Auckland classic Toto Cucina has a new address - the good news is their range of Italian cuisine is as good as ever. Photograph Nick Reed.
Auckland classic Toto Cucina has a new address - the good news is their range of Italian cuisine is as good as ever. Photograph Nick Reed.
In
One of the oldest Italian restaurants in Auckland has just got a new address - in brand new custom-fitted premises off Victoria Street West. They're best known for their signature pizzas - available in both metre long (around 20 pieces) and 10 inch sizes. There's also salads, pastries, skewers, desserts,even a breakfast menu - but come takeout time it's the pizza or pasta menu that's going to get your attention. There's an app where you can preorder and earn rewards but phoning's a lot easier (also their online menu doesn't have many pasta and other dishes listed). We ordered the Casarecce pasta ($15) - cauliflower, pine nuts and sultanas in a puttanesca sauce - and a 10 inch Boscaiola pizza ($16.50) - one of their top sellers -mushroom/mozzarella/spinach/pine nuts/truffle oil.
Out
If you're picking up after office hours parking's not a problem. Otherwise parking's a nightmare. My order's ready and waiting when I arrive 20 minutes later. Pizza-wise it's good news - they're the same, uncomplicated, moreish delights Aucklander's have come to love - not lathered with toppings; just fresh ingredients and that delicious, chewy crust. Yes it's a little more expensive than your standard Dominos or Hell's - but it's also a whole lot tastier. You may, like I did, consider going back for more - don't get one of these and expect it to feed more than one (sadly pizzas aren't available by the slice). The pasta was good too - again, portions aren't big, but sufficient. (They do deliver to selected suburbs, but any orders under $200 incur a charge.)
Verdict
A new location yes, but Toto's keep things simple - and when it comes to Italian cuisine - especially pizzas - that's a very good thing.
