Il Tornatora – Giuseppe Tornatora

The Cornetteria of Rome

Tornatora is one of the most popular venues in Rome. A brand known for the quality of its products, kindness of the staff and craftsmanship. But, above all, for the goodness of his croissants.

Giuseppe Tornatora sits comfortably at one of the wooden tables in his elegant restaurant, calmly recounting the various stages of his entrepreneurial adventure, which has seen ups and downs, but which, with passion and the pursuit of goodness at its core, has managed to find the right path to deserved success.“My journey began at 13, working in a small pastry shop where I learned the basics of the trade. Over the next fifteen years, I moved between several locations and gained a wealth of experience. Then I began working with my brothers, and we decided to open our first pastry shop in Rome. It all came together very naturally; our collaboration and deep bond benefited us..”

A partnership that lasted about 30 years.

“I learned a fundamental lesson from two master pastry chefs who told me to do everything simply and with a focus on goodness. And even with my brothers, we didn't look for diet products but rather for what was truly good..”

Il Tornatora's flagship product is, above all, its rich and flavorful croissant, for which it is known and appreciated throughout Rome and beyond. Cakes and pastries follow closely behind. The savory products are also highly sought after.“That,”– explains Giuseppe “we started producing more out of passion than true culinary technique”Once the experience with the brothers was over, the children took over and, with the new generation, a growth phase began.“Every business we opened was a success. We take inspiration from the old-fashioned establishments: less trendy but more concrete in offering service. Quality, professionalism, and passion are the foundation of our work..”

But about 10 years ago came the commercial misadventure.“We bit off more than we could chew, sold the premises, and lost a bit of everything. Precisely in this dark moment for our three families, during a trade show, we discovered Aba Arredamenti. I approached their booth, intrigued, and started talking to Roberto. After a while, I don't know why, I felt like telling him my story, the difficult situation I was in, and my desire to start over. He listened, we talked, and we both decided to take a risk. Because we both believed in the project..” Together, they began building the first shop, marking a new entrepreneurial era for Giuseppe Tornatora, on Via della Grande Muraglia in the EUR district. Just three years later, a second pastry shop opened on Via dei Prati Fiscali, in the northern part of Rome.“Our brief was to create a classic, elegant style that also conveys a sense of hospitality. I personally sketch the design of the space. I draw like a pastry chef, of course, but Roberto always manages to capture the essence and present the project to me exactly as I'd envisioned it. I've always insisted on attention to even the smallest details, like the wood, the lighting, and the leather..”

The well-appointed atmosphere offers the perfect space to enjoy an excellent breakfast, a lavish lunch buffet, a coffee with friends, or an aperitif. Caffè Tornatora's flagship is its pastry shop, renowned for the quality, freshness, and craftsmanship of its desserts. Aba's counters have truly highlighted this.

“"I learned a fundamental lesson from two master pastry chefs who told me to do everything simply and with a focus on goodness. And even with my brothers, we didn't look for diet products but for what was truly good."”

“It's crucial that a company working with you in this type of project has extensive experience, because Aba, with its half-century of experience, understands the needs of restaurateurs. It's important not just to open a restaurant, but to make it last. In my opinion, after about ten years, customers get tired of it and the look needs a makeover. But ten years is no small amount of time, and if the company that built it didn't do a good job, after a few months, the furniture can already be starting to look worn out. Aba also has extensive expertise in maintenance..”

Customers familiar with the Il Tornatora brand now expect fast, clean, courteous, and high-quality service.“The compliments we get? A lady passing by the counter once said, "If there were a paradise for locals, Tornatora should have a guaranteed spot!"”. “In the future, I'd like to open a third location to leave at least one for each child, knowing full well that, to best manage this type of business, there's always strength in numbers, and without a strong team, you can't work at your best. My hope for them is that they find strength in their bonds, just as I found it in the one with my brothers..”