Giovanni Italian Specialties — Local services in San Francisco

A Taste of Tradition

If you are visiting North Beach, San Francisco, you should make a quick stop at Giovanni Italian Specialties and try one of their cannolis with a cup of coffee. Their cannolis are made with a crispy shell, creamy ricotta filling, and chocolate chips or pistachio toppings. They are a popular choice among customers and often sell out quickly. By the way, they may have more than chocolate or pistachio topping choices, but I get the pistachio every time! It is delicious.

While you are waiting for the cannoli and the coffee, walk around the little store and check out the goods. You might even find a few things you want to add to your shopping list!

Giovanni Italian Specialties is in the heart of North Beach, San Francisco. If I remember correctly, they opened their doors in late 2017. It is one of our favorite stops during our weekend walks around the neighborhood. The store is named after the owner's son, Giovanni, and reminds visitors of a 1950's general store. The owner, Tony Gemignani, is famous for his pizza and wanted to bring his love for pasta to the neighborhood where his restaurant business began.

The store has a rich history connected to the owner's family, who were involved in the provisions business. Giovanni's offers a variety of Italian staples, both domestic and imported. They make homemade focaccia, Piadina sandwiches (I did not know what it was until I tried it here!), panzerotti (fried calzones), pizzelle cookies, and fresh pasta and ravioli. You can also find fine Italian and California wines, liqueurs, and craft beers.

You will enjoy a Cappuccino or espresso made with Graffeo-roasted coffee beans, which have been roasted only a few blocks away in North Beach since 1935. Giovanni's has outdoor seating with views of Washington Square Park and Saints Peter & Paul Church. If you want to try making their award-winning recipes at home, the store also sells professional pizza tools, bakeware, and cookbooks by the owner and other local authors.

If you get to try the coffee and the cannoli, let me know what...

Like my nona says, so you wanna learn how to cook heh? Well, look no further. Here at Giovanni's, they sell everything to fulfill your culinary desire of being a chef. One side of shop is devoted to DIY cooking while other half is a deli. You won't find a large selection, but what you'll get here is goods mostly imported from Italy. It's just one of those shops great for last minute resort with short notice. Why travel across town and have quality suffer when you can get it locally with assurance and a piece of mind? Btw, this is shop is owned by a well-known pizza maker. Any guess? Alright, it's Tony Gemignani.

Mangiamo insieme, siamo...

I went here looking for sun-dried tomatoes; which, unfortunately, they do not carry. But, while asking a lot of questions that the owner kindly answered, I came away with some of the best tasting semi-dried tomatoes, biscotti and focaccia, I did not even know I had been missing. After all the help and questions answered they were even kind enough to offer the location of another deli nearby selling some very savory sun-dried tomatoes. Food places like this make great neighborhoods! Thank you,...