Caruso Ristorante Italiano, a fine dining Italian restaurant in Makati City is one of those which have stayed under the radar for years now. Yet, its silence does not mean that it lacks the things well worth raving. As a matter of fact, it is pretty popular among Italians living here in our country and it already has another branch located in Boracay.
Italian restaurants here in the Philippines, particularly in Manila are aplenty. There are some which swears by its authenticity with the land in which it hails from while the others played the tweaking challenge in order to suit locals' palate. Caruso is one of those which remains true to the Italian food form.
A fine dining place that boasts of high quality and great tasting food, impeccable service, and impressive ambiance, Caruso is slowly making its way to the band of restaurants currently making wave in the world wide web, all thanks to some bloggers whose raves are really hard not to notice. I figured it's also time for me to check this place out.
The ambiance exudes an air of sophistication but the warmth of people will welcome you when choosing to dine at Caruso. The facade may look like it was just a small space that can be liken to a bistro, but Caruso is a full pledge restaurant that can house big groups of diners comfortably.
The menu is extensive and is filled with different dishes that hails from Italy. Some may sounds unfamiliar but translation is directly provided. Not to mention, the kindly food attendants will always be there to be of help.
If I could gather all the energy to try everything on the menu, I definitely would. But what I had on one visit were good enough for me to consider a repeat visit one of these days.
Freshly Baked Bread with Olive Oil, Balsamic, and Parmesan Dipping (Complimentary) ~ If a restaurant could dish out freshly baked bread of high quality on the house, you could imagine how great tasting their dishes must be. Such is the case for Caruso.
These bread which has a lovely crisp texture on the outside and warm softness inside is something one might not want to stop munching out regardless if other courses have been set on your table. That is not to say that mere bread has the tendency to overshadow all other dishes at Caruso. It is just a good treat to tide you over while waiting for other dishes and in between courses.
Mozzarella di Bufala e Prosciutto di Parma (Php760) ~ Always a perfect pairing since the savory saltiness of the ham perfectly complements the creaminess of the cheese. I was deceived that the serving was too little for my liking, but the burst of flavor was more than enough.
Insalata Mista Dell Orto (Php390) ~ Straight up good salad if one craves for something healthy before digging into other simple dishes. This salad comprised of greens, cherry tomatoes, shaed of parmesan cheese, and balsamic dressing - downright simple yet filling nonetheless.
Rotolino Con Funghi Porcini Dell Ossola (Php680) ~ This dish can be liken to a mushroom crepe only instead of the usual appearance, it mainly appears as a rolled dough stuffed with some porcini mushroom in cream sauce.
Truth be told, of all the dishes I have tried during my visit at Caruso, this one was the winner. A definitely heart thief - figuratively. I am crazy about mushroom but I have a strong feeling that even if I wasn't, I would probably end up still liking this dish.
Lapu Lapu Favignana (P830) ~ Simple, healthy, and clean - this Lapu-Lapu dish complemented by the steamed veggies on the side is a perfect option if you want to keep indulgence at bay. Yet in my case, it was a good call to balance out the richness of my entire meal by providing a clean flavor but not devoid of happiness.
Straccietti Di Manzo Strapazzati (Php780) ~ this dish is simply slices of beef tenderloin served with chunks of herbed potatoes. If one hankers for straight up meaty flavor of meat without all the flair but still satisfyingly delicious - this is the right dish.
Tagliatelle Alla Crema di Tartufo (Php680) ~ Basically homemade tagliatelle with truffle cream and parma ham. I have always been a big fan of cream-based pasta as opposed to tomato nor oil baed and this dish reminds me why. Truffle cream sauce is on top of the list because of its distinct earthy flavor, hence, I didn't have a hard time loving this pasta dish..
Tagliolini Portofino con Salmone e Caviale (Php680) ~ If the pasta with truffle cream won me over, this one really fought a good fight. Home made tagliolini also has a cream sauce but studded with bits of salmon and caviar. The citrusy note on its flavor was one for the books - something I still long for to this day.
Calabrese Pizza (730Php) ~ This home made thin crust pizza topped with tomato, mozzarella olives, bell pepper, and spicy salami completed my Italian dining experience a Caruso. I love that the crust itself has a distinct taste comparable to nothing. The toppings echoes the high quality ingredients that Caruso is very particular about in using.
Tiramisu (Php320) ~ If a meal has to end with something as delicious as this, you wouldn't want your meal time to be over. I am very picky with my tiramisu and this one surely hit the spot.
Pannacotta Classic (Php320) ~ There is only one pannacotta which I love oh so dearly and that is the one from Amoroma Ristorante in Tagaytay City. I still love it to this day and probably for more years to come. Yet, Caruso's version gave me such comfort that if ever I am craving for a good pannacotta and cannot drive all the way to Tagaytay, I can always visit them for a quick fix.
The end of the meal calls for some digestif which kindly food attendants will serve on your table for your taking. Be careful though since these bottles has a really a strong kick to it. I was only able to take a shot of the Liquore Di Lomone and I was glad that I was with someone who can do the driving for me. Good stuff, but not for the faint of heart.
That leaves me with opting for another glass of my beloved Prosecco instead. A glass is priced at Php320 but I highly doubt that you can stop at just one glass of this sweet sparkling deliciousness so be ready to shell out Php2,800 for a bottle if you are up for it. Worth it, I tell yah.
Caruso Ristorante Italiano may be a tad pricey compare to other Italian restaurants I have been to, but it's a fine dining place anyway and the food are great as well. The ambiance is also impressive enough to be considered as a perfect date place.
Needless to say I had a great time at Caruso. Visiting fine dining places is a rarity for me these days but from time to time I could give in if only to experience my favorite dishes at Caruso and the impeccable service that comes with it.
Caruso Ristorante Italiano
210 Nicanor Garcia Street,
Makati City, Metro Manila
Contact No.: 895-8790
Website: carusoristoranteitaliano.com
Facebook: /CarusoManila
Operating Hours:11am-230pm and 6pm-11pm
210 Nicanor Garcia Street,
Makati City, Metro Manila
Contact No.: 895-8790
Website: carusoristoranteitaliano.com
Facebook: /CarusoManila
Operating Hours:11am-230pm and 6pm-11pm
