Best service with Luigi and authentic food around! I love in the summer when you can sit outside!

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. read more

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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! read more

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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!! read more

Gran Gusto - Margherita Pizza - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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. read more

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! read more

Great atmosphere, service and the best Italian food you can get in MA. Italian restaurant from an Italian owner who is working there every single day read more

I had the shrimp risotto and my husband had the zuppa de pesce. My risotto was so bland, I think it was plain brown rice mixed with gravy. It did have shrimp which was okay. No parmesan. Burrata didn't add any flavor. They didn't even bother with a bit of parsley. The fish soup was watery tasting. It had lots of seafood. The lobster tail which didn't even have much flavor could have been pre-released to make it easier to eat. I think they thought it amusing to see my husband struggle with it. A warm towel with lemon would have been a good thing. Service was perfunctory. The ambience was so noisy we couldn't hear ourselves think, let alone carry on a conversation. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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! read more

Gran Gusto - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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! read more

Gran Gusto - GF bolognese - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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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! read more

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. read more

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

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. read more

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. read more

Gran Gusto - Pizza and steak. Both were good. - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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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 ! read more

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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. read more

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. read more

Gran Gusto - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This spot was recommended to us by a friend. I probably never would have come across it given it is in a residential area and not super close to any T stops. That being said, it really is a hidden gem in Cambridge! The owner was super, super friendly and talkative to us when we came in at 5 pm on a Saturday night. I believe he is from Italy and I could tell he was proud of his restaurant and food. The staff was very attentive to us. We started with the smoked mozzarella appetizer which was really unique, it definitely had a smokey flavor. I really had never tasted cheese like it before. We also tried the apple salad as a group appetizer which was very fresh and light. I recommend it. For my main meal, I got the risotto. I think that was my least favorite of all the dishes my family members got. It was not as creamy as I like a risotto to be, but everyone else in the group had all star meals. I will say though, they did not skimp on the shrimp in my risotto. There was so much shrimp in it that my jacket literally smelled like seafood a week later (I'm so serious-they don't mess around). I would be interested in trying the pizza one day, I bet it would be fantastic. There is parking behind the restaurant. The sign says free after 6 pm but when we were there on the weekend at 5 pm, we just parked in the lot because it was totally open and had no problems. read more

Gran Gusto - Apple salad, smoked mozzarella - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Great place in such a unique setting. Don't let the exterior fool you! Great staff and authentic Italian food read more

Delicious food and the owner and most of the staff will speak Italian with you if you show any interest in doing so. We will definitely be back. read more

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. read more

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 read more

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. read more

The food here is OK. The pizza is worth going for. The pizza you cannot go wrong, cooked away from the kitchen in a brick oven. But I can see from the bar that the kitchen was very dirty and I found out that nobody working there has any Servsafe qualifications. So I am not surprised that people have gotten sick from eating there. read more

We went out for a Saturday dinner-date last night at this restaurant, which we'd heard nice things about. Just a 5 minute drive from Harvard Square, it was cozy and informal, and reminded me of Italian restaurants in smaller towns and cities there, such and Parma. The owner actually came over, took our order, and served us. That was a nice treat. He's from Napoli, and he was extremely accommodating. I spotted a man at a table on the other side of the room eating what turned out to be a squid-ink pasta with seafood. We managed to snag the very last one available after the owner rushed over to put the order in. We had an excellent cheese, prosciutto and figs anti-paste; squid-ink pasta; and hanger steak with Brussels sprouts and potatoes. A great added thing was they split the pasta and steak into two small dishes for us. For dessert with had chocolate tort with hazelnut gelato, and a tiramisu. Squid ink seafood pasta with shrimps was the best. Hanger steak was very good. The ambience was laid back and comfy. Overall, an authentic Italian eatery without any pretentiousness whatsoever. A gem, just as it was said to be. We'll be returning soon. But please don't go! Or don't tell too many folks if you do. A gem like this deserves to remain half secret. ;) read more

Gran Gusto - Squid Ink pasta with shrimp / seafood - daily special dish - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Took my boyfriend out for his birthday because he is a big lover of cheese and pasta! Well it was even more special and exciting because they serve one of their pasta dishes from a cheese wheel which is the one he got of course! To start off we ordered a salami pizza which was to die for fresh and cheesy and hot! Then we both got pastas but mine was the meat and ragu! We had a wonderful time a party of 4. I highly recommend this fine low key restaurant food was amazing service was amazing and atmosphere was amazing! read more

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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. read more

This is such a hidden gem in breat boston area! After I took a bite of the pizza I felt so lucky I was that I found this restaurant hidden in a residential area in somerville. Very authentic Italian food; much better than most of them in the north end. My roommate and I were the only Asians in the restaurant that day: that was how we know whether an Italian restaurant is good lol My roommate and I had a reservation at 5:15 pm. When we arrived we were seated immediately. The restaurant wasn't filled when we arrived, but it was quickly filled with people during our meal. The server was very nice and welcoming, with an italian accent English and sometimes with random Italian words coming out, another aspect to show how authentic the food is here:) My roommate and I shared a compo salad, the o re pizza and the pacheri pasta. For the salad and the pasta, when we told the waiter we were going to share, they just served it in separate plates, each with half a portion. Everything was so delicious! My favorite was the O re pizza, that was much much better than the American style pizza and I suddenly understand why those Italian grandma's reacted so furiously when they tried the american pizza or pasta in those tasty videos lol The pizza dough was so soft and airy and the mozerella cheese on top was the best I have ever had. I didn't even realize that it was mozzarella until my roommate told me it was. It was very creamy but not heavy at all. The star of the pizza was the truffle slices and truffle oil drizzled on it. Even before I put the pizza in my mouth I could already smell the truffle flavor, tat umami bomb. Usually I can only finish one or two slices of pizza. That day I had three slices, along with a salad and pasta, and I did not feel bloated at all :) The pacheri pasta was also very delicious and the presentation of the dish was also on point. They definitely made fresh pasta in house and the ragu sauce was very flavorful. The short rib was also cooked to perfection: very tender and well seasoned. The fresh rosemary not only served as a decoration, its flavor also blended very well with the short ribs. Highly recommend this restaruant and will definitely come back and try their other dishes! read more

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A really solid neighborhood Italian restaurant. The handmade pasta is delicious and we especially loved the chitarra dish - served after being tossed in a huge ring of cheese. Their pizza is very good, too. read more

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. read more

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! read more

Surprisingly enough, I came here off of a recommendation from a random Uber driver who told me it was the best Italian food in America. After reading the reviews online, I decided he was probably telling the truth and asked my friends if they'd like to try it out for my birthday. The service was great, we loved our waiter. He was attentive and wasn't bothered by our many questions. We ordered an appetizer, pizza and each our pasta dishes and they were all fantastic. I will come back here before going back to the North End for a good Italian meal any day. Oh and the drinks were 10/10!! read more

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

This is going to be a super lame review since I don't really remember what I had, but I remembered it was good... good enough that I needed to write a review (effectively bookmarking it for myself). Promise to go again soon so I can actually write a reasonable / useful review. :-) read more