Gusto Italian Manchester

Gusto Italian Manchester may be the jewel in ever-expanding chain’s crown, even if the menu is the same everywhere from Heswall to Edinburgh. It’s a very polished affair with a definite Art Deco feel. This is a place that seems designed for good times and the service is slick.

Cocktails are an important part of the Gusto experience and you’ll find Italian aperitivo-style ones, speciality G&Ts, plus after-dinner drinks that are a pudding in themselves, and some interesting signatures.

Gusto Italian Manchester has a night-out vibe but it is family-friendly and does a very good Sunday lunch – especially the porchetta-style pork belly. Who says 1920s glamour is just for evenings?

On the a la carte menu, you’ll find favourites like king prawns with pickled fennel, seared lemon and pepper tuna, and honey-glazed duck with 12-year aged balsamic, alongside the menu mainstays of burgers, sourdough pizzas, steaks, salads, pasta dishes and risotto.

The food here is fresh, enjoyable and well presented, but it’s just part of what makes this particular Gusto popular. The glam setting, the chic cocktails, the buzzy atmosphere; it all adds to the experience.