Gusto Napoletano Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria

Me and my coworkers went there for dinner after a long and stressful day, hoping to enjoy some authentic Italian food. However, the whole experience ended up being pretty underwhelming. During dinner, our very well-traveled group was reminded several times that it was a “European-style eatery,” as if that somehow put them on a higher moral ground compared to a typical U.S. restaurant. Anyway, back to the food. We ordered a few pizzas for the table. The dough was very doughy and slightly gooey, and the bottom wasn’t crispy at all. It honestly made me wonder if their pizza oven was even hot enough. I ordered the fettuccine Bolognese, which was overcooked to the point that I couldn’t even twirl the pasta it kept breaking. The sauce flavor was mild. The arancini was fried so long that the outside was almost dark brown, which makes me think they weren’t using the right oil temperature. Oh, and the bread… I don’t even know how to rate that. I’ve had better bread from Food Lion. I don’t want to get too deep into the portion sizes, but let’s just say they were not nearly enough for a dinner portion. I get it, it’s a “European-style” establishment but we’re in Fayetteville. And honestly, I don’t remember ever leaving hungry at an Italian restaurant in Naples, and I spent a month there. Overall, not a great “European” experience, and I won’t be going back anytime soon.

As an Italian (born and raised), I can say with absolute confidence that this is the only place in Fayetteville that makes REAL italian food. If you come here expecting to eat gigantic portions of fettuccine Alfredo, pepperoni pizza or garlic bread dipped in butter, know that you will be disappointed. For that you can go to Olive Garden or all other restaurants cosplaying as “Italian” around here. But if you want to experience the real italian cuisine and especially Neapolitan pizza this is definitely the place! It is like a home away from home 🏡

Excellent. Best margherita pizza I ever had in my life. My family is from Naples & Calabria, and this is still the best I ever had in my life. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!! I went back a few days later & had margherita pizza with extra basil & arugula!! I live in FL & will be stopping every trip to & from NY!💝

The parking was convenient. Not sure what was better the service, food or prices. The service was beyond compare because I’ve never been spoken to in such a condescending way at a restaurant. Whether it was telling me (2 Italian Grandmas) how Italian food portions in Italy are not the troughs we get in America or scoffing at the question of whether I could get al-a-carte sausage or meatballs (no by the way) the service was consistent. Admittedly the 4 ounces of bolognese sauce tasted good but the 4 ravioli for $18 was a bit undercooked. When I asked for a knife to cut it I was expecting to be told they don’t use knives Italy because there were none on the table but yes they had them (yay). I should have known better but hoping I was on a roll made the mistake of asking for bread and butter which was met with a puzzled look. The server (who I think was the owner went out of her way to tell me they made their own bread but said they don’t serve butter only oil. When I asked if they had Italian spices she looked at me Iike I was crazy and said “you mean like at Carrabbas or Olive Garden?” so yeah the most I got out of her was a little bit of oregano in the oil when she brought it along with the bread, that was the least tasteful homemade bread I’ve ever had. So if you want to eat Italian food in small portions at a place that charges $10 for a side salad that the wait staff tells you was going to be small and you don’t particularly care to be warm during dinner than this is the place for you. If you would prefer to go to an Italian restaurant with an owner who is personable and will take time to talk to you nicely and has excellent food. At a good price and you don’t have to ask for bread or explain what kind of spices you would like in your oil I strongly recommend Antonella‘s restaurant in Fayetteville.

The food, whether it is pasta pizza or dessert, is always delicious and fresh. You can literally taste the love that has gone into the made from scratch items on the menu. I love that the owner/chef also supports local small businesses and farmers by sourcing local ingredients. The choice of Italian wines is fantastic and the chef is well versed on what wine goes good with what you ordered. This restaurant is an authentic taste of Italy in Fayetteville! We can highly recommend dining in this establishment.

I was gonna take a picture of the whole pizza but it was way too good, so this the last slice is all that survived😁 The crust was perfect, and the flavor made forget about taking pictures definitely one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had next time i will try to take the photo before i demolish it

Delicious wood-fired pizza in a location you would never expect it. Service was excellent and pizza was among the best I've had - certainly better than any chain restaurant. I will make it a point to stop here when I'm in the area again.

As an Italian visiting Fayetteville on vacation, I can assure you this is an authentic pizzeria. The place has a genuine, welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The pizza is delicious—flavorful, well-balanced, and baked in a wood-fired oven, which gives it a richer, more intense taste. I highly recommend it if you want to experience real Italian pizza!

Traditional Neapolitan pizza cooked to your desired doneness. Small, locally owned shop with homemade pizza dough and pasta. Definitely not Americanized, and for a good reason! A taste of Italy in, of all places, Fayetteville. Yes, they can run out of food, but people who go to great BBQ restaurants don't complain about that. Operating hours can change based off of availability, so call ahead if it's that important. Lady that runs the place is super sweet! Give them a try, you won't be disappointed. Well, unless they ran out of food before you got there!

A local group had a small business meeting where we met Nadia .All she had to say was authentic Italian and my ears perked up. We selected a few items to try among the two of us that went and i took home a calzone to my son. we kept saying how fresh and clean the ingredients were. the restaurant was a very warm atmosphere and would definitely be going back to try something else . i dont like or haven't found a wine i like but they do have quite a few to select from

I was on a business trip and I try to visit pizza places wherever I travel. This was a great little spot. The owner makes the pizza right I the front of the shop. She was very nice and the food was quick hot and delicious. I had the tirolese pizza. It was very nice, the crust was cooked perfectly and the toppings were well done.

Have you ever tasted Italian wedding soup? Have you ever had it home made? Ommmmgggg wood fired pizza bursting with flavor, rice balls and caprese salad oh myyyy!! Get down here and tell her Drea sent you!! Gusto Napoletano Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant Your next obsession

We came in due to the reviews and enjoyed a nice dinner. The pizza is good; the more complex the better. My kids are kind of a pain and just like cheese pizza- this is not the place for that. This is a date night, takeout, table sharing delicious wood fired place. The bruschetta was also fabulous!! The service was decent but they definitely act like you've been there when you come in and it was slightly off putting to us and the others who had not.

This is authentic, woodfired pizza just like you would find in Italy! There are some reviews on here about how they don't like it, or didn't have pepperoni. Maybe they should ask for ranch, ha ha ha. There was fresh rosemary on the table, a beautiful collection of wine to choose from. And their desserts were to die for. This is truly one of the only gems Fayetteville has.

Very different than your typical American style pizza and I loved it. The pasta that I ordered was a little bit different than when I'm used to. I didn't eat it, but I probably would not order it again.

This past Saturday I enjoyed lunch at Gusto Napoletano Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant!! The arancini (we chose plain) was crispy and creamy, the wood fired pizza (margahrita and add locally sourced sausage) was amazing. It's that type of bite that makes you stop and take it all in. Next was the saltinbocca with salami and smoked gouda. This was my first time trying this dish and it was definitely delicious. The home made dough makes such a wonderful vessel for the tasty ingredients. Lastly we each had a cannoli that was a nice sweet ending. I have followed the owners posts about recipes and traditions for so long. She is fabulous, fascinating..and happily posed for a pic with me!

I was hoping for spaghetti and meatballs but was told that that isn't real Italian fare. Ordered the sausage ravioli instead which was ok, good sauce, but very small portion.

This place deserves 6 out of 5 stares. The owner takes her heritage and food very seriously. They have a community table if you'd like to sit there because that is all they have in Italy. The bottle of wine we got here is from Naples and is exclusive to this place and is sold nowhere else in the country and it was only $22 a bottle. The pizza is handmade and fantastic. The lasagna is great. Please give this place your business because they truly deserve it.

BEST pizza in town! Everything is made fresh with quality ingredients! I highly recommend Gusto's!

Was searching the area for wood fired pizza places. No. Not interested in the chain Brixx. Found this gem on Yelp. Authentic Italy. Fun decorations and social sized tables allowing to sit with others not in your party. Very nice Italian wine selection. We had the bruschetta to start, ordered 2 Frittas, one with andouille sausage and the other with regular. 2 pizzas, the Bianca and the Horny Goat. Had the Nutella Frittata for dessert. Everything was extremely authentic and delicious. We will be back next trip to Fayetteville!

Hands down, my favorite pizza place in Fayetteville. My favorite is the margarita but all of the pizzas are beautifully crafted. The food is fresh, authentic, flavorful. the atmosphere is great. The owner is very hospitable. Highly recommend!

best pizza in town! Loved the wine too!! I love how cozy the place was! I can't wait to go back and try the pizza.

Amazing food, truly authentic. Just goes to show the simplest ingredients make the most wholesome and flavorful food.

we had a family get together and had Gusto for the meal. We had the margharita, margharita with calabrese salami, prosciutto and mushroom, diavola and some aranchini to start. We got takeout and the owner was really nice l, very helpful in how much we needed to order etc. Great find and authentic neapolitan pizza in Fayetteville!

Was told they were closed when I arrived. Politely told them that their hours online were incorrect. Was met with a snappy attitude when i misunderstood that they were only closed because they ran out of food. Will not even give their food a try now. Not worth my time.

So good. Tasty authentic Italian pizza. I had the Caprese and Blanco (I might have the name wrong). They both were delicious. I also got a cannelloni. There were no chocolate chips in it. Womp womp womp. And they have delicious wines. I bought 3 bottles. I'll definitely be back.

I was really excited to find a pizza place in Fayetteville that made pizza with all natural and homemade ingredients. The pizza was delightful! The margarita pizza did taste a little bit more tangy than I would like, it's definitely the tomato sauce. But it shows that it's very fresh as well. The caprese pizza was also very good. It comes with a pesto sauce instead of a red sauce. It had flavor but was a little bit more oily than the margarita pizza. It's not pictured but we also had a pumpkin cheesecake, and it was amazing! Definitely the best part of the meal

[Coronavirus review] Open for takeout and delivery with limited evening hours as of this writing. This place suffers extra during corona because their style of pizza really should be enjoyed fresh. I ate mine in my car outside to give them the best chance to deliver the taste of freshness. Neapolitan pizza is a different experience and it does require calibrating one's expectations. The crust is supposed to be charred from a quick bake in a hot brick oven. The sauce is supposed to be just tomato with no spices (and a very particular sort of tomato). The cheese is supposed to be pure mozzarella (either cow or buffalo), fresh out of water and quite rich. Their pizza delivered on those counts, and I enjoyed it as a light meal. I also added some arancini, which are indulgent little fried rice balls. The downsides, besides those related to corona, are that they don't have a very big menu and it's in a strip mall (though they have decorated the inside rather nicely and lined the counter with basil plants). Normally I would like a salad and some veggie toppings on my pizza, but most of their options were not that. I couldn't order but a few things vegetarian. However, for a quality margherita, I would certainly return, and maybe try a sandwich or a nutella dessert pizza as well.

Tried to get pizza last weekend but they were all out of pizza dough ? I mean you're a pizza place.... Anyways went back today and got two frittas . They were really good. However yet again no one inside the restaurant was wearing a mask. I mean come on it's mandated here and bone of the people there had them.

The food at Gusto is good. It is also very expensive. I was surprised at the prices. The service was pretty good and the ambiance was pure strip mall.

We recently tried Gusto to see if it might become a regular weekly stop for us. Here is what I found. The owner is trying (imo- too hard) to offer truly authentic Italian Wood fired pizza. Since I have never been to Italy she may best doing exactly that. All I know is I really struggled to find something on the menu that looked appealing to me. My wife and I ordered 2 small single serve pizzas and we ordered water to drink. $40. Later we got very plain tasteless pizza that they seemed to be really proud of. Neither my wife nor I thought it was worthy of a second try. Special note: the very small dining area has three communal tables. So be prepared to sit with strangers. If you are going to be successful in this area you should at the very least have one or two offerings of Pepperoni or at least one that a local can recognize. Otherwise I'm afraid that you are going to have a hard time finding local Italians to serve.

Love the food! All authentic From Naples! All pizza dough, breads, pastas & desserts are made from scratch!

Amazing! My mom really wanted to try this place out and it was epic! Highly recommend if you enjoy quality pizza. It was so light and flavorful I highly recommend 10/10 will be bringing my friends. The interior is so nice as well and the staff were so kind!

Nice beautiful little place inside. It's been a few years since having real Italian pizza. The brick oven style pizza was great. Their desserts where quite a treat and a good variety at that all made from their kitchen. Just walking into The restaurant you can smell the fresh herbs in the air. I had a great experience.

This place was truly an experience. It just felt like home. I left with such a warm happy feeling. The owner is truly an artist. The food was so perfect, like I couldn't have been more satisfied with everything. It was our first time, but it most definitely will not be the last. She is doing such a great job.

Amazing wood fired pizza! We tried the margherita pizza and the prosciutto and fungi pizza and they were both 10/10. I had a slice of each in each hand and was alternating. For dessert we had cranberry orange cheesecake and almond cake. All I can say is 10000/10. I wish I had gotten two servings of each for just me! Also, really friendly service, nice wine selection, and conveniently located on Raeford Rd.

The American Dream on Raeford Road! First of all: ignore 1 & 2 star reviews....I had to edit this review to address those reviews: Not a single one of them is accurate. This is Literally the freshest pizza you'll have in Fayetteville. Authentic Italian food (and a gorgeous brick oven) - definitely try this restaurant. Everything is so very fresh and made for you-this is not the pre-made preservative-full food from other restaurants. I love that the owner stays true to her roots & stays authentic. This is a delightful quality, but having followed Gusto for almost three years, I do wonder if it may hurt business just a little bit. For example: "dipping sauces" aren't authentic .... Understood, but you may gain more paying customers (&/or lose fewer) if you met them half-way: don't put it on the menu, but it's f someone asks, they'll be willing to pay for a little cup of sauce. Chicken isn't traditionally served on pasta, but if someone asks...you just made another sale.... Oh yeah: follow Gusto on Facebook- they make delicious jams and desserts that sell out so quickly!!!

Love the food & the people! Truly is a hidden gem & I'm beyond grateful I found them! I've been meaning to leave a review for a while on here! They never disappoint! I've gone several times over the last year. They have a variety of options as well as weekly & seasonal specials they post on Facebook! The owner is from Italy & is there making the food with her staff! Everything was made from scratch with love & with the freshest ingredients! Yes, it costs a little more, but for the quality of the ingredients & being able to sit there & watch them make your wood-fired pizza, talking one-on-one with the owner, IT'S WORTH IT! It is a smaller restaurant with a couple of community tables as well as smaller ones, which I didn't mind at all! I love the opportunity to chat & meet others in the community! They also offer takeout so you can stop on the way home from work or running errands! To sum it up, this is my favorite place & will be my go-to as long as their doors are open!

This place is a hidden gem! The food is always fresh and delicious- I haven't tried a pizza I didn't love. My kids also love this place- they would eat here every night if I gave them that option! The staff is very friendly and they make you feel like you're at home. Drop in for a glass of wine and some pizza- you won't regret it!

Other Yelp reviewers had prepared me somewhat for the Napoletano style pizza, so I knew it would be different from American style pizza. Ordered online...was ready in about 45 minutes. Service was good. They have a few tables inside the homey space with large pizza oven in front of the restaurant. I tried the porky fig and the mortadella with smoked mozzarella. Both were bland and needed something else. Seemed like there was a lot more crust than toppings. Perhaps adding some more toppings would have helped, but the descriptions sounded like there was enough included. Not sure I would go back for pizza, but saw that they had specials on some nights (like lasagna) that sounded good.

We had a margherita pizza and a calzone. The pizza was great, thin crust, crunchy on the edges and chewy (in a good way) in the middle. Perfectly cooked. I didn't try the calzone but I was told it tasted pretty good but the pizza was better. The inside seating situation could be improved, but for the taste of the pizza it was great. Service was also good, the owner (I think) was helping make pizzas which made me happy because she was very particular about the dough. All in all, I'd go back for more because I haven't had pizza in Fayetteville as good as this place.

A pleasant surprise to find authentic Italian food here in Fayetteville. A small local place doing pizza, arancini, paninis and saltinbocca and doing them right. Had the margherita and prosciutto with Rugola, both were delicious and the crust, oh the crust. That thin yet chewy and a flavor all it's own, so good. If you haven't tried Gusto Napoletano - they are definitely worth the try... shop local, support local...

The best pizza in town!!! Must try all fresh ingredients and delicious wood fire pizza!!!

If someone doesn't like this pizza or says it isn't Italian, it's because they don't like pizza in the first place and they haven't discovered google which would explain to them what Italian pizza was and has become. Excellent pizza, excellent people, excellent food. Get some! If someone complains that masks aren't being worn, it's because that person has complied with tyranny and forgotten that we are free citizens of America. Oh and they are afraid of a virus that cannot be filtered by a piece of underwear material and has a 99.98% survival rate.... And that's if it really exists.

Absolute Yum one size pizza that fits all, authentic oven, the flavor of the sauce and dough is so good. Crispy crust, sauce has actual real flavors, lovely service, clean facilities and we will definitely be loyal patrons. I think this pizza is in my all time top three

Amazing authentic Italian pizza. Wow, just wow. I can't believe they have been open 3 years and I just found it.

I have been several times to Gusto Napolitano. Greeted by the owner and pizzaiola and her lovely staff. There pizza is the most authentic you can find in town. Her unique brick oven and pizza dough are unique to the area. Gusto's concepts takes you back to the neighborhood pizzeria with a larger sitting area. Atmosphere is very casual and mostly friendly. All the food is amazing, she comes up with new pizzas all the time. On the classics, I would like a little more cheese on the margherita pizza and more salamini piccanti on the diavola. I know owning your own restaurant is very stressful and Fayetteville locals might no be used to the concept. Be prepare for a rant if you ask for chicken or pineapple on your pizza. Which creates a discomfort in the atmosphere for the rest. I truly think this restaurant is a hidden gem with high potential. I hope the pizzaiola does not get more frustrated and stays open for many years to come. At the end of the day, Fayetteville needs more restaurants like this.

The best pizza I've had in my entire life. Porky fig is fire. We pretty much swapped out chipotle for this pizza

I am really disappointed. I was super excited to try authentic Italian pizza in Fayetteville, especially that I'm from New York . The reviews were excellent . Unfortunately, The ingredients are not the best quality, they had no taste. Pizza seemed bitter , the dough was gluey . I definitely will not recommend.

Nadia is an amazing chef!!! I'm from Italy and I love to know she's a step away when I'm craving real pizza and don't feel like cooking! Everything she serves is fresh and made from scratch,you can just taste it! Her food is authentic just like it is in Italy! She doesn't know the joy she brings to my heart when I eat her food. If you haven't tried it yet please do!

Run don't walk. Actually. One of the best margherita pizzas I've had in a long time!! SUPER authentic. Everything about it was perfecto. Ugh soo so good and for it to be right in Fayetteville, im in love. Tried their fried Oreos as well, which seemed a little out of place on the menu- basic fried Oreos, might be cute if you have a kid with you. As for the fried cheesecake I was super excited to try it but they made it that particular day with chocolate cheesecake so I passed. But definitely will be back to try fried cheesecake with original!! Again though I'm telling you, there is no superior pizza, this is a gem!!

After living in Europe for 7 years I was excited to find out there is an Italian pizzeria that opened up in Fayetteville. We are kind of pizza snobs when it comes to our pizza's. We want the true Italian thin crust pizza that is crispy on the bottom. With that said....we (wife, daughter and I) weren't impressed with Gusto. We went in with high expectations and were let down. Definitely not the Italian pizzeria experience we were looking for. To quote my wife....the crust was like eating a chewy bagel. The flavor/toppings weren't bad but also weren't great. And the cost was higher than I would have expected. Thought I was paying European prices for this dinner. Three pizzas and two desserts plus tip was way more than I would normally pay in the States. Guess that's what I get for not looking at the prices when I ordered.

Fantastic! Great crust! Traditional toppings! Family style tables. Well worth it.

Fantastic Margherita pizza, fried risotto and cannoli's. Everything is fresh and homemade. Will be back next time we are in town.

Better than pizza in Italy!! Love getting the pizza and deep fried cheesecake. Definitely should try!!

Well... I was looking forward to an "Italian experience" as advertised on the door of the establishment, and since losing two pizza places in the area (and being someone who enjoys a good pizza) I was excited about trying this place out. That didn't happen. Walked in with my mother and was completely ignored. The place was pretty empty and I could clearly see the kitchen from where I stood which meant they could see me. I'm unlikely to return if that the experience I am to expect.

This restaurant is amazing ladies and gentlemen. It's a gem to say the least. When you walk in you smell the wood burning oven and the amazing aroma from the kitchen. It feels like home. The owner is mesmerizing with her wealth of knowledge of the wine she serves and sells. And did I mention the owner. She is a breath of fresh air and so sweet. When I brought my meal home it was amazing and perfect. I love Luigi's but now I love Gusto. I had a sausage dog with sun-dried tomatoes and carmelized onions. I also had the rice balls. If you haven't tried it please give this place a chance. We need more independent owners like this young lady. Her food is amazing.