Givanni's

The most excellent italian restaurant in the area. Huge menu, great wine selection, amazing service, an all around awesome dining experience.

This is one of my favorite Italian places to eat. I choose a pasta dish and a meat dish so that I could review one of each.

Appetizer : Flaming Goat
Entrees: Steak De Burgo
Lasagna
Dessert: Creme Brulee

The appetizer I've had before and I already knew it would be perfect. It's spicy and full of flavor. Being from Iowa I have high steak expectations. This one didn't disappoint. It was tender and juicy and cooked as requested. As far as the De Burgo "flavoring" I have had better. It wasn't has flavorful which some people may like better I suppose.

I've never had their lasagna but I was anxious because Giavannis claims to make everything homemade from scratch including the pasta itself. The noodles definetly had that fresh homemade texture and were great but the sauce was the type that at first you love it but after a few bites you can't stand it. The flavor was maybe too overpowering or something....

Prices were a bit high for the portions and quality.

Overall they had a knowledgeable staff very prompt and ready to explain each dish. Good food but nowhere near the caliber of Tursi's Latin King (arguably the best in Iowa- see Desmoinesalive.com)