- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Gusto 101
- Hours:
Mon 11:30 am - 10 pm
Tue-Wed 11:30 am - 11 pm
Thu-Fri 11:30 am - 1 am
Sat 11 am - 1 am
Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
26 reviews for Gusto 101
26 reviews in English
-
Review from Lauren M.
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wine on tap for $1 an oz? It's a done deal for me.
Unfortunately, for some reason the patio doesn't have it's liquor license yet. So you can dine but not drink on the patio. I hope they get that sorted out asap. There are two patios, a small front facing one and a rooftop one as well.
Fortunately, the no liquor license fact allowed us to grab a patio seat in the blazing sun yesterday after work. The interior was RAMMED on a Thursday at 6pm, despite it being 26 degrees outside people were still piling into the interior. A good sign.
Great Italian menu with lots of antipasti, pizza, paninis, pasta and higher end entrees. Great wine list too.
My friend tried the daily special, a suckling pig sandwich served with fries for $14. Fries were super fresh and they had homemade ketchup which was a nice touch. Sandwich was huge. I didn't taste it but apparently it was just OK.
Service was incredibly attentive, almost annoyingly so. (The waitress was over refilling our water and checking on us seemingly every 5 minutes, which killed our conversation somewhat).
Something tells me this place will be a winner this summer! -
Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
5/8/2012
you can park your car in my garage
I was NOT in the mood to dine out. But my dear dear friend Budgie dragged me out because she knew I could use it.
If you read my blog you'll know that I have been waiting for Gusto to open since news of this little italian eatery hit the line.
It opened in a blaze of glory and has been feeding the line of urbanites waiting. It's become so popular (as has being a foodie in general) that people are name dropping it left-and-right. When did restaurant name dropping become a thing? Apparently now.
Gusto is triple threat, and one. The 'and one' would be the spectacular rootop patio. Mark my words, people with fight to get a seat come summer.
Converted from an old garage, I loved everything about the restaurant. It's unpretentious, raw and industrial but welcoming and open (as in the kitchen. I like to watch chefs work the line...gets my appetite going and one in particular got me blushing).
Gusto also has their own microwinery and serves wine by the 3, 6, or 9 ounces. I didn't drink this round, but I'm pretty sure I'll find myself back in a few weeks.
I've read reviews about "shady" or "poor" customer service; I didn't expereince that. Our server was knowledgeable, pleasant and charming. I also read about hour longs waits; didn't experience that either. Then again, much like going to see a movie on opening day, one should know better. You eat outside peak hours on off days (i.e. Sunday night at 9:30 pm).
Budgie and I ate a lot. The calamari, the carpaccio, a pizza, a pasta and two sides. We ate all of it.
For us it delivered in place and people, food, and price.
If I was in a "better place" that day I would have been more enthused, but seeing as it took a girl who didn't want any company and fed her right and made her smile, Gusto was just what I needed.
I need more than good food. I need food that hugs. -
Review from Steve L.
Oakville, ON
5/2/2012
I get the hype. But I don't get the shady customer service/experience.
I called a week before for a group reservation. They told me I'd hear back in 24 hours. Didn't get a ring back, but didn't mind so I followed up 2 days later. I got the save message, that I'd hear back in 24 hours. At this point, I thought they'd get back to me quickly, but nah. So I called again and got the same non sense.
As this was for a birthday, my girlfriend decides to call. She get's the runaround and eventually gets snarky service from the person on the phone.
So again, cool that people like this place. But shady service. -
Review from Jack S.
Toronto, ON
5/23/2012
I walked in and looked around. The first thing I noticed was the amazing aroma and plenty of room for people to sit. Great ambience as well. Staff was friendly.
I didn't want to give a high or low rating because I only stoped in this time, I didn't eat there. I was with friends and didn't have time. I do plan on going back though. Actually, I'm looking forward to it. The pizza looks amazing. -
Review from R Y.
Toronto, ON
4/29/2012
Wow - this place is the bomb and lives up to the hype! Well worth the 1.5 hour wait! What we had:
Calamari - they got it right here. Using fresh, not frozen, squid and seasoned batter (very rarely done in Toronto as most places don't bother to season) fried to perfection and made to order. Hella-yea good Only wished the portion was larger.
Carpaccio: the only dish I was disappointed with. Too small, the beans and cilantro over powered the dish and over priced.
Spinach pizza: excellent pizza crust and an amazing topping:cheese:crust ratio. Only regret was not ordering their funghi pizza the server recommended.
Squid ink pasta: very delicious and excellent portion size.
Best for last! Funghi fettuccine: this is most definitely OMG-delicious. I didn't order it but my friends were kind enough to give me some (that was only because they hadn't taken a bite yet otherwise they would never share with me - yes it's that good). The mushroom flavour was highlighted brilliantly with the truffle sauce, butter and cream. The pasta was al dente and the entire dish just worked. It was the highlight of the evening and we found ourselves talking about this dish hours after the meal. Heck I'm still reminiscing about it two days later. A must try!!
House wine: only $1 an oz. You read right, one dollar ($1) per oz. At that price there's no reason not to order a glass.
Service: very attentive despite the chaos around us. The manager even came by and chatted with us. Probably because we couldn't stop throwing complements about the food to the waitress.
Overall: this place is amazing and I would come back even knowing there's a long wait. Will probably get better in the summer because they will double their capacity with their roof top and front patios. Five stars for sure! -
Review from Josefa M.
Toronto, ON
4/24/2012
I think this is the first time I finally went to a place I bookmarked to try!
We walked in last night at 7:45 pm and immediately got a table for two. It gets an A for ambiance (even though you are packed in) and service (even though my server who was at least ten years younger than me kept calling me sweetie). I thought I was a fairly intelligent person, but I had to get our server to translate a number of items.
We started with: Mozzarella di Bufala - tomatoes, basil oil, parmigiano crisp, smoked paprika. Light and tasty.
House wine: delicious.
I had the: Da Dee - sweet potatoes, cavolo nero, local fior di latte (I had to get it translated and found out it is a sweet potato, kale and two kinds of light cheese pizza). Too much kale on a pizza! I am not sure I would order this again.
My friend had: 10oz Striploin - dry-aged, certified Angus, cannellini al fiasco, chipotle sauce steak. The beans were not very tasty. The steak was good, not fatty and very tender - it was medium done.
We shared what I will call a dessert sampler, because our server said something in Italian that I can't remember. There were two mini vanilla cupcakes with chocolate icing (tasteless), roasted marshmallows with strawberry sauce and this cute syringe filled with rum that you can baste them in (tasty) , a chocolate-caramel creme-brule that was so decadent and yummy!
I was disappointed because I had high expectations for the restaurant but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I will definitely go back and try the pasta menu for dinner as well as lunch and brunch.
I would also love to get a seat at that table downstairs in the wine cellar... -
Review from Pascal P.
Toronto, ON
3/22/2012
I went there last night (Wednesday) for dinner at about 10pm and the place was packed. I got the feeling that it used to be an auto shop of some sort. The service was quite slow but it understandably so. The tables were too close together. They take orders with an ipod touch which in my opinion earns it a * on its own. The restaurant smelled so good almost like an oven roast turkey with gravy.
food
pumpkin soup- 4/5
polipo (octopus)- 5/5 amazing
carpaccio- 4/5 too many beans
ravioli du zucca- 3/5 i compared it to bucca... and really there was no comparison
Tagliata di Manzo( steak salad)- 4/5
repeat: yes, I think the restaurant has -
Review from Viviana M.
Toronto, ON
3/18/2012 6 photos
Dining Experience: Dinner
Specialty: Lunch, Dinner (Brunch coming Mar.30.2012)
Menu items: Tagliolini al Nero, Ravioli di Zucca and Desserts accompanied with wine on tap
The new addition to trendy King West in Toronto has finally come to enchant us with its rustic decor, wine on tap for $1/oz and superb Italian inspired dishes with a twist. It seems Italian cuisine is taking over King West with places such as Buca, Alimento, Tutti Matti and Scarpetta just minutes walking distance from each other. The good thing is that all of these restaurants have their own unique style and way of cooking; and Gusto 101 certainly does not stay behind offering a variety of pastas, pizzas, salads and Tuscan grilled-style dishes that just make my mouth water as I type.
Having a personal weakness for squid ink pasta for its fantastic taste and texture, my first obvious meal choice was the Tagliolini al Nero.
Food made with squid ink is not a culinary delight. It's an addiction. The intense black color and strong rich taste makes you want to eat this pasta again and again until none is left. One fork full of this black goodness mixed with cuttle fish, oven roasted tomatoes, fresh peas and lemon zest adding some tanginess to it, and you know you've just reached culinary addiction.
There are two ways of making this pasta, one is from scratch and as part of the pasta dough, the other as part of the sauce. The former being the most complex and rewarding in terms of flavour...so glad Gusto got it right!
And speaking of flavour, if some of you have yet to venture into ravioli, I recommend you do it here. The twist that Gusto has added to its Italian inspired meals is definitely seen through the Ravioli di Zucca.
Not sure how the chef came up with the idea of mixing roasted pumpkin, parmigiano cheese and sage brown butter, but I am glad he did! What an exquisite taste. The ravioli pasta is good, I mean we just settled on the fact that their pastas are fantastic, but in this case it's not so much the pasta as it is the goodness of the ingredients playing in one's mouth. Yes its buttery and rich, but the sweetness of the pumpkin just comes through so elegantly and discrete, it makes this a superb dish and a must try at Gusto.
Now on to my second favourite part of the meal (first was obviously my black pasta), Gusto's wine on tap for just $1/oz. I was extremely hesitant to try wine on tap, but was quickly convinced by the price. Depending on the day you go, Gusto offers different kinds on tap. That night we were offered a lovely Pinot Grigio and a Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon. Let's just say, I ended up getting 10oz of the Pinot Grigio. What a deal and a great pairing to my meal.
Finally on to desserts...Tiramisu and Chocolate Creme with salted caramel.
The Tiramisu was nothing worth mentioning, it was very light and tasty but nothing that will blow your mind away. The Chocolate Creme on the other hand was a hit. The salted caramel balanced off the sweetness from the chocolate quite nicely. Our waiter told us to mix the dessert well as it was drizzled with some olive oil...say what? Oh yeah, the idea was to get all flavours working before your spoon went in, and so we did. Needless to say, that little glass cup was wiped clean by the time I was done.
Note to reader: My only complain about Gusto is that in an effort to sit as many people as possible in a small space, it has forgotten about their customers' comfort. Luckily for you, if you are seated by the wall/mirror, you wont be as bothered; on the other hand if you are seated in any of the centre tables running across the restaurant, and you are party of 4, you better pray the wait staff has been trained to maneuver around you. It's almost impossible for people to pass by. We were one of the unlucky ones and thankfully prior to the restaurant getting busy, we were accommodated in another table as my party kept getting their heads pumped by waiters and other customers passing by. This is something owner Janet Zuccarini should be aware of and address immediately before numerous free meals are given away due to these inconveniences.
Buen Provecho,
Viviana.Listed in: Best Restaurants in Toronto
-
Review from Jumping J.
Toronto, ON
5/13/2012
Unprecedented VALUE for your dollar!!
This restaurant is UNREAL!!
It hits on EVERY strike point. Design. Lighting. Cocktails. Ambiance. Service. Location. Variety. And of course, the two BEST components to the experience...THE UNBELIEVABLE FOOD...and THE UNBELIEVABLE PRICE!!!!
SO MANY HEALTHY MENU OPTIONS!
I am in NYC 10-12 times a year, and usually not for business. I make an ongoing project of finding the best spots to hit, in every corner of NY. Restaurants like Gusto are rare anywhere in the world, although you can find them with a similar vibe in New York. Probably 10 or so. However, what you can't find even in NYC...is a restaurant of THIS calibre, at THIS price.
I fully expected to pay $185-220 for a full dinner for two. 3 appetizers we shared. A great bottle of wine. 2 main courses, with a side vegetable dish, we shared a dessert, each had a coffee...and with tip and taxes, we got out of there for $140!! Take the $25 tip and the $13 of tax away...and we basically got charged $100.
I have read some comments about it being busy. That's because its GREAT. And I have read two reviews, that have been lackluster. These Toronto based food reviewers are complete snobs. When you go out to a restaurant, you want the entire package. Using a magnifying glass to critique the food alone, is not a helpful context. The food at Gusto is great, but its not meant to be fine dining. IT IS GREAT ITALIAN FOOD! This place is a trailblazer for Torontonians to wake up and realize how much fun we can have by just walking out our door.
FULLY RECOMMEND THIS SPOT -
Review from Happybadfish S.
Toronto, ON
3/18/2012
I ate here late on Saturday night. It was about 10:00 pm when we arrived. We were seated immediately at a small table for 2. The place was hopping, if you needed a bigger table there probably would have been 15-30 min wait.
We asked what the best things on the menu were. The waiter recommended the octopus and the carpaccio for starters and the gnocchi di ricotta and the branzino fish for mains. I have a problemo with mains at most restaurants. I find the flavor and pizazz to be majorly MIA in comparison to the starters. But we thought we would give mains a shot again, I usually order 4-5 starters for the 2 of us, but we went with exactly what the waiter suggested.
This was the very best carpaccio I have ever had. And I usually order carpaccio everywhere I go. The octopus was so tender and smokey, I love it. I would have a hard time not ordering these 2 items the next time I eat here.
The mains were as expected, a bit boring. The fish, I wouldn't bother. The gnocchi was supposed to have pork sausage, but I couldn't find it or taste it for that matter.
Ended the meal with the dessert trio (tiarmisu, chocolate pudding and a lemon froth thing), even though we only wanted the lemon one, the waiter talked us into the trio. But then when it came, they were out of the lemon. Seriously, I couldn't believe he actually brought us 2 desserts we weren't really interested in without checking with us once he found out they were sold out of the one we wanted, but they were surprisingly very good.
All in all, I enjoyed the restaurant and would go back. The waiter told us they are getting a roof top patio ready that can seat close to 75 or so people plus a small out front patio. -
Review from Steph L.
2/26/2012
Sexy and Gusto knows it.
It's hard to believe that this space used to be a garage.
Now, it's a trendy King West hot spot for a pre-party with Italian fare.
There's an hour wait but at least the place is full of beautiful people -- it makes rubbing elbows more fun.
The Vini Di Gusto had been sold out for awhile. Their house wine is made in their own basement cellar and is on tap for $1 per ounce.
OMG, wine on tap?! Really?
I want a wine tap in my house.
That evening they had fresh batches of their house wines available, pinot grigio and merlot. Fantastic!
*Appetizers*
Arancini - Deep fried rice with mushrooms and tomato sauce (8.95).
Crispy and filling, this appetizer sure was popular.
Polipo - Grilled octopus with green beans (13.50)
The octopus was fresh and chewy with charred bits.
Beef Tartare with figs, ricotta, arugula, and truffle oil (14.50 large serves 3)
The fig really made this dish much sweeter than expected. I really liked the cute cube presentation but I wish it was served with different bread. The bread slices were large, thick, and over-toasted. Clumsy.
*Pasta*
The Pappardelle ai Funghi is mushroom heaven and I wanted more. Portobello and oyster mushrooms, truffle paste...mmmyummy (14.95)
The Gnocchi di Ricotta with sausage wasn't very exciting.
Overcooked, slightly soggy, it's not something that I would order again (14.95)
I'm curious about the Tagliolini al Nero. They infuse black squid ink into the pasta. So if you like seafood, this would be a good one to try.
*Dessert*
We had the sharing plate of 4 desserts for $12.
The desserts here are small tasting portions.
* The chef's specialty is a sparkling lemon foam. It was like a sour lemon tart in mist form.
* The tiramisu was all whipped mascarpone and not much else.
* The chocolate mouse had chocolate cakey bits and topped with sea salt. The sea salt was large grain and too large for the delicate mousse. Crunch.
* The biscotti is like a meringue cookie (crunchy cookie styrofoam)
None of the desserts were amazing, but still a nice way to end dinner.
Gusto 101 is noisy, fun, uber trendy, and perfect for party goers but not a place I would return to for a nice Italian meal. But I'll be back. I want to see this rooftop patio. -
Review from roben h.
Toronto, ON
3/10/2012
I called the restaurant nearly a week in advance to reserve the private cellar for a party of 12+ people. I called several times, left one phone message and emailed.
I didn't receive any word from them until now, the day of the event, that the space has since been booked.
In a neighborhood rife with great restaurants it is extremely unprofessional for a new restaurant to start relationships with potential clientele in this manner.
The next time I'm booking for a large party it will certainly be somewhere that can handle their business.
I have an apartment a block from the restaurant and was so looking forward to having a new local spot for events. What a disappointment. -
Review from Pouneh R.
Toronto, ON
3/20/2012
Have you ever been to a store that the sales person is all over you that you get annoyed and leave the store even though you really like some of the cloths? I had the same feeling at Gusto 101. I guess they were just trying to be hospitable but they definitely overdid it. There was a waitress and then there was a hostess that asked us if everything was OK every 5 minutes and/or if they should take our plates away. It kinda felt like they were rushing us. They're using this great app to take names for the waitlist and orders, which is awesome, but the fact that waiter would just stand over our table to put the orders in on the app for 2 minutes after we ordered just made it too uncomfortable.
I went there because I really wanted to try their on tap wine, but they didn't have any of the red wines so that was another disappointment.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, great design, and I'm sure once the patio opens it'll be a great hangout spot for a lot of people in that area. But inside is just too loud and too hot.
Food was good. Nothing crazy though. -
Review from Vanessa G.
Toronto, ON
2/14/2012
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
Definitely worth the wait.
Great food, cool interior and an awesome garage-chic vibe - think Pirelli calendar meets hipster. This is mos def going to be one of my go-to's.
I was very intrigued by the house wine @ $1 per ounce, but apparently it was more popular than expected as I checked this spot out on day 6 and they had already sold out. The regular wine list is a bit small if you only want to go by the glass, but decent. They have a varied menu with items that would please even the most finicky palate. In fact I would almost say too much choice as I had a hard time narrowing down what I wanted to eat, lucky for me plates are perfect for sharing.
Pizza was good, not as doughy as Libretto more of a cracker like crust, but still very tasty. Pastas were amazing and cooked to perfection. Servers are uber friendly and very helpful (and keep in mind this was only day 6, so I'm pretty impressed). And boy is that chef is easy on the eyes, too bad you can't take him to go. ;) -
Review from The Vong Choice I.
Toronto, ON
2/28/2012
Gusto 101 is the newest and latest hotspot to take on the King West neighbourhood. The space, an old mechanic's garage has been completely transformed into an open concept kitchen with exposed bricks, high ceilings and dim lighting. The only problem is they don't take reservations and the restaurant was jammed packed full of hungry patrons.
After an hour and 15 minutes and 1 glass of prosecco, we finally got a table for 2. The owner Janet Zuccarini of the Yorkville resto Cafe Nervosa is the owner and also designed mainly the dinner with Italian classics and favourites brought over from Nervosa.
For starters we had the funghi appetizer which was served in a le creset pot mixed with arugula and bread crumbs - it was savoury and flavourful. We also tried the buffalo de mozzarella antipasti with roasted grape tomatoes and a parmesan crisp which was refreshing. For our mains, we focused on getting pastas dishes - I had their ricotta gnocchi with pork sausage. This was an incredible dish where the gnocchi's were like pillows of air that melted in your mouth.
My friend had the roasted pumpkin ravioli which was sweet, creamy and very velvety. Delicious!!!
We did want to sample Gusto's own wine by the tap -Vini di Gusto- but they were sold out! This wine is house made in the restaurant's own basement and is a branch of Toronto's urban winery Vintage One.
It's definitely a fun spot to have a great dinner with friends or on a date on. I look forward to going back and sampling the vino as well as when the rooftop patio opens up above the restaurant! -
Review from Cindy C.
Toronto, ON
3/11/2012
This place is always packed - and they don't take reservations. Great vino deal, amazing ambiance and delicious food, no wonder they are always packed.
ANTIPASTI - We started out with CAPRACCIO, which was a good share plate, was delicious infused with a lemony flavour. If you like raw meat, this is the dish for you, they did it very well.
INSALATE - we balanced it with a very light, and refreshing CAVOLO NERO - kale and nuts, it was very well done, this is a great side dish to break up any richness of other dishes. We had this with the pasta and it worked out really nicely.
MAINS - we did a PIZZE, the SALCICCE. This was a bit spicy, tomato-y and sausage-y. It had a bit of tang and was was a good size, like a small pizza - good to share or eat on your own.
PASTA - our lovely server recommended a great pasta dish: PAPPARDELLE AI FUNGHI - they used shaved portobello mushrooms mixed into some FRESH homemade pasta, this was the best dish out of all the dishes of the night and I highly recommend.
BEST OF ALL - $1 for 1 Ounce of VINO bianco or rossi. WHATTTTT, you can drink a glass of homemade wine for 6 dollars, for a nice restaurant - that is amazing. And it was delicious too, it wasn't like normal homemade wines, which are ghetto, sharp and intangible.
The ambiance is good. If you want to go, you must go early or during the week. I've attempted to go on a Sat night for dinner - I went at 9 and the wait was 1.45 hours! Fun people, great looking crowd, definately fun on a night out on the town. -
Review from Sam C.
2/19/2012
I understand the allure of this new hot spot in KiWe and it's a welcomed addition to the neighborhood. Our wait time was quoted at 1.5 hrs on a Friday night which was fine as we could leave our number, go to another bar to have a drink, and wait for them to call. BTW, the restaurant has a no reservation policy which i think is ideal for any hot restaurant to maximize its turnover rate.
It was more like 45 min before we received the coveted phone call, upon arrival we were shown to our table, greeted by our server (which by the way was uber friendly) and immersed ourselves with all the beautiful people and trendsetters of KiWe. Great atmosphere if you want that busy/bustling environment in a dark lit setting. Wine list isn't extensive and they ran out of their house-made wine which i was eager to try. But prices were reasonable for both drinks and food.
Where the restaurant fell short is the food in itself. It didn't stand out to me, we tried a couple of the Antipastis (Polipo - octopus and Salsicce - spicy kielbasa) and a pasta Tagliolini al Nero (black squid ink with lemon zest). The Antipastis looked nice but the taste wasn't overwhelming and the pasta in itself was the biggest disappointment, the noodles were stuck together and not much flavor.
This will be a spot I would go for drinks and meet up with friends (especially when their rooftop patio opens in the summer). But it's not a place I would take people as a dining destination. -
Review from Doris L.
Toronto, ON
3/13/2012
I agree with other yelpers. It's a fun place, King W crowd, and of course it can be crowded. Interesting place to people watch.
Had a mediocre Sangiovese. Too bad we picked a bad one.
As for food, I could have better food on Ossington or Dundas if you know what i mean.
I don't mind trying new places, and paying a bit more for different experience, it's just not great food for what it is. That's all.
I appreciate the good service. Thanks Jorge. -
Review from pascal p.
Toronto, ON
4/9/2012
I think i have already reviewed this place but feel it is worth a second one. I went there for a second time on the weekend. I am really torn about this place. The establishment itself used to be an old auto shop of some sort and its really has that vibe to it. very funky decor. They use ipods to do all of the ordering. The food is good.
The Bad.... Their staff have NO sense of urgency. They go at a snails pace. yet have all the time to gab to each other. The ipods even if they are ordering food there is no way that they needed to spend that much time on them. My table was next to the open concept kitchen. We had lots of time to kill so we observed.... the Executive Chef had an obsession with touching his face especially his mouth, and I caught him licking something off his finger then eating something.... this guy touches my food... sooo gross. Also there were 2 plates of food that sat under the heat lamps for a good 15 min... I am hoping it was a staff members and not a patrons meal.
All in all I will probably still go back because i do like the place but I was extremely disappointed this time.... -
Review from Warren P.
Toronto, ON
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Had the funghi pizza there for lunch yesterday....really good quality product. Love having another great restaurant in the neighbourhood and excited to visit for dinner down the road when it's not chock full of the Thompson Hotel crowd.
LOVE the concept of table wine on tap. The Pinot Grigio was the better of the two. Aromatic, acidic, refreshing. The Cab/Merlot was disappointing considering the region can produce some great reds. I'm sure they'll change that as the waiter said that was generally the line of thinking from most visitors. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
2/26/2012
I have been here twice since the grand opening of the highly anticipated Gusto 101.. Walking to Jimmy's for coffee for the last little while, I had been keeping a close look out on when this place would be opened and when it finally did, I hardly waited before stepping into this gorgeous industrial space, will of beautiful lighting, high ceilings and wooden furniture that gives it a rustic, yet comfortable feeling.
On my first visit, I came with a friend just for drinks. The hostess and waitress were overly excited and happy.. a little overbearing, i have to say.. I felt like they were forcing their smiles on me. Their menu is large collection of papers pinned to a clipboard so it was difficult locating where the cocktails were... so I asked out server, and she pointed me to the.... GRAPPAS. I'm not an expert with names, concoctions, or Italian, but I know that Grappas are sweet wines, and not cocktails. Good thing I had read Natalie T's reviews and were able to locate her recommendations and made an executive decision to try their ultra strong drink - the one with the orange bitters (can't remember it's name). It was very strong as I had anticipated, though I have to say the size of the cocktail cup was quite small for the price. I also had a negroni americano (campari, vermouth, soda) and I thought it was made very nicely. Everything that came out of the kitchen smelled incredible and I was really excited to come back for the food. We had been sat along the wall with the banquet and I must say that the tables are WAY too close. I can't say I'm a big girl and I could barely squeeze out feeling like I was intruding on the table next to us.
On my second visit, I took my BFF here for her birthday dinner (her choice, but I was definitely excited to finally taste what I had been smelling on my first visit). It was around 6:30 and there were probably 5 tables available. Not wanting to sit along the squished banquette tables, we were lucky to get a table on the main centre aisle, although there wasn't a lot of extra breathing room with people walking by and my chair getting banged several times, and people would be bring chairs across the restaurant and I thought that I was going to get hit in the head. Our waiter was very courteous, and very knowledgeable of everything on the menu. We got the escarole salad to start with walnuts, onion and truffle vinaigrette ($9.95). The escarole had a beautiful crunch to it and a lovely scent of truffle with every bite. The walnuts and onion added some punch and bite and I thought it was a lovely start to our meals.
For the mains, I got the 3-mushroom parppadelle with truffle paste and light cream - I was told that it would be very mushroomy and I was very excited because I don't eat them very often - portebello, oyster, porcini ($14.95). When it arrived, I was actually disappointed to see that there were hardly any mushroom PIECES (maybe 3 - 4 little ones), but other than that, thee pasta dish contained mushroom shavings that created the overall taste. The dish was very tasty, not overly heavy and a good texture, but can't say I was completely satisfied. The pasta is NOT made in house, but I was told it was "fresh....."
My bf got the brandzino ($21.95), which the fish is seared in house (making it super fresh). It was recommended by our server so she went with that. I have to say that this dish was very good, with a very evident citrus coating that erupted your taste buds. The sauteed greens were nice and crunchy, and I preferred her dish over mine in the end.
We decided to try the desserts because the waiter really did sell them well. Knowing that they were little bites in the size similar to a shot glass, we got the lemon ice and the chocolate fudge brownie with caramel sauce and rock salt. If I had known that it was $3.95 / shot, I would have passed because I didn't think it was worth it at all. The lemon air was pretty much that in a shot glass. I didn't feel like there was any substance to it although there was a very potent lemon taste. Nothing really sat on my tongue as it evaporated in an instant. There were little pieces of lemon jelly that had a lot of flavour, but that was it. The chocolate dessert came in a very cute little jar, but only half full. It was very dense, and lacking caramel sauce. The rock salt was extremely overpowering so if you didn't know (which I didn't) and took very little chocolate in your bite, it would really turn you off.
Having been here twice, I was sooooo excited to try their in house made wine. The first time I came, they were out and told me that it would be by the end of the next week. I came two weeks later on my second visit, only to find out that they still did not have any wine and it wouldn't be ready until... the following week. Unfortunately, maybe I'm just going to wait it out and hope that the next time someone suggests to eat here, the wine will be back.
Highlight - FOCACCIA BREAD TO START. Delicious! -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
2/4/2012
First to review! Whoo Hoo!
This place is going to be one of the hottest spots in Toronto due to its tony location at Portland and Adelaide (just in front of Devil's Martini) and its rooftop patio.
VIBE
Total design porn here! Gusto 101 marks its territory in the industrial chic genre. Exposed brick, beams and pipes is what's it all about here. And they have the lighting down as well with cool lamps jettisoning (can't think of a better verb here) from the walls. Though it's a restaurant, on day one you can tell people like to hang near the bar.
The private room near the bathrooms is also super funky too. If you have a chance to peek in, it's quite fun.
There wasn't too much media hype about this place and the owners were secretive about its opening but that's how it will get buzz worthy.
And the bathrooms! The bathrooms are quite cool with sliding doors, pipes used as toilet roll holders, funky mirrors and a lovely porelain white communal sink. Oh, and I do believe the bathroom is uni sex.
Staff are young, cute and full of energy. Hello, Chris at the bar! But they do know their stuff.
WE ATE/DRANK
We didn't eat. We drank! We had each one of the cocktails on the menu. Our bartender Chris said it goes from least boozy to most boozy from the top to the bottom. That is a lie! The price is a bit much for the size of the drink that you're getting.
Bocho -hendrick's gin, aperol, orange bitter cucumber - Yum. It's gin. I love gin. A bit sour.
Giuletta -plantacion barbados aged rum, vermouth, ampari --one sip= hi, I'm drunk. My least favourite drink. Super boozy but my friends loved it!
Vespino - stoli vodka, hibiscus syrup, mint --my FAVOURITE drink on the menu. Not a big enough glass. Lovely, sweet, summery. Love Love Love.
Lambretta - Woodford reserve bourbon, laxardo maraschino liquer, maple syrup, jalapeno chili - my second favourite drink on the menu. A good sweet drink. That chili really does give an amazing kick of an aftertaste. We were curious about this one!
Murcielago -jose cuervo tequila, absinthe, house made ginger beer, pineapple juice. -- a really interesting mix of flavours. I was nervous b/c I'm not a tequila fan and though you do taste a lot of tequila in this one the flavours of the ginger beer and absinthe (didn't know it was legal in TO) and pineapple make it fun. You also get candied ginger as a garnish. A fun one.
The food is all Italian and the price points are a bit lower than at other places (but not that much lower) so I'm thinking they're going to be banking on volume. There are many pizzas, pastas and tapas to share. I'll be back for the food. And the kitchen looks wonderful.
This is a great date place or a place to have fun and flirt with the boys.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Lots of gusto at Gusto 101! Though it was only Day one, it was already busy but the staff seem to get everything under control here. There will be plenty of buzz about this place.Listed in: Libations
-
Review from Cameron W.
Toronto, ON
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Checking out this place is a must! Janet zuccarini has really out done herself on this one. Im sure most of you are familiar with her other restaurant, yorkville staple Trattoria Nervosa. Its been going strong for 15 years and I'm sure gusto will follow suit. Considering the kitchen staff come from some of the best restaurants in north america, as well as it having the most high tech kitchen in the country. The food here is simple yet elegant and still interesting while being consistent in quality. If you haven't made it there yet do it before it becomes too hard to get a table!
-
Review from Lee-Anne K.
Toronto, ON
3/30/2012
They're open for lunch. We enjoyed a celebratory lunch here today and really didn't know what to expect. But they surpassed our expectation. The menu was traditional Italian, similar to osteria and mercatto. But they hit the price point and portion size just right. The quality, presentation and service was excellent. Their only weak spot are their desserts and coffee. Personally, I like a desserts that consists of more than a table spoon. Better hit this spot before the word gets out. It's one of those spots that start excellent and may get pretentious over time. But definite worth a try.
-
Review from Julie J.
Toronto, ON
2/15/2012
This place is fantastic, sure to be a big hot spot. The food is fantastic. I had the gnocchi and it was absolutely delicious..best pasta dish I've had out. We had a side of brussel sprouts which were unusually done and very tasty. Prices were very reasonable, and the service was absolutely fantastic. Servers were chatty and engaging, and very enthusiastic about the place. Even the chefs were friendly, despite being very busy (we were sat along the bar facing the kitchen, an interesting seat)! Decor was very trendy and modern, exposed pipe, etc. Apparently its a converted garage. Overall, fantastic first impression. Will be back!
-
Review from Meg W.
Etobicoke, ON
3/24/2012
If you want to get into Gusto, show up early - like before 6pm. We went on a Tuesday at 5:50, were seated immediately, and within 15 minutes the place was packed. As other reviewers have noted, the tables are too close together - not only does this make it loud, but also difficult for the person against the wall to get out without bumping the next table. The waitress was a little overly attentive, but knowledgeable and gave good recommendations. I had steak tartare as a starter, and it's so-so - wouldn't really recommend it. A had the escarole salad as my main, and though it's decent, unfortunately that wasn't enough food for me. My boyfriend had Brussels sprouts to start, and he thought they were great, as was the pumpkin pasta, his main. However, he also was still hungry at the end, so we both found their portions are a little small. We ordered the chocolate mousse and tiramisu for dessert, and they were divine. Usually I'm not a tiramisu fan, and my boyfriend doesn't like coffee, but we both thought it was fabulous. I wasn't impressed with the house red - too pungent - but my bf liked it. Dinner was about $90 with tax and tip, so not ridiculous. I'd go again and try something more filling. Oh, and about the iphone app they use to place orders - I found it intrusive, would have preferred the usual notepad. Actually, I think that staff at high-end restaurants should be able to memorize what people ordered and place it directly with the kitchen. Can't wait till the patio opens, one of the few in King West, and kitchen open late - should be good.
