Gioia

Gioia is everything you hope to find in a neighborhood restaurant and more. From the moment we walked in, the service was incredibly warm, thoughtful, and attentive without ever feeling intrusive. I asked for a very specific drink that wasn’t on the menu and instead of saying no, our server literally took a photo of the ingredients and had the bar recreate it for me perfectly. That level of care and willingness to go above and beyond says everything about how this place is run. The food was outstanding across the board. The pasta was phenomenal, the chicken was cooked perfectly, and every dish tasted fresh, balanced, and thoughtfully prepared. What really stood out is that you leave feeling satisfied and not uncomfortably full like so many restaurants today. The ingredients are clearly high quality, fresh, and intentionally used. The space itself is small, quaint, and intimate, the kind of place that feels special the second you walk in. It’s perfect for a date night, but just as great for gathering with friends or family. 100% recommended. Gioia is a standout and I will absolutely be back again.

The lady that was working with the tables was rude, bumped into our chairs multiple times, dropped utensils under our chairs, and never said sorry or anything. However, we sat at the bar and our bartender was very nice and attentive to us. Food is decent and I would even say better than some of the Italian find dines we’ve been to in the city. Maybe it’s a norm that restaurants on the island don’t care about customer experience that much or it’s just always that one person at the restaurant ruins everything else without recognizing it

Had 6pm reservations for 4 people. Two of us got there at 540pm and ask to be seated early as the other 2 party members were en route about 5-10 minutes away. Mind you, the restaurant was completely empty , except for two occupants sitting at the bar. The hostess told us we couldn't be seated until the whole party was there as in the past people have come late and they were going to busy that night. Now it's 545 and the hostess still didn't sit us and not one other person was in the restaurant. We were literally about 5-10 feet away from here watching her stand there texting on her phone. I yet again went over and asked to be seated. She replied again in a condescending tone it's the policy of the restaurateur not to seat anyone until the full party arrives. Under normally circumstances I understand but this restaurant was beyond empty. I took it upon myself and finally sat down at one of the many empty tables and the hostess comes over and says I guess you can sit here as you took it upon yourself to seat yourself. Now it's 547pm and the two people in my party arrive. I was beyond disgusted with the hostesses attitude so we left. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. Their people are nasty and their policies are lacking. It's a tiny hole in the wall dump. We went down the street to Eddie's and had a very good meal. STAY AWAY FROM GIOIA!!!!!!!

We have been regulars at Gioia for a couple of years now. We have had several meals, and all of them were excellent. The three course dinner is a bargain, and the mozzarella is the best I have eaten anywhere. The young staff is friendly, attentive, well trained , and professional. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

We have been waiting to come and check this place out for a while so, the expectations were very high. Unfortunately they weren't met! The best thing we had was the prosciutto and the grilled cauliflower. We both had pasta, I have Gluten-free gree potatoes gnocchi with shaved white truffle, from Tuscany... for only $150, if you pay so much you expect to get intoxicated with the truffle smell, it didn't happen. Drinks were ok... nothing special. Disappointed.

Gioia is a very beautiful intimate restaurant. With there only being 10 tables, this was definitely a very unique experience. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday after finding out about Gioia on Facebook, and he loved it. Our waitress Jamie kept us laughing all night and was very attentive, as were all the staff members. The mozzarella appetizer was delicious as were both our entrees. I cannot wait to go back for another birthday or special occasion.

I haven't been to a place this good in a while. I am currently attempting to eat my way through the entire menu. However, i want to repeat the duck, shrimp, prosciutto, pastas, and well almost everything i have tried so far. Bar staff is great. Food runners are on point with at the table plating.

Gioia never disappoints!! We have been here multiple times since they opened and have an outstanding experience every time. Today was no different- we took advantage of the $59 prix fixe menu and enjoyed the baby gem salad, cheese trolley, magliati and the newest addition of the summer risotto. The ambience is perfect- not too loud, can hear yourself talk with music in the background. Service is perfectly timed- you are not waiting long between courses, yet you are not rushed through your meal. The intimate setting is perfect for a special occasion or just a date night out. This is the true hidden gem of Oyster Bay- look no further for great food and service.

Although I still can't pronounce their name, we all loved our dinner at Gioia and they easily earned a 4.5/5 from me :D Their house made pastas were different (and delicious!), and we all enjoyed every dish. My favorites of the night were the pastas and steak. We were lucky they allowed us to book a large party dinner, so my photos of the food are all "family style" servings. If Parmesan is too strong of a flavor for you, you may want to avoid the cauliflower since it is soaking in the sauce (delightful for those who enjoy it). Pastas were all handmade and interestingly shaped! My favorite was the Maltagliati, thin al dente ribbons sliding through a light flavored seafood sauce and tender succulent chunks of shrimp :) Everyone else chose the Gramigna as their favorite-- the curved thick ridged pasta reminded me of bucatini, which worked well with their ragu-like sausage sauce. The Garganelli had a long twisted penne-like shape but was not as al dente, a tad overcooked. It had a tasty vegetable-forward flavor. For entrees, the salmon was either poached or sous vide, making it very tender and moist which was a big contrast to the herb-crusted skin. That part mostly tasted burnt to me. The steak came pre-sliced, and it was tender but also had a nice chew -- perfect! The taste with the peppercorn sauce and mushrooms was really nice. Would definitely get that steak again, and I don't even like meat that much! And for dessert, the chocolate cake was a little dry even though it sat in a puddle of vanilla sauce. The crostata's green apple filling was sweet and tart, yummy! Things I think could be improved: the sizzling shrimp and salmon both had burnt/charred parts. Could be part of the charm, but it took away some of the enjoyment because it just tasted burnt. The small space was filled and busy all night, and it was a little loud as well. Their service was excellent; waiters looked polished in their white outfits and acted the part. It made for a lovely outing-- the birthday boy announced Gioia was his new favorite Italian restaurant! Definitely try this cute little spot out. I will be thinking about the pastas and the steak :D

Went for a festive dinner, which it was. I have passed this restaurant many times, but due to its small storefront, never knew it. Anyway, due to great reviews , we were anxious to try it. Overall , it was a lovely meal with some exceptional dishes and a couple , just ok, but nothing to complain about. They had one special for the night, which was lamb with truffle risotto. One person in our party happened to ask how much that dish would be, and the server said something like $130. I kinda think she should have mentioned that , as I would have been shocked to order and then see the bill! To start, there is a bread basket with rosemary butter, regular butter or oil to dip . Bread was excellent. Cocktails were well made. The Cesar salad was excellent as was the cauliflower appetizer! My mushroom lasagna was good, not exceptional, salmon was good but again not exceptional . The crispy potato side was amazing! We enjoyed the chocolate flourless cake and cappuccino. One complaint is that there was only one fish dish, a salmon, which is fairly ordinary. I think there should be a little more of a selection .It is a small restaurant, but very cozy and classy inside. Service was good. Acoustically , a little loud , but doable. Parking is on the street.

The wait after having a reservation in this small Italian restaurant was over a half hour on a Saturday night. Reservations were made over a month in advance. The 4 of us started off with a variety of cocktail Negroni's which were delicious, our appetizers were excellent I strongly recommend the Grilled shrimp, the salads were also very good. We all had fresh homemade pastas as our main dish. The Fresh pasta dishes were good but it seemed like the pasta dishes needed more salt in the water while being cooked, it missed the pizzazz you would expect from a restaurant who prides itself for making fresh pasta. The service was excellent so much so that the waitress recommended a dish of their chicken cutlet for table sharing and it actually stood out as a better dish than our pastas. Maybe the pasta chef had a tough night because they were so busy. The wine was very good and good value for the price they were charging, unless you bring your own wine, GIOIA corking fee is $50.00...pricey and discouraging for anyone to bring their own wine Dessert was also excellent, We had the seasonal home made apple crostatta and it was delicious. Ambience is cute and romantic, however extremely noisy. Having a conversation will prove to be a little difficult.. I will probably recommend and try this cozy Italian eatery again on a week night.

Delicious food and great service! Our server was very attentive. Cost atmosphere! Will be back.

Went here for the first time . The place is small but cosy the staff very friendly and attentive. Everything we have was very good .for me the amount of food is perfect . They pasta is home made it was very good !! Will be back for more !

We dined here for to celebrate our daughter's birthday. She loves Italian and we wanted her to experience what we thought was fine dining Italian style. Sadly it fell short of our expectations. We are regulars at 2 and 4 spring and truely enjoy every single experience there. Many of the dishes were good with the standouts being the tortellini and the Spicy Lobster. The cheese trolley was very meager and sort of sad for the price point. You are better off with a Prociutto di Parma or the Mozzarella for your app. The pastas were good, but nothing amazing. The flavors were muted in some of the pastas, and while the Spicy lobster was good, the tagliatelle served with it was not dressed enough for the amount of pasta. Though it definitely had a good kick. And while the pasta is freshly made there was no bite to it as one would expect, it was not al dente perhaps? We had a lot of the dishes wrapped up to go, and some of them were not packed for us. One that was barely 2-3 bites in had the entire plate and it was not given, to enjoy later. It felt a bit of a waste when we got home. Desserts were lack luster as well and really none of us wanted to return after the meal, in fact we cancelled a future reservation. The staff as always is so wonderful, some of the younger ones don't make eye contact and so it might be hard to signal them discreetly. Overall, we want to give them the benefit of doubt that it's new and will improve over time. Perhaps we will return in a year or so to give them plenty of time to improve and get a routine in.

Hands down the best Italian in Long Island. I had high expectations given our love for 2 Spring and the Chef certainly delivered. The bread dips were delicious. For apps we ordered the pulled mozzarella, eggplant and Tigella. Yes the mozzarella is good but if I had to order an app again, it would definitely be the eggplant. The tigella was also very unique and I highly recommend it. For entrees, we ordered a variety of pastas including the mushroom lasagna, ravioli, gramigna, maltagliati and garganelli. Everything was delicious but DO NOT MISS the mushroom lasagna. We loved it so much we ordered another portion. I know the gramigna is famous but I preferred the garganelli and the ravioli was also very very good. The chef made a butter pasta for my picky child who loved it so much he asked for a second portion. I can't wait to dine at Gioia again. You

The interior was very inviting and nicely decorated. We went here on a Sunday night and had 8p reservations. This place was buzzing! We arrived early and hung out at the bar, and it was fun. The drinks are crafted carefully and my Negroni was delicious. We ordered a mozzarella appetizer and it didn't disappoint. It was fresh, warm, salty and creamy, and the prosciutto definitely complemented well. We were finally seated around 8:30p, but we weren't bothered as our time at the bar was very pleasant. We ordered a few things but I was kind of suprised that 3 things I wanted to order were all out for the night: the cucumber appetizer, the steak, and the chicken cutlet entree. We were a group of 3 so had planned to eat family style. I was a bit disappointed because it seemed to be a busy night and ppl were still coming in after us-so I assumed it was just bad planning on the restaurants part. However a manager (I assume) came around asking each table about their experience and I voiced my disappointment at not being able to order the things I wanted, and somehow he was able to make sure our table was able to order the steak. I was very grateful but also confused at how it suddenly became available, but I was happy it was-the steak was actually really good.

The ambiance is very pleasing. While cozy, it really delivers elegance and a fresh, restrained take on a Mediterranean vibe. Curated little vignettes by the bar are a special touch. Food was solid. Drinks were good. Service was pleasant and helpful even though a couple things we ordered were forgotten. We weren't charged and were full so it all worked out. Will return. 4.25 maybe even 4.5 stars. We really appreciate this restaurateur.

I walked in with the hopes of being able to snag a seat at the bar. Tim, one of the managers, greeted me. When I told him there were no seats available at the bar, Tim worked to try to get me a table. I waited about 10 minutes and was lucky enough to snag two seats at the bar. The bartender Luis was terrific. I had a perfectto Negroni. It was delicious. The bread was amazing as were the three different dipping butters and oil. We shared the mozzarella with prosciutto and the cauliflower. Both were amazing, but I have to say that I'd go back for the grilled cauliflower. We shared an order of the ravioli and the Gramigna. Both were outstanding, light and flavorful but I would get the gramigna again. It's such a warm and welcoming spot, and it's clearly well run. Highly recommend.

Absolutely love this place! It's a very small and intimate restaurant where you can see the pasta being hand made when you first enter. 10/10 experience and food! Be sure to make a reservation as we sat at the bar but the bartenders were still wonderful and offered recommendations!

Gioia is a very beautiful intimate restaurant. With there only being 10 tables, this was definitely a very unique experience. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday after finding out about Gioia on Facebook, and he loved it. Our waitress Jamie kept us laughing all night and was very attentive, as were all the staff members. The mozzarella appetizer was delicious as were both our entrees. I cannot wait to go back for another birthday or special occasion.

Came last night for dinner- beautiful space with pasta-making on display in the front (my daughter loved this). I opted for the americano cocktail- light and refreshing. We started with the mozzarella and baby gem salad. Both were great, will definitely be getting the gem salad again. For entree, we tried the lasagna, tortellini, and chicken cutlet. The tortellini was WOW- amazing little bursts of flavor. The chicken cutlet could not be more tender with thin breading and this amazing light sweet sauce and abundance of cherry tomatoes. I would skip the lasagna next time. Overall, a really special meal and I will definitely be back to try more dishes!

This newer Italian spot in Oyster Bay is to die for! The staff is so sweet and the restaurant is very cool and cozy. It is a small space, but has a great vibe to it. All the food was so fresh and tasty. I thought the dishes were unique and very elevated. I think this place is doing a great job! Especially loved the bread with the different spreads they bring to the table in the beginning. It was a very nice, elevated touch to having normal bread.

This restaurant is an absolute gem. When you walk in, you are captivated by the interior design and how sleek and cozy the entire restaurant looks. We started off with the house wine along with the eggplant appetizer as well as the sizzling shrimp. The house wine was absolutely delicious and tastes better than other fancy and high end wines that I have tried in the past. The eggplant appetizer along with the sizzling shrimp were both full of flavor. For the main course, I went with the Cappellacci which was an easy 10/10. The combined flavors of the apple, squash, and ricotta was honestly mouth watering.

First time there. Wanted to wait to see if the place lasted at least 18 months. I have worked in food service for many years. The dining room was quite nice. Service was excellent. Food was ok. There were two of us having dinner. Both bread plates had large chips in them. As did the dish the "salumi board" came one. Not sure what I was expecting, but not so fresh prosciutto wasn't one of them. Over priced for what was there. Dinners came and both dishes had chips in them. dinners were average. I noticed that a diner and his two children were in the kitchen speaking with a member of the staff. That was a big turn off for me. Never liked it when a chef or owner would allow people in the kitchen--I don't care if they were in the industry or not. It's not sanitary. Would I go back? Probably not. If I were younger and didn't know what to expect--sure. Maybe for a quick glass of wine and some olives.

3.5 stars. The homemade pastas were pretty good but not amazing. The food to me is overhyped.

Loved this tiny gem of a restaurant! Took a long time to get a reservation for sure but I think the bar might allow walk in's! The service was top notch, and the food was delicious! The cauliflower app was incredible and our pasta dishes were both so good. Can't wait to visit again!

The experience was A+ from beginning to end. Started with the greeting to acknowledge our anniversary, continued with the complimentary champagne toast to celebrate. Our server Heather was one of the best we've ever had. She even brought us a complimentary cucumber appetizer (unbelievably tasty). We also had the grilled cauliflower and sizzling shrimp apps. Both delicious. Mains were so good as well. Decor is very nice and large bar that we'd love to return to for happy hour (although it's a little far from Massapequa for happy hour). Will definitely be back.

Our dinner here started off quite rough. We were not seated until approximately 30 minutes after our reservation. After we were seated, we waited another 10 minutes or so before I asked for menus and water. I'm glad to say however that after this bump in the road, the rest of the dinner went smoothly. Heather took care of us and was very knowledgeable of the menu and made great suggestions. We ordered several appetizers and two mains which we enjoyed immensely. Additionally, the fact that we waited so long for our table was not forgotten and we were comped another appetizer that Heather overheard us debating between. This sign of attentiveness and thoughtfulness really brought the evening back to lift, granted, the appetizers we were already diving into had already started that. All the food was prepared very nicely and you could tell that the pasta used in the mains was fresh. It had a toothsomeness that you generally do not get with dried pasta. I had leftovers the next day and even with being reheated in a microwave, the texture of the pasta did not suffer to great degree. We polished off most of the appetizers and my standout was the asparagus and mushrooms. For something that sounds quite simple, it was rich and earthy with the runny yolk from the fried egg adding just the right sensation of creaminess. This was a fantastic suggestion by Heather. Unfortunately, we were not able to get dessert as we had to head out but I did have a chance to see some other table's desserts as well as the dessert cart pass by and was quite tempted on sight. I will definitely be back to try some more of their dishes. Hopefully they are able to sort out some of their seating issues so the meal starts on a high note as well but I do understand that there is only so much control they might have over that without coming off as overbearing.

Very good food and outstanding service. Some of the items that stood out was the eggplant appetizer, string bean appetizer, gramigna pasta, mushroom lasagna and ravioli.

Out of this world delicious. Though it's classic Italian it's so unique and so special. I highly recommend going you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Yum!!!! Also spectacular service and ambiance.

Managed to score a ressie at the enticing Gioia. They are definitely hustling and bustling in there. I love when you walk in there's pasta being freshly made in the window. It's quite tight in the restaurant but that did lead to us chatting with a wonderful couple next to us. The service was top notch. Our table was regularly cleaned, plates and silverware cleared and water glasses never empty. The maitre d' explained the restaurant's cuisine with such care. For antipasti we ordered the sizzling shrimp, eggplant, and white beans. Now I don't know if it's because the hype makes you expect something that will knock your socks off into next week, but it didn't quite do that. But, was it good, absolutely. The shrimp was tender and the sauce was rich but it came in this cumbersome shell that just felt unnecessary and made the actual part you ate feel small. The eggplant was very good, different from your typical Italian American fried eggplant. The shaving of cheese and crispy onions was a nice take. The white beans came out with our pasta entree. the maitre d' told it was a cold dish and i almost regretted the choice until it came out. It was a nice refreshing bite and again something different. our pasta entree we got was the garganelli. Could've been plated prettier but I did like that they put a lot of prosciutto on it. The sweet pepper gave a nice balance tho the velvety sauce. Our neighbors at the table next to us so graciously treated us to an Apple crostata. Wasn't anything special but what a kind gesture. All in all we enjoyed our experience and the food. If this place wasn't so difficult to get a reservation I would probably go back, but I'm not going to keep trying again if it's this difficult.

The restaurant's ambiance, design, and staff were very good, and provided top-notch service. While the food was good, it definitely wasn't anything I would ride home about. The portions, apart from the lasagna, leaned towards tapas-style, which might not be satisfying for those seeking more substantial dishes. The sizzling shrimp appetizer had a distinct fishy taste and consisted of only two large whole shrimp, making it challenging to extract the meat and leaving little to actually eat. The cucumber and cauliflower apps were decent, but the mozzarella stood out as the clear favorite. Regarding the pasta, our group tried the ravioli (my personal favorite), tortellini, Gramigna, and one of the lasagnas. Most of the dishes, both appetizers and pastas, were generously smothered in cheese, which seemed like they were trying to make up for it for lack of what was in the dish itself. While all the dishes were acceptable, none of them left a lasting impression, which was disappointing considering the restaurant's upscale ambiance. It is worth mentioning that they craft one of the most outstanding espresso martinis I've ever had. Overall, it was a nice experience but it didn't leave me yearning to go back.

If you enjoy truly authentic Italian food, run don't walk to Gioia on South Street in Oyster Bay. All pasta's are freshly made, and you can watch them being prepared in the front of the restaurant. Our waiter, William, did an outstanding job walking us through the menu. We began our meal with in house prepared mozzarella. It was served slightly warm, and the creamy cheese just melts in your mouth. We also ordered an eggplant appetizer, with caramelized onions, parmigiana Reggie, & crispy onions, Mmmm. The entree's are primarily homemade pastas, none of which you will not find outside of Italy. After deep thought we decided on mushroom lasagna, consisting, portobello mushroom, bechamel, ricotta, tomato & basil, and maltagliati pasta, which consisted of shrimp, asparagus, tomato & herbs. Both pasta dishes were sublime with the maltagliati having a little bit of a kick. For dessert, we had a delicious homemade apple tostada. The wine & drink list is quite extensive with very fair prices. I took some photos, but what usually happens I start eating before I realize to take a photo, so some dishes are started. If you close your eyes, and eat this fabulous food you'll definitely feel that you've taken a trip to Italy. Mangia!

Excellent service and the food was beyond amazing. Unique and delicious cocktails. I highly recommend if you're looking to go for a romantic night out but not great for a group. Overall different than anywhere I've been to on the island. I highly recommend!

Just amazing! As soon as you step inside you feel like you're in a manhattan restaurant. Service and food were spectacular. Great vibe at the bar with jazzy music in the background. Ambiance is awesome!surprisingly not too loud for a small place. Better than any restaurant on Northern Blvd. Is my new go to spot! Recommend 100%

Food and service were excellent - truly unique menu items whose visuals matched their taste. Biggest problem is the high level of noise and the tightness of seating. Both are huge detractors - eliminate one table on the right side row and add sound absorption material !

This was one of the best Italian dinners I have ever had. Casual fine dining Italian food. REAL northern Italian food. This is a must try for anyone looking for authentic Italian cuisine. The Service was amazing and the cocktails are so tasty. I definitely recommend going here.

Would have 5 stars but both dishes were a bit to salty . Not sure if it was the sausage , both dishes had sausage but other than that the restaurant is very nice for an intimate dinner date . Nice bar ! The service was fast and efficient. The pasta other than the saltiness was delicious ! Everything had so much flavor , but was not super impressed with the chocolate cake

I wanted to go to this restaurant for months and then I saw that they have a Lobster Pasta dish specifically on Tuesdays, so I finally made it. The service and ambiance were great. I got the fresh mozzarella & prosciutto as an appetizer and it was amazing! They did not have any sweet white wines, but the drink selection was still decent. I also got the tortellini for an entree and it was too al dente. Lastly, the lobster pasta was not my favorite at all. The way the dish was marketed on the menu & on their Instagram was completely different than what I received. Also, all it tasted like was tomato. You cannot taste the lobster (there was only about 5 little pieces) nor was there any spice/kick to it..no real depth of flavor. I did not eat about 50% of the dish.

Freshly sliced prosciutto & freshly made pasta right before your eyes @gioianewyork #oysterbay Inspired by the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, chef @jesse_schenker celebrates the beauty of simplicity by focusing the menu on seasonal vegetables & handmade pasta dishes. Ambiance is old world Italian, warm, and welcoming. Magnificent aromas all around. Price point exceptional. Our menu: MOZZARELLA pulled warm, basil, sourdough toast. PROSCIUTTO DI PARMA gnocco fritto, mostarda. BEET CARPACCIO ricotta, marinated beets, balsamico di modena. GRILLED CAULIFLOWER ricotta, pistachio, lemon, parmigiano reggiano. MUSHROOM LASAGNA portobello, béchamel, ricotta, tomato, basil. RAVIOLI spinach, ricotta, sage, brown butter. GARGANELLI sweet pepper, mushroom, guanciale, prosciutto di parma. POLENTA braised duck, root vegetables, tomato, grana padano. TORTA TENERINA traditional chocolate cake from ferrara. ZABAGLIONE moscato, fresh berries. CROSTATA season jam, ice cream. #greatitalianfood #highlyrecommended

Was there on a Sat night. Service is rushed. And never ever have we been charged $31 for a Don Julio reposado on the rocks which we were told was a 3oz. (Which it definitely wasn't). We questioned it and was basically told, "sorry that's the market price." We said you just lost a customer.

Wow......sums it up. Fabulous bar, great service, outstanding food. Worth the wait.....one of my top 5 Favorite Italian Restaurants.

Mozzarella and the Maltagliati are both phenomenal. The pasta is made in-house, and it was without a doubt the best pasta I have ever had.

I really like 2 spring and I think Four is nice and I wanted to really like Gioia. Maybe they need time to work out some things. The space is very nice. Staff is friendly. I enjoyed apps like eggplant and cauliflower. Cheese trolley was disappointing-for the money they don't bring the trolley to you to serve - just a small plate of a few bites of cheese and sides, kind of sad. Pastas and desserts were ok. Spicy lobster special was pricey but my family enjoyed. Some items we asked to take to go were not included - im sure it was an oversight.

This place has it all. Great service. Great food. Great ambiance. I'll start with the service. It is excellent. I have an infant so we take her everywhere in her stroller. This restaurant is very tight and where they had us seated, the stroller would have completely blocked the pathway. The gentleman who seated us made adjustments and got us seated without issue. Then, when are server arrived, she was great and friendly! I could tell she was extremely busy. The place was packed! However, she checked in frequently and I never felt neglected. Now let's talk about the food. There's tons of Italian food around here, but this place stands out above all. They have great combinations of flavors and everything we tried, we thoroughly enjoyed. The antipasti cucumbers were my favorite - perfect combination of light and strong flavors. As I alluded to earlier, the restaurant space is moderately tight, but they will make it work and it feels very cozy and romantic in there.

Was given a gift card for our anniversary. Called 2 weeks before and couldn't get reservation except for 8:30 and the day before the only time was 4:30 which we took. Rainy night but didn't want to cancel. Very nice though small on inside. We were seated in back past the beautiful bar. The tables are on small size to say the least. Billy are waited was very helpful in explaining everything and the way to order. After bringing out slices of delicious bread and 3 different choices to spread we decided on cauliflower appetizer and eggplant appetizer. Both delicious but we both liked the eggplant with carmelized onions and shredded Parmesan. We decided to share the Tuesday night lobster special with pasta which was a little spicy but the lobsters was cooked to perfection. After each course the table was cleaned and the service was exceptional. Our waiter Billy answered all questions and Was very attentive.

Near impossible to get a reservation! And I don't think that is because it's that great, the place is just super small and cannot accommodate a lot of people at once. My reservation was at 7:45...didn't get seated until after 8:00. They were out of all the drinks that my friends and I wanted so we ended up with our second choice. The food was good, but unlike most restaurants that ask if you want cheese on top, they just went ahead and PILED it on! The food was still good, but would have been nice to have an option. Food didn't look anything like the online photos. But again, it still tasted good.

I really wanted to like this place. Heard you needed reservation because it was so good. I was expecting greatness. That didn't happen. Ambiance was nice but a tad too dark and a bit too loud and difficult to talk. We were a party of 4, and staff suggested we each order an app to share. Same was suggested for the main. We only ordered 2 apps,the mozzarella and the cauliflower. Mozzarella app was underwhelming. Mozzarella was tough and served with toast. Portion was about the size of 1/2 a tennis ball and lacked flavor and needed a knife to cut it. Not what I would expect with fresh mozz Cauliflower app was excellent. Entrees were ok. Meat portion was ok and served ala cart so sides bump the cost up. Not a wide dessert option but that's ok for me. What I was really disappointed with was that two of us were still eating appetizers and they started clearing plates. Also switched out flatware and brushed down table. Tables were set closely so it wasnt easy for them to quietly clear. Felt rushed and interfered with conversation. Sorry to drag on. All in all dont believe any of us will be going back. Staff was nice but felt awkward in service. Food was ok but not wow for cost. I could see improvement of the food. Too limited menu. Not a relaxing, cozy and easy meal.

Gioia is Italian for joy.. and that is exactly the emotion you experience when dining. The quality and execution of every dish was amazing. The polenta with braised duck was one of the best things I have ever tasted. The mushroom lasagna with bechamel sauce is beyond words delicious. The crispy potatoes and the eggplant are also must haves. I could keep going on and on about the food..but just go! You won't be disappointed. In addition, the restaurant is beautiful and the staff were delightful.

Food, service, ambiance were all first rate and classy. Food was delicious! Drinks were weak

Tough review to write. Food was outstanding but the portions were ridiculously small. They should be embarrassed to serve them. I ordered the tortellini. $28. I received my my entree and there exactly 6, yes you read that correctly, 6!! Tortellini on my plate. I was completely stunned. My $28 entree was less than half the size of my appetizer. I love to done out and I can honesty say, I have absolutely never received such a tiny portion of food, especially a pasta dish. Truly an embarrassment on their behalf. Unfortunately I will never go back. Which is sad because the food was actually quite good. But I can't ever see spending that kind of $ on such minuscule portions ever again. Disgraceful.

Legend. Drop the Mike, , Absolutely terrific . Loved everything from the mozzarella to the delicious pastas. The Old fashioned kills. And it's a very elegant place to boot. Place is buzzing and coooool. So nice

This place is out of this world! Must go. My fiancé and I have been to so many places in NYC and across the island but this place.... Is something else. Every dish was had was so delicious and unlike anything we have had before. The service was impeccable and so thoughtful. Get a res while you still can!

Gioia I just ate there tonight. The waitress said it means Joy, I thought that was something different. When the food came out, I realized where the place got its name! The food was wooowly spectacular! The pasta was like LOVE on a plate, the service was exquisite. The atmosphere and decor were formidable. Gioia is the perfect name for a slice of real Italian paradise in Oyster Bay.

Gioia in Oyster Bay is a must for pasta lovers. Pasta is made in-house for all to see when you step inside. You will notice a few carts around the restaurant. There is a choice for everyone, a cheese cart, martini cart and a spritz cart. I was too busy enjoying everything but pictured here is the mozzarella and prosciutto. Warmed and cut beautifully. The grilled cauliflower with pistachio is a MUST try. My favorite was the mushroom lasagna. Garganelli was also very delicious. Torta for dessert and cappuccinos all around to top off our amazing dinner. Each dish was so flavorful. Atmosphere is intimate and service was one of the best. Bravo Chef Schenker!

Went here for dinner last night and let me start by saying that the menu was beyond bizarre. It was a whole lot of nothing. They had about 6 pasta dishes and strange appetizers. They also featured one special dish for the day of the week. But if you didn't like the option of that item, you can't substitute any other dish. Italian restaurants are known for their Chicken Parmesan, which sadly this place does not offer. We started with the eggplant appetizer and sizzling shrimp app, which we were told were both shareable. The flavor was lacking for both apps. I then had the pasta with sausage and my partner had the special of the day, which was a whole Lobster. The pasta was decent and so was the Lobster. We both had the house wine and for $225, I will not be returning. This place was beautiful but choices of dishes were very limited.

The food here is really good! Everything is so fresh and you can taste it. The restaurant is dimly lit and creates a nice ambiance. The menu is on the limited side, so make sure that you know that going in. There is a spritz cart where they make your drink table side. The only issue we had was that the bar was very slow. I ordered a Negroni, and it took about 45 minutes to get to the table. The food gets to your table fast, but the drinks came well after the appetizers. I'm sure they'll smooth that out as time goes on.