Food - Loved the vegeterian pastas here and the wood fired thin crust pizzas. It's a tad overpriced but that's how most authentic Italian restaurants are. Ambience - Love the look and feel of this place. Located in a quite locality within Cambridge. It is beautiful when they have outdoor seating in the summer. read more

Our favorite go-to place in Cambridge. Admittedly not always the cheapest but good quality food & authentic Italian service :) These have a nice wine menu, pretty good daily specials & even entertain our daughter when we go for a bite as a family. Don't get me wrong. This is not a good place to go for dinner with young kids. Trust me, we've tried & they do all they can to keep our little one happy, but it's a little too chic for that. It's perfect for a date or a dinner with friends though. read more

We went here today and sat on the patio. Everything was wonderful! Our server was the absolute sweetest and extremely fast despite being the only one there. The food was delicious. Love the pizzas! Not to mention their glasses of wine are absolutely massive and at a great price. That can't be beat! read more

The service and food were amazing! The servers were not too intruding, they came at the right time, and always topped up the water right on time. The "Manzo" was some of the best steak I ever had, incredibly tender medium rare, and seasoned beautifully! read more

We had dinner here, the food was okay but the service was absolutely terrible. Our server came to get our order right away, but she never came back again through the rest of the night. The wait staff kept ignoring us, even though they would walk past us several time. The restaurant wasn't even busy, more than 50% of the tables were empty. We had to flag down a waiter to get a dessert menu, then flag down another waiter to order dessert. Fast forward 20 mins, we were still waiting for dessert. We decided to just quit, and leave. We walked to the front to ask for the check so we can pay and leave, the owner printed out the check for us, we paid and left. The owner was nonchalant and not even a little bit apologetic for their dismal service. What was even more frustrating was that the staff was aware that they messed up, but not a single person apologized for their awful service as we left. I'm never going back and I don't recommend it either. read more

This place is amazingggggg! My friends brought me here a month ago, we tried the lobster spaghetti, another spaghetti with simply tomatoes, and a pizza I don't remember which one was it, and they were just so great! Then yesterday I brought my roommate there, I said to her this one is the best Italian restaurant I have ever tried in Boston and she was skeptical. We ordered the truffle pizza (with fresh truffle) and the risotto, she had her first bite of the pizza and got amazed just like I was! The pizza was so juicy and flavorful, it's not like American pizza which just put pepperoni on a pan of flour. I will definitely bring every friend when they come to Boston. This is just amazing... read more

Gran Gusto - Italian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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What a hidden gem. Have been a customer for years. Never really busy when I was there, but... food quality great, prices very good and service excellent. Please go, you'll be glad you did. read more

Quaint, quiet and quite Italian in atmosphere. Such a pleasure to enjoy a conversation and to feel welcome to linger - The food is quality !! The freshness, the flavor and each finishing touch made my afternoon so memorable! My friend and I shared each course and it was more than enough for our needs! The server divided the portions beautifully. First was the eggplant appetizer- seasoned just right and a delightful beginning. We also enjoyed the arugula salad with pears and dressed with a lemon vinaigrette- just right! Then the Paccheri with short rib ragu. My mother AND my grandmother would not say a word - just gesture that Italian finger kiss to the lips !! We asked the server if he would make an Affogato. ( which is ice cream with espresso poured on top ) He said yes !! I have no other words to write - thank you so much ! read more

I really really wanted to like this place as it had been on my list for a long time but there were too many disappointments to give this more than three stars. I'll start with the food, since that was the best part. But even so, I didn't find it to be overly flavorful nor did it blow me away. We had the mushroom pizza and each shared a pasta dish. Me with the puttanesca and my partner with the Bolognese. Both were good, but not outstanding. The service is where this place really fell short for me. Our waiter was not attentive at all. We weren't told the specials (only discovered what they were after seeing it delivered to our neighboring table long after our own food had arrived), and we were waiting on service for most of the meal. We also noted that our neighbors were equally unsatisfied with not even receiving bread. Perhaps it was an off night. But I had really high hopes for gran gusto and likely won't be going back. I can get the same quality and better service at a restaurant with better parking. read more

Surprisingly solid pizza. Wouldn't go out of the way but very respectable. Service isn't great. Dough itself is average.

Don't be deterred by the four stars, not five - this is THE BEST PIZZA in Boston, and possibly America. I can't stress how good it is. look - more CapsLock.... ==== AMAZING PIZZA ==== ========= !!! ========== So now you know that let's have some background... The pizza is amazing as the chef is from Naples and is a true pizza snob. Mozzarella? - not good enough - he pays four times more for imported buffalo mozzarella. Cook in an oven? - not good enough - he's got a proper wood-fired oven to get that perfect base. I like that he's this much of a snob, because after several trips to Italy and the right restaurant or two in London, so am I. American pizza just doesn't cut it - sure, I'll defend the #1 pizza at the original Regina's til I die but this is different class. Melt in the mouth doughy deliciousness. So why only four stars? Where do I start... middle of nowhere, in a strange office building, wine glasses still smelling of detergent, cliche painted window view of Tuscany on the wall, uncomfortable seats, your mum and dad's friends everywhere, schizophrenic service (excellent to terrible in a second), mediocre salad and profiteroles, relatively expensive ($14 for pizza for one). I've heard some of the other dishes are good, but if you go here and don't get the pizza then you've just given me permission to come round your house and slap you with a dead fish, dumbkopf. To summarise: SUPERLATIVE PIZZA. See if you can get take-out. ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ I should mention that this was my 1st follow-up on a Chowhound tip. If this is anything to go by they know their pizza well, but they are all ugly boring old white people with more money than me. read more

Long-time Yelp friend Ina C. clued us in to Gran Gusto and we are definitely glad she did. Super cute, cozy interior in a tucked away location that just adds to the allure of Gran Gusto. There are a number of great looking items on the menu, including a couple of seafood specials the night we came in that will entice me to return, but the night we came it was for one thing... Pizza. Couldn't pass up the special appetizer of the night, Stracciatelle, which is center cut super fresh mozzarella di bufala making a milky curdy ball of goodness topped on a bed of perfectly dressed arugola with sliced speck. For pizza's we each ordered a small and shared. I got the Salsiccia which consisted of Italian sausage and brocolli rabe, while the Dining Partner in crime got the Diavolo, which consisted of mozzarella di buffalo and spicy salame. The Salsiccia was disappointing being almost completely covered in brocolli rabe which overpowered any sense of the quality Italian sausage underneath. The Diavolo was hands down the better of the two and had my taste buds doing little dances of joy! That pizza alone will bring me back in. Much more to explore here and it's possible I may award another star to rating if other items hold up. Service couldn't have been nicer. read more

I could eat Gran Gusto's pizza everyday and not get tired of it. This was in fact, the BEST pizza I've ever had. I know pizza. I know pizza very well. I can't even describe how delicous their simple cheese pizza is. Light tomato sauce, tasted like Jesus Christ himself, grew the tomatoes, and then made the dough as pure as silk and as tasty as....I don't even know...and sprinkled little dabs of mozzarella and baked it in the oven. I was dining with my fiance's fam @ his Grandmother's house. She's Italian, they are Italian -- they eat, drink, and cook like it's their job. We got take out. I didn't want to be a pig and eat a lot...but I went head to head with my fiance in the pizza department....we both had five slices each. So good. Sooooo goooood! This pizza is love. I love pizza. Gran Gusto is love. I love Gran Gusto. read more

First time to this restaurant. Pleasant surprise. Went early on Saturday so lots of room, made an online reservation with OT but didn't need to. Nice atmosphere, waiter, waitress, owner all very present and helpful. Good wine by glass list, a Chianti Reserva and a Montalcino. Grilled calamari worth the trip, such nice fresh healthy alternative to the usual deep fried. Fettucine Bolognese was real deal. my wife got homemade pasta special with scallops and shrimp. The waiter mentioned andouille which she didn't see but on asking, owner explained was a sausage pate that is melted into the sauce- very informative. Torta ricotta cake to finish - delish. We live 35 miles away and just happened to be in town but we would definitely stop in again if in Boston area read more

I wish I could give this place ZERO stars. The service at this place was probably the worst thing I have ever encountered at a restaurant. I hope they were not biased against non-italians or non-regulars. You would get the feeling that they did not want us there and we were troubling them by eating there. Quick summary: service: 0 out of 5 atmosphere: 2 out of 5 food: 3 I drove all the way from east cambridge with my guests from NYC on a Sunday night in May 2013. We made and online reservation on our way there. I decided to take my friends based on my Italian friends telling me this is one of the two really authentic Italian places in Boston (the other one being Pasta Beach on the waterfront.) We got there with high hopes and great expectations. We told the guy (owner/manager) that we just made an online reservation 15 minutes ago, which made him grin. I wish i had not told him. I guess he hated us from the very beginning. He sat us at a side bar by the door while waiting for a table to open up. The place was packed with the graduation weekend crowd and really loud. After 10-2 minutes sitting at the side table with no water, menu, etc. he took us to a small table packed behing a large family. Dropped us a menu and left. while we were thinking he came back and asked us what we want. We were thinking what we should order, he got impatient and left with no explanation. Someone brought a little bread but we had to grab olive oil and pepper from another table ourselves. we finally ordered but he did not have patience for us trying to decide on wine. We gave up wine and decided to just eat and leave. From the two appetizers we ordered one was ignored and the other (half decent) came 1 minute before our pizzas. The pizzas were REALLY good but we were so mad with the treatment we did not enjoy it at all. another half an hour or so waiting to pay our bill.... heading out with regret, anger, and empty pockets. read more

Incredible, pretty authentic and yet easy-to-drive-by hidden gem. So easy to miss that I held a job about one hundreds yards away from it for about a week (I ended up resigning from the position) and somehow never even noticed the establishment. But after hearing very good things from a few people, I decided to investigate it a bit further by dining there with my girlfriend on a beautiful summer evening. While they aren't on OpenTable, making a reservation by phone was an absolutely breeze and took only about a minute. 90 minutes later, we parked in the rear, in their private lot and walked around and into the building. A very friendly and gracious host escorted us to our table and off we were, not knowing that this would truly become a terrific meal. A first, very good sign of things to come was our waiter who spoke beautiful and passionately about both the specials and the menu itself. He was somewhat of an old timer, in his 50s and gave us plenty of time to select and some good guidance when needed. He also took his time which was pretty damn awesome and told us that nearly everything they have and serve is both made from scratch and that most ingredients are imported from Italy. I would have never guessed that based on the menu's prices... I was already impressed. After much debate between their Il Taglere antipasto plate, we decided to instead get their Stracciatella ($11) which featured a burrata-like mild and creamy cow cheese from the region of Puglia which was plated alongside some speck. The smokiness of the speck accented the creaminess of the cheese - they paired beautifully together and the portion was a perfect size for sharing. A great start. Alongside that they also brought us a complimentary basket of housemade focaccia bread with some dipping oil. I wasn't too crazy about it - wasn't bad, wasn't great. I was indifferent to it. Feeling already pretty damn good about this meal, we each ordered pizzas which are prepared in the style of Naples, meaning that they feature thin crusts and usually some San Marzano tomatoes. Moments after we were done with our wine and appetizer, the plates were cleared and our pizzas arrived. For her, the Capricciosa ($16) which featured tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, mushrooms, ricotta cheese and salami. For me, the Quattro Stagioni one ($16) which is somewhat similar and featured tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, black olives, ham and artichokes. Each pizza featured an amazing crust - not too doughy, not too crisp, just perfect. The ingredients weren't crowded and the pie wasn't too greasy or oily, instead letting the fresh ingredients speak for themselves. It had to be one of, it not the best pizza I've had in Boston and it's area alongside the ones at Posto in Davis Square. It is their claim to fame there and now I know why. The one outstanding part is the ingredients they used - they tasted like they should. The ham tasted like ham, and not this over-processed crap that you find everywhere. The cheese wasn't slathering the entire pizza, instead it was placed in small pieces here and there. Each bite was balanced and the pizza wasn't a gooey, greasy mess like in nearly every other pizza spot within a thousand mile radius. While they were plenty of appetizing dishes on the menu, I stood by my choices but unfortunately had no room left for dessert which means that I trip back in the near future will be necessary. And I won't mind. All in the all the place featured some excellent service, some pretty good prices (although the appetizers a bit too expensive considering that none is under $11) but the quality of the ingredients and the preparation is terrific. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of this quiet, clean and friendly neighborhood gem. I look forward to my next trip there and hopefully will make room for three courses. While the restaurant isn't easily accessible by public transportation, it is definitely worth walking to from Porter Square if you don't have a car. Or take a cab. Either way, don't miss you, this place is the real deal folks. The atmosphere is casual and the decor is simplistic but you'll hardly notice as the food does all of the talking. read more

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I was on a hunt for the best pizza in Cambridge and tried Gran Gusto's margherita and arugula pizzas. I can't speak much to the service, as we ordered takeout but the staff who greeted us were very friendly. It is clear the pizzas are made with high quality ingredients - I particularly loved the sauce! The pizzas were light and delicious and were gone within minutes read more

My boyfriend and I were heading out of town after a very exhausting visit with my family. I had always claimed that the East Coast has better pizza than what we were used to back in LA, so I wanted to make sure that we ate something delicious before leaving. Upon the recommendation of my brother, he told us to go to Gran Gusto (citing their high ratings on Yelp) and it's ease of parking (since we had a rental car). We arrived around 2:30, right as the restaurant was closing to prepare for dinner service. I won't lie...I whined a little bit, and told him we had come out of the way to come here (which wasn't a lie). He checked in the back kitchen, and brought us to a table, which I profusely thanked him for. We were the only ones in the entire restaurant. We ordered the Rughetta salad, and their special for the day: a prosciutto pizza with buffalo mozzarella and truffle oil. Everything we had was DELICIOUS! The salad was perfect, the pizza was so tasty and FOR ONCE this is a place that knows how to use truffle oil properly instead of over-using it in a dish. Even the foccia bread at the table was fantastic! And for such a nice meal and the fantastic service, it was around $40. Amazing. So yeah, I have no idea when I'll be back here if ever but that should not stop anyone that wants delcious gourmet pizza by people that actually know what they're doing! read more

This restaurant opened in the spot where Tartufo (which just never took off...) used to be. I think no one in the neighborhood realized a restaurant was tucked into this unlikely office park a stone's throw from the overall chichi at Huron & Concord. It's a fabulous, authentic Italian dinner destination. The service and oversight by the Manager is amazing; easily among the best in the Greater Boston area. I am not Italian, but the number of expats that are now dining there has gotta be a good sign. Real linguine clam sauce....tiny clams...not tasteless monsters! The chef who is an expatriate Italian is skilled, discerning and proud of is work...sometimes he emerges from the kitchen to find out what the 'front of the house' is really thinking... The Chef is a purist in his sauce making; seafoods in seafood (nothing 'spiked' with chicken and pork extracts). The menu has a blurb which says they care about dietary needs and culinary preferences and they Mean It. Give them a try. Their menu, while always good, seems to change constantly, regrettably, but perhaps understandably their prices now higher. Two can no longer dine here for less than $30..expect to pay 40-110 read more

Get the margherita pizza. We tried some of the other entrees, but the pizza was definitely the best. Fresh buffalo mozzarella, perfect crust...mm. It was heaven! One of the appetizer specials they had when we went was really amazing, too. I can't remember the name, but it was a kind of a cottage cheese-y cheese that had an amaaaazing texture and mild taste. Oh, it was so good! I think it came with proscuitto, too. Really good stuff! But if you want a true Neapolitan pizza, Gran Gusto is the place to go! read more

I really wanted to like Gran Gusto based on the stellar reviews. However, the lack of service and hair in my food ruined it... Had my mother's birthday dinner here on a busy Saturday night. We had reservations and were seated about 15 minutes past our reserved time. Honestly, not a huge deal in my book. Our server (who I believe was the owner) was clearly having a rough night. He seemed tired and not totally interested in giving us a great dining experience. The pasta and apps were pretty good quality. The calamari was a tad rubbery but the charcuterie plate was good. I ordered the ravioli and found a hair on a ravioli. I expected some sort of concern. The meal was just re-plated. Not comped...Not even dessert was comped. Overall, it was lack luster. My mother's birthday was not acknowledged by the staff. Maybe a once great spot is no longer? Maybe a bad night? Either way I won't be back. read more

Service counts. And I never have been treated more poorly in my life. I created a yelp account specifically for leaving a review about this restaurant. My girlfriend and I were craving a fresh pizza and dessert and came across Gran Gusto on yelp. After we sat down we were greeted by our waiter. He was very friendly going over the specials. We ordered two iced teas. After my girlfriend and I discussed what we wanted; we decided we wanted to try the Margarita Pizza. This is when everything became incredibly awkward. The male server (a larger man) immediately became offended and said, "Only ONE?!," and stormed off. We couldn't believe it, we were trying to figure out what in the world just happened. At that point on our waiter did not make eye contact with us the entire night. He came back when the pizza was already delivered and said, "It looks like we are out of iced tea." and once again just left the table, not even asking us if we would like something else to drink. It was clear that he was intentionally being rude to us. There were only a couple other people in the restaurant on a friday night, we were not taking away any big checks from him. We just wanted to try the pizza. At this point i didn't want dessert, or any drinks, I just wanted out... I hope the owner follows up because we have never been more offended. If you are looking for authentic italian with service to match, please, please try Village Kitchen on Huron Ave. There is no way I'm ever stepping foot in Gran Gusto again, and I'll do my best to warn others. If you just wanna try them out and get a pie, they will go out of their way to put you down. The pizza was fresh, but soggy in the middle with watery sauce. They are grasping at something that they do not really understand. If the service wasn't so offensive I might have tried it again. Ya Jerks. read more

I would give Gran Gusto more stars if I could! Having been born and raised in a town in Naples called Pozzuoli. We've always enjoyed eating out as much as cooking. Especially eating a pizz. My parents still reside in Italy near Pinetamare, Castel Volturno. I spoke with one of the four owners. He's a true Neapolitan from Pozzuoli. It was great being able to talk a dialect of Italian with someone other than my parents on Skype for the past five years. It was a refreshing experience. We had the following: Fritturina Mista (5 stars) : Fried baby octopus and calamari. Cooked to perfection. Served with lemon. A classic. I read in one of the review that they were disappointed because they serve this dish with no dipping sauce. I couldn't help but laugh. What did you want? Ranch or Blue cheese? You should of perhaps gone to Olive Garden. La pizza Funghi (5 stars) : Tomato sauce, mozzarella di bufala and mushrooms. My friend ordered this pizza. Which she couldn't finish cause she was full. I ended up eating the rest of it the next day for breakfast. I ordered la pizza Quattro Stagioni (10 stars) : Tomato sauce, mozzarella di bufala, mushrooms, ham, black olives, artichokes. I really can't describe in words what this pizza did to me when I ate it. I'll attempt to do my best... It brought me back in time. I was living in Pinetamare as a kid roughly twelve years ago. All my friend and I would jump on each others souped-up Aprilias and go to the Villagio Coppola to enjoy the nightlife while having na Pizz with a Peroni. What really defines this pizza is the black olives, also known as Gaeta Olives. A small oval olive from Italy that has a wrinkled black flesh if they are salt cured or a smoother dark violet flesh if brine cured. This olive provides a meaty texture with a slightly tart to salty flavor. After being brine or salt cured, the olive is rubbed with olive oil, which gives the olive a delicately mild flavor. Tiramisu (4 stars) : Great tiramisu. I just wish it had more Ladyfingers and espresso flavor than mascarpone. Lastly the espresso, the finishing touch, which was compliments from the owner. I couldn't agree more with Jeremy K. Casual atmosphere and simple decor at an affordable price. The menu changes seasonally. They have fresh products that blow your taste buds away! I wish the best for this restaurant and I hope it'll be around for years to come. It truly separates itself from the rest of them. It couldn't have a more fitting name...Great Taste. Buon Appetito! read more

Gran Gusto is an idiosyncratic Italian restaurant in North Cambridge. They make every realistic effort to serve excellent food. The pizzas are the best I've eaten outside Naples. The pasta dishes are fresh tasting and appear authentic. The service, however, is languid at best, perhaps, being authentic as well. If one sits down and starts with a bottle of wine this issue will dissipate. If one is in a hurry or too ascetic to order a libation then, one may be annoyed by the lack of service momentum. I think Gran Gusto could flourish in a better situated building. The "Brickyard" on Sherman St. is a fixed up and repurposed small office building. Like everything else in that neighborhood, it's essentially crap. No amount of mock fresco and potted plants make up for bad acoustics, faulty fire alarms, and insufficient parking. Give this restaurant a try. It may suit you. read more

Another update. Down to one star. Family keeps coming here and I have no idea why. Two of us got sick. Avoid this place.

My favorite restaurant in Cambridge... I only wish it was a little easier to get to (except, maybe then it would be impossible to get a table). You can expect to have a lovely, well paced dinner (perhaps, you may even have to ask for your check at the end of the night). I just like the idea of eating at your own pace - no rush. We have had some extremely helpful servers - giving us a ton of information on the specials (we've had some amazing ones) and the wines. The food is awesome - I love the homemade ravioli, their light delicious pizzas, and anything they are serving up with truffles. It may be off the beaten path, but well worth it. And the prices aren't extreme either... read more

Ok, so in my last review I raved about this place. In fact, I was on yelp reading my reviews and suddenly got a craving for Italian food. So, my girlfriend and I decided we needed to go on a date. It was a Saturday night and we arrived about 45 minutes before they closed. Now, having been a server all though college I know how annoying to have people walk in the door so close to closing time. However, it's been 10 years and it was 45 minutes. So, we went with it. We walked in and the hostess looked at us like we just had sex in front of her grandmother. Then, she proceeded to completely ignore us and instead make comments about us to another employee. (I know she was talking about us because she was glancing our way and snickering.) Suddenly I was back in sixth grade in the girls' locker room changing for gym class, sporting my mullet and raging hormones while the other bitches made fun of me. (Yeah, I"m traumatized from middle school but who isn't?) After about a minute and a half of her ignoring us and making fun of us (I swear I'm not paranoid) I spoke up and asked her if there was a problem. She sneered and finally said "two?" Um, yes, two. WTF? Needless to say, she was incredibly rude and her behavior thrust me right back to my mullet-laden middle school days. Luckly, once I chopped off the "party in the back" I got a few friends. Regardless, I should start sending her my therapy bills. Now for the food. It was good. Certainly not delicious like it was last time. I had the bolognase sauce again and my GF had some weird potato-based dish. The server, who had a thick Italian accent, was very nice. The best part of the night, besides the company of my wonderful GF (bonus points for me if she reads this), was the wine! The wine list there is damn nice. And, after the "exchange" I had with the hostess the entire bottle I drank was completely justified. Thank god for therapy. Liquid and otherwise. read more

First off, anyone who's posted less than 3.5 stars on this restaurant wouldn't know good food if it hit them like a pie in the face. And they deserve that, because I've been to Naples and know actual Neopolitans who know their cuisine - and this place is about as damn close as you can get according to them. The food is spectacular, and the proportions are fine - people on this site who wondered why they didn't get more food for the money should do a few things: 1.) check their body mass index, blood pressure, a random glucose and cholesterol panel - because chances are, you need to. Oh yeah, and get some exercise. 2.) realize that living in the U.S. and going to places like the Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill is not, I repeat, NOT the authentic Italian experience. 3.) get a round-trip ticket to Italy, drive to Naples, find a few restaurants - and realize you could have saved $2000 by going to Gran Gusto. That being said, the decor, location, and service are why I didn't rate it 5 stars. I'll explain: First, decor - In the attempt to duplicate an authentic Neopolitan setting, the owners decided to go with painting the interior with earthen tones and faux window settings which comes off as disingenuous. The fake plastic leaves hanging from the rafters doesn't help either. Second, location - the choice of an office park somewhere in the middle of Cambridge is not exactly doing this place justice Third, service - and this is something that the owners can impact - all I'll say is it ranged from inexperienced waitstaff (who didn't know how to pronounce prosciutto) to non-communicative robotic waitstaff (who literally dropped food off at the table without so much as a smile - not exactly good for the image if you know what I mean). The only one worth interacting with was the owner, and he is a proud native of Naples who knows his stuff. So in summary, if you want good, healthy, authentic Italian food, go here. Just don't expect great decor or stellar waitstaff. 4 /5 stars. read more

OK. Please don't come down on me with boxes of Pizzeria Regina slamming me front all sides but I have to say that Gran Gusto in Cambridge (on Sherman Street) is by far the best pizza in the area. Let me clarify this, it's the best authentic Neapolitan pizza in the area. The owner worked in the restaurant industry in Naples until he moved to the States three years ago. He's very much into authenticity and doesn't cut any corners to reproduce the pizzas from his homeland. These are cooked in a wood-fired oven; he imports a special mozzarella cheese, etc. The pizzas are delicate with a lightly charred thin crust and a simple tomato sauce of San Marzano tomatoes. This is not your greasy and oversized "American" type pizza. I tried their homemade tiramisu and it was also one of the best examples of this dessert I had ever tasted. They also pulled a proper European espresso. On the downside, the service was kind of lacking and the decor is rather tacky. The prices are higher than your regular pizza joint, but this is not your regular pizza joint. To situate, it's in the same price range as pizzas from Figs or Cambridge 1. read more

A delightful Italian place, hidden away in the back of Cambridge. The owner came out especially for us and made sure everything was to our liking. Granted, we were a party of 18. But I've been to several restaurants with large parties and never had so much as a "How's the bread?" from the manager. Little touches like that are worth a good consideration. I showed up late, glanced at the menu for a bit, and asked the owner how the rigatoni was. "Try the fettucine bolognaise," he said. "We make the fettucine ourselves." He had steered me toward the cheaper option, so I took the reco as genuine. And he wasn't wrong: the fettucine was tender to the bite, and the bolognaise rich without being overwhelming. Protip: they do great pizza. If you're here with a large party, order a pizza as an appetizer. Share with friends. read more

Its nice to know that a place like Gran Gusto is in our neighborhood. This mid-range Italian restaurant has great pizza. The black truffle pizza with prosciutto was so tasty. There were plenty of pizza options and I'd recommend trying one. One negative was that my fiance ordered a pasta dish, which was good, but the shrimp was slightly overcooked. This made me go back and forth between 3-4 stars, but went higher since the pizza was so good. We went at a quiet time and the owner took our orders. He was very eager to please. There is also indoor and outdoor seating. I'd take family or friends to try Gran Gusto. read more

So excited that Iive around the corner from this place as it is absoutely amazing. The pizza is authentic neopolitan style. The wine, recommended by the owner was a wonderful choice - just like I asked for: light, crisp, fruity. good minerality, and a wonderful value for the price. We started our meal with the special appetizer of buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto which was very tasty. The portions were perfect: not oversized, but the correct portions created with fresh ingredients and bold flavors. The only downside is that the place is sort of hidden. It's easy to drive by without piquing interest. If it wasn't highly suggested by my boyfriend I may not have tried it yet! Not a place to be missed! read more

Not terribly impressed by this play. Heard lots of good things, but the experience was mediocre. We came here for a group lunch, about 11 of us, with reservations in advance. We placed our order and it took about an hour for food to come out. Even salads took about 50 minutes, followed very quickly by entrees. The restaurant did not appear to be busy. The entree was the core of my disappointment, however. While the pasta tasted fresh and handmade, and the meat sauce was good but not terribly complex, the tiny size of the entree combined with the cost @ $14 for what equated to a fistful of pasta and a scoop of meat on top was just terribly disappointing. I know this ain't the Cheesecake Factory, but I did not receive $14 worth of food, unless the pasta was hand rolled by somebody flown in from Italy just for that day, and the meat was an ultra-rare Italian Kobe varietal. Combine that with the rest of my group's watery pizza (seriously, water pooled on a brick oven baked pizza? How does that even happen?), bland panini, and the hour long prep, and I can't say I'm a fan. Maybe we just hit them on an off day, but nobody was terribly impressed. read more

Gran Gusto is in the Brickyard Office Park in western Cambridge. (It is in the same place that Tartufo was before.) It opened for business at the end of August 2007. First, the food was absolutely wonderful. The caesar salad was fresh and crisp, with a light and tasty dressing, and delicious cheese shavings. The pasta was perfectly al dente, with fresh baby clams and light olive oil-based sauce that had a slightly nutty character. The manager was proud of the authentic Italian extra virgin oil they used in the sauce. The seafood stew was perfectly done, with nothing overcooked, so the shrimp, calamari and salmon all had a delicious flavor and texture. Finishing up, the desserts were freshly made and the cappuccino was just right and a perfect ending to the meal. Second, the service was just the way I like it. The manager personally welcomed all the guests and was attentive and conversational enough to make sure we were always satisfied, but not intrusive when we wanted privacy. He was very proud of the restaurant, and made it clear that they intend to do everything they can to make your meal a delicious and authentic Italian experience. Third, the ambiance and decor is pleasant, quiet, and friendly. It is a good place to take a date if you want to be able to hear each other without shouting and to taste each other's dishes. They were happy to split up entrees for sharing among people. They also have outdoor seating for a nice dinner under the stars. I was very impressed. The only downside is that the location is a relatively unpopulated area near offices and residences, and not a commercial area so you feel like you are a bit out of the way. But if you are going for the dining experience and not the proximity to nightlife, you will be delighted. read more

Super good Italian good. High quality for price point. Will continue to give business For years.

I don't know. The food was not bad. The pasta with seafood was pretty damn good, but otherwise nothing was that spectacular. But the service was slow, we had 3 different waiters come up to us, and all of them had an exaggerated Italian act which was just silly. For knock your socks off Italian food go to Trattoria Pulcinella down the street. read more

Service: 1.5 Food: 2 Ambiance: 3 I went to this place on a quiet Thursday evening and was disappointed with the experience. After reading the reviews, we had decent expectations, but the service was extremely poor and the food was bland. When we entered, we the place was at best 10% occupancy. There were 5-6 tables in a place that fits at least 50 tables. They sat us right in the way of the door, where the wind would blow in as more guests entered. They gave us menus and left. After 20 minutes, we flagged down a waiter to give our orders. The waiter apparently did not really speak English, and we weren't sure he got our orders. Wine was brought, and bread was brought 10 minutes later. Bread was cold and dry. not a fan. We had a bottle of Pinot Noir, which was good but definitely overpriced, as were most wines on their list. Their bottles were in the $36-$50 range, which is definitely high for the type of wine that was served. 20 more minutes later, our pastas were brought out. My Paparadelle with lamb was half lukewarm and half cold. The other pasta was a seafood pasta that I could've made at home with a microwave. And, they completely forgot our cold cut appetizer. We flag down another waiter and ask for the cold cut appetizer again. They assure us it would be out shortly. By shortly, they meant it would not be served till after we finished our pastas. We had different meat cuts, and Parmesan cheese, as dessert. Overall, would not recommend, will not be back anytime soon. read more

I've come back here quite a lot over the past few years and it never ceases to amaze me. The food is always perfect. I only wish it wasn't located in an office building--but with food this good they could be located anywhere and I'd still go back. Get the pizza. Get a whole one for yourself. Trust me. read more

Awesome place in the middle of random location. Get the truffle pizza and grilled calamari if available. Entrees are not that exciting but appetizers and pizzas rock so stick to those. Definitely fair prices on the wine menu. Wish the bread basket was better quality but if you order pizzas than you don't need it. Salads were good but nothing worth writing about. Worth the trip! read more

Just an excellent restaurant in every respect! Came here with a party of 6 on a very busy Friday night after making an easy reservation the day before. Greeted by both the owner and the Maitre Luigi like old friends who they had missed greatly, we felt instantly warm at home with their hospitality even though the restaurant was packed. We were seated in a wonderful nook by the wines and the atmosphere was one of people having a really enjoyable time in a relaxed and happy ambiance. Luigi, who after living 30 years in Firenze knows his Tuscan wines, helped us choose some excellent proseccos and reds (Il Bruciatto was a big hit, ask him why it is called that). What was surprising was the price of the wines! Usually a good Italian restaurant doesn't have many wines reasonably priced in the $30-60 range, but at Gran Gusto there was an abundance of choice in this price range and some really excellent wines too. Of course there were many more expensive ones as well for those who wanted to really splurge. We tried a couple of the pizzas and a mixed anti pasto board to start and the pizza is the most authentic Neapolitan style pizza I have had in Boston. Very light airy thin and crispy charred crust with real tomato and buffalo mozzarella, just exquisite. The salumi were exceptional too, bursting with flavor rather than nitrates as at many lesser Italian establishments. Great olives and pecorino too, I could have been in Italy the quality was so good. Then for the entrees we had an amazing spaghetti alla chitarra fatti in casa (home made) prepared table side in a wheel of gran padano, I haven't had anything so good since I went to the best restaurant in Verona. This dish took me back there and was such a pleasant surprise. We also had the Pappardelle with 1/2 a lobster ( $22 seriously, with an actual half a lobster on the plate too and such a large portion, seriously good value for such an amazing restaurant) that was the very embodiment of Gran Gusto (great taste, both figuratively and literally). The other pasta dish tried was the pachetti which were as good as any I have every had before in Italy. Per il secondo piatto abbiamo provato il angelo (the lamb) and it was heavenly, with also tried the branzino (fish) and it literally melted in our mouths while imparting such deliciousness that it bordered on the paradoxical. The perfectly cooked and seasoned manzo was accompanied by a risotto made with arborio rice that was so good that we would have been tempted to order a plate of that alone were we not all already so stuffed. Just a wonderful seemlesss evening that you experience once in a long while when dining out with some frequency. Every note was hit with perfection and we finished the evening off with sambucca, a divine tiramisu, and limoncello. I have been to many of the greats in the North End and not one holds a candle to this gem of a restaurant that will truly transport you back, in my case, to Italy for the evening. And it will do it for about half the price of lesser fare in the north end too. Grazie mille Luigi per una serata favolosa, sei un grande e Gran Gusto e veramente eccezionale! read more