Ristorante Via Torino | Restaurant Review

A little piece of Milan in Colombo

Via Torino is one of the most famous and fashionable streets in Milan, starting right in front of the Duomo cathedral. The home of everyone’s favourite, the pizza, and a multitude of cafes that are both homely and luxurious, Milan is often considered the ideal place for one to experience the best of what Italian cuisine has to offer.

The Ristorante Via Torino, as its name suggests, offers its patrons a little piece of Italy in Colombo. The quaint, rustic restaurant offers an unapologetically authentic spread of Italian classics, and does it remarkably well.

 

Appetisers

Amalfi Coast Bruschetta – Rs. 990 (4/5)

A fresh and light starter that’s ideal to kick off your meal. You can’t ask for more with a bruschetta: fresh tomatoes and basil on top of lightly toasted Italian ciabatta.

 

Truffle Parmesan Fries – Rs. 1,690 (5/5)

This appetiser may not look like much, but the humble fries covered in truffle oil and grated parmigiano reggiano bring that unique umami taste of truffles, paired with the rich salty taste of the cheese, more than making up for its unassuming look!

 

Pizzas

We got ourselves a half-and-half pizza to try out two separate toppings. Before saying anything about the toppings, it must be said that the pizza was incredible, with a crust that was near perfect, with a crunch when you first bite in, followed by a delightful chewiness.

The toppings we tried out were:

Diavola – Rs. 2,950 (5/5)

A classic pepperoni pizza, it has a generous amount of cheese and pepperoni on the pizza. There is a slight bit of heat from the sliced pepperoni that is simply delightful.

 

Prosciutto di Parma – Rs. 3,950 (4/5)

Yet another classic, with a generous serving of parma ham on top of the mozzarella cheese, covered with grated parmesan cheese and rocket leaves. It’s fresh and delicious.

 

Mains

Spaghetti alla Carbonara – Rs. 2,700 (5/5)

A spaghetti carbonara that was as close to authentic as it could get! Perfectly al dente spaghetti in a rich sauce consisting of eggs, pecorino romano, parmigiano-reggiano and bacon. A truly rich carbonara made without the usual “short-cut culprits” of cream or milk that some local restaurants resort to.

 

Desserts

Tiramisu – Rs. 1,500 (5/5)

Arguably the best tiramisu I’ve had in Sri Lanka! Lady finger sponges soaked in their own unique blend of Kahlua, rum and Lavazza coffee, covered in a rich cream filled with mascarpone cheese. Unapologetically authentic, mouth-melting goodness!

 

Chocolate Brownie – Rs. 900 (3.5/5)

More mud-cake than brownie, two slices of decadently rich and gooey chocolate cakes served with a side of vanilla ice cream. May not be the most authentic brownie out there, but it certainly won’t disappoint if you’re looking for a chocolatey treat.

 

Drinks

The Gooseberry Mint and Lime – Rs. 1200 (4/5)

This was an interesting drink, rich with the flavour of fresh gooseberries, offset by the cooling flavours of fresh mint and the sourness of the lime. You’ll love it if you love gooseberries, or you have an adventurous palate.

 

Ginger and Passionfruit – Rs. 950 (4/5)

Sweet and sour passion fruit balanced with the spicy taste of ginger, this was delightfully refreshing.

 

Ambience

Hidden away in plain sight, from the hustle and bustle of one of the busiest roads in Sri Lanka (the A0, or Sri Jayawardenapura Mawatha), Ristorante Via Torino occupies the space neighboring the Shirohana Petal Guru outlet on Tickell Road.

The roofed open-air space with ample seating for around 25-30 diners and two towering mango trees (and its roman-style facade sheltering a corner of the space) is rather charming, and is probably the closest it gets to replicating the homely, quaint ambience of a cafe in Milan on our tropical island.

 

Notes

• There are about 2-3 parking slots right in front of the restaurant. Other patrons may have to park on Tickell Road.
• Their antipasto was one of my favourite sections of the menu, and their “Formaggio e Salumi Platter” seems like an absolute hit! Consider trying it out!
• If you have trouble navigating the menu and finding what you like, speak to Sudeera. He was super helpful, and knew his way around the menu!
• While the prices are seemingly on the higher side, considering the authenticity of the menu and the ingredients they use, they are quite reasonable.

 

The post Ristorante Via Torino | Restaurant Review appeared first on Pulse.