Ristorante daVinci

Excellent retaurant, great staff and wonderful food. Thrilled the banquet manager "Wendy" is gone. Her attitude was downright nasty and her ability to follow through was zero.

Pros: quality of food

Cons: wendy parker

Posted 07/19/09

Why such a huge turn over with your banquet managers. Wendy was so professional and fun to work with, great ideas and now they have someone else.

How do I get in touch with Wendy?

Thank you,
Kell Mc Bride
PHL

Pros: The food and the old event planner

Cons: Is confused why she left?

Posted 07/12/09

I don't frequent this restaurant much, but every time I decide to go there, it's always a great experience. My girlfriends and I decided to go to this restaurant today for a friend's birthday. To my suprise there was a celebrity by the name of "Snoop Dogg" there today who was also was there i assume to enjoy the excellent food.

During our lunch the service was immaculate. From the excellent food, to the friendly and curtious staff. The food was perfectly salted and i couldnt have asked for a better lunch.

If good food with a nice environment is something you desire i strongly recommend going to this Restraunt. You will not be disappointed.

Pros: Good Food & Atmosphere, Friendly Staff, Diverse Clientele

Cons: Only one location, i would love for them to expand

Posted 06/10/09

I attended my friends 50 th birthday party last Saturday at Da Vinci's and it was a blast. The guest of honor was flown down by helicopter as all of us were looking on from the patio. We ate gourmet cheese and drank amazing wines and then sat down for one of the best dinners I have had in a long time. I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Gotti and Wendy Parker that evening and they were so warm and very attentive the whole evening.

The only con was watching the banquet assistant, Danielle communicate with the staff, the way she did. Also when I was going to the bathroom I heard her screaming at the staff and the kitchen. She never had a smile on her face , and I couldn't understand why Ms. Parker would have a assistant like her. So un perfessional but everything else was simply devine.

Pros: Food, View, Wine

Cons: Banquet Assistant Danielle

Posted 06/08/09

I had the pleasure of planning my companies lunch meeting with Ms. Parker and my company was so impressed, we are planning our Holiday Party at Da Vinci's as we speak.

The service, the food and the Leonardo Room was perfect for our group of 20, and Ms. Parker worked with our budget and was hands on the entire event. I highly recommend Da Vinci's , Ms. Parker and Chef Gotti to all of my family and friends.

Look forward to the Holiday Party.

Pros: Food & Service

Cons: Can't think of anything

Posted 06/04/09

I was invited to meet some buddies at DaVinci's last night and I have to say how impressed I was with the Happy Hour Menu and the drinks. Also the music and view were breathtaking, the service was impeccable & I am coming back again this evening to bring my girlfriend.

Thank you !

Pros: Great Bar & Great View

Cons: Zero

Posted 06/03/09

Not a good experience for banquets. Their banquet coordinator was not very professional and frankly, seemed in over her head. This might be a nice restaurant to eat at (food was excellent), but do not entertain your clients there, and steer clear of large groups. Ms. Parker was not good at following up on details and had many elements of the dinner I recently hosted there incorrect. When I approached her with my concerns, she was very condescending. One of my colleagues had a similar experience back in March, but I checked Citysearch and all of the feedback seemed to be very positive. Nevertheless, I will inform corporate this is not the place we should be hosting our pharmaceutical dinners in the future. It wasn't that it was glaringly bad. It just wasn't what we had discussed, nor what I was anticipating. I also do not appreciate being "dismissed" by the event planner. It was as if she did not value my business...maybe we were small potatoes to her, but word gets around quickly in my industry. It is a shame, as my area is the South Bay, and it is hard to come across unique restaurants that make an indelible impression. I was really hoping this would have worked out, but the banquet coordinator just had a terrible attitude (maybe she was having a bad day?), and I don't feel I got the service I was paying for. It was more in line with Olive Garden on that end. Real shame.

Pros: Pretty Decor

Cons: Bad for Large Groups

Posted 06/02/09

From the looks of the negative feedback that has been given to Ms. Parker, I am not sure if w are talking about the same woman here.

I have had the pleasure to work with her seven times since she graced us with her presence a couple months ago.

I think the comments made were not fair and not accurate.
She will continue ( for me ) being a delightful, helpful and lovely lady. My pharmaceutical company will continue booking and booking at Da VInci, with Ms. Parker.

Betty

Pros: Banquet Manager & Banquet Rooms

Cons: Nothing

Posted 06/02/09

I had the pleasure of joining my group in Long Beach for a three day conference. Da Vinci hosted our group for three days and we could have not been more pleased. The food,the ambiance and the service was top notch. Dave Neary & Wendy Parker were so accommodating with all of our needs. We will be returning.

Pros: Food & Service

Cons: Nothing

Posted 05/15/09

I used to go to Downtown Long Beach if I wanted fine dining in the area, but now that I've been to Davinci I have no intention of going back to Pine Ave.

Davinci's food is fantastic. It's a completely original cuisine too. Think about what you normally get when you go out for Italian food and throw that concept out the window. Plus the parking is free!!!! Yes, I know this is Southern California, but the parking is spacious and free and they also have valet, not that it's needed.

I really recommend Davinci as a place to take a date or for a dinner with the family. It's modestly priced and the service is top notch.

Pros: Amazing Food & Decor, Original Cuisine and Ambiance

Cons: Didn't know it was there!

Posted 04/26/09

Look, Im a big fan of supporting the local restaurants and keeping the revenue in my neighborhood so to speak. I have called this place four times now to book a party of about 30 of our closest family and friends to celebrate and honor my parents for their fiftieth wedding anniversary. I have yet to get a single phone call back. That is fine, as I will just take my business elsewhere.

Pros: Example: best croissants in town

Cons: What are the drawbacks?

Posted 04/06/09

Last night I had my 30th birthday party catered and executed by Wendy Parker at Da Vinci and was thrilled with all aspects of the party. The food was delicious and my guests were all completely impressed and happy. Wendy's assistance made this party fun, easy and hassle-free. She had great ideas when it came to picking a vegan option menu and essentially made this party the best it could have been. Wendy was there to answer any questions I might have had during the planning process. She was professional, upbeat and incredibly personable. She even greeted the guests as they arrived to the party with a glass of champagne. I will definitely work with her and Da Vinci again and recommend her to anyone planning an event (large or small).

Thank you to all at Da Vinci and especially Wendy Parker for making my party feel effortless and fun!

Pros: The service and food were amazing!

Posted 03/14/09

Really, the whole restaurant oozed class and sophistication, from the interior design to the layout. Even the hanging helicopter in the rotunda depicted the ancient flying machine that Leonardo da Vinci designed. Absolutely a nice touch!

It was pretty busy, so we were seated next to the far windows by the deck and near the kitchen. Our server started us off with a some thinly sliced halibut and a bottle of prosecco to wet our appetites while we decided on what appetizers and entrees to order. We also selected a bottle of the 2005 Napa Valley Artesa which was set aside to breathe while our meals were being prepared.

The manager of the restaurant (Patrick) came by to give us a brief history and description of the wine we were about to consume and offered a few suggestions of some wines that might compliment a beef dish I will be serving at a house party over the weekend. If you read this, Thank you Patrick for the advice!

For dinner, I ordered the "Taggliatelle Cacciatora", which was a roasted duck over hand cut pasta dripping in a white cream sauce. It was absolutely spectacular! Delicious! The wine complimented the dish perfectly and the buttery flavor of the pasta was accentuated with the dry, crisp flavor of the vino.

All in all the restaurant did a tremendous job making me look good for choosing it. As we were leaving the restaurant, we noticed that our car had already been pulled up to the curb which was a nice touch. The hostess must have called downstairs to have our vehicle pulled up while we waited for the elevator to arrive. That was a very nice touch to end what was a perfect evening!

Pros: Food, Service, Views ... I had a great experience all around

Cons: That I had never visited the restaurant until now!

Posted 03/09/09

I just experienced Da Vinci this past weekend and I thought it was amazing. The food the ambiance and the entertainment was divine. I am planning a birthday party for mother at Da Vinci in June. I have been working with Wendy . Director of Catetring & Events and she is so enthusiastic and helpful. Can not wait for June!! Thanks again Da Vinci staff !!

Sincerely,
Rachel

Posted 03/08/09

I just had the greatest experience and I wanted to share it with you viewers of City Search. I was invited to a reading for " Heathers" the musical and Da Vinci catered the after party at Endeavor in Beverly Hills. I was greeted with a glass of wine upon leaving the reading and then gorged myself with the cheese and mini veggie sliders and cannoli's. Yum.

I will be visiting your restaurant very soon. Classy and delicious.

Posted 03/08/09

So I came to this site today, for the first time, because I had such a wonderful experience with this restaurant and specifically the banquet manager, Wendy Parker, who catered my event today. And I wanted to write as a special thank you to them for making tonight such a magical evening for me and my colleagues. Then I read a couple of the reviews, targeting Wendy specifically, commenting on her attitude and inappropriate attire, and I was utterly shocked. Why? Because I found Wendy to be an absolute pleasure to work with: she created a menu and atmosphere that was perfect for our needs, she presented herself in a professional manner, both in appearance and action, and she was extremely accommodating. She answered every single one of my calls, and let me say, I can be needy when it comes to this kind of thing. I plan on using her and Ristorante daVinci for every event from here on in.

p.s. The cannolis were to die for.

Posted 03/08/09

I loved the food. Chef Gotti's cuisine was impecable and the staff and managers were truly accomodating. I will defientally come back for dinner and happy hour soon. Thanks again for a great experience.

Posted 03/08/09

I recently booked an event at Da Vinci with my company , we do events monthly and I was so impressed wth their gracious banquet director Wendy Parker and the accomodations that she and her staff made for my guests. We will defientally come back to Da Vinci time and time again.

The food was impeccable, service was phenominal and Wendy's perfessional and creative approach was refreshing and so accomodating. Thank you Wendy and your staff for a wonderful and evening. See you in April !!

Posted 03/08/09

Had an event there recently. Food and service were okay. Met banquet manager. Nice enough but dressed very inappropriately. Will think twice before bringing future clients here.

Posted 03/08/09

I work for a company that holds regular business dinners at this restaurant, which are booked through a banquet manager. We originally came over from the Sky Room when their bqt manager, Christie Moya, came to work at Da Vinci. We gave them a lot of business and always felt like we were in excellent hands. When Christie left, a girl named Denay Zamora took over. She was equally as great, detailed, organized, and efficient. Flash forward - As everyone knows, the economy is tanking. Companies are canceling their business dinners right and left. Every dollar spent at a restaurant should be sacred to them! Well, apparently Denay has also recently moved on and there is a third new banquet manager named Wendy. I have left her several messages, can never get a phone call back, and the only time we did talk, she appeared not to care if she got my business or not. Very unprofessional. Now, it is my turn to move on! Do not waste your company's money by hosting a private function there. The service isn't what it used to be!

Posted 03/03/09

I recently held a company mixer at ristorante davinci and the event went great. The event was for about 100 of my colleagues and guests and management made sure that we had plenty of food and appetizers throughout. The new bar that they have in the front room is stellar and was busy all evening. The event was supposed to end at 7pm, but everyone was having such a good time that most stayed until 8pm! Many of the people in attendance have never been there before either and were really surprised with how nice everything was.

One of my favorite appetizers from the evening was the mini sausages wrapped in bacon. Honestly, are there two better things that can be combined? Looking forward to hosting another event there later on in the year.

Pros: Attentive Service, Large Banquets Rooms

Posted 02/08/09

I have to agree with the previous reviewers - what a waste of fine space and decor. This restaurant fails to impress on so many levels. We had lunch there the other day. The hostess never once smiled as she took us to our seats. It was like she could care less if we were there or not. The server didn't seem to care either. He didn't seem enthusiastic for anything that was on the menu. Needless to say, my meal was prepared incorrectly and I had to send it back twice. Some guy named Dave stopped by our table to apologize, but didn't seem to really get the fact that we were annoyed. (I had brought clients there for a business luncheon and was trying to impress them). He just kind of smiled and shrugged his shoulders as if to indicate he didn't have a clue to what he was doing. In the end, we were offered a free dessert, which we politely declined. We had been there going on two hours (due to the meal being wrong). I couldn't afford to waste any more time. My company has had business meetings and parties there before...I never recall any problems, but it had been a while since then and this was first time I was back. Things have obviously deteriorated. Save yourself the trip.

Posted 01/28/09

This was a good restaurant! Taking clients for dinner or lunch was a sure account, now don?t bet on it. Getting to the details (which matter most) will be long and tedious...Management was a joke; the food was so classic Italian is borderline boring, before was different and complex. The waiter new the entire menu but was not enthusiastic about it, look more like a recital, memorized to the T. It's a waste of space since it has a great decor. Music could improve. Inconsistent in food and service

Posted 11/28/08

My wife and I live locally in Signal Hill and are huge proponents of supporting the local businesses, which is why, despite God-awful experiences in the past, we decided to give this restaurant a third try recently. Unfortunately, it's now three strikes, and they are out!

It literally takes ten minutes for anyone to greet you~.which is really disappointing because employees are constantly milling by the hostess stand, but seem to stare right through you as they breeze on by. Its then another five or ten minutes after you've been seated until your server makes his or her way over to the table. I think there is a general sense of apathy from the staff. No one cares...and it shows.

The food is alright, although seems to change every time we've been there. (Our server sheepishly explained they are on their third chef in less than two years). My big complaint is the timing. We were with guests and entrees were being brought out two at a time. It's embarrassing. When the manager, Danielle, came over after we complained, she kind-of seemed to shrug her shoulders as if to suggest "it's out of my control."

Needless to say, we did not stay for dessert and will, in fact, never be back. Such a bummer > We could have used a good restaurant here in Long Beach, but Da Vinci is not that!

Cons: Apathy all the way through

Posted 09/21/08

Wow! Let me begin by saying how odd it is that this restaurant's own employees are writing their reviews. This should be red flag #1. The list goes on...the turn-over, from management to chefs to staff has been unheard of! This lends itself to no consistency...one day it's old-school Italian, then its some version of artisitc french...now, who knows. It is very dirty...often with trash strewn on the floors and dust bunnies hanging from every fixture. It takes at least 30 minutes to get your food at lunch. The hostesses are unfriendly and uninviting. The restrooms are dirty, always out of toilet paper, with broken locks and door handles. It is so obvious the owners don't care. I have been 3 times and you couldn't pay me to go back. I will bet it will be out of business within a year. There is no sense of urgency or accountability. The waitstaff seems like they have never been through training.

Posted 08/19/08

Ristorante DaVinci sounds impressive and is impressive. This restaurant is a perfect place to impress a client with lunch. I have also enjoyed a romantic special occasion dinner at this restaurant and have not been disappointed. The staff are friendly and the food presentation outstanding. I particularly like the seabass as my favorite. You are made to feel special from the moment you enter the restaurant to the moment you leave. I also tried the Sunday Brunch for Mother's Day, the choice of food was amazing and it was a very relaxed atmosphere, thoroughly enjoyed it. Try it, you will not be disappointed.

Pros: Food, service, ambience, easy parking

Posted 07/13/08

I know you shouldn't go out on valentines day, but I had been told by a friend about this fantastic place by the long beach airport. Had valentines dinner last night at da vinci. Had a wonderful time. I entered and was in awe by the sheer beaty of the restaurant and then I was brought to my table promptly where I was greeted with a smile and a complementary glass of champagne. They had a live sax player who plays requests. The food was amazing, starting with a unbelievable beet salad appetizer, and highlighted with tender filet paired with lobster. I chose the wine pairing option for 20 dollars more, the wines where absolutely fabulous and our server Yasmine explained all the wine in great detail. The mood was very romantic and the staff and service where all smiles and top notch. And to finish it off they gave my wife a beatuiful long stem red rose with dessert. My wife thanked me for the great Valentines choice and I must say I am completely impressed by da vinci. Everything was perfect, and the price made it seem like a steal.

Pros: service, ambience, food, value

Posted 02/14/08

I was recommended to daVinci by a friend. After hearing all the great things he had to say I thought maybe he was over-exagerating. But, on a recent trip to the are I decided to try it out. I was not disappointed, it was everything he said and more. You need to go, believe it.

Pros: everything

Cons: none

Posted 02/03/08

Best Italian restaurant I've been to in the area. Wine selection is great. Service is excellent. Great decor and ambience. A great overall experience.

Pros: Service

Posted 01/29/08

This restaraunt is "full of balance." The decor is beautifully balanced between modern styling and subtle cues from old style Italy. The wine list seems to flow effortlessly when pairing it with the food. The service was fantastic eventhough their best bartender is no longer there now.

Cons: n/a

Posted 01/24/08

I too live locally in California Heights Historic district, a subsection of Long Beach. I have eaten at Ristorante Da Vinci many times and have never had an unpleasant experience. On the contrary, I have always experienced very knowledgeable and friendly waiters, hostesses, and managers including Danielle who has always made sure that we were having a fine dining experience. The food at the restaurant is absolutely out of this world in both taste and presentation and the decor takes your breath away. Totally love it and recommend it-My husband and I eat there at least once a month-we love it so much.

Posted 01/21/08

Da vinci Restaurant is one of the best restaurants I have been to. The food was absolutely amazing. I started with the carpaccio which is to die for. I always have the seabass which I highly recommend. The service is excellent. I go there regularly after work about 2 to 3 times a week. Their bar is great place to meet up with friends and meet new people. One insider tip, valet is optional. Just drive right pass the valet and self park, don?t pay someone to park your car 10 feet away.

Pros: beautiful decor, exsquisite cuisine, attentive and friendly staff, amazing wine list

Cons: valet tries too hard to valet your car when there is plenty of free self parking

Posted 01/20/08

Five Stars all the way...ambience, food, amazing wine list...charming and attentive staff. What more is there to say but ...FABULOUS...Go.... and often. You will love it.

Pros: ALL

Cons: NONE

Posted 01/20/08

In December a large group of friends and I decided to head over to Da Vinci in Long Beach for some dinner. I had been there a few times during the week for a quick bite for lunch and adored the food and atmosphere. By the time we got there the place was super packed. We did have some delay in getting our table. But the manager kindly came over and and apologized, offering us a bottle of wine as we waited!! . Once we were seated in the elevated ?rotunda? and had placed our orders. The food was certainly worth the wait and we ended up enjoying the slowed down pace of our Friday dinner. This place is just superb - great, honest service and unbeatable food. What a needed addition to this neighborhood!

Pros: Service, Decor, Views, Food

Posted 01/20/08

Went to go buy a gift certificate for a coworker at davinci. Outside of the building looks industrial, not anything special to say the least. Upon entering the restaurant, wow. I asked the Maitre'd if I could take a look around. The place seems more ceasars palace than long beach. they have a wonderful patio that looks over the runway and they got a big screen high def TV tucked away where only the patio guys can see. I am a patio guy, and I found out they have an amazing happy hour. Free gourmet pizza, i mean gourmet type where you really dont know what is on it, but is really really delicous. Plus half off their wines by the glass which has about 25 selections and beers. So I stayed watched the celtics game, had 3 glasses of wine, including an amazing zin that the bartender recommended and a flat out amazing barberesco , ate pizza and spent about 20something dollars. The staff was was knowledgeable and very accomaditing. I ended up buying two gift certificates, one for my wife.

Pros: service, location, happy hour

Posted 01/20/08

As myself and a close friend boarded the elevator to the third floor restaurant, we were unsure of what to expect. The doors opened transporting us from an ordinary office building to the most elegant combination of modern and Italian architecture. We were greeted by the manager for it was Wednesday night and the restaurant seemed to not be very busy, though the employees we came in contact with seemed very competent and knowledgeable and it is hard to understand the lack of service noted in other reviews. Our server who happened to be the bartender as well I believe was named Angel or atleast that is how her personality would be described. She entertained us throughout the whole night recommending most of our courses as well as our wine pairings. Every course was beautifully presented and delicious, drinks remained full as well as our stomachs. The bartender made the tastiest dessert coffee drink I've ever had and dessert was a good portion to end on. I will definately return, hopefully when the upper story balcony in the restaurant has opened and if I feel daring, for one of their helicopter flights with wine tasting. I full recommend this restaurant for anyone wanting a great night with great food and wine and with a little money to spend.

Pros: Most everything

Cons: If it is a busy night, not everyone can sit on the outside terrace or near the windows

Posted 01/16/08

Great place to visit and dine, from the moment I stepped into the restaurant I felt welcomed and the staff was nice and caring. I request a booth for two; our server was nice and prompt. I was told that the menu is seasonal and the chief is always coming up with new dishes. the wine selection was truly amazing, I ordered the lamb and the confit, two dishes that are truly delicious. The food was exquisite, and the whole experience was great. This is my new favorite restaurant in Long Beach.

Pros: foot, service, value

Posted 01/16/08

The offerings and atmosphere at this beautifully decorated eatery are beyond explanation. The wine list is absolutely amazing and the somellier is very knowledgable. I cant wait to get back to this oasis for another incredible dining experience. A must try for anybody. You will never want to eat anywhere else.

Posted 01/15/08

I had a great time! The prices are reasonable for the quality of the food, we order our meal all at the same time and relax for the rest of the evening, our server took care of all the timing and the food was timed properly. Our server was very knowledgeable about the wines and the preparation of the food, he explained all the item in simple terms, describing ingredients and flavors, the menu has all the description but is better to hear it from someone who has tried it. The lobster pasta was incredible and the wine pairing made it even better, he took care of all the details. I would recommend this place for anyone who wants a dinning experience not just eat and leave! We are going back for the helicopter tour and the wine tasting.

Pros: Ambiance, food quality and service

Cons: Can't eat this good all the time!

Posted 01/15/08

Been to da vinci many times, service and food are always amazing. Don't really know what some of the other reviews are talkiing about.

Pros: service, easy parking, wine list

Cons: none

Posted 01/14/08

Our first experience was on a busy weekend night so we excused the service lapses (waiting forever for our waiter to take our drink orders, food not being served to everyone at the table at the same time, and generally slow everything) and chalked it up to a busy night. We returned on a nearly deserted week night and the service was just as bad; it almost seemed like the staff really didn't care about serving us. It is really a shame since the food was very good and the presentations on the plates were impressive. Prices were steep and the bad service was a total turnoff - don't put yourself through the punishment.

Posted 01/03/08

made reservations through opentable, and wrote in the request box: "I've read the reviews and they say the service is marginal - please prove them wrong." Well, the service wasn't the worst, but the restaurant really isn't worth the $. We were seated on the upper rotunda area - which is like sitting at any other nice restaurant - there's no view. So we asked to be moved. We were told rather curtly that those tables were reserved. That's fine - but during our entire 2 1/2 hour meal, 2 of the tables were completely empty. When the restaurant called two days later to see how our meal was, I told them this, and the man on the phone back pedaled and explained that he's in the office area, and that maybe there were reservations for those tables and they were worried that we wouldn't vacate in time. Okaaaayyy. But I think the kicker to this meal was the fact that as I was eating my filet, I noticed that the knife had an "Ikea" logo on it. It wasn't even a wood steak knife - it was plastic. So I discretely lifted my plate to see what was on the bottom, and there was a Pier One logo. It wasn't even china. I'm not a snob, but for a $360 dinner for 6, I think I should be eating with better quality utensils. In the end, the food was not spectacular - it was pretty, but I'd go to Lashers instead.

Pros: beautiful looking food

Cons: just like any other restaurant if you're not by window, overpriced

Posted 12/19/07

Once a year our physician takes us to a nice restaurant for lunch. We reserved our reservation over a month in advance. We arrived to be seated next to an exit door and service bar. We asked for another table and were treated like we were asking for the impossible. It was 2:00 and the place was clearing out. It Took about 30 minutes before we even received water, although asked twice if we wanted bottled or tap by two different peolpe. Ask for salt three times. Received desserts with no spoons. Glasses never refilled. Our physician never received her meal as we all tried patiently to eat slow, so that when her meal arrived we could eat with her. Her meal arrived maybe 30 minutes after ours and the fish was not done!!!! All those chefs back there and no one knows when fish is done? There was a staff of about 20 people doing absolutely nothing. Management was a joke. The food was disgusting. Whe ordered Bruschetta and received "Ceviche". The waiter new nothing about the menu and barely spoke a word. It was the worst experience ever. We are still talking about it today. It's a shame the restuartuant is pretty, but you could not pay to ever go back. Oh! Did I mention they had no soup left and one creme brulee left. Please, Please do not go to this restuaraunt you will loose your mind and have anxiety attack. Shame on them for ruining a Christmas lunch that happens once a year.

Pros: None

Cons: Everything

Posted 12/14/07

daVinci's is my husband's and my favorite restaurant by far. We enjoy fine dining and don't mind paying for it - although daVinci's is quite reasonable compared to many. The tartufo is superb, the filletto incredible, the sea bass melts in your mouth and the bouillebaisse is beyond words. The bar is friendly yet classy and we really enjoy the saxaphone player. What an excellent restaurant.

Posted 11/29/07

This restaurant is in a very cool location overlooking Long Beach airport. The decor is impressive and atmosphere rich. I went here with 5 co-workers. Although the selection was nice, I think we were all surprised at the prices on the menu. Most of us ordered the chicken tortilini, it was about 50 pieces in a not so creamy white sauces - that was more like a soup. Nothing special about it - tasted like something iI could have made better w/ Ragu sauce. One of my co-workers had been there the week before and raved about the chocolate gelato. We waited 30 minutes for them to scoop out 3 servings. I question if the reason why we waited was because they had to run to the store and buy dryers icecream. It did not taste any different. Granted - maybe it was the creme brulee that took a little while - but the restaurant wasn't even 1/3rd full. Maybe 7 other parties, and we were the first people to arrive there for lunch. The service started out great but an hour and a half later and still waiting for our dessert - I felt like our waiter was trying to avoid us. I would have had a more satisfying meal at the Olive Garden.

Pros: Atmosphere

Cons: Over priced, slow service

Posted 10/09/07

Stefano's da Vinci Ristorante is a good place to go to dinner if you want to spend some money. The food is good but could be better. Service is a little slow but since it was so busy that can be expected. During the week the place is quieter and less crowded. It is a nice restaurant but you do pay for it. I do recommend it.

Pros: Atmosphere

Cons: price, service

Posted 09/09/07

I recently ate there with a group of 9 dining companions. We had reserved a round table to facilitate group conversation. When we arrived they had one long table set. We asked for other accomodations and were set-up with 3 bistro tables on the oudoor dining deck. The evening sunset was beautiful, except for the blasted noise from the helicopter which provides rides about every 15 minutes. Stop your conversation and wait for it to leave again. After a good 30 minutes or more we sent someone in to ask if we could order drinks. Drink orders were taken and 1 basket of bread for 3 tables was provided. After another hour or so we still didn't have menues. The waiter we had was either totally incompetent (a european accent doesn't mean you know how to serve), or had a personal dislike for our group, or both. Whatever the problem was, we asked the manager for another waiter but we were refused. After many complaints the management gave us a couple of free appetizers. After that the lousy service continued unabated. The food was good and the portions large but the service was not up to par with the prices. If I am paying $70-$100 for a meal I expect better service than your local diner. The whole meal took almost 4 hours. Way too long and way bad service for a group that's dropping a $1000. The waiter and maitr'd were not up to par for the restaurant they are trying to be. Save your money and a lot of frustration and dine somewhere else.

Pros: Tasty food, large portions, nice decor

Cons: BAD service, hellicopter noise, small elevator

Posted 07/12/07