Steve F.
Yelp
This review is written on many experiences over the past 10 years.
Davanti... how we used to love you. Food was good, wine was good, customer service was amazing.
Then covid happened and you changed.
Your wine list changed. Your menu changed. Those happen and periodic adjustments should be expected. However, your staff... went from amazing, to horrible.
Example 1: Seated at a table in the bar. Water takes minutes to arrive, Waiter takes forever to arrive and introduce himself. Ordering process for drinks and then food is slow. Serving process is even slower. Not checked on after food served. Both water and wine glasses are empty for a long time before we get the hostesses attention. She alerts our server, who, Rather than offering us refills and a dessert menu, brings us the check. Odd, but maybe the kid is overworked and under trained. Let's chalk it up to that.
Example 2: We grab two seats at the bar on a Saturday afternoon to have a glass of wine and appetizer, with the idea of procrastinating a trip to Menards. We are served water by the bar assistant, while the bartender casually talks to another couple. And talks and talks and talks, not acknowledging us. No menus provided, no orders taken. 10 minutes pass. We leave. Bartender says "thank you for coming" on the way out. Odd, bizarre and rude.
Let's follow baseball rules... 3 strikes and you're out... or you hit a home run.
Example 3: We go to Davanti on a Sunday evening, restaurant is hardly busy. We are greeted by hostess, request a table outside which we are seated at. We are promptly brought water, and after a several minutes delay, server shows up, brings us menus. Comes back a few minutes later, takes our drinks order. Wine arrives, we order an appetizer, and main entree, noting to him to bring appetizer first. All good shows up at once. One item, a pizza is traditionally served with a seasoning side of oregano, hot peppers and salt. That does not arrive. Ok, so we eat without the seasonings. Server is not again at our table until long after we have finished our combination appetizer and main course. Drink glasses are long empty. He asks if we want dessert. We ask for the dessert menu, which is provided. 10 minutes pass. 20 minutes pass. No server. I get up, go inside, find the water kid playing on his phone, ask him where our waiter is, he says he doesn't know and to try the bar (and goes back to his phone). Waiter is in the bar, I ask him where he has been, we haven't seen him in 20 minutes. His manager interjects; she states that the waiter has been busy with a large party. (Ok, so translation is that we are a far less important customer, per manager). My wife and I have somewhere to be and are going to be late at this point. I demand the check, which I receive while manager offers dessert to go. Declined, we have no time or place to eat it as we have a place to be. Tip reflected service accordingly ($0).
Talking with other neighborhood friends, our post covid experience is not unique to us.
Sorry Davanti, three strikes, you are out. We will not be back.
