Great portions. A little bland compared to bigger cities Italian, but it's the Deep South so excellent overall.
(4)
Iama C.
Iama Critic Rating - Da Vinci's - 2 Stars 307 East Greenville Street, Anderson, SC The Quick Critique: I would rather eat the slop they serve at Pizza Hut, than suffer through another night at Da Vinci's! However, fret not dear reader because the night after I wrote this review I went to the Coach House Restaurant and it was simply fabulous. The wait staff was as good as the food, and the food was simply marvelous! So spare your tastebuds and go to the Coach House! The Long, Slow, Painful Da Vinci's Story: I am just getting started on Yelp, but for better than 20 years I have written restaurant reviews, numbering in the thousands by now. So in all that time I have pretty much experienced everything there is to experience in a restaurant, from cockroaches to gun shots. So in my old age I don't generally sweat poor ambiance or bad service. I normally ignore bad decor. And waitresses that have no clue, rarely get under my skin. All I generally care about when I go out to eat is great food at a good price. But on occasion, a restaurant has remarkable decor or exceptional wait staff and I will mention their exemplary service. But sometimes it absolutely amazes me just how far a restaurant or its staff will go to get a bad review. I call it "Oblivious Ignorance"! It doesn't take a genius to guess when I walk into a restaurant that I am there to review them. Either I have a t-shirt on that literally says so, or it only takes a minute or two of observation to determine, "Hey that guy at number seven just ordered four entrees, to be served fifteen minutes apart, he is wiping down all his plates, and he has taken pictures of all his food since he walked in." Gee, I wonder what I am there for? COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT SERVICE! So why then, does a restaurant like Da Vinci's literally go out of its way to "Diss the Critic"? From the moment I walked in my waitress displayed a complete lack of interest in serving me. I have rarely seen such incompetence! If I performed like that at my job my boss would fire me before the day was through! In the two hours I was there I never saw more than five tables busy. And the foursome next to me was constantly waited on, every few minutes, by my waitress, who refused to turn around to see me waving my hands and even my menu in the air, begging for service! My worthless waitress did absolutely nothing for me. In two hours she didn't say five words to me that did not pertain to my order. She has no business whatsoever being a waitress, and defiles the very restaurant she pretends to serve! Good food can only cover for so much incompetence before I have to scream , "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!" I left having ordered only half of the food I intended to review. It simply irks me off that I gave this lady a five dollar tip for nothing! She ought to have to pay me for suffering through her horrid service! I never again will tip a worthless waitress, no matter how good the food, NEVER! The Food: One Trip Salad Bar - 2 Stars The salad bar comes with most major entrees, but it is meager, with limited selection. However, you can make an average salad with little effort, or you can make a great one if you spend 15 minutes, like I did, picking through the ingredients to make the incredible salads I made. Just take a look at the pictures. $11.99 - Taste of Italy - 3 Stars The taste of Italy tasted a lot like ricotta cheese, because that was the only stuffing in the manicotti and the ravioli. The lasagna did have meat in it and the marinara sauce was also laden with ground beef. The presentation was boring, I was offered no ground cheese or ground pepper. The flavor was acceptable but bland. $14.99 - Linguine Pescatore - 2 Stars As my "waitress" walked up to serve this entree I could smell the odor of burning bread from three feet away. Yes, just look at the picture! That is supposed to be a garlic bread stick, but it was a burnt brick. So just how insane do you have to be to serve that to a person sitting by himself at a table for six, taking pictures for two hours. Why didn't the chef just walk up and punch me in the face and tell me he hates restaurant critics? It would have saved us both time and money! Final Thoughts: The sign out front says "Where food is an art!" and their website says they are your "Home for Fine Italian Dining!" Well, on a good night, NOT TONIGHT, but on a good night their food might be worthy of such remarks, but the food is vastly overshadowed by some of the worse, untrained, wait staff I have ever suffered through. And until that huge problem is corrected, this is not fine dining!
(2)
David B.
I would recommend for their buffet. Higher quality than the local "Pizza Buffett". The Italian food is ok. One negative is, they won't always make the pizza you request on the buffet. Good for lunch.
(3)
Dan B.
This restaurant kind of exemplifies the Hwy81 food scene. Bland overpriced dishes that make you wish you were eating on Clemson Boulevard. They use some kind of bland red sauce on everything. The tour of Italy is like a big red pimple on your plate. If you are going to be an Italian restaurant, try to out do the Olive Garden. The only redeeming feature is the pizza buffet lunch. Hunger is a better option.
(1)
Drew R.
This restaurant, in my opinion, is better than Olive Garden! Whenever I go, I almost always order their shrimp alfredo, but I've also tried their steak and one of their pizzas as well and have been pleased with everything I've tried. You can choose between their diverse salad-bar or their house caesar salad, but I recommend their caesar salad. The only weakness to DaVinci's is the fact that they don't have any breadsticks (though they do have garlic knots, which is the next best thing). If you're ever in the area and looking for some good Italian food, I highly recommend DaVinci's.
(4)
Michael B.
Wonderful restuarant, the wait staff is great and very warm atmosphere. Simply put the food is ......MAGNIFICO!!!!!!!! The buffet is fresh and authentic. It's a must eat for Italian in Anderson, SC
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
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.
Alexandra E.
Great portions. A little bland compared to bigger cities Italian, but it's the Deep South so excellent overall.
(4)Iama C.
Iama Critic Rating - Da Vinci's - 2 Stars 307 East Greenville Street, Anderson, SC The Quick Critique: I would rather eat the slop they serve at Pizza Hut, than suffer through another night at Da Vinci's! However, fret not dear reader because the night after I wrote this review I went to the Coach House Restaurant and it was simply fabulous. The wait staff was as good as the food, and the food was simply marvelous! So spare your tastebuds and go to the Coach House! The Long, Slow, Painful Da Vinci's Story: I am just getting started on Yelp, but for better than 20 years I have written restaurant reviews, numbering in the thousands by now. So in all that time I have pretty much experienced everything there is to experience in a restaurant, from cockroaches to gun shots. So in my old age I don't generally sweat poor ambiance or bad service. I normally ignore bad decor. And waitresses that have no clue, rarely get under my skin. All I generally care about when I go out to eat is great food at a good price. But on occasion, a restaurant has remarkable decor or exceptional wait staff and I will mention their exemplary service. But sometimes it absolutely amazes me just how far a restaurant or its staff will go to get a bad review. I call it "Oblivious Ignorance"! It doesn't take a genius to guess when I walk into a restaurant that I am there to review them. Either I have a t-shirt on that literally says so, or it only takes a minute or two of observation to determine, "Hey that guy at number seven just ordered four entrees, to be served fifteen minutes apart, he is wiping down all his plates, and he has taken pictures of all his food since he walked in." Gee, I wonder what I am there for? COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT SERVICE! So why then, does a restaurant like Da Vinci's literally go out of its way to "Diss the Critic"? From the moment I walked in my waitress displayed a complete lack of interest in serving me. I have rarely seen such incompetence! If I performed like that at my job my boss would fire me before the day was through! In the two hours I was there I never saw more than five tables busy. And the foursome next to me was constantly waited on, every few minutes, by my waitress, who refused to turn around to see me waving my hands and even my menu in the air, begging for service! My worthless waitress did absolutely nothing for me. In two hours she didn't say five words to me that did not pertain to my order. She has no business whatsoever being a waitress, and defiles the very restaurant she pretends to serve! Good food can only cover for so much incompetence before I have to scream , "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!" I left having ordered only half of the food I intended to review. It simply irks me off that I gave this lady a five dollar tip for nothing! She ought to have to pay me for suffering through her horrid service! I never again will tip a worthless waitress, no matter how good the food, NEVER! The Food: One Trip Salad Bar - 2 Stars The salad bar comes with most major entrees, but it is meager, with limited selection. However, you can make an average salad with little effort, or you can make a great one if you spend 15 minutes, like I did, picking through the ingredients to make the incredible salads I made. Just take a look at the pictures. $11.99 - Taste of Italy - 3 Stars The taste of Italy tasted a lot like ricotta cheese, because that was the only stuffing in the manicotti and the ravioli. The lasagna did have meat in it and the marinara sauce was also laden with ground beef. The presentation was boring, I was offered no ground cheese or ground pepper. The flavor was acceptable but bland. $14.99 - Linguine Pescatore - 2 Stars As my "waitress" walked up to serve this entree I could smell the odor of burning bread from three feet away. Yes, just look at the picture! That is supposed to be a garlic bread stick, but it was a burnt brick. So just how insane do you have to be to serve that to a person sitting by himself at a table for six, taking pictures for two hours. Why didn't the chef just walk up and punch me in the face and tell me he hates restaurant critics? It would have saved us both time and money! Final Thoughts: The sign out front says "Where food is an art!" and their website says they are your "Home for Fine Italian Dining!" Well, on a good night, NOT TONIGHT, but on a good night their food might be worthy of such remarks, but the food is vastly overshadowed by some of the worse, untrained, wait staff I have ever suffered through. And until that huge problem is corrected, this is not fine dining!
(2)David B.
I would recommend for their buffet. Higher quality than the local "Pizza Buffett". The Italian food is ok. One negative is, they won't always make the pizza you request on the buffet. Good for lunch.
(3)Dan B.
This restaurant kind of exemplifies the Hwy81 food scene. Bland overpriced dishes that make you wish you were eating on Clemson Boulevard. They use some kind of bland red sauce on everything. The tour of Italy is like a big red pimple on your plate. If you are going to be an Italian restaurant, try to out do the Olive Garden. The only redeeming feature is the pizza buffet lunch. Hunger is a better option.
(1)Drew R.
This restaurant, in my opinion, is better than Olive Garden! Whenever I go, I almost always order their shrimp alfredo, but I've also tried their steak and one of their pizzas as well and have been pleased with everything I've tried. You can choose between their diverse salad-bar or their house caesar salad, but I recommend their caesar salad. The only weakness to DaVinci's is the fact that they don't have any breadsticks (though they do have garlic knots, which is the next best thing). If you're ever in the area and looking for some good Italian food, I highly recommend DaVinci's.
(4)Michael B.
Wonderful restuarant, the wait staff is great and very warm atmosphere. Simply put the food is ......MAGNIFICO!!!!!!!! The buffet is fresh and authentic. It's a must eat for Italian in Anderson, SC
(5)