iL Gusto — Restaurant in Prague

They managed to turn a 5-star review into a 3-star review via predatory charging practises.

Let's start with the good; the food was excellent. Well presented, well seasoned, delicious. Couldn't fault the food at all. For most of the duration of our meal; the service was also very good. The restaurant itself is well decorated and well maintained.

However; they still managed to leave a sour taste by the end that somewhat tainted the evening.

Let's catalogue the bad;

The menu prices are much more expensive than other Italian restaurants in the area and in some cases; completely unjustified. The pizzas were 469k (£16). 330ml coke was 149k (£5) After asking for "a glass of water" - we were given a bottle and charged 269k (£9). (For comparison - we paid 259k / 70k / 40k for a similar meal a couple of days earlier - this was 3 times as expensive).

Other than overdelivering and overcharging for the water (which was exploitative at best); we knew the prices going in - and would still have considered this a good experience.

However, when trying to settle the bill and leave; It took around 20mins to get anyones attention in order to get the bill - because they were too busy adding stickers to tables, offering a free glass of prosecco for providing a 5-star Google review.

And then the bill and card machine were eventually presented to me at the same time. I paid - and it was only afterwards, whilst I was about to leave a cash tip... that I noticed two service charges had been added to the bill; one for 21% and one for 12%.

I find it predatory to add service charges in this way - particularly at that level, on an already excessively priced meal.

This effectively gave us an £11.50 "glass of water" and £21 pizzas; probably the most expensive pizzas and water in Prague.

I didn't bother complaining, which is ultimately the aim of this sort of practise; but some other diners did complain about their bill while we were there and clearly this is souring an otherwise good experience for multiple parties; and turning an expensive but enjoyable meal into an exploitative tourist trap because of...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at "Il Gusto Prag," an exquisite Italian restaurant nestled in the heart of Prague. From the moment I stepped inside, I was enveloped in an atmosphere that exuded warmth and authenticity, setting the stage for a truly memorable culinary journey.

The menu at "Il Gusto Prag" is a testament to the chef's dedication to using only the finest, freshest ingredients. Each dish was a symphony of flavors, expertly crafted and beautifully presented. The homemade pasta, in particular, was a revelation - perfectly al dente and bursting with flavor.

However, what truly elevated this dining experience was the impeccable service provided by Tano. His passion for hospitality was evident in every interaction. Tano's knowledge of the menu was extensive, and he offered insightful recommendations that enhanced our meal. His attentiveness and genuine warmth made us feel like valued guests, ensuring that our evening was nothing short of extraordinary.

The attention to detail exhibited by both the kitchen and Tano was exceptional, creating a seamless and delightful dining experience. From the elegant table settings to the thoughtful wine pairings, every element was carefully curated to provide a truly elevated experience.

In summary, "Il Gusto Prag" and Tano have set a new standard for Italian dining in Prague. The combination of exquisite cuisine, warm ambiance, and exceptional service creates an experience that lingers in the memory long after the meal has concluded. I wholeheartedly recommend "Il Gusto Prag" to anyone seeking an exceptional culinary journey, and commend Tano for his outstanding service that truly made our evening...

As someone who works in customer service and has done for years in various places I don’t like these reviews where people wrote tacky things such as “if I could give this place 0 stars I would” unfortunately however this time I would have to agree. The menu looked nice before we walked in but after that things went down hill. The staff were friendly to begin with but became quite rude and unbothered. I felt rushed to order at the start and after I had it took about 10 minutes to get my water, after being refused tap as it was “unsafe” or rather “wasn’t free” while the restaurant only had two other tables inside. (Now I know why it was not so busy). The food came and it wasn’t overly impressive, my pasta was Luke warm and sea food over cooked. I did point this out at the end and I was challenged by the waiter as too what was wrong with it, he then made it seem like it should have been impossible to be wrong and then eventually took it away. I’d also like to point out that whilst being extremely quite it took ages for them too clear my table as well. One of the waiters was too busy putting stickers on a table too take notice with us. Overall the prices were too high for the lack of quality food and the service was appalling either. Was charged 15% service charge as well! Wont recommend or come back. I can only hope that this information is taken into account...