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Been here, done that and still loving it like the first time. There are Italian trattorias, others that are fast food concepts, some do only pizza or try to produce fresh pasta, but few know what Italian culture is all about. Toto is Italian at its finest with plates oozing freshness from the Italian terroir, a risotto I adore, pastas cooked to perfection and a pizza you can't but fall in love with.
Since it opened, Toto has had ups and downs. I was not a fan of their pizza until recently and the famous pain perdu took a while to become one of the country's best. Visiting for lunch, I had a couple of dishes, all wonderful. To enjoy it, focus on the food, forget the waiters' arrogance and pretensions.
Lunch is served:
- The four cheese pizza: A delicious dough, not too thin and not too thick, a dough that's unique in Lebanon, lightly crunchy and lightly chewy with interesting borders that have a tender, moist heart. Sitting on top of the dough is homemade tomato sauce and four kinds of cheese. Surely one of Lebanon's best pizzas.
- Ravioli four cheese: Served on an oval plate, the ravioli, stuffed with cheese and cooked in cream, is delicious. Cooked al dente, each piece can be cut down the middle and enjoyed smoothly with a light texture under the palate.
- The pomodoro risotto: looks tastes of heaven. Rich, full bodied tomato flavors, al dente risotto with a light hardness and a sticky touch, juiciness, aromas and taste. That's yummy.
- The famous Pain Perdu: A square Pain Perdu, bread that's not overly soaked, lying down on a clean and beautifully presented plate. A warm chunk of bread lightly buttered and dipped in milk, with a heart of dark chocolate. Tender and fluffy bread decorated with lines of caramel adding enjoyable sweetness. With that is a fine vanilla ice cream, not too sweet and not too milky, a vanilla ice cream I'd buy for home and surely from Oslo. Order it, make sure to order it, and believe me you won't share it. It's awesome and full of class and finesse.
Toto is one of the country's best Italian restaurants and it's located in Mar Mikhael.
