Sitting downstairs (if need be, at the bar) is certainly an ingredient that helps make the G&G experience a positive one. The pre-tip costs no more than an appetizer and it reminds you that we're still in Chicago.

Gary's wisdom is right on.

A few additional thoughts: Under no circumstances should you get the Italian food. An exception is osso buco, which is a sometimes Friday special. I feel strongly that the lamb chops are the best red meat on the menu, and one of the top versions anywhere at any price, as much as I love steak. If people are in a sharing mood, I'd say go with the biggest steak you can get, an order of chops, the liver, and then divide & conquer. If you feel as if the server is simpatico, you might ask for the home fries/chips extra crispy. For fish (it happens) the whitefish is the obvious choice.

JeffB wrote:Sitting downstairs (if need be, at the bar) is certainly an ingredient that helps make the G&G experience a positive one. The pre-tip costs no more than an appetizer and it reminds you that we're still in Chicago.

Gary's wisdom is right on.

A few additional thoughts: Under no circumstances should you get the Italian food. An exception is osso buco, which is a sometimes Friday special. I feel strongly that the lamb chops are the best red meat on the menu, and one of the top versions anywhere at any price, as much as I love steak. If people are in a sharing mood, I'd say go with the biggest steak you can get, an order of chops, the liver, and then divide & conquer. If you feel as if the server is simpatico, you might ask for the home fries/chips extra crispy. For fish (it happens) the whitefish is the obvious choice.

Thanks for chiming in JeffB; I was hoping you would. I'll keep in mind the injunction against Italian food, with exception noted. I believe the osso bucco is a VI fav, and lamb chops actually sound pretty good to me, so my list of possibilities has just expanded.

Think I should ask the server if the whitefish is sustainably harvested?

David Hammond wrote:Think I should ask the server if the whitefish is sustainably harvested?

Only if you want to sustainably feed the fishes.

The G&G advice that works for me is to only go there in company of a regular.

I recall the Italian vinegar peppers side order was really good.

Hit G&G's a couple weekends ago, wanted to report.

I didn't notice any of the regular preferential treatment, but we had a fairly late (9pm) reservation, no problem being seated on the main level.

Had martinis, Shrimp de Jonghe (I'd pass on this next time, not memorable other than the loads of garlic) to start. Good martinis.

I can't get over how much I liked the Broiled Mushrooms. Such a simple, seemingly pedestrian offering, but I swear they were one of the best things I've had this year. Perfect with the rare Bone-in Ribeye - which was nearly perfect. One of the best steaks I've had in Chicago. My wife's strip steak was very much undersalted, which is surprising considering how efficient everything seems to work at G&G, you'd think they'd have a machine working the line back there. It was also perfectly medium to her liking.

Side note: We saw *3* people send back steaks because they were too pink, including an order of lamb chops that already looked medium-well/well to me. Come on folks, order the damn thing well-done if you don't like to eat meat. But they handled it well, they must have to deal with the pink issue constantly.

I'd like to go back, probably will at some point. Can't argue w/ the steak. Next time, I'll probably just order a martini, my steak and some broiled mushrooms.

Any recent experiences? I'll be entertaining my parents and some friends of the family in a couple weeks and am trying to steer them away from their insistence that we dine at The Capital Grille. There's not really anything wrong with it; it's just that the friends aren't very familiar with Chicago, I've never been to G&G, and I'd like to give them an authentic experience. Still, I'm a little hesitant given that this is one of the most polarizing establishments I've ever seen on LTH.

I took my brother to G&G on Tuesday for his requested Chicago steakhouse experience. We were in the neighborhood, and I like the feel of that dining room (even the florescent lighting). Martinis were excellent as always. I had a strip steak and he had the filet (bone-out). Sides were creamed spinach and mashed. And of course the iceberg lettuce salad with one tomato wedge. The steaks had a nice crust on them but to my taste seemed under-salted. They were temped properly though. Sides were . . . sides. Service prompt and unobtrusive--I hadn't seen my brother in a decade and the server was "there" without being "too there." We were a walk-in at 8:30 PM and were seated immediately at a four-top near the bar. I think G&G is just G&G. You pretty much know what you're going to get when you go. They aren't the best steaks in town but they aren't bullshit either. And the next day I had a nice steak sandwich with tomatoes and bleu cheese to boot

First time last night. Got the calves' liver, which was enormous. I gorged myself and only got about halfway through. I ordered it medium -- "you know, pink inside." Well it was a little overcooked IMO, but still pretty good. Vesuvio potatoes were much more popular at the table than the cottage fries. I didn't touch the broccoli, so I can't comment on that. Tiramisu was decent. Service was good. Wine list seemed fairly priced. Martini was good. No complaints. We were upstairs which was fine when the room was full, but it got kind of dreary when it cleared out. There were some bodyguards protecting some sort of public figure who was cordoned off in the back there....I guess that comes with the territory. I'd recommend the place. If it were in Cicero and the prices were 50% less, it would be GNR material.

Vesuvio potatoes, veal chops and martinis last night. Got exactly what I expected. Bartender (Tasso?) was killing it. Place was pretty packed at 6:00 PM. And I was one of five women in the dining room

ab wrote:Side note: We saw *3* people send back steaks because they were too pink, including an order of lamb chops that already looked medium-well/well to me. Come on folks, order the damn thing well-done if you don't like to eat meat. But they handled it well, they must have to deal with the pink issue constantly.

G&G's is one of the few places I know that actually delivers the steaks as ordered, unlike a lot of other places which tend to over cook, prompting patrons to order a little rarer than they actually want. And then they get surprised when G&G delivers exactly what they asked for, not what they really wanted.

Athena wrote:

ab wrote:Side note: We saw *3* people send back steaks because they were too pink, including an order of lamb chops that already looked medium-well/well to me. Come on folks, order the damn thing well-done if you don't like to eat meat. But they handled it well, they must have to deal with the pink issue constantly.

G&G's is one of the few places I know that actually delivers the steaks as ordered, unlike a lot of other places which tend to over cook, prompting patrons to order a little rarer than they actually want. And then they get surprised when G&G delivers exactly what they asked for, not what they really wanted.

The one time I went, a table of 3 next to us was eating well-done lamb chops with ketchup. It was sickening. Fortunately, I had a big, beautiful, perfectly-rare/medium-rare 24oz t-bone (which, judging by the size of the tenderloin piece, could easily have been called a porterhouse) and exemplary Plymouth martini in front of me, which took my mind off the culinary disaster unfolding 6 feet to my right.

Did anyone else make it to their 70th anniversary weekend celebration in July? They had a four course menu with two drinks for 1940s prices - $15.25 for the whole thing, no gimmicks or hidden charges. Soup, salad, filet (entree choices were limited) and desert plus a martini and an old fashioned (for me) for $15!

The place was absolutely slammed when we went on Saturday for our ~9:00 reservation and the medium rare steak came out waaaaay overcooked but given the prices and the volume the kitchen was cranking out I certainly wasn't complaining.

Any updates on the venerable G&G? We have a reservation for my clan of picky eaters for tomorrow night for my birthday dinner, figuring the kids can make a meal of the fried ravioli, pasta or burger options and dad, MIL and I can enjoy a decent meal. Am I crazy?

A few months ago I had the chicken vesuvio at G&G. It was terrible. Don't even ask about the side salad.

Best of luck to you.

PopcornMegaphone wrote:A few months ago I had the chicken vesuvio at G&G. It was terrible. Don't even ask about the side salad.

Best of luck to you.

I've followed JeffB's advice to avoid Italian dishes, and I believe Chicken Vesuvio qualifies. Jen, I think this place remains a generally good bet for a large group with varied tastes.

boudreaulicious wrote:Any updates on the venerable G&G? We have a reservation for my clan of picky eaters for tomorrow night for my birthday dinner, figuring the kids can make a meal of the fried ravioli, pasta or burger options and dad, MIL and I can enjoy a decent meal. Am I crazy?

You okay with indifferent service? Food was quite good.

Let us know how it was - last time I was there and someone had the pasta it wasn't very good.

We ended up going to Mon Ami Gabi. The highlight of the meal was watching the boys eat off the kid's compartment plates and the server bringing them crayons and activity paper.

Wonder if 14 & 15 will be any different

It probably saved us at least $100 over G & G though...

I've dined here twice and have been underwealmed. Frankly, you're better off going to, say, Smith & Wolley's and ordering their dry-aged sirloin or ribeye - better beef, better service.

If you are a recognized, regular customer, you get treated well at G&G and fed very nicely. If you are a strange face, it seems they usually put you in the Siberia-like upstairs and treat you like the help.

Iconic River North steakhouse Gene & Georgetti has announced plans to open a second location in Rosemont, marking the restaurant's first expansion in almost 75 years of operation.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... n-rosemont

Dave148 wrote:

Iconic River North steakhouse Gene & Georgetti has announced plans to open a second location in Rosemont, marking the restaurant's first expansion in almost 75 years of operation.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... n-rosemont

This is the disturbing part of this article ...

"The venue, which Tony Durpetti said is expected to open by late spring, will feature a 300-seat restaurant and event space to accommodate 300. It will be located at 9421 W. Higgins Road, occupying the building in which Rosewood Restaurant is currently located.
Rosewood plans to close at the beginning of January when owner Jim Mandas retires. Then the Durpettis will begin revamping the space."

Wow. I'll miss Rosewood. It was a great place for client lunch meetings. Of course G & G will be, too.

After one stunningly bad meal at Rosewood, I never returned (and it's a couple minute walk from my office) ... I'll take this change.

Anyone been to Gene & Georgetti recently? I am going for the first time tonight and wanted to hear if anyone had updates on the food/experience. Thanks!

I had a great lunch experience there last week, which I noted in another thread. How was your experience? I'm thinking of taking my fiance there in a few weeks when she comes to visit from NYC. We are both fans of old skooley places, especially with Chicago classics like de Jonghe, etc., so G&G fits the bill but I've never had the steak (or de Jonghe), so I was wondering.

I noticed today that a Gene & Georgetti banner has been hung over the Rosewood sign on Higgins (just west of River) in Rosemont. I'm not sure when it opens, but this is progress. It also might suggest that this won't just be a concept from Gene & Georgetti, but a second location.

BR wrote:I noticed today that a Gene & Georgetti banner has been hung over the Rosewood sign on Higgins (just west of River) in Rosemont. I'm not sure when it opens, but this is progress. It also might suggest that this won't just be a concept from Gene & Georgetti, but a second location.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... n-rosemont

Gene & Georgetti Stakes July 6 Opening in Rosemont Marking 1st Expansion

http://chicago.eater.com/2015/4/28/8509 ... g-rosemont