Cuisine:

• Italian
• Others

Giovanni Ristorante Description:
Giovanni is a lucky discovery for anybody cruising Ventura Boulevard for a casual place to recharge, and a blessing for the neighborhood locals who pack the intimate dining room. Named after the affable chef-owner's father, whose black-and-white photos of family line the mustard-colored walls, this cozy, candlelit ristorante is a loving tribute indeed. The southern Italian fare is not fancy but consistently satisfying, incorporating high-quality ingredients and a rustic yet sophisticated style. The Caesar is garden-fresh and assertively seasoned, and the pastas are done just right. The kitchen excels at chicken and veal dishes; and a Milanese-style butterflied veal chop, too big for the plate, is at once crispy and buttery tender. Other options we like include gnocchi in pesto, a fine shrimp scampi, osso buco, pizzas and calzone. For dessert, we recommend the tiramisu and cannoli, which are made fresh in-house.


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