| About: | Named one of Chicago Magazines 'Best New Restaurants' as well as one of Bon Appetit's 'Favorite Places in 2000', Gioco is a hip, Italian eatery & the latest addition to the Marche, Red Light family of restaurants. Located at 1312 South Wabash, just minutes away from McCormick Place Convention Center, Gioco is in an area of the South Loop once dominated by speakeasies & other prohibition-era establishments including Al Capone's headquarters. Gioco is housed in two adjacent buildings from 1890. In historic Chicago tradition, Gioco features a Prohibition-era 'speakeasy,'. Jerry Kleiner, co-owner & creator of Red Light & Marche restaurants & owner of Kleiner Design, designed Gioco with an amber back-lit bar; exposed original brick & plaster walls, & his beautiful h& crafted silk fixtures. Gioco's menu offers rustic Italian dishes prepared with the finest available seasonal products. The menu features homemade pastas & wood-fired thin crust pizzas. |
| Hours: | Lunch Mon.-Fri., Dinner nightly, Brunch Sun. |
| Categories: | Breakfast Restaurants, Seafood Restaurants, Italian Restaurants, Continental Restaurants, Restaurants, Pizza |
| Parking: | Valet |
| Payment: | MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, Diners Club |
| Specialities: | People Watching, Festive |
| Amenities: | Award Winning, Business Lunches, Parking, Reservations |
| Chef: | Fred Ramos |
| Cuisine: | Breakfast & Brunch, Italian, Pizza, Seafood |
| Ambiance: | Elegant, Fun |
| Feature: | Bar, Late Night, Outdoor Seating, Private Rooms, Take Out, View |
| Reservations Policy: | Suggested |
| Dress Code: | Smart Casual |
| Price: | $11 - $31 |
| Other Contact Info: | Fax: (312) 939-3858 Email: fdp@kdkRestaurants.com |
Excellent service, average food, reasonable price. I'm not sure if i'll come back again.
A hidden gem in the South Loop. Gioco is a fantastic Italian restaurant located conveiently off the Roosevelt stop on the Orange, Red and Green lines. They specialize in Italian food and offer a variety of specials. This is another one of our favorite places to go for date night.
The atmosphere is fantastic. Without being too dark, it is still dimly lit and provides an ambiance that resembles a quaint little restaurant hidden in an alleyway in Rome. The building was actually an old speak-easy, and if you get the chance to dine in one of their back rooms, you can see some of the remnants of that era. One caution, if they offer you one of the 2 person tables next to the bar be aware, if there is a group of people waiting to be seated, they will crowd the table while they wait at the bar. It's not the ideal experience, but they do eventually get seated. Reservations are key to getting prompt seating at this restuarant.
The staff is super friendly. After dining there a few times, we even have a favorite waiter, Greg. He's friendly, entertaining and knowledgeable.
Finally, the food and wine. There is a tremendous selection of great dishes. We have a few items we consistently order, as they are fantastic. Be sure to get the seafood salad, the grilled asparagus, and if you aren't in the mood for pasta, they have wonderful NY Strip. In addition to their regular menus, their specials are typically delicious.
Great Brunch: Gioco's is not just for dinner but also has an interesting and creative brunch menu as well. Whether you're meeting friends before the Bears' game or heading to Lollapalooza, it's a great place to have breakfast on Sunday.