Gusto Tapas Restaurant is a lovely fusion of European food. The venue is part of the Galleria Ettalong Beach experience and also has a wine bar with a great selection of wine, beer and a small selection of popular cocktails.
Chef Mattia Secchiero is from Veneto Italy and is a talented and experienced chef who cooks with passion and quality local ingredients.
For starters Klara, Emma and I shared three choices from the tapas (or in Italian ‘cicchetti’) menu. Carolina, Mattia’s partner, recommended the Venetian ‘Il Villaggio’ Rose, a smooth accompaniment to our meal. We chose the sautéed mussels with garlic paprika croutons; this had a nice kick to the sauce. The calamari ‘in umido’ with tomato sauce and peas was tender, and evidently cooked in good quality fish stock. The slow-cooked baby octopus ‘alla buzara’, with garlic and homemade tomato sauce, was simply delicious. We happily polished off the tasty and flavoursome sauces with the freshly baked piadina bread. All the bread and pastas are freshly made on the premises.
For main course I fell in love with the Tortelli d’erbetta (a type of ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach) with a simple butter and freshly grated parmesan sauce, that I was reluctant to share. It was delicate and melted in my mouth. Mattia made Klara a gluten free, slow cooked tender pork belly with a wonderfully spiced black pudding, served with creamy mash. This was a successful marriage of flavours and highly recommended. We also had the gnocchi with pumpkin cream and crispy bacon.
For dessert, we chose to share the coconut crema Catalana, which was surprisingly light with a lovely top layer of burnt sugar and the very creamy panna cotta with a mixed berry topping. Carolina also mentioned a Spanish chilli chocolate topping on the panna cotta, which I would love to try next time!. A perfect ending to a truly delicious meal.
There is a selection of vegetarian, gluten free and vegan choices on the menu. Gusto is open from Friday to Wednesday (closed Thursday) from 5.30 – 9.30pm and Lunch on Sunday from 11.30-2pm.
Gusto Tapas Fusion Restaurant, 54/189 Ocean View Rd, Ettalong Beach. 0414 605 168
