Nice place, good food, great bartenders and manager! Literally the only complaint, to the owners, invest in a vestibule during the winter... regardless, it doesn't stop us from visiting one of our favorite hometown restaurants. read more

Excellent food!! The service was great. This is coming from a person who has worked in the service industry, and I am very critical on how the server is. Because I my work ethic is been holding people to a standard. I have been held that I think is just as equal. I had a very pleasant experience there do not know the persons name I remember, was a very pleasant female very nice would recommend to anybody to go there. read more

Amazing food. Seafood Supreme, Veal Parmigiana, Tortellini Prosciutto and the most amazing Tiramisu. Wow. We have several meals from the main dishes. We ordered pick up and still sooo yummy read more

Ambience is great. Awesome decor, lovely restaurant, complimentary valet, good specials on some nights. However, I really wish the food tasted better or the service was better. Our waitress meant well but sadly was inadequate to serve our big party of 12. I wouldn't mind giving Gianni's another try in the future but will definitely have to order something I have not tried- which, I feel like we tried a lot of things off the menu: Appetizers: grilled calamari was probably the most enjoyed, but the other appetizers we munched on while we waited a while for our orders to even be taken included the fried calamari, bruschetta, and stuffed mushrooms. Salmon almondine: I honestly ordered this dish to avoid a saucy entree, but that is exactly what I got. This salmon was swimming in sauce, which ruined the taste for me. My grandma had gotten the sea bass, which was a lot lighter and tastier in my opinion. The desserts were rich and tasty- I especially liked mixing the chocolate cake with the carrot cake. Overall, we were treated well, but our dinner took so long because of the extremely slow service and the several mistakes we encountered. If I enjoyed my main entree more, I maybe would have had a better opinion on Gianni's, but sadly I was disappointed after the recommendations I had gotten to try this place out. Lots of potential though, so maybe next time will be better! read more

Gianni's Cafe - Fried calamari - Italian Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

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Great Italian food in Palatine. In our rotation of excellent choices in the suburbs. Nice intimate dining room for a night out.

The food at Gianni's Cafe is very good, and there is no scrimping on the portions. The environment is a little old Italy. It's the kind of place I'd be just fine if they at least required business casual dress, as shorts and sports wear take away from the ambience they are creating. I have never had something there I didn't like, though this time we had the stuffed artichoke and it was just overstuffed. It was hard to taste the artichoke at all. We went this past Sunday to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We made the reservation for the exact time we started our ceremony 40 years ago. I told them we were celebrating our anniversary at the time I made the reservation. When they checked us in, they read to us the note in the reservation about it being our anniversary. No nice sentiments from the host who read that, and nothing about the rest of our entire experence told us they cared it was an important day for us or that it mattered that we chose to celebrate at Gianni's. It may seem like a small miss, but with so many good resturants in this area to choose from, these kinds of touches make a big difference in where I choose to dine and create memories. This was very disappointing. read more

FIRST TIME at Giannis Cafe last night for a Valentine Dinner with my Valentine. Myhusband is 100% Italian growing up with a Mom who loved to cook and oh my could she cook. We were very impressed ! The ambiance is everything you'd expect in a fine dining Italian restaurant, the service was impressive ! Brian was our server and not once did we need/want for anything! The food was delicious! we had baked clams (large and full of flavor) salads with amazing dressings of blue cheese and creamy garlic, Saltimbocca (which I always order at a new place we visit because it sets all standards for me) was the best I've ever had ! Linguini with shrimp, broccol, lemon sauce was fabulous. We will definitely be back ! read more

Slow service on Thursday. Not enough servers. The food spectacular! Huge servings. Definitely worth going to for dinner.

My honest review is 1.5 stars. we expected so much more from a high priced Italian restaurant. My biggest complaint is the food isn't fresh. They use frozen meatballs, frozen seafood, frozen vegetables in the minestrone and boil packaged noodles. The seafood dishes are decent and the calamari is good. The bolognese and spaghetti and (green) meatballs were horrible. The server was nice, but our entrees took between 75 and 90 minutes. I'm not a franchise fan, but Maggianos and Buca give you a much better meal and experience. Sadly, we won't be back. read more

Wow!! Totally got burned. I hate when that happens. Ordered over the phone- BIG mistake. We were quoted a price and we agreed. Then placed order and went to pick up and it was MORE than double what we were quoted!!!! Felt completely blindsided. Spoke to manager and all he could say was that we were misquoted. WHAT????We were quoted $30, and paid $66. BE WARNED!!!! Make sure you know what you are getting. I HATE HATE HATE DISHONESTY!!!!! Ugh!!! read more

Used to love this place, but service has taken a huge downturn. Waited almost 2 hours and main course was still not served. Told waitress we were finished and would pay for what he did consume and not bring the rest. Some "manager" came over to argue....not solve the problem or listen. I know it was a busy night (homecoming) and could see it...but no acknowledgement or apology from management was rude. Too bad , lost my business forever. If you are in town for dinner, go instead to Agio's. read more

I hosted my son and his fiancé couple's wedding shower here and it was wonderful. The food was really tasty and the portions were very generous. We especially like the calamari and tortellini con prosciutto. The veal was tender and the brazino was unique and tasty. Everyone had something they could enjoy. The private room was perfect. It had a good amount of space and privacy. Our server, Joe, was attentive and he worked really hard. The manager, Patrick, was so easy to work with. We definitely feel like we got our money's worth. I highly recommend this restaurant for any special event you are going to host. read more

We just ordered in our dinner and were very disappointed. And, this isn't the first time. This would be three bad meals and with three they've struck out. The original owners cared about the meals they served. Whoever owns it now should give it up. Our Caesar salad had no dressing, but it was covered with a lot of grated Parmesan cheese. The custom pasta: linguine aglio olio with sausage, mushrooms and spinach was tasteless--not even a hint of garlic. We did enjoy the fried calamari appetizer (half order). However, our bill was $52!!! Yes, noodles, ground sausage, spinach and mushrooms. I can do better with no effort! We're done with this place unless they find new owners that care about preparingdelicious meals. read more

So many options and the bartender Brian was one of the best in the business. They have some house favorites which I recommend but the country rigatoni is a must. From chicken to pasta they got it all. read more

Had dinner at Gianni's this past Friday and we were pleasantly surprised! Ambiance: Cozy and old school. Surprisingly busy for a Friday night so be sure to make a reservation. Service: Our server was super friendly and helpful. She had the utmost patience with my dad, who is indecisive at best. Food came out quickly. Food: My dad and I had the branzino, which we both liked. My husband liked his chicken piccata, my daughter had angel hair pasta with a red sauce. Overall the food was really good, with the exception of the pasta sauce on my husband and daughter's pastas, which were reminiscent of Ragu (so much sugar!). Overall Gianni's is great and we'll definitely return if we're in the area. read more

I held my daughter's baby shower at Gianna's this past Saturday 3/2/24. All the guests were very impressed with the buffet! The food was absolutely delicious! Staff was great, Shannon was in charge of our event and did an amazing job keeping our mimosas filled and making sure we had everything we needed. Thanks again! I would hi go it recommend Gianna's Cafe if you have a wedding or baby shower and are looking for a venue. read more

Our group enjoyed exceptional service and the food was fresh and tasty if somewhat ordinary. I felt that the best thing on the menu was the create your own pasta dish- you can select your pasta, sauce (gravy) and 4 levels of add-ins as desired. This is by far the greatest number of choices that I have ever seen in a build your own entree type of thing. Overall we felt it was a great place for a special occasion dinner or meeting, but a little pricey for what you get to make it a regular destination. read more

Visited on Thanksgiving day. Turkey is dry, service is lacking. Will not come back.

First time at Gianni's Cafe and was a bit underwhelmed. Little or no vegetarian or vegan options on the menu (not to mention they serve veal ) . And the food that I did get was lacking flavor. Best thing about the experience was their bread and oil. read more

Gianni's Cafe - Italian Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

Went to Gianni's for happy hour with kids and they sat us at the bar facing the kitchen. Their happy hour menu was more extensive than most places. Although the portion was small, It was perfect to share with others. Staff were friendly and the service was good... the only downside was that there were no drinks on the happy hour menu. Happy hour goes from 4-6 at both Deer Park and Palatine locations. I was a little disappointed with the dip as the goat cheese and marinara ratio was off. I prefer more goat cheese in my dip. Overall, I liked the variety of the items on the menu compared to other places with happy hour specials. read more

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What a wonderful traditional Italian restaurant! 5 of us had dinner here on a Friday night & it was great. We had an awesome server, wish I could remember her name, but she was friendly without butting into conversations, she was on time for everything, taking drink order, then food orders then delivering the food, she was on top of her game. We started with their house wine which for the price was very good. Then we jumped into the entrees which comes with either soup or salad. Everything was top notch & we all had something different & it was all fantastic. The portions are just right. The prices are reasonable. If you're looking for a great Italian restaurant you have to check out this place! read more

This was my first visit, but not my last. I arrived and the bar area was crowded! It was happy hour! Every bar stool was filled. That told me that the food must be great! It was! The lobster bisque was amazing. The presentation of the food was nice. The decor was nicely done. Service was great. I can't think of a bad thing. read more

Excellent food..lovely, attentive wait staff. Tried grecian trattole pasta with ground lamb and rapini . Simply delish. You must make a reservation on the weekends. At 615 it was packed. read more

Gianni's Cafe - Italian Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

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We haven't been to Giannis in a few years but dined there on Sunday. Everything was excellent. Our server was attentive but not intrusive. Will definitely go back. read more

We picked up dinner to-go twice, both times the food was fabulous! Also I needed to add a couple of last minute Appetizers for the second pick up and they were so accommodating and fast! Great service! read more

I LOVE Gianni's cafe in Palatine. They have a cafe in Kildeer but I much prefer this one! The food is cooked at the time you order. I have allergies and the staff and chef are EXTREMELY accommodating. The bread with garlic oil and Parmesan (I call it goopy goop) is my FAVORITE!! My sister is vegetarian and loves the minestrone soup. She is always able to find a tasty option. She is pretty hard to please yet has ALWAYS enjoyed her meal when we go! They have weekly specials. I usually like one of their chicken options. The portions are beyond generous! The ambiance is amazing. It is perfect for a casual lunch or dinner with friends or a romantic evening with someone special! I have always had impeccable service!! The servers are friendly and helpful. They are the cherry on top of this delightful dining experience. read more

We have lived within two miles of this place for twenty plus years and never went here, but today went there for an early dinner. O m g, what a wonderful place, ambiance, the service , the food , everything was absolutely exemplary. My new favorite local place without a doubt! Our server Lori was fantastic! The Frank Sinatra music put ot over the top, and the food was amazing!! Will come back over and over again!! read more

We have been here a handful of times and this is my first review of it. The food is always fresh and good. We like the drink menu with many wines and Craft Beers available. Service can be leisurely, but we come for the food and haven't been disappointed yet. read more

I was absolutely blown away by this restaurant! My fiance and I visited this location on a Sunday morning, to have brunch and WOW! The selection of hot and cold food offered was awesome, everything was filled and fresh, still steaming and delicious! We both did the bottomless mimosas and they had a perfect orange juice to champagne ratio! Our waitress was also awesome and super attentive and made sure my fiance and I never ran out of drinks. The restaurant was clean, well staffed and table and chairs not too close to each other. The dining room was spacious and lighting was great from outside and inside. Overall, super impressed and I am so excited to come back and bring friends and family! read more

Had dinner last night. Laura was our server. Very nice person but terrible service. Got there at 5:30 and we didn't get out until after 8:00 and NOT because we were having such a wonderful time. We ordered 2 appetizers. The grill calamari was rubber and the clams all breading. Ate our salads and it took 45 minutes after they picked up our salads to get our dinner. 2 at our table got strip steaks and they were un-eatable - and one of our party is a goat and eats everything. Didn't bother to ask why the steak wasn't eaten. Won't be going back. $280 and it was a waste read more

I ate from here for the first time tonight on a friend's recommendation...... I know my taste is my own but a large part of my opinions come from basics, temperature, flavor, portions. I wish I'd gone here years ago, I've been missing out. We decided to support a local business for dinner with COVID and all and got curbside. For the goods.... I ordered the spaghetti with bolognese, a side of sausage, and a meatball. Any self respecting Italian will tell you this is a base meal you'd feed on any night. Well, mine was delicious. It was meaty, rich and thick. The sausage and meatball were both flavorful and cooked perfectly. There was a garlic infused olive oil with shredded Parmesan, fresh basil and garlic with fresh, crisp crust bread with the meal, again delicious. The soup of the day was roasted red pepper... thick, rich and flavorful. I look forward to eating here again and actually going to the restaurant once they open up again. If you like Italian and base an opinion on a staple dish, this was it and you will not be sorry to go here. read more

Food was really good! Wait person not so much. (-1 star) Very nice ambiance and decor. Other wait staff very attentive!

The stuffed peppers are awesome and the staff is super friendly. I have been there twice and will definitely go again.

The food was fantastic and reasonably priced. The service was horrible. We waited for someone to come to the table for 20 min and then asked to have some come take our order. After the meal came we didn't see the waiter again and until he brought us the bill. The restaurant was empty so there was little excuse for the poor service Wish it was better given the food read more

I'm not a regular, but have been to Gianni's multiples of times.....and have generally had good experiences......however, the visit this past weekend was not their best kitchen performance. Ordered the Chicken Vesuvio and it came with a cup of Pasta Fazul.........I can't say I tasted much (if any) garlic with the chicken....usually the aroma of this dish arrives to the table on this dish before the plate does......and the soup was more bean soup than it was pasta soup. I'm not saying I wouldn't go back, but I might also consider going elsewhere for my next Italian diner. read more

We ordered calamari fritti. The breading was VERY salty, and the calamari were over cooked brown to dark brown. The worst I have had in years and we eat out most evenings. I ordered veal Vesuvio. Should come in a sparse sauce very lightly tasting as there is hardly anything more delicately tasting that veal besides say a white fish or trout. I could not even taste the potatoes. Oh and it seemed as if someone dropped a salt shaker in the sauce. This reminds me of a few years ago a ravioli lobster smothered in a heavily cheese cheese oh and some cream sauce. Again could not even taste the pasta let alone the lobster stuffing My wife ordered linguini alle vongole, the pasta was so dente as requested, but totally lacking in wine taste. Very flat and bland. Well after 2-3 years lapse since we came here last I can only say that they are consistently lousy. How they can have 4 stars is beyond me. Wait staff were great. Attentive courteous, and responsive. Kitchen some of the worst in my life. Portillo's compares well. If you want MUCH better Italian food at a much more reasonable cost try Tuscany in Rolling Meadows. read more

Okay nothing special, food and service were mid. Kinda pricey for what you get. They have a brunch buffet some days, that's pretty decent

This place is amazing. Hands down the best pasta in the area. If you can afford it & like seafood, I would highly recommend the sea food suprema. read more

I think the selection you get for the weekend brunch buffet ($18/person) is sub-par. Would like to give the place a 3.5 for food, but the service was good so I made it a 4. We arrived half an hour after they opened, at 11:30. Parking was available right out in front of the restaurant. There was only 1 other customer in the restaurant when we arrived. I decided to start with the shrimp cocktail, which was very fresh. I also had the Caesar salad and cucumber salad, and some fresh fruit. After that, I tried their Eggs Benedict, which unfortunately seemed like it had been premade hours ago. The English muffin was hard and the egg was cold. Hollandaise also didn't taste the way it should. My boyfriend tried an omelette, which he liked, and also tried the French toast, which was cold and dry. He also tried the lemon piccata, which he tossed after two bites because it was bland. The desserts were delicious (carrot cake, cannoli, and chocolate cake). We weren't blown away by the food, however our drinks were flowing which was great, considering they do $5 bottomless mimosas. Total check came out to $50 with tax. read more

Gianni's Cafe - Italian Near Me - Palatine, Illinois

Maybe it's a bit unfair to rank a restaurant based on a meal served on a busy holiday, but here goes... went to Easter Brunch....the restaurant was way overbooked, the food line was a mile long and seating very cramped. All of that would be fine and acceptable for a busy holiday if the food were to rise to the occasion but alas, the salads, entrees and deserts were bland and disappointing...the tab was $35 per person, Coke's were $3.50 a glass, no refills BTW, plus you were charged an 18% gratuity. So for the nifty price of one C-note (per couple) you had the privilege of what amounted to a mediocre lunch in a cramped overcrowded and understaffed restaurant I'm Beginning to think that these overpriced holiday brunches are nothing more than stupid tax for people that don't want to cook on a holiday. New Years Eve restaurant meals also come to mind. Restaurants are there ready and waiting to take it advantage of it. Next year, I'll know better. read more