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    Giovanni's Trattoria

    4.1 (490 reviews)
    Closed 9:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Giovanni's Trattoria Takeout or Delivery

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    GIOVANNI'S TRATTORIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Giovanni's Trattoria

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    18. Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pie
    Cirwan S.

    Hidden gem!! Came here with my 3 of my buddies after a padres game and we were hungry ! We shared two pizzas. The Buffalo chicken and shrimp with fresh basil on top. The shrimp was yummy, but the Buffalo chicken was one of the best I've had !! My two buddies got the Margarita calzone and they loved it ! They said best they ever had !!! Me and my other buddy got the Philly cheesesteak and it was amazing! I recommend adding jalapeños to it ! We each finished off with their tiramisu! Definitely coming back here ! Lots of seating inside, restaurant was clean, and service was amazing !

    Medium 3. Giovannis Special Pie
    Jon A.

    While visiting San Diego my Wife and I stayed at the Westin Bayview. We craved pizza one night and decided to check out Giovanni's because it was practically next door. We ordered the Giovanni Special and a small antipasto, the pizza was delicious with just the right amount of toppings,and the crust was cooked to the right degree of crispness, oregano and cheese are provided on the counter to add if preferred. The small antipasto salad it enough for two (even though the menu says one) , they could add a tad more meat . I also ordered a strawberry cheesecake slice, it was on the small side but delicious, I loved the crust though, it wasn't hard yet crumbly. Thank you for the wonderful dinner.

    For the many trolley stops you will find those that have some great eateries for downtown gas some of the best near the trolley .
    Joel C.

    With the many train and trolley travels the many stations for the some of the cities that have the small eateries to the food court yet when you find a place with a great restaurant . One of the many places that you find is one of the best pizza or the best juice places the San Diego Trolley is growing with many stations for places to go shopping at . Going out on Friday looking to take a walk around the Gaslamp the one thing that I had seen before is one of the best Italian pizza places that was at a trolley station . Taking the Blue Line from the 24th street station getting off at the station the station is one that turns a hard corner going up CST . The pizza place of Giovannis is one that you find at the may business offices at the station. The many signs of the food they serve and the daily sales sign is near the door area with some great prices from pizza slices to wings and great salads. The great looks of the pizza they have the gentlemen asked me had a strong accent what I needed I told him I needed slices getting a root beer from the cooler the many drinks they have means some of the best salads the wines on the counter the many blends. Ordering pizza slices for the flavors of barbecue pizza best flavor one of the best pinal pizzas the sauce of the barbecue great smokey flavor fresh pineapple for the the Hawaiian. Giovannis has some of the best food and the salads they have have are some of the full flavor Italians they also have In house Iranian Cheese cake great for dates and take home dinners. The customer service is one that has the feel of great Italian food and for the flavors of great food with the best pizza and the pastas they serve . As a Yelp Elite Reviewer the great price for lunch of the pizza and soda for the service is the best in flavor seeing a few people at the restaurant the many Items they sell at the restaurant makes Giovannis one of the best for lunch groups they do deliver to your office or home . The pizza is one that I'll be coming back try the pastas.

    Shane N.

    Really good pizza! Staff is very nice as well! Nice hidden little gem. Have lunch specials. Pizza by the slice as well.

    Outside
    Harold S.

    This place is right across the street from the train station and alongside the tracks for the red car trollies. I found there are very few places to buy something to eat in the evening in this area, but this place was open. It's nothing fancy, just a small eatery that mostly seems to sell pizza. They do have a few tables so you can eat inside here. I ordered a "Margarita Boli" which was a nice calzone made with feta cheese and spinach, and I thought it was actually quite good. The calzone went for $13.99 and be aware they charged me an extra 40 cents to use a credit card. Be aware, I wouldn't exactly classify this place as an Italian restaurant, but if you just want to get something to eat, it's perfectly fine.

    Pizza
    Daniel S.

    Great little pizza shop whole waiting for the train! Definitely recommend! Good specials too!

    Antonio G.

    Really really good pizza not doughy full of flavor! The customer service is also great I will definitely stop by when I'm back in town!

    Marcel S.

    I purchased a meatball sandwich and it was horrible. There was hardly any meatball and just lots of cheese. The owner asked me to take down my original review and that he would make it right. Eventually, I went back for him to make it right and he did not keep his word. That is my experience with this restaurant.

    Steven H.

    Giovannis is a no frills quick service restaurant located downtown near the trolley station. They have a decent selection of slices available at lunchtime. The pizza was tasty and I would eat it again but maybe take it to go. There is a lot of transient activity in the area around the restaurant and I didn't enjoy seeing homeless watching me eat from outside. It's walking distance from the courthouses if you have jury duty.

    New York Pizza location and phone number
    I Can't Lie S.

    This pizza shop is the only one that makes Pizza like NEW YORK. I lived there so I can verify it has the same tastes of fresh soft dough, homemade tomatoe sauce and the best cheese texture we have ever had out here in San Diego. The prices are reasonable for the pizza, we haven't tried anything else. The shop is hidden downtown by the Train Station Santa Fe, you can calling your order and park on the side street for pick up they are fast and courtesy. The shop is clean and good, they are better than what everyone rants about Brooklyn Pizza or Bronx Pizza which both no good pizza shops. They use horrible products. Everyone goes to these pizza shops because of their names not because it's real New York pizza and let me not lie to you it's not. We lived in Brooklyn , New York we haven't found New York pizza ever in San Diego but now we did find this place by accident go grab a giant single slice and you be the judge of the taste, real Italians making the pizza here using the magic water to make the dough. The Service they give with a smile is worth supporting this establishment and spreading the word, affordable, delicious taste and only New York Pizza shop in San Diego!!

    Two slices of pepperoni pizza
    Daniel H.

    I stayed at a nearby hotel and walked over here for lunch. It wasn't busy and I ordered two slices of pepperoni pizza and a soda. The staff here were friendly and I only waited a few minutes before the slices were ready. There's limited seating inside but since it wasn't busy, I was able to sit down and eat rather than bringing it back to the hotel. The two slices of pepperoni pizza were good and made me comfortably full since they were pretty large slices. It definitely was tempting to order more slices. Overall, good pizza here and I would recommend it.

    Construction/repairs very loud, NO RESTROOMS and that guy is a perv looking at me!
    Lisa T.

    I hate to do this review but unfortunately it's a must. They had construction or repairs with very loud cutting noises and NO RESTROOMS available. Also, the paper plates are ridiculously paper thin and cheap, if you put pasta sauce or anything wet on it, good luck! The guy taking orders was also a pervert, looking at my body over and over. I thought I was imagining it and sure enough, my husband got upset because he noticed it and was ready to say something but we had our daughters, were hungry and tired. Long story short, the experience sucked! If you have construction/repair work and no restrooms available, close it down or do it after hours! Stop looking at women sexually and definitely get better paper plates!

    Half buffalo chicken ranch and half Italian flag  The best Italian pizza  on Giovanni trattoria

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    7 months ago

    This place was great, the service was top notch and the food was amazing. Bread sticks so good you wanna slap your mama and ask for more

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    1 year ago

    Super friendly service and very good pizza. A little hard to get to (it's right on the trolley track, off Broadway.

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    1 year ago

    I don't know why it is 4 stars,I wont even give one star.The food is not good and the place is depressing.No restroom.

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    Buona Forchetta

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    This was our first time at Buona Forchetta, and we were so impressed. The restaurant has a warm,…read moreinviting atmosphere that made it the perfect place to enjoy dinner on a beautiful sunny evening. It was lively without feeling overwhelming, and it was also very family-friendly. Every single dish we ordered was outstanding. The fresh pasta was the highlight of the meal. You could immediately tell it was homemade. The texture was perfect, and every sauce was packed with flavor. The pesto pasta with grilled chicken was fresh, vibrant, and incredibly well balanced. The creamy pasta was rich, velvety, and pure comfort food. We honestly couldn't stop talking about how good the pasta was. The pizza was just as impressive. The crust was light, airy, and perfectly charred from the wood-fired oven. The toppings tasted fresh, and even with all the meat and mushrooms, it never felt too heavy. It had that authentic Neapolitan-style texture that kept us reaching for another slice. The service was excellent from start to finish. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and our food came out surprisingly fast. Even though the restaurant was busy, we never felt forgotten, and everything arrived fresh and perfectly prepared. There honestly wasn't a single thing we didn't enjoy. Every dish exceeded our expectations, and we left already planning our next visit. If you're looking for authentic Italian food with amazing fresh pasta, delicious pizza, outstanding service, and a welcoming atmosphere, Buona Forchetta is absolutely worth the visit.

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    Here's a polished version you can post:…read more What a fantastic find! We stopped here after spending the day at the zoo, and it was one of the best meals my family and I have had in a long time. The service was absolutely outstanding--friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome from the moment we walked in. The food was some of the most authentic Italian cuisine we've ever had, and every dish was delicious. The desserts were just as incredible and were the perfect way to end the meal. If you're looking for amazing Italian food with exceptional service, I can't recommend this place enough. We'll definitely be back before we head home!

    I walked into this little Italian restaurant and found it completely packed. I asked the gentleman…read moreat the front how long the wait would be for a table for one. Without hesitation, he poured me a glass of Prosecco, invited me to wait outside, and assured me he'd have a seat for me in just a few minutes. Sure enough, about two minutes later, he came out and seated me. This restaurant made you feel like you were in Italy with the ambiance and vibe. I had done my research beforehand, so I already knew what I wanted. I ordered the lasagna, and it was absolutely incredible. The portion was generous, and my server let me know it would take a little extra time to prepare, which was perfectly fine. It didn't take long for me to realize that the man who seated me was also the owner. As I watched him greet guests throughout the evening, it was obvious that he genuinely loves what he does. We had a great conversation, and he was warm, welcoming, and personable. After finishing my meal, I ordered a double espresso and tiramisu for dessert. The tiramisu was easily one of the best I've ever had. Exceptional food, outstanding hospitality, and a memorable experience from start to finish. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in town.

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    Giovanni's Trattoria - pizza - Updated July 2026

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