Piazza Gavi

I have been to 59 countries and my favorite restaurant in the world is Piazza Gavi. I drive here from albuquerque, New Mexico for my birthday dinner. I have never had a meal here that was not spectacular, the service is perfect and the food smells wonderful. They are always busy so know that in advance. It might be a long drive for you in Tucson, but this restaurant is so worth the drive. I drive here from albuquerque.

We dined here the other night and were very disappointed. I thought dinners use to come with salads. Now you have to pay $ 2 extra for the salad on top of the already high priced menu. I ordered lasagna. It was literally like someone took what once was lasagna and put it through the blender before serving it on the plate. It was a plate of mush. It looked so unappetizing. I could have, and do, make better lasagna. My husband ordered Italian sausage pizza. He said the sausage had no flavor at all! Kids had fettuccine Alfredo which was cooked so ‘al dente’ that they wouldn’t eat it. We won’t be back.

The calamari crema was excellent service was very good stay away from the salads we ordered 2 salads
Spicy Wedge salad had large chunk of carrots just to fill the plate and the flat iron salmon was small broken peaces of salmon not worth the price
Stick with the calamari and drinks

This should have been good. Service was horrible. We sat on the enclosed patio and there was another large party out there. I took four young men and myself to dinner after flying in from Sacramento. We all ordered a different pasta and a delicious appetizer. The food was great, but we could not get the server to bring water refills or to go containers. All of the kids have worked in service, so know what little things matter. Finally one of the kids got up and got the to go boxes causing the server to hurry over and start to clear the table. She then proceeded to try to upsell this place for breakfast. Not likely to ever go back. There are many more Italian restaurants near here with significantly better service.

Unfortunately I cannot rate the food as we never got any. We never got water, either. We waited at the table for 20 minutes and never got service so we left.

Found my favorite Italian restaurant in Tucson! The calamaris are a must when you come. The portions are very big even for appetizers. The pasta noodle were chewy and the sauce is very creamy. The server was super friendly and came to check up a few times.

«We have been going to Gavi for years… our go-​to Italian restaurant… no ingredients for a Moscow Mule… three stars»
«The food here is amazing… wait was long on Valentine’s Day… two stars»
«Alright fancy food critic, looks like you’ve won! Now please enjoy all the boooo-​oooogers boooo-​oooogers annndd c…»
Don’t be fooled. Piazza Gavi is WAYYY better than the three star average would lead you to believe. Gavi (usually the old location on Pantano/​Broadway) was our only Italian spot for many years. Then we moved out to Vail, hatched a couple of kids, and all of the sudden eight years had passed since our last visit.
I’m pleased to report that nothing has changed at all, and that’s a good thing! Free appetizers still consist of fresh bread with a plate of marinated pasta, and most importantly, they still have the same extensive entrée menu with the same big-​ass portions. Being creatures of habit, we ordered the same things that we used to order: Manicotti smothered in hearty marinara sauce for me, and chicken fromaggio in spicy rosa sauce for him.
I did think my long island ice tea tasted a little peculiar, but my husband pointed out that it was due to tequila (which I guess I’m not used to), so I promptly knocked back two more. Hey, I don’t get out much!
No pithy criticisms. No contradictions. Five stars.

This is a cute Italian place. They actually have this really adorable outside seating that if I ever came in warmer months, I would be all over. Each time the service has been so-​so – overall decently knowledgeable with just a dash of sass. They have a large wine list with a range of price that includes some good Arizona wineries. The portions are HUGE! The side salad is now extra, and because it’s just a boring side salad, I opt to skip it. I still have more than enough leftovers for lunch the next day without the salad. The food is tasty with some really sauce options. I really enjoy this place.

Love this place. Great food. Generous portions. Personal service. What’s not to enjoy? Family friendly as well as a great choice for date night.

Excellent food! We were visiting Tucson, stopped in here for dinner. It was not very busy when we arrived. Service was very good. Husband got the house lasagna special that was very good. I got a pasta dish with seafood wrapped in pasta, covered with cheese and baked. It was delicious. House bread crusty but soft in the middle, like perfect Italian bread should be. House salads were very fresh. Dessert was a triple layer dark chocolate cake that ended the meal perfectly. Service slowed way down when they got busy though-​but food delicious!!!

We have been going to Gavi for years and it has been our Go To Italian restaurant in Tucson. I hate to even write a negative review but it looks like it’s necessary. First, I ordered a Moscow Mule from the bar. Not able to make it because they don’t carry the ingredients. Huh? Isn’t a mule a staple today? Next, we each ordered a Grey Goose, club soda and cran. The bill for two drinks was $ 25. With a tip, I spent $ 30 for two drinks.
Next we sat down for dinner (4 of us). We had calamari (amazing), a bottle of wine ($ 60 amazing) and three meals. The bill was $ 200. Salad is no longer included with your main course and the side of pasta is long gone as well. The portions are huge however and the food remains great. In lieu of a salad and side of pasta that used to be included, they now bring the table a little portion of pasta with peppers and bread to start things off.
We’ll give it another shot. It won’t be for a while and I sure won’t order a cocktail with Grey Goose in it.

This review is based on the service only as I cannot even comment on the quality of the water.
We sat outside and after reading the 3000 item menu I had time to check my phone messages and listen to the life story of the person at the table next to me. All this time counting 5 different servers walk past multiple times.
Not a single one of those 5 even told us someone would be with us or offered us bread or even water.
We were also only 1 of 4 tables out there.
So after nearly 15 minutes of sitting there watching everyone else eat and getting complelty ignored, we decided to just walk out and head to Firebirds where we know we will get good service.

Went this afternoon for a birthday lunch. It was unfortunate that the waiter did not really know the menu or present the lunch specials. When asked about the specials posted on the website he froze not really knowing what to say. Then he replied «oh those are old and we don’t honor them». I found this to be very difficult to accept. After just a few moments at the table my wife noticed a filthy plate and a dirty table cloth. As I started to look around the shelf just to my left was beyond filthy covered in dust and garbage. I wish we would have left then but wanted to give them a chance… what a mistake. The food was so salty we could not eat it and the wait staff and management was not equipped to handle the proper customer response. So we paid the $ 82 and committed to NEVER go back.
Poor service, food quality and a filthy environment. Disgusting…

Three star rating due to 2 star service but 4 – 5 star food/​ambiance. Came here for a celebration, party of ten and were pleased to find they would reserve a large table for us. They sat us out on the outdoor patio at this large really nice table over to the back. All was good the first five minutes.
I will begin by saying we used to go to the Gavi location on Pantano/​Broadway ALL the time before it was closed and LOVED IT. Still love the food, but was really put off by our service visiting this location.
Let’s start with the good though — same great food. You get this delicious fresh bread and plate of marinated pasta/​peppers initially. When I tasted it… it took me back to when we used to visit their old location and remind me how much I love Gavi. We ordered the calamari for the table and were NOT disappointed. It was fantastic — and as a person who is not a huge calamari fan, I ate a lot of it. With a table of ten we all ordered different items but I ordered the lobster ravioli with pesto. It was absolutely decadent and delicious. My husband ordered the Cioppino which he used to get all the time and it was still as good as it gets! One of my girlfiends has major food allergies, and I loved that they accommodated her with a fresh vegetable entrée size salad. Props on the food Gavi, you have not lost it.
Service — I get that we are a party of ten but the lack of service was noticed by everyone. The guy serving us was present initially to take drink and food orders but then never really returned. We had to flag him down to get them to bring us pitchers of water for the table and ask for ice tea refills, etc. I am pretty sure someone else brought our food out and it was not until after we finished eating that he came back to see how we were (did not even check in with us to see how the food was)… he was not the worst I ever had as a server but he almost seemed annoyed by us. The kicker for me was when the bill was delivered, I was paying. I scanned it and noticed they had added in the gratuity — not an issue, I know most restaurants do that for large parties… BUT the server told me it was 15% when in fact it was 20% (as if I don’t know simple math dude) which annoyed me given the lack of service. Now in the defense of the restaurant — I am sure I could have talked to the manager and refused to pay the 20% since gratuity IS based on level service.
If I come back, it will be with a smaller group and because the food is so incredibly delicious and with a smaller group so I can decide what level gratuity is deserved by the server.

Everyone at the table enjoyed their main dishes. My salad was fresh, and the sautéed mushrooms were fantastic. Friendly staff. Nice to eat on the open/​covered patio.

The food here is amazing but the service, not so much. My husband and I originally tried this place out on Valentine’s Day last year. We expected the wait to be long and it was but we did not expect to be forgotten about for almost 45 minutes. A couple next to us were seated and waited close to 30 minutes without anyone coming over to ask for their order so they left. We thought this might just be a crazy night and to give them another try.
We came back in the late afternoon on a Tuesday, it was low key and not very busy. Yet again, the service was terrible and the wait was so long! The waiter never came over to fill our water or to ask how we were doing. We had to flag him down.
We ordered the calamari crema which is seriously the best calamari I’ve ever had. We then shared a born of the gorgonzola pasta.

I’m Sicilian. And from NYC. So my expectation of Italian food is too high for anyone to live up to. The food is above average but not the best. I’m still looking for the best Italian food in tucson. Maybe this is it.
But the atmosphere is great. Outdoors on a nice night is amazing. The view is great. And the owner is so nice and involved. Ask to meet Gavi. A true gem with a heart of gold.

The elusive fine Italian restaurant: something everyone in Tucson has their own opinion of. For some its North, Vivace, Caruso’s, Café Milano, or another trattoria serving their favorite Mostaccioli.
A favorite Italian restaurant is a mysterious thing. It should be good, but not too fancy. There must be a rustic quality that entices feelings of a provincial Italian countryside. The service must be on point, but possibly not as timely as you would get at a more high-​volume restaurant; rural Italy is in no rush. The food it goes without saying needs to hit the spot — the spot that unlocks your heart and melts you into a creamy sauce of contentment. Once a place has done that it may very well hold onto you the rest of your life.
I couldn’t say every one of these points hit me at Piazza Gavi, but its close. Gavi also knows its an Italian restaurant and treats its customers as such — with thoughtful if at times relaxed courtesy and concern for their experience.
Of the special qualities at Gavi I’ve found is their patio — the windows are tall and old fashioned and are almost always open to the grand vista of the Catalinas at sunset. There is a special two-​person table toward the back I love to sit at — mostly for the view but it’s also impossible to not be amused when sitting at a small table where the plates, wine glasses, bread basket, olive oil and balsamic, and salt and pepper all fight for space on the table cloth. Anyone who’s gone to a big city Italian restaurant is familiar with this and I find it delightful — fair enough though that others may not and would prefer a more spacious and modern dining experience.
One also wants to be greeted with a robust and insightful wine list to peruse and easily select a ½ carafe or bottle fitting to the occasion. They have some choice varietals from Italy and California but I wouldn’t have mind seeing some local vintners like Pillsbury or Page Spring Cellars as they have as equally complex and delicious flavor profiles as any other appellation.
Unfortunately I don’t go to Gavi often enough to experiment with any dish besides the spicy crema: my personal favorite. I will say their fried calamari is excellent — never too oily and big and crispy enough to dunk a health amount of sauce on.
Our waiter last time was also was confident enough to give us a recommendation for their house-​made Tiramasu which is not worth passing up. I’ve been dining at Gavi nearly once a year for the past 7 years and its consistency is something to be admired. Ben fatto Gavi!

This is a story of welcome rediscovery. My bride and I used to come here many years ago and stopped coming after moving further west. It was tough to travel east and walk into a 90 minute wait. As Yogi Berra would say: «Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.» It’s still crowded but we only waited 20 minutes or so and the FOOD WAS FABULOUS! I had an old favorite: Pork Fior De Latte and it was beyond good. A pork filet, pounded thin and perfectly sautéed with with a spicy crema/​rosa sauce: scrumptious. Around the table we had the House Lasagne, different and delicious, the Stuffed Shrimp, buttery and luscious, a simple pasta dish that was right in line with expectations and delish.
We will go back again and are glad to have this fun spot back on our list of favorites. Ambience is energy filled, daily specials keep the menu ever changing andand the service was impeccable. Danielle was our server. She knew the menu, was not afraid to recommend her favorites and other than a slightly dry Tiramisu, the dinner and overall experience was a 10!

My favorite Italian restaurant in Tucson, bar none — Gavi’s got it goin’ on!
Sure you might have to wait sometimes, but the staff is awesome and the food is off the hook crazy delicious. I can gain 10lbs in one dinner…
They also have a great breakfast.
I wish he’d upgrade his coffee though, Savaya would be a huge step up and match the quality of his food. I swear he’s serving arbuckle’s…
Thanks Chef Gavi

Update: I went down to Gavi’s in person with our leftovers and and spoke with a few of the managers. I expressed my concerns about the degrading quality of service I’ve seen over the years and expressed concern that this is now carrying over to the food. They apologized, shared my concern, issued a gift certificate to me, and said they would take action. So I moved them from 2 starts to 3 for now.
When Gavi is on top of it’s game their game they are the best — 5 stars all the way. I’ve bumped them down to 3 stars for now and will continue going there, hopefully moving the star level up as a result of their improving quality and service.
Original Review
Gavi’s baked mostaccioli is generally served with melted/​baked cheese on top. This time they served it with the cheese nowhere in sight. My wife is not a complainer so she took a few bites and we packed the rest to go. Today when opening the leftovers what do we find? A thick layer of burned cheese on the bottom. They had actually flipped over a burned/​ruined baked mostaccioli, flipped it upside down, covered it with sauce AND SERVED IT!
We’ve been Gavi regulars for over 20 years. I cannot tell you how much it pains me to see the quality of service and food fall so far from their glory days as one of the best Italian restaurants in the southwest. Oh Gavi — how did you fall from a 5 to a 2 (on a good day)? I’d expect this kind of thing from people on the Chef Ramsey restaurant rescue show, but not you.

I’ve been coming here for years with my family, and grew up knowing the Gavi family pretty well. Piazza Gavi offers a great ambiance up in the Catalina Foothills, with plenty of space for groups in their large opulent dining room, as well as their beautiful garden patio.
Gavi offers an extensive menu of an array of Italian dishes for lunch and dinner, with an equally extensive wine list. Their portions are MASSIVE, and can easily feed two people. The prices reflect the quantity of food you receive, no doubt, but the quality usually isn’t quite there. The food is HEAVY Italian fare, so come hungry. You can ask for a half order, which is usually the size of a normal plate at other restaurants…
I prefer their breakfast over anything else, as they offer an array of omelets and sweet items at fairly decent prices. Honestly, my favorite item on their entire menu is their brown sugar + pecan french toast… it’s actually pretty amazing.
The setting is lovely and the service is consistently good, but honestly you can find better Italian food around the Old Pueblo…

I’m quite surprised by the poor reviews this place got in the past couple years. Some of them are ridiculous and concerning. Let’s start with the food. I got the Calamari with crème sauce and it was simply amazing. Thin crispy batter. Good texture, not chewy. The crème sauce was a nice change up to the marinara sauce I’m accustomed to. Then I got the Carbonara italiana with spaghetti pasta. Bacon, al dente, egg and parmesan cheese, delicious. No complaints on the food here. Salad was whatever.
For the service, I was at the bar. Initially no seating as this place was packed on a Saturday night. The lady bartender was nice and found me a couch seat by the fireplace. Not bad. She was very attentive. At shift change I was pretty much done and asked for a check from the incoming bartender and he totally forgot, leaving me hanging for 15 minutes. He looked really busy, but there were not many tables left, so there may need some improvement in prioritizing and organization. I certainly see the overall impression that the service is mediocre.
Nevertheless, these two dishes are quite good and I recommend them. I would hope this holds up the next time I come by, and the service improves also.