Service & Ambiance: Wow... I am absolutely floored. This was the BEST dining experience I had while in Ottawa. A few people had mentioned this place but there were zero reservations available until the following week. So... I called and asked if they could squeeze in a party of two. They were so incredibly accommodating! We had a table for dinner within a minute of me calling. When we arrived, we were greeted by the friendly valet attendants. The hostess led us to our table, and our incredible dining experience began. We were greeted by Karsten, our waiter, who had the biggest smile I have seen in all of Ottawa. His customer service was unmatched! He offered a solution for each complication and made us feel like royalty. 1000000/5 for the customer service here! Drinks: Old Fashioned: 5/5. A great job done on a classic beverage. Giovanni's: 5/5. I love tequila and love trying a martini that allows the flavor of the tequila to shine with a hint of fruit. Sauvignon Blanc (Family Tree, Canada): 5/5. A crisp, white wine that is refreshing and was the perfect accompaniment to the carbonara. Chianti (Caposaldo, Tuscany, Italy): 5/5. A beautiful, deep, red wine that went perfect with the lamb and lasagna. I may or may not have a case of this wine on order after dinner... Food: Calamari Fritti: 4/5. I loved how crispy the calamari was, but I feel as though the batter needed a little bit more seasoning. Just a little bit more. Bruschetta: 4/5. I needed a little more flavor in this. The bread was also slightly soggy. But otherwise, the tomatoes were fresh! Lasagna: 5/5. This platter was INSANE. I'm still getting used to Canadian portion sizes. This could've fed 2-3 people. It was delicious. The lasagna was finished in the oven, so the top of it was extra crispy (literally the best). Highly recommend this dish! Spaghetti Alla Carbonara: 5/5. I have to order the carbonara if it's on the menu. This one was incredible. The flavors, the consistency, the lightness of it... everything. I was in heaven with every possible bite. One thing I loved about this dish was that it was not heavy like most carbonara's are. I enjoyed every bite! This was also a 1/2 order, which was still massive. Costolette D'Agnello (Rack of Lamb): 5/5. I rarely ever see lamb on the menu at restaurants and was so excited to try this one. IT WAS YUMMY. I got the 1/2 order of this because we were already ordering so much food. Im so glad I did. It came with potato cakes, spinach, asparagus, and the best carrots. Delicious. Not to mention, the lamb was cooked to the perfect temperature. Forget a 5/5, this dish was a 50000/5. Bravo! read more

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I am an American and live 4 to 5 hundred miles away but have a connection to Ottawa and go every year or two. Often my first stop is Giovanni's - not a place from 50 years ago in my personal experience but a place that I found 25 years ago that is some of the best Italian food anywhere. I encourage anyone visiting Ottawa to give them a try. I hope to be back in December. I am not from San Francisco as my headline shows but rather the east coast within 500 miles of Ottawa read more

When you want good food and great service and you're made to feel like family...Giovanni!s is the place in Ottawa. Say hello to Monica the bartender and Tony. Nino and Marcelo you guys are crushing it! read more

Giovanni's - Gnocchi!! Excellent! Very close to what my mother made! - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I tried this beautiful place in little Italie. We started with the oysters, and had the Wagyu beef from Japan. This is definitely a treat. The dessert are amazing, The service was amazing, everything was great. it was nice to go out again. I took the 5 oz, I was informed that only two place in Ottawa had the Wagyu boeuf. The taste is like becon steak hard to explain. If you love the taste of butter and something rich you will love it. Great experience I will need to come again. read more

Giovanni's - Wagyu beef from Japan - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Great service and delicious food. We went for a Birthday dinner on the Canada Day weekend. They greeted us warmly and seated us at a table with crisp white lines. We enjoyed warm rolls as we waited for our Mushroom Risotto, Gnocchi with Rose sauce and Pasta Trofie. We all enjoyed our meals, particularly the Pasta Trofie - a pistachio pesto with a fillip of burratta. They surprised us with a chocolate profiterole birthday treat for dessert. They exceeded our expectations. read more

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This is a place I went to because of the amount of positive reviews. When I walked in there was the owner there, heavy branding, expensive prices. You would think this place would have excellent food cause they really wanted it to appear upscale I WAS SO WRONG to think that. Pretentious without the quality. Overcooked spaghetti and 2 meatballs for $30. The parmesan felt like kraft grocery quality. Would not come back. Would rather eat unlimited meatballs at east side marios read more

An upended restaurant with typical Italian cuisine.food is delicious and the service is excellent. Prices are on the higher side but it's worth it . The atmosphere is great for a family occasion or a memorable occasion even for a good dinner out We had oysters and Veal Involtini also Veal Parmigeana And were excellent and tasty. read more

I was looking forward to coming here and trying the carbonara but was pretty disappointed when it arrived with loads of thick bacon which isn't typically like that elsewhere for that dish. I probably wouldn't order the carbonara again but I'd try another pasta. My husband got a steak and said it wasn't the best he's had either especially for the prices we paid. The zucchini sticks and bread and butter were great. The service was one of the best parts. read more

Giovanni's - Zucchini sticks - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Came by for a late lunch the other day and was pleasantly surprised. The interior of the restaurant was pretty upscale and we were immediately brought to a table and offered to check our coats. Started off with the Fried Zucchini and Fried Calamari, both of which were very good. They were nicely fried and tasty. ...portions were too large to finish! Moved on to the Veal as the main entree and it was excellent. The veal was very tender and flavorful. The sides were both fresh and well cooked too. Ended off the meal with the tiramisu which was excellent. Not too sweet and very fresh and moist. Service was excellent throughout the meal. ~$60/head after tax and tip for lunch. read more

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Hey there yelpers! So I'm travelling in Ottawa, Canada for a few days and I ate here last night when I was craving italian food (almost a normal state for me pretty much all the time). Located in the Little Italy area the outside of the building was a beautiful sight to see. When I went inside I was greeted warmly by both the owner (or someone important to Giovanni's) and seated within ten minutes, despite it being packed inside. The décor inside was extremely nice and upscale but without the snooty, arrogant feel that similar places in America show. When I sat down in the bar area, the finely dressed barkeep took my order and I got the food delivered to me in about 10 - 15mins. I had the regular Fettuccine Alfredo and what is called a Summer Colada there (Ciroc French Vanilla vodka and a splash of pineapple juice) and I can honestly say that was one of the best alcoholic drinks I've had and some of the (if not the best) best pasta I've had. The entire staff was very nice and helped each other out. it was almost as if the wait staff had no specific section they worked in and just regularly helped out as they felt was necessary to ensure people were having an enjoyable stay. The pricing of the place is a bit pricier but I think that for the quality of food and level of service provided made that a non-thing. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for a great Italian place when visiting Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Happy yelping! read more

Giovanni's - Fettuccine Alfredo at Giovanni's - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Service and ambiance wad exceptional. Food wasn't anything to write home about. I found the menu to be very boring, lacking any interesting options or uniqueness. You could probably get the same food elsewhere, maybe without the service but at a better price. read more

I was torn between a 3-4 here. If I could give 3.5 I would. First off, we came here on a Tuesday night around 8:30pm. For a Tuesday, I couldn't believe how busy it was, so I think that says a lot in itself! There was a bit of a wait for a table, but not long. Once we were seated we were offered either flat or sparkling water. I opted for sparkling and my friend chose regular- it's really too bad there was no price indication on the menu, because our waters ended up being $7.50 each. I can kind of justify the price for mine (though it seemed a bit steep) but honestly my mind was blown for $7.50 water. I wish they would have just offered tap at that point (or we could have ordered cocktails!) My friend ordered a pasta special (large ravioli and seafood) and I ordered their mixed grill special which has samples of veal, rack of lamb, and filet mignon. Typically it comes with fettucine but they were willing to substitute a plain risotto (not seafood or mushroom but still creamy and delicious) at no extra cost. The service was friendly, and the food was good, but the portions seemed a bit lacking for the price, but I guess that is pretty standard or these fancy places- probably why I don't go too often. I really did enjoy my meal, though so this would be a great place to go if you are looking to treat yourself to a fancy night out. The quality is there, so I think it's worth at least a try! read more

Requested to have Italian food for my birthday dinner, so boyfriend decided to take me to Giovanni's upon a friend's recommendation. He had made reservations for 6:00pm. It was fairly quiet when we arrived but got busier as time went by. We were seated and our waiter was attentive right away, he was very knowledgeable of the menu too, which was great. We started with some cocktails which were awesome, followed by mussels for appetizer. The sauce for the mussels was so delicious and they were cooked perfectly. We were provided plenty of bread to dip in the sauce. Our main dishes came fairly soon afterwards; the dish of the day was seared fish which is what my boyfriend ordered and I got the ricotta & spinach stuffed pasta in creamy tomato sauce. Both were very delicious. My pasta pieces were gigantic and fresh, perfectly cooked and the creamy tomato sauce married well with the stuffing. We left the restaurant stuffed and satisfied. I would return for special occasions as this is normally out of our price range, but highly recommended for great services and delicious Italian food! read more

Giovanni's - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Giovanni's has got to be Ottawa's best Italian restaurant. All of the food was beautifully prepared and taste delicious. Our server was slightly busy, and left some level of attendance to be desired. The dining area smelled delicious and was well designed. I especially liked the backlit marble sections of the wall. I'll certainly be visiting again soon! The spaghetti and meatballs was wonderful, and the Linguini Nero was fantastic. read more

Should have been better: We had an outstanding experience the first time we went to Giovani's, we were blown away however I suppose for there price, that should be expected. It's was a great Italian restaurant. Unfortunately, the second time we went did not go so well. I ordered a personal favourite, Carbonara. I was looking forward to it. Frankly, I could not eat it. It was so greasy/oily from all the pancetta oil - it was almost floating in oil. It's simple, they added way too much grease from the pan for the amount of pasta. As well, the cheese was not melted into a cream as it should be, it was full of lumps, almost looked like chunks of egg. Rookie? My plate was 3/4 full when they cleaned the table - I was not asked if there was an issue - they simply cleaned there table. If this was a cheap restaurant, no issue however, that's not how they present themselves. They charge a significant price and I should be able to get commensurate quality for the price I pay. A full plate at finishing should raise an alarm? :) We had a similar experience the third time. I'll chalk this to coming out of the pandemic, maybe staff has changed or they are not up to 100% yet. That said, our last experience has changed our views of this restaurant. Not our favourite anymore read more

From the service to the food...Giovanni's did not disappoint. I was an out of towner from NYC here for business and was craving some authentic Italian food. I didn't just receive great food, I received fabulous service. I started with the zucchini flower special that was cooked with perfection and had the Chicken Asiago as my main. Everything was perfectly portioned and garnished. I ended my meal with a fabulous crème brûlée and a short espresso. I would recommend this place over any of the "complicated fancy" Italian restaurants that Ottawa tends to push. Enjoy! read more

We've been going hear every Valentine's Day for three consecutive years. Our yearly treat. The service has always been exceptional. From the moment you drive up to the restaurant, valet, checking in, coat check, menu selection etc... Attention to detail is phenomenal. For the price, the service AND menu items are totally worth it. We always go for the seafood entrees. Great newly renovated inside and outside adds to the already great ambiance. Highly recommended. read more

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3.5/5. Honestly not worth the price. The pappardalle was excellent but the apps are extremely overpriced and the bread is served with plastic butter packages. Yes the charge for water is real. It is a very small place so it is LOUD. read more

Tonight was a third visit to this little gem. The food was very good. I ordered the veal Parmesan. It was so tender. As good as the food was the service was even better. Thank you very much for a fantastic evening. The Macdonalds read more

My husband and I travelled to Ottawa from Toronto, to celebrate our 12 year anniversary. We're both Italian and were in the mood for fine Italian dining. I'm so glad we chose Giovanni's!! It was raining when we arrived and a restaurant attendant escorted me with an umbrella from our car into the restaurant. The atmosphere was elegant yet unpretentious- just like the staff! Our server, Kerstian (spelling?!) was delightful! He was so helpful, friendly, and witty. We learned that he moved here from Germany over 20 years ago. The wine was exceptional (extensive wine list) and the food was better than any Italian cuisine I've had in Toronto. The gnocchi was freshly made and melted in my mouth. We're only visiting Ottawa for 2 days but we're considering revisiting Giovanni's again tomorrow You will not be disappointed with this place! read more

Pasta tasted like it sat under heat lamp, poor texture and quality. My guest had two dirty martinis ... my guest wasn't sure sure if enough alcohol was added and she rarely drinks! Disappointed read more

The one star is for our lovely server, Nick, who was courteous and attentive. Otherwise, our experience was extremely disappointing. A barely mediocre meal, exorbitantly priced, including an $8 charge for WATER! The bottle was on the table, and our glasses were consistently refilled by staff (like every other decent restaurant in the world), with no indication that there would be a charge. We were absolutely floored when the bill came. Such an unbelievable money grab. I will not return. read more

Food was delicious and our server, Tony, was great! We had the agnolotti capesante and the special, baked salmon with shrimp, followed by a creme brulee. The food was perfect! read more

Giovanni's - Agnolotti capesante and baked salmon with shrimp - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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The waiter is nice and attentive. The star is for him. The food is overpriced. No oil or vinegar. The restaurant is stuffed to over-capacity with the tables too close to each other. You can barely hear what your other guest is saying. The hostess insisted to move us to a smaller table when one person couldn't make it. That's despite the fact we already settled in and we're about to order, despite the fact we asked to stay in the same table. I don't think I will think of this place again when I think of a place to have dinner. Just not worth the amount they are charging. When they charge a premium price, they should exceed, or at least meet, every expectation. read more

This is a great place for a first date. They have a very nice and quiet room in which you can seize the opportunity to know each other. The food is good but quiet pricey. I got calamari, lobster and veal and they were good but nothing mind blowing. The service is really good and the environment is pretty romantic. read more

I was treated to my first experience at Giovanni's, and it was wonderful ! Giovanni's exudes class, from the moment you walk in. The staff is warm and welcoming, and very attentive. Everyone works well together, and so offer impeccable service. Our waiter, Tony, was amazing. He recommended a Cabernet Sauvignon and made sure we were in need of nothing. We were so pampered, it felt like being on vacation. You forgot all about being in the cold of Ottawa ! I was treated to the Pollo Portofino, chicken breast topped with King crab accompanied by pasta. Now, I am a big fan of crab so I am biased, but the meal was delicious ! For desert I had the creme brulée, and my tummy was not disappointed. So, friends, if you are looking to treat yourself or a loved one Giovanni's is the place to go. I promise you will not be disappointed. Cheers ! read more

I was really disappointed. I had heard great things about this restaurant. There wasn't anything we ate that was bad, however there wasn't anything exceptional either. We shared appetizers - the calamari and zucchini fritti were good but not great. For the main course, I had the Mare e Terra. Again, fine but not great. I found that the filet mignon had a burned taste that I didn't appreciate. Considering the so-so food, I also didn't appreciate the price of the meal! The highlight was the service - they were friendly, prompt and helpful. No complaints there! read more

I used to love this restaurant - great food, decent prices, amazing service and free valet parking! I have since gone back after the renovations and the prices were hiked up considerable. The food quality and presentation has not stepped to live to its price. Also, I had ordered a $10 glass of the Chianti, which was delicious when I was brought my second glass. The wine was not the same at all - it was much fruity and the colour was much lighter. When I mentioned to the waiter that the second glass was not the Chianti... he assured me he poured it himself. I knew there was a big difference and I asked for another glass. He brought back the bottle and poured me a new glass - it was definitely the Chianti this time around. I'm not sure if it was a mistake or they were hoping I wouldn't notice the difference and served me a cheaper wine. All in all - I would go back but only if the prices go down. read more

I went for my birthday to try this place only a few things that I was disappointed on . From the start you get some warm bread with butter, being a place that pricey I was expecting to have olive oil...a lot of bussiness people and it's really hard to talk. We went on a weekday around 7pm and it was just two of us, talking was impossible we had to talk really loud to being able to understand each other. We weren't the only couple of two but sadly we were the only ones given a table at the entrance so everytime the door was open it was really cold (we made a reservation prior, and still had the worst table). The other people in pairs were given tables of 4 people very far from the entrance door .. I guess people who come often get priority. From the rest service was amazing, the owner comes and ask if everything is alright very friendly! Food is good (asked the carbonara, just a lot of unnecessary bacon but it was good) and after all it was pleasant because of the good service. read more

One of my favorite Italian restaurants to date. A little on the pricy side but you definitely get what you pay for. From the moment you walk in to the moment you leave you're well taken care of. I will return. read more

This was my second time at Giovannis. I have a good memory of my first time: good food, friendly service and pleasant ambience. Tonight was a totally different experience. Insulting host, unfriendly service, average food. The place was packed and so loud that we had to shout to hear each other. In addition, at some point they dimmed the lights so much that people were using the light from their phone to read the menu. All that for an above average price. read more

Amazing Food and Amazing Service every time! Best Italian Restaurant in Town! Its a very great place for a Romantic Dinner! Or even a Birthday Dinner with amazing food and wine! read more

We came here for a special night out and were not disappointed. This is the best Italian food I have had in Ottawa, hands down. Each time I have been here the food was excellent, and this latest visit was no exception. The decor is more modern Italian with chic Milan stylings. Service is excellent - well staffed and very knowledgeable. The wine list is extensive and covers just about every base, with quite a few excellent selections available. The menu is also extensive, with many selections in just about every category. We started with the carpaccio - prepared simply and without hiding the flavour of the meat - very nice. For the mains we had the Scampi and the Veal Involtini. The Scampi were wonderful, juicy, perfectly cooked, with a delicious risotto with a hint of saffron. The veal involtini were fabulous - thin slices of veal rolled up with prosciutto and bocconcini - we ate until we just couldn't eat any more. I only wish I had room for dessert as we saw some go by and they looked fantastic, but really, the dinner was so good, we just couldn't stop and the portions were sufficiently large to fill both of us with ease. Will I come back? Absolutely! read more

Giovanni's - Veal Involtini and Scampi with Saffron Risotto - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I honestly have nothing but great things to say about Giovanni's. From the warm welcoming smiles you get...be it Sam, Fabio or Nino, it's always very pleasant from the moment you walk into the restaurant. The menu is full of deliciousness all together. I've never been disappointed. I personally like their gnocchi in rosé sauce, their seafood linguini (which I usually make fettuccini!) ----they're great accommodating to your needs or preferences! Their chicken parm is also amazing! We've gotten served by Tony, Costa, Fernando, Trevor and Stefano....they're honestly all amazing! We've become Tony's regular (there's just no dull moments with him!), however, every member of the staff seems to have been carefully selected! Well mannered and very attentive! We love coming here for special occasions but I'll sometimes swing by with clients either for lunch or dessert/coffee whenever we're in the area ---they all love it! I prefer lunches and weekdays dinners, unless I'm in celebration-mode...in that case I'm good with Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights (which are busier nights ---call for reservations!). By far, best tiramisu in town! read more

Giovanni's - Today's Special: Chilean sea bass.....yuuuuummm! - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Wow great food and service. What a gem to find in Ottawa. The inside of the restaurant is well done and intimate. Food was huge portions so be aware. read more

The food was amazing- but is definitely designed for an in-restaurant experience. Although they told us they were happy to take an order over the phone and have us pick it up, their estimate of how long it would take was wildly inaccurate, causing us to have to awkwardly wait in the teeny weeny waiting area for an extra 35 minutes, even though we'd given an extra 10-15 to go pick up, just in case. Given that the parking is so terrible in the area, that straight up sucked. I'd like to go back someday to dine-in, but that wasn't possible that evening, and although they were pleased to accommodate by taking our money and asking for a tip (which unfortunately I gave them fairly generously before they announced our food still wasn't ready) for not actually serving us, I wouldn't advise you to ever go the take-out route. read more

If you're staying in central Ottawa you will need a taxi to little Italy. This is a high end restaurant with professional, speedy service. The seared scallops appetizer is unbeatable. Service is high end impeccable. You will need a taxi to Little Italy if you are at the main tourist hotels in Ottawa. The eggplant with pasta is great, the turtuffo is a splendid finale. Tables for two are camped but manageable. The owner shakes hands with the exiting customers, a friendly guy who makes the round to assure himself that everything is five-star. read more

Honestly, not super impressed with this place. I really wanted to like it, but the restaurant is so small that where we were seated felt a bit claustrophobic and the chairs were uncomfortable. The food was good, but I didn't feel it really matched up to the prices. Most of the high end Italian places offer oil and vinegar for the bread, we were given practically frozen butter, the zucchini and fettuccine Alfredo were on par with much cheaper restaurants. Though, the owner seemed friendly as he was going around the tables and the service was good and attentive. read more

My mom and I treated my brother and his wife in celebration of her birthday last night. Our great experience started at the curb dropping off our car to the valet and continued to impress us throughout the night with outstanding service during our dining experience. The food was perfection (I had the Pollo Portofino)! Cocktails, appetizers, main entre and dessert - Primo! Worth every penny!!! read more

Giovanni's - Yum... Creme' Brûlée my favorite dessert! - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

While on a week-long visit to Ottawa we took a ten-minute cab ride from the Parliament area to Little Italy and had dinner at Giovanni's. Though Giovanni's website shows the place as a large restaurant with many rooms, we were surprised to find one dining area, crowded with twenty-five tables, even at the early evening hour of 6:30pm. The noise level was so high that I could hardly communicate with my partner. Service at Giovanni's is highly professional, not rushed, with staff and owner continuously checking on diners. Our food was cooked to perfection and special requests were complied with. We had the scallops Capesante (=roasted scallops with eggplant tomatoe-center, excellent); Mafalada a-la-Norma (=flat and wide pasta with wavy edges, with fried eggplant, basil, provolone cheese and tomatoe sauce; very tasty); Cheese cake in caramel sauce (too ordinary); and excellent Chocolate Tartufo. After dinner the owner shook our hands and called a taxi that took us back to our hotel. This was the best Italian food experience we had in Ottawa! Tammy Karten, New York City read more