Gusto Italian - Cheadle Hulme — Restaurant in Stockport

Booked a table for my partners birthday on Monday 30th Sept evening. Expected to receive great food, drinks and service. What a let down!

We arrived and were seated at our table promptly and pleasantly.

There were a few other tables occupied but not overly busy.

Looked through menu and was then advised that several things weren't available on the menu.

Main course, salmon is no longer offered and instead replaced by Tuna - this was disappointing but knew other options were available. However, we were advised that something off the special Puglia menu wasn't available, off the main menu the chicken breast and the lasagne options weren't available either. Very disappointing.

Chose dough petals for starter and my partner chose the bruschetta. The dough petals arrived and were burnt which meant the flavour was tainted.

For main, decided to opt for the cod and my partner chose the fillet steak with peppercorn sauce. His steak arrived with the sauce in a small jug placed on the table for him to use himself. My cod arrived with a small jug of sauce that was poured all round my plate and over the cod without being asked. The cod was tasteless and it made the potatoes very salty so I ended up leaving it. Surely it's courtesy to be asked if you want the accompanying sauce pouring or not?

Usually during the main course someone will come and check if the meal is ok, but no-one did even though it wasn't busy at all.

I'd had enough at this point in the evening and so I didn't bother with dessert. My partner had the brownie and was then disappointed with the small sliver of a piece he received.

Truly disappointed with the entire meal and experience.

We've been to this restaurant several times before on a weekend and always had great service, atmosphere, amazing food and drink. But this occasion was terrible.

It was a Monday, not a weekend, so we didn't expect unavailable items on the menu. It seems either a delivery hadn't arrived or hadn't been planned after the weekend.

It was supposed to be a memorable celebration, but after the menu options and service let us down we just wanted to finish our meal and leave. The occasion was memorable for very different reasons.

At the end of the evening we walked out and unlikely to return after a disappointing evening.

Will not be recommending to our...

Just had late lunch there...I have to say, it was disappointing. I was warmly welcomed and seated, it was 3.30pm and I was the only diner. I ordered from the 2 courses for £16.95 starting with the calamari. I couldn't eat it all as it was quite tough! The waited asked if I'd like another starter, fair enough...so I asked for a side dish to accompany my main meal of chicken. That was tasty enough after I seasoned it and mixed the lukewarm mash in with the sauce....which was nice and hot. I was never approached by any member of staff during my main meal, merely to ask if everything was ok. The staff ( including kitchen) were more intent on socialising with each other ( sat round a table very nearby at the bar). Mobile phones out and conversations with each other were quite disturbing. Instead of receiving attention to detail ( I mean, I was the only customer eating), I received a bill including service charge! (after 15 mins of finishing my meal) Needless to say, I requested it to be removed to the somewhat sheepish waiter. He was pleasant enough, but that is really all I can say. Would I go...

I’ve written many excellent reviews for this place but yesterday was a little underwhelming. If almost raw cabbage and tepid custard are the latest culinary fads can we all move on quickly because nobody likes it!! However these are small considerations compared to stealth tactics to squeeze my wallet. Offered the lunch menu special menu at £30.00 for three courses we chose from there (it was 4:45pm) When the bill arrived we were charged £35. Apparently it’s £35 in the evening, so please don’t offer us something that’s no longer available. Then on top of that there is the service charge. Nobody says it but I’m going to, the diner should choose when to tip and by how much without the confrontation of asking for it to be removed if the service or food is below our expectations. Better yet Gusto, give your staff a pay rise! Despite my little rant, I really like this place and will no...