Graduate with Gusto: A Review of Gusto’s Special Graduation Menu

With graduation season commencing at Oxford, plans for celebrating this special day with loved ones are definitely in the works. Accordingly, a friend and I tried Gusto’s special graduation menu and are here to give you the inside scoop on this delectable culinary experience.

Gusto is an Italian fine dining restaurant located on High Street. It has an elegant ambience and is perfect for celebrations like birthdays, anniversaries, and, of course, graduations. For this, Gusto offers a table d’hôte menu of three courses set at £34.95 per person – with a complimentary glass of Prosecco for the graduates!

For starters, we tasted their Chicken Liver Pâté and Burrata, both of which were delicious. The Pâté was beautifully plated with edible flowers and toasted sourdough bread. It had a rich and savoury taste that juxtaposed well with the sweet Burrata starter – which was fresh, light, and had a nutty texture – being on a bed of watermelon tartare and toasted walnuts. We recommend sharing these dishes to get a balance between flavours and the best of both worlds. 

Now on to the main course! We tried the Pan-Fried Fillets of Sea Bass and the Caprino Sourdough Pizza. The Sea Bass was aromatic, mild, and lemony, with a crispy skin that complimented the buttery and velvety potato gratin with which it was served. We had to have the pizza since we were at an Italian restaurant after all! With San Marzano tomatoes, goat’s cheese, roasted red peppers, pine nuts, sweet onions, pesto, Fior di Latte mozzarella, and rocket leaves, this pizza was a delightful fusion of flavours and textures that left us wanting more.

For dessert, we tried Gusto’s Biscoff Cheesecake and Warm Chocolate Brownie. The cheesecake was creamy, smooth, and had a buttery biscuit base, creating a potent Biscoff flavour. The brownie was served with a generous scoop of salted caramel gelato and dark chocolate sauce, creating a sweet symphony that was well-balanced with the saltiness of the gelato and bitterness of the dark chocolate. While dessert was great, we think that the main course dishes stole the spotlight this time. 

Although this is the range of dishes we tried, the graduation menu includes many other exciting dishes like the Honey, Lemon, and Thyme Chicken, Tomato Panzanella, the classic Tiramisu, or our favourite, the Truffled Mushroom Fettuccine. The graduation menu also caters to vegans with its Bruschetta, and Gusto’s Vegan Burger. Each dish is expertly crafted to please both the eyes and the palate.

Overall, we think that Gusto would be the perfect place to celebrate your special day in an elegant way with family and friends. The combination of exquisite flavours, impeccable presentation, and stellar service will make for an exceptional choice to commemorate such a momentous milestone. And the restaurant’s atmosphere is sure to set the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable graduation celebration. Raise your glass, savour the flavours, and toast to a bright future at this culinary gem!

A quick tip: They do get quite busy, so we recommend making a reservation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.