Italian food is very popular around the world, with pizza and pasta restaurants opening in every corner.
But for diners who prefer authentic cuisine cooked in the traditional Italian way, Caruso Ristorante Italiano in Makati is the perfect place. For 22 years, Caruso has been delighting the palate with gourmet dishes made from the freshest ingredients.
“Our chef has been with us for 18 years,” shares restaurant owner Emilio Mina, adding that he has an all-Filipino team running his kitchen.
Caruso is the favorite venue for major events hosted by the Italian Embassy. The place has a private room for 20 people, and the entire restaurant can accommodate as many as 60 guests. It is also known to host family gatherings and VIP parties. International tenor Andrea Bocelli dined at Caruso when he visited Manila in 2016. Emilio even rendered an Italian pop song in his honor.
Apart from serving good food and entertaining diners, the charismatic Emilio loves music, hence the stage and the piano at the restaurant’s main dining area.
“I like to sing ‘Beautiful Girl,’” he said, referring to the hit song popularized by Jose Mari Chan. The impromptu performance always thrills female guests, though “sometimes they don’t like it,” Emilio joked.
He may not be a chef, but Emilio comes from a family of good cooks and food lovers, which explains his discriminating taste. “My grandmother is a very good cook, and I have traveled around the world and dined in the best restaurants,” he said.
He attributes Caruso’s 22-year success to the restaurant’s food quality. “I only buy the best ingredients,” he said. To this day, the restaurant uses freshly made pasta for tagliatelle, garganelli, ravioli, lasagna, and other pasta dishes.
Among the popular menu items are Tagliatelle alla crema di tartufo e Parm ham, a rich pasta dish with truffle cream; Bistecca a la Fiorentina, served with a side of mashed or roasted potatoes, spinach, or mixed vegetables; Garganelli ai funghi dell’Ossala, homemade garganelli with porcini mushroom sauce; and the restaurant’s much-talked-about Branzino, sea bass crusted in salt.
Caruso brings back the time when pizza and pasta were enjoyed in a fine setting. The bar at the entrance is the perfect place for pre-dinner cocktails. At mealtime, diners can leisurely savor every bite, and yes, there’s a friendly host who happily visits your table to make sure everything is in order.
Lovers of Italian cuisine will enjoy the extensive menu choices with over 10 kinds of pizza dishes that both kids and adults are sure to love.
After dinner, check out their dessert choices—panna cotta, tiramisu, gelato, and many others—and make sure to ask for a shot of Limoncello, a lemon liqueur from Southern Italy, known for its bright citrus flavor and natural aroma.
Italians love drinking limoncello after dinner. The refreshing taste triggers good vibes, prompting lovely conversations. It is also good for digestion, especially after a heavy meal.