ZipPicks Awards
Best Date Night Steakhouse in Williamsburg
Master Critic Review
Giando on the Water
7.6
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Birthday & Celebration Central
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Open since the mid-1980s, Giando on the Water is an old-school Italian restaurant and event venue perched over the East River with panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and bridges. While much of its business is weddings and banquets, locals still use the dining room for throwback steak-and-pasta date nights where the view does as much work as the New York shell steak.
Must-Try Dishes:
New York Shell Steak, Penne alla Vodka, Grilled Salmon Dijon
Scores:
Value: 6
Service: 7.4
Consistency: 7.2
Food Quality: 7.7
Atmosphere: 9
Cultural Relevance: 8.2
What makes it special: A decades-old waterfront Italian dining room where classic steaks and red-sauce plates come with floor-to-ceiling skyline views.
Who should go: Couples prioritizing sweeping views over cutting-edge cooking.
When to visit: Golden hour into dusk for bridge views and city lights.
What to order: New York Shell Steak, penne alla vodka, grilled salmon.
Insider tip: Call ahead to request a window table facing the bridges—on clear nights it’s one of the more dramatic old-school steak date settings in the zip.