Gusto 101

“the burrata appetizer was actually legit - creamy center that oozes perfectly when u cut into it, paired w san marzano tomatoes that actually taste like they're from italy. for an italian spot in king west theyre not taking shortcuts w ingredients which is nice”

“teh gnocchi tasted machine-made not hand-rolled, lacking that pillowy texture u get from doing it right. dense and chewy when it should be light and airy honestly”

“not halal-certified but teh server actually knew thier stuff and helped me figure out the seafood risotto with day-boat scallops - the arborio rice was cooked perfectly with this delicate saffron finish that was beautiful dead serious”

“def halal options were pretty limited since most pasta had pancetta or prosciutto in it adn honestly a bunch of teh appetizers i wanted had cured meats mixed throughout so i had to skip them solid”

“sunday brunch here is absolute CHAOS in like teh best way possible. ricotta pancakes are fluffy heaven and they dont skimp on the maple syrup. plus the espresso is actually italian-level strong not that watered down garbage most brunch spots do idk”

“actually goood luck getting a table wihtout booking - we waited 45 min even on a tuesday morning lol. hostess seemed genuinely shocked we didnt have a reservation for like weekday brunch haha”

“really impressed wiht the grilled vegetables on the side of the branzino - like rainbow carrots, broccolini, cherry tomatoes all perfectly al dente and seasoned with just olive oil and herbs, super fresh tasting”

“the Caesar salad was absolutely drowning in dressing... felt heavy for a starter and there was more croutons than actual greens, plus the whole thing was coated in this really rich creamy stuff that just overpowered the romaine”

“yo tehir spicy nduja pizza was SO GOOD - that Calabrian spreadable salami brought this smoky lingering heat that just kept building with every bite, and then the creamy burrata would cool it down just enough which was perfect”

“real talk the arancini were kinda disappointing for something called spicy?? like barely a 2/10 heat adn honestly could've used some serious chili oil or hot honey to actually wake them up”

“ok the osso buco was straight up a revelation - fork tender beef that falls right off the bone w this rich marrow sauce that made me get why ppl are obsessed w italian food. came w creamy risotto that soaked up all the flavors perfectly”

“caesar salad was pretty basic for 16 bucks tbh jsut romaine croutons and dressing - nothing special that justified the price when entrees were already crushing my budget cant complain”