Have you been to Gusto Pizza in Des Moines? If you haven’t, you need to! We paired our trip to Gusto with an iCubs baseball game. The games are such good family fun, if you’ve never been. We’ve been to several now and each time we’ve gone, we’ve done a tailgate meal because well…it’s a baseball game! This time, however, we decided to grab supper at a restaurant near the field instead.
With teenage boys, we frequently stick to the basics of burgers, pizza, Mexican, and BBQ. I stumbled upon Gusto Pizza in the hunt for a restaurant and it looked like a good balance between someplace new, some place with pizza (the meal of choice by the boys on this visit), and NOT a chain!
Gusto Pizza
Gusto Pizza is located on Ingersoll Ave just off Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. (There are also locations in West Des moines/Waukee & Johnston!) It was easy to find and bright and welcoming the minute we walked in the door! I love the airy feel of the restaurant along with all the natural light and the subtle decor! You are instantly greeted by one of the most amazing smells! You order from a small counter and then seat yourself. You can select from tables, booths, and even outdoor seating!
The menu may initially strike you as small. Don’t be fooled, the list of specialty pizzas, appetizers, and toppings is crazy long! You can choose from toppings such as: pepperoni, roma tomatoes, ricotta, smoked beef brisket, spicy capicola ham, and fresh mozzarella! Or, choose from one of their signature pizzas like the Spartacus (red sauce Graziano’s Italian sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, banana peppers, and cremini mushrooms) or the Francesco (Alfredo sauce, roma tomato, artichokes, crimini mushrooms, spinach and garlic, mozzarella, Romano, and Gusto pizza seasoning).
The Big Decisions…
My mom and step-dad picked out two appetizers to try and I’m not heartbroken that they did! Up first was the Gusto Bruschetta (a crostini with basil pesto, balsamic tomato, and fresh mozzarella). I’m going to go out on a limb and say this is the best Bruschetta I’ve ever had! M even ate an entire one and halfway enjoyed it (this kid used to only eat corn dogs and pizza)!
Up next was the Garlic Cheese Bread served with their red sauce and it was equally delicious! A more traditional appetizer for the picky eaters in the family, but the red sauce…tasted fresh and wasn’t loaded down with too many seasonings!
My mom and step-dad ordered the Spartacus (mentioned above) and raved about the crust and the fresh toppings!
T and I don’t like a lot of vegetables on our pizza, so we decided to build our own! We settled on the pepperoni and maple glazed ham, then added red onions to his half while my half had sliced roma tomatoes on it! So delicious!
Don’t worry, M didn’t go hungry! He got his own 10′ cheese and onion pizza (that’s what he always orders when we go out to a pizza place) and devoured the entire thing! We all loved the thin and crispy (but not too crispy) crust, the brick oven fired taste, the freshness of the ingredients, and the sauce to topping ratio. We also loved how they take their pepperoni rounds and actually slice them up smaller! It makes it much easier to eat!
Conclusion: Visit Gusto Pizza
We had a fantastic meal and left full and excited to watch the Iowa Cubs catch a win! Fresh ingredients, great atmosphere, and super friendly employees make this stop a “must’ when in Des Moines!
If you’re looking for a new and fun pizza place, our family strongly recommends Gusto Pizza. M has already requested that we return when we can take R with us! Yup, it’s that good!
Found Gusto’s in Oregon, Ohio! No, we tried a local cuisine.
Looks really delicious!
It really is!! ?