If you didn’t know exactly where to look, it would be easy to
drive past Giancarlo’s Ristorante Italiano in Morgan Hill.
If you didn’t know exactly where to look, it would be easy to drive past Giancarlo’s Ristorante Italiano in Morgan Hill. Located on Monterey Road, just north of Tennant between a small dental office and an Enterprise Car Rental, this small and unassuming building houses a little piece of Italy.
The scene walking into Giancarlo’s is reminiscent of a small cafe in Florence. A couple of tables sit outside and are nicely partitioned off from the noise and view of Monterey Road, making dining al fresco on a nice evening a pleasant experience.
Inside, the main dining room can hold a little more than 20 people, seated close together. Although it’s certainly not uncomfortable, it’s not a place for a quiet, intimate conversation. There is a larger dining area, which used to be the patio but is now enclosed, that can hold up to 50 for dinner and also can be rented for a private party.
We arrived at Giancarlo’s about 6:30pm on a weeknight, which is a good time to go if you don’t want to wait for a table. Once seated, our water glasses were filled and bread was brought right away. The wait staff at Giancarlo’s is experienced, friendly and attentive, and we were pleased with the service throughout the meal.
The warm, rosemary-infused rolls were served with a mixture of fresh olive oil, balsamic vinegar and minced garlic. They were the perfect solution to taking the edge off our hunger so we could concentrate on the menu.
In addition to the standard dinner menu, Giancarlo’s offers about seven daily specials, which are printed along with recommended wines for each entree – a nice touch. The dinner menu provides a wonderful variety of starters, salads, pasta and main courses. You will find typical Italian “standards” such as Spaghetti alla Carbonara ($12), but you will also find special dishes that you’ll only taste at Giancarlo’s.
I began with one of those wonderful creations, Prosciutto e Pere ($8). Fresh, sweet pear wedges are wrapped in thinly sliced prosciutto, then quickly grilled, imparting a nice, smoky flavor. The wedges are then topped with a parma-gorgonzola sauce that was so good that we were dipping our bread in it to soak up every last bit.
This appetizer could easily be shared, as could the salad ordered by my dinner companion. She chose the warm spinach salad with fried pancetta pieces, candied walnuts and feta cheese ($7). This twist on a standard spinach salad was delightful, and the pancetta added an especially nice flavor to the mix. The salad is also offered as an entree salad for lunch ($8).
While we were enjoying our appetizers, we sipped Sarah’s Vineyard pinot noir. Giancarlo’s has a very “friendly” wine list that contains a nice selection of both local and Italian wines of the popular varietals. Many of these great wines are offered by the glass as well.
Our entrees arrived right on schedule. I had ordered off the regular menu and chose the Veal Medallions topped with prosciutto, sage and mozzarella cheese ($18). Two of the three medallions were moist and flavorful, with the sage adding just the right touch. The third medallion, however, looked like the afterthought, and was dry and chewy.
The dish also included a medley of fresh, sauteed vegetables and homemade mashed potatoes. My friend chose an entree off the specials sheet – a sauteed salmon filet topped with a fresh tomato and basil sauce, served over pasta ($17.95).
Both the fish and the ingredients for the topping were wonderfully fresh and nicely prepared. To our taste, the salmon could have come out of the pan a little sooner, but it was still moist and flaky.
We thought we were too full for dessert, but when Jason, our wonderful waiter, suggested cannelloni ($6), we couldn’t say no. Two crisp pastry shells were filled with a fresh mixture of ricotta cheese, chocolate chips and a hint of orange – the perfect ending to a delightful meal.
Printed on the menu at Giancarlo’s is a saying that summarizes the delightful ambiance of this restaurant: “Un giorno senza il vino e come un giorno senza il sole,” meaning “a day without wine is like a day without the sun.” Buon appetito!
‘Sara Leigh’ has lived in Morgan Hill for 26 years with her husband and two sons, who are now away at college. She loves food and wine, and keeps all the delicious calories in check by avid race-walking. Reach her at ca*******@*****il.com. All reviews for The Dish are anonymous, and all reviewer’s meals are paid for by South Valley Newspapers.
