Had a gift certificate here, so figured we'd give it a go. After the meal was said and done, couldn't really remember what I ate. The only thing that stood out was the pesto on the buffalo mozzarella appy. Overall - food is rather forgettable, the music WAY too loud, and atmosphere wise it's more of a place to grab a quick meal rather than a romantic place to go with your significant other. Meal cost $150 with tip, including bottle of wine. We were relatively full, but overall wouldn't go back. For that kind of money, would've expected more memorable food. read more

Ate here last night and I was impressed! Great atmosphere, friendly/funny service, yummy food, and well priced too. I was happy to sample the following: Scallops - cooked well, light with semi-sweet sauce Rapini - seasoned great to reduce the natural bitterness Steak - perfectly medium rare Risotto - loaded with seafood in a yummy tomato based sauce Arctic char - nicely cooked in parchment paper (don't eat the paper!!) Ravioli - giant, tender, buttery.... want some right now Dessert, had the lemon and berry cheesecake. I definitely recommend this place. Suitable for a party or a fun date. read more

Just went to this fun restaurant last night, have lived in the beach for six years can't believe I am only discovering this place now! We only had to wait 20 minutes for a table, which I though was pretty reasonable considering how busy the place was. If you are looking for quiet this isn't the place for you, on the high ceilings are an assortment of speakers playing great music that makes you want to dance in your seat (and some did!) and the place is crowded with cool interesting people being waited on by cute young waiters (an added bonus). The food was very tasty and well prepared and the service was great (again considering how busy it is!). The menu has a great variety with lots of seafood choices, this place is a must if your looking for a fun night out, enjoy! read more

Because of all the disruption from the G20 (don't get me started), I decided to move my birthday dinner to Queen East. I was having a hard time finding a restaurant that took reservations for large groups that wasn't located around the downtown core. I read a really really large number of Yelp reviews about Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant and I decided to give it a try. I found the decor really really plain. They had some neat artwork, but the venue itself was pretty unimpressive. It was basically a really really big room with tables. The place is really really casual and unpretentious. The food is really really nice. Well prepared and the portions are a nice size. * I had the famous giant meatball. It's a really really big meatball. * The fried calamari (and shrimp) was tasty but they don't give you a whole lot. * Pork tenderloin in Gorgonzola sauce was slightly overcooked but the sauce was really really good. * Duck and short ribs were popular at the table and really really tasty. * Tartufo was a bit frozen from being left in the freezer a little too long. * Goat's milk cheese cake... is good if you like goat cheese for dessert. This place is really really good for groups. The service was really really good for a large party. They also let me hand out cupcakes and use their fridge without hassle. The price of the food is reasonable, they just need to spruce up the place.. a lot. Casual and quirky is not the same as really really boring. Overall, I had a really really nice time. But I don't think this place ranks as one of my favorites. However, I was also really really drunk, and I may have to revisit when I'm sober. read more

Gio Rana's is the first restaurant I've visited based solely on Yelp reviews. While I was certainly happy with the experience I don't think this place quite lives up to the hype. Prices are reasonable, service is excellent, the decor is a little rough around the edges, but I prefer it this way as it feels more comfortable. Also, I thought the music was great the night I came; I felt like I would have been listening to exact same songs had I been at home cooking for myself. The food was good and sometimes great but it wasn't consistently awesome enough to warrant 5 stars. As mentioned in other reviews, Vegetarian options were good here. Our orders and thoughts: Tomato and Avocado Salad: Okay, but much too small. The chili and pesto dressings that come with this were really tasty. Browned Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Weak. For a dish that's so simple to make at home you'd hope they would do something special with it. They didn't. Butternut Squash Crespelle: Excellent. I'd never heard of this dish before but ordered it based on Yelp reviews and wasn't disappointed. Gnocchi: Awesome. The highlight of the meal for me. Possibly the best gnocchi I've had in Toronto. Brownie: Okay. Nothing to rave about. Tartufo: Good. Not the best I've had but quite good nonetheless. All together we walked out paying about $65 for 2 people including tax and tip. Despite a few lacklustre dishes I'll give Gio Rana's 4 stars for the tasty mains and overall experience. read more

How can you not try a place that calls itself a really, really nice restaurant, serving tapas and hot dogs? Right? We sniffed it out, and the scent was just what our olfactory glands were seeking. It's not a "mis-nose-mer" - this place is really, really nice. It's funky, it's hip, and you enter under, yes, a big nose. The bread is soft and distinctly bread-like, and the balsamic was quite pungent and bold, we loved it. We had the olives to go along with our reasonably-priced bottle of wine, and settled on the pork belly and scallop appetizer. The scallops - seared right on the nose, were swimming in a nice sauce. I was torn between the short ribs and grassfed rib-eye, and our server recommended the rib-eye. She was not wrong. It was cooked perfectly, seared nicely, seasoned to my liking, and liberally sauced in a delightful mushroom jus. My husband had the involtini, pulled pork wrapped in steak - you've got to be kidding me - it was out of this world! We weren't in the dessert mood, but had some coffee, and a double-espresso with whipped cream for me, very well done. Follow your senses! read more

This place wins on the vibe, it is so chill and relaxing perfect for a group of friends or an intimate date. The place should be called "the nose", where they came up with the name is beyond me... Went with a small group, we tried the GRILLED CALAMARI, always my fav, PROSCUITTO with FIGS. It was a great blend of flavors. For my main, I had the WHOLE FISH, it came with the head and everything, I loved it, it reminds me of traveling and it was just so fresh and delicious! Go for fun with friends or on a date, it got treat atmosphere and great service, very laid back and cool atmosphere read more

I was pretty excited about this place after hearing all the positive reviews on yelp. And while it wasn't terrible, I was a little disappointed. None of the food I ate really screamed WOW and I'm not even a serious foodie. Like Grant C., maybe I just came on a wrong day or ordered the wrong thing. One thing that I did like was that even though I ordered 3 courses, I didn't leave the restaurant feeling stuffed to the gills. I'm probably going to come back and give it another try (just because the reviews are so positive). read more

Never knew this place existed. Was invited to a group dinner on a fall Friday evening at 7:00. Heard in advance from someone that this place "has the big nose" out front. Yes, it does. LOL An old, 80s-looking establishment that is a closed bank building, with a big nose above the door. I wish the nose was lower for picture-taking, but I see that there could be risk of idiots vandalizing said nose, or something. Upon entering, was immediately greeted by staff as to ask if we wanted a table, which was obvious that we wouldn't be able to get one. It was packed. Maybe 20 tables in a big room. Dark, more candle-lit atmosphere, with windows that allow in some streetlight. Loud. Not so much music loud, but the packed place with voices trying to talk over all the other voices. So if you want a semi-cool atmosphere, go here. If you want to have a real conversation, you would be hoarse by the end, as if at a club. Fortunately, due to our party of 12, we had the back private room. This is the wine cellar, with a long dining table placed inside. So yes, squished. But adequate and enjoyable nonetheless. You just have to be careful when pulling out your chair to not knock one of the wine bottles off the shelves that wrap around the whole room, since it is a cellar. The menu itself does not seem to be online, however. I had the sweet potato mash as a side. Yum! And I ordered the daily pasta special which was a vegetarian option, something pretty standard but also yum! Based on the others in the group, everything was good, including something with halibut and the mozzerella tomato salad. I wish I could write more about individual dishes. My food bill was under $20. I ordered a $39 bottle of white wine, which was good, but the food here itself is enough to give this place a thumb's up. Service was quite good. People told him he looked like David Arquette. I hadn't noticed until it was mentioned, but he did, a bit. Bill was all on one, as per usual in this circumstance. Definitely want to go back and try the main restaurant area - even though, as I said, one would be hoarse after talking over the noise. It's just a great Leslieville atmosphere, and the food is worth it. read more

I've always had an awesome experience here. Trick is to sit at the bar! You can't beat this as a local watering hole. Staff are amazing. Warm and inviting. Casual or dressy. Very cool vibe to this place without the pretentiousness found at most Queen St hip spots. Great music, great vibe. Basically no BULLSHIT Really a cool local Highly recommend the lamb, it's a favourite of mine! Simple and affordable favourite is the rigatoni and tomato sauce, you can order it off the menu and it's always great. The shrimp and risotto is lovely too Often I just have the rapini or asparagus side with a cocktail at the bar. Yan (Ian) is exceptional, Zack is always awesome and Marty the flamboyant server is Hilarious, and overall they are all generous! I've been gifted many a shot here. When getting dessert get the berries and cream with port on top! Amazing! read more

We went out to this wonderful neighbourhood restaurant with friends and the most amazing sampler meal! Great price point for a great combination of food and great service! Definitely recommended! read more

Such a great spot! The food is always delicious and always consistent! Staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is very New York Chic. You can't go wrong with any of there choices. I would def recommend having a martini before dinner! It can get very packed after about 7 pm, so i would recommend going early to ensure you get a table. read more

Great variety of Italian tapas and wine.... Service was good. Nice crowd. AWESOME AMBIANCE where memories can be made!!! read more

Gios is a very cute restaurant, has lots of character, the story of the restaurant is a classic, the staff are all amazing & the food is to die for! Been a few times and haven't had a bad experience with food yet. And the atmosphere is lovely as long as you get there before it's too packed especially on a weekend- be sure to go a little early so it's not full. read more

I feel like this place is overrated.. Came here with a friend couple weeks ago super small menu Food was salty Service is good.. But would not go back. read more

Went here with a friend from out of town and my boyfriend. We found the nose amusing, and the interior decor is really quite nice and interesting. Service was so-so. We came in, were seated and given menus. Very soon after, the waiter comes to ask if we wanted to order wine. We did, but hadn't looked at the list yet, so we asked for another minute. We quickly decided on the wine... and the waiter didn't come back. It took flagging him twice before he came back for the wine order. By then, we'd decided on food too. The butternut squash crespelles were fantastically good. A little salty, but I like salt. I had the salmon, which was on par with what I'd expect for salmon in a nice restaurant, but nothing exceptional. The side of sweet potato mash was not at all good - something was seriously off with the texture. I'm used to skin on sweet potatoes, so it wasn't that. It was just not good. The overall experience was fairly nice, but I think the crespelles were what pushed this place to a 4 star review for me. Everything else was average or below expectations. read more

This is one of my favourite restaurants in the area and I've been here on many occasions! One of my favourite things about this restaurant is the ambience. It's a great place for a date or a dinner with friends. It's beautifully decorated and usually has some good music in the background The service is always excellent, speedy and attentive. The food is excellent. I would highly recommend their giant meatball dish it's perfectly flavoured served in a delicious rich tomato sauce. I've also tried their arancini which is also very flavoursome. I've tried a few mains but I enjoy their pork tenderloin as one of my favourites. Now you have to order separate sides and the garlic rapini and sweet potato mash are both excellent. They also have daily specials and I've tried their lobster fettuccini which was amazing, except he lobster claws which I had to crack open and were a but fussy. They also have a good selection of wines. Overall this is one of my favorite restaurants in the area! Give it 5 stars. read more

Crespelle stuffed with mushrooms were excellent but everything else was a bit average given the price. Interesting decor...mannequin in the roof room was a bit creepy though. read more

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I was searching the net looking for a great place to take a date, and yelp delivered. This is a great place. You walk up to the building which used to be an old bank that I can only assume was built in the 70s, so it has that bland styling. There is a solitary large nose on the front facade. I love that kind of playful quirkiness. You walk inside to find a beautiful and gorgeous place. It's warm and inviting and bit rough around the edges which only adds to the casual feeling. It feels like a place where you can have fun with friends, or a bit of romance. It's not stuck up or pretentious at all. The food was excellent. We had some mozzarella with pesto and tomatoes, which was superb. I woudln't be able to pronounce it's proper name, even if I tried. I had the chicken breast with cheese and garlic, again superb. I wouldn't sing it's praises from the mountain tops. But it hit all of the right buttons of my taste buds. Desert. Tiramisu. You can't go wrong with that. It was great. I only had a few minor gripes about the place: 1)We went on a quiet Sunday night, and the place wasn't busy. Our servers seemed a bit to anxious to help us. They came around a few too many times which disturbed the date a bit. But in no way were we rushed. I'd rather have them coming around too often as opposed to too little. They were very helpful when I asked if there was anything fun in the neighbour hood to do for after dinner. 2)In the bathroom the urinal is way to close to the faucet 3)We were seated right against a heater. Which got me rather hot. Again, these gripes are minor things. When you add up everything this place has going for it. I don't really enjoy a place that is too polished. Where it feels like you need to dress exceptionally well for the restaraunt. This place is relaxed and fun, with good food. Nice art on the walls. It doesn't take itself too seriously. read more

Went for a birthday in February of 2016. 1) The food was really enjoyable. I got to try about 7 different dishes and they were all between pretty good and great. 2) Oddly disproportionate portion sizes. Obviously part of this is based on the relative price ingredients used, but most of the group seemed to find it hard to know how much to order. Some couples ordered 3 dishes and were stuffed, others ordered 4 and were barely full. 3) Slightly pricey but I enjoyed the food, and it's just the norm in trendy parts of Toronto. 4) The service was quite slow, and the two staff members we interacted with most were not agreeable at all. One was generally snippy and one smiled at the table an visibly switched to a scowl the moment he turned away (on one occasion he seemed to be muttering something, but I couldn't hear it...) Bad days happen but this was excessive; none of the servers seemed to be enjoying the work at all. In all fairness, it sucks to serve a table of 12, so I'll probably go back as a table of 2 or 4 to give the restaurant a shot. If the service is the same I won't go back because the quality of the food doesn't make up for the attitude we dealt with. Fingers are crossed that's not the case though. read more

Always a great meal and time here. This time we were reunited with Gianni who was our server and who we know from the now closed Lolita's Lust - he's a great addition to the already fantastic staff. read more

Gio Rana's... another Leslieville hit! Have been here many times over the years with various friends and have always had a good experience Good service and food, great place to take friends. Unpretentious yet simultaneously classy with a bit of an edge, dare I say, and the crespelle is indeed wonderful (the squash crepes). Great for vegetarians as well as carnivores. And if you're the type who likes to share and share alike, this is your place. The food is interesting and yet at the same time fairly basic, if that makes sense. Recently I was here with a picky friend and the waiter was very accommodating, answered all questions, and provided numerous options. One thing, tends to be noisy as it's popular and busy, and is located in a former bank and the acoustics aren't fantasic. Otherwise, always a pleasure. read more

The menu is "mama's Italian favorites", The music is "let's relax and have a good time from the 60's and 70's", The service is "Dude, let me hook you up with this!", The atmosphere is "keep the lights down low and the drinks coming!", The food is "foodgasmic". I had the meatball, the scallops, and the grilled calamari to start, and the involtini and spinach salad for the second course, oh yeah, and the brownie in caramel sauce for dessert!( it was a group sharing appetizers). Freakin' awesome! read more

We chose this restaurant as we were walking down Queen street and were drawn in by the big nose on the outside. We ate here on a Saturday night, were in a bit of a rush but worked out fine. We were seated immediately and the waiter was extremely friendly and attentive. We told him we were heading to a play at 8, he was great at getting our food out quick. The prices were decent and the menu has quite a few choices. We were intrigued by the atmosphere in the restaurant and liked the way nothing really matched but looked super unique. I had the Parmesan Risotto which was a bit disappointing. It was bland and looked like soggy rice in a bowl. My boyfriend had the slow cooked ribs which he loved! The meat literally fell off the bones and was very succulent. I would like to try this restaurant again as I did really like it but feel I didn't make the right dining option. read more

I love the atmosphere, the ambiance was so unique. Service was fantastic. I ordered the risotto. It was done perfectly. The entire experience did not disappoint. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone that wants something a little different than traditional Italian fare. I will definitely be back. I can't wait to try the really big meatball! read more

The restaurant with the big nose atop the front door... I can't believe it has taken me this long to smell this rose! Food was fantastic and portions were bigger than I expected. A $19 plate of homemade gnocchi was so good and large. I used to think it was impossible to find great food, good prices, and excellent service in the same place, but I have now had to rethink my entire life's moral structure. Do not miss this when you're in the area. read more

Underwhelming at best. Based on other reviews I can only assume that this used to be a great place before the owners decided to turn it into a cash cow. For starters it's loud with crap acoustics. The music selection has the feel of a bad dance club run by an ADHD DJ. Conversing at dinner was difficult, even with the person right beside me. When I say "right beside me" I'm not kidding, either. Our party of 12 got jammed into three tables where 8 would have been a tight fit. I thought maybe we were an exception since we were such a large party, but three other groups were jammed in like sardines. This place is clearly all about numbers and turnover. My main course, Salmon Aioli, was well executed but no better than something I could have made. The distinctive flavour for the salmon was salt (thankfully not much) and the Aioli was dull. The mixed green salad was billed as "with avocado"; my plate had two small pieces, another person at our table thought she got avocado salad. Based on my experience so far, I skipped dessert. Others were not so lucky, and they were generally underwhelmed. Service was good, but not only does this place pack them in, it doesn't increase staff to compensate. Our server was too busy to do an excellent job, and it's only through exceptional effort that he managed to do well. Our table split the bill three ways, and when the bill arrived, the assignment of items to bills was marginally better than random. To his credit he knew this, apologized, and said he would adjust any errors. At that point to save time we all just paid our bills and agreed to do the adjustments between ourselves. Not two minutes after the bills were paid, two staff began to hover over our table. Clearly, we had fulfilled our purpose there and were done. Those valuable tables needed for new victims. This place would certainly benefit form a rear exit, which would facilitate better patron flow through. Toronto has so much better to offer than this. read more

Absolutely delicious and mouth watering food. My husband booked "The Vault" for my surprise birthday dinner a year ago, and it was such a hit. They actually have a bank vault inside the restaurant that can seat up to 12 people. It's a cosy and intimate vibe, and the service is fantastic. The Good: - Delicious food, truly Italian! - The servers are awesome! The Bad: - Sometimes it takes quite a bit of time for the food to arrive, but they're always busy which is good! - The decor could use a bit of work :) Highly suggest the Big Meatball, and the pulled pork! read more

We live in Leslieville so this is our go-to place. Need I say more? I do not, but I will. So while the bill can add up, especially if we feel like a cocktail and wine, it is worth it--the food is just too tasty. Family faves are the calamari, the giant meatball for the kids, crispy chicken when available, and my fave, the ribeye steak. Sometimes we go 'family style' and are treated to one delicious dish after another. The salmon is in omg territory. But here's the thing: no matter what we order, it's always good. I like how they team up to ensure hot food arrives to your table. Occasionally I'm not a big fan of our waiter on a particular evening but now know who to request because some servers have it and one or two seems more interested in a tip. Speaking of tip, here's one: ask for Zack. read more

Really poor service the last two times we visited. My neice has allergies and our server was downright rude when we asked if the chef could accommodate her allergies. Needless to say, we all felt really uncomfortable and unwelcome. Our last visit was also terrible. The host at the front door was rude and dismissive. He didn't look up from his computer and left us standing at the door for quite a while while staring at his screen. Then he told us the wait was 2 hours -- even though it was 6pm and empty tables were visible. I just read a similar review below, so I think this must be a regular issue. I had wondered if it might be race related, just as the other reviewer mentioned? The Nose used to be family friendly with decent wait staff, but it's changed. We've been going for years, but we are done with it. There are too many other decent spots to choose from these days to bother with rude wait staff. read more

A very interesting and unique place is called Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant. The actual place does not have a name, just a huge Nose on the front door, which is why it's popularly called 'The Nose'. It's downtown in Leslie Ville. The restaurant hasn't spent a cent on marketing, but they were featured in an Amex commercial recently and the nose itself has made it all the way upto the Supreme Court of Canada debating on whether or not it can be considered art (some douche bag mayor found it offensive). It's so good, they rely on word of mouth. It's my most favourite restaurant in Toronto. The food is just made with lots and lots of love. The family that owns this place is extremely nice and interesting, with a good philosophy on life and food. The food is mouth watering good. It's REAL Italian food, not just the commercial 'pasta'. The owners fly in their olive oil, ingredients and wines from Italy. The food is rich, and done very well. Almost everything on the menu tastes exceptional. Service is personable and on point. My favourites include the ossobuco and scotty's meatballs, and surprisingly the side of brussel sprouts with pancetta or the beat root and goat cheese side. The crespelle will warm your soul and change your life. The place however looks strange. The location is actually an old old bank so on the inside, there is a real old fashioned safe that has been converted into a wine cellar. The interior is 'unique', and no work has actually been done. It's all really authentically old, but the reason I am telling you this, is because some ppl get put off. Trust me, the food is amazing and once you eat the food, you will get the humour and personality of the interior. It's a little pricier, just because you will want to try everything. You have to order things separately because it is proper Italian food (start with an anitipasti, follow it with little pasta , then have your main carne with ordering vegetables on the side). When I go out with my friends, we spend about $80 per head sharing all our food. Make a reservation if you can - the place is very very popular (I don't think they take them on weekends). read more

I feel obliged to update, though it clearly isn't in need of any more praise. I had my birthday dinner here last year, the service was spectacular and hilarious - really set the tone for the night so I'm truly grateful to our waiter for making it a crazy night. Of course as always the food stole the show. If something works, keep doing it right? A few months ago I insisted we hold one of our corporate events there. Beyond shocking many a king west snob with the fact that there really is life east of the Don Valley, the strongest validation came from one of our admins, the sweetest Portuguese lady who reminds me of everyone's favorite granma growing up, and a serious cook mind you - "I've never been to a restaurant where the food was so fresh, just like good home cooking" Need I say more? read more

This is a pretty interesting place. Overall, the experience was good. Food was tasty, service good, atmosphere great. In terms of value I think there's room for improvement. The entrees are ordered a-la carte, so when you order the chicken or fish it usually comes with nothing else but the meat. You need to order your sides all separately. It ends up adding quite a bit to the bill, since the entrees run around $15-20, and the sides in the $6-8 range. The quality of food is high, so if you're willing to splurge a bit this is a good place. 3.5 stars overall. read more

Very noisy. If you have any hearing problems or fear that you may get some in the future DO NOT DINE HERE. The noise level is industrial level. Before I sat down I asked a waiter to lower the music volume and she did - immediately- (thank you Lisa from Dublin) but by then the crowd had already been conditioned to having to roar at each other. Great food and great service ruined by noise levels that made conversation very difficult. Workers should know that every hour spent in a noisy restaurant is taking away their ability to hear. They will be deaf when they are 40. Are they ready for that? They are not getting benefits to compensate for a fatal injury like hearing loss. read more

Two & a half stars. Gio Rana's is one of those restaurants that if you ever ventured into during daylight hours you'd run screaming from the place. It is a night time only dining adventure for this spot. Daylight hides a lot of dingy walls and even grubbier ceilings that are badly in need of washing, painting and just general updating. This is a Restaurant Makeover waiting to happen. I'm probably one of the few Yelpers (besides Neil...great minds think alike!) that give Gio's the "meh" factor. While it is a great spot in that we needed something to accommodate our large group to bid adieu to our beloved Deanna, my sister FARC and charcuterian loving kindred spirit, but that is pretty much about where it ended for me. Being situated along the perimeter of the kitchen was geographically a nightmare for those who sat with their back to the rushing waitstaff. Getting whacked in the back, nudged in the noggin and stepped on doesn't make for a fun dining experience. But hey, they gotta pack 'em while they can because the resto business is a tough go these days. WTF is up with those greasy, filthy menu covers? People we are in the middle of germ-o-phobia days what with H1N1 going on. Just holding on to that menu made me want to get out my sanitizer and give it a washing over. Anyway, Dea and I opted to share as we usually do. We ordered up the Crespelle, some Rigatoni (app sizes) to start and then would follow it with a beef rib shank and some shredded brussel sprout salad. Ok...everyone's talking about the fab-u-less-ness of the staff. We got no apps. While everyone else was chowing down on their openers we got nothing. It all showed up at once when the mains got served. The Crespelle was cold and sort of slimy. The Rigatoni was steaming hot and for me was actually the best of what was served. The beef rib/shank was ok. Braising its a chef's easy way out. It's no fail but I found the meat to be stringy and especially fatty. There wasn't much flavour factor going on there either. I did feel the love for the Brussel Sprout salad though, crispy, no dressing glommed on. What about the bread on the tables? This restaurant has a ton of amazing bakeries around (Brick Street being one of them) and they serve up bread that reminds me of the subs used at Mr. Sub. So sad. The best thing I tasted all night was Danielle's sweet potato mash. She was sitting next to me and her and Abby were making orgasmic moans so I caved and gave it a taste. I should have just ordered up a plate of those and been done with it. Would I go back? Nah. I'd be willing to spend a few more bucks and head east and hit up Tomi-Kro's instead. A much wiser choice for spending my hard earned bucks and unlikely that I'll get tackled by waitstaff. At least handling the menus doesn't want to have me running for the washroom to scrub my digits. In the end though, we came to celebrate a legend Yelper, Deanna. Lucky girl has now moved on to Yelping in one of the best food cities in the world....NYC. Hey Dea....I'm waiting for Boba. :) read more

Who are we trying to deafen with the EXTREMELY loud music? Returned after a ten year absence to find they had expanded into the old bank building next door, still the same concrete floors and decor by Goodwill, although the chandeliers must have been a secret Good Will find, the christmas fairy lights only get one star for amusement. Tables for four couldn't possibly hold plates for 4 comfortably, are the management suggesting we order LESS? Kitchen is getting lazy, obviously never heard of gremolata to be served with Osso Bucco. Too much untrimmed fat before braising, which obviously didn't happen today. Too many dishes were just cooked once in a while and reheated. Desserts incredibly over priced for what's involved. Definitely gonna blow The Nose! read more

"The Nose" has always been a 'go to' for good quality at a good price. We went over the weekend and prices have increased and a couple of the portions are smaller. So, my reasoning for always returning is no longer valid. Probably won't return as the price quality ratio is no longer true... read more

Incredible food. Incredible service. Fun atmosphere. I have been to Gio's numerous times and every experience has been perfect. The dining room offers so many different areas that all offer a different vibe - one of my favourite spots is beside the vault near the front of the main dining room. I also like the table in the wine cellar for large groups. It's great to sit at the bar if you're wanting a drink and dessert after dinner at home. It's often very busy so try visiting on a week night rather than a saturday night. One of the best restaurants in Toronto! read more

This is a 0/5 rating. The staff are inattentive and pretentious. We were greeted by waiter Y, he took our order and spent the entire night at a couple's table while waiter A brought us our food, drinks, and dessert and checked up on us once. Waiter Y only returned to collect the bill/his tip. The food was incredibly disappointing. Meatball app = 1/5, pre-made Gnocchi = 0/5, bland and cold Risotto = 0/5, unappetizing as it was a dark brown, no taste, and it was already separating as it arrived, pre-made Chicken Breast = 1/5 The food/service resonates with the theme/decor of their restaurant - incomplete, half-a**, and 'meh'. Save your money, time, and the disappointment and go to any other Italian restaurant. read more

This place was being suggested by 2 ppl that I randomly asked for advice. I went dinner on Thursday eve on a rainy Day, dressed nicely thinking the rain cant stop my plan, and was looking forward to it very much. To be honest I liked the food, but the service was HORRIBLE. I think the waitress was mad at the world or she's missing a nerv not knowing how to smile. She came over n her tone of voice was like she's mad at us, cant wait for us to leave. Just her whole attitude pretty much ruined d dinner experience. My friend read reviews before we came and I heard ppl saying they had bad service, it was really NOT exaggerating. We ordered mushrooms for side dish, the server or some bus boi guy came and just tossed the dish on the table as he flew by. I saw the plate shifting on my table...lmao. Yeah he must be rushing somewhere lol. The mushrooms were delicious though. Me n my friend both ordered "Sexy slow cooked Duck leg". NOT SURE WHY they have to call it SEXY because its NOT sexy. Its just pice of dark brown looking duck leg on a beding of mash potato. I understand sometimes restaurant make up names to make dishes stand out, but this name seems little "slutty for the "class" they try to advertise amount customers. Only while everything else has normal name n plain definition on the menu, that "sexy leg" just seemed very odd n funny. It was very comforting. The meat of duck was roasted perfectly and the mashed potato is really great to go with it. to my surprise it was very filling. I would give food for 4 stars, and service for 1 star. I asked my friend who ordered the same thing, which duck leg dish was better between restaurant "Brasaii" n "Gio Rana". We both agreed the slow cooked duck confit we had during SummerLicious were better(I would give that dish 5 Star at "Brasaii") Over all, the food was good, I liked the place, its very plain but it has something timeless and laid back atmosphere. It's hommy n lovely. I dont like the price though, its definitely not for the service u get, and decoration is not exactly upscale. There bunch of small low tables and a few High ones feel like eating at coffee shop. I was at the High one at the very back conner by window n considering to be lucky seeing the rest ppl were "fighting" for space and waitress has to adjust her body to make way thru for food and bill. The waitress finally came to table to ask us how was the food, and her smile was so unsincere while her face was twitching, it turns my stomach. It's not one's privilege to think they deserve tip because they work there. PS. I bought like 4 lb of pork tenderloin from Metro yesterday and spent 7 hrs making this pulled pork with apple n brown sugar thing. I made mashed potato as side, ironically I served pork on bedding of potato, it looked n tasted similar to the SEXY duck leg I had Gio Ranas so it reminded me of that dish I had a day. I felt bad for my friend who paid for it. It was not worth $90 with the service they provide. will go back to that restaurant if that woman is not working there. She prob just got dumped by her bf that day! read more