Tovona: A European Café

By Joy Stanley

Compared to the run-of-the-mill sandwich shop, Tovona is a haven, 
and it has an interesting history. The owner, Christian, says he was watching the Broadway musical Mama Mia when he heard them mention a fictional bed and breakfast called Tovona. He suddenly decided that Macon needed a Tovona! Christian, who already owned a frame shop on Ingleside Avenue, decided to sell his current shop and buy the space next door for his new restaurant. He opened his upscale sandwich café in August of 2002. He then took his entire staff to see Mama Mia so that everyone would be very familiar with what his Macon Tovona should be. Christian’s plans are not yet totally complete; he hopes to have his liquor license in time for the Cherry Blossom Festival, and also plans to open a private party dining room by late spring. 

As you enter the warm and cozy atmosphere of Tovona, the aroma of brewing coffee and tasty treats quickly engulfs you. Two rooms make up the seating arrangement. The first room has lots of bistro tables and chairs with large, bright floral arrangements. Colorful, interesting artwork adorns each possible spot. The second, adjoining room has a fireplace surrounded by couches and chairs for an afternoon coffee or pastry. Conventional tables and chairs provide seating in this room. The restaurant does not provide highchairs, so Tovona might best be a special spot for moms on mother’s mornings out, or for nice lunches with spouses, co-workers, or friends.

Tovono’s menu is full of exciting flavors. You can start your meal with one of their homemade soups, or some cheesy nachos. After sampling the delicious nachos, our waiter then went over the daily specials, all of which sounded very appealing. I chose a Panini sandwich with Roma tomatoes, cheese, and spices served on ciabatta bread. They have other Panini sandwiches made with chicken, Proscuitto ham, or even sautéed eggplant. Other selections included a Reuben sandwich, vegetarian chili, and a chicken salad cold plate. You can also build your own sandwich with meatballs, capicolla, and salami, just to name a few. Tovona’s salads are not your typical salads; I chose an English pea salad to go with my sandwich.

My friend chose the special of the day, a turkey sandwich smothered in turkey gravy, and selected an Orzo salad with her meal. We sipped on Irish Crème coffee while we waited for our lunch. Our waiter, Kerry (who is also the manager), was informative and attentive, and genuinely interested in serving our every need. Our food came promptly. It was simply sensational! My Panini sandwich was crisp and flavorful, and the pea salad was light and smooth. The turkey sandwich was enormous, and my friend said it was extremely moist and juicy. Our dining atmosphere was quiet and relaxing; as mothers of small children, this was a special treat. We completed our lunch by sharing a very tasty chocolate desert too enormous to consider finishing.

Overall, I rate Tovona very high on my restaurant list. The atmosphere was delightful, the service impeccable, and the food sumptuous! It has just the right flare to bring in new customers, and keep the old ones coming back for more!