Red Ash is a premier Italian restaurant located in Austin's Colorado Tower, celebrated for its exceptional wood-fired cooking and refined pasta dishes. The restaurant offers a vibrant yet intimate dining experience, featuring an open kitchen and two-level dining room perfect for dates, special occasions, or group gatherings. Known for dishes like Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, Charred Tuna Crudo, and Hot Apple Crostata, Red Ash emphasizes fresh ingredients, precise technique, and attentive service. With consistently high praise for its seafood, handmade pastas, and warm ambiance, it has earned a reputation as one of Austin's top dining destinations.
Photos
1 / 1
Location
Colorado Tower, 303 Colorado St #200, Austin, TX 78701, USA
I had the frutti di mare and it was, without exaggeration, the best food I’ve ever eaten. One bite and I immediately thought of that scene in Ratatouille when the food critic is transported back to childhood — pure, emotional, almost nostalgic perfection 🥹
The seafood was impossibly fresh, the pasta perfectly cooked, and the sauce was rich without being heavy. Every bite felt intentional, layered, and indulgent in the best way.
I’m honestly sad I didn’t capture my appetizer (burrata), wine (bruciato), or dessert (white peach sorbetti)…they were all gone before my brain even registered that I should take a photo 🥲 That’s how good everything was.
M
Matthew Hughes
via Google
· 9 months ago
There is a reason Red Ash is consistently ranked as one of the best Italian and best overall restaurants in Austin, it's really that good.
For our meal we enjoyed the Charred and Sliced Tuna Crudo and Sliced Thin Beef Carpaccio as appetizers; we split the Red Ash Chopped Salad; and for our entrées we had the 5 oz portions of the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese and the Capelletti. We finished the Hot Apple Crostata for dessert, along with espresso and Amaretto.
We enjoyed the Tuna Crudo the best of all our choices. Four slices of tuna sit atop a bed of charred eggplant caponada, plum tomatoes, cilantro-salumi crumbs and fennel pollen. The underlying ingredients have a subtile sweetness to them complimenting the crisp, fresh taste of sushi-grade tuna.
The Tagliatelle alla Bolognese is one of my favorite Italian dishes. I wasn't sure about it at first, questioning whether there was enough of the Bolognese, but I need it mix it up a bit and then each bite of noodles had the proper amount of the slow-cooked meat sauce.
If there was any disappointment with the meal, it was with the serving size of the Capelletti. Yes, we got the small portion. However, when the dish arrived there were only six of the "Bishop Hats" in the bowl and it looked skimpy.
The Red Ash full portions of pasta are generous, and according to our server ate great for sharing at the table. We saw them at the table next to us, which was eating family style. It made our tiny Capelletti seem even smaller.
The Capelletti tasted wonderful. Filled with spinach, ricotta, they pasta was fished with sage, browed butter, roasted walnuts and smoked grana.
You're probably going to be full at the end of your meal, however, I implore you to save room for the Hot Apple Crostata. Decadant aptly describes this dessert. Think apple pie ala mode, kicked up a notch as Chef Emeril Lagasse would say. It is definitely a shareable dessert, it's big!
Service at Red Ash is anticipatory, knowledgeable, and genuinely attentive, creating a seamless, personalized experience.
The ambiance is warm and inviting, with an open kitchen, two-level dining room and lots of different areas perfect for an intimate meal or large group party.
The Red Ash experience is not cheap. Our meal was $200 with tip included, but without cocktails or wine. This price is not out of line with other fine dining establishments. It was absolutely worth it.
There menu is available online and you can judge for yourselves if this will will become a regular haunt, like it will for us, or be reserved for a special occastion. #MattGoodEats
A
Andrew Peluso
via Google
· 9 months ago
Red Ash is the kind of place that reminds you why people still go out to eat.
The room hums with energy. Fire, movement, conversation. Yet once you sit, the table feels contained. It works as a date spot because the atmosphere adds to the moment without pulling attention away from it.
The food stood on its own. Pasta had structure and bite. Sauces stayed focused. Meat showed confidence with fire, not dependence on it. Bread, oil, seasoning—nothing treated as an afterthought. Even without great service, this would have been a strong meal.
But the service elevated it.
Our waitress was warm, present, and clearly proud of the food. She spoke about the dishes with familiarity rather than rehearsal. We later learned she had been there longer than any other server on the team, and it showed. That kind of tenure creates calm. It frees you to enjoy the meal without friction or second-guessing.
Dessert closed the night cleanly. Rich, balanced, and well-timed.
Red Ash works because everything moves in the same direction. The food earns your respect. The room holds energy. The service removes resistance. Together, it becomes memorable.
N
Nick D
via Google
· 10 months ago
My wife and I went here and had a joint birthday dinner. It DID NOT disappoint! After we were greeted with a personalized birthday card (such a nice touch), we started out with an orange and beat salad and bone marrow with bread for appetizers. We then ordered risotto, gnocchi, and (the star of the show) a 30 day aged New York strip. For desert, we finished with a slice of olive oil cake and tiramisu. This place truly lived up to the hype for us. Shoutout to our waitress, Brandy, for being so fun and adding good vibes and conversation to the night. Incredible experience! Treat yo self, people! 👨🏼🍳🥩🍝🍰🍷
A
Adrian Tenorio
via Google
· 10 months ago
There is no way to describe our meal, other than, Perfect. Everything was cooked perfectly. The Octopus was tender and craveworthy! The Lobster Scampi was the best Lobster I have ever had.
We went for my wife's birthday, and they was a little card on the table with the staff signatures, wishing her a Happy Bday. It was a cute touch but it set the tone for the dinner. I honestly felt relaxed because I was confident the staff was taking care of us.
Take someone you love, take someone you hate, it doesn't matter, just GO!!!!!!! It's so absolutely worth it.
via Google
