I’ve wandered past Gusto many times and always been a fan of its vibe (they’ve got a strong amount of fairy lights) but I’ve never managed to stop by. So, I was very pleased to take up their invitation of trying the new ‘Comeback Tour’ menu. 

The staff were immediately super friendly and very helpful, which was great as we definitely needed support narrowing down our cocktail choices.

On the manager’s recommendation, we tried the Coconut and Melon Sling (coconut rum, Melon liqueur, coconut syrup, pineapple juice). This had a great balance of strong flavours – quite often I find that ‘tropical’ drinks tip over into very artificial flavourings, but this was super fresh and fruity, while still having a creamy hit of coconut. To quote my partner, it was ‘worryingly drinkable’ and definitely tasty.

I went for a No.3 Southside (gin, limoncello, lemon juice, mint), which apparently was created by one of Gusto’s own bartenders. This was delicious and incredibly refreshing. Again, it had a really lovely balance of flavours and avoided the classic trap of tasting like straight up sherbet. The mint was perfect against the lemon. I could have had about 12 glasses, but this felt very unwise. 

We were invited to try the ‘Comeback Tour’ menu which is made up of a starter, main course and dessert from past Gusto menus. It starts with creamy garlic mushrooms, which is always a winner.

This was delicious and a very generous helping – no skimping on mushrooms here. The cream sauce was super indulgent, and amazingly stayed warm until the end. It was perfect for scooping up with bread, but to be honest I could have done with a spoon to make sure I got every last drop. The mushrooms themselves were very flavourful and also a great texture, staying slightly chewy and never slimy. 

Next up was the flattened rump steak.

On the staff’s recommendation we ordered one steak well-done, but we went for pink on the other order as this is our usual option. The pink steak was much juicier and more to our taste. Personally I think the well-done option lost out on a bit of flavour as the meat itself was so thin. Nevertheless, both worked really nicely with the parmesan and rocket topping. The best forkfuls were those that also included a creamy bite of parmesan, while the rocket and chilli flakes gave a nice but not overpowering peppery kick.

Initially, I was a bit surprised that this didn’t come with fries or another side, but to be honest it was actually a lovely change to finish a steak and not be in a total food slump. This was a light and tasty dish, plus we absolutely definitely didn’t need extra carbs given what was coming next… 

Dessert was a Nutella and marscapone calzone, of proportions that would make my 10-year old self absolutely weep with joy.

Not only was it the size of a small pasty, it was absolutely STUFFED full of oozing chocolate. I probably had more Nutella in that one dessert than I have had in 5 years. So, obviously, it was delicious. The mascarpone itself was also tasty and along with the vanilla ice cream gave a very welcome break from the overall richness. This was definitely not a subtle dessert, but it was a crowd pleaser (although you absolutely need to like Nutella. Please do not even think of approaching this dessert if you don’t like Nutella.)

To drink, I went for a glass of Alois Legeder Pinot Grigio, which was very crisp and refreshing – a perfect contrast to the rich dessert. My partner went for the Gusto-recommended Chianti, which was a great accompaniment to the steak and was also served at a really nice temperature. 

The courses were £8.95, £20.95 and £8.50 respectively, while each wine sat at around £10 for a medium glass – this was towards the more expensive end of the menu. Overall it felt like good value for money given that you’re slap bang in the middle of Oxford – perhaps on the pricey end for your standard midweek meal, but a great option for a special night out. The portions were very generous and the service was excellent. I

If you want to catch the Comeback Tour menu you only have until 11 August, but having scanned the extensive A La Carte menu I’m sure you’ll find something tasty if you come another time! 

Gusto Italian
The Mitre, High St, Oxford OX1 4AG

We were invited as guests, all views are our own