This is hands down the best Italian restaurant in the area, might I even say.. region ! Perfect size proportions and they teleport you to the Amalfi Coast. Excellent read more

We had family night at downtown Mount Dora. We decided on Italian. Cafe Gianni was our spot. The inside was nice and intimate. We were able to sit as a party of 5. I ended up ordering the Vitella Marsala with Cabernet Sauvignon wine. It didn't take long to get my entree. The Vitella Marsala was really good. Before I knew it, the food was gone. The service was good. The server was very helpful with the menu. It was a great experience. We definitely will be back again. read more

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A very nice place to eat in Mount Dora. The Shrimp Sacchettini dish is absolutely to die for! The wine selection is just okay and that's why I only gave four stars. I'm a Pinot Noir fan and the two blends they have don't pair well with the dishes I enjoy. Still a great place to eat! read more

Had dinner at Gianni's yesterday and it was absolutely delicious! Apparently I was so hungry that I totally forgot to take pictures of my food when it arrived... oops! My husband ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese which was very excellent! Good portion and the pasta was cooked to perfection; it reminded us of the pasta we had in Italy last year so it's definitely traditional. I had the Pollo Cacciatore and it was also delicious. I did substitute the pasta for a house salad and I wish the salad portion was bigger as it's a $3 up-charge (it was a very small side salad). Overall, great service and quality food! read more

Cafe Gianni - Menu April 2026 - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

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Lovely first visit here for lunch today - would recommend and will certainly return. Cafe Gianni sits in one of the oldest buildings in the downtown area of Mount Dora - as in 1860s old. This charming restaurant is well-appointed and features both outdoor seating and a second floor dining space - perfect for private parties, receptions, or holiday events. Today, I went with the fan favorite Rigatoni Bolognese. First, though, a bit of bread (so delicious) and lemonade (very refreshing). The rigatoni was very good, though I thought it could do with a touch less salt. If the bolognese is strong enough (and it is here), I say let THAT flavor come through. My server, Trey, was an absolute sweetheart. Now, $22 for pasta may seem like a bit much; however, if you play it right you'll have delicious leftovers. Good food re-heats well. This is the case with entrees from Cafe Gianni. Next visit, I'm thinking the Puttanesca or trying their Vodka Sauce. Probably some cannoli. Definitely the tiramisu. Heck with it - I'll try it ALL. Grazie! read more

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This place feels very Italy. They serve Italian beer and wine, no cocktails however- they couldn't make a Shirley temple. The food was very tasty! All of my party liked what they got. How could Italian food ever be bad?! Our server was very nice, definite worth to check out but in mt dora there is so much to check out. read more

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First visit was in the area for the art festival. We sat outside; there were four of us. We were very pleased with the food, I had the red snapper, and my husband the osso buco. The marinara sauce was perfect. We had a couple Italian beers and met the chef. He was very pleasant and friendly. The prices were reasonable and there wasn't a charge for using a credit card. Will definitely be back. read more

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We went to Cafe Gianni tonight. The service was excellent and so was the food. We started with a with a dish of Italian cold cuts, cheese and olives. It was enough for three people along with the grilled bread. I had Veal Marcella and it was excellent. It had a good sized piece of veal and thin cut mushrooms.??My husband had the Linguine Fra Diavola with mussels, our grandson had the Carbonara. Their dinners were excellent. For desert we shared two orders on cannolis, they were very good, not too sweet. I recommend that you try this restaurant. read more

The 10$ Ceasar salad had 2 leafs of romaine at best, more croutons than lettuce and the dressing was a blob on top, not tossed. The photo is after we asked for more romaine. read more

Cafe Gianni - Ceasar salad - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

Today was my first & impromptu experience at Cafe Gianni. Historic intimate setting & with the option of an alfresco experience. The service is exceptional! My water glass never got below half full. The menu selection includes a few classics along with a few hard-to-find dishes. My rigatoni bolognese was extraordinary. I purposely did not order a drink, appetizer or dessert as I want to experience all the aforementioned next time with my wife. I'm looking forward to my next experience at Cafe Gianni. Continued success!! read more

The spaghetti al Nero di seppia is phenomenal . WOW . What a. Great experience .if you visit Mount Dora this place is a must . read more

Our food was excellent and per my Italian husband......very authentic! We had chicken piccata and the spicy mussels. Chef came out to see how our meals were before we left. Service was good and I highly recommend it! read more

Absolutely delicious! It is authentic and true Italian food. My entire family of 9 cleared their entire plates. I got the signature dish with the purse pasta with pear and shrimp and it was SO good. It somehow works and it's delicious. Service was wonderful and very friendly. 10/10 recommend stopping in. Also, they were very accommodating to my mother with celiac and there are plenty of options if you are gluten free. read more

Was really hoping to love this place and I was let down. We ordered the bruschetta and the bread was soggy and tasted maybe like it was frozen? The carbonara and limone pasta was easily the best part. Big portions so we took it home for leftovers. Our server was fine, it was busier so I don't think he gave us as much attention as he wanted to so I can't be mad at that. i genuinely liked the setting of it all, I wish their AC worked a little better. Unfortunately we don't see ourselves returning. read more

Best Italian food in the area! Quality food & Amazing service, Gianni himself comes to greet you and make sure everything is perfect. I recommend the Pollo Piccata but every dish is so delicious. The bread with the oil dip is to die for! It's very hard to choose a dessert too because they are all so good. read more

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I New Year's Eve we had a party of 10 people. Service was exceptional. Celeste, (our server} your kindness and attention made our meal really special. Chef Gianni out did himself!!!!! The food was delicious. Tom and friends read more

Incredible food, great atmosphere! Gianni is an exceptional chef with great vision for quality and, great tasting dishes!

Food was tasty, I want more of it. Awesome atmosphere and friendly. Had a great experience... read more

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The most lovely little Italian spot. All plates came out exceptionally quick and our server Shona was very attentive but never overbearing. The owner stopped by our table and was very personable and really nailed in the experience. Skip the overhyped and overcrowded spots and stop by for a real Italian experience. This is the type of restaurant you want to visit. read more

Cafe Gianni - Shrimp with pesto - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

Un hermoso lugar sencillo pero hermoso y muy pintoresco. Su desayuno exquisito y su servicio de calidad . Lo recomiendo 100%

such a quaint Italian restaurant with excellent service by Shona and personal attendance of the Chef Gianni at our table. Tortelini with fungi was amazing! read more

Cafe Gianni - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

We went here for our wedding anniversary. I ordered seafood ravioli (lobster, scallop and shrimp) with a lemon sauce. Also had shrimp on top. It was absolutely delicious! It didn't have a strong lemon flavor. I say this in case the description throws you off. My husband ordered pasta with Tuscan style meat sauce. He loved it too. The bread was buttery and delicious. Service was very nice! Thought we were back in Italy. We ordered cannoli for dessert, better than we had in New York. read more

The food is incredible!! The rigatoni arrabiata is to die for and you can adjust the spicy level! The owner is awesome, and you can tell he really loves what he does. Their tiramisu melts in your mouth, definitely the best in town! I wish they delivered!! read more

The service and food were incredible! It was our first time but not the last. Everyone on our group loved their meals! Incredibly authentic Italian right in the heart of Mount Dora read more

Cafe Gianni - Purse pasta with 4 cheeses and pear, with shrimp in a light sauce - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

Extraordinarily homemade pasta,salad, and appetizers in a cozy setting inside, or outdoor seating in lovely downtown Mt Dora by Lake Dora- dinner for two with four glasses of wine around 100.00! Service and meal presentation is upscale and chef/owner Gianni is on hand to make it fun and memorable. read more

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The pollo piccata was delicious! Cozy ambiance with pleasant background music. My server, Celeste, was very personable and professional.

Met some friends here for lunch. First time eating at Cafe Giannis. Food was excellent and the service was wonderful. Don't miss if you happen to be in Mount Dora. read more

Let's talk about the food. I haven't been to an Italian restaurant where the food was as amazing as this place. The ambiance was very nice. The chef came out to see us. The service was outstanding and very helpful. So if you're ever in Mount Dora and you're looking for Italian food, this is the place. read more

The best Italian restaurant we've found. Chef Gianni is great to talk with and excellent at his craft. His staff is talented and displays a work ethic rarely seen on display nower days. All four nights we had fabulous dinners and attentive staff in this lovely cafe. We look forward to dining there again on August 1 at 7:00PM. Thank you! Andrew + Barbara Paul read more

My favorite place to eat in Mt Dora. Wonderfully creative dishes. The frutti di mare is wonderful! Eggplant rollatini, salmon penne, salmon carpaccio, and bruschetta are superb. Every time I go, there is something wonderful to try. Desserts are fantastic -- cannoli is spot on. Great wine selection and just lovely people. Chef Gianni always comes out personally to make sure everything is perfect. Wonderful for date night or a group of friends. read more

Stopped in with my Husband for dinner while visiting the area, I wish this restaurant was in our hometown! The service was great, the chef came to our table to make recommendations and check on our satisfaction, everything was perfection. My husband likes a little spicy kick and everything from the appetizer clams to his entree were cooked to order with the perfect amount of heat. Definitely recommend the house made tiramisu and espresso to end the meal! read more

Cafe Gianni - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

I really wish i was able to rate a 10! Firstly the ambiance and decor of the restaurant is so serene and romantic. Heather was a great host/server. Very attentive, very knowledgeable of the menu and offered amazing suggestions. Chef Gianni checked on us as well and made sure we were happy with all the food!! the tomato soup was the best we've had. cappuccino and dessert. As a newer mount dora local. Cafe Gianni is by far our favorite in all of central florida. -Also note i am sharing photos my daughter is obsessed with parmigian cheese so her's is covered in it. Ps we also ordered cannolis to take home . very good!! highly recommend read more

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My fist time here. I loved it!!! Their tomato soup was so delicious and I enjoyed their eggplant rollatini. Ali was a wonderful and attentive Soviet with a warm smile. I invite you all to come and enjoy the food here. Bon appétit ! read more

Cafe Gianni - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

Went there for a quick snack and had the soup. The server was super sweet and very attentive. But the soup was incredibly salty. My friends had a bunch of their pasta dishes and absolutely loved it, and the bread was amazing!! Based on whath my friend said I would try again and have a pasta instead. read more

Cafe Gianni - Pasta e fagioli - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

Fabulous! Can't wait to return! The quality and quantity is perfectly priced. The staff is warm and welcoming.

We come to Mt Dora every year for the craft fair in October. When we arrive Friday night we head straight to Gianni's restaurant. The servers are always friendly and knowledgeable. The food is wonderful!! Chef Gianni always welcomes his customers personally and walks around to talk with them. There is indoor and outdoor seating that gives a quaint atmosphere. You do not have to yell over people and can enjoy your delicious meal! Bravo!! V and T read more

Superb! I called for a special dinner request for my brother who had major surgery and my sister in laws birthday which was the 1st day home from the hospital. I asked if I could have a dinner delivered to their home in Mt. Dora since I lived 600 miles away. Not only did Gianni say YES but he said he would personally take care of it. I also requested he pick the dinner menu. It was beyond perfect. My brother and SIL were totally surprised by the dinner and by Gianni personally delivering it to them. I was told I could not have done better with the perfect surprise after a hard 1st day home from the hospital. The dinner was scrumptous. The meal started with Caprese, Bruschetta, 2 incredible entrees and ended with Cannoli's & Tiramisu. I wish we had an Italian restaurant like Gianni's where we live! read more

As a lover of Italian food I was eager to try this place. We were greeted out front by Gianni, the chef, and given a table inside. This quaint restaurant features seating inside and out. A delicious basket of warm fresh garlic bread started the meal. We opted for the bruschetta as an appetizer. It was fresh, served on great bread and creamy mozzarella. For our entrees we ordered the Roasted Vegetable Ravioli and the signature dish, Sachettini. The signature dish was purse pasta filled with cheese and pear, served with shrimp in a wine cream sauce. Both were good portions, arrived quickly and tasted great. The purses were an interesting flavor with the sweetness from the beads. The ravioli had a great flavor of roasted veggies. We are looking forward to stopping by more often as we are new town residents. This is a great little Italian place with a chef who was raised and trained in Italy. read more

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Small and cozy Italian restaurant in downtown Mount Dora. Decent pricing and creative selection of pasta with friendly service. read more

Cafe Gianni - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

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For the past two Sundays, we've moved around our schedule so that we could try Cafe Gianni, as we were told that the food was good. Their website, signs on the door, and voicemail, all said that they open at 11am. Last week, waited until 11:30, and it never opened. This week, we called the night before to make sure that they would be open. The guy on the phone assured us that they would be open at 11. Again we waited, and they were not open. Seems very unprofessional to state a business open time and not follow it. read more