The belly-warming orecchiette at Osteria (Image: Renée Suen)
One of downtown’s most popular lunch destinations, this Victoria Street restaurant buzzes with energy as friendly wait staff usher soul-satisfying Italian plates to lunching lawyers and city hallers. Complimentary olives and hunks of dense ciabatta bread dipped in fruity extra-virgin olive oil quell hunger pangs until our order arrives. Belly-warming orecchiette (pasta shaped like little ears) are tiny toothsome pockets zinged with bits of chili, garlic and anchovies. The subtle briny fish flavour is balanced by pan-blistered rapini. We finish the pungent affair with a cappuccino and a much needed-breath mint.
The cost: $15 plus tax and tip; $5.50 for a bottle of sparkling water and $3.25 for a cappuccino.
The time: 45 minutes (reservations are recommended to avoid waits).
Osteria Ciceri e Tria, 106 Victoria St., 416-955-0258, osteriacicerietria.com.
I had my first experience at osteria last week. I loved every single minutes spent inside that place. My family are Italian and this is the only place where I felt like I was in Italy for lunch. Food and service was amazing and when I had a question about food, the manager that he is also Italian, came and answer to all my question with perfect knowledge and passion. Congratulation.
December 8, 2010 at 8:05 pm | by Daniel