Caffé Davio is located on Carson Street between 26th and 25th. You might have a hard time finding this place because the green awning outside the restaurant for a long time was labeled JP’s Café. The window and awning now do read Caffé Davio.
Caffé Davio operates as an open kitchen breakfast / lunch during the day, and then transitions to a Sicilian and contemporary American fusion fine dining experience at night. I had a chance to catch up with the day chef Brian, as well as the night time chef Haden to discuss what Caffé Davio has to offer the Southside of Pittsburgh.
Q: What is the vision for Caffé Davio?
A: For us we have been blessed to have a small group working here for well over a year, that is waitresses, to dishwashers, and myself as the day time cook (working there 3 years). Our customers find us through word of mouth and we have an open kitchen. That translates to a staff that knows our regulars, and often we are asked to surprise our customers, or sometimes our regulars challenge us which I really enjoy. Also, we shop for our ingredients about 4-5 times per week, and we shop local. That means each cut of meat, and everything on your plate is very fresh.
Q: Since you have two menu’s what is the night time menu all about?
A: At night we are noted for our Veal. Some of our notable dishes include our Veal Milanese – Sautéed veal with jumbo lump crab meat in a fresh almond scallion butter. Our night time chef Haden will put on four or five course meals for you. Each week we have a market seafood dish, and all our pasta is homemade.
Q: Haden, (night time chef) what is your favorite item on the menu?
A: It would be the ravioli. It is homemade raviolis, and we make it a little different every night.
Q: Haden, what is your background and favorite dish at Caffe Davio? What is your all time favorite dish?
A: I am a Texas native, and a graduated from Pitt. My roots in cooking are contemporary American with a southwest and French background. I’ve work in restaurants since the age of 12, and all throughout college. Some of the places I’ve work before coming to Caffe Davio include the William Penn Hotel, Renaissance Hotel, Baked at Eleven, and I was Chef at Quite Storm. At home I’d say my favorite dish is chicken fried steak with garlic mashed potatoes and gravy.
Q: So what is the breakfast and brunch menu all about?
A: (Brian) It’s mostly about the flexibility we offer to customers. I really like when someone brings a new omelet idea to me and I have to make it quickly. The other week I created an asparagus basil omelet that went over well with a customer.
Q: What is the dark horse item on the dinner menu?
A: (Haden) It’s a commitment of a meal, but I’d say it is our Veal Chop – House cut bone in veal chop char-grilled and served with rosemary au jus.
On a side note, I can vouch for what Brian is talking about regarding breakfast at Café Davio. Having lived 2 blocks away on 26th street for two years I constantly brought friends here for their breakfast which I suppose at the time was being cooked by Brian. It was a hidden gem in my mind.
I recently discovered that a close friend’s parents felt the same way about their dinner options. Brian and Haden were both very open and friendly, Brian is a Southside resident, and said he got into cooking because his mom’s cooking was terrible.
Caffe Davio
Phone Number: 412-431-1119
Directions & Reviews: link to a map
Address: 2516 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203-2101
Website:
The 17th Street Café is located….well take a guess! It’s a half block off Carson Street on 17th Street in the Southside and serves lunch and dinner. Dinner can be classified as Italian American. The Café at one time was used to shoot a Levi’s commercial, and also was the backdrop form a scene in the movie, Tenth and Wolf. I had a chance to catch up with the owner Patrick Joyce who has operated the Cafe going on 10 years.