Caruso Pasta Bar

Lemon peel, alcohol, sugar and water — that’s how Italians basically “bottle” summer and sunshine to make limoncello. But it always tastes different — depending on the specific and closely guarded family recipe that’s used. In the Caruso pasta bar you’ll drink the famous limoncello made by Marcello’s father, especially imported from Naples for you and the other guests. 

That’s because the Caruso preserves elements that are authentic, characteristically Italian and traditional — alongside all the modern elegance and refined fusion it offers as a high-end restaurant in Cologne’s Agnesviertel neighbourhood. 

Elegant, authentic, brilliant: Italy’s classic dishes in a gourmet version

At the Caruso the focus is on pasta — and with “Pasta Bar” as part of its name, how could it be otherwise? Here the pasta is lovingly handmade directly on site at Kasparstraße 19 — and prepared according to ancient family traditions or innovatively crafted in a refined freestyle process. 

The Caruso knows how to blend elements that would seem to be polar opposites — not only in the cuisine but also in the atmosphere throughout, the service and the concept behind the menu. 

Put together three or five courses — and savour them for two hours

The Caruso has a limited number of seats, and the room is cosily furnished with curtains, wooden tables and shelves, giving it a pleasantly modern look. It looks a bit like your friends’ home — with more tables. For more friends. 

Thanks to this relaxed atmosphere and the very personable and attentive team, the high-end cuisine gets a brand-new touch — and convinces diners that gourmet cuisine can be prepared with a loving touch. Isn’t that thrilling? The Caruso recommends that you allot two hours to this experience, because “pasta is love, and love takes time”. We recommend making a reservation.

A changing bill of fare depending on the season — combine dishes just as you like

Regional fruits and vegetables, as well as seasons and periods of ripeness, are always the starting point of the dishes on the menu, and as a result they change regularly. At the Caruso you put together your meal yourself, choosing from a variety of appetizers, diverse main-course pasta dishes and a lovely selection of dolci. You can choose either a three-course or a five-course menu — and incidentally, you’re not limited to the old-fashioned categories such as appetizer and main course. 

A look at the current menu at the Caruso will give you a few impressions of the fusions and creations that await you.

The Caruso: Winner of the Bib Gourmand Award

The Michelin stars are known all over the world, but the Bib Gourmand Award of the famous Guide Michelin is often only an insiders’ tip. And for many foodies it’s a reliable seal of approval. Today there are six restaurants in Cologne that have been honoured with this award. The Caruso pasta bar is one of them. The criteria are somewhat different than those for the star. The Guide Michelin grants the Bib Gourmand Award for the best price-performance ratio. Quality, taste, culinary skill — for a good price. 

The Guide Michelin praises the Caruso pasta bar as follows: “…in a chic atmosphere. Service comes courtesy of a relaxed, attentive team under the tutelage of the charming proprietress.”

Good companions: Italian wines, selected by hand

To go with your meal, the Caruso offers a wide spectrum of selected vini bianchi, rossi and rosati from Italy, mostly from small family-run vineyards that raise their wines in many different regions of Italy. Many of the vineyards employ organic cultivation processes. Incidentally, you can enjoy the initially mentioned home-made limoncello as a digestivo. 

The Caruso team: Three is the right number

Anna and Marcello Caruso, both of whom are native Neapolitans, have operated their pasta bar in Cologne since 2013 — initially on Barbarossaplatz, today in the Agnesviertel. They were joined in the kitchen by a third person, Emanuele Barbaro, who brought with him valuable experience from “La Societé” and “Maximilian Lorenz”. 

Caruso meals at home: Use the online shop

If there’s no free table for you at the pasta bar — or if you’d like to bring the Caruso feeling into your home — for a meal with your family, friends, alone or for two, you can order fresh pasta, sauces, appetizers and beverages at the restaurant’s own online shop and pick it up later at the restaurant.