Gusto — Restaurant in Austin

Tldr; 10/10, spectacular meal, service and ambience. We will definitely be back next time we're in town!

Long version: My family and I went to Austin for labor day weekend and dined at Gusto on Saturday night. We arrived at 6 and were quickly seated by Nate who was also our server. I didn't know it was the starting weekend of Austin restaurant week but I love a tasting menu so my Dad and I both ordered the prix fixe 4 course menu while everyone else ordered off the regular menu. Nate was friendly, happy to answer questions about the menu and recommended a few menu items which we ordered.

Appetizers arrived quickly and the focacia and meatball dishes were the stand outs of the round. For the next course we had the ricotta gnudi and omg this was incredible. I've never had anything so delicate and flavorful. It was like a pillow of cheese and pasta that just melted on your mouth. It's one of those dishes you want to eat again but I've never even seen it before and I know there's no chance I'd be able to recreate this at home. So so so good.

The main courses were brought out together. My kids got pizza and loved them. Heads up, the kids pizza is a full size adult pizza so 2 kids could definitely share! My Mom had the risotto and said it was one of the best she'd ever had. My Dad got the red fish which was cooked perfectly and had a crispy skin. My husband had the lasagna which was good but paled in comparison to the other main dishes. I had the duck with a tarte cherry demiglaze and it was truly special. The duck was cooked to perfection and the sauce was so flavorful and unique. Even my picky eater kids tried the duck and asked for seconds.

Dessert was sorbetto and espresso and my kids both agreed that the seasonal berry sorbetto was better than the chocolate but everyone happily finished their ice creams. Throughout the meal Nate was attentive without being overbearing and seemed genuinely excited when we loved a dish he had recommended. Overall we had an amazing experience at Gusto. The staff is friendly, the food is spectacular and the ambience is cozy and welcoming. We all agreed we'll be coming back next time we're in town....

A Truly Unforgettable "Big" Birthday Celebration at Gusto

With Amber’s help, I had an unforgettable "big" birthday celebration at Gusto in November 2024. I sent a personal thank-you email right after the event but realized I hadn’t shared my experience publicly yet, so I wanted to make sure I did!

Amber went above and beyond to make the evening an OUTSTANDING experience—from the thoughtful planning and preparation to the impeccable service and, of course, the exceptional food. Everything exceeded my expectations.

I was initially concerned about selecting the right main course options for such a large group, but Amber’s guidance was absolutely spot-on. She helped me choose the perfect Antipasti and Insalata options (the Fritto Misto was a standout), and then assisted in narrowing down the three main course choices—Lasagna, Alla Crema, and Texas Redfish. She even made sure to offer vegetarian options for the Lasagna and Alla Crema, ensuring that all my guests had something they could enjoy. Every single person found a dish they loved and truly enjoyed their meal. Amber was also a "partner in crime" when other members of my party wanted to surprise me with a singing telegram. :) I can’t thank Amber enough for her attention to detail and for making everything run so smoothly.

Analise, our main server, was also phenomenal. As meetup event organizers many of us have dined at many Austin restaurants, and we have encountered our fair share of servers. But Analise truly stood out. She handled our large group with grace and efficiency, attending to every request without being intrusive. Her timing was flawless, and her attentiveness made everyone feel well taken care of—something rare and special in the restaurant industry.

I received so many compliments from my guests about the service and the overall experience. I can't thank Amber and the entire Gusto team enough for making my birthday celebration such a memorable occasion.

There’s a reason our group has returned to your restaurant several times already, and we’ll definitely be back with more friends in the future. Their hospitality and service...

The food had highs and lows. The focaccia bread was a really great starter, served with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. This got my hopes up for the rest of the evening due to the belief that if a restaurant has quality bread, they in turn usually will have great entrees and other selections, however that was not the case. The Bolognese I had was lacking flavor and to be honest tasted like it could have come out of a can... this is me simply being honest. Additionally, the meat was also very similar to a sloppy joe which was off putting. My friend ordered the Alla Crema and this is where we hit the low point of the night. The only good parts of her meal were the pistachio that were sprinkled on top and the sausage in the sauce. The sauce itself tasted funky and somewhat potent. The actual pasta for both dishes were not cooked correctly which also sucked. Finally, we got to the dessert and this was honestly the highest point of the night. We ordered the Affogato and it was really delicious! Overall, the food experience was definitely tainted by the entrees composition.

The service was average. She didn't really talk to us which could have been due to her overwhelming amount of tables, but it felt like we were a touch and go sort of table where she said a few words and then would leave. Not terrible, just could have been more personable.

The atmosphere was overall pretty good. The decor inside was really nice and added a lot of dimension to the restaurant. The only downside was the fact that it is super echoey in there, and so when it gets busy I'm sure it can be...