Gusto Italiano — Restaurant in Surat Thani Province

Extremely Disappointing

We visited this restaurant hoping for a pleasant evening, but unfortunately, the experience was far from it.

Before we were even seated, we were told the table must be vacated by 7:30 PM. While we understand the need for reservations, the manner in which it was conveyed felt more like a warning than a warm welcome.

When we politely suggested that such information could be phrased more hospitably, the owner himself approached us — not to understand or resolve the situation, but to argue and speak in a condescending manner, ultimately asking us to leave.

It wasn’t the time limit that bothered us, but the lack of courtesy — especially from the owner, who should set the tone for service. In today’s economy — especially after COVID, when many businesses struggled and had to work hard to win customers back — such arrogance is not only disappointing, it’s unsustainable. Even if you’ve been around for years, with an attitude like this, it’s no surprise you have only one branch.

After leaving, we went next door to El Gaucho, a restaurant with many branches, not just one. The warm welcome and genuine hospitality there instantly lifted our mood — proof that good manners can’t be bought; they must be taught from childhood.

In business, as in life, true success isn’t measured by how long you’ve been around, but by how well you treat people along the way — and that’s where this place truly falls short.

And to the owner — please don’t bother writing an apology after reading this. Words without change mean nothing, and manners, if not taught from the start, rarely take root...

Extremely tasty authentic Italian food. By far one of the best, no... its actually the best restaurant that have topped my list of Italian restaurants I have eaten at. It's such a blessing to be able to enjoy such lovely italian food in Asia without having to fly all the way to Italy.

I dined with my partner at the restaurant today and was given a nice table on the beach. That was a pretty romantic experience 😍 (Please place a reservation with the restaurant as its almost full and very popular with tourists especially during high season).

We ordered the signature Burrata Gourmet Pizza (Must order. Even without the usual accompanying olive oil/ balsamic vinegar that some other italian restaurants serve in Appetizers, The taste of the burrata cheese was so GOOD as a standalone on top of the pizza, It melts in your mouth without rubbery texture), the Ravioioni al fungi porcini in crema di tartuto nero di Norcia (The cheese inside the ravioioni explodes inside your mouth with rich creamy flavors of the porcini mushroom. I could only described this as delicacy from heaven), the Minestrone Soup and Tiramisu (Another heavenly dessert).

Our stomachs were stuffed in a good way. This has become another good reason for us to return to Samui just for the food ❤

We will come back again for...

I had high hopes for gusto italiano, an Italian restaurant that promised a cozy atmosphere and authentic cuisine. Unfortunately, my experience was anything but pleasant. From the moment I walked in, the service was horrible refusing my family and I a seat at first. It took an eternity for anyone to acknowledge our presence, and once seated, we were left waiting for what felt like ages before a server finally took our order. When my food finally arrived, I was excited but quickly disheartened. The pasta I ordered was overcooked and bland, lacking the vibrant flavors that Italian dining should offer. To make matters worse, I later experienced food poisoning after consuming the seafood pasta that kept me bedridden for two days, ruining my holiday activities I had planned in advance. When I tried to address the issue with the manager, I was met with indifference. No genuine apology, just a shrug and a promise to look into it. It feels disheartening to leave a restaurant feeling worse than when I arrived, both from the food and the poor service. Save yourself the trouble and steer clear of gusto italiano koh samui. There are far better options for Italian cuisine in town with...