Gusto Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

The tl;Dr: Gusto pleasantly surprised me! It's definitely worth a visit, particularly during happy hour.Even though Gusto is a drive away (a few miles north on MoPac) we braved the cold winter weather and made the trip. Actually roads were empty due to the small amount of snow on the ground And I'm glad we did! We arrived right at opening (which is when happy hour starts) and we're greeted and seated right away. Overall the service was friendly and not overbearing.We started w/ the Piatto Grande, a board of 3 cheeses, 3 meats, some giardinera, honey, olives & crackers. The cheeses were semi hard, and I think I enjoyed the cow's milk most. But I do have a soft spot for gorgonzola too, and with a little bit of the truffle laden salami was a decadent treat. The giardinera also added a welcome vinegar kick to counteract the rich cheeses. One drawback: I would have preferred bread to crackers.Next we had the spec & pear pizza. Initially we were looking for something with marinara sauce, but our server convinced us to try the spec & pear, citing it as a fan favorite. And we were glad she did! The pizza was cooked to perfection, honestly in the running for best crust I've tried in Austin. Light, airy, crispy. There were just enough toppings to make sure the crust didn't give way, but to provide a nice burst of flavor. I wouldn't call this a "fresh" tasting pie, but rather more "rich & comforting". Creamy, a little sweet, but mostly savory. I would get this again!Since everything else had been so good, I decided on dessert as well. The tiramisu semifreddo kept with the theme of the day: rich & delicious Every so often, you'd but into an espresso soaked lady finger, a pleasant surprise combined with the ice cream and chocolate.

Food - the food was presented very well & delicious! Service - they were very kind and accommodating. Ambiance - very romantic low lighting / perfect for date nights

I've passed by gusto many times but finally gave it a try this weekend! The restaurant is super cozy with an intimate ambiance. We ordered the focaccia bread, spicy carbonara, Caesar salad, and tiramisu all to share. They were nice enough to split our orders into separate plates since we said we were sharing everything. I was surprised at how fresh everything tasted. The bread was soft and pillowy with a little bit of crunch. The carbonara pasta tasted super fresh and the sauce had the right amount of kick. The tiramisu was a highlight since it was more like ice cream. A great place for a date night or after dinner drinks.

I had the best time celebrating with a meal here last night. It's hard to find a good Gluten Free pasta but the Alla Norma was incredible. The service was great and helped turn gluten free pizza crust into a side of bread. The dessert was delicious as well. Overall great experience.

Tried Gusto for dinner and had a wonderful experience! Didnt have to wait for a table even without a reservation on a Friday night which was great. The wine by the glass was pretty affordable, but the food was a bit pricey (25+ for an entree). However the lasagna was worth the price - it was so delicious! Couldn't get enough of the tomato sauce Also tried the saffron risotto which was pretty good but I thought could use a bit more flavor and spice. Overall would recommend for a special occasion if you are looking for a nice italian spot

If you're looking for an upscale vibe but with entrees that are good but nothing out of this world, it's a really good spot for this. Service is really good, with great waiting staff! We got the 3 cheese plate that I would highly recommend, I'm personally not a huge cheese guy but was really impressed especially with the local honey and homemade berry spread that went with the cheeses. Also, I like how they were not traditionally simple cheeses like a Mild cheddar or plain Parmesan. Although expensive, you were paying for quality cheese, five stars. My fiancee really enjoyed her aperol spritz which was in a pretty large glass and was strong!As for our main dishes, we both had the Alla Crema. It was pretty good and all tasted very much homemade/scratch which is good considering the higher prices for the portion sizes. I wasn't blown away by the flavor but it was decent.I think the biggest thing is the higher pricing here without your socks really been blown off on the entrees, albeit I've only had one so maybe other dishes do!Overall, came out spending $133 with one mixed drink, a cheese board, and two entrees. A little steep for Italian in my opinion.Given the higher price point, I would only see myself coming back for the happy hour prices which are solid, half off on the cheeseboard and great deals on drinks! I'm also a little more bias on Italian as well since I grew up my entire life in New Jersey around a lot of super good yet reasonable priced Italian food.

I visited this restaurant on a Monday during happy hour while in the area, and I'm glad I did.I started with a Peroni which was only $5 but noticed they also offered 25% off bottles of wine and half off antipasto dishes. We opted for the frites due to the deal; they were served in crispy shoestring size and were delicious.For our entrees, I chose the vegetarian lasagna, which was a standout as it was so flavorful that I didn't miss the meat. My date enjoyed the quail Marsala, which looked equally tempting.The service was good, there was convenient parking, and the restaurant had a cozy neighborhood vibe. I would definitely return for a quiet lunch or an affordable happy hour if I'm in the area again.

Another great meal ... Christmas eve dinner. Thanks Joanna, our server (see photo), for genuinely friendly service, seating us in a quiet, romantic location, and bringing us wonderful food. Great grilled veggies, with a fantastic anchovy sauce, with fresh focaccia bread. Best mussels I have eaten in a long time. Thanks for the recommendation Joanna. And, the lasagna with meat sauce was delicious. Great meal, made better by Joanna's great service.

Was in town for my neice's engagement party. She picked Gusto's for this event and it was great. The ambiance is similar to some Bronx style eateries where you know the food is going to be great as soon as you walk in- the aromas emanating from the kitchen are a dead giveaway!My sister-in-law (mother of the bride), pre ordered several appetizers so they would come out immediately while we were perusing the menu, ordering drinks and getting acquainted with the groom's family. The antipasto boards and the roasted Brussels sprouts were delicious.Then came the entrees- I ordered the pasta with clams; you could taste the wine I. The butter sauce and it was perfectly seasoned and balanced. The little clams were tasty and tender, and there were lots of them crowning the home made noodles. My neice wanted to try the risotto, which she said was delicious. The groom ordered the quail- I couldn't ask him how it was but there was nothing left on his plate- a sure sign that it was great. My two nephews both had the pasta bolognese and they had a bet going on as to whether or not Anthony would get sauce on his nice, button down white shirt! Those boys dug into their pasta bolognese with gusto (haha) and yes the white shirt did show evidence of a meal well enjoyed! Further down the line were my brother and sister-in-law, the grooms brother and sister-in-law and the grooms parents...I don't know what they had but we had good fun at the kids table . Then it was time for dessert. My sister-in-law ordered the entire dish of tiramisu. It came out in a beautiful ceramic dish and was served to all the guests, along with coffee americano, decaf, cappuccinos, espressos and dessert wines.This was such a good time and the great service added to the enjoyment.

It's time for patio weather! Enjoyed a few dishes here - lasagna, Bianco pizza, and cheese plate. Service is so friendly and she gave advice on a bottle of wine to pick out. Everything comes out tasty and fresh. I really liked the flavors on the pizza - artichoke had a good taste and texture. Pizza is easily shareable.