How is it possible that a restaurant can keep exceeding my expectations every time? We went with a huge group on Saturday night and it was fab! I love that the hosts at the door are always very happy to see you. The food is delicious!! The menu has their the old Gio's favourites like the huge meatball (that my friend Jane dreams about) the grilled calamari (that I dream out). The specials are usually planned and thought out, oh and delicious!! The servers are after my own heart: not snobby, very attentive, knowledgeable and take demanding foodie friends in stride. Water always full or decanter on the table - check, side plates for appetizers - check, new cutlery after the appetizer - check! It might be worth noting that they have expanded the restaurant. There used to be an Autoshop next door that they now use for large parties. I was loud and fun! **the only time that you will pay 'through the nose' is if you don't watch how many bottle of wine are flying around** read more

Man this place does not disappoint. The food is consistently good. The cocktails are great. The Ribeye...sigh Fantastic restaurant. read more

Summary, delightful dance-club beat combined with some inventive flair executed pretty well. Some mistakes but enthusiastically corrected by the staff. Came in on a crowded Saturday night. Was able to work me in 35 minutes at the bar. Probably would have been only 25-30 minutes if I wanted a table. Staff did a good job of making sure I wasn't lost in the crush at the door. Entry is next to the DJ booth. Internal doors look blocked until you realize you aren't supposed to go through the double doors, instead go into the entrance on the door to the left after you go through the main doors under the 4' paper-mache nose and nothing else. Took me a moment to figure it out and I saw several patrons struggle with it. It looks like you are going in the wrong way and there is some other entrance you are missing. Follow the nose and the arrow and you'll be okay. Decor is kind of interesting: downscale unpainted walls, odd entrance under a 4' paper-mache nose with no other signage, some interesting paintings organized in clumps, obligatory characitures of famous past patrons above the exit and nice chandeliers hang from maroon-tiled ceilings. A telling combination of kruft, tack and inspired decor. At the bar, the bartender nudged me to a delightful Shiraz (Six Rows '09 from Australia). Went for the crostini special, a special humis, garlic with prosciutto with a dark drizzle reduction of some kind (guessed hoison but could have been something else) on a toasted focaccia. Anyway, special was a joy. The pork tenderloin was a bit over cooked and dry but the bar tender returned it without question, doing a better job on the second try, doing justice to the red wine, onion reduction and they made amends with an complementary helping of a very special brussel-sprout slaw (shredded salad with feta, pine-nuts and bacon to great affect) and an extra glass of the 3-rows. The spinach salad was also a delight and, with the amenity at the bar, shared a wonderful tasting of scallops. Dessert was an acceptable Tiramisu and cappuccino. Summary, favorite dishes was the crustini and the inventive brussel-sprout slaw with acknowledgements to the spinach salad. The atmosphere of a dance-club sound-track hightened the conversational din of the place. A semi-casual atmosphere, great energy, proactive staff and fun surprises on the menu made friends of us strangers at the bar. Good times and enjoyable meal. This patron will return. D read more

I really really love this place. See what I did there? And kid you not, I have tried everything on the menu. It's tucked away on Queen east and bears no name - just a big old nose. How iconic. The insides have this rustic fine dining decor. It's fancy and unfancy all at the same time. If you're in a group, the wine cellar seating is great. If you're not in a group, don't be surprised if they squeeze you into a little space from where you can touch the next patron at the restaurant. Such is life at The Nose. The servers are much older, definitely polite and have a great know-how of the menu. As for the menu, it's small and in a few visits, you can definitely try it all. The prices, I find, are very reasonable for Toronto fare. So I am not sure why The Nose is $$$ on Yelp. Lastly, the gnocchi is a must try. Delish. I'll be back. read more

The more I think about it, the more I realize that this is my favorite restaurant in Toronto. Delicious and interesting food. A unique environment. Wonderful service. Unrushed. Unostentatious. Unpretentious. Special as can be. Every time you go to "The Nose" you feel that it's a special occasion. It doesn't matter if it's just a casual weekday meal or a celebration of your monumental promotion. It's always just that good. This is a place to EAT.... not just be seen. The involtini is one of the finest dishes in the country. The creative serving of brussel sprouts cause even the finickiest eater to dive in with both forks with reckless abandon. Interestingly enough, whenever I end up talking to 'foodies' about good restaurants in town this place is always mentioned by someone... almost without fail. It's that kind of place. There's no other restaurant like it in the city. It's not super fancy. It's not expensive. You can pronounce all the food on the menu. You feel like you're in a old friend's favorite place. This is the reason that you decided not to cook tonight. read more

I live right around the corner and I used to think this place was an art gallery. I mean there's tinted windows and a huge paper mache nose in place of signage. I came here for my birthday on a Saturday night and it was PACKED. Got there around 8 and waited til 9 for a table for two so I was pretty starved. (Host was nice. She kept coming back to make sure we were not dead from hunger and offered us drinks menu and such.) The interior of this place is beautiful. Very dim with rustic/hip look and decorated with artwork and vintage photographs. Incredibly LOUD with music and chatter but also kind of cramped feeling. Our waiter was nice. But since the restaurant was busy and noisy, he didn't come by very often. We ordered the beef carpaccio ($10) for an appetizer. For the main, I got the duck leg ($15) and my boyfriend got the beef tenderloin steak ($22). (You have to order sides on top... - our waiter advised us to get one to share - we got the Yukon potatoes for $5.) Beef Carpaccio: The plate was a bit smaller than I expected to share for two. I think it was meant for one. It was okay but the vinegar and cheese were really strong and there was a lot of it. It blocked the flavor and texture of the beef so I just rubbed the vinegar/cheese off. Arugula, however, was a wonderful compliment. Duck leg: First off, I like my duck cooked very specifically so that it's very tender. The duck was just okay and a little hard/dry in some places. Skin was very nice and crispy but hard to cut with the knife I was given. I did not like the jus. Beef Tenderloin: YUM! If I came back, this is what I'd get. A hunking piece of juicy and tender meat that was cooked perfectly as requested (rare). Verdict: Not bad but not worth the hype. I left feeling somewhat ripped off (which is not how you should feel after leaving a restaurant). read more

This place is pretty fun. If you go earlier in the evening, it makes for a more, um, peaceful dining experience, but even after it's packed with patrons, both the food and atmosphere are great. Try the salmon. It's like making love to Zeus: all lightning bolts in your mouth and stuff. read more

This is the spot. Warm. Cozy. Classy. They dish out perfect meals, and although I don't really like to, I'm obliged to dish out a perfect score. Gio Rana, you've definitely built one really really nice restaurant! :) Keeping it (very) low key at the northwest corner of Queen and Leslie, Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant bares no actual signage. Well, there is that massive human nose affixed above the main entrance, but that's about it. 2 points for the conversation starter (annnnd 1 for non-traditional marketing tactics). A lovely staff will have you seated in what always feels like no time. If there's a bit of a line up, crack a bottle of wine and warm up in the waiting area. The staff knows their vino and bottles are definitely well priced. If you're one for random conversation, the hosts are awesome at indulging in some fun banter before guiding you to your table. Gio Rana's is a gorgeous space. High ceilings, great background music, warm mood-lighting and beautiful decorative pieces all over the place. If you've got a group, I suggest booking the wine-cellar in advance. It's gets a bit tight for really large groups, but with the right minds, in that space, you're bound to spark conversations that will change your life. As if you're not already sold, let's talk a bit about your meal. Never one to disappoint, Gio's mouth-watering Antipasti will get your tastebuds dancing at first bite. If you've got a carnivorous bone, light it up with the "Classic Beef Carpaccio w/ Grano Padano, Arugula and Lemon" - wow!!. The mains are all top notch. I'd steer away from the chicken if possible and maneuver towards the "Sexy Duck" or the Braised Beef Ribs (with portobello and fried gnocchi - zing!). The Contorni options balance out the meal. If you're with a group, Gio's generally puts these sides on a long share plate, so you can get a taste of everything. Is it just me, or does food ACTUALLY taste better when you're sharing it? If I was forced to be critical of my dear Gio, veggie options don't really exist, and the washrooms could use a reno. These criticisms are neither here nor there for me though - I'm in love, remember? Gio Rana's is hands down, my favourite restaurant in Toronto - a definite must for every non-veg foodie around the globe. Get there soon though. Queen East is developing rapidly, and it's inevitable that this joint will lose a bit of its charm once West-Queen-West infiltrates. read more

I have been to Gio's a number of times, and can say without any hesitation that I have never been (even momentarily) disappointed. The wine, food, atmosphere and service are all consistently excellent. It is, quite possibly, my favorite (affordable) restaurant in all of Toronto. Housed in an old bank building, the space is large with high ceilings. At night, the lights are lowered and candles lit everywhere, bringing a golden intimacy to the space. For larger parties (of probably 8+), you can even reserve the old bank vault at the back of the restaurant (which has been converted into their wine cellar). It's pretty fun to sit in your own vault surrounded by amazing Italian wines. Must haves: Antipasti - grilled calamari with capers and tomatoes (it makes people blush, it is so damn tender!) Primi - crespelle with butternut squash and sage butter sauce (forget everything else you've ever eaten. This is it right here.) Secondi (Pesce/Carne) - the whole grilled sea bass is incredible. The involtini and the osso buco are equally amazing. Always ask your server about the specials as well. They often feature decadent Secondi courses for genuinely reasonable prices. read more

I think Gio's is really nice. I really do. It is the best choice in the neighborhood and is consistent. The food is always of consistent quality, the service is very good (no matter who you have) The drinks are reasonably priced and the atmosphere lends to a good meal experience. Always. It is our go-to place when we have friends come in from out of town and they want to eat close to our house as we know that we are guaranteed a memorable time. Casual and always buzzing. Great for birthdays. The Salmon is really good. The Osso Bucco is a favorite of my SOs, and the Calamari is tasty, as is the Gnocchi. The "Sides" are not really worth it. They are small portions and are always left over. If you order a couple of things and share tapas style, you get the best value. A decent bottle of wine is $40. read more

I've rarely had "great" meals in Toronto. Many good ones, just not great. Gio's Rana's really put together a top notch dining experience. It was a cold winter night, people were packed in, side-by-side tables, the ambiance was very cozy. An interesting mix of casual hipsters and well-heeled diners. Of note, this place is busy and there is a constant clamour for seats, people waiting at the bar, walk-ins etc. The previous reviews of poor service or waiting is likely a result of the volume. I got a bird-eye's view of the door from our table and just too many people to please, several who were fairly rude, entitled and demanding. Hopefully, those people don't become regulars. This place is inviting and many people often sit and enjoy a bottle of wine well after their meal so that makes seating a nightmare. So why do people flock here? Clearly, the food. A great menu which accommodates many different appetites. It is Italian, but not pasta-heavy. Highlights of a few because they don't have a menu on-line. Starters Scotty's Meatball - A single, large, well-textured meatball served with a delicious tomato-sauce - great for sharing, solid. Scallops-/Pork Belly - Scallops done to perfection - hard to find these days, just tender and cooked through to center. Pork belly was a bit of an afterthought but also tender. Crespelle - Italian crepe, filled with butternut squash puree, cream and sage - amazing, satiny and creamy, just a wonderful dish, we ordered a second for our late arriving guest Pasta della settimana - "pasta of the week", Linguine al dente with roasted peppers - perfect, an amazing bite and nice complementary size to your entrees. Entrees Osso-bucco - hearty, fall of the bone and satisfying Involutini - shredded pork stuff inside a rib-eye, distinct, flaky and meaty, nice compliment to the pasta Slow-cooked short ribs - Again, fall of the bone goodness, infused with flavour and a large portion. Tiramisu - cool, light, chocolatey goodness This place doesn't have a website I could locate and perhaps that's better for the mystery but you'd be remiss not to come here for a great meal - food is top-notch for the price point, service is efficient and accommodating to those who are gracious, a great atmosphere and overall, one of the better dining experiences in Toronto. read more

AMAZING big meatball -- holy smokes, one of the best I've ever eaten and I'm a) married to an Italian and b) I'm a darn good meatball sauce cook and c) see a) and b) again. We ordered nearly everything off the menu. I apologize that this is very vague, and my memory not up to snuff, but from what I do recall, everything we did order was so delicious, really fresh, priced extremely reasonably well, and we plan to go there again and again and again. Just go EARLY so you can talk to one another in normal voices -- the later the evening gets, the louder the ambiance and you wind up having to scream at the person next to you to be heard. read more

Food 3.5, service 1, decor 2. Food. I went with a big group so I got to try a few dishes. The highlights were the giant meatball, and the osso bucco. But all in all, nothing spectacular that you can't get at other italian restaurants in Toronto (minus the offensively bad service). Service. I came a bit later than the rest of my group and it took the waiter 45 minutes to get me a drink. Seriously. Then, he proceeded to bring out everyone's food at all different times, bring out wrong dishes, forget to bring drinks we ordered, and generally neglect our table. After I complained to him and the manager, they still had the audacity to tack on the large group 18% tip. I will never go back even if someone else is paying. read more

More like Gio Rana's Really Really Mediocre Restaurant. Man, I have been waiting to say that for an entire week! As soon as we sat down, it was quite obvious that our server wanted us out of there asap. She asked us if we were ready to order after having been seated for less than a minute. If I wanted to be treated like theatre crowd I would have gone to KitKat or Fred's Not Here. The food was OK, not terrible, but nothing to write home about. I had the house wine, which was pretty terrible. This is coming from a girl who drank 2 buck chuck for an entire year while on a budget. I left unimpressed and unsatisfied. read more

I love this place. It's usually my first pick when anyone suggests Italian. It's very busy just about every night of the week. When you get there, you'll be offered to order a drink while you wait, which is nice touch as it makes you feel as they have not forgotten you. The waiting area by the door is quite small though. The restaurant is large but they keep the lighting quite dark which gives in an intimate feeling. To be truthful, it's so dark I'm not sure what the decor really looks like as I've only been for dinner. With the restaurant so busy, the service is still good. The wait staff manages to come by your table often to refill water and is eager to make recommendations if you ask. I would recommend anyone coming here to order the meatball. It's probably one of the best things on the menu! Another top recommendation would be the Osso Bucco. read more

I've been wanting to go to Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant (aka: the nose) for a long time now and finally made it tonight. It didn't disappoint. I started with my classic 'lychee martini' I have this everywhere I go :P and then followed up with one of their fun cocktails (sexy mofo). Drinks were pretty good. The food was great! They have a fantastically tasty selection of 'contourni' or side dishes. My favs were the green beans with mint and garlic and the asparagus with gorgonzola. The rapini with garlic and lemon is worth ordering too. For my main, I had the garlic shrimp with crispy parmesan risotto cake - it was really flavorful but my only complaint was that the portion was pretty small (as is the case in many places when you order shrimp as a main dish). There were lots of other things on the menu at looked good so i will definitely go back and try them. For desert I had the chocolate raspberry tartufo which was one of the best I've ever had. I've read some of the other review and many people say they had bad service but our service was really good. Our waitress was attentive, friendly and spent a fair but if time talking to us after we paid. Overall, costs were mid range but worth it from my perspective. Two of us ate for about $50 each which included a couple of drinks, sides, main dishes and desert. read more

Have been to Gio's ( the Nose as we call it ) many times over the last 10 years. It's fun, a bit gritty and I love the rotating art displays. Menu has stayed the same with very few updates--but everything we have tried has been delicious. The involtini is a favourite though it does not look pretty on the plate. I would recommend staying away on weekend nights if loud music bugs you ( bring the excedrin) . Does not work well if you want to have a conversation with a low talker. Overall it's consistent and a fun place to bring friends or family. read more

Went there and had the ossobuco (veal) and risotto with italian sausages and was very disappointed with the lack of flavour. The meat was tender but bland. I wouldn't go back and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. read more

Very impressed with the food, service, and venue. Booked for a birthday party, eleven (11) of us were squeezed into the private wine cellar room at the rear of the restaurant. It was definitely tight to get out of your seat and move around the cellar, but once seated the table was more than spacious. This is a great little private space, and the noise concerns noted in other reviews don't apply here. We ordered a number of antipasti, and asked for enough to share on platters family-style: bruschetta (toppings change weekly) arancini - fried risotto balls mozzarella and tomato w/ basil pesto fig w/ prosciutto, gorgonzola & pistachio scotty's meatball in ragu sauce fritto misto - fried calamari and shrimp They were all tremendous, and I can't say I was disappointed with any of them. The meatballs were amusingly large, and everything was well prepared and delicious. Plenty of bread (and at least three varieties) was provided. I started with the crespelle (Italian crêpes) with roasted butternut squash & sage butter. I can't say I loved it; it could have used more salt or more parmesan, as I found it tasted fairly flat. Okay if you're looking for subtler flavours. The ossobuco was much more impressive. I was surprised to see it priced so cheaply at $13.95, but this reflects the presence of only one hunk of bone (from whence the marrow flows). The meat was tender and well-seasoned. My partner ordered the involtini (shredded pork wrapped with rib eye), and it was a very pathetic looking dish - three little sad lumps of meat. The flavour was okay with assistance from the goat cheese, but I found the texture of the meat made the dish even less appetizing. None of the secondi come with sides, but again we ordered platters to share. The coleslaw and new potatoes were the standouts. No dessert as we brought our own cake, and they served it up without any hassle. Plenty of chianti kept us well lubricated throughout the evening. Overall a fantastic meal! read more

I came here with a large group for a birthday celebration and was seated in the private back room. It was a nice, square setup that I could definitely recommend for group gatherings. The food was served family-style with a fixed menu, which was just okay for the price and quality. I had heard good things about the restaurant but was somewhat disappointed on its delivery. It may have been the fact we were limited by our choices in our groups, but the food was not all that impressive. I did, however, very much enjoy the hip decor (the chandelier is a standout piece) and the company, so I cannot say I had a bad time. I just wish the food matched the surroundings. read more

Came here for a quick dinner on a week night. The place wasn't too crowded, we got a table right away. We tried the Grande Meatball and the Pan-seared Scallops for appetizers and they were both decent. I had high hopes for the mains after the appetizer, but was disappointed by what came next. I went with the classic Rigatoni in tomato and basil sauce. Most of the pasta had cracked and broken up and i couldn't taste even a hint of basil in the sauce. The other entree we tried was the garlic shirmp with risotto cake, it came with 3 small pieces of shrimp. Nothing to write home about. In addition, our server wasn't very attentive. We had to go up to the front to pay in the end because we couldn't even flag him down. Will not be returning to this restaurant again. read more

Wow! This place is amazing. Super laid-back but trendy atmosphere, would be equally comfortable for a family or a casual date. It's loud, but in an acceptable and fun way. Service was friendly and efficient. This like a good place for people who like food and don't want to end their meal hungry! We were stuffed at the end and surprised at how reasonable the price was. The food was very satisfying and delicious, and the complimentary bread with olive oil and vinegar to dip was a nice addition. We had the brussel sprout side with cheese and bacon (my husband isn't usually a vegetable fan and loved it), the portobello mushroom slices side which were very tender and rich in garlic butter, the ricotta-stuffed salmon, and the creamy gnocchi with some kind of delicious bacon cream sauce. (ordered the large and had a hard time finishing it, but did anyway because it was too good to not..) Only one complaint - the food was all lukewarm when it arrived at the table, it came out super fast, but wasn't hot enough, it was acceptable, but should've been hotter. Looking forward to returning to try the other dishes! read more

Love this place. So glad to find its latest incarnation on Queen at Leslie. I remember my first meal at the Nose decades ago. I've told to the story so many times of one of the beat meals I ever had. All these years later, they're still preparing beautiful meals like it's out of mama's kitchen. The staff are so nice. Happy to stumble upon you again, old friend. read more

I LOVE the nose. This is one of my favourite restaurants in Toronto. I had my birthday dinner with a close group of friends in the back bank wine cellar vault. It is nice to be away from the noise and to eat amongst all the wine! i have been to this restaurant several times, but this is my first review. The service is always impeccable. the food always top notch and the new menu is great! We always had the duck, but our new favourite is a beef-pork dish. The new menu is amazing for those of us with Gluten Allergies that don't think we can eat at said restaurants where pasta lives. They are wonderfully open to ensure that I receive a meal that is healthy both for my stomach and the gut! Ah, always a fan of this restaurant for nights when you dont' feel like cooking to days when you need to celebrate birth, life and love. My birthday event was lovely. My friends had created a lovely dessert for me because I dont' like and can't eat many desserts. It was a flower arrangment made out of fruit. it was awesome to see the staff cut up the watermelon at the end of the night because we were en route to dance th enight away. It just seems like such a great team. Service from the owner to busperson is always great. if you haven't tried this place, it is a MUST! *gluten in the meatball, *flour in all cheese sauce. They will put it on the side. read more

One of the reliably fantastic experiences in Leslieville. I keep going back for more. It is best to experience this as a good sized group of four or more prepared to share because otherwise you will have a hard time making up your mind on what to order. Highlights of last night's meal included the much touted melt in your mouth crespelle with butternut squash and the fall of the bone beef ribs as well as the scallops and pork belly, sexy duck, mushroom side and , well, pretty much everything else on the menu. Even with a group of six we had difficulty narrowing our choices. We were seated in the new room and found it very pleasant and somewhat quieter than the main dining room. They only accept reservations for tables of six or more. Another reason why it is good to go as a group. read more

We were there with a gang of people and we left the food up to the staff. They provided 4 courses, all of which were excellent. For each course they put down several platters, calamari and meatballs and such, then a beautiful pasta dish, the entree with pork tenderloin, steamed salmon (the best I have ever had!) and vegetables. and then desert platter, with their tieramasu (how do you spell that?) A night to remember read more

Was here last night for NYE ~ table for 8. It was absolutely delish (again). The menu was great, the first 2 courses were bite sized portions of the most delicious things they have on their menu every day, and the we had a choice of 6 mains (I think). I had the rack of lamb (yum). One of my fave things is the butternut squash crepe. It was tasty, and left me wanted to come back for more! read more

Good, casual atmosphere with servers pouring the alcohol quite liberally. Our table of 2 arrived at "The Nose" on a Friday evening without a reservation. We only had to wait 15 minutes at the bar, before we were seated. Bartenders poured us both very large glasses of wine. Bread was brought to our table, along with waters. We perused the menu and noticed that there was a pretty good selection. We ordered and shared the: - sea scallops with pork belly (flavourful pork belly) - stuffed risotto balls (a bit bland) - fig with goat cheese (only one piece of fig) - Involtini - shredded pork wrapped in rib eye (not very appealing to the eye. It was presented as 3 small log pieces but was delicious) Main dishes run from around $12-$17 each. Overall, the service was pretty good. Our waiter was attentive and there are many servers clearing the tables and re-filling water/drinks. My main critique is that portion sizes are small for the price. You may also find that the dishes are not appealing to the eye, but could end up being tasty. read more

Oh gawd am I a fan. Place is casual and loud and you have no idea how good the food is. Service was fab, from the time we were asked to wait a few minutes for a table (with many apologies) to the time we left. Marissa (I think) was our waitress and she was so good - chatty, fun and full of good suggestions. Food was to die for - no really. Most of the Italian I've been eating fades into non-memory in comparison. I think if I came from an Italian family, this is what my nonna would make. Meatball - mmmmmmm!!! Pasta with lamb ragu - so good! Grain-fed chicken - yumminess. Ravioli - I'm really going to die by now. Yes, I dug my fork in everyone else's food!!! And still wanted to get dessert (greedy, greedy, but I couldn't let this food fantasy end). Tiramisu - best I've had and their chocolate brownie - so fab I can still taste it in my mouth a week later. Can't fault this gem - giant nose and all. But I really was in a major food coma by the time I got home. read more

This is one of many fantastic restaurants in Leslieville. Modern, unpretentious decor, high energy crowds. Portion sizes are perfect. The service was great - polite and thoughtful, but never overbearing. As for the food, it was consistently excellent. The Sexier Duck Leg (that's what it's called on the menu) is a moist duck leg with crispy skin, served on a traditional beans and tomatoes sauce with olives and lemon. Hard to describe properly, but many people call it 'peasant food'. It's the kind of menu where I want to keep coming back because so many dishes look so good. Go! read more

I have been to "The Nose" about four times now and I absolutely love this restaurant! I'm new to TO and tried this place one night and now it's my go to restaurant :) Anytime we have guests in from out of town, we come here. Service is great, ambience/vibe is perfect, not too loud but definitely not quiet. And the food, I love it! Dish sizes are great, price is right, and the service/food has been amazing every time. My fave so far: Pulled pork wrapped in beef with goat cheese... Dee-lish! read more

Heaven heaven heaven. I LOVED our meal here. This place is known locally "The Nose" We had a fabulous night out with another couple and ordered a bunch of things to share including many bottles of champagne. The giant meatball is a must - so delicious! read more

The nose knows, you know. That's the only marker indicating you have arrived at my favourite Italian restaurant. I confess I was reluctant to share this one. There are only a handful of restaurants, including Gio's, that I hold close to my heart. I want to shield them from being overrun by the uncivilized hordes that populate this city and have no appreciation for quality. But that's not you, is it? This traditional restaurant is one of the funkiest places to eat. Its decor is bargain chic - a haphazard mess of mismatched chairs and beautiful vintage chandeliers. The interesting and well-published fact is that the building used to be a bank, and Gio kept the vault intact to use as a private dining area. It's details like these that build character, and we know it's all about the details - in life, in fashion, and in food. The best part of Gio's is the food. Where do I begin? It's all so good so I'll just tell you what my last meal was: pan-seared scallops with pork belly and Scotty's meatball to start. My primi was the crespelle and I ended with the involtini. If I could, I would order absolutely everything. The sexy duck and ossobuco are two of my other favourites, as is the asparagus with gorgonzola, but that's because I love cheese - and the funnier the name, the more inclined I am to order it. I'm drooling all over my keyboard... Gio's is simply the best, amazing food in a whimsical setting. All the right elements for a perfect night. read more

Me and my boyfriend figured since this was fairly popular amongst Italian food lists, that it was worth checking out, and would be good stuff. Service- Really helpful and enthusiastic, awesome job :) Atmosphere -The lighting was just below romantic, and more in the "I-wish-I-was-a-nocturnal-creature-to-see-my-fork." Food- He got the involtini, which was excellent but was a really small portion (as was everything else. I got the Stuffed chicken, but it had no stuffing inside, which was kinnnnnnnnd of disappointing. The pasta portions wouldn't be enough for a toddler, the mashed potatoes were alright, but I was nauseated when I left and my boyfriend thought he was going to throw up shortly after we left (and he has an iron stomach.) Atmosphere -The lighting was just below romantic, and more in the "I-wish-I-was-a-nocturnal-creature-to-see-my-fork." The nose outside, plywood table and all around atmosphere was neat. Looked more of a bad idea gone well than an intended creative venture, but to each their own, I suppose. read more

This is a great place to go to for a taste of "nona's cooking" as my friend would say. The food has a that authentic home cooked meal feel to it, with all the dishes having a no fuss, hearty goodness taste. The pastas that we've had there are cooked amazingly well and full of flavour, but again not fancy with unnecessary ingredients. Their mealball is amazing, as are the seared scallops and every meat dish we've had there is great. The ambiance and servers make the place great. it's casual and fun but still a nice night out. The servers are attentive and knowledgeable. read more

Food is great. Atmosphere is awesome. The only reason I didn't give a 5 is because often ..you r forces to wait for a table -even with reservations. This is a great Lealieville spot and a place I've taken family, friends and even a date. Great vibe, great specials and just one of my favorite spots in the area. read more

for the buffs out there: remember this american express commercial, say 15 or so years ago with some italian guy with a big nose who was a chef/restaurant owner blabbing about the greatness of amex? that was gio rana i believe and his restaurant, which at the time i think was called something just like gio rana's was somewhere around yonge and eglinton area; outside the front of that restaurant sat, above the entrance, an enormous paper mache like nose. gio's nose. which then, of course, caused the affectionate moniker of "the nose" to be born. thats what i call it and i must have heard it somewhere because i didnt invent it. so somewhere along the way he moved his place to leslieville. thank the lord in heaven for that. now just close your eyes and imagine me in your ear making lickety split slurpy lip smacking drooling sounds and let that serve as a background soundtrack to the following, because those sounds are all you will be able to utter once youve eaten here. now im so shitty at remembering the exact food i had, but after reading another review of this place, i did recall the speechlessness i had when i also had the pork belly and scallop app. perhaps ill add to this review in the future, but feel free to write me hate messages if you go there and the food is nothing short of brilliant. i know that wont happen. it is an elegant place but elegant with wood no frou frou (thats the way im going to spell that spellcheck or not). feel free to gab and gab and giggle your way through your meal. we eat and talk here like you were sitting at your mamas table. (i think i know where i want to go for my birthday this year) read more

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Had a pre-party dinner with a few of my closets friends in the vault. As usual, the food was excellent, the service was outstanding (and easy on the eyes, I love that waiter!) and totally reasonably priced. And I finally took the fish plunge - ordered the Haddock and didn't regret it. This would seem normal for most people, except I pretty much loathe fish. I never eat it, every time I order it I can't choke it down - except here - is is wonderful, fresh, and tender! If you can squeeze a group into the vault I'd highly recommend it! Big Nose, I love you. read more

Both the food and ambience left a memorable experience, which is why I am reviewing this place. Very cosy environment for dinner. We came with a big group but it is suitable for dinner dates too. Definitely want to come back and try other items in menu. The meatball and Brussel sprout slaw were quite memorable. read more

We went for a surprise engagement party with a group of appx 20 that occupied the whole side room. We arrived at 8pm and the music was louder than many clubs... It was difficult to speak to the person 3 inches away from me. Service was disappointing at best. It seemed that they were going to take good care of us. Our drink orders were taken, and each diner was seemingly carefully documented. One guy in our party asked 4 separate times for his drink and it still took over an hour. Despite being in the restaurant for over 3 hours, we were never offered another drink. Then when food was finally delivered, it was served in the always maddening "ok who ordered the mozzarella?! Anyone?" Style. I mean, come on, we can barely hear you, 2 tables and you couldn't keep track of at least which table? Ultimately yeah the 4 small plates we ordered were good, and we can give them a partial mulligan on the service but we weren't terribly impressed with the atmosphere or service. read more