Giovanni's Pizzeria along Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington offers a little something for everyone.
The Lunch Bunch recently treated our hard-working colleagues back at the newsroom to a plentiful lunch. We ordered a variety of items and watched our ravenous co-workers swoop in for their eats.
There wasn't even a scrap of crust left in the huge box that contained the Giovanni Pizza ($11.95). It's the signature pie, and with good reason. It had a soft, chewy crust layered with ranch dressing and topped with chunks of chicken, bits of bacon, a scattering of fries and three cheeses. Giovanni's diverts the makings of a really good salad or hoagie onto a crust for a delcious change of pace.
Our crew made quick work of a large Cheese Pizza ($9.95), too. A generous helping of cheese topped the garlicky tomato sauce that was spread to the edges of a soft, chewy crust.
You might wonder who in their right mind would order a Peanut Butter and Jelly Pizza ($9.95). Well, we did for the sheer novelty of it -- but we wouldn't do it again.
Instead, try the Pierogie or Breakfast Pizza. While the PBJ pie gets points for being unique, we weren't thrilled with its off-putting appearance. A couple brave volunteers tried it and said they liked the warm crust that was spread with peanut butter and grape jelly, but we all agreed no adult would order it.
It might be something 5-year-olds would like, though.
It's best to have a big appetite when ordering the Cajun Chicken Salad ($5.95 small, $7.95 large). Moist, well-seasoned strips of chicken were placed atop a hearty serving of fresh iceberg salad greens, shredded carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and green peppers and a mound of homemade fries. Wedges of hard-cooked eggs added a nice touch. Shredded mozzarella covered the salad, which had so many fixings it almost came up short of lettuce.
A tangy honey mustard dressing was a nice complement to the salad.
The Gyro Sandwich ($2.95) was worth the mess. This Greek pita sandwich contained thinly sliced and seasoned lamb, a generous helping of lettuce, tomatoes and onions, and, of course, the yogurt-cucumber sauce that makes this sandwich unique.
The seasoned wings ($5.95 half dozen) were OK. We liked the sprinkled seasoning and noted that the wings weren't greasy.
The Fried Zucchini ($5.45 large, $3.25 small) seemed pricey for being just a small container of breaded and fried zucchini coins. This appetizer really varies from restaurant to restaurant; this version was adequate but nothing special.
The Ham and Cheese Hoagie ($3.95 for a small, $6.95 large) came on a fresh bun that was toasted crunchy and loaded with ham, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. We added some light Italian dressing and made a meal of it.
Compiled by Rebecca Killian, Sis Reola, Debra Duncan, Karen Motosicky, Carol Pinto-Smith, Marsha Tarabeck, Francine Garrone and Donna Domin.
Meals are paid for by the Valley News Dispatch and are unrelated to advertising.
Additional Information:
Giovanni's Pizzeria
Address: 81 Tarentum Bridge Road, New Kensington
Phone: 724-335-7499
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 10:30 a.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun.
Credit cards: All major cards are accepted
Smoking: Not permitted in building
Handicapped accessible: Yes
Prices: Appetizers, $2.45-$5.45; salads, $3.45-$7.95; pizzas, $5.95-$11:95; hoagies, $3.95-$7.45.
