Judi Friedman and Jerry Lankin
We’re two SaddleBrooke foodies forever seeking great places to eat! We’ll review two restaurants each month for taste and presentation, service, price, value, and ambiance. If you have a favorite eatery and would like to spread the word, please send us an email at cooksoutofthekitchen@gmail.com.
Café Torino Restaurante
10325 North La Cañada, 520-297-3777
Sitting at a table at Cafe Torino’s outside patio on a beautiful Tucson evening was a great way to end the day. While the space is right by the parking lot, we had no issue with car fumes. We were greeted and seated promptly, given menus and water, and just enjoyed watching the sunset. The menu has many of the usual options of an Italian restaurant, making this place seem so familiar. We started with the Antipasti Misto that had a lovely selection of Italian meats (including prosciutto), cheeses, caprese, olives, marinated veggies, and crostini. There was so much to enjoy that we happily took our leftovers home. We followed this with the “Pizze” Torino. Our typical set of toppings we usually order included mozzarella, sausage, pepperoni, onions, mushrooms, and olives. We always split the toppings so that half has the meat and the other half the veggies. This was not an issue for them at all. Again, more than half went home for lunch the next day. We finished our meal with the “Melanzane Alla” Parmigiana, which contains eggplant, parmigiana cheese, and either a salad or rigatoni pomodoro. We opted for the rigatoni, since we had salad with the antipasti. This dish was also very good, with the rigatoni being cooked perfectly al dente. And, yes, we took half of this dish home also. This clearly is a neighborhood place, as the wait staff seemed to know most of the people having dinner that night!
Food ****
Ambiance ****
Taste and Presentation ****
Service *****
Price $$$
Value ****
Café Torino is recommended.
DiBella’s Brunch N’ Booze
9630 N. Oracle Road #110, 520-258-0595
DiBella’s is a new, small, family-owned brunch/lunch restaurant tucked into a shopping center just off Oracle Road at Linda Vista. You can choose to eat at their outdoor patio or inside with a well-appointed mix of high top or standard tables and a nice bar. It was busy when we arrived on Easter Sunday, but we were seated quickly and approached immediately by our excellent server Brittany who took our beverage order. Coffee and tea first thing got us functioning normally! Judi ordered the cheese and bacon omelet with sweet potato tots. The omelet contained a very generous filling of the cheese, and the bacon and was perfectly prepared and not overcooked! The accompanying sweet potato tots were a welcome change from the usual hash browns you get at most restaurants. Jerry ordered the traditional Eggs Benedict. The poached eggs were done as requested and served over a toasted English muffin with ham and a wonderful Hollandaise sauce, which held up during the whole meal. Although we ate a traditional meal, the menu varied, with many other lunch dishes and salads. Plenty of beverages were available, including draft beers and cocktails for those so inclined. All in all, a nice, reasonably priced meal in a cute environment. A great local watering hole that we recommend. They have an After Hours Event Package where you can use the entire space after 4 p.m. On their Facebook page there are several different event packages. These options include just bar and venue, bar and catering, as well as bar and open menu.
Food *****
Ambiance ****
Taste and Presentation ****
Service *****
Price $$$
Value ***
DiBella’s is recommended.