Giovanni’s Brooklyn Eats

Oh so meh. I could have made better food, and I’m just an ok cook. Everything was overlooked, under seasoned, and over salted. The pasta tasted like it was out of a box, the veggies were grey. Sorry to be harsh, but I would have appreciated a warning.

Came for dinner. Sure, I’ll try the ravioli special. Umm, can you heat these up — they’re cold. Ummmm — again — can you heat these up they’re still cold. Ummmmmm — I’m eating these damn raviolis — even though they’re STILL COLD.
I don’t understand.
I really wanted to love this place.

Let me start by saying, anyone who says «let me start by saying» is an idiot. I have had many meals from this place. Anyone who thinks good Italian food is going to arrive delivery style is an idiot. If you want really good, authentic Italian Food either make it, or go eat in to a really good Italian place. YOU ORDERED DELIVERY! It’s going to be late and cold. That’s what it is. I don’t care if you live in Park Slope and think your job/​block means you get something better than DELIVERY FOOD. The food is pretty good for delivery. Is it better when you go there? Yes. Can you get it delivered to your home? Yes. Come on people, either learn to cook, get a babysitter and go out, or get a life. The place is good for delivery food.

This place STRESSED me out.
ATMOSPHERE: I get that it’s small, but it wasn’t that busy and we were a party of 3, waiting on the 4^th, and had to BEG them to let us sit down! We were going to order wine and an appetizer, and actually had to ask permission to order an appetizer since our 4^th person wasn’t there. Not the best restaurant etiquette.
FOOD: Meh. I saw pics on here of the chicken parm and it looked good, so I ordered it, and mine was not Unilocal picture worthy. I could make a much better chicken parm, and I don’t have 1% Italian in my bloodline. Maybe I should’ve went with my gut and ordered the penne ala vodka. My friend got the steak, and it was so so, and my SO ordered the grilled chicken dish, and he said it was dry.
DRINKS: Got a bottle of red, and it was good. Maybe not $ 32 good, but not bad. Probably the best part of the night.
OVERALL: Honestly, I was so stressed out by the way we were handled in the beginning, that I barely got to enjoy my meal. Our server was sweet, but the blonde lady (maybe manager?) was the one who kept staring at us while we were waiting for the other person. I get that tardiness is looked down upon, but I didn’t need to be squirming in my seat in a restaurant that I am dropping $ 100 on and am a paying customer. Not cool, Giovanni.

Ordered takeout from here a month or so ago and was not happy with the portions given the price. $ 10 for three 1-​inch meatballs… Ripoff!
That being said the food was tasty. Probably a much better experience if I went there.
I don’t understand the $$. Either change to $$$ or don’t do takeout…

Great food and service. Quiet romantic place.

Came here for lunch with a group of 5. The food is just ok. Ordered pene ala vodka… I’ve had better sauce from a can.

What a lovely neighborhood place with an authentic Italian warmth and appreciation for customers. We went there on half price wine night and the place was hopping! The server might have been the owner and he was managing a very busy night with good humor and excellent service. Our meals were delicious — especially the lasagne. We instantly felt like part of the family and enjoyed a fun and wonderful night. The server even encouraged communication between tables by announcing the specials to us as a group. It just added to the spirit of the Italian family meal.
We’ll be back — and often!

Sunday sauce is A-​ok. Flavorful with two sumptuous meatballs and chunks of sausage. Perfect portion size for $ 14.95 and it came with a side salad with very nice greens and the right amount of dressing. Wine was a generous pour. While the busser did an excellent job of keeping water glasses full, our waitress was too busy chatting with the bartender and looking at her phone to follow up with us and take a dessert order or bring the check. Fortunately another server stepped in but the wait in between was frankly annoying. We will go back though to try some menu items that sounded tasty.

Live across the street and eat here often! You can’t beat the ambiance. Floor to ceiling windows on the corner of 8^th and prospect. Picturesque especially in the snow. Especially if you want to show off how great brooklyn is to live in to your visitors :) And have the best Italian food. Prices are great (9 – 13 $). They recently raised the prices– crossing my fingers they don’t anymore because it’s our go to place.

First timer here, having brunch, food is great, happy we tried something new today. Oh, and bottomless mimosas for brunch? Oh yeah

Not sure where the great service is coming from. I have never been treated so rudely. My husband and his elderly father drove over (bc he can’t walk far) while I walked over with my daughter. When my husband arrived, the restaurant had one table full and was told that they needed to wait for us. Not a huge deal, but it was apparent that my father in law needed assistance, and an exception could have been made. When I walked in, they immediately told me to take the stroller outside, but before we had a table and before she had a place to sit. The whole ordeal was silly. To boot, we called ahead of time so they should have been on the lookout.
Perhaps I’m the most annoyed bc they had a major attitude, disappeared often we needed things and overall staff was not friendly. I would have changed restaurants in a heart beat had it not been for my FIL, and despite the fact their food is excellent, I’m not too likely to come back. I’m almost wondering if this attitude and poor service is why they charge all tables a mandatory 20% gratuity on brunch?

Love the food, always fresh and delicious. My one issue is the portions are too small. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Please, just give me a little more pasta!

I love this place. It’s small and charming and the service is great and very welcoming… like you’re visiting someone at home. I also love somewhat bossy italian women who are all business when the place is packed. Had a great arugula salad with shaved parmesan, the outstanding pumpkin gnocchi special in sage butter with mascarpone, and a dry white that was on special. My friend had the scallop linguini special and loved it too. They turn tables over pretty quickly without rushing anyone. The view from the broad windows is beautiful and makes for nice conversation and people watching while you sit. I can’t wait to go back. Prices are great for the food.

I’ve been to Giovanni’s Brooklyn Eats a couple of times. Recently a few months back checked out their unlimited boozey brunch again with a friend. It’s definitely a good bang for your buck. Only $ 18.95 for an appetizer, entrée and unlimited mimosas or bloody marys. Waaaaaay back in the day this place used to be owned by the same people that owned Sette on 7^th avenue, which is now closed. I thought their dinner was superb along with their wine selection. Fast forward a few years and came with my boyfriend at the time once or twice. Think whatever we had ordered wasn’t great. The bread was big and bulky, the eggs were over done. The mimosas and bloody marrys not note-​worthy, slow service. Fast forward a few years later and I think they finally have it right. The brunch I had was great.
My friend had the Penne alla Fiorentina (spinach cream sauce with fresh ricotta cheese). It was really outstanding and a huge portion size. While I had had the double baked eggplant parmesan with fried eggs. A tasty and simple hearty meal. All served with chunks of crusty bread and a wonderful rosemary infused olive oil. What shone through for me was honestly their appetizers. We both ordered the same thing and no regrets. Get the honey drizzled Melon with prosciutto and pecorino cheese. The portion is enormous and the prosciutto is to die for. I’ve also had the ricotta fritters years ago and remember those being very warm and decadent. If I were to come back again though I would definitely go with one of their pasta dishes. The service this time around was also spot on. The older woman working, not sure if she was one of the owners, but she was very funny and jovial and poured us an enormous amount of mimosas which were all on the stronger side and appreciated.

Moved across the street from Giovanni’s 3 years ago. Still unpacked, easiest thing for us was to find a place close by that was somewhat affordable and tasty. We got both in spades! We truly couldn’t believe our luck that it was directly across the street. Gio’s never failed to deliver a great meal at a great price. The latter being more and more difficult to find in the neighborhood.
Beyond that… we became quite friendly with Giovanni himself. He’s beyond engaging, a perfect host, always greeting you with a smile. And it’s really him that separates this place from many others. (don’t get me wrong, the food is great. Try the sweet and spicy sausage pasta!)
The day before we moved out of the neighborhood this past February, I went in to have our final meal be the same as our first. I had ordered over the phone to pick up. Giovanni happened to come out from the back as I was paying. I told him we were moving and he refused to let me pay. And this was not a small bill.
Now… don’t go in there looking for free meals, just shows what type of guy he is and the place he runs.
My wife and I miss Giovanni’s and Giovanni.

Great service, my waitress was nice, and they kept the water glasses filled. As for the food… well, they kept the water glasses filled.
Chicken parm… Overcooked
Stuffed pork… Overcooked

Came in on Sunday around 11ish. Was seated without wait. Came in for the $ 18.95 brunch. Unlimited mimosas or bloody Marys with a choice of antipasti n secondi. They have a good selection to choices to choose from. We had the prosciutto n melons. That was good. Ricotta fritters was good too. Spinach salad with pears was ok. Baked pasta with sausage, poached eggs with smoked salmon and double eggplant was good. Will come back again.

Lunch
Pro: amazing price for an app and entrée
Mozzarella perfecto! It was a huge potion but so good.
It had pesto as a under tone for the mozzarella and it came with roasted peppers too:)
Calamari was fried lightly. Again potion was large.
What a great deal then the entrée came.
Hubby had a pasta with meat sauce love it
I had a pesto pasta.
Not busy at lunch hour.
Will definitely go again.

Delicious!
Came here for my birthday for a quiet dinner with my family and the bf/​fiancé (it’s easier to write bf =P) and had a nice time! The waitress was super nice and there were regular patrons there who were equally nice. We were a party of 6 and 2 people (with entrees just brought to their table) were so nice and moved tables so we could sit down. So nice!
We ordered one of the special appetizers, the artichoke and 2 of the entrée specials: a lamb dish with pasta (*drooool i ate it so fast that I can’t remember what was in it. just that it was fantastic!) and a crab creamy pasta dish with sun dried tomatoes (too heavy and creamy for my taste). The bros and bf got chicken parm and a creamy pasta sauce with spinach pasta and chicken and one substituted with shrimp. I think the chicken parm was only ok for one bro, but everyone else enjoyed their dinners. We also got the garlic bread and that was yummy. For dessert, I knew there was a birthday cake waiting at home, but I had to try the homemade tiramisu and it was NOT a mistake! It was delicious and both parents got their regular coffee and enjoyed it.
Overall a great dinner, I don’t know the total cost as it was kept from me, but the dishes are all very reasonable. The entrée specials were $ 17.95 each (I believe all specials are that price) which was a bit much, but I thought my dish was worth it because it was so good. That price for the crab dish was not so great because there weren’t lumps of crap, it was more that it was sprinkled and mixed throughout with sun dried tomatoes and the pasta was thicker like gnocci with rich creamy sauce — my mom enjoyed it though.
Would definitely come back here for like a date night :)
Place is small though and they don’t take reservations! Good luck!