Ristorante Sociale
Ristorante Sociale is a venture from the team behind Enoteca Sociale. Touted as an Italian steakhouse, it also offers diners a sophisticated entertainment option for those looking for a delicious and fun night out.
It's been 13 years since Enoteca Sociale opened their doors on Dundas West and the team have been itching to grow their brand to a true "sociale" type of restaurant.
Tucked away in the alleyway behind the now closed Pizzeria Libretto on King St. West, is a dining experience waiting to be discovered. Coming off a Michelin Bib Gourmand win, you can expect a high standard of food.
Earth toned plush seating and intimate lighting set the stage for dinner service.
The front half of the space is catered towards smaller groups of four and six while the bar in the back offers booth seating and larger tables.
They also have a private wine room that would be perfect for intimate occasions.
Co-owner Deni DiTullio tells blogTO this location has been nine years in the making, "We don't want this to be another Enoteca, this is more of a vibrant place for celebration with great food."
Chef Kyle Rindinella has created a menu that includes Enoteca fan favourites and Italian steakhouse offerings that merge Roman influences with Tuscan meats.
"The focus is on great olive oil, huge cuts of meat, and big shareable plates," Rindinella explains.
In true Italian hospitality, you're greeted with a cart that dishes out cheese and olives upon being seated.
All the bread and pasta are made in-house like their sister spot, such as this Rosemary Focaccia ($14).
The Ricotta Crostone ($9) features whipped ricotta on a grilled slice of focaccia topped with truffled honey and a generous sprinkle of pistachios.
An excellent crudo option is the Albacore Tuna ($24). Bite sized tuna sits on a bed of yellow tomato that is slightly spiced with chilies. Raw shallots cut through the fat of the fish in the most balanced way.
The classic Cacio e Pepe ($20) is a crossover from Enoteca. It's a well-executed al dente spaghetti that's covered in pecorino and fresh black pepper.
My personal favourite was the Linguine Vongole ($32), done up proper with anchovy, clams, breadcrumbs and a dash of chili. It reminded me of summers by the Adriatic Sea, a perfectly salty and umami pasta.
The Carciofi ($15) accompanies the steak options well. Artichokes are stuffed with anchovy, parsley and grilled to a light char.
The highlight of the menu are definitely the steaks served in a fragrant pool of olive oil from Abandoned Grove and seasoned with Maldon salt flakes.
The Striploin ($75) was cooked to ideal tenderness and was a salty and briney bite from all the juice and oil. You have been forewarned, this is a very olive oil forward bite.
Starting from 9 p.m., the space transitions to more of a party and rolls out a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays. Dancers perform at the top of the hour with a quick engaging set that livens the mood.
By 11:30 p.m., bottle service begins and you can expect tables to be pushed back and lights to be dimmed to make way for dancing.
Pair your meal and mood with a fun cocktail such as the Smoked Termoli ($25). Gin, Cynar, and Antica vermouth is served smoking for a treat both on the eyes and nose.
If you're feeling adventurous, go for the Cagliari ($18), tequila, spicy simple syrup, and rimmed with a thai chili. They recommend taking a nibble if you are so daring but it is not for the faint hearted.
The Milano ($17) is a spin on the Cosmopolitan using cherry liqeur and sour cherry gin on aperol.
If you're feeling sweet, they have a Rum Baba ($14) which is a traditional neopolitan dessert. A brioche cake filled with sweet mascarpone and raisins swirled in rum.
There's also a crowd favourite Sticky Toffee Pudding ($14) served with a generous scoop of vanilla gelato.
Ristorante Sociale is definitely a unique dinner experience that'll take you from dinner to drinks in the smoothest way possible.
Open Wednesday and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturdays until 2 a.m. Ristorante Sociale is located at 545 King St W.
Fareen Karim
