Gusto Trattoria

Despite not eating pizza or pasta, Italian restaurants are my favourite kind; if it’s authentic enough, there’s always a great atmosphere and the promise of something tasty and, quite simply, a wonderful evening.
Gusto always appealed to me, the tinted windows always inspiring a voyeuristic stare and suggesting a restricted exclusivity. I wanted in.
The classic Italian food is ideal for lunch or dinner and the restaurant itself, while sophisticated and quite refined is rather laid back and tere is a very informal feel here which is appealing. There is a mix of salad dishes, appetizers and specials available. Insalata dell’Orto e del Mare or Seafood Salad went down a treat; the ingredients were so fresh and tender and only £5. divine.
I was really impressed.
Forgot to mention– the desserts are AMAZING; Tuscan biscuit; apple tart; pancakes; sorbets there’s so much to choose from!

Situated on Lord Street, Gusto offers modern style Italian cuisine in a contemporary, relaxed atmosphere. The food is freshly prepared with and is ideal if you want a light lunch or evening meal in a casual and comfortable setting. The menu is not just your average and includes various salads, appetisers, pasta and pizza as well as a range of special dishes that vary day by day. The wine list is pretty good and staff very friendly and welcoming. A key selling point for my boyfriend was the free wi-​fi! When will I ever manage to detach the laptop from him? The salami and rocket sandwich went down very well with him and then he polished off a dessert — cream and gianduia ice cream truffle coated with cocoa and ground hazelnuts. I had a chicken casear salad or in Gusto speak ‘mixed leaves with grilled chicken, Cesar dressing and toasted focaccia bread’ and then kept digging my fingers into my boyfriends ice cream, which he wasn’t best pleased about!

We’re in Southport again! I just can’t keep away. And yes, it’s another Italian! #And I can’t fight this feeeeeling anymooooore#, I’m obviously obsessed with Italian food no matter how much I protest the reverse.
This place is packed to the rafters on weekends, after all it’s in a prime Southport location on Lord Street where all the very nice shops are and the lovely architecturally historic buildings and the beautiful branch of Waterstones set in an old bank and whatnot. So no doubt hoards descend upon it of an evening, thus you’d be wise to book in advance if you fancy a pizza or pasta here.
It’s classic rustic Italian fare with a sprinkling of creativity. The salads as starters wind up being absolutely ridiculously huge, and would easily do as a main course despite being only £5.95, and the pizza here is the stuff of legends. Everyone in Southport seems to rave about it and rightly so, it’s crisp, fresh and exactly as you’d expect it in Italy with lovely simple thin toppings and doesn’t leave you feeling like a doughball by the end of it. There are plenty of pastas to choose from too, and the one with artichokes and truffle oil is just divine. Meanwhile if you’re catching lunch there the sandwiches can be made with foccacia. Could I be any more sold?
The cheese platter with pears is a glorious way to finish off the meal with a sweet and savoury combo, but if you’re in the mood for something far more indulgent there’s the quintessential tiramisu, chocolate crepes, pistachio ice cream, apple tart or caramelised fruits with amaretto and marscapone which I really couldn’t resist — try it and see what heaven really tastes like.
All in all, reasonably priced with great service and a superb wine list in a gorgeous setting. Nothing to complain about here.