Torino Espresso Bar Offers 'European Way of Dining'

What happens when you create a sleek cafe with dining options made of the highest-quality ingredients and put it in Ferndale?

Mix in a modern and trendy visual appeal, a creative and social city vibe and add a twist with extended hours and creative cocktails, and out pours Torino Espresso Bar.

“Torino is a twist on modern Italian cafe,” said Noah Dorfman, who was among the group who opened the establishment July 11 below the Lofts on 9. “We are trying to provide high-quality espresso and food for every diner and for every walk of life.”

Dorfman had the idea for Torino and assembled his dream team while studying and working the hot spots of Miami. Dorfman has a managing partnership with Jim Culliton and Samer Abdallah, as well as support from head chef James Henry and guest relations expert Nicole Matos.

The restaurant is owned by North Star Partners, which also developed Lofts on 9 at the location. Dorfman is a member of North Star and oversees real estate and business development.

“We all have different backgrounds,” Dorfman said. “We had an opportunity to open a business in Ferndale and knew the community would appreciate a high-quality offering.”

Dorfman is from the Detroit area but moved to Miami 10 years ago to study business management at University of Miami. He remained in Miami after he graduated, working and learning about the industry in trendy South Beach bars and furthering his alliance with Culliton, Abdallah and Matos.

Henry, a Berkley native, joined the team in June.

What they wanted, Dorfman said, was to develop an establishment in Ferndale “that would provide high-quality ingredients with a fine dining experience in a nonpretentious manner.”

To get there, the team combined their talents and created an atmosphere Matos described as “understated elegance.”

Culliton has managed multiple Starbucks locations and was involved with the opening of the Troy store. Abdallah is a mixoligist, known for his interesting drink combinations. Henry calls himself a self-taught chef and has worked for a slew of Metro Detroit restaurants, including Cafe Muse. Matos moved to Miami from Puerto Rico and now resides in Ferndale.

The team has worked in cohesion to come up with the concept, name and menu.

“We're working together to provide for our customers,” Henry said.

The Torino experience

Dorfman said he wanted to bring something to Metro Detroit that it didn't already have — and allow the community to experience the Italian coffee culture firsthand.

He and Abdallah learned in Miami about the “European way of dining ... more social and high-quality food as well as presentation,” he said.

Torino offers a menu featuring “high-end, mostly local produce,” Dorfman said. It includes fresh salads and starters ($8-$13), paninis served on Avalon Bakery bread ($8-$10), platters ($18-$42) and a range of espresso drinks made from freshly ground Illy beans.

When you select from the menu, you can rest assured that the chef will pay attention to detail, Dorfman said.

“(Henry) really makes sure every piece that comes out of our kitchen looks amazing and tastes amazing,” he said.

Vegan options are also available, including pesto made with pistachios instead of Parmesan and chocolate brownies from Avalon Bakery. Torino also boasts a vegetarian Caesar dressing.

Poultry and meats used in menu items are grown and raised at local farms, such as Peacock's Poultry Farm in Troy, and from other Michigan sources, such as Werp Farms near Traverse City.

Even the cocktails are mixed with the freshest fruit and vegetables, Dorfman said. Two of Torino fan favorites, the White Sangria and Cucumber Martini, make use of fresh, local produce from Royal Oak and other Michigan farms.

Customers are taking notice of the fresh ingredients and interesting cocktail creations, Dorfman said.

“Sometimes I watch people as they take the first sip,” he said. “And I see the look on their faces – you can't fake that.”

Diners can enjoy their selections on the outdoor patio overlooking Nine Mile, taking advantage of one of the “drink ledges” facing the street or on one of the poured-concrete tables.

The design of the restaurant is purposely divided into multiple sections to create spaces for lounging, traditional dining and socializing, said Dorfman. He said the benches in a more casual setting were designed to provide ample “elbow room” and promote socialization.

“We really wanted to appeal to very casual diners and the diner who wants to come in to enjoy an espresso,” he said. “We have an array of products at any time of day for every diner.”

Customers' reaction

Stacy and Allen Spence of Ferndale dined on the Torino Platter on a recent evening. It was handpicked by Henry to complement their tastes and drink choices.

“We don't have anything like this here,” Stacy Spence said. “I came here this morning and had espresso. ... I came home and (told my husband), 'I know where we're going tonight.' ”

Just having returned to Ferndale after a 12-day trip across Europe, the couple said they were pleased with the variety of quality fare at Torino. They said it is similar to what they found in Europe.

“Where else can you get an espresso at 6 in the morning, and then come back for drinks and dinner at 9?” Stacy Spence said. “I love this concept. I'm just in love with it.”

Torino is open from 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 6 a.m.-2 a.m. Thursday-Saturday and 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Sundays.

Fun fact: After naming the restaurant after the Italian city of Torino, Dorfman said it was discovered that the town was once known as the “Detroit of Italy,” for being the car capital of the country. The city has been revitalized since the Fiat assembly plant there closed in 1982, which left more than 100,000 without jobs at the time.