Good food. Friendly and helpful and interesting owner. Good service. Nice dining area.

Authentic, homemade Great food. Unique flavors that complimented each other very well. Small intimate environment. Instead of bread they brought out a small oven fired pizza In place of bread & it was delicious! Surprised it's not rated at least over 4! read more

Perfectly serviceable (but not outstanding) Italian in Davidson. Dark room with a pleasant buzz. Menu has a nice variety of apps, salads, primo, and secondi, and a decent if not knockout wine list. Service was attentive and professional. The meals were good but not knock-your-socks-off. Not expecting large market quality in an idyllic college town. Couple of pastas (nice sized portions), couple of chickens, a sockeye salmon special, and the elk chop. Everyone was happy... Surprised a little at the bread service -- a lot of fanfare for very ordinary and very small slices of a very small loaf... Just getting to know the restaurant scene in Davidson so waiting to see how this stacks up with the other local options. Nice spot worth a visit. read more

Il Bosco Ristorante and Bar - Menu - Italian Near Me - Davidson, North Carolina

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We had a spectacular meal. We started with a Negroni then shared a burrata salad with watermelon. Next was blue crab with fried zucchini in a marscapone and mint sauce and fettuccine with veal and dates in a brown broth- like sauce. We finished with a rich chocolate ganache. Wine pairings were perfect and Anne provided wonderful service. What a treat! read more

We came here for the first time for a birthday celebration. We ordered escargot as an appetizer. I had never had it prepared the way it was and it was delicious. My boyfriend who had never tried escargot also enjoyed it. We both ordered the Brasato di Manzo and it was delicious. For dessert we had an assortment of Italian cookies, which are made in house. Our waitress was very kind and informative about the menu, especially the unique items like the kangaroo. The owner came around and spoke with everyone. He made us feel like family and we spoke a bit about Italy. He actually recognized my Italian last name when we entered and gave us the warmest welcome. The dining room is small but in an intimate way and a great ambiance. This is a gem in Davidson. We can't wait to come back. read more

Il Bosco Ristorante and Bar - Brasato di Manzo: braised espresso rubbed beef short ribs served over creamy polenta with fried leeks - Italian Near Me - Davidson, North Carolina

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Fantastic spot for great Italian food with great service. It took us a bit to try this but I'm so glad we did and look forward to returning. The menu changes based on what's currently in season -- go to their Facebook page for the current menu. The service here is top notch. Everyone is friendly, prompt, and very courteous. They make sure to treat people well. The food is just excellent. We started with the capesante -- seared scallops on pumpkin Boursin with prosciutto wrapped asparagus. Wow. We ate this quickly and didn't leave any left. The scallops were huge (2) and cooked perfectly. The pumpkin Boursin was delicious and we put the extra on the bread. Fantastic start. We enjoyed the spaghetti con vongole, insalata di mela, and the special fettuccini. The spaghetti was delicious and had a heaping amount of clams. It was delicious. The salad was beautiful and a very generous portion. The special was fantastic with a pork tenderloin and Gorgonzola sauce. We finished everything and left full and content. Overall, this is a fantastic spot and I'm glad to have it in the neighborhood. I look forward to returning. read more

Il Bosco Ristorante and Bar - Spaghetti con vongole - Italian Near Me - Davidson, North Carolina

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Tried the new winter menu last night. As always the food did not disappoint. I only regret I did not take a picture of our salad and entrees as they were like works of art. We started with the Insalata Calda. It tasted like winter. All the warm flavors blended so well together. I had the Pappardelle al Ragu for my entree. The flavor of the smoked bison Genovese ragout was perfect for a cold winter's night. So flavorful. My husband had the Ravioli con Funghi. It was another delightfully flavorful dish. The ravioli stuffed with porcini mushrooms, mascarpone and quail egg were enhanced by the excellent brown butter sauce. These were just a small sampling of the wonderful dishes on the winter menu. As always the staff was friendly and attentive. I can't wait to try some of the others dishes on the menu. Treat yourself to a mouthwatering meal. Come to Il Bosco and try some of the delightful dishes from the winter menu. read more

Food was excellent. Service was even better .. Will be back and often ... when they have space read more

My husband and I visited Il Bosco recently (after our last visit several years ago), and we really enjoyed our meal. We'll have to add them to our regular rotation! We started with a charcuterie tray. Il Bosco allows you to select items for your tray, and we chose the speck, salami, mozzarella, tallegio, olives, and apricot jam. The serving was generous and perfect for the two of us. We also had their special salad with arugula, apples, and Gouda. The balsamic dressing was a bit much for me (there was too much of it for my taste), but my husband enjoyed it. For our entrees, I had the gnocchi with pork belly and brussels sprouts, and my husband had the duck. I had the gnocchi previously, and the portion size has increased since then. But I preferred the way they previously sautéed the pork belly, as it was more crispy. Regardless, this dish was very good. My husband absolutely loved the duck. Service was outstanding...as before. It's a small place, so reservations are highly recommended. There's plenty of parking in the lot at the back of the restaurant, too. We'll definitely be back! read more

We really enjoyed the food. Each dish was $28 dollars so come prepared to treat yourself. Older crowd restaurant and the wine bar next door is a great first stop for a date night. read more

Il Bosco Ristorante and Bar - Lamb with lavender beet purée - Italian Near Me - Davidson, North Carolina

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The food was good outstanding I can't say great but I will try it again due to the owner. Had the knowledge of wine down homemade cookies were great. Pork chop was a lot in my opinion very rich. Would have loved some fresh veggies with it. Wanted veal so badly saw on old menu but will go back and try again to see if I can get something that was great. read more

It's been almost a week since I finally got to have dinner at this restaurant that I had intended to visit for over 20 years. It was well worth the wait. When I called to make a reservation, I told Jim, the owner, my story and that I was driving up from The Villages, FL. Without hesitation he responded, "That's a long drive in a golf cart". We both laughed and it was the beginning of a wonderful visit, not to mention friendship. I started off with the grilled Romaine salad. It was warm and wonderful with excellent flavors. My main course was the Vitelli Ripieno. It was authentic and one of the best Italian main dishes I have had in decades. My server, Kim, could not have been more delightful. The wine I ordered went perfectly with my dinner. In a conversation we had when he came by the table, Jim and I found out that we have several friends/patrons in common. I plan on visiting the area again in the fall and another evening at Il Bosco will definitely be a part of the trip. Buon appetito! read more

The food is inventive yet distinctly Italian, the service is old style European attention to the customer. If you visit more than once, the owner will know your name, so you are always welcomed as an old friend read more

Go to a different Italian restaurant!! First the bread and butter was so cold, then our pasta carbonara and tortellini dishes had no flavor and we could not finish them they were just not tasty at all. I usually love all pasta and rarely leave reviews but insanely overpriced for bad quality! The only good thing was the service was great. Not worth it though! read more

Delicious dinner and welcoming, personal service from Kim and Jimmy! Adored the gnocchi and lamb and impressed by the shrimp (huge) and pasta with delightful conversation about Italy! Recommend to all! read more

21st Wedding anniversary and my wife wanted a nice Italian Restaurant. Went through the local list and decided on Il Bosco in Davidson. We've dined here before but for some reason, it's been a long time since we were here. Happy to report that it is still as good as it was a couple or years ago. It's on a short street called Depot street with on street parking but also a parking lot is available behind the building. If you park there, you end up coming in the back door but we were lucky in that we had early reservations (5:30 pm) so we were able to park almost at the front door. Came in handy when we left, because a thunderstorm with heavy rains came through and our car was only 10 feet away. When we walked in, we were given a choice of dining inside or out on the patio. The temperature was only in the 60's and it was pleasant so for a change we chose to sit on the patio. The bougainvilleas in hanging baskets along with a hugh rose were both in bloom and were beautiful. Our server was excellent and for that matter, so was the rest of the staff. He took our drink orders and while they don't have tea on Saturdays, everything else was great. I ended up with Pellegrino which was fine. I started with a Caprese appetizer which was excellent. Don't know where they found the tomatoes but these were nice and fresh and did not taste like cardboard which is how most tomatoes taste this time of year. The Balsamic on top was a very high quality as well. My wife ordered Veal Piccata and added a side of asparagus that she proclaimed to be some of the best Piccata she had experienced. I order the pan seared Duck Breast with Sun chokes and applesauce. The Duck was excellent. It's very easy to overcook Duck and if not prepared properly, Duck can be somewhat greasy. This Duck was cooked to a perfect medium rare, moist and juicy and without the least hint of greasiness. In the area, presentation or plating is almost a lost art but in this case, the plating was very attractive and appealing. Toward the end of dinner, the thunderstorm came up and the owner and staff moved everyone in a well orchestrated manner. It was inside that my wife and I had our deserts. She had tiramisu which I had a cup of excellent espresso. In the end, a perfect way to celebrate an anniversary. Not sure why we have not been back more frequently but will definately rectify that oversight. read more

Il Bosco Ristorante and Bar - Pan Seared Duck Breast, Sun Chokes on Homemade Applesauce - Italian Near Me - Davidson, North Carolina

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This is not great Italian...I don't know if I would even call it good Italian. Atmosphere was just awkward as we were one of two tables, the others all 80+ talking about politics. Once they left a loud family of 3 arrived and they were audibly trying to figure out what we ordered from across the restaurant. They were clearly regulars and it was all really weird. The waitress was nice, but there is no cocktail or beer menu so good luck if you don't drink or want wine. The food was underwhelming at best. My ricotta gnocchi tasted like thick play dough and the pork belly was undercooked and a huge turn off. My buddy's dinner was, according to him, eh just fine with a shrug. For the prices, terrible food, awkward atmosphere, just go somewhere else. Bonus star was for the waitress, she was really nice at least. read more

Nice place in Davidson, but atmosphere is underwhelming and food quality was good, not great at the elevated prices. Unfortunately we were the only occupied table in the whole place at 6pm during the week. Would try again and hope for more next time. read more

Sorry it was awful. The only thing good was the service. Started with bread which was sliced like Communion Wafers all four of them and two pieces of butter. I had some kind of veal rolled up like a cigar stuffed with I don't know what and it was almost burnt. Ladies had Fettuccini Bolognese that was simply boring. Wine list OK atmosphere nothing to write home about. We passed this place 100 times and said we gotta try it. Glad we did ,now know not to come back. Sorry guys this NY fella knows Italian and that it wasn't read more

The airline chicken was delightful and my friend enjoyed the duck. The staff were ver attentive. This would be a lovely place for a special occasion. read more

Small, cozy restaurant in Davidson that is perfect for a romantic date. It is a family owned restaurant, which I always love supporting. They have a good wine list, and solid menu with a good variety of salads and sides. I like the option of putting together your own charcuterie board, with cheese and meat options, marmalade's, olives and other sides. They also have Italian staples, like gnocchi, a variety of veal dishes and spaghetti. I wish they had more seafood options, but they do have mussels as an appetizer. I enjoyed the gnocchi with shredded lamb, and you can get a small or large size. They offer one steak option, a 10 oz NY strip also. We didn't get dessert this time but maybe next time. read more

Il Bosco Ristorante and Bar - Gnocchi with shredded lamb - Italian Near Me - Davidson, North Carolina

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The meal prepared for us tonight was simply delicious and delightful. From the appetizer that had the perfect balance of flavors to the main dish that caused me to eat way more than I should have to the delicate dessert that was light yet packed with layers of flavor and textures. I can't express how wonderful this meal was. This is our third experience at Il Bosco and we have yet to be disappointed. read more

Came here for our anniversary. People and staff are friendly. My wife and I both loved are dishes. The meals are well thought out and delicious. I highly recommend. read more

Very unique Italian restaurant. A cut above most. Great presentation! Great place to meet friends and reconnect.

Took my wife for her birthday. Ratings good. Menu looks great. Upon arrival, immediately seated. Appears to be a nice local restaurant, which we prefer. We get the menu. Two salads, 3 pasta dishes and two proteins. Where is the menu online. We tried to order a Cab to drink. No house cab, tried three other wines, didn't have in stock. Began to order, there is not a pasta dish with chicken. The only options for pasta is spaghetti, gnocchi with mushrooms and farfelle with salmon. My wife asked to substitute shrimp for salmon. No shrimp in the house. How about chicken? No, cannot substitute. With no other choice, she ordered the salmon and foccia bread appetizer. The foccia bread showed up. It was margarita pizza and was good, but not foccia. Her dinner showed up. She couldn't eat it. The dish was extremely fishy. I tried it. Wow. The homemade pasta was so thick and chewy, I couldn't eat it. She sent it back. The waitress' comment, it is smoked salmon. She took the dish away, no apology and acted irritated that we would complain and told the owner or manager. You would think the owner or manager would come by the table to apologize or ask if he could get another entree. Nope. He even walked by our table several times. We get up to leave and the manager runs in the kitchen. We support local business and know these restaurants are struggling. We don't go out that often during this Covid situation and want to have a good meal and good experience. This was neither a good meal nor good experience. My wife just finished a bagel with ham for her birthday dinner. read more

Consistently fabulous and creative. You absolutely cannot go wrong here with a chef that is always in perfect form. We have been here many many times and have never had anything but a delightful experience and a delicious meal. And to top it all, it is quiet enough to have an intimate conversation. read more

This restaurant is one of the best Italian restaurants I've been to in a long time; every dish is very well prepared and super tasty. I fell in love with the little back yard, it is perfect for warmer weather. read more

This is refined Italian dining, with outstanding food, an excellent wine list, poised service, and best of all, QUIET!!! Il Bosco is a rare haven, as far as you can get from loud and noisy restaurants on Main Street. The atmosphere is relaxing, and you can actually hear converse with your companions. It's such a great place to unwind and savor the best of Italian cuisine. read more

If you like arrogant pompous, inauthentic culture, this is your place. Food was good but I would hit olive garden before I go back to Il Bosco. There are several great restaurants within 2 blocks. Go to them. read more

Very friendly staff and reasonable prices for a high end, unique, excellent menu. But the wait staff knew little regarding elements on the menu. Couldn't describe the red wine by the glass choices.. Couldn't describe the different cheeses or salamis on the charcuterie menu. And was generally unfamiliar with the ingredients that go into each entree. These are all management's fault for not training the staff properly. The food was excellent and the desserts exquisite. This place has huge potential if they can get their staff educated. I would go back. read more

Quaint restaurant that has amazing Italian. Very authentic. You will need reservations. read more

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Delightful restaurant in downtown Davidson. Staff was short handed but still efficient. Owner is delightful and visits the tables to talk with the diners. Very good food and wine selection. On our way out the owner handed us each an amaretti cookie which we found delicious. read more

Thank you for the food tonight. We really enjoyed the nice appetizer and mussel pasta. The waitress is also very nice and helpful. Thank you！We love here and I will definitely recommend this resturant to my friends. read more

Amazing! I can't believe how many years I've lived in the area and have never been to this place! The waitstaff was awesome, the food was excellent, the ambiance was perfect. Our table ordered the grilled romaine caesar, chicken marsala, ricotta gnocchi, fettuccine with bolognese, arugula salad, and a couple of other apps. All were equally delicious. I'll definitely be back to enjoy more of the menu! read more

I am a bit late with my review as we came here last June after being REJECTED from CARUSO due to having our grandson with us who was just under five years old. I found IL BOSCO once we got back in the car and arrived hungry. We told them our story and after a short wait they found us a table for five. I can't say enough about this little gem and the wonderful waitstaff and manager. Our meals were exemplary and we will return often. Next time we will make it easier on the staff and call in for a reservation. read more

This place didn't want business. When we got there they told us "if" we ate there we would have to sit at the front of the restaurant. The place is not that big and the back half had a table of 12 and 2 four top tables. Sitting up front wasn't a problem, but the attitude of the hostess was. We said it would be fine to sit up front. She then said she would have to check with the manager. He came over and said it would be a hour wait for them to cook the food. Not a hour wait for the table, a hour wait after we ordered. When I looked at him he said he had the large party (of 12) that was going to back the kitchen up. So we went down the street to Campania and had a great meal. read more

If you've never eaten in a top notch Italian restaurant I could see why this is a 5 star. I've read other reviews of bad service and bad attitude. We had a great experience and good service. The young lady that was acting as the head server was wonderful. She took our order, suggested a wine, and made sure throughout the dinner we were happy. It's a very impressive little, intimate place. I do like the atmosphere. The most important thing, obviously is the food. Reading the menu the variety was impressive and different from the regular Italian restaurants. Unfortunately the food missed on flavor. Everything seemed quite bland. It seamed like there was one thing left out of most of the dishes. The only thing that had a lot of flavor seemed to be the Caesar salad. I couldn't eat it all, because it was actually over powering. read more

Overall atmosphere = Small and cozy Party Size = 6 people Overall view of the restaurant = 4 of us won't be back. The other 2 are not sure if they will be back. Service = Terrible 1) My sister in law told the waitress "Yes we are ready to order" when asked if we were ready and then the waitress turned around and addressed the table next to us. 2) Same sister in law tried twice to flag the waitress down (it is a small place so I'm not sure why this was an issue) and said waitress ignored her. 3) My brother in law at one point walked around the table and filled three glasses of wine for us. 4) Water was handled by the owner (?), a nice gentleman who said he was Italian American. He did a good job. Wine = Best part of the meal. Whatever we ordered was a white wine and really good. Food = Mixed reviews. Calamari - Not bad. It didn't seem like there was much calamari as compared to the fried veggies on the plate. Mussels = Not bad. Not the best, but edible. Salad = I had something with bacon in it. Good salad, but I found the dressing in too plentiful a quantity and very bland. Lamb Chops were raw and inedible. Spice combination is slightly bland and not tasty at all. My husband is too nice of a guy to send them back. He cut them up and then they just sat there while he ate part of other peoples meals. Fettucine with Meat Sauce = Good. Not the normal meat sauce I am used to (i.e. there were carrots in it), but I'd order again if I had to come here. Roasted Chicken = The person who ordered this raved about it. Chicken with white stuff (speck?) = 3 people ordered this and all of them cleaned their plates. No dessert was ordered because, frankly, we just wanted to get out of the place. read more

Really enjoyed this Italian restaurant tonight. This isnt your average spaghetti house. Diverse menu and an excellent wine list. Our food was perfectly prepared, portions were about right, and our server, Maggie, was very efficient and cordial. Sorry it took so long to discover it. read more

The food is great, and I love their option for half-size entrees. I've been there four or five times now, but the most recent visit consisted of really poor service, and previous visits have never exceeded expectations (or even met them) in terms of service. My husband and I arrived without reservations on a Monday or Tuesday to a mostly-empty dining room, and were treated very poorly. We were told first by an abrupt server that there would be a wait, which we agreed with, and sat at the bar. Three people came into the bar to pour a drink, print a check or enter an order and not one greeted us, offered a drink menu or a drink. The owner eventually came over, reminded us there would be a 15-20 minute wait, and asked us if we would be staying. We told him we would stay (at this point felt we were unwanted dinner guests). I also asked for a wine list. He handed it to me and left. Several minutes later, I flagged down a server and ordered my wine. My husband was upset and wanted to leave at this point, but it was my birthday and I wanted pasta so we stayed... after that, the meal was good (as I said, the food is great). If they could make guests feel special or improve their communication, I would come there all the time. Even just letting people know that their chef can only handle X tables at a time would be great. (actually, they should just have a smaller restaurant). Since then, I've suggested we go there a couple of times (I'm a pasta fan) and my husband always turns it down in favor of another restaurant in the area because he doesn't want to support the owner who would treat guests in that manner. read more