Reviews for Carmel's Bistro Giovanni in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA

Once you enter this casual cozy little restaurant with Italian flare, you know the service will be friendly and the food will be... delicious. We sat in its private side alley section. We loved the ambiance, the service and the food. This is definitely one ofthose small restaurants that should not be missed when visiting Carmel. Read more

A very satisfying dinner, with entertainment by local regular diners as well as visitors. Apparently it's a good place to... people-watch, for celebrities and wannabes. The owner is aging well, and enjoys greeting everyone, sometimes more than once.It's nice to see a person stay classy in their old age and deal with forgetfulness in a charming way. Read more

I was recommended this restaurant by a family friend and happened to be in the area! Everything I had was delicious and I could... tell it was authentic/made with amazing ingredients! The vibe was very chill and the staff was personable and attentive! I hadthe Misto Di Mare, caesar salad, and Tiramisu! All delicious. The pasta was flavorful and was full of delicious seafood. Thesalad was also flavorful and the dressing was to die for! The tiramisu was moist, sweet, and delicious! 10/10 recommend!Experience and food was amazing! Read more

If you can get a table - GO. If we were locals, we’d be eating here 2-3 times a week. The menu, kitchen execution and... waitstaff are exceptional. My husband is an experienced chef and we’re both experienced “eaters” fortunate enough totravel quite a bit for work and pleasure. We dine out more than we should and are not easy to please. Italian ranks high in ourfavorite food category and we’re from the East Coast - good Italian food is in our blood. This place did notdisappoint. Italian Classics executed with a (welcomed) California twist. Ie: fresh, garden veggies served with my chicken parmand pasta. I was a skeptic but not after the first bite. Trust me. I’m genuinely sad I don’t have this restaurant back homeas a staple option… but I digress, THANKFUL for the DELICIOUS food & attentive/ hard-working staff…. A truly WONDERFULexperience all around. Secure a table and thank me later. As a side note: I had the privilege of meeting Giovanni’s brother -class act and a highlight to an already magical evening. Warmest thanks to the whole kitchen and team… Looking forward to areturn visit on our next trip to Carmel. Read more

What an unbelievable meal!! Best we had all vacation. Amazing options, even for vegetarians like myself, and outdoor patio with... heaters in a cozy alley as well as out front. Our server never rushed us despite us taking our time due to seeing a friend aftera long time and we appreciated it. Great selection of the Block 57 wines! Read more

Wow, what a dining experience. Sat down and got great service. Ordered appetizers, our main courses and dessert. Food was... spectacular and the portions were on the large side. Prices were more than reasonable given the portions and the high qualityfood. If you haven't been yet, definitely put this restaurant on the list and you won't regret it. I'll definitely be backprobably each time I come back to visit. Ciao until next time! Read more

This restaurant is absolutely amazing. Everything we got here did not fail to impress. I had the halibut special and my date had... the pasta palermo for entrees, and the desserts were equally as good. Service was spectacular and our waiter Jack was sofriendly and helpful with recommendations. We definitely will be coming back soon! Read more

As many of the restaurants in this area, it looks cute with many outdoor seating. Service was good. As for the food,... unfortunately, average. Burrata salad was reasonable. But, the seafood pasta was a failure, both the shrimps and mussels werenot fresh, bad tasting. The lamb shank was also way overcooked, not fresh tasting either. Disappointing! Read more