In May, we visited the Catullo Restaurant at Corso Moncalieri 176 in Turin. The Catullo Restaurant was established on the banks of the Po River, beside the Ponte Isabella, thanks to the famous cyclist Catullo Ciacci. After he “hung up his shoes and bicycle,” he became a well-known restaurateur in Turin, opening the restaurant on Corso Moncalieri following a similar experience at a venue in the hills of Turin. Catullo Ciacci passed away in 1996 at the Molinette Hospital, and after some time, the restaurant changed ownership but retained the “Catullo” name.
At the entrance, we were welcomed by the restaurant's Maître, who, after professionally checking our reservation, assigned us to a waiter who accompanied us to a table near the window (overlooking the majestic Po River). We descended a few steps, passing by the fish counter and the dessert cart. The restaurant is spread over three levels. On the lowest level, you can admire the river up close, and that evening it was reserved for a bachelor party. A soundproof door allowed us to dine with only rare moments of loud music when the door was opened for guests passing through. On the central floor, a large hall on two levels with large windows allows the front tables to observe the romantic, slow flow of the river and two swans that offered us their majestic sight as the evening approached. The upper floor, also reserved for a party that evening, is accessed directly from the entrance and does not disturb the guests on the central floor. A simple laminated menu provided us with the details of the dishes, and from the separate wine list, we chose a Müller Thurgau from the St. Michael Eppan winery. We started our meal with a "Vitello tonnato with coffee powder" (actually a roast beef tonnato), which was very delicate, and "Impepata di cozze," which we would have preferred to be hotter. For the main course, we had a "Mixed fish with grilled vegetables," whose taste and freshness made us forget the slip-ups of the previous dishes. The menu also offered various types of fish, both in fillets and grilled, as well as Sashimi of entrecôte, tagliata, fillet, and grilled meat.
There were also hamburgers, large salads, and vegan dishes. For those who want to enjoy the river view without spending too much, the menu features numerous varieties of pizza and focaccia. The desserts are listed directly by the waiter, and you can choose from various sweets, ice cream, sorbets, and fruit: I chose the "Zeppole" filled with custard, and the choice turned out to be excellent. The splendid location makes the restaurant unparalleled, and if you are lucky enough to be served by a capable and discreet waiter as we were, you can overlook the 'coldness' of the Maître/cashier, which unfortunately is the last memory you have when leaving the restaurant.
Comments