25 years. The featured Barilla Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni ai funghi e salmone keeps things light while the Texas heat lingers and uses house-smoked salmon that truly sets the dish apart. The pistachio pesto cream sauce adds a subtle nuttiness that complements both the smokiness of the salmon and the earthiness of the wild mushrooms.
6203 N. Capital of Texas Hwy. @sienarestaurantaustin
The Grove is scene-y but approachable, known as a great place to grab wine and bites that pair with it at four locations around Austin. More than one aspiring sommelier has simply sat at The Grove’s bar, treating the robust wine list like a textbook. The featured special by Chef Michael Ortiz is a hearty Barilla Al Bronzo Mezzi Rigatoni with spicy sausage and roasted peppers and onions in a vodka cream sauce, a dish that is at once fiery and comforting. Each location has ample patio seating to enjoy the whispers of fall over Barilla Al Bronzo pasta with some heat.
6317 Bee Cave Rd., #380
3001 RR 620 S.
1310 E. Whitestone Blvd., #500, Cedar Park
7719 Wood Hollow Dr., #100
Photo courtesy of Moonshine
