BUON GUSTO RISTORANTE, South San Francisco - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Reservations

Does this restaurant serve Romana food?

Yes

No

Unsure

Details

About

Ristorante Buon Gusto is one of the oldest Italian restaurants in South San Francisco. We offer traditional Southern Italian cuisine, an excellent wine menu, and a full bar, all served in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere reminiscent of the best North Beach & Little Italy's decades; the Fifties and Sixties. Ristorante Buon Gusto welcomes you to come and be transported to another time, when Italian Cuisine was traditional and true.

PRICE RANGE

$20.00 – $30.00

CUISINES

Italian, Sicilian, Southern-Italian

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Late Night

FEATURES

Takeout, Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service

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4.0

366 reviews

Excellent

190

Very good

100

Average

49

Poor

15

Terrible

12

Heidi O

Troutdale6 contributions

Delicious Food

Feb 2020 • none

The food was delicious. The server was very helpful and friendly but the place appeared short staffed and the food came out very slow. I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt that they had more diners than they anticipated on a Monday night.

Written March 8, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Angela

San Francisco50 contributions

Very good

Mar 2020 • none

Went for lunch with a friend and this was my first time. Had the Bolognese spaghetti and it was delicious. The server was very attentive and gracious. Asked for blue cheese, got house dressing but error was easily corrected. May be a little bit pricey for lunch but depends on what you’re looking for or expecting. Nice, clean, ambience and food is good.

Written March 2, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

VincenzoV644

Thank you for this honest and positive review! We appreciate your business and we're glad to hear details about your last visit. We're proud to know that you absolutely loved our food and service. Please come back again soon!

Written March 6, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Chuck L

Rome74 contributions

Fantastic Italian restaraunt outside of downtown.

Sep 2021 • none

Great restaurant. Awesome food. Superior service. We stayed overnight at the AC hotel (on our way back to PA) on Oyster point Blvd., and this restaurant came highly rated and was only less than 10 minutes away. The food and wine selection was awesome. Our server Basa was attentive, prompt, and knowledgeable. The owner was also up and about, and present to all the patrons. We had the gnocchi’s, and the rigatoni with sausage special… Both are fantastic dishes and done perfect. My wife couldn’t decide between the pesto and the marinara gnocchi, and our server Basa offered to split the serving and serve her both. I would highly recommend this restaurant anyone traveling in the area.

Written September 24, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

christie t

Annapolis27 contributions

Great service but past prime seafood ruined my meal

Jan 2020 • business

The greater was friendly the seating was comfy the service was too notch. Sadly the food fell short. I has seafood pasta and the shrimp clams and mussels tasted off their prime which ruins the dish. The sauce and pasta were very good so it is sad to get past prime smelly seafood. Hubby had veal and liked it but a bit salty aide the bread is sourdough not typical for Italian but tasty. I would not return because of the seafood.

Written February 1, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Linda H

18 contributions

ARRIVERDERCI TO MY FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT

Aug 2021 • friends

We were so excited when Buon Gusto opened after being closed during Covid. We want their opening night and it was packed with regulars. What a surprise when I looked at the wine list and the cheapest bottle of wine was $57. We ordered Verdicchio for $66. The menu was the same, but the prices we’re tripled. The food was not the same, my grilled fish was dry. Where was Vincenzo? He’s usually here and this was opening night. Later, I found out from a waiter who used to work there (he’s works for our neighborhood Italian restaurant now) that Vincenzo sold his share of the restaurant. We’ve been going here since it opened and this made me very sad. Julian, the new owner, will lose all his regulars. He’s running this gem into the ground.

Written September 17, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sharrongeg

Henderson3703 contributions

Changed ownership

Dec 2021 • none

Have eaten here many times over the years, but it appears that the ownership has changed. Prices higher, food quality a tad lower and tables crowded cheek to jowl. Dinner for 4 (2 appetizers, 4 adult entrees and a bottle of wine, without tip) was $175. None of us finished our entrees.

Written December 25, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary Margaret O

26 contributions

Nonna’s competition!

Oct 2022 • couples

I ended up in South SF completely by accident, staying in the Comfort Inn, walking distance away, before my flight the following day. A list of restaurants was provided along with walking instructions. As soon as I walked into Ristorante Buon Gusto, I felt like I was in Nonna’s place! No, I’m not Italian but grew up near Utica, NY with a plethora of fine Italian restaurants. White linen table cloths, cozy atmosphere, and delicious food! Hubby and I had the house red wine (good), a house salad began our meal. The only drawback for me (which turned out to be a lifesaver!) was the huge amount of food provided for the main course. I had delicious homemade gnocchi and hubby had the tortellini house special. Both absolutely delicious but I could only eat a third (somehow, hubby managed to eat 2/3 of his dish!). I did not have the heart to have the rest of my food wasted in the kitchen so I asked for a box. The meal wasn’t over! A fantastic dessert was provided (complimentary) as well as a small glass of Vino Santo (sp?). WOW. Service was excellent. And the boxed gnocchi? It became our meal at 11pm the next day in Newark, NJ, having missed our connection by a couple minutes! Thank you Buon Gusto!!!

Written October 17, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Didzis R

Riga69 contributions

Anything but Italian

Apr 2023 • solo

Two positive things: Interior looked like an Italian restaurant, and the bread was good. Downhill from there. My 3 choices of wine were not available ( by bottle or caraffe). How hard is it to note on the menu? I was ready for a bottle, but luckily ordered only a glass. Anchovies and tomato apetiser was a gibberisg of 2 anchovies, 5 tastless slices of tomato, good helping of canned squid, marinated peppers, overloaded with marinated onions + olive oil, not a good combo. Special Chicken Milanese was a classis Cysco/ Grocery store warmed- up TV dinner! The waitress probably felt my discomfort, she was exceptionally courteous, but it was not her fault! Overall: worst in many years!

Written April 1, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Captaingort

27 contributions

They lost my credit card

Jan 2020 • family

My family had dinner here tonight. Food was "ok"...not bad, not great. I handed the waiter my credit card at the conclusion of the meal. Everyone at the table saw the handoff. 10 minutes later, the same waiter brings me the bill, not yet rung up and with no credit card. I get up and show him the bill and he denies that he or anyone else has my card or ever even saw it. To avoid a scene, I paid with another card and we left. I then called Chase Bank, cancelled the card and replacements are on the way. This waiter seemed like a nice fellow, but he must be out in the ozone. We'll never ever return to this place.

Written January 5, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melissa5704

Redding82 contributions

Disappointing

Jun 2024 • family

Food was uninspiring and service was slow. Granted it was a Monday night but we are traveling and met our daughter (who lives in the area) there. When I asked for the wine menu, the waiter looked disgusted with me. They did not want us to enjoy a leisurely dinner but rather we felt rushed. Glasses of wine came and about 30 seconds later our meals. There was no pleasant cadence for us to enjoy our daughter’s company. We ordered desserts and they were average. We paid $168 for what we had hoped would be a fun pleasant tasty evening. We enjoyed our daughter’s company immensely but the food and service was poorly executed.

Written June 11, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Laurie B

Tacoma49 contributions

What a gem!

Oct 2023 • couples

My husband and I were staying close to the airport for a flight out the next morning. We had originally hoped to go into the city but we didn’t have a car and an Uber was just too much for a round trip and Public transportation not very convenient. We ended up walking about 15 minutes to this lovely Italian restaurant and had an authentic excellent meal. Staff were friendly and provided great service.

Written October 18, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dennis h

San Francisco2913 contributions

Disappointing

May 2022 • none

Had high hopes for this place. We thought of having a banquet here. Decided to sample a meal. Caesar Salad was decent. Had two of the house specialties, Gnocchi al Pesto and Tagliarini Carmelo. Sorry to say, these were very disappointing. Neither of us enjoyed them. Ate less than half of them. Wines were overpriced. Cheapest bottle was $57. Had the house Chablis ($19 for half liter) as a cheaper alternative which was very poor quality. Only gave the second star for the service and the atmosphere. Had high hopes, but poor pasta is a red flag. Decided to host our group elsewhere.........

Written May 27, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

perfectionist2016

West Menlo Park23 contributions

Restaurant handled a dish that did not deliver with professionalism and great attitude.

Jun 2023 • business

Unfortunately, my business associate and I had a completely different standard of food for our two dinners. He had the veal piccata and said it was excellent, besides the totally cold spinach. I had pepper steak, which was inedible. How they handled this issue was professional and outstanding. Removing the plate, the waitress returned to the table and told me that the chef agreed with my finding. My spinach was also totally cold. I was offered another dish. The Tiramisu was outstanding and particularly light-unlike many restaurants that deliver a heavy dry rendition of this wonderful dish. The reviews for this restaurant are very high, hence making it our choice for the evening. My sense is that I will not return-however one needs to remember my friend was very pleased with his choice.

Written June 7, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

marfak

Half Moon Bay1419 contributions

A Popular Place, But I Don't Know Why

Dec 2021 • none

This is a small family-owned place that has been around for many years. We ate there on a Thursday night and it was packed. My meal was terrible. The bloody mary was bland, the house salad was awful, and the pesto gnocchi was bland as well. I was wondering whether I had COVID and had lost my sense of taste, it was that bland. My wife had the clams with linguini which she liked. (It was supposed to be mussels but they were apparently out of mussels. The waiter should have told her that when he took the order not when he delivered the plate with food.) I tasted the linguini and it was me'h. Parking is difficult in this neighborhood so be prepared to cruise around and walk when you do find something. We will not go back.

Written December 17, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rich H

Pequannock1240 contributions

Great service. Food ok

Apr 2023 • solo

I had to give this a three due to tha fact that the gnocchi bolognese was listed as homemade but the sauce was not very good. Not much meat and a bit bland. The service was excellent and the staff were great. I’d have to try something else. Chicken Parmigiana looked good.

Written April 26, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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