Giovenetti's was absolutely amazing! The garlic bread felt like little pillows; so soft, warm, and delicious. The chicken parmesan and seafood lasagna were incredible, and the limoncello cake completely blew my mind! Hubby said it should be illegal! The service was wonderful. I didn't catch our server's name, but she was an absolute delight. The ambiance was incredible, too. I love how they've created such an elegant and inviting atmosphere in a strip mall, you'd never expect it from the outside! Everything was fantastic, and we'll definitely be back! read more

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Do not let the humble strip mall storefront fool you. This place is worth trying. The food was excellent. Their appetizer special was a bruschetta with prosciutto. Some of the best I've ever had. I ordered spaghetti & meatballs. The meatballs were flavorful and not too dense. The sauce was well balanced. My mother ordered beef ravioli in a cream sauce & raved. Our server was a young man who really knew his stuff. He made great recommendations & was attentive without being smothering. read more

Giovannetti's - Special bruschetta appetizer. - Italian Near Me - Vista, California

From being seated to the service to the food, the experience was excellent. First time trying Giovannetti's, definitely will be back. The best Italian food in Vista by far! Yes I've tried the other more well known spots in Vista. read more

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Food was excellent! First time customers, we went in early summer but will definitely be back. When we were there, it looked like they were in the process of expanding the space/ bar area. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and provided excellent recommendations for our first visit. Looking forward to trying many more dishes! read more

Delicious! Our sever, Lola, greeted us quickly and went through the list of nightly specials explaining each dish. All of the dishes we had were bursting with flavor. I had one of the specials; it was the swordfish dish served with fresh green beans, and a mix of purple and yellow, small potatoes, topped with a delicious tomato based sauce. The swordfish was a succulent large portion. The whole meal was a very good size and I took half of it home for lunch the next day. So nice to have an upscale Italian restaurant like this in Vista. There is plenty of parking and I really enjoyed the starry ceiling with the shooting stars. We were there before sunset so I can only imagine how beautiful it must be once the sun goes down, twinkling along with the bistro lights that surround their patio. We are definitely going back! read more

Giovannetti's - Swordfish special - Italian Near Me - Vista, California

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My family and I enjoyed coming to this restaurant, small little restaurant with covered patio, ceiling has stars, which my daughter liked, Nathan was our server, he was very nice, and knowledgeable of the menu! We started with garlic bread, amazing marinara sauce for dipping, then got the penne vodka, and pepperoni pizza (it's loaded with pepperoni) both the pizza and the pasta were delicious! Will definitely return to try more options! read more

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Tried this place out for dinner on a Friday evening, they have an outdoor patio in front of the restaurant but we sat inside, the service was great they were very nice & let us know the specials of the night immediately. We ordered a Caesar salad & garlic bread both were very good, the garlic bread came with a side of marinara which was yummy it has a slight sweet taste very garlicky and herby & delicious! I ordered the lasagna for my main dish & we also tried the penne with sausage. I had a glass of the white wine they recommended & it was very good chilled & crisp perfect for a summer night! We also tried dessert which was the mango passion fruit cake which was amazing! I loved everything we ordered I will come back to try more items because they all sounded so good! read more

Giovannetti's - Italian Near Me - Vista, California

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The food seemed pretty good, but maybe we just came on and off day. The pizza was extremely greasy. We got chicken and mostly vegetables. Everything else was good. Service was good. It is a nicer restaurant for this area. read more

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We had a family dinner 5 of us last night. Started with garlic bread and drinks yum. Everyone had a different pasta and each of us thought they were delicious. I had a lobster raviolis very tasty would definitely order again. The fact that each meal came out together hot was a great. We had 3 different desserts and all were delicious. The service was excellent and friendly. read more

Giovannetti's - Cannoli for the birthday girl - Italian Near Me - Vista, California

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Such a cute little Italian spot. They mentioned they make everything in house and you could tell! Everything was so fresh and delicious. Their pasta was perfectly cooked (we got the penne alla vodka) and the Baci pizza. The service was absolutely amazing!!! Our server was extremely kind and knowledgeable about the menu!! read more

We found Pizza and More not long ago and loved it. They suggested we try Giovannetti's, run by the same family. Giovannetti's opened not long ago in the space that was Felicia's. Felicia's was a regular spot for us so we are delighted to see another outstanding Italian restaurant in the same space! They have completely redone the space, turned it into one large dining room. Elegant and still a homey, welcoming vibe (see the photo). This would be a great spot for an event dinner, especially a romantic one. We had the calamari fritti, veal piccata, and baby back ribs from the special board. Everything was fantastic! The calamari was crispy, not chewy or greasy at all, and the sauces were excellent. The ribs were tender with a smoky sweet sauce. We will definitely be back! read more

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The resturant is a wonderful place for great Italian food and fantastic friendly service. It is our new favorite place. Best lasagna around too read more

First of all, don't believe that one star review. She's given out 126 one star reviews. Nothing will make that woman happy! This restaurant is absolutely amazing in every way. The decor is beautiful. It's a really lovely place. The service was beyond exceptional. Lola is her name and she's absolutely fabulous. The best veal piccata I've ever had. Really great Caesar salad with in-house made dressing. Their daily specials are excellent! They are also adding on the most beautiful bar to their already gorgeous restaurant. Saturday and Sunday if you go in for early bird you get 15% off your whole entire check. I've been searching for an amazing Italian restaurant for 20 years since moving to San Diego. I finally found one that I will be visiting probably every week ..... it was that awesome. read more

Had an amazing meal at Giovannetti's!!! The entire staff is friendly and welcoming. We had the garlic bread which was delicious and the sauce was very tasty. For dinner had the vodka pasta and lasagna, both were amazing. So glad we found this place and it earns its 5 star rating. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. You will not be disappointed. Enjoy!!! read more

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I was really let down by the food quality here. I ordered the sea bass, and the moment I saw it listed as a "special," I should've known better it tasted like leftovers from the weekend, not something freshly prepared. The lasagna was just okay, nothing memorable, and honestly mine is much better. read more

Service and ambiance were both great. Angela kept checking in with us and made the dining experience more positive throughout the night. I really like the paintings and ceiling lights. The lights are like shooting stars. They also had a Christmas tree outside. Food was okay, but either overly salty (carbonara) or overly sour (artichoke). We got another carbonara to-go with no additional salt but it was too oily. I liked the plating every time. Dessert was good. My favorite is spumoni cake. I will be back for that. It did have a bit of a grainy texture if you like that. read more

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Awesome food, friendly service, and a nice place with great ambiance to get good Italian good food! The food tastes great unlike some other places that have "blah" tasting food. read more

The reviews aren't wrong- this place is awesome. Tiny unassuming restaurant in a strip mall. With stars on the ceiling and outdoor seating this is a cute low key date spot. Service is excellent and so is the food. My favorite is that they have daily specials. I love the surprise and innovation of specials. Pasta dishes are amazing. The waitress told us they are going to expand and add a bar (they do already serve full bar/ alcohol). Can't wait to see what they do. Check out their amazing presentation of their food. read more

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We had dinner here several months ago. They did not have a full bar at that time only beer and wine. The food was excellent and the service was very good except for one server who wanted to debate with us that the wine we thought was awful, "Corked" was ok to drink. Since they have opened a full bar, we have been back twice in the last month. The food has stayed outstanding and the service is attentive. They have nice seating inside and out. It is great that another quality restaurant has opened in Vista. We will be regulars. read more

From the moment we walked up on a Saturday evening, we were welcomed enthusiastically and warmly. Service was impecable and the food was top notch. I had the sea bass special and DH had the special short rib stuffed pasta , both were cooked perfectly. It's my new favorite Italian place! read more

Giovannetti's - Sea bass special - Italian Near Me - Vista, California

temp outside 10/1/26 was 100 degrees. inside the restaurant was over 80°. I should've left immediately. Ordered the garlic bread for six dollars. Nothing special at all. The menu on the board looks amazing. But the food is less than ordinary. chicken parm very ordinary. sauce on the pasta. dry. $50 for lunch. rip off read more

What a hidden little gem in Vista! Loved being greeted at the door with a nice gentleman all dressed up! The menu has lots of selections with a posted seasonal selection that looks amazing! We chose 2 different dishes so we can taste and share! I believe our server was Shawn and he was amazing! We will be back for sure and share with others! read more

Giovannetti's - Bolognese with fresh cheese on top - Italian Near Me - Vista, California

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My husband and I celebrated our anniversary with a visit to Giovannetti's. Amazing service and amazing food. We had three very different sauces between our appetizer and pasta dishes and all of them were delicious. The food presentation was world class. We started with Calamari alla Luciana. It was a zesty tomato sauce and we could and did eat the sauce alone. Then my husband had the capellini Mediterraneo. It was a lighter tomato based sauce with shrimp and scallops. Mine was the Linguine alla Puttanesca with Italian sausage. It had olives, capers and cherry tomatoes. A heavier more briny sauce but oh so good. Our server treated us to a slice of the most delicious limoncello cake. So airy, lemony and light. I think this restaurant is the best Italian restaurant in North County. We will be back again. Also, my husband wants it known that their draft beer prices were better than most happy hour specials. He could not stop marveling at the $5.50 pints of beer on draft. He had two of Stone's Hazy IPAs. read more

This restaurant has made me love Italian food! I always thought of spaghetti or pizza as Italian food...not necessarily! I have had Pollo al Marsala at Giovannetti's twice - it was sooo good I had to go back & have it again. The staff are so friendly- personable & welcoming. They are enlarging, I think adding a bar but not sure exactly. It is a comfortable, cozy restaurant. I will be back-frequently! Wonderful!!! Oh wait! I forgot to tell you how good the limoncello cake we shared was - super! Highly recommended. read more

Giovannetti's - Pollo al Marsala, Wild Salmon lunch special, Braised Tongue lunch special - Italian Near Me - Vista, California

This place is so cute and the service is over the top. The menu is very diverse and they do have weekly specials on the blackboard. Plenty of parking available. So we ordered a chicken Parmesan and a salmon meal and a side of garlic bread. Each was very good. I will be returning back here for sure read more

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We were pleasantly surprised by Giovanetti's! The food was outstanding, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. Lola provided superior service--warm, attentive, and professional--while creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. What surprised us most was finding such a wonderful Italian restaurant in such a humble neighborhood. A true hidden gem! We highly recommend Giovanetti's and look forward to returning. read more

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Exceptional!!! The food ,the cocktails the vibe and the Outstanding service got me all emotional.I told our wonderful server Nathan several times that I wanted to cry because it was just that good, so nostalgic for me personally. I mean it's hard for me to believe that this restaurant is here in good ol' Vista,California. I feel like it rivals the 5 Star restaurants of New York or L.A. I'm originally from Brooklyn,New York and have had the good fortune of tasting some pretty spectacular Italian cuisine,Giovannetti's is Absolutely top tier, just incredible. Please,please, please go and find out for yourselves. read more

Giovannetti's - Cannoli's - Italian Near Me - Vista, California

I've been several times ordering different items and each and every time I am blown away at the quality of the food. It doesn't get any better! I crave to eat at this local treasure and always look forward to going back! This is certainly a true gem tucked away in an unassuming strip center. read more

Giovannetti's - Italian Near Me - Vista, California

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Wonderful service and attention, and delicious food. The ability to split plates was wonderful and was plenty of food. Great wine list! We had a lovely Spanish Tempranillo at a wonderful price that our waiter notified us of. The restaurant is run efficiently, but calmly and attentive - without being annoying. Definitely a special place here in Vista! read more

Shout out to Nathan our waiter! He was so happy to share his personal favorite dishes...and was very attentive. Upscale experience as always. Food is perfection! read more

Nice small Italian restaurant in Vista with friendly servers and a large menu to choose from. They have indoor seating as well as several tables in the front patio. Portions are large and can easily be shared. Recommend calling ahead for a reservation if have a larger party and on the weekends. read more

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Just had a nice lunch here with family. The food was very delicious. Very high quality and beautifully presented. We had a tenderloin dish with potato gnocchi, sea bass, and penne with vodka sauce. All were delicious. The service here is very good as well. I highly recommend eating here. read more

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The food was great, the waitress also nice, was able to enjoy the food without asking if we need anything too many times, the only thing I didn't care for were the little gnats. read more

The service is 11/10. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, full bar, meals to absolutely die for. The starry night inspired ceiling ia a nice touch. Along with a few carefully selected art pieces. read more

10 out of 10 Food 10 Atmosphere 10 Service 1000 We will be back! The artichokes are awesome! read more

Four of us have been to Giovanetti's twice this month for birthday dinners. The food is wonderful, the menu has many choices, and the service is friendly and attentive. Indoor or outdoor dining in a lovely atmosphere! read more

What a hidden gem! The food is absolutely delicious...reasonably priced, with excellent service. Their specials are top notch and constantly updated. I've tried several dishes now and each of them call to me whenever we're there. read more

Drove by here many times and decided to stop in a few weeks ago. Friendly service and delicious food. We ordered the vodka pasta and the chicken masala. My husband said the chicken dish was a bit salty but still good. Tiramisu was amazing for dessert. Will be coming back for sure! read more

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After reading all the 5-star reviews, I had to see for myself. We went for lunch on a Friday afternoon and the place was busy, but not packed. The ambiance is simple, but nice. The main star of this restaurant is the food and it did not disappoint. We shared their Salad Mele which was beautiful to behold, but also had so much flavor and the ingredients were really fresh. We also ordered a side of their homemade garlic bread with their delicious dipping which was great. For the main course I had the Chicken Marsala with loads of mushrooms served with perfectly prepared vegetables and some simple, but surprisingly tasty, homemade pasta. It was a very generous serving. My husband had their baby back ribs which were so lean and tender the meat just fell off the bones. Unfortunately, we were too full to try their homemade desserts, but we're already planning a return visit. Plus, the service is excellent and for the quality and generous portions, their prices are very fair. They are a great addition to Vista! read more

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Hidden gem! Excellent food and service, they always have great specials and a lot to choose from! Their lasagna is to die for, just perfectly balanced and not overly salty. We also tried the lamb rack which was amazing and the pizza! We visited this place 3 times already in the past 2 weeks and every time is just excellent! read more