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Gio Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
1725 Market StHalifax, NS B3J 3N9
(902) 425-1987
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for Gio Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"...souffle - dulce de leche blueberry tart - frozen lemon curd." In 3 reviews -
"I had the curried scallops for my appetizer and the duck..." In 2 reviews -
"And so the amuse bouche." In 3 reviews
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15 reviews in English
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Review from Maureen J.
Halifax, NS
2/22/2012
I have never been in Gio before their renovation and menu revamp but I must say, I am very impressed with the restaurant overall!
The decor is perfect! It owns the feeling of a high-end restaurant without being over stuffy or pretentious. I'm in love with the vibrant colored fabric in their booths and the variety of light fixtures. I got the scoop on the beautiful big lamps hanging over the booths and they are a colleague of questions asked on 'Inside the Actors Studio'. A great conversation piece!
The menu was a little overwhelming for me - but not in a bad way. After a long debate I decided to go for the Thai Salad with Grilled Shrimp. The salad came with vibrant colors, crisp fresh vegetables and the perfect amount of cilantro. My lunch guest had the burger (which the server claimed to be one of the best in the city) and I did look the part. Without the traditional bun that usually fills you up, the burger is served with onion rings on a small piece of flatbread with the perfect portion of frities. A guilt free way to enjoy a burger at lunch.
Our server was super friendly and very helpful when it came to making menu decisions. She knew the details of ingredients in each item and offered up suggestions when asked.
Now... who wants to take me there for dinner?! -
Review from Sarah B.
Halifax, NS
2/1/2012
Can we say pretty? This place is the definition of modern and sleek. Everything flows and has it's place which leaves you feeling calm and relaxed--even though this place screams fine dining.
Bar none best Martini's in Halifax. They are prepared with nothing but fresh ingredients, and with such precision you feel like you're holding your first born when it's in your hands. I had the espresso martini which left me speechless and in love with an innate object. Don't judge me until you're cradling this in your hands.
Their food is quite good, and they included a palate cleanser and an amuse bouche which is always an eloquent touch. Just gives you that, "I'm valued" feeling. The service is great, and they have more than enough staff around that you are able to get prompt attention.
The price tag is high, and in my opinion Halifax offers better high end meals elsewhere. With that said, the martini's will have me back several times.Listed in: Martini Mania
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Review from Sue A.
11/6/2011 ROTD 5/16/2012
Last night I had dinner for the first time at Gio. Gio was a second choice because we couldn't get a reservation at our first choice and it turns out it should have been our first pick. Lucky us! I should have come here years ago.
Yes, it's located in a hotel means it could be generic and stiff, but instead the dining room has a modern, relaxed feel. And it is fine dining which I thought meant the prices would be uberexpensive. My friends and I were surprised to discover the value-priced prix fixe menu--$45 for three courses. Needless to say all four of us went for that.
The menu had a wide range of meat and seafood choices including lobster. All the dishes were creative and intriguing. No stuffy same old, conventional dishes here.
I had the pork belly slider as my app. This high-end version of dim sum, tender pork belly on a steamed bun, was delicious. For my main, I had pheasant which our server accurately described as being similar to chicken (I had been thinking duck), but with a richer taste. The pheasant breast was stuffed with pear & pheasant confit, fois gras torchon, seared mushroom and served with onion cardamom purée, potato gnocchi, blueberry jus, and green beans. I'd never cook this myself so I enjoyed every bite and added pheasant to my favourite meat list.
Often with a prix fixe menu, you have limited choices for dessert. We were surprised to be able to order off the regular dessert menu. Everything looked good, but I chose the Bee's Knees (burnt honey ice cream, crunchy honeycomb, angel food cake berry compote in lavender honey syrup, lemon curd) and now I have a new favourite dessert here in Hali. My friends ordered the crisps which also looked amazing and was served with a small glass of Jost ice wine.
The service was attentive if not a little slow paced. Our server was helpful with directions as well. For example, when the palate cleansing sorbet arrived on a small disc-like plate and we were glancing around for our cutlery, she informed us it was meant to be tipped back.
The only disappointment of the evening was a lemondrop martinin I ordered that didn't come with a sugared rim. The wine list had a wide variety of choices and we enjoyed a nice Spy Valley pinot noir with our meals.
We closed the place down near midnight but didn't feel any pressure to leave.
The whole experience was refreshing and a nice change from the typical Halifax dining scene. I'll definitely be back! -
Review from Michelle B.
West End, NS
4/26/2012
Definitely among the best of Halifax's fine dining establishments, although with a pricetag to match. In this case, you do get what you pay for. The service is always fantastic, and the menu occasionally changes, which keeps it interesting. There are always some 'off the beaten path' choices, such as elk or stuffed pheasant. My favourite place to go for special occasions!
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Review from Vanessa J.
Halifax, NS
Updated - 7/12/2011
I celebrated my mother's birthday recently at Gio, and the experience was as lovely as it has been for lunch. I liked that while there was music playing, it was at a low enough level that I could still clearly hear what my dining companions had to say.
At dinner they also include an Amuse Bouche which was a small piece of elk with a mole rub and an asparagus salad, and after the first course they also serve a palate cleanser sorbet.
I had the curried scallops for my appetizer and the duck for my main. Both dishes were perfectly cooked and the presentation was thoughtful and beautiful without being overly pretentious.
Dessert was the highlight of the night, our table ordered three desserts and all were amazing, and were beautifully plated. For $10, these desserts are a steal.
As a person who sometimes dines solo, I noticed that the server offered the single diner next to us, the use of an iPad while he waited for his food. I thought that was really nice touch.
Gio is definitely at the top of my list for a celebratory night out, or for a good lunch.Listed in: The Sweet Spot, Fancy Pants Dining
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/12/2011
This is a review for the lunch at Gio.
My mom was away for mother's day, which secretly made me… Read more »
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Review from Edward M.
Halifax, NS
1/3/2012
I'll just expand on CC's comments. We have been to Gio on several occasions, for lunch and dinner. On the whole, the food is usually perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. I thought Gio would be doomed after Ray Bear left, but not so. The food reads well on the menu and delivers on taste - most times. The current Chef knows their stuff. The real issue in my mind is the disconnect between back of the house and front of the house. And New Years was not the exception. Service always tends to be a bit slow.
Our apps arrived cool to cold, 45 minutes after being seated. That suggests that the server is at fault. She didn't get the food to us when it came up at the pass. But it was another hour before our mains came. So that suggests the kitchen was not on their game. Whatever the problem is was an awful experience. Especially for a New Years. We were seated at 9PM and left at 11:30. Just in time to get to the outdoor festivities.
There were six of us. Two enjoyed their meals. Two were so-so. My wife and I were just plain pissed off. To Gio's credit, they didn't charge for the apps or the salmon mains as it was absolutely flavourless. But that didn't make up for the sour taste it left afterwards. That said, I wouldn't write Gio off. Much of what has been written in these reviews rings true. We will go back, but another experience like New Years and it's a no go to Gio. -
Review from Bessy N.
Halifax, NS
3/30/2011
Super fancy awesome.
I'm a fan of inspired food. I'm also a big fan of presentation. I'm a big fan of unique food experiences.
Bee Choo may be my new fave chef in the city.
What I had:
Appie
Boar
cracked pepper & fennel crusted tenderloin - celeriac & pommery mustard - tamarind gastrique - quail egg - arugula, blue cheese, walnuts - buttermilk onion rings - NEED I SAY MORE?
Main
Pheasant
breast stuffed with pear & pheasant confit - sweet potato gnocchi - onion & parsley purée - foie gras torchon - green beans - blackberry jus - NEED I SAY MORE?
In all seriousness, the food was incredible. Truly. In fact I would say it was as close as I've come to a Susur Lee experience in Halifax.
Service - started off incredible.. we were forgotten by the end of the night - which was a shame. We were all ready and willing to booze it up. So for that reason they don't get the extra star.
The only other complaint (from a friend) was that their steak was extremely rare / bloody - even though they specifically asked for Med. Just something to note.Listed in: Good for Groups
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Review from Catherine C.
Halifax, NS
1/3/2012
New Year's Eve. Waited 45 minutes for cold appetizers and two hours for our mains. Went through a bottle of wine waiting. When we mentioned this outlandish wait to our server she replied: It's New Year's Eve. Right... that one night a year that falls on the same day every year and yet sneaks up on you! What ...you didn't see it coming? And the food? Not even close to be worth the wait. Lame.
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Review from Laura P.
4/29/2010
"Make It Rich."
If Gio was to have a motto, this may just be it. Everything about this establishment oozes heavy heaps of RICH. In my first encounter with this downtown dining spot, I find myself surrounded in luxury. Service, Food, Esthetic-- a flux of luxe.
Simply put, its a lovely place to dine if you aren't a veggie. High class all the way with its carefully cultivated menu of fresh foods and exotic meats. (duck, rabbit, octopus, etc.) The fact that they serve Foie Gras was discouraging for me; however, many foodies consider this dish a delicacy. The menu is certainly not for everyone.
I opted for the Seared Tuna Salad, which was succulent to say the least. Sesame encrusted avocado, smoked jalepeno, and pineapple droppings? It was inventive and well fused.
Not sure if I'd make this a regular spot. The meal and atmosphere were lovely, but the bulk of the menu just isn't up my alley. -
Review from Gee M.
5/3/2009
Gio has that sleek, modern, adult feel going for it. From the moment you walk in to the moment you finish eating everything is exceptional and clean.
I got the gio soup to start and was really impressed. It had chicken, tomato, avocado, and tortilla in it and was really well seasoned and perfectly cooked. My main course, the polenta was incredible. I usually hate polenta so this was the test. It was coated in tomato sauce and there was goat cheese, zucchini, tomato, and eggplant on it. Everything on the plate blended together perfectly, and was prepared beautifully. For desert I got the "pick me up" and was equally impressed. It was sweet but not in an overpowering way, and I enjoyed it very, very much. Gio is a fine restaurant and I look forward to coming back the next time I'm in Halifax.Listed in: Great out of town restaurants
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Review from Lauren B.
Halifax, NS
5/10/2011
By far my favourite place to eat in Halifax. Never had anything i wouldn't try again. Great if you care about presentation and very thought out dishes. Must try the boar to start and elk as main. Love everything about it especially if someone else is paying..
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Review from Katie M.
Halifax, NS
5/18/2010 1 photo
I wish I had the chance to eat at this Market Street dining room more often. After an especially delicious meal of BBQ pulled pork, cornbread, guac and sweet potato fries I found myself comparing other restaurants meals to their standard.
Prices fit my mark for a special night out but are a little too pricey for a casual dinner. Gio offers a yum yum and z's package that at around $300 will get you a 3 course meal and room at the Prince George Hotel. Sounds like an anniversary package to me!
Although few and far between, my visits to Gio have always left me satisfied. Yes, this restaurant does exude a certain flare for the flashy, even the food is arranged perfectly on the plates when served. It can make for a bit of a stiff atmosphere, but you can rest assured that your meal is top notch. -
Review from Toby M.
Halifax, NS
2/14/2011
Great restaurant if you are looking for something a little 'different'. The food is unique and well-prepared. Service is very attentive and the little 'extras' like the amouse-bouche were lovely. Nice place for a special night out on the town.
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Review from M N.
Edmonton, AB
11/15/2009 10 photos
WIthout any ado, gio was awesome.
The first special thing I'd like to mention is that their water jug, instead of the usual lemon slices, holds a whole ring of canteloupe. It never occured to me to flavour water with canteloupe, but it sure is tasty! Aromatic and smooth on the palate, a better alternative to the usual lemon.
And so the amuse bouche:
Seared swordfish with beet puree and dill cream
The swordfish itself was slightly on the salty side, but combined with the sweet beets and tangy dill everything came together nicely for a tasty bite.
Bread service:
Sourdough loaf with flax and dates
Is there anything better than the smell of fresh sourdough bread? I'd say not. Beautiful aroma, great crust, chewy, dense and most crumb; one of the best breads I've had the opportunity to sink my teeth into for a long time.
Appetizer:
Curried scallops - hand made curry, red onion raita, baba ghanoush, zucchini, aloo gobi, crispy chickpeas
Perfectly seared medium rare, sweet as can be scallops were best friends with the curry. The aloo gobi and baba ghanoush "fritter ball" was a neat concept too and had a wonderful and warm savoury touch. Bright red onion raita and zucchini gave the dish nice lift.
Gio soup - roasted califlower and fresh horseradish soup with arugula
The horseradish in this was was great, the zing it gives is perfect for this chowdery type puree. The bitter fresh arugula also went very well with this warm, toasty, definitely comforting, Autumny soup
Intermezzo/Palate cleanser:
A spoon of raspberry and gooseberry frozen yoghurt with a strawberry slice.
It was weird they didn't de-stem the strawberry for us, I was wondering if I was supposed to eat it or not, but I picked it off myself in the end. The frozen yoghurt was nice and tangy. I wanted to let the server know my palate was still dirty... =/
Entree:
elk - elk tenderloin, gnocchi gallette, braised short rib, eggplant, oyster mushrooms, baby carrot, french beans
Amazingly tender and soft as a pillow, the perfectly cooked medium rare elk had a great gamey flavour. Braised ribs inside a pocket of roasted gnocchi was a bit on the heavy side but definitely packed all the flavours of a rich, hearty stew in a little package. The veggie sides along with some beets and what we think was a parsnip based puree were great compliments and enhanced the already scrumptious dish.
giant shrimp - dulce de leche, miso, sesame seeds, on top of cilantro pesto and sweet & spicy pineapple with a side of black forbidden rice, snow peas & baby bok choy
Three, yes they were giant, shrimp split into 6 sweet and savoury morsels that sat on a sweet and spicy pineapple along with an earthy, herby, and bright cilantro pesto. The shrimp, succulent and juicy, perfectly cooked, matched nicely with the southwestern and Asian flavours. The forbidden black rice, yum yum! Al dente, these amazingly chewy, to the teeth, gummy (in the best and most tastiest way) grains of rice that I adore in Chinese sweet "tong sui" taste GREAT served as a side. They lend such an aromatic and earthy flavour to the dish. I can't wait to try making them this way when I get home.
Dessert:
eh - vanilla crème brûlée - date purée - cranberry gelée - apple cider sorbet - pear brioche charlotte
kudos to the creative idea and name! Everything was beautiful and oh so delicious. The canelle of apple cider sorbet was my fav, cold, tangy, cider-y, sour apple that wasn't too sweet is one of the best frozen desserts I've had. The pear brioche charlotte was wonderful too. The soft and sweet pears were warm and wrapped in afragrant, eggy brioche. The creme brulee was smooth, nice crisp top,and a hint of something citrusy, I think the pastry chef must have snuck something in there. Not sure what it was, but it was good!
Half baked - blueberry & white chocolate iced souffle - dulce de leche blueberry tart - frozen lemon curd
Beautiful presentation again. Breaking open the frozen cone of iced blueberry souffle with a white chocolate shell oozed out a center of blueberries and gooey blueberry jam. Smooth and creamy with the occasional burst of juice when biting into a blueberry. Next, the dulce de leche and blueberry tart. Deep caramel flavour, a tasty tart on its own, but with the frozen lemon curd (the menu actually makes note that ``this is awesome`` and it IS awesome), it is truly magnificient. Lemony, creamy, and smooth, the lemon curd is like gelato and mascarpone, tangy and sweet, and light.
Normally we never order two desserts, but since we`re all the way out here in Halifax, why not, and good thing we did because these were to die for and the perfect end to a perfect meal.
Much like the Wildflower Grill in Edmonton, Gio offers a customer oriented, perfectly paced meal that certainly shows their thoughtfulness, planning, and consideration in every preparation that aims to please.Great atmosphere and great, fresh, creative food. A most memorable occasion -
Review from Francis B.
Gatineau, QC
11/2/2010
Gio is a lovely restaurant where they obviously pay a lot of attention to detail. Coming in to the door, you immediately feel that from the way that you are greeted to the decor and also through the way the tables are set.
Their "prix fixe" menu is a pretty good value and I chose a soup (it was bitterly cold outside) and the flatiron steak.
The amuse bouche and soup were lovely, beautifully plated and well seasoned. The flatiron was also lovingly plated with duck-fat frites and assorted vegetables. Unfortunately, the steak was a little bland.
The meal was capped with a very good bitter-sweet desert.
The service staff was very professional but it wasn't to formal. Smiling and friendly throughout the meal. Unfortunately, I was overcharged for drinks when the bill came.
Overall, I would definitely go back and try something else than the steak.
