DavVero Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in St Albans

Went for an early dinner at this restaurant based on the very high ratings they have been getting. We were seated immediately but it took 15 mins before our order for drinks was taken. The tables were very close to each other, such that you had to ask the person behind you to move in if you wanted to get out. The other side of the restaurant didn't look as bad.

Food was OK but we found all our dishes, a mixture of pizza, pasta etc was very salty.

At the end of the meal, the place had quietened down. We tried to get the attention of a passing waiter who was returning to the kitchen with a small load of dishes. As he caught our eye and we'd indicated we wanted him, he just passed our table by and started looking up towards the ceiling.

Getting the bill took a long, long time. When we finally got the bill, imagine our suprise that VAT had been added on TOP of the menu prices. So our meal which would have cost £110 (£100 with 10% tip) cost us £132 (£120 with 10% tip). This increasingly common practice amongst restaurants is disappointing and feels underhand.

Would we return here? No. Would we...

I’ve had better service at an understaffed Pizza Hut.

We went for a special occasion as a family of four. Service was ok for a busy, small restaurant until it got to the main courses. These were slow to arrive and you had to hunt the staff down if you wanted another drink whilst waiting. It was after the main course that things went really down hill. The man running the place obviously had his regulars who got the most attention. These were getting served shots, he was chatting away and having a laugh with them. 45 minutes after we had finished our mains, he finally cleared the plates. At this point you would expect to be offered a dessert menu or maybe a coffee. No. We sat for another 15 minutes just being ignored by the staff.

I finally got the attention of someone and asked for the bill and the boss seemed quite surprised when I asked for the service charge to be removed. I don’t mind paying it if you actually get some service but this place really favours the regulars. If they don’t know you, expect to be treated massively differently.

I certainly won’t be returning and wouldn’t recommend it to...

I have been eating at DavVeros for a couple of years. I used to think of it as a good pizza and pasta place, family friendly. But we have noticed that of late that overall food quality has gone up a notch: the little details mean means this restaurant stands out in what is a very cluttered and competitive food scene in St Albans. New paint work has elevated the restaurant's appearance; the house white wine is lovely – you wouldn’t find better house white in a Rick Stein’s for example (generous serve too); the vegetable sides for meat and fish have improved - they used to be cooked from frozen, but now from fresh. Moreover with many of their dishes from homemade recipes, it actually offers customers something a bit different. Italiana used to be my favourite Italian restaurant in St Albans, but DavVeros now shades it in my opinion (and it does have Calzone on the menu). This is a restaurant to watch out for. And if you get the chance,...