GENOVESE'S ITALIAN CAFE
The letter looks fine; the direction doesn't. GENOVESE'S ITALIAN CAFE holds a B (88/100), but its inspections have been getting worse, not better.
Its most recent inspection on May 6, 2026 cited 2 intermediate and 3 basic violations. It currently ranks safer than 45% of Volusia County restaurants we grade. Diner rating: 4.5 from 1,899 reviews.
Trend: declining · B (88/100)
Get directions Call (386) 767-4151
Restaurant details
- Health grade
- B (88/100)
- Violations
- 5 total — 2 intermediate, 3 basic
- Address
- 116 DUNLAWTON BLVD, Daytona Beach Shores, FL
- Cuisine
- Italian
- Categories
- Italian restaurant
- Price
- $10–20
- Rating
- 4.5 stars (1899 reviews)
- Neighborhood
- Halifax Estates
- Seats
- 80
- Phone
- (386) 767-4151
- Website
- Official website
Community Rating
Reviews via GoogleWhat diners say — our read
Read together, this corpus is a split decision. Where service comes up, the rating that follows averages 4.5, so it reads as a strength.
If you had to pick one number to represent this corpus it would be 5, the most frequently given rating (16 reviews). One subject never comes up here: how clean the place looks. Older reviews score better than newer ones (4.3 recent against 5.0 earlier), so direction is worth weighing alongside the average.
The kitchen graded a B (88/100) on 2 intermediate and 3 basic violations at its last inspection, which is roughly where the reviews sit too. DBPR last walked in on May 6, 2026. Across its inspection history the kitchen is declining, which argues for reading the older reviews with caution. That puts it ahead of 45% of graded kitchens in Volusia County. The citations behind that grade include floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained and food manager certification.
With both signals pointing the same way, there is little to argue about on this listing. Everything above is computed from the 19 reviews reproduced below.
Our own analysis of 19 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →
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Wonderful menu. Many choices, not just pizza. My husband and I had the Calzone with pepperoni and a house salad. Plenty of food for a couple to share. Great flavors. Will go back and try one of the pasta dishes.
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Pizza was really great
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I got a pasta dish. Mine was standard marinara with mushrooms over fettuccine. Absolutely love that sauce, maybe the best marinara ever for me. Dish size was more than plenty. The bread that comes was fresh and delicious. The salad was ok. Good value and can't wait to go back.
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Manacotti was on point!!
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Food was very good, however our server did not bring the salad and bread ordered. She took $3 off each for missing the salads, but since one of them was not included with the meal, we did not get an appropriate refund. Disappointed, since this was a place I have wanted to go when we come to Daytona for several years and now will not go back. But again, food was excellent.
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10/10 pizza & the bruschetta was to die for!
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After driving for 12 hours and not really eating. Stopped in here for some pizza. The Café pizza knocked my socks off.
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Great Italian a block from the ocean.
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Food is really good. It's hard to find good food in Daytona Beach. This place is very decent. The salads & the pizza are really good. I'm from NY so it's hard to satisfy me
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Wow! Molto bene! Perfetto! Grazie
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My family has been enjoying takeout from here for over 30 years during our beach vacations. It never disappoints, but somehow tonight was EXTRA delicious! And the service was exceptional! Great interaction over the phone and at pickup. Thank you!
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The best Italian food we've ever had, by far! We go here at least twice every time we visit Daytona Beach Shores.
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Very casual but good menu.
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Growing up in Detroit with Buddy's and Loui's pizzas around the corner, some friends call me a pizza snob. Genovese's did not disappoint at all. I will be back.
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Food was amazing. Sauce was so good. Service was great. I got the veal parmigiana and my wife got the crab sauce over penne. Both were fantastic. The Italian wedding soup was okay. It tasted like they didn't rinse the chickpeas. Definitely will be an Italian go to.
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I try to live by the rule of three when it comes to new experiences which applies here in a big way. The rule states to never make a decision until I've tried something at least three times and especially never after a first time. So my first visit to this fine establishment was less than acceptable. Now to be fair that first visit was a generally bad day from the moment I opened my eyes from slumber. At the time of this review I have dined with these fine folks 4 times. I chose to give 5 shiny golden stars based on my limited menu experience which has consisted of the garlic bread with cheese, 2 variations of traditional large pizza, and one large Sicilian style large pizza. Each and every pizza ordered from the folks at Genovese's has been cooked to order precisely as requested. The toppings have been very fairly proportioned in regards to surface area of pizza size. All toppings ordered have been very fresh tasty and thoughtfully placed on the pizzas. Now this is saying a lot about the pizzas I've consumed, seeing as I selfishly see myself a connoisseur of such round food items. The waitresses are all very polite and spent a great deal of energy ensuring my drinks stayed filled the table didn't become overly populated with spent items such as bread baskets napkins or used up drink cups ( nothing more troublesome in my opinion than a cluttered table while trying to get your eat on). Personality is also an important trait for me to enjoy my dining experience and each and…
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Got my pizza and meatballs delivered to my hotel! I have to say I'm a pizza person from Brooklyn NY, this is top notch! Sauce delish, meatballs like nona made them, the cheese had to have been grande! Good quality and great chefs! Thank you!
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Hands down this is my favorite restaurant to order pizza from. Pizza is always fabulous, the staff is awesome, and if you're dining in the atmosphere is lovely inside. Can't recommend this place enough.
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Friendly staff and fabulous Italian cuisine make this place a real gem. We both had the 13” pizzas which were loaded with delicious toppings on a tasty thin crust. Highly recommend you try this place.
Overall Score
57 / 100
Composite score from health grade, dietary options, ratings, and inspection record — distinct from the state-derived health grade.
Opening hours
- Monday
- 11:30 AM to 8 PM
- Tuesday
- 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Wednesday
- 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Thursday
- 11:30 AM to 8 PM
- Friday
- 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Saturday
- 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Sunday
- 11:30 AM to 8 PM
Inspection history
The following records are from Florida DBPR public inspection records, most recent first.
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May 6, 2026 · Routine - Food
Call Back - Extension given, pending
0 high-priority · 2 intermediate · 3 basic
- 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained
- 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×2)
- 53 — Food manager certification; employee food-safety training (×2)
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May 5, 2026 · Routine - Food
Warning Issued
4 high-priority · 3 intermediate · 5 basic
- 01 — Food from approved source; safe, unadulterated, sound condition
- 02 — Consumer advisory, date-marking & labeling of ready-to-eat foods
- 03 — Temperature control of foods (cold/hot holding, cooking, cooling, reheating)
- 08 — Cross-contamination: raw foods separated; food protected during prep/storage (×2)
- 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
- 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained
- 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×2)
- 40 — Employee personal belongings
- 53 — Food manager certification; employee food-safety training (×2)
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November 19, 2025 · Routine - Food
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
4 high-priority · 1 intermediate · 2 basic
- 01 — Food from approved source; safe, unadulterated, sound condition (×2)
- 03 — Temperature control of foods (cold/hot holding, cooking, cooling, reheating) (×2)
- 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained
- 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation
- 41 — Chemicals / toxic substances properly stored & used
Safer options nearby
Higher-graded restaurants close to GENOVESE'S ITALIAN CAFE, by Florida DBPR grade:
- YAYA'S BEACHSIDE BAR
- DAIRY BAR LLC
- JIMMY HULA'S OF PORT ORANGE LLC
This grade is calculated by us from Florida DBPR public inspection records — Florida does not issue official grades. How we calculate it →
Data last updated: May 6, 2026