Real Italian Gusto

Italian restaurant · Medford

Real Italian Gusto

Italian restaurant · Medford

1

24 High St, Medford, MA 02155

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Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null
Real Italian Gusto by null

Highlights

Elevated storefront eatery with old-world flair making Neapolitan pizza & other Italian specialties.  

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24 High St, Medford, MA 02155 Get directions

realitaliangusto.com
@realitaliangusto

$$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

24 High St, Medford, MA 02155 Get directions

+1 781 396 1656
realitaliangusto.com
@realitaliangusto

$$ · Menu

Features

dine in
takeout
wifi
payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 5, 2025

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@eater

"Hands down, Real Italian Gusto is making some of the best pizza in greater Boston. But it’s not only pizza that makes this Medford spot shine: The pasta dishes are all excellent, too, and the risotto ai frutti di mari (risotto with shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams) is a must-try." - Terrence Doyle

Where to Eat in Medford
View Postcard for Real Italian Gusto

Rachel

Google
Very quaint Italian place with great food! I had the chicken marsala and was not disappointed with the slightly sweet marsala used. I'm not used to a chicken marsala without a crust of some kind but I was not disappointed. This dish was served with mashed potatoes (another first), green beans, and cooked carrots. It felt like the perfect comfort meal from your family's kitchen and I can't wait to go back!

Legna Primera

Google
This place is great! The food is delicious, the pasta is fresh, the pizza is unreal. We even order two desserts, and they were both great. Also, good value! And the portion sizes are generous without being exaggerated. We had the bruschetta, bolognese pappardelle, the Umbria pizza, the stracciatella gelato, and the profiteroles. And we enjoy all of it. Will be coming back!

Fernando Ibarra

Google
Waitress was a doll. She made my dinning experience feel like a dream. I was unfamiliar with traditional Italian food but she made me feel comfortable and was able to recommend an amazing dish. I will be back!!!!

Jennifer Rombalski

Google
Food was great! Very expensive 3.50 for a can of coke! The bread that was given to use was looked was extremely laughably tiny and stale! Service was a joke but not waiter's fault since whomever was in charge decided to run a busy night with only ONE waiter for about seven to eight tables and it was only his 4th day on the job!! Despite the chaos the waiter was amazing. Fyi would have demanded a refunded but we didn't have time to deal with this nonsense since we were going to concert just around the street

Valerie Szmurlo

Google
The server was amazing, attentive and lovely. The drinks and food were authentic and delicious. Definitely recommend to anyone who is in the Greater Boston area.

Daniel

Google
Amazing burrata e prosciutto 🙏 pizza was awesome too. I am from Caserta, Italy and this feels like home

Michael Wong

Google
Amazing food. Nice upscale dining room. Just alittle too loud. Wait staff was great

Linda Rosenthal

Google
Best pizza in Boston area! Great service as well. We’ve been in MANY pizzas places and Real Gusto competes with all them. True Italian!

StriperGu Y.

Yelp
One of the most authentic Italian restaurants I have EVER been to in the USA. My wife is from italy and she was stunned. The food is superb. Most notably all of the pasta was super fresh and house made with that indescribable springiness of fresh pasta. YUM! We had: - the fried appetizer plate - A meaty pizza - papardelle with meat sauce - pasta with broccoli and sausage - Linguini Vongole - minestrone. - Lemon sorbet - Profiterole - Glass of montepulciano de Abruzzo. Everything was totally delicious. The pizza was spot on. Run, don't walk to one of the most authentic Italian restaurants in America!

Justin G.

Yelp
Compared to the many italian restaurants in the area, Real Italian Gusto doesn't stand out. We walked in without a reservation on a Friday night and the whole restaurant was packed. The only seats available were at the bar. What we ate: - Eggplant Parm (PARMIGIANA) appetizer. It was decent, but I wouldn't order it again. I prefer a crispier parm. - The highlight was the Bolongnese Paparedelle which was great and aligns with what lots of other reviewers say. - 4 Cheese Rigatoni: Solid dish, very heavy but then again it is a cheese sauce based. Overall the food was decent, the bar service left a little to be desired and there are better restaurants at the same if not lower price points around the area.

Alice D.

Yelp
Came here on a Saturday evening for an earlier dinner and the place wasn't too busy, but it filled up quite quickly. We came with a reservation regardless so were seated pretty fast which was nice; the space goes quite deep so there are a lot of tables, all of which weren't visible from the entrance. Our server was quick to get us serviced and food came out in a reasonable amount of time which was nice. They weren't great about refilling waters, but that was the only real complaint with the service. The menu had a good mix of Italian dishes and the apps weren't all too bad - the calamari tasted nice, but nothing special or out of the ordinary. The salad was nice honestly - fresh greens and good amount of toppings. The pasta was a bit disappointing portion wise, but the taste was fine. I enjoyed dessert the most - the little fried dough and chocolate was a great portion size while the tiramisu was well made and tasted good. Overall, I probably wouldn't return given this spot wasn't unique in any aspect, but if you're craving Italian, it was a solid spot in downtown Medford.

Susan L.

Yelp
The Bolognese Pappardelle was superb! I have been trying this dish all around the area, and I finally found one that I could go back for. And there was so much that I had a second meal of it at home. One friend had the Haddock Livornese, and the other one of the Rigatoni dishes. They both enjoyed their meals. I had the Trentina Salad which was fine, but pretty meh. I'm very picky about salad. My friends shared a Romana Salad and seemed happy enough. The ambiance was pleasant: the music not overpowering, not rock 'n roll, acoustic tiles in the ceiling meant we could hear each other speak without yelling. Still, it was a Tuesday night and the restaurant was not full, so I wonder how noisy it is on the weekends. Our waitress was new but very pleasant and honest. Each of us got a different red wine, and all of us were satisfied. There is public parking across the street, behind the buildings. We'll definitely return!

Betsy H.

Yelp
What a hidden gem!!! Who would guess that behind this tiny storefront )that looks like a pizza take out place) is actually a gorgeous, modern, striking space that opens up into a fun bar and a huge room with windows overlooking the river! I can not say enough about the food, the service and the atmosphere. Our favorites were the polenta & sausage, the pear ravioli with limoncello sauce and the incredible deserts which were a fight between the taramisu and the "angels" which are perfect little Italian donuts. Affordable wine list, friendly server....we will absolutely be back!

Al P.

Yelp
Was there this past weekend, food was pretty good but the service was terrible. The server never came to the table to see if we needed anything, how the food was etc. I had to find her twice to ask for a drink and also bread and cheese shaker( which we never received) I would think you would need some sort of personality to be in this industry and she was certainly behaving that she could not be bothered serving us. Disappointing

Gary H.

Yelp
Great neighborhood spot! The food is always fantastic and the service is quick. The manager/bartender is extremely friendly and always there to make your experience the best it can be. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a great Italian meal.

Michele M.

Yelp
Ordered takeout through ubereats and the order was completed in a timely manner. The food was quite cold by the time we got it, but heating it up made it taste 5x better. I wanted to try the spaghetti carbonara but I didn't see it on their online menu. Their pasta is home made and cooked to al dente. The bolognese is meaty and saucy which I love. The carbonara is not like the other restaurants, but more creamy and light in flavor. The pizza was an interesting combo. I'm not sure if I liked the super chewy mushrooms with arugula and prosciutto but overall okay flavor. Prices were a little expensive, but would be a good spot for date night. I looked around when picking up and it had nice and modern decor. There isn't much parking except street.

Jessica T.

Yelp
Ordered take out one night and ordered the mushrooms pappardelle. It lacked flavor entirely which made it hard to eat (I only took a few bites) and was a very small portion. In my opinion, not worth the $27 entree. My partner ordered the lasagna and it wasn't anything that stood out to him. For $23 he said it was alright and portion size was small as well.

Quinn O.

Yelp
Great meal! My boyfriend and I stopped in on a Saturday night ordered arancini and a pizza to share (& gelato for dessert). The food and service were wonderful. I especially enjoyed the cozy atmosphere of the back of the dining room looking out onto the river. The prices were very reasonable as well. We live nearby and will definitely be returning regularly!

Carine T.

Yelp
Great food, ambiance, and service! We had lasagna, clams Spaghetti and the chicken Parmesan. All were really good and they have a solid wine list and cocktails as well.

Terry C.

Yelp
Have to start by saying that the pizza here was excellent....so why 2 stars? When you go to a bar seat, settle down for a glass of wine or a beer.... you relax , glance at the food menus etc.. When the "Music" system loudly starts playing songs from Enya...Queen...Elton John...and more irritating sounds...Stop. Just pick a genre please. So ...enjoyed the pizza but left because of the sounds. Really! Time to say goodbye.. try Sarah Brightman.. London Symphony Orchestra ..You'll like it Off center restaurant review ... but enjoy Let's end Muzak

Collin W.

Yelp
As the name suggests, these folks are REAL Italians. Food was A+ and the overall vibe was very family friendly. Can't wait to come back

Maria R.

Yelp
The place is cute! We really wanted to love it! I got the arachni balls I thought they were yummy. We got the meatball bites it was sweet and ok.. my son got the chicken parm the cutlets were overcooked and burnt. My husband got the clam he said it was okay. I first ordered the Arrabbiata pasta but they said that they had none (disappointing) my daughters ordered the Bolognese pasta they both enjoyed it! My husband ordered an old fashion and it was just bourbon with an ice cube. no garnish no bitters! So it was okay! Service was okay! We got there at 430 for early dinner literally the first people there. We won't be going back.

John C.

Yelp
DO NOT GO HERE - PLACE IS A DISASTER Response to Owner response : Matthew, I was expecting a reply since I noticed you only reply to 1 star reviews. A nice tip was left for the server. She was great. We made sure to sneak it in her hand. She was very grateful and probably afraid to tell you she got tipped! Please contact the Authorities. I made sure to record as we told the the bald man that was in charge that we were not paying. He understood, said sorry and then comp'd the bill and let us be on our way. It was a mutual understanding. Why did he say sorry and was willing to comp the bill? So your problem is was him now not the customer. It's all on recording . Shame on you for publicly blaming your server. When the man in charge stated the Kitchen lost the ticket and wanted to know what everyone had originally ordered. 10 mins before the show mind you! Maybe you should have been there helping the cook not lose the tickets and making sure bills weren't getting comp'd since you are so worried about $300. Many complaints that night throughout the restaurant. The other servers had to talk to there tables that were upset too. Other customers said they should have known better to come back again during a night there was a show. You simply can not handle the volume whether you have 1 cook or 5. Instead of monitoring the Yelp reviews and creating 5 star reviews on your part as if you are a customer for the "algorithm" as you mentioned in your 5 star review yesterday of your OWN restaurant you should monitor what is going on in your kitchen Take some accountability for not knowing how to properly run a restaurant. ------ORIGINAL REVIEW ------ We came here before attending a show at the Chevalier theater on Friday night . We made reservations 2 months in advance for 5pm .We sat no problem as the place was pretty empty. They place quickly filled up with others going to this 7:30 show. We ordered drinks then appetizers everything came out fine. A little after 6 we were ready to put our entrees in . We waited and waited up to 7:30. Still no food. We noticed all the smaller parties that sat way after we put orders for our entrees got their food and finished but were all still waiting. We felt so bad for our server she kept on checking the kitchen. She did everything she could do and was so sweet. We overheard the Owner tell her that the kitchen lost the tickets and not his fault because there is only 1 cook. The owner did not care. One table said they overheard the owner laugh "We don't need these customers" I was furious. Shame on him for being ok with this. UNACCEPTABLE. We were in complete shock there were at least 100 people in this restaurant and many just as angry as my party and and you have 1 cook???? from what we heard this is every night at the Gosto 1 pizza guy and 1 that does everything else and they just keep sitting more and more people. This is a normal night at the Gosto when there is a show. We were not the only ones who walked out that night, other customers spoke to the owner - a complete deer in headlights standing there looking around avoiding all of the angry costumers. We told him we weren't paying for anything and we left. Table next to us got there dinner 5 minutes before the show and said the chicken was undercooked. Vegetables so cold. Not Edible. They paid. So maybe we were lucky not getting our dinners. We have all come here plenty of times with friends. Never again The servers and the Cooks deserve so much better than this place. The servers where in tears, One table a man who owns several restaurants left them his card and said come work for me. I hope they do. Itailian Gosto this is not how to treat your customers.

Paula C.

Yelp
Food is delicious here! Staff is friendly! The Bolognese pasta is fantastic! Everything on the menu is very good.

Donna A.

Yelp
Waitresses don't have a clue on what they are doing!!! Very expensive. Jennifer lousy service.

Ricardo L.

Yelp
Great food and excellent service. The restaurant has a variety of pizzas, pastas, entrees and wines. And a nice view to the water. Highly recommended!

Rebecca L.

Yelp
Definitely a great spot to go to. The food is always fresh and the ambiance is great.

Amanda S.

Yelp
Great service and ambiance. The Real Italian Gusto is so much larger than it appears outside! I was surprised with how spacious it was. I imagine that if we had gone during the day we would have had a nice view of the mystic River.

Laura T.

Yelp
Not sure what was going on with the other reviews but our dinner was fantastic here with plenty of other happy tables around us and we plan to return again! We headed over on a Friday night and had an early reservation. The space is lovely and I bet it has really nice views of the river in the daylight. Our waitress was wonderful and attentive. It's the little things that make for a great experience here like getting a new set of plates when your appetizer comes out and the descriptions of the wine and what they pair well with on the menu that show the care the staff gives. The bread with olive oil to start was great to munch on as we were hungry after a long day. We decided to get a starter-artichokes in Rome and holy crap were they good. It's three artichokes wrapped in delicious prosciutto and baked that come out on a bed of dressed arugula and man was it delicious. We each got an order of bolognese papardelle and the sauce and pasta were perfection. Two glasses of wine and two desserts and we were certainly fat and happy. My only regret is I didn't take any pictures to share how good everything looked! A nice local spot that we plan to return to!

Rosemary E.

Yelp
Food is excellent at this well appointed location. Reservations necessary. Friendly atmosphere.

Rob K.

Yelp
Plenty of options on the menu, reasonably priced, and very convenient if you have anything going on in or around Medford Center. The pizza is great.

Diane S.

Yelp
Great atmosphere & wait staff ! Definitely recommend reservation's! Food is very similar to what you get in Italy

Jacki C.

Yelp
A very lovely couple moved here from Italy and opened this wonderful restaurant! The food is authentic Italian the atmosphere is lovely and clean. The staff is wonderful and the food is absolutely delicious.

Janice S.

Yelp
Went there for anniversary dinner Saturday night before Randy Rainbow show. Because of the hard furniture and no carpet, it is very noisy. We were seated at a two person table in a middle row by the back windows. The kitchen lighting is very harsh from that perspective. Better to have it closed off actually. The food was not good. Carbonara uninspired with little taste. I had the Mushrooms pappardelle, also uninspired. I so dislike paying a lot of money for not so great food. We didn't get any part of our meals at the same time. I agree with other comments here that they were not prepared for the amount of diners on a rainy night before a 7 o'clock show at the Chevalier Theater, which, in itself could be another Yelp review of the strangest venues I've ever been to.

Ron R.

Yelp
5 years ago I had one idea. Now after all we have gone thru I do have another. The place is nice. The variety is good. There are lots of options. Start with a tomato and mozzarella salad. Then we had some rolled rice meatballs. All were good. As to the pasta entree is seems a bit lower. We had our variety but it was not the same. The pasta was fine but the flavors where missing. It was a bit bland. In fact, there was no taste to it. No spice. Nothing. All three entrees were the same in flavor. At the end we skipped dessert. The team was nice and did work to make sure you liked the meal. One did make a comment on a culture and that did make us change thought. I liked the concept but it is time to consider a new place.

John Z.

Yelp
Nice dining environment and good service. They have bottle beer only and no draft beer although you can see the draft beer equipment inside the bar. Pizza was very soft when I expected it is crispy. But overall I got what I paid for.

Katie H.

Yelp
Have been ordering takeout and delivery here- a little too frequently. Looking forward to eating in as I've noticed the place is adorable. Pizza: wood fired with great toppings, crust is amazing. (If you have it takeout or delivery you may want to pop it in the oven as it seems to cool down quickly.) Pasta: have tried several offerings, although not my favorite I do love it and the pesto is my favorite. Sides: we love the pasta faguli soup, meatballs and the gelato to finish dinner. The gelato comes in a glass cup even in the takeout boxes. You really can't go wrong here.....everything is great whether you eat in or have delivery.

David E.

Yelp
I have been going to Real Italian Gusto since it opened several years ago and had always found it the last bastion of authentic, inspired Italian cuisine. I'm sad to say that the meal I had tonight was subpar. The prosciutto and mozzarella starter was tasty, the winner being the creamy mozzarella. For entrees, my date and I ordered the carbonara and the cacio e pepe. The carbonara was made with what appeared to be chunks of ham instead of pancetta or guanciale. There was no egg flavor, very little salt or pepper. The cacio e pepe had almost no salt and did not resemble the Italian dish in the slightest, being soupy and rather tasteless. The tiramisu was so so. My date's stracciatella ice cream was good. I truly hope this was an off night for the kitchen. I would hate to see a true gem lose what made it special, deciding instead to serve us Americans a pale facsimile of Italian cuisine.

Jane F.

Yelp
I went here before a show at the Chevalier Theater. We had a reservation for 4 and the restaurant was completely packed - all the tables full and I only saw two servers for all those tables. The servers seemed maxed out and based on our service - I think they could have used two more servers for the room. The food here is just ok - the salad was great but the pasta was rubbery. I had the carbonara rigatoni which I was very excited about - I thought it seemed like an interesting take on that using the rigatoni noodle. Well the pancetta was burnt and the noodles were more than al dente and the carbonara part was kind of flavorless. I am from our of town so they won't see me here again. We did not do coffee or dessert.

Michele D.

Yelp
We attended a party for my uncles 85 th Birthday and wow!!! Amazing food and top Notch Service! It was over an hour ride for us but definitely worth the ride! We will 100% be going back some night for dinner! If you haven't tried thus Gem of a restaurant you need to check it out! You won't be sorry!

Jerry C.

Yelp
A gem in Medford. First time here and had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. First- they do a great job with pandemic dining. Some outdoor tables are available including 2 tables overlooking the Mystic River. Inside everything is spotless and tables are spaced far apart. I noticed frequent hand cleaning with the staff and of course masks were worn. This is scratch Italian cooking using the freshest ingredients. We split a Sarda Salad- mixed greens, beets (on the side for me ;-) goat cheese raisins and walnuts. Fresh and delicious. The Toscana Pizza- which included meaty mushrooms, prosciutto, arugula and basil was a wonderful, hand tossed gourmet pizza. The Bolognese Pappardelle was good- I like a bit more meat but was not disappointed. The prosciutto was added after cooking. Finally a pair of savory cannolis with and without chocolate chips finished us off. Our server couldn't have been better. She made splitting our dishes easy. Friendly and very attentive, she enhanced our dining experience. Although outside dining is still available, but when it gets cold, this is one place I'll confidently return to dine inside.

John B.

Yelp
Great food and service in a lovely setting. Even on a busy show night the service was quick and attentive. You can't beat pizza fresh out of the oven and the bruschetta and Artichokes in Rome were outstanding. We love the Gusto Italiano Market in Bedford, NH, but will definitely be back to Medford for more of the delicious looking menu choices at Real Italian Gusto!

Jill H.

Yelp
The absolute best Italian I have ever had! I ate the special, gnocchi with peas and ham in a saffron cream sauce. I will not be returning to north end ever again. Real Italian Gusto, I am a huge fan

David C.

Yelp
I'm definitely not a fan of Italian food, but the sib picked it for restaurant week. Something about this place bought me over instantly! The restaurant looks BRAND new, but apparently has been opened for 3 years now. It clearly shows how much the owner and staff love the place to keep it looking this clean! I also enjoyed a little culture talk with the staff. Apparently, keeping the restaurant dark with low lighting is an American thing. In Italy, everything is bright so you can see your food, floor and pretty much every thing around you. I'm glad they participated in Restaurant Week, it got my foot in the door and I KNOW I will be back. Arancini - this is genius! Now I have an alternative to make spaghetti when I run out of noodles. In other words, it's eating rice with spaghetti, which as an asian, this will do! Carbonara - since I didn't like Italian so much, I let our waitress (Emily?) choose for me. The carbonara comes with bacon, which made my choice instant. The sauce is thick and creamy, so if you're not into it, I don't recommend. Chocolate Mousee - I wasn't able to make much of a dent because I was full from the carbonara. It was very chocolatey.

Marcia W.

Yelp
Food is excellent as is the service. Location is great on a weekday evening. Some seats overlook the river with a beautiful view.

Susan O.

Yelp
Went because it came highly recommended by a family member. I read reviews and was reluctant but feel like people are always quick to write a bad review and not so quick to write a good one. Well, I'm sorry to say the service was terrible (just like previous reviews said) and the food itself was not great. I like to cook so I do have high expectations but when my Irish Bolognese is 100% better than the Italian restaurant, that's a bummer. the eggplant parmigiana app had no parmigiana, our server seemed like she didn't want to wait on us or maybe she's embarrassed because people complain so much. Either way she never once asked how our food was or if we needed anything and I've never been to an Italian restaurant who never asked if you'd like grated cheese and when we asked we got a dainty little tiny dish with a dainty little tiny spoon for four adult meals, enough grated cheese for a child size portion. Needless to say, we left a 10% tip because the server was awful. And the food wasn't worth the $160 but whatever, we won't go back and I'd recommend staying away and not falling for what I thought was bad reviews from people who were probably over reacting. Unless you feel like wasting a couple hundred bucks. Then go for it.

Joe S.

Yelp
Good place to enjoy nice selection of Italian wine and some authentic food. We started with Sean I I and fried eggplant and they were good. My main dish was spaghetti with clams and I really enjoy it. Delicate taste with nice herbs! As a dessert, I got the profiterole and it was a bit sweet to my taste. I would definitely pass by again to taste more items of the menu!

emily b.

Yelp
Not bad. I would have given it 3 stars because everything was very slow but it was clearly understaffed when I came in so I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. Owner was super nice and very honest. I only got bruschetta but it was perfect and delicious. When they give you bread, they only give plain olive oil, which I personally was not a fan of. Bartender was absolutely clueless and clearly inexperienced, but trying very hard. She was very friendly and her effort showed. The place is classy and decorated nicely; good ambiance. Personally I will return. I bet this place would do amazingly with adequate help.

Sarah J.

Yelp
Such a cute patio overlooking the mystic river. The inside is not your traditional old school Italian look. Very clean and modern. We started with a tasty artichoke app wrapped in prositto. Quite delicious. We shared a pizza.. very thin and tasty! It was only cut in 4 large slices , I cut my last piece in half. Great amount for us, but I feel like many couples would want their own each. We ended with their gelato and homemade cannolis.... sooooo goood! ---- the wine was hit! Between the two of us we tried 4 different options... alll great! We will be back

S G.

Yelp
super mediocre italian. nothing inspired or original or memorable. . nice ambiance in a well lit family restaurant tho.

Michelle W.

Yelp
Off the beaten path, this small family owned authentic Italian restaurant can easy out perform many of the north end establishments with their smart limited menu, clean flavors, and direct delivery of service. Located in Medford this restaurant is coming up on the scene as Medford is finding its place, culinarily. We got the Emilia Pizza and the Fusilli and both were so so so good. Their limited menu offers a wide range of cozy familiar eats, just done better. The pizza was so freaking good and the pasta was flavorful and delicious without being a saucy mess that most Italian American restaurants offer. The prices were so right and you could see the owners really care about the community and their patrons. If you're looking for a new Italian bistro to give a go, definitely go out of your way to here, you won't be disappointed.

Matt C.

Yelp
The best Margherita pizza in Boston. The Tiramisu is amazing as well. Medford has great Italian-American food, and this place is a prime example.

Kate C.

Yelp
Well-priced, yummy Italian food in downtown Medford. I love to get their pasta as a takeout option. The bolognese and spaghetti with shrimp are my absolute favorites. They turn out takeout pretty fast - even on the weekend nights - and it's always piping hot and delicious. The staff are super nice as well, and they've created a social distancing area with lots of space to stand while you wait for takeout or a table. To my knowledge, they do not offer outdoor dining. The limited space in downtown Medford makes this tricky for a lot of places.

John B.

Yelp
Our last week's visit to Real Gusto was a real disappointment. My wife and I have dined at this restaurant many times over the past 5 years and for the most part, have been pleased. Not this time. Something has changed and the warm greeting by the owners was noticeably missing. The good news: the Margherita pizza was very good. Bad news: our salad had tomatoes that were not ripe and were hard. Our Cappuccino's were weak and cold when brought to our table. We asked our server to replace them which she gladly did. Unfortunately, the second set of Cappuccino's were as poor and weak as the originals. Moreover, my view is that If you are a fine dining Italian restaurant in our area, you have got to be on point with the basics.

Manfred S.

Yelp
Food is fantastic and authentic. The restaurant has a stunning clean, white ambience and overlooking the Mystic River is wonderful. Always look out for the special of the day. The red sauces have been remarkable. I am not much of a pizza guy, but Real Italian Gusto has the real Italian gusto. Correction: It is better than pizza in Italy. Besides the main courses of the day, I very much enjoyed the salumi, the insalata caprese and minestrone. Medford Square is turning into a gourmet heaven with ethnic excellence.

Laurel C.

Yelp
The waitress was awesome. Had a reservation. The fact the staff said they wouldn't alter dishes for allergies (they say everything is made to order) left a weird feeling. I love this place and its owners and want it to succeed. Tonight was an overall expensive fail. They say they make everything from scratch as mentioned above but they won't bc of allergy remove the protein or substitute even if you offer to pay more because "the restaurant says we have to have authentic dishes". Ok. Poor waitress (who we tipped well). Appetizers of arancini and a salad which was missing its main ingredient were both yummy. The raviolis my partner in eating had was good. My pasta carbonara was awful- the pasta was not fully cooked. No mama her came over. The bill charged us for both the awful inedible entree and the replacement. Had to remind the waitress to have it fixed which she did. But oh my- it's a different place. Who would not put no protein or another one w a sauce? That's new to me for the price point. Tiramisu was great (also as mentioned arancini and weird salad). They are a great small business who I want to support. The waitstaff is VERY young. The service was iffy but only because the poor girl had too many tables and was forced to deal with a dish request (edit: allergy) and undercooked food (um, Italians who refuse to omit a protein but then being about pasta carbonara with chewy pasta- confused!). It was a 3 digit bill for 2. Not cheap- but didn't expect cheap. Waitstaff need to know both if a customer has a question about a dish to bring a manager over likely but definitely if the food is not cooked right. (My friend took a bite and agreed). To not have one dish taken off was insulting but again many positives. They need to be more responsive (never been to a restaurant that says everything is made from scratch, but then they don't omit requested items bc shellfish allergy). Hoping as COVID life improves they will provide the awesome food and managerial service we are used to. And yes we tipped the waitress very well bc none of it was her fault.

Anna F.

Yelp
It does justice to the name- it's definitely real Italian. From the quality olive oil and bread to start, to the superb arancini appetizer (fried rice ball, filled with meat and peas, with a fresh tomato sauce), to the homemade pastas, it was definitely authentic. It was the best arancini I've had, and the carbonara was definitely also the stand-out. There was nice natural light, and a view of the water, out the windows.

Diane G.

Yelp
First time here and it was awesome. The pasta was homade and food was delicious! The service was great despite only being 1 waitress and she handled it splendidly! They have a great menu and the restaurant has a great atmosphere..cozy but modern and SO much bigger and nicer than it looks from streetside. Many desserts to choose from and the 3 we chose were delicious. The prices are not bad either...highly recommend this restaurant!