Gino's Restaurant

Wonderful dining experience more

Made reservations for anniversary dinner. Asked if they do anything special for the occasion and told "no, but we give a slice of cheesecake on your birthday." Restaurant was quiet and the music was at a decent volume. However, in my book, any restaurant that has a lounge with a widescreen TV clearly visible from the dining room doesn't qualify as romantic or fine dining. The two should be screened off from each other because it takes away from the ambiance of the dining room. The food, which was mediocre, was overpriced. For $20.00 I got 8 jumbo grilled shrimp, drenched in garlic butter and a cup of bow-tie pasta with marinara sauce. The pasta tasted like it came out of a box and the sauce from a jar. The shrimp tasted good, but I don't enjoy having to peel them myself. The lawrence bread tasted good and the canolli was delicious. But overall we were not very impressed. There is no real dress code so some diners, like us, were in after five attire and others were in shorts and flip-flops. If I wanted this I'd have gone to Semolina down the street. At least there I'd get enough food to take home for lunch the next day - for half the price. Pros: quiet atmosphere, polite servers Cons: overpriced, underwhelming more

Ginos has a romantic setting. I have always received top notch professional service. It is a great date place. The crawfish arancini is my favorite. more

I ate at Gino's in 1999 before senior prom. I ordered the champagne shrimp pasta, and it was everything I was hoping for and more! It was a very romantic restaurant. They had wonderful service, with servers treating us as respectful adults even though we were teenagers. My husband and I (who was my prom date) returned to Gino's in September 2002 for a special dinner. It was that night at dinner when my husband propsed. The atmosphere was perfect. Our waiter even brought us a complimentary Tiramisu dessert to celebrate. Pros: food, service, atmosphere Cons: none! more

I read the fist two reviews on this page for Gino's before making my reservation and going there to dine, so I had a preconcieved notion of what the place would be like. I was pleased when ithe positive notions of the article turned out to be true also, of my experience. The atmoshpere is very dark, but this is also true of many Italian restaurants of the same caliber of Gino's, in which I have dined. I was not surprised or offput by the lighting, but if you are bothered by dining sans luce, then be fore-warned. The waiter was courteous, and professional, and he immediatley got our drink orders and told us of the dinner specials and got our order in quickly. I asked about bread before the meal and was reminded by our server about the Lawrence bread that a previous reviewer had praised. It would have been a different meal without the rolls dipped in garlic-butter and sprinkled with shaved cheese(possibley Romano or Parmesan) and warmed in the oven, so I am glad I remembered..Get the Lawrence Bread! My dinner partner had the Veal Piccata which I regretably did not taste . She said it was excellent. I had the veal parmesan, breaded and covered with a marinara and cheese, served with a side of pasta , with a different tomato sauce. I almost always order this dish when first dining at an Italian place when I see it on the menu. We arrived right before the dinner rush , and our food was out quickly and was piping hot. The breading was a bit heavy on my entree', I believe that Veal is delicate and needs a light coating so you do not disguise the flavor and tenderness of the meat. The breading was also a bit too well done probably pan -fried for a little too long. But other than that it was very good. Good over-all flavor, appearance and quality. The marinara was good, a nice garlic presence, and sweet basil flavours also. There was a nice amount of cheese on the Veal. Some people may not like a thick layer of cheese, but I do. Tiramisu was great! Good food and good value Pros: Romantic..dimly lit, good food, lots of choices on menu, professional 3 star service. Cons: Dark, they have a table by the kitchen I would not wish on my enemy, which we got. more

Gino's should be great, they are pretty much the only home-grown, non-chain Italian restuarant in town. The good is good, not brilliant. They crabmeat pasta aappetizer is great, but very rich. The veal they serve is tender, but not the best baby veal I've eaten by far. Anarachi is excellent. Pros: Only game in town Cons: Trying to flip tables, the music from the bar is coming into the dining room where there is different music. more

Fantastic Italian food, the Lawrence bread is the best!! Highly recommended, make reservations or be prepared to wait. Pros: Great food Cons: poor lighting, insuffcient parking, not good for kids more

As the waiter was walking away after taking our orders he asked if anyone would would like bread. I stated that I would like bread. He made no mention at any time that the bread was $3.00 a piece for a small pistolet. I did not ask for 3 baskets of bread and keep it coming but that is what I got and a bill for $50! I will never eat there again. Pros: zero Cons: everything more

Y'all need to try the Laurence bread. It's the bomb, y'all. Like the veal parmesan. Usually like the spaghetti and meatballs, y'all, but last time, the balls were fried to a crisp and uneatable. The service is sub par, but for Baton Rouge about average. Considering your options here, y'all, you may as well go. Pros: the laurence bread Cons: limited parking more

And stands over your table when your done eating to turn the table over faster. Pros: Great food Cons: Crazy owner, Terrible parking more

Fantastic Italian food! I highly recommend the Laurence bread (pistolettes w/parmesan and olive oil) and the Laurence salad (w/shrimp and artichoke hearts). The veal dishes are excellent and the filet pizzaiola is my favorite entree. A very romantic atmosphere, dimly lit and great for dates or anniversaries. Excellent service as well. Pros: Great Italian food Cons: limited parking more