Hospitality | Toto Restaurant
An experience
to dine for
Set Menu for groups of 10 or more Menu is designed for the whole table to share. GOURMET MENU ($75.00 )
SERGIO MAGLIONE MENU ($95.00)
PANE & OLIVE
PANE & OLIVE
Selection of freshly baked bread, olives and NZ extra virgin olive oil
Selection of freshly baked bread, olives and NZ extra virgin olive oil
FRITTURA DI CALAMARI
FRITTURA DI CALAMARI
Baby calamari, crispy vegetables, sesame, agrodolce sauce
Baby calamari, crispy vegetables, sesame, agrodolce sauce
CARPACCIO DI VITELLO
CARPACCIO DI VITELLO
Herb smoked veal carpaccio, cipriani sauce, rocket and parmesan
Herb smoked veal carpaccio, cipriani sauce, rocket and parmesan
GNOCCHI
RAVIOLI
Home made potato gnocchi, gorgonzola, zucchini, pine nuts
Home made beef, ravioli, mixed mushroom ragu and truffle oil
PESCE
PESCE
Fish of the day, daily garnish
Fish of the day, daily garnish
AGNELLO Lamb rump, ricotta stuffing, pine nuts, radicchio, pea puree AND selection of side dishes TIRAMISU Sponge fingers, espresso, coffee liqueur and mascarpone.
CERVO Venison loin, beetroot carpaccio, forest mushroom caprino contorni AND a selection of side dishes. PANNA COTTA DI FICO Fig panna cotta, mango sorbet, conefilled chocolate
Food, wine, beers and spirits. ...Available from leading foodstores and distributors.
Toto Italian restaurant in Auckland’s CBD prides itself on offering a whole “wine and dine” experience in a classic Italian setting. Its hard work this year has paid off, with Toto named the “Best Italian Restaurant” in the Metro Audi Restaurant Awards.
Wining and dining Toto holds the mantra of creating a great meal that is not just the food and wine, but an overall experience. “We try to make it an extraordinary one by creating a beautiful place – one filled with staff who care about it as much as they care about their home and care for the most important guests in it. “Sergio Maglione [the current owner and head chef] and his team are obsessive about the Italian cuisine.” Roy says the food is made from a range of top-quality imported Italian ingredients mixed in with a range of good New Zealand producers. He also points out, as much as the quality of the food remains consistent; Toto likes to jazz up its offerings a little by making regular changes to the menu.
Pride in performing
“We have classics that stay on the list, but we change the rest every two months or so, so it doesn’t become boring.
Restaurant manager Roy Assadi says it’s a point of pride for Toto’s that it has received such great accolades. He adds critics can recognise potential just by sitting down and opening a menu; with Toto’s the critics have not just recognised potential, but an award winning quality.
“It is really important to change things around a little.”
The restaurant’s ambience alone speaks volumes; from the moment you walk through the door, till the moment you walk out fully satiated, Toto Restaurant and its staff, ensure an all-round wine and dine experience. Aiding its image and reputation is the restaurant’s classic European décor; candles providing an ambient light mood, the heart-warming fire-place and the old school rustic, but classic colouring. From the décor through to what’s served on a plate, Toto has certainly established itself as a top-of-the-game provider of modern Italian cuisine. Its inspiration comes from the south of Italy and the Amalfi coast.
Roy adds that wine plays a central role in a dining experience at Toto. “We ensure that the food works well with the wine list.” He says the wines on the restaurant’s 300 – 400 strong wine-list are all sourced from top quality producers in Italy, New Zealand and Australia. “It is about offering good-quality food and wine together in a boutique area.”
Other worthy mentions • 2011 Metro Auckland runner up for best Italian
Roy says its success is attributed to the team that works well together and an owner who is hands on. “I say this not because I work here, but because I can see from the front of house staff, right through to the back of house staff we work together. “Our owner is hands on and we do our best. It is not always perfect, but we were chosen because we promise to look after our guests. We have a view to wow with the small things. We like to keep it surprising and exciting.”
• 2010 – Metro Auckland top 50 • 2008 – 2009 Metro best Italian • 2009 Lewisham Award for the best wine list
Toto Restaurant 53 Nelson Street Auckland T (09) 302 2665 www.totorestaurant.co.nz — Advertising Feature
Federal Geo Limited Congratulates
Toto Restaurant on the
Best Italian Resturant Award 2012
www.pdi.co.nz
www.aucklandtoday.net.nz July/August 2012 | 41