Gilardi's — Restaurant in Springfield

Upon arriving my husband and I were extremely confused with the parking situation there is no clear designated driveway to this restaurant. it is located behind a house it almost feels like a guest house that has been renovated into a ristorante lol we finally found a space to park and had to cross a ditch to get to the restaurant. As we go inside we are immediately were escorted to our table where ice Waters awaited us. our server came over after a few minutes and asked us if we would like anything to drink and we ordered wines. we also asked if we could get bread and oil our server told us "sure" and left the table 20 mins passed and it it felt like everyone around us was being served (12 other people) so my husband approach the front of the restaurant and asked a server That was making a table if we could have a basket of bread and then the waitress came back and said that if we wanted bread it would be five minutes and that she would bring it to us when it was ready with an attitude. we then ordered the oysters Rockefeller(which were delicious) however it was a bit pricey for 4 oysters it was $16. We had still not gotten our bread. Our drinks were empty so my husband suggested that we flag our server down and ask about the bread and inquire about a refill on our drinks. The waitress said sure she finally eventually came out with a basket of bread which we assumed would be an entire loaf since it took over a half an hour to get. It consisted of six crouton sized pieces of bread (delicious but a bit stingy) our meals came out I got the galardi's pasta which was an extreme disgrace. The pasta looks like worms. I can't believe this is their signature pasta. shame on them for the disgusting dish I was served. My husband got the tortellini and it was delicious we both loved it and thoroughly enjoyed it it was filling and it was sublime for the fact that it contained bacon and ham cheese sauce peas mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes with spinach and parsley it was delicious the cheese really kicked up everything. The Asiago stood out. We got a whole entire bowl full of Parmesan on top and it was spectacular. The prawns were the best part of the entire meal they were juicy and meaty and perfectly cooked. We ended our night with the tiramisu which was good by itself however it was more like a triple layer or dry vanilla cake with a coffee flavored creme in between it did not contain any camel or coffee like a typical tiramisu would. We had of boxex up and took it home so that we could add coffee to engage the flavor. No regrets. If you're looking for a mediocre date night this is your good food shity service sketchy environment but quaint private and romantic at the same time place. I would give it a four-star if our waitress wasnt such a rude person she literally slammed our appetizer onto the table in the corner and put it far away to where I had to stand up to physically reach our food. It was not attentive to our needs. We didn't get our bread for 30 minutes. We asked multiple times for refills and we were not satisfied with the service that we received however we still tipped 30% which my husband had to remind her he was going to do from the moment he started getting frustrated all of a sudden we were receiving mediocre service in comparison to the shity service we got for the first 45 minutes of our date. Honestly not sure if we're returning the food was decent but it wasn't worth 220$ and a bad memory.

She did come back at the end of the night and take pictures for us because we had just gotten engaged that was the nicest thing she had...

This has been my favorite restaurant since my first visit. The food is phenomenal in all aspects from the plating and portions to the taste. Having dined at multiple Michelin star restaurants it amazes me they haven’t received one yet. The atmosphere is unlike any other from the moment you drive in feeling like you found a hidden restaurant meant for only those who have been invited. The staff accommodates that feeling to with their knowledge and presentation. The beautiful scene outside the building is perfect for pictures and to just kick back and relax after the food. The beauty of the gardens surrounding the property translates to the food as well. This is the only restaurant I would ever say is perfect with its consistency with every visit being as good as the last no matter how busy. The owner James and his staff always greet us with a big smile and welcome. The skills of the kitchen are nothing to be overlooked either. Though it caters an Italian menu there skills are far broader than that. With requests being an option ahead of time I utilized it was not let that that’s for sure. The inside of the restaurant is very homie and well decorated and lit. Table placement is just right for comfort. I have never had to wait to be seated from reservations. Time from order to presentation is average but nothing to complain about. The staff are attentive, quick, intelligent, and very personable. The prices are actually quite the steal especially when comparing to other high end restaurants. And last but not least the drinks are exceptional.

I would recommend everyone try at least one special they offer. There menu options I recommend are

-Pesto Limonata -Gilardis Pasta -specialty shank dish -Tiramisu

And the drinks I recommend are the old fashion and the...

My dear friend, who was born and raised and lived her whole life in Springfield, chose Gilardi’s for her 95th birthday celebration. Family flew in from all around the country to be with her. She also invited some of her friends who are also in their 90s. We arrived when the restaurant told us to be there and we decorated our area. We told the owner that three of the elderly people were unable to make it, and she went off on us. She was angry that we had reduced the size of our party by three (3!!), and said that it was possible that our server, who had planned on a larger crowd, would now not be able to pay her rent because her tip would be smaller. We all stood there in shock at how she was treating us. We are paying customers!! Then her husband proceeded to loudly proclaim that we should not have planned this on the busiest day of the year. We were there on February 10, so I’m not exactly sure what he was talking about. It was awkward annd so shocking. Anyway, we considered leaving, but undecorating everything and moving around those elderly people would have been problematic so we stayed in spite of the unbelievable treatment by the owners. They are people who have no place in the service industry. They do not know how to treat customers or speak to people in a civil manner. However, there was one bright spot! Our server was absolutely wonderful and professional, and did a great job. She could not have been more attentive or informative, and answered all of our questions with grace. She was lovely and could work anywhere because she is very good at her job. The food was great but I would NEVER recommend this...