Until I came to this restaurant, I didn't think anyone could make meatballs as good as my grandpa's (may he Rest In Peace). The staff is great! Food was delish and the closest thing to actual Italian I've found around here so far. Highly recommend! Make sure to call for a reservation though! read more

We don't usually post reviews but If you are considering dining here, a few tips: -the restaurant opens at 5 pm. Try getting there before 5 pm. If there is a line of a dozen or more standing in line, plan on returning at 5:30 pm, or perhaps every half hour as the first in line get welcomed and seated first. Don't be upset if you press for seating even if the restaurant is half empty. We're puzzled as to why the restaurant doesn't take reservations, as there is a staff shortage in kitchen and wait staff. There is a permanent help wanted sign in its window. Perhaps taking reservations and guaranteeing showing up by taking a credit card first might help with greeting and accommodating the limited number of tables this restaurant can handle courteously and politely. If you do miss the first seating, don't be offended if the host/ hostess doesn't suggest waiting at the bar and enjoying a cocktail or glass of wine while you wait for your later seating. Be proactive and ask for permission to sit at the bar. Don't be offended if the bartender is curt and impatient. It's difficult to keep a good efficient staff. We're not sure if the food is good. As we were treated rudely upon entering, and they'd reached their initial seating capacity, our questions were answered impatiently and coldly. We did leave our name to return after 35 minutes. We left the restaurant and stood outside to reassess the situation. We decided it wasn't worth the attitude. So we crossed the street and had a welcoming and delicious dinner with drinks and desserts at Crate which we highly recommend. If you are familiar with the Seinfeld TV series, visiting Trattoria Dal Santo is very much like encountering the Soup Nazi. Proceed at your own risk read more

We had a wonderful dinner at Dal Santo. Waitstaff was great, helpful and pleasant. Dining area was spacious and quiet; just right for "date night"! I had the Scallopini, she had the fish. Both dishes were very tasty. Calamari to start, again, very good. Wine list was also nice. We would most certainly come back again on another trip to Door County. read more

From start to finish this was a WONDERFUL experience!! We were very warmly greeted and loved the first impression. The atmosphere is quaint and feels like you're in Europe which is enhanced by their choice of music ( perfect volume). The waitress was so helpful, attentive and thorough, plus she had the coolest glasses . The salad was incredible with locally grown tomatoes and fresh blue cheese dressing which was served with fresh baked dinner rolls...so yummy. For dinner we enjoyed the Norwegian Salmon and roasted broccoli. We loved every single bite and the presentation was spot on. Our waitress recommended a special wine which was amazing and a generous pour. It was the perfect compliment to a fantastic meal. We would definitely dine here again the next time we're in the area and we HIGHLY recommend Dal Santo! Thanks. read more

My husband and I ate here for my birthday dinner. I had the lasagna and we shared the tuna carpaccio. Everything was nothing short of amazing. read more

Trattoria Dal Santo - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

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Since my great experience as a solo diner below, I have had countless occasions of asking friends who also live here in Sturgeon Bay about coming to this restaurant with me and almost all of them suggest they don't like to dine here because of these challenges: -They won't seat larger parties than 6 (which often rules this restaurant out because my group dines out on the regular with a dozen or so folks) -They don't take reservations (which I understand can cause problems when people no show, but my opinion on this matter is to require deposits for reservations if the reason you don't take reservation is for fear of no-shows) -If you want to have a chance of dining in the restaurant on any given night, you must arrive at 5pm...particularly if you have more than 2-4 people in your party because they don't seat the entire restaurant (likely due to staffing constraints) -Cost (which honestly doesn't matter to me, but admittedly to others) -Many feel the owner is unfriendly I have dined here often, working around the first two bullets above many times since my experience below, but even those times someone in my party (once even my own mother) mentions how grumpy, unfriendly, disgruntled-looking the owner is - but I've continued to come because honestly, there isn't much food diversity in Sturgeon Bay and I need something other than supper club, bar food, or fried food on occasion. So last night was my last straw and I will never set foot in this restaurant, never recommend this restaurant, and will actively recommend others (as I do work at a downtown business) to dine elsewhere. This I because I finally convinced a group of locals to give it a try last night (as we had Theater tickets at 7:30) so a few from my party of 5 arrived at 5pm to secure a table. I walked up at about 5:04 to two of my female friends who had their mouths hanging open about the rude interaction they had just had with the owner at the door - I won't go into detail as to the conversation - but whatever the owner did left such a bad taste in my friends mouths that they both said they refused to eat there. Honestly, I was infuriated, and approached the owner in the restaurant - admittedly un-professionally - and shared my frustration with him. He never said he was sorry, offer to go out and rectify things with my party, etc. I personally told him that would be the last time he saw me in his restaurant. So all this to say, enjoy good food, but at your own mental peril. read more

Service was great. But you can always tell when real Italians run an Italian restaurant. This isn't one of them. Food was bland.

Never been so rudely greeted by a restaurant owner. If this is how he treats customers entering his restaurant, I can only imagine how he treats his employees. No wonder he's understaffed. I would not recommend eating here. read more

When in the sturgeon bay we go there- great food and atmosphere. Very good cocktails

Are you freaking kidding me! A 2 hour wait and they had 6 empty tables. They won't take reservations but yet there's a 2 hour wait. We'll never even bother trying again. read more

I love Dal Santos! We've always had good service and excellent food. My favorite is the Shrimp Scampi.

Just had a terrible experience at this restaurant. We were essentially turned away by the owner/chef/host, telling us that it would be at least a 50 minute wait because he didn't have staff and he said everyone was having problems with staffing. He was very rude and unfriendly. We went across the street to Cedar Crossing, and got seated immediately. Having a wonderful meal there right now. Shocking that Trattoria Dal Santo is still in business. Look at all the other previous reviews just to get a flavor of how horrible this place is. Definitely DO NOT go here. read more

We went here for the first time for my 50th birthday tonight. We arrived right when they opened and the owner greeted us and sat us. The waitress was so sweet and she was concerned when I didn't finish my salad, I just wanted to save room for the food! The food came out quick, hot and yummy! My husband was shocked to see the mostaccioli come out without a red sauce but he was pleasantly surprised with the pasta and meatballs! Overall, great food, atmosphere and service! read more

Trattoria Dal Santo - Shrimp scampi yummy! - Italian Near Me - Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Great ambiance , food was off the charts ! Highly flavorful, mushroom soup was to die for. Had the Lamb shank and it was delicious. My husband had the walleye with mash potatoes and it was amazing . Buns , wow ! This is definitely a hidden gem Thank goodness sturgeon bay has this place . Will return . read more

Excellent Caesar and Lamb shank preparation is very pleasing. Very nice and professional staff.

I've been coming here while on vacation for about 8 years. It's always excellent having maintained a comfortable and inviting atmosphere, delicious food, and impeccable service. It's elegant dining the way only the Italians can do it. Menu items change over time but always present something new and intriguing. Tonight I ordered take out due to other obligations and I discovered mushroom fonduta. It's an appetizer but could certainly pass for an entree. The stuffing in the mushrooms included cheese and walnuts that made me ask myself why I wasn't eating this every day of my life. It was surrounded by a cheesy Alfredo-like sauce. Our entree was a Norwegian Salmon with a balsamic syrup which was different for a salmon dish but blended quite well with the rest of our dinner options. Of course we also had a Caesar salad which is unsurpassed in terms of freshness, texture and the flavors of the dressing and anchovies. No one makes a better Caesar salad than this. My only regret is that this time I did not get to order from their wine menu. They consistently have good prices for wines that cost much more in other restaurants. The list is focused on Italian wines but has good options both domestic and from other countries. Brunello, Chianti Classico, Montepulciano, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay or a sparkling wine - every wine on this list is good. Trattoria Dal Santo is one of my all time favorite restaurants. read more

I first visited this restaurant my sophomore prom many moons ago in a location that no longer exists. Tonight didn't disappoint my memories. Food was made for tastebud happiness. When my husband tried my ravioli, he glared jokingly saying, "my only regret tonight is not ordering that dish". I saved the last ravioli for him. His chicken Parmesan was well done. The tiramisu was one of the top 5 I have ever eaten. The chocolate crust was delicious and the flavor profile of the overall dish was satisfying. The dishes we tried were simple with excellent execution. The downtown location offers glimpses of the main street. I think it would be a gorgeous date night on a winter evening with fluttering snowflakes and glowing street lamps. read more

Trattoria Dal Santo - Sazerac - Italian Near Me - Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

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Excellent restaurant. After a few days in Michigan, with meat and potato heavy meals, this place was an excellent respite for this Californian. I had the walleye, which was delicious. Ordered an extra serving of seasonal vegetables (roasted broccoli), which i so felt i needed. Wine by the glass was $7-9, which is about half what I'd pay in California. Tiramisu for desert was excellent, and also about half what I'd be charged in CA. read more

everything was great, from the server to the food and hand crafted cocktails. We both had pasta dishes and were very much impressed with the sauce and meats . I highly recommend this place. read more

Honestly one of the best meals I've ever had. I ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blanc with Mostaccioli Rapido with sausage. The flavor was incredible. I overheard people having concerns with the service but my experience was wonderful. I would love to come back over and over again. read more

Trattoria Dal Santo - a plate of pasta and sausage - Italian Near Me - Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Good food, good friendly service, located downtown with lots of parking Frequent it often. read more

Called to place to go order. Owner took order. Seemed like he didn't want my order and told me no often and with attitude. He said their To-Go system could only pick up in 1.5 hours. He said they "have" to do it that way. Ordered from busier Sonny's - ready in 1/2 hour. We both agreed to cancel the order and he lost a local customer for life. read more

Delicious food! I had the chicken & spinach ravioli and my bf had the beer cheese soup as an app and the lasagna. We both finished everything. We wanted a nice dinner and this place delivered. Everything else in the area is more casual. read more

Trattoria Dal Santo - Chicken & Spinach Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

I have never been to a restaurant that would not take seven of us. They wouldn't even seat us as 4 and 3 !! Plus they were rude. Never will we ever return to this place even if we are a group of 4. I consider this a questionable operation. Good luck read more

The greeter has an incredibly snobby and sarcastic personality. The food is mediocre and overpriced. Their attempt at creating ambiance results in the effect of sitting in a dark cave. Coming here for a meal is a quick way to sour your vacation in Door County. read more

Wow! This place is a hidden gem! Rachel, our server was absolutely fantastic. Everything about her recommendations was spot on and I'm so glad I listened. we started with the stuffed mushroom caps which were out of this world (homemade stuffing and blue cheese sauce!!) I had the scallops special and my husband had the chicken Parmesan...we ate everything on our plates and can't wait to come back again. Thank you for a very memorable date night! read more

We went to Trattoria Dal Santo after it was recommended by local friends. We were not disappointed and will absolutely eat here again during our next visit to Door County. The service was outstanding and the food was excellent. I had the chicken/spinach ravioli and my husband had a calamari dish. Both were fresh and delicious. And to top off our evening, we had a slice of the homemade tiramisu. Whenever this dessert is on a menu, we try it (something we've been doing for the 20+ years we've been married). This was the best tiramisu I've ever had. Reasonable prices too! read more

Trattoria Dal Santo - Spinach/chicken ravioli in brown butter sauce. Divine! - Italian Near Me - Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

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I have been coming to this place since it was located in an old train depot down the street in the early 1990s. I just moved back to Sturgeon Bay from Milwaukee, and we came here to celebrate our anniversary. We could not have been more delighted! One of the things I love about DalSanto's is that they maintain tradition while also continuing to evolve. We had a delicious shrimp appetizer, and a wonderful Caesar Salad. The chicken parmesan was perfect - and was a normal amount of food, not the excessive portion that some folks serve. My partner really enjoyed her salmon. For dessert, we had the most luscious and perfect tiramisu! We could not have loved our meal more. I'm torn between wanting to go back regularly, and wanting to keep it as a special treat - maybe we'll have to try to make it both! read more

My wife had the lamb shank and I had the lasagna. Both were delicious... the whiskey old fashioned was excellent, and the tiramisu dessert was delightful. I haven't had a Caesar Salad that good since I lived in New York. Would happily go back. read more

Que buenismo! This place was absolutely fantastic. Apologies for not providing pictures, however, I will be sure to share more photos of my experiences from here on out. All in all, this place is the real deal. Very quick service and lovely ambience. Make sure you stop in and place your name on the list as it's a first come first serve type deal. The old fashioned bourbon drink is one of the best I've ever had. It's not watered down and has a very refreshing aftertaste -- I do recommend this as your drink of choice. As for the meal, I had the chicken parmesan with pasta and a side of salad. My goodness that was a lovely combination. I would highly recommend this establishment to anyone. Thanks for making our experience a great one. read more

Highly disappointed. Their food might be ok, but the management/ownership completely ruined it for me. Definitely don't recommend giving business to owners who are extremely rude and use COVID as an excuse when there are so many other restaurants struggling. read more

The food here is top notch! The flavor of every dish is incredible and my family an I have tried nearly everything on the menu. The lasagna and the lamb shank are favorites. The lobster risotto and ravioli are also incredible. Set in downtown sturgeon bay, this is the place to go when in town. The chef here is one of the best on the peninsula, don't miss out!!! read more

Went here for dinner while visiting Door County over Labor Day Weekend. Definitely recommend making reservations. I ordered the ribeye with garlic mashed potatoes and beer cheese soup. The food was good but I feel like I was expecting more based on previous reviews I had read. The beer cheese soup was tasty but a little watered down, with pieces of what appeared to be ham, which I wasn't expecting. The food portions were kind of small. The server and host were friendly and punctual. Bathrooms were clean. Decor in the restaurant was pretty. read more

Our favorite restaurant!! The chef really cares about your experience. He often comes out and chats with customers. I love the ravioli. It had some crispy sage leaves on top and brown butter. The tuna carpaccio is amazing. Really, everything is delicious. Love this place!! read more

What a great place! We ordered takeout and the staff at the front was both friendly and professional. The food was excellent and we really appreciated the hot rolls. All them in all, I would recommend this place to anyone! read more

Food and service were great! We were advised to get there when they opened if we didn't want to wait long (since they don't take reservations); we did and were seated right away. Will definitely return! read more

Great Italian restaurant with excellent service We had calamari which was light and the dipping sauce was delicious. Also tuna carpaccio which was so fresh and tasty. The Caesar salad was outstanding and even came with optional anchovies. The best was the entrée and we both had salmon and cooked to perfection, just medium rare and melted in the month. Flavors rocked. We washed it down with a bottle of unoaked Italian Chardonnay. This was our first visit and definitely will return very soon. read more

Do NOT go here if you expect a respectful experience. We attempted to go with a group of 7. When we politely inquired we were informed they could only take groups of 6 or fewer. While we were regrouping outside, we were pursued by the owner who seemed intent on picking an argument. He informed us that they "have reasons" for the rule and that he has "30 years of experience" and seemed quite disappointed when we did not engage with him. It was a very bizarre and unsettling situation, I would be very wary of going anywhere near him again and would urge others to exercise caution in visiting this establishment. read more

Solid restaurant. Ambiance was great and the service was attentive and courteous. It was a cute place and a convenience location for travelers being right on 3rd street in downtown Sturgeon Bay. The food was pretty good considering the fact we're from the Chicagoland area and totally spoiled when it comes to food. The Caesar salad was a strong standout but it was HUGE considering it was a side salad. I didn't finish it despite how good it was for fear I wouldn't be able to eat my actual dinner. I did think they could dial back the dressing a bit or I would ask for it on the side next time but still was really tasty. Main course was filet for me and ribeye for my hubby. My steak was cooked as I asked and I loved the demi glaze they put on it. Hubby likes the ribeye but it was a little fatty and he didn't feel like he got his full money's worth due to all the fat. We both had the garlic mashed potatoes which where really creamy and delicious. The wine selection was good too. I had the best Sauvignon Blanc and my hubby loves the white port he picked out. We didn't get dessert cas we were too full. Our only MAJOR suggestion to the business is to GET BETTER STEAK KNIVES! It was soooo hard to cut the steak with the ones they gave us even though the steak was tender....it was like cutting steak with a butter knife. That said, it was a solid restaurant in the Sturgeon Bay area and would recommend. read more

Table service is great. The food is reasonably good, but it's declined over the past few years and some of our favorites have been dropped from the menu with no chance of returning. The owner was rude and nasty to us when we tried to compliment the table service and food. Used to be one of our favorite spots, but I won't waste my money here again. read more