Gusto 501 has finally opened its doors at 501 King St. East after years of anticipation.

The new Corktown restaurant has been on the culinary radar since it was announced back in 2013. Gusto 54, the same restaurant group behind Gusto 101, Trattoria Nervosa and Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen has officially unveiled the neighbourhood’s largest eatery.

“When we purchased the property, I had this gut feeling. There was something special about this neighbourhood that felt exciting, undiscovered. I took a chance on Corktown, believing it would be the ideal home for our next big project,” said Janet Zuccarini, CEO and owner of Gusto 54 Restaurant Group.

The five-level space boasts a ground-floor dining room, semi-private amari lounge, cocktail bar, top-floor chef tasting kitchen and a seasonal rooftop patio.

The menu features classics from Gusto 101, as well as fresh takes on contemporary Italian fare.

Designed by award-winning firm PARTISANS, the restaurant’s interior spaces offer as much of an experience as the food. The former auto body shop is now an immersive space with terracotta walls and an oversized garage door façade that opens to reveal a multi-level dining theatre.

Service will include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Gusto 501 features a cafe, wood-fired grill and pizza oven and the Attico — a nod to the Italian spuntini bar — for cocktails and sharing plates.

Gusto 501 is located at 501 King St. East. Visit gusto501.com for more information and to check out the menus.