Italian Food Fight? Gusto Responds To Competitor's Claim That It 'Should Just Be Bombed'

Today, a managing partner at Gusto Italian Kitchen responds to a competitor's claim that the Burnet Road Italian restaurant "should just be bombed."

Earlier this week, Vino Vino owner Jeff Courington told Zagat: "Gusto should just be bombed. They buy the cheapest ingredients, and they don't care."

Courington is in the process of opening a second restaurant and future competitor to Gusto, Al Fico, which has been in the works on the east side since late 2011.

Now, Gusto managing partner Cameron Lockley takes the mostly high road in an "open letter" sent to Eater Austin:

Jeff,

I wish you all the best with Trattoria Al Fico and hope that it is a big success (might I even say, "the bomb!"). I have long been a fan of Vino Vino and have recommended your establishment numerous times to friends when they ask me for a good late night place for wine and food in the north central Austin area.

This is a tough business and I know we both care tremendously about preparing quality food, providing caring, thoughtful service, and offering an excellent experience to our customers. As for the ingredients that we use at Gusto Italian Kitchen + Wine Bar, here are just a few examples:

P.E.I. mussels
Scottish salmon
East coast U.S. calamari
Proscuitto di Parma
36 month aged Parmiggiano Reggiano
Fresh pasta
House ground beef & pork for our Italian sausage and Bolognese sauce
San Marzano tomatoes
House made scratch desserts
Gelatto and sorbetto made with real fruit and all natural ingredients
Seasonal vegetables from local farms like Johnson's Backyard Garden
Cage free farm eggs
Locally roasted Fara coffee beans
Hand tossed pizzas to order

We strive to provide value at Gusto for the neighborhood and guests can enjoy 40 bottles of wine priced under $40 and all of our wines by the glass are currently under $9.

We also have an amazing staff of cooks, dishwashers, bartenders, servers, and bussers who all genuinely care about providing quality hospitality for our guests.

Looking forward to trying Trattoria Al Fico later this summer. In the meantime I'll probably hit up Enoteca or Vespaio when I get a day off.

Sincerely,
Cameron Lockley
Managing Partner, Gusto Italian Kitchen + Wine Bar

· Vino Vino [Official]
· Gusto Italian Kitchen + Wine Bar [Official]
· All Vino Vino Coverage on Eater Austin [-EATX-]
· All Gusto Italian Kitchen Coverage on Eater Austin [-EATX-]

[Photo: Gusto Italian Kitchen/Facebook]