This was a return visit after nearly 16 years and the sercice, atmosphere and food was as good as I remembered it. The new owner is very pleasant and the staff is definately out to please. These owners will certainly pick up another star as they become more comfortable with the operation. I will be back for more tasty Italian food and great service.
(4)
scott m.
went her for early Mother's Day dinner last night since grandma was a huge fan in the past... boy was she disappointed. service was beyond horrible, they just didn't have it together to take our order for over 45 minutes after we walked in or to fill all 5 water glasses at the table at one time. a manager and two different servers attended to our table, and none of them had any idea what the other was doing... also, their understanding of the English language was minimal and made it difficult to request any help without asking more then once and then explaining what you wanted. the food: the caesar salads had absolutely zero taste. my side of pasta looked like the contents of a jar of stewed tomatoes was the sole ingredient in the red sauce. my veal rolled with fontina cheese, prosciutto and spinach came fried in an overbearing brown sauce and three tiny little pieces. folks at the table seemed to like the fish dishes. overall, this dinner took over three hours and was pretty terrible. the new ownership is over their heads and don't know what they're doing. the place looks like it was decorated in the 70s and never updated. not very welcoming, i'd be surprised if they lasted the summer. can i give less then one star?
(1)
Daniel K.
Dinner at BON GUSTO this evening...EXCELLENT!! Most of my better restaurant reviews are 4 star.....this is FIVE ***** The restaurant has new owners and they are very personable attentive and accommodating, They definitely make the meal more enjoyable Our appetizer was the meatballs....yum.split 4 ways I had a Lasagna that rivals the best I have ever had, they made a Bechamel sauce for me as I requested. As a group of 4 we had, Snapper, Pollo al Bongusto, Cannelloni, and my Lasagna All were superb, DO NOT MISS THIS RESTAURANT...
Very good service and excellent meal. Veal marsala was out of the world. Pollo Disossato Scarpariello was also incredible. You must try the amaretto tort for dessert.
(5)
Denise G.
I went to Bon Gusto last Friday and I had the best chicken of Fort Lauderdale - Bon Gusto Chicken! The place is very clean, people are friendly and the dessert was perfect. I definitely recommend!
(5)
Daniel R.
Bon Gusto is now under new management. I always get a little nervous when I see a non-Italian running the show in an Italian restaurant. I was very happy with the entrees, however I found the appetizer (caprese salad) to be average and the bread felt like it had been microwaved. Inside, you will find a dated decor that the owner said will be changing. Right now it didn't wow me, but I feel it has potential. Please start making homemade ice tea.
(3)
Steve S.
Wow! This is honestly one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been to. Probably top 3, easily. Everything from the service, to the knowledge of the menu by the waiters, and especially the food. Service was prompt, I was impressed by the waiters knowledge of the menu, and he knew how everything was prepared. We ordered a bottle of quality Pinot Grigio which was very reasonably priced ($52) and brought to us very quickly. We started off with the Mozzarella Fresca Caprese, ($10.95) Which was served with sliced tomato, sun-dried tomatoes, pickled peppers and eggplants. Very delicious and cooked right. Honestly some of the best mozzarella I've ever had. They also bring you bread, and salads that are on the house. And very tasty bruschetta. My girlfriend is a bit of a picky eater, and when she ordered the Risotto ai Funghi Porcini ($20.95) Arborio rice, porcini mushrooms, and parmesan cheese, and asked for no mushrooms, they made the entree specifically tailored for her, and added shrimp per her request. I had one of their specials, (they seem to have a few each night that aren't on the menu), the veal florentine, which was the best I've ever had, and would order over and over again. When the dessert cart came around, my girlfriend had it narrowed down to spiced rum cake or chocolate mousse cake, and since she couldn't decide the waiter actually brought her half of each to enjoy. Great service! I had the baked apples with raisins, had never had a dessert like that so I thought I'd give it a try. Very different but good. If you want fantastic authentic Italian food, this is the place to go. Portions are great too. As a side note, the "traditional" Italian dishes like Lasagna and Spaghetti & Meatballs aren't on the menu....but are 100% available, and they will make it for you! All you have to do is ask. I recommend making reservations, because the place is relativily small, and there aren't an exuberant amount of tables, which I think adds to it's charm.
(4)
Tia V.
We decided to finally stop into Bon Gusto to have dinner tonight. This restaurant has been on my list to try for the last few months. Upon entering, I immediately felt very comfortable and welcomed. The owners approached my friend and I as if we were Family. Once seated, we were provided with warm, amazing rolls with garlic oil...yum! I asked one of the owners, Thiago, to make us a special salad, and he obliged immediately. It was amazing. For the entree we had Risotto ai Funghi and Chicken Blue (stuffed chicken with spinach, shrimp and gorgonzola cheese). Again, both dishes were perfectly presented and tasted amazing! I couldn't resist dessert, so I ordered the amaretto cake...I was not disappointed. From the service, to food - I totally enjoyed my night out. This little gem hidden in a small strip mall, is a true find! I recommend this place to everyone who wants to be treated like family upon arrival to the minute you leave. Good job guys...keep it up!
(5)
Evan R.
I'm a traveling out-of-town consultant who discovered this jewel tucked away in a small group of stores on Rt. 1. I have eaten their several times, have always had a wonderful dinner, whether I chose seafood, veal, chicken or pasta dishes. The food is fresh and nicely prepared and the dessert tray is wonderful. The service is outstanding. It's a welcome relief from the chain places.
I have been going there for several years but today's experience made me decide never to return to this place again. The decoration of the restaurant is very old and it definitely needs some remodeling but my family went back to this place for the service, the appetizer salad (good dressing), some entrees (veal dishes & the seafood pasta are great!) and the home made desserts. Today the waiter's rude behavior made us feel very uncomfortable and unwelcome. He was throwing things, making so much noise cleaning the table, etc. In addition, the side pasta was stuck together and we only got a spoonful of sauce on top. My family member ordered a chicken dish and the meat was very tough. I am very disappointed with today's experience - I liked this place. There are many good Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. Why would I come here and pay to be treated with such attitude? I would rather spend my money and time somewhere else where I will be treated fairly and served a good meal.
(2)
Tobi G.
We were six Ladies who meet once a month who live in Miami and Boca & try to meet in the middle somewhere. A friend gave us the name of this wonderful restaurant and I do mean wonderful. There was not one bad thing to say about the food. This is the best kept secret in the Ft. Lauderdale area. The owner and his wife who run the restaurant could not do enough for us. It is a WINNER!
(5)
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Address :5640 N Federal Hwy,Ste 3
Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33308
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Gary F.
This was a return visit after nearly 16 years and the sercice, atmosphere and food was as good as I remembered it. The new owner is very pleasant and the staff is definately out to please. These owners will certainly pick up another star as they become more comfortable with the operation. I will be back for more tasty Italian food and great service.
(4)scott m.
went her for early Mother's Day dinner last night since grandma was a huge fan in the past... boy was she disappointed. service was beyond horrible, they just didn't have it together to take our order for over 45 minutes after we walked in or to fill all 5 water glasses at the table at one time. a manager and two different servers attended to our table, and none of them had any idea what the other was doing... also, their understanding of the English language was minimal and made it difficult to request any help without asking more then once and then explaining what you wanted. the food: the caesar salads had absolutely zero taste. my side of pasta looked like the contents of a jar of stewed tomatoes was the sole ingredient in the red sauce. my veal rolled with fontina cheese, prosciutto and spinach came fried in an overbearing brown sauce and three tiny little pieces. folks at the table seemed to like the fish dishes. overall, this dinner took over three hours and was pretty terrible. the new ownership is over their heads and don't know what they're doing. the place looks like it was decorated in the 70s and never updated. not very welcoming, i'd be surprised if they lasted the summer. can i give less then one star?
(1)Daniel K.
Dinner at BON GUSTO this evening...EXCELLENT!! Most of my better restaurant reviews are 4 star.....this is FIVE ***** The restaurant has new owners and they are very personable attentive and accommodating, They definitely make the meal more enjoyable Our appetizer was the meatballs....yum.split 4 ways I had a Lasagna that rivals the best I have ever had, they made a Bechamel sauce for me as I requested. As a group of 4 we had, Snapper, Pollo al Bongusto, Cannelloni, and my Lasagna All were superb, DO NOT MISS THIS RESTAURANT...
(5)MICHELLE C.
Oh forgive me on my late review. Better late then never. Our amazing friends Paul M. and Heather invited us to check out this restaurant. We arrived early parked in the lot and decided to go in to wait on our friends to arrive. When we arrived the décor is most definitely outdated. I enjoyed it though, it made me feel nostalgic. Murals on the wall of Italy, soft rose colored table clothes and napkins, carpet, and white chairs. Our server was a young gentleman who was fantastic throughout the evening. Hubby and I enjoyed a wine bottle off their menu and poured our friends a glass so when they arrived they had a drink. We each brought our own bottle of wine and the owner was so kind he did not charge us any corkage fee. Thank you so very much! Thiago is the owner who recently took over this restaurant as he has had many years in the business. He came to our table introduced himself and even sent out a lovely escargot appetizer for us on the house. You can tell he is very hands on, taking orders at tables, bringing out food, removing dirty plates and so on. As we sat there several patrons came in who were regulars. Nice to see he has a regular clientele that I am sure will continue to grow. His passion for the business was wonderful to see. Hubby ordered the Tortellini with Porcini mushrooms, the sauce was not heavy like so many other places. It had excellent flavor and the fresh made pasta was delicious. I tried the Chicken Bon Gusto, which was quite satisfying but honestly I was jealous of hubby's entrée. ha ha. They also bring fresh bread to the table that was very good. We enjoyed our amazing evening with our wonderful fun friends, great food, delicious wines in this very lovely restaurant. Thiago even sent us out Lemoncello that was incredible. Thank you Paul and Heather for the invite to this great restaurant. See you again Thiago, thank you and your staff for a delicious fun evening. Wishing you the best of success!
(4)Paul M.
We were referred here by a client so of course we took it as an opportunity to hang out with our favorite Italianos - Dom and Michelle C! This is a case where you cannot judge a book by its cover. Bon Gusto is very nondescript from the outside - located in a small strip mall. The interior is also quaint, definitely not the fanciest place we have ever been. However, when it comes to the food, this place is definitely legit. I had the Cannelloni alla Romagnola which are Meat Stuffed crêpes with béchamel and meat sauce. This dish was pure italiano - tender pasta with a rich meaty sauce. My wife had the special which was the Lobster and Burrata Ravioli. All I can say is WOW. This was a creamy, decadent dish and probably my favorite. What made our dinner even better (besides our great company) was the great service we received from Thiago. He sent our table multiple complimentary apps of which I thought the escargot was my favorite. We were well attended the whole night. Even better is they didn't charge us the normal $20 corkage fee. The wine list is just ok, so definitely bring a nice bottle to enjoy. Overall it was an amazing night of great food, incredible company, awesome wine, and spectacular service. The prices are very reasonable as well.
(4)Daniel D.
Very good service and excellent meal. Veal marsala was out of the world. Pollo Disossato Scarpariello was also incredible. You must try the amaretto tort for dessert.
(5)Denise G.
I went to Bon Gusto last Friday and I had the best chicken of Fort Lauderdale - Bon Gusto Chicken! The place is very clean, people are friendly and the dessert was perfect. I definitely recommend!
(5)Daniel R.
Bon Gusto is now under new management. I always get a little nervous when I see a non-Italian running the show in an Italian restaurant. I was very happy with the entrees, however I found the appetizer (caprese salad) to be average and the bread felt like it had been microwaved. Inside, you will find a dated decor that the owner said will be changing. Right now it didn't wow me, but I feel it has potential. Please start making homemade ice tea.
(3)Steve S.
Wow! This is honestly one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been to. Probably top 3, easily. Everything from the service, to the knowledge of the menu by the waiters, and especially the food. Service was prompt, I was impressed by the waiters knowledge of the menu, and he knew how everything was prepared. We ordered a bottle of quality Pinot Grigio which was very reasonably priced ($52) and brought to us very quickly. We started off with the Mozzarella Fresca Caprese, ($10.95) Which was served with sliced tomato, sun-dried tomatoes, pickled peppers and eggplants. Very delicious and cooked right. Honestly some of the best mozzarella I've ever had. They also bring you bread, and salads that are on the house. And very tasty bruschetta. My girlfriend is a bit of a picky eater, and when she ordered the Risotto ai Funghi Porcini ($20.95) Arborio rice, porcini mushrooms, and parmesan cheese, and asked for no mushrooms, they made the entree specifically tailored for her, and added shrimp per her request. I had one of their specials, (they seem to have a few each night that aren't on the menu), the veal florentine, which was the best I've ever had, and would order over and over again. When the dessert cart came around, my girlfriend had it narrowed down to spiced rum cake or chocolate mousse cake, and since she couldn't decide the waiter actually brought her half of each to enjoy. Great service! I had the baked apples with raisins, had never had a dessert like that so I thought I'd give it a try. Very different but good. If you want fantastic authentic Italian food, this is the place to go. Portions are great too. As a side note, the "traditional" Italian dishes like Lasagna and Spaghetti & Meatballs aren't on the menu....but are 100% available, and they will make it for you! All you have to do is ask. I recommend making reservations, because the place is relativily small, and there aren't an exuberant amount of tables, which I think adds to it's charm.
(4)Tia V.
We decided to finally stop into Bon Gusto to have dinner tonight. This restaurant has been on my list to try for the last few months. Upon entering, I immediately felt very comfortable and welcomed. The owners approached my friend and I as if we were Family. Once seated, we were provided with warm, amazing rolls with garlic oil...yum! I asked one of the owners, Thiago, to make us a special salad, and he obliged immediately. It was amazing. For the entree we had Risotto ai Funghi and Chicken Blue (stuffed chicken with spinach, shrimp and gorgonzola cheese). Again, both dishes were perfectly presented and tasted amazing! I couldn't resist dessert, so I ordered the amaretto cake...I was not disappointed. From the service, to food - I totally enjoyed my night out. This little gem hidden in a small strip mall, is a true find! I recommend this place to everyone who wants to be treated like family upon arrival to the minute you leave. Good job guys...keep it up!
(5)Evan R.
I'm a traveling out-of-town consultant who discovered this jewel tucked away in a small group of stores on Rt. 1. I have eaten their several times, have always had a wonderful dinner, whether I chose seafood, veal, chicken or pasta dishes. The food is fresh and nicely prepared and the dessert tray is wonderful. The service is outstanding. It's a welcome relief from the chain places.
(4)Marqus R.
First, I don't know how Yelp got "Buon" Gusto, because it's "Bon Gusto." This is a pleasant, nice, well run restaurant that has been here for ages. It generally attracts a local more mature (ok, read elderly) crowd of local area dinners, which probably explains why I'm the first to let out a Yelp about the place. The tables are well set, the service is excellent and the food very good; it has to be good considering all the local competition connected with any Italian restaurant. The décor is best summed up by being somewhere between mature and frumpy, but all distinguished by being neat, clean and orderly; somewhat like a grandmother's home and the attire of the patrons is a more dressy casual than just a plain casual. One gentleman was even wearing a tie (somewhat of a rarity in SoFlo) but unfortunately, as you know, blue trousers, brown shoes and white socks don't really make as being the epitome of proper color coordination. The menu is not lengthy but it is complete in all areas of traditional Italian. I had the Scaloppini Marsala and my significant "de jour" other had the Osso Bucco. They both came properly present and prepared in traditional style as if right out of a very standard cook book. From what we had and looking at what was on the plates of other dinners (I'm always snooping at what other dinners are having) I would say that Bon Gusto is an Italian restaurant that keeps to standard, traditional Italian fare and doesn't stray into anything unique or of culinary imagination. Please, I don't mean that as derogatory, but more as a compliment. There are those that, when they go out, want to know what to expect and what they are going to get; no adventurism. In that sense, Bon Gusto delivers and does so at what I would say are reasonable prices.
(3)H C.
I have been going there for several years but today's experience made me decide never to return to this place again. The decoration of the restaurant is very old and it definitely needs some remodeling but my family went back to this place for the service, the appetizer salad (good dressing), some entrees (veal dishes & the seafood pasta are great!) and the home made desserts. Today the waiter's rude behavior made us feel very uncomfortable and unwelcome. He was throwing things, making so much noise cleaning the table, etc. In addition, the side pasta was stuck together and we only got a spoonful of sauce on top. My family member ordered a chicken dish and the meat was very tough. I am very disappointed with today's experience - I liked this place. There are many good Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. Why would I come here and pay to be treated with such attitude? I would rather spend my money and time somewhere else where I will be treated fairly and served a good meal.
(2)Tobi G.
We were six Ladies who meet once a month who live in Miami and Boca & try to meet in the middle somewhere. A friend gave us the name of this wonderful restaurant and I do mean wonderful. There was not one bad thing to say about the food. This is the best kept secret in the Ft. Lauderdale area. The owner and his wife who run the restaurant could not do enough for us. It is a WINNER!
(5)