Il Davide

Very elegant fancy place to go...foods are amazing,would recommend it for sure! My family enjoyed it here

Il Davide continues to be my favorite restaurant in Marin. At every visit, the food and drinks are delicious, the price competitive, the service great, and the overall experience wonderful. And for me especially, I appreciate that the outdoor dining area is dog friendly. Recently, I attended a private event and was blown away by the level of service (thank you Lucy, Tegan, David and all the crew), the quality of food and beverages, and the warmth and beauty of the decorations and overall holiday spirit of the private dining room. Everyone who attended said they had a lovely time. The cost of the event was so much less than what was estimated by nearby restaurants that aren't half as good. And David, the owner, was super helpful, patient and responded quickly to calls and emails, making the process of setting up all the details for the event seamless and easy. I highly recommend this place.

The food is really good. We visited on an extremely busy Saturday afternoon without a reservation and the only seating options were at the bar top or outside. We opted for outside. The service was slow as they were short-staffed and only had a few waiters/waitresses and at times we felt forgotten but the food was well worth the wait. We ordered Gamberi Pancetta, Papparadelle Ai Tre Funghi, and Bistecca all were really good. My only complaint is the fries that were served with the Bistecca were overcooked. We've dined here a number of times and the food never disappoints.

Had a super lunch here today. I got the short ribs with polenta, and not only was it a good sized portion, it was delicious. The balsamic reduction puts this dish over the top. My friend got the clam chowder and lasagna. She was raving about both. Again, a good sized portion, so we both didn't go hungry. The service at Il Davide is always friendly, and efficient. The ambiance is light, bright and beautiful. Our lunch date couldn't have gone any better, so thank you IL Davide!

Great spot. The raviolis are so good! The bruschetta was also really good. My date spent $300 so like expect to spend money if you come here.

I was really disappointed in this place. I heard great things so decided to take my family there for a dinner when my in laws were in town. I had the beet salad and I was not blow away. My girlfriend had a salmon and said it was just okay. The biggest issue was the waiting staff. I'm not sure if it was just because it was a busy night or what but we got ignored by our waiter the entire night. I had to chase her down to get a refill of water.

I don't go out to eat anywhere anymore, prices are ridiculous, customer service is terrible, food is mediocre. I have friends who have been coming here for many years, they only do top tier food/travel so I finally made a reservation. BEST EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD IN YEARS. Party of six and everyone ordered steak, crab, seafood plate, lasagna, drinks & desert. I am a very discerning person. All six of us were absolutely thrilled with our food. Il Davides is the best place to eat in Marin Country in my opinion. The portions were large and delicious, I swear I was in HEAVEN. The risotto was melt in your mouth fantastic. The seafood (prawns/scallops were cooked just right and tasted so good I couldn't believe it. What a great experience. This review is 100% honest and accurate. I just wish there was an Il Davides in Sonoma County.

Wonderful food and great atmosphere. We were in town for work and someone mentioned this place. You can tell it is a local favorite because even later in the evening the restaurant was full. We were taken to a table right away and enjoyed some of the best Italian food I have ever had! Will be back if work brings us back.

Dinner at IL David's is great. Our party of 6 dined early on a Saturday with no problems with reservations. True to Italian cuisine, our bread came immediately with olive oil. I believe this is complementary. You don't see that these days. We experienced good service and food. I tried the seabass special and it was delightful. Unfortunately there were no room for dessert anymore. Will be back! There's a parking garage close by and it's free on the weekends.

We made a reservation in advance over the phone, arrived a little early and were still seated. Started with some appetizers - burrata and a cheesy spinach pastry that I forgot the name of. For main course we ordered cacio e pepe, ravioli and mushroom penne pasta which they happily made gluten free for one person in my party. They mentioned that any of the items can be made gluten free which is amazing. Wine options were also extensive. The mushroom creamy sauce was just amazing- perfect spice, creaminess and mushroom flavor. For dessert, we got affogato, one more coffee and brownie based dessert and butterscotch. The butterscotch was literally melting in our mouth and it was so smooth! Overall loved the experience and the food

I have been to Il Davide a few times already and their food also didn't disappoint! The place is very nice and clean and well maintained! The service was outstanding!!!! Yesterday I went back with my good friend and had delicious and hearty dinner. We shared a caesar salad (so yummy!), shared the special which is the sea bass with polenta and shared an angel hair pasta dish! I had the paloma as my cocktail and my friend has the Gin Spritzer. Then for desserts we wanted to try 2 items: Dolce Diversio which is a layered chocolate brownie with gelato and the lemon coconut tart! Both were delicious and we were so stuffed! We definitely had a great time!

Have dined here at least once a year (twice this year) since the restaurant opened in 1995, and each time the experience can be summed up in one word - consistency. Food - you can expect to enjoy the freshest of ingredients in the salads, apps and mains. Salads - both the Davide house salad and the Caesar are available in half/side portions and are a delicious way to start off a meal. Mains - the pastas are not the usual fare, there are some great combinations for those looking outside of traditional marinara or bolognese, tonights's linguine with a variety of fresh seafood in a butter reduction was a lovely diversion but I enjoyed my partner's chicken Parmesan (made with bolognese instead of the Alfredo) as well. Many diners also order it with the marinara. Service - Walked in not expecting a table but a couple in the bar are held open, and bartender Matt was attentive and knowledgeable about both the menu and pairing the several wines available by the glass. Ambiance - The restaurant is intimate and cozy and it is clear that many dining tonight are regulars, easy to see why.

Highly recommend dinner at the bar! Enjoyed many many many shared bites with the hubs before wine tasting.

My friend and I went here for lunch. As we entered we were seated at a very nice table. The restaurant just opened for lunch at 11:30 and it filled fast. The establishment is small but cozy. The waitress and servers were very friendly. Parking is free after validation. Our waitress was nice but didn't interact with us too much. We had the calamari fritti which were very greasy and not appetizing at all. They should have been lightly fried and flaky !! The risotto asparagi was delicious and cooked to perfection except for being very oily and the parpadelle with sausage was cooked to perfection, no issues here. The clam chowder was delicious too. This is the second time that I come here but my family and I were here for dinner, which was way better than this lunch with my friend. Maybe the chef was different??

We searched Google for nearly an hour for a place worth eating. Came across the Google reviews for Il Davide, and didn't look back. Best decision of the weekend! Ambiance was pleasant, food was enjoyable and the server Nicholas, Nikolai, Nick was the cherry on top. He was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and provided some great dish insight. We had the best calamari, Lobster Risotto and dulce diverso...something other, just try it.You will not be disappointed. I will definitely be coming back!

Il Davide is a perfect Italian gem in the middle of downtown San Rafael. I would absolutely recommend making a reservation, or make sure you get there before 5:45 to ensure you have a table. The drinks are split - cocktails were great. Weirdly, the wine fell flat and was borderline disappointing. The food - you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Don't fill up too much on the bread they bring, while it'll be tempting. Highly recommend getting the calamari fritti to start. For entrees, go for the house made pasta; it's what they're known for. Capellini del diavolo is delightful and not too spicy. The fettuccine viareggio is decadent and full of flavor. And the chicken parm is like no other. All of our plates would have been licked clean if that was appropriate in public. Of course end with some gelato or sorbet. It's the perfect way to wrap up the meal. Great meal. Will be back!

I finally made it to Il Davide! Seems ridiculous to have taken this long, as I spend a ton of time in Marin, working here. It is everything I thought it would be and more. Besides the full bar, there is a lovely by the glass wine list. I chose a Brut Rose Prosecco, which was crisp and delicious, followed by a glass of 2013 Petit Verdot -- do not miss this! I sat at the bar and had wonderful service. This is a very "neighborhood" place with a strong sense of local community and regular patrons. My meal started with some incredible focaccia bread -- the best I have ever had. Unreal and delicious. Do not miss having some. My main course was Chicken Parmesan - which was also incredibly delicious. Well balanced creamy with cheese and acidic with sauce, a little pasta and a flavorful chicken breast. As a full service Italian spot, I know I'm just scratching the surface. But - I can definitely say that I don't think anything here would disappoint. Il Davide is a mainstay in the San Rafael community for a reason. Don't miss a visit. You will be well satisfied!

I've been here several times and the mushroom ravioli is epic but last night I had the chicken parmigiana and it was fantastic! It's the perfect sauce you want in an Italian sauce and the chicken was quality. Delicious. I can't wait to go back!

First time trying this place. Was hopeful due to their reviews. However we had a lot of issues throughout. There were four of us and they brought 2 ice waters and 2 room temp ones. No discussion, no asking first. Then the food came. They served us the entree and forgot the salad. Then when they admitted a mistake, we weren't given a credit. We were forced to then take the salads home with us. We got the capallini , which my husband liked, the paperdelle which had an odd taste so my son wasn't a fan, my mom and I shared the calamari which had a lovely sauce to it but it oddly came with penne that had a different sauce. Why? The corn ravioli was lackluster and not worth the pricey tag. Also note the menus at their entry are old. Their lunch sets are $29 not $21. Then to top it off, the check came incorrect and they charged us for an extra entree. The ladies at the front were super nice but this is a no return.

Shared a fantastic meal with my husband and in-laws this past weekend. Everything we ate was delicious. I split the Cesar salad with my husband, we both enjoyed that the dressing did not have too much anchovy. For my main I got the special which was the sea bass with asparagus and polenta. Incredible. Everyone agreed they would be happy to return to Il Davide.

While on a weekend trip to Tiburon we met family here for dinner per their recommendation. I'm so happy we got to try this amazing food. Everything we ordered tasted amazing. The gnocchi was my most favorite. The drinks were good and the desserts super delicious. The service was welcoming and wonderful. What a great place with great ambiance.

We had a reservation and arrived as soon as they opened. There was one party ahead of us who was sat down immediately and the host said they'd be back to sit us. 10-15 mins passed and nothing. Another lady apologized and took us to our table. The restaurant was pretty empty at first but quickly got full and loud. We were celebrating a special occasion but yet, they sat down a couple with their extremely loud, obnoxious kid who was screaming and crying. The restaurant nor did the parents do anything about it. They were very accommodating on the dishes and being able to order items off the menu. Portion were pretty big and food was amazing!! We loved the calamari, stufato d'agnello & filetto di manzo. The busboy was very kind and attentive! Overall, food was amazing but service could've been a bit better. I would make the drive out there to give it another try! Food: 8.8/10 Service: 6.5/10

The food was very good and the service was outstanding. The price was a bit high (spent around $40 person).

I haven't written a Yelp reviews in years, but I had to for II Davide. We had such a tasteful catering experience with David! We were shocked at how reliable, attentive, and nice he was as a busy business owner. David--himself--went out of his way to make sure our catering order was special. His attention to detail and quick coordination made the entire process easy peasy. The food was sooooooooo good--if the catering is this yummy, I can only imagine how amazing it is at the restaurant. Emailing David was super simple. He coursed and portioned it perfectly, and it was all carefully packed and ready to be served when we picked it up. If you're reading this, don't sleep on these knockouts: Ravioli di Porcini (vegetarians loved it), Lamb Chops (some of the best we've had), Il Davide's Cioppino (absolute must), and the Vanilla Panna Cotta (seriously, you won't regret it). 10/10 would recommend--David and his team were such a blessing for a special night.

Bread: 0/5 The bread was stale and cold. Would have been nice if balsamic vinegar was offered but that wouldn't save how bad the bread was. Pollo Alla Parmigiana Il Davide (Chicken Parm): 3/5 If a fried chicken cutlet with tomato sauce is one of your signature/top dishes, I believe this is an Italian Restaurant not worth going to. The entire cutlet was soggy and the tomato sauce was bland. The chicken portion was large and filling. This dish is not spicy. Osso Bucco (Veal Shank): 2/5 Osso Bucco is one of my most favorite dishes until I had it here. The veal shank was cold in certain areas and was very dry even though it was drenched in this diluted red sauce. (Refer to Picture) Papparadelle Al Tre Funghi (Mushroom Ravioli): 5/5 This was the dish I enjoyed most. The mushroom flavor was strong, the raviolis were big and in tact, and the filing was delicious. Service: 3/5 The server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Reservation System: 1/5 The website does not tell you what times are available. You have to choose a date and time, then request for availability. If that slot is not available you have to repeat the process until you land on a spot that's available. Ambiance: 4/5 The inside of the restaurant seemed a bit crammed so we sat outside. The weather was beautiful and the outdoor seating was pleasant to dine at. Notes: I left a note while making a reservation that it was my girlfriend's birthday and that I am willing to pay to have special accommodations. Her birthday was not acknowledged during our dinner.

Excellent service! Great teamwork among the wait staff. We were attended by no fewer than 5 people during our visit. Food came out pretty fast (20 minutes). We both loved the Due Ravioli (my husband ate half my dish). Two types of ravioli on one dish. You will not be disappointed.

Food-9 Service-9 and entertaining as heck Ambiance-9. Vaulted ceiling! Loved it Tuna carpaccio- 10 I ordered two! Caesar salad with scallops- big ones -10!!!! Three wait and bus folk to serve and talk to. Italian- 10 Great place in every way! I'm going back! Verbal scaloppini-9* Almost forgot The sauce was a 10** Great experience! Here's some pics!

Stopped by for dinner after cataract falls hike. Tried the burrata appetizer, Chilean sea bass, chicken parm and finished up with bread pudding. First off, the restaurant, service and live music was awesome. The dishes were all excellent!! Burrata was so creamy and paired nicely with that awesome fig jam, copa and the nicely toasted points of bread. The fish was executed perfectly with a nice light crust and moist meat. The saffron lemon cream sauce was a little tangy for me, but still good. The chicken parm was for me, the star. Chicken was so moist, crispy coating with plenty of cheese, flavorful marinara and fresh pasta in a cream sauce. I would get that every day!! Bread pudding was also excellent. Wasn't heavy like most bread puddings. And the creme anglaise sauce was killer. My only beef with this place is they charge extra to use a credit card. The price of the dishes were already on the high side and then they make you pay extra to use the card. I feel it's a cost of doing business. I was inclined to lower my tip to compensate.

Called a few days before to book a Saturday reservation and they said they were super booked up and only had an 8:30pm slot so we took it! My party of 4 was seated a few minutes before. Ambience was very nice and had an upscale fancy vibe. For small plates, we shared the brasatto (braised short rib over butternut squash polenta), carpaccio di manzo (raw Kobe beef), and calamari fritti. These were ok, none stood out that much. For the calamari, the breading was soft and slid off the calamari and shrimp when you picked it up, which made it hard to dip into sauces and eat. For entrees, we shared the truffle ravioli, linguine alla vongole, and piccata di vitello (veal). Veal was ok - not super tender and the veggies and scalloped potatoes that came with it weren't anything special. Linguine was pretty good and we liked that they were generous with the clams. Truffle ravioli was definitely the highlight. It had amazing flavor and loved the creaminess of the dish. Would definitely get the truffle ravioli again - it was easily the star of the show. Complimentary bread and olive oil. Wine was a good price. For dessert, we got creme brulee and it was pretty good. Service was great, food came out quickly, portions were generous on the entrees. Docking off the star due to the small plates, but overall I think it's worth trying this restaurant.

Came here on a work trip and was feeling seafood. I can see this being a great place to have a dinner date or to celebrate a special occasion. The waiter recommended the Seabass special that had saffron cream sauce and asparagus on top of polenta. The fish was so tender and flaky and the polenta looked almost like an English muffin. It was the perfect portion size and the sauce complemented the fish so well. Highly recommend. I also tried the custard leek appetizer. It looked like a tart with a savory leek filling. My server also thought this was one of the best things on the menu and I have to agree. For dessert, I had the lemon coconut tart, which tasted like a lemon flavored macaroon with that crème brûlée shell topping and lemon curd on the side. It had the texture of a coconut macaroon. The only recommendation I would have for this is to put more lemon flavor in the actual tart. I I would still highly recommend though. Overall, this place was well worth my money. Rarely do I recommend everything I ate, but I can confidently say that everything I had was excellent including the service. My server was top notch.

Best bartender in Marin! Food excellent, service great! Just a quality dining experience! Thank you!

I gave Il Davide a glowing review 7 years ago--and I'm delighted to say they still deserve every word, and more. Il Davide is more than a restaurant--it's a place where I feel welcome and cherished every time I walk through the door. The staff are consistently kind, friendly, and warm in a way that feels real, not rehearsed. They treat me like they're genuinely happy I'm there--and that alone is worth five stars. But then... the food. Oh, the food! The lasagna and the ossobuchi are just like my mamma used to make--rich, comforting, and made with love you can taste in every bite. This place is a little haven in Marin. I always leave with a happy belly and a warmer heart. Grazie, Il Davide. You're doing everything right.

I've been to this spot, at least four or five times while traveling for work. I love their fresh salads, fresh fish, and appetizers. They have a great wine menu and will allow you to sample, so that you can pick something that hits your pallet just right. The ambience is perfect for a date night, a lunch, or anytime to just sit at the bar with the friendly bartenders. The service was great and I will continue to go back whenever in San Rafael.

Amazing, amazing, amazing. Love the truffle raviolis and the Caesar salad with Salmon. You have to go to Il Davide!

I came here with a friend and it's been so long since I've been here. Love the atmosphere! The food was amazing and service was great. Definitely going back

First of all I needed to ask for another server because the first one was extremely rude to me and my family. The second wasn't too much better though. My risotto was more like a stew and the menu price was $28 but when I placed my order the waiter said it was $38. The waiter was totally disrespectful to me when I told him I would split the bill with another person but he didn't do and brought the bill for just one person to pay. How hard is for people to do what they are supposed to do. I don't recommend this place. Not coming back at all

This restaurant is at the top of the list for amazing meals and ambiance in Marin County. The food here is always prepared to perfection and so tasty! I would highly recommend the Orecchiette Alla Davide. Such savory flavors and textures that make this such a great dish. Pretty much never had a bad meal here and the management and staff are always friendly accommodating. Always a prime choice for a special occasion or just a nice night out for a great meal.

The service was top notch. My waiter was super attentive and extremely knowledgeable on the dishes and how it was prepared. I would definitely recommend eating outside as the indoor dining is loud. The salad portions are large so I highly sharing a salad for an appetizer. The wine list is very deep but make sure you have a backup selected because your first choice might not be available as some of the wines are limited. I loved the pasta here, the mushroom with truffle sauce was delicious and the pasta are made locally so you can definitely taste a difference.

I can't remember having a better birthday party than last night at il Davide! My children asked me to pick my favorite place to celebrate my 92nd birthday, and I of course chose il Davide. The food and service is always excellent, but last night the staff went all out to make my day extra special. I love you all!

An easy 5 star review! *Very accommodating staff that worked as a team *Easy walking distance from nearby hotels *Excellent choices on the menu-very high quality and taste fantastic (Taste like grandmaw cooked it) Don't miss out on this! I highly recommend. Go see for yourself.

Rip off. The $28 pasta was supposed to come with soup. We were charged on top. Good food, bad service and ripped off.

The food was excellent. However, the menu on Yelp is out of date. Pricing for the meal I purchased was double the published rates for online orders on Yelp. I had them customize my entree. They did a great job and the food was delicious.

10/25/2023 Had a long and hard day at work so I wanted to go out for dinner. I made a reservation at this restaurant for myself and my boyfriend. It was pretty easy to find and parking was not hard to find at all. We had the best waiter! He was very friendly and accommodating. I ordered a glass of wine and my boyfriend ordered a shirley temple. We started with the bread and olive oil. Of course we asked for balsamic so we could mix the balsamic and the olive oil together. Best dip ever! We also ordered the Scampi Bruschetta as an appetizer. It was delicious I would order it again. For our entrees we ordered the following: Linguine Alla Vongole- I love a good linguine and clams pasta! It was a little bit salty for me but besides that it was delicious! Pappardelle con salsicca- My boyfriend ordered this pasta and loved it! I have to say after we moved to Richmond we have started exploring restaurants across the San Rafael bridge. Lots more to explore.

Great service. Great ambience. Loved the Bolognese. Now the positives are out of the way, the spaghetti and meatballs was aggressively so-so. The meatballs were delicious, but the marinara sauce could've been better, a little sweet for my taste . The Lasagna is a hard pass for me. Not a huge fan of the starter bread either. All in all, if I had came here and only ordered the Bolognese and a coke (my usual order) I would've walked away a very happy customer. PS a note to management I think you should improve the quality of bread you serve, it goes a long way, also softening the butter would be a huge plus. Definitely would try again.

Exceptional as always! We live in Sonoma county and don't get the opportunity to eat here as often as we'd like, but when we do, we go all out. I can't say enough about the food. The menu makes it difficult to decide. Always fantastic! Having grown up in an Italian family, we know real Italian food. Il Davide is a step back in time to my childhood memories of what nonni made. SO GOOD!! Service is prompt, on point and David is always there to talk and check in with how our meal was. Just love this personal service!! Highly recommend Il Davide!! You won't be disappointed.

Superb birthday dinner, party of 6. Love the menu, delighted by the variety of small plates, plenty to share and everything delicious. Portions are very generous, prices very fair, service friendly and we were well taken care of. It was quite busy on a Thursday night, and a bit noisy. A five * reliable dining experience.

David Hayden catered our wedding and did an amazing job! The food was absolutely incredible and our guests are still talking about it. The staff was attentive and professional. We couldn't have asked for better catering--highly recommend! Gina and Mark Michna

I love the Mushroom Ravioli as always! So delicious. This is a great restaurant! Fancy and delicious. Great customer service.

The food was delicious and the service was great! We had the Meza plate as an app. I had an app for entre of 3 shrimp in a delicious sauce. I think it's an entre but they made a smaller portion for me.