If there's any restaurant my out of town friends ask me to recommend, it's 100% is always Gusto 501 for me. Gusto is the way to a gal's heart - this is the perfect spot for a quiet night with a girlfriend or a cute date spot. The vibe is dim, sleek and generally good vibes. Always make a reso!! I like this location because it's much more quiet on this side of the city. The service has always been great, the ambiance is beautiful and I like the open kitchen concept on the first floor. Gusto is always bumpin' and for good reason. Enjoy a cheap glass of wine that doesn't taste so cheap while munching on their carpaccio. Everything tastes so fresh here, I've never met a dish I didn't like at Gusto. My go to's are the basic bitch meal - the truffle pasta (malfade ai funghi). My god, I levitate to another universe every time this hits my tongue. The flavour profile is straight up ridiculous. Their pizzas are also well made, the texture of the dough is that perfect chewiness. Not going to lie, I hate when I have to go to the third floor, as pretty as it is. I came here for pasta, not stairmaster! ;) But there is a nice view up there of the overall resto, so I won't complain. read more

. overall the food was good . the ambiance was very dim, and romantic- cute date spot . server was really nice and attentive . truffle pasta really stood out, pasta texture and shape was really unique~ really compliments the cream . pasta slightly too salty but would come back just for this dish . beef tartare was good, no raw beef taste or weird aftertaste . kale salad was surprisingly fresh, good hint of parmesan . calamari was very bland, typical . bread you can tell was made in house, paired with really high quality olive oil . pizza had a nice touch of wood fire for the authentic taste .tiramisu was creamy, paired with the bitterness of the powder complimented well read more

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About time I finally try this Toronto Italian Staple. Price $25-$40 per person Items ordered: -MAFALDE AI FUNGHI -MARGHERITA PIZZA -ASPARAGUS RISOTTO -SOLE DI SORRENTO Food Quality (Menu, Taste, Portion size) - 5/5 Pretty decent sized menu but very focused and not overwhelming. The menu is on the slightly pricier side but it is expected for a place like this. I always expect places like this to have very small portions but it was actually well sized! got the Malfade Al Funghi and holy crap, one of the best pastas I've had in Toronto. Im a huge fan of mushrooms and this pasta had the perfect balance. I almost cried at the last bite. The Sole Di Sorrento drink was really interesting, very unique flavour. Atmosphere -5/5 Very downtown italian restaurant vibe. We went during the summer and sat upstairs on the pseudo patio view. It gets very hot on a summer day but we went near sunset and it was a great vibe. Perfect for a date night or a hang with friends. Service - 5/5 The staff was very welcoming, almost everyone said hi as you walked by. They checked on us pretty frequently and were really helpful when it came to suggestions. Will I go again? You bet I will! Lash's Recommendations -MAFALDE AI FUNGHI read more

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The food here was INSANE. First off, I loved the ambiance. We sat upstairs at a small table that was cozy and intimate but I didn't feel claustrophobic. I've been dreaming about the buttery focaccia and beef carpaccio combo since we left and the mushroom truffle pasta was to die forrr. Will definitely be back when I'm in town again. read more

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Made it back again to enjoy the Gusto 501 Lunch Fix Prix special on Thursdays and Friday 12:00-16:00. Check the website to see if it's still on! This time we were seated on the main floor and the view outside was amazing. With the snowfall and 4 stories of glass, it really felt like we were in a cozy cave. The food was excellent and staff was great. The food comes out hot and well timed. We got two lunch specials. - Arancini, a single large arancini with a toothy bite with a ton of sauce - Panelle, squares of crispy chickpea "donuts" that is light and airy - Carbonara pizza, very thin and crispy pizza with a good amount of egg yolk drizzled over the top - Mafalde Al Funghi, saucy and good truffle flavor, salty in the right way and filling Gusto 501 again knocked it out the park. Great place to stop by on the way to an event, etc. Best mushroom Mafalde in town. read more

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I've been to Gusto 101 a few times but this was my first at the 501 location and it did not disappoint! The only pasta dish I ever get is the funghi and it was honestly just as good as I remember. Also tried the mortadella pizza which was topped with pistachio butter and banana peppers and it was delicious! It was recommended by our server and I would definitely order it again. They have $1/oz house wines - we got the red and the rose. I actually prefer this location to the king west location as it wasn't busy and we got seated right away. Our server was also really helpful and overall a lovely, more quiet vibe in comparison to the west. Would definitely come back! read more

Gusto 501 - mortadella pizza & funghi pasta - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great vibes, the interior was beautiful. They also have a rooftop patio if you prefer outdoor seating, I think you'll need to walk up three flights of stairs. The funghi pasta was the highlight, I was worried that it was overrated but it's not! The Caesar salad is a bit bitter since it's made with dandelion leaves, but if you don't mind bitter then it was great! Next time I want to try their kale salad. Great place for some tasty pastas. Service was quick! Really enjoyed my time here. read more

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Multi floor venue with no air conditioning. Was super hot in the summer. Food and service was excellent. The burger was deeeeeelicious. The sangria really hit the spot. Wish there was A/C tho! read more

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Had their delicious rich and creamy mushroom pasta and my goodness, it wa so filling and tasty! I do wish though that the pasta was hotter as it came out pretty warm, some parts were actually cold but it was still very tasty. My friends and I also shared the calamari which was very good. The restaurant itself is dark and pretty, not too loud to hear conversations, and service was great. read more

Gusto 501 - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Came for brunch, I ordered the famous mushroom pasta, steak frites & kale salad - delicious! I love this Gusto 501 location more than their other one; it feels more open and less cramped. The service was excellent. The staff was extremely attentive, not just to us but to every table, checking in on food and refilling water. A really enjoyable brunch experience. read more

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A friend of mine came here several months ago. What caught my attention was her raving about getting an ounce of wine for $1 during happy hour. Wow! That's crazy. I flagged it. I meet up with a couple of friends every couple of months or so. We like to eat and socially drink. I showed them this wine happy hour special and they said yes without any hesitation. We are a bunch of winos... haha! We met up on the first Saturday of October for brunch. I made reservations in advance. It's habit. It's a reflex reaction. I got there early. It's in Corktown. I parked on King Street East, steps away from the Sackville Playground, which is roughly across the street from Gusto 501. I paid for three hours of Green P parking through the app, which did the trick. There are a set of lights by the playground. I crossed the street with two 501 King streetcars on either side of me. My friend spotted me on the other side. We both walked over to the eatery. It was a nice day. The entire restaurant was open. We walked in without opening a thing. I said hi to the greeter and indicated that I had a reservation. He found me and took us to a table steps away from the bar. Moments later, our third friend joined us. We always have a good time catching up over good eats and drinks. Doing it as this eatery was no exception. We got the following items to start: - Gusto rosso (Argentina - Chile) - Brasato di manzo - Ricotta pancakes - Funghi pizza We all started with five ounces of wine. We got a refill later on. We chose gusto rosso from Argentina - Chile. It was a cabernet sauvignon and malbec mix. We loved it. It was perfect with a nice finish. $10 for two glasses of wine each seemed so absurd, but was a great deal. We all got individual mains, but ended up taking bites of our dishes because we like to sample. It's fun! I got the brasato di manzo. It consisted of tomato-braised short ribs, bomba, ricotta, and poached eggs. It was fantastic. The short ribs fell off the bone. They were so tender and flavourful. The poached eggs were runny and so yummy with the bomba (spicy pepper paste in the sauce) and ricotta. One of my friends got the ricotta pancakes. They had blueberry compote on top. I was fortunate to get a bite of this delightful stack of pancakes. So fluffy and dreamy! If you love light, fluffy pancakes with the best blueberry flavour in a compote, you must order this dish. If I aren't into brunchy items, go with the funghi pizza. My other friend had it. If you are a huge mushroom fan, this pizza was delicious. It had a generous assortment of sliced mushrooms that were flavourful and so good with the best pizza crust. We sat close to the pizza oven. It was delightful to see our pizza come out of the oven, and get sliced, plated, and served hot out of the oven. The food was exceptional. We were stuffed. We then saw the dessert menu. We ordered everything and split it all because that's how we roll. We got these desserts: - Tiramisu - Pizzelle - Torte di mandorle The tiramisu was probably our favourite out of the bunch. It had a delightful custard-mousse texture. It was exquisite and one of the best tiramisu desserts that I have ever had, probably because it had kahlua and marsala. The torte di mandorle was special. Our server poured vanilla mascapone cream sauce over the torte that had peach compote and pistachios. It was delicious and the presentation made us happy. The pizzelle was simple. Think of it as two pinwheel waffles with a generous layer of Nutella buttercream between them, sprinkled with icing sugar. Simple is good. This dessert paired well with the others almost like a mini dessert. We all used the washroom before we left. It's at the back on the first floor. It was clean. There's a second floor. I don't think there's an elevator. I didn't see anyone dine up there. I'd imagine that it gets used for dinner or when this eatery gets extremely busy. There was a patio. It was a gorgeous warm day that we could have dined outside if we wanted to. This restaurant was awesome. We had a great time having bunch and chatting for nearly three hours. I highly recommend coming here, especially to take advantage of the wine deal if you like good wine at a loonie an ounce. (418) read more

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My friend and I came here around 12pm and we were able to walk in a get a table easily. The staff were all super kind and very interactive. The restaurant is very clean and aesthetic. Love the vibes inside. Food was incredible! I got their pasta and it is hands down one of my fav pastas ever! Too bad there are not closer locations in the GTA or else I would get it more. Food: - Mafalde Ai Funghi: 5/5 stars!! So rich in flavour and creamy. The mushroom flavour is just perfect. I wish it came with a bit more pasta for the price. But so yummy. - Margherita Pizza: 3.8/5 stars. Not my order but I tried a bite. Quite oily and the pizza does not really have much structure to it. It will flop over once you pick it up. Nothing super special. Overall, I only come here for the mushroom pasta and am never disappointed! read more

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This place was sooo good! I saw it on TikTok and we decided to go, it was such a nice ambiance , I loved that it was kinda dimmed so it gives a nice vibe and the food was so fresh! We ordered some drinks I got the white sangria and a truffle pasta called MAFALDE AI FUNGHI and oh my god it did not disappoint! My bf ordered the pepperoni pizza and said it was really good The service was good and the food came out fast. Def recommend 10/10 if you're thinking of going. read more

Gusto 501 - MAFALDE AI FUNGHI - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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A classic Toronto Italian place. Elevated and simple but great location with a pretty cool design. Beware no elevators and a bunch of stairs like 3 floors. Food is always solid but I didn't order my fave funghi pasta this time but the kale salad was really good with the Parmesan too! Service was great and gave really good descriptions of the plates as had questions for. Would come back again read more

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I always pass by this restaurant on King East and finally got to try it recently. Between the two of us, we ordered the Salsicce pizza and the malfalde ai funghi (which appears to be a very popular menu item here!) Knowing me, I enjoy thin crust pizza and this was exactly it. Even though it's got a thin crust, the toppings did not soak through nor fall apart. The chilli adds a nice kick of flavour to the pizza yet it's not too much heat making it very flavourful. The malfalde ai funghi was extremely delicious and flavourful! If you are a truffle/mushroom lover, you have to try it! It is a dish that's on the heavier side making this the perfect dish to share! I love coffee and desserts! Their tiramisu is very delicious tiramisu. It's got the perfect amount of coffee soaked in the lady finger, not too dry, not overly soggy. It's the perfect touch to end the meal! read more

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Their mushroom pasta is an absolute highlight, bursting with rich, earthy flavors. Don't miss their unique $1 an ounce wine (happy hour), perfect for pairing with any dish. read more

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Food was outstanding & flavorful! Started with the focaccia bread which was soft inside and slightly crunchy on the top and bottom dusted with rosemary, butter and herbs. We split the mushroom pasta & pepperoni pizza. Pasta was creamy and filling while the pizza had the taste of amazement! Service was outstanding and the vibe inside was dimly lit and very date nightish read more

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Very delicious pizza and pasta options, and we love that you can purchase an ounce of wine for a dollar. Overpriced, but what isn't in this part of the city? The interior is slightly cold and rather industrial. It's not a warm, cozy restaurant. High ceilings and bare bones furnishings make it seem rather large and empty. Perhaps more plush seating would enhance the 'warmth' factor to go with the warm flavours and the good vibes of the inexpensive house wines! read more

Some of the best pizza we've had in Canada and that's saying a lot for this Jersey Girl. Our party of four shared two antipasti, three different pizzas, and an entre, plus drinks and desserts. All but one was excellent. When we mentioned one of the appy's wasn't great, the server immediately offered to replace it. The manager came by to follow-up and even removed the dish from our bill even though we'd not returned it. I was a little worried when we checked in that it would be too loud. Pardon the pun - a shout out to the designers, despite the buzz at the front door, sitting at our table we were able to converse in our normal voices! I've since been back to Gusto 501 and will certainly return again. Reservations recommended. read more

Oh my GOSH!! I wish I was a Toronto native, I would SO come back only for Gusto. The best kale salad, mushroom truffle pasta, and pepperoni hot honey pizza. From an LA native, cheers! I'll be back. read more

Gusto 501 - Mushroom Pasta and Pepperoni Pizza - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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What a memorable food and dining experience. To start off, they were really great at responding to messages. They were able to accommodate us on the first floor because it's just beautiful with the open kitchen. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable. Everything we ordered was just mouth watering. The appetizers really took the win, though the mains were solid themselves. The kale salad was tender and had a nice crunch texture to it. Not overpowering, balanced nicely. Calamari can't go wrong. Cooked well. Burrata with the grilled peaches and plums was such a wonderful combination. Just fantastic. We got the crostini appetizer and that was just a burst of favour. Truffle pasta, pepperoni pizza were good! The TIRAMISU IS THE BEST. Tiramisu is my favourite so I've had my fair share but this one takes the cake! I ordered TWO because I had to. I knew I would miss it as soon as I got home while I was still eating it. Anyways, I'm definitely coming back! And it looks like they make some seasonal changes to their menu items. read more

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Came here with 1pm reservations and we' were seated right away. I'm a huge fan of the gusto restaurants and love the decor in this one. It was nice to come here for brunch; I enjoyed my eggs and sourdough main, I opted out of the potato's and asked for extra greens - downside is it was heavily dressed that it wasn't enjoyable. Our server was really patient and kind, checked in the right amount of time. They need to have more spots to drop a longer jacket, especially in the winter as I was bit uncomfortable having to keep moving it around for the other guests around me. read more

Gusto 501 - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This place was soooooooooooo good. Some of the best Italian I've had in a very long time. We were visiting for a concert and made the reservation well ahead of time, which I think everybody has to do to get in. The ambiance was very intimate, upscale, and sleek. The restaurant goes up three or four floors, so if heights make you a little woozy, maybe request a table away from the ledges We got the house made focaccia, a salad, and I got the spaghetti cacio y Pepe for my entree. The service was friendly, relatively fast, and left us to enjoy our meal without being too overbearing. The food was delicious and great quality for the price. If you're in the area, check this place out, you won't regret it! read more

Gusto 501 - Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Came here for Winterlicious last night! I've never been here before and wanted to check out the very hyped mushroom pasta, but it's a bit out there from the downtown core so never got the chance to try! Given the Winterlicious menu was such a deal that it would be a shame to miss, we decided to drive down and see for ourselves. The Winterlicious menu is 3 courses (app + main + dessert) for $45 per person. Honestly, it was an amazing deal for the quality and quantity of food. We got the following: Appetizers: - Melanzane: Basically an elevated eggplant parmesan. Creamy tomato sauce and topped with some breadcrumbs, which I thought were a tad on the salty side. Overall a great starter, I thought it was delicious. 9/10 - Polpette: Amazing meatballs. I only tried a bite but it was soft and you could really taste the beef flavour. 3 meatballs and comes with 2 slices of toasted bread, I thought it was a great value. 10/10 Mains: - Mafalde al funghi: The main reason we were here! Creamy, gooey, cheesy, mushroomy. Heavy carbs but so so good. I really think it lives up to the hype. Well-seasoned too, and it doesn't overpower the taste of the mushrooms 10/10 - Orata: I think this is a very underrated dish. I don't think people would usually go for fish at an Italian restaurant and I actually wasn't even sure what I was getting into when I ordered it. It was a PUNCH of flavour, very spicy but also bitter due to the charred skin. The fish was moist and had a bit of the creamy tomato sauce on the side, sat on a bed of charred escarole. I think this was a good choice for our table, since the mafalde was so heavy. This balanced it out well as it was lighter (we shared). 9/10 Dessert: - Torta di mandorla: Pear was juicy and cake was moist. Not a huge fan of cinnamon but I'd say it was well made. 8/10 - Cannoli: It was a little smaller than I expected! But realized quickly why, because the filling wasn't typical whipped cream, it was much heavier pistachio and ricotta flavour. Still delicious! 9/10 We also got some cocktails to try: - Incanto: This drink was crazy. Matcha and pistachio and lemon and gin. An unconventional combo that tasted amazing when mixed together. 9/10 - Te della sera: We're a huge fan of tea based cocktails, so this oolong tequila drink hit the spot. 8/10 Ambiance was incredible - very very high ceilings and wavy wooden walls. I loved the amber lighting and the place felt nice and intimate. Service was great and the open kitchen/bar was beautiful too. I would recommend this place for Winterlicious, but the regular menu was a bit pricey (when I looked at the same items that we ate) so I think I'll wait another year before I come back!! read more

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Overall: 4/5 Food: Mushroom Pasta: 4.5/5, would maybe lower it to a 4/5 because of the price and portion. They used to have much larger portions, but the mushroom pasta was still so tasty. I loved the flavours of everything, very good if you like a creamy mushroom pasta. Ambiance: 5/5 love the vibe of the place, really calm and a great place to chat with company or take someone on a date. Service: 5/5 very quick service, fast with refills and checking in, etc. Love the place but just pricey as I mentioned earlier. read more

Gusto 501 - Mushroom pasta - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I had high hopes for this spot and I'd like to say it was great but not amazing. I've heard and read many reviews about this place so I was excited to try it. I tried the carpaccio, kale salad, mushroom pasta and the risotto verde. Out of all the dishes, I was most pleasantly surprised with the risotto verde. It was not a top choice amongst the reviews but it was an interesting and delicious dish. I enjoyed the other dishes as well but thought it was slightly overpriced. I just didn't think the dishes were justified. Overall, the ambiance is nice and open but nothing that was a show stopper. The server was prompt and efficient. I would go back here if there was a friend that wanted to try it, but not anytime soon. read more

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The food at Gusto is always great, however our server this time seemed very unfriendly and uninterested. She came by to take our orders and just stood there. She didn't say hello or ask if we were ready, just stood there. This was her demeanor until we finished our meal and it came time for the bill. read more

I came here on a weeknight with some friends and it was quite busy. The restaurant itself is dimly lit and kind of loud so it was hard to have a conversation without shouting. I got the mushroom pasta which they are known for, it was creamy and the pasta was al dente. Portion size was a bit small for the price though. I would love to come back sometime and try their brunch! read more

I came here for lunch on a Saturday and reserved about a week in advance. I love the interior design here. It's three floors with the top level being a terrace. We were seated on the first floor and it can get pretty loud if there's a lot of people. I did notice that it was hard to hear with everyone talking around me - might be how the acoustics are on the ground floor. I'm a big fan of Gusto's food so the malfade pasta is always a must get. I tried the pepperoni pizza and it was pretty good. FYI if you come on the weekend before 4 pm, they only serve their brunch menu so you're unable to order off the regular menu. The service was so so. For some reason, every time our waitress came to pour water, she would look away while pouring and a ton of water would spill everywhere. By the time we left there was a decent sized puddle on the table. I'm pretty chill so I found her idgaf attitude kind of hilarious. read more

Gusto 501 - Funghi malfade - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Amazing food. Ordered Pizza, Pasta and Tiramisu and all of them were delicious. Booked the patio table and the music was good. Cocktails from Margaritas sections are superb. Service was top notch with well care for the food delivery and entertainment. Will come again to try pizzas and pasta again. read more

Love their truffle mushroom pasta. Attentive customer service & lovely atmosphere, perfect for a night out with friends. read more

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Dreaming of the day I can eat this again. Such perfect flavors! Very friendly staff and perfect ambiance. Lots of seating in various settings. Loved sitting upstairs at the bar in the daytime. read more

Gusto 501 - Mushroom pasta - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Super modern decor. We were seated on the upper floor. Amazing view, delicious food, private ambiance. Highly recommended! read more

Gusto 501 - Mortadella pizza - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Love love love Gusto 501. This is the first time I tried their brunch and it did not disappoint. It wasn't as busy as I thought it would be. I made a reservation just in case because normally in the evening this place gets packed!! They have their signature mushroom pasta during brunch which is a must try anytime you go there. Also the ricotta pancakes and the burger were so good! Lots of flavor in both. I highly recommend going here for brunch or dinner! The food never disappoints! read more

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Very lovely ambiance, great place for groups. I came here with 3 people and we luckily got a table right when we went in even though it was dinner time. As the host led us upstairs, I was shocked that they had more space above the floor where we sat. I ordered the margarita pizza and it delicious! It was well cooked, good portion and tasted great. Service was nice, we were seated near the kitchen and so we got to see very delicious looking food pass by, especially the pasta haha. read more

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It's just the tiny Asian couple's luck to have come here a year apart and be sat in the same sonically terrible corner next to the bus door on the second floor. We've been here once for brunch and last week, as my partner had been hankering to try the lamb ragu lasagna that he saw online, appeared to be baked in a flare shaped flakey crust. It wasn't lacking in substance and there was a generous cheese pull, however he was disappointed the recipe had changed to square cut pan portions. I also had the beef carpaccio which was tender, delicate and dressed with egg yolk aoli and olive tapenade. The second floor is aurally unpleasant as you hear all bass and chatter from other tables but need to yell at the top of your voice to talk to the person across from you. The saving grace might have been that draft wine was $1 per ounce so I guzzled rosé and my partner had the house red. The food is similar to Terroni if you think about the pizza and appetizers. Things that stand out as curious options include lamb neck and grilled octopus, but there are standard Italian classics like cavil e pepe and carbonara. While the decor and interior is like an industrial style multi floor dining space overlooking an open kitchen, the food always leaves something to be desired... read more

A staple gem where the original location gusto101 is at king west area. Their specialty is their mushroom pasta which is to die for. The architecture/ decor here is stunning - be prepared to take multiple flights of stairs if you dine here. Also make reservations or test your luck if you are dining for two at the bar. If i had to compare i do think the original location is better food wise however this is a more comfortable seating arrangement and in a less busy area with easy parking available. read more

Gusto 501 - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Amazing service, ambiance, delicious food and I love the $1/oz house wine! This place is definitely a must while in Toronto!!

We enjoyed the food but we can't recommend this place because of poor service. Be advised, there is a 1.75 hr seating limit and it doesn't matter if the place is empty, they will kick you out unceremoniously when the timer goes off. Pros: location, parking, casual vibe, expensive but great drinks (although we do not recommend the 'fresh', on tap wine - we knew it was a risk when we ordered). Cons: the wait staff needs better training. Our waitress, continuously interrupted conversations (I counted 7 times at least). Asked to clear plates when we were still eating. She was in such a rush to get us to the next course and/or turn the table even though half the place was empty. It completely destroyed a nice brunch experience with friends. We learned that there was a reservation for 6 and apparently our table of 4 was the only table that could accommodate the 'larger' group by adding a table. This was obviously not true as there were a number of tables of 2 they could have put together. Seconds after I paid the bill, another staff member (possibly a manager) came by to tell us the other party had arrived and she ushered us toward the door. As we left, only 2 members of the other party had arrived - so again, just poor form and unprofessional. I could understand if the place was packed and super busy - it wasn't. Like so many restaurants post covid in Toronto, prices have gone through the roof yet basic customer service concepts are ignored. So go here if you want good, yet overprices food and drinks and if you don't mind being rushed from course to course and if service is not that important to you. read more

AMAZING food!!! The mushroom pasta was the best I've ever had!! Every bite was just WOW! Staff was super friendly and very clean space. read more

Gusto 501 - Pizza, lasagna, mushroom pasta - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario