First time here and will definitely be back. Wine was good, food was great and service was outstanding. Finally found a good place for fresh Italian food with great atmosphere. Our compliments to the Chef. read more

Looking for a good italian restaurant and found Cafe Gianni here in Mount Dora. You can sit inside , outside or upstairs. We ordered the bruchetta as an appetizer, it was delicious, a bit soggy but the flavor was great. For dinner we ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese and the Linguini something or other, forgot the actual name. They both get two thumbs up very flavorful. The food is great, I enjoyed every bite. The reason I give it 3 stars is the service and the price. The servers looked like they really didn't want to be there. Service was very slow, very slow, some people sat outside and left, because nobody served them. Maybe it was late in the day and the servers wanted to go home...7pm. It's also a bit pricey for pasta. But if money is no object and you have patience, come visit Cafe Gianni, you will enjoy the food. read more

Cafe Gianni - Rigatoni Bolognese and linguine, delicious! - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

Excellent! We loved the great dishes. The chef is excellent and Adam , our waiter, is the best!

Great food. Main dishes where limited in selection. They have a unique bread that is served at the table...was delicious.The service was excellent. The obiance was casual and comfortable. read more

Cafe Gianni - Great salad at Gianni's - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

We had an outstanding early dinner at Cafe Gianni. The food was fresh and flavorful; the service was attentive and friendly. We are already planning our next visit. read more

Cafe Gianni - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Mount Dora, Florida

One star is too many. The salad had browning lettuce and dressing looked like it was squeezed from a bottle. I could not even eat my pasta dish. The odor was so bad I had to push the plate across the table to not have to smell it. The bread showed up with the meal and was weird and tasteless. Coke was okay but no refill offered. Over priced! Olive Garden runs circles around this place! read more

My wife and I walked in on a Sunday afternoon for lunch. We are working our way through all the restaurants in downtown Mt. Dora. I was wondering if they would have a separate lunch menu versus the dinner menu because I recall walking by previously and thinking the dinner menu was pricey. Unfortunately this was not the case and the reason for 4 stars versus 5. The food was very good. I was looking for something light and ordered the eggplant in the appetizer section, as well as the Caprese salad. Both were wonderful. My wife ordered a alfredo chicken, spinach, dish and I ate the last few bites. Excellent. We sat downstairs inside. The server (only one) said we could look upstairs as well when my wife inquired. I walked up there, but it was warm and there was a vacuum cleaner out in the middle of the tables, and it didn't look very inviting. When it gets a little cooler out, sitting outside would be very nice. My only suggestion for Gianni's is to update their décor inside. This place could look so much quainter than it does. The chef has the food down pat, but a fresh update inside would make it appear like it's not on the decline. read more

We stumbled upon this place on a random date night. We will Be back for sure! We split chicken Marsala. Was very good. Chef came out to check on our meal as well. read more

Why travel to Italy to have "truly authentic" Italian cuisine, when we are blessed to have Chef Gianni right here in Mt. Dora? My wife and I had dinner last night and can't stop thinking about how good Cafe Gianni is! We should know, having just traveled to Italy in September. I had Chef Gianni's signature dish Sacchetini and only wish I could have shown restraint and saved some for today! My wife ordered Veal Capricciese an amazing combination of fresh veal, mild Italian sausage, "fresh" mozzarella in marinara ragu with side of "fresh" spaghetti.... AMAZING!! Chef Gianni is a warm and welcoming host and takes the time to visit tables to insure everyone is happy and taken care of! TOTALLY worth the drive from Orlando to visit Cafe Gianni or if in the area make this your place for Italian cuisine. Thanks for a great date night, Chef! Bon Apetit read more

Good place with a few nicks. Stopped in for dinner and got a seat outside. Drinks came fast but wine serving was pretty small, a tad disappointed in that. Ordered the Sacchettini and the Cobia Fettuccine and got served pretty quickly. Cobia was really good and the Sacchettini was really a good combination but serving size left me a little hungry. Waited so long for a server to get our check we ended up having to go inside and find someone. Not the server's fault as they had a party going on upstairs but regardless of that, there were still customers downstairs and should of staffed accordingly. Probably would of been 5 stars if not for the portion size and rough ending. Overall a good experience and enjoyed the creative dishes and presentation. read more

I have to admit, that I had one of the most amazing memorable moments with my family for lunch at Cafe Gianni. We arrived early on a Monday just as the restaurant was opening for lunch. We sat outside where Chef Gianni was there to greet us. Let me say this guy has an incredible personality and his skills of cuisine match his personality. We had his popular dish, and tried his recommended specials for the day. We were absolutely blown away by the food and the pairings of wine. Now I am certain it is impossible for Chef Gianni to be everywhere at once to greet, but we were so grateful to have met him and taste his wonderful food. I absolutely recommend dining at Cafe Gianni. If you are unable to have the great opportunity as we did to meet Chef Gianni. Don't fret, as the wonderful food he cooks carries the same wonderful personality, flavor, and zest that Chef Gianni is. We all agreed and told the chef that his food tickled our souls! A must go Great place!!!! read more

Ordered two meals yesterday through doordash. Food arrived prompty and the salads were good, that's where it ended. My veal was had a mush coating and my husbands chicken was so tough he couldn't eat it. We both were given about two pounds of pasta with our meals...tiny piece of meat each. We were going to go there for dinner but after that display...nope, will find a new Italian restaurant to go to. I don't believe the owner really cares. read more

This place is truly authentic Italian! Cute little small business, and cozy! I've been searching for an Italian place that could emulate the carbonara I had in actual Italy, and this place is the closest I've come. Servers were great, chef came out and checked on us and was super sweet. Overall AMAZING! Def call ahead for a reservation on a busy night (weekends). read more

Terrific place. Food excellent. Service top notch. Relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. Nothing not to like!!! read more

The food was very good, but the wine selection could use some work and the beer was not cold. Plus the AC was broken. But we ate outside on a Saturday night and enjoyed watching the wine and beer club crowd pass by. read more

I have been dining with Gianni for years. Now he makes my daughter's favorite meal, even when it is not on the menu. His pasta is the best! Thank you Gianni, your food is great! read more

Came back again this year...The food was impeccable (consistent, delicious, and fresh- as usual). The waiter was exceedingly charming! The host was very nice and helpful. Overall, excellent food and attentive service. Can't wait to come back. read more

I'm giving this restaurant a 4 star because the food. I had a chicken prosciutto dish and it was really good, the appetizer - a soup was also good. Also really fast service- we got out entrees within 15 minutes. However, I'm not sure how this restaurant runs but the poor server was struggling with about 10 tables all on his own (on a Sunday afternoon). Good thing I am a server myself and I know how it is sometimes because some people just got up and left.. The thing that baffled me is that he was running back and forth struggling to make his tables happy while another employee sat at the bar watching literally doing nothing.. read more

Our first time here and we will be back. I like authentic Carbonara. It's hard to find at Italian restaurants. This was great. True Carbonara with no cream sauce like most places. It was made with eggs and prosciutto. So good!!everyones dinner was so good that we all ate it all. No take home boxes. Our service was great. Brian took good care of us. The owner/chef came to see us and we expressed our appreciation for the great meals. read more

This restaurant is WAY too expensive for what they give. The food was okay, plates were big enough to split between two people. $30 for an appetizer and one meal. I added a $5 tip only because the staff checked on us maybe three times during our entire 1 1/2 hour long meal (the food took almost the entire duration of that to get to us) and they charged me $6 more than what was on my bill + what I tipped, so I ended up paying $41 somehow. They also took 20 minutes to return our credit cards to our table, even though there were only 3 other tables filled in the entire restaurant. This place is not worth it. read more

Just love this place! We visit the area once a year, and we've gone back to this restaurant every time. The food and service is always excellent. Love sitting outside and enjoying a great meal. Will definitely being going back the next time we are visiting Mount Dora! read more

Awesome service and food. Would recommend and will be a returning customer.servers were courteous and attentive, very good value.

I'm not sure how this place got such rave reviews. We went last night and was very disappointed. Three of us got the Rigatoni Bolognese and it was water downed and lacking the robust flavor that should accompany a good Bolognese sauce. Sadly, I compared it to Chef Boyardee. The salad was nothing but tomatoes on top of spring mix salad with little dressing for a hefty price. The other person got the Chicken Cacciatore. She said it was better than our dish, but I wouldn't say she was thrilled either. Bottom line is its expensive for mediocre Italian food. Olive Garden is even better than this place. read more

Simply amazing! Ordered their signature dish, Sachettini Pasta and it was absolutely delicious . Everything from the service to the food was exceptional. Can't wait to go back ! read more

Good food, good atmosphere and a chef committed to making sure everyone enjoys their dining experience

Just a great lunch!! And the server JJ was amazing!! The bruschetta is just perfect!!! The sauce is incredible!!

Never been so rudely treated. Walked in and abruptly informed that they were not seating. No information as how to get reservation. Empty tables w other diners present. No offer to stay and wait w drinks. Staff turned around before we could ask questions and left. Must not care to lose local and steady customers. Definitely can find other welcoming places in downtown dora. read more

The Bed & Breakfast recommended this place that we did not know existed. She said he was from Italy. We could not believe how inexpensive his prices were for dinner $18-$22. We started off with Caesar Salad with his own homemade salad dressing. I practically begged for him to bottle it. I had the roasted pepper sausage appetizer. We had his signature pear pasta, Homemade not the pear pasta imported from Italy that I had elsewhere. I thought my mother made the best Veal Marsala... Sorry Mom. Topped off the evening with Tiramisu. We love Tiramisu. Gianni said even he was impressed how good it turned out explaining that humidity and temperature and other factors affect the final result. I was a baker for 10 years and Rachael Ray brought the Food Network to me so I KNOW baking. I had an out of body experience with this tiramisu. I have NEVER had the lady fingers so light and airy and the Mascarpone was from another planet. The whole meal 2 appetizers, 2 main courses and the desert (with take home) was only $71. The previous night at another restaurant was over $100. We are going back and will eat there again 2 or 3 times. Hands down Italy has moved to Mount Dora read more

Great food. Small business. Authentic Italian. Great pasta dishes and antipasti. Meet the owners they'll greet you in Italian. Thanks for a great meal! We were so full after our meal. Great portions. read more

I had the privilege of eating dinner here tonight. While I would not describe this restaurant as "kid friendly", they were very accommodating to are large party including my young children. The wine was good. They had an array to choose from. The service was very good. They were on top of our table and made sure to respond to us in a timely manner. But, most importantly, the food was exceptional! Best pasta dish I've had in my entire life!!!! I can't speak for the rest of the table, but the saganoki (sp?) was insane! Pursed pasta filled with cheese and pear (sounds strange, but incredible) with a white wine reduction sauce and shrimp. Amazing!!!!!! The bruschetta was tasty too. The other dishes seemed good, but didn't seem as original. I loved loved loved this! It also was nice that the chef/owner came to check on our table and didn't seem to mind our picky children and their need for more bread! read more

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Newly opened in downtown Mt Dora, FL. What a refreshing change from what people think Italian has to be. I had Caesar salad , the best I had with the exception of one I had at the Broadmoor hotel. For my main course it was Chicken cacciatore, with pasta. The sauce was light and full flavor, all with the freshest ingredients. Ended with the chocolate cake triple layered, WOW! read more

What A shame, Me and my 11yr old son who is severe autism just loved this place. But today after an almost 3 month hiatus the service was bad they usually let him sit upstairs but they wouldn't this time. And the food was just bathed in olive oil very poor quality not at all what it was like before. Just plain awful, and the whole time the wait staff just kept asking if we were ready for a box felt like we were being pushed out the door. What a shame. read more

About 45 minutes to close after we walked over 3 miles because Yelp sent us on a residential tour they refused to serve us. I do not recommend even trying to find this place. read more

I've been wanting to go to this place for quite some time now, living in Mount Dora for the past year. We came in on a Friday for dinner without reservations and were seated upstairs. The setting is quaint, intimate and romantic. Our waiter was extremely attentive and knowledgeable suggesting detailed menu items with wine pairings. We decided to get an appetizer and split a meal. We were informed of a small "split-fee" for around $4 or so which was understandable--the portions for certain meals are very generous! The quality of the food was rich and decadent and very filling. The prices were a bit** high and I only say this because for a place that claims to be authentic Italian, they only offer some dishes with their house made pasta. I think they should make all their pasta in house rather than some, for that cost. Overall this was a nice experience, I would go back for the quality and ambiance when I am in the mood for Italian. I am also looking forward to trying their lobster ravioli next time I go! Yum! read more

I gave Gianni's Authentic Italian a five star review because it was honestly the very best Italian food I have had in Florida. The meals were simple and expertly executed. Pasta was al dente, hot and fresh, obviously made to order, with absolutely fantastically flavored in the sauces. The seasoning was incredible. The atmosphere of Gianni's is casual, but with understated elegance, and service is professional, more European in its manner, but in the heart of downtown Mount Dora. That alone is enough to get me to return there, often. But this part makes it even better. The owner-chef Gianni, is a true human being, who likes to come out and talk to you, checking to see if every dish was well done. On the day we visited in late August 2016, He was heading home to Italy, for a brief return after the recent earthquake near his hometown, and did some fundraising at Gianni's committing the proceeds of his specially prepared dish to take to the people of Italy in their relief efforts. Unfortunately lives were lost in the earthquake, but fortunately Chef Gianni was quite certain about his mission to help. I give this business 5 stars and 3 hearts. . You will love it as do Rick and I. You will also want to return. read more

Amazing and authentic Italian food. My family and I are hard to please when it comes to food and we all give this place 5 stars!! Bread is amazing, I had pasta fagioli soup which was wonderful, the pasta with shrimp and four cheeses/pears was delicious! The right blend of creamy and a little pop of flavor with the pears. My husband had the rigatoni bolognese, the sauce was wonderful. Mom had spaghetti pomodoro and dad had spaghetti bolognese. All were a hit! For dessert we tried their tiramisu, because you can't pass up a 100-year-old family recipe passed down from an Italian great-grandmother. That would be insane! If you are ever in Mount Dora, make sure you don't pass this place by! read more

The food was excellent! Pear sauce? Odd but amazing. The complimentary bread was fresh with oil cooked in. I had them bring me butter because they Normally serve it without it. Friendly staff and relaxing, Romaric music. Loved it! I recommend it. A bit pricy, but they WILL serve 1/2 portions for most dishes. I had the wedge salad. BEST one ever. However, They wouldn't serve half portions for that. read more

We ate at Cafe Gianni the other night, sat upstairs in the cozy section (best ambiance) and had a delicious meal. My friend and I ordered Veal Marsala and it was perfect. My husband said his beef bolognese was delicious. Four happy diners. read more

When you are of Italian heritage and you feel that you have walked into "Grandma's kitchen", you know that you have found a gem. We were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary and could not have found a better restaurant to enjoy the evening. The staff was gracious, knowledgeable, friendly and very welcoming. The food was excellent. We have eaten in many good Italian restaurants over the years (originally from RI, the Italian restaurant capital of the North East), but this was our very best. The red sauce for the mussel appetizer was fantastic. Chicken prosciutto and Veal marsala were excellent. Served with a side of angel hair (our choice) that makes your taste buds come alive. Chef Gianni comes to your table to make sure everything is good. It was better than good, it was excellent. Next road trip to MT Dora will include another visit to this gem. read more

Nice little place - laid out like a cafe - roomy and casual. I started with a cup of pasta fagioli - one of my very favorite soups - unfortunately it was bland plus I don't care for cheese and there it was - would have been helpful if told ahead of time. We also had an order of brushetta - large pieces of bread with healthy tomato toppings but this too was bland and the bread not quite toasted enough. For the main course, I had the Pollo Vino Rosso which is chicken breast flattened, topped with pancetta in a wine reduction sauce. It must have had a bit of cream in it as I am lactose intolerant so it didn't sit well with me afterwards. My wife had a traditional clams in linguini sauce - we looked at each other with dismay when the waiter brought out a little cup for the clam shells - little cup means little shells which means very little clams (size of a nickel) in terms of meat and that was exactly the case. The linguini tasted salty too - it didn't seem to have to sauteed with the clam sauce. So all in all we were expecting better based on the reviews - little better than 3 stars but definitely not 4. The service was polite and attentive. read more

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