Gusto Alderley Edge

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]My meal at Gusto Alderley Edge was complimentary in exchange for a completely honest review.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]When I started my own website, all those years ago when I thought I was some sort of adolescent answer to Carrie Bradshaw, it never crossed my mind to ever talk about food.  I’m vegetarian and traditionally that’s meant I’ve been a slightly fussy eater (especially in the times when it wasn’t as mainstream to be veggie) and consequently I’ve never really been that adventurous with food.  I make no secret of the fact Italian food is my absolute favourite – I’d never even had a curry until a few months ago – and there’s nothing I like more than devouring a pizza on the weekend.  I’ve always felt it’s the safest option in terms of finding something on the menu I’ll like.

I’m slowly learning to go out of my comfort zone a little more with food, it’s amazing the things you discover you like when you stop being a 28-year-old baby, but despite other people’s disapproval, I still don’t think you can ever top a really good Italian.  I was really excited, therefore, to be invited by the lovely team at Gusto Alderley Edge to dine with them and try out their new menu.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4385″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]I’ve always been a massive fan of Gusto, I think it’s one of those places you can always guarantee you’ll have a good time at and eat really lovely food every time.  I was particularly excited to try out their new menu as there’s a real focus this time on delicious vegetarian and vegan meals.  As I touched on above, historically it’s been quite hard to eat out as a vegetarian as the choices are always so limited – if I see a bland mushroom risotto one more time in my life I think I’ll throw up – and I think in some places it’s near impossible to feel like you’re catered for as a vegan.  I’m absolutely not a vegan but I am trying to eat as much of a plant-based diet as possible.  I don’t drink milk (I never really have) and generally don’t eat a lot of dairy at all but I dolike a little bit of cheese on that aforementioned weekend pizza so I don’t think I could ever go the full hog and cut it out completely.  As much as it’s about the animals, this reduced animal produce diet has come from watching What The Health on YouTube (NB don’t watch it if you’re impressionable like clearly I am!) which basically tells you dairy is the root of all evil and the cause of all cancers.  Anyway, I digress.  My point it, it’s really refreshing to see a chain restaurant really think about its customers and offer a real, considered choice for those who don’t want to eat meat or dairy.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4384″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4383″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]The dinner was a super cute affair with the Alderley Edge BDM, Juliette, and the newly-appointed Didsbury BDM, Lucy and joining us around the table was food blogger Sophie of Sophie’s Scran and fashion blogger Lil of Vogue Label.  Straight off, I have to say how lovely it is that Juliette and Lucy joined us for dinner – it made the whole thing very personable and friendly and the girls were just so lovely.  So often when you go to events you’re left to your own devices, so it was really nice to have representatives from the company actually sit and eat with you and guide you through the menu.

I’d never actually been to the Alderley Edge Gusto before and it really is a beautiful space.  The main dining area is beautifully done – complete with gorgeous light coming from the roof – and there’s a pretty little spiral staircase going up to the upper level.  We sat in one of the cute little booths towards the back of the restaurant that was the perfect size for our five-strong party – not too far away from each other but not cramped either.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4382″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]We ordered a few starters to share as a table to kick off the evening.  Garlic pizza bread is always a personal favourite of mine (we got half with cheese and half with tomato, which was lush) but the dough petals won the carb round for me.  They’re delicious little folded strips of pizza dough with tomato, crispy shallots and housemade romesco mayonnaise (which is vegan!) and they are just little bites of Heaven.  We also ordered some Sicilian arancini rice balls, served with a spiced tomato coulis which were absolutely insane and it was great to see they also featured in the starter sharer board we ordered which caters for all tastes with its selection of crispy calamari, rice balls, antipasti and Milanese-style meatballs served with lemon mayonnaise.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4381″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4380″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Starters eaten and I was already a little stuffed but nothing was going to stop me ordering the main I’d been eyeing up.  To be honest, there were a few dishes I liked the look of – the Milanese saffron risotto crowned with artichokes, asparagus and roast red pepper and the spaghetti verdi with peas, soya & French beans and pea shoots to name but a couple – but as I’ve mentioned, I’m a pizza lover at heart and I’d already set my sights on the truffled funghi.

Whilst waiting for our mains, we took advantage of the new cocktail menu.  The menu is nothing short of super summery with its fruity concoctions and we all settled on a gin to match the gloriously sunny evening we were having.  I’ve never been a massive gin lover until relatively recently but my ‘Pink Gin’ really hit the spot – Beefeater Pink Gin, strawberry liqueur, fresh strawberries and Fever-Tree tonic – and look at that red colour![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4379″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]The fullness of the starters had passed a little and I was more than ready for my pizza – and it certainly didn’t disappoint.  I’m such a tomato sauce lover so I was a bit wary about having a white base pizza but it was incredibly indulgent and I really enjoyed it.  The white cream sauce base complemented the wild mushrooms and rocket and the gorgeous truffle oil was just the cherry on top of the cake in terms of flavour.  Be warned though, their pizzas are really filling!  Perhaps I’d overindulged in the starters or perhaps the cream base made it a heartier choice than normal pizza but I was definitely stuffed when I threw in the towel.  I just about managed to squeeze in one (!) polenta chip – which is something I’ve never tried before and was pleasantly surprised by – but that was my limit![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”4378″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”4377″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”4376″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Despite being more than happy with my choice, I had major food envy over Sophie and Juliette’s choice.  They had both chosen the vegan spaghetti verdi and it looked – and apparently tasted – absolutely delicious.  I’m definitely going to give it a go next time.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4375″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4374″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4373″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]I think sometimes ‘chain’ restaurants get a bad name on the food front and diners can sometimes leave feeling underwhelmed or disappointed but I can honestly say that I was really impressed by Gusto’s new menu offering.  The food was full of flavour, tasty and of a high standard and the service was the faultless.  I had such a lovely night with the Gusto team and the other girls and I really wouldn’t hesitate to go back there time and time again.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4372″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Thank you so much Gusto for inviting me down!

View their new menu here.

Have you been to Gusto yet?  What do you fancy off the new menu?  I’d love for you to let me know on Instagram or Twitter @jacintadawn.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row]