Riverside Terrace Restaurant — Restaurant in Đà Nẵng

.Troppo Buono – A Memorable Italian Experience

Every time I travel somewhere new, I google “best Italian restaurant near me.” Usually, I take the near-perfect ratings with a pinch of salt. But this place? Totally different.

It was a rainy night when I arrived. As I stepped out of the car, a staff member greeted me with an umbrella — a simple but classy gesture. Once inside, we were warmly welcomed by Carmine, the owner, originally from Naples. He’s a joyful character who made us feel at home right away, switching effortlessly to Italian when he spoke to me. I believe he’s fluent in at least four languages.

We started with an Aperol Spritz and a glass of Prosecco, then moved on to some classic bruschetta. For the main course, we had spaghetti aglio e olio and spaghetti all'arrabbiata, both cooked perfectly al dente — just the way I like it. The sauce was rich and dense, clearly simmered slowly over time, which made all the difference.

For dessert, we enjoyed a pistachio cannoli and a panna cotta topped with strawberries that was out of this world.

What made the evening even more special was talking with Carmine about Italian music — and then he picked up a guitar and played a few Ligabue songs live. Just magic.

The restaurant spans four floors. The fourth is a charming terrace overlooking the river and Dragon Bridge. I came back the next night and dined on the third floor where Carmine performed live music again — mixing Bruno Mars, Italian classics, and classic rock — keeping everyone entertained.

You can truly feel that Carmine has poured his heart and soul into this place. The food, the atmosphere, the decor, and above all the warmth — everything is carefully crafted to deliver not just a meal, but an experience. He’s raised the bar for what I now expect from a great Italian restaurant — striking the perfect balance between fine restaurant dining and comforting...

After spending 2 weeks travelling throughout northern Vietnam and eating wonderful authentic Vietnamese cuisine I was ready to try something different. What a treat to see an Italian restaurant with a familiar feeling like those back home. Nice surprise when I ordered my coffee, they serve Illy brand !!!!! It was a great cup of coffee with one of the best biscotti biscuits I’ve ever eaten, I mean ever. I would return just to drink coffee and eat their biscotti!! The bruschetta as my starter was perfect, the toasted bread was just right the toppings juicy and full with flavour. So I was thinking I had a great coffee and great starter but can they get my Caesar right. Nine times out of ten I’m disappointed when I order one because it typically arrives with too much dressing. Riverside’s Caesar salad was great, I ate the entire plate! The proportions were so good that I easily could have ended my meal then and there but I wanted a pizza. The pepperoni pizza was very very tasty with a crispy thin crust and the right amount of cheese. Somehow my pizza went from a 9/10 to 10 by simply listening to the recommendation of the owner Mr. Darin which was to sprinkle some of their house made chilli olive oil on my slice of pizza…OMG!🫡 If the pizza restaurants back home in Canada don’t have this option I will have to come back to Da Nang just to order a pizza from “L’Italiano Riverside. I wish I had asked them if I could buy a bottle to bring back home. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, the perfect ending to my meal on a hot and humid night in a city I’ve never been to before I was treated to the best dessert of my life…do yourself a favour and order their tiramisu in a coffee cup…best...

Our recent visit to this newly opened restaurant was a rollercoaster of emotions, ultimately transforming into a delightful evening thanks to the exceptional efforts of the owner, Darren Li. Initially, we faced several challenges: the service was slow, and we received incorrect dishes. These issues left us feeling frustrated and disappointed. However, when we discussed our concerns with Darren, everything changed.

He kindly explained that the restaurant had only been open for 47 days and that their chef had left that very day, putting immense strain on the kitchen. His honesty and willingness to address our issues personally were commendable. He not only corrected the mistakes but also went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable evening. The service from that point on was outstanding. We were treated to a spectacular view of the dragon's fire from the rooftop, and he even made sure we secured a taxi on a very busy street.

Adding to the experience, Darren's business partner, an Italian musician, provided fantastic live entertainment by playing the piano and guitar, creating a wonderful atmosphere. The food was authentic Italian, made from freshly imported produce, which added to the overall enjoyment. As a family of seven with two young children, we were especially appreciative of the thoughtful touch of providing coloring books and crayons to keep the kids entertained.

Despite the initial hiccups, Darren's dedication and hospitality, combined with the lovely live music and delicious food, turned our experience around, leaving us with lasting positive memories. For this wider experience and the exceptional effort of Darren and his team, we give the...