2.5/3 stars for the food: well prepared and authentically delicious Italian food. The crushed olives tapenade is just brilliant and it shows how much they care even in the smallest things. And it goes really well with the fresh bread they offered. The brown layers of the tiramisu it's the kind of cookie called ladyfingers and it should be soaked in espresso for the texture and flavor so the complains of the "wet and moist" reviews don't stand. This is just how traditional tiramisu is made and I absolutely loved it 1/1 star on the service. We came here to eat but their hospitality was so amazing we felt like folks coming home 0/1 for my cleanness fetish. The utensils and scotch glass seem pretty old and chewed up. I would polish them more or maybe replace them with new ones. Also there are small tiny fruit flies towards the end of dine. I killed 2 but 1 kept coming back and taunting me. Overall 3.5, I would lean towards 4 cause the food and overall experience is pretty awesome. read more

See all

Don Giovanni's deserves a great Big Chefs Kiss Everything from the service to the food was excelente I started off with the mista salad, fried calamari,garlic bread and glass of Pinot Grigio. Then moved on to the Salmon Picata served with mash potatoes and seasonal vegetables that consisted of zucchini, carrots and broccoli. Everything was seasoned perfectly and cooked to perfection. The service was impeccable, they were friendly and ever so attentive. Best restaurant experience in a long time. Sorry no pictures it was too good to stop a take a picture Highly recommend read more

I received a gift card from Costco and decided to try this place. I love the ambiance. It just has a nice feel inside. The staff were all friendly and attentive. The food that I had was excellent. They start you with a bread bowl. Nothing fancy about the bread but the oil and garlic dip was very tasty and VERY garlicky. I loved it. I got the Chicken Parmesan which was served over veggies and spaghetti. I was told that this dish was one of the few entrees that include spaghetti as the starch rather than mashed potatoes like most of the others. I was sold. It was very tasty and really hit the spot. So, what can I say? I had a 5 star experience. Good work! read more

Ristorante Don Giovanni - Chicken Parmasen - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

Service was great and it's a charming/cozy vibe inside, but was very unhappy with both our meals. Lackluster in flavor and the ravioli sauce was almost grainy? The drinks were nice, but I don't think I would ever return or recommend anyone dine in. read more

Ristorante Don Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

See all

What a great place to have a nice lunch during the week! The Italian decor is beautiful. Service is great. The chicken picatta was so lemony and delicious. They also have lunch specials that come with an app and dessert. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Great food with nice outdoor seating that's pet friendly. The food here is good and is on par with other Italian restaurants that I've eaten so far. The Frutti de Mare al Pomodoro is made well. The shell fish was not rubbery (rubbery if it's overcooked) and the sauce definitely has flavor and can be paired well with the bread that is served. The olive oil that is paired with the bread is very tasty and has a garlic spice kick to it. The calamari is okay but they served it in such a big plate and the portions was small so it looks like you're not getting what you paid for. The service was great. Fast service and the food came out fast. We dined on a late afternoon on a Saturday and the outside dining had a nice elegant decor. Yes it's on a pricey side but I feel as though this is the type of price you'll expect if you dine in other restaurants in the Mountain View with a downtown feel to it. Great place for a casual or fancy date night. read more

See all

So expensive for what??: Food was fine but not at those prices. It feels like a formal place too, ambience wise, but the food did not match the vibes. The butternut squash ravioli was pretty disappointing and came with like 5 raviolis. So sad! I left still hungry. Fried calamari was decent. Bruschetta was mediocre, I could've made it myself. Go somewhere else on Castro, so many other places you could eat there! read more

Ristorante Don Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

See all

I came here for a holiday dinner this past Th night with seven other people. It was party of 8. We had reservations at 6:15pm and we were seated right away. I ordered Frutti di Mare al Pomodoro as my entree and tiramisu for dinner. Both were delicious. I can't wait to come back to try other dishes. All my friends enjoyed their dishes too. read more

See all

I have been coming here since I moved to the Bay Area in Jan 2000. I used to live just around the corner and was here at least twice a week. The food and service is phenomenal! This is a wonderful place for a date night or if you have a business dinner where you need to impress. (They also have private space for parties or meetings). My long time favorite is the linguine pesto (Their pesto cream sauce is the best I've ever had!) but my new addiction is the Caesar salad with grilled salmon. I also love their pizza! You honestly can't go wrong with anything on the menu! They just started a new "pre-fix" menu. It's only $35 and includes your choice of several salads or soup, a large variety of main courses (including salmon, short ribs, lamb shank, pork chop or various pastas AND your choice of a dessert. The owner told me he is going to keep the special going through the end of the year. The owner, John Akkaya, is a gem. He knows all his regulars by name and has a huge following. He's so welcoming and cares about the community. Every year for Thanksgiving he puts on a huge free Thanksgiving dinner for anyone who shows up. Every year he feeds hundreds of people. What ever you do, DON'T skip the bread and dipping sauce!! I have many times come by and grabbed a soup container full if I'm having guests over. Everyone loves their dipping sauce! read more

See all

Don Giovanni on Castro Avenue is an absolute gem in Mountain View! I've eaten at so many Italian restaurants, and this one is by far the best I've ever been to. The food quality is out of this world, the service is incredible, and the atmosphere is just perfect. If you're looking for authentic Italian food with a great vibe for a date night or a family dinner, this is definitely the place. We actually just stumbled upon Don Giovanni while looking for a place to eat on Castro. The manager was standing at the door, and as a customer walked out, he said, "This is the best Italian food I've ever had!" We weren't sure if we had enough time to eat, but the manager was so incredibly nice, and with his charming Italian accent, he just invited us right in and told us to grab a table. What a welcome! The menu has such a wonderful selection of authentic Italian dishes. Our waiter was a fantastic guy, so courteous and super attentive. We started with a fresh salad and some warm bread, which came with this amazing authentic olive oil, garlic, and pesto dip. For our main courses, we ordered the fettuccine, the fettuccine with prawns, and the penne pasta with Italian sausage and bell peppers in a red sauce. Let me tell you, this was the best quality Italian food I've ever been served in a restaurant. The pastas tasted so fresh. The fettuccine sauces were genuinely creamy and seasoned just perfectly, clearly made with real ingredients. The prawns were generous and super fresh. And that penne pasta with the Italian sausage and bell peppers? It had such a delicious, fresh tomato flavor! I honestly can't explain how fresh and how much care went into making these perfect plates of food. The restaurant's atmosphere is just wonderful. It has this charming, old-world feel that's really comfortable and pleasant. Everything was spotless, the tables, the silverware. And the service? It was truly the best we've ever received, with so much attention to detail. The manager himself was a wonderful guy; he made sure we were comfortable and enjoying our meal and was great to chat with. Overall, this place gets 10 out of 5 stars from me! This is some of the best Italian food I've enjoyed in a very long time. This is hands down the best Italian food in the Bay Area. We are absolutely coming back here again! read more

See all

We stopped by for lunch on Tuesday. Our server's service was outstanding. The items he recommended turned out to be absolutely delicious. I don't know how it happens, but I've been looking for a good Italian restaurant that serves great pasta for a while now--most places end up being disappointing, or maybe I've just been unlucky. Even when I pay $40-50 or more for a plate of pasta, I often leave unsatisfied. But the pink sauce meatball capellini I had today was exceptional! The only thing I would change is the meatball portion -- it would have been perfect with 3 instead of 2. Other than that, I truly enjoyed everything. What impressed us the most was the service -- fast, efficient, and top notch. We will definitely be back. Thank you! read more

Ristorante Don Giovanni - Capellini Pomodoro with meatballs Linguine Pesto Butter Lettuce Salad - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

Have been going here for quite some time. Always enjoy their authentic Italian food. They are always friendly and eager to serve you their delicious food! read more

This Italian restaurant in Castro street deserves much wider recognition. Their menu is extensive, and frankly, some of the dishes are even better than what we experienced at several spots in Europe. Their weekend prix fixe menu is one of the best deals in the area. The fish was prepared beautifully, and the thick pappardelle pasta was cooked to perfection. The soup and salad starters were made with fresh, high quality ingredients. They also serve ciabatta bread that is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, accompanied by herb-infused olive oil for dipping. Next time, we'll try their pizza to see how it compares to Terun's. The service is attentive and friendly. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining. read more

I came here many many years ago. I was hoping they still had their chicken fiorentina, I believe that's what it was called back then, but they no longer had it on the menu this last Sunday. I was not disappointed at all. I had the lasagna, and it was absolutely delicious. The bread that they bring to the table was great with the vinegar and the oil. My husband really enjoyed his chicken Marsala. He's said the mushroom were delicious. The calamari was so crispy and I love that it came out piping hot. Service was great! Definitely will be back. I made last minute reservations online, super easy! read more

See all

First time here that we recall. We sat outside and had their $19.95 lunch special, which includes soup or salad, main course, and a small dessert. There were two of us and we had the minestrone soup and pumpkin soup, squid ink pasta with salmon and chicken Marsala, and two chocolate mousses. The food and service were very good! Served nice and hot and the portions sizes were very appropriate for lunch. Nice fresh bread basket with an olive/olive oil dip. Nice and peaceful outside, great food, friendly service. We enjoyed it and will come back again! read more

See all

Always great food and service. You can't pick a bad option. My family has been coming here since they opened and they've always had wonderful staff and ambiance. Quite a convenient location in downtown Mountain View as well. Always look forward to stopping by. read more

Attended a friend's party here and had a surprisingly good meal. Polpette Della Mamma: 4.5/5. Very nice flavor. Caprese: 4.5/5. The fresh mozzarella with the balsamic reduction really made this dish special. Chicken Marsala: 4/5. Pretty well executed. read more

No stars. Horrible customer service. I am a server, and I know what good customer service is, I did not receive good sercive at all, and told the manager, who didn't seem to care. The server needs to have clear communication with their tables if there is an error. The server should care about every guest, regardless of who they arevor aren't. Every guest should b e treated with kindness and respect. read more

The food exceeded our expectations! The chicken was tender and flavorful, and the vegetables were perfectly cooked. The service was attentive, and the vibrant, colorful atmosphere made the dining experience even more enjoyable. read more

See all

Great seafood pasta, flour were subtle shrimp, and scallops were fresh, what definitely come in again

I feel bad ripping on all the Castro St restaurants, but I've yet to find any good ones. This was yet another very mediocre (at best) Italian. * Risotto balls - 3 stars: standard * Calamari - 4 stars: The highlight of our starters * Burrata - 3 stars: How do you make burrata mediocre?! * Penne - 4 stars: I will say I was pleasantly surprised by this simple pasta dish. * Steak - 2 stars: So dry I couldn't swallow it. * Brussels Sprouts (Side) - 3 stars: Tasted like cafeteria food. * Tiramisu - 2.5 stars: Just not great.... read more

See all

Still very good Italian food in a more casual setting. I tried the spicy sausage pasta with red sauce and the butter lettuce salad. Also tried the pesto pasta the sauce is very creamy. Everything went well with a glass of wine. Service is great and they also have the payment system to use a QR code on your smartphone. Very good comfort food and value for your money. They don't have the antipasto platter anymore they should bring it back. read more

See all

I really enjoyed the food here! Not sure why the rest of the reviews are so negative, but I actually think the food here was really good and fresh!! I really really enjoyed the complementary bread and sauce that they brought out, additionally, the ravioli and the tortelli were both amazing! Both very flavorful and a good portion! The environment is very cozy and cute, and you can tell that the restaurant has been here for awhile! The service was also pretty good, our waiter was very nice and the food came out pretty fast! Will definitely come back again! read more

See all

I really enjoy coming to this restaurant. The service is very attentive and getting seated right away is always a plus. I find that Castro St. in Mountain View has a lot of outdoor ambience restaurants anyway but this one stands out to me in particular. I'll tell you why, it's like a peaceful oasis. Near the live music, this evening there was a nice breeze and jazz playing. The food of course tastes authentic and delicious. I always like to get the starters of calamari or the bruschetta. Both taste incredible. The presentation of the food is always spot on and as mentioned they service is fantastic. This evening I enjoyed the bolognese but the more I frequent this restaurant I hope to try new things. It's just the pasta is so good that I always default to that. I enjoy Italian food in general and I discovered this place simply by walking around. I'm so glad I did!! read more

See all

We were able to use Don Giovanni's private room for a large celebration ahead of a memorial service. In sum: great selection of wine, delicious (but slightly overpriced?) food, service was confusing at times but we were also a chaotic group. Food: arguably the most important topic. Starting first with the appetizers, we had a selection of calamari, meatballs, bread, and Brussels sprouts. The Brussels sprouts were in a nice balsamic marinade and soft as opposed to crispy. For dinners we had a wide range of entrees which were tasty but slightly overpriced in my opinion. Out of all of the food I think the real winner was the salads, which were delicious with lots of different goodies. As far as dessert: the tiramisu was good but nothing to write home about, but the crème brûlée was the real winner, probably the best crème brûlée that I have had. Wine: we had three bottles opened of which the Cakebread Cellars was my favorite, particularly their Merlot. Service: we were a large group with several young kids. Because of this, there was a decent amount if chaos that presented a challenge for the servers, but they adjusted and adapted well. There was some confusion between language barriers, particularly around the coffee orders and regular versus decaf. read more

See all

Great service, owner personable. Good excellent! Loved setting. Been coming here for years. Hands down best in Mountain View.

Calamari Fritti 3 squid, crispy, cocktail and tartar sauce, too sour Oyster Rockefeller 5 sautéed spinach, cheese, pork, blanc sauce, flavorful Vegetable Soup 3 carrots, celery, zucchini, light, watery Squid Ink Pasta w/ Seafood 4 pasta slightly hard, juicy fish, small scallops, shrimp, crawfish, mussel, clams, tomato sauce, flavorful Tortellini Michelangelo 5 dumpling pasta stuffed w/ chicken & veal, peas, creamy sauce, flavorful Saltimbocca di Vitello 2 thin tender slice of veal, salty prosciutto, strong wine flavor, way too salty Frutti di Mare al Pomodoro 4 prawns, scallops, squid, clams, mussels, mild saffron tomato broth, flavorful The Linden Mocktail 3 lemon juice, strawberry puree, orange bitters, sweet, sour read more

I was just here earlier this year with a party of 11. It was fine. Service was nice and food was okay. I just came here with my Social Group of 40+, 6 tables of 8 and it was fantastic! The people of course, the service, the food, the ambiance and everything was great! We are a very relaxed group so this place is super cool. We had our own room. We have some old timers and they love the staff here. It has the old restaurant ambiance that I love. Side note - I used them two years ago to serve 300 boxed Thanksgiving dinners for us and they are wonderful. I worked with the owner. He gave us an excellent price and 8 ounces of turkey in each box with a generous serving of each side. He was out of town on the date but sent his very nice capable son to deliver. We had a choice of spaghetti bolognese, salmon, or short ribs when we arrived. Great if you don't want to decide right away and if you might want to change your mind that day. One gentleman at my table says he always gets the spaghetti here. The salmon size was pretty generous and cooked perfectly. It was also warm. Mashed potatoes were just okay same with the vegetables. I ate the salmon first so I was too full for the sides. The short ribs were good too. Everyone loved their food. We started with red or white wine. They brought out bread & olive oil & vinegar and a mixed green salad with house dressing. We had a colored chip corresponding to our dinner choices. Dessert was a very smooth chocolate mousse. Only snag, coffee was not ready immediately after dinner for those that had to leave early, like me but we were able to arrive early and stay late. Nice relaxing place for a get together with friends! read more

See all

I've been to Giovanni for their delicious pasta for dinner before. Today on Thanksgiving day, walked on Castro Street searching for a good meal. Most restaurants are closed.... Until we walked by this Giovanni restaurant. Just our luck... was greeted with a smile & escorted by owner to a booth table with table cloth & everything. Then, to our surprise! Free lunch !! Quite delicious homemade style... Need to come back for their regular dinner soon. read more

See all

Service was very slow, asked three plus rimes to refill bread since I would prefer to eat bread with ravioli I ordered. Waited 30 min plus and asked 3 different waiters. Food became very cold due to me waiting and not coming back at all. I did not know bread was so hard to cook in the kitchen. read more

Ristorante Don Giovanni - Spinach Cheese Ravioli Marinara - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

Excellent service, food was very delightful. I've came here a few times and it's always been consistent, a go to.

Went here with my family for a Christmas Day dinner. MIL chose it as there were not many places open on Christmas Day. I think everyone else thought the same thing because the place was VERY busy! We ended up getting seated in their Banquet Room where they host private parties. The walls are decorated with company logos, so I had to ask our hostess what that was about. It turns out that the companies that host private events in that room will get their logo painted if they spend over a certain amount of money (not sure what that amount is). The logos are then painted proportional to the amount of money they spent. Pretty neat! The restaurant was very busy and we ended up waiting a bit to place our order. We decided to place everything at once because we didn't want to wait too long. The food was quite good. I got a breaded veal and it was delightful! It was fried in olive oil, so it was a bit oily, but I was quite happy with the meal. The vegetables were cooked quite well and I did not feel like it was too salty. Paired my meal with the Fruit Honey cocktail for a sweet contrast. The cocktail itself didn't scream "Italian" to me but honestly, I would be very happy to have that cocktail any time regardless of the type of restaurant I go to. read more

This is our favorite neighborhood restaurant!! The food is great and the owner and staff are terrific!! Their seafood specials are delicious as are their Italian dishes. The decor and ambiance is old school which is refreshing compared to all the new look-a-like restaurants!! If your planning a family gathering there are two private dining rooms. One seats around 20, the other one is large enough for a company party!! read more

Take-out review: - Cheese ravioli bolognese: This was pretty good. I thought the portion was a bit small, but as someone who doesn't eat too much per meal, I did feel satisfied by the end. I think someone who eats a bit more would still feel a bit hungry. Wasn't life changing pasta but the meat sauce was thick enough to coat and stick to the ravioli, which I liked. I wish either the cheese in the ravioli had more flavor or the sauce did. - Cheesecake: This was a super soft cheesecake that almost felt like it was homemade because it was unlike any store or restaurant bought cheesecake I've had before. The graham crust was great, and I actually liked how soft the cheesecake filling was. The read more

Ristorante Don Giovanni - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

See all

Staff were so sweet and always welcoming. Definitely 10/10 serving. Food is definitely filling and love the location. Inside and outside seating. read more

Ristorante Don Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

First off, the ambience is really nice. We sat outdoors with the trees and windy breeze. The staff was friendly and attentive. And when you're waiting for your meal to arrive, there's so many bread appetizer options and they were all really good. There's a lot of food that comes with the appetizers so plenty of food to share. The tortellini was delicious. There was enough sauce so it isn't soggy and each tortellini had enough filling. It was a good portion as well for dinner. It wasn't too small nor too large. There were so many dessert choices to choose from. I forgot the name of the dessert I ordered but it was a really good cake that had enough texture and cream. read more

See all

Came here for Valentines Day dinner. We arrived a little after our reservation time of 7:30pm and the corridor/entryway was packed with probably 20 other people and couples around the same reservation time. We were seated within 15 minutes but it was a bit frustrating that there seemed to be no set order but first come first serve but at least we got seated in a reasonable time. The restaurant is much bigger than it first seems. We were seated at the window with a bright light coming down. Ordered the lamb chops and lobster ravioli and bruschetta. Also ordered a glass of the cab and pinot. The complimentary bread is okay and the dip was really good. The bruschetta we didnt like that much, not enough tomatoes and too much bread for my liking. I really enjoyed my lobster ravioli which they just put in the menu that day. The lamb chops were cooked perfectly medium rare and very good with their veggies and mashed potatoes. Overall it was a nice dining experience. read more

See all

I would have loved to love this restaurant but sadly it wasn't good. My friend and I ordered a Cesar salad and the romaine was brown. We ordered a Margherita pizza and it was so soggy we couldn't get it off the pan. We were comped the salads (thank you to our waiter). The service was great and the bread delicious. Really nice eating outside. read more

I took a mini-vacation to Italy, last week. It was the Squid Ink Pasta with Salmon and Pear Tomatoes that drew me to Don Giovanni for their Special 3-course $19.99 luncheon, served daily, from 11AM until 1PM. Two waiters fawned over me, catering to my every need; first, by delivering a basket of crusty French bread: 6 pieces, evenly sliced, with herbed olive oil, and then a frosty bottle of ice water for my white-tableclothed table, even before I placed my order. I chose the tossed green salad with pitch-perfect tasting vinaigrette, squid ink pasta with salmon, and chocolate mousse for dessert. While 6 tables were occupied with a variety of patrons: a senior citizen couple, two business women, a middle aged couple, and a couple that appeared to be there with their two small grandsons, the restaurant was as relaxing as being on the continent, in an exclusive establishment. I was seated by the wine racks, able to see the variety of lovely artwork on their walls. Everything was amazingly prepared and presented. One feels like a guest, while dining at Don Giovanni's: an appreciated and valued customer. Cherry tomato halves surrounded my crisp and oh-so-tasty salad. My decadently dense and flavorful chocolate mousse came with whipped crème, sliced strawberries and mint leaves, on top. Attention to detail is a hallmark of that establishment, making it feel like a mini-holiday in Italy, an hour of respite from the busyness of downtown Castro Street. The squid ink bowl was so large, I took half of it home, for dinner. I commented to one of the two waiters that I'd wanted Eggplant Parmesan for years, and had gone to another restaurant with a friend the week before, and while that meal was excellent, the serving was so small, I was still hungry, when I left. I'd met a friend that day. We went to Paris Baguette, right after having had lunch, not so much for a sweet treat, but because we were still hungry. She had ordered lasagna at the other restaurant, and while it was tasty, it too was another gyp of a meal that was just not filling. The waiter told me that not only does Don Giovanni serve Eggplant Parmesan, for lunch [on their regular menu] but that "side dish" comes with pasta and vegetables, and all for $19.99! Of course, crunchy French bread and herbed olive oil comes with everything there. Furthermore, it's guaranteed that when diners leave Don Giovanni, stopping at Paris Baguette for a baked treat would have to wait, for another day. I give Don Giovanni 5 well-deserved stars. What a wonderful restaurant, overall. It's also a GREAT place to teach children how to dine at a white-tablecloth, white napkin, SPECIAL establishment. read more

A year late to my review....LOL. Came here in August 2021 with Soha and Ada! This was when outdoor seating was still a thing. It still is, but I assume most people are okay sitting indoors now. Menu is abundant. We ordered a variety of white and red sauce dishes, and everything was yummy! We don't usually eat italian food unless someone drags us there, lol. Would I come here again? Probably! Except I probably won't let Allen get chicken alfredo...because who does that.... read more

See all