Even if you’ve driven by it dozens of times, even if you’ve seen the colorful stylized sign on the corner of the shopping center at 2222 and River Place, even if you’ve actually sat and thought about the name for days on end… there’s a good chance that what you’re expecting isn’t there at all.

“People think burgers. People think nightclub. People even think health food,” Olga Gillcrist explains. “Until they actually step inside, and realize what we are.” Which is, naturally, none of those things. Instead, Mood & Food is an attempt by Olga and her husband Dan to mix a little downtown sophistication into a casual Lake Travis neighborhood restaurant. The result is a modern but comfortable atmosphere — suits and shorts, side by side — and a menu sporting what Olga calls “Southern European comfort food.”

“We didn’t want a name that pinned us down to any one style or any one region,” Dan says. “We were looking for something broader, something with no specific geography.” The dishes are a European travelogue, from fairly traditional Italian — Dan and Olga were co-owners of La Traviata, after all — to French, to Mediterranean, to points beyond. “Maybe the guy wants a killer steak, and the lady wants fresh greens,” Dan hypothesizes. “Within the parameters of a Southern European menu, we try to cover all the bases.”

The Gillcrists live in the area, and felt certain that people nearby would venture beyond the chain restaurants and the fast food rut if only an appealing option would present itself. “Fine food doesn’t need to be pretentious,” Olga says simply, and these are clearly words the couple live by. Though the interior is hip and sleek — the bar is tiled in gorgeous iridescent squares, and the paintings on the wall are lit by cycling colors such that new accents appear with every glance — the food is all recognizable, pronounceable, and served in healthy portions, smartly presented without being intimidatingly constructed.

Mood & Food manages to tread that thin line between looking like part of a scene but feeling like a neighborhood bistro. The well-appointed bar has become a place for regulars to socialize, and after a couple of visits, don’t be surprised if the small but dedicated staff calls you by name. “Our staff is friendly, approachable, and happy to talk, but never invasive or annoying,” Dan notes. Trained in wine pairing, servers can happily suggest the perfect vintage — and there are always new and notable varietals from which to choose — to accompany that Lamb Kebab or Spaghetti Bolognese.

Having just celebrated its first year, the restaurant is developing its share of regular patrons, and is becoming an increasingly popular after-work Happy Hour spot. “3M and AT&T employees can sit in gridlock for an hour, or they can come in here and unwind,” Dan says, and it doesn’t sound like a difficult choice. With beer, wine, and appetizer specials (try the Polenta Fries in a rich gorgonzola sauce) from 4:30 to 6:00 and a relaxing outdoor dining area, it’s an appealing oasis for weary commuters.

Maybe the name doesn’t say much to you now… but take a chance on Mood & Food, and you might just find it’s everything it says it is.

QUICK INFO - MOOD & FOOD
Location: 10601 FM 2222
Phone: 512.266.7979
Type: Italian + Mediterranean
Parking: Lot
Kid Friendly: Yes
Suggested Order: Polenta Fries