Milto's: The Mediterannean Gem On The Drag

Craving a vacation to Italy? While I may not be able to help you with plane tickets (sorry about that), I do have the next best thing. For those of you who didn't know, a Mediterranean escape lies within walking distance from campus.

Milto's is a restaurant featuring everything Mediterranean from pizza to gyros to cheesecake, and is located on the drag across from Toy Joy. Navigating this busy intersection will be well worth your while once you sink your teeth into the savory and saucy entrees Milto's has to offer.

Photo by Christin Urso

When you walk inside, yellow walls, hanging plants and decorations make you feel like you've just stepped into another country. Order directly from the counter and find a seat to enjoy the atmosphere and wait for your carefully cooked food.

"Our food speaks for itself," said Joe Rodriguez, managing partner at Milto's. Ain't that the truth. The kitchen is constantly in overdrive to produce fresh, mouthwatering dishes to order. Slow-cooked specialty sauces and hand-rolled meatballs adorn some of the most popular entrees at Milto's, and the house-prepped salad dressings are sold by the bottle. The cooks work with what Rodriguez called "old-school bakers ovens." As a result, everything tastes home-cooked (or maybe even better). "You might not get your food in under five minutes," said Rodriguez, "but it is well worth the wait."

What do I recommend? It's hard to pick out just one thing, but my favorites thus far are the meat lasagna and the Milto's Mama's choice gyro. The gyros are far tastier than anything you would find at Pita Pit, and the lasagna is melt-in-your-mouth cheesy magma goodness. The specialty pizzas (which you might have previewed at our launch party) are amazing as well.

Tasty Gyro captured by Christin Urso

Tight on cash? $5 entrees are available from 11am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

I know that college students usually pass up dessert for the sake of budgeting, but I advise you to break the tradition. The Cheesecake is a heavenly, creamy creation that keeps reappearing in my dreams. Milto's specialty cakes are only $4.75, and easily splittable (although once you take a bite, you may reconsider sharing), and the baklava (a layered Greek pastry) is only $2.45.

If you're too lazy to leave the comfort of your couch, get excited, because Milto's delivers (free if order exceeds $10). Order online for pick-up or delivery here, and check out the website for the full menu, catering options and weekly specials.

Hours of Operation: Mon-Thurs 11am-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sunday 12pm-10:30pm
Location: 2909 Guadalupe St. Austin, TX 78705