PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAGino’s Italian restaurant is a family run business that originally began with Sayad and Deborah Barakat over 23 years ago. Their son and daughter, Simon and Domonique have since taken over the reigns and enhanced the business over the last ten years. It occupies a great position not far from the ferry terminal on the Brisbane River and a stone’s throw from Racecourse Road in Hamilton. Being a family-run business the staff are very friendly and personable, which definitely explains the loyalty of repeat customers.
The restaurant itself is relaxed with a casual ambience, more a family restaurant or one in which to catch up with friends than to impress a romantic companion. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes from seafood, to veal and of course pizza and pasta. Try the Tuscani calamari on garlic bread, or the veal (or eggplant) parmigiana topped with Napolitana sauce and mozzarella. Choose from a variety of pastas such as bolognaise, carbonara or marinara and don’t overlook the pizzas. The closed special consists of pepperoni, ham, bacon, mushrooms and olives and is then folded, lightly brushed with garlic oil and topped with a tomato sauce – real comfort food at comforting prices.
Meagan Hepworth