The clue is in the name: Toscano excels at a menu inspired by Tuscan specialties and traditional Italian home cooking. This relaxed, welcoming restaurant is a long standing favourite with locals thanks to its characteristic Tuscan inspired ingredients where food is served up with respect for tradition. Its passion for traditional food makes is contrasted to its location in trendy Puls 5, in the heart of the hip Zurich West district. It offers a classic,stylish and charming environment in which to enjoy Italian fine dining in this contemporary area of the city. Lunchtime offers a calm respite from the local urban buzz, with a speedy business menu lunch option that changes weekly. The ample terrace space is the place to be during lunchtimes on hot days in the city whilst inside offers a pared-back elegant interior where the focus is all about the food.
The menu is based around refined takes on simple, classic dishes served with generous portions, such as the pappardelle with wild boar Bolognese sauce or spaghetti with clams, garlic and parsley. The Toscano team though are perhaps most famous for their fish dishes, so much so that they even have regular events themed just around fish specialties. The sea bass baked in salt with grilled vegetables is a simple classic that quickly evokes a feeling of eating out under the Mediterranean sunshine.
Although traditional the menu still has plenty of capacity to surprise, with a recently added a fun, contemporary sharing plate concept based on small tapas style dishes that are perfect for a relaxed, lively dinner and drinks with friends after work. Sharing plates of delicious home-made spinach and ricotta tortellini in sage butter, octopus with potatoes and olives and courgette soufflé with black truffle and parmesan sauce will easily make you ask for the menu to order up more.