Definitely one of the top Italian places I have been to! This place has an extremely authentic feel from the food to the general ambience. The pastas are made in house and are super fresh and tasty. They have extensive menu options, but I have to say the scallop pasta has been hands-down, my favorite. The sauce is super creamy and pairs perfectly with both the mushrooms, as well as the tender, juicy scallops. The linguine Giacomo is all another great option with shrimp, fresh basil, and tomato sauce. For some of the menu items, there is an option to do half orders so that you can try more dishes. The staff was very courteous and helpful. The interior of the restaurant has a very cozy vibe. There are also two patios, one in the front and one in the back as well. In the winter there are heating lamps as well. There is a small parking lot in the back, although during peak times it is often quite full. There is also street parking in the surrounding area. read more

Giacomo's Cibo e Vino - Pasta - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Normally, I only want to go to Italian restaurants, when I am going with a big group because the portions are usually too big for me to finish by myself. However, this place totally changed that idea. My friend recommended me this place and told me I wouldn't be disappointed. He was right! Everything here was perfect, from food to service. What I love the most about this place was that I could do half an order for many dishes. We started with the "gamberi al diavolo", which is basically sautéed shrimp dunked in just a tiny bit spicy garlic sauce. It also came out with half a piece of toast to dip in. The sauce was so amazing that we ordered half an order of garlic bread (which is already perfect by itself) just to finish the sauce inside. For entree, we got half of the pollo guido (grilled chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and tomato sauce) and carbonara. I am not a huge fan of grilled chicken, but it was sure well-cooked. Carbonara was amazing. The cured pork jowl in it was very crunchy and flavorful. The only thing I didn't really like was the chocolate mousse. It's light, smooth, but nothing special and I kinda got bored of it after a few bites. Our server was a super nice old man. He made me feel like I were eating at home :) P/s: I didn't drink wine, but it seems like they have a good selection of wine list. read more

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Love the food and the service. I love that they are dog friendly! The owner even came out to meet me sweet Frenchie Esmae!

Love this place. The best carbonara in town and a lot of other amazing dishes. I hate the wait, but I guess is the price you have to pay for good pasta. read more

Phenomenal! We dined here 6 years ago and sadly forgot about this place. Ate here Saturday with some family and had a wonderful experience. The service was great despite the fact that the place was packed. The bar service was incredibly fast compared to other restaurants. The food was amazing. Can't wait to return and try more of their extensive menu. The polpetti puccini is incredible. Definitely order it. read more

I don't have much to say that others haven't - this is one of the most authentic and charming Italian restaurants I've ever been to. The owner is an absolute joy, works behind the bar at times, and is extremely friendly. read more

The appetizer meat balls are to die for. Prefect for my post workout meal. The bacon wrapped scallop is pretty good too. Both dishes are mouthwatering and flavorful. Portion size is huge too. The pasta is always amazing when I do order it. The host at the front is always nice and friendly when every time I visit. read more

Very good and unique Italian restaurant that had great service our waiter was extremely helpful because most of the menu was in Italian and give great recommendations are some of the best pasta in Houston for a good pretty good price! read more

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Woah we seriously need for restaurant like this in Houston. My husband and I came for date night and I honestly can't wait to come back! Their meat ball was so delicious perfection we also got their bolognese which was also really good. We came in a Friday and they were extremely busy I highly recommend to RSVP. read more

Giacomo's Cibo e Vino - Meatball - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Tonight I drove to Giacomo's to buy a gift certificate as a gift for someone who did something nice for me. I live pretty far so it was a special trip. Stated closing time on weekdays is 9 pm. At 8:33 pm I found the doors locked and lights off. I know someone was there because a caddy for cleaning tables, or restocking condiments, was sitting on top of a messy table near the front door. They must have hid when I drove up. I realize when business is slow everyone wants to go home, but inconsistent hours are bad for business, and locking up early isn't fair to customers who are driving out of their way ... especially in my case where I only wanted to purchase a gift certificate. That's the kinda cheap stunt I'd expect from a fast food restaurant - not a restaurant of Giacomo's caliber. I guess they don't need my money. That's OK. Instead, I'm spending $200 at another restaurant that won't lock a door in my face 30 minutes before close. I love your food, Giacomo's, but never making the drive there again, and will urge my friends to call ahead if they want to chance eating there. read more

Best Italian food I've had outside of Italy. Service was top notch, very friendly and welcoming. Got to dine on their patio and it was just the cutest thing ever. Will be returning very soon. read more

This is my wife and I's All-Time favorite restaurant! The food is amazing, make sure to try Hawk's Bread and the Shrimp Diavolo, they are life changing. All wait staff is kind, professional, and very efficient. We feel at home and comfortable every time we go! read more

Came here to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday, and we were super happy we got to try this place. We were in the mood for some good Italian, and Giacomo's satisfied both of us. We ordered the pollo guido, gamberi al diavolo, the tortellini, and rigatoni puccini. We also ordered this delicious bruschetta with marinated pork dish that I can't remember the name of. All delicious, but our favorites were the gamberi and rigatoni. The meatballs were seasoned so well and the sauce for the gamberi was delicious. We left wanting more of it (good as a bread dipping sauce - they provide bread with that dish - or for pasta). Definitely try out Giacomo's if you're in the mood for some quality Italian food. Note: not much parking associated with the restaurant so street parking may be necessary. Luckily there's a few streets around where you can park. read more

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Being informed I would not be seated until my entire party had arrived is a big pisser for me, especially when I have a reservation. This absolutely makes no sense! When told this was their policy, I turned around and walked out of giacomo's. Fortunately, my buddies and I ended up having a wonderful dinner at Relish, where they actually appreciate, rather than dictate to, their customers. I'll never darken giacomo's door again. read more

The rating I'm giving is a reflection of my first impressions. Poor service and mediocre meals! First of all, I want to address a situation that occurred shortly after being seated. The waitress assigned to me (monse) was quite rude to the table next to me. The clients were upset and seemed surprised at a 12$ charge on their check so they expressed this to the waitresss. She was not very happy with their complaints and stormed off to the back. Upon return, she slammed their check on their table. These ladies were 40 and up & they were both appalled & surprised with her behavior. The worst part was what happened after the clients left. The waitress (Monse) bad mouthed them to the other clients dining inside the restaurant (including me!!). I was shook at the level of UNPROFESSIONALISM before me! Now the food--I came in for the pasta carbonara with focaccia. I got the sparkling mango lemonade to drink which was delicious! My pasta however was not. The cheese sauce was not completely melted leaving it chunky and clumpy AND there was way too much sauce n not enough noodles! It was simply the worst carbonara I've ever tasted! The focaccia was overly salty as well. I was afraid to ask the waitress for water or a straw after her rant about how needy the previous customers were. And with my meal as basic as it was I left quietly knowing this was going to be first and last time dining here. The sad part is, I was rooting for them. read more

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Food quality was excellent! Service, great! Can't wait to come back and enjoy another meal here, highly recommend.

Food overall is pretty awesome. For starters we got ceasar's salad (which I thought was too overdressed with the dressing) & Hawk's garlic. The restaurant seems to put a lot of sauce/butter to make food good. If that's what you like, this is the restaurant to go for. For us, we like to taste all of the ingredients in there without being overloaded with the sauce, like the lettuce, pasta noodles themselves, and the meat, etc. We had the Seared Scallops Pasta (off the menu order) and the Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese. The Seared Scallops were awesome but the sauce , although we ordered light butter, still was very rich. Pappardelle, one of the handmade pasta, was a little dry - we liked linguine here better & definitely recommend it. read more

Giacomo's Cibo e Vino - Bolognese with Pappardelle pasta & awesome Seared Scallops Pasta (off menu) - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

The menu is extensive and is filled with a lot of delicious food. The Hawk's bread with dinner is a must! I got the carbonara and it was legit. read more

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Food is great. Service fantastic. Wine selection good. One of the top authentic Italian restaurants in Houston

We went back again, just as I knew we would...this time we were able to make a reservation...walked in on time, waited ten mins for our party to arrive, and sat down right away...funnily enough at the same table...our server was once again fantastic, the food was delicious, everyone loved it...it's a fabulous place. read more

Enjoyed Giacomo's for dinner with a few friends on a weeknight and it was so good! Such fresh, tasty, unique italian food. The garlic bread with pesto and parmesan was absolutely delicious and great to split amongst 3 people. My swiss chard and goat cheese filled ravioli was amazing - no bitterness in the swiss chard and I appreciated a more creative vegetarian ravioli dish apart from the usual cheese filled ones. The sage butter sauce made this dish. We finished off with a chocolate creme pie you could automatically tell was fresh. Loved this local Italian restaurant and I'll be back next time I'm in Houston! read more

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Had the last reservation. Staff was kind and attentive. Felipe is a great waiter. Food cannot be matched. Incredible organic home made flavors cannot be faked. Authentic ratatouille and bolognese. Great wine list too. (Ps. Need new patio chairs. My dates legs covered in sandy dust and my black slacks white w dirt.) Will be back many nights to come! Salud! read more

Giacomo's Cibo e Vino - Full spread baby! - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Easily the worst encounter I have ever experienced at a restaurant. Came here to have an early dinner with my family and my friends family, so we requested a table for 6 people at 5pm when they opened on Friday. We were told that they could not accomidate a party of 6 in a completely empty restaurant. Both patios were completely empty and we could have moved a table together but we were told no. When we asked if we could be seated next to each other we were told no - and advised to find another place to eat. As someone who has worked years in the restaurant industry I have never been somewhere where they would not accommodate parties larger than 4 and be treated so terribly. We were told we should find another place to eat by the hostess when trying to figure out a solution. I will never be back here again - been a long time patron and have recommended this restaurant to many people. Never again - advice for this restaurant find a new hostess. Apparently this place hates hospitality and hates money. read more

It has been long time since we ate pasta here. Still has amazing freshly made pasta. The layout has changed a bit but still great for date night or small family gatherings. We will definitely visit again. read more

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The food: The waiter kept warning me that their linguine con vongole e n' duja was "extremely spicy" and would not leave me alone about it even though I can read that it says that on their menu and I like spicy food. Needless to say there was not even a semblance of spiciness. I would safely say a hot Cheeto is spicier than that dish. I was very disappointed in the complete lack of anything remotely spicy at all. The service: I was not a fan. The hostess said she "looked for us" when our table was ready even though we were literally sitting directly in front of the hostess booth. We did not move at all from that spot. The wait was way too long for the quality of the food. Overall: The food wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't special. I probably wouldn't come back here and have to deal with that staff when there are many other great Italian restaurants all over Houston. read more

Giacomo's Cibo e Vino - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Met a girlfriend for lunch here and I love the cozy style and friendly service. Seems like a neighborhood favorite! Parking lot along the front and behind the restaurant and the street, of course. We like to try a lot of small dishes and different flavors so we got: Minestrone soup Ratatouille marti -small hot dish Beet salad with goat cheese And shaved Brussels sprouts -small cold dish They may sound like simple dishes but every bite had the perfect combinations of flavors to make them bright and delicious! read more

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Community parking lot. Not much parking. Street parking available. Nice staff. Quick service. Can get loud, but you can still hear each other. Food is great. Have not had a bad meal here. Nice selection of drinks. Will be returning. Def recommend. read more

The hype is real and well-deserved. I've always heard so much about the "little neighborhood gem" of Giacomo's, tucked in that purgatory area between St. John's/Lamar and River Oaks proper, but given that they don't take reservations, it's been difficult to find opportunities to go. With a more flexible mentality, I decided to go once for a quiet lunch and once for a late dinner with friends. Here are my thoughts on the dishes I've tried: Pollo al tonno (4/5) - As someone who really enjoys French-style pork rillettes (fatty, luscious meat spread similar to pâté but more fibrous, referenced in the menu description) I felt that this dish was more akin to a "chicken salad" preparation. That's not to say that was a bad thing - it was still deliciously savory and tender. Quite filling too, so don't assume the price means you're getting an itty-bitty appetizer. The bread is a spot-on accompaniment on which you should eat the chicken. Torta di cipolle e caprino (4.5/5) - This goat cheese and onion tart comes with a side of ratatouille. The cheese is light and airy, but with that earthy twist that you would expect from goat products. The crust is addictive - wish I knew how to make it! Personally, I'm not a fan of ratatouille, but this one was pretty decent. Tortellini (4.5/5) - We ordered these with tomato cream sauce, but you can choose parmesan cream or tomato instead. They compare pretty well to D'Amico's, but the flavor profile is more traditional. The sauce is not too heavy and has a mild tartness to it to balance the rich cream and meaty filling in the fresh pasta. Orecchiette giorgione (5/5) - If the menu weren't so full of opportunities, I think I'd order this one every time. I love every aspect of this dish, from the toothy-textured pasta to the savory bites of lamb to the creamy goat cheese on top. Do note that the rapini vegetable is quite bitter and definitely leaves its mark on the total taste - I guess I like it because bitter people like bitter foods. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Porchetta e fagioli (4.5/5) - This one is probably my second favorite after the orecchiette because it's just so comforting and unctious. The beans by themselves are addictive, as is dipping the bread into the stew, but that pork really puts it over the top. Service is perfectly adequate, though I didn't get any water refills at lunch and the staff seemed quite annoyed at dinner, probably because it was so late. Note that they can only split checks into 2, so be prepared to come with a Venmo plan to work out the math if you're bringing a larger party. read more

Giacomo's Cibo e Vino - orecchiette giorgione (lamb meatball pasta with rapini) - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I was looking for a nice authentic Italian restaurant to take someone to celebrate their birthday. Saw the positive reviews here and decided to give it a try. The parking isn't ideal, but they have a few spots in the back and I was able to snag one. The ambiance was very nice and casual. They have an outdoor seating area that is Pet Friendly! Their menu stated it was a mix of Italian/Mediterranean cuisine. Our waitress was Aurora, she was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the menu, pairings, and serving sides, as it was our first time here. The way their menu is set up is very different with the cold/hot little dishes, cold/hot big big dishes, and half orders on their specialty homemade pastas. We ordered the polpetti puccini to start, which is basically "slightly spicy fennel-seasoned meatballs of grass fed texas longhorn beef & pastured pork, fennel confit & tomato cream sauce" and it was so tasty and fresh!!!!!! Next, I ordered the gamberi al diavolo, which was the shrimp in a sort of spicy(just a small kick) homemade hot pepper sauce, sauteed with garlic ,olive oil, lemon juice, and a dash of butter with a slice of baguette bread and it was delightful!!! Next, we both ordered a half order of the Pollo Guido, with a half order of the Tortellini with Parmesan Cream Sauce, and a half order of Tortellini with tomato cream sauce. This was their housemade pasta and it definitely lived up to its name! Absolutely everything is hot and fresh, some of the best Italian food I've tasted to date. Also ordered a side of Roasted Vegetable Medley and ate every bite!!!! For our beverage, we both ordered the House Lemonade and I loved it. They bring it out to you along with a little bowl full of different sweeteners so that you can mix it to your liking. This is great for people who like to customize the lemonade to their liking. Definitely homemade and refreshing! We did not have room for dessert, was positively stuffed. I enjoyed the food and customer service. Will recommend and definitely come back again! read more

Giacomo's Cibo e Vino - Tortellini with Parmesan Cream Sauce Toretelli with Tomato Cream Sauce Pollo Guido - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Veggie pasta is my fave. Downside is that you can't order online. Food is great though and service for takeout is fast/reasonable.

Our Italian coworker recommended Giacomo's to us and said it was her favorite Italian restaurant in Houston. I can definitely see why. Their pastas are house made or imported, and their sauces are something else. I'll definitely be back! Currently only allowing dine in ( inside or patio) by reservation only to allow for social distancing. We sat outside on the patio under the umbrella, and they light an oil burning candle. SO CUTE. Patio is dog friendly, as well. They currently have a limited menu, but still 4 pages and still a good variety. Food was delicious. We started off with the involtini di melanzane alla parmigiana, which is the roast eggplant rolls stuffed with mozzarella & ricotta in tomato cream sauce. It came out pretty quickly and was probably my favorite of the night. The sauce was SO GOOD. We then got the special for the night which was scallops on a bed of fettuccine, sautéed spinach and mushrooms in a decadent wine sauce. This wine sauce was lighter but had a hint of charred taste to it. Don't get me wrong. It was pretty good, but I was too spoiled with the tomato cream sauce from the eggplant app. We also got the tortellini which was stuffed with chicken, pork, mortadella, ricotta, & parmigiano reggiano, and we chose the tomato cream sauce ( could get parmesan cream sauce or tomato sauce instead). The sauces for the tortellini and the eggplant were both tomato cream, but the one in the eggplant tasted a little better. Service was pretty good. When our main server was a little busy, the other server stepped in and addressed our needs. Will definitely come again. Will probably get the eggplant again but will probably try the other pastas. read more

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This has been one of my favorite places to eat for almost 8 years. This authentic Italian restaurant has feel good food and and a welcoming ambiance. I think Italian food is one of few cuisines that you can tell is made with love, one that speaks to the soul. This place does the job times 10. I created my own dish on my last visit. I got spaghetti noodles, parmesan cream sauce, shrimp, tomatoes, bell peppers and broccoli it was utterly amazing. I also got a caprese salad and it was delicious! read more

Giacomo's Cibo e Vino - Spaghetti with Parmesan cream sauce, broccoli, tomatoes, bell peppers and shrimp. It was the best pasta I have ever had. - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Walked in on a Friday night and it was PACKED. Our wait was 40 mins but we ended up sitting outside since there was no wait. The place is small so since it was packed, it can feel a little stuffy. The ambiance of the restaurant was calming and the seating area was nicely decorated. For my entree, I ordered the Pomodorini E Ciliegini . (Their menus comes in a binder which can get overwhelming and it's kind of hard to read) It consisted of Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Basil, Mozzarella Balls, Basil Pesto Vinaigrette, and Arugula as the base. The basil pesto vinaigrette was a little strong in my opinion but the dish was delicious regardless! It also came with 2 pieces of bread (they were over toasted alittle) Our waiter was friendly and attentive and he knew the menu very well! I would come back again to try other things off of their menu (like their pasta)! read more

Giacomo's Cibo e Vino - Pomodorini e Ciliegini - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Pros: Food is excellent, not over-the-top cheese and marinara like a standard Italian chain. Atmosphere is great for date night or night out with friends. Cons: Prices. Hit-and-miss service. Long wait times. Hubs and I went here three or four times pre-pandemic, and once pre-pandemic with a large group of friends. The food is really, really good. I love being able to get three or four small dishes on date night to sample different flavors. The concept also works for bigger groups as a tapas-style dinner, especially if you have friends with different dietary restrictions. But be warned - they will not split your bill for larger groups, and this place ain't necessarily cheap! The service is usually average and nothing to write home about. The waitstaff would let drinks get empty and would visit the table *just* enough to let us know they hadn't completely forgotten about us. But I have removed one star for the downright rude experience I had with our waiter who served us from the bar. We were offered a spot to dine at the bar on an otherwise very busy Saturday night. Husband asked the waiter a question about a chicken piccata dish he had seen someone rave about on Yelp, and the waiter told him "we've never served that" in the most condescending tone and just walked away. No, "I'm not sure, let me check," no "I don't think we have that but here's something similar you might like"...just condescension and total avoidance. It was so awkward that the guest sitting next to us at the bar (who was not with us) jokingly asked us what we did to piss the waiter off! Since this was a one-off experience on a busy night (and having worked in foodservice before), it won't prevent us from ever coming again. But it certainly has made me wary to come back because, if I'm going to spend these prices, I want good service. Another note - they can get very, very busy. Expect to wait 20+ minutes on a weekend. Bring a jacket so you can wait for your table outside (it is nearly impossible to socially distance inside the very small foyer of the restaurant). read more

Wholeheartedly agree with my girlfriends review. First time here was spectacular this time was subpar! This place did not live up to the hype for me. First, we came in and sat at the bar for a drink. The bartender was attentive but then when he realized we decided to go for a table, he wasn't. We then were seated at a table after about 20 mins. Service was okay (kind of slow on refill of drinks). It was also abnormally hot in the restaurant to the point where we did not want to eat our pasta. Both of our pastas were bland and lacked flavor and the appetizers were just mediocre. All in all, I'm disappointed with my experience here and most likely will not be back. read more

This place is a gem!!! Best bolognese you will eat in your life. Their other menu items are also a 10/10. The staff is professional and nice

This was my first time here and I thought the food was delicious. The hawk bread is a must get. I recommend getting the meatballs to go with the bread. The pasta is very good and much better than typical pasta found in the US. I really loved the chocolate pie with hazelnut crust. The service and ambiance were good to average. I will definitely come back. read more

Food is wonderful, everything we've tried has been great, I don't think you can go wrong with any options! It's truly delicious. However, I do have one issue. I agree with another reviewer on the transparency of the to-go charge, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who has noticed this. I've picked up to-go curbside the past few visits and eventually I realized they charge a 10% to go fee. There is no transparency about this fee until you've already paid it. But to me what's even worse is that when you tip, the tip % is not calculated based on your food total, but rather on top of the tax AND the to-go fee. They just ask what percent you want to tip and you can't look at the fees/ an itemized receipt beforehand. It's tough because I want to support them but they need to be transparent about the added fee, and I shouldn't be tipping on this fee and the tax. A better alternative would be to raise the prices by 10% so at least you know what you're paying. Even better- an online ordering system. read more

Food was very good. I really enjoyed the half plates. We tried a lot of different things which was really fun for me.

Food was amazing! Great value for what you pay. My fav dish was the tortellini with the red cream sauce, will definitely go back