LIVING Ventures, the restaurant and bar group behind Australasia, The Oast House, Alchemist and Manchester House are to open their 'high-end' Italian concept, Gusto, in Deansgate's Grade II listed Elliot House on Friday 5 December.
'A striking display kitchen will enable diners to witness the theatre, activity and hustle within the restaurant, making them feel part of the action.'
The new restaurant will occupy the former Olive restaurant on Lloyd Street and fill 8,000 sq ft of the former City Registrar's Office at Elliot House (designed by Royle & Bennet and built in 1878).
Gusto already have a number of successful restaurants located outside of Manchester in Alderley Edge, Cheadle Hulme, Didsbury and Knutsford as well as operations in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Newcastle, Cookridge and Heswall.
The menu is one of the busiest you'll see anywhere. With over a hundred menu items customers can take their pick from classic and contemporary Italian dishes including deli boards from £6.95, salads from £3.95, pizzas from £7.95, pasta from £5.25, risotto from £6.50, seafood from 311.95 and meats from £12.75 - see the full menu and pricing on the Gusto Manchester website here.
Stand-out dishes include pan roast duck with creamed cannellini beans (£16.95), a whole salt-baked seabass (£17.95) and saffron rissotto with white crab salad (£12.95).
The drinks menu doesn't fall short either with nearly 50 wines (£16.50-£55) and thirteen bottles of bubbles (£25-£195) on offer.
Gusto will occupy the former Olive site on Lloyd Street
Elliot House interior
Sue Crimes, Managing Director of Gusto, said:
"This is a very exciting time for myself and the Gusto team - the Manchester restaurant will set the standard for the Gusto brand going forward. After this city-centre opening the group will roll out the new look branding across the existing estate within the next eighteen months in addition to opening new restaurants across the country."
The rest is from the press release:
The design takes its cues and inspiration from the traditional grand cafés of Europe, accessible and welcoming, but with a hint of decadence and a touch of luxury. A spacious open dining room with rows of cast iron columns will be light and airy during the day, warm and intimate in the evening, with a glowing and glistening island bar at its centre.
A striking display kitchen will enable diners to witness the theatre, activity and hustle within the restaurant, making them feel part of the action.
Guests can expect a stylish destination bar and restaurant that will encompass a classic yet contemporary interior comprising of patterned marble floors and counters, glossy polished plaster and stained glass. With a private dining room adding another interesting dimension, Gusto will offer refreshed meeting and dining options for nearby businesses.
Gusto was backed by Palatine Private Equity in a management buyout earlier this year. Partner Gary Tipper and Investment Director Beth Houghton, joined the company’s board as non-executive directors to help the business roll-out its expansion plans across the UK.
gustorestaurants.uk.com/manchester
Gusto Manchester, Elliot House, Lloyd Street, M2 5AB.
