Charlie Gitto's — Restaurant in Maryland Heights

Chose this restaurant to celebrate my wife’s birthday. A couple of reasons: one, because it advertises itself as having gluten-free options (and my daughter is gluten-intolerant); and two, because we had been to CG’s other location before and had a good time. Not today, though.

My daughter ordered a gluten-free entree, but soon noticed that her plate had other types of pasta mixed in — a classic example of cross-contamination. But the waiter didn’t seem too worried: “All pasta is boiled with the same water” he said, to my complete surprise that he didn’t think that was accidental. He added that “nobody has ever complained”. (Well, maybe those people never came back after going home sick? Who knows…)

Needless to say, this is not a place for people with celiac disease or moderate to severe gluten intolerance. The waiter didn’t seem to understand that mixing gluten-free food with regular gluten-containing food is a bad thing.

On a good note, the chef came to talk to us later and seemed better informed. He said that they don’t use the same water for regular and GF food (so the waiter gave us wrong info) but couldn’t explain how regular pasta ended in my daughter’s plate. He then prepared something else for her as a replacement (rice risotto which he said was definitely GF).

PS: I had asked to talk to the manager (“Chris” according to a staff member). He never came to the table. Wonder why? We were not charged for my daughter’s plate, though, which may have been his decision.

The other dishes served were tasty (hence the two stars and not just one). But the overall experience...

Giving a one star review based on this specific location and not the company or restaurant over all . I was here 2 nights ago on a Monday night looking for a quiet dinner and it was complete opposite . I decided to take some friends out so a small group of 4 . While we were at dinner someone who was sitting alone who from a couple tables away was shouting to our group and making very inappropriate comments from across the restaurant. I did notice it was disturbing tables around us and was completely shocked the restaurant would allow something like this . Then the woman approached our table and tried to sit with us with out asking and introduced herself as Janice . The server saw this happen and did nothing. This stranger Janice was also trying to offer us a used weed vaporizer to try during our meal and reached over one of my friends . Each of my friends ordered a appetizer that was amazing . Two of us ordered the ribeye steak special that was not on the menu it was actually really bad . It was so bad I sent it back and ordered lasagna instead which was reallly good I recommend it . Even tho me and my friend ordered same meal we noticed the meal was prepped differently . One was covered in some type of sauce the other was not . My other friend ordered NY strip very good. We all also ordered dessert . The best dessert we all agreed was creme brulee. After a $360 bill it was not the quiet meal we...

Your first aroma as you approach the entrance of the restaurant is the cigarette smoke wafting in from the casino down the hall. Not a pleasant greeting. I had Chicken Marsala and my wife had pizza. Both were good, but nothing outstanding as expected from Charlie G's reputation and higher prices. Table service was good. Only after submitting my credit card to pay our check was I informed that there would be 3.5% fee for using a credit card. I told our server that we should have been informed of that policy prior to ordering. Her response was: "It's not Charlie Gitto's fault, it's Visa's fault for charging the fee." I objected but she repeated the same phrase again that I am sure she had been trained to parrot. I guess all of the other businesses I buy things from don't get charged that fee from the credit card companies. Charlie G should sue them all! I realize more restaurants are doing this but customers should be notified upfront and on their website. Think that is going to happen? Maybe they should just raise their prices 3.5% on the menu, I wouldn't have blinked an eye. Instead, an okay meal turned into a negative experience. I fought the temptation to take that 3.5% out of her tip but didn't. After all, it was Visa's fault. As a local, I had overall higher expectations for Charlie Gitto's. Lesson learned, check the credit card policy before going to...