Gusti’s was founded in 1949 on the northeast corner of 19th and M Streets NW in Washington DC by Agostino Buttinelli, a man who introduced many Americans to their first taste of Italian food.

Gusti (his nickname) also had a sense of humor, according to this reminiscence of a customer that we found on a Facebook page.

‘Tasted pizza for the first time there…I can still remember the wonderful aroma of the place, the candles in Chianti bottles with melted wax running down the sides in the center of each table. The chopped off neckties on the walls that they cut off of anyone wearing one.’

The food was not fancy, as you can see from this 1958 menu, but it was hearty and the perfect mix of Italian and American tastes.

The restaurant must have been open late, judging by the charming illustration of the impeccably dressed Nite Owls, standing against the background of a lovely map of Italy.

Mr Buttinelli sold the restaurant in the 1960s but the new owners kept the name Gusti’s until the restaurant closed in 1988.Gallery quality Giclée print on natural white, matte, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using Epson archival inks. Custom printed with border for matting and framing.