When you're nostalgic for Italy and Za's crappy excuse for Italian food won't cut it, Gino's is a pretty decent stop for it.\n\nI was here today (and I've been here a few times before this) and generally, here's the reasons where Gino's stops short of getting five stars:\n\n- The lighting is awful. It is very difficult sometimes to see what the menu says if you're in a farther part of the restaurant or if its later at night. I know what they're trying to go for here, but it's not really working and if they raised the lights a little bit--it'd go a long way.\n\n- The service is so-so; the times I've been here, my waitresses have been pretty inattentive and slow about coming and going to the table. I'm not sure if this is because they're pre-occupied with something else, they don't want to interrupt the conversation at the table, or what, but it's actually quite annoying when you're ready for the check and you have to wait 40 minutes for it. When they're there, they're good about some things (like making sure food allergies can be met), but the slowness is very annoying.\n\n- I've had the margarita pizza, tortellini in alfredo sauce, and chicken caesar salad among a few things and while they're good--I could find just as good elsewhere and for cheaper. The prices aren't bad because of the portion--they're bad because it's generally flavoring and food you can find anywhere else in Madison, but better.\n\nI do like Gino's and it is a pretty solid joint; it's not bad for what it has, I just know there's better. But sometimes, better is just too far from my apartment ...
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