Restaurant news: Beloved Italian restaurant opens new Ormond Beach location

Giovanni Spinosa, co-owner of Don Giovanni and Pizza Pazza in Port Orange, has opened his third restaurant — this time in Ormond Beach.

Spinosa opened his first restaurant shortly after arriving in the U.S. 11 years ago, hoping to bring a piece of his life back home in Italy here to the States.

Serving pizza, pasta, salads and more, Spinosa describes his restaurants as a place to connect — a place where he is able to keep alive the recipes that his own family used when they gathered together every Sunday back in Italy.

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The restauranteur’s ultimate wish is that customers new and returning will feel as though they’re dining at Spinosa’s family home in Italy, with the eatery’s new location serving as a charming spot for a romantic date night, solo dinner or evening with family and friends.

I’ll be one of the first to say, mission accomplished.

Authentic Italian food in Ormond Beach

The brand-new eatery felt home-like and casual, yet still exuded a simplistic sophistication. Alongside its booth, table and bar seating, the crisp, clean décor, faux brick detailing and scenic Italian wall hangings brought out an elegance to the eatery that left me wanting more.

Busy as they were throughout my visit, staff members never lost their smiles, attentiveness or care for customers new and familiar during the day’s highly anticipated opening. With an extensive food and wine menu sitting in front of me and the enticing smell of warm cheese, buttered dishes and garlic bread saturating the air, I knew I had some tough yet tasty decisions lying ahead.

The eatery’s tantalizing menu of authentic Italian favorites features a range of mouth-watering plates from the lobster ravioli with shrimp and the pasta alla carbonara to the margherita and meat lovers pizzas, chicken parmesan and eggplant rollatini.

Eager to try it all, but pacing myself nonetheless, I started with the homemade rice balls, a delicious breaded and deep-fried mixture of rice, sweat peas, meat and cheese. The made-to-order dish had the perfect bit of crunch with its crispy outer coating, yet a soft and flavorful interior of warm, cheesy goodness, successfully whetting my appetite.

I then opted for one pizza and one pasta dish — the two essentials of any Italian dining experience. I started with the chicken piccata, a staple dish that certainly did not disappoint. The zesty pasta plate combined sautéed chicken breasts, moist and cooked to perfection in a tangy yet savory light lemon butter sauce, paired with garlic and salty capers. Vibrant in flavor, the dish was everything I hoped it would be, making it hard to save much more room for what was to come.

My final round of Italian goodness, the Don Giovanni Pizza, came dressed for success in arugula, prosciutto, sliced cherry tomatoes, shaved parmesan and mozzarella balls. The white pizza selection was a no-brainer — it was named after the restaurant, after all — and it met every expectation. Warm, cheesy, savory and layered, each slice seemed almost better than the last. The crust had a perfect crisp, without being too thin or too thick and doughy.

And while dessert was certainly calling my name, I couldn’t quite find it in myself. However, after such a successful weekend trip to Don Giovanni, rest assured I’ll be returning soon for that tempting tiramisu.

Don Giovanni in Ormond Beach is located at 1930 W. Granada Blvd., Suite 5, in Ormond Beach and is open 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday. For information, call 386-310-4135 or visit thedongiovanni.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Port Orange Italian restaurant opens new location in Ormond Beach