Cafe Gianni

I have eaten at Italian restaurants around the world. This place is 3 stars across the board. My wife and the polo picatta and I had the pasta carbonara. The chicken had a very thin, watery sauce, it barely stayed on the chicken. My Linguine Carbonara had about 1 Tbsp of prosciutto (max) in the entire dish. So few that I had to hunt for a piece just to try it by itself. The sauce was bland and the pasta was overcooked. Definitely not Al Dante. The waitress was nice and attentive.

We were visiting Mount Dora for a weekend getaway. We were looking for a delicious Italian restaurant- and found this gem. The food was delicious. The servIce was excellent. The desserts were superb and we really truly enjoyed this restaurant-located right in the heart of town. Don’t look anywhere else just go to Café Gianni, and enjoy the flavors of Italy. My sister, in particular truly enjoyed the mussels far diavlo with shrimp added.

When I studied architecture at Clemson University villa in Genova Italy in 1992, I was also that semesters Villa Voice Editor...one primary job was to be sure and publish the recipe for Pesto. I am a huge fan of Pesto done right. First you must drown the pasta in the sauce. It should be green. No noddle should show it's whites. This was one of the best I have had since graduating way back when. This is a don't miss place at least for its Ligurian presentation of linguini Pesto Cremoso. And the sausage was just right. So good that I even used the bread to finish off ALL of the sauce!!! The Puttonesca Rigatoni was also excellent. This is a must do for Mt Dora.

We’ve been eating our way up and down the east coast from Maine to Florida. Before dining with Gianni, a small restaurant in New Jersey was the one to beat. After our dinner tonight- we officially have a new favorite dish: Gianni’s Sacchettini with Shrimp! Our server, Shona recommended a delicious wine to pair with it and our evening was finished with a from-scratch crème brûlée. Would absolutely recommend, and will definitely be back

This place is seriously overpriced. They want $27 for Pollo Piccata and $10 for a Caesar salad. Both were extremely small portioned and, to be honest, not very tasty or authentic. If you want to substitute the pasta for a salad on your entree, it’s an extra $3, which doesn’t make sense to me. How is salad more than having pasta? People can’t help if they have a dietary restriction. If you decide you want to split an entree, they charge you an extra $4. The atmosphere and decor does not match the price point. The bathroom needed to be cleaned and there was visible dirt/dust on the doors and walls. We left hungry after trying to fill up on bread. If you want to nickle and dime people, at least make the place look the part. The waitress was nice, so that was one plus we experienced.

Great authentic Italian food!! Wonderful owner and chef who served the best Italian food in Orlando and surrounding areas. Their house special/ signature dish Sachhetinni was amazing. I could eat it every day! The pasta was cooked perfectly, the shrimps were juicy and tender, and the sauce was savory and delicious! I thought I was actually in Italy. Of course when I spoke to the chef, I was right! Italy basically came to Mount Dora in the persona of an amazing chef. I thought the service was great despite them being very busy, they found a way to always speak to us and make us feel welcome. The waiter was courteous and efficient. The place was very authentic, no pretense, just great atmosphere and ambience. The prices were affordable.

My husband and I wandered around the historic area early yesterday evening, enjoying the beautiful holiday lights. We asked several people where to dine and a local lady recommended Gianni's. We love Italian food and were delighted to find this place. I had their shrimp specialty which while smaller in portion, which was fine for me, it was delicious. My husband had the veal Marsala that he loved. They had a great selection of wines and the one we had was one of the best I've had. Reservations are recommended, even though we lucked out without one.

First time here. The waitress was friendly and understanding that I wanted to look at the whole menu and gave us plenty of time after telling us of the days specials. There is indoor and outdoor seating but it was a bit chilly to sit outside. According to my wife, who has been here before, there is also seating on the second floor. The inside is small but cozy. After some thought, we both ordered the soup of the day which was a tomato basil soup that tasted delicious. For our entrees we both ordered the dinner special which was a homemade ravioli with spinach and cheese in a red sauce, topped with 4 medium sized shrimp. Everything was accompanied by warm, toasted slices of baguette bread. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the ravioli was the best I've had in the area. Can't wait to go back.

I New Year's Eve we had a party of 10 people. Service was exceptional. Celeste, (our server} your kindness and attention made our meal really special. Chef Gianni out did himself!!!!! The food was delicious. Tom and friends

This place feels very Italy. They serve Italian beer and wine, no cocktails however- they couldn't make a Shirley temple. The food was very tasty! All of my party liked what they got. How could Italian food ever be bad?! Our server was very nice, definite worth to check out but in mt dora there is so much to check out.

First visit was in the area for the art festival. We sat outside; there were four of us. We were very pleased with the food, I had the red snapper, and my husband the osso buco. The marinara sauce was perfect. We had a couple Italian beers and met the chef. He was very pleasant and friendly. The prices were reasonable and there wasn't a charge for using a credit card. Will definitely be back.

The food is incredible!! The rigatoni arrabiata is to die for and you can adjust the spicy level! The owner is awesome, and you can tell he really loves what he does. Their tiramisu melts in your mouth, definitely the best in town! I wish they delivered!!

The 10$ Ceasar salad had 2 leafs of romaine at best, more croutons than lettuce and the dressing was a blob on top, not tossed. The photo is after we asked for more romaine.

Absolutely delicious! It is authentic and true Italian food. My entire family of 9 cleared their entire plates. I got the signature dish with the purse pasta with pear and shrimp and it was SO good. It somehow works and it's delicious. Service was wonderful and very friendly. 10/10 recommend stopping in. Also, they were very accommodating to my mother with celiac and there are plenty of options if you are gluten free.

Food was tasty, I want more of it. Awesome atmosphere and friendly. Had a great experience...

The most lovely little Italian spot. All plates came out exceptionally quick and our server Shona was very attentive but never overbearing. The owner stopped by our table and was very personable and really nailed in the experience. Skip the overhyped and overcrowded spots and stop by for a real Italian experience. This is the type of restaurant you want to visit.

The spaghetti al Nero di seppia is phenomenal . WOW . What a. Great experience .if you visit Mount Dora this place is a must .

Our food was excellent and per my Italian husband......very authentic! We had chicken piccata and the spicy mussels. Chef came out to see how our meals were before we left. Service was good and I highly recommend it!

The pollo piccata was delicious! Cozy ambiance with pleasant background music. My server, Celeste, was very personable and professional.

such a quaint Italian restaurant with excellent service by Shona and personal attendance of the Chef Gianni at our table. Tortelini with fungi was amazing!

Best Italian food in the area! Quality food & Amazing service, Gianni himself comes to greet you and make sure everything is perfect. I recommend the Pollo Piccata but every dish is so delicious. The bread with the oil dip is to die for! It's very hard to choose a dessert too because they are all so good.

Un hermoso lugar sencillo pero hermoso y muy pintoresco. Su desayuno exquisito y su servicio de calidad . Lo recomiendo 100%

We went here for our wedding anniversary. I ordered seafood ravioli (lobster, scallop and shrimp) with a lemon sauce. Also had shrimp on top. It was absolutely delicious! It didn't have a strong lemon flavor. I say this in case the description throws you off. My husband ordered pasta with Tuscan style meat sauce. He loved it too. The bread was buttery and delicious. Service was very nice! Thought we were back in Italy. We ordered cannoli for dessert, better than we had in New York.

The service and food were incredible! It was our first time but not the last. Everyone on our group loved their meals! Incredibly authentic Italian right in the heart of Mount Dora

Met some friends here for lunch. First time eating at Cafe Giannis. Food was excellent and the service was wonderful. Don't miss if you happen to be in Mount Dora.

Extraordinarily homemade pasta,salad, and appetizers in a cozy setting inside, or outdoor seating in lovely downtown Mt Dora by Lake Dora- dinner for two with four glasses of wine around 100.00! Service and meal presentation is upscale and chef/owner Gianni is on hand to make it fun and memorable.

Let's talk about the food. I haven't been to an Italian restaurant where the food was as amazing as this place. The ambiance was very nice. The chef came out to see us. The service was outstanding and very helpful. So if you're ever in Mount Dora and you're looking for Italian food, this is the place.

The best Italian restaurant we've found. Chef Gianni is great to talk with and excellent at his craft. His staff is talented and displays a work ethic rarely seen on display nower days. All four nights we had fabulous dinners and attentive staff in this lovely cafe. We look forward to dining there again on August 1 at 7:00PM. Thank you! Andrew + Barbara Paul

My favorite place to eat in Mt Dora. Wonderfully creative dishes. The frutti di mare is wonderful! Eggplant rollatini, salmon penne, salmon carpaccio, and bruschetta are superb. Every time I go, there is something wonderful to try. Desserts are fantastic -- cannoli is spot on. Great wine selection and just lovely people. Chef Gianni always comes out personally to make sure everything is perfect. Wonderful for date night or a group of friends.

I really wish i was able to rate a 10! Firstly the ambiance and decor of the restaurant is so serene and romantic. Heather was a great host/server. Very attentive, very knowledgeable of the menu and offered amazing suggestions. Chef Gianni checked on us as well and made sure we were happy with all the food!! the tomato soup was the best we've had. cappuccino and dessert. As a newer mount dora local. Cafe Gianni is by far our favorite in all of central florida. -Also note i am sharing photos my daughter is obsessed with parmigian cheese so her's is covered in it. Ps we also ordered cannolis to take home . very good!! highly recommend

We come to Mt Dora every year for the craft fair in October. When we arrive Friday night we head straight to Gianni's restaurant. The servers are always friendly and knowledgeable. The food is wonderful!! Chef Gianni always welcomes his customers personally and walks around to talk with them. There is indoor and outdoor seating that gives a quaint atmosphere. You do not have to yell over people and can enjoy your delicious meal! Bravo!! V and T

Fabulous! Can't wait to return! The quality and quantity is perfectly priced. The staff is warm and welcoming.

Superb! I called for a special dinner request for my brother who had major surgery and my sister in laws birthday which was the 1st day home from the hospital. I asked if I could have a dinner delivered to their home in Mt. Dora since I lived 600 miles away. Not only did Gianni say YES but he said he would personally take care of it. I also requested he pick the dinner menu. It was beyond perfect. My brother and SIL were totally surprised by the dinner and by Gianni personally delivering it to them. I was told I could not have done better with the perfect surprise after a hard 1st day home from the hospital. The dinner was scrumptous. The meal started with Caprese, Bruschetta, 2 incredible entrees and ended with Cannoli's & Tiramisu. I wish we had an Italian restaurant like Gianni's where we live!

Food is not the same quality as when it first opened in Eustis. Items mentioned in reviews posted were not on the menu.

Small and cozy Italian restaurant in downtown Mount Dora. Decent pricing and creative selection of pasta with friendly service.

For the past two Sundays, we've moved around our schedule so that we could try Cafe Gianni, as we were told that the food was good. Their website, signs on the door, and voicemail, all said that they open at 11am. Last week, waited until 11:30, and it never opened. This week, we called the night before to make sure that they would be open. The guy on the phone assured us that they would be open at 11. Again we waited, and they were not open. Seems very unprofessional to state a business open time and not follow it.

The food was amazing authentic Italian food. Taste and feels like your in Italy. The owner and chef Gianni is very hands on. He greets you and chats with you. The atmosphere feels like you are in a small town in Italy. The food is a perfect balance of seasoning and taste. Not overpowering. The flavors are all subtle and perfect. The eggplant was a favorite. And the tiramisu was amazing. It was definitely homemade. We will be coming back every time we visit Mt. Dora.

My fist time here. I loved it!!! Their tomato soup was so delicious and I enjoyed their eggplant rollatini. Ali was a wonderful and attentive Soviet with a warm smile. I invite you all to come and enjoy the food here. Bon appétit !

The food was incredible, ambiance was nice, the staff was friendly, and the prices were good. Highly recommend

We had two recommendation for Gianni's and decided to try it out. We had dinner last evening with two of our friends. Our meal was fantastic. Two of us had the chef's special and the other two had something else. Every dish was superb! We had trouble leaving. We just had to stay for dessert and espresso. Gianni's is definitely on our list when we return to Mt. Dora! Our waitress, Celeste, was attentive and very helpful. Gianni stopped by to chat with us making the dining experience even more pleasurable. Gianni's is the best Italian food we've had in Florida!

We went at Cafe Gianni in Mount Dora this past weekend. I have Italian grandmother and grew up eating authentic Italian food and have also traveled to Italy many times. My sons ordered pasta with vodka sauce which was just ok & pasta carbonara ( I tried his dish as he said it tasted " different" could taste the prosciutto was old and tasted bad... My husband and I were not that hungry so we ordered Saltimbocca ( pork tenderloin with prosciutto on top ) served with pasta.... The prosciutto was old and tasted bad as well and the pasta has literally no sauce and no flavor. I had asked the server to bring the dish and two small plates as we were splitting the dish... They split the plate on their kitchen and charged us $ 4,00 fee. I was SOOO disappointed at this restaurant and do NOT recommend it at all !!

Great food taste like homemade, impeccable service, great looking place , clean. Highly recommend them!

I have eaten italian food all over the country....none have anything on this place! I had. Unique flavor.....unbelievable taste!!! Came in to town to see a heavy metal concert..still can't belive malmsteen playing at the community hall....what a total surprise! I ate the Sacchettini....what a flavor! I hope luke combs comes here...mmmm...what a night and this place...sitting outside..talking with chef....that's amore!

Went there for a quick snack and had the soup. The server was super sweet and very attentive. But the soup was incredibly salty. My friends had a bunch of their pasta dishes and absolutely loved it, and the bread was amazing!! Based on whath my friend said I would try again and have a pasta instead.

As a lover of Italian food I was eager to try this place. We were greeted out front by Gianni, the chef, and given a table inside. This quaint restaurant features seating inside and out. A delicious basket of warm fresh garlic bread started the meal. We opted for the bruschetta as an appetizer. It was fresh, served on great bread and creamy mozzarella. For our entrees we ordered the Roasted Vegetable Ravioli and the signature dish, Sachettini. The signature dish was purse pasta filled with cheese and pear, served with shrimp in a wine cream sauce. Both were good portions, arrived quickly and tasted great. The purses were an interesting flavor with the sweetness from the beads. The ravioli had a great flavor of roasted veggies. We are looking forward to stopping by more often as we are new town residents. This is a great little Italian place with a chef who was raised and trained in Italy.

The food was great and the server was so good at his job, you can tell he loves it. For a high end Italian restaurant, the food was pretty good!

We celebrated my birthday here and I could not have been more pleased with the quality of the food and the service. It's not your typical fast-food Italian restaurant it was absolutely wonderful and we will be going back.

Best meal I've had in a very long time. Gianni's is the definition of classic Italian cuisine. You will not be disappointed.

Authentic Italian dishes! Everything is fresh and flavorful. I love that Chef greets each guest and the door and makes sure the experience meets expectations. The portions are perfect- not too much. The 4-course New Years Eve experience was perfectly timed and offered a good variety of dishes to choose from. The wine list is a good selection to complement the dishes. The staff is well trained and courteous. The setting is intimate and tastefully decorated. It is great for a date night or a family meal. Highly recommend!

As soon as we walked in, everyone was so friendly. The service was amazing. The server was attentive and the chef also checked in on us. The food was decent. My husband had the squid ink pasta and he liked his dish but wouldn't order it again. I had the penne alla vodka. It was very dry and cold. Despite the food being okay, we would try again!

This is one of my family's favorite restaurants anywhere. It's real Italian food in a state where most people think real Italian is Olive Garden. Oy. Café Gianni is the main reason we keep returning to Mt. Dora. The latest and greatest meals that I've had are the Oso Bucco - done perfectly in a delicious red sauce with a side of American cooked pasta. I prefer Italian al dente pasta, but Americans, for the most part, don't, so I'm not surprised it was well cooked. The bruschetta a simple, common dish, is the best I've ever had, even in Italy. It's a perfect mixture of delicious toasted bread and a tomato topping that literally dances on your tongue with an exhilarating garlicy tang. This last visit, I finally tried the bed of spring mix salad topped with roasted peppers and torched blue cheese. Hands down, it's the best salad I've ever had. If it were offered in an entree size - I would definitely order it. I had it both nights I was there and can't wait to get it again. I simply can't believe how a bit of torching of the bleu cheese makes the flavor absolutely explode... it must be like Remy's "lightning-y" cheese in Ratatouille. I heartily recommend this eatery and can't wait to return. Oh, and if Heather is on duty, she's worth requesting for her outstanding service!

We visited Mt Dora last weekend (by the way, it's a lovely town) and our first night we went out to find a place to have dinner. The first place had a 1 hour wait, the next place was closed (warning, many restaurants close before or at 8pm in Mt Dora) and that's when we found Café Gianni. We walked in, were greeted with smiles by the staff and told to sit anywhere. However, just as the door was closing behind us, they turned the sign from OPEN to CLOSE. I thought "Oh crap, they will rush us" and I was soooo wrong. The hostess and the servers were extremely friendly and relaxed. The service was amazing. But the food....the food is why I would drive the 3 hours to eat there again. We didn't have appetizers because I promised my wife I wouldn't. I've broken promises before, I should have broken this one. They looked so good. However, the dinner was spectacular. Our two guests had Penne Shrimp Bianco and raved about it. I got to dunk my bread in the sauce, it was delicious. My wife had Chicken Prosciutto Spinici which I almost wished I ordered until I tasted my order, their Signature Dish, Sacchettini Pasta. I never had it before, I couldn't even pronounce it. It's a purse shaped pasta stuffed with 4 Italian cheese, fresh pear in a shrimp and wine sauce. If for any reason I end up on death row, this is now the choice of the last meal. One note, the server brought bowl of parmesan cheese and offered to sprinkle the cheese on our plates of pasta. When it was my turn, I agreed to the cheese, by the server whispered "The chef doesn't recommend cheese on yours". Being hard of hearing I asked her to repeat that and she was emphatic that the chef would not want cheese on my pasta. She looked frightened so I agreed. The sacchettini did not need cheese and its kind of nice to know that the chef cares that much about his food. Soon the chef, Gianni, did come out of the kitchen and stopped at every table to thank all for coming, and probably to check on whether I put any cheese on the sacchettini. He is personable and very friendly. He even taught me how to pronounce sacchettini. I highly recommend to visit this Italian treasure when in the area.

Really good Coke/ Diet Coke. Idk if they are adding sugar or what but it was crispy and gooooood. I had the penne with vodka sauce and added sausage. I am not a huge sausage fan but WOW it was really great. The bread was also fantastic as well as the bruschetta. Our server was also very personable. The decor is a little dated/ gives someone's living room vibes but the outdoor seating is absolutely superb. I will be back!

The service was horrible, the young lady was awfully rude... she was very unpleasant and unwelcoming. On top of that the young lady messed up my order and blamed that, that was what I had ordered. The worst costumer services I have ever experienced.

We wanted to celebrate somewhere special for a birthday dinner in Mt.Dora with 2 friends who had birthdays in the month of May and I went to cafe giannI. I am Italian, have travelled to Italy and was excited to have an "authentic" italian meal. Unfortunately, the food was mediocre at best and extremely salty. The owner came by the table and asked if we needed anything. One person ordered a side salad and requested cheese on top. When he asked what kind, not being Italian , she said "sprinkle cheese" meaning grated parm. He replied "Not in this restaurant , we don't have sprinkle cheese" in a very demeaning manner. He asked if she wanted "an order of shredded parm" and of course she agreed. To our surprise upon receiving the bill she was charged $5. I have been to many high end restaurants - not one ever charged for cheese on salad and I also felt he embarrassed my friend by the way he spoke to her. I am giving two stars because we had a very nice server. I don't want him to be negatively effected by this review.

Absolutely enjoyed everything about this restaurant. First off I am angry I don't remember the servers name except for something similar to Katrica. She made the evening absolutely incredible. Her suggestions for drinks was spot on. Her recommendation for dinner was perfect, exactly what I was looking for. Food was literally unbelievable. I had the special and it had pasta and shrimp and was soooo flavorful. Highly recommend the tiramisu as well. Great staff!!! Great service!!! Amazing food!!!!

Great atmosphere and even greater food! We give this 10 out of 5 starts! We started out with sautéed spinach salad with cranberries and walnuts. Very good. Then my boyfriend got Penne alla vodka with sausage and he said the sauce was like no other. I got the Sacchettini with shrimp... omg! It is pasta pouches stuffed with 4 Italian cheeses and pears covered in a wine sauce and shrimp. I will be back to order this again!! My boyfriend said he was glad I ordered this meal he would never have tried it with the cheese and pear combination but he said he is tempted on our next visit to order this it was so good!