Marietta’s downtown is experiencing an Italian Renaissance. After years of having just one stalwart Italian restaurant, two newcomers have opened offering more choices for good Italian dishes.
We’ve always enjoyed the European feel of dining at a window seat at Piastra. Then, when Bottega opened in 2024, it brought a homey, street-cafe feel that stirred warm memories of visits to Italy. Now, Gianni and Mac’s enters the mix with a large-format, multi-room dining experience straight from the heart of Tuscany.
Gianni and Mac’s is a love letter to Italy from founders Gianni Betti and Marietta restauranteur Randy “Mac” McCray. Arriving at the restaurant, you’re immediately captivated by the street-side charm of the window views. Walking in, the classic dining room expands in front of you. A bustling open kitchen anchors the room. To the left, a charcuterie and mozzarella bar offers a unique and authentic feature. And the long, open-seating bar delivers both Italian-inspired beverages and dinner service for those not willing to wait for a table.
Reservations Suggested
We walked in on Tuesday night, expecting no wait. Instead, the tables were fully booked with reservations. Thus, we were thankful for the bar seating and the friendly, attentive service we enjoyed there.
We studied the extensive appetizer list before settling on one of our favorites. And the calamari was delivered perfectly: lightly battered, fried to perfection, accompanied by a pomodoro sauce and sprinkled with pepperoncini for just a touch of heat.
Our dinner choices proved more difficult given the array of fresh and authentic dishes. Finally, we settled on branzino al forno, a standard menu item, and risotto ala scoglio, one of the chef’s specials. Thanks to the English descriptions, we knew that to be a Mediterranean Sea bass and a risotto accompanied by scallops and clams.
Small Glitches
Due to a slight kitchen delay, one of the dishes arrived slightly before the other. For us, that just meant we could each sample the first dish and discuss it a bit before the second arrived. However, we did notice this to be a pattern in the dining room, perhaps a glitch due to the recent opening.
Sight, aroma and taste wise, both dishes delighted our senses. The branzino was succulent and moist, cooked through but not overcooked. The light brushing of olive oil sprinkled with fresh herbs enhanced the appearance and flavor. It was served over a bed of simply sauteed spinach, with roasted potatoes positioned around the edges of the plate, both of which complemented the main course.
Our risotto was good, and we weren’t disappointed. But both of us agreed that we wouldn’t put it in the “great” category. It was a bit more starchy than creamy. In fact, we also agreed that we preferred the risotto dishes we’d had at Mac’s Chophouse, operated by co-owner Mac McCray across the street.
Overall, our initial visit was promising, especially for a relatively new restaurant still working through some of the kinks. We did think the menu was just a bit on the pricey side, especially the branzino as a $40 entree. That said, we’ll be back, likely to try the lunch menu and to experience the charcuterie and mozzarella bar. And while as downtown residents, we like to “pop in” to nearby restaurants, we’ll be sure to have an advanced reservation at Gianni and Mac’s — at least until the “newness” wears off.
What Others Say
Curious what others thought, we checked out recent reviews of Gianni and Mac’s from other diners. Here are a few of the highlights we noted among the overall 4-star rating on Yelp:
“Everything was delicious – from the hot bread basket, Caesar salad, cacio e pepe, arancini, gnocchi (pleasant surprise – our absolute favorite – didn’t see this on the online menu), and chicken parm. We were offered a complimentary slice of house made tiramisu for our anniversary, and it was divine. Only critique is the atmosphere is quite noisy on such a busy night.” – Anon, March 2
“Incredible experience last night, great vibe, impressive decor, great staff! With all the said, food is simply incredible. I had the Taglierini Norcina, it was unreal, best pasta dish I have ever had.” – Adam, Feb. 4.
“Food, Service, Ambiance all excellent! My only suggestion: Make the risotto more creamy. It felt more like regular rice. Recommendation- shop early for a reservation or get there by 5:30 for a seat at one of two bars.” – Feb. 27
Our Restaurant Disclaimer
We eat where we want and what we want, and pay for our meals. And when we find a restaurant we like, we write about it. When we have a poor experience, we tell the restaurant. But we don’t do negative reviews — you just won’t read about any bad experiences on our website.
