Dig out your stretchy pants people. Gusto has launched a delicious new menu for the spring and summer months and it’s a cracker. It has all of the things you would expect from an Italian restaurant (delightfully crispy garlic pizza breads and a cracking bolognese) with a few excellent surprises thrown in (a pizza with a pea base and fried cod ravioli). Let’s eat.
When Gusto create a new menu, they really commit. It’s not just about new dishes but fancy drinks (not forgetting delightful non alcoholic fruit coolers that designated drivers will love). Instead of cliched cocktails, you’ll find inspiring concoctions that are guaranteed to tickle your fancy.
Mundane mojitos have been replaced with posh peach and passion fruit combos with a few exotic herbs thrown in for good measure. Say hello to my new favourite thing, the raspberry and rosemary sling.
Oh and speaking of exciting new things, well hello there, lovely shiny new bracelets. Rose gold bangles here, here and here. We ordered a few nibbles to enjoy while we chose our mains which included asparagus with parmesan and toasted cod ravioli with caper dressing. I can’t say I’ve ever had cod ravioli before but it was superb.
We can’t seem to visit Gusto without ordering one of their infamous garlic breads so why break tradition? Total. Carb. OVERLOAD.
Let’s move on the highlight of our evening, the Truffle Verdi pizza. As someone who doesn’t eat a lot of meat, you’d assume I’d be bored of eating pizzas but just when I think I’ve had my fill of pizza Gusto create this. Now I was slightly wary of the pea base but this has everything I love about pizza minus the guilt. This pizza is packed with courgettes, spinach, asparagus and peas, drizzled with truffle oil and sprinkled with parmesan. Delish!
Now I wasn’t supposed to get a dessert (wedding diet) but for the purpose of the review I opted for the baked alaska simply because I thought it would look pretty and I can’t possibly blog about the chocolate pizza again. Now this isn’t the best dessert on the menu (how can you beat a Nutella pizza?) but the presentation was more than a little exciting. It arrived at the table in an ordinary fashion before it was promtly set alight by the waiter. I got so excited about this dessert my photography skills took a nosedive. Note to self: things on fire are not easy to photograph.
Dessert with a side of drama. Now if you are going to fall off the diet bandwagon, this isn’t worth the calories. Opt for the Nutella Calzone. Have you been to Gusto? Have you tried the new menu? Have you ever managed to not order the Nutella Calzone?
PS I’ve heard rumours that there is soon to be a Gusto opening in Leeds city centre!! Race you there!!
Hungry? Book a table here.
