Davanti Enoteca would be a taverna in Italy. It has a nice bar area, heated/enclosed patio dining, and outdoor tables. We have had lunch, dinner, Happy Hour, and a weekend brunch here. The weekend brunch menu is limited. Happy Hour is very good. One of the best dishes is the Proscuitto-Veal Meatballs (4/5) -- two house-made meatballs with pecorino. They're normally served with toasted bread, but it's ciabatta during Happy Hour. Pasta dishes tend to be very good, although I find the Cacio e Pepe (2/5) spaghetti disappointing. The wine list is adequate. Service has been very good. read more

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We celebrated a family get together, as well as a couple of tellies' birthdays here. The private patio room with two long tables, was perfect for a family gathering that started @ 6:30 pm and wrapped up @ 9:30 pm. Our spread consisted of a family meal ($59/person) of 2 apps, 2 veggies, 2 pizzas, 2 pastas, 2 mains and 2 desserts. We feasted on fried calamari, brussel sprouts, pizza w/ meat, flatbread w/ hot honey, chicken fettuccini, steak, salmon, tiramisu and chocolate cake a la mode (not all items pictured). There was way too much food, the price was a bargain, and it was better quality vs Maggianos or Buca Di Beppo. Regarding the service, it was on point. We had a dedicated team that kept the food & drink coming all night long. The team was super friendly and attentive. They made us feel like we were at home. I would definitely return to DE for a big family gathering, or a small intimate get together. There are plenty of tables of 2 & 4 inside, and the food & service are excellent. read more

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Late night dinner date. They close at 9 on Sundays and we arrived at 7:45. We normally come here for happy hour during the week. All staff - all smiles toward the end of their shift. Great attitude. We started with the calamari 4 stars. The. Opted for the Ceasar Salad 5 star. It was a large plate with the exact amount of dressing that didnt over power the taste buds. I ordered the carne pizza which didnt have much carne but it was very tasty. 4 star. Wife ordered the lasagna. Nothing stood out about the lasagna.... but was good still. 4 stars. read more

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Early weekday lunch. Had to try their signature Focaccia Di Recco shared along with Caesar, Pappardelle Bolgnese. Delicious

Papardelle bolognese was tasty and good size portion. Atmosphere is cozy. Service was friendly. read more

Davanti Enoteca - Del Mar - Papardelle bolognese - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

My wife and I were out in the area and stopped by Davanti Enoteca for lunch, the restaurant has a beautiful atmosphere and we thought it was are lucky day because we had an entire section to ourselves. We ordered the Chicken Parmigiana and a Spinach salad with walnuts and chicken. The chicken on both dishes was tough and tasted like they were reheated, very disappointed, especially because the price of the main dish was $29 and the salad was $25. We did let the manager know and she took $14.50 off the main dish. The quality of food that was served will not have us coming back, this is probably why the place was nearly empty when we arrived. read more

Hands down my favorite happy hour in Del Mar , I like the quality and friendly service . They have wine wed 50% off and normal happy hour great deals ( love the sangria's) their pizzas are delish and desserts a must . I'm not some one that falls for the hype or gimmicky social media videos . This is a great place with great food and service read more

Davanti Enoteca - Del Mar - Happy hour Sangria - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

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BREAD ME PLEASE!!! Ok this was my first time here and I always can tell how good a place is by two things .. there Bread and Appetizers... This FOCACCIA DI RECCO on the menu it's says it's for the table but this was made for me not to share haha It was epic but what they should do is alllow you to order a pizza and make this the crust!! That why send me to the moon!! read more

Davanti Enoteca - Del Mar - Fam - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

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I made a reservation for 3 at 6pm. I made a mistake not adjusting the reservation for an earlier time. It was not too busy yet around 5pm but when we sat down, people were piling in. There was a gentleman with a thick Italian accent greeting us. He was very nice and cheerful. Great start when the host is excited to see guests. He offered seating preferences and we picked an outdoor corner - gorgeous spot that was warmed by the sunlight but cool thanks to the partial shade. My party was greeted by the waitress pretty quickly afterwards. We ordered the Calamari, Antipasto Salad (recommended by our waitress), Risotto Carbonara, and Proscuitto Pizza. Food came out in like 15 minutes - I was literally in the middle of a game because I thought the wait was gonna be a bit. The food runner dropped the food with a smile. Lovely staff experience :) The food... I'm so mad that I live in Del Mar for 5 years and never once stopped at this place even though I walk past here almost everyday to work/grocery. The food was hot and delicious. My grandma ate every bits of the Calamari, down to the dried tomatoes. My mom savored the Proscuitto Pizza even though I know she is not a pizza person. I devoured the pasta and salad. I was craving pasta forever - so that dish satisfied my thirst. All and all, very pleasant evening. There was live music as well, adding onto the ambiance. I felt like for the first time in a while that time slowed down. Then I got to enjoy and absorbed all the good things in life have to offer. read more

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3.5 stars but rounding uo to 4. Booked out a larger area for a giant team dinner. The service was quick and attentive. The food was decent, but no real standouts. The apps/salads were pretty good! The pasta dishes were decent. But the protein dishes were pretty dry. The fish was better than the chicken though. The chicken wa super dry! It's a convenient place for dinner, especially if you need to accommodate a large crowd in the area. They were great for what we needed. I'd stick to the pasta dishes and apps though! read more

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This is my second time at Davanti, I really want to love it but the food was not great. The service and staff are wonderful! Everyone was so nice and helpful. The atmosphere is beautiful. The wine and the honey bread are fabulous! However, the actual dinner plates are not good. One dish we had just tasted of soap. We couldn't eat our meals. We left after $170 still hungry. I'm hoping they can fix the meals because this place is worth it! read more

Davanti Enoteca - Del Mar - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

We were seated in the patio with heaters. It was fine. We were cold at all. Our server was friendly. We ordered: Focaccia Di Recco - yummy flatbread with soft cheese in the middle and honey to top it off. So good. Never had anything like it. Roasted Beets - I loved this too. The walnut butter and cream cheese with every bite was yummy. Gnudi Pomodoro - ricotta dumplings. Was good. I was already getting full by the time I got my entree. Lasagna - bf loved it. Said it had a lot of meat. Lava Cake - this was ok. Wish the middle was more ooey and gooey We would come back to try other things read more

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Had an enjoyable dinner here with family. Started with ragu with polenta & focaccia which are specialties of the house. Both were delicious. My grandsons especially loved the focaccia. They ordered children's cheese pizzas which were large enough that they could have shared one. My entree was GF pasta w/ seafood. Good amount of seafood in a tasty tomato sauce. Very happy they had GF pasta. Husband had spaghetti w/ meatball; daughter had penne alla vodka & SIL had a chicken entree. Everyone left happy & with leftovers since portion sizes are fairly large. Will definitely return...perhaps w/ our dog who is allowed on patio. read more

The food at Davanti Enoteca is good, not great. The menu has allergens clearly labeled and has several GF and vegetarian options. The happy hour prices are reasonable but the regular prices are on the high side given the portion sizes and quality. The pizza was greasy but the butternut squash with hazelnuts was fresh and delicious. The dining room is stuffy and can get quite warm during the summer so I recommend sitting on the patio. Great location in Del Mar Highlands shopping center, just wish the food was a bit more flavorful. Service is always efficient and friendly. read more

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We have been coming here for years since our first so so experience and loving this place every time! Great food great location.

WE haven't been for a few years but used to come alllll the time. The food is still good. A little over priced but its del mar and its good. The new issue is the shadiness with the bill. They have hidden charges not listed on the bill. If you add up the items on the bill, you'll find the bill is about 10% higher, and tax on top of that. Outrageous. I totally understand something like a 4% service fee restaurants add on bills for the high price of CA wages and then show it on the bill. But Davanti Enoteca doesnt show fees they add on... in this case, its a hidden credit card fee they add to the bill. The menu shows $30 for an item. The bill shows $30 for an item. But the bill subtotal is ~$33, plus tax, showing $35 (totally estimates here). I have seen fee line items on bills (Taco shops always show a fee for credit cards on the bill). I get it, I'm okay with it. But DE doesn't list their credit card fees in hopes you don't see them. I have NEVER seen a restaurant charge CC fees. Its absurd and dishonest. I get why $12 taco shops and gas stations add a CC fee (a lot of people pay cash), but a Del Mar restaurant?? And then to lie about it??? GTFOH I can show the bill if anyone needs to see it but I'm too lazy ATM to block out the PII. read more

We went with the family for Mother's Day. Best Italian food in SD. With the best prices for quality. We ordered the focaccia bread with cheese in the middle and a side of honeycomb, the beef carpaccio, the fettuccine Alfredo, the carbonara risotto, the Caio de Pepe, and the Bolognese, each of which was exquisite. Pasta was cooked to a perfect Al dente and my favorite part were the martinis. Even though they're not a signature cocktail listed on the menu, they still had hand-stuffed blue cheese olives available as an option. Which, for me, is the epitome of a good restaurant. Even the baby had a great time. Will definitely be back for Mother's Day next year! read more

Davanti Enoteca - Del Mar - Cacio e Pepe - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Love their Happy Hour menu. Food is pretty good and it's a great deal for HH. Have to sit in the bar area but there were plenty of tables, all high tops. We did make a reservations. We like getting their special of $28 for a nice charcuterie board with a bottle of house wine. Also recommend the ricotta with honey, the liver pate, margherita pizza, and bruschettas off the HH menu. The food off the regular menu is also very good. We really like the ragu with creamy polenta dish. read more

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First time dining in this location, I've been to the one in Little Italy and enjoyed our time there so decided to eat here. I don't know why this place is just bad, like the food is either meh or straight out bad. Ricotta Vasi: 2/5 - For some reason the combination didn't really complement each other, would not recommend getting it. Cacio E Pepe: 1/5 - this is supposed to be a rich and creamy pasta but you don't taste that at all. It tastes like pasta water and black pepper, that's it. You don't taste the cheese at all. Rigatoni Vodka: 3.5/5 - out of everything, this is the most decent meal we had. The pancetta was really salty, and the red onions they put was overpowering the flavor of the pasta. Service was just okay, not bad but not bad either. read more

Davanti Enoteca - Del Mar - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Outstanding Italian restaurant that perfectly mixes a modern vibe with old world charm. Service was thoughtful and professional. Food was excellent. Highly recommended. I ordered the Linguine all' Arlecchino. Served hot with al dente pasta and an abundance of fresh seafood. Just the right amount of spice. Tiramisu was very good and beautifully presented. read more

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Love this spot! So clean inside and loved the vibe. Lots of menu items to cover all bases. Staff were engaging and helpful. Lucky to have this gem in the neighborhood. read more

bad service wouldn't honor gift card don't go here if you have a synergy card multiple families sent away signs up everywhere saying they will not honor read more

Food was sub par. Order lobster ravioli with only lobster in one ravioli. The risotto had tons of onions! Won't go again disappointed

We tried this restaurant in little Italy about a year ago and absolutely loved it. We were expecting the same from this visit, but it was nowhere near! Their focaccia was a amazing, as usual, but the rest of the food was very bland. We ordered gnudi Pomodoro and lasagna and were very unimpressed. read more

Davanti Enoteca - Del Mar - Nonnas Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Straight to the point-you can tell if the chefs are passionate about the dishes they prepare and serve vs following a recipe that is handed off to a cook. Unfortunately, our dinner missed the passion. Service and ambiance was on point. I would give the food 2 stars and service and ambiance 3.5 stars read more

Well, I made reservations knowing it was independent from the restaurant in Little Italy because I asked since it had the same menu items. Thought I would give it a shot. Does not compare at all to the one in Little Italy for food, service or atmosphere. Every hot item was served cold or warm. Service/atmosphere meh....And they weren't busy. Just having a recipe doesn't cut it. Disappointed- read more

The place is nothing like the Little Italy location. The issues included: 1. Salads not cold 2. Hot foods not hot 3. Zero follow up from food server (offer parm for the terrible tasting pasta) 4. A table visit to inquire if everything is okay. 5. waited for a long time to get a check, so we found our server to get it. The place was a total disappointment would be the "kindest" term that comes to mind. read more

Pros: love what they are doing food wise at Davanti - the focaccia with honey is to die for! With so many fast casual places in the area it's nice to have sit down service here, right by the movie theater and parking garage. Cons: lasagna was a tad small and I definitely should have ordered it with the meatballs ($4 extra) - smaller sized restaurant with pseudo outdoor area having less charm than the inside area with the bar. - service was slow and nonexistent - took about 25 min to get my first cocktail read more

Davanti Enoteca - Del Mar - Nonnas Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

Great laid back bar/restaurant in Del Mar for weekend day hangs. Their happy hour is great for a bottle of bubbly and the charcuterie. The pizza was okay, not my favorite. Service is great too! Plenty of parking which is always a plus. read more

Davanti Enoteca - Del Mar - Prosecco - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

What a great experience it was to enjoy an authentic Italian meal in the heart of Carmel Valley ! Their pizza is also incredible too ! read more

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We had dinner @Davanti 2 nights ago, after initially trying Panini Grill but the kind waitress @Panini told us upon being seated, the kitchen was running at 45 mins for any meals. We were so thankful for going into Davanti - we were seated immediately and the food and service was exceptional!! Just look at the photos of the deliciousness!! And I enjoyed a glass of their Super Tuscan - I'm going to buy a few bottles of that for my own consumption!! We'll be back! read more

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Really bad food. Actually took my Cioppino home with me in hopes of fixing it and ultimately just tossed it out this morning :( I had been craving this dish lately and when I saw it on the menu went for it. It was awful, under seasoned, the seafood tasted tough like it has been boiled in there for hours and the fish was a Salmon ? I looked it up and guess some people do use Salmon in Cioppino but not something have ever experienced before. The house wine was pretty bad, really bitter dry after taste with a pungent sharp alcohol shock on first sip. There was also some Arancini on the menu. A plate of 4. The marinara with Calabrian Chili was about the best thing any of us had. The Arancini came out frozen solid in the middle and had to get sent back. Got a second glass of wine (Chianti) this was much better than the house red originally got. About twice the price but likely more my fault for being a cheap skate and getting the house red. We ended up going cause my wife's friend liked their focaccia bread. They both did enjoy that, but being the one who was paying was pretty upset with how bad the food was. Service was great. With the location there are in and cozy atmosphere I can see how it will do well. read more

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Went for dinner with a group of friends. Everything was good. The flatbread was probably the best thing I ate there. Service was good. It's just odd to see one guy in a fairly large restaurant doing all the customer interaction- hosting, taking orders, serving, bartending, checking on guests. Good on him, though, for being able to do it. I feel like I got tired for him. At least one other person was bussing. Kitchen was on a good roll getting food out. Had salmon. Well cooked and veggies were good with it. A bit too many onions, but was still good. Cucumber cocktail was unexpectedly spicy but it does say the are chilies in it, so my own fault for not understanding what that meant. Not saying it was bad, just unexpected. So, overall, was a nice dinner. read more

The best seafood paste I've had and amazing service. Restaurant was full and order came perfect for all of us 16 on our party. read more

Davanti Enoteca - Del Mar - Seafood pasta with Olive oil and wine - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Giving this place a solid 3 star rating. It wasn't anything fancy. It wasn't bad. I ordered the pork belly hash. My man ordered the steak and eggs. His entree came out cold, which was disappointing. Flavor was good, but food was cold. Not sure we would come back here. Would likely check out the new spot that opened next door-Cross Street. That place looks bomb!! read more

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Just like last time, the food and service was AMAZING. This is for sure the new spot. Love love love and Edmundo is the best.

Went excited for our first night back in North County. Walked in a liked the layout and were escorted to a four top. Waited quite a while for any service and finally got wine ordered after we stopped our server snd said let's order everything at once. She seemed overwhelmed. Bruschetta was warm not crispy and eggplant app was good. Second glass of wine ($16) was way too hard to get and spaghetti with meatballs was good but I went to find Parmesan cheese to put on. Really? I'm uniting down cheese? Anyway, maybe a big movie crowd but not for me.... Service first. read more

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Love the ragu polenta here. Its the perfect combination of hearty, savory ragu on a bed of creamy polenta. The protein in the ragu changes but ive never had a bad one here. Cacio e pepe - cheesy creamy peppery! Pasta is cooked well, still has a bite but not crunchy. The calamari was also really good here. The breading was a bit fragile but the squid was cooked perfectly. It had a great texture, good bite but not chewy. The flavor was a fresh sea essence with a savory breading. read more

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A group of friends met my guys and and I for dinner at Davanti in Del Mar Highlands last weekend. We made reservations for 7 over a month ago so was surprised that we had to share a table with another group in the bar. Picture a table that fits 10 and they put 2 strangers at one end and you and 6 other people right next to them. It was just weird and not properly planned or thought out. We ordered truffles fries and the focaccia for the table. The focaccia was an instant hit because it came out on a big board, was warm, had a thin layer of cheese spread in the middle then was served with honeycomb to drizzle over it. My husband ordered the salmon for his entree because he wanted to be that guy who doesn't order pasta at an Italian restaurant. His salmon was nicely seared and sat on top of a medley of vegetables. I ordered the tagliatelle bolognese which is what I usually get there and was loaded with a rich meat sauce coating each and every noodle. The food was delicious but the initial seating and then service provided by our server was lackluster. If Yelp gave half star reviews, I'd knock this down to 3.5 stars so Davanti gets a notch up this time thanks to the full stars. read more

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server was rude. He placed the bill in front of me and I was on a date. Completely ruined my night