Giovanni's Restaurant Review
Enjoying a meal can be a simple, functional matter, or it can be turned into a work of art: a performance. Qualicum Beach is lucky enough to have just such a performer who specializes in italian cuisine. Giovanni’s Ristorante will be your theatre for not just dinner, but a memorable dining experience.
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The moment you walk in, you’ll notice the bright and open dining room. The large windows beckon outsiders to come in, and allow guests to enjoy the picturesque streets of Qualicum Village. The servers are attentive, knowledgeable, and do an outstanding job of enabling you to enjoy your culinary experience. Broadly, before your taste-buds have even had the chance to warm up, Giovanni’s delivers.
But the main reason to attend is the food, which is both affordable and high-quality. To start, Giovanni’s provides not solely bread or rolls with butter to whet your appetite, but bruschetta: a combination of diced tomato and olive oil on a small half-bun. Once you crack your menu, reasonable prices accompany a diverse selection of italian creations. Notably, tea and coffee is provided by a Vancouver Island-based company, showing that Giovanni incorporates his own italian menu with other distinctly ‘island’ elements.
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For those who want something more involved, however, specially designed and prepared three, four, or five course meals are available, which can include dishes not found on the regular menu. Myself and my other half were treated to a four course meal specifically tailored to our needs. But before getting into the details of the food, it has to be said that we were never made to stand out or to feel different, given our elaborate dinner choice. Giovanni spoke to us directly, but he also made trips to many other tables. Superior attention is the rule here, not the exception.
The meal began with a non-standard salad: romaine topped with a thin slice of smoked steelhead and a subtle vinaigrette dressing. Then came the what most people think of when imagining italian food: pasta. Here, I cannot say enough. The linguine had a simple yet pleasing tomato sauce, and the texture was exquisite. The noodles were thin and delicate, but had enough of an al-dente snap to them to remind me that I wasn’t eating merely noodle-shaped carbohydrates, but pasta. The entrée was a combination of lamb and veal, prepared two different ways. I was treated to lamb with a three mushroom and red wine sauce (which floored me), and my other half sampled a subtle white wine and cream sauce (which floored her as well). Both of our veals featured lemon and white wine. Strong lemon flavour with meat was a combination I had never seen/tasted before, but Giovanni expertly made the citrus compliment the more subdued veal tastes. Lastly, the tiramisu dessert satisfied our desire for sweet at the end, but didn’t leave us feeling indulgent and heavy. For a simple meal, or for a more artful affair, Giovanni’s Ristorante should not be overlooked.
Written by by Chris Robinson |
