Vittorio's on Avenue

Thank you Chico for now opening your fine restaurant for the lunch trade. I have followed you at every new direction. Your former restaurant on Yonge St at Davisville was always a favorite. I loved the warmth of your personal greeting for everyone. The food is always delectable. I was one of the first patrons to your new establishment on Dupont at Avenue Rd. The upstairs patio will be packed now that spring is here. The inside interior is thoughtfully decorated. This week we enjoyed sitting on the first floor patio catching a glimpse of the passing trade and feeling the warmth of the sun. Above all, Chico you make the place work. I don’t know where you get your energy but it is a delight to dine at your restaurant. The trademark loaf of bread will bring anyone back to Vittorio’s. The bread is warm and covered with good quality olive oil and fresh rosemary. Yolanda and I ate the whole loaf. We decided that we would work it off later. (I walked home) Once you take a bite you are hooked.

Yolanda and I dine together frequently because we like to chat about our working days together. We also love good food, fine wine and each others company.

Caprese Salad ($12.55) is always a great opener. The vinaigrette was so delicious. Apparently a combination of arrugula, honey and orange juice is combined to enhance the flavor of the fresh tomatoes and buffalo Mozzarella cheese. I’m still licking my lips.

The Fungo Di Portobello offers a baked Portobello mushroom topped with goat cheese on a bed of assorted greens.($11.95) I have had that dish many times in the past and highly recommend it as a starter salad or for a lunch. Several other salads are listed on the daily menu.

Cozze in Padella is a plate of the tenderest juicy mussels prepared in fresh basil and served in a marinara sauce. You will want to use some of that delicious bread to soak up the rest of the sauce.($10.95) Asparagi Gratinati is a plate of delicious baked asparagus in melted Parmesan cheese toped with proscuitto di Parma.($12.95)

You can’t come to Vittorio’s and not try his pasta. Capellini Di Cico is an offering of angel hair pasta with artichoke hearts, black olives and drizzled with garlic oil sauce.($7.95)

Linguini Alle Primavera serves assorted vegetables sautéed in a light tomato sauce.($7.95) Raviolacci Di Cico is prepared with stuffed homemade pasta with beef, veal, ricotta cheese in a light wild mushroom cream sauce.($12.95)

There is a pasta dish for everyone.

A lunchtime treat is a Frittata Vittorio cooked with asparagus, bufalo Mozzarella, and proscuitto di Parma.($12.95) The Frittata Contadina is prepared with wild mushrooms, baby spinach, smoked mozzarella and fresh basil.($11.95)

Risotto is always a guaranteed delight. Gamberi e Asparagi is a combination of the finest risotto cooked with asparagus and tiger shrimps in a fresh herb white wine sauce.($14.95) There are three different offerings of risotto.

If you are really hungry at lunch time you can enjoy a Scaloppine Sorrentina. Pan seared veal is topped with eggplant, bufala mozzarella and tomato sauce.($16.95) Salmon del Atlantico is a grilled salmon served with vegetables and potatoes.($14.95)

The evening meal offers the same type of food. You have two choices to make. Do you want the patio, terrace or indoors? What would you like to eat? The rest is taken care of. You will be wined and dined in fine Cico style.