Gusto Riverfront Restaurant — Restaurant in Queensland

We rarely, if ever venture to ‘ville for a fine-dining experience when staying at Noosa Heads but upon review of the comments and Insta hype, gave Gusto a go booking the inside blue booth for our son’s 13th Birthday celebration dinner. I parked the motor while the bride and boys entered to be on time with parking a premium during school holidays, a Saturday and with the rain – maybe a sign of things to come…

When I arrived, I noticed the crew was seated in another part of the restaurant on an un-tableclothed table near the rowdy bunch of ten who had obviously endured a long lunch. The table we had requested had a ‘reserved’ signed situated on it and we were advised that it couldn’t be booked by someone who had ‘booked today’ when we had booked prior – a strange welcoming and beratement from an argumentative French waiter which I found bizarre. This happened prior to my arrival and he obviously needed to compose himself as we were then taken care of by another waitress who was quite pleasant but obviously rattled. For lesser in the past we have moved on taking our business and appetite elsewhere but we persisted trusting the reviews and scarily expensive pricing would hold them in good stead. Even the poor Birthday boy was perplexed at that welcome and treatment.

Onwards to starter of the warm baguette with caramilised onion butter, quite a treat especially the spread. The bottled beer was no brainer fine but the watermelon martini had limited to no spirit involved. It was at this moment the poor shaken waitress scurried over sheepishly advising that the table we were ‘hoping for’ had miraculously incurred a booking cancellation and was available for us to move to… Obviously this was our table from the get-go and a seating mistake was made from the outset. We’d already ordered and halfway through the starter so were keen on moving now. Downward spiral.

I was fired up for the John Dory daily catch main and it didn’t disappoint however the salad had unnecessarily been salted and that paired with the miso dressing felt overly aggressive. Sides were required as the portion was small for the $48 tariff and the fries with aioli were hot & tasty and beans and broccolini (served sans broc for some reason) salsa verde & toasted flaked almonds good enough, although served incomplete. Speaking of small, the entrée serve of the pumpkin tortellini, even expecting it to be small, we thought was miniscule for north of $25 and our friend the waitress upon viewing did offer to add another four more 50c size pieces o’ pasta to compensate anywhere near what the price was demanding – we doubt these were made ‘inhouse’ or if so, freshly frozen the day prior when we made our reservation.

Kids meals were adequate with the Birthday boy really enjoying the wagyu (med/ rare) steak frites but it was just one of those situations where you just wanted to get outta there. Upon leaving the bill was rushed to the front rostrum with the pleasant but embarrassed waitress removing the tortellini from our bill ‘due to the table mix up’.

Just one of those missed opportunities for this joint we feel and won’t be back having a second go at the new teenager’s Birthday the following night at a seafront restaurant on Hastings Street which...

I want to add an extra couple of stars! We celebrated our elopement/ wedding reception at Gusto in January! It was nothing short but the best restaurant experience of our lives. We organised it all only 3 months prior from Sydney and have never been there before, so it sure was a big bet. We exchanged a few emails and phone calls with different members of the team, from restaurant owner to event manager. The whole process of organising a wedding is like becoming a project manager overnight with zero skills or experience in the field: very overwhelming... However, with Gusto's team it has been all pleasant and easy. The communication was great from the get go, they were very understanding with our wishes and have elaborated the best menu for us and our guests. I prepared a few favours they incorporated in their wonderful decoration and made everything look and feel incredibly special. I will admit, Dale was the man of the night. He was our sommelier that evening, and simply went ABOVE AND BEYOND to make sure everybody was well looked after and happy at all times. He remembered the name of each guests (it was 14 of us), entertained the restless kids with some magic tricks, delivered the food and presented every single bottle of wine with enthusiasm, grace and unwavering knowledge; my husband who is a wine connoisseur was in heaven. The food was cooked to perfection, each course better than the one prior. I am French and have rather high standards when it comes to cooking from right temperatures, ingredients quality, and even presentation matters in my eyes, they exceeded my expectations. During the evening, I kept receiving compliments about the food from our family members both Ozzie and French, saying this was the best food they've ever eaten. Dale has sure made an impression too since they won't stop mentioning his name, he did steal the show from the bride and groom a little ;) He even got the most random request from one of the kid asking for a bowl of peas (which wasn't on the menu!) and delivered without any judgement! When the cake arrived, our jaw dropped looking at how beautiful it was- we only agreed to a little cake, for tradition sake, and got spoiled with a proper, multiple layers of the most delicious and incredible chocolate sponge cake! It was so big we were very happy to share it with the rest of the kitchen staff before leaving. I could not recommend this place enough and we sure will return every time we will get a chance to visit Noosa. Special thank you to Sarah for organising to perfection every detail to this night and Dale for making our wedding reception...

The Gusto Riverfront Restaurant immediately caught our eye with its charming location, just around the corner from our guest house in Noosaville. We chose it for our Christmas dinner because we loved the elegant table settings and the inviting atmosphere.

Seating was effortless, and the Merlot we ordered was absolutely delightful. Here’s a rundown of our experience: • Starters: We began with the seared scallops. While beautifully cooked, the accompanying greens and cheese didn’t complement the dish as well as expected. However, the Tuna in Vietnamese sauce completely stole the show. The tuna and cucumber slices were incredibly fresh, and the sauce was perfectly balanced and flavorful—a real highlight! • Side: Between courses, we enjoyed some of the best chips we’ve had in a while—crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and expertly fried in duck fat. • Mains: The fish of the day was fresh, though it had a slightly fishy taste. Fortunately, the butter and lemon sauce was exceptional and provided the perfect balance. The grilled venison was another standout. The portion was generous, cooked to a medium rare perfection, and served with a creamy potato au gratin. The addition of macadamia nuts sprinkled over the meat added a marvelous touch—both unique and delicious.

A minor note: when we asked our server about venison, she suggested we Google it ourselves. It felt a bit odd, as we expected a simple explanation from the staff about the dish.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the service, the food, and the atmosphere. It was a memorable Christmas dinner, and we look forward to dining here again...