I live around the corner from Devito and went to the bar last night and nibbled on some salumi and cheese for $21. The popover bread they give you with your order is delicious and the basket even comes with a take away recipe tag if you want it. I didn't take it but should have for the prices there. The restaurant is stunning, but the prices are outrageous! $42 for pasta. $325 for three slabs of kobe beef. I dunno....Devito--the man, that is, seems more Olive Garden than swank, don't you think? On the cocktail end of things---I had their signature dirty martini which is made with truffle oil. It was sublime and $22!

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We ate there last evening and as South Beach residents we have to give it a strong thumbs down! The food was terrible, much too salty and overcooked swimming in greasy sauces and practically inedible.We sent one dish back that was supposed to be a fish soup but was more like a ketchup with salt stew. The gnocchi were undetectable and the porcini abundant but killed by the pounds of salt on it. The
linguini with clams was served with something more like spaghetti than linguini and most of the clams were empty. The bread (popovers) are also greasy and the zucchini cold and also dripping with oil.
Unless he changes the chef, we are not going back. There are too many really good Italian restaurants in South Beach to merit the prices and tv screens with Danny in every shot to return.

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I live a couple of blocks away from Mr DeVito's Restaurant.Saw it being built with some anticipation since South of Fifth there are only two very standard italian restaurants.Less walking,comfort and great Italian food.What else is there to ask!At the entrance there were 5 hostesses asking if I had a reservation -which I did,It took them a few minutes to decipher the computer system that carried my name.I was taken to my table,very small for two.Not being tall I sank on my chair but was at a manageable level.The menu had some red center circling the menu vaguely reminding you of a New York Diner experience.Some of the seats like mine had their plastic still on.Not a good omen.Wine was promptly and attentively served.The Caesar `Salad and the zuppa de pesce appeared much too promptly.And so was their taste.Lettuce was refrigerator temperature with sauce globbing on it and with totally unremarkable taste.Some overcooked chicken swam in it.The zuppa was technically something out of a can ,but thicker and saltier.Totallly inedible.The Bolognese was so greasy and salty that would obliterate the tongue of serious anchovy eaters.The linguine was way thick-spaghetti like-but al dente with clams that had left their shells along the way.I mentioned my comments on leaving ,accompanied by some other irate custumers and was told to come in a few weeks when things would be better.Fat chance!I am truly surprised at a perfectionist and talented actor permitting such a travesty of food to be presented in his name.

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I just returned from a 3-day stay in SoBe. We stayed across the street from DeVito's @ the Marriott and found the new restaurant [obviously] convenient. Saturday evening, we enjoyed martinis at the downstairs bar. The bar staff were very delightful to chat with and provided "tastings" of the various offerings [since I had a hard time making up my mind from the cocktail menu]. From my barstool, I had a watchful eye on the work-flow in the kitchen. I commented to my other-half that "they were operating like a well-oiled machine". We left knowing that we would return for dinner the next evening. Little did we know, that we would return even sooner. Several hours later, we told our taxi driver to drop us off at DeVito's - thinking we'd have a night cap before returning to the hotel. We decided to visit the quaint upstairs bar and ended up ordering three appetizers with our cocktails. Again, the bar staff were very attentive - yet not imposing. Upon departing the restaurant, we made reservations to dine for dinner on Sunday night.

Our hostess greeted us with a huge SMILE when we arrived on the next evening 30-minutes prior to our reservtion. We asked if she would come to the bar and let us know when our table was ready (noting we were early). The bar staff remembered us from the previous evening and were so welcoming. We already felt like "regulars". When the (virtual) clock struck 8:30 - the hostess was there to escort us to our table . . . a very comfortable table in the room that we had requested. The evening only went up-hill from there! The offerings on the menu were across the board! The waiter was very helpful in our selections. I did try the Kobe beef (my other-half had enjoyed it before @ a restaurant in Tennessee and suggested that "you gotta try it at least once"!) I found the dining experience to be excellent! The best part ??? - the staff! We WILL definately be back.

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I went there to try the place out. I'm thinking, Danny Devito? A restaurant? Isn't he from Taxi and Throw Mamma From The Train? But I have to admit, it's a great place with great food.
They even give a demo on how to make one of their desserts. It's on Plum TV
http://miamibeach.plumtv.com/stories/compliments_chef_devito_south_beach

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