We have been eating here for aver 25yrs. The food is exceptional!! Cooked to order and comes out hot every time. Very large portions, so you can share! I don't have a favorite here, everything is delish!!
(5)
Gill G.
Very Good Food. Veal Sinatra is my favorite and the house dressing is made in-house and is phenomenal! You can buy this dressing separate which we do for family parties. Awesome. The restaurant is a little dated but my dad introduced me to the shrimp scampi when I was little and this restaurant has become a staple for my family. Great for a special occasions.
(5)
Kelsey O.
Not a great experience. When we walked in the hostess just stared at us, when I asked her for a table she was "oh yeah!" Like she forgot she was working. The decor was outdated and out of step. You can tell, nothing from that to the menu has been changed in at least 15 years. Our waiter was nice and knowledgeable, but unprofessional, he said "shit". Members of the kitchen staff stepped out into the dining room at times. They were not in jackets, and wore dirty aprons. One man wiped his mouth on his. The portions were huge, but the food unremarkable and heavy. You could easily make better at home, and should for the price.
(2)
Lauren M.
Excellent food and really nice server. I got a seafood medley with veggies over angel hair pasta. Just wish there had been more than 2 of each seafood item (shrimp and scallops). We went here for an office lunch and it took 2 and a half hours before we got out. Food delivery was a bit slow, but the wonderful homemade cannoli made up for it. The total cost of only about $300 for 18 of us (lunches and desserts) was a pleasant surprise. We will definitely return but maybe with a smaller group due to how long it took.
(4)
Pierre W.
Stopped here while on 95 south. Fantastic house Italian salad dressing! Really enjoyed the chicken parm. Plentiful dessert choices. Wished the bread was warmed up.
(4)
Cathy M.
Excellent family owned restaurant. We found this Italian restaurant while traveling. It has a lot of local patrons, friendly staff who ask your first name when they great you. The menu includes items that incorporate local lump crabmeat into the Italian inspired dishes. If traveling this way again I will return!
(4)
Stephanie M.
Perhaps unexpectedly given its location and appearance, Giovanni's serves up some delicious Italian food. The baked ziti is some of the best I've ever had. The gnocchi alfredo is also very good. The portions are very generous: I got almost three full meals out of my baked ziti. The service is good. One word: renovate. Some might say it doesn't matter, but I'd disagree. It looks like they haven't redecorated since the 70s. The decor takes away from the dining experience, in my opinion. It feels dingy in there.
(3)
Anon A. M.
I hope that people will fall in love with Giovanni's like my wife and I have. It doesn't take long. Basically, it's a family-owned business that has never once forgotten how they got succesful. They do not compromise on the quality of their food, and they have long-time employees who genuinely want to be there and want you to enjoy yourself. Giovanni's catered our Wedding. They have hosted dinners & special occassions for us throughout the years and I'm proud to say there is no finer Italian dining south of New York City. The only thing we need to do is order something different for once! The Chicken Franchese and Cheese Raviolis are so awesome.....we haven't strayed from them in over a decade....and the salad dressing is to die for, don't miss out. I'm so happy that the restaurant is still in it's original locale, with its live entertainment and friendly staff. For me? The thought of going to Little Italy in Baltimore instead, and paying triple in triple the time, for 1/3rd the quality of food??? Child. Please.
(5)
Ashley M.
the food was okay wasn't what I expected. The food was a little blane no flavor. Salad was pretty good.
(3)
Tanya C.
I came here for a holiday party and paid a decent amount for lasagna, chicken parm, salad, bread, and bottomless soft drink ($16 dollars/person). The room for the party was decent, though they only had one server for 30ish people. Because of this not everyone got to place drink orders. Food was minimal. Small (very small) piece of lasagna and chicken. Average salad and bread. Overall no one was full and I don't think anyone got the chance to get a refill of their soft drink if they were lucky enough to get one in the first place.
(2)
Joe S.
This place offered more than I expected, especially being in Edgewood. This restaurant doesn't look like somewhere you'd want to go to from the outside, especially since next door is pretty sketchy little shopping area. Parking is in the back of the building, and you have to use the front door, so it is a little awkward having to walk around the building (its a long building). When you first walk in, you begin to see it is a nice restaurant. The bar is on the right with a pretty limited selection on tap, but a decent sized bar area nonetheless. The dining area is dimly lit, I'm guessing for ambiance. It is full of tables, mostly for four. The table we were seated at was pretty awkward to eat on, because it was a square table with the round extenders. This made the table wobble the whole night, but its nice having the extra room. The wait staff hits you quick and throws about 20 specials at you before you even get a chance to see the menu. The specials when I was there were nothing, for lack of a better word, special. They were also pretty pricey. Overall the menu is standard for an Italian restaurant and prices are moderate to high. I didn't really see anything that jumped out at me. Also, an issue I have with this place, is the way the dishes are served. Most restaurants competing in this niche try to model their menu like Olive Garden or other big Italian chains. This place gives you all the bread you want, but unlike other Italian restaurants you don't get the complementary salad with you entree. Instead, they make you choose between getting a salad or a pasta with your meal. This confused me at first because - why would a restaurant serve an unbalanced meal? Unfortunately that's what they do. This wouldn't be all that bad if they didn't charge a pretty hefty price for it as well. So I ordered a chicken entree. When it came out, I had already finished my salad, which I got with the house dressing (I give it a B-). My dinner then consisted of a piece of chicken... and nothing else. $19 for a salad and a piece of chicken. This was disappointing. I really feel like they need to offer something else with their entrees. When paying around $20 dollars for a chicken meal, its a general rule for me that I should be getting a salad or something included, along with a side of two. I assumed this was pretty standard, because in my experience, that is what the majority of restaurants offer. Their portions were on the larger side and you will most likely have some to take home, especially with the pastas. I guess if I went back I would go with the pasta with some sort of meat and order the salad. At least that way I could have a good balanced meal, instead of just a piece of meat. Overall, it was OK. Nothing spectacular. I would probably only go back with a coupon or something. In my opinion, there's better places out there that offer more at the same price.
(3)
Dave S.
Worst dinning expiration ever had a $40 coupon That wasn't honored and when pointed out the hostess just wanted to get the last word in. Nothing in the fine states can't use it on Easter Sunday? The owners where there and didn't care or take the time come out and explain it. Then to top it all off one of the waiters was carrying a hand full of butter packets dropping them from the kitchen to the table picked them up off the floor and put them on the table OMG germs all over somebody else dinner. Will never go back and also reporting them to bmorebargains.com The Fine Print Cannot combine with other offers One per party/table Not for use toward gift cards, tax, or tip No change given, no cash value Dine-in only Voucher expires 4/12/2012
(1)
Kirk R.
We recently went to Giovanni's after many years. The place decor is dated but still draws a crowd. Nice touch with Live Music after 9 PM. The music was dated like the restaurant, but very enjoyable. The Food is average at best and like many Italian Restaurants often over priced. However, we enjoyed the experience but will probably not plan to return as we need to travel to get here. We would join our friends again here if asked. Frankly, I think that they could do so much better with the execution of their menu. I love a great Chicken, Fish, Veal Franchese preparation. It was a sin to serve the pale presentation that they did during our meal. Similar criticisms with other dishes we sampled. Dessert was very good! Now, the staff was very attentive and made for a nice evening; however, I would have traded a bit here for a more attentive kitchen preparation.
(3)
Katharine T.
I can see the potential for 5 star, but nothing I ate was that amazing... I had the lunch portion of chicken parm, which came with a side of pasta and a small romaine house salad. We were also served bread and butter, which was good, but not hot. The olive oil though was to die for.
(4)
SalesandTrails H.
Relatively good for the area. If you are not going to go to Baltimore, it is difficult to find good Italian food. That being said, the food was ok. I recommend ordering a dish that is prepared with the red sauce but be prepared to doctor it up a bit. Once you spice it up, it is quite good. Be cautious when ordering other types of sauce as our meals were swimming in greasy Marsalas. We started with a seafood bisque which was pretty good and did have a lot of seafood in it. Overall, a cozy restaurant with ok food. We will probably return but I will only order a dish with red sauce.
(3)
Rick B.
Mediocre food, slow service, and a loud room. Look for another place.
(1)
Dan H.
Excellent food. I will go there every time.
(5)
Brianne C.
The sweet, gloppy marinara sauce: 2 stars. The zesty toasted garlic bread: 3.75 stars. The unpretentious, familiar servers: 3.5 stars. The mammoth, vulgar portions: 2.5 stars. The fresh salad with onions and romaine: 3.5 stars. The luscious, light, and herbal chianti: 4 stars. So, I eat here occasionally when visiting my husband's parents. I never need to pick up the check, and their status as regulars ensures extra baskets of bread and especially attentive service. The seafood dishes tend to be more enjoyable, with fresh shrimp, scallops, and fish that has been delicately sauteed. Also, many of the garnished meat dishes, including pounded chicken cutlets topped with prosciutto, mozzarella, and basil and finished with lemon butter, are usually nicely seasoned and prepared. Overall, I have spent two hours in worse ways.
(3)
Ty C.
Giovanni's is par. Not sub-par, but par. The food is better than you would get at a chain restaurant. But it's not comparable to similarly-priced restaurants. My crab cake was very good but the steak wasn't. I ordered a medium and received medium-well. A rare steak came out medium. In contrast, the service was very good. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and best of all, knowledgeable. But I can't get over the fact that, for what I paid, I can get better meals in the city. Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?
(3)
Brian M.
As I start my review I am mid meal. I just can't wait to post, thus far the service has been attentive, friendly and prompt. The lobster bisque with shrimp is incredible to the utmost limits of the word and at 6.99 a bowl I think is reasonably priced and the portions are huge. I ordered the Veal a la Rosa and it was quit good although could have used a bit more lemon but that is my personal taste. The pasta had nice bite and you can tell it is made to order unlike most restaurants where it is pre cooked and re heated though at $22.50 I felt was a bit over priced for the quantity of the portion given although the ingredients were obviously were fresh. My wife ordered the stuffed flounder which tasted wonderful but had to be returned as it was so full of bones it made for an unpleasant meal, But the staff quickly took my wife's new order without question and promptly made a new dish. Even the children's menu left us in aw as we ordered the baked manicotti and let me say it delivered on an adult scale. Huge portion "Way to big" for a children's meal so you will for sure have leftovers and well priced. Very pricey in my opinion, but all in all worth it. The atmosphere is very laid back with an 80's upscale quality to it that screams gaudy Italian at its best. I am off the boat Italian so I know true Italian food, And this is the closest you are going to get in the Hartford county area. I was disappointed that such an Italian restaurant would not have Italian wedding soup, Clams in Red or tiramisu but you cant have it all. And let me say, I did not order the spaghetti and meatballs but I am sorry I didn't. The meatballs were softball size "2" and the red sauce is great. All in all it slides in at 5 stars but it was close to 4 as the price is steep in my opinion as the bill for 2 adults and a 2 year old came to $96.00 before tip for a children's manicotti, 2 bowls of bisque, i calamari fritti and 2 veal a la rosas as the flounder was returned.
(5)
M M.
We love this place! We plan it into our drives from Philly on Friday nights. Cozy weird homey atmosphere, great food and cheap wines! Lambrusco by the glass! Burgundy, my mom used to drink it...so do I at giovanni's! Spumoni, hated it when I was a kid, but I order it now and hate it with fond memories!
(5)
Lisa P.
Although the decor isn't the most updated, Giovanni's is probably the best restaurant in the Edgewood area. We make a stop at least once a week for lunch and have never had a bad meal. My favorite would have to be the stuffed eggplant. The portion is generous and after having had delicious -normally warm- bread (with olive oil and parmesan) and a nice sized salad (with their absolutely amazing house salad dressing), I always end up taking most of the eggplant home. The server we like best is Tammy (though I have found them all to be good)- she is incredibly attentive and always provides us with great service. All-in-all, a wonderful restaurant. This time we took our kids and the check came to $43 with plenty of leftovers for dinner tonight.
(5)
Lauren B.
This place has delicious food. Their portions are huge, including the appetizers. The only cons I've experienced at Giovannis is the wait after you sit down, and the waitstaff is always horrible. They're not knowledgable about the food, they never check in on you or offer refills. So it's a toss up. If you don't mind the lack of hospitality, then it's a great place to get some authentic tasting Italian food.
(4)
Onna H.
I've never eaten at Giovanni's, but my family purchases their salad dressing by the quart for all our family get togethers. It is the best Italian dressing you will ever have! Recently, on a drive up Rt. 40 we passed Giovanni's and started talking about their salad dressing. Within minutes, we were all craving salad so much that we made a U-turn and drove back to the restaurant. The restaurant was closing, but the staff was nice enough to sell us a few quarts of the dressing and made us a salad even though the kitchen was closed. The bartender could not have been more friendly or accommodating. My boyfriend is a chef and I am making him "decode" the recipe so that we don't have to drive from Philadelphia to get it!
(5)
Kat M.
The outside is nothing special, but don't let that fool you, delish food awaits on the inside. This is another stop on the food tour every time I visit home. You can't beat a place with wine by the glass for around $3-$4. Visiting from Hawaii where wine by the glass is usually $9-$17, this is a deal! I won't bore you with all the food we ate, just know that warm, crusty bread will be served along with perfectly cooked pasta dishes and yummy desserts to finish off a great meal. Service is always good, and wine glass was always full. Don't waste your money on Olive Garden. Go here for the real deal Italian food and support a local business.
(4)
C B.
For those of you who know what an good-ol' fashioned restaurant is all about...Giovanni's is one of those!! A nice Italian restaurant with many seafood option. We went there for Mother's Day lunch and luckily for us, we went earlier than the crowd; otherwise, it looked like a long wait. Giovanni's has been around for many decades and has been passed down a generation. That's a good sign that they've been doing things right....customers keep coming back. While I don't remember the names of the dishes we order, the food was good. But what I found disappointing was that my pasta was overcooked. For a $30 plate, I expect my pasta to be PERFECT al dente. That is basic Italian restaurant 101. However, the redeeming quality was portions were generous. Service was on par with what I expect. I'm not sure if I'd go out of my way to go back but it's a decent restaurant all-in-all.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No 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.
Kim M.
We have been eating here for aver 25yrs. The food is exceptional!! Cooked to order and comes out hot every time. Very large portions, so you can share! I don't have a favorite here, everything is delish!!
(5)Gill G.
Very Good Food. Veal Sinatra is my favorite and the house dressing is made in-house and is phenomenal! You can buy this dressing separate which we do for family parties. Awesome. The restaurant is a little dated but my dad introduced me to the shrimp scampi when I was little and this restaurant has become a staple for my family. Great for a special occasions.
(5)Kelsey O.
Not a great experience. When we walked in the hostess just stared at us, when I asked her for a table she was "oh yeah!" Like she forgot she was working. The decor was outdated and out of step. You can tell, nothing from that to the menu has been changed in at least 15 years. Our waiter was nice and knowledgeable, but unprofessional, he said "shit". Members of the kitchen staff stepped out into the dining room at times. They were not in jackets, and wore dirty aprons. One man wiped his mouth on his. The portions were huge, but the food unremarkable and heavy. You could easily make better at home, and should for the price.
(2)Lauren M.
Excellent food and really nice server. I got a seafood medley with veggies over angel hair pasta. Just wish there had been more than 2 of each seafood item (shrimp and scallops). We went here for an office lunch and it took 2 and a half hours before we got out. Food delivery was a bit slow, but the wonderful homemade cannoli made up for it. The total cost of only about $300 for 18 of us (lunches and desserts) was a pleasant surprise. We will definitely return but maybe with a smaller group due to how long it took.
(4)Pierre W.
Stopped here while on 95 south. Fantastic house Italian salad dressing! Really enjoyed the chicken parm. Plentiful dessert choices. Wished the bread was warmed up.
(4)Cathy M.
Excellent family owned restaurant. We found this Italian restaurant while traveling. It has a lot of local patrons, friendly staff who ask your first name when they great you. The menu includes items that incorporate local lump crabmeat into the Italian inspired dishes. If traveling this way again I will return!
(4)Stephanie M.
Perhaps unexpectedly given its location and appearance, Giovanni's serves up some delicious Italian food. The baked ziti is some of the best I've ever had. The gnocchi alfredo is also very good. The portions are very generous: I got almost three full meals out of my baked ziti. The service is good. One word: renovate. Some might say it doesn't matter, but I'd disagree. It looks like they haven't redecorated since the 70s. The decor takes away from the dining experience, in my opinion. It feels dingy in there.
(3)Anon A. M.
I hope that people will fall in love with Giovanni's like my wife and I have. It doesn't take long. Basically, it's a family-owned business that has never once forgotten how they got succesful. They do not compromise on the quality of their food, and they have long-time employees who genuinely want to be there and want you to enjoy yourself. Giovanni's catered our Wedding. They have hosted dinners & special occassions for us throughout the years and I'm proud to say there is no finer Italian dining south of New York City. The only thing we need to do is order something different for once! The Chicken Franchese and Cheese Raviolis are so awesome.....we haven't strayed from them in over a decade....and the salad dressing is to die for, don't miss out. I'm so happy that the restaurant is still in it's original locale, with its live entertainment and friendly staff. For me? The thought of going to Little Italy in Baltimore instead, and paying triple in triple the time, for 1/3rd the quality of food??? Child. Please.
(5)Ashley M.
the food was okay wasn't what I expected. The food was a little blane no flavor. Salad was pretty good.
(3)Tanya C.
I came here for a holiday party and paid a decent amount for lasagna, chicken parm, salad, bread, and bottomless soft drink ($16 dollars/person). The room for the party was decent, though they only had one server for 30ish people. Because of this not everyone got to place drink orders. Food was minimal. Small (very small) piece of lasagna and chicken. Average salad and bread. Overall no one was full and I don't think anyone got the chance to get a refill of their soft drink if they were lucky enough to get one in the first place.
(2)Joe S.
This place offered more than I expected, especially being in Edgewood. This restaurant doesn't look like somewhere you'd want to go to from the outside, especially since next door is pretty sketchy little shopping area. Parking is in the back of the building, and you have to use the front door, so it is a little awkward having to walk around the building (its a long building). When you first walk in, you begin to see it is a nice restaurant. The bar is on the right with a pretty limited selection on tap, but a decent sized bar area nonetheless. The dining area is dimly lit, I'm guessing for ambiance. It is full of tables, mostly for four. The table we were seated at was pretty awkward to eat on, because it was a square table with the round extenders. This made the table wobble the whole night, but its nice having the extra room. The wait staff hits you quick and throws about 20 specials at you before you even get a chance to see the menu. The specials when I was there were nothing, for lack of a better word, special. They were also pretty pricey. Overall the menu is standard for an Italian restaurant and prices are moderate to high. I didn't really see anything that jumped out at me. Also, an issue I have with this place, is the way the dishes are served. Most restaurants competing in this niche try to model their menu like Olive Garden or other big Italian chains. This place gives you all the bread you want, but unlike other Italian restaurants you don't get the complementary salad with you entree. Instead, they make you choose between getting a salad or a pasta with your meal. This confused me at first because - why would a restaurant serve an unbalanced meal? Unfortunately that's what they do. This wouldn't be all that bad if they didn't charge a pretty hefty price for it as well. So I ordered a chicken entree. When it came out, I had already finished my salad, which I got with the house dressing (I give it a B-). My dinner then consisted of a piece of chicken... and nothing else. $19 for a salad and a piece of chicken. This was disappointing. I really feel like they need to offer something else with their entrees. When paying around $20 dollars for a chicken meal, its a general rule for me that I should be getting a salad or something included, along with a side of two. I assumed this was pretty standard, because in my experience, that is what the majority of restaurants offer. Their portions were on the larger side and you will most likely have some to take home, especially with the pastas. I guess if I went back I would go with the pasta with some sort of meat and order the salad. At least that way I could have a good balanced meal, instead of just a piece of meat. Overall, it was OK. Nothing spectacular. I would probably only go back with a coupon or something. In my opinion, there's better places out there that offer more at the same price.
(3)Dave S.
Worst dinning expiration ever had a $40 coupon That wasn't honored and when pointed out the hostess just wanted to get the last word in. Nothing in the fine states can't use it on Easter Sunday? The owners where there and didn't care or take the time come out and explain it. Then to top it all off one of the waiters was carrying a hand full of butter packets dropping them from the kitchen to the table picked them up off the floor and put them on the table OMG germs all over somebody else dinner. Will never go back and also reporting them to bmorebargains.com The Fine Print Cannot combine with other offers One per party/table Not for use toward gift cards, tax, or tip No change given, no cash value Dine-in only Voucher expires 4/12/2012
(1)Kirk R.
We recently went to Giovanni's after many years. The place decor is dated but still draws a crowd. Nice touch with Live Music after 9 PM. The music was dated like the restaurant, but very enjoyable. The Food is average at best and like many Italian Restaurants often over priced. However, we enjoyed the experience but will probably not plan to return as we need to travel to get here. We would join our friends again here if asked. Frankly, I think that they could do so much better with the execution of their menu. I love a great Chicken, Fish, Veal Franchese preparation. It was a sin to serve the pale presentation that they did during our meal. Similar criticisms with other dishes we sampled. Dessert was very good! Now, the staff was very attentive and made for a nice evening; however, I would have traded a bit here for a more attentive kitchen preparation.
(3)Katharine T.
I can see the potential for 5 star, but nothing I ate was that amazing... I had the lunch portion of chicken parm, which came with a side of pasta and a small romaine house salad. We were also served bread and butter, which was good, but not hot. The olive oil though was to die for.
(4)SalesandTrails H.
Relatively good for the area. If you are not going to go to Baltimore, it is difficult to find good Italian food. That being said, the food was ok. I recommend ordering a dish that is prepared with the red sauce but be prepared to doctor it up a bit. Once you spice it up, it is quite good. Be cautious when ordering other types of sauce as our meals were swimming in greasy Marsalas. We started with a seafood bisque which was pretty good and did have a lot of seafood in it. Overall, a cozy restaurant with ok food. We will probably return but I will only order a dish with red sauce.
(3)Rick B.
Mediocre food, slow service, and a loud room. Look for another place.
(1)Dan H.
Excellent food. I will go there every time.
(5)Brianne C.
The sweet, gloppy marinara sauce: 2 stars. The zesty toasted garlic bread: 3.75 stars. The unpretentious, familiar servers: 3.5 stars. The mammoth, vulgar portions: 2.5 stars. The fresh salad with onions and romaine: 3.5 stars. The luscious, light, and herbal chianti: 4 stars. So, I eat here occasionally when visiting my husband's parents. I never need to pick up the check, and their status as regulars ensures extra baskets of bread and especially attentive service. The seafood dishes tend to be more enjoyable, with fresh shrimp, scallops, and fish that has been delicately sauteed. Also, many of the garnished meat dishes, including pounded chicken cutlets topped with prosciutto, mozzarella, and basil and finished with lemon butter, are usually nicely seasoned and prepared. Overall, I have spent two hours in worse ways.
(3)Ty C.
Giovanni's is par. Not sub-par, but par. The food is better than you would get at a chain restaurant. But it's not comparable to similarly-priced restaurants. My crab cake was very good but the steak wasn't. I ordered a medium and received medium-well. A rare steak came out medium. In contrast, the service was very good. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and best of all, knowledgeable. But I can't get over the fact that, for what I paid, I can get better meals in the city. Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?
(3)Brian M.
As I start my review I am mid meal. I just can't wait to post, thus far the service has been attentive, friendly and prompt. The lobster bisque with shrimp is incredible to the utmost limits of the word and at 6.99 a bowl I think is reasonably priced and the portions are huge. I ordered the Veal a la Rosa and it was quit good although could have used a bit more lemon but that is my personal taste. The pasta had nice bite and you can tell it is made to order unlike most restaurants where it is pre cooked and re heated though at $22.50 I felt was a bit over priced for the quantity of the portion given although the ingredients were obviously were fresh. My wife ordered the stuffed flounder which tasted wonderful but had to be returned as it was so full of bones it made for an unpleasant meal, But the staff quickly took my wife's new order without question and promptly made a new dish. Even the children's menu left us in aw as we ordered the baked manicotti and let me say it delivered on an adult scale. Huge portion "Way to big" for a children's meal so you will for sure have leftovers and well priced. Very pricey in my opinion, but all in all worth it. The atmosphere is very laid back with an 80's upscale quality to it that screams gaudy Italian at its best. I am off the boat Italian so I know true Italian food, And this is the closest you are going to get in the Hartford county area. I was disappointed that such an Italian restaurant would not have Italian wedding soup, Clams in Red or tiramisu but you cant have it all. And let me say, I did not order the spaghetti and meatballs but I am sorry I didn't. The meatballs were softball size "2" and the red sauce is great. All in all it slides in at 5 stars but it was close to 4 as the price is steep in my opinion as the bill for 2 adults and a 2 year old came to $96.00 before tip for a children's manicotti, 2 bowls of bisque, i calamari fritti and 2 veal a la rosas as the flounder was returned.
(5)M M.
We love this place! We plan it into our drives from Philly on Friday nights. Cozy weird homey atmosphere, great food and cheap wines! Lambrusco by the glass! Burgundy, my mom used to drink it...so do I at giovanni's! Spumoni, hated it when I was a kid, but I order it now and hate it with fond memories!
(5)Lisa P.
Although the decor isn't the most updated, Giovanni's is probably the best restaurant in the Edgewood area. We make a stop at least once a week for lunch and have never had a bad meal. My favorite would have to be the stuffed eggplant. The portion is generous and after having had delicious -normally warm- bread (with olive oil and parmesan) and a nice sized salad (with their absolutely amazing house salad dressing), I always end up taking most of the eggplant home. The server we like best is Tammy (though I have found them all to be good)- she is incredibly attentive and always provides us with great service. All-in-all, a wonderful restaurant. This time we took our kids and the check came to $43 with plenty of leftovers for dinner tonight.
(5)Lauren B.
This place has delicious food. Their portions are huge, including the appetizers. The only cons I've experienced at Giovannis is the wait after you sit down, and the waitstaff is always horrible. They're not knowledgable about the food, they never check in on you or offer refills. So it's a toss up. If you don't mind the lack of hospitality, then it's a great place to get some authentic tasting Italian food.
(4)Onna H.
I've never eaten at Giovanni's, but my family purchases their salad dressing by the quart for all our family get togethers. It is the best Italian dressing you will ever have! Recently, on a drive up Rt. 40 we passed Giovanni's and started talking about their salad dressing. Within minutes, we were all craving salad so much that we made a U-turn and drove back to the restaurant. The restaurant was closing, but the staff was nice enough to sell us a few quarts of the dressing and made us a salad even though the kitchen was closed. The bartender could not have been more friendly or accommodating. My boyfriend is a chef and I am making him "decode" the recipe so that we don't have to drive from Philadelphia to get it!
(5)Kat M.
The outside is nothing special, but don't let that fool you, delish food awaits on the inside. This is another stop on the food tour every time I visit home. You can't beat a place with wine by the glass for around $3-$4. Visiting from Hawaii where wine by the glass is usually $9-$17, this is a deal! I won't bore you with all the food we ate, just know that warm, crusty bread will be served along with perfectly cooked pasta dishes and yummy desserts to finish off a great meal. Service is always good, and wine glass was always full. Don't waste your money on Olive Garden. Go here for the real deal Italian food and support a local business.
(4)C B.
For those of you who know what an good-ol' fashioned restaurant is all about...Giovanni's is one of those!! A nice Italian restaurant with many seafood option. We went there for Mother's Day lunch and luckily for us, we went earlier than the crowd; otherwise, it looked like a long wait. Giovanni's has been around for many decades and has been passed down a generation. That's a good sign that they've been doing things right....customers keep coming back. While I don't remember the names of the dishes we order, the food was good. But what I found disappointing was that my pasta was overcooked. For a $30 plate, I expect my pasta to be PERFECT al dente. That is basic Italian restaurant 101. However, the redeeming quality was portions were generous. Service was on par with what I expect. I'm not sure if I'd go out of my way to go back but it's a decent restaurant all-in-all.
(3)