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Review content:
Gianni's is what it is. It's not a true ""fine dining"" establishment, but it's way more than your basic italian/pizzeria or chain. Simply put, it's a nice place with good food. \r
Let's start with the garlic rolls - they are what great garlic rolls should be! Larger than most, moist on the inside with just enough golden color for a bit of crunch at initial bite, and dripping with garlic and olive-oil goodness. Be careful; more than one of these will leave little room for the sumptuous house salad and tasty main yet to come...but I never manage to eat just one.\r
The house salad - gorgonzola and romaine never tasted so good. It's all about the house-made dressing. Garlic lovers rejoice, there's some to be found here too, with just enough tang and bite to stand up to the excellent quality gorgonzola that's sprinkled generously. It comes whole-leaf on a plate, but my favorite waiter always chops and mixes it table-side for me when it's not too busy.\r
And for the main event - I haven't made it through the entire menu yet, but here's a few of my faves: Chicken francese (or grouper, yum!), eggplant rollatini (also an appetizer), osso bucco, rack of lamb (special, I think), and the stuffed chicken breast (forget the name, but full of deliciousness), gnocchi, and piccata. All of these are pretty standard fare for Italian-American cuisine, but they are anything but average. Are they the ""absolute best""? That's up to you and your perssonal taste - but in my opinion, they are better than most. Even the side of pasta that's served with your main has a red sauce with flavor. It's basic, don't expect a flavor punch, but it's not sauce from a jar or can either. \r
The place can get crowded. There's no doubt about that. Season brings down our snowbirds and they flock to this local eatery. It's not a ""jacket-required"" establishment, but seriously people, just because you're in Florida doesn't mean you can wear shorts everywhere. Dress is casual, but not that casual. Make reservations and be prepared to wait a bit too, possibly. It's not cheap food, but it's not super expensive either. If you don't have $20 per plate to spend, stick to chains or pizzerias (but remember, you get what you pay for). \r
I'm a Pompano Beach native, and though I am still young (early 30's), I have become a bit of a snowbird myself. I look forward to eating at Gianni's every time I come down - and there's a reason for that. It's just feel-good food.
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