Gusto

I really want to give this place a 5 star review but I’m just not in love with their red sauce. It has a tang to it that I don’t enjoy, and the one time I tried their arrabiata sauce it tasted burned. So what is good here??? Try their authentic Italian sausage, they get it from New York. Hubby loves their fish dishes so that is also a solid bet. Their salads are awesome as well.

Service was a little slow. But good was great! I had the meat tortellini, and it was great! Good mannered staff!

We went on Valentine’s night, a party of six adults and one child. We had booked through open table, but somehow our reservation didn’t reach them, luckily they were able to accommodate us. The starters were decent, we had goat’s cheese bruschetta which was delicious, calamari which a also good. The house salad. Is AMAZING! Seriously! I had the eggplant parmegian as my main, it was average. Good selection of wine, although we ordered a second bottle of the same and they were out! But the alternative was good too. The band were brilliant!!!

I had heard some good things about Gusto and we decided to check it out. We had a pizza as an appetizer just to test what their pizza quality was. It was excellent. A simple Margherita pizza so tasty I felt like I was back in NYC or maybe even Italy. I had a veal parmigiana that was absolutely excellent. Best I’ve ever had in Jacksonville. There were so many attractive items on the menu I can’t wait to go back. Service was very attentive. Our waiter Mario was friendly and helpful. The hostess was very friendly and polite.
We definitely have a new restaurant to call our home for Italian food. Based on the appetizer pizza we will be taking out pizzas as well from Gusto.

We stopped in after seeing the sign from the road. It is a nicely redecorated place, don’t let the strip mall location fool you. We were immediately greeted and though the service was less polished than some other places we really didn’t want for much. We had a caesar salad– good homemade dressing was a little light (though we prefer that to over dressed) and a little heavy on croutons and cheese, but overall fresh and good– adjust your order accordingly. The Margarita pizza was perfectly executed and we ordered fresh mushrooms which were tasty and liberal! Prices were good! The house wine was good and a half carafe was generous. We will definitely return.

The following review was published under my byline in the Florida Times-​Union on Saturday, August 22, 2015. This is an original, unabridged version of that review.
Lovers of old-​school Italian food have a new house of worship in Jacksonville Beach.
Gusto: A Taste of Rome is the latest concept from longtime Jacksonville restaurateur Tonino Di Bella. His 15^th restaurant in almost three decades of serving First Coast diners, Di Bella, wife Angela and business partner Walter Bianchi opened Gusto June 16 in the former Roma’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria on Beach Boulevard, just east of Penman Road.
Gusto does upscale dining with a casual, welcoming vibe. While not «just in from the beach» Beaches casual, it’s a comfy destination for family gatherings and date nights alike. Old-​school touches abound, from fresh flowers on tables, dark wood paneling, and lots of Sinatra and friends crooning through the rafters.
The dining room dresses up regally in white table linens, with a shimmering army of wine flutes standing at salute as you arrive. Look right and there’s a performance stage and well-​appointed bar. Wind your way through the dense thicket of tables and you’ll find a stone pizza kitchen and, for more intimate or group dining, a red-​walled line of a half-​dozen booths separated by archways.
At first glance, the menu is classic Italian, including grilled specialties that Di Bella said are hallmarks of Roman cooking, which downplays heavy creams and sauces commonplace in other regions. Fresh vegetables, extra-​virgin olive oil and smoked and cured meats rule this menu. You’ll find eight varieties of bruschetta, an impressive variety of authentic antipasti selections, a separate pizza menu, and veal, chicken, meat, seafood and baked specialties.
We took our places in one of the more cloistered booths toward the back for a Tuesday-​night dinner, where we got things started with the Arancini ($ 8). After bisecting this oversized breaded rice ball, we found a smattering of green peas and plenty of melty mozzarella awaiting. While the rice mix was of fairly mild flavor, the ragù dipping sauce provided a welcome enhancement.
If one could prepare calamari al dente-​style like pasta, it would resemble the Calamari fritti ($ 9). The golden, thick-​cut rings were very enjoyable for this ubiquitous Italian starter.
For the main course, I chose the Tortellini alla vodka ($ 14), a ruddy assemblage of meat-​filled tortellini in a vodka rosé sauce with caramelized onions and thin-​sliced pancetta, or pork belly bacon. It was creamy with crispy undertones, thanks to the pancetta, and I made quick work of it.
My friend’s Fettine di pollo rustico ($ 16) was a colorful and healthy portion of roasted peppers, sun-​dried tomatoes, mushrooms, roasted potatoes, seasonal veggies and garlic over thin-​pounded chicken breasts with olive oil and herbs. It was a light and delicious treat, made better by a proactive chef, unsatisfied with the quality of the plated roasted potatoes, who dispatched a fresh, perfect batch to our table before we could say a word.
Most entrees come with your choice of soup or salad. My friend chose a fairly standard-​issue Gusto house salad, made memorable by a finger-​licking balsamic Caesar dressing. My cup of Italian Wedding soup boasted a very healthy dose of meatballs in a buttery broth.
We selected two of Gusto’s homemade desserts, crafted by Tonino’s wife. My chocolate ganache-​wrapped cheesecake ($ 7) was a beautiful, two-​tone wedge of decadence enough for two, dense but not overly sweet. The Cannoli alla Sicilian ($ 7) was everything this non-​Italian could hope for in a ricotta cream-​bursting pastry shell with chocolate chips and a subtle pistachio finish.
Gusto hosts a variety of live entertainment options, from pianists to four-​piece bands, Wednesday through Saturday nights from 7:30 to close. Plans are under way for nightly specials, lunch service and Sunday brunch.
With a quality meal, attentive but not intrusive visits from our server, and a warm welcome from Tonino, Gusto was an all-​around great experience. One that I hope to repeat soon, just this time on one of their live music nights.
Gusto: A Taste of Rome
1266 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach
(904) 372‑9925
Type of cuisine: Italian
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 4 to 9 p.m.
Credit cards: All major accepted
Bar service: Full bar
Children’s menu: Yes
Reservations accepted: Yes, via
Catering: Yes
Price range: Appetizers/​antipasti, $ 8 – 13; pasta and baked entrees, $ 13 – 18; meat and seafood entrees, $ 16 – 30; desserts, $ 4 – 9

We came here on a spur of the moment decision, and I am so glad we did! It was last Wednesday night, so not crowded but still a good amount of patrons, and there was also a three piece band (piano, guitar, sax) playing/​singing great music… overall the atmosphere was awesome. Mario was an excellent server who was very attentive. I had the Spaghetti Carbonara which was phenomenal… extra creamy, lots of flavor. My boyfriend had the Chicken Marsala, which he really enjoyed and the bite he let me have was delicious. Both entrees came with a house salad with this great balsamic Cesar dressing, and we got the standard basket of bread, but this bread was SO good! Fresh out of the oven, warm, soft… I had to make myself stop eating it so I wouldn’t ruin my dinner. We loved our experience here and will definitely be back!

This is the best Italian restaurant we have been to. Authentic Italian food at a very reasonable price. Service oustanding, but they need to bring authentic crusty Italian bread!!!

Gusto popped up on our radar a while ago and while it took us a while to stop in and try it, I don’t think I’ll be rushing back anytime soon. For a late Friday night, we did expect them to be busy and they definitely were crowded. After a short wait, they were able to seat us, so we were off to a good start. The place looked completely different from the last time we had been there when it was a Mexican restaurant. I liked the facelift they gave it and was excited to try them out. While I always prefer a booth, this would probably the one time I wished we didn’t get one. I don’t know if the tables were too high or the seats were too low, but it was a very awkward position to be sitting. It was probably a combination of the both, but if they had booths that sat a little higher, it wouldn’t be that bad.
We got some cocktails and a pizza to share while we decided what else we may want to nosh on. My bourbon based cocktail was quite tasty & hit the spot. The Rustica pizza was packed full of flavor with prosciutto and arugula covering the well baked dough. So far they were off to a good start, but that’s where we should have stopped. I ordered the eggplant parmesan, which to some may not seem like a complicated dish. But it’s very easy for it to not be good. My plate arrived and there was a lot of cheese on top — which I didn’t mind. However, that’s all I tasted: cheese & marinara. For the entire plate. There were a few times I even questioned if there was any eggplant in the dish at all.
Service was decent. Some might see it as slow, but I liked the pace of it. And if we happen to be in the area and in the mood for pizza, we know that’s a reliable bet. But with other places at the beach — and one right across the street from my neighborhood — I don’t think I’ll be heading back to Gusto any time soon.

This place needs some major help in ALL areas. We were a party of 8. Service takes forever. Our friend ordered spaghetti all’amatriciana it came out cold. The music with the guy walking around is really annoying. We ordered a pizza as an apetizer and it was so hard I thought I was going to break a tooth. We will not be back. Again, this place needs proper management and serious help in the kitchen.

We came for our 15^th anniversary. We didn’t expect live music, but it was a nice touch.
Our waiter was attentive and the food was delicious. I can highly recommend the Rib Eye with mushrooms and wine sauce. My husband had creamy Chicken Marsala –his favorite dish.

I haven’t went back after the third time, there strikes you’re out! The food takes forever, I love Italian restaurants and I know for a fact that it should never take this long to get served food. But that is just the beginning, I asked for a simple penne pasta with marinara sauce topped with veggies. After waiting close to an hour I received spaghetti with meat sauce and no veggies.
Sad to say that as hard as the owners have tried to make this place a success, it’s not looking hopeful.

We were a party of 6. We dined Saturday9/​5.
I wanted to like it. We needed a good Italian restaurant at the beach. We were seated and it took 20 minutes to get a bread basket — that is because we brought it to the attention of the waiter. Service was extremely slow. I ordered a salad that we asked to «supersize» it and charge us for the extra things they would put on it. It was supposed to have sun dried tomatoes in it. I asked for extra grilled shrimp and grilled chicken. I got a medium size bowl with 4 shrimp (ungrilled) and 5 small (shredded) pieces of cold, dried out chicken breast. This was a bad version of a bad salad that I could make at home. The Italian dressing I asked for tasted like a cheap Italian dressing that I could buy at the store. The owner was not present to oversee his restaurant. A big turnoff was the man singing and playing the piano. It was so loud we couldn’t converse and he was playing Billy Joel songs that you don’t even want to hear sung softly in a cheap bar. I predict this place will be closed in a year or less.

I was impressed with the POTENTIAL of this restaurant if they can master their service routines. There is something wrong in the kitchen. They probably need another sous chef because the food just wasn’t coming out the way it should. On the other hand, the service may have been a nod to Roman authenticity because fine fast food dining is not what native Italians do but, lamentably, is what Americans have come to expect. The dinner took a long time but, to me, that was one if its pleasures.
We had a party of seven and it was our first booking at this restaurant. They had a really inexpensive happy hour going that was reason enough to visit Gusto’s long sleek bar. The décor was generally open, warm, and welcoming. The table setting and white tablecloths were delightfully upscale and all the glassware glistened. The overall effect of the dark décor was lovely.
We were greeted by a handsome young server with a fascinating handlebar mustache. He was polite, brisk and efficient. The appetizer and the main courses took a very long time to arrive. Unfortunately, my husband’s meal of lasagna did not arrive with all the others and when I insisted that it be served, it was cold. There is no excuse for this type of tomfoolery in a restaurant kitchen nor is there anything that more quickly ruins a dinner party than to have one customer sitting for ten minutes or more without their supper while others are forced to eat before their entrees are cold. My husband was livid when his cold lasagna arrived. So I can guarantee that we won’t return as a couple because his mind is now closed about Gusto. Mine is not.
I found the food delicious but the portions are a little skimpy for the price. We had a light pizza with arugula as an appetizer and most of us had the veal saltimbucca special as an entrée. The wedding soup was great. The bread and the dipping sauce were delicious but I would suggest that the chef go a little lighter on the lemon in the sauce and a little heavier on the oil. My husband was totally unimpressed by the lasagna but the disgraceful kitchen service colored his opinion. It looked like it was properly prepared.
Gusto has the opportunity to be a 4.5−5.0 restaurant if they can get the quirks out if their service. I hope that they can get it together before Gusto acquires a reputation for poor service that overwhelms all its many positive attributes.

Well I really wanted to try the food. I know they have not been open long but…
Went to the bar and was was ignored. Got a glass of wine and it was excellent. Ordered an appy and dinner. Left after an hour and no food. I get issues they happen all the time. But have to communicate
Shame I won’t go back in hear the food is good and I am a PVB local

The food was awesome. The kitchen really has things together. Ample portions, lots of choices, so you find lots to like and to share. They had a band and the place was packed. The service had some hiccups but the food was so good it brings up my rating. I’ll be back again soon.

A friend of mine and I were in Jacksonville for work and craved Italian cuisine. This place was just seven minutes from where we were staying and boy did we hit the jackpot! We ate mushrooms and a salad for our appetizer and a seafood pasta that was loaded with mussels, shrimp and calamari. The food was hot, fresh and tasted absolutely amazing. There was no doubt that whoever was cooking, was cooking with love! I have a feeling I will be making trips to Jacksonville more frequent to satisfy future cravings!

Our party of 3 agreed that the food at Gusto could not have been more amazing. Executive Chef Tonino DiBella prepared a shrimp, pork and lamb dish which we shared. We had heard in advance how amazing the food was so we gave him liberty to put his artistic signature spin on the dishes. His choices of fresh spices and herbs along with the top notch quality of meats made for some award winning gourmet dishes.
It was so nice to see friendly local faces sitting around the bar and out on the dance floor.
The musicians were wonderful and there was the option to remain in a corner and enjoy the ambiance or to get out there and dance the night away.
The Manager Walter Bianchi was both friendly and sincere to insure that everyone was pleased and enjoying themselves. I highly recommend Gusto if you want to have a fantastic dining experience.

Kinda started off slow, but in the end had a wonderful experience. The good was delicious, manager was super friendly. Drinks very strong. :-) definitely made up for the slow beginning. Meatballs delish! Get the pizza with arugula, fresh parm, and prosciutto.

So, Gusto has been open for about a week. Bartenders are slow and so is the kitchen. But that has to be taken into consideration when a new place opens. It takes time to get the staff up to speed. The food was above average and the crowd was great. The owner Walter is very friendly and makes a point to visit tables and make everyone feel welcome. The place was packed and the crowd had a very «local» feel. I got the impression that this was a place where friends go to mingle. I will certainly be back again to check things out. I like the live music and the bright open space! Definitely worth a try!