Mexico City has a large number of Italian restaurants spread throughout the city. As with everything some are better than others. In my opinion the Santa Fe neighborhood needed a good Italian restaurant and this is exactly what Cafe Torino did. This restaurant is part of a group that owns several venues including Padrinos and Puntarena which have an amazing seafood and fish menu. The group has a great reputation within the city but had never ventured onto a different type of cuisine, but let me tell you we all are glad the did!
Cafe Torino is a casual trattoria similar to the one you would find in the northern part of Italy. Its the perfect place for a business lunch during the week, especially because of its location or a family lunch on weekends. The minute you walk in you smell the fresh bread being baked in the oven, the whole restaurant smells delicious. The restaurant has a nice indoor patio which makes your meal even more enjoyable. From the moment you sit down you are given a bread basket (one of the best I have ever tried) with different types of bread. They even ask you if you want raspberry balsamic vinegar or the regular type.
Once you are given the menu you have so many options you don’t know what to pick. I had to go twice before writing this review so I could try different plates. Appetizer portions are perfect size to share, this way you can try a variety of them and taste the different ingredients. I am a big “Caprese” fan and I understand the salad is pretty much the same in every single restaurant around the world. Well I have news for you this restaurant has one of the best I have ever tried. They use burrata, fresh tomatoes and dried tomates and the three flavors mixed in are just amazing. The tuna crostini with raw tuna, the beef carpaccio with truffle oil and the artichoke soup are some of the best options for appetizers. For the entrees you can’t miss the pastas and risottos. The gorgonzola cheese gnocchi, the mushroom risotto and the arrabbiata pasta are all amazing.
The best part are the desserts, the tiramisu is a must in this place! It tastes so light and not as sweet that even non dessert lovers will like it. The chocolate panna cotta is also oustanding. On your way out of the restaurant you can’t miss the pastry shop they have, you can enjoy “pan dulce” or the sweet pastries Mexicans love to have during breakfast or a regular baguette to take home.
