Gioia — Restaurant in Town of Oyster Bay

My friend and I had a horrifying experience at Gioia. I could never imagine how our night which started off lovely would end. We were seated at a table for 2, which was definitely not meant to be where it was. We sat down but we weren’t comfortable as people were squeezing by to get through and there was only 1/2 of the wall behind the table. So we flipped the table around to make it horizontal and moved our chairs and all was great and it created a lot more space around us. No one squeezing by etc. We ate our appetizers. Had drinks. Had an excellent waitress (at first) then got our entrees and in the middle of us eating our entrees a man named Tim walked over. We noticed him at the door when we walked in. We figured he was a host and was going to ask us how we were enjoying our meal. That didn’t happen. He said, “the waitress said you told her you would move back the table if we needed you to!” We looked at him and said, “we didn’t say that”, we asked the waitress if it was ok and she even helped us arrange the settings. She said no problem. This enraged “Tim” who started screaming at my friend and I to “Get the Hell Out of My Restaurant”. We were in shock. We kept eating our meal and he said it again. Louder and nastier. Then he said, there is no bill and now you can get the hell of “my restaurant” right now! I said, in shock, that I am a Type 1 diabetic and had taken my insulin and have to eat and was going to eat my meal. Again he screamed for us to get out and said he was going to call the police. It was like we were in the twilight zone. My friend and I kept looking at each other in shock. The waitress saw this all going on from afar and never came back to our table. Then a few minutes later another man “Andrew” comes over to our table. I don’t believe he was in the restaurant when this happened. He said someone from the restaurant called “Jesse” the owner and Andrew was sent over. Andrew said, I understand there is a situation. He told us what he heard and then we told him exactly happened with his manager screaming and threatening us. He seemed to be equally in shock that someone would act like this and kept saying this is not how we do business in our restaurant group and please please let me do something to keep you as a customer. Here is my phone number. We insisted on paying the bill and he refused, so we left a cash tip and left the restaurant. I have never ever in my 50 years of dining out ever experienced anything like this. It was sickening. Our night was ruined and we were left disgusted by this obviously...

From the moment we arrived it was absolutely lovely. We came for my husband’s birthday and had our two young daughters with us. Our girls (who know it’s not always allowed to sit at a bar) were made comfortable immediately by the bartender since we had to wait just a couple of minutes for our table. (Which we loved) and were treated with specially made lemonades and we had amazing cocktails that were absolutely unique and delicious.

The hospitality was truly one of the best experiences we have had on long island, and the food was fantastic and even tho we ordered way too much, it was a blast trying all the different flavors and specialties they had to offer.

Oh and we went on a Monday where their special was a steak. (They feature a chefs special nightly) Likely one of the best cuts of beef ever. Our girls (6 and 8) were sad when it was finished!

Overall a great experience and we can’t wait to come back! They only have about 10 tables so definitely reserve in advance- and this is absolutely one of those tiny places that will suffer if you decide to “no show”… so please be kind and keep...

I rarely write reviews though, today it is my humble honor to write such review. Gioia is a gift from God. Chef Jesse Schenker brings yet another gem to Long Island. Every detail was thought of from the fabulous coat check service to the real candles lit on the wall to the luxurious tableware transports you to a rustic village in Italy. The staff were extremely attentive, accommodating & welcoming. Every dish was perfect. The Tortellini was one of the best pasta dishes of my life, the sizzling Shrimp was an EXPERIENCE. The cheese cart was superb & the many breads accompanying all our dishes were all made in house. If Gioia was in the heart of Manhattan, they would certainty earn a Michelin Star. Thank you for a fantastic evening. *one note: Craig who left a review about it being loud, cramped & rushed has no clue what he’s talking about. It was not loud, nobody was rushed & PLENTY of room to sit comfortably. Don’t be...