Davanti - Review - River Oaks - Houston - The Infatuation
"Davanti may be in a nondescript office building center, but don’t let that deter you. It’s a nice Italian spot to get a good lunch. The tables in the railcar-sized dining room are filled with couples carving into pistachio-crusted lamb chops as friends crowd around the dessert display case looking for a torta or cannoli. There’s a sizable menu, but focus your energy on the pasta—especially the handmade tagliatelle with perfectly shredded lamb. After a meal here, you’ll learn that some of the best pasta can be found across the street from an optometrist’s office. Food Rundown photo credit: Gianni Greene Grilled Octopus Alla Pugliese Davanti could teach a masterclass on grilling octopus. One where each piece retains just enough snap without getting rubbery. Get a few slices of bread to soak up the mountain of slightly acidic sauce piled on the plate, and ensure that no olive gets left behind. video credit: Gianni Greene Tagliatelle With Lamb Sauce All' Abruzzese The handmade tagliatelle maintains a balance of firm without being too chewy. And the lamb sprinkled throughout the dish is tender enough to fall apart with just a few glances at the plate. This is the pasta to get. Pistachio Torta Of all the treats in the dessert display case, the pistachio torta needs to be the priority. It doesn’t topple you over with sweetness, and it still feels light enough to finish after your meal. Make sure to grab an extra slice for the road." - Gianni Greene
