This place was being suggested by 2 ppl that I randomly asked for advice. I went dinner on Thursday eve on a rainy Day, dressed nicely thinking the rain cant stop my plan, and was looking forward to it very much. To be honest I liked the food, but the service was HORRIBLE. I think the waitress was mad at the world or she's missing a nerv not knowing how to smile. She came over n her tone of voice was like she's mad at us, cant wait for us to leave. Just her whole attitude pretty much ruined d dinner experience. My friend read reviews before we came and I heard ppl saying they had bad service, it was really NOT exaggerating. We ordered mushrooms for side dish, the server or some bus boi guy came and just tossed the dish on the table as he flew by. I saw the plate shifting on my table...lmao. Yeah he must be rushing somewhere lol. The mushrooms were delicious though. Me n my friend both ordered "Sexy slow cooked Duck leg". NOT SURE WHY they have to call it SEXY because its NOT sexy. Its just pice of dark brown looking duck leg on a beding of mash potato. I understand sometimes restaurant make up names to make dishes stand out, but this name seems little "slutty for the "class" they try to advertise amount customers. Only while everything else has normal name n plain definition on the menu, that "sexy leg" just seemed very odd n funny. It was very comforting. The meat of duck was roasted perfectly and the mashed potato is really great to go with it. to my surprise it was very filling. I would give food for 4 stars, and service for 1 star. I asked my friend who ordered the same thing, which duck leg dish was better between restaurant "Brasaii" n "Gio Rana". We both agreed the slow cooked duck confit we had during SummerLicious were better(I would give that dish 5 Star at "Brasaii") Over all, the food was good, I liked the place, its very plain but it has something timeless and laid back atmosphere. It's hommy n lovely. I dont like the price though, its definitely not for the service u get, and decoration is not exactly upscale. There bunch of small low tables and a few High ones feel like eating at coffee shop. I was at the High one at the very back conner by window n considering to be lucky seeing the rest ppl were "fighting" for space and waitress has to adjust her body to make way thru for food and bill. The waitress finally came to table to ask us how was the food, and her smile was so unsincere while her face was twitching, it turns my stomach. It's not one's privilege to think they deserve tip because they work there. PS. I bought like 4 lb of pork tenderloin from Metro yesterday and spent 7 hrs making this pulled pork with apple n brown sugar thing. I made mashed potato as side, ironically I served pork on bedding of potato, it looked n tasted similar to the SEXY duck leg I had Gio Ranas so it reminded me of that dish I had a day. I felt bad for my friend who paid for it. It was not worth $90 with the service they provide. will go back to that restaurant if that woman is not working there. She prob just got dumped by her bf that day! read more

we just popped in for a light meal tues eve....cause reliable fish/chips was closed. yep, dont ask how we got there from reliable! got great table straight away pro: really like this place, casual vibe, great food and good wines/cocktails had misto calamari to share then butternut squash pasta, both delic con: if there was one the pasta dishes are small but they are wonderful and appropriately priced so not really a prob go to the nose read more

Love this place... whether you're going solo and sitting at the bar, having a romantic dinner for 2 or joining a group of friends for a birthday in the vault, this place has u covered! Brilliant service - delicious food and great tunes. read more

This is one of my favourite restaurants in the city. A great atmosphere, wonderful staff, and the food is to die for. I have been coming to this restaurant for over 10 years and have not had an unsatisfactory meal or experience. Mind you sharing is a must. It is fantastic for big crowds or just a cozy dinner for two. The only danger is that you might have to be rolled out of the restaurant because of over consumption. read more

Have been wanting to go here for years, just because I remember seeing this restaurant as a kid, and I was craving "Italian food". Our server was good and kind. The food was a huge let down in terms of flavour and being Italian. 2 of the popular options (osso-bucco and the mushroom "ravioli") were not available. The Gorgonzola Fig was a huge let down, gave the impression it would be a bunch of small figs stuffed with gorgonzola and wrapped in prosciutto. Basically it was 1 piece of a small fig with a quarter oz of cheese and like 5 pieces of prosciutto around it. Carbonara was so bland, undercooked onions, pancetta wasn't nice and crispy, no flavour. On top of that, clearly it was boxed pasta (not fresh), Should have figured from the hundreds of boxed pasta around the kitchen. This restaurant seems to only be popular with the locals, as every other person that came into the restaurant, the owner/manager seemed to be kissing them on the cheek, and providing them with special attention. The only great thing about this restaurant were the paintings. read more

7PM Sat reservation for 10. Quickly seated, specials recited, drinks distributed. Server was excellent in organizing our order and suggested the Involtini for me. Yumm!! Add to that the 2 shared sides of rapini and chopped salad and I was in gastro-heaven. Efficient service, delicious food, lively atmosphere. 5 stars. Next time I go I am taking a hook and eye from Home Depot to install on the bathroom door stall on the left. I am NOT kidding! read more

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? read more

What's up??? This place is so close to perfection - amazing food, ambiance, great servers, perfect location EXCEPT, you can not go there and actually have a conversation with the people at your table. The music is sooo unnecessarily loud it's beyond frustrating. We met with friends that we haven't seen in a while and we all felt like we were yelling at each other. This place really does deserve a 4-5 star but the loud music really turned all of us off. What's the point of going for dinner if it's that difficult to converse with the people you're sitting with? read more

We've eaten here a number of times with friends, family and even our kids. Service is top notch as is food and atmosphere. We even have a family member in a wheelchair and they enthusiastically accommodate us! read more

I highly recommend the Lamb Chops and Sea Bass....had it last night for dinner best meal Ive had in a while!!!

Best food, best hospitality ! MUST VISIT IN TORONTO! Don't miss Involtini .... Oh man! Real food orgasm!

Amazing! This place is just fantastic. We went here for a friends birthday, we were looking forward to it based on the reviews. Ambiance is pretty cool, a little on the hip side with popular music playing in the kind go loudly in the background. Good choice of wines, decently cheap bottles too. Tasty and fresh bread with balsamic and oil when your seated was great. We ordered the Giant baseball sized meatball which was so juicy and delicious with decent amount of marinara and fresh parm slices on top! for pasta we got the gnocchi which was alright, nothing amazing. As for the main course.... words cannot describe how tasty and satisfying the ribeye wrapped around pulled pork was. It was the best thing I have ever eaten. My partner ordered the beef rib which was also tasty and soft, however we both preferred my pulled pork wrapped in ribeye delights! read more

I've been going to this place for 8 years and the menu has not changed in 8 years. The food is good, a little pricy for the portion size however it is good food. Wine list is alright and waIt staff are courteous and prompt. To the owners if you read your reviews....spice up the menu, it's time. I'll come back when there's a dish I haven't had 3 times already. read more

you have to try the pulled pork wrapped in ribeye ... it is like nothing I've ever tried before and it is absolutely delicious...I could eat 3 dishes of it and still want to order more...(so yea, the portions are a little small but you expect that walking in..no surprises there) we ordered the first wine on the list, it was way too sweet, so if you are a wine drinker, i definitely suggest you go for something more expensive...(we chose the cheapest wine =p ) the place was completely packed on the saturday night...we had to wait for about 10 minutes to get a table...so i recommend you make reservations... noise level is pretty high and servers are too busy to be around often enough... read more

Great food. We had a very nice time on Valentine's day. We would go back for sure.

Pricing is average for the area and meal, and the meals are very well done, so a great value. Service is fast, friendly, and professional.

Went here for a dinner with a big group. Firstly they don't do split bills making it so much more difficult for us considering we had 17+ people. The music was also very loud making it hard to talk and hear each other. The food was good, but the portions were very very small considering the price of each dish. The service wasn't too friendly either, but maybe that had to do with the auto gratuity ensuring her tip. I would say this place has good food, but just overpriced. Also the women's washroom smells funny like medicine or something. read more

I have been to this restaurant a couple of times and the food and service is very consistent... Amazing food and the staff there is extremely friendly... A must try is their meatball!! It's da bomb and it's the best meatball I have ever had!!! One thing is finding a parking spot there is a pain!! read more

Food is absolutely spectacular at this restaurant. It's always consistent. Been going there for years now. And it never disappoints. Meat balls are a must. The osso bucco is one of the best I've had in the city. The ambience is pretty chill and relaxed. The service is usually good too. Overall it's one of my favourite spots in Toronto. read more

Here's a bit of history... The Nose" first opened on a side street in the Beaches, and there was a bylaw against commercial signage. Someone had made a sculpture of the owner's own nose (albeit oversized), so he posted this outside the door instead. The original restaurant had no liquor license or bathroom either! The owner has closed shop once or twice to return to Italy, but whenever he's opened up again, he puts up that nose. read more

My boyfriend and I were excited to try this restaurant on his birthday because we heard great things about it. We went on a Friday night and waited about 45mins to an hour for a table. When we gave our order to the waitress, she told us that main dishes are not served with any sides, so we had to order them separately (we got asparagus and potatos). The serving sizes were really small and it was quite expensive for what you got. We paid about $90 for 2 glasses of wine, shared appetizer, 2 main dishes and 2 sides. Service wasn't great though the venue itself is kind of neat. read more

3.5 stars. 4 stars? Almost. Read on, and you decide. I popped into this joint this past Friday night. It was on the earlier side, so my companion and I were quickly seated at a tiny table set for two. Bread quickly followed, along with our menus. Excellent. Looking around while stuffing pillowy soft bits of bread in my face, I thought, wow, this is really soft bread. And then, this place is a bit strange in decor department. Someone far more polite than I would refer to it as "eclectic". I say weird. It's weird. And I'm ok with it. The walls were lacking paint, the bits left over, peeling worn. The paintings adorning said walls lack cohesion. And in a matching mismatched manner, the staff are as casual and varied as the decor. However, it was a great time. The service was great. Food was tasty- the Sam's meatball was fantastic, if not a surprise, presenting as one singular giant meatball. Mystical, almost. The carpaccio was equally as good and comes with a tidy recommendation, courtesy of yours truly. The risotto left a bit to be desired, but having said, the food I did sample left me wanting to return and try out the other offerings. This place is lively, upbeat, and fun. Yes, loud, it is, but the noise adds to the energy of the room. The staff* were friendly and appeared to enjoy the gig, which makes for a great atmosphere, of which, I'll add, was quite hopping when I departed. I'll be back. This time, with freinds. * The bartender there is a fox. Hi there. read more

I love the idea of this place - fresh rustic food - good ingredients. However, I have been a few times - and find that it's actually lacking a bit when it comes to flavour. For 8.99 you get a big meatball - which to be honest is a bit on the expensive side - and it was in definate need of seasoning. The asiago and brussle sprout slaw lacks acidity - which means after a few bites of it - it becomes a lit flat. The special salad was a huge disappointment (white bean with frisee..) - really underwhelming. The chicken main was really amazing - perfectly cooked and seasoned - really delicious. The squid was ok - nothing to remember and not overly enjoyable. It's an okay spot, loud with a furious pace (we were in and out in an hour). read more

Such wonderful, affordable food. Have been a couple times now. Once our server was spectacular. The last time I went, the dude was super lame and dry. Will still go back as I'm sure that dude was just having a bad day. Still tipped 15%. read more

Went there last Friday night. I wouldnt say the food was great but the ambiance was excellent. It had a great fun vibe and our server was hilarious. Will definately go back read more

I went to the "nose" last week for my regular monthly visit. This place never disappoints. The meatball app is mandatory. This place is not quiet, especially on the weekends, but you will notice that people are enjoying themselves. The service is always good, you can tell that most of the people who work here aren't newbies to the restaurant buissiness. The service is a good balance of being attentive without being pushy or fake. read more

A very fun place. The staff are ALWAYS nice, they know us by name. The food is always good. The prices are great. This is ALWAYS a safe bet and a fun time. LOVE this place! read more

This place is delicious, I am never disappointed when I come here! Went on Saturday night and the place was packed but the food came out nice and timely. Service is quick and food is great. We will be back again soon read more

My in laws and parents were visiting and we decided to try a place close to home so we went with "The Nose". My sister booked the private room which was cozy and lovely. Our amazing waiter Manny suggested the family style dinner for us and it didn't disappoint! The wine he recommend as well was beautiful. We were thrilled with the excellent service and amazing food! Meatballs were out of this world!! We will be going back for sure! read more

Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Man, I may have missed something, certainly wasn't a 5 star experience for me and my guests. Staff was friendly, service OK, price was very reasonable, FOOD, well I've had better at all inclusives resorts in Caribbean, I don't know what all the 5 stars here are about, they certainly can't be for the food. read more

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! read more

(More like 3.5) Marked solely by a giant nose on the outside is a tapas restaurant with fantastic atmosphere, good food for a reasonable price and even better service. My friend & I ordered the scallops with the pork belly, beef carpaccio, risotto balls and the prosciutto wrapped figs. We also got sides of sweet potato mash & rapini. I had such high hopes for the scallops which is why, perhaps, I was slightly disappointed: the serving comes with 2 scallops and a piece of pork belly. My scallop was on the chewy side but, even more disappointing was that the pork belly was lean and oversalted. I have a feeling that I would have enjoyed this dish more had I not expected the world of it.The risotto balls were bland, though well cooked and had a nice texture. The beef carpaccio was fantastic! But by far my favourite dish has to be the prosciutto-wrapped figs: just the right amount of sweet and salty; delicious! The sweet potato mash was a nice surprise, served with brown butter and sage, while I found the rapini to be a little on the bitter side and could have done perhaps with a little more flavour. We had the cheese plate for dessert and were disappointed that there were only 2 types of cheese. What really sets this restaurant apart, however, is the amazing service we received. Our water glasses were never empty, our server checked up on us several times, was extremely friendly and helpful... even the busboy was a treat! He was friendly, upbeat & cleared our tables quickly and efficiently. There are other things on the menu I'd like to try, so will definitely be back again. Great place for dates :) read more

As they say, the third time's a charm. Last night I returned to Gio's and finally everything fell into place perfectly. Perhaps it was because the place was a little emptier. Either way our server was fantastic and kept us entertained; in fact, he even put on a juggling show worthy of the movie "Cocktail" for us as we were finishing up. This time I had the grilled calamari and it was excellent. For my main, I had the gnocchi bolognese; it was pretty simple and didn't totally wow me, but I have to say, for a rustic pasta dish it was exactly what it should be. I didn't have dessert, but others at my table did and they claimed it was fantastic. Five apps, six dinners, four digestifs, and three bottles of wine later, our bill came to $400. I have to say, I think it was worth every penny. read more

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. read more

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. read more

Not sure why it has such high reviews - the food was decent, but nothing out of the ordinary. They have a nice private area for parties.

Great italian in Tornoto. Portions tends to be smaller, but the food is great. Fritto Misto, beef carpaccio and the Olives were great. We also enjoyed chicken, involtini pork, sexy duck and crespelle. Service was fine. 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! read more

This place is always a hit for my husband and I. Very consistent so you know what to expect. The meatball and arancini as appetizers are amazing followed by the beef involtini for your meal. Perfection! read more

As always excellent food and good service. Prices are fantastic for the quality of food that you get. Crespelle is the best. read more