The service. Guests are forced to keep the same fork for all 3 courses, insisting that you take it from your dirty plate before cleaning the table. The food was extremely subpar. The dumplings tasted no different from frozen dumplings I've bought at Costco and cooked at home. The ice cream was overwhelmed with olive oil, and the soy sauce was so salty that my wife couldn't finish hers. Our guest ended up going to Margie's Candies afterward just to get ice cream they could actually enjoy. The Old Fashioned was also disappointing. It smelled strongly of candied orange and tasted exactly like that, lacking any balance or depth. The most disappointing dish, however, was the beef cheek. This was the item we were most excited about, especially since it was presented as a hands-on dish meant to be assembled into a makeshift slider. Unfortunately, the execution fell flat. The three of us were expected to share three very small dipping sauces: one tasted identical to Louisiana hot sauce, another like store-bought salsa verde, and the third was pickled kimchi with only a few thin slices of carrot. Overall, the experience was extremely underwhelming, especially given the hype surrounding the restaurant and its awards. I would not recommend stopping by. read more

This has to be one of the most unique and delicious dining experiences we have had. From the test menu to the ice cream, we were continuously and pleasantly surprised by the flavors and simple complexity of each plate. Our server was attentive and knew the menu well. She shared information and flavor profiles with us and while our menu came pre-recommended, she was able to offer insights. I've eaten at quite a few restaurants in Chicago, but Giant is a clear example of why people keep Chicago cuisine at the front of their minds. A stand-out, for sure! read more

Giant - Trout roe and corny lil biscuit - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Absolutely Awesome experience! The restaurant is in Logan Square a small space so make a reservation. However we did walk in and sat at the bar in front of the cooking stations. We ordered four small plates the crab salad that has generous amount of real lump crab and unique fries. The broccoli is awesome as was the other two dishes. One of the chef was standing in front of us explaining the dishes as they came out if we asked any questions The dessert of crapes reminds me of New Orleans. Great service friendly staff Thank you for a great evening read more

I went to Giant with a lot of expectations looking at its rating on several platforms but was very disappointed by my experience there. Tried the Trout Roe and I didn't like the butter and cream at the bottom. The jalapeño biscuit was the life saver in this meal. The broccoli was too raw and chewy, the chicken was under seasoned and took forever to come. The tagliatelle was way too salty. The pizette was like a sad salad on bread. Overall very underwhelming experience even though the patio was a cute setting. read more

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OMG, what a fantastic meal! Finally made it to Giant, and it was so worth the wait. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Wonderful service, incredible food, warm and cozy ambiance, and great music.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Cannot wait to go ba read more

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If you're thinking about skipping this restaurant because of your dietary allergies, then think again! You will truly be taken care of by the quality service here. AMBIENCE: The ambience at this restaurant is romantic and cozy. They have a coat check option (which is amazing to me since I'm from Texas, haha). - MINUS 1 STAR: I docked 1 star because we had a reservation at 7:00 pm, so we expected to be seated as soon as we arrived. We reserved A MONTH AGO for our party of 8, but we were told that it will be a 15 minutes wait. What's a point of having a reservation if we are still going to wait for a table?? I understand that the seating area is small but most Bib Gourmand restaurants plan ahead to have an area ready for you. It was also really cold outside (anything lower than 90 degrees is "cold" for us, Texans) and my grandma has a tough time in this type of weather, so I shielded my grandma from the second door from hitting her and I basically held the door open for anyone leaving. SERVICE: Once we were seated though, the service from our waiter, Trevor T., was impeccable and attentive!! He accommodated my dietary allergies (dairy, peanuts, and tree nuts) with a special menu with the dishes that can be modified or dishes that I should avoid. FOOD: 10/10 Albacore Tuna -- This dish has the same consistency as Beef Tartare. Delicious and savory! 10/10 Flank Steak -- Beware the red sauce! I'm not a fan of spiciness so I only ate the flank steak. The steak itself was cut to perfection and the saltiness was exactly what I needed! 8/10 Grape Sorbet -- This wasn't on the menu but Trevor served it for me so I can feel included in the dessert experience! How considerate of him! I rated 8/10 because I don't like the taste of grape, but I liked the consistency compared to all the other sorbet flavors I've had. Our waiter, Trevor, also went above and beyond to prepare me a dessert that wasn't even listed on the dessert menu!! Overall, a great place to dine while in Chicago! read more

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My wife and I went for the first time in too long. We ordered the Jonah Crab salad which was our favorite in the past. It didn't disappoint, though we would have liked a bit more of the crab salad. Think of chicken salad but pulled crab and served with waffle fries and a great cocktail sauce that's not too heavy on the horseradish. Then we had onion rings which were good, but a little too breaded for me. We added broccoli which we loved - the crispy chickpeas and garlic added a great texture, Corzeetti (pasta) with italian sausage was fantastic! It was like a disk with crimped edges (like a gear icon) and we loved it. We also ordered 2 baked clams which we did not love, which was suprising to both of us since we usually love baked clams. This wasn't your classic italian style though, so we were probably wrong in our expectatios. Last we ordered the pork taco with mole. The pork was shaped in a cube with crispy edges but once you cut into it, it's more pulled texture. I loved it and the sauce was out of this worled. We ordered the "microwave cake" for dessert and it came with ice cream. It was solid, but didn't blow us away. I loved my wine which was Pascal Janvier 2020 'Cuvée du Rosier' Pineau d'Aunis. Probably my favorite wine ever so I wrote it down. Service was a 10/10- hardworking staff and extremely personable. Our server Brennan made it a great night. read more

Giant - Onion Rings - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been wanting to try this place since I've seen it multiple times and tiktok and instagram so I made a dinner reservation for my girlfriend and I. The service was great, the food was amazing, and the vibes were right. While making the reservation I put down that we were celebrating my graduation which the hostess and waitress both acknowledged which was very nice of them (no free dessert was offered though lol). The flavors were bold and each dish was outstanding. Definitely get the Japanese eggplant! Also, we came on a special night where they had Occhipinti wines so we decided to order glasses to try. We happened to be seated near the wine make which was pretty cool too. The only complaint I have is that the tables are too close together. When we were seated, the hostess had to move a table so that my girlfriend could squeeze in between to get to the booth. Then table was moved back, so when she had to go to use the restroom we had to move the table again which was slightly inconvenient and awkward. And with the tables being too close, we felt that we were so close to the couple next to us making it a little uncomfortable. Besides that, it was a great experience and we highly recommend checking this place out. If we were to come back, I would try to reserve a spot at the chef's counter towards the back so you can enjoy your meal with a view of the open kitchen while watching the chefs work. read more

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Tasty dinner, not perfect but everything was good. Favorites were the crab salad (the fries are awesome!), the mafaldine with corn and mushrooms (favorite dish), and the tagliatelle with dungeness crab. The mushroom trofie was ok (texturally great but lacking depth and oversalted), and the broccolini was a good side. Dishes leaned on the saltier side, did not save room for dessert. Service was very friendly and bubbly, there were a couple long spaces between courses but overall not bad. read more

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Our experience at Giant was nothing short of delightful. Opting for the patio seating, we were pleasantly surprised by the cozy ambiance that enveloped us upon arrival. Despite the bustling city, the patio at Giant offered an intimate setting that felt like a hidden retreat. The atmosphere exuded a perfect blend of urban chic and comfort, making it an ideal spot to enjoy a meal. Now, onto the food - Giant lives up to its name in flavor and creativity. The menu's offerings are a testament to culinary ingenuity, presenting a fusion of bold flavors and inventive dishes that leave a lasting impression. The staff's attentiveness and knowledge of the menu elevated our dining experience. Giant truly stands tall among Chicago's culinary landscape, offering an exceptional dining experience. Check out my pictures for what I got! read more

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Happy to be alive good food. Thoughtful but not fussy. No tweezers but great attention to flavor and cook. The best of new American cuisine in that it takes inspiration from everywhere, as long as it tastes good. Italian, Thai, French, Mexican, aspects of which might be swirled thoughtfully within a single dish. Excellent service with spot on coursing recommendations. Everyone may not have the experience we had but I hope it comes close because we had a memorable, unique, delicious meal! read more

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Had a pleasant dinner there recently with my friend. The restaurant had good vibe and food. We sat in a beautiful and quiet small garden which can be accessed through a very narrow path from outside on the east side of the restaurant. This indeed made me feel as if I was in another world. The restaurant focus on creative American dishes with medium sizes for sharing. Thus, they are by design good for pairing with alcohol. But even if we did not drink, we still enjoyed the food very much. Some highlights in our meal include the Japanese eggplant, crab tagliatelle and the jalapeño corn bread. The eggplant had a great balance of sweetness and sourness, it was served with two soft warm bread which went well with the sauce. For the pasta dish, my friend was amazed at how much crab meat it had and how fresh it was! I liked the pasta itself due to its chewy texture. The jalapeño cornbread was special--so was the interesting maple butter. We also tried e.g. steak entrée. They were interesting as well. Service was not bad either. As it was our first meal in the trip to Chicago both of us had lots of bags. Our server offered to help us store them. She also kindly asked about the dining experience several times. In general this is a good spot to hang out with several (but not many) friends to spend a relaxing evening and meanwhile have a good meal! read more

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I had such high hopes for Giant. Nearly all restaurants I've tried on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list have been great, and Giant's menu looks mouthwatering. But it was a big let down. The food did not live up to Bib Gourmand quality and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambiance of the restaurant wasn't conducive to the date I was on.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I felt claustrophobic with how close the tables were together.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Everything is expensive but it's not as advertised, would definitely not eat here again. Even the salad is bitter. read more

Giant - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What is there not to love about one of Logan Square's and Chicago's best restaurants? If you are a fan of FX's hit show The Bear, you might know that Giant served as the backdrop location of a fictitious restaurant in Season 2. However everything about is truly REAL. Some of the best things to get there will tickle your palette, including the Japanese Eggplant and the Onion Rings. Be sure to pickup up at least one pasta, as well as one solid protein, like the Walleye. I was admittedly less impressed with the Tagliatelle ( Dungeness crab and chili butter with pasta), but everything else was amazing! Make sure you make reservations as this place is popular. Staff is so friendly and lovely! Also it is super chill ambiance and easy to have a great dinner for a birthday :) #chicago #trendy #foodie read more

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Innovative menu designed for sharing. Several dishes were outstanding and service was excellent. Particularly enjoyed the jalapeno corn bread, onion rings, the crab salad and the pasta dish with pancetta. Desserts were both delicious and beautiful to look at. read more

The appetizers were good - we enjoyed the Japanese Eggplant and the jalapeño corn bread. Unfortunately the pastas we had were meh. The Dungeness Crab Tagliatelle had only a scant 6 tiny pieces of crab and was way overpriced at $40. Likewise, the Cavatelli was mediocre. Also, the Feta in Phyllo was just weird and not very substantive. The service was good and the atmosphere on the patio pleasant. read more

The good: - All the food was absolutely outstanding. Every bite was nothing short of amazing, and some of the best flavor I've had anywhere in Chicago. My favorite dishes I tried were the Japanese Eggplant, the Trout Roe, and the Stoopwaffel. The Japanese Eggplant was everything! It was slightly sweet, very savory, a little tart, with a hint of spice. This dish alone could turn me vegetarian. The Trout Roe was just one bite, but was absolutely bursting with savory flavor. Then the Stoopwaffel, from the "Test Kitchen" menu, was the perfect blend of sweet and savory. The other dishes we had were also fantastic - the Tagliatelle and the Capelli di Mago. The Tag had the right amount of crab, and the Capelli was filled with the perfect mixture of cheese and rabbit. Both had a slight spice, and the Capelli had a hint of citrus, which was refreshing. Both pastas were cooked to the perfect al dente. - Service was attentive, and the server was friendly and made the experience fun. He was lively, easy to talk to, and provided recommendations. - The drinks were great. I had "The Sully", which was a take on an Old Fashioned. It was great, and had a slightly more fruit-forward flavor that truly complemented the food. They also had some great beers available (in cans, no drafts) and a decent wine list. I was fortunate to try a couple of them, including an APA and a glass of Sangiovese. - The Chef's Counter seat was awesome and fun to watch the chefs, see the dishes be made, and be able to talk a little with the chefs. I highly recommend this spot in the restaurant, as you have a little more space, and it makes for a very fun atmosphere. I loved watching the chefs whip out dishes and all work together. Very cool experience. The not-so-good: - The space is very, very cramped. We did the Chef's Counter, which wasn't as bad, but the whole place is very compact. Like tables are practically on top of each other. Sitting in a seat can be equated to sitting at a bar top right next to someone else. When walking through the restaurant, it's one aisle, so you're waiting on others to get through or bumping into people. It's like they crammed as many seats in a tiny place as they could. They do have a patio for when we have nice weather here in the Windy City; however, I can't comment on that or how much it alleviates the issue, as it was a cold, snowy day when I dined. That said, the atmosphere is lively and energetic, which makes it feel more cramped, but makes for a fun setting. It's more on the upscale-casual side as far as vibes go, which is my favorite style of restaurant. - 5% mandatory health insurance charge? Apparently this does actually go to employee health coverage, and when I inquired, the server did say they have great health benefits. But still, with the fact that there's a set price on the menu, it's a little shocking to get the bill after your meal with the tax, then tip, then 5% charge of top. The ugly: - I avoid social media, but I've seen the owner post on Reddit and Instagram. In my opinion, political rants and arguing with customers online is not a good business model. But I guess who am I to say, as I don't own a restaurant, and it was definitely packed in there. It's just a slight turn-off, as I originally was going to discount this restaurant after seeing all that; however, I try to not let things like that get in the way of a good meal. The food definitely made up for it, but I'm sure others have written this place off due to the owner's attitude. Note: - Despite the name of the restaurant, while not "small plates", they definitely are not huge portions. For two of us, we had five dishes (albeit, some of those were just one or two bites). You won't leave hungry, and the prices somewhat decent (definitely erring on the pricier side), but just be prepared to order a few extra items. Granted, ordering a few extra items with food of this caliber cannot be considered a complaint. Overall: - If you can look past the owner's comments and posts online, get a seat at the Chef's Counter, and be ready to pay an additional 5% on your bill, I very highly recommend trying Giant. It may be some of the best and most flavorful food you'll ever try. I'll give it 4/5 stars. read more

Giant - Japanese Eggplant - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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"Giant" is a tongue-in-cheek moniker. This eatery is so compact, even a midget would feel hemmed in. The room is basically a hallway, sort of like Avec. Sharing plates is encouraged. Tables are pushed so close together, it's a communal experience. The wine list is far more extensive than the menu, and the vibe is hip, youthful, and trendy to the max. Our server was among the most attentive and helpful we've encountered in this century. My Missus has aversions to various ingredients and was utterly bewildered by the terse menu descriptions. Accustomed to first-timers, he joyfully marked up a copy of the menu and took the time to explain each dish. We began with a ¼ loaf of sourdough bread, and broccoli with smoked pepper dressing. The latter, a salad served cold, is ample for two or more to share. My Missus' entrée was the flank steak, and I had the saffron tagliatelle with crabmeat and chili butter. The quality of all of the food was remarkable. Flavors were complex and assertive but not overpowering. My only beef was the $36 market price for the tagliatelle, a tad high given the small portion size and the diminutive amount of crabmeat (maybe 3 ounces). But the richness of that dish surpassed Fettucine Alfredo. In contrast, a more generous portion of flank steak was a mere $19. We shared two of the three desserts on the menu - the salted caramel apple square (it looked round to me) with snickerdoodle ice cream; and the dark chocolate microwave cake with peanut brittle, banana ice cream and halva. Both dishes ranged somewhere between sensational and orgasmic. The rich coffee, served in individual Le Creuset Stoneware French Presses, far surpassed any we've sipped in recent memory. Some of Chicago most renowned restaurants do charge significantly more for a comparable level of culinary excellence. Giant dwarfs them. read more

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We truly enjoyed our dinner at giant last night- we had made a reservation online in advance & were seated upon arrival. Everyone on staff was extremely friendly and welcoming, and the space felt well ran & efficient despite the fact that it is quite small/ tight. We started with the zucchini, onion rings, feta phyllo and jalapeño corn bread. All were delicious, the zucchini was served chilled and had almost a pickled flavoring. It was different from anything we'd ever tried and we really enjoyed it. The onion rings were breaded perfectly to give a nice good crunch that was satisfying and flavorful! The two favorites were the phyllo- nice and light yet still very delicious flavor profile with a sweetness and bitterness all wrapped in one little bite and the corn bread. The corn bread was absolutely scrumptious, the top of the bread was perfectly crispy with a soft moist middle. The jalapeño flavor gave it a lovely spice that paired beautifully with the maple butter. For entrees we had the ricotta Carmelle, sortalini and corvina. Both pastas were decadent and savory packed with flavor but the star of the evening was the CORVINA - a perfectly flaky but moist texture paired so nicely with sticky rice and miso paste that was light and satisfying. All of the dishes are on the smaller side but curated so well. We will definitely be back. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. [[HIGHLIGHT]]If you can get the counter I would highly suggest it. You will be able to watch the food being prepared and ask questions to the chef.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The tagliatelle is usually always on the menu and highly recommended. If they have the corn dish when you're there make a point to get it. read more

Definitely an S tier restaurant in Chicago. It amazes me that food of this quality is served in a gastropub. You are looking to spend around $50 or more when dining here. The wine pairing is a popular choice. Waiters here practically memorized the menu which is a plus. My ratings of the food out of 10: Broccoli 10/10- I hate broccoli but this dish actually converted me Jonah crab salad- 9/10 tasted like fresh crab Japanese eggplant- 7/10 did not feel as explosive as the previous two small plates Tagliatelle- 10/10 the dungeness crab pasta is so addicting Bucatini- 6/10 was not much of a fan but still had a deep rich taste Microwave cake- 8/10 get this they actually microwave it! Caramel apple square- 10/10 super crispy and balanced The only downside I would say is that the dining area is pretty closely packed. You might have to squeeze in between tables to get out. read more

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I loved my dinner at Giant so much that I went back five days later with another friend to eat it again! The intimate restaurant has been on my wishlist for a long time, and I was very impressed with both my meals. Trout Roe: Oh...my...god! You have to order this bite. The flavor explosion and its warmth is one of the best single bites I've had in Chicago. My friend Kelsey and I loved it so much that we had it again for our last course instead of dessert! Pastas: In a Chicago that has a lot of great in-house pasta, Giant has to be on the list for one of the best. The Sortalini made my cheese-living heart happy. The Trofie had so much umami from the porcini. The Tagliatelle is worth every penny. If you don't go to Giant and order a pasta, you're doing it wrong. Peppers with Anchovy Bread: WOW! Wow wow. That is an "order it every time" dish. Crab Salad: very inventive! Little Jalapeño Buscuit: The Maple Butter is the star, and I'd get it again. Broccolini: It's good, but didn't compete against everything else I had. Service: I love a staff who clearly know their menu. They were attentive, informed, and enthusiastic. read more

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Giant is tucked into that part of the city where you're unlikely to run into tourists. The staff was the kind you want: warm, attentive, unpretentious, and clearly in a committed relationship with the food. They pitch the meal as "family-style," which here means four to five petite plates for two people, and a lot of creative adjectives. That's fine. I like to share, particularly when I've just paid $24 for a three ravioli. The space is cozy, by which I mean I now know that Mary--at the next table--has an ex who won't stop calling. She was VERY clear about the breakup, she told her friend, who nodded in a way that suggested she had, in fact, heard this multiple times before. Mary sat closer to me than my own sister ever did at our childhood dinner table, but it didn't bother me. The intimacy worked. Tom Zé was playing overhead, then Donny Hathaway. The food: exceptional. The Sortalini was the undisputed champion, impossibly delicate and indulgent. Dessert was a baked labneh with olive oil cake and blueberries, which tasted like summer in a bowl. Everyone at the table made the same involuntary noise. And then came the bill. Nestled discreetly beneath the subtotal was a 5% "employee health insurance fee." Not a tip, not a donation--just a line item, like guacamole. I don't mind paying for people's health insurance. I mind being gaslit into thinking it's somehow noble to do so à la carte. Just raise your prices and spare us the performative accounting. Pay your staff a decent wage. And keep your fee. The dessert was divine, though. read more

Absolutely fantastic. All the dishes were creative, full of flavor, and definitely a new experience. A little on the saltier side for sure, but if you can get over that there's nothing I wouldn't recommend! Got the trout roe (a burst of flavor), Jonah crab salad (not a fav but good), Japanese eggplant (favorite. Such a great combo of flavors), tagliatelle, bucatini, and steak. Our drinks were also a highlight. The oars and row might be a perfect cocktail in my book. Our waitress was also the best, so friendly and had the best recs. A fun, casual, intimate, but high level food experience! read more

Enjoyed the intimate and cozy ambiance that Giant presented when I walked in. I got a reservation for four people when my family came into town. Enjoyed the small bites and shareable dishes mixed into the menu! We got: Trout Roe (we ordered four since it's individual bites) similar taste to Natto weirdly but it tastes at the end like smoked trout (8/10) Japanese Eggplant curry with Garlic naan (100/10) BEST dish I've had this year! Creamy, minty, nutty, everything you want in a comfort meal. Soft garlic naan omg. My death row meal is found! Blue crab salad with waffle fries! Signature dish a must get here (10/10) Onion rings with buttermilk ranch (10/10) classic and well fried onion ring with salty Parmesan Jalapeño biscuits with maple butter (9/10) spicy, sweet, salty, moist Scallops (9/10) delicious scallop , can taste the freshness , smooth Roasted peppers with anchovy bread (10/10) must get! Umami, packed with flavor Bucatini pasta (10/10) can't go wrong with a classic dish , chewy fresh noodles oh man Blue Crab and Saffron Tagliatelle (10/10) tasty , signature dish, a must get to rave about Giant Salted Caramel Square (100/10) BEST DESSERT EVERRRR I ROLLED MY EYES BACK! Orgasmicccccc Overall, we got a LOT and left the place full and happy. Id totally come back for my birthday or any excuse to celebrate. on the pricier side but it's okay to splurge once in a while ;) read more

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Giant is a small restaurant with fine dining level food! There are only a couple of tables outside, and it's an intimate environment good for a date night. Food was great and they had some very interesting dishes. The Mighty Os were packed with flavor and definitely not something I have ever had! The tagliatelle was good, but I think they have a lot of other dishes that are more unique. read more

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By far my new favorite restaurant in Chicago! I came here for the first time with my friend visiting and it did not disappoint us! It's family style/shared plates which is my favorite restaurant style. Every plate was a hit. My favorites were probably the broccoli with chick peas and steak. Definitely don't pass on dessert or bread! The bread was so fresh and tasty. read more

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This was a delicious meal. While I thought some of the dishes were excellent, there were some that were more meh. First, this place is super small. Kind of the opposite of giant. Still, the inside is hip and the "chef tables" look to be a cool way to eat there. If I come back, I would do that! We started with a bottle of wine which was excellent. Our server was awesome and suggested that we get 2 or 3 dishes each and share. Here is what I got: Jalapeño Biscuit: It was very tasty and I loved the butter. It was a bit on the smaller side, but worked for me! Onion Rings: also great, but pretty standard. It was a nice change of something familiar. Bucatini: this was only ok. I felt it could have been warmer, but it was crunchy and had a nice citrus taste. I was hoping for a little more Sourdough loaf: it was just bread. Good, but just bread Salted Carmel Apple Square: it was circular, but very good. Kind of a new take on apple pie ala mode The rest of the group seemed to like their food except the cod. I liked it, but the woman who owned it sent it back. She wasn't charged and we got a free dessert which was unexpected. We also got the carrots which might be the best dish of the night. I don't even like carrots and I thought this was excellent. Will I be back? Maybe for a special occasion. It's still a bit expensive and the main course didn't impress me much. However, I thought the first course and dessert was worth another try. This is higher end food, but more approachable! read more

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The staff here are truly amazing! They are so kind and go out of their way to make you feel welcome. The food is also fantastic, a perfect combination read more

I ordered the crab tagliatelle to-go and was not a fan. The sauce almost tasted sour and I bit into shells. The portion size was small considering the price. Overall very disappointing. read more

Giant - Tagliatelle - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Second time here- 1 year later. Menu slightly changed but food remains incredible. Every dish was our favorite. Notable items includes the Japanese eggplant, steak, pork, onion rings, tagliatelle and raviolini. (Bib gourmand). read more

Giant - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What an unfortunate dining experience! I've been here several times and it was amazing, and was really, really looking forward to coming back here, but this last time was just awful. The food used to be absolutely stellar, but the dishes were ordered were way off the mark. First of all, our food came out before the wine we had ordered. (Not to mention that the server brought the wrong wine.) By the time we got our wine, the lamb was cold. Secondly, the lamb ribs were ALL fat, and I mean, hardly ANY meat, not even a full bite. The other dish we ordered- that I had tried before and was previously out of this world- was the Japanese eggplant. This time, it was served cold and was so incredibly sweet, we couldn't even finish it. The bucatini dish was also a major disappointment- couldn't even taste the anchovy or jalapeño. Overall, very disappointed, left hungry and sad. read more

Enjoyed our dinner at Giant. Some standouts: Joyce's Choice cocktail - tequila, basil, coconut milk, lemon, and curry - so unexpected in a drink but was delicious.. def give it a try; Tagliatelle with crab - so much crab meat! And honestly maybe my favorite of the night and of many desserts through Chicago - Cajeta ice cream - served on a cold plate and even if so simple, it was absolutely tasty. The crumbles paired so well with the ice cream and the cold plate actually helped so much with keeping the ice cream firm. Overall a lovely experience. read more

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Ordered the broccoli, tagliatelle scallops and flank steak! Every single dish was overly salty and had no other flavors. No wow factor at all. Not sure what the hype is. The most enjoyable part of the meal was listening to why the girl in the table next to us got upset at the guy she was there with! read more

I've had this place on my list for years. Definitely a must visit. We sat on the patio. I didn't know it was dirt flooring and heels were maybe not a great idea. Hostess was a little cold. Everyone else was very nice. And our wine bottle sat on the counter hanging out for a bit while our food was already coming out. I was a little confused on what happened there. All in all a great time. Delicious. read more

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This was a lovely, intimate restaurant with attentive, helpful service and inventive takes on quality dishes. We ordered too much for 2 people and I didn't have dessert, sob. We had a trout caviar starter, biscuit, eggplant, okonomiyaki, onion rings, flank steak and bucatini. My 2 favorite dishes were the vegetable forward ones--go figure! I'd love to go back and try the carrots and broccoli dishes. Shout out to the most wonderful hostess Melissa who helped make our meal extra special. read more

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Truly fantastic-- best dish I had was vegetarian which says something imo. The zucchini!!! Also homemade pasta was amazing.

Completely underwhelmed. We had been looking forward to trying this place for a while, but it fell short on so many levels. First of all the tables were so close together that they had to pull the table out in order to get in. We heard the entire conversations from both of the tables next to us. Service was really slow throughout the entire evening. It took 15 minutes for our server to come to the table. He also forgot to put in some the dishes we ordered. Nothing was really memorable other than the sweet and spicy peppers and the crab tagliatelle. The rest of the dishes were way too salty. The flank steak was completely overcooked even though we asked for it medium rare. I don't get the hype for this place. read more

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We finally got the time (and the reservation) to head over to Giant. Hostess is at the front and she'll take your coats which I recommend because the seating area is quaint and tables are a close (overhearing conversations likely). Our server was very friendly and gave good recommendations. Japanese eggplant: was our favorite dish of the night! The curry was so flavorful, garlic naan was nice and soft. If you have to get one dish, this is it! Crab salad with waffle fries: listed as market price, was $26 in Jan 2023. The waffle fries were crispy yet airy and the crab was able to add some freshness and cut any oiliness. Grilled peppers with anchovy bread: we saw this bread everywhere on their Yelp page so wanted to give it a try. Bread was airy, but not my favorite. Carmelle - ricotta stuffed pasta served in a butter sauce and had fried potato chips on top. A unique dish and I liked the crunch of the chips on top. I kind of wish it wasn't a butter sauce? Bucatini - was too salty for me with the butter, cheese, and pancetta. I thought it was actually going to be paired with a white sauce, which maybe would've cut the saltiness. Pasta was still cooked well. It was a good meal overall and I'm glad I tried it once. Again space is a little condensed so I don't recommend large groups. read more