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| - I'm pretty sure everyone who lives in the Yonge and Eglinton area has tried Grazie at least once. It's hard to miss it, sitting prominently along Yonge Street in a heavily trafficked and well-lit area. I read somewhere that it was Mats Sundin's favourite restaurant in the city.
I can't count the number of business lunches and date nights I've had at this place. It's usually the first thing that comes to mind when I'm reluctant to experiment with a new establishment in the neighbourhood. When I'm hungry and looking to be satisfied, I usually go to Grazie because I know what to expect.
The restaurant is consistent in terms of food quality. Don't get me wrong, I've had some bad experiences with my selections in the past (mainly with appetizers). Also, on most occasions their bread seems like it's been out for awhile and you need a razor sharp knife to cut through it. Their pastas and pizzas are a decent portion. I ordered from their 'Secondi Piatti' menu a few times; I tried the Veal Striploin. It was not outstanding, especially not for the price. I would stick to the pastas. My favourite is the Penza (Rigatoni with vodka, pancetta (cured bacon), green onions & a touch of chili pepper) for $15.
The service is hit or miss. The last time I was there, they put us in a cramped area where you had to squeeze your butt against someone's back to get to your table. The waitress was very polite and courteous, but seemed to forget about us as soon as the evening rush came in. That wasn't the first time it's happened. The first time was a lot worse, where the waiter didn't even come back to our table to ask us about our food, didn't refill our glasses, and had to be hunted down to get the bill. The busboys are cool.
If you're looking for a solid place that won't absolutely break the bank, go to Grazie.
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