Review Gusto Italiano - Auckland Central

Highly recommend. Really good pizza and you can watch it cook in the pizza oven. Had the Diavolina pizza……..🍕 sooooooooo good! They also import Italian beer. It felt like I was back in a quaint Italian restaurant in the Amalfi Coast. Go and support these guys….you won’t be disappointed!

Absolutely amazing woodfire pizza. The food was delicious, the service was great and beautiful Italian restaurant, reasonably priced. We highly recommend this restaurant

The pizza was one of the best pizzas I ever had, and the kids' pizza is so cute! We had tiramisu, but it was a bit pricey and way too small. Nevertheless, the taste was spot on. Totally recommend this place!

If you are after an authentic Italian experience, this restaurant is the place to go! The pasta was al dente and had nice, light flavours; the pizza had thin, crispy crust yet had a soft bed of bread. We ordered the Papardelle Al Ragu, Penne Al Amatriciana and Dama Bianca. Really loved the slow-cooked beef that was the Al Ragu. Super tender! I was in Rome, Italy just a month ago and after trying out the local food there, my standards on pasta and pizza have completely changed. I was nervous yet excited to try Italian when I returned to NZ so I could do a little comparison, and this place happen to be the first Italian I went to. I thoroughly enjoyed their food as it felt very similar to Italy’s. Although I prefer my truffle flavours to be stronger, the dishes I ordered were still delicious! The atmosphere of the restaurant really reminded me of Italy, and the man who was serving us was also really friendly. We had a chat over the amazing food they had in the Rome train station. 😂 Overall, my fiancé and I enjoyed this place and would definitely consider coming back for date nights.

The food was fresh and drinks were tasty. Thank you for pushing me further away from my goal of being a swimsuit model. Woe it’s me! Would consider going back😘

Awesome experience… must try tiramisu.. one of the best ones I have tried so far in Auckland…

Delicious food! The Antipasto platter was divine and the pasta was so tasty! We made a last minute booking and although the kitchen was closing soon they were so welcoming and happy to have us. The staff went the extra mile and did not rush us at all. It’s the most romantic spot and the fairy lights and Christmas music makes it so magical. Thank you for our lovely dinner we will definitely be back!

Great food, great service and very reasonable pricing. Looking forward to going back 👍

Wow! We had a long Saturday lunch here and every course was superb. The platter was generous and filled with really tasty deli treats. The pizzas were delicious and they aren’t joking about ‘family size’, the family size calzone was immense. The deserts were also top notch - even the ice cream that accompanied the strudel was worth mentioning. Service was great and pricing is reasonable, especially given the quality of the food. We will be back!

Food was great although the sauce was a bit too salty, the portion of food given was enough for more than one person. Pizza was well priced and delicious.

Came here this evening as a party of 4 for our Christmas work dinner. Service was amazing the staff was lovely to deal with. The food was Devine and the alcohol was just as good. Highly recommend the bruschetta as an entrée all 4 of us thoroughly enjoyed the variety of flavours. 3 out of 4 ordered pasta dishes & 1 Calzone spectacular. Desserts were Devine so much so 2nd desserts were ordered. Highly recommend and will return again.

Absolutely delicious! The perfect cheese to crust ratio, lovely wood fired flavour and super flavoursome tomato 🍅 I was obsessed with the cheese as it had the perfect amount of saltiness and savoury flavour. The vegetables were a nice accompaniment and I appreciate that they were still crisp and tasty. They also had delicious flavour. So yummy overall - thank you!

Good food in a pleasant atmosphere but perhaps a little stingy on the toppings on my seafood pizza. In terms of service one member of our table was brought the wrong main and although this was quickly rectified it did mean that we had all started eating before him. Overall however a good night that was enjoyed by all there. Would return for another meal.

The food was really yummy and the atmosphere and service were very good. Grab coupons from book me, which gave me 30% off.

Gusto is the right place, if you’re looking for an excellent Italian food. I enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere and delicious food. Definitely will recommend to visit again!!

We were lucky enough to randomly find Gusto. Warm, busy and relaxed on a cold evening, they happened to have a table for 2. Couldn't decide among the unfamiliar dishes so chose the set menu for 2. Beautiful, fresh delicious and perfectly timed seafood dishes followed by tiramisu and panacotta. Primo dining experience.

Food 10/10! My pasta special was zucchini and prawn fettuccine, so delicious! The ambiance was lovely, like being in an authentic Italian restaurant. They have an ipen kitchen where you can watch them male pizzas and it's quite mesmerising! All the staff are super friendly and fun, they really make you feel like you're part of their family. Only negative was the small portion size of my hubby's veal dish.

Five star rating on their food and service. Had our usual Amanti della Carne pizza 🍕 and it was as expected meaty and divine. Tried the Gnocconi Ripieni for the first time and it was such a warm and soft (as a pillow) gustatory experience. Make sure u leave some room fir dessert and order the Tartufo Nero (ice cream) and Tiramisu 🤤. FoodieCheapieTip: make sure to checkout their listing on first table nz to get a discount 😉

Fantastic pasta, pizza and the desserts were amazing!<br/><br/>We ordered the ravioli, gnocchi and penne pastas and a margherita pizza. Everything was just right, couldn't fault any of them.<br/><br/>We hadn't even heard of this place until recently, it is an Italian gem tucked away in Ponsonby. We'll be back.

We were welcomed by a friendly and experienced waitress. We were seated straight away, given menus and water. <br/><br/>The service was impeccable. Friendly, helpful and engaging. I would have given a 3.5/5 for the food but bumped it to a 4/5 be cause of the exceptional service. <br/><br/>The food was good but lacked seasoning for me. Everything seemed a little bit bland except for the woodfired pizza. That was tasty. <br/><br/>I also love the cheese they use. It's so stretchy and well cheesey! <br/><br/>Loved the service.

Was looking for a good pasta place and looked up this place. I ordered the porcini tortellini and my friend ordered the steak woth salad and both were perf😍 Love the pasta tbh I not a fan of tortelline because of a bad experience before but this was pretty awesome. So tasty!

Gusto, you were amazing! An intimate space which was very busy on the night I went with a mate. We booked a week in advance because we missed out a couple times before due to poor planning on our part. This was well worth the wait though. We started off with the garlic pizza bread with mozerella which base was so thin and soft and the edges were nice and crispy. Perfect! Then we had our pasta. She had the fettuccine and I had the tortellini which was absolutely divine. I couldn't get enough of that sauce. The truffle and porcini combination was just so delicious. We then finished our meal with a tiramisu and limoncello. The zabaglione in the tiramisu was so light and fluffy and the limoncello sure had a kick to it. Overall, this was a great dinner. The restaurant was busy with people who hadn't made bookings having to be turned away at the door but we were still well attended to and the meals came out on time. Definitely be back!!!

Very cozy, home-feeling restaurant. Nothing fancy. I think it is a good place for a warm evening spent with friends or partner. Pasta and gnocchi are really nice . Wine selection is good. In overall - I enjoyed it, but for some reasons, can’t say it is my favorite.

The potato gnocchi is amazing.

Ravioli was superb! Great atmoshpere and excellent service

Hi, food wasn't the best. For such a small portion of pasta, it was very expensive, even with First Table Booking. It was mostly sauce. The pasta did taste nice though. Also got a pizza. I have never seen a pizza drip 🍕.?? It was so soggy, it was hard to eat. Not sure if we would go back again?

Been here several times now. Really sweet cozy place. The staff are super friendly.  We usually get a garlic pizza bread to share. The kumara gnocchi is really nice.

Perfect for a Sunday dinner for two. Arrived early, we were promptly shown to our seats (we were allowed to choose any seating, as it was a hot afternoon). The waitress was very friendly and helpful - as it was our first visit we were recommended her favourite mains. The food arrived very quickly! We started with a garlic pizza and beef ragu which were both amazing, fresh ingredients and delicious! Our mains arrived shortly after - perfectly cooked sirloin steak and mushroom/truffle risotto, both dishes cooked perfectly with great flavours. Finishing with the Italian Tiramasu, which was perfect, not too sweet. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Great staff, happy to explain the food to new customers, great experience and food all around! We will be back, thanks!

Delicious tortellini, the serving portion sure could use an upsize for the price.

I got the frutti di mare pizza which was terrible. What I got was a deconstructed mess on my plate. There was a pizza base with a few mussels and clams scattered on the pizza with a deconstructed sloppy mess in the very centre. $32 really??? Supposedly it had mozzarella but goodness knows where it was because it wasn't on my plate. I spent the whole meal moving the slop in the middle on to parts of my pizza which were barren. If I wanted to buy a pizza that I had to completely make I would have made it at home for half the price.

My second consecutive zomatogold experience!! Tried out this well-known Italian restaurant. The place could be a bit difficult to find, yet, we were surprised by the size of this handmade pizza! Along with their signature lamp rump, and thanks to Zomatogold, it's only $45 for 2 ppl! What a great deal💥

Our favourite Italian restaurant. It’s the perfect place when you want a delicious hearty meal. The food is amazing, the service is efficient and quick. There’s an oven in the middle of the restaurant and it’s just a cozy little place. Ps check out the giant pizza!

One of the best Italian restaurant in Auckland, we love the food be it vegetarian or non-vegetarian they make sure it serves the taste buds well..

A busy little restaurant on Ponsonby Road. Recommend booking in advance as I tried walking in a few times and they were fully occupied.<br/><br/>Ordered the beef carpaccio, seafood spaghetti, ragu pappardelle and tiramisu. <br/><br/>The beef carpaccio was fresh and blended well with the flavored bread cracker, however the portion was quite small even for an entree. <br/><br/>The seafood spaghetti was quite disappointing, the pasta were slightly hard. There wasn’t much flavoring to the dish and the mussels had a fishy taste which overpowered the whole dish. <br/><br/>The ragu pappardelle was nicely flavored, sweet but tangy. However the pasta was slightly limp and gummy. Both pastas were reasonably portioned.<br/><br/>The tiramisu was very delicious though. Very moisture and just the right amount of sweetness.<br/><br/>Service was below average, the staff seemed arrogant and rude. We were asked to return the table by 8:30 at 8:05...this was not mentioned in my booking nor when we were seated by our waitress. A waiter asked to clear my table when I still had dessert on my plate.<br/><br/>Taste: 7/10 (0.5 credit to the tiramisu)<br/>Presentation: 7/10<br/>Service: 3/10<br/>Ambience: 7/10<br/>Value for money: 6/10<br/><br/>Price $40 per person excl alcohol<br/>

What a cute little restaurant. <br/>The server that served us was nice <br/>Restaurant was clean & tidy, not busy. <br/>The chicken fettuccine was DELICIOUS. We also ordered chicken breast & squid which I didn’t like at all. The squid had a strange taste & was chewy. Chicken breast was very bland.

Ambience: 5/5<br/>Food&Wine:4/5<br/>Portion:4/5<br/>Service:4/5<br/>Value:4/5<br/><br/>Began with shrimps as appetizer which was fresh and zesty, not too strong flavor to spoil the appetite. Beef slices and pizza were just right. Tortellini was so heavenly delicious that I wanted to swallow the plate as well. Tiramisu was a bit disappointing 'cause it's too bland. <br/>Will def come back for the pasta and pizza.

Pasta and pizza both delicious!!! Especially the seafood pasta and the cheese pizza. Great and friendly services. Definitely come back again! <br/>

We had a below average experience here. We had the beef carpaccio, a fettuccine dish, and a pizza. The beef carpaccio was TINY, only 4-5 slices. The most dominant ingredient on the pizza was onion. The pasta was ok but nothing really special and not worth the price. Unfortunately we will not be back.

Great food, good ambiance and friendly staff. They were able to cater 20+ people here on a Saturday lunch. Food was served fast and it was delicious. It wasn’t pricey as well.

Went for first time tonight. Staff were very friendly. I had beef strips, which were chewy and had very little in the way of flavour. Some kind of pickled onion which was quite nice and a handful of baby spinach, no dressing. Not horrible, but very underwhelming. Atmosphere was fine.

I had the pappardelle alragu which was delicious! Perfect portion size where it doesn’t become sickly but you’re satisfied. Fantastic service. Definitely looking forward to coming back here again.

We came here with Zomato Gold and ordered the Gnocconi Ripieni and Fettucine Gustose.<br/><br/>I thought the gnocconi was particularly intriguing as I had never heard of it before, but I love gnocchi normally so I was excited to give it a go. The gnocchi was perfectly soft and the ricotta truffle filling was creamy and aromatic with just a hint of truffle. The fettuccine had a unique flavourful sauce, although the pepper flavour was slightly overpowering.<br/><br/>Service was friendly and the ambience was relaxing and romantic. The only downside was that although we were only the second table to arrive for the night, so there was seating available throughout the whole restaurant, we were placed right next to a group of rather noisy children. However, in all fairness, we probably could have asked to change seats too.

We haven't tried this restaurant before. So we decided to get a takeout pappardelle ragu to test the waters, so to speak. As a main course, it was entree size and to be honest pretty uninspiring.

We dined here for dinner last night. The place was packed so we went alfresco - nice place to hang out with warm outdoor heaters. Food was delicious and it was evident that everything was home made - the pizza dough, the pasta, the sauce etc. we started with the garlic pizza with mozzarella, then shared the pansotti (the sauce was a bit too salty for us, but nice aroma) and the gnocconi (think warm, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness!). Portion-wise, the pizza was generous but the pasta was a bit smaller than a standard serving size in our opinion. Overall it was a very pleasant dining experience and we would definitely go again! :-)

We came on a sat night without reservation, and managed to get seated outside with heater. The place seems busy and we had to waited a while to place our order, after about 15 mins, entree ( Beef carpaccio) arrived and honestly it was literally 5-6 piece of paper thin beef with rockets, it wasn’t tasty nor smoked as said in the menu and the cracker was rock hard ... personally I don’t think it’s worth $16.50<br/>Waited another 30 mins after our entree and no sign of our main ... however we saw the table arrived and order after us had their main served, so we checked on our food and finally arrived...<br/>Their pasta dishes are much better than the entree, all pasta are freshly made, which we enjoyed very much especially the tortellini.<br/>

I came here with my boyfriend on a busy Sunday evening. They were completely full inside but they offered an outside table for us with the heater on so it was ok for a cold winter night. We got the bruschette fantasia and the pizza gustosa. We were both extremely satisfied by the rate the food came out (super quick) and also the taste. The bruschette fantasia’s topping were spreaded evenly and went super well with the delicious crunchy ciabatta. We’d definitely get this again next time! The pizza was also really good and I’d like to try other flavours when I come back. The brunette waitress was extremely kind and attentive who gave us good recommendations on the pizzas. We could tell she really loved her job! She and another blonde waitress continuously checked up on us to see if there are any problems with the food! Thanks to Zomato gold, I’ve discovered a gem in Ponsonby!

Decent food and vibrant ambiance. Recommend making a reservation on weekends/Friday because it gets very busy! We ordered a penne and a fettuccine dish, both alright. Tried a couple of appetizers which were probably a bit overpriced in comparison with the mains. The tiramisu was alright too. Decent food and service.

Extra yummy food here. Decent portion sizes and good flavour. Love cheese and had the formaggio pizza. Best meal ever! Ambience good, space is warm and cozy with the wood fire oven.

we had a couple of very yummy pizzas late on Tuesday night. The service was good and we didn’t have a long wait for our food. The family size pizzas are nice and big, two of them can feed four as there were three of us and we took home roughly half a pizza.

Visited for dinner, we didn't make a reservation but they had an available table right by the door. It was a freezing night and everytime the door opened we got a gust cold wind, which impacted my experience. The male waiter was not very bothered to put in much effort but the female waiter had great service. We ordered the Ravioli Verdi, the Pollo affumicato pizza and roast veges. I enjoyed the meal. Overall a good experience.

Went dinner with friend on Saturday night.<br/>Restaurant was quite full but food were served quite fast!<br/>Staff are very friendly and food is great!<br/>Very nice pasta and wine.

Best Italian in Auckland by far! Have been here many times over the years, it is our absolute favourite restaurant. The staff are always fantastic, nothing is ever a problem for them, they're very accommodating. We have even brought our two year old here and they still made us feel welcome. And the food! Everything we have ever eaten here has been fantastic. From the cheese entree with truffle oil, to the soft and moreish "big gnocchi" right through to the pizzas we have loved every mouthful.

A cozy Italian spot with great food and service! It’s a big call but I’d say it’s the best Italian in Auckland outside of Amano. The pastas are homemade and full of flavour. Will be back next time for pizza! Loved the wine list of Italian and local drops.

Disappointed by the service here. My group of eight showed up around 8:30 for dessert and were seated. When a new group arrived after us we were asked to leave as we were only ordering dessert, despite there being sufficient seating in the outside area.

Food was amazing, I had the Pumpkin gnocchi which was perfect. It is such a cute and cosy atmosphere it was a really lovely place for date night. Will definately be back!

Incredible food. We had pizza and pasta the pizza was good definitely one of the better places to go in Auckland. But were they really shine is there pasta its absolutely incredible one of if not the best bowls of pasta I've every had. Its a must try

Nice food and good Service. Duck is very nice and not fat and oily like the asian style. Will definitely come back again. There's plenty of off street carparks around.

Went there with zomato gold. The waitress was really nice. But not was the waiter.<br/>The food is great but the portions are small. We had drinks, mains and desserts (I've chosen Tartufo nero which says it has Zabaglione and it didn't taste like it at all).<br/>Worst of all was that after eating (and spending money there) the waiter came to tell us that he needed the table (so we have to leave). They should have told us that when we first got there. And actually, they still have a few spaces outside and a whole floor upstairs. It was actually rude and ruined our dinner. Would not consider coming back there.

Lena served us and she was amazing. Really friendly, upbeat and polite! The pizza was also perfect and authentic. Would definitely go again!

Fast service, the restaurant was packed and they accommodated us, the food arrived quickly even with a packed restaurant! The service was amazing. <br/>Thank you @Gusto for a fabulous family meal!!<br/>

Food was amazing and the waitress was awesome!<br/>Highly recommended....I will definitely be going back. The pasta is so fresh and the portions are quite good.

Cute place which was quite busy when we visited. The lady sever was amazing! She was so nice and kind and seemed so on to it/knowledgeable. We orders some starters and mains. The mains too awhile to come out however, the starters came out really fast which was good as we were starving.<br/>Pasta was cooked perfectly and food was great. Wished the garlic pizza had the garlic more minced,finer instead of leaving it whole though.

Unfortunately from entering the restaurant we were greeted by a rude and rather unhappy looking girl. We were seated at a table with a soiled tablecloth, however the male waiter did change this for us. The food was pretty good, lacked seasoning however. We ordered the fettuccine Pasta and Vegetariano Pizza. Would definitely recommend the fettuccine with Smoked Chicken! The drink I ordered also didn't come out until after the food.. And only after I had to ask about it. We then had some more issues when paying, as the female waiter didn't put the order in, and we were caught in the crossfire of disgruntled verbal between the man and female waited. The man saying it happens often with this girl. Let the girl go before she ruins people's impressions! Overall a pretty good meal, just spoiled by one individual.

Great food here. We had the vegetarian pizza and the big gnocchi...both were excellent!<br/>Great service by the team, and we were lucky enough to get a table on Wednesday night when they had a live opera (every 2nd Wednesday) which was awesome. Go check it out for yourself!

Amazing service! Greeted straight away before we even stepped foot into the restaurant by a bubbly and cheery girl! <br/><br/>We ordered Carparccio, Gnocconi, Tortellini, which came first as entrees; and then Anatra Suprema (Duck) and Scaloppine (Veal) to follow. <br/><br/>- Carparccio (8/10). The beef was thinner than expected and was almost hidden under a thick blanket of rocket leaves. Nonetheless, when you put a slice of beef with some leaves on the bagel bread crisps - VOILA! The seasoning and the crunchiness of the crisp adds so much to each bite, making the beef more flavoursome and much more exciting to eat! <br/><br/>- Gnocconi (9/10). These were essentially potato-based dough cakes with cream cheese filling inside, smothered under a rich layer of punchy tomato puree! The outer pastry is doughy, chewy yet slightly mashed due to the potato starch. The cream cheese was subtle yet softened each bite, and the Parmesan on top added the extra saltiness it needed! This is especially best when hot! <br/><br/>- Tortellini (10/10). ABSOLUTELY DEVINE! 10 generously-sized beef tortellinis bathing in a truffle pesto and porcini cream sauce...DELICIOUS! The beef was packed with flavour, tortellini cooked to perfection, and THAT SAUCE! Creaminess but not overly rich, you get hints of pepper, cheese and truffle and when paired with the beef tortellinis, everything dances on the tongue. I wish there was more of that sauce! I could have it as a soup on it's own haha! <br/><br/>- Duck (7.5/10). I was looking forward to this dish seeing as its a popular one here. The duck was overcooked and was too hard and tough. The skin was well-done though! Flavour-wise it was lacking a bit too. The potato mash at the bottom was good, and I liked the fermented purple cabbage salad! This would have been a standout dish if the duck was cooked right! <br/><br/>- Veal (7/10). The veal was cooked nicely and was soft, tender and moist. The white wine butter sauce was lovely, and the mushrooms added to the creaminess and flavours. However, the side vegetables were too mediocre, being just steamed cauliflower, broccoli, carrot and long beans. Would've liked to see more culinary techniques put into the side elements too, and this would have been a great dish! <br/><br/>Service was amazing from start to finish! Our waters were refilled before I even realised they were empty! The girl was very helpful and approachable! <br/>I would come back here for another shot of authentic Italian cuisine, but perhaps more for their pasta as opposed to their secondi mains!<br/><br/>Food: 8/10<br/>Price: 9/10<br/>Service: 10/10<br/>Ambience: 8/10

My boyfriend and I went in for lunch and was greeted by the friendly staff (who I believe is the owner's daughter) and we were seated immediately. We ordered the beef carpacio and the garlic pizza marina as appetizers, and both were simple but very good. I had the tortellini as my main and it was nice, creamy and was very delicious. There was a bit of a misunderstanding with the dish that my boyfriend ordered but it was quickly handled and resolved by the friendly staff. He had the tagliata di manzo and the meat was tender and overall dish was full of flavour. I would highly recommend anyone to give this restaurant a try :)

Very friendly customer service. <br/><br/>Great home made style Italian food. Nothing too fancy. But great to eat. <br/><br/>The capsicum and cheese were very delicious, everything else was good. <br/><br/>Service: 5/5<br/>Presentation:3/5<br/>Environment: 3.5/5<br/>Food Quality: 3.5/5<br/>Food Quantity: 4.5/5<br/>Price per person: $30-$50<br/>

Went for dinner. Every dish was good. We ordered too much to try the pizza, will try next time. There's peppa pig pizza on kids menu, my daughter was really looking forward to try.😂

Had the Gustoso set menu with my partner for our 6 months<br/><br/>The appetiser was a unique mix of different cuts, and the pasta definitely fills you up. The chicken was average but you are practically full by then, and topping it off with a shared tiramisu is just right :)<br/><br/>Friendly staff, though a little cramped and disorganised when full, but overal was a great experience with tasty food!

4.5/5<br/>Authentic food and very friendly service. This Italian restaurant is rustic and keeps things traditional. <br/>Perhaps the only thing to improve is the slightly aged infrastructure. But it’s not going to bother you. It does add a bit to the rustic feel.<br/><br/>The entrees were very delicious. Scamorza Al Forno - Melted cheese with truffle pesto on garlic bread was absolutely the high light. Gamberi Gustosi - prawns were also very flavourful and pleasant. 4.5/5<br/><br/>Pappadelle Al Ragu was decent. I only stole a bite so can’t give feedback.<br/>Fettuccini Gustos was quite nice. Very good flavour and not too salty. I added some salt and pepper my self to adjust to my taste. Pasta seem to be hand made and held together well with a slight chew. Overall both pastas were delicious. 4/5<br/>The wood fire pizza base was crispy and had a chew to it. The worst thing about pizza is if it has a soggy and doughy base! Gusto pizzas won’t disappoint. Toppings were a good compliment. 4/5

Food was delicious, they didn’t leave us waiting for long for food to come out. Lamb was a little disappointing as it was fully cooked through. The sauces on both chicken and lamb mains were delicious and the veggies still had some crunch(just the way we like it). Friendly staff that always checked up on us, waiting for both of us to finish eating before taking our plates(very grateful). Finished our evening with a deliciously light Panna Cotta to share perfect way to end a weekend.

I love this place! Been twice and I wish I lived closer so I could go more often. Warm atmosphere, welcoming and accommodating service and above all - great food!

Had the best fettuccine here! It was deliciously creamy and cheesy seasoned with just the right amount of pepper. I came in a large group so we were seated upstairs but downstairs was totally packed! Best to make a booking even on a weeknight. Service was pleasant and food came out within 20 mins of ordering. They have live opera so if that's your thing come on a Wednesday.

Always consistently great! Atmosphere is really nice and relaxed. Been a few times now and love the food and service each time. Had appetisers, mains and dessert. The gnocchi di zucca is so good. Will be back again!

Good tradtional Italian restaurant with charming cozy ambience. The scamorza is very good, as well as the pizza, baked in woodfire oven. It was almost perfect of not for the overcooked mussels. We also tried pasta with porcini and truffle, which was good, but a bit salty. <br/><br/>Service is good amd kind.

A bit tricky this place. I heard from friends and reliable foodies that this is THE place to go.<br/>Authentic Italian cuisine. <br/>So we went... Pizza average if not worse. I chose Diavolina. Anchovies were too salry too dry and over cooked probably together with the pizza. <br/>Feta cheese (I asked instead of mozzarella) was bad.<br/>No sign of tomato.<br/>Pizza bread was too crispy and hard to bite.<br/>We ordered also papardelle with meat.<br/>They were very nice but I did not really felt they were hand made.<br/>And the meat portion was much less than you would expect.<br/><br/>Of course the location is nice the decoration is pleasant , the service is good and the place is super tidy. Great prices as well. Less than $50 for 2 plates. No drinks. <br/>But the food did not impress me.<br/>I will try again something different. <br/>

Great service and delicious authentic Italian. Would definitely recommend. The tortellini is so tasty, lightly creamy but not too heavy. Worth a visit.

Great pasta, Wed opera night is just mind blowing. My wife really enjoyed Wed Opera , Tosca, La boem, Mascani...Oh my God. The female singer is just a surprise. The firewood pizza, pizza, pizza,..All so good. True gusto of Italy!

One of the best ravioli and pizza I have had . Pasta is made on premise and the pizza base was so light. Decor is a bit dated but has a 1960's feel. Really the food is why you're there. Staff were friendly and efficient

A lovely little restaurant with an authentic and welcoming atmosphere.<br/><br/>The staff were attentive and friendly from the moment I came in. <br/><br/>I ordered the gnocchi di zucca to take away which was ready in great time and tasted excellent.<br/><br/>I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others.

We found this place by accident one evening and can't stop coming back.  The food is fantastic!  Wine is well chosen, and need I say, the BEST tiramisu in NZ...  Armando is the character of the place, he makes us feel like family every time we walk in the door.  I like that he will change the ingredients on the menu dishes on request as well,  very few places will do something like that, tailoring a dish to the person.<br/>To me, this place is my italian home.  There are other good italian restaurants around, but this one will always be home.

Went there Friday night. For Italian Rustic food it was really good. The Chicken dishes we had we flavoursome and great.<br/>Small minus for the garlic bread turning up with the main... on a small table there is no where to put it<br/><br/>But this is definately a return. Very impressed with the flavours.

A cute Italian restaurant to have a perfect Italiano experience with friends or family.<br/><br/>We went here last night with a group of friends. The place is decorated with Ferrari flags, Italian football jerseys, local club jerseys(owners probably prefer AC Milan) & some cool posters/decors.<br/><br/>We started off with some non-alcoholic drinks, Jamaican coffee and a Irish coffee. We were all happy with the variety of the drinks available. <br/><br/>We then jumped straight to the mains and had ordered 3 Pizza & Pasta varieties. I loved the food myself but my friends thought the Pizza's had some scope for improvement.<br/><br/>The staff members were super welcoming and had a great sense of humour, which was really interesting. Overall a very pleasant experience and totally worth what we paid.<br/><br/>Will I be back here - Yes for sure!<br/><br/>👍👌🏻

Cosy, family-friendly restaurant in Ponsonby. Staff were friendly and accommodating, however the food took really long to come out (1 hour plus). <br/><br/>I ordered the lamp rump with salad, potatoes and a creamy sauce.  It was good and the meat was cooked well but I preferred everyone elses meals to mine! The pizza was pretty good too, I liked the thin base but it needed more basil leaves on top. Overall a nice restaurant to go to with the family.

Going to Gusto Italiano was a last min idea, we were going to go to Prego but we walked in and turned around as 30% of the customers were children. So, further walked down and walked into Gusto Italiano. Straight away we were greeted by the Italian owner who was welcoming. He walked us through tastings of the wine, listened to us. And also give us recommendations on the dishes. The food was sooooooo good!!!! If you love a creamy pasta get the “Tortellini Porcini E Tartufo” and my partner had the Spag bol “Pappardelle Al Ragu”<br/>Again, its the details. Recommendations, last min bread ordered, the desert, You feel valued as a customer.<br/>Excellent!!! Recommend

This old favourite of the locals is a real Italian special treat. It joins a select group of Italian restaurants that feel authentically Italian, including charming decor, Italian team and matching opera music! It also joins a select group of restaurants that are called Gusto, and I can think of a few already including another one called Giusto nearby... We had wine and pizza and our unqualified amater palates were duly culinarily transported back to the Italian riviera. Definitely a family friendly spot and with an unpretentious feel, with a convenient location up past the three lamps shops, makes it a definite stopover in your dining search!

We had a wonderful dinner at gusto Italiano !!!the welcome was very special , the owner himself came over greeted us and he had a great sense of timing and was very friendly.<br/>Good wine selection <br/>We started off with Calamari and then the artichoke. I felt the polenta coated calamari was very nicely done.<br/>Loved the fettuccini with chicken and also the gnocchicini.<br/>The panacotta with Berries was right way to end a superb dinner<br/>We plan to go there for the opera event on March 9<br/>Truly recommend Gusto Italiano

Good food, had the pizza at this restaurant and felt that it was done well and was rather filling! Visited the place for a nice birthday dinner and was pleasantly suprised at how good food was! Nice family feel #g1

Best part of the evening was the service. Antipasto was fine, nothing out of the ordinary though. I had the seafood pasta, nice flavor base, beards still in mussels and a little surprise crab in one left the main as a major disappointment. Won't be back here again.

I went to Gustos on Saturday night with my two teenage children for our birthday's.  We have been before and really enjoy the atmosphere, the decor, and the friendly staff. The food is always outstanding with my favourite the Spaghetti Di Marinara, and the children choosing the ravioli with pesto and the Margarita Pizza. The night was topped off of course with the usual Tiramisu  which if the children could they would order first.  A lovely place to relax and enjoy the lovely Italian theme: not too crowded and the the service is outstanding. Price is always what you would expect.

Average-service was mediocre. Didn't seem like table staff were paying attention. Food was average-prawns were tasteless and soggy. Pizza was nothing special. Sadly won't be returning.

Service was exceptional!!! The staff are absolutely amazing and they know the menu and even wines that compliment your mains. Vegetarian Pasta was exceptional. The special of the day a Grilled Chicken breast with accompanying steamed vegetables. Ridiculously soft and cooked to perfection, only downside had to be a lack of sauce and flavours used to season. But overall a good Italian Restaurant.

I can affirm that this was the best Italian dinner ever in Auckland! We started with a special entree called vitello tonnato, a regional dish from Piedmont, and we had a tasty bruschetta as well. I had a scotch fillet served with a sauce of red wine and gorgonzola cheese, while my girlfriend had a creamy dish of tortellini with truffle and porcini mushrooms. All of those drinking a bottle of Barbera, which the waiter matched with the food perfectly. Armando was really friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere was like a real Italian restaurant, even the music has been amazing! I'll come back for sure, magnifique service and superb food give to this place a top rating! See you soon Armando!

A group of us went to this restaurant for a special birthday.<br/>For a place that is praised for the high standard of food I was gutted at what I got! Was expecting a beautiful seafood pasta and what was put in front of me was discusting! All the seafood had been so badly overcooked! the mussels were so shilvelled up and the ONE prawn that was in there couldve been bounced on the floor like a ball!Shocking place,way over priced,and would <br/>never go back there!<br/>Reecy

Wow! Exquisite fine authentic Italian meal. Excellent friendly service with real stories from Italy. The flavours were subtle but enough to tease my die hard conservative brother's tongue. Would highly recommend. Well done Gusto!

As a regular customer, I came here for dinner with my family a few nights ago and absolutely loved it once again! The food and service were great and I thoroughly enjoyed my night spent here.<br/>We all ordered a variety of the meals offered on the menu and everyone enjoyed the fresh, great tasting meal that they received. Would recommend to everyone for a great night out!

Lovely place. Nice atmosphere, immaculate service and nice food.<br/>We went to the Wednesday night opera singing and had such a great time.<br/>Food was all right but would have expected more flavours (had the $95 menu for two). Happy with the cured meat, olives… board served as an entree though. <br/>Interesting wine list and very professional and warm service. <br/>Will be back and already recommended it.

Recommended by a friend - really lovely restaurant. Food was great (really tasty - we had the antipasto della casa followed by pizza and heaps of red wine!) and service was impeccable. We're really looking forward to visiting again.

I have a great time every time I come here. The food is just lovely - and they are happy to accommodate my allergies and I don't miss out on a thing. The service is friendly and efficient - I never have to wait long for my food and it is served with a smile. The owner is lovely, and always ready to have a chat. Can't wait to go back again.

Without a doubt the best italian resturant we have found in Auckland, authentic, amazing food and flavours and very well priced! We will definatly be back and super excited to have stumbled accorss this little gem, we are sorry we didnt discover it earlier! The food is fresh and a delight, not sure why the voucher people are upset, maybe they expected too much for too little. Anyway resturants always put voucher holders 2nd class, everyone know that

A huge thank you for a fabulous night and great food. A Veal Masala made up especially for me – not even on the menu! It was the best Veal Masala I have ever tasted – even put cream in it specially (after objecting first).. it was very delicious and appreciated. Ten stars for the opera singer too – she was superb and I thoroughly enjoyed her performance.

I don't understand the negative reviews. We too brought a voucher and it was a wonderful evening. Great ambiance. The opera just added to it all. The food was amazing and the wine from Italy finished it off just right. They left the right amount of time in between the courses. We were very impressed. Thankyou for a lovely night out

We enjoy the food and Armando is always charming. Been several times and we go mostly for the live opera evenings when it's on. A gorgeous soprano who sings a couple of arias with 20 minute breaks in between, so just right really. That said and although she politely announces that she is about to sing asking for some hush there is always one bloody ignorant customer who talks loudly or making a racket with cutlery! Bastardos! Next time I shall say something; like those annoying people at the theatre or cinema who insist on stuffing themselves with sweets, rustling their paper bags!! That said, a small price to pay for a great and proper Italian restaurant!

We found the staff incredibly rude. Throughout the meal they kept rushing us and their attitude towards us was appalling. <br/><br/>One waiter prematurely tried to clear my pizza, and when I informed him that I wasn't finished, He turned his nose up at me and advised me that "If you aren't finished with the dish, you should at least look like you are still eating it"<br/><br/>Menumanu should create a 0 star option to accommodate this sad excuse for a restaurant.

I just love Gusto!! I have been there several times and it never fails to impress! Very authentic Italian and friendly staff and awesome service without being intruding. And the food, MAMMA MIA the food, it’s just amazing!! Gusto has also an excellent wine list with lots of tasty and exclusive Italian reds. No wonder why they are always so busy... I have brought vouchers for friends so they could also enjoy the Gusto experience. Can't wait to go back! Bravo Gusto

I wanted a special place for my 50th birthday, and the people at Gusto Italiano certainly made it that. We had the upstairs to ourselves, and it was great. Enough space for everyone to be comfortable, without being squashed or rattling around in too much room. And the food - what with allergies and food preferences, they were able to provide us a menu that meant everyone had a choice, and the service was fantastic. I plan to go back again - I really want to try the Wednesday night with the opera, and my family are planning to go back as well.

Can only echo what others have said about the voucher meals. My daughter (who is a student and can't afford much) purchased the voucher for me and my husband as a present, and she paid a lot for what really truly is the most disgusting value for money and quality of food deal on the internet.<br/><br/>Our shared platter for 2 fitted on to a saucer sized plate with room to spare. This wasn't even a decent sized appetizer for one person! The food looked like it was mass produced frozen stuff, and it was obvious that by starving us they knew that we would probably spend more on just trying to feel like we had actually had a meal. Stupidly, we forked out for a Pizza, as we had been looking forward to our night out together. In hindsight I wouldn't have given them a cent more for such an appalling meal (couldn't even call it a meal).<br/><br/>Just think that if we had bought the voucher ourselves and gone for the shared platter for 4, and taken friends along, how embarrassed we would have been! <br/><br/>We have had quite a few voucher meals from the internet, and some have been good, some were ok, but never have I seen one as bad as this before. Absolutely shocking!<br/><br/>By the way, we didn't have the heart to tell my daughter how bad it was - such a shame after such a lovely thought and paying all that money that she can hardly afford.

Very disappointing. We also bought the supposed 'shared platter for 4' voucher, but it was a joke how little we received - not worthy of an entree for 2! Still starving, we ordered over-priced mains of pizza and pasta that were equally disappointing - would have been better off with a frozen pizza and a jar of sauce poured over some budget pasta at home! To top it off, the drinks were ridiculously expensive and as 'voucher customers', the service was quite poor, until we mentioned that we would be coughing up more money for mains and drinks. Won't be going back here in a hurry.

Was looking forward to our lunch at Gusto! Was so disappointed. We bought a voucher that stated that we would be getting 8 sharing plates to the value of $135. In reality one sharing plate containing two tiny pieces of chicken about the size of two chicken nuggets!!! It was shocking! By far the worst voucher deal on the net!!! The bathroom facilities were awful and very unhygienic! not something you'd expect in Auckland!

Overpriced for a small quantity of below average food!!. Very disappointing!!.....<br/><br/>The service was alright and the menu and atmosphere looked good. But you realize how horrible your choice of restaurant is only when you get the food and all you can think about is I'm paying restaurant prices for food that is below average even according to takeaway standards. My pasta had 5 pieces of pasta and the dish cost me 30 dollars. Ridiculous. It should not be 3.5 score in menu mania. More of a one or two max.

My wife and I had dinner here last night and the food, wine and service was excellent. We were also treated to a live opera singer that made the night even more special. The entree and main courses were authentic Italian flavours and well prepared and I can highly recommend the "Duck Supreme" which was outstanding. A great Italian wine selection was also the stand out as well as the decadent tiramisu dessert, attentive friendly Italian staff made the whole experience an absolute pleasure. Bravo!

We dined here sometime ago, but still could remember the delicious gnocchi that they make! They were amazing. I'm now thinking to go back soon for those! and the pizza was very authentic too, not like those in chained restaurants - heaps of bad cheese and bad base!

We've heard good things about Gusto, but it didn't live up to the hype. Firstly we were led upstairs to a empty, cold room lacking any kind of atmosphere. Food was good but nothing special, service was much the same as we had to hint for a lit candle and cracked pepper

Well we had looked forward to a decent Italian meal for ages and were disappointed with what we received. At the maitre D's suggestion, as we ordered the meal, we ordered a bruschetta, and after very a long wait received a mediocre meal - not what we considered good Italian. We did have good wine, but no follow up and no bruschetta.. When asked why .. 'sorry we gave it to another table', the staff appeared more interested in those outside the door - and continually, to our and other diners annoyance left the door open - on a very cold night, even when several diners kept rising and closing it. We won't be back..

This is honestly the best Italian I have ever had. I always order pasta when I dine at Italian restaurants in the hope that they make the pasta themselves. This place makes all their pastas fresh aswell as the gnocchi, we ordered the pumpkin gnocchi and the beef tortelini and I can say it was absolutely devine!!<br/>We had this on Friday night and I am already planning on going back. Even my husband who is never impressed by Italian food loved the food here. I will definitely be taking my friends and family here!

I'm biased - Gusto is my favourite piece of authentic Italiana outside Italy and maybe even as good as my Ducati Super bike. I eat at Gusto probably once a week and almost always take family, a client or friends. The taste and flavours are truly Italian. In fact I'm trying to lose my Gusto 5Kg but that will have to wait because I'm heading back this week for Mia mamma's birthday. I'm vegetarian and always find something that hits the spot, the tiramisu is devine and I'm learning about the different types of authentic vino rosso.

Food: first course OK, but appetizer and second course really scant. We were served flabby bruschetta, probably canned stuff, a rather basic main and less than ordinary tiramisu.<br/>Wine: we were served average Italian IGT wine, bottled in NZ (!) for 40 NZD.<br/>Service: people are kind and welcoming, but the idea that clients - if they choose the fixed menues - have to share the dessert from the same bowl is simply non-acceptable (something that in Italy nobody would propose you even home if she/he is your best friend).<br/>Quality/price ratio: Indisputably low (for 120 NZD a couple you can get way better!)

So - we had a discount card and being Valentines Day we really didnt think we'd be able to use it, but after ringing were told "yes, no problem, you can use". When we get there, from across town, we're told no you can't use it. We were a bit frustrated that we'd been given the wrong information, but when I spoke to the manager this is when I became very annoyed. The man clearly couldn't have cared less and obviously did not at all want our business. I was not angry or rude when I approached him and simply wanted to voice our dissapointment and this man was quite simply RUDE. We walked out and will not be returning and i would NOT recommend to anyone.

I love this place,your fell it's like you are in Italy,pasta it's amazing,and pizza i love,and lots of Italian wine really authentic Italian,tiramisu it's so good ,the stuff its friendly and i be back ageing

It seems by other reviews gusto can be a little hit and miss. well it was a hit when i visited. pizzas and pastas bringing back fantastic memories of our Italian travels, a charming waitress and the best Tiramisu in Auckland. My advice with gusto is to go earlier in the week when its less busy and stick with what they do well, their traditional hearty pastas or just a takeaway pizza.

Had a lovely family lunch on Saturday. The waiter Nicholas was attentive and made sure the children had their water topped up, making them feel very special. The food was great and the owner was also very friendly and genuine. Nothing was too much trouble.<br/>Couldn't fault the food, presentation and welcoming experience we all had.<br/>Noted also that other customers arriving were also treated like friends not just patrons.

Please think twice before dining at this place. We went on a Sunday night. Place was run by a few youngsters who weren't really interested in serving the customers. Mains took over 90 minutes to arrive, after some erroneous mains were brought to us!! When they did finally arrive, it turned out that they took our orders incorrectly. We didn't bother changing it since it was so late and we couldn't be bothered. In the end they even tried to charge us for the wrong order. Probably our worst restaurant experience. I definitely would not recommend this restaurant.

We went to Gusto last night [a Sunday evening]. The ambiance was Italian and the opera [Andrea Bocelli] quite loud. The service was so-so. The food was equally so-so, but the desserts gave the appearance of being quite the stingiest, meanest little offerings I've ever experienced. My husband chose biscotti [with glass of dessert wine] and honestly, 3 tiny little pieces of biscotti lay on the plate, positively sobbing with isolation. $14.50 for this offering and definitely not value for money. The dessert wine was okay, according to himself. My friends chose a cheese platter. This too was an affront to the cheese-eater's expectations. There was not even enough to satisfy a mouse [who may have dined elsewhere and was already full ...]. Again, overpriced and a blooming cheek, we thought. When we mentioned it to the waiter on leaving, he smiled and shrugged as if he didn't give a flying whatsit. I have now read several reviews of this restaurant, and their small-sized portions. I would probably not go there again, but it was a very special birthday treat for me and I felt a bit disappointed. Don't Gusto's owners read these reviews?

I have never written a review before but after this meal I felt I just had to warn others. What a shocker!! This place is overpriced and the food is really not up to scratch! We ordered the Caprese Salad which was $16.50 and consisted of 3 old tomatoes and not what I would call mozzeralla cheese! We also ordered the calamari which tasted burnt and just not right. The pizza was average! Won't be going there ever again.

We were very disappointed with our night out at Gusto. The staff didn't even want to greet us or sit us down. We waited for ages for orders to be taken, and the mains took an extra long time to come to us. <br/><br/>The mains were very small and overpriced. You could have a better lamb kebabs main dish at the Turkish place across the road and it would taste better and cost you less than the $32 we paid. <br/><br/>We didn't even want to stay for desserts because the wait staff wasn't interested in taking our orders. <br/><br/>Will not be giving them another chance to disappoint again...

great food. excellent service. i only held one star back due to the prices

Excellent food, wonderfully flavourful and very authentic. Even the pasta is home made. We've eaten here numerous times and always been very pleased. The greeter is very Italian and friendly. The portions are on the small side, so the cost does add up as you order entrees with your mains. Buon appetito!

We had dinner there on Saturday night and the food was divine. The serving sizes are not large but they are beautifully cooked. We enjoyed the tiramasu and the waiter was very knowledgeable about the Italian wines on offer. We would definitely return.

could not fault the atmosphere service or food we will be back

I just read the review below and am very surprised at the description of the food. My father and I are Italian and from NYC and this was the best Italian food we had in Auckland. The stuffed gnochi was especially amazing.<br/><br/>I think there is a new chef which might explain my vastly different experience from the previous reviewer.

When we arrived at Gusto,we thought,great ambiance,friendly welcome and real Italian Opera playing in the background,this is going to be a great night out.Unfortunately,as it turned out something very important was missing,decent food! We have <br/>seldom eaten such a bland characterless and flavourless Italian meal.There were three in our party and we shared a cold plater to start with three separate meals ,a sea food rice risotto and two of us had the tortellini.The experience was so disappointing that we simply finished the mains and left with out even bothering with dessert or coffee.<br/>As the food quality and taste was so lacking in personality we had to wonder if in fact they employ a professional chef or do the serving staff just pop out the back and open a can or two as each order is placed.<br/>A real and expensive disappointment for us. Hard to <br/> see how they can continue to survive in the competitive Ponsonby marketplace.

Gusto is a lovely little Italian restaurant on Ponsonby Rd with good service and a romantic ambiance. I went on a Wednesday night and there was live music in the form of a Mandolin player and singer. The food itself was a little disappointing (maybe my expectations were too high). We ordered a Antipasto Della Casa to start which while it looked impressive, not everything tasted very fresh (are olives supposed to fizz?) fortunately the food only got better from here. I ordered the Gnocconi Ripieni,big potato gnocchi filled with Italian ricotta cheese and truffle pesto, served with fresh Italian tomato sauce, parmesan basil and extra virgin olive oil and my partner the Tirolese Pizza. The Pizza was fantastic and I would definitely go back to try more of their selection. The Gnocchi itself was tasty but the sauce was bland.They had a lot of vegetarian dishes and will recommend gusto to my Italian loving vegetarian friends. It is worth going to Gusto for the atmosphere and pizza, maybe I was unlcuky with my other food choices.

Always come back to this place - the food is nice and reasonably priced. Great service, super friendly and great atmosphere.