When Flavour Meets Innovation: Toscano’s Path to Excellence in Italian Fine Dining
Toscano, a renowned Wine Bar, Restaurant, and Pizzeria chain, is redefining the hospitality industry with its exceptional service, exquisite cuisine, and memorable experience. Based in the bustling city of Bengaluru, Toscano blends authentic Italian recipes with a modern twist, offering a unique culinary evolution. With 21 locations across 6 cities and a team of over 1200 members, Toscano is dedicated to delivering a world-class dining experience, superior customer service, and an artisanal menu that showcases authentic Italian flavours.
Toscano provides a truly distinctive dining experience, marked by its contemporary modern interiors and the inviting option for both indoor and al fresco seating. At the heart of its culinary offerings are the fresh, crisp salads, sourdough pizzas, artisanal handmade pastas, and decadent desserts. This unwavering commitment to culinary excellence and an inspiring organisational culture underpins Toscano’s core mission: to deliver exceptional Italian dining experiences by prioritising absolute guest satisfaction above all else.
The Evolving Startups Landscape
Goutham and his team have observed a significant transformation in the startup ecosystem within the food industry over the years. The surge of new entrants has created a dynamic environment, offering opportunities for growth and collaboration. However, the company emphasises that sustaining a market presence needs robust fundamental principles. With a large influx of startups within the food industry over the years. Goutham advises young entrepreneurs to be prepared to navigate the unpredictable market landscape with resilience and adaptability.
Toscano’s Journey: Since Its Inception
Toscano’s overall journey demonstrates the power of passion and strategic growth. Co-founded by Goutham B and Jean Michael Jesserand, the company has come a long way since its inception. Goutham B, a dynamic Chef and serial entrepreneur, laid the foundation for Toscano’s success with his expertise in Chennai’s five-star hotels.
Establishing it as a staple in the city’s culinary scene. Toscano launched its flagship outlet at UB City in 2008, marking the beginning of Toscano’s rise as a culinary staple in Bangalore. Since then, the company has expanded systematically, entering new markets. Since then, the company has expanded systematically, entering new markets such as Chennai in 2019, followed by Pune, Hyderabad, and Delhi, with plans to open its doors in Mumbai in 2025.
Research and Development at the Core
Toscano firmly believes in the importance of innovation and research for driving growth and staying ahead of the industry. The company prioritises listening to its customers and responding to their evolving preferences, which empowers it to come up with new and distinctive menu offerings that cater to changing tastes. Toscano focuses on improving the nutritional value of its menu items, continuously innovating, and staying relevant and appealing to its target audience.
The company’s open-minded approach and willingness to challenge conventional thinking enable it to refine processes and implement new ideas more quickly than its competitors, ultimately driving its growth and success.
Toscano’s Focused Marketing Strategies
Toscano’s key marketing strategy revolves around creating passionate brand ambassadors out of its customers. The company achieves this by delivering a truly memorable experience to every guest who steps into its restaurants. With a focus on quality, authenticity, and consistency, Toscano ensures its products live up to the expectations of its guests, as promised on its menu. Genuinely warm service is at the heart of the company’s core differentiation. Additionally, Toscano has effectively harnessed the power of social media to expand its reach and engage with a wider audience, further expanding its brand presence.
Goutham’s Leadership Philosophy
Goutham views leadership as a catalyst for creating an environment where colleagues and the business can flourish together. He believes that great companies are built by great people who are experts in their domains, possess a strong service ethos, and take pride and ownership in their work. By combining passion, pride, and experience, Goutham strives to make a positive difference in people’s lives and deliver exceptional customer experiences, marked by expertise, skill, and timely services.
Fostering a Work Culture Built on Core Values
Toscano’s corporate culture is deeply rooted in a comprehensive set of core values that guide its interactions with clients, colleagues, and the wider community. These foundational principles—including Trust, Care, Innovation, Pride, Integrity, Recognition, Teamwork, Growth, and People Focus— collectively shape its work environment. They foster a culture of accountability and mutual respect, building a workplace where every colleague is inspired to grow personally and professionally, feeling genuinely valued and connected.
Toscano’s Growth Strategy: Future Plans
Toscano is committed to surpassing its accomplishments and has established itself as an industry leader. With a strong presence of 21 outlets, the company is poised for continued growth and expansion. Toscano plans to open 5-6 outlets by the end of this year, further strengthening its expansion in key markets such as Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. This strategic growth plan highlights the company’s dedication to delivering a top-notch dining experience to a wider audience and establishing it as an industry pioneer.
Notable Accomplishments and Milestones
Toscano has a remarkable track record of achievements and milestones that showcase its excellence in the culinary industry. As a pioneer in wine Bar culture, Toscano boasts an impressive selection of 160 labels and 36 wines by the glass. The company has been honoured with prestigious awards, including:
• Times Food & Nightlife Awards: “Best Italian Restaurant” (2014, 2023).
• Zomato: Best Italian & European Cuisine, Users’ Recommendations Award (2012), Users’ Choice Award (2013).
• Food Lovers: Most Popular Restaurant, Bengaluru (2011 Gold), Food & Wine Pairing Experience (2010).
• India Wine Awards: 2018, 2019.
• Pepsi Image Food & Service Award 2022: Most Admired Service Retailer: Innovation in menu design, Display & Presentation.
• Restaurant Awards – Chennai 2024: Best Foreign Cuisine Restaurant of the Year (Italian).
• Food Connoisseur – Pune 2024: Best Italian Cuisine Restaurant Chain.
• Restaurant India – Karnataka Edition 2025: Best Foreign Cuisine Restaurant of the Year (Italian).
• Food Connoisseur – West Edition 2025 Best Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year
These accomplishments showcase the brand’s excellence in the culinary industry and its dedication to delivering exceptional dining experiences.
Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs
Goutham Balasubramanian offers valuable advice for budding entrepreneurs, emphasising the importance of focusing fundamentally on the strength and spirit of people. According to Goutham, great organisations are built by the passion, pride, and shared experience of their people. By fostering an environment where these elements converge, businesses can drive impactful, positive change. Additionally, Goutham highlights the significance of core values like trust, care, innovation, and pride in guiding daily operations and interactions and stresses the importance of accountability in creating a proud workplace.
Closing Message to the Readers
Goutham Balasubramanian invites readers to learn more about the company and its exceptional food and service offerings. He is confident and energised about the future to collaborate with potential customers, small business partners, and future employees to bring service to life.
