Midlands & East Anglia Premier Hospitality

Gusto Restaurant and Bar

Gusto
Written by Roma Publications

Gusto – The essence of Italian elegance

A lavish fit out project has created the stunning new Gusto Restaurant and Bar – the latest venue to launch in the town’s newest retail development in Mulberry Walk retail centre in Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield.

The £1m scheme, described as ‘a great fit out with a great contractor’, has transformed the new unit into a high end casual Italian dining venue. The open plan restaurant accommodates around 150 covers, including an external dining terrace to seat 50.

Gusto

Main contractors for the project were Interiors UK, who were praised for their high standard of work on the project, with Natalie Waldron Design Ltd responsible for the beautiful interior.

Natalie Waldron, owner of Natalie Waldron Design Ltd said: “We are really excited to be opening in Mere Green. Gusto offers family friendly dining with that very important hint of glamour and sparkle. We have elaborated on this to create a soft, warm, feminine feel for the new venue which we hope the customers will enjoy.

“We started with an empty shell and created an elegant Italian style space. The restaurant and bar is located on the ground floor level, with a mezzanine above, which gives us an opportunity to accommodate a private dining area at a later date.

“On entering the interior, you are greeted by a 30-cover bar area. With a classic contemporary look with interior design features including lovely Carrera marble topped tables and full size olive trees covered in twinkly lights, the atmosphere created is perfect for a light lunch or a cheeky cocktail or two. The walls are in exposed brick, enhanced by decorative panelling and contemporary style artwork, together with timber flooring and a sleek brass back-bar.

“Furnishings include intimate seating booths which overlook the main restaurant, and for larger groups there are two feature Con Amici tables which translates (eating with friends) which are at the heart of the restaurant.”

The main restaurant space is elegantly framed by art deco glazed screens embellished with brass edges. Further olive trees spilling into the dining areas create a striking focal point, together with hand blown glass pendants, delicately dropped over feature tables.

The overall colour palette is in soft greys and off whites which accentuate the glazed elements in, champagne, amber and peach and warm wooden tones to create a soft, welcoming feel.

The works also included the installation of a new all stainless steel open kitchen pass with marble countertops, where diners can watch their food being prepared.

External works included the creation of the dining terrace with awnings and outdoor heaters, which create for a very social environment heading into summer.

Natalie Waldron concluded: “This was a lovely project to be a part of – made all the more enjoyable working alongside a great contractor. Interiors UK were wonderful to work with and did a fantastic job. The scheme and delivery went very smoothly.”

The restaurant opened in November 2017.

Gusto offer ‘A classic and contemporary Italian menu using fresh, carefully selected, simple ingredients to create the best tasting food around, served in timeless, classic surroundings.’

Among the dishes on the menu are pasta and risotto offerings, including classic spaghetti carbonara and Bolognese as well as duck and sweet onion garganelli, lobster or beetroot risotto.

There is also pizza, 28-day aged premium steaks with garlic butter, roasted vine tomatoes and fries, seafood such as whole salt baked sea bass infused with lemon and Italian herbs, and baked fillet of salmon. Other dishes include lamb cacciatore in red wine and herbs, served with charred sweet potato.

Gusto

UHS

UHS is a leading supplier in the hospitality industry for furniture and has been involved in many prestigious projects supplying a great range of products that are fit for purpose, design led and customised to clients’ requirements.

UHS supplied this project with a range of contract furniture.

Dan Gillmore of UHS, said:

“Like it says on the window of this venue ‘Too much of a good thing can be truly wonderful’. This is a cosy restaurant with great food!”

 

Monarch Catering Equipment

Monarch Catering Equipment provides catering facilities and bars to a varied client base throughout the UK. From design, to supply and installation, Monarch Catering Equipment offers a holistic service combining decades of experience with the current technology to ensure client satisfaction.

Monarch Catering Equipment has been in existence for over 30 years and within this time has worked with numerous clients from national chains to independent clients including Gusto Restaurants, Pizza Express, Café Rouge, Alchemist and Simon Rimmer’s Greens and Earle restaurants, amongst others.

At Gusto Mere Green, Monarch Catering Equipment was responsible for the design, supply and installation of the venue’s kitchen and bar.

Nick Pendlebury, Monarch Catering Equipment, said:

“As a long standing and established supplier to Gusto Restaurants we were delighted to support their most recent new venture at Mere Green. It’s always exciting to be involved when a venue is undergoing a complete transformation and this one didn’t disappoint.”

Nick added:

“To see the project develop from conception and design, through the many different stages of installation, right up until the final handover always provides us with immense satisfaction. The classic and contemporary menu at Gusto uses fresh, carefully selected ingredients to offer a wide choice of premium dishes and our brief was to develop an ergonomic design that allowed optimal performance in both the kitchen and bar areas. Our knowledge and experience of this particular client’s requirements has evolved over time as we have worked with them on their many and varied projects and this allowed us to achieve another successful configuration at Mere Green.”

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Roma Publications