Gusto D' Amore

The husbeast and I wanted to try someplace new for dinner, so we went to what used to be "Pauls" and now it's Gusto D' Amore, a pizza joint with a bar and other food. Stepping in, we thought maybe it was karaoke night, because we heard someone singing pretty flatly. But no, this was the evening's entertainment. There was an Honest to God Lounge singer, complete with smarmy leisure suit and keyboard. He was singing all our "favorites" from the 60's and 70's but not doing them justice. he wasn't on key , pathetically flat and lacked enthusiasm. I can't blame him for the latter, as no one seemed to care he was there.

The interior of the place was inviting, the food smelled good, so we looked over the menu and placed an order for a starter of Garlic Cheese bread and marinara sauce. Our main would be a large "Special" Pie ( Peperoni, Sausage, Onions, Mushrooms and green peppers - anchovies by request)

The bread was tasty, but odd, because it appeared there was Mozz & American cheese? There was some garlic, but not a lot of it to flavor the bread, but it was crispy where it counted and the Marinara sauce was tasty.

The pizza was a different story though. The toppings were tasty and fresh. The peperoni was sparse as was the sausage and mushroom but the onions and green peppers were plentiful. And the crust was.. well it was not the worst I've ever had, but it was like cardboard. It was thick and had a flavor almost like a saltine without the light/flakiness.

The service was OK. Our waiter, Hunter was brand new and though he felt like he was stumbling over everything, he really wasn't. He was polite and helpful and very sweet. We'll come back, to try something OTHER than the pizza, and pray the entertainment ISN'T the same lounge singer.

Is there a negative star? Luckily the server was nice because the food was horrible! I am not even picky but the chicken looked like it had a bad cold before they cooked it. The sauce looked like urine and tasted like frozen butter.
Cheese sticks were at least cheesy that's good!

Oh and don't drink the water, it tastes funky

So good! This is my favorite pizza. I also had the chicken Parmesan once and the filet, which was delicious! My bf and I ordered the twin filet and split it, which turned out to be a good deal. The pizza though!!!

Awesome service, delicious food, clean and tasteful! Must try the stuffed shrimp. It had a wonderful kick. I will definitely return!

The party salad is good.
The cheese pizza was not. Greasy and cold in the center.
Service was slow.
The band playing covers was way too loud for the room, made conversation impossible.

Great hospitality and I had the Alfredo with chicken its for two lol wing are great to and my lady had the calzone fried they AAAsst it all the way around owe yea the beer cold and had a Long Island nice

The Worst ATTITUDE I have ever seen in ANY restaurant I have EVER been in.

I asked the waiter if I could have a shrimp Parmesian dinner without breading the shrimp.

The waiter politely said "I'll have to ask the chef."

No problem Sir we can make it for you.

Out comes the food and guess what it's breaded.

So I sent it back I said that's not what I ordered.

The chef refuses to serve me.

Some very stern 'hostess' comes over and says you ordered it now eat it.

You ordered it you can't send it back

I said why can't I send it back I didn't want breaded shrimp

The lady is very stern but she's not very smart.

She says because Parmesian means with bread

No

Parmesian means with cheese- like Parmesian cheese, get it?

You don't have to be fluent in Italian to figure that out but if you happen to own an Italian restaurant perhaps you should know anyway

I felt like the soup Nazi no soup for you!

They refuse to remake it

It was the most uncomfortable feeling I've ever had in any restaurant where we go to to relax not to be yelled at by the truant officer

There are hundreds of mediocre and better Italian restaurants this place has no business being in business.

Tarpon Springs is known the world over for good food and great hospitality. This is unconscionable and taints the excellent reputation of the many wonderful restaurants in Tarpon springs.

Italian restaurant my ass. Ordered the Chicken Parm. It tastes like a frozen Banquet dinner. I seriously got maybe 4 bites of pasta with my meal. My house salad had absolutely no lettuce as well.
Not to mention the prices for this place is absolutely absurd for the quality and amount of food you get.
I have never in my life seen an Italian restaurant blast country music and have people singing country and line dancing around. If your under the age of 60 this isn't a place for you. If your older 60 perfect.
Maybe they should take down the old seafood decor that's around the restaurant since they don't have any. What a joke of a place.
The motto of this place is " what we serve you is what you get," if you don't like it so be it, as explained from another reviewer
Owner should be ashamed of himself!!!!!
And he can suck on my ballzzzzzzzz :)

Better this visit. Server was really friendly but service was very slow. Food is nothing special.

Love the cowboy single-man-cover band and the Villages party scene ;)

Had take out pizza which was pretty good so wanted to try it. Live music so loud could not even walk in the door. Seated at nice outside table, and server came over relatively promptly. Ordered wine and appetizer and after 20 minutes wine arrived. Calamari was pretty good, highlight of meal. Waited one hour for entrees- Lasagna was inedible- mass of melted cheese with covered with sauce with no pasta- Chicken Parm was not bad frozen breaded patty with bland sauce and over cooked pasta. Sent Lasagna back and when it was not taken off bill asked to see manager. First was told to go inside to see owner- COME ON- and when asked for him to come out a grumpy old Italian man started arguing with us how good the Lasagna was-
Think the writer of the other review has not been to a good Italian restaurant- Will stick to Pensare ,Massimos and casa Ludvico- will not return to this place where owner argues with customers- fugetabout it