This place has a pretty homey atmosphere. It's dimly lit and pretty much your typical Italian restaurant. It's a family establishment. My friend raved about this place to me and I thought it was pretty decent. The service was fast and the portions were huge. I ordered the stuffed peppers and it was pretty good.
(4)
Steve B.
I went here Friday evening with my wife and we were greeted by a friendly hostess. We were brought stale bread by our waitress and I dipped it in their olive oil which certainly did not taste like olive oil. I had a meat calzone and my wife had spaghetti with calamari in it. The food was simply flavorless and executed very poorly. The employees were nice enough, but with as many restaurants as there are in Evanston, this should be one of the last places you go to.
(2)
Zee X.
Better than Olive Garden, but still not that great. Service is a bit slow, but the food comes out fresh and fast. If your going to come here for dinner, the Chicken Parm is the way to go - the same goes for anything else that's deep fried. If you're going to order pasta beware, the marinara sauce is very watered down and a bit tasteless. (Beware, your leftovers will leak) Will I come here again? Maybe, but that's only if I'm in the mood for something fried.
(3)
Ross C.
Delicious pasta although this time we went with the salmon pouched in wine and was very nice as well... The eggplant was delicious and healthy too. Now with temporarily BYOB is great too! We went across the street bought a nice french wine at a very reasonable price and enjoy a nice dinner.
(4)
Cristina P.
I really hated the food here. The pasta sauce is so bitter. The meatball was dry and flavorless and the chicken parm was so fried it might as well have been a burnt chicken tender. I came here starving and left most of my plate. I'm Seriously pissed the ratings are above 3. I hate eating out and having a bad meal. The service was very good but I won't be back.
(2)
Jordan Z.
The veal parmesan with meat sauce and think crust four cheese pizza is a great combination for a 2-3 people working late on a project. The veal is always excellent and the pizza isn't quit Union but damn good. Been eating here since they were on Davis St. A solid choice every time.
(4)
Sarah Beth B.
This is italian comfort food at its finest. It's not fancy at all, and my husband was super suspicious when I wanted to go and told him it was where we ate all the time in college, but he came around and we both were super pleased. Portions here are huge and delicious, and that kind of gloppy, saucy, cheesy Italian that tastes good when you kinda don't feel well or don't want to put much thought into it. They make my ideal eggplant parm, with layers of fried eggplant sandwiching herby ricotta. The fresh bread is delicious, the wine is CHEAP, and you'll certainly have plenty for lunch tomorrow. It's a win!
(4)
Stephanie C.
Came here for the first time today before the dinner rush started. The restaurant is pretty homey, with lots of booths and tables. I don't think it's a very authentic place; everything on the menu was very Americanized Italian food. Nevertheless, I got the ravioli and my friend got the Chicken Florentine, and both were delicious. I was given 4 large ravioli for $10.50, with a choice of sauce (I chose meat at the server's recommendation). The ravioli was cooked well, with delicious filling, and I had enough to take home and make another meal out of. Service was pretty quick and friendly, and portions and prices are decent. Wish it was more authentic, but I will probably come back and try dessert next time as well! My only complaint is that there are TOO MANY CHOICES on the menu!
(4)
Mike S.
I love Dave's Italian Kitchen. Is it perfect? No, but if you are looking for a no nonsense unpretentious experience, you'll enjoy it. It's not gourmet food, but I love their Gorgonzola salad. I've never tried the pizza, but it seems popular. Their is a variety of pasta dishes that are quit good, if not earth shattering. So, to some it up, it's my go to Italian restaurant when I'm visiting Evanston.
(4)
Vic L.
Nothing fancy , just a great family restaurant, you can bring your own bottle of wine for a minimum cork fee. Great pizza , love their italian salad , side of meatballs is a must ( then use extra Sause from meatballs on your za). Just go , and if you have to wait it won't be long and proves it's worth it.
(5)
Ann Marie B.
My family loves Dave's Italian Kitchen. It's our go-to for family celebrations. Cannot beat the prices and the staff are so accommodating to our kids. My menu favs: muscles, Italian salad, lasagna, chicken Marsala and pizza. Kids love the bread too. Cheap, but good wine is such a plus too. And, to the server tonight who quickly brought me a fresh salad as my leftovers fell all over the floor. It was my fault, yet I appreciate you all. Thank you!
(5)
Bob R.
Great food at a great price! Kid friendly! The place seemed to be filled with locals. A wonderful place to eat!
(4)
Hombre S.
Nice ambience, even if you're in the basement. Very extensive menu-pasta, pizza, calzones, risotto. From there it's downhill. The food is REALLY bad. Spinach salad=a bag of spinach witha couple of onion slices. Calzone=bland and tasteless. Same for ravioli. Same for homemade bread. Everything we had at our table was bland and boring. Would not ever go here again. Nice ambience though.
(2)
Ann K.
Based on what I ordered (Fettuccine Alfredo), I would not recommend this place. For around $10, I received a plate of extremely creamy noodles alfredo noodles. To my surprise, there were no added toppings in the noodles. Personally, it didn't suit me very well. It tasted very unhealthy and had no flavor. Halfway through the dish, I got sick of it and handed it over to my friend to finish it off. You may have a better experience ordering something else.
(2)
Elizabeth D.
Ample portions of classic Italian-American cuisine. If you've ever been to a restaurant with red-and-white checked plastic tablecloths, you know what to expect, and you certainly won't be disappointed.
(3)
Christopher R.
Dave's is my go-to restaurant in Evanston for delivery as the quality of their food and service is superior to all peers. The thin crust pizza crust is amazing and this is by far the best thin crust pizza you can find in Evanston. I recommend ordering their Chicken Parmesan with a pink (rosea) sauce and angel hair pasta (yes, they let you substitute the pasta you prefer!). If you like excellent service, huge portions and high quality - look no further.
(5)
Simone T.
This review applies to delivery only, not dine in. Ordered and promptly got a thin crust pepperoni pizza and an order of linguini with white clam sauce. The verdict? Fantastic. Great NY style pizza, incredibly delicious crust, sauce, cheese & meat. The linguini & clam sauce was, literally, OVERFLOWING with a VERY welcomed and generous serving of clams & was seasoned perfectly. I haven't eaten pasta w/clams this delicious in YEARS, and this is a favorite dish for me. Dave's, you've ruined me, in the best way possible!
(5)
Brandon B.
This place is very mediocre Italian food. Edible but very meh. The location is in a basement, so the place seems a little dark. This place is fine if you are close and want Italian food, but I would not call it a must visit destination.
(3)
Jane W.
Third time's a charm. Came here rather impulsively just to give this place another chance (first two experiences - food wise - was a definite 1 star). Ordered garlic scallops with fettucine ($16.95), and I liked it. Generous portions of scallops (8 BIG scallops, instead of the tiny pathetic ones restaurants usually like to give), and the sauce was a nice balance between flavorful and not too oily/salty. Bread they give out at the beginning is decent. Not flavorful, but comes out warm and the consistency is nice and chewy. Also shared a meatball a la carte and it was decent as well.
(3)
Diana H.
Everyone knows the food at Dave's is delicious, so I'd like to take the time to write about the wine list. I own a local wine shop and know how much everything costs, and restaurant mark-ups are usually at about 300% more than the wholesale cost. Dave's wine list is not only varied, eclectic and supremely curated, he also charges hardly any mark-up at all. Maybe 100%, which gets you a great night out with really, really good wine at (almost) retail prices. Usually the wine/booze list is where restaurants make their money. I suspect Dave is more interested in giving his customers a really great bottle of wine (which is a passion of his) at way less than the going rate to both share the love and augment the overall experience. But ours is not to ask questions. Go to Dave's and make sure you ask for the wine list and order liberally. Either pocket the savings, or pay it forward in the form of tips for the excellent and attentive waitstaff.
(5)
Cat D.
Dave's Italian Kitchen is a standard italian restaurant with a super homey feel and amazing price options! Probably one of the better Italian restaurants in evanston, and definitely better than the chain ones. Though the food could do with a bit more seasoning, but all in all, I was satisfied! The homey ambience, the friendly service, the comfy food, and a reasonable price, all in all, Dave's Italian Kitchen is definitely a place I'll be frequenting from now on!
(4)
Tyson T.
We were looking for a new place to try out and saw all the positive reviews so we decided to stop in. We almost didn't as the outside looked a bit run down compared to some of the newer restaurants. Plus the neon open sign was also a little questionable as I felt like we were entering a strip club as opposed to a restaurant. However, I couldn't be happier that we gave this place a chance. The actual restaurant, which is downstairs, was quite spacious and had a ton of seating. The menu was really diverse with a ton of selection and they had a nice wine list. Prices were amazing and this place actually reminded me of Leona's before they sold out to new ownership. I had a very tasty lasagna dish, which was a nice combo of meat and cheese. Appetizers were all excellent and the bread/oil was delicious. Will definitely return as the Italian restaurants in my neighborhood are 3 times more expensive with food nowhere near as good.
(5)
Ed B.
raveling for business and restaurant was recommended by a co-worker that lives in the area. Located in a basement, nicely decorated and offers booth and table seating. A loaf of nice crusty Italian bread was provided while I reviewed the menu. I ordered a dinner salad which consists of lettuce, lots of shredded carrots and pepperchinis limited ingredients but listed that way on the menu so no surprise. Italian dressing was fantastic. For the meal I ordered lasagna with meat sauce that arrived nice and hot covered in cheese. Meat sauce was loaded with meat and all was very tasty. Nothing fancy but good food and good service, definitely worth giving it a try. They also offer take-out.
(3)
Amy W.
I have been going to Dave's since I was about 12 years old--more than 30 years! Yikes! Anyway, I love this place! Great food, excellent wine selection, fabulous atmosphere. Service is always great. The fresh-baked bread is awesome. The chocolate mousse is a MUST.
(5)
Sarah S.
I absolutely LOVE Dave's Italian Kitchen!! Their eggplant parm is amazing. The only complaint that I have is the long wait between when you order and when you actually get your food. I usually fill up on bread, and have to take some of my food home with me. I actually don't mind this because I love leftovers. But the quality of the food definitely outweighs the time it took to get it!! Their raspberry Italian soda is also amazing!!!
(4)
Elaine M.
We have loved Dave's for years. I can't believe I never wrote them a Yelp review! We always start with the large Italian dinner salad with the homemade thousand island dressing to share. With the fresh bread, olive oil, and parmesan cheese, that could be a meal in itself! No matter how full we might get, we can't pass up the awesome extra thin crust pizza, calzones and pastas. Our favorite pasta is spaghetti carbonara with mushrooms. Carbonara doesn't usually come with mushrooms, but we like to balance out the salty goodness of the bacon. We never have leftover carbonara. The lasagna is very good also. My son asked to celebrate his 10th birthday here. Staff was very accommodating and attentive. They put us in the back room so we didn't feel like we had to whisper during the party. I figured out why there aren't very many photos of Dave's. As soon as you can smell your food, everyone forgets all about taking pictures and just start digging in! I have yet to get a picture of the carbonara. I'll just have to order it again... :)
(5)
Rachel B.
Mediocre Italian food. I don't think there are a ton of options for good Italian in the area but I'd still rather not eat here. The best part of my meal was the cheap wine
(3)
Samantha M.
This is my second time eating at Dave's Italian Kitchen, and both times I've been pleasantly surprised. The food has always been solid. It's not the fanciest pasta in the world, but you get huge servings (enough for 2-3 meals) which is perfect for busy college students. You can come here once for a meal with friends, then enjoy left overs the next day! Considering the amount of food you get, this place is an absolute steal. Aside from the food, I've always experienced excellent service at Dave's. The first time I visited, I was a bit overwhelmed by all the pasta and noodle choices/combinations. The server at the time was incredibly helpful, friendly, and helped us make some pasta + noodle combinations. The second time, the server was really attentive even though the restaurant was extremely busy, and did a great job checking in with us throughout the meal.
(4)
Steve A.
Dave's may have the best wine list in Evanston. It's certainly the best priced wine list. The selections are well thought out, good quality, and priced only a bit above retail. Weirdly, the best section of the list is Australian, where there are a number of old gems. Food-wise, our results were good but not amazing. I really liked the Ceasar salad, and the bread was great. I was less enthusiastic about the house made pasta, which seemed heavy and overcooked. The small calzone was huge and tasty, although next time I'll make sure to get one with ricotta cheese in it. We didn't sample the pizza, but it looked very good. The entrance is weird, with steps leading down to an industrial cubicle and no signs indicating where the restaurant is. But this makes it a delightful surprise to open the door onto a cheerful, bustling, and surprisingly large space. Service was very friendly and attentive. We'll definitely return for another crack at that wine list.
(4)
Sharon C.
A little more than 3 stars, but less than 4, so... I was here for dinner with my friend, and I was totally shocked by how awesome this restaurant looked. I don't know why I'd never eaten here before, but it is much more impressive on the inside: you go down some stairs and through unmarked doors, and then it's like your transported to a whole different world. They don't seat you until your entire party arrives, which I like, except when it's my friends that are late, and not the people in front of me in line. We were seated relatively quickly, and given a bowl of bread. You do have to ask for butter for the bread, but our server brought it over quickly. I ordered the #3 small calzone (pepperoni and sausage), and my friend ordered angel hair pasta with white clam sauce, which she said she had last time she was there and was really craving. The food was a little slow to arrive - we finished our bread basket and actually asked for another - but the portions were surprisingly big. I will say that the calzone was a little more doughy than I thought it should have been, and I thought I could have done with a little bit of a better filling-to-wrapping ratio. However, the service was fantastic and they never rushed us, even though we stayed at our table for at least another thirty minutes after paying for our meal. Overall: I'm not a huge pasta person and I think that's what you're supposed to get here, so I don't know that I'd go back, but it was definitely a good experience!
(3)
Miles D.
We've eaten here MANY times and have always enjoyed the food. I typically get the stuffed zucchini and my wife gets the pasta with cheese, garlic and mushrooms. Yummy! And the Italian salad for 2 is great. We especially enjoy the creamy garlic dressing. SO GOOD!!! One time I ordered pasta with a mustard cream sauce. WAY too much for me...Sauce was too sweet and just too much... Had my second mediocre meal there last night...We tried the pizza and did not care for it at all... Crust not good...tasted burned and my wife commented that it "tastes like a frozen pizza." We've always seen folks eating pizza here, but we will not order it again. I'll stick with the stuffed zucchini and the Italian salad...Those are yummy!
(3)
Ki-tae P.
Cheese thin Pizza was salty but tasty once u got used to the salt. Bit greasy but not too much. If anything it indicates that they used high quality cheese. Italian salad with homemade dressing was amazing. Get the large. Share with everyone. Spaghetti with meat sauce and meatball was good. Seasoned perfectly and juicy. And all this for around 30 bucks. Food enough for 4 maybe 5 people. 5/5 would definitely come again. Very big wine list
(5)
Rowena L.
I'm sooo late on this review, but wanted to get it in anyways. I've always loved the hearty, large portions of delicious homemade goodness and the overall family-friendly atmosphere here. Really great spot for groups too.
(4)
Sahil A.
I'm so happy I finally came to this place. It is exactly my friend described, a red & white table cloth Italian place that will leave you happy and stuffed. I recently went with three friends and we all loved it. The wine menu is awesome...I'm pretty sure you can buy the same bottle of wine there for less than you could at Whole Foods across the street... We ordered the garlic bread covered in blue cheese and tomatoes to start. It was phenomenal, but definitely unnecessary as a meal is more than enough to fill you up. I had the pasta diavola with shrimp, which was everything I wanted it to be. My friends all had a calzone and seemed equally happy. Definitely go to Dave's.
(4)
Stephen A.
Went for the first time a few days ago. It was great. Really cozy atmosphere. Affordable prices is what they advertise and it's true. Service was great. Our server was Sheila, and she was so attentive and personable. The food is exceptional. I had the small spinach salad, which was great. Bigger than I expected but the tangy dressing was delicious. The stuffed green peppers were awesome. I got one stuffed with meat and one stuffed with ricotta and mushrooms. The mushrooms were beyond delicious. My friend got the lasagna, which she liked. They do give you a lot of sauce with the entrees even without pasta. For dessert we had tiramisu. I'd recommend it. Between the two of us, dinner was $29.
(4)
Julia G.
Dave's is a staple of the Evanston restaurant scene. I've been here dozens of times, for birthday parties or a quick bite to eat. It's great for all occasions-- families, dinner with friends, date night. The restaurant is underground and has cozy booths and big tables for parties of all sizes. The food is what I imagine my Italian grandmother would cook-- heaping piles of spaghetti in meaty sauce and stuffed calzones bigger than your face. The portions are large, especially for the prices. The recipes are simple, but the food is delicious and comforting. I recommend the meatball sub. The meatballs are juicy, the cheese is metly, and the bread is crispy. But be warned this lone sandwich can feed 2+ people easily. So don't go finishing it in one sitting.
(4)
Nathan L.
3.5 stars. Food is pretty mediocre. I ordered a chicken Alfredo and the sauce was kind of bland. I've had much better Italian food elsewhere so I don't think I'm going to go back anytime soon.
(3)
Ava K.
Lasagna Con Amore was great. The 2nd time I went I got Eggplant Parmesan, which was still decent but just not as good. Both times I could not finish the meal and had enough left for a 2nd. But I also don't have a huge appetite. Good bang for my buck Fun interior with lots of signed bottles. Got our food quickly both times
(4)
Angie M.
This place is super cute. My boyf decided to surprise me with a Sunday night dinner date at Dave's. He was like, "I wanted to take you somewhere cute, home and cozy." Dave's succeeded. Dave's isn't reinventing the wheel. They serve up all the traditional, old school Italian faves. Red sauce. Meat sauce. Homemade pastas. You get the idea. My baked ziti with meat sauce was an absolute comfort food dream. Creative? Not so much. But to this Pisan it was heaven. Just like Mom used to make. Mmmmhmmm. I especially love this venue. It's in the basement of a downtown Evanston building. The table cloths are checkered. The walls are wood paneled. There are deep, private booths with high backs so you can make your own little intimate table for two (or more). It's so cheesy yet so comforting. Absolute perfection when looking for a really low-key location. The prices are cheap. The food is comfort at it's very best. The basement location makes for a sweet little old-school spot. I'm in love.
(4)
Tom M.
Had a crazy good experience eating at Dave's. Plentiful, delicious food at reasonable prices. The servers were attentive and quick. The restaurant was relatively busy but we never had trouble finding our waiter and getting what we needed. I was a regular at Dave's Italian Kitchen in the 1980's when it was in its former location. After a 20 year absence on my part, Dave's remains a fantastic place.
(5)
V. J.
I really liked going here. The food is great. However, last time I was there, the waitress was super creepy with an excessively "friendly" affect that only capitalism can produce. It was a bizarre and uncomfortable experience. Then there's the screaming children (with food scattered across the floor around them...) I enjoy cooking at home, so I only go out when I'd like to spend time with someone in a pleasant atmosphere with good food, drinks, and an intimate conversation. Not anxiety. I don't recommend taking a date here.
(3)
Brad D.
This place is great if you are looking for a casual VERY reasonably priced homemade Italian meal. The pasta is excellent. The wine by the bottle is inexpensive but excellent. Large salads are amazing and serve 2-4. My wife and I ordered a bottle of wine, calamari app, large salad and split a homemade pasta dish and were stuffed. No room for the homemade tiramisu. Would definitely come back again if visiting Evanston.
(5)
Sarah G.
This is my all-time favorite restaurant. I grew up in Evanston, and every time I come to town I make sure to come here. My parents have been going to Dave's since the 70s. It's reliably delicious, charming, affordable, and friendly. Although everything on the menu is good, the lasagne con amore is my go-to. And I never leave without eating the chocolate mousse. Vegetarian and gluten-free friendly!
(5)
Kathleen C.
How have I NOT reviewed Dave's? The spot that I've probably been to 100 times? I can't believe it - my only excuse can be that I started eating here loooooooong before I started yelping. First of all, Dave's is a dive...not in the sense of dirty, dungy spots or cranky hosts, but in the "you can get a really great meal for high value in the basement of an office building" kind of way. Anyone who has seen the line for dinner on a Friday can also attest that this spot is popular! I've been to countless dinners here, parties, and have ordered pizza to go. My favorite - plain old cheese - I'm not sure why - it just screams DAVE'S to me. My dad usually get a calzone and if Mom is with us, we have salad as well. Usually no dessert because by the time we've finished all of that, they have to roll us out of the restaurant on a dolly. Dave's staff is really friendly and many of them have been there for what seems like forever. Wine pours are generous and inexpensive (though what happened to serving wine in huge tumblers??). The food is fresh, pizza sauce is not too sweet and everything is made fresh and hot and delicious. Though I no longer live in Evanston, I still get to Dave's, so that shows how much I love it. Definitely worth a trip for a no frills Italian dinner that you'll be smiling about when you're done.
(5)
Christine B.
After 3.5 years living in Evanston I FINALLY gave it a try! Quality, made from scratch food. I got the homemade ziti with meat sauce, mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes. It came with bread-- clearly it was homemade and delicious! Reminds me of Romanian bread. The food overall was hearty and u could feel, cooked with love. I have been missing out and am excited to return. :)
(5)
Ben K.
I always want to like Dave's, but I just leave underwhelmed by the food each time I come here. It's well priced though and I like the atmosphere.
(2)
Jeff H.
If you have kids or a large group, this is the Italian place to go to in Evanston. The food is standard Italian fare done well and the atmosphere is casual. I've heard their Chicken Parmigiana is one of the best in the area. For smaller groups or a more romantic setting though, I'd probably head over to Trattoria Demi. #goodforgroups
(4)
John C.
I have not been to the Kitchen in years, I probably won't be there ever again. I never have enjoyed eating in a basement. The place is noisy and has the atmosphere of a Texas road house. The only thing you will find Italian is the name on the door. Everything was phoned in with five scoops of heavy tomato sauce poured over everything. There is no effort taken for presentation. There are three pathetic starters. If you prefer mid-west Americanized Italian food then this is your place.
(2)
Valerie W.
With 197 reviews, what can I really say about Dave's that hasn't already been said? A brief retelling of my experience? Sure thing! Overall, I went into Dave's Italian Kitchen with nothing but the expectation of a good plate of pasta. It was recommended by a vegetarian friend of mine as a reasonably priced place to get a good Italian dinner for both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. We arrived and were seated right away. Dave's is in the basement of the building, but that does not take away from the ambience. It is warm and inviting, with red/white checkered tablecloths, plenty of empty wine bottles lining the walls, and a general "old world Italian" feel. I originally felt a bit rushed to order by our server, but he cooled his britches after we politely asked for a few extra minutes. The setup for pasta at Dave's is pretty simple. You have six or seven different types of noodles to choose from (including a few homemade options), and several different sauces/combos (marinara, bolognese, diavolo, carbonara, alfredo, rose, aglio oglio, clam sauce, you name it.) Put your favorite pasta and sauce combo together, and boom, you've got dinner. All for around $10 or less. I ordered the homemade spinach rotini with alfredo sauce. I was tempted to add cremini mushrooms to my dish for an additional $0.95, but opted for a dinner salad with creamy garlic dressing on the side instead. Dinner salad: standard. Lettuce, shredded carrot, pepperoncini. A large size for $2.95 Creamy garlic dressing: Very THICK, very powerful. Definitely homemade, with a LOT of raw garlic. I was still breathing fire after several pieces of gum. I spent a lot of the rest of the night apologizing profusely to those around me. Homemade spinach rotini w/Alfredo: Totally stole the show! This was so.freaking.good. I have to order homemade noodles when I see them, it makes all the difference in the world. The pasta was cooked to a perfect al-dente, the portion was huge, and it was not over-sauced. I did add a little black pepper and cheese to mine, but I like it to be very peppery. I'm still bummed that I left the leftovers in my boyfriend's fridge and they've probably been gobbled up by now. I am already plotting my subsequent return visits to Dave's.
(5)
Jo B.
I've been here twice and am still underwhelmed. The prices are comparable to other Italian restaurants, but only include your entree. Soup or salad (normally included with your meal at other places) are extra. If their food were good, this might be acceptable. Their food is bland and unsatisfying. Even their water tastes off. Go elsewhere for good Italian food.
(2)
Grace J.
wonderful obviously! Because it has the best staff in the world.
(5)
A.J. M.
Dave's only has 3 stars on yelp? Ouch. Too many haters. But I'll defend it to the grave, starting with the prices. They're incredible in regards to the quality of the food. The spaghetti carbonara? Flat out awesome. The baked spaghetti? Excellent. And it's all for a great price. The place is always packed it seems, so it's hard to get a seat most times, and while you can do takeout, it's better to eat it there. That's a given, I assume. The fact is, besides the two pastas I've mentioned, their pasta dishes are divine, and I haven't even tried their pizza, while many people have told me that it too is incredible. I hate not being in Evanston, resulting in my seperation from Daves. But I know that it'll always be there, with it's great prices and great food. Is it the best Italian food you can get in Chicago and its suburbs? Probably not. But I don't care. It's my favorite Italian joint anywhere.
(5)
David F.
I have been eating here for about 30 years and have enjoyed every bite of it. The food is great, the portion sizes are just right, and the prices are so low that I am concerned that they are making enough profit. The vegetarian minestrone is out of this world and there is a great selection of wines.
(5)
Allen R.
I've never eaten-in at this place, but managed to eat nearly an entire pizza from here after filming a documentary with the BBC for two solid days. It had pepperoni, and delicately thin slices of onion and zucchini. Delish! I didn't even know I liked onion and zucchini on pizza!
(5)
Pam T.
Every time I eat at Daves I end up disappointed and with a stomach ache. My husband and I go every 6 months or so, and when we walk out, we remember why we don't eat there. The service is slow, the food is just ok...and there are better Italian restaurants in Evanston.
(2)
Lee-Han H.
Not good. The food here is yuck. They need to hire new cooks because no one has earn the boyardee status yet. Terrible time with nasty food that is overpriced.
(1)
Larz F.
Dave's used to be this great BYOB hole in the wall, cheap, college kid hangout with huge portions. Since it has moved and become a more "upscale" place it is no longer a value. It might be decent if you were raised on Dominoes and Ragu,but if you actually ate real Italian food growing up you'll be disappointed. So many better places in the area this one is worth missing.
(2)
Dee W.
Food was pretty decent - big portions (I had them for lunch the next day) - service was fair and the wine was good. :) We had a decent wait of about half an hour and people were saying how they should have made reservations. I got the mini mostacialli which was average fare and the chicken alfredo with sun dried tomatos was pretty good.
(4)
connie m.
I went to this place because it said it was kid friendly and there were some items that would appeal to a larger group who didn't want pizza. First of all, it is NOT kid friendly, they don't even have a children's menu. I got the provolone chicken which is supposed to have pesto..they put pesto in the cheese, not on the chicken so you couldn't even taste it. The chicken was seriously overcooked. The caesar salad..how do you mess that up?? The dressing, of course..it was tasteless, we all had to add salt to the salad to add some flavor. The chicken parm was dry, the bread they put on the table is rustic style and doesn't even come with butter. So, we spent about $80 for 4 people to dine and had a horrible meal. The only thing that i can say positive about them is that I did like the red sauce but it was barely put on the spaghetti that came as a side. I wasn't expecting fine dining but i was expecting a decent meal. Olive Garden would have been the better choice in this case.. I won't be going back.
(1)
Jaclyn C.
I really detest this restaurant without being able to say exactly why. I've been twice, and the dishes I tasted were uninspired and bland. Seems that that's the general consensus from people I know. Maybe the calzones are better. 2 stars = will only go back with gift certificate or on a bad date...
(2)
Van D.
I can't vouch for anything but their Primavera Calzone. It's the only thing I've ever gotten there and it's absolutely delicious. I get a large(HUGE) with whole wheat crust and only half the cheese but double the pesto. I have considered ordering something else but why bother when this is so extraordinarily good? Everyone else around me looks quite happy also. Good mixed crowd, old and young.
(5)
Mindy S.
We were also headed to Joy Yee's... Oh well. So we passed up Tapa's and Gio, and landed at Dave's. It was ok. I hade the mussels marinara with pasta. The mussels were on the small side, and the marinara sauce was very acidic and loaded with raw garlic. Made it hard to eat the sauce. I prefer Classico jarred sauce over Dave's.
(2)
Kitty H.
If you order the Lasagna con Amore (with meat sauce!) and the Italian Salad, it is like heaven. If you order other stuff, it will probably just be more like Evanston (which is a very nice suburb).
(4)
Amanda A.
This restaurant is the ideal place for great italian food on a college budget. The wine list is amazingly diverse and unbelievable low priced -not to mention that signing the finished bottle and leaving it for future readers is part of the tradition. Always busy and always good!
(4)
Chris M.
We've been there a couple of times and taken friends and family there and have never really been disappointed. Food is served in large portions which makes for leftovers and the bread is very good. My wife always says you get what you pay for and that fits here...nothing spectacular, but worth the trip for some good, inexpensive Italian.
(4)
Cristin M.
Good prices on a large amount of food. This place is almost always busy and they are only open for dinner. Sometimes things can be a little on the bland side, but since it's so cheap, that's easy to overlook. The service is usually great too.
(3)
Jordan L.
I thought this place was pretty terrible. If all you care about is getting full on the cheapest meal you can then this is for you. Everything we ordered was flavorless. I had pesto sauce on my pasta and it may as well have been a dab of butter -- there was no sense of pesto in it whatsoever. Everyone else ordered dishes that we equally as bad.
(1)
Mary C.
I found the food to be above Olive Garden in taste, but not quite Maggiano's. The portions are generous, but the atmosphere can be a little loud and crowded. It's a good choice if you are looking for Italian cuisine, which is quantity over quality.
(3)
Douglas G.
The world needs more basic red sauce joints and Dave's is one of them. Best time to go is late night when the families with kids are gone, the overcrowded Dave's has slow service and waitrons that look too bored to care, but the food is good. The salads and pastas are supreme. The bread however - wow, that is the worst bread I have ever had. So, tell the bored watron to hold the bread and put extra garlic on the sauce ;)
(4)
Eric H.
To the complainers, you don't need to come back. For the price, I think the food is terrific. The service is generally prompt and friendly. No, it's not upscale Italian and shouldn't be compared to that style or level, but I've been coming here regulary since the 70's and I enjoy it. Comfort food to the max. Recommended: Spaghetti Calamari, Clam Sauce, al diablo with mushrooms, Calzone 2, Gogonzola Salad, Minestrone, Pizza, Chocolate Mousse and BYOB.
(3)
Linda S.
Why is this place so popular? It's always packed but the food here is so bland, go to Olive Garden for better pasta.
(2)
Richard D.
The calzones are great. I thought the pasta was ordinary and the dessert menu is limited. Dinner and dessert for two costs us about $30.
(4)
Tim M.
You don't come here for ambiance and you should stick to the basics but you can't beat the place for price. quantity and quality. No wonder it is chock full of students. Come in jeans, order a cheap bottle of win and enjoy a casual meal in a very casual setting. We normally stick to simple pasta dishes or pizza. They make a great meatball. Yeah its not my Italian grandma's cooking or even my own but its darn good!
(4)
Oscar the Death Cat B.
This place was very popular many years ago, before the huge growth/boom in Evanston's downtown - in those days, there were few other places where you could go to get a hearty, halfway-decent Italian meal. If you are looking for gourmet-quality italian cuisine, you may be disappointed, the main reason to go here nowadays is to get big portions at very reasonable prices.
(3)
Nick B.
Good italian food, and some of the best calzones I've had the pleasure of tasting. A possible drawback is that their dining area is below street level, and doesn't always provide the best atmosphere.
(3)
Karen L.
I think I had higher expectations of this place, but I just thought it was ok. The portions are huge and the price is right, but honestly I think you can get better food out there. I only tried the spaghetti with white clam sauce and it was bland, not to mention WAY too garlicky. But I did try my companion's stuffed green pepper and that was pretty good.
(2)
Julia B.
I like my food spicy or at least to have a strong taste. The sauces they put on their pastas here are very plain and really have no taste at all. The prices aren't as cheap as people think for what you get. Not a fan of this place at all.
(2)
Stephanie M.
This place is packed. We had to wait a long time, but the food was in big portions and was pretty good. It is middle of the road in price and presentation.
(3)
jason h.
good thin crust, its boyb so thats cool you can bring wine.good pasta dishes. only draw back is that it gets kind of loud so its not the best place for a romantic dinner.
(4)
Bethany A.
Came here with a group of friends (like a very large group) and while the service was good, the food didn't impress much. My chicken marsala was way too sweet and I thought there were too many mushrooms. My friend had the chicken florentine and complained that there wasn't enough cheese in the dish as well. However, the people who ordered pesto chicken were fairly happy with their choice (despite one of them thinking that the pesto was not very good). Tiramisu was a hit, as always!
(2)
Michelle M.
New to Evanston and had a very good dinner here last evening. Very nice people and the service was good. The wait was quite a bit longer than we were told but we enjoyed a drink before dinner. Pasta dishes were all delicious. My only disappointment was that there wasn't a single Italian wine offered by the glass. Not even a simple Chianti. Otherwise, we plan to go back.
(4)
Caitlin B.
Definitely not upscale, authentic Italian food, but good, solid Americanized renditions of Italian classes with decent service and good prices. I've tried a variety of their pasta dishes and salads. All are extremely large (you can easily eat half and take the other half home, even if you have a big appetite), and I've never had anything that was bad. They have a pretty extensive beer/wine list at very reasonable prices. If you're looking for a reasonably priced, sit-down dinner in downtown Evanston, you've found it.
(4)
David W.
My favourite inexpensive, fill yerself to the eye lids, pasta, salad, warm bread, vino, choco mousse, orgy. Big wait on weekends. We go for early dinner and movie around the corner. Dave,s is always the much better value. Not top top notch, wouldn't bring the Queen here for dinner, but still my favourite good, homemade, casual nosh in the area. Ask my wife!!
(4)
Chris L.
Dave's is a great place for dates and for bigger group dinners. I haven't tried everything here, but the pasta and garlic bread are really good. I highly recommend getting the garlic bread to share with your friends because it's so flavorful!
(4)
Cameron H.
My team suggested going to this place to carb up for our charity ride the following day. As for the location, not bad in Evanston. Very easy to get to. With there being 12 of us, we were put a few tables pushed together. Very comfortable. As for the dinner, it was ok. There wasn't anything special about the pasta or the sauce. Overall the experience was decent. Being there with friends made it more enjoyable. Not sure if I would go back.
(3)
Cherie W.
The BEST red gravy ever!! Have been going here for over 15 years because the food is authentic, delicious and well priced. We love the homemade ravioli with meatballs or Italian sausage, spaghetti bolognese or lasagna. Everything is outstanding but these are our favorites. The owners, Dave and Ellen, are beautiful people and treat their customers well.
(5)
Horace L.
Decent italian food at a reasonable price. I like the ravioli, and the marinara sauce is terrific. Their lasagne con amore is fantastically flavorful, and their salmon is lackluster.
(5)
Peter P.
Dave's has been a staple of Evanston for decades. As dozens of restaurants come and go, Dave's is still there. Good Italian food at very reasonable prices. Service is friendly and prompt. What more can you ask for? Wait times can be a bit excessive on weekends, so try and get here early. If you do find yourself having to wait, order a drink from their little bar that is conveniently located in the waiting area.
(4)
Mercy M.
Boy oh boy do I love Dave's! Situated in my college town, it is the perfect casual yet quality restaurant. My favorite items are their chicken parmesan, meatballs, and pan pizza. I always leave craving their HUGE chicken parmesan - two pieces of chicken breast with your choice of pasta. I'm a huge fan of fluffy, bready pizza (but not deep dish) and Dave's makes it just right in my opinion. I also love that you can pretty much customize any order. The service is good, despite being one of the busier restaurants in town. With Dave's reasonable prices and large portions, you really get the bang out of your buck here. Keep it that way, Dave, and you'll keep us broke college students coming back. Tips: they're only open for dinner; they only take reservations once you arrive; and there is no free parking in Downtown Evanston other than on Sundays so be prepared with quarters for the meters or a couple bucks for the parking garage around the corner. Just writing this review has made me hungry for Dave's, so if you're debating whether or not to go, GO.
(5)
Patrick M.
The chicken parm diavolo is very good. Love going to dave's.
(5)
Andy S.
It has been a loooooooooooooong time since I've been to Dave's Italian Kitchen and I was reminded quickly of the large portions. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan and they basically give you some pasta with your chicken instead of the other way around - 2 huge chicken breasts!!! Service is good here. Food quality was good though not outstanding. I think this is maybe a 3.5 star but will stick to 3 star until I am wowed more. Perhaps on my next visit. Prices are reasonable - anywhere from $10-$20 something depending on what you get but the Chicken Parm was $12 something and I had a meal the next day (and I can eat).
(3)
Josh S.
Love it. The food is very serviceable. Tastes great and the portions are huge. Definitely not fine dining, but it is fun, fast, not too expensive and tasty. I recommend the veal parm. Good veal and the pasta is solid as well.
(4)
Allen B.
It is with reluctance that I change my rating to a star less than before. It is amazing that there are people that work at Dave's that have been there for 35 years .... it speaks well for Dave's management.... The wait staff is amazing! The best I've experienced. The reason for the downgrade is the noise level, which is brutal when it is busy....please, more acoustic tiles or something! Also, the food tends to be on the salty side.
(3)
Jonathan M.
Great food with excellent service and ridiculously good prices! Get the 4 cheese spinach ravioli with the vodka ream sauce! ...doing forget to get a meatball on the side. There's also a parking lot a half block north, about a dollar an hour.
(5)
Bilal M.
place is awesome, has a great itilian atmosphere. good music good location, good customer service and of course good food! doesnt seem all that fancy at first till you get inside! dim lighting perfect for romancing that special Someone! :0D I will be back!!
(5)
Tian Y.
Dave's is hit and miss. The first time we went, it was maybe an hour before they were closing, and we were taken care of by a great server who made perfect suggestions based on what we told her. My bf told her he wanted a lot of meat, so she suggested lasagna with bolognese sauce - more meat than he could eat. I wanted something rich but not too heavy, and I got the scallop and shrimp in a cream sauce over fettuccini, which was just what I wanted. We also devoured a mussels marinara appetizer - flavorful sauce, well cooked mussels, yummmmm. Everything was flavorful and cooked well. We left stuffed and happy and had a great time! After that, I ordered delivery a couple of times, and sitting in a box probably made the food not as fresh, but I expect that getting delivery. Most of the time, the mussel appetizer was okay - sometimes the mussels were overcooked, but I'm not sure whether they died on the drive over or were cooked poorly. We tried a couple of the risottos, which were sometimes cooked perfectly and other times a bit bland and had slightly undercooked rice. Then we went on a Saturday night at around 7:30pm, right in the middle of dinner rush. We had to wait about 5 minutes for our table, which isn't so bad. But our overcooked mussels were in a watery bland sauce, the chicken in my chicken parmesan was waaaaay dry in a sauce that was too salty. My bf's big ravioli was just alright, but in a similarly salty sauce. Our waiter was inattentive, no one filled our waters on time, and I didn't even have silverware until I had to flag someone down after my entree was served. Everything was off about that night, and we were disappointed after the great experience we had last time we were here. I think in the future, I'll only stop by for late dinners and request our first server (whose name I just can't remember right now). The portions are reasonable for the price, and the food *can* be good, but don't go during the dinner rush or you might be disappointed.
(3)
Grant E.
I've gone to Dave's Italian Kitchen a few times. To begin with, the food is good, not great. My chicken Parmesan needed to be tenderized a little bit more, and it was dry. The portions are very large, especially when considering the great prices. The real reason I continue to come back, however, is the service. The servers love to engage the customer and help them to the best of their ability. I will be going back again.
(4)
William C.
Food was fast and really good with big portions. They have a few nice beers on tap and the wait was not long, A solid meal for the 4 of us and prices were fair. Nice place to take quests
(4)
Nema H.
Service is excellent. I love the ambiance as well, which captures that Italian hospitality. The wine is indeed cheap but fantastic. BUT....but....these guys can't bake bread to save their lives, both in their garlic bread and their Pizzas. It's heavy...but lifeless with no taste. I've also had bad impressions from their calzone. There isn't a shred of complexity in its taste. It was so freakin salty and the sauce was essentially nonexistent...like tomato sauce diluted with water. All in all...I will still give this place another shot. Am I not merciful?
I've been coming here for years. I don't come frequently, but I recently finished out a date day here and had a great experience! The service was pretty good. The atmosphere was mostly as I remember it. Not very quiet, but the casual nature of this place is one of the reasons I enjoy it. The sangria and the beer selection were both good. The food was fantastic and the portions were huge. We ate for multiple meals from it. The pricing is also completely reasonable, especially considering the portion size. We finished out the night with some Tiramisu. We took it home for an extra dollar, but the piece was so large it took three sittings for us to eat it and it was some of the best tiramisu I've had. The only reason this isn't a five star review is that the wait staff used to seem friendlier when I went years ago.
(4)
Lakoi M.
Horrible service, called at 8:05 pm to place an order for delivery, made sure person on the other side of the line got my address correct, Order arrived almost 2 hours late very soggy, burnt and wrong dressing and they asked for full price!!!!!!! Sorry no more dave's, talked to manager and offered 25 dollars of my order. Guess what buddy? They already charged me!!!!!
(1)
Chris P.
My wife and I have enjoyed coming to Dave's for years, and really enjoy the experience and the food. The people there are welcoming, friendly, calm and gracious, yet they visibly work very hard, and we almost always get a seat either straight away or within a few minutes of waiting. There's a very convenient & reasonably-priced parking structure located just around the corner. There's always been a nice friendly and happy 'buzz' in there on Friday nights, which somehow the acoustics allow without being intrusive. The service and experience is unpretentious, and efficient. Waiters leave a big jug of iced water and glasses on the table--none of the ridiculous & intrusive 'water refilling' nonsense you'll have to endure at most places. Similarly, with the food--the wait staff simply leave your dishes on the table, check you don't need anything else, and then let you get on and eat it without unwelcome hassle. I rarely buy wine in restaurants (usually terrible value for money), but the house wine glass/bottles seem quite nice to me and quite good value here, so I've indulged fairly often. It's not a 'fine dining' kinda place (been there, done that, and been disappointed almost all the time), but the food is good, honest, wholesome and fine to me--good-sized portions, and the prices are reasonable. The standard sauce is rich and tangy, which I like, and I've never found myself not wanting to take home and eat my leftovers. Hurrah for Dave's Italian Kitchen.
(4)
Natalie N.
FANTASTIC ITALIAN IN EVANSTON!!!!! This place is always 100%. Great food, great service, great atmosphere, great prices...we can't get enough. Enjoy!
(5)
Eugene W.
This restaurant is very nice. It has a comfortable and homey atmosphere in its underground location. The food is very good. The bread they set out as an appetizer is really good, and if you mix their olive oil with the parmesan cheese on the table, it makes a great spread for the bread. I ordered fettuccine pasta with carbonara sauce and chicken. They put a lot of cheese on the pasta. I love cheese, so that was a plus for me. The portion sizes here are great; I received a very hefty amount of food and wasn't even able to finish it all. I would definitely come back here, since it gives great value for poor college students looking for food.
(4)
Christine K.
I would never come here, again. Oh my goodness. I did not want to come here, but my friend wanted to grab dinner from Dave's. I feel as though all the dishes served are drenched in excessive fat and oil, which is anything but pleasant. Moreover, the service is terrible. I did not want to tip even 20%, but I did not allow my frustration get the best of me. I would recommend that you go to Trattoria if you want Italian in Evanston. It's a shame Gio closed down. However, if you have the means to travel to Chicago, then please enjoy real Italian food in the city.
(2)
Mike Z.
This is solid Italian food in Evanston. First off the prices are very reasonable and the food is great. Their home baked bread is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. There's parmesan and olive oil on the table for you to mix. We had the chicken parmesan which was good. Not the best I've ever had but a nice size serving and definitely worth ordering. Their calzones are amazing. I had the calzone with sausage and pepperoni and it was delicious. I got the small and it was easily big enough for 2 meals. The one down side is the caesar salad was worth forgetting. It looked as if the lettuce had been sitting in water and immediately put into the bowl. There wasn't enough dressing and no parmesan on top. Crouton were good but overall a big disappointment with the salad. We didn't drink any wine but they have very reasonable prices for glasses and bottles and a very big selection. I would definitely recommend going and we will be going back for sure. I just won't order the caesar.
(4)
Helen S.
I came here on a weekday night with my research group and some professors for a celebratory meal. I called ahead to make a reservations and there were no problems. We had a large group of 10 people and they were able to accommodate us all quite nicely. I've never been inside Dave's but I've seen it from across the street since I visit Whole Foods quite a bit, and I didn't expect it to be so spacious inside. I ordered the risotto with broccoli, garlic, and chicken, and it was delicious, probably one of the best risottos I've ever had. The portions were huge but I ate the whole thing (and felt a little guilty afterwards) because it was so good and i was pretty hungry. I also tried a bite of my friend's chicken masala which was fantastic too. We also split the tiramisu and chocolate mousse, and both desserts were very solid. Overall, cute place, great atmosphere, would return. P.S. I like how the menu says: 2012 ELECTIONS. MAYANS. OLYMPICS. DAVE'S ITALIAN KITCHEN TURNS FORTY
(4)
Marcee W.
Had some concerns over mixed reviews on Yelp and from people I know, but I was not disappointed at all! Service was good and food was delicious. I had the Chicken Marsala which was served in a bowl -- strips of chicken, mushrooms, and rotini pasta in Marsala wine sauce -- yummy! Friends enjoyed spinach lasagna (excellent) and balsamic chicken which was also served cut up in a bowl with lots of vegetables (equally yummy). We topped it off with homemade tiramisu and chocolate mousse. Easy street parking and no meters on a Sunday night! Less than $20 per person. I'll definitely be back!!!
(4)
Darren F.
feeling for Italian and this was the closest spot to us when we were around that area.. ordered chicken parmesan fettuccini with pink sauce (alfredo and spaghetti mixed together) , garlic bread, and mussels.. thanks to the 2 nice friendly waiter and waitress there.. i believe their names was Anthony and Anna? who recommended us what was good there... also they were really attentive on our drinks.. the chicken parmesan fettuccini with pink sauce was awesome! chicken was nice and juicy and the combination of sauce made it even better! the garlic bread was good but prepare to have that garlic stick in your mouth for hours! the mussels was ok.. had better..
(3)
Steve A.
Been here several times, but first review. I really want to like this place...nice divey, homey feel, very friendly and attentive waitstaff, some decent bread to start the meal, and reasonable prices. The food however (which is the main reason to dine out) leaves much to be desired. My minestrone soup tasted burnt, the sausage in the calzone didn't taste right, the lasagna was bland, and the water-logged baked ziti seemed like it was thrown together by a grade-school culinary class. I just do not understand the popularity of this place.
(2)
Janet K.
I do enjoy coming here - the staff seems to enjoy working here and they're super-friendly toward our toddler son. Our waitress even offered him a tub full of toys to play with, very thoughtful! The Italian salad is fresh and crunchy, the house and red wine vinaigrette's add a ton of flavor. I would definitely order their fresh pastas - the homemade ziti with meat sauce is wonderful and comforting. The marsala and vesuvio dishes are MUCH too sweet. I won't order those again. Good wine and beer selections and great prices all around. A perfect place for an easy night out with friends and family!
(4)
Emily C.
I love Dave's! The food is delicious, I've never had anything here that wasn't great, and their prices are some of the most reasonable around. It is definitely a family-friendly style restaurant, so it's not unlikely that you'll end up sitting at a table next to some boisterous kids while you're here (fair warning - this is probably not a 1st date type of place). The atmosphere is quant and comfy. Really, great food and great prices!
(5)
Natalie B.
I'm pretty harsh when it comes to reviews and heard to please but Dave's manged to make me really happy tonight. Fine dining it isnt, but its super family friendly and a great place for a casual dinner. I called at 2:30 today to make a 5pm reservation for 9 (we had 5 kids with us, so we wanted early and didnt want to wait). Normally they only take reservations but made an exception. When we got there at 5:10 it was already pretty busy. Our waiter was awesome--appeared right away to drop off lots of bread and get me, my husband and our friends a drink (much needed-5 kids all started to complain 5 minutes in) and recommended a fabulous glass of wine called "bitch". I appreciated that he referred to it as the "b" word because my kids repeat EVERYTHING. Pour was generous but not too big-a perfect size. We ordered quickly and when the kids pizza took a while to come out the waiter apologized profusely and kept giving updates. The pizza was pretty good (no Marco Roma, but still). I ordered the New Salmon and it needed salt. Dave's cooks really healthy, which is great, but sometimes I need a little more kick to my food. Honestly I think the food is only average but everything else just makes this place a winner. Its pretty cheap too-I think it worked out to be about $11/person and that was with drinks and plenty of food (my kids might be little but they can eat-three toddlers shared a medium pizza without any leftovers). My kids made a huge mess, we took a long time to eat and yet no one batted an eye even though the wait was ridiculous when we left. Bottom line-go early or expect to wait but definitely go.
(4)
Danny P.
I'm only going as high as 2 stars because of Dave's longevity, the place's friendly (and family friendly) atmosphere and reasonable, tasty wines. The food, however is the problem. While reasonably priced, I found every dish (4 different ones) I tasted to be over salted and LOADED...OVERLOADED...with garlic. Come on, Dave, there's more to Italian cooking than garlic. Also, pasta was overcooked. Until tonight I hadn't been there for many years. With all the availability of good Italian, I can't say that I'll be back to Dave's.
(2)
Gfiddy F.
LOL
(3)
Cassie S.
Good food, large portions, reasonable prices and a community institution. What more can you want from a restaurant? Is it the best Italian in town, maybe not, but it certainly has the most character. (though it's "new" location does have a lot less character than the old one)(new is a relative term, they probably moved 10 years ago...) I enjoy that the crowd represents a true slice of Evanston - high schoolers on dates, groups of Northwestern students, young couples and families. Not a lot of places around here where that's really true.
(4)
ann s.
We had ordered takeout here years ago and were underwhelmed, so it took us a while to go sit down for a meal. I'm a convert. This is solid, old-fashioned Italian-American restaurant fare, the kind that used to be associated with red-checkered tablecloths and chianti bottles as decor. And it's pretty tasty. One of the things I found really charming was that the menu tells you things like how big the wine pour is, and roughly how big the salads are. I think it's their way of pointing out that they make an effort to offer value. This is also pretty obvious when your food arrives, because there's a lot of it. While my pasta dish didn't blow my socks off (it was more of a cream sauce than the traditional oily, clammy, winey recipes), I liked it. I'm not sure how a purist might feel about the linguini with white clam sauce being paired with spaghetti instead of linguini, but it was okay with me. I appreciated the high garlic content. I'm thinking part of the charm is also the space itself. Like the food, there's nothing terribly fancy or creative, but it's warm and comfortable. No basket-wrapped chianti bottles made into candles--instead, the restaurant is lined with wine bottles inscribed by their imbibers. Our waitress was excellent, and the bill wasn't painful.
(4)
Katie F.
Went here again last night after a long hiatus. We had to wait a while to get a table, but since it was a Friday night and we were in no hurry, no problem. The woman who seated us was kind of rude, and she was in such a hurry that she spilled some water from a pitcher onto my shoes while walking us to our table. However, our waiter was very polite, friendly, and helpful. I had the Lasagna Con Amore. It was pretty good! Much better than some of the other pasta dishes I've had at Dave's. Overall, a fine experience. Still not my favorite, but I'll probably come back.
(3)
Clement C.
Been here a few times back in high school and college, more recently took the wife here too. She loved it, huge portions, not too pricey. Italian-American style. Really nice location and friendly staff. Lots of college students come here since it's fairly close to Northwestern.
(4)
A F.
Went here a few weeks ago after a long day spent walking around Chicago, and had a great (gluten free dairy free) Italian meal to refuel our energy! This place is located in a cute suburb of Chicago, and has a warm and cozy feel to it. My boyfriend and I both ordered gluten free pizzas (they also offer gluten free pasta), and although the food was a little slow to come out, the food was really good. Our server was friendly and willing to help find out if foods were ok to eat with my food allergies. Prices were also very reasonable for the quality and portion of food you get. They must get good business, as it was packed on a Thursday night! Would definitely recommend this restaurant and eat there again!
(4)
Stephanie L.
I came here with a large group to celebrate a birthday. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate us. Unfortunately, that was probably the only thing they did right. It took about 30 minutes after being seated to even get menus. I understand we were a large group of around 11 people so I don't hold that against them. However, nothing can make up for bad dishes. I ordered the carbonara pasta, one of the more simple and classic pastas. To my dismay, it was heavily under seasoned (and my taste buds are generally on the blander side) and tasted pretty much like someone cracked a beaten egg over my pasta. Needless to say, there was no need for me to pack my leftovers. I filled up on bread dipped in olive oil/balsamic vinegar instead. The rest in my party were either just as if not more disappointed in their dishes as well as I heard in the general consensus.
(2)
Joan A.
This basement restaurant is a place I've become a regular at . It looks small from the front, but after you descend the stairs you'll find that it's actually got quite a bit of space. I am a fan of their homemade noodles and meatballs. The portions are typical for Italian, I usually take home a portion (which I don't mind!) Prices are average as well. I was, however, here recently and had the mussels appetizer and just wasn't a fan - the tomatoes were just much too acidic.
(3)
Rachel P.
Dave's Italian Kitchen was definitely a disappointment for me...The food was just abundant in quantity and completely lacking in quality and taste. While the service was good, the food was too lackluster for me to consider returning.
(2)
Gary C.
Over the course of the past 10+ years, I've visited Dave's plenty of times. I even remember the old school location and that tiny waiting area. Yep, it brings back so many memories. The best part? Those memories are written on a number of empty wine bottles: a Dave's tradition. Don't let this three-star rating fool you. It's more of a 3.5. For what it is, Dave's is a great time and a great deal, especially for the local high school or college student. For ages, literally years, I've ordered the chicken parmesan and never really branched out to anything else. Why? It's legit. It is served with rotini pasta, covered with your choice of marinara or meat sauce. But I will say that I've tasted a few other items on the menu, most recently the shrimp and scallops. To my, and my girlfriend's, surprise, the scallops were cooked very well. And the dish in general was delicious. The best deal on the menu, in my stomach's professional opinion, is the garlic bread. It's like $3 for a huge loaf of bread, spread with delicious butter, a generous portion of garlic, and the perfect amount of parsley. This is among the best garlic bread that I've had in my life. Oh, and be sure to save room for desserts. It'll complete your dining experience, and you'll leave hobbling up the stairs with a smile. Everything on the menu comes in a very large portion. It's decent to above-decent quality Italian food, but what makes Dave's special is the down-to-earth, home-style feel of the restaurant, food, and staff. Here's to another 10+ years, Dave's.
(3)
Keyser S.
I just finished eating and the tomato sauce and over cooked green peppers from the pizza are not playing nicely in my stomach; worse than hospital cafeteria food; bathroom was gross too.
(1)
Evan Thoreau H.
Mama mia, what a great-a deal for a tasty meat-a-ball! Seriously, Dave's Italian Kitchen probably isn't going to win any top awards for the high end Italian places, but who wants to have to get decked out in Louis Vitton just to go eat spaghetti anyway? Dave's is a great, laid back Italian joint with great food, large portions and reasonable prices. They have all the favorites that your Italian grandma made (or at least your imaginary one), including Spaghetti Bolognese, pasta carbonara, stuffed Manicotti (man-i-cote) and more. The atmosphere is cute, tucked down in the basement, which reminds me of an authentic little Italian joint - you know, the kind where REAL Italians like to go. Full bar and reasonably good wine list to choose from. Go, enjoy, mangia! And for once, your wallet will remain as full as your tummy will be after.
(3)
Christopher C.
food was good - my wife really enjoyed her carbonara and her meatball in marinara sauce. My seafood in a garlic / olive oil sauce was ok. Delivery service was prompt although they made a small mistake on the charge. Would recommend it. Good, inexpensive italian food.
(3)
Tom H.
I've been coming here since "here" was "over there" at Church & Benson under the L tracks. Dave's has been a comfy cozy constant over the years, as Evanston and the world has changed around it. Dave's is not a fine dining establishment or the place to find out what people in Rome or Florence are eating this year. It is, instead, solidly Italo-American grub, lots of pastas with red sauce and simple chicken or veal dishes. A nice selection of wines by the glass has always been a welcome feature. The loaf of bread served before the meal, with olive oil & grated Parmesan for dipping, is delicious, as is the creamy broccoli soup and the Italian salad--really more of an antipasto platter here. I think the chef situation is even improving, as my fusilli side to my Chicken Parmesan (two huge boneless chicken breasts with a breadcrumb coating and either marinara or meaty marinara sauce) was perfectly al dente. In the past, Dave's one failing used to be that the pasta tended to be overcooked and mushy, and, oddly watery, as if it wasn't properly drained. Tonight's pasta was near perfect. For me, a lot of the charm of this place is that it is so much a college town spot, with graffiti-covered empty wine bottles lined up along the walls, fairly cheap prices and big-to-enormous portions. A place to fall in love on a first date over a red checkered oil-cloth-covered table, or a place to discuss particle physics and the latest literary theory. And it is definitely Evanston, with young students in a booth next to a booth with 60-somethings, the men with their shoulder-length grey hair and tweedy clothes, the women in expensive free trade wool serapes. Dave's fulfills the same community function for Evanston that the Medici fills for the Hyde Park University of Chicago neighborhood. The hostess is charmingly casual, pointing you to a booth as if you were an old friend visiting her at her home. The college-aged server, Joshua, was friendly and helpful as could be. The bus fellow promptly picked up used dishes at just the right moments. Dave's is quirky, iconoclastic, friendly, comfy, homey and pleasant. It is not in any way shape or form a plastic chain restaurant with menus devised in Houston and servers in stamped-out polyester uniforms. And that's as it should be. My glass of Cabernet Sauvignon was $5.47, a huge dish of broccoli soup was $2.75 and my Chicken Parmesan with pasta side was $12.95. Add $2.06 for tax, my total came to $23.23 plus tip, fairly reasonable for what I got.
(4)
Dee H.
Just OK. The food is fine, but nothing great. It is good for kids.
(2)
G B.
Dave's is one of my favorite weeknight places to eat when I need a big meal to remind me of my Sicilian grandmother. I like to start with soup, salad, then steamed spinach and broccoli as my healthy antipasti. They make bread and pasta in house with a meat sauce and some meatballs at good prices. I like to bring leftovers and chocolate mousse home.
(5)
Jeff W.
I've been going to Dave's Italian Kitchen for 10+ years but there's been a steady decrease in quality, and an unfortunate increase in price. They still have decent Italian food, and you can tell everything is made from scratch, but there's something missing now that they used to have back in the day. Their bread is still phenomenal, the pasta is consistently al dente, but the sauces no longer have any zing. They leave you more with a 'meh' than a 'WOW'! Couple that with their increasing prices and this place is dropping off my list of regular joints in Evanston.
(3)
Adi S.
I've been to Dave's a handful of times, and I come here when I am looking for a solid, home-cooked style Italian meal around Evanston. Dave's is a great value for the prices and also accommodates large groups well. I would recommend getting the large stuffed raviolis.
(4)
Amy L.
If you come here, stick to the calzones. They are huge and full of toppings/flavor. I usually load myself up on the bread/olive oil and end up taking my dish home. The pastas taste pretty standard, I've had dishes with alfredo and marinara sauce.
(3)
Sofia J.
Good, classic Italian fare: Chicken Marsuvio is tasty and I hear the lasagna is great!
(4)
David R.
After a bit of a stumble when I refused to provide my phone number, the adorable copper-haired hostess who took my order could not have been sweeter. But as far as the product, I'm going to have to downgrade them slightly on the calzone list. It's decent but not great. First of all, in terms of volume, the "large" amounts to the equivalent of about two slices of pan-style pizza. It's a lot of food, but for $14 I'd expect something thicker. Or conversely, keep the size but lower the price. The ingredients were good but I didn't care much for the crust. However, I will say that they do not make a calzone with a thick braid of crust around the perimeter, as is common. So that's a tradeoff in the value equation. One last item--they wrapped the thing in foil before putting it into the cardboard pizza box. Thus, despite fifteen minutes in my car and ten minutes walking through sub-30 temperatures, it was still hot when it hit my plate at home. Nice touch on the foil.
(3)
Erin P.
nom nom - the food was awesome, reasonably priced, and big portions (to enjoy leftovers the next day for lunch). Plus, you can get a bottle of wine for under $20. Score!
(4)
A. H.
I love Italian food. I've been here twice and the food is terrible.
(1)
Andersenda A.
I used to like Dave's, but over the years their food has become tiresome. The management must have become tiresome too. To begin, the bread is dry and flavorless. The marinara sauce is overly sweet and tastes like it came from a can. The veal Marsala was the most disgusting thing I ever ordered in any restaurant! Seriously! The room is friendly and the people are nice. The food is inexpensive, but very average. If I were a broke college student, I would think this place was pretty okay. It's a good place to bring kids for an inexpensive pasta dish that they won't know is really not very good.
(2)
Danny H.
We,used to go there at least once a month,but I don't think we will be coming back. 4 adults and 2 kids( 5 and under 2), 5 meals were ordered.We got there before rush hour but yet the food took a while...Our waitress decided to include gratuity in the bill, when I asked about it at the front I was told that she should not have done it and that they will talk to her.I was not even offered to take gratuity off the bill...... During dinner I asked for a tiny cup of Alfredo sauce, waitress brought me the whole bowl of it and charged me for it ... Very bad experience, I had to swallow it because I did not want to ruin dinning experience for my family..... I used to love this place but there a few more good restaurants in the area that we'll be dinning out...
(1)
Matt R.
Most of the time, you'd expect cheap food to taste like crap. Really, when you eat at McDonalds, it's not for the steak tartar. However, sometimes places really do know how to make a great meal and not break the bank. Dave's is that place. It's a very kitchsy italian place, which is oddly underground. I'm sure that saves on a ton of money, but definitely makes the place unique. I have no idea what the upstairs is. It's all classic italian food and very very vegetarian friendly (bonus for the girlfriend). They recently added risotto with garlic and broccoli for like $8. Really, you get huge portions here really cheap. However, that doesn't do justice to that it's actually good food. My girlfriend and I had an appetizer, 2 sides, and 2 dinners for $24. Yes, $24. That's amazing for a dinner, especially in Evanston. The garlic bread with mozzarella on top is full of lovely melted baked mozzarella. Before you get started though, you have the good ole bread oil and parmesan cheese combination. I could make an entire meal out of that alone, but I digress. If you love garlic, that garlic risotto might still be more garlic than you've ever wanted. I think they may have used an entire head in the risotto. It was still good, as I love that kind of thing. Girlfriend had the stuffed baked zucchini. Put that phrase in your head for a second and ask if that doesn't sound freakin awesome on it's own. Oh, and this place is packed. Did I mention wines were friggin cheap too? Like $20 a bottle. I'm sold. I'm going to go become a big fat italian if Dave's gives me the chance.
(5)
Little T.
Haven't even received our food yet, but the woman who just took our order over the phone was the nicest, most pleasant person I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with. Really. If you're having a bad day, call Dave's and order food. GREAT hire.
(5)
Charity M.
Overall good experience. The waiter was a bit needy, he came by way to much, either he was new or nervous. Either way it was a week night early dinner, chill out bro. This restaurant is located in a basement, no windows or natural light. Oh did I mention the pop music coming out of the speakers, fine by me, but maybe not to the senior citizens that were siting across from me as I sang along to the Backstreet Boys.
(3)
Mrs. K.
Dave's Italian Kitchen caught my eye immediately. The red neon sign reminded me of this little hotdog stand near Wrigleyville, by our old apartment. It looks tiny from the curb, but seemed ideal for to-go orders, which is what my boyfriend and I wanted at the time. So we pulled up and realized the restaurant was downstairs. And it was much bigger than it looked from the street! It was charming and casual, with red-checked tablecloths and wine bottles lining the booths. Patrons had written tiny phrases and words on the wine labels, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. The festively lit dining room has a variety of art pieces hanging, allowing for interesting conversation over dinner. The woman at the register took our to-go order and we asked for some beer while we waited. She squinted her eyes and hesitated. "The only thing is...Dave's here," she said. We sat down at a table to order to beer, due to some liquor licensing laws. We were happy to oblige since the dining room was warm and happy. (The waitress recommended Two-Hearted for me, which was delicious.) The owner was across the room from us, enjoying some food and conversation. He appeared laid back and relaxed. If a restaurant owner is dining at his own place, that has to be a good sign, I thought. Although I would have liked it a bit less oily, the Pesto Spaghetti was excellent and the extra meatball my boyfriend ordered was massive. The typical Italian food combined with this place's attitude made me feel like I was in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood. I was reassured that Evanston maybe isn't all that bad.
(4)
Melissa F.
There is only one way I can review this flavorless restaurant, and it's by quoting The Office's Andy Bernard: "I guess I don't have what it takes to be a film critic. I could be a food critic. These muffins taste ... bad. Or maybe an art critic. That painting is ... bad." This food is bad.
(1)
Q C.
We had the ravioli and the chicken parmesan. Both were good, service was fast too.
(3)
Meatdowntown C.
Excellent family place. Great food, absolutely fine wines reasonably priced. It is hard to get a bad meal at Dave's and they have options for many different palates. It feel like a family restaurant but you could also arguew that could work for dating (with great wine), corporate hang out, etc. The Diablo sauce is incredible and the gorgonzola sauce as well. The only questionable dish is the risotto which sound very healthy on the menu but it is quite dry and bland (just skip it).
(4)
Jade T.
4.5 Stars I don't believe in paying for more than $12 for pasta. In every quick and easy cookbook, there are pasta recipes. Pasta is almost as simple as boiling water and adding sauce. That being said, I rarely dine at Italian restaurants. I've been wanting to try Dave's since I moved to Evanston. The menu is extensive and the prices are extremely affordable. However, they are only open for dinner and for some reason, I seldomly eat out for dinner. Knowing I was free on a Saturday night, I tried making reservations. None accepted for parties under 10. Wow. I took a gamble and arrived shortly before 6pm, just before the insane dinner rush. I've never seen such long wait lines at an Evanstonian restaurant* (besides at Tapas Barcelona), so plan accordingly on weekends. There is a bar near the entrance if you care for a drink during the wait. Dave's Italian Kitchen is a wonderful place for anyone from children to starving artists and gluttons. I was blown away by the portions (see photos). The Spinach Salad, priced inexpensively at $3.75 was large enough to feed four people. Yes, you read that right. FOUR people. The wine list features many affordable bottles for under $25. Wines available by the glass are limited, but they are generous with the wine pour. Free bread is always nice for the (extra) carb-hungry among us. Drizzle olive oil onto a plate and mixed in some hand-grated romano cheese and pepper flakes and you have a time-consuming appetizer. Italian food is normally vegetarian friendly. Dave's Italian Kitchen is no exception. The minestrone has vegetarian stock and nearly everything can be made meatless. In fact, a majority of their pasta dishes are vegetarian. Vegans will have some difficulty finding cheeseless dishes though, but that's no surprise. The food is very good. Then again, it's hard to mess up pasta. At the worst, pasta can be undercooked and the sauces be bland. (One must be really, really terrible at cooking to commit such offenses.) This is not the case at Dave's. The food is consistent. The marinara sauce is delicious: well-seasoned, with the right balance of sweet and tangy. If their sauce comes from cans, I want to know the manufacturer! The cream sauces are thick and not too rich. The desserts are simple, but scrumptious. For $2.50, get yourself the chocolate mousse. It is nothing special, but chocolate lovers will be pleased. The portion doesn't seem like much at first, but the chocolate is thick and rich. Enjoy it with a friend if you can. Dave's Italian Kitchen offers no-thrills Italian (albeit Americanized but it's one of those cuisines that I don't mind being unauthentic!) in a casual family-friendly setting. There are old wine bottles along the walls which you can write your name or initials on! The prices are so reasonable. If you want fancy schmancy Italian in fancy schmancy atmosphere, go to Bravo! I will surely return to Dave's for a cheap, satisfying spaghetti fix... for a few bucks more than Noodles & Co. * - I admit, I'm slightly exaggerating. The lines can be long, but not Cheesecake Factory in downtown Chicago on Mother's Day long.
(5)
Steve O.
Awesome pizza! Service was ok.
(5)
Judy H.
You can't go wrong with Dave's. There is something for everyone - vegans, kids, picky eaters. Always a good meal - pasta, pizza, or low/no-carb alternatives. Moderate prices and good size portions. Service is always excellent.
(4)
John M.
I have been going to Dave's for great food at very reasonable prices forever, starting when they were on Church St. While I have tried and loved most of the menu, the Italian salad, eggplant parmigiana with a side of sausage or meatball are my regulars. As an added bonus a bottle of a nice wine for less that $20 makes this one of my regular spots and the best value in the area. And thanks to the fantastic staff and especially Barb who always make the visit enjoyable. By the way, I have ordered and picked up for large parties --- fantastic job!!!
(5)
Steve J.
dRATS!!! Oh Wow! I came here with my girlfriend about six months ago. After hearing from a few people that it was a good place I found out as soon as I walked in that it was no more than your average, run of the mill type place. The service started slow and never really caught up. The food my girlfriend ordered had to be sent back. So we waited for a while longer. I'll get to the point. When we were leaving, I witnessed 2 enormous rodents (Rats!) running very close to the building right in front of the front doors! What concerns me is that this restaurant is actually located in the basement, down the stairs when you first walk in. Basements have a bad record for infestations and are hard to keep out. I won't be back.
(1)
Andrea R.
Hi Dave! It's me, Andrea! Remember me? Yeah, I know it's been a while and I look a little different these days, but picture me with the freshman 15 packed on, big sunglasses to cover up last night's hangover, and wearing my big purple North Face coat (over a 3/4 sleeved Michael Star shirt of course) to get through my very first winter. My college friends and I went to you when we wanted a nice dinner out, which made me chuckle last night after seeing the average price of an entree is just about $10. I gotta admit that I remember your food being pretty good, but when we ordered take out from you last night it wasn't quite like what I remembered. Then again I was also a fan of Leona's back in those days...my taste buds have changed right along with my taste in clothes. And thank goodness for that. I ordered the "fresh" salmon, which your menu said was baked in a "light fresh dill cream sauce" and believe me this sauce was anything, but light. I ate it because it was 9 PM and I was starving, but could feel a stomach ache coming on as I ate it...and was greeted with one a few hours later. My husband (yep, I'm all grown up and married now!) got the lasagna and it tasted no better than my weight watchers lasagna frozen meals, but i'm sure had millions more calories. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law (she just moved right across the street from you so you have a new customer!) split a salad and a pizza. I had 1 bite of the pizza and didn't want another, which is NOT the sign of a good pie in my book. Honestly the food was probably worth 2 stars, but I'm giving ya 3...just for the memories.
(3)
Vats R.
(Vegetarian Review) Really good pasta, especially the diavlo and yummy pizzas.
(4)
Hannah E.
I can't speak for much except the baked spaghetti with butter and garlic sauce, their Italian salad with house dressing, and the chocolate mousse. And these things are all fantastic. Yep. It's one of THOSE places. Where the first thing you ever had there insinuated itself so thoroughly into your craving cycle that you never get the chance to try anything else. You're just going about your business, and your stomach is like 'FEED ME DAVE'S BUTTER AND GARLIC SAUCE' and you're like 'yes, ma'am' and before you know it you're staggering out of Dave's 5 pounds heavier smelling like a vampire's worst nightmare. It's just butter and garlic... and a secret ingredient that must remain a secret forever if don't want to suddenly weigh 500 pounds... but hell if I don't crave it at least once a week, from my current distance of 1000 miles away. I've been eating at Dave's since I was five. The quality hasn't wavered. The friendliness hasn't wavered. And the prices remain one of the best deals in town - the plates could feed me for 3 meals (and have). But don't hold me accountable for any of Dave's other meals. I'm sure they're great. But if you take one thing from this review, it should be 'FEED YOURSELF DAVE'S BUTTER AND GARLIC SAUCE'.
(4)
kim s.
Great food, service and prices ! I have not been here in years and I have to say I have definitely missed out.. The food was fantastic, we shared a Italian dinner salad which was only $5.95 and it was large enough for 4, the pasta dishes were very inexpensive, any city restaurant would by $20.00 for the same size dinner. Parking was a bit of a challenge until we realized there was a garage across the street on Church street, it was free tonight but the rate for a few hours was only $2.00...we will be making this a regular of ours !
(5)
P A.
Good hearty italian food. The best pasta and largest meatballs until we experienced Club Lucky. Hot, fresh pasta, great bread, great sauce, olive oil and cheese on the table, great wine selection. Service is usually friendly but sometimes a coin toss. Loud inside, cheerful. Good prices. Fun decor always something to look at and get a kick out of.
(4)
Binh N.
I come here quite often with my wife. She loves this place. Our favorite Italian restaurant so far. Comfy, family style environment. Excellent service and food. Food comes in large quantity.
(5)
David G.
Average with a capital "A". The food is bland, at best, which would have sufficed if we were ordering pizza. After a promised 15 minute wait that turned into 40, we were given a bad table and a basket of lukewarm bread, no butter or anything else, as we waited another 15 minutes to be helped by a waiter.
(2)
Day C.
I was here with a group of classmates for dinner. I ordered the shrimp dijon which was good and came with lots and lots of shrimp. I just thought my dish also had lots and lots of vegetables that had me on an easter egg hunt to find the noodles. I would have liked less vegetables, the same amount of shrimp, and more noodles. I also didn't like how they added gratuity automatically for our table of 6 because when they helped themselves to a little more than 20%. But the amount of food was good and I respect how they didn't skimp out on the shrimp. The cannoli was also good and the biggest cannoli I had ever seen. The service was fast and the bread they kept on the table was warm and fluffy. I REALLY wish they had offered ACTUAL olive oil. It looked more like vegetable oil to me, but thats something i cannot get on them for because barely any place can pass that test.
(4)
Brandon L.
I love Dave's and have been going for over 30 years. The pasta is homemade, the prices are affordable (and really good for the wine), and the staff is great. Extra points for keeping the Ron Crawford drawings on the wall from the old place. Two tips: Sunday/Monday night is when they seem to break in new servers, so it can be a bit slow. Friday/Saturday can be insanely busy, so I try to avoid.
(4)
Michael B.
I'm really torn on this place--I'm also getting frustrated that I haven't been able to find a good restaurant in Evanston yet. For this review, I'm just going to list the pros and cons of Dave's Italian Kitchen and let you decide. My 3/5 rating should be a good starting point. Pros: -Awesome selection of pasta, sauces, pizza and italian 'staples'. I quote 'staples' because they are definitely Americanized versions of Italian dishes. -Awesome execution of said menu selection. Everything was great from the homemade spinach rotini to even the marinara and alfredo 'rose' combination (Something simple, yet done well). -Reasonable prices! $1.25 for an iced tea! $9.95 for a basic, vegetarian pasta dish with portions to match. -Great atmosphere, tucked in a basement, very secluded, mysterious, Al Capone's getaway style. Cons: -Service, service, service. Our wait staff (I say staff, because it wasn't clear if the section I was in was shared or not) was swamped with a large 15-top or so on a Friday night. I get it; they were busy. However... -No follow up on your meal. Let me explain this: I ordered my dish and added crimini mushrooms. No mushrooms were present. I would have liked to inform my server of this, but he/they were no where to be found. My dish was still good, but I was more annoyed that they didn't care if my meal was right. -Order-takers. These guys were not servers. They simple wrote down what I wanted and left. I saw them for a total of...30 seconds? Summary: Dave's is good, cheap, and relatively authentic for what Americans consider Italian food, but it is borderline fast food in many respects. I probably won't be going back anytime soon.
(3)
Kurt B.
This is the best family-style Italian food in the city. It's true--Dave's can be loud, you won't get super attentive service, etc., but you can eat a magnificent, fresh, and enormous pasta dinner here for less expensive than most lunch specials. I've been coming here for over 15 years and I've never had a bad meal. Never. Highly recommended: baked spaghetti with a meatball, lasagna, eggplant parmesan, spaghetti gorgonzola, salads, and chocolate mousse. Recommended: calzones, pasta pesto, and stuffed peppers. Not a big fan of their: seafood pasta treatments or spinach ricotta pie. I've never tried the veal; I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Great place to come for lots of drinks and lots of food, possibly the best! Make sure you get the mousse.
(5)
Nikki L.
I was looking forward to trying this place based on some of the reviews. It seems like people either LOVE this restaurant or HATE it. As I waited 30+ minutes and contemplating on going elsewhere, the gentleman next to me said "it's worth the wait, if you are trying to decide whether to go some place else". Hmm, OK, I'll give it a shot! Once a table for two was ready, the host said to walk all the way to the back and seat myself wherever I like. I found myself in a semi enclosed room that had mostly large tables, it felt awkward. Finally, the menu. There were many familiar options to choose from, my fiance and I were in the mood for some pasta so we ordered the Chicken Marsuvio (marsala, vesuvio) to share. I thought it was pretty terrible, the flavors did not complement each other and the white wine (which tasted cheap) just broke the dish. Ugh, what a disappointment. I have no desires to come back here and hope to find a better Italian option on my next visit to Evanston! *********Free Tips for Owner - IF you are going to have carpeting in your restaurant, maintain it through out the night. It is NOT appetizing for guests waiting for their table to see crumbs, left over food, straw wrappers and garbage on the floor scattered through out the whole restaurant. (Free doesn't cost anything to have someone sweep it up) - Make your servers wear uniforms! Even if you can't afford to pay for an actual uniform, have them wear either all black, slacks and a blue polo or SOMETHING. (Free, have them wear their own clothes but of same color) - Bump up your customer service, it doesn't cost a dime you just need to hire the right people and make it a standard. (FREE, this standard is up to YOU) - I like the concept of rolling out a cart to drop off food, however the presentation of the cart could be nicer. (Cover with black linen instead of plastic) - Sanitation, I saw my server use his hands to dust off crumbs from a table and reset it instead of spraying with cleaners and wipping down. (Self explanatory, this is a sanitation/health code violation) Good luck.
(2)
Tal R.
I grew up in the area and occasionally ate at Daves. I didnt think it was anything special but I changed my mind yesterday. I dont know if it was the atmosphere or the the food but for the first time I enjoyed myself at Daves. All I can say is get the minestrone soup. One of the best I have had anywhere! Overall It was a good meal except when I found the melted chocolate in my pocket
(4)
Jeff H.
It's been years since I was last at Dave's Italian Kitchen, back when they were on Davis Street. Lines back then were long, and they were again on a busy Saturday night. We were told the wait was 45 minutes, and were seated in about 35 min. We waited and had some drinks before we were seated. The staff was very, very friendly and welcoming. Once seated it took 10-20 minutes before our server greeted us, however we had our drinks from the wait earlier and a water pitcher and glasses were at the table when we were seated, so we didn't really notice the waiter hadn't shown up. The menu was full of great choices, and our table shared the spinach salad, garlic bread with cheese, baked spaghetti and the brown rice risotto with garlic, broccoli and shrimp. The garlic bread (and bread brought to the table) was outstanding. Large portion, great garlic flavor. The spinach salads were unevenly dressed. I'd guess some dressing was poured into our salad bowl, the ingredients added on top of it, and a spoonful more of dressing on top. All tasty, but would have preferred it tossed together before being served. We had a grilled chicken breast added to one of the salads and it tasted "off" - either they purchased it precooked or this was just a bad piece. We told our server and he took the entire salad, not just the cost of the extra chicken, off the bill, which was appreciated. The risotto, appealing to vegetarians (available without shrimp) and the health conscious was well prepared, but seemingly underseasoned. The broth used to cook the rice was very bland. A bit of salt helped the dish tremendously. The baked spaghetti was great. I know it seems like I didn't have a great experience, but the friendliness of the staff, and the dishes we had which were good were very good, and the others were slight miscues on a busy Saturday night, so I'll give them a break. We agreed to come back and try more of their "sweet spot" dishes, pizzas, pastas and calzones. The room is a bright, cheery, basement loft space that has lots of art on the walls and empty wine bottles as decorations. Very comfortable. Prices are very good value for the food delivered. I look forward to returning soon.
(4)
Laila C.
Dave's wife and I have been in a fight going all the way back to a very unfateful night my junior year of college. A large group of us went to Dave's-a place I'd been to on many occasions-for a nice get together. I usually only order the calzone but I decided to be adventurous and ordered a chicken dish off their specials menu instead. Well! The dish I got was DEFINITELY NOT what I ordered. There was no pasta, the wrong sauce, and veggies where there weren't supposed to be veggies. Trying to be polite, I asked the server if she's sure she brought me the right plate, pointing to the specials menu. She verified that I had the correct order and that the dish I got was what I ordered. Well..I mean obviously it wasn't...cuz it wasn't the SAME THING AS THE MENU! When I asked her to bring me what was written on the menu, she took the plate back, scraped the veggies off the plate and returned my plate with the already bitten into chicken! SHE RETURNED MY ORIGINAL PLATE MINUS VEGGIES! Basically at this point I was so confused, I wasn't sure if she was just overworked and delirious, illiterate or just crazy!!! But I asked if I could speak to the owner/manager. SHE LAUGHED IN MY FACE AND SAID "I'M DAVE'S WIFE-NOW WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?!" UGH.....AHHHH WHAT??!?!?! She runs this place and she is THAT CRAZY?!? needless to say, I have no been back to Dave's. His crazy wife is a little too much for me to handle. And truthfully, the only decent thing on their menu was the chocolate mousse, which I can definitely live without. NO THANKS CRAZY LADY!
(1)
Lindsay R.
Dave's is my favorite Italian restaurant, hands down. My father has been eating at Dave's since he was in college so it's safe to say that I was raised on their amazing, comforting food. I always stick with a small Italian salad and then an order of spaghetti pesto with a serious helping of parm (or Romano? I think it's Romano) cheese - the absolute best. Also fabulous? The lasagna with meat sauce, spaghetti carbonara, the bread at the table, the giant meatball. Everyone is friendly and down to earth, the food is delicious and affordable, and it's all-around the best place ever.
Ate there with my wife and another couple recently. It was really just ok. The house salad was by far the best thing we had. The chicken Vesuvio was like a soup. The pizza with wheat crust was not great - kind of soggy. The chicken florentine was supposed to come with sun dried tomatoes but didn't. All in all, it was just ok.
(2)
Maggie G.
I wasn't at all impressed with Dave's. Yeah, the prices are good, but it's crowded and noisy, and the food my date and I ordered wasn't that great. I had the spaghetti pesto, and the pesto was watery and bland. My date had the cheese ravioli with marinara, and was sick for days after. I figured that since we'd ordered simple dishes, our meals would arrive fairly fast, after all, how long does it take to boil pasta? 20 minutes later, they finally showed up. I wouldn't mind waiting for my meal, or taking my time enjoying it if was quiet enough to have a conversation. I'd be willing to give Dave's another try, but this time, I'll try the eggplant parm that everyone's raving about.
(2)
Will C.
I have been to many many Italian restaurants for over 15 years, and this is by far the best! Their pizza and pastas are to die for. Price definitely reflect this and is worth every penny and well-priced in my opinion. Remember....higher-end Italian food is a luxury item, so people complaining about price and penny pinching and poor people shouldn't eat here. Atmosphere is classy, and reverberates throughout the establishment....definitely a great time! Its usually pretty busy here, so make sure you give yourself enough time before you plan to eat. High class restaurant with lots of "class" to match. You must eat here!
(5)
Daphne L.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII DIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE! That's right, you heard it here, I had a good..no great..no UHmazing meal at Dave's, and I'm not afraid to say it. It wasn't fancy or schmancy or hip or happenin' or trendy. It was good food, really good food, at a very reasonable price. And, let me go on record as saying that I had the best, BEST spaghetti carbonara I've ever had. I said it, THE BEST. We've been to Dave's before, before we even moved to Evanston, but haven't been in a while because A)we forget it's there and B)it's a basement place, very cozy, and for some reason I only like to eat there when it's cold outside. So after a busy Saturday and lots of walking we decided to stop in for dinner. And, it was cold which for me is a Dave's prerequisite. I don't know why it is, it just is. We got there around 6:40, which was perfect because it was right before the dinner rush so we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. Not long after, though, it was slammed and our waitress told us that on a weeknight there's rarely a wait (if ever) for a table. We ordered a drink at the bar (I had the wine selection of the day which was delicious) and chatted briefly until our table was ready. After being seated we were greeted by one of the kindest, warmest, most engaging waitresses I've ever had. I think her name was Emma, but if it's not please forgive me kind lady with the ponytails. She asked if we'd like another drink while we perused the menu, and brought us bread. Really good homemade bread by the way, so make sure to try it when you're there. We decided to split the gorgonzola salad, and I ordered the spaghetti carbonara, my husband the spaghetti pesto. The gorgonzola salad was perfection. Mixed greens topped with (duh) gorgonzola, sliced tomato, and, kalmata olives. The dressing was a vinaigrette that was wonderful in that it didn't overpower the salad, nor was it drowning the greens. I truly dislike when my salad is swimming in dressing. Then the pasta arrived..oh me oh my. The carbonara was absolutely delicious. So good that I ate as slowly as I could because I didn't want it to be gone too quickly. The first and most important bit of praise: the bacon. I am a bacon freak, I'd eat it everyday if I wasn't concerned about heart disease. This carbonara is full of bacon; crisp, tasty, delicious bacon that's perfectly cooked. There is NOTHING worse than a dish with bacon and the bacon is limp and soggy. That alone was enough to make me swoon. Their carbonara is savory, it is tasty, it is filling, it isn't oily...it's perfect. My husband loved his pesto and I'll just have to take his word for it because frankly I wasn't interested in anything other than my plate of bacony, saucy goodness. Had I not been as hungry as I was, or, if I hadn't inhaled my pasta I would have had enough to take home for another meal, but let's just be honest and say it's unlikely I'll ever have leftovers of that dish. I saw a few other dishes go by on their way to hungry diners that looked good, especially the pizza. Dave's Italian Kitchen is a wonderful Evanston legacy with terrific food, excellent service, and a cozy atmosphere. There were tables full of teens, college students, families, friends, couples, etc. It's a great place for a hearty meal that tastes good and won't empty your wallet.
(5)
Saray R.
Food was pretty good. I ordered a salad with garlic dressing and didn't care for it too much. My husband and I ordered a calzone and lasagna and there wasn't much meat in either dish, which we would have preferred there to be more of a meat option instead of mostly vegetarian. My husband thought the lasagna tasted kind of bland as well. I'm not sure we'll go back, but it was an alright experience. They give you bread to start off, and quite a bit of it and I thought the bread was great. Probably the best part of the whole dining experience. Went on a Friday night and had to wait 30 minutes, which is expected.
(3)
Ronni G.
We've been coming here since I was a teenager for solid reasonably-priced Italian American food. Try the calzones-even the small one is big enough to share. Skip the limited dessert options, and head for one of the nearby coffee houses if you want dessert. Because prices are reasonable, and the location is fantastic, be prepared to wait if you arrive during prime dinner time, like after 5:30pm on Saturday nights.
(4)
Chris S.
I don't know why I didn't like this place the first time I went there. But that's the past and I've had an excellent time eating at Dave's, my last few visits. The service is friendly and quick and the food is delicious. It's fairly priced and if there's a wait, they're pretty accurate with the wait time.
(4)
Dana B.
My friends introduced me to Dave's a few months ago. It definitely is the new place for my boyfriend to go for affordable, yummy, Italian food in Evanston. We have never had to wait for a table any longer than 5 minutes, and the waitstaff has always been friendly and attentive. I love the spaghetti Bolognese because of how hearty it is. I have had the dish at other restaurants and its like 3 spoons of sauce. But not Dave's, the sauce to pasta ratio is definitely worth it, and the best part is how affordable it is! When we are craving Italian, this is usually where me and the boyfriend go.
(4)
Tatawan P.
How do they stay in business serving that kind of food? No honestly, have they tasted it how bland it is?! I went out one weekend with a girlfriend to try a new place in Evanston, IL. There are a few pretty decent restaurants and wanted to give this place a try. I ordered the Salmon special over risotto and my friend ordered a pasta. Wait staff is ok, the hostess seemed to be annoyed to even be working and had us wait even tho the dining room was pretty empty. I had to explain to the waiter what a shirley temple drink was and making a cherry coke by regular coke adding Grenadine. I was incredibly dissapointed in the food and honestly think a $2 Michelina's pasta in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store is a ton ton better. Save your money and go a couple doors down to the Tapas place- Cafe Barcelona.
(1)
Jackie G.
As a freshman who didn't know much about the Evanston area, I wandered not too far from my dorm with my parents by my side during one of their first visits to me at college. We thought we couldn't go wrong with Italian. We did. Basically, to get down into Dave's, visitors much walk down into a basement. Since the restaurant was crowded, the place was hot and we had to wait a bit for a table. I thought this indicated that we chose a good place. Perhaps it was due to the warmth or crowded-feeling in the restaurant, but shortly after we sat down a little boy at a nearby table started puking his spaghetti. The sight disgusted us, but the workers were quick to clean it up. Almost strange to note, however, how quickly they returned to work, as if this may not be a first time scenario. We stayed to dine out of hunger and desperation. In the end, the food was actually alright. After a few years in Evanston, I've returned to the restaurant, never expecting great food or great service. I've learned to ask my parents to take me to better places when they come to town.
(2)
Michele H.
LOVE Dave's! The food is yummy and really reasonable price, friendly staff, VERY family friendly, and best wine list EVER! Over the years we have noticed the same waitstaff, so It also speaks volumes about the work environment.
(5)
Luke S.
I love that they have whole wheat crust pizza. The menu is extensive and very affordable. I've never ordered a drink here, but I believe they have a very large wine list. You can come here and eat like a king for about $10-15. My only complaint is that there is no sunlight or windows in the restaurant. The service has always been good and I always come home with leftovers. If you come at peak hours expect a short wait.
(4)
Lizzie L.
They offer a specifically vegan entree, which is wonderful! It's risotto with garlic and broccoli or kale. I'm not a huge fan of risotto, but it's good and it's vegan!
Spicy classics and creative originals!!! Definitely a great joint to frequent! Cheers!
(4)
Katrina M.
Went for dinner on a Saturday night. Waited 30 minutes for a table of 3, so not so bad. The place was packed and lively. I ordered the "BIG" Ravioli, which came in two and each was the size of an iPhone. It was delicious, but those alone did not fill me up. (I'm a petite-sized woman with a large appetite!) I wish they would serve free sides with their meals, or at least serve their ravioli on some pasta or something.. When I went here for a previous time, I ordered the calamari pasta, and it was okay. Nothing special.
(3)
Sutton C.
This place has gone threw many changes since I grew up in Evanston, it has had three locations and I have been going to Dave's since their second home. The food hasn't changed a bit and I thank the good lord for it. HUGE portions at outrageous prices is what you get at Dave's Italian Kitchen, this place is so amazing Dave himself is still in the kitchen. Everything is delicious but some of my favorites include the Chicken Marsala and Vesuvio, the spinach ricotta pie, the large italian salad (could feed 4 for an APP) with their italian dressing, and of course the Pizza! They have a great selection of wine and the atmosphere is adorably wonderful. This place has been a staple for me my whole life, and I just am so grateful it has been in E-town all these years.
(4)
Danielle W.
I LOVE DAVE'S!! If you are visiting Chicago or live in IL., this is an absolutely amazing restaurant worth traveling long distance or waiting in a crazy long line! Located in Evanston, this hidden GEM is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to!!!!!!!! We use to live in IL. about an hour & 20 minutes away and through rain or shine we would make the trip! We heard about it from the folks behind popular Chicago restaurant review show Check, Please! I recommend, the pizza (especially wheat), calzones, and chicken parm! Although my brother had a delicious shrimp pesto entree there. EVERYTHING is amazing...I can't wait to go back this summer. I miss you DAVE'S!! Yelp there are no places like this in JERSEY!
(5)
Beth P.
I really didn't like the food here. All three people at my table were like "yuck" for this place. My chicken was undercooked and very bland. My boyfriend's pasta had some nasty cheese all over it, and was smothered in a sauce that rivaled ketchup. Our friend had the chicken marsala, and the noodles were worse than lean cuisine- just nasty. Even the lettuce in my salad was brown. I saw a lot of families around us seeming to enjoy their pizza, and wine from a huuuuge wine list. Maybe I should've ordered the pizza, but I'll never know because I won't be back. I can experience Dave's anytime I want by crackin' open a can of Chef Boyardee.
(2)
Michael S.
The best pizza in Chicagoland, best baked spaghetti, best chicken parm around and also BYOB....you can't beat that. Always a great meal and good time at Dave's.
(5)
Chelsea V.
My family has been going to Dave's for about 10 years now - ever since we moved to Evanston. I remember the carpets hanging from the ceilings and writing on wine bottles of the old location, but not much else. The current location (which is the one I know best) maintains the writing on the wine bottles but updated everything a bit. However, in 2009 (years after the move) that's neither here nor there. The food is reliably decent-to-good, they bring you a lot of bread and the service is usually sweet. That's the kind of LCD sentence that would typically put me off a review and restaurant, but sometimes you just need such basic comforts. You will eat a lot here, and have a lot to take home, and it won't surprise you or scare you in any way. I can recommend the spaghetti diavolo (which I seem to remember used to be called "diabolo" but "b" and "v" can be so tricky like that!), the calzones, fettuccine rose (mix of marinara and alfredo sauce just how I liked to do in college!), italian salad with creamy garlic dressing and the chocolate mousse dessert. The mousse should be shared between two people because otherwise you'll feel really sick. I think it's also fairly affordable, although the prices are initially more than I'd really like to pay for an entree (this is because I'm cheap) - it will translate into at least one other meal. Not so bad!
(4)
Shradha A.
Update 02/2008: So I was influenced by all the good Yelp reviews for this place and decided to give it yet another shot - I mean places change after a year or two right? But now I remember why I did not like them!!! The greasiest garlic break and not fully cooked pasta... -------------------------------------------- "Big portions" don't define "Good Food" - that only says "Big Portions". It's like everyone who raves about Joy Yee's! Their food is awful but they get business because their portions are large! Anyone who wants a good meal would rather go to Cozy Noodles. Dave's is really bad Italian food, sad thing is there aren't any good Italian restaurants in Evanston so it's the best amongst the bad. Unless you want to spend and go to Trattoria Demi and if you can drive then Olive Garden! Wait = forever and they play favorites! Food = watery/cold/chewy Service = non chalant Ambiance = loud and noisy - gives me a headache! And thus I'm not going to spend more time explaining why I don't like this place.
(2)
Marina M.
Despite the underground location, Dave's has a nice atmosphere. Dave's serves traditional Italian fare and reasonable prices and is definitely several notches above your average Italian chain restaurant. I'm not a fan of the eggplant Parmesan as it was overwhelmed with sauce, breading, and cheese -- you could barely find the eggplant. Some of my favorite items are the minestrone soup and Italian salad. The chocolate mousse is also great -- perfect texture, not too rich or sweet, and a hint of liquor (amaretto perhaps?)
(3)
Vanessa C.
I love this place! When you come to Dave's it is a true dining experience, the portions are HUGE and the time between orders is long, this leaves room for talking, laughing, and enjoying your appetizer. They have wine ALL over, literally they have them lined up against the walls. I recommend there mussels, lasagna con amore, the big ravioli is great as well. Just remember that they have GREAT bread, and you may find yourself unable to practice self control, but TRY because the portions are huge!
(5)
Lisa D.
When you need a cheap hearty meal, Dave's is your spot. You have to go downstairs to get there. Dave's was forced to move to a basement location that was once racquetball courts. If only you could burn the calories that are burned playing racquetball while eating this food because there are no low cal items on the menu. I ate my ENTIRE eggplant Parmesan. It wasn't the best I've ever had but that marinara sauce served with it was delicious. Pour that over just about anything and you've got a worthy meal. The cheesy ends of the eggplant parm were perfectly toasted crispy brown. The atmosphere is a bit campy, though still artsy. Evanston is a college town, after all, and that explains it for me. The owners made an effort to hang original artwork and line the chair rails with empty wine bottles. It's cute. The elder uncle of the group I was with walked his new born nephew around the restaurant and proudly introduced him to everyone. All patrons and staff obliged his enamour and oohed and ahhed over little Elliot. College town, small town, friendly town and friendly place to eat. It was a big group and our server was cute and friendly and efficient. I've read other reviews that state otherwise so I was expecting less. The walk back to the bathrooms reminds you that you are in a basement. I have a sensitive nose, I could smell a faint sewer scent back there. Luckily I was distracted by the brightly patterned mural paintings on the hallway walls. Smart. The bathroom itself is pretty dull, even the lighting is a bit sickly. But hand painted floral motifs in the stalls were sweet additions. My biggest gripe of the place is that there is only cold water in the bathroom. I can wait for the one sink to be available, especially at these prices, but the cold water is inexcusable in the winter time. This is the reason for three instead of four stars.
(4)
Shannon B.
The food is pretty good, but the service is horrible. The salmon with dill sauce is wonderful and the Alfredo is nice. The portions are as huge as everyone says. But... I don't know if it is always understaffed or just slow as mutha. That wouldn't be a big deal for me but in conjunction with forgotten drinks and an apparent phobia regarding bring the table their check... well its an issue. Here is the breakdown: * Wait staff: I've had better and faster service at McDonalds- in Hawaii... * Drink Full bar, decent wine list * Menu:Italian * Parking: There is a cheap structure not far away, a small possibility of metered parking. * Dress: Casual
(2)
Ms G.
AWESOME!!! I've been going to Dave's for a while, and it never disappoints. Perfect for dates, birthdays, special events... you can go casual or dressy, just be prepared for a ton of good Italian food! Ask for the pink soda- delish! The salad is great, serves the whole table. I recommend the eggplant Parmesan or the spaghetti with red clam sauce. Whatever you get, you will definitely have leftovers for the next day.
(4)
Sandy N.
Pretty meh. I had the lasagna with tomato sauce. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't really great. The service was ok. Next time, I'd probably go elsewhere. Evanston has so many better options.
(2)
Trisha F.
Incredibly overrated. Mediocre pasta, usually pretty loud. Not worth the price, I'd rather make pasta at home.
(2)
Mike M.
After visiting Dave's a few times prior to Northwestern Basketball games, I have to give this place 4 stars. Even when it is very crowded they are accomodating and get you seated. excellent portions, fair prices and variety of menu make this a good choice for dining in downtown evanston
(4)
Liane R.
Perfect setting for a wedding rehearsal dinner for an Italian family! The Eggplant Parmesan was delicious!
(5)
Sarah M.
I almost want to say that I am offended by all the bad reviews! Dave's is a fabulous place. It's old location was so dark... this one you can at least see people in. It's a family run place, and the owner's wife is often part of the wait staff. The portions are ridiculously large and taste wonderful. I have never left without leftovers. The mousse is to die for... chocolate heaven. But by far my highlight of life at this restaruant... the salad dressing. It's homemade and if it wouldn't be totally disgusting to do so, I'd drink it because it's that good. As a vegetarian I feel I never have any issues with ordering food as there's often a few things I can pick from.
(5)
Joyee L.
I, like many others, feel that the food is completely unspectacular. The first time I went, I ordered the stuffed zucchini, one of the cheapest things on the menu, because I didn't have that much money and the time, and thought it was pretty good. The next time, I went with a large group of people, and ordered pasta, which is very disappointing. It tasted extremely bland - more tasteless than store-bought tomato sauce. My friend ordered some jalapeno pasta, and all it was was marinara sauce with some jalapeno slices thrown in at the last minute. At these prices, I expected a lot more. Needless to say, I've never gone back again. Spend your money somewhere else.
(1)
Janet E.
The last time I came here I was starving and there was a 30 minute wait! But it was worth it. The staff was really great. To hold me over I ordered a coffee at the "bar". When we were seated, the waitress was very friendly and the food came relatively quickly (or maybe I was stuffing myself with the free bread and olive oil?). The food was delicious and we had enough left overs to make another meal of it!
(4)
David G.
Very disappointing. My dad ordered lamb chops which he sent back because they were slightly underdone. When they brought the dish back to the table, it was clear that they had been microwaved. When called on it, they admitted it. All in all, an uninspiring restaurant. I am surprised it's as busy as it was.
(2)
Linda D.
A favorite place of mine for over 30 years. Spaghetti Diablo w/ mushrooms or spaghetti w/ white clam sauce or...if I can find anyone to share, the bacon mushroom pizza... 2 of the 3 desserts are great (skip the cannoli); we usually get the same number of spoons as diners and just put desert in the center and see who's fastest.
(5)
Chris G.
Have loved Dave's for years but never knew Dave was a complete jerk. We just had our second baby and decided to order delivery from Dave's to the hospital in town as a nice celebration dinner. The staff said they couldn't deliver to the hospital and recounted a story about a car being towed. We said we understood and that we'd be happy to meet them across the street or wherever so they wouldn't have to go near the hospital. We were told we had to talk to Dave himself. Dave then got on the phone, didn't say one word, and screamed "WE DON'T DELIVER TO THE DAMNED HOSPITAL" then hung up. Needless to say the owner and proprietor of a business should never treat anyone, let alone a customer that way. We have nothing to do with, and know nothing about, Dave's contentious relationship with Evanston hospitals. We called back and got an apology from the embarrassed staff who couldn't offer any explanation or solution. Dave - we have a "no jerk" policy and you failed miserably. Sorry but you're getting a 1 star and we're going to let everyone know about this non-sense.
(1)
Ngoc H.
Went here a while back, the food is just ok, nothing really special about it. The fettuccine was sort of bland but the chicken was salty enough to make up for it. All in all this place is good but it's nothing great. Great place though if you have a large group.
(3)
Anthony B.
Finally a good Italian restaurant! With a handful of bad experiences at ones in Chicago, I was very impressed with Dave's. I was a little skeptical from the outside with the checkered curtains and it looked like it would be a step up from a pizzeria, but I was sorely mistaken. The food was all fresh. The salad was great as was the house dressing, and the veal was mouth watering. We also ordered mussels which were also fantastic. The service was friendly, attentive, and great. I would definitely come back. I am curious about the whole wheat pizza on the menu!
(4)
Ashley H.
I love the classics at Dave's, and everything is always fresh and tasty. We ordered delivery once, and the food was cold by the time it made it to our table. We haven't had delivery since, but every time we eat there it's great.
(4)
Jason P.
Good Italian food. This place has been around for a while and has a nice atmosphere in the basement of the building. There is a nice blend of pictures and hand written signs around and the food is good as well. They let you get whole wheat pizza, but then it says it is actually half whole wheat flour and half white flour, making it half wheat I guess. At any rate, the taste is right. I also tried the cheeseless calzone which was fantastic.
(4)
Casia J.
I don't even have the energy to write about this church basement-meets-Chef Boyardee-served-by-careless-students kinda place. Been twice. Two meals of my life I'll never get back. The second time a waiter spilled (about 2 tbsps, not just a drop) of red wine on me. Apology? No. Only a very Keanu Reeves style "Whoops!" There ya have it.
(2)
Claire S.
My girlfriend took me here for the first time on one of our first dates because it's one of her favorites. I have to say, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and food at Dave's! I love how laid back and unpretentious the vibe is and the vegetarian lasagna was really good! I think I'll return here quite a bit for the sentimental value and would recommend it to someone in the Evanston area looking for casual Italian dining.
(4)
Lisa H.
Expect a wait if you try Dave's on a Friday or Saturday night. Luckily you have the opportunity to order drinks from the bar/waiting area while waiting. This longtime Evanston establishment serves up plenty of Italian food. I'd suggest the Spaghetti Carbonara. It's pretty much the only thing I order at Dave's...and a bottle of red wine on special. The Lasagna with meat sauce is my second favorite meal at Dave's. Be sure to bring your Sharpie and write on one of the thousands of wine bottles displayed specifically for the purpose of writing on them!
(3)
Vanessa D.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants for about 13 years now. (Wow, I can't believe it's been so long). I was a big fan of it in high school (when it was at the other location) because it was cheap, delicious, and filling. Their chocolate mousse is amazing. I usually just stick to the baked spaghetti. It's still very much the same place I originally fell in love with back as a freshman in high school. The homestyle Italian food, the casual laid back atmosphere, the friendly waitstaff, the WINE BOTTLES lining the walls, and yes, that mousse is still delicious. Come here if you want some good food without spending a lot. It can get really crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings when lots of families go there, so be ready for a bit of a wait.
(4)
George O.
Distinctly not-great food. The prices are reasonable, but you're still not getting what you're paying for in terms of quality. That's offset by the quantity of food. I've never had problems with service or freshness, but the service wasn't fantastic, either. The thing that sticks out in my mind is that the pasta carbonara was cooked so that the egg had curdled. Anybody who knows what pasta carbonara is would count that as a failure, and certainly wouldn't send it out at a restaurant.
(2)
Tom F.
Nice casual place to enjoy good food and company. Nothing fancy about it, but it's pretty warm and inviting. The lamb chops are a favorite of mine, and the minestrone is solid. Give it a shot if you want a fun, relaxing atmosphere, and it's definitely kid-friendly.
(4)
Kathryn R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Evanston! The food always tastes fresh and homemade. The service is always good. The prices are very reasonable. They have a nice selection of wines too! Usually there is a wait to be seated, but because the place is so large, the wait has never been more than 20 minutes or so. A very nice, casual, comfortable place. One criticism is that it can get noisy in there!
(4)
Scott H.
What is it about Dave's? The place is pretty much a dive, always messy and is generally jam-packed, but the wife and I keep coming back again and again! Good Italian standards with huge portions. Always a cheap, but quite drinkable bottle of red and white available at $13-14. Whatever you order, get a meatball on the side. Great accompaniment to anything. Hits are spaghetti carbonara and lasagna con amore.
(4)
Martha M.
You can always count on Dave's for a good hearty meal with plenty of leftovers. Basic pasta and basic sauce is the name of the game, along with a wide variety of chicken dishes. If you are looking for something beyond pasta and sauce though, Dave's is not your spot. There's no fancy stuff here. The ambiance is very homey, PACKED with booths and tables. The waiting area is fairly small and you will always wait. Do not go during high dining times or you will wait a LONG time with A LOT of loud kids. Dave's definitely caters towards families so the place is always crammed with kids. Service is good, nothing to write home about. Don't get me wrong - Dave's is delicious and I go there at least once every few months. The salads are delicious and the pasta is as well. They have a chocolate mousse that I can't resist and a very impressive and inexpensive wine list.
(3)
A S.
Brought a hungry soccer team and got great service and excellent food. The staff was very accomodating and patient. We will highly recommend DIK to the rest of our organization!
(5)
Cynthia E.
No, no,no,no,no,no,no. The minestrone is passable.
(1)
Chaviva G.
I date a self-proclaimed chef. He has no professional training, but the man's food is ... amazing. His best dishes are, did you guess it? Italian. As such, this was quite a test. Would he love it? Would he hate it? Would he finish his dish? The answer is below ... We were looking to get out of the comfort zone of Western/Central/Loop Chicago, so I asked some Yelpers for advice. One suggested Dave's Italian Kitchen in Evanston, and of course we were glad to head north to one of our favorite little areas. We trudged through the rain to Chicago and Church, down some stairs into an interesting basement bistro. At first glance it reminded me of an old basement section of a restaurant I used to go to in my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska called Spaghetti Works. But they closed it eons ago, and I haven't done basement dining for some time! We were immediately greeted by a bounty of staff up front, sat in a booth flanked by bottles of wine along the wall that sported fancy notes from the restaurant's past. The bread was brought and we gazed at the menu while noshing on some of *the* most delicious bread I've ever had. Dave's makes their own bread, but it isn't just fresh bread, it's the kind of bread your mom used to make. The kind that you'd rip apart the moment it was done -- whether it came from the oven or the breadmaker. I ordered the baked spaghetti, and the date got a calzone (I forget what kind, but there was sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc.). We also ordered two dinner salads, because we wanted to gauge the house-made dressing. The salads were fresh, though a little heavy on the carrots. No vinaigrette compares to my boyfriend's, but their dressing was pretty delicious and had the right amount of tang. We noshed on more bread while waiting for the meal, though it came out pretty quick. The restaurant was slowly filling up with families, college-age kids and couples ... and the buzz was perfect with the casual decor. The baked spaghetti I was used to consisted of the pasta, mixed with the sauce, covered in cheese, and baked. This spaghetti, though, was nothing such! The pasta was covered with mozzarella and baked, and then the marinara was plated in the bowl *next* to the spaghetti and cheese. It was a little strange visually at first, but as I ate and mixed the two up, it made for a delicious dish. The marinara was perfect for your standard sauce -- not too spicy, not overloaded with spices, just simple and delish. The boyfriend's calzone came and .... good lord. It was the biggest calzone I'd ever seen. It is made to feed one to two people, and my boyfriend has a pretty big appetite -- he couldn't finish it! He said it was crispy, fresh, the sausage was delicious and after he got a side of marinara, he was set. What made the calzone for him -- he said -- was the bread. Again, the moment it was set on the table, you could smell the freshness and the comfort of the calzone's crust! Overall, he said, "I would be so forward as to say this is the best calzone I've ever had." Now, coming from him -- he who has been to Lombardi's, among others, in NYC, all varieties of Italian in Chicago and elsewhere -- this is a BIG freakin' deal. This, to me, says that Dave's has it going on. Finally, we concluded our meal with a cannoli, which we split. It absolutely topped off the night and filled in that last little hole of space in our stomachs. It was rich, creamy, and fresh ... this place knows their breads and pastries! People complain about the portions not making up for quality, but in my experience, the portions and the quality were above my expectations. The decor was comfortable and reminded me of a family-run restaurant with a touch of eclectic class with varied paintings, wine bottles, and other "Italian" objects. The variety of the crowd should be a testament to the type of people that appreciate a comfortable, bistro style restaurant and should also attest to the fact that this restaurant will be around for quite some time (it's already been around for a few decades!). If you want a preview of the style of the restaurant, take a peek at the website and read the biography and "how to get here" links. Also, take my boyfriend's take on the calzone to heart -- because this man KNOWS and lives Italian. The two of us ate, with salads and desserts, for a mere $30.00. Talk about a deal! So take the bad reviews for a grain of salt, darn't. Trek to Evanston and give it a go. If there is a Dave, I'd like to meet Dave, and say "Dave, thanks. You filled me the hell up!"
(5)
Jerry W.
Like another reviewer, I have been coming here since before it was relocated. A funky place with good tasting food at reasonable prices. Feels like it should be a Northwestern student hangout, but it is really just a common Evanstonian hangout. I personally like the eggplant parm, and do not think their pizza is anything too great. Worth going to.
(4)
Scott B.
Very good food, great price. Bring a pen and sign the wine bottles on the wall. And try the pizza and calzone. Been going there for 25 years, and always a solid meal at a good price.
(4)
Kiira B.
Mediocre food, poor service, weird ambiance.....
(2)
Molly B.
I'm with Victoria. I love the food here and have taken people who also enjoy it. They give you plenty to munch on for a reasonable price and everything I've had is tasty! You're almost guaranteed leftovers; who doesn't love that?! I give 4 stars because their wine and beer selection isn't great, but I think it's mainly a family restaurant, so that probably won't be helped. Also, the takeout is awesome and quick, too, but good luck finding a place to idle the vehicle!
(4)
Andrew H.
3.5 stars if the option was available. A staple for me and the favorite girl when we're in the mood for decent food, good portions, and good prices. Usually there is no wait on weekdays but we came last night (a Sunday) and it was packed. Along with a horde of mature high schoolers wishing to have dinner prior to a school dance (really not the place to go before a school dance), we waited for approx 20-30 minutes. The atmosphere is casual, family and kid friendly. When the room is full, it can get loud. Service is hit or miss depending on your waiter/waitress, and same goes for how fast the food comes out. Last night we were not attended to for a good 5 minutes after sitting down; however our waitress was very apologetic and compensated more than enough. The table bread is average, we usually indulge ourselves with a slice or two but never have to ask for a second round. My favorite girl began by ordering a small Italian salad. I didn't think much of it at the time, I don't ask questions, just foot the bill. But when the salad came and with plates to share (our waitress assumed we were dating...ugh, I wish), it was larger than a "small" and included everything that the menu said it would include -- not excuding red onions, pepperoncinis, and radish. Fortunately for me, my favorite girl hates all of the above and proceeded to put all of them on my plate. Like the trooper I am, I proceeded to attempt eating a plate full of only red onions, pepperoncinis, and radish. A unique flavor profile for sure, but my favorite girl eventually threw me some greens, red cabbage, cucumber, and dressing which made the following ten minutes much more enjoyable. For our entrees, I ordered the #2 small calzone (pesto, tomatoes, mushroom, spinach) and it is on point. This is the only place I know that has pesto calzones, and I really enjoy pesto. My favorite girl ordered her broccoli, chicken, and garlic risotto -- while she gets it every time, I have tried it before too and can attest to its hearty home-cooked flavor. After we were finished, I ordered a tiramisu for us to share, much to my favorite girl's chagrin. Our waitress enjoyed the banter, gave us two forks, and didn't put it on the tab. A good way to end our meal.
(3)
Victoria h.
I don't know why it got so many bad votes. Dave's a great place with huge calzones and cheap salads. The service is fast, and food is good, the setting is nice and casual. What is there to complain about? It's not really classic Italian food, it's very Americanized - but I definitely recommend checking it out with friends (if you live nearby). It's not a place that I'd drive to from far away, it's not THAT good. But if you live nearby and need somewhere to take your folks or friends - this is a good place. Keep in mind that the wait to be seated can take a while.
(4)
Liz P.
I have a friend from Evanston and, upon knowing my intense love for Italian food, insisted that we eat at Dave's Italian Kitchen. Thus far, I've had it only twice but both times, I died and went to Italian-cuisine heaven. The first time, I ordered an interesting spaghetti-japaleno concoction that left me enticed. The second time, I ordered spaghetti with mushrooms/sun-dried tomatoes in a decadent olive oil-butter-cream sauce. I love this place. Next time I'm getting their carbonara because my friend climaxes every time he has it. I've never eaten in the restaurant, only done take-out, because we always go when it's packed. But I love this place.
(5)
Ben W.
This place is not great at all. Their prices are quite steep compared to the quality of food. This place might do if you are too lazy to boil your own pasta and put a can of tomato sauce/alfredo on top of it yourself. If you are not that lazy then save yourself some money and stay home. I had the ziti here and it was most unsatisfying--there was little cheese and the marinara sauce tasted odd. Also the pasta was a little overcooked.
(2)
Julie H.
Oh Dave, what happened? Ok, I have to say after eating here last night (and being somewhat psyched to be going because it was just what I was jonesin for), I am so disappointed. =( It was a Saturday evening, and we were seating immediately as they weren't at full capacity yet so now wait, which is awesome. What wasn't awesome was that once we were seated, no one came to talk to us for close to 10 minutes (after 5 solid minutes, my boyfriend was ready to walk, but I just so wanted to eat dinner there....so we stayed). Our waiter did suddenly appear and said (I quote) "I'll be waiting on you today. Are you perchance ready to order?". Hmm, no hello, no 'can i grab you a drink while you peruse the menu?'. And he was somewhat intimidating, so we ordered. quickly. then sat some more. and watched. A table next to us (who had the same server) also never seemed to be waited on - when they finally got their check, we actually overheard them debating whether or not to leave a tip. Another table behind us was sat, and a waitress appeared less than 20 seconds later (we started timing this). A 3rd table near us was sat and a waiter came by within 30 seconds, introduced himself, asked he could get them some drinks, gave some recommendations, and, get this, EVEN came back and checked in on them when their food appeared! Now us, when out appetizer emerged, I only noticed bc the waiter was reaching around a pole and waiting for me to take it from him and put it on the table. That was the last we saw of him until we got our check. Fortunately when they seat you, they give you a pitcher of water otherwise we probably would never have gotten drinks. A very nice bus boy did come by when it looked like we were done and offered to box our leftovers, I kinda was wishing he had been our waiter. Now the sad part is, the meal was just what I wanted, and I've never had a bad experience there before, but I will think twice before returning after this treatment. They really need to make sure all of their staff is on the same page, and judging from how everyone else was hustling and bustling around the place, and all the other tables had actually service other than those in our section, they should also be sure their staff who is not on the same page is either not working there anymore or at the very least kept in the kitchen.
(2)
Kristen H.
Oh why does the food have to taste so darn good? I'm on a diet; not supposed to be eating here. But I do get a day off. And let me tell you how much I enjoyed my day off.............................YUM!!!! So I only get a day off every now and then , so when I do I must choose wisely. So I decided to order the spaghetti carbonara. It is sooooooo good. For those of you that don't know what it is I'll tell you. It's obviously spaghetti noodles, with a white cream sauce with bacon and onion. Let me tell you........it is delicious! Definitely worth the wait. It will be hard not to repeat this decision when my next free day comes.
(5)
Kary Z.
I don't know why my hopes for this place were so high; it was recommended to me by a 70 year old woman. We checked out the menu before going, and there is a nice selection of entrees, wines, and the prices were affordable. When we walked in we were greeted right away, "just two?" "yes." "you can take that booth there". The hostess just pointed us to our seat. Did not even bother to move from behind her counted to seat us. I know, its not far, and we could just see our seat, but it was too informal in a way. We sat, and our menus came. Our server did not. We waited for a while. When he did come he was so boring. We asked him to help us narrow down the menu and he was hardly interested in helping us figure out what to eat. We did decide, and when he came to take our order we told him, and that was that. However, on the menu it states "your choice of sauces"--he did not ask us. Just made the choice for us. I wanted meat sauce, but since he didnt ask and i didnt tell him, i didnt get it. My partner ordered a fettucini rose, and it was soooooooo bland. No amount of romano cheese, salt, or pepper could spice it up. I ordered the provolone chicken. It came with plain mariana on the rotini, which tasted as if it was from a ragu jar and my chicken had absolutely no flavor. The server didnt check on us for about 6 minutes. We are not the typical table that would make a huge deal of a bad meal, and never have we ever sent anything back to the kitchen. Remember, I was server for a very long time, as was my partner...but this was terrible. Mik sent her food back, and i ate some of mine because I was starving. The only thing they did right was take off a portion of our bill. Yet, the manager didnt come make a table visit. If management doesnt care about how dissatisfied their customers are, then they really could care less about the quality. And it shows here at Daves. Save your money, don't go. You are way better off going to Giordanos or Trattoria Demi in Evanston.
(1)
Erin C.
I have been to Dave's so so many times. Birthdays, dates, etc etc etc. I just don't think it's that good. I have to admit, there are a few good things on the menu... 1. the calzones are awesome, but it's hard to mess up cheese, bread and sauce. 2. the baked spaghetti is nice, but it's really just the cheese baked on top that makes this dish anything special. Everything else tastes like canned tomato sauce. There is nothing innovative or exciting served here. And that's ok. There are plenty of restaurants dishing out crowd favorites very well. The difference here is that it just isn't executed very well. I do get a kick out of the ETHS students out on big group dates here though. I've taken pictures for several of them for homecoming and prom and stuff. It's a hoot!
(2)
Rob F.
Excellent. reasonably priced Italian food. Comfortable atmosphere. The wine list is reasonably priced. Only problem is the wait and sometimes there appears to be empty tables open as you wait.
(4)
Adam S.
A few of the reviews I've read about this place are complaining about decor, ambiance, the sauce, etc. as if they are the son or daughter of Phil Vettel. Dave's Italian Kitchen is comfort food to the extreme, from the basement, windowless location, to the plastic red and white table clothes, to the big portion, basic Italian fare. They aren't trying to be pretentious and they aren't trying to be fancy. They just want to serve good food in a family-style environment and they do an excellent job of it. All the pizzas, pastas, and salads I've had at Dave's are great. Are they fine dining? No - but that's not what this is supposed to be. Just like you don't order a steak at a coffee shop, you don't veer from the basics at Dave's. The service has always been quite good too - the other night I was there and they brought out one of our dishes way past the others. The waiter was apologetic to the point of embarrassing and we got two free desserts out of it (which were both fantastic.) So put on you jeans and gym shoes, head on over to Dave's, order a glass of cheap cabernet, get the spaghetti and meatballs, and enjoy your night.
(4)
Heidi H.
Meh. I know that the made up word *meh* has sorta played itself out, but its the only way I know how to describe my experience here. My friend and I decided to go here for NYE seeing we were heading up to Evanston for a movie anyway. I'm really not too familiar with good eats in Evanston, so I trusted her decision on going to Daves Italian Kitchen. I decided to start with a salad that I dont remember the name of but thought it sounded pretty tasty. Spring greens, dried apricot and cranberries, and walnuts all tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. Sounds yummy right? meh. The salad was drowning in the watery dressing. I mean, I love me some dressing but having a puddle of it at the bottom of my salad bowl is a bit too much for even me! For my main entree I chose whole wheat mostaccioli in a pesto sauce with added spinach. Again. meh. The pasta was cooked well and the pesto was tasty and garlicky, but lacked seasoning and they forgot my spinach. Oh well. Nothing was terrible but nothing blew me away either. Just a meh experience all around. The best thing about the dinner was that it was satisfying and cheap. I would go here again if someone else really wanted to go, but it definitely wouldn't be my first choice when dining in Evanston.
(3)
Colleen B.
I won't waste a lot of space here... I second the previous reviews. Decent, but not great, Italian food. Huge portions. I keep ending up here because it's an easy decision when you're looking to gorge yourself on cheesy pasta for a reasonable price. Not my number one choice for dinner, but if someone suggests it I probably won't turn them down.
(3)
Annie S.
My mom and I really like this place and we always split the spaghetti with meat sauce and an extra meatball. It comes with a side of fresh bread and the staff are really friendly. I've been eating here since high school and even though it's not the best or most authentic Italian food, it is still good and the servings are HUGE so you will not leave hungry!
(4)
Alissa I.
Still great...my new favorite is Chicken Marsuvio
(5)
Patricia C.
We have been going to Dave's for years and the only thing I order is the small Italian Salad and Spaghetti Gorgonzola which is outstanding (I have never had anything else although my husband orders different pastas and he has liked everything that he has ordered).The prices are affordable and service is good.
(4)
Julie G.
It seems like downtown Evanston has a ton of restaurants and yet no restaurants all at once. If you're ever up there, Dave's is a great fallback choice for a perfectly good Italian meal. Their menu has some real standouts: good pasta, good tiramisu. The service is friendly and the prices are very reasonable. The breadbasket is so-so but the olive oil they keep on the tables is pretty good. Skip the broccoli soup though. I know people rave about but it's been super bland both times I've had it.
(3)
Steve T.
In a basement in Evanston you will find a lovely Italian restaurant. Great pizza and past. The wines are not bad. Very down to earth. The wait staff are super friendly.
(4)
Erin J.
The nice thing about Dave's is that it is predictable and reliable. The portions are huge - one pasta dish = about 3 meals for me. Sometimes there is an intimidating wait, but you can order wine at the bar to make the time pass more quickly. Totally kid-friendly AND pocket-book-friendly. I feel like Dave's is a bargain because the food is good, not great, and the portions are giant. It's really not my favorite, but I'm glad it's there. I have always found the staff to pleasant and efficient.
(3)
Jolie R.
We were on our way to Joy Yee when we found it was closed for expansion. Dissapointed and hungry, we walked around the corner and spotted Dave's, which we had seen many times driving down Chicago, so we decided to stop in and see what it was all about. Yowee! Zowee! This is our FAVE Italian restaurant for lots of pasta and prices that aren't going to take a chunk out of our budget. We love upscale, but weren't looking for it that nite...and were not disappointed in what we found. I had the calamari and spaghetti (wish they had linguini on the menu!) and the server suggested ordering it with olive oil and garlic instead of the marinara. She was on-spot. The noodles were aldente, the calamari was tender and very plentiful and the garlic wasn't too heavy. My husband ordered spaghetti and meatball, which turned out to be the biggest meatball we've ever seen! He said it was the closest to tasting like his Italian mother's meatballs. We both want to come back and try other pasta dishes. I probably won't order the pizza - but we'll give the other menu items, while limited, a go. We left full to the gills and our bill was under $20 for a terrific meal.
(4)
Yakov B.
If you want, hands down, the absolute worst service of any restaurant in the Chicagoland area with a native English speaking waitstaff, then Dave's is the place. I have been there numerous times and have experienced the host giving my table to someone else, waitresses simply forgetting to wait on my table, waiters screwing up my order, waitress and waiters forgetting to bring an item order, and waitresses and waiters taking my credit card for payment, and then simply not coming back and forcing me to get up and approach the cash register myself. I've complained to the management and never once have I been offered a "comp" for my troubles. So why do I keep going back despite the G-d awful service? The food is pretty damn good.
(2)
Christina G.
We always have a good time at this neighborhood Italian restaurant. Been going for years, even before they were at their Chicago ave. location. The atmosphere is very cozy. We prefer a booth, Red and white checkered tablecloths make it feel fun. The bread they give you is so delicious that it's hard not to eat it and save room for your meal! I always get the small italian salad with italian dressing and the spinach ravioli. The marinara is delicious and the fresh pasta always pleases. Very kid friendly which is why we frequent here often and early. We usually have to get here by about 5:30 on a Friday night to avoid a wait. My dad had the Spaghetti Carbornara tonite and he said it was very good. They always have a wine on special too, but I usually just have a glass of the house red or white as they are both usually tasty!
(4)
Erin K.
I think that the three rating is quite accurate in describing Dave's Italian Kitchen. They serve good Italian food, but I've definitely had better. The best thing it has going for it is the massive quantities they serve you. I'm talking "lunch and dinner the next day" big. It's a great place to bring kids--something you could easily tell by looking at the clientele (FAMILY CENTRAL!) and definitely worth the price.
(3)
Ann A.
We went here for a birthday party last week and it was okay. I was under the weather, so my taste buds may have been off, but the minestrone was meh, the bread was okay, and the gorgonzola salad was pretty good. It's pretty hard to screw up a salad though, right? My husband had the sausage calzone and when we ate it as leftovers a few days later, I was smitten. I think we'll definitely hit up this place for calzones as take out. We just weren't bowled over by the vibe of the joint.
(3)
Victor K.
Eat here, I have for 25 years...never had a bad meal.
(5)
Dave Y.
this place is awesome! most things are pretty reasonably priced and you get quite a bit of food. such as the really cheap meatball sandwich. the diabolo pasta or whatever it's called is really good. really spicy and hot. a long time ago this place used to be a veritable hole in the wall. now it's in a newer nicer place, and lost a bit of its charm, but still great nonetheless
No doubt about it, this is good food. It's a fairly inexpensive, cool place. The service is good. The homemade bread on the table is deliciously fresh and warm. It was crowded, but didn't seem too crazy for a Friday night. Nice, casual atmosphere.
(5)
Michael B.
Driving through Evanston and was in the mood for Italian food... saw Dave's and Yelp'd it. Had some great reviews, so tried it. I have to agree with most of the reviews. The atmosphere is great. The food was amazing. The service was wonderful. I can't wait to go again. I had the Chicken Parm... awesome. Huge portion, tasted great. Try it out sometime if your in Evanston, it's worth the stop.
(5)
Chris W.
Freakishly overrated! The bread is always dry, the sauce is essentially ketchup, and the decor and service are not noteworthy. The empty wine bottles lining the walls are kind of a nice touch, admittedly.
(1)
Andrew T.
I absolutely do not know what the fuss is about this place. While two stars may be a bit low... I personally, didn't like this place b/c they didn't have a lot of sausage optionson the menu. Their olive oil on the table was really bland (and I'm not exactly an olive oil connisseur). The blue cheese noodles were good (and big). The pesto calzone was boring and wierdly juicy inside. The manicotti was also forgetable w/an acidic marinara sauce. My gf actually thought it was decent, but the next day she flew United to France and said the manicotti on the airplane was better...
(2)
Christina R.
This is the place you can afford to eat, leave sated, have a tasty meal, but you walk in knowing that it probably isn't going to be the best meal of your life. My rating is based on what it is - a cheap eat. If I paid $50 for my bowl of pasta and it tasted like this, I would be pissed. However, when you are paying 7.99 for a vat of Spaghetti, and it fills you up, you are looking for a decent taste. If it tasted like cafeteria food, then we would have problems. The Good: whatever recipe they are using for their house dressing will ensure I return. I can never the spice mixture right in my vinegar for just the right dressing, but somehow this was awesome; I had a small plate of greens to start my meal and it turned out to be all I wanted to eat. Plus, the Bolognese sauce on my spaghetti was actually really good. Not the best I have ever had, but for 8.95, I was impressed. And the server we had was superb. If I could remember her name (sorry! I am terrible with names!) I would give her a shout out here, but she was just attentive enough to be awesome, plus even though we didn't complain, she didn't think the broccoli soup looked the way it normally looked, and hence made the decision to not charge for it. In all honesty, the broccoli soup was terribly underseasoned and bland, but she affirmatively intervened before we said a word. Five Star service at a cheap eats restaurant - that was exceedingly impressive. The Not So Good - the meatball and the marinara sauce were not thing. I love meatballs, but the meatball you can order with your spaghetti is one large lump of underseasoned sadness in an bath of marinara sauce that will leave your pancreas aching from the sweetness. The marinara lacks the seasonings to make it good, and is disadvantaged by the base ingredients which seems to be a lot of tomato paste and/or cheap crushed tomatoes. The Ugly: you never know what kind of crowd will be walking through the door. A high school aged soccer team fresh (or not-so-fresh) from a game walked through the door, and it was seriously unpleasant. Also, there was a large group of what appeared to be high school aged kids dressed up for some event dining out for some reason. The cheapness of the place will bring in those seeking affordable meals on parental allowance, the college shoestring budget, or those that refuse to pay $16 for a plate of .80 pasta when you don't want to make an event of the night.
(3)
Maureen D.
This place is teriff. Seriously. I have ordered lots of things here, but my absolute favorite is the spinach rotini with marinara sauce. Oh, and their bread is phenomenal.
(4)
Alex W.
Italian food is my absolute favorite but for some reason I can never get into this place no matter how much I try. Better pizza can be found elsewhere, the pasta, second rate. Big helpings and good for large groups-though not like how real Italian restaurants are supposed to be.
(2)
Shane H.
I went with a friend last night. Despite the horrible weather it was surprisingly busy. The atmosphere was cozy but I wasn't crazy about the menu options. My new thing when it comes to eating is to mix it up as much as possible so I ordered something I NEVER get... veal. The veal parmesan was OK, not the best ever. I think you're probably better off getting lasagna or one of their chicken dishes, from what I've heard. The portion sizes are HUGE. I would eat here again, but probably not voluntarily. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing.
(3)
Jesster A.
Although on it's 3rd location - Dave's has been an Evanston institution for over a quarter of a century. The laid back atmosphere (though less so here) and huge portions at very reasonable prices are probably the main reason for it's enduring popularity - since the food quality itself is pretty bland and mostly ordinary. As a blue cheese fan myself, I suspect Dan's rave about the pasta Gorgonzola (you can choose among pasta shapes) has more to do with his love of the cheese (and this sauce is like 90% Gorgonzola) than the actual execution of the dish... Beware - this dish is VERY rich. Although they now have a liquor license - you can stil BYOB for a $5 corkage charge. For larger groups try bringing 1.5 liter bottles - not sure what their policy is on uncorking multiple bottles. NOTE: Do NOT order the socalled Spinach-Ricotta Pie (smothered in cream of mushroom soup, er sauce.... We split one four ways and even so it was rich beyond belief - like a plate full of frosting with no cake underneath it. Respectable Tiramisu easily serves 2 -4 for dessert - especially after those huge entree portions.
(3)
Dan T.
You can't beat the location- it's in a cool part of Evanston, and as someone else stated it's easily better than Olive Garden! I always go for the Spaghetti Gorgonzola. My mouth waters just typing that. Gorgonzoooooooolaaaaa... Excuse me. The BYOB part is nice, and the portions are huge, so order something that sounds a little different and you won't be disappointed. I have usually gone in a large group, which is what this place is made for. That said, the atmosphere is also the only real drawback. It's extremely loud, and you get the impression the whole place could use a remodeling. But if you're in downtown Evanston, want Italian, and want a full meal, I have yet to find anything comparable.
(4)
Chrissy F.
Great place with great memories. At first I was taken aback that it was underground, but that just adds to its "coolness" (yes I just said "coolness" -- what are you gonna do about it?) The orders are kind of big, so come hungry or ask for a doggy bag. I really don't know the first thing about wine, so I'm not going to pretend. They helped my friends and I pick out our bottle of wine. But they do seem to have an extensive wine selection... Guaranteed that you're gonna wait to get a table though. Everytime I've been there, I've had to stand around looking foolish for about 10 minutes before our table was ready. I don't mind waiting, I just mind looking foolish. But really, that's my own issue. It's not far from the purple line...just not close to it either. It's usually the block before I see the restuarant when I start complaining if we're there yet or not. If you're brave enough to walk TOWARDS the lake on a cold day, I'd definitely recommend you go for it.
(4)
Matt B.
I give this place 3 stars. I've gone here quite a few times, and yet I never leave real happy with the meal. The basement atmosphere and wine bottle-lined walls are nice, the pre-meal bread and olive oil is good, but I look over the menu I am disappointed. Nothing appeals to me whatsoever. I generally look to spend $10-12 a meal, and if I pay anything over that I expect very good food. I'm usually spending more like $15-17 here, and the cuisine is no better than average. I really only eat here because I haven't found a suitable italian alternative other than olive garden - and I just can't bring myself to hit up the chain.
(3)
Suzie B.
OK, here's my to-go order experience: My dearest friend broke her back after a nasty fall from a horse last year. Although the titanium rods in her spine are healing, she is far from able to do much walking around without having to stop and sit down to rest for a few minutes. We had been walking around Evanston a bit, running a few errands here and there, and her hubby called in an order for us to pick up on our way home. We got there right after he called, and my pal asked if we could sit at a table while we waited. The woman at the front was being rather shitty about it (they were busy) so Lib, who was about to pass out, said, "we'll order an appetizer! I have to sit down in a chair (she has a fucking BODY CAST on, fergawd's sake). So we sat down, and a nice waiter promptly brought us bread and water. We added another entree on to our to-go order, which he took to the gal at the register. We didn't see hide nor hair of him after that, although I had thrown a 5-er on the table, thinking he would bring us or to go bag. After what seemed like an eternity (watching my BFFE almost faint from meds nausea and exhaustion), I went to the register and asked about our order. It had been ready, and was sitting in the kitchen. We paid and got the hell out. I had the spinach lasagna, which was good but not spectacular. My friend's hubby had the meatball sandwich, which was HUGE, and I didn't sample so don't know how it tasted. I'm sure that in this land of Italians there are much better places to eat, but I did like the ambiance in there, and can see how it would be a good place to take a large group. Being shitty to someone in an upper body cast is inexcusable.
(2)
Blake W.
Love it. Who goes here for great food and service? Raise your hand.... now take that hand and smack yourself. This place is cheap, good and easy. I don't feel bad rolling in with my hoodie and a hat or a button up. I'm actually usually suprised by the quality of what I order given the prices. We like to hit this place up once a month and stuff our belly's with food and wine. The wine list is a good size for such a low end place -- the best part is they stock it with cheap wine, but not crap like yellow tail, mondavi costal, sutter home etc... they've got a good selection. Get the Pink Sauce on anything and enjoy.....
(4)
Miranda K.
I dropped in for my first visit last night and will definitely be back. This is in spite of the fact that it was incredibly crowded, a bit too noisy, and lousy with rug rats. The food was great: best calzone I've had in a long time and pretty good tiramisu too, which was a surprise. The atmosphere is homey, service is casual but attentive. I felt the prices were very reasonable.
(4)
Clare F.
Just went to this place for the first time last night, and it was exactly what we were looking for! Nice, friendly staff, hearty food, and just-right prices. Is it the creme de la creme of Italian cooking? No, but that's not why we went. We were looking for affordable comfort food, and that's what they provided. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Henry F.
Went to Dave's last week for my birthday with my wife and 8 month old daughter. The entrees are huge and inexpensive. I had leftovers of Chicken Parm for lunch the next day. If you are looking for an inexpensive and family-friendly Italian spot, Dave's is a good place to check out.
(4)
Mike C.
What can I say, this is one of my favorite Italian places in the area. Don't get me wrong, I've had better Italian food. But Dave's is something special for a casual, consistent meal. Pros: 1) In downtown Evanston, which is a treat in itself. 2) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. 3) Bright, open, comfortable dining room. 4) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. 5) Reasonably priced. 6) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. We love Daves, and come here for dinner whenever we're in the area. Good service, nice casual atmosphere, good food. Everything on the menu is good. We especially like the baked spaghetti and lasagna, but especially Dave's Italian Salad with the thick shredded mozarella cheese, yummy. Reasonably priced, great atmosphere, good food with a LOT of sauce :-) Enjoy!
(5)
Megan W.
Dave's Italian Kitchen was good Italian comfort food. The portions are large and filling. I had the garlic and olive oil pasta and it was delicious. My boyfriend had the veal and it was very tasty. Our waitress did a great job of handling our large party. A word of warning though if you're looking for a quiet romantic dinner this is not the place for you. Dave's is extremely loud.
(4)
Brandon B.
What dreck this food is. I've only had catering a few times from this place, and as a result, I will never go here. Every single dish I had, I know I could've made it better. Food is band, from the spaghetti, to the rotini... yuck. Trattoria Demi is a little better. This place is not worth it at all.
(1)
grace c.
If you're looking for reasonably priced italian grub and your main focus is "$" then this place may do the job. If your main focus is on quality italian food, then please turnaround and head out the door. The moment I entered the restaurant, I felt like I was back in the cafeteria room in high school and once I dug my fork into the baked spaghetti and mozarella dish, the cafeteria feeling became all the more solidified. The marinara sauce tasted like canned marinara sauce where the tang was too overpowering. I ended up having to pour mounds of pepper and parmaesan onto my dish just to neutralize the flavor to make it more edible. I was not impressed.
(1)
Kathryn M.
One of my best friend's is getting married in Evanston next summer. She and her fiance are in the process of auditioning possible rehersal dinner places, and Dave's Italian Kitchen was on the list. 6 of us arrived around 7 on a Saturday and didn't have to wait, which was great! The restaurant is downstairs, and a pretty comfy place to hang out. We all decided to have pizza. One awesome thing is they have whole wheat crust available, which makes me feel slightly better about stuffing my face with pizza. Well, it turns out I didn't need to worry about eating too much pizza, it was terrible. All three of our pizzas arrived at our table burnt, one of them was wrong, and they were just utterly tasteless. Now usually bad pizza is still somewhat good, but not here. Our waiter was nice, but not the best with keeping our drinks filled. Overall, we had a good time because we were with good friends, but I don't think this will be my friend's rehersal dinner spot.
(2)
Jordan Z.
The veal parmesan with meat sauce and think crust four cheese pizza is a great combination for a 2-3 people working late on a project. The veal is always excellent and the pizza isn't quit Union but damn good. Been eating here since they were on Davis St. A solid choice every time.
(4)
Sarah Beth B.
This is italian comfort food at its finest. It's not fancy at all, and my husband was super suspicious when I wanted to go and told him it was where we ate all the time in college, but he came around and we both were super pleased. Portions here are huge and delicious, and that kind of gloppy, saucy, cheesy Italian that tastes good when you kinda don't feel well or don't want to put much thought into it. They make my ideal eggplant parm, with layers of fried eggplant sandwiching herby ricotta. The fresh bread is delicious, the wine is CHEAP, and you'll certainly have plenty for lunch tomorrow. It's a win!
(4)
Sherry Y.
This place has a pretty homey atmosphere. It's dimly lit and pretty much your typical Italian restaurant. It's a family establishment. My friend raved about this place to me and I thought it was pretty decent. The service was fast and the portions were huge. I ordered the stuffed peppers and it was pretty good.
(4)
Steve B.
I went here Friday evening with my wife and we were greeted by a friendly hostess. We were brought stale bread by our waitress and I dipped it in their olive oil which certainly did not taste like olive oil. I had a meat calzone and my wife had spaghetti with calamari in it. The food was simply flavorless and executed very poorly. The employees were nice enough, but with as many restaurants as there are in Evanston, this should be one of the last places you go to.
(2)
Zee X.
Better than Olive Garden, but still not that great. Service is a bit slow, but the food comes out fresh and fast. If your going to come here for dinner, the Chicken Parm is the way to go - the same goes for anything else that's deep fried. If you're going to order pasta beware, the marinara sauce is very watered down and a bit tasteless. (Beware, your leftovers will leak) Will I come here again? Maybe, but that's only if I'm in the mood for something fried.
(3)
Ross C.
Delicious pasta although this time we went with the salmon pouched in wine and was very nice as well... The eggplant was delicious and healthy too. Now with temporarily BYOB is great too! We went across the street bought a nice french wine at a very reasonable price and enjoy a nice dinner.
(4)
Cristina P.
I really hated the food here. The pasta sauce is so bitter. The meatball was dry and flavorless and the chicken parm was so fried it might as well have been a burnt chicken tender. I came here starving and left most of my plate. I'm Seriously pissed the ratings are above 3. I hate eating out and having a bad meal. The service was very good but I won't be back.
(2)
Stephanie C.
Came here for the first time today before the dinner rush started. The restaurant is pretty homey, with lots of booths and tables. I don't think it's a very authentic place; everything on the menu was very Americanized Italian food. Nevertheless, I got the ravioli and my friend got the Chicken Florentine, and both were delicious. I was given 4 large ravioli for $10.50, with a choice of sauce (I chose meat at the server's recommendation). The ravioli was cooked well, with delicious filling, and I had enough to take home and make another meal out of. Service was pretty quick and friendly, and portions and prices are decent. Wish it was more authentic, but I will probably come back and try dessert next time as well! My only complaint is that there are TOO MANY CHOICES on the menu!
(4)
Mike S.
I love Dave's Italian Kitchen. Is it perfect? No, but if you are looking for a no nonsense unpretentious experience, you'll enjoy it. It's not gourmet food, but I love their Gorgonzola salad. I've never tried the pizza, but it seems popular. Their is a variety of pasta dishes that are quit good, if not earth shattering. So, to some it up, it's my go to Italian restaurant when I'm visiting Evanston.
(4)
Vic L.
Nothing fancy , just a great family restaurant, you can bring your own bottle of wine for a minimum cork fee. Great pizza , love their italian salad , side of meatballs is a must ( then use extra Sause from meatballs on your za). Just go , and if you have to wait it won't be long and proves it's worth it.
(5)
Ann Marie B.
My family loves Dave's Italian Kitchen. It's our go-to for family celebrations. Cannot beat the prices and the staff are so accommodating to our kids. My menu favs: muscles, Italian salad, lasagna, chicken Marsala and pizza. Kids love the bread too. Cheap, but good wine is such a plus too. And, to the server tonight who quickly brought me a fresh salad as my leftovers fell all over the floor. It was my fault, yet I appreciate you all. Thank you!
(5)
Bob R.
Great food at a great price! Kid friendly! The place seemed to be filled with locals. A wonderful place to eat!
(4)
Hombre S.
Nice ambience, even if you're in the basement. Very extensive menu-pasta, pizza, calzones, risotto. From there it's downhill. The food is REALLY bad. Spinach salad=a bag of spinach witha couple of onion slices. Calzone=bland and tasteless. Same for ravioli. Same for homemade bread. Everything we had at our table was bland and boring. Would not ever go here again. Nice ambience though.
(2)
Ann K.
Based on what I ordered (Fettuccine Alfredo), I would not recommend this place. For around $10, I received a plate of extremely creamy noodles alfredo noodles. To my surprise, there were no added toppings in the noodles. Personally, it didn't suit me very well. It tasted very unhealthy and had no flavor. Halfway through the dish, I got sick of it and handed it over to my friend to finish it off. You may have a better experience ordering something else.
(2)
Elizabeth D.
Ample portions of classic Italian-American cuisine. If you've ever been to a restaurant with red-and-white checked plastic tablecloths, you know what to expect, and you certainly won't be disappointed.
(3)
Christopher R.
Dave's is my go-to restaurant in Evanston for delivery as the quality of their food and service is superior to all peers. The thin crust pizza crust is amazing and this is by far the best thin crust pizza you can find in Evanston. I recommend ordering their Chicken Parmesan with a pink (rosea) sauce and angel hair pasta (yes, they let you substitute the pasta you prefer!). If you like excellent service, huge portions and high quality - look no further.
(5)
Simone T.
This review applies to delivery only, not dine in. Ordered and promptly got a thin crust pepperoni pizza and an order of linguini with white clam sauce. The verdict? Fantastic. Great NY style pizza, incredibly delicious crust, sauce, cheese & meat. The linguini & clam sauce was, literally, OVERFLOWING with a VERY welcomed and generous serving of clams & was seasoned perfectly. I haven't eaten pasta w/clams this delicious in YEARS, and this is a favorite dish for me. Dave's, you've ruined me, in the best way possible!
(5)
Brandon B.
This place is very mediocre Italian food. Edible but very meh. The location is in a basement, so the place seems a little dark. This place is fine if you are close and want Italian food, but I would not call it a must visit destination.
(3)
Jane W.
Third time's a charm. Came here rather impulsively just to give this place another chance (first two experiences - food wise - was a definite 1 star). Ordered garlic scallops with fettucine ($16.95), and I liked it. Generous portions of scallops (8 BIG scallops, instead of the tiny pathetic ones restaurants usually like to give), and the sauce was a nice balance between flavorful and not too oily/salty. Bread they give out at the beginning is decent. Not flavorful, but comes out warm and the consistency is nice and chewy. Also shared a meatball a la carte and it was decent as well.
(3)
Diana H.
Everyone knows the food at Dave's is delicious, so I'd like to take the time to write about the wine list. I own a local wine shop and know how much everything costs, and restaurant mark-ups are usually at about 300% more than the wholesale cost. Dave's wine list is not only varied, eclectic and supremely curated, he also charges hardly any mark-up at all. Maybe 100%, which gets you a great night out with really, really good wine at (almost) retail prices. Usually the wine/booze list is where restaurants make their money. I suspect Dave is more interested in giving his customers a really great bottle of wine (which is a passion of his) at way less than the going rate to both share the love and augment the overall experience. But ours is not to ask questions. Go to Dave's and make sure you ask for the wine list and order liberally. Either pocket the savings, or pay it forward in the form of tips for the excellent and attentive waitstaff.
(5)
Cat D.
Dave's Italian Kitchen is a standard italian restaurant with a super homey feel and amazing price options! Probably one of the better Italian restaurants in evanston, and definitely better than the chain ones. Though the food could do with a bit more seasoning, but all in all, I was satisfied! The homey ambience, the friendly service, the comfy food, and a reasonable price, all in all, Dave's Italian Kitchen is definitely a place I'll be frequenting from now on!
(4)
Tyson T.
We were looking for a new place to try out and saw all the positive reviews so we decided to stop in. We almost didn't as the outside looked a bit run down compared to some of the newer restaurants. Plus the neon open sign was also a little questionable as I felt like we were entering a strip club as opposed to a restaurant. However, I couldn't be happier that we gave this place a chance. The actual restaurant, which is downstairs, was quite spacious and had a ton of seating. The menu was really diverse with a ton of selection and they had a nice wine list. Prices were amazing and this place actually reminded me of Leona's before they sold out to new ownership. I had a very tasty lasagna dish, which was a nice combo of meat and cheese. Appetizers were all excellent and the bread/oil was delicious. Will definitely return as the Italian restaurants in my neighborhood are 3 times more expensive with food nowhere near as good.
(5)
Ed B.
raveling for business and restaurant was recommended by a co-worker that lives in the area. Located in a basement, nicely decorated and offers booth and table seating. A loaf of nice crusty Italian bread was provided while I reviewed the menu. I ordered a dinner salad which consists of lettuce, lots of shredded carrots and pepperchinis limited ingredients but listed that way on the menu so no surprise. Italian dressing was fantastic. For the meal I ordered lasagna with meat sauce that arrived nice and hot covered in cheese. Meat sauce was loaded with meat and all was very tasty. Nothing fancy but good food and good service, definitely worth giving it a try. They also offer take-out.
(3)
Amy W.
I have been going to Dave's since I was about 12 years old--more than 30 years! Yikes! Anyway, I love this place! Great food, excellent wine selection, fabulous atmosphere. Service is always great. The fresh-baked bread is awesome. The chocolate mousse is a MUST.
(5)
Sarah S.
I absolutely LOVE Dave's Italian Kitchen!! Their eggplant parm is amazing. The only complaint that I have is the long wait between when you order and when you actually get your food. I usually fill up on bread, and have to take some of my food home with me. I actually don't mind this because I love leftovers. But the quality of the food definitely outweighs the time it took to get it!! Their raspberry Italian soda is also amazing!!!
(4)
Elaine M.
We have loved Dave's for years. I can't believe I never wrote them a Yelp review! We always start with the large Italian dinner salad with the homemade thousand island dressing to share. With the fresh bread, olive oil, and parmesan cheese, that could be a meal in itself! No matter how full we might get, we can't pass up the awesome extra thin crust pizza, calzones and pastas. Our favorite pasta is spaghetti carbonara with mushrooms. Carbonara doesn't usually come with mushrooms, but we like to balance out the salty goodness of the bacon. We never have leftover carbonara. The lasagna is very good also. My son asked to celebrate his 10th birthday here. Staff was very accommodating and attentive. They put us in the back room so we didn't feel like we had to whisper during the party. I figured out why there aren't very many photos of Dave's. As soon as you can smell your food, everyone forgets all about taking pictures and just start digging in! I have yet to get a picture of the carbonara. I'll just have to order it again... :)
(5)
Rachel B.
Mediocre Italian food. I don't think there are a ton of options for good Italian in the area but I'd still rather not eat here. The best part of my meal was the cheap wine
(3)
Samantha M.
This is my second time eating at Dave's Italian Kitchen, and both times I've been pleasantly surprised. The food has always been solid. It's not the fanciest pasta in the world, but you get huge servings (enough for 2-3 meals) which is perfect for busy college students. You can come here once for a meal with friends, then enjoy left overs the next day! Considering the amount of food you get, this place is an absolute steal. Aside from the food, I've always experienced excellent service at Dave's. The first time I visited, I was a bit overwhelmed by all the pasta and noodle choices/combinations. The server at the time was incredibly helpful, friendly, and helped us make some pasta + noodle combinations. The second time, the server was really attentive even though the restaurant was extremely busy, and did a great job checking in with us throughout the meal.
(4)
Steve A.
Dave's may have the best wine list in Evanston. It's certainly the best priced wine list. The selections are well thought out, good quality, and priced only a bit above retail. Weirdly, the best section of the list is Australian, where there are a number of old gems. Food-wise, our results were good but not amazing. I really liked the Ceasar salad, and the bread was great. I was less enthusiastic about the house made pasta, which seemed heavy and overcooked. The small calzone was huge and tasty, although next time I'll make sure to get one with ricotta cheese in it. We didn't sample the pizza, but it looked very good. The entrance is weird, with steps leading down to an industrial cubicle and no signs indicating where the restaurant is. But this makes it a delightful surprise to open the door onto a cheerful, bustling, and surprisingly large space. Service was very friendly and attentive. We'll definitely return for another crack at that wine list.
(4)
Sharon C.
A little more than 3 stars, but less than 4, so... I was here for dinner with my friend, and I was totally shocked by how awesome this restaurant looked. I don't know why I'd never eaten here before, but it is much more impressive on the inside: you go down some stairs and through unmarked doors, and then it's like your transported to a whole different world. They don't seat you until your entire party arrives, which I like, except when it's my friends that are late, and not the people in front of me in line. We were seated relatively quickly, and given a bowl of bread. You do have to ask for butter for the bread, but our server brought it over quickly. I ordered the #3 small calzone (pepperoni and sausage), and my friend ordered angel hair pasta with white clam sauce, which she said she had last time she was there and was really craving. The food was a little slow to arrive - we finished our bread basket and actually asked for another - but the portions were surprisingly big. I will say that the calzone was a little more doughy than I thought it should have been, and I thought I could have done with a little bit of a better filling-to-wrapping ratio. However, the service was fantastic and they never rushed us, even though we stayed at our table for at least another thirty minutes after paying for our meal. Overall: I'm not a huge pasta person and I think that's what you're supposed to get here, so I don't know that I'd go back, but it was definitely a good experience!
(3)
Miles D.
We've eaten here MANY times and have always enjoyed the food. I typically get the stuffed zucchini and my wife gets the pasta with cheese, garlic and mushrooms. Yummy! And the Italian salad for 2 is great. We especially enjoy the creamy garlic dressing. SO GOOD!!! One time I ordered pasta with a mustard cream sauce. WAY too much for me...Sauce was too sweet and just too much... Had my second mediocre meal there last night...We tried the pizza and did not care for it at all... Crust not good...tasted burned and my wife commented that it "tastes like a frozen pizza." We've always seen folks eating pizza here, but we will not order it again. I'll stick with the stuffed zucchini and the Italian salad...Those are yummy!
(3)
Ki-tae P.
Cheese thin Pizza was salty but tasty once u got used to the salt. Bit greasy but not too much. If anything it indicates that they used high quality cheese. Italian salad with homemade dressing was amazing. Get the large. Share with everyone. Spaghetti with meat sauce and meatball was good. Seasoned perfectly and juicy. And all this for around 30 bucks. Food enough for 4 maybe 5 people. 5/5 would definitely come again. Very big wine list
(5)
Rowena L.
I'm sooo late on this review, but wanted to get it in anyways. I've always loved the hearty, large portions of delicious homemade goodness and the overall family-friendly atmosphere here. Really great spot for groups too.
(4)
Sahil A.
I'm so happy I finally came to this place. It is exactly my friend described, a red & white table cloth Italian place that will leave you happy and stuffed. I recently went with three friends and we all loved it. The wine menu is awesome...I'm pretty sure you can buy the same bottle of wine there for less than you could at Whole Foods across the street... We ordered the garlic bread covered in blue cheese and tomatoes to start. It was phenomenal, but definitely unnecessary as a meal is more than enough to fill you up. I had the pasta diavola with shrimp, which was everything I wanted it to be. My friends all had a calzone and seemed equally happy. Definitely go to Dave's.
(4)
Stephen A.
Went for the first time a few days ago. It was great. Really cozy atmosphere. Affordable prices is what they advertise and it's true. Service was great. Our server was Sheila, and she was so attentive and personable. The food is exceptional. I had the small spinach salad, which was great. Bigger than I expected but the tangy dressing was delicious. The stuffed green peppers were awesome. I got one stuffed with meat and one stuffed with ricotta and mushrooms. The mushrooms were beyond delicious. My friend got the lasagna, which she liked. They do give you a lot of sauce with the entrees even without pasta. For dessert we had tiramisu. I'd recommend it. Between the two of us, dinner was $29.
(4)
Julia G.
Dave's is a staple of the Evanston restaurant scene. I've been here dozens of times, for birthday parties or a quick bite to eat. It's great for all occasions-- families, dinner with friends, date night. The restaurant is underground and has cozy booths and big tables for parties of all sizes. The food is what I imagine my Italian grandmother would cook-- heaping piles of spaghetti in meaty sauce and stuffed calzones bigger than your face. The portions are large, especially for the prices. The recipes are simple, but the food is delicious and comforting. I recommend the meatball sub. The meatballs are juicy, the cheese is metly, and the bread is crispy. But be warned this lone sandwich can feed 2+ people easily. So don't go finishing it in one sitting.
(4)
Nathan L.
3.5 stars. Food is pretty mediocre. I ordered a chicken Alfredo and the sauce was kind of bland. I've had much better Italian food elsewhere so I don't think I'm going to go back anytime soon.
(3)
Ava K.
Lasagna Con Amore was great. The 2nd time I went I got Eggplant Parmesan, which was still decent but just not as good. Both times I could not finish the meal and had enough left for a 2nd. But I also don't have a huge appetite. Good bang for my buck Fun interior with lots of signed bottles. Got our food quickly both times
(4)
Angie M.
This place is super cute. My boyf decided to surprise me with a Sunday night dinner date at Dave's. He was like, "I wanted to take you somewhere cute, home and cozy." Dave's succeeded. Dave's isn't reinventing the wheel. They serve up all the traditional, old school Italian faves. Red sauce. Meat sauce. Homemade pastas. You get the idea. My baked ziti with meat sauce was an absolute comfort food dream. Creative? Not so much. But to this Pisan it was heaven. Just like Mom used to make. Mmmmhmmm. I especially love this venue. It's in the basement of a downtown Evanston building. The table cloths are checkered. The walls are wood paneled. There are deep, private booths with high backs so you can make your own little intimate table for two (or more). It's so cheesy yet so comforting. Absolute perfection when looking for a really low-key location. The prices are cheap. The food is comfort at it's very best. The basement location makes for a sweet little old-school spot. I'm in love.
(4)
Tom M.
Had a crazy good experience eating at Dave's. Plentiful, delicious food at reasonable prices. The servers were attentive and quick. The restaurant was relatively busy but we never had trouble finding our waiter and getting what we needed. I was a regular at Dave's Italian Kitchen in the 1980's when it was in its former location. After a 20 year absence on my part, Dave's remains a fantastic place.
(5)
V. J.
I really liked going here. The food is great. However, last time I was there, the waitress was super creepy with an excessively "friendly" affect that only capitalism can produce. It was a bizarre and uncomfortable experience. Then there's the screaming children (with food scattered across the floor around them...) I enjoy cooking at home, so I only go out when I'd like to spend time with someone in a pleasant atmosphere with good food, drinks, and an intimate conversation. Not anxiety. I don't recommend taking a date here.
(3)
Brad D.
This place is great if you are looking for a casual VERY reasonably priced homemade Italian meal. The pasta is excellent. The wine by the bottle is inexpensive but excellent. Large salads are amazing and serve 2-4. My wife and I ordered a bottle of wine, calamari app, large salad and split a homemade pasta dish and were stuffed. No room for the homemade tiramisu. Would definitely come back again if visiting Evanston.
(5)
Sarah G.
This is my all-time favorite restaurant. I grew up in Evanston, and every time I come to town I make sure to come here. My parents have been going to Dave's since the 70s. It's reliably delicious, charming, affordable, and friendly. Although everything on the menu is good, the lasagne con amore is my go-to. And I never leave without eating the chocolate mousse. Vegetarian and gluten-free friendly!
(5)
Kathleen C.
How have I NOT reviewed Dave's? The spot that I've probably been to 100 times? I can't believe it - my only excuse can be that I started eating here loooooooong before I started yelping. First of all, Dave's is a dive...not in the sense of dirty, dungy spots or cranky hosts, but in the "you can get a really great meal for high value in the basement of an office building" kind of way. Anyone who has seen the line for dinner on a Friday can also attest that this spot is popular! I've been to countless dinners here, parties, and have ordered pizza to go. My favorite - plain old cheese - I'm not sure why - it just screams DAVE'S to me. My dad usually get a calzone and if Mom is with us, we have salad as well. Usually no dessert because by the time we've finished all of that, they have to roll us out of the restaurant on a dolly. Dave's staff is really friendly and many of them have been there for what seems like forever. Wine pours are generous and inexpensive (though what happened to serving wine in huge tumblers??). The food is fresh, pizza sauce is not too sweet and everything is made fresh and hot and delicious. Though I no longer live in Evanston, I still get to Dave's, so that shows how much I love it. Definitely worth a trip for a no frills Italian dinner that you'll be smiling about when you're done.
(5)
Christine B.
After 3.5 years living in Evanston I FINALLY gave it a try! Quality, made from scratch food. I got the homemade ziti with meat sauce, mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes. It came with bread-- clearly it was homemade and delicious! Reminds me of Romanian bread. The food overall was hearty and u could feel, cooked with love. I have been missing out and am excited to return. :)
(5)
Ben K.
I always want to like Dave's, but I just leave underwhelmed by the food each time I come here. It's well priced though and I like the atmosphere.
(2)
Jeff H.
If you have kids or a large group, this is the Italian place to go to in Evanston. The food is standard Italian fare done well and the atmosphere is casual. I've heard their Chicken Parmigiana is one of the best in the area. For smaller groups or a more romantic setting though, I'd probably head over to Trattoria Demi. #goodforgroups
(4)
John C.
I have not been to the Kitchen in years, I probably won't be there ever again. I never have enjoyed eating in a basement. The place is noisy and has the atmosphere of a Texas road house. The only thing you will find Italian is the name on the door. Everything was phoned in with five scoops of heavy tomato sauce poured over everything. There is no effort taken for presentation. There are three pathetic starters. If you prefer mid-west Americanized Italian food then this is your place.
(2)
Valerie W.
With 197 reviews, what can I really say about Dave's that hasn't already been said? A brief retelling of my experience? Sure thing! Overall, I went into Dave's Italian Kitchen with nothing but the expectation of a good plate of pasta. It was recommended by a vegetarian friend of mine as a reasonably priced place to get a good Italian dinner for both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. We arrived and were seated right away. Dave's is in the basement of the building, but that does not take away from the ambience. It is warm and inviting, with red/white checkered tablecloths, plenty of empty wine bottles lining the walls, and a general "old world Italian" feel. I originally felt a bit rushed to order by our server, but he cooled his britches after we politely asked for a few extra minutes. The setup for pasta at Dave's is pretty simple. You have six or seven different types of noodles to choose from (including a few homemade options), and several different sauces/combos (marinara, bolognese, diavolo, carbonara, alfredo, rose, aglio oglio, clam sauce, you name it.) Put your favorite pasta and sauce combo together, and boom, you've got dinner. All for around $10 or less. I ordered the homemade spinach rotini with alfredo sauce. I was tempted to add cremini mushrooms to my dish for an additional $0.95, but opted for a dinner salad with creamy garlic dressing on the side instead. Dinner salad: standard. Lettuce, shredded carrot, pepperoncini. A large size for $2.95 Creamy garlic dressing: Very THICK, very powerful. Definitely homemade, with a LOT of raw garlic. I was still breathing fire after several pieces of gum. I spent a lot of the rest of the night apologizing profusely to those around me. Homemade spinach rotini w/Alfredo: Totally stole the show! This was so.freaking.good. I have to order homemade noodles when I see them, it makes all the difference in the world. The pasta was cooked to a perfect al-dente, the portion was huge, and it was not over-sauced. I did add a little black pepper and cheese to mine, but I like it to be very peppery. I'm still bummed that I left the leftovers in my boyfriend's fridge and they've probably been gobbled up by now. I am already plotting my subsequent return visits to Dave's.
(5)
Jo B.
I've been here twice and am still underwhelmed. The prices are comparable to other Italian restaurants, but only include your entree. Soup or salad (normally included with your meal at other places) are extra. If their food were good, this might be acceptable. Their food is bland and unsatisfying. Even their water tastes off. Go elsewhere for good Italian food.
(2)
Bethany A.
Came here with a group of friends (like a very large group) and while the service was good, the food didn't impress much. My chicken marsala was way too sweet and I thought there were too many mushrooms. My friend had the chicken florentine and complained that there wasn't enough cheese in the dish as well. However, the people who ordered pesto chicken were fairly happy with their choice (despite one of them thinking that the pesto was not very good). Tiramisu was a hit, as always!
(2)
Michelle M.
New to Evanston and had a very good dinner here last evening. Very nice people and the service was good. The wait was quite a bit longer than we were told but we enjoyed a drink before dinner. Pasta dishes were all delicious. My only disappointment was that there wasn't a single Italian wine offered by the glass. Not even a simple Chianti. Otherwise, we plan to go back.
(4)
Caitlin B.
Definitely not upscale, authentic Italian food, but good, solid Americanized renditions of Italian classes with decent service and good prices. I've tried a variety of their pasta dishes and salads. All are extremely large (you can easily eat half and take the other half home, even if you have a big appetite), and I've never had anything that was bad. They have a pretty extensive beer/wine list at very reasonable prices. If you're looking for a reasonably priced, sit-down dinner in downtown Evanston, you've found it.
(4)
David W.
My favourite inexpensive, fill yerself to the eye lids, pasta, salad, warm bread, vino, choco mousse, orgy. Big wait on weekends. We go for early dinner and movie around the corner. Dave,s is always the much better value. Not top top notch, wouldn't bring the Queen here for dinner, but still my favourite good, homemade, casual nosh in the area. Ask my wife!!
(4)
Chris L.
Dave's is a great place for dates and for bigger group dinners. I haven't tried everything here, but the pasta and garlic bread are really good. I highly recommend getting the garlic bread to share with your friends because it's so flavorful!
(4)
Cameron H.
My team suggested going to this place to carb up for our charity ride the following day. As for the location, not bad in Evanston. Very easy to get to. With there being 12 of us, we were put a few tables pushed together. Very comfortable. As for the dinner, it was ok. There wasn't anything special about the pasta or the sauce. Overall the experience was decent. Being there with friends made it more enjoyable. Not sure if I would go back.
(3)
Cherie W.
The BEST red gravy ever!! Have been going here for over 15 years because the food is authentic, delicious and well priced. We love the homemade ravioli with meatballs or Italian sausage, spaghetti bolognese or lasagna. Everything is outstanding but these are our favorites. The owners, Dave and Ellen, are beautiful people and treat their customers well.
(5)
Horace L.
Decent italian food at a reasonable price. I like the ravioli, and the marinara sauce is terrific. Their lasagne con amore is fantastically flavorful, and their salmon is lackluster.
(5)
Peter P.
Dave's has been a staple of Evanston for decades. As dozens of restaurants come and go, Dave's is still there. Good Italian food at very reasonable prices. Service is friendly and prompt. What more can you ask for? Wait times can be a bit excessive on weekends, so try and get here early. If you do find yourself having to wait, order a drink from their little bar that is conveniently located in the waiting area.
(4)
Mercy M.
Boy oh boy do I love Dave's! Situated in my college town, it is the perfect casual yet quality restaurant. My favorite items are their chicken parmesan, meatballs, and pan pizza. I always leave craving their HUGE chicken parmesan - two pieces of chicken breast with your choice of pasta. I'm a huge fan of fluffy, bready pizza (but not deep dish) and Dave's makes it just right in my opinion. I also love that you can pretty much customize any order. The service is good, despite being one of the busier restaurants in town. With Dave's reasonable prices and large portions, you really get the bang out of your buck here. Keep it that way, Dave, and you'll keep us broke college students coming back. Tips: they're only open for dinner; they only take reservations once you arrive; and there is no free parking in Downtown Evanston other than on Sundays so be prepared with quarters for the meters or a couple bucks for the parking garage around the corner. Just writing this review has made me hungry for Dave's, so if you're debating whether or not to go, GO.
(5)
Patrick M.
The chicken parm diavolo is very good. Love going to dave's.
(5)
Andy S.
It has been a loooooooooooooong time since I've been to Dave's Italian Kitchen and I was reminded quickly of the large portions. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan and they basically give you some pasta with your chicken instead of the other way around - 2 huge chicken breasts!!! Service is good here. Food quality was good though not outstanding. I think this is maybe a 3.5 star but will stick to 3 star until I am wowed more. Perhaps on my next visit. Prices are reasonable - anywhere from $10-$20 something depending on what you get but the Chicken Parm was $12 something and I had a meal the next day (and I can eat).
(3)
Josh S.
Love it. The food is very serviceable. Tastes great and the portions are huge. Definitely not fine dining, but it is fun, fast, not too expensive and tasty. I recommend the veal parm. Good veal and the pasta is solid as well.
(4)
Allen B.
It is with reluctance that I change my rating to a star less than before. It is amazing that there are people that work at Dave's that have been there for 35 years .... it speaks well for Dave's management.... The wait staff is amazing! The best I've experienced. The reason for the downgrade is the noise level, which is brutal when it is busy....please, more acoustic tiles or something! Also, the food tends to be on the salty side.
(3)
Jonathan M.
Great food with excellent service and ridiculously good prices! Get the 4 cheese spinach ravioli with the vodka ream sauce! ...doing forget to get a meatball on the side. There's also a parking lot a half block north, about a dollar an hour.
(5)
Bilal M.
place is awesome, has a great itilian atmosphere. good music good location, good customer service and of course good food! doesnt seem all that fancy at first till you get inside! dim lighting perfect for romancing that special Someone! :0D I will be back!!
(5)
Tian Y.
Dave's is hit and miss. The first time we went, it was maybe an hour before they were closing, and we were taken care of by a great server who made perfect suggestions based on what we told her. My bf told her he wanted a lot of meat, so she suggested lasagna with bolognese sauce - more meat than he could eat. I wanted something rich but not too heavy, and I got the scallop and shrimp in a cream sauce over fettuccini, which was just what I wanted. We also devoured a mussels marinara appetizer - flavorful sauce, well cooked mussels, yummmmm. Everything was flavorful and cooked well. We left stuffed and happy and had a great time! After that, I ordered delivery a couple of times, and sitting in a box probably made the food not as fresh, but I expect that getting delivery. Most of the time, the mussel appetizer was okay - sometimes the mussels were overcooked, but I'm not sure whether they died on the drive over or were cooked poorly. We tried a couple of the risottos, which were sometimes cooked perfectly and other times a bit bland and had slightly undercooked rice. Then we went on a Saturday night at around 7:30pm, right in the middle of dinner rush. We had to wait about 5 minutes for our table, which isn't so bad. But our overcooked mussels were in a watery bland sauce, the chicken in my chicken parmesan was waaaaay dry in a sauce that was too salty. My bf's big ravioli was just alright, but in a similarly salty sauce. Our waiter was inattentive, no one filled our waters on time, and I didn't even have silverware until I had to flag someone down after my entree was served. Everything was off about that night, and we were disappointed after the great experience we had last time we were here. I think in the future, I'll only stop by for late dinners and request our first server (whose name I just can't remember right now). The portions are reasonable for the price, and the food *can* be good, but don't go during the dinner rush or you might be disappointed.
(3)
Grant E.
I've gone to Dave's Italian Kitchen a few times. To begin with, the food is good, not great. My chicken Parmesan needed to be tenderized a little bit more, and it was dry. The portions are very large, especially when considering the great prices. The real reason I continue to come back, however, is the service. The servers love to engage the customer and help them to the best of their ability. I will be going back again.
(4)
William C.
Food was fast and really good with big portions. They have a few nice beers on tap and the wait was not long, A solid meal for the 4 of us and prices were fair. Nice place to take quests
(4)
Nema H.
Service is excellent. I love the ambiance as well, which captures that Italian hospitality. The wine is indeed cheap but fantastic. BUT....but....these guys can't bake bread to save their lives, both in their garlic bread and their Pizzas. It's heavy...but lifeless with no taste. I've also had bad impressions from their calzone. There isn't a shred of complexity in its taste. It was so freakin salty and the sauce was essentially nonexistent...like tomato sauce diluted with water. All in all...I will still give this place another shot. Am I not merciful?
I've been coming here for years. I don't come frequently, but I recently finished out a date day here and had a great experience! The service was pretty good. The atmosphere was mostly as I remember it. Not very quiet, but the casual nature of this place is one of the reasons I enjoy it. The sangria and the beer selection were both good. The food was fantastic and the portions were huge. We ate for multiple meals from it. The pricing is also completely reasonable, especially considering the portion size. We finished out the night with some Tiramisu. We took it home for an extra dollar, but the piece was so large it took three sittings for us to eat it and it was some of the best tiramisu I've had. The only reason this isn't a five star review is that the wait staff used to seem friendlier when I went years ago.
(4)
Lakoi M.
Horrible service, called at 8:05 pm to place an order for delivery, made sure person on the other side of the line got my address correct, Order arrived almost 2 hours late very soggy, burnt and wrong dressing and they asked for full price!!!!!!! Sorry no more dave's, talked to manager and offered 25 dollars of my order. Guess what buddy? They already charged me!!!!!
(1)
Chris P.
My wife and I have enjoyed coming to Dave's for years, and really enjoy the experience and the food. The people there are welcoming, friendly, calm and gracious, yet they visibly work very hard, and we almost always get a seat either straight away or within a few minutes of waiting. There's a very convenient & reasonably-priced parking structure located just around the corner. There's always been a nice friendly and happy 'buzz' in there on Friday nights, which somehow the acoustics allow without being intrusive. The service and experience is unpretentious, and efficient. Waiters leave a big jug of iced water and glasses on the table--none of the ridiculous & intrusive 'water refilling' nonsense you'll have to endure at most places. Similarly, with the food--the wait staff simply leave your dishes on the table, check you don't need anything else, and then let you get on and eat it without unwelcome hassle. I rarely buy wine in restaurants (usually terrible value for money), but the house wine glass/bottles seem quite nice to me and quite good value here, so I've indulged fairly often. It's not a 'fine dining' kinda place (been there, done that, and been disappointed almost all the time), but the food is good, honest, wholesome and fine to me--good-sized portions, and the prices are reasonable. The standard sauce is rich and tangy, which I like, and I've never found myself not wanting to take home and eat my leftovers. Hurrah for Dave's Italian Kitchen.
(4)
Natalie N.
FANTASTIC ITALIAN IN EVANSTON!!!!! This place is always 100%. Great food, great service, great atmosphere, great prices...we can't get enough. Enjoy!
(5)
Eugene W.
This restaurant is very nice. It has a comfortable and homey atmosphere in its underground location. The food is very good. The bread they set out as an appetizer is really good, and if you mix their olive oil with the parmesan cheese on the table, it makes a great spread for the bread. I ordered fettuccine pasta with carbonara sauce and chicken. They put a lot of cheese on the pasta. I love cheese, so that was a plus for me. The portion sizes here are great; I received a very hefty amount of food and wasn't even able to finish it all. I would definitely come back here, since it gives great value for poor college students looking for food.
(4)
Christine K.
I would never come here, again. Oh my goodness. I did not want to come here, but my friend wanted to grab dinner from Dave's. I feel as though all the dishes served are drenched in excessive fat and oil, which is anything but pleasant. Moreover, the service is terrible. I did not want to tip even 20%, but I did not allow my frustration get the best of me. I would recommend that you go to Trattoria if you want Italian in Evanston. It's a shame Gio closed down. However, if you have the means to travel to Chicago, then please enjoy real Italian food in the city.
(2)
Mike Z.
This is solid Italian food in Evanston. First off the prices are very reasonable and the food is great. Their home baked bread is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. There's parmesan and olive oil on the table for you to mix. We had the chicken parmesan which was good. Not the best I've ever had but a nice size serving and definitely worth ordering. Their calzones are amazing. I had the calzone with sausage and pepperoni and it was delicious. I got the small and it was easily big enough for 2 meals. The one down side is the caesar salad was worth forgetting. It looked as if the lettuce had been sitting in water and immediately put into the bowl. There wasn't enough dressing and no parmesan on top. Crouton were good but overall a big disappointment with the salad. We didn't drink any wine but they have very reasonable prices for glasses and bottles and a very big selection. I would definitely recommend going and we will be going back for sure. I just won't order the caesar.
(4)
Helen S.
I came here on a weekday night with my research group and some professors for a celebratory meal. I called ahead to make a reservations and there were no problems. We had a large group of 10 people and they were able to accommodate us all quite nicely. I've never been inside Dave's but I've seen it from across the street since I visit Whole Foods quite a bit, and I didn't expect it to be so spacious inside. I ordered the risotto with broccoli, garlic, and chicken, and it was delicious, probably one of the best risottos I've ever had. The portions were huge but I ate the whole thing (and felt a little guilty afterwards) because it was so good and i was pretty hungry. I also tried a bite of my friend's chicken masala which was fantastic too. We also split the tiramisu and chocolate mousse, and both desserts were very solid. Overall, cute place, great atmosphere, would return. P.S. I like how the menu says: 2012 ELECTIONS. MAYANS. OLYMPICS. DAVE'S ITALIAN KITCHEN TURNS FORTY
(4)
Marcee W.
Had some concerns over mixed reviews on Yelp and from people I know, but I was not disappointed at all! Service was good and food was delicious. I had the Chicken Marsala which was served in a bowl -- strips of chicken, mushrooms, and rotini pasta in Marsala wine sauce -- yummy! Friends enjoyed spinach lasagna (excellent) and balsamic chicken which was also served cut up in a bowl with lots of vegetables (equally yummy). We topped it off with homemade tiramisu and chocolate mousse. Easy street parking and no meters on a Sunday night! Less than $20 per person. I'll definitely be back!!!
(4)
Darren F.
feeling for Italian and this was the closest spot to us when we were around that area.. ordered chicken parmesan fettuccini with pink sauce (alfredo and spaghetti mixed together) , garlic bread, and mussels.. thanks to the 2 nice friendly waiter and waitress there.. i believe their names was Anthony and Anna? who recommended us what was good there... also they were really attentive on our drinks.. the chicken parmesan fettuccini with pink sauce was awesome! chicken was nice and juicy and the combination of sauce made it even better! the garlic bread was good but prepare to have that garlic stick in your mouth for hours! the mussels was ok.. had better..
(3)
Steve A.
Been here several times, but first review. I really want to like this place...nice divey, homey feel, very friendly and attentive waitstaff, some decent bread to start the meal, and reasonable prices. The food however (which is the main reason to dine out) leaves much to be desired. My minestrone soup tasted burnt, the sausage in the calzone didn't taste right, the lasagna was bland, and the water-logged baked ziti seemed like it was thrown together by a grade-school culinary class. I just do not understand the popularity of this place.
(2)
Janet K.
I do enjoy coming here - the staff seems to enjoy working here and they're super-friendly toward our toddler son. Our waitress even offered him a tub full of toys to play with, very thoughtful! The Italian salad is fresh and crunchy, the house and red wine vinaigrette's add a ton of flavor. I would definitely order their fresh pastas - the homemade ziti with meat sauce is wonderful and comforting. The marsala and vesuvio dishes are MUCH too sweet. I won't order those again. Good wine and beer selections and great prices all around. A perfect place for an easy night out with friends and family!
(4)
Emily C.
I love Dave's! The food is delicious, I've never had anything here that wasn't great, and their prices are some of the most reasonable around. It is definitely a family-friendly style restaurant, so it's not unlikely that you'll end up sitting at a table next to some boisterous kids while you're here (fair warning - this is probably not a 1st date type of place). The atmosphere is quant and comfy. Really, great food and great prices!
(5)
Natalie B.
I'm pretty harsh when it comes to reviews and heard to please but Dave's manged to make me really happy tonight. Fine dining it isnt, but its super family friendly and a great place for a casual dinner. I called at 2:30 today to make a 5pm reservation for 9 (we had 5 kids with us, so we wanted early and didnt want to wait). Normally they only take reservations but made an exception. When we got there at 5:10 it was already pretty busy. Our waiter was awesome--appeared right away to drop off lots of bread and get me, my husband and our friends a drink (much needed-5 kids all started to complain 5 minutes in) and recommended a fabulous glass of wine called "bitch". I appreciated that he referred to it as the "b" word because my kids repeat EVERYTHING. Pour was generous but not too big-a perfect size. We ordered quickly and when the kids pizza took a while to come out the waiter apologized profusely and kept giving updates. The pizza was pretty good (no Marco Roma, but still). I ordered the New Salmon and it needed salt. Dave's cooks really healthy, which is great, but sometimes I need a little more kick to my food. Honestly I think the food is only average but everything else just makes this place a winner. Its pretty cheap too-I think it worked out to be about $11/person and that was with drinks and plenty of food (my kids might be little but they can eat-three toddlers shared a medium pizza without any leftovers). My kids made a huge mess, we took a long time to eat and yet no one batted an eye even though the wait was ridiculous when we left. Bottom line-go early or expect to wait but definitely go.
(4)
Danny P.
I'm only going as high as 2 stars because of Dave's longevity, the place's friendly (and family friendly) atmosphere and reasonable, tasty wines. The food, however is the problem. While reasonably priced, I found every dish (4 different ones) I tasted to be over salted and LOADED...OVERLOADED...with garlic. Come on, Dave, there's more to Italian cooking than garlic. Also, pasta was overcooked. Until tonight I hadn't been there for many years. With all the availability of good Italian, I can't say that I'll be back to Dave's.
(2)
Gfiddy F.
LOL
(3)
Cassie S.
Good food, large portions, reasonable prices and a community institution. What more can you want from a restaurant? Is it the best Italian in town, maybe not, but it certainly has the most character. (though it's "new" location does have a lot less character than the old one)(new is a relative term, they probably moved 10 years ago...) I enjoy that the crowd represents a true slice of Evanston - high schoolers on dates, groups of Northwestern students, young couples and families. Not a lot of places around here where that's really true.
(4)
ann s.
We had ordered takeout here years ago and were underwhelmed, so it took us a while to go sit down for a meal. I'm a convert. This is solid, old-fashioned Italian-American restaurant fare, the kind that used to be associated with red-checkered tablecloths and chianti bottles as decor. And it's pretty tasty. One of the things I found really charming was that the menu tells you things like how big the wine pour is, and roughly how big the salads are. I think it's their way of pointing out that they make an effort to offer value. This is also pretty obvious when your food arrives, because there's a lot of it. While my pasta dish didn't blow my socks off (it was more of a cream sauce than the traditional oily, clammy, winey recipes), I liked it. I'm not sure how a purist might feel about the linguini with white clam sauce being paired with spaghetti instead of linguini, but it was okay with me. I appreciated the high garlic content. I'm thinking part of the charm is also the space itself. Like the food, there's nothing terribly fancy or creative, but it's warm and comfortable. No basket-wrapped chianti bottles made into candles--instead, the restaurant is lined with wine bottles inscribed by their imbibers. Our waitress was excellent, and the bill wasn't painful.
(4)
Katie F.
Went here again last night after a long hiatus. We had to wait a while to get a table, but since it was a Friday night and we were in no hurry, no problem. The woman who seated us was kind of rude, and she was in such a hurry that she spilled some water from a pitcher onto my shoes while walking us to our table. However, our waiter was very polite, friendly, and helpful. I had the Lasagna Con Amore. It was pretty good! Much better than some of the other pasta dishes I've had at Dave's. Overall, a fine experience. Still not my favorite, but I'll probably come back.
(3)
Clement C.
Been here a few times back in high school and college, more recently took the wife here too. She loved it, huge portions, not too pricey. Italian-American style. Really nice location and friendly staff. Lots of college students come here since it's fairly close to Northwestern.
(4)
A F.
Went here a few weeks ago after a long day spent walking around Chicago, and had a great (gluten free dairy free) Italian meal to refuel our energy! This place is located in a cute suburb of Chicago, and has a warm and cozy feel to it. My boyfriend and I both ordered gluten free pizzas (they also offer gluten free pasta), and although the food was a little slow to come out, the food was really good. Our server was friendly and willing to help find out if foods were ok to eat with my food allergies. Prices were also very reasonable for the quality and portion of food you get. They must get good business, as it was packed on a Thursday night! Would definitely recommend this restaurant and eat there again!
(4)
Stephanie L.
I came here with a large group to celebrate a birthday. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate us. Unfortunately, that was probably the only thing they did right. It took about 30 minutes after being seated to even get menus. I understand we were a large group of around 11 people so I don't hold that against them. However, nothing can make up for bad dishes. I ordered the carbonara pasta, one of the more simple and classic pastas. To my dismay, it was heavily under seasoned (and my taste buds are generally on the blander side) and tasted pretty much like someone cracked a beaten egg over my pasta. Needless to say, there was no need for me to pack my leftovers. I filled up on bread dipped in olive oil/balsamic vinegar instead. The rest in my party were either just as if not more disappointed in their dishes as well as I heard in the general consensus.
(2)
Joan A.
This basement restaurant is a place I've become a regular at . It looks small from the front, but after you descend the stairs you'll find that it's actually got quite a bit of space. I am a fan of their homemade noodles and meatballs. The portions are typical for Italian, I usually take home a portion (which I don't mind!) Prices are average as well. I was, however, here recently and had the mussels appetizer and just wasn't a fan - the tomatoes were just much too acidic.
(3)
Rachel P.
Dave's Italian Kitchen was definitely a disappointment for me...The food was just abundant in quantity and completely lacking in quality and taste. While the service was good, the food was too lackluster for me to consider returning.
(2)
Gary C.
Over the course of the past 10+ years, I've visited Dave's plenty of times. I even remember the old school location and that tiny waiting area. Yep, it brings back so many memories. The best part? Those memories are written on a number of empty wine bottles: a Dave's tradition. Don't let this three-star rating fool you. It's more of a 3.5. For what it is, Dave's is a great time and a great deal, especially for the local high school or college student. For ages, literally years, I've ordered the chicken parmesan and never really branched out to anything else. Why? It's legit. It is served with rotini pasta, covered with your choice of marinara or meat sauce. But I will say that I've tasted a few other items on the menu, most recently the shrimp and scallops. To my, and my girlfriend's, surprise, the scallops were cooked very well. And the dish in general was delicious. The best deal on the menu, in my stomach's professional opinion, is the garlic bread. It's like $3 for a huge loaf of bread, spread with delicious butter, a generous portion of garlic, and the perfect amount of parsley. This is among the best garlic bread that I've had in my life. Oh, and be sure to save room for desserts. It'll complete your dining experience, and you'll leave hobbling up the stairs with a smile. Everything on the menu comes in a very large portion. It's decent to above-decent quality Italian food, but what makes Dave's special is the down-to-earth, home-style feel of the restaurant, food, and staff. Here's to another 10+ years, Dave's.
(3)
Keyser S.
I just finished eating and the tomato sauce and over cooked green peppers from the pizza are not playing nicely in my stomach; worse than hospital cafeteria food; bathroom was gross too.
(1)
Evan Thoreau H.
Mama mia, what a great-a deal for a tasty meat-a-ball! Seriously, Dave's Italian Kitchen probably isn't going to win any top awards for the high end Italian places, but who wants to have to get decked out in Louis Vitton just to go eat spaghetti anyway? Dave's is a great, laid back Italian joint with great food, large portions and reasonable prices. They have all the favorites that your Italian grandma made (or at least your imaginary one), including Spaghetti Bolognese, pasta carbonara, stuffed Manicotti (man-i-cote) and more. The atmosphere is cute, tucked down in the basement, which reminds me of an authentic little Italian joint - you know, the kind where REAL Italians like to go. Full bar and reasonably good wine list to choose from. Go, enjoy, mangia! And for once, your wallet will remain as full as your tummy will be after.
(3)
Christopher C.
food was good - my wife really enjoyed her carbonara and her meatball in marinara sauce. My seafood in a garlic / olive oil sauce was ok. Delivery service was prompt although they made a small mistake on the charge. Would recommend it. Good, inexpensive italian food.
(3)
Tom H.
I've been coming here since "here" was "over there" at Church & Benson under the L tracks. Dave's has been a comfy cozy constant over the years, as Evanston and the world has changed around it. Dave's is not a fine dining establishment or the place to find out what people in Rome or Florence are eating this year. It is, instead, solidly Italo-American grub, lots of pastas with red sauce and simple chicken or veal dishes. A nice selection of wines by the glass has always been a welcome feature. The loaf of bread served before the meal, with olive oil & grated Parmesan for dipping, is delicious, as is the creamy broccoli soup and the Italian salad--really more of an antipasto platter here. I think the chef situation is even improving, as my fusilli side to my Chicken Parmesan (two huge boneless chicken breasts with a breadcrumb coating and either marinara or meaty marinara sauce) was perfectly al dente. In the past, Dave's one failing used to be that the pasta tended to be overcooked and mushy, and, oddly watery, as if it wasn't properly drained. Tonight's pasta was near perfect. For me, a lot of the charm of this place is that it is so much a college town spot, with graffiti-covered empty wine bottles lined up along the walls, fairly cheap prices and big-to-enormous portions. A place to fall in love on a first date over a red checkered oil-cloth-covered table, or a place to discuss particle physics and the latest literary theory. And it is definitely Evanston, with young students in a booth next to a booth with 60-somethings, the men with their shoulder-length grey hair and tweedy clothes, the women in expensive free trade wool serapes. Dave's fulfills the same community function for Evanston that the Medici fills for the Hyde Park University of Chicago neighborhood. The hostess is charmingly casual, pointing you to a booth as if you were an old friend visiting her at her home. The college-aged server, Joshua, was friendly and helpful as could be. The bus fellow promptly picked up used dishes at just the right moments. Dave's is quirky, iconoclastic, friendly, comfy, homey and pleasant. It is not in any way shape or form a plastic chain restaurant with menus devised in Houston and servers in stamped-out polyester uniforms. And that's as it should be. My glass of Cabernet Sauvignon was $5.47, a huge dish of broccoli soup was $2.75 and my Chicken Parmesan with pasta side was $12.95. Add $2.06 for tax, my total came to $23.23 plus tip, fairly reasonable for what I got.
(4)
Dee H.
Just OK. The food is fine, but nothing great. It is good for kids.
(2)
G B.
Dave's is one of my favorite weeknight places to eat when I need a big meal to remind me of my Sicilian grandmother. I like to start with soup, salad, then steamed spinach and broccoli as my healthy antipasti. They make bread and pasta in house with a meat sauce and some meatballs at good prices. I like to bring leftovers and chocolate mousse home.
(5)
Jeff W.
I've been going to Dave's Italian Kitchen for 10+ years but there's been a steady decrease in quality, and an unfortunate increase in price. They still have decent Italian food, and you can tell everything is made from scratch, but there's something missing now that they used to have back in the day. Their bread is still phenomenal, the pasta is consistently al dente, but the sauces no longer have any zing. They leave you more with a 'meh' than a 'WOW'! Couple that with their increasing prices and this place is dropping off my list of regular joints in Evanston.
(3)
Adi S.
I've been to Dave's a handful of times, and I come here when I am looking for a solid, home-cooked style Italian meal around Evanston. Dave's is a great value for the prices and also accommodates large groups well. I would recommend getting the large stuffed raviolis.
(4)
Amy L.
If you come here, stick to the calzones. They are huge and full of toppings/flavor. I usually load myself up on the bread/olive oil and end up taking my dish home. The pastas taste pretty standard, I've had dishes with alfredo and marinara sauce.
(3)
Sofia J.
Good, classic Italian fare: Chicken Marsuvio is tasty and I hear the lasagna is great!
(4)
David R.
After a bit of a stumble when I refused to provide my phone number, the adorable copper-haired hostess who took my order could not have been sweeter. But as far as the product, I'm going to have to downgrade them slightly on the calzone list. It's decent but not great. First of all, in terms of volume, the "large" amounts to the equivalent of about two slices of pan-style pizza. It's a lot of food, but for $14 I'd expect something thicker. Or conversely, keep the size but lower the price. The ingredients were good but I didn't care much for the crust. However, I will say that they do not make a calzone with a thick braid of crust around the perimeter, as is common. So that's a tradeoff in the value equation. One last item--they wrapped the thing in foil before putting it into the cardboard pizza box. Thus, despite fifteen minutes in my car and ten minutes walking through sub-30 temperatures, it was still hot when it hit my plate at home. Nice touch on the foil.
(3)
Erin P.
nom nom - the food was awesome, reasonably priced, and big portions (to enjoy leftovers the next day for lunch). Plus, you can get a bottle of wine for under $20. Score!
(4)
A. H.
I love Italian food. I've been here twice and the food is terrible.
(1)
Andersenda A.
I used to like Dave's, but over the years their food has become tiresome. The management must have become tiresome too. To begin, the bread is dry and flavorless. The marinara sauce is overly sweet and tastes like it came from a can. The veal Marsala was the most disgusting thing I ever ordered in any restaurant! Seriously! The room is friendly and the people are nice. The food is inexpensive, but very average. If I were a broke college student, I would think this place was pretty okay. It's a good place to bring kids for an inexpensive pasta dish that they won't know is really not very good.
(2)
Danny H.
We,used to go there at least once a month,but I don't think we will be coming back. 4 adults and 2 kids( 5 and under 2), 5 meals were ordered.We got there before rush hour but yet the food took a while...Our waitress decided to include gratuity in the bill, when I asked about it at the front I was told that she should not have done it and that they will talk to her.I was not even offered to take gratuity off the bill...... During dinner I asked for a tiny cup of Alfredo sauce, waitress brought me the whole bowl of it and charged me for it ... Very bad experience, I had to swallow it because I did not want to ruin dinning experience for my family..... I used to love this place but there a few more good restaurants in the area that we'll be dinning out...
(1)
Matt R.
Most of the time, you'd expect cheap food to taste like crap. Really, when you eat at McDonalds, it's not for the steak tartar. However, sometimes places really do know how to make a great meal and not break the bank. Dave's is that place. It's a very kitchsy italian place, which is oddly underground. I'm sure that saves on a ton of money, but definitely makes the place unique. I have no idea what the upstairs is. It's all classic italian food and very very vegetarian friendly (bonus for the girlfriend). They recently added risotto with garlic and broccoli for like $8. Really, you get huge portions here really cheap. However, that doesn't do justice to that it's actually good food. My girlfriend and I had an appetizer, 2 sides, and 2 dinners for $24. Yes, $24. That's amazing for a dinner, especially in Evanston. The garlic bread with mozzarella on top is full of lovely melted baked mozzarella. Before you get started though, you have the good ole bread oil and parmesan cheese combination. I could make an entire meal out of that alone, but I digress. If you love garlic, that garlic risotto might still be more garlic than you've ever wanted. I think they may have used an entire head in the risotto. It was still good, as I love that kind of thing. Girlfriend had the stuffed baked zucchini. Put that phrase in your head for a second and ask if that doesn't sound freakin awesome on it's own. Oh, and this place is packed. Did I mention wines were friggin cheap too? Like $20 a bottle. I'm sold. I'm going to go become a big fat italian if Dave's gives me the chance.
(5)
Little T.
Haven't even received our food yet, but the woman who just took our order over the phone was the nicest, most pleasant person I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with. Really. If you're having a bad day, call Dave's and order food. GREAT hire.
(5)
Charity M.
Overall good experience. The waiter was a bit needy, he came by way to much, either he was new or nervous. Either way it was a week night early dinner, chill out bro. This restaurant is located in a basement, no windows or natural light. Oh did I mention the pop music coming out of the speakers, fine by me, but maybe not to the senior citizens that were siting across from me as I sang along to the Backstreet Boys.
(3)
Mrs. K.
Dave's Italian Kitchen caught my eye immediately. The red neon sign reminded me of this little hotdog stand near Wrigleyville, by our old apartment. It looks tiny from the curb, but seemed ideal for to-go orders, which is what my boyfriend and I wanted at the time. So we pulled up and realized the restaurant was downstairs. And it was much bigger than it looked from the street! It was charming and casual, with red-checked tablecloths and wine bottles lining the booths. Patrons had written tiny phrases and words on the wine labels, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. The festively lit dining room has a variety of art pieces hanging, allowing for interesting conversation over dinner. The woman at the register took our to-go order and we asked for some beer while we waited. She squinted her eyes and hesitated. "The only thing is...Dave's here," she said. We sat down at a table to order to beer, due to some liquor licensing laws. We were happy to oblige since the dining room was warm and happy. (The waitress recommended Two-Hearted for me, which was delicious.) The owner was across the room from us, enjoying some food and conversation. He appeared laid back and relaxed. If a restaurant owner is dining at his own place, that has to be a good sign, I thought. Although I would have liked it a bit less oily, the Pesto Spaghetti was excellent and the extra meatball my boyfriend ordered was massive. The typical Italian food combined with this place's attitude made me feel like I was in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood. I was reassured that Evanston maybe isn't all that bad.
(4)
Melissa F.
There is only one way I can review this flavorless restaurant, and it's by quoting The Office's Andy Bernard: "I guess I don't have what it takes to be a film critic. I could be a food critic. These muffins taste ... bad. Or maybe an art critic. That painting is ... bad." This food is bad.
(1)
Q C.
We had the ravioli and the chicken parmesan. Both were good, service was fast too.
(3)
Meatdowntown C.
Excellent family place. Great food, absolutely fine wines reasonably priced. It is hard to get a bad meal at Dave's and they have options for many different palates. It feel like a family restaurant but you could also arguew that could work for dating (with great wine), corporate hang out, etc. The Diablo sauce is incredible and the gorgonzola sauce as well. The only questionable dish is the risotto which sound very healthy on the menu but it is quite dry and bland (just skip it).
(4)
Jade T.
4.5 Stars I don't believe in paying for more than $12 for pasta. In every quick and easy cookbook, there are pasta recipes. Pasta is almost as simple as boiling water and adding sauce. That being said, I rarely dine at Italian restaurants. I've been wanting to try Dave's since I moved to Evanston. The menu is extensive and the prices are extremely affordable. However, they are only open for dinner and for some reason, I seldomly eat out for dinner. Knowing I was free on a Saturday night, I tried making reservations. None accepted for parties under 10. Wow. I took a gamble and arrived shortly before 6pm, just before the insane dinner rush. I've never seen such long wait lines at an Evanstonian restaurant* (besides at Tapas Barcelona), so plan accordingly on weekends. There is a bar near the entrance if you care for a drink during the wait. Dave's Italian Kitchen is a wonderful place for anyone from children to starving artists and gluttons. I was blown away by the portions (see photos). The Spinach Salad, priced inexpensively at $3.75 was large enough to feed four people. Yes, you read that right. FOUR people. The wine list features many affordable bottles for under $25. Wines available by the glass are limited, but they are generous with the wine pour. Free bread is always nice for the (extra) carb-hungry among us. Drizzle olive oil onto a plate and mixed in some hand-grated romano cheese and pepper flakes and you have a time-consuming appetizer. Italian food is normally vegetarian friendly. Dave's Italian Kitchen is no exception. The minestrone has vegetarian stock and nearly everything can be made meatless. In fact, a majority of their pasta dishes are vegetarian. Vegans will have some difficulty finding cheeseless dishes though, but that's no surprise. The food is very good. Then again, it's hard to mess up pasta. At the worst, pasta can be undercooked and the sauces be bland. (One must be really, really terrible at cooking to commit such offenses.) This is not the case at Dave's. The food is consistent. The marinara sauce is delicious: well-seasoned, with the right balance of sweet and tangy. If their sauce comes from cans, I want to know the manufacturer! The cream sauces are thick and not too rich. The desserts are simple, but scrumptious. For $2.50, get yourself the chocolate mousse. It is nothing special, but chocolate lovers will be pleased. The portion doesn't seem like much at first, but the chocolate is thick and rich. Enjoy it with a friend if you can. Dave's Italian Kitchen offers no-thrills Italian (albeit Americanized but it's one of those cuisines that I don't mind being unauthentic!) in a casual family-friendly setting. There are old wine bottles along the walls which you can write your name or initials on! The prices are so reasonable. If you want fancy schmancy Italian in fancy schmancy atmosphere, go to Bravo! I will surely return to Dave's for a cheap, satisfying spaghetti fix... for a few bucks more than Noodles & Co. * - I admit, I'm slightly exaggerating. The lines can be long, but not Cheesecake Factory in downtown Chicago on Mother's Day long.
(5)
Steve O.
Awesome pizza! Service was ok.
(5)
Judy H.
You can't go wrong with Dave's. There is something for everyone - vegans, kids, picky eaters. Always a good meal - pasta, pizza, or low/no-carb alternatives. Moderate prices and good size portions. Service is always excellent.
(4)
John M.
I have been going to Dave's for great food at very reasonable prices forever, starting when they were on Church St. While I have tried and loved most of the menu, the Italian salad, eggplant parmigiana with a side of sausage or meatball are my regulars. As an added bonus a bottle of a nice wine for less that $20 makes this one of my regular spots and the best value in the area. And thanks to the fantastic staff and especially Barb who always make the visit enjoyable. By the way, I have ordered and picked up for large parties --- fantastic job!!!
(5)
Steve J.
dRATS!!! Oh Wow! I came here with my girlfriend about six months ago. After hearing from a few people that it was a good place I found out as soon as I walked in that it was no more than your average, run of the mill type place. The service started slow and never really caught up. The food my girlfriend ordered had to be sent back. So we waited for a while longer. I'll get to the point. When we were leaving, I witnessed 2 enormous rodents (Rats!) running very close to the building right in front of the front doors! What concerns me is that this restaurant is actually located in the basement, down the stairs when you first walk in. Basements have a bad record for infestations and are hard to keep out. I won't be back.
(1)
Andrea R.
Hi Dave! It's me, Andrea! Remember me? Yeah, I know it's been a while and I look a little different these days, but picture me with the freshman 15 packed on, big sunglasses to cover up last night's hangover, and wearing my big purple North Face coat (over a 3/4 sleeved Michael Star shirt of course) to get through my very first winter. My college friends and I went to you when we wanted a nice dinner out, which made me chuckle last night after seeing the average price of an entree is just about $10. I gotta admit that I remember your food being pretty good, but when we ordered take out from you last night it wasn't quite like what I remembered. Then again I was also a fan of Leona's back in those days...my taste buds have changed right along with my taste in clothes. And thank goodness for that. I ordered the "fresh" salmon, which your menu said was baked in a "light fresh dill cream sauce" and believe me this sauce was anything, but light. I ate it because it was 9 PM and I was starving, but could feel a stomach ache coming on as I ate it...and was greeted with one a few hours later. My husband (yep, I'm all grown up and married now!) got the lasagna and it tasted no better than my weight watchers lasagna frozen meals, but i'm sure had millions more calories. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law (she just moved right across the street from you so you have a new customer!) split a salad and a pizza. I had 1 bite of the pizza and didn't want another, which is NOT the sign of a good pie in my book. Honestly the food was probably worth 2 stars, but I'm giving ya 3...just for the memories.
(3)
Vats R.
(Vegetarian Review) Really good pasta, especially the diavlo and yummy pizzas.
(4)
Hannah E.
I can't speak for much except the baked spaghetti with butter and garlic sauce, their Italian salad with house dressing, and the chocolate mousse. And these things are all fantastic. Yep. It's one of THOSE places. Where the first thing you ever had there insinuated itself so thoroughly into your craving cycle that you never get the chance to try anything else. You're just going about your business, and your stomach is like 'FEED ME DAVE'S BUTTER AND GARLIC SAUCE' and you're like 'yes, ma'am' and before you know it you're staggering out of Dave's 5 pounds heavier smelling like a vampire's worst nightmare. It's just butter and garlic... and a secret ingredient that must remain a secret forever if don't want to suddenly weigh 500 pounds... but hell if I don't crave it at least once a week, from my current distance of 1000 miles away. I've been eating at Dave's since I was five. The quality hasn't wavered. The friendliness hasn't wavered. And the prices remain one of the best deals in town - the plates could feed me for 3 meals (and have). But don't hold me accountable for any of Dave's other meals. I'm sure they're great. But if you take one thing from this review, it should be 'FEED YOURSELF DAVE'S BUTTER AND GARLIC SAUCE'.
(4)
kim s.
Great food, service and prices ! I have not been here in years and I have to say I have definitely missed out.. The food was fantastic, we shared a Italian dinner salad which was only $5.95 and it was large enough for 4, the pasta dishes were very inexpensive, any city restaurant would by $20.00 for the same size dinner. Parking was a bit of a challenge until we realized there was a garage across the street on Church street, it was free tonight but the rate for a few hours was only $2.00...we will be making this a regular of ours !
(5)
P A.
Good hearty italian food. The best pasta and largest meatballs until we experienced Club Lucky. Hot, fresh pasta, great bread, great sauce, olive oil and cheese on the table, great wine selection. Service is usually friendly but sometimes a coin toss. Loud inside, cheerful. Good prices. Fun decor always something to look at and get a kick out of.
(4)
Binh N.
I come here quite often with my wife. She loves this place. Our favorite Italian restaurant so far. Comfy, family style environment. Excellent service and food. Food comes in large quantity.
(5)
David G.
Average with a capital "A". The food is bland, at best, which would have sufficed if we were ordering pizza. After a promised 15 minute wait that turned into 40, we were given a bad table and a basket of lukewarm bread, no butter or anything else, as we waited another 15 minutes to be helped by a waiter.
(2)
Day C.
I was here with a group of classmates for dinner. I ordered the shrimp dijon which was good and came with lots and lots of shrimp. I just thought my dish also had lots and lots of vegetables that had me on an easter egg hunt to find the noodles. I would have liked less vegetables, the same amount of shrimp, and more noodles. I also didn't like how they added gratuity automatically for our table of 6 because when they helped themselves to a little more than 20%. But the amount of food was good and I respect how they didn't skimp out on the shrimp. The cannoli was also good and the biggest cannoli I had ever seen. The service was fast and the bread they kept on the table was warm and fluffy. I REALLY wish they had offered ACTUAL olive oil. It looked more like vegetable oil to me, but thats something i cannot get on them for because barely any place can pass that test.
(4)
Brandon L.
I love Dave's and have been going for over 30 years. The pasta is homemade, the prices are affordable (and really good for the wine), and the staff is great. Extra points for keeping the Ron Crawford drawings on the wall from the old place. Two tips: Sunday/Monday night is when they seem to break in new servers, so it can be a bit slow. Friday/Saturday can be insanely busy, so I try to avoid.
(4)
Michael B.
I'm really torn on this place--I'm also getting frustrated that I haven't been able to find a good restaurant in Evanston yet. For this review, I'm just going to list the pros and cons of Dave's Italian Kitchen and let you decide. My 3/5 rating should be a good starting point. Pros: -Awesome selection of pasta, sauces, pizza and italian 'staples'. I quote 'staples' because they are definitely Americanized versions of Italian dishes. -Awesome execution of said menu selection. Everything was great from the homemade spinach rotini to even the marinara and alfredo 'rose' combination (Something simple, yet done well). -Reasonable prices! $1.25 for an iced tea! $9.95 for a basic, vegetarian pasta dish with portions to match. -Great atmosphere, tucked in a basement, very secluded, mysterious, Al Capone's getaway style. Cons: -Service, service, service. Our wait staff (I say staff, because it wasn't clear if the section I was in was shared or not) was swamped with a large 15-top or so on a Friday night. I get it; they were busy. However... -No follow up on your meal. Let me explain this: I ordered my dish and added crimini mushrooms. No mushrooms were present. I would have liked to inform my server of this, but he/they were no where to be found. My dish was still good, but I was more annoyed that they didn't care if my meal was right. -Order-takers. These guys were not servers. They simple wrote down what I wanted and left. I saw them for a total of...30 seconds? Summary: Dave's is good, cheap, and relatively authentic for what Americans consider Italian food, but it is borderline fast food in many respects. I probably won't be going back anytime soon.
(3)
Kurt B.
This is the best family-style Italian food in the city. It's true--Dave's can be loud, you won't get super attentive service, etc., but you can eat a magnificent, fresh, and enormous pasta dinner here for less expensive than most lunch specials. I've been coming here for over 15 years and I've never had a bad meal. Never. Highly recommended: baked spaghetti with a meatball, lasagna, eggplant parmesan, spaghetti gorgonzola, salads, and chocolate mousse. Recommended: calzones, pasta pesto, and stuffed peppers. Not a big fan of their: seafood pasta treatments or spinach ricotta pie. I've never tried the veal; I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Great place to come for lots of drinks and lots of food, possibly the best! Make sure you get the mousse.
(5)
Nikki L.
I was looking forward to trying this place based on some of the reviews. It seems like people either LOVE this restaurant or HATE it. As I waited 30+ minutes and contemplating on going elsewhere, the gentleman next to me said "it's worth the wait, if you are trying to decide whether to go some place else". Hmm, OK, I'll give it a shot! Once a table for two was ready, the host said to walk all the way to the back and seat myself wherever I like. I found myself in a semi enclosed room that had mostly large tables, it felt awkward. Finally, the menu. There were many familiar options to choose from, my fiance and I were in the mood for some pasta so we ordered the Chicken Marsuvio (marsala, vesuvio) to share. I thought it was pretty terrible, the flavors did not complement each other and the white wine (which tasted cheap) just broke the dish. Ugh, what a disappointment. I have no desires to come back here and hope to find a better Italian option on my next visit to Evanston! *********Free Tips for Owner - IF you are going to have carpeting in your restaurant, maintain it through out the night. It is NOT appetizing for guests waiting for their table to see crumbs, left over food, straw wrappers and garbage on the floor scattered through out the whole restaurant. (Free doesn't cost anything to have someone sweep it up) - Make your servers wear uniforms! Even if you can't afford to pay for an actual uniform, have them wear either all black, slacks and a blue polo or SOMETHING. (Free, have them wear their own clothes but of same color) - Bump up your customer service, it doesn't cost a dime you just need to hire the right people and make it a standard. (FREE, this standard is up to YOU) - I like the concept of rolling out a cart to drop off food, however the presentation of the cart could be nicer. (Cover with black linen instead of plastic) - Sanitation, I saw my server use his hands to dust off crumbs from a table and reset it instead of spraying with cleaners and wipping down. (Self explanatory, this is a sanitation/health code violation) Good luck.
(2)
Tal R.
I grew up in the area and occasionally ate at Daves. I didnt think it was anything special but I changed my mind yesterday. I dont know if it was the atmosphere or the the food but for the first time I enjoyed myself at Daves. All I can say is get the minestrone soup. One of the best I have had anywhere! Overall It was a good meal except when I found the melted chocolate in my pocket
(4)
Jeff H.
It's been years since I was last at Dave's Italian Kitchen, back when they were on Davis Street. Lines back then were long, and they were again on a busy Saturday night. We were told the wait was 45 minutes, and were seated in about 35 min. We waited and had some drinks before we were seated. The staff was very, very friendly and welcoming. Once seated it took 10-20 minutes before our server greeted us, however we had our drinks from the wait earlier and a water pitcher and glasses were at the table when we were seated, so we didn't really notice the waiter hadn't shown up. The menu was full of great choices, and our table shared the spinach salad, garlic bread with cheese, baked spaghetti and the brown rice risotto with garlic, broccoli and shrimp. The garlic bread (and bread brought to the table) was outstanding. Large portion, great garlic flavor. The spinach salads were unevenly dressed. I'd guess some dressing was poured into our salad bowl, the ingredients added on top of it, and a spoonful more of dressing on top. All tasty, but would have preferred it tossed together before being served. We had a grilled chicken breast added to one of the salads and it tasted "off" - either they purchased it precooked or this was just a bad piece. We told our server and he took the entire salad, not just the cost of the extra chicken, off the bill, which was appreciated. The risotto, appealing to vegetarians (available without shrimp) and the health conscious was well prepared, but seemingly underseasoned. The broth used to cook the rice was very bland. A bit of salt helped the dish tremendously. The baked spaghetti was great. I know it seems like I didn't have a great experience, but the friendliness of the staff, and the dishes we had which were good were very good, and the others were slight miscues on a busy Saturday night, so I'll give them a break. We agreed to come back and try more of their "sweet spot" dishes, pizzas, pastas and calzones. The room is a bright, cheery, basement loft space that has lots of art on the walls and empty wine bottles as decorations. Very comfortable. Prices are very good value for the food delivered. I look forward to returning soon.
(4)
Laila C.
Dave's wife and I have been in a fight going all the way back to a very unfateful night my junior year of college. A large group of us went to Dave's-a place I'd been to on many occasions-for a nice get together. I usually only order the calzone but I decided to be adventurous and ordered a chicken dish off their specials menu instead. Well! The dish I got was DEFINITELY NOT what I ordered. There was no pasta, the wrong sauce, and veggies where there weren't supposed to be veggies. Trying to be polite, I asked the server if she's sure she brought me the right plate, pointing to the specials menu. She verified that I had the correct order and that the dish I got was what I ordered. Well..I mean obviously it wasn't...cuz it wasn't the SAME THING AS THE MENU! When I asked her to bring me what was written on the menu, she took the plate back, scraped the veggies off the plate and returned my plate with the already bitten into chicken! SHE RETURNED MY ORIGINAL PLATE MINUS VEGGIES! Basically at this point I was so confused, I wasn't sure if she was just overworked and delirious, illiterate or just crazy!!! But I asked if I could speak to the owner/manager. SHE LAUGHED IN MY FACE AND SAID "I'M DAVE'S WIFE-NOW WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?!" UGH.....AHHHH WHAT??!?!?! She runs this place and she is THAT CRAZY?!? needless to say, I have no been back to Dave's. His crazy wife is a little too much for me to handle. And truthfully, the only decent thing on their menu was the chocolate mousse, which I can definitely live without. NO THANKS CRAZY LADY!
(1)
Lindsay R.
Dave's is my favorite Italian restaurant, hands down. My father has been eating at Dave's since he was in college so it's safe to say that I was raised on their amazing, comforting food. I always stick with a small Italian salad and then an order of spaghetti pesto with a serious helping of parm (or Romano? I think it's Romano) cheese - the absolute best. Also fabulous? The lasagna with meat sauce, spaghetti carbonara, the bread at the table, the giant meatball. Everyone is friendly and down to earth, the food is delicious and affordable, and it's all-around the best place ever.
Ate there with my wife and another couple recently. It was really just ok. The house salad was by far the best thing we had. The chicken Vesuvio was like a soup. The pizza with wheat crust was not great - kind of soggy. The chicken florentine was supposed to come with sun dried tomatoes but didn't. All in all, it was just ok.
(2)
Maggie G.
I wasn't at all impressed with Dave's. Yeah, the prices are good, but it's crowded and noisy, and the food my date and I ordered wasn't that great. I had the spaghetti pesto, and the pesto was watery and bland. My date had the cheese ravioli with marinara, and was sick for days after. I figured that since we'd ordered simple dishes, our meals would arrive fairly fast, after all, how long does it take to boil pasta? 20 minutes later, they finally showed up. I wouldn't mind waiting for my meal, or taking my time enjoying it if was quiet enough to have a conversation. I'd be willing to give Dave's another try, but this time, I'll try the eggplant parm that everyone's raving about.
(2)
Will C.
I have been to many many Italian restaurants for over 15 years, and this is by far the best! Their pizza and pastas are to die for. Price definitely reflect this and is worth every penny and well-priced in my opinion. Remember....higher-end Italian food is a luxury item, so people complaining about price and penny pinching and poor people shouldn't eat here. Atmosphere is classy, and reverberates throughout the establishment....definitely a great time! Its usually pretty busy here, so make sure you give yourself enough time before you plan to eat. High class restaurant with lots of "class" to match. You must eat here!
(5)
Daphne L.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII DIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE! That's right, you heard it here, I had a good..no great..no UHmazing meal at Dave's, and I'm not afraid to say it. It wasn't fancy or schmancy or hip or happenin' or trendy. It was good food, really good food, at a very reasonable price. And, let me go on record as saying that I had the best, BEST spaghetti carbonara I've ever had. I said it, THE BEST. We've been to Dave's before, before we even moved to Evanston, but haven't been in a while because A)we forget it's there and B)it's a basement place, very cozy, and for some reason I only like to eat there when it's cold outside. So after a busy Saturday and lots of walking we decided to stop in for dinner. And, it was cold which for me is a Dave's prerequisite. I don't know why it is, it just is. We got there around 6:40, which was perfect because it was right before the dinner rush so we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. Not long after, though, it was slammed and our waitress told us that on a weeknight there's rarely a wait (if ever) for a table. We ordered a drink at the bar (I had the wine selection of the day which was delicious) and chatted briefly until our table was ready. After being seated we were greeted by one of the kindest, warmest, most engaging waitresses I've ever had. I think her name was Emma, but if it's not please forgive me kind lady with the ponytails. She asked if we'd like another drink while we perused the menu, and brought us bread. Really good homemade bread by the way, so make sure to try it when you're there. We decided to split the gorgonzola salad, and I ordered the spaghetti carbonara, my husband the spaghetti pesto. The gorgonzola salad was perfection. Mixed greens topped with (duh) gorgonzola, sliced tomato, and, kalmata olives. The dressing was a vinaigrette that was wonderful in that it didn't overpower the salad, nor was it drowning the greens. I truly dislike when my salad is swimming in dressing. Then the pasta arrived..oh me oh my. The carbonara was absolutely delicious. So good that I ate as slowly as I could because I didn't want it to be gone too quickly. The first and most important bit of praise: the bacon. I am a bacon freak, I'd eat it everyday if I wasn't concerned about heart disease. This carbonara is full of bacon; crisp, tasty, delicious bacon that's perfectly cooked. There is NOTHING worse than a dish with bacon and the bacon is limp and soggy. That alone was enough to make me swoon. Their carbonara is savory, it is tasty, it is filling, it isn't oily...it's perfect. My husband loved his pesto and I'll just have to take his word for it because frankly I wasn't interested in anything other than my plate of bacony, saucy goodness. Had I not been as hungry as I was, or, if I hadn't inhaled my pasta I would have had enough to take home for another meal, but let's just be honest and say it's unlikely I'll ever have leftovers of that dish. I saw a few other dishes go by on their way to hungry diners that looked good, especially the pizza. Dave's Italian Kitchen is a wonderful Evanston legacy with terrific food, excellent service, and a cozy atmosphere. There were tables full of teens, college students, families, friends, couples, etc. It's a great place for a hearty meal that tastes good and won't empty your wallet.
(5)
Saray R.
Food was pretty good. I ordered a salad with garlic dressing and didn't care for it too much. My husband and I ordered a calzone and lasagna and there wasn't much meat in either dish, which we would have preferred there to be more of a meat option instead of mostly vegetarian. My husband thought the lasagna tasted kind of bland as well. I'm not sure we'll go back, but it was an alright experience. They give you bread to start off, and quite a bit of it and I thought the bread was great. Probably the best part of the whole dining experience. Went on a Friday night and had to wait 30 minutes, which is expected.
(3)
Ronni G.
We've been coming here since I was a teenager for solid reasonably-priced Italian American food. Try the calzones-even the small one is big enough to share. Skip the limited dessert options, and head for one of the nearby coffee houses if you want dessert. Because prices are reasonable, and the location is fantastic, be prepared to wait if you arrive during prime dinner time, like after 5:30pm on Saturday nights.
(4)
Chris S.
I don't know why I didn't like this place the first time I went there. But that's the past and I've had an excellent time eating at Dave's, my last few visits. The service is friendly and quick and the food is delicious. It's fairly priced and if there's a wait, they're pretty accurate with the wait time.
(4)
Dana B.
My friends introduced me to Dave's a few months ago. It definitely is the new place for my boyfriend to go for affordable, yummy, Italian food in Evanston. We have never had to wait for a table any longer than 5 minutes, and the waitstaff has always been friendly and attentive. I love the spaghetti Bolognese because of how hearty it is. I have had the dish at other restaurants and its like 3 spoons of sauce. But not Dave's, the sauce to pasta ratio is definitely worth it, and the best part is how affordable it is! When we are craving Italian, this is usually where me and the boyfriend go.
(4)
Tatawan P.
How do they stay in business serving that kind of food? No honestly, have they tasted it how bland it is?! I went out one weekend with a girlfriend to try a new place in Evanston, IL. There are a few pretty decent restaurants and wanted to give this place a try. I ordered the Salmon special over risotto and my friend ordered a pasta. Wait staff is ok, the hostess seemed to be annoyed to even be working and had us wait even tho the dining room was pretty empty. I had to explain to the waiter what a shirley temple drink was and making a cherry coke by regular coke adding Grenadine. I was incredibly dissapointed in the food and honestly think a $2 Michelina's pasta in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store is a ton ton better. Save your money and go a couple doors down to the Tapas place- Cafe Barcelona.
(1)
Jackie G.
As a freshman who didn't know much about the Evanston area, I wandered not too far from my dorm with my parents by my side during one of their first visits to me at college. We thought we couldn't go wrong with Italian. We did. Basically, to get down into Dave's, visitors much walk down into a basement. Since the restaurant was crowded, the place was hot and we had to wait a bit for a table. I thought this indicated that we chose a good place. Perhaps it was due to the warmth or crowded-feeling in the restaurant, but shortly after we sat down a little boy at a nearby table started puking his spaghetti. The sight disgusted us, but the workers were quick to clean it up. Almost strange to note, however, how quickly they returned to work, as if this may not be a first time scenario. We stayed to dine out of hunger and desperation. In the end, the food was actually alright. After a few years in Evanston, I've returned to the restaurant, never expecting great food or great service. I've learned to ask my parents to take me to better places when they come to town.
(2)
Michele H.
LOVE Dave's! The food is yummy and really reasonable price, friendly staff, VERY family friendly, and best wine list EVER! Over the years we have noticed the same waitstaff, so It also speaks volumes about the work environment.
(5)
Luke S.
I love that they have whole wheat crust pizza. The menu is extensive and very affordable. I've never ordered a drink here, but I believe they have a very large wine list. You can come here and eat like a king for about $10-15. My only complaint is that there is no sunlight or windows in the restaurant. The service has always been good and I always come home with leftovers. If you come at peak hours expect a short wait.
(4)
Lizzie L.
They offer a specifically vegan entree, which is wonderful! It's risotto with garlic and broccoli or kale. I'm not a huge fan of risotto, but it's good and it's vegan!
Spicy classics and creative originals!!! Definitely a great joint to frequent! Cheers!
(4)
Katrina M.
Went for dinner on a Saturday night. Waited 30 minutes for a table of 3, so not so bad. The place was packed and lively. I ordered the "BIG" Ravioli, which came in two and each was the size of an iPhone. It was delicious, but those alone did not fill me up. (I'm a petite-sized woman with a large appetite!) I wish they would serve free sides with their meals, or at least serve their ravioli on some pasta or something.. When I went here for a previous time, I ordered the calamari pasta, and it was okay. Nothing special.
(3)
Sutton C.
This place has gone threw many changes since I grew up in Evanston, it has had three locations and I have been going to Dave's since their second home. The food hasn't changed a bit and I thank the good lord for it. HUGE portions at outrageous prices is what you get at Dave's Italian Kitchen, this place is so amazing Dave himself is still in the kitchen. Everything is delicious but some of my favorites include the Chicken Marsala and Vesuvio, the spinach ricotta pie, the large italian salad (could feed 4 for an APP) with their italian dressing, and of course the Pizza! They have a great selection of wine and the atmosphere is adorably wonderful. This place has been a staple for me my whole life, and I just am so grateful it has been in E-town all these years.
(4)
Danielle W.
I LOVE DAVE'S!! If you are visiting Chicago or live in IL., this is an absolutely amazing restaurant worth traveling long distance or waiting in a crazy long line! Located in Evanston, this hidden GEM is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to!!!!!!!! We use to live in IL. about an hour & 20 minutes away and through rain or shine we would make the trip! We heard about it from the folks behind popular Chicago restaurant review show Check, Please! I recommend, the pizza (especially wheat), calzones, and chicken parm! Although my brother had a delicious shrimp pesto entree there. EVERYTHING is amazing...I can't wait to go back this summer. I miss you DAVE'S!! Yelp there are no places like this in JERSEY!
(5)
Beth P.
I really didn't like the food here. All three people at my table were like "yuck" for this place. My chicken was undercooked and very bland. My boyfriend's pasta had some nasty cheese all over it, and was smothered in a sauce that rivaled ketchup. Our friend had the chicken marsala, and the noodles were worse than lean cuisine- just nasty. Even the lettuce in my salad was brown. I saw a lot of families around us seeming to enjoy their pizza, and wine from a huuuuge wine list. Maybe I should've ordered the pizza, but I'll never know because I won't be back. I can experience Dave's anytime I want by crackin' open a can of Chef Boyardee.
(2)
Michael S.
The best pizza in Chicagoland, best baked spaghetti, best chicken parm around and also BYOB....you can't beat that. Always a great meal and good time at Dave's.
(5)
Chelsea V.
My family has been going to Dave's for about 10 years now - ever since we moved to Evanston. I remember the carpets hanging from the ceilings and writing on wine bottles of the old location, but not much else. The current location (which is the one I know best) maintains the writing on the wine bottles but updated everything a bit. However, in 2009 (years after the move) that's neither here nor there. The food is reliably decent-to-good, they bring you a lot of bread and the service is usually sweet. That's the kind of LCD sentence that would typically put me off a review and restaurant, but sometimes you just need such basic comforts. You will eat a lot here, and have a lot to take home, and it won't surprise you or scare you in any way. I can recommend the spaghetti diavolo (which I seem to remember used to be called "diabolo" but "b" and "v" can be so tricky like that!), the calzones, fettuccine rose (mix of marinara and alfredo sauce just how I liked to do in college!), italian salad with creamy garlic dressing and the chocolate mousse dessert. The mousse should be shared between two people because otherwise you'll feel really sick. I think it's also fairly affordable, although the prices are initially more than I'd really like to pay for an entree (this is because I'm cheap) - it will translate into at least one other meal. Not so bad!
(4)
Shradha A.
Update 02/2008: So I was influenced by all the good Yelp reviews for this place and decided to give it yet another shot - I mean places change after a year or two right? But now I remember why I did not like them!!! The greasiest garlic break and not fully cooked pasta... -------------------------------------------- "Big portions" don't define "Good Food" - that only says "Big Portions". It's like everyone who raves about Joy Yee's! Their food is awful but they get business because their portions are large! Anyone who wants a good meal would rather go to Cozy Noodles. Dave's is really bad Italian food, sad thing is there aren't any good Italian restaurants in Evanston so it's the best amongst the bad. Unless you want to spend and go to Trattoria Demi and if you can drive then Olive Garden! Wait = forever and they play favorites! Food = watery/cold/chewy Service = non chalant Ambiance = loud and noisy - gives me a headache! And thus I'm not going to spend more time explaining why I don't like this place.
(2)
Marina M.
Despite the underground location, Dave's has a nice atmosphere. Dave's serves traditional Italian fare and reasonable prices and is definitely several notches above your average Italian chain restaurant. I'm not a fan of the eggplant Parmesan as it was overwhelmed with sauce, breading, and cheese -- you could barely find the eggplant. Some of my favorite items are the minestrone soup and Italian salad. The chocolate mousse is also great -- perfect texture, not too rich or sweet, and a hint of liquor (amaretto perhaps?)
(3)
Vanessa C.
I love this place! When you come to Dave's it is a true dining experience, the portions are HUGE and the time between orders is long, this leaves room for talking, laughing, and enjoying your appetizer. They have wine ALL over, literally they have them lined up against the walls. I recommend there mussels, lasagna con amore, the big ravioli is great as well. Just remember that they have GREAT bread, and you may find yourself unable to practice self control, but TRY because the portions are huge!
(5)
Lisa D.
When you need a cheap hearty meal, Dave's is your spot. You have to go downstairs to get there. Dave's was forced to move to a basement location that was once racquetball courts. If only you could burn the calories that are burned playing racquetball while eating this food because there are no low cal items on the menu. I ate my ENTIRE eggplant Parmesan. It wasn't the best I've ever had but that marinara sauce served with it was delicious. Pour that over just about anything and you've got a worthy meal. The cheesy ends of the eggplant parm were perfectly toasted crispy brown. The atmosphere is a bit campy, though still artsy. Evanston is a college town, after all, and that explains it for me. The owners made an effort to hang original artwork and line the chair rails with empty wine bottles. It's cute. The elder uncle of the group I was with walked his new born nephew around the restaurant and proudly introduced him to everyone. All patrons and staff obliged his enamour and oohed and ahhed over little Elliot. College town, small town, friendly town and friendly place to eat. It was a big group and our server was cute and friendly and efficient. I've read other reviews that state otherwise so I was expecting less. The walk back to the bathrooms reminds you that you are in a basement. I have a sensitive nose, I could smell a faint sewer scent back there. Luckily I was distracted by the brightly patterned mural paintings on the hallway walls. Smart. The bathroom itself is pretty dull, even the lighting is a bit sickly. But hand painted floral motifs in the stalls were sweet additions. My biggest gripe of the place is that there is only cold water in the bathroom. I can wait for the one sink to be available, especially at these prices, but the cold water is inexcusable in the winter time. This is the reason for three instead of four stars.
(4)
Shannon B.
The food is pretty good, but the service is horrible. The salmon with dill sauce is wonderful and the Alfredo is nice. The portions are as huge as everyone says. But... I don't know if it is always understaffed or just slow as mutha. That wouldn't be a big deal for me but in conjunction with forgotten drinks and an apparent phobia regarding bring the table their check... well its an issue. Here is the breakdown: * Wait staff: I've had better and faster service at McDonalds- in Hawaii... * Drink Full bar, decent wine list * Menu:Italian * Parking: There is a cheap structure not far away, a small possibility of metered parking. * Dress: Casual
(2)
Ms G.
AWESOME!!! I've been going to Dave's for a while, and it never disappoints. Perfect for dates, birthdays, special events... you can go casual or dressy, just be prepared for a ton of good Italian food! Ask for the pink soda- delish! The salad is great, serves the whole table. I recommend the eggplant Parmesan or the spaghetti with red clam sauce. Whatever you get, you will definitely have leftovers for the next day.
(4)
Sandy N.
Pretty meh. I had the lasagna with tomato sauce. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't really great. The service was ok. Next time, I'd probably go elsewhere. Evanston has so many better options.
(2)
Trisha F.
Incredibly overrated. Mediocre pasta, usually pretty loud. Not worth the price, I'd rather make pasta at home.
(2)
Mike M.
After visiting Dave's a few times prior to Northwestern Basketball games, I have to give this place 4 stars. Even when it is very crowded they are accomodating and get you seated. excellent portions, fair prices and variety of menu make this a good choice for dining in downtown evanston
(4)
Liane R.
Perfect setting for a wedding rehearsal dinner for an Italian family! The Eggplant Parmesan was delicious!
(5)
Sarah M.
I almost want to say that I am offended by all the bad reviews! Dave's is a fabulous place. It's old location was so dark... this one you can at least see people in. It's a family run place, and the owner's wife is often part of the wait staff. The portions are ridiculously large and taste wonderful. I have never left without leftovers. The mousse is to die for... chocolate heaven. But by far my highlight of life at this restaruant... the salad dressing. It's homemade and if it wouldn't be totally disgusting to do so, I'd drink it because it's that good. As a vegetarian I feel I never have any issues with ordering food as there's often a few things I can pick from.
(5)
Joyee L.
I, like many others, feel that the food is completely unspectacular. The first time I went, I ordered the stuffed zucchini, one of the cheapest things on the menu, because I didn't have that much money and the time, and thought it was pretty good. The next time, I went with a large group of people, and ordered pasta, which is very disappointing. It tasted extremely bland - more tasteless than store-bought tomato sauce. My friend ordered some jalapeno pasta, and all it was was marinara sauce with some jalapeno slices thrown in at the last minute. At these prices, I expected a lot more. Needless to say, I've never gone back again. Spend your money somewhere else.
(1)
Janet E.
The last time I came here I was starving and there was a 30 minute wait! But it was worth it. The staff was really great. To hold me over I ordered a coffee at the "bar". When we were seated, the waitress was very friendly and the food came relatively quickly (or maybe I was stuffing myself with the free bread and olive oil?). The food was delicious and we had enough left overs to make another meal of it!
(4)
David G.
Very disappointing. My dad ordered lamb chops which he sent back because they were slightly underdone. When they brought the dish back to the table, it was clear that they had been microwaved. When called on it, they admitted it. All in all, an uninspiring restaurant. I am surprised it's as busy as it was.
(2)
Linda D.
A favorite place of mine for over 30 years. Spaghetti Diablo w/ mushrooms or spaghetti w/ white clam sauce or...if I can find anyone to share, the bacon mushroom pizza... 2 of the 3 desserts are great (skip the cannoli); we usually get the same number of spoons as diners and just put desert in the center and see who's fastest.
(5)
Chris G.
Have loved Dave's for years but never knew Dave was a complete jerk. We just had our second baby and decided to order delivery from Dave's to the hospital in town as a nice celebration dinner. The staff said they couldn't deliver to the hospital and recounted a story about a car being towed. We said we understood and that we'd be happy to meet them across the street or wherever so they wouldn't have to go near the hospital. We were told we had to talk to Dave himself. Dave then got on the phone, didn't say one word, and screamed "WE DON'T DELIVER TO THE DAMNED HOSPITAL" then hung up. Needless to say the owner and proprietor of a business should never treat anyone, let alone a customer that way. We have nothing to do with, and know nothing about, Dave's contentious relationship with Evanston hospitals. We called back and got an apology from the embarrassed staff who couldn't offer any explanation or solution. Dave - we have a "no jerk" policy and you failed miserably. Sorry but you're getting a 1 star and we're going to let everyone know about this non-sense.
(1)
Ngoc H.
Went here a while back, the food is just ok, nothing really special about it. The fettuccine was sort of bland but the chicken was salty enough to make up for it. All in all this place is good but it's nothing great. Great place though if you have a large group.
(3)
Anthony B.
Finally a good Italian restaurant! With a handful of bad experiences at ones in Chicago, I was very impressed with Dave's. I was a little skeptical from the outside with the checkered curtains and it looked like it would be a step up from a pizzeria, but I was sorely mistaken. The food was all fresh. The salad was great as was the house dressing, and the veal was mouth watering. We also ordered mussels which were also fantastic. The service was friendly, attentive, and great. I would definitely come back. I am curious about the whole wheat pizza on the menu!
(4)
Ashley H.
I love the classics at Dave's, and everything is always fresh and tasty. We ordered delivery once, and the food was cold by the time it made it to our table. We haven't had delivery since, but every time we eat there it's great.
(4)
Jason P.
Good Italian food. This place has been around for a while and has a nice atmosphere in the basement of the building. There is a nice blend of pictures and hand written signs around and the food is good as well. They let you get whole wheat pizza, but then it says it is actually half whole wheat flour and half white flour, making it half wheat I guess. At any rate, the taste is right. I also tried the cheeseless calzone which was fantastic.
(4)
Casia J.
I don't even have the energy to write about this church basement-meets-Chef Boyardee-served-by-careless-students kinda place. Been twice. Two meals of my life I'll never get back. The second time a waiter spilled (about 2 tbsps, not just a drop) of red wine on me. Apology? No. Only a very Keanu Reeves style "Whoops!" There ya have it.
(2)
Claire S.
My girlfriend took me here for the first time on one of our first dates because it's one of her favorites. I have to say, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and food at Dave's! I love how laid back and unpretentious the vibe is and the vegetarian lasagna was really good! I think I'll return here quite a bit for the sentimental value and would recommend it to someone in the Evanston area looking for casual Italian dining.
(4)
Lisa H.
Expect a wait if you try Dave's on a Friday or Saturday night. Luckily you have the opportunity to order drinks from the bar/waiting area while waiting. This longtime Evanston establishment serves up plenty of Italian food. I'd suggest the Spaghetti Carbonara. It's pretty much the only thing I order at Dave's...and a bottle of red wine on special. The Lasagna with meat sauce is my second favorite meal at Dave's. Be sure to bring your Sharpie and write on one of the thousands of wine bottles displayed specifically for the purpose of writing on them!
(3)
Vanessa D.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants for about 13 years now. (Wow, I can't believe it's been so long). I was a big fan of it in high school (when it was at the other location) because it was cheap, delicious, and filling. Their chocolate mousse is amazing. I usually just stick to the baked spaghetti. It's still very much the same place I originally fell in love with back as a freshman in high school. The homestyle Italian food, the casual laid back atmosphere, the friendly waitstaff, the WINE BOTTLES lining the walls, and yes, that mousse is still delicious. Come here if you want some good food without spending a lot. It can get really crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings when lots of families go there, so be ready for a bit of a wait.
(4)
George O.
Distinctly not-great food. The prices are reasonable, but you're still not getting what you're paying for in terms of quality. That's offset by the quantity of food. I've never had problems with service or freshness, but the service wasn't fantastic, either. The thing that sticks out in my mind is that the pasta carbonara was cooked so that the egg had curdled. Anybody who knows what pasta carbonara is would count that as a failure, and certainly wouldn't send it out at a restaurant.
(2)
Tom F.
Nice casual place to enjoy good food and company. Nothing fancy about it, but it's pretty warm and inviting. The lamb chops are a favorite of mine, and the minestrone is solid. Give it a shot if you want a fun, relaxing atmosphere, and it's definitely kid-friendly.
(4)
Kathryn R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Evanston! The food always tastes fresh and homemade. The service is always good. The prices are very reasonable. They have a nice selection of wines too! Usually there is a wait to be seated, but because the place is so large, the wait has never been more than 20 minutes or so. A very nice, casual, comfortable place. One criticism is that it can get noisy in there!
(4)
Scott H.
What is it about Dave's? The place is pretty much a dive, always messy and is generally jam-packed, but the wife and I keep coming back again and again! Good Italian standards with huge portions. Always a cheap, but quite drinkable bottle of red and white available at $13-14. Whatever you order, get a meatball on the side. Great accompaniment to anything. Hits are spaghetti carbonara and lasagna con amore.
(4)
Martha M.
You can always count on Dave's for a good hearty meal with plenty of leftovers. Basic pasta and basic sauce is the name of the game, along with a wide variety of chicken dishes. If you are looking for something beyond pasta and sauce though, Dave's is not your spot. There's no fancy stuff here. The ambiance is very homey, PACKED with booths and tables. The waiting area is fairly small and you will always wait. Do not go during high dining times or you will wait a LONG time with A LOT of loud kids. Dave's definitely caters towards families so the place is always crammed with kids. Service is good, nothing to write home about. Don't get me wrong - Dave's is delicious and I go there at least once every few months. The salads are delicious and the pasta is as well. They have a chocolate mousse that I can't resist and a very impressive and inexpensive wine list.
(3)
A S.
Brought a hungry soccer team and got great service and excellent food. The staff was very accomodating and patient. We will highly recommend DIK to the rest of our organization!
(5)
Cynthia E.
No, no,no,no,no,no,no. The minestrone is passable.
(1)
Chaviva G.
I date a self-proclaimed chef. He has no professional training, but the man's food is ... amazing. His best dishes are, did you guess it? Italian. As such, this was quite a test. Would he love it? Would he hate it? Would he finish his dish? The answer is below ... We were looking to get out of the comfort zone of Western/Central/Loop Chicago, so I asked some Yelpers for advice. One suggested Dave's Italian Kitchen in Evanston, and of course we were glad to head north to one of our favorite little areas. We trudged through the rain to Chicago and Church, down some stairs into an interesting basement bistro. At first glance it reminded me of an old basement section of a restaurant I used to go to in my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska called Spaghetti Works. But they closed it eons ago, and I haven't done basement dining for some time! We were immediately greeted by a bounty of staff up front, sat in a booth flanked by bottles of wine along the wall that sported fancy notes from the restaurant's past. The bread was brought and we gazed at the menu while noshing on some of *the* most delicious bread I've ever had. Dave's makes their own bread, but it isn't just fresh bread, it's the kind of bread your mom used to make. The kind that you'd rip apart the moment it was done -- whether it came from the oven or the breadmaker. I ordered the baked spaghetti, and the date got a calzone (I forget what kind, but there was sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc.). We also ordered two dinner salads, because we wanted to gauge the house-made dressing. The salads were fresh, though a little heavy on the carrots. No vinaigrette compares to my boyfriend's, but their dressing was pretty delicious and had the right amount of tang. We noshed on more bread while waiting for the meal, though it came out pretty quick. The restaurant was slowly filling up with families, college-age kids and couples ... and the buzz was perfect with the casual decor. The baked spaghetti I was used to consisted of the pasta, mixed with the sauce, covered in cheese, and baked. This spaghetti, though, was nothing such! The pasta was covered with mozzarella and baked, and then the marinara was plated in the bowl *next* to the spaghetti and cheese. It was a little strange visually at first, but as I ate and mixed the two up, it made for a delicious dish. The marinara was perfect for your standard sauce -- not too spicy, not overloaded with spices, just simple and delish. The boyfriend's calzone came and .... good lord. It was the biggest calzone I'd ever seen. It is made to feed one to two people, and my boyfriend has a pretty big appetite -- he couldn't finish it! He said it was crispy, fresh, the sausage was delicious and after he got a side of marinara, he was set. What made the calzone for him -- he said -- was the bread. Again, the moment it was set on the table, you could smell the freshness and the comfort of the calzone's crust! Overall, he said, "I would be so forward as to say this is the best calzone I've ever had." Now, coming from him -- he who has been to Lombardi's, among others, in NYC, all varieties of Italian in Chicago and elsewhere -- this is a BIG freakin' deal. This, to me, says that Dave's has it going on. Finally, we concluded our meal with a cannoli, which we split. It absolutely topped off the night and filled in that last little hole of space in our stomachs. It was rich, creamy, and fresh ... this place knows their breads and pastries! People complain about the portions not making up for quality, but in my experience, the portions and the quality were above my expectations. The decor was comfortable and reminded me of a family-run restaurant with a touch of eclectic class with varied paintings, wine bottles, and other "Italian" objects. The variety of the crowd should be a testament to the type of people that appreciate a comfortable, bistro style restaurant and should also attest to the fact that this restaurant will be around for quite some time (it's already been around for a few decades!). If you want a preview of the style of the restaurant, take a peek at the website and read the biography and "how to get here" links. Also, take my boyfriend's take on the calzone to heart -- because this man KNOWS and lives Italian. The two of us ate, with salads and desserts, for a mere $30.00. Talk about a deal! So take the bad reviews for a grain of salt, darn't. Trek to Evanston and give it a go. If there is a Dave, I'd like to meet Dave, and say "Dave, thanks. You filled me the hell up!"
(5)
Jerry W.
Like another reviewer, I have been coming here since before it was relocated. A funky place with good tasting food at reasonable prices. Feels like it should be a Northwestern student hangout, but it is really just a common Evanstonian hangout. I personally like the eggplant parm, and do not think their pizza is anything too great. Worth going to.
(4)
Scott B.
Very good food, great price. Bring a pen and sign the wine bottles on the wall. And try the pizza and calzone. Been going there for 25 years, and always a solid meal at a good price.
(4)
Kiira B.
Mediocre food, poor service, weird ambiance.....
(2)
Molly B.
I'm with Victoria. I love the food here and have taken people who also enjoy it. They give you plenty to munch on for a reasonable price and everything I've had is tasty! You're almost guaranteed leftovers; who doesn't love that?! I give 4 stars because their wine and beer selection isn't great, but I think it's mainly a family restaurant, so that probably won't be helped. Also, the takeout is awesome and quick, too, but good luck finding a place to idle the vehicle!
(4)
Andrew H.
3.5 stars if the option was available. A staple for me and the favorite girl when we're in the mood for decent food, good portions, and good prices. Usually there is no wait on weekdays but we came last night (a Sunday) and it was packed. Along with a horde of mature high schoolers wishing to have dinner prior to a school dance (really not the place to go before a school dance), we waited for approx 20-30 minutes. The atmosphere is casual, family and kid friendly. When the room is full, it can get loud. Service is hit or miss depending on your waiter/waitress, and same goes for how fast the food comes out. Last night we were not attended to for a good 5 minutes after sitting down; however our waitress was very apologetic and compensated more than enough. The table bread is average, we usually indulge ourselves with a slice or two but never have to ask for a second round. My favorite girl began by ordering a small Italian salad. I didn't think much of it at the time, I don't ask questions, just foot the bill. But when the salad came and with plates to share (our waitress assumed we were dating...ugh, I wish), it was larger than a "small" and included everything that the menu said it would include -- not excuding red onions, pepperoncinis, and radish. Fortunately for me, my favorite girl hates all of the above and proceeded to put all of them on my plate. Like the trooper I am, I proceeded to attempt eating a plate full of only red onions, pepperoncinis, and radish. A unique flavor profile for sure, but my favorite girl eventually threw me some greens, red cabbage, cucumber, and dressing which made the following ten minutes much more enjoyable. For our entrees, I ordered the #2 small calzone (pesto, tomatoes, mushroom, spinach) and it is on point. This is the only place I know that has pesto calzones, and I really enjoy pesto. My favorite girl ordered her broccoli, chicken, and garlic risotto -- while she gets it every time, I have tried it before too and can attest to its hearty home-cooked flavor. After we were finished, I ordered a tiramisu for us to share, much to my favorite girl's chagrin. Our waitress enjoyed the banter, gave us two forks, and didn't put it on the tab. A good way to end our meal.
(3)
Victoria h.
I don't know why it got so many bad votes. Dave's a great place with huge calzones and cheap salads. The service is fast, and food is good, the setting is nice and casual. What is there to complain about? It's not really classic Italian food, it's very Americanized - but I definitely recommend checking it out with friends (if you live nearby). It's not a place that I'd drive to from far away, it's not THAT good. But if you live nearby and need somewhere to take your folks or friends - this is a good place. Keep in mind that the wait to be seated can take a while.
(4)
Liz P.
I have a friend from Evanston and, upon knowing my intense love for Italian food, insisted that we eat at Dave's Italian Kitchen. Thus far, I've had it only twice but both times, I died and went to Italian-cuisine heaven. The first time, I ordered an interesting spaghetti-japaleno concoction that left me enticed. The second time, I ordered spaghetti with mushrooms/sun-dried tomatoes in a decadent olive oil-butter-cream sauce. I love this place. Next time I'm getting their carbonara because my friend climaxes every time he has it. I've never eaten in the restaurant, only done take-out, because we always go when it's packed. But I love this place.
(5)
Ben W.
This place is not great at all. Their prices are quite steep compared to the quality of food. This place might do if you are too lazy to boil your own pasta and put a can of tomato sauce/alfredo on top of it yourself. If you are not that lazy then save yourself some money and stay home. I had the ziti here and it was most unsatisfying--there was little cheese and the marinara sauce tasted odd. Also the pasta was a little overcooked.
(2)
Julie H.
Oh Dave, what happened? Ok, I have to say after eating here last night (and being somewhat psyched to be going because it was just what I was jonesin for), I am so disappointed. =( It was a Saturday evening, and we were seating immediately as they weren't at full capacity yet so now wait, which is awesome. What wasn't awesome was that once we were seated, no one came to talk to us for close to 10 minutes (after 5 solid minutes, my boyfriend was ready to walk, but I just so wanted to eat dinner there....so we stayed). Our waiter did suddenly appear and said (I quote) "I'll be waiting on you today. Are you perchance ready to order?". Hmm, no hello, no 'can i grab you a drink while you peruse the menu?'. And he was somewhat intimidating, so we ordered. quickly. then sat some more. and watched. A table next to us (who had the same server) also never seemed to be waited on - when they finally got their check, we actually overheard them debating whether or not to leave a tip. Another table behind us was sat, and a waitress appeared less than 20 seconds later (we started timing this). A 3rd table near us was sat and a waiter came by within 30 seconds, introduced himself, asked he could get them some drinks, gave some recommendations, and, get this, EVEN came back and checked in on them when their food appeared! Now us, when out appetizer emerged, I only noticed bc the waiter was reaching around a pole and waiting for me to take it from him and put it on the table. That was the last we saw of him until we got our check. Fortunately when they seat you, they give you a pitcher of water otherwise we probably would never have gotten drinks. A very nice bus boy did come by when it looked like we were done and offered to box our leftovers, I kinda was wishing he had been our waiter. Now the sad part is, the meal was just what I wanted, and I've never had a bad experience there before, but I will think twice before returning after this treatment. They really need to make sure all of their staff is on the same page, and judging from how everyone else was hustling and bustling around the place, and all the other tables had actually service other than those in our section, they should also be sure their staff who is not on the same page is either not working there anymore or at the very least kept in the kitchen.
(2)
Kristen H.
Oh why does the food have to taste so darn good? I'm on a diet; not supposed to be eating here. But I do get a day off. And let me tell you how much I enjoyed my day off.............................YUM!!!! So I only get a day off every now and then , so when I do I must choose wisely. So I decided to order the spaghetti carbonara. It is sooooooo good. For those of you that don't know what it is I'll tell you. It's obviously spaghetti noodles, with a white cream sauce with bacon and onion. Let me tell you........it is delicious! Definitely worth the wait. It will be hard not to repeat this decision when my next free day comes.
(5)
Kary Z.
I don't know why my hopes for this place were so high; it was recommended to me by a 70 year old woman. We checked out the menu before going, and there is a nice selection of entrees, wines, and the prices were affordable. When we walked in we were greeted right away, "just two?" "yes." "you can take that booth there". The hostess just pointed us to our seat. Did not even bother to move from behind her counted to seat us. I know, its not far, and we could just see our seat, but it was too informal in a way. We sat, and our menus came. Our server did not. We waited for a while. When he did come he was so boring. We asked him to help us narrow down the menu and he was hardly interested in helping us figure out what to eat. We did decide, and when he came to take our order we told him, and that was that. However, on the menu it states "your choice of sauces"--he did not ask us. Just made the choice for us. I wanted meat sauce, but since he didnt ask and i didnt tell him, i didnt get it. My partner ordered a fettucini rose, and it was soooooooo bland. No amount of romano cheese, salt, or pepper could spice it up. I ordered the provolone chicken. It came with plain mariana on the rotini, which tasted as if it was from a ragu jar and my chicken had absolutely no flavor. The server didnt check on us for about 6 minutes. We are not the typical table that would make a huge deal of a bad meal, and never have we ever sent anything back to the kitchen. Remember, I was server for a very long time, as was my partner...but this was terrible. Mik sent her food back, and i ate some of mine because I was starving. The only thing they did right was take off a portion of our bill. Yet, the manager didnt come make a table visit. If management doesnt care about how dissatisfied their customers are, then they really could care less about the quality. And it shows here at Daves. Save your money, don't go. You are way better off going to Giordanos or Trattoria Demi in Evanston.
(1)
Erin C.
I have been to Dave's so so many times. Birthdays, dates, etc etc etc. I just don't think it's that good. I have to admit, there are a few good things on the menu... 1. the calzones are awesome, but it's hard to mess up cheese, bread and sauce. 2. the baked spaghetti is nice, but it's really just the cheese baked on top that makes this dish anything special. Everything else tastes like canned tomato sauce. There is nothing innovative or exciting served here. And that's ok. There are plenty of restaurants dishing out crowd favorites very well. The difference here is that it just isn't executed very well. I do get a kick out of the ETHS students out on big group dates here though. I've taken pictures for several of them for homecoming and prom and stuff. It's a hoot!
(2)
Rob F.
Excellent. reasonably priced Italian food. Comfortable atmosphere. The wine list is reasonably priced. Only problem is the wait and sometimes there appears to be empty tables open as you wait.
(4)
Adam S.
A few of the reviews I've read about this place are complaining about decor, ambiance, the sauce, etc. as if they are the son or daughter of Phil Vettel. Dave's Italian Kitchen is comfort food to the extreme, from the basement, windowless location, to the plastic red and white table clothes, to the big portion, basic Italian fare. They aren't trying to be pretentious and they aren't trying to be fancy. They just want to serve good food in a family-style environment and they do an excellent job of it. All the pizzas, pastas, and salads I've had at Dave's are great. Are they fine dining? No - but that's not what this is supposed to be. Just like you don't order a steak at a coffee shop, you don't veer from the basics at Dave's. The service has always been quite good too - the other night I was there and they brought out one of our dishes way past the others. The waiter was apologetic to the point of embarrassing and we got two free desserts out of it (which were both fantastic.) So put on you jeans and gym shoes, head on over to Dave's, order a glass of cheap cabernet, get the spaghetti and meatballs, and enjoy your night.
(4)
Heidi H.
Meh. I know that the made up word *meh* has sorta played itself out, but its the only way I know how to describe my experience here. My friend and I decided to go here for NYE seeing we were heading up to Evanston for a movie anyway. I'm really not too familiar with good eats in Evanston, so I trusted her decision on going to Daves Italian Kitchen. I decided to start with a salad that I dont remember the name of but thought it sounded pretty tasty. Spring greens, dried apricot and cranberries, and walnuts all tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. Sounds yummy right? meh. The salad was drowning in the watery dressing. I mean, I love me some dressing but having a puddle of it at the bottom of my salad bowl is a bit too much for even me! For my main entree I chose whole wheat mostaccioli in a pesto sauce with added spinach. Again. meh. The pasta was cooked well and the pesto was tasty and garlicky, but lacked seasoning and they forgot my spinach. Oh well. Nothing was terrible but nothing blew me away either. Just a meh experience all around. The best thing about the dinner was that it was satisfying and cheap. I would go here again if someone else really wanted to go, but it definitely wouldn't be my first choice when dining in Evanston.
(3)
Colleen B.
I won't waste a lot of space here... I second the previous reviews. Decent, but not great, Italian food. Huge portions. I keep ending up here because it's an easy decision when you're looking to gorge yourself on cheesy pasta for a reasonable price. Not my number one choice for dinner, but if someone suggests it I probably won't turn them down.
(3)
Annie S.
My mom and I really like this place and we always split the spaghetti with meat sauce and an extra meatball. It comes with a side of fresh bread and the staff are really friendly. I've been eating here since high school and even though it's not the best or most authentic Italian food, it is still good and the servings are HUGE so you will not leave hungry!
(4)
Alissa I.
Still great...my new favorite is Chicken Marsuvio
(5)
Patricia C.
We have been going to Dave's for years and the only thing I order is the small Italian Salad and Spaghetti Gorgonzola which is outstanding (I have never had anything else although my husband orders different pastas and he has liked everything that he has ordered).The prices are affordable and service is good.
(4)
Julie G.
It seems like downtown Evanston has a ton of restaurants and yet no restaurants all at once. If you're ever up there, Dave's is a great fallback choice for a perfectly good Italian meal. Their menu has some real standouts: good pasta, good tiramisu. The service is friendly and the prices are very reasonable. The breadbasket is so-so but the olive oil they keep on the tables is pretty good. Skip the broccoli soup though. I know people rave about but it's been super bland both times I've had it.
(3)
Steve T.
In a basement in Evanston you will find a lovely Italian restaurant. Great pizza and past. The wines are not bad. Very down to earth. The wait staff are super friendly.
(4)
Erin J.
The nice thing about Dave's is that it is predictable and reliable. The portions are huge - one pasta dish = about 3 meals for me. Sometimes there is an intimidating wait, but you can order wine at the bar to make the time pass more quickly. Totally kid-friendly AND pocket-book-friendly. I feel like Dave's is a bargain because the food is good, not great, and the portions are giant. It's really not my favorite, but I'm glad it's there. I have always found the staff to pleasant and efficient.
(3)
Jolie R.
We were on our way to Joy Yee when we found it was closed for expansion. Dissapointed and hungry, we walked around the corner and spotted Dave's, which we had seen many times driving down Chicago, so we decided to stop in and see what it was all about. Yowee! Zowee! This is our FAVE Italian restaurant for lots of pasta and prices that aren't going to take a chunk out of our budget. We love upscale, but weren't looking for it that nite...and were not disappointed in what we found. I had the calamari and spaghetti (wish they had linguini on the menu!) and the server suggested ordering it with olive oil and garlic instead of the marinara. She was on-spot. The noodles were aldente, the calamari was tender and very plentiful and the garlic wasn't too heavy. My husband ordered spaghetti and meatball, which turned out to be the biggest meatball we've ever seen! He said it was the closest to tasting like his Italian mother's meatballs. We both want to come back and try other pasta dishes. I probably won't order the pizza - but we'll give the other menu items, while limited, a go. We left full to the gills and our bill was under $20 for a terrific meal.
(4)
Yakov B.
If you want, hands down, the absolute worst service of any restaurant in the Chicagoland area with a native English speaking waitstaff, then Dave's is the place. I have been there numerous times and have experienced the host giving my table to someone else, waitresses simply forgetting to wait on my table, waiters screwing up my order, waitress and waiters forgetting to bring an item order, and waitresses and waiters taking my credit card for payment, and then simply not coming back and forcing me to get up and approach the cash register myself. I've complained to the management and never once have I been offered a "comp" for my troubles. So why do I keep going back despite the G-d awful service? The food is pretty damn good.
(2)
Christina G.
We always have a good time at this neighborhood Italian restaurant. Been going for years, even before they were at their Chicago ave. location. The atmosphere is very cozy. We prefer a booth, Red and white checkered tablecloths make it feel fun. The bread they give you is so delicious that it's hard not to eat it and save room for your meal! I always get the small italian salad with italian dressing and the spinach ravioli. The marinara is delicious and the fresh pasta always pleases. Very kid friendly which is why we frequent here often and early. We usually have to get here by about 5:30 on a Friday night to avoid a wait. My dad had the Spaghetti Carbornara tonite and he said it was very good. They always have a wine on special too, but I usually just have a glass of the house red or white as they are both usually tasty!
(4)
Erin K.
I think that the three rating is quite accurate in describing Dave's Italian Kitchen. They serve good Italian food, but I've definitely had better. The best thing it has going for it is the massive quantities they serve you. I'm talking "lunch and dinner the next day" big. It's a great place to bring kids--something you could easily tell by looking at the clientele (FAMILY CENTRAL!) and definitely worth the price.
(3)
Ann A.
We went here for a birthday party last week and it was okay. I was under the weather, so my taste buds may have been off, but the minestrone was meh, the bread was okay, and the gorgonzola salad was pretty good. It's pretty hard to screw up a salad though, right? My husband had the sausage calzone and when we ate it as leftovers a few days later, I was smitten. I think we'll definitely hit up this place for calzones as take out. We just weren't bowled over by the vibe of the joint.
(3)
Victor K.
Eat here, I have for 25 years...never had a bad meal.
(5)
Alex W.
Italian food is my absolute favorite but for some reason I can never get into this place no matter how much I try. Better pizza can be found elsewhere, the pasta, second rate. Big helpings and good for large groups-though not like how real Italian restaurants are supposed to be.
No doubt about it, this is good food. It's a fairly inexpensive, cool place. The service is good. The homemade bread on the table is deliciously fresh and warm. It was crowded, but didn't seem too crazy for a Friday night. Nice, casual atmosphere.
(5)
Michael B.
Driving through Evanston and was in the mood for Italian food... saw Dave's and Yelp'd it. Had some great reviews, so tried it. I have to agree with most of the reviews. The atmosphere is great. The food was amazing. The service was wonderful. I can't wait to go again. I had the Chicken Parm... awesome. Huge portion, tasted great. Try it out sometime if your in Evanston, it's worth the stop.
(5)
Dave Y.
this place is awesome! most things are pretty reasonably priced and you get quite a bit of food. such as the really cheap meatball sandwich. the diabolo pasta or whatever it's called is really good. really spicy and hot. a long time ago this place used to be a veritable hole in the wall. now it's in a newer nicer place, and lost a bit of its charm, but still great nonetheless
(5)
Chris W.
Freakishly overrated! The bread is always dry, the sauce is essentially ketchup, and the decor and service are not noteworthy. The empty wine bottles lining the walls are kind of a nice touch, admittedly.
(1)
Christina R.
This is the place you can afford to eat, leave sated, have a tasty meal, but you walk in knowing that it probably isn't going to be the best meal of your life. My rating is based on what it is - a cheap eat. If I paid $50 for my bowl of pasta and it tasted like this, I would be pissed. However, when you are paying 7.99 for a vat of Spaghetti, and it fills you up, you are looking for a decent taste. If it tasted like cafeteria food, then we would have problems. The Good: whatever recipe they are using for their house dressing will ensure I return. I can never the spice mixture right in my vinegar for just the right dressing, but somehow this was awesome; I had a small plate of greens to start my meal and it turned out to be all I wanted to eat. Plus, the Bolognese sauce on my spaghetti was actually really good. Not the best I have ever had, but for 8.95, I was impressed. And the server we had was superb. If I could remember her name (sorry! I am terrible with names!) I would give her a shout out here, but she was just attentive enough to be awesome, plus even though we didn't complain, she didn't think the broccoli soup looked the way it normally looked, and hence made the decision to not charge for it. In all honesty, the broccoli soup was terribly underseasoned and bland, but she affirmatively intervened before we said a word. Five Star service at a cheap eats restaurant - that was exceedingly impressive. The Not So Good - the meatball and the marinara sauce were not thing. I love meatballs, but the meatball you can order with your spaghetti is one large lump of underseasoned sadness in an bath of marinara sauce that will leave your pancreas aching from the sweetness. The marinara lacks the seasonings to make it good, and is disadvantaged by the base ingredients which seems to be a lot of tomato paste and/or cheap crushed tomatoes. The Ugly: you never know what kind of crowd will be walking through the door. A high school aged soccer team fresh (or not-so-fresh) from a game walked through the door, and it was seriously unpleasant. Also, there was a large group of what appeared to be high school aged kids dressed up for some event dining out for some reason. The cheapness of the place will bring in those seeking affordable meals on parental allowance, the college shoestring budget, or those that refuse to pay $16 for a plate of .80 pasta when you don't want to make an event of the night.
(3)
Maureen D.
This place is teriff. Seriously. I have ordered lots of things here, but my absolute favorite is the spinach rotini with marinara sauce. Oh, and their bread is phenomenal.
(4)
Andrew T.
I absolutely do not know what the fuss is about this place. While two stars may be a bit low... I personally, didn't like this place b/c they didn't have a lot of sausage optionson the menu. Their olive oil on the table was really bland (and I'm not exactly an olive oil connisseur). The blue cheese noodles were good (and big). The pesto calzone was boring and wierdly juicy inside. The manicotti was also forgetable w/an acidic marinara sauce. My gf actually thought it was decent, but the next day she flew United to France and said the manicotti on the airplane was better...
(2)
Jesster A.
Although on it's 3rd location - Dave's has been an Evanston institution for over a quarter of a century. The laid back atmosphere (though less so here) and huge portions at very reasonable prices are probably the main reason for it's enduring popularity - since the food quality itself is pretty bland and mostly ordinary. As a blue cheese fan myself, I suspect Dan's rave about the pasta Gorgonzola (you can choose among pasta shapes) has more to do with his love of the cheese (and this sauce is like 90% Gorgonzola) than the actual execution of the dish... Beware - this dish is VERY rich. Although they now have a liquor license - you can stil BYOB for a $5 corkage charge. For larger groups try bringing 1.5 liter bottles - not sure what their policy is on uncorking multiple bottles. NOTE: Do NOT order the socalled Spinach-Ricotta Pie (smothered in cream of mushroom soup, er sauce.... We split one four ways and even so it was rich beyond belief - like a plate full of frosting with no cake underneath it. Respectable Tiramisu easily serves 2 -4 for dessert - especially after those huge entree portions.
(3)
Dan T.
You can't beat the location- it's in a cool part of Evanston, and as someone else stated it's easily better than Olive Garden! I always go for the Spaghetti Gorgonzola. My mouth waters just typing that. Gorgonzoooooooolaaaaa... Excuse me. The BYOB part is nice, and the portions are huge, so order something that sounds a little different and you won't be disappointed. I have usually gone in a large group, which is what this place is made for. That said, the atmosphere is also the only real drawback. It's extremely loud, and you get the impression the whole place could use a remodeling. But if you're in downtown Evanston, want Italian, and want a full meal, I have yet to find anything comparable.
(4)
Chrissy F.
Great place with great memories. At first I was taken aback that it was underground, but that just adds to its "coolness" (yes I just said "coolness" -- what are you gonna do about it?) The orders are kind of big, so come hungry or ask for a doggy bag. I really don't know the first thing about wine, so I'm not going to pretend. They helped my friends and I pick out our bottle of wine. But they do seem to have an extensive wine selection... Guaranteed that you're gonna wait to get a table though. Everytime I've been there, I've had to stand around looking foolish for about 10 minutes before our table was ready. I don't mind waiting, I just mind looking foolish. But really, that's my own issue. It's not far from the purple line...just not close to it either. It's usually the block before I see the restuarant when I start complaining if we're there yet or not. If you're brave enough to walk TOWARDS the lake on a cold day, I'd definitely recommend you go for it.
(4)
Matt B.
I give this place 3 stars. I've gone here quite a few times, and yet I never leave real happy with the meal. The basement atmosphere and wine bottle-lined walls are nice, the pre-meal bread and olive oil is good, but I look over the menu I am disappointed. Nothing appeals to me whatsoever. I generally look to spend $10-12 a meal, and if I pay anything over that I expect very good food. I'm usually spending more like $15-17 here, and the cuisine is no better than average. I really only eat here because I haven't found a suitable italian alternative other than olive garden - and I just can't bring myself to hit up the chain.
(3)
Suzie B.
OK, here's my to-go order experience: My dearest friend broke her back after a nasty fall from a horse last year. Although the titanium rods in her spine are healing, she is far from able to do much walking around without having to stop and sit down to rest for a few minutes. We had been walking around Evanston a bit, running a few errands here and there, and her hubby called in an order for us to pick up on our way home. We got there right after he called, and my pal asked if we could sit at a table while we waited. The woman at the front was being rather shitty about it (they were busy) so Lib, who was about to pass out, said, "we'll order an appetizer! I have to sit down in a chair (she has a fucking BODY CAST on, fergawd's sake). So we sat down, and a nice waiter promptly brought us bread and water. We added another entree on to our to-go order, which he took to the gal at the register. We didn't see hide nor hair of him after that, although I had thrown a 5-er on the table, thinking he would bring us or to go bag. After what seemed like an eternity (watching my BFFE almost faint from meds nausea and exhaustion), I went to the register and asked about our order. It had been ready, and was sitting in the kitchen. We paid and got the hell out. I had the spinach lasagna, which was good but not spectacular. My friend's hubby had the meatball sandwich, which was HUGE, and I didn't sample so don't know how it tasted. I'm sure that in this land of Italians there are much better places to eat, but I did like the ambiance in there, and can see how it would be a good place to take a large group. Being shitty to someone in an upper body cast is inexcusable.
(2)
Blake W.
Love it. Who goes here for great food and service? Raise your hand.... now take that hand and smack yourself. This place is cheap, good and easy. I don't feel bad rolling in with my hoodie and a hat or a button up. I'm actually usually suprised by the quality of what I order given the prices. We like to hit this place up once a month and stuff our belly's with food and wine. The wine list is a good size for such a low end place -- the best part is they stock it with cheap wine, but not crap like yellow tail, mondavi costal, sutter home etc... they've got a good selection. Get the Pink Sauce on anything and enjoy.....
(4)
Miranda K.
I dropped in for my first visit last night and will definitely be back. This is in spite of the fact that it was incredibly crowded, a bit too noisy, and lousy with rug rats. The food was great: best calzone I've had in a long time and pretty good tiramisu too, which was a surprise. The atmosphere is homey, service is casual but attentive. I felt the prices were very reasonable.
(4)
Clare F.
Just went to this place for the first time last night, and it was exactly what we were looking for! Nice, friendly staff, hearty food, and just-right prices. Is it the creme de la creme of Italian cooking? No, but that's not why we went. We were looking for affordable comfort food, and that's what they provided. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Henry F.
Went to Dave's last week for my birthday with my wife and 8 month old daughter. The entrees are huge and inexpensive. I had leftovers of Chicken Parm for lunch the next day. If you are looking for an inexpensive and family-friendly Italian spot, Dave's is a good place to check out.
(4)
Mike C.
What can I say, this is one of my favorite Italian places in the area. Don't get me wrong, I've had better Italian food. But Dave's is something special for a casual, consistent meal. Pros: 1) In downtown Evanston, which is a treat in itself. 2) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. 3) Bright, open, comfortable dining room. 4) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. 5) Reasonably priced. 6) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. We love Daves, and come here for dinner whenever we're in the area. Good service, nice casual atmosphere, good food. Everything on the menu is good. We especially like the baked spaghetti and lasagna, but especially Dave's Italian Salad with the thick shredded mozarella cheese, yummy. Reasonably priced, great atmosphere, good food with a LOT of sauce :-) Enjoy!
(5)
Megan W.
Dave's Italian Kitchen was good Italian comfort food. The portions are large and filling. I had the garlic and olive oil pasta and it was delicious. My boyfriend had the veal and it was very tasty. Our waitress did a great job of handling our large party. A word of warning though if you're looking for a quiet romantic dinner this is not the place for you. Dave's is extremely loud.
(4)
Brandon B.
What dreck this food is. I've only had catering a few times from this place, and as a result, I will never go here. Every single dish I had, I know I could've made it better. Food is band, from the spaghetti, to the rotini... yuck. Trattoria Demi is a little better. This place is not worth it at all.
(1)
grace c.
If you're looking for reasonably priced italian grub and your main focus is "$" then this place may do the job. If your main focus is on quality italian food, then please turnaround and head out the door. The moment I entered the restaurant, I felt like I was back in the cafeteria room in high school and once I dug my fork into the baked spaghetti and mozarella dish, the cafeteria feeling became all the more solidified. The marinara sauce tasted like canned marinara sauce where the tang was too overpowering. I ended up having to pour mounds of pepper and parmaesan onto my dish just to neutralize the flavor to make it more edible. I was not impressed.
(1)
Kathryn M.
One of my best friend's is getting married in Evanston next summer. She and her fiance are in the process of auditioning possible rehersal dinner places, and Dave's Italian Kitchen was on the list. 6 of us arrived around 7 on a Saturday and didn't have to wait, which was great! The restaurant is downstairs, and a pretty comfy place to hang out. We all decided to have pizza. One awesome thing is they have whole wheat crust available, which makes me feel slightly better about stuffing my face with pizza. Well, it turns out I didn't need to worry about eating too much pizza, it was terrible. All three of our pizzas arrived at our table burnt, one of them was wrong, and they were just utterly tasteless. Now usually bad pizza is still somewhat good, but not here. Our waiter was nice, but not the best with keeping our drinks filled. Overall, we had a good time because we were with good friends, but I don't think this will be my friend's rehersal dinner spot.
(2)
Grace J.
wonderful obviously! Because it has the best staff in the world.
(5)
A.J. M.
Dave's only has 3 stars on yelp? Ouch. Too many haters. But I'll defend it to the grave, starting with the prices. They're incredible in regards to the quality of the food. The spaghetti carbonara? Flat out awesome. The baked spaghetti? Excellent. And it's all for a great price. The place is always packed it seems, so it's hard to get a seat most times, and while you can do takeout, it's better to eat it there. That's a given, I assume. The fact is, besides the two pastas I've mentioned, their pasta dishes are divine, and I haven't even tried their pizza, while many people have told me that it too is incredible. I hate not being in Evanston, resulting in my seperation from Daves. But I know that it'll always be there, with it's great prices and great food. Is it the best Italian food you can get in Chicago and its suburbs? Probably not. But I don't care. It's my favorite Italian joint anywhere.
(5)
David F.
I have been eating here for about 30 years and have enjoyed every bite of it. The food is great, the portion sizes are just right, and the prices are so low that I am concerned that they are making enough profit. The vegetarian minestrone is out of this world and there is a great selection of wines.
(5)
Allen R.
I've never eaten-in at this place, but managed to eat nearly an entire pizza from here after filming a documentary with the BBC for two solid days. It had pepperoni, and delicately thin slices of onion and zucchini. Delish! I didn't even know I liked onion and zucchini on pizza!
(5)
Pam T.
Every time I eat at Daves I end up disappointed and with a stomach ache. My husband and I go every 6 months or so, and when we walk out, we remember why we don't eat there. The service is slow, the food is just ok...and there are better Italian restaurants in Evanston.
(2)
Lee-Han H.
Not good. The food here is yuck. They need to hire new cooks because no one has earn the boyardee status yet. Terrible time with nasty food that is overpriced.
(1)
Larz F.
Dave's used to be this great BYOB hole in the wall, cheap, college kid hangout with huge portions. Since it has moved and become a more "upscale" place it is no longer a value. It might be decent if you were raised on Dominoes and Ragu,but if you actually ate real Italian food growing up you'll be disappointed. So many better places in the area this one is worth missing.
(2)
Dee W.
Food was pretty decent - big portions (I had them for lunch the next day) - service was fair and the wine was good. :) We had a decent wait of about half an hour and people were saying how they should have made reservations. I got the mini mostacialli which was average fare and the chicken alfredo with sun dried tomatos was pretty good.
(4)
connie m.
I went to this place because it said it was kid friendly and there were some items that would appeal to a larger group who didn't want pizza. First of all, it is NOT kid friendly, they don't even have a children's menu. I got the provolone chicken which is supposed to have pesto..they put pesto in the cheese, not on the chicken so you couldn't even taste it. The chicken was seriously overcooked. The caesar salad..how do you mess that up?? The dressing, of course..it was tasteless, we all had to add salt to the salad to add some flavor. The chicken parm was dry, the bread they put on the table is rustic style and doesn't even come with butter. So, we spent about $80 for 4 people to dine and had a horrible meal. The only thing that i can say positive about them is that I did like the red sauce but it was barely put on the spaghetti that came as a side. I wasn't expecting fine dining but i was expecting a decent meal. Olive Garden would have been the better choice in this case.. I won't be going back.
(1)
Jaclyn C.
I really detest this restaurant without being able to say exactly why. I've been twice, and the dishes I tasted were uninspired and bland. Seems that that's the general consensus from people I know. Maybe the calzones are better. 2 stars = will only go back with gift certificate or on a bad date...
(2)
Van D.
I can't vouch for anything but their Primavera Calzone. It's the only thing I've ever gotten there and it's absolutely delicious. I get a large(HUGE) with whole wheat crust and only half the cheese but double the pesto. I have considered ordering something else but why bother when this is so extraordinarily good? Everyone else around me looks quite happy also. Good mixed crowd, old and young.
(5)
Mindy S.
We were also headed to Joy Yee's... Oh well. So we passed up Tapa's and Gio, and landed at Dave's. It was ok. I hade the mussels marinara with pasta. The mussels were on the small side, and the marinara sauce was very acidic and loaded with raw garlic. Made it hard to eat the sauce. I prefer Classico jarred sauce over Dave's.
(2)
Kitty H.
If you order the Lasagna con Amore (with meat sauce!) and the Italian Salad, it is like heaven. If you order other stuff, it will probably just be more like Evanston (which is a very nice suburb).
(4)
Amanda A.
This restaurant is the ideal place for great italian food on a college budget. The wine list is amazingly diverse and unbelievable low priced -not to mention that signing the finished bottle and leaving it for future readers is part of the tradition. Always busy and always good!
(4)
Chris M.
We've been there a couple of times and taken friends and family there and have never really been disappointed. Food is served in large portions which makes for leftovers and the bread is very good. My wife always says you get what you pay for and that fits here...nothing spectacular, but worth the trip for some good, inexpensive Italian.
(4)
Shane H.
I went with a friend last night. Despite the horrible weather it was surprisingly busy. The atmosphere was cozy but I wasn't crazy about the menu options. My new thing when it comes to eating is to mix it up as much as possible so I ordered something I NEVER get... veal. The veal parmesan was OK, not the best ever. I think you're probably better off getting lasagna or one of their chicken dishes, from what I've heard. The portion sizes are HUGE. I would eat here again, but probably not voluntarily. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing.
(3)
Cristin M.
Good prices on a large amount of food. This place is almost always busy and they are only open for dinner. Sometimes things can be a little on the bland side, but since it's so cheap, that's easy to overlook. The service is usually great too.
(3)
Jordan L.
I thought this place was pretty terrible. If all you care about is getting full on the cheapest meal you can then this is for you. Everything we ordered was flavorless. I had pesto sauce on my pasta and it may as well have been a dab of butter -- there was no sense of pesto in it whatsoever. Everyone else ordered dishes that we equally as bad.
(1)
Mary C.
I found the food to be above Olive Garden in taste, but not quite Maggiano's. The portions are generous, but the atmosphere can be a little loud and crowded. It's a good choice if you are looking for Italian cuisine, which is quantity over quality.
(3)
Douglas G.
The world needs more basic red sauce joints and Dave's is one of them. Best time to go is late night when the families with kids are gone, the overcrowded Dave's has slow service and waitrons that look too bored to care, but the food is good. The salads and pastas are supreme. The bread however - wow, that is the worst bread I have ever had. So, tell the bored watron to hold the bread and put extra garlic on the sauce ;)
(4)
Eric H.
To the complainers, you don't need to come back. For the price, I think the food is terrific. The service is generally prompt and friendly. No, it's not upscale Italian and shouldn't be compared to that style or level, but I've been coming here regulary since the 70's and I enjoy it. Comfort food to the max. Recommended: Spaghetti Calamari, Clam Sauce, al diablo with mushrooms, Calzone 2, Gogonzola Salad, Minestrone, Pizza, Chocolate Mousse and BYOB.
(3)
Linda S.
Why is this place so popular? It's always packed but the food here is so bland, go to Olive Garden for better pasta.
(2)
Richard D.
The calzones are great. I thought the pasta was ordinary and the dessert menu is limited. Dinner and dessert for two costs us about $30.
(4)
Tim M.
You don't come here for ambiance and you should stick to the basics but you can't beat the place for price. quantity and quality. No wonder it is chock full of students. Come in jeans, order a cheap bottle of win and enjoy a casual meal in a very casual setting. We normally stick to simple pasta dishes or pizza. They make a great meatball. Yeah its not my Italian grandma's cooking or even my own but its darn good!
(4)
Oscar the Death Cat B.
This place was very popular many years ago, before the huge growth/boom in Evanston's downtown - in those days, there were few other places where you could go to get a hearty, halfway-decent Italian meal. If you are looking for gourmet-quality italian cuisine, you may be disappointed, the main reason to go here nowadays is to get big portions at very reasonable prices.
(3)
Nick B.
Good italian food, and some of the best calzones I've had the pleasure of tasting. A possible drawback is that their dining area is below street level, and doesn't always provide the best atmosphere.
(3)
Karen L.
I think I had higher expectations of this place, but I just thought it was ok. The portions are huge and the price is right, but honestly I think you can get better food out there. I only tried the spaghetti with white clam sauce and it was bland, not to mention WAY too garlicky. But I did try my companion's stuffed green pepper and that was pretty good.
(2)
Julia B.
I like my food spicy or at least to have a strong taste. The sauces they put on their pastas here are very plain and really have no taste at all. The prices aren't as cheap as people think for what you get. Not a fan of this place at all.
(2)
Stephanie M.
This place is packed. We had to wait a long time, but the food was in big portions and was pretty good. It is middle of the road in price and presentation.
(3)
jason h.
good thin crust, its boyb so thats cool you can bring wine.good pasta dishes. only draw back is that it gets kind of loud so its not the best place for a romantic dinner.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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Pizza
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Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Sherry Y.
This place has a pretty homey atmosphere. It's dimly lit and pretty much your typical Italian restaurant. It's a family establishment. My friend raved about this place to me and I thought it was pretty decent. The service was fast and the portions were huge. I ordered the stuffed peppers and it was pretty good.
(4)Steve B.
I went here Friday evening with my wife and we were greeted by a friendly hostess. We were brought stale bread by our waitress and I dipped it in their olive oil which certainly did not taste like olive oil. I had a meat calzone and my wife had spaghetti with calamari in it. The food was simply flavorless and executed very poorly. The employees were nice enough, but with as many restaurants as there are in Evanston, this should be one of the last places you go to.
(2)Zee X.
Better than Olive Garden, but still not that great. Service is a bit slow, but the food comes out fresh and fast. If your going to come here for dinner, the Chicken Parm is the way to go - the same goes for anything else that's deep fried. If you're going to order pasta beware, the marinara sauce is very watered down and a bit tasteless. (Beware, your leftovers will leak) Will I come here again? Maybe, but that's only if I'm in the mood for something fried.
(3)Ross C.
Delicious pasta although this time we went with the salmon pouched in wine and was very nice as well... The eggplant was delicious and healthy too. Now with temporarily BYOB is great too! We went across the street bought a nice french wine at a very reasonable price and enjoy a nice dinner.
(4)Cristina P.
I really hated the food here. The pasta sauce is so bitter. The meatball was dry and flavorless and the chicken parm was so fried it might as well have been a burnt chicken tender. I came here starving and left most of my plate. I'm Seriously pissed the ratings are above 3. I hate eating out and having a bad meal. The service was very good but I won't be back.
(2)Jordan Z.
The veal parmesan with meat sauce and think crust four cheese pizza is a great combination for a 2-3 people working late on a project. The veal is always excellent and the pizza isn't quit Union but damn good. Been eating here since they were on Davis St. A solid choice every time.
(4)Sarah Beth B.
This is italian comfort food at its finest. It's not fancy at all, and my husband was super suspicious when I wanted to go and told him it was where we ate all the time in college, but he came around and we both were super pleased. Portions here are huge and delicious, and that kind of gloppy, saucy, cheesy Italian that tastes good when you kinda don't feel well or don't want to put much thought into it. They make my ideal eggplant parm, with layers of fried eggplant sandwiching herby ricotta. The fresh bread is delicious, the wine is CHEAP, and you'll certainly have plenty for lunch tomorrow. It's a win!
(4)Stephanie C.
Came here for the first time today before the dinner rush started. The restaurant is pretty homey, with lots of booths and tables. I don't think it's a very authentic place; everything on the menu was very Americanized Italian food. Nevertheless, I got the ravioli and my friend got the Chicken Florentine, and both were delicious. I was given 4 large ravioli for $10.50, with a choice of sauce (I chose meat at the server's recommendation). The ravioli was cooked well, with delicious filling, and I had enough to take home and make another meal out of. Service was pretty quick and friendly, and portions and prices are decent. Wish it was more authentic, but I will probably come back and try dessert next time as well! My only complaint is that there are TOO MANY CHOICES on the menu!
(4)Mike S.
I love Dave's Italian Kitchen. Is it perfect? No, but if you are looking for a no nonsense unpretentious experience, you'll enjoy it. It's not gourmet food, but I love their Gorgonzola salad. I've never tried the pizza, but it seems popular. Their is a variety of pasta dishes that are quit good, if not earth shattering. So, to some it up, it's my go to Italian restaurant when I'm visiting Evanston.
(4)Vic L.
Nothing fancy , just a great family restaurant, you can bring your own bottle of wine for a minimum cork fee. Great pizza , love their italian salad , side of meatballs is a must ( then use extra Sause from meatballs on your za). Just go , and if you have to wait it won't be long and proves it's worth it.
(5)Ann Marie B.
My family loves Dave's Italian Kitchen. It's our go-to for family celebrations. Cannot beat the prices and the staff are so accommodating to our kids. My menu favs: muscles, Italian salad, lasagna, chicken Marsala and pizza. Kids love the bread too. Cheap, but good wine is such a plus too. And, to the server tonight who quickly brought me a fresh salad as my leftovers fell all over the floor. It was my fault, yet I appreciate you all. Thank you!
(5)Bob R.
Great food at a great price! Kid friendly! The place seemed to be filled with locals. A wonderful place to eat!
(4)Hombre S.
Nice ambience, even if you're in the basement. Very extensive menu-pasta, pizza, calzones, risotto. From there it's downhill. The food is REALLY bad. Spinach salad=a bag of spinach witha couple of onion slices. Calzone=bland and tasteless. Same for ravioli. Same for homemade bread. Everything we had at our table was bland and boring. Would not ever go here again. Nice ambience though.
(2)Ann K.
Based on what I ordered (Fettuccine Alfredo), I would not recommend this place. For around $10, I received a plate of extremely creamy noodles alfredo noodles. To my surprise, there were no added toppings in the noodles. Personally, it didn't suit me very well. It tasted very unhealthy and had no flavor. Halfway through the dish, I got sick of it and handed it over to my friend to finish it off. You may have a better experience ordering something else.
(2)Elizabeth D.
Ample portions of classic Italian-American cuisine. If you've ever been to a restaurant with red-and-white checked plastic tablecloths, you know what to expect, and you certainly won't be disappointed.
(3)Christopher R.
Dave's is my go-to restaurant in Evanston for delivery as the quality of their food and service is superior to all peers. The thin crust pizza crust is amazing and this is by far the best thin crust pizza you can find in Evanston. I recommend ordering their Chicken Parmesan with a pink (rosea) sauce and angel hair pasta (yes, they let you substitute the pasta you prefer!). If you like excellent service, huge portions and high quality - look no further.
(5)Simone T.
This review applies to delivery only, not dine in. Ordered and promptly got a thin crust pepperoni pizza and an order of linguini with white clam sauce. The verdict? Fantastic. Great NY style pizza, incredibly delicious crust, sauce, cheese & meat. The linguini & clam sauce was, literally, OVERFLOWING with a VERY welcomed and generous serving of clams & was seasoned perfectly. I haven't eaten pasta w/clams this delicious in YEARS, and this is a favorite dish for me. Dave's, you've ruined me, in the best way possible!
(5)Brandon B.
This place is very mediocre Italian food. Edible but very meh. The location is in a basement, so the place seems a little dark. This place is fine if you are close and want Italian food, but I would not call it a must visit destination.
(3)Jane W.
Third time's a charm. Came here rather impulsively just to give this place another chance (first two experiences - food wise - was a definite 1 star). Ordered garlic scallops with fettucine ($16.95), and I liked it. Generous portions of scallops (8 BIG scallops, instead of the tiny pathetic ones restaurants usually like to give), and the sauce was a nice balance between flavorful and not too oily/salty. Bread they give out at the beginning is decent. Not flavorful, but comes out warm and the consistency is nice and chewy. Also shared a meatball a la carte and it was decent as well.
(3)Diana H.
Everyone knows the food at Dave's is delicious, so I'd like to take the time to write about the wine list. I own a local wine shop and know how much everything costs, and restaurant mark-ups are usually at about 300% more than the wholesale cost. Dave's wine list is not only varied, eclectic and supremely curated, he also charges hardly any mark-up at all. Maybe 100%, which gets you a great night out with really, really good wine at (almost) retail prices. Usually the wine/booze list is where restaurants make their money. I suspect Dave is more interested in giving his customers a really great bottle of wine (which is a passion of his) at way less than the going rate to both share the love and augment the overall experience. But ours is not to ask questions. Go to Dave's and make sure you ask for the wine list and order liberally. Either pocket the savings, or pay it forward in the form of tips for the excellent and attentive waitstaff.
(5)Cat D.
Dave's Italian Kitchen is a standard italian restaurant with a super homey feel and amazing price options! Probably one of the better Italian restaurants in evanston, and definitely better than the chain ones. Though the food could do with a bit more seasoning, but all in all, I was satisfied! The homey ambience, the friendly service, the comfy food, and a reasonable price, all in all, Dave's Italian Kitchen is definitely a place I'll be frequenting from now on!
(4)Tyson T.
We were looking for a new place to try out and saw all the positive reviews so we decided to stop in. We almost didn't as the outside looked a bit run down compared to some of the newer restaurants. Plus the neon open sign was also a little questionable as I felt like we were entering a strip club as opposed to a restaurant. However, I couldn't be happier that we gave this place a chance. The actual restaurant, which is downstairs, was quite spacious and had a ton of seating. The menu was really diverse with a ton of selection and they had a nice wine list. Prices were amazing and this place actually reminded me of Leona's before they sold out to new ownership. I had a very tasty lasagna dish, which was a nice combo of meat and cheese. Appetizers were all excellent and the bread/oil was delicious. Will definitely return as the Italian restaurants in my neighborhood are 3 times more expensive with food nowhere near as good.
(5)Ed B.
raveling for business and restaurant was recommended by a co-worker that lives in the area. Located in a basement, nicely decorated and offers booth and table seating. A loaf of nice crusty Italian bread was provided while I reviewed the menu. I ordered a dinner salad which consists of lettuce, lots of shredded carrots and pepperchinis limited ingredients but listed that way on the menu so no surprise. Italian dressing was fantastic. For the meal I ordered lasagna with meat sauce that arrived nice and hot covered in cheese. Meat sauce was loaded with meat and all was very tasty. Nothing fancy but good food and good service, definitely worth giving it a try. They also offer take-out.
(3)Amy W.
I have been going to Dave's since I was about 12 years old--more than 30 years! Yikes! Anyway, I love this place! Great food, excellent wine selection, fabulous atmosphere. Service is always great. The fresh-baked bread is awesome. The chocolate mousse is a MUST.
(5)Sarah S.
I absolutely LOVE Dave's Italian Kitchen!! Their eggplant parm is amazing. The only complaint that I have is the long wait between when you order and when you actually get your food. I usually fill up on bread, and have to take some of my food home with me. I actually don't mind this because I love leftovers. But the quality of the food definitely outweighs the time it took to get it!! Their raspberry Italian soda is also amazing!!!
(4)Elaine M.
We have loved Dave's for years. I can't believe I never wrote them a Yelp review! We always start with the large Italian dinner salad with the homemade thousand island dressing to share. With the fresh bread, olive oil, and parmesan cheese, that could be a meal in itself! No matter how full we might get, we can't pass up the awesome extra thin crust pizza, calzones and pastas. Our favorite pasta is spaghetti carbonara with mushrooms. Carbonara doesn't usually come with mushrooms, but we like to balance out the salty goodness of the bacon. We never have leftover carbonara. The lasagna is very good also. My son asked to celebrate his 10th birthday here. Staff was very accommodating and attentive. They put us in the back room so we didn't feel like we had to whisper during the party. I figured out why there aren't very many photos of Dave's. As soon as you can smell your food, everyone forgets all about taking pictures and just start digging in! I have yet to get a picture of the carbonara. I'll just have to order it again... :)
(5)Rachel B.
Mediocre Italian food. I don't think there are a ton of options for good Italian in the area but I'd still rather not eat here. The best part of my meal was the cheap wine
(3)Samantha M.
This is my second time eating at Dave's Italian Kitchen, and both times I've been pleasantly surprised. The food has always been solid. It's not the fanciest pasta in the world, but you get huge servings (enough for 2-3 meals) which is perfect for busy college students. You can come here once for a meal with friends, then enjoy left overs the next day! Considering the amount of food you get, this place is an absolute steal. Aside from the food, I've always experienced excellent service at Dave's. The first time I visited, I was a bit overwhelmed by all the pasta and noodle choices/combinations. The server at the time was incredibly helpful, friendly, and helped us make some pasta + noodle combinations. The second time, the server was really attentive even though the restaurant was extremely busy, and did a great job checking in with us throughout the meal.
(4)Steve A.
Dave's may have the best wine list in Evanston. It's certainly the best priced wine list. The selections are well thought out, good quality, and priced only a bit above retail. Weirdly, the best section of the list is Australian, where there are a number of old gems. Food-wise, our results were good but not amazing. I really liked the Ceasar salad, and the bread was great. I was less enthusiastic about the house made pasta, which seemed heavy and overcooked. The small calzone was huge and tasty, although next time I'll make sure to get one with ricotta cheese in it. We didn't sample the pizza, but it looked very good. The entrance is weird, with steps leading down to an industrial cubicle and no signs indicating where the restaurant is. But this makes it a delightful surprise to open the door onto a cheerful, bustling, and surprisingly large space. Service was very friendly and attentive. We'll definitely return for another crack at that wine list.
(4)Sharon C.
A little more than 3 stars, but less than 4, so... I was here for dinner with my friend, and I was totally shocked by how awesome this restaurant looked. I don't know why I'd never eaten here before, but it is much more impressive on the inside: you go down some stairs and through unmarked doors, and then it's like your transported to a whole different world. They don't seat you until your entire party arrives, which I like, except when it's my friends that are late, and not the people in front of me in line. We were seated relatively quickly, and given a bowl of bread. You do have to ask for butter for the bread, but our server brought it over quickly. I ordered the #3 small calzone (pepperoni and sausage), and my friend ordered angel hair pasta with white clam sauce, which she said she had last time she was there and was really craving. The food was a little slow to arrive - we finished our bread basket and actually asked for another - but the portions were surprisingly big. I will say that the calzone was a little more doughy than I thought it should have been, and I thought I could have done with a little bit of a better filling-to-wrapping ratio. However, the service was fantastic and they never rushed us, even though we stayed at our table for at least another thirty minutes after paying for our meal. Overall: I'm not a huge pasta person and I think that's what you're supposed to get here, so I don't know that I'd go back, but it was definitely a good experience!
(3)Miles D.
We've eaten here MANY times and have always enjoyed the food. I typically get the stuffed zucchini and my wife gets the pasta with cheese, garlic and mushrooms. Yummy! And the Italian salad for 2 is great. We especially enjoy the creamy garlic dressing. SO GOOD!!! One time I ordered pasta with a mustard cream sauce. WAY too much for me...Sauce was too sweet and just too much... Had my second mediocre meal there last night...We tried the pizza and did not care for it at all... Crust not good...tasted burned and my wife commented that it "tastes like a frozen pizza." We've always seen folks eating pizza here, but we will not order it again. I'll stick with the stuffed zucchini and the Italian salad...Those are yummy!
(3)Ki-tae P.
Cheese thin Pizza was salty but tasty once u got used to the salt. Bit greasy but not too much. If anything it indicates that they used high quality cheese. Italian salad with homemade dressing was amazing. Get the large. Share with everyone. Spaghetti with meat sauce and meatball was good. Seasoned perfectly and juicy. And all this for around 30 bucks. Food enough for 4 maybe 5 people. 5/5 would definitely come again. Very big wine list
(5)Rowena L.
I'm sooo late on this review, but wanted to get it in anyways. I've always loved the hearty, large portions of delicious homemade goodness and the overall family-friendly atmosphere here. Really great spot for groups too.
(4)Sahil A.
I'm so happy I finally came to this place. It is exactly my friend described, a red & white table cloth Italian place that will leave you happy and stuffed. I recently went with three friends and we all loved it. The wine menu is awesome...I'm pretty sure you can buy the same bottle of wine there for less than you could at Whole Foods across the street... We ordered the garlic bread covered in blue cheese and tomatoes to start. It was phenomenal, but definitely unnecessary as a meal is more than enough to fill you up. I had the pasta diavola with shrimp, which was everything I wanted it to be. My friends all had a calzone and seemed equally happy. Definitely go to Dave's.
(4)Stephen A.
Went for the first time a few days ago. It was great. Really cozy atmosphere. Affordable prices is what they advertise and it's true. Service was great. Our server was Sheila, and she was so attentive and personable. The food is exceptional. I had the small spinach salad, which was great. Bigger than I expected but the tangy dressing was delicious. The stuffed green peppers were awesome. I got one stuffed with meat and one stuffed with ricotta and mushrooms. The mushrooms were beyond delicious. My friend got the lasagna, which she liked. They do give you a lot of sauce with the entrees even without pasta. For dessert we had tiramisu. I'd recommend it. Between the two of us, dinner was $29.
(4)Julia G.
Dave's is a staple of the Evanston restaurant scene. I've been here dozens of times, for birthday parties or a quick bite to eat. It's great for all occasions-- families, dinner with friends, date night. The restaurant is underground and has cozy booths and big tables for parties of all sizes. The food is what I imagine my Italian grandmother would cook-- heaping piles of spaghetti in meaty sauce and stuffed calzones bigger than your face. The portions are large, especially for the prices. The recipes are simple, but the food is delicious and comforting. I recommend the meatball sub. The meatballs are juicy, the cheese is metly, and the bread is crispy. But be warned this lone sandwich can feed 2+ people easily. So don't go finishing it in one sitting.
(4)Nathan L.
3.5 stars. Food is pretty mediocre. I ordered a chicken Alfredo and the sauce was kind of bland. I've had much better Italian food elsewhere so I don't think I'm going to go back anytime soon.
(3)Ava K.
Lasagna Con Amore was great. The 2nd time I went I got Eggplant Parmesan, which was still decent but just not as good. Both times I could not finish the meal and had enough left for a 2nd. But I also don't have a huge appetite. Good bang for my buck Fun interior with lots of signed bottles. Got our food quickly both times
(4)Angie M.
This place is super cute. My boyf decided to surprise me with a Sunday night dinner date at Dave's. He was like, "I wanted to take you somewhere cute, home and cozy." Dave's succeeded. Dave's isn't reinventing the wheel. They serve up all the traditional, old school Italian faves. Red sauce. Meat sauce. Homemade pastas. You get the idea. My baked ziti with meat sauce was an absolute comfort food dream. Creative? Not so much. But to this Pisan it was heaven. Just like Mom used to make. Mmmmhmmm. I especially love this venue. It's in the basement of a downtown Evanston building. The table cloths are checkered. The walls are wood paneled. There are deep, private booths with high backs so you can make your own little intimate table for two (or more). It's so cheesy yet so comforting. Absolute perfection when looking for a really low-key location. The prices are cheap. The food is comfort at it's very best. The basement location makes for a sweet little old-school spot. I'm in love.
(4)Tom M.
Had a crazy good experience eating at Dave's. Plentiful, delicious food at reasonable prices. The servers were attentive and quick. The restaurant was relatively busy but we never had trouble finding our waiter and getting what we needed. I was a regular at Dave's Italian Kitchen in the 1980's when it was in its former location. After a 20 year absence on my part, Dave's remains a fantastic place.
(5)V. J.
I really liked going here. The food is great. However, last time I was there, the waitress was super creepy with an excessively "friendly" affect that only capitalism can produce. It was a bizarre and uncomfortable experience. Then there's the screaming children (with food scattered across the floor around them...) I enjoy cooking at home, so I only go out when I'd like to spend time with someone in a pleasant atmosphere with good food, drinks, and an intimate conversation. Not anxiety. I don't recommend taking a date here.
(3)Brad D.
This place is great if you are looking for a casual VERY reasonably priced homemade Italian meal. The pasta is excellent. The wine by the bottle is inexpensive but excellent. Large salads are amazing and serve 2-4. My wife and I ordered a bottle of wine, calamari app, large salad and split a homemade pasta dish and were stuffed. No room for the homemade tiramisu. Would definitely come back again if visiting Evanston.
(5)Sarah G.
This is my all-time favorite restaurant. I grew up in Evanston, and every time I come to town I make sure to come here. My parents have been going to Dave's since the 70s. It's reliably delicious, charming, affordable, and friendly. Although everything on the menu is good, the lasagne con amore is my go-to. And I never leave without eating the chocolate mousse. Vegetarian and gluten-free friendly!
(5)Kathleen C.
How have I NOT reviewed Dave's? The spot that I've probably been to 100 times? I can't believe it - my only excuse can be that I started eating here loooooooong before I started yelping. First of all, Dave's is a dive...not in the sense of dirty, dungy spots or cranky hosts, but in the "you can get a really great meal for high value in the basement of an office building" kind of way. Anyone who has seen the line for dinner on a Friday can also attest that this spot is popular! I've been to countless dinners here, parties, and have ordered pizza to go. My favorite - plain old cheese - I'm not sure why - it just screams DAVE'S to me. My dad usually get a calzone and if Mom is with us, we have salad as well. Usually no dessert because by the time we've finished all of that, they have to roll us out of the restaurant on a dolly. Dave's staff is really friendly and many of them have been there for what seems like forever. Wine pours are generous and inexpensive (though what happened to serving wine in huge tumblers??). The food is fresh, pizza sauce is not too sweet and everything is made fresh and hot and delicious. Though I no longer live in Evanston, I still get to Dave's, so that shows how much I love it. Definitely worth a trip for a no frills Italian dinner that you'll be smiling about when you're done.
(5)Christine B.
After 3.5 years living in Evanston I FINALLY gave it a try! Quality, made from scratch food. I got the homemade ziti with meat sauce, mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes. It came with bread-- clearly it was homemade and delicious! Reminds me of Romanian bread. The food overall was hearty and u could feel, cooked with love. I have been missing out and am excited to return. :)
(5)Ben K.
I always want to like Dave's, but I just leave underwhelmed by the food each time I come here. It's well priced though and I like the atmosphere.
(2)Jeff H.
If you have kids or a large group, this is the Italian place to go to in Evanston. The food is standard Italian fare done well and the atmosphere is casual. I've heard their Chicken Parmigiana is one of the best in the area. For smaller groups or a more romantic setting though, I'd probably head over to Trattoria Demi. #goodforgroups
(4)John C.
I have not been to the Kitchen in years, I probably won't be there ever again. I never have enjoyed eating in a basement. The place is noisy and has the atmosphere of a Texas road house. The only thing you will find Italian is the name on the door. Everything was phoned in with five scoops of heavy tomato sauce poured over everything. There is no effort taken for presentation. There are three pathetic starters. If you prefer mid-west Americanized Italian food then this is your place.
(2)Valerie W.
With 197 reviews, what can I really say about Dave's that hasn't already been said? A brief retelling of my experience? Sure thing! Overall, I went into Dave's Italian Kitchen with nothing but the expectation of a good plate of pasta. It was recommended by a vegetarian friend of mine as a reasonably priced place to get a good Italian dinner for both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. We arrived and were seated right away. Dave's is in the basement of the building, but that does not take away from the ambience. It is warm and inviting, with red/white checkered tablecloths, plenty of empty wine bottles lining the walls, and a general "old world Italian" feel. I originally felt a bit rushed to order by our server, but he cooled his britches after we politely asked for a few extra minutes. The setup for pasta at Dave's is pretty simple. You have six or seven different types of noodles to choose from (including a few homemade options), and several different sauces/combos (marinara, bolognese, diavolo, carbonara, alfredo, rose, aglio oglio, clam sauce, you name it.) Put your favorite pasta and sauce combo together, and boom, you've got dinner. All for around $10 or less. I ordered the homemade spinach rotini with alfredo sauce. I was tempted to add cremini mushrooms to my dish for an additional $0.95, but opted for a dinner salad with creamy garlic dressing on the side instead. Dinner salad: standard. Lettuce, shredded carrot, pepperoncini. A large size for $2.95 Creamy garlic dressing: Very THICK, very powerful. Definitely homemade, with a LOT of raw garlic. I was still breathing fire after several pieces of gum. I spent a lot of the rest of the night apologizing profusely to those around me. Homemade spinach rotini w/Alfredo: Totally stole the show! This was so.freaking.good. I have to order homemade noodles when I see them, it makes all the difference in the world. The pasta was cooked to a perfect al-dente, the portion was huge, and it was not over-sauced. I did add a little black pepper and cheese to mine, but I like it to be very peppery. I'm still bummed that I left the leftovers in my boyfriend's fridge and they've probably been gobbled up by now. I am already plotting my subsequent return visits to Dave's.
(5)Jo B.
I've been here twice and am still underwhelmed. The prices are comparable to other Italian restaurants, but only include your entree. Soup or salad (normally included with your meal at other places) are extra. If their food were good, this might be acceptable. Their food is bland and unsatisfying. Even their water tastes off. Go elsewhere for good Italian food.
(2)Grace J.
wonderful obviously! Because it has the best staff in the world.
(5)A.J. M.
Dave's only has 3 stars on yelp? Ouch. Too many haters. But I'll defend it to the grave, starting with the prices. They're incredible in regards to the quality of the food. The spaghetti carbonara? Flat out awesome. The baked spaghetti? Excellent. And it's all for a great price. The place is always packed it seems, so it's hard to get a seat most times, and while you can do takeout, it's better to eat it there. That's a given, I assume. The fact is, besides the two pastas I've mentioned, their pasta dishes are divine, and I haven't even tried their pizza, while many people have told me that it too is incredible. I hate not being in Evanston, resulting in my seperation from Daves. But I know that it'll always be there, with it's great prices and great food. Is it the best Italian food you can get in Chicago and its suburbs? Probably not. But I don't care. It's my favorite Italian joint anywhere.
(5)David F.
I have been eating here for about 30 years and have enjoyed every bite of it. The food is great, the portion sizes are just right, and the prices are so low that I am concerned that they are making enough profit. The vegetarian minestrone is out of this world and there is a great selection of wines.
(5)Allen R.
I've never eaten-in at this place, but managed to eat nearly an entire pizza from here after filming a documentary with the BBC for two solid days. It had pepperoni, and delicately thin slices of onion and zucchini. Delish! I didn't even know I liked onion and zucchini on pizza!
(5)Pam T.
Every time I eat at Daves I end up disappointed and with a stomach ache. My husband and I go every 6 months or so, and when we walk out, we remember why we don't eat there. The service is slow, the food is just ok...and there are better Italian restaurants in Evanston.
(2)Lee-Han H.
Not good. The food here is yuck. They need to hire new cooks because no one has earn the boyardee status yet. Terrible time with nasty food that is overpriced.
(1)Larz F.
Dave's used to be this great BYOB hole in the wall, cheap, college kid hangout with huge portions. Since it has moved and become a more "upscale" place it is no longer a value. It might be decent if you were raised on Dominoes and Ragu,but if you actually ate real Italian food growing up you'll be disappointed. So many better places in the area this one is worth missing.
(2)Dee W.
Food was pretty decent - big portions (I had them for lunch the next day) - service was fair and the wine was good. :) We had a decent wait of about half an hour and people were saying how they should have made reservations. I got the mini mostacialli which was average fare and the chicken alfredo with sun dried tomatos was pretty good.
(4)connie m.
I went to this place because it said it was kid friendly and there were some items that would appeal to a larger group who didn't want pizza. First of all, it is NOT kid friendly, they don't even have a children's menu. I got the provolone chicken which is supposed to have pesto..they put pesto in the cheese, not on the chicken so you couldn't even taste it. The chicken was seriously overcooked. The caesar salad..how do you mess that up?? The dressing, of course..it was tasteless, we all had to add salt to the salad to add some flavor. The chicken parm was dry, the bread they put on the table is rustic style and doesn't even come with butter. So, we spent about $80 for 4 people to dine and had a horrible meal. The only thing that i can say positive about them is that I did like the red sauce but it was barely put on the spaghetti that came as a side. I wasn't expecting fine dining but i was expecting a decent meal. Olive Garden would have been the better choice in this case.. I won't be going back.
(1)Jaclyn C.
I really detest this restaurant without being able to say exactly why. I've been twice, and the dishes I tasted were uninspired and bland. Seems that that's the general consensus from people I know. Maybe the calzones are better. 2 stars = will only go back with gift certificate or on a bad date...
(2)Van D.
I can't vouch for anything but their Primavera Calzone. It's the only thing I've ever gotten there and it's absolutely delicious. I get a large(HUGE) with whole wheat crust and only half the cheese but double the pesto. I have considered ordering something else but why bother when this is so extraordinarily good? Everyone else around me looks quite happy also. Good mixed crowd, old and young.
(5)Mindy S.
We were also headed to Joy Yee's... Oh well. So we passed up Tapa's and Gio, and landed at Dave's. It was ok. I hade the mussels marinara with pasta. The mussels were on the small side, and the marinara sauce was very acidic and loaded with raw garlic. Made it hard to eat the sauce. I prefer Classico jarred sauce over Dave's.
(2)Kitty H.
If you order the Lasagna con Amore (with meat sauce!) and the Italian Salad, it is like heaven. If you order other stuff, it will probably just be more like Evanston (which is a very nice suburb).
(4)Amanda A.
This restaurant is the ideal place for great italian food on a college budget. The wine list is amazingly diverse and unbelievable low priced -not to mention that signing the finished bottle and leaving it for future readers is part of the tradition. Always busy and always good!
(4)Chris M.
We've been there a couple of times and taken friends and family there and have never really been disappointed. Food is served in large portions which makes for leftovers and the bread is very good. My wife always says you get what you pay for and that fits here...nothing spectacular, but worth the trip for some good, inexpensive Italian.
(4)Cristin M.
Good prices on a large amount of food. This place is almost always busy and they are only open for dinner. Sometimes things can be a little on the bland side, but since it's so cheap, that's easy to overlook. The service is usually great too.
(3)Jordan L.
I thought this place was pretty terrible. If all you care about is getting full on the cheapest meal you can then this is for you. Everything we ordered was flavorless. I had pesto sauce on my pasta and it may as well have been a dab of butter -- there was no sense of pesto in it whatsoever. Everyone else ordered dishes that we equally as bad.
(1)Mary C.
I found the food to be above Olive Garden in taste, but not quite Maggiano's. The portions are generous, but the atmosphere can be a little loud and crowded. It's a good choice if you are looking for Italian cuisine, which is quantity over quality.
(3)Douglas G.
The world needs more basic red sauce joints and Dave's is one of them. Best time to go is late night when the families with kids are gone, the overcrowded Dave's has slow service and waitrons that look too bored to care, but the food is good. The salads and pastas are supreme. The bread however - wow, that is the worst bread I have ever had. So, tell the bored watron to hold the bread and put extra garlic on the sauce ;)
(4)Eric H.
To the complainers, you don't need to come back. For the price, I think the food is terrific. The service is generally prompt and friendly. No, it's not upscale Italian and shouldn't be compared to that style or level, but I've been coming here regulary since the 70's and I enjoy it. Comfort food to the max. Recommended: Spaghetti Calamari, Clam Sauce, al diablo with mushrooms, Calzone 2, Gogonzola Salad, Minestrone, Pizza, Chocolate Mousse and BYOB.
(3)Linda S.
Why is this place so popular? It's always packed but the food here is so bland, go to Olive Garden for better pasta.
(2)Richard D.
The calzones are great. I thought the pasta was ordinary and the dessert menu is limited. Dinner and dessert for two costs us about $30.
(4)Tim M.
You don't come here for ambiance and you should stick to the basics but you can't beat the place for price. quantity and quality. No wonder it is chock full of students. Come in jeans, order a cheap bottle of win and enjoy a casual meal in a very casual setting. We normally stick to simple pasta dishes or pizza. They make a great meatball. Yeah its not my Italian grandma's cooking or even my own but its darn good!
(4)Oscar the Death Cat B.
This place was very popular many years ago, before the huge growth/boom in Evanston's downtown - in those days, there were few other places where you could go to get a hearty, halfway-decent Italian meal. If you are looking for gourmet-quality italian cuisine, you may be disappointed, the main reason to go here nowadays is to get big portions at very reasonable prices.
(3)Nick B.
Good italian food, and some of the best calzones I've had the pleasure of tasting. A possible drawback is that their dining area is below street level, and doesn't always provide the best atmosphere.
(3)Karen L.
I think I had higher expectations of this place, but I just thought it was ok. The portions are huge and the price is right, but honestly I think you can get better food out there. I only tried the spaghetti with white clam sauce and it was bland, not to mention WAY too garlicky. But I did try my companion's stuffed green pepper and that was pretty good.
(2)Julia B.
I like my food spicy or at least to have a strong taste. The sauces they put on their pastas here are very plain and really have no taste at all. The prices aren't as cheap as people think for what you get. Not a fan of this place at all.
(2)Stephanie M.
This place is packed. We had to wait a long time, but the food was in big portions and was pretty good. It is middle of the road in price and presentation.
(3)jason h.
good thin crust, its boyb so thats cool you can bring wine.good pasta dishes. only draw back is that it gets kind of loud so its not the best place for a romantic dinner.
(4)Bethany A.
Came here with a group of friends (like a very large group) and while the service was good, the food didn't impress much. My chicken marsala was way too sweet and I thought there were too many mushrooms. My friend had the chicken florentine and complained that there wasn't enough cheese in the dish as well. However, the people who ordered pesto chicken were fairly happy with their choice (despite one of them thinking that the pesto was not very good). Tiramisu was a hit, as always!
(2)Michelle M.
New to Evanston and had a very good dinner here last evening. Very nice people and the service was good. The wait was quite a bit longer than we were told but we enjoyed a drink before dinner. Pasta dishes were all delicious. My only disappointment was that there wasn't a single Italian wine offered by the glass. Not even a simple Chianti. Otherwise, we plan to go back.
(4)Caitlin B.
Definitely not upscale, authentic Italian food, but good, solid Americanized renditions of Italian classes with decent service and good prices. I've tried a variety of their pasta dishes and salads. All are extremely large (you can easily eat half and take the other half home, even if you have a big appetite), and I've never had anything that was bad. They have a pretty extensive beer/wine list at very reasonable prices. If you're looking for a reasonably priced, sit-down dinner in downtown Evanston, you've found it.
(4)David W.
My favourite inexpensive, fill yerself to the eye lids, pasta, salad, warm bread, vino, choco mousse, orgy. Big wait on weekends. We go for early dinner and movie around the corner. Dave,s is always the much better value. Not top top notch, wouldn't bring the Queen here for dinner, but still my favourite good, homemade, casual nosh in the area. Ask my wife!!
(4)Chris L.
Dave's is a great place for dates and for bigger group dinners. I haven't tried everything here, but the pasta and garlic bread are really good. I highly recommend getting the garlic bread to share with your friends because it's so flavorful!
(4)Cameron H.
My team suggested going to this place to carb up for our charity ride the following day. As for the location, not bad in Evanston. Very easy to get to. With there being 12 of us, we were put a few tables pushed together. Very comfortable. As for the dinner, it was ok. There wasn't anything special about the pasta or the sauce. Overall the experience was decent. Being there with friends made it more enjoyable. Not sure if I would go back.
(3)Cherie W.
The BEST red gravy ever!! Have been going here for over 15 years because the food is authentic, delicious and well priced. We love the homemade ravioli with meatballs or Italian sausage, spaghetti bolognese or lasagna. Everything is outstanding but these are our favorites. The owners, Dave and Ellen, are beautiful people and treat their customers well.
(5)Horace L.
Decent italian food at a reasonable price. I like the ravioli, and the marinara sauce is terrific. Their lasagne con amore is fantastically flavorful, and their salmon is lackluster.
(5)Peter P.
Dave's has been a staple of Evanston for decades. As dozens of restaurants come and go, Dave's is still there. Good Italian food at very reasonable prices. Service is friendly and prompt. What more can you ask for? Wait times can be a bit excessive on weekends, so try and get here early. If you do find yourself having to wait, order a drink from their little bar that is conveniently located in the waiting area.
(4)Mercy M.
Boy oh boy do I love Dave's! Situated in my college town, it is the perfect casual yet quality restaurant. My favorite items are their chicken parmesan, meatballs, and pan pizza. I always leave craving their HUGE chicken parmesan - two pieces of chicken breast with your choice of pasta. I'm a huge fan of fluffy, bready pizza (but not deep dish) and Dave's makes it just right in my opinion. I also love that you can pretty much customize any order. The service is good, despite being one of the busier restaurants in town. With Dave's reasonable prices and large portions, you really get the bang out of your buck here. Keep it that way, Dave, and you'll keep us broke college students coming back. Tips: they're only open for dinner; they only take reservations once you arrive; and there is no free parking in Downtown Evanston other than on Sundays so be prepared with quarters for the meters or a couple bucks for the parking garage around the corner. Just writing this review has made me hungry for Dave's, so if you're debating whether or not to go, GO.
(5)Patrick M.
The chicken parm diavolo is very good. Love going to dave's.
(5)Andy S.
It has been a loooooooooooooong time since I've been to Dave's Italian Kitchen and I was reminded quickly of the large portions. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan and they basically give you some pasta with your chicken instead of the other way around - 2 huge chicken breasts!!! Service is good here. Food quality was good though not outstanding. I think this is maybe a 3.5 star but will stick to 3 star until I am wowed more. Perhaps on my next visit. Prices are reasonable - anywhere from $10-$20 something depending on what you get but the Chicken Parm was $12 something and I had a meal the next day (and I can eat).
(3)Josh S.
Love it. The food is very serviceable. Tastes great and the portions are huge. Definitely not fine dining, but it is fun, fast, not too expensive and tasty. I recommend the veal parm. Good veal and the pasta is solid as well.
(4)Allen B.
It is with reluctance that I change my rating to a star less than before. It is amazing that there are people that work at Dave's that have been there for 35 years .... it speaks well for Dave's management.... The wait staff is amazing! The best I've experienced. The reason for the downgrade is the noise level, which is brutal when it is busy....please, more acoustic tiles or something! Also, the food tends to be on the salty side.
(3)Jonathan M.
Great food with excellent service and ridiculously good prices! Get the 4 cheese spinach ravioli with the vodka ream sauce! ...doing forget to get a meatball on the side. There's also a parking lot a half block north, about a dollar an hour.
(5)Bilal M.
place is awesome, has a great itilian atmosphere. good music good location, good customer service and of course good food! doesnt seem all that fancy at first till you get inside! dim lighting perfect for romancing that special Someone! :0D I will be back!!
(5)Tian Y.
Dave's is hit and miss. The first time we went, it was maybe an hour before they were closing, and we were taken care of by a great server who made perfect suggestions based on what we told her. My bf told her he wanted a lot of meat, so she suggested lasagna with bolognese sauce - more meat than he could eat. I wanted something rich but not too heavy, and I got the scallop and shrimp in a cream sauce over fettuccini, which was just what I wanted. We also devoured a mussels marinara appetizer - flavorful sauce, well cooked mussels, yummmmm. Everything was flavorful and cooked well. We left stuffed and happy and had a great time! After that, I ordered delivery a couple of times, and sitting in a box probably made the food not as fresh, but I expect that getting delivery. Most of the time, the mussel appetizer was okay - sometimes the mussels were overcooked, but I'm not sure whether they died on the drive over or were cooked poorly. We tried a couple of the risottos, which were sometimes cooked perfectly and other times a bit bland and had slightly undercooked rice. Then we went on a Saturday night at around 7:30pm, right in the middle of dinner rush. We had to wait about 5 minutes for our table, which isn't so bad. But our overcooked mussels were in a watery bland sauce, the chicken in my chicken parmesan was waaaaay dry in a sauce that was too salty. My bf's big ravioli was just alright, but in a similarly salty sauce. Our waiter was inattentive, no one filled our waters on time, and I didn't even have silverware until I had to flag someone down after my entree was served. Everything was off about that night, and we were disappointed after the great experience we had last time we were here. I think in the future, I'll only stop by for late dinners and request our first server (whose name I just can't remember right now). The portions are reasonable for the price, and the food *can* be good, but don't go during the dinner rush or you might be disappointed.
(3)Grant E.
I've gone to Dave's Italian Kitchen a few times. To begin with, the food is good, not great. My chicken Parmesan needed to be tenderized a little bit more, and it was dry. The portions are very large, especially when considering the great prices. The real reason I continue to come back, however, is the service. The servers love to engage the customer and help them to the best of their ability. I will be going back again.
(4)William C.
Food was fast and really good with big portions. They have a few nice beers on tap and the wait was not long, A solid meal for the 4 of us and prices were fair. Nice place to take quests
(4)Nema H.
Service is excellent. I love the ambiance as well, which captures that Italian hospitality. The wine is indeed cheap but fantastic. BUT....but....these guys can't bake bread to save their lives, both in their garlic bread and their Pizzas. It's heavy...but lifeless with no taste. I've also had bad impressions from their calzone. There isn't a shred of complexity in its taste. It was so freakin salty and the sauce was essentially nonexistent...like tomato sauce diluted with water. All in all...I will still give this place another shot. Am I not merciful?
(3)Sarah G.
As a foodie, I love exploring every area for new places to eat at. And sometimes, you forget about all the great places that are a block away from you. Case in point for Dave's Italian Kitchen, a staple of Evanston for both college students and families for over 30 years. Interestingly enough, this is the one place serving Italian food doing it right, at least that I've found so far since returning from Italy. Simple, easy ingredients. Quality over quantity. Homey atmosphere. Everything that is essentially Italian, is at Dave's without a doubt. As a kid, I used to come to Dave's with my parents when we went to visit my grandmother on Sundays, and take her out to dinner. So it's safe to say, Dave's Italian Kitchen has been a staple for my family as well. I can recommend the Lasagna without a second thought, or the Spaghetti, two obvious Italian classics. On tonight's visit, I went with my dad. We ordered some garlic bread to start, and then we got to the good stuff! My dad ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese, which is no surprise at all, because he orders it every time. Lucky for you guys, I've had the Spaghetti Bolognese and it is delicious! The sauce is satisfactorily meaty, and the flavor is rich and super tasty. Yes, this is a dish I recommend. You cannot go wrong with Spaghetti. I ordered the Fettuccine Rosé, which is this perfect mix of Alfredo sauce and marinara, blended together and topped with Fettuccine. I added Spinach to mine, which made it even better, at least in my opinion. The best thing about a Rosé sauce is the balance of creaminess. As a foodie, it is seriously unfortunate that I'm lactose intolerant. It sucks the most when I go to an Italian restaurant and want to order my favorite, Fettuccine Alfredo. So, ordering the Rosé is a great compromise to me. Not to mention, my pasta was absolutely delectable. I have plenty of leftovers to eat for lunch tomorrow! Finally, we had some dessert. Cannoli, anyone? Delicious but too much to eat in one sitting. I mean look at it. It's pretty appetizing! Overall, if you like Italian food, and I mean real Italian, come to Dave's Italian Kitchen on Chicago Avenue. I guarantee, whether it's risotto, pasta, lasagna, salmon, or a calzone, you will find something that you will enjoy!
(4)Jacob B.
I've been coming here for years. I don't come frequently, but I recently finished out a date day here and had a great experience! The service was pretty good. The atmosphere was mostly as I remember it. Not very quiet, but the casual nature of this place is one of the reasons I enjoy it. The sangria and the beer selection were both good. The food was fantastic and the portions were huge. We ate for multiple meals from it. The pricing is also completely reasonable, especially considering the portion size. We finished out the night with some Tiramisu. We took it home for an extra dollar, but the piece was so large it took three sittings for us to eat it and it was some of the best tiramisu I've had. The only reason this isn't a five star review is that the wait staff used to seem friendlier when I went years ago.
(4)Lakoi M.
Horrible service, called at 8:05 pm to place an order for delivery, made sure person on the other side of the line got my address correct, Order arrived almost 2 hours late very soggy, burnt and wrong dressing and they asked for full price!!!!!!! Sorry no more dave's, talked to manager and offered 25 dollars of my order. Guess what buddy? They already charged me!!!!!
(1)Chris P.
My wife and I have enjoyed coming to Dave's for years, and really enjoy the experience and the food. The people there are welcoming, friendly, calm and gracious, yet they visibly work very hard, and we almost always get a seat either straight away or within a few minutes of waiting. There's a very convenient & reasonably-priced parking structure located just around the corner. There's always been a nice friendly and happy 'buzz' in there on Friday nights, which somehow the acoustics allow without being intrusive. The service and experience is unpretentious, and efficient. Waiters leave a big jug of iced water and glasses on the table--none of the ridiculous & intrusive 'water refilling' nonsense you'll have to endure at most places. Similarly, with the food--the wait staff simply leave your dishes on the table, check you don't need anything else, and then let you get on and eat it without unwelcome hassle. I rarely buy wine in restaurants (usually terrible value for money), but the house wine glass/bottles seem quite nice to me and quite good value here, so I've indulged fairly often. It's not a 'fine dining' kinda place (been there, done that, and been disappointed almost all the time), but the food is good, honest, wholesome and fine to me--good-sized portions, and the prices are reasonable. The standard sauce is rich and tangy, which I like, and I've never found myself not wanting to take home and eat my leftovers. Hurrah for Dave's Italian Kitchen.
(4)Natalie N.
FANTASTIC ITALIAN IN EVANSTON!!!!! This place is always 100%. Great food, great service, great atmosphere, great prices...we can't get enough. Enjoy!
(5)Eugene W.
This restaurant is very nice. It has a comfortable and homey atmosphere in its underground location. The food is very good. The bread they set out as an appetizer is really good, and if you mix their olive oil with the parmesan cheese on the table, it makes a great spread for the bread. I ordered fettuccine pasta with carbonara sauce and chicken. They put a lot of cheese on the pasta. I love cheese, so that was a plus for me. The portion sizes here are great; I received a very hefty amount of food and wasn't even able to finish it all. I would definitely come back here, since it gives great value for poor college students looking for food.
(4)Christine K.
I would never come here, again. Oh my goodness. I did not want to come here, but my friend wanted to grab dinner from Dave's. I feel as though all the dishes served are drenched in excessive fat and oil, which is anything but pleasant. Moreover, the service is terrible. I did not want to tip even 20%, but I did not allow my frustration get the best of me. I would recommend that you go to Trattoria if you want Italian in Evanston. It's a shame Gio closed down. However, if you have the means to travel to Chicago, then please enjoy real Italian food in the city.
(2)Mike Z.
This is solid Italian food in Evanston. First off the prices are very reasonable and the food is great. Their home baked bread is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. There's parmesan and olive oil on the table for you to mix. We had the chicken parmesan which was good. Not the best I've ever had but a nice size serving and definitely worth ordering. Their calzones are amazing. I had the calzone with sausage and pepperoni and it was delicious. I got the small and it was easily big enough for 2 meals. The one down side is the caesar salad was worth forgetting. It looked as if the lettuce had been sitting in water and immediately put into the bowl. There wasn't enough dressing and no parmesan on top. Crouton were good but overall a big disappointment with the salad. We didn't drink any wine but they have very reasonable prices for glasses and bottles and a very big selection. I would definitely recommend going and we will be going back for sure. I just won't order the caesar.
(4)Helen S.
I came here on a weekday night with my research group and some professors for a celebratory meal. I called ahead to make a reservations and there were no problems. We had a large group of 10 people and they were able to accommodate us all quite nicely. I've never been inside Dave's but I've seen it from across the street since I visit Whole Foods quite a bit, and I didn't expect it to be so spacious inside. I ordered the risotto with broccoli, garlic, and chicken, and it was delicious, probably one of the best risottos I've ever had. The portions were huge but I ate the whole thing (and felt a little guilty afterwards) because it was so good and i was pretty hungry. I also tried a bite of my friend's chicken masala which was fantastic too. We also split the tiramisu and chocolate mousse, and both desserts were very solid. Overall, cute place, great atmosphere, would return. P.S. I like how the menu says: 2012 ELECTIONS. MAYANS. OLYMPICS. DAVE'S ITALIAN KITCHEN TURNS FORTY
(4)Marcee W.
Had some concerns over mixed reviews on Yelp and from people I know, but I was not disappointed at all! Service was good and food was delicious. I had the Chicken Marsala which was served in a bowl -- strips of chicken, mushrooms, and rotini pasta in Marsala wine sauce -- yummy! Friends enjoyed spinach lasagna (excellent) and balsamic chicken which was also served cut up in a bowl with lots of vegetables (equally yummy). We topped it off with homemade tiramisu and chocolate mousse. Easy street parking and no meters on a Sunday night! Less than $20 per person. I'll definitely be back!!!
(4)Darren F.
feeling for Italian and this was the closest spot to us when we were around that area.. ordered chicken parmesan fettuccini with pink sauce (alfredo and spaghetti mixed together) , garlic bread, and mussels.. thanks to the 2 nice friendly waiter and waitress there.. i believe their names was Anthony and Anna? who recommended us what was good there... also they were really attentive on our drinks.. the chicken parmesan fettuccini with pink sauce was awesome! chicken was nice and juicy and the combination of sauce made it even better! the garlic bread was good but prepare to have that garlic stick in your mouth for hours! the mussels was ok.. had better..
(3)Steve A.
Been here several times, but first review. I really want to like this place...nice divey, homey feel, very friendly and attentive waitstaff, some decent bread to start the meal, and reasonable prices. The food however (which is the main reason to dine out) leaves much to be desired. My minestrone soup tasted burnt, the sausage in the calzone didn't taste right, the lasagna was bland, and the water-logged baked ziti seemed like it was thrown together by a grade-school culinary class. I just do not understand the popularity of this place.
(2)Janet K.
I do enjoy coming here - the staff seems to enjoy working here and they're super-friendly toward our toddler son. Our waitress even offered him a tub full of toys to play with, very thoughtful! The Italian salad is fresh and crunchy, the house and red wine vinaigrette's add a ton of flavor. I would definitely order their fresh pastas - the homemade ziti with meat sauce is wonderful and comforting. The marsala and vesuvio dishes are MUCH too sweet. I won't order those again. Good wine and beer selections and great prices all around. A perfect place for an easy night out with friends and family!
(4)Emily C.
I love Dave's! The food is delicious, I've never had anything here that wasn't great, and their prices are some of the most reasonable around. It is definitely a family-friendly style restaurant, so it's not unlikely that you'll end up sitting at a table next to some boisterous kids while you're here (fair warning - this is probably not a 1st date type of place). The atmosphere is quant and comfy. Really, great food and great prices!
(5)Natalie B.
I'm pretty harsh when it comes to reviews and heard to please but Dave's manged to make me really happy tonight. Fine dining it isnt, but its super family friendly and a great place for a casual dinner. I called at 2:30 today to make a 5pm reservation for 9 (we had 5 kids with us, so we wanted early and didnt want to wait). Normally they only take reservations but made an exception. When we got there at 5:10 it was already pretty busy. Our waiter was awesome--appeared right away to drop off lots of bread and get me, my husband and our friends a drink (much needed-5 kids all started to complain 5 minutes in) and recommended a fabulous glass of wine called "bitch". I appreciated that he referred to it as the "b" word because my kids repeat EVERYTHING. Pour was generous but not too big-a perfect size. We ordered quickly and when the kids pizza took a while to come out the waiter apologized profusely and kept giving updates. The pizza was pretty good (no Marco Roma, but still). I ordered the New Salmon and it needed salt. Dave's cooks really healthy, which is great, but sometimes I need a little more kick to my food. Honestly I think the food is only average but everything else just makes this place a winner. Its pretty cheap too-I think it worked out to be about $11/person and that was with drinks and plenty of food (my kids might be little but they can eat-three toddlers shared a medium pizza without any leftovers). My kids made a huge mess, we took a long time to eat and yet no one batted an eye even though the wait was ridiculous when we left. Bottom line-go early or expect to wait but definitely go.
(4)Danny P.
I'm only going as high as 2 stars because of Dave's longevity, the place's friendly (and family friendly) atmosphere and reasonable, tasty wines. The food, however is the problem. While reasonably priced, I found every dish (4 different ones) I tasted to be over salted and LOADED...OVERLOADED...with garlic. Come on, Dave, there's more to Italian cooking than garlic. Also, pasta was overcooked. Until tonight I hadn't been there for many years. With all the availability of good Italian, I can't say that I'll be back to Dave's.
(2)Gfiddy F.
LOL
(3)Cassie S.
Good food, large portions, reasonable prices and a community institution. What more can you want from a restaurant? Is it the best Italian in town, maybe not, but it certainly has the most character. (though it's "new" location does have a lot less character than the old one)(new is a relative term, they probably moved 10 years ago...) I enjoy that the crowd represents a true slice of Evanston - high schoolers on dates, groups of Northwestern students, young couples and families. Not a lot of places around here where that's really true.
(4)ann s.
We had ordered takeout here years ago and were underwhelmed, so it took us a while to go sit down for a meal. I'm a convert. This is solid, old-fashioned Italian-American restaurant fare, the kind that used to be associated with red-checkered tablecloths and chianti bottles as decor. And it's pretty tasty. One of the things I found really charming was that the menu tells you things like how big the wine pour is, and roughly how big the salads are. I think it's their way of pointing out that they make an effort to offer value. This is also pretty obvious when your food arrives, because there's a lot of it. While my pasta dish didn't blow my socks off (it was more of a cream sauce than the traditional oily, clammy, winey recipes), I liked it. I'm not sure how a purist might feel about the linguini with white clam sauce being paired with spaghetti instead of linguini, but it was okay with me. I appreciated the high garlic content. I'm thinking part of the charm is also the space itself. Like the food, there's nothing terribly fancy or creative, but it's warm and comfortable. No basket-wrapped chianti bottles made into candles--instead, the restaurant is lined with wine bottles inscribed by their imbibers. Our waitress was excellent, and the bill wasn't painful.
(4)Katie F.
Went here again last night after a long hiatus. We had to wait a while to get a table, but since it was a Friday night and we were in no hurry, no problem. The woman who seated us was kind of rude, and she was in such a hurry that she spilled some water from a pitcher onto my shoes while walking us to our table. However, our waiter was very polite, friendly, and helpful. I had the Lasagna Con Amore. It was pretty good! Much better than some of the other pasta dishes I've had at Dave's. Overall, a fine experience. Still not my favorite, but I'll probably come back.
(3)Clement C.
Been here a few times back in high school and college, more recently took the wife here too. She loved it, huge portions, not too pricey. Italian-American style. Really nice location and friendly staff. Lots of college students come here since it's fairly close to Northwestern.
(4)A F.
Went here a few weeks ago after a long day spent walking around Chicago, and had a great (gluten free dairy free) Italian meal to refuel our energy! This place is located in a cute suburb of Chicago, and has a warm and cozy feel to it. My boyfriend and I both ordered gluten free pizzas (they also offer gluten free pasta), and although the food was a little slow to come out, the food was really good. Our server was friendly and willing to help find out if foods were ok to eat with my food allergies. Prices were also very reasonable for the quality and portion of food you get. They must get good business, as it was packed on a Thursday night! Would definitely recommend this restaurant and eat there again!
(4)Stephanie L.
I came here with a large group to celebrate a birthday. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate us. Unfortunately, that was probably the only thing they did right. It took about 30 minutes after being seated to even get menus. I understand we were a large group of around 11 people so I don't hold that against them. However, nothing can make up for bad dishes. I ordered the carbonara pasta, one of the more simple and classic pastas. To my dismay, it was heavily under seasoned (and my taste buds are generally on the blander side) and tasted pretty much like someone cracked a beaten egg over my pasta. Needless to say, there was no need for me to pack my leftovers. I filled up on bread dipped in olive oil/balsamic vinegar instead. The rest in my party were either just as if not more disappointed in their dishes as well as I heard in the general consensus.
(2)Joan A.
This basement restaurant is a place I've become a regular at . It looks small from the front, but after you descend the stairs you'll find that it's actually got quite a bit of space. I am a fan of their homemade noodles and meatballs. The portions are typical for Italian, I usually take home a portion (which I don't mind!) Prices are average as well. I was, however, here recently and had the mussels appetizer and just wasn't a fan - the tomatoes were just much too acidic.
(3)Rachel P.
Dave's Italian Kitchen was definitely a disappointment for me...The food was just abundant in quantity and completely lacking in quality and taste. While the service was good, the food was too lackluster for me to consider returning.
(2)Gary C.
Over the course of the past 10+ years, I've visited Dave's plenty of times. I even remember the old school location and that tiny waiting area. Yep, it brings back so many memories. The best part? Those memories are written on a number of empty wine bottles: a Dave's tradition. Don't let this three-star rating fool you. It's more of a 3.5. For what it is, Dave's is a great time and a great deal, especially for the local high school or college student. For ages, literally years, I've ordered the chicken parmesan and never really branched out to anything else. Why? It's legit. It is served with rotini pasta, covered with your choice of marinara or meat sauce. But I will say that I've tasted a few other items on the menu, most recently the shrimp and scallops. To my, and my girlfriend's, surprise, the scallops were cooked very well. And the dish in general was delicious. The best deal on the menu, in my stomach's professional opinion, is the garlic bread. It's like $3 for a huge loaf of bread, spread with delicious butter, a generous portion of garlic, and the perfect amount of parsley. This is among the best garlic bread that I've had in my life. Oh, and be sure to save room for desserts. It'll complete your dining experience, and you'll leave hobbling up the stairs with a smile. Everything on the menu comes in a very large portion. It's decent to above-decent quality Italian food, but what makes Dave's special is the down-to-earth, home-style feel of the restaurant, food, and staff. Here's to another 10+ years, Dave's.
(3)Keyser S.
I just finished eating and the tomato sauce and over cooked green peppers from the pizza are not playing nicely in my stomach; worse than hospital cafeteria food; bathroom was gross too.
(1)Evan Thoreau H.
Mama mia, what a great-a deal for a tasty meat-a-ball! Seriously, Dave's Italian Kitchen probably isn't going to win any top awards for the high end Italian places, but who wants to have to get decked out in Louis Vitton just to go eat spaghetti anyway? Dave's is a great, laid back Italian joint with great food, large portions and reasonable prices. They have all the favorites that your Italian grandma made (or at least your imaginary one), including Spaghetti Bolognese, pasta carbonara, stuffed Manicotti (man-i-cote) and more. The atmosphere is cute, tucked down in the basement, which reminds me of an authentic little Italian joint - you know, the kind where REAL Italians like to go. Full bar and reasonably good wine list to choose from. Go, enjoy, mangia! And for once, your wallet will remain as full as your tummy will be after.
(3)Christopher C.
food was good - my wife really enjoyed her carbonara and her meatball in marinara sauce. My seafood in a garlic / olive oil sauce was ok. Delivery service was prompt although they made a small mistake on the charge. Would recommend it. Good, inexpensive italian food.
(3)Tom H.
I've been coming here since "here" was "over there" at Church & Benson under the L tracks. Dave's has been a comfy cozy constant over the years, as Evanston and the world has changed around it. Dave's is not a fine dining establishment or the place to find out what people in Rome or Florence are eating this year. It is, instead, solidly Italo-American grub, lots of pastas with red sauce and simple chicken or veal dishes. A nice selection of wines by the glass has always been a welcome feature. The loaf of bread served before the meal, with olive oil & grated Parmesan for dipping, is delicious, as is the creamy broccoli soup and the Italian salad--really more of an antipasto platter here. I think the chef situation is even improving, as my fusilli side to my Chicken Parmesan (two huge boneless chicken breasts with a breadcrumb coating and either marinara or meaty marinara sauce) was perfectly al dente. In the past, Dave's one failing used to be that the pasta tended to be overcooked and mushy, and, oddly watery, as if it wasn't properly drained. Tonight's pasta was near perfect. For me, a lot of the charm of this place is that it is so much a college town spot, with graffiti-covered empty wine bottles lined up along the walls, fairly cheap prices and big-to-enormous portions. A place to fall in love on a first date over a red checkered oil-cloth-covered table, or a place to discuss particle physics and the latest literary theory. And it is definitely Evanston, with young students in a booth next to a booth with 60-somethings, the men with their shoulder-length grey hair and tweedy clothes, the women in expensive free trade wool serapes. Dave's fulfills the same community function for Evanston that the Medici fills for the Hyde Park University of Chicago neighborhood. The hostess is charmingly casual, pointing you to a booth as if you were an old friend visiting her at her home. The college-aged server, Joshua, was friendly and helpful as could be. The bus fellow promptly picked up used dishes at just the right moments. Dave's is quirky, iconoclastic, friendly, comfy, homey and pleasant. It is not in any way shape or form a plastic chain restaurant with menus devised in Houston and servers in stamped-out polyester uniforms. And that's as it should be. My glass of Cabernet Sauvignon was $5.47, a huge dish of broccoli soup was $2.75 and my Chicken Parmesan with pasta side was $12.95. Add $2.06 for tax, my total came to $23.23 plus tip, fairly reasonable for what I got.
(4)Dee H.
Just OK. The food is fine, but nothing great. It is good for kids.
(2)G B.
Dave's is one of my favorite weeknight places to eat when I need a big meal to remind me of my Sicilian grandmother. I like to start with soup, salad, then steamed spinach and broccoli as my healthy antipasti. They make bread and pasta in house with a meat sauce and some meatballs at good prices. I like to bring leftovers and chocolate mousse home.
(5)Jeff W.
I've been going to Dave's Italian Kitchen for 10+ years but there's been a steady decrease in quality, and an unfortunate increase in price. They still have decent Italian food, and you can tell everything is made from scratch, but there's something missing now that they used to have back in the day. Their bread is still phenomenal, the pasta is consistently al dente, but the sauces no longer have any zing. They leave you more with a 'meh' than a 'WOW'! Couple that with their increasing prices and this place is dropping off my list of regular joints in Evanston.
(3)Adi S.
I've been to Dave's a handful of times, and I come here when I am looking for a solid, home-cooked style Italian meal around Evanston. Dave's is a great value for the prices and also accommodates large groups well. I would recommend getting the large stuffed raviolis.
(4)Amy L.
If you come here, stick to the calzones. They are huge and full of toppings/flavor. I usually load myself up on the bread/olive oil and end up taking my dish home. The pastas taste pretty standard, I've had dishes with alfredo and marinara sauce.
(3)Sofia J.
Good, classic Italian fare: Chicken Marsuvio is tasty and I hear the lasagna is great!
(4)David R.
After a bit of a stumble when I refused to provide my phone number, the adorable copper-haired hostess who took my order could not have been sweeter. But as far as the product, I'm going to have to downgrade them slightly on the calzone list. It's decent but not great. First of all, in terms of volume, the "large" amounts to the equivalent of about two slices of pan-style pizza. It's a lot of food, but for $14 I'd expect something thicker. Or conversely, keep the size but lower the price. The ingredients were good but I didn't care much for the crust. However, I will say that they do not make a calzone with a thick braid of crust around the perimeter, as is common. So that's a tradeoff in the value equation. One last item--they wrapped the thing in foil before putting it into the cardboard pizza box. Thus, despite fifteen minutes in my car and ten minutes walking through sub-30 temperatures, it was still hot when it hit my plate at home. Nice touch on the foil.
(3)Erin P.
nom nom - the food was awesome, reasonably priced, and big portions (to enjoy leftovers the next day for lunch). Plus, you can get a bottle of wine for under $20. Score!
(4)A. H.
I love Italian food. I've been here twice and the food is terrible.
(1)Andersenda A.
I used to like Dave's, but over the years their food has become tiresome. The management must have become tiresome too. To begin, the bread is dry and flavorless. The marinara sauce is overly sweet and tastes like it came from a can. The veal Marsala was the most disgusting thing I ever ordered in any restaurant! Seriously! The room is friendly and the people are nice. The food is inexpensive, but very average. If I were a broke college student, I would think this place was pretty okay. It's a good place to bring kids for an inexpensive pasta dish that they won't know is really not very good.
(2)Danny H.
We,used to go there at least once a month,but I don't think we will be coming back. 4 adults and 2 kids( 5 and under 2), 5 meals were ordered.We got there before rush hour but yet the food took a while...Our waitress decided to include gratuity in the bill, when I asked about it at the front I was told that she should not have done it and that they will talk to her.I was not even offered to take gratuity off the bill...... During dinner I asked for a tiny cup of Alfredo sauce, waitress brought me the whole bowl of it and charged me for it ... Very bad experience, I had to swallow it because I did not want to ruin dinning experience for my family..... I used to love this place but there a few more good restaurants in the area that we'll be dinning out...
(1)Matt R.
Most of the time, you'd expect cheap food to taste like crap. Really, when you eat at McDonalds, it's not for the steak tartar. However, sometimes places really do know how to make a great meal and not break the bank. Dave's is that place. It's a very kitchsy italian place, which is oddly underground. I'm sure that saves on a ton of money, but definitely makes the place unique. I have no idea what the upstairs is. It's all classic italian food and very very vegetarian friendly (bonus for the girlfriend). They recently added risotto with garlic and broccoli for like $8. Really, you get huge portions here really cheap. However, that doesn't do justice to that it's actually good food. My girlfriend and I had an appetizer, 2 sides, and 2 dinners for $24. Yes, $24. That's amazing for a dinner, especially in Evanston. The garlic bread with mozzarella on top is full of lovely melted baked mozzarella. Before you get started though, you have the good ole bread oil and parmesan cheese combination. I could make an entire meal out of that alone, but I digress. If you love garlic, that garlic risotto might still be more garlic than you've ever wanted. I think they may have used an entire head in the risotto. It was still good, as I love that kind of thing. Girlfriend had the stuffed baked zucchini. Put that phrase in your head for a second and ask if that doesn't sound freakin awesome on it's own. Oh, and this place is packed. Did I mention wines were friggin cheap too? Like $20 a bottle. I'm sold. I'm going to go become a big fat italian if Dave's gives me the chance.
(5)Little T.
Haven't even received our food yet, but the woman who just took our order over the phone was the nicest, most pleasant person I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with. Really. If you're having a bad day, call Dave's and order food. GREAT hire.
(5)Charity M.
Overall good experience. The waiter was a bit needy, he came by way to much, either he was new or nervous. Either way it was a week night early dinner, chill out bro. This restaurant is located in a basement, no windows or natural light. Oh did I mention the pop music coming out of the speakers, fine by me, but maybe not to the senior citizens that were siting across from me as I sang along to the Backstreet Boys.
(3)Mrs. K.
Dave's Italian Kitchen caught my eye immediately. The red neon sign reminded me of this little hotdog stand near Wrigleyville, by our old apartment. It looks tiny from the curb, but seemed ideal for to-go orders, which is what my boyfriend and I wanted at the time. So we pulled up and realized the restaurant was downstairs. And it was much bigger than it looked from the street! It was charming and casual, with red-checked tablecloths and wine bottles lining the booths. Patrons had written tiny phrases and words on the wine labels, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. The festively lit dining room has a variety of art pieces hanging, allowing for interesting conversation over dinner. The woman at the register took our to-go order and we asked for some beer while we waited. She squinted her eyes and hesitated. "The only thing is...Dave's here," she said. We sat down at a table to order to beer, due to some liquor licensing laws. We were happy to oblige since the dining room was warm and happy. (The waitress recommended Two-Hearted for me, which was delicious.) The owner was across the room from us, enjoying some food and conversation. He appeared laid back and relaxed. If a restaurant owner is dining at his own place, that has to be a good sign, I thought. Although I would have liked it a bit less oily, the Pesto Spaghetti was excellent and the extra meatball my boyfriend ordered was massive. The typical Italian food combined with this place's attitude made me feel like I was in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood. I was reassured that Evanston maybe isn't all that bad.
(4)Melissa F.
There is only one way I can review this flavorless restaurant, and it's by quoting The Office's Andy Bernard: "I guess I don't have what it takes to be a film critic. I could be a food critic. These muffins taste ... bad. Or maybe an art critic. That painting is ... bad." This food is bad.
(1)Q C.
We had the ravioli and the chicken parmesan. Both were good, service was fast too.
(3)Meatdowntown C.
Excellent family place. Great food, absolutely fine wines reasonably priced. It is hard to get a bad meal at Dave's and they have options for many different palates. It feel like a family restaurant but you could also arguew that could work for dating (with great wine), corporate hang out, etc. The Diablo sauce is incredible and the gorgonzola sauce as well. The only questionable dish is the risotto which sound very healthy on the menu but it is quite dry and bland (just skip it).
(4)Jade T.
4.5 Stars I don't believe in paying for more than $12 for pasta. In every quick and easy cookbook, there are pasta recipes. Pasta is almost as simple as boiling water and adding sauce. That being said, I rarely dine at Italian restaurants. I've been wanting to try Dave's since I moved to Evanston. The menu is extensive and the prices are extremely affordable. However, they are only open for dinner and for some reason, I seldomly eat out for dinner. Knowing I was free on a Saturday night, I tried making reservations. None accepted for parties under 10. Wow. I took a gamble and arrived shortly before 6pm, just before the insane dinner rush. I've never seen such long wait lines at an Evanstonian restaurant* (besides at Tapas Barcelona), so plan accordingly on weekends. There is a bar near the entrance if you care for a drink during the wait. Dave's Italian Kitchen is a wonderful place for anyone from children to starving artists and gluttons. I was blown away by the portions (see photos). The Spinach Salad, priced inexpensively at $3.75 was large enough to feed four people. Yes, you read that right. FOUR people. The wine list features many affordable bottles for under $25. Wines available by the glass are limited, but they are generous with the wine pour. Free bread is always nice for the (extra) carb-hungry among us. Drizzle olive oil onto a plate and mixed in some hand-grated romano cheese and pepper flakes and you have a time-consuming appetizer. Italian food is normally vegetarian friendly. Dave's Italian Kitchen is no exception. The minestrone has vegetarian stock and nearly everything can be made meatless. In fact, a majority of their pasta dishes are vegetarian. Vegans will have some difficulty finding cheeseless dishes though, but that's no surprise. The food is very good. Then again, it's hard to mess up pasta. At the worst, pasta can be undercooked and the sauces be bland. (One must be really, really terrible at cooking to commit such offenses.) This is not the case at Dave's. The food is consistent. The marinara sauce is delicious: well-seasoned, with the right balance of sweet and tangy. If their sauce comes from cans, I want to know the manufacturer! The cream sauces are thick and not too rich. The desserts are simple, but scrumptious. For $2.50, get yourself the chocolate mousse. It is nothing special, but chocolate lovers will be pleased. The portion doesn't seem like much at first, but the chocolate is thick and rich. Enjoy it with a friend if you can. Dave's Italian Kitchen offers no-thrills Italian (albeit Americanized but it's one of those cuisines that I don't mind being unauthentic!) in a casual family-friendly setting. There are old wine bottles along the walls which you can write your name or initials on! The prices are so reasonable. If you want fancy schmancy Italian in fancy schmancy atmosphere, go to Bravo! I will surely return to Dave's for a cheap, satisfying spaghetti fix... for a few bucks more than Noodles & Co. * - I admit, I'm slightly exaggerating. The lines can be long, but not Cheesecake Factory in downtown Chicago on Mother's Day long.
(5)Steve O.
Awesome pizza! Service was ok.
(5)Judy H.
You can't go wrong with Dave's. There is something for everyone - vegans, kids, picky eaters. Always a good meal - pasta, pizza, or low/no-carb alternatives. Moderate prices and good size portions. Service is always excellent.
(4)John M.
I have been going to Dave's for great food at very reasonable prices forever, starting when they were on Church St. While I have tried and loved most of the menu, the Italian salad, eggplant parmigiana with a side of sausage or meatball are my regulars. As an added bonus a bottle of a nice wine for less that $20 makes this one of my regular spots and the best value in the area. And thanks to the fantastic staff and especially Barb who always make the visit enjoyable. By the way, I have ordered and picked up for large parties --- fantastic job!!!
(5)Steve J.
dRATS!!! Oh Wow! I came here with my girlfriend about six months ago. After hearing from a few people that it was a good place I found out as soon as I walked in that it was no more than your average, run of the mill type place. The service started slow and never really caught up. The food my girlfriend ordered had to be sent back. So we waited for a while longer. I'll get to the point. When we were leaving, I witnessed 2 enormous rodents (Rats!) running very close to the building right in front of the front doors! What concerns me is that this restaurant is actually located in the basement, down the stairs when you first walk in. Basements have a bad record for infestations and are hard to keep out. I won't be back.
(1)Andrea R.
Hi Dave! It's me, Andrea! Remember me? Yeah, I know it's been a while and I look a little different these days, but picture me with the freshman 15 packed on, big sunglasses to cover up last night's hangover, and wearing my big purple North Face coat (over a 3/4 sleeved Michael Star shirt of course) to get through my very first winter. My college friends and I went to you when we wanted a nice dinner out, which made me chuckle last night after seeing the average price of an entree is just about $10. I gotta admit that I remember your food being pretty good, but when we ordered take out from you last night it wasn't quite like what I remembered. Then again I was also a fan of Leona's back in those days...my taste buds have changed right along with my taste in clothes. And thank goodness for that. I ordered the "fresh" salmon, which your menu said was baked in a "light fresh dill cream sauce" and believe me this sauce was anything, but light. I ate it because it was 9 PM and I was starving, but could feel a stomach ache coming on as I ate it...and was greeted with one a few hours later. My husband (yep, I'm all grown up and married now!) got the lasagna and it tasted no better than my weight watchers lasagna frozen meals, but i'm sure had millions more calories. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law (she just moved right across the street from you so you have a new customer!) split a salad and a pizza. I had 1 bite of the pizza and didn't want another, which is NOT the sign of a good pie in my book. Honestly the food was probably worth 2 stars, but I'm giving ya 3...just for the memories.
(3)Vats R.
(Vegetarian Review) Really good pasta, especially the diavlo and yummy pizzas.
(4)Hannah E.
I can't speak for much except the baked spaghetti with butter and garlic sauce, their Italian salad with house dressing, and the chocolate mousse. And these things are all fantastic. Yep. It's one of THOSE places. Where the first thing you ever had there insinuated itself so thoroughly into your craving cycle that you never get the chance to try anything else. You're just going about your business, and your stomach is like 'FEED ME DAVE'S BUTTER AND GARLIC SAUCE' and you're like 'yes, ma'am' and before you know it you're staggering out of Dave's 5 pounds heavier smelling like a vampire's worst nightmare. It's just butter and garlic... and a secret ingredient that must remain a secret forever if don't want to suddenly weigh 500 pounds... but hell if I don't crave it at least once a week, from my current distance of 1000 miles away. I've been eating at Dave's since I was five. The quality hasn't wavered. The friendliness hasn't wavered. And the prices remain one of the best deals in town - the plates could feed me for 3 meals (and have). But don't hold me accountable for any of Dave's other meals. I'm sure they're great. But if you take one thing from this review, it should be 'FEED YOURSELF DAVE'S BUTTER AND GARLIC SAUCE'.
(4)kim s.
Great food, service and prices ! I have not been here in years and I have to say I have definitely missed out.. The food was fantastic, we shared a Italian dinner salad which was only $5.95 and it was large enough for 4, the pasta dishes were very inexpensive, any city restaurant would by $20.00 for the same size dinner. Parking was a bit of a challenge until we realized there was a garage across the street on Church street, it was free tonight but the rate for a few hours was only $2.00...we will be making this a regular of ours !
(5)P A.
Good hearty italian food. The best pasta and largest meatballs until we experienced Club Lucky. Hot, fresh pasta, great bread, great sauce, olive oil and cheese on the table, great wine selection. Service is usually friendly but sometimes a coin toss. Loud inside, cheerful. Good prices. Fun decor always something to look at and get a kick out of.
(4)Binh N.
I come here quite often with my wife. She loves this place. Our favorite Italian restaurant so far. Comfy, family style environment. Excellent service and food. Food comes in large quantity.
(5)David G.
Average with a capital "A". The food is bland, at best, which would have sufficed if we were ordering pizza. After a promised 15 minute wait that turned into 40, we were given a bad table and a basket of lukewarm bread, no butter or anything else, as we waited another 15 minutes to be helped by a waiter.
(2)Day C.
I was here with a group of classmates for dinner. I ordered the shrimp dijon which was good and came with lots and lots of shrimp. I just thought my dish also had lots and lots of vegetables that had me on an easter egg hunt to find the noodles. I would have liked less vegetables, the same amount of shrimp, and more noodles. I also didn't like how they added gratuity automatically for our table of 6 because when they helped themselves to a little more than 20%. But the amount of food was good and I respect how they didn't skimp out on the shrimp. The cannoli was also good and the biggest cannoli I had ever seen. The service was fast and the bread they kept on the table was warm and fluffy. I REALLY wish they had offered ACTUAL olive oil. It looked more like vegetable oil to me, but thats something i cannot get on them for because barely any place can pass that test.
(4)Brandon L.
I love Dave's and have been going for over 30 years. The pasta is homemade, the prices are affordable (and really good for the wine), and the staff is great. Extra points for keeping the Ron Crawford drawings on the wall from the old place. Two tips: Sunday/Monday night is when they seem to break in new servers, so it can be a bit slow. Friday/Saturday can be insanely busy, so I try to avoid.
(4)Michael B.
I'm really torn on this place--I'm also getting frustrated that I haven't been able to find a good restaurant in Evanston yet. For this review, I'm just going to list the pros and cons of Dave's Italian Kitchen and let you decide. My 3/5 rating should be a good starting point. Pros: -Awesome selection of pasta, sauces, pizza and italian 'staples'. I quote 'staples' because they are definitely Americanized versions of Italian dishes. -Awesome execution of said menu selection. Everything was great from the homemade spinach rotini to even the marinara and alfredo 'rose' combination (Something simple, yet done well). -Reasonable prices! $1.25 for an iced tea! $9.95 for a basic, vegetarian pasta dish with portions to match. -Great atmosphere, tucked in a basement, very secluded, mysterious, Al Capone's getaway style. Cons: -Service, service, service. Our wait staff (I say staff, because it wasn't clear if the section I was in was shared or not) was swamped with a large 15-top or so on a Friday night. I get it; they were busy. However... -No follow up on your meal. Let me explain this: I ordered my dish and added crimini mushrooms. No mushrooms were present. I would have liked to inform my server of this, but he/they were no where to be found. My dish was still good, but I was more annoyed that they didn't care if my meal was right. -Order-takers. These guys were not servers. They simple wrote down what I wanted and left. I saw them for a total of...30 seconds? Summary: Dave's is good, cheap, and relatively authentic for what Americans consider Italian food, but it is borderline fast food in many respects. I probably won't be going back anytime soon.
(3)Kurt B.
This is the best family-style Italian food in the city. It's true--Dave's can be loud, you won't get super attentive service, etc., but you can eat a magnificent, fresh, and enormous pasta dinner here for less expensive than most lunch specials. I've been coming here for over 15 years and I've never had a bad meal. Never. Highly recommended: baked spaghetti with a meatball, lasagna, eggplant parmesan, spaghetti gorgonzola, salads, and chocolate mousse. Recommended: calzones, pasta pesto, and stuffed peppers. Not a big fan of their: seafood pasta treatments or spinach ricotta pie. I've never tried the veal; I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Great place to come for lots of drinks and lots of food, possibly the best! Make sure you get the mousse.
(5)Nikki L.
I was looking forward to trying this place based on some of the reviews. It seems like people either LOVE this restaurant or HATE it. As I waited 30+ minutes and contemplating on going elsewhere, the gentleman next to me said "it's worth the wait, if you are trying to decide whether to go some place else". Hmm, OK, I'll give it a shot! Once a table for two was ready, the host said to walk all the way to the back and seat myself wherever I like. I found myself in a semi enclosed room that had mostly large tables, it felt awkward. Finally, the menu. There were many familiar options to choose from, my fiance and I were in the mood for some pasta so we ordered the Chicken Marsuvio (marsala, vesuvio) to share. I thought it was pretty terrible, the flavors did not complement each other and the white wine (which tasted cheap) just broke the dish. Ugh, what a disappointment. I have no desires to come back here and hope to find a better Italian option on my next visit to Evanston! *********Free Tips for Owner - IF you are going to have carpeting in your restaurant, maintain it through out the night. It is NOT appetizing for guests waiting for their table to see crumbs, left over food, straw wrappers and garbage on the floor scattered through out the whole restaurant. (Free doesn't cost anything to have someone sweep it up) - Make your servers wear uniforms! Even if you can't afford to pay for an actual uniform, have them wear either all black, slacks and a blue polo or SOMETHING. (Free, have them wear their own clothes but of same color) - Bump up your customer service, it doesn't cost a dime you just need to hire the right people and make it a standard. (FREE, this standard is up to YOU) - I like the concept of rolling out a cart to drop off food, however the presentation of the cart could be nicer. (Cover with black linen instead of plastic) - Sanitation, I saw my server use his hands to dust off crumbs from a table and reset it instead of spraying with cleaners and wipping down. (Self explanatory, this is a sanitation/health code violation) Good luck.
(2)Tal R.
I grew up in the area and occasionally ate at Daves. I didnt think it was anything special but I changed my mind yesterday. I dont know if it was the atmosphere or the the food but for the first time I enjoyed myself at Daves. All I can say is get the minestrone soup. One of the best I have had anywhere! Overall It was a good meal except when I found the melted chocolate in my pocket
(4)Jeff H.
It's been years since I was last at Dave's Italian Kitchen, back when they were on Davis Street. Lines back then were long, and they were again on a busy Saturday night. We were told the wait was 45 minutes, and were seated in about 35 min. We waited and had some drinks before we were seated. The staff was very, very friendly and welcoming. Once seated it took 10-20 minutes before our server greeted us, however we had our drinks from the wait earlier and a water pitcher and glasses were at the table when we were seated, so we didn't really notice the waiter hadn't shown up. The menu was full of great choices, and our table shared the spinach salad, garlic bread with cheese, baked spaghetti and the brown rice risotto with garlic, broccoli and shrimp. The garlic bread (and bread brought to the table) was outstanding. Large portion, great garlic flavor. The spinach salads were unevenly dressed. I'd guess some dressing was poured into our salad bowl, the ingredients added on top of it, and a spoonful more of dressing on top. All tasty, but would have preferred it tossed together before being served. We had a grilled chicken breast added to one of the salads and it tasted "off" - either they purchased it precooked or this was just a bad piece. We told our server and he took the entire salad, not just the cost of the extra chicken, off the bill, which was appreciated. The risotto, appealing to vegetarians (available without shrimp) and the health conscious was well prepared, but seemingly underseasoned. The broth used to cook the rice was very bland. A bit of salt helped the dish tremendously. The baked spaghetti was great. I know it seems like I didn't have a great experience, but the friendliness of the staff, and the dishes we had which were good were very good, and the others were slight miscues on a busy Saturday night, so I'll give them a break. We agreed to come back and try more of their "sweet spot" dishes, pizzas, pastas and calzones. The room is a bright, cheery, basement loft space that has lots of art on the walls and empty wine bottles as decorations. Very comfortable. Prices are very good value for the food delivered. I look forward to returning soon.
(4)Laila C.
Dave's wife and I have been in a fight going all the way back to a very unfateful night my junior year of college. A large group of us went to Dave's-a place I'd been to on many occasions-for a nice get together. I usually only order the calzone but I decided to be adventurous and ordered a chicken dish off their specials menu instead. Well! The dish I got was DEFINITELY NOT what I ordered. There was no pasta, the wrong sauce, and veggies where there weren't supposed to be veggies. Trying to be polite, I asked the server if she's sure she brought me the right plate, pointing to the specials menu. She verified that I had the correct order and that the dish I got was what I ordered. Well..I mean obviously it wasn't...cuz it wasn't the SAME THING AS THE MENU! When I asked her to bring me what was written on the menu, she took the plate back, scraped the veggies off the plate and returned my plate with the already bitten into chicken! SHE RETURNED MY ORIGINAL PLATE MINUS VEGGIES! Basically at this point I was so confused, I wasn't sure if she was just overworked and delirious, illiterate or just crazy!!! But I asked if I could speak to the owner/manager. SHE LAUGHED IN MY FACE AND SAID "I'M DAVE'S WIFE-NOW WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?!" UGH.....AHHHH WHAT??!?!?! She runs this place and she is THAT CRAZY?!? needless to say, I have no been back to Dave's. His crazy wife is a little too much for me to handle. And truthfully, the only decent thing on their menu was the chocolate mousse, which I can definitely live without. NO THANKS CRAZY LADY!
(1)Lindsay R.
Dave's is my favorite Italian restaurant, hands down. My father has been eating at Dave's since he was in college so it's safe to say that I was raised on their amazing, comforting food. I always stick with a small Italian salad and then an order of spaghetti pesto with a serious helping of parm (or Romano? I think it's Romano) cheese - the absolute best. Also fabulous? The lasagna with meat sauce, spaghetti carbonara, the bread at the table, the giant meatball. Everyone is friendly and down to earth, the food is delicious and affordable, and it's all-around the best place ever.
(5)Colleen R.
Dave's was a disappointment. I cook better Italian food at home. I ordered the stuffed peppers, which were undercooked and basically stuffed with meatballs (weird). The red sauce was all right, but didn't taste like it had been made on the premises. The portions are embarrassingly huge and priced accordingly. I don't think a single member of our party finished their entrée. To top it all off, the ladies' room was a mess. Don't think I'll be eating here again.
(2)Jason S.
Ate there with my wife and another couple recently. It was really just ok. The house salad was by far the best thing we had. The chicken Vesuvio was like a soup. The pizza with wheat crust was not great - kind of soggy. The chicken florentine was supposed to come with sun dried tomatoes but didn't. All in all, it was just ok.
(2)Maggie G.
I wasn't at all impressed with Dave's. Yeah, the prices are good, but it's crowded and noisy, and the food my date and I ordered wasn't that great. I had the spaghetti pesto, and the pesto was watery and bland. My date had the cheese ravioli with marinara, and was sick for days after. I figured that since we'd ordered simple dishes, our meals would arrive fairly fast, after all, how long does it take to boil pasta? 20 minutes later, they finally showed up. I wouldn't mind waiting for my meal, or taking my time enjoying it if was quiet enough to have a conversation. I'd be willing to give Dave's another try, but this time, I'll try the eggplant parm that everyone's raving about.
(2)Will C.
I have been to many many Italian restaurants for over 15 years, and this is by far the best! Their pizza and pastas are to die for. Price definitely reflect this and is worth every penny and well-priced in my opinion. Remember....higher-end Italian food is a luxury item, so people complaining about price and penny pinching and poor people shouldn't eat here. Atmosphere is classy, and reverberates throughout the establishment....definitely a great time! Its usually pretty busy here, so make sure you give yourself enough time before you plan to eat. High class restaurant with lots of "class" to match. You must eat here!
(5)Daphne L.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII DIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE! That's right, you heard it here, I had a good..no great..no UHmazing meal at Dave's, and I'm not afraid to say it. It wasn't fancy or schmancy or hip or happenin' or trendy. It was good food, really good food, at a very reasonable price. And, let me go on record as saying that I had the best, BEST spaghetti carbonara I've ever had. I said it, THE BEST. We've been to Dave's before, before we even moved to Evanston, but haven't been in a while because A)we forget it's there and B)it's a basement place, very cozy, and for some reason I only like to eat there when it's cold outside. So after a busy Saturday and lots of walking we decided to stop in for dinner. And, it was cold which for me is a Dave's prerequisite. I don't know why it is, it just is. We got there around 6:40, which was perfect because it was right before the dinner rush so we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. Not long after, though, it was slammed and our waitress told us that on a weeknight there's rarely a wait (if ever) for a table. We ordered a drink at the bar (I had the wine selection of the day which was delicious) and chatted briefly until our table was ready. After being seated we were greeted by one of the kindest, warmest, most engaging waitresses I've ever had. I think her name was Emma, but if it's not please forgive me kind lady with the ponytails. She asked if we'd like another drink while we perused the menu, and brought us bread. Really good homemade bread by the way, so make sure to try it when you're there. We decided to split the gorgonzola salad, and I ordered the spaghetti carbonara, my husband the spaghetti pesto. The gorgonzola salad was perfection. Mixed greens topped with (duh) gorgonzola, sliced tomato, and, kalmata olives. The dressing was a vinaigrette that was wonderful in that it didn't overpower the salad, nor was it drowning the greens. I truly dislike when my salad is swimming in dressing. Then the pasta arrived..oh me oh my. The carbonara was absolutely delicious. So good that I ate as slowly as I could because I didn't want it to be gone too quickly. The first and most important bit of praise: the bacon. I am a bacon freak, I'd eat it everyday if I wasn't concerned about heart disease. This carbonara is full of bacon; crisp, tasty, delicious bacon that's perfectly cooked. There is NOTHING worse than a dish with bacon and the bacon is limp and soggy. That alone was enough to make me swoon. Their carbonara is savory, it is tasty, it is filling, it isn't oily...it's perfect. My husband loved his pesto and I'll just have to take his word for it because frankly I wasn't interested in anything other than my plate of bacony, saucy goodness. Had I not been as hungry as I was, or, if I hadn't inhaled my pasta I would have had enough to take home for another meal, but let's just be honest and say it's unlikely I'll ever have leftovers of that dish. I saw a few other dishes go by on their way to hungry diners that looked good, especially the pizza. Dave's Italian Kitchen is a wonderful Evanston legacy with terrific food, excellent service, and a cozy atmosphere. There were tables full of teens, college students, families, friends, couples, etc. It's a great place for a hearty meal that tastes good and won't empty your wallet.
(5)Saray R.
Food was pretty good. I ordered a salad with garlic dressing and didn't care for it too much. My husband and I ordered a calzone and lasagna and there wasn't much meat in either dish, which we would have preferred there to be more of a meat option instead of mostly vegetarian. My husband thought the lasagna tasted kind of bland as well. I'm not sure we'll go back, but it was an alright experience. They give you bread to start off, and quite a bit of it and I thought the bread was great. Probably the best part of the whole dining experience. Went on a Friday night and had to wait 30 minutes, which is expected.
(3)Ronni G.
We've been coming here since I was a teenager for solid reasonably-priced Italian American food. Try the calzones-even the small one is big enough to share. Skip the limited dessert options, and head for one of the nearby coffee houses if you want dessert. Because prices are reasonable, and the location is fantastic, be prepared to wait if you arrive during prime dinner time, like after 5:30pm on Saturday nights.
(4)Chris S.
I don't know why I didn't like this place the first time I went there. But that's the past and I've had an excellent time eating at Dave's, my last few visits. The service is friendly and quick and the food is delicious. It's fairly priced and if there's a wait, they're pretty accurate with the wait time.
(4)Dana B.
My friends introduced me to Dave's a few months ago. It definitely is the new place for my boyfriend to go for affordable, yummy, Italian food in Evanston. We have never had to wait for a table any longer than 5 minutes, and the waitstaff has always been friendly and attentive. I love the spaghetti Bolognese because of how hearty it is. I have had the dish at other restaurants and its like 3 spoons of sauce. But not Dave's, the sauce to pasta ratio is definitely worth it, and the best part is how affordable it is! When we are craving Italian, this is usually where me and the boyfriend go.
(4)Tatawan P.
How do they stay in business serving that kind of food? No honestly, have they tasted it how bland it is?! I went out one weekend with a girlfriend to try a new place in Evanston, IL. There are a few pretty decent restaurants and wanted to give this place a try. I ordered the Salmon special over risotto and my friend ordered a pasta. Wait staff is ok, the hostess seemed to be annoyed to even be working and had us wait even tho the dining room was pretty empty. I had to explain to the waiter what a shirley temple drink was and making a cherry coke by regular coke adding Grenadine. I was incredibly dissapointed in the food and honestly think a $2 Michelina's pasta in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store is a ton ton better. Save your money and go a couple doors down to the Tapas place- Cafe Barcelona.
(1)Jackie G.
As a freshman who didn't know much about the Evanston area, I wandered not too far from my dorm with my parents by my side during one of their first visits to me at college. We thought we couldn't go wrong with Italian. We did. Basically, to get down into Dave's, visitors much walk down into a basement. Since the restaurant was crowded, the place was hot and we had to wait a bit for a table. I thought this indicated that we chose a good place. Perhaps it was due to the warmth or crowded-feeling in the restaurant, but shortly after we sat down a little boy at a nearby table started puking his spaghetti. The sight disgusted us, but the workers were quick to clean it up. Almost strange to note, however, how quickly they returned to work, as if this may not be a first time scenario. We stayed to dine out of hunger and desperation. In the end, the food was actually alright. After a few years in Evanston, I've returned to the restaurant, never expecting great food or great service. I've learned to ask my parents to take me to better places when they come to town.
(2)Michele H.
LOVE Dave's! The food is yummy and really reasonable price, friendly staff, VERY family friendly, and best wine list EVER! Over the years we have noticed the same waitstaff, so It also speaks volumes about the work environment.
(5)Luke S.
I love that they have whole wheat crust pizza. The menu is extensive and very affordable. I've never ordered a drink here, but I believe they have a very large wine list. You can come here and eat like a king for about $10-15. My only complaint is that there is no sunlight or windows in the restaurant. The service has always been good and I always come home with leftovers. If you come at peak hours expect a short wait.
(4)Lizzie L.
They offer a specifically vegan entree, which is wonderful! It's risotto with garlic and broccoli or kale. I'm not a huge fan of risotto, but it's good and it's vegan!
(5)Michael O.
A long time North Shore resident and patron of Kafein (Oreo Cappuccino Shakes!), you'd think I would have visited Dave's by now. Sadly, I had not. We were greeted and seated quite promptly by a friendly staff and attended to well by our server. The food -- from the bread/olive oil to the appetizer to our dishes -- arrived quickly, hot, and looked very appealing. Our taste buds were not disappointed in the slightest. Though not the best Italian food I've ever had, Dave's lived up to its reputation and the prices were quite reasonable. After our meal, we couldn't help but order dessert -- tiramusu and chocolate mousse. The mousse was rich and decadent; and the tiramisu among the best I've had. To be sure, our only gripe about our experience at Dave's was their lack of menu flexibility. They "don't do pitchers" of beer and refused to even consider one of our party's request for a side of purple kale. The server asked if she'd like her purple kale sautéed and then proceeded to say they didn't have any. When we pointed out one of the specials was risotto with purple kale, he said they "don't do" side-swapping. Not a deal-breaker, but some consideration would have been appreciated. All told, our trip to Dave's was likely the beginning of a series, as each of us discovered a new taste that we'll want to return for! Don't forget to sign your wine bottle before putting it up on the ledge!
(3)Justin B.
Spicy classics and creative originals!!! Definitely a great joint to frequent! Cheers!
(4)Katrina M.
Went for dinner on a Saturday night. Waited 30 minutes for a table of 3, so not so bad. The place was packed and lively. I ordered the "BIG" Ravioli, which came in two and each was the size of an iPhone. It was delicious, but those alone did not fill me up. (I'm a petite-sized woman with a large appetite!) I wish they would serve free sides with their meals, or at least serve their ravioli on some pasta or something.. When I went here for a previous time, I ordered the calamari pasta, and it was okay. Nothing special.
(3)Sutton C.
This place has gone threw many changes since I grew up in Evanston, it has had three locations and I have been going to Dave's since their second home. The food hasn't changed a bit and I thank the good lord for it. HUGE portions at outrageous prices is what you get at Dave's Italian Kitchen, this place is so amazing Dave himself is still in the kitchen. Everything is delicious but some of my favorites include the Chicken Marsala and Vesuvio, the spinach ricotta pie, the large italian salad (could feed 4 for an APP) with their italian dressing, and of course the Pizza! They have a great selection of wine and the atmosphere is adorably wonderful. This place has been a staple for me my whole life, and I just am so grateful it has been in E-town all these years.
(4)Danielle W.
I LOVE DAVE'S!! If you are visiting Chicago or live in IL., this is an absolutely amazing restaurant worth traveling long distance or waiting in a crazy long line! Located in Evanston, this hidden GEM is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to!!!!!!!! We use to live in IL. about an hour & 20 minutes away and through rain or shine we would make the trip! We heard about it from the folks behind popular Chicago restaurant review show Check, Please! I recommend, the pizza (especially wheat), calzones, and chicken parm! Although my brother had a delicious shrimp pesto entree there. EVERYTHING is amazing...I can't wait to go back this summer. I miss you DAVE'S!! Yelp there are no places like this in JERSEY!
(5)Beth P.
I really didn't like the food here. All three people at my table were like "yuck" for this place. My chicken was undercooked and very bland. My boyfriend's pasta had some nasty cheese all over it, and was smothered in a sauce that rivaled ketchup. Our friend had the chicken marsala, and the noodles were worse than lean cuisine- just nasty. Even the lettuce in my salad was brown. I saw a lot of families around us seeming to enjoy their pizza, and wine from a huuuuge wine list. Maybe I should've ordered the pizza, but I'll never know because I won't be back. I can experience Dave's anytime I want by crackin' open a can of Chef Boyardee.
(2)Michael S.
The best pizza in Chicagoland, best baked spaghetti, best chicken parm around and also BYOB....you can't beat that. Always a great meal and good time at Dave's.
(5)Chelsea V.
My family has been going to Dave's for about 10 years now - ever since we moved to Evanston. I remember the carpets hanging from the ceilings and writing on wine bottles of the old location, but not much else. The current location (which is the one I know best) maintains the writing on the wine bottles but updated everything a bit. However, in 2009 (years after the move) that's neither here nor there. The food is reliably decent-to-good, they bring you a lot of bread and the service is usually sweet. That's the kind of LCD sentence that would typically put me off a review and restaurant, but sometimes you just need such basic comforts. You will eat a lot here, and have a lot to take home, and it won't surprise you or scare you in any way. I can recommend the spaghetti diavolo (which I seem to remember used to be called "diabolo" but "b" and "v" can be so tricky like that!), the calzones, fettuccine rose (mix of marinara and alfredo sauce just how I liked to do in college!), italian salad with creamy garlic dressing and the chocolate mousse dessert. The mousse should be shared between two people because otherwise you'll feel really sick. I think it's also fairly affordable, although the prices are initially more than I'd really like to pay for an entree (this is because I'm cheap) - it will translate into at least one other meal. Not so bad!
(4)Shradha A.
Update 02/2008: So I was influenced by all the good Yelp reviews for this place and decided to give it yet another shot - I mean places change after a year or two right? But now I remember why I did not like them!!! The greasiest garlic break and not fully cooked pasta... -------------------------------------------- "Big portions" don't define "Good Food" - that only says "Big Portions". It's like everyone who raves about Joy Yee's! Their food is awful but they get business because their portions are large! Anyone who wants a good meal would rather go to Cozy Noodles. Dave's is really bad Italian food, sad thing is there aren't any good Italian restaurants in Evanston so it's the best amongst the bad. Unless you want to spend and go to Trattoria Demi and if you can drive then Olive Garden! Wait = forever and they play favorites! Food = watery/cold/chewy Service = non chalant Ambiance = loud and noisy - gives me a headache! And thus I'm not going to spend more time explaining why I don't like this place.
(2)Marina M.
Despite the underground location, Dave's has a nice atmosphere. Dave's serves traditional Italian fare and reasonable prices and is definitely several notches above your average Italian chain restaurant. I'm not a fan of the eggplant Parmesan as it was overwhelmed with sauce, breading, and cheese -- you could barely find the eggplant. Some of my favorite items are the minestrone soup and Italian salad. The chocolate mousse is also great -- perfect texture, not too rich or sweet, and a hint of liquor (amaretto perhaps?)
(3)Vanessa C.
I love this place! When you come to Dave's it is a true dining experience, the portions are HUGE and the time between orders is long, this leaves room for talking, laughing, and enjoying your appetizer. They have wine ALL over, literally they have them lined up against the walls. I recommend there mussels, lasagna con amore, the big ravioli is great as well. Just remember that they have GREAT bread, and you may find yourself unable to practice self control, but TRY because the portions are huge!
(5)Lisa D.
When you need a cheap hearty meal, Dave's is your spot. You have to go downstairs to get there. Dave's was forced to move to a basement location that was once racquetball courts. If only you could burn the calories that are burned playing racquetball while eating this food because there are no low cal items on the menu. I ate my ENTIRE eggplant Parmesan. It wasn't the best I've ever had but that marinara sauce served with it was delicious. Pour that over just about anything and you've got a worthy meal. The cheesy ends of the eggplant parm were perfectly toasted crispy brown. The atmosphere is a bit campy, though still artsy. Evanston is a college town, after all, and that explains it for me. The owners made an effort to hang original artwork and line the chair rails with empty wine bottles. It's cute. The elder uncle of the group I was with walked his new born nephew around the restaurant and proudly introduced him to everyone. All patrons and staff obliged his enamour and oohed and ahhed over little Elliot. College town, small town, friendly town and friendly place to eat. It was a big group and our server was cute and friendly and efficient. I've read other reviews that state otherwise so I was expecting less. The walk back to the bathrooms reminds you that you are in a basement. I have a sensitive nose, I could smell a faint sewer scent back there. Luckily I was distracted by the brightly patterned mural paintings on the hallway walls. Smart. The bathroom itself is pretty dull, even the lighting is a bit sickly. But hand painted floral motifs in the stalls were sweet additions. My biggest gripe of the place is that there is only cold water in the bathroom. I can wait for the one sink to be available, especially at these prices, but the cold water is inexcusable in the winter time. This is the reason for three instead of four stars.
(4)Shannon B.
The food is pretty good, but the service is horrible. The salmon with dill sauce is wonderful and the Alfredo is nice. The portions are as huge as everyone says. But... I don't know if it is always understaffed or just slow as mutha. That wouldn't be a big deal for me but in conjunction with forgotten drinks and an apparent phobia regarding bring the table their check... well its an issue. Here is the breakdown: * Wait staff: I've had better and faster service at McDonalds- in Hawaii... * Drink Full bar, decent wine list * Menu:Italian * Parking: There is a cheap structure not far away, a small possibility of metered parking. * Dress: Casual
(2)Ms G.
AWESOME!!! I've been going to Dave's for a while, and it never disappoints. Perfect for dates, birthdays, special events... you can go casual or dressy, just be prepared for a ton of good Italian food! Ask for the pink soda- delish! The salad is great, serves the whole table. I recommend the eggplant Parmesan or the spaghetti with red clam sauce. Whatever you get, you will definitely have leftovers for the next day.
(4)Sandy N.
Pretty meh. I had the lasagna with tomato sauce. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't really great. The service was ok. Next time, I'd probably go elsewhere. Evanston has so many better options.
(2)Trisha F.
Incredibly overrated. Mediocre pasta, usually pretty loud. Not worth the price, I'd rather make pasta at home.
(2)Mike M.
After visiting Dave's a few times prior to Northwestern Basketball games, I have to give this place 4 stars. Even when it is very crowded they are accomodating and get you seated. excellent portions, fair prices and variety of menu make this a good choice for dining in downtown evanston
(4)Liane R.
Perfect setting for a wedding rehearsal dinner for an Italian family! The Eggplant Parmesan was delicious!
(5)Sarah M.
I almost want to say that I am offended by all the bad reviews! Dave's is a fabulous place. It's old location was so dark... this one you can at least see people in. It's a family run place, and the owner's wife is often part of the wait staff. The portions are ridiculously large and taste wonderful. I have never left without leftovers. The mousse is to die for... chocolate heaven. But by far my highlight of life at this restaruant... the salad dressing. It's homemade and if it wouldn't be totally disgusting to do so, I'd drink it because it's that good. As a vegetarian I feel I never have any issues with ordering food as there's often a few things I can pick from.
(5)Joyee L.
I, like many others, feel that the food is completely unspectacular. The first time I went, I ordered the stuffed zucchini, one of the cheapest things on the menu, because I didn't have that much money and the time, and thought it was pretty good. The next time, I went with a large group of people, and ordered pasta, which is very disappointing. It tasted extremely bland - more tasteless than store-bought tomato sauce. My friend ordered some jalapeno pasta, and all it was was marinara sauce with some jalapeno slices thrown in at the last minute. At these prices, I expected a lot more. Needless to say, I've never gone back again. Spend your money somewhere else.
(1)Janet E.
The last time I came here I was starving and there was a 30 minute wait! But it was worth it. The staff was really great. To hold me over I ordered a coffee at the "bar". When we were seated, the waitress was very friendly and the food came relatively quickly (or maybe I was stuffing myself with the free bread and olive oil?). The food was delicious and we had enough left overs to make another meal of it!
(4)David G.
Very disappointing. My dad ordered lamb chops which he sent back because they were slightly underdone. When they brought the dish back to the table, it was clear that they had been microwaved. When called on it, they admitted it. All in all, an uninspiring restaurant. I am surprised it's as busy as it was.
(2)Linda D.
A favorite place of mine for over 30 years. Spaghetti Diablo w/ mushrooms or spaghetti w/ white clam sauce or...if I can find anyone to share, the bacon mushroom pizza... 2 of the 3 desserts are great (skip the cannoli); we usually get the same number of spoons as diners and just put desert in the center and see who's fastest.
(5)Chris G.
Have loved Dave's for years but never knew Dave was a complete jerk. We just had our second baby and decided to order delivery from Dave's to the hospital in town as a nice celebration dinner. The staff said they couldn't deliver to the hospital and recounted a story about a car being towed. We said we understood and that we'd be happy to meet them across the street or wherever so they wouldn't have to go near the hospital. We were told we had to talk to Dave himself. Dave then got on the phone, didn't say one word, and screamed "WE DON'T DELIVER TO THE DAMNED HOSPITAL" then hung up. Needless to say the owner and proprietor of a business should never treat anyone, let alone a customer that way. We have nothing to do with, and know nothing about, Dave's contentious relationship with Evanston hospitals. We called back and got an apology from the embarrassed staff who couldn't offer any explanation or solution. Dave - we have a "no jerk" policy and you failed miserably. Sorry but you're getting a 1 star and we're going to let everyone know about this non-sense.
(1)Ngoc H.
Went here a while back, the food is just ok, nothing really special about it. The fettuccine was sort of bland but the chicken was salty enough to make up for it. All in all this place is good but it's nothing great. Great place though if you have a large group.
(3)Anthony B.
Finally a good Italian restaurant! With a handful of bad experiences at ones in Chicago, I was very impressed with Dave's. I was a little skeptical from the outside with the checkered curtains and it looked like it would be a step up from a pizzeria, but I was sorely mistaken. The food was all fresh. The salad was great as was the house dressing, and the veal was mouth watering. We also ordered mussels which were also fantastic. The service was friendly, attentive, and great. I would definitely come back. I am curious about the whole wheat pizza on the menu!
(4)Ashley H.
I love the classics at Dave's, and everything is always fresh and tasty. We ordered delivery once, and the food was cold by the time it made it to our table. We haven't had delivery since, but every time we eat there it's great.
(4)Jason P.
Good Italian food. This place has been around for a while and has a nice atmosphere in the basement of the building. There is a nice blend of pictures and hand written signs around and the food is good as well. They let you get whole wheat pizza, but then it says it is actually half whole wheat flour and half white flour, making it half wheat I guess. At any rate, the taste is right. I also tried the cheeseless calzone which was fantastic.
(4)Casia J.
I don't even have the energy to write about this church basement-meets-Chef Boyardee-served-by-careless-students kinda place. Been twice. Two meals of my life I'll never get back. The second time a waiter spilled (about 2 tbsps, not just a drop) of red wine on me. Apology? No. Only a very Keanu Reeves style "Whoops!" There ya have it.
(2)Claire S.
My girlfriend took me here for the first time on one of our first dates because it's one of her favorites. I have to say, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and food at Dave's! I love how laid back and unpretentious the vibe is and the vegetarian lasagna was really good! I think I'll return here quite a bit for the sentimental value and would recommend it to someone in the Evanston area looking for casual Italian dining.
(4)Lisa H.
Expect a wait if you try Dave's on a Friday or Saturday night. Luckily you have the opportunity to order drinks from the bar/waiting area while waiting. This longtime Evanston establishment serves up plenty of Italian food. I'd suggest the Spaghetti Carbonara. It's pretty much the only thing I order at Dave's...and a bottle of red wine on special. The Lasagna with meat sauce is my second favorite meal at Dave's. Be sure to bring your Sharpie and write on one of the thousands of wine bottles displayed specifically for the purpose of writing on them!
(3)Vanessa D.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants for about 13 years now. (Wow, I can't believe it's been so long). I was a big fan of it in high school (when it was at the other location) because it was cheap, delicious, and filling. Their chocolate mousse is amazing. I usually just stick to the baked spaghetti. It's still very much the same place I originally fell in love with back as a freshman in high school. The homestyle Italian food, the casual laid back atmosphere, the friendly waitstaff, the WINE BOTTLES lining the walls, and yes, that mousse is still delicious. Come here if you want some good food without spending a lot. It can get really crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings when lots of families go there, so be ready for a bit of a wait.
(4)George O.
Distinctly not-great food. The prices are reasonable, but you're still not getting what you're paying for in terms of quality. That's offset by the quantity of food. I've never had problems with service or freshness, but the service wasn't fantastic, either. The thing that sticks out in my mind is that the pasta carbonara was cooked so that the egg had curdled. Anybody who knows what pasta carbonara is would count that as a failure, and certainly wouldn't send it out at a restaurant.
(2)Tom F.
Nice casual place to enjoy good food and company. Nothing fancy about it, but it's pretty warm and inviting. The lamb chops are a favorite of mine, and the minestrone is solid. Give it a shot if you want a fun, relaxing atmosphere, and it's definitely kid-friendly.
(4)Kathryn R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Evanston! The food always tastes fresh and homemade. The service is always good. The prices are very reasonable. They have a nice selection of wines too! Usually there is a wait to be seated, but because the place is so large, the wait has never been more than 20 minutes or so. A very nice, casual, comfortable place. One criticism is that it can get noisy in there!
(4)Scott H.
What is it about Dave's? The place is pretty much a dive, always messy and is generally jam-packed, but the wife and I keep coming back again and again! Good Italian standards with huge portions. Always a cheap, but quite drinkable bottle of red and white available at $13-14. Whatever you order, get a meatball on the side. Great accompaniment to anything. Hits are spaghetti carbonara and lasagna con amore.
(4)Martha M.
You can always count on Dave's for a good hearty meal with plenty of leftovers. Basic pasta and basic sauce is the name of the game, along with a wide variety of chicken dishes. If you are looking for something beyond pasta and sauce though, Dave's is not your spot. There's no fancy stuff here. The ambiance is very homey, PACKED with booths and tables. The waiting area is fairly small and you will always wait. Do not go during high dining times or you will wait a LONG time with A LOT of loud kids. Dave's definitely caters towards families so the place is always crammed with kids. Service is good, nothing to write home about. Don't get me wrong - Dave's is delicious and I go there at least once every few months. The salads are delicious and the pasta is as well. They have a chocolate mousse that I can't resist and a very impressive and inexpensive wine list.
(3)A S.
Brought a hungry soccer team and got great service and excellent food. The staff was very accomodating and patient. We will highly recommend DIK to the rest of our organization!
(5)Cynthia E.
No, no,no,no,no,no,no. The minestrone is passable.
(1)Chaviva G.
I date a self-proclaimed chef. He has no professional training, but the man's food is ... amazing. His best dishes are, did you guess it? Italian. As such, this was quite a test. Would he love it? Would he hate it? Would he finish his dish? The answer is below ... We were looking to get out of the comfort zone of Western/Central/Loop Chicago, so I asked some Yelpers for advice. One suggested Dave's Italian Kitchen in Evanston, and of course we were glad to head north to one of our favorite little areas. We trudged through the rain to Chicago and Church, down some stairs into an interesting basement bistro. At first glance it reminded me of an old basement section of a restaurant I used to go to in my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska called Spaghetti Works. But they closed it eons ago, and I haven't done basement dining for some time! We were immediately greeted by a bounty of staff up front, sat in a booth flanked by bottles of wine along the wall that sported fancy notes from the restaurant's past. The bread was brought and we gazed at the menu while noshing on some of *the* most delicious bread I've ever had. Dave's makes their own bread, but it isn't just fresh bread, it's the kind of bread your mom used to make. The kind that you'd rip apart the moment it was done -- whether it came from the oven or the breadmaker. I ordered the baked spaghetti, and the date got a calzone (I forget what kind, but there was sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc.). We also ordered two dinner salads, because we wanted to gauge the house-made dressing. The salads were fresh, though a little heavy on the carrots. No vinaigrette compares to my boyfriend's, but their dressing was pretty delicious and had the right amount of tang. We noshed on more bread while waiting for the meal, though it came out pretty quick. The restaurant was slowly filling up with families, college-age kids and couples ... and the buzz was perfect with the casual decor. The baked spaghetti I was used to consisted of the pasta, mixed with the sauce, covered in cheese, and baked. This spaghetti, though, was nothing such! The pasta was covered with mozzarella and baked, and then the marinara was plated in the bowl *next* to the spaghetti and cheese. It was a little strange visually at first, but as I ate and mixed the two up, it made for a delicious dish. The marinara was perfect for your standard sauce -- not too spicy, not overloaded with spices, just simple and delish. The boyfriend's calzone came and .... good lord. It was the biggest calzone I'd ever seen. It is made to feed one to two people, and my boyfriend has a pretty big appetite -- he couldn't finish it! He said it was crispy, fresh, the sausage was delicious and after he got a side of marinara, he was set. What made the calzone for him -- he said -- was the bread. Again, the moment it was set on the table, you could smell the freshness and the comfort of the calzone's crust! Overall, he said, "I would be so forward as to say this is the best calzone I've ever had." Now, coming from him -- he who has been to Lombardi's, among others, in NYC, all varieties of Italian in Chicago and elsewhere -- this is a BIG freakin' deal. This, to me, says that Dave's has it going on. Finally, we concluded our meal with a cannoli, which we split. It absolutely topped off the night and filled in that last little hole of space in our stomachs. It was rich, creamy, and fresh ... this place knows their breads and pastries! People complain about the portions not making up for quality, but in my experience, the portions and the quality were above my expectations. The decor was comfortable and reminded me of a family-run restaurant with a touch of eclectic class with varied paintings, wine bottles, and other "Italian" objects. The variety of the crowd should be a testament to the type of people that appreciate a comfortable, bistro style restaurant and should also attest to the fact that this restaurant will be around for quite some time (it's already been around for a few decades!). If you want a preview of the style of the restaurant, take a peek at the website and read the biography and "how to get here" links. Also, take my boyfriend's take on the calzone to heart -- because this man KNOWS and lives Italian. The two of us ate, with salads and desserts, for a mere $30.00. Talk about a deal! So take the bad reviews for a grain of salt, darn't. Trek to Evanston and give it a go. If there is a Dave, I'd like to meet Dave, and say "Dave, thanks. You filled me the hell up!"
(5)Jerry W.
Like another reviewer, I have been coming here since before it was relocated. A funky place with good tasting food at reasonable prices. Feels like it should be a Northwestern student hangout, but it is really just a common Evanstonian hangout. I personally like the eggplant parm, and do not think their pizza is anything too great. Worth going to.
(4)Scott B.
Very good food, great price. Bring a pen and sign the wine bottles on the wall. And try the pizza and calzone. Been going there for 25 years, and always a solid meal at a good price.
(4)Kiira B.
Mediocre food, poor service, weird ambiance.....
(2)Molly B.
I'm with Victoria. I love the food here and have taken people who also enjoy it. They give you plenty to munch on for a reasonable price and everything I've had is tasty! You're almost guaranteed leftovers; who doesn't love that?! I give 4 stars because their wine and beer selection isn't great, but I think it's mainly a family restaurant, so that probably won't be helped. Also, the takeout is awesome and quick, too, but good luck finding a place to idle the vehicle!
(4)Andrew H.
3.5 stars if the option was available. A staple for me and the favorite girl when we're in the mood for decent food, good portions, and good prices. Usually there is no wait on weekdays but we came last night (a Sunday) and it was packed. Along with a horde of mature high schoolers wishing to have dinner prior to a school dance (really not the place to go before a school dance), we waited for approx 20-30 minutes. The atmosphere is casual, family and kid friendly. When the room is full, it can get loud. Service is hit or miss depending on your waiter/waitress, and same goes for how fast the food comes out. Last night we were not attended to for a good 5 minutes after sitting down; however our waitress was very apologetic and compensated more than enough. The table bread is average, we usually indulge ourselves with a slice or two but never have to ask for a second round. My favorite girl began by ordering a small Italian salad. I didn't think much of it at the time, I don't ask questions, just foot the bill. But when the salad came and with plates to share (our waitress assumed we were dating...ugh, I wish), it was larger than a "small" and included everything that the menu said it would include -- not excuding red onions, pepperoncinis, and radish. Fortunately for me, my favorite girl hates all of the above and proceeded to put all of them on my plate. Like the trooper I am, I proceeded to attempt eating a plate full of only red onions, pepperoncinis, and radish. A unique flavor profile for sure, but my favorite girl eventually threw me some greens, red cabbage, cucumber, and dressing which made the following ten minutes much more enjoyable. For our entrees, I ordered the #2 small calzone (pesto, tomatoes, mushroom, spinach) and it is on point. This is the only place I know that has pesto calzones, and I really enjoy pesto. My favorite girl ordered her broccoli, chicken, and garlic risotto -- while she gets it every time, I have tried it before too and can attest to its hearty home-cooked flavor. After we were finished, I ordered a tiramisu for us to share, much to my favorite girl's chagrin. Our waitress enjoyed the banter, gave us two forks, and didn't put it on the tab. A good way to end our meal.
(3)Victoria h.
I don't know why it got so many bad votes. Dave's a great place with huge calzones and cheap salads. The service is fast, and food is good, the setting is nice and casual. What is there to complain about? It's not really classic Italian food, it's very Americanized - but I definitely recommend checking it out with friends (if you live nearby). It's not a place that I'd drive to from far away, it's not THAT good. But if you live nearby and need somewhere to take your folks or friends - this is a good place. Keep in mind that the wait to be seated can take a while.
(4)Liz P.
I have a friend from Evanston and, upon knowing my intense love for Italian food, insisted that we eat at Dave's Italian Kitchen. Thus far, I've had it only twice but both times, I died and went to Italian-cuisine heaven. The first time, I ordered an interesting spaghetti-japaleno concoction that left me enticed. The second time, I ordered spaghetti with mushrooms/sun-dried tomatoes in a decadent olive oil-butter-cream sauce. I love this place. Next time I'm getting their carbonara because my friend climaxes every time he has it. I've never eaten in the restaurant, only done take-out, because we always go when it's packed. But I love this place.
(5)Ben W.
This place is not great at all. Their prices are quite steep compared to the quality of food. This place might do if you are too lazy to boil your own pasta and put a can of tomato sauce/alfredo on top of it yourself. If you are not that lazy then save yourself some money and stay home. I had the ziti here and it was most unsatisfying--there was little cheese and the marinara sauce tasted odd. Also the pasta was a little overcooked.
(2)Julie H.
Oh Dave, what happened? Ok, I have to say after eating here last night (and being somewhat psyched to be going because it was just what I was jonesin for), I am so disappointed. =( It was a Saturday evening, and we were seating immediately as they weren't at full capacity yet so now wait, which is awesome. What wasn't awesome was that once we were seated, no one came to talk to us for close to 10 minutes (after 5 solid minutes, my boyfriend was ready to walk, but I just so wanted to eat dinner there....so we stayed). Our waiter did suddenly appear and said (I quote) "I'll be waiting on you today. Are you perchance ready to order?". Hmm, no hello, no 'can i grab you a drink while you peruse the menu?'. And he was somewhat intimidating, so we ordered. quickly. then sat some more. and watched. A table next to us (who had the same server) also never seemed to be waited on - when they finally got their check, we actually overheard them debating whether or not to leave a tip. Another table behind us was sat, and a waitress appeared less than 20 seconds later (we started timing this). A 3rd table near us was sat and a waiter came by within 30 seconds, introduced himself, asked he could get them some drinks, gave some recommendations, and, get this, EVEN came back and checked in on them when their food appeared! Now us, when out appetizer emerged, I only noticed bc the waiter was reaching around a pole and waiting for me to take it from him and put it on the table. That was the last we saw of him until we got our check. Fortunately when they seat you, they give you a pitcher of water otherwise we probably would never have gotten drinks. A very nice bus boy did come by when it looked like we were done and offered to box our leftovers, I kinda was wishing he had been our waiter. Now the sad part is, the meal was just what I wanted, and I've never had a bad experience there before, but I will think twice before returning after this treatment. They really need to make sure all of their staff is on the same page, and judging from how everyone else was hustling and bustling around the place, and all the other tables had actually service other than those in our section, they should also be sure their staff who is not on the same page is either not working there anymore or at the very least kept in the kitchen.
(2)Kristen H.
Oh why does the food have to taste so darn good? I'm on a diet; not supposed to be eating here. But I do get a day off. And let me tell you how much I enjoyed my day off.............................YUM!!!! So I only get a day off every now and then , so when I do I must choose wisely. So I decided to order the spaghetti carbonara. It is sooooooo good. For those of you that don't know what it is I'll tell you. It's obviously spaghetti noodles, with a white cream sauce with bacon and onion. Let me tell you........it is delicious! Definitely worth the wait. It will be hard not to repeat this decision when my next free day comes.
(5)Kary Z.
I don't know why my hopes for this place were so high; it was recommended to me by a 70 year old woman. We checked out the menu before going, and there is a nice selection of entrees, wines, and the prices were affordable. When we walked in we were greeted right away, "just two?" "yes." "you can take that booth there". The hostess just pointed us to our seat. Did not even bother to move from behind her counted to seat us. I know, its not far, and we could just see our seat, but it was too informal in a way. We sat, and our menus came. Our server did not. We waited for a while. When he did come he was so boring. We asked him to help us narrow down the menu and he was hardly interested in helping us figure out what to eat. We did decide, and when he came to take our order we told him, and that was that. However, on the menu it states "your choice of sauces"--he did not ask us. Just made the choice for us. I wanted meat sauce, but since he didnt ask and i didnt tell him, i didnt get it. My partner ordered a fettucini rose, and it was soooooooo bland. No amount of romano cheese, salt, or pepper could spice it up. I ordered the provolone chicken. It came with plain mariana on the rotini, which tasted as if it was from a ragu jar and my chicken had absolutely no flavor. The server didnt check on us for about 6 minutes. We are not the typical table that would make a huge deal of a bad meal, and never have we ever sent anything back to the kitchen. Remember, I was server for a very long time, as was my partner...but this was terrible. Mik sent her food back, and i ate some of mine because I was starving. The only thing they did right was take off a portion of our bill. Yet, the manager didnt come make a table visit. If management doesnt care about how dissatisfied their customers are, then they really could care less about the quality. And it shows here at Daves. Save your money, don't go. You are way better off going to Giordanos or Trattoria Demi in Evanston.
(1)Erin C.
I have been to Dave's so so many times. Birthdays, dates, etc etc etc. I just don't think it's that good. I have to admit, there are a few good things on the menu... 1. the calzones are awesome, but it's hard to mess up cheese, bread and sauce. 2. the baked spaghetti is nice, but it's really just the cheese baked on top that makes this dish anything special. Everything else tastes like canned tomato sauce. There is nothing innovative or exciting served here. And that's ok. There are plenty of restaurants dishing out crowd favorites very well. The difference here is that it just isn't executed very well. I do get a kick out of the ETHS students out on big group dates here though. I've taken pictures for several of them for homecoming and prom and stuff. It's a hoot!
(2)Rob F.
Excellent. reasonably priced Italian food. Comfortable atmosphere. The wine list is reasonably priced. Only problem is the wait and sometimes there appears to be empty tables open as you wait.
(4)Adam S.
A few of the reviews I've read about this place are complaining about decor, ambiance, the sauce, etc. as if they are the son or daughter of Phil Vettel. Dave's Italian Kitchen is comfort food to the extreme, from the basement, windowless location, to the plastic red and white table clothes, to the big portion, basic Italian fare. They aren't trying to be pretentious and they aren't trying to be fancy. They just want to serve good food in a family-style environment and they do an excellent job of it. All the pizzas, pastas, and salads I've had at Dave's are great. Are they fine dining? No - but that's not what this is supposed to be. Just like you don't order a steak at a coffee shop, you don't veer from the basics at Dave's. The service has always been quite good too - the other night I was there and they brought out one of our dishes way past the others. The waiter was apologetic to the point of embarrassing and we got two free desserts out of it (which were both fantastic.) So put on you jeans and gym shoes, head on over to Dave's, order a glass of cheap cabernet, get the spaghetti and meatballs, and enjoy your night.
(4)Heidi H.
Meh. I know that the made up word *meh* has sorta played itself out, but its the only way I know how to describe my experience here. My friend and I decided to go here for NYE seeing we were heading up to Evanston for a movie anyway. I'm really not too familiar with good eats in Evanston, so I trusted her decision on going to Daves Italian Kitchen. I decided to start with a salad that I dont remember the name of but thought it sounded pretty tasty. Spring greens, dried apricot and cranberries, and walnuts all tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. Sounds yummy right? meh. The salad was drowning in the watery dressing. I mean, I love me some dressing but having a puddle of it at the bottom of my salad bowl is a bit too much for even me! For my main entree I chose whole wheat mostaccioli in a pesto sauce with added spinach. Again. meh. The pasta was cooked well and the pesto was tasty and garlicky, but lacked seasoning and they forgot my spinach. Oh well. Nothing was terrible but nothing blew me away either. Just a meh experience all around. The best thing about the dinner was that it was satisfying and cheap. I would go here again if someone else really wanted to go, but it definitely wouldn't be my first choice when dining in Evanston.
(3)Colleen B.
I won't waste a lot of space here... I second the previous reviews. Decent, but not great, Italian food. Huge portions. I keep ending up here because it's an easy decision when you're looking to gorge yourself on cheesy pasta for a reasonable price. Not my number one choice for dinner, but if someone suggests it I probably won't turn them down.
(3)Annie S.
My mom and I really like this place and we always split the spaghetti with meat sauce and an extra meatball. It comes with a side of fresh bread and the staff are really friendly. I've been eating here since high school and even though it's not the best or most authentic Italian food, it is still good and the servings are HUGE so you will not leave hungry!
(4)Alissa I.
Still great...my new favorite is Chicken Marsuvio
(5)Patricia C.
We have been going to Dave's for years and the only thing I order is the small Italian Salad and Spaghetti Gorgonzola which is outstanding (I have never had anything else although my husband orders different pastas and he has liked everything that he has ordered).The prices are affordable and service is good.
(4)Julie G.
It seems like downtown Evanston has a ton of restaurants and yet no restaurants all at once. If you're ever up there, Dave's is a great fallback choice for a perfectly good Italian meal. Their menu has some real standouts: good pasta, good tiramisu. The service is friendly and the prices are very reasonable. The breadbasket is so-so but the olive oil they keep on the tables is pretty good. Skip the broccoli soup though. I know people rave about but it's been super bland both times I've had it.
(3)Steve T.
In a basement in Evanston you will find a lovely Italian restaurant. Great pizza and past. The wines are not bad. Very down to earth. The wait staff are super friendly.
(4)Erin J.
The nice thing about Dave's is that it is predictable and reliable. The portions are huge - one pasta dish = about 3 meals for me. Sometimes there is an intimidating wait, but you can order wine at the bar to make the time pass more quickly. Totally kid-friendly AND pocket-book-friendly. I feel like Dave's is a bargain because the food is good, not great, and the portions are giant. It's really not my favorite, but I'm glad it's there. I have always found the staff to pleasant and efficient.
(3)Jolie R.
We were on our way to Joy Yee when we found it was closed for expansion. Dissapointed and hungry, we walked around the corner and spotted Dave's, which we had seen many times driving down Chicago, so we decided to stop in and see what it was all about. Yowee! Zowee! This is our FAVE Italian restaurant for lots of pasta and prices that aren't going to take a chunk out of our budget. We love upscale, but weren't looking for it that nite...and were not disappointed in what we found. I had the calamari and spaghetti (wish they had linguini on the menu!) and the server suggested ordering it with olive oil and garlic instead of the marinara. She was on-spot. The noodles were aldente, the calamari was tender and very plentiful and the garlic wasn't too heavy. My husband ordered spaghetti and meatball, which turned out to be the biggest meatball we've ever seen! He said it was the closest to tasting like his Italian mother's meatballs. We both want to come back and try other pasta dishes. I probably won't order the pizza - but we'll give the other menu items, while limited, a go. We left full to the gills and our bill was under $20 for a terrific meal.
(4)Yakov B.
If you want, hands down, the absolute worst service of any restaurant in the Chicagoland area with a native English speaking waitstaff, then Dave's is the place. I have been there numerous times and have experienced the host giving my table to someone else, waitresses simply forgetting to wait on my table, waiters screwing up my order, waitress and waiters forgetting to bring an item order, and waitresses and waiters taking my credit card for payment, and then simply not coming back and forcing me to get up and approach the cash register myself. I've complained to the management and never once have I been offered a "comp" for my troubles. So why do I keep going back despite the G-d awful service? The food is pretty damn good.
(2)Christina G.
We always have a good time at this neighborhood Italian restaurant. Been going for years, even before they were at their Chicago ave. location. The atmosphere is very cozy. We prefer a booth, Red and white checkered tablecloths make it feel fun. The bread they give you is so delicious that it's hard not to eat it and save room for your meal! I always get the small italian salad with italian dressing and the spinach ravioli. The marinara is delicious and the fresh pasta always pleases. Very kid friendly which is why we frequent here often and early. We usually have to get here by about 5:30 on a Friday night to avoid a wait. My dad had the Spaghetti Carbornara tonite and he said it was very good. They always have a wine on special too, but I usually just have a glass of the house red or white as they are both usually tasty!
(4)Erin K.
I think that the three rating is quite accurate in describing Dave's Italian Kitchen. They serve good Italian food, but I've definitely had better. The best thing it has going for it is the massive quantities they serve you. I'm talking "lunch and dinner the next day" big. It's a great place to bring kids--something you could easily tell by looking at the clientele (FAMILY CENTRAL!) and definitely worth the price.
(3)Ann A.
We went here for a birthday party last week and it was okay. I was under the weather, so my taste buds may have been off, but the minestrone was meh, the bread was okay, and the gorgonzola salad was pretty good. It's pretty hard to screw up a salad though, right? My husband had the sausage calzone and when we ate it as leftovers a few days later, I was smitten. I think we'll definitely hit up this place for calzones as take out. We just weren't bowled over by the vibe of the joint.
(3)Victor K.
Eat here, I have for 25 years...never had a bad meal.
(5)Dave Y.
this place is awesome! most things are pretty reasonably priced and you get quite a bit of food. such as the really cheap meatball sandwich. the diabolo pasta or whatever it's called is really good. really spicy and hot. a long time ago this place used to be a veritable hole in the wall. now it's in a newer nicer place, and lost a bit of its charm, but still great nonetheless
(5)Chris R.
Dave's is good at what it sets out to do. It's not a fancy place, and it's not a place for experimental, fusion, or anything else. It's the kind of sauce-rich American-style Italian food that your grandmother probably makes if she's Italian. On-street parking can be hard to find, so park in the municipal garage a block north. It's cheap and spaces are plentiful. Like I said, Dave's isn't trying to be a fancy upscale Italian restaurant, so don't let the basement location or ambience detract from the rich food. The décor tends toward wine bottles on the wall and red-and-white-checked tablecloths, and it gets noisy when it's busy. Wait staff is attentive. While our waiters have usually been on the young side, they seem more polished and knowledgeable...maybe they're Northwestern students. The wine list is extensive with a good range of prices, and as reasonably priced as one would expect with the knowledge that wine is always marked up at restaurants. There is no BYOB. Most of the menu is standard Italian-American: pastas, meats, and sauces. That said, it's the best tasting pasta, meat, and sauce in the local area. Substitutions of whole-wheat pasta, or one type of noodle for another are met with a smile and "no problem." The red sauce and meat sauce have a long-simmered flavor with plenty of acidic tomato tang. When I have an Italian craving, Dave's is at the top of my list. I'd rather have fresh food that tastes home-cooked than something from an Italian chain restaurant that is pre-packaged and reheated. Five stars because I love the way the food tastes and the service I've received has always been good. (I give star ratings based on how well the restaurant executes what it's trying to be...not as a Michelin-style mark of absolute quality.)
(5)Mara S.
No doubt about it, this is good food. It's a fairly inexpensive, cool place. The service is good. The homemade bread on the table is deliciously fresh and warm. It was crowded, but didn't seem too crazy for a Friday night. Nice, casual atmosphere.
(5)Michael B.
Driving through Evanston and was in the mood for Italian food... saw Dave's and Yelp'd it. Had some great reviews, so tried it. I have to agree with most of the reviews. The atmosphere is great. The food was amazing. The service was wonderful. I can't wait to go again. I had the Chicken Parm... awesome. Huge portion, tasted great. Try it out sometime if your in Evanston, it's worth the stop.
(5)Chris W.
Freakishly overrated! The bread is always dry, the sauce is essentially ketchup, and the decor and service are not noteworthy. The empty wine bottles lining the walls are kind of a nice touch, admittedly.
(1)Andrew T.
I absolutely do not know what the fuss is about this place. While two stars may be a bit low... I personally, didn't like this place b/c they didn't have a lot of sausage optionson the menu. Their olive oil on the table was really bland (and I'm not exactly an olive oil connisseur). The blue cheese noodles were good (and big). The pesto calzone was boring and wierdly juicy inside. The manicotti was also forgetable w/an acidic marinara sauce. My gf actually thought it was decent, but the next day she flew United to France and said the manicotti on the airplane was better...
(2)Christina R.
This is the place you can afford to eat, leave sated, have a tasty meal, but you walk in knowing that it probably isn't going to be the best meal of your life. My rating is based on what it is - a cheap eat. If I paid $50 for my bowl of pasta and it tasted like this, I would be pissed. However, when you are paying 7.99 for a vat of Spaghetti, and it fills you up, you are looking for a decent taste. If it tasted like cafeteria food, then we would have problems. The Good: whatever recipe they are using for their house dressing will ensure I return. I can never the spice mixture right in my vinegar for just the right dressing, but somehow this was awesome; I had a small plate of greens to start my meal and it turned out to be all I wanted to eat. Plus, the Bolognese sauce on my spaghetti was actually really good. Not the best I have ever had, but for 8.95, I was impressed. And the server we had was superb. If I could remember her name (sorry! I am terrible with names!) I would give her a shout out here, but she was just attentive enough to be awesome, plus even though we didn't complain, she didn't think the broccoli soup looked the way it normally looked, and hence made the decision to not charge for it. In all honesty, the broccoli soup was terribly underseasoned and bland, but she affirmatively intervened before we said a word. Five Star service at a cheap eats restaurant - that was exceedingly impressive. The Not So Good - the meatball and the marinara sauce were not thing. I love meatballs, but the meatball you can order with your spaghetti is one large lump of underseasoned sadness in an bath of marinara sauce that will leave your pancreas aching from the sweetness. The marinara lacks the seasonings to make it good, and is disadvantaged by the base ingredients which seems to be a lot of tomato paste and/or cheap crushed tomatoes. The Ugly: you never know what kind of crowd will be walking through the door. A high school aged soccer team fresh (or not-so-fresh) from a game walked through the door, and it was seriously unpleasant. Also, there was a large group of what appeared to be high school aged kids dressed up for some event dining out for some reason. The cheapness of the place will bring in those seeking affordable meals on parental allowance, the college shoestring budget, or those that refuse to pay $16 for a plate of .80 pasta when you don't want to make an event of the night.
(3)Maureen D.
This place is teriff. Seriously. I have ordered lots of things here, but my absolute favorite is the spinach rotini with marinara sauce. Oh, and their bread is phenomenal.
(4)Alex W.
Italian food is my absolute favorite but for some reason I can never get into this place no matter how much I try. Better pizza can be found elsewhere, the pasta, second rate. Big helpings and good for large groups-though not like how real Italian restaurants are supposed to be.
(2)Shane H.
I went with a friend last night. Despite the horrible weather it was surprisingly busy. The atmosphere was cozy but I wasn't crazy about the menu options. My new thing when it comes to eating is to mix it up as much as possible so I ordered something I NEVER get... veal. The veal parmesan was OK, not the best ever. I think you're probably better off getting lasagna or one of their chicken dishes, from what I've heard. The portion sizes are HUGE. I would eat here again, but probably not voluntarily. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing.
(3)Jesster A.
Although on it's 3rd location - Dave's has been an Evanston institution for over a quarter of a century. The laid back atmosphere (though less so here) and huge portions at very reasonable prices are probably the main reason for it's enduring popularity - since the food quality itself is pretty bland and mostly ordinary. As a blue cheese fan myself, I suspect Dan's rave about the pasta Gorgonzola (you can choose among pasta shapes) has more to do with his love of the cheese (and this sauce is like 90% Gorgonzola) than the actual execution of the dish... Beware - this dish is VERY rich. Although they now have a liquor license - you can stil BYOB for a $5 corkage charge. For larger groups try bringing 1.5 liter bottles - not sure what their policy is on uncorking multiple bottles. NOTE: Do NOT order the socalled Spinach-Ricotta Pie (smothered in cream of mushroom soup, er sauce.... We split one four ways and even so it was rich beyond belief - like a plate full of frosting with no cake underneath it. Respectable Tiramisu easily serves 2 -4 for dessert - especially after those huge entree portions.
(3)Dan T.
You can't beat the location- it's in a cool part of Evanston, and as someone else stated it's easily better than Olive Garden! I always go for the Spaghetti Gorgonzola. My mouth waters just typing that. Gorgonzoooooooolaaaaa... Excuse me. The BYOB part is nice, and the portions are huge, so order something that sounds a little different and you won't be disappointed. I have usually gone in a large group, which is what this place is made for. That said, the atmosphere is also the only real drawback. It's extremely loud, and you get the impression the whole place could use a remodeling. But if you're in downtown Evanston, want Italian, and want a full meal, I have yet to find anything comparable.
(4)Chrissy F.
Great place with great memories. At first I was taken aback that it was underground, but that just adds to its "coolness" (yes I just said "coolness" -- what are you gonna do about it?) The orders are kind of big, so come hungry or ask for a doggy bag. I really don't know the first thing about wine, so I'm not going to pretend. They helped my friends and I pick out our bottle of wine. But they do seem to have an extensive wine selection... Guaranteed that you're gonna wait to get a table though. Everytime I've been there, I've had to stand around looking foolish for about 10 minutes before our table was ready. I don't mind waiting, I just mind looking foolish. But really, that's my own issue. It's not far from the purple line...just not close to it either. It's usually the block before I see the restuarant when I start complaining if we're there yet or not. If you're brave enough to walk TOWARDS the lake on a cold day, I'd definitely recommend you go for it.
(4)Matt B.
I give this place 3 stars. I've gone here quite a few times, and yet I never leave real happy with the meal. The basement atmosphere and wine bottle-lined walls are nice, the pre-meal bread and olive oil is good, but I look over the menu I am disappointed. Nothing appeals to me whatsoever. I generally look to spend $10-12 a meal, and if I pay anything over that I expect very good food. I'm usually spending more like $15-17 here, and the cuisine is no better than average. I really only eat here because I haven't found a suitable italian alternative other than olive garden - and I just can't bring myself to hit up the chain.
(3)Suzie B.
OK, here's my to-go order experience: My dearest friend broke her back after a nasty fall from a horse last year. Although the titanium rods in her spine are healing, she is far from able to do much walking around without having to stop and sit down to rest for a few minutes. We had been walking around Evanston a bit, running a few errands here and there, and her hubby called in an order for us to pick up on our way home. We got there right after he called, and my pal asked if we could sit at a table while we waited. The woman at the front was being rather shitty about it (they were busy) so Lib, who was about to pass out, said, "we'll order an appetizer! I have to sit down in a chair (she has a fucking BODY CAST on, fergawd's sake). So we sat down, and a nice waiter promptly brought us bread and water. We added another entree on to our to-go order, which he took to the gal at the register. We didn't see hide nor hair of him after that, although I had thrown a 5-er on the table, thinking he would bring us or to go bag. After what seemed like an eternity (watching my BFFE almost faint from meds nausea and exhaustion), I went to the register and asked about our order. It had been ready, and was sitting in the kitchen. We paid and got the hell out. I had the spinach lasagna, which was good but not spectacular. My friend's hubby had the meatball sandwich, which was HUGE, and I didn't sample so don't know how it tasted. I'm sure that in this land of Italians there are much better places to eat, but I did like the ambiance in there, and can see how it would be a good place to take a large group. Being shitty to someone in an upper body cast is inexcusable.
(2)Blake W.
Love it. Who goes here for great food and service? Raise your hand.... now take that hand and smack yourself. This place is cheap, good and easy. I don't feel bad rolling in with my hoodie and a hat or a button up. I'm actually usually suprised by the quality of what I order given the prices. We like to hit this place up once a month and stuff our belly's with food and wine. The wine list is a good size for such a low end place -- the best part is they stock it with cheap wine, but not crap like yellow tail, mondavi costal, sutter home etc... they've got a good selection. Get the Pink Sauce on anything and enjoy.....
(4)Miranda K.
I dropped in for my first visit last night and will definitely be back. This is in spite of the fact that it was incredibly crowded, a bit too noisy, and lousy with rug rats. The food was great: best calzone I've had in a long time and pretty good tiramisu too, which was a surprise. The atmosphere is homey, service is casual but attentive. I felt the prices were very reasonable.
(4)Clare F.
Just went to this place for the first time last night, and it was exactly what we were looking for! Nice, friendly staff, hearty food, and just-right prices. Is it the creme de la creme of Italian cooking? No, but that's not why we went. We were looking for affordable comfort food, and that's what they provided. We'll definitely be back.
(5)Henry F.
Went to Dave's last week for my birthday with my wife and 8 month old daughter. The entrees are huge and inexpensive. I had leftovers of Chicken Parm for lunch the next day. If you are looking for an inexpensive and family-friendly Italian spot, Dave's is a good place to check out.
(4)Mike C.
What can I say, this is one of my favorite Italian places in the area. Don't get me wrong, I've had better Italian food. But Dave's is something special for a casual, consistent meal. Pros: 1) In downtown Evanston, which is a treat in itself. 2) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. 3) Bright, open, comfortable dining room. 4) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. 5) Reasonably priced. 6) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. We love Daves, and come here for dinner whenever we're in the area. Good service, nice casual atmosphere, good food. Everything on the menu is good. We especially like the baked spaghetti and lasagna, but especially Dave's Italian Salad with the thick shredded mozarella cheese, yummy. Reasonably priced, great atmosphere, good food with a LOT of sauce :-) Enjoy!
(5)Megan W.
Dave's Italian Kitchen was good Italian comfort food. The portions are large and filling. I had the garlic and olive oil pasta and it was delicious. My boyfriend had the veal and it was very tasty. Our waitress did a great job of handling our large party. A word of warning though if you're looking for a quiet romantic dinner this is not the place for you. Dave's is extremely loud.
(4)Brandon B.
What dreck this food is. I've only had catering a few times from this place, and as a result, I will never go here. Every single dish I had, I know I could've made it better. Food is band, from the spaghetti, to the rotini... yuck. Trattoria Demi is a little better. This place is not worth it at all.
(1)grace c.
If you're looking for reasonably priced italian grub and your main focus is "$" then this place may do the job. If your main focus is on quality italian food, then please turnaround and head out the door. The moment I entered the restaurant, I felt like I was back in the cafeteria room in high school and once I dug my fork into the baked spaghetti and mozarella dish, the cafeteria feeling became all the more solidified. The marinara sauce tasted like canned marinara sauce where the tang was too overpowering. I ended up having to pour mounds of pepper and parmaesan onto my dish just to neutralize the flavor to make it more edible. I was not impressed.
(1)Kathryn M.
One of my best friend's is getting married in Evanston next summer. She and her fiance are in the process of auditioning possible rehersal dinner places, and Dave's Italian Kitchen was on the list. 6 of us arrived around 7 on a Saturday and didn't have to wait, which was great! The restaurant is downstairs, and a pretty comfy place to hang out. We all decided to have pizza. One awesome thing is they have whole wheat crust available, which makes me feel slightly better about stuffing my face with pizza. Well, it turns out I didn't need to worry about eating too much pizza, it was terrible. All three of our pizzas arrived at our table burnt, one of them was wrong, and they were just utterly tasteless. Now usually bad pizza is still somewhat good, but not here. Our waiter was nice, but not the best with keeping our drinks filled. Overall, we had a good time because we were with good friends, but I don't think this will be my friend's rehersal dinner spot.
(2)Jordan Z.
The veal parmesan with meat sauce and think crust four cheese pizza is a great combination for a 2-3 people working late on a project. The veal is always excellent and the pizza isn't quit Union but damn good. Been eating here since they were on Davis St. A solid choice every time.
(4)Sarah Beth B.
This is italian comfort food at its finest. It's not fancy at all, and my husband was super suspicious when I wanted to go and told him it was where we ate all the time in college, but he came around and we both were super pleased. Portions here are huge and delicious, and that kind of gloppy, saucy, cheesy Italian that tastes good when you kinda don't feel well or don't want to put much thought into it. They make my ideal eggplant parm, with layers of fried eggplant sandwiching herby ricotta. The fresh bread is delicious, the wine is CHEAP, and you'll certainly have plenty for lunch tomorrow. It's a win!
(4)Sherry Y.
This place has a pretty homey atmosphere. It's dimly lit and pretty much your typical Italian restaurant. It's a family establishment. My friend raved about this place to me and I thought it was pretty decent. The service was fast and the portions were huge. I ordered the stuffed peppers and it was pretty good.
(4)Steve B.
I went here Friday evening with my wife and we were greeted by a friendly hostess. We were brought stale bread by our waitress and I dipped it in their olive oil which certainly did not taste like olive oil. I had a meat calzone and my wife had spaghetti with calamari in it. The food was simply flavorless and executed very poorly. The employees were nice enough, but with as many restaurants as there are in Evanston, this should be one of the last places you go to.
(2)Zee X.
Better than Olive Garden, but still not that great. Service is a bit slow, but the food comes out fresh and fast. If your going to come here for dinner, the Chicken Parm is the way to go - the same goes for anything else that's deep fried. If you're going to order pasta beware, the marinara sauce is very watered down and a bit tasteless. (Beware, your leftovers will leak) Will I come here again? Maybe, but that's only if I'm in the mood for something fried.
(3)Ross C.
Delicious pasta although this time we went with the salmon pouched in wine and was very nice as well... The eggplant was delicious and healthy too. Now with temporarily BYOB is great too! We went across the street bought a nice french wine at a very reasonable price and enjoy a nice dinner.
(4)Cristina P.
I really hated the food here. The pasta sauce is so bitter. The meatball was dry and flavorless and the chicken parm was so fried it might as well have been a burnt chicken tender. I came here starving and left most of my plate. I'm Seriously pissed the ratings are above 3. I hate eating out and having a bad meal. The service was very good but I won't be back.
(2)Stephanie C.
Came here for the first time today before the dinner rush started. The restaurant is pretty homey, with lots of booths and tables. I don't think it's a very authentic place; everything on the menu was very Americanized Italian food. Nevertheless, I got the ravioli and my friend got the Chicken Florentine, and both were delicious. I was given 4 large ravioli for $10.50, with a choice of sauce (I chose meat at the server's recommendation). The ravioli was cooked well, with delicious filling, and I had enough to take home and make another meal out of. Service was pretty quick and friendly, and portions and prices are decent. Wish it was more authentic, but I will probably come back and try dessert next time as well! My only complaint is that there are TOO MANY CHOICES on the menu!
(4)Mike S.
I love Dave's Italian Kitchen. Is it perfect? No, but if you are looking for a no nonsense unpretentious experience, you'll enjoy it. It's not gourmet food, but I love their Gorgonzola salad. I've never tried the pizza, but it seems popular. Their is a variety of pasta dishes that are quit good, if not earth shattering. So, to some it up, it's my go to Italian restaurant when I'm visiting Evanston.
(4)Vic L.
Nothing fancy , just a great family restaurant, you can bring your own bottle of wine for a minimum cork fee. Great pizza , love their italian salad , side of meatballs is a must ( then use extra Sause from meatballs on your za). Just go , and if you have to wait it won't be long and proves it's worth it.
(5)Ann Marie B.
My family loves Dave's Italian Kitchen. It's our go-to for family celebrations. Cannot beat the prices and the staff are so accommodating to our kids. My menu favs: muscles, Italian salad, lasagna, chicken Marsala and pizza. Kids love the bread too. Cheap, but good wine is such a plus too. And, to the server tonight who quickly brought me a fresh salad as my leftovers fell all over the floor. It was my fault, yet I appreciate you all. Thank you!
(5)Bob R.
Great food at a great price! Kid friendly! The place seemed to be filled with locals. A wonderful place to eat!
(4)Hombre S.
Nice ambience, even if you're in the basement. Very extensive menu-pasta, pizza, calzones, risotto. From there it's downhill. The food is REALLY bad. Spinach salad=a bag of spinach witha couple of onion slices. Calzone=bland and tasteless. Same for ravioli. Same for homemade bread. Everything we had at our table was bland and boring. Would not ever go here again. Nice ambience though.
(2)Ann K.
Based on what I ordered (Fettuccine Alfredo), I would not recommend this place. For around $10, I received a plate of extremely creamy noodles alfredo noodles. To my surprise, there were no added toppings in the noodles. Personally, it didn't suit me very well. It tasted very unhealthy and had no flavor. Halfway through the dish, I got sick of it and handed it over to my friend to finish it off. You may have a better experience ordering something else.
(2)Elizabeth D.
Ample portions of classic Italian-American cuisine. If you've ever been to a restaurant with red-and-white checked plastic tablecloths, you know what to expect, and you certainly won't be disappointed.
(3)Christopher R.
Dave's is my go-to restaurant in Evanston for delivery as the quality of their food and service is superior to all peers. The thin crust pizza crust is amazing and this is by far the best thin crust pizza you can find in Evanston. I recommend ordering their Chicken Parmesan with a pink (rosea) sauce and angel hair pasta (yes, they let you substitute the pasta you prefer!). If you like excellent service, huge portions and high quality - look no further.
(5)Simone T.
This review applies to delivery only, not dine in. Ordered and promptly got a thin crust pepperoni pizza and an order of linguini with white clam sauce. The verdict? Fantastic. Great NY style pizza, incredibly delicious crust, sauce, cheese & meat. The linguini & clam sauce was, literally, OVERFLOWING with a VERY welcomed and generous serving of clams & was seasoned perfectly. I haven't eaten pasta w/clams this delicious in YEARS, and this is a favorite dish for me. Dave's, you've ruined me, in the best way possible!
(5)Brandon B.
This place is very mediocre Italian food. Edible but very meh. The location is in a basement, so the place seems a little dark. This place is fine if you are close and want Italian food, but I would not call it a must visit destination.
(3)Jane W.
Third time's a charm. Came here rather impulsively just to give this place another chance (first two experiences - food wise - was a definite 1 star). Ordered garlic scallops with fettucine ($16.95), and I liked it. Generous portions of scallops (8 BIG scallops, instead of the tiny pathetic ones restaurants usually like to give), and the sauce was a nice balance between flavorful and not too oily/salty. Bread they give out at the beginning is decent. Not flavorful, but comes out warm and the consistency is nice and chewy. Also shared a meatball a la carte and it was decent as well.
(3)Diana H.
Everyone knows the food at Dave's is delicious, so I'd like to take the time to write about the wine list. I own a local wine shop and know how much everything costs, and restaurant mark-ups are usually at about 300% more than the wholesale cost. Dave's wine list is not only varied, eclectic and supremely curated, he also charges hardly any mark-up at all. Maybe 100%, which gets you a great night out with really, really good wine at (almost) retail prices. Usually the wine/booze list is where restaurants make their money. I suspect Dave is more interested in giving his customers a really great bottle of wine (which is a passion of his) at way less than the going rate to both share the love and augment the overall experience. But ours is not to ask questions. Go to Dave's and make sure you ask for the wine list and order liberally. Either pocket the savings, or pay it forward in the form of tips for the excellent and attentive waitstaff.
(5)Cat D.
Dave's Italian Kitchen is a standard italian restaurant with a super homey feel and amazing price options! Probably one of the better Italian restaurants in evanston, and definitely better than the chain ones. Though the food could do with a bit more seasoning, but all in all, I was satisfied! The homey ambience, the friendly service, the comfy food, and a reasonable price, all in all, Dave's Italian Kitchen is definitely a place I'll be frequenting from now on!
(4)Tyson T.
We were looking for a new place to try out and saw all the positive reviews so we decided to stop in. We almost didn't as the outside looked a bit run down compared to some of the newer restaurants. Plus the neon open sign was also a little questionable as I felt like we were entering a strip club as opposed to a restaurant. However, I couldn't be happier that we gave this place a chance. The actual restaurant, which is downstairs, was quite spacious and had a ton of seating. The menu was really diverse with a ton of selection and they had a nice wine list. Prices were amazing and this place actually reminded me of Leona's before they sold out to new ownership. I had a very tasty lasagna dish, which was a nice combo of meat and cheese. Appetizers were all excellent and the bread/oil was delicious. Will definitely return as the Italian restaurants in my neighborhood are 3 times more expensive with food nowhere near as good.
(5)Ed B.
raveling for business and restaurant was recommended by a co-worker that lives in the area. Located in a basement, nicely decorated and offers booth and table seating. A loaf of nice crusty Italian bread was provided while I reviewed the menu. I ordered a dinner salad which consists of lettuce, lots of shredded carrots and pepperchinis limited ingredients but listed that way on the menu so no surprise. Italian dressing was fantastic. For the meal I ordered lasagna with meat sauce that arrived nice and hot covered in cheese. Meat sauce was loaded with meat and all was very tasty. Nothing fancy but good food and good service, definitely worth giving it a try. They also offer take-out.
(3)Amy W.
I have been going to Dave's since I was about 12 years old--more than 30 years! Yikes! Anyway, I love this place! Great food, excellent wine selection, fabulous atmosphere. Service is always great. The fresh-baked bread is awesome. The chocolate mousse is a MUST.
(5)Sarah S.
I absolutely LOVE Dave's Italian Kitchen!! Their eggplant parm is amazing. The only complaint that I have is the long wait between when you order and when you actually get your food. I usually fill up on bread, and have to take some of my food home with me. I actually don't mind this because I love leftovers. But the quality of the food definitely outweighs the time it took to get it!! Their raspberry Italian soda is also amazing!!!
(4)Elaine M.
We have loved Dave's for years. I can't believe I never wrote them a Yelp review! We always start with the large Italian dinner salad with the homemade thousand island dressing to share. With the fresh bread, olive oil, and parmesan cheese, that could be a meal in itself! No matter how full we might get, we can't pass up the awesome extra thin crust pizza, calzones and pastas. Our favorite pasta is spaghetti carbonara with mushrooms. Carbonara doesn't usually come with mushrooms, but we like to balance out the salty goodness of the bacon. We never have leftover carbonara. The lasagna is very good also. My son asked to celebrate his 10th birthday here. Staff was very accommodating and attentive. They put us in the back room so we didn't feel like we had to whisper during the party. I figured out why there aren't very many photos of Dave's. As soon as you can smell your food, everyone forgets all about taking pictures and just start digging in! I have yet to get a picture of the carbonara. I'll just have to order it again... :)
(5)Rachel B.
Mediocre Italian food. I don't think there are a ton of options for good Italian in the area but I'd still rather not eat here. The best part of my meal was the cheap wine
(3)Samantha M.
This is my second time eating at Dave's Italian Kitchen, and both times I've been pleasantly surprised. The food has always been solid. It's not the fanciest pasta in the world, but you get huge servings (enough for 2-3 meals) which is perfect for busy college students. You can come here once for a meal with friends, then enjoy left overs the next day! Considering the amount of food you get, this place is an absolute steal. Aside from the food, I've always experienced excellent service at Dave's. The first time I visited, I was a bit overwhelmed by all the pasta and noodle choices/combinations. The server at the time was incredibly helpful, friendly, and helped us make some pasta + noodle combinations. The second time, the server was really attentive even though the restaurant was extremely busy, and did a great job checking in with us throughout the meal.
(4)Steve A.
Dave's may have the best wine list in Evanston. It's certainly the best priced wine list. The selections are well thought out, good quality, and priced only a bit above retail. Weirdly, the best section of the list is Australian, where there are a number of old gems. Food-wise, our results were good but not amazing. I really liked the Ceasar salad, and the bread was great. I was less enthusiastic about the house made pasta, which seemed heavy and overcooked. The small calzone was huge and tasty, although next time I'll make sure to get one with ricotta cheese in it. We didn't sample the pizza, but it looked very good. The entrance is weird, with steps leading down to an industrial cubicle and no signs indicating where the restaurant is. But this makes it a delightful surprise to open the door onto a cheerful, bustling, and surprisingly large space. Service was very friendly and attentive. We'll definitely return for another crack at that wine list.
(4)Sharon C.
A little more than 3 stars, but less than 4, so... I was here for dinner with my friend, and I was totally shocked by how awesome this restaurant looked. I don't know why I'd never eaten here before, but it is much more impressive on the inside: you go down some stairs and through unmarked doors, and then it's like your transported to a whole different world. They don't seat you until your entire party arrives, which I like, except when it's my friends that are late, and not the people in front of me in line. We were seated relatively quickly, and given a bowl of bread. You do have to ask for butter for the bread, but our server brought it over quickly. I ordered the #3 small calzone (pepperoni and sausage), and my friend ordered angel hair pasta with white clam sauce, which she said she had last time she was there and was really craving. The food was a little slow to arrive - we finished our bread basket and actually asked for another - but the portions were surprisingly big. I will say that the calzone was a little more doughy than I thought it should have been, and I thought I could have done with a little bit of a better filling-to-wrapping ratio. However, the service was fantastic and they never rushed us, even though we stayed at our table for at least another thirty minutes after paying for our meal. Overall: I'm not a huge pasta person and I think that's what you're supposed to get here, so I don't know that I'd go back, but it was definitely a good experience!
(3)Miles D.
We've eaten here MANY times and have always enjoyed the food. I typically get the stuffed zucchini and my wife gets the pasta with cheese, garlic and mushrooms. Yummy! And the Italian salad for 2 is great. We especially enjoy the creamy garlic dressing. SO GOOD!!! One time I ordered pasta with a mustard cream sauce. WAY too much for me...Sauce was too sweet and just too much... Had my second mediocre meal there last night...We tried the pizza and did not care for it at all... Crust not good...tasted burned and my wife commented that it "tastes like a frozen pizza." We've always seen folks eating pizza here, but we will not order it again. I'll stick with the stuffed zucchini and the Italian salad...Those are yummy!
(3)Ki-tae P.
Cheese thin Pizza was salty but tasty once u got used to the salt. Bit greasy but not too much. If anything it indicates that they used high quality cheese. Italian salad with homemade dressing was amazing. Get the large. Share with everyone. Spaghetti with meat sauce and meatball was good. Seasoned perfectly and juicy. And all this for around 30 bucks. Food enough for 4 maybe 5 people. 5/5 would definitely come again. Very big wine list
(5)Rowena L.
I'm sooo late on this review, but wanted to get it in anyways. I've always loved the hearty, large portions of delicious homemade goodness and the overall family-friendly atmosphere here. Really great spot for groups too.
(4)Sahil A.
I'm so happy I finally came to this place. It is exactly my friend described, a red & white table cloth Italian place that will leave you happy and stuffed. I recently went with three friends and we all loved it. The wine menu is awesome...I'm pretty sure you can buy the same bottle of wine there for less than you could at Whole Foods across the street... We ordered the garlic bread covered in blue cheese and tomatoes to start. It was phenomenal, but definitely unnecessary as a meal is more than enough to fill you up. I had the pasta diavola with shrimp, which was everything I wanted it to be. My friends all had a calzone and seemed equally happy. Definitely go to Dave's.
(4)Stephen A.
Went for the first time a few days ago. It was great. Really cozy atmosphere. Affordable prices is what they advertise and it's true. Service was great. Our server was Sheila, and she was so attentive and personable. The food is exceptional. I had the small spinach salad, which was great. Bigger than I expected but the tangy dressing was delicious. The stuffed green peppers were awesome. I got one stuffed with meat and one stuffed with ricotta and mushrooms. The mushrooms were beyond delicious. My friend got the lasagna, which she liked. They do give you a lot of sauce with the entrees even without pasta. For dessert we had tiramisu. I'd recommend it. Between the two of us, dinner was $29.
(4)Julia G.
Dave's is a staple of the Evanston restaurant scene. I've been here dozens of times, for birthday parties or a quick bite to eat. It's great for all occasions-- families, dinner with friends, date night. The restaurant is underground and has cozy booths and big tables for parties of all sizes. The food is what I imagine my Italian grandmother would cook-- heaping piles of spaghetti in meaty sauce and stuffed calzones bigger than your face. The portions are large, especially for the prices. The recipes are simple, but the food is delicious and comforting. I recommend the meatball sub. The meatballs are juicy, the cheese is metly, and the bread is crispy. But be warned this lone sandwich can feed 2+ people easily. So don't go finishing it in one sitting.
(4)Nathan L.
3.5 stars. Food is pretty mediocre. I ordered a chicken Alfredo and the sauce was kind of bland. I've had much better Italian food elsewhere so I don't think I'm going to go back anytime soon.
(3)Ava K.
Lasagna Con Amore was great. The 2nd time I went I got Eggplant Parmesan, which was still decent but just not as good. Both times I could not finish the meal and had enough left for a 2nd. But I also don't have a huge appetite. Good bang for my buck Fun interior with lots of signed bottles. Got our food quickly both times
(4)Angie M.
This place is super cute. My boyf decided to surprise me with a Sunday night dinner date at Dave's. He was like, "I wanted to take you somewhere cute, home and cozy." Dave's succeeded. Dave's isn't reinventing the wheel. They serve up all the traditional, old school Italian faves. Red sauce. Meat sauce. Homemade pastas. You get the idea. My baked ziti with meat sauce was an absolute comfort food dream. Creative? Not so much. But to this Pisan it was heaven. Just like Mom used to make. Mmmmhmmm. I especially love this venue. It's in the basement of a downtown Evanston building. The table cloths are checkered. The walls are wood paneled. There are deep, private booths with high backs so you can make your own little intimate table for two (or more). It's so cheesy yet so comforting. Absolute perfection when looking for a really low-key location. The prices are cheap. The food is comfort at it's very best. The basement location makes for a sweet little old-school spot. I'm in love.
(4)Tom M.
Had a crazy good experience eating at Dave's. Plentiful, delicious food at reasonable prices. The servers were attentive and quick. The restaurant was relatively busy but we never had trouble finding our waiter and getting what we needed. I was a regular at Dave's Italian Kitchen in the 1980's when it was in its former location. After a 20 year absence on my part, Dave's remains a fantastic place.
(5)V. J.
I really liked going here. The food is great. However, last time I was there, the waitress was super creepy with an excessively "friendly" affect that only capitalism can produce. It was a bizarre and uncomfortable experience. Then there's the screaming children (with food scattered across the floor around them...) I enjoy cooking at home, so I only go out when I'd like to spend time with someone in a pleasant atmosphere with good food, drinks, and an intimate conversation. Not anxiety. I don't recommend taking a date here.
(3)Brad D.
This place is great if you are looking for a casual VERY reasonably priced homemade Italian meal. The pasta is excellent. The wine by the bottle is inexpensive but excellent. Large salads are amazing and serve 2-4. My wife and I ordered a bottle of wine, calamari app, large salad and split a homemade pasta dish and were stuffed. No room for the homemade tiramisu. Would definitely come back again if visiting Evanston.
(5)Sarah G.
This is my all-time favorite restaurant. I grew up in Evanston, and every time I come to town I make sure to come here. My parents have been going to Dave's since the 70s. It's reliably delicious, charming, affordable, and friendly. Although everything on the menu is good, the lasagne con amore is my go-to. And I never leave without eating the chocolate mousse. Vegetarian and gluten-free friendly!
(5)Kathleen C.
How have I NOT reviewed Dave's? The spot that I've probably been to 100 times? I can't believe it - my only excuse can be that I started eating here loooooooong before I started yelping. First of all, Dave's is a dive...not in the sense of dirty, dungy spots or cranky hosts, but in the "you can get a really great meal for high value in the basement of an office building" kind of way. Anyone who has seen the line for dinner on a Friday can also attest that this spot is popular! I've been to countless dinners here, parties, and have ordered pizza to go. My favorite - plain old cheese - I'm not sure why - it just screams DAVE'S to me. My dad usually get a calzone and if Mom is with us, we have salad as well. Usually no dessert because by the time we've finished all of that, they have to roll us out of the restaurant on a dolly. Dave's staff is really friendly and many of them have been there for what seems like forever. Wine pours are generous and inexpensive (though what happened to serving wine in huge tumblers??). The food is fresh, pizza sauce is not too sweet and everything is made fresh and hot and delicious. Though I no longer live in Evanston, I still get to Dave's, so that shows how much I love it. Definitely worth a trip for a no frills Italian dinner that you'll be smiling about when you're done.
(5)Christine B.
After 3.5 years living in Evanston I FINALLY gave it a try! Quality, made from scratch food. I got the homemade ziti with meat sauce, mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes. It came with bread-- clearly it was homemade and delicious! Reminds me of Romanian bread. The food overall was hearty and u could feel, cooked with love. I have been missing out and am excited to return. :)
(5)Ben K.
I always want to like Dave's, but I just leave underwhelmed by the food each time I come here. It's well priced though and I like the atmosphere.
(2)Jeff H.
If you have kids or a large group, this is the Italian place to go to in Evanston. The food is standard Italian fare done well and the atmosphere is casual. I've heard their Chicken Parmigiana is one of the best in the area. For smaller groups or a more romantic setting though, I'd probably head over to Trattoria Demi. #goodforgroups
(4)John C.
I have not been to the Kitchen in years, I probably won't be there ever again. I never have enjoyed eating in a basement. The place is noisy and has the atmosphere of a Texas road house. The only thing you will find Italian is the name on the door. Everything was phoned in with five scoops of heavy tomato sauce poured over everything. There is no effort taken for presentation. There are three pathetic starters. If you prefer mid-west Americanized Italian food then this is your place.
(2)Valerie W.
With 197 reviews, what can I really say about Dave's that hasn't already been said? A brief retelling of my experience? Sure thing! Overall, I went into Dave's Italian Kitchen with nothing but the expectation of a good plate of pasta. It was recommended by a vegetarian friend of mine as a reasonably priced place to get a good Italian dinner for both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. We arrived and were seated right away. Dave's is in the basement of the building, but that does not take away from the ambience. It is warm and inviting, with red/white checkered tablecloths, plenty of empty wine bottles lining the walls, and a general "old world Italian" feel. I originally felt a bit rushed to order by our server, but he cooled his britches after we politely asked for a few extra minutes. The setup for pasta at Dave's is pretty simple. You have six or seven different types of noodles to choose from (including a few homemade options), and several different sauces/combos (marinara, bolognese, diavolo, carbonara, alfredo, rose, aglio oglio, clam sauce, you name it.) Put your favorite pasta and sauce combo together, and boom, you've got dinner. All for around $10 or less. I ordered the homemade spinach rotini with alfredo sauce. I was tempted to add cremini mushrooms to my dish for an additional $0.95, but opted for a dinner salad with creamy garlic dressing on the side instead. Dinner salad: standard. Lettuce, shredded carrot, pepperoncini. A large size for $2.95 Creamy garlic dressing: Very THICK, very powerful. Definitely homemade, with a LOT of raw garlic. I was still breathing fire after several pieces of gum. I spent a lot of the rest of the night apologizing profusely to those around me. Homemade spinach rotini w/Alfredo: Totally stole the show! This was so.freaking.good. I have to order homemade noodles when I see them, it makes all the difference in the world. The pasta was cooked to a perfect al-dente, the portion was huge, and it was not over-sauced. I did add a little black pepper and cheese to mine, but I like it to be very peppery. I'm still bummed that I left the leftovers in my boyfriend's fridge and they've probably been gobbled up by now. I am already plotting my subsequent return visits to Dave's.
(5)Jo B.
I've been here twice and am still underwhelmed. The prices are comparable to other Italian restaurants, but only include your entree. Soup or salad (normally included with your meal at other places) are extra. If their food were good, this might be acceptable. Their food is bland and unsatisfying. Even their water tastes off. Go elsewhere for good Italian food.
(2)Bethany A.
Came here with a group of friends (like a very large group) and while the service was good, the food didn't impress much. My chicken marsala was way too sweet and I thought there were too many mushrooms. My friend had the chicken florentine and complained that there wasn't enough cheese in the dish as well. However, the people who ordered pesto chicken were fairly happy with their choice (despite one of them thinking that the pesto was not very good). Tiramisu was a hit, as always!
(2)Michelle M.
New to Evanston and had a very good dinner here last evening. Very nice people and the service was good. The wait was quite a bit longer than we were told but we enjoyed a drink before dinner. Pasta dishes were all delicious. My only disappointment was that there wasn't a single Italian wine offered by the glass. Not even a simple Chianti. Otherwise, we plan to go back.
(4)Caitlin B.
Definitely not upscale, authentic Italian food, but good, solid Americanized renditions of Italian classes with decent service and good prices. I've tried a variety of their pasta dishes and salads. All are extremely large (you can easily eat half and take the other half home, even if you have a big appetite), and I've never had anything that was bad. They have a pretty extensive beer/wine list at very reasonable prices. If you're looking for a reasonably priced, sit-down dinner in downtown Evanston, you've found it.
(4)David W.
My favourite inexpensive, fill yerself to the eye lids, pasta, salad, warm bread, vino, choco mousse, orgy. Big wait on weekends. We go for early dinner and movie around the corner. Dave,s is always the much better value. Not top top notch, wouldn't bring the Queen here for dinner, but still my favourite good, homemade, casual nosh in the area. Ask my wife!!
(4)Chris L.
Dave's is a great place for dates and for bigger group dinners. I haven't tried everything here, but the pasta and garlic bread are really good. I highly recommend getting the garlic bread to share with your friends because it's so flavorful!
(4)Cameron H.
My team suggested going to this place to carb up for our charity ride the following day. As for the location, not bad in Evanston. Very easy to get to. With there being 12 of us, we were put a few tables pushed together. Very comfortable. As for the dinner, it was ok. There wasn't anything special about the pasta or the sauce. Overall the experience was decent. Being there with friends made it more enjoyable. Not sure if I would go back.
(3)Cherie W.
The BEST red gravy ever!! Have been going here for over 15 years because the food is authentic, delicious and well priced. We love the homemade ravioli with meatballs or Italian sausage, spaghetti bolognese or lasagna. Everything is outstanding but these are our favorites. The owners, Dave and Ellen, are beautiful people and treat their customers well.
(5)Horace L.
Decent italian food at a reasonable price. I like the ravioli, and the marinara sauce is terrific. Their lasagne con amore is fantastically flavorful, and their salmon is lackluster.
(5)Peter P.
Dave's has been a staple of Evanston for decades. As dozens of restaurants come and go, Dave's is still there. Good Italian food at very reasonable prices. Service is friendly and prompt. What more can you ask for? Wait times can be a bit excessive on weekends, so try and get here early. If you do find yourself having to wait, order a drink from their little bar that is conveniently located in the waiting area.
(4)Mercy M.
Boy oh boy do I love Dave's! Situated in my college town, it is the perfect casual yet quality restaurant. My favorite items are their chicken parmesan, meatballs, and pan pizza. I always leave craving their HUGE chicken parmesan - two pieces of chicken breast with your choice of pasta. I'm a huge fan of fluffy, bready pizza (but not deep dish) and Dave's makes it just right in my opinion. I also love that you can pretty much customize any order. The service is good, despite being one of the busier restaurants in town. With Dave's reasonable prices and large portions, you really get the bang out of your buck here. Keep it that way, Dave, and you'll keep us broke college students coming back. Tips: they're only open for dinner; they only take reservations once you arrive; and there is no free parking in Downtown Evanston other than on Sundays so be prepared with quarters for the meters or a couple bucks for the parking garage around the corner. Just writing this review has made me hungry for Dave's, so if you're debating whether or not to go, GO.
(5)Patrick M.
The chicken parm diavolo is very good. Love going to dave's.
(5)Andy S.
It has been a loooooooooooooong time since I've been to Dave's Italian Kitchen and I was reminded quickly of the large portions. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan and they basically give you some pasta with your chicken instead of the other way around - 2 huge chicken breasts!!! Service is good here. Food quality was good though not outstanding. I think this is maybe a 3.5 star but will stick to 3 star until I am wowed more. Perhaps on my next visit. Prices are reasonable - anywhere from $10-$20 something depending on what you get but the Chicken Parm was $12 something and I had a meal the next day (and I can eat).
(3)Josh S.
Love it. The food is very serviceable. Tastes great and the portions are huge. Definitely not fine dining, but it is fun, fast, not too expensive and tasty. I recommend the veal parm. Good veal and the pasta is solid as well.
(4)Allen B.
It is with reluctance that I change my rating to a star less than before. It is amazing that there are people that work at Dave's that have been there for 35 years .... it speaks well for Dave's management.... The wait staff is amazing! The best I've experienced. The reason for the downgrade is the noise level, which is brutal when it is busy....please, more acoustic tiles or something! Also, the food tends to be on the salty side.
(3)Jonathan M.
Great food with excellent service and ridiculously good prices! Get the 4 cheese spinach ravioli with the vodka ream sauce! ...doing forget to get a meatball on the side. There's also a parking lot a half block north, about a dollar an hour.
(5)Bilal M.
place is awesome, has a great itilian atmosphere. good music good location, good customer service and of course good food! doesnt seem all that fancy at first till you get inside! dim lighting perfect for romancing that special Someone! :0D I will be back!!
(5)Tian Y.
Dave's is hit and miss. The first time we went, it was maybe an hour before they were closing, and we were taken care of by a great server who made perfect suggestions based on what we told her. My bf told her he wanted a lot of meat, so she suggested lasagna with bolognese sauce - more meat than he could eat. I wanted something rich but not too heavy, and I got the scallop and shrimp in a cream sauce over fettuccini, which was just what I wanted. We also devoured a mussels marinara appetizer - flavorful sauce, well cooked mussels, yummmmm. Everything was flavorful and cooked well. We left stuffed and happy and had a great time! After that, I ordered delivery a couple of times, and sitting in a box probably made the food not as fresh, but I expect that getting delivery. Most of the time, the mussel appetizer was okay - sometimes the mussels were overcooked, but I'm not sure whether they died on the drive over or were cooked poorly. We tried a couple of the risottos, which were sometimes cooked perfectly and other times a bit bland and had slightly undercooked rice. Then we went on a Saturday night at around 7:30pm, right in the middle of dinner rush. We had to wait about 5 minutes for our table, which isn't so bad. But our overcooked mussels were in a watery bland sauce, the chicken in my chicken parmesan was waaaaay dry in a sauce that was too salty. My bf's big ravioli was just alright, but in a similarly salty sauce. Our waiter was inattentive, no one filled our waters on time, and I didn't even have silverware until I had to flag someone down after my entree was served. Everything was off about that night, and we were disappointed after the great experience we had last time we were here. I think in the future, I'll only stop by for late dinners and request our first server (whose name I just can't remember right now). The portions are reasonable for the price, and the food *can* be good, but don't go during the dinner rush or you might be disappointed.
(3)Grant E.
I've gone to Dave's Italian Kitchen a few times. To begin with, the food is good, not great. My chicken Parmesan needed to be tenderized a little bit more, and it was dry. The portions are very large, especially when considering the great prices. The real reason I continue to come back, however, is the service. The servers love to engage the customer and help them to the best of their ability. I will be going back again.
(4)William C.
Food was fast and really good with big portions. They have a few nice beers on tap and the wait was not long, A solid meal for the 4 of us and prices were fair. Nice place to take quests
(4)Nema H.
Service is excellent. I love the ambiance as well, which captures that Italian hospitality. The wine is indeed cheap but fantastic. BUT....but....these guys can't bake bread to save their lives, both in their garlic bread and their Pizzas. It's heavy...but lifeless with no taste. I've also had bad impressions from their calzone. There isn't a shred of complexity in its taste. It was so freakin salty and the sauce was essentially nonexistent...like tomato sauce diluted with water. All in all...I will still give this place another shot. Am I not merciful?
(3)Sarah G.
As a foodie, I love exploring every area for new places to eat at. And sometimes, you forget about all the great places that are a block away from you. Case in point for Dave's Italian Kitchen, a staple of Evanston for both college students and families for over 30 years. Interestingly enough, this is the one place serving Italian food doing it right, at least that I've found so far since returning from Italy. Simple, easy ingredients. Quality over quantity. Homey atmosphere. Everything that is essentially Italian, is at Dave's without a doubt. As a kid, I used to come to Dave's with my parents when we went to visit my grandmother on Sundays, and take her out to dinner. So it's safe to say, Dave's Italian Kitchen has been a staple for my family as well. I can recommend the Lasagna without a second thought, or the Spaghetti, two obvious Italian classics. On tonight's visit, I went with my dad. We ordered some garlic bread to start, and then we got to the good stuff! My dad ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese, which is no surprise at all, because he orders it every time. Lucky for you guys, I've had the Spaghetti Bolognese and it is delicious! The sauce is satisfactorily meaty, and the flavor is rich and super tasty. Yes, this is a dish I recommend. You cannot go wrong with Spaghetti. I ordered the Fettuccine Rosé, which is this perfect mix of Alfredo sauce and marinara, blended together and topped with Fettuccine. I added Spinach to mine, which made it even better, at least in my opinion. The best thing about a Rosé sauce is the balance of creaminess. As a foodie, it is seriously unfortunate that I'm lactose intolerant. It sucks the most when I go to an Italian restaurant and want to order my favorite, Fettuccine Alfredo. So, ordering the Rosé is a great compromise to me. Not to mention, my pasta was absolutely delectable. I have plenty of leftovers to eat for lunch tomorrow! Finally, we had some dessert. Cannoli, anyone? Delicious but too much to eat in one sitting. I mean look at it. It's pretty appetizing! Overall, if you like Italian food, and I mean real Italian, come to Dave's Italian Kitchen on Chicago Avenue. I guarantee, whether it's risotto, pasta, lasagna, salmon, or a calzone, you will find something that you will enjoy!
(4)Jacob B.
I've been coming here for years. I don't come frequently, but I recently finished out a date day here and had a great experience! The service was pretty good. The atmosphere was mostly as I remember it. Not very quiet, but the casual nature of this place is one of the reasons I enjoy it. The sangria and the beer selection were both good. The food was fantastic and the portions were huge. We ate for multiple meals from it. The pricing is also completely reasonable, especially considering the portion size. We finished out the night with some Tiramisu. We took it home for an extra dollar, but the piece was so large it took three sittings for us to eat it and it was some of the best tiramisu I've had. The only reason this isn't a five star review is that the wait staff used to seem friendlier when I went years ago.
(4)Lakoi M.
Horrible service, called at 8:05 pm to place an order for delivery, made sure person on the other side of the line got my address correct, Order arrived almost 2 hours late very soggy, burnt and wrong dressing and they asked for full price!!!!!!! Sorry no more dave's, talked to manager and offered 25 dollars of my order. Guess what buddy? They already charged me!!!!!
(1)Chris P.
My wife and I have enjoyed coming to Dave's for years, and really enjoy the experience and the food. The people there are welcoming, friendly, calm and gracious, yet they visibly work very hard, and we almost always get a seat either straight away or within a few minutes of waiting. There's a very convenient & reasonably-priced parking structure located just around the corner. There's always been a nice friendly and happy 'buzz' in there on Friday nights, which somehow the acoustics allow without being intrusive. The service and experience is unpretentious, and efficient. Waiters leave a big jug of iced water and glasses on the table--none of the ridiculous & intrusive 'water refilling' nonsense you'll have to endure at most places. Similarly, with the food--the wait staff simply leave your dishes on the table, check you don't need anything else, and then let you get on and eat it without unwelcome hassle. I rarely buy wine in restaurants (usually terrible value for money), but the house wine glass/bottles seem quite nice to me and quite good value here, so I've indulged fairly often. It's not a 'fine dining' kinda place (been there, done that, and been disappointed almost all the time), but the food is good, honest, wholesome and fine to me--good-sized portions, and the prices are reasonable. The standard sauce is rich and tangy, which I like, and I've never found myself not wanting to take home and eat my leftovers. Hurrah for Dave's Italian Kitchen.
(4)Natalie N.
FANTASTIC ITALIAN IN EVANSTON!!!!! This place is always 100%. Great food, great service, great atmosphere, great prices...we can't get enough. Enjoy!
(5)Eugene W.
This restaurant is very nice. It has a comfortable and homey atmosphere in its underground location. The food is very good. The bread they set out as an appetizer is really good, and if you mix their olive oil with the parmesan cheese on the table, it makes a great spread for the bread. I ordered fettuccine pasta with carbonara sauce and chicken. They put a lot of cheese on the pasta. I love cheese, so that was a plus for me. The portion sizes here are great; I received a very hefty amount of food and wasn't even able to finish it all. I would definitely come back here, since it gives great value for poor college students looking for food.
(4)Christine K.
I would never come here, again. Oh my goodness. I did not want to come here, but my friend wanted to grab dinner from Dave's. I feel as though all the dishes served are drenched in excessive fat and oil, which is anything but pleasant. Moreover, the service is terrible. I did not want to tip even 20%, but I did not allow my frustration get the best of me. I would recommend that you go to Trattoria if you want Italian in Evanston. It's a shame Gio closed down. However, if you have the means to travel to Chicago, then please enjoy real Italian food in the city.
(2)Mike Z.
This is solid Italian food in Evanston. First off the prices are very reasonable and the food is great. Their home baked bread is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. There's parmesan and olive oil on the table for you to mix. We had the chicken parmesan which was good. Not the best I've ever had but a nice size serving and definitely worth ordering. Their calzones are amazing. I had the calzone with sausage and pepperoni and it was delicious. I got the small and it was easily big enough for 2 meals. The one down side is the caesar salad was worth forgetting. It looked as if the lettuce had been sitting in water and immediately put into the bowl. There wasn't enough dressing and no parmesan on top. Crouton were good but overall a big disappointment with the salad. We didn't drink any wine but they have very reasonable prices for glasses and bottles and a very big selection. I would definitely recommend going and we will be going back for sure. I just won't order the caesar.
(4)Helen S.
I came here on a weekday night with my research group and some professors for a celebratory meal. I called ahead to make a reservations and there were no problems. We had a large group of 10 people and they were able to accommodate us all quite nicely. I've never been inside Dave's but I've seen it from across the street since I visit Whole Foods quite a bit, and I didn't expect it to be so spacious inside. I ordered the risotto with broccoli, garlic, and chicken, and it was delicious, probably one of the best risottos I've ever had. The portions were huge but I ate the whole thing (and felt a little guilty afterwards) because it was so good and i was pretty hungry. I also tried a bite of my friend's chicken masala which was fantastic too. We also split the tiramisu and chocolate mousse, and both desserts were very solid. Overall, cute place, great atmosphere, would return. P.S. I like how the menu says: 2012 ELECTIONS. MAYANS. OLYMPICS. DAVE'S ITALIAN KITCHEN TURNS FORTY
(4)Marcee W.
Had some concerns over mixed reviews on Yelp and from people I know, but I was not disappointed at all! Service was good and food was delicious. I had the Chicken Marsala which was served in a bowl -- strips of chicken, mushrooms, and rotini pasta in Marsala wine sauce -- yummy! Friends enjoyed spinach lasagna (excellent) and balsamic chicken which was also served cut up in a bowl with lots of vegetables (equally yummy). We topped it off with homemade tiramisu and chocolate mousse. Easy street parking and no meters on a Sunday night! Less than $20 per person. I'll definitely be back!!!
(4)Darren F.
feeling for Italian and this was the closest spot to us when we were around that area.. ordered chicken parmesan fettuccini with pink sauce (alfredo and spaghetti mixed together) , garlic bread, and mussels.. thanks to the 2 nice friendly waiter and waitress there.. i believe their names was Anthony and Anna? who recommended us what was good there... also they were really attentive on our drinks.. the chicken parmesan fettuccini with pink sauce was awesome! chicken was nice and juicy and the combination of sauce made it even better! the garlic bread was good but prepare to have that garlic stick in your mouth for hours! the mussels was ok.. had better..
(3)Steve A.
Been here several times, but first review. I really want to like this place...nice divey, homey feel, very friendly and attentive waitstaff, some decent bread to start the meal, and reasonable prices. The food however (which is the main reason to dine out) leaves much to be desired. My minestrone soup tasted burnt, the sausage in the calzone didn't taste right, the lasagna was bland, and the water-logged baked ziti seemed like it was thrown together by a grade-school culinary class. I just do not understand the popularity of this place.
(2)Janet K.
I do enjoy coming here - the staff seems to enjoy working here and they're super-friendly toward our toddler son. Our waitress even offered him a tub full of toys to play with, very thoughtful! The Italian salad is fresh and crunchy, the house and red wine vinaigrette's add a ton of flavor. I would definitely order their fresh pastas - the homemade ziti with meat sauce is wonderful and comforting. The marsala and vesuvio dishes are MUCH too sweet. I won't order those again. Good wine and beer selections and great prices all around. A perfect place for an easy night out with friends and family!
(4)Emily C.
I love Dave's! The food is delicious, I've never had anything here that wasn't great, and their prices are some of the most reasonable around. It is definitely a family-friendly style restaurant, so it's not unlikely that you'll end up sitting at a table next to some boisterous kids while you're here (fair warning - this is probably not a 1st date type of place). The atmosphere is quant and comfy. Really, great food and great prices!
(5)Natalie B.
I'm pretty harsh when it comes to reviews and heard to please but Dave's manged to make me really happy tonight. Fine dining it isnt, but its super family friendly and a great place for a casual dinner. I called at 2:30 today to make a 5pm reservation for 9 (we had 5 kids with us, so we wanted early and didnt want to wait). Normally they only take reservations but made an exception. When we got there at 5:10 it was already pretty busy. Our waiter was awesome--appeared right away to drop off lots of bread and get me, my husband and our friends a drink (much needed-5 kids all started to complain 5 minutes in) and recommended a fabulous glass of wine called "bitch". I appreciated that he referred to it as the "b" word because my kids repeat EVERYTHING. Pour was generous but not too big-a perfect size. We ordered quickly and when the kids pizza took a while to come out the waiter apologized profusely and kept giving updates. The pizza was pretty good (no Marco Roma, but still). I ordered the New Salmon and it needed salt. Dave's cooks really healthy, which is great, but sometimes I need a little more kick to my food. Honestly I think the food is only average but everything else just makes this place a winner. Its pretty cheap too-I think it worked out to be about $11/person and that was with drinks and plenty of food (my kids might be little but they can eat-three toddlers shared a medium pizza without any leftovers). My kids made a huge mess, we took a long time to eat and yet no one batted an eye even though the wait was ridiculous when we left. Bottom line-go early or expect to wait but definitely go.
(4)Danny P.
I'm only going as high as 2 stars because of Dave's longevity, the place's friendly (and family friendly) atmosphere and reasonable, tasty wines. The food, however is the problem. While reasonably priced, I found every dish (4 different ones) I tasted to be over salted and LOADED...OVERLOADED...with garlic. Come on, Dave, there's more to Italian cooking than garlic. Also, pasta was overcooked. Until tonight I hadn't been there for many years. With all the availability of good Italian, I can't say that I'll be back to Dave's.
(2)Gfiddy F.
LOL
(3)Cassie S.
Good food, large portions, reasonable prices and a community institution. What more can you want from a restaurant? Is it the best Italian in town, maybe not, but it certainly has the most character. (though it's "new" location does have a lot less character than the old one)(new is a relative term, they probably moved 10 years ago...) I enjoy that the crowd represents a true slice of Evanston - high schoolers on dates, groups of Northwestern students, young couples and families. Not a lot of places around here where that's really true.
(4)ann s.
We had ordered takeout here years ago and were underwhelmed, so it took us a while to go sit down for a meal. I'm a convert. This is solid, old-fashioned Italian-American restaurant fare, the kind that used to be associated with red-checkered tablecloths and chianti bottles as decor. And it's pretty tasty. One of the things I found really charming was that the menu tells you things like how big the wine pour is, and roughly how big the salads are. I think it's their way of pointing out that they make an effort to offer value. This is also pretty obvious when your food arrives, because there's a lot of it. While my pasta dish didn't blow my socks off (it was more of a cream sauce than the traditional oily, clammy, winey recipes), I liked it. I'm not sure how a purist might feel about the linguini with white clam sauce being paired with spaghetti instead of linguini, but it was okay with me. I appreciated the high garlic content. I'm thinking part of the charm is also the space itself. Like the food, there's nothing terribly fancy or creative, but it's warm and comfortable. No basket-wrapped chianti bottles made into candles--instead, the restaurant is lined with wine bottles inscribed by their imbibers. Our waitress was excellent, and the bill wasn't painful.
(4)Katie F.
Went here again last night after a long hiatus. We had to wait a while to get a table, but since it was a Friday night and we were in no hurry, no problem. The woman who seated us was kind of rude, and she was in such a hurry that she spilled some water from a pitcher onto my shoes while walking us to our table. However, our waiter was very polite, friendly, and helpful. I had the Lasagna Con Amore. It was pretty good! Much better than some of the other pasta dishes I've had at Dave's. Overall, a fine experience. Still not my favorite, but I'll probably come back.
(3)Clement C.
Been here a few times back in high school and college, more recently took the wife here too. She loved it, huge portions, not too pricey. Italian-American style. Really nice location and friendly staff. Lots of college students come here since it's fairly close to Northwestern.
(4)A F.
Went here a few weeks ago after a long day spent walking around Chicago, and had a great (gluten free dairy free) Italian meal to refuel our energy! This place is located in a cute suburb of Chicago, and has a warm and cozy feel to it. My boyfriend and I both ordered gluten free pizzas (they also offer gluten free pasta), and although the food was a little slow to come out, the food was really good. Our server was friendly and willing to help find out if foods were ok to eat with my food allergies. Prices were also very reasonable for the quality and portion of food you get. They must get good business, as it was packed on a Thursday night! Would definitely recommend this restaurant and eat there again!
(4)Stephanie L.
I came here with a large group to celebrate a birthday. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate us. Unfortunately, that was probably the only thing they did right. It took about 30 minutes after being seated to even get menus. I understand we were a large group of around 11 people so I don't hold that against them. However, nothing can make up for bad dishes. I ordered the carbonara pasta, one of the more simple and classic pastas. To my dismay, it was heavily under seasoned (and my taste buds are generally on the blander side) and tasted pretty much like someone cracked a beaten egg over my pasta. Needless to say, there was no need for me to pack my leftovers. I filled up on bread dipped in olive oil/balsamic vinegar instead. The rest in my party were either just as if not more disappointed in their dishes as well as I heard in the general consensus.
(2)Joan A.
This basement restaurant is a place I've become a regular at . It looks small from the front, but after you descend the stairs you'll find that it's actually got quite a bit of space. I am a fan of their homemade noodles and meatballs. The portions are typical for Italian, I usually take home a portion (which I don't mind!) Prices are average as well. I was, however, here recently and had the mussels appetizer and just wasn't a fan - the tomatoes were just much too acidic.
(3)Rachel P.
Dave's Italian Kitchen was definitely a disappointment for me...The food was just abundant in quantity and completely lacking in quality and taste. While the service was good, the food was too lackluster for me to consider returning.
(2)Gary C.
Over the course of the past 10+ years, I've visited Dave's plenty of times. I even remember the old school location and that tiny waiting area. Yep, it brings back so many memories. The best part? Those memories are written on a number of empty wine bottles: a Dave's tradition. Don't let this three-star rating fool you. It's more of a 3.5. For what it is, Dave's is a great time and a great deal, especially for the local high school or college student. For ages, literally years, I've ordered the chicken parmesan and never really branched out to anything else. Why? It's legit. It is served with rotini pasta, covered with your choice of marinara or meat sauce. But I will say that I've tasted a few other items on the menu, most recently the shrimp and scallops. To my, and my girlfriend's, surprise, the scallops were cooked very well. And the dish in general was delicious. The best deal on the menu, in my stomach's professional opinion, is the garlic bread. It's like $3 for a huge loaf of bread, spread with delicious butter, a generous portion of garlic, and the perfect amount of parsley. This is among the best garlic bread that I've had in my life. Oh, and be sure to save room for desserts. It'll complete your dining experience, and you'll leave hobbling up the stairs with a smile. Everything on the menu comes in a very large portion. It's decent to above-decent quality Italian food, but what makes Dave's special is the down-to-earth, home-style feel of the restaurant, food, and staff. Here's to another 10+ years, Dave's.
(3)Keyser S.
I just finished eating and the tomato sauce and over cooked green peppers from the pizza are not playing nicely in my stomach; worse than hospital cafeteria food; bathroom was gross too.
(1)Evan Thoreau H.
Mama mia, what a great-a deal for a tasty meat-a-ball! Seriously, Dave's Italian Kitchen probably isn't going to win any top awards for the high end Italian places, but who wants to have to get decked out in Louis Vitton just to go eat spaghetti anyway? Dave's is a great, laid back Italian joint with great food, large portions and reasonable prices. They have all the favorites that your Italian grandma made (or at least your imaginary one), including Spaghetti Bolognese, pasta carbonara, stuffed Manicotti (man-i-cote) and more. The atmosphere is cute, tucked down in the basement, which reminds me of an authentic little Italian joint - you know, the kind where REAL Italians like to go. Full bar and reasonably good wine list to choose from. Go, enjoy, mangia! And for once, your wallet will remain as full as your tummy will be after.
(3)Christopher C.
food was good - my wife really enjoyed her carbonara and her meatball in marinara sauce. My seafood in a garlic / olive oil sauce was ok. Delivery service was prompt although they made a small mistake on the charge. Would recommend it. Good, inexpensive italian food.
(3)Tom H.
I've been coming here since "here" was "over there" at Church & Benson under the L tracks. Dave's has been a comfy cozy constant over the years, as Evanston and the world has changed around it. Dave's is not a fine dining establishment or the place to find out what people in Rome or Florence are eating this year. It is, instead, solidly Italo-American grub, lots of pastas with red sauce and simple chicken or veal dishes. A nice selection of wines by the glass has always been a welcome feature. The loaf of bread served before the meal, with olive oil & grated Parmesan for dipping, is delicious, as is the creamy broccoli soup and the Italian salad--really more of an antipasto platter here. I think the chef situation is even improving, as my fusilli side to my Chicken Parmesan (two huge boneless chicken breasts with a breadcrumb coating and either marinara or meaty marinara sauce) was perfectly al dente. In the past, Dave's one failing used to be that the pasta tended to be overcooked and mushy, and, oddly watery, as if it wasn't properly drained. Tonight's pasta was near perfect. For me, a lot of the charm of this place is that it is so much a college town spot, with graffiti-covered empty wine bottles lined up along the walls, fairly cheap prices and big-to-enormous portions. A place to fall in love on a first date over a red checkered oil-cloth-covered table, or a place to discuss particle physics and the latest literary theory. And it is definitely Evanston, with young students in a booth next to a booth with 60-somethings, the men with their shoulder-length grey hair and tweedy clothes, the women in expensive free trade wool serapes. Dave's fulfills the same community function for Evanston that the Medici fills for the Hyde Park University of Chicago neighborhood. The hostess is charmingly casual, pointing you to a booth as if you were an old friend visiting her at her home. The college-aged server, Joshua, was friendly and helpful as could be. The bus fellow promptly picked up used dishes at just the right moments. Dave's is quirky, iconoclastic, friendly, comfy, homey and pleasant. It is not in any way shape or form a plastic chain restaurant with menus devised in Houston and servers in stamped-out polyester uniforms. And that's as it should be. My glass of Cabernet Sauvignon was $5.47, a huge dish of broccoli soup was $2.75 and my Chicken Parmesan with pasta side was $12.95. Add $2.06 for tax, my total came to $23.23 plus tip, fairly reasonable for what I got.
(4)Dee H.
Just OK. The food is fine, but nothing great. It is good for kids.
(2)G B.
Dave's is one of my favorite weeknight places to eat when I need a big meal to remind me of my Sicilian grandmother. I like to start with soup, salad, then steamed spinach and broccoli as my healthy antipasti. They make bread and pasta in house with a meat sauce and some meatballs at good prices. I like to bring leftovers and chocolate mousse home.
(5)Jeff W.
I've been going to Dave's Italian Kitchen for 10+ years but there's been a steady decrease in quality, and an unfortunate increase in price. They still have decent Italian food, and you can tell everything is made from scratch, but there's something missing now that they used to have back in the day. Their bread is still phenomenal, the pasta is consistently al dente, but the sauces no longer have any zing. They leave you more with a 'meh' than a 'WOW'! Couple that with their increasing prices and this place is dropping off my list of regular joints in Evanston.
(3)Adi S.
I've been to Dave's a handful of times, and I come here when I am looking for a solid, home-cooked style Italian meal around Evanston. Dave's is a great value for the prices and also accommodates large groups well. I would recommend getting the large stuffed raviolis.
(4)Amy L.
If you come here, stick to the calzones. They are huge and full of toppings/flavor. I usually load myself up on the bread/olive oil and end up taking my dish home. The pastas taste pretty standard, I've had dishes with alfredo and marinara sauce.
(3)Sofia J.
Good, classic Italian fare: Chicken Marsuvio is tasty and I hear the lasagna is great!
(4)David R.
After a bit of a stumble when I refused to provide my phone number, the adorable copper-haired hostess who took my order could not have been sweeter. But as far as the product, I'm going to have to downgrade them slightly on the calzone list. It's decent but not great. First of all, in terms of volume, the "large" amounts to the equivalent of about two slices of pan-style pizza. It's a lot of food, but for $14 I'd expect something thicker. Or conversely, keep the size but lower the price. The ingredients were good but I didn't care much for the crust. However, I will say that they do not make a calzone with a thick braid of crust around the perimeter, as is common. So that's a tradeoff in the value equation. One last item--they wrapped the thing in foil before putting it into the cardboard pizza box. Thus, despite fifteen minutes in my car and ten minutes walking through sub-30 temperatures, it was still hot when it hit my plate at home. Nice touch on the foil.
(3)Erin P.
nom nom - the food was awesome, reasonably priced, and big portions (to enjoy leftovers the next day for lunch). Plus, you can get a bottle of wine for under $20. Score!
(4)A. H.
I love Italian food. I've been here twice and the food is terrible.
(1)Andersenda A.
I used to like Dave's, but over the years their food has become tiresome. The management must have become tiresome too. To begin, the bread is dry and flavorless. The marinara sauce is overly sweet and tastes like it came from a can. The veal Marsala was the most disgusting thing I ever ordered in any restaurant! Seriously! The room is friendly and the people are nice. The food is inexpensive, but very average. If I were a broke college student, I would think this place was pretty okay. It's a good place to bring kids for an inexpensive pasta dish that they won't know is really not very good.
(2)Danny H.
We,used to go there at least once a month,but I don't think we will be coming back. 4 adults and 2 kids( 5 and under 2), 5 meals were ordered.We got there before rush hour but yet the food took a while...Our waitress decided to include gratuity in the bill, when I asked about it at the front I was told that she should not have done it and that they will talk to her.I was not even offered to take gratuity off the bill...... During dinner I asked for a tiny cup of Alfredo sauce, waitress brought me the whole bowl of it and charged me for it ... Very bad experience, I had to swallow it because I did not want to ruin dinning experience for my family..... I used to love this place but there a few more good restaurants in the area that we'll be dinning out...
(1)Matt R.
Most of the time, you'd expect cheap food to taste like crap. Really, when you eat at McDonalds, it's not for the steak tartar. However, sometimes places really do know how to make a great meal and not break the bank. Dave's is that place. It's a very kitchsy italian place, which is oddly underground. I'm sure that saves on a ton of money, but definitely makes the place unique. I have no idea what the upstairs is. It's all classic italian food and very very vegetarian friendly (bonus for the girlfriend). They recently added risotto with garlic and broccoli for like $8. Really, you get huge portions here really cheap. However, that doesn't do justice to that it's actually good food. My girlfriend and I had an appetizer, 2 sides, and 2 dinners for $24. Yes, $24. That's amazing for a dinner, especially in Evanston. The garlic bread with mozzarella on top is full of lovely melted baked mozzarella. Before you get started though, you have the good ole bread oil and parmesan cheese combination. I could make an entire meal out of that alone, but I digress. If you love garlic, that garlic risotto might still be more garlic than you've ever wanted. I think they may have used an entire head in the risotto. It was still good, as I love that kind of thing. Girlfriend had the stuffed baked zucchini. Put that phrase in your head for a second and ask if that doesn't sound freakin awesome on it's own. Oh, and this place is packed. Did I mention wines were friggin cheap too? Like $20 a bottle. I'm sold. I'm going to go become a big fat italian if Dave's gives me the chance.
(5)Little T.
Haven't even received our food yet, but the woman who just took our order over the phone was the nicest, most pleasant person I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with. Really. If you're having a bad day, call Dave's and order food. GREAT hire.
(5)Charity M.
Overall good experience. The waiter was a bit needy, he came by way to much, either he was new or nervous. Either way it was a week night early dinner, chill out bro. This restaurant is located in a basement, no windows or natural light. Oh did I mention the pop music coming out of the speakers, fine by me, but maybe not to the senior citizens that were siting across from me as I sang along to the Backstreet Boys.
(3)Mrs. K.
Dave's Italian Kitchen caught my eye immediately. The red neon sign reminded me of this little hotdog stand near Wrigleyville, by our old apartment. It looks tiny from the curb, but seemed ideal for to-go orders, which is what my boyfriend and I wanted at the time. So we pulled up and realized the restaurant was downstairs. And it was much bigger than it looked from the street! It was charming and casual, with red-checked tablecloths and wine bottles lining the booths. Patrons had written tiny phrases and words on the wine labels, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. The festively lit dining room has a variety of art pieces hanging, allowing for interesting conversation over dinner. The woman at the register took our to-go order and we asked for some beer while we waited. She squinted her eyes and hesitated. "The only thing is...Dave's here," she said. We sat down at a table to order to beer, due to some liquor licensing laws. We were happy to oblige since the dining room was warm and happy. (The waitress recommended Two-Hearted for me, which was delicious.) The owner was across the room from us, enjoying some food and conversation. He appeared laid back and relaxed. If a restaurant owner is dining at his own place, that has to be a good sign, I thought. Although I would have liked it a bit less oily, the Pesto Spaghetti was excellent and the extra meatball my boyfriend ordered was massive. The typical Italian food combined with this place's attitude made me feel like I was in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood. I was reassured that Evanston maybe isn't all that bad.
(4)Melissa F.
There is only one way I can review this flavorless restaurant, and it's by quoting The Office's Andy Bernard: "I guess I don't have what it takes to be a film critic. I could be a food critic. These muffins taste ... bad. Or maybe an art critic. That painting is ... bad." This food is bad.
(1)Q C.
We had the ravioli and the chicken parmesan. Both were good, service was fast too.
(3)Meatdowntown C.
Excellent family place. Great food, absolutely fine wines reasonably priced. It is hard to get a bad meal at Dave's and they have options for many different palates. It feel like a family restaurant but you could also arguew that could work for dating (with great wine), corporate hang out, etc. The Diablo sauce is incredible and the gorgonzola sauce as well. The only questionable dish is the risotto which sound very healthy on the menu but it is quite dry and bland (just skip it).
(4)Jade T.
4.5 Stars I don't believe in paying for more than $12 for pasta. In every quick and easy cookbook, there are pasta recipes. Pasta is almost as simple as boiling water and adding sauce. That being said, I rarely dine at Italian restaurants. I've been wanting to try Dave's since I moved to Evanston. The menu is extensive and the prices are extremely affordable. However, they are only open for dinner and for some reason, I seldomly eat out for dinner. Knowing I was free on a Saturday night, I tried making reservations. None accepted for parties under 10. Wow. I took a gamble and arrived shortly before 6pm, just before the insane dinner rush. I've never seen such long wait lines at an Evanstonian restaurant* (besides at Tapas Barcelona), so plan accordingly on weekends. There is a bar near the entrance if you care for a drink during the wait. Dave's Italian Kitchen is a wonderful place for anyone from children to starving artists and gluttons. I was blown away by the portions (see photos). The Spinach Salad, priced inexpensively at $3.75 was large enough to feed four people. Yes, you read that right. FOUR people. The wine list features many affordable bottles for under $25. Wines available by the glass are limited, but they are generous with the wine pour. Free bread is always nice for the (extra) carb-hungry among us. Drizzle olive oil onto a plate and mixed in some hand-grated romano cheese and pepper flakes and you have a time-consuming appetizer. Italian food is normally vegetarian friendly. Dave's Italian Kitchen is no exception. The minestrone has vegetarian stock and nearly everything can be made meatless. In fact, a majority of their pasta dishes are vegetarian. Vegans will have some difficulty finding cheeseless dishes though, but that's no surprise. The food is very good. Then again, it's hard to mess up pasta. At the worst, pasta can be undercooked and the sauces be bland. (One must be really, really terrible at cooking to commit such offenses.) This is not the case at Dave's. The food is consistent. The marinara sauce is delicious: well-seasoned, with the right balance of sweet and tangy. If their sauce comes from cans, I want to know the manufacturer! The cream sauces are thick and not too rich. The desserts are simple, but scrumptious. For $2.50, get yourself the chocolate mousse. It is nothing special, but chocolate lovers will be pleased. The portion doesn't seem like much at first, but the chocolate is thick and rich. Enjoy it with a friend if you can. Dave's Italian Kitchen offers no-thrills Italian (albeit Americanized but it's one of those cuisines that I don't mind being unauthentic!) in a casual family-friendly setting. There are old wine bottles along the walls which you can write your name or initials on! The prices are so reasonable. If you want fancy schmancy Italian in fancy schmancy atmosphere, go to Bravo! I will surely return to Dave's for a cheap, satisfying spaghetti fix... for a few bucks more than Noodles & Co. * - I admit, I'm slightly exaggerating. The lines can be long, but not Cheesecake Factory in downtown Chicago on Mother's Day long.
(5)Steve O.
Awesome pizza! Service was ok.
(5)Judy H.
You can't go wrong with Dave's. There is something for everyone - vegans, kids, picky eaters. Always a good meal - pasta, pizza, or low/no-carb alternatives. Moderate prices and good size portions. Service is always excellent.
(4)John M.
I have been going to Dave's for great food at very reasonable prices forever, starting when they were on Church St. While I have tried and loved most of the menu, the Italian salad, eggplant parmigiana with a side of sausage or meatball are my regulars. As an added bonus a bottle of a nice wine for less that $20 makes this one of my regular spots and the best value in the area. And thanks to the fantastic staff and especially Barb who always make the visit enjoyable. By the way, I have ordered and picked up for large parties --- fantastic job!!!
(5)Steve J.
dRATS!!! Oh Wow! I came here with my girlfriend about six months ago. After hearing from a few people that it was a good place I found out as soon as I walked in that it was no more than your average, run of the mill type place. The service started slow and never really caught up. The food my girlfriend ordered had to be sent back. So we waited for a while longer. I'll get to the point. When we were leaving, I witnessed 2 enormous rodents (Rats!) running very close to the building right in front of the front doors! What concerns me is that this restaurant is actually located in the basement, down the stairs when you first walk in. Basements have a bad record for infestations and are hard to keep out. I won't be back.
(1)Andrea R.
Hi Dave! It's me, Andrea! Remember me? Yeah, I know it's been a while and I look a little different these days, but picture me with the freshman 15 packed on, big sunglasses to cover up last night's hangover, and wearing my big purple North Face coat (over a 3/4 sleeved Michael Star shirt of course) to get through my very first winter. My college friends and I went to you when we wanted a nice dinner out, which made me chuckle last night after seeing the average price of an entree is just about $10. I gotta admit that I remember your food being pretty good, but when we ordered take out from you last night it wasn't quite like what I remembered. Then again I was also a fan of Leona's back in those days...my taste buds have changed right along with my taste in clothes. And thank goodness for that. I ordered the "fresh" salmon, which your menu said was baked in a "light fresh dill cream sauce" and believe me this sauce was anything, but light. I ate it because it was 9 PM and I was starving, but could feel a stomach ache coming on as I ate it...and was greeted with one a few hours later. My husband (yep, I'm all grown up and married now!) got the lasagna and it tasted no better than my weight watchers lasagna frozen meals, but i'm sure had millions more calories. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law (she just moved right across the street from you so you have a new customer!) split a salad and a pizza. I had 1 bite of the pizza and didn't want another, which is NOT the sign of a good pie in my book. Honestly the food was probably worth 2 stars, but I'm giving ya 3...just for the memories.
(3)Vats R.
(Vegetarian Review) Really good pasta, especially the diavlo and yummy pizzas.
(4)Hannah E.
I can't speak for much except the baked spaghetti with butter and garlic sauce, their Italian salad with house dressing, and the chocolate mousse. And these things are all fantastic. Yep. It's one of THOSE places. Where the first thing you ever had there insinuated itself so thoroughly into your craving cycle that you never get the chance to try anything else. You're just going about your business, and your stomach is like 'FEED ME DAVE'S BUTTER AND GARLIC SAUCE' and you're like 'yes, ma'am' and before you know it you're staggering out of Dave's 5 pounds heavier smelling like a vampire's worst nightmare. It's just butter and garlic... and a secret ingredient that must remain a secret forever if don't want to suddenly weigh 500 pounds... but hell if I don't crave it at least once a week, from my current distance of 1000 miles away. I've been eating at Dave's since I was five. The quality hasn't wavered. The friendliness hasn't wavered. And the prices remain one of the best deals in town - the plates could feed me for 3 meals (and have). But don't hold me accountable for any of Dave's other meals. I'm sure they're great. But if you take one thing from this review, it should be 'FEED YOURSELF DAVE'S BUTTER AND GARLIC SAUCE'.
(4)kim s.
Great food, service and prices ! I have not been here in years and I have to say I have definitely missed out.. The food was fantastic, we shared a Italian dinner salad which was only $5.95 and it was large enough for 4, the pasta dishes were very inexpensive, any city restaurant would by $20.00 for the same size dinner. Parking was a bit of a challenge until we realized there was a garage across the street on Church street, it was free tonight but the rate for a few hours was only $2.00...we will be making this a regular of ours !
(5)P A.
Good hearty italian food. The best pasta and largest meatballs until we experienced Club Lucky. Hot, fresh pasta, great bread, great sauce, olive oil and cheese on the table, great wine selection. Service is usually friendly but sometimes a coin toss. Loud inside, cheerful. Good prices. Fun decor always something to look at and get a kick out of.
(4)Binh N.
I come here quite often with my wife. She loves this place. Our favorite Italian restaurant so far. Comfy, family style environment. Excellent service and food. Food comes in large quantity.
(5)David G.
Average with a capital "A". The food is bland, at best, which would have sufficed if we were ordering pizza. After a promised 15 minute wait that turned into 40, we were given a bad table and a basket of lukewarm bread, no butter or anything else, as we waited another 15 minutes to be helped by a waiter.
(2)Day C.
I was here with a group of classmates for dinner. I ordered the shrimp dijon which was good and came with lots and lots of shrimp. I just thought my dish also had lots and lots of vegetables that had me on an easter egg hunt to find the noodles. I would have liked less vegetables, the same amount of shrimp, and more noodles. I also didn't like how they added gratuity automatically for our table of 6 because when they helped themselves to a little more than 20%. But the amount of food was good and I respect how they didn't skimp out on the shrimp. The cannoli was also good and the biggest cannoli I had ever seen. The service was fast and the bread they kept on the table was warm and fluffy. I REALLY wish they had offered ACTUAL olive oil. It looked more like vegetable oil to me, but thats something i cannot get on them for because barely any place can pass that test.
(4)Brandon L.
I love Dave's and have been going for over 30 years. The pasta is homemade, the prices are affordable (and really good for the wine), and the staff is great. Extra points for keeping the Ron Crawford drawings on the wall from the old place. Two tips: Sunday/Monday night is when they seem to break in new servers, so it can be a bit slow. Friday/Saturday can be insanely busy, so I try to avoid.
(4)Michael B.
I'm really torn on this place--I'm also getting frustrated that I haven't been able to find a good restaurant in Evanston yet. For this review, I'm just going to list the pros and cons of Dave's Italian Kitchen and let you decide. My 3/5 rating should be a good starting point. Pros: -Awesome selection of pasta, sauces, pizza and italian 'staples'. I quote 'staples' because they are definitely Americanized versions of Italian dishes. -Awesome execution of said menu selection. Everything was great from the homemade spinach rotini to even the marinara and alfredo 'rose' combination (Something simple, yet done well). -Reasonable prices! $1.25 for an iced tea! $9.95 for a basic, vegetarian pasta dish with portions to match. -Great atmosphere, tucked in a basement, very secluded, mysterious, Al Capone's getaway style. Cons: -Service, service, service. Our wait staff (I say staff, because it wasn't clear if the section I was in was shared or not) was swamped with a large 15-top or so on a Friday night. I get it; they were busy. However... -No follow up on your meal. Let me explain this: I ordered my dish and added crimini mushrooms. No mushrooms were present. I would have liked to inform my server of this, but he/they were no where to be found. My dish was still good, but I was more annoyed that they didn't care if my meal was right. -Order-takers. These guys were not servers. They simple wrote down what I wanted and left. I saw them for a total of...30 seconds? Summary: Dave's is good, cheap, and relatively authentic for what Americans consider Italian food, but it is borderline fast food in many respects. I probably won't be going back anytime soon.
(3)Kurt B.
This is the best family-style Italian food in the city. It's true--Dave's can be loud, you won't get super attentive service, etc., but you can eat a magnificent, fresh, and enormous pasta dinner here for less expensive than most lunch specials. I've been coming here for over 15 years and I've never had a bad meal. Never. Highly recommended: baked spaghetti with a meatball, lasagna, eggplant parmesan, spaghetti gorgonzola, salads, and chocolate mousse. Recommended: calzones, pasta pesto, and stuffed peppers. Not a big fan of their: seafood pasta treatments or spinach ricotta pie. I've never tried the veal; I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Great place to come for lots of drinks and lots of food, possibly the best! Make sure you get the mousse.
(5)Nikki L.
I was looking forward to trying this place based on some of the reviews. It seems like people either LOVE this restaurant or HATE it. As I waited 30+ minutes and contemplating on going elsewhere, the gentleman next to me said "it's worth the wait, if you are trying to decide whether to go some place else". Hmm, OK, I'll give it a shot! Once a table for two was ready, the host said to walk all the way to the back and seat myself wherever I like. I found myself in a semi enclosed room that had mostly large tables, it felt awkward. Finally, the menu. There were many familiar options to choose from, my fiance and I were in the mood for some pasta so we ordered the Chicken Marsuvio (marsala, vesuvio) to share. I thought it was pretty terrible, the flavors did not complement each other and the white wine (which tasted cheap) just broke the dish. Ugh, what a disappointment. I have no desires to come back here and hope to find a better Italian option on my next visit to Evanston! *********Free Tips for Owner - IF you are going to have carpeting in your restaurant, maintain it through out the night. It is NOT appetizing for guests waiting for their table to see crumbs, left over food, straw wrappers and garbage on the floor scattered through out the whole restaurant. (Free doesn't cost anything to have someone sweep it up) - Make your servers wear uniforms! Even if you can't afford to pay for an actual uniform, have them wear either all black, slacks and a blue polo or SOMETHING. (Free, have them wear their own clothes but of same color) - Bump up your customer service, it doesn't cost a dime you just need to hire the right people and make it a standard. (FREE, this standard is up to YOU) - I like the concept of rolling out a cart to drop off food, however the presentation of the cart could be nicer. (Cover with black linen instead of plastic) - Sanitation, I saw my server use his hands to dust off crumbs from a table and reset it instead of spraying with cleaners and wipping down. (Self explanatory, this is a sanitation/health code violation) Good luck.
(2)Tal R.
I grew up in the area and occasionally ate at Daves. I didnt think it was anything special but I changed my mind yesterday. I dont know if it was the atmosphere or the the food but for the first time I enjoyed myself at Daves. All I can say is get the minestrone soup. One of the best I have had anywhere! Overall It was a good meal except when I found the melted chocolate in my pocket
(4)Jeff H.
It's been years since I was last at Dave's Italian Kitchen, back when they were on Davis Street. Lines back then were long, and they were again on a busy Saturday night. We were told the wait was 45 minutes, and were seated in about 35 min. We waited and had some drinks before we were seated. The staff was very, very friendly and welcoming. Once seated it took 10-20 minutes before our server greeted us, however we had our drinks from the wait earlier and a water pitcher and glasses were at the table when we were seated, so we didn't really notice the waiter hadn't shown up. The menu was full of great choices, and our table shared the spinach salad, garlic bread with cheese, baked spaghetti and the brown rice risotto with garlic, broccoli and shrimp. The garlic bread (and bread brought to the table) was outstanding. Large portion, great garlic flavor. The spinach salads were unevenly dressed. I'd guess some dressing was poured into our salad bowl, the ingredients added on top of it, and a spoonful more of dressing on top. All tasty, but would have preferred it tossed together before being served. We had a grilled chicken breast added to one of the salads and it tasted "off" - either they purchased it precooked or this was just a bad piece. We told our server and he took the entire salad, not just the cost of the extra chicken, off the bill, which was appreciated. The risotto, appealing to vegetarians (available without shrimp) and the health conscious was well prepared, but seemingly underseasoned. The broth used to cook the rice was very bland. A bit of salt helped the dish tremendously. The baked spaghetti was great. I know it seems like I didn't have a great experience, but the friendliness of the staff, and the dishes we had which were good were very good, and the others were slight miscues on a busy Saturday night, so I'll give them a break. We agreed to come back and try more of their "sweet spot" dishes, pizzas, pastas and calzones. The room is a bright, cheery, basement loft space that has lots of art on the walls and empty wine bottles as decorations. Very comfortable. Prices are very good value for the food delivered. I look forward to returning soon.
(4)Laila C.
Dave's wife and I have been in a fight going all the way back to a very unfateful night my junior year of college. A large group of us went to Dave's-a place I'd been to on many occasions-for a nice get together. I usually only order the calzone but I decided to be adventurous and ordered a chicken dish off their specials menu instead. Well! The dish I got was DEFINITELY NOT what I ordered. There was no pasta, the wrong sauce, and veggies where there weren't supposed to be veggies. Trying to be polite, I asked the server if she's sure she brought me the right plate, pointing to the specials menu. She verified that I had the correct order and that the dish I got was what I ordered. Well..I mean obviously it wasn't...cuz it wasn't the SAME THING AS THE MENU! When I asked her to bring me what was written on the menu, she took the plate back, scraped the veggies off the plate and returned my plate with the already bitten into chicken! SHE RETURNED MY ORIGINAL PLATE MINUS VEGGIES! Basically at this point I was so confused, I wasn't sure if she was just overworked and delirious, illiterate or just crazy!!! But I asked if I could speak to the owner/manager. SHE LAUGHED IN MY FACE AND SAID "I'M DAVE'S WIFE-NOW WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?!" UGH.....AHHHH WHAT??!?!?! She runs this place and she is THAT CRAZY?!? needless to say, I have no been back to Dave's. His crazy wife is a little too much for me to handle. And truthfully, the only decent thing on their menu was the chocolate mousse, which I can definitely live without. NO THANKS CRAZY LADY!
(1)Lindsay R.
Dave's is my favorite Italian restaurant, hands down. My father has been eating at Dave's since he was in college so it's safe to say that I was raised on their amazing, comforting food. I always stick with a small Italian salad and then an order of spaghetti pesto with a serious helping of parm (or Romano? I think it's Romano) cheese - the absolute best. Also fabulous? The lasagna with meat sauce, spaghetti carbonara, the bread at the table, the giant meatball. Everyone is friendly and down to earth, the food is delicious and affordable, and it's all-around the best place ever.
(5)Colleen R.
Dave's was a disappointment. I cook better Italian food at home. I ordered the stuffed peppers, which were undercooked and basically stuffed with meatballs (weird). The red sauce was all right, but didn't taste like it had been made on the premises. The portions are embarrassingly huge and priced accordingly. I don't think a single member of our party finished their entrée. To top it all off, the ladies' room was a mess. Don't think I'll be eating here again.
(2)Jason S.
Ate there with my wife and another couple recently. It was really just ok. The house salad was by far the best thing we had. The chicken Vesuvio was like a soup. The pizza with wheat crust was not great - kind of soggy. The chicken florentine was supposed to come with sun dried tomatoes but didn't. All in all, it was just ok.
(2)Maggie G.
I wasn't at all impressed with Dave's. Yeah, the prices are good, but it's crowded and noisy, and the food my date and I ordered wasn't that great. I had the spaghetti pesto, and the pesto was watery and bland. My date had the cheese ravioli with marinara, and was sick for days after. I figured that since we'd ordered simple dishes, our meals would arrive fairly fast, after all, how long does it take to boil pasta? 20 minutes later, they finally showed up. I wouldn't mind waiting for my meal, or taking my time enjoying it if was quiet enough to have a conversation. I'd be willing to give Dave's another try, but this time, I'll try the eggplant parm that everyone's raving about.
(2)Will C.
I have been to many many Italian restaurants for over 15 years, and this is by far the best! Their pizza and pastas are to die for. Price definitely reflect this and is worth every penny and well-priced in my opinion. Remember....higher-end Italian food is a luxury item, so people complaining about price and penny pinching and poor people shouldn't eat here. Atmosphere is classy, and reverberates throughout the establishment....definitely a great time! Its usually pretty busy here, so make sure you give yourself enough time before you plan to eat. High class restaurant with lots of "class" to match. You must eat here!
(5)Daphne L.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII DIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE! That's right, you heard it here, I had a good..no great..no UHmazing meal at Dave's, and I'm not afraid to say it. It wasn't fancy or schmancy or hip or happenin' or trendy. It was good food, really good food, at a very reasonable price. And, let me go on record as saying that I had the best, BEST spaghetti carbonara I've ever had. I said it, THE BEST. We've been to Dave's before, before we even moved to Evanston, but haven't been in a while because A)we forget it's there and B)it's a basement place, very cozy, and for some reason I only like to eat there when it's cold outside. So after a busy Saturday and lots of walking we decided to stop in for dinner. And, it was cold which for me is a Dave's prerequisite. I don't know why it is, it just is. We got there around 6:40, which was perfect because it was right before the dinner rush so we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. Not long after, though, it was slammed and our waitress told us that on a weeknight there's rarely a wait (if ever) for a table. We ordered a drink at the bar (I had the wine selection of the day which was delicious) and chatted briefly until our table was ready. After being seated we were greeted by one of the kindest, warmest, most engaging waitresses I've ever had. I think her name was Emma, but if it's not please forgive me kind lady with the ponytails. She asked if we'd like another drink while we perused the menu, and brought us bread. Really good homemade bread by the way, so make sure to try it when you're there. We decided to split the gorgonzola salad, and I ordered the spaghetti carbonara, my husband the spaghetti pesto. The gorgonzola salad was perfection. Mixed greens topped with (duh) gorgonzola, sliced tomato, and, kalmata olives. The dressing was a vinaigrette that was wonderful in that it didn't overpower the salad, nor was it drowning the greens. I truly dislike when my salad is swimming in dressing. Then the pasta arrived..oh me oh my. The carbonara was absolutely delicious. So good that I ate as slowly as I could because I didn't want it to be gone too quickly. The first and most important bit of praise: the bacon. I am a bacon freak, I'd eat it everyday if I wasn't concerned about heart disease. This carbonara is full of bacon; crisp, tasty, delicious bacon that's perfectly cooked. There is NOTHING worse than a dish with bacon and the bacon is limp and soggy. That alone was enough to make me swoon. Their carbonara is savory, it is tasty, it is filling, it isn't oily...it's perfect. My husband loved his pesto and I'll just have to take his word for it because frankly I wasn't interested in anything other than my plate of bacony, saucy goodness. Had I not been as hungry as I was, or, if I hadn't inhaled my pasta I would have had enough to take home for another meal, but let's just be honest and say it's unlikely I'll ever have leftovers of that dish. I saw a few other dishes go by on their way to hungry diners that looked good, especially the pizza. Dave's Italian Kitchen is a wonderful Evanston legacy with terrific food, excellent service, and a cozy atmosphere. There were tables full of teens, college students, families, friends, couples, etc. It's a great place for a hearty meal that tastes good and won't empty your wallet.
(5)Saray R.
Food was pretty good. I ordered a salad with garlic dressing and didn't care for it too much. My husband and I ordered a calzone and lasagna and there wasn't much meat in either dish, which we would have preferred there to be more of a meat option instead of mostly vegetarian. My husband thought the lasagna tasted kind of bland as well. I'm not sure we'll go back, but it was an alright experience. They give you bread to start off, and quite a bit of it and I thought the bread was great. Probably the best part of the whole dining experience. Went on a Friday night and had to wait 30 minutes, which is expected.
(3)Ronni G.
We've been coming here since I was a teenager for solid reasonably-priced Italian American food. Try the calzones-even the small one is big enough to share. Skip the limited dessert options, and head for one of the nearby coffee houses if you want dessert. Because prices are reasonable, and the location is fantastic, be prepared to wait if you arrive during prime dinner time, like after 5:30pm on Saturday nights.
(4)Chris S.
I don't know why I didn't like this place the first time I went there. But that's the past and I've had an excellent time eating at Dave's, my last few visits. The service is friendly and quick and the food is delicious. It's fairly priced and if there's a wait, they're pretty accurate with the wait time.
(4)Dana B.
My friends introduced me to Dave's a few months ago. It definitely is the new place for my boyfriend to go for affordable, yummy, Italian food in Evanston. We have never had to wait for a table any longer than 5 minutes, and the waitstaff has always been friendly and attentive. I love the spaghetti Bolognese because of how hearty it is. I have had the dish at other restaurants and its like 3 spoons of sauce. But not Dave's, the sauce to pasta ratio is definitely worth it, and the best part is how affordable it is! When we are craving Italian, this is usually where me and the boyfriend go.
(4)Tatawan P.
How do they stay in business serving that kind of food? No honestly, have they tasted it how bland it is?! I went out one weekend with a girlfriend to try a new place in Evanston, IL. There are a few pretty decent restaurants and wanted to give this place a try. I ordered the Salmon special over risotto and my friend ordered a pasta. Wait staff is ok, the hostess seemed to be annoyed to even be working and had us wait even tho the dining room was pretty empty. I had to explain to the waiter what a shirley temple drink was and making a cherry coke by regular coke adding Grenadine. I was incredibly dissapointed in the food and honestly think a $2 Michelina's pasta in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store is a ton ton better. Save your money and go a couple doors down to the Tapas place- Cafe Barcelona.
(1)Jackie G.
As a freshman who didn't know much about the Evanston area, I wandered not too far from my dorm with my parents by my side during one of their first visits to me at college. We thought we couldn't go wrong with Italian. We did. Basically, to get down into Dave's, visitors much walk down into a basement. Since the restaurant was crowded, the place was hot and we had to wait a bit for a table. I thought this indicated that we chose a good place. Perhaps it was due to the warmth or crowded-feeling in the restaurant, but shortly after we sat down a little boy at a nearby table started puking his spaghetti. The sight disgusted us, but the workers were quick to clean it up. Almost strange to note, however, how quickly they returned to work, as if this may not be a first time scenario. We stayed to dine out of hunger and desperation. In the end, the food was actually alright. After a few years in Evanston, I've returned to the restaurant, never expecting great food or great service. I've learned to ask my parents to take me to better places when they come to town.
(2)Michele H.
LOVE Dave's! The food is yummy and really reasonable price, friendly staff, VERY family friendly, and best wine list EVER! Over the years we have noticed the same waitstaff, so It also speaks volumes about the work environment.
(5)Luke S.
I love that they have whole wheat crust pizza. The menu is extensive and very affordable. I've never ordered a drink here, but I believe they have a very large wine list. You can come here and eat like a king for about $10-15. My only complaint is that there is no sunlight or windows in the restaurant. The service has always been good and I always come home with leftovers. If you come at peak hours expect a short wait.
(4)Lizzie L.
They offer a specifically vegan entree, which is wonderful! It's risotto with garlic and broccoli or kale. I'm not a huge fan of risotto, but it's good and it's vegan!
(5)Michael O.
A long time North Shore resident and patron of Kafein (Oreo Cappuccino Shakes!), you'd think I would have visited Dave's by now. Sadly, I had not. We were greeted and seated quite promptly by a friendly staff and attended to well by our server. The food -- from the bread/olive oil to the appetizer to our dishes -- arrived quickly, hot, and looked very appealing. Our taste buds were not disappointed in the slightest. Though not the best Italian food I've ever had, Dave's lived up to its reputation and the prices were quite reasonable. After our meal, we couldn't help but order dessert -- tiramusu and chocolate mousse. The mousse was rich and decadent; and the tiramisu among the best I've had. To be sure, our only gripe about our experience at Dave's was their lack of menu flexibility. They "don't do pitchers" of beer and refused to even consider one of our party's request for a side of purple kale. The server asked if she'd like her purple kale sautéed and then proceeded to say they didn't have any. When we pointed out one of the specials was risotto with purple kale, he said they "don't do" side-swapping. Not a deal-breaker, but some consideration would have been appreciated. All told, our trip to Dave's was likely the beginning of a series, as each of us discovered a new taste that we'll want to return for! Don't forget to sign your wine bottle before putting it up on the ledge!
(3)Justin B.
Spicy classics and creative originals!!! Definitely a great joint to frequent! Cheers!
(4)Katrina M.
Went for dinner on a Saturday night. Waited 30 minutes for a table of 3, so not so bad. The place was packed and lively. I ordered the "BIG" Ravioli, which came in two and each was the size of an iPhone. It was delicious, but those alone did not fill me up. (I'm a petite-sized woman with a large appetite!) I wish they would serve free sides with their meals, or at least serve their ravioli on some pasta or something.. When I went here for a previous time, I ordered the calamari pasta, and it was okay. Nothing special.
(3)Sutton C.
This place has gone threw many changes since I grew up in Evanston, it has had three locations and I have been going to Dave's since their second home. The food hasn't changed a bit and I thank the good lord for it. HUGE portions at outrageous prices is what you get at Dave's Italian Kitchen, this place is so amazing Dave himself is still in the kitchen. Everything is delicious but some of my favorites include the Chicken Marsala and Vesuvio, the spinach ricotta pie, the large italian salad (could feed 4 for an APP) with their italian dressing, and of course the Pizza! They have a great selection of wine and the atmosphere is adorably wonderful. This place has been a staple for me my whole life, and I just am so grateful it has been in E-town all these years.
(4)Danielle W.
I LOVE DAVE'S!! If you are visiting Chicago or live in IL., this is an absolutely amazing restaurant worth traveling long distance or waiting in a crazy long line! Located in Evanston, this hidden GEM is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to!!!!!!!! We use to live in IL. about an hour & 20 minutes away and through rain or shine we would make the trip! We heard about it from the folks behind popular Chicago restaurant review show Check, Please! I recommend, the pizza (especially wheat), calzones, and chicken parm! Although my brother had a delicious shrimp pesto entree there. EVERYTHING is amazing...I can't wait to go back this summer. I miss you DAVE'S!! Yelp there are no places like this in JERSEY!
(5)Beth P.
I really didn't like the food here. All three people at my table were like "yuck" for this place. My chicken was undercooked and very bland. My boyfriend's pasta had some nasty cheese all over it, and was smothered in a sauce that rivaled ketchup. Our friend had the chicken marsala, and the noodles were worse than lean cuisine- just nasty. Even the lettuce in my salad was brown. I saw a lot of families around us seeming to enjoy their pizza, and wine from a huuuuge wine list. Maybe I should've ordered the pizza, but I'll never know because I won't be back. I can experience Dave's anytime I want by crackin' open a can of Chef Boyardee.
(2)Michael S.
The best pizza in Chicagoland, best baked spaghetti, best chicken parm around and also BYOB....you can't beat that. Always a great meal and good time at Dave's.
(5)Chelsea V.
My family has been going to Dave's for about 10 years now - ever since we moved to Evanston. I remember the carpets hanging from the ceilings and writing on wine bottles of the old location, but not much else. The current location (which is the one I know best) maintains the writing on the wine bottles but updated everything a bit. However, in 2009 (years after the move) that's neither here nor there. The food is reliably decent-to-good, they bring you a lot of bread and the service is usually sweet. That's the kind of LCD sentence that would typically put me off a review and restaurant, but sometimes you just need such basic comforts. You will eat a lot here, and have a lot to take home, and it won't surprise you or scare you in any way. I can recommend the spaghetti diavolo (which I seem to remember used to be called "diabolo" but "b" and "v" can be so tricky like that!), the calzones, fettuccine rose (mix of marinara and alfredo sauce just how I liked to do in college!), italian salad with creamy garlic dressing and the chocolate mousse dessert. The mousse should be shared between two people because otherwise you'll feel really sick. I think it's also fairly affordable, although the prices are initially more than I'd really like to pay for an entree (this is because I'm cheap) - it will translate into at least one other meal. Not so bad!
(4)Shradha A.
Update 02/2008: So I was influenced by all the good Yelp reviews for this place and decided to give it yet another shot - I mean places change after a year or two right? But now I remember why I did not like them!!! The greasiest garlic break and not fully cooked pasta... -------------------------------------------- "Big portions" don't define "Good Food" - that only says "Big Portions". It's like everyone who raves about Joy Yee's! Their food is awful but they get business because their portions are large! Anyone who wants a good meal would rather go to Cozy Noodles. Dave's is really bad Italian food, sad thing is there aren't any good Italian restaurants in Evanston so it's the best amongst the bad. Unless you want to spend and go to Trattoria Demi and if you can drive then Olive Garden! Wait = forever and they play favorites! Food = watery/cold/chewy Service = non chalant Ambiance = loud and noisy - gives me a headache! And thus I'm not going to spend more time explaining why I don't like this place.
(2)Marina M.
Despite the underground location, Dave's has a nice atmosphere. Dave's serves traditional Italian fare and reasonable prices and is definitely several notches above your average Italian chain restaurant. I'm not a fan of the eggplant Parmesan as it was overwhelmed with sauce, breading, and cheese -- you could barely find the eggplant. Some of my favorite items are the minestrone soup and Italian salad. The chocolate mousse is also great -- perfect texture, not too rich or sweet, and a hint of liquor (amaretto perhaps?)
(3)Vanessa C.
I love this place! When you come to Dave's it is a true dining experience, the portions are HUGE and the time between orders is long, this leaves room for talking, laughing, and enjoying your appetizer. They have wine ALL over, literally they have them lined up against the walls. I recommend there mussels, lasagna con amore, the big ravioli is great as well. Just remember that they have GREAT bread, and you may find yourself unable to practice self control, but TRY because the portions are huge!
(5)Lisa D.
When you need a cheap hearty meal, Dave's is your spot. You have to go downstairs to get there. Dave's was forced to move to a basement location that was once racquetball courts. If only you could burn the calories that are burned playing racquetball while eating this food because there are no low cal items on the menu. I ate my ENTIRE eggplant Parmesan. It wasn't the best I've ever had but that marinara sauce served with it was delicious. Pour that over just about anything and you've got a worthy meal. The cheesy ends of the eggplant parm were perfectly toasted crispy brown. The atmosphere is a bit campy, though still artsy. Evanston is a college town, after all, and that explains it for me. The owners made an effort to hang original artwork and line the chair rails with empty wine bottles. It's cute. The elder uncle of the group I was with walked his new born nephew around the restaurant and proudly introduced him to everyone. All patrons and staff obliged his enamour and oohed and ahhed over little Elliot. College town, small town, friendly town and friendly place to eat. It was a big group and our server was cute and friendly and efficient. I've read other reviews that state otherwise so I was expecting less. The walk back to the bathrooms reminds you that you are in a basement. I have a sensitive nose, I could smell a faint sewer scent back there. Luckily I was distracted by the brightly patterned mural paintings on the hallway walls. Smart. The bathroom itself is pretty dull, even the lighting is a bit sickly. But hand painted floral motifs in the stalls were sweet additions. My biggest gripe of the place is that there is only cold water in the bathroom. I can wait for the one sink to be available, especially at these prices, but the cold water is inexcusable in the winter time. This is the reason for three instead of four stars.
(4)Shannon B.
The food is pretty good, but the service is horrible. The salmon with dill sauce is wonderful and the Alfredo is nice. The portions are as huge as everyone says. But... I don't know if it is always understaffed or just slow as mutha. That wouldn't be a big deal for me but in conjunction with forgotten drinks and an apparent phobia regarding bring the table their check... well its an issue. Here is the breakdown: * Wait staff: I've had better and faster service at McDonalds- in Hawaii... * Drink Full bar, decent wine list * Menu:Italian * Parking: There is a cheap structure not far away, a small possibility of metered parking. * Dress: Casual
(2)Ms G.
AWESOME!!! I've been going to Dave's for a while, and it never disappoints. Perfect for dates, birthdays, special events... you can go casual or dressy, just be prepared for a ton of good Italian food! Ask for the pink soda- delish! The salad is great, serves the whole table. I recommend the eggplant Parmesan or the spaghetti with red clam sauce. Whatever you get, you will definitely have leftovers for the next day.
(4)Sandy N.
Pretty meh. I had the lasagna with tomato sauce. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't really great. The service was ok. Next time, I'd probably go elsewhere. Evanston has so many better options.
(2)Trisha F.
Incredibly overrated. Mediocre pasta, usually pretty loud. Not worth the price, I'd rather make pasta at home.
(2)Mike M.
After visiting Dave's a few times prior to Northwestern Basketball games, I have to give this place 4 stars. Even when it is very crowded they are accomodating and get you seated. excellent portions, fair prices and variety of menu make this a good choice for dining in downtown evanston
(4)Liane R.
Perfect setting for a wedding rehearsal dinner for an Italian family! The Eggplant Parmesan was delicious!
(5)Sarah M.
I almost want to say that I am offended by all the bad reviews! Dave's is a fabulous place. It's old location was so dark... this one you can at least see people in. It's a family run place, and the owner's wife is often part of the wait staff. The portions are ridiculously large and taste wonderful. I have never left without leftovers. The mousse is to die for... chocolate heaven. But by far my highlight of life at this restaruant... the salad dressing. It's homemade and if it wouldn't be totally disgusting to do so, I'd drink it because it's that good. As a vegetarian I feel I never have any issues with ordering food as there's often a few things I can pick from.
(5)Joyee L.
I, like many others, feel that the food is completely unspectacular. The first time I went, I ordered the stuffed zucchini, one of the cheapest things on the menu, because I didn't have that much money and the time, and thought it was pretty good. The next time, I went with a large group of people, and ordered pasta, which is very disappointing. It tasted extremely bland - more tasteless than store-bought tomato sauce. My friend ordered some jalapeno pasta, and all it was was marinara sauce with some jalapeno slices thrown in at the last minute. At these prices, I expected a lot more. Needless to say, I've never gone back again. Spend your money somewhere else.
(1)Janet E.
The last time I came here I was starving and there was a 30 minute wait! But it was worth it. The staff was really great. To hold me over I ordered a coffee at the "bar". When we were seated, the waitress was very friendly and the food came relatively quickly (or maybe I was stuffing myself with the free bread and olive oil?). The food was delicious and we had enough left overs to make another meal of it!
(4)David G.
Very disappointing. My dad ordered lamb chops which he sent back because they were slightly underdone. When they brought the dish back to the table, it was clear that they had been microwaved. When called on it, they admitted it. All in all, an uninspiring restaurant. I am surprised it's as busy as it was.
(2)Linda D.
A favorite place of mine for over 30 years. Spaghetti Diablo w/ mushrooms or spaghetti w/ white clam sauce or...if I can find anyone to share, the bacon mushroom pizza... 2 of the 3 desserts are great (skip the cannoli); we usually get the same number of spoons as diners and just put desert in the center and see who's fastest.
(5)Chris G.
Have loved Dave's for years but never knew Dave was a complete jerk. We just had our second baby and decided to order delivery from Dave's to the hospital in town as a nice celebration dinner. The staff said they couldn't deliver to the hospital and recounted a story about a car being towed. We said we understood and that we'd be happy to meet them across the street or wherever so they wouldn't have to go near the hospital. We were told we had to talk to Dave himself. Dave then got on the phone, didn't say one word, and screamed "WE DON'T DELIVER TO THE DAMNED HOSPITAL" then hung up. Needless to say the owner and proprietor of a business should never treat anyone, let alone a customer that way. We have nothing to do with, and know nothing about, Dave's contentious relationship with Evanston hospitals. We called back and got an apology from the embarrassed staff who couldn't offer any explanation or solution. Dave - we have a "no jerk" policy and you failed miserably. Sorry but you're getting a 1 star and we're going to let everyone know about this non-sense.
(1)Ngoc H.
Went here a while back, the food is just ok, nothing really special about it. The fettuccine was sort of bland but the chicken was salty enough to make up for it. All in all this place is good but it's nothing great. Great place though if you have a large group.
(3)Anthony B.
Finally a good Italian restaurant! With a handful of bad experiences at ones in Chicago, I was very impressed with Dave's. I was a little skeptical from the outside with the checkered curtains and it looked like it would be a step up from a pizzeria, but I was sorely mistaken. The food was all fresh. The salad was great as was the house dressing, and the veal was mouth watering. We also ordered mussels which were also fantastic. The service was friendly, attentive, and great. I would definitely come back. I am curious about the whole wheat pizza on the menu!
(4)Ashley H.
I love the classics at Dave's, and everything is always fresh and tasty. We ordered delivery once, and the food was cold by the time it made it to our table. We haven't had delivery since, but every time we eat there it's great.
(4)Jason P.
Good Italian food. This place has been around for a while and has a nice atmosphere in the basement of the building. There is a nice blend of pictures and hand written signs around and the food is good as well. They let you get whole wheat pizza, but then it says it is actually half whole wheat flour and half white flour, making it half wheat I guess. At any rate, the taste is right. I also tried the cheeseless calzone which was fantastic.
(4)Casia J.
I don't even have the energy to write about this church basement-meets-Chef Boyardee-served-by-careless-students kinda place. Been twice. Two meals of my life I'll never get back. The second time a waiter spilled (about 2 tbsps, not just a drop) of red wine on me. Apology? No. Only a very Keanu Reeves style "Whoops!" There ya have it.
(2)Claire S.
My girlfriend took me here for the first time on one of our first dates because it's one of her favorites. I have to say, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and food at Dave's! I love how laid back and unpretentious the vibe is and the vegetarian lasagna was really good! I think I'll return here quite a bit for the sentimental value and would recommend it to someone in the Evanston area looking for casual Italian dining.
(4)Lisa H.
Expect a wait if you try Dave's on a Friday or Saturday night. Luckily you have the opportunity to order drinks from the bar/waiting area while waiting. This longtime Evanston establishment serves up plenty of Italian food. I'd suggest the Spaghetti Carbonara. It's pretty much the only thing I order at Dave's...and a bottle of red wine on special. The Lasagna with meat sauce is my second favorite meal at Dave's. Be sure to bring your Sharpie and write on one of the thousands of wine bottles displayed specifically for the purpose of writing on them!
(3)Vanessa D.
This has been one of my favorite restaurants for about 13 years now. (Wow, I can't believe it's been so long). I was a big fan of it in high school (when it was at the other location) because it was cheap, delicious, and filling. Their chocolate mousse is amazing. I usually just stick to the baked spaghetti. It's still very much the same place I originally fell in love with back as a freshman in high school. The homestyle Italian food, the casual laid back atmosphere, the friendly waitstaff, the WINE BOTTLES lining the walls, and yes, that mousse is still delicious. Come here if you want some good food without spending a lot. It can get really crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings when lots of families go there, so be ready for a bit of a wait.
(4)George O.
Distinctly not-great food. The prices are reasonable, but you're still not getting what you're paying for in terms of quality. That's offset by the quantity of food. I've never had problems with service or freshness, but the service wasn't fantastic, either. The thing that sticks out in my mind is that the pasta carbonara was cooked so that the egg had curdled. Anybody who knows what pasta carbonara is would count that as a failure, and certainly wouldn't send it out at a restaurant.
(2)Tom F.
Nice casual place to enjoy good food and company. Nothing fancy about it, but it's pretty warm and inviting. The lamb chops are a favorite of mine, and the minestrone is solid. Give it a shot if you want a fun, relaxing atmosphere, and it's definitely kid-friendly.
(4)Kathryn R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Evanston! The food always tastes fresh and homemade. The service is always good. The prices are very reasonable. They have a nice selection of wines too! Usually there is a wait to be seated, but because the place is so large, the wait has never been more than 20 minutes or so. A very nice, casual, comfortable place. One criticism is that it can get noisy in there!
(4)Scott H.
What is it about Dave's? The place is pretty much a dive, always messy and is generally jam-packed, but the wife and I keep coming back again and again! Good Italian standards with huge portions. Always a cheap, but quite drinkable bottle of red and white available at $13-14. Whatever you order, get a meatball on the side. Great accompaniment to anything. Hits are spaghetti carbonara and lasagna con amore.
(4)Martha M.
You can always count on Dave's for a good hearty meal with plenty of leftovers. Basic pasta and basic sauce is the name of the game, along with a wide variety of chicken dishes. If you are looking for something beyond pasta and sauce though, Dave's is not your spot. There's no fancy stuff here. The ambiance is very homey, PACKED with booths and tables. The waiting area is fairly small and you will always wait. Do not go during high dining times or you will wait a LONG time with A LOT of loud kids. Dave's definitely caters towards families so the place is always crammed with kids. Service is good, nothing to write home about. Don't get me wrong - Dave's is delicious and I go there at least once every few months. The salads are delicious and the pasta is as well. They have a chocolate mousse that I can't resist and a very impressive and inexpensive wine list.
(3)A S.
Brought a hungry soccer team and got great service and excellent food. The staff was very accomodating and patient. We will highly recommend DIK to the rest of our organization!
(5)Cynthia E.
No, no,no,no,no,no,no. The minestrone is passable.
(1)Chaviva G.
I date a self-proclaimed chef. He has no professional training, but the man's food is ... amazing. His best dishes are, did you guess it? Italian. As such, this was quite a test. Would he love it? Would he hate it? Would he finish his dish? The answer is below ... We were looking to get out of the comfort zone of Western/Central/Loop Chicago, so I asked some Yelpers for advice. One suggested Dave's Italian Kitchen in Evanston, and of course we were glad to head north to one of our favorite little areas. We trudged through the rain to Chicago and Church, down some stairs into an interesting basement bistro. At first glance it reminded me of an old basement section of a restaurant I used to go to in my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska called Spaghetti Works. But they closed it eons ago, and I haven't done basement dining for some time! We were immediately greeted by a bounty of staff up front, sat in a booth flanked by bottles of wine along the wall that sported fancy notes from the restaurant's past. The bread was brought and we gazed at the menu while noshing on some of *the* most delicious bread I've ever had. Dave's makes their own bread, but it isn't just fresh bread, it's the kind of bread your mom used to make. The kind that you'd rip apart the moment it was done -- whether it came from the oven or the breadmaker. I ordered the baked spaghetti, and the date got a calzone (I forget what kind, but there was sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc.). We also ordered two dinner salads, because we wanted to gauge the house-made dressing. The salads were fresh, though a little heavy on the carrots. No vinaigrette compares to my boyfriend's, but their dressing was pretty delicious and had the right amount of tang. We noshed on more bread while waiting for the meal, though it came out pretty quick. The restaurant was slowly filling up with families, college-age kids and couples ... and the buzz was perfect with the casual decor. The baked spaghetti I was used to consisted of the pasta, mixed with the sauce, covered in cheese, and baked. This spaghetti, though, was nothing such! The pasta was covered with mozzarella and baked, and then the marinara was plated in the bowl *next* to the spaghetti and cheese. It was a little strange visually at first, but as I ate and mixed the two up, it made for a delicious dish. The marinara was perfect for your standard sauce -- not too spicy, not overloaded with spices, just simple and delish. The boyfriend's calzone came and .... good lord. It was the biggest calzone I'd ever seen. It is made to feed one to two people, and my boyfriend has a pretty big appetite -- he couldn't finish it! He said it was crispy, fresh, the sausage was delicious and after he got a side of marinara, he was set. What made the calzone for him -- he said -- was the bread. Again, the moment it was set on the table, you could smell the freshness and the comfort of the calzone's crust! Overall, he said, "I would be so forward as to say this is the best calzone I've ever had." Now, coming from him -- he who has been to Lombardi's, among others, in NYC, all varieties of Italian in Chicago and elsewhere -- this is a BIG freakin' deal. This, to me, says that Dave's has it going on. Finally, we concluded our meal with a cannoli, which we split. It absolutely topped off the night and filled in that last little hole of space in our stomachs. It was rich, creamy, and fresh ... this place knows their breads and pastries! People complain about the portions not making up for quality, but in my experience, the portions and the quality were above my expectations. The decor was comfortable and reminded me of a family-run restaurant with a touch of eclectic class with varied paintings, wine bottles, and other "Italian" objects. The variety of the crowd should be a testament to the type of people that appreciate a comfortable, bistro style restaurant and should also attest to the fact that this restaurant will be around for quite some time (it's already been around for a few decades!). If you want a preview of the style of the restaurant, take a peek at the website and read the biography and "how to get here" links. Also, take my boyfriend's take on the calzone to heart -- because this man KNOWS and lives Italian. The two of us ate, with salads and desserts, for a mere $30.00. Talk about a deal! So take the bad reviews for a grain of salt, darn't. Trek to Evanston and give it a go. If there is a Dave, I'd like to meet Dave, and say "Dave, thanks. You filled me the hell up!"
(5)Jerry W.
Like another reviewer, I have been coming here since before it was relocated. A funky place with good tasting food at reasonable prices. Feels like it should be a Northwestern student hangout, but it is really just a common Evanstonian hangout. I personally like the eggplant parm, and do not think their pizza is anything too great. Worth going to.
(4)Scott B.
Very good food, great price. Bring a pen and sign the wine bottles on the wall. And try the pizza and calzone. Been going there for 25 years, and always a solid meal at a good price.
(4)Kiira B.
Mediocre food, poor service, weird ambiance.....
(2)Molly B.
I'm with Victoria. I love the food here and have taken people who also enjoy it. They give you plenty to munch on for a reasonable price and everything I've had is tasty! You're almost guaranteed leftovers; who doesn't love that?! I give 4 stars because their wine and beer selection isn't great, but I think it's mainly a family restaurant, so that probably won't be helped. Also, the takeout is awesome and quick, too, but good luck finding a place to idle the vehicle!
(4)Andrew H.
3.5 stars if the option was available. A staple for me and the favorite girl when we're in the mood for decent food, good portions, and good prices. Usually there is no wait on weekdays but we came last night (a Sunday) and it was packed. Along with a horde of mature high schoolers wishing to have dinner prior to a school dance (really not the place to go before a school dance), we waited for approx 20-30 minutes. The atmosphere is casual, family and kid friendly. When the room is full, it can get loud. Service is hit or miss depending on your waiter/waitress, and same goes for how fast the food comes out. Last night we were not attended to for a good 5 minutes after sitting down; however our waitress was very apologetic and compensated more than enough. The table bread is average, we usually indulge ourselves with a slice or two but never have to ask for a second round. My favorite girl began by ordering a small Italian salad. I didn't think much of it at the time, I don't ask questions, just foot the bill. But when the salad came and with plates to share (our waitress assumed we were dating...ugh, I wish), it was larger than a "small" and included everything that the menu said it would include -- not excuding red onions, pepperoncinis, and radish. Fortunately for me, my favorite girl hates all of the above and proceeded to put all of them on my plate. Like the trooper I am, I proceeded to attempt eating a plate full of only red onions, pepperoncinis, and radish. A unique flavor profile for sure, but my favorite girl eventually threw me some greens, red cabbage, cucumber, and dressing which made the following ten minutes much more enjoyable. For our entrees, I ordered the #2 small calzone (pesto, tomatoes, mushroom, spinach) and it is on point. This is the only place I know that has pesto calzones, and I really enjoy pesto. My favorite girl ordered her broccoli, chicken, and garlic risotto -- while she gets it every time, I have tried it before too and can attest to its hearty home-cooked flavor. After we were finished, I ordered a tiramisu for us to share, much to my favorite girl's chagrin. Our waitress enjoyed the banter, gave us two forks, and didn't put it on the tab. A good way to end our meal.
(3)Victoria h.
I don't know why it got so many bad votes. Dave's a great place with huge calzones and cheap salads. The service is fast, and food is good, the setting is nice and casual. What is there to complain about? It's not really classic Italian food, it's very Americanized - but I definitely recommend checking it out with friends (if you live nearby). It's not a place that I'd drive to from far away, it's not THAT good. But if you live nearby and need somewhere to take your folks or friends - this is a good place. Keep in mind that the wait to be seated can take a while.
(4)Liz P.
I have a friend from Evanston and, upon knowing my intense love for Italian food, insisted that we eat at Dave's Italian Kitchen. Thus far, I've had it only twice but both times, I died and went to Italian-cuisine heaven. The first time, I ordered an interesting spaghetti-japaleno concoction that left me enticed. The second time, I ordered spaghetti with mushrooms/sun-dried tomatoes in a decadent olive oil-butter-cream sauce. I love this place. Next time I'm getting their carbonara because my friend climaxes every time he has it. I've never eaten in the restaurant, only done take-out, because we always go when it's packed. But I love this place.
(5)Ben W.
This place is not great at all. Their prices are quite steep compared to the quality of food. This place might do if you are too lazy to boil your own pasta and put a can of tomato sauce/alfredo on top of it yourself. If you are not that lazy then save yourself some money and stay home. I had the ziti here and it was most unsatisfying--there was little cheese and the marinara sauce tasted odd. Also the pasta was a little overcooked.
(2)Julie H.
Oh Dave, what happened? Ok, I have to say after eating here last night (and being somewhat psyched to be going because it was just what I was jonesin for), I am so disappointed. =( It was a Saturday evening, and we were seating immediately as they weren't at full capacity yet so now wait, which is awesome. What wasn't awesome was that once we were seated, no one came to talk to us for close to 10 minutes (after 5 solid minutes, my boyfriend was ready to walk, but I just so wanted to eat dinner there....so we stayed). Our waiter did suddenly appear and said (I quote) "I'll be waiting on you today. Are you perchance ready to order?". Hmm, no hello, no 'can i grab you a drink while you peruse the menu?'. And he was somewhat intimidating, so we ordered. quickly. then sat some more. and watched. A table next to us (who had the same server) also never seemed to be waited on - when they finally got their check, we actually overheard them debating whether or not to leave a tip. Another table behind us was sat, and a waitress appeared less than 20 seconds later (we started timing this). A 3rd table near us was sat and a waiter came by within 30 seconds, introduced himself, asked he could get them some drinks, gave some recommendations, and, get this, EVEN came back and checked in on them when their food appeared! Now us, when out appetizer emerged, I only noticed bc the waiter was reaching around a pole and waiting for me to take it from him and put it on the table. That was the last we saw of him until we got our check. Fortunately when they seat you, they give you a pitcher of water otherwise we probably would never have gotten drinks. A very nice bus boy did come by when it looked like we were done and offered to box our leftovers, I kinda was wishing he had been our waiter. Now the sad part is, the meal was just what I wanted, and I've never had a bad experience there before, but I will think twice before returning after this treatment. They really need to make sure all of their staff is on the same page, and judging from how everyone else was hustling and bustling around the place, and all the other tables had actually service other than those in our section, they should also be sure their staff who is not on the same page is either not working there anymore or at the very least kept in the kitchen.
(2)Kristen H.
Oh why does the food have to taste so darn good? I'm on a diet; not supposed to be eating here. But I do get a day off. And let me tell you how much I enjoyed my day off.............................YUM!!!! So I only get a day off every now and then , so when I do I must choose wisely. So I decided to order the spaghetti carbonara. It is sooooooo good. For those of you that don't know what it is I'll tell you. It's obviously spaghetti noodles, with a white cream sauce with bacon and onion. Let me tell you........it is delicious! Definitely worth the wait. It will be hard not to repeat this decision when my next free day comes.
(5)Kary Z.
I don't know why my hopes for this place were so high; it was recommended to me by a 70 year old woman. We checked out the menu before going, and there is a nice selection of entrees, wines, and the prices were affordable. When we walked in we were greeted right away, "just two?" "yes." "you can take that booth there". The hostess just pointed us to our seat. Did not even bother to move from behind her counted to seat us. I know, its not far, and we could just see our seat, but it was too informal in a way. We sat, and our menus came. Our server did not. We waited for a while. When he did come he was so boring. We asked him to help us narrow down the menu and he was hardly interested in helping us figure out what to eat. We did decide, and when he came to take our order we told him, and that was that. However, on the menu it states "your choice of sauces"--he did not ask us. Just made the choice for us. I wanted meat sauce, but since he didnt ask and i didnt tell him, i didnt get it. My partner ordered a fettucini rose, and it was soooooooo bland. No amount of romano cheese, salt, or pepper could spice it up. I ordered the provolone chicken. It came with plain mariana on the rotini, which tasted as if it was from a ragu jar and my chicken had absolutely no flavor. The server didnt check on us for about 6 minutes. We are not the typical table that would make a huge deal of a bad meal, and never have we ever sent anything back to the kitchen. Remember, I was server for a very long time, as was my partner...but this was terrible. Mik sent her food back, and i ate some of mine because I was starving. The only thing they did right was take off a portion of our bill. Yet, the manager didnt come make a table visit. If management doesnt care about how dissatisfied their customers are, then they really could care less about the quality. And it shows here at Daves. Save your money, don't go. You are way better off going to Giordanos or Trattoria Demi in Evanston.
(1)Erin C.
I have been to Dave's so so many times. Birthdays, dates, etc etc etc. I just don't think it's that good. I have to admit, there are a few good things on the menu... 1. the calzones are awesome, but it's hard to mess up cheese, bread and sauce. 2. the baked spaghetti is nice, but it's really just the cheese baked on top that makes this dish anything special. Everything else tastes like canned tomato sauce. There is nothing innovative or exciting served here. And that's ok. There are plenty of restaurants dishing out crowd favorites very well. The difference here is that it just isn't executed very well. I do get a kick out of the ETHS students out on big group dates here though. I've taken pictures for several of them for homecoming and prom and stuff. It's a hoot!
(2)Rob F.
Excellent. reasonably priced Italian food. Comfortable atmosphere. The wine list is reasonably priced. Only problem is the wait and sometimes there appears to be empty tables open as you wait.
(4)Adam S.
A few of the reviews I've read about this place are complaining about decor, ambiance, the sauce, etc. as if they are the son or daughter of Phil Vettel. Dave's Italian Kitchen is comfort food to the extreme, from the basement, windowless location, to the plastic red and white table clothes, to the big portion, basic Italian fare. They aren't trying to be pretentious and they aren't trying to be fancy. They just want to serve good food in a family-style environment and they do an excellent job of it. All the pizzas, pastas, and salads I've had at Dave's are great. Are they fine dining? No - but that's not what this is supposed to be. Just like you don't order a steak at a coffee shop, you don't veer from the basics at Dave's. The service has always been quite good too - the other night I was there and they brought out one of our dishes way past the others. The waiter was apologetic to the point of embarrassing and we got two free desserts out of it (which were both fantastic.) So put on you jeans and gym shoes, head on over to Dave's, order a glass of cheap cabernet, get the spaghetti and meatballs, and enjoy your night.
(4)Heidi H.
Meh. I know that the made up word *meh* has sorta played itself out, but its the only way I know how to describe my experience here. My friend and I decided to go here for NYE seeing we were heading up to Evanston for a movie anyway. I'm really not too familiar with good eats in Evanston, so I trusted her decision on going to Daves Italian Kitchen. I decided to start with a salad that I dont remember the name of but thought it sounded pretty tasty. Spring greens, dried apricot and cranberries, and walnuts all tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. Sounds yummy right? meh. The salad was drowning in the watery dressing. I mean, I love me some dressing but having a puddle of it at the bottom of my salad bowl is a bit too much for even me! For my main entree I chose whole wheat mostaccioli in a pesto sauce with added spinach. Again. meh. The pasta was cooked well and the pesto was tasty and garlicky, but lacked seasoning and they forgot my spinach. Oh well. Nothing was terrible but nothing blew me away either. Just a meh experience all around. The best thing about the dinner was that it was satisfying and cheap. I would go here again if someone else really wanted to go, but it definitely wouldn't be my first choice when dining in Evanston.
(3)Colleen B.
I won't waste a lot of space here... I second the previous reviews. Decent, but not great, Italian food. Huge portions. I keep ending up here because it's an easy decision when you're looking to gorge yourself on cheesy pasta for a reasonable price. Not my number one choice for dinner, but if someone suggests it I probably won't turn them down.
(3)Annie S.
My mom and I really like this place and we always split the spaghetti with meat sauce and an extra meatball. It comes with a side of fresh bread and the staff are really friendly. I've been eating here since high school and even though it's not the best or most authentic Italian food, it is still good and the servings are HUGE so you will not leave hungry!
(4)Alissa I.
Still great...my new favorite is Chicken Marsuvio
(5)Patricia C.
We have been going to Dave's for years and the only thing I order is the small Italian Salad and Spaghetti Gorgonzola which is outstanding (I have never had anything else although my husband orders different pastas and he has liked everything that he has ordered).The prices are affordable and service is good.
(4)Julie G.
It seems like downtown Evanston has a ton of restaurants and yet no restaurants all at once. If you're ever up there, Dave's is a great fallback choice for a perfectly good Italian meal. Their menu has some real standouts: good pasta, good tiramisu. The service is friendly and the prices are very reasonable. The breadbasket is so-so but the olive oil they keep on the tables is pretty good. Skip the broccoli soup though. I know people rave about but it's been super bland both times I've had it.
(3)Steve T.
In a basement in Evanston you will find a lovely Italian restaurant. Great pizza and past. The wines are not bad. Very down to earth. The wait staff are super friendly.
(4)Erin J.
The nice thing about Dave's is that it is predictable and reliable. The portions are huge - one pasta dish = about 3 meals for me. Sometimes there is an intimidating wait, but you can order wine at the bar to make the time pass more quickly. Totally kid-friendly AND pocket-book-friendly. I feel like Dave's is a bargain because the food is good, not great, and the portions are giant. It's really not my favorite, but I'm glad it's there. I have always found the staff to pleasant and efficient.
(3)Jolie R.
We were on our way to Joy Yee when we found it was closed for expansion. Dissapointed and hungry, we walked around the corner and spotted Dave's, which we had seen many times driving down Chicago, so we decided to stop in and see what it was all about. Yowee! Zowee! This is our FAVE Italian restaurant for lots of pasta and prices that aren't going to take a chunk out of our budget. We love upscale, but weren't looking for it that nite...and were not disappointed in what we found. I had the calamari and spaghetti (wish they had linguini on the menu!) and the server suggested ordering it with olive oil and garlic instead of the marinara. She was on-spot. The noodles were aldente, the calamari was tender and very plentiful and the garlic wasn't too heavy. My husband ordered spaghetti and meatball, which turned out to be the biggest meatball we've ever seen! He said it was the closest to tasting like his Italian mother's meatballs. We both want to come back and try other pasta dishes. I probably won't order the pizza - but we'll give the other menu items, while limited, a go. We left full to the gills and our bill was under $20 for a terrific meal.
(4)Yakov B.
If you want, hands down, the absolute worst service of any restaurant in the Chicagoland area with a native English speaking waitstaff, then Dave's is the place. I have been there numerous times and have experienced the host giving my table to someone else, waitresses simply forgetting to wait on my table, waiters screwing up my order, waitress and waiters forgetting to bring an item order, and waitresses and waiters taking my credit card for payment, and then simply not coming back and forcing me to get up and approach the cash register myself. I've complained to the management and never once have I been offered a "comp" for my troubles. So why do I keep going back despite the G-d awful service? The food is pretty damn good.
(2)Christina G.
We always have a good time at this neighborhood Italian restaurant. Been going for years, even before they were at their Chicago ave. location. The atmosphere is very cozy. We prefer a booth, Red and white checkered tablecloths make it feel fun. The bread they give you is so delicious that it's hard not to eat it and save room for your meal! I always get the small italian salad with italian dressing and the spinach ravioli. The marinara is delicious and the fresh pasta always pleases. Very kid friendly which is why we frequent here often and early. We usually have to get here by about 5:30 on a Friday night to avoid a wait. My dad had the Spaghetti Carbornara tonite and he said it was very good. They always have a wine on special too, but I usually just have a glass of the house red or white as they are both usually tasty!
(4)Erin K.
I think that the three rating is quite accurate in describing Dave's Italian Kitchen. They serve good Italian food, but I've definitely had better. The best thing it has going for it is the massive quantities they serve you. I'm talking "lunch and dinner the next day" big. It's a great place to bring kids--something you could easily tell by looking at the clientele (FAMILY CENTRAL!) and definitely worth the price.
(3)Ann A.
We went here for a birthday party last week and it was okay. I was under the weather, so my taste buds may have been off, but the minestrone was meh, the bread was okay, and the gorgonzola salad was pretty good. It's pretty hard to screw up a salad though, right? My husband had the sausage calzone and when we ate it as leftovers a few days later, I was smitten. I think we'll definitely hit up this place for calzones as take out. We just weren't bowled over by the vibe of the joint.
(3)Victor K.
Eat here, I have for 25 years...never had a bad meal.
(5)Alex W.
Italian food is my absolute favorite but for some reason I can never get into this place no matter how much I try. Better pizza can be found elsewhere, the pasta, second rate. Big helpings and good for large groups-though not like how real Italian restaurants are supposed to be.
(2)Chris R.
Dave's is good at what it sets out to do. It's not a fancy place, and it's not a place for experimental, fusion, or anything else. It's the kind of sauce-rich American-style Italian food that your grandmother probably makes if she's Italian. On-street parking can be hard to find, so park in the municipal garage a block north. It's cheap and spaces are plentiful. Like I said, Dave's isn't trying to be a fancy upscale Italian restaurant, so don't let the basement location or ambience detract from the rich food. The décor tends toward wine bottles on the wall and red-and-white-checked tablecloths, and it gets noisy when it's busy. Wait staff is attentive. While our waiters have usually been on the young side, they seem more polished and knowledgeable...maybe they're Northwestern students. The wine list is extensive with a good range of prices, and as reasonably priced as one would expect with the knowledge that wine is always marked up at restaurants. There is no BYOB. Most of the menu is standard Italian-American: pastas, meats, and sauces. That said, it's the best tasting pasta, meat, and sauce in the local area. Substitutions of whole-wheat pasta, or one type of noodle for another are met with a smile and "no problem." The red sauce and meat sauce have a long-simmered flavor with plenty of acidic tomato tang. When I have an Italian craving, Dave's is at the top of my list. I'd rather have fresh food that tastes home-cooked than something from an Italian chain restaurant that is pre-packaged and reheated. Five stars because I love the way the food tastes and the service I've received has always been good. (I give star ratings based on how well the restaurant executes what it's trying to be...not as a Michelin-style mark of absolute quality.)
(5)Mara S.
No doubt about it, this is good food. It's a fairly inexpensive, cool place. The service is good. The homemade bread on the table is deliciously fresh and warm. It was crowded, but didn't seem too crazy for a Friday night. Nice, casual atmosphere.
(5)Michael B.
Driving through Evanston and was in the mood for Italian food... saw Dave's and Yelp'd it. Had some great reviews, so tried it. I have to agree with most of the reviews. The atmosphere is great. The food was amazing. The service was wonderful. I can't wait to go again. I had the Chicken Parm... awesome. Huge portion, tasted great. Try it out sometime if your in Evanston, it's worth the stop.
(5)Dave Y.
this place is awesome! most things are pretty reasonably priced and you get quite a bit of food. such as the really cheap meatball sandwich. the diabolo pasta or whatever it's called is really good. really spicy and hot. a long time ago this place used to be a veritable hole in the wall. now it's in a newer nicer place, and lost a bit of its charm, but still great nonetheless
(5)Chris W.
Freakishly overrated! The bread is always dry, the sauce is essentially ketchup, and the decor and service are not noteworthy. The empty wine bottles lining the walls are kind of a nice touch, admittedly.
(1)Christina R.
This is the place you can afford to eat, leave sated, have a tasty meal, but you walk in knowing that it probably isn't going to be the best meal of your life. My rating is based on what it is - a cheap eat. If I paid $50 for my bowl of pasta and it tasted like this, I would be pissed. However, when you are paying 7.99 for a vat of Spaghetti, and it fills you up, you are looking for a decent taste. If it tasted like cafeteria food, then we would have problems. The Good: whatever recipe they are using for their house dressing will ensure I return. I can never the spice mixture right in my vinegar for just the right dressing, but somehow this was awesome; I had a small plate of greens to start my meal and it turned out to be all I wanted to eat. Plus, the Bolognese sauce on my spaghetti was actually really good. Not the best I have ever had, but for 8.95, I was impressed. And the server we had was superb. If I could remember her name (sorry! I am terrible with names!) I would give her a shout out here, but she was just attentive enough to be awesome, plus even though we didn't complain, she didn't think the broccoli soup looked the way it normally looked, and hence made the decision to not charge for it. In all honesty, the broccoli soup was terribly underseasoned and bland, but she affirmatively intervened before we said a word. Five Star service at a cheap eats restaurant - that was exceedingly impressive. The Not So Good - the meatball and the marinara sauce were not thing. I love meatballs, but the meatball you can order with your spaghetti is one large lump of underseasoned sadness in an bath of marinara sauce that will leave your pancreas aching from the sweetness. The marinara lacks the seasonings to make it good, and is disadvantaged by the base ingredients which seems to be a lot of tomato paste and/or cheap crushed tomatoes. The Ugly: you never know what kind of crowd will be walking through the door. A high school aged soccer team fresh (or not-so-fresh) from a game walked through the door, and it was seriously unpleasant. Also, there was a large group of what appeared to be high school aged kids dressed up for some event dining out for some reason. The cheapness of the place will bring in those seeking affordable meals on parental allowance, the college shoestring budget, or those that refuse to pay $16 for a plate of .80 pasta when you don't want to make an event of the night.
(3)Maureen D.
This place is teriff. Seriously. I have ordered lots of things here, but my absolute favorite is the spinach rotini with marinara sauce. Oh, and their bread is phenomenal.
(4)Andrew T.
I absolutely do not know what the fuss is about this place. While two stars may be a bit low... I personally, didn't like this place b/c they didn't have a lot of sausage optionson the menu. Their olive oil on the table was really bland (and I'm not exactly an olive oil connisseur). The blue cheese noodles were good (and big). The pesto calzone was boring and wierdly juicy inside. The manicotti was also forgetable w/an acidic marinara sauce. My gf actually thought it was decent, but the next day she flew United to France and said the manicotti on the airplane was better...
(2)Jesster A.
Although on it's 3rd location - Dave's has been an Evanston institution for over a quarter of a century. The laid back atmosphere (though less so here) and huge portions at very reasonable prices are probably the main reason for it's enduring popularity - since the food quality itself is pretty bland and mostly ordinary. As a blue cheese fan myself, I suspect Dan's rave about the pasta Gorgonzola (you can choose among pasta shapes) has more to do with his love of the cheese (and this sauce is like 90% Gorgonzola) than the actual execution of the dish... Beware - this dish is VERY rich. Although they now have a liquor license - you can stil BYOB for a $5 corkage charge. For larger groups try bringing 1.5 liter bottles - not sure what their policy is on uncorking multiple bottles. NOTE: Do NOT order the socalled Spinach-Ricotta Pie (smothered in cream of mushroom soup, er sauce.... We split one four ways and even so it was rich beyond belief - like a plate full of frosting with no cake underneath it. Respectable Tiramisu easily serves 2 -4 for dessert - especially after those huge entree portions.
(3)Dan T.
You can't beat the location- it's in a cool part of Evanston, and as someone else stated it's easily better than Olive Garden! I always go for the Spaghetti Gorgonzola. My mouth waters just typing that. Gorgonzoooooooolaaaaa... Excuse me. The BYOB part is nice, and the portions are huge, so order something that sounds a little different and you won't be disappointed. I have usually gone in a large group, which is what this place is made for. That said, the atmosphere is also the only real drawback. It's extremely loud, and you get the impression the whole place could use a remodeling. But if you're in downtown Evanston, want Italian, and want a full meal, I have yet to find anything comparable.
(4)Chrissy F.
Great place with great memories. At first I was taken aback that it was underground, but that just adds to its "coolness" (yes I just said "coolness" -- what are you gonna do about it?) The orders are kind of big, so come hungry or ask for a doggy bag. I really don't know the first thing about wine, so I'm not going to pretend. They helped my friends and I pick out our bottle of wine. But they do seem to have an extensive wine selection... Guaranteed that you're gonna wait to get a table though. Everytime I've been there, I've had to stand around looking foolish for about 10 minutes before our table was ready. I don't mind waiting, I just mind looking foolish. But really, that's my own issue. It's not far from the purple line...just not close to it either. It's usually the block before I see the restuarant when I start complaining if we're there yet or not. If you're brave enough to walk TOWARDS the lake on a cold day, I'd definitely recommend you go for it.
(4)Matt B.
I give this place 3 stars. I've gone here quite a few times, and yet I never leave real happy with the meal. The basement atmosphere and wine bottle-lined walls are nice, the pre-meal bread and olive oil is good, but I look over the menu I am disappointed. Nothing appeals to me whatsoever. I generally look to spend $10-12 a meal, and if I pay anything over that I expect very good food. I'm usually spending more like $15-17 here, and the cuisine is no better than average. I really only eat here because I haven't found a suitable italian alternative other than olive garden - and I just can't bring myself to hit up the chain.
(3)Suzie B.
OK, here's my to-go order experience: My dearest friend broke her back after a nasty fall from a horse last year. Although the titanium rods in her spine are healing, she is far from able to do much walking around without having to stop and sit down to rest for a few minutes. We had been walking around Evanston a bit, running a few errands here and there, and her hubby called in an order for us to pick up on our way home. We got there right after he called, and my pal asked if we could sit at a table while we waited. The woman at the front was being rather shitty about it (they were busy) so Lib, who was about to pass out, said, "we'll order an appetizer! I have to sit down in a chair (she has a fucking BODY CAST on, fergawd's sake). So we sat down, and a nice waiter promptly brought us bread and water. We added another entree on to our to-go order, which he took to the gal at the register. We didn't see hide nor hair of him after that, although I had thrown a 5-er on the table, thinking he would bring us or to go bag. After what seemed like an eternity (watching my BFFE almost faint from meds nausea and exhaustion), I went to the register and asked about our order. It had been ready, and was sitting in the kitchen. We paid and got the hell out. I had the spinach lasagna, which was good but not spectacular. My friend's hubby had the meatball sandwich, which was HUGE, and I didn't sample so don't know how it tasted. I'm sure that in this land of Italians there are much better places to eat, but I did like the ambiance in there, and can see how it would be a good place to take a large group. Being shitty to someone in an upper body cast is inexcusable.
(2)Blake W.
Love it. Who goes here for great food and service? Raise your hand.... now take that hand and smack yourself. This place is cheap, good and easy. I don't feel bad rolling in with my hoodie and a hat or a button up. I'm actually usually suprised by the quality of what I order given the prices. We like to hit this place up once a month and stuff our belly's with food and wine. The wine list is a good size for such a low end place -- the best part is they stock it with cheap wine, but not crap like yellow tail, mondavi costal, sutter home etc... they've got a good selection. Get the Pink Sauce on anything and enjoy.....
(4)Miranda K.
I dropped in for my first visit last night and will definitely be back. This is in spite of the fact that it was incredibly crowded, a bit too noisy, and lousy with rug rats. The food was great: best calzone I've had in a long time and pretty good tiramisu too, which was a surprise. The atmosphere is homey, service is casual but attentive. I felt the prices were very reasonable.
(4)Clare F.
Just went to this place for the first time last night, and it was exactly what we were looking for! Nice, friendly staff, hearty food, and just-right prices. Is it the creme de la creme of Italian cooking? No, but that's not why we went. We were looking for affordable comfort food, and that's what they provided. We'll definitely be back.
(5)Henry F.
Went to Dave's last week for my birthday with my wife and 8 month old daughter. The entrees are huge and inexpensive. I had leftovers of Chicken Parm for lunch the next day. If you are looking for an inexpensive and family-friendly Italian spot, Dave's is a good place to check out.
(4)Mike C.
What can I say, this is one of my favorite Italian places in the area. Don't get me wrong, I've had better Italian food. But Dave's is something special for a casual, consistent meal. Pros: 1) In downtown Evanston, which is a treat in itself. 2) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. 3) Bright, open, comfortable dining room. 4) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. 5) Reasonably priced. 6) Consistently FRESH and GOOD food. We love Daves, and come here for dinner whenever we're in the area. Good service, nice casual atmosphere, good food. Everything on the menu is good. We especially like the baked spaghetti and lasagna, but especially Dave's Italian Salad with the thick shredded mozarella cheese, yummy. Reasonably priced, great atmosphere, good food with a LOT of sauce :-) Enjoy!
(5)Megan W.
Dave's Italian Kitchen was good Italian comfort food. The portions are large and filling. I had the garlic and olive oil pasta and it was delicious. My boyfriend had the veal and it was very tasty. Our waitress did a great job of handling our large party. A word of warning though if you're looking for a quiet romantic dinner this is not the place for you. Dave's is extremely loud.
(4)Brandon B.
What dreck this food is. I've only had catering a few times from this place, and as a result, I will never go here. Every single dish I had, I know I could've made it better. Food is band, from the spaghetti, to the rotini... yuck. Trattoria Demi is a little better. This place is not worth it at all.
(1)grace c.
If you're looking for reasonably priced italian grub and your main focus is "$" then this place may do the job. If your main focus is on quality italian food, then please turnaround and head out the door. The moment I entered the restaurant, I felt like I was back in the cafeteria room in high school and once I dug my fork into the baked spaghetti and mozarella dish, the cafeteria feeling became all the more solidified. The marinara sauce tasted like canned marinara sauce where the tang was too overpowering. I ended up having to pour mounds of pepper and parmaesan onto my dish just to neutralize the flavor to make it more edible. I was not impressed.
(1)Kathryn M.
One of my best friend's is getting married in Evanston next summer. She and her fiance are in the process of auditioning possible rehersal dinner places, and Dave's Italian Kitchen was on the list. 6 of us arrived around 7 on a Saturday and didn't have to wait, which was great! The restaurant is downstairs, and a pretty comfy place to hang out. We all decided to have pizza. One awesome thing is they have whole wheat crust available, which makes me feel slightly better about stuffing my face with pizza. Well, it turns out I didn't need to worry about eating too much pizza, it was terrible. All three of our pizzas arrived at our table burnt, one of them was wrong, and they were just utterly tasteless. Now usually bad pizza is still somewhat good, but not here. Our waiter was nice, but not the best with keeping our drinks filled. Overall, we had a good time because we were with good friends, but I don't think this will be my friend's rehersal dinner spot.
(2)Grace J.
wonderful obviously! Because it has the best staff in the world.
(5)A.J. M.
Dave's only has 3 stars on yelp? Ouch. Too many haters. But I'll defend it to the grave, starting with the prices. They're incredible in regards to the quality of the food. The spaghetti carbonara? Flat out awesome. The baked spaghetti? Excellent. And it's all for a great price. The place is always packed it seems, so it's hard to get a seat most times, and while you can do takeout, it's better to eat it there. That's a given, I assume. The fact is, besides the two pastas I've mentioned, their pasta dishes are divine, and I haven't even tried their pizza, while many people have told me that it too is incredible. I hate not being in Evanston, resulting in my seperation from Daves. But I know that it'll always be there, with it's great prices and great food. Is it the best Italian food you can get in Chicago and its suburbs? Probably not. But I don't care. It's my favorite Italian joint anywhere.
(5)David F.
I have been eating here for about 30 years and have enjoyed every bite of it. The food is great, the portion sizes are just right, and the prices are so low that I am concerned that they are making enough profit. The vegetarian minestrone is out of this world and there is a great selection of wines.
(5)Allen R.
I've never eaten-in at this place, but managed to eat nearly an entire pizza from here after filming a documentary with the BBC for two solid days. It had pepperoni, and delicately thin slices of onion and zucchini. Delish! I didn't even know I liked onion and zucchini on pizza!
(5)Pam T.
Every time I eat at Daves I end up disappointed and with a stomach ache. My husband and I go every 6 months or so, and when we walk out, we remember why we don't eat there. The service is slow, the food is just ok...and there are better Italian restaurants in Evanston.
(2)Lee-Han H.
Not good. The food here is yuck. They need to hire new cooks because no one has earn the boyardee status yet. Terrible time with nasty food that is overpriced.
(1)Larz F.
Dave's used to be this great BYOB hole in the wall, cheap, college kid hangout with huge portions. Since it has moved and become a more "upscale" place it is no longer a value. It might be decent if you were raised on Dominoes and Ragu,but if you actually ate real Italian food growing up you'll be disappointed. So many better places in the area this one is worth missing.
(2)Dee W.
Food was pretty decent - big portions (I had them for lunch the next day) - service was fair and the wine was good. :) We had a decent wait of about half an hour and people were saying how they should have made reservations. I got the mini mostacialli which was average fare and the chicken alfredo with sun dried tomatos was pretty good.
(4)connie m.
I went to this place because it said it was kid friendly and there were some items that would appeal to a larger group who didn't want pizza. First of all, it is NOT kid friendly, they don't even have a children's menu. I got the provolone chicken which is supposed to have pesto..they put pesto in the cheese, not on the chicken so you couldn't even taste it. The chicken was seriously overcooked. The caesar salad..how do you mess that up?? The dressing, of course..it was tasteless, we all had to add salt to the salad to add some flavor. The chicken parm was dry, the bread they put on the table is rustic style and doesn't even come with butter. So, we spent about $80 for 4 people to dine and had a horrible meal. The only thing that i can say positive about them is that I did like the red sauce but it was barely put on the spaghetti that came as a side. I wasn't expecting fine dining but i was expecting a decent meal. Olive Garden would have been the better choice in this case.. I won't be going back.
(1)Jaclyn C.
I really detest this restaurant without being able to say exactly why. I've been twice, and the dishes I tasted were uninspired and bland. Seems that that's the general consensus from people I know. Maybe the calzones are better. 2 stars = will only go back with gift certificate or on a bad date...
(2)Van D.
I can't vouch for anything but their Primavera Calzone. It's the only thing I've ever gotten there and it's absolutely delicious. I get a large(HUGE) with whole wheat crust and only half the cheese but double the pesto. I have considered ordering something else but why bother when this is so extraordinarily good? Everyone else around me looks quite happy also. Good mixed crowd, old and young.
(5)Mindy S.
We were also headed to Joy Yee's... Oh well. So we passed up Tapa's and Gio, and landed at Dave's. It was ok. I hade the mussels marinara with pasta. The mussels were on the small side, and the marinara sauce was very acidic and loaded with raw garlic. Made it hard to eat the sauce. I prefer Classico jarred sauce over Dave's.
(2)Kitty H.
If you order the Lasagna con Amore (with meat sauce!) and the Italian Salad, it is like heaven. If you order other stuff, it will probably just be more like Evanston (which is a very nice suburb).
(4)Amanda A.
This restaurant is the ideal place for great italian food on a college budget. The wine list is amazingly diverse and unbelievable low priced -not to mention that signing the finished bottle and leaving it for future readers is part of the tradition. Always busy and always good!
(4)Chris M.
We've been there a couple of times and taken friends and family there and have never really been disappointed. Food is served in large portions which makes for leftovers and the bread is very good. My wife always says you get what you pay for and that fits here...nothing spectacular, but worth the trip for some good, inexpensive Italian.
(4)Shane H.
I went with a friend last night. Despite the horrible weather it was surprisingly busy. The atmosphere was cozy but I wasn't crazy about the menu options. My new thing when it comes to eating is to mix it up as much as possible so I ordered something I NEVER get... veal. The veal parmesan was OK, not the best ever. I think you're probably better off getting lasagna or one of their chicken dishes, from what I've heard. The portion sizes are HUGE. I would eat here again, but probably not voluntarily. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing.
(3)Cristin M.
Good prices on a large amount of food. This place is almost always busy and they are only open for dinner. Sometimes things can be a little on the bland side, but since it's so cheap, that's easy to overlook. The service is usually great too.
(3)Jordan L.
I thought this place was pretty terrible. If all you care about is getting full on the cheapest meal you can then this is for you. Everything we ordered was flavorless. I had pesto sauce on my pasta and it may as well have been a dab of butter -- there was no sense of pesto in it whatsoever. Everyone else ordered dishes that we equally as bad.
(1)Mary C.
I found the food to be above Olive Garden in taste, but not quite Maggiano's. The portions are generous, but the atmosphere can be a little loud and crowded. It's a good choice if you are looking for Italian cuisine, which is quantity over quality.
(3)Douglas G.
The world needs more basic red sauce joints and Dave's is one of them. Best time to go is late night when the families with kids are gone, the overcrowded Dave's has slow service and waitrons that look too bored to care, but the food is good. The salads and pastas are supreme. The bread however - wow, that is the worst bread I have ever had. So, tell the bored watron to hold the bread and put extra garlic on the sauce ;)
(4)Eric H.
To the complainers, you don't need to come back. For the price, I think the food is terrific. The service is generally prompt and friendly. No, it's not upscale Italian and shouldn't be compared to that style or level, but I've been coming here regulary since the 70's and I enjoy it. Comfort food to the max. Recommended: Spaghetti Calamari, Clam Sauce, al diablo with mushrooms, Calzone 2, Gogonzola Salad, Minestrone, Pizza, Chocolate Mousse and BYOB.
(3)Linda S.
Why is this place so popular? It's always packed but the food here is so bland, go to Olive Garden for better pasta.
(2)Richard D.
The calzones are great. I thought the pasta was ordinary and the dessert menu is limited. Dinner and dessert for two costs us about $30.
(4)Tim M.
You don't come here for ambiance and you should stick to the basics but you can't beat the place for price. quantity and quality. No wonder it is chock full of students. Come in jeans, order a cheap bottle of win and enjoy a casual meal in a very casual setting. We normally stick to simple pasta dishes or pizza. They make a great meatball. Yeah its not my Italian grandma's cooking or even my own but its darn good!
(4)Oscar the Death Cat B.
This place was very popular many years ago, before the huge growth/boom in Evanston's downtown - in those days, there were few other places where you could go to get a hearty, halfway-decent Italian meal. If you are looking for gourmet-quality italian cuisine, you may be disappointed, the main reason to go here nowadays is to get big portions at very reasonable prices.
(3)Nick B.
Good italian food, and some of the best calzones I've had the pleasure of tasting. A possible drawback is that their dining area is below street level, and doesn't always provide the best atmosphere.
(3)Karen L.
I think I had higher expectations of this place, but I just thought it was ok. The portions are huge and the price is right, but honestly I think you can get better food out there. I only tried the spaghetti with white clam sauce and it was bland, not to mention WAY too garlicky. But I did try my companion's stuffed green pepper and that was pretty good.
(2)Julia B.
I like my food spicy or at least to have a strong taste. The sauces they put on their pastas here are very plain and really have no taste at all. The prices aren't as cheap as people think for what you get. Not a fan of this place at all.
(2)Stephanie M.
This place is packed. We had to wait a long time, but the food was in big portions and was pretty good. It is middle of the road in price and presentation.
(3)jason h.
good thin crust, its boyb so thats cool you can bring wine.good pasta dishes. only draw back is that it gets kind of loud so its not the best place for a romantic dinner.
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