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Gianna Italian Kitchen

MY REVIEW: Dined alone at Gianna's and felt well-cared for. Servers were attentive but not intrusive. Restaurant almost packed even at 6:30 on a Wednesday evening, but kitchen was prompt with everyone's meals. Special was chicken stuffed with spinach and pine nuts in a port wine reduction. Very nice, although the pasta side that came with it did not complement this dish....find something else besides red sauce to go with dishes such as these. Obviously a favorite among the locals...many tables greeting each other. Complementary garlic bread is a favorite with many, but very heavily spiced. Another diner and I talked about how good plain bread with olive oil would be welcome instead. Overall, a lovely local restaurant. Not cheap, but worth the money when you want good Italian in the are.

NAME: Tomball Native
SUBMITTED: 4/19/2012   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/2012
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: This is a well kept secret in the Italian food realm, in the NW quadrant of the metroplex. Yes, it's very busy on Fri. and Sat. nights. Yes, service is Euro style with time to drink your wine, talk, laugh and chat. The waitstaff is perfect and if they are not....the owner is always there to insure things go smoothy. It is in a brand new retail strip but once you enter the place, you forget that..as the decor is well thought out and expensive. The tables are for cozy dining and not fast food madness or the Chicken Fried Steak crowd. There's a great full service bar too. Sometimes I see critiques on this site from folks that dined at a place once, did not understand the culture of the restaurant, undue negative comments from obvious competitors and so forth...the negative posts on this fine place are untrue if not funny. I would tell all of you to go there, but it's already crowded and you may get my table on Sat. nights...the wine list is also proper, and an attractive young woman in a classic black dress as a greeter is also an indicator of a classic establishment. Keep up the good work out there in Tomball.

NAME: clean
SUBMITTED: 12/11/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/11
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Some of these reviews are rather inane. If you do not like the food and service here, you have issues and/or problems (competitors??)unrelated to the ability to judge the quality of restaurants. I am from New Orleans (we know how to eat) and I can tell you Giannas rivals any establishment we have here. We (party of eight) were visiting Tomball recently for a high school football playoff game and found Giannas by accident. We showed up at the restaurant at about4:30 p.m. and found that they open at 5:00. Michael, the owner, ushered us in, served us drinks and regaled us with stories and jokes until the kitchen was ready. The food was perfect in all respects. What an absolute delight!!!! If I find myself back within a hundred miles of Giannas, rest assured I will make it for dinner.

NAME: don t.
SUBMITTED: 11/12/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/11
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: We have dined at this restaurant over 5 times as it is in the neighborhood, we have been disappointed at least 4 of these visits. The food is below average, the service is slow and the bathrooms are filthy, the restaurant is freezing cold. The meat is never cooked the way we requested, the Cesar salad is made with the dark green top of the romaine lettuce (the part you throw away when you make this at home) and the lettuce has been brown on more than one occasion.We have ordered different dishes each time and had something wrong each time with one or more of the dishes. We will not return nor will any of our friends or guests. There are fabulous Italian restaurants in the area, unfortunately this is not one of them.

NAME: Food Critic
SUBMITTED: 5/29/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: May 2011
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Not sure what the person's issue was in the last post, because this place has a ton of loyal customers and I've never had a bad experience there myself, and I am a pretty picky diner, both from a taste as well as a service and price standpoint. This is one of my favorite places to eat in Tomball or otherwise.

The sauces they use are very flavorful and plentiful. Their balsamic vinaigrette is a nice tangy spicy blend of italian herbs - very memorable. Their portions are good, and if you prefer a smaller meal, you can order an "appetizer" portion of many of their entrees for about $6, and it is plenty of food for the average person. They have a lot of variety on their menu, and though I am not a dessert person, their dessert tray is very tempting. I have tried the calzone and it was excellent.

If you are in a hurry, this is not a good choice - it is a nice tasteful, but casual comfortable atmosphere where you can feel comfortable dressed up or down. Michael, the owner, pays attention to the customers and tries to anticipate their needs. For example, on one of my first visits I was cold, and I had my arms folded across my chest - I am cold often, and I don't always mention it, because I figure I am the only one. Michael came over, welcomed us and introduced himself, and told me he noticed that I looked cold so he had adjusted the thermostat. How nice and considerate is that? Great food, great service - they want their customers to come back again and again. One more thing - their take-out service is also convenient - can usually pick up your food in 15 minutes. What's not to like?

NAME: Kathy
SUBMITTED: 8/12/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 8-12-09
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Mediocre, over priced food in a cheap strip mall type setting. Tables ridiculously small (constant rearranging by wait staff to accomodate appetizers, drinks, and meal for a party of only four). Interior of establishment reflects an owner who wants to charge premium prices for his 'wanna be' gourmet a la carte menu, while keeping the cheap accoustic tile ceiling and "Lowes" lighting in tact. The chicken was tough, the manicotti overdone and dry, the spaghetti sticky with sugary sweet sauce. Reminded us of some frozen food from HEB that you bring home and stick in oven. Wife still has indigestion from manicotti. As some others have noted, we saw the owner biut he certainly as not catering to guests. Spent most of his time chatting with his hostess and a waitress.

NAME: Scott
SUBMITTED: 7/28/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 7/28/09
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Fine Italian Dining (no Pizza). The atmosphere is Italian country with a outside dining area with a waterfall bubbling in the background. Gianna's also has a full service bar and a private dining room for group events. There is a piano player on Friday nights.

Michael, the owner, goes out of his way to insure that you get good service, food, & had a good dining experience.

The cook does an outstanding job & cooks everything to perfection (no chewy calamari there). I recommend their Cozze alla Marinara (Sautéed mussels in a marinara sauce), it is a meal in itself. You can also get half portions. Save room for desert & espresso, since they are home made.

This place is a must to search out & try!

NAME: Poodle Glue
SUBMITTED: 6/15/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: June 2009
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Absolutely wonderful. I am extremely picky when it comes to good italian food, having been raised in an italian family and this restaurant is truly a wonderful place with wonderful food. The waitstaff is extremely friendly and very accomodating and the owner is a very nice man who personally comes to your table to greet you and share a joke or two with you. The decor is elegant and, not overdone.

We used to drive into the Galleria for our italian fix but no longer. This place is fantastic. The food is delicious and the desserts , which are home made are delectable and just the right portion. They also make a killer cappucino or an Americano if your prefer.

Go, you will not be disappointed.

NAME: Sue
SUBMITTED: 6/23/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: June 19,2008
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Super meals. Had the veal and my finace had the pollo with brown sauce. Great wine selection. Very friendly people everywhere. We'll be back soon!

NAME: tscherrman
SUBMITTED: 6/22/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Every time I go to Gianna Italian Kitchen I order a different dish and I have never been disappointed, this is my favorite restaurant ever! I took my husband here for valentines day and they gae out roses to all the women(and girls) and even thought we had to wait for a table it was totally worth it. So far I have eaten the eggplant parmesean, seafood ravioli, lasagne, tirimisu and a few things I don't remember and I love all of it! Great restaruant great service and great people!

NAME: Wind
SUBMITTED: 4/22/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/14/08
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Strong points-the people who work there, everyone makes you feel as if you have just entered your home for dinner-like family-welcomed. weak points-Not enough sitting area for waiting and the bar is just a little to close to the eating areas. (gets loud at the bar and alot of smoking going on!!) The place has alot of great food try the brucetta and calamari as appetizer can't go wrong!!! And the food is Magnifico for the small town area. Micheal is a true gentleman in making you feel at ease ask for a sample of his favorite wine and he will bring it gladly. You don't have to be pretendious or overly dressed to get in,just have a hearty appetite and you will fit right in. Thumbs up to Micheal and the staff for bringing a little Italy to Tomball! GRATZI

NAME: Marina
SUBMITTED: 4/23/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/2007
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Gianna Italian Kitchen is our favorite local restaurant for family celebrations as well when "just the two of us" want a nice meal out. It is a family place and can be crowded because the food is so good! Do as we always do, make a reservation. We have traveled extensively including Italy, where we have family. We know good food and wine. Gianna has never disappointed us. One of our personal favorites is the escargot, served in a delicious red sauce. The salads are all delicious, crisp and fresh. The entrees, pastas and their sauces are perfectly seasoned with fresh herbs. Everything is served hot, home-made and just right, not over or undercooked. I cannot comment on desserts as we never have them. Thank you, Michael, and your staff for providing a place where we know we will find an excellent meal, good wine selections and pleasant surroundings.

NAME: Jody
SUBMITTED: 12/13/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/06
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: This restuarant is a great find, especially for a small but growing town like Tomball. The food is excellent, good choice of wines, and never a problem with service. They even went out of their way to cater to 2 of my guest that are Vegan by fixing "off the menu dishes".

I have never had a problem with noisy, ill dressed diners, or children, but this is not the Galleria, it is Tomball so I won't say it could never happen. But I would much rather avoid the drive and prices of a Houston Italian eatery.

NAME: Matthew
SUBMITTED: 10/5/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/2006
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Food is average Italian at best. It's ok for a small town but not a place where I want to spend my restaurant dining allocation.

The restaurant decor is fairly nice for a small town, yet many of the people that go there are dressed in horrible attire. Not to mention the tables full of little league baseball teams dressed in their dirty uniforms. The place is loud and full of kids. If I want a Friday night out at an Italian restaurant, it will be an inner loop restaurant that is not loud and one that has somewhat of a dress code. Gianna does not have a dress code and most of the people in Tomball do not know how to dress.

NAME: Ray
SUBMITTED: 6/28/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 6/2006
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: I think this place is great sometimes you have to wait for a table the food is great, the owner is very nice he even scolded our waiter once for bringing out the main course before the appetizer was finished (one of my pet peeves) isn't the best place to go if you have small children in tow or if your a smoker. but overall great food and good service.

NAME: cssdjg
SUBMITTED: 5/5/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: april 2005
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

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