Giovanni

Brick oven pizzia is not made in a brick oven but taste good. Chicken parmigiana with spaghetti not bad. But the problem was after we done eating. The cook come out scratching his back and down lower back and goes back to cooking not washing his hands. Stay away from this place.

I had high hopes for Giovanni considering the neighborhood it’s located in. Unfortunately the pizza was average, seafood not fresh (but pasta sauce was tasty), and broccoli rabe precooked. On the upside, the service was very attentive.

Not quality — which is sad considering the area.
I’ve been here a handful of times over the years, though am just getting to this review now. I’ve always ordered take out and never experienced the restaurant portion — so this is only for ordering to go.
As far as pizza goes — it’s average at best. People claim it’s the «greatest NYC» pizza… no, it’s not. I’ve been to pizzeria’s all over the lower portion of the state and this IS average pizza. Not terrible, but there are plenty better at the same time. And by typing «average», I’m being generous — because the pizza slices here are more below average than anything. Everyone has different tastes and a different definition of what a «great» or «best» pizza should taste like, so while opinions will vary as far as taste in here goes — it wouldn’t make my top list at all. I understand some from the area will swear by it and maybe haven’t had much else — but I’ve been to well over 100 pizzeria’s in my life and believe me when I say the word «average». There are plenty better choices out there, but if a simple hit or miss pizza slice is what you’re after, then by all means enjoy.
The rolls are ok — just like the pizza, average and hit or miss. Sometimes you’ll get lucky, other times you’ll get the displayed all day version.
The service here is what’s really poor. Keep in mind, I haven’t been here in over a year — and that’s because I refuse to ever drop a dime at this location ever again.
The old man (owner?) at night on more than one occasion has been rude to me. Acting like I wasn’t there or taking his sweet time. Poor customer service. Another time even though we ordered and were just waiting for him to ring us out, he decided talking to the police officers who had just came in were far more important that the customers that were there for over 10 minutes and could see their bagged order just ready. Another employee of this location at another time also decided that socializing was far more important than customers — basically chatting is more important that doing the job you’re paid for. Not friendly at all.
For those who enjoy this place, keep enjoying it. For those who want an honest opinion and for those who actually have had pizza at more than 5 locations and are looking for quality, you have been warned. Stay away. I know I have and will continue to do so.

Pizza is a tough one to review while this was perfectly acceptable pizza. Good toppings nice dough, decent char. Also had fried calamari and baked clams both were good.
my GF had Penne ala Vodka she said it was also good
So come here if you happen to be on Authur Ave you will not be unhappy it is not the 5 star place some of the others are presenting if you live in NYC and has access to the depth of pizza here

Seating outside or inside is really nice! Great pizza i love the ham with mozerella and ricotta cheese! Penne alla vodka is amazing!

This is truly the best pizza in NYC. We have lived in New York a combined total of 54 years and love this place. It used to be owned by Italians and is now owned by Albanians and they taught this guy right. It is still cooked in the brick oven and thin and crunchy like a cracker.
I recommend you sit down and get the mini-​pizzas. The quatro formaggio is great as is the one with proscuitto arugula and balsamic vinegar. My parents recently visited and we brought them here. They’ve had pizza all over the world and plenty in New York and agreed this was truly memorable and some of the best. We sat in the dining room and had the mixed salad, three pizzas to share, and wine. The best!
I recommend this place. Sit down, take your time, and order the mini pizzas and you will not be disappointed. We get a craving and come here about once a month. Yum!

Decent pizza place… Never been in the restaurant, but from what I saw, it looked ravishing. The pizza place has 4 – 5 tables, with walls cluttered with famous celebrities and world leaders, like Hillary Clinton and Mother Teresa. Pizza here is great. I love their subs, primarily the chicken parm sub… I had others, but forgot what they were called… Oh well. Service okay, not the friendliness. Some have a weird smirk. They are not American, mainly from European countries. But they try their best. Great place to grab a quite bite or to have an elegant meal.

Best pizza on the Avenue hands down… thin crust and not covered in cheese… crispy and light… the Stromboli is also good and the lasagna slice is delicious

I’ve been here twice, in 2008 and 2013. Both were fine. The staff was friendly and the pizza tasted good. Once they gave us free house salad. :)

I don’t understand these negative reviews. The pizza here is delicious. It’s the only pizzeria I go to on Arthur Ave. Great place to unwind after a afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
The staff is very friendly. Don’t be put off by the small seating area in the front — there’s a huge room in the back of the restaurant.

After moving to Northern Westchester from the Bronx many years ago, it is hard to find that perfect New York slice. I’m very picky about quality when it comes to my pizza. I expect nothing but the best. I’ve eaten pizza from Giovanni’s since the 80’s and it remains the best slice I’ve ever had to this day. Giovanni’s is a neighborhood staple. Mr. Dedvukaj is a truly wonderful man that truly cares about his work and his customers. He treats everyone like they were his own family. It is a true honor and pleasure to visit him. Some just never know real New York pizza. Giovanni’s makes the original, the best!

Fordam Road Store Buyer beware, the worse food ever. I ordered a simple crab cake appetizer and a turkey burger. Simple order, one would think. However, they placed the crab cakes on a wet bed or lettuce making the cakes soggy. I asked for a well done turkey burger with Swiss cheese, a raw onion w/​ketchup on the side. NO raw onion, no catchup at all and get this the charge for that MESS was $ 28.00 w/​a two dollar tip. Secondly, if u use a credit card, they use a machine that swipes and maintains your credit card information. I THINK NOT, I will never order from them again, the worse food ever. Honestly, if there are any good reviews it has to be from the restaurant itself bc I tasted the burger and TRASHED IT. How they stay in business beats the heck out of me. NEVER ORDERING FROM THEM AGAIN… GHETTO FOOD TO THE 10TH POWER… I hate leaving bad reviews bc we all know how hard times are and that’s why I am stating the info above bc we all work too hard for the money to be served food not fit for a DOG

They used to serve really good pizza; now it’s just simply awful. Today the owner (who I think is just a doll) was making the pizza. The cheese looked strange and the sauce was canned? perhaps?
Oh well I guess it serves me right b/​c I talked myself out of going home to make scrambled eggs.

Not real brick oven pizza! Not real fresh mozzarella! They don’t even give u real slices of tomatoes. Where r the real herbs? Lots of cornmeal in the breading… disgusting! No wonder they r empty!

Clams and pizza were both very good. Food took forever, place was dead on a Sunday after Yankee game. The area scared me, not safe. Little Italy in NYC is better

Ignoring the whole Albanian owning italian argument and basing the grade on food quality I give this place 4 stars.
I ordered Penne alla vodka with fried calamari as an appetizer. The pasta dish also comes with a salad.
The salad was nothing special, while I thought the fried calamari was pretty good. The penne was excellent. The portion was large and the sauce was creamy just the way I like it.
Only reason I give this place 4 and not stars is because the place was pretty much dead (one other table) and the food took a while to come out. The waiter was friendly though and helpful. But for so few customers at the time I was surprised by the wait.
Would I come again? Yes.

Pretty good brick oven pizza, though over $ 20 for a pie seems to be a bit steep for the Bronx. Regardless, this place is definitely worth stopping by. We got the Quattro Formaggio which came packed with copious amounts of gorgonzola, fontina, mozzarella and parm and it was gorgeous. I can almost taste it now… yum.

I went to Arthur Ave. to get some pastries, and stopped in here for a bite. Two plain slices and a water. There was not much else to choose from, a white slice, a slice with eggplant on it, and a slice with tomatos on it, so the choice was obvious. There was alot of whole pies being picked up while I was there, so I guess it’s more of a place to take the family and order a pizza.
Anyhow, this was by far the thinnest slice I’ve ever had. Filling? No, but good, crisp, and with good cheese and not to much sauce. I would recommend ordering a salad or at least more slices, because I left just as hungry as when I walked in… But it was good, lol.
And the décor is a bit, uuum, a reminder of this country’s dark past. I don’t like to be reminded of the sins of our past (not my sins, I didn’t vote for him), but there are pictures of George W. Bush everywhere. I don’t even know why they let that guy in. I hope they spit in his food at the very least.
This place is like that beer slogan, «Tastes great, less filling.»

Came in for a lunch meeting. They never fail to please– food is fresh, portions are generous, wait staff attentive and they always thank you for your business when you leave.
I’ll keep coming back as long as I am working in the area.

Love Arthur Avenue/​Belmont Area of the Bronx!
Not many places exist like this in New York.
Giovanni’s is a neighborhood staple.
Owner, George Dedvukaj, is a gentleman & a scholar.
On hand ²⁴⁄₇ and cares about everything and everyone that walks through the door.
Treats you like family!
Keep up the great work!