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Giovanni's Restorante
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
330 S OakwoodDetroit, MI 48217
Neighbourhood: Southwest Detroit
(313) 841-0122
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat 4 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
35 reviews for Giovanni's Restorante
Review Highlights
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"Yes, the pasta is made fresh daily." In 2 reviews -
"Hands down best Italian food in the state of Michigan." In 5 reviews -
"I echo Scott and Katie, the calamari is phenomenal." In 7 reviews
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Julie F.
5/6/2012
Giovanni's, where have you been all my life? Why have I wasted so much time on substandard Italian food at places like Roma Cafe when you were mere minutes away from midtown? And why don't other Italian restaurants play Berlitz-style "learn Italian" dialogues in their restrooms?
We ended up at Giovanni's after having read about it, but none of us had been there before. What a find. Everything we ate, from the unctuous, garlicky bread to sausage and peppers, minestrone, lemony Caesar salad, veal, eggplant Parmesan, lasagna, and cannoli was a delight, prepared simply but with top-notch ingredients, and clearly homemade. I didn't look closely at the wine list, but my husband was duly impressed, and the Renina Brunello he chose was fan-effing-tastic. Though we rolled in pretty late and pretty casually dressed after a Tiger's game, we were treated like family by valet, hostess and server. I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Juliauna N.
Canton, MI
4/18/2012
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!! -
Review from Kristin G.
Royal Oak, MI
3/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
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.Listed in: Experience Detroit
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Review from Dean C.
Harrison Township, MI
5/10/2012
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.
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Review from Tamara Y.
Belleville, MI
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Giovanni's is one of those places I'd always intended to visit, but never quite got around to it because it was never within the vicinity of anywhere I was going. That all changed recently. If I only knew what I was missing, I would have made special trips. On my knees. Uphill, both ways, in the snow, barefoot, etc.....
Forgoing the appetizer, but not the wine, our meal started out with soup. My hubby had chicken noodle, brimming with homemade pasta, large chunks of chicken, and broth that obviously has never been within 50 feet of a bullion cube. I had minestrone. Both were yummy.
For the entree, I had one of the evening's specials -- veal cheeks, served over polenta with roasted beets and turnips. (Or was it parsnips?) It was the best meal in recent memory. The meat was so tender you could cut it with a Q-tip. The polenta was creamy, dreamy deliciousness, and the roasted vegetables provided a lovely balance. Hubby had the Cannelloni di Carne. Homemade noodles, meaty filling, meaty sauce. Awesome. It made me long for the Italian grandma I never had.
Dessert? Hubby and I shared a slice of lemon torte with shortbread crust. A light, delicious way to end the meal.
The service was very good. We never ONCE had to look around for our waitress. During the meal, the owner came by to see how we were doing. The conversation was easy and her interest was genuine, fussing over the fact that our bread basket was empty. Never mind that we already had three baskets of bread at that point!!
Our bill, including a bottle of wine, was $120 plus gratuity. No complaints in that department either. I've paid more and received less at plenty of other places.
The only down side? There was no downside. It was old-school Italian food done very VERY well. To hell with those chain "faux-talian" restaurants. If you want a top notch, high quality, delicious Italian meal in a comfortable atmosphere, this is the place to go. -
Review from Tracey C.
5/12/2012
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.
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Review from Mike K.
Brighton, MA
1/24/2012
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. -
Review from Katie W.
Detroit, MI
1/22/2012
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 :) -
Review from Dan H.
Cedarburg, WI
3/9/2012
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.
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Review from Ro M.
Elkhart, IN
4/15/2012
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.
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Review from Travis C.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2012
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! -
Review from Wendy C.
8/27/2011
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. -
Review from Viet N.
6/4/2011
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. -
Review from Liz W.
5/29/2011
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. -
Review from Martha V.
Canton, MI
12/18/2011
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.
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Review from Zac K.
Chicago, IL
3/22/2011
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! -
Review from Rebecca B.
Bloomfield Hills, MI
5/23/2011
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. -
Review from Jon J.
Downriver, Detroit, MI
11/15/2011
Simply the best
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Review from Mark D.
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Giovanni's Restorante is a must visit while staying in the Detroit area. There is a reason why Giovanni's is ranked the number one restaurant on Tripadvisor in the Detroit area. To get to Giovanni's you have to drive by an industrial. Area doesn't look so good. Then again you are in Detroit. However Giovanni's has parking security so you can leave your laptop in the car without having to worry if your car will get broken into. While dining at Giovanni's there were a few large groups. Giovanni's seems to be a popular place for business meeting and events. The pictures on display in the waiting area show some celebrities who have recently eaten at Giovanni's. George Clooney was there in November having dinner with his firm crew. I cannot believe I missed him. I would highly recommend making reservations. My colleague Jeff is Italian and hit it off with the owner and her son. The owner is so friendly and wonderful to chat with. Her father originally opened the restaurant. You can see the family pictures on the wall of the restaurant. Don't hesitate to chat with the owner or her son. All the food is locally grown and purchased daily. The paste is also freshly made and has been for years. I ordered the Lasagna. It was layered with freshly made pasta. I believe it had like 15 layers of pasta. Wow I haven't tasted Lasagna like this before. Colleague's ordered the veal and spaghetti. The salads and desert where outstanding. Overall Giovanni's is my favorite restaurant in Detroit. Cannot wait to come back.
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Review from Sruthi R.
Troy, MI
4/21/2011
The whole experience was Great!!!! We were there for our Anniversary and they gave us the place right beside the fire place and the food was so excellent,, they make the best eggplant ever and the fish was amazing,,, and the tiramisu at the end was so so so good it just melted in the mouth..
Can't wait to go back again.... -
Review from Michelle W.
Grand Forks, ND
1/13/2009
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!Listed in: South East Michigan
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Review from Tom S.
Ferndale, MI
8/12/2008
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. -
Review from S F.
Wyandotte, MI
7/29/2011
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. -
Review from Emily D.
Taylor, MI
1/13/2010
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. -
Review from Shane N.
Annapolis, MD
6/8/2010
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. -
Review from Scott M.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2008
"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' -
Review from Dave C.
Detroit, MI
9/23/2009 ROTD 12/23/2009
Detroit Yelpers and everyone else,
You need to know about this place.
All of the pasta is hand-made, fresh right in the restaurant.
You can't find a 5'0" Italian lady standing in the back of the kitchen at just any restaurant. This one is special. The service is extraordinary, food is absolutely some of the best I've had and the decor and ambiance will impress anyone I know. Valet parking is convenient and easy. Its also very relaxed, with most people wearing a collard shit (no tie needed) or, for ladies, a skirt with a sweater.
I'm getting hungry writing this review, but i'll do my best to finish it before I salivate all over my keyboard.
The mild sausage appetizer with yellow and red peppers balances itself perfectly.
The bread is warm, flaky and buttery.
The Brodo was the perfect temperature and the cappellini was spicy and tender.
and then...
Dessert. Dear Jesus - was it good.
Strawberry shortcake, cannolis, creampuffs, Italian wedding cake, lime cheesecake, etc.
Please, treat yourself and others and make your way over to Giovanni's.
5 stars.Listed in: Best of Detroit
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Review from Frank M.
Saline, MI
8/10/2010
My wife and I enjoyed a great evening at Giovannni's. The food was delicious, the prices are fair and the service was exceptional. We both agreed that this is by far the best italian food in the metro area.
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Review from CJ R.
Royal Oak, MI
7/1/2010
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.
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Review from Matt S.
Redford, MI
11/23/2010
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.
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Review from john s.
Troy, MI
1/24/2011
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!
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Review from o o.
Ann Arbor, MI
11/4/2007
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.
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Review from Mike H.
Grosse Pointe, MI
8/21/2011
One of the best Italian restaurants on the planet! Easily the best Italian in Detroit.
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Review from Eric C.
Detroit, MI
1/11/2010
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.
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Review from A C.
Oak Park, MI
Updated - 4/9/2010
Went again last weekend with a friend and my wife. It was as good as the first time.
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2/14/2010
Best Italian my wife wife and I have ever had.
We went there last night for dinner. I had the… Read more »
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