Piazzetta Trattoria - Eglinton Ave. W.

Nothing says Italian like a parked Vespa near the entrance of a trattoria. This was my introduction to Piazzetta, one of the go-to's for many years. In fact, since 1993, Piazzetta Trattoria has attracted both locals and celebrities to their uptown digs. With that kind of success, it's only fitting that a second location opened up. In April 2010, that's exactly what happened. Piazzetta brought its concept of wood burning oven pizza, home-made, oven-baked pasta to charming Eglinton West Village.

A portrait of Sophia Loren, pastel-coloured walls and just the right amount of lighting creates an incredible aura of intimacy. I settle in with my guest, ready to indulge. Our attentive, accommodating server presents us toasted baguette slices, sprinkled with olive oil and rosemary. It's a great start and one that opens my appetite. But I've come to sample what I've heard so much talk about: Piazzetta's famous thin crust, gourmet pizza and home-made pasta magic.

I decide on the Lasagna Al Forno ($15). A look at the portion and I know I got my money's worth. Although it's hardy, it's on the simple side with little fanfare. As for The Calabrese Pizza ($15), it meets expectations. Made with fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, Calabrese salami, green olives and chili flakes all on a thin crust, it's a fantastic light pie, full of flavour and exactly what I anticipated. Each pizza is presented with a home-made, olive-oil based spread. Slightly spicy, it's a secret recipe. Our server couldn't tell me what the ingredients were; saying only that the owner makes it fresh daily and doesn't tell anyone how he does it. Regardless, this special spicy pesto-like spread made for a perfect addition to our meals.

For dessert, home-made Tiramisu ($6.95) had a kick we didn't care for. Nicely presented and full of promise, it was Amaretto heavy which overpowered every other necessary flavour. Meanwhile, the Tartufo ($6.95) made up for it and then some. Delectable, with melt-in-your-mouth goodness, it satisfied both of our sweet desires.

Price: Reasonable. Dinner for 2 plus tax and tip: $50-$60
Atmosphere: Romantic but laid back, casual
Wheelchair Access: Yes
Reservations: Suggested
Hint: Thin crust, wood burning oven pizza and Oven baked, home-made pasta.
Surprise, Surprise: The Vespa is not always the staple ornament outside Piazzetta. Sometimes it's a red Fiat!

Comments