Giovanni’s in Sunnyvale: You Got Chicken on My Pizza! No, You Got Pizza on My Chicken!

[katya]

I recently added Giovanni’s to my weekly lunch repertoire. The thing is, it’s so good, I go more than every 7 days, so it’s more like my 3-4 day lunch repertoire.

Giovanni’s is kind of a dive when it comes down to it. It’s in a nondescript strip mall and the only decorations consist of some posters on the wall. The servers are pleasant and efficient, and keep the soda refills coming.

But the important thing is the pizza. We always get the $4.25 pizza by the slice, which is plenty enough by itself for lunch. The slice we get is the Giovanni’s Rustica, which consists of chicken breast, basil, tomatoes, and plenty of garlic. Chicken doesn’t always work on pizza, but it definitely works here. The flavors all work really well together.

When my dad was in town this past weekend, he told me he didn’t want to go to some “yuppie pizza place this time” (his slam on Amici’s), so I took him here. Against my advice (to which he responded, “I’m not getting a pizza with chicken on it!”) he ordered a pepperoni slice and found it greasy and average. Similarly, on my very first visit I walked away unimpressed after trying a plain cheese pizza. Their antipasto salad is decent – it’s pretty much what you’d expect at a pizza dive.

There’s something magical about the Rustica though. It’s so, so good. Trust me and skip the rest of the menu and go just for this.

Giovanni's Pizza
[phone]
1127 N Lawrence Expy
Sunnyvale, CA 94089

[Melanie Wong]

As you make your pizza rounds in your new digs, you might want to check out Cicero's too.

http://chowhound.com/topics/show/32766

[katya]

I wrote down Cicero's a long time ago as a must try. Although I love sausage the boyfriend doesn't. Any word on their meatless pizza (plain cheese or with veggies)?

[mdg]

I tried Cicero's when it was reported on Chowhound last year and found the crackery crust unappealing. It's a stylistic preference; Cicero's isn't claiming to make New York style pizza. Whatever style they are making, it's not for me.

Now if someone would open up a Detroit-style pizza place like Buddy's, that would be something!

Michael

[mdg]

Don't get slices at Giovanni's on the weekend. The place is pretty empty and the turnover isn't fast enough for them to stay fresh and good. The first time I went was on a Saturday and I wasn't impressed either.

But slices on a weekday lunch when the place is packed are the best New York style in the Silicon Valley area. That most definitely includes the plain cheese slices and the pepperoni slices. I wouldn't send visiting New Yorkers here. But this is one of the best bets for folks in the South Bay who want a good east coast pizza.

Michael