Bel Gusto Restaurant

HELLO Pros: LOTS OF EMPTY SEATS Cons: FOOD, SERVICE more

My husband and I recently visited Bel Gusto on our Anniversary, and we both enjoyed the experience. We were pleasantly surprised by the menu, which is not the usual standard Italian restaurant menu. Although some entrees are pricey, there are plenty of reasonably priced options in the $15-$20 range. The chicken dishes we tried were very good. Pros: not too crowded; easy to get a table more

I found the restaurant had a lot of character with candles on the tables and low lighting. The service was good and the waitress was helpful about ideas on what to do during my visit. Most importantly, I enjoyed having a martini with my seafood and pasta dish. Also, if your staying in the hotel, you don't have to find parking. Pros: Large servings, liquor available, calm environment more

Surprised by quality and selection of the menu. The service was outstanding and I love the chocolate bomb was scrumptious. Pros: Plasma TV in Bar, Great menu, Service more

My mother-in-law suggested we dine at Bel Gusto because she was staying in the hotel where it's located, so we thought we'd give it a shot. On a Friday night at 6:30, ours was the only party there, which had me concerned. Two hours later, there were only 2 other parties, a worse sign still. The bean soup was tasty though much too salty, and my entree (linguine with a veal meat sauce and sausage) was very good. The food is considerably better than the decor, which reminds me of a cheesy Italian restaurant trying to look expensive. There was no salad bar, which was surprising because their website advertises it, and overall the dining experience was pretty bland. Not a place to take anyone to impress them. Maybe that's why it's located in a hotel. Pros: decent food, ample parking more

I had one of the best meals of my life, unexpectedly, at Bel Gusto. A friend of mine was staying in the hotel, and we decided to eat in and what a pleasure! I live in Raleigh, but I am sure that I will make this Durham restaurant part of my ""rotation."" more