Cupertino – Will Bake for Shoes

A new year means new experiences, and now is the perfect time to eat lunch at recently opened Panino Giusto in Cupertino. Right before the holidays kicked in, I was invited to a tasting lunch.

Panino Giusto is an Italian restaurant that started out in Milan, Italy. They quickly became known for their artisanal menu and for sourcing fresh and local produce and have opened 22 locations worldwide. Cupertino is their first US location and a big reason why you should make your way over to visit them for lunch or dinner.

For starters, we had fresh squeezed juices, cheese plates, salads and cured meats. Among the cheeses we tried was their well-known 30-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. It was my favorite among the ones we tasted and one I highly recommend. We also tasted a variety of cured meats and my favorite was their 27-month old prosciutto crudo.

We tasted 3 of the most popular paninis from the menu: the Milano 2015, Madras, and Giusto. Each panini paired was paired with a different wine and I would ask a server what they would recommend if you drink wine with your panini. I loved the ambiance in the restaurant and enjoyed being able to eat in the outdoor area. There is a lot of detail in each panini and it is apparent through the taste. Each one had a fresh taste, and the flavors of each one surprised me. I never knew I liked anchovy until I tried the Giusto sandwich.

Of course, my favorite part of any meal is dessert and we indulged ourselves with chocolate pear cake, panna cotta, tiramisu, and apple tarts. Dessert paired nicely with a warm cappuccino made using their espresso machine. Our tasting lunch felt like an all day thing, but that was one of the nice things about it. There is no rush when eating at this spot and it makes a great place to hang out and enjoy the food that has been prepared.
There are plans for this restaurant to open a location in SF and LA, but don’t wait to try a panini or 2 in their first US location!