Gianfabio Reviews

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Gianfabio's Italian Cafe

Established 1987

Gianfabio's Customer Reviews

#10 in Chesterfield out of 106 Restaurants

Andrea F. Chesterfield, MO 5 star rating 7/31/2008

This great Italian place has a bit of an old-school feel to it, which I love. I think it's a great date place (though I do agree with a previous reviewer, I probably wouldn't propose there or anything). It's just a delicious place with traditional Italian food. It has a nice patio, too.
I've been treated to a few three-and-four-course meals here (spoiled, I know). My recommendations: crab-stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer; Penne Rosebud or Linguine Tutto Mare as a pasta; or Veal Picatta as an entree. I also remember the cheesecake being tasty. (OK, I'm officially salivating now).
Bottom line: If you want to take your date somewhere nice (but not too dimmed-lights romantic) with good food, this is a place to choose. The waitstaff will also help you pick out an appropriate wine for your meal, too.

Sarah W. Irving, TX 3 star rating 8/22/2008

Off the bat, I will be the first to admit that I'm not an Italian food connoisseur so please don't take my review as gospel.
The service was excellent. The server was extremely knowledgable and honest...I'll get to that later. We had 8 people in our group so was able to get a room to ourselves which worked out well because after a couple drinks...well the suits were letting loose especially since it was our last night in St. Louis. The place had a real home feel, not fusion, not modern just plain down to earth homestyle Italian cooking.
The food was decent. We ordered the crab stuffed mushrooms which were ok. I can't put my finger on it but I've had better. We also ordered the calamari. I tend to like my calamari a little more crispy. These were just a touch soggy but I enjoyed the light batter. We had questions about some of the ingredients and here's where the server's honesty came in. There was a crab dish and we asked him where the crab came from. From a can?!!! Hmmm....do you make your own pasta? No, but we buy high end stuff. Ahhh....
I ordered the penne riccotta which was outstanding. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the sauce was light and very flavorful. Their lemon drop martini was a little on the strong side (which might be good for some but I actually like to taste the lemon and not just pure vodka).
Overall, great restaurant with terrific food and great service.

By A Yahoo! Contributor, 09/08/07
I'm glad I found this restaurant on Yahoo! The food is excellent and not the typical menu selections you find at the chain restaurants. The house salad and dressing are wonderful. We went at 7:00PM on a Friday night and had to wait about 20 minutes for a seat. The service was great, too. The waitress checked on us regularly and refilled our drinks without prompting. She even gave us an unprompted refill after I'd paid the bill while we continued to talk, which is an unusual thing in my experience.

great place
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 07/28/07
wonderful restaurant. all around great..

By A Yahoo! Contributor, 03/02/08
this is the best resurant i have ever ate at! you should go and try it out it is the best

Gianfabio Ristorante: "Our Favorite Restaurant"
Zechariah, Chesterfield Nov 15, 2006

My Wife and I eat at Gianfabio frequently (dining room side, not the cafe side) and we plan to continue to eat there often. The quality of the food is very high, although some items are better than others. They always have daily specials and the servers will tell you when a particular item is especially good that day if you ask them. We seldom have a complaint.
The service is generally very good, although some servers are a little better than others. Most of the servers have been there a long time. We have occasionally requested and been given a certain server.

Excellent Upscale Italian Resturant

08/08/2007 Posted by cinder24

I had a wonderful lunch at this restaurant yesterday. The food and the service was excellent. My husband had the seafood special with lobster sauce & I ate the bella penne. A very classy place for a special romantic date or a important work business lunch.

Pros: Everything was excellent.

Excellent food, customer service, VIVACIOUS bartender ROSE

2/14/2006 Posted by pgfinot

GREAT FAMILY OWNED RESTAURANT OVER 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS GREAT BARTENDER ROSE. SIT AT THE BAR AND HAVE DINNER OR DRINKS OR TAKE FOD HOME TO THE FAMILY EVERYBODY IS VERY ACCOMMODATING TO YOUR NEEDS

Pros: GREAT PLACE TO GO FOR DRINKS, DINNER, OR FOOD TO TAKE HOME

Cons: NONE

Martinmoose1235's Review 11/13/2002

we have eaten there many times. never had a bad time. sometimes a little slow, but who's in a rush. the veal dishes are outstanding. the best in chesterfield.

JAMIEGC's Review 08/08/2002

This is just an outstanding restaurant. The GF Salad alone is worth the trip. If you enjoy Italian food and remarkable desserts, then this is the place for you.

What a lovely dinning experience!

By A Yahoo! Contributor from DeSoto, Mo

We throughly enjoyed ourselves from the moment we stepped into Gianfabio's. The service was impectiable, the food was top shelf and the ambiance was delightful; the live music was the gem for our entire wonderful and enjoyable evening. I recommend this place if you are entertaining friends , family or that special someone. This is the PLACE to see and to be seen!

Great Service

By A Yahoo! Contributor from Chicago, IL

I loved your seafood cannelloni, but the part i liked most about your ristorante was the service. you are well stocked with great servers and a wonderful bus boy.

A great hidden treasure!

By A Yahoo! Contributor from Chesterfield, MO

Great service and great food. The house salad is one of the best in town. The bar pours a great cocktail and the wine list offers a number of above average wines at reasonable prices. Don't miss their homemade deserts....share two for a delightful end.

Gianfabio's is Consistently Great

By A Yahoo! Contributor from Chesterfield, MO

The service is as is you are in a 5 Star. the food is very good. we have been numerous times and have tried a number of different items. They do things the right way. Service, fresh bread, and never a bad meal. It is not the place for the trendy, but who wants that. i want to enjoy myself drink eat and relax with friends.

Craig B.
Reviews
Written: 20
I love Gianfabios and my father-in-law loved Gianfabios. My wife and I would often meet him for dinner and would be greeted by name by the staff. Sure it isn't the most expensive or romantic Italian restaurant you will ever go to, but it is a well run family establishment. I continue to judge other Italian restaurants by Gianfabio's cannelloni.

Great food, great staff and great bar service.

Natalia M.
Reviews
Written: 90
So as far as picking a restaurant to go to on a Saturday night, I'm sorry to say Gianfabio's just doesn't come out on top of the list. It's a pleasant restaurant, neutral decor, with solid traditional Italian food. Which is fine and all, but doesn't really make my heart beat any faster, you know?

That's not to say they're a mediocre restaurant, because everyday dining isn't where they shine. This place has large groups *figured out*. And that's a skill all it's own.

I was here with a group of 30-40 accountants, actuaries, and other general nerds. You know, people who like things to start on time. The banquet room was ready when we got there, everything was nicely arranged, and they had enough servers on staff to take care of us. As far as groups go, they are clearly a well-oiled machine. We had a pleasant lunch, and everybody seemed to like the food (even the picky eaters)

On their website, they offer 3 different dinner banquet options, and 2 different lunch options, priced per person. You can, of course negotiate your own package. But I think the real heart of it is being able to say, "I need lunch for 25 people on this date, I'd like lunch banquet option 4", then cutting a check and not having to worry about it anymore.

Planning to propose? not so much.
Planning a rehersal dinner? this is your spot.