Authentic Italian trattoria w/ standout homemade pastas like gramigna & cacio e pepe, crispy calamari, and great vibe. Affordable & delicious!
Will Hartman reviews Il Gigante, a Ridgewood Italian restaurant that delivers a dangerously fun dining experience with handmade pastas and a lively atmosphere, perfect for casual dinners and dates.
This Ridgewood Italian trattoria is a neighborhood gem, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere with friendly staff and a focus on authentic, well-executed dishes. Known for its generous wine pours and delicious homemade pasta, it's a spot that makes diners feel personally welcomed. From crispy calamari and flavorful meatballs to standout pasta dishes like gramigna and cacio e pepe, Il Gigante delivers a satisfying and surprisingly affordable dining experience.
Il Gigante offers a classic Italian menu with a strong emphasis on homemade pasta dishes, such as gramigna and cacio e pepe, which are highly recommended. Appetizers like crispy calamari and flavorful meatballs are also popular. While most dishes receive positive feedback, one review mentioned the Pappardelle al Ragú as a slight disappointment.
"Standout dishes include the crispy fried calamari, flavorful meatballs, and homemade pastas like gramigna and cacio e pepe. The lasagna and a large fried pork cutlet (Cotoletta Alla Bolognese) are also recommended."
Customers overwhelmingly praise the authentic Italian cuisine, highlighting the quality of the homemade pastas and delicious appetizers. The friendly service and lively atmosphere also contribute to a positive overall dining experience.
Important Note
One diner found the lasagna to be served excessively hot, which detracted from their enjoyment. Another comment implied the restaurant might be outside the poster's price range.
"This user mentioned Il Gigante, implying it might be outside the poster's price range."
Neutral"This user finds Il Gigante's lasagna good, but it was served so hot that it impacted their enjoyment."
Neutral"This user mentioned liking Il Gigante's lasagna better than Rolos."
Positive"Il Gigante in Ridgewood is recommended as a place that serves cacio e pepe."
Positive"Il Gigante is recommended for its Emilia-Romagna cuisine, noting it's relatively new, excellent, authentic, and affordable, especially the pasta."
Positive"i giganti in Ridgewood is a trattoria with a good wine selection and great vibe, known for homemade pasta like the gramigna."
Positive"This user mentioned that Il gigante serves great free bread."
Positive"A user unexpectedly tried El Gigante's calamari and still thinks about how delicious it was, noting everything else was also delicious."
Positive"El Gigante in Ridgewood Queens was highly praised for its fried calamari, described as crispy, juicy, and bursting with flavor, needing no sauce."
Positive
