IL Brutto, Italian Restaurant | AFM Taste Preview

Located at the corner of Comal & East 6th, New Waterloo’s Italian restaurant, Il Brutto serves a menu of traditional, non-regional Italian cuisine curated by Executive Chef Erind Halilaj and Executive Pastry Chef Amanda Rockman. 

 

Chef Halilaj joined the New Waterloo team in 2017 as executive chef as well as it’s counterpart La Matta next door.  He was raised in Italy and recently served as corporate executive chef for Obicà Mozzarella Bar in New York City.  His menu preparation highlights Italian traditions of the entire country in their use of fresh ingredients and techniques.

 

Il Brutto is translated as ‘The Ugly,’ which is a nod to the iconic Spaghetti Western film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The restaurant’s interior features an open kitchen with an imported Neapolitan wood-burning brick oven, a cozy dining area, an exposed dough room, a separate bar and lounge, a private dining room that seats up to 34 guests, and a live oak tree-shaded patio that’s perfect for al fresco dining.

What to Order

The menu offers a variety of traditional, non-regional dishes, including fresh antipasti, daily house-made pastas, and pizzas baked in the restaurant’s Neapolitan wood-burning oven.  Chef Halilaj places an emphasis on precise & simple recipes that honor traditional Italian cooking, suitable for the transformative east Austin neighborhood they call home.

 

Salumi & Anti Pasti

 

Primi

Entrée highlights include Chef Halilaj’s squid ink tagliolini with fresh clams, mussels, sweet tomatoes and marjoram.  The Pici features a pasta with a delightful pasta with butter, thyme and parmigiano reggiano.

 

Pizze and Secondi

Main highlights include straightforward Margherita di Bufala pizzas, Beef Tenderloin slow-cooked in Nebbiolo wine and Red Snapper with cherry tomatos, taggiasche olives, butternut squash, fava beans and marsala.

 

Desserts and Pastries

The pastry program, led by Chef Rockman, will feature time-honored Italian favorites, including tiramisu, cannoli, and panna cotta.

Beverages

Italian classics prevail with a menu boasting amari and vermouth varieties.  Beverages highlight an extensive selection of Italian wines as well as local and Italian craft beers.

 

1601 E. 6th Street (Corner of East 6th and Comal)
Sunday-Wednesday, 5-10pm
Thursday-Saturday, 5-11pm
Lunch & weekend brunch, coming spring 2018