Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Da Salvatore

    4.7 (26 reviews)
    PriceyItalian
    Open 1:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Da Salvatore Photos

    DA SALVATORE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Da Salvatore

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Pasta
    Charles C.

    Da Salvatore Ristorante is sequestered in the far back corner of Plaza Rocasa, in the Colonia Aviacion district. This part of Tijuana is known as the "Zona Gastronomica", so named at the behest of celebrity chef Javier Plascencia, who has several restaurants in the District. Salvatore Panetta, the "Salvatore" of Da Salvatore, hails from Puglia, a rough and tumble region in the south of the Italian "boot". He has cooked all over the world, but perhaps he is happiest offering his bounty to the many discriminating palates of the good people of Tijuana. Moreover, Salvatore is a 'hands-on" chef, as much in the kitchen as he is roaming the dining room chatting up the local gentry. The interior of Da Salvatore consists of two rooms. One enters directly into the first dining room. To the left, there is a cozier room with a small bar, where I prefer to dine. In addition, there is also a small patio out front under a tree, upon which Salvatore has strung bands of lights, making for romantic outdoor dining on those Tijuana cool evenings. I have been dining at Da Salvatore for many years, and Daniel always took care of me on those visits. He is kind and gracious. However, my visits to the restaurant have now become even better, as Miguel, who always took care of me at El Grill de Tijuana, a high-end steakhouse nearby, has just decamped from El Grill to Da Salvatore, and today was the first time I have dined at Da Salvatore under the auspices and care of both Daniel and Miguel. Miguel has a quiet and elegant manner, and my wine glass never goes dry. The menu at Da Salvatore is broad and all encompassing, reaching the high points and flavors of the Italian peninsula. I like to listen to the itemization by Daniel and Miguel of the piatti del giorni ("specials of the day"), as that is where the new ideas and thinking of Salvatore can be best appreciated. On this Saturday evening, I selected a cream of asparagus soup and a rack of lamb with a blueberry sauce. At first I was concerned the blueberry sauce would be an insipid sweet slather over the lamb, but Miguel assured me the sauce was complex, with herbs and spices to balance the sweetness of the fruit. After dinner, as the photographs attest, there was a Carajillo "Divorciado" a la Mesa, concocted at the table with bravado and jubilance by Miguel. And unlike in the United States, where there is often not even a "goodbye" by the staff when you leave a restaurant, here in Mexico, as on this Saturday at Da Salvatore, Miguel not only escorts me out of the restaurant, but he also walks me to my car for a final handshake. How is that for personalization of a dining experience?

    Gamberoni Aglio e Vino
    Yamlrts J.

    I pulled in this plaza by accident, I was actually looking for another restaurant and saw this place right on the corner. I realized it was an Italian cuisine so I figured they would have pizzas available for the kids. As I am recently doing, I read their yelp reviews for decision making and I was convinced. I made a good decision. The service was not only outstanding but superb. We patiently waited for the food but it was worth the wait. Must try, I recommend!

    Veal parmigiana

    Service perfect. Extremely tasty and well prepared. Extremely surprised on 5 star food in a strip mal

    Desert with a delicious cappuccino

    See all

    Photo of TR H.
    146
    110
    594

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Deb M.
    1
    19
    9

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Susan L.
    113
    35
    5

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rpisces G.
    893
    389
    60

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kris T.
    0
    123
    46

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of CC H.
    61
    16
    5

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S B.
    2
    97
    0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Da Salvatore Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Da Salvatore

    Originally from Puglia and a former restaurant owner in Portsmouth, NH, La Jolla, CA and Mexico City, Sal is a veteran.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Da Salvatore - italian - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...