With gusto
Gusto Riverfront Restaurant, 142 Gympie Tce, Noosaville
Ph: 5449 7144
Gusto Riverfront Restaurant, 142 Gympie Tce, Noosaville
Ph: 5449 7144
This restaurant invites you, literally, to dig in with relish. Noosa is always a favourite foodie spot for me, so I looked forward to visiting Gusto. I have even been guilty of fawning over the restaurant’s cookbook at least once or twice in the past. A bit of a Noosa favourite, Gusto is usually quite busy, but with all the rain we have been having of late, it was a little more sedate during my visit, which made for a relaxing ambience.
Like most Coast restaurants, Gusto takes advantage of its fabulous location with a good vantage point of the Noosa River from its Gympie Tce setting. Welcomed immediately on arrival, we took our seats out the front of the restaurant, which was still quite pleasant despite the persistent rain. Seeing as how it was such a balmy evening I felt the need for a refreshing Corona beer ($7.70) rather than a wine while I perused the menu. After all, this decision-making process can be hard work sometimes.
I was totally engrossed in Gusto’s entree menu and it was hard to choose what I wanted. It is starting to become a theme I think. Is there a syndrome or something I may have that amounts to menu indecision? Menu Indicitus perhaps? Eventually I decided I would have an entree as an entree and then as a main. But I had the entree in a main size because I knew it was not going to be big enough to satisfy my hankering for crisp fried local cuttlefish (entree $18 entree/main $30.50) being the cuttlefish fan I am.
It did not disappoint. I think I have tried cuttlefish at just about every restaurant where it is offered on the menu. I love it and I loved Gusto’s offering, which was crispy, tender and served in large curled up squares, with sprinkles of sesame seeds. I could easily have eaten another serve and I especially enjoyed the chilli mayonnaise that accompanied the dish.
There were so many interesting choices on the menu. In the end it was a toss-up between the rabbit terrine and roast stuffed auRannoch Farm quail, crisp pancetta, potato, pine nut and spinach salad ($23.50). The waiter, without a moment’s thought, assured me the quail was the dish to choose, so I did. I quite often eat quail and it never ceases to amuse me when my dish first appears. I always feel like I am about to dine on someone’s pet budgie. I was even more amused when the waiter replied to my query of “What was the budgie’s name?” with an equally amused “Fred”.
And how was Fred? Well, he was pretty yum. From the way the dish was presented, at first glance I thought the quail was the whole bird. But as I enjoyed each little morsel I realised it was actually boned, making it all the more enjoyable not having to pick your way through a tedious framework of bones. The stuffing was lovely and the pancetta crispy as promised. All in all a really pleasing dish with lots of flavour. My dining buddy selected a peach, pancetta and blue cheese salad ($19.50). It was an interesting combination, which she enjoyed, but rated a little bit on the oily side.
Of course, as readers may have noticed by now, there is always room for dessert, especially the chocolate pudding cake ($12.50), boasting a decadently oozy centre with a swirl of caramel and topped with pistachios. Pretty tasty with the perfect amount of ooze. My cappuccino ($4) was pretty good, too. I really enjoyed Gusto. It was raining, it was hot and balmy, yet it was the perfect setting with a light breeze coming in from across the river. The wait staff were extremely friendly, fun and incredibly helpful, which made the evening all the more pleasant. I am definitely looking forward to picking my way through some more of this menu.
Petra Frieser’s visit was unannounced and she paid for her own meal and beverages.
Gusto Riverfront Restaurant
142 Gympie Tce,
Noosaville
Ph: 5449 7144
FOOD FACTS
Open Mon-Sat 11am-10.30pm, Sun 8am-10.30
Cuisine Modern Australian
Cost Entree $18-$23.50, mains $25-$34, desserts $12.50
Verdict Interesting menu, definate favourite
Story: Petra Frieser, from Issue 617, March 11th, 2010.
Like most Coast restaurants, Gusto takes advantage of its fabulous location with a good vantage point of the Noosa River from its Gympie Tce setting. Welcomed immediately on arrival, we took our seats out the front of the restaurant, which was still quite pleasant despite the persistent rain. Seeing as how it was such a balmy evening I felt the need for a refreshing Corona beer ($7.70) rather than a wine while I perused the menu. After all, this decision-making process can be hard work sometimes.
I was totally engrossed in Gusto’s entree menu and it was hard to choose what I wanted. It is starting to become a theme I think. Is there a syndrome or something I may have that amounts to menu indecision? Menu Indicitus perhaps? Eventually I decided I would have an entree as an entree and then as a main. But I had the entree in a main size because I knew it was not going to be big enough to satisfy my hankering for crisp fried local cuttlefish (entree $18 entree/main $30.50) being the cuttlefish fan I am.
It did not disappoint. I think I have tried cuttlefish at just about every restaurant where it is offered on the menu. I love it and I loved Gusto’s offering, which was crispy, tender and served in large curled up squares, with sprinkles of sesame seeds. I could easily have eaten another serve and I especially enjoyed the chilli mayonnaise that accompanied the dish.
There were so many interesting choices on the menu. In the end it was a toss-up between the rabbit terrine and roast stuffed auRannoch Farm quail, crisp pancetta, potato, pine nut and spinach salad ($23.50). The waiter, without a moment’s thought, assured me the quail was the dish to choose, so I did. I quite often eat quail and it never ceases to amuse me when my dish first appears. I always feel like I am about to dine on someone’s pet budgie. I was even more amused when the waiter replied to my query of “What was the budgie’s name?” with an equally amused “Fred”.
And how was Fred? Well, he was pretty yum. From the way the dish was presented, at first glance I thought the quail was the whole bird. But as I enjoyed each little morsel I realised it was actually boned, making it all the more enjoyable not having to pick your way through a tedious framework of bones. The stuffing was lovely and the pancetta crispy as promised. All in all a really pleasing dish with lots of flavour. My dining buddy selected a peach, pancetta and blue cheese salad ($19.50). It was an interesting combination, which she enjoyed, but rated a little bit on the oily side.
Of course, as readers may have noticed by now, there is always room for dessert, especially the chocolate pudding cake ($12.50), boasting a decadently oozy centre with a swirl of caramel and topped with pistachios. Pretty tasty with the perfect amount of ooze. My cappuccino ($4) was pretty good, too. I really enjoyed Gusto. It was raining, it was hot and balmy, yet it was the perfect setting with a light breeze coming in from across the river. The wait staff were extremely friendly, fun and incredibly helpful, which made the evening all the more pleasant. I am definitely looking forward to picking my way through some more of this menu.
Petra Frieser’s visit was unannounced and she paid for her own meal and beverages.
Gusto Riverfront Restaurant
142 Gympie Tce,
Noosaville
Ph: 5449 7144
FOOD FACTS
Open Mon-Sat 11am-10.30pm, Sun 8am-10.30
Cuisine Modern Australian
Cost Entree $18-$23.50, mains $25-$34, desserts $12.50
Verdict Interesting menu, definate favourite
Story: Petra Frieser, from Issue 617, March 11th, 2010.
