Visitors to Italy who stray from well-tread tourist paths in small villages or obscure city neighborhoods often report the discovery of charming cafes, trattorias, and ristorantes — family owned and operated, some with folksy names like “La Cucina Della Mamma,” offering delicious, reasonably-priced, house-made cuisine.

Transported to Northern Italy
Entering Caffe Torino, tucked away in a corner of a busy shopping plaza at the intersection of East River and North Craycroft, may evoke a similar sensation for those who have wandered over the cobblestones of Bologna, Genoa, or Milan.

How it all began
A spin-off from Caffe Torino in Oro Valley, which has been drawing crowds of devotees for two decades, the Foothills venue feels surprisingly intimate given that it can seat up to 80 guests.