Gusto Italian, the premium casual dining restaurant group, has confirmed the opening date for its Oxford restaurant, and it will open its doors to diners in Oxford on Thursday, 01 December.
The restaurant, located on the site of the historic Mitre Pub on Oxford’s High Street, will bring a taste of the Amalfi coast through a fully immersive drinking and dining experience.
The 170-cover dining room will feature an open-plan Theatre Kitchen as well as a cocktail lounge and bar serving Gusto Italian signature drinks and classic cocktails. Upstairs, there is a private 60-cover dining room available to hire for events, parties and celebrations.
The new restaurant will also offer the immensely popular Pizza Experience. Groups between six and 10 people will enjoy four courses, lots of fizz, fun and flour in a two-hour experience and will get to make their own sourdough pizzas and cannolis.
The restaurant will serve contemporary Italian dishes on its à la carte and set menus. Working closely with Italian suppliers and producers, Gusto Italian has also launched a brand-new wine list with 50 handpicked Italian wines.
Matt Snell, Gusto Italian CEO, said: “We’ve been waiting for this day to come for quite some time now, and we can’t wait to open our doors and welcome the people of Oxford. We’ve been working tirelessly to restore the building back to its former glory and can’t wait for everyone to see it and enjoy the Gusto Italian experience.
“We hope Gusto Italian will become a go-to destination in the city to celebrate all occasions with friends, family and colleagues. We will open on 01 December, and guests can book now through our website.”
Gusto Italian will open on the former site of the historic Mitre Pub on the High Street. The restaurant has confirmed it has worked hard to maintain the history and integrity of the original Grade II listed building.
Mr Snell added: “We were determined to preserve the legacy of this iconic building and restore it to its former glory. We have made every effort to keep as much of the existing infrastructure as possible, including the fireplace, original wood panelling and stonework.
“We are pleased to restore this once-loved landmark and can’t wait to reintroduce the venue to the Oxford drinking and dining scene.”
The opening of Gusto Italian will boost the city centre’s economy by creating 85 jobs for people who live in and around Oxford. Opportunities are available for roles, including sous chef, chef de partie, bar manager, and servers.
Gusto Italian will be open for lunch, dinner and drinks every day and for brunch on the weekend. The restaurant is now accepting bookings on its website, where they will be open from 01 December.