I am pleased to announce that I have recently been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, meaning that this blog will be FINALLY hosting new content on the gluten-free scene in the Central Texas area! Expect some re-reviews (giving restaurants new reviews after this long year) along with new places I’ll be trying out this summer. To start things off, I bring you a new review of North Italia, an Italian restaurant with a downtown and a Domain mall location in Austin, TX; this review is of the Domain location.
With a bunch of gluten-free options, North Italia is still a great option for anyone with gluten sensitivities or diets. Although the main selling point of the restaurant, the fresh pasta, is not gluten-free, the gluten-free pasta is still decent. I got my favorite pasta dish, the Bolognese (their “house specialty”, as they say on the menu), and it was still very rich and elegant. Although it is not nearly as good as the fresh pasta, which I was able to try a few years ago before I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, it is among the best gluten-free pastas I have ever tried. The main issue is that the gluten-free pasta comes in the form of Fusilli, which is unlike the long style of the regular fresh pasta, which affects the dish somewhat. However, as the only option, it doesn’t ruin the meal.
NOTE: I forgot to take pictures of the food, so this is a picture taken years ago of the same dish. However, I can guarantee it looked exactly the same. That’s how little the restaurant changed during this empty year lol.
I haven’t had a chance to try out many of their other pasta dishes, but from what I’ve seen, they all look great (some of them have breadcrumbs, so make sure to look at the listed descriptions before deciding what to order, although the waiters are great with knowing gluten-free restrictions and what substitutions need to be made in the dishes). The salads are great; my Arugula and Avocado Salad was fantastic, and the Kale Salad, which I didn’t have but seemed like a slightly modified version of my favorite salad in the world (the Kale Salad from Flower Child (the two restaurants are in the same umbrella of restaurants so this is possible)). The pizzas, while I’ve never tried them so I can’t give a full opinion on them, all are available with a gluten-free crust, and all look great based on their descriptions from the menu. The appetizers were the only thing lacking; I couldn’t seem to find a single appetizer without gluten except maybe the Charcuterie Board without the bread. The drinks, however, are a strong section of the menu, with many gluten-free drinks available that are expertly presented. The deserts are pretty good also, with a Salted Carmel Budino that was good but had too much sea salt in some bites, a Hazelnut Torta that was really good, an Affogato my friend always loves, and various coffees and gelatos. Overall, the most absurd thing about going back to North Italia, after a whole year in various stages of lockdowns, was how it was left untouched; besides a few seasonal changes or tweaks to the menu, it was almost exactly the same as how it was before the pandemic. The ambiance and vibe was the same also, with it not feeling reduced with COVID restrictions. This is partly because of the restaurant’s openness, with the outside and indoor sections of the restaurant having no walls between them. Eating at the restaurant overall was a very cleanly but also lively experience, a good combination for those wanting to get out of the house after a year of voidness. Just like before the pandemic, the restaurant earns my highest recommendations.
Overall Review: 9/10
Gluten-Free Review: 8/10
Cleanliness/Atmosphere Rating: 9.5/10
Recommended: Yes
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