After some very average waterfront dining experiences in New Plymouth I wasn't expecting much - but what a pleasant surprise!
The setting on a hot Summer's day is spectacular, but rather than relying on the view to pull customers in and serving up mediocre dishes Gusto hits the mark with everything that matters - service, setting and (of course) food.
The menu offers something for everyone - having just climbed Mt Taranaki I felt like a protein overload and went for the omelette - it was huge, generously filled with feta and salmon, and wonderfully light and fluffy. Others at the table enjoyed battered Gurnard and fish cakes, all of which disappeared very quickly. Even the kid's menu was a pleasant surprise - rather than the usual pile of deep fried greasiness with no redeeming qualities, litte fulla's fish came with a decent amount of salad. Nice!
Our waitress was great - Kim was attentive but never intrusive, great with the 7 year old, and a true professional. All in all a really enjoyable experience, and great value too - 5 mains, 1 dessert and a glass of wine for $119.
Kent and Michelle
