My wife and I have been to The Italian Gourmet in Newmarket more than ten times (twice for breakfast/brunch) and I feel I can now write an objective review.
We have been to many "Italian" food restaurants, in Canada and the US, and this place stood out for me; the serene, low key atmosphere, friendly knowledgeable server, the pleasant ever smiling owner, and of course, the wonderful food.
Authentic is what first came to mind with our first mouthful and with every dish since. Most are light tomato sauce based without the creamy/cream-based sauces that you find at most restaurants, which are what packs on the calorie counts in those dishes.
The menu selection was simple:
1) Choose the kind of "flavour" you crave (11 flavours, I think). Each selection has a recommended pasta to go with it. Ask the server for alternative suggestions if you wish.
2) Match it with your favourite pasta (9 or 10 kinds, imported from Italy) though I almost always choose fettuccine because I've always liked it.
3) Have an appetizer if you want. Several bruschetta toppings available.
4) Order your beverage.
and you will have a made-to-order pasta dish/meal. BTW, my favourites are Olives and Capers in light tomato sauce, Angus beef in tomato sauce, and for breakfast the Casarece Carbonara.
We're looking forward to going back there for breakfast, hopefully this weekend.