Octopus carpaccio. Photo courtesy of Giordi
When Alberto Tonelli opened Giordi in Stuart in 2022, he wanted his restaurant to be more than just what was on the menu. “It’s amazing,” he says. “I get to create memories for customers, I get to practice my passion, which is food and wine, and most importantly, I get to make memories with my family every day.”
Giordano Tonelli and his son, Alberto. Photo courtesy of Giordi
Twenty-seven-year-old Tonelli is following in the footsteps of his father, Giordano “Giordi” Tonelli, the restaurant’s namesake. The family patriarch is a successful restaurateur who opened three restaurants overseas (two in his hometown of Milan, Italy and one in Spain) before moving his family to Florida in 2009. The family now works together at Giordi—Tonelli’s mom, Simona, and wife, Amanda, in the dining room and his dad, Chef Giordi, overseeing kitchen operations. Tonelli’s sister, Alessandra, oversees the marketing, while Tonelli himself is the general manager.
Tonelli describes Giordi’s menu as “a rendition of very traditional Italian recipes from Italy that showcase the ingredients of every region.” He notes: “We have modernized the recipes a bit with a complexity of flavor profiles.”
Terre + mare. Photo courtesy of Giordi
Standout dishes include the eggplant gnocchi, which, as the name implies, uses eggplant for the gnocchi instead of potato. “The eggplant makes it lighter than traditional gnocchi, and we finish it off with a pomodoro sauce and a little basil on top,” says Tonelli. The penne Montalcino, a pasta cooked in a red sauce made of Rosso di Montalcino wine with bites of sweet sausage, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan, and arugula, is also very popular. For the house pork chop, Tonelli takes inspiration from the northern region of Italy. The dish features a 24-ounce Tomahawk Berkshire pork chop served with truffle cheese and seasonal mushrooms.
Pizzocheri. Photo courtesy of Giordi
Starters are equally impressive—octopus or beef carpaccio, steak tartare, and pate de fois gras, to name a few. Mouthwatering desserts include tortino al pistachio, Belgian chocolate mousse, and mixed berry panna cotta.
The wine program at Giordi is stellar—the restaurant received an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator in July for its unique and comprehensive wine list, which includes bottles from Italy, France, and the United States. Giordi also offers a seasonal tasting menu (wine pairings optional) featuring dishes made with the season’s freshest ingredients. The tasting menu is served only at the eight-seat chef’s table, which can be booked in advance (seats are sold individually).
Eggplant gnocchi. Photo courtesy of Giordi
Whether you are enjoying an intimate dinner, sampling the tasting menu, or popping in for dessert, Tonelli aims to give everyone who comes to Giordi an authentic Italian dining experience from start to finish without having to leave the Treasure Coast. As Tonellli puts it: “Hopefully, we can save you the money for a plane ticket to Italy.”
600 SE Indian St. Suite 5, Stuart; 772.771.3160
Dining and Cooking