il Gigante

Authentic Italian that fits right in. Food came out fast yet prepared with such care. The house focaccia really set the tone with fresh Italian olive oil. Burrata salad was refreshing to start out and the meatballs were light and fluffy. Lamb ragu was perfection. Prices were fair from the food to the wine. Customer service was pleasant and felt genuine as we communicated with one of the owners trying to get a reservation. 3 months in and these guys are off to a great start, get in while you can!

Il Gigante in Ridgewood has the vibe and potential of a true neighborhood trattoria, but our experience fell short in a few places. We went in on a Friday night around 9 PM with reservations. We were seated right away, which was great. I’d definitely recommend sitting inside—it’s cozier and better for the vibe. The service overall was friendly, but it felt stretched. The bartender seemed like they could’ve used a barback or extra help—it slowed things down. We weren’t informed about any daily specials, and no one offered us the dessert menu at the end, which felt like a miss. We shared: • 1 appetizer (slow-cooked Italian sausage with beans—the sausage was solid, but the beans were meh) • 1 salad (Barbarossa salad - Roasted beets, whipped ricotta cheese, walnuts, in a balsamic dressing - portion was tiny, especially for the price) • 1 pasta (tortelloni—nicely cooked but needed salt or punchier seasoning) • 1 main (branzino—presentation was underwhelming, served in parchment paper and tin foil at the table, which took away from the plating). Complimentary focaccia was cold and not super inviting. Rustic bread was okay, but nothing special. Price-wise, it’s not unreasonable: $88 before tax/tip ($105 total) for two people with a bottle of sparkling mineral water. But given the small portions, we actually left hungry, which is saying something for Italian. Ambiance is nice, the concept is appealing, and the ingredients seem quality, but execution was uneven. I think the reviews calling it “inconsistent” are pretty accurate. Bottom line: good, not great. Needs work on service consistency, staff training, and portion sizing. I’d be hesitant to come back right away, but with some fine-tuning, it could really shine as a local spot.

Top quality and delicious nuevo spins on italian classics. The Parmigiano Reggiano sauce for the veal cutlet was truly awesome, a very difficult task that they nailed. Ambience leveraged the historical aspects of the building combined with interesting touches, like antique folding rulers, reminiscent of the many Italian carpenters/laborers who used to live in the area. Only critique, which is one I have with many Italian restaurants in America, is they served a doppio espresso in a cappuccino cup.

Came here for the first time with my partner. Right at 5 they were extremely busy! Even though the first seating happened all at once, service was not sacrificed. Everything came timely and all the staff was attentive and friendly. Food was incredible. Wish the meatballs were a bit firmer, but the flavor was incomparable. A delightful, romantic neighborhood restaurant with exceptional food and staff. We will most certainly be back.

High quality ingredients, big portions, well-priced and simply delicious!! Love this new neighborhood gem, the owners are so friendly and have created a wonderful ambience. Can’t wait to go back and try more dishes but on first visit, LOVED the cannellini beans with sausage, the pork chop and we had three pastas all equally yum (pesto pictured, but can’t go wrong with the pappardelle!)

The tiramisu was actually really good despite me not being a tiramisu fan. The crostini was a good appetizer. Ragu pappardelle was solid. I ordered the pacchrri but they gave me bucatini instead. The kitchen was closing so didn’t send it back but the bucatini needed more flavor. The burrata was eh

Where to begin when describing a flawless experience?! The warm, jovial service that's become increasingly rare in this city; the A+++ candle-lit, hip, and yet completely comfortable ambiance; or the expertly curated wine list? No, we'll start with the food: From fresh focaccia to roasted beets with the freshest-tasting whipped ricotta I've ever had, to delicate pastas, a lasagne that dreams are made of, and a tuscan tomato chicken that tastes like, well, Italy, there are no wrong turns on this menu. And don't get me started on dessert—highly recommend the affogato (no notes!), the perfectly layered tiramisu, and simple gelato with a surprisingly complex cherry topping. TL;DR? Run, don't walk to il Gigante, assuming you can get a reservation—this place is hot for all the right reasons. Can't wait to come back on the regular!

Eating at this new spot feels like you’re watching Hamilton off-Broadway before it was discovered. A line almost out the door on a Wednesday night — and well worth it. My mother-in-law said it was one of the best Italian meals she ever had which is all you need to know. Come for the amazing pastas, stay for the top-notch decor and service.

For family birthday celebrations, my family usually goes out to dinner; my brother's birthday was no exception, and he chose il Gigante to mark the occasion. I'm not too familiar with the food scene in Queens to be honest, but he heard good things about this place via social media. That, along with the fact that the people who run this place are from Italy, got me super pumped to check this place out - so off we went. Located in Ridgewood, the restaurant itself is pretty spacious. Even though it's relatively new, it has the look of being there for a long time with a dark, aged wood aesthetic. Tables are scattered throughout the space with a large bar along one of the walls; there's also additional seating outside - the look works. It was a hot summer day when we were there, but they didn't have the a/c pumping - they were really giving us that true feeling of being in Italy ;-). Almost goes without saying but the menu contains Italian fare, roughly separated into starters, pastas, mains, and sides; they also have a separate section for meat and cheese boards. A board sounded great so we started with that - we got the Gigante one which contained a fair amount of meats and cheeses. It was a good variety and had a very grand presence (the board itself was huge), but didn't have an overwhelming amount of product; this was a good thing as it was filling enough to leave room for our apps and mains. Speaking of apps, I decided to get the burrata. This was very good - the cheese was fresh as were the tomato and greens underneath; a really good starter especially given the weather. I was tempted to get one of their pastas as a main, but the pork cutlet was speaking to me more so I decided to go with that. This was interesting - the aforementioned cutlet was prepared breaded with prosciutto on top and smothered in a parmesan sauce. The cutlet itself was prepared well - the sauce was cream-based which I was afraid would be too heavy but it actually wasn't too bad. It's a large cutlet as well, but thin enough that you're not drowning in the meats. We opted for dessert - the vanilla gelato was speaking to me. It was excellent - super creamy and was paired with cherries that pushed it to a whole other level; it was honestly the perfect finisher. Service was great - everyone was very friendly and hospitable. Our server in particular really made sure we were taken care of. Overall, il Gigante is a yes - they're off to a great start and judging by the crowd they seem to really be gaining a following. It's a little bit of a hike for me to get here, but I wouldn't hesitate to return for another meal.

TLDR: so impressed with the level of food, hospitality and general love you can feel at this restaurant! Do NOT miss this, while you can still get a res! SETTING: we had a dinner reservation at 7:30pm for a birthday on a Tuesday. When we arrived, the entire restaurant was full. It is a beautiful, spacious place with an old school ambiance and vibe. Fun music playing (NOT too loudly), with candle light and raw ceilings. Really loved the vibe here and it's perfect for date night, friends, family, anything! FOOD: the FOOD. We ordered ... a LOT. Three appetizers, four entrees, and cleared every single morsel of food. We had the burrata (classic and simple but the quality doesn't lie), the pecorino salad (anchovy dressing was so good), the calamari (shockingly light and juicy), the pork cutlet (honestly the best thing we had though it was a tight race), and three different pastas. I could not believe the pork cutlet of all things was my favorite, only because I don't like pork cutlet that much! But it was that good! The pastas also deserve a shout out (the gramigna, vodka special pasta with guanciale, lasagna alla bolognese and the tortelloni). All impeccable, perfectly cooked and sauced though my favorite was the Gramigna because of how much the sweet and flavorful sausage adds to the dish. SERVICE: as good as the food was, the hospitality was even better! The owner was our own personal concierge, making great recommendations, checking in to see how we were doing, opening the red bottle at the perfect time, and more than happy to talk about his clear passion and love for Italian food. You can see his much he loves food and hospitality through his interactions with the guests. That is what really makes Il Gigante stand apart and how I know it will be very successful. They even comped us our cannoli deserts and espressos at the end for our friend's birthday. That kind of special care can't be beat. VERDICT: HIGHLY recommend this restaurant if you're looking for an amazing bowl of pasta, an owner who LOVES food and providing for others, and a cool/lovely ambiance. This is the place for you.

Neighborly Italian restaurant with an appealing wine offering. We've passed by il Gigante many times and my wife vindicated that today was the last time. While on route to nearby bar, she decreed that we must give this new Italian spot a shot. It was previously occupied by a Pan Asian restaurant called Porcelain. My hunch is that this is a new operating team with no relation to the last. The bones of the restaurant are pretty similar to the previous occupant. Still feels like an apartment converted into a restaurant. Oversized restroom with an odd space that I'd conspire was previously a shower space. It's handicap accessible and can easily fit four at a time. The decor of the restaurant is relaxed. I spoke to the host and he shared that the Prost of the decor were items that his mother had brought from Italy. The one piece that stands out is a vintage bicycle on the back wall. The host mentioned that it was an afterthought as the back wall was still empty after they finished decorating. The layout of the restaurant was tight. The proximity of the seating reminded me of Don Angie and San Sabino in the West Village. We sat in nook at the front which was impossible to maneuver without bumping into someone. Unfortunately, I ended up in the center seat of the nook and I'd estimate that I was bumped into every five minutes or so. My absolute favorite component if the experience is the wine menu. It's an Italian focused selection. (I believe only Italians are available). A solid variety which is super approachable on price. The most compelling aspect is that nearly all the wines are available by half bottle too. More business need to offer half bottles! It's the perfect quantity to order. I suppose you can order two or three glass, but there the half bottle served in a carafe is incredibly efficiently. I was slightly disappointed that they didn't have me try the wine before it was poured. I had a Barbara which is typically a younger and earthy wine. I wouldn't have sent it back, but I think it would have been customary to offer a sampling before pouring a half bottle. Food was very comfy. Started with complimentary bread. First, we had the meatballs in red sauce. Meatballs were your typical super savory nonna style meatball. Slightly crispy with ultra rich sauce. Generous toppped with grated cheese. Served with a twig of sage which I learned was meant for brushing. For the main course, we shared a couple of pasta dishes. We had one of the specials: a strozzapetti in a lamb ragu. We also had the tortelloni in a sage butter sauce. Lamb ragu seemed to be mirepoix based sauce. Felt simple and homey. Lamb was finely minced which dissolved a lot of the characteristic lamb flavor. The tortelloni was a familiar dish. Simple yet rich. I enjoyed both sauces and ordered extra bread to mop it all up. Service was patient and attentive. They were knowledgeable and kind enough to double check a few things for us too. Pacing of the food was perfect. We always had something in front of us but never too much. Pacing was perfect to stretch out dinner into a night out. A great spot if you're a local. Probably one of the best values for this quality of service and food.

This was amazing. The cacio pepe was one of the best in the city IMO, and the lasagna is up there too. Every bite was excellent.

I would give this place somewhere between a 4-4.5 star review. The prices were great, and the food was pretty good. The main asset that this restaurant had was our server, who was incredibly kind. My husband and I came in on a Friday night, a bit early for our reservation. Thankfully they had a table available and we were seated right away. Inside, there seemed to be plenty of tables available, but I was unsure if they were being held for a large reservation. We ordered a tricolore salad which was cherry tomatoes, arugular, a 24 months aged Parmesan, and a citrus dressing. This salad was fresh and it was a nice way to start our meal. For our main, we got an order or the tortelloni burro e salvia, the tagliatelle ai funghi (a special), and a side of the patate al Forno. The tortelloni and the patate needed more salt, for me, and the best bites of the tortelloni was the bits with parmesan on it as it balanced out the sweet ricotta filling. Overall though, they were both tasty and I would order them again. The tagliatelle ai funghi was a special, and it was really, really good, but it was a bit difficult to get the mushroom and tagliatelle in one bite. The focaccia that they have is definitely not an afterthought and it is incredibly tasty. I would definitely come back here again, and the prices and servers are great!

Overall the food was good and the service was very friendly and attentive. What was very disappointing was I was served day old Lasagna. I suspected when I cut into the very first piece at the edge it had that microwave hot. The Lasagna was also a bit mushy as if it cane out of a microwave. As I got closer to the middle now its just Luke warm and then in the middle I got refrigerator cold middle. Being that I also sat when the restaurant open more than likely they were getting rid of the prior days Lasagna. Very disappointing especially with the price I paid for the dish.

If only we could have something like this in Forest Hills - but close enough and SO worth the short drive. Best lasagna I've had since my honeymoon in Italy 12 years ago, perfectly tender calamari, savory (complimentary bread), and really warm inviting and friendly service. I heard about this restaurant from Eater and once I found out it had any relation to Il Brigante in terms of roots, I knew I had to come. Well there's no longer any reason to travel all the way to the South Street Seaport anymore, this place is local and full of the type of deliciousness that just makes you all around happy. It's the type of place I'll return to frequently. Can't wait already!

il gigante reminds me a lot of forma pasta factory in brooklyn with its amazing food and reasonable prices. we tried the cauliflower with bechamel sauce appetizer and it was so good! the rigatoni and cacio e pepe are also delicious. service was top notch as well. highly recommend

Just absolutely phenomenal service and food! Obviously had some preferences over others, but every single item hit. I didn't realize arugula could taste that good with burrata - it was so flavorful! The calamari literally melted in my mouth - not chewy at all. I would also recommend the sausage pasta - 10/10 - and the pork cutlet. Cutlet is breaded with thin sliced prosciutto, a ton of Parm, and an amazing sauce. All of the prices are so reasonable compared to other Italian spots I've been to. Even their bottles of wine!! I would recommend this over Rolo's over and over (and that's not taking away from how great Rolo's is but just showing how amazing Il Gigante is). Can't wait to come back and try new things and their cocktails

il Gigante is a fresh new establishment in Ridgewood that my friend and I have been dying to try out! Let me tell you, the place does not disappoint (new hot-spot for the Rolos fans?). Our server was one of the most genuine and kind I have experienced (I assume he was also the owner/manager) and service was very quick for a new establishment that has already proven to be a popular spot. The ambiance was simple yet cozy (they didn't change much on the interior from the last tenant). Now for the Star of the show, the food! First of all the bread is some of the best I've ever had in Ridgewood, and it definitely tastes freshly baked with the perfect salty layer of crust. The pasta was absolutely delicious (like gourmet hamburger helper) and it was perfectly filling. Can't wait to come back to this spot again, a 10/10 dining experience!

I was there 2 times first time I had fried calamari ( good) second time (so so) and no f. calamari .. i sai if calamari are on the menu ( which they had) you must have.... Disappointed!!! Also empty table ( do you have a reservation?)and they put me and friend at the bar !!!

I ate at the bar. I came early around 5:30 because they are very popular and get busy. The staff are very friendly and many of them are Italian and it gives the restaurant an authentic feel. The bartender immediately served me and was super friendly and easy to talk to The food itself is really good. They served it up really quick. Everyone was very friendly and I felt like I was always attended to when needed. Overall I think this is a pretty stellar spot in a neighborhood lacking fine dining Thanks for a great experience

Loved this little cute spot. Came here on a late Sunday night and the place was still buzzing. Wish I could remember the name of the pastas we had but the one with the pink sauce and crumbled sausage was 10/10 my fav of the night. Fried calamari was also nice and crispy just the way I like it paired with a bomb red sauce. Love that they offer half bottles wines and the best part of the whole experience was how reasonable the price was . Def def recommend and will def make this a part of my restuarant rotation

Absolutely incredible. Quick and friendly service, wonderful atmosphere, and INCREDIBLE food. Will be back, will tell my friends to be back. Lots of other nice places in the area I've been to fall behind on at least one thing either food or service, but this place was as attentive as their food was delicious. The pasta is unmatched. The best thing to happen to my tongue since Faro in bk closed. Couldn't have been happier.

Awesome food and great ambiance. Owner and staff are fantastic. We will be coming back.

Get in here while you can! What a gem! The food was absolutely incredible, and the service was attentive. The value was exceptional. For just $185, we enjoyed: * Drinks: 2 beers, a carafe of wine * Appetizers: Calamari and a meat board * Main Courses: 2 pastas (Amatriciana and Cacio e Pepe) * Shared Entrée: Pork cutlet * Desserts: Affogato and tiramisu, paired with espresso for each of us Everything was flawless, and we'll definitely be back!

The experience at Il Gigante was wonderful. I work in Italy : the food, service & ambiance at Il Gigante was extraordinary & comparable to the best restaurants in Italy. I have eaten there four times recently & I love the experience.

The spaghetti was the best I've ever had. Food was incredible. My one critique is the affogato ratios were off - it either needed less gelato or more espresso. Waitress hovered a bit but they were very attentive. I appreciated that the hostess sat us in a table after thinking we were going to sit at the bar. I will be back!

I am less impressed with Il Gigante than the yelp* community. I made a rare trip to Ridgewood NYC, a neighborhood that looks like a slum, but isn't. The interior of Il Gigante looks like something from a Fellini movie. The crowd is very hip. The kitchen, unfortunately, did not live up to the surroundings. My starter of three Crostini's did not work. The bread was hard as a rock, Tomato's under ripe, and Anchovies not very fresh. My Pasta wasn't any better. The Bolognese may have been authentic, but it wasn't very good. Maybe Ridgewood has gotten too popular.

Great new addition to the neighborhood. Cozy spot, delicious food and really friendly staff. Great value too with fair pricing. The owners sat down and talked with us for a bit to solicit feedback despite it being towards closing time, which was a really nice touch. Can tell they really care about adding a quality option to the neighborhood, which they have done. Just opened and they don't have a full liquor license and menu yet but I'll definitely be back!!

Omg my tastebuds are still bursting! The tortellloni's are a must have! The Frappato chilled red wine is a game changer. The service and food was impeccable

Well for starters, we tried the place several times as walk-ins, and were told that we needed reservations. So we thought the place must be outstanding, we booked a reservation, and wasn't too impressed. The place looks fabulous, the decor was charming, and the service was good. However, the food was mediocre in that it was too rich in seasoning, perhaps too salty, and the menu was a bit limited. It has potential for improvement because the restaurant was busy, and perhaps the chef was overwhelmed. The desert was great, and wine was good as well. Prices are reasonable, but for what I ordered, I expected a bit more quality in my tasting palette. Further more, the pork chop in a creamy sauce that ordered was very good.

Incredible atmosphere and delicious food, friendly staff and great service. An overall great reflection of this neighborhood

Great fresh pasta, generous portions, attentive and friendly service, reasonable prices, and all around friendly atmosphere.