insideKENT Magazine Issue 73 - April 2018 | Page 100
FOOD+DRINK
ITALIAN SOPHISTICATION AND DINING DELIGHT AT
Gusto Restaurant & Bar, CHISLEHURST.
THE GUSTO RESTAURANT & BAR BRAND, SYNONYMOUS WITH SOPHISTICATED
YET AFFORDABLE ITALIAN DINING HAVE (FINALLY) VENTURED SOUTH AND
LUCKILY FOR US, HAVE SET UP IN AN ATMOSPHERIC AND REFINED 19TH-
CENTURY BUILDING RIGHT HERE IN KENT ON CHISLEHURST’S CULINARY
HIGH STREET. BY SAMANTHA READY
The former bank building is by far the most
eye-catching in the parade, and the
sympathetic and contemporary refurbishment
has resulted in a modern and welcoming
dining space.
At its heart The New York-style central bar,
with its high, leather stools, brass fittings and
dark wood finish, offers a range of expertly
blended cocktails as well as a complementary
wine list; while the dining room, a
combination of exposed brick, muted greens
and banquette benches hosts diners from
intimate tables of two to larger family groups.
Taking a seat at a well placed table for four,
my guests and I were impressed by the menu,
separated into easy sections: breads & nibbles,
deli boards, starters, pasta & risotto, pizza,
salads, mains and steaks, as well as an
extensive range of side dishes.
Our waiter, who (like all the staff we
encountered) was exceptional all evening with
just the right level of care and attention, was
confident and experienced enough to know
when to offer menu suggestions ensuring
that we didn’t miss out on house specialities
while still choosing our own dishes from the
classic Italian menu.
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We began, as recommended, with the Gusto
dough petals, a much more intricate and
decidedly tastier version of the standard dough
ball served with a heady garlic and onion
butter, before swiftly moving on to our starters
of calamari – a heaving bowl of crisp, battered
squid; spiced butternut squash soup – a hearty
bowl with a gentle kick of heat; and the
acclaimed red pepper and garlic arancini – a
homemade dish that delivered a very moreish
rice ball in a rich red pepper sauce.
Our mains of lamb cacciatore – a wholesome
bowl of stew with red wine, herbs and charred
sweet potato; the 9oz ribeye – a rich perfectly
charred cut served with wild mushrooms;
the 8oz fillet – juicy, melt-in-the-mouth beef
with an intense garlic butter; and the
recommended pork cutlet – chargrilled and
served on the bone with crackling, sweet apple
sauce and rich red wine jus were all beautiful
to look at, even better to eat and served in very
generous portions too. The side order of
truffled fries with grana padano was delicious.
Desserts continued along the same theme;
classic offerings with an Italian twist and a
Gusto flourish, and soon the table was heaving
with tempting treats of classic sticky toffee
pudding and warm chocolate brownie
(although hazelnuts, pistachio ice cream and
biscoff sauce elevated this version) to the
unique Nutella and mascarpone calzone; a
sweet twist on the pizza classic, and the
impossible to resist Bombolini – mini
sweetened dough balls with biscoff sauce and
Chantilly cream.
With even more tempting options, including
a very reasonably priced set lunch and a new
brunch menu to try alongside regular special
events and a rewarding diners club, we can’t
wait to return.
Gusto Restaurant & Bar
9 High Street
Chislehurst
BR7 5AJ
020 8468 7300
[email protected]
www.gustorestaurants.uk.com
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