Gio's Cafe and Deli

519 reviews

2724 S Lowe Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

www.gioscafe.com

+13122256368

About

Gio's Cafe and Deli is a Italian restaurant located at 2724 S Lowe Ave, Chicago, IL 60616. It has received 519 reviews with an average rating of 4.7 stars.

Photos

Hours

Monday10AM-9PM
Tuesday10AM-9:30PM
Wednesday10AM-9:30PM
ThursdayClosed
Friday10AM-9PM
Saturday10AM-9PM
Sunday10AM-9PM

F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The address of Gio's Cafe and Deli: 2724 S Lowe Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

  • Gio's Cafe and Deli has 4.7 stars from 519 reviews

  • Italian restaurant

  • "Gio's Cafe and Deli is an absolute culinary gem in the heart of Chicago, where gastronomic excellence meets warm hospitality"

    "I’ve been coming here for about 8 years now for either lunch or dinner and have a great experience every time"

    "Gio’s is absolutely fantastic"

    "I wish I can give zero stars"

    "Always a delicious meal in a friendly atmosphere! Been a customer for years! I have been recommending Gio’s to all my family and friends! Everyone thanks me for introducing this delicious gem in the heart of a big city neighborhood! I just catered an event using Gios and Nacho was so helpful and spot on when it came to serving a bridal shower of 80 people! I received many compliments! Thank you, Nacho! So happy you are serving our neighborhood! Bon Appetit!
    Service
    Dine in
    Meal type
    Lunch
    Price per person
    $10–20"

Reviews

  • Sergio Perez

Gio's Cafe and Deli is an absolute culinary gem in the heart of Chicago, where gastronomic excellence meets warm hospitality. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with an inviting atmosphere that feels like a home away from home. The menu at Gio's Cafe and Deli is a true delight for food lovers. They offer a diverse array of mouthwatering dishes, ranging from classic deli sandwiches to hearty salads and savory pastas. One of their standout offerings is their daily specials, which never fail to impress with their creativity and flavor. Whether it's a gourmet panini, a delectable pasta creation, or a fresh salad, every dish is prepared with care and attention to detail. What truly sets Gio's apart are their irresistible offers. Their daily lunch specials are not only delicious but also budget-friendly, making it a fantastic option for both locals and visitors looking for a satisfying meal without breaking the bank. Their dedication to quality ingredients and friendly service makes every visit a memorable experience. The friendly and attentive staff at Gio's Cafe and Deli adds to the overall charm, making you feel like a valued guest. Whether you're grabbing a quick lunch or enjoying a leisurely meal, Gio's is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for exceptional food and a welcoming atmosphere.

  • Clay K.

I’ve been coming here for about 8 years now for either lunch or dinner and have a great experience every time. Their homemade giardiniera is the best in the city. I usually buy a bottle to use for my cooking at home. They sell several cold sandwiches for lunchtime. My favorite is the prosciutto mozzarella with the giardiniera added. It can get a little messy with the olive oil so I ask them to hold the oil. I know some people who only order sandwiches here for lunch. Don’t forget to check this place out for dinner, too!! All of their pasta choices are great with large portions. Their fried calamari is a favorite appetizer of mine. The food is very high quality even though the interior feels more casual compared to Ignotz or Bacchanalia over in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood. The only strange thing about this place is the restroom, which is located in the basement with some crazy stairs you have to navigate behind the service counter. All in all, an excellent spot for Italian food with great service.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Yes
Delivery: No
Curbside pickup: No

  • Paul Manning

Gio’s is absolutely fantastic. It’s a family owned spot with fast friendly service - Italian deli by day and a BYOB cafe by night. There’s really something for everyone here. We’ve been 3 times and already rank this high on our list of Chicago favorites. Here are some highlights.. the breaded steak and cold Italian sandwiches are absolutely perfect, love the vodka sauce rigatoni, meatballs are great, also really like the sausage and peppers. If you’re looking for a casual midweek spot to grab a great meal anytime of day, this is it!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Gerardo Arroyo

I wish I can give zero stars. Extremely rude staff! Two of the female workers on 6/11/2022 around noon were making comments about my wife's shirt in Spanish and laughing. Very unprofessional! Definitely didn't leave a tip for their overpriced food. Here's a tip, don't make fun of your paying customers. Definitely better options for Italian food nearby (Ricobene's, Freddy's, Fontano's, the list goes on). Plus their staffs are much nicer. I went here because I had a good dining experience before but sadly disappointed this time around. Never coming back to this place!

  • Eileen Dowling

Always a delicious meal in a friendly atmosphere! Been a customer for years! I have been recommending Gio’s to all my family and friends! Everyone thanks me for introducing this delicious gem in the heart of a big city neighborhood! I just catered an event using Gios and Nacho was so helpful and spot on when it came to serving a bridal shower of 80 people! I received many compliments! Thank you, Nacho! So happy you are serving our neighborhood! Bon Appetit!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20

  • Christian Gaona

Great Sicilian Deli. I try to go at least once a month to support local business. I live in Bronzeville and order the same Prosciutto sandwich for lunch everytime. The owners know me as a regular and call me by name plus I see some of the firefighters or police in the neighborhood on occasion and it is nice to be acknowledged in passing especially if I hadn’t seen em awhile. Sandwich is always consistent definitely recommend for lunch and groceries. Sometimes they get me with their cookies at the register.

  • Paula Buckley

The environment as if back in Italy. The owner greets his customer's with a smile at all times. Let's get to the food...Every dish is so amazingly delicious. Cooks with love!! You can buy frozen stuffed shells & other pasta goodies,raviolis.There also is a deli with delicious Italian meats & shelf of Italian oils,pasta all you need to lighten you dinner Italian style.also carries souvenirs such as Italian pepper horns & much more. B.Y.O.B Server will open and gently pour your spirit's. 20+!

  • Jo Brill

We love this place. Walked in the other night on a dreary evening and were instantly comforted by the warm casual ambiance. The food is delicious. We especially love the meatballs! And the steamed broccoli served in a light garlic sauce. Pro tip: Save room for a cannoli or the tiramisu (or both!) -- made in house and so, so good. Remember, BYOB
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Tiramisu

  • Mike Cavello

It started with a great basket of bread that was soft in the middle and had the perfect crust. It got even better from there. The eggplant parm sandwich and the Italian sub were real good. Loved the theme of the place with the checkerboard table cloths. Portions were large and the staff was friendly. Even greeted at the door. Very impressed all around.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Dermot Haughey

Awesome authentic Italian American restaraunt. Probably has the best breaded steak sandwich (a local food item of the area), chiefly because their tomato sauce is miles ahead of the competition. If you get a breaded steak sandwich for pickup I'd recommend ordering the sauce on the side to keep the sandwich crispy right until you eat it. They also have a deli where they sell their own soppresata, which I'd highly recommend trying if the idea of a spicy salami sounds good to you.

  • Antoine Foggs

This is such a wonderful place. I went here with a couple of friends who are from the neighborhood, and everyone from Bridgeport apparently knows and loves Gio's. The food is delicious, and the space is a lot larger than you would think initially as well. The owner is very friendly and it seems like they've got take home meals that you can purchase as well so that you can enjoy them any day.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20

  • Ray Wu

Cute little Italian-American establishment that's been in the heart of Bridgeport forever. Old school checkerboard table linen and classic Italian greatest hits. The food is amazing (had Italian sausage, chicken parm, and tiramisu) and coupled with good vibes.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Chicken Parmigiana with Giardiniera, Tiramisu

  • Trish Nesbitt

Coming to the restaurant for the first time was one of the best decisions I have ever made in terms of choosing a local restaurant. The food here is superb, and is made by very skilled chefs. They have a very wide variety of different, delicious wines, and even more of a delicious variety in terms of food and dessert. They even allow you to bring your own wine! A few recommendations would be the Shrimp Alfredo, coupled with the mango cheesecake for dessert.

  • Mr Michael

I lived In Bridgeport for over 30 yrs and I never ate here. Today we we're In the neighborhood and I wanted to try their food. So I stopped and ordered two meatball sandwiches. Along with some fries. And some other items for my In laws. The meatballs had absolutely no flavor. We ordered cheese and peppers on the sandwiches. The food was overpriced and the quality wasn't as good as Kathy Ds. Which have much better food at half the price. Disappointed.

  • Stacy Woods

Authentic Sicilian food with imported goods to purchase? Count me in! It is a small, quaint mom and pop place (BYOB) that I stop by regularly for even just a treat (I love their pistachio ice cream) to take home. I also cook an occasional Italian dish and this place practically has all the ingredients I look for that stores don't always carry. They also have a deli! This place is quite the gem and has not disappointed me.

  • Araceli Rodríguez

I've been to Gio's before only had soup and salad which I enjoyed. This time I had an entree of chicken parmigiana. I was disappointed the marinera sauce was bland and the chicken parm was not flavorful. The bread was hard difficult to chew . Not happy with meal at all. The waitress was blaa not very friendly my experience there was not great. It was memorable in the fact that I will only have soup if I ever go back.

  • Alaina Stewart

So obsessed with this place! I ordered the homemade baked cavatelli pasta and it was easily the best pasta I have ever eaten in my life. Our service was amazing and love that it’s BYOB!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Parking space
Somewhat difficult to find parking
Parking options
Free street parking

  • Andrea Lee

The Bruschetta was delicious!! I gave only four stars because of initial vibes I got from some of the women staff and an odor when you walk in that shouldn’t be in any food establishment in my opinion. The man who greeted me at the door was very nice and warm. I was glad I stayed for that bruschetta
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$10–20

  • Deb Goodin

Love love love this place and the people who run it. Very friendly , food is magnificent, prices not outrageous, and I feel there could be some history here, you know, of the Sicilian kind. Can't wait to come to Chicago again so I can go to Gio's!
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Jeffrey Lush

Excellent food and service. Very welcoming and authentic Italian food. It was a taste of Italy in Chicago. Strongly suggest.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Spaghetti Pasta, Chicken Parmigiana with Giardiniera

  • Ben Jurevicius

Excellent food, attentive service, generous portions. I had the broccoli salad (marinated broccoli with sun dried tomatoes and chopped garlic - yum) and the penne with egg plant for entre. Great flavors that hang with you. Expect to pay $20+ per plate but well worth it. Cozy little store front ambiance. This place is a must try.

  • Diego

Cool small space with great food. Shared apps and dinner plates with friends. The walls are filled with pasta sauces and anything you need to take home and make your own meal. Byob and botttled refreshments. The bathrooom is down on the basement passing the kitchen. Overall great cozy place with great food, will visit again.

  • Helen Rivera

Very nice restaurant. Authentic Italian cuisine and busy when open. For a small place it has excellent clientele and friendly service. One vice parking.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Fried Calamari

  • K. Trayne

Amazing food. Procuitto and fresh mozzarella and giardinera sub, and italian subs are in my top 5 for Chicago and Burbs. Meatball is good too.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Meatballs Hot Sandwich

  • Martha Corral

This delightful cozy restaurant not only had authentic flavorful Italian cuisine but also had highly attentive customer service . The entire family enjoyed the dining experience there. The ricotta stuffed pork chops were fabulous.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20

  • Michael G

I've eaten from here a few times now and each dish I try is always excellent. The staff is very nice, the restaurant decor is beautiful. Everything is filled with love and passion for the food/culture. Highly recommended.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20

  • Jose Fortuna

Just moved into the neighborhood. My new favorite spot!! Can’t wait to have a huge Friends & Family dinner here. The food is amazing and the portion size is eat here and at home. Great atmosphere when you dine-in.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100+

  • Neal O (1959Chicagoan)

Gios is a surprisingly good old school eatery. It's tucked away in an Italian grocery. Cool vibe and VERY attentive staff. Calamari is outstanding. Ravioli is as good as can be found in the city. Everything they offer will arrive quickly and perfectly cooked. Fantastic experience.

  • Mike M

Small and cozy Italian restaurant along with a deli selling cheeses and meats. Very friendly attentive service and delicious fresh food. We dined here on a Monday night and had no problem getting a table without a reservation.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • JustYourGlobeTrottinReviewer

Great authentic food, and the Spanish waitress serving us was exceptional. Sorry, I don't recall her name.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Fried Calamari

  • Sarah Grana

Absolutely lovely experience eating at this neighborhood deli. Warm, friendly atmosphere and delicious food. I love coming here for a tasty lunch and dona little shopping for cookies, pasta and sausage for home.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Rick Aguirre

Great BYOB and family dinner place! Love majority of their food and will frequent often! Staff is awesome and always finds room for one more!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Perry Robbin

Traditional Chicago Italian-American fare in a casual neighborhood setting. Food is consistent and quite good. Prices are very reasonable across the board considering the dinner portions are easily two full meals. A great place for a casual date, family meal, lunch, etc.

  • Stephanie Henry

Ordered clams over linguini in red sauce but when it arrived it was in white sauce, I was very disappointed. However they went above and beyond by sending out another complete order of everything. That was great customer service and the red sauce really makes the dish.

  • William Berdine

A friend told me to get the baked clams.... It was a very good decision. One of my favorite places to go and it is BYOB also
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Otrebla Tejómez

The mussels were Dynamite Carbonara sauce was rich in flavor Server was so welcoming and seemed genuinely humbled to be serving my date and I. Only thing missing was a bottle of wine. Next time for sure, as this cozy lil establishment is BYOb

  • Abigail Dolan

I went to this restaurant with a friend to celebrate her birthday. Food is Italian American, not really authentic. I was disturbed by some nasty comments from the folks who work in the kitchen. I went to the restroom and those jerks were

  • Alex H

Food is excellent, service is very good too and the prices are reasonable. You get a home-cooked meal flavor with authentic Italian ingredients. Cozy place too !
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$30–50

  • D Al

Very average. The women busing tables and filling water did more than my actual waiter. I lit dont even write reviews but I’d rather go somewhere else for italian. S/o to all the women working here and the cooks lol yall do all the work

  • Mark Buban

I love this place! Great food! And I like that I see a lot of the same faces working there since first dining here in 2006, that speaks to the owners, and how they treat their staff! Keep doing what you're doing, and I'll be back soon!

  • Denise Olhava

The food was wonderful! We sat outside and did notice many people picking up to go orders. Staff was efficient and pleasant. I will definitely be back.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30

  • Frank Bianco

This place brought back memories of my youth, eating Sunday Dinner at my Grandmother's house. This is truly Italian home cooking. Favorites:. baked clams, stuffed artichokes, pasta fegoli..... just pick anything off the menu.

  • Phaithe Norman

Stumbled upon this Italian restaurant and deli and was floored! The sandwiches are amazing.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Donna Frieri

Had the grilled veggie plate. Nice old world atmosphere. Wish they could serve wine
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Mike S

Was a favorite when I lived in the South Loop, and is always a destination to eat when visiting Chicago. Great authentic food and you can’t beat the atmosphere.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Alfredo Alvarez

Saturday 4:30 pm was a perfect time to get there. Large portions. The perch vesuvio not the greatest. Maybe if it were grilled. Service was good but they are not used to Mexican patrons.We saw it on Check Please.

  • Cristina B (chicagocristy)

The food was amazing and service was great. It's BYOB what else can we ask for?
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Marti Travels

Small place but good food. Avoid the table by the front door. As much as Gio's does its best with double doors, customers will still hold both doors open.
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4

  • Josh Orlan

We've been driving from Skokie every few weeks to Bridgeport solely to eat at Gio's. The food is outstandingly delicious and the staff very hospitable. If you want a delicious Italian meal dine here now!

  • Brian Cho

Gio's has amazing sandwiches! They'll load up the mild / hot peppers on them too. It can get crazy oily and messy but it's delicious. I've never been disappointed when grabbing my lunch from here. More

  • Kathy Leiser

Great meal. Always one of our favorites when we are in Bridgeport ❤️
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4

  • Jeanette Giffey

As always excellent service. Food was perfect and made to our taste. Always great to get back into the neighborhood. Last time have the homemade pasta with spinach and ricotta. Absolutely fabulous!

  • Ann Randell

Not only is the food exceptional, the outside seating quaint. Some neighborhood women dining separate from us bought our dinner..just a lovely experience, Bridgeporter's have a generous heart!

  • Scott Wiley

Huge selection of meals and sandwiches hot and cold to grab and go made fresh. From just a quick lunch or dinner to stuff to make meals. Everything authentic Italian absolutely delicious!

  • Hugo Cano

I absolutely recommend this restaurant, I wanted to try something different but they just surprised me!! I will return here for sure!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Kha'Azraa Taylor

The staff was kind . The sub on the other hand was mediocre . I had an Italian sub and added giardiniera and came to $14 of basic 8 inch ... I could have went to subway at this point . .

  • Ray C

One of my favorite neighborhood restaurant in Bridgeport. BYOB. Service was attentive. Feels family.
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • Eddie Moreno

Great food. The quality is exceptional. Bread is soft and fresh. Pasta dishes outstanding. Services is downtown quality. Great spot for a great lunch. Average dinner bill in 2o$.

  • lupe tapia-gutierrez

Food is amazing! Homemade taste all the way! My kids loved it and I have 1 thats a picky eater especially when it comes to restaurant chicken parmesan BUT he devoured it! :)

  • TSC Rowe

The food is absolutely amazing I highly recommend this place for people traveling in and out of Bridgeport. Also the staff are amazing and friendly.
Service
Take out

  • Maya Kommineni

Tried this Italian eatery based on check please recommendation. Greeted with a luke warm reception. The waitress was no smiles, barely answered

  • Cory Overstreet

Love Gio's. 1st time in a while, but it did not disappoint.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • JOSE Lopez

Food is great!!! Nacho is amazing. Never dissapoints. Byob
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

  • Maureen Borelli

Wonderful local Italian deli/restaurant!
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

  • Victor Manuel

This pasta dish was under the specials of the day, very well done. Loved the dish. Great food!

  • Kevin Berry

From the outside, Gio's looks like a corner store. Inside its a little bit different.

  • Xavier Quintana

The best Italian restaurant in the Bridgeport Neighborhood

  • sandra colwell

Delicious homemade food. Big portions and friendly staff.

  • J P

Food was good, not great. But service was very slow.

  • Tawna Holliday

Delicious & fresh sandwiches. Friendly service.

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