Oh mahhhh gahhhh. sooo tasty.
I heard about this place for a long time but never bothered to go just because I always feel like Italian food is an overpriced experience. (Even though if you look at my reviews of Italian restos in Toronto they seem to be quite high...).
The Good:
The food is incredible and the service is incredibly memorable and well-choreographed; knowledgeable. I don't even want to say anything about the food because I want you to experience it w. completely your own expectations and get blown away just as every other yelpers has here.
The Hot&Cold
The wine list is LARGE but kind of on the pricey side. And not enough wines by the glass.
(The menu did have a few options but for some reason that night our waiter told us only a couple out of what was listed was available- he was more than helpful in trying to help us pick a wine out).
I am a very firm believer that ANY good restaurant should have a wine list that has at least 5 reds, 5 whites and 2 sparklings by the glass that range evenly between 9-25$.
And then an extensive wine list by region with 15-20% of the list below 70$; 60% of the list in the "affordable" to "it's a treat" range= 70-175ish; and then the rest in "baller" category that us several hundred to over the top 1000$s (which is RIDIC, btw).
The wine list had some good variances on price but skewed to the higher end.
When I say that this is the breakdown I'd like to see in ANY resto I mean even the high end places.
Regardless, they had a White Burgundy - two in fact. and that is rare at any resto.
(ps: White burgundies are the BEST as starters to wet the appetite or for cream/seafood based starters!).
The What?
It's not BAD, per se...but this felt much more like a French restaurant than an Italian one. Which is probably why I enjoyed it so much.
The Tip: Go for the regular menu. Tasting menus are always expensive and kind of disappoint at $$$ restos (or at least in my experience).
The Funny:
Anyhow, the food here is incredible. Like INCREDIBLE. So incredible that I fought to pay the bill (I like to do that when I'm completely ultra satisfied with a meal- it makes me feel like my money is going to a good home.. or at least a tasty one). As I was attempting to pull it out of my date's hand, the waiter came by and snapped at me in a friendly effeminate voice and said, "ooh, girl- you best let him pay. You're too pretty to pay for that meal."
Note, I'm FAIRLY sure he was putting on a voice and not like..serious.
But seriously, when waiters lie through the teeth to flatter you unnecessarily and it DOESN'T come across as sarcastic or fake? THAT is grade A skill.
Try this place out- you won't regret it.