Bambino

Bambino is an Italian-American restaurant in East Austin where everything feels playful, including the “Arrivederci, Pal” cocktail that’s a riff on the pre-teen favorite “Swamp Water” concoction made from mixing all the soda flavors. The problem is that a lot of the menu just doesn’t work. The pizzas are pretty good, though at nearly $25 for a 13-inch pie, we want a little more than “pretty good.” Our smashburger patties were thick, salty, and dry, and the handmade mozzarella sticks (which are seasoned and fried well) are served with a cacio e pepe ranch that’s missing the classic buttermilk bite. Still, we’d come back for Happy Hour (from 2-5pm on weekdays) when we can enjoy half-priced pizzas and a frozen blood orange Negroni on the spacious patio.