As a Londoner born and bred, I like to think that I have a built-in sense of direction, but walking along a quiet residential street in Pimlico, I was beginning to question my skills. Tucked away by the Salvation Army with views of Westminster Cathedral in the distance is where Gustoso Bar and Ristorante sits.
Walking into the restaurant we were warmly greeted by Roberto and instantly any hesitations I had that the restaurant might well be hidden for good reason were instantaneously put at ease. Gustoso has a contemporary and fresh interior. I was slightly surprised that the restaurant was full to the air conditioning ducts with patrons on a Wednesday evening. We were shown to our table, which had views of the chefs beavering away in the kitchen next to the bar.
We settled at our table and were instantly presented with a welcome glass of fizz, a plate of Parma ham, parmesan cheese shavings, olives and fresh bread. Instantly there was something that set Gustoso apart — there were no pretensions here, and the freshness of the food spoke for itself. Within minutes the stresses of our working week and the hustle of London melted away, and we were looking forward to reviewing what treats the menu offered. A cursory glance at the specials board reassured us that the restaurant has stayed true to its Italian roots with fresh classics of fish, meat, and pasta.
Reviewing the extensive wine list, a glass of wine will set you back £3 – £6. Bottles range from £16 – £125, with the average around £35. Thought has really gone into pairing wines with every stage of the menu and the food being served. Eventually we settled on an old favourite, Gavi Di Gavi DOCG produttori Del Gavi (cortese) Piemonte (£27.00). The wine had a delicate aroma and flavours of citrus fruits, which was a perfect accompaniment to our fish and meat starters.
As a lover of Italian food, the starters and daily special menu had an array of foods that I would have happily tried, but I was drawn to the pan-fried scallops with artichoke puree and rocket salad (£8.50). My guest opted for beef carpaccio with rocket salad and parmesan shavings (£6.50). Pastas were offered as starters, making a nice addition to the main menu, and a gluten free alternative is available.
My scallops were presented beautifully with the roe still attached and cooked to perfection. They melted in my mouth and hinted at the wonderful flavours of artichoke puree, lemon and rocket. My companion’s beef carpaccio worked well with the paper thin slices of beef, peppery rocket and shaved parmesan. Based on the tasty starters, we had high expectations for the entrees.
For my main I decided to opt for homemade spinach and ricotta ravioli, with a tomato and basil sauce (£11) while my guest chose the special — pan-fried Monkfish wrapped in pancetta aubergine and mixed mushrooms (£17.50).
In an Italian restaurant, pasta is one of those meals that I view as a signature dish, and if done poorly, can make or break the restaurant. Luckily this wasn’t the case for my main. It looked and smelled exactly as I hoped. The first mouthful was perfect al dente pasta filled with spinach, ricotta cheese and covered in basil, garlic, and sunshine tomatoes that pop in your mouth, delicious. If you are looking for authentic Italian cuisine, this definitely ticks all the boxes.
My guest’s dinner also looked wonderful with monkfish wrapped in pancetta sitting on top of round disks of aubergine, mixed mushrooms and sage on top to finish it off. The combination of the three worked really well, allowing the fish to stay moist.
The dessert menu (£4.50 – £9.00) had many Italian delights, homemade Tiramisu (£5), vanilla ice cream with espresso (£4.50), selection of Italian cheeses (£9), and Viasanto with “Gustoso” biscuits (£8.95). I decided on the lemon tart with pine nuts, served with vanilla ice cream (£5.50), which turned out more like a cake than pastry filled with lemon curd. My companion opted for the Italian classic, homemade Tiramisu, which was devoured in milliseconds, a testament to its good quality.
Gustoso offered a relaxed, unhurried dining experience, with high quality, tasty Italian food with friendly and attentive staff. It would be a great restaurant to visit when in Victoria especially as a pre- or post-theatre restaurant given its proximity to “Little Wicked” and “Billy Elliot.”.
Gustoso is now a firm family favourite.
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