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    Giovanni's Brooklyn Eats

    3.9 (607 reviews)
    ModerateItalian
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Giovanni's Brooklyn Eats Takeout or Delivery

    Giovanni's Brooklyn Eats Photos

    Business Info

    GIOVANNI'S BROOKLYN EATS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Spaghetti Meatballs
    Sophie O.

    I'm getting hungry leaving this review. Giovanni's is my friends and I's favorite place to catch up and get spaghetti. The wait staff are so kind and I love the family environment. Much less packed, and more bang for your buck, than nearby Pasta Louise.

    Baked Eggplant Parmesan
    Fawn G.

    Giovanni's Brooklyn Eats and I go back a long time.. maybe twenty years. His first location was on Seventh Avenue; it was a two room space. I knew then and there this was going to be my place. Giovanni personally visited each table and warmly greeted his guests and ensured everything was great. Then, we came annually for New Years Eve and ordered the special course of squid ink pasta with mussels, shrimp and lobster. We were introduced to his beautiful family. Then Giovani move to Eight Avenue, and we followed: eating delicious Arugula salad al fresco, the Bottomless Brunches on Sunday delicious pastas, entrees and the occasional lunch. The location unfortunately had a fire, and Giovanni's was closed for over a year and reopened across the street. Tonight, my friend Alissa and I finally dined at the new location. It still has the same rustic charm with brick walls, wooden tables, open kitchen and a beautiful bar. I recognized the Cent'Anni plaque on the wall from all the New Years spent at Giovanni's. Tonight I wanted to try some new items: 1. Cocktail: Orange Rose: white wine with orange peel. I am not a a Rose drinker but found the taste natural and unique.Alisa had the Sauvignon Blanc and loved it. 2. Appetizer: Whipped Ricotta with honey, pistachio and figs. Heavenly course with toast to smother this delicious spread. Alisa had the Arancini and thought the serving was delicious! 3. Main: Alisa had the cavatelli with melaneze and couldn't stop eating it. I enjoyed the eggplant parmigiana; eggplant was baked not fried 4. Dessert: First time trying Spumoni gelato; absolutely scrumptious with cherries inside the Spumoni Our server, Eya, was delightful, personable and professional. She has worked here 8 years and of course we shared our history of dining here with her. I know there will be many more great dining experiences to share in the future! Giovanni's Brooklyn Eats is located at 1666 8th Avenue Take R train to Prospect Fourth Avenue and walk 15 minutes to Eighth Avenue Or take F train to 15th Street Prospect Park, 7 minute walk

    Amanda S.

    Maybe 3.5 stars? The service and wine list are stellar!!!!!! I was a little disappointed that the shrimp parmigiana doesn't come with a pasta for the cost, spaghetti and red sauce would go a long way. The vegetable lasagne had mushrooms which was a surprise, I didn't love that and wish it had been listed on the menu. I am glad they have expanded and would still come again!

    Frito misto
    Kim M.

    A good friend recommended me to come to Giovanni's. We arrived and was greeted by the owners son Dean and the owner Giovanni. They were both extremely nice and welcoming. The restaurant is really nice. Very Italian with tin ceilings, family pictures on the wall, open kitchen, beautiful bar and a band playing. This restaurant is situated on a corner. They had all the windows open on this beautiful night. It was super cozy and the ambience was very chill. The staff was really nice and very accommodating. Anything I asked they were quick to give me an explanation. We started off with a specialty cocktail and beer. The cocktail was a take on a pina colada heavy on the lime over ice. Well balanced. It was delicious. We got apps a spinach salad and frito misto. Both were delicious. The dressing was perfect with poached pears and Gorgonzola cheese also frito misto with an assortment of veg as well as calamari. For dinner we ordered short rib with mash. The mash was amazing, sauce was delicious short rib needed a touch more in the oven. Still though just a delicious dish. For dessert we ordered apple bread pudding with gelato. We thoroughly enjoyed this. This was moist not to sweet. Really just perfect and a great way to end a meal. Overall I love Giovanni's. It's a great neighborhood restaurant. The owner and his son are just wonderful people . I will def be back for dinner and brunch

    Meat special- Osso Buco Veal shank served over Parmesan risotto
    Carol C.

    Heard amazing things about Giovanni's and had to come out for a special occasion! I had placed a reservation and upon arriving, it was already a full house! We got seated and served warm soft bread! As we looked through the menu, there was also a little corner with live music playing and it was truly incredible! I felt I was transported to a small little restaurant in Italy! The hostess came by and introduced the specials for the night and of course we had to try it out! We ordered the veal shank on a bed of Parmesan risotto and the pan seared duck over roasted asparagus with saffron honey cream sauce. Presentation looked incredible and portion for the veal was great! I just wish there was a little more to the duck dish. Nonetheless, flavors were great and the duck was soft with a slight chew. The asparagus were not as tender as I had hoped- the ends were a lot more fibrous and I did not end up enjoying the asparagus. But the saffron honey cream went perfectly well with the duck! The veal shank was soft and it fell of the bone! There was still enough of a meaty bite that paired well with the savory, salty, cheesy risotto! The risotto was definitely filling! Not pictured, we also got a Bolognese Bianco and the portion was just right! Great food all around and the atmosphere even better! I would come back and try different dishes as I've heard that they have a variety of in house made pastas! To end the night, because we were celebrating a birthday- you can't leave without trying the tiramisu! Incredible incredible tiramisu! You can taste the coffee and liqueur that was used! A great end to an amazing night!

    Dining room
    Bruce F.

    Tasty food great ambiance with live music, 3 piece jazzon the Saturday that I was there. Attractive wall with old b&w family pictures. Kat was my server, very friendly; she knew and explained the menu well.

    Gemelli al Pesto with Rigatoni
    Leah B.

    I lived in Park Slope for many years and had never been to this restaurant until recently. My husband and I decided to give it a try, and we had a great time. We loved the ambiance; the lights were dim, and I really enjoyed their music playlist, which featured a lot of Frank Sinatra. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. For our appetizer, we ordered the meatballs, which were okay, but I felt the sauce was a bit too acidic for my taste. For our entrées, I had rigatoni pesto with chicken, and my husband chose rigatoni alla vodka. Both dishes were delicious; the sauce was fresh, and I could taste all the herbs. For drinks, I ordered the Mambo Italiano, which was fine, though I mostly chose it because it contained coconut. This is a nice date night restaurant and its local. We enjoyed ourselves and will definitely return!

    Michael M.

    So I came back and Giovanni's is resurrected across the street. It's a Friday night and the place is packed!!! Giovanni's son introduces himself and has his father come over and we give each other a big hug. I ordered a basic gnocchi with pomodoro sauce. Delicious. Then I finished with an espresso. On the house. Great having this place back. In a beautiful new place!!

    Anna H.

    There is true hospitality here. Dino the don and Giovanni is the dad and they do everything right here: the food is quality ingredients and I say this because you can taste it. My montipulchiano wine and Sardinian wine were top tier like when I go back to Italy to visit my cousins. The frito misto was amazing. Light and tasty. Good mix. Actually outstanding just like the table salad. Best I ever had. The fried zucchini flowers were so yummy like zeppoli almost. The vegetarian lasagna was the best I ever had in a restaurant. Seriously. The pasta was homemade and every layer was separate and well executed. Good pesto. The housemade squid ink pasta ravioli stuffed with lobster outstanding. Thh lobster was fresh. The lemon cello cake was the best dessert of my year. Live music. Friday and sat. We heard a great New Orleans band and got to hear Giovanni singing. What a treat. Packed out the door with people.

    janean f.

    I had a very disappointing experience at this restaurant in Brooklyn Unfortunately, the equipment they use seems to be poorly maintained or malfunctioning, which affected the overall quality of the service. I order a hot teas for my daughter and the tea cup was dirty!The server ignored my request to get sharing plate for the app and the main course. And I asked her to get a sharing plates so we can share the app and main course. I do understand if no body teaches her what I'm talking about in an average restaurant in NY BUT I THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRAINED MORE. When I asked her politely to change the tea coup because it was dirty she was so annoyed and bring the tea coup after 10 minutes. With no apology!? Food was good and the owner checked on us. It's frustrating when basic things don't work properly, especially when you expect a certain standard in a New York restaurant. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and invests in fixing or replacing the faulty devices so future guests can have a better experience.

    Matt S.

    Met friends here for brunch on a Saturday afternoon and the service and food were both excellent. They put a unique spin on the espresso martini and it was delicious! The brunch menu which allows you to select an appetizer and entree was a great value for the quality of food. We sat outside and enjoyed the weather in this more quiet area of Brooklyn. Would definitely return and try the dinner menu too!

    All I can say is, WOW! This is one of those hidden gems, that needs to be found. The food and the service were absolutely incredible. The location itself has such a warm feeling to it and the photos on the walls were a great touch. We started off with these baked clams, which were the best I've ever had. The rice ball was cooked perfect, crunchy and cheesy on the inside. Dinner, we ordered the sword fish special and the spaghetti with meat balls (just like you get for Sunday dinner). Both were excellent. Now the dessert, do not go to this location and forget to try the bread pudding... WOW! It was the perfect ending to our meal, partnered up with a cappuccino. We will definitely be going back.

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

    Excellent food! Loved the lasagna, penne Fiorentina, and Mama's meat balls. Excellent service. Can't wait to return!

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    2 years ago

    Best Italian restaurant in Brooklyn! Have raved about this restaurant for years. Excited to see the new location open up.

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    2 years ago

    Friendly service! Great food! Cocktails are delicious! The atmosphere is comfortable. This is a restaurant that is worth revisiting!!!

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    Page 2 of 16

    Ask the Community - Giovanni's Brooklyn Eats

    Do you take credit cards?

    Yes

    Is the outdoor dining heated now?

    Yes

    Do you need to make a reservation for brunch?

    Hello For weekend brunch we only take reservations for groups of 6 or more. Thank you… Read more

    Is bottomless brunch plus drinks every day?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Grazie! Grazie! Grazie! Special thanks to Adriana for her…read morehospitality and ensuring that our experience was worth the visit. Another special thank you to our amazing waiter, Alejandro. He did not miss a beat and if anything slipped past him, it was swiftly corrected. And lastly, to the chef! Thank you for your culinary creativity shown in each specially crafted dish. Starters: Fried calamari and shrimp- this was a good start although missing a little flavor to the batter but it was good nonetheless. Whipped burrata-this was delicious but it could have been even better with some more of the delicious house bread that we were offered upon arrival. Drinks: Balsamic peach spritz (not pictured) the graduate's favorite drink of the day! She raved about it the entire time. Aperol spritz- very refreshing with a beautiful citrus twist! I loved it. Old fashioned- my boyfriend throughly enjoyed this classic drink. Entrees: Oven roasted branzino- AMAZING! The cook on the branzino was perfect and the broccolini and mini carrots added a beautiful crunch to my experience. I could have taken another order to go. My boyfriend had the house ravioli which was salmon and after taking one bite, I can attest that it was INCREDIBLY delicious! Everyone else thoroughly enjoyed their meals: Ribeye steak Lamb chops with spinach mashed potatoes Lamb chops with roasted potatoes Roasted Chicken Rustichella We ended the celebration with dessert: Olive oil cake- not too sweet and fluffy. Tiramisu- sinfully good! Overall, we had an incredible dining experience and would highly recommend it.

    Best to go on Sundays...for Parking. Otherwise, this quaint, intimate enclave of delicious fresh…read moreItalian fare is the perfect date or family gathering spot. Pastas are fresh, wines are Italian and Service is familial, comforting and personable. There's bar space for solo situations or to grab a quick bite and sip. Short Ribs Paparadelle, Fettucine Alfredo with Grilled Chicken were fresh & delish! Had the Fried Calamari and Shrimp to start. Very light battered, fried and clean. Also, had the divine Roasted Brussel Sprouts. Ended with the Olive Oil Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream and the 3 Mini Cannolis, which provided the perfect bite to end the feast. Just sweet enough to leave you wanting more. No matter the occasion, Barbalu is GOOD to you!

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    4.6(70 reviews)
    1.7 miBoerum Hill

    Came here for Christmas dinner on Thursday. I searched for a restaurant semi-close to me that had…read moregreat reviews and was Italian. This was high up on my search, and with reviews like what they have, we decided to give them a shot. Its very easy to get to with a decent amount of street parking. Seems a bit out of place next to a deli on a residential block. You can kind of miss it if youre not paying attention. We were a party of 6 and had a 5 PM reservation. You have to pass through this dark curtain and go to the middle of the bar where the host will greet you and bring you to your seats. We were seated promptly with no wait. The restaurant is VERY small. So much so that at our table, all I had to do was reach my hand out and I would have been touching the kitchen counter. It does get a little crammed/crowded, but not in an annoying or unbearable kind of way. The vibe is actually really cozy and rustic. Very dim lighting so either whip out the flashlight on your phone or hold up one of the real candles they have on the table to read the menu. The food menu is straightforward and simple. They have an extensive wine list. I love how on the food menu, next to each dish, they tell you the region of Italy that dish gets its roots from. They have lovely dinnerware here. They brought out a foccacia bread for the table with a tomato dipping sauce. Absolutely delicious foccacia. The sauce was a tad too salty for me. I started off with the mocktail Luisa. It was passion fruit, lemon, agave, ginger beer, and mint. It was $10 and very fresh and mouthwatering! For my appetizer I had the Calamari alla griglia. Grilled calamari with guacamole and carasau bread. I've never had grilled calamari before. Only either marinara or fried. I also thought pairing it with guacamole was an interesting twist. I was so pleasantly surprised by this dish. The calamari were perfectly fork tender grilled. The guacamole went well with it. The carasau bread was more like a tortilla chip. They give you a decent amount for $24.95. That app slid down my throat effortlessly! For my entree I had the Maccheroncini alla Norma. Maccheroni with eggplant in tomato sauce with ricotta cheese. The pasta was so fresh and perfectly cooked. The sauce reminded me so much of my Calabrian grandmother's. The ricotta made it rich and creamy. Filling as well. So much so that, even though it wasn't a huge portion, I had to take home half of it because I was verging on being stuffed! My mother had the Cotoletta alla milanese. Keep in mind that if you get this chicken cutlet dish that it serves about four people, even though its for 1! HUGE portion. About 4 enormous cutlets that gave my mom 3 days of leftovers! All of the desserts were $12.95. A nice selection to choose from, but I had the classic Tiramisu. They make it here tableside. He made it with such care. Loved watching him put it all together. Let me tell you, that was the BEST Tiramisu that I've EVER had! Wow, just amazing. Very balanced, quality ingredients. The marscapone was so decadent, creamy and fresh. I could have easily taken down 2 of them! I tried some of my mother's chocolate cake. Delicious and decadent. Service throughout our dinner was above and beyond. Attentive, kind, concise and our waiter was such a cutie! Smooth sailing throughout the entire meal. We barely had to wait for anything. Amazing restaurant and staff. Prices are just fine and the quality goes way beyond. Can't wait to come back. Highly impressed and recommend!

    Charming Italian restaurant with a rustic vibe. Came here for dinner one night, and was lucky…read moreenough to be able to sit outside on this not too busy street. This place does get busy so recommend making reservations if you can. They have a pretty nice wine list to choose from along with different cocktail options. From the start, the food was delicious starting with the house bread which was warm and soft but still felt light. For dinner, I ordered the special for the night which was cacio pepe ravioli, while my husband got the tagliatelle verdi con ragu. Both of our pasta dishes felt extremely fresh. The ravioli was unlike anything Ive had before, with flavorful cacio pepe filling and a butter sauce with pancetta complementing the flavor. The tagliatelle was also delicious in a more ragu centric way, still offering a good balance of flavor. Both dishes were pretty filling and so neither of us could finish it. We ended the night with cannolis, which was a pleasant surprise to find 3 came in 1 order. One side is pistachio while the other had a coco dusting. These were again delicious but pretty filling and sweet so we could only eat one. The staff here was also very friendly and service was quick with food coming out much faster than I expected. Overall I would come back and try even more on their menu.

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    Evelina - Evelina's Dining Room -  Shot by Shane Condino

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    So a friend and I decided to dine out on a Tuesday, thinking that most places would be empty, well…read morenot EVELINA. We were able to snag an early seating at 6:30. Note: reservations are not required but definitely suggested!! This place was packed. Every table sat, but a few chairs at the bar. I give this place 5 stars, EVERYTHING was lovely! The dim lights, (I love a dark and moody restaurant) noise level, talk-able but good music in the background, food, drinks, service.... all of it TOP NOTCH. Let's get into the deets.... I ordered the Portia cocktail... if you like Mezcal, you should definitely try this one. Smoky and a little sweet, it was a delicious drink We order Pinsa Bianca for appetizers, the bread, roasted peppers and whipped ricotta all made for a light but delish start. We then dove into the rib-eye (for 2) DELICIOUS ! One of the best steaks outside of a steakhouse I have had. The marbling gave it great flavor, salted well and the perfect char on the outside, it was accompanied by French fries and broccolini. All a great addition; The broccolini was surprisingly not too bitter which was nice. To round it off we ordered their version of a Lemon tart! It was the perfect level of sweet and tart! Yummmo Overall a great place for dinner, run don't walk, you won't be disappointed! You'll thank me later

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    Michael's - Love their bread platter and decor.

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    Michael's - It was our first time trying the lobster dish - delicious and fresh. The baked dish tasted too burnt.

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    Michael's - Appetizers were so delicious.

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    Lilia - Rigatoni Diavola

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    3.9(1.4k reviews)
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    Reservations are harder to come by so I had to settle with an early 4 pm meal. I was seated…read moreimmediately as they opened. Service was attentive and friendly, and I did not feel rushed at any point. I wasn't too hungry so I shared their popular focaccia bread with green butter and sheep's milk agnolotti. Focaccia 5/5: best focaccia I ever had, it came hot and fresh out of the oven. Crispy on the outside but so soft inside, topped with a delicious parm. The green herb butter was so smooth. I loved this dish and would come back just for it Sheep's milk 4/5: they're like ravioli stuffed with smooth, melt in your mouth cheese... the sauce was light and sweet from the honey. It was so unique and delicious (technically a 5/5 but I personally am not a fan of sweet pasta and would likely try something else next time) I hope to come back another time for that bread and to try one of their other pastas

    I came to Lilia for dinner with my sister and we had a great time! We had a reservation, and…read moreeveryone was incredibly kind. The service was great, and our server gave us great recommendations. Inside has lots of seating and it is moody, more of a date-night vibe. We ordered three pastas and two appetizers. All were overall great! They are known for their focaccia, and it was good! Definitely one of the focaccia I have had, most end up being too oily but this was perfect. We also got the mussels, and they were good as well, the butter sauce it is dosed in is not too heavy and pairs well with the bread. The Mafaldini was the biggest portion size, and it was also good, but we preferred the other pastas more. The best pasta was definitely the agnolotti!! Though the portion size was smaller, every bite was so delicious. Overall we had a great time here!

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    4.3 miWilliamsburg - North Side
    $$

    Cuisine: 7 Service: 8…read moreDecor: 8 Value: 7 Overall: 7 I wonder how many 100 year old restaurants are still left in NYC. It can't be easy to stay true to who you are in this ever changing world. With today's social media heavy and influencer dominated marketing, this restaurant sits on a quiet street in Brooklyn just going about its business. Known as an Italian red sauce shop that served all walks of life, including possibly the mafia, this place has seen it all. If only the walls can talk, I could imagine all the stories it holds. Our friendly waiter has been there for 20+ years and shared some of his experiences and memories. It was a nice bonus to our meal for four. For appetizers, we had some Clams Oreganata (8/10), Fried Calamari (8/10), and Roasted Peppers w/ Anchovies (8/10). I would say that these three starters were the highlights of the meal. The entrees were not bad, just not as outstanding as their appetizer counterparts. My favorite of the bunch was the Eggplant Parmigiana (8/10), which was delicious and well made. The other three items, Pork Chop alla Bamonte's (6/10), Ravioli w/ Meat Sauce (7/10), and Rigatoni w/ Sausage & Broccoli Rabe (7/10), were all decent, but nothing special. By the end of the meal, four of us all agreed that it was a fun experience. With all the great options for Italian cuisine in NYC, it's not somewhere that stands out enough for regular visits. However, I would stop by if I was in the neighborhood.

    Rating: 3.5/5 I…read morediscovered this restaurant on Instagram as one of the top Italian restaurants in NYC, so I decided to try it. It appeared to be family-owned in Williamsburg and consistently drew a large crowd throughout the day and night. Upon entering, I noticed the restaurant was keen to maximize seating, with diners placed very close to one another. The restaurant appeared to have a very old-school vibe; maybe that was the theme they were going for? The food ordered was: 1. Calamari - They weren't overly fried or coated with breading. Tender, and not rough. Flavorful enough; no sauce was needed (although it was included). A good appetizer. 2. Rigatoni with vodka sauce - Maybe it's my taste buds, but I also thought the sauce lacked seasoning and flavor overall. The pasta was cooked well (al dente), but the lack of flavor from the sauce ruined the dish. I was really excited about this dish! 3. Cavatelli with Bolognese Sauce - I've had bolognese sauce before, & this dish was just weird. It felt like they just did it within 5 minutes of cooking time, & it was something you could've just made at home yourself with a jar of Prego sauce. It also lacked seasoning. 4. Chicken Parmigiana - I'm a huge chicken parmigiana fan, and I feel like it's always a must if you eat at any Italian restaurant. This dish was well seasoned, not overly fried, not heavily covered with cheese, and smothered in a good amount of sauce. The chicken wasn't dry either; it was tender. Weird part was it was served with a side of string beans & potatoes, not pasta. This was one of the best dishes of the night though. 5. Chicken Marsala - Just like the chicken parmigiana, the chicken was tender & wasn't dry. It's easy to overcook chicken becoming dry, but the two chicken dishes weren't. Very flavorful & a good amount of mushrooms added for garnish as well. Same with the chicken parm, string beans & potato's as a side and not pasta. 6. Linguine with White Clam Sauce - I'm allergic to shellfish, so I did not try this dish, but my table said it was tasty. Overall, I thought the food wasn't as good as I thought. I felt like because this restaurant was hyped up on social media & they know it'll always attract business because of it, the pricing to food portion ratio did not correlate. It's a little on the pricey side for the amount of food you'd get, but maybe it's because of the rent since it is Williamsburg (but they've been around since the 1900s though), the pricing of ingredients, or the quality of the ingredients (import ingredients?). The menu said the pasta was homemade. Another thing was, just like another reviewer mentioned, I felt my table was rushed out the door. We weren't even finished eating and we could feel they were eyeing the table, probably becausd I was with a large party. We weren't even sitting for too long either. The waiter who served my table, whose name I didn't catch, was friendly and polite though. Anyways, this is my take on this restaurant. Maybe this is how old school Italian restaurants are supposed to be & in terms of food too? Maybe you'll perhaps have a better experience than I did. Tip: Reservation recommended for dining in

    Photos
    Bamonte's - Interior

    Interior

    Bamonte's - Breast Chicken Parmigiana

    Breast Chicken Parmigiana

    Bamonte's - Fried Calamari

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    Fried Calamari

    Giovanni's Brooklyn Eats - italian - Updated June 2026

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