Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant
1178 Woodruff Rd,Ste 4, Greenville, SC, 29607
Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant Menu
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Pizza
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Wings
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Sandwich
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Pizza
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Wings
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Sandwich
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Visit below restaurant in Greenville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1178 Woodruff Rd,Ste 4
Greenville, SC, 29607 - Phone (864) 297-0999
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Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
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.
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Todd D.
Hands down the best meatballs that I've ever had! They do not serve meatballs as an appetizer as another reviewer stated. We had 3 entrees and all were amazing!
(5)Dr. N.
Having recently move from a city where you can good, authentic Italian food all over, I can be very picky about Italian food...but this place does it pretty well. It is one of the very few places I go for Italian in Greenville.
(4)Rob D.
Visited Giovanni's based on the good reviews but left feeling disappointed. The portions were big but it was as if there was no seasoning. The food was very bland!
(1)James K.
The positive reviews were accurate. Great food and the father and son were extremely welcoming. I will definitely go back again. Veal parm was amazing! Meatballs were huge and perfectly cooked. Large portions and very reasonably priced!
(5)G T.
we had to wait for our food to come out but it was well worth the wait. Very good food, good service, small restaurant. we will come back to eat there again.
(5)Joey N.
Pasta was excellent and reasonably priced, love how they gave us so much sauce so we could dip the bread in it too! They also gave us bruschetta on the house, more salty than I would prefer but still tasted great. The meal also came very quickly. Draw backs - Kind of hard to find, very small, only about 10 tables (it's a little loud when there were people all around), we were lucky that we went at around 9pm so we didn't really have to wait for seats! Small selection on the menu, top 2 dishes I wanted on the menu were not available =( I would recommend this place for people going to Greenville!
(5)Sarah C.
When I walked in with my mother we were a bit worried because we are on a very tight budget. When the owner found out we were only ordering soup/salad he brought us extra and made sure we didnt have to worry about the bill. I have to say this almost made me cry & restored some of my lost faith in humanity. The staff is beyond nice & I will always recommended coming here. You can't beat amazing people with food to match.
(5)Liz H.
If you are looking for a fantastic, hole-in-the-wall, delicious italian place in Greenville you've found it. The place isn't much from the outside but inside you will find a small, very charming, very busy restaurant. Everyone starts with a few pieces of bruschetta at the table, which is salty, oily, bready, and pure yumminess. We ordered fried mozzarella as an appetizer which was actual fresh pieces of mozzarella, breaded and fried and served with their house marinara sauce. For dinner, I had the spicy sausage ravioli in gorgonzola tomato sauce and my old man had creamy chicken marsala. Both were amazing but the sausage ravioli was very special and OH MY GOODNESS would I kill to eat some more for breakfast. Needless to say, it all got eaten. The only drawback is that this is not a place to go if you are in a hurry. It takes a while for this magic to happen. But don't let that stop you from going. By the way, we got there at 5:30 pm (we were hungry! Don't judge!) and it was already almost full. By 6 pm there was a wait. Make sure you plan accordingly!
(5)Matt T.
Disappointing, given the reviews both on Yelp and from regulars, while we were waiting in line. The flavors were ok, but we felt they should have been better given price and other dining options.
(3)Nate M.
Great food and service, driven by the place so many times and never gave it a thought.
(4)Shan C.
Giovanni's is small in size but the atmosphere is wonderful. The food is excellent. The staff is very attentive and the overall dining experience could not be any better. We really love this place.
(5)Christian F.
Il padrone è italiano. Il cibo è molto buono. Food was great. Tight seating but very comfortable and clean. Worth the wait (If needed).
(5)jessica r.
My rating is 4.5 (almost as good as it gets!) (because I was craving eggplant and it was not an option). Well I must say although I did not think I was in Boston's North End, Greenville's Southeast End sure delivered! YUM! I think it took me about 20 minutes to decide what I wanted because the menu offers everything. I was about to special order (tweek something) but then I followed my gut and went for the mussels in the Giovanni seafood sauce (a superb brothy tomatoey slightly spicy rich deliciousness!). I was very happy with my choice. I also enjoyed a homeade caesar. I really appreciate a unique homeade caesar dressing. The bruschetta was a nice addition, and the bread served with the meal was perfect to sop up the extra deliciousness of the sauce. One very nice addition that I must thank my servers for was the free vino! AWESOME! I did remind them that I did not see it listed on my bill. What generosity.
(4)Shannon D.
If you want Italian food...Italian that dosent include a never-ending bowl of salad and breadsticks...but actual GOOD Italian food, made by people who know what their doing...this is the place!! It's small...and there arent many tables...but its worth waiting for! Service is great...and there are always a ton of specials outside of the standard menu...wine selection isnt huge, but the owner is great at suggesting ones that will meet your needs!
(5)Matt W.
Best Italian food I've had in Greenville. Very authentic "hole in the wall". The host is great, hard to understand (heavy Italian accent) but very entertaining. Went here with some friends late on a Friday, service was quick, although I hear sometimes it can take a while, but well worth it! Bread is toasted just right, plus delicious brochette (free!) I got the meat ravioli which was excellent. Friends got chicken marsala (huge serving) and gnocchi w/alfredo. Prices weren't bad either! Will definitely go back!
(5)Aaron C.
When I go out to eat, typically Italian is not on the top of the list. This place may change that!.. Its reasonably priced but phenomenal food! Great service, in a very small but quaint setting! I loved this place!
(5)Bob H.
This is our favorite "go to" place for a great dinner and evening out. The food is freshly prepared so the wait is a little longer but it is well worth it. Gabriel and his family do a great job making you feel welcome. He has a very good selection of reasonably priced red wines to complement your meal.
(5)Tonya A.
We were in Greenville with my daughters soccer team. They had a late game Saturday night. I called Giovanni's and spoke with Gabriel about catering dinner for the team and parents. He prepared an amazing dinner of tortellini with pink sauce, baked chicken, salad, bread and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. I can't wait to go in for dinner!
(5)Lesley M.
Best Italian IN GREENVILLE S.C. for sure! I will be back. Scallop and Shrimp in red sauce! yum yum
(5)Ashley A.
Very small, noisy eatery in a strip mall on Woodruff. The owner is also the host and we have seen him turn parties away after they have been waiting for quite a while, simply because the restaurant can not handle the traffic. That aside, if you are fortunate enough to make it in early and snag a seat, order a pasta special! Their homemade ravioli is always delicious.
(4)Ray G.
Great atmosphere, wonderful food and very friendly and attentive staff. The owner takes time to talk with all the guest. It is small with about a dozen tables, but that is part of what I liked about it. Noise level low and no one is rushing you to leave.
(4)Julie W.
Very small restaurant so you do have to wait for a table but it is worth the wait! The staff is very attentive and the food is delicious. Great date night location!
(5)Keri C.
Giovanni's was excellent. The shrimp and scallop in gorgonzola cream sauce was delicious!!! The atmosphere reminded me of an Italian restaurant in Boston.....authentic cuisine and Italian wait staff.
(5)Sharp H.
What a surprise to find this on Woodruff Road! If you live in Greenville you've probably passed this place by a couple of dozen times (at five miles an hour if it was at rush hour) and had no idea it existed. Once you get inside it's like being in Greenville's Little Italy. Great food and great atmosphere; I haven't seen it crowded despite its small size, and you can just hang out and forget you're on the East Side for a while. Highly recommended.
(5)Beth G.
A small Italian restaurant with excellent food. It's a very unique dining experience. I look forward to the owner reading you the long list of specials in a very thick Italian accent, listen carefully you only hear it once! There is no wine list just tell him what you want to drink and he will recommend something. I try something new everytime my husband and I dine here. The bruschetta that's brought to the table is very tasty. The prices are reasonable and you won't go home hungry!
(4)Jay B.
Excellent menu, service, and food! It is hard to find really good Italian food but this place has it. Limited seating. Reasonably priced. I love it and will be back..
(5)Sam S.
Small and very friendly. Great service and the food was the best Italian I have had in Greenville. Great date place especially considering it was not expensive. I would go back and recommend without hesitation!
(5)Marcia M.
I was as a single woman discriminated against at this restaurant. I was in Greenville on business and tried dining here on a week night; only one table in the restaurant had diners I asked to sit in a booth the server he insisted I sit at a small table for two and keep the booths for other people. I was the only other person there, and unless they were expecting people to come in suddenly at 6:30 PM and fill all the booths there was no reason for his rudeness & insistence of taking the smaller table but when I pulled the small table out from the wall to sit down, he told me I had an attitude, I couldn't believe a "waiter" was talking to me like this, when he went on to inform me he had been there for fourteen years which I didn't really care to hear it had no bearing on why he was being so rude, I walked out. I will never go back and I hope he learns as he matures and grows up that he will not retain the business they have with an " Attitude" as bad as his. I've already informed many of my clients in the area and will continue to let them know not to go there if they don't have at least two people in their party. Unbelievable!!
(1)Bill Y.
Got to the restaurant at 5pm on a Saturday. Several couples were waiting for the door to open. It's a small place with about a dozen tables. We had some bruschetta to start the meal. We tried an Insalata di Casa and a calamari appetizer. The spicy appetizer was outstanding. Next we had the lasagna al Forno and sausage ravioli. This was an excellent meal and we will come again!
(5)Keisha B.
This quaint and cozy restaurant is the epitome of an Italian eatery. Family owned and run. The food is divine and the atmosphere is wonderful. I had the calamari and mussels over spaghetti. Delicious. The bruschetta is the best I've ever tasted. I am here in Greenville for my birthday and will definitely be back.
(5)Wes S.
My wife and I finally ventured into this little secluded restaurant only to enjoy an impeccable meal! She had spaghetti with meatballs while I dined on hot zity! We had heard so much about this place and we were not disappointed in the least bit!
(5)Robert R.
Excellent food. By far the best Italian I have had in Greenville. I had sausage tortellini in a creamy, spicy sauce. My wife had eggplant Parmesan and spaghetti. Everything we had seemed fresh and made in-house that day. Friendly, warm service from the owner himself; if it's the same experience we had, he'll greet you; chat a bit about different things; and then get your drink order, and unless you want to chat again, he'll leave you be.
(5)Arielle S.
We had a great time. Excellent food. Cozy restaurant. I had the eggplant parmigiana which was amazing. Excellent wine choices and their tiramisu is to die for. There was a line waiting and what I noticed is the staff does not rush their customers to get them out.
(5)Betsy S.
A great little place to dine. Had the lobster ravioli, with the Giovannis red sauce, it was very tasty! I agree with other post, the Bruschetta was the best I have had in all my travels, warm, and crisp but not hard like most restaurants serve.
(4)Ellen R.
The food was delicious! From the bruschetta they bring as an appetizer to the main meal! We had the spinach ravioli and tortellini pink. Everything was delicious. Our friends live here and were ecstatic to finally find a place with good Italian food! The restaurant seems a bit unorganized. They don't take names, you just have to wait in line. There were about 4 different people coming to our table throughout the meal and we were asked at least 4 times if we wanted dessert and if everything was okay. This probably wouldn't stop me from coming back, but it could get messy on a busy night.
(4)Dale M.
By far best Italian food in the area... growing up in an Italian city one gets spoiled recommend to anyone... they will do take out but only if your order at the store and pay.
(5)Jill B.
Why have I not been going here? Best Italian in Greenville by far. Probably the best food period. No reservations taken, so be prepared to wait standing up in a small space, but it's worth it. Old school Italian at its finest. We enjoyed talking to the owner who took our order and took his time chatting with all customers. My only complaint is the wine by the glass. There was one Chardonnay choice, and it wasn't the best. I'll take the Woodbridge, though, if I get the quality meal we experienced last night.
(5)James N.
Outstanding, just outstanding. The food, service and atmosphere are all excellent. I had the Shrimp Parmesan and it was simply delicious. Jumbo shrimp with homemade everything else. The owner is personally involved with your entire dining experience. I'm from out of town but they made me feel welcome. Oh, and did I mention the prices are very reasonable. Can't go wrong with Giovanni's.
(5)Tom D.
My colleague at our Greenville site told me about this amazing Italian restaurant and I really had high hopes of giving it a 5 star - it's been awhile since a place received one from me and this was an Italian mom and pop place so it really had my hope up high! We were lucky or privileged to get two tables to sit all eight of us, but whatever the case may be - we had no waiting for our table. And from that moment on - it wasn't a meal - it was an experience! Our servers were the owner and his son - it was if they both were our servers and though I didn't catch his dad's name - the son's name is Sebastian - so here's a shout out to him. He was a fantastic server with personality plus - nothing against his dad, but at times it was hard to make out every word his dad spoke, but he was certainly very charming and I felt almost like family - maybe because I'm Italian it was easy to feel at home! The menu was extensive, but it wasn't overwhelming - problem was - everything sounded good and they didn't have a huge sampling meal. I selected the Hot Ziti along with another colleague and the other two at our table selected the Sea Bass and I believe the veal dish. NO ONE complained - in fact there wasn't much talking while eating - it was that good. However, Sebastian's "HOT" must be far hotter then mine because the hot Ziti had more kick then he said. BUT - I loved it - and knew I wasn't eating something great when I began to sweat - now THAT's Italian! Then came desert - homemade Tiramisu - my son actually makes the best I've ever had, but this one was so different then his - it was the best I've had like this - wasn't quite as sweet nor was it as light as my son's, but it was equally good and a nice change of pace from typical tiramisu! Pricing - I'm not too sure what the total came to, because the other table ordered a very pricey bottle of wine. However, the prices on the menu for most all of the meal selections were reasonable. They also do a good job paring up the meal to wine and beer and the menu - and you can always ask them what they think would be a good choice too! Because I include cleanliness in my reviews - I must comment on this place - very clean - yes including the bathrooms. The entire place was decorated decently, but the bathroom impressed me - not one single mark of graffiti and yet the smallest of details I did notice. In order to conserve on energy and be sustainable - the hot water selection in the sink wasn't available, but by NO means did that distract me from a 5 star rating. This mom and pop - family owned place it top notch and I'd recommend to everyone to stop in. There is plenty of parking - it's easy to find and get to (inside a plaza type area) and they accept credit cards and have morals. Of course - if you are an idiot - expect to be thrown out - I applaud them for not putting up with arrogant idiots and allowing us to enjoy our experience!
(5)Amy H.
Pasta Fresca with creamy tomato gorgonzola sauce. Bruscetta. Veal Saltimbocca. Shrimp and scallops with red seafood sauce over gnocchi. Need. I. Say. More. Added bonus... The owner Gabrielle is phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. Highly recommended!
(5)Leigh B.
I wish we had found out about Giovanni's sooner. Don't be put off by the strip mall location. I love the old-school Italian ambiance (nothing fancy) and delicious food. The owner is very nice and hospitable - tell him your budget and he will select you a lovely bottle of wine. They serve complimentary bruschetta before your meal, too.
(5)keeley m.
Best Italian in Gville (verified by my Italian husband, and the fact that we just relocated from Manhattan). The fruit de mare is sensational, and the bruschetta is a nice touch.
(5)Lori A.
Its too bad in order to review a place you have to give at least a one star. The food was not all that and service could be better. Very small cramped restaurant. There are better places to eat "Authentic Italian Food". I would not recommend this place and would not be coming back here with my friends either. The place is not kid friendly either, so if you have kids, forget about it. It will be an issue.
(1)Mark S.
The real deal! You'd be lucky to find this restaurant in the big, big city.... but there you are in South Carolina-a-a! Of course driving there on Woodruff will make you think you're stuck in the L-A gridlock. Great service by the owner, and he is a trip! The sauce was unique and fantastic, non bland like you'll usually find. Our dinner for 2 cost about $53... Bruschetta, Lobster ravioli, lasagna, one salad, mozzarella marinara, one glass of wine. The owner is big on wine and he's sure to have a special deal for you, for a case. We heard him dealing wine with the couple dining next to us. Don't let the strip mall location throw you, and the place is pretty small... things could get crowded for sure... Can't believe Giovanni's is in Greenville! Great Italian food!
(4)John C.
I saw Rob D's review. It's completely off-base unless, perhaps, he happened to show up in the cook's night off. We had dinner there for the first time a couple of weeks ago... It was excellent. If anything, there was a bit more 'flavor' than we had bargained for. Unless you really want to feel the burn, think twice about asking for your dish 'spicy'. Great food, great atmosphere, great staff. Pay no attention to Rob D.
(4)Clark W.
This is a great little Italian restaurant with great food and service. Very prompt and proper service, just as important, the food was absolutely delicious. A bottle of wine always helps the equation!! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Steve S.
Mussels were good for an appetizer, bruschetta was very good, salad was very good, veal parm fair (marinara too sweet for my taste), pasta aglio olio fair. Wine by the glass was served out of airplane sized bottles - strange. Small place, very busy, service was good. It was pretty good but I was hoping for better based on the previous Yelp reviews. I don't think I'd go out of my way to go back.
(3)Jim W.
Well, it has a 4.5 overall rating for a reason. If you're looking for Italian food in a great atmosphere, then this is the place to go. The owner is very welcoming and it's like he's inviting you into his home for a meal. You can tell he loves what he does and he's passionate about his food. Combine that passion with the talent to back it up, and you've got Giovanni's. It's a delicious meal and a great experience. I recommend it for a romantic date night!
(5)Ashley R.
The food was amazing! I travel to NYC quite a bit for work and have had some great Italian food over the years. It is nice to have a place that compares to my travel experience right here at home. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Michelle C.
Awesome! Great wine bottle prices. Lots of menu options. The food was fresh and delicious. I had Sea Bass Picatta (prepared gluten free) my boyfriend had the lasagna both were fantastic. I took a bite of his without the noodle - I can only imagine how good it is with it.
(5)Merry D.
The owner is a charming Italian man who gives very personal service to his customers. We enjoyed a wonderful array of food and a great wine. Yes, we had to wait 90 min(we went to the gross pub in the same plaza to wait, ew) because the space is tiny, and we had 5 in our party. "Worth the wait" is an understatement. The gnocchi are light and fluffy. Sauces were fantastic. Veal was TENDER and flavorful. Chicken lasagna(a special) was excellent, very different. Even a basic like fettucini alfredo with chicken was outstanding. No thick goopy bland sauce-it was light and parmesan-y. Eggplant parm was excellent. A tough dish to pull off-but it was perfect. Their marinara has a little spice and is not acidic. They had a very large specials menu, plus items not listed. We didn't get to try dessert(had to run) but the owner would not let me take a cannoli to go "you have to eat it right after it's filled". Respect the cannoli, people! One person in our party is 1/2 Italian, 2nd generation, and he was in heaven. Recommend the Mazzi Amarone 2009.
(5)Amanda G.
Awful. Took over an hour for our food and it wasn't that good. Expensive for what It was.
(1)Jerrica S.
By far my favorite Italian restaurant in greenville. It's very quant and intimate. The owner is very hands on and is from Italy. It's better than the Italian restaurant that I ate at in little Italy in Baltimore. Great place and highly recommended
(5)Laura J.
Bruschetta, lobster ravioli, tiramisu.... best authentic Italian in Greenville, hands-down. Don't let the location's exterior fool you. This place is worth the wait. The service was excellent. Reasonably priced and worth every penny.
(5)Matt K.
This place is amazing! Order the meat balls a la carte for an appetizer. It's not on the menu, but just trust me on this one!
(5)Katherine B.
This is a quaint little restaurant and the ambiance is perfect. The "a la carte" meatball appetizer discussed in a previous review is not actually available. The owner says people ask about it often but it does not actually exist. The fried mozzarella appetizer was awesome. My family had the chicken Parmesan, fettuccini Alfredo and lobster ravioli. Our food was delicious! We will be Coming back again!
(4)TOM S.
My wife and I ate here last night and consistent with other postings, experienced slow service. A head-scratcher was that we ordered wine by the glass and that took the form of the waiter bringing airplane size bottles to us. Not a nice touch. Now that the negatives are out of the way, the food was truly excellent. My wife had a seafood medley and I had the chicken piccata. Both were very good and it was evident the pasta was homemade and not overcooked (often the problem). Seafood was tender and done properly. Chicken the same. Highly recommend this restaurant if you have the time.
(4)Carol B.
Great,excellent,delicious. What else can I say. Four of us went to Giovanni's for dinner 10/18 and everything was perfect as it usually is.
(5)John C.
Isn't it great when you find an new restaurant that is a hidden treasure! Small family run places are always about quality food and personal attention to the customer. That is what you will find at Giovanni's. From the personal greeting by the owner to the prompt wait staff, this place is a real gem that is hard to find. I had the sausage raviolli with gorganzola sauce which was wonderful. My only complaint was the Tiramisu - while it was homemade I thought it had too much Mascarpone and not enough cocoa sprinkled on it.
(5)Mike K.
Awesome food, order meat balls ala carte. You won't be disappointed. Just say to the owner Gratzi he will answer "prego"
(5)Beth W.
Great great great. Ate there twice when in town and would go again. Owner is super and everything is made in house. Small and intimate. Must try the ravioli. Can't decide on which sauce.
(5)Arielle S.
We had a great time. Excellent food. Cozy restaurant. I had the eggplant parmigiana which was amazing. Excellent wine choices and their tiramisu is to die for. There was a line waiting and what I noticed is the staff does not rush their customers to get them out.
(5)Betsy S.
A great little place to dine. Had the lobster ravioli, with the Giovannis red sauce, it was very tasty! I agree with other post, the Bruschetta was the best I have had in all my travels, warm, and crisp but not hard like most restaurants serve.
(4)Ashley R.
The food was amazing! I travel to NYC quite a bit for work and have had some great Italian food over the years. It is nice to have a place that compares to my travel experience right here at home. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Michelle C.
Awesome! Great wine bottle prices. Lots of menu options. The food was fresh and delicious. I had Sea Bass Picatta (prepared gluten free) my boyfriend had the lasagna both were fantastic. I took a bite of his without the noodle - I can only imagine how good it is with it.
(5)Merry D.
The owner is a charming Italian man who gives very personal service to his customers. We enjoyed a wonderful array of food and a great wine. Yes, we had to wait 90 min(we went to the gross pub in the same plaza to wait, ew) because the space is tiny, and we had 5 in our party. "Worth the wait" is an understatement. The gnocchi are light and fluffy. Sauces were fantastic. Veal was TENDER and flavorful. Chicken lasagna(a special) was excellent, very different. Even a basic like fettucini alfredo with chicken was outstanding. No thick goopy bland sauce-it was light and parmesan-y. Eggplant parm was excellent. A tough dish to pull off-but it was perfect. Their marinara has a little spice and is not acidic. They had a very large specials menu, plus items not listed. We didn't get to try dessert(had to run) but the owner would not let me take a cannoli to go "you have to eat it right after it's filled". Respect the cannoli, people! One person in our party is 1/2 Italian, 2nd generation, and he was in heaven. Recommend the Mazzi Amarone 2009.
(5)Amanda G.
Awful. Took over an hour for our food and it wasn't that good. Expensive for what It was.
(1)Jerrica S.
By far my favorite Italian restaurant in greenville. It's very quant and intimate. The owner is very hands on and is from Italy. It's better than the Italian restaurant that I ate at in little Italy in Baltimore. Great place and highly recommended
(5)Chuck N.
This was our second visit to the place and once again it was utter perfection! I had a more traditional dish this time -- spaghetti with Italian sausage. It was very good...very good indeed. My dinner date had lasagna -- also very good. Overall experience = excellent!
(4)Tj R.
EXCELLENT all around. Personal service from the owner. I asked if it was his restaurant, and he replied "and yours..." So awesome. Quaint, romantic atmosphere. And the food...so so good. We will definitely be return patrons here!
(5)Wes S.
My wife and I finally ventured into this little secluded restaurant only to enjoy an impeccable meal! She had spaghetti with meatballs while I dined on hot zity! We had heard so much about this place and we were not disappointed in the least bit!
(5)Robert R.
Excellent food. By far the best Italian I have had in Greenville. I had sausage tortellini in a creamy, spicy sauce. My wife had eggplant Parmesan and spaghetti. Everything we had seemed fresh and made in-house that day. Friendly, warm service from the owner himself; if it's the same experience we had, he'll greet you; chat a bit about different things; and then get your drink order, and unless you want to chat again, he'll leave you be.
(5)Arielle S.
We had a great time. Excellent food. Cozy restaurant. I had the eggplant parmigiana which was amazing. Excellent wine choices and their tiramisu is to die for. There was a line waiting and what I noticed is the staff does not rush their customers to get them out.
(5)Betsy S.
A great little place to dine. Had the lobster ravioli, with the Giovannis red sauce, it was very tasty! I agree with other post, the Bruschetta was the best I have had in all my travels, warm, and crisp but not hard like most restaurants serve.
(4)Guy L.
If you are in the mood for delicious Italian food look no further. I had the distinct pleasure of being in Greenville for business and I must first thank my fellow yelpers for giving the reviews that encouraged me to give Giovanni's a try. I had the Hot Ziti with sausage and it was stellar the sausage was truly delicious, the sauce was the perfect blend of seasoned bliss. The only problem is I feel like I took advantage of them. This dish deserves to be more than the 11.95ish price that is. The only reason that I chose not to give 5 stars is the service was a little slow. Perhaps it was that I arrived at 8pm or maybe it's the norm I can't say. Aside from that AMAZING!!!!
(4)Chrissy D.
We were visiting from out of town, I looked online for dinner suggestions near our hotel that was not a chain restaurant. So glad we found Giovanni's. Food was excellent. We always have such a hard time finding real veal Parmesan for my husband. They had it and he loved it . Shrimp and Scallops in creamy tomato sauce is excellent... no tiny shrimp to search for here.. nice big FRESH shrimp :). Nice menu selection. If you were not looking for this place you would drive right past it. We will definitely eat here again when we are back in town. Staff was personal and kept checking on us.
(4)Richard G.
The complementary bruschetta appeared simple but delivered a wonderfully complex flavor. Smoked salmon appetizer was light and fresh with a buttery texture to the salmon and fresh crunchy lettuce. I had the scallops and shrimp with a spicy spaghetti sauce and perfectly cooked noodles. Quite spivey and richly flavored. My wife enjoyed her spinach tortellini and chicken with Alfredo sauce, rich without being heavy. An intimate romantic feel to the restaurant combined for an exceptional dining experience.
(5)Mike A.
Simple....DELICIOUS!!! Try the Lasagna or the spaghetti with meat sauce, yummy!! Good, not great wine list, but worth a glass if grapes nonetheless.
(5)Chuck N.
This was our second visit to the place and once again it was utter perfection! I had a more traditional dish this time -- spaghetti with Italian sausage. It was very good...very good indeed. My dinner date had lasagna -- also very good. Overall experience = excellent!
(4)Tj R.
EXCELLENT all around. Personal service from the owner. I asked if it was his restaurant, and he replied "and yours..." So awesome. Quaint, romantic atmosphere. And the food...so so good. We will definitely be return patrons here!
(5)Kitty W.
Having lived most of my life in or around NYC, I know good Italian food. Giovanni's is good Italian food. It is family run and all the food is made to order, which means there is a wait to get your entree, but you can make that bearable by ordering an appetizer to share. I had the Saltimbocca Di Vitello which is veal, sage and prosciutto with a side of pasta. My husband had veal parmesan. Besides the regular menu, there are specials which I look forward to trying. Just remember that this is not fast food, but well worth the wait.
(5)Anthony B.
Small family owned restaurant the calamari in red was fantastic. The bread is the best I've had in Greenville.
(4)Dani M.
Very good and delicious food I recommend this italian restaurant Great service five *****
(5)Michelle I.
Delicious, authentic Italian cuisine cooked to perfection and blasting with flavor. If you're a merlot fan, the bottle of North Star is a must. Delicious.
(5)Katherine B.
This is a quaint little restaurant and the ambiance is perfect. The "a la carte" meatball appetizer discussed in a previous review is not actually available. The owner says people ask about it often but it does not actually exist. The fried mozzarella appetizer was awesome. My family had the chicken Parmesan, fettuccini Alfredo and lobster ravioli. Our food was delicious! We will be Coming back again!
(4)TOM S.
My wife and I ate here last night and consistent with other postings, experienced slow service. A head-scratcher was that we ordered wine by the glass and that took the form of the waiter bringing airplane size bottles to us. Not a nice touch. Now that the negatives are out of the way, the food was truly excellent. My wife had a seafood medley and I had the chicken piccata. Both were very good and it was evident the pasta was homemade and not overcooked (often the problem). Seafood was tender and done properly. Chicken the same. Highly recommend this restaurant if you have the time.
(4)Laura J.
Bruschetta, lobster ravioli, tiramisu.... best authentic Italian in Greenville, hands-down. Don't let the location's exterior fool you. This place is worth the wait. The service was excellent. Reasonably priced and worth every penny.
(5)Matt K.
This place is amazing! Order the meat balls a la carte for an appetizer. It's not on the menu, but just trust me on this one!
(5)Carol B.
Great,excellent,delicious. What else can I say. Four of us went to Giovanni's for dinner 10/18 and everything was perfect as it usually is.
(5)John C.
Isn't it great when you find an new restaurant that is a hidden treasure! Small family run places are always about quality food and personal attention to the customer. That is what you will find at Giovanni's. From the personal greeting by the owner to the prompt wait staff, this place is a real gem that is hard to find. I had the sausage raviolli with gorganzola sauce which was wonderful. My only complaint was the Tiramisu - while it was homemade I thought it had too much Mascarpone and not enough cocoa sprinkled on it.
(5)Mike K.
Awesome food, order meat balls ala carte. You won't be disappointed. Just say to the owner Gratzi he will answer "prego"
(5)Beth W.
Great great great. Ate there twice when in town and would go again. Owner is super and everything is made in house. Small and intimate. Must try the ravioli. Can't decide on which sauce.
(5)Todd D.
Hands down the best meatballs that I've ever had! They do not serve meatballs as an appetizer as another reviewer stated. We had 3 entrees and all were amazing!
(5)Dr. N.
Having recently move from a city where you can good, authentic Italian food all over, I can be very picky about Italian food...but this place does it pretty well. It is one of the very few places I go for Italian in Greenville.
(4)Rob D.
Visited Giovanni's based on the good reviews but left feeling disappointed. The portions were big but it was as if there was no seasoning. The food was very bland!
(1)James K.
The positive reviews were accurate. Great food and the father and son were extremely welcoming. I will definitely go back again. Veal parm was amazing! Meatballs were huge and perfectly cooked. Large portions and very reasonably priced!
(5)G T.
we had to wait for our food to come out but it was well worth the wait. Very good food, good service, small restaurant. we will come back to eat there again.
(5)Joey N.
Pasta was excellent and reasonably priced, love how they gave us so much sauce so we could dip the bread in it too! They also gave us bruschetta on the house, more salty than I would prefer but still tasted great. The meal also came very quickly. Draw backs - Kind of hard to find, very small, only about 10 tables (it's a little loud when there were people all around), we were lucky that we went at around 9pm so we didn't really have to wait for seats! Small selection on the menu, top 2 dishes I wanted on the menu were not available =( I would recommend this place for people going to Greenville!
(5)Sarah C.
When I walked in with my mother we were a bit worried because we are on a very tight budget. When the owner found out we were only ordering soup/salad he brought us extra and made sure we didnt have to worry about the bill. I have to say this almost made me cry & restored some of my lost faith in humanity. The staff is beyond nice & I will always recommended coming here. You can't beat amazing people with food to match.
(5)Liz H.
If you are looking for a fantastic, hole-in-the-wall, delicious italian place in Greenville you've found it. The place isn't much from the outside but inside you will find a small, very charming, very busy restaurant. Everyone starts with a few pieces of bruschetta at the table, which is salty, oily, bready, and pure yumminess. We ordered fried mozzarella as an appetizer which was actual fresh pieces of mozzarella, breaded and fried and served with their house marinara sauce. For dinner, I had the spicy sausage ravioli in gorgonzola tomato sauce and my old man had creamy chicken marsala. Both were amazing but the sausage ravioli was very special and OH MY GOODNESS would I kill to eat some more for breakfast. Needless to say, it all got eaten. The only drawback is that this is not a place to go if you are in a hurry. It takes a while for this magic to happen. But don't let that stop you from going. By the way, we got there at 5:30 pm (we were hungry! Don't judge!) and it was already almost full. By 6 pm there was a wait. Make sure you plan accordingly!
(5)Matt T.
Disappointing, given the reviews both on Yelp and from regulars, while we were waiting in line. The flavors were ok, but we felt they should have been better given price and other dining options.
(3)Nate M.
Great food and service, driven by the place so many times and never gave it a thought.
(4)Shan C.
Giovanni's is small in size but the atmosphere is wonderful. The food is excellent. The staff is very attentive and the overall dining experience could not be any better. We really love this place.
(5)Christian F.
Il padrone è italiano. Il cibo è molto buono. Food was great. Tight seating but very comfortable and clean. Worth the wait (If needed).
(5)Ashley A.
Very small, noisy eatery in a strip mall on Woodruff. The owner is also the host and we have seen him turn parties away after they have been waiting for quite a while, simply because the restaurant can not handle the traffic. That aside, if you are fortunate enough to make it in early and snag a seat, order a pasta special! Their homemade ravioli is always delicious.
(4)Ray G.
Great atmosphere, wonderful food and very friendly and attentive staff. The owner takes time to talk with all the guest. It is small with about a dozen tables, but that is part of what I liked about it. Noise level low and no one is rushing you to leave.
(4)jessica r.
My rating is 4.5 (almost as good as it gets!) (because I was craving eggplant and it was not an option). Well I must say although I did not think I was in Boston's North End, Greenville's Southeast End sure delivered! YUM! I think it took me about 20 minutes to decide what I wanted because the menu offers everything. I was about to special order (tweek something) but then I followed my gut and went for the mussels in the Giovanni seafood sauce (a superb brothy tomatoey slightly spicy rich deliciousness!). I was very happy with my choice. I also enjoyed a homeade caesar. I really appreciate a unique homeade caesar dressing. The bruschetta was a nice addition, and the bread served with the meal was perfect to sop up the extra deliciousness of the sauce. One very nice addition that I must thank my servers for was the free vino! AWESOME! I did remind them that I did not see it listed on my bill. What generosity.
(4)Shannon D.
If you want Italian food...Italian that dosent include a never-ending bowl of salad and breadsticks...but actual GOOD Italian food, made by people who know what their doing...this is the place!! It's small...and there arent many tables...but its worth waiting for! Service is great...and there are always a ton of specials outside of the standard menu...wine selection isnt huge, but the owner is great at suggesting ones that will meet your needs!
(5)Matt W.
Best Italian food I've had in Greenville. Very authentic "hole in the wall". The host is great, hard to understand (heavy Italian accent) but very entertaining. Went here with some friends late on a Friday, service was quick, although I hear sometimes it can take a while, but well worth it! Bread is toasted just right, plus delicious brochette (free!) I got the meat ravioli which was excellent. Friends got chicken marsala (huge serving) and gnocchi w/alfredo. Prices weren't bad either! Will definitely go back!
(5)Aaron C.
When I go out to eat, typically Italian is not on the top of the list. This place may change that!.. Its reasonably priced but phenomenal food! Great service, in a very small but quaint setting! I loved this place!
(5)Bob H.
This is our favorite "go to" place for a great dinner and evening out. The food is freshly prepared so the wait is a little longer but it is well worth it. Gabriel and his family do a great job making you feel welcome. He has a very good selection of reasonably priced red wines to complement your meal.
(5)Tonya A.
We were in Greenville with my daughters soccer team. They had a late game Saturday night. I called Giovanni's and spoke with Gabriel about catering dinner for the team and parents. He prepared an amazing dinner of tortellini with pink sauce, baked chicken, salad, bread and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. I can't wait to go in for dinner!
(5)Lesley M.
Best Italian IN GREENVILLE S.C. for sure! I will be back. Scallop and Shrimp in red sauce! yum yum
(5)Julie W.
Very small restaurant so you do have to wait for a table but it is worth the wait! The staff is very attentive and the food is delicious. Great date night location!
(5)Keri C.
Giovanni's was excellent. The shrimp and scallop in gorgonzola cream sauce was delicious!!! The atmosphere reminded me of an Italian restaurant in Boston.....authentic cuisine and Italian wait staff.
(5)Sharp H.
What a surprise to find this on Woodruff Road! If you live in Greenville you've probably passed this place by a couple of dozen times (at five miles an hour if it was at rush hour) and had no idea it existed. Once you get inside it's like being in Greenville's Little Italy. Great food and great atmosphere; I haven't seen it crowded despite its small size, and you can just hang out and forget you're on the East Side for a while. Highly recommended.
(5)Beth G.
A small Italian restaurant with excellent food. It's a very unique dining experience. I look forward to the owner reading you the long list of specials in a very thick Italian accent, listen carefully you only hear it once! There is no wine list just tell him what you want to drink and he will recommend something. I try something new everytime my husband and I dine here. The bruschetta that's brought to the table is very tasty. The prices are reasonable and you won't go home hungry!
(4)Jay B.
Excellent menu, service, and food! It is hard to find really good Italian food but this place has it. Limited seating. Reasonably priced. I love it and will be back..
(5)Sam S.
Small and very friendly. Great service and the food was the best Italian I have had in Greenville. Great date place especially considering it was not expensive. I would go back and recommend without hesitation!
(5)Marcia M.
I was as a single woman discriminated against at this restaurant. I was in Greenville on business and tried dining here on a week night; only one table in the restaurant had diners I asked to sit in a booth the server he insisted I sit at a small table for two and keep the booths for other people. I was the only other person there, and unless they were expecting people to come in suddenly at 6:30 PM and fill all the booths there was no reason for his rudeness & insistence of taking the smaller table but when I pulled the small table out from the wall to sit down, he told me I had an attitude, I couldn't believe a "waiter" was talking to me like this, when he went on to inform me he had been there for fourteen years which I didn't really care to hear it had no bearing on why he was being so rude, I walked out. I will never go back and I hope he learns as he matures and grows up that he will not retain the business they have with an " Attitude" as bad as his. I've already informed many of my clients in the area and will continue to let them know not to go there if they don't have at least two people in their party. Unbelievable!!
(1)Kitty W.
Having lived most of my life in or around NYC, I know good Italian food. Giovanni's is good Italian food. It is family run and all the food is made to order, which means there is a wait to get your entree, but you can make that bearable by ordering an appetizer to share. I had the Saltimbocca Di Vitello which is veal, sage and prosciutto with a side of pasta. My husband had veal parmesan. Besides the regular menu, there are specials which I look forward to trying. Just remember that this is not fast food, but well worth the wait.
(5)Anthony B.
Small family owned restaurant the calamari in red was fantastic. The bread is the best I've had in Greenville.
(4)Dani M.
Very good and delicious food I recommend this italian restaurant Great service five *****
(5)Michelle I.
Delicious, authentic Italian cuisine cooked to perfection and blasting with flavor. If you're a merlot fan, the bottle of North Star is a must. Delicious.
(5)Jill B.
Why have I not been going here? Best Italian in Greenville by far. Probably the best food period. No reservations taken, so be prepared to wait standing up in a small space, but it's worth it. Old school Italian at its finest. We enjoyed talking to the owner who took our order and took his time chatting with all customers. My only complaint is the wine by the glass. There was one Chardonnay choice, and it wasn't the best. I'll take the Woodbridge, though, if I get the quality meal we experienced last night.
(5)James N.
Outstanding, just outstanding. The food, service and atmosphere are all excellent. I had the Shrimp Parmesan and it was simply delicious. Jumbo shrimp with homemade everything else. The owner is personally involved with your entire dining experience. I'm from out of town but they made me feel welcome. Oh, and did I mention the prices are very reasonable. Can't go wrong with Giovanni's.
(5)Dale M.
By far best Italian food in the area... growing up in an Italian city one gets spoiled recommend to anyone... they will do take out but only if your order at the store and pay.
(5)Clark W.
This is a great little Italian restaurant with great food and service. Very prompt and proper service, just as important, the food was absolutely delicious. A bottle of wine always helps the equation!! I can't wait to go back.
(5)John C.
I saw Rob D's review. It's completely off-base unless, perhaps, he happened to show up in the cook's night off. We had dinner there for the first time a couple of weeks ago... It was excellent. If anything, there was a bit more 'flavor' than we had bargained for. Unless you really want to feel the burn, think twice about asking for your dish 'spicy'. Great food, great atmosphere, great staff. Pay no attention to Rob D.
(4)Guy L.
If you are in the mood for delicious Italian food look no further. I had the distinct pleasure of being in Greenville for business and I must first thank my fellow yelpers for giving the reviews that encouraged me to give Giovanni's a try. I had the Hot Ziti with sausage and it was stellar the sausage was truly delicious, the sauce was the perfect blend of seasoned bliss. The only problem is I feel like I took advantage of them. This dish deserves to be more than the 11.95ish price that is. The only reason that I chose not to give 5 stars is the service was a little slow. Perhaps it was that I arrived at 8pm or maybe it's the norm I can't say. Aside from that AMAZING!!!!
(4)Chrissy D.
We were visiting from out of town, I looked online for dinner suggestions near our hotel that was not a chain restaurant. So glad we found Giovanni's. Food was excellent. We always have such a hard time finding real veal Parmesan for my husband. They had it and he loved it . Shrimp and Scallops in creamy tomato sauce is excellent... no tiny shrimp to search for here.. nice big FRESH shrimp :). Nice menu selection. If you were not looking for this place you would drive right past it. We will definitely eat here again when we are back in town. Staff was personal and kept checking on us.
(4)Richard G.
The complementary bruschetta appeared simple but delivered a wonderfully complex flavor. Smoked salmon appetizer was light and fresh with a buttery texture to the salmon and fresh crunchy lettuce. I had the scallops and shrimp with a spicy spaghetti sauce and perfectly cooked noodles. Quite spivey and richly flavored. My wife enjoyed her spinach tortellini and chicken with Alfredo sauce, rich without being heavy. An intimate romantic feel to the restaurant combined for an exceptional dining experience.
(5)Mike A.
Simple....DELICIOUS!!! Try the Lasagna or the spaghetti with meat sauce, yummy!! Good, not great wine list, but worth a glass if grapes nonetheless.
(5)Leigh B.
I wish we had found out about Giovanni's sooner. Don't be put off by the strip mall location. I love the old-school Italian ambiance (nothing fancy) and delicious food. The owner is very nice and hospitable - tell him your budget and he will select you a lovely bottle of wine. They serve complimentary bruschetta before your meal, too.
(5)Mark S.
The real deal! You'd be lucky to find this restaurant in the big, big city.... but there you are in South Carolina-a-a! Of course driving there on Woodruff will make you think you're stuck in the L-A gridlock. Great service by the owner, and he is a trip! The sauce was unique and fantastic, non bland like you'll usually find. Our dinner for 2 cost about $53... Bruschetta, Lobster ravioli, lasagna, one salad, mozzarella marinara, one glass of wine. The owner is big on wine and he's sure to have a special deal for you, for a case. We heard him dealing wine with the couple dining next to us. Don't let the strip mall location throw you, and the place is pretty small... things could get crowded for sure... Can't believe Giovanni's is in Greenville! Great Italian food!
(4)Tom D.
My colleague at our Greenville site told me about this amazing Italian restaurant and I really had high hopes of giving it a 5 star - it's been awhile since a place received one from me and this was an Italian mom and pop place so it really had my hope up high! We were lucky or privileged to get two tables to sit all eight of us, but whatever the case may be - we had no waiting for our table. And from that moment on - it wasn't a meal - it was an experience! Our servers were the owner and his son - it was if they both were our servers and though I didn't catch his dad's name - the son's name is Sebastian - so here's a shout out to him. He was a fantastic server with personality plus - nothing against his dad, but at times it was hard to make out every word his dad spoke, but he was certainly very charming and I felt almost like family - maybe because I'm Italian it was easy to feel at home! The menu was extensive, but it wasn't overwhelming - problem was - everything sounded good and they didn't have a huge sampling meal. I selected the Hot Ziti along with another colleague and the other two at our table selected the Sea Bass and I believe the veal dish. NO ONE complained - in fact there wasn't much talking while eating - it was that good. However, Sebastian's "HOT" must be far hotter then mine because the hot Ziti had more kick then he said. BUT - I loved it - and knew I wasn't eating something great when I began to sweat - now THAT's Italian! Then came desert - homemade Tiramisu - my son actually makes the best I've ever had, but this one was so different then his - it was the best I've had like this - wasn't quite as sweet nor was it as light as my son's, but it was equally good and a nice change of pace from typical tiramisu! Pricing - I'm not too sure what the total came to, because the other table ordered a very pricey bottle of wine. However, the prices on the menu for most all of the meal selections were reasonable. They also do a good job paring up the meal to wine and beer and the menu - and you can always ask them what they think would be a good choice too! Because I include cleanliness in my reviews - I must comment on this place - very clean - yes including the bathrooms. The entire place was decorated decently, but the bathroom impressed me - not one single mark of graffiti and yet the smallest of details I did notice. In order to conserve on energy and be sustainable - the hot water selection in the sink wasn't available, but by NO means did that distract me from a 5 star rating. This mom and pop - family owned place it top notch and I'd recommend to everyone to stop in. There is plenty of parking - it's easy to find and get to (inside a plaza type area) and they accept credit cards and have morals. Of course - if you are an idiot - expect to be thrown out - I applaud them for not putting up with arrogant idiots and allowing us to enjoy our experience!
(5)Amy H.
Pasta Fresca with creamy tomato gorgonzola sauce. Bruscetta. Veal Saltimbocca. Shrimp and scallops with red seafood sauce over gnocchi. Need. I. Say. More. Added bonus... The owner Gabrielle is phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. Highly recommended!
(5)Steve S.
Mussels were good for an appetizer, bruschetta was very good, salad was very good, veal parm fair (marinara too sweet for my taste), pasta aglio olio fair. Wine by the glass was served out of airplane sized bottles - strange. Small place, very busy, service was good. It was pretty good but I was hoping for better based on the previous Yelp reviews. I don't think I'd go out of my way to go back.
(3)Jim W.
Well, it has a 4.5 overall rating for a reason. If you're looking for Italian food in a great atmosphere, then this is the place to go. The owner is very welcoming and it's like he's inviting you into his home for a meal. You can tell he loves what he does and he's passionate about his food. Combine that passion with the talent to back it up, and you've got Giovanni's. It's a delicious meal and a great experience. I recommend it for a romantic date night!
(5)Bill Y.
Got to the restaurant at 5pm on a Saturday. Several couples were waiting for the door to open. It's a small place with about a dozen tables. We had some bruschetta to start the meal. We tried an Insalata di Casa and a calamari appetizer. The spicy appetizer was outstanding. Next we had the lasagna al Forno and sausage ravioli. This was an excellent meal and we will come again!
(5)Keisha B.
This quaint and cozy restaurant is the epitome of an Italian eatery. Family owned and run. The food is divine and the atmosphere is wonderful. I had the calamari and mussels over spaghetti. Delicious. The bruschetta is the best I've ever tasted. I am here in Greenville for my birthday and will definitely be back.
(5)Wes S.
My wife and I finally ventured into this little secluded restaurant only to enjoy an impeccable meal! She had spaghetti with meatballs while I dined on hot zity! We had heard so much about this place and we were not disappointed in the least bit!
(5)Robert R.
Excellent food. By far the best Italian I have had in Greenville. I had sausage tortellini in a creamy, spicy sauce. My wife had eggplant Parmesan and spaghetti. Everything we had seemed fresh and made in-house that day. Friendly, warm service from the owner himself; if it's the same experience we had, he'll greet you; chat a bit about different things; and then get your drink order, and unless you want to chat again, he'll leave you be.
(5)keeley m.
Best Italian in Gville (verified by my Italian husband, and the fact that we just relocated from Manhattan). The fruit de mare is sensational, and the bruschetta is a nice touch.
(5)Lori A.
Its too bad in order to review a place you have to give at least a one star. The food was not all that and service could be better. Very small cramped restaurant. There are better places to eat "Authentic Italian Food". I would not recommend this place and would not be coming back here with my friends either. The place is not kid friendly either, so if you have kids, forget about it. It will be an issue.
(1)Ellen R.
The food was delicious! From the bruschetta they bring as an appetizer to the main meal! We had the spinach ravioli and tortellini pink. Everything was delicious. Our friends live here and were ecstatic to finally find a place with good Italian food! The restaurant seems a bit unorganized. They don't take names, you just have to wait in line. There were about 4 different people coming to our table throughout the meal and we were asked at least 4 times if we wanted dessert and if everything was okay. This probably wouldn't stop me from coming back, but it could get messy on a busy night.
(4)Keisha B.
This quaint and cozy restaurant is the epitome of an Italian eatery. Family owned and run. The food is divine and the atmosphere is wonderful. I had the calamari and mussels over spaghetti. Delicious. The bruschetta is the best I've ever tasted. I am here in Greenville for my birthday and will definitely be back.
(5)Kitty W.
Having lived most of my life in or around NYC, I know good Italian food. Giovanni's is good Italian food. It is family run and all the food is made to order, which means there is a wait to get your entree, but you can make that bearable by ordering an appetizer to share. I had the Saltimbocca Di Vitello which is veal, sage and prosciutto with a side of pasta. My husband had veal parmesan. Besides the regular menu, there are specials which I look forward to trying. Just remember that this is not fast food, but well worth the wait.
(5)Anthony B.
Small family owned restaurant the calamari in red was fantastic. The bread is the best I've had in Greenville.
(4)Dani M.
Very good and delicious food I recommend this italian restaurant Great service five *****
(5)Michelle I.
Delicious, authentic Italian cuisine cooked to perfection and blasting with flavor. If you're a merlot fan, the bottle of North Star is a must. Delicious.
(5)Jill B.
Why have I not been going here? Best Italian in Greenville by far. Probably the best food period. No reservations taken, so be prepared to wait standing up in a small space, but it's worth it. Old school Italian at its finest. We enjoyed talking to the owner who took our order and took his time chatting with all customers. My only complaint is the wine by the glass. There was one Chardonnay choice, and it wasn't the best. I'll take the Woodbridge, though, if I get the quality meal we experienced last night.
(5)James N.
Outstanding, just outstanding. The food, service and atmosphere are all excellent. I had the Shrimp Parmesan and it was simply delicious. Jumbo shrimp with homemade everything else. The owner is personally involved with your entire dining experience. I'm from out of town but they made me feel welcome. Oh, and did I mention the prices are very reasonable. Can't go wrong with Giovanni's.
(5)Leigh B.
I wish we had found out about Giovanni's sooner. Don't be put off by the strip mall location. I love the old-school Italian ambiance (nothing fancy) and delicious food. The owner is very nice and hospitable - tell him your budget and he will select you a lovely bottle of wine. They serve complimentary bruschetta before your meal, too.
(5)keeley m.
Best Italian in Gville (verified by my Italian husband, and the fact that we just relocated from Manhattan). The fruit de mare is sensational, and the bruschetta is a nice touch.
(5)Lori A.
Its too bad in order to review a place you have to give at least a one star. The food was not all that and service could be better. Very small cramped restaurant. There are better places to eat "Authentic Italian Food". I would not recommend this place and would not be coming back here with my friends either. The place is not kid friendly either, so if you have kids, forget about it. It will be an issue.
(1)Mark S.
The real deal! You'd be lucky to find this restaurant in the big, big city.... but there you are in South Carolina-a-a! Of course driving there on Woodruff will make you think you're stuck in the L-A gridlock. Great service by the owner, and he is a trip! The sauce was unique and fantastic, non bland like you'll usually find. Our dinner for 2 cost about $53... Bruschetta, Lobster ravioli, lasagna, one salad, mozzarella marinara, one glass of wine. The owner is big on wine and he's sure to have a special deal for you, for a case. We heard him dealing wine with the couple dining next to us. Don't let the strip mall location throw you, and the place is pretty small... things could get crowded for sure... Can't believe Giovanni's is in Greenville! Great Italian food!
(4)Steve S.
Mussels were good for an appetizer, bruschetta was very good, salad was very good, veal parm fair (marinara too sweet for my taste), pasta aglio olio fair. Wine by the glass was served out of airplane sized bottles - strange. Small place, very busy, service was good. It was pretty good but I was hoping for better based on the previous Yelp reviews. I don't think I'd go out of my way to go back.
(3)Jim W.
Well, it has a 4.5 overall rating for a reason. If you're looking for Italian food in a great atmosphere, then this is the place to go. The owner is very welcoming and it's like he's inviting you into his home for a meal. You can tell he loves what he does and he's passionate about his food. Combine that passion with the talent to back it up, and you've got Giovanni's. It's a delicious meal and a great experience. I recommend it for a romantic date night!
(5)Bill Y.
Got to the restaurant at 5pm on a Saturday. Several couples were waiting for the door to open. It's a small place with about a dozen tables. We had some bruschetta to start the meal. We tried an Insalata di Casa and a calamari appetizer. The spicy appetizer was outstanding. Next we had the lasagna al Forno and sausage ravioli. This was an excellent meal and we will come again!
(5)Tom D.
My colleague at our Greenville site told me about this amazing Italian restaurant and I really had high hopes of giving it a 5 star - it's been awhile since a place received one from me and this was an Italian mom and pop place so it really had my hope up high! We were lucky or privileged to get two tables to sit all eight of us, but whatever the case may be - we had no waiting for our table. And from that moment on - it wasn't a meal - it was an experience! Our servers were the owner and his son - it was if they both were our servers and though I didn't catch his dad's name - the son's name is Sebastian - so here's a shout out to him. He was a fantastic server with personality plus - nothing against his dad, but at times it was hard to make out every word his dad spoke, but he was certainly very charming and I felt almost like family - maybe because I'm Italian it was easy to feel at home! The menu was extensive, but it wasn't overwhelming - problem was - everything sounded good and they didn't have a huge sampling meal. I selected the Hot Ziti along with another colleague and the other two at our table selected the Sea Bass and I believe the veal dish. NO ONE complained - in fact there wasn't much talking while eating - it was that good. However, Sebastian's "HOT" must be far hotter then mine because the hot Ziti had more kick then he said. BUT - I loved it - and knew I wasn't eating something great when I began to sweat - now THAT's Italian! Then came desert - homemade Tiramisu - my son actually makes the best I've ever had, but this one was so different then his - it was the best I've had like this - wasn't quite as sweet nor was it as light as my son's, but it was equally good and a nice change of pace from typical tiramisu! Pricing - I'm not too sure what the total came to, because the other table ordered a very pricey bottle of wine. However, the prices on the menu for most all of the meal selections were reasonable. They also do a good job paring up the meal to wine and beer and the menu - and you can always ask them what they think would be a good choice too! Because I include cleanliness in my reviews - I must comment on this place - very clean - yes including the bathrooms. The entire place was decorated decently, but the bathroom impressed me - not one single mark of graffiti and yet the smallest of details I did notice. In order to conserve on energy and be sustainable - the hot water selection in the sink wasn't available, but by NO means did that distract me from a 5 star rating. This mom and pop - family owned place it top notch and I'd recommend to everyone to stop in. There is plenty of parking - it's easy to find and get to (inside a plaza type area) and they accept credit cards and have morals. Of course - if you are an idiot - expect to be thrown out - I applaud them for not putting up with arrogant idiots and allowing us to enjoy our experience!
(5)Amy H.
Pasta Fresca with creamy tomato gorgonzola sauce. Bruscetta. Veal Saltimbocca. Shrimp and scallops with red seafood sauce over gnocchi. Need. I. Say. More. Added bonus... The owner Gabrielle is phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. Highly recommended!
(5)Ellen R.
The food was delicious! From the bruschetta they bring as an appetizer to the main meal! We had the spinach ravioli and tortellini pink. Everything was delicious. Our friends live here and were ecstatic to finally find a place with good Italian food! The restaurant seems a bit unorganized. They don't take names, you just have to wait in line. There were about 4 different people coming to our table throughout the meal and we were asked at least 4 times if we wanted dessert and if everything was okay. This probably wouldn't stop me from coming back, but it could get messy on a busy night.
(4)Dale M.
By far best Italian food in the area... growing up in an Italian city one gets spoiled recommend to anyone... they will do take out but only if your order at the store and pay.
(5)Clark W.
This is a great little Italian restaurant with great food and service. Very prompt and proper service, just as important, the food was absolutely delicious. A bottle of wine always helps the equation!! I can't wait to go back.
(5)John C.
I saw Rob D's review. It's completely off-base unless, perhaps, he happened to show up in the cook's night off. We had dinner there for the first time a couple of weeks ago... It was excellent. If anything, there was a bit more 'flavor' than we had bargained for. Unless you really want to feel the burn, think twice about asking for your dish 'spicy'. Great food, great atmosphere, great staff. Pay no attention to Rob D.
(4)Guy L.
If you are in the mood for delicious Italian food look no further. I had the distinct pleasure of being in Greenville for business and I must first thank my fellow yelpers for giving the reviews that encouraged me to give Giovanni's a try. I had the Hot Ziti with sausage and it was stellar the sausage was truly delicious, the sauce was the perfect blend of seasoned bliss. The only problem is I feel like I took advantage of them. This dish deserves to be more than the 11.95ish price that is. The only reason that I chose not to give 5 stars is the service was a little slow. Perhaps it was that I arrived at 8pm or maybe it's the norm I can't say. Aside from that AMAZING!!!!
(4)Chrissy D.
We were visiting from out of town, I looked online for dinner suggestions near our hotel that was not a chain restaurant. So glad we found Giovanni's. Food was excellent. We always have such a hard time finding real veal Parmesan for my husband. They had it and he loved it . Shrimp and Scallops in creamy tomato sauce is excellent... no tiny shrimp to search for here.. nice big FRESH shrimp :). Nice menu selection. If you were not looking for this place you would drive right past it. We will definitely eat here again when we are back in town. Staff was personal and kept checking on us.
(4)Richard G.
The complementary bruschetta appeared simple but delivered a wonderfully complex flavor. Smoked salmon appetizer was light and fresh with a buttery texture to the salmon and fresh crunchy lettuce. I had the scallops and shrimp with a spicy spaghetti sauce and perfectly cooked noodles. Quite spivey and richly flavored. My wife enjoyed her spinach tortellini and chicken with Alfredo sauce, rich without being heavy. An intimate romantic feel to the restaurant combined for an exceptional dining experience.
(5)Mike A.
Simple....DELICIOUS!!! Try the Lasagna or the spaghetti with meat sauce, yummy!! Good, not great wine list, but worth a glass if grapes nonetheless.
(5)Chuck N.
This was our second visit to the place and once again it was utter perfection! I had a more traditional dish this time -- spaghetti with Italian sausage. It was very good...very good indeed. My dinner date had lasagna -- also very good. Overall experience = excellent!
(4)Tj R.
EXCELLENT all around. Personal service from the owner. I asked if it was his restaurant, and he replied "and yours..." So awesome. Quaint, romantic atmosphere. And the food...so so good. We will definitely be return patrons here!
(5)Ashley R.
The food was amazing! I travel to NYC quite a bit for work and have had some great Italian food over the years. It is nice to have a place that compares to my travel experience right here at home. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Michelle C.
Awesome! Great wine bottle prices. Lots of menu options. The food was fresh and delicious. I had Sea Bass Picatta (prepared gluten free) my boyfriend had the lasagna both were fantastic. I took a bite of his without the noodle - I can only imagine how good it is with it.
(5)Merry D.
The owner is a charming Italian man who gives very personal service to his customers. We enjoyed a wonderful array of food and a great wine. Yes, we had to wait 90 min(we went to the gross pub in the same plaza to wait, ew) because the space is tiny, and we had 5 in our party. "Worth the wait" is an understatement. The gnocchi are light and fluffy. Sauces were fantastic. Veal was TENDER and flavorful. Chicken lasagna(a special) was excellent, very different. Even a basic like fettucini alfredo with chicken was outstanding. No thick goopy bland sauce-it was light and parmesan-y. Eggplant parm was excellent. A tough dish to pull off-but it was perfect. Their marinara has a little spice and is not acidic. They had a very large specials menu, plus items not listed. We didn't get to try dessert(had to run) but the owner would not let me take a cannoli to go "you have to eat it right after it's filled". Respect the cannoli, people! One person in our party is 1/2 Italian, 2nd generation, and he was in heaven. Recommend the Mazzi Amarone 2009.
(5)Amanda G.
Awful. Took over an hour for our food and it wasn't that good. Expensive for what It was.
(1)Jerrica S.
By far my favorite Italian restaurant in greenville. It's very quant and intimate. The owner is very hands on and is from Italy. It's better than the Italian restaurant that I ate at in little Italy in Baltimore. Great place and highly recommended
(5)Laura J.
Bruschetta, lobster ravioli, tiramisu.... best authentic Italian in Greenville, hands-down. Don't let the location's exterior fool you. This place is worth the wait. The service was excellent. Reasonably priced and worth every penny.
(5)Matt K.
This place is amazing! Order the meat balls a la carte for an appetizer. It's not on the menu, but just trust me on this one!
(5)Katherine B.
This is a quaint little restaurant and the ambiance is perfect. The "a la carte" meatball appetizer discussed in a previous review is not actually available. The owner says people ask about it often but it does not actually exist. The fried mozzarella appetizer was awesome. My family had the chicken Parmesan, fettuccini Alfredo and lobster ravioli. Our food was delicious! We will be Coming back again!
(4)TOM S.
My wife and I ate here last night and consistent with other postings, experienced slow service. A head-scratcher was that we ordered wine by the glass and that took the form of the waiter bringing airplane size bottles to us. Not a nice touch. Now that the negatives are out of the way, the food was truly excellent. My wife had a seafood medley and I had the chicken piccata. Both were very good and it was evident the pasta was homemade and not overcooked (often the problem). Seafood was tender and done properly. Chicken the same. Highly recommend this restaurant if you have the time.
(4)Carol B.
Great,excellent,delicious. What else can I say. Four of us went to Giovanni's for dinner 10/18 and everything was perfect as it usually is.
(5)John C.
Isn't it great when you find an new restaurant that is a hidden treasure! Small family run places are always about quality food and personal attention to the customer. That is what you will find at Giovanni's. From the personal greeting by the owner to the prompt wait staff, this place is a real gem that is hard to find. I had the sausage raviolli with gorganzola sauce which was wonderful. My only complaint was the Tiramisu - while it was homemade I thought it had too much Mascarpone and not enough cocoa sprinkled on it.
(5)Mike K.
Awesome food, order meat balls ala carte. You won't be disappointed. Just say to the owner Gratzi he will answer "prego"
(5)Beth W.
Great great great. Ate there twice when in town and would go again. Owner is super and everything is made in house. Small and intimate. Must try the ravioli. Can't decide on which sauce.
(5)Todd D.
Hands down the best meatballs that I've ever had! They do not serve meatballs as an appetizer as another reviewer stated. We had 3 entrees and all were amazing!
(5)Dr. N.
Having recently move from a city where you can good, authentic Italian food all over, I can be very picky about Italian food...but this place does it pretty well. It is one of the very few places I go for Italian in Greenville.
(4)Rob D.
Visited Giovanni's based on the good reviews but left feeling disappointed. The portions were big but it was as if there was no seasoning. The food was very bland!
(1)James K.
The positive reviews were accurate. Great food and the father and son were extremely welcoming. I will definitely go back again. Veal parm was amazing! Meatballs were huge and perfectly cooked. Large portions and very reasonably priced!
(5)G T.
we had to wait for our food to come out but it was well worth the wait. Very good food, good service, small restaurant. we will come back to eat there again.
(5)Joey N.
Pasta was excellent and reasonably priced, love how they gave us so much sauce so we could dip the bread in it too! They also gave us bruschetta on the house, more salty than I would prefer but still tasted great. The meal also came very quickly. Draw backs - Kind of hard to find, very small, only about 10 tables (it's a little loud when there were people all around), we were lucky that we went at around 9pm so we didn't really have to wait for seats! Small selection on the menu, top 2 dishes I wanted on the menu were not available =( I would recommend this place for people going to Greenville!
(5)Sarah C.
When I walked in with my mother we were a bit worried because we are on a very tight budget. When the owner found out we were only ordering soup/salad he brought us extra and made sure we didnt have to worry about the bill. I have to say this almost made me cry & restored some of my lost faith in humanity. The staff is beyond nice & I will always recommended coming here. You can't beat amazing people with food to match.
(5)Liz H.
If you are looking for a fantastic, hole-in-the-wall, delicious italian place in Greenville you've found it. The place isn't much from the outside but inside you will find a small, very charming, very busy restaurant. Everyone starts with a few pieces of bruschetta at the table, which is salty, oily, bready, and pure yumminess. We ordered fried mozzarella as an appetizer which was actual fresh pieces of mozzarella, breaded and fried and served with their house marinara sauce. For dinner, I had the spicy sausage ravioli in gorgonzola tomato sauce and my old man had creamy chicken marsala. Both were amazing but the sausage ravioli was very special and OH MY GOODNESS would I kill to eat some more for breakfast. Needless to say, it all got eaten. The only drawback is that this is not a place to go if you are in a hurry. It takes a while for this magic to happen. But don't let that stop you from going. By the way, we got there at 5:30 pm (we were hungry! Don't judge!) and it was already almost full. By 6 pm there was a wait. Make sure you plan accordingly!
(5)Matt T.
Disappointing, given the reviews both on Yelp and from regulars, while we were waiting in line. The flavors were ok, but we felt they should have been better given price and other dining options.
(3)Nate M.
Great food and service, driven by the place so many times and never gave it a thought.
(4)Shan C.
Giovanni's is small in size but the atmosphere is wonderful. The food is excellent. The staff is very attentive and the overall dining experience could not be any better. We really love this place.
(5)Christian F.
Il padrone è italiano. Il cibo è molto buono. Food was great. Tight seating but very comfortable and clean. Worth the wait (If needed).
(5)jessica r.
My rating is 4.5 (almost as good as it gets!) (because I was craving eggplant and it was not an option). Well I must say although I did not think I was in Boston's North End, Greenville's Southeast End sure delivered! YUM! I think it took me about 20 minutes to decide what I wanted because the menu offers everything. I was about to special order (tweek something) but then I followed my gut and went for the mussels in the Giovanni seafood sauce (a superb brothy tomatoey slightly spicy rich deliciousness!). I was very happy with my choice. I also enjoyed a homeade caesar. I really appreciate a unique homeade caesar dressing. The bruschetta was a nice addition, and the bread served with the meal was perfect to sop up the extra deliciousness of the sauce. One very nice addition that I must thank my servers for was the free vino! AWESOME! I did remind them that I did not see it listed on my bill. What generosity.
(4)Shannon D.
If you want Italian food...Italian that dosent include a never-ending bowl of salad and breadsticks...but actual GOOD Italian food, made by people who know what their doing...this is the place!! It's small...and there arent many tables...but its worth waiting for! Service is great...and there are always a ton of specials outside of the standard menu...wine selection isnt huge, but the owner is great at suggesting ones that will meet your needs!
(5)Matt W.
Best Italian food I've had in Greenville. Very authentic "hole in the wall". The host is great, hard to understand (heavy Italian accent) but very entertaining. Went here with some friends late on a Friday, service was quick, although I hear sometimes it can take a while, but well worth it! Bread is toasted just right, plus delicious brochette (free!) I got the meat ravioli which was excellent. Friends got chicken marsala (huge serving) and gnocchi w/alfredo. Prices weren't bad either! Will definitely go back!
(5)Aaron C.
When I go out to eat, typically Italian is not on the top of the list. This place may change that!.. Its reasonably priced but phenomenal food! Great service, in a very small but quaint setting! I loved this place!
(5)Bob H.
This is our favorite "go to" place for a great dinner and evening out. The food is freshly prepared so the wait is a little longer but it is well worth it. Gabriel and his family do a great job making you feel welcome. He has a very good selection of reasonably priced red wines to complement your meal.
(5)Tonya A.
We were in Greenville with my daughters soccer team. They had a late game Saturday night. I called Giovanni's and spoke with Gabriel about catering dinner for the team and parents. He prepared an amazing dinner of tortellini with pink sauce, baked chicken, salad, bread and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. I can't wait to go in for dinner!
(5)Lesley M.
Best Italian IN GREENVILLE S.C. for sure! I will be back. Scallop and Shrimp in red sauce! yum yum
(5)Ashley A.
Very small, noisy eatery in a strip mall on Woodruff. The owner is also the host and we have seen him turn parties away after they have been waiting for quite a while, simply because the restaurant can not handle the traffic. That aside, if you are fortunate enough to make it in early and snag a seat, order a pasta special! Their homemade ravioli is always delicious.
(4)Ray G.
Great atmosphere, wonderful food and very friendly and attentive staff. The owner takes time to talk with all the guest. It is small with about a dozen tables, but that is part of what I liked about it. Noise level low and no one is rushing you to leave.
(4)Julie W.
Very small restaurant so you do have to wait for a table but it is worth the wait! The staff is very attentive and the food is delicious. Great date night location!
(5)Keri C.
Giovanni's was excellent. The shrimp and scallop in gorgonzola cream sauce was delicious!!! The atmosphere reminded me of an Italian restaurant in Boston.....authentic cuisine and Italian wait staff.
(5)Sharp H.
What a surprise to find this on Woodruff Road! If you live in Greenville you've probably passed this place by a couple of dozen times (at five miles an hour if it was at rush hour) and had no idea it existed. Once you get inside it's like being in Greenville's Little Italy. Great food and great atmosphere; I haven't seen it crowded despite its small size, and you can just hang out and forget you're on the East Side for a while. Highly recommended.
(5)Beth G.
A small Italian restaurant with excellent food. It's a very unique dining experience. I look forward to the owner reading you the long list of specials in a very thick Italian accent, listen carefully you only hear it once! There is no wine list just tell him what you want to drink and he will recommend something. I try something new everytime my husband and I dine here. The bruschetta that's brought to the table is very tasty. The prices are reasonable and you won't go home hungry!
(4)Jay B.
Excellent menu, service, and food! It is hard to find really good Italian food but this place has it. Limited seating. Reasonably priced. I love it and will be back..
(5)Sam S.
Small and very friendly. Great service and the food was the best Italian I have had in Greenville. Great date place especially considering it was not expensive. I would go back and recommend without hesitation!
(5)Marcia M.
I was as a single woman discriminated against at this restaurant. I was in Greenville on business and tried dining here on a week night; only one table in the restaurant had diners I asked to sit in a booth the server he insisted I sit at a small table for two and keep the booths for other people. I was the only other person there, and unless they were expecting people to come in suddenly at 6:30 PM and fill all the booths there was no reason for his rudeness & insistence of taking the smaller table but when I pulled the small table out from the wall to sit down, he told me I had an attitude, I couldn't believe a "waiter" was talking to me like this, when he went on to inform me he had been there for fourteen years which I didn't really care to hear it had no bearing on why he was being so rude, I walked out. I will never go back and I hope he learns as he matures and grows up that he will not retain the business they have with an " Attitude" as bad as his. I've already informed many of my clients in the area and will continue to let them know not to go there if they don't have at least two people in their party. Unbelievable!!
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