Some restaurants hold such good memories, that walking in to them is like greeting an old friend. This sums up how I feel about Gusto* Albert Dock, where I have dined for many years and the waterside location makes this such an attractive place to eat. Inside, the stylish interior includes dark wood, mirrored wall details and twinkling fairy lights which create a timeless charm. The food at Gusto is Italian inspired and you will find a range of pizza, pasta and salads on the menu alongside seafood and steaks.
We went along to check out the new Gusto summer menu recently and after settling at a table by the window we sipped chilled Pinot Grigio and started the meal with cheese and truffle crispy ravioli while we pondered what to order. I was introduced to the joys of fried ravioli and tortellini during a press trip to Verona and these were as good as any I tried in Italy, stuffed with Stracchino cheese and laced with truffle oil and romesco sauce - the flavours were simple and delicious.
No visit to Gusto is complete without an order of garlic bread and the garlic pizza bread with rosemary and sea salt never disappoints.
We moved on to starters and my dining companion's choice of Milanese style meatballs was a hearty dish with a real depth of flavour to the hand rolled meatballs, dusted with Gran Moravia cheese and served in a tangy lightly spiced tomato sauce.
My choice of king prawns, pan fried with pickled fennel, tomato, caper and chilli oil packed in a wealth of flavours – the prawns were cooked to retain their succulence while the chilli oil added a pleasant kick of spice.
I was impressed to see some vegan dishes joining the menu, including the Vegano pizza (tomato base, courgette, pine nuts, caramelised onion, roast peppers, cauliflower rice, and rocket) and my eye was immediately drawn to the spaghetti verdi, which is also available as a vegan option. The generous portion of spaghetti had a vibrant green colour thanks to soya beans, French beans and pea shoots and the wealth of bold summery flavours made this a perfect choice of main course for a sunny evening.
Sides of polenta chips and Italian fried courgettes completed the feast – these are a good choice of sides to share as the polenta chips are chunky and indulgent while the courgette fries are a slightly healthier spin on French fries.
The pizzas at Gusto are not to be missed - thin and crispy, the dough is made from scratch in-house daily. My dining companion enjoyed the Pepperoni salsiccia, heaped with pepperoni and mozzarella which is available with extra chilli if you are feeling brave.
On to dessert and the evening was a little to warm for my usual favourite Gusto pud – the Nutella calzone which is freshly baked to order. Instead I rounded off the meal with a warm chocolate and hazelnut brownie with salted caramel ice cream and dark chocolate sauce.
My dining companion meanwhile went for the homemade Gusto Tiramisu served in a towering slab, with smooth layers of creamy mascarpone and just enough of a boozy undertone.
Dining at Gusto always leaves me feeling contented and the combination of impressive food, service and stylish surroundings makes it a consistently reliable dining destination in Liverpool. The new menu has some interesting additions which are definitely worth checking out.
What do you all think, do you like the sound of Gusto and which of these dishes would you try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.
What do you all think, do you like the sound of Gusto and which of these dishes would you try? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.
Until next time,
Camille
xo
*I was invited to try the new menu by Gusto, this meal was complimentary. All opinions expressed herein are my own and honest.
