Gusto Italiano

We came here for my wife's birthday dinner. It was our first time here, and we enjoyed it very much. The food had a lot of flavor. We will be back as there are other dishes we want to try.

Hands down one of the best places I’ve ever had Italian food at. It’s hard to say if the brunch or dinner is my favorite it all has amazing taste and the cocktails are definitely something to rave about. The mellow acoustic for brunch is a great ambiance when you want a small get away on a weekend.

After visiting Italy in 2019, this is the best Italian food we have had since. Excellent service and delightful food. The ravioli and lasagne were amazing. Carlo? came around to check on us at least twice throughout the meal. Gusto is our go to in Modesto for authentic Italian. Definitely five stars. See you soon!

Live Music was too load, the sevice was awful. Was told they didn't know if the cook was able to make what we ordered off the meau. Was told server was new. She didn't know the meau.? Ok. Severs were outside smoking and drinking with owner. Looked like they were passing a joint around. Ridiculous! I had gone once before on a evening and food was good and service was ok again I was told they were new at that time as well. The last visit meal balls were reheated to luke warm bread on the sandwich was so hard a knife would not cut it. Meatballs sandwich. My friends pasta was gross and just warm as well. She added crab and it stunk. 50.00 with no drinks. And asked for the tab at less 3 times. This is under new owner ship! The last 2 times I've gone. Bummer used to be good. The italian chef's is amazing. If he's there.

This is a small Italian restaurant run by a husband and wife team. They are very attentive to their diners, everyone gets some attention from them, they are very hands on. The food is Southern Italian and is prepared in a open kitchen with bar seating opposite so you can watch the awesomeness happen. The food is very well prepared, reasonably priced, and has legitimate portions. You won't walk away hungry!

The rigatoni is my favorite and my daughter loved the fettuccine. My wife really enjoyed the lasagna. Prices are a bit high but the quality and taste is definitely there.

Food was delicious, but serving a little small. Ordered lasagna and fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp. Starter salads were also small. Didn't care for pesto served with bread. Rather have vinegar and olive oil. Love that Vinnie is there!

Absolutely love this place. Food is amazing, great service and they have a very nice pet friendly patio (although a little noisy because it’s near a busy road). I order something different every time we go and I have yet to find a dish I didn’t love. Definitely a favorite place for us and our two doggos.

Been here twice now and it's consistently good with great staff/service. I prefer the bar side of the restaurant (though we don't drink)- it had small town piano-bar type vibes. It's quieter and less busy. You can tell the staff take pride in cleanliness and presentation of the restaurant. The pasta is definitely fresh/ homemade. I disagree STRONGLY with the other review that suggested it's pasta-roni style sauce. The ingredients are fresh and food was good. We've tried the Rigatoni, Gnocchi, Lasagna, Fettuccine, Lobster Ravioli, Mango Panna Cotta, and Torta Al Cioccolato and their fresh hot bread; all were enjoyable. When we've come the staff took some time to tell us a bit about the family history- passed along traditions and it's clear the recipes as well. This is a family-oriented legacy for these folks. And there's honor in that. If you're into just food, vibes, and low prices- this is NOT your venue. This is a place to celebrate a family (the owners) sharing a bit of themselves with you and yours. Note- people who complain typically mention price without thinking it's not just the food cost, but the lease, utilities, the insurance, staff wages. You're not going to get out to dinner here less than $60 for 2 (with a nominal tip and no booze). But THATS THE POINT- I'm thankful for the care, time, and heart that is put into each dish. We will be back and share this oddly-located, pretty tasty place with our friends and family.

It's same but different Same home cooked delicious Sardinia Sicilian tast but smaller portions, no br3ar or consideration. Under new leadership how did you expand yet become smaller? Yes I'll be back tho because kudos to the Chef

Weekend dinner. We sat in the bar area and it was empty except for us...the dining area had guests so there were more patrons but were in getting at is the 1 waiter spent time talking and cling w the guy behind the bar. Definitely was nice and frequent check ins, etc. The pasta was delicious but nothing espectacular that other pasta places don't offer. The prices are high for the food they serve. The chicken was the boiled kind not grilled in any form so idk why it's $6 extra but inflation. There were a few take out orders so it must be popular but idk about anything that would make me want to go back for basic pasta dishes. There was nothing on their specials menu that attracted me either. I'm willing to pay $30-50 for a dinner entree if the food is filling or something I can't get somewhere else.

We have been coming to Gusto Italiano for over a year now. We are so happy with the service very professional and friendly. The food is always fresh and full of flavor! They have wonderful vegetarian options as well and are always very accommodating. And we love the full bar! Would recommend to everyone. And Karaoke every Sunday at 8pm is a must for me!

My fiance came to visit from San Diego and it's been hard to impress him with restaurants in Modesto, but he couldn't stop saying how delicious the food was here. We came for brunch & I'm absolutely in awe with this place. I can't believe I didn't come sooner. From the minute we walked in they greeted us with a friendly demeanor. I ordered a Carmel latte and it was made with love by Vinny. They brought out a delicate buttery warm croissant. Jenny was our server and she made the greatest recommendations. Jay is such a great chef, he made our Caprese and as something so simple, it was absolutely delightful. The chef in the back of the house made a phenomenal minestrone soup (made to order) I had to get some extra to go. Not to mention the pasta was made from scratch with rich flavorful sauces. This will definitely be my go to Italian place. Thank you everyone for such a great experience.

I love dinner here so when I noticed they now do BRUNCH I was so excited to try it. I was not disappointed! The expansion space turned out so lovely, and they had live music starting in a bit, so we chose to eat in there. Very comfortable! Our server was super nice and took great care of us, but I'm a jerk and don't remember her name. Extra kudos for the service though! Now to the food - it all started with a warm, delicious, freshly made croissant sliced to share. An unexpected little treat to start off our visit. I had the roasted tomato and garlic crepe. Huge chunks of garlic (WHICH I LOVE) so if you order this on a date, make sure your partner eats some in self-defense. I cleared my plate - it was yummy. My daughter had a tiramisu crepe, and my son had the meatball sub which was so hearty he couldn't finish it. I look forward to returning to try out the pesto toast next time!

Delicious!! Try any risotto on the menu you won't be disappointed Also had the lamb yum!

Great food and great service, what more can you ask for? Loved my perfectly cooked and seasoned salmon and veggies.

Awesome food. Got the seafood risotto subbed the risotto for spaghetti .... Yummm.... Would highly recommend

If I could describe gusto italiano in one word it would be rich. Their food is rich in that authentic Italian flavor. The main chef seems to be the only one cooking your meals which definitely adds that personal touch to your meals. I had a fettuccine Alfredo and when I tell you it was the best fettuccine Alfredo I have ever had, so decadent! Thank you Gusto Italiano!

The food and ambience was good. VERY pricey. I think I was there on Valentine's Day so it was busy, but they could have been better prepared.

I hate doing reviews that aren't positive, but I left very unhappy with my experience. We tried this place on a Saturday night around 7:30pm and it was very slow, only about 3 tables. However due to the mix of reviews we decided to give this place a try for ourselves. We started off with the complimentary bread which was the best thing we had all night. We then decided to order the calamari and it was cold, flavorless, and hard. I got the crab penne and it was not the greatest. Little crab, very acidic tomato sauce, and fishy. I personally wouldn't get it again especially for the price. My husband got the gnocchi, it had an odd smell and tasted like meat sauce from a glass jar that I could have bought myself from the store. One thing I can't complain about is our waiter, he was overall nice. As for drinks, the bar looked promising however the Long Island my husband got was just okay. The ambiance is nice but having a nice atmosphere with mediocre food doesn't matter to me. I am willing to spend any amount of money for great food but with their prices, how unsatisfied we were with our food, and our overall experience we will never be back.

Amazing!! First time trying Gusto Italiano and I will be back. Right when we sat down the owner came over and made us feel at home. Everything looked amazing so we asked him to just keep bringing us food so we can try it all. Everything that came out was prepared perfectly and had great flavor. The seafood was fresh, pasta was cooked to perfection and the flavors were insane. The wild boar was the most surprising. Wasn't sure how I would like it but it was one of my favorites. Even after eating a lot more than I usually do, I didn't feel heavy or weighted down like I would when I eat pasta. This is so fresh and homemade that it doesn't give you that feeling. It is a very cozy spot and it is a great place for a group of friends that like to share, laugh, enjoy wine and have a good time.

We've been to this place quite a bit over the years. Unfortunately things have started to turn for the worse from a price perspective. I realize everything is more expensive these days but it's gotten excessive. The real kicker was a fish special they had with a side of mashed potatoes that was average at best with mini salad for $50. This wasn't a $50 dish in my opinion. Food overall is good but the prices are getting out of hand. Unfortunately we probably will look elsewhere in the future.

A hidden gem for sure! Authentic fresh pasta with fresh ingredients. Staff was very knowledgeable and assisted us with our sons allergies. We enjoyed the service the menu. Desserts were outstanding. Can't wait to be back.

Service was good. We went in about 8:30pm. I feel they have a limited selection on their menu for dinner. You can't order off their lunch menu at dinner time the waiter said. So no sandwiches or flat breads. They had 1 soup option. I thought it was on the pricey side for what you get. I wasn't impressed and probably won't return. We been trying to find a good Italian spot in Modesto since Chef's of New York went out of business. No luck yet. The only good spot seems to be Pietro's in Lodi.

The atmosphere is so relaxing and welcoming. The staff is very attentive and this is one of the best service experiences I've had at a restaurant in Modesto. The food was absolutely delicious and they know what they're doing when it comes to true Italian cuisine. I highly recommend anyone come here and experience exactly what I'm talking about!

Wonderful dining experience. The food was delicious and the service outstanding. The staff went out of their way to make my beautiful wife's birthday special.

What we ordered: Penne Al Granchio (added shrimp) and Fettuccine Al Formaggi (added chicken). Cons: Price -$67 for two dishes and small amount of bread. Added chicken -small pieces that were dry and tasted old. Pasta and sauces-mediocre tasting (pasta roni vibes). Pros: Atmosphere-clean with nice ambiance. Very disappointed in this place to say the least. Food was way overpriced and nothing special. Will not be returning!

The food was amazing, it's the best Italian restaurant in Modesto by far! The staff is very attentive and friendly. The restaurant is very clean and ample seating. I will definitely recommend Gusto Italiano to family and friends.

Excellent cuisine, friendly staff, and a full cocktail lounge with a beautiful patio to host an event of your choice. Seating is also available with a view overlooking the patio. Come by and see the owner, Misty, she will take great care of you. The staff and owner will greet you with a smile and great service. Gusto's is the place to be!

The best Italian food in the area. Reminds me a lot of my Nonna's food. Staff is always friendly. Reservations are a must.

Would love to give GI more stars because it deserves it. Good food, decent atmosphere, Elliot, the server was knowledgeable and attentive. So what's the BUT...the owner, understand her name is Misty, never came over to greet her guests. Instead, she sat 100% of the time I was there, at the bar, enjoying her beverage. It made me very uncomfortable. I made it clear to Elliot that I was a first time customer, one would think if an owner of an establishment, who really cared about the business, would relish the opportunity to welcome her customers, particularly a first timer. Oh well!

Definitely the best authentic Italian in Modesto! The service is exceptional as well!

THE best risotto!!!! Great service. This was our first time eating here. Hard to believe we live a mile away and we waited this long to enjoy the food/service/atmosphere. We will definitely be back!

Restaurant was very nice, tables presentable and service was great. Drinks were recommended and specials were presented from waiter. Wife ordered beef Bolognese looked good, however after a couple of minutes of it being at table the sauce started to separate and appeared like there was a lot of grease in the meal. I had the gnocchi was cooked well, just felt there was too much of the same flavor and nothing to help get the palate change ended up stopping at half my meal.

I have heard several people recommend this place, so decided to pop in. It's really small inside, though quite cute. (I would recommend calling to see if they have seating before coming so you don't have to wait as there's not a lot of room to stand around inside.) The owner is very involved and hands-on, which was fantastic! He recommended the wine that we had which was quite delightful and paired well with what we were eating. We got the halibut and the lamb. The halibut was amazing, but the lamb was a little bit under seasoned. Everything else on the plate was fantastic. We will definitely be back!!

Delicious, fresh, wonderful...there just aren't enough adjectives! Do yourself a favor and eat here!!

Great service and good food The food is always consistent and very flavorful and the service is always amazing everyone has a smile and they are happy to serve you extra bread and will never find a drink empty

Food was not good and greasy. Service was slow and not attentive. Manager was in the building but more concerned with bookings and appointments than the current customers. Would not recommend and food was overpriced

This is the first time I've been here. We were looking for a new place that we have never been too. It said online that it was best to make a reservation. We called and were met with a friendly person who got us right in. We quickly received bread and water. So far so good. After looking at the menu, it was noted that the food prices overall are around 25-35 dollars on average. My initial reaction seemed to be it was a little on the pricier side for the location and ambiance. My party ordered lasagna and the chicken strips. The portion size was average but for the price I would have liked to see a little larger serving size. I feel like the price for the chicken strips, served with peas and carrots was absolutely outrageous. $27.00 for chicken strips? That was more than the lasagna!Not reasonable in the Central Valley. It was not worth more than $16.00. The lasagna was pretty good actually. It was like a marinara and Alfredo mix. The chicken strips had some slightly spiced seasoning and was average, especially for the price. Also, it was noted in the menu that if you order a soft drink, there are "no refills". If you are going to a sit down restaurant it is common practice to offer coffee, tea and soda refills. I don't think I would have mentioned this if it had said 2 refill max. Disappointed about that. Would like to have seen a second basket of bread offered, we had to ask for it. All in all, the food wasn't bad. The lasagna was tasty, and was served at a proper temperature. The chicken strips were average, especially given the very high price for basically a child menu type selection.

Great Sicilian meals. It reminds me of the cooking school vacation I had in Italy. And the service is very friendly.

The service was top notch. The food is amazing and freshly made as you watch the chef. The appetizer of Artichokes was amazing balls of delight with the best marinara I have had in a very long time. I had the Special Branzino, it was perfectly cooked and had great flavor. Keep up the fabulous work. Not your typical Italian food. This is Italy on a plate in Modesto.

The best Italian restaurant in Modesto. If you're looking for delicious and authentic food try this place. The service was great too. Warm and welcoming place.

We waited more than a couple of minutes to be seated even though there was plenty of open tables. Albeit, we were apologized to as one of the other servers was running late. But literally, only 2 other tables on the entire floor were occupied. I counted. The ambiance does not deserve the ~$30/plate this place is charging. Strings Italian cafes have better ambiance. 3 out of 4 dishes on our table tonight were overly salty. Wayyy too salty. We felt like horses having salt licks. We chose not to send the plates back and we chose not to box the leftovers to take home. The waitress acknowledged our feedback but that was all. There was a 'checkout fee' applied. From what we could tell, they are covering charges for using credit cards. At prices that steep for their dishes this should be covered. 10/10 will not revisit.

We had date night dinner out with friends. It was EXCELLENT. Two of us had the petrale sole fish special. Wonderful. The mashed potatoes are flavorful and creamy. The gnocchi dish is delicious. The best dish at our table was the lasagna. They add Gorgonzola cheese which makes it an especially flavor packed dish. We ended dinner with 3 different desserts, the torta pistachio, the torta limoncello and the tiramisu. All were excellent with the tiramisu being the winner. My husband and I try tiramisu at every Italian restaurant we visit. This restaurant has the hands-down winner.... Ever! The restaurant is small and intimate. You do not have to feel underdressed if you come casual. Carl, the owner visits every table and introduces you to the restaurant, the southern Italian food and the menu. Our waiter, Bryce, was friendly, informative, attentive and professional. We will definitely be back again and again.

Went thier for dinner with my son Walked in 5min after they opened the place was empty, I asked for a table for 2 , they asked if I had reservations I told no they immediately told that I couldn't get a table ,I pointed out that thier was no one thier it was empty, they said they couldn't help us ,all along the whole staff just stood there and starred at us ,so much for the reviews that talk about how friendly they are..! I won't be going back obviously if they don't want Mexicans in thier establishment they should post it outside on the door to save people the embarrassment of being denied a table at an empty restaurant.

This place is a hidden gem in Modesto. Authentic Italian food with homemade pasta. As a first-time diner, we were greeted by the owner who told us about the special as well as showing us pictures. He spoke about him as well as his chef, who both were from Italy. The atmosphere was friendly and invitoing. Though I have never been to Italy, I would imagine authentic Italian food to taste as it did. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Love our friend restaurant!!! Pretty awesome place and all their plates are so good .

Haven't been here in a while. The service as always was great and the food was incredible. They offered breaded artichoke balls as a appetizer. They were amazing. Light and crisp with an excellent flavor. If you haven't been here, you must try. Plus, they take reservations.!!!!.

Great service, great wine selection just ask the owner about foreign wines, waiter was fantastic and according to the two women I was with (Claudia and Kristy) I quote "not bad to look at" we had the calamari, delish! Bread come out warm with a tapenade sauce, such a surprise, very good! Wine selected by owner see photo. We will be back

The food and service were excellent. My husband had the filet of sole special which he liked. I had the bacala. It was very good, however, the expected salt cod had been substituted with fresh cod. It was not what was on the menu and expected.

This is a small Italian restaurant run by a husband and wife team. They are very attentive to their diners, everyone gets some attention from them, they are very hands on. The food is Southern Italian and is prepared in a open kitchen with bar seating opposite so you can watch the awesomeness happen. The food is very well prepared, reasonably priced, and has legitimate portions. You won't walk away hungry!

The food is delicious, the customer service is excellent, and the price is definitely worth the experience. I will definitely be back soon. My new favorite Italian restaurant in the valley.

Genuine Italian cuisine. Personal service from the owner. 10 stars. 20 stars. 100 stars.

Where do I start.. we ordered caprese appetizer! Perfect amount of oil, balsamic, and good serving size!(maybe they can add fresh basil next time that would be a great touch) my boyfriends family comes from Sicily and he really enjoyed it. For dinner we ordered hand and homemade gnocchi with creamy tomato sauce and chopped mushroom! We also enjoyed the ravioli stuffed with sausage and broccoli (this is going to be my go to!) Thank you to the staff and owner I didn't catch their names but we had such great conversation! grazie melli!

I really enjoyed this new Italian restaurant. I ordered the Tortelloni w/ fresh asparagus and ricotta. I found out that Tortelloni is different than tortellini. It's larger! It was delicious! My friend ordered the Stratucci (sp?) chicken w/sauce and veggies. At first when it came out .. I thought it looked just like home cut chicken breast nuggets. but, the lightness of the breading and oil they used was exactly as described by Carlo, one of the owners... light and delicious. It was great to hear the story behind the 2 owners and each part of Italy they came from to form these dishes and sauces. Carlo is super welcoming and goes around chatting with all of his customers. The decor is very clean. They open at 4 pm and we did not have a problem being seated at 5:45 pm. They've only been open for 2 months and had repeat customers already when we were there. I will definitely be back! Please go and support this locally owned mew spot! Footnote: Carlo also owns Cornucopia health store!

Italian is no way of eating I love food sometimes when it's just lightly seasoned or more just the same ingredients but more flavor t adjust the taste.

Authentic Italian cuisine! Everything was amazing! The service and food were so good. I got the halibut and my daughter had the Rigatoni Bolognese. We will definitely be back!