Trattoria Lisina

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Taste of the Italian Countryside, Twenty Minutes from Austin

Trattoria is an Italian word for a casual, family-owned restaurant where generations of recipes are shared with friends over freely flowing wine. That spirit is exactly what Damian and Trina Mandola have brought to the Texas Hill Country with Trattoria Lisina, set on the grounds of the Mandola Estate along Ranch to Market Road 150 in Driftwood. The setting — rolling Hill Country landscape, open skies — earns the restaurant a place on national lists of America's most scenic dining destinations, and the wine program has earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, a recognition that speaks directly to the depth and care of the cellar here.

The Mandola Family Philosophy

The Mandolas describe the soul of a trattoria as "a sincere love of family, friends, food and wine." That philosophy shapes everything at Lisina, from the warm, unhurried atmosphere to a menu built around recipes that feel genuinely rooted rather than assembled for trend. Community matters here too — the restaurant actively supports the Burke Center for Youth in Driftwood and a range of local schools and charitable organizations.

What's on the Table

The Italian menu moves through the full arc of a proper Italian meal. Antipasti include Mamma Grace's Meatballs — beef, pork, and veal with Parmesan in homemade marinara — alongside a carpaccio of thinly sliced beef tenderloin finished with truffle salt and Parmesan frico. Trina's Gnocchi Gratinati, Florentine potato gnocchi in a three-cheese cream sauce with a crisp Parmesan crust and truffle oil, is a house favorite. Wood-fired pizzas range from a classic Margherita made with Mandola Brothers extra virgin olive oil to the Mangiamelì, topped with spicy capocollo and Damian's Sicilian fennel sausage.

For secondi, the Bistecca alla Fiorentina — a 16oz Prime Angus ribeye grilled over a wood fire — anchors the mains, while the Osso Buco, veal shank braised in white wine with aromatic vegetables and served with Parmesan mashed potatoes, represents the kind of long-cooked Italian comfort the trattoria tradition is built on. Damian's famous grill baste runs through all the grilled dishes, a signature detail that ties the menu to the man behind it.

The Setting and the Experience

Outdoor seating, a full bar with cocktails, and multiple event venues on the estate make Trattoria Lisina as suited to a relaxed weeknight dinner as to a wedding or corporate gathering. The dress code — proper attire required — reflects a place that takes the experience seriously without being stiff about it. For anyone looking for honest, convivial Italian cooking in the Texas Hill Country, this is the real thing.