Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    il Gigante

    4.5 (52 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    il Gigante Photos

    Business Info

    IL GIGANTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - il Gigante

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Eddie S.

    What a wonderful experience, the owner and staff were instantly warm and welcoming, knowledgeable and rightfully proud of everything they built on the little corner in Ridgewood, the vibe was like going to your Italian grandmother's for Sunday dinner , everyone felt like family , guests were greated at the door with hugs and kisses . The food was impeccable in presentation and taste , beautiful pasta dishes , handmade and cooked with love, wonderful cocktails and wine selection and dont miss the homemade focaccia, feathery on the inside , crisp on the outside with a wonderful crunchy pop of sea salt..finish it all with one of their lovely desserts and a nice old fashioned ( or your cocktail of choice) and you really cant ask for more, just perfect !

    Pollo alla Cacciatora
    Morlene C.

    I can appreciate a good rustic Italian meal, but am often so disappointed by what amounts to flour and water (pasta) and a little protein commanding sky high prices. Every review, even a one star review on this page sung the praises of this place so I had a good feeling my notions about dining out for Italian food would be proven wrong but unfortunately, this meal kind of reinforced my experiences with the cuisine. Things started out on an optimistic note. We were seated right away at their handsome bar top, and our bartender/server greeted us with a smile. We were there for brunch on a Saturday, and the outdoor light lit up the wood accents all over the restaurant in a beautiful way. The Americano I ordered and espresso martini my partner ordered were pretty good. Salsiccia e Fagiole all'Uccelletto was a decent starter. Cannellini beans that had bean slow cooked in a tomato stew with sausage and served with toasted bread. The olive oil they have at each table is bright and fragrant. The place did not seem packed, but our entrees took an eternity to arrive. We had a movie to get to but had allotted more than 90 mins for this meal, so we didn't feel the need to rush. We were reaching the hour mark before our entrees finally arrived and hurriedly scarfed them down. Both spaghetti carbonara and Pollo alla Cacciatora fell totally flat. The Pollo alla Cacciatora truly just tasted like some baked chicken with tomato sauce on top. They seemingly did nothing to the sauce or chicken to give in any depth of flavor. I found myself totally disappointed by this dish. Spaghetti carbonara seems hard to mess up and I make it at home myself a lot and this one lacked any umami. We didn't even finish our plates but urgently asked our server for the check multiple times as we had to rush out, but that also took a very long time. Had high hopes for this meal but ended up spending so much time and money here for flavors that were too muted and service that was too leisurely for me.

    Lasagna
    Carleen S.

    Il Gigante in Ridgewood delivers the kind of old-school Italian execution that does not chase trends and does not need to. The focaccia arrives warm with a zesty olive oil that sets the tone immediately. Clean flavor, good structure, not overly salted. The beet salad over whipped goat cheese is balanced and well composed. Earthy, bright, and creamy without feeling heavy. The fried cod in tomato sauce special was straightforward and well prepared. The sauce tastes developed, not rushed. The linguini with seafood stands out. Generous portions, properly cooked pasta, and seafood that tastes fresh rather than buried in sauce. Although could have used a little more salt. The lasagna with béchamel and green noodles is rich but structured. The layers hold, the sauce is silky, and it feels like someone in the kitchen respects technique. The stuffed pasta special over marinara was delicate and nicely plated, with a clean, vibrant sauce. Dessert closes strong. Vanilla gelato with sour cherries hits the sweet and tart contrast perfectly. The mascarpone with chocolate sauce was indulgent. Service was attentive without hovering. The space is intimate and cozy, ideal for a relaxed dinner where conversation matters. Super cute spot! Summary: Il Gigante focuses on fundamentals and executes at a high level.

    Pappardelle
    Brooke C.

    Great Italian in Ridgewood. Vibes of a family run business (no idea if it actually is or not). Pastas & sauces are top notch. Really loved our servers recommendation of the pappardelle. Really accommodating staff.

    Grated parm
    Emily C.

    This is a nice, Michelin-selected restaurant tucked away in a Queens neighborhood. We came with a reservation, and were seated immediately at a cute table by the window. The inside of the restaurant was gorgeous, and the staff all friendly and attentive. I had an amaretto sour and cacio e pepe. Both were very good. The pasta came with a mug full of grated cheese on the side, which is a fun and delicious touch.

    it's meats and cheeses
    Jason M.

    For family birthday celebrations, my family usually goes out to dinner; my brother's birthday was no exception, and he chose il Gigante to mark the occasion. I'm not too familiar with the food scene in Queens to be honest, but he heard good things about this place via social media. That, along with the fact that the people who run this place are from Italy, got me super pumped to check this place out - so off we went. Located in Ridgewood, the restaurant itself is pretty spacious. Even though it's relatively new, it has the look of being there for a long time with a dark, aged wood aesthetic. Tables are scattered throughout the space with a large bar along one of the walls; there's also additional seating outside - the look works. It was a hot summer day when we were there, but they didn't have the a/c pumping - they were really giving us that true feeling of being in Italy ;-). Almost goes without saying but the menu contains Italian fare, roughly separated into starters, pastas, mains, and sides; they also have a separate section for meat and cheese boards. A board sounded great so we started with that - we got the Gigante one which contained a fair amount of meats and cheeses. It was a good variety and had a very grand presence (the board itself was huge), but didn't have an overwhelming amount of product; this was a good thing as it was filling enough to leave room for our apps and mains. Speaking of apps, I decided to get the burrata. This was very good - the cheese was fresh as were the tomato and greens underneath; a really good starter especially given the weather. I was tempted to get one of their pastas as a main, but the pork cutlet was speaking to me more so I decided to go with that. This was interesting - the aforementioned cutlet was prepared breaded with prosciutto on top and smothered in a parmesan sauce. The cutlet itself was prepared well - the sauce was cream-based which I was afraid would be too heavy but it actually wasn't too bad. It's a large cutlet as well, but thin enough that you're not drowning in the meats. We opted for dessert - the vanilla gelato was speaking to me. It was excellent - super creamy and was paired with cherries that pushed it to a whole other level; it was honestly the perfect finisher. Service was great - everyone was very friendly and hospitable. Our server in particular really made sure we were taken care of. Overall, il Gigante is a yes - they're off to a great start and judging by the crowd they seem to really be gaining a following. It's a little bit of a hike for me to get here, but I wouldn't hesitate to return for another meal.

    Cacio e Pepe
    Haley R.

    Been eyeing this spot and finally decided to stop in for an early dinner. We sat at 5pm and the place filled up rather quickly, shortly after. Very cute inside, they also have a really cute bar. Service was nice and quick! They have lots of wine and cocktail options, a few NA options too! Sooo hard to decide on what to get (everything sounds soso good) but ended up with the tortelloni, cacio e pepe, and sweet sausage ragú - all SO good. Bread to start was also delish too! Can't wait to come back and order other things on the menu.

    Prosecco and table cheese!
    Lindsey B.

    il Gigante is a must if you are in the area! I had a reservation one night and was seated immediately at a cute table beside the window. I started with a Prosecco and "Tagliere di Formaggi" (cheese board). Both were great! For my main course I decided on the Orecchiette Salsiccia & Cime di Rapa. It was absolutely delicious! The spicy sausage made the sauce so flavorful, and the serving size was perfect. They also give you a huge cup of cheese to top your pasta with. Needless to say it was obviously a hit! The service was fantastic! We were constantly checked on and servers made sure we enjoyed everything throughout the entire meal. The price for all of this, plus another cocktail + meal + tip was $112. This feels incredibly reasonable for the value of our meal. I would honestly pay more for most of the dishes. I will definitely return next time I visit!

    Cristina R.

    I recently had the pleasure of dining at il Gigante, Italian restaurant, and I must say it was an unforgettable experience. The atmosphere was lively and vibrant, with a great selection of drinks and delicious cuisine. The service was top-notch, with friendly and attentive staff (Mitchel) who made sure we had everything we needed. The outdoor seating area was particularly charming, with a great view of the surrounding cityscape. We enjoyed our meal while watching people walk by and cars drive past, adding to the lively ambiance. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great authentic Italian dining experience with a fun and lively atmosphere both indoors and out. Be sure to try their mezcal margarita and wine selection, and don't hesitate to ask for recommendations from the knowledgeable staff. Hopefully next time we visit the Crostini - two toasted rustic Tuscan bread with homemade spreads: sundried tomatoes and arthickoke hearts isn't sold-out and there's an ambulance of focaccia bread to dip in extra virgin olive oil with salt and pepper. Michael and I have walked by il Gigante many times before and it's always packed. We finally got a reservation and so happy to add this neighborhood gem to our date-night memories. Additionally, I highly recommend stopping by Hellbender beforehand for a round or two of drinks and specials, but don't spoil your appetite because il Gigante has a lot to offer. Tanti auguri e grazie mille!

    Burrata
    Elizabeth H.

    TLDR: so impressed with the level of food, hospitality and general love you can feel at this restaurant! Do NOT miss this, while you can still get a res! SETTING: we had a dinner reservation at 7:30pm for a birthday on a Tuesday. When we arrived, the entire restaurant was full. It is a beautiful, spacious place with an old school ambiance and vibe. Fun music playing (NOT too loudly), with candle light and raw ceilings. Really loved the vibe here and it's perfect for date night, friends, family, anything! FOOD: the FOOD. We ordered ... a LOT. Three appetizers, four entrees, and cleared every single morsel of food. We had the burrata (classic and simple but the quality doesn't lie), the pecorino salad (anchovy dressing was so good), the calamari (shockingly light and juicy), the pork cutlet (honestly the best thing we had though it was a tight race), and three different pastas. I could not believe the pork cutlet of all things was my favorite, only because I don't like pork cutlet that much! But it was that good! The pastas also deserve a shout out (the gramigna, vodka special pasta with guanciale, lasagna alla bolognese and the tortelloni). All impeccable, perfectly cooked and sauced though my favorite was the Gramigna because of how much the sweet and flavorful sausage adds to the dish. SERVICE: as good as the food was, the hospitality was even better! The owner was our own personal concierge, making great recommendations, checking in to see how we were doing, opening the red bottle at the perfect time, and more than happy to talk about his clear passion and love for Italian food. You can see his much he loves food and hospitality through his interactions with the guests. That is what really makes Il Gigante stand apart and how I know it will be very successful. They even comped us our cannoli deserts and espressos at the end for our friend's birthday. That kind of special care can't be beat. VERDICT: HIGHLY recommend this restaurant if you're looking for an amazing bowl of pasta, an owner who LOVES food and providing for others, and a cool/lovely ambiance. This is the place for you.

    The tricolore salad mixed and on my plate!
    Sonia P.

    I would give this place somewhere between a 4-4.5 star review. The prices were great, and the food was pretty good. The main asset that this restaurant had was our server, who was incredibly kind. My husband and I came in on a Friday night, a bit early for our reservation. Thankfully they had a table available and we were seated right away. Inside, there seemed to be plenty of tables available, but I was unsure if they were being held for a large reservation. We ordered a tricolore salad which was cherry tomatoes, arugular, a 24 months aged Parmesan, and a citrus dressing. This salad was fresh and it was a nice way to start our meal. For our main, we got an order or the tortelloni burro e salvia, the tagliatelle ai funghi (a special), and a side of the patate al Forno. The tortelloni and the patate needed more salt, for me, and the best bites of the tortelloni was the bits with parmesan on it as it balanced out the sweet ricotta filling. Overall though, they were both tasty and I would order them again. The tagliatelle ai funghi was a special, and it was really, really good, but it was a bit difficult to get the mushroom and tagliatelle in one bite. The focaccia that they have is definitely not an afterthought and it is incredibly tasty. I would definitely come back here again, and the prices and servers are great!

    Burrata and cheese plate
    Mari T.

    Came here on a Tuesday night for a 7 PM dinner with a date. It was nice for the first hour, but by 8 PM it got very loud not too loud so you were yelling but almost. The bread was free and for the table and it was this Rosemary focaccia type of bread and there was olive oil so that was great. The cheese plate, I do not think is worth $19 but it was OK. The Buratta with arugula and tomatoes was also OK not amazing. I think they could've seasoned the arugula and tomatoes a bit more. the cacio e pepe was great, but the chicken cacciatore was by far my favorite. The chicken was so juicy and soft and the flavors were amazing! Definitely get it! We didn't get dessert or even look at it so I can't comment there. The spritz I got was reminiscent of an aperol spritz.

    Rigatoni
    Shawn H.

    This was amazing. The cacio pepe was one of the best in the city IMO, and the lasagna is up there too. Every bite was excellent.

    calamari and beet salad

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kevin C.
    1656
    984
    2091

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 3
    Love this 6
    Oh no 6

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jason M.
    982
    1841
    8129

    10 months ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 2
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Loved everything. The gelato surprised me and was some of the best I've ever had. Wonderful experience all around.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Shawn H.
    119
    1145
    7899

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of se c.
    135
    37
    22

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amanda O.
    22
    77
    18

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of david l.
    115
    1112
    3330

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Christina W.
    160
    113
    181

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Walter W.
    15
    359
    151

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Leo G.
    273
    23
    2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan S.
    1
    23
    10

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Good food, great service and good atmosphere! Cacio e Pepe was amazing. Looking forward to coming back

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Awesome food and great ambiance. Owner and staff are fantastic. We will be coming back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - il Gigante

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Desserts 51,231 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The Bad Old Days

    The Bad Old Days

    4.3(64 reviews)
    0.3 miRidgewood
    $$

    According to the Internet, this is the #1 bar in Ridgewood, so I decided to check it out with BF…read moreafter dinner at Rolo's. The bar is a bit on the smaller side in terms of seating, but it has a TON of personality. I loved the eclectic decorations and knickknacks around the seating areas and the bar. The bartender had the TV tuned in to Jeopardy, so my inner (or extremely obvious?) nerd was beaming. In terms of the drinks themselves, I tried the cocoa orange whiskey (?) infusion on the rocks, and my BF had the chipotle paloma. We would both say they were solid, definitely not at "craft cocktail" level, but decent. This bar has a fun + dive-y feel - the kind of place where you get a beer, a plate of chicken nuggets, and watch trash tv with your neighborhood crew (I think they actually do have people who have a weekly Bachelorette viewing during the week). Definitely worth checking out if you're already in the area and looking for ~vibes.~

    I've spent a decent amount of time in Ridgewood and unsurprisingly, much of that time has been here…read moreat The Bad Old Days. I've had a number of drinks here and it's been a great meeting spot for late night occasions, especially ones that revolve around a good drink. No doubt it's one of the more underrated nightlife venues in the borough. The setup feels like something out of a Brooklyn type bar - pseudo hipster vibe, casual environment with the whole board games and stacks of books all within a space that is well divided to give a different feel in each corner of the small'ish interior. Like a living room extension but with adult company. Of course, the bar is the most prominent thing in the room and it's a great place to chill as a solo patron. Groups can congregate in the lounge-y areas but the feel is remarkably different depending on where one choses to hang. On a beverage front, there is no shortage of quality drinks to be had. The cocktails are well made and not expensive; the bartenders do a good job of making sure each drink carries a certain kind of potency before leaving the bar. The happy hours are lovely as well, combined with a good deals ($5 shot + beer special, $5 cocktails, etc.) and even better hours (2-8pm!). Lastly, I appreciate a good name. Bad Old Days can be interpreted in many facets, but I think this establishment prides itself on good company and somehow rewards us with simple, good drinks. Bring a friend or three, enjoy the random movies that get projected onto the wall, and enjoy a late night capper in a quiet part of an emerging part of Queens.

    Photos
    The Bad Old Days
    The Bad Old Days - Library

    Library

    The Bad Old Days - I'm loving the 'BAR' sign outside.

    See all

    I'm loving the 'BAR' sign outside.

    The Ten Bells Brooklyn - Oysters and ham and cheese croquetas

    The Ten Bells Brooklyn

    3.9(53 reviews)
    1.2 miBushwick

    I've been slowly chowing my way through all the oyster happy hours the city has to offer. When I…read morefound myself galavanting in Bushwick on arguably the coldest day of the year, Ten Bells popped up as a natural haven where I unwrapped myself and indulged in my favorite food of the season. Right off the bat, the bar area is absolutely gorgeous and meets you with so much warmth, light and joy as soon as you walk in to this establishment. I plopped myself on the bar and had the pleasure of making conversation with Elouise and Alejandra. They put in my standard two dozen oyster order and paired my platter with a glass of the happy hour white wine which happens to be their house chardonnay. The oysters were delicious although I must say there was a lot of shell pieces inside, which was very annoying to eat. I don't think this is necessarily the fault of whoever is shucking them. I noticed the oysters they serve have a lot of thin slivers of shell on the edges which are bound to end up in your mouth. Perhaps they can try serving another variety of oysters? Just a thought. The chardonnay was pretty good and service was amazing. The girls at the bar also let me try the Ten Bells red wine which is produced specially for them in Boudreaux, France. It was a beautiful, light, and smooth red blend. As a wine lover, I will definitely be back to try more of their wines on tap. This is a great neighborhood establishment that I feel everyone should pop in and visit!!

    I had been to the LES location first before trying the bushwick one and I feel like the LES…read morelocation is much more rowdy. I think it's better as a happy hour spot than an actual evening wine vibe but that may just be me. The oysters are good and I happened to try the octopus as well which was SUPER good. It's a huge space and is definitely well suited for large groups. I personally wouldn't say it's a date spot because it can get loud sometimes but choose your own adventure!

    Photos
    The Ten Bells Brooklyn
    The Ten Bells Brooklyn - Mediterranean Dips Platter

    Mediterranean Dips Platter

    The Ten Bells Brooklyn - Bar area

    See all

    Bar area

    il Gigante - desserts - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...