La Vecchia - GREAT Italian at an affordable price.

I always have a hard time going out for Italian fare, knowing that there are some pretty decent pizza places in the city and more specifically, making homemade spaghetti or lasagne, isn’t all that hard, nor all that bad. It is therefore, really nice for me, when I do find gems like La Vecchia that serve-up authentic Italian cuisine with a cozy and romantic ambiance. Not only is the food really good and priced reasonably, but the staff are extremely friendly, attentive and remind those who do not like eating out, why it’s sometimes fun to do so.

Open since 1994, La Vecchia has proved that it’s here to stay. Head Chef Aurora Stranges, hailing from the mother land of Italia, has no question, created a unique Italian menu that attempts to differentiate itself from most other Italian restaurants in the city. With a long list of appetizers and antipasti’s, some odd (but yummy) pasta and risotto combinations, along with an extensive seafood selection, I can assure you that there is a little something for everyone on La Vecchia’s menu.

The food is hearty, healthy and fresh. Fan favourites include: Beef Carpaccio (thinly sliced and marinated in a truffle oil, served on a bed of arugula and parmigiano); Antipasto Casa (that includes a medley of marinated veggies, salmon, prosciutto, goat cheese and warm focaccia); and a long list of Risotto’s (including a kiwi risotto in white wine and garlic lemon sauce, topped with jumbo shrimps).

At my most recent visit to La Vecchia, our favourite was the White Wine and Shallot Mussels, where my company and I proceeded to compete over the left-over broth in the bucket. It was so good, I could have had a cup of the jus for dessert!

Cost: 4 Appetizers, 3 Mains, 3 Glasses of Wine, Tax + Tip included, $140.00
Hours: See website, hours vary, 11:00am to 12:00am
Location: 2405A Yonge St (at Eglinton)
Website: http://www.lavecchia.ca/home.php

Foxley Bistro - Good times all-round...

Can someone please explain to me what’s with the flavour of the month, trendy, mostly overrated, Toronto restaurants and their no reservation policies? Seriously, WTF! I was extremely hesitant to head to this new Ossington establishment, anticipating an hour to two hour wait at a local dive while sipping on a pint, waiting for a call from the host to come back and be seated.

I must admit, the wait was worth it. However, not solely because of the quality of the food, but because when you put together the food with the (yuppy) atmosphere, friendly staff, reasonably priced wine and an overall reasonable bill, Foxley is a great night out for you and some friends.

I got to give it to head Chef Tom Thai, formerly at Tempo, for his tapas bistro in the up and coming west end neighbourhood. The Asian, South American and Spanish flavours combine great with his extensive (and reasonably priced) wine list.

One really cool thing about Foxley is the ever evolving menu, with new items routinely popping up on the already plentiful selection of items. Moreover, the Asian fusion plates meant for sharing between you and your mates provides for some pretty dazzling creations. For example, grilled beef heart with thai chilli lime salsa, anyone? Or, how about, frog’s legs sautéed with pobano pepper and szechwan spices? At first glance, I’m sure you can understand why I was a little overwhelmed with the menu choices. That said, it didn’t take long for the winners to pop out at me... grilled side ribs with caramelized shallot glaze? blue crab and avocado salad? lamb and duck prosciutto dumplings? YES please.

At the end of the day, the wait aside, great food for a great price.

Cost: Dishes: $8.00 to $22.00, good bottles of wine from $40.00 and 2-3 dishes per person.
Location: 207 Ossington Ave. (at Rolyat St.) - 416-534-8520
Website: http://www.foxleybistro.com/Welcome.html