Trattoria Gio offers solid Italian comfort with well executed pastas and pizzas, fresh pasta and flavorful sauces, and a lively yet approachable vibe in the Old Port. Across reviews, the food lands as tasty and well prepared, with mentions of al dente linguine, burrata, bolognese, and a variety of crowd pleasing dishes. Service is frequently praised for warmth and attentiveness, though a number of visits report slower, inconsistent experiences, ordering mix ups, and higher prices for the value. The overall vibe combines casual chic with a family friendly feel, making it a popular choice for groups and celebrations, and many guests say they would return for the strong flavors and hospitality. The venue is described as accessible with good ambiance and patio options, and while some feel the experience is good but not exceptional, others highlight memorable nights and a sense of a special Old Montreal dining option.
From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt warm, authentic, & inviting. A big shoutout to server, Emmie who was incredibly welcoming, attentive, & genuinely made me feel at home.
The food was outstanding. Chef Dali truly knows what he's doing. The Penna Alla Gigi he recommended was exceptional - perfectly balanced flavours, rich yet not overwhelming, & clearly made with care & expertise.
Overall, everything about this place: the food, the service, & the atmosphere was top-tier. The staff really elevated the entire experience & made it a solid 5-star visit. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a great Italian experience.
Amazing experience, we went for a bachelorette dinner with a large group. Everyone was very attentive & accommodating! The food was good & good sizes. Will come back.
Apr 25, 2026
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We had a wonderful dinner. We enjoyed the bolognese, penne alla gigi & the chocolate cake. Our server, Pauline, was so friendly & attentive & helped provide an amazing experience!
GREAT dinner! Everyone was SO friendly. Our server Yanis was attentive & very kind. We ordered the bruschetta, spinach ravioli, & spaghetti bolognese. Everything was delicious. We would definitely return. (They also all spoke English & were very friendly towards us being American).
The food here is absolutely amazing! The bruschetta & fries were super delicious, & the pizza was just divine. The service was impeccable, staff were very polite & attentive. Everything was prepared perfectly, & the quality of the food was excellent. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a great italian restaurant! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nov 23, 2024
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The atmosphere was wonderful. A warm fall night in Montreal sitting on a patio having dinner was a dream. The service was pretty great too. Both waiters were pretty attentive to our needs. However, for my daughter & I, the food was poor. I ordered the spinach ricotta ravioli. The first few bites were delectable, however, I noted that the next few raviolis tasted like fish, which I don't like. I asked the waiter about this. He said they do have lobster ravioli too. I guess they mixed them up in my dish? It's a good thing my husband who has a fish allergy wasn't with us. The next ravioli that I tried was so hard that I couldn't get my fork through it. I am guessing it was not cooked? There were about 2 or 3 of these on the plate too. The waiter offered us free coffee & dessert, but we declined. I was comped my dish. However, when we walked away, my daughter said her pasta was not cooked well either. Hopefully this was just a 1, 2 off, & not a regular occurrence at this restaurant.
Very nice restaurant with very good & attentive service. They allow dogs on the patio!!! Not many places do in the old port which sucks so this place was accommodating & they even offered our dogs water. We got pizzas & they were great.
Long wait but I am assuming it's because of tourist season. The Burratta was delicious so I expected the same with the pasta. Wrong. This was the worst penne alla gigi I ever had. It was so liquidy, almost as if the water wasn't shaken off the pasta. My son's chicken alfredo on the other hand,was too dry. However the service was good. The waiter was very attentive. I have to give them that, the wait staff were wonderful.
When I decided to take my boys to a late dinner at Trattoria Gio I expected that the food would only be mediocre, since the location would be perfect for a tourist trap. The service was friendly & attentive however the food was as expected: underwhelming. I bet that the pizza they serve is frozen. I'm not complaining about this, as mentioned, it met my expectations. The reason I'm writing this are all the raving reviews about this great Italian food. Folks, you can definitely have a good time at this place but great Italian food is not what is being served here.
