Tommy P.
Yelp
A foodie friend told me to get in here shortly after Gimani opened this spring, and I kind of blew her off. I remembered the place with a similar menu that had been here before (the first in this space after the remodel), I thought about the whole "slice parlor" concept that's getting to be old hat these days and I thought, "Someday." But I never really rushed - I mean, haven't we seen this again and again, all over the country?
Big mistake. I should have gotten in here right away: Gimani is WAY better than I expected.
Yeah, it's pizza, and it's in the same by-the-slice, "add hot honey, add ricotta" theme that's been going in bigger markets on this side of the pond for years now. But it's better.
I had an "Angry" and a special Calabrian pepper slice. Gimani's dough is remarkably flavorful - seriously. The crisp on the slices is just so - a thin crust your teeth note as they break, and then a soft tear. The sauce is wonderfully flavorful - not the traditional stuff from Back East, for sure, but a wonderful gentle subnote of garlic that pushes you into happiness. The toppings are sized right and proportioned right. The cheese is right - tasty, but not overwhelming your experience.
Balance - the whole thing has balance, but somehow you note and enjoy every bit of it. (Bravo!)
And the service is delightful - friendly people who do a great job of making sure you have a good time and get your money's worth . . . and that you know your visit was appreciated. Wow. (It must be a great place to work - the spirit of the staff was really something. I'd urge you to consider tipping heavier than normal when you order on entry, because if you don't you may well feel bad about it when you see how great the staff is.)
The room is clean and modern and has lots of different seating. There's a great patio outside which is probably a wonderful place on warmer evenings than the one when I visited.
Order at the front; they bring it to you. (And check on you, over and over.) Fountain drinks you get yourself. I didn't have any alcohol, but I noticed Gimani has a nice selection of beers and some wine. Heavy pours were apparent in the wine glasses I saw. The salads were quite large (I need to try one next time). It got quite busy during a weeknight supper but there were always still tables (bussed immediately upon a party's departure) and the noise level was never terrible - even when a family with a lot of kids sat near us.
Great place - I look forward to returning and I'm very much looking forward to another taste of those slices.