How Gusto Boosted Efficiency with Toast: 30% Faster Table Turnover and 40% Reduced Ticket Time

Gusto Italian Grill & Bar, one of the busiest restaurants in Atlantic Canada, averaging over 11,000 covers per month, prides itself on offering a high-quality dining experience. However, their legacy POS system was hindering service and their guest experience.

The challenge

Before implementing Toast, Gusto faced several challenges:

Capacity Constraints: High demand often led to long wait times and limited table turnover. “We would find during the peak of our rush often for entrees, we could be waiting over an hour,” said Rean McKinley, Executive General Manager of Gusto Italian Grill & Bar.
Inefficient Operations: Manual processes and outdated technology hindered efficiency. “With other POS providers, the backend reporting is always so clunky and so technical and I almost feel like you need to have some sort of software degree to understand it.” said Rean.
Limited Data Insights: Lack of real-time data made it difficult to make informed decisions.

The solution

Seeking a modern, efficient, and user-friendly POS system, Gusto turned to Toast. Impressed by its intuitive interface and robust features, they implemented a comprehensive suite of Toast products.

As an independent business, every dollar matters that much more, and Toast has allowed us to increase our capacity, streamline operations, and provide an elevated guest experience that supports both our bottom line and our reputation,” said Rean.

"As an independent business, every dollar matters that much more, and Toast has allowed us to increase our capacity, streamline operations, and provide an elevated guest experience that supports both our bottom line and our reputation."
Rean McKinley

Executive General Manager

The results

Since adopting Toast, Gusto achieved:

30% faster table turnover: “Before switching to Toast, hitting 600 covers in a night was a rare accomplishment for Gusto. Now, 600 covers has become a standard Saturday night for us. Thanks to Toast’s efficiency, we’ve not only reached 700 covers but surpassed it twice in 2024—a milestone we never imagined achieving before.”¹
40% reduction in ticket time: “The stress levels for the kitchen have been dramatically reduced,” Rean explains. “With Toast’s KDS system, we’ve optimized our kitchen workflow where ticket times are better than ever.”¹
Improved customer experience: Toast handhelds improved order accuracy, expedited table turns, and increased guest interaction. Resin shared, “The Toast Handhelds have been a game changer. Servers were initially hesitant but quickly embraced the technology, leading to more engaging guest interactions.”
Data-driven insights: “The backend reporting has been a dream, providing insights that help us operate strategically and make data-driven decisions.

¹These results are self-reported by Gusto Bar & Grill. Individual results will vary.