The food is amazing. We had the eggplant lasagna and pasta bolognese. The lasagna was out of this world, perfectly cooked and seasoned. The sauce was the best Ive ever had, it taste like tomatoes were plucked from the garden out back and sqeezed onto my plate right before serving. Service was just as great, my water and wine were always filled, the food was prompt and the waitress was atentive. Minus 1 star for a combination of things that could have been better. -a bit of difficulty finding parking -lack of variety on the menu (although the items are unique, Id like to see chicken and seafood too) -the amiance. This restaurant has amazing food and a unique menu but I feel like Im in my italian family's kitchen vs a fine italian restaurant. Dimming the lights and adding some candles would add greatly. Overall great. I'll be dreaming about that eggplant lasagna and def coming back again and again. read more

I went to Gran Gusto for a birthday. We were a large party and they put us in a private room in back. The service was impeccable and really helpful with the menu. Our waiter made many (spectacular) suggestions. We started with a couple pizzas and the cheese appetizer special for the table. I have to say, I wasn't blown away by the pizza, but it was good. The homemade cheese appetizer was delectable. My pasta dish was very flavorful and the portion was just right. Whenever I go out for Italian, I assume I'm going to walk out bloated and feeling a little guilty. Not so here, thank goodness. I would definitely be back to try other dishes. Food and service were both great! read more

Absolutely delicious, reasonable prices and portions (but not super-huge). Great wines. Small-ish menu but nice variety, preparations and specials. The staff was really friendly, attentive and helpful. The salads (rughetta), pizzas and entrees and desserts were all savored thoroughly. read more

JEM headed out there last night after reading all these great reviews. I have to say, we were disapointed. We ordered the carpaccio and yes, that was tender. It was good because of the delicious artichoke and shaved parmesan cheese. Without it, it would have been bland. For dinner, quatro stagioni pizza...yes, it was ok. I wouldnt say it was great. My wife had the halibut with saffron sauce and that was very tasty. The service was awful slow. Everyone around us waited for everything...water, drinks, food, check, etc.... We had a few mishaps as well (food wasnt prepared as ordered). They did make efforts to correct that rapidly, but just overall the feel was slightly unorganized and chaotic. Because of the service, price and (lack of) ambiance, I will not go back. read more

Shared a Margherita pizza and a pesto penne shrimp dish with a friend the other day. Gran Gusto's easily has the best Pizza I've had anywhere. I've not been to Naples, but it certainly beats out the tourist trap joints in NY's little italy. Quite frankly, the crust is perfect. The edges have a crunchy bite to them, but also a hearty, doughy chew once your teeth get past the crispy exterior. It also does not fall soggy or flat with the sauce on top, so the crunchy crust makes itself noticed on every bite. The tomato sauce is sweet and tasty, and the buffalo moz. has a richer dairy flavor than regular moz. It's heartier, and gives the toppingless pizza a great flavor kick. The pasta dish though not mind blowing, was still very well done. The penne was a little on the softer side of al dente (it still had bite to it), which is not a criticism. mediocre pesto is usually on the salty side, but Gran Gusto's is well seasoned and flavorful. The shrimp came chopped up, which is usually not a good sign, but to my delight, it was extremely fresh; still had a good amount of sweetness. read more

Just okay for me. I ate at Gran Gusto as part of a party of around 10 people to celebrate a friend's recent dissertation defense. I showed up at the restaurant about 10 minutes behind the rest of my party, and was surprised to find that they did not have enough menus for the table, no drink menu, and no bread basket. In fact, we specifically had to ask for the bread basket twice, and had to request a drink menu. Upon receiving the drink menu, I quickly decided on a beverage and told the waiter (owner? he looked more in charge than the other waitstaff) that I would like a glass of prosecco. The other people at the table hadn't decided yet. But, instead of getting a prosecco for me and then returning for the rest of the drink order, he just kind of walked away, ignoring that I had asked for a glass. He did return with the prosecco after taking the rest of the table's drink order about five minutes later. I ordered the spinach gnocchi, which was quite tasty, albeit a bit overpriced ($20). Perhaps one thing that could improve the dish would be to use larger scallops, and to cook these scallops less than what's currently included in the dish. The scallops included in the dish were fairly small and similar to the size of the gnocchi, and it seemed like all that good scallop flavor was taken over due to them being overcooked. Overall, they had less of a presence in the dish than they should have had. Overall, the dish would be a solid B. Prices at Gran Gusto are fairly affordable, and the pizza looked delicious. In my opinion, the pasta and entree dishes are priced about $3-$4 above what they really are worth (e.g., cheese ravioli for $22? come on!), but the pizza and drink prices were on target. Taken together, if I lived in the neighborhood, I might be more compelled to revisit Gran Gusto. It serves its purpose as a nice dinner out for people living in the surrounding area. To be destination dining, Gran Gusto needs to up its game in several categories. PS. TONS of free parking available, which is totally a plus if you're going to be driving into Cambridge. read more

We came here for my boyfriends bday and everyone loved it! The drinks were great and the food was better! He got a Moscow mule to start and I got the espresso martini. Then we both had INCREDIBLE pasta. All in all great spot for an amazing experience. read more

Superb pizza. Marvelous wonderful pizza. The Saltimbocca sandwich - made with prosciutto, cheese, and arugula on what appears to be their pizza dough - is fantastic too. There is take out. The super friendly staff will deliver your lunch practically to your desk should you happen to work in the Brickyard Office Park. read more

If I could give this place 3.5 stars that would be more correct. It's decent Italian food...nothing too mind blowing but you can count on eating good food if youre in the area and need a place to eat. It's very fun and homey inside...like it's got a welcoming warm feeling but lively. I wouldn't drive15 miles to eat here, but since it's close to where I stay sometimes, I am relieved I can get some solid italian closeby. I've gotten the vegetable pizza before which was pretty good and tasty but the dough was a little limp and not as crusty as I prefer it to be. The pasta is ok, nothing too crazy here or groundbreaking. If youre unsure what to get I'd go with getting a pizza ;) This place is worth trying out but it's nothing I;d rave about. read more

Insane. I have been back twice since my initial outing. Last time I got the osso bucco which was out of this world. This time I devoured an entire Margherita pizza by myself. It was pure bliss. I tried a bit of my friend's Diavola, which had some great soppressata or some other type of salami on top. I also had a couple pieces of the Arugala pizza, which was also perfect with some amazing prosciutto. Unqualified recommendation. read more

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Gran Gusto had some terrific pizza. The dough was soft and thin and the ingredients were very high quality. Collectively we had the Margherita, Capricciosa, Arugola, and a special white pizza with truffles shaved right on top. All were superb! Just my kind of pie. Now, I will say that the pizza here is very very similar to the pizza found at Posto in Davis Square, a restaurant I frequent. I love the pizza at both places but Posto wins the ultimate battle. Gran Gusto receives four stars for a slightly too noisy interior and the bathroom situation leaves something to be desired. I love Posto's vaulted ceiling, bar, and ambiance. Plus it's way closer to public transportation! read more

Overall i enjoyed my evening at GG, but it was a mixed experience. If all I had was a salad, pizza and a glass of wine I would easily give it a 4.5 or a 5. But... The ambiance is nice and warm and expected. The service was efficient and not intrusive, that is, except for our waiter who had his "I am an Italian in an Italian restaurant" meter set to 11. At a certain point it got to be a bit too much. Salads were standard but good. The pizza really was great. Though one of the two margarita pizzas was under salted and the second was WAY over salted. The special pizza--white with speck and truffle shavings was great. It is really about their crust which is light and crispy and wonderful. The branzini was overcooked and bland. The fettuccine with mushrooms was fine but nothing special. Ricotta pie had spot on flavor but was a tad dry. The eclairs with hazelnut cream were really bad--dryish, mushyish, and with a lack of sweetness. read more

Am definitely coming back here! First, I loved their warm and cozy ambiance - Perfect for a date night! Two, plenty of options on the wine and food menu. Three...food was so very flavorful. I had the ravioli with eggplant sauce....yumm. I finished off with ricotta pie for dessert. And finally, the service is great and they never try to rush you irrespective of how crowded it gets. Only downside, the place is a little too tight. Too many tables squeezed into the space. But I guess that adds to the cozy interiors! read more

Authentic Italian food that reminds me of my visit to Tuscany. Great wine list that features some of my fav Italian varietals. Very good pizza, if they have the truffle pizza go for it, great pasta and simple salads. Portions are like what you would get in Italy, no heaping bowls of pasta, perfectly sized. Lovely. read more

I went there yesterday and it was my first time. The ambiance is ok, it's not a pretty place but it's decent, the service was courteous and the food was very good. I had the garganelli with shrimp (delicious) and my friend had the spinach gnochi (amazing!!) We also had a very good wine for a decent price. This place is really close to my house so I'll probably go there again. read more

Returned for lunch after an absence of three years- the place and the food remains the same. The calamari, shared as a starter, was tasty. The main dishes, the salmon and the breaded veal, were not as good as I remember them. Pleasant enough a place and staff. Better atmosphere for dinner. read more

Fabulous dinner! Ambiance was beautiful, the staff were attentive, friendly and extremely dedicated to their work. The Arugula Pizza was absolutely delicious! I spent my birthday here today and it was great!! Can't wait to come back soon! Reminded me of a little piece of Italy tucked away in Cambridge with an adjacent parking spot!! read more

The food is really good here. We've had dinner a few times. Service has always been slow - kind of if you were in Italy, no one rushes you. The last time was another level though. Our server Luigi barely said hi and good night, never explained the specials and it took forever to take our order for food and wine. The cold cuts appetizer that is usually great tasted like it was old. We still love the food but will probably think twice before going back. Please step up your service guys! read more

Excellent, authentic Neapolitan pizza and food. Being born in Naples (Italy) I spent more that 10 years in Boston looking for a place like this. I wish it had a more visible/prominent location downtown, but it is worth the drive as it is. read more

I just came back from eating at this place for the first time. I showed up at approximately 1:45 pm and the place was totally empty. I was greeted by a native Italian woman in her late twenties, who turned out to also be my waitress. She asked me if I wanted sparkling or flat water, and I went with the sparkling variety (Which turned out to be San Pellegrino). She then asked me if I wanted wine, and I ordered a glass of prosecco. The prosecco was expertly poured by my waitress, and she proclaimed "It's beautiful, isn't it?" referring to the way the bubbles were rising to the top, and looking at the glass myself, I had to agree with her. I decided to have the "arugola" pizza, which I badly mispronounced due to being thrown off by the Italian spelling of arugula that they used. I should have figured out that it was the same thing, just spelled differently, but I didn't. Not too long after, the pizza came out, with a healthy amount of arugula on top, accompanied by Parmesan shavings and a little olive oil. The pizza itself is thin crust, with a light tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, and prosciutto. All the ingredients are of the highest quality and tasted fresh. The only problem was that the pizza was practically lukewarm when it came out, and basically cold by the time I was almost done eating it. I was considering only giving this place 3 stars as a result, but they earned their star back by comping my glass of prosecco, which would have cost me $9. I think knife and fork pizza like this should come out hot right out of the oven and still be relatively warm by the time you're almost done. I noticed that no one else complained about the pizza not being hot enough in their review, so I'm thinking this might be an isolated incident or have some sort of logical explanation (They didn't want to make the salad on top warm?). I guess next time I'll try another pizza, and hopefully it'll be hot fresh out of the oven. Anyway, on to dessert, I got the ricotta pie. It was actually my first time getting ricotta pie, and while I can't compare it to others, it was certainly good in its own right. So overall, the pizza is really good, the service I got was good and speedy since I was the only one there, and I'd definitely come back again. Just make sure the pizza is fresh out the oven next time, OK, guys?. read more

A nice tucked away place, lots of variety. The place screams rustic Italian, home-made from the apps to the pasta to the dessert. And the owner(?) isn't shy about filling you in on what's good and what isn't. If you're up for good Italian and live in the tucked-away neighborhoods behind Mass. Ave., then you probably already know about the place. If you're visiting the area, it's well worth the visit. Brush up on your italian though, it'll help speed along your menu read-through. read more

I really really dig this place.. you have to try the pizza here, super authentic, really great consistency and awesome flavor. I've had the marghertia and sorrentina and they were both fantastic. My girlfriend once got the risotto and it was perfect. It's so clear when chefs take real pride in their food.. and you can tell that's what's happening here. Gran Gusto is one of my favorite Italian spots in Boston, along with Amelia's Trattoria and Emma's for some great pizza. I'm encouraging all of my favorite places to look into the green restaurant association and their green restaurant certification..it's a great way for restaurants to become more sustainable and make it really easy for consumers to see exactly what steps they've taken. read more

I come to Grangusto at least once a month and their pizza is the exact same one as you get in Naples, Italy in places like "Ciro a Mergellina"! My favorite of all is the "Truffle Pizza" that has Buffalo Mozzarella, Parma Prosciutto, and shaved Black Truffle. Everything from the antipasti to the deserts is homemade and excellent. All their pastas are hand made and definitely worth a try. Anything you get here you can't miss on! The owner Antonio is a great person and treats you like if you where at home! read more

Went to Gran Gusto for a date on a Friday at 7pm. Glad I made reservations. The restaurant seems a little out of the way, but it was packed. That's a testament to the quality of the food. Nice wine selection. Really enjoyed my fried calamari. Ordered a seafood pasta dish with cuttlefish, lobster, shrimp snd crab meat that was delicious. The owner indicated that all of their pasta was made fresh. The tiramisu dessert had the texture of a mousse and it tasted sweet, rich, and creamy. read more

Food and beverages were both worthy of a four to five star review, but the hospitality and service were spectacularly unimpressive. The staff seemed overwhelmed and awkward. Our dirty plates from the appetizers sat in front of us much longer than they should have, we were never offered water, or even a second round of drinks, the pizza seemed to be perpetually "coming right out", and we nearly had to walk out to get our bill. I definitely recommend the smoked mozzarella appetizer, and the cocktails were delicious, but the hard sell from the bartender was a bit off-putting. read more

Best pizza in Boston. Brick oven. Amazing sauce. Real Mozzarella. Great toppings. My husband is a bit of a pizza snob and this is our go to.

The orata alone makes this place outstanding. It included all of my favorite ingredients in one dish...and the presentation was beautiful. Can't wait to come back here! read more

My boyfriend and I discovered this gem one night when we were looking for a good Italian joint. I really wanted to go somewhere authentic and not a chain restaurant type of place. The manager was extremely welcoming and made sure that we were served efficiently and happy with our meal. The pasta is made fresh in the restaurant and the ingredients are all top notch, no matter what you decide to enjoy. For an authentic meal I highly recommend Grab Gusto read more

If I could sum this place up in 3 things it would be... - Extremely slow service. It took 2 hours for a dinner for 2. Most of that time was spent waiting, whether it was to have someone take our order, for our food to come, and then to get the check. It was borderline ridiculous how many times our original waiter walked right past us in the beginning while we were waiting to order. Eventually another waiter came and took over our table instead when he realized how long we had been waiting, however he was pretty much just as slow as the first waiter after he took our order. - Expensive. The prices here are ridiculously expensive for this small little restaurant tucked in an office complex in an otherwise residential neighborhood. It seems like they try too hard to be something they are not, and their prices are an example of this. The cost of the entrees and appetizers wouldn't bother me too much if it wasn't for my 3rd point... - Small portions. For the prices they charge, the amount of food you get is not worth the price you are paying. The food was okay. I wasn't very impressed with mine, and all the other negatives just made me enjoy the dining experience less. I doubt I will be returning here. read more

There is every reason to imagine that this place is going to be a disappointment - it's nestled in a hastily-converted corner of an office park, with windowpanes painted on the plate glass to give it ambiance, and barely enough signage on the street to let people know it's not an insurance office. But damn, they do a pretty good job. I've only done lunch there (my office is just down the street), but it has exceeded my expectations. Tasty food (I had the speck and prosciutto piadine), pleasant surroundings, and never crowded. I would definitely recommend it, and it's on my list of places to explore when I want a decent dinner. One suggestion guys - get a fountain soda machine. I drink Diet Coke with my lunch, but something about getting a can on my linen-tablecloth makes me think less of a place that isn't a takeout joint. read more

We came, we saw, we ate pasta. And, that pasta...... It was better than good, it was excellent. I don't just throw compliments around lightly. I'm a foodie and make great Italian food at home. Our server was enthusiastic, helpful and knew the menu and it's ingredients well. We tried a special cauliflower flan appetizer he suggested and it was very yummy. Although I forget the name of the hand cut pasta dish with eggplant I ordered, the dish itself was quite unforgettable. No complaints. Hope to go back again. read more

I was so excited for the pizza here and - was a bit disappointed. But - I think it may be better in house - I had take out and it was soggy and just not all that great. I'd go back, though, and maybe ask them to keep it in the oven for a little longer because I do love thin crust pizza. Another note, though - the grilled calamari app rocked my world. read more

I give this place 2 stars mostly because while the food and ambience are okay, they are not worth the steep prices and generally lack creativity. Also I'm all for diversity in food, but this is an italian place with only spanish staff and mexican music blasting on the speakers, it was a bit odd... I came here with a client for a business dinner, we had one entree, two appetizers and two drinks each and the bill was $117 including tip - that's pretty steep! I noticed they changed their menu and their portions recently, ie less food, higher prices... We ordered the fried calamari (very good, delicate and one of my favorites!), but instead of serving in a basket they serve on a small side dish plate and now the appetizer is $12! We also ordered the buffalo mozzarela and prosciuotto, which was basically a high quality piece of cheese and and some nice proscioutto. My problem is that all they did was put the two together, no sauce, no creativity. Overall, I am not coming back, nor bringing clients here...there is much better authentic Italian and Mexican nearby and the food is more reasonably priced! read more

I'm trying to ball on a (student) budget this summer, so I wouldn't say I got to experience the full range that Gran Gusto has to offer. I really wanted to drop a bit more for the special they had that day, a soft shell crab/shrimp and cherry tomato pasta, but :/ However, I have to say that I'm definitely a fan and would love to come back to try more. I shared a mushroom (Funghi) pizza and it was one of the best pizzas I've ever had. Though it was a tad bit small, the toppings were fresh and the dough and crust had this certain airiness and fluffiness to it that was really amazing. When we left, the server walked us out and told us to come back any time, even if it were to just drop by for a dessert. Only reason why I'm not giving it 5 stars yet is because how little I've gotten to experience the place/menu, but seems promising. read more

I think we all have those days when we would love to drop our responsibilities and book a one way ticket to Italy. That's a tad bit expensive, but luckily Gran Gusto is the next best thing! The spaghetti tasted homemade and the cheese will forever stay on my mind. I wanted each noodle to last forever! Plus, the host was incredibly knowledgable and LOVED to share that knowledge. So, trip to Italy? Nope. Trip to Gran Gusto? Now you're talking! read more

First off, the man who greeted us started complaining because we had reservations for 2:30pm. They closed at 3pm. He kept on spewing crap, telling me and my family how this was a late timing. What a rude person. Such an ugly attitude. It was the day of my sister's graduation and I did not want to ruin the moment, but man oh man, I wanted to curse this guy out to his face. He was such an asshole, why does Gran Gusto allow reservations for that time then? I really hated stepping foot in that place, every second that passed, I was furious with the service. The worst part was the food, what an epic disappointment that was. The second thing, the pizza's tasted like garbage, it was as if I was eating hot cheese on dough that was drenched in water. What kind of establishment is this? This is supposed to be 4/5 on yelp?! What an absurd rating that is. This place deserves 0 stars. I have never in my life seen such hate in a person's greeting, that is completely unacceptable. I will never recommend this place to anyone, this place should be avoided at all costs. We came as a humble family, wanting to celebrate a graduation. But we were served mediocre food and disgusting behaviors from a host. Wow, this place was horrendous. read more

This place is amazing! Took my mom there for Mother's Day. We waited at the bar for our table and enjoyed perfect martinis. For dinner we shared the asparagus & prosciutto. I had ravioli Bolognese which they kindly substituted (the ravioli on the menu had a different sauce). Our waitress was so sweet and Antonio the manager was incredible, he even distracted my mom when I paid the bill she was trying to split it with me! Cannot say enough good things about this place. Have already recommended it to everyone I know in the Boston area. Can't wait to go back next time I visit. Oh, and it's right near Alewife station in case you want to take the T. read more

Fresh and delicious! We first happened upon Gran Gusto about a year and a half ago when we moved to the neighborhood, it was late Sunday afternoon (not quite dinner time) and we wandered in. We were stunned at how good the food was. We both had pasta, I think I had the eggplant lasagna, and it was light and delicious. I really loved the salad however, it just tasted like it was from the garden. I felt very comfortable there, attentive service and a relaxed pace. I have been back several times, and sometimes take-out too. Of course I have tried the famous pizza and I love it. A few times we did have some spotty service issues - but overall good service. When the service is a problem it is due to them being scattered/chaotic etc. but never rude or indifferent, so it has never been a problem for me. read more

My husband and I went here for the first time last night after living about a five minute walk away for over a year. We made reservations for 8, but it seems like we didn't need them. While there were people there, it wasn't crowded at all. They wasted no time in telling us the specials and asking us what we wanted to drink. We didn't have any wine but they have an extensive wine list. We got a big basket of bread, which we couldn't stop gobbling. My husband had the special appetizer of soft buffalo mozzarella with speck. We didn't know what speck was so we asked. The waiter was very helpful and explained it to us without being demeaning, which was appreciated. My husband loved it and finished all of it. I had the mista salad (mixed green salad), which was simple but delicious. For his entree, my husband had the rigatoni with sausage, mushroom and garlic. He loved that it wasn't too saucy and had a lot of sausage and mushroom. I had the handmade pasta with shrimp and raddiccio. It had a cherry tomato sauce that was not too heavy and I was very happy with the amount of shrimp in the dish. It took a little time to get our entrees, which was okay because we weren't in a hurry. It was a tiny bit annoying that at one point they told us it would be five more minutes and then it took another fifteen. But, I do understand that they actually make the food instead of just reheating so I guess it is worth it. Many people there were ordering pizzas and they looked great as well. read more

A friend from Milan recommended Gran Gusto. Salads were great, pizza was great, and the eggplant lasagna was great (I usually hate eggplant, so that's saying something). They were busy when we came (Saturday night) - I'd make a reservation next time. My only complaint is that the waitress forgot about us for a while when it came time for the bill, but I'd forgive it on account of the great cuisine. read more