Girasole celebrates 30 years of authentic Italian cuisine in Atlantic City

For three decades, a modern Italian restaurant has remained strong and independent in Atlantic City, making a name for itself away from the bustle of the casinos.

Girasole was opened in 1992 by Gino Iovino, a native of Naples. Coming from a career in fashion, Iovino has traveled Italy, tasting different cuisines in foodie capitals such as Milan and Florence. When he came to New Jersey, he opened Girasole to share his knowledge with the Shore.

“I’m a sailor, so I knew I had to be by the sea,” Iovino says of his location. In Girasole, one of New Jersey Monthlyof the best restaurants in Atlantic City, Iovino and its Italian chefs create a “modern and refreshing” version of traditional Italian cuisine.

The staff is “one big family,” Iovino says, including her nieces, nephews, sisters and more. This spring, the restaurant celebrates its 30th anniversary with new menus, dishes, happy hours and more.

“It was a roller coaster ride,” says Iovino. “Thirty years later, strangely enough, we are doing better than ever.”

After 30 years, do you still remember opening those doors for the first time?
Gino Iovino: Yes I remember! I was excited but also so scared. Two other Italian restaurants had opened before me and both failed. It was a big risk, but I was excited to bring something new to the area.

Where did you learn to cook?
I didn’t really learn to cook, but I learned to eat. I used to work in the fashion industry and I traveled a lot in Italy, to places like Milan, Florence, Naples. I started to learn about food in these beautiful cities and tasted all these different cuisines. I fell in love and it took me away. I’m not very good at cooking, but I know how food is supposed to taste and how to choose proper, quality ingredients to make decent dishes.

What was your experience in Atlantic City?
Casinos have a different identity, and it’s all about satisfying players and guests. I really wanted to create something original and real outside of that. Our menu is a bit more modern. Even though it is traditional cuisine, we make it new and refreshing.

Do you still visit Italy to find inspiration?
Before the pandemic, I had the chance to travel to Italy three or four times a year. I’m originally from Naples and came here when I was 17. When I opened Girasole, I wanted to bring my knowledge of a healthier and more natural cuisine.

Did you use your experiences in Italy to develop the Girasole menu?
We wanted to bring good quality ingredients. We have Italian chefs who bring a lot of new things to the region. It’s more of a Mediterranean-style cuisine, focusing more on fresh seafood, meats, and gourmet pizzas. We have a bespoke oven made by an Italian mason for our pizzas.

Are you doing anything special for your 30th birthday?
We are currently remodeling the interior and refreshing the place. We will be introducing new menus, including a bar menu, lounge menu, regular menu and a new happy hour. A few new plates I’m excited about are Zucchini Flowers and Spaghetti Nerano style, like they do on the Amalfi Coast. We also introduced a new pizza dough that took off like crazy in Naples. The base is nice and light and it almost melts in your mouth, so you can eat even more of it without feeling bloated.

What’s been your favorite part of running a restaurant in Atlantic City for 30 years?
Over the years, I have met the greatest people. The good people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made have been really exciting. It means more to me than the company.

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