Gusto Italian, the premium casual restaurant group, officially opened its doors to diners in Oxford on 01 December.
Gusto Italian Oxford opened on the High Street on the site of the old Mitre Pub after extensive refurbishment. There is now an expansive 160-cover dining room complete with an open-plan Theatre Kitchen and chef’s table Pizza Experience.
The restaurant also features a cocktail lounge and bar where diners can enjoy an aperitif before sitting for a meal. There is a private 55-cover dining room upstairs available to hire for events, parties and celebrations.
The contemporary menu serves a selection of Italian classics and signature Gusto Italian dishes. The restaurant has worked with Italian producers to curate an impressive wine list which features 50 Italian varieties to offer guests a fully immersive drinking and dining experience.
Gusto Italian hosted a VIP opening party to celebrate the launch ahead of the eagerly anticipated opening. The Oxford team hosted 250 people for an evening of cocktails and canapes, and a small group of people were offered the chance to be among the first to sample the dishes in Oxford. Partygoers were treated to performances from an opera singer and a live band.
The restaurant also held a charity raffle on the night to raise money for Young Lives vs Cancer, one of the UK’s leading charities for children and young people. Prizes up for grabs included Oxford United tickets, a trip to the theatre and a spa experience.
Gusto Italian CEO Matt Snell said: “We are so excited to finally be opening our doors in Oxford. This day has been a long time coming, and we are pleased to now be able to welcome everyone into the newly transformed restaurant to experience Gusto Italian.
“The response from the people of Oxford has been incredible, and we have been inundated with bookings. We hope the restaurant will become a go-to destination in the city to celebrate all occasions.
“Our opening party was a great success – it was brilliant to show off the restaurant for the first time and offer some lucky diners the first taste of our menu. We now look forward to welcoming everyone else to the restaurant to experience it for themselves.”
Gusto Italian’s opening will boost the city centre’s economy by creating 85 jobs for people living in and around Oxford.
Gusto Italian will be open between 10.00am and 10.00pm from Sunday to Thursday and 10.00am to 11.00pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant will serve lunch, dinner and drinks every day of the week and brunch on weekends.
