Genos Trattoria & Chophouse - (Near Waterloo, IL)

1 /5 Jeff H: We’ve gone here a few times and the food better than the other limited options in the area. Tonight was our last visit. The owner informed us that next time we’d be charged $5 just to split an entree. We share because the portions are more than we can eat together and all they need to do is bring an extra plate. When I asked about it, she cited “labor costs.” I pointed out that we’re repeat customers who always order drinks and appetizers, so we’re not occupying a table without associated revenue. Her response made it clear she didn’t care whether we came back or not. Here’s the thing, this place is rarely busy. We were there last week during prime dinner hours and there was literally one other table. They act like you need reservations, but the restaurant is almost always half empty. The food is decent (not spectacular) but that doesn’t justify nickel-and-diming customers who’ve been supporting you. We spend good money here, and this policy feels like punishing people for the crime of not being able to finish their oversized portions. We won’t be back, and we’ll be letting our friends know about this policy and suggesting they don’t visit the restaurant either.

5 /5 Omid Harandi: The manager, Nicco, handled a significant delay in food preparation very well on a very busy night. He lifted our low spirits by offering a bottle of wine and reducing our bill, which we truly appreciated. Taylor also contributed to a warm and welcoming atmosphere during the evening. Problems can happen anywhere, but what truly matters is how they are handled—and Nicco’s professionalism and care reflect greatly on both the restaurant and himself.

4 /5 Deborah Weber: The dish I had was disappointing as there was very little sauce on the pasta. The pasta was very thick and unappealing. Cant think of the name except Bolagnese...spelling bad. Everyone LOVED their choices so everyone, please go to Genos for a delicious dinner. The steak was perfect for o NV e of the dinners.

4 /5 C Latine: Very good start as they tweak things to settle in. Adding the menu online here would be a good start. And eventually a website too. Food experience varied for our larger table. Excellent bar service including runner for drinks at the table. Overall attentive wait staff on a busy Saturday night. More food Strip steak special was a bit fatty for some, although that can be personal choice. Sea bass was a bit salty and could use bigger lemon for squeezing. Pasta dinners were fine. No Caesar salad available because they ran out of dressing early on a Saturday. More on service (from folks who’ve worked in the industry) Clear plates from guest tables with diners rather than empty tables first. Atmosphere definitely busy night. The decor is nice and comfortable. General feedback would like some vegetarian choices on menu for diners with that preference aside from salads. Steak photo didn’t turn out but other menu items in photos. Overall happy to have a fine dining choice in town, looking forward to continuing success and growth.

2 /5 Deanne DeGeare: We were really looking forward to our visit, but unfortunately the experience fell short. Our waiter never came back to check on us after the food was served, which made it hard to address any concerns in the moment. The chicken piccata lacked flavor, and the veal marsala was mediocre at best. Overall, the meal just didn’t live up to expectations, especially for the price point. Hopefully this was an off night, but it wasn’t an experience we’d be eager to repeat.