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| - Walking along the Annex strip of Bloor, I am often frustrated to find myself confronted by an excess of crusty little restos but nothing (I want) to eat. And so I was delighted to find Lakvino, a new and much-needed Italian addition to this neighbourhood.
My friend and I had the pappardelle and the gnocchi with rosé sauce, respectively. The gnocchi was very good, but the pappardelle was amazing. With respectable slices of smoked duck, mushrooms, and truffle oil, I only managed to steal a couple delicious bites before my friend cut me off. Considering that most dishes are under $15, I was very impressed. They are also very vegetarian friendly (with comparable or more veg options than By the Way), and have $4 martini specials on Thursdays.
The ambiance is romantic, with fresh roses at every table and slightly dimmed lighting. The front window opens in the summer, so if you can grab a table nearby it's especially lovely on a summer evening. The server was friendly, albeit a bit persistent, but he managed to make $14 entrees feel like a classy restaurant experience (complete with bread basket and errthing), so props for that. And, as Michael A. noted, bonus points must be awarded for providing something the Annex on Bloor has thus far been lacking.
Food vs price: 4.5/5
Service & ambiance: 4.5/5
Overall, I will be back when I want reasonably priced Italian (or non-Asian) food in the Annex. This would also be an excellent place for a romantic date that is surprisingly inexpensive.
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