Seriously awesome! The daily pan seared fish with creole sauce is always a favorite along with Arancini. The atmosphere is warm and friendly. Truly a great place to go have dinner with friends and be able to hear each other. I don't think there is a bad thing on the menu. And they make a great whisky sour! read more

One of my top 4 places to eat in Columbus (Others: Caffe Davinci, Pasqualone's, and El Arepazo). Of those, only Gallo's fully embraces two cuisines (Italian and Creole). I've explored much of their menu. Both the Italian and Creole fare are individually impressive. The arancini, calamari, and polenta are all very good, but the gumbo and fusilli pasta (very rich) are next level delicious. I generally peruse the specials and if nothing piques my interest I'll order the fusilli for my meal and the gumbo as an appetizer. This doesn't happen very often, as the specials are varied and appealing - I often order a fish dish and it's always been well prepared and worth the trip. The staff are very friendly and the chef often checks on tables himself. I've also dined at the bar and enjoyed that atmosphere, too. It can be difficult to get a table, so I generally eat a light lunch and come very early. read more

Nice food and great service. Our server was very attentive to our needs and will definitely come back again.

Oh, the food is just phenomenal! Chef Tommy really knows how to deliver an excellent meal. Every meals is top notch, and the wine menu is excellent as well. read more

One of my favorite local restaurants. Great variety, exceptional flavor, good wine selection, great service. Our favorites are the mussels, seafood creole, and the jambalaya. My only complaint is the small size of the parking lot, forcing me to park on the street or maneuver around the ridiculously huge pickup truck that decided to park on a corner. read more

I chose your Restaurant as part of a Meal train for my daughter & her significant other. They just had a new baby boy and having a meal ready-to-eat is convenient and appreciated. They loved the Pasta Russo and Caesar salad! I live in Southern California, so to place an order on line with your restaurant (in her neighborhood), was easy to do. Thank you Gallo's Kitchen & Bar! I'll be sure to use you again! read more

Gallo's Kitchen + Bar - Pasta Russo & Traditional Caesar Salad - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

So sorry to report the disappointment I experienced tonight in what used to be my favorite local place. First, let me say that I visit this place once week, and have been for years. Tommy (owner and chef) is a master at the personal touch. In fact, most of the charm of this place is exactly that. The first time I came here years ago, Tommy overheard me asking the bartender about the Crystal hot sauce; and to my surprise, Tommy brought me a bottle to take home. Flash forward 5 years to tonight..... I walked in, pulled a chair from an empty table next to the bar, and was told by the bartender not to do that, because she was trying to keep the area open for servers to pass. Seemed fair enough. So, I stood at the bar, without a chair for 15 minutes and had a beer while waiting for an empty seat. Next thing I know, the hostess is pulling two chairs to the exact same spot at the bar, and proceeded to sit two people down. Here is the rub: when I asked the bartender what happened, she said "oh, I can still get through that area" and it was the exact same area I tried to sit 15 minutes prior. The best part is when I voiced my displeasure. I was told that I was wrong, and argued with by the bartender. I LOVE IT when a place argues with a loyal customer. Bottom line - certain people in this place get certain treatment. If you are an "insider" you will be fine. Otherwise, don't bother. Nice knowing you Tommy. Our relationship ended tonight, and your staff couldn't care less! Good thing Bridge park is just down the road! read more

Best restaurant in town. Great food and great service. Awesome prices and perfect location.

Gallo's is my favorite restaurant and bar in Columbus. Tucked behind a Subway off Riverside Dr you'll find this well-known UA gem. We order takeout form Gallo's regularly (and have been for years). I've also come in several times and sat at the bar or to dine-in after golf, or for a night out. It checks all the boxes for basically any scenario. The food is amazing. Nightly specials are a constant. Anything from the pastas (and sauces!) to the sandwiches and po boys, they're all fantastic. My personal favorites are any dish with crawfish (fusilli pasta liberty street style or crawfish etouffe) or the Worcestershire sauce (filet mignon or the hamburger). Friends and family love the wings as a go-to. The service is also great. I typically see the same faces every time I come in. It's not a revolving door--Tommy has found the right team and it seems like they've all been there since I began coming in. Alcohol selection is great (good cocktails, nice beer and liquor selection, Peroni on tap, nice wine list). A couple of TVs. Closed on Sunday (Gallo's Tap Room on Bethel is a sports bar/Browns Backers bar that is open Sundays, though). It is often very busy, but if you visit regularly most times you'll see Tommy Gallo make the rounds to guests and talk to folks at the bar or waiting to pick up their takeout. He's as personable as they come. read more

Absolutely LOVE this gem of a restaurant!! Decided to have our company dinner here this evening and everyone was beyond impressed. The food was superb and I love that Tommy (Owner/Chef) came to our table and greeted everyone. Definitely a family feel here and I just love the ambiance and the food. Oh my goodness the tiramisu is unbelievably delicious. read more

I wanted to have a nice time with some friends, our expectations were exceeded! The food was great and the service was really attentive. I will definitely come back read more

Gallo's Kitchen + Bar - Hazelnut cheesecake - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Great service and great food, loved the patio seating. Would recommend!!! Quiet and could carry on a convo, and the seats were far apart which was nice if you had a private convo. Service was fast. read more

It is the best place to get pizza! Reminds me a lot of NY pizza! It's so good, I'm super picky with pizza since my father grew up in New York and I was raised to like thin crust pizza haha! Has a great taste and big slices too! read more

It's a bit pricy but totally worth the price. The fried oysters is crispy outside and soft inside. The po boy looks okay but taste actually amazing, especially the bread part! They don't have Cajun fries tho but the tots are seasoned so I guess it counts. Crawfish etouffee is okay not the best I've had in the past but the most expensive one. Overall I'd still give a 4.5 or 5 read more

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Excellent food and truly excellent service. Relaxed fine dining in Clintonville neighborhood.

This place is awesome. The owner/chef truly cares about the food and his customers. Gumbo is outstanding as are the house-brined wings. Strongly recommend this neighborhood gem - you will not be disappointed. read more

Such an unexpected gem! Someone special brought me here specifically for the Creole food and the unique vibe. I haven't had Creole since I visited Mississippi a few years back. We had reservations for a Saturday night. It was packed and had a pleasant buzz of chatter. The feel is that of a neighborhood tavern with an upscale twist. There is a bar with high top and smaller tables lining the main seating area. We were seated immediately and given the menu with daily specials. I chose the blackened fish with polenta and a deep cream based orange sauce that had crawfish mixed in. My date had the crawfish étouffée, which was amazing! We had a nightcap and concluded our dining with a crème brûlée each; Smores and Vanilla Bean, so delicious!! The service was very attentive, even the chef came out to greet us. This was just a great overall presentation and experience. read more

Gallo's Kitchen + Bar - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Food is delicious. Service was amazing. Price is not right. Very pleased with this location.

We had a wonderfully delicious dinner at Gallo's Kitchen & Bar last weekend. It was my husband's first time and my second time. We ordered specials and were not disappointed. The Renowned Sautéed Fish with Polenta and Crawfish Sauce was one of the best things I've eaten in a while. The sauce was rich and tasty but not overpowering. The Caribbean Snapper had the right amount of crispness. My husband got the Shrimp and Lobster Etouffe and the bite I had was yummy. The roux was so good. I would highly recommend dining here and making reservations first. read more

Gallo's Kitchen + Bar - Gallos Renowned Sautéed Fish (Caribbean Snapper) with Polenta & Crawfish Sauce - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We love coming to this restaurant. The food is fresh, delicious, consistent, and fairly priced. Appreciate that the owner comes out to check on the guests and listens. I highly recommend all of Gallo's establishments. read more

Tonight we had mussels, pasta, Caesar salad, and the gumbo. The food was excellent! The service was superb, and even the chef stopped by and was absolutely charming. I can't wait to go back! read more

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Stopped by for a late dinner. Was seated promptly. Ordered some drinks, the chicken wing special, the jambalaya, and the shrimp po'boy. Food was pretty darn good, especially the shrimp po'boy. Generous portions. Service was a tad slow though. Will definitely be back read more

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Best filet mignon in town hands down. Best calamari too. Everyone enjoyed their dinner. My mother-in-law had the pasta bolognaise. Homemade pasta just outstanding. My husband had the fish special and polenta. Amazing. read more

Unfortunately the manager missed the mark. The server was great, friendly and hard working, my dates food (walleye special) was fantastic! My Wagyu ribeye was next to well done after ordering it MR, on the Rare side- the Manager truly insulted me by cutting it in half in the kitchen and bringing back table side almost condescending, it was not over cooked- as I could see the last bit of pink draining from the med well/well done steak. This was the special and fairly pricey streak. She stormed off without another word- I signaled the very kind server and told her just never mind, and have them cancel my order... the manager came back out and said it's almost ready, I calmly stated that I no longer cared to have it and just take it off our bill, she stated I'll take them both off your bill then- I thought she meant my dates dinner and my steak dinner, to which I explained that's not necessary.. but she walked off. Only to get the bill and realize she charged me 104 dollars for 2 steaks, then removed the 104 dollar charge... I've worked in the service industry for 30 + years, this was the worst recovery and approach with a guest I have ever experienced. Would be happy to give them another try given the server/quality of other meal! read more

Gallo's is great on so many levels. Drinks, dinner, or both, you can't go wrong. The first thing I ever tried here was the gumbo -- easily the best gumbo I've ever had and I now dream about it. The wings are also great. BUT, the FILET stole the show. I've ordered a filet at many great restaurants. This might be the best I've ever had. Honestly. Taste buds vary, but the homemade worschestshire (spelling) is out of this world amazing. What I love is how they have a "specials" menu each night, which really changes things up and where I feel Gallo's differentiates itself because it's more of "what the chef is feelin that night" Of course Tommy makes his rounds while you're eating which is always nice. The waiters and bartenders are all super friendly and professional. read more

Gallo's Kitchen + Bar - F I L E T - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Came back home to Ohio for my grandma's funeral last week.. I had one free day after. I talked my mom into going out. We had laughs/tears..etc. (I'm a career bartender) and I have to say.. the staff is INCREDIBLE!!!! ( To management.. it was the afternoon of 5/25) read more

Great 1/2 lb burger and fries but you'll have to take half of it home to save room for cheesecake. Easy to access and pleasant environment with sporting events in east view on the televisions. Good service. read more

Our server Jennyfer was so funny and sweet. She recommended the crawfish sauce which was on the fish special of the day; and she did not lead us astray! My friend got the fusilli appetizer which she loved as well. It was delicious!! The service was great, and we will definitely be back! read more

We decided to try this restaurant after reading some good reviews on Yelp. Boy what a find! We ordered meatballs as an appetizer (and 2 more were ordered to take home) because the waitress assured us they were made in house! They are truly FANTASTIC! They are made with ground beef, pork and veal just like my husband's mother and grandmother used to do. The moment the plate arrived and we saw the 2 big beautiful balls swimming in that beautiful dark tomato sauce we knew we had "done good". The taste was amazing. For dinner I had an 8oz filet mignon (cooked perfectly) in an incredible Worcestershire sauce reduction. Amazing! My husband had the cavatelli pasta with bolognese sauce and here again.....the dish did not disappoint! The pasta was cooked to perfection (so often not the case in restaurants) and the rich lovely sauce was delicious. Because not everything in life (or in this restaurant) is perfect, I should report that the house salad was unremarkable. But it really did not matter because the rest of the food was so ..... yes.....perfect! They serve slabs of real butter with their bread (which was another bonus). We were too full to sample any of their desserts but I suspect they would be quite pleasing as well. I've attached some pictures to try to give you some idea of their "gastronomic beauty" but not before we had started to devour them.....my bad! The place got busy (this was a Tuesday night) but the ambient noise was not objectionable because they actually had some "sound damping" material in the ceiling of the restaurant. Nice touch! Then to make it all so very special the head owner/chef Tommy Gallo was "working the room", meeting his customers and enquiring about the quality of their food. He was very engaging.....like most Italian men I know, including my husband. You really must give this place a try! I am willing to bet you will not be disappointed. The only problem for us is that we live in Dayton and this restaurant is in Columbus. If you live in Columbus.... you MUST go! Manga Manga! read more

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Was my first time in this evening for an event. Wow, the service was impeccable, the atmosphere and decor was cohesive and cute, the food was next level amazing, and the drinks were on point. Definitely worth the drive outside of the city to give this gem a try. You won't be disappointed! I will definitely be back! read more

We had a celebratory dinner at Gallo's the other night and it was fantastic. My wife had to have a treatment done last week, involving a scare she had a few years ago with a thyroid issue. Her thyroid had to be removed and last week they ran some tests to make sure she was still fully recovered from that procedure. The build up for the tests included a very limited 2 week long diet, where she could not have anything with iodine, which meant no seafood, no going out to any restaurants and more. She also was limited with dairy (no eggs, milk, most types of cheese) and the list goes on and on. Needless to say, our meals for the last few weeks have been a little bland. She got scanned last Thursday and after it was over and the Dr. pronounced her healthy, I asked her where she wanted to go to celebrate and her first choice was Gallo's. We arrived to 6:35pm for a 6:45pm reservation and were seated right away. Our waiter soon showed up and took our drink order. Theresa ordered a cosmo and I went for a nice glass of red wine. For dinner, we started with a small Caesar salad. She asked for the Walleye Po'Boy and I went for the Grilled Grouper, both of which were on the menu for the day. The restaurant was packed and we noticed everyone was pitching in to help to keep it flowing. We even saw Tommy, (the owner), bussing tables. Of course, he also took the time to stop and talk with a lot of the diners, including us, which we truly enjoyed. He's personable, smart and very dedicated to his craft! He also hires great people, as our waiter was wonderful. The food arrived fairly quickly and it was delicious. My Grouper was tender, flavorful and it had the best smoked gouda sauce, which really tied the whole dish together. Theresa loved her sandwich, although she did remove some of the bread. For dessert, she ordered a creme brulee, which I did not even get to try, she loved it that much. Great meal, great service, great restaurant! read more

Came here due to the hype, left as salty as the food. We stood there for 15 minutes looking at two empty tables before the hostess apologized for "forgetting about the two tables in the middle." Once seated our waitress took our drink order promptly, but took 25 minutes to come back again for our orders. It took another 30 for our food (a few appetizers) to come. We watched a group of 4 arrive, get seated, eat, pay and leave before we even got our appetizers. The only thing that gave this place an extra star were the Italian dry rubbed wings, which were crisp and well seasoned, but not overly greasy. The meatballs were ok, but dried out on top, and calamari was super salty. The $14 fried green tomato special was basically inedible, with so much caked-on powder spice mix that you could blow it off the top. Overall an expensive and disappointing experience and we will not be back. read more

This restaurant is amazing never a bad meal the bartenders are exquisite and the food is just out of this world. Tommy Gallo you're the best! read more

I'm from Logan county and we are always looking for someplace new to try. I noticed Gallo's while traveling up and down River Rd and decided to look them up for reviews which I go straight to the negatives. I was impressed by the reviews And my visit. We'll see you again read more

It's been a while, too long actually, since I was over here for dinner. But not much has changed. Tommy is still working his magic in the kichen, while taking time out to chat with his customers. And the food is just as good as always. Tonight i started with the deep-fried oysters, and then went on to the pasta Russo. This is dish of cavatelli covered with a bologese sauce. And I had a glass of white wine to top things off. A great meal! read more

Gallo's is consistently one of the best restaurant experiences in Columbus. The drinks are great, the food is fantastic, and Tommy Gallo is an excellent chef who makes a point of personally greeting his patrons and just radiates love of and pride in his establishment. We had dinner there the other evening before a concert. The gumbo was superb, full of quality hunks of meaty goodness! My husband had the jambalaya and it was spicy and wonderful. I highly recommend the Sazeracs. The staff and service are prompt and professional. Don't miss the annual party on Mardi Gras-- but make sure to get your reservation booked at least a few weeks ahead of time. Between the special menu that evening and the musical entertainment (usually a local brass band), you'll think you're in a joint on Frenchman Street. My one criticism is with the interior: it looks like your typical upscale American/Italian restaurant (bland in a UA kind of way) and just doesn't quite match the unique spirit of the restaurant! I will deduct a quarter of a star (in my head) for that ;) read more

It's an interesting menu combo--Italian and Cajun, but Gallo's makes it work. We seem to order Cajun whenever we dine at Gallo's (the Chicken Etouffee and the Jambalaya are our favorites) for our main courses, but we never skip the Arancini Rice Balls. The deep-fried oysters are always on the specials menu rather than the regular menu even though they're a regular item. Doesn't matter, just order them when your there and then pat yourself on the back for making a good decision. After our most recent visit, I must also commend the bar staff. Whoever made my Manhattan should get a big hug, it was a monster and made me feel pretty smart and charming (regardless of what my wife thought) for a good 30 minutes. read more

The Stromboli is excellent. The pizza slices were okay, but I'll definitely order Stromboli in the future.

My wife and I had just moved to Columbus the day before and our family was looking for a new place to try on Yelp. We ran across this and didn't think much of it. The outside doesn't look all that great but the inside was clean. Nice setting and a friendly staff. It was kinda dark inside with some nice oldies playing softly in the background. (from the 70's and 80's) We first ordered an appetizer, the Fried Calamari. I am not a huge fan of Calamari. I must mention we are from Jacksonville, Florida so we are kinda spoiled when it comes to seafood and calamari so I wasn't expecting it to be anything great. It was probably going to be chew with a lot of breading. I was wrong! It was probably the best calamari I have had. It was very tender and lightly breaded. The marinara sauce was delicious as well. Even the olive salad on top added a nice saltiness to it. Next our dinner. I ordered the Jambalaya and my wife ordered the Pan Sautéed daily Fish (which was Mahi Mahi that day). It says the Jambalaya is their spiciest dish, but if you like spicy food it isn't spicy at all. The chicken and Andouille sausage was cooked to perfection! The jambalaya was more on the Tomatoey (if that's a word) side. However, it didn't bother me, that is more for people, like my wife, who don't enjoy a lot of tomatoes. I had one bite of my wife's dish. I wasn't really expecting the seafood to be good again because we are in Columbus, but it was very good! The Louisiana Crawfish Sauce was so good I wanted to order that as a side! Our waiter was very friendly and very good with keeping our drinks filled and prompt with asking us if we had any needs. It is a bit on the pricier side, but it was well worth it. Great first experience eating out in Columbus. That will be added to our list of restaurants to return to. read more

Gallo's Kitchen + Bar - Jambalaya - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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We love Cajun/Creole food so naturally this is our go to in our area. Lots of awesome flavors. I usually get the jambalaya and my husband loves the Po Boys. I always get a salad too. The salad itself is just a salad but that ranch dressing is damn good. We like to get carry out as it's usually really crowded and quite loud. If you have ever made Cajun food you know what a process it is to achieve the depth of rich flavors. I am very appreciative that Gallo's is close by. Delicious. read more