New York is pretty saturated with Italian restaurants, and there are not a lot of places that I’ve felt the desire to revisit. Davio’s is one of the exceptions. Everything from their beautiful ambiance, to their hand-rolled potato gnocchi with organic mushroom, basil and truffle oil that practically melt in your mouth made my dining experience there a couple months ago with my friend Priya and her daughter Madina one of the best. I’ve since went back a couple times, and tell everyone about it. Their menu is on the pricey side (apps averaging $15, where dinner plates are closer to $28-$30), but they show you it’s worth it. Some of their highlights:
Delicious salad with roasted baby beets, goat cheese, hazelnuts, and a beet vinaigrette:
When I asked for another vegetarian option for salad, the chef put together a fresh, special mix here:
And when it came to dishes with truffle, including this caramelle pasta dish with gorgonzola, ricotta, mascarpone, parmigiano, and black truffle butter, the waiter grated fresh truffle over the pastas:
It was my first time trying lobster, but the sides of buttery dips gave each bite so much flavor.
I thought I would love the shrimp dish more, but to me the pastas and lobster were the real super stars. The shrimp did have a nice spicy tamarind kick to it:
The only thing I regrettably missed taking pics of was their dessert spread. They have a whole selection of chocolate molten cakes, ice creams, and sorbets from their own bakery.
The whole experience was so much fun, and the wait staff was one of the nicest I’ve encountered in the city. The staff smiled and coo’d at Priya’s 1-year-old daughter Madina (granted, she has that effect on people), but they were totally accommodating of the young’n, even providing her with crayons and paper to color and when she was bored with that, a bowl of mash potatoes that she decided to spend the remaining of the evening dipping her spoon in and out of.
On top of that, the restaurant is always taking part of great events. I went back for Sunset Yoga they did with Exhale Spa (one of the best yoga classes I’ve taken!) and a charity initiative they help host with Pretty Connected, where beauty bloggers and editors got to donate our unused and unopened beauty products to women in need. A restaurant with great food that’s also doing great things…sign me up.
REPORT CARD
Meal: Dinner
Occasion:
Price: $$$
(Out of three stars)
Ambiance: ***
Food: ***
Service: ***
Would I go back?: Yes
Restaurant Info:
Davio’s
451 Lexington Ave,
btw 44th and 45th Street
New York, NY 10017
(212) 661-4810
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Shy
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