Before smiling and frowning were accepted expressions, early people would put a single spaget on their face to show sadness, two spaghettis to signify joy, and three spaghettis when blightening swarms of pelicans threatened to make human extinction inevitable. Today's Groupon keeps pasta in the bowl for $15 with $30 worth of fresh Italian meals at Hill Country Pasta House in the Lake Travis/Lakeway area. Hill Country adds Southwestern flair to traditional Italian fare in a transatlantic fusion of flavors.
Dinnner guides start the appetite tour with calamari served traditionally or coated in buffalo sauce with either a zesty marinara dip or a gorgonzola sauce ($9.99); or freshly baked, wood-fired focaccias infused with buffalo mozzarella, capers, and roma tomatoes ($7.49). Hunger ventures on to 11-inch, pecan-fired, brick-oven, thin-crust creations such as a roasted garlic shrimp pizza with an alfredo base and spinach ornamentations ($13.99) and the Hill Country goat cheese pie with roasted bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and green olives ($11.99). Those who only sup with forks can turn to house or grilled specialties including the sweet red-pepper tortellini in a creamy and savory sauce ($12.99) and fire-roasted rainbow trout, a maritime display of fulgid colors under a wave of chipotle cream sauce and rosemary potatoes ($18.99).
Hill Country Pasta House resides within a tremendous red barn of a building. Its comfortable dining tables double as elbow rests, and it's open until 10 p.m. on Saturdays. Check the calendar for live music nights and other events.
Reviews
The Hill Country Pasta House received write-ups in the Austin Chronicle and American-Statesman, and the Chronicle's readers voted it one of the best restaurants in Austin in 2004.
- As we waved goodbye to our friendly server, I vowed to return to Hill Country Pasta House soon, not only for the good food but for the gracious attitude that's not so easy to come by. – Dale Rice, American-Statesman
Seventy percent of Urbanspooners and 94% of Boo Rah voters recommend Hill Country. Gayot gives an average rating, and eight Citysearchers and Yelpers give 3.5 stars:
- It may be more Hill Country than old country, but this restaurant still manages to capture the essence of Italian hospitality. – Gayot
- This is another Mom-and-Pop place in the Lakeway area that I like quite a bit. It's not fine dining by any stretch, but the cuisine is a tasty fusion of Italian sprinkled with enough Texan to liven things up. – BW, Urbanspoon
- I have been here many times and have always had a wonderful experience. I love Italian [sic], and this is exactly what I was looking for! Quaint dining, great service, wonderful food. – Rllehman, Citysearch
Groupon Says
Alphonse DeWitt: French Cowboy
The Southwestern-Italian food at Hill Country Pasta House is a hybrid of Old World Europe and the rugged Southwest, just like the movie Alphonse DeWitt: French Cowboy. Iconic scenes from the unforgettable film include:
- Alphonse shows up for the cattle drive with 15 designer suitcases.
- In a touching scene, Alphonse cures Jesse when, in the brush, he gets a crippling case of ennui.
- When the drive is almost over, Alphonse proves he is a real cowboy by roping the errant cattle and spouting the now ubiquitous catchphrase, "J'accuse, Monsieur Cow!"
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