4. Restaurants

Giovanni’s Ristorante

330 S Oakwood, Detroit, MI, 48217
  • (313) 841-0122
  • Store is closed

Giovanni’s Ristorante Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Detroit for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 5707 Southfield Fwy )

Visit below restaurant in Detroit for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 5707 Southfield Fwy )

  • Bella M.

    A wonderful old school Italian restaurant and you usually receive a greeting from the owner. The ambiance is very charming and certainly could be romantic. The food is pretty reliable, typical Italian dishes and house made pasta. Defiantly worth the trip.

    (4)

  • Mike K.

    Oh gosh, this is the type of place you dream about having in your neighborhood, where they make old-school Italian food perfectly, without a slip in quality over the years. A small, cozy place with warm owners who are proud of their restaurant. Where you can simply trust that they know Italian food. The garlic bread. It's cliche to say you could make a meal out of the bread, so let's say I could make EVERY meal out of this bread. It's rich, buttery and garlicky. I ate way too much. We had the pizza bianca to start. It was very tasty, with thin slices of grape tomatoes on top. It was good, but I think I'll just eat more garlic bread. You get your choice of soup or salad. Salads are perfectly dressed with very fresh greens. Soups are even better. Sadly, they were out of the brodo con cappelletti, which is one of my favorites, but the chicken soup was incredible anyway. Wonderful, rich, clear broth with squares of fresh pasta floating throughout. They were out of quite a few items when we were there, but the wonderful owner came by the table to explain that a funeral party showed up at the last minute early that morning. She made us feel like we'd been coming there for years. All of our entrees were outstanding, particularly the gnocchi in a mushroom sauce. The cannelloni di carne was also outstanding, with a very balanced sauce and, of course, excellent pasta. This place is better than most of the restaurants in the North End here in Boston. I'm so glad my parents moved nearby so I can eat here when I visit.

    (5)

  • Marie C.

    True definition of melt in mouth italian food! Tastes like my nona's in the kitchen :)

    (5)

  • Katie W.

    I hope Yelp brings more recognition to this landmark restaurant. Having been here more than once... It's about time I finish this darn review! Even though those who have been here before know the caliber of deliciousness that never fails, every time I am in here I always wonder how Giovanni's survives in this area. I envision it thriving in an uppity metropolitan area... Not surrounded by factories and ghetto/defaced buildings. This my friends is a diamond in the rough! Although this Italian fare is beyond scrumptious, the dessert is never disappointing! I love their dessert, and I always pick at my food and eat dessert first :) strawberry shortcake, cannoli and tiramisu are my absolute faves.... And believe me, I've ordered two before, and the cannoli didn't get out the doors in it's take-out container. It's okay, because quite frankly, if you come here to eat- it's acceptable to have hog jaws :)

    (5)

  • Algis O.

    Outstanding freshly made Italian food. Watch the price of the specials that are not on the menu. Service is very good and personal.

    (4)

  • Christine K.

    This place is a bit pricy but well worth it. I walked in thinking the food would not be as great as I made it out to be. I was hungry so I decided to give it a try. My, have I underestimated it. The food is good. The service is too good. Thank you for the experience. I will be back.

    (4)

  • Juliauna N.

    Home made pasta, famiglia type of comfortable feeling and welcoming atmosphere and staff! Loved it here!! Went for dinner with girl friends after work and though we sprang 10+ people last minute - everything went seamlessly with help on dish decisions for our indecisive ones. Split the bill between all of us, which was well received by the Waitress who took 6+ credit cards... Cannot wait to go back - yummmmmmmy!!

    (5)

  • Martha V.

    I love this restaurant. The food, the service, the atmosphere, the experience - all top notch. Giovanni's is the best Italian food in the Detroit area, bar none. The pasta is fresh, the sauces are excellent, and I have never had less than a stellar meal here. I love the pesto al pomodoro sauce (over linguine) so much I barely open the menu when I sit down. But prior to discovering that sauce, I'd tried several different entrees and they were all outstanding (the lasagna is highly recommended as well). Make a reservation and definitely use the valet parking, but absolutely visit this restaurant - the food is amazing.

    (5)

  • Anonymous N.

    Every time we visit Giovanni's they make you feel as if you are family. The food is absolutey F A B U L O U S!!! We love all the servers, but we never ever go without requesting our all time favorite server, Katie. She is a treasure, a gem and a darn good server...one of the best. 5 stars is not enough to describe this gem.

    (5)

  • Thomas E.

    I heard great things but I was somewhat disappointed. The red sauce tasted like it came out if a jar. The pasta is supposedly homemade but it didnt seem so. The prices were high for the quality of the food they served.

    (3)

  • Chad C.

    I now understand how this place stays open, given its out-of-the-mainstream-way location. It simply is exquisite Italian fare, the best I've had in the entire state of Michigan (mind you, I don't go around eating Italian everywhere I go in the mitten, but I have spent 9 months in Italy, so I know good Italian when I taste it). This is definitely a hidden gem in the rough! Pure Detroit.

    (5)

  • Viet N.

    Giovanni's, I really wanted to love you. A near perfect record on Yelp, a long history of great food and great service, and you're even in the ghetto, where food has to be great. Alas, I think I had you built up in my mind too much before coming in, and you just didn't stand up to expectations. Location and ambiance: I think they call this Downriver? It's waayy out there. For me and my friends, firmly living north of 11 mile, this was less of a night out and more of a safari for Italian food. The restaurant is the only building with a breath of life for blocks around, which is amazing and sad. Inside though, it was filled with loud, gesticulating Italians, which was just awesome. Service: Remember, I don't rate on service, but I have to mention that our server was always there when we needed her, and never there when we didn't want her around. Perfect. The chef-owner also came by to greet us, which I think is a great touch. Appetizers: We ordered the calamari, and I strongly felt ripped off here from the start. I was hoping for more squid and less breading, and maybe, you know, rings of squid like it normally comes. Instead, the calamari had the consistency of lukewarm fish sticks. It was doused in a sweet caper sauce, though that didn't make up the overpriced ($15) textural faux-pas. Entrees: Two of us got veal saltimbocca and two of us got shrimp/scallop/artichoke linguine in a pesto-pomodoro sauce. The meals ($25-28) came with a terribly salty soup or a salad that consisted of bagged mixed greens and some house vinaigrette salad dressing. These were safe choices, since you would think it would be really hard to mess up saltimbocca (prosciutto-wrapped veal) or pesto-pomodoro sauce (the best of both worlds). The sauces were good, if lacking punch. The real crime though, was the pasta. I definitely could taste homemade love in the pasta, but the cook preparing the dish messed up and gave us overcooked pasta that was almost falling apart. Not making pasta al-dente is an unforgivable offense. This is an Italian restaurant. Wine: There is a good selection of Italian wines. We shared a bottle of sauvignon blanc. I can't say it was particularly noteworthy, despite being $35. Dessert: We shared a tiramisu, which was good. I really don't judge desserts well, since it tastes like an airy, creamy slice of coffee cake. I don't think I've ever really had terrible tiramisu either, so I guess this was fine. All in all, I feel let down from lofty expectations. There were no serious errors in meal planning, but execution was lacking. PPYKAG.

    (3)

  • Michelle W.

    Ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh!! How I love this place!! This woman makes the best eggplant parm on the planet! Plus I don't know what they do to the pasta when they make it, but it is exceptional! As other Yelpers said, everything is from scratch and everything I've ever had there is wonderful. The calamari is to die for! Lightly breaded, the perfect texture and capers to boot. The tiramisu (I can't spell) is so light and airy, it's like a dream. Those are my favorite things there, so I have a hard time getting anything else ever. Plus, this place is a family thing. My dad used to go to this place when it was a pizza joint when it first opened. Somehow it's evolved into this great restaurant, even thought it's burned down twice!! Momma Giovanni always comes to the table to see how your meal is going and tells me stories from when my dad was young, it's pretty wild all the people she can remember! One caution to you first timers, not the greatest neighborhood....but, absolutely worth it! We've even had birthday, graduation etc dinners here for groups that have been wonderful!

    (5)

  • M M.

    I can't believe I had never even heard of this place before. It is a dark (lighting) area and not well populated area. However the food and staff were great. I wasn't as enamored as others with the calamari but everything else was great particularly the pesto pomodoro and the tiramisu. We will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Wendy C.

    Traditional American-Italian food, lots of red sauce. Mostly comfort food (pasta, veals, ...), well executed if not inventive. I do like their Eggplant parmigiana (melazane parmigiana), thinly sliced eggplant flash fried in a tempura like batter instead of heavy breading, the pomodoro sauce is flavourful, a nice complement to eggplant's earthiness and mozzarella slight saltiness. Mains come with soup or salad, okay soup nothing to rave about. The restaurant is located in a gritty looking area, although once inside the scene is quite genteel and warm. valet parking is available and the only viable option at night.

    (3)

  • Zac K.

    Being from Detroit, I do love a nice meal when I'm home visting the parental units. This is one of those institutions, if you will, that is consistently good and just love. If you can snag a table in the godfather room, do it! so cozy and warm. I have been coming here since I was about the ripe age of 12 or so- I am in love with many things here, but especially love starting with the Shrimp Giovanni- garlic, lemon and complete bliss- love it! I usually opt for the manicotti or one of the specials- the pasta is handmade and so delicate and delish- you won't be sad. The steak is also well done and prepared to perfection. The place is dressier, so keep that in mind. Save room for dessert because it is simply outstanding. Love this place! Fran rocks!

    (5)

  • Esther E.

    My family and i have been going to Giovanni for almost 20 years. they have by far the best italian food around. if you're looking for a 5 star place where the stars hang out, then this is definitely the place for you. Ask for Lori as a waitress, she will take care of you!

    (5)

  • Adriano M.

    The Osso Bucco is amazing......this place gets better every time I dine here. Keep it up.

    (5)

  • Samantha C.

    I cannot say enough good things about Giovanni's. If you have not been there, do yourself a favor and go! From the professional servers to the owner, they make you feel like you are in for a real treat AND YOU ARE! The food is amazing and homemade.....nothing is canned or boxed. For goodness sake, they make their pasta fresh and it tastes like heaven. We are foodies and we are consistently blown away each and every time we come here. Tonight, we started with the Shrimp Risotto app.....superb! I have the Pollo alla Trentina and could have cried it was so good. My hubby had Ravioli with Crab......to die for! We ended the meal with a lemon dessert and tiramisu....again, all made in house. A little pricey, but you get what you pay for. This may not be a place you go every week, but you will wish it was!

    (5)

  • Phillip M.

    An institution and Detroit gem... Delicious Delicious Delicious.... We do not mind one bit making the pilgrimage to see Fran and her staff!

    (5)

  • T G.

    Particularly in Detroit, I have found it rare to discover a truly wonderful dining experience - my evening at Giovanni's raised the bar. From the moment we arrived, until we walked out the door, we were enveloped by a glowing warmth that extended throughout our entire meal. Indeed, every element of our experience at Giovanni's can be highly recommended without hesitation. The service: exceptional. We were attended to immediately without feeling crowded or rushed to begin examining the menu or ordering food. We eased in to the warm and comfortable atmosphere, feeling grand and excited for what was ahead. Our waitress was lovely, genuinely pleasant and extremely helpful in describing wines, answering questions about the menu and helping us decide on dishes. My boyfriend was debating between the Cannelloni di Pesce and Ravioli di Friuli and was told, very honestly, by the waitress that she had only tried the ravioli and could recommend it highly, but could not compare the nuances of the two dishes from her own experience. So often, I am disappointed by waiters or waitresses who are unfamiliar with the food or make recommendations without a true sense of what the dishes actually taste like. Her honesty and helpfulness set the stage for a delicious and authentic Italian feast. We shared both the peperoni and calamari appetizer - I usually prefer grilled, but chose to try the golden fried calamari because it sounded quite tasty. The breading was perfect: light and just a bit crispy, not at all too oily. The buerre blanc sauce was great also: a mild but flavourful accompaniment to the calamari. The sausage dish was excellent; unapologetic in its reliance on the flavours brought out by simply sautéing the meat and onions and peppers together - no fancy sauces to obscure, overwhelm or detract from the richness of the ingredients themselves. To be noted: the portions were larger than we anticipated, which is not a complaint, just a word to those intent on finishing their entrees (save room). I had the filet mignon, medium, accompanied by young asparagus and a potato and leek torta. My dish too, was strong its reliance on the flavours inherent in the ingredients themselves. Thrilled with his choice, my boyfriend enjoyed the ravioli immensely, the sauce not too heavy and the tastes quite delicate. I echo other reviewers in feeling as though I spent an evening in someone's home - the atmosphere created by Fran and the Giovanni's crew made us feel we were dining somewhere both relaxed and sophisticated - a wonderful balance achieved by the genuineness and skills of the Giovanni's staff. When we arrived, the hostess had asked if the evening was a special occasion - indeed, we were celebrating a three year anniversary. I told her this, and then soon forgot I had done so as we settled into our table. When our waitress arrived she congratulated us, and then another girl helping bus tables congratulated us a few minutes later. Towards the middle of the meal, Fran herself came over and offered some kind words, and then finally, when were done eating and considering what sort of room we had for desert, our waitress arrived with a plate of homemade tiramisu, on the house. Of course, the tiramisu continued the tradition of exceptionality without flourish; it was simple and light, and absolutely delicious. How sweet and thoughtful of the staff to have made this gesture - it made the feel of the evening all the more delightful and special. We left full, thrilled and glowing with the warmth of the whole night. Thank you, Giovanni's! What a lovely, lovely, dining experience.

    (5)

  • Jennifer H.

    We ate at Giovanni's for Valentine's Day and everything was wonderful. The service was great, greeted promptly and with a smile at the door, our coats were taken and we were shown to our table. The food was delicious; I had the Ravioli Di Friuli: Ravioli stuffed with Boursin Cheese, and sundried tomatoes, topped with lump crab and a champagne cream sauce. I was so glad I ordered this; all the flavors went together perfectly. The portion size was good, just the right amount. My husband had a Halibut special and really enjoyed his too. We skipped dessert as we were both full after the meal, but did see the dessert try and were very tempted.

    (5)

  • Shane N.

    This was my first stop in my four day tour of Metro Detroit Italian cuisine, but my last review. It was my last review because it is probably the toughest to review and I am wondering if I should wait for a second experience there before reviewing the place. I had high expectations for this place and left a little disappointed. I had drove past it hundreds of times, but never really knew much about it. A friend did a little research on it and we decided it was worth checking out. The area is a little run down and industrial, but the atmosphere inside the restaurant was excellent. The staff was attentive but could have been a little more knowledgeable. For appetizers we had the calamari and a mushroom dish. The calamari was in strips instead of the normal little rings. The calamari and the sauce that it came in was very good. The mushroom dish was also good and had an interesting sauce that was very tangy and good. For my main course I had veal cutlets in a white wine sauce. The sauce was very good, but the veal was tough. It may have been overcooked. With veal I didn't expect it to be so chewy. You expect your veal to be tender. The main course also came with soup or salad and a side of pasta. The minestrone was delicious. It was what you expect minestrone to be. The pasta and meat sauce was also good. My SO had some gnocchi with pomodoro sauce. The pomodoro sauce was kind of so-so although the gnocchi was pretty good. For dessert we had a piece of strawberry cheesecake that was good. Overall the place is bordering on four stars, but I cannot forgive the veal being tough and there was nothing that really blew me away to make up for that. I will go back and maybe the place can earn another star.

    (3)

  • Travis C.

    This restaurant is located in a very industrial neighborhood, but don't let the surroundings fool you; this place serves some of the best Italian food I've ever had. They make their own pasta, and everything is made fresh when you order it. I dined here with some friends at 6pm on a Tuesday evening, so it wasn't all that busy. The service was outstanding; our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu, and she seemed to strike that perfect balance between making small talk and being annoying and chatty. I started with the Minestrone, and my other guests had the Pasta Fagioli. The Minestrone was great, especially with the garlic bread (our basket was refilled many times without us even asking) to mop up the extra juice. For my entree, I ordered the Olindo special: Scallops, shrimp, and artichokes in a light red sauce over linguine. DELICIOUS. The artichoke was cooked perfectly, and the seafood was fresh and buttery. The homemade pasta was a perfect compliment to the rest of the dish, and went very well with the bottle of house Pinot Noir that we split. They have a great selection of desserts, we split the Sander's Cream Puff, Cannoli, and Tiramisu. Excellent across the board. I very highly recommend this restaurant to ANYONE!

    (5)

  • Emily D.

    Mmmm this place is right by my work, so sometimes we get lucky and the big boss-man takes us there for lunch...but don't expect to get in and out in an hour. I would plan more on an hour and a half...or more, depending on how many people you have in your group. Food is authentic and delicious, but the restaurant is in the hood...definitely use the valet parking! And be sure not to leave any valuables out in plain sight.

    (4)

  • Nat M.

    best Italian in Michigan. as good as Little Italy places in NYC. hidden gem, since most people dont even know about it. and also, location is the middle of nowhere. Outstanding pizza, lasagna, tiramisu and countless other dishes. food takes a while to prepare, but service is excellent. good place for special occasions

    (5)

  • Dan H.

    Fantastic. The best meal I have had for a long time. The garlic bread is to die for. The atmosphere is fantastic. I will go there every time I am in the area.

    (5)

  • Dean C.

    This was a great experience all the way around. I wish I knew or remembered her name, but the older Italian host who stopped by the table to welcome us was a great touch, she made me feel like I was invited to an Italian family dinner. It was either very well kept or recently renovated, I highly recommend Giovanni's for a intimate, formal and sincere experience.

    (4)

  • Kristen H.

    I honestly cannot say enough great things aout this place. Our server, Tracy, was absolutely amazing from start to finish. THe busboys made sure that our water glass was never less than half full. We started with the hot peppers and a caprese salad that they split for us. I did not have the peppers but my husband did and said they were fantastic. When she noticed that he hadn't finished all of the sausage and peppers, she wrapped them up and gave us tips on how to re-serve them the next day. For our entrees, my husband got the fish special and I ordered the porcini mushroom gnocchi. As an italian lady who has had homemade gnocchi all her life, this rivals my beloved grandmas. Absolutely delicious and filling. I saved half for leftovers and Tracy, once again, wrapped it up nicely and suggested how I could re-heat it the next day. For dessert, we had the pumpkin cheesecake which was made at the restaurant. I am not a huge pumpkin fan but this was light and amazing. My husband and I were talking all the way home what a great dining experience it was. A little bit after we got home, I received a phone call from the restaurant stating that I had left my purse there. They had looked up my name from the reservation and credit card number and called me, stating that they were not open tomorrow or Monday. Us living in downtown, it was just a quick ride to retrieve the bag from the owner, who was so gracious and kind. I have frequented all of Detroit's finest restaurants the Giovanni's has been, by FAR, the best food, service, and experience. Can't recommend it enough!!! Cin cin xo

    (5)

  • Katherine F.

    The restaurant was decorated in a very romantic and authentic Italian manner, with dimmed lights, soft opera music playing in the background, and brown stone everywhere. Although we had a bit of a slow start (our waitress took a while to come to the table), we had an awesome meal. Our water cups were always full and they had a very nice wine selection. Meals included a soup or salad (with an amazing house honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing) and linguine (unless you ordered a pasta dish). Everybody was pleased with their meals: they were delicious and filling. The dessert presentation was impressive - they bring out a tray with a sample of each dessert and you get to see what you're gonna get. It's very unique and clever. The desserts were equally delicious, though we had to take half home. Overall our meal was very much worth the price and we would love to come back.

    (5)

  • Tamara Y.

    On my last visit to Giovanni's, the good was still excellent. The service on this particular evening left a WHOLE BUNCH to be desired. We couldn't help but feel like we were crashing the party, instead of being welcomed and invited guests. Our reservations were at 7:30, and we were promptly there at 7:25. We were told that we might have to sit at the bar "for a few minutes" because the previous reservations had arrived late. Ok, I can live with a few minutes .... so off to the bar we go. The problem is that there doesn't appear to be a dedicated bartender. From what I could tell, the waitstaff went behind the small bar and mixed whatever drinks they required. We tried to place drink orders every time a staff member stepped behind the bar, only to be told that someone would "be right with" us. At this point, I'm getting genuinely cheesed. After 25 minutes of sitting around twiddling our fingers (and perhaps a vocal complaint or two) we finally got someone to take our drink order. We also had to ask for some bread. Our "few minutes" of waiting for our table turned into about 40 minutes before we were seated. We were seated in the back room because, as it was explained to us, they preferred to keep us with the same waiter who mixed our drinks, and it would be easier for him if we were seated in the back. Go ahead.... roll that explanation around in your head for a minute. The back room consisted of two large birthday parties of 8-10 people each, and us. Based on the logic advanced for seating us in the back room in the first place, you'd think that our waiter had one of these other tables. Nope. The other tables were staffed by different waiters. Our waiter's other tables were, you guessed it, in the main dining room. So why the tell was I sitting in the back room surrounded by birthday celebrations? No clue. How often do you think our waiter made it into the back room? Not nearly often enough, let me tell you. We had to ask other people for things like a bread or water refill because our waiter was simply no where to be found. To add insult to injury, my husband ordered the Manzo Di Braciole, but received the Manzo Alla Giovanni. When he told the waiter that this was NOT the dish he had ordered, the waiter insisted that my husband had indeed ordered the Manzo Alla Giovanni. WHAT THE HELL? On what planet do you insist that your customer is wrong? At this point, it was already 9:15pm. My husband was hungry, didn't want to wait any more and decided to make the best of it. (He did state that it was delicious.) On this visit, the food gets 5 stars as always, but the service was 1-2 stars at best. UPDATE: A couple days after I posted the above review, my husband called Giovanni's to cancel our New Year's Eve reservation for four. He also explained why. (See above.) The woman initially said "Oh yeah, you're the filet guy," which makes me think somebody at Giovanni's reads the Yelp reviews. She then said "yeah, we really ought to do something about overbooking." Wait .... so this really wasn't a matter of Giovanni taking some latecomers, but a DELIBERATE policy of taking more reservations than you have seats? Yep, apparently so. My husband was also told that there was "nothing" they could do about it. Based on their blasé attitude regarding screwing their customers, I can't say I'll be returning to Giovanni's anytime soon.

    (3)

  • S F.

    This is by far the best Italian restaurant in the area. I've had Italian food in major cities in the U.S. and this is definitely on par with some of the best. I've been here a handful of times and each time, I have had great service and best of all great food. Appetizers: Bread - The bread that comes out to every table is nice and warmed and toasted soft Italian bread brushed with garlic butter. Salad - The salad that comes with the entrees are very simple, although very good - mixed greens and lightly coated with a honey/balsamic vinaigrette. Calamari - Very good. It depends on the type of cut you like. If you like crunchy, deep-fried circle cuts, you may not like these. These are cut into strips and are marinated overnight to soften them. They are lightly breaded and pan-fried then topped with a white wine butter caper sauce. The calamari were very fresh-tasting. I generally like Carrabba's calamari, but these were equally as good, just different. Pizza - The pizza wasn't anything too spectacular, but it was better than your average pizza. Thin crust with a minimum of topping. Caprese - Your basic caprese with fresh basil, tomatoes, and buffalo mozzarella (creamier than cow's milk) imported from Italy. Entrees: Veal Saltimbocca - Very good flavor with a white wine caper sauce Cheese-filled manicotti - You get 2 regular shell and 1 spinach manicotti shell stuffed with ricotta cheese. I got mine topped with the meat sauce. FYI, it isn't baked or topped with mozzarella cheese (as this is what I prefer anyways). This was the best manicotti I've ever had because it was a very light and airy, yet flavorful pasta dish. Not like the usual calorie-ridden huge portions and mozzarella galore you get elsewhere. Angel hair pasta with meat sauce - The homemade pasta was extremely airy, light and cut superthin. The meat sauce was very good too...good balance of both tomato and meaty flavor. The tomato sauce is very good quality - made with (high quality canned whole San Marzano tomatoes) I've never tried anything with a cream sauce or cheese sauce, but will next time. Service: Everytime I've been, the service has been really good with the waiters/waitresses being very attentive.

    (5)

  • daniel t.

    I was introduced to this restaurant by my brother and have brought many close friends to this 5 star GEM. I've eaten at Italian restaurants all over the U.S.A and no one comes close to the Italian food here!!!

    (5)

  • Whitney N.

    Amazing food. The waiter gave us the typical rundown of popular menu items, and my husband and I both ordered something that he pointed out. We were not disappointed in our entrees! Probably the best Italian I've ever eaten- absolutely delicious. For all of that, the house salad was SO unimpressive (clump of spring mix with a messy pile of tomato and cucumber chunks off the side- could have done it myself and had it look nicer and taste better), and the bread was unremarkable (good, but nothing special). We got tiramisu and a cream puff for desert and those were also fabulous. Service was impeccable. It all cost a pretty penny, but it was delicious and worth it and I hope to eat there again!

    (4)

  • Tom S.

    Arguably the best Italian food in the Detroit area. Surrounded by post-industrial Detroit, its a diamond in the roughest of the rough. However, it's no less sophisticated, warm and inviting. It has the ambiance and attitude (not to mention food) of a high end fine dining establishment but without the pretension. The service is impeccable and each waiter takes tables like they are dining in their own home. Oh, and the food? Top notch. Everything is made fresh, from scratch and Giovanni's features creative and traditional dishes. I echo Scott and Katie, the calamari is phenomenal. The ravioli with crab in a light cream sauce was like nothing I've ever tasted in my life. Can't go wrong with a fish or pasta dish. Great wine list, as well. If you're trying to impress a date, great choice. If not the food, she'll be impressed by how baller you obviously must be. It's not cheap but worth every penny.

    (5)

  • CJ R.

    Hands down best Italian food in the state of Michigan. The veal is incredible and the service truly outstanding. The atmosphere is elegant, yet relaxed. The owner makes everyone feel like family.

    (5)

  • Tracey C.

    Went with a group of 8 on a Tuesday night and they had a lot of reservations booked. I thought this was a good sign and thankfully it was. We all had wonderful meals. I order veal piccata everywhere I can get it on a menu. This was the best, ever! The only negative is the neighborhood. It is slightly run down and near some industrial plants. This will not stop me from coming back. Valet parking available. I really cannot wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Ro M.

    Unbeatable flavor and service! The waitress described everything like butter melting in your mouth and she was spot on. The chicken parm is a thicker piece of chicken breast unlike some places that pound it thin. But it easily gave way with the slight pressure of a butter knife. The lasagna is like none other with 17 layers of thin noodles and creamy cheese blend. No dry ricotta here. Homemade balsamic dressing is delicious, garlic bread and soups are flavorful too. Everything was served at perfect temperature. The soup and entrees were fresh and hot. The hostess Fran was genuine in conversation, not pushy. Don't let the surrounding area of run down and abandoned buildings turn you away (all too common in Detroit). This diamond in the rough is a must when in Detroit. It is a few minutes down Fort street from the downtown hotel Doubletree that we stayed at.

    (5)

  • Scott M.

    "Pasta made fresh daily"...huh? I replied...I was a poor kid in law school, I didnt realize how big of a deal this was. Giovanni's is a family owed Italian restaurant in Detroit that is one of the cities hidden jewels... Recommended by a number of folks that know good food, I was finally treated to this spot during my 2nd/3rd yr of law school. Phenomenal. The outside of the restaurant gives you no clue to the type of Italian "goodness" thats going to be inside. A bit dilapidated, the structure doesnt do any justice for the food...however, its THESE type of spots that always have the BEST food...and I am completely fine with that.. Inside, its romantic, intimate, and has a very light buzz. They have a pretty good wine/liquor selection, so I definitely recommend getting a bottle of moscato or moscato d'asti to compliment your meal. I had the chicken with lemon/capers...and it was the best I have ever had...additionally, you cant sleep on the calamari which is equally as great. The ambiance, food, and service is impeccable. Because its family owned, there is a great personal touch that each guest feels the moment they walk in the door....this place is special. Definitely a fave'

    (5)

  • john s.

    From the moment you enter till the moment you leave, the owners and staff provide a exceptional dining experience. I have eaten at Giovanni's many times and have never been disappointed with the quality of food, service or ambiance. It has consistently provided a great dining experience with friends or family for 20years!

    (5)

  • Matt S.

    Might not be the best Italian food in the world, but by far one of the better ones in the Detroit area. Top notch service, great menu and full service bar.

    (4)

  • Mike H.

    One of the best Italian restaurants on the planet! Easily the best Italian in Detroit.

    (5)

  • Eric C.

    I read the other reviews and thought this is too good to be true. I was not disappointed , the Lasagna was the best I have ever had. Not as old school as I thought on the inside, I was expecting something more like Roma's (which is also excellent). Service was excellent and knowledgeable. Read the other rave reviews and believe.

    (5)

  • o o.

    Excellent home made yet sophisticated Italian cuisine. Yes, the pasta is made fresh daily. Probably the best calamari in Michigan. Good wine. Good atmosphere but it is more about the food than the setting. A little pricey.

    (5)

  • A C.

    Went again last weekend with a friend and my wife. It was as good as the first time.

    (5)

  • Brendon Q.

    First time here but was very disappointed. The food was mediocre, and it took more than an you for the steak to come, so I had to have a steak at later than 9pm. The waiters were extremely slow, I have to raise my hand multiple times to get any attention. Lastly and most importantly, I was food poisoned and was terribly sick after the meal, run to the bathroom multiple times that night and did not want to eat anything the next day.

    (1)

  • Dan L.

    I came here with a number of people who are Italian in heritage from the New York and Boston area. Everyone enjoyed their meal and vouched for the authenticity of the food. Service was excellent, portion sizes were good. They have a number of imported wines from Italy that you can't get in the local liquor store that were very good. Started off with the calamari, portobello mushroom and shrimp appetizers. All three were excellent. The calamari was so tender and lightly breaded, not like the more chewy versions you normally have. For mains, most of us had the veal which was excellent. Again, it was very tender, good portions and came with asparagus. Someone had lasagna and really enjoyed it. There's something like 17 layers of pasta in the lasagna! Finally, for dessert I had the cream puff which was again very light and well prepared. By the end of the meal, I had to loosen my belt buckle a notch but everything was delicious. I'll be back next time I'm in Detroit

    (4)

  • Sarah R.

    I love love love this place Love there legendary lasagna Love there desserts and service is amazing always come here for my birthday and will always come back for more

    (5)

  • Shantel T.

    I came here a couple months ago. First off, the service was exceptional, as is the food! I was trying to figure out what to eat and was torn between the lasagna and saltimbocca. Then our waitress was telling us about the special of the night. All I heard was blah blah...STEAK...blah blah...LOBSTER, and then my menu hit the table. I was going to have whatever she just told me, same with my companion. We had the bistecca al calamari fritti (lovedddd this), shrimp Giovanni, Caesar salad, and caprese salad to start with. We also got a side of pesto al pomodoro with angel hair. Yes. There was only two of us and we clearly ate with our eyes while reading the menu. Self restraint? Not quite familiar with that. Anyway, we didn't finish everything but it was one of the best meals we had here in Detroit. Cheers!

    (5)

  • Jared S.

    Best appetizer in greater Detroit(margarita pizza)!!!! Service, food are both excellent. I'm a fan of an owner personally checking on your meal, making sure everything is perfect, Fran does a great job!

    (5)

  • Ron C.

    Well it is nice to see the actual visit surpass the HYPE. Ive been wanting to go here for many years, or Bacco or LDV Well asking & quizzing locals, everyone conceded Giovannis was worthy of my time & money We secured a reservation for 5:30 on A Saturday Night, used the valet parking. The Valets were very polite, kind & prompt. Walked in and the hostess decided to seat us in that very small 4 table room to the left. [ not a fan way to quite & did not have the excitement of the larger dining room ] The place is truly an Old School Classic, truly out of a Hollywood lot. Our server new each & every menu item & ingredient. We both were torn , but knew from yelpers the 16 layer lasagna was a must. Plus we ordered the chicken Marsala. Our server offered us a soup or salad The bride chose the chicken noodle, I chose the pasta fagoli Her chicken noodle soup was by far the BEST SOUP I HAD EVER TRIED!! so much so, that Johnny saw my bowl of pasta fagoli off to the side & inquired..I said it was okay but hers was the bomb, he swapped out my soup for me. [ very nice touch & so observant ] Our entrees came out soon afterwords , oh my goodness, I have never ever seen such thin layers of pasta goodness & yes there were 16 layers!! light , flavorful good, oh so good. The chicken Marsala was also very good ,with plenty of thin tender chicken breasts,,mushrooms & dark brown Marsala sauce [ it was not as sweet as I'm normally used to buy very good!] We decided to kill the lasagna & box up 1/2 of the Marsala so we could splurge & try a dessert. The bride chose 2 scoops of Alinosi Vanilla $7.99 I chose a chocolate-flour less dipped torte $7.99 And less I forget to mention the bread basket....just excellent. During our desert , Fran the 86 year old owner stopped by introduced herself , explained the history & heritage of the place & the photos were actual family members. She asked if we were celebrating anything special, I said my 54th 1 week late, she sent over a slice of tiramisu on the house! WOW! Dinner & Dessert for two, no cocktails a very fair $54 Plotting my prompt return.& wanting to try the shrimp app. LIZ R. , LIZ, W. Ashley, Brian & Lorna ty for the strong lead.

    (5)

  • Harleen K.

    Came here for dinner. Started off with sausage and peppers for app, felt like it was home cooked! I had the halibut special- delicious! The fish was well cooked, surrounded with lemon butter and capers. The boyfriend had ravioli with lump crab, this was equally delicious. Had the strawberry cheesecake for desert which I loved. The waitress was friendly, attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. The decor is that of a living room, with what looks like old family pictures. The chef and owner came around to our table and introduced themselves. Loves the experience, felt like I was eating at an old friends house.

    (5)

  • Colette N.

    My husband loves Italian, me - meh, but this is a place we can both embrace. Amazing food (fine, I pretty much stick with the F A N T A S T I C fresh, handmade lasagna), but every time I go, everyone always LOVES their dishes. Bread on the tables is very yummy too. Don't miss the calamari, its light, airy and flash fried - its like no other I've had. I love it! And everyone who ever gets the veal have commented its really great. Staff is top notch and the ambiance is so very special. The owner, Fran has never failed to impress. She is 85 years young, has owned the restaurant for 25 years and works about 10 hours/day. She always stops by the table to say hi and to share a story. A truly terrific, warm and inviting host! I have brought groups several times. I actually had my small (15 ppl) wedding reception there (even my MIL gave it 2 thumbs up) and I've brought a senior dining group twice (they want to make it a monthly stop as they love its charm and delicious food so much). I cant say enough about all of these visits. Amazing and you kind of feel like you are in another world, filled with calm, a touch of elegance, yummy food and a great wine list. And I'm never shell-shocked when I get the bill. Don't get me wrong, it's far from cheap, but it is also quite reasonable for the level of deliciousness, service and atmosphere. Dessert is worth every calorie (if you have room). Tiramisu is the best of the best, Sanders Hot Fudge Cream Puff is huge and the cream puffs are made onsite and are crazy good. The lemon cake is fantastic too. Also consider getting a frozen lasagna to cook at home. It's worth EVERY CENT of the $20. They even provide you with extra sauce.

    (5)

  • Brittany L.

    My family and I went to Giovanni's last week for my father's birthday dinner Thursday evening. We were off of the main dining room which was helpful because there was about ten of us. Our waitress was attentive and kept refilling my water and replacing my silverware. We had a four year old dining with us and they were accommodating to the child as well. The atmosphere was casual, but had an ambiance about it that would be nice for a romantic date as well. I had the filet with garlic mashed potatoes and it came with a mushroom component that was delicious. It was tender and cooked to order medium with a warm, pink center. I had a side salad with balsamic topped with blue cheese. I will say that the salad is very small, so be prepared for that. The desserts looked amazing, but I did pass after my 8 oz. steak (that I of course finished.) Next time, I will be trying the pasta! It looked amazing. Overall, very good experience.

    (4)

  • Michelle N.

    Overhyped. First off, the younger hostess is SO RUDE. I almost cancelled my reservation bc of her poor phone etiquette. It also didn't help that she was the first person I saw upon arrival..and she's equally rude in real life. However, the other, older hostess is warm and inviting, and our waitresses were great. Pros: -yummy bread -homemade pasta, and you can tell! -huge lasagna portion -decently priced entrees -nice home-y environment Cons: -the food wasn't amaaaaaazing..like everybody raves about. Also, only the pasta was really good. My boyfriend's entree was meh. -desserts are a rip-off..$8 for a single cannoli is ridiculous to me. At least throw in a second cannoli! -super rude hostess What was a reasonably priced meal (~$50/2 entrees) became ridiculous bc of all these upcharges and dessert prices that we weren't informed about. Glad I tried Giovanni's once, but I don't see myself coming back, esp. bc that rude hostess left such a bad taste in my mouth.

    (3)

  • Michael N.

    While it's been a while since I've been to Giovanni's, I've got to say that it's one of those places that I would go out of my way to visit. Even if it is located in a super shady section of South Detroit, people haven't stopped believing in this restaurant and the excellent Italian food it serves. While it's a little on the pricey side, I think it's worth it for the food and service. Word to the wise (even those of you who are cheap like me), valet park the car.

    (5)

  • Gina D.

    I love Giovanni's! What can I say, I think it might be the best Italian restaurant in metro Detroit. I guess there is Bacco, but they are high end, and high priced. We went to Giovanni's for my husbands birthday a few weeks ago, I had the Veal Saltimbocca, and it was excellent, very tender, and full of flavor. Husband ordered a side of gnocchi with his meal, and they were so soft, they melted in your mouth. They gave us a tiramisu for his birthday, which was nice.

    (5)

  • Don C.

    Needed a quick Dinner for 10/15 People and headed down and grabbed the lasagna to go it was Awesome and the staff was great on cooking tips and making sure I did not over order.....Thanks Team Giovanni's

    (5)

  • Derek D.

    I enjoy Italian food as much as the next guy. I rarely have pasta, but when I do, it needs to be fresh and from an authentic Italian restaurant - and mother preferably. Here, I got both. This place is a true a Detroit gem. It's entirely off the beaten path but don't let the area fool you, this is a first class establishment. Family owned and operated for multiple generations, everyone aims to please, and the meal is just right. Tracie, our server, has been at the restaurant for 29 years (which means she started in first grade) and is a delight to have. You want her to sit with you because she is so personable. The ambiance is rich, Italian, historic, and clean (even the bathrooms). I will recommend this place as the best authentic Italian place in Detroit and that you not overeat, because driving home could pose an issue. A post meal espresso will help, but there's also nothing wrong with taking home leftovers. I recommend this place for private dinners, date night, a family gathering or even a corporate event. The staff and food will keep everything happy. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Sue K.

    This is by far some of the best Italian food we have ever eaten, not to mention the amazing service and atmosphere. The owner of the restaurant, who is an amazing Italian lady comes by each table and sits and ask how everything is, and actually spends some time just chatting , she was truly an amazing lady. If we ever return to the Detroit area, this will definitely be our first stop for dinner!

    (5)

  • Mike R.

    I love Giovanni's! Not only is the best lasagna I've ever had, but the service is so welcoming and friendly. We usually go here on my birthday or our anniversary and it's always a special night. When the staff knows this, they treat you even more special. I've had many great meals here over the years and can't say anything but good things about the food and service. I will tell you that it is in a neighboorhood that has seen better days. They have valet parking, so use that option if you are worried about parking on the street but I do all the time with no issues. It's not that bad of an area, just run down. No matter where you are in the Metro Area make the trip to Delray and visit this place. You won't regret it. Also . . It is a dress up kind of night out.

    (5)

  • Ashley H.

    Finally! I have found my favorite Italian in Detroit! What's funny is that I was raving about my first experience here with my husband to a friend so much that she wanted to go--two days after my first time there. The valet guys recognized my car. All three of us loved our meals. The first time I had the cannelloni and my husband had the olindo special. I wanted to try their Alfredo (because you know it has to be amazing at a place like this) and was able to order a side over pasta. Our food tasted so fresh and was seasoned just right. And the pasta, all house-made, is the best pasta I've ever had. We ended with a piece of tiramisu--delish! On my return trip I opted for the pollo triventa and my friend had the eggplant entree. She said it was amazing and the best eggplant she had ever had. My chicken was so tasty, a perfect combination of cream sauce, fresh spinach, and mushrooms. The inside is decorated well and very clean. They have a very extensive wine list with excellent house options by the glass. Their service is very welcoming and friendly. You must check it out!

    (5)

  • Peter P.

    Excellent. Food is superbly prepared. The waitstaff is professional and friendly. You cannot go wrong here.

    (5)

  • Marianne S.

    I am visiting family here and had the pleasure of dining at Giovanni's. It is the best Italian food outside of my mom's kitchen. The Calamari was sublime, the Chicken with artichokes and capers accompanied by fresh gnocchi a delight. The restaurant was filled with happy people. Service matched the meal on every front. They tell me that it was a favorite of Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. No surprises there. I will be visiting my family more often to satisfy my Giovanni fix and do everything I can to convince them to open one in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Deborah R. S.

    Excellent food! Worth all the $$$ Fresh homemade pasta and desserts. It is our favorite restaurant. Love it!

    (5)

  • Kathlyn M.

    Let me preface this review by saying that I have been going to Giovanni's since I was a young girl. This is one of my family's favorite restaurants and I will always love the food here. Some of my earliest memories are eating here with my family and my now deceased grandfather. I wanted to treat my boyfriend to dinner for his birthday so I made a reservation (he had never been here before). I just want to say that our service was terrible. We are both young professionals who live and work in Detroit (I work at a major advertising agency and my boyfriend works at Oakwood Hospital) -- I felt that because of our age we got absolutely no respect from our server. We were by far the youngest people in the restaurant, but just because I am young does not mean I can't afford to eat here. Our waitress (middle aged woman) did not check on us one time during our entire meal, and I was so embarrassed after talking so highly about Giovanni's to my boyfriend. The food was spectacular, per usual, but the service was horrible. My family are loyal customers to Giovanni's and as foodies, my boyfriend and I know how to spend money at restaurants and we always tip 20% at least. We both ordered wine, espresso and also ordered two desserts. After our dessert came, our waitress brought an additional piece of Tiramisu for my boyfriend's birthday. Are you kidding me? You might have wanted to comp one of our two desserts before bringing out a third dessert. Our bill was around $70 and I tipped the waitress $20 just to speak out on behalf of young professionals who go out to eat and expect to be served with respect. The only time I will ever re-visit Giovanni's again will be with my parents. Maybe then the people who are SERVING ME will treat me with an ounce of respect. I was so upset at the poor service (not checking in, not filling our glasses, snide/rude answering of my questions or order, bringing out the dessert after the fact to ride up our bill, and just general "I'm better than you" attitude). I've always loved Giovanni's and my mom manages Andiamo in Royal Oak -- we know the owner and the mother of this place and they always make a point to say hi when my family eats (and spends a lot of money) at this place. I love talking to servers and as somebody who worked in restaurants for a couple of years in college, I understand the service industry and I would never look down on somebody just because of their age. The five star review is for the food, not the service. If you are in your 20s, hopefully you will be treated a lot better than my boyfriend and I were (23 and 24, University of Michigan grads). If you are in your 50s wearing a blazer with Richard Gere-ish hair, I'm sure you will be treated way better than we were treated.

    (4)

  • Kelly K.

    Best. Italian. In. Detroit. Although Giovanni's is a little out of the way, it is totally worth it. Just follow the signs once you get off 75 and you will be handsomely rewarded with fresh, homemade pasta and delicious desserts. The restaurant itself is very dark and charming. There are family photos all over which I loved. Our waitress was very attentive and helpful. It was so hard to decide what to get! I ended up getting the pasta e fagoli soup and gnocci with meat sauce. Hubs got taglietelle with meat sauce and a broth based soup with sausage tortellini in it. The soups were exceptional. My pasta e fagoli had a light broth with a plethora of tender beans in it. It was seasoned well and didn't even require any additional salt and pepper. Husband enjoyed his soup as well - the broth was very tasty and chicken-y and the tortellini was a soft pillow filled with sausage. The best part was the main courses. The fresh pastas were perfectly al dente. The meat sauce was chunky and hearty and seasoned beautifully. The owner also gave us a taste of her homemade lasagna - I will definitely get that when I return! They use the same meat sauce as we had, but with I think 11 layers of homemade pasta and 7 different kinds of cheese!! It was incredible. After dinner we decided to stuff ourselves with dessert. Husband got the flourless chocolate cake. I got Grandmother's cake which is a lemon custard on an Italian shortbread crust. The chocolate cake was dense and dark - it was a small piece, but it was more than enough for my husband. He loved the rich flavors mixed with the lightness of the fresh whipped cream. My dessert was one of the best I've ever had. Light and lemony, the custad was so freaking good. The Italian shortbread crust was sweet and buttery and flaked away easily. It held the custard without getting soggy and it was just such a great all-around dessert. Seriously, if you're craving Italian and you don't mind a little drive - check this place out. It is so, so, SO worth it!!

    (5)

  • tony a.

    Ok, I know there are a lot of great reviews on this place but I figured I would add another. Wow, simply wow. We had reservations for 6:30 and arrived on time and were promptly seated in the smaller back room. This was a nice quiet intimate room with only 4 tables. We started off with some cocktails and while meandering over the menu. Our waiter mentioned an eggplant appetizer that sounded good and I knew already that we needed to get the calamari. He was able to put together a trifecta by adding the shrimp appetizer and it was a perfect amount for the five of us. Onto the main course- a couple of us opted for veal dishes and they do a fantastic veal saltimboca. Two others went for a very flavorful halibut special that was pulled off flawless which not everyone can do with halibut. The last person got the lasagna and while I did not try it i was very envious and will probably go that route next time. The little side pasta I got with my veal confirmed that they to great pasta. Onto desert we got the Cannoli, a lemon tart, and a special Blanton's bourbon/pumpkin cheesecake that was a star. For wine we tried the 2006 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino that was just a stand out bottle that I will now have to track down. As we were ending the meal the waiter asked for our valet tickets so he could get the cars brought up and warmed up which was just a perfect touch and finish to our meal. I think I am going back next week for that lasagna and one more shot at that cheesecake. Best regards, Tony

    (5)

  • Sheila M.

    The drive here was probably the worst part. My friend and I drove down the deserted industrial roads and were a bit worried that the GPS was truly a Gangster Positioning System, because we could see no businesses anywhere in sight. When we neared Giovanni's at around 9:30 pm, there were cars parked on either side of the street. A man in a windbreaker opened the door to the restaurant for us, and everything got better after that. Our waitress was great, friendly and accommodating. The bussers made sure our water glasses were at least half-full at all times. And the food was amazing, even the salad, which looked pretty run-of-the mill but it was something about the honey-mustard balsamic that made it probably the best dinner salad I've ever tasted! The garlic bread was also incredible. It was warm and lightly toasted, not heavy on the oil or flavor at all. I enjoyed a glass of Merlot with my gnocchi and bolognese sauce. My friend and I left very satisfied. It was worth the trip, even as we drove back through the dark streets, way too quickly, through a billion unanticipated water-filled potholes...screaming as it happened. Oh, Detroit.

    (5)

  • Chuck L.

    Went there on November 8th. Crystal, our server, was outstanding. Couldn't have done anything to make the service better. Our party of 6 had one of the veal entrees, the lasagna, ravioli di Friuli, Cannelloni di Carne and they were all wonderful. Pasta is fresh and tender, and the sauces taste like homemade. Had the calamari and the Funghi alla Giovanni appetizers and they were both excellent. The Caesar salad had a lot of garlic in the dressing, but was alright. Desserts were all made in house and there were many choices. We had tiramisu, cannelloni, and the bread pudding. All were good. Valet was very nice and fast. I was very impressed and would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants high quality Italian food with superb service at a fair price.

    (5)

  • Haroun K.

    In Detroit there are two Italian places I can think of which are located in really remote, desolate areas, but are entirely lovely inside: Vince's and Giovanni's. Giovanni's is less old school, but better tasting. The house salad is one of the better ones around - mixed greens, cherry tomatoes (not out of a cooler), and crumbled blue cheese. The eggplant parmigiana is sinful, and huge. The desserts - well you can't go wrong. I like the "grandmother's cake," which is almost like a lemon version of key lime pie. Service is excellent and perfectly suited to the ambiance. Italian food is not my favorite by any means, but I'd come back here happily. Parking is $5 valet, fyi.

    (4)

  • Jennifer F.

    Felt like I was out of town but really only a few minutes away from home! Calamari was amazing- perfectly fried with a light sauce. The bread is garlicky and it was so hard to stop eating. My friends got the lasagna and I got to try it; it melts in your mouth. I got the Veal Piccata al Limone and it was so tasty and light. My other friend got a veal dish with crab, asparagus with a brandy glaze on it. He did not share any of it so I have no idea how it tasted, but that was because he wanted it all to himself. For dessert we all shared the lemon tart/cake, it was so good. The service is great. I can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Dorene H.

    Our favorite Italian restaurant in Michigan. Home made pasta is always melt in your mouth. Never had better calamari. Service is excellent. You're never a stranger there. Desserts are fantastic. Highly recommend

    (5)

  • Jim O.

    When the taxi driver was taking us to Giovanni's, I thought he must've been lost. Once we arrived I understood why people go out of their way to eat here. It is fabulous. We had four people from three different countries and everyone ordered a different dish and appetizers. No one was disappointed. Our waitress was Brittany and she was extremely attentive and very good personality. During dessert the owner came by and told us of her 50 year history of this family restaurant. I don't get to Detroit very often, but when I do, we will definitely return to Giovanni's!

    (5)

  • Shady F.

    We had a little adventure before arriving because the navigator took us into a dead end and the neighborhood didn't look that safe! However, everything changed when we arrived, they were very professional; starting from the valet to the receptionist who changed our table without hesitation, and the server was very friendly and helpful. Food was great, not the best but one of the top Italian places, and you will listen to an Italian language lessons in the restroom! We stayed for 5 hours without rushing. I liked that place and I recommend it.

    (5)

  • Kristy G.

    This place is Italy in Detroit! The food was absolutely decadent, the food amount was perfect. The service was like being at a home in a kitchen with family! I had the lasagna, my friends had:! Gnocchi, ravioli, and the veal. The dessert was key lime and tiramisu. Detroit this place is a gold mind in the heart of am industrial community.

    (5)

  • Patrick H.

    The food was of course delicious, but the way my wife and I were treated is what made this experience special. Thanks to the chef for making us feel like we were honored guests.

    (5)

  • L R.

    Excellent food and the staff is definitely 5 stars. I had the gnocchi in cream sauce which had delicious flavor. I would have liked them cooked about a minute less. The mushroom appetizer was beautifully prepared. If you want Italian, like Grandma used to make, this is the only place that holds a candle.

    (4)

  • Jessica G.

    Very satisfied with the atmosphere, service and food. Family owned, in operation for almost 50 years! Delicious homemade meals. You can taste the quality of the ingredients. Nice presentation and reasonable prices. Not many authentic Italian restaurants in Detroit. And the chains can be mediocre. Will definitely return. My only regret: not having 2 stomachs to order the lasagna as well

    (5)

  • Cheryl W.

    Went because we wanted Italian food. We were from out of town and someone recommend Giovonni's. Little did we know we were eating at a legendary icon and that we'd get to talk to Fran the owner who spent time to ask about our meal and chat about her history. Lasagna, veal saltombocca and cannoli were among the best we ever had. Portions could be a little more generous but we did leave full and satisfied. And we can brag that we ate at a restaurant where George clooney eats. Bellisimo!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Hunter C.

    Wow. Cold War era Italian that your parents piled the kids in the Buick Friday night and drove the Cadillac for date night on Saturday. They make all their pasta fresh and the staff is military professional. Bar is no place for a real dinner so make reservations early. Also construction will make it a challenge getting there for most. Will return with group.

    (4)

  • Lexi B.

    This is my favorite place to eat. The lasagna is amazing! Great service, too.

    (5)

  • Anthony S.

    Food was outstanding! Service not to much. I have not had better Calamari ever and I traveled for a living for 30 years and ate in some fine restaurants. I had the Lasagna and my wife the Eggplant Parmesan. Both were awesome! Unfortunately our server must have had too many tables. Always rushed and in a hurry every time she stopped at our table. Had to make eye contact with Awet a couple of times when we needed her. Will try again and see if the service is better next time.

    (4)

  • Tim G.

    Giovanni's is our go-to restaurant for any occasion, hands down. Great food, great atmosphere, great service. The owner, Fran, is always a treat. Gracious, friendly and adds an elegant charm to your visit. Their pasta is outstanding and homemade (the Gnocchi is a favorite of mine). Do not pass on the Osso Buco is it's a special. The calamari is done to perfection - tender and not rubbery. A great wine list. They have a few side rooms and a more private back room, that make this a great location for a small meeting or get together. Some may be scared off by the location (Southwest Detroit near the produce terminal), but they do have valet parking (supervised by off-duty cops) and in 10 years of coming here we've never had a problem. Giovanni's never disappoints.

    (5)

  • Terry D.

    There isn't much I can add that hasn't already been said. The food is excellent, portions are generous without being over the top. We had a Shrimp risotto appetizer that was excellent, and both of us enjoyed the entrees. I had the fillet that was rolled and stuffed ( don't recall the actual name of the dish) and it was excellent. Prices are high end, but the food is good enough that you don't mind too much. I give it a 4 star rating for one reason. Do you really need to charge for refills on diet coke and iced tea? I mean two of us had appetizer, dinner and no alcohol and it was $106. Did ya really need the extra charge for the second Iced Tea in this day and age?

    (4)

  • Liz R.

    I've had Giovanni's bookmarked forever, based on Liz W's review. Finally I made a reservation for an early dinner before my Mom and my last show of the Fisher Broadway series. We loved it! The ambiance, with the darker interior and personal portraits on the walls, makes you think you could be in someone's home. And you very well could be with how the owner comes to your table to chat, like you're one of her own family. Mom and I split the calamari and Shrimp Giovanni apps. Well, she wanted the calamari and I wanted the shrimp, and neither of us would budge... so we got both. We finished the calamari there - thick, tender fingers of breaded calamari in a lemon, caper sauce that they serve table side. The shrimp are jumbo, and the risotto served with it was just perfect. I brought home half of this app, and it reheated better than expected. Mom went with a veal dish with crab and asparagus in a brandy cream sauce, which was delicious. Thin, perfectly cooked. Her side was linguine with red sauce. Now, I'm never a fan of a side of spaghetti - I'd rather have a veggie or salad or, well, anything other than a side of pasta. But damn, that homemade linguine was mind blowing. You can tell its homemade - thin, thin, thin and finely cut. I went home to Ken later and raved about that linguine. And only the linguine. I mean, I cannot even remember what my main dish was that visit. Awesome risotto - check. Mind blowing linguine - check. So, we had bring Ken back, right? Started with the calamari, split table side onto three plates. Still delicious. Mom got the filet this time, which was even better than the veal. Ken, after only two bites of Mom's steak, said top 5 steak of all times for him. Big praise. Big. I remember what I had this time - the Braciole di Manzo, which was tender and tasty, but, for me, a bit overwhelmed by the mushroom gravy. I asked for, and received, risotto as my side (because I wanted Ken to try it, and he did not disappoint, practically licking the bowl clean). Ken had the Ravioli Friuli - ravioli filled with Boursin cheese and sun dried tomatoes, topped with crab and a champagne cream sauce. Very delicately flavored dish, but I would get it myself next time. Oh, and the owner gave us a snippet of lasagna our first time there, and we were hooked. They use fresh pasta and cheese, layer upon layer of it (I think I lost track after 12). And it's not a tall beast either. Thin layers. Red sauce over top. We enjoyed it enough to buy small ones to-go (they come with a tub of red sauce and some garlic bread), which we froze, defrosted for a day, then baked in the oven. Giovanni's at home! Parking: there is street parking available (you can tell exactly where this restaurant is because there's no traffic or cars parked for most of the trek once you get off 75, until you get to Giovanni's, where there are cars). I'd recommend valet. It's cheap, and all we've ever used. Reservations: Make one. Even for a weekday. It's the right thing to do when you're dealing with a small-ish, nicer restaurant. Attire: please dress up a little. It burns my butt to see a puffy haired teenager in saggy basketball shorts and a baseball cap here, when I'm trying to enjoy my fancy meal. Please just put some khakis on.

    (4)

  • Stephen N.

    This is the most consistent and high-end Italian restaurant in SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN by a mile without any snootiness. If you have any sort of negative experience, I would strongly recommend you speak with one of the owners. They are immensely respectful and appreciative. This could be the best restaurant in Michigan considering how much many of the upper-level restaurant chance chefs. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Sandy S.

    My husband and I went here for our 32 year anniversary on April 30, 2015. This restaurant was SOOOOOO good and we were treated like ROYALTY. Fran, the owner, was so courteous and gracious and was flowing with conversation about the history of the restaurant. She did not disappoint with the meal either. We were actually graciously treated to our meal by a friend who frequents the restaurant often. He actually picked out our whole meal. DO NOT GO WITHOUT GETTING THE CALAMARI and a small piece of their 17-layer lasagne! Both were fabulous!!! Also we had the salmon and the pork chop which was the featured selection of the evening. The dessert of tiramisu was also so light and airy. We also had caesar salad and the best wine (Venge)! Also I don't know how weird this is or not, but while we were toasting for our meal, our wedding song came on! And it was sung by Julio Inglesias even though Foreigner wrote the song "Ive Been Waiting for a Girl Like You"! Spooky but cool~ how would the restaurant know this?? I think we had some angels who past on follow us from our wedding~ ALSO ASK FOR LORI AS YOUR SERVER....She's worked there 19+ years and is AWESOME~

    (5)

  • Brian D.

    We visit Detroit often and usually go to the same restaurants. We decided to try something new and Giovanni's had such great reviews, it was worth the drive. It's in what appears to be a moderately bad neighborhood (you drive past the oil refinery that's off of 75) but once you get to the restaurant, it's like walking into another world. The valet parked our car, we were warmly greeted by a hostess who was "washing menus." They wash every menu after each use because they're just like that. Once seated, a wonderful waitress brought us bread that was excellent. My caprese salad was perfect and the entrees were absolutely the best I've had in a long time. I had ravioli and my partner had the veal. Both were delicious and I wouldn't change a thing. Dessert was Grandmas Lemon cake that was wonderful. All told, it was less than $100. The best part of the night was watching the owner, an 86 year old woman doing what she was born to do, talk to the guests at each table. She treated you like she's known you for a lifetime and it was truly a pleasure to meet her. Overall, it's truly as good as it gets.

    (5)

  • Libby T.

    I'm not the easiest on Italian restaurants; I think pasta is often boring, the meats are fatty, and the menu generally uninteresting. We came to Giovanni's with a party and were served all of my (typically) least favorites: spaghetti with meatballs and sausage, chicken piccata, and ciabatta. I was so surprised and delighted - everything is made in house and to perfection. It made me feel like a friend's grandma was making us dinner. A bit out of the way, and the ambiance is a bit dingy, but absolutely worth the trip if you're looking to mangia.

    (4)

  • Annie R.

    It doesn't get anymore old school than this place. Fran is a renaissance woman and Randy (her son and lead chef) is welcoming (and one hell of a cook). Food was phenomenal, setting was amazing and filled with stories (colorfully told by Fran) and you could not beat the owners walking around making everyone feel like they were sitting at their family's dinner table. Fran and Randy - keep it up!!!!! A landmark for Detroit.

    (5)

  • Yuliya M.

    I really enjoyed everything we tried here. What stood out most was the service. The waitress was top-notch, I mean just superb, best I've probably encountered anywhere. The crowd was mostly older, very sophisticated, I enjoyed that as well. It's esthetically pleasing place - I am not sure what exactly about it was beautiful, yet it was, and if you like sophisticated, classy atmosphere, this is it.

    (5)

  • Tim K.

    Giovanni's serves the best lasagna around, period. Made with 17 layers of paper thin handmade pasta the lasagna just melts in your mouth. The calamari is tender, plump, and meaty - So delicious! The owner, Fran, will make you feel welcomed and like family. Her son and co-owner, Randy, is the talented chef. Founded in 1968 by Fran's father, Giovanni, this is a third generation family restaurant and is one of Detroit's best kept secrets. Be sure to keep your eyes open. Past guests include George Clooney, Celine Dion, Ryan Gosling, William Clay Ford, the judges of American Idol, and Frank Sinatra just to name a few.

    (5)

  • Patti H.

    We visited Giovanni's after the theater. Valet parking is available here, which is a big plus. The hostess was pleasant, and seated us right away. Giovanni's is very old-fashioned Italian, and feels very homey immediately upon coming inside, helped in a large part to the house-like interior and the antique family photos on the walls. The outside is very appealing despite being in an commercial type area, very clean inside with nice background music, and the food is authentic, great date-night spot. Clientele from every walk of life, and employees who all seem like they've been there forever switching from speaking fluent English to fluent Italian too quickly to follow. Our waitress was very friendly & knew the menu intimately, great service start to finish. The menu and wine list are both above par. We chose a Valpolicella from the wine list, and we started off with the fried calimari with a butter, onion and whole caper sauce, these are calimari strips, not the usual rings, and the sauteed shrimp with butter on risotto rice. Both were tasty. We tried the homemade Gnocchi dumplings with cheese and mushroom cream sauce as well as Saltimbocca veal with prosciutto ham and cheese with white wine sauce, again, both winners with no table side seasoning needed. While we tucked into our entrees, the owner came around, asked how our meals are, and introduced herself which was both unexpected, and welcoming. After our meals and the huge bread-basket, we passed on dessert, even though the dessert tray looked tempting. Will definitely try the lasagna and the eggplant next time! Destination worth the drive.

    (5)

  • julie L.

    Well...??? I moved up to northern Michigan. During the move, I snuck in a quart of my favorite sauce. I did not tell my husband... shame on me, I'm practically a liar. A year later... heated up a little pasta, pulled out the sauce I've been saving and my husband says ... "Best sauce you've ever made" lol Thank you Giavanni's!!!

    (5)

  • Bethany W.

    This was the first time I've been to this restaurant. The food and service were excellent. I had the gnocchi with porcini mushrooms which was very very good. The lasagna was amazing so I brought home a take out.

    (5)

  • Tiffany E.

    Went here on a suggestion by a friend. Looking for a special place to eat for my Husbands birthday and Giovanni's did not disappoint! The atmosphere was old school with vintage pictures of Italian family members on the walls. The food was excellent! Calamari was very good and we had the special that night crab cakes that were fresh and not greasy and over cooked. The owner stopped by our table with some old stories about the good old days when she first opened the restaurant. She suggested the lasagna and sent out samples for all of us to try. I ordered a frozen sheet of Lasagna to take home with us. The food highlights were 1. Sea bass- a special- fresh, light, tender - in a fresh lemon and white wine sauce. Served over a decadent Risotto. 2. The Leg of lamb- looked like a Fred Flintstone size piece of meat. So tender it fell off the bone! 3. Bread pudding- spiced and warm- YUM! The service was friendly and the wine selection was great! Valet parking helps with it being in a not so nice area.

    (5)

  • Paul J.

    This is simply an outstanding restaurant. While the location is way off the beaten path, they know how to create great ambiance and provide a great meal. The staff is friendly, attentive, yet very professional. And the food is as fine an Italian meal as you can have.

    (5)

  • Frank Z.

    Not the greatest neighborhood and it's a bit pricey but the food is molto buono. Perhaps the best Eye-talian chow around Detroit. DO NOT compare it to Olive Garden of Carraba's. This is not a chain and it is genuinely superior. Legend has it that this was Sinatra's favorite place in Detroit. Who knows? But is certainly one of mine!

    (5)

  • Noreen F.

    Excellent food. Excellent service. Pasta was amazing. Special Chicken Frangelico was so good. Everyone in our party was extremely pleased.

    (5)

  • Teri M.

    I'm not sure if it's better to visit before dark or after. The location is in a shotty mostly abandoned neighborhoood only a few miles off the freeway. They have valet parking that you can pay for with your dinner bill, just remember cash for the tip. I highly reccomend reservations, even if the dinner is for two. The bar only seats about 6 people and they have a very small vestibule that fills quickly for those that need to wait. The service is prompt and attentive. They have tons of people that appear out of nowhere to refill your water, take your plates, and brush crumbs off the table cloth. The owner usually visits the tables to chat it up with the patrons, but the last 2-3 times I have been, she has failed to come to our table. Maybe because it was later in the evening or because we had a party of 6. I was disappointed she didn't visit the first time I brought the boyfriend's parents because it really is a nice touch. The dining rooms are intimate and the bathrooms play a funny, instructional Italian CD. The vegetarian options are typical for Italian fare - gnocchi and ravioli with a couple of sauce choices, but the minestrone is made with chicken stock. Why? The portions are fabulous - just enough to satisfy without the need for a carry out box. You can't go wrong with any of the desserts they offer.

    (4)

  • M F.

    Came for lunch and it was EXCELLENT! First, the owner Fran asks if we have ever tried their lasagna (we hadn't) and proceeds to give us the details of how its created....and it sounds amazing but I don't typically order lasagna. Well, I didn't need to in order to try this since she sent a "taste" which was a generous portion and if you are a lasagna person this was by far excellent. Not typical...since it very clearly was very fresh. Next, I tasted calamari for the first time. It was very good and if you like calamari it is apparently some of the best. I ordered the Scampi and it was excellent. The shrimp were huge and the spinach linguine was by far the best linguine I have eaten with a lovely lemon butter sauce. My only suggestion would be that a bit of the sauce get drizzled on the shrimp...suggestion not complaint since as I said my meal was excellent. The atmosphere was lovely and more than friendly and attentive. I would highly recommend.

    (4)

  • Margaret F.

    I was here for a work holiday party. I had never heard of it in the years I've been living in this area. In fact, I had yet to find any good Italian restaurants in the Metro Detroit area. I guess I don't have to really look anymore. The neighborhood is not place you want to walk around alone, especially at night, but I felt safe at the restaurant. I was a bit nervous about the parking, but I used the Valet and my car remained in one piece with my guitar in the trunk. Just remember to have cash on had to pay for it. I'd rather have $5 of piece of mind instead of chancing parking randomly somewhere on the street. The food was wonderful! The group ordered the appetizer plate. The mushrooms were tasty in a tangy sauce. I'm not a calamari fan in general, but this was not bad The risotto with the shrimp was quite tasty. In fact, I could've eaten just the risotto and called it a meal. The Chilean Sea Bass was one the specials that night, so I ordered that. Lucky for me it came with risotto, so I was very happy. The house salad with the house dressing was very good. Onto the main course. The sea bass was wonderful. It was cooked just right. The fish was tender, flakey, and melted in my mouth. The sauce was a nice lemon flavor. The risotto was so good. For dessert, I had the cheesecake and it was fantastic. It was not too dense. It was pretty light for cheesecake. The service was great. The waiter was friendly and informative. The staff kept our drinks filled. They did a great job. I would recommend getting reservation before going there. It was pretty busy the night I was there. You take a risk if you decide to just walk in without a reservation. So I will definitely make a trip back to this restaurant. I don't know if this is "real Italian" food (as I've never been to Italy), but it tasted good to me and that's what counts. You're not getting Gordon Food service type food. Everything is made there by them.

    (4)

  • Meagan B.

    My review is not on the food or service at all. Was driving through the area and looking for a good restaurant. Stumbled across this and decided to give it a go. Stopped in around 6:30 on a Saturday. When we walked in the hostess asked if we had reservations, when telling her no she rudely said that they were booked and had already taken two parties she shouldn't have. Well okay then, guess we'll be on our way. Not sure that I'd try going back given that it's not anywhere near where I live or frequent. If I do, I will update my rating.

    (1)

  • Shane E.

    Amazing. Perfection. So many other words could describe my experience at Giovanni's but I'll stop there. I was in Detroit with my father for the Auto Show and we stumbled upon Giovanni's, it was a bit further than we wanted to go but all the reviews were so excellent and I had a hankering for Italian food, so off we went. Upon arrival, the valet and the hostess were courteous and friendly. We were a bit early for our reservation but got seated almost immediately. The inside of the restaurant is very nice and I enjoyed the atmosphere. The waitress was very friendly and it was a joy to be served by her. Our water glasses were always filled, and she brought out fresh bread that appeared to be basted in some kind of garlic butter, multiple times. I got the Pollo Alla Parmigian, which was probably the best I've ever had. It was very flavorful, in general I like a little bit more "crunch" with my chicken parm, but this was still excellent. My dad got the Scampi Alla Giovanni, which he said was also excellent, and he especially praised the shrimp. I could not say no to the dessert plate, and had to get the lemon tart,, and I'm very glad I did. It was refreshing and the perfect way to end my meal. What really set the experience for us was when the owner came and sat and talked to us for a good 10-15 minutes, she also introduced her son, the chef. She was highly personable and great at keeping conversation. She was such a joy and I'm sure we will be back to Giovanni's next year :)

    (5)

  • Anthony D.

    I am going to keep this one short because I like to support local business no matter the city and the folks that work here are REALLY nice. The service is super friendly but at times a little slow, took well over an hour to get lunch. The food is above average, I think there are parts of the country that are used to a low standard for Italian food (olive garden) this is usually based on very limited choices. When a place like Giovanni's comes along ,everyone thinks its a 5 star experience because it absolutely surpasses the "Italian" food they have come to know. If you are visiting from a major city (especially the Northeast) you will not be impressed by the food. However, if you need some good comfort food and want to meet some super friendly locals while in Detroit, then this is a good choice.

    (3)

  • Liz W.

    How I adore Italian food. Seriously. Here the pasta is made fresh, the sauces from scratch and the service is impeccable. Beautiful atmosphere yet so homey, you feel welcomed and comfortable here. The food. Oh good lord the food. Heavenly. Filled with love. We decided to start with some shrimp Giovanni, garlic-y, lemony delights served with some ideally cooked risotto. After this, I knew that I would love it here. We totally devoured it, silent and focused, lost in our own little worlds. So good I did not even bother with the nice-ish bread on this course, what does that tell you? I am carb addicted for goodness sakes. We followed with soups, you have to love Italian soups. Brodo con cappelletti. Mmmmm, perfection. Rich broth, delightful little filled pastas. You feel like there is an Italian Grandma back there who has just adopted you as her own. The minestrone here is also so dreamy. Both are really wonderful options to continue your adventures. James went with the cannelloni di carne. Homemade noodles, fabulous meaty filling topped with decadent bolognese. A total feast of deliciousness. I went with the Manzo di Braciole, just happiness on a plate. Thinly sliced beef tenderloin rolled around prosciutto, with garlic, parsley, tomato and mushroom sauce. It was melt in your mouth awesome, tender and a true flavor party. The side of linguine just added to the enjoyment of it all. No dessert, no room and we were tapped out. Its spendy here but I am not bitching a bit, no complaints whatsoever. I could go on and on about this place. You need to go try it. Full stop. Make a reservation. Use the valet. Enjoy.

    (4)

  • Jen T.

    This gem offers a wonderful atmosphere, superb service, and the best Italian food in the Detroit area. Highly recommend - you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Rob W.

    After seeing Giovanni's on several "best of" lists, and seeing the rave reviews here on Yelp, we went down there for what turned out to be a wonderful evening. The food was great, the service was impeccable. Our group included a couple vegetarians, and the waiter was quite forthcoming about which menu items they should avoid (which doesn't happen often - many waitstaffs have no clue that the vegetable soup started out with chicken stock). We started out with a mixed appetizer plate which was incredible (the calamari alone was worth it) - and a couple odd drinks (a pomegranate martini? really?). For main courses, among the six of us, there was veal, fish (barramundi) , pasta and shrimp dishes. Each one better than the last. We spent half the time passing plates around saying "you've got to try this!" We were already stuffed, but succumbed to a couple dessert dishes. Pumpkin cheesecake, a delightful cream puff and a dessert item that was a pastry concoction that resembled little puffs ... can't recall the name but it was outstanding. UPDATE: Zeppoles is the name, I'm told. Don't particularly care what they're called - they're wonderful!! No clue why this long standing (1968, they say) restaurant had never hit my radar before - and I know we'll be returning soon. It's not a cheap restaurant - we probably averaged $40 / 50 per person, plus drinks. But the food and service was absolutely amazing. You should try them out!

    (5)

  • Anne S.

    Really disappointing. My husband and I have eaten here many times but have come to the conclusion that they can't handle a crowd. We made reservations to celebrate my 50th birthday and were seated in the 5 table room off of the main room. There is a storage cabinet in that room and all sorts of employees kept opening the cabinet looking for phantom water glasses and napkins. (The cabinet was empty nearly the entire 2 hours we were there). It was more than a little distracting. I finally asked one of the bussers if that was the only place they kept this sort of tableware and unfortunately for us it was. On top of that it took nearly 1/2 hour to get a few pieces of bread. My husband ordered the lasagna which was yummy as usual and I ordered the ravioli as I have many times before. It was cold and I had to send it back. Normally the pasta dishes are so hot you can barely eat them. At least our waiter Jon was a nice guy. If this had been my first visit here I would have to ask what's the big deal and never need to make the trek to this sketchy neighborhood again. Not sure if I will I was so disappointed.

    (2)

  • Kristin G.

    Giovanni's, you have a special place in my heart. You know the kind of food that his made with love & years of tradition? Well, that's Giovanni's. You know the type of restaurant where your server is always "on" and everything goes without a hitch? That's Giovanni's. Needless to say, I am beyond impressed. This place just oozes with pride, the servers, the owner even came in and asked us how our food was. There aren't many places that are truly old school in mentality and execution. This food speaks to a lost era in the very best way it can. You can taste the love in that food. The passion, the pride. It's all there. And man oh man does it taste delicious. For starters, my friend and I split the Calamari. The server gave us each a portion and after setting the app down on the table. Nice touch. The Calamari was so amazingly tender & the batter it was fried in was light and drizzled with this great lightly lemony sauce. We cleaned that plate in record time. My entree came with choice of salad or soup, so I opted for the Minestrone. The only way I can describe this is, SUBLIME. I never knew Minestrone could be so flavorful and hearty all at the same time...but not too heavy. It was just right, the perfect balance. My anticipation built, after two great dishes leading up to the main event... The entree definitely exceeded my growing expectations. I went with the special of the day...a handmade, hand CUT pasta with a pomodoro (a creamier version of your average tomato sauce) and veal and beef. What an extraordinary mix of flavors and the texture of the pasta was just so tender, melt-in-your-mouth good. I couldn't finish it as much as I wanted to keep eating it, because it was so rich and the portion so generous. Let me tell you, it was just as delicious the next day. The grand finale: Tiramisu. Heavenly. Light & Fluffy. A great end to a spectacular meal. The service here is among the best I've ever experienced. Thank you Giovanni's for treating the customer as they should be treated. Like Royalty. A true gem of Detroit and a pure class act, Giovanni's has just bumped itself onto my top 5 restaurants of Detroit list.

    (5)

  • Katie V.

    This place has been a staple for my family and me. It is one of my two favorite Italian restaurants - the other being El Barzon. We have celebrated birthday dinners, romantic dinners, a very large rehearsal dinner, and even homecomings dinners here. The veal dishes are my favorite. I also have had a gnocchi dish in a mushroom and sherry cream sauce that was truly amazing. It is definitely off the beaten path, but I find that aspect makes it unique and charming. I have introduced many friends to this place, and all have become return patrons. The food is always good, and the service is always trustworthy. I read an earlier review about the noise-level in the restaurant. I have always found it to be average and not intrusive. They also have a smaller dining room off the main room if you prefer a more intimate setting.

    (5)

  • Rebecca B.

    We went here for my birthday (although we have been many many times) last weekend and had a great time. As a vegan, they had to figure out something to feed me, but they were more than accommodating. My family had lasagna and veal and it was all delicious. They made special consideration for me which was nice, but the best part is the owner always comes around the dining room to talk to the patrons. It is such a nice touch.

    (5)

  • aleem a.

    Excellent food. Hands down best Italian food in detroit. Got the brick oven pizza. Talk about some good food. They have won me over any day of the week. Try the lasagna. It will have you floored

    (5)

  • Sheila M.

    The drive here was probably the worst part. My friend and I drove down the deserted industrial roads and were a bit worried that the GPS was truly a Gangster Positioning System, because we could see no businesses anywhere in sight. When we neared Giovanni's at around 9:30 pm, there were cars parked on either side of the street. A man in a windbreaker opened the door to the restaurant for us, and everything got better after that. Our waitress was great, friendly and accommodating. The bussers made sure our water glasses were at least half-full at all times. And the food was amazing, even the salad, which looked pretty run-of-the mill but it was something about the honey-mustard balsamic that made it probably the best dinner salad I've ever tasted! The garlic bread was also incredible. It was warm and lightly toasted, not heavy on the oil or flavor at all. I enjoyed a glass of Merlot with my gnocchi and bolognese sauce. My friend and I left very satisfied. It was worth the trip, even as we drove back through the dark streets, way too quickly, through a billion unanticipated water-filled potholes...screaming as it happened. Oh, Detroit.

    (5)

  • Chuck L.

    Went there on November 8th. Crystal, our server, was outstanding. Couldn't have done anything to make the service better. Our party of 6 had one of the veal entrees, the lasagna, ravioli di Friuli, Cannelloni di Carne and they were all wonderful. Pasta is fresh and tender, and the sauces taste like homemade. Had the calamari and the Funghi alla Giovanni appetizers and they were both excellent. The Caesar salad had a lot of garlic in the dressing, but was alright. Desserts were all made in house and there were many choices. We had tiramisu, cannelloni, and the bread pudding. All were good. Valet was very nice and fast. I was very impressed and would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants high quality Italian food with superb service at a fair price.

    (5)

  • Sarah R.

    I love love love this place Love there legendary lasagna Love there desserts and service is amazing always come here for my birthday and will always come back for more

    (5)

  • Brendon Q.

    First time here but was very disappointed. The food was mediocre, and it took more than an you for the steak to come, so I had to have a steak at later than 9pm. The waiters were extremely slow, I have to raise my hand multiple times to get any attention. Lastly and most importantly, I was food poisoned and was terribly sick after the meal, run to the bathroom multiple times that night and did not want to eat anything the next day.

    (1)

  • Dan L.

    I came here with a number of people who are Italian in heritage from the New York and Boston area. Everyone enjoyed their meal and vouched for the authenticity of the food. Service was excellent, portion sizes were good. They have a number of imported wines from Italy that you can't get in the local liquor store that were very good. Started off with the calamari, portobello mushroom and shrimp appetizers. All three were excellent. The calamari was so tender and lightly breaded, not like the more chewy versions you normally have. For mains, most of us had the veal which was excellent. Again, it was very tender, good portions and came with asparagus. Someone had lasagna and really enjoyed it. There's something like 17 layers of pasta in the lasagna! Finally, for dessert I had the cream puff which was again very light and well prepared. By the end of the meal, I had to loosen my belt buckle a notch but everything was delicious. I'll be back next time I'm in Detroit

    (4)

  • Shantel T.

    I came here a couple months ago. First off, the service was exceptional, as is the food! I was trying to figure out what to eat and was torn between the lasagna and saltimbocca. Then our waitress was telling us about the special of the night. All I heard was blah blah...STEAK...blah blah...LOBSTER, and then my menu hit the table. I was going to have whatever she just told me, same with my companion. We had the bistecca al calamari fritti (lovedddd this), shrimp Giovanni, Caesar salad, and caprese salad to start with. We also got a side of pesto al pomodoro with angel hair. Yes. There was only two of us and we clearly ate with our eyes while reading the menu. Self restraint? Not quite familiar with that. Anyway, we didn't finish everything but it was one of the best meals we had here in Detroit. Cheers!

    (5)

  • Jared S.

    Best appetizer in greater Detroit(margarita pizza)!!!! Service, food are both excellent. I'm a fan of an owner personally checking on your meal, making sure everything is perfect, Fran does a great job!

    (5)

  • Michael N.

    While it's been a while since I've been to Giovanni's, I've got to say that it's one of those places that I would go out of my way to visit. Even if it is located in a super shady section of South Detroit, people haven't stopped believing in this restaurant and the excellent Italian food it serves. While it's a little on the pricey side, I think it's worth it for the food and service. Word to the wise (even those of you who are cheap like me), valet park the car.

    (5)

  • Ron C.

    Well it is nice to see the actual visit surpass the HYPE. Ive been wanting to go here for many years, or Bacco or LDV Well asking & quizzing locals, everyone conceded Giovannis was worthy of my time & money We secured a reservation for 5:30 on A Saturday Night, used the valet parking. The Valets were very polite, kind & prompt. Walked in and the hostess decided to seat us in that very small 4 table room to the left. [ not a fan way to quite & did not have the excitement of the larger dining room ] The place is truly an Old School Classic, truly out of a Hollywood lot. Our server new each & every menu item & ingredient. We both were torn , but knew from yelpers the 16 layer lasagna was a must. Plus we ordered the chicken Marsala. Our server offered us a soup or salad The bride chose the chicken noodle, I chose the pasta fagoli Her chicken noodle soup was by far the BEST SOUP I HAD EVER TRIED!! so much so, that Johnny saw my bowl of pasta fagoli off to the side & inquired..I said it was okay but hers was the bomb, he swapped out my soup for me. [ very nice touch & so observant ] Our entrees came out soon afterwords , oh my goodness, I have never ever seen such thin layers of pasta goodness & yes there were 16 layers!! light , flavorful good, oh so good. The chicken Marsala was also very good ,with plenty of thin tender chicken breasts,,mushrooms & dark brown Marsala sauce [ it was not as sweet as I'm normally used to buy very good!] We decided to kill the lasagna & box up 1/2 of the Marsala so we could splurge & try a dessert. The bride chose 2 scoops of Alinosi Vanilla $7.99 I chose a chocolate-flour less dipped torte $7.99 And less I forget to mention the bread basket....just excellent. During our desert , Fran the 86 year old owner stopped by introduced herself , explained the history & heritage of the place & the photos were actual family members. She asked if we were celebrating anything special, I said my 54th 1 week late, she sent over a slice of tiramisu on the house! WOW! Dinner & Dessert for two, no cocktails a very fair $54 Plotting my prompt return.& wanting to try the shrimp app. LIZ R. , LIZ, W. Ashley, Brian & Lorna ty for the strong lead.

    (5)

  • Harleen K.

    Came here for dinner. Started off with sausage and peppers for app, felt like it was home cooked! I had the halibut special- delicious! The fish was well cooked, surrounded with lemon butter and capers. The boyfriend had ravioli with lump crab, this was equally delicious. Had the strawberry cheesecake for desert which I loved. The waitress was friendly, attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. The decor is that of a living room, with what looks like old family pictures. The chef and owner came around to our table and introduced themselves. Loves the experience, felt like I was eating at an old friends house.

    (5)

  • Gina D.

    I love Giovanni's! What can I say, I think it might be the best Italian restaurant in metro Detroit. I guess there is Bacco, but they are high end, and high priced. We went to Giovanni's for my husbands birthday a few weeks ago, I had the Veal Saltimbocca, and it was excellent, very tender, and full of flavor. Husband ordered a side of gnocchi with his meal, and they were so soft, they melted in your mouth. They gave us a tiramisu for his birthday, which was nice.

    (5)

  • Don C.

    Needed a quick Dinner for 10/15 People and headed down and grabbed the lasagna to go it was Awesome and the staff was great on cooking tips and making sure I did not over order.....Thanks Team Giovanni's

    (5)

  • Colette N.

    My husband loves Italian, me - meh, but this is a place we can both embrace. Amazing food (fine, I pretty much stick with the F A N T A S T I C fresh, handmade lasagna), but every time I go, everyone always LOVES their dishes. Bread on the tables is very yummy too. Don't miss the calamari, its light, airy and flash fried - its like no other I've had. I love it! And everyone who ever gets the veal have commented its really great. Staff is top notch and the ambiance is so very special. The owner, Fran has never failed to impress. She is 85 years young, has owned the restaurant for 25 years and works about 10 hours/day. She always stops by the table to say hi and to share a story. A truly terrific, warm and inviting host! I have brought groups several times. I actually had my small (15 ppl) wedding reception there (even my MIL gave it 2 thumbs up) and I've brought a senior dining group twice (they want to make it a monthly stop as they love its charm and delicious food so much). I cant say enough about all of these visits. Amazing and you kind of feel like you are in another world, filled with calm, a touch of elegance, yummy food and a great wine list. And I'm never shell-shocked when I get the bill. Don't get me wrong, it's far from cheap, but it is also quite reasonable for the level of deliciousness, service and atmosphere. Dessert is worth every calorie (if you have room). Tiramisu is the best of the best, Sanders Hot Fudge Cream Puff is huge and the cream puffs are made onsite and are crazy good. The lemon cake is fantastic too. Also consider getting a frozen lasagna to cook at home. It's worth EVERY CENT of the $20. They even provide you with extra sauce.

    (5)

  • Brittany L.

    My family and I went to Giovanni's last week for my father's birthday dinner Thursday evening. We were off of the main dining room which was helpful because there was about ten of us. Our waitress was attentive and kept refilling my water and replacing my silverware. We had a four year old dining with us and they were accommodating to the child as well. The atmosphere was casual, but had an ambiance about it that would be nice for a romantic date as well. I had the filet with garlic mashed potatoes and it came with a mushroom component that was delicious. It was tender and cooked to order medium with a warm, pink center. I had a side salad with balsamic topped with blue cheese. I will say that the salad is very small, so be prepared for that. The desserts looked amazing, but I did pass after my 8 oz. steak (that I of course finished.) Next time, I will be trying the pasta! It looked amazing. Overall, very good experience.

    (4)

  • Michelle N.

    Overhyped. First off, the younger hostess is SO RUDE. I almost cancelled my reservation bc of her poor phone etiquette. It also didn't help that she was the first person I saw upon arrival..and she's equally rude in real life. However, the other, older hostess is warm and inviting, and our waitresses were great. Pros: -yummy bread -homemade pasta, and you can tell! -huge lasagna portion -decently priced entrees -nice home-y environment Cons: -the food wasn't amaaaaaazing..like everybody raves about. Also, only the pasta was really good. My boyfriend's entree was meh. -desserts are a rip-off..$8 for a single cannoli is ridiculous to me. At least throw in a second cannoli! -super rude hostess What was a reasonably priced meal (~$50/2 entrees) became ridiculous bc of all these upcharges and dessert prices that we weren't informed about. Glad I tried Giovanni's once, but I don't see myself coming back, esp. bc that rude hostess left such a bad taste in my mouth.

    (3)

  • Derek D.

    I enjoy Italian food as much as the next guy. I rarely have pasta, but when I do, it needs to be fresh and from an authentic Italian restaurant - and mother preferably. Here, I got both. This place is a true a Detroit gem. It's entirely off the beaten path but don't let the area fool you, this is a first class establishment. Family owned and operated for multiple generations, everyone aims to please, and the meal is just right. Tracie, our server, has been at the restaurant for 29 years (which means she started in first grade) and is a delight to have. You want her to sit with you because she is so personable. The ambiance is rich, Italian, historic, and clean (even the bathrooms). I will recommend this place as the best authentic Italian place in Detroit and that you not overeat, because driving home could pose an issue. A post meal espresso will help, but there's also nothing wrong with taking home leftovers. I recommend this place for private dinners, date night, a family gathering or even a corporate event. The staff and food will keep everything happy. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Dorene H.

    Our favorite Italian restaurant in Michigan. Home made pasta is always melt in your mouth. Never had better calamari. Service is excellent. You're never a stranger there. Desserts are fantastic. Highly recommend

    (5)

  • Jim O.

    When the taxi driver was taking us to Giovanni's, I thought he must've been lost. Once we arrived I understood why people go out of their way to eat here. It is fabulous. We had four people from three different countries and everyone ordered a different dish and appetizers. No one was disappointed. Our waitress was Brittany and she was extremely attentive and very good personality. During dessert the owner came by and told us of her 50 year history of this family restaurant. I don't get to Detroit very often, but when I do, we will definitely return to Giovanni's!

    (5)

  • Shady F.

    We had a little adventure before arriving because the navigator took us into a dead end and the neighborhood didn't look that safe! However, everything changed when we arrived, they were very professional; starting from the valet to the receptionist who changed our table without hesitation, and the server was very friendly and helpful. Food was great, not the best but one of the top Italian places, and you will listen to an Italian language lessons in the restroom! We stayed for 5 hours without rushing. I liked that place and I recommend it.

    (5)

  • Kristy G.

    This place is Italy in Detroit! The food was absolutely decadent, the food amount was perfect. The service was like being at a home in a kitchen with family! I had the lasagna, my friends had:! Gnocchi, ravioli, and the veal. The dessert was key lime and tiramisu. Detroit this place is a gold mind in the heart of am industrial community.

    (5)

  • Patrick H.

    The food was of course delicious, but the way my wife and I were treated is what made this experience special. Thanks to the chef for making us feel like we were honored guests.

    (5)

  • L R.

    Excellent food and the staff is definitely 5 stars. I had the gnocchi in cream sauce which had delicious flavor. I would have liked them cooked about a minute less. The mushroom appetizer was beautifully prepared. If you want Italian, like Grandma used to make, this is the only place that holds a candle.

    (4)

  • Jessica G.

    Very satisfied with the atmosphere, service and food. Family owned, in operation for almost 50 years! Delicious homemade meals. You can taste the quality of the ingredients. Nice presentation and reasonable prices. Not many authentic Italian restaurants in Detroit. And the chains can be mediocre. Will definitely return. My only regret: not having 2 stomachs to order the lasagna as well

    (5)

  • Cheryl W.

    Went because we wanted Italian food. We were from out of town and someone recommend Giovonni's. Little did we know we were eating at a legendary icon and that we'd get to talk to Fran the owner who spent time to ask about our meal and chat about her history. Lasagna, veal saltombocca and cannoli were among the best we ever had. Portions could be a little more generous but we did leave full and satisfied. And we can brag that we ate at a restaurant where George clooney eats. Bellisimo!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Hunter C.

    Wow. Cold War era Italian that your parents piled the kids in the Buick Friday night and drove the Cadillac for date night on Saturday. They make all their pasta fresh and the staff is military professional. Bar is no place for a real dinner so make reservations early. Also construction will make it a challenge getting there for most. Will return with group.

    (4)

  • Lexi B.

    This is my favorite place to eat. The lasagna is amazing! Great service, too.

    (5)

  • Anthony S.

    Food was outstanding! Service not to much. I have not had better Calamari ever and I traveled for a living for 30 years and ate in some fine restaurants. I had the Lasagna and my wife the Eggplant Parmesan. Both were awesome! Unfortunately our server must have had too many tables. Always rushed and in a hurry every time she stopped at our table. Had to make eye contact with Awet a couple of times when we needed her. Will try again and see if the service is better next time.

    (4)

  • Tim G.

    Giovanni's is our go-to restaurant for any occasion, hands down. Great food, great atmosphere, great service. The owner, Fran, is always a treat. Gracious, friendly and adds an elegant charm to your visit. Their pasta is outstanding and homemade (the Gnocchi is a favorite of mine). Do not pass on the Osso Buco is it's a special. The calamari is done to perfection - tender and not rubbery. A great wine list. They have a few side rooms and a more private back room, that make this a great location for a small meeting or get together. Some may be scared off by the location (Southwest Detroit near the produce terminal), but they do have valet parking (supervised by off-duty cops) and in 10 years of coming here we've never had a problem. Giovanni's never disappoints.

    (5)

  • Liz R.

    I've had Giovanni's bookmarked forever, based on Liz W's review. Finally I made a reservation for an early dinner before my Mom and my last show of the Fisher Broadway series. We loved it! The ambiance, with the darker interior and personal portraits on the walls, makes you think you could be in someone's home. And you very well could be with how the owner comes to your table to chat, like you're one of her own family. Mom and I split the calamari and Shrimp Giovanni apps. Well, she wanted the calamari and I wanted the shrimp, and neither of us would budge... so we got both. We finished the calamari there - thick, tender fingers of breaded calamari in a lemon, caper sauce that they serve table side. The shrimp are jumbo, and the risotto served with it was just perfect. I brought home half of this app, and it reheated better than expected. Mom went with a veal dish with crab and asparagus in a brandy cream sauce, which was delicious. Thin, perfectly cooked. Her side was linguine with red sauce. Now, I'm never a fan of a side of spaghetti - I'd rather have a veggie or salad or, well, anything other than a side of pasta. But damn, that homemade linguine was mind blowing. You can tell its homemade - thin, thin, thin and finely cut. I went home to Ken later and raved about that linguine. And only the linguine. I mean, I cannot even remember what my main dish was that visit. Awesome risotto - check. Mind blowing linguine - check. So, we had bring Ken back, right? Started with the calamari, split table side onto three plates. Still delicious. Mom got the filet this time, which was even better than the veal. Ken, after only two bites of Mom's steak, said top 5 steak of all times for him. Big praise. Big. I remember what I had this time - the Braciole di Manzo, which was tender and tasty, but, for me, a bit overwhelmed by the mushroom gravy. I asked for, and received, risotto as my side (because I wanted Ken to try it, and he did not disappoint, practically licking the bowl clean). Ken had the Ravioli Friuli - ravioli filled with Boursin cheese and sun dried tomatoes, topped with crab and a champagne cream sauce. Very delicately flavored dish, but I would get it myself next time. Oh, and the owner gave us a snippet of lasagna our first time there, and we were hooked. They use fresh pasta and cheese, layer upon layer of it (I think I lost track after 12). And it's not a tall beast either. Thin layers. Red sauce over top. We enjoyed it enough to buy small ones to-go (they come with a tub of red sauce and some garlic bread), which we froze, defrosted for a day, then baked in the oven. Giovanni's at home! Parking: there is street parking available (you can tell exactly where this restaurant is because there's no traffic or cars parked for most of the trek once you get off 75, until you get to Giovanni's, where there are cars). I'd recommend valet. It's cheap, and all we've ever used. Reservations: Make one. Even for a weekday. It's the right thing to do when you're dealing with a small-ish, nicer restaurant. Attire: please dress up a little. It burns my butt to see a puffy haired teenager in saggy basketball shorts and a baseball cap here, when I'm trying to enjoy my fancy meal. Please just put some khakis on.

    (4)

  • Stephen N.

    This is the most consistent and high-end Italian restaurant in SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN by a mile without any snootiness. If you have any sort of negative experience, I would strongly recommend you speak with one of the owners. They are immensely respectful and appreciative. This could be the best restaurant in Michigan considering how much many of the upper-level restaurant chance chefs. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Sandy S.

    My husband and I went here for our 32 year anniversary on April 30, 2015. This restaurant was SOOOOOO good and we were treated like ROYALTY. Fran, the owner, was so courteous and gracious and was flowing with conversation about the history of the restaurant. She did not disappoint with the meal either. We were actually graciously treated to our meal by a friend who frequents the restaurant often. He actually picked out our whole meal. DO NOT GO WITHOUT GETTING THE CALAMARI and a small piece of their 17-layer lasagne! Both were fabulous!!! Also we had the salmon and the pork chop which was the featured selection of the evening. The dessert of tiramisu was also so light and airy. We also had caesar salad and the best wine (Venge)! Also I don't know how weird this is or not, but while we were toasting for our meal, our wedding song came on! And it was sung by Julio Inglesias even though Foreigner wrote the song "Ive Been Waiting for a Girl Like You"! Spooky but cool~ how would the restaurant know this?? I think we had some angels who past on follow us from our wedding~ ALSO ASK FOR LORI AS YOUR SERVER....She's worked there 19+ years and is AWESOME~

    (5)

  • Brian D.

    We visit Detroit often and usually go to the same restaurants. We decided to try something new and Giovanni's had such great reviews, it was worth the drive. It's in what appears to be a moderately bad neighborhood (you drive past the oil refinery that's off of 75) but once you get to the restaurant, it's like walking into another world. The valet parked our car, we were warmly greeted by a hostess who was "washing menus." They wash every menu after each use because they're just like that. Once seated, a wonderful waitress brought us bread that was excellent. My caprese salad was perfect and the entrees were absolutely the best I've had in a long time. I had ravioli and my partner had the veal. Both were delicious and I wouldn't change a thing. Dessert was Grandmas Lemon cake that was wonderful. All told, it was less than $100. The best part of the night was watching the owner, an 86 year old woman doing what she was born to do, talk to the guests at each table. She treated you like she's known you for a lifetime and it was truly a pleasure to meet her. Overall, it's truly as good as it gets.

    (5)

  • Libby T.

    I'm not the easiest on Italian restaurants; I think pasta is often boring, the meats are fatty, and the menu generally uninteresting. We came to Giovanni's with a party and were served all of my (typically) least favorites: spaghetti with meatballs and sausage, chicken piccata, and ciabatta. I was so surprised and delighted - everything is made in house and to perfection. It made me feel like a friend's grandma was making us dinner. A bit out of the way, and the ambiance is a bit dingy, but absolutely worth the trip if you're looking to mangia.

    (4)

  • Annie R.

    It doesn't get anymore old school than this place. Fran is a renaissance woman and Randy (her son and lead chef) is welcoming (and one hell of a cook). Food was phenomenal, setting was amazing and filled with stories (colorfully told by Fran) and you could not beat the owners walking around making everyone feel like they were sitting at their family's dinner table. Fran and Randy - keep it up!!!!! A landmark for Detroit.

    (5)

  • Terry D.

    There isn't much I can add that hasn't already been said. The food is excellent, portions are generous without being over the top. We had a Shrimp risotto appetizer that was excellent, and both of us enjoyed the entrees. I had the fillet that was rolled and stuffed ( don't recall the actual name of the dish) and it was excellent. Prices are high end, but the food is good enough that you don't mind too much. I give it a 4 star rating for one reason. Do you really need to charge for refills on diet coke and iced tea? I mean two of us had appetizer, dinner and no alcohol and it was $106. Did ya really need the extra charge for the second Iced Tea in this day and age?

    (4)

  • Yuliya M.

    I really enjoyed everything we tried here. What stood out most was the service. The waitress was top-notch, I mean just superb, best I've probably encountered anywhere. The crowd was mostly older, very sophisticated, I enjoyed that as well. It's esthetically pleasing place - I am not sure what exactly about it was beautiful, yet it was, and if you like sophisticated, classy atmosphere, this is it.

    (5)

  • Tim K.

    Giovanni's serves the best lasagna around, period. Made with 17 layers of paper thin handmade pasta the lasagna just melts in your mouth. The calamari is tender, plump, and meaty - So delicious! The owner, Fran, will make you feel welcomed and like family. Her son and co-owner, Randy, is the talented chef. Founded in 1968 by Fran's father, Giovanni, this is a third generation family restaurant and is one of Detroit's best kept secrets. Be sure to keep your eyes open. Past guests include George Clooney, Celine Dion, Ryan Gosling, William Clay Ford, the judges of American Idol, and Frank Sinatra just to name a few.

    (5)

  • Patti H.

    We visited Giovanni's after the theater. Valet parking is available here, which is a big plus. The hostess was pleasant, and seated us right away. Giovanni's is very old-fashioned Italian, and feels very homey immediately upon coming inside, helped in a large part to the house-like interior and the antique family photos on the walls. The outside is very appealing despite being in an commercial type area, very clean inside with nice background music, and the food is authentic, great date-night spot. Clientele from every walk of life, and employees who all seem like they've been there forever switching from speaking fluent English to fluent Italian too quickly to follow. Our waitress was very friendly & knew the menu intimately, great service start to finish. The menu and wine list are both above par. We chose a Valpolicella from the wine list, and we started off with the fried calimari with a butter, onion and whole caper sauce, these are calimari strips, not the usual rings, and the sauteed shrimp with butter on risotto rice. Both were tasty. We tried the homemade Gnocchi dumplings with cheese and mushroom cream sauce as well as Saltimbocca veal with prosciutto ham and cheese with white wine sauce, again, both winners with no table side seasoning needed. While we tucked into our entrees, the owner came around, asked how our meals are, and introduced herself which was both unexpected, and welcoming. After our meals and the huge bread-basket, we passed on dessert, even though the dessert tray looked tempting. Will definitely try the lasagna and the eggplant next time! Destination worth the drive.

    (5)

  • julie L.

    Well...??? I moved up to northern Michigan. During the move, I snuck in a quart of my favorite sauce. I did not tell my husband... shame on me, I'm practically a liar. A year later... heated up a little pasta, pulled out the sauce I've been saving and my husband says ... "Best sauce you've ever made" lol Thank you Giavanni's!!!

    (5)

  • Bethany W.

    This was the first time I've been to this restaurant. The food and service were excellent. I had the gnocchi with porcini mushrooms which was very very good. The lasagna was amazing so I brought home a take out.

    (5)

  • Katherine F.

    The restaurant was decorated in a very romantic and authentic Italian manner, with dimmed lights, soft opera music playing in the background, and brown stone everywhere. Although we had a bit of a slow start (our waitress took a while to come to the table), we had an awesome meal. Our water cups were always full and they had a very nice wine selection. Meals included a soup or salad (with an amazing house honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing) and linguine (unless you ordered a pasta dish). Everybody was pleased with their meals: they were delicious and filling. The dessert presentation was impressive - they bring out a tray with a sample of each dessert and you get to see what you're gonna get. It's very unique and clever. The desserts were equally delicious, though we had to take half home. Overall our meal was very much worth the price and we would love to come back.

    (5)

  • Tamara Y.

    On my last visit to Giovanni's, the good was still excellent. The service on this particular evening left a WHOLE BUNCH to be desired. We couldn't help but feel like we were crashing the party, instead of being welcomed and invited guests. Our reservations were at 7:30, and we were promptly there at 7:25. We were told that we might have to sit at the bar "for a few minutes" because the previous reservations had arrived late. Ok, I can live with a few minutes .... so off to the bar we go. The problem is that there doesn't appear to be a dedicated bartender. From what I could tell, the waitstaff went behind the small bar and mixed whatever drinks they required. We tried to place drink orders every time a staff member stepped behind the bar, only to be told that someone would "be right with" us. At this point, I'm getting genuinely cheesed. After 25 minutes of sitting around twiddling our fingers (and perhaps a vocal complaint or two) we finally got someone to take our drink order. We also had to ask for some bread. Our "few minutes" of waiting for our table turned into about 40 minutes before we were seated. We were seated in the back room because, as it was explained to us, they preferred to keep us with the same waiter who mixed our drinks, and it would be easier for him if we were seated in the back. Go ahead.... roll that explanation around in your head for a minute. The back room consisted of two large birthday parties of 8-10 people each, and us. Based on the logic advanced for seating us in the back room in the first place, you'd think that our waiter had one of these other tables. Nope. The other tables were staffed by different waiters. Our waiter's other tables were, you guessed it, in the main dining room. So why the tell was I sitting in the back room surrounded by birthday celebrations? No clue. How often do you think our waiter made it into the back room? Not nearly often enough, let me tell you. We had to ask other people for things like a bread or water refill because our waiter was simply no where to be found. To add insult to injury, my husband ordered the Manzo Di Braciole, but received the Manzo Alla Giovanni. When he told the waiter that this was NOT the dish he had ordered, the waiter insisted that my husband had indeed ordered the Manzo Alla Giovanni. WHAT THE HELL? On what planet do you insist that your customer is wrong? At this point, it was already 9:15pm. My husband was hungry, didn't want to wait any more and decided to make the best of it. (He did state that it was delicious.) On this visit, the food gets 5 stars as always, but the service was 1-2 stars at best. UPDATE: A couple days after I posted the above review, my husband called Giovanni's to cancel our New Year's Eve reservation for four. He also explained why. (See above.) The woman initially said "Oh yeah, you're the filet guy," which makes me think somebody at Giovanni's reads the Yelp reviews. She then said "yeah, we really ought to do something about overbooking." Wait .... so this really wasn't a matter of Giovanni taking some latecomers, but a DELIBERATE policy of taking more reservations than you have seats? Yep, apparently so. My husband was also told that there was "nothing" they could do about it. Based on their blasé attitude regarding screwing their customers, I can't say I'll be returning to Giovanni's anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Jennifer F.

    Felt like I was out of town but really only a few minutes away from home! Calamari was amazing- perfectly fried with a light sauce. The bread is garlicky and it was so hard to stop eating. My friends got the lasagna and I got to try it; it melts in your mouth. I got the Veal Piccata al Limone and it was so tasty and light. My other friend got a veal dish with crab, asparagus with a brandy glaze on it. He did not share any of it so I have no idea how it tasted, but that was because he wanted it all to himself. For dessert we all shared the lemon tart/cake, it was so good. The service is great. I can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Sue K.

    This is by far some of the best Italian food we have ever eaten, not to mention the amazing service and atmosphere. The owner of the restaurant, who is an amazing Italian lady comes by each table and sits and ask how everything is, and actually spends some time just chatting , she was truly an amazing lady. If we ever return to the Detroit area, this will definitely be our first stop for dinner!

    (5)

  • Mike R.

    I love Giovanni's! Not only is the best lasagna I've ever had, but the service is so welcoming and friendly. We usually go here on my birthday or our anniversary and it's always a special night. When the staff knows this, they treat you even more special. I've had many great meals here over the years and can't say anything but good things about the food and service. I will tell you that it is in a neighboorhood that has seen better days. They have valet parking, so use that option if you are worried about parking on the street but I do all the time with no issues. It's not that bad of an area, just run down. No matter where you are in the Metro Area make the trip to Delray and visit this place. You won't regret it. Also . . It is a dress up kind of night out.

    (5)

  • Ashley H.

    Finally! I have found my favorite Italian in Detroit! What's funny is that I was raving about my first experience here with my husband to a friend so much that she wanted to go--two days after my first time there. The valet guys recognized my car. All three of us loved our meals. The first time I had the cannelloni and my husband had the olindo special. I wanted to try their Alfredo (because you know it has to be amazing at a place like this) and was able to order a side over pasta. Our food tasted so fresh and was seasoned just right. And the pasta, all house-made, is the best pasta I've ever had. We ended with a piece of tiramisu--delish! On my return trip I opted for the pollo triventa and my friend had the eggplant entree. She said it was amazing and the best eggplant she had ever had. My chicken was so tasty, a perfect combination of cream sauce, fresh spinach, and mushrooms. The inside is decorated well and very clean. They have a very extensive wine list with excellent house options by the glass. Their service is very welcoming and friendly. You must check it out!

    (5)

  • Peter P.

    Excellent. Food is superbly prepared. The waitstaff is professional and friendly. You cannot go wrong here.

    (5)

  • Marie C.

    True definition of melt in mouth italian food! Tastes like my nona's in the kitchen :)

    (5)

  • Katie W.

    I hope Yelp brings more recognition to this landmark restaurant. Having been here more than once... It's about time I finish this darn review! Even though those who have been here before know the caliber of deliciousness that never fails, every time I am in here I always wonder how Giovanni's survives in this area. I envision it thriving in an uppity metropolitan area... Not surrounded by factories and ghetto/defaced buildings. This my friends is a diamond in the rough! Although this Italian fare is beyond scrumptious, the dessert is never disappointing! I love their dessert, and I always pick at my food and eat dessert first :) strawberry shortcake, cannoli and tiramisu are my absolute faves.... And believe me, I've ordered two before, and the cannoli didn't get out the doors in it's take-out container. It's okay, because quite frankly, if you come here to eat- it's acceptable to have hog jaws :)

    (5)

  • Algis O.

    Outstanding freshly made Italian food. Watch the price of the specials that are not on the menu. Service is very good and personal.

    (4)

  • Kathlyn M.

    Let me preface this review by saying that I have been going to Giovanni's since I was a young girl. This is one of my family's favorite restaurants and I will always love the food here. Some of my earliest memories are eating here with my family and my now deceased grandfather. I wanted to treat my boyfriend to dinner for his birthday so I made a reservation (he had never been here before). I just want to say that our service was terrible. We are both young professionals who live and work in Detroit (I work at a major advertising agency and my boyfriend works at Oakwood Hospital) -- I felt that because of our age we got absolutely no respect from our server. We were by far the youngest people in the restaurant, but just because I am young does not mean I can't afford to eat here. Our waitress (middle aged woman) did not check on us one time during our entire meal, and I was so embarrassed after talking so highly about Giovanni's to my boyfriend. The food was spectacular, per usual, but the service was horrible. My family are loyal customers to Giovanni's and as foodies, my boyfriend and I know how to spend money at restaurants and we always tip 20% at least. We both ordered wine, espresso and also ordered two desserts. After our dessert came, our waitress brought an additional piece of Tiramisu for my boyfriend's birthday. Are you kidding me? You might have wanted to comp one of our two desserts before bringing out a third dessert. Our bill was around $70 and I tipped the waitress $20 just to speak out on behalf of young professionals who go out to eat and expect to be served with respect. The only time I will ever re-visit Giovanni's again will be with my parents. Maybe then the people who are SERVING ME will treat me with an ounce of respect. I was so upset at the poor service (not checking in, not filling our glasses, snide/rude answering of my questions or order, bringing out the dessert after the fact to ride up our bill, and just general "I'm better than you" attitude). I've always loved Giovanni's and my mom manages Andiamo in Royal Oak -- we know the owner and the mother of this place and they always make a point to say hi when my family eats (and spends a lot of money) at this place. I love talking to servers and as somebody who worked in restaurants for a couple of years in college, I understand the service industry and I would never look down on somebody just because of their age. The five star review is for the food, not the service. If you are in your 20s, hopefully you will be treated a lot better than my boyfriend and I were (23 and 24, University of Michigan grads). If you are in your 50s wearing a blazer with Richard Gere-ish hair, I'm sure you will be treated way better than we were treated.

    (4)

  • Haroun K.

    In Detroit there are two Italian places I can think of which are located in really remote, desolate areas, but are entirely lovely inside: Vince's and Giovanni's. Giovanni's is less old school, but better tasting. The house salad is one of the better ones around - mixed greens, cherry tomatoes (not out of a cooler), and crumbled blue cheese. The eggplant parmigiana is sinful, and huge. The desserts - well you can't go wrong. I like the "grandmother's cake," which is almost like a lemon version of key lime pie. Service is excellent and perfectly suited to the ambiance. Italian food is not my favorite by any means, but I'd come back here happily. Parking is $5 valet, fyi.

    (4)

  • Kelly K.

    Best. Italian. In. Detroit. Although Giovanni's is a little out of the way, it is totally worth it. Just follow the signs once you get off 75 and you will be handsomely rewarded with fresh, homemade pasta and delicious desserts. The restaurant itself is very dark and charming. There are family photos all over which I loved. Our waitress was very attentive and helpful. It was so hard to decide what to get! I ended up getting the pasta e fagoli soup and gnocci with meat sauce. Hubs got taglietelle with meat sauce and a broth based soup with sausage tortellini in it. The soups were exceptional. My pasta e fagoli had a light broth with a plethora of tender beans in it. It was seasoned well and didn't even require any additional salt and pepper. Husband enjoyed his soup as well - the broth was very tasty and chicken-y and the tortellini was a soft pillow filled with sausage. The best part was the main courses. The fresh pastas were perfectly al dente. The meat sauce was chunky and hearty and seasoned beautifully. The owner also gave us a taste of her homemade lasagna - I will definitely get that when I return! They use the same meat sauce as we had, but with I think 11 layers of homemade pasta and 7 different kinds of cheese!! It was incredible. After dinner we decided to stuff ourselves with dessert. Husband got the flourless chocolate cake. I got Grandmother's cake which is a lemon custard on an Italian shortbread crust. The chocolate cake was dense and dark - it was a small piece, but it was more than enough for my husband. He loved the rich flavors mixed with the lightness of the fresh whipped cream. My dessert was one of the best I've ever had. Light and lemony, the custad was so freaking good. The Italian shortbread crust was sweet and buttery and flaked away easily. It held the custard without getting soggy and it was just such a great all-around dessert. Seriously, if you're craving Italian and you don't mind a little drive - check this place out. It is so, so, SO worth it!!

    (5)

  • tony a.

    Ok, I know there are a lot of great reviews on this place but I figured I would add another. Wow, simply wow. We had reservations for 6:30 and arrived on time and were promptly seated in the smaller back room. This was a nice quiet intimate room with only 4 tables. We started off with some cocktails and while meandering over the menu. Our waiter mentioned an eggplant appetizer that sounded good and I knew already that we needed to get the calamari. He was able to put together a trifecta by adding the shrimp appetizer and it was a perfect amount for the five of us. Onto the main course- a couple of us opted for veal dishes and they do a fantastic veal saltimboca. Two others went for a very flavorful halibut special that was pulled off flawless which not everyone can do with halibut. The last person got the lasagna and while I did not try it i was very envious and will probably go that route next time. The little side pasta I got with my veal confirmed that they to great pasta. Onto desert we got the Cannoli, a lemon tart, and a special Blanton's bourbon/pumpkin cheesecake that was a star. For wine we tried the 2006 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino that was just a stand out bottle that I will now have to track down. As we were ending the meal the waiter asked for our valet tickets so he could get the cars brought up and warmed up which was just a perfect touch and finish to our meal. I think I am going back next week for that lasagna and one more shot at that cheesecake. Best regards, Tony

    (5)

  • Tiffany E.

    Went here on a suggestion by a friend. Looking for a special place to eat for my Husbands birthday and Giovanni's did not disappoint! The atmosphere was old school with vintage pictures of Italian family members on the walls. The food was excellent! Calamari was very good and we had the special that night crab cakes that were fresh and not greasy and over cooked. The owner stopped by our table with some old stories about the good old days when she first opened the restaurant. She suggested the lasagna and sent out samples for all of us to try. I ordered a frozen sheet of Lasagna to take home with us. The food highlights were 1. Sea bass- a special- fresh, light, tender - in a fresh lemon and white wine sauce. Served over a decadent Risotto. 2. The Leg of lamb- looked like a Fred Flintstone size piece of meat. So tender it fell off the bone! 3. Bread pudding- spiced and warm- YUM! The service was friendly and the wine selection was great! Valet parking helps with it being in a not so nice area.

    (5)

  • Paul J.

    This is simply an outstanding restaurant. While the location is way off the beaten path, they know how to create great ambiance and provide a great meal. The staff is friendly, attentive, yet very professional. And the food is as fine an Italian meal as you can have.

    (5)

  • Frank Z.

    Not the greatest neighborhood and it's a bit pricey but the food is molto buono. Perhaps the best Eye-talian chow around Detroit. DO NOT compare it to Olive Garden of Carraba's. This is not a chain and it is genuinely superior. Legend has it that this was Sinatra's favorite place in Detroit. Who knows? But is certainly one of mine!

    (5)

  • Noreen F.

    Excellent food. Excellent service. Pasta was amazing. Special Chicken Frangelico was so good. Everyone in our party was extremely pleased.

    (5)

  • Teri M.

    I'm not sure if it's better to visit before dark or after. The location is in a shotty mostly abandoned neighborhoood only a few miles off the freeway. They have valet parking that you can pay for with your dinner bill, just remember cash for the tip. I highly reccomend reservations, even if the dinner is for two. The bar only seats about 6 people and they have a very small vestibule that fills quickly for those that need to wait. The service is prompt and attentive. They have tons of people that appear out of nowhere to refill your water, take your plates, and brush crumbs off the table cloth. The owner usually visits the tables to chat it up with the patrons, but the last 2-3 times I have been, she has failed to come to our table. Maybe because it was later in the evening or because we had a party of 6. I was disappointed she didn't visit the first time I brought the boyfriend's parents because it really is a nice touch. The dining rooms are intimate and the bathrooms play a funny, instructional Italian CD. The vegetarian options are typical for Italian fare - gnocchi and ravioli with a couple of sauce choices, but the minestrone is made with chicken stock. Why? The portions are fabulous - just enough to satisfy without the need for a carry out box. You can't go wrong with any of the desserts they offer.

    (4)

  • M F.

    Came for lunch and it was EXCELLENT! First, the owner Fran asks if we have ever tried their lasagna (we hadn't) and proceeds to give us the details of how its created....and it sounds amazing but I don't typically order lasagna. Well, I didn't need to in order to try this since she sent a "taste" which was a generous portion and if you are a lasagna person this was by far excellent. Not typical...since it very clearly was very fresh. Next, I tasted calamari for the first time. It was very good and if you like calamari it is apparently some of the best. I ordered the Scampi and it was excellent. The shrimp were huge and the spinach linguine was by far the best linguine I have eaten with a lovely lemon butter sauce. My only suggestion would be that a bit of the sauce get drizzled on the shrimp...suggestion not complaint since as I said my meal was excellent. The atmosphere was lovely and more than friendly and attentive. I would highly recommend.

    (4)

  • Margaret F.

    I was here for a work holiday party. I had never heard of it in the years I've been living in this area. In fact, I had yet to find any good Italian restaurants in the Metro Detroit area. I guess I don't have to really look anymore. The neighborhood is not place you want to walk around alone, especially at night, but I felt safe at the restaurant. I was a bit nervous about the parking, but I used the Valet and my car remained in one piece with my guitar in the trunk. Just remember to have cash on had to pay for it. I'd rather have $5 of piece of mind instead of chancing parking randomly somewhere on the street. The food was wonderful! The group ordered the appetizer plate. The mushrooms were tasty in a tangy sauce. I'm not a calamari fan in general, but this was not bad The risotto with the shrimp was quite tasty. In fact, I could've eaten just the risotto and called it a meal. The Chilean Sea Bass was one the specials that night, so I ordered that. Lucky for me it came with risotto, so I was very happy. The house salad with the house dressing was very good. Onto the main course. The sea bass was wonderful. It was cooked just right. The fish was tender, flakey, and melted in my mouth. The sauce was a nice lemon flavor. The risotto was so good. For dessert, I had the cheesecake and it was fantastic. It was not too dense. It was pretty light for cheesecake. The service was great. The waiter was friendly and informative. The staff kept our drinks filled. They did a great job. I would recommend getting reservation before going there. It was pretty busy the night I was there. You take a risk if you decide to just walk in without a reservation. So I will definitely make a trip back to this restaurant. I don't know if this is "real Italian" food (as I've never been to Italy), but it tasted good to me and that's what counts. You're not getting Gordon Food service type food. Everything is made there by them.

    (4)

  • Meagan B.

    My review is not on the food or service at all. Was driving through the area and looking for a good restaurant. Stumbled across this and decided to give it a go. Stopped in around 6:30 on a Saturday. When we walked in the hostess asked if we had reservations, when telling her no she rudely said that they were booked and had already taken two parties she shouldn't have. Well okay then, guess we'll be on our way. Not sure that I'd try going back given that it's not anywhere near where I live or frequent. If I do, I will update my rating.

    (1)

  • Shane E.

    Amazing. Perfection. So many other words could describe my experience at Giovanni's but I'll stop there. I was in Detroit with my father for the Auto Show and we stumbled upon Giovanni's, it was a bit further than we wanted to go but all the reviews were so excellent and I had a hankering for Italian food, so off we went. Upon arrival, the valet and the hostess were courteous and friendly. We were a bit early for our reservation but got seated almost immediately. The inside of the restaurant is very nice and I enjoyed the atmosphere. The waitress was very friendly and it was a joy to be served by her. Our water glasses were always filled, and she brought out fresh bread that appeared to be basted in some kind of garlic butter, multiple times. I got the Pollo Alla Parmigian, which was probably the best I've ever had. It was very flavorful, in general I like a little bit more "crunch" with my chicken parm, but this was still excellent. My dad got the Scampi Alla Giovanni, which he said was also excellent, and he especially praised the shrimp. I could not say no to the dessert plate, and had to get the lemon tart,, and I'm very glad I did. It was refreshing and the perfect way to end my meal. What really set the experience for us was when the owner came and sat and talked to us for a good 10-15 minutes, she also introduced her son, the chef. She was highly personable and great at keeping conversation. She was such a joy and I'm sure we will be back to Giovanni's next year :)

    (5)

  • Anthony D.

    I am going to keep this one short because I like to support local business no matter the city and the folks that work here are REALLY nice. The service is super friendly but at times a little slow, took well over an hour to get lunch. The food is above average, I think there are parts of the country that are used to a low standard for Italian food (olive garden) this is usually based on very limited choices. When a place like Giovanni's comes along ,everyone thinks its a 5 star experience because it absolutely surpasses the "Italian" food they have come to know. If you are visiting from a major city (especially the Northeast) you will not be impressed by the food. However, if you need some good comfort food and want to meet some super friendly locals while in Detroit, then this is a good choice.

    (3)

  • Marianne S.

    I am visiting family here and had the pleasure of dining at Giovanni's. It is the best Italian food outside of my mom's kitchen. The Calamari was sublime, the Chicken with artichokes and capers accompanied by fresh gnocchi a delight. The restaurant was filled with happy people. Service matched the meal on every front. They tell me that it was a favorite of Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. No surprises there. I will be visiting my family more often to satisfy my Giovanni fix and do everything I can to convince them to open one in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Deborah R. S.

    Excellent food! Worth all the $$$ Fresh homemade pasta and desserts. It is our favorite restaurant. Love it!

    (5)

  • Liz W.

    How I adore Italian food. Seriously. Here the pasta is made fresh, the sauces from scratch and the service is impeccable. Beautiful atmosphere yet so homey, you feel welcomed and comfortable here. The food. Oh good lord the food. Heavenly. Filled with love. We decided to start with some shrimp Giovanni, garlic-y, lemony delights served with some ideally cooked risotto. After this, I knew that I would love it here. We totally devoured it, silent and focused, lost in our own little worlds. So good I did not even bother with the nice-ish bread on this course, what does that tell you? I am carb addicted for goodness sakes. We followed with soups, you have to love Italian soups. Brodo con cappelletti. Mmmmm, perfection. Rich broth, delightful little filled pastas. You feel like there is an Italian Grandma back there who has just adopted you as her own. The minestrone here is also so dreamy. Both are really wonderful options to continue your adventures. James went with the cannelloni di carne. Homemade noodles, fabulous meaty filling topped with decadent bolognese. A total feast of deliciousness. I went with the Manzo di Braciole, just happiness on a plate. Thinly sliced beef tenderloin rolled around prosciutto, with garlic, parsley, tomato and mushroom sauce. It was melt in your mouth awesome, tender and a true flavor party. The side of linguine just added to the enjoyment of it all. No dessert, no room and we were tapped out. Its spendy here but I am not bitching a bit, no complaints whatsoever. I could go on and on about this place. You need to go try it. Full stop. Make a reservation. Use the valet. Enjoy.

    (4)

  • Jen T.

    This gem offers a wonderful atmosphere, superb service, and the best Italian food in the Detroit area. Highly recommend - you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Rob W.

    After seeing Giovanni's on several "best of" lists, and seeing the rave reviews here on Yelp, we went down there for what turned out to be a wonderful evening. The food was great, the service was impeccable. Our group included a couple vegetarians, and the waiter was quite forthcoming about which menu items they should avoid (which doesn't happen often - many waitstaffs have no clue that the vegetable soup started out with chicken stock). We started out with a mixed appetizer plate which was incredible (the calamari alone was worth it) - and a couple odd drinks (a pomegranate martini? really?). For main courses, among the six of us, there was veal, fish (barramundi) , pasta and shrimp dishes. Each one better than the last. We spent half the time passing plates around saying "you've got to try this!" We were already stuffed, but succumbed to a couple dessert dishes. Pumpkin cheesecake, a delightful cream puff and a dessert item that was a pastry concoction that resembled little puffs ... can't recall the name but it was outstanding. UPDATE: Zeppoles is the name, I'm told. Don't particularly care what they're called - they're wonderful!! No clue why this long standing (1968, they say) restaurant had never hit my radar before - and I know we'll be returning soon. It's not a cheap restaurant - we probably averaged $40 / 50 per person, plus drinks. But the food and service was absolutely amazing. You should try them out!

    (5)

  • Anne S.

    Really disappointing. My husband and I have eaten here many times but have come to the conclusion that they can't handle a crowd. We made reservations to celebrate my 50th birthday and were seated in the 5 table room off of the main room. There is a storage cabinet in that room and all sorts of employees kept opening the cabinet looking for phantom water glasses and napkins. (The cabinet was empty nearly the entire 2 hours we were there). It was more than a little distracting. I finally asked one of the bussers if that was the only place they kept this sort of tableware and unfortunately for us it was. On top of that it took nearly 1/2 hour to get a few pieces of bread. My husband ordered the lasagna which was yummy as usual and I ordered the ravioli as I have many times before. It was cold and I had to send it back. Normally the pasta dishes are so hot you can barely eat them. At least our waiter Jon was a nice guy. If this had been my first visit here I would have to ask what's the big deal and never need to make the trek to this sketchy neighborhood again. Not sure if I will I was so disappointed.

    (2)

  • Kristin G.

    Giovanni's, you have a special place in my heart. You know the kind of food that his made with love & years of tradition? Well, that's Giovanni's. You know the type of restaurant where your server is always "on" and everything goes without a hitch? That's Giovanni's. Needless to say, I am beyond impressed. This place just oozes with pride, the servers, the owner even came in and asked us how our food was. There aren't many places that are truly old school in mentality and execution. This food speaks to a lost era in the very best way it can. You can taste the love in that food. The passion, the pride. It's all there. And man oh man does it taste delicious. For starters, my friend and I split the Calamari. The server gave us each a portion and after setting the app down on the table. Nice touch. The Calamari was so amazingly tender & the batter it was fried in was light and drizzled with this great lightly lemony sauce. We cleaned that plate in record time. My entree came with choice of salad or soup, so I opted for the Minestrone. The only way I can describe this is, SUBLIME. I never knew Minestrone could be so flavorful and hearty all at the same time...but not too heavy. It was just right, the perfect balance. My anticipation built, after two great dishes leading up to the main event... The entree definitely exceeded my growing expectations. I went with the special of the day...a handmade, hand CUT pasta with a pomodoro (a creamier version of your average tomato sauce) and veal and beef. What an extraordinary mix of flavors and the texture of the pasta was just so tender, melt-in-your-mouth good. I couldn't finish it as much as I wanted to keep eating it, because it was so rich and the portion so generous. Let me tell you, it was just as delicious the next day. The grand finale: Tiramisu. Heavenly. Light & Fluffy. A great end to a spectacular meal. The service here is among the best I've ever experienced. Thank you Giovanni's for treating the customer as they should be treated. Like Royalty. A true gem of Detroit and a pure class act, Giovanni's has just bumped itself onto my top 5 restaurants of Detroit list.

    (5)

  • Katie V.

    This place has been a staple for my family and me. It is one of my two favorite Italian restaurants - the other being El Barzon. We have celebrated birthday dinners, romantic dinners, a very large rehearsal dinner, and even homecomings dinners here. The veal dishes are my favorite. I also have had a gnocchi dish in a mushroom and sherry cream sauce that was truly amazing. It is definitely off the beaten path, but I find that aspect makes it unique and charming. I have introduced many friends to this place, and all have become return patrons. The food is always good, and the service is always trustworthy. I read an earlier review about the noise-level in the restaurant. I have always found it to be average and not intrusive. They also have a smaller dining room off the main room if you prefer a more intimate setting.

    (5)

  • Rebecca B.

    We went here for my birthday (although we have been many many times) last weekend and had a great time. As a vegan, they had to figure out something to feed me, but they were more than accommodating. My family had lasagna and veal and it was all delicious. They made special consideration for me which was nice, but the best part is the owner always comes around the dining room to talk to the patrons. It is such a nice touch.

    (5)

  • aleem a.

    Excellent food. Hands down best Italian food in detroit. Got the brick oven pizza. Talk about some good food. They have won me over any day of the week. Try the lasagna. It will have you floored

    (5)

  • Bella M.

    A wonderful old school Italian restaurant and you usually receive a greeting from the owner. The ambiance is very charming and certainly could be romantic. The food is pretty reliable, typical Italian dishes and house made pasta. Defiantly worth the trip.

    (4)

  • Mike K.

    Oh gosh, this is the type of place you dream about having in your neighborhood, where they make old-school Italian food perfectly, without a slip in quality over the years. A small, cozy place with warm owners who are proud of their restaurant. Where you can simply trust that they know Italian food. The garlic bread. It's cliche to say you could make a meal out of the bread, so let's say I could make EVERY meal out of this bread. It's rich, buttery and garlicky. I ate way too much. We had the pizza bianca to start. It was very tasty, with thin slices of grape tomatoes on top. It was good, but I think I'll just eat more garlic bread. You get your choice of soup or salad. Salads are perfectly dressed with very fresh greens. Soups are even better. Sadly, they were out of the brodo con cappelletti, which is one of my favorites, but the chicken soup was incredible anyway. Wonderful, rich, clear broth with squares of fresh pasta floating throughout. They were out of quite a few items when we were there, but the wonderful owner came by the table to explain that a funeral party showed up at the last minute early that morning. She made us feel like we'd been coming there for years. All of our entrees were outstanding, particularly the gnocchi in a mushroom sauce. The cannelloni di carne was also outstanding, with a very balanced sauce and, of course, excellent pasta. This place is better than most of the restaurants in the North End here in Boston. I'm so glad my parents moved nearby so I can eat here when I visit.

    (5)

  • Christine K.

    This place is a bit pricy but well worth it. I walked in thinking the food would not be as great as I made it out to be. I was hungry so I decided to give it a try. My, have I underestimated it. The food is good. The service is too good. Thank you for the experience. I will be back.

    (4)

  • Juliauna N.

    Home made pasta, famiglia type of comfortable feeling and welcoming atmosphere and staff! Loved it here!! Went for dinner with girl friends after work and though we sprang 10+ people last minute - everything went seamlessly with help on dish decisions for our indecisive ones. Split the bill between all of us, which was well received by the Waitress who took 6+ credit cards... Cannot wait to go back - yummmmmmmy!!

    (5)

  • Martha V.

    I love this restaurant. The food, the service, the atmosphere, the experience - all top notch. Giovanni's is the best Italian food in the Detroit area, bar none. The pasta is fresh, the sauces are excellent, and I have never had less than a stellar meal here. I love the pesto al pomodoro sauce (over linguine) so much I barely open the menu when I sit down. But prior to discovering that sauce, I'd tried several different entrees and they were all outstanding (the lasagna is highly recommended as well). Make a reservation and definitely use the valet parking, but absolutely visit this restaurant - the food is amazing.

    (5)

  • Anonymous N.

    Every time we visit Giovanni's they make you feel as if you are family. The food is absolutey F A B U L O U S!!! We love all the servers, but we never ever go without requesting our all time favorite server, Katie. She is a treasure, a gem and a darn good server...one of the best. 5 stars is not enough to describe this gem.

    (5)

  • M M.

    I can't believe I had never even heard of this place before. It is a dark (lighting) area and not well populated area. However the food and staff were great. I wasn't as enamored as others with the calamari but everything else was great particularly the pesto pomodoro and the tiramisu. We will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Thomas E.

    I heard great things but I was somewhat disappointed. The red sauce tasted like it came out if a jar. The pasta is supposedly homemade but it didnt seem so. The prices were high for the quality of the food they served.

    (3)

  • Chad C.

    I now understand how this place stays open, given its out-of-the-mainstream-way location. It simply is exquisite Italian fare, the best I've had in the entire state of Michigan (mind you, I don't go around eating Italian everywhere I go in the mitten, but I have spent 9 months in Italy, so I know good Italian when I taste it). This is definitely a hidden gem in the rough! Pure Detroit.

    (5)

  • Viet N.

    Giovanni's, I really wanted to love you. A near perfect record on Yelp, a long history of great food and great service, and you're even in the ghetto, where food has to be great. Alas, I think I had you built up in my mind too much before coming in, and you just didn't stand up to expectations. Location and ambiance: I think they call this Downriver? It's waayy out there. For me and my friends, firmly living north of 11 mile, this was less of a night out and more of a safari for Italian food. The restaurant is the only building with a breath of life for blocks around, which is amazing and sad. Inside though, it was filled with loud, gesticulating Italians, which was just awesome. Service: Remember, I don't rate on service, but I have to mention that our server was always there when we needed her, and never there when we didn't want her around. Perfect. The chef-owner also came by to greet us, which I think is a great touch. Appetizers: We ordered the calamari, and I strongly felt ripped off here from the start. I was hoping for more squid and less breading, and maybe, you know, rings of squid like it normally comes. Instead, the calamari had the consistency of lukewarm fish sticks. It was doused in a sweet caper sauce, though that didn't make up the overpriced ($15) textural faux-pas. Entrees: Two of us got veal saltimbocca and two of us got shrimp/scallop/artichoke linguine in a pesto-pomodoro sauce. The meals ($25-28) came with a terribly salty soup or a salad that consisted of bagged mixed greens and some house vinaigrette salad dressing. These were safe choices, since you would think it would be really hard to mess up saltimbocca (prosciutto-wrapped veal) or pesto-pomodoro sauce (the best of both worlds). The sauces were good, if lacking punch. The real crime though, was the pasta. I definitely could taste homemade love in the pasta, but the cook preparing the dish messed up and gave us overcooked pasta that was almost falling apart. Not making pasta al-dente is an unforgivable offense. This is an Italian restaurant. Wine: There is a good selection of Italian wines. We shared a bottle of sauvignon blanc. I can't say it was particularly noteworthy, despite being $35. Dessert: We shared a tiramisu, which was good. I really don't judge desserts well, since it tastes like an airy, creamy slice of coffee cake. I don't think I've ever really had terrible tiramisu either, so I guess this was fine. All in all, I feel let down from lofty expectations. There were no serious errors in meal planning, but execution was lacking. PPYKAG.

    (3)

  • Michelle W.

    Ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh!! How I love this place!! This woman makes the best eggplant parm on the planet! Plus I don't know what they do to the pasta when they make it, but it is exceptional! As other Yelpers said, everything is from scratch and everything I've ever had there is wonderful. The calamari is to die for! Lightly breaded, the perfect texture and capers to boot. The tiramisu (I can't spell) is so light and airy, it's like a dream. Those are my favorite things there, so I have a hard time getting anything else ever. Plus, this place is a family thing. My dad used to go to this place when it was a pizza joint when it first opened. Somehow it's evolved into this great restaurant, even thought it's burned down twice!! Momma Giovanni always comes to the table to see how your meal is going and tells me stories from when my dad was young, it's pretty wild all the people she can remember! One caution to you first timers, not the greatest neighborhood....but, absolutely worth it! We've even had birthday, graduation etc dinners here for groups that have been wonderful!

    (5)

  • Wendy C.

    Traditional American-Italian food, lots of red sauce. Mostly comfort food (pasta, veals, ...), well executed if not inventive. I do like their Eggplant parmigiana (melazane parmigiana), thinly sliced eggplant flash fried in a tempura like batter instead of heavy breading, the pomodoro sauce is flavourful, a nice complement to eggplant's earthiness and mozzarella slight saltiness. Mains come with soup or salad, okay soup nothing to rave about. The restaurant is located in a gritty looking area, although once inside the scene is quite genteel and warm. valet parking is available and the only viable option at night.

    (3)

  • Zac K.

    Being from Detroit, I do love a nice meal when I'm home visting the parental units. This is one of those institutions, if you will, that is consistently good and just love. If you can snag a table in the godfather room, do it! so cozy and warm. I have been coming here since I was about the ripe age of 12 or so- I am in love with many things here, but especially love starting with the Shrimp Giovanni- garlic, lemon and complete bliss- love it! I usually opt for the manicotti or one of the specials- the pasta is handmade and so delicate and delish- you won't be sad. The steak is also well done and prepared to perfection. The place is dressier, so keep that in mind. Save room for dessert because it is simply outstanding. Love this place! Fran rocks!

    (5)

  • Esther E.

    My family and i have been going to Giovanni for almost 20 years. they have by far the best italian food around. if you're looking for a 5 star place where the stars hang out, then this is definitely the place for you. Ask for Lori as a waitress, she will take care of you!

    (5)

  • Adriano M.

    The Osso Bucco is amazing......this place gets better every time I dine here. Keep it up.

    (5)

  • Samantha C.

    I cannot say enough good things about Giovanni's. If you have not been there, do yourself a favor and go! From the professional servers to the owner, they make you feel like you are in for a real treat AND YOU ARE! The food is amazing and homemade.....nothing is canned or boxed. For goodness sake, they make their pasta fresh and it tastes like heaven. We are foodies and we are consistently blown away each and every time we come here. Tonight, we started with the Shrimp Risotto app.....superb! I have the Pollo alla Trentina and could have cried it was so good. My hubby had Ravioli with Crab......to die for! We ended the meal with a lemon dessert and tiramisu....again, all made in house. A little pricey, but you get what you pay for. This may not be a place you go every week, but you will wish it was!

    (5)

  • Phillip M.

    An institution and Detroit gem... Delicious Delicious Delicious.... We do not mind one bit making the pilgrimage to see Fran and her staff!

    (5)

  • T G.

    Particularly in Detroit, I have found it rare to discover a truly wonderful dining experience - my evening at Giovanni's raised the bar. From the moment we arrived, until we walked out the door, we were enveloped by a glowing warmth that extended throughout our entire meal. Indeed, every element of our experience at Giovanni's can be highly recommended without hesitation. The service: exceptional. We were attended to immediately without feeling crowded or rushed to begin examining the menu or ordering food. We eased in to the warm and comfortable atmosphere, feeling grand and excited for what was ahead. Our waitress was lovely, genuinely pleasant and extremely helpful in describing wines, answering questions about the menu and helping us decide on dishes. My boyfriend was debating between the Cannelloni di Pesce and Ravioli di Friuli and was told, very honestly, by the waitress that she had only tried the ravioli and could recommend it highly, but could not compare the nuances of the two dishes from her own experience. So often, I am disappointed by waiters or waitresses who are unfamiliar with the food or make recommendations without a true sense of what the dishes actually taste like. Her honesty and helpfulness set the stage for a delicious and authentic Italian feast. We shared both the peperoni and calamari appetizer - I usually prefer grilled, but chose to try the golden fried calamari because it sounded quite tasty. The breading was perfect: light and just a bit crispy, not at all too oily. The buerre blanc sauce was great also: a mild but flavourful accompaniment to the calamari. The sausage dish was excellent; unapologetic in its reliance on the flavours brought out by simply sautéing the meat and onions and peppers together - no fancy sauces to obscure, overwhelm or detract from the richness of the ingredients themselves. To be noted: the portions were larger than we anticipated, which is not a complaint, just a word to those intent on finishing their entrees (save room). I had the filet mignon, medium, accompanied by young asparagus and a potato and leek torta. My dish too, was strong its reliance on the flavours inherent in the ingredients themselves. Thrilled with his choice, my boyfriend enjoyed the ravioli immensely, the sauce not too heavy and the tastes quite delicate. I echo other reviewers in feeling as though I spent an evening in someone's home - the atmosphere created by Fran and the Giovanni's crew made us feel we were dining somewhere both relaxed and sophisticated - a wonderful balance achieved by the genuineness and skills of the Giovanni's staff. When we arrived, the hostess had asked if the evening was a special occasion - indeed, we were celebrating a three year anniversary. I told her this, and then soon forgot I had done so as we settled into our table. When our waitress arrived she congratulated us, and then another girl helping bus tables congratulated us a few minutes later. Towards the middle of the meal, Fran herself came over and offered some kind words, and then finally, when were done eating and considering what sort of room we had for desert, our waitress arrived with a plate of homemade tiramisu, on the house. Of course, the tiramisu continued the tradition of exceptionality without flourish; it was simple and light, and absolutely delicious. How sweet and thoughtful of the staff to have made this gesture - it made the feel of the evening all the more delightful and special. We left full, thrilled and glowing with the warmth of the whole night. Thank you, Giovanni's! What a lovely, lovely, dining experience.

    (5)

  • Jennifer H.

    We ate at Giovanni's for Valentine's Day and everything was wonderful. The service was great, greeted promptly and with a smile at the door, our coats were taken and we were shown to our table. The food was delicious; I had the Ravioli Di Friuli: Ravioli stuffed with Boursin Cheese, and sundried tomatoes, topped with lump crab and a champagne cream sauce. I was so glad I ordered this; all the flavors went together perfectly. The portion size was good, just the right amount. My husband had a Halibut special and really enjoyed his too. We skipped dessert as we were both full after the meal, but did see the dessert try and were very tempted.

    (5)

  • Shane N.

    This was my first stop in my four day tour of Metro Detroit Italian cuisine, but my last review. It was my last review because it is probably the toughest to review and I am wondering if I should wait for a second experience there before reviewing the place. I had high expectations for this place and left a little disappointed. I had drove past it hundreds of times, but never really knew much about it. A friend did a little research on it and we decided it was worth checking out. The area is a little run down and industrial, but the atmosphere inside the restaurant was excellent. The staff was attentive but could have been a little more knowledgeable. For appetizers we had the calamari and a mushroom dish. The calamari was in strips instead of the normal little rings. The calamari and the sauce that it came in was very good. The mushroom dish was also good and had an interesting sauce that was very tangy and good. For my main course I had veal cutlets in a white wine sauce. The sauce was very good, but the veal was tough. It may have been overcooked. With veal I didn't expect it to be so chewy. You expect your veal to be tender. The main course also came with soup or salad and a side of pasta. The minestrone was delicious. It was what you expect minestrone to be. The pasta and meat sauce was also good. My SO had some gnocchi with pomodoro sauce. The pomodoro sauce was kind of so-so although the gnocchi was pretty good. For dessert we had a piece of strawberry cheesecake that was good. Overall the place is bordering on four stars, but I cannot forgive the veal being tough and there was nothing that really blew me away to make up for that. I will go back and maybe the place can earn another star.

    (3)

  • Travis C.

    This restaurant is located in a very industrial neighborhood, but don't let the surroundings fool you; this place serves some of the best Italian food I've ever had. They make their own pasta, and everything is made fresh when you order it. I dined here with some friends at 6pm on a Tuesday evening, so it wasn't all that busy. The service was outstanding; our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu, and she seemed to strike that perfect balance between making small talk and being annoying and chatty. I started with the Minestrone, and my other guests had the Pasta Fagioli. The Minestrone was great, especially with the garlic bread (our basket was refilled many times without us even asking) to mop up the extra juice. For my entree, I ordered the Olindo special: Scallops, shrimp, and artichokes in a light red sauce over linguine. DELICIOUS. The artichoke was cooked perfectly, and the seafood was fresh and buttery. The homemade pasta was a perfect compliment to the rest of the dish, and went very well with the bottle of house Pinot Noir that we split. They have a great selection of desserts, we split the Sander's Cream Puff, Cannoli, and Tiramisu. Excellent across the board. I very highly recommend this restaurant to ANYONE!

    (5)

  • Emily D.

    Mmmm this place is right by my work, so sometimes we get lucky and the big boss-man takes us there for lunch...but don't expect to get in and out in an hour. I would plan more on an hour and a half...or more, depending on how many people you have in your group. Food is authentic and delicious, but the restaurant is in the hood...definitely use the valet parking! And be sure not to leave any valuables out in plain sight.

    (4)

  • Nat M.

    best Italian in Michigan. as good as Little Italy places in NYC. hidden gem, since most people dont even know about it. and also, location is the middle of nowhere. Outstanding pizza, lasagna, tiramisu and countless other dishes. food takes a while to prepare, but service is excellent. good place for special occasions

    (5)

  • Dan H.

    Fantastic. The best meal I have had for a long time. The garlic bread is to die for. The atmosphere is fantastic. I will go there every time I am in the area.

    (5)

  • Dean C.

    This was a great experience all the way around. I wish I knew or remembered her name, but the older Italian host who stopped by the table to welcome us was a great touch, she made me feel like I was invited to an Italian family dinner. It was either very well kept or recently renovated, I highly recommend Giovanni's for a intimate, formal and sincere experience.

    (4)

  • Kristen H.

    I honestly cannot say enough great things aout this place. Our server, Tracy, was absolutely amazing from start to finish. THe busboys made sure that our water glass was never less than half full. We started with the hot peppers and a caprese salad that they split for us. I did not have the peppers but my husband did and said they were fantastic. When she noticed that he hadn't finished all of the sausage and peppers, she wrapped them up and gave us tips on how to re-serve them the next day. For our entrees, my husband got the fish special and I ordered the porcini mushroom gnocchi. As an italian lady who has had homemade gnocchi all her life, this rivals my beloved grandmas. Absolutely delicious and filling. I saved half for leftovers and Tracy, once again, wrapped it up nicely and suggested how I could re-heat it the next day. For dessert, we had the pumpkin cheesecake which was made at the restaurant. I am not a huge pumpkin fan but this was light and amazing. My husband and I were talking all the way home what a great dining experience it was. A little bit after we got home, I received a phone call from the restaurant stating that I had left my purse there. They had looked up my name from the reservation and credit card number and called me, stating that they were not open tomorrow or Monday. Us living in downtown, it was just a quick ride to retrieve the bag from the owner, who was so gracious and kind. I have frequented all of Detroit's finest restaurants the Giovanni's has been, by FAR, the best food, service, and experience. Can't recommend it enough!!! Cin cin xo

    (5)

  • S F.

    This is by far the best Italian restaurant in the area. I've had Italian food in major cities in the U.S. and this is definitely on par with some of the best. I've been here a handful of times and each time, I have had great service and best of all great food. Appetizers: Bread - The bread that comes out to every table is nice and warmed and toasted soft Italian bread brushed with garlic butter. Salad - The salad that comes with the entrees are very simple, although very good - mixed greens and lightly coated with a honey/balsamic vinaigrette. Calamari - Very good. It depends on the type of cut you like. If you like crunchy, deep-fried circle cuts, you may not like these. These are cut into strips and are marinated overnight to soften them. They are lightly breaded and pan-fried then topped with a white wine butter caper sauce. The calamari were very fresh-tasting. I generally like Carrabba's calamari, but these were equally as good, just different. Pizza - The pizza wasn't anything too spectacular, but it was better than your average pizza. Thin crust with a minimum of topping. Caprese - Your basic caprese with fresh basil, tomatoes, and buffalo mozzarella (creamier than cow's milk) imported from Italy. Entrees: Veal Saltimbocca - Very good flavor with a white wine caper sauce Cheese-filled manicotti - You get 2 regular shell and 1 spinach manicotti shell stuffed with ricotta cheese. I got mine topped with the meat sauce. FYI, it isn't baked or topped with mozzarella cheese (as this is what I prefer anyways). This was the best manicotti I've ever had because it was a very light and airy, yet flavorful pasta dish. Not like the usual calorie-ridden huge portions and mozzarella galore you get elsewhere. Angel hair pasta with meat sauce - The homemade pasta was extremely airy, light and cut superthin. The meat sauce was very good too...good balance of both tomato and meaty flavor. The tomato sauce is very good quality - made with (high quality canned whole San Marzano tomatoes) I've never tried anything with a cream sauce or cheese sauce, but will next time. Service: Everytime I've been, the service has been really good with the waiters/waitresses being very attentive.

    (5)

  • daniel t.

    I was introduced to this restaurant by my brother and have brought many close friends to this 5 star GEM. I've eaten at Italian restaurants all over the U.S.A and no one comes close to the Italian food here!!!

    (5)

  • Whitney N.

    Amazing food. The waiter gave us the typical rundown of popular menu items, and my husband and I both ordered something that he pointed out. We were not disappointed in our entrees! Probably the best Italian I've ever eaten- absolutely delicious. For all of that, the house salad was SO unimpressive (clump of spring mix with a messy pile of tomato and cucumber chunks off the side- could have done it myself and had it look nicer and taste better), and the bread was unremarkable (good, but nothing special). We got tiramisu and a cream puff for desert and those were also fabulous. Service was impeccable. It all cost a pretty penny, but it was delicious and worth it and I hope to eat there again!

    (4)

  • Tom S.

    Arguably the best Italian food in the Detroit area. Surrounded by post-industrial Detroit, its a diamond in the roughest of the rough. However, it's no less sophisticated, warm and inviting. It has the ambiance and attitude (not to mention food) of a high end fine dining establishment but without the pretension. The service is impeccable and each waiter takes tables like they are dining in their own home. Oh, and the food? Top notch. Everything is made fresh, from scratch and Giovanni's features creative and traditional dishes. I echo Scott and Katie, the calamari is phenomenal. The ravioli with crab in a light cream sauce was like nothing I've ever tasted in my life. Can't go wrong with a fish or pasta dish. Great wine list, as well. If you're trying to impress a date, great choice. If not the food, she'll be impressed by how baller you obviously must be. It's not cheap but worth every penny.

    (5)

  • CJ R.

    Hands down best Italian food in the state of Michigan. The veal is incredible and the service truly outstanding. The atmosphere is elegant, yet relaxed. The owner makes everyone feel like family.

    (5)

  • Tracey C.

    Went with a group of 8 on a Tuesday night and they had a lot of reservations booked. I thought this was a good sign and thankfully it was. We all had wonderful meals. I order veal piccata everywhere I can get it on a menu. This was the best, ever! The only negative is the neighborhood. It is slightly run down and near some industrial plants. This will not stop me from coming back. Valet parking available. I really cannot wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Ro M.

    Unbeatable flavor and service! The waitress described everything like butter melting in your mouth and she was spot on. The chicken parm is a thicker piece of chicken breast unlike some places that pound it thin. But it easily gave way with the slight pressure of a butter knife. The lasagna is like none other with 17 layers of thin noodles and creamy cheese blend. No dry ricotta here. Homemade balsamic dressing is delicious, garlic bread and soups are flavorful too. Everything was served at perfect temperature. The soup and entrees were fresh and hot. The hostess Fran was genuine in conversation, not pushy. Don't let the surrounding area of run down and abandoned buildings turn you away (all too common in Detroit). This diamond in the rough is a must when in Detroit. It is a few minutes down Fort street from the downtown hotel Doubletree that we stayed at.

    (5)

  • Scott M.

    "Pasta made fresh daily"...huh? I replied...I was a poor kid in law school, I didnt realize how big of a deal this was. Giovanni's is a family owed Italian restaurant in Detroit that is one of the cities hidden jewels... Recommended by a number of folks that know good food, I was finally treated to this spot during my 2nd/3rd yr of law school. Phenomenal. The outside of the restaurant gives you no clue to the type of Italian "goodness" thats going to be inside. A bit dilapidated, the structure doesnt do any justice for the food...however, its THESE type of spots that always have the BEST food...and I am completely fine with that.. Inside, its romantic, intimate, and has a very light buzz. They have a pretty good wine/liquor selection, so I definitely recommend getting a bottle of moscato or moscato d'asti to compliment your meal. I had the chicken with lemon/capers...and it was the best I have ever had...additionally, you cant sleep on the calamari which is equally as great. The ambiance, food, and service is impeccable. Because its family owned, there is a great personal touch that each guest feels the moment they walk in the door....this place is special. Definitely a fave'

    (5)

  • john s.

    From the moment you enter till the moment you leave, the owners and staff provide a exceptional dining experience. I have eaten at Giovanni's many times and have never been disappointed with the quality of food, service or ambiance. It has consistently provided a great dining experience with friends or family for 20years!

    (5)

  • Matt S.

    Might not be the best Italian food in the world, but by far one of the better ones in the Detroit area. Top notch service, great menu and full service bar.

    (4)

  • Mike H.

    One of the best Italian restaurants on the planet! Easily the best Italian in Detroit.

    (5)

  • Eric C.

    I read the other reviews and thought this is too good to be true. I was not disappointed , the Lasagna was the best I have ever had. Not as old school as I thought on the inside, I was expecting something more like Roma's (which is also excellent). Service was excellent and knowledgeable. Read the other rave reviews and believe.

    (5)

  • o o.

    Excellent home made yet sophisticated Italian cuisine. Yes, the pasta is made fresh daily. Probably the best calamari in Michigan. Good wine. Good atmosphere but it is more about the food than the setting. A little pricey.

    (5)

  • A C.

    Went again last weekend with a friend and my wife. It was as good as the first time.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Valet
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Dressy
    Ambience : Classy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

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.

Giovanni’s Ristorante

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