The History of Tosca

Opened in April 2001, Tosca is the culmination of shared ideas between Cesare Lanfranconi (formerly of Galileo) and co-owner Paolo Sacco.

From the first conversation, Chef Lanfranconi and Mr. Sacco spoke of opening an upscale Italian restaurant together. Mr. Sacco's experience in managing the dining room, combined with Chef's imaginative talent in a kitchen were a perfect match. Tireless planning and attention to detail meant that it took the restaurant a few years to open its doors in downtown Washington DC. But in that time, every detail—from the dining room to the layout of the kitchen—was perfectly planned and executed.

Lanfranconi, a veteran chef whose impressive resume includes stints at some of the finest restaurants and hotels in Italy—including The Hotel Splendido in Portofino and Gualtiero Marchesi in Milan, Italy’s first three-star Michelin restaurant. Chef Lanfranconi’s style is reminiscent of traditional recipes handed down from his grandmother, also a restaurateur, and is strongly influenced by his native Lombardy in Northern Italy. He blends the freshness of locally grown organic ingredients with the unique flavors of imported products from selected purveyors in Lombardy. Ristorante Tosca's seasonal menu consists of a variety of signature dishes, and creative desserts.

The design team of Michael Marshall Architecture, Lilly Gray Rubin Associates and Designer Associates Lighting Consultants, have created a sleek environment of neutral monochromatic tones, interplaying with luxurious, richly colored fabric with contrasting textures. The designers successfully meshed the opulent modernity of the Arnold and Porter building, an elegant monument of pale marble and steel, with the ambiance of a sumptuous club.

Since its 2001 opening, Tosca has been noted in newspapers and magazines all over the northeast and was named the "trendy new Italian restaurant in Downtown Washington" by the Washington Post. Combining their expertise, Chef Lanfranconi and co-owner Paolo Sacco developed the concept of Tosca to offer the finest in quality contemporary Italian cuisine with efficient and personable service.