I've been here before, but my wife had never been, so when she asked where I wanted to go for Italian food, I told her, "I already know where we're going." We arrived around 5:30 PM. As we pulled into the parking lot, it looked very busy. There were a lot of people standing outside and several near the entrance. As we got closer, we realized most of them were actually leaving, which was a good sign. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and seated right away. As it turned out, the gentleman who seated us was also our server. He brought us water and an iced tea while we looked over the menu. We decided to start with the fresh baby kale salad from the specials menu. It included fresh apples, pears, blue cheese, pecans, and a delicious vinaigrette. Shortly after, our server returned with bread and took our dinner order. My wife ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, and I ordered the Lamb Ragu special with homemade pasta. The salad arrived looking beautiful, and it tasted just as good as it looked. The apples and pears were fresh, sweet, and cut perfectly. The vinaigrette complemented everything without overpowering the ingredients. It was a great start to the meal. One thing I really appreciated was that our entrées didn't come out immediately after we finished the salad. We had a chance to relax and enjoy the evening. Sometimes a salad can fill you up, so it was nice to have a little break before the main course arrived. When our meals came out, both dishes looked amazing. Our server offered additional cheese for the pasta dishes. My wife added a little to hers, but I wanted to experience the Lamb Ragu exactly as the chef intended. The Fettuccine Alfredo was excellent. You could tell they use fresh cream, cheese, and butter to make the sauce. It was rich, creamy, and full of flavor. My Lamb Ragu was outstanding. The lamb was incredibly tender, and the sauce paired perfectly with the homemade pasta. I cleaned my plate. For dessert, we shared a slice of lemon cheesecake. My advice: don't share it--get your own slice. It was that good. The coffee was excellent as well and was the perfect way to finish the meal. We can't wait to return. The food here is consistently amazing, and the service is top-notch. What really stood out was the teamwork among the staff. You don't just have one server taking care of you. If our tea or water was getting low, someone was always there to refill it. Excellent food, excellent service, and a wonderful dining experience from start to finish. read more

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We've eaten at Il Gusto Ristorante multiple times and had a good experience each time. We've ordered their branzino multiple times. It's consistently tasty and well-seasoned, though a few times there were a few scales left on the skin. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting. The vegetable side dishes tasted very fresh and complemented the meal nicely. And surprisingly, the mushroom risotto was actually really good, coming from someone who isn't usually a fan of mushrooms. Our son is a fan of noodles and enjoys the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. We've had the food delivered or we picked it up. read more

Service and food was good. Just know that they do not descale the red snapper if you order it whole!!! read more

Il Gusto Ristorante - Paperdelle with spicy lamb ragu, shrimp fettuccine, whole red snapper, and a margarita. - Italian Near Me - La Plata, Maryland

I was a little nervous when I walked in and saw there was no one eating lunch in the restaurant (one other couple finally arrived while I was dining), my concern quickly dissipated once the food started arriving. The waitress was very pleasant and efficient, effectively balancing being available without being too present or pushy. I started with the calamari fritti and also tried their house bread. Both were only average. I had high hopes for the calamari but it was just ok. The bread itself was good but the dipping oil wasn't nearly as flavorful as expected. Now I know I said my concern dissipated when the food started arriving - but give me a moment... I'm getting there! While the calamari was just ok, my main dish was absolutely delicious! I got the potato gnocchi (which I learned is pronounced "no-key") and was amazed at how the flavors merged together so flawlessly. It had a creamy spinach sauce and I added shrimp for protein. I'm normally not a big fan of having to remove the tails from the shrimp when it is a saucy dish, but this dish was so fantastic I didn't even mind! For dessert I had the cannoli and it was equally delightful! I was impressed that they actually give you two with the order, and I demolished both of them! This was probably the best cannoli I have ever eaten. I was close to giving them 5 stars because they are a great restaurant for a small town like La Plata. But who wants to just be La Plata great?! They have to strive for greatness period! So based on that metric they get a 4, but if they improve the calamari a 5th star is in their future!!! read more

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If I was able to give this establishment, a 10 I would! This place far exceeded my expectation! From the moment I walked in, the whole entire staffed were dressed and long sleeve shirts and ties. To be a storefront establishment, the decor was very upscale! I definitely felt underdressed for the efforts put on by the owner and the staff. Fortunately, there were a few individuals who had on casual/athletic wear. Moving on to the staff service. Everyone was super hospitable! From removing table settings to making sure our water glasses were never empty. I love the fact that they had an extensive wine selection, and they give the appropriate poor for the amount that's charged. This restaurant offers daily specials in which I chose the kill salad. Absolutely delicious! From the pears, to the sauce, to the hand cracked walnuts. Everything was fresh and flavorful. I asked the manager as well as the server. What did they recommend for dinner. The manager highly recommended the Brio with the bones. He stated that the boneless selection was still flavorful, but the Brazino was the best. The picture that I posted shows you an empty plate scraped clean. EVERYTHING was delicious! I will definitely come back to this establishment for a date night and or special occasion to really take in the full ambience. read more

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I had been hearing about II Gusto Ristorante from others that saw it on Instagram and decided to give it a try. I walked in around 4:30pm on a Saturday and sat at the bar. The bar is right when you walk in to the left with about 6 seats. They have two big tv's at the bar that kept me entertained. It wasn't too busy at that point. About 4 other tables had people seated. I must say one of the favorites things about the restaurant was the customer service. The gentlemen that worked there were very attentive, answered all my questions and were very pleasant. I started with calamari for my appetizer. It was good but the seasoning wasn't my favorite. I did like that it was not a thick batter. Next, I went with the seafood risotto. They gave a nice portion of shrimp, lobster and scallops in the risotto. The only thing missing is that I would of used a bit more seasoning to give it more flavor. However, the risotto was cooked to perfection! Just the right texture. Lastly, I ended with the crème brûlée which was great! By time I left around 6:30pm, almost all the tables were taken. I would highly suggest making reservations if you go later. I will absolutely be back and want to try the gnocchi and zuppa soup. read more

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Excellent food, beautiful and artistic presentations. Exquisite taste and decent portion sizes. Friendly servers-- thank you, Deris! Love the decoration. Will definitely come again read more

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I had the carpaccio, polpo grigliato, and vanilla bean crème brûlée. The food was absolutely amazing and quick to come out once ordered. They treated me well, especially considering I was there alone as a nice treat to myself. Very cozy ambiance and very well kept. For the quality of both the food and service, as well as not too bad prices, I would come back here several times over again. Definitely recommend! read more

Il Gusto Ristorante - Espresso & vanilla bean crème brûlée. - Italian Near Me - La Plata, Maryland

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Food was fantastic! The server was very knowledgeable and helpful. Clean, bright and friendly atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

Il Gusto Ristorante - Italian Near Me - La Plata, Maryland

Never a bad experience. Lamb and mushroom risotto were both perfectly cooked! Cheesecake was light and airy. read more

Il Gusto Ristorante - Italian Near Me - La Plata, Maryland

It was awesome. food is delicious. Staff is friendly. Great little place. Found this on yelp looking for a place midway btw home and quantico...what a gem! We'll drive back to visit again for sure. read more

What a great little spot. They take pride in their food and service. We will be back.

Last night was our first visit to I'll Gusto, but certainly not our last! What a gem! From the moment we arrived until we paid our check, the experience was perfect. The service is off the charts fantastic. Gracious, polite, professional, efficient - it felt like fine dining. The food was fabulous. Fresh, crisp salads and hot food served actually hot. Beautiful presentation. We brought a birthday cake, and they delivered it with a flourish, then whisked it away to the kitchen only to bring back slices plated so elegantly that the homemade cake was transformed into a work of art. What a great experience we had! An added bonus is the noise level - none. We could easily talk and hear despite the restaurant being quite full. We will be back! read more

My wife and I had dinner at Gusto's fabulous establishment. The reviews brought me to the restaurant and the food did not disappoint. Every pasta dish we had was prepared well with just the right seasoning. We also enjoyed the lemon crème brûlée. The service was excellent and the ambience was nice. If you like Italian, please check out this hidden gem in La Plata, Maryland. read more

Il Gusto Ristorante - A happily married couple on date night. - Italian Near Me - La Plata, Maryland

The food was mediocre at best. The problem me and my friends had was the amount of food you get for the price. I mean i paid 32 for the chicken with 2 sides. There was literrally 4 small slices of chicken with 4 roasted potatoes as my side. I left still hungry after paying 40.00 total with tip for a half serving of food. I dont understand why anyone would go there unless you dont care about throwing money away for a small amount of food. read more

Always been around this area but never actually been here! II Gusto Ristorante is absolutely fire! Took my beautiful wife Shadei here and we loved the coconut mocktails! The food is A plus, shout out to the chef and family! Emanuel served us super well. He's a great guy, he just gave us a lot of recommendations and that's awesome ! The lasagna was nice and seasoned. Cesar salad with shrimp was super good read more

Il Gusto is consistently excellent! We love all their chicken dishes, my dad always goes for the lamb, my husband always does the steak, and even my young niece enjoyed the pasta with clams. My dad LOVED the potatoes that came with the lamb. We usually get takeout, but decided to dine in when my parents were in town -- the bartender was even playfully teasing my husband for not coming in sooner, haha. Service is always great, the restaurant is clean, and we've never had a bad meal. Over the past two years, we've probably ordered takeout from here 30+ times. It's the perfect spot for a casual date night or a family dinner, and we'll definitely keep coming back, both for takeout and sit-down meals. read more

Omg! Everything was amazing! We decided to try something different. My sisters and I took my father out for his birthday. Nobody was disappointed! Everything is made fresh to order. The calamari was THEE best I've ever had. It wasn't all rubbery and chewy. Cooked to perfection. The bread and olive oil spread was delicious. My lasagna was very seasoned and nice portions. We will definitely come back. They sang Happy Birthday to my Dad and he got the tiramisu. 5 stars for the food and service! read more

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4.5 stars! The food is good here. Pasta is made fresh and the service is very attentive. They are very busy on Mondays due to their special pricing for certain menu items. This only applies for dine in apparently, as we did takeout and ended up paying full price. It would have been nice if they specified this when the order was placed. The prices are a bit expensive for the area but it's worth a try if that isn't a concern. The food offerings are more upscale than the vibe of the place itself. read more

Il Gusto Ristorante - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - La Plata, Maryland

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The food was very cold! The lamb chops, SOUP, Fried calamari. Everything was very cold. The Martini glasses are more of a miniature version of a Martini. Not worth the calories. The service was okay. Not great enough for a return visit. I would definitely find another Italian restaurant to dine in. read more

Everything was delicious-surprised to be able to find homemade pasta in southern Maryland! If you're looking for your nice place to go for dinner in La Plata this is it! Fettuccine Laredo, arugula salad, side veggies, prosecco-- all perfect! read more

We had a lovely family dinner on our last night of vacation here. The service and food were excellent. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the desserts were delicious as well. The atmosphere is very nice. read more

All dishes are made with tender loving care. The Fettuccine Alfredo was beautiful; Garlicky pop with fresh tender noodles. Try cannoli. I repeat, try the cannoli! I will definitely come again after pay day. The price is worth it read more

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Food and service was great We got the Greek pizza excellent But it was November 10 and Christmas songs were playing the whole time?

5 kudos to the chef for the delish grilled Orato fish which was a special for the day. I had never heard of it but didn't let that deter me since I was in a fish eating mode. (According to my Google search Orato fish is also known as Sea Bream and has a clean, creamy flavor and meaty texture, perfect for serving. I agree with Google.) The fish wasn't pre-cooked and the waitress warned me it would take about 20 minutes. We two kicked backed during the wait with beer and a glass of wine. We asked for the WiFi passed password too.The time flew by and our meal was ready sooner than we anticipated. Being a foodie, I would rather have good fish rather than fast fish any time-you know what I mean. My sidekick gave the lasagne 5 stars also. So the wait time was well spent. You can have an alcoholic beverage here now even though the selection needs to be expanded. There are 2 white wines (no red) and 3 beers. Since I was having fish I selected the pinot gricio and that was perfect. If you want red with your lasagna, you are out of luck. The women's restroom is clean. The two-tone wall paint job gives off a modern warm vibe especially with the sun streaming through the windows. The wall artwork adds to the warm vibe. The server was friendly and efficient. ApplePay is available. read more

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The food here was amazing! Lamb chops cooked perfectly, pasta top notch. Could tell quality ingredients used across the board. Highly recommend read more

Il Gusto Ristorante - Lamb chops with fettuccini subbed for sides - Italian Near Me - La Plata, Maryland

We dined at Il Gusto on the 10th for my father's birthday. We live all of 5 minutes away and I can't believe that was our first time dining there, although I've been wanting to for a while. Well let me say, they did not disappoint! My family and I were highly impressed and have no complaints. The ambiance, the decor, the staff and last but not least, the food were all excellent! Everything was amazing and we can't wait to return! Will definitely now be our favorite local neighborhood gem for now on. Thank you for making my father's birthday a memorable one! read more

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I've been wanting to try this place out for a while, so I went this past Saturday afternoon. The service was great. I had the Maine Lobster Risotto with a glass of Riscoto wine. It was perfect. I will be making a return trip here very soon! The atmosphere was very relaxing & I felt right at home. read more

Il Gusto Ristorante - Maine Lobster Risotto - Italian Near Me - La Plata, Maryland

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Hidden spot in Laplata! Love the food, service everything!! Pasta is home made and delicious, portion sizes filled us up so no complaints there. I just wish salad came with the items, but the bread served on the side was delicious also. read more

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This is a hidden gem, I thought I was in old town Alexandria, Va, until I looked up and realized I was in laplata Maryland! Hands down I wish I could have meet the chef to say "thank you" Customer service 5 stars Presentation of food 5 stars Satisfaction of food 5 stars Ambiance 5 stars -I came on a Monday they have special menu at a discounted price. - ALL the ingredients are FRESH! read more

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It's a charming little place. Without a doubt, I would suggest this establishment. The meal is superb and the service is good. read more

Il Gusto Ristorante - COSTOLA DI MANZO GRIGLIATA - Italian Near Me - La Plata, Maryland

Wow! I moved to the area a few years ago and Iknew this restaurant existed but I just today visited it and am kicking myself why I hadn't come here before. Forget Olive Garden, this is authentic Italian food. It is fresh, prepared so creatively and absolutely delish! I'm going to come here regularly. The place is so clean and inviting and it's elegant looks is a reflection of the owners who thoughtfully put this place and the menu together. I had the fried calamari and it is the best I've had outside of Italy. Flavorful and super tender. I also had the lasagna. Such a generous portion I had planned to take some home but it was so delicious that I ate the entire plate and then I wanted to eat the plate. I usually never have dessert but my husband couldn't resist the panna cotta as that's his go to sweet delicacy whenever we are in Italy. It was sooooooooooooooo CREAMY. I'm thinking to myself "where did this restaurant come from?" I am surprised this restaurant exists in La Plata (nothing against La Plata) but this calibre of restaurant is usually found in Georgetown and Alexandria and it's compariable to Filomena's and, since I live locally, I don't have to drive 50 miles for the same culinary experience. The service staff are so professional and caring and eager to please. Sooooo happy I found this place and, from what I've seen on the menu, I'm coming back for more. If you're looking for authentic Italian, don't go anywhere else...because it won't be Italian. read more

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This was our first time at the restaurant. We had a great experience. The food was delicious. The service was top notch. It really made us feel like we were dining in Italy because of the decor. read more

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My husband brought me here for my birthday Food was all very good, great customer service and cozy atmosphere.

The food is amazing and I really love this restaurant I recommend it to people that like Italian cuisine I will becoming back! The service is really good and the severs are really nice. The place looks great and even though it used to be a five guys, they really made the place feel like home. Five stars all the way read more

Stopped for dinner with my wife and some friends. Restaurant is nicely appointed - simple not gaudy. Service was excellent. Very professional The food... The food was out of this world. Each one of us had a different entree (Veal Chop, blackened Salmon, Linguini Chicken, Whole grilled Broncini fish). Each one was well presented with outstanding flavor. We also partook of coffee and desserts. Their cheesecake and walnut cake were light, flavorful and of nice size. They only have been open for a month. Strongly recommend Il gusto restaurant and will definitely repeat. read more

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My wife and I went to this restaurant for the first time after hearing great reviews about it. The service was great and our waiter Gisel was awesome. The food was really good and flavorful. My wife and I got a bottle of wine which was also really good. When it came to food, I got the Parmigiano di pollo and my wife got the Risotto of the day which was lobster risotto. My chicken parmesan was great, flavorful, and a good serving size. However my wife's lobster risotto was not much at all in terms of serving size, especially for $50. We were also given bread, but I later found out that we were charged for bread on the check. We never asked for bread, it was just given to us so to find out that we were charged $7 for bread that we didn't even ask for was a little frustrating. Lastly, we were charged a food tax, alcohol tax, and a credit card fee on our bill which was a bit outrageous in my opinion. This added about an extra $14 on our bill. Overall the food was good and so was the customer service, however the prices, portion sizes, and fees were definitely a problem for us. read more

We intentionally went for a late lunch/early dinner today since we noticed that they are now offering wines and mixed drinks. We both had the mixed salad plus the lasagna. Still awesome and the server , Ricardo, was excellent. This time we tried the walnut cake dessert and it was also excellent. All the dishes were presented in an attractive manner and white tablecloths (under glass) was an elegant touch. Nice ambiance and really great food and service! read more

Finally a really great Italian restaurant in Charles County. Food and service are top notch. I've eaten here four times and each time is better than the last. The head waiter Ricardo is obviously Excellent at his craft. All the pasta is made in house and you can tell. Enjoy!! read more

Tiny portions. Over priced Mediocre food Calamari seems inauthentic. Lobster risotto was decent but $45 was too much for the tiny portion. Shrimp Alfredo decent but bland Duck wasn't even a full breast and bland Cheesecake taste watered down Olive gardens quality is better as far as the lasagna I wanted to like this place read more