We dropped into Gus' Place recently for a quick lunch and were pleasantly surprised.
The outdoor seating is enclosed, so you get fresh air without too much sun, the service was prompt and friendly, and best of all, our food was yummy and generously-portioned. (They are generous when pouring wine, too!)
Very popular with the working lunch crowd, quick service, comfortable seating, decent prices and a good portion size and tasty meal.
I've been to Gus' quite a few times over the past year and I've always enjoyed the food (the chicken pesto linguine is my favourite) but most of the time the service is terrible. You can literally see staff avoiding eye contact with customers so they don't have to come over to tables, are they afraid of us?? I've always had to wait a long time for someone to get my order and it's mission impossible to wave someone over to ask for another drink or something. Having said that there has consistently been one staff member, a young girl who not only has been always genuinely friendly but also prompt with service that I commend. In the days leading up to Christmas last year Gus' was sold out of a few items on the menu, it was super busy and very humid outside but this girl powered through, staying friendly and joking around with customers and visibly working very hard. I will continue to dine at Gus' when I'm in Canberra but I stopped getting my hopes up for great service a long time ago.
Overall I think Gus' is overrated. I don't think the food, service or coffee are anything to be raved about. Last time I went here for lunch our meals came out only luke warm and were expensive for the size. The waiting staff generally seemed like they'd rather be anywhere else and were more interested in discussing their weekend plans with each other. I wouldn't bother going here again.
The original and the best cafe in Canberra - it's got the right atmosphere, and the first outdoor eating area in town - so everyone else is a follower. I grab a chai there every morning - the staff are very friendly and greet me by my first name, and the chai is excellent (not weak and milky like most cafes make them) and REALLY fast service, other cafes make you wait up to 20 minutes for a medium drink, but I'm in and out of Gus' in 5 mins. The breakfasts are brilliant, and I've had the burgers a few times too and they're great. I wish they'd bring back the vegetable salad stack, that was incredibly delicious, but they have other great salads to choose from. A really lovely place to relax.
Approximate cost: $20.00
Breakfast here is amazing!
There is always so much food and for such a good price. It is fresh and tasty and perfect for a Sunday. It was quite busy when we went in but there were a few tables still available. There are also outdoor heaters for our freezing Canberra days which is great.
Try the chicken and avocado sandwich for lunch. This is a favourite. Also the breakfasts are great. Poached eggs and bacon on thick cut toast.
Good breakfast and good coffee.
Little but reluctant to go there after they were closed for breaching food safety requirements earlier this year.
Approximate cost: $Avg.
I've had some good coffees and some ok food at Gus's. I know it's an institution, but I really can't see why. The service is offensively slow/indifferent and with so many cafes around that strip, why not go somewhere else?
On the food front, they do decent enough breakfasts. It's probably on par with some of the better breakfast places in Canberra that I've tried, but I really think that's because I haven't found any great places yet.
Worth trying because it's so famous - but then I'd try all the other ones along that strip (and never went back to Gus's).
Approximate cost: $15
Gus' has the best chicken and avocado sandwich in town, with friendly and quick service. A great spot for your coffee shop catch-up :)
Approximate cost: $13
I agree with this review. Great coffee and even better ambiance.
Gus's is a great place to go for a nice lunch or a coffee. just one of many great places in civic for a quick meal or coffee
Lovely place to have a casual catch up with some friends- the atmosphere is fantastic and the food is always a pretty sure bet. The hot turkish apple tea is a great choice.
I really like Gus'. It's always a sure bet for decent food. The location really makes it - right in the heart of Canberra with ample dessert/bar options! Of course, you can never say no to an all-day breakfast menu either.
Approximate cost: $20
Always go here for breakfast whenever I am in Canberra. The Eggs benedict is really good.
Good location in the city also, and is always busy - but always seem to fit you in somewhere. And the staff are always on top of things.
Coffee is really good as well.
Approximate cost: $20 avg meal
I have been to Gus's on a number of occasions, it's in a great location and the food is good. The staff are competent and friendly and the atmosphere is great! The prices are reasonable though the inside register area is often crowded and it is hard to make your way to pay. Overall this is a great place to stop for a coffee or a meal.
I go to Guss's quite often as the coffee is GREAT! The staff are also very friendly, obliging and attentive. The food is quite nice but a bit expensive and sometimes a bit fussy. The fixed menu doesn't have enough scope and the specials are usually as expensive if not moreso than the regular menu. The surcharge on Sunday's and Public Holidays is a bit over the top too. But having said all that, most days you'll find me there at some stage having a delicious flat white.
Approximate cost: $20.00
This cafe can be a bit hit and miss. I've had a Caesar salad their three times. The first two times it was lovely, but the third was horrid, and that same night my boyfriend has soggy battered fish. I guess if you get the good cook then this is a good place to eat.
Gus' is one of those Canberra icons, and in my experience has always been worth the hype. All day breakfast, a great variety of food options and fair prices make it a good place to eat. The atmosphere and (as others have mentioned) people watching opportunities make it easy to sit and watch/talk for a whole afternoon. Just don't rely on getting a table on Fri/Sat night and you'll be ok!
Approximate cost: $15-30
While visiting Canberra I read of this place and we had breakfast there. Superb espresso coffee and a beautiful omelette with potato, capsicum, onion, cheese, chorizo. I would love to eat there again. a bit pricey but the quality justifies it. Access to a loo but you need ot ask staff for a key.
Approximate cost: $16
I love this place. Great location most of the time the staff are on the ball. Awesome place to people watch and good food from breakfast through to dinner.
I too had heard really great things about this place before visiting, but it failed to live up to the hype. We went for dinner on a friday night. The place was buzzing and very crowded. I had some chicken which was cold and undercooked and the waitress unapologetic. I eat what I could and left, but definitely not going back.
Approximate cost: $25
Went to Gus for dinner after a 5 month absence. The food was good - the pastas were tasty but the smoked salmon sandwich was kind of bland. For some reason, the salmon was pretty tasteless. Fortunately, our delicious mortal sin cake made up for it...it came with both cream and ice-cream. Service is also much friendlier than before.
Approximate cost: $15
Had heard really great things about this place before visiting, but didn't live up to the hype. Went for lunch during the week and sat inside. It was really nice and cosy in there and a good place to people watch. I ordered from the all day breakfast menu - Gus' special omelette. There wasn't anything special about it, very bland and not much filling. Dissapointed.
Approximate cost: $19