Gusto 501

What is Gusto 501? Anchoring the corner of King Street East and River Street in Corktown, Gusto 501 is restaurateur Janet Zuccarini’s dramatic east-side sibling to King West's Gusto 101. Designed by architectural firm PARTISANS, the space is a multi-tiered spectacle featuring textured terracotta block walls, mezzanine dining platforms, and a towering glass garage-door façade that opens onto the street. Seating ranges from intimate high-top bar counters and buzzing main-floor trattoria tables to the elevated Attico cocktail lounge up top.

Gusto 501 Menu & What to Order The kitchen turns out contemporary southern Italian comfort food with a wood-fired tilt alongside signature imports from the Gusto 54 roster. Do not skip the iconic Mafalde ai Funghi—wavy ribbons of pasta coated in a rich porcini, portobello, and oyster mushroom truffle cream—or the Cavolo Nero salad tossed with currants and toasted pine nuts. Pair your plates with a glass of the restaurant's crowd-favourite $1-per-ounce house vino or a seasonal spritz, and round out the meal with wood-fired sourdough pizzas like the hot honey-drizzled pepperoni.

Know Before You Go Evenings and weekend brunch fill up quickly, making reservations through the restaurant's website essential for prime dining hours, though walk-in seats are often available at the lower and upper bars. The 504 King streetcar stops steps from the entrance, while street parking along King East can be sparse during peak dinner rushes. Dinner runs daily from late afternoon onward, with a lively brunch service offered on Saturdays and Sundays.