SINCE 1922, PIZZERIA IN PIAZZA VITTORIO
100 YEARS IN THE KITCHEN
It all started when Michele, a Tuscan from Versilia, saw a “For Sale” sign hanging in a small shoemaker’s shop in Piazza Vittorio.
Determined to have the Turinese fall in love with his farinata and castagnaccio (chestnut flour cake), he bought the shop, built a wood-fired oven – which is still today the centrepiece of the restaurant – and started making food and delivering it on his bicycle.
The idea was a success and throughout the 1930s he was able to expand his cookery, turning it into a simple eatery with its first chairs and tables. Now he was able to make use of the wood-fired oven to make pan pizza that was served at the tables.
In 1955 the business was entrusted to his daughters, Ada and Anna, who decided to honour their father by putting up the sign “Da Michele”.
In 1980 Ada and Anna left the shop to their nephew Andrea and his wife Silvana, both passionate about food.
In 1982 the pizzeria became a restaurant and the tradition of passing down the craft continues today with their son Luca who manages the business with undeniable passion.
In 2015 the restaurant was again expanded, and while doing the refurbishments to a room on the first floor, spectacular frescoes were discovered on the vaulted ceiling.
Today, more than 100 years since its establishment, Da Michele is a place that is more vibrant than ever, full of life, and creativity, with staff who are more like family and many new projects coming soon…
It all started when Michele, a Tuscan from Versilia, saw a “For Sale” sign hanging in a small shoemaker’s shop in Piazza Vittorio. Determined to have the Turinese fall in love with his farinata and castagnaccio (chestnut flour cake), he bought the shop, built a wood-fired oven – which is still today the centrepiece of the restaurant – and started making food and delivering it on his bicycle.
In 1980 Ada and Anna left the shop to their nephew Andrea and his wife Silvana, both passionate about food. In 1982 the pizzeria became a restaurant and the tradition of passing down the craft continues today with their son Luca. Today, more than 100 years since its establishment, Da Michele is a place that is more vibrant than ever, full of life, and creativity, with staff who are more like family and many new projects coming soon…
BEHIND THE SCENES
The wood-fired oven
The oven was built by Michele in 1922 to cook the farinata and the castagnaccio and, from the 1930s, pizza too. Since 1982 the then owner Andrea, and now Luca, use it to enhance the flavours of basic ingredients, cooking meat, vegetables, flans and desserts. Throughout the years it has alway been a centrepiece of the restaurant, visible to all.
Devotion
While the menu is in constant evolution, subject to the seasons and Luca’s creativity, the colour of their football devotion has always been maroon (the colour of Toro football team), despite this fact, The Lawyer Gianni Agnelli was a regular diner at the restaurant and would always sit at table number 66.
Il forno a legna.
The oven was built by Michele in 1922 to cook the farinata and the castagnaccio and, from the 1930s, pizza too. Since 1982 the then owner use it to enhance the flavours of basic ingredients, cooking meat, vegetables, flans and desserts. Throughout the years it has alway been a centrepiece of the restaurant, visible to all.
La fede.
While the menu is in constant evolution, subject to the seasons and Luca’s creativity, the colour of their football devotion has always been maroon (the colour of Toro football team), despite this fact, The Lawyer Gianni Agnelli was a regular diner at the restaurant and would always sit at table number 66.
Special guests.
If the walls could speak, there would be anecdotes, stories and gossip about all the other famous people who have chosen and continue to choose Torino and Da Michele as their indisputable favourite. Some names? Fruttero & Lucentini, Luigi Meroni, Massimo Gramellini, Luciana Littizzetto, Diego Abatantuono, Harvey Keitel, Dario Argento, Subsonica, Antonio Conte, Gigi Buffon and Lapo Elkann.
The Logo.
In the 1920’s Michele decided to use some illustrations by the late 19th century German painter, Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach, to personalise some of the tiles in the eatery. Today they represent the uniqueness and the brand of the restaurant.
