Whoa. Talk about a sleeper. I sauntered into Nonna's at the behest of not one but two different friends when they learned where I would yesterday evening. I checked the reviews and the pictures and they all seemed to rage about this little place nestled in a tiny plaza on the south side of Elgin Mills Rd in Richmond Hill.
The inside appears to be two former unit's that have merged into one, with the walk-in side being just that, catering towards take-out/away options and quick sit-downs, and the far side being more for larger groups or those looking for a more traditional dining experience. Both equally rustic Italian in design.
I didn't have much time so I reviewed the specials and asked for recommendations from my server and then went totally in the other direction from her delicious suggestions, and ordered a hearty helping of spaghetti and meatballs. I asked how big their balls were, and the server burst out laughing and told me they were pretty big... I played along and told her the bigger the better - I'm pretty sure we're besties now. #bondingOverBallsintheBurbs
I was concerned initially that the order took awhile to come out but when it arrived my concerns immediately evaporated - in the molten steam pouring off the dish. Holy Meatballs! This was the hottest, freshest, and best-cooked dish of spaghetti and meatballs I've ever encountered. The noodles perfectly al dente (just a hair firmer than soft so that the noodles don't get mushy), the sauce a perfectly balanced marinara that was not overly sweet or overly acidic, and finally da balls, we're a perfect balance as well between egg, breadcrumb and noticeably two kinds of meat used to make the flavours pop (two kinds of meat, sometimes three, is how real Italians do it).
And the best thing of all was the price. $16 for all that food -which rendered me almost in a pasta coma. I was more than happy to pay it, heck I'd pay for it twice!
Eatcrest Out (Thanks Nonna - Ti Amo)