Gioco: User Reviews
Awful Service
By CR1984 from South Loop, August 16, 2008
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I brought my parents (from another state) to Gioco hoping the dining experience would measure up to the charming appearance of the building and its interior. The food was good, but the service was downright insulting.
Our waiter was terrible. He did not offer us appetizers or offer to bring out additional drinks or wine. He was also nowhere to be found for most of the meal.
I ordered roasted chicken, which was delivered to the table undercooked and gushed blood upon being sliced into. A new dish was brought out to me just in time for my parents to be finished with their food. When I received our bill, I was surprised to find my dish on it. I asked to see the manager, at which point a young man in a short sleeve shirt with tattoos covering his arms came over to the table. (I personally have a tattoo so I have nothing against body art; I just do not feel it is very professional for someone supposedly managing a restaurant of this price point to interact with customers with his ink out for the world to see.) I told him that I wanted my dish (which was about 10% of the total bill) taken off. He was extremely arrogant and actually argued with me before eventually taking the chicken off the bill.
I live in the South Loop, so this experience is especially disappointing since the food was actually good (when it was finally cooked) and the place is so close by.
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Excellent!!
By ecaprera from Roscoe Village, August 10, 2008
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My husband and I went to Gioco for our anniversary. The food was delicious. We each had the bone in ribeye, with a side of polenta. WOW!! The steak was amazing. I dare to say better than any I have had. Wine was great and the after dinner drink we had, the Bigaro moscato, was exactly as they describe it on the menu!!!! AMAZING!!! the only thing that was just average was the fried calamari appetizer. I would definitely go back!!
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Fabulous restaurant
By Jules from Norwood Park, April 30, 2008
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This was our first time at Gioco and we will definitely be back. The service was very friendly and attentive. Our waitress knew the menu thoroughly and gave excellent explanations and suggestions. The pork chop was extremely tender and melted in your mouth. The ravioli funghi was unforgettable, as was the flourless chocolate cake with caramel sauce and espresso gelato. An all around winner!
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Dreadful restaurant
By mz from chicago, April 9, 2008
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My wife and I had a horrible experience last night. Rude and inconsiderate service accompanied by uninspiriing, bland food. My steak was as tough as a tire. Presentation was pathetic on both entrees. How does a place like this survivie? It should not.
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Very nice
By Jay13 from Lincoln Park, April 7, 2008
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My wife and I dined on Sunday night. When we entered the restaurant we were greeted by a very friendly hostess. She took us to our table, which was about two steps away from the host stand. From there we witnessed her handling a very difficult and rude customer. My wife and I looked on as this young woman handled the situation with such professionalism and poise, we were literally astounded. (the berate customer would have ticked off anyone). Our server Greg was wonderful, the food was excellent, overall a wonderful evening.
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cool décor
By eestan from south loop, February 7, 2008
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If you have to option for the lower dinning area, take it. The atmosphere is good in either however the upper area can get a little noisy as it is adjacent to the bar.
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Not So Great
By dwchicago from wicker park, December 3, 2007
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The food has gone downhill. This once strong eatery has lost its zeal. The Talipia was dry, prepared half-assed and dissapointing. How do you serve a fish dish with no sauce? The polenta was the highlight of my steak that had no garnishing and plan not to sit anywhere near the kitchen or risk sweating to dealth! Will not be returning.
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Disappointed
By Dhoop from Lakeview, November 5, 2007
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The food sucked - I was really surprised. My first course was the fried eggplant appetizer and the eggplant was mushy and the mozzerella had a really foul taste. I told the waitress and she very nicely did take it back. I ordered the pork chop - sooo overcooked and tough - could barely get my fork through it. The brussel sprouts and other veggies on the plate were overcooked too. My husband ordered the bone-in ribeye ($37 I recall) and thought is was only average.
I agree with the other reviews that the restaurant was really hot and noisy. We also had to wait 15 minutes for our table even though we had a reservation.
We won't be going back.
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If only the service were better....
By Susan B-K from Hinsdale, November 5, 2007
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I've been going to Gioco since it opened and have always enjoyed the food, atmosphere and service. KDK restaurants are known for their quality food, decor, and sassy servers. But, when I went to brunch there recently, the servers weren't just sassy, they were downright bad. I had to call our waitress over three times before she actually pulled herself away from the kitchen counter, where she was chit chatting with another server. Not sure what she didn't understand about the first two times I called her over. One of the people in my party got her food way after the rest of us did. And, when a glass of iced tea was sent back because it was so weak it looked like plain water, it took about 15 minutes to get a replacement--only to have that glass look the same. Maybe Gioco doesn't believe in brewing tea for very long. The decor and atmosphere are still top notch, as is the food. The price of brunch cannot be beat, unless you trek across the street to Zapatista for their $5 weekend brunch. All in all a good bargain, but beware of the service.
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Incredibly dissappointing...so many better restaurants in the city...
By Lilly W from Lincoln Square, November 4, 2007
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We were so looking forward to visiting Gioco. We had a reservation and were seated 20 minutes late. We sat for 15 mintues before a waiter approached us. We had two waiters, several servers and varying bus boys throughout the evening. We were a table of two and clearly lost out to larger seatings. There was also an issue with the lighting. It kept flickering on and off during the meal and was very distracting.
We waited over an hour for salads. I had the artichoke mushroom salad which was so severally over dressed and the vinagrette so bitter I had to send it back. Who sends a salad back?
The bread was good - and we had plenty time to sample it as we waited and waited and waited. And despite empty cocktail glasses on our table from our time waiting at the bar no one asked if we wanted another drink during the meal.
We sat in the back dining room and watched as staff members traversed between the kitchen and exit carrying raw meat, buckets of lord knows what and various ingredients. Nice.
My husbands pasta came cold and had to be sent back. My ravioli funghi was fair at best. The sauce was fine but the ravioli was rubbery and tough. We went elsewhere for dessert and coffee.
The best service by far for the evening was the car valet.
Do yourself a favor, spend your time and your money somewhere else!
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Review Summary
The following scores represent the average rating submitted by 62 users:
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