Gino's

This italian fare was hard to find and their front sign does not say Gino... it says Tavern. Dinner last Monday night was unbelievable. They do have the best Italian cioppino in Portland, period! The place is a run down facility and could use a little remodel and clean up! go for the food! more

I really liked my service here, so let me clear that up right off the bat. The Caesar salad was great, but pretty garlic-y, so consider that if you're on a date. The atmosphere is pretty old-timey and it feels like a good place to take the fam. more

We love Gino's. Yes, sometimes it is crowded but we usually go early to avoid a wait. Staff has always been great. I just love the mussels. With the bread, it is a meal for me. Give it a try. more

So I've read a number of the reviews for Gino's and I'm pretty surprised that so many people have had such terrible service experiences there. Its certainly not the best service ever but in a town of notoriously horrendous service its not bad enough to even register on my service radar. I've been there when they are FULL (among other times) and it was a longer wait but we hadn't made a reservation so there ya go. We drank wine, hung out and got over it. Once seated everything went swimmingly. The cioppino is so amazing that we talk about it when we're out of town and can't eat it. That's food love people! We split one order of cioppino and a salad and leave full, happy and satisfied. If you want to fill up on bread this is not the place for you. If you are looking for fine dining this is also not the place for you. If you want $2.00 drinks? Not the place. Do you want fresh local seafood that doesn't involve a bun or batter fried anything? This is TOTALLY the place for you. Do you want an authentic atmosphere that's fast paced and noisy yet cozy and romantic? This could be a place for you. Do you want a meal that's focussed on your entrée and all its wonderful flavors rather than bread? I think this could definitely be the place for you. Ultimately it seems as though Gino's inspires people to either love the hell out of it and become loyal regulars or hate the hell out of it and swear to never go back, cursing its name and giving it the evil eye. Give it a try. If you love it, YEA!!! If you hate it, well, its unlikely to kill you so if you ask me you're still up by at least one. more

The menu is limited, but the food and atmosphere used to be the best. They no longer have the chicken on the menu which was a favorite and the waitress had a real attitude. I asked how long the cook had been there and she asked me why I wanted to know. When I told her the salmon was the best I ever had about 5 years ago, she told me that Gino's was great and had been in business for 15 years and was a great restaurant, blah, blah, blah. It has always been slow which is fine when you want to talk with the person you are with, but I felt like they wanted to give us the ole heave-ho when it got busy. The food used to be simpler. Now it seems they rely more on oil (butter, etc.) and the taste of the food is not as clean. Portofino has much better food. more

This place is a wonderful Sellwood restaurant. I love the Cioppino and the bar provides a unique experience. If you want to watch a game and have great food, this is the place to go. more

Three of us had heard about Gino's so we gave it a try. Had a little trouble finding it because the entrance is through a bar on the corner, on block north of SE Tacoma on 13th. Worth the hunt, this place is incredible, we started with great wine, then their famous Caesar Salad, which is huge, enough for 2 people. We had Salmon Dijon, Raviolis, and Cioppino. The salad and italian bread were excellent. All the italian dishes were wonderful, will return soon. more

My partner David and I have been patrons of Ginos since the beginning. This is a genuine San Francisco style Italian restaurant. If you know ahead to order literally everything to share, you will have a fabulous experience. Our faves are the mixed shells putanesca from the starter menu (OMG), the overdressed and and oversized not-so-gormet caesar salad (but very yummy), and the porterhouse steak for two with grilled and roasted amazing veggies and slamming mashed potatoes.\r \r You will not find a better wine list in any portland restaurant and the cheese plate makes dessert a European pleasure. Mark, the owner, is a wonderful caring man that will honor any loyal customer with a family style greeting and over-the-top service. \r \r For a funky fabulous meal this is the place! Pros: Ordering to Share, Wine List, Relaxed Warm Embience & Serv. Cons: Not for advocates of corporate restaurants more

This is a high quality, upscale Italian Restaurant that is hidden in the Sellwood area. You have to enter it via the bar on the corner. I have not had this good of Italian food since I visited San Francisco. All our meals were great, and the Caesar Salad was the best I have ever had, recommend you share one because they are huge. Wine was also good, even the house wine was wonderful. Will go back soon. Pros: All the Food is Great Cons: Atmosphere not the best more

My wife and I decided to try Gino's for dinner last night. First a half hour wait for a table turned into one and a half hours. Many people were seated that came after us. We sat at the bar, and had a couple of drinks, and as I said the bartender was a very pleasant young man. When we finally sat down, we were pretty hungry. The server was pretty indifferent, there was no bread basket to go with a salad ( you have to order it), and the food took forever to arrive even though it was almost 9:30, and the place was half empty. The food was so, so, but the service was uninspired. For the cost of the meal, there are plenty of better places. Will not eat there again. Pros: The bartender was good Cons: Slow service, high prices more

The only grains of salt needed at Gino's are when you are reading many of the one star reviews here on this site. I suspect many of those people would be much happier eating at the Olive Garden or Stanford's. My wife and I just had a great dinner with some friends at Gino's. We had been 4 or 5 times before but our friends were new to the place. The wait for table was less than ten minutes and before we new it the waiter was bringing us samples of a couple different red wines for us to pick from. We split a caesar for four that was really meant for eight then we all had different pasta dishes. All four of us were very happy with our choices and bites of each were passed around the table. Our service was very casual. He was friendly and helpful when needed it but he also left us alone to enjoy our meal at our own pace and not feel rushed. All in all it was a really nice evening and we will go again soon. Pros: Good food, relaxed atmosphere, great seasonal specials. Cons: Mixed drinks are small weak and watery more

This restaurant came very highly recommended by friends we trust, but we were concerned when we saw some negative reviews on City Search. But we tried it anyway and are glad that we did. The service was great and we enjoyed the ambience. The Caeser salad for two was ample for three, and it was excellent. Two of our party had the Grandma Jean's pasta and it couldn't be better. We also tried the vegetarian risotta and it was laden with fresh vegetables. The beer selection included several interesting choices. The servers were very knowledgeable about the beer and food. Overall, we recommend this charming spot in Sellwood. (Oh, by the way, we dine out regularly all over the city and have no connection to this restaurant.) Pros: Good service, good food, good portions, good beer selection Cons: seating could be more comfortable more

Fabulous.... recently added to their already delicious menu is late nite specials. Prices from$1.95 to $5.95. Item's including (my fave) caesar salad to grandma jeans and the mighty puttanesca. Enjoy ! more

Gino's has a fantastic menu and it's all good. I've been going there for years and have had a really great meal every time. I've been there as a member of a group of 5 or 6 several times and the service is always good. Don't miss the Ceasar Salad and the seasonal dishes. Oh, and the grilled salmon is perfect every time! Pros: Muscle Pasta, Ceasar Salad, Wine, etc. Cons: Can be a bit of a wait for a table but worth it. more

The worst restaurant in this neighborhood and surrounding cities. First waiting for a table is not far off for waiting for the gas chamber. Secondly, when you actually sit in the filth ridden dining room they offer you nothing except for a water-downed drink or a so-called ""great bottle of wine"" which is marked up about a 1000%. Then the servers finally appear. They are like kids coming out of the bathroom at a party with a gazed look about them. And then finally the food arrives with a couple of pieces of stale hot bread, which you have to pay extra for, and my steak which was cooked not to my order was overdone being a blessing since cooking out the bacteria inside of it saved me. Then the bill arrives and the only thing that you have to say to yourself who is responsible for this injustice. Lets sum it up: water-downed drink $8.00, Bread $3.00, Steak $19.00. Now times that by 2. The wine which I found at the store for $12.00 was $39.00. The nausea medicine to get the food out of me $8.00. The total to go to gas chamber=$107.00 and missed my work the next day... more

Big Huge disapointment! In fact, i'm shocked Gino's is still up and running. We joined them on a Monday, celebrating a birthday party, The birthday wasn't awcknowleded at all. The food, to say the least was disgusting. The salmon says on the menu that it's cooked MR, which is exactly how my best friend ordered it, it came well done. The filet the birthday boy ordered was suppose to be Med, it came MW. My pasta had zero flavor and sat at the side of the table because i wouldn't eat it, but nobody came to ask me if there was a problem. Very poor. Probly the worst experience i've had in portland for sometime. I would never go back. I agree with one of the other reviews also, it's dirty. They definitely need to shut down and do a clean on the place. And get a new kitchen crew in there's lots of cooks, and a Chef??? looking for jobs right now. Pros: unfortunetely none!! Cons: Tons, unfriendly staff, no personality, poor food, cold and drafty, dirty, too pricey more

$1.95 for bread?? Need I say more? This is in a place where you can spend $25 for an entree alone. How cheap can you get with your customers? The bread that we had to order and pay for then arrived at the same time as the entrees which had 2 slices of bread accompanying it. There were no apologies from the waiter who told us ""well, now you have more"". Thanks. There was no soup available that night, and no Jack Daniels for a drink at the bar. This place is very overpriced. If I am going to pay this much for pasta, then it should be amazing. I won't be back. more

I am absolutely positive that some of the reviews of this place are either friends of the owners or family. While it is true that the food is very good, I would have given the food and the building 5 stars if it wasnt for the fact I feel so very let down by the lack of personality this place has. \r First off, kid friendly?! Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha! That was a good one!! The joke was on us!! Doesnt kid friendly mean they have some sort of kids menu, maybe a morsel of bread at the table to put in their mouths, crackers, something?? How about a server that responds to your worries of the fact your child may not eat that, can we have it plain, can we work on something? No? So, for all of you parents out there that saw ""kid Friendly,"" disregard it. The staff looked at them like they were lepers.\r Bad managemant, bad service, bad manners, understaffed, little insects on the walls, watched hostess pick up ""Ick"" off of the floor and then serve food without washing. GROSS!!!!! Great food, best Ceasar I have ever had. Salmon, chicken perfect, pasta choices minimal and then they ran out of 3 items. Expensive for the service. Do not spend special occasion here. The response we got when we told the sweaty server it was our anniversary was ""Oh."" That made the evening very special. I recommend as long as you are looking for a good quickie meal. Pros: Food, Wine List, Building is old and decorated cool Cons: parking, service, understaffed, feel rushed, overpriced, web site menu $$ misleading more

I live up the street from Gino's and it is one of my favorite neighborhood fine restuarants. Every time I visit (about once every two months) I have a delightful experience. From their large, rustic Italian dishes made from local and seasonal produce to their delicious, garlicky Ceasar salad, I've never once had a poor experience. Their servers are approachable without being overly friendly, and all are knowledgeable on the extensive wine list (although they could use more Oregon wines!) and the food preparation. It is not the largest restaurant in the world, which adds to the charm but sometimes makes it difficult to get a table, but I've never had to wait more than 20 minutes and I highly recommend sitting at the beautiful bar and enjoying a lemon drop while you wait (best in town, as far as I'm concerned).\r \r For a simple and still satisfying meal for two people, I would recommend sharing a small Ceasar salad, getting a cheese plate each, and toasting with a glass or bottle of one of their dry Italian or Alsatian whites. Thanks, Gino's! Pros: Rustic, local food, great wine list, great neighborhood ambiance Cons: Small so it's hard to get a table on weekends more

i've been eating at gino's for year's and my friends and i feel decadent going there once or twice a month. We know we are going to eat the most seasonal amazing food available. We don't want no stinkin' summer squash in February! More than standard ""italian"", Gino's always uses their creativity to bring Portland ethics to timeless favorites. They are known far and wide for the caesar salad, but be brave and get the large house mixed green salad with roasted vegetables and baby greens. It's truly a revolution in salad! I can't live without the mussels -- a must appetizer. Friday I shared 4 courses (3 appetizers, and 1 entree), plus a bottle of white, and shared dessert for $26 per person including tip! We might have had more to eat, but would have been stuffed. For large parties, go with the family style menu,you have to ask for it and remember to ask for to go boxes along the way. The pork chop and salmon are standards on the menu, but the rotating seasonal ravioli, is always exciting to try, and throw down for the steak every so often and you won't be sorry. The wait staff is loyal and so knowledgeable, with enough portland hip, but not a naggy rushed temperance. Once recently the waitress wouldn't let me get my favorite wine because she thought the quality control had gone amiss. I really appreciated that. Going on the weekends is trouble for getting a table, but in summer there isn't a day that it isn't packed. It's hard going there with large crowds because there are no reservations. be patient or come during the week for that kind of affair. or if you are in a rush and can't be bothered with the wait, go to portofino. then you'll know why people wait for gino's. :) Pros: farm to chef collaborative, seasonal entrees and appetizers, fresh garlic, beautiful place, not scary pretentious Cons: no reservations for large parties, too many winers from california looking to be pampered more