Traditional Italian meets fast casual in the newly opened Gusto Italian Bistro, a small family-owned restaurant located in the middle of The Shoppes at Chino Hills.
Labeled as “Your Neighborhood Italian Restaurant,” I first saw an open kitchen window in the back and quaint decor of paintings and wall art. The restaurant is quite small inside and has limited seating but outside in the plaza, outdoor seating is plentiful. An open-air refrigerator was placed on the side with an assortment of soft drinks and sparkling water, it also contained imported coffee, cheeses and biscuits from Italy. You order at the main counter and I was greeted by the cashier, who was friendly and helped by giving recommendations of her favorite dishes. They served our food quickly, taking around 15 minutes to bring out the food.
I ordered the Create Your Own Pasta ($9.95). You choose the type of pasta and sauce you want and get a free choice of toppings of different vegetables or a five-dollar add-on for protein. I chose the spaghetti with pesto, and for the choice of topping, I got mushrooms. The pesto pasta was perfectly al dente and the pesto brought out a delicate richness of nutty and herby flavor with fresh basil added on top. Generous amounts of savory parmesan were mixed into the pasta, giving it a perfect salty and cheesy flavor that elevated the soft and buttery mushrooms.
Instead of serving a traditional pizza, they offer pinsa, a special type of flatbread made with multiple flours that create a softer dough. I got the whole round Caprese Pinsa ($16.50) with roasted heirloom tomatoes, special cheeses, fresh pesto and basil. The dough was fluffy but held well with the juicy sweet tomatoes and soft burrata, a milky and creamy cheese that softened onto the pinsa. Next was their regular-sized The Ultimate Sub which came with a side of fries ($13.95). When I first tried the sandwich I was hit with an acidic and sharp tang from their homemade ‘Nduja’s spread, a blend of fresh tomatoes and salami. It blended well and slowly melted into the richness of the two types of thinly cut meat, prosciutto and mortadella layered between a crisp baguette.
The last dish I ordered was a version of a classic comfort food, mac and cheese. I got the Gusto Mac and Cheese with roasted pancetta as an add-on ($16.95) which was different from the normal cheesy pasta. Instead, it had a unique, creamy cheese sauce with fontina cheese, complemented by a sharp kick from the cheddar. The pancetta was thin and crispy around the edges but extremely salty without the buttery mac and cheese balance. I finished the meal with their homemade tiramisu ($3.95). The ladyfingers perfectly soaked up the espresso, had a light and spongy texture and were smothered in creamy mascarpone cream that balanced the strong coffee taste.
Gusto imports most of its ingredients straight from Italy, including most of its cheeses, meats and breads. They value the quality of fresh produce for their customers and use their family recipes to make their famous dishes, from meatballs and simple Bolognese sauce down to their secret tiramisu recipe from the owner’s mother.
Roberto Perico, the owner of Gusto Italian Bistro, started his restaurant business in Italy, where he opened two successful restaurants. However, he later decided to move to the United States and open Gusto to make his mark in the food industry.
“When I think about cuisine and restaurants and experience, I always think about quality, and sometimes simple dishes can deliver the best quality,” Perico said.
Overall, the service was quick and helpful throughout my dining experience. With its flavorful and cheesy pasta, tasty sandwiches and decadent desserts. Gusto Italian Bistro earns a strong 5 out of 5 stars.
