Gino's Bistro

4624 SW 320th Street, Federal Way

http://www.ginosrestaurants.com/

Photo from Gino's website

Strangely, two of my favorite Italian restaurants are run by non-Italians (and no, I’m not talking about the Olive Garden and the Old Spaghetti Factory, presumably also not Italian-owned). One is a place in Seattle run by a Chinese couple and the other, Gino’s Bistro, is owned by a guy from Peru.

Gino’s is a really perfect little restaurant that makes such great food. It’s casual enough that we can bring our toddler here for dinner or get take-out pizza but it’s also fancy enough that we choose it for date night when we do have a babysitter and can order things like pear ravioli in Marsala cream sauce.

It goes without saying that it’s located in a strip mall, albeit a very small one in a wooded area near a golf course at the end of 320th. However, once you walk through the gas station parking lot to get inside, you would definitely describe the interior as charming and romantic. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve eaten here, from pizza to gnocchi to halibut. The service has always been friendly, as is often the case in family-owned restaurants where your server might also be related to the owner.

This was the first real restaurant we went to when we moved to Federal Way, the first place we went on a date after our daughter was born, one of the first places we took her when she was a baby and the place we go when my parents are in town. Gino’s is my gold standard for Federal Way dining.