Gianni's Pizzeria — Restaurant in Red Bank

3 1/2 stars

This was a total impulse decision, and not one I regret. The Millennial Chum and I stopped here on our way back from the Jersey Shore Outlets, on a tight schedule and in need of a quick bite. I thought from the road this looked like an interesting spot, and the outdoor seating area was large and pleasant. That was enough, and we quickly pulled in. We were both amused by the interior, which is a bit kitschy - from outside you can see some old school Pizza Hut lamps over the table, and there's at least one or two pop culture displays throughout the restaurant. Very cool.

This is a blue-collar by the slice-type establishment, which is usually not my jam (I'm pretty snobby and ridiculous about my pizza) but I liked the look of most of what I saw. The specialty pizzas caught my eye and upon confirming that I was looking at a chicken vodka pie, I quickly ordered two slices, which ended up being one slice too many. I always forgot how hardcore an edgy slice is. It was pretty good; interestingly the star for me by far was the crust which, maybe not coincidentally, gave off Pizza Hut in a good way - it was thick and extra crispy, on the verge of a deep dish. The vodka sauce was fine; I really didn't notice it one way or another, and I'm not sure if that's a selling point or not. I didn't like the look of the regular tomato sauce on other pizzas (they looked too thick/chunky for my preference), which is one of the reasons I gravitated to the vodka. The chicken was plentiful, which is probably the one aspect you need to ensure with a slice like this. Like a lot of pizza in this genre, it was reheated and you could tell. There were a few pockets of grease and dried up sauce areas but honestly pretty minimal and easy to navigate around or remove entirely.

I rarely discuss my dining companion's food (they can write their own review), but the Millennial Chum wanted it mentioned that her chicken parm panini also came with eggplant, and was very good. Noted.

The service was fine. Understandably my slices were ready to rock within a minute or two but the Millennial Chum's meal was made to order or close to it, which took roughly 10 minutes or so. We of course took advantage of the nice day with the aforementioned outdoor seating, and it was nice of the woman behind the counter to bring out her food to the table. Ultimately unnecessary but a nice touch.

This wasn't bad, especially given that we just gave it a random shot based on superficial optics. Am I going out of my way to come back? Eh. Tough to say when you have so many downtown Red Bank area a stone's throw away but for this kind of situation, it's...

It WAS a usual go to spot as well as a couple other locations. Typically ordering pizza, pasta dishes ect…. Past few times ordering from this location - as well as Oakhurst location, the portions have definitely gotten smaller. What used to be shareable salads and wraps /sandwiches are not the same. Could be inflation related, but i was told the containers changed. Aka- they are now smaller. Today i raved about the antipasto salad to a coworker and that its big enough to share- i mean it should be @ nearly 20$!! So when the two of us opened and saw that the salad - while still a decent size, was not meant for two i reached out to inquire if i ordered the right salad, or if something changed. Basically - the customer service was not great, i was told the ingredients are expensive- which to be honest- its got a couple ingredients like prosciutto and - a COUPLE (2.5) pcs of some homemade mozz that could jack a price up. But still- 18$ plus tax and tip- your talking about close to 25$ for the salad. The salad should be consistent as I definitely would not have raved about it being enough to share. Ive seen more come on the Italian sub for a couple dollars less. Also- i didnt get the chance to mention that the “expensive” prosciutto couldn’t even be eaten as it was discolored and no longer edible. Basically- the whole “ our containers changed , and lack of interest in acknowledging that their pricing does not align with the deliverables doesnt work for me. I wasnt asking for money back, but something more than “ its expensive ingredients” and that they valued customers. I get that costs of everything are tough these days but there are other pizzerias around, just as good, some with better pricing. Sadly, today will most likely be the last time ill order from this location. But- if just looking for pizza and standard items- the food is good. Just know that portions have changed, prices have increased and items may no longer...

From the outside, those square pizzas in the window looked amazing. Inside, the retro movie posters, popcorn buckets, and Blockbuster nostalgia set the mood and had my hopes sky-high. Unfortunately, the food and service didn't live up to the atmosphere. Things started off rocky when our kid's meal came out first, only for the staff to realize they had completely forgotten about the rest of our order. When our food finally arrived, it felt rushed--and it showed. The garlic knots seemed reheated, undercooked in the middle, overloaded with basil, and lacking that punch of garlic and parm they needed. The pizza had potential: the cheese was quality, the dough was nice and thin, but both were underbaked. No crisp,, no texture, no finish--just doughy. The sauce was fine, but leaned too sweet for my taste. What made it more frustrating was the lack of attention. The restaurant wasn't even busy... just one other table and a few takeout orders - yet service still felt scattered, and the food came out like an afterthought. Would I give them another shot? Honestly, yes. Those square pizzas in the window still have my curiosity, and I'd like to see this place step up its game. For now though, it's more of a "great vibes, disappointing execution" kind of...