Social Profile: 
✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out ✔️Delivery
… View more
Experience authentic Italian cuisine at Giovanni’s Restaurant in Ottawa. Since 1983, we’ve served handcrafted Northern and Southern Italian dishes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy homemade pastas, seafood, and wood-fired pizzas in a refined, cozy setting ideal for date nights, business dinners, and family gatherings. Our extensive wine list and elegant lounge make us a top choice for wine lovers. We also offer takeout and lunch options for your convenience. Whether you’re craving fine dining or a relaxed meal with a glass of wine, Giovanni’s blends tradition and sophistication in every bite. Buon appetito!
Upscale Italian restaurant offering seasonal cuisine & an extensive wine list in romantic surrounds.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 362 Preston St, Ottawa, ON K1S 4M7, Canada
Phone: +1 613-234-3156
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.ca
Order: Order online
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Giovanni’s Restaurant – Best Italian Restaurant on Preston St, Ottawa
Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at Giovanni’s Restaurant, a top Italian restaurant in Ottawa. Visit us on Preston St. for a memorable dining experience!
Giovanni’s Ristorante Restaurant – Ottawa, ON | OpenTable
362 Preston St, Ottawa, ON K1S 4M7. Neighborhood. Downtown. Cross … This menu from Giovanni’s Ristorante. Menu Wine Private Dining. View full …
Giovanni’s | Ottawa ON – Facebook
. Closed now. . 362 Preston Street, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1S 4M7. Links. . giovannis-restaurant.com. Contact info. . +1 613-234-3156. . lisa@giovannis- …
Last Updates
Reviews
Gal S
Giovanni’s is, hands down, the finest Italian dining experience in Ottawa. From the moment you arrive, the service feels personal, warm, and genuinely generous. The owner takes the time to greet guests, offer recommendations, and make everyone feel welcome, whether you’re there for a full dinner or just a coffee or dessert.
The service follows the classic Italian tradition: you’re escorted to your table, attended by a dedicated server, supported by an attentive team, and guided expertly through wine selections. On my latest visit, the owner recommended an Amarone that was exceptional. The food is authentic and beautifully executed. The porcini risotto was perfectly al dente, rich, and deeply flavorful.
What truly sets Giovanni’s apart is the hospitality. There is no judgment, no pretension, just a sincere desire to make every guest feel like part of the Italian family. I even brought my children this time, and they were treated like royalty.
An outstanding experience from A to Z: food, wine, service, and atmosphere. Truly special.
… moreThe service follows the classic Italian tradition: you’re escorted to your table, attended by a dedicated server, supported by an attentive team, and guided expertly through wine selections. On my latest visit, the owner recommended an Amarone that was exceptional. The food is authentic and beautifully executed. The porcini risotto was perfectly al dente, rich, and deeply flavorful.
What truly sets Giovanni’s apart is the hospitality. There is no judgment, no pretension, just a sincere desire to make every guest feel like part of the Italian family. I even brought my children this time, and they were treated like royalty.
An outstanding experience from A to Z: food, wine, service, and atmosphere. Truly special.
Allan Fabrykant
I would give them 10 stars if I could. I don’t even know where to begin, food was delicious, staff was extremely accommodating (even more than they should’ve been given the short notice).
Everything came out at a reasonable time, and we felt very taken care of.
I would recommend the Gnocchi de la Casa
Looking forward to going back for the next special occasion!
… moreEverything came out at a reasonable time, and we felt very taken care of.
I would recommend the Gnocchi de la Casa
Looking forward to going back for the next special occasion!
April Seymour
We had an amazing time at Giovanni’s over the Holidays! Staff was so great to our granddaughter and accommodated the fact that she wanted a filet steak over a kids menu item and split our plate with no hesitation. We had one happy little gal! This was our 2nd trip and it was just as tasty as the fist trip! Highly recommend if you’re a foodie lover
… moreJennifer C. Robillard
We had the most wonderful experience at Giovanni’s! From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel welcomed and cared for. We were celebrating my grandma’s 81st birthday, and she truly felt loved, special, and celebrated.
A huge thank you to Angelo, who was an absolute delight to meet and serve us. His warmth, attentiveness, and sense of humor made the night even more memorable. His recommendation after my “chunky, meaty” request was spot on—the dish was perfectly executed and absolutely delicious.
The entire team went above and beyond, and it showed in every detail—from the impeccable service to the incredible food. My grandma can’t wait to go back, and honestly, neither can we!
… moreA huge thank you to Angelo, who was an absolute delight to meet and serve us. His warmth, attentiveness, and sense of humor made the night even more memorable. His recommendation after my “chunky, meaty” request was spot on—the dish was perfectly executed and absolutely delicious.
The entire team went above and beyond, and it showed in every detail—from the impeccable service to the incredible food. My grandma can’t wait to go back, and honestly, neither can we!
Zahra Mashhadi
Shaming and guilt-tripping is never the way to get what you want.
My friends and I were celebrating a birthday. At first, the restaurant looked chic, but the lighting was so dim that it was hard to even read the menu. The food and portions were okay, but what ruined the experience was the way our server handled the bill.
After we split the check, the waitress confronted and guilt-tripped me for not tipping, lecturing me in front of my friends. Her exact words were:
“I see that you have chosen not to tip on the POS. In that case, we are serving you from our own pockets. In this restaurant, they pay the government and, plus taxes, there’s not much left for the waiter and busboy. So we’re basically paying to serve you (while pointing at me).”
I had actually enjoyed the food, despite the lighting and all the noise, and was planning to recommend this place, but this attitude and lack of professionalism completely changed my impression. As a student, I simply can’t always be generous with money, and no guest deserves to be shamed for choosing not to tip, when tipping is optional. Very disappointed and won’t be returning.
… moreMy friends and I were celebrating a birthday. At first, the restaurant looked chic, but the lighting was so dim that it was hard to even read the menu. The food and portions were okay, but what ruined the experience was the way our server handled the bill.
After we split the check, the waitress confronted and guilt-tripped me for not tipping, lecturing me in front of my friends. Her exact words were:
“I see that you have chosen not to tip on the POS. In that case, we are serving you from our own pockets. In this restaurant, they pay the government and, plus taxes, there’s not much left for the waiter and busboy. So we’re basically paying to serve you (while pointing at me).”
I had actually enjoyed the food, despite the lighting and all the noise, and was planning to recommend this place, but this attitude and lack of professionalism completely changed my impression. As a student, I simply can’t always be generous with money, and no guest deserves to be shamed for choosing not to tip, when tipping is optional. Very disappointed and won’t be returning.
Cindy C
Giovanni’s was one of the best meals and desserts I have had. All staff were beyond exceptional! We were trying to give my daughter a great meal before leaving her in Ottawa for school. We may have set the bar very high for her future culinary experiences!! We will definitely be back when we are in town to visit!! Thank you for making our night so great and memorable!
03-03-2026
… more03-03-2026
Ryan Narendran
I had my cousins visiting from Toronto last Friday and wanted to ensure they had a great dinner upon arrival. Part of that experience involved covering the bill and working out a plan with the staff to ensure we could handle the payment discreetly without their knowing as a bit of a surprise. Working this out with Fabio was an absolute pleasure. He was courteous, professional, and accommodating. His service beforehand via phone calls and the evening of was fantastic and I couldn’t be more thankful. Likewise, our server, Yuri was excellent. Incredibly attentive, efficient and continually checking up on us with a wonderfully positive attitude.
The food was exceptional from appetizers to dessert. For appetizers, I ordered Calamari Fritti, Bruschetta and the in-house raw Oysters which were a special addition that night. I recommend trying all of those out for your next visit. It was first class.
For mains, our table had a Risotto Porcini, a Linguine Pescatore, Spaghetti Alla Carbonara, and Gnocchi Della Cassa (Tortellini). Every dish was wonderful and hit the mark with my cousins even adding it was the best pasta and risotto they’ve had. The portions are quite filling however, so something to consider before ordering for your table.
For dessert, I ordered our table Tiramisu and Creme Brulee. We loved both but the Tiramisu was the BEST Tiramisu I’ve ever had. To die for… simply unbelievable!
We paired our meals with a Manhattan on the rocks, one GL Amarone red wine (Fantastic!), a giovannis martini, an espresso martini, and a lychee martini. The whole group enjoyed the drinks as well!
Thank you so much to Giovanni’s and their staff for the incredible service, quality food and drinks, and for a special memory for my family and I. I will definitely be back!
… moreThe food was exceptional from appetizers to dessert. For appetizers, I ordered Calamari Fritti, Bruschetta and the in-house raw Oysters which were a special addition that night. I recommend trying all of those out for your next visit. It was first class.
For mains, our table had a Risotto Porcini, a Linguine Pescatore, Spaghetti Alla Carbonara, and Gnocchi Della Cassa (Tortellini). Every dish was wonderful and hit the mark with my cousins even adding it was the best pasta and risotto they’ve had. The portions are quite filling however, so something to consider before ordering for your table.
For dessert, I ordered our table Tiramisu and Creme Brulee. We loved both but the Tiramisu was the BEST Tiramisu I’ve ever had. To die for… simply unbelievable!
We paired our meals with a Manhattan on the rocks, one GL Amarone red wine (Fantastic!), a giovannis martini, an espresso martini, and a lychee martini. The whole group enjoyed the drinks as well!
Thank you so much to Giovanni’s and their staff for the incredible service, quality food and drinks, and for a special memory for my family and I. I will definitely be back!
Bridget Kim
Best Italian restaurant in Ottawa literally , everything on point , this place is classy and the food is a 10,the wine was soo good and those fried aubergines are addictive, don’t say I didn’t warn you it’s located in little Italy ,in a good area ,,I was really happy eating this food can’t wait to be back there
… moreDoug Drew
Giovanni’s is a long-standing venue in Ottawa’s Little Italy restaurant scene. It has to be doing a lot of things right to survive in this very competitive industry. It’s been years since we’ve been there – so we returned.
Our dinner there seemed to be stepping back in time — no value judgement placed on this.
Positives – the service was super friendly. The front of the house and servers were all family – if not direct then members of the Italian family at large. One looked like a he would have been a ringer for casting in the Godfather – and he wouldn’t have had to change his suit.
The menu – all the traditional Italian favourites, cooked the way Great Gramma did it. Great if that is what you are looking for.
Not so positives. The flip side of the positives. If you are looking for innovative Italian dining experiences – you’d be better off elsewhere. The menus and preparations as noted above are traditional. But this is a matter of choice.
The same could be said of the wine list – mostly Italian wines, and a very good selection of fine (and pricey) wines, but limited selection of wines at mid to lower end of the price spectrum, and especially from other countries. It would be nice in general for Canadian restaurants to offer more Canadian wines – a comment that applies to many Canadian restaurants.
… moreOur dinner there seemed to be stepping back in time — no value judgement placed on this.
Positives – the service was super friendly. The front of the house and servers were all family – if not direct then members of the Italian family at large. One looked like a he would have been a ringer for casting in the Godfather – and he wouldn’t have had to change his suit.
The menu – all the traditional Italian favourites, cooked the way Great Gramma did it. Great if that is what you are looking for.
Not so positives. The flip side of the positives. If you are looking for innovative Italian dining experiences – you’d be better off elsewhere. The menus and preparations as noted above are traditional. But this is a matter of choice.
The same could be said of the wine list – mostly Italian wines, and a very good selection of fine (and pricey) wines, but limited selection of wines at mid to lower end of the price spectrum, and especially from other countries. It would be nice in general for Canadian restaurants to offer more Canadian wines – a comment that applies to many Canadian restaurants.
Lori Clesen
I had my birthday dinner st this restaurant the food was really nice and the server we had was so sweet, the only problem I had with this establishment was that my reservation was at 6pm and i had originally booked it for 8 people sadly 3 people cancelled last minute and the restaurant was very nice about it but when we were seated at our table waiting for the last 2 of my guests to arrive at around 6:13pm the owner (I assume it was the owner) came up to our table and said: « Do you friends know that the reservation was for 6pm, you have this table for 2 hours as it states on our website and afterwards we need it back » I was very shocked by this as the restaurant advertises itself as an upscale restaurant, so I expected a bit of respect from them, we hadn’t even waited 15 minutes yet for my friends and were treated like some uninvited guests in the establishment. As a customer I kind of felt uncomfortable with the way this was conveyed, even if that was a fact, I also felt like it was because we were a younger crowd that they tried to rush us out there even though 2 hours are plenty of time to finish a meal. If you’re gonna advertise yourself as upscale I expect a certain class and decorum to your behaviour and not the kind of fast good restaurant rush to get the most customers through.
… more