Cafe Giovanni
117 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA, 70130
Cafe Giovanni Menu
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Address :
117 Decatur St
New Orleans, LA, 70130 - Phone (504) 529-2154
- Website https://www.cafegiovanni.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:30 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Validated
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
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.
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Jim H.
OK restaurant, nothing spectacular, over priced, loud opera singer. Had better food at Olive Garden.
(2)Sara S.
I am giving this place two points because 1) they have friendly service and helpful waiters and 2) they had live opera when I was there (and it was good not bad performers at all) ; in fact I think they often have musicians come and sing. That said, the food was not good.. I live in a big city and i rarely not like Italian restaurants.. feed me pasta and i'm all over it.. but this just wasn't close to the level im used to having. My mom's dinner was not properly cooked either.
(2)Rebecca S.
Glad I took our servers advice on a dish I had overlooked. The pompano special has become so popular the chef plans on putting it on their regular menu which will guarantee my return! Absolutely delicious, well balanced flavors. Attentive service, but not overbearing. Our server had also mentioned a tasting menu but none of us were prepared to eat 4 courses. Maybe next time!
(4)Rena W.
Great atmosphere in bar area. Food was very good and service was too. Nice place to have a drink and appetizer and relax.
(4)Stephanie K.
Always great service and food. Tons of options from their wine list to choose from. Our waitress recommended the pompano off the specials menu and I was not disappointed. The artichokes, mushrooms and risotto that went with the fish were all fantastic as well. She told us it is such a popular dish that it is permanently moving to the regular menu. I will be back for seconds!
(4)Melissa B.
This is a really cool spot to drop in and have a bite and drinks. The staff is beyond friendly and really make the experience pleasurable. In addition, the food is pretty good and the drinks don't disappoint.
(3)Chris M.
This restaurant is run by thugs and it truly a shame because the food is good. The hostess said she would "take care of" my friend for his bachelor party and the waiter brought our party a round of shots. When the bill came, we were charged $20 per shot. We explained to the manager that we did not order the shots and our understanding was that they were comped for us (we bought over $400 in food and drinks without the shots). The manager was irate when we explained it to him. He took the bill and would not remove the drinks. He then added a 15% gratuity. We paid the bill and were leaving. However, he had called the police who accosted us and even drew their batons! We had already paid the full bill including the shots. Avoid this place!
(1)Venice L.
came to this restaurant by chance after spending some time at harrah's. i love italian food and this was a great find! our waiter (i'm sorry, forgot his name) was extremely knowledgeable and said he admired the chef himself. he gave his opinions and all of our food came out excellent. we had bruschetta, the seafood salad, shrimp, fish of the day, and some kind of steak. we also shared a cobbler. it was a nice mix of what you expect from an itialian restaurant plus an extra new orleans flair. i did not get to try the voodoo shrimp which some of the other yelp-ers mentioned. the 3 singers that go around the room were excellent! great voices and awesome projection technique. who needs a mic?! i was very impressed by them. they interacted with the crowd and it was just a very pleasant dinner. i reccomend this place for small and large groups, friends or romantic couples. this place has great ambience and great food.
(5)Steve J.
Good Italian food in NOLA. Nice decor and service. A tad expensive, but I'd consider a repeat visit if I was craving Italian and wanted a go at their tasting menu, which sounded delicious.
(3)Eric M.
Rehearsal dinner, but I did glance at the menu. You could take it, photocopy it, and slip it into hundreds of mainstream Italian joints' menus around the country, and I guarantee you it would not be noticed. But New Orleans has never been known as Bologna West. Food....meh...see above. Wine list OK...couple of little gems on it, but lots of Ruffino, Banfi, etc too. The opera singers were, ahem, awful. Yes, I have gained some culture since my days of throwing back pitchers of the Beast in Ann Arbor. It was a good venue for the dinner, at which we had circa 75-100 people in a large room, so it had that going for it, which is nice.
(3)Melodie S.
It was actually good. I broke the my own rule by not Yelping before patronizing, otherwise wouldn't have gone. Had the Carbonara, which I rarely order because it is oh so bad for you, but hey, you live once. It was very good, - perfectly creamy and perfectly balanced flavors. My dining partner's spaghetti with meatballs was fine, not outstanding. Service was very good. The bread needs some work.
(3)Alena N.
The taste of this amazing meal still lingers in my mind. HIGHLIGHT OF MY TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS. I love Italian food and trust me, I know quality italian when I taste it. Th ambiance was very classy and the service was amazing. First and foremost, there was filtered water which I haven't gotten a lot of in most cafe in new orleans. It tasted so good and it was very refreshing after coming from the humidity outside. My friend and I order the bruschetta which comes on a french banquette It was fresh, light, with touch a hint of olive tapenade and balsamic glaze. For our entrees, we had seen the Pasta Gambino on the website but apparently it was a chef special one week but wasn't on the menu. The manager still had the chef make it for us and it was bursting with flavor. The sauce was creamy, fresh, and delightful. The shrimp was cooked to perfection and just the aroma of the dish made you want more. I ordered a chicken dish(I forgot the name) with came with a huge breaded chicken breast, fettucini alfredo, and the most AMAZING arugula salad I have ever tasted. The dressing was made with vidalia onions and tangy lemon zest, it was truly one of a kind. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a 5 star italian dinner near the French Quarter. Out of this world good and worth every penny. I felt there feeling very happy :)
(5)Cindy C.
We ate here twice within the week we spent in New Orleans, and my husband ate here during a previous trip. We had an excellent time (hence going back a second time). The food was good...I had the absolute pasta, my H, the eggplant parmesan. The cheesy garlic bread was excellent too. The singers are nice, though sometimes it was a little much. But who doesn't enjoy a little Les Miserables? I'd definitely recommend this place to visitors, especially when one of your party is vegetarian.
(4)Jacqueline M.
Visited Giovanni's on a recent trip to New Orleans. The food was good, a bit pricey, but the ambience and service were absolutely outstanding. We have travelled and eaten at hundreds of restaurants and the service at Giovanni's was in the top ten. Our waiter was very attentive and helpful, his recommendation for dessert was delicious (white chocolate bread pudding with bananas foster sauce). We will definitely visit again when we are back in NOLA
(5)Gustavo F.
oh boy, i'm not sure why some of the other reviewers had such a bad experience. i must have gone on a good night because I thought everything rocked. My friends complained that the bread wasn't coming, but I did not hear them ask for it in the first place. the bread came really fast as soon as they asked the "second" time. My food was full of seafood, the pasta was cooked the way i like it, which is way past al dente. my girl's food was really good too, we kept eating off each others plates. I had one of their specials and i cant remember the name but it was shrimp and other seafood stuff with a white sauce. i enjoyed the variety of the antipasti plate. The oysters giovanni were very nice too, but dont swirl the desing of sauces on the plate, it looks awful if you do that, might gross you out. it was expensive but i can at least say it wasnt the most expensive place in the quarter.
(5)Patricia B.
A complete and utter tourist trap! What a mistake to go there - and since it is so close to the tourist attractions we should have known better or checked it out. The pasta is way overpriced, underwhelming, and nothing comes with it! Our garlic bread for $8.95 was three thick slices of bread with gooey sauce on it. Service was lackluster - they never refilled water glasses or bothered to pour the wine after opening. It was not all that crowded either. The salad - a la carte of course - was better but the pasta was a large portion which no one can finish and not well-made. And $23.95 for a simple order of pasta - complete rip-off. Go to the Warehouse or Garden District for far better Italian eateries!
(1)mark k.
Called at last minute and they were happy to provide a reservation and not phased when I arrived with three instead of two. Service was attentive and nicely paced. We had bruschetta and fried green tomato appetizers, both excellent. The bruschetta come with three VERY large portions The bruschetta were excellent and the size of a small pizza. Two of us had the avocado with seafood which was beautifully served, fresh, and delicious. The live singers started half way through our meal and were entertaining. A very enjoyable evening.
(4)Kelly W.
We had a great time here - group of 7. We got there a little early for our reservation, so we sat in the lounge area and ordered a round of drinks. We had called 3 times to change our reservation and add to our party, and they were very hospitable each time we called. The entrance is al little misleading - small RED lounge/bar, but the restaurant itself is very open and modern. We were taken to our table about 10 minutes after our reservation (they made us close out our bar tab in the lounge - not take it with us to the restaurant). Dining area was nice and roomy, and unlike many places in New Orleans, we were able to actually talk. Food was all great - LOVED the Voodoo shrimp (took that suggestion from previos yelpers) and the filet was also great. My fiance ordered the ribeye - thinking it was steak, not realizing it was a pork ribeye. The server was very gracious about the mistake, and he was able to replace the pork with a New York Strip. Overall, great time - the ambience is nice, and I would come back here again.
(4)Eric F.
The best speggetti and meatballs ever! The service is nothing to get excited about, but is good. The environment is nice, always full of patrons, and the opera singers is nice touch. For a few bucks they will sing something else...say some Sinatra, which makes it all the better. If your into that sort of thing.
(5)Mike L.
This place was recommended to us by a local who loves to it. I would call this place a Nola version of italian. Food was good and the service was great despite other reviews. Our water rich was great. Sauces on the seafood rocked. The duck was perfect with a sweet sauce and crispy skin. Fyi I were jeans. Not a place for jeans, but dressy is not an accurate desecription fore the dress attire.
(4)mel g.
good food, a bit pricey, esp the appetizers. i think one of the special salads the night we were there was iceberg lettuce w/ blue cheese and bacon and it was $12 or something... i had the absolute pasta - great flavor, perfectly-cooked shrimp & scallops. delicious! my husband had veal quattro formaggio and it was ok; sauce was just so-so and the veal was pounded VERY thin and then breaded and fried so you got as much fried bread as you did veal in each bite. nice wine selections. nice ambience, but there was a pianist seated at the very edge of the dining room and the sound was rather loud. good playing, just the piano was too close to the diners... we went on a weeknight, but their menu stated that an entertainment fee of $3 would be charged on the weekends for said pianist... i would bring guests there who were hankering for good, albeit pricey, italian. although not on a weekend. ;)
(3)Catherine B.
The service was really slow, and about half of our table of 8 didn't like their food. One dish was so cold upon presentation that the cheese sprinkled on top wasn't even melted. The dish that I ordered was called Torn Pasta with Pesto - the pasta was so overcooked that it was slimy and tasteless, and there was not a single piece of evidence that there was pesto in my dish. Instead, it was chock full of other items that had not been listed on the menu description, in some type of tomato-based broth. I will not be going back to Giovanni Cafe, ever.
(1)A N.
Ordered up!!! Seafood Avocado salad, cheesy garlic bread, fettuccine Alfredo, two of the specials that night, crawfish and shrimp Monica and soft shell crab pasta. Lastly southern style Louisiana voodoo shrimp as seen and won on iron chef. We fished by sharing tiramisu. All of these dishes were very good. I really loved the fresh crab on the salad, large portion perfect for sharing. The voodoo shrimp has a bit of an Asian flare. However this misplaced southern girl can't pass up shrimp and grits. It sat atop a portobello mushroom and a fried green tomato that melded together perfectly. The fettuccine got "this is second best next to mom's." Everyone enjoyed their food. The other pasta specials were very good a nice fusion of Louisiana and Italy. The tiramisu was average. We are spoiled on the tiramisu. Americans love to cheat and use lady fingers (actually I have found this in other countries too) Back to the restaurant, we lucked out and went on a night with live entertainment. This was so much fun. Three rotating singers with huge smiles and a piano player. If your in the French quarter this is a don't miss.
(4)Jessica W.
Okay Food, Great Service The food was good, more average than exceptional. What made the restaurant most memorable was the great waiter who was fun and friendly.
(2)Jennifer E.
We have had dinner here often, always a great experience!! One of our best experiences was the night my now husband proposed. We went to dinner at Cafe Giovanni after he proposed. Our waitress over heard the table next to us congratulating us....so the next thing we notice is the amazing opera singers walking over to serenade us with a gorgeous candelabra, to blow out and make a wish!! We could not have had a more perfect evening!! My favorite dish has to be the Giovanni's Canneloni.....absolutely amazing!!
(5)Beth E.
We made reservations because we like being entertained while dining and heard the singing here is great. They seated us in the back room, next to a table of 18. Need I say noisy? We asked for another table and they said they didn't have any. 10 minutes later another couple came in and didn't like the noise, asked for another table and got it. What's with that? We wanted to enjoy a glass of wine while listening to music, but the waiter kept rushing us for our order. Then to top it off, the singer had her back to us the whole time. She never once turned around to face the back room. Super disappointing. I had a Caesar salad and my husband had a caprese. Both were fine. I then ordered veal Parmesan, which wasn't great. Very small piece of veal, over fried, and chewy. The red sauce was just ok. My husband ordered the braised beef which was a daily special and it was terrible. The meat was super dry and chewy and had no flavor. We saw the chef delivering food to some tables, but not to ours. Overall, a sad $100 dinner. Should have gone elsewhere.
(1)Jerica S.
Came here to try out their Coolinary Menu. Food was great for the price. I started with the spicy seafood caprese which was delicious. I then got the seafood avocado salad for my entree and it was really good. I would give them 5 stars if the service was a little better. The place didn't look too busy with a lot of empty tables but our server seemed to be rushing all the time. She was also late in putting our drink orders in.
(4)Alek G.
Defintely try the "COOLinary" menu. I ordered the spicy seafood caprese for the appetizer, the pork tenderloin with a raspberry chipotle sauce for the entree, and tiramisu for dessert. Everything was Great. I would suggest all of these. The highlight of the night, however, was actually the 3 amazing singers that performed while we ate. There was a 12 year old girl who was one of the best singers I've heard. The other two were also great singers with extremely unique voices. Will most likely go back again before I leave. Definitely a nice mix-up from the other restaurants in this area which basically all have the same menu.
(5)Vanessa C.
Visited this restaurant and I'm very happy i did. Staff was very friendly and on point in timeliness between beverages and each dish of our dinner. I had the soup of the day and it was delicious, not too spicy, and just what I needed after a long day at the Jazz festival. Then came the bruschetta that bread was soooo good! Both our dishes were great, light, and delicious! I can't remember the name of the dish I ordered but I know it was on the night special menu. My sister had the Louisiana pasta and they made it with chicken as she is allergic to shell fish. She was very happy with her dish. My pasta was amazing just the right portion and so light, I'm glad I ordered. Time for dessert, the cheesecake with pralines was phenomenal! It was delicate, fluffy, balanced, and not too sweet but sweet at the same time, if you know what I mean. I highly recommend it and of course I'll be back next time I'm in town. Thanks to the chefs and staff for a great dinner!
(4)Tina J.
Great food, but the wait staff turns tables too fast! The food at Cafe Giovanni is good, but part of a dining experience is being able to take your time, have a conversation, and enjoy the food. This is not possible at Cafe Giovanni. When I was there for French Quarter Music Fest, we had to ask our server three times to slow down and give us more time. The staff wants to turn tables quickly, and I'm sure they have been instructed to do so, but this doesn't make for a pleasant dining experience when you have to shoo your waiter away, and they hover by the table, waiting to turn it. I won't go back for this reason, there are too many great restaurants in New Orleans to put up with this kind of service.
(3)Lisa F.
We've been loyal patrons of Cafe Giovanni since moving to New Orleans. Chef Duke is amazing as are his meals. It's our go to restaurant when we venture to the FQ.
(5)C D.
Our last August 'Coolinary' meal for this year. Totally enjoyed everything. Great fried green tomatoes as appetizer, chicken marsala w penne alfredo, completed w tiramisu. All delicious. Good service and atmosphere, although a bit loud.
(5)Lisa W.
We were there a few weeks ago and were so excited to try the tasting menu with the wine pairings and to hear the singers. The food was fair, at best. I did like the fried oyster appetizer, but nothing else really stood out. Unfortunately, I don't feel that I'd need to dine here again. The restaurant was packed. The meal took 3 hours and we didn't receive our first course for over an hour after we ordered. The chef never came out to meet us, I'm not sure if he/she typically does.
(3)Christine A.
We were going for the opera singers which we found out are only on Wed, Thur, and Fri. The food was decent. The service was very good. I noticed some iffy silverware. Maybe I'm a snob after working at Commanders Palace but I noticed water drop stains. I'm not sure I would go back only bc I can think of other places that are really good.
(3)Cucho V.
came highly recommended. Food ok. Overprized. Dissapointed. Meat balls were undercooked and bread never came.
(2)Alisa S.
We chose this restaurant because it was really close to the Marriott and we wanted to have a quick dinner and then go back to our room for drinks before the night's festivities. It was a group of 10 girls and we were celebrating my birthday and bachelorette. It's a nice and quiet little restaurant. The staff was friendly. The fried oysters looked really pretty, but I thought it tasted just ok. I did, however, really enjoy my entrée. I had the Duck Classico. The portion was quite large and I got full before I could finish it. The skin was the perfect amount of crispiness and the duck meat was juicy. The Louisiana Seafood Pasta was pretty good, too.
(3)Lisa M.
I had to vote three stars based on service. Good quality itself was 4/5 stars. I went mainly for the gluten free pasta. My waiter was not overly helpful with helping make sure I had a gluten/dairy free meal. Tried to tell me I only had three options on a 4 page menu--not sure if he even knew what gluten was. In the end I got a bacon/basil/tomato garlic pasta with gluten free noodles. I asked for some grilled chicken breast (bland and dry). My husband got the gluten free pasta spaghetti and meatballs and his was amazing. The meatballs were melt in your mouth. Would definitely try again
(3)Lynda L.
Best wedge salad that I've ever had! Chef Duke was so personable and fun and made a real impression on my two nieces. The food made a great impression on the adults! My sister said it was some of the most flavorful pasta she had ever eaten and I loved the blackened prime rib. I live in the Quarter and can't believe that this was my first visit, but it certainly won't be my last! Thanks Chef Duke and staff for a great Saturday night!
(5)Joey J.
This place markets itself as a fine Italian restaurant but the cheese garlic bread tastes like it was from a Midwestern chain steakhouse, the caprese tomato salad was bland, the ribeye pork was small, gristly, and unseasoned... and the mashed potatoes underneath it were liquified. Service was friendly and prompt. The kitchen apologized and agreed with me, but there's no reason to recommend this.
(2)Helen L.
We went there for Easter and it was wonderful. The 3 course meal was not only a good deal but it was delicious. The service was very good. We got there an hour early and they sat us down after 10 minutes. The grilled fresh fish was very good. We will be back!
(4)Mariposa M.
Started with some warm bread but not itaIian baguette more like a potato bread which was very doughy not good, I had the eggplant parm, very disappointed it was not cooked at all very hard texture with some melted cheese on top, i told my waiter i wanted that with a side a penne and i got spaghetti instead, I had to send it back ,also had the crab and avocado salad which was good except for they added olives cut in very small pieces, annoyed cause they don't have that ingredient on the menu to describe the app, the waiter also forgot my bf glass of chardonnay, they did take the eggplant off my bill without asking... Would not eat here again, if u visit stick to cajun food not italian.
(1)Jason P.
Everything from the alligator meatballs through the chocolate mousse was outstanding! Our experience also included the insalate calabrese, Cajun pasta jambalaya, an exceptional filet cooked perfectly, and the bread pudding. The heat on the jambalaya was perfect and the pasta was possibly the best al dente I've ever experienced! Chef Duke also sent out a corn and crab bisque that I now count among my favorite bisques/chowders, and that's saying a lot coming from a New Englander! Overall this was an outstanding experience! This restaurant could bring me back to New Orleans all by itself!
(5)Derick W.
An Italian creole restaurant? Very good!. Went with a company set dinner. Good location for a group. Apps included antipasti (all the usual), bacon wrapped shrimp (excellent!!!). I had the pasta jumalia which was a bit unusual but fit right into the Italian creole thing. There was an opera singer serenading us. So many restaurants to choose in the French Quarter but this should be on your list.
(4)George A.
Decided to try this place out, seemed like open table gave it great reviews. Started out promising until our entrees arrived. Our filet mignon was ordered medium and came out raw and charred on the outside. Sent it back to have the same piece of meat put back on the grill to be brought up to temp. The filet came back burnt on the outside and noticeably smaller. Very disappointed especially for being from out of town and a chef.
(2)Vicki J.
Oysters Giovanni were very good. Bolognese was really awful. My guest had the filet and a side of fettuccine alfredo and was pleased with both dishes. He may go back but I certainly never will. The service was very good. So based on my guest's satisfaction and the service, I've given a 3 star. If I had been dining solo, it would have been 1 star.
(3)Lisa P.
I had the spaghetti and meatballs, caprese, and risotto. Everything was very tasty. Meatballs were huge and delicious. Caprese was interesting (in a good way). Risotto was super yum. Soda carbonation is messed up, so avoid that. Service was good, despite the fact that the servers seemed spread a little thin. Why just two stars if everything was good? Prices are kind of ridiculous. The food is good, yes, but it is definitely DEFINITELY not worth the price. I couldn't justify going back for those prices.
(2)Anastasia K.
I had some expectations based on the reviews, the fact that the restaurant calls itself "One of the best fine dining Italian Restaurant in the French Quarter" and live operatic music. And unfortunately, the food didn't match the hype, it was of "Olive Garden", "Macaroni Grill" or other generic American "Italian" chain restaurant type of food. Not that there's anything wrong with it per se, it's just not the type of food to be called "fine", to be priced as it was priced, and to be accompanied by live singing. Just to give you an idea, the mixed antipasto plate included marble jack cheese - school cafeteria kind. The best part of the evening was the musical program by classically trained opera singers and piano player.
(2)Jim C.
Great spot. Very good food and great service. The asparagus app was especially good as was the seafood pasta and veal with four cheeses
(4)Meg S.
Absolutely amazing! We had the duck Classico and the Louisiana seafood pasta. It was so delicious and well prepared. We arrived a little too late for opera, so we can't wait to come back and experience the music. Our server was great and the host was so welcoming.
(5)Karen D.
The aroma from the street drew us into the restaurant. The service was excellent and the meal was like an evening of artistic entertainment. The rolls were the perfect texture and so tasty! You must try the fried oysters served with the five sauce stained glass. Everything we tasted satisfied us. Much care was taken with food presentation and I really appreciated the chef's artistic culinary talent! Truly a dining experience to remember.
(5)Marie S.
What fun! Old school italian restarant with piano player and opera singer. Had the salmon plate and a ceasar salad. Delicious. Great atmosphere for a large group.
(4)Naomi L.
Overall - a nice experience! There were more then 15 of us in the party - so we were seated in the little alcove in the back (the one behind the piano). This was nice because we were isolated in a little world of our own. The unfortunate thing was that this also meant the service was a bit in a world of its own too... The waitress was quite sweet and helpful with suggestions, but she forgot drinks, brought food to the wrong diner, switched bills/credit cards, and didn't bring our cards back after bills for like 25 min or so. These things aren't the end of the world, but little things make the difference. Points for whomever came by and apologized to one of my friends for forgetting his drink earlier in the evening and giving it to him on the house. Also points for the great opera singers who made an effort to sing in various parts of the restaurant. We had a lovely serenade during the evening. It was quite clear that they took their craft very seriously. The food was yummy and cooked well. I had salmon with crab piled on top resting on a bed of wilted spinach (I think). I loved the salmon since it had been cooked to perfection - but they covered the lovely crispy outside with the crab and it got soggy. In addition, the crab was nice in size, but didn't really have a taste - which is too bad in my opinion. BF got grilled shrimp and scallops - he states that "it was yummy." A few friends got the fried soft shell crab, which looked well cooked. However, there was not a lot of consistency with the plates. All in all, it was a bit expensive for my taste, but I think I might come back again with a smaller party.
(4)Claire B.
What a frustrating experience. We had reservation for 8:30. We got there early as we were starving and they said they won't be able to seat us till 8:30 so we went for a drink round the corner and came back at 8:25. By 8:55 we were still not seated. The hosts were rude and kept saying there was a convention with so many doctors in town. However i dont see how this has anything to do with sticking to a reservation? If your restaurant can't accommodate the people you should not take the booking??? We ended up leaving and having a fabulous meal at Muriels.
(1)Stephanie M.
We stopped in here for drinks while wandering the Quarter looking for a good dinner spot. Chef Duke was sitting at the bar having a cup of coffee before dinner service when we walked in--very friendly, open guy who gave us some insight into the food scene and some great recommendations for dinner! (He humbly left his own restaurant out of the equation, but we would have tried it if we'd had another night in NOLA!) I can say that the drinks were great. The bartender mixed me up a cocktail of Citron vodka and their homemade limoncello--delish! My companions enjoyed wine and the dirty martini.
(4)Jeannine S.
Just got in from dinner. Dined solo, with no reservation on a Tuesday night, and was promptly seated. Was asked if I wanted to sit in the lounge or main dining area. Really didn't matter to me, but I was all dressed up so...main dining area it was. Started off the night with a dirty martini. How have I gone this long in life without ever having one before? Nice, salty, strong drink, $9. Had a regular glass of water, as well. Knew I wanted to try the "Feed Me" option, but I'm *allergic to shellfish* and despise liver. They were very accommodating, thankfully. First course of six was Eggplant LoCicero - Fried Medallion of Eggplant with Louisiana Shrimp In a Creole Vodka Dill Cream Sauce. Minus the shrimp, of course. Was good, looked like they added arugula and other greens under it. Second course : Insalate Caprese - Sliced Tomatoes with Homemade Mozzarella, Pesto & Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette. To be exact, two slices of tomato, one slice of mozzarella, a couple strips of basil, an olive and some olive tapenade. Considering this is normally another seafood dish, according to the waiter, I felt kind of let down with the replacement. It was good, don't get me wrong. Personally, I feel Tuscany Asparagus, or even the Mini Meatballs might have been a better choice. (hint-hint, in case you actually read these reviews) Third course : Ravioli Bolognese. Two (or three?) ravioli, red sauce, sprinkled with cheese. Not bad, not remarkable either. Fourth course : Gator sausage, two ways. Breaded with a brown sauce. The person who brought it out said 'foie gras' (liver) sauce. It did not taste like liver at all, so maybe he just misspoke. The other was fried and drizzled in a chipotle bbq sauce, placed on a bed of grits. These were rather good, maybe the breaded one was a bit salty. Or, maybe it was my dirty martini talking... Fifth course : A half inch think medallion of Duke's Filet Mignon, sauce, over Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes. The filet was very soft, and delicious. I think it was cooked to medium, but I don't know for sure. I'm that awful person who orders everything "well done" usually. I didn't have a say this time, and it worked out just fine. The candlelight helped hide the pink meat, lol. Sixth and final course : Chocolate mousse, with whipped cream and raspberry coulis. Hard to go wrong with that. I'm just thankful it wasn't bread pudding like some other yelpers mentioned. $65 dollars later...dinner's over. Was I full? Yes. Stuffed, no. And, that's ok. Would I do it again? Not really. Once the novelty wears off, it doesn't seem like such a deal. I would go back again to try a regular entree. They looked pretty good, from what I saw on the way out :)
(4)Cody H.
Not bad, but not great. We went here on a suggestion from a friend and would have rather had gone to vincents. Again it wasn't bad, but just not great. We wont go back.
(3)Stacy S.
I come here sometimes twice when I am in town. I consider myself an Italian food aficionado and this place is hands down amazing. The food is divine and consistently delicious. The chef, Chef Duke is wonderful as is the staff. I also love the ambience of the restaurant. You can eat in the lounge which is very sexy, that's the only way I can describe it, or the more family-friendly large dining area. The bar is great too!!! Chef Duke, Nile, and Scott thank you always for the hospitality and deliciousness.
(5)Harry T.
My wife and I spent this past weekend as visitors to our City and enjoyed the Oyster Festival from a Quarter hotel. And even with all the food at the Festival being consumed we had to make a stop at one of our favorite restaurants in the Crescent City. We were so happy to, once again, try the best Gumbo in any restaurant anywhere. It is not always on the menu but Chef Duke make his heavenly gumbo Sunday night. When delivered to your table you do not need nor do you request any salt, pepper, or Tabasco. It is just right with its' dark roux and chicken and andouille sausage. The Baked Cheese Garlic Bread is sinful and when the spoon cook not retrieve the remainder of the gumbo in the bowl the bread was used to make sure nothing was left for the dishwasher. Another great treat was the Seafood Martini. Fantastic tasting seafood served in a Martini glass. Washed it down with a Rodney Strong Pinot Noir 2010 and the night ended in culinary pleasure. The service was as good as the food selections. And we only wish we were in the Quarter more than we are to return to this restaurant.
(5)John L. H.
This may be the most difficult review I have ever had to write. I have wanted to go to Cafe Giovanni for years. In the mid to late 90's I worked down the street from Giovanni. Chef Duke would always come by, and was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. From everything I have read, and heard on the radio, he is still a great guy who does a lot for the community. In addition, I have continually heard how great his restaurant is, especially the "feed me" special. All of this built up great anticipation for my meal which made my experience that much worse when it failed to meet my lofty expectations. I assumed I would need reservations so I booked using open table (I love open table and think every restaurant should use it). The booking was simple, and when we arrived we were immediately seated. We were seated at a two top on the side of the restaurant. It was comfortable, and since there was a wall behind us, it made us feel like we had more privacy. One drawback was that our view of the opera singers was a bit restricted. That's right, I said opera singers. There were three opera singers singing throughout the meal. They were incredible. While I have been to the opera, I have never been this close to such amazing singers. Our server was very friendly. She explained the special Lenten feed me menu which was priced at $55. She did say that there was no wine pairing option with this menu which seemed odd, as the website lists wine pairing for the Lenten meal for an additional $25. We wanted the full experience so we inquired about the full Chef Duke feed me meal. She explained that it had one additional course (dessert) that the Lenten menu did not have along with a few different entrees. She mentioned that this was also available with wine pairing, but never mentioned the price. I realize that I probably should have asked, but I figured one additional course wouldn't be much more, and since the Lenten wine pairing was $25, i figured the pairing for the full feed me would be comparable. Boy was I wrong (more on that later). The feed me consisted of several small appetizer portions and included: Oysters Giovanni - Three perfectly fried oysters atop a "stained glass" of sauces. This was a very good dish. I am not sure what all of the sauces were, but mixed together, they complemented the oysters very well. Spicy seafood caprese plate - This was the best dish of the night. Lump crabmeat, shrimp and crawfish mixed with a wonderful white sauce atop a tomato and mozzarella. It was wonderful. Ravioli - This dish came with a red sauce and was my least favorite. After the first two dishes, I expected to be wowed by the flavor, but it was very underwhelming. While not bad, I didn't really care for it. Grilled fish - This was my second least favorite dish. I was again expecting to be wowed, but wasn't. The fish was cooked well, but seemed somewhat ordinary. Duke's fillet - This tiny piece of fillet came atop a bed of potatoes with fried leeks on top. The fillet and potatoes were very good. The fried leeks added an odd texture to the food and I would have rather had the steak without this addition. Bread pudding - This was a great dessert. Since we opted for the wine pairing we had four (or five, I can't remember) small pours of wine. I would guess these were around 2-3 ounces per pour. The wine wasn't spectacular, but did go well with the food it was paired with. We really enjoyed the opera singers, a few of the dishes and the atmosphere. Several of the dishes were not bad, but weren't impressive either. The main shock came when the bill arrived. The bill listed two feed me meals with wine at $65 per person. Listed under that wording was an additional line that read wine tasting $45 (or some similar verbiage). The total was over $240. Because of the way the pricing and explanation was printed, it appeared I had been double charged for the wine. I asked the waitress and she said "oops" and explained she must have double charged us, and would go and immediately correct the problem. Upon returning she told us that she was mistaken, and that we were properly charged. Since I hadn't inquired originally to the price, I didn't argue and paid the bill. With tip the meal cost nearly $300. Here is my issue with that: 1. We received one additional course, and possibly one additional pour of wine over what the Lenten feed me offered. Was this meal worth an additional $10 for food, and an additional $25 for wine? In my mind, no way. 2. The food was not spectacular. For $300, I can dine anywhere in the city and receive stellar food and service. This meal did not meet those standards. 3. The server was incredibly uninformed since she admitted she overcharged us, then recanted upon speaking to a manager. Had she explained when I originally asked if I was double billed, I wouldn't be so frustrated. I really wanted to like Giovanni. In the end, it left me feeling completely unsatisfied, and actually a bit mad.
(2)Henry A.
Old style Italian dishes, very well seasoned and with choices of meats,seafoods etc. Portions were large, so count on a to go box. Attentive wait staff. Had a classical piano player and an opera singer as well. Near hotels and French Quarter. Quiet and relaxed.
(4)Lindsey H.
The 6 course "feed me" with wine pairing was awesome! The singers were a nice touch too... We will be back soon!!
(5)Chuck G.
Wonderful special dinner! Chef Duke's awards are well deserved. We had reservations and were immediately seated. Fried Asparagus appetizers were heaven. The kitchen was a little backed up so the Chef sent a second order for us. :) The Voo Doo shrimp had layers of flavors and was amazing. dessert was also something to rave about - the tiramisu was really home made and great along with the chocolate mousse being silky air that was the perfect ending to dinner.
(5)Jennifer C.
The only reason this restaurant gets on star is our waiter justin. Don't go here!!!!!! Service is TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!! First, the hostess, who might I say is also the manager, was soooo rude! When we got seated, a server came and filled our water glass. We asked to start off with an appetizer and he immediately said, verbatim, "I'm too busy right. I'll see what I can do but I'm way too busy". A second water came and he said the exactly same thing!!! "I'm entirely too busy" to put in our appetizer order of garlic bread, GARLIC BREAD! Third time's the charm, justin was very polite and accommodating. When a different server brought our food, they dropped one of the plates and and didn't even bother to replace it until 30 minutes later when we had to ask for it. For $27.00, this dish only came with TWO SHRIMPS! It was suppose to have oyster, crawfish, and shrimp. But don't worry, the manager was "decent" enough to give us half off the one plate that had two shrimps.. Oh gee.. Thanks... DO NOT GO HERE!!!!!!!!! I don't usually write reviews but I felt absolutely compelled to warn others of this place..
(1)Allen F.
As locals, I embarrassed to say we've never been here before. We fixed that tonight and suffice it to say, we'll be back again and again. What a delicious meal and perfect experience. Loved absolutely everything.
(5)R T.
Straight up tourist trap. I ate two bites of my mahi mahi that was ridiculously sweetened. My pregnant wife who will eat anything at the moment only picked through her way-too-rich shrimp pasta. The shrimp were tiny and not fresh. For an expensive dining option, we felt snookered by this place.
(1)Roger B.
For New Year's Eve, we went to Cafe Giovanni with a group of friends. Everyone had agreed that Chef Duke's prix fixe menu had something they would want to eat. For the appetizer I had the veal bolognese ravioli while my wife ordered the seafood bisque. Both were great. My entree was the Tournedos of Beef covered with a reduced brandy & peppercorn sauce over mashed potatoes. My wife ordered the Shrimp and Duck Decatur served over orzo with a spicy mushroom sauce. We were quite happy with what we had ordered. For desert we couldn't make up our minds, so we ordered the white chocolate bread pudding and a Creme brûlée and shared the plates. Again, another good choice. The presentation of the food was beautiful, as expected. We sat at a large table in the back room, next to the piano. Part of the cachet of Cafe Giovanni for several of our friends is the Opera singers. Not being a big opera fan, I can't say just how good they were. They sounded pleasant, I didn't understand a word, and their volume didn't override the table talk. The wine list is a little pricey, but much what you would expect in a FQ restaurant that carries a larger selection of wine. We ordered a bottle of Emblem Napa Valley (Rutherford) Cabernet Sauvignon. Cafe Giovanni does offer the option of bringing your own bottle of wine and charging a fair (again for the FQ) a corkage fee. We've done that in the past. Wait staff was great for the size of party we had.
(5)Steve R.
So the reviews here are spot on... The food is a three. We ordered the Filet and it came in a pool of greasy butter... It tasted okay, but nothing special. The Chicken Parm was good. The problem come in when you get a bill for $80 and you just ate a meal that was worth about $40. Just because you call yourself fine dining, doesn't make it so. It was not horrible, but there is MUCH better in this city!
(2)Jim R.
Most restaurants push a favored dish for one reason or another. Here they push "award winning Voodoo Shrimp". Do not hesitate....get it. A fabulous dish combining the best flavors and textures of Italy and New Orleans. It sounds a bit bizarre, combining shrimp, mushroom, fried green tomato and grits in an amazing sauce, but what a treat for the (spicy tolerant) flavor seekers among us. Service was excellent and, like a previous reviewer noted, the dirty martini is superb. A definite favorite and interesting change of pace from gumbo and oysters.
(4)Christina Z.
Really mediocre food. Too salty, too saucy, and just didn't taste good. It was a set menu for Christmas Eve and the duck was incredibly overcooked. They did make a killer spiced hot chocolate that night though.
(2)Amanda A.
Both duck dishes are amazing! Don't leave without having the cannelloni. It is to die for.
(5)Shannon S.
On a recent Friday night I finally engaged in the "Feed Me" menu here which was a nice sampling of various specialties of Chef Duke. I am an experienced veteran of the "Feed Me" menu at Tony Angello's Restaurant so I had high expectations of an enormous feast. My expectations were somewhat disappointed as Giovanni only has 6 courses for his "Feed Me" as compared to the 10 to 11 of Tony Angello's. The courses were all good while the portions were all quite small and I was certainly nowhere near being as full as I typically am after most of my dinner experiences with fine dining in New Orleans. The courses were: Oysters Giovanni, seafood caprese salad, ravioli, grilled fish, fillet and bread pudding. I liked all of the courses except for the bread pudding as it was full of banana and I don't really care for banana bread pudding. I'm glad I finally did the "Feed Me" menu here but ultimately I don't think it is the best value and I would stick with the other great things on the menu in the future but it certainly is worthwhile to do once. The opera singers were in full effect and they always add an entirely new level of entertainment to any meal here so that is a huge value added for your dining pleasure here.
(4)Rachel T.
We went into Cafe Giovanni after going to two restaurants with thirty minute wait times on a Monday night! Walking into the restaurant we could tell that we would be getting a good meal and we were right! We got the caesar's salad that came with warm eggplant croutons, the best I've ever had! We also got the spaghetti and meatballs, with meatballs as big as baseballs! Very nicely spiced and good. Service was very nice and my only regret is that we didn't go on a night with the opera singer!
(4)Rebecca S.
This place was amazing. I'm from NYC and know Italian cooking and this food was exceptional. Both the hostess and our waitress were the epitome of southern hospitality. The bruschetta was delicious as was the four cheese pasta entree with fried eggplant. I went with a party of five all from NYC who all agreed the meal was amazing and loved their respective dishes. The place is a little pricey and while we didn't feel cheated I see no reason why a pasta dish should be more than 15 dollars especially without meat or seafood. Due to pricing I was initially compelled to give this restaurant 4 stars but looking at previous reviews I felt this restaurant deserved more credit than its been given.
(5)Emmie P.
I know the steak is good when my husband closes his eyes after the first bite! He had Duke's Filet, fire roasted filet, medium-rare, topped with bourbon foie gras and green peppercorn sauce on creamy roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Are you drooling yet? I had Pesce Venetian, fish of the day was sheepshead, pan-roasted, topped with sautéed mushrooms and artichoke hearts, nestled on a bed of Parmesan risotto and gilded with lump Lousiana crabmeat. Beautiful!
(4)Corey A.
Excellent service. Very knowledgable manager. Great food. Had the cannelloni and the shrimp and duck. Both delicious. Will be going back.
(5)Gemma G.
I think I can say that this was my favourite restaurant experience during my stay in New Orleans earlier this year. It didn't get off to a particularly good start when we arrived at the restaurant to be told that they had no record of our booking. We were a group of 10 and considering the booking had been made only a few hours earlier we weren't entirely sure how they had lost us. The lady at the front desk was actually quite rude and it was only when we spoke to another member of staff that the problem got sorted and we were seated at a large round table in the middle of the restaurant. The decor here is slightly strange. Its described on the website as being romantic but to us modest Brits it appeared to more closely resemble a tart's boudoir - that probably says more about our British sensibilities rather than the restaurant itself! The waiter that was looking after our table was extremely friendly and helpful and was keen to offer recommendations for both drinks and food. I had been on the obligatory cocktail tour during the day so was already in fine spirits when we arrived and decided the way forward was to stick to the cocktails. Our waiter was quick to recommend, and although I have no idea what I was drinking, its safe to say that I enjoyed it! For dinner I started with the bruchetta and for main course I went for the steak. Oh my word, I think it was the best steak I have ever eaten. It was so tender my knife slid on through as if it were butter and it tasted divine too. I had been a little disappointed with other meals so far in New Orleans where I had generally stuck to fish, but I now believe that meat is the way to go in this fair city. The steak was served with foie gras, green peppercorn sauce and mash potato - nom, nom, nom! By this stage I had moved on to the red wine and port and consequently cannot for the life of me remember what I had for dessert. Suffice to say I'm sure it was delicious! The restaurant had a really lively, good fun atmosphere. We didn't have any live singers as mentioned in previous reviews but I think we made our own entertainment. As we were leaving, I was lamenting to the waiter about my fantastic steak and he pointed out that Chef Duke was sitting at the bar. Consequently, I was able to tell him personally just how good my steak was in my now particularly slurred speech!!
(5)Kellyo O.
Ordered the fried oysters which my hubby very much enjoyed. I will say that I was pleasantly surprised - most don't correctly prepare fried oysters and they are overdone and nasty. Not so here! These were perfectly cooked. Bravo. Also ordered the chicken and andouille gumbo which was very good. Would only have been better with shrimp added. Excellent depth of flavor. Sat in the bar and ate instead of keeping our reservation for the dining room since we were both starving and didn't want to wait for the white tablecloth ;)
(3)Rebecca N.
Want a REAL Italian experience full of amazing flavor and atmosphere. Welcome to this Cafe. The food is exquisite and prepared as it is ordered FRESH. The flavor explodes with that perfect blend of wine. Forget the bread people! Order whatever your fancy is. You'll need all the space for the main course because it's so delicious you'll cry for more. Ask for Elizabeth! BEST WAITRESS EVER!!
(5)Shuo H.
Food: good! Me gusta :) Came here for restaurant week, and was surprised at the selection available. I tried the spicy seafood caprese appetizer; flavorful, satisfying, yet didn't feel heavy (I LOVE food that doesn't make you feel like a concrete brick after). For my entree, the shrimp and duck decatur seemed to go along with my mood; again, flavorful, FRESH (the shrimp I had at another restaurant [which shall remain unnamed] after Hurricane Isaac did NOT taste good at all :T boo for bad food), and not too too heavy either! Our waiter Richard was SUPER! Gave us exactly what we wanted, very amicable, made the experience infinitely better. A little on the pricey side, but I wouldn't mind coming back here again if there was another restaurant week. :P So why the 3 stars you ask? You might not have even asked, but I'm going to tell you anyway haha. So there I was, with 3 other Asians at my table, telling stories of how ignorance has led people in this city to call me Ching Chong to my face, or tell me that my English is "VERY. GOOD" in a slow and loud voice. As I'm sharing my stories of how I hate being stereotyped, a busboy comes up and asks all of us if we know karate. ... "I bet you this guy *points on my boyfriend* knows karate. I actually know karate." Obviously we were not amused, but didn't want to seem rude. "Oh, did you train somewhere?" asks someone in my party. "Naw, I just watched TV and taught myself," replied the busboy. (-.-) Please, tell me more cause I'm so eager to know how badly you can kick my ass. Not. SIGH and people wonder why I'm so frustrated sometimes.
(3)Michael H.
Crappy Italian at its finest. Soda pop is $3.00 and no refills. The waiter was extremely rude and the place is so dark its hard to read the menu. Worst marinara sauce I have ever had. Don't waste ur hard earned money way too expensive!!!
(1)Lorinda c.
What? We paid 90.00 for mediocre food, poor service and a pretentious attitude that did not mix well with the worn decor. Daughter spilled a drink, many servers stand around to watch then look with surprise when I ask for assistance and additional napkins. 26.00 penne pasta? Overdressed salad, a child's spaghetti and one cocktail = 85.00. Uncertain what I did to offend the concierge who recommended the place but my deepest apologies.
(1)Mary S.
Great location, great service and food !
(4)Paula H.
Was there on New Year's Eve, very noisy without the opera singing but still a good place to go. Can spend a leisurely and enjoyable meal while listening to male and female opera style singers. Food is very good and waiters are usually very good and knowledgable of menu, desserts were huge also!
(3)Chris A.
Very good food, good drinks, great service. I'll admit my bias right off, being part Italian, as well as born in New Orleans, to me there is nothing quite like Italian food with a Cajun flair. Cafe Giovanni delivers. Our waiter - Richard - had a great, welcoming personality, and delivered us drinks to match. The food was quite good, cooked well, with great flavors. And who could ever argue with ending with a dessert of white chocolate bread pudding with bananas Forster sauce? A perfect way to end a fun meal. It was my first time here, and I look forward to more.
(4)Chris W.
AMAZING garlic cheese bread, truly authentic lasagne. Try the canoli for dessert. The service and ambiance in the "lounge" area of the restaurant were outstanding. The family area seemed to be a bit louder, but looked cozy.
(5)Chris E.
The food was wonderful, but the highlight was the two opera singers in the main dining room. Their voices were incredible and they captivated the audience. It is my understanding that they only sing on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Will definately go again.
(5)Lindsay H.
I was very disappointed with both the level of service and the quality of food. My husband asked for extra olives in his martini and was told "no" by the waitress. Seriously?! We are paying $35 an entree. Surely the restaurant could spare a few extra olives. That got us off on a bad foot but we didn't hold it against the waitress. She was just taking orders from the back of house.... The menu was fixed and it was very clear that there were to be no substitutions. However, I am a vegetarian and I don't really like fish, but there was only one fish dish on the menu and all else were meat options. I asked if the chef could substitute the pasta Bolognase with a plain red sauce (which would actually be cheaper for the restaurant!) and was told again: "No." I understand that the restaurant can't meet every individual demand but this one was so simple and would have been cheaper for the restaurant. I knew they had the plain red sauce on hand because the waitress told us as much. It would have been so easy to make this simple request. And with the growing number of vegetarians, I would think the restaurant would be more accommodating to those who don't eat meat. The waiters took away our utensils from the first course and, after they brought out our main course, they promised to bring new silverware but no one did. We sat there for a full five minutes trying to get someone's attention so we could request a fork to eat our food. We are pretty laid back; normally that would not have bothered us one bit, but since we were repeatedly met with what we felt to be stinginess and hostility from the kitchen, this was more than we could tolerate. And the cherry on top: the Caesar salad I ordered was bland with hardly any dressing. The fish dish I was forced to order was drenched in a sickly butter sauce that had too much salt and the shrimp on top were of the small Chinese and/or frozen variety. I wouldn't wish this restaurant on my worst enemy. Never. going. back.
(1)Ravi P.
Service was horrible, we got our appetizers after main course. There was a bug in my drink. The servers were not interested at all, normally you would accept them explaining about the food but noone cared. If you are planning to have dinner go to August, these guys aren't worth it.
(1)Tod T.
Have mixed feelings about this review as we had a couple of experiences with Cafe Giovanni during a recent stay in New Orleans, not all bad, not all good. First night was fairly benign, sit at the bar affair with Ok food and good service from bartender. Next time was in the dining room with so, so food and good server. But it was the 3rd night that left the biggest impression. Called an hour before closing to get takeout and was told I'd have to come in to order it. Even if I let them charge my credit card immediately? So, I did. And they had a prix fixe menu, so I agreed to order from it so as not to rock the boat. At that point, the floor manager came over and reiterated 3 times that I "had to order from the prix fixe," to which I reiterated "I did." Then the bartenders all but begged us not to get take out and to sit at the bar for "pacing." Half asleep, we mildly protested to what seemed her consternation. When we got the food back to the room it was OK, but something really struck me. We had ordered "Lobster Risotto" with a fairly pricey price tag, but is amazing and delicious when the rice is done correctly. However, it was in fact lobster and orzo pasta - a cheap pass off that's easy to make and fairly bland. So, what's up with that? Don't know how to make risotto? Don't know the difference? Ran out and failed to mention it? Intentional? (no good answer there.) When we got back to the room we realized the dessert hadn't been put in. Having a sugar jones and just a few yards away, we called and the same floor manager said they were out of dessert - all of them, and essentially hung up. We called back and the hostess (who was kind) tried to get an answer to no avail. Ugg. Of course anyone can have a harsh night, but 3 or 4 repeated screw ups in 20 minutes? Perhaps I was being too kind, as I found myself apologizing to the hostess for even calling, the floor manager for doing what I was told, the bartender for taking my food, and then the floor manager and hostess again to get dessert (and I truly was saying I was sorry - all of this for a single person, prix fixe meal with an added salad that ran me $100 with a 15% tip.) Again, mixed. Some of the staff was very kind and caring, some others could have cared less. And of course anyone can have a bad night (but orzo for risotto?). Decent food, really spotty experience.
(3)Jay E.
We had a nice dinner. The waiter was personable and informed. We'd had our fill of heavy New Orleans cuisine. I was able to eat lightly and be satisfied. The singers were a mixed bag. Overall it was a fun, tasty experience. I liked the meatballs the best!
(4)Mike D.
Food was absolutely awesome, but the service was bad. I got the spare rib with mashed potatoes. The rib was tender and juicy. My gf got the spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs were huge. The garlic cheese bread was good for an app. The banana pudding for desert was awesome. The only bad thing was the waitress I think judged us because I was only wearing a Ralph Lauren polo and jeans. She would have gotten a bigger tip
(4)Mark C.
We stopped in here for a small appetizer before hitting the Bourbon street fracass... I enjoyed a nice little appetizer called Oysters Giovanni that we enjoyed very much. I did not get the opportunity to eat a full course meal here, although this did look really high end... and everyone who has reviewed it, liked it! Favorite Dish: Oysters Giovanni
(4)Candace H.
Nice location, nice atmosphere. Extremely overpriced, mediocre food. I realize you pay a premium in the French Quarter, but this was subpar. Bolognese sauce tasted like it was from a can and the pasta was overcooked. Rolls seemed like they were purchased at a local grocery. Shrimp in Fra Diabolo were plentiful, but were not particularly flavorful. Server was attentive and nice. Not awful, but for $20+/plate, I expect more.
(2)Nick S.
I had the Voodoo Shrimp and it was fantastic. The bloody mary I had before my meal was the best I've had out of several other restaurants I visited. The service was great. I enjoyed the opera singers.
(5)John R.
Service was good here and they had a pretty good wine list. Started with a caprese salad that contained good mozarella and tomatoes, unforturnately they were covered with an odd grainy dressing that detracted from the flavors. My main entre was spagetti with Bolognese sauce. I really disliked their rendition of Bolognese sauce it was so sweet it was barely edible. I guess I should have known because of the tour buses parked outside.
(2)Eileen Z.
One word.. Opera Room. If you have dinner try to grab a seat in the Opera Room. Listening to amazing operatic signers while dining on amazing Creole Italian cuisine is one of the best get aways while never leaving the city you can find. Try the oysters giovanni, duke's filet, and any of the marsalas and you wont leave disappointed. Chef duke delivers a new orleans appropriate menu italian style and the experience is one in and of itself.
(4)Patrick S.
Very disappointed! Pasta over cooked and the Veal Picata sauce was not good. My daughter had the Veal Marsala and it too was not good. Over bad experience.
(1)Clara G.
This experience happened during the saints super bowl but had to chime in. A bunch of us had planned on watching the game here, as they were advertising a buffet and many large screen TVs. No reservations were being accepted, tables were on a first come first served basis. We arrived about 3 hours prior to game time and were the second party in line. We were psyched! The saints in the super bowl!!!! Let me backtrack and say the a friend and I had called several times in the week prior to verify that reservations were NOT needed. Nope, first come first served. Even called the morning of the game. About an hour before kickoff someone comes out and announces that everyone who has a reservation to please come to the front of the line. W.T.F.???? Reservation????? I told the girl that we had verified all week that it would be first come first served for the open bar and buffet. She said it was first come first served to the bar. We were pissed! Instead of partying with who dat fans in the quarter, we were waiting in line for absolutely NOTHING!!!!! There was one tv that sat on the bar and was the size of a computer monitor. No way was I watching my beloved saints on that thing. We barrelled out and got our cars. One went to Popeyes, one went to get booze and beer and one went to get daiquiris. What a fab night it turned out to be. Three years later I still refuse to go back to this place. Hope it goes out of business.
(1)Marie B.
Fresh scallops and shrimps paired with polenta! Although common entrees, everyone in my party was satisfied with their dishes! Variety of appetizers: Mushroom Raviolli, Portabella mushroom, and fried green tomatoes were delicious. The garlic bread was dry and hard, disappointing. Service was efficient and friendly!
(3)Chris U.
First time dining at this restaurant and was very pleased. The atmosphere, staff, and entertainment left nothing more to be desired. The Food was excellent and both my wife and I agreed it was some of the best Italian we have had in the city. If I had one complaint it would be that the cocktails we ordered were way to sweet but that's just being picky. I will be back ! Thanks for a great night !
(4)Emily L.
We have dined at Cafe Giovanni several times for dinner and brunch and was so looking forward to introducing some friends to the same great dining experience. Not only did the experience fall short, but I found myself apologizing at the end of the night for my selection. We were refused our table until the whole party was present which given its location in the Quarter and it being Mardi Gras season, this was ludicrous. The confused and incompetent server brought out the wrong order, not twice but THREE times (two appetiziers and one entree) And in my open table reservation AND on a confirmed phone call with the resturant itself, I commented we were celebrating a bday and if they could do something special: Never was there a bday reference or dessert offered. Horrible experience and with all the great restaurant options in New Orleans, it is highly unlikely I will go back.
(1)Julie L.
Good food but over priced to the core. I guess the prices are so high because of the location being in the quarter. I got the 6 course meal. It was good and the presentation was beautiful. I just think that $100 for one person and NO alcohol is extreme. Italian food is my favorite. I would have been equally happy with a another local Italian restaurants (Tony Angelo's) that serves several courses like this for half the price. An in my opinion the food at Tony Angelo's is different type of Italian and better. But that is just my taste. So I think it was good but not for locals. I most likely will not go back. If I want to spend this much on a meal I would rather go some place like Eleven79. I probably still wouldn't spend this much without alcohol.
(2)