Great true Italian food. Location can be a challenge to park but the walk down to take in the lake & sunset view is worth the walk.

While staying next door at the Hilton, I walked over to Giovanni for dinner at the recommendation of the front desk associate. I arrived 45 minutes before close and was one of two tables sat. My server Huffy (I think that was his name) was phenomenal; he kept an eye on me from a distance the entire time and was there in a flash if I looked like I needed anything. I ordered one of the daily specials (Blackened Red Fish, 2 seared scallops, and an avocado risotto). The scallops were great, the risotto had a really good flavor, but the fish left a lot to be desired. It tasted like somebody had just sprinkled Zatarains seasoning on it at the last second. Next time, I'd probably just order the scallops. The kick in the gut was when the bill came - $43.00 for the entree! That's almost $10 more than their most expensive item on the menu! Had I known, I wouldn't have ordered it as it most certainly was not worth that much. Regardless, I ordered it so it's my fault for not I inquiring the price. Still, that ruined the entire meal for me. The ambiance was nice, the service was great, but for $60 out the door I felt cheated. read more

Giovanni - Blackened Red Fish with Seared Scallops and Avocado Risotto - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

Went for lunch with friends in November & we sat on the patio. We ordered a calamari to share and then I had the shrimp with crab on risotto. I usually don't like risotto, but this was fantastic! All of our entrees were pretty small for the price, our waitress was never to be found & it was practically empty. My friends wanted another app & drinks, so we cut our losses, checked out and went to rodeo goat next door. The food is tasty & location is great, so I hope they get the waitstaff worked out. I know there's a shortage, but it was empty and the girl couldn't be bothered. read more

Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

Wow! I snuck in late after a long work drive. Austin was bartending and was nice, courteous, and good conversation. I ordered flat iron steak and I'm pretty sure it was filet! Do not pass on this place its dope!! read more

Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

Meh. For the price I expected a lot more. The waiter was really rude. The drinks took a long time. Wish we had gone to Culpepper's instead. read more

Top notch food and service in the harbor. Nothing on the menu disappoints. Even the bar service is excellent. The hardest part of dining here is the harbor parking which is true for any harbor experience. read more

Did not have a single problem with this place, and the food was really good! I came here with my parents on our biweekly food excursion and definitely will be back! I got their breakfast burger, tried some crab cakes that my parents got, got their bisque, Italian sausage, and tried the blue crab stuffed shrimp that my mom got. All of it tasted fantastic! Crab cakes 7/10, bisque 9/10, Italian sausage 8/10, blue crab stuffed shrimp 8.5/10, and burger 8/10. I didn't try my dads crab cake Benedict, but he liked it as well. My mom liked her dish too, and she's extremely picky with her restaurant food. The atmosphere is great, right off the lake, and the staff was extremely helpful and friendly. My dad forgot his had and one of the waiters ran it up to us. Definitely worth the visit! read more

Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

We ate at the bar. Service was excellent. Food was wonderful (appetizer for 2, dinner and drinks). It was my birthday and they gave me a free sweet dessert after our already wonderful dinner!! read more

The host London greeted me promptly and was very friendly. If the hostess was good; I sensed the service would be the same. Garret was very helpful on fish recommendations. Describing in detail the different choices and how the chef prepared them. He sold me on the risotto for sure. After a little deliberation, I choose the Salmon and substituted the risotto for potato's. It was a great choice! Garrett was awesome, checked in several times, professional, and a credit to his craft. I'll be back! read more

Giovanni - Salmon, risotto with Brussels sprouts! Great choice. - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

This place is a nice little addition to the Harbor area. We were seated quickly and given lots of recommendations for dinner. I ordered one of the new drinks of the season a spiced apple and my friend ordered the sangria . It was twist on a fall favorite Carmel apple with a cinnamon sugar rim. We decided to stick with just our entrees, but will try the wagu or calamari shrimp fritto misto next time. I ordered the blue crab stuffed shrimp it came with a creamy risotto topped with roasted peppers and asparagus. Very delicious, I just wish the shrimp would already come without the shell. My friend ordered the linguine negralli, she said it was light and very tasty. The olive oil gave the pasta richness in ever bite and the small chunks of crab meat and heirloom made it tomatoes gave it good acid contrast and balance. Before we dived in our waiter Jennifer offered to top our food with grated parmesan, red pepper flakes, and fresh ground pepper. It helped bring a couple more notes to our dishes so I appreciate that. We caved and got dessert- we went with the lemon ponicello cake I think it was called. Lemon cake with a cream filling topped with white chocolate, and a drizzle of mango and raspberry. Definitely worth having the next time around! Overall a great experience the decor, lighting, and service were really nice. It's on the pricier end but a great meal is worth splurging for every now and then :) read more

See all

May very well be the best restaurant in Rockwall, just a tad better than Zanata. We've been here twice and both visits were phenomenal. The first trip I had the Piccata Giovanni and the wife had Blue Crab Stuffed Shrimp, both amazing. Next trip, tonight, we met with three friends for a group of 5. We shared an oyster appetizer and a Mussels Marinara appetizer, both delicious. Wife had the Blue Crab Stuffed Shrimp again, I had Fra Diavolo Lobster Fettuccini, 2 shared the Piccata Giovanni, and another had the Surf and Turf. Fra Diavolo Lobster Fettuccini was one of the best things I've ever eaten.. Sean took great care of us, never rushed us, very helpful. Reservations recommended. read more

Love the service here, on Tuesday the manager Sean made everything seamless. Definitely going back soon.

Every thing was great!!!!! Service was great! Food was amazing! Go check them out you won't be disappointed

Had reservations at 7:30 for my husband's birthday for 2 and got there at 7:10. Waited for 30 minutes & still no tables were available. Maybe they need to schedule better but that our 1st time going & outer 1st experience. Too bad! read more

Wonderful and very tasty menu!!! Very fun and comfortable to sit at the bar and enjoy from wonderful service and response to anything and everything. Great staff and fast service. The food is wonderful... the Ribeye Crostini to die from. read more

One of my favorite Italian places to eat in the Rockwall area. I live in Heath, so it's very convenient. Our waitress was extremely attentive and everything we ordered was delicious!!! read more

First time here and it didn't disappoint the pasta was very good I'm not sure what sauce was on it but it was very flavorful along with the broccoli, the bread was a little dry and had no flavor for our liking. We noticed the table next to us kept ordering drinks so I'm sure they have some good drinks as well! Our waitress wasn't that attentive but overall i would go again. read more

Giovanni - Fettuccini primavera - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

We have been here twice but it's unlikely that we will be back as we did not have good experiences. The first time, we ordered the crab appetizer which was good, the scallops which were undercooked and probably made my stomach hurt later that evening. My husband had the spicy pasta which was too spicy and he tolerates spicy food very well. The first time we went during lunch and the service was good, but the second time we went the service was bad. I hate to say it, but we were to a point of leaving as we sat there for a while before the waiter came to take our order and they were not busy at all. We ordered the crab cake appetizer, but this time, they were not good, they were bland and lacking in flavor. My kids ordered mussels and they did not care for them, you could tell that the wine sauce was not reduced as the dish was extremely acidic. Due to my previous bad experience, I decided to just get a salad which should have been my entree as requested, but it was brought with the appetizer so I finished eating long before everyone and the Cesar dressing was extremely sour. My son ordered the tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich and specifically sequencing on the side, which was not done, but we had been waiting for so long for their food that we did not want to wait more for having it remade. The waiter never asked about our food, didn't refill our drinks, but he was quick on bringing us the check while my kids were still eating. I wish that our experiences were better as we enjoy going to the harbor, but unfortunately will not be coming back here anytime soon. read more

Great dining experience. Food is amazing. Always enjoy the filet mignon. Salads are great. Lobster bisque is hearty. Really enjoy the crab cakes as well. Friendly and attentive servers. They offer a nice wine selection. read more

Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

See all

We had a reservation for our Valentines dinner. There was a mistake and they could not find our reservation. I was slightly scared because they looked full and I knew every other restaurant that night would not be able to get us in. The manager and staff got us in right away and apologized for the mistake! After that, our entire experience was delightful. They have a great selection of wine, reasonable prices and quality food. Our server, Mel, was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. We will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu! What we ordered: Waygu Beef Carpaccio Buffalo Mozzarella Caprese Salad Lobster and Scallop Tortellini Filet with crab stuffed shrimp and risotto Lemoncillo Cake read more

Giovanni - Limoncello Cake - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

Awesome service and the food is always amazing. Great cocktails as well, strawberry mojito and old fashioned read more

A great addition to the harbor. We started with crab cakes. They were really good. The sauce they put on made them perfect. My husband got an old fashioned which he said was really good. Our table got the crab stuffed shrimp, parmesan crusted chicken and the halibut special. The crab stuffed shrimp was delicious on the risotto. The halibut was light and the risotto paired with it perfectly. The chicken was breaded well and tasted good. My son didnt like the potatoes it was on. The dessert menu has a nice selection. We got the blueberry bread pudding and chocolate lava cake. Each came with a scoop of ice cream. The desserts are made fresh each day. Great service and atmosphere. They validate parking. Will return there were a few things on the menu I want to try. read more

Giovanni - Crab cakes - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

See all

We have been waiting for the opportunity to try Giovannis, and today was it. Beautiful Restaurant and nice greating as we were seated immediately. Cubed Foccaccia Bread served with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar would be much better with Italian Seasoning and Roasted Garlic. The Wagyu Beef Carpaccio was so good and full of flavor, Cynthia really enjoyed the toasted capers. The Charcuterie Board had a delicious assortment of Meats and Cheeses with fruits and olives, served with toasted Crostini and the Crab Cakes were delicious with the perfect amount of Arugula Salad. The Dinner Menu and Specials sounded fabulous but we were satisfied with our light meal and plan to return because I just have to try the Seaford Cioppino and Shaved Ribeye Crostini. read more

Great Italian! Genuine food and people! Love everything they make. If you want catering get the family lasagna and salad. Feeds an army! read more

Rockwall, Texas has had a love/hate relationship with its Harbor. Love for the idea of dining near the lake and hate for the lack of convenient parking. Several restaurants have come and gone over the years and now, Giovanni's is taking a stab at this trendy Harbor location. I went with a friend for an early dinner one evening and was quite impressed with the patio, interior, menu options, and flavor! I had heard that it was a great place for a quiet meal and yes, when we arrived, it was quiet, but once the evening crowd started arriving, the noise level picked up quite a bit. But this was not enough to deter me from returning. The interior dining area is quite large. There is another dining room for a more intimate meal for a small group. Happy Hour prices are available at the bar only, not for table service. The small outdoor patio area greets everyone who is walking toward the lake. So, if you're in Rockwall or the local community, I would recommend that you go support this location if you want to see it succeed! Arrive early or valet your vehicle if you find parking to be a challenge. And when you do, tell them you read about them from Travel and Table! I think you'll be glad you did! Head over to my Travel and Table blog for pictures! read more

Stopped in randomly before a movie for a quick bite. Food service and atmosphere was phenomenal. We can't wait to be back for dinner! read more

Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

As of the time of this writing, Giovanni is the newest eatery at The Harbor in Rockwall. It's a upscale Italian restaurant specializing in pasta and wine. The place was renovated and build from the ground up: it still smells new in here. The restaurant is situated at the main entrance of the harbor, directly across from the cigar shop and adjacent to the valet area. There is seating for approximately 100 guests here. The decor is rustic modern, and gives me similar vibes to "Standard Service" or "Zanata" with use of Edison bulbs and thick wooden tables and ceiling accents. The restaurant is open for lunch, though you could get a pass for not knowing that as there is no "open" sign, not other customers inside on the time of my visit. I ordered an iced tea, which was dark and freshly brewed as I prefer, and service was top notch. Two different servers attended to me, both wearing tucked in blue shirts, dark blue jeans and aprons. It's a cool look. For an appetizer I got Calamari Shrimp Fritto, which is a bit of a sampler platter or lightly friend items including shrimp, calamari, jalapeños, mushrooms and cauliflower. It was delicious. The batter texture and flavor was phenomenal, and I loved that there were different things to enjoy. For my lunch I ordered the Spicy Pork Sausage Rigatoni. I was impressed that the server was so attentive to wait until I was finished with my appetizer to bring me my meal. Bonus points. The rigatoni was startling, very fresh and a little spicy. Served on the side were two heaping bowl of Parmesan and Red Pepper, which you could scoop into your bowl with little spoons. I prefer this to the "Cicis Pizza Style" shakers you see at most Italian places. I loved the flavor of this dish, and the obvious freshness. I would order it again. The server was attentive, but not overwhelming, as he easily could have been considering I was the only customer. Before I finished my meal 3 other tables came in, which was reassuring. I don't want this new business to fail. For me, The Harbor is a bit of a pain for lunch, but I can easily see this eatery getting into my rotation for dinner, especially date nights. Amazing all around. Highly recommend. read more

See all

The food was awesome! The calamari was the best we have ever eaten. Very tender and compliments to go along with it were also very good. Our entrees were a special of sea bass and fettuccine primavera. Both were very scrumptious. The dessert menu has many options and had a hard choice choosing. We went with the blueberry bread pudding and it was also very good. We will be back!!!!!! read more

We arrived around 7:30 on a Friday evening and were seated immediately. The restaurant was busy but not completely full. I ordered the Sparkling Blood Orange cocktail which was so delicious that I had a 2nd one. My husband was happy to find they had Dallas Blonde on tap. I didn't realize that Rockwall was missing an upscale Italian restaurant which leans towards seafood until I ate here. We chose the mussels for an appetizer. We were a bit surprised that there weren't more in the order. We order these frequently at other restaurants and thought we knew what to expect. They're served in a spicy marinara with toast points for sopping up the extra sauce. It could have used a couple more pieces of bread too. I ordered the Lobster Ravioli Pescatore. The shrimp and scallop tasted like they were sauteed in garlic butter and were melt-in-your-mouth perfect. The ravioli was cooked just right. This is not a large serving, so if you're looking for something hearty, you may want to go with another dish. That being said, my husband wanted the Seafood Cioppino but didn't think it sounded like enough food to fill him up. Our server, Kimberly (she was awesome too BTW), checked with the chef to find out if it would be a problem to have it served with pasta. The chef was happy to accomodate. A side of fetuccine came out with it and my hubby ended up even taking some home. The cioppino tastes like it has the same spicy marinara as the mussels did....my husband absolutely LOVED the sauce. He was thrilled that we were given little bowls of red pepper flakes and parmesan so he could make it even hotter. The staff kept our tabled cleared of dirty dishes (a pet peeve of mine when they aren't removed) and was very attentive. We had a lovely evening and are looking forward to our next visit. read more

Giovanni - Sparking Blood Orange - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

See all

Got to say it's the best Italian food in the Rockwall area right now. It's a little pricy but hey the quality matches the price. Service is impersonal which I don't really care for but perhaps it will come up to snuff some day. The only mild disappointment was that I felt the charcuterie could have been a bit more lavish. What we did get was excellent. The food I've ordered was always amazing. Five star carpaccio. Five star sole parmesan. Five star spinach, cheese, pea tortillini. Five star flatiron steak. You get the drift. My son always gets the gnocchi and says its great but I have not eaten it myself. The one time I wanted Osso Bucco they were out, but this is a common happening among good Italian places. Recommended if you can afford it. read more

Giovanni's is the best Italian restaurant in rockwall. The service the is truly the best I've seen in the restaurant business. Giovanni's is in the most perfect spot in rockwall to where if you sat on the patio you can view the lake and watch the sunset. The food there is amazing I highly recommend trying their lobster bisque, and chicken slider appetizers. The pasta here is incredible and their tiramisu is the best I've ever had. Highly recommend if your looking for a delicious Italian place in rockwall. read more

Love eating here. The spicy rigatoni is the best. Always enjoy coming here for dinner.

I had my 42nd Birthday party here in the private dining area. Where do I start. The service was impeccable, food was fabulous and the wine selection was on point. I highly recommend Giovanni's. They made my special day that much more enjoyable! read more

The Food and service is amazing and was fast we will definitely be back again soon for dinner!

Giovanni is probably my favorite restaurant in Rockwall. Our faves are: sliced rib eye sando, carpaccio, stuffed shrimp and lasagne. The cocktail menu is excellent, changes frequently and is always interesting. The wine list has a great variety. The wait staff is way above average. Desserts are amazing too. I've never had a mediocre meal here in the 4+ years we've been eating here. read more

Brought my family to her for my husbands 50th bday. Walking in it was inviting and staff said hello and other was we walked to our table Had sharing plates of mussels, caprese salad, spinach salad along with seared tuna salad. All was really good and fresh. Main courses were eggplant Parmesan, bolognese, spicy sausage rigatoni and I had the redfish and recommend all of them. Wish I took better photos. Oh a crème brûlée was wonderful. A nice fine dinning place to visit for sure! Can also split dishes if you have an app and suggest that. read more

ATMOSPHERE - 3 A wonderful upscale decor and atmosphere. This place is a nice little addition to the Harbor area. FACILITY - 4 The facility is part of the Harbor complexes. This in itself gives you a lead on any competition. INSIDE - 4 The interior was clean. The patio, interior are an addition to the facility. The menu options, and flavor are very favorable. I had heard that it was a great place for a quiet meal and yes, when we arrived, it was quiet as far as people were concerned, but the music as mentioned was unbearable, but once the crowd started arriving, the noise level picked up quite a bit. It might have been just enough to say no to our wedding arrangements. OUTSIDE - 4 Didn't sit outside but there were people that looked like they were enjoying themselves. SERVICE - 4 Service was good and the staff seemed to be in a good mood. FOOD - 3 Our search is on for a place to have our family for dinner just prior to our daughter's wedding. We started with the Charcuterie board. For the price of $15, we received 3 pieces of bread, which was just one per person, that costs $2. The meat and cheese was very stingy. Pictures of other customers showed much more in quantity and variety. I ordered the blue crab stuffed shrimp, it came with a creamy risotto topped with roasted peppers and shaved asparagus. Technically the shrimp was not stuffed but just laying on the risotto. It was delicious, I just wish the shrimp would already come without the shell on the tail. But to only have 3 shrimp for the price seemed a little minimalistic. Before we started, our waiter offered to top our food with grated parmesan. It helped bring a little more to my wife's dish so I appreciate that. She had the gnocchi. I was surprised at the taste. Good. The prosciutto was sub-standard. My daughter had the salmon. The salmon was cooked well. The mashed potatoes were good but they were advertised as Garlic mashed and they were a little bland. The brusell sprouts were "meh" subpar at best. They were too big, so not as tender as the baby or smaller ones. They were kinda dry. We did not receive any fresh bread and olive oil and balsamic to try for free either. Why STAFF - 4 Service was fast and friendly. SUMMARY Overall a good experience. The decor, lighting, and service were really nice. The music was extremely loud and we had to ask that it be turned down. I just couldn't hear the communication at the table and felt bad by asking if we could yell the conversation. It's on the pricier end and seems a bit of a shame that I really don't think this restaurant is a top notch place. I feel bad that just across the way people are and were waiting 200 yards out the door to get in. Would i return? Most likely not. ==== Atmosphere: 3 // Facility: 4 // Inside: 4 // Outside: 4 // Service: 4 // Food: 3 // Staff: 4 // Price: 3 read more

See all

Pretty place in the harbor, no harbor view though. Came in on a Saturday between lunch / dinner so we were seated right away. We shared the charcuterie board. I was surprised the meat to cheese to bread to fruit ratios were off and that the pears were canned. It was tasty but for the price/quantity I make better. My gnocchi was good, the sauce was flavorful, the gnocchi were soft pillows of goodness, in my opinion the prosciutto was subpar and would have added flavor and texture if fried crisp. My husband liked his shrimp, but three for $24 was steep. No bread served with dinner...daughters salmon was well cooked, she enjoyed most of the dish, although the brussel sprouts were still hard and kinda dry. I'm glad we went but the prices will probably keep us away. read more

See all

This spot right here just hits different. Drinks on point and food done right. Get a martini with the blue crab stuffed shrimp or an old fashion with the ribeye. The risotto is the best I've ever had. Great date night, day drink, or large group outing as they have a private room. The owner and staff deliver excellence daily at this great restaurant. read more

Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Rockwall, Texas

Our dinner was amazing. The food was out of this world delicious. Our server Mel was very attentive and suggested all of the right things for our group of three to share. I am so glad I went with a group so I could try a little bit of both. The ambiance is awesome. Perfect for a romantic date or fun girls night. We will be coming back..... this place is some of the best Italian I have had. read more

See all