Brilliant evening… fantastic food, service…Anthony brilliant!!! First time visit but will be back again and again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christine Bunting
I'm always on a search for good lasgana, and I finally found it here. It was AMAZING!! It was hard to pick between entrees. So, I can't wait to come back and try something else. The place is really cute inside too. The waitstaff are also top notch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carciofi Fritti
Marcin1979
Finally we have a great restaurant in the area. We visited them on Saturday night and the place was full so reservation is recommended. Its very common for a new place to get lots of interest and if they keep the good quality of food and service this interest should be steady. Our server Anthony was great , and answered our questions. We choose the following for our dinner
Arancini-perfectly done, crispy on the outside and creamy inside, served with Pecorino cream was a nice , subtle appetizer.
Gamberoni-Rosted shrimp in garlic brandy sauce served with home made bread. Shrimps were very tasty, cooked to perfection. This was another great antipasti. Dipping the bread in the sauce is a must!
Scaloppine alla Milanese-veal medalions served with porcini mushroom sauce and spinach. In my opinion this dish is a little bit on the expensive side at $46 but very delicious. The meat was soft, not overcooked and the sauce had the great umami flavor from the mushrooms.
Fettuccine al Ragu-there is no Italian restaurant without a good homemade pasta. Personally I thing a good ragu is like a saint in Italian culture and making this classic so good gives you the point that the chef knows the cuisine. Pasat was nice, velvety and what is most important for me al dente. Sauce was rich, definitely a dish to repeat another day. We chose a bottle of grat white wine and their selection of wines is pretty good. I did not know they allow to bring your wine to the dinner and the corkage fee is $35 which is also a thing to consider. We will definitely be back to try more dishes or repeat the good ones.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Arancini
Mike Alfini
Request Stacy. Her recommendations and service were incredible. The Osso Buco was absolutely delicious. We will definitely be back!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Osso Buco
Gloria Litwinczuk
Maybe we'll start with the fact that art is in the details. When you enter the restaurant, you will encounter an unorganized crowd. Once you get through it to your table, you realize that throughout the evening you will hear every conversation from absolutely every direction because the tables are so close to each other that there is simply no other option. There were four of us, 2 children and 2 adults. We ordered 2 steaks, pasta and salmon. Just to be aware that fettucini alfedo is served for two people even if you are one person :) cost 45$ My salmon turned out to be a bad tail cut _cooked so dry-( didn't even ate it ) ,served in cheap eateries... here it costs $40, add steamed broccoli - most of the stems... well - not very impressive. The steak was ordinary. Our waitress couldn't recommend any wine, coffee, or elegantly suggest a menu. Either way, there's a sense of greed here. For this kind of money, people would like a little more. A little more peace, a little more elegance, a little more authenticity, a more original menu. We came back more tired than when we went there. On the other hand, Giostra has great potential and I hope that the managers will notice these shortcomings.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Christine Breit
We dined on a busy Saturday night and could not be more impressed by the service at Giostra! The meal was spaced appropriately and we received clean settings for every course. Really top notch!
Started with the arancini (sorry no pic! Was starving!) that had a delicious creamy sauce; very good. Moved on to the Roasted Beets salad and Cast Iron Focaccia. I’m not one to normally order salads but I was blown away with the depth of flavors here. The warm goat cheese spread through the salad and added a great creamy touch.
For mains we had the Gnocchi alla Sorrentina and Fettuccine al Ragu. The gnocchi was so pillowy light and was complemented with the delicate sauce. But the star was the Ragu for us. The sauce was complex in flavor but did not overwhelm the fresh pasta. Great meaty sauce.
Dessert was a Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding. I would come back here just to eat this again. The sauce soaked into the cake and was decadent. Since we were celebrating my husband’s birthday they also had a nice dessert cannoli surprise. Which was a nice touch.
My only feedback for improvement (if you could even call it that, was not much of a negative) would be to offer more wines by the glass. I was a little surprised by the short list. Though I was absolutely able to enjoy a glass from the selection!
Also, I couldn’t find it listed on their website but valet was available the night we dined.
Every moment was enjoyable and it was a great meal out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa Marie
My husband and I both got sick after eating and paying for dinner there. Something was wrong with our food that night. Tasted rancid.
Michael Hudec
This is a new little gem in the heart of the Arboretum. The food was phenomenal. We had 3 mushroom dishes. The chicken and veal were both cooked perfectly. Maitake (hen of the woods) paired well with the porcini, adding texture and depth. The mushroom gorgonzola crostino was also well balanced.
Our server had a medical issue so there was some shifting of wait staff. The other servers did a great job of covering and management came by several times to ensure smooth transitions and that all of our needs were being met. This was especially appreciated as we have an allergy issue.
Save room for dessert! The mini cannoli were delicious, with just a hint of citrus. The baked apple tart was fresh and hot - crispy, flaky, gooey, and delicious in the skillet with a rich ice cream on top. We took home some dessert as well and were impressed with the effort they took in presentation for take-out. Desserts were "plated" (decorated and garnished) in the tin and they used a dollop of filling to keep everything anchored for transit.
Great experience all-around. We look forward to working our way through the menu!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Apple Tart, Carciofi Fritti
Joy Schoeph
Dinner last night at Giostra, a new restaurant by Chef Fabio Viviani (Lago, Siena Tavern) located in S. Barrington was fantastic! The menu pays homage to the chef's childhood in Florence and the family recipes he grew up eating. We were some of the first people to try this new restaurant and will be back again soon. The food was outstanding. Service was A+. And the wine list is extensive, with most bottles moderatelypiced.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Arancini, Tagliatelle Panna & Prosciutto
Vikram Khanna
Beautiful interior. Excellent cocktails. Menu appetizers soaked in butter, cream and salt. Salads wilted and drenched in Parmesan and salt. Great service.
Went to Giostra 3 times in the last week. The food is outstanding and the staff are extremely well trained and personable. I know several people that had dinner at Giostra this week and every one of them has left with the same terrific impression as I have!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gosia Przygoda
With Giostra you will experience genuine Italian cuisine in a warm ambiance surrounded by wonderful people.Love the classic deserts !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicholas Tangredi
Giostra is a hidden gem! We had the carpaccio, porchetta, fish soup, and my wife’s filet, which she said was the best she's ever had. Everything was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere warm and inviting. We’ll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tetiana Blahodar
Checked out this new amazing place by Fabio Viviani that has just opened . Loved it ! Atmosphere, food, staff, service etc. Our server Cara was so attentive and made sure we had a good dine in experience. Zachary gave an excellent food suggestions that we loved . Managers Mike and Jeremy were there for all your needs and happiness. Chefs Massimo and Federico did fantastic job cooking all these excellent dishes for us. My son loved his Kids Crispy Chicken with French Fries . Our cocktails Paloma Rossa, Italian Mule and Ciao Amore were way more than satisfying made by Amanda. Food choices were Margherita Pizza, Branzino , mashed potatoes, Fusilloni alla vodka with added sausage best for sure. And we’ve finished with delicious apple tart with vanilla gelato ,salted caramel Torta Di Mele and Chocolate Gelato all to die for, even forgot to take pictures lol. Overall great great night , definitely will come back ❤️ Thank you!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kelly Ransom
My husband and I had an outstanding experience at Giostra last night. Everything about our experience was perfect. Our server Sarah was very knowledgeable and had great recommendations. The wine was perfect with every dish. Our favorite was Fabio’s Wagyu Meatball and the Fritto de Mare. Highly recommend! Definitely will return. ❤️
Brilliant evening… fantastic food, service…Anthony brilliant!!! First time visit but will be back again and again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I'm always on a search for good lasgana, and I finally found it here. It was AMAZING!! It was hard to pick between entrees. So, I can't wait to come back and try something else. The place is really cute inside too. The waitstaff are also top notch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carciofi Fritti
Finally we have a great restaurant in the area. We visited them on Saturday night and the place was full so reservation is recommended. Its very common for a new place to get lots of interest and if they keep the good quality of food and service this interest should be steady. Our server Anthony was great , and answered our questions. We choose the following for our dinner
Arancini-perfectly done, crispy on the outside and creamy inside, served with Pecorino cream was a nice , subtle appetizer.
Gamberoni-Rosted shrimp in garlic brandy sauce served with home made bread. Shrimps were very tasty, cooked to perfection. This was another great antipasti. Dipping the bread in the sauce is a must!
Scaloppine alla Milanese-veal medalions served with porcini mushroom sauce and spinach. In my opinion this dish is a little bit on the expensive side at $46 but very delicious. The meat was soft, not overcooked and the sauce had the great umami flavor from the mushrooms.
Fettuccine al Ragu-there is no Italian restaurant without a good homemade pasta. Personally I thing a good ragu is like a saint in Italian culture and making this classic so good gives you the point that the chef knows the cuisine. Pasat was nice, velvety and what is most important for me al dente. Sauce was rich, definitely a dish to repeat another day.
We chose a bottle of grat white wine and their selection of wines is pretty good. I did not know they allow to bring your wine to the dinner and the corkage fee is $35 which is also a thing to consider. We will definitely be back to try more dishes or repeat the good ones.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Arancini
Request Stacy. Her recommendations and service were incredible. The Osso Buco was absolutely delicious. We will definitely be back!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Osso Buco
Maybe we'll start with the fact that art is in the details.
When you enter the restaurant, you will encounter an unorganized crowd. Once you get through it to your table, you realize that throughout the evening you will hear every conversation from absolutely every direction because the tables are so close to each other that there is simply no other option.
There were four of us, 2 children and 2 adults. We ordered 2 steaks, pasta and salmon.
Just to be aware that fettucini alfedo is served for two people even if you are one person :) cost 45$
My salmon turned out to be a bad tail cut _cooked so dry-( didn't even ate it ) ,served in cheap eateries... here it costs $40, add steamed broccoli - most of the stems... well - not very impressive. The steak was ordinary.
Our waitress couldn't recommend any wine, coffee, or elegantly suggest a menu.
Either way, there's a sense of greed here.
For this kind of money, people would like a little more.
A little more peace, a little more elegance, a little more authenticity, a more original menu.
We came back more tired than when we went there.
On the other hand, Giostra has great potential and I hope that the managers will notice these shortcomings.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
We dined on a busy Saturday night and could not be more impressed by the service at Giostra! The meal was spaced appropriately and we received clean settings for every course. Really top notch!
Started with the arancini (sorry no pic! Was starving!) that had a delicious creamy sauce; very good. Moved on to the Roasted Beets salad and Cast Iron Focaccia. I’m not one to normally order salads but I was blown away with the depth of flavors here. The warm goat cheese spread through the salad and added a great creamy touch.
For mains we had the Gnocchi alla Sorrentina and Fettuccine al Ragu. The gnocchi was so pillowy light and was complemented with the delicate sauce. But the star was the Ragu for us. The sauce was complex in flavor but did not overwhelm the fresh pasta. Great meaty sauce.
Dessert was a Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding. I would come back here just to eat this again. The sauce soaked into the cake and was decadent. Since we were celebrating my husband’s birthday they also had a nice dessert cannoli surprise. Which was a nice touch.
My only feedback for improvement (if you could even call it that, was not much of a negative) would be to offer more wines by the glass. I was a little surprised by the short list. Though I was absolutely able to enjoy a glass from the selection!
Also, I couldn’t find it listed on their website but valet was available the night we dined.
Every moment was enjoyable and it was a great meal out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My husband and I both got sick after eating and paying for dinner there. Something was wrong with our food that night. Tasted rancid.
This is a new little gem in the heart of the Arboretum. The food was phenomenal. We had 3 mushroom dishes. The chicken and veal were both cooked perfectly. Maitake (hen of the woods) paired well with the porcini, adding texture and depth. The mushroom gorgonzola crostino was also well balanced.
Our server had a medical issue so there was some shifting of wait staff. The other servers did a great job of covering and management came by several times to ensure smooth transitions and that all of our needs were being met. This was especially appreciated as we have an allergy issue.
Save room for dessert! The mini cannoli were delicious, with just a hint of citrus. The baked apple tart was fresh and hot - crispy, flaky, gooey, and delicious in the skillet with a rich ice cream on top. We took home some dessert as well and were impressed with the effort they took in presentation for take-out. Desserts were "plated" (decorated and garnished) in the tin and they used a dollop of filling to keep everything anchored for transit.
Great experience all-around. We look forward to working our way through the menu!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Apple Tart, Carciofi Fritti
Dinner last night at Giostra, a new restaurant by Chef Fabio Viviani (Lago, Siena Tavern) located in S. Barrington was fantastic!
The menu pays homage to the chef's childhood in Florence and the family recipes he grew up eating. We were some of the first people to try this new restaurant and will be back again soon. The food was outstanding.
Service was A+. And the wine list is extensive, with most bottles moderatelypiced.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Arancini, Tagliatelle Panna & Prosciutto
Beautiful interior. Excellent cocktails. Menu appetizers soaked in butter, cream and salt. Salads wilted and drenched in Parmesan and salt. Great service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Went to Giostra 3 times in the last week. The food is outstanding and the staff are extremely well trained and personable. I know several people that had dinner at Giostra this week and every one of them has left with the same terrific impression as I have!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
With Giostra you will experience genuine Italian cuisine in a warm ambiance surrounded by wonderful people.Love the classic deserts !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Giostra is a hidden gem! We had the carpaccio, porchetta, fish soup, and my wife’s filet, which she said was the best she's ever had. Everything was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere warm and inviting. We’ll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Checked out this new amazing place by Fabio Viviani that has just opened . Loved it ! Atmosphere, food, staff, service etc. Our server Cara was so attentive and made sure we had a good dine in experience. Zachary gave an excellent food suggestions that we loved . Managers Mike and Jeremy were there for all your needs and happiness. Chefs Massimo and Federico did fantastic job cooking all these excellent dishes for us. My son loved his Kids Crispy Chicken with French Fries . Our cocktails Paloma Rossa, Italian Mule and Ciao Amore were way more than satisfying made by Amanda. Food choices were Margherita Pizza, Branzino , mashed potatoes, Fusilloni alla vodka with added sausage best for sure. And we’ve finished with delicious apple tart with vanilla gelato ,salted caramel Torta Di Mele and Chocolate Gelato all to die for, even forgot to take pictures lol.
Overall great great night , definitely will come back ❤️ Thank you!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My husband and I had an outstanding experience at Giostra last night. Everything about our experience was perfect. Our server Sarah was very knowledgeable and had great recommendations. The wine was perfect with every dish. Our favorite was Fabio’s Wagyu Meatball and the Fritto de Mare.
Highly recommend! Definitely will return. ❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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