La Cocina may look like a typical Tex-Mex restaurant, but the combination of Italian and Mexican cuisines is anything but ordinary. The entrance to the restaurant is similar to other Mexican eateries, but once inside the two cultures are brought together with bright colors and beautifully painted murals.
Owners Ismael and Amelia Diaz, both from Mexico, moved to California where Ismael worked in a high-end Italian restaurant in Brentwood for many years. In 2007, the couple moved to Round Rock and decided to open a restaurant that brought together their heritage and Ismael’s newfound love of Italian dishes.
While there are menu items like the Italian Enchilada, a handmade crepe wrapped around a generous portion of ricotta cheese and drenched in marinara sauce. The owners keep the distinct flavors of the two cuisines separate. Ismael’s daughter Lissette helps run the restaurant on a daily basis. She said keeping the flavors separate is important, because some of the flavors would not work well together. The restaurant also has a full service bar, daily lunch specials, take-out is available and kids menus!
