We had a hard time choosing which Italian restaurant to try while visiting Chattanooga, and ended up at Giardino. Overall, we enjoyed our meal. We went on a Monday night and it was pretty crowded but we were seated quickly. They give each table a big plate of bread with butter, which was delicious and a nice treat. I ordered the arancini to start with. I love arancini, and so many restaurants in Atlanta put meat in them. These were SO good, maybe my favorite arancini that I've had recently. Good ratio of risotto to cheese and nice and crispy. The sauce that came with them was really good too. I wish you got more for the cost, but it was comparable to every restaurant. I ordered the Pomodoro al Vegetariana but subbed penne for the spaghetti (just not a fan lol). The pasta was really good and perfectly cooked. The sauce was maybe a little too garlicky? There was a good ratio of pasta to veggies. I don't like mushrooms but they blended in enough that I could eat them. My gf got the Penne Toscana because she's allergic to garlic, so this was one of the few things she could eat. (Side note, one of the other local Italian restaurants we called basically said there was nothing she'd be able to eat there.) Some of the artichoke pieces were really chewy and the dish was very oily, otherwise she enjoyed it. The inside is very nice, cozy and not stuffy. Our waitress was super sweet. read more

Giardino - Saffron Arancini - Italian Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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Dined here for the second or third time yesterday. We arrived just before it got crazy busy on a Saturday evening. The wine was good, the food was tasty, the staff were friendly and attentive, the setting was comfortable and enjoyable. Really enjoyed co-owner Jake stopping by for a discourse on wine and music and the correlation between the two. The guy is knowledgeable and welcoming. He must be swamped but takes a few minutes to talk vino with guests. The wife and I appreciated that. I definitely recommend this place for a classy Italian meal. read more

I can't say enough about the quality of this place, and the convenience. The food is excellent, even down to the simplest things. Like the pizza, very good and I would qualify it more as Neapolitan than anything else. Our service was excellent as well - tumblers kept full, food delivered to the table hot, and the feel of this place was very relaxing. Their wine selection is excellent also! A special shout out to the sauce (gravy).... Super flavorful and naturally sweet. It does what good sauce should do - let the tomatoes speak for themselves! read more

Had a Stromboli, which was really a calzone. It was good. I'd get it again! The place was clean. People were nice. I was happy. read more

Some of the best Italian food we've probably have ever had!! So delicious and with great service. Very nice inside, a good blend of casual enough and fancy. We had the bruschetta, Cajun pasta, and spaghetti with meatball. Would highly recommend all! read more

Giardino - Spaghetti and meatballs, bruschetta, and Cajun Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

We LOVE Giardino so much!!! The food and service are not only consistent but stellar. The atmosphere is super warm, welcoming, and cozy. There is outside seating (covered) which is always a nice option. You truly cannot go wrong with any item on the menu, but some of my favorites are the lovely charcuterie board, the chicken piccata, and the salmon. Their salads are always on point, and the fresh made pasta is crazy delicious! If you want a truly wonderful dining experience, I cannot recommend Giardino enough!! read more

I came here for dinner with a friend before an event. We had a reservation and showed up a few minutes early and were seated immediately even though they were busy. Most people were dressed pretty casually, though I think you could come a bit dressier. It's nice inside and has a nice covered patio area with heaters for cooler days. As soon as we were seated we were brought a carafe of ice watar and bread. Our waitress was prompt in coming to ask if we wanted drinks or appetizers, neither of which we wanted, though there was a tiramisu martini that sounded divine. She told us the night's specials, both of which sounded delicious. Both my friend and I had the lobster pasta special. It was delicious, though the serving was not large. My favorite dessert is tiramisu, so of course I had to have it, and it was amazing. We didn't see our waitress again until it was time for our check, which was disappointing. The prices are a bit on the higher side for pasta, especially since the servings aren't that large. I'd be happy to try the restaurant again and next time I'll have the mushroom risotto. read more

Always well-prepared food, great wait staff and ambiance. Get there early, place fills up quickly. So far, my favorite Italian food in Chattanooga. read more

One could throw many educated and less so educated guesses at why Giardino is so popular. Maybe it's the copious amounts of hearty cheese filled American Italian classics that dominate the menu. It could be the reasonable prices. Others might come for the view. There is a sense of coziness and presence of home in this small restaurant. People, such as the waitress Nicole, are incredibly kind and go out of the way to make people happy. The lasagna here is a true highlight, with a tangy bolognese that is the star of the show. One of the best out there. The mushroom risotto is a large portion, but seems to have artificial truffle oil taste to it or something similar to it, which slightly offset the dish profile. The tiramisu is remarkable. The wine list is great with many interesting and inexpensive Italian bottles. Bottles are generally priced 2.5 to 3x retail, which is a bit above the common 2x multiplier found in restaurants of this caliber, but also not too unreasonable. Interior design is quaint, homey and tasteful. There is a view, which is likely better during the day than night. Windows are not small, but also not floor to ceiling and a bit high on the wall, so keep in mind that it may not be easy to see the actual view from the table. Giardino is a clear favorite of locals for many reasons and all of the reasons are very well deserved. Arrive hungry and enjoy the ride. read more

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Our new favorite place! We moved to Chattanooga this past year and my wife & I have been trying various Chattanooga restaurants. The food here was SO DELICIOUS! We loved everything. Our server was so helpful, attentive and cheery! We don't usually choose patio dining in the summer heat, but it was busy and I didn't call in a reservation until same-day. It was still pleasant with the nice view. A cat strolled through but didn't bother anyone. My wife loved the roasted carrots so much that she bought some at the grocery store for me to grill at home. Sadly mine did not measure up! The thing we're still talking about is the dessert special - chocolate cannolis. Filled with chocolate cream. SO DELICIOUS! Sadly they're not always on the menu. read more

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This was interesting...4.5 star reviews and we gave it a try based on that. This is a big space, with seating for over 120. The patio has nice view of the mountains but curtains are down... The booths are comfy and we had a nice seat by the patio window. In early at 6:00pm and glad we were early. Make a reservation as there was a line out the door at 7:30 The service was terrific throughout. Grady our primary server. Corkage is $15 The bread and flavored EVOO was a great start and we had high hopes based on the menu. My Casa Salad looked beautiful, but was drowned in poorly executed Caesar dressing. We ordered the Chicken Parmigiana - overly herbal breading overpowered the flavors (rosemary?). Cheese was barely noticeable and...well...unevenly cooked...see the pic. As another reviewer noted the Rigatoni a la Gorgonzola was basically rigatoni in vodka sauce. No sign of the cheese. Certainly not what I expected. Pasta was cooked well but the whole dish was just ok. I can see the appeal of nice sized portions in a family friendly environment but the kitchen needs improvement. read more

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The food is top notch, actual Italian pasta iykyk, the staff from.bartender to host to servers are on point and gracious, the ambiance is cosy but classy. the vibes are people having fun and enjoying thelselves. A European vibe. Go. Don't think twice about it. read more

The Penne Chicken Toscana and Lasagna were fantastic along with the drinks; black manhattan and Woodford old fashioned. The staff and ambience were both very nice too. We will come back! read more

I was immediately greeted and seated on the patio with a smile. My server was upbeat and clearly enjoyed her job. The food came out timely and the penne was amazing as well as the crème brûlée! I highly recommend and will be returning! read more

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This was our second trip to this little Italian restaurant, again for my birthday....seemingly becoming a tradition. Sadly though, the experience wasn't quite as good this time at this little family restaurant. Service overall was good, not great, but certainly acceptable. Several of us tried the lobster bisque, which was being offered that evening. First of all, it's a pet peeve of mine when soup is served lukewarm, while the children liked that, I expect soup to be steaming hot. The taste was actually nice, though there was one family member that would have preferred a stronger sherry taste, but me, I was fine with where it was. Here's the rub though, none of us could find any lobster in our bisques, a bit of a problem. I tried the rigatoni in gorgonzola sauce. Fine cook on the pasta, though it looked like a vodka sauce, and while I enjoyed the sausage and peppers in the sauce, there was not a notion of gorgonzola to be found in tasting the sauce, and again, the food was just lukewarm. While not as big an issue for me compared to soup, the food needs to be hotter. The sauce tasted okay, but it certainly did not have the flavor profile I expected. My wife had the fish of the day, which was actually quite good, maybe that would have better a better selection for me, but when I go to an Italian restaurant, I will nearly always have pasta. read more

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I've been to Giardino's on two separate occasions and enjoyed both experiences. The first time: I found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. The restaurant was very cold - so bring a jacket. We ordered bruschetta which was delicious! If you enjoy bruschetta, I would suggest trying this dish. For the entree I had Penne al funghi which was very delicious! Their house salad was delicious- mostly because of the dressing. The second time: I decided to go back and bring my husband to get his opinion. He loved the bruschetta and thought it was the best he has had in Chattanooga. We tried the seasonal salad this time and loved it! I enjoyed the seasonal salad more than the house salad. We both decided to get the penne al funghi. He loved this dish. While I also enjoy it, I found it to be very oily and cheesy. If you enjoy that, you will love this dish. And, as per my first experience, it was very cold in there. I would suggest going at a time where you can sit on the veranda and enjoy the night and view of Chattanooga! read more

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FANTASTIC experience. We sat at the bar and enjoyed a glass of wine and the meat and cheese appetizer while waiting for our table. Bartender was super friendly and accommodating. Appetizer and wine were great. Our server and everyone else on the service staff was kind and made our experience memorable. Our entrees were phenomenal. We had the rigatoni and the scallopini. And the tiramisu for dessert just capped off an awesome night. They really nailed it. Highly recommend! read more

If I could leave 4.5, I would. The service was excellent, and they seated us on the patio immediately, even though the inside was full from reservations. We had a beautiful view from our table, and the restaurant staff kindly lowered several plastic curtains to warm us up when the breeze got a little too chilly. The lasagna was probably the best I have ever had in my life. That sounds ridiculous, but I mean it. In fact, most restaurant lasagnas are such a let-down that I've stopped ordering it over the years. I read a review that mentioned a similar opinion of the lasagna, and I decided to give it a try. It was the star of the table. We started with the bruschetta, which was excellent. The kids split a chicken Alfredo, which I will admit left a lot to be desired. The pasta was nice, but the sauce and flavor were lacking on that dish. My husband had the chicken parmesan, and that was quite good. All in all, we had a lovely dinner and a great experience. Try the lasagna, and you will find yourself wondering how you ever lived without it! read more

Giardino - View from the patio. - Italian Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Good American Italian food in a great location Large crowd but quick / friendly service I'd go back read more

We made a late reservation and were lucky to be seated on the patio with a beautiful overlook of Chattanooga--and caught an incredible sunset. The ambience was warm and relaxing, and the service was excellent. We enjoyed the Salata De Campo and the Chicken Parm, both flavorful and perfectly prepared. A charming gem in East Ridge with great food and an even better vibe. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Exceptional!! This Monterey California transplant has found the perfect restaurant here in Chattanooga TN. True authentic Italian cuisine. Gorgeous views. Exceptional staff serving to the nth degree. read more

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Every time I go on vacation my husband and I make a deal to enjoy things we both like. He wants to see all beautiful nature landmarks and do all the touristy spots. I want to get dressed up and go to Fancy places and try different foods. Giardino was a fabulous choice for a romantic dinner experience. I was able to make a reservation on a busy Friday night. We walk in the restaurant and I already know I'm going to like this place. The lighting inside and the views of the water just made this place very unique. Our waitress greeted us with water, bread and a side of an Olive oil-balsamic mixture that I could just have eaten for dinner. It was so good. For our appetizer we had the Arancini. 100% recommend. For our entrees we ordered the lasagna and the chicken parmigiana. I kept seeing these big Pappardelle dishes go by and I knew I needed to try those. So I ordered it on the side of my chicken with Alfredo sauce. Both dishes were very fresh and tasted great. One thing that could have been better was the chickens crispiness. Overall the meal was a 9/10 and we ended the lovely night with their tiramisu. read more

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Omg!!!! We found this place online and decided to try for dinner and dannnngggg talk about legit Italian food!!!!! The pasta was homemade and you could tell a huge difference in flavor and texture because of it. My husband is 100% Italian and said this was some of the best he has had in years. We are still dreaming of it to this day everything tasted fire and nothing else has compared since. Wish they had more locations in other states. read more

Loved this cozy little Italian spot. Delicious lasagna. The service was good and the restaurant was a great date night destination.

the food is great, staff is very attentive and the restaurant has a nice ambience. I have eaten here several times and it's an enjoyable experience every time. read more

This restaurant was highly recommended. We didnt have any reservations but they were able to squeeze us in even though, it was a busy night so we really appreciated that. Servers were nice, food was great. Dessert was Devine. My favorite was the Creme Brulee. Outdoor was beautiful. I'd come again if I ever came back to Tennesse. read more

Giardino - Chicken parmesan with rigatoni pasta. - Italian Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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I would recommend this Italian restaurant to anyone!! The food was delicious, the quality of food was on point, and everyone in our group enjoyed it. Perla L.'s service was amazing! She was very attentive and helpful with menu decision choices. The tiramisu WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD aside from Italy itself. The ambiance was very intimate, but a family could sit and enjoy a celebration. Highly recommend stopping here; if we come back to Chattanooga, we will definitely be back! read more

My new favorite restaurant. I love Italian food. And the lasagna was fantastic! The charcuterie board was great as well! Service was excellent! read more

Food, atmosphere, ambience, service; everything was amazing! We dined for our anniversary and had a wonderful experience!

bread was not good it was weirdly chopped and cold, the butter was yummy. the chicken Alfredo was NOT good, so so so bland and tasted like a frozen meal. the chicken wasn't even grilled and was completely white with how little seasoning. I ate it 20 minutes ago and just had so much diarrhea and very bad stomach cramps. pretty expensive for it tasting like frozen food and such a small portion. on top of it all they wouldn't let us sit on the patio with no reason why and it was beautiful out. to be fair I didn't let them know my feelings on the food because i didn't want to be that person but felt like I should leave an honest review read more

They used to bring you warm bread with olive oil. Now you gotta pay $4 for olive oil.

Everything was great. We didn't have a long wait to be seated, our server was the sweetest, and the food was great. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others. read more

The food is amazing the service was great and the views from the outdoor area are to die for!

Visited this beautiful restaurant for the first time today. The restaurant was very spacious and nicely appointed with beautiful music playing in the background. Has a large covered patio area with a nice view which was serving several large parties. We sat inside in a large and very comfortable booth. Our server Brittany, was absolutely fantastic today. She was very attentive, made great suggestions, and was very prompt and accurate with our orders! The portions were large and very very tasty. The Caesar salad was delicious. The spaghetti and meatballs were fantastic and the sauce was my favorite! Highly recommend visiting this lovely restaurant! read more

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I don't give out 5 stars all willy-nilly. This place was absolutely excellent. Granted, went in early (5:30 on a weeknight), but the service was quick, friendly, responsive, didn't balk at my inane questions. The food came out quicker than anticipated and was excellent. The best bolognese I have ever had. I ordered it a bit begrudgingly as we were sharing dishes, and bolognese is usually "meh" to me. This dish changed my whole perspective. The chicken picatta was very good. The tiramisu was also the best tiramisu I have ever had. The creme brûlée was nothing special (but it's creme brûlée, so you know it starts out at like 8/10). In short: 10/10, will be back again and with friends! read more

Definitely get reservations! Food was outstanding as was the wait staff. Kind of wondering why it took me so long to have dinner here. read more

Fast, knowledgeable, and polite staff, the food was exquisite, the drinks were great, the portions were good, the prices were a little higher for the area but the quality of the dishes definitely offset that! read more

Food was excellent along with the staff! I'd eat here again. Atmosphere was very nice as well.

Our party of 11 had a reservation at 5:30pm on a Saturday. Ambiance - We were seated at a long table in a back room. There was plenty of natural light, the table was well presented with plenty of room for everyone, a high chair was already there and waiting, and, although the atmosphere was lively, it was not too loud to have conversations. Service - Our server did a great job of waiting on our group, as well as other tables. She always seemed close by, was pleasant and helpful, and didn't rush our group but kept the dinner moving along. She was outstanding. Food - With a party this size, we sampled much of the menu. Servings were large. We all shared the calamari and bruschetta which were both delicious. Salads were very fresh and big enough to share. Pastas were very nice...al dente with large servings and tasty sauces. The spaghetti and meatballs was very good. There were plenty of vegetarian options for our vegetarian friends. Several of our group enjoyed the veal chop which was beautifully prepared and also large. Desserts were great...creme brulee was a hit. Definitely recommend dining at this restaurant. We had eaten here a few years ago but it was not such a great experience, and we ate outside. This time, it was great. We were worried about them accommodating a large party during a busy weekend evening but they handled it well. read more

Love the ambiance of this place. The food is above average and sometimes WAY above average. The mushroom risotto is amazing and the chicken piccata is a solid 8.5/10 in my opinion. The drinks here are VERY GOOD. The old fashioned is outstanding every time. read more