Alloro Mio is an Italian restaurant in the Kyoto neighborhood of Nijo specialing in cuisine from Tuscany. Tuscan cuisine has two main things that set it apart from the Italian food often seen in Japan; its hearty use of meat and simple dressing that draw out the natural flavors of ingredients. Compared to the sauce heavy dishes of northern Italy, Tuscan dishes are often much more straightforward. At Alloro Mio, you'll also find a recurring theme of poultry in their dishes. Originally a chef of western cuisine, owner and chef Kato opened Alloro Mio in October, 2019. Around the age of 30, Kato discovered a newfound interest in Italian cuisine and ever since has been chasing that curiosity down the rabbit hole. Making multiple trips over to Italy, Chef Kato trained in the motherland itself and now back in Kyoto, serves up dishes that are nothing if not the real deal. Alloro Mio means “My laurel” in Italian. The name represents the taste of Chef Kato’s cooking – which like the bay leaf of a laurel shrub that can be used in everything from entrees and mains to desserts – is like the helping hand of a friend. Also, as it is the restaurant’s namesake, you’ll find many bay leaves in many of the dishes here too. With its mild, whispering aroma, Alloro Mio has made the bay leaf its symbol. We recommend this restaurant for special occasions or when you want to treat yourself. Whether you’re searching for genuinely good food made with incredible ingredients, or just some authentic Tuscan cuisine, then you can't pass up Alloro Mio.