Da Giovanni

Reviews

• Kaley S.

  star star star star star_border 7 June 2026

  The Good:
  Good, authentic Italian food in a cozy, nice atmosphere with good service.
  
  The Bad:
  We shared everything but were not given side plates (maybe not an Italian custom?)
  Wine was listed in two places with expensive bottles on the front specials page, and more affordable house wine with half liter options several pages back.
  
  The Food:
  Approachable menu with daily specials.
  We ordered several plates to share as well as the foraged mushroom special -- which our server took directly from the display basket, a centerpiece of the dining room, directly to the kitchen to be cooked to perfection on demand to order.
  
  The Service:
  Great customer awareness - our server took care of the entire room, with personalized service & attentiveness for locals & tourists alike.
  Profesional, fast & English-speaking!
  
  Overall:
  Great spot in Rome for quality food in a lovely atmosphere with great service. Great expression of Roman dining for everyday dining.

• Susan D.

  star star star star star 28 May 2026

  Our favorite restaurant in this area of Rome!!  With all the endless choices, we decided to eat here twice.  It's that good. The restaurant is very bright and cheerful.  So cozy. The menu had a wide selection. Something for everyone, including a variety of wine choices. Desserts changed a little the nights we went. Everyone ate to bursting both nights. It was all so tasty we couldn't stop. The servers were older gentlemen who know their menu and craft.  Go with their recommendations. FYI, wear those stretchy pants. You'll thank me afterwards.

• Philip S.

  star star star star star_border 26 May 2026

  This restaurant is a little outside the main tourist areas so it does not suffer from the same ills as many restaurants in Rome. The owner and staff take some considerable pride in serving excellent food. The headwaiter was attentive to our table and helpful in every possible way. The food was very good and the atmosphere was cheerful and bright.

• John L.

  star star star star star 23 May 2026

  What an amazing find.  This was hands down the best experience of the trip.  First, we arrived at the restaurant 30 minutes before opening (lunch service starts at noon), it was a down pour outside, and we were faced with the decision of coming back when the restaurant opens or finding another restaurant open.  The owner made the decision easy for us.  As we were about to walk away, he walks up with a bag of groceries and invites us in (if we so choose to) to sit and wait for lunch service to start at noon.  The sideways rain provided a strong incentive to accept his generous offer.  
  
  Seated and waiting, I observed the staff and owner prepare for lunch service.  Perhaps the only cruel thing (said in jest) was watching the staff have their lunch prior to the official start of lunch service.  From a positive note, it was a preview and nice to know they were dining well.  
  
  Having had the time to peruse through the menu, I ordered the house wine, lasagne as my first dish, and grilled veal as my second dish.  The lasagna was the best I had for my trip to Rome and Florence - bar none.  Fresh pasta balanced with the tomato meat sauce and yummy Ricotta cheese.  This lasagna dish was an explosion of culinary goodness prepared from the heart, and presented for consumption with pride.
  
  Throughout the course of lunch service, the tables filled up on rainy lunch day.  Quickly quelling any concerns I had chose a restaurant that was in need of lunch patrons.
  
  I write this review after more than a month since dining at this restaurant and reminisce with voracious appetite cravings of their food.

• Brandon H.

  star star star star star_border 18 May 2026

  A Rick Steve's recommended restaurant and I don't disagree. Local flair and a great staff make this a nice place to come for dinner or lunch. They speak enough English to get you by and work really hard at making you feel like you are not some dumb tourist but a local who has eaten there for years.
  
  We, as usual, had the house wine, a shared pasta, and a couple of entrees. The food was real and authentic. My wife was not a huge fan of the artichoke, but it was still worth getting if you want to try out a local specialty. The veal was excellent and the pork was served in a traditional skin-on preparation that was very.... interesting.