This is a good place for a group dinner near the steam clock in Gastown. The Italian food is quite pleasant, and there is a private dining area with a view overlooking the tracks and the water beyond. Service was attentive, and the Italian food was authentic.
Charming Italian restaurant just off of Denman and Robson. Despite the bustling neighborhood, the outdoor dining is surprisingly serene, nestled in a quiet residential respite from the traffic.
We went for Saturday brunch and ate outside. The “Toast” we chose was sautéed mushroom, and it was delicious, and plenty for two to share. We also had the day’s frittata, which was filled with an assortment of fresh vegetables and came with a tasty side salad.
The wine list offers mainly Italian wines, with about 1/3 of them by the glass.
The focus here is on their pizzas, which are hand-tossed and then rise dramatically in the oven. We didn’t have pizza, but we did have the resulting bread with both the hummus and carpaccio appetizers.
The Caesar salad was straightforward, with delicious brioche-like croutons.
Service was attentive, and the place has a cool vibe.
Don’t be put off by the fact that this is an upscale restaurant in a tourist district. This is a great spot for local regulars, too. Accessed through a steep stairway, the space opens out into a large area with an expansive balcony overlooking Robson.
The menu offers far more than traditional Italian food.
The Hamachi Crudo was a spectacular dish of fish, flowers, scrumptious olive oil, and mild olive slices that didn’t overpower the fish.
The Parmesan Souffle was flavorful, light, and delightfully crusty.
Caesar salad is a good choice for sharing.
Wagyu Carpaccio came with a generous topping of freshly shaved truffle.
Perhaps my favorite dish was the Dungeness Crab Linguine, served in a cream sauce with just a hint of jalapeno.
The broccolini was an excellent side, fire-grilled with a touch of rosemary.
Pistachio gelato was the true essence of ground pistachios.
There’s a nice assortment of apertivos and amaros.