Gene & Georgetti Restaurant

It’s been a few weeks since I dined at Gene and Georgetti’s but it is still and experience I remember. The Bacon and Blue cheese appetizer was fantastic. My entrée of Chicken Parmesan was wonderful. The portions are very large and the price in on point and a great value. The service was also top notch. This restaurant is now in my regular rotation of favorites.

Stopped by for dinner during Restaurant Week. Started off sharing a bottle of wine (Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio) which was not overly sweet nor too dry. It was a great wine considering it was the least expensive wine on the menu. Soon after our server brought out some crusty Italian bread and bread sticks, accompanied with butter. I ordered off the restaurant week dinner menu — first course was the crab cake (*note this is not a regular dinner menu item). The crab cake was fantastic! It’s served atop a remoulade (maybe ask for it on the side) and lemon wedge. The crab cake had a somewhat crispy exterior and soft flaky interior, which was packed with crab meat. I think it would do well as a regular menu item. My entrée was the 7 oz filet (medium rare) and sauteed spinach. The filet was prepared as expected and delicious! I only used a small dollop of the bearnaise sauce, which was rich and goes so well steak. Equally great was the simple preparation of sauteed spinach in olive oil and garlic. A heaping plate of cottage fries are served along with the entrée for the table to share. Again, simply prepared but tasty and went well with the meal. I chose the cheesecake with berry compote as dessert. I couldn’t determine what fruit the compote was composed of but it was tart, sweet, and delicious. The dessert wasn’t overly sweet, which was a concern of mine.
Service was flawless. Fast and friendly. Your glass of water will never run empty. I’ve heard great things about G&G and expectations were met.

Tried out during Chicago Restaurant Week and had a early dinner. For $ 44 a person it was fantastic! We went with the salad and the sausage and peppers for an appetizer, we each had the broiled filet with spinach (however the spinach was season was amazing!), and tiramisu and the cheesecake for dessert. Absolutely great service and will definitely have to come back!

Restaurant Week Visit 1-​23-​2016
After hearing over and over again by friends and acquaintances about the need to visit this institution which serves some regulars who frequent as often as 6 days a week and have reserved seats, I finally checked it off the list. … I visited during RW and still ordered off the regular menu because everything looked so good and it was reasonably priced a la carte. Lol. But, «my date» ordered one of the RW specials, so it was the best of both worlds… for me at least.
The servers were all men in their white jacket, black tie, black pants and waist apron. Our guy did not write down a single item we ordered, but got it right every time. … The place is huge. Heard there were 500 diners on Saturday night and we were still able to snag a 9:30p reservation with little notice.
Garbage Salad — 5 stars; so frickin’ good.
Julienne Salad — 3 stars; good, but not something I would order again
Filet Medallions w/​peppercorn sauce — 4 stars; nice size, 3 medallions and under $ 26
Chicken Alla Joe — 4 stars /​signature dish. Very good; the potatoes served with it were largely sliced potatoes that tasted like French fries.
Potato Vesuvio– 2 stars; not as good as others but has potential. It was dry as if the seasoning was a rub. Perhaps extra olive oil would kick it up a notch.
Cheesecake w/​Berry Compote — 5 stars; the lightest cheesecake I have ever had and trust me when I tell I have had my share. It was most memorable and an absolute must order item.
Service was great. Constant water refills, stop overs and genuine concern about our needs while dining. … Oh and there was a huge bread basket filled with enough bread to feed the 12 disciples! We did not have any as to make room our meals but it looked delicious.
…Free Valet Parking

Food did not reflect the price they charged. Steaks were ok but when you pay for quality you expect quality. Pasta was horrible. Cool ambiance and was a nice time with friends but the food didn’t do it for any of us. RPM Italian/​steak or a stk any day over this.

I really wanted to love this place. Just about every CEO I have every worked for LOVES this restautant. I always judge an Italian Steakhouse by its seafood and not its steak, esp if seafood is on the menu. Strange, I know. If the calamari is chewy… not a good sign. The calamari was chewy. I was hoping the bread was warm… it was not and had hints of staleness. I also had the baked clams, which were pretty good. It truly has an old school vibe and the service is great, but I was underwhelmed with the menu. Believe it or not, I would go back for the atmosphere and maybe try the dessert. By the way, the bartender makes a heck of a dirty martini! YAY for the stuffed cheese olives!

I’ve gone here many times over the past 20 years and loved it every time. Great food and service. Old style Chicago and old school… Nothing about GGs says «chain.» If you have to ask what it costs, don’t go. And don’t be so fussy if you only can afford to go once… become a regular and relax a bit.

Old School.
An original. Before too long there won’t be any of these places left. Go now for a piece of dining history. Forget about hamburgers and/​or cottage fries. Get a steak, a baked potato and creamed spinach.

My girlfriend and I greeted at the door by name, seated immediately, served best Martinis imaginable followed up by perfect Steaks, cooked medium rare with an amazing crust! A quintessential Chicago dining experience. Old school and just perfect!

Classic restaurant, unfortunately well past its prime. Dinner was fair at best. Live in the city and frequent many places, least favorite place that I have visited. Made the reservation for a guest who wanted to treat, embarrassing results.
I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone

Gene & Georgetti’s fits the perfect Old Style Chicago Steak House, old time bar, packed to the hilt. Service was excellent and food was plenty. There were 3 in our party. Now if you came here for the meats, fish or liver you may be indifferent on your opinion as I was.
We started with the Mussels Marinara which were EXCELLENT, perfectly cooked and the sauce was amazing. For Entrees we had the ½ order Veal Chop, which looked amazing perfectly cooked, but the meat itself was not tender though the taste was very good, it had a lot of tough muscle throughout. Liver and Onions, slight overcooked to diners request and again the taste was there but the liver itself was tough. The Whitefish was bland.
So the only conclusion that I would make from this review is, I would come back to try again for the pasta dishes (any dish with the delicious marinara sauce) and go from there, as the service was excellent and atmosphere fun

My main squeeze and I came here recently to celebrate our two year anniversary. When my boyfriend told me about his plans to bring me here a few weeks before we came, I actually wasn’t too familiar with Gene and Georgetti’s and their menu. Once I looked up the menu online, I got really excited to try this place out. Going to an Italian steakhouse with such a long and rich history in Chicago sounded like a great place to spend a special night.
We arrived almost an hour early, and decided to grab a cocktail at the bar while we waited closer to our reservation time. I had an Old Fashioned, while my boyfriend got a Moscow mule. Both were good drinks and priced the same as most restaurants and bars in the area. When it was still about 30 minutes from our reservation time, my boyfriend asked the host if our table was available. We were immediately led upstairs to sit down and start our dinner.
Our waiter was very well mannered, helpful and attentive during the whole meal. We asked the waiter for menu suggestions, and he said that the prime rib and mostaccioli would be good options. We ended up going with his suggestion. The prime rib came with salad and potatoes. I am not a huge fan of iceberg lettuce (used in the complimentary salad), but I did like their house dressing at least. The prime rib was very much the star of the show. I can’t believe how tender, flavorful and delicious the prime rib was. The 20oz portion is more than enough for two people. My boyfriend and I both had a total of 3 meals each (for leftovers) from the 20oz piece of the prime rib. Considering the fact that the prime rib was less than $ 60, I strongly believe it was a great deal. The mostaccioli was a very ordinary pasta dish. Nothing was special about it because it lacked flavor and had very little sauce on it. Since their specialities are their steaks and sides, I would probably stick with those next time.
Overall, I really enjoyed my evening at Gene and Georgetti’s. This restaurant is perfect for quality service, tender meat, and strong cocktails.

I’m still not sure if I enjoyed my time here. First, I can’t remember the name of this place. Even now while I write this review from my phone app, the name was just on the last screen but I can’t remember it on this screen. But that may speak more of my memory than my experience.
When I first walked in I thought the dining area was rather small but quickly learned there was another room in the back as well as an entire upstairs of seating. Was part of a very large party (maybe 30 people) upstairs; but got there late so was seated at a separate, smaller table so we didn’t block the walkway.
Being part of a large group I expected to wait a while for our food; however, I was pleasantly surprised as the wait was not long at all. The many waiters kept the drinks coming too. I have the mojito which was great and a bottle of Pinot noir which was excellent. The food fell just below my high expectations. I had the signature chicken which was an entire chicken. I think this is meant for two people to share. Parts of the chicken were a little too dry and other parts were moist. The plate was piled high with peppers of all kinds but underneath all of this was the best part of the dish. The sauce. It had just the right amount of a flavorful kick to it. I think the peppers could be taken down a notch and serve the dish with a side of rice would be perfection. Luckily I was also able to try the filet mignon which was so flavorful and cooked perfectly at medium rare.
I guess the major fail for me was the potato/​chips. They sliced an entire potato. The inside slice was still baked potato and the rest were cooked to be like chips. I normally love potatoes any way I can get them. I did not like these at all.
I happened to be the one to get the bill and everything seemed to be reasonably priced for a party of 30. An interesting add on that I liked was that they do not add gratuity for even such a large party, which meant that I get to choose the entire tip. I truly appreciate that as it helps guarantee fabulous service as opposed to a waiter/​waitress knowing that they’re already guaranteed gratuity.
I don’t suppose I’ll return to g&g (still can’t remember the name lol) but I truly appreciated the kind servers and able chefs for our large party. It truly made for a wonderful evening.

Amazing menu in a amazing building.
The fried shrimp are the largest abs tastiest
I have ever had.
Everyone one of us had a great meal

This restaurant came highly recommended from many of the locals we asked when looking for a good steak house. The experience was mixed however… we were seated promptly — having made a reservation. We were seated on the second floor, which was quiet when we arrived but quickly filled up and in the end we felt like sardines in a can! No room to move; many large parties; loud with people talking, laughing, etc. and in general trying to talk over the table next to each other.
I would ABSOLUTELY NOT order the Caesar Salad again, which was an additional $ 6 or $ 7! It was romaine lettuce on a plate with bottled dressing with no flavor. Stick with the salad that comes with the meal. Same goes for the Re-​Baked Potato — pricey and not worth the money. The rest of the food was good — but agree with other reviewer Ruth P. — the bread was stale, the potatoes that are served family style were dry and tasted like they had been sitting under a heat lamp waiting to be picked up. The bone in rib eye was cooked well but not worth the $ 51 price tag that came with it.
The service was efficient — but almost too efficient. Felt a bit rushed and like they wanted the table back!
In the end, the bill came out to about $ 80 per person. Overall, it was a good experience but I would try one of the many other steak restaurants the next time we are in town.

Such a bigger location than expected, sat on the second floor, prompt service after being seated. Staff was efficient, knowledgeable and ready to please.
Ordered the bone-​in ribeye, 20oz strip, grilled asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes — each item excellent. Ribeye was juicy, cooked perfectly (medium) and melted in my mouth. The strip was also juicy, so flavorful and delicious (cooked medium). The grilled asparagus was phenomenal.
Definitely a place to visit again.

I came here with some friends who raved about the place, so we thought, Chicago, splurge a little. We didn’t want to go to a chain and as with many restaurants in Chicago, the best ones are usually old and family owned.
A friend of mine had the ribeye and was ecstatic. Others, not so impressed.
The side dish portions are odd, some being enough to feed the table, others are single portion,
Nonetheless the mashed potatoes and asparagus were really good.
Another example was that a cut of steak was ala-​carte while some of the other meals were big enough for 4 people.
I had a rare filet (I was to tired for a ribeye), and well, it was ok… It was cooked very well inside, but had no seer and I don’t believe it was seasoned at all. This coming from a guy that believes good steak should have salt and pepper and that’s it.
The cuts were very high quality, I just think the preparation could have used more attention but the temperature was good.
I enjoyed the service and found the place very true to the neighborhood and authentic.

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice…
Twice I’ve been to Gene & Georgetti on a Saturday evening with reservations in hand, and twice we had to wait 30-​plus minutes before being seated. It’s a common occurrence at one of Chicago’s «classic» steakhouses (in existence for over 70 years), as the bar is replete with folks waiting for their reservations. Comes with the territory, I guess. The waiting area near the bar is rather small, but the martinis are rather good, so it’s not a total loss. If G&G would just invest in a small outdoor waiting area, where drinks are allowable underneath the rumbling L, I’d be more impressed.
Once we were seated, service was once ambling and slow, once quick on the draw. The steak is fine, signature broiled with a very charred crust that’s almost a caramelized sweetness. The meat isn’t nearly as well flavored, and I heavily suggest medium-​rare because science and also to preserve the natural flavor of the steak.
Actually, I also suggest looking towards the Italian section of the menu. The lasagna, served only on weekends, is dynamite and the size of my head. The chicken is cooked too dry, but both the marsala and vesuvio were well-​flavored. All sides I’ve ordered are wholly forgettable, but I did remember that entrees come with a limp salad, heavily doused in dressing, and far too crispy potatoes.
There’s some good and some bad about one of Chicago’s oldest dining establishments, and thus a three-​star rating seems more than appropriate.

OK being from Newark NJ old school Taverns and what not are not new to me by any means. Highly recommended by many persons for the“Best Steaks” in Chicago. in town for only 1 night free it is off to this long standing landmark to give my honest opinion.
Old Style Bar with multiple rooms and upstairs as people are arriving fast and furious but with plenty of room they are seated quickly. 7:45PM reservation is honered by Anthony who seats us downstairs near the kitchen near the bar in the most high volume walking traffic imaginable. OK. not my choice of seats but off we go.
Menu is a bit of a confusion as they have the PRIME STEAKS section then your basic Itlaian section that looked for promising but we were here for beef so we let it fly. Steaks come with Ice cold Salad with choice of dressing. both Blue Cheese and Italian were good. Bread was OK but got hard quickly almost like it was warmed an stale…
Wine list was very good and not over priced but we settled for a couple of different wines by the glass tonight.
All Steaks come with «Cottage Potatos which were giant sliced and lightly fried pretty good but needed some salt & pepper to spice them up. Also ordered side of mushrooms and sweet peppers which was big for at least 4 persons. Very tasty and great side dish for the steaks.
Steaks… here is where I’m torn between really high rating and them not passing the test. I had a bone in NY Srip Loin… «Charred» MR Plus. Almost no charring at all — entirely too much fat … yet what was left was a very good piece of meat. NOT GREAT mind you just good.
Associate had Rib Eye which also like my NY entirely too much fat no charring as asked for… and quite honestly based on price points even with the quality of what was left over, simply didn’t pass the test of the other Steaks I’ve had over the years.
No coffee or desert were tried… service was brisk, friendly effecient. 3 Stars is all I can go here and to be honest if I returned to Chi Town — This would not be on my list of repeats. Sorry… It was OK just not a have to come back here type place.

Old school Chicago-​style — love it!
Meat lover’s paradise.
Gene & Georgetti’s is a place where a killer slab of cow costs ~$ 50. Plan on $ 100/​per person.
All male wait staff (as far as I could tell.)
Excellent service, hearty food, generous portions and an old-​style atmosphere.
I liked it a lot.
4.5 stars (I like to eat lighter — semi-​limited options)