There is truly something about getting lost in the age-old pathways of Capri.
Strolling through the alleys, it’s sometimes hard to imagine that a breathtaking kind of life could exist in this petite little isle in the Mediterranean coast.
Style Details
Outfit | PRIMARK
Bag | CHANEL
Shoes | ZARA
Sunglasses | CÉLINE
What’s even more marvelous is uncovering hidden gems and precious hideaways that truly exude the energy of Capri. These were in my thoughts as my husband and I found a precious place tucked inside the back streets of Capri’s piazzetta.
Da Tonino is a restaurant destination for those who are lovers of food and fauna. In its quiet elegance, this blossoming spot has a way of elevating your palate to soar distinctively in delight. For generations, it sat and bear witnessed to the changing tides of the island, always innovating while staying true to its heritage. Infatuated with every little detail of this site, I was charmed when Chef Salvatore expressed that he truly loves using the culinary arts to express himself beyond words. Embodying an amiable character of noble confidence, his resume includes working in the past for two Michelin-star restaurants before coming back to his hometown in Capri to continue what his ingenious ancestors have started.
Da Tonino overlooks a patch where some, if not most, of his ingredients are from. I certainly observed a few of his staff picking cultivated elements at the garden while my husband and I sat down. We quickly learned the simple yet genuine concept of Da Tonino: Providing a perfect combination of culinary quality and quantity to each and every one of their guests. Word from the streets was that they also have a legendary cellar and we were certainly shown the impressive collection by their master sommelier. It certainly appears like an ancient library of approximately 15,000 of the best wine and spirits in the island down there. A unique little detail I sighted was their selection of lemon beer which I found unique to Capri. Served with one of the best Greco wine, our culinary adventure at Da Tonino benevolently commenced.
Our appetizer came in as a tray featuring three pairs of bite-sized food. It consisted of two burgers, shrimp gelatins and fish mini plates. It even had a pretty big prawn head on the side of the tray to add to its whimsical presentation. The burger was a beefy one while having a slight spice to its flavor. The shrimp gelatins were fresh and it featured quite the refreshing bite. The fish mini plate was certainly delicious.
The next dish we had was the marinated anchovies with potatoes and burrata cheese. It also has some flavorful rucola, freshly picked from the garden. This plate tastes very refreshing and the combination of savors went together in perfect harmony.
Our second plate was a beautifully grilled octopus served with mashed potatoes, mayonnaise and beans. The octopus tasted very fresh and not chewy. It was also grilled wonderfully as it was slightly crunchy on the outside.
When our appetizers ended, we received a new glass of wine called Coda di Volpe Irpinia DOC 2012 Perillo. It was very refreshing and smooth to drink.
“Da Tonino is a restaurant destination for those who are lovers of food and fauna.”
Now for the secondi, we had the homemade pasta papilla and ravioli. The pasta papilla had pecorini cheese which was very strong and soft. It also featured a garnish of mussels and lime, a brilliant explosion of flavors. It went exquisitely with the wine.
The ravioli had ragu giving prominence to the refreshing essences of mushroom, carpaccio and burrata cheese from the Campagna region. I would say it was an exceptional and innovative take on ragu.
In preparation for the incoming meat course, red wine was provided which went perfectly with the savory suckling pig with cream of apple and sweet pepperoni again from the Campagna region. The suckling pig was a very soft and meaty yet not overly rich. My husband was even more thankful for the crunchy skin. Overall the dish went faultlessly together.
We enjoyed two kinds of desserts at Da Tonino. The first had a blossoming peach on top with a scoop of basil ice cream. The peach sat on a bed of Chantilly and a crunchy biscuit. All of the flavors went superbly well together.
The second dessert looks like a simple cupcake but it’s actually a lava cake, Capri style. The lava cake tasted supreme with the ice cream and the crunchy chocolate bits.
Known to be one of the best restaurants that featured the finest aged wines led by one of the most talented chefs in Capri, we were clearly swept off our feet. We’ve come to understand that Da Tonino is everything you can possibly ask for when looking for a restaurant to dine in at Capri and we were grateful to have had the good fortune of experiencing it.
Priced very well and considered a rare find, Da Tonino unpretentiously yearns to convey to its guests the most locally authentic culinary encounter conceivable and we certainly witnessed that for ourselves. Compliments to Chef Salvatore for such impeccable taste!
Thanks to Da Tonino Capri | Via Dentecale, 15, Capri NA, Italy | +39 081 837 6718