This is definitely a "celebrity" place with pictures all over the walls of the owner with the likes of Brad Pitt and many many others going waaaay back.
As I walked in I felt like I was walking into a NYC Italian restaurant - small, quaint and narrow. There's no waiting area or place to comfortably stand while waiting for a table. The small narrow walkway allows you to see the long narrow kitchen and the chefs hard at work. I loved the place right off the bat because of the atmosphere.
There were 9 of dining on this night and we walked in without reservations. The staff was extremely friendly and was able to pull together an area for our group. From the host to the waiter the entire visit was enjoyable.
I had the Bolognese Mamma Laura. The food was absolutely wonderful and authentic. There wasn't one complaint from the other 8 dining with me. All of them from various places around the world said this was truly some of the best food they have eaten. I would have to agree. There isn't a place in Austin that I know of that can deliver such high quality fresh Italian food.