Best pasta I've ever had! Large portions, lots of choices/options, prompt staff, great dining experience! A little on the pricey side, but oh so worth it! Will definitely be going back! read more

It had been 8-9 years since my last visit to Gavi. I live in Los ANgeles now so I don't get many chances for a visit. I always loved Gavi in the past and was hoping for the great food I remembered. I took my boyfriend who had never been. Food was as great as ever! The place isn't much to look at being in a strip mall with loads of Italian soccer posters & jerseys lining the walls but we came for good food! I think one of the biggest tests for an Italian restaurant is if it can make a great minestrone soup! This Italian basic is almost always bland, tasteless but Gavis was superb! Lots of vegetables with a terrific and flavorful soup base. I had this as a main course as I have a very small appetite. We also split mozzarella marinara appetizer. Instead of frying the cheese they grill it and cover it will a very yummy homemade sauce. Well worth a try! My boyfriend had a classic platter of veal parmigiana. The portion was huge and served with a side of spaghetti. The veal was juicy and cooked to perfection and covered with golden browned cheese and yummy homemade sauce. We were stuffed so we did get to try any of their deserts. I will save that for the next visit hopefully that wont be 8-9 years again. If you are lucky enough to live in Tucson or are planning a visit and crave SUPERB Italian food this is the place to go. read more

GO ELSEWHERE! Save your money and time, because this place isn't worth either. I could start with the lackluster Italian food, but I think the cleanliness of a restaurant should be their and your first priority. I think I already feel the food poisoning coming on and I haven't even left the table (except for a couple trips to their DUMPY bathroom). If you don't want a similar experience, I suggest you avoid this place. read more

Simply delicious and wonderful ambiance. We've been several times and every dish is full of flavor. Wait staff is top of the line. Sitting out on the patio is perfect - great way to enjoy our weather and the Catalinas. Definitely out go to for Italian food on Tucson. read more

Decided to visit this restaurant again after many years have past. I remembered their wonderful breakfast items. I ordered a Fritata and it came on my plate folded like an omelette with cold hash browns and cheap white bread. Very disappointing at how the quality has gone down. read more

We went as a party of 14, but, unfortunately, were seated at a table more suited for 10, so it was quite uncomfortable and hard to relax while dinning. Food was good for all. Lack of bus boy service left table over crowded still. Would not go again with large party. Also, one of the noisiest restaurants I've ever been in. Not very relaxing. read more

Love this place. Great food. Generous portions. Personal service. What's not to enjoy? Family friendly as well as a great choice for date night. read more

Worse service ever...waited 20 min to be noticed...had to ask for bread...and drinks...very disappointing

This was my first time going to this restaurant. Friends had recommended it since we were celebrating my daughter's graduation from U of A Law School and had a party of nine. I'm glad we arrived 15 minutes prior to our reservation as they were going to seat us outside! When I said I could not handle the heat and I needed an area inside, they at first pushed back saying I should have requested an inside table. I was shocked to receive that response and I responded that they should have asked my choice. I said not ever being there before, how would I know to ask? The hostess was annoyed and tried squeeze and seat nine of us in a two table bench/chair area. I said that there was no way we would all fit. Then I pointed to where there were two rows each with four separate tables (8 tables total) and politely asked if they could move three of them together. They did and I thanked the hostess three times and each time she did not say anything. It was obvious she was not happy. Well, after receiving our food, all was forgiven! The NY Calimari platter appetizer was one of the best I have ever eaten! Everyone in our group had raving comments on the dishes they ordered. I will continue to take friends and clients to this restaurant. Other than the initial contact, everything was perfect....the food and service was excellent. As I walked out, the hostess went out of her way and thanked me for coming and hoped I would come back. I thanked her for accomodating us and she responded she was happy to be of help. They deserve five stars..... read more

I was sad because this was the first and last time ever going there, since I thought the food was pretty good. Celebrating a friends birthday we had a terrible experience though. From the beginning, the host staff was annoyed because some people in our party were really late, and that's understandable, since the restaurant would like to seat as many as possible instead of waiting to see if your whole party will show up. I was shocked when the GM(Marie) came over and with NO TACT said she was gonna squeeze us all over because she had people waiting. When we told her our friends were pulling up and parking, she said we had 15 seconds before she made us move. She came back a minute later and said we were lucky some folks left and wasnt going to move us. The server not once refilled our drinks without us having to beg. Again, I understand large groups arent the most fun, but it was a birthday celebration, we dont do this often! I was very put off by the GM, as she was very rude in every interaction she had. And, I am SO sorry to throw this in, but this place had a very weird vibe, almost racist. We were the only "ethnic" group in the whole restaurant, and somehow we felt picked on by her and her staff. Her own employees dont like her and the owner just sweeps it under the rug when confronted about it, stating she is a nice person. At the end, there was a terrible interaction with the GM and one of our guests and the owner tried to make things right. He did all he could(again, defending her) but it was too late. I have NEVER felt like I did this evening, and I recommend staying away from Piazza Gavi and their GM Marie. read more

Absolutely delicious! Portion sizes were huge and SO tastey! The atmosphere was very relaxing and inviting. The Rosa pizza sauce is definitely one of my favorites. The food wasn't greasy and tasted home made. I felt the price was great for the amount of food on the plate. The staff was also warm and friendly. I highly recommend this place for some amazing Italian cuisine. read more

Piazza Gavi is a wonderful Italian restaurant in a city that has few inspiring choices for Italian cuisine. The menu is extensive, but always listen closely to the often-amazing specials. The wine list is quite nice, with many excellent domestic and Italian bottles under $50. The service is friendly and helpful without being overwhelming, and the weekend dinner crowd is lively. Reservations are recommended on Fridays and Saturdays during the winter and spring seasons, when Tucson's population swells with hungry snowbirds. You won't walk away hungry from Piazza Gavi, as most of the generous entrees offer enough for tomorrow's lunch. In addition, you'll want to leave room for desert, espresso, and perhaps an after-dinner drink to top-off a wonderful evening. read more

Definitely not authentic Italian. It tastes like the food came from a can. It seems to be a popular place, but I don't understand why given the quality of food. I've been there a couple of times, and each time I am NOT impressed. read more

Gavi's has been a go-to place for breakfast for my catch up girl time (and a few of the staff know us by now!) The staff is very attentive, allows us girls to be all "Sally" about our ordering, and they allow us to linger longer than normal. The coffee bar inside serves a great cup as you want it. The breakfast menu is simple, but it will always be tasty (the potatoes are amazing). My favorite plate overall is the 3 P's (Panna, Peas and prosciutto) but I must wait til lunch or dinner for that plate. Warning: the portions are large so you will take some home! The atrium has a fireplace and white lights, and everywhere inside whisks you away across the world. After a full belly and some good laughs with my girlfriend, leaving, the view of the Catalinas always make the day just right. Support a great local Italian eatery! Piazza Gavi provides a wonderful experience overall! read more

This place is delish. The chicken famaggio should be considered a sin! The place is beautiful inside and they have a great selection of wine. This is a great spot for a first date, or romantic night out. Definitely tucson's best Italian food. read more

Not the best Italian restaurant but it's ok for the price. If I had the choice I would eat some where else. Service was detailed and attentive. read more

We stayed up the hill at a resort, and to escape the costly hotel breakfasts, we went to Gavi. Everything about it was enjoyable. Oatmeal was steel-cut, a generous portion with fruit. Eggs were cooked properly. Blueberry pancakes were outstanding. Coffee was hot, cappuccino was just right. Service was discreet and polite, and the prices were reasonable for a full-service restaurant. We never made it here for lunch or dinner, so I can't comment on those. I would recommend Gavi to anyone looking for a good breakfast, as long as you are not in a rush. The service is leisurely, which we enjoyed -- but we won't be stopping there on our way to the airport. P.S. They have free wi-fi. read more

This place is really good. It's the best Italian place I've eaten at in Tucson. The pasta carbonara is ridiculously good. The portions are huge, you can share or take home. read more

This the best Italian restaurant in Tus and beyond by fat! Great service too! Very friendly and knowledgeable service! Thank you Marion

The service and food were fabulous. Server Josh was beyond amazing and pleasant. Ordered the tortellini with Alfredo and asked for them to add extra garlic into the sauce and it was outstanding. read more

I have never had any dish from the menu that beyond awesome! Always slow service because of so many patrons but excellent food!

Took my wife here for dinner. Hadn't eaten here in years but it was great. The Calamari Crema was awesome. My cioppino was good, and my wife's veal was very good. The deserts were awesome. Definitely going back. read more

First time here and greatly impressed. Serena, our waitress, was wonderfully accommodating. My father and I each ordered the 'California' omelet. Easily shareable portions and we had our choice of baked or fried potatoes. Not your average papas either. The baked potatoes came with bell peppers and roasted garlic. The omelets were stuffed with toppings and cooked to perfection. I'm talking cheese oozing, crispy outside perfection. Loved it and walked away with leftovers. Dare you to try and do the same. I could have cleared my plate but resisted. I'm having omelets for lunch and I'm not complaining. read more

Stuffed eggplant is amazing! For $30, veal parmigiana should come with side salad and pasta side. The decor isn't par for a LA carte pricing; we sat next to light up bar signs. read more

Fantastic service, food, and atmosphere. They were able to take a custom order from my 7 year old son (pasta and salmon), pleasantly surprise me with a chef's choice entree, and make our entire family feel special. We were visiting from out of town and are looking forward to our next visit, which, must include a stop at Gavi. read more

We love Gavi's -- great, no, make that fantastic food at any time of day. Good size portions so there's almost always something to take home for a snack the next day. They are accommodating with special requests, (light on the garlic, or no peppers;) BUT, if you want to talk to your date, DON"T GO ON THE WEEKEND! The "entertainment" is over-amplified and you have to yell to be heard by the person across the table. We asked the manager if the amplification could be turned down -- and the next number was even louder than the previous one! Several couples who left the restaurant at the same time all agreed that they would not go back on the nights that Gavi's has "entertainment". Only **** 2 STARS **** on entertainment nights -- but 5 during the week. read more

We spend winters in Tucson and Gavi is in our neighborhood. We dine their for either dinner or breakfast once every week or two. Food is always great. Portions are huge, so if you aren't a big eater you might want to share an entree. Last night our server Danielle was extraordinary. Rather than boringly recite specials from a list, she asked us what we usually order, what we were thinking of ordering, and then based on that went on to suggest items both from the huge regular menu and from the daily specials that we might enjoy. Thanks Danielle, you were great. read more

Piazza Gavi has been a Tucson mainstay for many years. The food is delicious, our waitress was friendly and adequate. Before writing this review I browsed through the other reviews. It appears Gavi doesn't really read these reviews or care what it's patrons have to share. We arrived a half hour before our reservation and sat at the bar to have a drink. Before we could order our drinks the hostess (possibly the owner) came to tell us we could sit at our table, it was ready. We said ok. Once at our table we were advised that the happy hour was only for the bar. Disappointed. They refused to offer us the happy hour specials. Some at the table asked to speak with the manager. He never came out and left our waitress to handle the situation. Some in our group were planning an event in the next weeks involving a party of 25-30 people. This experience has changed those plans. Gavi will not receive their business. What a shame. The entire restaurant needs an update, the bathrooms were dirty, if you are going to use glass accents, clean them, they show the dust and dirt. The patio needs to be cleaned, broken windows, overgrown plants so that it is difficult to experience the amazing view of the Catalinas. Unfortunately I will not patronize Gavi in the future and I am not able to make a referral to others. It is a shame that when the restaurant business is so tough that the attitude of the owners and management seems to be that their customers do not matter. read more

Excellent food! Only complaint was no soap in bathroom. I let the waiter know and heard him pass it along. Went back to the bathroom before leaving (over an hour later) and still no soap. Kinda grossed out wondering if waitresses even washed their hands. read more

This place was awesome, amazing and delicious!!! I can't wait to go back!!!! The restaurant feels like your transported to Italy!!! The people serving you are so fantastic!!! The food is the best I have ever had in my life!!! If you love Italian and want a fantastic experience, GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!! read more

The food was great and the service was great, BUT there are flies EVERYWHERE. They harassed us the entire time we ate inside.

Wonderful authentic Italian food! We have never been disappointed. Wait staff very pleasant and accommodating. I like the nice variety offered and if dairy free, its still easy to find an entree ad well. read more

Great food and service. Patio is great and the happy hour drinks and appetizers are spot on. Do not miss the mussels on the menu.

Huge menu that takes quite a while to get to a decision. I recommend the simple dishes. Be prepared to take some pasta home--the portions are quite large. We have had two meals with friends while in the Tucson area in the just the last month. Had to try the second visit because there was just too much to sort thru. Really liked the baked pastas so if in doubt try one of those. Friendly staff and good service when we were there. I would like to try the outdoor seating, so another trip is on the list. read more

his is a "real" family style Italian restaurant ...not sure what's wrong with the reviews here. Maybe they are comparing this to Olive Garden or other places run by people who have no clue about Italian cuisine. I am first generation Italian and this is "the place." Tavolino, Vivaci are good but if you want a true Italian cuisine in a family style restaurant Gavi is "the" place! read more

I really wanted to like this place. I had read all the reviews and so many people had given it between 4 and 5 stars... however I was less then pleased. Presentation is pretty important in my book and from the wait staff, to the food, it was lacking. Then to top it off, the taste was not impressive and especially for the price you pay. Our waitress, as nice as she was, didn't seem like she had it together. Shirt was half way un-tucked, buttons were undone... Then when our food came out, my Chicken Alfredo w/ Angel Hair Pasta looked like a 7 year old creation. It was a huge amount of pasta, drenched in Alfredo Sauce, with 5 minuscule pieces of chicken on top. It looked like a mess; alfredo sauce all over the plate... it did not look appetizing at all. When the calamari came out, they brought with it a huge bowl of marinara sauce, it was a huge saucer of marinara sauce... I don't know, I just think it was very sloppy. It could have been such a better experience. PROS: Outside area is gorgeous that allows for beautiful views of the mountains. Unfortunately, those views don't feed a hungry crew. read more

This is a great restaurant! We went on a recent visit to Tucson. I told my sister it is a must stop every time we visit. Great food, wonderful service, fabulous atmosphere. read more

Food was average, not nearly worth the price. Way over priced. Customer service gets a failing grade. Our party was moved from a table on a raised area with one step. I stumbled miss the step, area is dark. Almost fell into another table of diners. Not one employee or manager ask if I was Ok. One employee did say there is normally a light on the step. I guess it takes some hurting themselves followed by a lawsuit to make the people show some care. Our party will not be going back. read more

Great atmosphere and food. Everything I've tried there is delicious! The calamari salad is to die for. They always accommodate our large party. The wait staff is super attentive and work very hard to make sure you are satisfied. Great wine selection. read more

Best Italian in Tucson. The Chicken Formaggio is my favorite but seafood manicotti is also excellent. The wine selection and cocktails are good as is the service. read more