Girdy & Birdy Review: Gio’s, Slateford Road

Girdy & Birdy made it along to Birdy’s local, and new favourite Italian restaurant EVER, Gio’s! But did Birdy manage to convert Girdy to worship this Slateford treasure? Read the review to find out!

It was about time Girdy & Birdy paid a mutual visit to Gio‘s, where “no fuss, just good flavour” is the order of the day at this multi award-winning restaurant. It’s a well-established local favourite now, and it’s shocking they haven’t jumped on it sooner – but better late than never!

Birdy: I was really delighted to finally be able to lure Girdy into the tantalising Gio’s, for some of the best damn Italian food in the ‘Burgh at the moment (and I will stand by this statement when it comes to putting together our ‘best of’ Italian food list blog!). And, on a chilly October night, they had exactly what I needed to warm me up and cheer my soul… PASTA!

You can see the fresh pasta being made from the street, thanks to unique placement of the kitchen being right out in the front. That and the multitude of awards the place has earned acts as a very enticing prospect for Slateford locals.

Girdy: Birdy set the bar exceptionally high for this visit after raving about Gio’s for months, and I already remembered their sharp, quirky social media campaigns from their earlier days. Step through the front door from Slateford Road, and it initially appears to be a modest, traditional corner trattoria. Once the team opens that back door, however, you step straight into a buzzing, deceptively expansive dining room. It immediately felt like discovering a well-kept neighbourhood secret.

Vibe

Birdy: Full disclaimer – I have never been to Gio’s where it hasn’t been busy and buzzing, with a good mix of customers young and more mature – tonight was no exception. One tip I’m going to tell you now is that if you want to make sure you get a table at Gio’s, always book in advance!

The restaurant is deceptively large, as the inners of the building have been greatly revamped and switched around from previous iterations – in other words, it’s not just the space you can see in the window. Beyond, through a door at the back, there’s a spacious, warm and inviting dining area that makes up most of the restaurant.

The service is always fast, friendly and chatty, and in previous visits my in-laws have had full conversations in Italian with the servers. It’s a great vibe, doesn’t try too hard, and I always feel very welcome – which is partly why I’m becoming a bit of a regular here. That, and PASTA!!!

Girdy: “Family” is an overused dining cliché, but it fits the atmosphere here. The floor staff exchange easy banter without losing pace; water arrived at our table immediately, and there was zero pressure from the front of house.

The dining crowd is a healthy, multi-generational mix: couples at two-tops, extended families with children gathered towards the back, and full tables of grey-haired locals enjoying a night out. My only practical gripe was entirely self-inflicted: my everyday rucksack didn’t slide neatly beneath the chair frame, meaning it had to live under the table and cost me a little legroom. Otherwise, the seating is comfortable, the room is warm, and the layout works hard without ever feeling crowded.

Food and drink

Birdy: I decided to start tonight with the scallops, which were absolutely delicious and well worth spending a little more on. They’re pan-fried king scallops which come with a parsnip puree, along with nduja and guanciale crumb – yum! They were spot on and extremely tasty.

To my delight, our server seemed to read my mind when she asked if we wanted to share each other’s pasta – because that was exactly my plan! I hadn’t been able to try this with my husband because he can’t eat fish (one benefit of eating with Girdy AKA Business Husband is that he’ll eat almost anything). We both shared the rigatoni nduja carbonara (my absolute fave) and the lobster ravioli. The nduja carbonara is such a standout for me, with perfectly al dente pasta and the best creamy carbonara of my life, with the added bite of the nduja its surefire winner. As for the lobster ravioli, it was so fresh, luxurious and with no skimping on the lobster – it also came with a very generous king prawn.

For my dessert, I opted for the award-winning tiramisu; a decadent and faultless way to end the night. And because I like my coffee dessert with extra coffee (and an additional tiny spoon), I ordered a latte to go with. All perfection, and I left with a very happy tummy.

Girdy: Gio’s is undeniably a three-course restaurant, especially if you order pasta. I kicked off with a daily special: sausage arancini. Arancini often suffer from dry, clotted rice, but these arrived crisp, piping hot, and generously portioned, with a rich tomato sauce and melted cheese.

For the mains, sharing was non-negotiable under Birdy’s master plan. The rigatoni ‘nduja carbonara had genuine heat and a firm bite to the pasta; it leaned noticeably al dente, but that is precisely how fresh handmade pasta should be treated. The lobster ravioli, however, stole the show. These were broad, generous parcels packed with sweet lobster meat rather than filler, bathed in a silky sauce that begged to be mopped clean. Politely dividing the plate was an exercise in pure restraint; I could have eaten two full portions solo.

Dessert brought another victory for the specials board: pineapple cheesecake served in a small glass jar, topped with properly diced fresh fruit rather than a rubbery tinned ring you have to hack apart with a spoon.

We kept to soft drinks, Birdy doesn’t drink, and I was behaving myself, though the wine list looked well-curated and would easily elevate a weekend bill. Watching the blistered pizza crusts head to neighbouring tables also confirmed that a return scouting mission is mandatory.

Things to do in the area

If you find yourself looking for something to do in the region of Gio’s, you could head east along Slateford Road and end up at Fountainpark, where there’s Cineworld, Gravity trampoline park, the Genting Casino, and the crazy golf experience of Volcano Falls is just across the road. If you didn’t want to go as far as that, there’s also Dalry and the Athletic Arms. And, of course, if you go further west instead, there’s Saughton Park, where you can walk off some lunchtime calories.

Another option, but possibly not for this time of year, is rowing on Union Canal. Alternatively, Edinburgh Printmakers is a relatively short walk away, and it’s always good to feed your soul with art along with PASTA!

Overall

Birdy: I had a fantastic time at Gio’s. The food – especially the pasta (and tiramisu) – is next level, and I feel incredibly luck to have this place at my local Italian restaurant.

A few food establishments had tried to fill this spot in Slateford Road, and failed – but when Gio’s first started advertising with their movie-themed posters, something felt different. Many moons on, I’m so pleased it seems to be doing so well, and I think that’s partly down to Gio’s building a strong customer base initially with Gio’s Delivered in Sighthill, long before they opened their restaurant. Their popularity and fun posts on the old ‘Gram also help a great deal!

However, the main thing about Gio’s is the food itself, well worthy of a five-star rating from us.

Girdy: Birdy set the bar sky-high, and Gio’s cleared it cleanly. At 7 PM on a Saturday, there was not a spare chair in the house, with tables constantly being reconfigured for arriving groups, yet the service never felt rushed or chaotic. If booking ahead fails, Birdy’s insider route of ordering takeaway, where several core dishes are notably cheaper, is a smart fallback. With handmade pasta of this calibre, Gio’s makes an immediate, compelling bid for Edinburgh’s top Italian tier.