Adventure 33: Gino's

Gino's Italian Restaurant (website)
540 State St.
3 Adjectives: Dim, overcooked, okay.
Price: appetizer (3-9) entree (9-25)
Authenticity:
Atmosphere:
Overall:
Veganness:
Other Opinions: badgerherald, madisonatoz, google...
---

Gino's Restaurant may have been a hit in its glory days, but now it seems to be overshadowed by the plethora of Italian Restaurants dotting the campus scene.

The restaurant is near the beginning of State Street (beginning being starting from Library Mall) and can easily be missed due to is smaller storefront shoved next to KFC/Taco Bell. Past the bar near the entrance, Gino's features nice dimly lit booths and tables, although there does not ever seem to be many diners around.

On my visits to Gino's I have tried their appetizers, pasta, and famous pizza. What turns me off the most about the restaurant is the hefty price tag it puts on its dishes. While nearby is Sunroom Cafe and about two blocks down is Tutto Pasta both featuring cheaper and equally (if not more) delicious options, Gino's should seriously consider lowering its prices. On my recent visit, I went with a group of friends to try their famous stuffed crust pizza. Since this order takes up to a 45 minute wait, we ordered potato skins as an appetizer first. The skins were at best okay, and were dry and a bit overcooked.

The 12" stuffed pizza, on the other hand, was the shining star of the night, and probably the entirety of Ginos' menu. Literally a "pizza pie," the interior was filled with cheese and toppings while the top was smothered with chunky tomato pieces, shredded cheese, and parsley. Each slice was the size of my two fists combined. My hefty piece got a bit cloying after awhile and I barely managed to consume the thick crust, but I can totally see how it would be appealing to a group of guys.

My recommendation is if you ever go to Gino's there's only one thing on the menu worth getting: the stuffed crust pizza. And be sure to call in your order early if you don't want to wait. Else, if you are either looking for romantic Italian or tasty Italian, I'd recommend Porta Bella and Tutto Pasta (respectively) instead.


Tossy will come right out an say it--Gino's, not the best diner for vegans. Tossy ordered a plate of pasta with tomato sauce, which is not even up to par with a plate of pasta from say, Za's (see earlier review on Za's). The pasta came with a slice of french bread, which was a little stale. The atmosphere at Gino's is rather nice, though--a bit dark, but good for talking with friends. If really just simply want a nice full plate of pasta and fresh bread, Tossy recommends the Sunroom Cafe. Plus the meal will be about half as much.