Giovanni’s is a family run business with a history stretching back 45 years. It produces what many people say are the best-tasting, highest quality fish and chips in Edinburgh. It all began in 1969, when Giovanni Pacitti and his wife Maria took ownership. Then called The Northfield Fish Restaurant, newly-weds Giovanni and Maria bought the shop from her father and renamed it Giovanni’s. They were dedicated to building a business that produced excellent food in a warm family friendly environment. Initially, it was very hard work. Giovanni spent his mornings visiting the fish market, transporting fish back to the shop and gutting them not to mention peeling and chopping potatoes by hand. Only a few hours later, he and Maria would return to the shop to begin service until late. Giovanni and Maria worked 7 days a week for 7 years. Their hard work paid off. They quickly gained a reputation with locals for the quality of their food and the manner with which it was served. As the shop’s popularity soared and the business grew, so did the family. By 1975, four children were born: Rosina, Lorenzo, Mauro and Luisa. From the age of 16, all four children worked in the shop. Family has always been at the heart of the business.

In 2002, Giovanni handed over the reins to sons Lorenzo and Mauro, preserving the family roots. They have inherited their parents’ industrious nature. As a result of hard work and dedication, they have continued to expand the business. The menu now includes a wider array of food than was present 45 years ago including pizza, pasta and kebab. They also offer deliveries, outside catering and on-line ordering. Although Giovanni’s has undergone significant changes over the past decade, their core values remain the same. Brothers Lorenzo and Mauro are dedicated to providing only the freshest, best quality food coupled with the highest standards of service. Even Giovanni himself continues to make guest appearances on his return from Italy. You can take the man out of the shop but not the shop out of the man. It is a great privilege that they continue to serve the same families that have been valued clientele for generations. Every customer, old and new, receives a warm family welcome. So why not pay them a visit.