Gigi’s has officially arrived in Coquitlam and locals are taking notice. Gigi’s is the latest restaurant from Vancouver’s Kitchen Table Group. This fresh concept will offer upscale Italian fare to the Tri-Cities, serving house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza, curated salumi boards, and a highly anticipated burrata bar. This location features an open kitchen buzzing with energy and enormous floor to ceiling windows. If you ever wanted to know what a plant in a greenhouse feels like, this is your chance. I recently visited for dinner to experience what Gigi’s Coquitlam had to offer. While several dishes hit the mark, one major letdown stood out: the signature burrata bar was sold out for the night. There were a few other service hiccups, however if you’re looking for a solid Italian spot in Coquitlam, Gigi’s is a good option. Check out my full review of Gigi’s Coquitlam below.
Gigi’s Coquitlam – Antipasti and Burrata Bar
Seeing as there was no burrata to be had we had the following to start our meal:
- Mozzarella en Carrozza ($17.00) – deep fried mozzarella sandwich, tomato jam
- Salumi & Formaggi ($32.00) – chef’s selection of 3 cured meats, 3 cheeses, house-made bread, and pickled vegetables
The Mozzarella en Carrozza is like grilled cheese’s cooler, richer cousin. The bread was crisp and golden, encasing molten mozzarella that stretched with each bite. The tomato jam offered a sweet-acidic contrast that balanced the richness nicely. Hearty, nostalgic, and easy to love. It is very heavy, so this is definitely a dish to share with the table.
The Salumi & Formaggi is a fairly standard charcuterie board that comes to the table on a long wooden paddle. Unfortunately, we experienced a bit of a service hiccup with this dish. When it was first delivered, there was no explanation of what was included, something we would have expected given its curated nature. It was immediately apparent there were only two cheeses and three meats, so we asked for clarification. Our server explained they had run out of the third cheese and substituted a fourth meat instead—except only three meats had been plated. It was puzzling that this change wasn’t mentioned when we ordered.
After some back and forth, including the board being taken back to the kitchen, we eventually received the missing fourth meat. Overall, the experience felt disjointed, and the dish itself was underwhelming. The cheeses and meats were served at less-than-ideal temperatures (after being brought back and forth), and the bread leaned oily rather than crisp, making the whole plate feel a little tired.
Gigi’s Coquitlam – Pasta and Pizza
Moving on to our mains we had:
- Frutti di Mare ($35.00) – bigoli nero, shrimp, squid, uni butter, cherry tomatoes
- Alla Vodka ($30.00) – sedani rigati, vodka sauce, parmigiano reggiano
- Prosciutto & Arugula ($30.00) – pomodoro, fior di latte, aged prosciutto, parmigiano reggiano, arugula
The Frutti di Mare was my favourite dish of the night. The squid ink pasta had an intense briny depth, and the uni butter gave it a silky, rich finish.
The shrimp and squid were perfectly cooked, and the tomatoes added a needed pop of sweetness and acidity. Balanced, bold, and beautiful.
The Alla Vodka classic executed with restraint. The ridged pasta held onto the creamy vodka sauce well, and the Parmigiano brought the umami. It wasn’t the flashiest dish on the table, but it was comforting and dependable. A safe choice for anyone wanting something simple yet satisfying.
The Prosciutto & Arugula is a timeless combination done right. The prosciutto was tender and well-aged, providing a salty richness that balanced the peppery arugula. The base of pomodoro and fior di latte kept things fresh and light. The crust leaned on the chewier side which I like and overall it’s a solid pizza. I found a hair in my pizza and our server briefly apologized and took the hair away. The placement of the proscuitto was odd as well. It was laid across the cut pizza slices so it was up to you to try and divide up the proscuitto evenly on your pizza.
Gigi’s Coquitlam – Dolce
For dessert I really wanted to try their Tiramisu and Olive Oil Cake but they were also out of both. We ended up trying their gelato (from Motoretta) and it was solid as always. After we finished, our server let us know that there was tiramisu available now, so we decided to get one to try.
It wasn’t bad – not too sweet with a nice rich marscapone filling. However, I do feel that they rushed serving it as it leaned quite a lot and didn’t seem fully set.
Worth a Try?
Overall, the experience at Gigi’s Coquitlam was mixed. While the food showed flashes of thoughtfulness and creativity, service felt disjointed at times, and the lack of functioning air conditioning made for an uncomfortably warm dining environment. Being sold out of several key items, most notably the much-anticipated burrata bar was definitely disappointing. That said, Gigi’s still brings elevated Italian cuisine to a neighborhood that’s ready for more refined dining, with bold flavors and a stylish, modern setting. Despite the hiccups, the strength of the menu suggests potential, especially if these early growing pains are addressed. If you’re planning a visit, consider going early and be sure to ask about the burrata when making your reservation.
Gigi’s Coquitlam
Address: 2968 Christmas Way, Coquitlam, BC V3C 4E6 (TriCity Pavilion)
Website: https://www.ilovegigis.com/