Named after legendary race car driver, Alberto Ascari, this Italian eatery delivers excellent fresh made pasta dishes in a contemporary and casual environment. The place was busy and happily boisterous which made conversation sometimes difficult but does not detract from the real focus which is outstanding food.
Ascari does well with offering a simple menu mostly of pasta but elevating each dish to simple perfection. All too often, trendier places fall victim to too much experimentation and over-complicating food. Ascari does not. This place gives you excellent quality with pure and vibrant flavours.
Deep fried broccolini was on par with the best tempura you would have had. Lightly battered and dusted with salty parmesan, each morsel maintains the crisp crunchiness of well cooked greens. A touch salty for some of dinner friends but perhaps it was just the pieces that they happen to grab.
Other apps were equally well prepared, a quennelle of chicken liver pate, salumi, a bite of cured sardines. Yummo!
All of our pasta dishes were super delicious. They do stretch on the higher side of the price scale for pasta dishes but its worth every extra loonie.
Papperdale with mushrooms and truffle, stracci with braised lamb, chard and black currants was a savoury delight as was the other pasta dish whose name i've forgotten but it came with a spicy pork sausage. Porky goodness!
Ascari Enoteca is an excellent place. Casual and well priced, Ascari has the benefit of doing a few things very well rather than try too hard. The wine list is good with many reasonable priced bottles on offer.