Introducing: Buonanotte, Charles Khabouth’s Toronto version of the Montreal night-life fixture

Introducing: Buonanotte, Charles Khabouth’s Toronto version of the Montreal night-life fixture

Introducing: Buonanotte
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)

After 21 years on Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montreal supper club Buonanotte has expanded to Toronto courtesy of Charles Khabouth, who licensed the name and recipes from the restaurant’s owners (they remain in charge of the management). Executive chef Davide Ianacci serves a menu of Italian comfort food in Ame’s former space, which has been outfitted with tufted white banquettes, a copper grid ceiling and a huge black-and-white photo of an Italian street scene. The food from the original Montreal restaurant has been adapted for Toronto palates, with dishes like potato gnocchi with Bolognese ragu ($21) and Cotoletta alla Milanese, a fried 16-ounce veal chop ($37) (more house-made pastas and wood-oven pizzas will join the menu as equipment arrives). The wine list focusses on bottles from Italy—the majority are private imports—and includes some big-spender options like the 2006 Madonna del Piano Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, which sells for $1,000. The restaurant is currently serving dinner only, but will launch a lunch menu in the coming weeks.

Buonanotte, 19 Mercer St., 416-599-7246, buonanotte.com