On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Real People. Real Reviews.®
Categories: Italian, Tapas/Small Plates [Edit]
1220 Queen Street E
Loading...
Great variety of Italian tapas and wine....
Service was good. Nice crowd.
AWESOME AMBIANCE where memories can be made!!!
Dear Gio Rana,
I would like to formally submit this inquiry through a third party medium, that of which being http://Yelp.com, to officially request that you drop both of the "Really" in the title of your restaurant due to false advertisement, in that being that your restaurant is not "Really Really nice." It is not even "Really nice" Close to "Really nice." Approaching "Really nice." In the vicinity of "Really nice." But not quite fully "Really nice."
This was my biggest problem, the only time I have ever attended your venue, and that is if I'm going to a place that, in its title claims that it is "Really really nice", then I have extremely high expectations. If an establishment is arrogant enough to exclaimed to the people of this world that it is "Really really nice", then I expect nothing short of perfection. Am I wrong to expect that? If this place was called "Gio Rana's Restaurant", I would probably give it 5 stars. Food is good. I like the whole setting and atmosphere. Service could have been a little better, but considering how busy they were when my wife and I went, I suppose I can't complain too much. But again, I thought this place was "Really Really Nice", so you know what...I expect the best service I have ever experienced at a restaurant. You did not provide that, Gio Rana.
Do you know what this place reminds me of? That really, really, really, arrogant, snobish, selfish prick of a person that we've all come across in our life times. They talk a huge game, but when it's time to handle business, these people completely fail at virtually every aspect of life. That is what this place reminds me of. After all, if you're arrogant enough to have "Really Really Nice" in the title of your business, then I have every right to expect nothing short of wonderful. Gio Rana, you failed to provide that. You were mediocre. Run-of-the-mill. You're like a fancy Olive Garden without the endless breadsticks, and Michael J. loves those breadsticks.
Gio Rana is mediocre in every sense. It's not a bad thing. Like I said, I enjoyed the food. I enjoyed my overall experience at Gio Rana's, but I've had a lot better at many, many other places. Perhaps if the overall arrogance of this place were to dissipate, then I might be inclined to give more stars on my review, but I'm sorry Gio Rana...you are not Really Really Nice. At best, you're just nice.
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.
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.
The food is decent, certainly not among the best restaurants of Toronto, and the value of some dishes seems quite good. However, no price point should come with bad service.
PS: They have a poor beer selection.
Making a decision off of a menu on which everything sounds good is always a challenge. That's why more traditional Italian meals are such a treat: You get to have an antipasto, a primo, and a secondo! Our server deserves a special mention for handling my "Do you find the black cod too fennelly?" inquiry with utmost grace. After describing the flavours and comparing it to that of my other options, she assured me that I could always let her know if I did indeed find the fennel overwhelming and would then get a new dish hassle-free. Although I thankfully did not have to exercise this option, her patience and ingenuity were most refreshing.
We came for good food and good food was what we got. The grilled whole calamari with tomatoes and capers were delightfully plump and juicy, the triangular crespelle filled with butternut squash and sage puree swimming in cream sauce were decadently rich, and the black cod and infant's fist-sized shrimp in spicy tomato sauce were served in their wax paper steam dome and cooked to perfection. My dinner date's rack of lamb was perfectly cooked, oozing with fragrant juices from the blushing centre. The many libations on the import-heavy wine list were great accompaniments to the delicious dishes as well.
The decor of the large open space is an eclectic menage of classy-industrial. Intricate chandeliers and large framed art pieces are juxtaposed with unfinished walls and ceiling and exposed piping, including a vent draped with Christmas lights. To kick things up another interesting notch, there's also a Village People record sleeve and other random tidbits of 80's nostalgia tucked here and there. Following the same principle of mixing it up, the music for the night ranged from Prince to T.I., making it impossible for anyone to not sing along at some point.
Gio Rana's was a great place for two, but judging by the looks of the larger party and constant flow of mouth-watering dishes arriving at their table next to us, size really doesn't matter.
You know that neighborhood spot that all the locals visit when too lazy to cook, but outsiders love to rave about for any number of reasons? The Nose (as most call it) is just that place, with good, mostly reliable food, in a unique, and lively setting - no more, no less.
Dinners start with a plate of white and whole wheat bread, with olive oil and highly acidic balsamic vinegar, setting the tone for the rest of the rustic Italian menu. Skip the bowl of olives (6), which come unmarinated, and too soft, but do order the crostini, which changes daily (6). Last I was there, it was topped with sauteed rapini, parmesan shavings, and a balsamic reduction. I almost ordered another. Equally incredible is the roasted beet salad (6), served in huge chunks, with tomatoes and goat cheese.
Scallops (11) are an incredible disappointment, served undercooked, and with a far-too cold center. The thick strip of pork they're served with is a nice touch, and does wonders for flavour. The single large meatball (7), while 'fun,' is just OK.
As for mains, the crespelle (7), filled with butternut squash, is the very best tasting of its kind, even if slightly overcooked. Don't bother with the gnocchi (7), which comes in possibly the blandest, most forgettable pasta sauce. Risotto with sausage (8) is great, cooked so that it retains that crucial 'bite' at the center.
From the secondi section, I've only had the 'Sexier Duck,' (18) which I can't recommend. The meat is tough, the fat too gelatinous, and the sides (garlic potatoes and sundried tomatoes) uninspired. Despite the duck leg taking up the whole of the plate, the quantity of meat is actually quite small.
Desserts are definitely worth a try, especially the tiramisu. The wine list is reasonably priced, with a focus on Italians, but don't come here for the pairings.
Diners can expect to wait anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes for a table in the large, and loud warehouse of a room, and then get squished into tables and chairs far too small and close. But that's part of the charm, here, as is eating in the wine cellar or side room with old movies playing on a projector. Service is usually top notch (ask for Zac!), though the host is often visibly stressed.
A good restaurant worth the occasional visit, but it's highly overrated.
Well when you leave a pub on Paddy's day and expect to get in at another one closer to home, I guess that's how you end up eating at an Italian restaurant. No green wine? WTF!
So Gio's is the kind of place you can rely on as an old standby. We've lived in Leslieville since 2005, so have had the opportunity to watch the hood evolve. Gio's, however, doesn't seem to have changed at all - the daily special is still the same it was long ago: whole seabass. The rest of the menu is a virtual carbon copy of the original also. At least they must save on photocopying.
Don't miss:
- crespelle: it's delish
Can't lose:
- brussel sprouts: maybe Tomi-kro executes it better, but it's pretty good
- Scotty's meatball: a big meatball in red sauce
- Service: all the servers are high-energy and excellent
If I had to list my favorite things in the world Italian food would be at the top, and commitment would be at the bottom.
These are two of the reasons I love The Nose . Savory dishes are served in small tapas-like servings for smallish tapas like prices. No need to commit to a big bowl of pasta which arrives served after you fill up on bread. Lively pastas, tender fish, and rich risotto are all served briskly on small plates. Instead of lusting after your neighbor's dish you can just order one of your own. If you crave vegetables you can order those as well. Or, dinner can just be a bottle of Pinot Grigio and a meatball.
Sitting at a table scares me - too much of a commitment - so we always choose the bar instead. There we can start with a killer French Martini, then move on to a plate of exceptional Fritto Misto, usually followed by another plate of Fritto Misto and whatever happens to strike our fancy that day.
Around us the crowd is always raucous. It's a happy party, which is fine for some, particularly those who like the volume somewhere between loud and deafening. I don't, which is another reason why the bar is so attractive.
Gio's is our local, and there've been many nights we've closed the bar - which is what happens when the bartender asks if I'm done, and the answer is "Yes. Maybe. No. Not done. More, please."
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.
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.
Came back here for my girlfriend's birthday and it continues to be fabulous. As a vegetarian the… Read more »
Gio Rana's is like a Really Really Nice East Side Mario's
That's not necessarily a bad thing. I waffled back and forth on this place, unable to decide if it was worth three or four stars. I settled on three and a half, and rounded down because it's Monday. Notwithstanding the rating, I recommend you try it at least once.
After a weekend jam-packed with excitement, Thursday seems so long ago but I remember vividly the group of about 20 of us that gathered to say farewell to FARC and fellow meatatarian Deanna "if it once ate, I'll eat it at least once" W. I arrived late but still had a little time to case the joint before getting a beer* in my hand and my order in. Gio Rana's is built inside an old bank**, with high ceilings and an open-concept kitchen near the back of the large dining area. It's not that exciting, save for the Really Really cool private wining and dining room that used to be the bank's vault.
The menu consisted of a sheet of white paper, printed double-sided, in a ratty plastic sheath. Really Really cheap-looking. Thankfully, selection was good, and everyone at the table seemed to be able to find something they wanted. I found lots, and ended up settling on pan-seared scallops with pork belly and jus, pork tenderloin in a walnut and gorgonzola sauce and beet, tomato and goat cheese salad. (these, and two bottles of beer, set me back $60 including a respectable gratuity).
Scallops
My first bite gave me a bit of a foodgasm. Two scallops, and a healthy dose of pork belly. They were Really Really big, and perfectly cooked. Regrettably, a bit of grit (not sure if that's a given with scallops, but I wish it weren't). The pork belly was a nice nod at the more traditional bacon-wrapping, and the jus was a nice complement.
Pork Tenderloin
Really Really Nice Gorgonzola sauce. Portion was quite large, and the pork was nicely done. Found myself mopping up the sauce with whatever I could find around me. Eventually just picked the plate up and licked it clean.
Beet Salad
Tasty, but unremarkable. It was what it was and I'd probably try something else next time. Also, got hit with a giant piece of onion near the end of it that left me with onion-mouth until I got a few pints of draught in me at our next stop.
Service:
Our group of 20 was handled professionally from where I was sitting. Deanna's co-FARC Christine "charfcuterator" C may beg to differ; sitting across from me the poor doll was elbowed and bumped for most of her time at the table. Still, we were taken care of and we weren't kept waiting any longer than might be expected for such a large group.
Is Gio Rana's Really Like an East Side Mario's? Really?
I kinda think so. It's loud and chaotic, and the décor is equally kitschy. The service is "run around like a chicken with your head cut off" style (but effective) and the place is good for large groups.
While the food is absolutely delicious, I still feel like I'm getting hosed when I pay 60 bucks at a place that so desperately needs a makeover (or at least a nosejob) and has such horribly cheap-looking menus.
_____________________
* Not pleased that there was no draught beer - if I wanted a bottle, I'd cry for mama.
** Get it? Case the joint?
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.
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.
2nd highest rated restaurant on Yelp? Is this a joke? This place gets 3.5 Stars from me, which I hope will help drive down the ridiculous rating! Here's why it gets 3.5:
+++PROS+++
1. For the type of food, the prices are good
2. The service is excellent. They handled our group of 20 or so Yelpers as smoothly as they could have.
3. Lots on the menu, plenty of options for all, even those annoying vegetarian friends.
---CONS---
1. If you're going to call yourself a "Really Really Nice Restaurant", you may want to invest in things like, paint on the walls, a janitor to clean your bathroom, etc.
2. The most important thing, the food, simply wasn't that great. Just good, not really or really really good. I had the scallops+pork belly, gnocchi, and lamb chops. The gnocchi was the best of the bunch.
To be perfectly honest, there's too many good restaurants in Toronto for Gio Rana's to be a destination location for me. The high Yelp rating and great expectations don't help either. Overall, I liked it and would return, it is just not up to the rating or hype, and not in an area I would go out of my way to have a meal.
I'm not a frequenter of Queen East, mainly because I don't really know what's around there but this restaurant has been on my radar since someone told me the story of the famed papier maché nose, which completely intrigued me.
Finally I got to eat here, although it was a sad occasion (Deanna's departure) it was great to meet up with so many people and just have a great time. Since we were a large party (18 in total), dishes obviously took a little longer to prepare but service remained excellent.
I was one of the first to arrive and when seated with only 2 others our server came by a few times to ask us if we needed anything or wanted to take drink orders, she made sure our pitchers of water were filled and that we were all set.
I loved the rustic decor. It was a little dark to see but I noticed the mismatched chairs and the bar stools and tables and the antique wooden buffet that was used as the server station. There is also a "vault" in which a party of max. 10 people would be able to enjoy.
The food was great. Not spectacular but great. I didn't choose anything that was too adventurous to solidify my claim of good food. Scotty's meatball was sub par, it wasn't too special and tasted like there was not enough meat and too much filler. The rigatoni with tomato and basil was really good but don't bother getting the entree size at $14, opt for the appetizer which is half the size for is $7 and the entree size isn't even that big.
I also tried the fried calamari and it was good, nothing special but it did come with shrimp as well which is always a bonus. I also had the creseulla, some name of that sort which is stuffed pastry with sweet potato and herbs, amazing! It's really good. When I come back, yes I said when, I will be having that for sure!
Bathrooms are not the typical scary Toronto bathroom but only in the sense that they aren't in the basement. Is it that difficult to put a little bit of money into the nasty rundown bathrooms? Bathrooms are what I deem to be the difference between a nice hotel and a crappy motel, so why do I not have the same rating system for restaurants? Because it's a known fact that Toronto has the grossest bathrooms around.
I would definitely come back here, regardless of the bathroom situation, it's got a great feel and decent looking servers (re: Kat F's comment of the David Arquette lookalike named Joshua or Joseph) and everyone is laid back and super unpretentious which is a nice change from the stuff I'm used to every day.
Good food, good friends...what could be better?
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.
I had an amazing dinner experience at the Nose. It's got spectacular service, great ambiance, a hip and trendy clientele and some truly incredible gastronomic delights.
I started my meal with a snifter of excellent port, and the gorgonzola-stuffed fig with prosciutto, which was divine! My entree was the delightful peppered halibut and shrimp cartoccio, the fish was flaky and moist and with just the right amount of pepper, tomatoes and onions. It was sublime.
It's easy to mistake the decor for laziness, but a lot of work (and not a lot of money) went into making this hipster dive gourmand house. Saving money where prudent and spending it on the kitchen and top-notch ingredients is what makes good food. The proof is in the pudding, when you walk in to Gio's it exudes a sense of hip-apathy, while still being inviting and cozy.
The service was excellent for a table of 20, I can't fault the wait staff for being a little slow, co-ordinating with the kitchen to have 20 appetizers and 20 entrees with sides ready simultaneously is a tremendous challenge, and I feel they did a great job.
Gio's is a great place to have a quality Italian meal, it's expensive, but I think good things are worth paying for. :)
Yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum
Eat here. You will like it. Trust me.
Still my favourite, and consistently wonderful. All of the servers look happy to be working there. Try to get Josh, the dude that looks like a cuter David Arquette, as your server. He's the best of the best.
Lovely ambiance, terrific food, great specials and funny decor! Oh, and you'll have to take everyone's word for it that the place is really called Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant as there's no signage and no website to verify this fact.
NOTES: Closes early (10pm I think?) and they don't take debit. Whatever you do, for the love of all things holy, don't come without cash on hand. The nearest ATM is across the street, and if you know anything about what's across the street, it's what's currently giving Leslieville a bad rep. You can chance it, but if you get shot, don't say I didn't warn you!
LONG LIVE THE NOSE!
My absolute #1 spot for dinner in the city. I love long, drawn out dinners from…
Read more »
This is one of my stand by favourites and what good, rustic Italian food should be. My favourites are the meatball app (just one giant yummy meatball), the roast breast of chicken, involtini, or slow cooked ossobuco. Mains come alone, veg sides come on a communal plate that is shared. Food is small plates Italian style. There is a good wine and cocktail slection. My only caution is that the place is loud, and always have a reservation. Book the wine/bank vault for larger groups for special occasions, reserve four weeks ahead for that.
In my fellow Yelpers I now trust! And in Leslieville I now obsess.
Gio Rana's is warm & irresistible from the moment you are greeted to the invitation to return.
First impressions: the heady fragrance (drool-worthy), vaulted ceilings and tall windows, huge portraits, a pleasant buzz, a diverse crowd of patrons with an artsy air. The tables are staggered in height, so even in the middle of the room you feel "nestled" in!
My shrimp were so pretty in pink, and so plump, I had to coo at them before I took a bite. They topped a risotto cake that was crispy on the outside, creamy on the in. My friend's ravioli stuffed with rabbit was bursting with flaky pink meat (what was with the pink tonight?), and a nearby gnocchi, I'm told, was just shy of spectacular. The grilled calamari was reminiscent of 5 Doors North (my fave), and I learned these two establishments were linked at some point. These are just a handful of the tapas-style plates, and each was an ACE!
Our server was seemingly omnipresent and picked up on subtle cues when we needed something.
When the music went 80's-early 90's over our desert of tartufo and berries, I was BLISSED OUT!
THE NOSE, even your nostrils are nice!
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.
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!
Nice ambiance. Better than average cuisine, nicely presented, but not overly special. Great service. Overall experience is good.
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.
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).
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. :)
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?
While I wouldn't have named it this way, Gio Rana's is really really nice, really!
Sick of the…
Read more »
I wanted to love this place! I really did! Lots of awesome reviews! Offbeat name! Giant nose! What's not to love? - I thought... I brought a visitor here after they flew into town, expecting to blow some socks off. Unfortunately the socks remained firmly on. That said - we enjoyed ourselves. I enjoyed my giant meatball appetizer, but the calamari were bland and nothing great. Upon quizzing, my fiance couldn't even remember what he had. My visitor and I very much enjoyed the freshly made butternut squash crespelle, which was a delicate and delicious dish... and we did get a good recommendation on wine! However, our service wasn't amazing overall, and we also had a giant screen in the room playing some kind of movie which we thought was a major distraction. I have to wonder if this place has become overhyped.... yarg!
Everyone I talked to in Toronto seems to know and love this place. Maybe I didn't order the right thing, but I thought it was just okay. Fun place; it was packed, with loud music, nice looking people, friendly staff, everyone seemed to be having a good time. I wasn't terribly hungry so I got the prosciutto and melon. Now, this should be a simple, classic dish, not hard to execute properly. The prosciutto and the melon get equal billing in the title; I like nice slices of cantaloupe accented with the ham. But, no, not on the plate here; the starring role was given over to a generous serving of prosciutto, while a few little chunks of cantaloupe made but a cameo appearance. Topped off by a suprise (and unwelcome) appearance by some balsamic vinegar. I will give it another go next time I'm in town, but this did not augur well.
The Nose knows what diners want. A cozy, neighborhood trat, the Nose dishes out comforting and fresh tasting italian fare in a warm and inviting atmosphere. High ceilings, huge personable painted portraits and catchy music all contribute to making you feel welcome and at ease. The service here is eager to please, knowledgeble and cute. And the food is simple but full of flavor. I had the involtini, meat shaped cigars of pulled pork wrapped with sheets of beef and topped with goat cheese. Yummy and hearty. The rigatoni in tomato sauce was delicious, pasta was done al dente and the sauce was tangy and rich with lotsa fresh basil. Another visit led to the discovery of their crespelle a decadent crepe filled with roasted butternut squash and covered in a butter cream sage sauce-in my best Oprah impersonation 'it was to DIE FORRRRRRRRR!!' Brussell sprouts was an excellent counter side dish, they were crunchy, light and flecked with smokey specks of pancetta in between, do the veggie sides here rock or what??
This would be a great spot for a casual date, a night out with friends or heck any time you feel like spoiling yourself in unprententious surroundings! There may be more refined or even perhaps even more authentic italian restaurants out there but the Nose wins our hearts by aiming for our stomachs. Count me among the converted!
Consistently excellent food, service, and wine list that really offers value for the money. They will take reservations for groups of 5+ but smaller numbers will have to chance it. A minor quibble that won't cause me to drop any stars from the rating because really, in 12+ outings, I have never had anything close to a bad meal or experience here. Believe another reviewer mentioned the crespelle, a ravioli-like pasta filled with butternut squash in a sage butter sauce, which stands out as one of the best dishes, along with the sexier duck, one of the tastiest versions of confit you'll encounter in the city. Yummy, and guaranteed to win you accolades from the friends and family you take to this place.
WOW! That's the best way to describe your culinary experience at "The Nose". Getting a meal, wine and an experience like this at such a price is what has made this my "go-to place" when it comes to a full on meal or just a few share items and some vino! The service is fantastic, attentive, and knowledgeable! The Ossobucco you can cut with a spoon, the Pulled Pork wrapped in Beef Tenderloin is so wrong it's right, the option of sides to share is endearing, and the price of vino puts me in my happy place. The seating is in grids, which allows for free-flowing conversations and is very busy. No reservations for small parties, so expect a 10 minute wait at the bar for them to arrange your table...a pre dinner drink never hurt nobody did it?
I echo previous reviewers. Went there last night for the first time. Ambiance was great, service was wonderful and the food was excellent. I had the very large Meatball with Ragu Sauce and my wife had the Salmon. Both were excellent. The Cappuccinos were among the best I have ever tasted. All in all - highly recommended!
Great food. We had a very nice time on Valentine's day. We would go back for sure.
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)
Neighborhood: Queen Street West
Toronto, ON
Neighborhood: Queen Street West
Neighborhood: Palmerston
Neighborhood: Leslieville
I am obsessed with gnocchi. Making my own from…
This is a list of all the places I've gone with…
You feelin' like that moon is gonna hit your eye…
I started yelping for a creative outlet, and once…
I've had good luck at group dining at these…
