Bar Negroni opened this summer on College St. in Little Italy. When I first walked through the doors this past July, I couldn't help but ask the bartender whether I was having deja vu.

Indeed, the brightly painted cocktail bar used to be a sandwich spot in. Now, it's a somewhat macabre watering hole lit with dribbly wax candles and adorned with ancient, authentic pews from old city churches and synagogues. I plop down at the bar to quiz the bartender on the place's purpose, its identity. He humours me with a smile and a series of polite answers. It helps that he has cherub curlicues and is a wee bit shy.

The bartender has a name. It's Aidan Moreau-MacLeod, and he co-owns the place. After becoming involved in the industry as a way to make extra money, he realized it was actually a good professional fit that aligned with his values.

"This is my opportunity to not be just another stupid twenty-something trading water in Toronto, he says. "When I moved here, if you told me I'd be running a bar down here, I would have laughed."

But he finds he loves the work. I nod attentively and ask him to make me a sample cocktail of their namesake drink. He tells me they make a point of creating nuanced, flavourful drinks that are slightly lower in alcohol. Drinks in the city, as far as Moreau-McLeod was concerned, were becoming a bit too strong beginning to put him on his arse.

"I'd have three drinks in half an hour and be like 'What is going on!'" he tells me, not-sheepishly.

I tell him that sounds nice, but I'm here for the alcohol. He delivers. The Negroni ($12) exceeds my hopes and dreams. It's bitter, biting - an acquired taste. It's garnished with a proper lemon twist. And for good measure, my partner and I also order an Orange Old Fashioned or two ($12 each). It, too, is sufficiently alcohol-infused and delicious.

Right now, Negroni is doing tapas alongside its cocktails. It took a few weeks for this aspect of the business to get up and running, but you'll find many sea-based delicacies on the menu, from crab crostini to lobster salad and salt cod. If you're not into that whole experience, steaks and cheese plates can be found on the menu, too.

In short, this is a spot in the midst of Little Italy which manages not to be obnoxious, and at which you can quench both gastro and alcohol-related cravings. It's ideal for a romantic date, or for times when you just want to hide from the world but still get a little too drunk in public.