As my wife and I set off for an anniversary trip to Italy, Jack Mitchell, author of Hug Your Customers, sent us a list of restaurant recommendations in Florence. L’osteria di Giovanni was one of the restaurants on Jack’s list. In addition to being an author, Jack is Chairman of Mitchells/Richards/Marshes, a very successful, upscale clothing store with locations in Connecticut and Long Island. Jack’s family’s philosophy is to “treat employees like family and customers like friends.” I knew Jack judged other businesses by that standard and his recommendations would reflect it.
Giovanni’s is just a few blocks from the Arno River and a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio. Dinner at Giovanni’s was an extraordinary experience. After we ordered appetizers, Giovanni stopped by to greet us, ask us where we were from and if we were enjoying our stay in town. He brought us more appetizers to try (on the house), including a new olive oil. In addition to the wine we ordered, Giovanni brought out another wine for us to try because “if you have new olive oil you must have new wine to go with it…it’s a tradition.”
Throughout the evening Giovanni circled back to talk with us. He told us about the Great Flood in Florence in 1966 and how Americans and other individuals from around the world came to help the local people save the town’s artistic treasures. Later he came back with a book about the flood and showed us some of its pictures. When I asked if I could make copies of a few of its pages, he offered to lend me the book. After we finished dessert, paid our bill and began preparing to return to our hotel, Giovanni introduced us to one of his daughters and another American couple seated near us. Before we knew it, we were engaged in conversation. Out came Giovanni with yet another wine to try and freshly prepared chestnuts. Perhaps a half hour later, we bid everyone farewell.
To call that evening at Giovanni’s merely a dinner would seriously miss the mark. It was among the most memorable experiences during our stay in Italy.
The next morning, we stopped by to return Giovanni’s book. Although the restaurant was not open for breakfast, he invited us in for espresso. We talked more and took a few pictures to remember our new friend and his gift of hospitality.
