Davanti Ristorante

Customers order, pay, and are given a number stand at the register to place on a table of their choice. I love that they use white linen tablecloths and napkins. It helps to distract from the long row of tables in what feels like a narrow hallway (there are some tables placed in more of an open space near the register). There isn’t anything they can do about the layout, so it’s okay. The cashiers/waitstaff are friendly and checked on me often. I would go back just because of them. The food was good. I recommend the octopus dish and the lamb pasta. I do not recommend the house salad (I should’ve walked outside and asked the birds I saw playing if they wanted it). The next time I visit the building adjacent to Davanti Ristorante, I’ll stop by.

Pretty good spot for pasta. Was craving some fresh pasta and they have a section on the menu just for that. Everything was packaged well and was warm except for the lasagna which was warm on top but cold in the middle. I got a few items listed below with asterisks to indicate what I enjoyed: - Tagliatelle Lamb Sauce all’Abruzzese* - Lasagna alla Bolognese* - Handmade Ravioli* - Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe

First time last night. I have been looking for a restaurant that did cacio de pepe and Affagato. Excellent choice. We were early so we received the happy hour bottle of wine antipasto plate. Then pizza and cacio de pepe finished with Affagato and crème brûlée. We will be back.

My husband and I went her to celebrate our anniversary and this was an amazing experience. When we walked in we were met with a sweet owner that was funny, charming and set the tone for our experience. We asked some questions about the menu and he was very knowledgeable and helpful. After ordering we went to sit down outside and the table side service was amazing, the waiter was something out of a cartoon, hardly spoke a word but was proactive in our service refilling our teas, moving the heater closer to us. Then we had amazing salad, raviolis, and seasonal menu item all were amazing! (We are amateurs at make homemade Italian food but we are learning what’s authentic or not). Then we went to order the dessert which my husband is not much of a dessert guy and the cashier once again exceeded our expectations after what we asked for affogato was out of stock, when our chocolate dessert was brought out he surprised us with another one to try that paired. Then to finish it off another waiter noticed we were taking a Polaroid and came over to take it for us! We were so thoroughly impressed, everything was great, restaurant was clean. We can’t wait to come back!

I had a wonderful experience! The star of the show was the pasta, which was amazing, perfectly textured, and the flavors were completely spot on. We also indulged in dessert, which was just as tasty and proved to be the perfect end to our lunch. Beyond the incredible food, the service was top-notch. The staff was exceptionally friendly and attentive. I highly recommend this place for a fantastic meal and great service!

Update January 2025 (3 stars): Not sure if the chef changed since my last visit, but it was disappointing. The “special” risotto with crawfish was horrible. Completely oversalted and the risotto was too soft/mushy - not al dente. Spaghetti bolognese didn’t taste right either - the meat didn’t taste good at all. And all that for a relatively hefty price tag… Don’t think I gonna come back here March 2024 (5stars): As many others said here - very close to authentic Italian food. Sauces don’t have much sugar, no overload of cheese and oil. Ingredients are fresh. I really enjoyed the dishes here Huge shoutout to the sir taking orders and managing the place (didn’t get his name unfortunately) High recommendation for sausage pizza, pasta bolognese and lasagne. Desserts are not too sweet - recommend tiramisu and the Chocolate Decadence! The atmosphere is nice - order at the counter and food is brought to the table

Celebrated my wife’s birthday here. The service was top notch. You order at the counter. We had the burrata with prosciutto as an appetizer. It’s a must have and we will definitely order it again. My wife had the ravioli. She loved it. Creamy and delicious. The staff recommended the octopus with a side of spaghetti. I’ve never had octopus before so I was game. It was tender and smoky. Amazing flavors. We will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu!

We were blown away by the quality and freshness of each dish. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. Their desserts were amazing as well. This place will become one of our go-to spots in Houston!

I had the linguine pasta with meatballs and tomato sauce, and my wife had spaghetti with clams in a white wine sauce. You can tell that the chef prepared my pasta in a pan with the sauce. Everything was coded evenly across the pasta to the meatballs. My wife's clams were tender delicious pasta was perfect. Al dente and the sauce was delicious with the basil kick. Will definitely come back multiple times, this place is really authentically delicious.

Really enjoyed my experience here! One of the partners at the restaurant gave us a good run down of the menu and spent extra time making suggestions when someone in my party had different diet/allergy restrictions. In the display case when you walk in, they have the different types of pastas on display. They do have a gluten free pasta, which was great! The gluten-free one that they had was penne. I ended up getting the build your own carbonara, which is one of my favorite pastas. Unfortunately I think this sauce was a bit on the salty side maybe due to the parmesan? It needed a bit more liquid, but otherwise it was pretty good overall. The portion was kinda small for the price though. The meat was excellent - pork cheek. So delicious - just wanted more of it! Definitely would love to come back here to try a different pasta dish - I love the quality of the food here and getting to talk to the partner really got me excited about the different dishes. Before we left, I also tried some of their gluten-free chocolate fudge cake. Wow, that was good! Didn't get a chance to snap a pic, but it's almost like a brownie but more fudgy. If you decide to get it, you won't be disappointed!

My fiancé and I decided to try this place out of sheer convenience because it was close to our apartment. We kept going out of love for the food, the vibe, and the staff. We have never had a bad dish here and when I tell you there are so many things to try, I mean it. They have daily specials, and a happy hour for people trying to watch their spending. The dessert is something you CAN NOT skip! We have tried every single one and they're all as good as the next. Our personal favorite is the Panna Cotta! The happy hour board is very large and the bruschetta board is also humongous. My favorite dish is the Grilled Mediterranean Octopus with Side Spaghetti. It's always so satisfying and good with a glass of wine. Not sure what to get? Ask the person behind the counter! They are soo unbelievably kind and helpful! I have only ever had positive exchanges with everyone here. I even watched them remain calm and polite in the face of horrible karen customers. Although we have since moved, we're so grateful our apartment gave us this underrated GEM!

We have been sharing Davanti with family and friends, and are never disappointed. The space is elegant and welcoming. Chef Roberto indulges his passion for Italian cuisine upon his grateful guests. The handmade pastas are always Al Dente and satisfying. Ingredients are fresh and of the highest quality, seasoned to perfection. Service is friendly and accommodating, and it is always a pleasure to see Chef Roberto in the front of house ensuring that guests are delighted. Next best thing to actually dining in Italy.

I came here because we used to go to their old location - café fresco italiano. I used to love their pasta and was excited once they came back under this concept. However, I was very disappointed by the quality of the food. It didn't taste as fresh or have as much care put into it. My pasta was salty and the meat in my friends pasta tasted old. This was not the same place I came to love. I am sorely disappointed.

Small local spot that appears to make EVERYTHING from scratch and does a marvelous job! The Caesar salad is delicious and the ravioli and linguini could not have been better.

Great restaurant! BYOB so that's a great plus! Great lamb ragu and the pizza looks amazing! Can't wait to go back.

This place has some of the best Italian food I've ever tried. Everything was made so well, and it felt so authentic. The service was also excellent, and our food came out very quickly. The restaurant is kind of hidden, but I think that makes it unique. The ambiance of the restaurant is nice as well.

I dined here for lunch about a week ago. This restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating available and dedicated parking spaces next to the restaurant. I guess if those are full your next best bet is in the parking garage next door. I was a little surprised walking in that this is a counter service eatery. For some reason I thought it was going to be table service. My order was for the Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe for $19. After getting a drink from the self service machine we sat down and the meal arrived in less than 10 minutes. The rigatoni was their large size and was chewy. I love cacio e pepe and didn't mind the rigatoni pasta as opposed to other pastas that I have had it with like spaghetti. I just wanted it more tender. Also the cheese and pepper sauce was just ok taste wise. This meal was acceptable (except for the chewy rigatoni) but not worth repeating for myself if I return. It would have been nice to get some bread with it.

True Italian food! Al dente and made true to Italian standards! I will surely be back. You can bring your own wine here as well. My favorite top dish was the Carbonara.

We stopped in last weekend. I've been driving by for a while and always say we need to try it so we finally did. I did not realize it was counter service which I don't really have a problem with. We kept it simple and went with two classics Cacio E Pepe which was with rigatoni and Linguine with Clam Sauce. While I do like al dente I feel the rigatoni had too much of a chew. The sauce was ok. My dining partner said the same of the linguini. It was just ok. Even tho counter service I think some personal attention should be added. Some focaccia with olive oil maybe. Some Parmesan for the table perhaps. I think with so many other Italian restaurants in town who also make their own pasta I likely would not repeat. I am glad ai tried it though.

A great pick for when you're craving pasta but in a casual setting (or just near Costco and hungry). They have a menu of homemade pastas and you can create your own too. A display of the shapes and names of the pastas make it easy, but the numerous choices of sauces makes it hard to choose! There are daily specials as well as baked desserts like cherry chocolate cake bites, tortes, etc. The grilled octopus was super tender with a slight chew, and while it didn't have any of that char or crispiness I usually like, it was still quite delicious! I didn't think the tomato sauce served alongside really added anything as the octopus was tasty alone, and the sauce was very salty with olives and capers. Our tagliatelle with lamb sauce and conch-shaped pasta with Amatriciana sauce were so tasty-- very savory and nicely portioned to fill you up. The lamb meat was tender and in little pieces, really hit the spot. The tagliatelle was nice and al dente, but the conchiglie was slightly undercooked and was a bit hard. We still ate everything though, haha~ Service was so friendly and super! I think it was the owner's son who took our order and he was enthusiastic, answering our questions with the best smile :D You pay at the counter, fill your own cup of water, and they bring out the food. There's a handful of reserved parking for the shop, but there's also 2 hour parking all over the lot as well. Although there's the casual café atmosphere, prices aren't as cheap as you might expect (it's $18-25 ish per pasta). It gets a 4 stars from me, but I added another because for the service and quality-- you'll have to stop by at least once to try some delicious *chef's kiss* Italian flair from a local shop :) Hoping to try the seafood pasta special (Frutti di Mare) on my next visit!

The owner was great. Answered all of our questions and gave great recommendations. The staff (i.e. bussers) was friendly. The lamb pasta dish was so good. Great fresh pasta. Super tender lamb. We got the scallop wrapped in pancetta on top of risotto special and it was amazing. Scallops perfectly cooked. The risotto was super cheesy and creamy. And it seems simple but a great Cesar salad is hard to come by. This one was dressed properly. No overly crunchy croutons breaking your teeth. Just so good. No complaints.

There's a few reserved spots in front of the place for Davanti's only. Also a few tables outside on the patio! When you enter, it gives NY vibes. Order at the counter, and they also have wines/ champs on ice to enjoy with your meal. Desserts are showcased in the front. Pastas can be made how you like with the sauce that you want. If you are unsure, they will help you select! Pick the pasta they help pair the sauce, and vice versa. When we sat down, someone immediately came over to drop off waters for us, which is awesome! They dropped off utensils as well. Definitely will be back since the pasta was excellent!

If you like fresh pasta with authentic Italian flavors I would highly recommend Davanti! My favorite is the clam linguine and I could eat it all day everyday. The place is small, but cozy and the staff are always really friendly. This place never disappoints!

The food was delicious and filled me up without making me feel awful, the service was very great as they were knowledgeable and attentive & the ambiance was quiet even tho there was a good amount of people

Shouts out to Roberto this food was amazing!! Service was good and the waiter helped me get exactly what I wanted. The layout is beautiful will definitely come back!

We love Davanti's for house made, real pasta and delicious meat sauces. We also think that the pizza is the perfect appetizer for any meal! It's a favorite spot and I don't think that will be changing any time. I recommend the lamb tagliatelle, the octopus, or the bolognese sauce.

I used to like the food at Fresco. I had eaten their pizzas and pastas. This time I ordered the eggplant parmigiana. It needs more breading and marinara. The salad's dressing needed vinegar. The salad comes already dressed with oil. At $18, I'm disappointed with the eggplant parmigiana and the salad. There were only two slices of eggplant. Service is great though. It looks like they have nice outdoor seating. You order at the counter and food is brought to you.

Davanti Ristorante was thoroughly delicious and their staff was amazing! Everyone on my team enjoyed their entrées and desserts. Most of us ordered the grilled Mediterranean octopus with a side of spaghetti while one of us ordered the lasagna. Needless to say, we were all pleasantly surprised when we tried our selections. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're interested in amazing Italian food at a reasonable price, and a calming ambiance. Also, if you try their almond cake, you won't regret it!

This is the upgraded Fresco Cafe Italiano. I used to go to Fresco frequently. The menu here is pretty much the same. They now serve alcohol. This location is slightly better. It's still cafeteria style. The Burrata appetizer was served with toasted pizza bread. The sauce on it has olives cooked in it. It was difficult to eat with the Burrata because it became soggy. Fresco used to serve it with diced tomatoes which went much better with the Burrata and prosciutto. I also got the linguine with clams. It was slightly on the salty side but was still good.

Amazing place ! I can really say this place reminds me of Italy the ambience excellent service and awesome food made feel like I was the only person in this restaurant . Thank you so much for the personalized experience. Tanti auguri!

The food is delicious and the ambiance is nice. I stumbled upon this restaurant by chance and now each time I am in Houston, I make sure I go.

I've eaten here several times now and the consistency of the food is excellent. I've never had fresh cooked pulpo (octopus) and I ventured out and had the pasta with the grilled octopus. What a tender, lightly sweet flavor. The pairing with fresh handmade pasta with olive oil and Parmesan was a great paring as it let the flavor of the seafood stand out. I've also had the carbonara with (you get to choose your pasta style) linguini. This carbonara is the best I've had in town. The place is small and cozy with lots of light and they've recently added a pizza oven. Looking forward to trying that next. If you like Manhattan style clam chowder then you'll love this. It's loaded with clams and a bowl is big enough for two. Here you get counter-service but they do check in you throughout the meal. I'll keep coming back to Davanti.

Great pasta/pizza spot! You order at the counter and they bring you your drinks and food. Service was really great here! They have romano style pizza which I definitely recommend getting - super crispy crust and a nice personal size. Also ordered a bucatini pasta in their beef bolognese sauce - it was good and like a standard bolognese. They also have tons of other pasta and sauce options. Pretty decent amount of parking too.

A lot of Italian eateries where I live. Seems to be one around every corner. This is a very unassuming one. Counter service which suits me just fine. Staff friendly. They show all the pasta types which is helpful. We built our own with bucatini and Alfredo and another with the pesto. We also had the sausage pizza. The pizza is small. Probably good for a kid. The pasta was good. I'd probably opt for the Genovese around the corner at Bombetta if it were night for $6 more. But we enjoyed our meal.

Well I was super excited that an Italian restaurant opened walking distance to my house! I decided to order lunch on Thursday 10/27 and called in the vegetable soup and the bolognese lasagna! The vegetable soup was water based, and for sure could have used some seasoning! Now to the lasagna. The lasagna's overall taste was actually very good, the tomato sauce seemed homemade. Sadly a large portion of my lasagna was BURNT & HARD, so I had to carve out the soft spots. For $18 for a slice of lasagna, I would have at least wanted to eat the whole thing. As you see in the pictures that was not an option. I think if management fixes this, they would have a solid lasagna. Customer service and service overall was great!

Davanti is essentially the recreation of Fresca Cafe Italiano, which was my favorite Italian takeout until it closed a few months ago. Davanti's menu is basically the same as Fresca's menu from what I can see, and the food is just as delicious. My all-time favorite is the tagliatelle rabbit ragu, which has the most amazing pasta and sauce. Just note that it's fairly pricy for Italian takeout--we paid $45 for two pasta entrees takeout (including tax and tip).

This is a fine, authentic Italian Resturant. It is just like eating in your Mom's kitchen with a casual atmosphere fine food and excellent service. It is always clean, fresh food, unique recipes and quality products go into the food. It came to be my son and my favorite Italian resturant. Thank you.

The smell is... Italian. Upon entering it greets you like sneaking into a kitchen where your Italian grandma is preparing casual down-home comfort food with ingredients fresh from the local (Italian) farmers market. The music is... Italian. Contemporary Chansons and songs from the past. The ambiance is... Italian. Demure in wood and marble with the unavoidable glass fronted refrigerator containing pastries and other sinfully sweet deliciousness and the humongous coffee maker. Usually you find an older gentleman reading the news in the corner and that one guy that every restaurant in Italy has, sitting with a bottle of wine and perhaps, if you're lucky, offering you a glass. The noise level is pretty high, though, the temperature could be lower. The chef is... Italian, and definitely not my Italian grandma. From the north of Italy he brings not only decades of experience in the restaurant world, much more important he brings ingredients from Italy wherever possible. But not the cheese, the cheese is made by a congenial, grumpy, middle aged Italian philosopher (with a PhD) near Victoria, TX. The food is... Italian. Not Italian-like, not Italian-Texan fusion. Simply Italian. All the pasta is made fresh in the kitchen, everyday. Fatta in casa. Then it is cooked to perfection (al dente) and dressed with the freshest ingredients. You are treated well here. Meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, desserts, you name it. Quality does not come cheap, square meals for a fair price. You really get what you pay for. I had been here several times and was never disappointed. Highly recommended is: - Tagliatelle with lamb ragout - Roman style pizza - Octopus - Cannoli (who would forget the line from The Godfather: "Leave the gun, take the cannoli") You hear a lot of Italian spoken here. A good sign. 5 stars out of 5 because it's the most authentic Italian restaurant in Houston. At least in my opinion.

We enjoyed these delicious entree's on the patio. Excellent flavors, great portion size, super friendly servers. We are outside. Nice wine recommendations. I went old school with Spaghetti and meatballs. Spouse had the octopus and pasta. If you're looking for a great meal at a fair price this is your spot!

The food is delicious! I highly recommend it if you are looking for an authentic Italian restaurant. Also great customer service and ambiance!

Ordered a large salad and the fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken. The large salad was not large and consisted of mediocre ingredients. The Alfredo sauce was more like a thin butter sauce. This meal would probably be a 3 rating but the price was about $12 too much for the pasta dish.

Davanti sin duda alguna ofrece la mejor paste de la ciudad. Todo hecho desde cero, se hace notar en cada bocado. El Ragu de Cordero y la vongole son dos platillos que no puedo dejar de pedir. Vinos por copa, todos Italianos y IGT, DOC y DOCG a precio solitario son el perfecto acompañante de sus platillos. Postres, claro: No dejen de pedir el Tiramisu que al igual que sus pastas, es el mejor de la ciudad. Si quieren comer comida auténtica italiana, no italo americana: Davanti es el lugar. Como poder olvidar mencionar el servicio, siempre sonriente y muy amable. Bravo Davanti

Totally appalled two times now. The price for the portion and tasteless for italian food is terrible. I made the mistake of returning to davanti!!! Who do they think they are fooling???

Been here a couple of times already since it's a convenient location from work. Oliver and the rest of the staff are really welcoming and friendly. Chef Roberto is amazing! The first time we came in, we told him to surprise us and did not disappoint. The desert menu is also phenomenal, not too sweet!

This place is AWESOME! I loved it, I ordered the carbonara, which is made automatically with egg vs cream, it was amazing. I also had the almond torte which was also delicious! Service was excellent and the owners/chef are so helpful and friendly. Ambiance is very nice and the outdoor seating looked nice as well.

STAY AWAY!! Owner's exact words: "If you don't like my food, it's not my problem". Unbelievable. We invited a couple to dine with us tonight at this restaurant. When my friends wife didn't like the taste of the food that was brought to the table, she asked if she could replace the dish. She was told that she would have to pay for the dish she didn't like in addition to the new dish she just ordered. Obviously, she couldn't believe what she heard and asked to speak to the owner. A fat, bald guy with a bad attitude came out and told her there was nothing "techinically" wrong with the dish she ordered and she had to pay for it. He continued saying that if she didn't like his food "it's not my problem". Believe it or not, that is an exact quote from the owner!! Stay away - you've been warned!!

I've spoken with friends who tried Davanti years ago and weren't impressed but I implore you to reconsider! They've made adjustments and it's FANTASTIC! Service is great, atmosphere is warm and inviting and the food and wines are the best in the city in my opinion. Spaghetti Carbonara knocked my socks off.

Great chef... Experienced owner (Paco Calza, from Cafe Annie & BCN) The food is made fresh every day & they have decent wines!

Loved the pesto pasta with shrimp. It was perfectly aldente and delicious! You order at the counter and they'll bring your meal to your table. The space has a modern almost industrial vibe, which is so different from the usual Mediterranean style of most Italian restaurants. Loved it, will definitely be stopping by again when my next pasta craving strikes.

The food here is delicious and the service is impeccable. This is a casual and not stuffy place with food that's authentic and made with good quality ingredients. totally a hidden gem.

Get the linguine alla vongole. You won't regret it. This place makes the best fresh pasta in Houston for the price. Although the ambiance is definitely more laid-back and casual, this place is great for a quick bite and authentic Italian food with nothing on the menu being a miss. The tiramisu is fantastic, it being my favorite tiramisu out of all the ones I've tried. They serve drinks and do takeout well additionally.

My favorite Italian restaurant in all of Houston. I love the coziness of the small eatery. The food is always fresh ingredients and beautifully presented. So many options and friendly staff.

First time here and will definitely return. I had the Grilled Octopus w/ thin Spaghetti. The octopus was grilled to perfection. I only wish the portions were a little larger. My companions had the Chicken Marsala and the Eggplant Parmesan. Both were a hit as well. Two of us split the almond torta for dessert....big mistake. We should each have gotten one!!

I can't count the times I've had the pleasure of dining here, and every time was better than the last! The service is spot-on, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I always order their signature Arugula & Quinoa Salad with grape tomatoes, Italian black olives, and pecorino cheese with lemon & olive oil vinaigrette. It's a fabulous, unique salad. My fav entree is the Tagliatelle with Lamb All'Abruzzese: it's hearty and flavorful and a joy for me to find a lamb dish! Just yesterday I stopped by for a togo order, and I got the Handmade Ravioli stuffed with LIRA Rossa Ricotta & Spinach. It's sautéed in butter, parmesan and sage and it's to die for. No matter what, save room for the Almond Torta: it's light and airy, and filled with the essence of almonds. Divine!

The restaurant is located past the Costco shopping area and under an office building. It seems more like a deli setting for an Italian restaurant. The appetizer of bruschettas were delicious. I mean you can't go wrong with packages prosciutto and burrata.. Be mindful that the clam chowder is not New England and will be red and more liquidy than white and chunky. It tastes like tomato basil soup with a seafood base. If you aren't a fan of seafood, don't get this. The pasta that was recommended was vongole. I love vongole but the pasta noodles were undercooked and the dish was so salty. I get it is a seafood dish with clams so it will automatically be salty but there were physical chunks of salt throughout the dish. I was upset the food didn't meet expectations from a well known "Italian chef". I was extremely disappointed more to the cashier who had asked how are dinner went. I told them of all the disappoints and he just had a rebuttal for each comment. What was the point of asking how my dinner was if he can't take any critics for a better experience for future customers?

Fantastic homemade pasta with a touch of authentic simplicity. I would only say food is 8.6/10 because they will not alter any meal if it differs from menu at all. Would love to have Alfredo tortellini with chicken but they won't let me. Very cute ambiance.

What a disappointment since they moved to this location. Was my favorite Italian restaurant when it was Fresca Pasta on 59 and Edloe. Food isn't fresh anymore.