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Retro Gusto
Authentic Italian pizzas and cocktails served in a vibrant, retro-inspired atmosphere.
4.6
Restaurant
$$$
Authentic Italian pizzas and cocktails served in a vibrant, retro-inspired atmosphere.
Retro Gusto is a modern Italian restaurant in Ottawa that combines authentic flavors with a casual, fun vibe. Specializing in thin-crust pizzas made with fresh ingredients like mozzarella, aged parmigiana, and hot sausage, it offers a menu that includes Caesar salads, fried lamb skewers, and classic cocktails. The retro-inspired space features cozy booths and attentive service, making it ideal for dates, friends, or family outings. With a focus on quality and a welcoming atmosphere, Retro Gusto delivers an approachable yet elevated dining experience.
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Handcrafted, thin-crust pizzas with fresh ingredients like mozzarella, hot sausage, mushrooms, and zucchini, served in a retro-chic setting.
Signature dishes including Caesar salad, Retro Suppli (fried risotto balls), and fried lamb skewers, all made with authentic flavors.
Expertly crafted classic cocktails and a curated wine list designed to complement our Italian menu for a complete dining experience.
Welcoming atmosphere perfect for reservations, offering booths and attentive service for dates, friends, or special occasions.
Unique condiments like Farinella hot honey and chili oil available to drizzle on pizzas and appetizers for added flavor.
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Overall rating
G J
I went there for a father-daughter date. Retro Gusto is exactly what you want in a modern Italian spot — authentic, approachable, and effortlessly fun. From start to finish, the service was warm and attentive without being overbearing, which instantly set the tone for a relaxed evening. The menu is fully Italian and the wine list pairs beautifully, but what I loved most is that it doesn’t come across as stiff or pretentious. Some Italian restaurants lean toward overly formal, but Retro Gusto manages to deliver top-notch food with a casual, vibrant vibe. It’s the kind of place where you can enjoy an excellent glass of wine, traditional dishes done right, and still feel completely comfortable. Highlights for me included the Caesar salad, which was a refreshing standout and clearly made with attention to balance and freshness. Every plate we tried was perfectly executed, showcasing the kitchen’s consistency and respect for Italian flavors. Retro Gusto feels like the perfect spot for any occasion — whether you’re out for a date, catching up with friends, or just want a great Italian meal without the “fine-dining” formality. I’ll definitely be back!
Nm
10/5 pizza! They shouldn't give you a fork and knife - best eaten by hand. Love the space, retro indeed - we got a booth and it was super cute! We ordered: Cesar salad - 1/5 it was quite bland the best part was the bacon pieces which had a decedant flavour with the fat on them. Could have done without it. Retro Suppli as appetizer - 5/5 the cheese was divine and for a burst of flavour drizzle hot honey and chili oil. Margherita Con Mozzarella - 5/5 absolutely amazing. You can taste the fresh ingredients on this one. Zucchini pizza with whipped ricotta - 10/5 the flavors on this were incredible. It didn't need any hot honey or chili oil it was super flavourful and the whipped ricotta added such a great burst of flavour! Espresso post dinner - delicious and a good way to digest after all that food. Note - they don't have decaf or milk if you need either. Our bill came to about 50 each. Ok so I rated some things above a 5 as you can tell and that's to emphasize how incredible some of the dishes were - well over a 5 rating!
Sam Jaroudi
The pizza was good ... the service and the atmosphere, average. I would definitely recommend Resto Gusto for the food, but I had higher expectations given previous reviews and that this restaurant requires a reservation ... that made it sound much more than what it actually is. Again, to be fair, it's good food, and the atmosphere and service are fine, just nothing really impressive or above average.
Mihailo Krstic
What a fantastic overall experience! Amazing pizzas, very fresh with a thin crispy crust. The mozzarella used was super fresh pairing perfectly with the hot sausage on the Salamino. The Funghi pizza was the highlight of the night though with complex flavors of fresh mushrooms combined with the aged parmigiana. The Farinella hot honey and chili oil is a prefect pairing! Classic cocktails were on point too. Service was exceptional, servers were always attentive to our every need. They noticed when we had questions or were missing anything. Yes the price points are a little steeper, but given the service and great vibes, it’s well worth the experience.
Alifuzzaman A H M
I don’t know where to begin with. One of the best customer service experiences I’ve in the recent times; super friendly and as well as professional at the same time. Never had Caesar salads like this before; the chef knows what s/he is doing. Then we tried the fried lamb skewers; that I never tried anywhere before; it was good but not wow. Then we tried the zucchini pizza; I think I felt the pizza was more delicious than the pizzas I had in Florence Italy!!! Such an amazing experience; you must try the Caesars salad and pizza in this restaurant
