Rione XI is a new Italian restaurant that focuses on dishes from the Roman Jewish ghetto. This is not another sleek or gimmicky Toronto food-trap. This is a St. Clair West neighbourhood spot with authentic dishes in a relaxed setting.
I tasted some of the dishes (e.g. stracotto pasta) and am enthused to try more! I particularly enjoyed the sharing boards. One of them featured simply prepared fresh ingredients like creamy burrata on crostini, heirloom tomatoes, white anchovies and grilled radicchio.
My highlight was the rucola e scaglie di parmigiana. It's a plentiful board overflowing with arugula, lemon wedges, shaved parmesan and the star: the bresaola, which is used instead of the usual proscuitto. Try this with your bread, olive oil and wine on the side. You will taste that the food at Rione XI is prepared with love.