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    Giovanni's Ristorante

    3.8 (23 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndItalian, Desserts, Pizza
    Closed 5:00 pm - 8:00 PM

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    This is all I could manage to choke down.
    Daniel B.

    I haven't been to this restaurant in over a year until last night. Wow things have changed. I remember getting authentic Italian food and service, rare for the rural mid island area. I understand the original owner has retired and the restaurant has changed hands. The service was nothing special. The other patrons all looked over 80, half of them needed walkers to get in the door. It looked like a retirement home cafeteria. And unfortunately the food tasted worse. I ordered the veal special (veal osso bucco). And my date ordered the veal piccata of the menu. Both tasted the same!!! Almost like the the chef bought microwave veal dinner and boiled it. Plates were covered in watery sauce. Which may have been from the penne side that came with it not drained enough before plating. Which also tasted bland and life less. I attached a picture of my Veal Osso Bucco. For those who are unfamiliar with this dish, just google veal osso bucco and take a look at the difference!! Poor ingredients, poorly executed dishes, no one is checking platings going out of the kitchen. Either this restaurants new owner is incompetent in how to run a restaurant or doesn't care! I don't normally write bad reviews, I'll generally blame myself for not picking a good establishment and not return. But at $25-$30 per entrée, I hope I can save someone else a $125 meal. Go to Cuckoo's in Coombs, even if it's just for the stone oven focaccia bread!

    View from the entrance.

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    3 months ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great dinner, everyone enjoyed it and the fun server! No photos to protect the guilty!

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    5 years ago

    Tasty deep dish vegetarian pizza. Good location in town near many nice shops. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer while waiting for your pizza.

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    16 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Great Italian mid-Island spot. Lounge has great atmosphere but menu is limited. Great 'full-bodied' pizza.

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    9 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Giovanni's Ristorante

    What the lounge may lack in outward beauty, that is fully made up for (and then some) with its main course.

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    Craig Street Pizza

    Craig Street Pizza

    4.8
    (11 reviews)
    10.2 km

    Great pizza choice in Parksville. Walking in I was greeted…read moreimmediately by the staff with great attitude and enthusiasm. I realized right away they have a lot of choices and interesting toppings. You can get a whole pizza or order by the slice. I couldn't choose a single pizza so I ordered two different slices. They gave a couple tables outside to enjoy the elements but also a table and counter seating area inside if you want to be inside. You can watch them making pizza; from stretching the dough, saucing, topping to cooking. So much fun to watch. Taste is AWESOME!! I truly loved the pizza. The toppings, perfect amount of sauce and great crust. The crust is the secret to me. Great tasting, nice crunch and just a slight sweet taste. I suggest trying this place out if looking for a pizza night.

    This place is awesome! It's small and BUSY! There's good reason for the latter. The pizzas are…read moreunique with fresh, high-quality ingredients and house-made dough. They sell both by the slice and whole pie. From what I observed, you can create your own whole pizza in person by selecting various slices available, which is a great option because they all look delicious. We ordered a whole Italian Bomb and were not disappointed. It was one of the best pizzas we've ever eaten, and the price was very reasonable. If you're in the area, check this place out. As I mentioned, it's very busy, so your best option for getting a whole pizza before they run out of dough for the day is to order a few hours early and schedule a time for pickup.

    Photos
    Right on the corner of Craig and Hirst.
    Right on the corner of Craig and Hirst.
    Sweet & Spicy sausage
    Sweet & Spicy sausage
    Roasted garlic, artichokes, and arugula. My favorite!

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    Roasted garlic, artichokes, and arugula. My favorite!
    Wild Culture Artisan Bakery

    Wild Culture Artisan Bakery

    4.7
    (21 reviews)
    3.4 km

    Such good pizza! We ordered two. We just devoured the Fig and Chevre pizza. The crust is…read moreperfect, not too thick, thin, or chewy - but just right. The toppings are very fresh and the flavours are a delicate medley of delight. So good! Artisan all the way. Plan ahead and order your 'take and bake' pizza early! Open Wed thru Fridays from noon until 5 with pizza pickups on Fridays. A nice end of the week treat! Their online ordering is super easy. I totally recommend Wild Culture Artisan Bakery Pizza.

    In every little town, there are bakeries. Many do wonders, both for the community and for bringing…read morepeople in to try something new. On our family trip, my wife a constant searcher for a good Scone and Baked Pastry, saw the sign for this place as we drove between Qualicum Beach and other sights to be seen. In that, we quickly looked them up, and saw they have been around for a long time (1995), and give ourselves a waypoint to stop on our drive back to our holiday rental. So when you drive up, you feel like you might be traveling to a farm house, which happens to be a bakery. The vibes definitely put you into that mood. On our occasion, it was a mild but warn day, and people were outside on their stone patio having baked good, so maybe we were in for a treat. Upon entering, you are in a small room, just enough for a few things on the side, then the case of goods, front of center. They were well stocked with lots of delights, and breads too. Sausage rolls, scones, cookies, bars, and cake slices. Today, we got a couple sausage rolls and a scone... and let's just say, each was proper delicious. That said, we were in the out, because as we stared ordering, a line of people started to show up, and we quickly paid and left. So is it worth coming, sure. Is it delicious, yes.

    Photos
    Wild Culture Artisan Bakery
    Juicy tomato spinach feta scone
    Juicy tomato spinach feta scone
    Wild Culture Artisan Bakery

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    Salt Pizzeria

    Salt Pizzeria

    4.7
    (34 reviews)
    7.1 km

    Great pizza place just outside of Parksville. They do a Neapolitan style pizza when thin base…read morewithout it being soggy. Lots of customers while we were there on a weekday afternoon. They do half baked pizzas to go as well so you can finish up when you get home. We got 2 large pizzas. Can't remember the cost but total came to over $50. Their "regular" pizzas are pricey for what they are. Pepperoni and cheese are priced the same or v similar to something more exotic w truffle oil. There are a few tables inside, pretty no frills and 2 tables outside. I'd go back again for some quality pizza when you are in or around Parksville.

    4.5 rounded up Full…read moredisclosure, I had very low expectations. I was filling up with gas when this place caught my eye. The first thing I thought was "gas station pizza". Similar to gas station sushi. Something anyone with a brain interacting with taste buds wouldn't do. I also didn't have internet. The connection was spotty so I couldn't check the reviews. Throwing caution into the wind, I went for it. What a surprise! The pizza was incredible. Apparently their pizzas sometime sell out according to some local reviews. I can certainly see why! So good, I got one to go. A hole in the wall location in the middle of nowhere along the Island Highway, Small spot seating maybe 10 inside along with a picnic table outside for some additional seating. Friendly service. More take away than dine in. This may be one of the best pizzas I've had. See my pics. They don't skimp on the toppings. Bonus: they have a liquor license. Recommended

    Photos
    Margherita
    Margherita
    This is a half salami (they were out pepperoni) and half four cheese pizza.   You do pay a bit more for half and half.
    This is a half salami (they were out pepperoni) and half four cheese pizza. You do pay a bit more for half and half.
    This is the prosciutto fresco. You can't do half baked for this one.

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    This is the prosciutto fresco. You can't do half baked for this one.
    Cuckoo Italian Trattoria & Pizzeria

    Cuckoo Italian Trattoria & Pizzeria

    3.7
    (146 reviews)
    5.0 km
    $$

    Food was great, service was attentive. The restaurant is beautiful and calm inside. I highly…read morerecommend saving room for dessert!

    We've had lunch at Cuckoo's once before so we knew pretty much what we were getting ourselves into…read more It's decorated in quite a traditional manner, and currently set up for Christmas. The floors look to be original hardwood, and there are lots of beams and logs to see. I personally love the old style look, but it might not be to everyone taste. The service is quite good, our server especially, although it did seem like one individual was more interested in polishing glasses and not running food or bussing tables. He was a little passive aggressive with another staff member when he did run a couple of plates, came back and said "see that wasn't that hard." Not a good look. The food was quite good, although we felt, this time like the last, it was a little on the expensive side. It is quite a tourist mecca just outside of Parksville so that's likely part of the reason. It's also quite busy so clearly people are willing to pony up. We had the soup of the days Chantrelle mushroom soup. Evidently those mushroom are very plentiful in the area this time of year. It was quite good, creamy for sure, but we would have liked some more noticeable bits of mushroom. We also shared a Caprese salad which needed more balsamic and a little salt. The capers were a nice add. We finished with Margherita pizza which was nicely cooked and finished with fresh basil. Can't believe I am saying this, but there was too much cheese on it and maybe a little shy on the tomato sauce. Peroni beer on tap is a total winner for me. Have been twice, might go again, but likely not.

    Photos
    The wood fired oven
    The wood fired oven
    Cuckoo Italian Trattoria & Pizzeria
    Bread provided was very nice

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    Bread provided was very nice

    Giovanni's Ristorante - italian - Updated August 2026

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