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Location & Hours
South San Francisco, CA 94080
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About the Business
Business owner information
Vincenzo V.
Ristorante Buon Gusto is old school Italian! 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. Yes...we are old school and we are proud of it. We are open for Lunch on weekdays, and for Dinner every day. Lunch offers quick service, and daily Lunch Specials. Do you have a special occasion coming up? Ask about our No Charge Banquet/Meeting Rooms, and let us work with you to plan a memorable event featuring home style traditional food and wine, attentive service, and an elegant yet comfortable ambiance. Ristorante Buon Gusto is easy to find: just two minutes off 101 (take the Grand Avenue Exit). Our motto is Chi Mangia Bene, Vive Bene! Grazie!
Ask the Community
Q:
What are you covid policies for dining in? Do you need to be vaccinated? Can you show a negative covid test? Is there outdoor dining for unvaccinated?
A:
Hello Liana, The rules we follow for our Covid-19 Protocol are those provided to us by the County of San Mateo. https://www.smchealth.org/coronavirus… more
Catherine And Julian M., Business OwnerÂ2 years agoQ:
Do they have kids menu? If they do what is offered?
A:
They do not have kids menus, however, they will accommodate children with half portions, cater to the child’s dietary needs, and make the experience really fun! One of the owners even does magic tricks!
Sophia I.Â4 years ago 3 people found this helpful
Recommended Reviews
Overall rating
912 reviews
5 stars
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1 star
Geneva E.Dublin, CA611852Dec 16, 2023Went here for my boyfriend's parents' anniversary and we had an awesome experience!
Food: authentic Italian food. The pasta was swimming in seafood. The gnocchi bolognese was very meaty and not too salty. My boyfriend's mom had the fish and it was so buttery, just melted in your mouth. I didn't try the chicken parm but picture shown below and my boyfriend's dad said it was good. I would rate it 8/10 because the dishes were good overall and we can tell it was authentic Italian, but none of the dishes were a must get for next time. I would, however, like to try the other dishes next time.
Service: 10/10 service. Our server Basa was amazing! She was bubbly and very personable as soon as we met. We told her that it was my boyfriend's parents' anni and she wanted to know their names so she can greet them as soon as they walked in. She called them by their names the entire dinner. She checked on us frequently and gave us fresh rolls of garlic bread to take home with our leftovers. The manager, Vince, was so precious also! He walked around and checked on all the customers. He told us the origin of the restaurant and how they've been there since 1988! You can tell the passion he has for this place which made us appreciate the experience even more!
Ambiance: mood lighting, intimate (about 10 ish tables?). It's definitely a nice ambiance to celebrate an anniversary or even date night.
Thank you Basa and Vince! We'll definitely be back!
Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0- Dec 7, 2023Seated via Yelp Reservations
Nice ambiance - it wasn't too loud either. Plentiful menu! Nice service.
House Bread
Their house bread is delicious and so fresh!!
Linguine Tutto Mare $40
Loved the amount and variety of seafood in the dish, especially the fish.
Tortellini Buon Gusto $32
This was great. Love the cream sauce and how flavorful and creamy each bite was.
Creme Caramel - It was okay, slightly forgettable because the
Tiramisu was delicious! Delightful way to end the meal.
Parking's ok, we found one pretty close to the restaurant. But the car next to our car was broken into T_T so sad, even down here.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 1 
Giovanni L.Millbrae, CA14820Nov 28, 2023Updated reviewHappy. Holidays
I had the pleasure to have Dinner at Buon. Gusto and we had a GREAT DINNER
The place has been remodel and it looks very appealing with a full bar .very clean
And with a great service a great wine list .
I am saving the food for last because every thing we try was excellent from the Antipasto to the main coarse and Desert
With easy parking
I suggest if you want to have a great meal try. Buon GustoHelpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
Vincenzo V.
Dec 9, 2019
Hello Giovanni,
We are honored to be compared to a grandmother's cooking, thank you! We appreciate the review and your business and hope to serve you again soon.Dec 4, 2019Previous reviewbuon gusto
great place to have an authentic italian
dinner .the place has dishes that makes you feel like your italian grandmother had something to do with the style of.cooking
there signature dishes are many like the
osso buco calamari saute. tripe and many other dishes.
service is excellent prices are reasonable
great atmosphere and esy parking
try it you will like it
i garante it
Debi W.San Francisco, CA03058Apr 25, 2024The food was subpar and pricey. My one meatball was supposed to be meatballs. $6 for one. It was tough. Soup was tasteless and lukewarm. &10.95 for a small amount. Linguini and clam sauce was just ok. I'm Italian and don't eat Italian in restaurants, I will continue this. I'm not from here so the prices were outrageous to me. That's why I ordered soup and meatballs. I was expecting something really special and was disappointed. We ordered our food to be ready at 7pm, they called at 6:30 and said my food had been sitting for a half hour and nobody picked it up. That's because it was supposed to be ready between 7 and 7:20. They said they remade it but I don't think that happened.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0- Nov 15, 2023Seated via Yelp Reservations
Okay, it is a mystery how this place has an average review of 4 stars. Maybe we just didn't order the right food!
They accept reservations via yelp which makes everything convenient. We arrived a little early and our car found parking in the nearby lot.
This review does not reflect on the service, they're service was amazing. It's a shame the food didn't reflect that.
I will start with the positives:
Tortellini: it was pretty good! The sauce was nice and flavorful. The only negative for me was the bacon BUT i'm not a fan of bacon. I'm sure you'll be fine.
The Sole: DELICIOUS. The only thing on this menu that they did EXCEPTIONALLY well. Super tender and flakey, it was cooked perfectly and the sauce was amazing. I'm not a fish person, I can't have more than a bite of fish but here I was able to have TWO bites which means something.
Now to the not so positives:
Veal: any of them - the sauces were probably fine. But the veal was tough. Hard to cut. Our table ordered two different ones and both were tough.
Carbonara: it was... weird... because it wasnt a carbonara, it was a cream sauce (which carbonara is not). It tasted like Alfredo.
Lasagna: it was............ bad......... I don't know if its supposed to taste like this but the the noodles were either undercooked or they use some sort of grainer noodles that had a funkier texture than normal lasagna noodles. Definitely wouldn't recommend.
WARNING: I will be talking about prices! I know people are sensitive about this especially because inflation and supply and demand has made everything more expensive so to raise prices to a certain extent, I get it. I really do, a business gotta do what a business gotta do to survive. $30 FOR THE CHEAPEST PASTA? Is south city on some sort of inflation that NOBODY ELSE IS or maybe this restaurant imports the MOST expensive ingredients (and if they are - STOP bc you CANNOT taste it), but that is ABSURD. I've haven't seen prices like this for a $$ restaurant. I haven't seen these prices in fact, ANYWHERE. I was astonished. Now if the food was exceptional/good, it would make more sense. But for a tough veal? Um, no thank you.
DID WE TALK TO THE MANAGER/WAITER? NO. So is this partially our fault? ABSOLUTELY. I don't want to make it seem like we talked to the wait staff and nothing happened.
Was it my fault for not looking at the prices? Yes, but here I am, warning you. Prepare your wallets, prepare your hearts, prepare your stomaches. It's not gonna be a great time.
Helpful 4Thanks 0Love this 3Oh no 1Business owner information
Catherine And Julian M.
Nov 16, 2023
We take all customer feedback seriously, so please accept our sincere apology if you did not enjoy some of the entrees you ordered. Had you mentioned to our wait staff immediately that you were dissatisfied with any entrees, we would have offered you to try something else, or taken the cost of those entrees off your tab. We know that we don’t always get it 100% right, and unfortunately, when patrons are silent in real time instead of allowing us the opportunity to redeem the evening, and then they later decide to discuss their negative experience on a public social platform instead; it puts us, a small restaurant in the community at the disadvantage of not even having been given a chance at redemption.
As for our menu prices, please know that within the past 18 months, 3 Italian restaurants in this immediate area (Cypress to Grand) have permanently closed due to their inability to generate a profit. Running a restaurant on the Peninsula (from Palo Alto to South San Francisco); there is very little difference in cost of what is paid for wholesale, labor and overhead. - Aug 28, 2023
Ristorante Buon Gusto came up on a Italian search in the area and decided to come in. Reservations were very easy to get for a party of 4.
Upon arrival, the owner greeted and showed us to the table. Spacious restaurant with 1 tv.
The food was aright, nothing amazing or horrible. The noodles on every dish were nice Al dente.
The service was good throughout. There was a mistake on the order for 1 dish and they happily made it right. They even gave extra noodles to go with the leftovers to be packed up.Helpful 4Thanks 0Love this 3Oh no 1 - Oct 6, 2023
Came here for a birthday dinner. I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and it was extremely bland with no flavor at all. The chicken was super dry. It was pretty hard to eat, but I forced myself to finish it since it probably cost $40+.
Adding one star to this review because the hostess was very nice and gave us some free shots and a slice of cake for the birthday celebration.
Helpful 2Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
Catherine And Julian M.
Oct 6, 2023
We take all customer feedback seriously, so please accept our sincere apologies if you did not enjoy your meal. We do encourage guests to voice their dissatisfaction of any concerns directly to their waiter and/or manager on the floor in real-time so that we can attempt to make it right immediately. Had you mentioned the fact that you were not enjoying your meal to the waiter right away, we could have offered you to try something else, or at the very least taken the cost of that meal off the tab. We know that we don’t always get it 100% right, and unfortunately, when patrons are silent in real time instead of allowing us the opportunity to redeem the evening, and later decide to discuss their negative experience on a public social platform instead; it puts us at the disadvantage of not even having been given a chance at redemption.
Margarita L.San Francisco, CA934736Dec 21, 2023Good food , Excellent service really romantic ambience and you fall in love with this place the owner is just a wonderful man
Will definitely come back
Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0- Allan N.San Mateo, CA02Apr 14, 2024Updated review
Another great meal tonight at Buon Gusta, the meal was prepared with the right amount of spices and ingredients to prepare the perfect dinner.
Thank you Basa, Vincente, and the entire staff for a delightful evening.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
Catherine And Julian M.
Jun 24, 2019
Thank you for your positive feedback! It is very much appreciated! We are glad that we served you well.
Dec 26, 2023Previous reviewThank you for a wonderful meal. The food was cooked to perfection, and the staff is extremely supported.
Thank you, Basa and Vincento, plus their entire staff. Come for good food and great ambiance.
Allan N.Sep 30, 2023Previous reviewDinner in the early evening, perfect before the dinner crowd. Food, service, and atmosphere are outstanding.
Thank you, Basa, for taking care of my dinner needs. Quality food and great customer service
Allan NuttallAug 19, 2023Previous reviewWhat a great restaurant for dinner, I heard that they also served lunch. Food is excellent, hot and inviting, plus great prices.
Thank you, Basa, Vincenzo, and the entire staff. What a great dining experience.
Allan NJun 4, 2023Previous reviewThank you, Basa, Vincenzo, and staff. The veal was cooked to perfection, and I was able to cut it with a fork.
South San Francisco secret, tonight the restaurant was busy. Great food and the ambiance were outstanding.
Thank you for another great evening.
Allan NMar 19, 2023Previous reviewIt's a wet and cold evening, and it's a perfect time to eat at Ristorante Buon Gusto restaurant.
The food was excellent, and thank you, Basa, for taking care of my dinner needs.
Hope to see you at this family restaurant.Dec 4, 2022Previous reviewThank you again for a wonderful meal, on this cold and wet night. I was attended to by Basa, thank you for your excellent service and professionalism.
Jul 17, 2022Previous reviewTonight had a great meal, thank you Vincenzo for the care of me during my meal. You were available to my needs in a timely manner. Your professional toward me and the other customers was outstanding.
Thank you, VincenzoMar 15, 2022Previous reviewHad a great meal tonight, had to wait for a table, because the restaurant was full. The five star services is beyond your imagination.
Thank you Basa and Vitenchio for taking good care of me.
AllanOct 22, 2021Previous reviewI want to thank Basa and Vincenzo for the excellent service and the food was outstanding. The quality and selection of dishes are so good.
Nice environment to have dinner and friendly staff. Thank you Basa and Vincenzo.Mar 6, 2020Previous reviewThank you again for a great dinner, the atmosphere is inviting and the food is even better. Fast service and hot food, come and enjoy.
Thank you, Hanna and Julian making this experience over the top.Sep 27, 2019Previous reviewTonight again, what a wonderful dining experience, service was great, food delivered on time, was hot and very tasteful. Great location off Highway 101 in South San Francisco in the beginning of Grand Avenue.
Thank you to Hanna for your service tonight and the entire staff who contribute to the total dining experience.Jul 26, 2019Previous reviewWhat a wonderful evening and the LAMB was tender and cooked to perfection. This is a complete meal and it was so good. I highly recommend this restaurant for a great evening and experience.
Thank you Hanna for taking care of my every need to ensure that the meal was presented well and was cooked to perfection. Thank you for the owner, Julian for his attention to detail, ensure that all guest was greeted as they enter and when they left.
Great job !!!!Jun 5, 2019Previous reviewAnother great evening at the restaurant, thank you Julian, the manager for having a great meal available. Food was fresh and served hot, my glass never was empty. Great team and leadership.
Also, thank you Basa and Maria for taking care of me during my dinner.May 23, 2019Previous reviewWhat a great meal "Chicken Marsala ", cooked to perfection and the service was outstanding. Little crowded but felt with the attention, I was the only one in the restaurant. Excellent job.
Thank you Hanna, Basa and Julian making my Thursday evening meal worth coming back once again. - Jun 14, 2023Seated via Yelp Reservations
If you're thinking about going here, DO IT!!! Had such a wonderful time celebrating a birthday with our party of 5. We made a reservation in advance and were seated immediately on a Sunday evening. Our waitress, Basa, was AMAZING! She really went above and beyond to make this birthday special, from drinks to desserts, she knew exactly how to make this dinner a great experience.
Not only was the service A1, but the food and ambiance was also awesome. The restaurant has an old school Italian vibe with mood lighting. You can tell they have regular customers which is cool to see! Tables are intimate and you're given warm bread with dips and butter upon seating. Dinner and wine were great, I can't say enough good things about the handmade noodle lasagna. I'm still thinking about that sauce, so fresh! Don't skip out on the tiramisu, one of my favorites I've ever tasted!!
Had a great time and will be back soon. Can't wait to try more items next time. Hopefully Basa will be there again! :)
Helpful 2Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 1
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