SOTTO SOTTO

AMAZING ITALIAN BUT GET READY TO SPEND...

Stepping out from the hustle and bustle of Yorkville and down below street level for a small taste of Italy, Sotto Sotto (or ‘down underneath’ in English) offers some of Toronto’s tastiest Italian fare. Expect to experience a family run restaurant that is passionate about fine cuisine, situated in a Roman wine cellar, very intimate, candle lit atmosphere.

Greeted by pictures of the plethora of superstars who have dined at Sotto (Pitt, PDiddy, Letterman, and the list goes on), expect to walk into a romantic but happenin scene, which often provides for some amazing people watching. I have been lucky enough to eat here a couple of times and while I understand that the overall experience disappoints most, I have quite enjoyed my meals and the atmosphere at this little restaurant.

The food is unarguably amazing and consistent. Sotto provides a nice choice of salads ($12 to $18) that incorporate selective and flavourful ingredients and a mouth watering selection of antipasti’s ($15 to $28) that have something for everyone. From succulent roasted veggies to a variety of meats and cheeses to grilled jumbo prawn and calamari, the antipasti’s have always been a highlight of my dinners at Sotto. As for the mains ($38 to $47), whether it’s the tender cuts of veal, grilled lobster tail served with fresh homemade pasta in a seafood bisque sauce, or the fillet mignon cooked to perfection in a truffle oil and peppercorn sauce, it’s always so hard to decide what to get! It’s worth noting (pasta orders aside) that each and every dish at Sotto is made fresh, served hot and so flavourful that your temples kind of hurt from your tongue and jaw cringing together with every bite - in a good way of course.

Now, all that said, there are some very important things that all should be warned about prior to making a reservation at Sotto. Where to start?

The service is pretty atrocious and the cleanliness of the bathrooms is even worse. Given the price tag on this meal (not to mention the mark-up on alcohol), you would hope that wait staff actually ‘serve on you’ and make the experience a ‘special’ one. Unfortunately, unlike the service at ONE or Canoe, Sotto staff completely drop the ball and I really fail to understand how the owners expect people to pay over $100 a head for a meal (more expensive than ONE and Canoe), with such terrible table manners.

Secondly, it is an extremely small and tight restaurant. So if you are the type of person who is looking for intimate privacy or will get agitated by the waiters bumping into the back of your chair, it’s not the place for you. One of my biggest disappointments during my most recent visit was that at the start of the meal, the waiter encouraged us to order all stages of our meal at once because the restaurant was apparently ‘busier than normal’. Well, provided the ‘Itlian style’ eating my guest and I were expecting, it wasn’t our first choice to do so, moreover, after taking the waiters advice, our mains came to the table before we had even finished our starters. Again, at the price tag Sotto Sotto is seeking, this is just unacceptable.

Another pretty big disappointment for me is the pasta. Where are the pasta appetizers? Where are the large bowls of pasta for the table? Where is the portion of pasta to accompany my main? Where are the meatballs Sotto Sotto? Not only is the pasta aspect of a traditional Italian meal in dire need of shaping-up at Sotto but the portion to price tag ratio was calculated by a 5th grader. Six small pieces of stuffed spinach and ricotta ravioli for $35? No Thanks!

I always find it easier to criticize than to compliment... so, after reading this review, you may fail to understand why I am recommending Sotto Sotto. Truthfully, I just wanted to prepare you for a number of crappy things that should be expected during your experience. At the end of the day, this is an incredibly expensive outing, but if you can get your head around the small things and are ready to drop some cash, Sotto Sotto really is fantastic Italian cuisine and a fabulous place to spend those once-a-year special occasions.

HOURS: Lunch and Dinner, last order, 11:00pm
ADDRESS: 116A Avenue Road
PRICE: $190 including tax + tip (2 glasses of wine, 2 appetizers, 2 mains)
WEBSITE: http://www.sottosotto.ca/