Trattoria Gusto — Restaurant in Port Hope

Extremely Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Visit

We recently visited this restaurant hoping to enjoy a relaxing evening on the patio. Unfortunately, the experience was uncomfortable from the moment we walked in. The atmosphere felt cold not just in temperature, but in energy. The place had a dark, heavy vibe, and the staff all seemed disengaged, like they didn’t want to be there. It was hard to feel welcome.

Once seated, the patio heaters were turned off even though it was cold outside. When we politely asked for them to be turned back on, we were told “the manager wouldn’t like that,” which felt like a strange and dismissive excuse.

We ordered a pizza, salad, and Caesar, and made a few simple dietary requests like avoiding pork. Our server, a mature woman who seemed more interested in being right than being kind with grey hair responded with visible annoyance and made subtle comments that made the whole interaction uncomfortable, as if we were bothering her just by asking questions.

When the pizza arrived, it looked sloppy and unappetizing. The sauce was barely there, unevenly spread, and the chicken pieces looked like they belonged in a salad, not on a pizza. We kindly said we didn’t want it. Instead of respecting that, the server insisted we try it first. We did, and still didn’t want it. Rather than listening, she turned the blame on us and another server Jacquie accused us of being difficult and rude all because we didn’t want a pizza.

From that point on, staff who had been indifferent suddenly became overly friendly to other tables as if trying to prove a point that we were the problem. It felt performative and petty.

When we went to pay (despite not having eaten the food), we overheard them laughing and whispering while looking at our table. Young blonde girl tossed the receipt at us without a word. It was deeply unprofessional and disrespectful.

We later learned Jacquie previously worked at another local restaurant and was let go for her poor attitude and lack of professionalism. After this experience, it all makes sense.

Since the new ownership took over, this place has completely changed for the worse. The service is cold, the food is mediocre, and the environment feels heavy and negative. We came for a nice night out and left feeling disrespected and judged.

Do yourself a favor and dine somewhere that values its guests. We won’t...

WE DROVE OUT FROM VAUGHAN, ABOUT AN HOUR & TWENTY MINUTES TO CHECK THIS PLACE OUT! WHAT A GEM THE CITY OF PORT HOPE HAS! SUCH DELICIOUS ITALIAN FOOD AND GREAT COCKTAILS!

SPINACI GAMBRETTO SALAD 5/5 BABY SPINNACH, ARUGULA, ONION SLIVERS, CHUNKS OF TOMATOES & CUCUMBERS, A BIT OF GOAT CHEESE CRUMBLE, PUMPKIN SEEDS, & JUICY SHRIMPS TOSSED IN A LEMON VINAIGRETTE. THIS SALAD WAS REFRESHING AND TASTY!

OLIVES 5/5 A NICE BOWL OF ASSORTED MARINADED OLIVES AND BREAD STICKS. WHO CAN EVER GO WRONG W.OLIVES? MMM!

MEATBALLS 4/5 4 JUICY PIECES OF GARLIC & HERBED MEATBALLS SMOTHERED IN A HOMEMADE MARINARA SAUCE W.CHEESE & A SLICE OF BAGUETTE THATS PERFECTLY BALANCED BETWEEN CRISPY & CHEWY. WE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS APPETIZER, BUT THE MEATBALLS WERE A TAD ON THE TOUGH SIDE & NOT AS TENDER. STILL A PLATE OF DELICIOUSNESS FOR YOUR TUMMY!

FRIED ARTICHOKE 4/5 DONT THINK IVE EVER HAD FRIED ARTICHOKE BEFORE, AND I MUST SAY THEY WERE FANTASTIC! ONLY SUGGESTION IS MAYBE LIGHTLT DUST THEM W.A SEASONED BATTER/FLOUR TO GIVE IT A LITTLE CRUNCHON THE OUTSIDE.

MUSHROOM RISSOTTO 4/5 ANY MUSHROOM LOVER WOULD BE IN HEAVEN WITH DISH! GENEROUS CHUNKS OF MUSHROOMS AND GRANA PADANO CHEESE, WITH SPINACH! IVE NEVER SPINACH IN A RISSOTTO BEFORE, AND WONDER WHY PEOPLE ARENT TOSSING THEM IN THERE!? THE CANAROLI RICE WAS SLIGHTLY OVER DONE BUT THE SOFTER TEXTURE OF THIS RISSOTTO WAS STIL AMAZING! YOU CAN TASTE ALL THE INGREDIENTS IN EVERY BITE!

MARGHERITA PIZZA 5/5 OUR LOVELY WAITRESS LAURA WAS NOT LYING WHEN SHE SAID THEIR PIZZA IS AMAZING! I LOVE THE CRISPY DOUGH, HAND STRETCHED AND BAKED TO A GOLDEN CRISP! WE WENT WITH A TRADITIONAL MARGHERITA PIZZA. THEY ADDED SLICES OF FRESH TOMATOES THAT WHEN BAKED, JUST MELTS WITH EVERY BITE! WE LOVED THE GENEROUS FRESH BASIL LEAVES AS WELL! I HAVE A SLICE LEFT OVER WHICH WILL SERVE AS A PERFECT MIDNIGHT SNACK!

OVERALL EXPERIENCE HERE WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL! WORTH THE LITTLE DRIVE TO VENTURE ON OUT TO THIS LITTLE PART OF PORT HOPE! SEE YOU AGAIN ONE DAY...

Where to begin...

A reservation was made months in advance, and adjusted approximately two weeks prior to the date, all by phone. No contact information was provided other than a phone number.

When our party arrived, we were informed by the hostess that WE had cancelled the reservation online the day prior. We were told that a confirmation had been sent and that we had cancelled it. This was not physically possible as the phone associated with the reservation has been out of service for 2 days.

Despite that obviously not being true, since seven of us were in the restaurant having driven from an hour away, there was absolutely zero accountability from the waitstaff or any type of appropriate response. Essentially, it was a big old "not our problem". This obviously made the situation worse, and things did escalate where the staff refused to even provide contact information for management to a clearly upset patron.

In most instances, where there is clearly an issue with their reservation system, the expectation would be some sort of apology from the staff, an promise to investigate, a promise from the waitstaff that they'd inform a manager or ownership to follow up.

Incredibly, incredibly disappointing experience. I will add, my family and I are regulars of this restaurant and have, for the most part, always enjoyed our meals here. Sadly, this has absolutely ruined our relationship with the restaurant and we would be hard pressed to return.

Update: After speaking with the manager, it was very clear that she was prejudiced on the situation and uninterested in making amends or rectifying things. Truly...