Giovanni Italian Restaurant

Update 6/22/24-tried the tortellini today. Very good, not too much, not too little. Tasted very handmade and unique. Yum! Atmosphere is very cozy with floor to ceiling glass. 2023- We stopped by today as this is my first time my parents have visited me in Rockwall. I hadn't been to this restaurant yet but it looked really nice from the outside so I took them here. Everybody had a great meal, my father ordered the salmon and goat cheese omelette, my mother had the crab cake Benedict and I had the lobster ravioli with scallop and crab. We polished everything off with some delicious quality coffee, chocolate mousse cake as well as apple walnut pie. Everything was delicious and the service was very kind as well. Their interior atmosphere is both cozy as well as industrial modern and their prices were extremely reasonable for the quality. You can get a meal here between $15 and $25 each.

A beautiful Sunday afternoon led me and friend to the lake. Many folks were strolling about so if people-watching is your thing, this is most assuredly the best place to do it. For me, it was a bit nostalgic since I used to frequent Lake Ray Hubbard when my kids were little. Because we hadn’t intended to stay long, we sat at the bar. I ordered the Sangria and we both shared pot roast bruschetta and calamari. The bruschetta was good but the calamari lacked crispiness. This was a bit of a disappointment. The restaurant was not terribly impressive but was the best option compared to others.

An exceptional culinary experience with every visit! At Esta Aura, you'll discover an Italian gastronomic treasure that I highly recommend. From the moment you walk in, you're enveloped in a cozy and elegant atmosphere. The service, led by the incredibly attentive and professional Bujar, is impeccable. He's not only friendly but also provided us with the best recommendations for our meals; he's a key figure in this place! Plus, apart from being super handsome 🤭😂, his charm adds to the dining experience. But what truly sets Esta Aura apart is its exquisite food. Every dish is a masterpiece of authentic and fresh flavors. Perfectly al dente pastas with high-quality ingredients, every bite is a journey to Italy. Additionally, their wine selection perfectly complements each meal. In summary, Esta Aura is more than just a restaurant; it's a culinary experience not to be missed. I recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious food and exceptional service!

The pea tortellini with spinach and mushrooms dish was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Very small portions! My server was terrible! She vaped in front of everyone behind the bar 😳 She was putting on lip gloss while I had cash on the bar to pay for my meal for ten minutes! She also used the F word in front of me and other customers!! Food was really good but everything else was lacking! Bloody Maria was ok at best 😐

Fantastic restaurant. Being Italian,it's nice to see an Italian restaurant serving authentic foods and not the traditional Italian-American dishes everyone calls Italian food. The selections are fabulous. Cooked to perfection and seasoned very well. The service is outstanding. Our server, Brooke, was one of if not the best servers we ever had. Very attentive, one step ahead, and extremely professional. This is a seasoned server. We will ask for her at every visit. Finally, the drinks are pretty well balanced with an above average bartender. It's better than most restaurants in the Rockwall area. We went on a Thursday, and they had a Jazz trio playing, which was a very nice touch. To finish out a great meat, don't forget dessert. It was fantastic. GIOVANNI IS A+++ ALL THE WAY.

Food was extremely good with a terrific atmosphere... overall great place. They were packed, but we still were able to set a 6:45pm reservation calling on a Sat afternoon.

Food was really great and the service was equally good. I will go back to this place. Maybe on a day when it’s less crowded

Mediocre. Torn between 3 or 4 stars. This place had a fairly good reviews in the area so we gave it a try. The inside was quite cute and lighting was very nice tho the service and food just didn’t meet my expectations. We went there at 3:30pm during happy hour, and our entrees came out at 4:30pm. How do I remember? I didn’t want to remember.. it just took forever. Sangria was pretty nice and appetizers were also good (muscle, board, and calamari) so we had good feelings for the entrees which was totally below mediocre. Steak was tasteless, ahi tuna salad was.. ugh i never seen this kind of ahi tuna salad. both presentation and taste was awful. Short rib ragu was weird.. it was made with angel hair and I actually love angel hair pasta so I was excited to try but it was just no. There’s reason why you don’t use angel hair with this recipe normally. Another salad supposed to have goat cheese as a main but it was funny how the main goat cheese was so little as small pieces all over. The best one out of all the entree was the extra side dish of truffle fries we ordered. It means non of main entrees we ordered was good.. it’s kind of sad. Is it worth going? I am not sure.. if I knew, I probably wouldn’t come here. Giving 4 just cuz the drink and appetizers were fairly good otherwise straight 3 stars.

We enjoyed brunch, lunch and dinner dozens of times at this wonderful establishment. Excellent service at all times. A shout out to this wonderful staff that makes this place amazing! Thank you Linda, Sean, River, Isabel, Mike, BJ, and Mazie for treating us like family. I know we are missing many other people on your staff. We enjoyed a nice walk on the lake after our meal.

What can I say besides delicious Italian Food, Friendly Attentive Staff, Perfect Date Night! First time here and this place was exactly what I needed for a Friday Night Dinner!

Amazing service, fantastic flavors, good atmosphere down on the Harbor. They cook the seafood and fish ...fire! Red hot...love this! Drinks spot and desert...camping on good ol D-lish! "In all seriousness," they have plenty of choices on their wine list, their portions are really thought out, the choices selected on our first visit were cooked spot on and the hors d'oeuvres were just right and well seasoned! Usually I'll rate after multiple visits, but this one, I'll throw in my free advice. "And it's worth every penny!"

The sea bass was to die for, whereas my pasta needed work. The noodles were undercooked but the seafood was good. The stuffed avocado was a pleasant surprise and had good flavor and colorful. The service was pretty good. They have indoor/outdoor seating. This restaurant seemed to be enjoyed by many. The ambiance was chill. Some were dressed down and some dressed up like us as we were celebrating an anniversary. They brought champagne out and dessert. The staff was helpful with all my prior request to make the evening special. This was an evening to remember!!!!

Incredible food choices with a wonderful drink menu. The service is impeccable. We've been when it's packed and on lighter days. Both times, servers were attentive and made wonderful recommendations. The vibe is perfect for a nice dinner out or drinks after work. Love this place!! Can't recommend higher!

My second time here . Service was so so but the drinks and food were delicious! This was my first time here for brunch! They had a lot of breakfast options not too many lunch options. I opted for the Cobb salad that was delicious! The calamari was some of the best I've ever had. The batter had a nice spice and the Parmesan cheese on top really added a nice touch! The spinach artichoke dip was also delicious , just wish the bread a little crispier!

Food was stellar, service was quick and thorough. Very excited to try other items on the menu, will definitely return.

Everything about this experience was surprising and fun. Our waitstaff, Journee, was professional, friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The spinach and artichoke dip is very flavorful. The Lobster Ravioli Pescatore is the perfect sized serving. The scallops are cooked to perfection. We ate here on a Thursday expecting zero issues with parking, especially since they are located in a hotel/shopping district and were shocked that there were zero spaces available. There was a free concert in the park that we were unaware of. However, they had valet parking and were pleasantly surprised to find that Giovanni's validates! How nice!

Came across this restaurant while visiting The Harbor in Rockwall, Texas. Our server was amazing, very friendly and knowledgeable about the entire menu. The ambiance was good. The presentation of the fried zucchini was very well done, and it was accompanied by a piquant jalapeño ranch and mozzarella sauce. The cheese on top of the fried zucchini was a nice touch, but it made the dish salty. The spinach, peas, and mascarpone tortellini was flavor-packed. As per la scarpetta, the sauce that remained was overpowered by the cheese it came with. The pollo al' antonio was my least favorite dish of the night. The chicken piccata was great, as the chicken was well done and the sauce close to the perfect amount of lemon and capers in it. The tiramisu was my favorite thing, as it had a great consistency, and the raspberry and ferrero rocher added to the flavor.

The overall vibe of the restaurant was very chill. I visited last Saturday afternoon after doing some dress shopping with my family for an upcoming event. It was actually not very crowded in the restaurant (maybe 3-4 tables + a few at the bar) but the service was so slow. It took so long to get our appetizers. We went ahead and put our entrees in after sensing this delay--to no avail. It took a lengthy time for those to come out too. Everything tasted great, we were just confused why it took so long. This did damper our afternoon. I would probably just order Togo in the future.

Great place for Friday night dinner. Ame with a group of 7. Very attentive servers. Spacious dining room and outdoor lounge available. The atmosphere is vibrant, but loud so we had to speak with elevated voices to hear each other (this didn't ruin our experience). Parking sucks, but they kindly validate valet, so use that if you want. The food was fresh and tasty. House bread was warm with an oil/balsamic/mustard dip. The carpaccio was a bit over-sauced and quite acidic and the meat was lost in the dressing and salad. It was nice to come with a large group and taste several items on the menu. Will be coming back to taste more things, possibly for lunch in hopes that it won't be so loud. One thing that could've improved is that our water wasn't refilled once. But, the fact that the check was accurately split between the 7 of us made up for any inconvenience.

Very noisy place and tables are too close together. Food was mediocre and overpriced for the portion size. Won't be going there again.

5 stars all day long! I wish I could remember our servers name but she said she is there a lot. Short blonde hair. She was so helpful, kind and funny! She recommended dishes snd drinks for us. She nailed it with every dish. I got the Lobster Raviolo and oommmgggggg. Drooling. Literally my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I told her I would try the ziti next time but I don't know if I can knowing the Lob-Rav is on the menu! I got an Irish Coffee. Delish. He got a soda. It was not watered down and had lots of bubbles. Also..... this is a HUGE green flag for me.... I was able to DRINK their water!! So I think at the very least it's filtered, and filtered well! I can't drink the water they serve in this area. This is the FIRST place, that I didn't have to use my water bottle from home. And that was honestly a really nice touch. I just want to exist and drink water without gagging. Ya know? Anyway, am I water snob? Maybe. But honestly, the water in this general area is not great. Anywho, food was delish. We WILL be back. This is only the third place we have found in 2 years, that we were not disappointed with, and excited to go back! Thank you!

Great food and service. The Dover sole is my favorite. My husband loves the salmon. I've never had a dish here that's wasn't wonderful.

Giovanni exceeded my expectations I can tell you that much. The drive from Dallas to Rockwall was very much worth it. I started off by ordering the fried zucchini & crab cakes as an appetizer and when I tell you I was blown away by the taste of both appetizers it caught me off guard. The marinara and the fried zucchini mash so well together. The crab cakes with the remoulade sauce & pickled onions were everything I didn't know I needed. I'm very picky when it comes to crab cakes because I hate when places add filling but not at Giovanni!!! Ordered a Raspberry Mojito and it was one of the best Mojitos I've had the alchemy was outstanding!! By the time I got my entree the fettuccine primavera I was expecting nothing less than a 10/10 because every thing else didn't miss, and Yeap just as I expected it was outstanding!! The flavor, the freshness was all there!! The staff also was over the top from our waitress to Ms. Linda who was very friendly and helpful. This place honestly is a gem!!! (I can't wait to visit again)

From appetizers to dessert the food was excellent as well as the service. I liked the additions to the calamari such as tempura nattered zucchini and broccoli notwithstanding the good sized calamari. The flank steak was perfectly prepared and well seasoned.

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.

We just celebrated my husband's birthday here and it was amazing! Great food (if the red fish is a special, get it!!) and super friendly staff that go above and beyond! Whether it's an occasion, a date night, or just appetizers and a drink at the bar this is the place to go!

Best food in Rockwall, whether you're there to eat lunch, dinner, or even brunch! The staff is always top notch when it comes to service! Atmosphere is perfect, your by the lake surrounded by the people of Rockwall in one of the nicest Restraunt settings you can get! Highly recommend visiting for any meal throughout the day! You will not be disappointed!

Short stack - 9/10 Smoked Salmon & Goat Cheese Omelet - 8.5/10 Amaretto Sour - 10/10 Breakfast Bowl - 9.5/10 (Recommendation: dice the peppers) Shaved Ribeye Crostini - 8/10 (Recommendation: serve hot & drizzle a bit more balsamic) Service - 10/10; Our Server Chris did amazing :) Ambiance - 10/10 Overall this is a great spot for brunch. I recommend you give it a try. We will definitely come back for dinner.

Visiting my mom who just moved to Rockwall from Phoenix. The ambiance is nice; felt like a fairly typical Italian restaurant. Big bar and many tables. I don't think they had anything viewing the water which is a bummer. We shared the mixed green salad. This thing is freaking delicious. Nothing crazy; just a well done salad. Perfectly dressed with fresh and yummy goat cheese and nuts (pecans?). I had the meatball sandwich. It was a little unexpected because it came out on like a torta bun. I was expecting more of a hoagie roll. Sauce was great. Meatballs were soft moist and delicious. It came with French fries. Thin fries with Parmesan (or Romano; not sure) and arugula on top. They were fine. I probably would prefer pasta salad or something next time if they have it (I didn't check the choices). The areas around the restaurant is fantastic. It's a water front restaurant and shopping center with a lot of grass for the dog, boat docks, entertainment, and so on. Service was perfect. They were fast and attentive without bugging us. They accommodated my moms somewhat quirky wants as far as seating. And they were very polite, using their sirs and ma'am's like good Texans :) we appreciate it (from Arizona). Next time in town I'll definitely come again.

Giovanni's absolutely did not disappoint. The service was fantastic the entirety of our visit. I opted for the pasta Bolognese for my entrée and was impressed with the handmade pasta. Tucked away in the harbor, this modern take on Italian is to die for.

I took my parents here! They are big fans of good pasta. This place was on the waterfront so it was nice to walk around before our reservation. We ordered a bunch of pasta dishes to share. The service was great but the pastas were a bit on the soggy side and not enough authentic flavor. The bread is good. They get busy so reservations are recommended!

Went here for dinner during a local stay-ca. Sat at the bar. Food was good. Sarah the bartender was awesome and her blueberry bread pudding recommendation spot on. Sarah was charming and attentive. visited 4 restaurants during our stay at the harbor. 2 sucked (beer tap and sideways) Dodis and Giovanni were the best!! Don't bother with the later two.

We walked in on a Friday at 6pm fully expecting there to be a long wait, especially since we wanted to sit outside- but alas, we were sat right away! The outside views aren't as great as other places in the Harbor since you can't see the water, but the foliage plus being completely shaded makes up for that I think. Service was super fast- I wasn't even half way done with my beer when our food arrived. I got the fettuccine primavera which was amazing and I will absolutely order again. My husband got the pork sausage rigatoni which was good but a little one note.

This is my new favorite Brunch place to go, everything about this place amazing. The service was more then on point, we would order something and it would be right out to us. The waiter we had was really respectful to us and made sure we had everything we needed but didn't make us feel like we were being over crowded or pushed/rushed out of the restaurant. I LOVE the overall vibe of the place, it's super calming and a relaxed setting to be in. It definitely made the experience really tranquilizing and almost made it hard for us to leave lol. The food was off of the wall , hands down the best brunch I've had tummy whole life . All in all I'll be coming back to try everything out here , all of their food here cause it all looks so good lol.

So far every touch point I've had with Giovanni has been remarkable. The dishes have been seasonal, well executed and plated and delicious. The wait staff has been exceedingly helpful re:recommendations and the drinks have all been great (props for the non-alcoholic pairings). This place is by far my favorite restaurant in Rockwall and holds its own against similar Dallas restaurants as well.

Made a reservation Friday evening for a date with a friend; after checking in we were seated immediately. Love the decor and lighting, cute place! The tables are a little too close together for my liking which contributes to the place being very loud, trying to talk over other conversations. Our server, Sean, came pretty quickly. He was attentive and gave great recommendations. We ended up going with the spinach/artichoke appetizer before a couple of pastas including Short Rib Ragu. The food was out in an appropriate time frame just as we were finishing our appetizer and drinks. It was delicious! Loads of vegetarian options as well. Only wish I remembered to take pictures!

It's a Friday night at 7:00 pm, just drove in from Louisiana and did not have a reservation. We were welcomed and sat right in on the patio with heaters to ward off the cool from the harbor. Simple Italian menu and cozy atmosphere. Our server was attentive and offered the specials of the night. We were served warm toasty bread and we ordered the mussels marinara in a tasty sauce. I ordered lobster-ravioli- pescatore and It was presented beautifully and tasted delicious. My daughter ordered the rocky-mountain-trout and it was a sizable portion with great flavor. My Neice enjoyed the fettuccine-al-pesto and enjoyed every bite. For desert, you bet, apple pie a La mode, chocolate martini and expresso Martini to end a pleasant meal. Excellent excellent dining experience.

Our favorite local place in Rockwall is Giovanni's at the harbor. The staff is incredible and the chef never fails to deliver amazing pasta, steaks, and seafood! Giovanni's has an exceptional bar to grab a happy hour drink and even a private room for an unforgettable dinner with friends!

We've been here several times and have always enjoyed the food quite a bit. I want to try pretty much everything on the menu, and so far I've only found items that I have enjoyed. I have noticed it is hard to talk as the normal restaurant noise seems amplified, maybe because of all the hard surfaces. We also have always had great waitstaff, it it is typically a bit slower than other places. My wife and I are rarely in a hurry eating, but I also like my drink to remain full until I'm done with dinner. Great area if you don't mind using the valet, and it is usually nice to walk around the harbor area after dinner. I still recommend this place because the food really is that good in my opinion. The other bits can always be worked on and sometimes the places are busier than we all see.

Nice atmosphere, stays packed, great oven baker pizza, and diverse menu options. It's a good time.

Still one of the best in town. Can't go wrong trying this place out. Great service also.

Lovely dining options inside and out. Food was very good, though there was a vast difference in the size of one entree to another (my son's tortellini entree was so small I gave him half of my rigatoni). Ribeye crostini app was to die for. Service was very attentive and friendly -- I believe are waiter was Brett. Nice wine list -- try the "Infamous Goose"

By far one of my favorite Italian places around! The Shaved Ribeye Crostinis are a must; absolutely divine. The Brandy Cream Sauce compliments the Peppers, Spinach, and Melted Fresh Mozzarella so well! And the wine.... Heaven!

We went on a Sunday morning, had an 11:00 reservation for 3. When we arrived we were promptly seated, but it took at least 15 mins before we were greeted by a waiter. Once we ordered drinks (which was coffee, a mimosa and water) we asked our waiter if they had any recs for their brunch menu. She exhibited very little knowledge of the menu or the ingredients in the entrees given we had someone in our party that had food sensitivities. After close to 20 mins of her going back and forth about menu ingredients, we ordered. It took over 45 mins for us to receive our food, which seemed excessive given the restaurant wasn't busy. A member of our party with the food allergen received their entree smothered with what they were allergic to. It took an additional 20 mins for them to receive the revised version of their dish. And it was far from satisfactory. While the portions were generous and had desirable flavor I found a short black hair in my eggs. Once I brought this to our waitresses attention, they offered to remake my breakfast. No visit to our table from the manager or offer to comp my meal. Just an "I'm sorry" from the wait staff. While I wasn't necessarily looking to have my meal discounted, a visit from management to acknowledge what had happened would've been appreciated. Instead we were met with a lackluster experience, a hungry patron and very hefty tab for what was a mediocre breakfast at best. Maybe on a different day or night we would've had a more pleasant experience. For $96 I expected more from Giovanni's on a Sunday morning. They're not a restaurant I would recommend which is unfortunate given there aren't many food brunch spots in rockwall.

Always an amazing dining experience at Giovanni. The patio is lovely, with colorful flower beds in a beautiful Harbor District setting. We could make an entire meal on the appetizers - spinach & artichoke dip with crostini, lobster bisque, and spinach salad. Recommend the watermelon salad, deviled eggs and charcuterie board from prior visits. Today we both had the surf & turf, a delicious beef tenderloin with a succulent lobster tail for a reasonable price. Then we cheated on our low carb diet by splitting a decadent chocolate mousse cake (birthday). Walked along the lake after dinner. Highly recommend this restaurant!

Great restaurant with also great ambiance and service! Definitely make you feel special. Had the chicken parmigiana and it was wonderful. Definitely recommend!!

We stopped in for lunch while staying at the hotel next door. Sat at the bar and ordered apps and drinks. The bar tender was friendly and nice to chat with. LOVED the food. And the drinks were delicious. Now we're looking for an excuse to go back to the area and eat here again!

The Pier is a great place to spend time at. There are about 10 restaurants here and 6 of them are pretty good. We tried the Italian restaurant Giovanni because it had the shortest wait time. They wanted us to eat outside but it was too cold and we needed in door seats. This place can get loud. It was hard to hear us talk. Date ordered lobster bisque and table got bread. Lobster bisque was good but not worth the price in my opinion. I think it should have had more lobster. We both ordered the Mahi Mahi Special. it was mahi mahi over Roseto with mango salsa and scallops. Very good dish and I wish I had of gotten more. I ordered the spicy margarita. It is unusually spicy and I liked it. I will return.

This place NEVER disappoints. Perfect ambience for a date night or casual weekend brunch with friends! This has been our go-to for years.

Love to eat here every time I come thru town. Great service (usually have Brett as a waiter). Everything we have tried is wonderful. Love their fish dishes, always fresh and unique. Gets a little loud inside when tables fill up. Weather permitting the outside is very nice, quaint and dog friendly. Highly recommend.

Excellent food and ambiance. I highly recommend the tagliatelle Bolognese! Everything on the menu is great and conveniently located at the harbor in Rockwall Texas

Crowded and pretty loud on weekends but great service still. Food was pretty good but definitely on the pricier side (~20-25 average $). Great portions. Would come again!

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.

I went here for dinner on a Wednesday night, then came back a couple nights later for dessert only. On Wednesday they were (unexpectedly) crowded, and I could only find a seat at the bar--not unless I wanted to wait a half-hour, which at that point I really didn't. In any case, the food was very good. I began with their mixed green salad, which featured goat cheese, cranberries and candied walnuts (and mixed greens--duh) with a honey balsamic dressing--an excellent salad. For a main, I got the parmesan crusted chicken. Admittedly, I thought it was going to be more of a chicken parmesan (which it wasn't), but it was lighter and better for me and still tasty, though the chicken was perhaps just barely over (which is a lot safer than it being under, admittedly). For dessert, I went with tiramisu, which is typically a good test of an Italian restaurant. Theirs was quite good. I also requested some bread during the meal; it was fine, but nothing special. Service was nice enough, but if I'm being honest, it felt a bit indifferent (in addition to being pretty slow). Maybe because I wasn't drinking. Maybe they were just slammed. On the way out, I ran into a couple friends of mine who were eating there, and they described their service as "terrible" but likewise noted that the food was very good. On that note, I returned a couple days later--I was staying nearby without a car, so options were limited--for their chocolate mousse cake (I think that was its name), because I was craving chocolate bigtime. Again, I crammed into the bar, but this time service was better (maybe because I was just in for a dessert, though even dessert last time took a while), and the chocolate cake was rich and chocolately and just what I needed. If I were in the area again, I'd come back for the food and just cross my fingers that it was a good day for the service.

Food, service, and the environment were great. I had the Chilean sea bass special and it was delicious.

We have visited Giovanni's for everything from appetizers and cocktails to family celebrations. The food is amazing and the service is always great. Please give them a try, you won't be disappointed.

Service was excellent and food was extravagant. If you are looking for a nice dinner on the harbor, come here. If not, go buy a sandwich from 7 Eleven or something.

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!!!