Giovanni’s is essentially the staff canteen at the Lister/Pfizer Institute in Hill Square. IT’s quite unlike any staff canteen I’ve been in previously, though.
The setting is fairly basic: long tables set out for a communal feel; basic paper table cloths. But take a look out of the window and your have an amazing view across Arthur’s Seat and along the coast. On a brighter day, I bet it’s spectacular.
We were given four choices: pasta with chicken, roast pork, brushetta with salami and aubergine, or a stuffed pepper. I opted for the pasta. What swiftly arrived was some fusilli in a rich and creamy mushroom-laced sauce, with good chunks of tender chicken.
It was a lovely dish, way better than the pasta I’d been served at Cucina, earlier in the week.
The pork also looked very good, and the bruschetta made me highly envious.
Now, I don’t really do dessert, but it seemed churlish to turn down a slice of chocolate and strawberry gateau. I was damn pleased I put my reservations aside and partook, because it was incredibly good.
Giovanni’s was a complete revelation to me. I thought this kind of quality in an in-house catering place was a relic of a bygone era. It’s lovely to think that you can still partake of this quality of fare in this day and age.
If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in this building, at some stage, prepare for a rare treat.
Scores
Blythe scores Giovanni’s at The Lister
4/5 for food
3/5 for presentation
4/5 for setting
3/5 for service
giving an overall score of 14/20
Today’s Lunch Quester was: Blythe
I ate: creamy chicken pasta, chocolate and strawberry gateau
I drank: orange juice, water, coffee
I wore: the first overcoat of the winter