Dolphin South Trattoria — Restaurant in Town of Mount Pleasant

When I saw a 4.7 star rating on google I figured I'd give this place a shot.

I was very disappointed. It was the worst meal I've had in recent memory. I will give the obligatory "I feel bad, but" statement but its true and I want to save some people the sheer disappointment I felt after this meal.

The first red flag was the olive oil. You start with bread and olive oil and I don't know what brand of olive oil this was, but it tasted like nothing. It wasn't the deep green you'd expect of a quality olive oil and it was odorless and tasteless. We needed to add pepper and salt to the oil to taste anything.

We went on to order 4 different appetizers. These ranged from outright inedible to simply ok:

Grilled Sardines: I've had these at other restaurants. The expectation is a burst of flavor. Salty, a little oily, something that is extremely savory. What we got were burnt, overcooked sardines on a bed of flavorless vegetables. I was simply blown away by how bad it was.

Ricotta and prosciutto bruschetta with truffle oil: The ricotta was not fresh and must have been out of plastic container and the prosciutto must have been some presliced meat from a plastic bag. It was drowned in low quality truffle oil that was way too overpowering.

Grilled Octopus: It was simply bad. Chewy and flavorless.

Spiedini: Hard to mess this up. This was OK but should have been piping hot. It was just warm.

On top of all of this, there was no thought into how the appetizers would be brought out. We ordered 4 appetizers and we received all 4 at the exact same time. Not good.

One red flag I note when going to restaurants are portions, especially for appetizers. At quality places, usually the appetizer portions are smaller and higher quality. Here, the appetizers were actually enormous and presentation was poor. As soon as I saw this I knew we would be in for a trip.

Lastly, the staff was nice but not professional. Seemed like a bunch of kids running a restaurant. I don't say this in a mean way, but the feedback is that it needs to be more professional.

Be wary of this place and proceed with caution.

I hope they can...

Being a true food critic isn’t about penning florid restaurant columns — it’s about possessing the palate to discern the sublime from the merely adequate, the memorable from the forgettable. And let me say without hesitation: this trattoria is anything but mediocre. In fact, it is the embodiment of authenticity and craft.

At the heart of it all is Giovanni, the proprietor — a man of knowledge, commitment, and quiet ambition. Hospitality is in his blood; he is the son of the founder of Blue Dolphin in Katonah, another local culinary gem. Here, he honors that family tradition while carving out his own legacy.

Giovanni understands what so many in the industry forget: excellence is rooted in the fundamentals. The sauce — rich, balanced, uncompromisingly fresh. The pasta — hand-shaped with care, including spaghetti alla chitarra, its square edges expertly cut on traditional strings so the pomodoro clings lovingly to every bite.

It’s in these details — the harmony of textures, the precision of seasoning, the restraint that lets ingredients speak — that the meal transcends mere nourishment. You leave the table satiated, not longing for more, but savoring the lingering echo of flavors.

Giovanni personally curates his suppliers, choosing only the freshest, finest ingredients. Seek his counsel when ordering; he will never lead you astray. In a world where “specials” are often an afterthought, here, they are genuinely special — dishes worthy of the spotlight, each plated with pride.

This is a place where passion meets tradition, where every forkful tells a story, and where mediocrity dares not...

Have you dined at Dolphin South on Wheeler Ave. in Pleasantville? The food was made to order and all around delicious. The young staff was knowledgeable, attentive and immediately won us over. Jewel, our lovely server with a charming personality prepared a freshly squeezed pink grapefruit cocktail with vodka which is now my new favorite cocktail. My husband and I shared a generous arugula salad with pickled onions and beets mixed with a light and flavorful dressing. My guy enjoyed the orecchiette pasta with broccoli rabe and sausage. I consumed grilled to perfection vegetables with melted cheese. In addition to the delicious food, the atmosphere is comfortable. Many of the staff attend Pleasantville High School or Pace which really adds to the local ambiance.

May 2025 Greet Alex, the masterful bartender at Dolphin South Trattoria 39 Wheeler Ave. in Pleasantville, NY. His dexterous hands move swiftly to prepare cocktails made from scratch in the traditional way, with no short cuts. Don't miss his combination of magician qualities, balletic hand motions and precision. He's friendly and engaging while he entertains and prepares the artful cocktails that...