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    Giovannetti's

    4.8 (91 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Giovannetti's Takeout or Delivery

    Giovannetti's Photos

    GIOVANNETTI'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Upscale
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Giovannetti's

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    Limoncello cake
    Bill R.

    From being seated to the service to the food, the experience was excellent. First time trying Giovannetti's, definitely will be back. The best Italian food in Vista by far! Yes I've tried the other more well known spots in Vista.

    10'' Pepperoni
    Heather R.

    My family and I enjoyed coming to this restaurant, small little restaurant with covered patio, ceiling has stars, which my daughter liked, Nathan was our server, he was very nice, and knowledgeable of the menu! We started with garlic bread, amazing marinara sauce for dipping, then got the penne vodka, and pepperoni pizza (it's loaded with pepperoni) both the pizza and the pasta were delicious! Will definitely return to try more options!

    Swordfish special
    Kathleen K.

    Delicious! Our sever, Lola, greeted us quickly and went through the list of nightly specials explaining each dish. All of the dishes we had were bursting with flavor. I had one of the specials; it was the swordfish dish served with fresh green beans, and a mix of purple and yellow, small potatoes, topped with a delicious tomato based sauce. The swordfish was a succulent large portion. The whole meal was a very good size and I took half of it home for lunch the next day. So nice to have an upscale Italian restaurant like this in Vista. There is plenty of parking and I really enjoyed the starry ceiling with the shooting stars. We were there before sunset so I can only imagine how beautiful it must be once the sun goes down, twinkling along with the bistro lights that surround their patio. We are definitely going back!

    Perla R.

    Tried this place out for dinner on a Friday evening, they have an outdoor patio in front of the restaurant but we sat inside, the service was great they were very nice & let us know the specials of the night immediately. We ordered a Caesar salad & garlic bread both were very good, the garlic bread came with a side of marinara which was yummy it has a slight sweet taste very garlicky and herby & delicious! I ordered the lasagna for my main dish & we also tried the penne with sausage. I had a glass of the white wine they recommended & it was very good chilled & crisp perfect for a summer night! We also tried dessert which was the mango passion fruit cake which was amazing! I loved everything we ordered I will come back to try more items because they all sounded so good!

    Auntie pasta
    Frank R.

    The food seemed pretty good, but maybe we just came on and off day. The pizza was extremely greasy. We got chicken and mostly vegetables. Everything else was good. Service was good. It is a nicer restaurant for this area.

    Sea bass special
    Diana S.

    From the moment we walked up on a Saturday evening, we were welcomed enthusiastically and warmly. Service was impecable and the food was top notch. I had the sea bass special and DH had the special short rib stuffed pasta , both were cooked perfectly. It's my new favorite Italian place!

    Menu
    Craig S.

    Had an amazing meal at Giovannetti's!!! The entire staff is friendly and welcoming. We had the garlic bread which was delicious and the sauce was very tasty. For dinner had the vodka pasta and lasagna, both were amazing. So glad we found this place and it earns its 5 star rating. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. You will not be disappointed. Enjoy!!!

    Baby back ribs
    Pete R.

    We found Pizza and More not long ago and loved it. They suggested we try Giovannetti's, run by the same family. Giovannetti's opened not long ago in the space that was Felicia's. Felicia's was a regular spot for us so we are delighted to see another outstanding Italian restaurant in the same space! They have completely redone the space, turned it into one large dining room. Elegant and still a homey, welcoming vibe (see the photo). This would be a great spot for an event dinner, especially a romantic one. We had the calamari fritti, veal piccata, and baby back ribs from the special board. Everything was fantastic! The calamari was crispy, not chewy or greasy at all, and the sauces were excellent. The ribs were tender with a smoky sweet sauce. We will definitely be back!

    Amy R.

    The reviews aren't wrong- this place is awesome. Tiny unassuming restaurant in a strip mall. With stars on the ceiling and outdoor seating this is a cute low key date spot. Service is excellent and so is the food. My favorite is that they have daily specials. I love the surprise and innovation of specials. Pasta dishes are amazing. The waitress told us they are going to expand and add a bar (they do already serve full bar/ alcohol). Can't wait to see what they do. Check out their amazing presentation of their food.

    Garlic bread and artichoke
    Savannah F.

    Service and ambiance were both great. Angela kept checking in with us and made the dining experience more positive throughout the night. I really like the paintings and ceiling lights. The lights are like shooting stars. They also had a Christmas tree outside. Food was okay, but either overly salty (carbonara) or overly sour (artichoke). We got another carbonara to-go with no additional salt but it was too oily. I liked the plating every time. Dessert was good. My favorite is spumoni cake. I will be back for that. It did have a bit of a grainy texture if you like that.

    Lasagna

    We were pleasantly surprised by Giovanetti's! The food was outstanding, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. Lola provided superior service--warm, attentive, and professional--while creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. What surprised us most was finding such a wonderful Italian restaurant in such a humble neighborhood. A true hidden gem! We highly recommend Giovanetti's and look forward to returning.

    Cannoli's
    Evylyn V.

    Exceptional!!! The food ,the cocktails the vibe and the Outstanding service got me all emotional.I told our wonderful server Nathan several times that I wanted to cry because it was just that good, so nostalgic for me personally. I mean it's hard for me to believe that this restaurant is here in good ol' Vista,California. I feel like it rivals the 5 Star restaurants of New York or L.A. I'm originally from Brooklyn,New York and have had the good fortune of tasting some pretty spectacular Italian cuisine,Giovannetti's is Absolutely top tier, just incredible. Please,please, please go and find out for yourselves.

    Beef Tenderloin with potato gnocchi in a cheese sauce. Love the flower.

    Just had a nice lunch here with family. The food was very delicious. Very high quality and beautifully presented. We had a tenderloin dish with potato gnocchi, sea bass, and penne with vodka sauce. All were delicious. The service here is very good as well. I highly recommend eating here.

    Pollo al Marsala, Wild Salmon lunch special, Braised Tongue lunch special

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    Ciao Ristorante Italiano - PENNE VODKA

    Ciao Ristorante Italiano

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Our party of five had a terrific lunch today which was made even better because of waitress named…read moreAmanda--she really made our day!

    5/5 Stars!!! I…read morestopped in today expecting a quick trip to pick up two sandwiches, mortadella, and coppa. Having welcomed a newborn just a week ago, my wife and I have been entirely too sleep-deprived and busy to cook. What started as a simple errand ended up being one of the most heartwarming experiences we've had in a long time. When I ordered, Bella at the deli register kindly let me know there would be about a 20-minute wait due to call-in orders, offering me water and fresh bread while I waited. Since my wife and week-old baby were waiting in the air-conditioned car, I brought them inside to sit with me. Shortly after we sat down, a family dining nearby noticed our baby and struck up a warm conversation. A moment later, one of the women from the family came over to congratulate us and offered us some fresh pastries. She returned to our table with two pistachio-filled croissants and two espressos--a gesture that, given our level of sleep deprivation, couldn't have been more appreciated! I later learned from Bella that this incredibly kind woman was Valeria, a member of the Giuseppe family who owns the restaurant. As for the food itself, we got the Gloria sandwich on focaccia. It is honestly one of the best sandwiches we've ever had--so good that this was actually our second time ordering it in three days! I cannot thank Valeria, Bella, and the Giuseppe family enough for their exceptional hospitality and generosity. We left feeling truly cared for and look forward to being regular customers for years to come.

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    $10 off any bottle togo

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    Eugenio Italian Ristorante - Introducing Chef Eugenio to San Marcos!

    Eugenio Italian Ristorante

    4.7(637 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$$

    I'm going to graciously award Eugenio a 5th star. First thing brought to the table was "the best…read moreoctopus I've ever had!" This title was briefly held by Kavos Taverna in Mykonos, Greece where I visited last year. Good job Eugenio. The octopus was unbelievably tender and super flavorful. Food was excellent. Variety was enormous (huge menu). Execution was pretty spot on. I made a comment at the table, "Eugenio certainly knows how to cook" as everything brought to the table was full of flavor, texture, plentiful and well seasoned, although the prosciutto and mushroom pizza was less than desirable. The pie had ham instead of prosciutto, and the overall pie, I would not order again. Much better pizza elsewhere (very, very nearby along Lake San Marcos). Service was good, but not without flaw. We waited until the entire supper was consumed, yet waited and waited for the not really very good, (I think it was a "special") short rib onion soup of sort to come out. We never got our beet salad. Eugenio's food was that good. Lots of flavor. Lots of texture. Not without the hiccups as most kitchens experience. Try it out. Get reservations because it is very small inside and out. I've got a feeling we will be having more Italian food here. Cutely decorated inside too. CritDicks

    Oh my gosh! What a hidden jewel in our backyard discovered completely by accident! I have driven…read moreby this place so many times and missed it. We checked our handy dandy Yelp to find a great Italian restaurant and boom! There was Eugenio. It's a tiny interior and a small outdoor patio. Everything is just wonderful and having recently returned from Italy, this jewel is a standout! Amazing servers too which is such an important part of the dining experience!

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    Eugenio Italian Ristorante - Decor

    Decor

    Eugenio Italian Ristorante - Decor

    Decor

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    Handmade pasta!

    Amalfi Cucina Italiana - Amatriciana Bucatini

    Amalfi Cucina Italiana

    4.2(1.4k reviews)
    4.9 mi
    $$$

    Amalfi at Lake San Marcos was the perfect place to celebrate a birthday! The location is absolutely…read morestunning, with beautiful lake views from every angle, and the sunset made the evening even more magical. We had a very large group of about 14-15 women, and I was so impressed with the service. The staff was attentive, organized, and genuinely friendly from start to finish. Even better, they didn't automatically add gratuity for a large party, which made us want to tip them even more because the service truly earned it. Our table ordered what felt like every appetizer on the menu, and every single one was delicious. The cocktails were just as impressive. The Midnight Margarita, topped with a beautiful orchid, was as gorgeous as it was delicious, and the Aperol Sunset Spritz was the perfect drink to enjoy while watching the sun go down over the lake. From the food and drinks to the incredible staff and breathtaking setting, everything exceeded our expectations. It was a flawless evening, and I would absolutely recommend Amalfi for a special occasion--or any excuse to enjoy an amazing meal with an unforgettable view. 10/10, we'll definitely be back!

    Friday 7/24 13:00hrs visit…read more Top restaurant is lovely and was not jam packed. Met my sister in law for drinks and lunch. "Service" could ve been more attentive and suggestive. It Took a while for our server to take a drink order (2 midnight margaritas & waters) and worse almost 20-25 to take our meal order(bucatini pasta dishes (2 different flavors), salad). We did lock eyes a few times with servers to make ourselves look like we needed help. It was one thing after the other like stacking dishes to be cleared off; requesting for more plates/napkins/water... Despite that, the salad was lovely. The pasta bucatini is tasty and fresh and the drinks (4 cocktails and waters) were easy on our eyes. We moved to the bar to sit a while longer and enjoy another drink. The bar is no different than the dining room service and I know that is something the restaurant should be mindful of. (Slow and not really scoping out what should be taken care of ie/ customers without drinks and or place settings for appetizers.) It is Important to mention, that we were not the only group seeing and feeling this way. Needless to say, a very HONEST & CLEAR 3.5 stars. Price is familiar to what I see at similar restaurants and the taste of food and drinks delicious. Thank you for providing a pretty place to have enjoyed a meal and drink with a loved one.

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    Amalfi Cucina Italiana
    Amalfi Cucina Italiana - Pistachio Cake

    Pistachio Cake

    Amalfi Cucina Italiana - Adult beverages

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    Giovannetti's - italian - Updated September 2026

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