Cebu is really blessed with hundreds of restaurants offering cuisines from around the world. One of the newest addition to the growing list of restaurants in Cebu is Trattoria Da Gianni, an Italian restaurant specializing on home-style Italian dishes.
Trattoria Da Gianni is owned by the family of Filipino Actor, Matteo Guidicelli and spearheaded by his father, Gianluca and sister, Giorgia. Trattoria Da Gianni was established to honor the memory of their patriarch, Gianni Guidicelli who passed away last year, leaving two of his helpers, Antonia and Jean, with no one to attend to any longer. The fruition of the restaurant has Antonia and Jean something to take care of. It is also the family’s way of thanking them for their service for more than two decades.
The 2 floor restaurant has a homey ambiance and can seat up to 60 diners. It also has a small function room that can seat up to 12 diners for a consumable amount of Php9000.
What sets Trattoria da Gianni apart from other Italian restaurants in Cebu is that their pastas and sauces are made fresh. The items available in their menu are usually the food that they eat at home and the favorite of the late Gianni. Most of their ingredients are also locally sourced to support our local farmers.
Assorted Bruschetta. We were served with Mozzarella and Garden Basil, Parma Ham, and Sautéed Shrimps. You can really taste the fresh ingredients used in making these bruschetta. Trattoria Da Gianni decided not to serve pizza and focused on different types of Bruschetta instead. It’s really hard to pick a favorite from the three because they all taste fresh and appetizing.
Fresh Burrata Mozzarella. Fresh Italian cheese served with lettuce, tomatoes and drizzled with olive oil. Burrata is the Italian term for “buttered”.
Lasagna alla Bolognese. This pasta dish reminds me of my Grandma’s baked lasagna. What I love about this dish is the balance of flavors. It has the right amount of meat, tomato sauce and cheese. No ingredient is overpowering.
Fresh Pasta with Ragu. Ragu is a meat-based sauce commonly served with pasta. This pasta dish is meaty and filling.
Penne alla Marinara. Penne pasta served with mussels, shrimps and squid in tomato sauce.
US Beef Tenderloin. 250g tenderloin served with assorted greens, cherry tomatoes and roasted baby potatoes. The meat is tender, flavorful and goes well with the roasted baby potatoes.
Tiramisu. It’s amazing how they kept this dessert moist without being saggy. This dessert also has the right sweetness.
Trattoria Da Gianni is located in Crossroads, Banilad and they are open from 10am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday. Visit them to satisfy your Italian food cravings, you might spot Matteo too. 🙂
