Since I live in the west end of the city, near the Ossington strip, I often find myself popping over to Sherway Gardens, whether it's for shopping in a more civilized environment than the Eaton Centre or to meet friends who live further west. But with all of the options (albeit mostly large chains and fast food, not the best restaurants in the city) available at the mall, I rarely ever explore the surrounding area.
On a Thursday evening in February, I finally cross The Queensway to discover Via Allegro Ristorante.
Via Allegro Ristorante: What's the vibe
Entering through the glass doors outfitted with curving wrought iron, I wonder if the restaurant is going to pull off the decor that I'd seen on social media or fall more on the kitchsy side of things. The first thing to greet me is a wall of greenery with a glowing pink neon sign that says, "Amore" circled in a heart. As a millennial, I find it adorable, and the perfect photo opp. Stepping around the barrier to get a full view of the restaurant, the sprawling space is beautiful.
Carla Silva Photography
It's quiet, even for a weekday, but February is known to be one of the slowest times for restaurants. We head to the back and through double doors to reveal the new glass-enclosed, all-weather patio. It's gorgeous. Pink blossoms hang from an abundance of faux trees that fill the space, juxtaposed against a beautiful midnight blue and slate grey. In real life, it's even more stunning than the photos. This fabulous patio easily puts this spot among the most romantic restaurants in the city.
Bright jazz music playfully dances out of the speaker; as we sip our cocktails, my friend sighs, "It feels like summer in Italy." Our server offers us both blankets several times throughout the night, but with the heater going, we never need them. We're warm and cozy, and the enclosed space feels like being out on a patio, even on one of the coldest days this February. It's a beautiful escape from winter in the city, right in Etobicoke.
Via Allegro: What's on the menu
The menu of Italian dishes is full of familiarity — I could easily bring a date, friends or family to this relaxed yet refined spot. We start with the scallop crudo, with apple, cucumber, mint and sunchoke. It arrives at the table served in the shells and suspended over a bed of dry ice that smokes when our server pours water into it. The showmanship is a nice little display. We dig in and find the scallops taste fresh, delicate and delicious, but the dish is extremely zesty. It's cut a little bit by the apple and cucumber, but is quite overpowering. The flavour is almost too punchy, but intriguing, and we still finish every last morsel.
Carbelle Djossa
Carbelle Djossa
In between courses, we're served a sorbet to cleanse our palates, but it's so sweet and tasty, it feels like having dessert in the middle of the meal — in the best way.
When our mains arrive, we're not sure what to expect. My friend has the spinach and ricotta rotoloni, pasta roll-ups filled with spinach and ricotta that come sitting in a pool of tomato sauce. It's fresh, light and tasty.
I take a bite of my dish, the short rib agnolotti, and it elicits a cry of happiness. The pasta is perfectly firm, the short rib filling melts in my mouth, and the creamy sauce with truffle and talleggio cheese is sublime. Maitake mushrooms add more meaty flavour and texture to the plate. The short rib takes a long time to make, I'm told, and I can taste the effort that's gone into this dish. It's one of the best plates of pasta I've ever had, and I know I'll be dreaming about it for weeks to come.
Carbelle Djossa
Carbelle Djossa
Via Allegro: What's on the drink menu
We start the meal with cocktails from the menu of unique serves. My friend goes with the Amara Flower Spritz, a prosecco-forward sipper with hints of bitter and sweet. The Lavender Heart was added to the menu for Valentine's Day, but kept on due to its popularity, and I can instantly see why. It's gin-forward with just enough sweetness and complexity from blueberry, basil, lemon and lavender.
We're tempted by the lengthy list of wines available by the glass, ½ litre or bottle, with plenty of representation from Italy, as well as other countries like France, Australia, Argentina and the U.S. But we both have to drive home, so I opt for the Zenzero Colada, a super sweet, tropical mocktail.
Carla Silva Photography
All in all, it's a beautiful night. Via Allegro Ristorante could easily be a date-night spot, a place to catch up with girlfriends or a nice family dinner restaurant. Everything from the service to the dishes feels easy and comfortable on the enchanting heated patio, like a summer day in Italy.
Dinner and drinks for two: around $170 before tax and tip
