I've been a couple times. The food, staff, and atmosphere are all great. I especially love the Caesar salad.
Rajat Kapoor
Food, service and vibe, all were great. The pizzas were amazing. Drink menu is limited but it has everything for everyone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emily Wing
Amazing food! One of the best pizza’s in Ottawa. Excellent selection of mocktails as well.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sandrine Raymond
great little spot to go out for drinks, food looked delicious, worth a shot. The service is good as well. Very cozy, perfect spot to catch up or for a date.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Naseem M.
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!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Armand Tsai
Delicious food and drinks, although a bit pricey. Excellent service and nice atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Julie
Always so good. We love the simple, yet eclectic menu options. The food is always fresh and cooked to perfection. The staff, superb! And the overall vibe at Retro is just so inviting. Thanks Retro, for another delicious meal.
Barbara
Burrata appetizer was delicious, the Focaccia was very flavourful. Wine and cocktails were very good. Service was friendly and helpful. The pizza was disappointing. I fully expected thin crust pizza and I enjoy them but the crust was soft and not crisp and the flavour was disappointing
Noémie
Very good and fun experience, maybe just make sure to have the client taste before serving a full glass of wine! :)
Very tasty food with good service in a casual and nice atmosphere. This place is busy for a reason! I recommend enjoying the experience as well.
Amira Nour
This place has amazing pizzas. It's a must try! The only drawback is the few vegan options.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Christopher
Great space. Warm service. Great for a quick bite, or a multiple course adventure. Everything was seasoned incredibly. The pizzas are nice and light, and balanced. I recommend getting a couple and sharing. Beers are cold. Cocktails are dope. The staff seemed stoked. Everything was great. Ottawa staple for me.
Carly Smith
Had an excellent anniversary dinner with my husband last night. We had the lamb skewers and 2 pizzas, as well as some wonderful beverages. My husband had a carefully crafted cocktail and a beer, and I was very happy to see some craft non-alcoholic drinks on the menu. Chris gave us wonderful service and his recommendations were on point. Can’t wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Owen Meunier
Best dining experience in Ottawa! I love Italian food, and Retro Gusto is simply the best. The quality of the food is extraordinary— the Salamino pizza can’t be beat! The entire staff is extremely kind, energetic, and always go out of their way to help. Make sure to make a reservation in advance.
I've been a couple times. The food, staff, and atmosphere are all great. I especially love the Caesar salad.
Food, service and vibe, all were great. The pizzas were amazing. Drink menu is limited but it has everything for everyone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food! One of the best pizza’s in Ottawa. Excellent selection of mocktails as well.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
great little spot to go out for drinks, food looked delicious, worth a shot. The service is good as well. Very cozy, perfect spot to catch up or for a date.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
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!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food and drinks, although a bit pricey. Excellent service and nice atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Always so good. We love the simple, yet eclectic menu options. The food is always fresh and cooked to perfection. The staff, superb! And the overall vibe at Retro is just so inviting. Thanks Retro, for another delicious meal.
Burrata appetizer was delicious, the Focaccia was very flavourful. Wine and cocktails were very good. Service was friendly and helpful. The pizza was disappointing. I fully expected thin crust pizza and I enjoy them but the crust was soft and not crisp and the flavour was disappointing
Very good and fun experience, maybe just make sure to have the client taste before serving a full glass of wine! :)
Restaurantji Recommends
Very tasty food with good service in a casual and nice atmosphere. This place is busy for a reason! I recommend enjoying the experience as well.
This place has amazing pizzas. It's a must try! The only drawback is the few vegan options.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Great space. Warm service. Great for a quick bite, or a multiple course adventure. Everything was seasoned incredibly. The pizzas are nice and light, and balanced. I recommend getting a couple and sharing. Beers are cold. Cocktails are dope. The staff seemed stoked. Everything was great. Ottawa staple for me.
Had an excellent anniversary dinner with my husband last night. We had the lamb skewers and 2 pizzas, as well as some wonderful beverages. My husband had a carefully crafted cocktail and a beer, and I was very happy to see some craft non-alcoholic drinks on the menu. Chris gave us wonderful service and his recommendations were on point. Can’t wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best dining experience in Ottawa! I love Italian food, and Retro Gusto is simply the best. The quality of the food is extraordinary— the Salamino pizza can’t be beat! The entire staff is extremely kind, energetic, and always go out of their way to help. Make sure to make a reservation in advance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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