Reviews & Ratings for Gondolier On Pearl

12/17/09

Bland, Slow, and Unimpressive

by KeeOEFD at Citysearch

We entered the Gondolier with high expectations. The website was nice, the location was convenient, and the place looked nice from the outside. We were seated promptly and served drinks.

That's when our nightmare began.

We waited quite some time before the waitress would even take our order. We tried to brush it off. It was a little busy after all. Then we waited another thirty minutes. No food was served, and our drinks ran dry. The waitress was nowhere to be found. Finally, the bartender, the one efficient employee in the entire restaurant, took pity on us and brought us refills. After fifty agonizing minutes, our appetizer was finally served. It was flavorless and boring, but we hardly noticed since we were so hungry. Then we waited another twenty minutes. In the meantime, the waitress disappeared again, leaving the poor bartender to pick up the dishes from the appetizer. Our pasta was finally served, and we were hoping it would be worth our wait of well over an hour. However, we were terribly disappointed. The pasta wasn't even hot. The sauce was bland and serving it lukewarm did nothing to help it. It would have been better if it had been from a can. The waitress offered to sprinkle parmesan cheese over our pasta, but then she dropped the utensils. We could hardly eat any of the food it was so bad. Our original plan was to order dessert, but we decided that we had endured enough for one evening. After paying for our overpriced meal, we left, thoroughly unsatisfied.

To make a long story short, I would not reccommend the Gondolier to my worst enemy.

• Pros: Quick seating, quick booze service
• Cons: Bland food, disgusting bathrooms, Slow food service

03/06/09

Unimpressed

by Giggles13 at Citysearch

For a place that boasts fresh made noodles, they are not that tasty. The food is mediocre and the sauce needs a kick.

Service was excellent. I would give 3.5 stars if it let me because of the service.

To date it IS the best Italian food I have had in Boulder... but that is not saying much because most Italian food in Boulder is horrendous. Worth going just for the service.

• Pros: Excellent Service
• Cons: Mediocre food

02/24/08

taste like K rations

by 424211 at Citysearch

we tried for the first and last time.

this place is designed for tourist only.

No one in there right mind would ever go back again.

The food was sooooooooooo bad we left with the leftovers in hand, thinking we could mix with some home made sauce we had at the house, but decided to throw in the trash.

.

• Pros: lots of glass windows to people watch
• Cons: some of the worst food in boulder

02/22/08

not bad for the price

by sbtm25 at Citysearch

They quickly seated a group of 6 on a friday night, service was prompt and considerate, even with all our special dietary requests. the food was average to very tasty, the alfredo and seared salmon were excellent. For the price I would recommend this as a very clean, slightly fancy place good for taking the parents.

• Pros: nice atmosphere, large portions, good price
• Cons: can be loud, food a little bland

05/08/07

worst restaurant - everything tastes like it is from a can

by john4545r at Citysearch

I am surprised to read the postive reviews, and wonder if relatives of the owner or employees wrote them. I have given this restaurant a chance twice, and was forced to go there a thrid time. All of the pasta dishes are mediocre - at best. The marinara sauce does not tatse like it is made with fresh tomatoes, and instead tatses like it was poured from a can, with a sprinkling of dried spices. Primos is much better in Boulder, and Carmines on Penn is amazing if you are in Denver. Olive Garden is better than this place.

• Pros: good location; nice wait staff
• Cons: bad food

01/11/07

best dinner all week!

by sidandsophia at Citysearch

i went along with my bf on his business trip to boulder/denver last week and so we got to sample a little bit of everything boulder has to offer. by far, cafe gondolier was my favorite! everything from appetizer to dessert was delicious - calamari was just-right-crispy, tomato/gorgonzola/basil soup was super creamy, the garlic knots were indeed garlicky, and the broiled salmon over spinach salad i had was done perfectly. and the sangria! we had two glasses each. we managed to have dessert, too, cheesecake and tiramisu. apparently, they do all you can eat spaghetti, but we didn't partake. we'd definitely go back if we're ever in denver again.

• Pros: sangria, bread rolls, service

The menu's piece de resistance is the spaghetti, or "spag" as those in the know call it.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
Gondolier's digs on Pearl are a far cry from its old home on 28th and Valmont. The rug art and chandelier remain, but with its dim lighting and high ceilings, the new space is a bit more refined. Homemade al dente noodles are topped with the delectable sauce of your choice: tomato, marinara, mushroom or oil and garlic. Other highlights are the mushrooms marinara appetizer, chicken Parmesan and gigantic calzones.

05/12/06

Good and well-priced

by andersnalaser at Citysearch

Gondolier is a pleasant place to share good food at a good price.

01/04/06

spaghetti nights

by greekaesop at Citysearch

i highly reccomend going on a spaghetti night, that is tuesday or wednesday, because they have all you can eat home-made spaghetti that is absolutely incredible. abd the best part is, its only $5. other nights they tend to be on the more expensive side, but their food is still good.

• Pros: cheap spaghetti, nice atmosphere, good food
• Cons: no reservations (t&w), slow servicewhen busy, bad parking