Gino’s Restaurant

I really enjoyed my experience at Gino’s. I didn’t know what to expect but I wanted to try something new near /​on Racecourse Rd and this was a hit. The food was delicious and not too pricey; and the servings are generous so you won’t be left hungry!
My friend and I shared a pizza and calamari and it was delightful. The calamari was a stand out — cooked to perfection. I wasn’t a fan of the side of sauce but the calamari on its own was enough :) I can’t speak highly enough of the calamari — seriously cooked to perfection; tender and mouth watering. I’d definitely order this every time I went back.
The service was wonderful and they accept cash and card HOWEVER there’s only 1 bill per table so be prepared for that.
The only negative which would turn me off dining in again was that it was extremely hot inside the restaurant — I couldn’t feel any air conditioning and I think the general heat of Brisbane combined with their open plan kitchen (it’s open plan behind the register so the heat escapes and wafts around the entire restaurant) was too much. I’m not a fan of being in humid and hot situations so I’d be more inclined to get take-​away next time (which is also an option!)
All in all it’s definitely worth visiting ! It’s quite popular even on a Sunday night with both dine-​in and takeaway.

So it’s a ridiculously hot day and because my house has no air conditioning (ugh) I’m burning energy like nobody’s business and continuously hungry. Finally I figure, «that’s it! I’m going out and getting a proper meal and stuffing my face». So I drag my friend to somewhere I have not yet tried; I drag her to Gino’s.
I’d heard Gino’s was more of a family friendly atmosphere, so I was more expecting screaming children and families. Yes, there were children and families, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Gino’s laid back atmosphere. It was exactly what I needed after a hot and hectic day.
They have gluten free pizza options (which delighted my friend) and a range of chicken options, which was just what I was craving. And rather than getting an average meal like I secretly suspected, I was amazed at how fresh and delicious both meals were. I’m really impressed with Gino’s.
Of course, I had to indulge in a little dessert too, so I got Baci. The ice cream was lovely and blended perfectly with the chocolate. Nowadays I try to avoid getting dessert when I eat out because I’m usually far too full but I just couldn’t resist Gino’s dessert menu allure.
Gino’s was easy to get into with no prior booking, the food was fantastic, and I felt really at ease eating there.
Not to be overly picky, but it wouldn’t hurt the staff there to put a smile on once in a while, just saying.
Glowing feedback all around.

As a student, you have no money. It’s a law you cant stop like the physics one that says gravity suck. That was until I was told about Gino’s.
I was like, are you for real, $ 10 pizza with my own choice of four toppings. Winner for sure. I was stoked to find this out on a Friday night when hanging out at a mates place and absolutely skint for change. I gave my order to the man on the phone and walked on down and picked it up 15 minutes later. The restaurant was filled to capacity and everyone was in the swing of it. It made me jealous, I wanted to go there.
Next time maybe.

I am incredibly fussy with my pasta. I almost always get ravioli at each new Italian restaurant I go to. I would hate to know how much ravioli I have eaten over my life span! But that said, because I know it so well, ravioli is my gauge of how good I think a restaurant is.
Gino’s is pretty far up the list! I have eaten in Italy and it is hard to compare with the homeland but Gino’s comes close. The pasta is lovely and the sauce is amazing.
So, after having established the quality, I have been back several times, often with family. It is always a great night out. The interior is simple but has a welcoming, home-​like feel. The chicken is also not bad and the desserts are good too. There is always a bit of immature giggling when one of our party orders a ‘Wild Romance’ from the waitress. It is a yummy dessert with vanilla and boysenberry ice cream coated in milk chocolate. Yum!
Only small critique is that our orders have been mixed up once or twice. The waitresses are really friendly and helpful though and everything works out in the end.

I once had a friend called Lorenzo Lamborghini. He was Italian and taught me that Italians hate when non-italian’s try to remake their traditional dishes. He refused to eat any Italian based dishes while he lived in Australia.
But Roberto would’ve eaten at Ginos.
Gino’s Restaurant has been established for close to 30 years in the Brisbane suburb of Hamilton. They’re family-​run business has been passed down to the children, who have slaved away to produce some of the finest Italian food in the local area — and have they succeeded!
Gino’s restaurant is an excellent example of how something so great can come out of passion and dedication to the craft that is cooking. The décor is simple, some could even say simplistic or devoid of any ambiance, and they’d be correct if it wasn’t so deliberate. Gino’s isn’t a dark and quiet restaurant with pictures of Italy everywhere to help fool you into thinking you’re someplace else because it doesn’t want to be. It’s just a place for great food, where you can bring children or a group of friends catching up over BYO wine.
The menu has a lot of options but it’s not overwhelming. All the staples are here from pasta to pizza to, arguably, Brisbane’s best Calzone. It’s god damn delicious. The presentation of the food is simplistic. They’re not aiming for perfection on every facet of their food but the taste because most people aren’t expecting anything else.
The desserts are reasonable but nothing outrageous. They do make great coffee, though, and it’s a great way to finish your 3 course meal over a night. I would suggest making a reservation, though, as it can be busy during the peak times.
The staff are extremely friendly and accommodating. They celebrate birthdays, help take pictures and will quickly refill water without being too bothersome.
All in all, a great way to spend a night out.