Gino's Restaurant Opens Its Doors

The internet is a-flutter with news of the new Gino's sit-down restaurant opening. While we share the excitement of having a new offering in town, our response is more measured than others'.

Charles and I ate at the new Gino's over the weekend. Gino served us himself and was very friendly and welcoming. The food was tasty. We had the gnocchi ala vodka, the tilapia francese, and chicken with green salad. On the downside, we tried to order broccoli or broccoli rabe, Gino said he could do that but pretty much ignored the request and gave us the three things that he recommended we have, even after I said I wasn't big on gnocchi. (A commenter on Brownstoner reported eating virtually the same thing). We asked for water, and he brought us plastic bottles, which is kind of odd for a sit-down place where the dishes averaged $14. They had no child's seat, so we had to strap our toddler into his stroller.

Hopefully these quibbles can be chalked up to the fact that the restaurant wasn't officially opened yet and the hitches will be worked out. The fact that the restaurant wasn't officially open wasn't clear to us when we ate there, though. The doors were wide open and we were ushered inside.

Comments

[Charles Star]

Specifically, I thought the gnocchi ala vodka was very good. The grilled chicken over greens was fine. The tilapia was a large piece of fish, properly cooked, but the Francese sauce was pretty bland.

In general, the portions were large though I wonder if $14 pasta entrees is going to be the right price for the neighborhood.

[Matt]

We just went there for the first time. Nice mixed crowd, and a nice room, too. About the best you can do with a narrow storefront. We snuck in a bottle of white from 65 Fen, and Gino didn't seem to mind, tho he asked us to drink out of water glasses (he's still waiting on his liquor license.) The spinach ravioli with vodka sauce was really good, the linguine with clams was quite good (canned clams, unfortunately), and the service was a bit frazzled but getting its legs and very endearing. It was a happy scene for the neighborhood, and I am going to go back. I wouldn't say it's a great leap forward in the "foodification" of flatbush, but it's a perfectly fine red-sauce joint and I would happily take my mother there.

[Charles Star]

Why would you have to smuggle wine into a place that doesn't have a liquor license? And why would you have to drink out of water glasses? It is pretty standard that restaurants are BYO until they get their license. It means they can't sell liquor, not that they can't allow people to bring in liquor.

I'm glad that the larger menu is decent. We'll be back also.

[Seth]

Rarely enforced but legally you cannot BYO into an NYC restaurant that does not have a liquor license.

[Bob Marvin]

The ONLY good thing I remember about Ed Koch as mayor was that he encouraged people to bring their own wine, despite the law.

[Charles Star]

Well color me dumbstruck. If there is a law enforced less than that one, I'd like to hear about it. I wonder what else I'm illegally doing in blissful ignorance.

[Bob Marvin]

I just got back from dinner at Ginos on their second night.I expected to find food that was adequate, but not much more; my expectations were GREATLY exceeded. It's really very, VERY good. We were six people. We split a couple of large appetizers--cold antipasto and a hot sampler, which were excellent. I had a special of home-made tricolor pasta Alfredo. I;m very full and very happy. Bravo Gino!

[Melissa Cole]

I went to Gino's restaurant for the first time last night and did not experience any of those snags that everyone else was talking about. They freely admitted it was BYOB (they were even helping costumers open bottles) and they had wine glasses readily available.

The place was pretty crowded and there was a little wait on the food, but it was very tasty overall. They even gave us complimentary cannoli at the end of the dinner.

I think that this is a great addition to the neighborhood and would go back soon!

[Dynishal]

My sweetie and I had dinner at Gino's after Monday's PLGNA meeting. It was great! We went late, around 10 and had the waiter and owner's full attention. We drank NYC tap water and shared a generous bowl of spaghetti & meatballs and a mound of sauteed spinach w/ garlic.

The spinach was so nice that we immediately plotted to stop to pick up vegetable sides to-go throughout the summer. Sauteed broccoli & broccoli rabe are also on the menu. The sauce on the pasta was lip-smacking tasty and we did not leave behind one crumb of the canoli the owner treated us to for dessert. Our delicious meal set us back only $17.

Passing today, we noted the installation of a fancy schmancy new sign spanning both the pizza shop & sit down restaurant. The waiter told us that the liquor license is expected in about 3 weeks. We're VERY excited about this new neighborhood dining option and plan to frequent it . . . well, frequently!