53 Nelson Street,
Auckland Central
Auckland,
1010
(09) 302 2665
The ViewAuckland Review
Toto's Italian Restaurant, Auckland Central - Restaurant Review
I've had a pretty good run with hearty rustic Italian food recently, but what about fine dining? Award-winning Toto's Italian Restaurant was the obvious choice to try it out.
Food
Toto offers a 'Classics' degustation experience for $120 per person. It's expensive, but it's something really quite special. Six courses were presented to us, each with their own incredible flavours and textures. In terms of ranking them, they went in reverse order. The first two courses of Te Matuku oyster with cured salmon, fennel and crostini, and Octopus Carpaccio with a citrus salad were both enjoyable if light on flavour. These were followed by three outstanding dishes - Prawn Tortellini in a saffron broth, Mushroom and Duck Risotto (the duck being perfectly cooked with just the right amount of fat), and an exquisite Venison Loin on beetroot carpaccio. The dessert course was a velvety fig panna cotta, the creaminess offset by some sublime mango sorbet. A tiny chocolate cone served as a delightful coda to a wonderful meal. As individual dishes, these were wonderful but together they were a beautiful and intricate journey through the classic dishes of Italy.
Drinks
You can match your wines with the degustation courses for $60 per person, but wanting a fruity white, we went with (perhaps sacrilegiously) with a bottle of The Sisters Marlborough sauvignon. However, the wine list is crammed full of Italian wines from every region if you want to go truly authentic.
Vibe
Toto has the mix of relaxed surroundings and fine dining standards down very well - no stuffiness here.
Service
Excellent, friendly and knowledgeable. One or two of the early courses came out a little too quickly but this was paced better later on in the meal.
Highlights
Too many to mention, but the venison and the mushroom risotto were standouts.
The Bottom Line
A truly fabulous meal, wonderful staff and a relaxed welcoming atmosphere. A visit to Toto's Italian Restaurant is highly recommended.
Toto's Italian Restaurant has been reviewed by 9 users