Arrabiata Trattoria
692 Yonge Street
416-916-7034
Complete dinner for two with all taxes, tip, beer and mineral water: $75

Smack downtown on Yonge Street between Bloor and Dundas, it can be hard to find a restaurant that produces consistently tasty food, is not a fast food chain, and is not a tourist trap. As I live in the neighbourhood, once I find a place I like, I tend to stick to it and find it hard to deviate from what is familiar. Hence, I took a chance stepping into Arrabiata Trattoria, an Italian resto-bar that took over the spot of the now defunct Living Well. The former incarnation was known more for the “dirty bingo” nights rather than their food, so I was hoping this new place would be up to the challenge of providing delightful eating experiences on an ongoing basis.

The dining area has an open kitchen concept and is painted in warm yellow tones with dimmed lighting, giving a comforting and cozy atmosphere. In addition to their massive selection of pizzas and pastas, there are also daily specials available and a small part of the menu is dedicated to Thai cuisine. At first glance, I thought that was a combination, but nowadays restaurants are becoming more and more “fusionized”.

My dining partner and I began with the generous starter of antipasti mista ($8.95), a mélange of olive oil and balsamic vinegar-marinated vegetables, black olives and bocconcini cheese slices. The only disappointment of the dish was the grilled eggplant, which tasted slightly rubbery and off-flavoured. However, on a subsequent visit back, it soaked in the flavours of the marinade and redeemed itself by being one tasty aubergine.

We both chose items off the daily special menu – myself the grilled pork chops with caramelized pears in a red wine demi-glaze, and my friend the pan seared rainbow trout in a tequila lime butter sauce paired with rice pilaf (both specials priced at $15.95). The pork chops were very tender with the sides of vegetables having an amazing flavour explosion in my mouth. The roasted potatoes were seasoned with several herbs and salted well while the sautéed carrots and green beans had a nice crunch to them. The rainbow trout was nicely done and not overcooked, but the rice pilaf was the real star of the dish; infused with a kick of spice, fresh parsley and lime butter sauce, it created a satisfying mix of flavours.

Their pastas are worth trying and hearty in size. On another visit, I tried the Massa pasta, a concoction of grilled chicken breast, mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy tomato based sauce ($11.95). Although it was quite heavy and rich, it would be an item I would order again. Also, for those with wheat intolerances, their pizzas can be made with a spelt crust for an additional $2.00 charge (pizzas start from $9.95).

The dessert menu (all priced at $6.50) has one lone in-house made dessert, with five other choices from outside vendors. We picked the homemade tiramisu to end off our evening. I am not usually a tiramisu fan, but Arrabiata’s version was a pleasant surprise. The marscapone cheese was whipped really smoothly, and the layers were not doused excessively in coffee liqueur.

Weekend brunch and a garden patio are other features of this Italian trattoria, which served up consistently good food on each of my visits, and the service has been consistently friendly too. Those two qualities are something rare to find, so I have found another place in my neighbourhood to frequent.