Insider Pages Reviews for Da Silvano

5 Stars: Lovely people, wonderful neighborhood food (by Anniebelle)

Anniebelle — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: Great Outdoors (by sharmagirl)

sharmagirl — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:00:00 GMT

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

5 Stars: Wonderful (by chowfun56)

chowfun56 — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

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

4 Stars: Celebrity sightings (by Melissa W.)

Melissa W. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:22:00 GMT

Silvano Marchetto, the gracious host of this wonderful Italian restaurant, has found a way to meld traditional Tuscan Italian food with a rock 'n' roll, downtown energy. I've been here with work associates and friends many times (I used to work in the area) and I always had a wonderful meal. The salads with fresh Parmagiana are memorable. What's more, you can sit out on the sidewalk and enjoy people-watching. And, you may even be dining next to celebrities while you are there!

5 Stars: Great Meal! (by Rachelyu)

Rachelyu — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: REALLY Good (by Gerwing)

Gerwing — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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!

1 Stars: Horrible pretentious place (by jruzi01)

jruzi01 — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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!!

5 Stars: Still good people watching (by AmityM)

AmityM — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Great Spot for Lunch on a Nice Day (by Cindy353)

Cindy353 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Highly Recommended (by Alice77)

Alice77 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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!

1 Stars: They charge extra for the attitude (by downtownkat)

downtownkat — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Great food and service! (by JenP14)

JenP14 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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

4 Stars: We Loved It! (by NPTBenson)

NPTBenson — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Worth checking out... (by chickpea18)

chickpea18 — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Excellent Anniversary Dinner (by mar66)

mar66 — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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!

1 Stars: Buyer beware (by villagegrl)

villagegrl — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: If food/service not important, this is THE place (by dinonyc)

dinonyc — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Great Service and Great Food (by WestVillageChic)

WestVillageChic — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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

5 Stars: A real NYC institution ... Lively atmosphere, convivial staff, delightful dishes (by fancyfull)

fancyfull — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Very Good Food, Had a great time (by bbctagert)

bbctagert — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Excellent (by bbroderick2)

bbroderick2 — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Good Food, Good Crowd, Outragious prices (by qwert460)

qwert460 — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Salty (by rakhta01)

rakhta01 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

1 Stars: COMPLETE RIP-OFF in so many ways (by ashleigh110484)

ashleigh110484 — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Great Italian (by mpetryy)

mpetryy — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: DELICIOUS (by cparlay)

cparlay — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: Terrific food; abominable service (by ductile)

ductile — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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

5 Stars: Loved It! (by fparlorr)

fparlorr — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Delicious (by bbbbarker)

bbbbarker — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Poor Attitude (by magazinegirl)

magazinegirl — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Best Italian in the Village!! (by kholmes71)

kholmes71 — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: Not impressed (by selizabethdavis)

selizabethdavis — Sat, 19 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Da Silvano. Da Best! (by ffjjones)

ffjjones — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

2 Stars: very disappointing... (by debra823)

debra823 — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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???

5 Stars: Loved It! (by ccppratt)

ccppratt — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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!

3 Stars: What is all the hype about? (by pologirl)

pologirl — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Always impressed (by cbhg125)

cbhg125 — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Great Dining Experience (by mkkkappp)

mkkkappp — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Loved it (by franklinklk)

franklinklk — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Definitely Be Back! (by jblankss)

jblankss — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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.

1 Stars: Not what I expected. (by superdv)

superdv — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Still great after all these years (by freddydi)

freddydi — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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

1 Stars: Outrageous Prices! (by emmanuella)

emmanuella — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Delicious Food. Great atmosphere (by stantonnyc)

stantonnyc — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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

1 Stars: Rip Off!!!! $110 RISOTTO! (by europa_europa)

europa_europa — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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!

4 Stars: An excellent choice. I will be back. (by mmccalpin)

mmccalpin — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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.

1 Stars: Disappointed, Overpriced Pasta, Not for Casual Moderately-Priced Lunches (by davelee)

davelee — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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).

5 Stars: Nice Spot, Excellent Food (by chportnoy)

chportnoy — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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!

4 Stars: Good food. Good service. Nice spot. Too expensive for pasta. (by glebovics)

glebovics — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Good Food, Good service (by bobjackl)

bobjackl — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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

3 Stars: A disappointment (by roxxyro88)

roxxyro88 — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The food was actually really good, we had the stuffed zucchini blossoms special as an appetizer. The verticle duck was quite good as well. The Bacala was much to be desired. Overall food was very good. I was really disappointed in the wine and water. THe wine list ranged from $65 to $2000 for reds. I have been to tuscany, and, trust me, the wine selection was a "rip off". Also another disappointment was the Water bottles. Private Labeled "Dasilvano" "salty" water which the waiter kept pouring. The other dissappointment was the service. If you dont order the $252 bottle of wine, you wont get good service. hmmmm> I recommend this restaurant if you dont drink and you dont mind attitude from your waiter.

5 Stars: Worth the wait (by jacobsoren)

jacobsoren — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Went here on a weekday night with my wife and had to wait a while for a table but it was definitely worth it. When we were seated, we were greeted by a friendly waiter who was knowledgable about the food & wine. The wine selection was great by the way. My wife had gnocchi with gorgonzola which was very good. I'm more of a meat-eater and ordered a veal dish which was excellent. The food came out in a timely manner and served fresh & hot. Overall I'd have to say it was an excellent dining experience

2 Stars: Don't believe the hype (by sasisrael)

sasisrael — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 09:00:00 GMT

After reading many favorable reviews, it seemed like this place would have been one to impress - however it was a huge disappointment. The wine list had only a few bottles around $40, with the rest being over $100 (which were the ONLY ones recommended by our waiter, I wonder why). The food was very average - have had much superior Italian in other City restaurants. The pricings are amazingly high for the quality of food and service. Recommend going elsewhere.

5 Stars: Excellent (by fredrock)

fredrock — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Went here for lunch with some co-workers. The service was very attentive and knowledgable of the wines and food. Everyone's meal came out in a timely manner and the food was fresh and delicious. I wanted to stay for dessert but had no time so we ordered a couple items to go. This is also a great spot to people watch. I plan on going back, next time for dinner with my wife

3 Stars: A little unsure... (by 3angels)

3angels — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:00:00 GMT

By the reviews we thought our experience would be great, however we were wrong. The bread and pasta were really great, but the House salad was so salty that we couldn't get it down. The waitstaff was not on top of us and forgot both our wine and tea. Questioned the price of the tea ($7)and was told my husband had two. The day is coming that people will soon be charged for a refill of coffee too! Give me a break! We found several other " friendly" restaurants on our trip that weren't so stuffy.

5 Stars: VERY GOOD! (by jasmink)

jasmink — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Lots of talk about Da Silvano so I had to try it for myself. We made reservations on a Wednesday night. We were seated promptly. The service was excellent and our waiter was knowledgable about the extensive wine list. My friend and I ordered three dishes to share so we could try a few different things. The pasta dish(rigatoni) was cooked perfectly and was quite tasty. We also ordered a veal dish and a shrimp dish which had tomatoes, scallions, etc. Both dishes were very good. There was no room for dessert but I'm glad we finally came here.

5 Stars: Worth the wait (by cnamath)

cnamath — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

My wife and I went here without reservations on a Tuesday night. The wait was a bit long but luckily a table opened up. We started with a salad which was very fresh ith a nice mix of greens. We also had the mussels as an appetizer which were very good. Our entrees were quite tasty. We shared two dishes: meat tortellini in a cream sauce which we loved and veal with risotto, also very good. No room for dessert since we had a couple glasses of wine during our meal. We'd wanted to go here for a while and I'm glad we finally did

5 Stars: Always good (by csanson)

csanson — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

We've been going to Da Silvano for years because of the delicious food, excellent wine list and friendly staff. The pasta is always cooked perfectly, the seafood always fresh and the attention to detail exemplary. As long as Silvano continues his ways, we'll continue to go

5 Stars: It's all good (by cjesper)

cjesper — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

We went here with a group of 4 on a busy night. Even though it was very busy, the waiters were very courteous and the food was served fresh and in a timely manner. We drank a bottle of white wine from the extensive list and shared a couple different Antipasti dishes(fried zucchini & artichoke with vinaigrette). We all had a different entree(rib eye, roasted duck, linguine w/ clams and lamb) and were all quite pleased. Everything we ate was delicious and cooked perfectly. The hype is there but so is the food!

5 Stars: DELICIOUS meal (by yuligz)

yuligz — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I went with my wife for dinner last week and had a terrific experience. The staff was very friendly and the food was delicious. We had calamari and oysters for appetizers which were both very good. My wife had the gnocchi which was cooked perfectly. I had the roasted veal which was also very good. We were too full for dessert but we'll be back again to try some next time

5 Stars: the best in nyc (by mattia)

mattia — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 09:00:00 GMT

the best food end service the staff is only italian
so is the real italian plece to go..........
good food
good service
good music..................

5 Stars: Great Experience (by hail042)

hail042 — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 09:00:00 GMT

wow, the food is amazing and the service is great! I will be returning to dine at DaSilvano

4 Stars: good food but pricey (by nycgirl117)

nycgirl117 — Thu, 11 Dec 2003 09:00:00 GMT

went last month with a group of friends. enjoyed the food, but the place was kind of dead that night. the decor is nothing special, and the restaurant is split up between a couple of small neighboring storefronts. our waiter was extremely friendly (maybe because there was only 1 other party in the place) and comp'd us a round of shots at the end of meal when he found out my husband and i had recently gotten married. the food was very good, and there was a long selection of choices. i enjoyed everything, but for $70/person (1 drink each, shared appetizers, entree, shared dessert, tax and tip) it wasn't that special.

1 Stars: horrific service (by Rpiana)

Rpiana — Thu, 24 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I must say that I have never been so horrified by the service I received last night at this restaurant! After work, a friend asked me to catch a bit. We ordered some appetizers, such as fried calarmai, zuppa di muscle, and a cold antipasto. Food was good. However the service was terrible. Waiter was so rude. and to top things off the bill came to $120.00. The waiter charges me 56.00 for a cold antipasto for two people. I couldn't understand how 2 pieces of asparagus. 2 piece of cheese and some roasted peppers coast so much. I paid $56.00 for veggies antipasto for 2 people. and we didn't even eat it! GET REAL!!! I'll never go back there!

2 Stars: screwed on wine (by halhgreene)

halhgreene — Mon, 21 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

very expensive wine placed on the table made to look like house wine. no one ever mentioned the price until the bill showed up...bad attitude..never again

1 Stars: Fly to Italy for less $$$ (by uwsguy)

uwsguy — Thu, 05 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

It was a beautiful day and I thought I would enjoy a nice outdoor table and splurge on a fantastic Italian lunch. What I got instead was a little bit of Upper East Side snobbery in Greenwich Village. From the moment I requested tap water instead of the $8.95 bottle of Italian water, our table was ignored, even though we were paying $20 per glass of house chianti. Perhaps they have two kitchens, one for the famous and regulars and another for everyone else. Our octopus salad was flavorless, tough and rubbery, with our pasta being just plain bland and boring. Won't ever go back.