Ya, I’d similarly say something like jeer-o-dahn-ohs. The -o- almost disappears into three syb jeerdahnos, though.
I’m way up north and haven’t heard the dropped R.
It’s possible I’m not reporting it correctly (I’ll have to pay closer attention when I hear it next time), but, at the very least, the “r” is elided or very faint, almost imperceptible, in some people’s speech. For example, here I don’t really here the “r” in the introduction. However, the next time he says it, there is a clear “r.”
I found some commercials since asking. I’m really surprised it uses a full four syllables. I expected a diphthong, since that’s what happens in Italian Latin.
I can feel it from here!
– JKellyMap, U of C '92
Sure, but in English, from my observation, it seems that “gi” gets pronounced as “jee,” rather than the “i” simply being a marker to soften the “g” sound. Like I hear “Giovanni” as Jee-oh-vah-nee and “Giada” as Jee-ah-duh, at least around here.
I associate those things with being more English, since they are native American English speakers. I associate the restaurant with being more Italian. Even if everyone else called it gee-oh-vah-nees, I expected the Italian owner to say it in a more Italian sounding way. And I expected at least some snootiness about saying it “correctly.”
Italian, Latin, English… NONE of those have anything to do with how us Chicagoans talk! Meet me at the pizza joint over by dere and we’ll discuss it wit youse guys.
Well, tonight was going to be the night. Everyone was excited. I decided to call and find out what the wait for a table was running and the phone was busy. After awhile I decided I’d order on-line and pick it up. Got my order entered and then it was searching for an available time for pick-up… and searching… and searching… and searching.
I finally got through on the phone (while it was still searching) and found out that the wait for a table was currently 2.5 hours. I asked then if I could place a carry out order and she said they couldn’t because the kitchen was backed up over 2.5 hours as well. The gal I spoke to was very nice but obviously frazzled. I suppose I could have gotten there at 7… been seated at 9:30 and had my food around midnight or so.
I finally closed the on-line order while it was still searching and will have to try again sometime in the near future.
A friend was commenting on the wait time, and I did a little research. They have a location in Matteson, IL and according to Google Maps I can drive there in 2 hours and 43 minutes (I always beat the Google Maps time). So it looks like I could drive up there, pick up my pizza and be home in about the same amount of time as if I tried to go to the local one.
I’ve been to the Giordano’s in Kissimmee Florida when we’re down there on vacation. Not a busy location, never had to wait for a table.
I am drooling over here. I’d go for broccoli as my first choice, spinach second. Haven’t had Giordano’s in longer than I can remember.
Definitely a full 4 syllables for the pronunciations.
-BetsQ, U of C, AB '95
I’ve honestly thought about flying to Chicago, eating at Giordano’s in Hyde Park, and flying back. OK, maybe I would go to Pizzeria Uno also, and then fly back.
U of C AM '93
Come on, Giordano’s! I live in Illinois! Why are you going to expand to Minnesota, Indiana, and freaking Florida before putting a restaurant in the St. Louis area??
Okay. Deep breath. We have a lot of great pizza here, Giordano’s will just have to remain a rare treat I get when I travel to Chicago.
Hey, you guys have Pi Pizzeria. I haven’t been there yet, but I’ve had a few die-hard Chicagoans tell me that’s the best deep dish they’ve ever had (OK, not the same as stuffed, but still.)
Pi is quite good. It’s been a few years since I ate there and maybe it’s time to go back.
Tonight was the night! My wife was home today so put in a carry out order at about 1pm. The earliest it would be ready was 6:15-6:30 which was perfect. We ordered a large Original Chicago (Pepperoni, Onion, Green Pepper and Mushrooms), and an appetizer sampler. She went to pick it up and she said it was a madhouse. Still a 2.5 hour wait for a table. Good news was that the pizza was ready when promised. Some others there weren’t so lucky and a few orders were “misplaced” and the people were waiting another 2 hours for their pizza.
It was very good and different enough from anything else we have around here. It was also very filling. Even my boys barely made it through two slices each.
They are supposed to open a couple of other locations here so that should help eliminate the stress on this one store. We will definitely be back but we will likely wait some time until things calm down a bit. For now though it satisfied my craving.
Awesome! We’ve been busy lately, but I need to remember to put an order in so I can pick it up on the way home.