Came for a late meal after seeing Sierra Ferrell at Outsidelands. Loved the setting and decor. Clean and crisp. The waitress was knowledgeable and helpful. We had 3 "lite" meals and one main course. Scampi, gnocchi, and some other scrumptious delights. Food - amazing Decor - crisp Service - attentive Highly recommend I'm David's if you're over in San Rafael area. read more

Il Davide - Tuna Tartare. Super fresh. Definitely would recommend. - Italian Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I had an errand in the area and found this restaurant online first. I was very excited for some truffle ravioli at what I thought was a reasonable price. Unfortunately when I was seated, I saw that the menu in person had higher prices than the online menu, and an additional 4% surcharge that was not mentioned at all. I'm never happy to see unexpected price increases and charges. I'm also seeing reviews from several months ago complaining about the same thing and the owner aggressively defends this practice. Clearly this isn't just a case of forgetting to update the online menu. It's a bait and switch tactic. read more

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Dropped in early around 5 PM before a show at the Film Center, which is conveniently just a block away. It has an interesting entrance layout where you have to walk all the way past the bar just to get to the host podium to check in. Once we were seated, we had a great server who was incredibly patient while we decided on our meals. They easily accommodated adjustments to my wife's order when she asked to swap out a creamy sauce for a marinara. We started with the arugula salad, which was delicious and loaded with roasted beets, gorgonzola, glazed walnuts, and a sharp balsamic vinaigrette. For our mains, we went with the Capellini del Diavolo and the Fettuccine Viareggio. Both dishes were absolutely amazing and hit the spot. The restaurant filled up incredibly fast for a Thursday night. If you are catching a show nearby, I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time. read more

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We made another visit to Il Davide in San Rafael on A street. It has a romantic vibe and is known to be consistently good. For a Wednesday night it was surprisingly busy. We took a chance and arrived without a reservation. We lucked out, but I would highly suggest making reservations, because we watched it fill up quickly. Our food was delightfully plated and delicious. We shared a serving of brussel sprouts which I would rank as some of the best I've had. The lasagna was bountiful and very good. The salmon was cooked perfectly with a nice crunch. It was served with perfectly roasted vegetables in a delicious sauce underneath the salmon by a yummy patty of fried polenta. Each layer stood on its own and complimented each other. We enjoyed our meal tremendously. read more

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We randomly ended up going here on a Thursday night because my mom was in town, and I'm so glad we finally did. It had taken me almost a year to try this place, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Francisco was our waiter and he was so lovely to work with -- attentive, warm, and genuinely made the whole experience feel special without being overbearing. The service was truly great, and you can tell the staff cares. For food, my mom had the corn ravioli, someone else at our table had the chicken parm (which was delicious and such a standout), and I had the lasagna. We also started with the minestrone soup and shared a bottle of Duckhorn wine. Everything was so unique and flavorful -- you can tell there's thought behind each dish. The portions were generous and satisfying. For dessert, we had the mascarpone dessert with chocolate on top and the lemon raspberry cake. Both were incredible and the perfect way to end the meal. For three people it was about $200, and we happily added a 30% tip because the service truly deserved it. Overall, we had such a great experience. The ambiance was really nice, the staff were welcoming, and they close later than most spots, which is a plus. Parking can be a little tricky -- there's some free street parking in front after hours, but otherwise there's a paid parking structure nearby or you can try to find something in downtown. I'm really glad I finally went and I'll definitely be back. Such a good restaurant. read more

Il Davide - Italian Near Me - San Rafael, California

YUCK the food sucks. No way is this Italian food . Garbage ! Fava beans have a pod and a shell they neglected to shuck. Italians don't put cheese on seafood ... sinful . David needs to go back to culinary school. read more

We sat outside on the sidewalk. It was nice but occasionally noisy. A large group of people walked by talking very loudly. I ordered the orecchiette made with ground feel and prosciutto with a creamy tomato sauce. I loved it. It was very, very tasty. It came with the Davide salad. The salad had walnuts, greens, feta cheese, golden raisins, and a vinaigrette dressing. It also was very very tasty. My friend had veal served with vegetables and pasta. She said it was delicious but the veggies were a little on the cool side. The staff was friendly. read more

Another amazing dinner the food was delicious. The waiter was wonderful. This restaurant is one of the best in maroon. read more

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Goodmorning yelpers. I am excited to say we , my fiance, daughter, and son. We took Pete my fiance to dinner at Il Davides fine Italian restaurant. Firstly from the outside it looks lively, and romantic. The vibe is strong when you go in. You just know its going to be good. We met David at the check in. When seated, since we got there early we had a selection, so we sat in the corner across the room. We had been anticipating this for a couple of weeks and were ready for , we'll, all of it! We started with drinks, Pete having the Manhattan. Shayla and I had a Paloma Blossom add the tequila please..lol..very good and beautiful drinks. Next up was appetizers, we shared the Cappavio Di Manzo, Cavoletti Di Bruxelles, and the Bruschetta Al Pomodoro..what a great way to start, the bruschetta was so good. I loved it, the brussel sprouts!! Delicious and perfectly charred. The Cappavio, what a nice looking dish. Pete and Aedan.. loved it... Dinner was next..OMG.. I will tell you that I Know, that all are outstanding, because we all tasted eachothers food..lol.. What we ordered, Gnocci Di Manzo. Potato gnocci with short ribs ragu..it was my favorite! Delicious.. That was my sons dinner. Pete had his all time favorite dish, Lasagne, it was also really good, the sauce..so good. I had the Pappardelle con Salcicca. It was really tasty and the sausage in it was really good. Shayla had their Pollo Alla Parmigiana Il Davide..so good..dinner was amazing..Our service was outstanding! Ok lastly, desert..we all shared eachothers deserts..We ordered, The Tirimisu. The Creme Brulee, the coconut cake with lemon curd, whip cream and raspberry..this was my very favorite, although.....we also had the cherry bread pudding, with a beautiful light kinda lemony tasting cream sauce..my favorite too!! Lol..they were all good! Everything about our visit was excellent..The owner David is very nice and checks on you.. We appreciated that..Our server was also .. We had a very special dinner out for Petes Birthday, and they really gave us a 5 star meal, and service! I'd definitely eat here again! read more

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Il Davide continues to be my favorite restaurant in Marin. At every visit, the food and drinks are delicious, the price competitive, the service great, and the overall experience wonderful. And for me especially, I appreciate that the outdoor dining area is dog friendly. Recently, I attended a private event and was blown away by the level of service (thank you Lucy, Tegan, David and all the crew), the quality of food and beverages, and the warmth and beauty of the decorations and overall holiday spirit of the private dining room. Everyone who attended said they had a lovely time. The cost of the event was so much less than what was estimated by nearby restaurants that aren't half as good. And David, the owner, was super helpful, patient and responded quickly to calls and emails, making the process of setting up all the details for the event seamless and easy. I highly recommend this place. read more

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The food is really good. We visited on an extremely busy Saturday afternoon without a reservation and the only seating options were at the bar top or outside. We opted for outside. The service was slow as they were short-staffed and only had a few waiters/waitresses and at times we felt forgotten but the food was well worth the wait. We ordered Gamberi Pancetta, Papparadelle Ai Tre Funghi, and Bistecca all were really good. My only complaint is the fries that were served with the Bistecca were overcooked. We've dined here a number of times and the food never disappoints. read more

Dinner at IL David's is great. Our party of 6 dined early on a Saturday with no problems with reservations. True to Italian cuisine, our bread came immediately with olive oil. I believe this is complementary. You don't see that these days. We experienced good service and food. I tried the seabass special and it was delightful. Unfortunately there were no room for dessert anymore. Will be back! There's a parking garage close by and it's free on the weekends. read more

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I love davide. I recently ordered the lasagne omg!!!!! 10 stars! It brought me home to Italy and the home made meatballs to die for. I can't wait to come back. Shout out to Frankie and John for being the best ever! read more

We made a reservation in advance over the phone, arrived a little early and were still seated. Started with some appetizers - burrata and a cheesy spinach pastry that I forgot the name of. For main course we ordered cacio e pepe, ravioli and mushroom penne pasta which they happily made gluten free for one person in my party. They mentioned that any of the items can be made gluten free which is amazing. Wine options were also extensive. The mushroom creamy sauce was just amazing- perfect spice, creaminess and mushroom flavor. For dessert, we got affogato, one more coffee and brownie based dessert and butterscotch. The butterscotch was literally melting in our mouth and it was so smooth! Overall loved the experience and the food read more

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I have been to Il Davide a few times already and their food also didn't disappoint! The place is very nice and clean and well maintained! The service was outstanding!!!! Yesterday I went back with my good friend and had delicious and hearty dinner. We shared a caesar salad (so yummy!), shared the special which is the sea bass with polenta and shared an angel hair pasta dish! I had the paloma as my cocktail and my friend has the Gin Spritzer. Then for desserts we wanted to try 2 items: Dolce Diversio which is a layered chocolate brownie with gelato and the lemon coconut tart! Both were delicious and we were so stuffed! We definitely had a great time! read more

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We hosted our son's graduation from high school at Il Davide last month. He wanted Italian so we chose based on location and we cannot say enough about the food and staff. It was a party of 20ish as the date grew closer so we kept in touch with the restaurant. The host was friendly and accommodating to our party size changing and our arrival time since we were mostly coming from Butterfield Rd in San Anselmo. The calamari appetizers were the talk of the table. I had the Cioppino served on na large bowel of seafood with ample serving of crab meat spread on top but no noodles. Delicious! I even brought some home and added noodles for perfect lunch meal. The decor is warm and inviting. read more

Il Davide is a perfect Italian gem in the middle of downtown San Rafael. I would absolutely recommend making a reservation, or make sure you get there before 5:45 to ensure you have a table. The drinks are split - cocktails were great. Weirdly, the wine fell flat and was borderline disappointing. The food - you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Don't fill up too much on the bread they bring, while it'll be tempting. Highly recommend getting the calamari fritti to start. For entrees, go for the house made pasta; it's what they're known for. Capellini del diavolo is delightful and not too spicy. The fettuccine viareggio is decadent and full of flavor. And the chicken parm is like no other. All of our plates would have been licked clean if that was appropriate in public. Of course end with some gelato or sorbet. It's the perfect way to wrap up the meal. Great meal. Will be back! read more

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Had a super lunch here today. I got the short ribs with polenta, and not only was it a good sized portion, it was delicious. The balsamic reduction puts this dish over the top. My friend got the clam chowder and lasagna. She was raving about both. Again, a good sized portion, so we both didn't go hungry. The service at Il Davide is always friendly, and efficient. The ambiance is light, bright and beautiful. Our lunch date couldn't have gone any better, so thank you IL Davide! read more

Il Davide - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - San Rafael, California

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no other reason not to have been here for maybe 10 years than that i already have a place or two for random ho-hum italian on this side of the bridge, which i cross to the city when it's for more serious. reasonable enough reason because that's about the way of things for almost all restaurants... or anything else. marin with all its self-congratulation and "inclusion" is just another suburbia this was a someone's special birthday and deserved better but i waited too long to get reservations in the city. no problem locally but if last minute reservations for 7 pm Friday are too easy it's like the old joke about not wanting to belong to a club that lets you join it. i remembered il davide was positive, so decided to do a return engagement and was able to confirm a table. this was fortunate because there was a line waiting to get in when we arrived. oddly the guy at the entrance seemed almost apologetic when he seated us in a quiet corner, which is exactly what i had asked for. very cordial, this guy at the entrance. i'm picky about location and the perfect table is in the area at the back under the big mirror, no kitchen noise, away from the midroom waitering, nice mixture of light from the table and the large front windows. didn't have my name on it but was what i asked for and as i said, there was a line. i'm not really very critical about food, or i guess actually i am. but there are a few checkpoints that have to be passed, sauteed spinaci all'italiana being a big one. basically don't overheat the garlic, let the last cooking of the spinach be done after plating it, and don't wait around to do this as spinach dewaters fast if actively heated too long. what i'm about to say next may sound... discriminate but if so that's because it is. given how many italian restaurants in california, there aren't enough italian cooks here. in my misguided and often wrong opinion, there is more "italian" to italian restaurants on the east coast given its proximity to europe, and why certain simple italian dishes are better in, say, new york than here. il davide was quite good overall and having passed my little spinach audition, the rest of the meal went equally well. the salads here might be large enough for a meal, next time that might be what i'd have... along with a bottle of their oldest barbaresco. seafood risotto if i'm hungry would be a good repeat. read more

I finally made it to Il Davide! Seems ridiculous to have taken this long, as I spend a ton of time in Marin, working here. It is everything I thought it would be and more. Besides the full bar, there is a lovely by the glass wine list. I chose a Brut Rose Prosecco, which was crisp and delicious, followed by a glass of 2013 Petit Verdot -- do not miss this! I sat at the bar and had wonderful service. This is a very "neighborhood" place with a strong sense of local community and regular patrons. My meal started with some incredible focaccia bread -- the best I have ever had. Unreal and delicious. Do not miss having some. My main course was Chicken Parmesan - which was also incredibly delicious. Well balanced creamy with cheese and acidic with sauce, a little pasta and a flavorful chicken breast. As a full service Italian spot, I know I'm just scratching the surface. But - I can definitely say that I don't think anything here would disappoint. Il Davide is a mainstay in the San Rafael community for a reason. Don't miss a visit. You will be well satisfied! read more

Il Davide - Focaccia bread! - Italian Near Me - San Rafael, California

4% mark up of meal with bizarre charge, mentioned in fine print on menu and NOT on line. We can find other fine restaurants in San Rafael that don't play this game. Try Cafe Villa or Cafe Arrivederci. Over an hour from order to plate on table. I will give to them the fact that the place was close to capacity, but not my problem. Not coming back. Thanks for all the great meals in the past. read more

A few days ago I posted a review of my dining experience at Il Davide. David, the owner posted a response which can be seen below my original review. David also sent me the following direct message: Robert, "if thats your real name" If you keep harassing me you will have a lawsuit on your hands. It wont matter If I win or not. You will have to file and hire an attorney. This will be nothing but money, time & fear. Do you really want to go down this road?. Stop hassling me, I am not breaking the law by having a .4% added charge for health care and employee mandate regulations. Stop your hateful allegations and reviews to me & my fellow restaurateurs. PS I will find your information in order to serve you. Dont test me. First of all David, I'm impressed with your technological savvy as you figured out how to send me a direct message on Yelp. I on the other hand, apparently don't possess your technological skills as I have not been able to figure out how to respond directly to that message, hence this post. So, let me see if I understand your message, correctly. You are threatening to take legal action against me because I used Yelp- a public platform for one of its intended purposes- to post a review of my experience dining at your restaurant. If I have misunderstood you, I apologize and ask for you to clarify what you are threatening legal action against me for. If I am understanding your message correctly then my response is - knock yourself out trying to follow thru on your threat. I'd enjoy seeing what attorney would take on such a frivolous and baseless legal matter. I do have one suggestion that would solve this whole issue. Take the time, energy and money that you would exert in trying to sue me and put that into redoing your menu so that the prices next to each item accurately reflect what you are charging your customers on the bill that you give them, thus eliminating the junk fee. Increase the price of a $30 item to $31.20 to reflect the current 4% junk fee. Better yet, round it up to $31.50 or even $32. I'm sure that your customers wouldn't blink an eye at that, and you would actually be getting a larger price increase to help offset your rising costs in these inflationary times. You would be increasing your prices in a fair and transparent fashion, as you have for the last 30 years. It's a win-win scenario.... That is just my two cents, so to speak... read more

Really good food, the carpaccio and mushroom ravioli were my favorite. Strong drinks and good wait staff, especially the buss boys they were on top of it. I prefer a more cozy atmosphere but I'll come back for the food not the vibes. read more

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Have dined here at least once a year (twice this year) since the restaurant opened in 1995, and each time the experience can be summed up in one word - consistency. Food - you can expect to enjoy the freshest of ingredients in the salads, apps and mains. Salads - both the Davide house salad and the Caesar are available in half/side portions and are a delicious way to start off a meal. Mains - the pastas are not the usual fare, there are some great combinations for those looking outside of traditional marinara or bolognese, tonights's linguine with a variety of fresh seafood in a butter reduction was a lovely diversion but I enjoyed my partner's chicken Parmesan (made with bolognese instead of the Alfredo) as well. Many diners also order it with the marinara. Service - Walked in not expecting a table but a couple in the bar are held open, and bartender Matt was attentive and knowledgeable about both the menu and pairing the several wines available by the glass. Ambiance - The restaurant is intimate and cozy and it is clear that many dining tonight are regulars, easy to see why. read more

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Shared a fantastic meal with my husband and in-laws this past weekend. Everything we ate was delicious. I split the Cesar salad with my husband, we both enjoyed that the dressing did not have too much anchovy. For my main I got the special which was the sea bass with asparagus and polenta. Incredible. Everyone agreed they would be happy to return to Il Davide. read more

Il Davide - Sea bass - Italian Near Me - San Rafael, California

Highly recommend dinner at the bar! Enjoyed many many many shared bites with the hubs before wine tasting. read more

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While on a weekend trip to Tiburon we met family here for dinner per their recommendation. I'm so happy we got to try this amazing food. Everything we ordered tasted amazing. The gnocchi was my most favorite. The drinks were good and the desserts super delicious. The service was welcoming and wonderful. What a great place with great ambiance. read more

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My friend and I went here for lunch. As we entered we were seated at a very nice table. The restaurant just opened for lunch at 11:30 and it filled fast. The establishment is small but cozy. The waitress and servers were very friendly. Parking is free after validation. Our waitress was nice but didn't interact with us too much. We had the calamari fritti which were very greasy and not appetizing at all. They should have been lightly fried and flaky !! The risotto asparagi was delicious and cooked to perfection except for being very oily and the parpadelle with sausage was cooked to perfection, no issues here. The clam chowder was delicious too. This is the second time that I come here but my family and I were here for dinner, which was way better than this lunch with my friend. Maybe the chef was different?? read more

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Food,Services,and the Ambiance every thing was amazing I had Sogliola Dorata for lunch with my brother it was so amazing Italian food we had we were from Santa Rosa CA nothing like this we have it in Santa Rosa great food and everything keep up the good work Bharat Patel read more

Wonderful food and great atmosphere. We were in town for work and someone mentioned this place. You can tell it is a local favorite because even later in the evening the restaurant was full. We were taken to a table right away and enjoyed some of the best Italian food I have ever had! Will be back if work brings us back. read more

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The food was good, but the service was very poor. We were seated outside due to indoor reservations, and it was pretty cold. We had to ask multiple times just to get basic service, including requesting a heater three times which never came. Nearby tables were dealing with the same issue. When a heater finally arrived, it had no gas!! (They tried two of them). The server later brought porto wine shots to make up for it... It also felt like they prioritize a certain type of clientele over others. Overall, not a good experience and not recommended. We're not coming back read more

We had a reservation and arrived as soon as they opened. There was one party ahead of us who was sat down immediately and the host said they'd be back to sit us. 10-15 mins passed and nothing. Another lady apologized and took us to our table. The restaurant was pretty empty at first but quickly got full and loud. We were celebrating a special occasion but yet, they sat down a couple with their extremely loud, obnoxious kid who was screaming and crying. The restaurant nor did the parents do anything about it. They were very accommodating on the dishes and being able to order items off the menu. Portion were pretty big and food was amazing!! We loved the calamari, stufato d'agnello & filetto di manzo. The busboy was very kind and attentive! Overall, food was amazing but service could've been a bit better. I would make the drive out there to give it another try! Food: 8.8/10 Service: 6.5/10 read more

Il Davide - Italian Near Me - San Rafael, California

Excellent food service and ambience. Our waiter suggested an excellent Chianti for our meal.

Il Davide and Chef David catered our wedding at Deer Park Villa, and I can safely say they were one of the highlights. After attending a tasting at the restaurant, we knew we were in good hands. Chef David was so excited to show us all of the food options and each was better than the last. Once we tried his ravioli we were hooked and we knew that we must hire him to cater our wedding. When it came to the day of, everything went perfectly. The menu was tasteful and balanced, and our guests were raving about it all evening. The ravioli and the brasato were the standouts, but everything on the menu including the hors d'oeuvres and the sides was appreciated. If you want dinner to be one of the highlights of your event, you should absolutely choose David and Il Davide. read more

I haven't written a Yelp reviews in years, but I had to for II Davide. We had such a tasteful catering experience with David! We were shocked at how reliable, attentive, and nice he was as a busy business owner. David--himself--went out of his way to make sure our catering order was special. His attention to detail and quick coordination made the entire process easy peasy. The food was sooooooooo good--if the catering is this yummy, I can only imagine how amazing it is at the restaurant. Emailing David was super simple. He coursed and portioned it perfectly, and it was all carefully packed and ready to be served when we picked it up. If you're reading this, don't sleep on these knockouts: Ravioli di Porcini (vegetarians loved it), Lamb Chops (some of the best we've had), Il Davide's Cioppino (absolute must), and the Vanilla Panna Cotta (seriously, you won't regret it). 10/10 would recommend--David and his team were such a blessing for a special night. read more

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My wife and I have dined at Il Davide for many years, finding it a reliable and pleasant experience. Unfortunately , our last time was disappointing - the flavor of their signature scallop dish was off, scallops undercooked, and the vegetables cold. I tried the asparagus risotto for the first time, and it was tasteless. Plus, the restaurant was so busy that we didn't try to send the plates back. Please folks, refresh the menu! It's unchanged for way too long. Fabulous desserts though... read more

Service was great. Employees were really nice and funny. Food was amazing. Brownies dessert 10/10. Vibe is great. Would definitely come back! ‍‍ read more

Food-9 Service-9 and entertaining as heck Ambiance-9. Vaulted ceiling! Loved it Tuna carpaccio- 10 I ordered two! Caesar salad with scallops- big ones -10!!!! Three wait and bus folk to serve and talk to. Italian- 10 Great place in every way! I'm going back! Verbal scaloppini-9* Almost forgot The sauce was a 10** Great experience! Here's some pics! read more

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Bread: 0/5 The bread was stale and cold. Would have been nice if balsamic vinegar was offered but that wouldn't save how bad the bread was. Pollo Alla Parmigiana Il Davide (Chicken Parm): 3/5 If a fried chicken cutlet with tomato sauce is one of your signature/top dishes, I believe this is an Italian Restaurant not worth going to. The entire cutlet was soggy and the tomato sauce was bland. The chicken portion was large and filling. This dish is not spicy. Osso Bucco (Veal Shank): 2/5 Osso Bucco is one of my most favorite dishes until I had it here. The veal shank was cold in certain areas and was very dry even though it was drenched in this diluted red sauce. (Refer to Picture) Papparadelle Al Tre Funghi (Mushroom Ravioli): 5/5 This was the dish I enjoyed most. The mushroom flavor was strong, the raviolis were big and in tact, and the filing was delicious. Service: 3/5 The server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Reservation System: 1/5 The website does not tell you what times are available. You have to choose a date and time, then request for availability. If that slot is not available you have to repeat the process until you land on a spot that's available. Ambiance: 4/5 The inside of the restaurant seemed a bit crammed so we sat outside. The weather was beautiful and the outdoor seating was pleasant to dine at. Notes: I left a note while making a reservation that it was my girlfriend's birthday and that I am willing to pay to have special accommodations. Her birthday was not acknowledged during our dinner. read more

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Called a few days before to book a Saturday reservation and they said they were super booked up and only had an 8:30pm slot so we took it! My party of 4 was seated a few minutes before. Ambience was very nice and had an upscale fancy vibe. For small plates, we shared the brasatto (braised short rib over butternut squash polenta), carpaccio di manzo (raw Kobe beef), and calamari fritti. These were ok, none stood out that much. For the calamari, the breading was soft and slid off the calamari and shrimp when you picked it up, which made it hard to dip into sauces and eat. For entrees, we shared the truffle ravioli, linguine alla vongole, and piccata di vitello (veal). Veal was ok - not super tender and the veggies and scalloped potatoes that came with it weren't anything special. Linguine was pretty good and we liked that they were generous with the clams. Truffle ravioli was definitely the highlight. It had amazing flavor and loved the creaminess of the dish. Would definitely get the truffle ravioli again - it was easily the star of the show. Complimentary bread and olive oil. Wine was a good price. For dessert, we got creme brulee and it was pretty good. Service was great, food came out quickly, portions were generous on the entrees. Docking off the star due to the small plates, but overall I think it's worth trying this restaurant. read more

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