Gusto Moves Up Third Street, With Craft Cocktails and Italian Fare

If you head to the corner of 3rd. St and Croft and don’t see Italian hotspot Gusto, don’t fret. The neighborhood staple is still alive and well, it has just moved up the block a bit, settling in the space formerly occupied by Pistola.

Still under the helm of owner and chef Vic Casanova, Gusto 2.0 has expanded not only in size, now boasting a full-size dining room, bar, upstairs patio, private dining area and an expansive wine case, and its menu has grown as well. Described by Casanova as “free-range Italian fare,” the menu encompasses Italian traditions but with an undeniable Los Angeles influence.

Craft Cocktails at Gusto Los Angeles

“The people who come and come often aren’t looking for the status quo,” says Casanova.

While Cassanova’s wife, Jessa, still presided over by the extensive wine list, one major change with Gusto’s new residence was ditching the beer and vino only rule and enlisting Devon Espinosa to create its first original cocktail menu.

“The food at Gusto is bold yet simple and straightforward and Devon has the same approach when it comes to the bar,” says Casanova. “He is deceivingly simple. He looks for classic flavor combinations and matches that in his cocktails and comes up with something very fresh. He’s also playful.”

Molto Facile at Gusto Los Angeles

Molto Facile Cocktail

“Gusto has already been open for six years so the concept is tried and true,” says Espinosa. “It is approachable, comfortable and the chef is amazing. The love they have as a couple shows in their concept and how they treat everyone as family. I’m happy they were able to expand and get a fully rounded Gusto experience that they always envisioned.”

Starting a cocktail menu from scratch can sound a bit daunting, but Espinosa is no stranger to challenge. He has most recently designed the bar programs for Woodley Proper in Encino, The Venue in Koreatown, Sawyer in Silver Lake, The Church Key in West Hollywood, Pour vous on Melrose Ave., Ink in West Hollywood and The Tasting Kitchen in Venice Beach.

Bella Rosa at Gusto on Third Street Los Angles

“Immediately when I take on any bar program I think about the chef, the concept and the atmosphere,” says Espinosa. “Gusto is Italian and so I immediately gravitated towards grassroots Italian staples such as Camparis, Aperols and Grappas. I took my basic knowledge and my own style and applied that to the Italian spirits.”

What he created is certainly unexpectedly diverse cocktail offering. The Ginna, named after the Casanova’s daughter, really embodies what you would want a modern Italian cocktail to be. It’s made with Dimmi, which is an Italian spirit that is 70% alcohol with peachy notes, mixed with St. Germain to give it a more florally feel. It’s finished with Luxardo Fernet bitters and lemon juice to lighten it up.

The Capitano Pesche is made with a cabernet sauvignon barrel aged 209 gin from Napa, grilled peaches, a little bit of lemon juice and the spice Cardamon for a sweet and smokey result. The Partito Pirata is Gusto’s take on a daiquiri, made with Bacardi 8 and Bacardi Superior rums along with lime juice and orgeat infused with roasted pistachios.

The Equilibrio at Gusto Los Angeles

The Equilibrio Cocktail

The Amico, which means “friend,” is a chamomile-infused tequila blanco mixed with clover honey, grapefruit, lime and rose water for a fun play on the classic Paloma cocktail. The Equilibrio, is a balanced cocktail made with Evan Williams Bourbon, pineapple, anise and Carpano Dry Vermouth. The Storico is a historically-influence cocktail made with Rye, Lairds Applejack, Green Chartreuse, carpato and Antica formula and bitters.

“Gusto isn’t trying to be anything it’s not,” says Espinosa. “It’s warm and the rustic orange color is inviting. I think the cocktails mirror what they do with the food and ambience here.”

Gusto details

 

 

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