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Gusto! Ristorante Italiano Reviews List
Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
For authentic tastes of the Piedmont, this friendly, intimate dining room in the heart of Little Italy is the next best thing to an actual trip to the land of olive oil and garlic. Big flavors -- in such dishes as rack of lamb in a fruity fig-and-port reduction; long-boned veal chops, brushed with woodsy essence of porcini mushrooms; and homemade pappardelle, in sweet-tart Bolognese-style tomato sauce, made from freshly ground boar's meat and seasoned with garlic, rosemary, Chianti, and black pepper -- shake up the palate the way Carlo Rizzo rattles a tambourine. And then, when avuncular proprietor Ricardo Salerno strolls by, his fingers dancing across the keys of his accordion . . . well, this may be the Midwest, and you may not be Italian, but we'll promise you one thing: That's amore!
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36 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Rating Breakdown 36 reviews
5 stars
(13)
4 stars
(17)
3 stars
(6)
2 stars
(0)
1 star
(0)
Food
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- neighborhood gem(23)
- romantic(18)
- special occasion(18)
- fit for foodies(13)
- notable wine list(4)
- good for groups(2)
Gusto! Ristorante Italiano Reviews List
Review 1 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We had a wonderful dinner with great service for our 25th wedding anniversary on a cold rainy night in April."
Dined on 4/10/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 2 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Good food, LIMITED menue, very good service and ambience."
Dined on 4/30/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 3 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
A place to go back to!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Fabulous food, attentive and friendly wait staff, and table-side accordion from Ricardo, the owner. This was our first visit and it won't be the last!"
Dined on 04/20/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 4 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
A pricey meal, but delicious.
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"A pricey meal, but delicious. This restaurant in Little Italy is romantic and warmly decorated. I would recommend!"
Dined on 04/20/2013
2012
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 5 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Absolutely delicious and well
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Absolutely delicious and well prepared appetizers (calamari and caponata) and authentic, richly prepared pasta dishes. Attentive service, all topped with accordion serenades of sublime, professional caliber. In sum, Italian classics done right."
Dined on 03/26/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic
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Review 6 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Great food and fun atmosphere!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Great food and fun atmosphere! Weekdays no parking or vote, little tough to find a street spot. The owner serenaded worth an Italian song on the according, beautiful."
Dined on 02/20/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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Review 7 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
I've been here before, the
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"I've been here before, the food is good, but has been better. Maybe it was a slightly off-night, but the food could have been hotter. Nevertheless, it is still a better than average restaurant."
Dined on 03/13/2013
2009
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Review 8 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
It was so fun having the owner
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"It was so fun having the owner play his accordion and play requests. He even played Over the Rainbow that my daughter requested. the food was great and the staff was very attentive."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2012
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic
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Review 9 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
I've always liked Gusto!
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I've always liked Gusto! The meatballs are the best. We had the appetizer one that the table shared, but I got another order with my dinner. Typically I get the Paperdelle, but this time I ordered the Pistacho Pesto Gnocchi. Wonderful! I was able to try the Paperdelle with Wild Boar Sauce as someone at the table ordered it. Fabulous, but I love it when it comes with the lobster cream sauce which must be a summer time favorite."
Dined on 03/09/2013
2008
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 10 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Food is delicious-wonderful
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Food is delicious-wonderful in house pasta. Calamari was terrific-not breaded with a red sauce with a kick! Thanks to the owner for memorable accordion experience."
Dined on 03/08/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 11 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Wonderful dining in Little
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Wonderful dining in Little Italy. The wait staff truly added a personal touch to the evening. The menu offerings were done well and the specials provided a nice addition to the standard Italian menu. Overall, a repeat will be in our future."
Dined on 02/09/2013
2009
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Review 12 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Still good, not top of list anymore
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Excellent food, although seemed a little less top notch as the last time we were there. Early reservation time might have contributed to less lively atmosphere. Grilled romaine salad was one of my favorite the last two times I was there. This time, portion was much smaller and lettuce was burnt and wilted, instead of just grilled."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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Review 13 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Didn't have a table ready
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Didn't have a table ready when I arrived and we were told to sit at the bar and wait. After 15 min we were offered a tiny table right next to the door in the bar area. Ended up taking it as I looked like an actual table wouldn't be open anytime soon. Food was very good but overall experience was not."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2010
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Review 14 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Excellent Meatballs & the
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Excellent Meatballs & the Risotto was fabulous."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2011
Special Features: notable wine list, special occasion
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Review 15 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
The owner brought out his
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The owner brought out his acordian and played for customers(very fun). Felt like we were back in Italy. The food was authentic and the service was wonderful. Don Gates Mills"
Dined on 02/02/2013
2009
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic
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Review 16 for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
The food is very good but
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The food is very good but a bit overpriced for the quality. With the price they are asking for pasta dishes and entrees, one would expect it to leave an impression other than "pretty good, but overpriced". I've eaten at other restaurants, such as Salmon Dave's in Rocky River, and Rosewood Grill in Strongsville, which had better quality food for the same prices or maybe even slightly lower prices. My wife and I were the only people in the restaurant which actually made it feel a bit awkward. We went on a weeknight so I'm not sure if it's busier on the weekend. The server we had was very good. But overall the restaurant isn't as good as they think it is."
Dined on 01/23/2013
2010
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Gusto! Ristorante Italiano
Based on the average of (20) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
2 out of 2 recommend this product
Food
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate