rss feedRestaurant Review: Gus and Guidos
Gus and Guidos is quote “A Greek Italian Experience.”
An experience is definately what you get when you walk through the doors and sit down to have dinner at this establishment. My experience has left me wanting to drive into Toronto and get the taste of this terrible meal from my palette by eating at a actual Italian or Greek restaurant. Brantford has a long long way to go before it’ll have a Italian or Greek restaurant. It begs the question of why would you fused this two cuisines? Greek and Italian are in my opinion, two of the great cuisines in this world. So I can see the appeal of trying to fuse both under one roof but from this “experience” I now know that it should never happen, or be left in better, more capable hands. I’m really lost on where to begin, but i suppose that I should just got back to the beginning.
It’s a Sunday night at 8:00pm. I wasn’t in the mood to cook after what I can only say was “one of those days” in the kitchen, you know those days, the ones where anything that could go wrong does. Anyway, we (my mother and I) were greeted with a friendly hello and shown to our table and given the wine list. Looking around in the dimly lit dining room, you can see busts of Greek Gods, and paintings of Italy. Nice modernistic atmosphere. The menu is split up into Hot Starters, Cold Starters, Pasta and Pizza, Specialty Dishes, and Steaks, Chops & Ribs. All those sections are then subdivided into dishes that are either Greek or Italian. All the staples that you expect to see from both cuisines are there, soulvaki, antipasto, mousakka, Greek salad, the classic Italian pizzas and pasta. Which gives you a 5 page menu. Now with that wide selection my first thought is, how good could each plate be, really? I didn’t have to wait long to find out the answer, not good.
We were given a 3 piece spread while we decided what we wanted. One was a mashed garlic and potato spread, extra virgin olive oil with balsamic, and the third was a seafood spread. I could use a much more articulate vocabulary but all 3 just plain sucked. Who would ever serve a seafood spread at a restaurant, I mean come on. Alarm bells were going off in my mind. If I had known before hand I wouldn’t have gotten the Fiesty Feta to start, it was feta, kalamata olives and herbs that were “whipped” into a spread. But really it was pureed to its death and then drowned in mayo. I think I’m getting sick writing this review.
For my main I got the beef tenderloin soulvaki. The dish came with Greek salad, rice, Greek style roast potatoes, and tzatziki. The Greek salad was drenched in a vinegar dressing, it was hard to taste anything of the vegetables in it. The Greek potatoes were served cold, now I’m not exactly sure what Greek style roast potatoes means, but I don’t think you serve them cold. The rice was OK. The beef tenderloin was done to medium, seasoned well, and had a nice flavour. Now the tzatziki, which i thought was fool proof, was completely basterdized. “Crushed cucumber garlic and fresh Greek herbs folded into yoghurt,” nothing about this description they give you is true. The whole thing is pureed together, there are no fresh herbs, oops sorry Greek herbs, and its not seasoned. If I wasn’t so disappointed about the meal, I’d have been angry.
There is so much more to say, but it’s just not worth it. It only makes me wish I was back in Toronto where I could get either cuisine at a whole new, better, level. I just have to say that this was a Epic Fail at a Greek Italian Experience.
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Sorry, Bonnie but I feel that i have to point out a couple things with your comment. One, I do not work in Brantford, by extension I don’t work at Al Dente’s; I haven’t even been to that restaurant. Two, how can you say that Gus and Guido’s is fine dining? There wasn’t even a cloth on the table, so I have to question your definition of fine dining. I think you are right about the coexistence of restaurants, but I have to say that it shouldn’t matter what time of day or the day that a person goes to a restaurant, the food has to be executed properly, and what I was given wasn’t. Never mind an individuals open or closed mind, my mind at the time was hungry and tired, but when I left I was hungry, tired, and disappointed.
Just to clarify, Al Dente is the alias of the author who is in no way, shape or form affiliated with the Italian restaurant you speak of. Sorry about the misunderstanding!
I apologize, my name is just that a nick name I chose to use and am not in any way related to the restaurant, apologies again Bonnie.
Al Dente, wow, such strong opinions. Gus and guidos is probably the best thing thats happened to Brantford. I think its giving our overprice keg a run for their money. How can you make such shallow comments based on your own opinion. There are so many people that I have talked to that love this place. Its blowing our east side Mario’s out of the water. Hey I bet you didnt even know that most of east side food is frozen and then reheated. Did you know that Gus and guido food is made fresh each day. Nothing compares. Its come very close to the authentic that I have been raised on. My Italian back ground has allowed me the pleasure of tasting many of these dishes the way my mother made it. Thats why everyone keeps going back. You cant fool people with frozen food. Im sure you were raised eating bland and boring food, thats why , in my opinion I dont think your quailified to even comment in this revue. Either way, your negative revue will not tarnish the reputation of this place. You cant fool the people, thats why their is always a huge line up waiting to get in. Great job Gus and Guidos, looking forward to your second restuarant opening. Your going to out grow this one real soon.
Just before Al Dente wades in here with his thoughts, I would like to point out that taking shots at someones upbringing is not really in the spirit of enjoying (or not enjoying) food. We try to keep our blog focused on all things food related. I am going ahead and publishing your comment on the grounds that it challenges AD’s formed opinion which can only lead to further discussion. I would suggest, however, that in the future, kindly remember that this blog is only about food and not something to launch a personal attack from. I would also add Al Dente is a very talented professional chef whose food and work ethic is an inspiration to me on a daily basis. Further, I am sure his review, like any other review, was merely a reflection of his experience at Gus & Guidos. The reality of the restaurant business is that not every diner has a wonderful experience despite the restaurants reputation or their best efforts to ensure otherwise.
Thank you for taking the time to comment and I look forward to hearing back from you.
Admin said it all, not everyone has a great experience at well established restaurants or restaurants that are just beginning to get their footing. I am sure that Gus & Guidos welcomed change from The Keg and East Side Marios and the like but the fact is that that not everyone is going to have a stellar experience at a restaurant.
Gus & Guidos menu is a large one to say the least, on top of that, you add the fact that they want to fuse Greek and Italian cuisine under one roof and well…cracks will show in the food. If they believe like you, Joe, believe in the food they make, why then wouldn’t they have opened restaurants solely devoted to either cuisine and elevate their skill, and the food in Brantford?
I want nothing more than the food in Brantford and the surrounding area to grow and change for the good. The Chefs and foodies in Brantford are at the forefront to do just that.
Italian food is not their forte as anyone who has tried anything other than the lasagna can attest. Customer service there is the number one priority unless the customer complains or disagrees with the manager, and then he is rude and ignorant (the older chef) I used to love this restaurant until I had the audacity to complain about carbonara being bland and sticky. Like I said the Chef is pleasant and friendly, unless you complain and then he is just nasty. I have tried some of their other dishes and they are tasty enough, but because the Chef is the way he is, I won’t be supporting this local restaurant. I’ll go to Al Dente’s or John Peel or Speakeasies if I want to support local.
Well…..
My wife and I made our way to G&G’s the 1st month they opened and I would say our experience was bang on with AL DENTE’s Review…
We dine out as often as we can find a babysitter and havent been back…UNTIL TONIGHT, we have heard nothing but good things from any and everyone…
I am no expert but I enjoy enough fine dining to know that SPEEKEZZIES, LA CATENELLA (ST George) are head and shoulders above AL DENTES, EAST SIDE MARIOS and so far I would say G&G’s…
I am going in with an open mind and a table of 4 …
WISH ME LUCK!
I have had the opportunity to eat at a number of Italian and Greek restaurants in the fair city of Brantford including Al Dente’s. This past week I found myself dining in Brantford’s newest fine dining establishment Gus and Guido’s. Contrary to your review I was very impressed. The service was excellent, the food delivered in a timely manner, and extremely pleasing to my pallet. This eatery comes highly recommended by a number of people that I work with. most of whom are Italian.
I can’t help but wonder if your recent comments are somewhat jaded considering that you are the only other Italian restaurant in the city that is comparable, and I can’t help thinking you are perhaps feeling a little threatened, since you have had the market cornered for a number years. Unlike the numerous pizza joints and coffee shops that Brantford is overrun with there is room for both of your restaurants to coexist and prosper. Perhaps you should make another visit to their restaurant , and bring an open mind instead of a closed one this time.