Da Vinci

I went there last weekend for a formal dinner with the family, and we decided to try DA VINCI after a make over and I was surprised how simple and spacious this space has become, it use to be a mess before remodeling. Any way we start with some appetizers for the table, a stuffed Zucchini flowers, a plate of cheeses and charcuterie, the portions were good and the zucchini flowers tasted so delicious it was stuffed with ricotta cheese and wild mushrooms, then after that we had some pastas courses and really i was impressed with the way how they make it here like the manicotti alla amatriciana it was a real amatriciana it reminded me the time when i was in Rome (italy) a smoky guanciale and nice tasty pecorino cheese, and in my opinion that's Italian cooking simple ingredients and no chef in LA gets it. As well we ordered pappardelle lamb ragu and it was flavorful and the pasta was cooked the right way. After that we had our main courses, we had a Duck with polenta, a Branzino, Ossobucco and Lamb duo, and boy what a portions , I liked the way how they did the representation of the dishes, my Branzino was fresh and tasty : imagine it cost only $25 i had Branzino in couple places in beverly hills before they were for $40 and they never tasted as good as this one it's imbleiveble! , every one else enjoyed their meal and could not believe how good the food is and how reasonable the prices are. Definitely i will come back again to eat real italian food and save money. Pros: outstanding food and service with reasonable prices Cons: valet parking more

It was the worst night we ever had at any restrauant.we made an reservation for 7 p.m. and we could not find the place because we were from out of state.We kept in phone contact until we were able to find the place by 7:45 p.m.The Matradee did not look very happy and we reserved table 9 where Dean martin use to sit. We ordered the steak and it was terriable it was almost burnt and we asked for the house Tiamarsu and of course they didn't have tah we settled for second best. I even wrote to the Da Vincis and complained and I never got a reply back.I said I could have got better food at Wendy's or Ponderosa than here.I have no idea why every body thinks it is a wonderful place to eat.maybe because he new we were Canadians and he didn't like canadians but he sure like our money.I don't know why there is such a big deal about this place I will never go there again god knows what they served us that evening. Pros: have great parking Cons: Ignorant Matradee more

I went in not expecting much since the place looked rather quiet, and yes the crowd seemed a bit older than I usually hang out with but when we were seated we were treated like royalty. Waiter was very attentive and didn't hover over us or neglected us - it was just perfect. Food was good and not bland or overly spicy. The portions were OK though I'm more of a "super size" meal type of guy. Prices were a bit higher than what I wanted to pay but, come on! you're on Beverly Hills! so I guess it's standard for that type of area. We were happy and delighted with the service, food, wine and the desert came with a very entertaining preparation right in front of us! The only thing I would improve on is the atmosphere. It's great if you want to be there for a quiet candle lite dinner but not for casual meal. more

Cool place! Invited by a friend celebrating her birthday! Never been here before, they had some live entertainment which we all enjoyed and were pleasanlty surprised. Orderd the Osso Bucco which I must say was the best I've had. They're selection of Martini's was interesting although I know a lot of places have but at least for the price these mixes were very good, strong, and served in a large glass which made it worth the price. I'd recommend this place for a hot date you'd like to impress. This was quite a different experience with real attentive staff and tasty Italian. Ask them for the crepes Flambee (if that's how you spell it), the show was amazing when they prepare it. I'd go back again. more

Service: attentive, but a bit too effiminate. The food: horrible! The prices: it's LA, everything's ridiculously overpriced. Pros: Host Cons: The food more

We recently went for a romantic dinner to celebrate 6 months of being married and it was a perfect evening. We?ve visited a few times before and have never been disappointed with the food? in fact it?s some of the best high-end Italian food we?ve had in LA. It was even better this time around. My husband got the lamb which he raved about. I?m not a huge fan of lamb but even I thought his tasted great. I got the seafood linguine platter with lobster which sold me! It was a solid dish and the seafood melted in my mouth. The dessert was spectacular and stole the show! We had butterscotch crepes made right in front us, flambeed with some brandy and served with a side of ice cream. To say it was to die for would be an understatement! What really ups the enjoyment of the experience at DaVinci?s (besides the wonderful food) is the attentive, dedicated service. Our waiter (sometimes waiters) were very professional, made recommendations, and were there at our beck and call. Outstanding service! Their great wine selection, mood-setting music and overall ?classic Hollywood? ambience really make for a perfect night out. I would definitely recommend DaVinci?s whether you?re looking for a romantic night out, to celebrate a special occasion, or if you?re just looking for the best Italian food in town. Pros: Romantic, delicious food, great waitstaff Cons: Would be great as a late night drinks place more

Enjoyed a great meal at my favourite LA restaurant: Da Vinci in Beverly Hills. As usual, we were treated very well: As Carl and Amy my friends are big Caesar salad fans, we started with a Caesar (made tableside with a dark dressing that skipped the eggs), followed by a small assortment of pastas (gnocci with pesto, fusilli with basil and fresh tomato sauce, baked white and spinach linguini, and a ricotta ravioli with tomato sauce), followed by New York steak with fresh vegetables, then caramel crepes (flambeed tableside and made with cream, Kahlua, brandy and sugar), and a slice of amazing lemon cake for the table to share. Had red wine with the steaks (everyone at the table had either steak or veal), but forgot to note the variety and producer. It was recommended by our waiter, and I concurred. Very drinkable, and pretty much right what the doctor ordered :). I ordered up a batch of "chocolate cake" shots to round out the meal, having been introduced to them a day earlier by the owners! :) Carl and Amy were amazed with the restaurant, and I treated them to dinner. In fact, Carl's jaw dropped when he walked in, and realized that this really was a classic Hollywood-style restaurant, but with updated cuisine. He and his wife are real Hollywood buffs, yet had never really experienced that kind of genuine, classic style. Needless to say, they had a great time and have been raving about the meal ever since. (I think Carl said he told 16 people about it yesterday at work!, and several times now, they have thanked us and said they had never been `treated to such a wonderful meal.) It's nice to introduce folks to a new experience. And the service at DaVinci always makes you feel like a celebrity yourself. Pros: Service, atmosphere, cuisine Cons: Easily missed from street more

I visited Da Vinci last night after visiting LACMA and was not really sure what to expect, although I did know this was the former dining spot for Dean Martin... The interiors reminded me of my great-grandmother's pad in Florida with splashes of salmon pink and baby blue booths. The clientele was just as we expected, we were the youngest patrons by many years. Our food was simple, as was the menu. I am not sure how they calculate a prix fixe menu of $40 with a "your choice" range from chicken or steak or pasta to whatever (along with a starter and desert). My husband took advantage, but I stuck with pasta and salad. Large portions and simple seasoning, which if you are in the mood, it works. The service was amazing and spot on, I guess from years of practice. I was a bit turned off by the TWO towers of advertisers' cards in the entry way leading to the bathroom. I was not sure how these fit in the mix of coiffed hair and Dean Martin tunes. Oh well, maybe that is the restaurant?s way of updating the scene. Pros: Service, old school ambiance Cons: Simple dishes, decor more

I was in L.A. for a week from Canada and I was recommended to eat at Da Vinci by a friend of mine in L.A. It was a beautiful thing from beginning to end, and I want to thank the staff there for everything. My friend Darren was extremely impressed with the service and the attention to detail. I must say I agree! They're right up there with any of the Michelin-starred restaurants I've eaten at in France (none in Italy so far... but now I think I should go!). Everything was served graciously, the service was smooth and efficient without being "in your face". And the main attraction -- the food -- was just fantastic. The attention to detail in antipasta course was self evident. A tip, not everything is on the menu, they'll prepare anything for you if they have it. I'm a huge fan of the simple tomato salad -- I make one for myself almost every evening during the summer -- so I really appreciated the huge slice of bocconcini (I can only get the baby-tomato-sized ones back home) , followed by the aged parmesan (one of the world's best eating cheeses, yet most people don't think of it except as a topping!). It was a wonderful combination of flavours along with the prosciutto and even smoked salmon. All fantastic. I loved the pasta sampler... making special note of the spinach linguini (I was pretty sure it was spinach) in cream sauce, and the fresh tomato sauce on the penne. Beautiful, with delicate flavours. The Caesar salad was perfect -- and a great side table show. The Sea Bass was perfectly cooked, seasoned and served with panache. Next time -- and there will definitely be a next time -- I will save room for the crepes flambeed for dessert. Carlos the waiter recommended them highly, and in fact prepared some for the folks across the way. They smelled fantastic! What a wonderful place to get a classic delicious meal the way they used to serve it, with elegance and charm. I highly recommend if you're in L.A. Pros: Not a "trendy" L.A. restaurant, refreshingly classic! Cons: Gotta look out for it while driving, cause you can miss it. more

I went to this restaurant because a friend of mine recommended that had spent Valentine's Day there with his wife. WOW! What a wonderful classic place to have a dining experience. I'm only 30 but I imagine this is the way that restaurants use to be back in the rat pack days. Wonderful food, excellent tableside service, I felt like I was in my own home. You can actually conversate while enjoying your dinner. Great date place, although I went here with friends. Next round, a definate lady I'm taking. Great place to impress! I highly recommend! My friend recommended the Osso Bucco which I tried, and it melted in my mouth. It was delicious. Waiter recommended a martini called Black Forest Cake Martini! GREAT!!! The Complete Dinner Special for $35 is a steal in Beverly Hills, next time I'm with a date for sure. Pros: Service, Food, Price Cons: Hard To Find, Parking more

We ended up going here because another favourite restaurant nearby was closed on a Sunday night. I ordered the simplest Italian dish I can think of - cappellini pomodoro fresco, and it was bland and 'mushy', the pasta was overcooked and overall the dish just had no flavour. My boyfriend ordered a seafood pasta dish and again it was overcooked and had a kind of slimy texture, and the fishy, seafoody flavour smelled slightly off. Even the bread was tasteless and not very fresh. The service was pleasant if a little stuffy. Overall it was an awful and expensive meal. Pros: No wait to be seated Cons: Expensive, Tasteless food, Stuffy service more

An old Dean Martin hangout treats you like a guest in your own home. Immediately as you walk in the maitre'd greets you warmly and leads you to a very small bar to wait. It's best to have reservations. The waiters and servers are knowledgeable about each dish and can help with a suggestion. A rather quiet, classy, and private restuarant, would definitely recommend if you have some money saved up for a night out. Pros: great, warm, service, excellent food, valet Cons: small bar more

Made reservations here on a whim, and it was definately worth it. We didn't have to wait at all, and the food was EXCELLENT. The chocolate rum cake is to die for! It's a little hard to find, but definately worth it. Also, it's close to excellent shopping, so you can work off those calories before or after. :) Pros: ambience, service Cons: difficult to find, parking more