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-   -   Giovanni's (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/restaurant-discussions-90/giovannis-70316/)

lappy50 02-15-2013 11:21 AM

Giovanni's
 
I was in Giovanni's yesterday....great !!! You have to try this place! Great food!

johndamelio 02-16-2013 03:27 PM

Closest thing to NY Italian food I've had in TV.

Madelaine Amee 02-16-2013 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lappy50 (Post 626700)
I was in Giovanni's yesterday....great !!! You have to try this place! Great food!

It's a great little restaurant and the quality has never changed since they opened several years ago. BUT, another one you cannot get into during the "season", so we wait until things quieten down.

Judith Ann 02-16-2013 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lappy50 (Post 626700)
I was in Giovanni's yesterday....great !!! You have to try this place! Great food!

Where is Giovanni's?

Barefoot 02-16-2013 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judith Ann (Post 627372)
Where is Giovanni's?

It's a very busy little restaurant in Southern Trace Plaza on CR 466.

Madelaine Amee 02-16-2013 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judith Ann (Post 627372)
Where is Giovanni's?

Giovanni's is a very quaint, very small, Italian restaurant several stores past Publix in the small mall off 466. I believe it is an Italian run family restaurant.

If you come from South, take B.Vista going north, all the way down to the traffic light at 466, cross 466 onto 101 and take either of the immediate two rights into the Publix shopping area.

Skip2MySue 02-16-2013 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barefoot (Post 627379)
It's a very busy little restaurant in Southern Trace Plaza on CR 466.

Went to Son Rise last night for there new Friday dinners. Great food and great pricing. Not crowded and we got to chat without yelling to each other. We had "Sue's delicious meat loaf" and a prime rib dinner. Looked across the parking lot and people were lined up out the door at Giovanni's.
Skip 2

jbdlfan 02-16-2013 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee (Post 627367)
It's a great little restaurant and the quality has never changed since they opened several years ago. BUT, another one you cannot get into during the "season", so we wait until things quieten down.

We went last night, a Friday night at 6:30. We only had a twenty minute wait! Table for two. I don't think anybody waited past 30 minutes.

TomOB 03-04-2013 12:49 AM

We went to Giovanni's twice. The first time was great, the second not good at all. I look for consistency. Haven't been back.

Patty55 03-04-2013 01:52 AM

Had Giovanni's for the first time last week-was fantastic. Had what they called Luingini Marchearo, all the seafood was perfect, even the calamari.

getdul981 03-04-2013 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomOB (Post 636434)
We went to Giovanni's twice. The first time was great, the second not good at all. I look for consistency. Haven't been back.

What you have to realize is that there is consistency in inconsistency. That's how I play golf. Consistently inconsistent.

JoeC1947 03-04-2013 08:28 AM

Never had a bad experience there.

Charlestown Joe 03-05-2013 05:05 PM

Get there at 4:30 before the crowds...

kittygilchrist 08-21-2013 06:08 AM

I thought it was a nasty place. dirty floors and walls and I was afraid to look in the kitchen.

Trayderjoe 08-21-2013 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist (Post 730468)
I thought it was a nasty place. dirty floors and walls and I was afraid to look in the kitchen.

This is the type of input which I find more valuable than someone's opinion of the food. Is the restaurant clean? Is the service good? Granted, there can be a bit of variability even in answers to those questions (How clean is clean? Is waiting for 15 minutes for a server to appear acceptable to you?, etc.), but I have found significant variability in opinions on food which appear to be based upon personal previous experiences with the cuisine. We have relatives who love Giovanni's, and when we have been there (it has been a while), the service was good, the restaurant was clean (restrooms can tell you a story or two about the upkeep!), but in our OPINION the food was unremarkable. This doesn't make anyone else wrong, it just means that we choose to look elsewhere. And yes, it leaves more open tables for those of you who enjoy the restaurant! :smiley:

AriaGrandparents2013 08-21-2013 07:32 AM

Have been to Giovanni's several times and had enjoyable meals each time.

Madelaine Amee 08-21-2013 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trayderjoe (Post 730501)
And yes, it leaves more open tables for those of you who enjoy the restaurant! :smiley:

How true! We enjoy the restaurant, the atmosphere, the servers and the food. As for dirty and nasty - there are plenty of other places to eat in TV so if you think it's nasty and dirty, just don't go back to Giovanni's.

kittygilchrist 08-21-2013 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee (Post 730544)
How true! We enjoy the restaurant, the atmosphere, the servers and the food. As for dirty and nasty - there are plenty of other places to eat in TV so if you think it's nasty and dirty, just don't go back to Giovanni's.

needless to say, I didn't enjoy my food the first time and won't go back. thanks for the suggestion though.

Bill32 08-22-2013 09:21 PM

Their Penne Giovanni and Linguini red clam sauce are delicious! Good lasagna also.....

rubicon 08-23-2013 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist (Post 730468)
I thought it was a nasty place. dirty floors and walls and I was afraid to look in the kitchen.

Hi kitty: I was surprised to read your comments. Don't know what you saw and I am not implying that you are wrong, but two restaurants who always are given clean bills of health by the Health Dept are Giovanni's and Son Rise Café.

Giovanni emigrated from Naples, Italy and has built a good reputation for the quality of his food and his cleanliness. I favor many of his dishes because they come close to those of my Neapolitan parents . I say close because no one can replace mama's cooking:D

Ciao

kittygilchrist 08-23-2013 06:26 AM

Rubicon, I don't want anybody to stop eating there because I didn't like it...call me a germophobe!
I saw what appeared to be old spatters on the wall beside my booth and numerous bits of trash on the floor beside the table. Maybe they had a bad day. Having unclean surfaces on both sides of me was a bit much.

Snookie 08-28-2013 03:33 PM

Giovanni's is the best

kittygilchrist 08-28-2013 08:44 PM

Well guys, you make me want to try it again. I am glad you're loving it.

Jwatk 08-29-2013 10:42 PM

Try Papa Joe.s in Brooksville. Yummy. Great place to go if your going in or out of Tampa airport.

profession 05-15-2015 10:41 AM

It's taken me 30 years in Michigan to find pizza as good as Rizzi's in Akron,Ohio. I found it at Giovanni's!! Pepperoni, mushrooms, and sausage. Every Saturday. Try it; you'll love it.

Cajulian 05-15-2015 11:55 AM

It's my favorite for the past two years. It comes the closest to what I am used to from NY and from my own Italian family. I continue to try all that open up in our area, but always favor Giovanni's.

HimandMe 05-15-2015 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip2MySue (Post 627386)
Went to Son Rise last night for there new Friday dinners. Great food and great pricing. Not crowded and we got to chat without yelling to each other. We had "Sue's delicious meat loaf" and a prime rib dinner. Looked across the parking lot and people were lined up out the door at Giovanni's.
Skip 2

Re: not yelling at each other...we walk right out if it is so loud you can hardly hear yourself...migraine territory.:agree:

Barefoot 05-15-2015 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by profession (Post 1060540)
It's taken me 30 years in Michigan to find pizza as good as Rizzi's in Akron,Ohio. I found it at Giovanni's!! Pepperoni, mushrooms, and sausage. Every Saturday. Try it; you'll love it.

I do like Giovanni's a lot. Not their pizza though.
Since I order my pizza with double mushrooms, I was disappointed to find that they use canned mushrooms rather than fresh.

rubicon 05-15-2015 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barefoot (Post 1060781)
I do like Giovanni's a lot. Not their pizza though.
Since I order my pizza with double mushrooms, I was disappointed to find that they use canned mushrooms rather than fresh.

Hi Barefoot: My wife makes pizza from scratch. She normally uses fresh mushrooms but periodically runs out and substitute canned. I actually like the flavor and texture of canned on pizza.

Personal Best Regards:

Marka 05-18-2015 05:30 AM

Best Italian found

CFrance 05-18-2015 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by profession (Post 1060540)
It's taken me 30 years in Michigan to find pizza as good as Rizzi's in Akron,Ohio. I found it at Giovanni's!! Pepperoni, mushrooms, and sausage. Every Saturday. Try it; you'll love it.

You found good pizza in MI? It must have been on the east side of the state.:(

EnglishJW 10-08-2015 08:01 AM

Not for us
 
After reading many nice things about Giovanni's, we finally went there for dinner. We enjoyed the look and feel of the place once inside. It had a simple charm. Service was friendly and prompt. There were plenty of choices. Unfortunately, neither my wife nor I enjoyed our meals. She had a combination plate of things to get an idea of how different meals tasted. Unfortunately, everything on her dish was smothered in the same sauce and the individual parts of the meals were hidden below (and blended together in taste as a result). My meal was both bland and heavy. We won't go back. On the other hand, most people were ordering pizza and they seemed to be enjoying it. That might have been a better choice.

Bogie Shooter 10-08-2015 12:21 PM

Never had a bad anything there.

rubicon 10-08-2015 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 1126085)
Never had a bad anything there.

Ditto: I am reluctant to eat out and seldom do but I never was disappointed with a meal from Giovanni's and I've eaten there a dozen times at least.

maryanna630 10-08-2015 09:40 PM

I agree with Rubicon and Bogie. We like Giovannis. There eggplant parmigiana is really good and we really like their pizza. Some other choices not so much but we like the down home, local southern italian feel.
We do like the chicken parmagiana at The Chefs of Napoli and Bravo has good pizza but no ambiance and wouldn't get any other dish there. My husband's brooklyn old time marinara sauce is the best, but it is a lot of prep. We like to serve it with sweet sausage (butterflied and grilled well) from Fresh Market and broccoli rabe sauteed with garlic (lots). This will keep your immune system perking'!!
We always make enough to freeze for at least four meals.

maryanna630 10-08-2015 09:56 PM

So sorry...their not there...yeesh!

rubicon 10-09-2015 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maryanna630 (Post 1126390)
I agree with Rubicon and Bogie. We like Giovannis. There eggplant parmigiana is really good and we really like their pizza. Some other choices not so much but we like the down home, local southern italian feel.
We do like the chicken parmagiana at The Chefs of Napoli and Bravo has good pizza but no ambiance and wouldn't get any other dish there. My husband's brooklyn old time marinara sauce is the best, but it is a lot of prep. We like to serve it with sweet sausage (butterflied and grilled well) from Fresh Market and broccoli rabe sauteed with garlic (lots). This will keep your immune system perking'!!
We always make enough to freeze for at least four meals.

Hi maryanna: chicken parmigiana my wife's go to dish when she is out. Giovanni's marinara sauce is descent . My wife makes a sausage and broccoli rabe with bowties and a white sauce that I like we also substitute spinach with it.

Walter123 10-09-2015 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubicon (Post 1126411)
Hi maryanna: chicken parmigiana my wife's go to dish when she is out. Giovanni's marinara sauce is descent . My wife makes a sausage and broccoli rabe with bowties and a white sauce that I like we also substitute spinach with it.

Chicken parm you taste so gooooooood.

The Baxters 11-09-2015 09:47 AM

Best Italian and our favorite overall restaurant in The Villages.

VILLAGERBB 12-24-2015 07:28 AM

Delicious!
 
Delicious!


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