Gio Fabulous Pizza & Martini Bar

Been going here off and on since there first location opened off cortez. The food is always amazing, the brothers have stayed consistent with quality of product and the ambiance at all there locations still maintains it’s quaint feeling as well as being current. Chicken Marsala is always my go to meal I can’t seem to get away from it. These guys know what they are doing! I recommend this place highly.

My family and I love this place before or after a movie. Surprising good food, and good glasses of wine. Friendly service as well. We usually go a few times a month. Recommended.

This was the second time dining at this establishment. 5 star all the way. Clean, friendly, EXCELLENT food– wished they had one closer to home.

Sacha is a great server at the bar. Funny and attentive and can notice when you are just talking with the friends but he’s friendly enough that you just want to invite him in anyway. Had the calamari salad which was delicious and also sascha is a perfectionist on the drinks. I love coming here before any movie

I have been here numerous times and always enjoy the pizzas. However I am posting related to my most recent visit, I joined a group of friends late and ordered the chicken Parmesan. I tasted my buddies before my came out and it was pretty good. Sadly, mine was Horrific! It tasted like plastic and rubber! I did not want to make a scene in front of the group so as a loyal customer I emailed the restaurant with my complaints. I was appalled to never hear back from them. What a huge disappointment from a Bradenton institution I will surely never return.

Gio Fabulous was a wonderful surprise. On both of our visits, we had a
coupon which they graciously honored and we were amazed at the service, atmosphere, and the great food. It feels like a comfortable, laid back atmosphere where the people are having a good time. We will always go back to Gio’s when we come to town.

It’s got a great location next to the movie theater. I feel for what I ordered penne pasta with pesto and blackened chicken I over paid. I got it to go and didn’t get any bread or anything else for $ 18 something. I ordered a bottled yuengling and it was $ 5 plus tax way too much! It seems like a great place to take a date before a movie but for the price I would probably just go to pier 22 or somewhere where the food prices are justified by the view.

Went in for a quick drink before we went to the movies to see avengers: the bartender was great! Super personable and he totally hooked us up before our movie theater experience. Definitely a place to go to enjoy a nice refreshment!

Gio is my new favorite spot !!! I have to only go on my cheat day because the bead the pasta OMG EVERYTHING is so good !!!
We have been here at least 2x per month!!!

I’m a bit late in writing this as it was a couple of weeks ago we were there. Stopped by for dinner after a movie and so glad we did. The atmosphere is very nice and the food is delicious. My husband and I just moved to Bradenton and our server Sasha was great. He gave us lots of good advice for restaurants around the area and we appreciate the time he spent with us. Happy hour has two for one drinks — good thing as the only negative is that the drinks are way over priced.

Outstanding service. Without complaining they took my order of 1 large pizza with double chz dbl pep ham and mushrooms. $ 20.24. The sauce literally tastes like Chef Boyardee, very tomato and horribly bland, no spice in it whatsoever. The amount of topping for ordering extra was literally a complete ripoff. Thin crust is cooked perfect but has zero flavor profile on any level. I tipped the chef $ 10 for graciously making my order with 5 minutes left to go but I’d do anything to take it back because after I tipped another $ 5 at the checkout I’d say they profited some $ 33 – 34. I will be honest in saying that little caesars has better flavor and more toppings for ¹⁄₃ the price.
If you want nice people it’s probably great but don’t order the pizza you’ll be disappointed.

average at best, and i have eaten here before, it was my dad’s birthday, we came unannounced, we sat outside, was nice, bread was dedent, martini’s, ok, was before the 7 pm time, did you feel you had to bring all the 2 – 1 martini’s at the same time, nothing personal, i don’t like my martini room temp, bread was just ok, no comment, i’ve better at other italina places, service, average at best, i don’t want to hear you’re training a new employee, while we were sitting there, that person was never with you, entrees, now, i am a chef, does your kitchen know the concept of salt, if it wasn’t for the pepper shaker, the sweet potato gnocchi, was bland, bottom line, the owners, and sasha, the bartender, terrible decision on drink times, the owners, anthony, we drove from the furthert area of sarasota, and left disapponted

This place was great. Very nice soft music and peaceful atmosphere. Started off with bread and a ceasar salad then had the Rigatoni Vodka for my entrée. Great food! This place does get busy so i recommend setting a reservation.

Sweet potato gnocchi were outstanding! ! Great bread and dip. Mediocre calamari and service. Waiter was a nice, friendly guy but overextended causing him to be inattentive. But worth the trip. Food was excellent. Nice ambience.

Gets 4 stars for pizza, but nothing else. The Rustica pizza is flavorful and delicious. We have tried 4 or 5 other things from Gio’s and they were all disappointing. We visit this place now only for take-​out pizza.

I hosted my son’s rehearsal dinner here on July 25^th. Anthony and his staff did a fantastic job. Everyone raved about the food and the service. I would highly recommend Gio’s. We had a little room all to our selves. I couldn’t ask for a better night for my son and my beautiful new daughter.
Terri Mehmet
Naples, FL

Came here with my boyfriend on the Tuesday evening. We ordered the mussels and chocolate martinis to start, which were absolutely wonderful. He thought the mussels were a tad «fishy» tasting but I thought they tasted great with the tomato sauce they were served in. For our entrée we had the prosciutto pizza, which was just amazing. The atmosphere was dark, quiet and very romantic, the way I like my restaurants. We just moved out here from Denver where we were spoiled by many great pizza places, but none quite matched the ambiance and flavor of this one. We will be back!

My first time here. I will definitely be back. I had a personal pizza with sausage as well as the spaghetti & meatballs.
The pizza was excellent with slices of sausage (not the ground up garbage) and just the right amount of cheese. It was also cooked just right (very slightly crispy). Loved it
The spaghetti and meatballs was very good also. I really liked the pasta and the meatballs were pretty good.. .. I can’t wait to go back to try several other things on the menu.
Please note — all of staff that I dealt with were extremely friendly and helpful. Great place.

Got the garden salad and the Primavera (veggie) we substituted eggplant and spinach for garlic and mushrooms :) yum! The pizza is thin and just the way I like it. The salad was good too (a bit too much vinaigrette so getting it on the side is a better option). Customer service is great, place is very clean. The complimentary cheese bread and olive oil was a nice extra! Would come back again!

Gio’s décor is very nice, the wait staff is inconsistent. Most of their wait staff is high school students. Sometimes nice, sometimes not. They are located next door to the Regal Cinemas on Cortez Rd. and the sign says «Gio’s.»
We mostly ordered carryout, when we lives close by and have dined in a few times before the movies. I personally have a problem with paying too much for Italian food, since most of it can be made at home, except for the Pizza. However, I would say that this is the best locally owned classy Italian restaurant in Bradenton for pasta dishes.
I wish that the dinners came with a salad or garlic rolls, since most of the salads run about $ 7.00. They do give you bread with butter.
My favorites are the Gnocchi Bolognese $ 10.95, potato dumplings in a rich and delicious meat sauce. My other favorite is the Penne Quattro Formaggi $ 9.95, which is basically a penne alfredo. I have noticed that they do not give you as much pasta as most Italian places do, so you are forewarned. Maybe that is how they keep the prices lower than most.
Their pizza is great New York style, but not as good as Il Panificio in Sarasota. The cheese is very flavorful and you can taste some romano in there. Only two sizes; personal size pizza $ 8.00−14.00, large size $ 12.00−20.00. They also have great toppings to choose from.
They also have a gelato bar and a full drink bar.
I recall that some of their locations are not open during lunch hours.
Hrm… for some reason my review has been moved over to another business. Interesting. This review is for Gio’s, so please stop moving it. I guess an employee has figured out a way to move all of the Gio’s reviews to Portofino Café.