Giovanni Ristorante

Really enjoyed the hospitable service and cozy atmosphere here. Waitstaff team was very attentive and helpful w the menu. The pulpa was cooked to perfection, aka not overdone, and well seasoned. The fresh pasta offerings were cooked properly and the ravioli was a hands down favorite at the table as all were sharing as we went. A very serviceable wine selection w good variety of price ranges from bottles in the old world. We had to run out to a catch a performance and this could not stay for cafes and desserts but wish we could have. Enjoy!

This place was completely fabulous! The service was exemplary! The service staff and everyone we encountered were very courteous and friendly! The food was beyond fabulous! I highly recommend this establishment!

My girlfriend and I chose this restaurant for a Valentine’s Day dinner, expecting to order from the regular menu. Instead, we were presented with a fixed chef’s menu priced at $130 per person, with taxes and gratuity already included. Our total came to $337 — a cost that would have been acceptable had the experience matched the price. Unfortunately, it did not. Our server was noticeably cold and inattentive, hovering at the table in a way that made us feel rushed rather than welcomed. We were seated extremely close to another couple near the pianos, making conversation nearly impossible due to the noise level. The tables were positioned so tightly that reaching out would have meant touching the neighboring table. The food itself was inconsistent. My girlfriend’s appetizer consisted of a raw tomato paired with overcooked mozzarella, which was disappointing. While the remaining dishes were adequate, they did not justify the premium cost. Frankly, the value and satisfaction did not compare favorably to far more casual dining options. In hindsight, having access to the full menu might have improved the evening. While I take responsibility for not researching the holiday format in advance, the overall experience fell well short of expectations. The highlight of the night was simply the time spent with my girlfriend, rather than anything the restaurant provided.

Our favorite Italian spot in Nashville. One of the few places that is on par with our favorite north end spots in NYC and Boston. The food is always exceptional and I appreciate that their menu remains relatively unchanged ( minus specials) and that they don't have a massive selection of items, instead they choose to focus on quality not quantity in regards to menu selection. It is pricey ( usually over $125 pp with wine) so be prepared for that and the portions aren't anything massive which is good considering it allows you to have multiple courses and not feel overly stuffed. The wine list is expansive with some great traditional and non traditional wines that you won't find anywhere else. Service is always too notch and they treat us well as regulars. We usually go earlier in the evenings so it's not busy but it can get lively later in the evenings. The live piano on the weekends adds a nice touch. The staff is great and have all been there for a long time which adds to the professionalism and servuce. Overall a great place for a special occasion or if you are just looking for the best Italian food in Nashville.

Updating this review after second visit 3 months later. Ambience and food is still stars 🌟, but I wish the staff were a little less stiff. They are very attentive, but so serious and stiff. It comes across as a bit cold, even for a romantic evening with two adults. We like to laugh and be joyful when out. It is a bit hard to pull off at Giavonni's. If it is great Italian food you want, then it fits. If you want a fun night dining, you may consider other options. Original Review: Absolutely beautiful in every way. The ambiance is so inviting. Dark, high ceilings, piano, beautifully set tables. The menu offerings are all fresh and made from scratch. This becomes apparent from the first bite of pasta. Best Italian this side of NYC and Boston. 5 🌟's

Save your time and money. Food is not good. It’s supposed to be fine dining but I could make better at home. Chicken extremely dry. Salad is a joke. Service is less than par. Edit to add: The owner’s response says it all for anyone thinking of dining at this establishment. To clarify, the dinner was not “free” the food was all paid for ahead of time for our group to be offered the multiple courses. Secondly, I personally bought 3 cocktails that were not “free”. Thirdly, I always tip whether the food or service was bad or good. Fourth, and most importantly bad business is bad business and not taking ownership of a negative review of a personal experience says it all. AND THAT IS WHY you have several 1 & 2 star reviews. Looks like I’m not the only one saying the same thing.

Starting with the valet out front Giovanni’s wants you to have an intimate experience. The environment is cozy, reminded me of a mix of New York and a spot in central Italy. Lighting at the table is adjustable to your preference, ambient noise is perfect with the acoustics. Service was timely from when sat to pacing out each course. Waiter knew the menu cold, was perfect at handling allergies, and managed a balance of professionalism and humor working with us. Food is the main event here and it delivered. Everyone enjoyed their dish (I’d encourage sharing notes) and they prepped a perfect off menu vegan 3-course dinner followed by dessert. It’s a costly experience but well worth it when you want a high end night out with food so good you’ll be talking about it on the drive home.

Anniversary dinner on a Friday night Surprisingly Amazing. not cheap, but what is that is great? The Calamari was the BEST I have ever had. The Pappardelle Alla Norcia was Incredible!, rich, but light, creamy, but no velvety aftertaste, the truffles were a hint of nutty, and all as nearly as perfect as you can get. Ask for Chris (from Romania) and let him guide you. save your money until you can afford to get what you want, and enjoy a wonderful slow paced dinner environment. They do not rush you to get out.

I don't understand how this restaurant has some bad reviews. I have eaten here many of times and I have never had a problem. The food is alway great, as well as the wait staff. Do not trust the bad reviews.

Step back into a quiet corner of Nashville, and experience the excellence of Giovanni's. The curbside valet greets you with a smile and opens the door, the host ushers you inside giving you the option of drinks at the bar, or being seated at your table. The glamorous bar area is reminiscent of the Versace mansion bar in South Beach. We enjoyed fabulous Negroni's prior to an excellent bottle of Brunello while we ordered our starters. We started with caprese, meatballs and an order of the gnocchi. The meal was not rushed and very well paced for conversation and relaxation. For our meals we had the tagliatelle, and the cacio e Pepe along with the eggplant parmesan. Each and every dish was light and so incredibly delicious, we could not find one thing we were not amazed by. We ended our dinner with the best limoncello we have ever had and a beautiful Sassicaia Grappa. Highly recommend Giovanni's for a special meal with your love, or an intimate dinner with friends. Just fabulous.

The service was stellar, but the food was mid after having such high expectations of the quality. I might even say the pasta was bad considering the price point (~$40 per plate). Also, it took forever for them to get the food out. Disappointed with this place.

Had a pretty meh experience here. To begin, I have extensive food allergies and that makes eating out difficult. However, restaurants with house made pasta are usually safe. Usually. We came here specifically for the pasta. When I provided my allergy list to the waitress she conferred with the kitchen and they said I couldn't have the pasta because they didn't know what oil was in the pasta??? Be so for real right now! How can a restaurant that claims to make the pasta in house not know the ingredients? Sure I appreciate that they were honest and didn't try to feed me something they couldn't confirm was safe but come on! The waitress said that, essentially, the only thing on the menu I could have was the filet. Now, this is my fault I guess - but I didn't expect the filet to be $70 so I didn't look at the price before saying I would get it. Hear me out, I love food. And I don't mind spending good money on food. But if you're going to charge me $70 for a filet it had better be GOOD! It was mid at best. Also, overcooked. But I didn't want to send it back since I didn't realize how expensive this stupid piece of steak was. Would not return.

What an amazing place! The service from our waiter Oliver was amazing, the food was delicious & the atmosphere was romantic. We started out with wine & appetizers, the calamari was great along with the mozzarella & tomato app. I ordered the Eggplant parmigiana, my husband had the veal special, and our friends ordered the lasagna... all of the dishes were fantastic! Will visit again.

We were visiting from out of town to celebrate our anniversary. I decided to book here due to the high reviews. Unfortunately our experience wasn't a match. After our attempt to check in, the host didn't say a word and walked away to talk to a waiter. After returning, he signaled for us to follow upstairs. He guided us to the bar and told us to wait, then left. We were standing confused until a few minutes later another waiter walked up and said he wasn't sure what the host was doing but they are trying to get a table ready. The restaurant was not busy and there were plenty of clean tables around. The wait staff were very friendly and the food tasted great, a little overpriced for the type of service we received. We did enjoy the music and the ambiance of the restaurant.

The best in the business. Excellent service really top notch. Group of 5 and everyone's meal was wonderful beyond explanation. The atmosphere is excellent. I would highly recommend!!!! Sorry for lack of photos.

Ambiance was amazing. Food was amazing. Service was amazing. Hostess and wait staff were all so kind. We celebrated my dad's birthday, and it was the perfect upscale place for a group dinner. Would also recommend for date night. The waiter was so kind and taught my son how to properly use a spoon to eat spaghetti. We loved every dish (calamari, chicken, steak, spaghetti, truffle fries). Recommend.

My husband brought me here for my 41st birthday. It was such a luxurious experience from start to finish! Our host Ron was gracious and professional and answered all of our questions about the dishes. The wine list was extensive -- I ordered a Reisling which really had the right balance of sweet and crisp flavors. There were plenty of vegetarian options. The appetizers were lovely, especially the roasted artichokes. The spinach ravioli in brown butter sauce was divine and great for dipping bread. My husband loved the eggplant Parmesan. All the pasta is made in-house and is so fresh. They also provided a complimentary tiramisu as a birthday dessert. Ambiance was lovely and they even have a separate event space upstairs. We have not had Italian food this good since we lived in Boston and dined in the North End!

I had the lasagna which consisted of noodles and sauce . Very disappointing and over priced. Our waiter was wonderful but the host kept taking him away from our table. The host was not friendly. Low lighting almost dark inside if not for daylight coming through the window. I normally go to family owned Italian restaurants and they serve made from scratch with huge portions.

We were told that we could come as a walk in and once we got there an hour and a half before the restaurant closed they said they had no tables available for two even though half of the restaurant was empty. The host seemed eager to sit us but the manager said something to her and then they changed their mind and told us they had no tables available.

A Nashville delight Don't underestimate the power of Yelp. Nashville has SO MANY great restaurants. We were searching for somewhere quiet (in Nashville?) to enjoy a higher end dinner. Found Giovani's on Yelp and decided to give it a try. What piqued my interest were the Yelp reviews and the passionate replies from the manager. I messed up the reservation but was welcomed anyway by the manager. Can't decide what was better, the food or the service We had 2-3 people waiting on us at all times. The food was outrageous. Ironically, we had cancelled our reservation at a different restaurant because we didn't want to pay $80 for an a la carte steak. We ended up spending just as much but the quality of the food, the attentive service and the overall experience were well worth the splurge.

Way overpriced for mediocre food. Extremely disappointed in food. Service was great and atmosphere was nice. Need to work on flavor and presentation.

I really wanted this to be my favorite local Italian spot. Vibe is right, bartender (Charlie) is friendly, food, after 4 or 5 visits, has been consistent. Not amazing, but consistent. Tonight I ordered a tagliatelle special with zucchini and sausage. And when I got the bill it was $36. C'mon, paisans. Who is setting the prices?! Also - skip the meatballs. They're not good. At all.

The restaurant experience was excellent The decor was a touch of Italy. The food could have not been any better-every item was prepared to perfection. Our waiter,Oliver, was an absolute delight. He was knowledgeable, took time to explain items we considered, knew the wines and made us feel like we were regulars. If you go to this restaurant be prepared to be pampered,take your time and enjoy the experience.We were there Friday the 13th of september but we certainly did not have bad luck

Hands down one of the best Italian restaurants I've been to. Period. Food was top notch and the service was great, ambiance was the perfect setting for an evening with your significant other or with friends. Valet parking if you choose and a Piano playing upstairs. I'd highly recommend this one and it is now on my list for one I'd return to when in town.

Worst service ever. Had a waiter that would interrupt me. Bug in the wine then lipstick on a glass. Food also was salty and tasted like it was heated up in the microwave. Waiter ran after me and yelled and me when he found out I didn't tip. Thanks for a terrible bday!

Watch out for the host if there is a famous person there. They will Tell you to stop bothering Blake Shelton . When your trying to use the bathrooms upstairs. So rude! Spent a lot of money to be treated like that. Oscar was amazing!!

Took my family to Giovanni's to celebrate my wife's birthday. Wait staff was attentive and most of the food was quite good (except for my wife's eggplant parmesan which was very mushy). The portions for everything we ordered, both appetizers and main course were on on the small side, but the prices were not! $30 for a simple spaghetti dish. $22 for a very small order of calamari. But the biggest issue we had were the beverage prices! $12 for a bottle of Moretti beer, which sells at Kroger for $11.49 for a whole six-pack! And don't get me started on the wine prices.

Soooo yummy. Best lobster ravioli I've ever had. The service was better than expected so I was very pleased. Very romantic and quiet little vibe, I'll be back!

This was the restaurant I picked for my birthday. We had a cool table upstairs with a view of the chandelier/downstairs. The food was really good. My only complaint would be the service. Our waiter was very inattentive, leaving us for long periods of time without even checking how we were doing. He even spilled water all over our table (twice) and didn't clean it up nor apologize. This pissed my husband off especially for a supposedly upscale restaurant. I may go back because of the food but if I were to get the same service, I will remove them from my list of bookmarks or places to visit when in Nashville. I'll give any restaurant a second shot but not a third.

Very rude staff.. These people operate under the concept of be rude first, then do what the customer wants "I guess" second.

Great atmosphere--very nice inside with a Christmas tree and piano playing upstairs. Our server was outstanding! The food was all very good. It was definitely pricey though. My husband and I shared a salad to start, and we had to laugh on how small it was. At first, we thought they split it in two for us. There are very little good Italian options in TN, so I would go back.

It can be hard to find a quality, authentic Italian restaurant but this place takes the cake. While it is more on the pricey side, the service is top notch and the food is *chef's kiss. It is a rather small location so definitely make reservations ahead of time. I'd definitely consider this place another one of Nashville's hidden gems!

Very nice ambiance with low lighting and a quiet dining experience. I am not a big fancy dining person, so I did not know entirely what to expect. The waiter was friendly. The food itself was adequate.

Lovey somewhat Old School Italian Restaurant on Music Row. Went with family and friends for late Lunch on a Sunday afternoon. Service was excellent, food authentic (my husband is Italian) and the menu had an excellent presentation of some classic dishes! Octopus, Polenta and Risotto to name a few as well as the classics made choking difficult. Drinks and wine list offered easy pairing especially if you knew Italian wine. Dr espresso martini and the Limoncello were both excellent! For today in Nashville, pricing for the quality of an upscale pricing was more than fair. I would return and recommend. If you want trendy maybe not bit authentic upscale dining definitely fits!

The best restaurant in town ! We love the professionalism of the staff. The food is always consistent and always perfection! By far the best dining in Nashville !

My wife and I go to Giovanni's a few times a year, and have done so for years. The food and service are consistently excellent, and the wine list is great. Plus it's got a classic romantic "date night" vibe. Is it trendy? No. But that's one of the things that makes it great - this is a place to go and actually enjoy a good meal with good service, not a spot to Instagram your Nashville bachelorette party from.

Our server Ron was the most wonderful part of our experience, tied with the amazing food and wine. We ordered the chef's risotto and ravioli specials along with Ron's Italian white wine recommendation and everything was outstanding. We are a same sex couple who don't often dine out in such fancy settings, and we're pleasantly delighted with how special and welcomed Ron and the rest of the Giovanni staff made us feel. To top it off with a complimentary birthday dessert and meaningful conversation about a shared home state, we were absolutely elated with our dining experience here and will without a doubt be returning for our next special occasion. Thank you to everyone on staff!

I had the privilege to dine at Giovanni on Sunday evening with my son and his wife. I'm from Chicago and must admit, I've had every kind of seafood dish imaginable. The Hawaiian Snapper aka Monchong, at Giovanni was delectable in every way. The fish was incredibly tender. The skin was sautéed giving the fish a crispy texture that was like no other I've ever eaten. I never eat the skin of the fish, but my Monchong, I just couldn't resist. Thank you Chef! The delicacy of my dish could not be matched. My daughter-in-law had the gnocchi dish. So tender, that those pillows of goodness melted in your mouth. I'll hope to be back someday again for another superb dinning experience.

Food is amazing. Normally sit at the bar during off hours as they get busy during the dinner rush. Chicken parmesan is my go to. Have brought folks from out of town and the love the food.

Amazing. Delicious. Best Italian in Nashville hands down. The service is fantastic and the vibes are just really traditionally nice. I'm personally offended it has such a low rating. This is an AMAZING gem.

A good red/white sauce Italian place with a great drink list and great staff. They had some really good hidden-gem bourbons and I gotta say the wine list was also really good. Getting to check out their entire inventory upstairs was really cool as well. Very ornate location and well appointed. Fun place to be, for sure.

I have never left a bad review on a restaurant before but I have to warn others before going to Giovanni Ristorante. The price is on par with higher end restaurants, (expect more than $45 dollars per person before drinks) however the food is simply horrible. We ordered the Pappardelle all's Norcia fettuccine (wayyy too salty), Risotto of the day (asparagus risotto, it was so watery that it's more like porridge, see picture), and the Taglioni con gamberi (squid ink pasta, nothing wrong with this one, actually pretty good). Portions for everything were also pretty small. There's tons of better options around town at this price tag!!

We took my son (18 y) to this restaurant for his birthday. Some of the best Italian food I have had in the Nashville area. I had the gnocchi with chicken, my husband had lasagna, and my son had the spinach ravioli with the brown butter sage sauce. All of our plates were clean when we were done. The restaurant has a great vibe for a nice date dinner or other special occasion. We went for lunch on a Sunday afternoon and were surprised to be only one of two tables in the place with people. For most of our meal, we were the only diners which gave us a nice experience like private dining, but we just kept asking why no one was there because the food was delicious. Our server was very friendly and attentive. We look forward to going back for dinner soon.

My friends and I visited from out of town and made reservations online. We were running early and were seated immediately. Looking back, I wish I would have stayed longer! The ambiance was perfect. As more people trickled in, it felt like we were all sharing in this beautiful experience together. The food was outstanding. I cannot emphasize this enough. It was clear great care was taken with every dish. Our server was amazing and mentioned everything is made in house. You could definitely tell. I had to tell myself and my friends to slow down multiple times. I did not want this meal to end. All of the waitstaff were friendly and helpful and we felt very cared for. I would make the trip back to Nashville simply for this restaurant. PS if you like pistachio at all, make sure to have the pistachio gelato!

Place was unbelievably delicious. Dad loved the veal, chicken was super tender, service was wonderful (thanks Aaron and William!!) desert was phenomenal! Overall wonderful experience! The tab was expensive with several drinks but atmosphere, food, and drinks were worth it.

Got there at 12:07 by 12:47 I still didn't get my lunch and needed to leave I paid for my drink For reference I had ordered lasagna And no I couldn't eat it to go My hotel doesn't have a fridge or microwave The server was nice enough But I needed to get back to my conference And I had waited for 40 minutes Takes way too long

Service was absolutely awful. Rudest people are in charge and act super passive aggressive if you have any sort of request. We asked for an itemized receipt after they told us they couldn't split our bill (which is incredibly stupid and abnormal for a restaurant), and they wouldn't even give us one until we asked again. Food was so bland and mid (and overpriced for such bland food). I genuinely cannot get over how horrible the service was. Don't come here.

I was visiting from out of town and I wanted some authentic Italian food. After reading the views we decided to drive over from Cool Springs. Our reservation was at 8pm but we arrived early a f we were greeted by the hostess. She accommodated us by allowing us to be seated early . Next, we were greeted by our waiter Ron. Ron was exceptional and catered to our every request. I had the Tagliatelle and my cousin had the lasagne. Both dishes were amazing and the pasta was cooked to perfection. My cousin and I remarked how the food reminded us of Rome. The reason I am giving a three star is because of Chris (manager). As stated we had a reservation so we were seated in the center of the restaurant. We could readily observe that Chris made a point to greet each table and ask them about their meal. He walked by our table at least 10 times (I counted). He NEVER greeted us nor did he inquire about our experience. It was quite obvious to me that we were the only POC in the restaurant. Chris made several trips to engage in conversation with the young ladies who were seated behind us. He also happily engaged in banter with the young lady who picked up her to go order. Even though I enjoyed my meal tremendously, I wouldn't return. I felt disrespected and ignored and no customer should be made to feel this way. My suggestion would be for the wait staff to educate the Manager on diversity training and inclusiveness.

In town for a company meeting. Choose this place for dinner we called and they said they could take us. We got there, and it was pretty empty, yet they made it a big deal to have us seated together, which was fine. We sat at 2 tables next to each other. They looked at us like we were an inconvenience to them the service, and every person who came up to our table did not smile make eye contact or in any way be attentive. The service was horrible. The food was ok but overpriced for that type of service. 8 dollars for a glass of Coke with ice!!

Food good. Customer experience, not so good. Disappointed is the best way to describe it. I made a reservation for my wife's 40th birthday. Everything was great up until we waited for 20 minutes after our dinner plates were cleared for someone (anyone) to come back to the table. When we were finally given a dessert menu it was too late as we had to leave to make it to a show on time. The only person who acknowledged my wife's birthday the whole time was the hostess when we first arrived. So much for a special night. Rigatoni was good but too many onions.

I will preface this review by saying that I've never sent a meal back, sent a drink back, or left a bad review on a restaurant. Additional context, I eat out 10-15x a week for work. This was the worst experience I've ever had. My girlfriend and I came in without a reservation hoping they could squeeze us in on a Saturday night. Despite 3-4 tables being open right in the entryway, the hostess gals had an argument in front of us about where to seat us. We sit down and they ask us for our drinks before passing out any menus, QR code, Etc. When we asked for one, they said they normally take drink orders before giving those out (seemed odd for a bar serving an average wine bottle or $150 or so with a upper bottle around $5,500) Long story short, they took our appetizer before we had finished, we were discussing splitting the remainder of the bottle of wine and the waiter dumped the rest in my glass vs. my girlfriends. They also tried to take my girlfriends meal before she was finished. She politely tells him she's still working on it - we were sitting next to the kitchen, and we could hear them mocking her out back for not letting him take it. We wanted to give the restaurant a chance to redeem themselves and when we told him we were having a horrible experience... he said "really?" and walked away. We also tried to talk to the manager on the way out. We waited for 5-6 minutes outside and decided to finally give up. There are too many other options in a town like Nashville to ever give this place another try.

We were on our quest for a great dinner on our last night. Checked this place out due to proximity to our hotel. They were able to accommodate our party of 6 due to an earlier cancellation. Oh my gosh-best pick ever! I ordered the ravioli special and the burrata appetizer. Delicious and freshly made. We had great service by the attentive staff. If you're in Nashville go here!

Husband and I went here while visiting for my 30th birthday. The ambiance is so romantic and relaxing. The food portions were on point, not too much, not too little! Highly recommend.

Not worth a picture. Had a Caesar Salad, which was ok, but for $15 it wasn't. Then I ordered my favorite dish anywhere, Chilean Sea Bass. This was Old Hickory Lake Bass, worst meal I've had in 30 years. Wine is way over priced. My wife and I had a $299.68 dinner, I'd rather go to McDonald's. It's a 2 star because we were with friends and the building was cool...will NEVER go back.

The food was amazing, it really may be the best Italian restaurant in Nashville! The service was friendly, as well! Make sure you have a reservation -it is really difficult to get a table as a walk-in, especially on the weekends!

We left hungry. Just not a good value. Way to expensive for mediocre food. 5 people had 3 appetizers and 2 salads and 5 entries 1 espresso 2 $50 bottles of wine 5 drinks and 1 glass of wine. With tip it was $120 a person. Could not taste the lobster in the ravioli. The artichoke appetizer had 4 artichoke hearts. The calimare was good, not greasy was hot snd tasty. But not for $18. The veal was just ok. Overcooked and tough. The cacio e pepe spighette was warm not hot and short on the cheese. Way short on cheese.

We had a great experience! The service and food was excellent. Not to mention the ambiance was so comfortable and warm, they also had a piano player playing the entire time. Such a treat of an experience! Best part of all, we felt it was so affordable. Can't wait to come back.