Gio — Restaurant in Halifax

Oscar, Maestro of Culinary Delights at Gio

Tonight's dining experience at Gio was nothing short of extraordinary, thanks in large part to the incomparable Oscar, our esteemed Culinary Concierge. From the moment we were seated, Oscar's warmth, knowledge, and infectious enthusiasm set the tone for an unforgettable evening.

With a deep understanding of the menu and its intricacies, Oscar expertly guided us through the culinary landscape, thoughtfully recommending pairings that perfectly complemented each dish. His explanations of the flavors and ingredients were so engaging that we found ourselves eager to try new things. Oscar's passion for the menu was palpable, and his excitement was contagious, making us even more enthusiastic about our dining experience.

What truly set Oscar apart, however, was his evident pride in Gio's commitment to supporting local suppliers and showcasing the best of the season's offerings. His reverence for the chef's craft was inspiring, and he spoke about the culinary mastermind behind the menu with genuine admiration. We wish we had asked the chef's name to extend our personal gratitude, but Oscar's own dedication to the culinary arts shone brightly throughout our interaction.

The pièce de résistance was undoubtedly the in-house made coconut ice cream and blueberry sorbet, which Oscar presented with the flair of an artist unveiling a masterpiece. He referred to our desserts as "a work of art," and we couldn't agree more. The presentation was stunning, and the flavors were absolutely delectable. We were almost hesitant to disturb the edible artistry, but the first bite was all the encouragement we needed.

Oscar also took a moment to explain that the menu at Gio changes with each season, reflecting the freshest ingredients and the chef's creativity. This attention to detail and commitment to quality only added to our appreciation for the exceptional service Oscar provided.

In short, Oscar's exceptional service, vast knowledge, and genuine passion for the culinary arts elevated our dining experience at Gio to new heights. We left feeling sated, satisfied, and already looking forward to our next visit. Bravo,...

My partner recently took me to this restaurant to celebrate my birthday and let me just say.. they DID NOT disappoint. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the staff and our waiter, Oscar. Oscar was friendly and very professional. He did a phenomenal job explaining each item on the menu and making suggestions. It was clear that Oscar is a foodie and passionate about food and the pairings. He made it his mission to ensure we had an amazing dinner. He was meticulous in pairing our meals with the perfect wine and even took the time to explain why he recommended each dish or wine pairing. He asked the right questions to make the perfect recommendations and he was warm and welcoming the entire night. We were even wowed to find out that not only was he our waiter, but he also doubled as the bartender making the most amazing, delicious and refreshing cocktails. If I had a business of my own, Gios would be in a tough spot because I would hired Oscar in the spot lol.

The food was amazing. Literally everything we had was 10/10. The appetizers were delicious.. to the point that some dishes like the snapper left us eager for more! We ordered almost a little of everything but my favorites were the parpadelle pasta, the wild boar and red fish. I absolutely loved the flavors in the pasta and the pesto was amazing. The boar was perfectly cooked and the portion was perfect and quite filling. The fish was well seasoned and absolutely delicious. I will absolutely be back to Gio because I have that burger on my mind and I’m yearning for more.

Thank you for an amazing dinner & special thanks to Oscar for being the most amazing waiter I have ever experienced. It’s clear you are passionate, love food and take the time to learn and understand the menu in depth. The restaurant is absolutely lucky to have you on...

A group of five of us were there for my birthday on Saturday, May 3. GIO is one of my favourite restaurants, so I had raved about it to two of my friends that came along, as they had never been there. I assured them that everything on the menu is always amazing.

Sadly, my favourite dish, the boar, was not available that evening, so I ordered the lamb. My two friends that had never been there before also ordered the lamb. I have to say that I was very disappointed with the dish, as were my two friends. The lamb itself was cooked perfectly, and was very tender, but did not have much flavour. It was on a large bed of orzo, which also did not have any flavour. I was also surprised that there was little to no vegetables. The dishes that I have had in the past have exploded with flavour and also had lots of vegetables.

Two of the other girls at the table had the osso buco and a seafood dish, which they were both very happy with. I tried a little bit of the mashed potato that came with the osso buco, which was amazingly delicious. I feel that would have been a much better pairing with my lamb and would have improved the enjoyment of the meal.

Overall, I am disappointed that two of my friends will likely never go back, and that my birthday dinner has left me not looking forward to returning myself.

Outside of that, I will say that the service was wonderful and everyone also enjoyed the drinks and the atmosphere. Hopefully the lamb dish that night was just an anomaly.

I am seeing photos on the other reviews here of desserts with Happy Birthday written on the plate. I was not provided any sort of free dessert for my birthday. Perhaps they only do that if you order a dessert and pay for it?

I also sent feedback directly to the restaurant, to which they did not reply at all. I would expect more from a high...