Gambino's Italian Grill — Restaurant in Fairhope

I'm very reluctant and highly disappointed with the following review, which I believe the public should hear about.

On Saturday, 8/9/25, I was so excited to try this restaurant out. I did the call-ahead seating option, and our time slot was between 6:53 and 7:15. We were seated by 7:11.

Again, I was ecstatic about coming here. I immediately noticed the memorabilia in the waiting area, but then you walk back to where you eat, transforming you into Venice. Loved the vibe.

We immediately met our waitress, and she was kind.

We placed our drink and appetizer order. By 7:15, there were four people, two Shirley Temples, one water, one Dr. Pepper, and one Old Fashioned. One appetizer: bacon-wrapped shrimp.

My husband's old-fashioned drink was delivered first, and then a few minutes later, the rest of our drinks came out. We placed our dinner order within 10 minutes of sitting down. One tri-color tortellini with chicken One spaghetti with meat sauce One well-done sirloin with broccoli And lastly, my shrimp tortellini Our order was placed at 7:25

Then it began: We did not receive our appetizer for over an hour, and our breadsticks and salad did not come out for an entire hour. It's now 8:44, and nothing.

Once we received our appetizer, it was good. The same can be said for our breadsticks and salad. The salad was very fresh. The first batch of breadsticks was cold but still good.

We wait another 20 minutes, and our meals arrive: one chicken tortellini, spaghetti with meat sauce, sirloin with green beans, and shrimp tortellini.

We see the green beans and not the broccoli, and my daughter said Oh well, I'm hungry, I will eat my steak, Dad can eat the green beans. Cut into the steak, and it was still mooing.

I took my first bite of my tortellini, and there was something hard. I pulled it out, and it was a piece of hard plastic the size of a child's pinky finger in my food. We wait for our waitress to speed by so I can inform her of my issue. Ask for the sirloin to be cooked to order well and request the broccoli.

Immediately apologizing about the plastic and for my daughter's steak and green beans error.

Over 30 minutes have passed, and my daughter and I still haven't eaten. Finally, at 9:30, we got our remaining two entrees. The steak was great, and my tortellini was mainly pasta and sauce. My oldest daughter asked if there were shrimp in there. I said there should be. Well, there were not even five pieces. Our waitress came by, and we asked about my daughter's side. She informed us that the chef had changed the side veggie, but we could have something else. My daughter says Sure, loaded mashed potatoes, They were AWFUL. Took one nibble and they were awful. It's now past 9.35 and we are exhausted, disappointed, and unsatisfied.

Received our bill for $134. Paid it and walked out at 9:44.

Our order was simple, and I don't believe executing it should have been challenging. It should have been flawless because of how long it took to receive, but the plastic and the raw steak were not up to standard.

Then the waiting time was horrible; management should have stopped at our table to check in, which they did when we first sat down, but not once again. I never received a water refill, but my husband's sodas were kept filled, and honestly, if I were the owner, I would have comped the entire meal. It should not take over 2 hours for meal service on three pasta dishes and one sirloin, and then to have plastic in the tortellini and meat not cooked correctly, absolutely embarrassing and truly unacceptable service.

Again, extremely dissatisfied with the...

I have NEVER felt so offended in the 3 years we have had Milly!

Went out to eat for my birthday to Gambino’s in Fairhope, one of my favorite places might I add! But I can ASSURE you we will NEVER step foot back in there again!

It is NOT OK to disrespect or offend the family of a child with a disability that is beyond her control!

As we were sitting there having our salad and breadsticks Milly Jayy(being Autistic) begin to have a slight meltdown! An older couple that was sat behind us had just sat down! Upon Milly’s meltdown they asked to be moved! Hey that’s their choice to do so! That however was not the problem!

Now let me mention we had been seated a good hour and NO ONE came to offer us “crackers” but when Milly begins her meltdown a waiter came and sat a plate of crackers in front of our daughter! Convenience…I think not being we’d been there an hour! I felt so offended and so got off with at the audacity of such actions toward a child! I was so upset I started to cry and asked our waitress for the manager! The manager comes and his reaction was to attempt to make “excuses” for the waiter saying he was one of their best waiters and he assured us that was not his intention! Idc at this point what was or was not his intentions, I as a parent of a child with a disability found his action offensive! The manager who himself seemed as if he could care less was just as unprofessional as the waiter himself!! THERE WAS NOT AND NEVER WILL BE AN EXCUSE FOR THE ACTIONS OF NEITHER OF THEM!

I was so upset I couldn’t even eat the meal we ordered! Our waitress was an absolute sweetheart about the situation! I want to express my sincere appreciation to her as well as the couple sitting two booths behind us! The lady came over to hug my neck and reassure it was ok and hugged my neck! She complimented us on what a good job we were...

From the moment we stepped into Gambino's Italian Grill, located in Alabama, it was clear we were in for a vibrant evening filled with delectable surprises. Having ventured from the Saint Louis Metro Area, our expectations were exceeded by not just the food, but the charming atmosphere that’s perfect for families and celebrations alike.

The energy in the restaurant was infectious, and it set the stage for an unforgettable engagement dinner. "Incredible" barely scratches the surface when describing the mastery behind their culinary creations—every bite conveyed the freshness and passion put into their food.

Adding to the already lively ambiance was a bartender whose skill at crafting drinks was only matched by his ability to make our wait for a table enjoyable. The cocktails were not just refreshing but also beautifully balanced to perfection.

Our server, Tiffany, deserves a special shout out for her attentiveness and professionalism. She navigated our celebration with such finesse that we felt taken care of in a way that was both familial and impeccable. Her service was a significant part of why our dining experience was so extraordinary.

We cannot overstate the impact that Gambino's had on our special night. Leaving Alabama with full hearts and sated appetites, we are already planning our next visit. It's rare to find a place that not only meets but surpasses your dining expectations—Gambino's Italian Grill is that rare gem. We'll definitely be returning, and we encourage anyone who finds themselves in Alabama to stop by and allow the team at Gambino's to create a memorable experience for them, too. Thank you, Gambino's, for making our celebration not just a meal, but a...