Gilda's Skaneateles

First timer for an early dinner. Beautiful location. Clean place. Friendly staff. Good pricing. We tried two different pizza's and they were AMAZING. That was enough food for two adults and two children, but we smelled the french fries that were brought to the next table and we had to try them. Also amazing! And while we were full we also tried a desert ( just one for the table to share). It was simply amazing. These folks have their act together. This is a five star place no doubt.

We walked in at 7:30pm and found a seat at the bar. The restaurant is small and it was packed. I would have given Goldas a 5 start, but the restaurant was so loud you couldn’t hear yourself think. The food was worth putting up with the noise! The service was friendly and great!

Charming, small restaurant with a great feel. Small bar and only a handful of tables gives an intimate feeling and you can see into the kitchen at the corner of the bar. Nice wine and beer selection and a small but creative menu. Food sensitivities and allergies are listed clearly on the menu. Had the veal meatballs on the recommendation of a very friendly and good bartender, very tasty.

Outstanding pizza, service and atmosphere. Wasn't expecting A+ pizza in a vacation spot like this but it was amazing.

Tasty if overpriced menu, nice atmosphere but poor service. Seated at time promised, once food was served server disappeared - glasses and wine bottle empty for last :45 minutes of 1:15 meal. Server walked past multiple times at brisk pace and avoided looking our way (table of four), had to stand-up and wave to request the check, which was delivered without a smile, comment or even eye-contact. Poor performance and disappointing, would suggest going elsewhere given other excellent choices available within 100 yard walk. Food is decent but service not commensurate with price-point.

This is basically a gourmet pizza place with several small-plate options, two sandwiches (chicken and a burger) and a lively bar. I ordered 'Sam's Favorite Pizza' and it was excellent. I also enjoyed a chocolate budino for dessert. They do not take reservations and there are very few tables, Even arriving at 4:45 p.m. on a Tuesday in early December, we had to wait sometime for a table. We could have eaten at the bar but we were meeting someone we hadn't seen in some time and we wanted a more private setting to catch up on news. Our experience with the staff were mixed. The woman who took our food order seemed indifferent as to whether we ate there or not, whereas the friendly fellow who initially took our request for a table and delivered some of our food was welcoming and helpful.

Love those place! Great pizza, Meatballs, etc. Fairly small, but it creates a nice vibe. It was grad Sunday when I was there, so the town was pretty busy.

We went for a midweek dinner, and viola, it was "Wine Wednesday" where all bottles are 1/2 price. Yippee. Small venue in the Skaneateles village, no rezzies unless a party of 6 or more. Cool vibe, many small plates, great servers and service. It will not be our last visit. We split starters of shrimp cakes and fried cauliflower and then shared a delicious 4 cheese pizza, but needed 2 takeout boxes. The cauliflower was 2x the size I was expecting, but not at all heavy. I felt that I was losing weight as I ate it. Shrimp cakes were delish, and the pizza was perfect, thin crust artisan style. We went early, it fills up quickly so you need to consider that. Food 5 of 5 Service 5 of 5 Vibe 5 of 5 Try it!!

This was our first time at Gilda's and we agreed we would return. I got there early to snag a table, they only take reservations for five or more. I got a table quickly without any waiting, which was surprising with how busy the town was. The place was cozy it's not huge inside but they did have a few seating outside which was nice for a hot day like today. We all ordered sangrias, they were great(no spirits here). We all shared small plates and ordered our own pizzas. The fries and calamari were seasoned and cooked perfectly. I loved the different sauces that came with them. I would get these again. My friends enjoyed the gnocchi, it took awhile for it to come out(waitress said they were training), we were not in any rush it was our girls night. They enjoyed it. Two of us ordered Sam's Favorite and one Blueberry. My friend split a slice of her sister's blueberry pizza with me, it was different but not in a bad way. We thought it was good. The different flavors complement each other. I enjoyed the Sam's Favorite, loved the kick of heat from the fresno peppers. We were full but made a little room for dessert lol, all three order the pot de crème. I will never turn down chocolate lol, it was delicious. Overall the food was good and friendly service, I can see this as date night spot for my husband and I. I enjoy a place like this because the menu is not overwhelming.

Very creative pizzas and delicious sharable small plates. Small restaurant that has some outdoor seating. It wasn't a warm day out but they still had the AC cranking and was told there was no way to turn it down because the whole building is on the same AC so it was blasting on us so that was a bummer but the food was good. Waitress never came back to check on us either.

The place is small & has outside seating. The food is offered in tapas format, small plates but we found it be very adequate. I ordered their hamburger, something I have very rarely eat. it was so good! I would have liked it more without the tomato jelly which I thought made it too sweet. My boys ordered pizza which they loved. My husband didn't enjoy the margarita pizza as much. He said he would not order that again. The service was very good & prompt especially for the amount of customers they had. I would recommend this place

What initially appealed to me most about this establishment was not only its 4.5 stars on Yelp, but also its alcohol menu, which is flush with local beers and Italian wines (two observations that are probably related). So I made it a point to check this out during our trip to Skaneatles. What I found on my visit was the best meal I had in Skaneatles. We began with the arancini and veal meatballs. The former were large, well formed, and crispy - the best arancini I ever had. The meatballs had great flavor and were light in texture (on account of their being a little on the bready side). Both came with more sauce than necessary, which was great for dipping pizza crust. Regarding the pizza, we ordered two different pies: pepperoni and hot sopressada. Both were exceptional, with a bit of char on the crust and crispness on the bottom. The sopressada had a lively heat that was balanced by the sweetness of the honey. The quality of the pepperoni was a bit more difficult to pin down, but it ranks in the top 5 pepperoni pies I've ever had. The service was also fast, friendly, and attentive, which was all the more appreciated because we came in with our two kids. All in all, this place is awesome!

We were visiting the town of Skaneateles and wanted some lunch. Punched up Yelp and Gilda's came up and looked interesting. We went over when they just opened. It was a hip little spot. Small amount of tables with a bar area where we sat. They don't serve spirits but had a great beer and wine selection. They had a brown ale that was fantastic. Service was very good. The place went from being virtually empty to full in a span of 20 minutes but the staff handled it well. The food was simply fabulous. I got the beet salad with Burrata and a side of the veal meatballs in a simple tomato sauce. The meatballs were fabulous and the sauce was perfect. We also got the twice cooked fries which were awesome. The homemade ketchup was UNBELIEVABLE and my wife got a fried chicken sandwich which was juicy and crispy on a nice bun All in all an excellent place that you should not hesitate to try.

Quiet, small space with excellent food. Six of us went on a Saturday evening in late October 2024, and we had a great time. Quiet enough to chat, while looking out at the Skaneatelas streets. I split the beet salad and a pizza (Sam's something or other) and both were quite good. Will definitely go again.

Was pleasantly surprised to see they have updated their menu, brining my review from a 4 to a 5. A very limited gluten free menu has been revamped and now includes a number of gluten free options. The service was great and l the atmosphere is always cozy.

This is one of our favorite places to go. Always extremely friendly and phenomenal food. You should try their burgers, it's franks favorite!

Stopped in for a little lunch & drinks. It's small inside but comfortable, as with most places here in Skaneateles it gets busy. The service was great and food was fun and flavorful. Lots of items on the menu that definitely deserve a try. We look forward to returning for the pizza! 4 's

If you're into craft pizza and a bit of an uppity experience, Gilda's is for you. There was a special offer for a special meal for two for about $90, so that gives you a bit of information up front. We ordered a small side salad for $8 and had a pizza, which does have delicious crust, but doesn't have many toppings. I asked if they had Ranch dressing and was looked at like I had two heads, so just know it's red vinaigrette, people. Interestingly, they also have Mexican Coca-Cola, which is definitely superior to ours. The best time to go is for an early dinner so you can eat outside. It's a great view of the town and is really nice if you can grab a shady spot.

Gilda's is very much a one of a kind restaurant that elevates the small plate in such a delicious way. While I grew up in the area, I remember when this was a sushi restaurant, and have come back a few times whilst visiting the area. On my last trip, I made sure to go back as I remember fondly all of the delicious food here. Not overly pretentious, but can be a bit of an upscale night if you choose, the waitstaff gives excellent recommendations, the kitchen is quick with food and the drinks are quite excellent. Choosing a special offering of the corn and sausage pizza to share, that was a great recommendation. The crust was chewy and crisp, and there was a lot of great sausage bites with tasty corn. I loved the mushroom bruschetta appetizer as well. Really deliciously cooked medley of mushrooms over baguette with some cheese on top. Lots of great earthy flavors with a great bite. Their take on a caesar was a nice split plate as well! Loved the caesar and the roasted chickpeas! They don't do reservations for less than six people, so get her a little early, enjoy a cocktail, and eat some really unique and delicious food!

Had a delicious arugula salad with house made dressing and hot soprosato pizza with a honey drizzle so good. The beer selection was great, recommend the mango wheat beer Our servers were as attentive as they are sweet! Thanks again!

I wish Gilda's were closer to where I lived! There are always two things I always get when I'm there: the beet salad and the burrata pizza. I always think I'll try something new but I end up going back for the same thing because they're just that good. I love the puree and the creamy burrata that goes with the beets, and the arugula on top of the pizza gives it that fresh finishing. I once ordered take out and Gilda's was wise enough to pack the arugula separately.

Tiny little place with delicious pizza! The staff was just as great as the food. There is seating at the bar, a few tables inside and a few outside. It's a lively place, quick service and a large menu. Our server(s) were so great. Knowledgeable about the menu and quick to help us with suggestions. Great wine list. Should note they only serve wine and beer. High recommend this lovely little place.

Came here for half-price wine Wednesday and was not disappointed. We arrived around 7:30pm and only had to wait about 10 min or so, and grabbed two seats at the bar. It is cozy inside and the place started clearing out as we were there. The wine list was interesting (we ended up splitting a bottle of Arneis). We split a salad, arancini, and a classic margarita pizza (which we ended up taking some home). Two people could probably split two pizzas instead, but explore the small plates too!

I have been part of the Skaneateles community for nine years. In a village with outstanding restaurants, Gilda's remains my favorite. I am a Tuesday night regular and am guessing in the last four years that I have dined at Gilda's at least 200 times. Most who think of Gilda's think of craft pizza, and perhaps the best craft pizza in the region. The sign on their awning also mentions "small plates." Perhaps the best burger and fried chicken sandwich in the region, several outstanding salads, calamari, veal meatballs (like my Italian grandmother made), roasted brussels sprouts, arancini and more. One of the new summer items is Shrimp Oreganata, an Italian classic. To oversimplify - four large baked shrimp with a tasty parmesan breading with a lemon butter sauce for dipping. It may have been the best small plate entrée that I have ever had at Gilda's. It was spectacular and the reason for this latest review. Chef Aaron Holstrom is incredibly talented and this is his latest masterpiece. Gilda's is the "Cheers" of Skaneateles. You may not know "everyone's name" when you arrive - but you will by the time you leave. It is one very unique and very special restaurant.

My boyfriend and I went to Gilda's for dinner on a Friday night and had a great time. Our waitress was very friendly and the restaurant was very cozy. The arancini were delicious and very crispy. We also got the pepperoni pizza which was very good as well. It had a lot of cheese and a delicious crust! I would definitely go back and would recommend trying Gilda's!

Limited menu service was fine it was somewhat small and not very Comfortable food came in a relative expeditious manner

Food is excellent and service is very friendly! I really enjoyed the ambiance inside.

Great Food. Wonderful service. There are many more things I would like to try. Would definitely go back..

An absolute favorite place to sit at the bar and eat and sip on wine. The pizza is excellent, arancinni is a must-have, and the seasonal salads are always solid and never disappoint. Make sure to get your name on the wait list early as this place fills up fast! Once the wait is over, you'll enjoy a nice space and decor and very friendly staff. The interior could use a bit more fabric to keep the sounds minimized. It can get pretty loud in there but it's generally because people are so excited about the fun they're having.

We came here after I did a photoshoot with my best friend and the wait was only 20 minutes on a busy Saturday night. We had my 2 year old daughter so there were 5 of us total and the place is VERY small and the table are cramped together. Really loved the atmosphere though. Our waiter was great though, pizza took a while to come out though, my daughter was getting hangry and then I asked for bread and they brought some out for her. The food though was AMAZING!! I had the Arancini balls which were crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside and covered in sauce. They were perfect! The pizza was also great!! Perfect amount of everything. And the crust with just thin enough and not too doughy. I would come back again and highly recommend coming here, the place is not that kid friendly though so I don't think I would bring my daughter again but a great date night option!

I love love the Nonna pizza - I've been here twice so far. Today, i decided to get a side salad to go with my pizza order. I'm sorry but this dinky lil chopped lettuce and only 2 slices of tomatos... for $7?! i this didn't even fill the box. whatever you do... don't get the side salad lol. it's not worth $7. the margarita pizza was way too doughy too. other wise, everything else about this restaurant is good and worth a visit. the servers are super nice

Cozy little restaurant serving Italian pizzas and small plates in the heart of Skaneatles. Few of the ladies and I in our tour group sat together at the bar. We had a few glasses of the house wine, and shared the roasted mushroom crostini appetizer and a margherita pizza. Just enough to fill our bellies till we got home from our tour in this Finger Lakes region. The food was delicious. Enjoyed the thin crust pizza. Bartender was friendly and quick to serve. The decor is simple and inviting. Christmas decor is light but tasteful. Menu is simple, limited. That's ok. They seem to quite well in what they do make. Had I noticed sooner, I would have tried the Hot mulled cider. On a windy, chilly day, like it was today, it would have been comforting.

The food is so good here we just can't wait to go back. The waitress was very helpful and friendly as well.

Place is awesome. Very small, but it adds to the ambience. The twice cooked French fries with aioli and umami ketchup were great and $7 isn't a bad price. Had two pizzas, the Sopresatta and Sam's Favorite, both were fantastic. Great wine selection too. Perfect date night spot. Only negative with the place being so small, when the door opened, cold air blew in every time.

Although I was treated poorly by a rude employee who refused to seat my party on Mother's Day, for which I had a reservation, the manager called me the next day and apologized which I appreciated. I heard the food was good but unfortunately did t get to try it.

Can always count on Gilda's for a great meal. Apps, burger and pizza never disappoint. Usually finish off my experience with pot de crème for dessert.

Really busy August night and they were great. Staff was friendly and the was perfectly prepared.

We visited from out of town and stumbled up on this restaurant. Everyone from the hosts to the servers were super friendly and informative. The food was amazing and we went 2 nights out of our 3 night stay in Skaenatles! Definitely will return when back in this region.

This is DEFINITELY my favorite spot to eat in Skaneatles, if not one of my favorite spots since coming to college nearby! Definitely a "hidden gem" of sorts. I have not met a food item I haven't liked, from the small plates to the pizzas. I am consistently at a crossroads of wanting to reorder my favorites and wanting to try everything on the menu! I've been here with friends as well as with my parents, and everyone has been impressed by the intensity of flavor in every dish. The wait has never been too extensive, and the food is WELL worth the price. The Caesar salad with crispy chickpeas and pickled cauliflower takes the classic dish to a new level, making it a must-try in my opinion. Regarding small plates, I love the Arancini, twice-baked fries (with a drool-worthy aioli sauce on the side), and the roasted brussel sprouts (in the most amazing mustard vinaigrette that I am still trying to recreate at home). However, by FAR my favorite item is the mushroom crostini--the pancetta, toasty bread, and intense umami flavor is INCREDIBLE. The pizzas stand out just as much as the small plates do--the mushroom pizza is definitely my favorite! The burrata pizza is delicious as well if you are a cheese-lover. I recently tried their seasonal chocolate pot de creme, and it was decadent, rich, and the perfect item to split to end out the meal. DO NOT miss this place!

Our favorite place in Skan. Pizzas are all good, the beet and baratta salad is a perfect mix of flavors and textures...love it all. Best for a small group.

Incredibly delicious authentic Italian food! We got the best seat in the house in the front window with a view of the lake and "back bay". Absolutely a pleasure to dine here at 2pm on a Saturday during the holidays' Dickens festival. No wait walk-in. The marguerita pizza with arugula was delicious as were the veal meatballs. The sangria with red wine was yummy, too! Highly recommended small restaurant with an urban posh vibe. Will return again!

Service lousy. Our waitress scolded us to not get tomato sauce on the menu, as if we were children! Ignored us most of the time until it was time for the check. Lucky she got a tip. Never again.

Great little place! The small plates we had were excellent. Make it part of your trip to Skaneateles.

2022 update: Our first time back in 3 years, it was good to see that Gilda's hasn't lost its luster. Our amenable host, Heather, recommended the fried chicken sandwich and it lived up to her rec. We also shared a nice margherita pizza and the addictive twice-cooked fries along with a lovely Bordeaux.

Great job! We are in town for a girls spa weekend and just wanted take out for Super Bowl to take back to our Air BnB. Gildas specialty pizzas were very good. Many selections but we went with the white with Brussel Sprouts and Sams Favorite , a delightful combo of Italian sausage , roasted mushrooms and red onion! The Arancini was A MAZ ING. The red sauce was sweet and the real deal! Mushroom crostini, another fan favorite! Check it out!

Beautiful location and outstanding food (normally it is one or the other). We enjoyed their fried chicken sandwich, wood-fired pizza and great apps. Wednesday's special is half off a bottle of wine. I will absolutely go here again and recommend to all of my family and friends. The location is quite small so we intentionally went on a week day and early in the night so we could get seated. I enjoyed the view of the lake from where I sat!

Gilda's has carved out a nice niche with specialty pizzas and small plates. The staff are always energetic and enthusiastic, but don't constantly bother you while you're eating. A delightful place you'll want to return to again and again.

Gilda's is a killer neapolitan style pizza spot right in the heart of skaneateles. It's a very small space, but they have made the most of it with great takeout deals (restaurant week this week) and spaced out tables (indoor and outdoor- weather permitting). Highly recommend the brussels sprouts & fried cauliflower apps- both delicious!! The sopressata pizza & the mushroom pizza are personal favorites! The honey on the sopressata is incredible, and the mushroom has so much flavor. The only thing stopping me from giving a full 5 stars is that some of the appetizer portions are very small, making it difficult to share with a larger family. All in all, Gilda's is a must try when you're in Skaneateles!

Great service, delicious food with a beautiful view of lake Skaneateles. The craft pizza was so good and the rice balls were delicious!

Tiny restaurant, but the pizzas were quite good, though the number of pizza options was relatively small. Thin but chewy crust and some nice toppings. The best was the spicy soppressata with honey and lots of cheese.

My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SPOT IN SKAN! My boyfriend and I discovered Gildas freshman year of college and it has become "our spot" and we have been coming ever since! Known for their pizzas, they are SO GOOD and reheat SO well in an air fryer. My boyfriend and I absolutely love so many of the small plates, and we always get the twice cooked fries, the Caesar with fried chickpeas (fried chickpeas are unbelievably delicious) and usually a pizza! It is a small menu, so if you go with a picky eater, have them check before so they make sure they can find something they like. We also love trying the different wines and beers they offer. It's located right across from the Bluewater Grill tucked in the corner but DO NOT MISS IT! An absolute must try and already excited to go back when I get back to school!

Absolute hit. We came in winter. The Main Street here is decorated beautifully. We got a seat right by the window. Service was friendly. Great recommendations. We enjoyed appetizers, fries, the burger and pizza. All were above expectations. You can't go wrong here.

Very Disappointed! Arrived about 3 minutes before opening and was quickly informed "We don't open for another five minutes." That was a sign that we should have gone somewhere else. Instead we came back about 10 minutes later. We ordered a pizza and shrimp wraps. Shrimp wraps had little flavor, very messy, and about 4 little pieces of shrimp. The staff of 4 or 5 were so loud hanging out at the bar that we couldn't have a conversation. Decide to take our pizza to go only to find out it was completely charred black on the bottom. Should have gone back to get a refund but instead tried to salvage some it. In the end threw most of the pizza in the garbage. Waste of time and money and the service was only so so. Definitely not quality food like other reviews have claimed.

This little pizza and small plates restaurant deserves more than 5 stars, but that's all you can give. This is the cutest little space with under 40 seats, but brings BIG flavor. Not to mention the scenery. Skaneateles lake is right out the front windows and always a beautiful backdrop. My husband and I lived in Syracuse for 3 years, and somehow missed this amazing little restaurant the entire time we lived here. Back in town for a weekend visit this weekend and met some friends for dinner last night. What did we order, you ask? - Fried cauliflower - Arancini (fried risotto balls) - Roasted Brussels sprouts - Stracciatella pizza The fried risotto balls are amazing! Hot and creamy cheese with a crispy crunchy outside. The roasted Brussels sprouts come with a delicious mustard vinaigrette and are roasty and charred. Now... the pizza. Y'all, this pizza crust is SO good. It has great chew, amazing texture, and just the right amount of char around the edges. We loved it all so much, we came back again tonight to order more of the menu. First of all, the waitress, Elissa, was so sweet to remember us from the night before (I love it when people are able to recognize return customers) and is just the right amount of attentive and just so nice. Tonight we ordered the Chicken Wing Xiam and the Hot Sopressata pizza. The chicken wings are Asian inspired deliciousness and have great crunch. But the star of tonight's dinner was the pizza. You already know I'm a fan of the crust, but the sauce and the spicy sopressata with a hint of honey for sweetness.... seriously one of the best pizzas I've ever had. The moral of this long story... we'll be back every time we're in town. So the answer is YES. Go to Gilda's, you won't regret it!

This place is incredible! Everything we ordered was delicious. The ambiance was impeccable and the staff was wonderful! Highly recommend.

Quaint Italian place with incredible food. There is a bar and some tables but overall the restaurant is pretty small. We were able to grab a table and my friend and I each got the white sangria which was refreshing and not too sweet. We split the spanakopita pizza and arancini. The pizza reminded me so much of spanakopita with the flavors and the pizza was large enough with 6 good size slices. We split the arancini which had 3, with the risotto gooey inside with a crisp outer layer and the red sauce was spectacular. If we are in the area again, I'd love to come back!

Excellent food and service!! Fun time for date night or dinner with friends!!!! Thank you!