In my eyes: Any place that has great Italian wines AND creative gelato combinations is frankly my seventh heaven.
No seriously, if I could choose my own food groups, wine and gelato would have the highest serving requirements out of anything else (olives and cheese would be a close 2nd and 3rd.)
What I really like about this place are the options it provides...
- Do you want to dine in? OK. Order then they'll bring it to you.
- Do you want to take it to go? That's alright too. They'll still bring it to you.
- Want to enjoy a glass of wine on the patio? I'll meet you there.
- Want to just stop in for gelato? Sure thing. Take a pint to go or a scoop on-site. The gelato side is sort of separate from the dining room anyway.
I was able to enjoy just about every option on my trip and everything was delightful. The eggplant parmesan was firm & flavorful (and neither too big, nor too small.) My glass of wine (although I don't remember what it was) was a great, bold compliment to my meal. My favorite and most revered moment of my experience at DaVinci though was the basil chocolate gelato.
Yes! Basil chocolate gelato! I've never tasted anything like it. Amazing. Pray to the heavens they have it on your visit! But if they don't, I'm confident one or more of the other dozen-plus flavors will please your palette.
Their entrees can be overly drenched in oil, but super delicious. It's a good Italian place for to-go orders. They are pretty prompt with their orders and the service is very friendly. Be careful with then self-serve garlic bread - you can easy get full off it. I like their pastas and salads. I think the entree that I order most often is the shrimp scampi. The frutto di mare alfredo (bay scallop + shrimp in lobster cream sauce) is my second favorite - very very rich and filling. They do a good job with all their food so I don't think you can go wrong. There is a lot of places to sit to eat too because a lot of people get their order to go. Definitely my go-to place for Italian to take home.
Review Source:6/1112. This place is owned and run by the same people who ran the old DaVinci's on Henderson Rd. this place has the same great food in a smaller setting. he addition is a great side area where you can buy gellatto. We were there at6:00 pm on a Monday night and it was croded. You won't go wrong where!
Review Source:Heard some of the waiters and managers speak in Italian, that in itself a super mood booster for me. Must be good, or it's better be good.
I always love the atmosphere of little nicely decorated cafe, and DaVinci clearly have those elements. Not a big ice cream person, so gelato was fine for me, but the eggplant was great. Superb and friendly customer service too, my friend's lasagna was too salty and the cook admitted her mistakes (sometimes they use diff cheese and can't control the saltiness), they kept thanking us for letting them know and offered my friend different food.
Nice, cozy, fast-casual Italian restaurant in Upper Arlington. They have an impressive menu with lots to choose from. That being said, the food is good, but not spectacular. It is basically what you would expect from a fast-casual Italian place. If I was reviewing the food alone, I would give this place three stars, but the gelato is absolutely wonderful, so I bumped it up one star. If you can't decide what to get, go with the "buckeye gelato." It is heavenly. The staff here is friendly, and for a place that doesn't really have wait service assigned to specific tables the staff that roams around the dining room is quite attentive and helpful. Overall, a solid dining choice, especially if you plan on getting some gelato after you eat.
Review Source:If Cafe DaVinci is anything, it's overrated.
They do have a nice lunch special where you get a fair amount of food that is better-than-fast-food quality for a good price.
However, outside of the special, the prices are about 40% than they should be for food of this quality.
First of all, this is not Italian food. This is American-Italian food. There's a pretty big difference (most notably in the number of calories / heaviness of the sauces).
That being said, most of the times in the last few years that I've gone to Cafe DaVinci's in the past few years, I had trouble finishing my entrees because of how -greasy- they all tasted. Lasagna? Greasy? What? There's no reason pasta with sauce should taste greasy. There's literally no ingredient involved with Italian food that should taste remotely greasy.
I do love their house salad. It comes with blue cheese crumbles, dark greens, mandarin oranges, and a nice house vinaigrette. Most of the times I go to Cafe DaVinci's now, I go just for a salad.
If you are a Columbus, OH resident and have not been here and you like Italian cuisine, stop by this cafe.
Food is fresh, well-prepared and served in perfectly measured portions. We had lunch today and left feeling content and happy.
Staff are friendly and seem to enjoy working there.
Price was spot on for the quality and quantity.
Here is the main reason I will return many times to this cafe: atmosphere. Friendly and courteous with a hint of pride in their food. Bravo! is all I have to say.
The only caveat I found during my visit was lack of ample space. I can imagine customers jostling into each other when the place is crowded. Still, the food, fresh garlic bread and entrees more than make up for it.
This is my favorite place for take out or dine in Italian food. Â The staff is extremely welcoming. Â They remember you if you have been there before, which is a plus. Â The last time I ate in with my son and his lovely girlfriend, Â they went out of their way to get us seated. The tiny eating area is always packed, so I tend to get my order to go. Â But the pasta dishes are large and satisfying, and the prices are very reasonnable. Â Don't miss the gelato. Â They went to Italy to learn how it make it, and it shows. Â They just need to make double the amount of the chocolate, as this ultra smooth and creamy addiction always seems to sell out before I get there.
Review Source:Caffe DaVinci is not my favorite Italian joint, but it's a nice alternative to fast food, and their prices are pretty reasonable. Â The owner is very personable, and the staff is accommodating, so I've been here a few times now.
They have a respectably sized menu, but I've never been head-over-heels in love with anything I've gotten. Â Tonight I had the chicken marsala, and the chicken was juicy and tender, but the marsala sauce didn't have quite as much flavor as I'd have liked. Â I've had the gnocchi as well, and found it to be on the gooey side, and the red sauce they use on many of the pasta dishes also lacks the amount of flavor I'd like.
So I'm feeling somewhat unenthusiastic about the food, but if you're in the neighborhood, it's worth stopping by to get a cup of gelato. Â It has the right consistency, they have delicious flavors, and is definitely not ice cream dressed up in gelato pants.
Woah, a 5-star review! I really think this place is as good as it gets for fast, fresh, friendly Italian at lunchtime.
This was my first time in to Caffe DaVinci, even though I've meant to come here for awhile now. It's close to where I live, and I used to enjoy the granddaddy restaurant back in the day at Henderson and Reed. Plus, I had a gift card.
This place is one of those joints where you order at the counter, and then your food is delivered to your table a la Noodles & Company. At first I was a little overwhelmed by the menu because I had to read it above the counter, and it's rather extensive. The ordering line is in a tight spot, and I felt pressured to make decisions as the area filled up with people. I was relieved to discover they have a "Pick Two" option for lunch. I got the wedding soup (a favorite at the other restaurant) and the Davinci salad.
As you leave the counter to find a table, you will notice a little serve-yourself bread bar. You can pile as many slice of focaccia (soft and fresh) as you'd like, and create a dipping plate of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and spices. Now you have a little nibble plate while you wait for your food to come out! It's like having the best of a full-on Italian dining experience without the time commitment. Just get to the good stuff and get on with your day.
Even the napkins have that cloth-like feeling even though they are paper. The big ones. I love that kind of napkin.
The food definitely tastes fresh, not warmed over. I think this is pretty amazing, given the "express" vibe. The wedding soup is incredible with meatballs and chicken. My salad was a TAD on the oily side, but there were enough things to make up for this and still give my 5-star rating.
You can really tell the workers here love this place. I don't know if the woman we interacted with the most was the owner or what, but she was bound and determined for us to have the best experience possible. She cleared away dishes, made more room for us at our table (by moving off the s&p caddy, etc), and she also refilled our drinks. Okay, so drink refills seems pretty standard, but remember this is NOT a waiter-service kind of place. The drink fountain is self-serve. So, that was a nice touch.
Then, we decided to step into the back area for some gelato. The same woman was excited to explain each flavor and give us samples. My dining mate ended up getting some chocolate gelato with a shot of espresso poured over it, expertly crafted in a to-go cup since he was on a tight schedule. I had the lemoncello and it was delish and authentic-tasting.
I mentioned I was using a giftcard... well, after the gelato purchase, I had gone 7 cents over the amount on the card. Our little friend threw in the 7 cents, and I left Caffe DaVinci with nothing left on my card... it felt efficient! I'll be back though, hopefully soon!
Went here with some friends for dinner on the weekend. Â Very tight space for seating, overall the food is not anything amazing. Â Noodles with most of our dishes seemed a little overcooked (too soft), red sauce is bland. Â Wife had eggplant, husband had chicken parm - both were average. Â For dessert, had some cannolis - which are some of the better cannoli we have had in Columbus!! Â Also tried some gelato, which was very good. Â
Pricing is slightly high for the quality of food and the tight seating.
What sets this place apart is the service! Â Everybody working there was super friendly and helpful with everything. Â The owner (female) came out and ended up playing with our 2 year old daughter for 10 minutes (which allowed us to eat and relax with our friends for once). Â After 10 minutes, our daughter was giving her hugs and loving her! Â Amazing service...thank you, we will be back!
Caffe Da Vinci has great service and good food. During the summer months, I frequent CDV for their gelatos and only once did they not have their hazelnut gelato. It's creamy and so flavorful--I die. I went a couple of days ago to pick up a chicken parm sandwich for lunch and a pint of their hazelnut gelato. The only "negative" about the gelato is that it's $8 a pint. However, it's just so good and since it's so hard to come by, I totally think it's worth it.
As for their food, I tried their pastas and their sandwich. It's really just okay. I wasn't blown away by their sauces or their breads... so, I would definitely go back for their gelatos but not really for their food.
I came back for dinner this past weekend. Â To me, it continues to be my main source for good red sauce, a light alfredo sauce, and a great overall Mom and Pop Italian with a cafe twist.
I guess if the reviewers who believe in giving a place one star were a little more descriptive in what they ordered, you may have some guidance on what NOT to order. Â But since they aren't, let me assure you you will get a great chicken or veal parm, great chicken roma (non-breaded parm), a great eggplant parmesean, a tasty chicken alfredo, any pasta alfredo, and some tasty pasta and meatballs. Â the Italian panini is delicious as well. Â And the puffy pizza bread hat accompanies your meal is good as well.
Don't forget the gelato for dessert.....
The food was mediocre. Â The taste and quality of my lasagna was unremarkable. Â The worst part was the service. Â I ordered take-out. Â Three different people answered my call and kept putting me on hold. Â There was very little organization. Â Upon arrival, I was waiting for my ordered and was watching the employees work. Â Talk about unorganized! Â No one seemed to know what they were doing. Â Complete chaos. Â The staff was also so unfriendly to me, I was completely shocked. Â I will never go back, even though it's close to my house.
Review Source:When it comes to dinner with the parents, Caffe DaVinci frequently comes up as the meeting spot. Dad loves the little, family-run DaVinci's for its chicken Parmesan sandwich and proximity to the school where he teaches. Mom loves it for the sugar-free offering in the gelato case (she's pre-diabetic and seriously missing all things chocolate), and even my burgers-and-fries brother can be satisfied by the hand-tossed pizzas (which are big enough to share, but try telling him that).
Myself, I fantasize about a singular menu item here, and it draws me back again and again: Tina's Salmon Salad. As I can't eat wheat, Italian can be a bit daunting; I typically get stuck eating salad and drooling over everyone else's entrees. Not so at DaVinci's. This salad gives its peers from pricier venues a run for their money. The fish is always expertly prepared - mouthwateringly tender, but never undercooked. Â The romaine is always fresh, the pears sweet and crisp. And and as far as I'm concerned, dried cranberries and blue cheese crumbles could make even your neighbor's tuna casserole sing. (Try this with the honey vinaigrette vs. the vinegar and oil it typically is served with).
(Just one warning - the pasta portions aren't as ridiculously overblown as they seem to be at other restaurants, so if your aim is to scarf, you may want to add a salad to your pasta selection. Or, you know, just go crazy on the complimentary fococcia and olive oil)
But then there's dessert. DaVinci's offers a few traditional Italian sweets (cannoli, tiramisu), but once you take a post-dinner trip over to the gelato case, you'll see why the other desserts are largely neglected. With a dozen mounds of creamy flavors (and almost always one made with Splenda for diabetics or those just looking out) like mango, donatella, stracciatella and Buckeye (decidedly un-Italian, but one of my favs), this may be the reason you can't stop coming back.
Last night (many nights, to be honest), the place was a little on the full side with LOTS of kiddos running around (try stopping in later in the evening to avoid the always-bustling dinner rush). I love children, but am easily distracted by the inevitable hellions in the room (my Nanny 911 instincts kick in, and I have to fight the urge not to get up and correct their parents' lack of...well, parenting.) It's probably not such a big deal for most, and may even be a plus if you're thinking about bringing your own family in.
As if all this wasn't tempting enough, the service, on top of everything, is fantastic. A lot of the staff are family members, and even those who aren't do an impressive impression. A dinner at DaVinci's feels much like a big family gathering - everyone working together to eat well and talk endlessly. So maybe I lied about all those other things. Maybe this is why I (and Mom and Dad and my brother and my boyfriend....) can't resist humble but delectable DaVinci's.
~a
I never had the pleasure of eating at the landmark DaVinci's Restaurant when it stood on the corner of Henderson & Reed Roads for 30 years; I wasn't about to miss the opportunity to try out their latest incarnation, which is a smaller, full-service cafe at Kingsdale shopping center.
My first experience with their food was attending a wedding shower catered by DaVinci's. I was blown away by the lasagna and gorged on cheese ravioli. Figured if they do bulk food extremely well, I can only imagine how good the individual portions will be.
In general, I found the dining experience to be rather streamlined, which is always appreciated when in a hurry. Â It reminds me, in some ways, of the Italian version of La Chatelaine, where you order your food at a counter, seat yourself and a server delivers it to your table. While you're waiting, help yourself to a variety of breads and oils or water, located at a free-standing station. Of course, like at all good Italian restaurants, you can have your fill of vino too!
The restaurant is much more spacious than one might expect from the outside, where a few patio tables overlook Tremont Road. Seating does not present a problem. My sister and I grabbed a table outside on a toasty August day; resisted ordering wine in lieu of much-needed water. Her pizza and my panini was delivered in a timely manner and the service was friendly, but not overly-attentive- which I prefer.
When it comes to dessert, pop in next door to the (adjacent) Gelateria for a scoop or two of Italian gelato. While I am not a fan of the milky stuff, the parlor always looks busy and people seem quite content with the product. The owners inform me their gelato is classic- made all natural, with no preservatives. The traditional chocolate and vanilla, along with Buckeye gelato are among the most popular flavors.
In general, Caffe DaVinci provided a nice lunch experience and I look forward to trying dinner sometime soon. I'll certainly write more when the time comes.
I went to Caffe DaVinci for dinner this week as a last minute decision. Â It wasn't my choice, and honestly, I settled on it. Â I'm so very happy that I didn't put up a fight. Â It was absolutely perfect!
I ordered their DaVinci salad. Â It sounds way more exotic than it is. Â It's simply bagged lettuce (or mixed greens) with tomatoes, cucumbers and on olive. Â Not bad, but nothing special. Â My date on the other hand ordered the minestone which I couldn't shut up about! Â I guess it was pretty tasty. Â We also ordered a 14" Margherita pizza to share. Â We were informed that our meal would be brought to our table-we ordered at the counter. Â
On our way to a table, we found the bread and oil stop. Â Here you can select your own bread and create your own oil, vinegar and spice combination. Â I love being in control, this was great!
After the salad and soup, our pizza arrived. Â It was so cheesy and crisp. Â a perfect combination. Â It's a thin crust with real pieces of garlic, basil, tomatoes and real mozzarella. Â I definitely walked away with the taste of garlic in my mouth, but it was so worth it!
There was no one else there, so we got to sit anywhere we wanted. We arrived pretty late. Â They close at 9p on Wednesday, and we got there around 8:30p. Â They were so sweet though. Â We didn't realize they were closing. Â They let us finish our meal and conversation. Â Eventually we were ready to leave when I had to see the gelato selection. Â Then, of course, after seeing the gelato, we had to have some! Â Again, super sweet, they came out from cleaning to give us some samples before serving us a full cup.
Every once in a while, I really regret taking so long to finally eat at a restaurant. Upper Arlington's Caffe DaVinci has been open for about a year and a half -- and I've seriously missed out by not eating there until now. This place is great!
Caffe DaVinci features fast casual Italian -- think Panera meets Fazoli's. That's a little unfair, though. At Fazoli's, you can taste the microwave. Everything at DaVinci is fresh, flavorful and awesome. The Veal Parmigiana is surprisingly tender. You can ask for  it on a sandwich with delicious focaccia bread. The Chicken Penne is terrific: chicken, penne and asparagus in a basil cream sauce. So tasty!
In addition to the sizeable menu, there is complimentary fresh baked focaccia with olive oil and herbs for the tables, adding a touch of class. Oh, they've got gelato too! Who can resist? This is the sort of place that will be a local chain before you know it. Go here now!
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