Gigi's Cucina Povera
981 Kenmore Ave, Kenmore NY 14217
$$
Italian
Recommended
New
Editor's Pick
Private Room
Outdoor Seating
GiGi’s Cucina Povera is a locally owned restaurant serving the freshest of local ingredients in a Sicilian country atmosphere. Our culinary philosophy is “Making great food with Simple, Fresh, Local, and Seasonal ingredients, by transforming humble ingredients into dishes that are more than the sum of their parts. To Taste Sicilian Food is to taste the ages, to sense nature, to feel the people, and to know and love the land. Sicilian foods are influenced by Greek, Arabic, French, Italian, and Spanish cuisines, resulting in exotic varied and exceptional cuisine — at Gigi's Cucina Povera.
Reservations
Business Info
- Address: 981 Kenmore Ave, Kenmore NY 14217
- Cross Street: Hiler
- Cuisine: French | Greek | Italian | Mediterranean | Pasta | Seafood |
- Cost: | Inexpensive
- Category: Casual Dining
- Star Rating:
- Reservations: Recommended
- Dress Code: Casual
- Meals Served: Dinner |
- Parking: Street | Private Lot |
- Payment Options: VISA | Amex | MasterCard | Discover | Cash | Debit |
- Corkage Fee: 20.00 |
- Website: https://gigiscucinapovera.com/
- Phone: (716) 877-8788
- Features: Catering Services, Live Entertainment, Outdoor Seating, Private Room, Takeout Available, Lounge / Bar, Healthy Options, Chef’s Table, Farm-to-table,
- Occasion: Romantic Dining, Meet for a Drink, Quiet Conversation, Special Occasion, Vegetarian, Date Night,
Photos
Business Hours
Reservations Available
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Dinner - Restaurant 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
- Thursday
- Dinner - Restaurant 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
- Friday
- Dinner - Restaurant 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.
- Saturday
- Dinner - Restaurant 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.
- Sunday
- Closed
Customer Reviews & Ratings
4.83 out of 5 stars based on 439 votes
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 23, 2023
Marcia G.
Great St. Joseph's Table!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Feb 18, 2023
Lynn B.
I love going to Gigi's for a reasonable meal that feels high end with delicious touches like outstanding housemade bread with oil and tapenade. Meal started with lemon drop martini, always just right. The house salad is unusually good with pickled red onion and light flavorful dressing. The main course of eggplant parm was done just as I like it, with crisp breading and high quality cheese, with side of pasta. Tiramisu was served beautifully, and the serving was generous size, easily big enough to share. Atmosphere is low key, with attentive wait staff and quiet ambience. Excellent experience.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 9/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Feb 14, 2023
Nik S.
Excellent as always!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Jan 01, 2023
Bonnie A.
Great food and experience. Love Gigi's
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 9/10
- Value: 8/10
Oct 13, 2022
Joan T.
The food and ambience were wonderful. Can't wait to return
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Oct 13, 2022
Rosanne F.
Perfect dinner to celebrate my birthday!!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Aug 25, 2022
Rafael L.
excellent food and time
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Aug 02, 2022
Robert P.
The food was fantastic. The service was excellent. I asked the waiter for a recommendation from the wine list. I told him what I liked in a red wine. I was leaning toward one of the chianti's on the list but instead went with his suggestion. I'm glad I did because his suggestion was perfect. The value of the entire meal was well worth it. It was the first time we were there but it won't be the last. I have also told many people about the delicious food & reasonable prices. GiGi's is a hidden gem in Buffalo, NY. Absolutely Loved it!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Jun 12, 2022
Sue F.
Great food, service & experience. We’ll be back!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 24, 2022
Ann H.
Fabulous!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 23, 2022
Linda C.
Great night! Food excellent, service wonderful!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 9/10
- Service: 9/10
- Ambience: 9/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 23, 2022
Renee W.
Hello
We had a table of 10.
I asked for the separate room but didn't get it so I could only talk to 2-3 people when dining.
I don't normally as see them. The service was excellent. The food delicious except the Cardones were over cooked & I missed the artichokes, my favorite. I would pay alittle more to bring them back. Last year's menu I loved. Yr deserts are wonderful.
Overall you & yr staff are excellent . You put alot of pride into yr work. Bravo !
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 8/10
Mar 23, 2022
Frank A.
The St. Joseph's Table food was very good. The service was outstanding - Sarah was our server and she did a terrific job of attending to us. Plan on going back next year for this holiday feast again.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 23, 2022
Don M.
Great food, great experience. My favorite restaurant
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 01, 2022
Rosalie M.
The food was amazing , the staff is always very pleasant .
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Feb 18, 2022
Jacqueline R.
Outstanding food !!! Great evening!! Great fun!!!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Feb 11, 2022
Geri S.
Everything was wonderful! We will definitely be back!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Feb 08, 2022
Tim S.
Absolutely one of our favorite restaurants.. wonderful staff and delicious food!!!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Jan 22, 2022
Mickey M.
We had a wonderful dinner and food was delicious!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 2/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Jan 13, 2022
Vic K.
Great local Italian restaurant. Highly recommend.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Jan 09, 2022
Katherine L.
First time to Gigi’s and wouldn’t hesitate to come back or recommend to anyone. I truly enjoyed the good, the ambience and the service. Look forward to a return visit soon.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Dec 16, 2021
Paula H.
A delightful experience from start to finish..as usual!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 7/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Dec 11, 2021
Ursuline B.
Server was excellent, but service was a bit slow. Overall, great experience!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Dec 11, 2021
Theresa M.
GiGi's is a gem of a restaurant Service , Food and Atmosphere were excellent!!!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Nov 26, 2021
Rose T.
Excellent food and service. Highly recommend!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 7/10
- Value: 10/10
Nov 20, 2021
Ursuline B.
I love this place. My sole issue is acoustics at times make it hard to hear table mates-- not terribly so, just intermittently. But overall I truly enjoy this restaurant
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 8/10
Oct 17, 2021
Paula P.
Loved everything. Will definitely be back!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Sep 26, 2021
Paula H.
We visit Gigi's regularly with friends and family. The food is always delicious and the service never disappoints!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Sep 13, 2021
Diane T.
1st time there and it was a wonderful experience! Food and service was great !
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Sep 12, 2021
Jennifer D.
It was our first time here and we will definitely be back. We don’t get out much and it was our 15th anniversary so we wanted to try someplace new while staying close to home. This was absolutely perfect in every way. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. The food was delightful and the service was outstanding. We loved the cozy, rustic decor too!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Sep 05, 2021
Stephanie C.
We love Gigi’s! Everything we order is delicious. The staff are so helpful and friendly.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Aug 24, 2021
Tara L.
Huge portions and amazing food.. excellent service
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Aug 15, 2021
Yvonne D.
Delicious food great bartender Jeff and waitress Sarah. Both very personalable and knowledgeable about drinks and the food menu…
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Jul 29, 2021
Tony B.
Excellent service, food was delicious. First experience for my four friends and they thoroughly enjoyed it.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 8/10
- Value: 10/10
Jun 12, 2021
Deborah A.
Our first visit and it was soooo good. We will definitely be back. The menu has great variety, too.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Jun 11, 2021
Lynn Z.
Gigi's Cucina Povera is my favorite low-key go-to restaurant. It's relaxed but feels like we're "going out to eat" and it includes gracious service, delicious food, and very reasonable prices for the quality. Two things that stand out every time are the bread board (served with olive oil and a hummus/tapenade) and their house salad... In many restaurants those things are unremarkable sides, but at Gigi's they're unusually good and something I look forward to. I've never had a meal I didn't enjoy. Great place to go for dinner.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
May 23, 2021
Ann H.
We wouldn’t change a thing!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Apr 05, 2021
THOMAS R.
great meal.everyone had a diffrent dish and they were all enjoyed.nice wine list not super expensive.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 20, 2021
Linda C.
Amazing St. Joseph Day dinner!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 9/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 18, 2021
Mike S.
Everything was wonderful! Server was a bit more lively, helpful, talkative with other tables than with ours, but she was still nice and helpful to us. The owner and chef came around to every table to see how things were and all was tremendous: food, ambiance, value, service, and our overall experience. Thanks for a wonderful St Joseph Table Feast.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 18, 2021
Jennie m.
The best home cooking. Every dish was perfectly presented and hot. The food closely resembled my Mother's Sicilian cooking. I was reminded of my aunt's Joseph's table on the west side during WWII and they were incredible.
Thank you Maryann and staff. Here's to next year.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 06, 2021
Pam C.
Our first time dining out in over a year was fantastic. Our expectations were so high that we thought we must be disappointed but everything was wonderful. The service, food, wine and ambiance were all excellent. We felt very comfortable with the necessary precautions taken to dine inside and they did not detract from our dining experience. I am so glad that we choose Gigi's as our first dine-in restaurant experience since Covid-19 began.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Feb 19, 2021
David B.
Well worth coming from Bflo
For a special dinner
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Feb 15, 2021
Kim S.
Absolutely a wonderful time.. first time going and we will be back!!!
- Overall: 9/10
- Food: 7/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 8/10
- Value: 8/10
Jan 12, 2023
Michael N.
Very nostalgic to visit this restaurant as we used to go there 40 years ago when it was the "Hourglass". Service was friendly and efficient. Drinks were excellent. Fried calamari appetizer, excellent. Escargots in mushroom caps were pretty boring, not much to say about them. Main dishes, linguine with clam sauce and Midnight pasta were not much to get excited about. They both needed more effort, even if it was to put some color on the plate with fresh chopped parsley or chives. The clam sauce was basically some canned clams. I was expecting better, maybe a few fresh clams to set it off? We still had a nice evening.
- Overall: 9/10
- Food: 9/10
- Service: 9/10
- Ambience: 8/10
- Value: 8/10
Aug 22, 2022
Craig C.
Delicious Chicken Parm & Eggplant Parm, Chicken soup just like Grandma's. Very nice place for our anniversary dinner.
- Overall: 9/10
- Food: 9/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 22, 2022
Suzanne A.
Food was delicious, portion size good
My only comment ( not a real complaint) I wish the bread would have been more Italian, st Joseph’s?
Thank you for a wonderful evening
- Overall: 9/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Feb 01, 2022
Steven C.
Really enjoyed dinner..everything was great
- Overall: 9/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 9/10
- Value: 8/10
Oct 09, 2021
Don P.
Always great food. Made use of the patio this time. Everything excellent!
- Overall: 9/10
- Food: 9/10
- Service: 9/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
May 27, 2021
Tony C.
Another excellent dining experience at Gigi's Cucina Povera.
- Overall: 9/10
- Food: 9/10
- Service: 9/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
May 24, 2021
Frank D.
Very nice place, small dinning room which I love and the food is very good
- Overall: 9/10
- Food: 9/10
- Service: 9/10
- Ambience: 7/10
- Value: 8/10
Apr 19, 2021
Ellen W.
Service was good and food was delicious
- Overall: 9/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Feb 11, 2021
Jessica W.
Restaurant was very clean. Cozy setting. Loved the clams casino!
- Overall: 8/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 8/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 05, 2022
jim k.
Great food, but i dont think heat was on.
- Overall: 8/10
- Food: 8/10
- Service: 6/10
- Ambience: 8/10
- Value: 8/10
Feb 12, 2022
James C.
Food was very good. Service was a little slow as there were only 2 other tables with 2 people at each one, waited almost 20 minutes drinks. First time there so I will give them another try because the food was so good.
- Overall: 7/10
- Food: 5/10
- Service: 7/10
- Ambience: 8/10
- Value: 5/10
Oct 28, 2022
Sandra Q.
Felt rushed. Entree brought out to quickly. Had just started salad. The cod dish was fishy and very small portion of fish. Loved meeting Gigi. Came out to meet diners.
- Overall: 7/10
- Food: 8/10
- Service: 8/10
- Ambience: 8/10
- Value: 8/10
Oct 10, 2022
Megan M.
My only negatives are that the cocktail glasses were a bit undersized and our waitress when M.I.A. for a bit. Otherwise everyone was kind, menu had a good selection, our dishes were great and we enjoyed ourselves.