Gran Gusto

Very tasty Italian restaurant. We had the melanzane, an eggplant starter with mozzarella and tomato sauce. My Rigatoni alla Norma was also good. People in my party who ordered the Chitarra, a cheesey spaghetti served from inside a parmesan wheel, were extremely happy with their meal. Good wine selection, too. I also visited years ago and tried the pizza, which is a traditional Neapolitan style. I don't recall how it is but it looks good.

Weird experience overall. Blantant racism and rude service. Food was also lukewarm. Upon walking in, the staff insisted on speaking Italian to us. Even after we replied "we're good" to their greeting, the waiter got really close to my friend's face and insisted they say "come sta?". Servers kept looking at us and our table in a not welcoming way, standing next to us and hovering a lot somehow. Portions were small...The calamari was ok, but the pasta was cold even after being tossed in the cheese wheel. Clientele was questionable (though I understand it's out of their control) and racist. Talked about whether the cheese wheel was unsanitary right next to us as we're eating... Sadly won't be visiting again, was excited to try since their shop looked cute.

Never knew this place existed in plain sight. I went with a friend who had been before. It's a quaint restaurant with exceptional service and great, Italian food! Large wine selection, and the Arancini was perfect.

Went there for lunch and had a thoroughly enjoyable meal. The grilled calamari was excellent. Tender and accompanied by delicious mushrooms and cherry tomatoes. We split a fungi pizza, and it was one of the best pizzas I've ever had. The crust was thin, and the outer crust had just the right amount of crispiness with enough chew. The buffalo mozzarella was very flavorful without being stringy, which is the usual characteristic of most pizzas I've eaten. We'll definitely be back!

We have been regulars at Gran Gusto for over ten years now. Definitely the place to go to in the Boston area, if you crave authentic Italian food in a friendly setting without breaking the bank. A big shout out to the very friendly wait staff team and Antonio who has been a warm and gracious host throughout these many years!

You lost my trust Louise. I came here for so many times, and recommended here to so many people. And TODAY, when I brought a party of 8 plus 1 baby, some of guests came from Maine and Penn hundreds of miles away, and you, Louise, you gave us a disgusting face, merely because we did not order wine and waited an hour for two remaining guests, followed by a total absence of etiquette and respect, and CHARGED us 20% tips upfront when check. How dare you!!! You just ruined your credibility, and the brand of gran gusto. For the food, it seems a total change from what I tasted before. Too many premade pickling.

This place was recommended to me by an Italian friend. The margherita pizza was light and flavorful, the polpette was delicious, and the torta caprese with almonds was an awesome desert. The staff are welcoming and the place feels authentic. Would definitely recommend

Unbelievable Racism Experience From the moment we sat down, the service was indifferent. No one offered us water EVER, checked on our table, or showed even the most basic sense of hospitality. And yet, we were automatically charged a 20% gratuity. But the most upsetting part was the clear differential treatment. As Asian customers, we were met with cold, dismissive behavior, while the white table next to us was greeted with smiles, conversation, and warmth. This wasn’t subtle — it was obvious, and it left us feeling deeply unwelcome. The food was disappointing. The pizza was burnt - the crust was completely burnt and blackened, served cold, and sloppily plated — far from what you’d expect at a restaurant with a 4.5 Google rating. This isn’t just a complaint — it’s a call to accountability.This is not the first review mentioning racist behavior here. When this kind of treatment is tolerated, it challenges the values that communities like Cambridge claim to stand for: inclusion, dignity, and respect for all. Speaking up isn’t about anger — it’s about insisting on a basic standard of decency. That’s something everyone, regardless of race, should be able to agree on.

Having heard rave reviews about Gran Gusto's authentic Italian cuisine, I recently visited this spot in Cambridge, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. To kick off the evening, I tried the Limoncello Spritz - a refreshing and citrusy drink that set the perfect tone. Beware, this drink packs a good punch. Before leaving the restaurant, I picked up food for takeout. We indulged in the eggplant parmigiana, a flavorful classic. The short rib pasta, with its hearty texture and delicious tomato sauce, was a comforting choice. My favorite was the seafood scialatelli, boasting fresh and delectable seafood that elevated the dish. The homemade pasta added an authentic touch to the overall dining experience. While I didn't get a chance to try the famed pizza this time, I've heard great things and can't wait to return for another visit. Gran Gusto truly lives up to its name, I had the "Great Taste/Pleasure" with each dish. I look forward to savoring more of their offerings, especially the renowned pizzas, on my next visit. Buon Appetito!

it was my first time going to this restaurant and it was probably the best resturant ive ever been to in my entire life. 10/10 would 100% recommend. employees are so kind and the food is the best ive ever tasted. the place is also so homey. i love this restaurant and would definitely go again.

Great neighborhood restaurant, thoughtful Italian cuisine, subtle flavors. Enjoyed the squid pasta with lobster. Distinctive desserts as well.

Best authentic Italian restaurant in the area alert!! The eggplant parmigiana appetizer was perfect and well balanced. I tried bit of the sausage orecchiette and it had the most spicy and delicious sauce. Every little noodle was coated with it. I had the short rib pasta and it was as hearty and rich as I could have wanted. I'd skip the ricotta pie next time it was just okay. These homemade pastas are a steal at such reasonable prices. 1000% recommended

Food was really delicious. The room is rather loud once it fills up. The only reason I did not give five stars is that head Waiter was grouchy, abrupt, and seemed displeased that we hadn't memorized all the specials and every ingredient that he had named.

Delicious neighborhood Italian spot in Cambridge with a confusing as heck parking situation but I made it! The antipasto plate was super super fresh and lovely. My pasta dish actually ended up being tossed around in a cheese wheel next to our table before being served to me and I was beyond happy with this surprise because the more cheese the better, always! I am excited to come back to Gran Gusto!

The chitarra was one of the best pasta dishes I've had in my life, the thick noodles and the sauce go perfectly together. The scialatelli was good, nice taste of fresh fish, but not as good as the chitarra in my opinion. The Romana salad was nothing better than average, but it was nice that the restaurant divided it in two for my girlfriend and I without asking. Prices are quite reasonable, and the service was good, better than what I expected from the reviews. They don't rush you out the door to get your check, like so many other restaurants. On the negative side, The tables are very close together and it makes it tough for waiters to get through easily. Overall, I was impressed by the restaurant's ambiance and how amazing the Chitarra was and would definitely come back.

I had scialatielli and tiramisu. I had never eaten this kind of pasta. Thick, short, and sticky. Actually it reminded me of home made Japanese udon. A variety of seafood in the dish and all tasty. Tiramisu is big and delicious. Only it was ok was bread and olive oil.

Super charming spot with a patio! The orriechette was chefs kiss and the pizzas are thin, crispy and flavorful. Everything in the menu looks fabulous so you'll have to negotiate on how many dishes are appropriate for one sitting. Looking forward to my next meal there!!

Pros (Kinda): 1. Decent food: Pizza was decent (5/10), but it didn't really "look" like it was made from a wood fired brick oven. It looked more like if dominoes attempted making napolese styled pizza. The flavor was just nothing special. I've eaten margherita pizza made by actual italians in Europe and in Canada. This tasted like a diet version of that. Based on yelp pics, it seems like the food is very inconsistent. Multiple pics of the same meals look absolutely different. Cons: 1. Horrendous customer service: The pretentiousness of the staff here is pure comedy. You would think you were coming to a restaurant listed in the michelin guide. I honestly think they assess how you look and then decide on which style of service to give you. My server (bald guy) was cracking jokes, smiling and suggesting items on the menu to another customer then comes over to me to give the stink face. This server didn't even ask how I was doing nor said anything after I placed my order. He literally just took the menu and left. Never came back to check on me while eating and also had to be flagged down again to retrieve the bill. Definitely earned my $0.00 tip. Definitely never coming here again for the shitty attitude and basic food.

I brought a date there on Saturday night.... certainly not my first visit though. Food exceeded expectations as it always does..... Service was not that good. The owner, Antonio, handled our table. He was super nice but it was 20 minutes between every visit..... And when it was time to leave we waited another 20 minutes and I had to go get the check myself. I'm guessing he's got some staff shortages to figure out. Food alone was worth five stars but the service kind of sucked.

Food was way subpar. It's been a few years since I have been here, yet it was not good. Something has changed. A lot was over sauced . Worst arancini I have ever had too. Felt like it was stuffed w breadcrumbs or something. Service was subpar too. Was looking for a new go-to. It's just not this place. The pizza was good though.

I have been here another two times after my first review in 2019! It's amazing, we love coming here. The food is delicious, they do not gauge you at all for food or wine, the service is amazing and so is the atmosphere.... the pizza is delicious!!

Really cute Italian spot! Great pizza and a truly amazing cheese dish appetizer (and I say that as someone relatively unenthusiastic about cheese). Sadly the appetizer was a special but get it if you can. Ambiance is really cute with indoor and outdoor options. Only star off was for unpleasant service for a waiter who seemed genuinely angry we were trying to order/get the bill/etc.

I no longer feel like I have to go to North End to enjoy good Italian! For the price point, Gran Gusto serves by far the best quality in the Boston area. After an experience here, I feel like I can confidently say that I know what authentic Italian food is. Gran Gusto is a hidden gem in the quiet residential area in North Cambridge. One of my friends from Italy recommended me this place and it was long on the list of restaurants I want to go to. We booked at 5:30 as other time slots were full on Saturday. Parking can be a bit tricky and I recommend Uber if possible. Beware that there's a 90-minute limit to the seating. What we ordered: Rughetta $12 Spaghetti alla Puttanesca $19 Salmerino $28 Tiramisu $8 Each ingredient is simple but so effective and well prepared. I love that the pasta remained hot until I finished eating. Salmon was prepared perfectly with the skin crispy and the meat so tender. It was only flavored with salt but the harmony with the veggies was just perfect. The staff is friendly, attentive, and pleasant to speak to. Would love to come back in the summer and enjoy their patio!

What an absolute surprise! We were in Newport for a few days and ended up here. The pasta is fresh and the staff welcoming and accommodating. Can't wait to go back!

A wonderful gem hidden in Neighborhood Nine near Denahy Park. The decor is simple but charming. The service is attentive but not intrusive. The food is delicious.

Gran Gusto had been on my list for a while and I'm so happy I finally got the chance to give them a try. First off, love the vibe of the whole place - it's very neighborhood bistro/intimate vibes and the best part... a PARKING LOT (after 6pm). Any restaurant in Boston with a parking lot gets bonus points from me. For appetizers we got a mushroom risotto dish (not good, it was a special so it probably isn't on the menu) and the Ceci which was a chickpea fritter, prosciutto, stracciatella cheese, and a balsamic glaze. This dish was incredible - it has so many textures and flavors in one bite. I got the paccheri for my entree and this dish also blew my mind. I'm usually not a fan of pasta that requires cutting but it was cooked perfectly, the sauce was bomb, and they were not stingy with the short rib. Simple, well executed, flavorful dish.

Gran Gusto is a really delicious authentic Italian resteraunt! It's reasonably priced and the appetizers, pasta, and salmon were all very good. We love coming here for a night out and when we want to have a longer dinner (service can be pretty slow), they are very nice

The food is very good, excellent in fact. However, the service is horrendous. Worst I have ever seen. We had to ask repeatedly to order food, ask for water, order wine and order our food. We had to order our appetizers twice and help clear the table between courses. Our server came to our table once to give us our before and never checked back with us, we had to flag down the owner. At one point he told me he was too busy to get me a diet coke. They forgot to add the drinks to our bill, and we didn't bring it up. Ended up with a cheap dinner, and they could have gotten more from us if they were more attentive.

Cute and good neighborhood red sauce Italian restaurant. I was worried about customer service reading these comments but I found the customer service to be outstanding. Would def go again.

Probably the best pizza in New England. Forget North End, this is where you gotta get your authentic Italian Pizza!

Have been here twice, cannot say enough good things. Will be going back again and again! I have celiac and so have to eat gluten free- GF. Pretty much all the pasta can be made GF with GF penne, they can make any of the pizzas GF however you do have to call 24 hours in advance for pizza (it is a homemade dough and they don't always have it on hand but if you call 24h in advance they will make it for you-I did that this weekend). They will bring out GF bread (it's sandwich bread cut in half -but having the option and having bread with olive oil is a treat). A lot of the appetizers are GF. Ate here with my family and my dad is not GF- he loved the bolognese and bread. I have had the meat/cheese plate app, GF bolognese, and GF arugula pizza and would get them all again in a heartbeat! The pizza does not taste GF! My sister also had the pollo (brick chicken with veg) and it was delicious. The service is on the slower side but the place has a very European feel and more relaxed/slow service makes sense. The staff is knowledgeable about GF and so friendly and nice. The outdoor seating is also lovely. Great atmosphere, feels very close to easting at a restaurant in Italy!

Gran gusto is always a pleasure. Unbeatable Italian food in the North Cambridge area. Service was a little slow this visit, but that's not usually the case. There's some parking across the street at the Danehy park entrance.

Now this is pasta. It was my first time at Gran Gusto. I used to live just around the corner, but the restaurant didn't exist back ten. I had the lobster pappardelle. The pappardelle had a wonderful homemade texture that is rare. And the New England twist with lobster meat is just ideal. A perfect dish. The only thing I didn't like is the (free) olive oil and bread. The olive oil just wasn't very good. Service was very friendly. I definitely want to go back. Free parking behind the building is available from 6 PM.

Food is good but service is poor. Had to ask for butter three times. Poured my own water once. We asked for separate checks (two couples) but after waiting about 15 min for bill at end got one check. Tried to get this changed but they couldn't so we split it and other couple who'd had more paid tip and I put down zero. So 64.73 plus zero equals 64.73. Just looked at credit card and see they added 24.00 to my bill-- which I'm now disputing with credit card bank.

The restaurant was COVID conscious and the people inside were at a safe distance from each other! The server was nice and checked in with us enough that it wasn't annoying. The pizza was delicious and the truffle was subtle, but it was perfect with the prosciutto. The burrata was nice as well and paired well with the pesto. The scialatelli was delicious with the tomatoes and the spaghetti was cooked perfectly. The paccheri was good and the short rib was very tender. It was a perfect date night for an Italian meal!

Great find. Authentic italian food is the staple of this great restorant. I mean ITALIAN, not italian american. No chicken parmesan or fettuccine Alfredo disgrace the leafs of the menu. The food brought me back to nice restaurants in Umbria and Tuscany. Fresh foods and authentic flavors created umami Italian dishes. Ps. Our waiter was a bit odd. He was handsy and a bit obnoxious. Meant well, but was a bit too friendly and confidential even for italian standards... who know maybe Boston weather will cool his flaming Neapolitan heart. Footnote aside, great food.

Wow, some of the best italian food I've ever had. The staff was so attentive and caring, and went above and beyond to make sure I enjoyed my meal. I had the caprese and margherita pizza, and both were delicious. They had bar seating as well as beautifully set tables with white tablecloths. Although I'm only in Boston for a few days, I will absolutely be making a trip back here!

The food here is absolutely delicious. Very high-quality and very well prepared. Something must be working right in the kitchen. But in the restaurant itself nothing seems to work. The waiters all seem to be in a bad mood and obviously do not enjoy their work, such as discussing the preparation of a dish. the service is just terrible and slow. We waited about 20 minutes, if not longe, to get our check . And finally had to go to the bar to pay it . the food is still worth going for but I would suggest you go when you're not in a hurry to get any place else and when you don't feel like being treated especially nice.

The food was great, all pastas are made in house using quality ingredients. Unfortunately, the service was terrible. The entire time we dined, we didn't have a server. Each time we needed something we would have to wait and/or actively call out for someone to come to our attention.

I tried to order takeout simply to try out the food before going there for a sit-down dinner. Though they were open at 4 PM today, when I called to order from the menu, I was told to call back later at around 5 PM. When I drove over to pick up my order, I got a chilly reception. The man at door dismissively waved me toward the kitchen door. All the male staff were rude and indifferent. Only the young woman who gave me my food was gracious and friendly. I can confirm another reviewer's comment that "...they assess how you look and then decide on which style of service to give you." The food was really meh. If I closed my eyes while eating, I wouldn't know I was eating a supposedly authentic Italian meal. It could have came out of Chef Boyardee cans. By the way, there is no parking lot or street curb parking near the restaurant. I just cancelled my reservation for a party of 6 next week. I don't need an unpleasant dining experience.

my favorite restaurant in Cambridge! Great authentic Italian food perfect for special occasions or date night (very spacious with both indoor and outdoor seating). I order the chitarra every single time without fail and it is literally one of my favorite pasta dishes of all time ! Photos don't do it justice, it is cheesy goodness. Wait staff is pleasant, kind, and very quick! 10/10

As an Italian I can say this is the best pizza place! Perfect dough and toppings. Obsessed now with their paccheri with short ribs ragù! Reminds me of my mom ragù!

Not much to say really- the food was fine, but the service was awful. Wait staff was rude & brusque. I don't expect conversation, but I do expect a waiter to be able to politely answer a question and to not make us feel like our presence is an inconvenience at 6pm on a Saturday night.

We arrived 40 minutes before lunch service was over but it was made abundantly clear by the employee we encountered that they would feel much better about things if we would have lunch elsewhere. Never experienced that before.

We had dinner here, the food was okay but the service was absolutely terrible. Our server came to get our order right away, but she never came back again through the rest of the night. The wait staff kept ignoring us, even though they would walk past us several time. The restaurant wasn't even busy, more than 50% of the tables were empty. We had to flag down a waiter to get a dessert menu, then flag down another waiter to order dessert. Fast forward 20 mins, we were still waiting for dessert. We decided to just quit, and leave. We walked to the front to ask for the check so we can pay and leave, the owner printed out the check for us, we paid and left. The owner was nonchalant and not even a little bit apologetic for their dismal service. What was even more frustrating was that the staff was aware that they messed up, but not a single person apologized for their awful service as we left. I'm never going back and I don't recommend it either.

Worst service I experienced in a long time. Don't forget 20% tip is already included. Food was poor American Italian.

This place was highly recommended. First time and also last, we were excited to celebrate my husband's birthday there, unfortunately the restaurant didn't meet our expectations. From the hostess to the owner that took our order, no one was friendly or welcoming, they actually make us feel like we didn't belong there, during our 3+ hours no once they came to the table to asked us if we needed anything, or if everything was ok , they didn't even asked us if we wanted desert, the food was just ok, for sure I won't be making 9 miles trip for this place ever again . As a business owner myself I expected a better service overall.

Been coming since 2012 great Italian food, Especially Pizza But the Worst service there is. Service seems to get worse and worse and its at a point where I can't suck it up for good pizza. Had to wait 25 minutes for our drink (not the wine we ordered, they were out), pieces of plastic were mixed in with our bread bowl, brought it to their attention, no apologies at all from the manager. server never came by - ever. had to call them several times to get their attention for some plates. Dont expect service. I was thoroughly embarrassed to bring my friends there.

This is your place for a slow progression, delicious Italian meal. The space is pretty cozy so it does seem worth making a reservation. The attire is incredibly mixed from couples in suits and dresses to very casual families. The effect is a welcoming, "we're all here to enjoy delicious Italian food" feel. Chitarra - 5/5. MUST GET. The start is ordinary enough with fresh made pasta cooked with garlic and cherry tomato. But then they throw in a *block of parmesan* and bring it over to the table. The server rolls over a cart and, once you realize that they are mixing the pasta in the giant cheese, the rest of your table and restaurant feels a jealous excitement. The resulting cheese loaded dish is sensational. A special serving experience and dish. Margherita - 4/5. Straightforward and well executed. Thin crust. Tangy tomato sauce. Nice chunks of cheese and basil. Caprese - 1/5. Good mozzarella but the pesto was weak in flavor and the slice of raw tomato made the dish feel amateur. The $14 price point for basically 4 slabs of mozzarella is high compared to the rest of the menu.

We went for the first time tonight. Incredible. Apps and pizza wonderful. primi too. We will be back. Certainly better than other mediocre North Cambridge restaurants especially the tired old ones on Mass Ave!

What an authentic Italian restaurant! My husband Michael and I were so impressed by how Italian it is. This restaurant is a hidden gem in Cambridge. If you want to avoid all the touristy places but some nice and good value meal, this is way to go. A bit lack of service and communication between servers and hosts, but nothing major.

I had never been there, but had heard good things, so I recommended it to a young couple celebrating their first anniversary together. They got dressed up and set off in excitement. They are not wealthy, and this was a big deal to them. When I talked to them afterwards, they were subdued. The waiter had not been nice, and the experience was sub par.

We are definitely coming back to this spot! We were looking for good Italian restaurants in the Cambridge area and this restaurant showed up on one of those Top 10 Best Italian Restaurants lists and it opens relatively early, at noon. So we booked our table on OpenTable. On the day of, it was pouring so bad, for a split second we thought about canceling the res. So glad we didn't! It's a very cute place in a residential area. We were greeted by the owner of the restaurant and he took care of us the whole time. First of all, the olive oil they have for the bread was really good. You can tell that it's a good one. Very light and pure. They do daily specials pasta every day including the day we were there (Saturday). We opted for that. It was a shrimp, asparagus spaghetti with garlic and tomatoes. Sounds simple? It was DELICIOUS! Knowing that we are sharing everything, he helped us split the pasta so we can each have our own bowl. The spaghetti was cooked a tad more than just al dente (which is what I prefer over al dente). The shrimps and asparagus were both chopped up and super fresh. I think all the ingredients they use are organic too. I love how simple the spaghetti was. It was cooked without a sauce but simply with oil and garlic and it was perfecto! We also went with the Salsiccia E Friarielli pizza which is a white sauce pizza. Loved it! When it came, it was covered with brocollini which makes it look way more appetizing, at least to me. A lot of times when it comes to pizza, it's a lot of cheese and meat. I love how this one came with more greens than meat and with the white sauce instead of the regular tomato paste, it looks more light and clean. It was so good, we had to take the leftovers back to LA. The owner was the most friendly and humble person I've seen. He's super polite and made sure that all his customers are enjoying the food. It was a really good experience! Oh and they have a bar too, we are definitely going back next time we are in town!

I liked that the place felt like a combination of a lot of different styles: a bar on one end and two areas for sitting with different styles of design. The food was pretty good but not great, I was recommended the seafood dish, the Scialatielli, by our server who said he was the owner of the restaurant. If you like seafood, then go for this one, and while it was not my favorite ever, the sauce was great. My friend had the lasagna and that was good and maybe better than my dish.

A tear comes to my eye when I think of Antonio, the owner. He is a character that is rare and pure. His passion and honor came through in every bite... the wine he picked per course fit beautifully. His pasta was homemade and a treat for my husband. The show stopper for me was the octopus salad app. I got it for my meal.... perfection! Huge portions of beautiful ingredients!! I want it everyday for the rest of my life ! We shared the calamari app... I got one piece before Ralph inhaled it all. Ricotta pie was the perfect dessert ending. The table next to us were regulars .. they ordered pizzas that looked straight out of Italy. Many more things to try in this sweet hidden gem. It is definitely the pearl in the sea of Italian options around town !

Have been wanting to go to this place from last 4 years. But was missed always for some reason. Finally Went there for our anniversary and also want to dine there before we move out of Cambridge. It was a hit. Very friendly and very tasty.

You don't need to go to the North End of Boston to get really good Italian food. Pasta made in house and cooked al dente with amazing bolognese sauce. Really yummy appetizers from the special- burrata with artichokes and prosciutto de Parma- to the grilled calamari.

The food was good, but it took us HALF AN HOUR to get the check. Service is sooo bad I would not come back here. The waiter purposedly ignored us when we continuously asked for the check