Friendly, attentive service, a warm atmosphere, and classic Italian food were hallmarks of Giovanni’s on opening night. Today, 38 years later, they still set Giovanni’s apart, along with an owner whose exuberant personality and enthusiasm for the business has never waned. “Giovanni’s on the Hill has always been the standard here for service, food and atmosphere,” says Joe Bonwich, restaurant critic for the St. Louis Post Dispatch. “It’s the whole package for high-end Italian dining: tableside preparation, waiters in formal attire, very elegant, a place to go for a memorable occasion. You don’t find those things much anymore.”