Giovanni's Pizza
3839 Mission St
(between College Ave & Crescent Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 647-6122
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
10 reviews
Neighborhood: West Oakland
"I'm sold. I had no idea I lived near a really nice pizza place like this (and to wonder, an aptly named pizza restaurant that doesn't imply…" read more »
26 Reviews for Giovanni's Pizza
I love this neighborhood, family place, they have great pizza and are very
friendly!!! what more could you ask for, can't wait to try more stuff on the menu!
Some of you already know that Giovanni's is under new ownership! The family and I finally got a chance to try it out! Though it's not the same without Mama and Papa, the new joint is so terrific- with bright, new interiors and an extended menu! Old favorites like the Greek Salad (with Mama's secret dressing) and John's Favorite Pizza still remain. The Calamari is a must order (it's topped with deep fried onions)! And one new pizza dish we enjoyed is the Caprese (tomato, basil, and mozzarella). Awesome! There's still more to try. Giovanni's is back!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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07/03/2006
First to Review
On the outskirts of Bernal Heights lives a terrific family-owned pizzeria that many don't know.… Read more »
MMmmmmUhm! Very good pizza! I tried the "Mexican Pizza" and it was AWESOME! If you love pizza w/a kick it's the best. It's not overwhelming spicy but has just enough to give you that kick -- kinda like sushi w/that hidden wasabi! We were seated quickly which was surprising on a Saturday night! I also had the Calamari & chicken wings as an appetizer and they were the bomb! OH and the beer was very yummy also! You can taste the freshness of the food as soon as you bite into it! To top my dinner I had the creme brulee flan -- mouth watering..so delich! I hope this place stays below the radar because if too many people find out about it, it's going to take forever to get a table!
It's definitely got a family feel to it! The staff there are SO cute! Parking is REALLY hard to find so if you can walk or take the bus I would recommend it!
Definitely one of San Francisco's best kept secrets -- let's keep it that way!
Wonderful. Great family place. We took our three year old twins and 16 year old there tonight and couldn't have had a better time. Good food, reasonably priced, friendly service, great family owners. Go check it out.
I used to come to this restaurant as a kid after elementary school for a slice of pizza. The mom and pop who ran this joint were so friendly. Now, they're gone and have been replaced with a new family. Thankfully, though times have changed, friendly neighborhood hospitality hasn't.
The restaurant changed from Greek to Italian cuisine, but the one thing they have in common is that they still serve pizza. I had The Mexican pizza last night - a little spicy with chorizo - and loved it. Their chipotle sauce (daily special) with their linguini was really good too. Be careful - portions are huge so you may want to share.
I can't wait for them to start serving breakfast again. I'm craving for chilaquiles.
JONASAPPROVED!
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NOW STARTING WEEKEND BREAKFASTS AT GREAT PRICES!
BEAUTIFUL REMODEL! I don't know what this placed looked like before, but now it looks as if I could take my mom there. (BTW, I took my mom to Zeitgeist and I did take her here last night).
The family is wonderful; I think I talked to the mom, dad and daughter all in one visit. They're really friendly and they make all their recipes from scratch. She even promised me home made blue cheese next time I come.
The crust of the pizza is perfect, not thick but not cardboard either. It is the perfect balance of soft in your mouth, yet sturdy enough to keep the toppings on it until it reaches your mouth. It's really moist, I think there is some olive oil trick they do. I had the "Chicken Pesto Bliss" it was delicious. It had so many toppings on it and all of it was concealed under a layer of cheese, making it extra good.
The salad was packed full of ingredients. I think there was feta, olives, red onion, tomatoes and cucumber! This was a 5 buck salad. Try to get that at Mixt Green's.
I recommend that if you're in the area, stop by or pick one up to go.
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Head over to the new Giovanni's.
The old owners, Momma and Poppa are the sweetest people . We'd eat there even though we weren't so crazy about their food (sorry). My boyfriend and his roommate use to go over there and help out everyone once in a while. When Momma was sick deep down I knew that they would consider selling the place eventually.
It's good to know that a neighborhood local and previous regular took over the place. Inside the decor has improved immensely. It's not meant to be fancy but it's definitely freshened up and comfortable.
Last week I ate at the "new " Giovanni's and the food is wonderful! The new owners (I forgot your name) were so kind and inviting... he came by to chat with us and offered us free bowls of minestrone (which is soooooo good and homemade). The wait staff was friendly and very helpful as well.
The best thing about all of the food is that it's very fresh and it feels as if an Italian mom made it in her own kitchen to serve to her family. The greek salad was yummy and not overly salty. We ordered the pesto linguine and the chicken pizza as well. The pesto was light and flavorful and the crust on the pizza was out of this world.
Please stop by here and try out the place, you won't be disappointed.
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This is the new Giovanni's opened in June 2008 after mama & papa sold their restaurant after 16 years in the neighborhood. The new owners, Marcela & Ricardo Perez have made terrific improvements in the food and the decor, while keeping that warm, friendly neighborhood feeling.
My vegetarian pizza was really one of the freshest-tasting pizzas i've had in SF. The medium-thickness crust was perfectly done, chewy inside, lightly crisp outside. Every ingredient was clearly fresh - pungent garlic, smoky roasted red bell peppers, real, fresh oregano and lots of cheese. Really terrific ratio of toppings and cheese to delicate-tasting sauce. I've recently had other pizzas from Cortland Ave. fresh out of the oven that were far heavier in texture but much more bland in flavor. This pizza was really balanced. I feel like I need look no further than the new Giovanni's for the next pizza I want to eat.
Service was a pleasure - over the phone, Marcela was very helpful and told me a small one would be plenty for two. (didn't try to upsell). She very quickly and pleasantly agreed to make substitutions - add garlic, hold the zucchini, use roasted red bells rather than green peppers. Just as friendly in person. Kitchen looked spic and span.
The place looks familiar to old regulars - has the same 'bones' as the original, but is very favorably updated in style, comfort and appearance.
Eh. Perhaps its the new owners? The fact I went on a Sunday afternoon? That I ordered a pepperoni pizza and not a specialty pizza? Maybe an off day.
What? I thought this place was supposed to be good. All I got was a thin-crusted greasy pizza. I wondered if I was in the right place because it was empty besides a young man and his kid. The crust wasn't too flavorful (which I think it should be the thinner it is), but the cheese was alright but nothing special. I suppose I could have been tipped off when none of the specialty pizzas contained pepperoni, but man, minus the pepperoni and put some veggies on there and I don't think I'll be much more impressed. A good food place should make the normal extraordinary. And for $15 for a small 12" pepperoni? WHY? I think I make better pepperoni pizzas than the one I got. If this is #2 in SF, I'm never eating pizza in SF again. If I want to spend money on a pizza, I'll go to cheeseboard or Zachary's here in Berkeley. Maybe pizza is one italian-esqe food I prefer a bit more american? I don't know.
I hope this wasn't too harsh of a review but I had hopes for this and was willing to walk all the way from powell and geary for it. Perhaps another day and another place.
A great neighborhood pizza place. I had Rick's Special last night and it was delicious. Nice friendly people and good service. I'll definitely go back. Welcome back Giovanni's.
The Times Are A'Changin'
Howdy, I'm on the run and this will be SHORT.
I've known that Momma G was in the hospital for a few months... she had heart surgery and then developed pneumonia. I've been in a few times to say hi to John, have something to eat... saw him a few weeks ago.
today I drove by and there is a FOR SALE sign on the entire building. If you love these folks please stop by to say hi, drop a card to them.... I fear that some big changes are in the works.....
UPDATE: I went by this afternoon and talked to John/Poppa. Olga is home from the hospital, and they are living in their house on Cortland Avenue. They are selling the business. John seemed distracted, but in decent spirits.... the old Greek music was blasting in the background
I told him that we need to do a big GREEK party before it closes... with musicians and dancers.... he smiled........... I know how much he'd enjoy this... John knows a lot of the old-fashioned Greek dances and enjoys a good party!
So, for now, he's still there... :o)
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Meh. Wasn't that spectacular.
I live one block away, but hadn't heard great things so I never went out of my way to go here. The price wasn't that bad, $14.50 for a large sausage and pep, and $11.25 for a medium sausage and pep, but in turn I didn't think the taste of anything but ordinary.
I called ahead and they said it would be 20 minutes to pick up, and 21 minutes later when I arrived the pizza was ready like they said it was, so that was cool.
I'd go here again if we wanted the easiest way to food a bunch of people, otherwise I'd just go the 10 more 10 more blocks to safeway.
I love Giovanni's Pizza. It is probably not the best pizza I have ever had (Ramona's Palo Alto, a fond childhood memory is) but it is definitely the friendliest pizza I have ever had and still *very* very good pizza that you can tell is made with care. Mama is the sweetest lady ever, I wish she could adopt me and teach me how to cook. I pretty much go to Giovanni's just for her because she is the cutest thing ever. She will show you the pizza before you pay for it. She was also tickled when I ordered a pizza with Spinach and Feta because it was "a Greek pizza". I havent eaten in, we usually just order and pick up, but I would definitely like too. It's just a very charming little Italian restaurant.
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At the request of the previous reviewer, I have recently taken a trip to Giovanni's to visit my "Mama".
My group ordered a large pizza and a pitcher of Coke (which will fill up precisely 3 1/4 glasses). Being the the outlier of the group, I decided to be adventurous and order "Mama's Lasagna". While ordering, I asked Mama what she puts in her lasagna, and she simply laughed, "Oh, I make the lasagna!" in charming broken English.
Needless to say, the lasagna was delicious and cheesy. Our group of four received a free refill on our pitcher of soda, and service was polite throughout.
Although I'm still rather torn as to whether Giovanni's is authentic Italian, as its name and menu might suggest, or some sort of Mediterranean hybrid as its music and decor suggests, I am not torn about the quality and authenticity of the food their establishment offers. And, If the food wasn't so good, they'd get the five stars on charm alone.
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I am from New Jersey. NJ is a state rarely credited for its distinctions, one of which is the fact that it is the state with the most highly-cultivated pizza culture. If you are from the West, you might associate Italian Americans and pizza primarily with New York, just like you innocently associate the Statue of Liberty with New York. Both of those assumptions are understandable given representations of NY in popular culture, but both assumptions are also less than accurate. As all true New Yorkers know, the Statue of Liberty is on the NJ side of the Hudson and it is in NJ where pizza truly reigns. As my uncle once put it,"In NJ, where there is pizza, civilization will follow."
So when I say that Giovanni's makes delicious pizza, I really, really mean it. They'll cater to you to your American urge to put a cacophony of toppings on your pizza, but, at this place, I recommend something simpler and more traditional - like a margherita pizza - so that you can really appreciate the tastiness of each and every bite. Mama also makes a generously sized and delicious Greek salad that I highly recommend.
Indeed, particularly from the outside, it does sort of look like a hole in the wall, but one of the things that I learned from my youth in NJ is that places that look like a hole in the wall often serve amazing pizza. And inside, it's like grandma's kitchen - not fancy, not expensive looking, in no way resembling a chain, but immaculate, cozy, welcoming, and aromatically enticing.
So, basically, if you live in Bernal Heights, unless you have a broken leg or the conditions outside are unbearable, you have no heart if you order from some place like Twin Peaks or Pizza Express with Mama and Papa awaiting your order right around the corner. And, really, if you live within a few blocks of this place, then even the broken leg and inclement weather are no excuse.
Giovanni's - a surprising slice of home-cooked, small-town Italian heaven on Mission St. in San Francisco.
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Pizza still great, sweet people tossing dough inside, and they have even started serving breakfast after having closed for a while for a remodel and a change in ownership.
Highly recommended to my neighborhood peeps!
It's not the old Giovanni's, and I miss Mama, but I am *so* happy with the direction it's going.
....................................
Previous Review:
I went over to Giovanni's yesterday. Incredibly good pizza. I fell instantly in love. Nicest people ever. "Mama" showed me the pizza proudly before I carried it out and oh man. It smelled so good... and it tasted even better.
Thank goodness for good places like Giovanni's.
PS She can totally use the credit card machine now, no worries.
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Sorry, I had to say it; maybe I hit them on an off-day, or maybe my expectations were too high. I know new haven pizza, and this comes nowhere close.
Neg:
liquid soap dispenser filled with water
flies
slow service
pizza thick in some spots, thin in others (i like thin)
Pluses:
nice people
lots of cheese
family establishment
This is excellent old style mom and pop pizza and the best NY style I've had in SF thus far (for Chicago style, check out Zachary's in Berkeley). The pizza came out with the cheese is just slightly browned on top, the crust was thin under the cheese and crispy at the outside, and the toppings were pretty well mixed in with the cheese rather than dumped on top.
The large pie (16") was plenty of food for 3 of us at a price of $17, which included 3 toppings and a coke. Mama has been taking notes of the other Yelpers posts and now she can use the credit card machine, although there is no place to write in a tip amount so make sure to tell her to add it in before she rings you up... Or bring a few dollars to leave on the table.
We will definitely be coming back, and fairly frequently.
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Nice to see such positive reviews. I agree that the 'za is good here, and Mama is friendly.
The wait is horribly long though. I usually call from the 14 Mission when I'm around 16th Street on my way home. Everyone's a winner then.
I love seeing decent places on that stretch of Mission. St. Mary's Pub is a decent locals bar and there's a few good Salvadorean places. Let's get more!
I picked up the phone and dialed Giovanni's. Mama answered.
Mama: "Yes, yes, hello, this is Gio-vaaaa-nni's."
Me: "Hello, I'd like to order a pizza for pickup."
Mama: "Yes, yes, what do you like?"
Me: "Yes, I'd like feta cheese, jalapenos, Italian sausage, and fresh basil on a large pizza with thin crust, please."
Mama: "Yes, that's large, with Italian sausage, fresh basil, thin crust, and jalapenos?"
Me: "Yes, and feta cheese, please."
Mama: "Okay, okay, we'll have it ready in about 20 minutes."
Me: "Can I pay with my credit card?"
Mama: "No, no, my daughter-in-law is not here, you pay me next time."
Me: "No, Mama, I want to pay for the pizza." ( !!!!!!! )
Mama: "You pay next time. We'll see you in 20 minutes."
Me: "Okay, thank you."
Needless to say, my housemate Jack and I found a $20.00 bill in the house and paid for our delicious concoction of feta, fresh basil, Italian sausage, and jalapenos. Melty hot, only 17.50 and delicious!!
Giovanni's is a real treasure of a neighborhood pizzeria, with great sandwiches if you don't feel like a pizza. There's no delivery, so hop the 14 or the 49 down Mission and get off at Crescent/College. Delicious!
UPDATE: 3/5/07 I'm not sure what's up with Mama but she fell ill about five months ago. The sign in the window at Giovanni's says "For Sale"...and it's not just the pizzeria; it's the building, the business, and the apartment upstairs.
I hope she's okay. I will miss her, and Giovanni's!!
UPDATE 2: 5/25/08 So it is sold. I have yet to try it but the new owners expeditiously put in new booths and reopened, and from what I can tell, are enjoying a steady clip of business with their remodeled space. The front has a fresh paint job and everyone inside looks friendly. I'll try it within the next few days! My hopes are up...
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Awesome. The pizza here is fantastic. I haven't *loved* any of the pizza I've found in the city, but these guys get it right. Very thin crust, nice and crunchy with the middle being very soft. It's a wonderful mix of authentic Italian pizza and American-style toppings. I got a simple margherita and it was very flavorful.
Papa was working and he was super friendly. He welcomed me to the city, asked where I'm from, etc. A very refreshing change from the typical ring-you-up-maybe-with-a-smile that you get from most places.
I just wish it was closer to my house (hayes valley). I'll be making trips over to this side of the city every once in a while though.
Yea, its true, Mama is definitely from a time when there were no credit cards and true to form she does not know how to use the new credit card reader that her daughter in law has recently installed. Note that she has recently made lots of other improvements to the place little by little, and since we've been going it has really moved up a notch with respect to the little details. I love going to places which are always a bit nicer each time you go.
The daughter in law is amazingly sweet too. Mama's son obviously found someone just like dear old mom, which is good since we look forward to more family time at Giovanni's in the future.
if you go, there will likely be 1 to 12 kids running around the place jumping up and down and generally having a good time, that's par for the course.
Oh, the pizza, is as good you will get outside of norther New Jersey or New Haven Ct.
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eh
nice people, neighborhood joint. but the pizza was soppy and bland.
west coast pizza = inedible cardboard cheese excrement
Mama and Papa make good, solid food. The service is always outstanding and I'm always impressed by their hospitality.
Suggestion - If Mama offers you her homemade wine ... do your best to politely decline.
the pizza could suck and i'd still be happy to pay $10 a week just to stop in and visit them. olga and john (i think i got that right) are some of the sweetest people you'll ever meet.
so, it's a good thing the pizza doesn't suck :) I'd say it's better than anything else in a 2 mile radius.
random tidbits:
- once they didn't have change for a $20, so they just told me to pay next time
- i stopped by to pay the next day while on a bike ride, and they offered me a drink because it was hot out.
- they never let me leave a tip for take-out
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you will NEVER order pizza from nicer people. they even offered free drinks as we waited for a takeout order.
the pizza: tons of cheese, not greasy, crust a bit too thick for me (mellow mushroom-y, i think), fresh toppings (selection is meat-heavy).
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