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    Gianna's Italian Beef

    4.4 (100 reviews)

    Order Gianna's Italian Beef Takeout or Delivery

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    GIANNA'S ITALIAN BEEF ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Gianna's Italian Beef

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    Italian beef with hot giardiniera dipped!

    One of my favorite places in Cedar Rapids. Italian beef with hot giardiniera all the way dipped. Great flavor and good fries that hit the spot on a cold day!

    Italian Beef Sandwich &  Shoe Fries
    Lecoyia W.

    Now it's hard to take a good photos of an Gianna's italian beef sandwich bit the flavours are just amazing!! I had it dipped in gravy with fries on the side and was one of the best sandwiches in Cedar Rapids, I had yet. Service was quick!!!!

    Greg J.

    Been walking, biking and driving past Gianna's for a while waiting for the day it would open. And this evening before heading to the Paramount stopped in for a bite to eat. Everybody in our party was very pleased with their Italian Beef sandwiches. I had mine dipped, and boy the napkins came in very handy. Two others in our party opted to have the dipping juice in a cup, which was a good idea. The beef was tender and delicious, and the combo that I had with the sausage was excellent. The giardiniera was awesome. The restaurant is well lit, bright and clean. The staff was helpful and professional. The prices are very, very reasonable. All in all it's a fine addition in downtown Cedar Rapids for lunch or dinner, and they are open late on Saturday night.

    Italian beef sandwich, pasta salad, Vienna beef hot dog.
    Katie S.

    Such a cute addition to downtown CR! I've been wanting to try Gianna's for a while now and finally went! My fiancé and I went today, a Tuesday afternoon, about 12:45. Best part: no line and super fast, friendly service. Since it was our first time the guy taking our order was very helpful and patient - much appreciated. Fiancé got the classic Italian beef sandwich and enjoyed it. I got the Vienna beef hot dog - so good. I got it Chicago style but without relish or celery salt. It was definitely messy and I went through my fair share of napkins, but so worth it. Delish. We also shared a side of pasta salad and it was also very good. The location is super convenient (and I lucked out with street parking during construction season), and vibe of restaurant is laid back but trendy with window seating (we sat there and people watched - nothing better), booths, and large table seating. So happy to have more local food options here instead of all the chain restaurants we already have!

    Interior
    Jenni H.

    Gianna, you have got it going on girl. Your location is stellar, aesthetic and vibe is sexy as hell. And with a small but diverse menu, you're not trying to do too much-- just do a few things well. I came in for lunch on a weekday around noon. There was a line, but service was fast and kind. Of course I went with your namesake. I inhaled it. The best darn Italian Beef sandwich I've had in the area, hands down. The shoestring fries were fresh cut and piping hot. My partner ate the combo with no complaints and kiddos devoured their hot dogs. We were all clean plate club members. I love that you have lighter options-- like soup or salad. As well as a veggie panini for non meat eating folks. Portions are decent. Pricing seemed on point, but I'd love to see a value meal or combo-- including a main, side and drink in the future. Gianna, you were a missing must-have in downtown CR's lunch scene. I'll be seeing you sooner than later!

    Cecil L.

    What an outstanding addition to Cedar Rapids! Having a long time love affair with Portillo's I was excited to see Gianna's take shape though it opened after I moved out of state. I was in town yesterday and finally got to enjoy this stellar Italian Beef and Chicago Dog. Worth the wait! If you're a fan of these Chicago staples then you're in luck!

    Melissa C.

    Updated review - tried Gianna's as takeout again. I had the chicken sandwich. D my husband the Keoni dog. His dog was loaded and soooo good. My chicken was good, nothing to rave about - chicken was dry and I did not taste the "oil and vinegar" that was to be on the Sammie. We loved the pasta salad and I ordered us the family size - we will have this delicious pasta for days!!! Sooo good. I will say I was disappointed to see workers not wearing masks - we are in the middle of COVID with many cases in this area and a mask mandate in place in Cedar Rapids. I wear my mask when ordering and in the store, I would appreciate if the workers making my food also wore masks. Please take this into consideration :)

    Menu (from website).
    Elle B.

    We drove past this place a few times while it was going up, then all of a sudden they were open and it was all Matt could talk about. Talked our buddy into checking it out with us the other night and consensus was "alright". We got 3 Italian beef sandwiches and an order of fries. On the one hand, we all felt that the portions were small. One sandwich wasn't enough and they offer little in the way of sides. We got a small shoestring fry and they were seriously undercooked. That being said, the boys really liked the beef. Personally, I'd rank it above Buona beef, but below Portillo's and the brand I get at Walmart. The service, however, was great. The counter staff was super friendly and enthusiastic. We'd probably come back for the beef, but I'm also really interested to try the Italian sausage and the hot dog. (Can someone also report back on that pasta salad side?? I'm curious.)

    Italian beef with hot&sweet peppers/dipped. This will be a staple of Cedar Rapid soon.
    Tyson A.

    This is a wonderful callback to visits in Chicago. The Italian Beef/Dipped/hot and sweet peppers. The Chicago dog is as close to Wrigley as I've gotten in this area. I've now visited three times. The quality has been pretty consistent. One of those visits, they topped the Italian beef with more of the hot peppers than the other times. If you don't like it hot, be cautious with ordering those. Overall, it's a great atmosphere with food to match.

    Mac C.

    Y'all they done did it again!!Best meatball I have ever had! I used to think my mom made the best meatballs on earth but the. I met Adam who owns Gianna's and well I'm sorry mama you've been taken off the top of the list! Y'all need to come out and try this it's a Wednesday special!

    a restaurant sign with hanging lights

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Lived in Chicago for 15 years and would say it's a solid Italian Beef. Had a soup -zuppa- one of day and it was great as well.

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

    By far, the best Italian Beef Sandwich in Iowa! The owners and staff are super friendly too! We will definitely be back!

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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Really good. Loved the Italian Beef dipped. Great place and great service. So glad to have an Italian Beef restaurant in CR.

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    8 years ago

    Fantastic! Seriously good eats, and it's great that we don't have anything like it around here!

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    Page 3 of 3

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    I visited The District CR in downtown Cedar Rapids during a recent business trip and had an overall…read moreenjoyable experience. First impressions were a bit confusing--the entrance makes you feel like you're walking into an office building. There's a door to the right with signage for what seems to be a sister bar that's only open on limited nights, but the actual restaurant is straight back. Once inside, the space is large and open, with plenty of room between tables and a sizable bar area. I sat at the bar and learned about their Whiskey Wednesday specials, which included several types of Old Fashioneds and whiskey flights. While it sounded intriguing, I opted not to partake. They also offer daily drink special themes. The menu is eclectic, with a mix of Cajun, Italian, and American fare. I went with the Cacio e Pepe with Elephant Ear (Orcchiette) pasta, and added shrimp along with a half wedge salad as a premium side. The pasta itself was delicious--perfectly cooked with a rich, peppery flavor. However, I wish the server had mentioned that the shrimp was Cajun-seasoned. While great on its own, it slightly overpowered the pasta. The wedge salad was a bit of a letdown--the lettuce was watery, which diluted the overall flavor. The dish also came with garlic bread, which was yummy. Service was outstanding--attentive, friendly, and efficient. Unfortunately, it was hard to get a real read on the restaurant's vibe because it was pretty empty on a Wednesday night.

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    Gianna's Italian Beef - italian - Updated September 2026

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