The Dove III Restaurant-836 E. New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL 32901 5 Stars The Dove offers the promise of Italian classics and Neapolitan entrees, all served with pasta fagioli soup, in a warm and elegant room. Ostensibly, out of the myriad of various cuisine types, it can easily fall to the assumption that Italian fare would be amongst the easiest to execute. Regrettably, however, the greatest failures, as well as most “swill alerts” manifest in the Italian food oeuvre. It may further withstand scrutiny and argument that because such sentiments and appraisals are quite prevalent, none of us in the connoisseur community would stand accused of malversation, casting a pall over the entire Italian food genre. Thankfully and with much aplomb, I am delighted to report that this is not at all the case with the Dove. It is in a well-deserved class of its own. Carlo Mattiello, the owner of the establishment is one whom I would undoubtedly regard as the consummate restauranteur. He takes tremendous pride and exceptional care in his unyielding efforts, to deliver first-rate, flavorful and savory Italian victuals. Mr. Mattiello has faithfully, successfully, and consistently fulfilled this goal, with the utmost distinction. He towers high above, as its standard bearer. Kevin is our quintessential waiter. He has most certainly established the metric, set the bar, and is definitively the very embodiment of an extraordinary server, one whom all other young service staff should strive to emulate. Kevin has made the second quarter, top five service list. My order consisted of the giant meatball and chateaubriand, served with pasta fagioli. This was rich and stunning. Fresh bread and sausage rolls: everything presented here is arranged with meticulous attention to detail. It is authentically prepared, wrapped in an essence, imbued with unmistakable passion, and nurtured with infinite warmth; this is further permeated by the undeniably genuine cuisine that has been carefully cooked, expertly crafted, and painstakingly assembled with unqualified love and care. The service is truly impeccable, and the food is simply outstanding. The Big Boy Says, “Top five, must go.”

Wonderful experience. We will be back again. Service was phenomenal. Food was phenomenal. It has been a long time since we have experienced professional high end Italian and Dove III did not disappoint. Make sure you have reservations. The restaurant was clean and everyone was so polite. Very knowledgeable of wines and expert staff. I cannot say enough good things. I'm glad we do not need to go out of town for such a fantastic meal. Thank you all at Dove III.

We had a lovely experience at dinner tonight. I called last night, and spoke with Carlo who said he would find us a table despite them being fully booked! We were so excited since we were visiting from Orlando for a staycation and hadn’t been back since 2014. The food was marvelous, well-cooked and tasty! The linguini carbanora is out of this world and a “MUST HAVE” if you dine here! The complimentary bread and pasta fagioli are delicious.

Reservations are a good idea. The specials are usually super good. A very nice wine selection. They open for lunch then close then reopen for dinner. The only thing I didn't like was the phone ringing all the time for reservations I suppose.

Dove III Italian Restaurant was a spontaneous Thursday night pick after finding our go-to spot closed. Trattoria Bella's Thursday shutdown led us to Dove III, a place I'd been curious about. We got seated right away, and the service was top-notch. They kicked things off with an assortment of bread that was a delicious start, but the free limoncello missed the mark--it tasted more like thick simple syrup with a faint lemony hint. The pasta fagioli soup as the included started was quite tasty. The house Pinot Noir was a good option and the pour was heavy, so I definitely was pleased. My husband had the Italian Margarita. He said it was very good and strong. I went for the flounder francese from their specials, but the dish didn't quite hit the spot. It looked kinda off with its weird yellowish tint and tasted heavy on butter but light on lemon. Not something I'd order again. My husband's lasagna was well-made, but the ground beef being placed as rolled logs instead of the usual crumble was a bit odd for us. The vibe was great, and the service was stellar, but unfortunately, the food didn't quite meet our expectations. Perhaps we ordered the wrong items or maybe it was an off night but Dove III Italian Restaurant will not make it onto our revisit list anytime soon.

What an amazing dining experience. A five star restaurant! Thank you Carlo Matteillo for bringing your authentic Italian cuisine to the heart of Downtown Melbourne Florida. If you haven’t been, you don’t know what your missing.

The Dove is simply a beautiful experience time after time! It’s become a gem to our family and workplace in celebrating our special moments. The owner, Carlo, makes you feel as if you are his family - making every interaction purposeful & memorable! The food transports you to flavorful Italy while you sip on wine or champagne! This is truly a special place that has created cherished memories for so many, like me, in our community!

What a great Italian Dining Experience! The food was great. The Staff was great. The ambience was great! We will DEFINITELY be back!

Really excellent fine dining. You can tell the chef, owners and staff take pride in delivering a high quality dining experience.

I had the fish of the day (flounder) special and its sides were cooked to perfection. Also true to the time I spent in Italy they brought out a few different bonuses like a small bite or an aperitif complements of the cheff. If I had to pick something to gripe about it would be that the meal was expensive, but considering the quality of what I got I would say it was well worth it. 5 stars from me.

The service was really good and friendly. The portions were very nice and overall it was a fun experience. The bread was salty in my opinion as was the soup. Both of these were complementary which is unusual in a restaurant, especially the soup. Bread is usually served at an Italian restaurant. My main dish was chicken parmesan. It was good and there was enough left over for lunch the next day. Was it the best I have ever had? No but it was good. Overall I would certainly go back.

On the evening of December 6, 2023, around 6-6:30 pm, our memorable dining experience began as soon as we stepped through the door. The hostess greeted us with warmth and enthusiasm, instantly making us feel at home. Our waiter, Salvatore, went above and beyond to ensure that our evening was nothing short of exceptional. To start, a delightful assortment of bread and sausage rolls was brought to our table, reminiscent of flavors we had not tasted since moving to Florida. The portions of the drinks were impressively generous, making them well worth the price. It was evident that no corners were cut in their preparation. Moving on to the appetizers, we decided to try the clams oreganata, a dish that is rarely found in this area. It exceeded our expectations, showcasing the chef's skill and attention to detail. Next, we indulged in the pasta fagioli, a soup-style version that differed from our usual preference. While it initially lacked a touch of salt, a simple addition transformed it into a delicious rendition of this classic dish. For the main course, I opted for the pork chop special, featuring a balsamic demi glaze. The flavors packed into this dish were truly extraordinary, leaving a lasting impression. The accompanying peppers, mushrooms, basmati rice, and peas complemented the pork chop perfectly, creating a symphony of flavors on the plate. Our dining companions also thoroughly enjoyed their meals. My in-laws savored the veal parmigiana, while my girlfriend delighted in the shrimp tortellini with vodka sauce. I had the opportunity to taste the latter and was transported to culinary heaven. Additionally, my girlfriend's grandmother relished the linguini carbonara. Not a single complaint was uttered about the food or service throughout the evening. This dining experience was unparalleled, thanks to the attentive owner and Salvatore, who made us feel like honored guests. I wholeheartedly recommend this establishment to anyone seeking an exceptional dining experience.

Absolutely wonderful! Danny was our waiter and just fabulous. All the things we loved and were such nice surprises…. The huge basket of amazing bread, we split and there was a charge, but we each had a soup appetizer, and shot to cleanse our palate, and sides for each of us. The entree was amazing. The Italian Margaritas were huge and delicious. Well worth the split and Danny carefully packaged our leftovers for home. No rush the entire night. We loved that there was just the right amount of time between each part of our experience. Cozy atmosphere… I compared it to Boston restaurants we have so enjoyed. Highly recommend. Thanks so much for a great night!

What wonderful owners/managers. Carlo was awesome!!! Very friendly staff. We didn’t have reservations and they accommodated my husband and I when they were oversold at the food & wine and it took 20 min standing in line to get a chip or a drink. Delicious. The Dove III never disappoints. Nice atmosphere and great food. Order the meatball appetizer if it’s available the night you eat here.

Always our favorite…The Dove III never disappoints us. Food, service…A++ Thank you Danny (the pepper king) for celebrating our friend Joe’s birthday with us, thank you Carlos for your great sense of humor and thank you Chef for our wonderful meal!

For a foodie, my experience was summed up by a couple walking out as we were walking in and they non-chalantly belted out,"It was the best food and service in town yet!" I agree, wholeheartedly without pause!

I absolutely love this restaurant. My favorites are the chicken francese and the linguini in clam sauce. Soup and bread are included. They give you a house made limoncello (as a palate cleanser) that they should bottle and sell. It is amazing. Julie is my favorite server. This is definitely a restaurant I would recommended to anyone.

Carlo, Sam and the incredible cast of this ‘family felt Italian’ restaurant created the most amazing experience for our family; as they always do. This is our favorite restaurant in EVERY way. Treat yourself and GO ♥️

First let me say that I cannot review the food, service or anything else at this point. What I can review is the interaction I did have with the restaurant. Friday, just a few minutes after 5pm my wife, my brother and I arrived at The Dove III. We entered and were met with "Do you have reservations?" to which I replied that we did not in fact have reservations. The young lady then informed us that there were no opening and they were booked all evening. There were a handful of tables that had guests, but the VAST majority of tables were unoccupied and there was no one waiting. We said thank you and exited. We then proceeded to another restaurant downtown and had an excellent meal and drinks. ((this restaurant was very busy and we had to wait almost 20 minutes for seat)). Upon leaving we once again found ourselves in front of The Dove III and low and behold even an hour and 30 minutes later the restaurant was still mostly empty and still no one waiting. Perhaps they really were booked, and it was a convention of Invisible Man cosplayer, but I think that it may have been a "you don't look like our type and therefore we are just to busy to have you here." I hope I am wrong, but based on visual cues such as listed above I am left wondering. If ever I eat at The Dove III, I will of course update this review.

From the first official date my husband and I had our wedding reception it has always been an exceptional experience. The food, service and environment are amazing and never disappoint. If I could give more than 5 stars it would be 10+! Thank you Carlo and staff for always making us feel like VIP's!

Wow! My only complaint is that I didn't find this place sooner. This is truly a high-end restaurant without the high-end prices! The service was impeccable. Our meals came with incredible bread, fresh from the oven and pasta e Fagioli soup. And I don't know if you always get this, but we were also served small sausage rolls before dinner, limoncello between courses, and lemon cookies after dinner. Not knowing how much food we were getting, we also ordered a stuffed pepper appetizer off the specials menu. It was delicious and plentiful! Everything was great, but the highlight for me was the crispy polenta. It wasn't on the menu but you can substitute your rice for it. It was perfectly crispy on the outside with great texture on the inside. We ended up taking a lot of food home to enjoy another day. Be sure to make reservations.

We do not typically frequent the higher end restaurants, but had to check this place out and are so glad that we did. Everything was A+. We had four entrees, and enjoyed it with the complimentary soups that come with them, and bread. The food was so so delicious. The waiter was 5 stars. We were so full we only ate half our entrees each so have dinners for tomorrow as left over. It was $105 four four people and again had enough for everyone to have a take out dinner amount left over. Highly recommend it. Chicken alfredo is super by the way.

We hosted my sister in laws baby shower at The Dove III in mid October. Everything was perfect! The food and service were amazing!! The restaurant was reserved for just our party, which was so nice! The wait staff were thoughtful, helpful, and anticipated all our needs! They were so attentive and helpful through the entire shower. The menu was delicious with lots of choices included to make sure there was something everyone would love! The food was incredible! I would highly recommend the Dive for your next special event or dinner out, you won't be disappointed!!

The Dove III is a very special dining experience. I have been to many Italian restaurants in my life. In fact I went to college in NYC and lived in Little Italy many years ago. I have eaten at many of the finest Italian restaurants in NYC. The Dove III beats them all. Homemade dishes made love. Delicious and thoughtful. We wouldn’t go anywhere else for our favorite Italian food. If you want amazing Italian food there is no where else to go. We are so fortunate to have them in Melbourne!

I can't actually leave a review concerning the quality of the food, service, and atmosphere, because my wife and I were treated differently than the four top that walked in behind us. We came early, 5pm. Yes, it was Friday evening, but we were hoping the restaurant was not fully booked with reservations that early. I greeted the hostess and asked if we needed reservations and was told no, but it's highly suggested because the restaurant is small. I agreed. The host went to check on a table for us and came back, looked ant her reservation chart again, then pointed at a table that was right next to the front door but it did not have chairs. It had a tiny glass table. It looked like a display and not a table to dine at. It was covered in couch throws and pillows . Since my wife is disabled, I wanted to check with her and see if she could get in the tiny sectional piece of furniture. As I was pondering, a party of four walked in and asked if they needed reservations and I watched in awe as they were immediately seated at a table with a white cloth and four chairs. I'm aware that four people usually spend more money than two people but my wife and I wanted a bottle of wine and a nice meal. My wife has worked in the restaurant industry for years, and we felt a bit humiliated. The restaurant was almost empty. I counted two tables. We should have been offered the same honor as the four people who walked in behind us. It's a shame because we've heard many good things about the food. Not sure we will try again.

Food and service were excellent. The establishment was clean and the ambiance intimate. The only complaint I have is that they have a full bottle of wine on each table as part of the setting. It was on the corner of the table next to an electric candle. When I stood up from the table to use the restroom, the bottle fell to the tile floor breaking and making a huge mess. I was mortified and embarrassed. The incident ruined my evening. I highly suggest that the bottle be removed from the table setting.

It has been a while since I have left a restaurant feeling overwhelmingly pleased with the experience. Alexander was our server tonight, and he was excellent. He was kind, thoughtful, attentive and made our dining experience wonderful. We closed down the restaurant unexpectedly due to a little delay (not by the restaurant), but we were never made to feel rushed to get out of there quick. That was nice. Not only was the service amazing, but the food.. it was SO GOOD!! Everything was piping hot when it hit our table, and the portion sizes were perfect. It ended up being a fabulous night, we really enjoyed celebrating our friends birthday at this establishment. I will definitely visit again and recommend any chance I get. Thank you for a great dining experience!!

Oh my gosh, the escargot is simply to die for. Every time I go there I buy them. But not all sunshine and roses, the waiter gave some wrong info on some dishes. And half of the meals at my table were either to die for or just *eh*. I recommend this place only if you are aware of the good stuff to order.

We have traveled to extensively and love to try different restaurants. By far one of the best dining experiences ever! A+ everything was amazing! Thank you!!!

The Dove is without a doubt our favorite Italian restaurant… The food is always fresh and delicious. Our favorite is “The Amara” Always simple & delectable ❤️

Nice atmosphere. Good service. The sauce on my linguini with clams definitely need tightened. The shrimp diavolo was solid. Overall good spot.

I can't give this place high enough praise. The best Italian restaurant I have ever eaten at and one of the best ever overall. Don't miss this place if you are in the Melbourne area.