Much-Delayed Al Fico Will Finally Debut on Monday

Al Fico, the last of Austin’s Italian wave, is finally opening for dinner on Monday, October 26. No walk-ins will be accepted, reservations must be placed by phone. On staff are executive chef Clinton Bertrand, who previously worked for Vespaio and San Francisco’s A16, and pastry chef Kendall Melton, formerly of Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop and Contigo. The menu will include wood-fired pizza from the centerpiece oven, pasta, seafood, cocktails, really good wine, and more. While the dessert menu hasn’t been released yet, expect pastries and panna cotta.

Vino Vino co-owners Jeff Courington and Kelly Bell announced the beginning of Al Fico in 2011. The Italian trattoria is meant to be a "homage to the way things were," Courington told Eater previously. The space was formerly a chapel and a soup kitchen. Originally, the restaurant was supposed to open in 2012, but construction began in 2013, and there were other permitting issues and delays.