GIORGIO ' S ITALIAN GRILL & PIZZERIA
17390 Monterey Hwy . Morgan Hill CA 95037 giorgiositalianfood . com l 669-270-4940
Monday : Closed , Tuesday - Thursday : 11:30 am - 9:00 pm Friday - Saturday : 1:30 am - 10:00 pm , Sunday : 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Starting out our waitress Jen cheerfully greeted us and offered up the daily specials . Waters all around and a bottle of Sarah ’ s Vineyard 2018 pinot noir for myself , Deb , and Sue got things off to a great start . On the table was a basket of bread rolls with balsamic vinegar and oil for dipping .
After some discussion and Jen answering a few of our questions , we ordered the appetizers . In no time we had before us :
Giorgio ’ s Italiano Antipasti ( A plentiful and tasty selection of dry salami , capicola , Genoa salami , fresh mozzarella , mild provolone , jalapeño jack cheese , fresh basil , and crostini toast ). Antipasti is a perfect choice for sharing with friends , wine , and great conversation . Note : Although I prefer to pair red wine with Antipasti , there is really no rule . Feel free to enjoy a white , red , or even sparkling wine based on your preference .
Steamed Clams ( Delicious steamed clams with garlic , white wine , lemon & parsley . They can also be served with a light tomato and herb sauce ). Of course , we opted for the garlic , wine , lemon and parsley version . The clams were great and were gone in no time . I determined the bread rolls had been strategically placed in advance to allow us to soak up as much of the garlic wine sauce as possible , which we did . This was a very enjoyable dish . Note : I would prefer a citrus white wine with the dish . However , we stuck with the pinot noir and didn ’ t miss a beat . Again , no hard and fast rule . Pair to your taste and enjoy . Not a wine drinker ? Pair your favorite beer !
Fried Calamari ( Semolina herb crusted squid lightly fried and served with horseradish cocktail and tartar sauce ). The calamari were tender , and the semolina breading ( A type of coarse flour made from durum wheat ) was light and airy . Overall , the dish was better than most I ’ ve had . And I love the option of having both a spicy cocktail and a horseradish-based sauce for dipping . I ’ m certain everyone loved the calamari , but I was too busy eating it to take notice . Note : my personal choice for calamari would be a nice white , citrusy wine or cold beer . However on this night we were committed to the pinot all the way . In the end , we enjoyed great food , a little wine , and were having a great time .
Somewhere between the conversation , appetizers , and wine , we ordered our main course . We vowed to order a variety of flavors and share family style . The plan worked well .
To the table came Sue ’ s Italian sausage calzone ( Italian sausage , spinach , mushroom , ricotta , onion , mozzarella , and fresh tomato ). It was much bigger than anyone expected , and covered the entire plate . Sue enjoyed it as did the rest of us who tried a bit . I have committed to trying this myself on our next visit . Note : the pinot worked well , as in a light red wine is a great pair . A Stella or your favorite beer will also work well .
Mark ordered his go-to pie , the Giorgio ' s Special Pizza ( Sausage , mushroom , pepperoni , salami , cheese ). Quite a nice pie , meaty and just a classic version of a hefty pizza . We all had a
Italian Sausage Calzone
Giorgio ' s Special Pizza
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
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