Came for dinner on the patio in "stage 2" of Ontario's reopening plan. Service and food were both top notch. "American-Italian" type restaurant, with red/white plaid tablecloths and Italian classics on the menu with an affordable but interesting wine list. Ordered an insalata mista, spaghetti vongole, osso buco, and a pancetta/brussels salad. All were delicious and came out promptly. Our server was very kind and attentive. I will be bringing other friends back here for sure. read more

Seriously go fuck yourself. The food here is bonkers. The gnocchi was perfect. The ragu was spectacular and the right balance of buttery and acidic. The focaccia was devine, with a gentle crust and perfectly mealy middle. Even the most basic spaghetti and tomato sauce is amazing here. I couldn't be happier with the food in this place. Possibly the best Italian food in Toronto. read more

Tried this Leslieville hot spot on a Saturday night and I must say, everything about it was perfect. Food Started with giant meatball and caprese salad. Both delicious, but if I had to pick one, I'd go for the meatball. For dinner, I had the gnocchi which was pillowy and perfectly seasoned. The sauce was delicious - just wish I had a bit more bread to soak it all up! Decor This place is pretty funky. Chandeliers, a Christmas tree, movies on the back wall. It's got it all! But it really works. It's a cozy, fun place to sit, relax and enjoy a good meal. Service Excellent service. Very relaxed! Overall, I'd say this is one of the top restaurants on the east end. read more

Excellent food. Great atmosphere. Came here for a birthday dinner on a Saturday night. It was extremely busy, so I recommend reservations. This wouldn't be a place to take your first date. It's a group dining experience and it's loud. Loud enough that shouting becomes your main way of talking, and then you forget how to talk softly. I'm not even sure how the servers hear us. Food was really good. And well priced. Lots of small appetizers to choose from, and really, you could make a meal out of it by just choosing the small dishes and sharing with one or two other people. For the two of us, we ordered 2 antipasti and one main course to share, and it was enough with still room for some dessert. The Giant Meatball was excellent. I don't know what was in the sauce, or what's in the meatball but I wanted another one. The grilled calarmari was also good (not spectacular) but flavourful and soft, yet still crunchy. ($8.95-$11) Our main was the slow cooked beef ribs with pan fried gnocchi. I did expect a bed of gnocchi but there were only 4. And they were undercooked and difficult to eat. BUT, the beef ribs was amazeballs. Falling off the bone, even had some tendon to suck on. The sauce was my favourite. The service was interesting. Our server was not extra attentive, just enough. We were also sitting right in the middle of the restaurant and it's hard to miss us. At some point in the meal, we for plates that we were told was pulled pork and something else. Then about 5 minutes later the busboy came and took it away: it was neither pulled pork or for our table. However, our server did play along when I was asking for a pretend dessert but really planning a birthday surprise. I guess that's twhere they loudness came into my advantage. Our bill couldn't be separate, even by groups. How disappointing. The wines we got (reds, 2 different ones) were watery tasting. A coffee connoisseur at the table gave the espresso a 3 out of 5 as the flavour wasn't rich enough. Yah, I'd come back . Just the loudness factor really takes away from a good meal. read more

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

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I want to give this place 4 stars. It had wonderful service and was such an eclectic yet romantic atmosphere. But the food just wasn't there for me. Maybe it was the wine -- we had asked our server if the white we were buying was more on the dry side or sweet. It was supposed to be medium, but too dry for our liking. Maybe it's just the items we chose just didn't pair well with each other? We started off with the risotto balls. There's two of them. It was hot but kind of boring. We followed the risotto balls with the gnocchi and the pappardelle. The pappardelle was amazing. The flavours of the mushrooms came through and it was just creamy delight. The gnocchi was huge and again, the flavour was a bit lackluster. We finished the meal with the veal ribeye which was cooked to perfection. So there were highs and lows -- and again, maybe the server's taste in wine versus mine is different and maybe I just chose some dishes that aren't the best this place has to offer. I did appreciate the service. It was attentive and timely. I also enjoyed the kitschy feel of the place. Somehow it still felt cozy and not crazy. I'd definitely go back if I were in the neighbourhood. read more

From the outside Gio Rana's is really non descript with no title or signage except for an obscenely large paper mache looking nose poking out....I guess it's easier to spot when driving along queen street. They don't take reservations however we came in on a Friday right at 6pm and were quickly seated however within an hour the place was predominately packed. Gio Rana's used to be a bank and the decor is basically the remnants of what used to be. Think original stripped and fading dry wall adorned with frameless strange paintings, high ceilings with air ducts, mismatched tables and chairs, chandeliers, and candlelight. Romantic and kitchy all at the same time. After being seated at cozy table near the back of the dining room we were promptly brought a round waters and a delicious and plentiful assortment of warm bread with a dish of prepoured balsamic and olive oil. Our friendly waiter went over the specials for the day and gave us some recommendations. The menu is split into four sections, antipasti, primi, secondi, and contorni. Everything on the menu appealed to me so I ordered a little something from every section! Antipasti Grande meatball in ragu sauce This is a MUST order! Hands down BEST meatball ever!! Not only is it huge & juicy but it's soo tender and light packed with flavour sitting in a delicious ragu sauce perfect for dunking each morsel in. I drool just reminiscing over this beauty! Pan Seared dry packed scallops w/ Italian pork belly and jus Perfectly cooked sweet scallops paired with decadent smokey and salty pork belly, a heavenly combination Primi House made Potato gnocchi w/ bolognese sauce Large and plump almost dumpling like texture but still very airy in that thick rich flavourful bolognese Secondi Involtini - Pulled pork wrapped in Ribeye w/goat cheese and jus My two favourite meats combined in one dish! This was a no brainer for me to choose. The pork was totally melt in your mouth tender with bits of caramelized onions and the chargrilled taste of the beef with salty creamy goat, it was just an amazing dish all around! Contorni Roast yukon gold potatoes w/ onion and garlic Sweet potato mash w/ brown butter Both potato dish were flawless and flavourful Brussel Sprout slaw with asiago cheese and crispy pancetta I loveee my brussel sprouts but never have I had them as a slaw! Truly outstanding combination from the crispy pancetta, salty cheese, raw crunchy sprouts and tangy vinaigrette dressing I adored every bite! Finally onto dessert....I was literally bursting at the seams by this point with utterly no room for dessert... but who am I kidding as soon as I saw the dessert menu I managed to conjure some up! All the desserts are homemade and sounded delectable! Homemade brownie w/ chocolate caramel sauce Warm right of the oven, fudgey centre drizzled with a divine chocolate caramel accented sauce with fresh berries and a dollop of cold whipped cream....geez what's not to love here? Tiramisu Done to perfection! Just the right amount of cream perfect balance of coffee flavour and with the rum flavouring in background not soggy at all and just the right sweetness sitting on a pool of warm chocolate sauce. All I can is Yummmmmmm I love everything about Gio Rana's! The service is spot on, everything came out in perfect timing, dishes cleared promptly and water refilled on cue, our waitress was really attentive checking on us after every dish was delivered, the food here is just amazingly delicious, from the combination of flavours, textures, and aromas everything just surpassed my expectations! If you haven't been here already I suggest you make it a priority pronto and you can thank me later! read more

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I heard a lot about this place from my fellow yelpers so what else would i do than try it out? i took my gf and dad here Sunday night and i was very impressed with the quality of food, service, and atmosphere. You guys weren't kidding that they don't have a sign but instead a nose, a really big nose lol The service was very good. He was waiting about 6 or 7 tables at a time and was on top of everyone to make sure glasses were full of water or that we had everything we needed. top notch. atmosphere was great because you could talk and talk loud and no one can ease drop on any convos. i tried and i couldn't get a word from any other table lol ( i was only testing to see if i could haha) we walked in and were greeted and seated right away. we ordered the risotto balls, grilled calamari, and scallops with pork belly (my fav) for our apps. everything was delicious and cooked perfectly. the calamari was nice and tender, risotto balls cripsy on the outside and soft inside and the scallops were cooked perfectly but the winner was the pork belly. it was very cripsy and salty and complimented the sweetness of the scallops. YUM! for our primi we ordered the risotto with sausage ragu, spaghetti, and gnocchi. here is where it gets interesting. my gf asked to have linguine instead of spaghetti but when we got it they gave us spaghetti. more about this later because it gets spicy in a good way. Moving on, just like the apps these were amazingly good. the gnocchi had that homemade look to it because it was rolled out and cut instead of the how you usually see it packaged (sort of like a gnudi instead of gnocchi). the spaghetti was perfectly cooked but the tomato sauce was out of this world. i was scooping the rest of the sauce after i was done haha. secondi- this was the best part for me. we ordered the braised beef ribs, salmon, and cod. i didn't try the fish but my ribs were ridiculously good! the meat fell off the bone and the meat was infused with so much taste i couldn't stop and wanted more. ahhh i want more now!!! ok back to the spicy part where they gave us spaghetti instead of linguine. the server gave me the bill and informed me that he removed the spaghetti off the bill for the mistake. i was amazed because usually you do not see that especially when i said "it's fine no problem, no need to take it back". that made the rest of my night cause that just took it to another level. i will be back and soon for sure. Thanks Gio Rana!! read more

You should know: there is a SUBSTANTIAL wait time. They don't take reservations for less than 10 people. When I called ahead to make a reso, they told me that the wait usually isn't long. Four of us waited 1.5h to be seated. Granted, it was a Saturday night but it was misleading to say the wait wouldn't be a problem. Once you do sit, the food is very good. Our server was great and friendly. The food was hot and delicious. I wouldn't wait for that period of time again since the wait for as delicious pasta/food is not as long for example at Gusto 101 or Terroni's. They did send over a complimentary dessert for us because of the wait time, which was a very kind gesture. read more

I highly highly HIGHLY recommend their fluffy meatball - it literally melts in your mouth. All of their pastas are amazing but my favourite is still the classic Bolognese. read more

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My family enjoyed a wonderful dinner last night at "The Nose" restaurant. Dubbed "The Nose" for the big nose sculpture above the entrance! We arrived just before 6:00pm and was immediately seated. Other young families were there as well, but I wouldn't say it's a family restaurant if you arrive later in the evening. The seating is tight and atmosphere more adult with a nude mannequin in the entrance way, covered by a boa scarf. We were served focaccia bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar while waiting for our dinner. The kids gobbled up the massive meatball and bolognese pasta. The restaurant offers half portions for the children, although it was still a huge meal and we were able to bring some home. My husband enjoyed the calamari (cooked beautifully) and the delicious butternut squash ravioli in a cream sauce. Our server recommended a bold Waterstone Cab Sauv, which we both thought was fabulous. My Roasted Beet salad was divine with the perfect balance of sweet dressing and nutty arugula. The Chicken Cacciatore was okay. I liked the sauce but wasn't a fan of the dark meat and wish it was noted on the menu (I would prefer a chicken breast). The restaurant does look worn and dirty in daylight. I'm sure the string of lights hanging from the ceiling and low lighting hides many of the stains and scratches on the walls. I actually had 3 glasses returned because they were dirty with lipstick and finger prints, but my server was very apologetic and attentive. Overall, we'd go back for the meatballs! read more

Waited two hours for delivery and all of a sudden the order was canceled I called the restaurant and they told me we have your order just "reorder" what does that even mean truly a disorganized disappointment from this restaurant. I feel guilty even giving one star to you guys. read more

Lovely Italian tapas, great ambience. It feels like being in an 18th century hideout. I had the fritto misto as an app and the white fresh water bass, both extremely delicious. Definitely want to revisit! read more

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

***1/2 stars Zipping down Queen Street East to avoid the horribleness that is the DVP (aka Don Valley Parking Lot) during rush hour to get home to Scarborough, I have driven by Gio Rana's many times. There is signage, or label - just a grotesque and prominent nose that looms overhead the entrance that has you hoping that no slimy boogers are going to land on your head upon entering. The restaurant has been dubbed by locals as the "Nose." I've pondered many times as to why one would choose such a monstrosity as its logo and how it has anything to do with (Italian) food. The most clever reason I've come up with so far is that food is meant to tantalize the senses, and more often than not, our appetites are aroused simply by inhaling the whaff of aromatic food does the trick. My more politically incorrect notion is that it might be a play on the stereotype that Italian's have really big schnoz's :p The decor inside the restaurant is just as puzzling as the jutting nose out front. Some may call it an ecclectic mish mash of randomness that is actually quite refreshing, some may call it minimalistic, and some may start answering on behalf of Gio Rana's for the up and coming Restaurant Makeover's casting call. With tables spaced tightly together, I was already thinking of escape routes once this place got busy - and boy did it ever! The walls are rather "industrial" looking as they are bare walls that look like they've been mid-stripped for repainting but then was abandonned. The focal point is a vent that has been creatively made to resemble a hanging plant. The mish mash of paintings distracts you until the server comes to tell you the specials. What place do Japanese paintings have in an Italian restaurant? Beats me! A bread plate is quickly presented before us. The browner and probably "healthier" alternative of the two is bland, boring, and a little too boring - while the white tomato bread is almost too pillowy soft. The balsamic vinegar and olive oil dip however is quite interesting. Although a tad bit skewed towards the olive oil side, the actual balsamic had an almost sesame-ish and nutty flavour to it that I liked. Their cocktails have some pretty raunchy names (e.g. Pink Panty Pulldown or Sexy MOFO). I ended up going for the French Martini which was made with Chambord, Vodka and Pineapple Juice . I loved the bit of foam at the top as it gave the drink a creamy texture. It was a great cocktail, just the right amount of sweet and the alcohol content was not overpowering. We shared the Seared Scallops & Braised Pork Belly as an appetizer. I had pretty high expectations for this dish and was rather disappointed by a leaner pork belly which meant it was dried and not as moist or juicy. The scallops were not overcooked, but lacked the soft and tender texture I look for in a scallop. In short, while taste-wise this dish was great, it was off on textures. The daily pasta special with a roasted half-lobster with spaghettini tossed in garlic butter and tomatoes was a 50/50. The solid chunks of lobster were easy to eat, but it had an almost "grainy" or "stringy" texture to it. For me, the best part of this dish was the actual spaghettini as it wasn't drenched in sauce and was delicious in its simplicity. Nothing ruins a pasta dish more than being drowned in a heavy sauce. We also ordered the Ossobucco which I can say is one of the best I've had. While I've no doubt had more tender ossobucco in my lifetime, the sauce is what blew me away. The flavour of the bones fused with no doubt, some butter and wine made this rich sauce drinkable. I must confess that long after the actual veal was reduced to a bone, I consumed a few spoonfuls of the sauce. This dish is quite a "heavy" dish in that the flavours are really bold and the portion sizes can be overwhelming. While others may frown upon a smaller portion size at Gio Rana's, I thought the portion size was just right. And isn't quality more important than quantity anyways? Plus, you have to save a little bit of room for dessert! For dessert I opted for the Goat Cheesecake with Lemon Curd. I loved the subtle grainy texture that the goat cheese gave to the cake. The berries reduction also had a slight hint of licorice flavour to it that I liked. The lemon curd was subtle and not overpowering. Suffice it to say, I ate most of this divine dessert. I really really wanted to give the Nose a higher rating. But I really really was disappointed with the pork belly, and I really really didn't enjoy the noise level that stemmed from sardined tables and loud music in the backdrop. Service was pretty good as our server checked up on us a few times, our bread plate was replenished when empty, and we were given new plates before our entrées came. Sides here are a la carte which is rather pretentious for this casual dining resto. Next time I think I'll come with friends to share small plates. read more

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I have always wanted to try this restaurant but it is quite east from the downtown core area so it isn't as convenient for me. However, I finally decided to make the trip to come to this area to try this place. I am glad I came ! Me and a friend shared: Antipasti: Caramelized fig, prosciutto, and arugula. The portion was really small. It was great but I wished they gave more prosciutto. Primi: Butternut squash stuffed crespelle in a butter sauce (large). This was really buttery so it's great for anyone who looks butter. The large portion only comes with 3 pieces, so I recommend the large size if it is for sharing. Secondi: Braised veal osso buco. This is a MUST get! The meat is sooo tender and tasty. The flavor is very rich. This was the best dish out of the three we ordered. Overall, I love the ambience. Service was great. Food is awesome. Will return to try more items in the future. read more

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I recall noticing this place way way back when I was in this neighborhood. I recall thinking that it was either a plastic surgeon's office (with a sense of humor!) some oddball art store or a shop that sells eye glasses. Later on I found out it was a restaurant with a repute to boot. A friend who had tried this place recommended trying it. I got in a bit early and waited at the bar before they open. Didn't get a chance to the menu before hand but osso bucco was already on list of things to try. My dining companion arrived later. Here is what we had fried rissoto balls. Just beautiful not the dried version one gets nice crispy on the outside with the creamy moist center crepe with butternut squash. These were average IMO. The sauce was done well here. My DC ordered the chicken which was stuffed (light on that) though cooked well. It was moist but lacked seasoning IMO. The osso bucco hit it out of the park. Just gorgeous slathered in rich sauce with the meat that was perfectly tender and the center of marrow. Top dish on this outing. I had a glass of Chianti as well which was priced reasonably as well. We have a winner here folks 4 Stars. I will be back. read more

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I think enough is said already, but it's a great place. Nice homey feel inside, and the foods are great. Always packed and busy.

We have been here three times in the past 5 years because are home is Chicago.If we lived here it would be once a week.The menu is always changing with the seasons and availability of some products but always great. read more

My new go-to for Italian food! I love this place and it's where I ask my hubby to go to when I want a treat. Food is fantastic, especially the meats. The involtini and osso buco make me drool just thinking about it. Will be back for sure! read more

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 read more

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

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Came here with some girlfriends and had a great time! Excellent service! We ordered some appetizers to start: grilled calamari was tender and had the right amount of garlic. The meatball was amazing! Almost creamy the meat was so smooth and light with a great hint of cheese. The gnocchi was just okay- but the carpaccio was outstanding! The Parmesan and arugula complimented the rich raw beef beautifully. The main was slightly disappointing as the shrimp was a bit fishy, but either way great experience and I can wait to come back. read more

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

As someone who works in the retail industry, the way I was treated here was absolutely UNACCEPTABLE AND UPSETTING. The waitress who served me and my friends was not friendly to us at all - she was extremely rude and made us feel unwelcomed. I wanted to like this restaurant because the food was good. However, the terrible service I've received outweighed everything the night I was there. Here's my complaints. - We waited almost an hour for our food to come when people who arrived after us got their food. On top of this, most of us ordered appetizers and the wait was just not reasonable for what we've ordered so far. - When the food came everything was served besides my Tuscan fries. Later on, we get the bill and it's still listed on it. I told the waitress that my fries never came and that I don't want them anymore. The waitress doesn't even say sorry, takes the bill right out of my hand and takes 20 minutes to make the change. - She never asked how we wanted to split our bill. When one of my friends asked if we could get individual bills, she just said that all the items we ordered are listed and did not even try accommodate s wanting seperate bills. -- Not to mention, the fact that the waitress rolled her eyes when one of my friends said we would have to pay one by one. Even if she may have had a rough night, at work it gives no excuse for her to treat us like that. Unbelievable. - One of my other friends needed some time to look over the bill to see what she ordered and the woman said "you can just go outside and figured it out" in a extremely condescending tone. This should not be happening and I regret coming here to celebrate my graduation with my friends. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE. read more

Now I know what the Nose knows - that a weird sign isn't always an indication of food quality. The outside of this "really nice restaurant" reads more like an abandoned art gallery, with the very odd nose on front, totally dark interior and graffiti on the brick walls. There's a reason why "it's what's on the inside that matters" has become a cliché. The food here is fantastic and the servers are all very friendly, not snobby at all. Although they don't take reservations, we walked in around 9pm and got a table for two immediately. We opted to share plates and ordered just the right amount. The Risotto Balls were both our faves for the night. Crunchy outside with creamy filling, and sweet and acidic tomato sauce made this the most balanced dish. The giant Meatball lives up. It tastes good, but we agreed it was too big for one person to eat alone. I also like my burgers well done, so find the medium cook a bit of a put off, but very juicy and probably the best value. The squash crispelle was really delicious. I loved the sage butter sauce, but again, it was just sweet, salt and cream, missing some fresh herbs and acid so it was great as a dish to share, but again, not balanced enough for a full meal. Finally, we had the crispy chicken. It was crispy and moist inside, but the tapenade added salt on salt. I used my sage-butter sauce on the chicken and THAT was stellar, crispy, creamy, sweet, salty - that was a perfect bite that should be on the menu. $40 for food (with no leftovers) plus tax and tip is a bit pricey for food-only, but our noses and mouths agreed, the Nose is a good place to go. read more

Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant - Giant meatball in front, two Risotto balls in back, crispelle (2 pieces to a small) and crispy chicken. - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I absolutely adore this place! It's definitely our go to date night spot with friends and family! We were first introduced to this restaurant 2 years ago from friends who live in the area..2 years later, we find ourselves coming back over and over again! We recently went here last Friday night with friends who have a one year old. The staff went above and beyond to ensure we were taken care of! All the staff were so kind and helpful! We started with appetizers: the infamous giant meatball and the crespelle (large..of course!)....both apps are worth getting! We then had the fluffy gnocci, ribeye, oxtail ragu and the veal with a side of rapini ...so much food, but so delicious! Cocktails are also great! Ambiance is fun and I've never had a poor experience here.so..GO..what are you waiting for!?!? ;) read more

This has to be one of my fave TO restaurants. We had only been here on select occasions when living in the west end but after moving to Danforth area, we have been going here a lot more. The vibe is so chill and calming at times and bustling at others, but just the right amount. The staff is so nice and knowledgeable about making personal recommendations so that they aren't pushing wine or dishes onto you and not being genuine about it. The squash pasta is a must-try - def one of the tastiest pasta dishes I've ever had. Perfect sharing sizes for two people. read more

We had dinner there last night, excellent server, but that only makes up a small percentage of our overall experience. My wife and I were here a couple of years ago to try the pasta and sauce, the sauce was fantastic! Last night, they must have changed something because my wife ordered pasta with a meat sauce, she couldn't even finish, it wasn't very good at all. I had the special, beef wellington over a potato mash. I found this dish to be extremely salty, meat was tender, and the lack there of for cost verses volume had no balance. This restaurant is over priced, portions are small, overpriced, not a good value for what you receive. Furthermore, I am a chef in my own right, the kitchen can be more professional, regular clothing doesn't cut it with me, clean service does. Aside from the above, honestly there is need for improvement here. Though one may think that a meal is comprised of one item, its not! It's about portion size and equal balance. For what we paid, we should have left feeling full, not having to make something to eat when we arrived home. I have read the other reviews here, and noticed many really don't speak their minds in what they write. I am honest when I say I have tried many dishes at many locations throughout the city, there is balance elsewhere, there isn't balance at the "Nose". Getting sick early this morning from an over salted piece of meat prompted me to write about this restaurant. read more

Love the lamb but they haven't had it on the menu I'm so long. My fave is the tiramisu soooo yummy!!!

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? read more

We read the mixed reviews on this place, but a friend who went several times highly recommended Gios. It's a cute place and the staff are very pleasant. Toilets/bathrooms need renovating, an a bathroom in a restaurant normally says a lot about a place. Small menu is always a good sign, and reasonably priced too. The old movies playing on the big screen is nice ambience, however it's simply too dark, even for an Italian restaurant. We had the Meatball to start, which was huge and delicious. The salmon was not well described and was creamy, something that was not in the description, but very bland and cold. The stuffed chicken....well honestly it was pretty poor. Incredibly oily, and very salty. The chicken was not "stuffed" but rather what tasted like "American cheese" (but obviously was not) under a floppy chicken skin, with some oily pieces of yellow pepper. Very disappointing mains, but we were very hungry, so ate them! We also had the Tuscan fries for a side, which they forgot to put through, but our friend's arrived, which were quite hard and "floppy". We had the Nutella cheesecake, which was pretty delicious. One piece of advice is to ask people for any dietary requirements they may have. I imagine this place was amazing it its time, but perhaps they have slacked off in recent times. It was not particular busy, being a Tuesday night. Very nice staff, a pleasant dinner, but just not worth 4*. I hope they pick up and become that 5* Gio's that others have described. read more

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! read more

What the heck was I talking about in my last review of this place? Apparently I was a 70 year old woman in 2011 who couldn't handle noise? Weird. Moving on... This place is as solid as the bank vault you can reserve at the back of the restaurant. It's as strong as the nose that sits atop it. It's lovely, and is no longer the coolest kid in the neighbourhood, so on a Thursday at 8pm I didn't have to wait for a table. I had their salad of the day (fennel can do no wrong), their linguini carbonara (creamy and yoke-y) and their piece de resistence: the osso bucco. Fall of the bone jus-soaked perfection. The gentleman across from me had pulled pork wrapped in ribeye with gorgonzola sauce and gravy. I'm not a pulled pork person, but it looked pretty epic. PEPPER'S PISSED about their wine mark up. It's a bit much, Nose. read more

Holy crap, this place really IS really really nice! I've heard about Gio Rana's via Yelp, but I thought with such a stupid name that there was no way in hell it could really be a nice place. I was wrong! (In my mind I was picturing some kind of douchy East-Side-Marios type place, but I was so off). Was taken here by someone who is a regular, so we may have been given special treatment, but the service was excellent. The place was absolutely rammed (Friday night) and there was some loud but fun music. Decor is a la "hipster/italian". Tables are set fairly close together so the place is boisterous,if you like quiet places you will not be a fan of Gio's. The food here is fairly traditional Italian but served on small plates/tapas style. Most of the appetizers are $10ish and the primi and secondi (pasta and meat dishes) around $15 with $5 side dishes (veg and potatoes, etc) We tried caprese salad, prosciutto with figs and the grilled calamari (served with capers and tomatoes! OMG) for our appetizers. I had the lamb shank (daily special) and my DC had the pork tenderloin. We had sweet potato mash and a side of beets for veg dishes. Food was all incredibly delicious and served in a very rustic Italian fashion. Finished off the evening with a tiramisu (yum! super boozy). I want to go back!!!!! read more

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. read more

How did I find out about this restaurant? Read my previous review on Fare Bistro as this is a continuation of what could have been a horrible night, but turned out into a wonderful, wonderful evening. Intro. My amour, the ever spontaneous and great-researcher, found out about this restaurant (on Yelp!!!!) and we decided to go there as we were actually 2 blocks away. He called and was informed there were tables for 2 but no reservations would be taken. We quickly walked. My amour said that there was a nose outside the restaurant and I noticed it first. As you walk in, you think it's going to be a dingy, small place, but as you turn a quick corner into the restaurant, it's expansive and tall and BUSY! We did got a lovely, secluded spot and I immediately loved it. Food. My amour said the food was nothing special, but for me, it was so very, very, good. It could have been the let-down I experienced at Fare Bistro and so I was willing to think any other restaurant was better. Or, it could have been simple Italian food done well. Either way, I was not disappointed. For appetizers, we had the Fritto Misto (which was sort of a disappointment because it was one fried shrimp and one fried calamari. I believe Fritto Misto is supposed to be a medley of vegetables and none other than the Zucchini Flower). We also had Scotty's Meatballs which is just one large meatball in tomato sauce and bruschetta which was very good. For the main, I had the duck leg which was soooo very tasty and tender. I am a big duck fan so despite the ordinary appetizers, I was in love with my duck. My amour had the cod in papillote which was also very tasty. The fish is not fishy, but tender. My amour also had the risotto as a primi piatti which was divine. The risotto was not al dente which is how I normally like mine cooked, but it was delicious nonetheless. And for dessert, we shared the Tiramisu which was a fitting end to a lovely night. Service. AMAZING! We were served by (I think his name was Zack), and he just made the whole evening. Ambiance. Busy. Noisy. Walls are kind of dingy, but you're here for that homey kind of place. All in all, I would recommend this restaurant to anybody in the area. I do not think this restaurant is expensive, so you are going to get your value for your money. It is just a fun, fun place to eat. I am only beginning to discover Leslieville restaurants, and glad to have discovered this place. read more

I can't believe I hadn't been to this restaurant sooner. Lively crowd, tasty food, active bar, good music - all in all a great place to hang out on a Friday night. Only problem - it seems to empty out around 11ish, a bit early in my opinion. The Italian menu doesn't disappoint; the food is on par with several other good Italian restaurants in the city. Butternut squash crespelle appetizer is a must-have. read more

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. :) read more

Man this place does not disappoint. The food is consistently good. The cocktails are great. The Ribeye...sigh Fantastic restaurant. read more

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? read more

I really really love this place. See what I did there? And kid you not, I have tried everything on the menu. It's tucked away on Queen east and bears no name - just a big old nose. How iconic. The insides have this rustic fine dining decor. It's fancy and unfancy all at the same time. If you're in a group, the wine cellar seating is great. If you're not in a group, don't be surprised if they squeeze you into a little space from where you can touch the next patron at the restaurant. Such is life at The Nose. The servers are much older, definitely polite and have a great know-how of the menu. As for the menu, it's small and in a few visits, you can definitely try it all. The prices, I find, are very reasonable for Toronto fare. So I am not sure why The Nose is $$$ on Yelp. Lastly, the gnocchi is a must try. Delish. I'll be back. read more

Our friends in Toronto raved about this place, and they live in the neighbourhood. This summer we were there for a visit, and loved wandering around Leslieville. While walking we noticed a large paper mache nose outside this otherwise unmarked building. This was it! Inside was PACKED! We got a little table for 4 and despite it being really busy, it was kind of cozy and nice, it wasn't overly loud and felt really comfortable. The service was really great despite being so busy - its nice to see restaurants that can actually handle a crowd while maintaining good service. The food here is sort of like Italian tapas. We ordered the meatball, involtini, grilled calamari, and a few other plates. The involtini and meatball were amazing. This restaurant is a not to miss if you are heading to Toronto, or specifically in the Leslieville area. I'm still craving the involtini months later. read more

Went here last night for a birthday treat. If I were rating the food and the friendliness of the service only, it would get five stars. Unfortunately it suffers from some ambiance and presentation issues. Carpaccio was not a huge portion but the quality and flavour was excellent. The baked cod with fennel and tomatoes was out of this world and the cooking en papillote caused the fennel flavour to infuse the fish. Side orders of mushrooms, green beans and potatoes were all winners as was my partner's ribs cooked in wine. Great bread and good desserts. The old bank location would be cute but the "under construction" decor just doesn't make it. We sat in the side room which includes a faux balcony with naked mannequins and a toilet - items that seemed a bit weird for a restaurant. Additionally, my fish was served in the paper it was baked in leaving me to unceremoniously tear it and dump it on my plate - it should have been removed by the server. Another issue is the high noise level, which is fine for people seeking a lively venue, but does not make for good dining conversation. read more