Yes, our first review of a restaurant was this one, Real Gusto. Why do this again? Things change and while I would love to spend the day eating everything that Real Gusto serves, I can’t be that fat man doing fat things. Last time I had the Toscana Pizza – https://medfordhappenings.com/2025/06/24/real-gusto/
I had fully intended to get a pasta dish this time around so I ordered the Chicken Lemon. Before we jump into the main course, I went full pig and ordered the appetizer of meatballs and polenta. This side was outstanding! Perfectly cooked meatballs and sauteed in brown gravy paired with a triangle of polenta. The polenta itself was pan fried and it was cooked perfectly, which gave you the correct amount of crunch when biting into it. This was a good start to an overall oustanding meal.
Next up was the main dish which was the Chicken Lemon. I am a big fan of this dish, for some of us old timers, you may remember first eating this dish at the former Polcaris in the North End. This dish was served a little differently, maybe because I may not have been paying attention. I thought this dish traditionally came with either angel hair pasta or linguine. This dish came to me with mashed potatoes, string beans and steamed carrots. The vegetables were cooked well. Its clear they weren’t sitting in water for a long time. I would have preferred my carrots cooked a little longer but that is nitpicking. The mash potatoes were perfect, neither mushy or too “rustic”. Despite my preference being pasta, this was still a good second. The chicken itself was cooked well, it wasn’t dry and it was easy to cut. The lemon sauce with capers can be a bit of a challenge for lesser restaurants but RG hits it out of the park. There was just the right amount of sauce without the dish swimming in it. This was a solid dish!
My son had the pepperoni pizza. As I’ve had this pizza too, I can say without hesitancy, this pizza is the perfect size. Its oven cooked and the personal size is just the right amount so you’re not feeling piggish if you eat the whole thing. The pizza is never greasy however I prefer the crust to be a bit firmer enough without being overcooked or burnt. That is just nitpicking. The taste is what separates good pizza from outstanding pizza and this is simply outstanding!
Misc thoughts
It must be noted, that I have never had good coffee at restaurants. In fact I generally make my own at home and just order water or an occasional coke because it tends to be terrible. Not so at Real Gusto. I had the Americano, although I could have opted in for an expresso but I’d rather not speed through the afternoon. Hands down, they serve the best coffee! Paired with the bread basket they provided, I just wish I had room for desert. Perhaps next time. I’ve mentioned this in the previous post and it bears repeating. This place is for people who are looking for a clean, elegant place to eat that has great ambiance as well as a pristine dining experience. They have a fully stocked wine selection, this would be a great place for formal gatherings or even the occasional date night. The noise level, even at its busiest allows you to carry on a conversation without the fear of the crowd noise drowning you out. I love this place and you will too. If you haven’t been, why not today? Next time I order the Chicken Lemon, I will request linguine pasta!
Check out their site for more info.
Real Gusto’s website – https://www.realitaliangusto.com/
Medford Happenings 
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