Moody Street Restaurant Mile, Waltham, MA · $$
The word Gustazo means great pleasure and “darse or dar un Gustazo” means to treat oneself or someone else to something special. Located at 240 Moody Street in Waltham, Gustazo aims to bring authentic Cuban flavors to the vibrant Boston restaurant scene. Its festive and original decor embodies the spirit of Havana, with elements of Spanish colonial architecture, reminiscence of the 1950s and colorful Cuban modern art. In the kitchen, modern interpretations of classic Cuban dishes are crafted daily with the best available ingredients. When visiting this lively neighborhood restaurant, savoring our authentic Cuban fare and listening to our carefully selected compilation of Cuban music, we aim that you our guest, will have a Gustazo!
“Get the Santiago sour! I lowered my expectations because it was closing time for the restaurant. They were gracious enough to fill my to go order and the bar made me the most excellent cocktails. The Santiago sour is so delicious! Very smooth and creamy. I had the empanada del dia and I can’t wait to come back tomorrow and order it again. The ropa vieja was so flavorful! Perfect sauce and friend plantain. Reminded me why I love Cuban food. Beautiful restaurant and amazing service. They went above and beyond what I would expect. I would have totally understood having to cancel my order.”
“Best Cuban food in the area. We started with small plates and all the dishes were very flavorful. Our group had three different dishes and all were wonderful. The atmosphere reminds of a Cuban movie you seen on tv. The service was good and he was very attentive.”
“Very busy Saturday night service at the Moody Street Waltham location but the waitress, bartender and kitchen timed everything perfectly. Loved the ginger mojito and Hemingway Daiquiri. Table a shared Squash blossom salad, beef empanadas, pork tacos and lamb chops. Salad, empanadas and tacos stood out. Pan roasted chicken dish was fantastic and other family/friends raved about the bass and yuca fries didn't disappoint. We split the churros and loved them too. Easy parking behind building (free after 6pm). We will return :-)”
“Easily our favorite Cuban restaurant in New England. (And my Mom was born in Cuba, so I am both intimately familiar with & very picky about good, authentic Cuban food!) The atmosphere is cozy with dim, soothing, easy-on-the-eyes lighting, high ceilings, and vintage “old Cuba” inspired artwork/ambiance. For apps: yuca frita, empanadas, croquetas de jamon are our go-tos. The ropa vieja & puerco asado are our favorite comfort food meals; if you’re doing apps, the meals are definitely big enough to share. Their mojitos are exceptional and refreshing with just enough mint. We’ve never had room for dessert, but one of these days, we’re dying to try the churros because they look to die for! All in all, we’ve been to Gustazo’s a few dozen times over the past six years, both for intimate date nights and also bigger gatherings like birthday/grad parties, and the food and service are always stellar. Grateful to have a Cuban gem like this in Massachusetts!”
“The restaurant has a lively, energetic atmosphere, and our server was genuinely friendly and attentive. I also appreciated how seriously they handled my nut allergy, despite the menu’s blanket disclaimer about cross-contamination. The Croquetas de Hongos were easily the highlight: well-balanced, paired with a great sauce, and impressively light for a fried dish. Unfortunately, the rest didn’t live up to the promise, or the price tag. Charging Boston-level prices in the suburbs feels unjustified, especially when the main dishes lack depth. Both the Ropa Vieja and Puerco Asado were aggressively salty, to the point that flavor was flattened rather than enhanced. I kept wishing for more plantains just to counterbalance the salt. Overall, some bright spots, but not enough consistency to justify the cost.”
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