Giovanni’s of Covent Garden is a cosy independent Italian restaurant at 10 Goodwin’s Court, tucked into a historic alleyway dating from 1690. The Ragona family has served food in London since 1952, bringing generations of Sicilian recipes and warm hospitality to this quiet retreat from the busy West End.
Sicilian olives, garlic, sun dried tomatoes and bread encourage sharing at the table. Antipasti move from pasta and bean soup, burrata and baked aubergine to fried calamari, swordfish carpaccio, grilled vegetables and a platter of Italian cheese, cured meat, peppers and olives.
Pasta includes ricotta and spinach ravioli with sage butter, spaghetti with guanciale and egg yolk, wild boar pappardelle and slow baked lasagne. Tomato and broccoli sauces provide simpler choices, while Sicilian tuna with capers, celery, chilli and white wine brings a distinctive island influence to the selection.
Meat, fish and vegetable dishes broaden the menu beyond pasta, followed by traditional Italian desserts and coffee. A carefully chosen wine list supports the Sicilian flavours, and the restaurant’s position near theatres makes it particularly inviting for lunch, an early supper or a relaxed meal after a performance.
Address: 10 Goodwin’s Court, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4LL, United Kingdom
Giovanni's Covent Garden Menu
Per Il Tavolo
Pane per il Tavolo
Bread served with chopped tomato, celery, and basil in Sicilian extra virgin olive oil.
Aglio Siciliano
Sicilian garlic marinated in vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and chilli flakes.
Olive Siciliane
Sicilian olives from the Val di Noto marinated in herbs and extra virgin olive oil.
Pomodori Secchi e Aglio
A selection of sundried tomatoes and Sicilian pickled garlic.
Antipasti
Minestra di Fagioli e Pasta
Fagioli beans in vegetable broth with cubetti pasta.
Antipasto Siciliano
Platter of Italian cheeses, slithers of grilled pepper, salami, mortadella, olives and sundried tomatoes.
Insalata di Arance Siciliane
Sliced Sicilian orange salad with fennel, Tropea red onions, olives, oregano, mint, drizzle olive oil and red wine vinegar.
Burrata Pugliese
100% Buffalo mozzarella filled at the centre with cream of buffalo served with sliced datterini tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and cold pressed olive oil from Andria in Murgia, Puglia.
Verdure alla Griglia
Grilled vegetables, fennel, zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, Pachino tomatoes and grilled peppers served with a drizzle of Sicilian extra virgin olive oil.
Bianchetti Fritti
Fresh whitebait fried in Ligurian light olive oil.
Calamari Fritti
Fresh calamari fried in Ligurian light olive oil.
Gamberoni all’Aglio
King prawns sautéed in garlic, white wine, chilli and parsley.
Pasta
Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino
Fine spaghetti with Sicilian garlic, olive oil and fresh chilli.
Conchiglie al Broccolo
Shell-shaped pasta with broccoli, garlic and chilli.
Ravioli Ricotta e Spinaci
Freshly made ravioli filled with ricotta and young spinach leaves, sautéed in grass-fed butter and fresh sage.
Spaghetti alla Carbonara Siciliana
Spaghetti with slightly smoked guanciale (Italian smoked bacon), Sicilian egg yolk, pecorino cheese and crushed peppercorns.
Pennette al Pomodoro e Basilico
Pennette with fresh tomato sauce and ripped basil.
Rigatoni al Cinghiale
Large ribbed tubes with wild boar ragù sauce.
Lasagne al Forno
Slow oven baked beef ragù with béchamel sauce and parmesan.
Bucatini all’Amatriciana
Bucatini with fresh tomato sauce, guanciale, onion, a drizzle of white wine, pecorino cheese and a hint of chilli.
Tagliatelle al Tonno Siciliano
Flat ribbon pasta with Sicilian tuna, garlic, capers, chopped celery, parsley, flakes of fresh chilli and a splash of Grecanico white wine.
Carne
Pollo alla Giovanni
Breast of chicken pan fried with herbs, chilli and cold-pressed olive oil.
Salsiccia Siciliana al Forno
Sicilian roasted pork sausages with wild fennel served on a bed of fresh lentils.
Bistecca alla Griglia alla Palermitana
Charcoal grilled breadcrumbed beef steak with herbs.
Fegato di Vitello alla Veneziana
Sliced dutch calves liver with smoked guanciale (prime Italian smoked bacon).
Saltimbocca alla Romana
Veal escalopes, wrapped in sage and San Daniele prosciutto, pan fried in grass fed butter and Pecorino white wine.
Pesce
Tonno alla Griglia
Grilled fresh tuna steak with lemon zest and Lipari capers.
Filetti di Branzino
Seabass fillets cooked in Pachino tomatoes, Etna bianco wine and fresh parsley.
Pesce Spada alla Palermitana
Breadcrumbed swordfish steak with Pachino cherry tomatoes, garlic, San Michele di Ganzaria oregano and Sicilian lemon zest.
Gamberoni alla Griglia
Freshly grilled Imperial King prawns served with white wine, lemon sauce and freshly chopped parsley.
Contorni
Patate al Forno
Oven baked Potato wedges.
Insalata Mista o Verde
Seasonal mixed or green salad.
Zucchine Fritte
Fried battered courgettes.
Broccoli Saltati
Broccoli sauteed in garlic.
Dolce E Formaggio
Tiramisù della Casa
Traditional Italian cake made with finger biscuits, coffee, Marsala wine, mascapone, sugar and egg.
Cannolo Siciliano
Tube shaped pastry shell filled with sweet ricotta with candied orange and lemon peels and dark chocolate flakes.
Arance allo Zibibbo
Sliced Sicilian oranges marinated in Zibibbo sweet wine.
Cassata Siciliana
Traditional Sicilian cake filled with sweet ricotta cream topped with pistachio marzipan.
Panna Cotta alla Vaniglia
Home made vanilla panna cotta.
Gelati e Sorbetto
A choice of Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate ice cream or lemon sorbet.
Formaggi Italiani
Pecorino, provola, parmigiano, dolcelatte and ricotta served with honey and walnuts.
Tortino Caldo al Cioccolato
Warm chocolate pudding with a melted chocolate centre.
Affogato al Caffè
Scoop of vanilla ice cream “drowned” in a shot of hot espresso coffee.
Affogato al Caffè e Grappa
Scoop of vanilla ice cream “drowned” in a shot of hot espresso coffee and grappa.
Gelato all’Uva Passa di Pantelleria
Vanilla ice cream topped with dried pantelleria grapes that have been rehydrated in grappa and other local spirits.