Our compliments to the chef! What an excellent early dinner! I highly recommend this restaurant. The decor is giving cozy Italian restaurant vibes, which is exactly what it is. We couldn't decide what to order, so we ate family-style, and they graciously brought extra plates for everyone. We ordered: Meatball appetizer (great texture and flavor, came with tomato sauce) Small Caesar salad- cold, crispy lettuce with silky dressing, just a hint of anchovy Garlic bread, crispy cheese on top with marinara sauce, so good Lobster ravioli- I haven't had a chance to try it; by the time I was looking for it, it was gone Braised beef ravioli- divine, creamy sauce, not too much filling, perfect texture. 10/10 Osso bucco- the best I've ever had; so flavorful but not overwhelming. The side veggies were great; they helped balance the tasty risotto and the tender beef. And veal marsala - again 10/10 And of course we could not leave without dessert, so we had: Chocolate mousse - perfection! The chocolate flavor is deep and velvety, with a hint of whipped cream. My daughter was afraid that she would not have enough whipped cream, but there was a small amount on the bottom of the cup; I mean, only a mousse lover would understand this level of attention to detail Crispy apple tart- the apples were amazing, enough cinnamon, not too sweet; my only complaint would be that it is maybe too crispy from the caramel (hard on the teeth) and not enough almond slices. Coffee cream brulee - another smooth operator! Amazing balance of sweetness and bitterness. Oh, one more thing: I also had the virgin elderberry flower smash, and I wish it had a little more flower essence, but I might be spoiled because my Mom used to make syrup from scratch. I don't know if I'll ever revisit this place, but again, I highly recommend eating here. Also, everyone was super friendly and kind, and the service wasn't overbearing but very attentive. read more

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Great option for Italian. We came in and saw four well behaved dogs inside. We didn't have reservations on a weeknight but we were able to get seated. We got some gamberetti to start and shared sand dabs and papas pasta pescatore. The gaberetti had a generous amount of prawns but not that many artichokes. Sand Dabs were quite delicious filling. The pescatore was a great choice too. Be aware of 3% credit fee. read more

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Really loved this place. It wasn't too stuffy, and from the second we were greeted at the entrance until the last second wee were there, everyone on their team was fantastic. I'd recommend getting reservations, as while we were there, the place got pretty full. Everyone on the team truly was great, so much so, that I'm reiterating it already. The food was delicious as well. Everything we had a chance to try was really good. We got some appetizers, and they each were good. I wanted some more but had to be cognizant of the fact that I ordered an entree and still had to leave room for it. I'm glad I did; as much as I enjoyed the appetizers, I enjoyed my main dish even more. I got a veal marsala and it was delicious. Bite after bite went into my mouth and I liked the combo of flavors. I'd go back again. read more

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Came here for dinner with my mom during the week. Reservations are still highly recommended even during the week. The service was friendly, but a little slow even though it wasn't super busy. Maybe it's the true Italian way to take your time and enjoy a good meal. I ordered the chicken piccata and it was delicious. The chicken was cooked to perfection, super tender and juicy. It's a little loud in the restaurant, but they do have outdoor seating with heaters available. I'd come back again next time in town. It's a nice little restaurant. read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Chicken Piccata - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

After a long day of walking around Carmel, we decided to check this place out. Our server told us the fryer wasn't working so that was sad :( However the pasta palermo made up for it! It came with so much sausage and the pasta was al dente with the perfect red sauce. The chicken florentine ravioli was stuffed and so creamy. read more

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Wonderful birthday dinner with family. My family and I enjoyed a wonderful dining experience - I highly recommend this place. We enjoyed several small plates together and our entrees. The dinner started with warm toasted garlic bread, a half order of chicken Florentine raviolis, and the burrata prosciutto. For entrees - we ordered the chicken parmagaina, butternut raviolis, chicken fettucine alfredo, and the special stuffed sole. All of our food came out hot and fresh. Very tasty! The service was absolutely top notch. The owners were on the floor, greeting and serving the customers. They brought out a piece of chocolate cake for our daughter, who was celebrating her birthday. We met both of the owners who were very warm, kind, and friendly. The gentlemen introduced himself and asked if we needed anything. He spent a few minutes telling me about the history of the restaurant and his family. I'll be back! read more

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We made reservations late, so got an outside table, which was a side alley that they fixed up to be a patio. The propane heater kept us plenty warm. The Braised Beef ravioli was really good, and the chocolate mousse was definitely worth it. read more

Cute little place with excellent food. The staff were attentive and efficient. It's a huge menu but they nailed everything. read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

Good vegetarian option in Carmel as they can convert some foods to vegetarian. Had pasta Palermo and Fettucine Alfredo. Quick service and nice ambience. read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Pasta Palermo - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

We arrived tonight for dinner at 6:00. Kelly the owner's daughter greeted us with warmth... a fabulous table and just pure class... so rare today... our first time ever there! Table was leveled... so rare today... beautifully set! Waiter was spot on ... took drink order... allowed ample time never rushed ... dinner delivered... absolutely perfect timing... from start to finish! Food better than anything experienced in five trips to Italy! I can say without hesitation or reservation, this has been the best dinning experience ever... and we have traveled the world! read more

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The food at Giovanni's is delicious!!! We came here last year on a family trip and 3/5 of us got the Oaso Bucco and I couldn't recommend it enough. This trip I decided to be different and try pasta, I was torn between 3 dishes (bolognese, carbonara, and braised beef ravioli). I went with the beef ravioli and it was absolutely the right choice! If you're coming to Carmel, you should consider this spot for dinner. We will continue to come back. PS they have blue cheese olives with their martinis, win!! read more

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Made early dinner reservations here for Saturday night and the place was pretty empty. I guess people eat late in Carmel. We ordered the Frito Misto appetizer which includes prawns, artichoke and calamari. Unfortunately our calamari was really tough and when we mentioned it to our server she graciously removed it from the check. Our entrees Frito de Mare and Goat Cheese Ravioli were delicious and visually appealing. To our surprise our sever brought us a delectable chocolate tiramisu to celebrate our wedding. This is a great spot to enjoy a relaxing meal in beautiful Carmel. read more

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Stumbled across this gem after we canceled a different reservation for bad weather, and couldn't have been happier. Everything was great, we walked i and were instantly greeted and helped by Mr. Giovanni himself! The food all came out hot fresh and tasty. I would definitely go back and would recommend this place read more

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Tons of GF options, including cheese bread! The staff were knowledgeable and very nice! It's a cute little place. read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

Went here on our last night at Carmel and had a nice time. The carbonara (4/5) was good. The tiramisu (3.5/5) was fine but I just wish it had a stronger coffee taste. Service was nice too. A solid Italia place in Carmel. read more

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I love u Carmel bistro Giovanni you treat me so good every time. Such good service and food. Thanks for the complimentary mousse desert!! read more

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O.M.G !!! This has got to be one of the best meals i have ever had in my entire life! Me and my sisters came out from sacramento to carmel to enjoy its beauty, and im so glad our hotel was nearby this place. We ordered calamari, meatballs, chicken alfredo, mama mia plate, and a lasagna plate + dessert. Service was amazing out servers name was george and he made our trip to carmel amazing. Everything came out nice and hot. Me and my sisters rate every meal we have together and this was a 100/100. I would love to come back thank you so much to everyone at this establishment. read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Chicken Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

Bistro Giovanni was located within 2 blocks from our hotel and we walked passed it a couple times walking to the main downtown area. We looked at the posted menu each time and said "we should eat here" each time. We were tired one evening and said let's go here since it was close by and the menu looked great. Nicely designed exterior entrance with comfortable lightly European designed interior. Pet friendly restaurant with heated exterior patio tables. We were seated right away by the hostess who I would have to say was extremely welcoming and gracious. I did not get her name but she made the evening fantastic as she brought drinks to us and did many other tasks you don't normally see a Hostess do. She's a hard worker for sure. That being said the entire restaurant staff seemed to hustle which showed us these folks are proud of their establishment. Started with drinks. Espresso Martini and Pear Cosmo. Very healthy pours for sure and they did not skimp on the booze. Very nice! We were still deciding on entrees but waiter asked if we wanted a starter he could get that going while we were deciding on the entrees. Really appreciated the effort so we didn't have to wait with an "empty table". Got their Steamers Clams and Mussels starter. Great flavor and the broth! You have to get bread to soak up all the juices. (they did charge $3 for bread, but it was worth it) They had an Osso Buco and Veal ravioli special we ordered and the Paella. Ravioli was perfectly cooked with just enough sauce. Don't like overly sauced pasta dishes. Paella was very good but just a bit of liquid in the pan. Probably could have cooked a little bit longer to absorb all the liquid. Regardless, plenty of mussels, clams, shrimp with just a few pieces of tender chicken. Note I think Mr. Giovanni wearing black hat and jacket was walking around the restaurant as well. read more

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About 7 of us dined here for dinner tonight. I will say. We've eaten at almost every restaurant in Carmel,PG and Pebble and this restaurant was by far top 5 we've ever eaten at. It was an all around wonderful experience. Clam chowder, Cesar salad, salmon, rib-eye, gnocchi, wine, bar drinks, I can't recall what my in laws had, but they raved about their dinner too! The service was A+. Everyone was so kind, we didn't really even get asked anything it was just done. We will be back for Italian and tell everyone we know about our experience here! Thank You Giovanni for such a nice evening. read more

my family and I visited this restaurant last year when we took my mother-in-law for a special caramel vacation... Their food is absolutely amazing and their service staff is very attentive. We all got different items for dinner and everybody enjoyed it. There were no complaints or things we did not enjoy. We ended up being a large party and they were extremely accommodating, able to get us in quickly and we had a comfortable spot to sit. It's a simply but beautifully decorated restaurant and was very clean and welcoming. We will definitely be back on our next trip! read more

We picked this cute restaurant because they serve gluten free with no cross contamination. We had the gluten free garlic cheese toast which was divine. I had the cioppino which was the best I've ever had. It's even better than mine! My husband and our daughter had the filet mignon and they said it was excellent. Crème Brûlée for dessert was so creamy and delicious. The service was great they were so attentive. read more

Had a great dinner at Bistro Giovanni. We had a reservation and were seated at a nice quiet table at the back of the restaurant. We ordered some drinks and as entrees we had the lamb shank and the cannelloni. The lamb shank was great, really good sauce and the meat fell off the bone and was very tender. Combination of meat, veggies and sauce made for some delicious bites. The cannelloni were also good. Lots of cheese and a nice filling. As dessert we got the chocolate mousse. It was very rich and chocolatey. Could have been a bit mite airy, but still a great dessert. Some nice paintings in the restaurant and dim lighting make it a great spot for a romantic dinner. Staff were friendly and attentive. read more

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Very friendly, very accommodating the bread was excellent. The food was very good but definitely go back there again as a matter fact this was our second time we were there two years ago and remembered it is being excellent. They are consistent. read more

Amazing!!!! We've walked by so many times and talked about trying Bistro Giovanni's and finally did it for my sister's birthday a couple of weeks ago. Am I glad we did. We had my dogs so we sat on their side patio. Super cute and perfect for el fresco dining. The food was so good. I almost want to say special, it was that good. They are so nice and really make you feel wanted immediately upon sitting down to dine. We will definitely be adding this to our go to restaurants in Carmel. read more

Wow! What a great night. The service and food was spectacular! My wife is gluten free and the bread and pasta were amazing!!! See Frannie for your service and while you're there and thank Chef Fernando for his amazing menu and execution! We will be back! read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - GF Pasta Piccata - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

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I had a lovely dinner at Bistro Giovanni last night. I started with a glass of Pinot Grigio and the Caesar salad. The portion was small and the croutons seemed store bought but I liked the homemade dressing. I then had a glass of the Sangiovese and the Scampi. It came in a red sauce which was unexpected. There were small shrimp in addition to the jumbo shrimp, also unexpected. There also was a sliver of baked lemon, also unexpected. The dish was tasty but left me hungry. I wish the restaurant offered free bread to sop up the sauce. If eating early beware of tables by the sidewalk as the sun may be hot on your back until they close the blinds. Nice atmosphere and great service. One of the better choices in town if you're looking for good Italian food. I was tired and forgot to take photos. read more

My girlfriend and I visited Carmel's Bistro Giovanni for our second anniversary tonight, we had been once before on one of our first dates two years ago and loved it! Absolutely amazing: food, service, and atmosphere (added bonus for the real candle at the table.) We shared the bruschetta and calamari to start, both were great but the calamari was just amazing. For dinner, I had the Pasta Palermo and my girlfriend had the gnocchi. Both were also amazing. Finally, a thank you to the couple celebrating their 31st anniversary who bought our dinner for us! That was so sweet of you all, we really appreciate it! Also, we received a complimentary coffee chocolate cake (tiramisu-ish) for dessert as a celebration for our anniversary! It was also amazing. Highly highly recommend Carmel's Bistro Giovanni for anyone looking for a great Italian meal at a great location with great food and great service! read more

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We are in Carmel by the Sea, first place for dinner Bistro Giovanni. My wife had Veal Piccata and it was delicious. I had Cioppino. Broth was nice and light with good flavor. They used bay scallops, little disappointed. Clams and Mussels were good. Wasn't there best cioppino but still very good. read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Cioppino - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

This restaurant was the highlight of our Carmel trip! From the moment we walked in the service was outstanding. You could tell that the host and our server genuinely cared about our experience. Then came the food, which was out of this world. Truly, we have had a lot of good Italian food, but this place really took the cake. I can't recommend this enough. Whether you have gluten allergies or not, there is something for everyone. I personally have a lot of allergies and not only were they beyond accommodating, but the food tasted just like the rest of the tables. Not pictured is the Caesar salad, which was outstanding . Can't recommend coming here enough. Thank you to the great host and serve server for making it such a special experience! read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Cauliflower gnocchi and pasta piccata - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

It's been over 2 years since our last review. On this visit the ambiance, food and service was as great as previous. We had 6 PM reservations and were immediately seated at a comfortable two person window table. Our server Kelly was friendly and attentive. The complementary starter of crusty bread with a tomato tapenade was excellent. The Grandmas salad was loaded with fresh vegetables. The entrée of Sand Dabs were lightly breaded and sautéed in lemon sauce. They were tender melt in your mouth. The fresh vegetables were perfectly cooked al dente and the mashed potatoes smooth and creamy Again we had a satisfying dining experience. read more

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We enjoyed some nice, homestyle Italian food at this spot in Carmel by the Sea. We started off with the garlic bread which was cheesy and delicious and came with marinara sauce. I had the chicken parmesan, which I really enjoyed. They were very generous with the chicken portions, and it was baked (instead of fried). I thought it could use a little more pasta to balance out the chicken, though I liked that it came with a side of vegetables. The pasta carbonara was also delicious. The restaurant is dimly lit and cozy. read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Chicken parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

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We ordered two pasta bowls for four people and that was plenty and almost more than enough!!! The food was absolutely delicious and quite tasty!!! My only complaint is that the waiter was not attentive at all. He never once came by to ask how anything it was in the middle or even after dinner and I had to wave somebody down because my waiter couldn't be bothered to even give me eye contact for water refills. The food was delicious, but the service was subpar. read more

Loved dining here!! Ambiance was intimate and cozy (does get a bit loud during dinner time, but we were also seated next to a large group). The staff was very attentive and friendly. The owner also checked up on us during our meal and on our way out, which was so sweet! Can tell this place is family-run. As for the food, we absolutely loved the burrata prosciutto appetizer and creme brulee! The bolognese, halibut, and chicken were also delicious. Will definitely be returning here the next time I'm in Carmel :) read more

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Got lobster ravioli, cioppino, osu buco and garlic bread plus two manhattans and two glasses of red wine. Best thing was lobster ravioli. Osu buco was dry and cioppino was brothy as described but lacked depth in flavor. Also the bay scallops were lack luster. I'm used to a richer both like Scomas. This didn't deliver. Won't be back. Service was good though. read more

We've been here several times, and really enjoy it. The food, the service, the ambiance are all excellent.

Everything went well!! Starting with our perfect table in the window and server Alderberto... exceptional.. He understood "dining" which is what we wanted to do... the food was exceptional and the very charismatic owner who personally checked in with us made this experience even more enjoyable... and the BREAD!!! OMG!!! We will go back just for that!! Its local accessible and worth it... thank you read more

Overall not bad and I might have ordered the wrong stuff. We ordered the crab cakes, crab ravioli and calamari. Calamari was good, crab cakes were alright and the ravioli was average to me. The ravioli was cooked well it was the sauce that threw me off. It was not my favorite flavor sauce so not to say someone that's into that flavor sauce wouldn't love the dish. If we returned I'd get something different. I'd probably try the linguini and clams or the calamari. read more

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If you're visiting Carmel and you have Celiac and you want a delicious Italian meal, Bistro Giovanni is a must go. First the menu is expansive. Many gluten free options, and they will make most dishes gluten free if you ask. The wait staff is well versed on gluten allergies, and the restaurant's protocols are spot on. Someone in this restaurant's family must have Celiac because they are laser focused on gluten free cooking and protocol ie: cross contamination. We went with a non Celiac couple and they loved their meals. Now getting to the food. Started with brochette and an artichoke. Delicious, then had garlic bread and minestrone soup. So good. My main course was veal parmigiana and my wife had veal Marsala. Very good. Great taste, served with gluten free pasta and veggies. The marinara was excellent. Finished with an affogato with a gluten free cookie. Since my diagnosis I have not experienced a better meal than I did last night at Bistro Giovanni. I'd like to personally thank the owner for providing a safe environment for our Celiac community, I wish I lived closer so I could go more often. read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Veal parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

One of our favorite dinners in Carmel. Great food, amazing owners and staff. We ordered the chicken parm, bolognese, chianti, and bruschetta appetizer. Everything came out delicious. We couldn't be happier with our night out at Carmel's and cannot wait to come back on our next trip. read more

Best tiramisu in Carmel, service was friendly and efficient, outdoor dining with heated lamps