Server at the bar was very attentive! But in terms of the food, however, the bread was easily the best part of the meal. My friend’s ravioli was very underdone to the point she decided to package it up so she could just cook it more at home. The $35 scallop pasta special in a “garlic cream” sauce was extremely dry - I didn’t even think it came with sauce. They also didn’t have the AC turned on during a hot/humid night which made dining generally uncomfortable the whole time. Pretty disappointing experience overall unfortunately
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 5
Jennifer Vitt
Delicious food and fantastic customer service. The staff were very attentive and a true example of what excellent customer service looks like.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Trish Hrytsak
Absolutely fantastic experience at Gussie’s! We came for dinner prior to The Second City. Service was superior and we never felt rushed, despite it being a Friday night. The bread is inexplicably amazing 🤤. Pasta was cooked perfectly (manicotti and ravioli was our order) and then tiramisu for dinner. Excellent meal and excellent experience!
Nathar McConnell
When i read “handmade pasta”, I thought this place might actually be authentic and good. Instead it’s the typical italian american restaurant—you know, the kind with kitschy Sinatra-esque music, excessive garlic and oil, overcooked pasta, and aggressively acidic thick tomato red sauce. Its slightly elevated, but there is zero chance my ravioli was made fresh that day—texture was totally off. The meatballs were decent. The worst though was the complementary bread—it was sooo oily and gross—I cannot believe how people like it—its literally the exact opposite of anything you’d get in Italy. Honestly I regretted my meal here (especially for the price) and wouldnt go back.
And yes before anyone questions it, I spent at least a month or two in Italy every year.
Pass on this place—like every other dime a dozen american italian places
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Demetry Pikrallidas
Outstanding !
From the moment we stepped through the door, we knew we were in for something special. Owner David has created more than just a restaurant—he’s crafted a warm, welcoming experience that blends hospitality with culinary excellence. His passion for quality and community shines in every detail, and it’s no wonder this place has quickly become a standout.
Our server, Brian, was equally impressive—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about the menu. His thoughtful recommendations elevated the evening and made us feel like VIPs.
Let’s talk food—because wow.
The meatballs? Absolutely divine. Tender, perfectly seasoned, and served in a rich tomato sauce that could easily stand on its own. These are the kind of meatballs that make you close your eyes and savor every bite.
The Italian chopped salad was crisp, vibrant, and impeccably balanced. Each ingredient—from the olives to the salami to the sharp provolone—brought something special to the table, all brought together by a zesty vinaigrette that didn’t overpower.
But the showstopper? The pappardelle with wild boar ragù. This dish is a masterpiece. The pasta was silky and fresh, the wild boar slow-cooked to perfection in a hearty, flavorful sauce that was both rustic and refined. It’s the kind of dish that leaves a lasting impression.
The bread at beginning of the meal was memorable - Warm, crusty, and filled with a delicate blend of mascarpone and cream cheese—paired with herb-infused olive oil—it was nothing short of addictive. It’s the kind of bread that makes you grateful you sat down to eat.
In short, this place isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an experience. David and his team are doing something truly special here, and we can’t wait to come back.
Five stars !
Arlene Anderson
Our server Brian was so sweet and the care and quality put into the food was apparent! Everything tasted so good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Signature Garlic Bread
Moe Ali
Party of 3. We ordered the fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp, the Chicken Parm and the chicken pacatta. The food was fresh and really good. The service by all including the host was very attentive and excellent. It took a while to get our food after we ordered (about 50 min) and the tables were very close to each other. Place looks like an old diner converted into a nice Italian place. Would definitely go back for the food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Some Random Dude
Unfortunately, this was one of the most disappointing date night experiences we’ve had. The meatballs were underwhelming (3/10), and the carbonara was overcooked and didn’t taste quite right (2/10). The seating arrangement was also very uncomfortable — my wife and I were placed directly across from another couple, which made for an awkward dining experience. I do want to say our waitress was lovely and attentive. That said, we don’t plan on returning.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Gaby
had a reservation, was late due to getting rear ended. the host was incredibly understanding and accommodating and said he wanted to give us a reason to smile. we had attentive and lovely service, the food was great, the drinks were strong and the vibes were great. to our surprise, the tiramisu we ordered was complimentary as our server had heard we had a car accident earlier. this was a wonderful experience, especially after such a chaotic start to our evening. will 100% go again and recommend you give this nice place a visit 😊
Overall, Gussie’s was good. Great options for pasta- very unique flavors that they combined. I recommend the chicken parm / chicken piccata. All of the appetizers were excellent. Good flavoring across the table, paired with great service from the waiter/bus boys. Recommend coming here
Great handmade pastas! I went with my mother without a reservation and we fully enjoyed our experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kristina Bigelow
Delicious!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gianna Davis
Gussie’s is a legit gem in Old Town. Right across from Second City, it’s the perfect spot for a pre-show bite or a chill dinner. The garlic bread? Straight-up addictive. I had the classic spaghetti carbonara, rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. Their ravioli is another standout, fresh and comforting. The staff is friendly and attentive, making you feel right at home. I spent about $50, and every penny was worth it. If you're in the area, don't miss this place.
bread is next level
Server at the bar was very attentive! But in terms of the food, however, the bread was easily the best part of the meal. My friend’s ravioli was very underdone to the point she decided to package it up so she could just cook it more at home. The $35 scallop pasta special in a “garlic cream” sauce was extremely dry - I didn’t even think it came with sauce. They also didn’t have the AC turned on during a hot/humid night which made dining generally uncomfortable the whole time. Pretty disappointing experience overall unfortunately
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 5
Delicious food and fantastic customer service. The staff were very attentive and a true example of what excellent customer service looks like.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely fantastic experience at Gussie’s! We came for dinner prior to The Second City. Service was superior and we never felt rushed, despite it being a Friday night. The bread is inexplicably amazing 🤤. Pasta was cooked perfectly (manicotti and ravioli was our order) and then tiramisu for dinner. Excellent meal and excellent experience!
When i read “handmade pasta”, I thought this place might actually be authentic and good. Instead it’s the typical italian american restaurant—you know, the kind with kitschy Sinatra-esque music, excessive garlic and oil, overcooked pasta, and aggressively acidic thick tomato red sauce. Its slightly elevated, but there is zero chance my ravioli was made fresh that day—texture was totally off. The meatballs were decent. The worst though was the complementary bread—it was sooo oily and gross—I cannot believe how people like it—its literally the exact opposite of anything you’d get in Italy. Honestly I regretted my meal here (especially for the price) and wouldnt go back.
And yes before anyone questions it, I spent at least a month or two in Italy every year.
Pass on this place—like every other dime a dozen american italian places
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Outstanding ! From the moment we stepped through the door, we knew we were in for something special. Owner David has created more than just a restaurant—he’s crafted a warm, welcoming experience that blends hospitality with culinary excellence. His passion for quality and community shines in every detail, and it’s no wonder this place has quickly become a standout. Our server, Brian, was equally impressive—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about the menu. His thoughtful recommendations elevated the evening and made us feel like VIPs. Let’s talk food—because wow. The meatballs? Absolutely divine. Tender, perfectly seasoned, and served in a rich tomato sauce that could easily stand on its own. These are the kind of meatballs that make you close your eyes and savor every bite. The Italian chopped salad was crisp, vibrant, and impeccably balanced. Each ingredient—from the olives to the salami to the sharp provolone—brought something special to the table, all brought together by a zesty vinaigrette that didn’t overpower. But the showstopper? The pappardelle with wild boar ragù. This dish is a masterpiece. The pasta was silky and fresh, the wild boar slow-cooked to perfection in a hearty, flavorful sauce that was both rustic and refined. It’s the kind of dish that leaves a lasting impression. The bread at beginning of the meal was memorable - Warm, crusty, and filled with a delicate blend of mascarpone and cream cheese—paired with herb-infused olive oil—it was nothing short of addictive. It’s the kind of bread that makes you grateful you sat down to eat. In short, this place isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an experience. David and his team are doing something truly special here, and we can’t wait to come back. Five stars !
Our server Brian was so sweet and the care and quality put into the food was apparent! Everything tasted so good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Signature Garlic Bread
Party of 3. We ordered the fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp, the Chicken Parm and the chicken pacatta. The food was fresh and really good. The service by all including the host was very attentive and excellent. It took a while to get our food after we ordered (about 50 min) and the tables were very close to each other. Place looks like an old diner converted into a nice Italian place. Would definitely go back for the food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unfortunately, this was one of the most disappointing date night experiences we’ve had. The meatballs were underwhelming (3/10), and the carbonara was overcooked and didn’t taste quite right (2/10). The seating arrangement was also very uncomfortable — my wife and I were placed directly across from another couple, which made for an awkward dining experience. I do want to say our waitress was lovely and attentive. That said, we don’t plan on returning.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
had a reservation, was late due to getting rear ended. the host was incredibly understanding and accommodating and said he wanted to give us a reason to smile. we had attentive and lovely service, the food was great, the drinks were strong and the vibes were great. to our surprise, the tiramisu we ordered was complimentary as our server had heard we had a car accident earlier. this was a wonderful experience, especially after such a chaotic start to our evening. will 100% go again and recommend you give this nice place a visit 😊
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Overall, Gussie’s was good. Great options for pasta- very unique flavors that they combined. I recommend the chicken parm / chicken piccata. All of the appetizers were excellent. Good flavoring across the table, paired with great service from the waiter/bus boys. Recommend coming here
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Signature Garlic Bread, Classic Spaghetti Carbonara, Grilled Octopus, Tagliatelle with Meatballs, Sandwich, Spanish Octopus
Great handmade pastas! I went with my mother without a reservation and we fully enjoyed our experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gussie’s is a legit gem in Old Town. Right across from Second City, it’s the perfect spot for a pre-show bite or a chill dinner. The garlic bread? Straight-up addictive. I had the classic spaghetti carbonara, rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. Their ravioli is another standout, fresh and comforting. The staff is friendly and attentive, making you feel right at home. I spent about $50, and every penny was worth it. If you're in the area, don't miss this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Signature Garlic Bread, Classic Spaghetti Carbonara
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