Giuseppe's Italian Cuisine & Pizza

We visited this restaurant for Valentine's day after hearing good things from many long-time Hamiltonian friends.

I'll be honest, we didn't expect much. The photos, advertising and other aspects indicate the restaurant has not been given love in a long time. Overall, that all continues to be true, however we were pleasantly surprised by the food, atmosphere, and drinks.

First, the house red wine was quite affordable, and was decent. I'm no sommelier, but I can taste a bad glass of wine, and this was not bad. I don't even know what it was, but it was good for the price. A quarter litre for just under $12 is really affordable in my opinion.

Secondly, the food. We ordered a ceasar salad to start, and it was quite good. You could taste the heterogeneity of the dressing indicating it was made by hand which was a nice touch. We didn't realize the meal came with a quite large pizza style bread included. We couldn't even finish it because so much was provided. I ordered the fileto di pollo imbotito a la marsallaa, and my wife ordered the manicotti al forno. My chicken was really good, not dry, and was not overly salty for a change of pace. If anything it was undersalted which I appreciate because there is salt at the table if you need it. Many restaurants today absolutely blast food, especially chicken with salt and the food here spoke for itself. The manicotti was quite good too. I tried a bite of it, and it reminded me of how my nonna used to make it. The sauce wasn't acidic, and the flavour just worked. Sadly they were out of tiramisu which we had heard was good, but we had something else that was good.

Third, the atmosphere. This place is cozy and old to be blunt. The bathrooms were kind of nasty, and the walls need a paint job. It reminds me of my nonno and nonna's house. Decorated like the old country with zero care for modern trends, it felt like somewhere I knew well. With some freshening up and keeping that old school decorations of random paintings of the countryside in overly ornate frames, and cleaning the bathrooms this place could be super cozy nice. I'm a bit of a lighting snob, I like warm lighting, and especially lighting that is consistent, so if I had one complaint (other than cleaning and painting) it would be that some of the lights were warmer colour, and some were colder colour, and one flickered on and off sometimes.

The service was slower, but it was nice, I got to chat and spend time with the person I came with. Reminded me of the slow restaurants in Europe where the food is great and the expectation is that you will stay a while. It's clear they were taking time to make the food we ordered, and that made the wait worth it.

For a starter salad, quarter litre of wine, soda water, two entrees and one dessert, the entire meal was almost $100 exactly. I challenge you to find a sit-down local restaurant with food this good for that price in the city. And further, I challenge you check out Giuseppe's if you haven't already.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Excellent restaurant. The building is pretty rustic, but the food is certainly homemade from scratch and is very good. The waiter (I believe the owner) was very kind and helpful. The food (we had pizzas and pastas) were both very fresh, homemade, and of high quality. Would definitely recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Hidden gem, my husband and I love this place to unwind and feel like we are in a proper Italian kitchen. Here for the pizza salad and wine but everything is so good. My hubby gets parmigiana or spaghetti and meatballs EVERYTHING is made from scratch and so so good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food cooked not thawed tastes amazing

Great food and comfortably cozy restaurant

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food was great I was dine in however in the summer it was very hot inside.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

The service was terrible. The owner was dismissive and rude, and the food was bland. We were the only people in the restaurant, and it took more then 20 minutes for them to take our order, then more then an hour to finally get the food.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Best pizza, crust is light and delicious! Sauce is also very good. My husband had the spaghetti and meatballs, definitely worth a return visit. Don’t let the outside deter you as the building has seen better days. The food is the focus in a clean and pleasant dining room even though it hasn’t been updated for awhile. White table cloth is an appreciated!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

I had the pleasure of dining at Giuseppe’s this evening, and to my surprise, it was absolutely outstanding. The food was truly authentic—Italian cuisine at its finest. From the rich, comforting soup to the perfectly cooked pasta, tender meatballs, and flavorful sauce, every dish was exceptional. Each course, from appetizer to dessert, was crafted with care and passion. What amazed me most was how quiet the restaurant was. Giuseppe’s is a hidden gem, and it’s a shame more people aren’t experiencing the incredible culinary journey it offers. If you’re searching for a true taste of Italy, Giuseppe’s is an absolute must.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great little place. Well priced, delicious food. My only negative was small portion sizes but satisfying. We will be back.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Restaurant smells funky af. The food is flavorless and bland

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 2

Service: 5

I definitely wasn’t expecting to walk into that, in the best way possible. I only ordered takeout this time, but the vibe alone makes me want to come back and sit down to enjoy the full experience. The pizza was great; classic, but with a nice little kick in every bite. You can tell they care about flavour. Can’t wait to return and try more off the menu!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

While the food comes a little slow but I can see why. The pasta is amazing and the lasagna comes out piping hot. Great authentic Italian food.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Had a lovely experience here last night! The server was attentive and kind, and the food was freshly prepared and amazing quality. Will definitely be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Garbage 🤢