Gino's

"A meal at this Bay Ridge staple should begin with a slice from their take-out pizza counter in the front. Think of it as a pre-appetizer. Ask for the eggplant or grandma, and a server will bring you slices cut into the correct number of slivers for your party size. Then move on to the hot antipasto platter, chicken parm, and orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe. If your table gets overloaded, they'll just bring over another one—Gino's has been hosting big parties since 1964, and they know what they're doing. Someone next to you has probably celebrated every major milestone here, from sweet sixteen to baby shower, and if you need further evidence of how festive an evening at Gino's can be, just know we felt compelled to get an appletini there." - willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah, neha talreja

"The Dish: Hot Antipasto  Gino's has a plate of baked clams on the menu, in case you're really only in it for the bivalves. But we go for the hot antipasto platter every single time. It’s got rollatini, fried calamari, a warm cup of tomato sauce studded with basil for dipping, and baked clams with a breadcrumb to bivalve ratio of approximately 1:1. Squeeze them liberally with lemon juice, as people have been doing since this Bay Ridge mainstay opened in 1964." - willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, neha talreja

"The Dish: Hot Antipasto Platter Someone we know has celebrated every life milestone—sweet 16, bridal shower, and baby shower—at Gino’s of Bay Ridge. And they’ve started each of these occasions at the old-school Italian restaurant the same way: with the hot antipasto platter. It’s got rollatini, fried calamari, and baked clams, with a big lemon wedge, and a warm cup of tomato sauce studded with basil for dipping. It’s the perfect way to begin a meal that will likely end with you learning your server’s last name, and also the history of the family next to you, who’ve been coming here since 1964." - bryan kim, sonal shah, willa moore, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick, neha talreja

"The old-school Italian restaurant has been hosting big parties for life milestones since 1964, and it’s where you should come for a big, red wine-soaked evening. They have a take-out pizza counter up front, so start with a slice—which they’ll bring to your table, cut into the correct number of slivers for your party size. Then move on to the hot antipasto platter, chicken parm, and orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe. If your table gets overloaded, they'll just bring over another one." - neha talreja

"We know someone who has celebrated every life milestone—sweet sixteen, bridal shower, and baby shower—at Gino’s of Bay Ridge. It’s not that it’s a particularly fancy place, although there are white tablecloths, and an artfully plated tiramisu. It’s just a large, old-school Italian restaurant where, if you order too much, they won’t try to take plates away to make room. They’ll just bring you another table. Start with a slice from the pizza shop up front, which a server will bring to your table cut into slivers according to your party size. Then get the hot antipasto platter with rollatini, calamari, and baked clams, along with comforting mains, like the chicken parm. By the time you leave, you’ll know your server’s last name and the history of the family next to you, who probably started coming to Gino’s when it opened in 1964. photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff" - Willa Moore