Gioco
Chicago, IL 60605-2599
Phone: (312) 939-3870
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- 13th Street
- Directions:
- El: Red Line to Roosevelt; Green or Orange Line to Roosevelt
- Best of Citysearch:
- Anniversary Restaurant 2008
- Hours:
- Mon-Wed 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm, Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-11pm, Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-12am, Sat 5pm-12am, Sun 5pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Gioco – by Citysearch Editors
The Scene
Once deserted, this stretch of Wabash Street now positively pulses with activity. Gioco can take some credit, having opened up shop in this 'hood back in late '99. The space is stylish, comfortable and loud with the buzz of conversation from a hip, all-ages crowd.
The Food
Gioco's still got it, serving simple, excellent Italian fare with a contemporary twist. Nearly every dish scores: paper-thin octopus carpaccio, savory steamed mussels with white wine, seared sea scallops with crispy artichokes ... who needs entrees when you can choose from starters like these? A salad of buffalo mozzarella and tomato sprinkled with fresh basil is basic, and perfect. Pasta-lovers will swoon over the hand-rolled penne, light as air and bathing in a delicate cream sauce studded with peas and prosciutto. Or skip noodles and go for flaky, tender grilled salmon or whole bass with rapini, mouth-watering seafood options both.
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Insider Tips
Save MoneyGoing to a play? Show the parking valet your ticket and get free parking, plus a free chef's choice appetizer. The offer is valid 5:30pm-7:30pm nightly; be sure to mention the offer when you make your reservation.
The ExtrasParties of 20 to 40 can hang in the intimate "Speakeasy," which features high ceilings, mahogany-accented walls, and exposed brick.
User Reviews for Gioco
03/31/2008 Posted by margolis
We read the reviews here, so we went in with high expectations. I get the feeling some of these may be false reviews. Friendly valet out front. Very unfriendly hostesses, though. They were too busy chatting to pay attention to us. Ugh! We requested a romantic table. When we got there, the joint was about a fourth full. They sat us in front of the open kitchen, next to a party of eight and a party of twenty. NOT ROMANTIC! Why did they seat us there when so many other tables were open, especially when we requested something quiet? We decided to make the most of it. The waitress was good, but wearing her purse over her shoulder. That was unprofessional. It made us feel like she would walk out the door at any moment, like we were holding her up from leaving. We had to ask for bread. Had to ask for more bread. They were good about keeping our glasses full, though. His dish looked, smelled, and tasted like hamburger helper. My filet was very rare, but I ordered medium. They insisted on taking it back. They had it so long he finished his dinner by the time they returned. I cut into it and they hadn't cooked it more at all. It was still rare. We gave up, had them pack my food, so I could nuke it later, and headed off to the ballet. This place is very average. For the money, I can think of about 100 other places with much better service and a lot better food. Don't bother!
Pros: None
Cons: Too many to list
03/24/2008 Posted by ahkitekt
Despite our favorite chef Fred Ramos leaving Gioco, we still enjoy our experiences here and the food is always excellent. Sunday we dined there for Easter Brunch and had a wonderful meal for an amazing price. If you are looking for a nice Italian dining experience for a great price, give Gioco a try.
Pros: atmosphere, food, drinks, specials
Cons: can't find any
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