The g/f introduced me to this spot, before we had been going to chains such as Olive Garden. This place is definitely a step up when it comes to eating Italian, it's owned and ran by a real Italian chef. As a matter of fact the owner in general is also your server and you can tell he cares about every meal that leaves his kitchen. The setup of the restaurant is pretty basic and could use some more comfortable seating and booths but the great food and service more than make up for it.
(4)
Wanda B.
Omigoodness, fantastic food, fantastic service! If you're looking for a neighborhood authentic Italian experience Giovanni's is the place to go. Both tables and a few bar stools for seating, don't be bashful about going alone, but DO take a loved one or your family! Chicken Giovanni was fantastic, and the chocolate cheesecake - amazing! Staff is friendly, attentive, and the owner hangs out and makes great conversation. A must when in the area! Bravo!
(5)
Scott C.
Giovanni Sorry about the mistake on the inhouse review. Great food I would recommend to anyone who love great Italian food
(5)
Daniel F.
This place is really small, but awesome service and food! I had the salad and the gf had the stuffed shells both great. Would go back.
(4)
Mrs. G.
This was my second visit. The first was great too. Hence the reason I came back. I ordered the chicken Giovanni both times. I've never had anything like it. The chicken is so tender and juicy. The artichoke is delicate and tender. The prices are very affordable and the staff is friendly. My only negatives would be the bread and the pizza dough (hubby ordered pizza). The dinner bread/rolls taste bland and oil-soaked. Please consider changing the recipe. The pizza dough, while not totally unpleasant could be better. Using fresh, house-made dough would further enhance the quality and dining experience.
(3)
Alice H.
This is the best original old home flavors that is expected as if you were sitting in an original bistro in Italy.
(5)
Christina M.
We are out in the suburbs of Atlanta and we found this unexpected treat!! Great service!!! Food is delicious!!! Tiramisu is homemade and yummy!!!
(5)
Dave W.
Quite surprising. Don't be thrown off by the exterior. Veal Saltimbocca was excellent. The Prosciutto was tasty, soft, and able to be easily cut. Veal was scaloppine and soft. Better than a lot of Saltimbocca i'v had in Little Italy and the North End. Freshly 'hand' stuffed Canoli. Yum
(4)
Melissa R.
I was looking for a new restaurant to try and didn't feel like going into "the city." Giovanni's received pretty good reviews, so I decided to try it out. I was not disappointed. The place is pretty nondescript, and I've just been passing by it, as I'm sure many others have. Who would have thought you would find good Italian food right off the EW Connector? My friend and I were greeted and served by the friendly owner. The food, from appetizer to dessert(tiramisu, of course) was delicious. Giovanni's has been added to my list of local faves.
(4)
Debra Z.
Oh, I hate writing this - Giovanni is so nice - but the food was terrible. Over cooked meat, the garlic bread isn't great - it's just the Hawaiian rolls with butter & garlic. I had the chicken Marsala and my mom had something with chicken, and both of our meals were full of black pepper and over cooked meat. The owner, Giovanni, was so very nice, I so wish their food was better.
(2)
Leslie W.
I have passed Giovanni's for years on the E-W Connector. I finally decided to give it a try today after reading the other reviews. I ordered the baked ziti and a tiramsu to go. I was impressed with the large portion of ziti. I have enough for 3 more servings! The garlic bread was good and flavorful. I was very happy that the salad was made from spinach and not iceberg. It had roma tomatoes and shredded mozzarella cheese. Very tasty. I am a true tiramisu connoisseur. It was good, but a little on the sweet side. The portion is perfect for sharing. All in all, I will return.
(4)
John S.
We used help to find something different. We have driven by this little slice of Italian heaven for 7 years. We were greeted by what I assume is the owner. The Caesar salad was very appropriate to this dinning selection. We ordered the calamari and again great crunch and good fresh taste. Be sure to try the sauce that comes with the calamari as its some of the best tomato based sauce I have had. I ate the veal parmigiana and it too was fresh, tasty and very tender. My wife had stuffed shells and they were delicious. For some the pricing might see expensive but the quantity and quality of the food makes up for the price. Trust the posts here as this is definitely a jewel hidden by trees.
(5)
Cindy K.
Had never eaten there even though I only live a couple minutes down the road. Service was excellent. It took a while to get our food but was worth the wait. Authentic Italian food-loved it. I will be back!
(5)
Charlie K.
The Tilapia Giovani is cooked and seasoned to perfection. Giovani usually greets customers and sometimes serves. The food is wonderful but it is Giovanni that makes this place in an out of the way shopping center happen. Everyone should have at least one opportunity to eat at Giovanni's.
(5)
Trish D.
My favorite fettuccini Alfredo and calamari! Such nice people there too! Pleasant warm atmosphere.
(5)
German A.
Came in for a to go order with an appetizer while I waited. Ordered kalimari and it was not only cheaper than red lobsters, but better tasting, larger cuts, and bigger portion. Lasagna and salad were good. Would definitely return or recommend this place.
(5)
Tyler D.
Excellent experience! The best bruschetta I've ever had. In general, the food presentation was great. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for some authentic Italian food. Enjoy!
(5)
Didi L.
I wanted to love this place but I couldn't. I had the pizza. Not their fortake at all. I love a good crust and to me I didnt enjoy this crust at all. It was hard. I would like to give thme another try and I will try something else.
(3)
Nik P.
I Ordered food to go. Portion was very small for $13. i live two minutes from the restaurant and by the time i got home the whole thing was cold. So i popped it in the microwave. It was very delicious. Just hate it was cold and small portion. The ravolli and sausage was good. But the sausage was an extra $3. So for a $16 entree i expect food bigger and better than chef Boyardee. I'd like to say I'd be back, but I doubt it.
(2)
Raul C.
Enjoy the specials, friendship and atmosphere.
(5)
GrittyLilFremont J.
Tired of Southern food? Disgusted with churlish barmaids?(read my review on The Vortex on Peachtree Street in Atlanta). Looking for some really fabulous Italian fare? Look no further! Giovanni's had some of the best, most tasty Italian food I have eaten at a restaurant in, I can't recall how long as I don't recall tasting any other Italian food that good! Well why in the heck didn't you give it 5 stars, you may ask. Well, it's pretty tough to get a 5-star from this Cook's Illustrated customer, and I must say. the garlic bread was not up to par with the rest of the food. A lot more garlic and parmesan, and some time under the broiler. That said, the owner was charming, the staff very friendly and courteous (unlike the grouchy Vortex barmaid) with plenty of Southern (and Italian!) hospitality. The prices reasonable, the portions filling, and close to our hotel. I will definitely go back if ever I am in the area again. Wish they'd open one in Gritty Lil Fremont!
(4)
Sandra H.
It's good we have it a few time Will return good location people are nice good atmosphere
(5)
Shawn C.
I've been going to Giovanni's for years. I love this place. It's cozy, they have a great menu selection, and their food is really good. I've enjoyed everything from their calamari to the special of the day. If you go more than twice, I guarantee you that Giovanni will know your name and how you like your food prepared.
(5)
Tina A.
Delicious, authentic Italian food- When we were welcomed and seated by the owner himself, we knew we would have a good meal. We had Bruscetta Di Parma as an appetizer and it was fresh and absolutely delicious. Hubby had the chicken Giovanni and I had the Pollo Siciliano. Both dishes were cooked perfectly with plenty to take home. The outstanding service made it unnecessary to ask for anything. It's close by so we will be returning for many visits. I really want to give their pizza a try!
(5)
Thomas K.
This place is a hidden treasure! Their location is the worst as no one can see them from the road! But for those of us that do know about this place, we love it! Very attentive staff the owners always come by to ensure you are having a wonderful time. The food is fresh simple and delicious! If you are in the area and hungry for some excellent Italian food that's not just another chain restaurant, I highly recommend it!
(4)
Victoria Z.
My first impression was not good. It was freezing and I was bummed they did not have any soup to warm me up! The tables were a bit low so it was hard to cross my legs. Ok, maybe I was over picky because I was hungry. I quickly changed my attitude. You probably could not find a more friendly family run place in the area. I just want to hug Giovanni, he is so funny and friendly. Our server was great, too! The food was to die for, I wish I wasn't staying at a hotel so I could take home my leftovers. Everything is made fresh and the meatballs were made in house. They had a special three layer cake with strawberries and kiwi (also made fresh!) that we were lucky to get the last piece of. 5+ stars! So happy when I can find a non-chain restaurant in a new town that exceeds expectations.
I've been coming here for years. The owner is from Italy and has brought with him some great recipes. There is nothing I've had that I didn't like. Plus, now that they can serve wine and beer, there are some great selections, hand-picked by Giovanni. I have taken many friends here, and now they are starting to bring their friends. I think that's the best complement I could give it.
(5)
Jon M.
To begin with you are greeted by Giovanni, himself. Huge plus! Shows that he cares. My wife and I have eaten there a few times. The bruchetta is amazing. MUST HAVE!! I have never had anything that wasn't amazing. The wine list is nice. The food is great and the prices are more than fair. If you haven't been, you should go. Best Italian place around, hands down.
(5)
Denise G.
I saw the great reviews on Yelp and had high hopes for Giovanni's. Unfortunately - I walked away feeling a little let down. We went here on a Saturday around 3pm and we were the only customers. The space is small with lots of tables really close together - so I'm glad the place was empty otherwise, I probably would have started to feel really claustrophobic. Even though the spot was empty - it took a very long time for our meals to arrive. I had the lasagna and found it bland. Not bad - but not good enough to describe as good. Matty had pasta and he doused his in salt and pepper to make it palatable. I know some places go really easy with seasonings because they are concerned about the dietary restrictions of their patrons and I can appreciate that - but in an Italian restaurant - I'm expecting to taste garlic, onion, oregano, tarragon, something! The rolls the other yelpers raved about were those hawaiian dinner rolls brushed with butter and garlic. The owner / host / server was charming - but I just can't recommend this spot.
(2)
Jin K.
I pass by this place all the time and never realized it was there. This restaurant is located in front of the where the old BJ warehouse and Outback steakhouse used to be. My best friend who was in from out of town, my boy friend and I picked this place on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. The place has a nice, cozy atmosphere. We got the bruschetta appetizer and it was very tasty. It was different from your typical tomato, onion, basil mixture you find at most Italian joints. It has mushrooms on it but it was really good. My boyfriend got the chicken parmigiana and it was really good. (He inhaled his dish.) My best friend go the chicken marsala. Giovanni said some people think he put sugar in the dish but he never puts sugar in his dishes. It did taste a little sweet but it was delicious. I loved how passionate he was about his food. I got the shrimp fradiavolo. I love the little bit of spiciness to this dish. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Max M.
If you ever find your self in Marietta, Georgia make it a point to experience Giovanni's. The ambience brings you back home, the food is excellent, and he is a great guy running a great ship! You will be grateful you did.
(5)
Rutchil N.
Love this place... This is the only Italian restaurant I will eat at. This is not a chain restaurant like olive garden or scalini's so dont bother coming here if all you care about is the never ending bread rolls, soup and salads you get with a meal. Giovanni's is fantastic AUTHENTIC ITALIAN food. its always fresh. This is the place you need go if you APPRECIATE good Italian food.
(5)
dena g.
Pitch perfect - expertly executed Classic Italian food with careful attention to small details that matter - fresh high quality ingredients (fresh pasta, house made pizza dough, etc), perfect crispy romaine with a chilled plate for the best Caesar salad in atlanta, fresh pasta, Alfredo sauce that is just right, and the best eggplant parmesan I've had bar none. I'm a long term fan of sotto sotto & new fan of BoccaLupo, but Giovanni's is the type of place that steals your soul - a warm neighborhood spot with excellent food at a more than fair price given the quality of the food and the owner is on site - always a good sign. I will be back, with family and friends. Ps - don't forget dessert - we tried the tiramisu - it is simply the best I've had anywhere (including in Italy)
(5)
Rich B.
Looking for an authentic Italian restaurant and pizza so we followed the Yelp reviews to Giovanni's Restaurant. The dining area seemed a bit crowded with tables that also seemed too small for 4 adults and full table dishes. The staff was extremely nice but the kitchen lacked Italian diversity which may be related to the foods lacking as well. We all had different dishes including a Pizza and sorry to say they all lacked that true Italian Flavor kick!! Just was not impressed with this place.
(1)
David P.
My family went back for a second round. Giovanni's topped itself. This is a restaurant that I hope to find close to home for Italian. Great food, great service and a great find.
(5)
Jang C.
Giovanni's just got upgraded to 5 stars. I've been to several Italian restaurants in Atlanta that serve pasta, and Giovanni's belongs on my top 2 list for the best Italian restaurant in Atlanta. If I'm craving pasta, I don't need to go anywhere else but Giovanni's (except for that one place in Roswell that serves the best gnocci ever. Why do all the decent pasta places locate themselves far out into the suburbs?). One main reason is because of the distance. The distance helped me to come here multiple times and try out several dishes. They all tasted excellent. I don't think I had a dish here that I thought tasted just average. Trying out a wide range of dishes helped to convince me of its 5 star rating. The quality seems always high quality to me. I also did one thing I rarely do at a restaurant: I ordered dessert. Usually, when you order dessert in a restaurant, it's some ice cream and cake bought at Publix--which they charge $4 for. You can just go home and get the same dessert for much less without much effort. But Signor Giovanni assured us they hand make their cannoli. The cannoli had a deliciously creamy texture with the hard, crunchy exterior. It was also the best cannoli I had. I liked it better than Antico's since Antico's had a bit of a citrus taste (I don't like citrus in non-citrus foods). Giovanni's, instead, was just pure creamy goodness. The garlic bread is stil the best. I dream about their garlic bread. They're sweet, garlic-y, and just plain good. My only flaw I see is the salad they give you before the main entree. It's a bit boring. Oh well, you can only do so much with salad so it's no big deal. Signor Giovanni runs this small shop by himself. He does the job of being the server, and he's quite friendly and funny. The mom and pop shop feel of the place gives it a nice atmosphere. It's located at a random place in Austell, so it doesn't get as much business it deserves. At the same time, I am glad it's there since it's very close to where I live. And it's hard to find good dining where I live in Mableton. If you make a trip out to the boonies in Austell, check out this hidden gem.
(5)
Patricia K.
Worth the stop! Have driven by several times. Finally stopped with a coupon. My husband had lasagne, I had spaghetti and meatball. Very good. Good Caesar salad and I loved the house dressing on my garden salad. Giovanni himself was our server, an Italian native who grew up in Boston, friendly and fun to chat with. I'll be bringing my family over the Christmas Holiday. I highly recommend Giovanni's.
(5)
a r.
Went here recently and it was small and cozy. The owner, Giovanni, was the waiter on duty that night...apparently the only waiter called off. However...Giovanni was really great....he was the best thing about the place...he has warm and charming personality. It's nice to go to a small privately owned restaurant and have the owner be a part of the meal. I had pasta with pink sauce...I thought the sauce needed more cream but I was good. My friend had the lasagna and she said it was the best she ever had. The next time I have to have Italian food... I will go back.
(4)
Rodney C.
This is a top notch little neighborhood Italian restaurant. The type that I thought no longer existed in the area. The food is great and the service is gear as well. The chicken parm was excellent. Like other revieweres, I agreee about the garlic bread being great. There are a ton if chain restaurants in the Smyrna/Austell area, finally I have found a good family run place.
(4)
Michael W.
My wife and I came across Giovanni's by happenstance years ago, this little hole-in-the-wall type place is hidden in a tiny strip mall surrounded mostly by vacant shops. Dead buildings adjacent on all sides, Giovanni's has withstood the test of time and a recession-battered economy for good reason: impeccable and relatable service provided by the owner himself (can you guess what his name is?) and authentic, delectable Italian cuisine, complimented perfectly by a small, selectively chosen wine list. I highly recommend this hidden gem-- the chicken marsala is to die for. Also, the Italian cheese cake is hands-down amazing. I love the tiramisu with a glass of Montepulciano. Those giving poor reviews are certainly, in my humble opinion, the rare exceptions and the proof that the old cliche "you can't please everyone" is undeniably the truth.
(5)
JoVonn G.
One of our neighbors recommended this restaurant to us and we have gone back several times ever since; we have also ordered carry out. The wait staff is very friendly and the food is tasty. The calamari needed some more seasoning but that's my only complaint. My husband always gets the lasagna and adds meatballs. I have tried the ravioli (spinach and meat) and the baked ziti, both were great. We really like the garlic bread that accompanies the meal. If you are looking for a good Italian meal with a small neighborhood feel, this is your place.
(4)
Brad K.
Quickly turning into my favorite lunch destination! Excellent food! Friendly and fast service!
(4)
Slim M.
Today was my first time at Giovanni's. My date and I found it with no issues- it's right in front of the now-defunct BJ's parking lot in a small storefront. We were greeted upon entry by a very polite employee. They started us off with garlic bread... OH. MY. GOSH. Delicioso! It was soft, buttery of course, with not too much garlic. My date ordered the chicken lasagna (comes with salad), and I went with the fettucini with shrimp. We didn't wait long before our food was brought out. Mine didn't taste good. The alfredo sauce definitely left more to be desired. Also, it had a weird aftertaste. I thought maybe my taste buds were outta order, so I wasn't gonna fuss about it- but when the same employee asked if it was ok, I decided to tell him. He gladly took it back, made the same meal but with "red sauce", as he said, and with angel hair, which was better, instead of fettucini pasta, which was quite a bit hard, but is supposed to be that way. Plus he added more shrimp! =) Service was top-notch. They are very attentive and are obviously customer service oriented; I just felt my meal was bland and had the consistency of Ragu sauce or some cheap tomato sauce. My date's meal was GREAT, however! Definitely will give them a second chance!
(3)
Kurtis G.
I made the trip from Roswell after hearing about this place from my friend Brian and it was worth the drive and the search for this gem of a restaurant. I had a meatball sandwich and a salad. These are two simple things that I judge Italian restaurants on and the meatballs were large an flavorful and the salad fresh and crisp. Well done Giovanni I will be back.
(5)
A B.
We visited Giovanni's Restaurant last night and had an interesting experience. First, we almost missed it. The restaurant was hidden behind a bunch of trees and surrounded by a lot of other buildings that were vacant. Second, the service was very slow .... for appetizers. We were surprised to find that we had a chance to taste the appetizer before the meal. They made it, but it was close. It took a long time to get 5 mozzarella sticks and we were very hungry by the time our main course was served. Could it be that the owner was preoccupied with cleaning? The restaurant was very clean but he cleaned when he should have been serving food or bringing over the check. Finally, a word about the serving. Instead of standing when taking the order, he and his staff, consistently bent down to chest level. Anyone who watches restaurant stakeout knows that this is a big no no. The food was good and the desert was alright.
(2)
Corey B.
I enjoyed a wonderful Sunday evening dinner and glass of wine with my wife and son at Giovanni's. Fresh made pasta, incredible ravioli, chicken parmigiana, and manicotti. The owner and chef are very friendly and take pride in their food. Food is freshly made so get a glass of wine and enjoy some friendly conversation while your food is prepared.
(4)
Sally K.
I could take a bath in their marinara. Everything we had was delicious, particularly the baked ziti, and the staff was awesome. I burned my tongue lapping it up, and I would do it all over again! Oh and it's a really good location for those hitting the movies and good for both couples and dates.
(5)
jessica B.
I love this restaurant and I always feel very comfortable. A bit pricy, but MMMh MMh MMMH Good! My friend is a cook at this restaurant and he said the italian owner teaches them how to cook each dish and they cannot make any changes to it. I think this makes a restaurant truly authentic!
(5)
Tek P.
My wife and I found this place and WOW am I glad we did. Friendly staff. Best freshest Calamari ever. My alfredo angel hair with Italian sausage was excellent. My wife had the shrimp scampi spaghetti and the sauce was incredible. The dark chocolate gelato was the perfect dessert. Raoul and Giovanni were very friendly, as was their waitstaff. GREAT FOOD. Stop reading this review and go there now. Seriously.
(5)
Ej A.
I have been going to see Giovanni since the day he opened. A super nice guy who works hard to always make his restaurant better. The food is great. It is a very casual place. My wife and I often go there before catching a movie. And since I work close by we will even put down the italian lunch. I hope Giovanni has continued success and can break out of the strip mall location which certainly doesn't help him since it is hidden from the road by a bunch of trees. Check it out.
(5)
Billy P.
I have to agree with the other reviews posted here. My wife and I had planned on meeting at a different restaurant, but upon discovering that it had gone out of business, I turned to "Yelp" for help. The next closest eatery with positive reviews was "Giovanni's," and so we decided to be adventurous and try it. Boy, were we glad we did! From the general appearance, it looks like your typical "italian hole in the wall" type establishment. However, upon entering, you will be greeted by an extremely friendly staff. The serving sizes are very large, and you can definitely taste that this is genuine italian food made from scratch, not the prefab frozen stuff like you often get elsewhere. Giovanni, the owner, told us that kids eat free (off the kid's menu) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. We will certainly be back, and I highly recommend it!
(5)
Brian E.
If you live in Hiram or Powder Springs and enjoy good good, you have probably come to the same conclusion I did, there aren't ANY italian places in the main drag of Hiram. You just have to go a little further and then you find this gem. Not as much a secret as it used to be, Giovanni's is the place to be. Great appetizers (you won't be disappointed in the calamari, trust me), delicious entrees (stuffed shells milanese please!) and even deserts - or just more wine? You won't be disappointed and you will come back time and time again.
(5)
Greg H.
Giovanni's is a small Italian eatery located in a tiny strip center just to the side of BJ's Wholesale Club, right off of the East/West Connector in Austell, as you approach the Powder Springs area. It's very easy to miss if you're not actually headed for it as the strip center is sort of just "tucked to the side" - built during the "if you build it they will come", days of insane shopping center construction in Atlanta (now gone). I'll note one thing right off the bat, and this is a first for me in the 25 years I've lived in Atlanta - this place opens at 10am on Sundays. Wow. I mean, I've NEVER seen a place that opened that early on Sundays. Since I eat out early on weekends, this is actually great for me. The owner... actually named Giovanni of all things (shocker), is a friendly guy with an Italian accent, who greeted a friend of mine and I at the door to seat us. He's authentically Italian (yes, as in was born in Italy). Due to the weather and time, we were the first patrons of the day. Ok, I'll have to lay my only real complaint on this place right up front - I hate the seating. The restaurant is small and very clean, but the seating consists of some tall round tables with bar stools, with the rest being those tiny little square tables like you see in fast food places, with smaller, shorter, solid wood chairs. No booths. You know how I am about booths. Ugh. I'm larger than average, and sitting in the chairs at these tables took me back to the days of eating in the Junior High cafeteria. A family of four came in later and they looked very squished trying to squeeze in at their table - as though sitting at kiddie seats. Ok, so that's my only complaint of any significance for this place, but I will have to say they need larger and more comfortable seating! My ass can't handle a long and leisure meal in seats like that. The rest is good: My Chicken Parmigiana came as a HUGE sized portion of Chicken (could have used slightly more cheese), and my friend's Spaghetti and Meatballs was also a healthy portion as well. The sauce was excellent - you can tell it's homemade, and does not contain too much Garlic, which a lot of places are guilty of. Both dinners came with a side salad that consisted of Spinach leaves, onions, and tomatoes, as well as a side of Garlic bread. The sweet iced tea was VERY sweet (but I like it that way) and the drinks were kept full. The menu has your basic items cooked per claims in a more traditional Italian way, such as Ravioli, Lasagna (available in Chicken as well), Marsala, Scampi, and more. Sandwiches, Appetizers, and Deserts are available. Of one note - they do NOT serve pizza, and due to size/space/time constrictions we can understand this decision, but it would have been nice to have seen one pizza item on the menu - perhaps a personal sized traditional Italian "Margherita" pizza (?) The cooks were behind a semi-open cook area and dressed professionally, and a peek behind that area showed it to be kept very clean. As stated earlier, the entire place was very clean, and even the restroom was spotless and actually decorated - not the norm for a men's room, but a welcome edition to an overall pleasant eating experience. Other than the uncomfortable (for me) seating which is the only reason I took one star off the rating, our experience with Giovanni's was a good one, and we will return again. Once you actually find it hidden away back there, you'll wonder why you didn't see it earlier. I suggest a visit.
(4)
Kristin Z.
My boyfriend and I recently visited Giovanni's. We could not say a bad thing about the restaurant. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Giovanni greets you and is your server. The food...amazing. You get a good portion and everything tastes fresh. All of the desserts are homemade. I ate this chocolate cheesecake that Giovanni said was his mother's recipe. I asked about the cannoli and he said they make the shells fresh as well. I've never seen that before. Most restaurants have frozen ones. I wish Giovanni's wasn't in such a dead-end strip mall. Its easy to miss if you're driving by looking for a place to eat. I hope he can make enough revenue to find a different location. He deserves it.
(5)
Sharla S.
Recently found this little gem in Austell, and am so glad we did. Friendly and casual, but the food is top notch. We took our five year old and they had a great kids menu. We had the fresh calamari, and it was excellent. Be forewarned, it's not all rings, the tentacle pieces are in there too. I had the fettucini alfredo and my husband had the lasagna. Both were made with fresh pasta and were melt in your mouth good. We will absolutely be going back!
(5)
Teddy D.
I always said I'd never be that guy. The kind that writes a negative review after one visit to a restaurant. But I call it like I see it and after reading all of the really positive reviews this place was major let down. Let's start on a positive note, the staff were attentive and friendly, the place was clean and had lots of parking. The waiter was a middle aged guy, really nice but he didn't know the menu. He had a hard time taking our order and kind of struggled through it. It wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't a waiter but the manager or something. Our food came out in a timely manner and my glass was always full. However, my 5 year old niece could have made me a better "Italian Cold Cut Sandwich". Maybe it's my fault, I got exactly what the menu said "salami, prosciutto, sopreseta, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomatoes". I just figured it would be more than one thin layer of each. The meat layer of the sandwich was embarrassingly thin, like how Subway puts meat on a sandwich, 1 thin layer of each kind of meat. Not only that, it came with ONE tomato slice on the side and a small bed of lettuce. To make matter worse there was no dressing at all on it. I know the menu doesn't list it but I kind of figured it would come with oil and vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano and maybe basil. Kind of standard Italian sandwich stuff. No, it came with nothing. So my first bite was kind of shock when all I tasted was a mouthful of bread and a little meat. When I asked for oil and vinegar they looked at me funny and asked if I wanted mayo? On an Italian cold cut sandwich, mayonnaise, really? So the sandwich, a major letdown. My father in law got soup which he said was overly salty. My wife seemed to enjoy her Eggplant parm, so I guess the meal wasn't a total waste. If I ever come back and have a better meal I'll update this review, but I don't see myself ever coming back here.
(2)
Joseph Peter S.
The owner/operator is super niiiice. Atmosphere is great and food is unbelievable
(5)
Jamie L.
Great little known spot. Even the side salad was good! It's hidden but a great find. Check them out.
(5)
Robert A.
I came here for lunch and was very happy that I did. First off, the owner himself is a very pleasant person to talk to and makes you feel like an appreciated guest. I ordered the fried calamari and it was light, non greasy and the sauce that came with it had a real homemade flavor to it. Overall it was one of the best calamari dishes I ever had. Then I had the meatball sub with french fries. Again, the sauce was very good, the fries were crisp and the meatballs had good flavor to them. I will be back for diner with my wife to try more items but at least this place knows how to cook the basics very well. I highly advise to check it out.
(4)
Lauren M.
Awesome service. Giovanni himself served us our food, made us laugh, and killed it in the kitchen! He let me build my own dish, yum! Defiantly the best food in the area, and cheap!
(5)
Ben C.
Outstanding service, exquisite food, and my new favorite Italian restaurant.
(5)
L B.
Very good food. Really big portions. My only complaint is that some of the lettuce in my salad had dirt on it.
(4)
Jin K.
I pass by this place all the time and never realized it was there. This restaurant is located in front of the where the old BJ warehouse and Outback steakhouse used to be. My best friend who was in from out of town, my boy friend and I picked this place on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. The place has a nice, cozy atmosphere. We got the bruschetta appetizer and it was very tasty. It was different from your typical tomato, onion, basil mixture you find at most Italian joints. It has mushrooms on it but it was really good. My boyfriend got the chicken parmigiana and it was really good. (He inhaled his dish.) My best friend go the chicken marsala. Giovanni said some people think he put sugar in the dish but he never puts sugar in his dishes. It did taste a little sweet but it was delicious. I loved how passionate he was about his food. I got the shrimp fradiavolo. I love the little bit of spiciness to this dish. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Max M.
If you ever find your self in Marietta, Georgia make it a point to experience Giovanni's. The ambience brings you back home, the food is excellent, and he is a great guy running a great ship! You will be grateful you did.
(5)
Rutchil N.
Love this place... This is the only Italian restaurant I will eat at. This is not a chain restaurant like olive garden or scalini's so dont bother coming here if all you care about is the never ending bread rolls, soup and salads you get with a meal. Giovanni's is fantastic AUTHENTIC ITALIAN food. its always fresh. This is the place you need go if you APPRECIATE good Italian food.
(5)
dena g.
Pitch perfect - expertly executed Classic Italian food with careful attention to small details that matter - fresh high quality ingredients (fresh pasta, house made pizza dough, etc), perfect crispy romaine with a chilled plate for the best Caesar salad in atlanta, fresh pasta, Alfredo sauce that is just right, and the best eggplant parmesan I've had bar none. I'm a long term fan of sotto sotto & new fan of BoccaLupo, but Giovanni's is the type of place that steals your soul - a warm neighborhood spot with excellent food at a more than fair price given the quality of the food and the owner is on site - always a good sign. I will be back, with family and friends. Ps - don't forget dessert - we tried the tiramisu - it is simply the best I've had anywhere (including in Italy)
(5)
Rich B.
Looking for an authentic Italian restaurant and pizza so we followed the Yelp reviews to Giovanni's Restaurant. The dining area seemed a bit crowded with tables that also seemed too small for 4 adults and full table dishes. The staff was extremely nice but the kitchen lacked Italian diversity which may be related to the foods lacking as well. We all had different dishes including a Pizza and sorry to say they all lacked that true Italian Flavor kick!! Just was not impressed with this place.
(1)
David P.
My family went back for a second round. Giovanni's topped itself. This is a restaurant that I hope to find close to home for Italian. Great food, great service and a great find.
(5)
GrittyLilFremont J.
Tired of Southern food? Disgusted with churlish barmaids?(read my review on The Vortex on Peachtree Street in Atlanta). Looking for some really fabulous Italian fare? Look no further! Giovanni's had some of the best, most tasty Italian food I have eaten at a restaurant in, I can't recall how long as I don't recall tasting any other Italian food that good! Well why in the heck didn't you give it 5 stars, you may ask. Well, it's pretty tough to get a 5-star from this Cook's Illustrated customer, and I must say. the garlic bread was not up to par with the rest of the food. A lot more garlic and parmesan, and some time under the broiler. That said, the owner was charming, the staff very friendly and courteous (unlike the grouchy Vortex barmaid) with plenty of Southern (and Italian!) hospitality. The prices reasonable, the portions filling, and close to our hotel. I will definitely go back if ever I am in the area again. Wish they'd open one in Gritty Lil Fremont!
(4)
Sandra H.
It's good we have it a few time Will return good location people are nice good atmosphere
(5)
Shawn C.
I've been going to Giovanni's for years. I love this place. It's cozy, they have a great menu selection, and their food is really good. I've enjoyed everything from their calamari to the special of the day. If you go more than twice, I guarantee you that Giovanni will know your name and how you like your food prepared.
(5)
Tina A.
Delicious, authentic Italian food- When we were welcomed and seated by the owner himself, we knew we would have a good meal. We had Bruscetta Di Parma as an appetizer and it was fresh and absolutely delicious. Hubby had the chicken Giovanni and I had the Pollo Siciliano. Both dishes were cooked perfectly with plenty to take home. The outstanding service made it unnecessary to ask for anything. It's close by so we will be returning for many visits. I really want to give their pizza a try!
(5)
Thomas K.
This place is a hidden treasure! Their location is the worst as no one can see them from the road! But for those of us that do know about this place, we love it! Very attentive staff the owners always come by to ensure you are having a wonderful time. The food is fresh simple and delicious! If you are in the area and hungry for some excellent Italian food that's not just another chain restaurant, I highly recommend it!
(4)
Victoria Z.
My first impression was not good. It was freezing and I was bummed they did not have any soup to warm me up! The tables were a bit low so it was hard to cross my legs. Ok, maybe I was over picky because I was hungry. I quickly changed my attitude. You probably could not find a more friendly family run place in the area. I just want to hug Giovanni, he is so funny and friendly. Our server was great, too! The food was to die for, I wish I wasn't staying at a hotel so I could take home my leftovers. Everything is made fresh and the meatballs were made in house. They had a special three layer cake with strawberries and kiwi (also made fresh!) that we were lucky to get the last piece of. 5+ stars! So happy when I can find a non-chain restaurant in a new town that exceeds expectations.
(5)
Wanda B.
Omigoodness, fantastic food, fantastic service! If you're looking for a neighborhood authentic Italian experience Giovanni's is the place to go. Both tables and a few bar stools for seating, don't be bashful about going alone, but DO take a loved one or your family! Chicken Giovanni was fantastic, and the chocolate cheesecake - amazing! Staff is friendly, attentive, and the owner hangs out and makes great conversation. A must when in the area! Bravo!
(5)
Scott C.
Giovanni Sorry about the mistake on the inhouse review. Great food I would recommend to anyone who love great Italian food
(5)
Allen J.
A great spot for dinner, when they don't close early. We planned on going there during business hours. I even called to make sure they were open. The guy I spoke with told me they were open until 9pm. When we arrived at 7:30 I was surprised to see the restaurant closed and the staff leaving to their vehicles. When I talked to them to explain why that was a bad practice they couldn't have cared less. Even when I explained that I called and was told they would be open, nobody cared. It ended up working up just fine, because we went next door to the Caribbean Connection, they were open until they advertised as so. And the food was phenomenal. Use caution when choosing Giovanni's, as they may or may not be open. Will not return to Giovanni's myself. Allen
(1)
Keith G.
Tried this place for the first time tonight. Great service and very good Italian food! I had the chicken parm and my wife had the chicken marsala. Both dishes were great. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Daniel F.
This place is really small, but awesome service and food! I had the salad and the gf had the stuffed shells both great. Would go back.
(4)
Mrs. G.
This was my second visit. The first was great too. Hence the reason I came back. I ordered the chicken Giovanni both times. I've never had anything like it. The chicken is so tender and juicy. The artichoke is delicate and tender. The prices are very affordable and the staff is friendly. My only negatives would be the bread and the pizza dough (hubby ordered pizza). The dinner bread/rolls taste bland and oil-soaked. Please consider changing the recipe. The pizza dough, while not totally unpleasant could be better. Using fresh, house-made dough would further enhance the quality and dining experience.
(3)
Cameron S.
We looked up this placed based on us being in the area. Seemed like good reviews, so we stopped in. You get garlic bread and salad before your meal. The garlic bread was awesome! It was soft in the middle and crunchy around the ends. The salad (Caesar for both of us) was alright. Kinda plain, not much Parmesan or croutons. We ordered grilled shrimp Alfredo and eggplant parmigiana. Overall, not bad for the price. Staff was very nice and continually checked to make sure everything was okay.
(4)
Angie F.
Give Giovanni's five stars! The best Italian food anywhere and great service! Love the Pasta Giovanni !!
(5)
John S.
We used help to find something different. We have driven by this little slice of Italian heaven for 7 years. We were greeted by what I assume is the owner. The Caesar salad was very appropriate to this dinning selection. We ordered the calamari and again great crunch and good fresh taste. Be sure to try the sauce that comes with the calamari as its some of the best tomato based sauce I have had. I ate the veal parmigiana and it too was fresh, tasty and very tender. My wife had stuffed shells and they were delicious. For some the pricing might see expensive but the quantity and quality of the food makes up for the price. Trust the posts here as this is definitely a jewel hidden by trees.
(5)
Cindy K.
Had never eaten there even though I only live a couple minutes down the road. Service was excellent. It took a while to get our food but was worth the wait. Authentic Italian food-loved it. I will be back!
(5)
Charlie K.
The Tilapia Giovani is cooked and seasoned to perfection. Giovani usually greets customers and sometimes serves. The food is wonderful but it is Giovanni that makes this place in an out of the way shopping center happen. Everyone should have at least one opportunity to eat at Giovanni's.
(5)
Trish D.
My favorite fettuccini Alfredo and calamari! Such nice people there too! Pleasant warm atmosphere.
(5)
German A.
Came in for a to go order with an appetizer while I waited. Ordered kalimari and it was not only cheaper than red lobsters, but better tasting, larger cuts, and bigger portion. Lasagna and salad were good. Would definitely return or recommend this place.
(5)
Tyler D.
Excellent experience! The best bruschetta I've ever had. In general, the food presentation was great. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for some authentic Italian food. Enjoy!
(5)
Didi L.
I wanted to love this place but I couldn't. I had the pizza. Not their fortake at all. I love a good crust and to me I didnt enjoy this crust at all. It was hard. I would like to give thme another try and I will try something else.
(3)
Nik P.
I Ordered food to go. Portion was very small for $13. i live two minutes from the restaurant and by the time i got home the whole thing was cold. So i popped it in the microwave. It was very delicious. Just hate it was cold and small portion. The ravolli and sausage was good. But the sausage was an extra $3. So for a $16 entree i expect food bigger and better than chef Boyardee. I'd like to say I'd be back, but I doubt it.
I've been coming here for years. The owner is from Italy and has brought with him some great recipes. There is nothing I've had that I didn't like. Plus, now that they can serve wine and beer, there are some great selections, hand-picked by Giovanni. I have taken many friends here, and now they are starting to bring their friends. I think that's the best complement I could give it.
(5)
Jon M.
To begin with you are greeted by Giovanni, himself. Huge plus! Shows that he cares. My wife and I have eaten there a few times. The bruchetta is amazing. MUST HAVE!! I have never had anything that wasn't amazing. The wine list is nice. The food is great and the prices are more than fair. If you haven't been, you should go. Best Italian place around, hands down.
(5)
Denise G.
I saw the great reviews on Yelp and had high hopes for Giovanni's. Unfortunately - I walked away feeling a little let down. We went here on a Saturday around 3pm and we were the only customers. The space is small with lots of tables really close together - so I'm glad the place was empty otherwise, I probably would have started to feel really claustrophobic. Even though the spot was empty - it took a very long time for our meals to arrive. I had the lasagna and found it bland. Not bad - but not good enough to describe as good. Matty had pasta and he doused his in salt and pepper to make it palatable. I know some places go really easy with seasonings because they are concerned about the dietary restrictions of their patrons and I can appreciate that - but in an Italian restaurant - I'm expecting to taste garlic, onion, oregano, tarragon, something! The rolls the other yelpers raved about were those hawaiian dinner rolls brushed with butter and garlic. The owner / host / server was charming - but I just can't recommend this spot.
(2)
Patricia K.
Worth the stop! Have driven by several times. Finally stopped with a coupon. My husband had lasagne, I had spaghetti and meatball. Very good. Good Caesar salad and I loved the house dressing on my garden salad. Giovanni himself was our server, an Italian native who grew up in Boston, friendly and fun to chat with. I'll be bringing my family over the Christmas Holiday. I highly recommend Giovanni's.
(5)
Dave W.
Quite surprising. Don't be thrown off by the exterior. Veal Saltimbocca was excellent. The Prosciutto was tasty, soft, and able to be easily cut. Veal was scaloppine and soft. Better than a lot of Saltimbocca i'v had in Little Italy and the North End. Freshly 'hand' stuffed Canoli. Yum
(4)
Melissa R.
I was looking for a new restaurant to try and didn't feel like going into "the city." Giovanni's received pretty good reviews, so I decided to try it out. I was not disappointed. The place is pretty nondescript, and I've just been passing by it, as I'm sure many others have. Who would have thought you would find good Italian food right off the EW Connector? My friend and I were greeted and served by the friendly owner. The food, from appetizer to dessert(tiramisu, of course) was delicious. Giovanni's has been added to my list of local faves.
(4)
Jang C.
Giovanni's just got upgraded to 5 stars. I've been to several Italian restaurants in Atlanta that serve pasta, and Giovanni's belongs on my top 2 list for the best Italian restaurant in Atlanta. If I'm craving pasta, I don't need to go anywhere else but Giovanni's (except for that one place in Roswell that serves the best gnocci ever. Why do all the decent pasta places locate themselves far out into the suburbs?). One main reason is because of the distance. The distance helped me to come here multiple times and try out several dishes. They all tasted excellent. I don't think I had a dish here that I thought tasted just average. Trying out a wide range of dishes helped to convince me of its 5 star rating. The quality seems always high quality to me. I also did one thing I rarely do at a restaurant: I ordered dessert. Usually, when you order dessert in a restaurant, it's some ice cream and cake bought at Publix--which they charge $4 for. You can just go home and get the same dessert for much less without much effort. But Signor Giovanni assured us they hand make their cannoli. The cannoli had a deliciously creamy texture with the hard, crunchy exterior. It was also the best cannoli I had. I liked it better than Antico's since Antico's had a bit of a citrus taste (I don't like citrus in non-citrus foods). Giovanni's, instead, was just pure creamy goodness. The garlic bread is stil the best. I dream about their garlic bread. They're sweet, garlic-y, and just plain good. My only flaw I see is the salad they give you before the main entree. It's a bit boring. Oh well, you can only do so much with salad so it's no big deal. Signor Giovanni runs this small shop by himself. He does the job of being the server, and he's quite friendly and funny. The mom and pop shop feel of the place gives it a nice atmosphere. It's located at a random place in Austell, so it doesn't get as much business it deserves. At the same time, I am glad it's there since it's very close to where I live. And it's hard to find good dining where I live in Mableton. If you make a trip out to the boonies in Austell, check out this hidden gem.
(5)
a r.
Went here recently and it was small and cozy. The owner, Giovanni, was the waiter on duty that night...apparently the only waiter called off. However...Giovanni was really great....he was the best thing about the place...he has warm and charming personality. It's nice to go to a small privately owned restaurant and have the owner be a part of the meal. I had pasta with pink sauce...I thought the sauce needed more cream but I was good. My friend had the lasagna and she said it was the best she ever had. The next time I have to have Italian food... I will go back.
(4)
Rodney C.
This is a top notch little neighborhood Italian restaurant. The type that I thought no longer existed in the area. The food is great and the service is gear as well. The chicken parm was excellent. Like other revieweres, I agreee about the garlic bread being great. There are a ton if chain restaurants in the Smyrna/Austell area, finally I have found a good family run place.
(4)
Alice H.
This is the best original old home flavors that is expected as if you were sitting in an original bistro in Italy.
(5)
Christina M.
We are out in the suburbs of Atlanta and we found this unexpected treat!! Great service!!! Food is delicious!!! Tiramisu is homemade and yummy!!!
(5)
Michael W.
My wife and I came across Giovanni's by happenstance years ago, this little hole-in-the-wall type place is hidden in a tiny strip mall surrounded mostly by vacant shops. Dead buildings adjacent on all sides, Giovanni's has withstood the test of time and a recession-battered economy for good reason: impeccable and relatable service provided by the owner himself (can you guess what his name is?) and authentic, delectable Italian cuisine, complimented perfectly by a small, selectively chosen wine list. I highly recommend this hidden gem-- the chicken marsala is to die for. Also, the Italian cheese cake is hands-down amazing. I love the tiramisu with a glass of Montepulciano. Those giving poor reviews are certainly, in my humble opinion, the rare exceptions and the proof that the old cliche "you can't please everyone" is undeniably the truth.
(5)
JoVonn G.
One of our neighbors recommended this restaurant to us and we have gone back several times ever since; we have also ordered carry out. The wait staff is very friendly and the food is tasty. The calamari needed some more seasoning but that's my only complaint. My husband always gets the lasagna and adds meatballs. I have tried the ravioli (spinach and meat) and the baked ziti, both were great. We really like the garlic bread that accompanies the meal. If you are looking for a good Italian meal with a small neighborhood feel, this is your place.
(4)
Brad K.
Quickly turning into my favorite lunch destination! Excellent food! Friendly and fast service!
(4)
Slim M.
Today was my first time at Giovanni's. My date and I found it with no issues- it's right in front of the now-defunct BJ's parking lot in a small storefront. We were greeted upon entry by a very polite employee. They started us off with garlic bread... OH. MY. GOSH. Delicioso! It was soft, buttery of course, with not too much garlic. My date ordered the chicken lasagna (comes with salad), and I went with the fettucini with shrimp. We didn't wait long before our food was brought out. Mine didn't taste good. The alfredo sauce definitely left more to be desired. Also, it had a weird aftertaste. I thought maybe my taste buds were outta order, so I wasn't gonna fuss about it- but when the same employee asked if it was ok, I decided to tell him. He gladly took it back, made the same meal but with "red sauce", as he said, and with angel hair, which was better, instead of fettucini pasta, which was quite a bit hard, but is supposed to be that way. Plus he added more shrimp! =) Service was top-notch. They are very attentive and are obviously customer service oriented; I just felt my meal was bland and had the consistency of Ragu sauce or some cheap tomato sauce. My date's meal was GREAT, however! Definitely will give them a second chance!
(3)
Kurtis G.
I made the trip from Roswell after hearing about this place from my friend Brian and it was worth the drive and the search for this gem of a restaurant. I had a meatball sandwich and a salad. These are two simple things that I judge Italian restaurants on and the meatballs were large an flavorful and the salad fresh and crisp. Well done Giovanni I will be back.
(5)
A B.
We visited Giovanni's Restaurant last night and had an interesting experience. First, we almost missed it. The restaurant was hidden behind a bunch of trees and surrounded by a lot of other buildings that were vacant. Second, the service was very slow .... for appetizers. We were surprised to find that we had a chance to taste the appetizer before the meal. They made it, but it was close. It took a long time to get 5 mozzarella sticks and we were very hungry by the time our main course was served. Could it be that the owner was preoccupied with cleaning? The restaurant was very clean but he cleaned when he should have been serving food or bringing over the check. Finally, a word about the serving. Instead of standing when taking the order, he and his staff, consistently bent down to chest level. Anyone who watches restaurant stakeout knows that this is a big no no. The food was good and the desert was alright.
(2)
Debra Z.
Oh, I hate writing this - Giovanni is so nice - but the food was terrible. Over cooked meat, the garlic bread isn't great - it's just the Hawaiian rolls with butter & garlic. I had the chicken Marsala and my mom had something with chicken, and both of our meals were full of black pepper and over cooked meat. The owner, Giovanni, was so very nice, I so wish their food was better.
(2)
Corey B.
I enjoyed a wonderful Sunday evening dinner and glass of wine with my wife and son at Giovanni's. Fresh made pasta, incredible ravioli, chicken parmigiana, and manicotti. The owner and chef are very friendly and take pride in their food. Food is freshly made so get a glass of wine and enjoy some friendly conversation while your food is prepared.
(4)
Sally K.
I could take a bath in their marinara. Everything we had was delicious, particularly the baked ziti, and the staff was awesome. I burned my tongue lapping it up, and I would do it all over again! Oh and it's a really good location for those hitting the movies and good for both couples and dates.
(5)
David S.
My husband and I went to dinner here after he had read all of these great reviews! We have been searching for so long for an authentic Italian restaurant that was not a chain and not ridiculously overpriced. We have been to Italy several times and are from NY where mom and pop Italian places are every where! The location is very unfortunate because it is so hidden. I've past it so many times and never saw it. I loved the atmosphere. It was very cozy and again, it was authentic. I don't know how many of you have been to Italy, but there are no over sized chairs or booths. The restaurants usually aren't big, they are quaint and cozy. The tables are usually close together. There are many overweight people in Italy and they don't complain and stop going to a restaurant because the seats are too small. Yes there was a little wait for our food, but that just adds to the authenticity for us. Italians aren't like Americans; they sit and relax, they enjoy each course and enjoy their company. It's not a rush. I'm sure if you were in a bit of a hurry that they would accommodate you. The owner, Giovanni greeted us immediately and seated us. He served us along with a waiter. They were both incredibly delightful and very attentive even though they were busy. You can tell Giovanni cares about every aspect of his restaurant, he is not afraid to jump in and do any job. I was flipping out when I saw Caprese on the menu! You can't get authentic Caprese anywhere! If it is on a menu it's either on pizza or bruschetta and well then it's not really Caprese! The Caprese was good, I like it with a little more oil and basil than it came with, but I simply asked for more and it was not a problem. I ordered the chicken Giovanni. Amazing, the chicken was so juicy and tasty. My angel hair pasta was cooked perfectly and omg the sauce! Omg! Awesome! The portions were not overly large, they were perfect! That just tells you about the quality of the food. There is no need for the massive portions that you get at most restaurants! It's just wasteful and when the concern is about the quantity, the quality is not going to be there. My husband ordered stuffed shells and it was such a great surprise. It was not your typical, ordinary stuffed shells dish. It was so good! We shared vanilla gelato and tiramisu for dessert. They were both very good. The presentation of everything was so beautiful! We cannot wait to go back! I will be trying the eggplant and I will be for sure getting a cannoli!!! I will be telling all of my friends about Giovanni's!
(5)
Jay R.
Very skeptical that Austell could house a good Italian restaurant, especially on restaurant death row in front of the defunct BJ's on East-West Connector. I'm happy to report though that yelp did not let me down! Pro's: Great food, great service, super-friendly owners. I had the Chicken Parmigiana, wife had Fettuccine Alfredo with Spinach, both were fantastic. Good wine and great, fresh salad. Con's: Ambiance. Smart business move to purchase an old Quizno's and basically throw table cloth's over their stuff, but this place has so much potential - take a look around and you will see that the Kitchen layout, soda fountain, etc.. were literally left behind and part of the purchase. A little investment could really take this place to the next level, but maybe they just need to move locations. Overall, screw the ambiance, give me good food. Giovanni's delivers.
(4)
Irma Z.
First timers....dont know if we will be repeatimers.... Sooooooo....My chicken primavera was cold. Waiter thru it out and another was made. My then, hubby had finished eating. Garlic bread was ok. Salad was good.
(3)
jessica B.
I love this restaurant and I always feel very comfortable. A bit pricy, but MMMh MMh MMMH Good! My friend is a cook at this restaurant and he said the italian owner teaches them how to cook each dish and they cannot make any changes to it. I think this makes a restaurant truly authentic!
(5)
Tek P.
My wife and I found this place and WOW am I glad we did. Friendly staff. Best freshest Calamari ever. My alfredo angel hair with Italian sausage was excellent. My wife had the shrimp scampi spaghetti and the sauce was incredible. The dark chocolate gelato was the perfect dessert. Raoul and Giovanni were very friendly, as was their waitstaff. GREAT FOOD. Stop reading this review and go there now. Seriously.
(5)
Ej A.
I have been going to see Giovanni since the day he opened. A super nice guy who works hard to always make his restaurant better. The food is great. It is a very casual place. My wife and I often go there before catching a movie. And since I work close by we will even put down the italian lunch. I hope Giovanni has continued success and can break out of the strip mall location which certainly doesn't help him since it is hidden from the road by a bunch of trees. Check it out.
(5)
Leslie W.
I have passed Giovanni's for years on the E-W Connector. I finally decided to give it a try today after reading the other reviews. I ordered the baked ziti and a tiramsu to go. I was impressed with the large portion of ziti. I have enough for 3 more servings! The garlic bread was good and flavorful. I was very happy that the salad was made from spinach and not iceberg. It had roma tomatoes and shredded mozzarella cheese. Very tasty. I am a true tiramisu connoisseur. It was good, but a little on the sweet side. The portion is perfect for sharing. All in all, I will return.
(4)
Robert A.
I came here for lunch and was very happy that I did. First off, the owner himself is a very pleasant person to talk to and makes you feel like an appreciated guest. I ordered the fried calamari and it was light, non greasy and the sauce that came with it had a real homemade flavor to it. Overall it was one of the best calamari dishes I ever had. Then I had the meatball sub with french fries. Again, the sauce was very good, the fries were crisp and the meatballs had good flavor to them. I will be back for diner with my wife to try more items but at least this place knows how to cook the basics very well. I highly advise to check it out.
(4)
Lauren M.
Awesome service. Giovanni himself served us our food, made us laugh, and killed it in the kitchen! He let me build my own dish, yum! Defiantly the best food in the area, and cheap!
(5)
Ben C.
Outstanding service, exquisite food, and my new favorite Italian restaurant.
(5)
L B.
Very good food. Really big portions. My only complaint is that some of the lettuce in my salad had dirt on it.
(4)
Chris W.
The g/f introduced me to this spot, before we had been going to chains such as Olive Garden. This place is definitely a step up when it comes to eating Italian, it's owned and ran by a real Italian chef. As a matter of fact the owner in general is also your server and you can tell he cares about every meal that leaves his kitchen. The setup of the restaurant is pretty basic and could use some more comfortable seating and booths but the great food and service more than make up for it.
(4)
Greg H.
Giovanni's is a small Italian eatery located in a tiny strip center just to the side of BJ's Wholesale Club, right off of the East/West Connector in Austell, as you approach the Powder Springs area. It's very easy to miss if you're not actually headed for it as the strip center is sort of just "tucked to the side" - built during the "if you build it they will come", days of insane shopping center construction in Atlanta (now gone). I'll note one thing right off the bat, and this is a first for me in the 25 years I've lived in Atlanta - this place opens at 10am on Sundays. Wow. I mean, I've NEVER seen a place that opened that early on Sundays. Since I eat out early on weekends, this is actually great for me. The owner... actually named Giovanni of all things (shocker), is a friendly guy with an Italian accent, who greeted a friend of mine and I at the door to seat us. He's authentically Italian (yes, as in was born in Italy). Due to the weather and time, we were the first patrons of the day. Ok, I'll have to lay my only real complaint on this place right up front - I hate the seating. The restaurant is small and very clean, but the seating consists of some tall round tables with bar stools, with the rest being those tiny little square tables like you see in fast food places, with smaller, shorter, solid wood chairs. No booths. You know how I am about booths. Ugh. I'm larger than average, and sitting in the chairs at these tables took me back to the days of eating in the Junior High cafeteria. A family of four came in later and they looked very squished trying to squeeze in at their table - as though sitting at kiddie seats. Ok, so that's my only complaint of any significance for this place, but I will have to say they need larger and more comfortable seating! My ass can't handle a long and leisure meal in seats like that. The rest is good: My Chicken Parmigiana came as a HUGE sized portion of Chicken (could have used slightly more cheese), and my friend's Spaghetti and Meatballs was also a healthy portion as well. The sauce was excellent - you can tell it's homemade, and does not contain too much Garlic, which a lot of places are guilty of. Both dinners came with a side salad that consisted of Spinach leaves, onions, and tomatoes, as well as a side of Garlic bread. The sweet iced tea was VERY sweet (but I like it that way) and the drinks were kept full. The menu has your basic items cooked per claims in a more traditional Italian way, such as Ravioli, Lasagna (available in Chicken as well), Marsala, Scampi, and more. Sandwiches, Appetizers, and Deserts are available. Of one note - they do NOT serve pizza, and due to size/space/time constrictions we can understand this decision, but it would have been nice to have seen one pizza item on the menu - perhaps a personal sized traditional Italian "Margherita" pizza (?) The cooks were behind a semi-open cook area and dressed professionally, and a peek behind that area showed it to be kept very clean. As stated earlier, the entire place was very clean, and even the restroom was spotless and actually decorated - not the norm for a men's room, but a welcome edition to an overall pleasant eating experience. Other than the uncomfortable (for me) seating which is the only reason I took one star off the rating, our experience with Giovanni's was a good one, and we will return again. Once you actually find it hidden away back there, you'll wonder why you didn't see it earlier. I suggest a visit.
(4)
Billy P.
I have to agree with the other reviews posted here. My wife and I had planned on meeting at a different restaurant, but upon discovering that it had gone out of business, I turned to "Yelp" for help. The next closest eatery with positive reviews was "Giovanni's," and so we decided to be adventurous and try it. Boy, were we glad we did! From the general appearance, it looks like your typical "italian hole in the wall" type establishment. However, upon entering, you will be greeted by an extremely friendly staff. The serving sizes are very large, and you can definitely taste that this is genuine italian food made from scratch, not the prefab frozen stuff like you often get elsewhere. Giovanni, the owner, told us that kids eat free (off the kid's menu) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. We will certainly be back, and I highly recommend it!
(5)
Brian E.
If you live in Hiram or Powder Springs and enjoy good good, you have probably come to the same conclusion I did, there aren't ANY italian places in the main drag of Hiram. You just have to go a little further and then you find this gem. Not as much a secret as it used to be, Giovanni's is the place to be. Great appetizers (you won't be disappointed in the calamari, trust me), delicious entrees (stuffed shells milanese please!) and even deserts - or just more wine? You won't be disappointed and you will come back time and time again.
(5)
Kristin Z.
My boyfriend and I recently visited Giovanni's. We could not say a bad thing about the restaurant. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Giovanni greets you and is your server. The food...amazing. You get a good portion and everything tastes fresh. All of the desserts are homemade. I ate this chocolate cheesecake that Giovanni said was his mother's recipe. I asked about the cannoli and he said they make the shells fresh as well. I've never seen that before. Most restaurants have frozen ones. I wish Giovanni's wasn't in such a dead-end strip mall. Its easy to miss if you're driving by looking for a place to eat. I hope he can make enough revenue to find a different location. He deserves it.
(5)
Sharla S.
Recently found this little gem in Austell, and am so glad we did. Friendly and casual, but the food is top notch. We took our five year old and they had a great kids menu. We had the fresh calamari, and it was excellent. Be forewarned, it's not all rings, the tentacle pieces are in there too. I had the fettucini alfredo and my husband had the lasagna. Both were made with fresh pasta and were melt in your mouth good. We will absolutely be going back!
(5)
Jamie L.
Great little known spot. Even the side salad was good! It's hidden but a great find. Check them out.
(5)
Teddy D.
I always said I'd never be that guy. The kind that writes a negative review after one visit to a restaurant. But I call it like I see it and after reading all of the really positive reviews this place was major let down. Let's start on a positive note, the staff were attentive and friendly, the place was clean and had lots of parking. The waiter was a middle aged guy, really nice but he didn't know the menu. He had a hard time taking our order and kind of struggled through it. It wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't a waiter but the manager or something. Our food came out in a timely manner and my glass was always full. However, my 5 year old niece could have made me a better "Italian Cold Cut Sandwich". Maybe it's my fault, I got exactly what the menu said "salami, prosciutto, sopreseta, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomatoes". I just figured it would be more than one thin layer of each. The meat layer of the sandwich was embarrassingly thin, like how Subway puts meat on a sandwich, 1 thin layer of each kind of meat. Not only that, it came with ONE tomato slice on the side and a small bed of lettuce. To make matter worse there was no dressing at all on it. I know the menu doesn't list it but I kind of figured it would come with oil and vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano and maybe basil. Kind of standard Italian sandwich stuff. No, it came with nothing. So my first bite was kind of shock when all I tasted was a mouthful of bread and a little meat. When I asked for oil and vinegar they looked at me funny and asked if I wanted mayo? On an Italian cold cut sandwich, mayonnaise, really? So the sandwich, a major letdown. My father in law got soup which he said was overly salty. My wife seemed to enjoy her Eggplant parm, so I guess the meal wasn't a total waste. If I ever come back and have a better meal I'll update this review, but I don't see myself ever coming back here.
(2)
Joseph Peter S.
The owner/operator is super niiiice. Atmosphere is great and food is unbelievable
(5)
Gwenn A.
My husband and I recently visited this restaurant with the hopes of a great meal. The waitstaff was fine and attentive. The restaurant was full house and this one waiter was very busy! We started with a bottle of white wine and the fried calamari . It was fresh and crisp with a mild marinara. We then waited for a very long time for our main dish. What a disappointment. Not worth the wait.They served the garlic bread with the meal,don't know what the rave reviews are about...a soft dinner roll that reminded me of the Texas toast krogers sells,in my book that is not garlic bread. The pasta was mushy and the chicken parm was mushy as well. The owner had come by to introduce himself in the beginning and then after we had the calamari. When he came over to find out how dinner was and we told him of this disappointment he got nasty! He walked away and ignored us from that point on. If he can't take the criticism ,he should not ask! Needless to say, often we would give a restaurant another try. In this case, Giovanni will not be on our list to return to. Do not bother wasting your hard earned dollars on this place.
(1)
Sarah B.
I decided to give Giovanni's a try after all the awesome reviews I saw here on yelp and I was not disappointed. The salad caprese was fresh and delicious. I had tortellini with pink sauce and my date had the lobster ravioli. They were both very good and so was the cannoli! Service was attentive but not pushy. I will definately be back! :)
(4)
Keith G.
Tried this place for the first time tonight. Great service and very good Italian food! I had the chicken parm and my wife had the chicken marsala. Both dishes were great. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Cameron S.
We looked up this placed based on us being in the area. Seemed like good reviews, so we stopped in. You get garlic bread and salad before your meal. The garlic bread was awesome! It was soft in the middle and crunchy around the ends. The salad (Caesar for both of us) was alright. Kinda plain, not much Parmesan or croutons. We ordered grilled shrimp Alfredo and eggplant parmigiana. Overall, not bad for the price. Staff was very nice and continually checked to make sure everything was okay.
(4)
Angie F.
Give Giovanni's five stars! The best Italian food anywhere and great service! Love the Pasta Giovanni !!
(5)
David S.
My husband and I went to dinner here after he had read all of these great reviews! We have been searching for so long for an authentic Italian restaurant that was not a chain and not ridiculously overpriced. We have been to Italy several times and are from NY where mom and pop Italian places are every where! The location is very unfortunate because it is so hidden. I've past it so many times and never saw it. I loved the atmosphere. It was very cozy and again, it was authentic. I don't know how many of you have been to Italy, but there are no over sized chairs or booths. The restaurants usually aren't big, they are quaint and cozy. The tables are usually close together. There are many overweight people in Italy and they don't complain and stop going to a restaurant because the seats are too small. Yes there was a little wait for our food, but that just adds to the authenticity for us. Italians aren't like Americans; they sit and relax, they enjoy each course and enjoy their company. It's not a rush. I'm sure if you were in a bit of a hurry that they would accommodate you. The owner, Giovanni greeted us immediately and seated us. He served us along with a waiter. They were both incredibly delightful and very attentive even though they were busy. You can tell Giovanni cares about every aspect of his restaurant, he is not afraid to jump in and do any job. I was flipping out when I saw Caprese on the menu! You can't get authentic Caprese anywhere! If it is on a menu it's either on pizza or bruschetta and well then it's not really Caprese! The Caprese was good, I like it with a little more oil and basil than it came with, but I simply asked for more and it was not a problem. I ordered the chicken Giovanni. Amazing, the chicken was so juicy and tasty. My angel hair pasta was cooked perfectly and omg the sauce! Omg! Awesome! The portions were not overly large, they were perfect! That just tells you about the quality of the food. There is no need for the massive portions that you get at most restaurants! It's just wasteful and when the concern is about the quantity, the quality is not going to be there. My husband ordered stuffed shells and it was such a great surprise. It was not your typical, ordinary stuffed shells dish. It was so good! We shared vanilla gelato and tiramisu for dessert. They were both very good. The presentation of everything was so beautiful! We cannot wait to go back! I will be trying the eggplant and I will be for sure getting a cannoli!!! I will be telling all of my friends about Giovanni's!
(5)
Jay R.
Very skeptical that Austell could house a good Italian restaurant, especially on restaurant death row in front of the defunct BJ's on East-West Connector. I'm happy to report though that yelp did not let me down! Pro's: Great food, great service, super-friendly owners. I had the Chicken Parmigiana, wife had Fettuccine Alfredo with Spinach, both were fantastic. Good wine and great, fresh salad. Con's: Ambiance. Smart business move to purchase an old Quizno's and basically throw table cloth's over their stuff, but this place has so much potential - take a look around and you will see that the Kitchen layout, soda fountain, etc.. were literally left behind and part of the purchase. A little investment could really take this place to the next level, but maybe they just need to move locations. Overall, screw the ambiance, give me good food. Giovanni's delivers.
(4)
Irma Z.
First timers....dont know if we will be repeatimers.... Sooooooo....My chicken primavera was cold. Waiter thru it out and another was made. My then, hubby had finished eating. Garlic bread was ok. Salad was good.
(3)
Gwenn A.
My husband and I recently visited this restaurant with the hopes of a great meal. The waitstaff was fine and attentive. The restaurant was full house and this one waiter was very busy! We started with a bottle of white wine and the fried calamari . It was fresh and crisp with a mild marinara. We then waited for a very long time for our main dish. What a disappointment. Not worth the wait.They served the garlic bread with the meal,don't know what the rave reviews are about...a soft dinner roll that reminded me of the Texas toast krogers sells,in my book that is not garlic bread. The pasta was mushy and the chicken parm was mushy as well. The owner had come by to introduce himself in the beginning and then after we had the calamari. When he came over to find out how dinner was and we told him of this disappointment he got nasty! He walked away and ignored us from that point on. If he can't take the criticism ,he should not ask! Needless to say, often we would give a restaurant another try. In this case, Giovanni will not be on our list to return to. Do not bother wasting your hard earned dollars on this place.
(1)
Sarah B.
I decided to give Giovanni's a try after all the awesome reviews I saw here on yelp and I was not disappointed. The salad caprese was fresh and delicious. I had tortellini with pink sauce and my date had the lobster ravioli. They were both very good and so was the cannoli! Service was attentive but not pushy. I will definately be back! :)
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Chris W.
The g/f introduced me to this spot, before we had been going to chains such as Olive Garden. This place is definitely a step up when it comes to eating Italian, it's owned and ran by a real Italian chef. As a matter of fact the owner in general is also your server and you can tell he cares about every meal that leaves his kitchen. The setup of the restaurant is pretty basic and could use some more comfortable seating and booths but the great food and service more than make up for it.
(4)Wanda B.
Omigoodness, fantastic food, fantastic service! If you're looking for a neighborhood authentic Italian experience Giovanni's is the place to go. Both tables and a few bar stools for seating, don't be bashful about going alone, but DO take a loved one or your family! Chicken Giovanni was fantastic, and the chocolate cheesecake - amazing! Staff is friendly, attentive, and the owner hangs out and makes great conversation. A must when in the area! Bravo!
(5)Scott C.
Giovanni Sorry about the mistake on the inhouse review. Great food I would recommend to anyone who love great Italian food
(5)Daniel F.
This place is really small, but awesome service and food! I had the salad and the gf had the stuffed shells both great. Would go back.
(4)Mrs. G.
This was my second visit. The first was great too. Hence the reason I came back. I ordered the chicken Giovanni both times. I've never had anything like it. The chicken is so tender and juicy. The artichoke is delicate and tender. The prices are very affordable and the staff is friendly. My only negatives would be the bread and the pizza dough (hubby ordered pizza). The dinner bread/rolls taste bland and oil-soaked. Please consider changing the recipe. The pizza dough, while not totally unpleasant could be better. Using fresh, house-made dough would further enhance the quality and dining experience.
(3)Alice H.
This is the best original old home flavors that is expected as if you were sitting in an original bistro in Italy.
(5)Christina M.
We are out in the suburbs of Atlanta and we found this unexpected treat!! Great service!!! Food is delicious!!! Tiramisu is homemade and yummy!!!
(5)Dave W.
Quite surprising. Don't be thrown off by the exterior. Veal Saltimbocca was excellent. The Prosciutto was tasty, soft, and able to be easily cut. Veal was scaloppine and soft. Better than a lot of Saltimbocca i'v had in Little Italy and the North End. Freshly 'hand' stuffed Canoli. Yum
(4)Melissa R.
I was looking for a new restaurant to try and didn't feel like going into "the city." Giovanni's received pretty good reviews, so I decided to try it out. I was not disappointed. The place is pretty nondescript, and I've just been passing by it, as I'm sure many others have. Who would have thought you would find good Italian food right off the EW Connector? My friend and I were greeted and served by the friendly owner. The food, from appetizer to dessert(tiramisu, of course) was delicious. Giovanni's has been added to my list of local faves.
(4)Debra Z.
Oh, I hate writing this - Giovanni is so nice - but the food was terrible. Over cooked meat, the garlic bread isn't great - it's just the Hawaiian rolls with butter & garlic. I had the chicken Marsala and my mom had something with chicken, and both of our meals were full of black pepper and over cooked meat. The owner, Giovanni, was so very nice, I so wish their food was better.
(2)Leslie W.
I have passed Giovanni's for years on the E-W Connector. I finally decided to give it a try today after reading the other reviews. I ordered the baked ziti and a tiramsu to go. I was impressed with the large portion of ziti. I have enough for 3 more servings! The garlic bread was good and flavorful. I was very happy that the salad was made from spinach and not iceberg. It had roma tomatoes and shredded mozzarella cheese. Very tasty. I am a true tiramisu connoisseur. It was good, but a little on the sweet side. The portion is perfect for sharing. All in all, I will return.
(4)John S.
We used help to find something different. We have driven by this little slice of Italian heaven for 7 years. We were greeted by what I assume is the owner. The Caesar salad was very appropriate to this dinning selection. We ordered the calamari and again great crunch and good fresh taste. Be sure to try the sauce that comes with the calamari as its some of the best tomato based sauce I have had. I ate the veal parmigiana and it too was fresh, tasty and very tender. My wife had stuffed shells and they were delicious. For some the pricing might see expensive but the quantity and quality of the food makes up for the price. Trust the posts here as this is definitely a jewel hidden by trees.
(5)Cindy K.
Had never eaten there even though I only live a couple minutes down the road. Service was excellent. It took a while to get our food but was worth the wait. Authentic Italian food-loved it. I will be back!
(5)Charlie K.
The Tilapia Giovani is cooked and seasoned to perfection. Giovani usually greets customers and sometimes serves. The food is wonderful but it is Giovanni that makes this place in an out of the way shopping center happen. Everyone should have at least one opportunity to eat at Giovanni's.
(5)Trish D.
My favorite fettuccini Alfredo and calamari! Such nice people there too! Pleasant warm atmosphere.
(5)German A.
Came in for a to go order with an appetizer while I waited. Ordered kalimari and it was not only cheaper than red lobsters, but better tasting, larger cuts, and bigger portion. Lasagna and salad were good. Would definitely return or recommend this place.
(5)Tyler D.
Excellent experience! The best bruschetta I've ever had. In general, the food presentation was great. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for some authentic Italian food. Enjoy!
(5)Didi L.
I wanted to love this place but I couldn't. I had the pizza. Not their fortake at all. I love a good crust and to me I didnt enjoy this crust at all. It was hard. I would like to give thme another try and I will try something else.
(3)Nik P.
I Ordered food to go. Portion was very small for $13. i live two minutes from the restaurant and by the time i got home the whole thing was cold. So i popped it in the microwave. It was very delicious. Just hate it was cold and small portion. The ravolli and sausage was good. But the sausage was an extra $3. So for a $16 entree i expect food bigger and better than chef Boyardee. I'd like to say I'd be back, but I doubt it.
(2)Raul C.
Enjoy the specials, friendship and atmosphere.
(5)GrittyLilFremont J.
Tired of Southern food? Disgusted with churlish barmaids?(read my review on The Vortex on Peachtree Street in Atlanta). Looking for some really fabulous Italian fare? Look no further! Giovanni's had some of the best, most tasty Italian food I have eaten at a restaurant in, I can't recall how long as I don't recall tasting any other Italian food that good! Well why in the heck didn't you give it 5 stars, you may ask. Well, it's pretty tough to get a 5-star from this Cook's Illustrated customer, and I must say. the garlic bread was not up to par with the rest of the food. A lot more garlic and parmesan, and some time under the broiler. That said, the owner was charming, the staff very friendly and courteous (unlike the grouchy Vortex barmaid) with plenty of Southern (and Italian!) hospitality. The prices reasonable, the portions filling, and close to our hotel. I will definitely go back if ever I am in the area again. Wish they'd open one in Gritty Lil Fremont!
(4)Sandra H.
It's good we have it a few time Will return good location people are nice good atmosphere
(5)Shawn C.
I've been going to Giovanni's for years. I love this place. It's cozy, they have a great menu selection, and their food is really good. I've enjoyed everything from their calamari to the special of the day. If you go more than twice, I guarantee you that Giovanni will know your name and how you like your food prepared.
(5)Tina A.
Delicious, authentic Italian food- When we were welcomed and seated by the owner himself, we knew we would have a good meal. We had Bruscetta Di Parma as an appetizer and it was fresh and absolutely delicious. Hubby had the chicken Giovanni and I had the Pollo Siciliano. Both dishes were cooked perfectly with plenty to take home. The outstanding service made it unnecessary to ask for anything. It's close by so we will be returning for many visits. I really want to give their pizza a try!
(5)Thomas K.
This place is a hidden treasure! Their location is the worst as no one can see them from the road! But for those of us that do know about this place, we love it! Very attentive staff the owners always come by to ensure you are having a wonderful time. The food is fresh simple and delicious! If you are in the area and hungry for some excellent Italian food that's not just another chain restaurant, I highly recommend it!
(4)Victoria Z.
My first impression was not good. It was freezing and I was bummed they did not have any soup to warm me up! The tables were a bit low so it was hard to cross my legs. Ok, maybe I was over picky because I was hungry. I quickly changed my attitude. You probably could not find a more friendly family run place in the area. I just want to hug Giovanni, he is so funny and friendly. Our server was great, too! The food was to die for, I wish I wasn't staying at a hotel so I could take home my leftovers. Everything is made fresh and the meatballs were made in house. They had a special three layer cake with strawberries and kiwi (also made fresh!) that we were lucky to get the last piece of. 5+ stars! So happy when I can find a non-chain restaurant in a new town that exceeds expectations.
(5)Carleen H.
Discovered this hole-in-the-wall Italian joint while searching online for a nice dinner place to celebrate my birthday a few years back. From day one, we were all hooked. My financée and I live around the corner and often come here on the weekends. I usually get ravioli or tortoni with a red sauce. My financée usually gets a mix of things and never leaves a bite on his plate. The portions are huge and are served with bread and a salad. Occasionally, if we have room, then we will get their cannoli (the filling is homemade). Giovanni is always there and is so warm, friendly and amusing. We absolutely love this place and the majority of people we introduce to the place, love it as well. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Michael I.
I've been coming here for years. The owner is from Italy and has brought with him some great recipes. There is nothing I've had that I didn't like. Plus, now that they can serve wine and beer, there are some great selections, hand-picked by Giovanni. I have taken many friends here, and now they are starting to bring their friends. I think that's the best complement I could give it.
(5)Jon M.
To begin with you are greeted by Giovanni, himself. Huge plus! Shows that he cares. My wife and I have eaten there a few times. The bruchetta is amazing. MUST HAVE!! I have never had anything that wasn't amazing. The wine list is nice. The food is great and the prices are more than fair. If you haven't been, you should go. Best Italian place around, hands down.
(5)Denise G.
I saw the great reviews on Yelp and had high hopes for Giovanni's. Unfortunately - I walked away feeling a little let down. We went here on a Saturday around 3pm and we were the only customers. The space is small with lots of tables really close together - so I'm glad the place was empty otherwise, I probably would have started to feel really claustrophobic. Even though the spot was empty - it took a very long time for our meals to arrive. I had the lasagna and found it bland. Not bad - but not good enough to describe as good. Matty had pasta and he doused his in salt and pepper to make it palatable. I know some places go really easy with seasonings because they are concerned about the dietary restrictions of their patrons and I can appreciate that - but in an Italian restaurant - I'm expecting to taste garlic, onion, oregano, tarragon, something! The rolls the other yelpers raved about were those hawaiian dinner rolls brushed with butter and garlic. The owner / host / server was charming - but I just can't recommend this spot.
(2)Jin K.
I pass by this place all the time and never realized it was there. This restaurant is located in front of the where the old BJ warehouse and Outback steakhouse used to be. My best friend who was in from out of town, my boy friend and I picked this place on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. The place has a nice, cozy atmosphere. We got the bruschetta appetizer and it was very tasty. It was different from your typical tomato, onion, basil mixture you find at most Italian joints. It has mushrooms on it but it was really good. My boyfriend got the chicken parmigiana and it was really good. (He inhaled his dish.) My best friend go the chicken marsala. Giovanni said some people think he put sugar in the dish but he never puts sugar in his dishes. It did taste a little sweet but it was delicious. I loved how passionate he was about his food. I got the shrimp fradiavolo. I love the little bit of spiciness to this dish. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)Max M.
If you ever find your self in Marietta, Georgia make it a point to experience Giovanni's. The ambience brings you back home, the food is excellent, and he is a great guy running a great ship! You will be grateful you did.
(5)Rutchil N.
Love this place... This is the only Italian restaurant I will eat at. This is not a chain restaurant like olive garden or scalini's so dont bother coming here if all you care about is the never ending bread rolls, soup and salads you get with a meal. Giovanni's is fantastic AUTHENTIC ITALIAN food. its always fresh. This is the place you need go if you APPRECIATE good Italian food.
(5)dena g.
Pitch perfect - expertly executed Classic Italian food with careful attention to small details that matter - fresh high quality ingredients (fresh pasta, house made pizza dough, etc), perfect crispy romaine with a chilled plate for the best Caesar salad in atlanta, fresh pasta, Alfredo sauce that is just right, and the best eggplant parmesan I've had bar none. I'm a long term fan of sotto sotto & new fan of BoccaLupo, but Giovanni's is the type of place that steals your soul - a warm neighborhood spot with excellent food at a more than fair price given the quality of the food and the owner is on site - always a good sign. I will be back, with family and friends. Ps - don't forget dessert - we tried the tiramisu - it is simply the best I've had anywhere (including in Italy)
(5)Rich B.
Looking for an authentic Italian restaurant and pizza so we followed the Yelp reviews to Giovanni's Restaurant. The dining area seemed a bit crowded with tables that also seemed too small for 4 adults and full table dishes. The staff was extremely nice but the kitchen lacked Italian diversity which may be related to the foods lacking as well. We all had different dishes including a Pizza and sorry to say they all lacked that true Italian Flavor kick!! Just was not impressed with this place.
(1)David P.
My family went back for a second round. Giovanni's topped itself. This is a restaurant that I hope to find close to home for Italian. Great food, great service and a great find.
(5)Jang C.
Giovanni's just got upgraded to 5 stars. I've been to several Italian restaurants in Atlanta that serve pasta, and Giovanni's belongs on my top 2 list for the best Italian restaurant in Atlanta. If I'm craving pasta, I don't need to go anywhere else but Giovanni's (except for that one place in Roswell that serves the best gnocci ever. Why do all the decent pasta places locate themselves far out into the suburbs?). One main reason is because of the distance. The distance helped me to come here multiple times and try out several dishes. They all tasted excellent. I don't think I had a dish here that I thought tasted just average. Trying out a wide range of dishes helped to convince me of its 5 star rating. The quality seems always high quality to me. I also did one thing I rarely do at a restaurant: I ordered dessert. Usually, when you order dessert in a restaurant, it's some ice cream and cake bought at Publix--which they charge $4 for. You can just go home and get the same dessert for much less without much effort. But Signor Giovanni assured us they hand make their cannoli. The cannoli had a deliciously creamy texture with the hard, crunchy exterior. It was also the best cannoli I had. I liked it better than Antico's since Antico's had a bit of a citrus taste (I don't like citrus in non-citrus foods). Giovanni's, instead, was just pure creamy goodness. The garlic bread is stil the best. I dream about their garlic bread. They're sweet, garlic-y, and just plain good. My only flaw I see is the salad they give you before the main entree. It's a bit boring. Oh well, you can only do so much with salad so it's no big deal. Signor Giovanni runs this small shop by himself. He does the job of being the server, and he's quite friendly and funny. The mom and pop shop feel of the place gives it a nice atmosphere. It's located at a random place in Austell, so it doesn't get as much business it deserves. At the same time, I am glad it's there since it's very close to where I live. And it's hard to find good dining where I live in Mableton. If you make a trip out to the boonies in Austell, check out this hidden gem.
(5)Patricia K.
Worth the stop! Have driven by several times. Finally stopped with a coupon. My husband had lasagne, I had spaghetti and meatball. Very good. Good Caesar salad and I loved the house dressing on my garden salad. Giovanni himself was our server, an Italian native who grew up in Boston, friendly and fun to chat with. I'll be bringing my family over the Christmas Holiday. I highly recommend Giovanni's.
(5)a r.
Went here recently and it was small and cozy. The owner, Giovanni, was the waiter on duty that night...apparently the only waiter called off. However...Giovanni was really great....he was the best thing about the place...he has warm and charming personality. It's nice to go to a small privately owned restaurant and have the owner be a part of the meal. I had pasta with pink sauce...I thought the sauce needed more cream but I was good. My friend had the lasagna and she said it was the best she ever had. The next time I have to have Italian food... I will go back.
(4)Rodney C.
This is a top notch little neighborhood Italian restaurant. The type that I thought no longer existed in the area. The food is great and the service is gear as well. The chicken parm was excellent. Like other revieweres, I agreee about the garlic bread being great. There are a ton if chain restaurants in the Smyrna/Austell area, finally I have found a good family run place.
(4)Michael W.
My wife and I came across Giovanni's by happenstance years ago, this little hole-in-the-wall type place is hidden in a tiny strip mall surrounded mostly by vacant shops. Dead buildings adjacent on all sides, Giovanni's has withstood the test of time and a recession-battered economy for good reason: impeccable and relatable service provided by the owner himself (can you guess what his name is?) and authentic, delectable Italian cuisine, complimented perfectly by a small, selectively chosen wine list. I highly recommend this hidden gem-- the chicken marsala is to die for. Also, the Italian cheese cake is hands-down amazing. I love the tiramisu with a glass of Montepulciano. Those giving poor reviews are certainly, in my humble opinion, the rare exceptions and the proof that the old cliche "you can't please everyone" is undeniably the truth.
(5)JoVonn G.
One of our neighbors recommended this restaurant to us and we have gone back several times ever since; we have also ordered carry out. The wait staff is very friendly and the food is tasty. The calamari needed some more seasoning but that's my only complaint. My husband always gets the lasagna and adds meatballs. I have tried the ravioli (spinach and meat) and the baked ziti, both were great. We really like the garlic bread that accompanies the meal. If you are looking for a good Italian meal with a small neighborhood feel, this is your place.
(4)Brad K.
Quickly turning into my favorite lunch destination! Excellent food! Friendly and fast service!
(4)Slim M.
Today was my first time at Giovanni's. My date and I found it with no issues- it's right in front of the now-defunct BJ's parking lot in a small storefront. We were greeted upon entry by a very polite employee. They started us off with garlic bread... OH. MY. GOSH. Delicioso! It was soft, buttery of course, with not too much garlic. My date ordered the chicken lasagna (comes with salad), and I went with the fettucini with shrimp. We didn't wait long before our food was brought out. Mine didn't taste good. The alfredo sauce definitely left more to be desired. Also, it had a weird aftertaste. I thought maybe my taste buds were outta order, so I wasn't gonna fuss about it- but when the same employee asked if it was ok, I decided to tell him. He gladly took it back, made the same meal but with "red sauce", as he said, and with angel hair, which was better, instead of fettucini pasta, which was quite a bit hard, but is supposed to be that way. Plus he added more shrimp! =) Service was top-notch. They are very attentive and are obviously customer service oriented; I just felt my meal was bland and had the consistency of Ragu sauce or some cheap tomato sauce. My date's meal was GREAT, however! Definitely will give them a second chance!
(3)Kurtis G.
I made the trip from Roswell after hearing about this place from my friend Brian and it was worth the drive and the search for this gem of a restaurant. I had a meatball sandwich and a salad. These are two simple things that I judge Italian restaurants on and the meatballs were large an flavorful and the salad fresh and crisp. Well done Giovanni I will be back.
(5)A B.
We visited Giovanni's Restaurant last night and had an interesting experience. First, we almost missed it. The restaurant was hidden behind a bunch of trees and surrounded by a lot of other buildings that were vacant. Second, the service was very slow .... for appetizers. We were surprised to find that we had a chance to taste the appetizer before the meal. They made it, but it was close. It took a long time to get 5 mozzarella sticks and we were very hungry by the time our main course was served. Could it be that the owner was preoccupied with cleaning? The restaurant was very clean but he cleaned when he should have been serving food or bringing over the check. Finally, a word about the serving. Instead of standing when taking the order, he and his staff, consistently bent down to chest level. Anyone who watches restaurant stakeout knows that this is a big no no. The food was good and the desert was alright.
(2)Corey B.
I enjoyed a wonderful Sunday evening dinner and glass of wine with my wife and son at Giovanni's. Fresh made pasta, incredible ravioli, chicken parmigiana, and manicotti. The owner and chef are very friendly and take pride in their food. Food is freshly made so get a glass of wine and enjoy some friendly conversation while your food is prepared.
(4)Sally K.
I could take a bath in their marinara. Everything we had was delicious, particularly the baked ziti, and the staff was awesome. I burned my tongue lapping it up, and I would do it all over again! Oh and it's a really good location for those hitting the movies and good for both couples and dates.
(5)jessica B.
I love this restaurant and I always feel very comfortable. A bit pricy, but MMMh MMh MMMH Good! My friend is a cook at this restaurant and he said the italian owner teaches them how to cook each dish and they cannot make any changes to it. I think this makes a restaurant truly authentic!
(5)Tek P.
My wife and I found this place and WOW am I glad we did. Friendly staff. Best freshest Calamari ever. My alfredo angel hair with Italian sausage was excellent. My wife had the shrimp scampi spaghetti and the sauce was incredible. The dark chocolate gelato was the perfect dessert. Raoul and Giovanni were very friendly, as was their waitstaff. GREAT FOOD. Stop reading this review and go there now. Seriously.
(5)Ej A.
I have been going to see Giovanni since the day he opened. A super nice guy who works hard to always make his restaurant better. The food is great. It is a very casual place. My wife and I often go there before catching a movie. And since I work close by we will even put down the italian lunch. I hope Giovanni has continued success and can break out of the strip mall location which certainly doesn't help him since it is hidden from the road by a bunch of trees. Check it out.
(5)Billy P.
I have to agree with the other reviews posted here. My wife and I had planned on meeting at a different restaurant, but upon discovering that it had gone out of business, I turned to "Yelp" for help. The next closest eatery with positive reviews was "Giovanni's," and so we decided to be adventurous and try it. Boy, were we glad we did! From the general appearance, it looks like your typical "italian hole in the wall" type establishment. However, upon entering, you will be greeted by an extremely friendly staff. The serving sizes are very large, and you can definitely taste that this is genuine italian food made from scratch, not the prefab frozen stuff like you often get elsewhere. Giovanni, the owner, told us that kids eat free (off the kid's menu) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. We will certainly be back, and I highly recommend it!
(5)Brian E.
If you live in Hiram or Powder Springs and enjoy good good, you have probably come to the same conclusion I did, there aren't ANY italian places in the main drag of Hiram. You just have to go a little further and then you find this gem. Not as much a secret as it used to be, Giovanni's is the place to be. Great appetizers (you won't be disappointed in the calamari, trust me), delicious entrees (stuffed shells milanese please!) and even deserts - or just more wine? You won't be disappointed and you will come back time and time again.
(5)Greg H.
Giovanni's is a small Italian eatery located in a tiny strip center just to the side of BJ's Wholesale Club, right off of the East/West Connector in Austell, as you approach the Powder Springs area. It's very easy to miss if you're not actually headed for it as the strip center is sort of just "tucked to the side" - built during the "if you build it they will come", days of insane shopping center construction in Atlanta (now gone). I'll note one thing right off the bat, and this is a first for me in the 25 years I've lived in Atlanta - this place opens at 10am on Sundays. Wow. I mean, I've NEVER seen a place that opened that early on Sundays. Since I eat out early on weekends, this is actually great for me. The owner... actually named Giovanni of all things (shocker), is a friendly guy with an Italian accent, who greeted a friend of mine and I at the door to seat us. He's authentically Italian (yes, as in was born in Italy). Due to the weather and time, we were the first patrons of the day. Ok, I'll have to lay my only real complaint on this place right up front - I hate the seating. The restaurant is small and very clean, but the seating consists of some tall round tables with bar stools, with the rest being those tiny little square tables like you see in fast food places, with smaller, shorter, solid wood chairs. No booths. You know how I am about booths. Ugh. I'm larger than average, and sitting in the chairs at these tables took me back to the days of eating in the Junior High cafeteria. A family of four came in later and they looked very squished trying to squeeze in at their table - as though sitting at kiddie seats. Ok, so that's my only complaint of any significance for this place, but I will have to say they need larger and more comfortable seating! My ass can't handle a long and leisure meal in seats like that. The rest is good: My Chicken Parmigiana came as a HUGE sized portion of Chicken (could have used slightly more cheese), and my friend's Spaghetti and Meatballs was also a healthy portion as well. The sauce was excellent - you can tell it's homemade, and does not contain too much Garlic, which a lot of places are guilty of. Both dinners came with a side salad that consisted of Spinach leaves, onions, and tomatoes, as well as a side of Garlic bread. The sweet iced tea was VERY sweet (but I like it that way) and the drinks were kept full. The menu has your basic items cooked per claims in a more traditional Italian way, such as Ravioli, Lasagna (available in Chicken as well), Marsala, Scampi, and more. Sandwiches, Appetizers, and Deserts are available. Of one note - they do NOT serve pizza, and due to size/space/time constrictions we can understand this decision, but it would have been nice to have seen one pizza item on the menu - perhaps a personal sized traditional Italian "Margherita" pizza (?) The cooks were behind a semi-open cook area and dressed professionally, and a peek behind that area showed it to be kept very clean. As stated earlier, the entire place was very clean, and even the restroom was spotless and actually decorated - not the norm for a men's room, but a welcome edition to an overall pleasant eating experience. Other than the uncomfortable (for me) seating which is the only reason I took one star off the rating, our experience with Giovanni's was a good one, and we will return again. Once you actually find it hidden away back there, you'll wonder why you didn't see it earlier. I suggest a visit.
(4)Kristin Z.
My boyfriend and I recently visited Giovanni's. We could not say a bad thing about the restaurant. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Giovanni greets you and is your server. The food...amazing. You get a good portion and everything tastes fresh. All of the desserts are homemade. I ate this chocolate cheesecake that Giovanni said was his mother's recipe. I asked about the cannoli and he said they make the shells fresh as well. I've never seen that before. Most restaurants have frozen ones. I wish Giovanni's wasn't in such a dead-end strip mall. Its easy to miss if you're driving by looking for a place to eat. I hope he can make enough revenue to find a different location. He deserves it.
(5)Sharla S.
Recently found this little gem in Austell, and am so glad we did. Friendly and casual, but the food is top notch. We took our five year old and they had a great kids menu. We had the fresh calamari, and it was excellent. Be forewarned, it's not all rings, the tentacle pieces are in there too. I had the fettucini alfredo and my husband had the lasagna. Both were made with fresh pasta and were melt in your mouth good. We will absolutely be going back!
(5)Teddy D.
I always said I'd never be that guy. The kind that writes a negative review after one visit to a restaurant. But I call it like I see it and after reading all of the really positive reviews this place was major let down. Let's start on a positive note, the staff were attentive and friendly, the place was clean and had lots of parking. The waiter was a middle aged guy, really nice but he didn't know the menu. He had a hard time taking our order and kind of struggled through it. It wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't a waiter but the manager or something. Our food came out in a timely manner and my glass was always full. However, my 5 year old niece could have made me a better "Italian Cold Cut Sandwich". Maybe it's my fault, I got exactly what the menu said "salami, prosciutto, sopreseta, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomatoes". I just figured it would be more than one thin layer of each. The meat layer of the sandwich was embarrassingly thin, like how Subway puts meat on a sandwich, 1 thin layer of each kind of meat. Not only that, it came with ONE tomato slice on the side and a small bed of lettuce. To make matter worse there was no dressing at all on it. I know the menu doesn't list it but I kind of figured it would come with oil and vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano and maybe basil. Kind of standard Italian sandwich stuff. No, it came with nothing. So my first bite was kind of shock when all I tasted was a mouthful of bread and a little meat. When I asked for oil and vinegar they looked at me funny and asked if I wanted mayo? On an Italian cold cut sandwich, mayonnaise, really? So the sandwich, a major letdown. My father in law got soup which he said was overly salty. My wife seemed to enjoy her Eggplant parm, so I guess the meal wasn't a total waste. If I ever come back and have a better meal I'll update this review, but I don't see myself ever coming back here.
(2)Joseph Peter S.
The owner/operator is super niiiice. Atmosphere is great and food is unbelievable
(5)Jamie L.
Great little known spot. Even the side salad was good! It's hidden but a great find. Check them out.
(5)Robert A.
I came here for lunch and was very happy that I did. First off, the owner himself is a very pleasant person to talk to and makes you feel like an appreciated guest. I ordered the fried calamari and it was light, non greasy and the sauce that came with it had a real homemade flavor to it. Overall it was one of the best calamari dishes I ever had. Then I had the meatball sub with french fries. Again, the sauce was very good, the fries were crisp and the meatballs had good flavor to them. I will be back for diner with my wife to try more items but at least this place knows how to cook the basics very well. I highly advise to check it out.
(4)Lauren M.
Awesome service. Giovanni himself served us our food, made us laugh, and killed it in the kitchen! He let me build my own dish, yum! Defiantly the best food in the area, and cheap!
(5)Ben C.
Outstanding service, exquisite food, and my new favorite Italian restaurant.
(5)L B.
Very good food. Really big portions. My only complaint is that some of the lettuce in my salad had dirt on it.
(4)Jin K.
I pass by this place all the time and never realized it was there. This restaurant is located in front of the where the old BJ warehouse and Outback steakhouse used to be. My best friend who was in from out of town, my boy friend and I picked this place on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. The place has a nice, cozy atmosphere. We got the bruschetta appetizer and it was very tasty. It was different from your typical tomato, onion, basil mixture you find at most Italian joints. It has mushrooms on it but it was really good. My boyfriend got the chicken parmigiana and it was really good. (He inhaled his dish.) My best friend go the chicken marsala. Giovanni said some people think he put sugar in the dish but he never puts sugar in his dishes. It did taste a little sweet but it was delicious. I loved how passionate he was about his food. I got the shrimp fradiavolo. I love the little bit of spiciness to this dish. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)Max M.
If you ever find your self in Marietta, Georgia make it a point to experience Giovanni's. The ambience brings you back home, the food is excellent, and he is a great guy running a great ship! You will be grateful you did.
(5)Rutchil N.
Love this place... This is the only Italian restaurant I will eat at. This is not a chain restaurant like olive garden or scalini's so dont bother coming here if all you care about is the never ending bread rolls, soup and salads you get with a meal. Giovanni's is fantastic AUTHENTIC ITALIAN food. its always fresh. This is the place you need go if you APPRECIATE good Italian food.
(5)dena g.
Pitch perfect - expertly executed Classic Italian food with careful attention to small details that matter - fresh high quality ingredients (fresh pasta, house made pizza dough, etc), perfect crispy romaine with a chilled plate for the best Caesar salad in atlanta, fresh pasta, Alfredo sauce that is just right, and the best eggplant parmesan I've had bar none. I'm a long term fan of sotto sotto & new fan of BoccaLupo, but Giovanni's is the type of place that steals your soul - a warm neighborhood spot with excellent food at a more than fair price given the quality of the food and the owner is on site - always a good sign. I will be back, with family and friends. Ps - don't forget dessert - we tried the tiramisu - it is simply the best I've had anywhere (including in Italy)
(5)Rich B.
Looking for an authentic Italian restaurant and pizza so we followed the Yelp reviews to Giovanni's Restaurant. The dining area seemed a bit crowded with tables that also seemed too small for 4 adults and full table dishes. The staff was extremely nice but the kitchen lacked Italian diversity which may be related to the foods lacking as well. We all had different dishes including a Pizza and sorry to say they all lacked that true Italian Flavor kick!! Just was not impressed with this place.
(1)David P.
My family went back for a second round. Giovanni's topped itself. This is a restaurant that I hope to find close to home for Italian. Great food, great service and a great find.
(5)GrittyLilFremont J.
Tired of Southern food? Disgusted with churlish barmaids?(read my review on The Vortex on Peachtree Street in Atlanta). Looking for some really fabulous Italian fare? Look no further! Giovanni's had some of the best, most tasty Italian food I have eaten at a restaurant in, I can't recall how long as I don't recall tasting any other Italian food that good! Well why in the heck didn't you give it 5 stars, you may ask. Well, it's pretty tough to get a 5-star from this Cook's Illustrated customer, and I must say. the garlic bread was not up to par with the rest of the food. A lot more garlic and parmesan, and some time under the broiler. That said, the owner was charming, the staff very friendly and courteous (unlike the grouchy Vortex barmaid) with plenty of Southern (and Italian!) hospitality. The prices reasonable, the portions filling, and close to our hotel. I will definitely go back if ever I am in the area again. Wish they'd open one in Gritty Lil Fremont!
(4)Sandra H.
It's good we have it a few time Will return good location people are nice good atmosphere
(5)Shawn C.
I've been going to Giovanni's for years. I love this place. It's cozy, they have a great menu selection, and their food is really good. I've enjoyed everything from their calamari to the special of the day. If you go more than twice, I guarantee you that Giovanni will know your name and how you like your food prepared.
(5)Tina A.
Delicious, authentic Italian food- When we were welcomed and seated by the owner himself, we knew we would have a good meal. We had Bruscetta Di Parma as an appetizer and it was fresh and absolutely delicious. Hubby had the chicken Giovanni and I had the Pollo Siciliano. Both dishes were cooked perfectly with plenty to take home. The outstanding service made it unnecessary to ask for anything. It's close by so we will be returning for many visits. I really want to give their pizza a try!
(5)Thomas K.
This place is a hidden treasure! Their location is the worst as no one can see them from the road! But for those of us that do know about this place, we love it! Very attentive staff the owners always come by to ensure you are having a wonderful time. The food is fresh simple and delicious! If you are in the area and hungry for some excellent Italian food that's not just another chain restaurant, I highly recommend it!
(4)Victoria Z.
My first impression was not good. It was freezing and I was bummed they did not have any soup to warm me up! The tables were a bit low so it was hard to cross my legs. Ok, maybe I was over picky because I was hungry. I quickly changed my attitude. You probably could not find a more friendly family run place in the area. I just want to hug Giovanni, he is so funny and friendly. Our server was great, too! The food was to die for, I wish I wasn't staying at a hotel so I could take home my leftovers. Everything is made fresh and the meatballs were made in house. They had a special three layer cake with strawberries and kiwi (also made fresh!) that we were lucky to get the last piece of. 5+ stars! So happy when I can find a non-chain restaurant in a new town that exceeds expectations.
(5)Wanda B.
Omigoodness, fantastic food, fantastic service! If you're looking for a neighborhood authentic Italian experience Giovanni's is the place to go. Both tables and a few bar stools for seating, don't be bashful about going alone, but DO take a loved one or your family! Chicken Giovanni was fantastic, and the chocolate cheesecake - amazing! Staff is friendly, attentive, and the owner hangs out and makes great conversation. A must when in the area! Bravo!
(5)Scott C.
Giovanni Sorry about the mistake on the inhouse review. Great food I would recommend to anyone who love great Italian food
(5)Allen J.
A great spot for dinner, when they don't close early. We planned on going there during business hours. I even called to make sure they were open. The guy I spoke with told me they were open until 9pm. When we arrived at 7:30 I was surprised to see the restaurant closed and the staff leaving to their vehicles. When I talked to them to explain why that was a bad practice they couldn't have cared less. Even when I explained that I called and was told they would be open, nobody cared. It ended up working up just fine, because we went next door to the Caribbean Connection, they were open until they advertised as so. And the food was phenomenal. Use caution when choosing Giovanni's, as they may or may not be open. Will not return to Giovanni's myself. Allen
(1)Keith G.
Tried this place for the first time tonight. Great service and very good Italian food! I had the chicken parm and my wife had the chicken marsala. Both dishes were great. We will definitely be back!
(5)Daniel F.
This place is really small, but awesome service and food! I had the salad and the gf had the stuffed shells both great. Would go back.
(4)Mrs. G.
This was my second visit. The first was great too. Hence the reason I came back. I ordered the chicken Giovanni both times. I've never had anything like it. The chicken is so tender and juicy. The artichoke is delicate and tender. The prices are very affordable and the staff is friendly. My only negatives would be the bread and the pizza dough (hubby ordered pizza). The dinner bread/rolls taste bland and oil-soaked. Please consider changing the recipe. The pizza dough, while not totally unpleasant could be better. Using fresh, house-made dough would further enhance the quality and dining experience.
(3)Cameron S.
We looked up this placed based on us being in the area. Seemed like good reviews, so we stopped in. You get garlic bread and salad before your meal. The garlic bread was awesome! It was soft in the middle and crunchy around the ends. The salad (Caesar for both of us) was alright. Kinda plain, not much Parmesan or croutons. We ordered grilled shrimp Alfredo and eggplant parmigiana. Overall, not bad for the price. Staff was very nice and continually checked to make sure everything was okay.
(4)Angie F.
Give Giovanni's five stars! The best Italian food anywhere and great service! Love the Pasta Giovanni !!
(5)John S.
We used help to find something different. We have driven by this little slice of Italian heaven for 7 years. We were greeted by what I assume is the owner. The Caesar salad was very appropriate to this dinning selection. We ordered the calamari and again great crunch and good fresh taste. Be sure to try the sauce that comes with the calamari as its some of the best tomato based sauce I have had. I ate the veal parmigiana and it too was fresh, tasty and very tender. My wife had stuffed shells and they were delicious. For some the pricing might see expensive but the quantity and quality of the food makes up for the price. Trust the posts here as this is definitely a jewel hidden by trees.
(5)Cindy K.
Had never eaten there even though I only live a couple minutes down the road. Service was excellent. It took a while to get our food but was worth the wait. Authentic Italian food-loved it. I will be back!
(5)Charlie K.
The Tilapia Giovani is cooked and seasoned to perfection. Giovani usually greets customers and sometimes serves. The food is wonderful but it is Giovanni that makes this place in an out of the way shopping center happen. Everyone should have at least one opportunity to eat at Giovanni's.
(5)Trish D.
My favorite fettuccini Alfredo and calamari! Such nice people there too! Pleasant warm atmosphere.
(5)German A.
Came in for a to go order with an appetizer while I waited. Ordered kalimari and it was not only cheaper than red lobsters, but better tasting, larger cuts, and bigger portion. Lasagna and salad were good. Would definitely return or recommend this place.
(5)Tyler D.
Excellent experience! The best bruschetta I've ever had. In general, the food presentation was great. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for some authentic Italian food. Enjoy!
(5)Didi L.
I wanted to love this place but I couldn't. I had the pizza. Not their fortake at all. I love a good crust and to me I didnt enjoy this crust at all. It was hard. I would like to give thme another try and I will try something else.
(3)Nik P.
I Ordered food to go. Portion was very small for $13. i live two minutes from the restaurant and by the time i got home the whole thing was cold. So i popped it in the microwave. It was very delicious. Just hate it was cold and small portion. The ravolli and sausage was good. But the sausage was an extra $3. So for a $16 entree i expect food bigger and better than chef Boyardee. I'd like to say I'd be back, but I doubt it.
(2)Raul C.
Enjoy the specials, friendship and atmosphere.
(5)Carleen H.
Discovered this hole-in-the-wall Italian joint while searching online for a nice dinner place to celebrate my birthday a few years back. From day one, we were all hooked. My financée and I live around the corner and often come here on the weekends. I usually get ravioli or tortoni with a red sauce. My financée usually gets a mix of things and never leaves a bite on his plate. The portions are huge and are served with bread and a salad. Occasionally, if we have room, then we will get their cannoli (the filling is homemade). Giovanni is always there and is so warm, friendly and amusing. We absolutely love this place and the majority of people we introduce to the place, love it as well. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Michael I.
I've been coming here for years. The owner is from Italy and has brought with him some great recipes. There is nothing I've had that I didn't like. Plus, now that they can serve wine and beer, there are some great selections, hand-picked by Giovanni. I have taken many friends here, and now they are starting to bring their friends. I think that's the best complement I could give it.
(5)Jon M.
To begin with you are greeted by Giovanni, himself. Huge plus! Shows that he cares. My wife and I have eaten there a few times. The bruchetta is amazing. MUST HAVE!! I have never had anything that wasn't amazing. The wine list is nice. The food is great and the prices are more than fair. If you haven't been, you should go. Best Italian place around, hands down.
(5)Denise G.
I saw the great reviews on Yelp and had high hopes for Giovanni's. Unfortunately - I walked away feeling a little let down. We went here on a Saturday around 3pm and we were the only customers. The space is small with lots of tables really close together - so I'm glad the place was empty otherwise, I probably would have started to feel really claustrophobic. Even though the spot was empty - it took a very long time for our meals to arrive. I had the lasagna and found it bland. Not bad - but not good enough to describe as good. Matty had pasta and he doused his in salt and pepper to make it palatable. I know some places go really easy with seasonings because they are concerned about the dietary restrictions of their patrons and I can appreciate that - but in an Italian restaurant - I'm expecting to taste garlic, onion, oregano, tarragon, something! The rolls the other yelpers raved about were those hawaiian dinner rolls brushed with butter and garlic. The owner / host / server was charming - but I just can't recommend this spot.
(2)Patricia K.
Worth the stop! Have driven by several times. Finally stopped with a coupon. My husband had lasagne, I had spaghetti and meatball. Very good. Good Caesar salad and I loved the house dressing on my garden salad. Giovanni himself was our server, an Italian native who grew up in Boston, friendly and fun to chat with. I'll be bringing my family over the Christmas Holiday. I highly recommend Giovanni's.
(5)Dave W.
Quite surprising. Don't be thrown off by the exterior. Veal Saltimbocca was excellent. The Prosciutto was tasty, soft, and able to be easily cut. Veal was scaloppine and soft. Better than a lot of Saltimbocca i'v had in Little Italy and the North End. Freshly 'hand' stuffed Canoli. Yum
(4)Melissa R.
I was looking for a new restaurant to try and didn't feel like going into "the city." Giovanni's received pretty good reviews, so I decided to try it out. I was not disappointed. The place is pretty nondescript, and I've just been passing by it, as I'm sure many others have. Who would have thought you would find good Italian food right off the EW Connector? My friend and I were greeted and served by the friendly owner. The food, from appetizer to dessert(tiramisu, of course) was delicious. Giovanni's has been added to my list of local faves.
(4)Jang C.
Giovanni's just got upgraded to 5 stars. I've been to several Italian restaurants in Atlanta that serve pasta, and Giovanni's belongs on my top 2 list for the best Italian restaurant in Atlanta. If I'm craving pasta, I don't need to go anywhere else but Giovanni's (except for that one place in Roswell that serves the best gnocci ever. Why do all the decent pasta places locate themselves far out into the suburbs?). One main reason is because of the distance. The distance helped me to come here multiple times and try out several dishes. They all tasted excellent. I don't think I had a dish here that I thought tasted just average. Trying out a wide range of dishes helped to convince me of its 5 star rating. The quality seems always high quality to me. I also did one thing I rarely do at a restaurant: I ordered dessert. Usually, when you order dessert in a restaurant, it's some ice cream and cake bought at Publix--which they charge $4 for. You can just go home and get the same dessert for much less without much effort. But Signor Giovanni assured us they hand make their cannoli. The cannoli had a deliciously creamy texture with the hard, crunchy exterior. It was also the best cannoli I had. I liked it better than Antico's since Antico's had a bit of a citrus taste (I don't like citrus in non-citrus foods). Giovanni's, instead, was just pure creamy goodness. The garlic bread is stil the best. I dream about their garlic bread. They're sweet, garlic-y, and just plain good. My only flaw I see is the salad they give you before the main entree. It's a bit boring. Oh well, you can only do so much with salad so it's no big deal. Signor Giovanni runs this small shop by himself. He does the job of being the server, and he's quite friendly and funny. The mom and pop shop feel of the place gives it a nice atmosphere. It's located at a random place in Austell, so it doesn't get as much business it deserves. At the same time, I am glad it's there since it's very close to where I live. And it's hard to find good dining where I live in Mableton. If you make a trip out to the boonies in Austell, check out this hidden gem.
(5)a r.
Went here recently and it was small and cozy. The owner, Giovanni, was the waiter on duty that night...apparently the only waiter called off. However...Giovanni was really great....he was the best thing about the place...he has warm and charming personality. It's nice to go to a small privately owned restaurant and have the owner be a part of the meal. I had pasta with pink sauce...I thought the sauce needed more cream but I was good. My friend had the lasagna and she said it was the best she ever had. The next time I have to have Italian food... I will go back.
(4)Rodney C.
This is a top notch little neighborhood Italian restaurant. The type that I thought no longer existed in the area. The food is great and the service is gear as well. The chicken parm was excellent. Like other revieweres, I agreee about the garlic bread being great. There are a ton if chain restaurants in the Smyrna/Austell area, finally I have found a good family run place.
(4)Alice H.
This is the best original old home flavors that is expected as if you were sitting in an original bistro in Italy.
(5)Christina M.
We are out in the suburbs of Atlanta and we found this unexpected treat!! Great service!!! Food is delicious!!! Tiramisu is homemade and yummy!!!
(5)Michael W.
My wife and I came across Giovanni's by happenstance years ago, this little hole-in-the-wall type place is hidden in a tiny strip mall surrounded mostly by vacant shops. Dead buildings adjacent on all sides, Giovanni's has withstood the test of time and a recession-battered economy for good reason: impeccable and relatable service provided by the owner himself (can you guess what his name is?) and authentic, delectable Italian cuisine, complimented perfectly by a small, selectively chosen wine list. I highly recommend this hidden gem-- the chicken marsala is to die for. Also, the Italian cheese cake is hands-down amazing. I love the tiramisu with a glass of Montepulciano. Those giving poor reviews are certainly, in my humble opinion, the rare exceptions and the proof that the old cliche "you can't please everyone" is undeniably the truth.
(5)JoVonn G.
One of our neighbors recommended this restaurant to us and we have gone back several times ever since; we have also ordered carry out. The wait staff is very friendly and the food is tasty. The calamari needed some more seasoning but that's my only complaint. My husband always gets the lasagna and adds meatballs. I have tried the ravioli (spinach and meat) and the baked ziti, both were great. We really like the garlic bread that accompanies the meal. If you are looking for a good Italian meal with a small neighborhood feel, this is your place.
(4)Brad K.
Quickly turning into my favorite lunch destination! Excellent food! Friendly and fast service!
(4)Slim M.
Today was my first time at Giovanni's. My date and I found it with no issues- it's right in front of the now-defunct BJ's parking lot in a small storefront. We were greeted upon entry by a very polite employee. They started us off with garlic bread... OH. MY. GOSH. Delicioso! It was soft, buttery of course, with not too much garlic. My date ordered the chicken lasagna (comes with salad), and I went with the fettucini with shrimp. We didn't wait long before our food was brought out. Mine didn't taste good. The alfredo sauce definitely left more to be desired. Also, it had a weird aftertaste. I thought maybe my taste buds were outta order, so I wasn't gonna fuss about it- but when the same employee asked if it was ok, I decided to tell him. He gladly took it back, made the same meal but with "red sauce", as he said, and with angel hair, which was better, instead of fettucini pasta, which was quite a bit hard, but is supposed to be that way. Plus he added more shrimp! =) Service was top-notch. They are very attentive and are obviously customer service oriented; I just felt my meal was bland and had the consistency of Ragu sauce or some cheap tomato sauce. My date's meal was GREAT, however! Definitely will give them a second chance!
(3)Kurtis G.
I made the trip from Roswell after hearing about this place from my friend Brian and it was worth the drive and the search for this gem of a restaurant. I had a meatball sandwich and a salad. These are two simple things that I judge Italian restaurants on and the meatballs were large an flavorful and the salad fresh and crisp. Well done Giovanni I will be back.
(5)A B.
We visited Giovanni's Restaurant last night and had an interesting experience. First, we almost missed it. The restaurant was hidden behind a bunch of trees and surrounded by a lot of other buildings that were vacant. Second, the service was very slow .... for appetizers. We were surprised to find that we had a chance to taste the appetizer before the meal. They made it, but it was close. It took a long time to get 5 mozzarella sticks and we were very hungry by the time our main course was served. Could it be that the owner was preoccupied with cleaning? The restaurant was very clean but he cleaned when he should have been serving food or bringing over the check. Finally, a word about the serving. Instead of standing when taking the order, he and his staff, consistently bent down to chest level. Anyone who watches restaurant stakeout knows that this is a big no no. The food was good and the desert was alright.
(2)Debra Z.
Oh, I hate writing this - Giovanni is so nice - but the food was terrible. Over cooked meat, the garlic bread isn't great - it's just the Hawaiian rolls with butter & garlic. I had the chicken Marsala and my mom had something with chicken, and both of our meals were full of black pepper and over cooked meat. The owner, Giovanni, was so very nice, I so wish their food was better.
(2)Corey B.
I enjoyed a wonderful Sunday evening dinner and glass of wine with my wife and son at Giovanni's. Fresh made pasta, incredible ravioli, chicken parmigiana, and manicotti. The owner and chef are very friendly and take pride in their food. Food is freshly made so get a glass of wine and enjoy some friendly conversation while your food is prepared.
(4)Sally K.
I could take a bath in their marinara. Everything we had was delicious, particularly the baked ziti, and the staff was awesome. I burned my tongue lapping it up, and I would do it all over again! Oh and it's a really good location for those hitting the movies and good for both couples and dates.
(5)David S.
My husband and I went to dinner here after he had read all of these great reviews! We have been searching for so long for an authentic Italian restaurant that was not a chain and not ridiculously overpriced. We have been to Italy several times and are from NY where mom and pop Italian places are every where! The location is very unfortunate because it is so hidden. I've past it so many times and never saw it. I loved the atmosphere. It was very cozy and again, it was authentic. I don't know how many of you have been to Italy, but there are no over sized chairs or booths. The restaurants usually aren't big, they are quaint and cozy. The tables are usually close together. There are many overweight people in Italy and they don't complain and stop going to a restaurant because the seats are too small. Yes there was a little wait for our food, but that just adds to the authenticity for us. Italians aren't like Americans; they sit and relax, they enjoy each course and enjoy their company. It's not a rush. I'm sure if you were in a bit of a hurry that they would accommodate you. The owner, Giovanni greeted us immediately and seated us. He served us along with a waiter. They were both incredibly delightful and very attentive even though they were busy. You can tell Giovanni cares about every aspect of his restaurant, he is not afraid to jump in and do any job. I was flipping out when I saw Caprese on the menu! You can't get authentic Caprese anywhere! If it is on a menu it's either on pizza or bruschetta and well then it's not really Caprese! The Caprese was good, I like it with a little more oil and basil than it came with, but I simply asked for more and it was not a problem. I ordered the chicken Giovanni. Amazing, the chicken was so juicy and tasty. My angel hair pasta was cooked perfectly and omg the sauce! Omg! Awesome! The portions were not overly large, they were perfect! That just tells you about the quality of the food. There is no need for the massive portions that you get at most restaurants! It's just wasteful and when the concern is about the quantity, the quality is not going to be there. My husband ordered stuffed shells and it was such a great surprise. It was not your typical, ordinary stuffed shells dish. It was so good! We shared vanilla gelato and tiramisu for dessert. They were both very good. The presentation of everything was so beautiful! We cannot wait to go back! I will be trying the eggplant and I will be for sure getting a cannoli!!! I will be telling all of my friends about Giovanni's!
(5)Jay R.
Very skeptical that Austell could house a good Italian restaurant, especially on restaurant death row in front of the defunct BJ's on East-West Connector. I'm happy to report though that yelp did not let me down! Pro's: Great food, great service, super-friendly owners. I had the Chicken Parmigiana, wife had Fettuccine Alfredo with Spinach, both were fantastic. Good wine and great, fresh salad. Con's: Ambiance. Smart business move to purchase an old Quizno's and basically throw table cloth's over their stuff, but this place has so much potential - take a look around and you will see that the Kitchen layout, soda fountain, etc.. were literally left behind and part of the purchase. A little investment could really take this place to the next level, but maybe they just need to move locations. Overall, screw the ambiance, give me good food. Giovanni's delivers.
(4)Irma Z.
First timers....dont know if we will be repeatimers.... Sooooooo....My chicken primavera was cold. Waiter thru it out and another was made. My then, hubby had finished eating. Garlic bread was ok. Salad was good.
(3)jessica B.
I love this restaurant and I always feel very comfortable. A bit pricy, but MMMh MMh MMMH Good! My friend is a cook at this restaurant and he said the italian owner teaches them how to cook each dish and they cannot make any changes to it. I think this makes a restaurant truly authentic!
(5)Tek P.
My wife and I found this place and WOW am I glad we did. Friendly staff. Best freshest Calamari ever. My alfredo angel hair with Italian sausage was excellent. My wife had the shrimp scampi spaghetti and the sauce was incredible. The dark chocolate gelato was the perfect dessert. Raoul and Giovanni were very friendly, as was their waitstaff. GREAT FOOD. Stop reading this review and go there now. Seriously.
(5)Ej A.
I have been going to see Giovanni since the day he opened. A super nice guy who works hard to always make his restaurant better. The food is great. It is a very casual place. My wife and I often go there before catching a movie. And since I work close by we will even put down the italian lunch. I hope Giovanni has continued success and can break out of the strip mall location which certainly doesn't help him since it is hidden from the road by a bunch of trees. Check it out.
(5)Leslie W.
I have passed Giovanni's for years on the E-W Connector. I finally decided to give it a try today after reading the other reviews. I ordered the baked ziti and a tiramsu to go. I was impressed with the large portion of ziti. I have enough for 3 more servings! The garlic bread was good and flavorful. I was very happy that the salad was made from spinach and not iceberg. It had roma tomatoes and shredded mozzarella cheese. Very tasty. I am a true tiramisu connoisseur. It was good, but a little on the sweet side. The portion is perfect for sharing. All in all, I will return.
(4)Robert A.
I came here for lunch and was very happy that I did. First off, the owner himself is a very pleasant person to talk to and makes you feel like an appreciated guest. I ordered the fried calamari and it was light, non greasy and the sauce that came with it had a real homemade flavor to it. Overall it was one of the best calamari dishes I ever had. Then I had the meatball sub with french fries. Again, the sauce was very good, the fries were crisp and the meatballs had good flavor to them. I will be back for diner with my wife to try more items but at least this place knows how to cook the basics very well. I highly advise to check it out.
(4)Lauren M.
Awesome service. Giovanni himself served us our food, made us laugh, and killed it in the kitchen! He let me build my own dish, yum! Defiantly the best food in the area, and cheap!
(5)Ben C.
Outstanding service, exquisite food, and my new favorite Italian restaurant.
(5)L B.
Very good food. Really big portions. My only complaint is that some of the lettuce in my salad had dirt on it.
(4)Chris W.
The g/f introduced me to this spot, before we had been going to chains such as Olive Garden. This place is definitely a step up when it comes to eating Italian, it's owned and ran by a real Italian chef. As a matter of fact the owner in general is also your server and you can tell he cares about every meal that leaves his kitchen. The setup of the restaurant is pretty basic and could use some more comfortable seating and booths but the great food and service more than make up for it.
(4)Greg H.
Giovanni's is a small Italian eatery located in a tiny strip center just to the side of BJ's Wholesale Club, right off of the East/West Connector in Austell, as you approach the Powder Springs area. It's very easy to miss if you're not actually headed for it as the strip center is sort of just "tucked to the side" - built during the "if you build it they will come", days of insane shopping center construction in Atlanta (now gone). I'll note one thing right off the bat, and this is a first for me in the 25 years I've lived in Atlanta - this place opens at 10am on Sundays. Wow. I mean, I've NEVER seen a place that opened that early on Sundays. Since I eat out early on weekends, this is actually great for me. The owner... actually named Giovanni of all things (shocker), is a friendly guy with an Italian accent, who greeted a friend of mine and I at the door to seat us. He's authentically Italian (yes, as in was born in Italy). Due to the weather and time, we were the first patrons of the day. Ok, I'll have to lay my only real complaint on this place right up front - I hate the seating. The restaurant is small and very clean, but the seating consists of some tall round tables with bar stools, with the rest being those tiny little square tables like you see in fast food places, with smaller, shorter, solid wood chairs. No booths. You know how I am about booths. Ugh. I'm larger than average, and sitting in the chairs at these tables took me back to the days of eating in the Junior High cafeteria. A family of four came in later and they looked very squished trying to squeeze in at their table - as though sitting at kiddie seats. Ok, so that's my only complaint of any significance for this place, but I will have to say they need larger and more comfortable seating! My ass can't handle a long and leisure meal in seats like that. The rest is good: My Chicken Parmigiana came as a HUGE sized portion of Chicken (could have used slightly more cheese), and my friend's Spaghetti and Meatballs was also a healthy portion as well. The sauce was excellent - you can tell it's homemade, and does not contain too much Garlic, which a lot of places are guilty of. Both dinners came with a side salad that consisted of Spinach leaves, onions, and tomatoes, as well as a side of Garlic bread. The sweet iced tea was VERY sweet (but I like it that way) and the drinks were kept full. The menu has your basic items cooked per claims in a more traditional Italian way, such as Ravioli, Lasagna (available in Chicken as well), Marsala, Scampi, and more. Sandwiches, Appetizers, and Deserts are available. Of one note - they do NOT serve pizza, and due to size/space/time constrictions we can understand this decision, but it would have been nice to have seen one pizza item on the menu - perhaps a personal sized traditional Italian "Margherita" pizza (?) The cooks were behind a semi-open cook area and dressed professionally, and a peek behind that area showed it to be kept very clean. As stated earlier, the entire place was very clean, and even the restroom was spotless and actually decorated - not the norm for a men's room, but a welcome edition to an overall pleasant eating experience. Other than the uncomfortable (for me) seating which is the only reason I took one star off the rating, our experience with Giovanni's was a good one, and we will return again. Once you actually find it hidden away back there, you'll wonder why you didn't see it earlier. I suggest a visit.
(4)Billy P.
I have to agree with the other reviews posted here. My wife and I had planned on meeting at a different restaurant, but upon discovering that it had gone out of business, I turned to "Yelp" for help. The next closest eatery with positive reviews was "Giovanni's," and so we decided to be adventurous and try it. Boy, were we glad we did! From the general appearance, it looks like your typical "italian hole in the wall" type establishment. However, upon entering, you will be greeted by an extremely friendly staff. The serving sizes are very large, and you can definitely taste that this is genuine italian food made from scratch, not the prefab frozen stuff like you often get elsewhere. Giovanni, the owner, told us that kids eat free (off the kid's menu) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. We will certainly be back, and I highly recommend it!
(5)Brian E.
If you live in Hiram or Powder Springs and enjoy good good, you have probably come to the same conclusion I did, there aren't ANY italian places in the main drag of Hiram. You just have to go a little further and then you find this gem. Not as much a secret as it used to be, Giovanni's is the place to be. Great appetizers (you won't be disappointed in the calamari, trust me), delicious entrees (stuffed shells milanese please!) and even deserts - or just more wine? You won't be disappointed and you will come back time and time again.
(5)Kristin Z.
My boyfriend and I recently visited Giovanni's. We could not say a bad thing about the restaurant. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Giovanni greets you and is your server. The food...amazing. You get a good portion and everything tastes fresh. All of the desserts are homemade. I ate this chocolate cheesecake that Giovanni said was his mother's recipe. I asked about the cannoli and he said they make the shells fresh as well. I've never seen that before. Most restaurants have frozen ones. I wish Giovanni's wasn't in such a dead-end strip mall. Its easy to miss if you're driving by looking for a place to eat. I hope he can make enough revenue to find a different location. He deserves it.
(5)Sharla S.
Recently found this little gem in Austell, and am so glad we did. Friendly and casual, but the food is top notch. We took our five year old and they had a great kids menu. We had the fresh calamari, and it was excellent. Be forewarned, it's not all rings, the tentacle pieces are in there too. I had the fettucini alfredo and my husband had the lasagna. Both were made with fresh pasta and were melt in your mouth good. We will absolutely be going back!
(5)Jamie L.
Great little known spot. Even the side salad was good! It's hidden but a great find. Check them out.
(5)Teddy D.
I always said I'd never be that guy. The kind that writes a negative review after one visit to a restaurant. But I call it like I see it and after reading all of the really positive reviews this place was major let down. Let's start on a positive note, the staff were attentive and friendly, the place was clean and had lots of parking. The waiter was a middle aged guy, really nice but he didn't know the menu. He had a hard time taking our order and kind of struggled through it. It wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't a waiter but the manager or something. Our food came out in a timely manner and my glass was always full. However, my 5 year old niece could have made me a better "Italian Cold Cut Sandwich". Maybe it's my fault, I got exactly what the menu said "salami, prosciutto, sopreseta, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomatoes". I just figured it would be more than one thin layer of each. The meat layer of the sandwich was embarrassingly thin, like how Subway puts meat on a sandwich, 1 thin layer of each kind of meat. Not only that, it came with ONE tomato slice on the side and a small bed of lettuce. To make matter worse there was no dressing at all on it. I know the menu doesn't list it but I kind of figured it would come with oil and vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano and maybe basil. Kind of standard Italian sandwich stuff. No, it came with nothing. So my first bite was kind of shock when all I tasted was a mouthful of bread and a little meat. When I asked for oil and vinegar they looked at me funny and asked if I wanted mayo? On an Italian cold cut sandwich, mayonnaise, really? So the sandwich, a major letdown. My father in law got soup which he said was overly salty. My wife seemed to enjoy her Eggplant parm, so I guess the meal wasn't a total waste. If I ever come back and have a better meal I'll update this review, but I don't see myself ever coming back here.
(2)Joseph Peter S.
The owner/operator is super niiiice. Atmosphere is great and food is unbelievable
(5)Gwenn A.
My husband and I recently visited this restaurant with the hopes of a great meal. The waitstaff was fine and attentive. The restaurant was full house and this one waiter was very busy! We started with a bottle of white wine and the fried calamari . It was fresh and crisp with a mild marinara. We then waited for a very long time for our main dish. What a disappointment. Not worth the wait.They served the garlic bread with the meal,don't know what the rave reviews are about...a soft dinner roll that reminded me of the Texas toast krogers sells,in my book that is not garlic bread. The pasta was mushy and the chicken parm was mushy as well. The owner had come by to introduce himself in the beginning and then after we had the calamari. When he came over to find out how dinner was and we told him of this disappointment he got nasty! He walked away and ignored us from that point on. If he can't take the criticism ,he should not ask! Needless to say, often we would give a restaurant another try. In this case, Giovanni will not be on our list to return to. Do not bother wasting your hard earned dollars on this place.
(1)Sarah B.
I decided to give Giovanni's a try after all the awesome reviews I saw here on yelp and I was not disappointed. The salad caprese was fresh and delicious. I had tortellini with pink sauce and my date had the lobster ravioli. They were both very good and so was the cannoli! Service was attentive but not pushy. I will definately be back! :)
(4)Keith G.
Tried this place for the first time tonight. Great service and very good Italian food! I had the chicken parm and my wife had the chicken marsala. Both dishes were great. We will definitely be back!
(5)Cameron S.
We looked up this placed based on us being in the area. Seemed like good reviews, so we stopped in. You get garlic bread and salad before your meal. The garlic bread was awesome! It was soft in the middle and crunchy around the ends. The salad (Caesar for both of us) was alright. Kinda plain, not much Parmesan or croutons. We ordered grilled shrimp Alfredo and eggplant parmigiana. Overall, not bad for the price. Staff was very nice and continually checked to make sure everything was okay.
(4)Angie F.
Give Giovanni's five stars! The best Italian food anywhere and great service! Love the Pasta Giovanni !!
(5)David S.
My husband and I went to dinner here after he had read all of these great reviews! We have been searching for so long for an authentic Italian restaurant that was not a chain and not ridiculously overpriced. We have been to Italy several times and are from NY where mom and pop Italian places are every where! The location is very unfortunate because it is so hidden. I've past it so many times and never saw it. I loved the atmosphere. It was very cozy and again, it was authentic. I don't know how many of you have been to Italy, but there are no over sized chairs or booths. The restaurants usually aren't big, they are quaint and cozy. The tables are usually close together. There are many overweight people in Italy and they don't complain and stop going to a restaurant because the seats are too small. Yes there was a little wait for our food, but that just adds to the authenticity for us. Italians aren't like Americans; they sit and relax, they enjoy each course and enjoy their company. It's not a rush. I'm sure if you were in a bit of a hurry that they would accommodate you. The owner, Giovanni greeted us immediately and seated us. He served us along with a waiter. They were both incredibly delightful and very attentive even though they were busy. You can tell Giovanni cares about every aspect of his restaurant, he is not afraid to jump in and do any job. I was flipping out when I saw Caprese on the menu! You can't get authentic Caprese anywhere! If it is on a menu it's either on pizza or bruschetta and well then it's not really Caprese! The Caprese was good, I like it with a little more oil and basil than it came with, but I simply asked for more and it was not a problem. I ordered the chicken Giovanni. Amazing, the chicken was so juicy and tasty. My angel hair pasta was cooked perfectly and omg the sauce! Omg! Awesome! The portions were not overly large, they were perfect! That just tells you about the quality of the food. There is no need for the massive portions that you get at most restaurants! It's just wasteful and when the concern is about the quantity, the quality is not going to be there. My husband ordered stuffed shells and it was such a great surprise. It was not your typical, ordinary stuffed shells dish. It was so good! We shared vanilla gelato and tiramisu for dessert. They were both very good. The presentation of everything was so beautiful! We cannot wait to go back! I will be trying the eggplant and I will be for sure getting a cannoli!!! I will be telling all of my friends about Giovanni's!
(5)Jay R.
Very skeptical that Austell could house a good Italian restaurant, especially on restaurant death row in front of the defunct BJ's on East-West Connector. I'm happy to report though that yelp did not let me down! Pro's: Great food, great service, super-friendly owners. I had the Chicken Parmigiana, wife had Fettuccine Alfredo with Spinach, both were fantastic. Good wine and great, fresh salad. Con's: Ambiance. Smart business move to purchase an old Quizno's and basically throw table cloth's over their stuff, but this place has so much potential - take a look around and you will see that the Kitchen layout, soda fountain, etc.. were literally left behind and part of the purchase. A little investment could really take this place to the next level, but maybe they just need to move locations. Overall, screw the ambiance, give me good food. Giovanni's delivers.
(4)Irma Z.
First timers....dont know if we will be repeatimers.... Sooooooo....My chicken primavera was cold. Waiter thru it out and another was made. My then, hubby had finished eating. Garlic bread was ok. Salad was good.
(3)Gwenn A.
My husband and I recently visited this restaurant with the hopes of a great meal. The waitstaff was fine and attentive. The restaurant was full house and this one waiter was very busy! We started with a bottle of white wine and the fried calamari . It was fresh and crisp with a mild marinara. We then waited for a very long time for our main dish. What a disappointment. Not worth the wait.They served the garlic bread with the meal,don't know what the rave reviews are about...a soft dinner roll that reminded me of the Texas toast krogers sells,in my book that is not garlic bread. The pasta was mushy and the chicken parm was mushy as well. The owner had come by to introduce himself in the beginning and then after we had the calamari. When he came over to find out how dinner was and we told him of this disappointment he got nasty! He walked away and ignored us from that point on. If he can't take the criticism ,he should not ask! Needless to say, often we would give a restaurant another try. In this case, Giovanni will not be on our list to return to. Do not bother wasting your hard earned dollars on this place.
(1)Sarah B.
I decided to give Giovanni's a try after all the awesome reviews I saw here on yelp and I was not disappointed. The salad caprese was fresh and delicious. I had tortellini with pink sauce and my date had the lobster ravioli. They were both very good and so was the cannoli! Service was attentive but not pushy. I will definately be back! :)
(4)