Campagnolo

Campagnolo                     832 Dundas St West                416 364 4782

When I read that Campagnolo was one of the best restaurants in the city I knew I was headed in that direction. The restaurant is located on the corner of Euclid and Dundas. The patio expects to receive a liquor license immediately. The place has only been open for a year and a half but has already made its mark on the culinary map of this city.

As far as décor there are no prizes. All the merited attention goes to the service and outstanding food.

Sylvia was our superb server. She recommended the proper wine and was totally knowledgeable about the food. It was her wining smile and friendliness that won us over. She continued throughout the dinner to check on our satisfaction. The satisfaction level went off the chart. The charming couple beside us added to our complete enjoyment. We enjoyed conversing with them and comparing restaurants, travel and politics within a short time.

The daily menu is not extensive. I applaud a restaurant that prepares each item to perfection and doesn’t try to do too much. This way there is control over freshness and the quality of the dishes. This is especially important when the menu changes frequently.

There is a charge for bread but it is so worth it. The house made Baguette and Gougeres ($4.00) were served warm and absolutely mouth watering delicious.

I love dining with my good friend S. She adores good food, loves to try new dishes and is a lot of fun.

We decided to share a salad. The Ontario Beefsteak Tomato Baby Green Salad was outstanding. It included red beets and pistachio vinaigrette. The tomatoes were flavorful. The mound of greens was peppery, fresh and flavorful. I couldn’t believe we were so excited about a salad.

Many of the patrons seemed to be sharing several of the appetizers.

Braised Shortrib Bitterballen is served with horseradish mustard ($12.00)

Octupus Carpaccio with Peperonata is prepared with a black olive sauce.($13.00)

The Fresh Burrata Cheese with Roasted Grapes and toasted bread seemed to be popular at the next table.($14.00) They also enjoyed the Roasted Bone Marrow with Oxtail and plum marmalade.($13.00) I was tempted with the Radish, Cauliflower and Grilled Peach Salad with Monforte ash rind brie and hazelnuts.($12.00)

My dining companion ordered the Spinach Fettucine Primavera with summer squash, cured tomatoes and asparagus.($18.00) I tasted it and agreed the flavors were superb. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the vegetables were still had a touch of crispness.

My House Made Spaghetti All’Amatriciana was excellent. I asked for it spicy and the chef (without even knowing me) added a hot touch to my perfection.($18.00)

Steelhead Trout with smoked cauliflower puree and rapini was the featured fish on this day.($28.00) Grilled Quail ‘Saltimbocca’ with gorgonzola stuffed figs and gnocchi was a special for this evening.($28.00)

A reservation is definitely recommended. In fact for a weekend appointment you are advised to book well in advance. This is a busy gourmet dining spot. Plan to order several dishes. Many of the dishes are appetizer size and are great to share.  That way you can enjoy a variety of food. The menu is creative. The preparation of the food is exquisite. No wonder it was so highly rated. We concur.