Cusina Mediterranean Bistro — Restaurant in Guelph

My partner and I, along with two friends, had dinner at Cusina Mediterranean Bistro on Saturday—and we were blown away. One of our friends had raved about the place before, and after this visit, we can confidently say they were right.

We’re big fans of Mediterranean food and usually set the bar pretty high, which often leads to disappointment. Not here. Every dish exceeded expectations, flavour to portion size to presentation.

For starters, we ordered the Greek-style bruschetta, and it was the perfect opener—fresh, flavourful, and beautifully prepared. I had the seafood fettuccine, and I can honestly say it was the best I’ve ever had. The sauce was rich, the flavours perfectly balanced, and the mussels were absolutely incredible. My partner ordered the piethakia (lamb chops), trusted Chef Sumon with the temperature, and they came out perfectly cooked—tender, juicy, and packed with flavour.

Dessert was just as impressive. I went with the turtle cheesecake, which was indulgent without being overly heavy. What makes it even better is that they present a plate of all the dessert options so you can choose with your eyes first—a great touch.

Service was outstanding. Our server, Julian, was new, but you’d never know it—he knew the menu inside and out, gave great recommendations, and answered every question with ease. The attention to detail was spot on: waters refilled promptly, check-ins at the right moments, never intrusive. Chef Sumon even came out personally to chat with us about our meal, which made the experience feel even more special. And Maria, the owner, greeted us with such warmth that it truly felt like dining with family.

The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance: cozy and welcoming, yet refined enough for date night, a friend’s dinner, or a family outing.

For the quality, portion sizes, and level of service, the value is unbeatable. We left completely satisfied and already planning our return. This place deserves to be known—it’s a gem, and I’ll be recommending Cusina to...

UNACCEPTABLE TREATMENT - DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED

I normally would never leave a negative review, but my experience with Cusina today was so unacceptable, I feel compelled to share it.

I called early this morning to cancel a reservation due to a family emergency. I spoke to a man on the phone, provided my name, and he thanked me for letting them know — simple and respectful.

Later in the day, I received a shocking voicemail from a woman named Maria, who spoke to me in a rude, accusatory, and completely unprofessional manner. She claimed I hadn’t called to cancel and reprimanded me as though I had done something wrong. Her tone was condescending, aggressive, and completely out of line.

This kind of behavior is beyond unprofessional — it’s unacceptable. I did the responsible thing and called ahead. To be spoken to like that, especially during a family emergency, is absolutely appalling.

As a customer, I expect basic courtesy and respect. This was going to be my first visit to Cusina, but after this experience, I have no interest in supporting a business that treats people this way — and I’d strongly caution others to think twice before doing so as well.

In a time when the world clearly needs more kindness and decency, the hostility and negativity Maria unleashed in that voicemail was totally uncalled...

Yuck. Expanding my comments:

Despite having several people recommend this restaurant, we all had a truly awful meal. I had a moussaka that was a greasy mess. The stuff on top might have been a béchamel at some point in its history, but it was a weird texture that was clearly no longer béchamel. The "greek salad" was nothing of the sort. It was slimy romaine - which has no place in a greek salad. The usual contents of a Greek salad were absent. A couple of olives and a piece of tomato on the side. Look up how to make a greek salad.

My dining companions also found their meals to be awful. We sent one back. We felt unwell the rest of the day. We should have sent them all back and had a talking to the manager.

It was a bad meal in every...