Da Silvano

My husband and I are from Baltimore and we often dine at Da Silvano when we come into the city. ?It's our favorite place. ?We love the food, the service
and the atmosphere.

Last week we were heading up to Maine, driving along the turnpike, when the mood for Da Silvano's struck. ?We called ahead and made a detour. ?We were joined by our 9 year old daughter.

As usual we were seated immediately by a lovely, attentive waiter. ?From our table the street was very visible and our daughter suddenly remarked that
she thought she saw a "famous" person come into the restaurant. ?She did indeed. A very well-known woman and an equally well-known man were also
dining at Da Silvano that afternoon and they were seated right next to us.

What made the afternoon special for us was that in spite of the high profile table next to us, our waiter (and indeed the entire staff) treated our
family like we were their best customers.

A delicious, memorable meal served by lovely people.

Pros: You'll feel like you're a member of the Silvano family

Posted 07/27/09

quality food and service make this place one of the best for spring and summer. Shrimp sautee, red snapper and branzino. Yumm SALUTE!

Pros: Phenomenal Seafood

Cons: Zero

Posted 04/28/09

Had early dinner on New Year's. Everything perfect. The owner is a gem. Gives Il Mulino a run for the money.

Pros: Stewed Veal

Cons: None

Posted 01/08/09

I'm not one for reviews but I had an excellent meal at Da Silvano. Everything from my salad to my appetizer to my main course was very tasty. I've only been there once but would definitely go back again.

Pros: Food, Wine

Posted 10/07/08

I've heard about Da Silvano many times from friends but had never been. We went recently on a nice evening and sat outside. The service was good but the food was REALLY good. We stayed a bit after dinner to enjoy a bottle of wine and watch the people go by. Had a great time!

Pros: Food, Service, Outdoor Dining

Posted 09/30/08

Terrible service and absolutely overpriced...I would NEVER come back here. A $14 appetizer consisting of 3 shrimps is laughable and it wasn't even good!! Also, and this was the kicker...they refused to put cheese on my pasta Puttanesca b/c it's a fish based dish....I respect Italian cooking traditions when in Italy, but this is America and if I'm paying $20 for a pasta dish and I want cheese then get over your pretentious Italian ways andgive me cheese. The whole experience was just awful!!

Posted 09/26/08

After all these years Da Silvano is still a great place to people watch in the neighborhood. I went on a recent Wednesday night and both this restaurant and Bar Bitti next door still had a decent crowd outside. The hosts make you feel very welcome too and the waiters don't rush you.

Posted 08/25/08

Da Silvano has always had great food but I just wanted to say that on a nice day, it is a great spot in the Village to sit outside, enjoy a glass of wine and watch the people go by. Oh yeah, get some lunch too beacuse the food is delicious.

Pros: Location, People Watching, Wine, Lunch

Posted 07/29/08

My husband and I have been to Da Silvano several times and it's a true NY experience. The food is delicious, the ambiance and people watching is top notch and the service is terrific. I've also had the pleasure of meeting Silvano and find him to be very friendly and engaging. Definitely will be back!

Pros: Italian Food, Service, People Watching

Posted 07/24/08

I had brunch at Da Silvano recently and was disappointed. Completely overpriced mediocre food, with attitude to boot. For me, brunch is all about being low-key, casual and delicious. I should have known by the number of women with fake b**bs who prowl this joint by night. Oh, and $10 for a bottle of water. Don't bother.

Posted 07/21/08

My boyfriend and I had dinner at Da Silvano last night. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone. The food, service and atmosphere were great.

Posted 07/11/08

Good pasta and a great location! The service was good and the seats outside were fantastic. The best place to eat outside in Manhattan. The owner was extremely nice to visit our table - great place!

Pros: Great Outside Seating - Good Service - Good Pasta

Cons: A Little Expensive

Posted 06/29/08

I went with couple of my friends several nights ago and we really enjoyed it. The food was great along with the wine selection. The service and the ambiance made our night out perfect.

Posted 05/07/08

My husband took me to Da Silvano for our anniversary and we had a great time. We started with a bottle of white wine which was recommended by the friendly waiter. My husband had a delicious veal entree and I had a very tasty pasta dish prepared with white wine & cream. We shared dessert and went home very happy. Highly Recommended!

Pros: Food, Service

Posted 05/06/08

We stopped by for lunch on a nice day for an outside table. There weren't many people there, only another table of two, and we now know why. The prices on the menu were outrageously high for the usual NYC "lunch special" but we decided to give it a try. After we ordered, I went inside the restaurant and found the bathroom was filthy, the toilet didn't even work! The floors inside were dirty and unswept. When the food came to our table we were told to be careful of the "hot plates," a red flag for microwaved food. The serving size was very small and the food was not at all fresh, the pasta was very starchy. We ventured for an espresso afterward and again, the serving size was about only one half the customary serving size. We would never go back there again and I suspect they wouldn't mind since this place strikes us as a tourist trap, an all too usual occurrance in NYC these days.

Posted 05/04/08

great scene & beautful people but if your looking for solid italian food, go elsewhere... service was even worse. THERE IS NOTHING ITALIAN ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE

The Food - i took the chef's recommendation, which happens to be one of my favorite dishes - Langostines... and i got the cuddlefish appetizer. first our waiter described the Langostines as "fresh" and told me that it came with a medley of vegetables including potato on the side. so the $16.50 grilled cuddlefish came dry and over cooked... alone though, it would not warrant a negative review as they still not awful... however, my main dish of "fresh" langostines which cost $42 took me over the edge. first off, they presentation was attrocious as 7 langostines were presented on a wilted & blackened piece of lettuce... NOTHING else.. meaning, they never brought out the side dish (vegetable medley). as well, the langostines themselves were THE WORST I have ever had as they tasted like they came right out of a freezer. our waiter never knew of these concerns as it took me the entire meal just to get his attention or the check... my wifes meal was ok, though she did love the buffalo mozz appetizer (but how could u screw that up). i am a first generation italian and can tell you that if you're truly looking for great italian food, this DEFINITELY IS NOT THE PLACE. if you're going out and just want to sit outside and check out the beautiful people (and there were A LOT of hotties) u can do better than i did by not expecting much and order very basic pastas.

Pros: people watching

Cons: serice, food, wait time

Posted 04/17/08

great service, great food, great ambiance. very worth the wait!! I recommend it as one of my favorite italian restaurants in new york city.

Posted 03/26/08

I've always loved Da Silvano, but after the other night, I decided I had to write a review. No wonder this place has been a nyc favorite for decades...from the delicious food to the smart crowd to the warm, affable staff, Da Silvano is the ideal place to start your fun night out. Just look at all the great reviews; you won't be disappointed.

Pros: ambiance, pasta, staff, decor, lighting

Cons: can become habit-forming

Posted 02/22/08

Went with another couple to Da Silvano recently and was quite happy with everything from the wine, to the salad to our entrees(everyone had something different: seafood, pasta, beef) and finally the dessert. The waitstaff was attentive throughout and the ambiance was perfect. We'd definitely return.

Pros: Food, Wine, Service

Cons: None

Posted 01/10/08

Finally went to Da Silvano after hearing about it for years. We thought it lived up to the hype. I had a veal dish, my wife had a seafood and pasta dish. Both were excellent. Great wine selection and our waiter was very attentive. Highly recommended.

Pros: Cuisine, Service

Posted 12/06/07

What to say about DaSilvano. I must admit, I've been many,many times, and continue to visit. Aside from it being a hot spot (I've seen Lindsay, Martha Stewart etc etc etc - there's a;ways someone there, all the time), the food is good. The beets endive, bruschetta, rigatoni, steak tartare to the pastas, which I highly recommend above all else. Grilled shell steak and salads are also good. But to be honest folks, I've always pondered the prices. I know it's good but how do you charge that much for pasta?!?! I mean, I give it to Silvano, he's been there since '75 and it's definately earned it's name, but com'on. If you have money to burn, go. The food is acceptably good. But, I question those expose's on tv with the 'late night guests' in the kitchen!!!! Supposedly its been taken care of. Hmmm.

Pros: Good Food, Celebs

Cons: Prices

Posted 12/05/07

At first glance, was very excited to dine here. However, waiters became overbearing early, perhaps due to bad weather creating a small crowd. I mean, why would you put on a diner's scarf as a joke? What are you thinking? Regarding the food, calamari was the best I've had in the city creating an intense hype for dinner. But, as my title explains, I could not bear the amount of salt used in the linguine and scallops. The textures were superb as was the sauce, making it a shame to not be able to enjoy. This was true for the 3 other dishes at our table as well. Maybe someone dropped a shaker in the pan? That said, I might try it again just based on everyone else's reviews.

Posted 11/06/07

I, too, became a victim of Da Silvano's terrible customer service and outlandish prices. Five friends and I went to dinner here to celebrate one of their birthdays. We wanted to try a sampler of a few appetizers, split an entree or two, and taste a few desserts. WRONG WAY to order at this restaurant. After being reassured by the waiter that we'd be "taken care of" he presumed to push food on us, saying we weren't ordering enough. We said we wanted to try 3 or 4 appetizers, split a pasta dish that featured two types of pasta, and try 2 or 3 desserts. The staff brought us out 2 of each : a plate of 3 asparagus stalks, one tomato cut in fours with small pieces of mozzerella, prosciutto, salami with parmasean cheese, and 4 slices of bruschetta. My main course consisted of SEVEN pieces of tiny tortelini and about 20 pieces of penne. He also brought out an extensive amount of desserts. THREE PIECES of asparagus cost $17!!!! Every app was $15-17, our dinner was $75, and the dessert platter was $80!!!! I called the next day to talk with someone about this (not wanting to make a scene at my friend's birthday celebration), and commended them on their tasty food. I was calm and sincere on the phone in complimenting the food, but expressed that we felt taken advantage of and pressure by our waiter,but the person on the phone would not even let me utter 5 words, screaming at me on the phone saying "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU" and "We are Da Silvano, if you want a $10 plate of pasta go elsewhere." He went on to say that we got a steal for a $350 bill because the average person spends at least $100.

Well let me tell you, I will most definitely NEVER go back to this restaurant, NEVER recommend it to anyone else, and if I hear of anyone wanting to try it out, I will HIGHLY discourage it. Just because their clientele includes celebrities, doesn't mean that they should treat people who are not of "celebrity status" like nobodies. Talk about horrible customer service!

Pros: Meeting Silvano was the only highlight, and the food wasn't so bad

Cons: Customer service was terrible, employees were downright RUDE, waiters were pushy

Posted 09/20/07

My wife and I love Italian food and have tried many restaurants in NYC but always come back to Da Silvano. The wine selection is very good, the food is wonderful and we always have a friendly waiter. Make reservations here, you won't regret it.

Pros: Food, Food, Food

Posted 07/23/07

I've been to Da Silvano several times and have ordered many different items. I have to say I've never had anything less than delicious there. The food is always cooked just right and seasoned perfectly. Others I've sent there have said the same thing. Highly recommended.

Pros: Food, Wine

Posted 07/22/07

Heard great things about this place and were sorely disappointed in ALL of the non-food issues. Waiter was indifferent/invisible - probably since we only went for a $40 1/2 bottle of DOC Tuscan red. No attempt to explain or suggest courses since the waiters are well-trained in using a stylus on their handheld devices to enter orders - just like at Yankee Stadium. Waiters spend a lot of time on the sidewalk ogling and commenting on everyone walking by - and fawning over the regulars. Not a single Thank You or "how was your meal.
Don't give them your business - they don't appreciate their clients

Pros: Every menu item we tried

Cons: Service and attitude

Posted 07/21/07

Been hearing about Da Silvano for years so my wife and I decided to check it out. The wine list was excellent as was the food. My wife had a pasta/dish with seafood and I had a veal dish. Both were delicious. Great place to just hang and watch the people, surroundings.

Pros: Wine, Cuisine, People watching

Posted 06/17/07

I've been to Da Silvano several times over the years, with my wife, my friends and with co-workers. Da Silvano consistently serves great food in a true New York experience. A great place to people watch as well. Outdoor seating in the warmer weather is always a plus.

Pros: Food, atmosphere, wine

Posted 06/12/07

My boyfriend and I walked up to this great looking restaurant, thirsty for a few beers or some wine which could possibly lead to food. I asked a waiter if it was ok to sit outside and have a beer, and he said "Of Course!" and was very friendly. I took a look at the dinner menu, nothing struck me at the time, so after about 15 minutes with the menu I said to the waiter that I was more interested in beer. He immediately got rude with me, changed his tone completely, and told me that his outside tables were reserved for guests who were eating. I reminded him of our conversation 15 minutes prior, to which he replied, "yeah, I know I said that, but just so you know, I didn't mean it." I did tip him. I hope it was worth the $5 he made from us, since it could have been much more. In a city with so many choices, I won't be going back to Da Silvano.

Posted 06/10/07

I loved the rustic decor, the food, and the service. I loved the grilled shrimp and the pasta with clams. Very tasty authentic Italian. This place is great for parties, dates, business meetings and great outdoor seating. This was my first time going with my co-workers and I will be back.

Posted 06/02/07

I took my family here based on a review in a New York City guide book and I was quite disappointed. My $20 meal was essentially penne with tomatoes, garlic, and a few roasted peppers. I could have easily made this at home for less than $5. The rest of the entrees we ordered (all of which were ~$20) were as equally unimpressive. On top of this, we had to wait over 30 minutes for our food. I think the waiter/kitchen forgot us b/c two other tables that came in after us were eating before we were. No apologies were made and when we finally did get our food, it looked as if it had been quickly "slapped" on the plates. The only positive was they had nice outdoor (sidewalk) seating. Good "people-watching." My advice...go have a drink and sit outside, but skip the food. There are MUCH BETTER (cheaper) restaurants in the area within a few blocks walking distance.

Pros: Outdoor seating

Cons: High-priced average food

Posted 05/18/07

Everytime I go to Da Silvano, I have a great dining experience. I've tried many dishes there from the pastas to veal to seafood, etc and it's always cooked perfectly and tastes delicious. They have a very nice wine selection and the vibe is always just right. The waiters are always very nice and helpful as well.

Pros: Pastas, Seafood

Cons: none

Posted 03/25/07

I don't understand what all they hype is about with this restaurant. My husband and I went last night. He ordered pasta and I had the veal milanese (a veal chop pounded thin, breaded, with salad.) Our meal was delivered to the table in about 5 minutes ~ not a good sign! It was obviously cooked way ahead of time and heated up just for us. That's ok, (I guess) in some cases, but when they're charging thoses prices, I want my food made to order and fresh! The veal chop wasn't even good and was very fatty. The bread was good, though. All in all it was more than a bit disappointing. I may give it one more try, but not with my husband. He feels that there are too many great restaurants in this city than to go back to this one. What do all the celebrities see in this place???

Pros: the bread

Cons: the dinner

Posted 03/24/07

Went here with a large group of friends. We had a few bottlles of wine from the extensive wine list, all of which were excellent choices recommended by the waiters. The service in general was quite attentive without being bothersome. As far as the food, everyone was happy with their dishes. Everything was fresh served in a timely manner. This was a great New York experience!

Pros: Wine List, Service, Food Quality

Posted 02/26/07

We arrived at this noisy, hectic restaurant and were initially impressed by the bountiful open display of freshly prepared salads, meats, pastas and fish. Once we sat down, we were instantly swamped with several waiters offering so many different specials it was hard to keep track of them, let alone decide what to order. They brought out several orders of prociutto, served on wax paper. Next, they paraded out several expensive dishes for two, including veal shanks that were beautifully displayed on a large platter. Several of our party members were enticed to order the shanks but were very disappointed to receive individual plates of overcooked, sliced meat onto which a mixture of stewed, sour cabbage and onion goulash had been heaped. Others ordered veal chops milanese, which also had a mixture of limp lettuce and tomatoes heaped on top. The chop was dry and lacking in flavor. There was nothing fresh or healthy served to our table the entire meal.The wine list was extensive but overpriced. We felt that the wait staff was there to sell rather than to serve and that the open display of beautiful food in the front room was simply a prop or staging area for their sales effort. The bill for dinner for eight: $1150! We were exhausted by the time we left from the noise, the overbearing, hard-selling waiters, and the outrageous bill for bland, overcooked food served with such uncreative and unappetizing presentation. What a hype!

Pros: None

Cons: Over-crowded, noisy, over-bearing servers, over-priced, over-cooked: what you see is NOT what you get

Posted 02/21/07

My wife & I have been to Da Silvano several times over the years. We're always impressed with the professionalism of the staff, the quality of the food and the general good time atmosphere. We'll be going back again & again as long as Silvano keeps up the good work.

Pros: food, service

Cons: none

Posted 02/01/07

From the waitstaff, to the appetrizers to the main course to the dessert, Da Silvano lived up to the hype. Met some friends here and simply had a great time. The people watching and atmosphere was very New York but it was the food that will get me back there again. Well done Da Silvano!

Pros: Food, service

Posted 01/22/07

Been hearing about Da Silvano for years so my wife and I gave it a shot. We were seated right on time and the service was impeccable. There was a really nice wine selection and the waiter was eager to help us with choosing one. He also was very helpful in the appetizer and main course suggestions. We had a few different items and shared them and found everything to be delicious. No room for dessert but there's always next time as we'll definitely be back.

Pros: Service, Delicious food

Posted 01/03/07

Went on recommendations from friends who have been going for years, now I know why. All the dishes, including apps, main courses and desserts were delicious. The service was attentive without being bothersome and there was a very good wine selection. Lots of hype around Da Silvano but they definitely delivered.

Pros: Food, Service, Wine

Posted 11/20/06

I've generally heard good things about this place, and finally made it out to dinner here. The service is what really shoked me. Our waiter seemed annoyed to be there and was hurrying us a long while we were looking over the menu. The bus boy was a mess and spilled water all over the table, and instead of wiping it down, he covered the mess with napkins! When the food FINALLY arrived (huge wait) it was not up tp par. My friends pasta was luke warm and my fish was tiny and too salty. The real shoker was the bill. This place is totally overpriced for what you get!

Pros: can't think of ONE

Cons: Service, Food, Prices!

Posted 11/19/06

My wife and I go to Da Silvano at least once a year and we find the food as good, if not better than when we first started going years ago. The staff is knowledgable and attentive and the food is always served hot and fresh. The wine list is very good and the menu choices are superb. Whenever friends are in from out of town, I always reccomend that they check out Da Silvano

Pros: Food, Service

Posted 11/13/06

I can understand paying a lot for an awsome meal, but first the food must live up to the prices. Wer came here on a Sunday, for a casual lunch. 6 people. Ordered arugala salad (not on the menu, but they said they would make it) and a plate of antipasto (we asked them to make it big enough for all 6 people, same with the salad) We also has 2 ice creams and some coffee. That's it. The bill came out to $580.00 I have never had a lunch, anywhere in this city, that came out to that much, even with 6 people! This place is a joke, and is only surviving on the hype it was able to build years ago!

Pros: NONE!

Cons: Prices are a joke, food does not live up tp the hype

Posted 11/12/06

Everything went well at Da Silvano, from the service to the wine selection to the appetizers, main course and dessert. Da Silvano lived up to the hype. I'd definitely go back

Posted 11/09/06

Went here for a casual Sunday night dinner with a few friends, after noticing that htey did not have risotto on the menu I asked our waiter if it is possible to make it anyway, since most Italian restaurants always habe it on hand. The waiter said "no problem at all" that they usually have it on the menu just not that particular day. So my risotto came, it was OK - just as good as any other risotto I've ever had. Then came the bill...and to my surprise I saw that my TINY plate of RISOTTO cost $110.00. Not to mention the shrip appitizer that consisted of 3 tiny shrip, costing $17! (but at least there I knew what I was getting in to!) I will never ever be back, if I want to spend $110 on a plate of food there are some better choices in this city!

Cons: Absurdly Expensive!!!

Posted 11/05/06

Full disclosure: My views on Da Silvano are colored by a particularly disappointing meal at Oceania the night before. That said...

We got a last-minute table for six on a Tuesday night even though the restauarnt was busy. The specials selection was large: at least eight specials, varying from mildly to outrageously expensive (Kobe beef sounds good when the waiter mentions it, but...). We were drinking by the glass, and the waiter understood immediately when I said I wanted to avoid the tannic end of the red wine spectrum. He offered a selection (sadly, the noise precluded my hearing the name) that fit my needs exactly.

The waiter offered us an appetizer sampler, which consisted of a first-rate calamari, prosciutto, eggplant parmigiana, parmesan cheese, and a number of other items. All were flavorful, but the calamari was light, crunchy, and melted in the mouth: just outstanding.

My entree was a bit disappointing, but only after the bold flavors of the appetizers. It was a pumpkin ravioli in a butter and sage sauce. The sage aroma was subtle and enticing, but the ravioli itself was pretty bland and perhaps too dense and chewy.

We had not known that this was a celeb-watching spot, but one of our party saw a cast member from "Six Feet Under" on the way in.

The bill was steep (a bit over $110 per person, tip included) but no one in the party found any reason to complain. An excellent choice. I will be back.

Pros: The calamari

Posted 10/27/06

Perhaps an off-day, but was not impressed by food or portions. I was randomly searching for a place to eat when I was attracted by the restaurant's sidewalk seating. When presented with $20 pasta options, I assumed good sized portions but instead received servings a little smaller than a fist. And having recently visited Italy, I was expecting the pasta to be al dente but instead found it ranging from soft to hard depending on location in the dish.

If you have the cash or love wine, perhaps the other selections could be good cause to come. But if you are looking for a casual moderately-priced lunch break, there are probably better places to look. Also, at least for the time I was there, most customers seemed to be visiting from out of town (armed with maps or tourist brochures).

Pros: Heated sidewalk cafe area

Cons: Overpriced pasta

Posted 10/22/06

Went here w/ my wife on recommendations from friends. Good selection of wines. The food was excellent. My wife had a pasta dish and I had OssoBuco......both were cooked pefectly. Service was attentive as well. Great spot!

Pros: Wine, food quality

Posted 08/10/06

The title above says it all. It is a fancy place, with good product, but it is tough to shell out such bucks for Italian, when you know you can get similar quality, with great ambience in little Italy. Also, the wine list does not have enough reasonable options.

Posted 08/02/06

Went here on recommendations from friends who loved it......and glad we did. Sevice was friendly and efficient without being bothersome(always there when you needed them). My wife had a delicious pasta dish and I had veal which was very tasty. It was a great people watching scene as well. Highly Recommended

Pros: Food, Service

Posted 07/05/06