We had an amazing experience at Da Vinci. The service was outstanding, the food was delicious, and the overall atmosphere made the evening incredibly enjoyable. We ordered two different pastas and a couple of pizzas to share, and everything was fantastic. The pizza was so good that we ended up ordering a second flavor just to try more. Every dish we had was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. We were celebrating our anniversary, and our waitress made it even more special by writing "Happy Anniversary" on our tiramisu, which was such a thoughtful touch. It's hard to believe Gainesville finally has such a great Italian restaurant--we're already looking forward to coming back. The prices are very reasonable too, which makes it even better. read more

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I had high hopes for DaVinci Pizza, but unfortunately they were quickly shattered. We had a reservation and were still seated late, which wasn't a great start. We ordered a bottle of Rodney Strong Chardonnay, calamari (which was unfortunately very oily), a salad with shrimp (decent), a pizza with pistachio, honey, mozzarella and gorgonzola, and a shrimp cream pasta. The biggest issue was the service. Our waiter took an extremely long time to bring the food, and we eventually had to flag down another waitress just to check on our order. If the kitchen was backed up, we would have appreciated someone simply telling us upfront. What made it more frustrating was that families seated after us were served, ate, and left before we even got our meals. Overall, I was unimpressed. I really wanted to love it -- the menu sounds creative and promising -- but the experience just didn't live up to expectations. I wish it had been better. read more

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Stopped by on a Sunday early evening at around 5pm for a graduation dinner, so it was empty inside. We got seated by a very friendly and engaging waiter, and placed our orders. Service was fantastic. Food took slightly long to come out, but it's because everything was made fresh to order since we were the only ones inside at the beginning. I ordered the Penne al Pollo and my partner got the La Mishe pizza. Our group also ordered other pizzas, pastas, and soups. Overall food was delicious. Pizza crust was very nice and thin and made with no sugar, and premium ingredients. Pasta came out piping hot and was cooked perfectly. Taking off 1 star because it irked me a bit that the manager was going around asking us and the other tables to leave 5* reviews. Kinda makes me doubt the existing reviews of the place. Also the cups for water are like shot glasses, they're so small and impractical, you have to refill your glass every sip. read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - la mishe - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Finally tried Da Vinci last night and now I wish we would have tried it sooner! The hostess described the restaurant as a scratch kitchen using "00" flour imported from Italy. I don't know if that was the extra touch but I did love the consistency of all the various breads, crusts, and carbs I consumed tonight. We chose to sit outside despite the chill in the air and found we were perfectly content under the ceiling mounted warmers. Festive twinkle lights added to the ambiance. The focaccia with oil & vinegar was a nice touch while we read the menu. We chose Spinach and Artichoke Dip to start and I could have been happy eating nothing else, it was that good. The bread was toasted enough to handle the sauce but soft enough to not cut your mouth. So yummy! Hubby ordered the Stromboli Calzone and we both would definitely order it again. It was full of meats (one of them a tad too spicy for me) and came with a side of sauce. Note to self for next time: it thankfully did not have ricotta inside. I tried the Seafood Ravioli and while it was fine, I probably would try something else next time. Growing up near top notch seafood I am very picky about the flavor. I also was disappointed to find that while the ingredients listed fish, shrimp and crab, not a single whole piece of seafood was visible, not even a small piece in the sauce. It had been entirely processed into a ground filling. Otherwise the vodka sauce had good flavor and I would like to try it again on another dish. Overall, staff was very kind and we will definitely be back. I can't wait to try a pizza! Attn Management: the water and the tea were both terrible. Please look into changing your filters or something. read more

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Pasta is awesome. Atmosphere is great. Wasn't busy and the staff is very attentive. Oh and a good wine selection! read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

It was my first time visiting Da Vinci and I give it a 2/5 stars due to multiple reasons. First of all the water was terrible and had a weird after taste. Then the drinks took a while to come by and they were ok. My friend's drink was too strong and didn't taste like the description. Then food came out and it was delicious. That made up for the bad drinks and slow service throughout the night. Overall the ambience was very nice inside but it was not a good night to visit. read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - Linguine and meatballs - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I came here for dinner the day before a gameday/beginning of thanksgiving break, so I was a little nervous about wait times. I made a reservation in advance though, and it was not super busy though there was one hostess working so it took a little to be seated - but nothing horrible. There are places to sit outside as well as inside. I saw this place on Tik Tok and really wanted to try their pasta after looking at the menu. There was a lot to choose from on the menu - they had pizza, pasta, good apps, and some vegetarian options for my two vegetarian friends who were happy with their food! I got the Penne Al Pollo and it was SO GOOD. Definitely recommend if you like pesto. It was really flavorful and the table came with pepper flakes and it was chef's kissss. I also tried some of my friend's penne alla vodka and it was yum! I need to add this place to my Gainesville pasta rotation!! Also, the waitresses were very attentive and made sure to come around to ask how we were doing and were quick to take our orders too. I think this place is fairly new, and it deserves more recognition for sure. It is a drive away from campus but definitely worth it if you're craving a good bowl of pasta. read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - Penne alla vodka - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Showed up on a Friday night, had a small wait but nothing too bad. Got seated and checked out the menu since it was our first time. We were served some water and told the bread was coming. Our waitress was an older lady. She came and took our order. We ordered an appetizer of a procuttio crostini which was @$14. It came out half burnt and she said if it's bad let me know and I'll get you another piece. I personally would not have served it at that price to a guest. I would have gotten another except she never came back. A gentleman served us our dinner and we were half way though it when I asked another server for the bread we never got. Then our server came out a few minutes later with the bread and dropped it off. By then we were mostly done with dinner. Never got a refill on our drinks and as we were paying the bill, she asked us if we wanted another refill. We ordered a spaghetti, and a penne Al a vodka which were good so that. But the service was crap. And I don't think it's worth going back. A good tasting dinner is nice but if your going out for dinner it's to be waited on good as well. Otherwise I'd just have ordered the food to go. Going out and being waited on is part of the experience. So yeah... read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Great spot for Italian food and a dinner! Definitely the spot to celebrate an occasion or just get take out for some comfort pasta. I got the chicken parm with fettuccine and it was perfect! The chicken was made perfectly. Take out does take some time to account for that when placing your order! read more

Food was ok. I was looking forward to the homemade pasta which was very light as expected. I had the fettuccine Alfredo, sauce was a bit thin for my liking and didn't have much flavor to it. The service was good. The restaurant is laid out nice with plenty of seating. read more

Update: Came back to try the pasta with my friend after we had pizza. It wasn't that great and the service was not good. We came back together to try their pastas after having a good experience with their pizza. My friend got the seafood ravioli and I got the wild mushroom ravioli. My friend thought hers was okay and nothing special. I on the other hand didn't really like my pasta. I did not find the flavors to be that great compared to other mushroom ravioli's I've had at other locations in Gainesville. Plus, for the price ngl we both were still hungry afterwards. I would be willing to try another pasta, but the service was also not good. We went on Tuesday around 6pm. There was only one table with an older couple there. Our server barely checked on us. It took a while to get water, and to ask for more bread. He came once to just see how we were but it wasn't very long since our food came out. He wasn't moving at the fast pace like I mentioned of other servers. We asked for the check and we waited so long that I had to stop another server and ask to grab our check so we can pay. The food and the service this time around did not make us like our experience. Again, willing to try another pasta but if we come back it will be for the pizza. read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - Wild mushroom ravioli - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Heard that this place is finally open about a month ago so I decided to check this new place out. The inside is a great balance of modern/aged vibe with art pieces of Leonardo da Vinci on the wall. The lighting is warm, and the seating is comfortable, making it a great spot to relax. The menu has a solid selection of Italian dishes and I was impressed with the variety. The woodfire pizza was great but somewhat served cold by the time it got to our table. Still, it was delicious. Other dishes were impeccable. Service was friendly and attentive and was knowledgeable about the menu. Overall, this place has a lot of potential, and I can see it becoming a local favorite. I'll definitely be back to try more dishes! read more

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Amazing seafood ravioli. Seriously, the best ive had. Sangria made fresh in a blender. Lots of brandy in that. There's a TV available to watch sports. The music selections were good. It's a pretty space with a nice bar and outdoor patio. Super friendly staff. Clean washrooms. Good parking. read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - Sangria - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Awesome pizza! For me it is the best Neapolitan pizza in town. Pizza is served within minutes.

After hearing buzz about this place I knew I had to make a visit. I am picky with Italian food and feel like Gainesville is lacking in this cuisine. I have frequented Italy and am no snob by any means but I am selective with my pizza and pasta. I was able to come in on a Friday night with my bf. We decided to share a couple of items. We split the Caesar salad, bruschetta, a strawberry mojito (very well balanced) and Rigatoni alla Pollo. Caesar salad was simple and you could tell it was homemade. For a large portion for $9 I was expecting it to be a little bigger. It seemed like a small size that was placed in a large plate. Overall It was refreshing but only note I got was from the Dijon. The bruschetta on the other hand was a perfect balance of fresh, vibrant flavors and satisfying textures. The tomatoes are bright, juicy, and bursting with natural sweetness. Every bite was crisp, refreshing, and packed with classic Italian flavors, garlicky and simple yet absolutely delicious. This one is a must to get. The rigatoni alla pollo was lacking chicken. Frankly we waited 20 min and it looked like they whipped it up last minute when we asked how long it would be to get our pasta . The sauce was not flavorful. There were like 6 skinny strips of chicken and for $21 I just was left wanting more out of the sauce and protein portion. After one bite each we kindly asked to get a pizza instead and they were able to grant our request. They surely redeemed themselves with their Da Vinci pizza! It comes with Pomodoro sauce, fior di latte, pepperoni, peppadew peppers, fresh basil & hot honey. The fior de latte is the mozzarella cheese and it was so good. This pizza is was absolute flavor bomb, balancing sweet, spicy, tangy, and creamy in every bite.The pepperoni was crispy at the edges, bringing that smoky, savory punch, while the peppadew peppers add a mild heat and a touch of fruity sweetness that cuts through the richness beautifully. And the hot honey? Absolute genius, adding just the right amount of sticky sweetness and heat to make every bite irresistible. This place is a must visit and am glad they are in town. Now I'm just hoping they don't suffer the Gainesville curse and their quality goes down. Fingers crossed they are here to stay! read more

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Updated review: my church tree city church, had a interest party there today. They opened up early just for our group, had some amazing pizza and meatballs. Spoke with the owner and she had mention, they have an updated menu as well. Looking forward to going back again soon. read more

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Stopped in on a road trip... not overly hungry but then pear salad was huge and delicious. Service was attentive and friendly. Wish I was hungrier to try the main dishes but I was still very satisfied. The bar drink was just so-so, but I didn't see an actual bartender behind the bar so it may have been that the wait staff made my drink. It was comfy and very family friendly! I would go back. read more

I have heard a little bit about this place and have even seen it on my Tik Tok! Da Vinci is a newer Italian restaurant located near the Butler Plaza area. Serving a variety of Italian dishes, including homemade pastas, Napoletana styled pizza, etc. The restaurant itself is so aesthetic and pleasing to the eye. The patio area is adorable, with cute decor, creating a unique dining space. The interior has a rustic, industrial Italian feel to it. Between the exposed brick, Italian artwork, and intricate details, it creates a wonderful atmosphere. I came with my friend for an early dinner around 5pm and we were seated immediately. Our waitress came out with water shortly after we were seated. Followed by their house bread and dipping oil with balsamic vinegar. I will note, the service was ok, definitely could have been better. I felt like our server was rushing us a little. She didn't give us much time initially to look at the menu to order. And when our entrees came out she asked us how it was before we even tried anything. Then only shortly after I starting eating my dish, she asked me if I wanted/needed a to-go box. She didn't really check in on us for the rest of the meal and did not refill the water glass for the table .We also waited a decent amount of time (too much time) after our meal for the check to arrive. While this wasn't the worst, I definitely thought the service could have been a little better. For starters we ordered the calamari fritto appetizer. It was between the calamari and the spinach & artichoke dish (our server recommended the calamari). I also ended up ordering a passionfruit mojito. The mojito was decent, a little sweet, and not very strong. But the flavor and presentation was great and paired nicely with my meal. The calamari fritto was served with lemon and their pomodoro sauce on the side. This was a great way to start the meal and was perfect for sharing. An ample amount of breaded, fried calamari, it did not disappoint. For my entree, I went with the Pizza Da Vinci. This pizza included pomodoro sauce, fior di latte, pepperoni, peppadew peppers, fresh basil & hot honey. I would say the pizza is slightly bigger than a personal pizza, could easily be shared. This was a great pizza with lots of great flavor. The different toppings and their flavor components worked very well together. The pizza was balanced nicely as well, with good ratios of sauce to cheese to toppings. This is a Napoletana styled pizza, so it is more airy, lighter, and has a nice wood fired char to it. I thought it was pretty good, very thin as well! I will note, the pizza did get a little soggy toward the end of my meal, but nonetheless it was still very tasty. My friend ended up ordering the fettuccine bolognese. This dish consisted of bolognese ragu (beef, pork, and veal) in pomodoro sauce over house made fettuccine. She really enjoyed this dish and was impressed with it! Overall, Da Vinci is a great addition to the Gainesville food scene. I loved having more authentic Italian restaurants around here. Especially ones that serve pizza and fresh pastas! The eatery is beautiful and creates a really unique, fun atmosphere. I loved the rustic, yet abstract/modern feel of the inside. It was so aesthetic and made for some great pictures! The service could have been more efficient and attentive. I was a little disappointed in this, as I explained above. That is probably my biggest critique from my experience. The food is great though is boasts of lovely flavors. The portions are big and you will most likely leave comfortably full! My Napoletana pizza was prepared well and was quite tasty. I would return to explore more of the menu and I look forward to returning. I just hope our experience with the service is improved next time. read more

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Great greeting as we entered,were seated promptly, and an awesome server took amazing care of our dining experience! In Gainesville for daughter's MBA orientation University of Florida, saw this place on line and were in the mood for Italian! Scratch made food, had Bruschetta appetizer, homemade linguine with 3 meat meatballs (as good as my Italian grandmother made!), rigatoni chicken pesto and the DaVinci pizza! Excellent flavor, Napoli flour pizza and pasta! Atmosphere pleasant with DaVinci art prominent. Highly recommend you check them out, a little piece of Italy in Gainesville! read more

The ambiance here is very cute and very italian, and our server was very helpful with menu choices and recommendations. The service was a bit slow but the food was tasty! I got chicken Parmesan which was incredible, and the pasta was pretty good but not my favorite sauce that I've had. Overall a pretty good option for a nicer Italian dinner. read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - Chicken Parmesan - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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I couldn't wait to sing this places high praise! As soon as you walk up I was excited about the restaurant the decor just showed a lot of care and thought went into the making this feel like a nice yet within reach restaurant. The service was top notch. Our server was kind and made us feel great about the day we were having. All of this was complimented by the food. It was fantastic. The garlic bread and I mean this wholeheartedly was the best garlic bread I have ever had the pleasure of trying. We made sure to let them know... cheesy, garlicky, soft and with a satisfying char. I couldn't get enough of it. I can't wait to go back and try more. What a treat to have this place here. read more

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The food was fresh and flavorful. Nice pairings of ingredients. The server was helpful and attentive. The decor is very well conceived, but slightly conflicted with Picasso mixed in with DiVinci. The downside was the kitchen. It took over 40 minutes to get two dishes. Will have to give them another try to see if our visit was an off night. read more

Wow! What a cool place and the best Italian food I've had since Florence. Go there now, I'm not kidding!

The ambiance here is lovely, pretty indoors and outdoors with nice music. Would make a nice date night spot. The service was good and the staff was very friendly. The food was delicious. My favorite Italian place in Gainesville so far. Can't wait to go back and try more menu items. read more

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Friendly staff, great food and drinks! Pasta was very good and the portions were generous, highly recommend the sangria. Service was a little slow but we enjoyed our experience! read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - Pork chop and spaghetti - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Warning - predatory pricing! I was extremely excited to try this place out on valentine's day with my boyfriend. When we arrived, we waited in line for roughly half an hour to be told they weren't accepting walk ins. No problem - on us for not making a reservation on a popular day. We walk away but get curious and see if its not to late to just make a reservation online for a later time. What luck! We book a table for 2 at 8:30 pm. We arrive again at 8:15. Another long line, where everyone (with reservations!) was waiting in. We finally make it to the hostess stand at around 9:10, where we are told another 20 minute wait. At this point, we've committed. Finally, we are seated. It's been a long wait but we understand the nature of the holiday and are just excited to be served. Then, our waitress comes around and informs us of their special valentine's policy. All parties of 2 must pay $75. This does include two appetizers, two entrees, and dessert. However we have zero say in the matter and the price is set regardless of what we order. Our intention had been to split one appetizer and one pizza. As we are both college students, we recognized this was a nicer place but still wanted to enjoy some good food within our budget. We question our waitress - is it not possible to just order one pizza to split? Nope! This "policy" was not posted anywhere online or in the restaurant. I understand this place seems marketed as more posh and upscale, however I feel like not making this special "policy" well known is extremely predatory. My boyfriend and I ended up walking out as this wouldn't have fit our budget. Had this policy been posted anywhere we simply would not have gone. We heard other tables who did not have such a kind server were left completely unaware of this "policy" until the check came - double what they were expecting based on what they ordered. I can understand the long wait, however this heinous act seems completely unreasonable, predatory, and in quite bad faith. I was really looking forward to trying the food however after such an experience I don't think I plan on ever trying to return - even if I could get one pizza for under $75. read more

Went one time when they opened and will not go again. Food was not that great, slow service. There are better places to try.

Da Vinci is a new gem of a restaurant in Gainesville. The owner was working the kitchen fir Valentine's Day dinner and the manager was walking the dining room to check on the guests. Tried the pizzas, seafood ravioli, and the chicken parmesan with pesto pasta. Highly recommend all dishes, since ingredients and recipes closely reminisce of the food in Italy. It was absolutely amazing!!!! read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - Patio seating - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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The food is excellent and the service is perfect. The bruschetta and the pizzas are made as you order and come out warm. And portions of the pasta and entrees are ample. Bring an appetite. read more

Food was great! Service was awful! There were 3 of us. One meal arrived - 20 minutes later second meal arrived - final meal was another 5+ minutes. Waiter disappeared and we did not hear from a manager. read more

After Friends recommended that Great addition to Gainesville, their wood fire pizza was amazing, good service but slow , we were there Saturday night and it was packed, my wife loved the shrimp diavola and the garlic cheese bread was to die for , we will definitely return and bring our family, ambiance reminded us of Italy. read more

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I came here on a Sunday evening with my bestfriend. The service was impeccable, fast paced, and filled with genuine passion for the food and people. The ambiance feels authentic Italian. I will absolutely be back. Thank you to our server, Katie! read more

Beautiful atmosphere! The staff were all so kind and accommodating! Wide menu to choose from. We had the bruschetta, Caesar salad, Chicken parm, and a Margarita pizza. The food was great! The portions were on the smaller end. Definitely a fun new place in Gainesville! Perfect for date night or a night out with family or friends! read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

After reading several great reviews we decided to try this place for a Friday casual date night. We arrived around 6:20pm and were done by 7:30pm but we decided to take the pistachio cake home for dessert! Drinks tired were the sangria (can confirm it was yummy and strong) & hubby had the old fashioned (sweet Italian style). Our phone didn't eat first this time and everything was so delicious. We ate the bruschetta, a pizza and pasta to share and we still had a doggie bag for lunch tomorrow. The pizza dough was incredible so fluffy and perfectly fired; whatever toppings you prefer I know will be yummy! Very clean, no complaints. Staff was kind and we had no issues with the timing. Planning to come back again with the in-laws when they visit town so you know it's good! The patio was a cute touch, will be nice when Gainesville cools down! read more

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We experienced tonight a great service and very good food, especially the homemade pasta. Everything tasted fresh and well prepared. The only downside was a strong disinfectant smell that was a bit distracting, but overall a very nice dining experience. read more

This a chill Italian restaurant with homemade pasta. We had the vodka, basil pesto and 4 cheese baked pasta. All were great tasting! The tiramisu at the end was a great way to end the dinner. read more

After the closing of Francesca's and the sale of Antonio's, the Swamp was left devoid of good Italian for years... until now. Thank God for Da Vinci! After I tried it the first time, I went back twice in the next two weeks. This is just plain high-quality Italian food, and pretty authentic at that. The house special pizza touched my soul while transporting me back to Napoli. The homemade pasta dishes (spicy shrimp in particular) are excellent. Salads and bread are great too. Keep up the good work. My only suggestion would be the Bolognese sauce was very good but not great (see Marcella Hazan's recipe for the gold standard to aspire to). read more

The atmosphere is excellent here. It feels very home-y and it is very clean. The food is also pretty yummy. However, that is all of the positives I have for this place. The prices of the food is pretty high for what you are getting. My girlfriend and I went here during opening and we ordered the salmon truffle pasta. We assumed that because it was truffle and salmon that the price was high and portion was little. We went here again two times later and the other pasta serving sizes are still as little. Additionally, the service was not great. I hate sounding like a Karen, but genuinely they were not very "qualified" waitresses. All times we went, they would forget to serve us bread and napkins. The only reason we even knew there were free bread was because we had to ask the waitress. The other times we went, they forgot to give us menus and forgot certain requests we made for the food. It is a shame because the pizza was so good, but I cannot rate this restaurant any higher. read more

Da Vinci pizza and pasta - Salmon truffle pasta and pizza - Cafes Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The food was okay. I thought I would try it since Carrabas was busy. The chicken in the Caesar was dry and crispy. The Chicken Alfredo was lacking flavor. The bread was hard and stale, made my jaw hurt. I will not be going again. Also it was very humid in the restaurant. read more

Came in for lunch with my son, around 1:30pm. Dining room was mostly empty. Took the waiter about 10 mins to grab our order. Food came out within the next 10 mins. Ordered a Caesar Salad and Mushroom Pizza. Food was really good. Would come here agai read more

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