Excellent little Italian bistro in downtown Carmel. We ordered the gamberetti and Sand Dabs for our entree and bread pudding for dessert. Each item tasted great, and I would order again in a heartbeat. They charge for splitting meals which I found a little weird. My husband and I always try to share meals. Service was good. Ambience is cozy & romantic. read more

Very good place! Had the special veal osso bucco ravioli! It was excellent! Wife had the chicken Parmesan and enjoyed it!

This was a nice little spot just a few blocks off Ocean Ave. Between lasagna, seafood fettuccini, cioppino, osso buco and some delicious bread, it was very nice. Service was a little slow to start with tables around being seated after and served before us but we let it pass just to enjoy family time. The owner made his way around the restaurant providing fresh Parmesan, and the ambiance was pleasant. The restaurant is small with tables nearby each other but guests were chatting with each other which was fun. This is definitely a go-to place with great pizza, main dishes, salads and full bar. We'll be back! read more

We came here on a busy Saturday night in the summer. Reservations recommended. Note it is VERY loud in here, so if you want intimate date night - this is not the place. I got the lasagna, which was fine - and I really can't believe I would have liked it to be "less" cheesy. Hubbs got the Osso Bucco - which he liked - but didn't rave about. The waiter got one of our orders incorrect - but probably due to it being so loud he couldn't hear our order, he kinda tried to say we were wrong, but after we insisted, he fixed it quickly. Portions are generous. And just beware the toilet looks like it is poorly propped up to the wall, with some janky piping. Note to owners, if you are reading this - please fix it - it just sends the wrong message for a nice restaurant. :) read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Osso Bucco - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

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I really loved this place! I wasn't sure what kind of food we were going to get because the menus looked a bit dated, but the wine was delicious and the food was even better. My wife had the grandmom's gnocchi, which was so delicious and felt very old school. I had the special California Sea Bass, and it was so tasty. We shared the burrata and prosciutto as an app. This dinner was nothing too fancy, but for the price and the taste, it was 5/5. I would absolutely come back and really enjoyed the meal. read more

Service was attentive and fast. Ambiance is nice and cozy, even kind of romantic. We were four and we had different plates which I had to taste them all. To start we had garlic bread, simply recommended. My gnocchi sauce was too light, although the taste was well balanced. The canelones meat taste was below average. On the other hand, the Carbonara was fantastic and the Scampi plate was also great. Overall average rating is four stars . read more

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Thank you Kelly! The best experience I've ever had. Great service Great Food A+++++ I will be back again!

Fabulous food and terrific service. The pasta piccata with salmon was off the hook. Definitely will be making this bistro a regular stop when in Carmel. read more

We have been coming here for decades and are never ever disappointed. The food is always amazing. Appetizers are delicious, the pasta is perfect and the desserts are sublime! Kelly was gracious and helpful and added to the amazing ambiance! Every time we visit Monterey Carmel Bistro Giovanni is an absolute must! read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Carmel's Bistro Giovanni. - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

Great atmosphere- very traditional and the staff were very sweet and professional. I had steamers and asked for red sauce instead of white wine, and it was delicious. Nice vibe, and was crowded. read more

We chose this restaurant because we saw carbonara on the menu--what they made was not carbonara. It was loaded with heavy cream, oily, and frozen peas that didn't feel cooked. I ended up puking noodles up ALL night because it did not sit well. Additionally, the service was terrible. We sat for 10-15 minutes before any drink orders were taken. We had to stack our own dishes before anyone came back to us because nobody was coming around. I'm pretty sure the hostess was taking our orders and what not because no one else was helping us. It's a cute spot with a very homey vibe, but I would not go here again after this experience. The apple crumble dessert was delicious but the rest of the experience fell very flat. For kind of a heavy bill, you'd expect to be treated nicely too. read more

I love Carmel and look forward to the quaint shops walking around the village and finding just the right restaurant and there are so many. So we looked on yelp and chose Carmel's bistro GiovannI. From the moment we were greeted by Kelly with a big smile and a warm welcoming she presented us to a beautiful table which gave me a view of how well the restaurant Is run.. first off. I have been in the Restaurant catering business for many many years and now I am now retired so it's not often to see a well oiled machine as I did at bistro Giovanni. The staff were so gracious attentive and made sure that our needs were met.. The food was outstanding. Our starter was the grilled artichoke with a delicious aïoli the Giovanni salad so delicious.. their special was Seabass in a lemon caper piccata sauce that was outstanding accompanied by delicious vegetables and luscious mashed potatoes. We had the tomato basil soup with the hint of cream, so flavorful and fresh and for dessert the decadent chocolate mousse the ambience was so nice and lovely. It wasn't loud where you couldn't hear someone speaking to you the background music of the old standards of Tony Bennett Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole set the mood to enjoy a beautiful meal I thank all of the staff for making our evening outstanding read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

First, points for offering outdoor seating on the busiest of golf tournament weekends with all reservations blocked! Thank you, I think it even added to our lovely time to be outside in that cute alley! The gluten free options are terrific, I could not tell my pasta was gluten free. The salmon was superb! My friends thoroughly enjoyed their affogatos and tiramisu as well as their entree. read more

Food was outstanding. Service left a lot to be desired. Owner could have been more pleasant.

Service was stellar, our wait staff was attentive and patient. We got the bolognese, lamb shank, steamers, Cesar salad, linguini and clams,. Portions were a bit small for pricing, but pricing is expected in this neighborhood. read more

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Always delicious . Bolognese on GF pasta, garlic bread with a side of tapenade, crab ravioli, linguini and clams, and penne with meatballs were delicious. Great service on a busy holiday night. read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Outside seating with heaters - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

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Exceptional italian restaurant. This restaurant reminded us of the cozy trattoria's in Italy. From the service to the food, 5 stars all around. We had the crab cakes and garlic dip. Delicious! My husband ordered the Osso Bucco which was incredible. I had the lobster ravioli. For dessert, we had the bread pudding. We had a chance to chat with the owner at the end of the meal and as we sang praises for the osso bucco, he mentioned a customer that comes from Berlin twice a year to order that dish! Can't wait to come back. read more

Everything spectacular. Service outstanding. Food is perfection. Ambiance was what you'd expect from a great Italian bistro. Outside dining a little too cool for January nights. Never lets you down. read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Desert. - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

Bistro Giovanni's has the most incredible homemade pasta! Best Italian food we've ever had! The lasagne, bolognese and meatballs are so decadent and rich! This place will break your keto diet for sure. It is worth every calorie! We come here every time we're in Carmel! read more

Always a great meal here at this cozy little bistro in. Carmel. The service is top notch- and the owner even still comes around and Uncorks the wine after all these years. The basil Gorgonzola soup was amazing!! Perfect for dipping their cheesy garlic bread. The carbonara pasta was creamy and delish. The cauliflower gnocchi with creamy sundried Gorgonzola sauce was a treat. The lasagna is also decadent and filled with sausage and cheese. The star of the show is the rigatoni and meatballs- something special about that sauce! You have to try it! And of course ending with the homemade tirimisu. read more

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We tried this restaurant for the first time tonight and had a wonderful time! The food was delicious, the service was great, and the ambience was wonderful. Overall, the prices were also very reasonable. I liked that they offered a half bottle option as well. I had the carbonara and my husband has the bolognese. Both were delicious. We ended with the bread pudding, which was so good! We will definitely be back! read more

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My boyfriend and I stopped here on a Wednesday night around 7:00 and had our favorite meal of our trip! I eat gluten free and saw that there were lots of options here - definitely did not disappoint. We got gluten free garlic bread, I had the Palermo pasta (yummiest sauce), and he had the bolognese, which also received a rave review! We sipped on some red wine, and ended with flourless chocolate cake and an affogato. Our waitress was lovely as well and very attentive. Overall such a nice experience and very homey Italian vibes! read more

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A very cute and cozy restaurant . I got the Mediterranean meatballs and this was such a unique and delicious pasta. Definitely a strong Mediterranean influence in the spices , yet flavored for a pasta dish read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Mediterranean Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

Visiting. Used the Find Me Gluten Free Guide and all Celiacs don't walk but run here! Fanny was my waiter and she was so amazing, I felt like I've known her for years and she was very sincere. They have GF bread that's doctored up with garlic and Parmesan but I asked and it's Udi's and I have never been a fan of that brand. I got Momma's Salad and practically licked the plate clean. And then the Pescatore with GF pasta that was linguine. I'm Italian on both sides and this was one of the best meals I have had that give not cooked since being diagnosed celiac in 2013. I washed it down with a NZ Sauvignon Blanc. Prices super reasonable especially since a Carmel hoodie costs 80.00! My bill for huge portions came to 66.00 plus tip. Fanny is the best front of house person and so kind to a solo dinner. The restaurant can also accommodate dairy free. Honestly I teared up from the kind service and home cooked food and good vibes. Really wonderful and varied wine list, Lots of care taken by choosing them to be included. I had no room for dessert but plenty of GF options the usual suspects panna cotta, flourless chocolate cake and though it's not labeled on the menu as GF Fanny said the Apple Crisp was GF too. read more

Food was delicious and manager was super nice & accommodating for my family as we had an unscheduled dinner there late. They made additional space for us. read more

Had reservations, highly recommended. Hard to make choices, excellent food and appetizers. Service impeccable. Ambiance is what you'd expect at a Carmel restaurant, taken to another level. You cannot go wrong here! read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Interior, we chose the outside patio, beautiful. - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

I am so happy that we got to discover one of the great Italian restaurants in Carmel. We started with the salad with feta cheese and we like the combination but not so much on the feta cheese. So maybe on the side next time. My husband has the lasagna and they make their own pasta and it was really good. But I really wish that it had more meat inside. The lobster ravioli with freshly homemade pasta and the mushroom spinach with white truffle sauce is out of this world! That must have been the best ravioli I have ever eaten in my life. They gave a nice little cake for my husband's birthday celebration which we appreciate. Later on we spoke with the nice gentleman Firok and his daughter Kelly. It's always nice to meet the people behind the business and listen to their fascinating story. The murals are absolutely charming and beautiful. We really enjoyed our experience and food here! I wished they would also do steak too tho. I bet it would be awesome :) Thank you for the wonderful hospitality! read more

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I had the best service and the best meal at this amazing Italian restaurant, which is very Italian family and most of the family works here. The service was as amazing as the food. Everyone is very competent , very attentive, but not attentive , and the food was absolutely amazing. Truly, you want to order dessert as well. We had two different desserts and they were perfect. Not too rich and not too sweet but delightful. You should request George, Antonio, or Junior B. If you're in Carmel by the sea, and you are craving Italian, this is the Italian restaurant you will love. Also, last, but not least, Fanny is a wonderful server as well read more

We had dinner at Carmel's Bistro Giovanni. The food tasted incredibly delicious. We had the garlic bread (4.3/5.0) as an appetizer. Tasted like garlic bread. We had the scampi and goat cheese ravioli as entrees. The scampi (4.8/5.0) was one of the best tasting pasta dishes I've ever had, except it was a little heavy given the amount of oil. The goat cheese ravioli (4.1/5.0) was tasty, but wasn't the biggest fan of the sweetness from the brown butter basil sauce. For desserts we had the creme brulee and an ice cream dish (3.6/5.0). We liked the creme brulee (4.5/5.0) but didn't quite like the waffle cup texture of the ice cream dessert. Service and ambience were normal, seemed like a great place for a normal dinner night. Also, we overheard an older couple talking and they said this was the best restaurant in downtown Carmel, and that they had tried all the other restaurants. Take that as you will but this would definitely be in the top 5 for us. read more

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For the zillionth time, had the superb Greca salad. For the first time, the Pasta Mama Mia. Vowed to take half of it home, like any sane health conscious person. Failed. (Wifey did eat a few of the meatballs). )What a fabulous feast! read more

Spent a whole day in the Monterey area and came across this restaurant when I was looking for dinner. There were lots of Italian places in the area, but I was looking for a place with outdoor seating. The weather was nice and seating was on the side of the restaurant, which was reasonable. I tried the crab cakes, cannelloni and the osso bucco. The crab cakes were decent. I've never had cannelloni before so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I felt that the dish was doused in sauce. This was like an Italian version of enchiladas, and the pasta was just soggy and soaked in lots of sauce. I typically love pasta, but this was like an expensive lasagna with lots of sauce. The osso bucco was very good, and the risotto paired with it was well executed. Although it was my first time having it, I really enjoyed it. Definitely recommend trying this dish. The food was very pricey (like most restaurants in the area) and probably a 3.5/5, rounding up to 4/5. Avoid the cannelloni but try the osso bucco. Side notes: 1. They said they charge for bread so we didn't get any. 2. There's only 1 unisex restroom in the restaurant, so people were constantly standing by the door and it was a very narrow space there. Bathroom was also very dark inside. read more

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We really wanted to like this place. It was mostly okay but it missed in a few categories. First off, the hostess was pleasant and helpful. I really liked the decor in the back room where we were seated. Service and food were good but not excellent. Our biggest disappointment was in how noisy it was! It was perhaps the noisiest restaurant we have been in other than a sports bar. It really ruined our experience. . read more

Excellent food, service and ambience. I had the bolognese and Caesar salad with anchovies. The garlic bread is delicious. Lovely wine selection and dessert if you still have room. read more

Most delicious Misto de Mare pasta I have ever had. Fresh pasta with a generous amount of shrimp, bay scallops and artichoke hearts. Creamy goodness. My husband had the Veal Parmesan and said it was tender and perfect size portion. Our friend, who is a regular, always orders the lasagna, so it must be good! Their Block 57 wines are a perfect accompaniment. They welcome dogs on their patio. It is pretty tight and not much room unless you have a small dog. Just so you are aware. Service was friendly. We will return. read more

We had a wonderful experience here. They have great gluten free options, and the food tasted very fresh. The gluten free garlic bread is amazing! We will definitely be coming back here next time we are in town. read more

Loved the food! The lamb shank fell apart and was flavorful. The osso bucco veal was delicious. But! The Papa Cioppino was the favorite! If you have a chance, ask for the port shots, and if you're lucky, Jack will be your waiter. read more

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Family owned & operated for over 25 years by this fabulous gentleman and his daughter Kelly. Fabulous Father--Daughter owners, truly passionate about the cleanliness of the restaurant & kitchen and the creation of every perfect meal crafted. * Interesting Fact - Ellen Degeneres, after eating here a few years ago, fell So in love with her dining experience that she wanted to bring a piece of it back home and she offered $30,000 for the hand painted Italian mural in the front room. Without hesitation the owners said no thank you. Then a few months later Ellen phoned these fine owners and raised her price. Today this fine hand painted mural remains gracing its fine Italian Restaurant -- COME AND ENJOY YOUR EXPERIENCE ** NO PRESERVATIVES USED HERE FOLKS read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - PAPA & DAUGHTER KELLY - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

On our Monterey road trip, Diane and I spent one afternoon and evening in nearby Carmel. Here we enjoyed a fine and very relaxed Italian dinner together at this charming eatery. We began with a Frito Misto Combo, which included light and airy Calamari strips, Artichoke, and Shrimp. I supplemented this starter with 5 Mediterranean Meatballs and very thin and lean Carpaccio Renaissance Filet Mignon with arugula and capers. Good compimentary crusty Italian Bread and butter rounded out the preliminaries. Next, I savored a cup of White Bean & Vegetable Soup, during which time the beans quickly deconstructed in the hot broth. A Caesar Salad teeming with requested anchovies was notable for its very good Creamy Italian Dressing. My entree of an enormous portion of Veal Marsala included excellent-tasting Marsala Sauce and fork-tender veal. It was presented with very tasty Linguine Bolognese. Meanwhile, Diane was pleased with her main of Grandma's Gnocchi draped in Bechamel and Parmesan Cheeses. On a side street the dining area reflected a nice romantic setting. Italian music and old ballads, including songs by Nat King Cole and Lou Rawls, were piped in. Service by Pool P was very good and accommodating of special requests. And the owner even came over to our table to check on how we were liking our meals. read more

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We had a fantastic dinner here last night! Highly recommend! We were visiting from San Francisco for the weekend and chose this based on yelp reviews - you don't want to miss this one! I wish I had taken a picture of my pasta - it was the Gamberi pasta in a white wine sauce with garlic and red pepper absolutely incredible! The menu was huge and had something for everyone. I appreciated the healthier options since most Italian places are heavy on cream sauces and I'm lactose intolerant. We ordered the crem brûlée and it was delicious- then they brought me a free birthday dessert as well I'd definitely be back often if I was a local! read more

Carmel's Bistro Giovanni - Italian Near Me - Carmel, California

We had a great experience at this wonderful bistro last night for my birthday. The calamari was the best, my chicken Marsala was sooo good and my husband's bolognese was the best he's ever had! The apple crisp for dessert was warm and wonderful, too. We loved Jack, our waiter. He was so informative, friendly and saw to our every need. We will definitely come back here the next time we're in lovely Carmel. read more