The competition for best Italian in St. Pete is a hot one, and a new contender has entered the fray. GUSTO Italian Restaurant is now open at 2827 16^th Street North, making its debut last week in the Greater Woodlawn neighborhood with traditional Italian fare.

Located in the beautiful brick building formerly home to Anju Korean Gastropub, GUSTO showcases a lengthy menu of traditional Italian eats inside rustic, comfortable digs. The restaurant is open Tuesday-Sunday from 5-10 pm and guests are welcome to bring their own bottles of wine (for a small corkage fee) while GUSTO awaits its beer and wine license.

All told, the menu features nearly three dozen house made dishes, with starters, salads, pastas, meaty entrees, desserts, and even a kid’s menu. Highlights from the pasta menu includes Lasagna Siciliano, Butternut Squash Ravioli, Smoked Salmon Penne, and the traditional Spaghetti with Meatballs made with GUSTO’s signature marinara sauce.

Entrees include a wide range of breaded chicken dishes, eggplant parmesan, salmon piccata, and even PEI mussels served over spaghetti in a white wine lemon cream sauce. For starters, GUSTO offers a mozzarella wheel of the day, charcuterie boards, fried calamari, mussels, burrata, and house made meatballs served in marinara.

We’ve yet to make a visit, so if you try it it out, be sure to let us know what you think. Visit GUSTO Italian Restaurant at 2827 16^th Street North, and follow them on facebook for more updates.

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