Overlooking Falls Park in downtown Greenville, Jianna provides a savory Italian experience to the Greenville community. They are located about 10 minutes from campus at 600 N. Main St.

Once guests reach the top of the stairs, they are greeted by a cozy and well-lit dining area having a stunning panorama of Falls Park across the street. Pastel blues and whites offer an elegant yet homey ambiance.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of Jianna is their mini open kitchen, where guests can watch the cooks prepare their meal before them. A vintage-style slicer is also displayed where fresh prosciutto is sliced to order.

Menu items include various traditional Italian dishes, such as potato gnocchi, varieties of fresh house-made pasta, char-grilled octopus, bruschetta, snapper. They also serve various paninis and other sandwiches during their weekend lunch hours.

Desserts include flourless chocolate torte, salted caramel semifreddo, white chocolate amaretto cheesecake, as well as various kinds of sorbet and gelato. Prices range from $5 to $22.

The restaurant originated in San Francisco, where Michael Kramer, current head chef of Jianna, worked under Marc Valiani. Valiani owned a restaurant of the same name.

But when Valiani died in 2011, Kramer opened a new restaurant and called it Jianna in his honor.

Jianna is part of the Table 301 Restaurant Group, which includes Soby’s, The Lazy Goat, Passerrelle Bistro and Nose Dive among others. Together these restaurants support local farms such as Greenbrier, Bioway Farms and Broken Oak Organics.

More information can be found on their website, jiannagreenville.com, or on Facebook and Instagram.

Hours of operation are Tuesday through Thursday 5 to 9 p.m., Friday 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.