Gina's on Congress Reviews

While they don't really have a lunch menu, Gina's is a great place to go for lunch or dinner. It's small and intimate, around 14 tables. I went with a friend for lunch. We almost ordered the caesar salad and then a different one caught my eye. We both ordered the Melon and Salumi salad, which was so interesting and delicious with chunks of fresh peach, blackberries and prisciutto. We ordered a side of the rigatoni which was absolute heaven - light cream sauce on it, will go back just for the rigatoni. That's all we ordered since it was lunch, but I can't wait to go back.

Creative, well-prepared menu items. Excellent service. Nice cocktail and wine lists. Warm and charming bistro atmosphere. Blends French with Italian.

Sunday Brunch was mediocre, first there were only 4 tables occupied when we came in without a reservation, the woman at the front tried to seat us next to a large group, we said no, she was rude and said ALL the other tables had reservations so we sat at the bar, only 2 more tables became occupied during our entire brunch at the bar, we the only ones at the bar the entire time. The other staff were very friendly and gracious. Pasta was cold and was sent back, kitchen staff glared at us from kitchen, rude, another dish was way over salted, only 6 tables occupied and kitchen couldn’t get a hot pasta dish out, this is what happens when the executive chef is not on site for brunch. We will go back as we need this place to thrive, but more fine tuning is needed.

Great venue and meal! First time at this cozy, albeit a bit loud (on Saturday night) Congress Ave bistro-like restaurant with a great menu, great service, and really tasty food. Greeted cheerfully by Ethan and seated on entry a bit before our 7:15 reservation. Nice start. Varied menu, and received wonderful suggestions from Christopher (see photo), our server, who was delightfully friendly, yet professional, new the menu very well, and added to our dining experience. Started with a delicious, pate-like rabbit dish, along with the marinated veggies and olives, with cheese and salumi. Both yummy! Great start. Then had the beef tartare with a small (quail ?) egg on top, that mixed in easily (as suggested by Christopher), which was served with perfectly salted, sturdy potato chips. Wonderful dish. Yellow beets good too. Shared mussels with frites in a tasty broth as a main course. Great dish. Finished with a cappuccino and a rich, but smooth, chocolate mousse-like offering topped with a bit of bourbon and a tiny bit of sweetened nuts. My wife enjoyed her red wine and my Grey Goose martini, slightly dirty, was perfect! A truly great dining experience from entry ‘til exit. Thanks Ethan and Christopher, and nicely done to the chef and staff. Note, that, we parked in the corner lot which was 100 feet away. Yay!

Food unexciting, service poor. Only three pasta dishes - they can't even make a Carbonara when asked. I had at the prawn option - not much taste. Had to ask for pepper. Not offered parmesan. Portion quite small even by UK standards, tiny by US standards. Expensive at $25. Service slow (e.g. not offered water when seated at table). Maybe it was the quitter's first day - he was nice, but didn't know what any of the systems were. Had to use phone torch to read menu. Just poor all round, especially with that price.

Good corporate lunch spot. I had the poached pear salad and it was really good/high quality. This is a good spot to bring a client for traditional american fare in a nice setting downtown

Had a solo dinner at the bar on a weeknight. The restaurant was very quiet. Don't be fooled--the hours online say "4pm-late," but the kitchen closes at 8:45pm. The menu had a nice mix of small plates and entrees. The restaurant leans French, though there are also some pastas. There was a nice array of cocktails on offer. I had a salad and some pasta. Both were tasty, though not remarkable. Prices were a little high for the quality/originality of the food. Cocktails were made well. Nice atmosphere; French/European feeling. Pleasant and welcoming service.

Adorable restaurant. Excellent service and the croque madame is to die for! We were wandering looking for brunch and happened upon Gina's! They had my friend's favorite rum (Havana club) so we stopped in. It is delicious and feels like a cafe in Europe.