Giovanni Ristorante Italiano
Reviews
CLEAN spot that is very personal...it's Naples Best Kept Secret. It is true authentic Italian food, as the owners came directly from the old county, but if you like the taste of Olive Garden or Chef Boyardee don't invest your money here because everything is VERY FRESH and FRESH has unique taste and slightly higher price. I choose to support locally owned businesses and this is a family-run restaurant you should try. The sauce is homemade daily, the pasta and tomatoes make you feel like you are eating in Italy and of course the desserts are to die for! Everything is made to order so expect to actually DINE here this is not rush in and out kinda place. However, they have great TO-GO service (AMAZING PIZZA) and plenty of seating around the beautiful bar that offers a huge selection. This is a MUST if you live or are just visiting Naples for sure!!!! Make sure you get the Homemade Garlic Rolls! P.S. they offer a private dining room for party's and events.
Not really sure why this isn't an automatic "5-star"... Giokvanni's has been great for years, and it is in an out of the way location. You don't have to fight the traffic or crowds to get there, and it is a family run place that takes pride in what they do. The food is always good- we order a pizza out weekly. Skmetimes they mess up and give us ranch instead of blue cheese for our salads, but who cares? We don't have to go downtown and deal with all the rigamaroo, and it is SO MUCH better than anything else close by. Try the "Favorita" pizza, and ask them to add eggplant- our weekly tradition.
Not horrible but not fantastic. We went here for a early dinner around 1730. Two of the three bread plates were oily and had dried up crust stuck to them. No biggie it happens. Very,very,very dark "mood lighting" large portions. If you are in the mood for a stromboni or calzone any size pizza (minus "personal pizza") make sure to sit in the bar area. I got a very stern no medium pizzas in dinning room for dinner. When I said we needed a minute to find another dish as well as my other two guest the waitress was ready to get our check. Not sure what that was about. "Homemade cheese sticks" tasted like cardboard wrapped around a kraft stick than baked. The brother-in-law pizza was good. Way to dark lighting for me. I suggest pick up if you want to be able to choose what you would like to eat and not be limited because of a half wall separating you from the bar.
I went here for lunch because everyone raved how good it was. I got the veal parm, my fiance got the chicken parm. Breading was ok, meat was tender, the sauce completely sucked. Bitter sour, and no flavor. Barely any cheese on it. Was small portions and $40 for lunch plus tip. Ran out of drinks, took 10 minutes to get a refill. Was 12:45, only us and 1 other couple in there. That was completely un-excusable. On a good note, the resterant is very nice, great lighting, beautiful decor. I'd recommend this place for a date to impress but limit it to drinks and an appetizer because foods over priced for what you get.
Was at another place it was too loud then went to Giovani, GREAT atmosphere. Naples best for kept secret but anymore I tell all my friends. Love it there.