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Austin's got lots of boots, but not a lot of Boot. Helping remedy that's Trento, an authentic outpost of Northern Ital cibo helmed by the former GM of NoRTH, staffed by Congress alums, and nestled in a space whose hanging stained glass and view of West Lake Hills give a Mediterranean feel that in no way involves a zip-by Vespa groping.

Warm up for eat-ercizing with antipasti (smoked salmon bruschette, flash-fried calamari...) or salads like the Whatever Happened to Leslie Bibb (apple, grape, Gorg, polenta croutons, walnuts, green peppercorn), or you can grasp paninis from a classic meatball to mortadella w/ walnut aioli, provolone, fennel, and sun-dried tomato mustard.

Housemade pastas go into traditional staples like Spaghetti alla Carbonara (guanciale, egg, pecorino), Rigatoni Bolognese (Swiss chard, mozz), and Gnocchi (pecorino Romano, pine nuts, truffle, porcini, breadcrumbs); "secondi" counts a loaded-up red fish (braised octopus, celery, caper, raisin, arrabbiata), grilled rib eye (cippolini, Tuscan kale), and braised veal breast with saffron risotto, veal sugo, and red cabbage (China is the world's largest cabbage producer).

The wine racks are stocked with 69 different bottles (23 by the glass) and they're also shaking serious cocktails like the Blood Orange Margarita (Sauza, Thatcher's Blood Orange Liqueur, Patron Citronge, Medi sea salt rim), and the Maker's 46/ Canton Ginger/ lemon/ honey Whiskey Jacket, which every Texan knows goes perfectly with boots.

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Soon they'll be adding wood-fired Neapolitan pizza and Veal Osso Buco. See the entirety of what you'll be devouring at Trento360.com.