I stopped by Italy for a bite.........

October 16th 2012

Terroni
720 Queen St. West

While checking for the address for this place, I found out that there were several other locations.  I haven't had the pleasure of dining in those locations.......only this one.

This was another place that I had walked by many, many times, glancing in the windows watching and wondering what people were eating, what they were laughing about, as they sat there sipping their wine.  The food always looked amazing, what was left of it on their places anyway and every time I looked in, people just seemed to be very at ease being there.  Maybe it was the food, maybe it was the atmosphere, you have to remember, this impression was based on just me glancing in the window for a few seconds.  But sometimes, that's all it takes, it's just one look.  I always had this place in the back of my mind, and when my friend Dan suggested this place, I jumped at the idea of going.

My dinner companions this night consisted of Brandon (whom as you all know, takes a lot of convincing  that he will like the food where we are going.)  Today, I just told him it was Italian food, and he would be fine.  As they say, the less they know the better.  My friend Anita was joining us as well, she had actually just been at Terroni's with my other friend Vanessa, and they had loved the place. Good enough for me, two recommendations?  I was so there!   My good buddy Dan was our fourth this night, he was kinda of regular there, as he lives close by, and pounced on the idea of joining us!

Dan was already there when we arrived, he was having a beer at the bar.  The place was very charming.  It was smaller than I thought it would be, but I loved it from the moment I walked in.
Dan has this strange obsession with beer, and I love him for it.  He was trying to convince Brandon to have this type of beer that he was drinking, I wanted to say to him, "good luck with that", but choose to let Dan find out for himself.  It would be a pretty hard sell!

We had to wait a few minutes for a table, but it was worth the wait.  The tables were very close together, but no one seemed to care.  No one even looked up at us, as we were seated.  I loved it.  The whole "hustle and bustle" of it all.  It was as if, we were alone in the restaurant, just the 4 of us. The noises, the smells,  I was very happy we had come here this night.

The menu was very daunting, as was the wine list........it was all in Italian, which as all of you know is my second language!  HELL NO!! I barely manage the English Language! (The descriptions were in English  thank god!!!)  and thank the lord for Dan.  He ordered wine for us, and that calmed me down.  We had 2 different bottles of red wine:

Jacca Ventu Mellissa Demominazione di origine Controllata Roso  and

La PIZZUTA Dol principe

 They both were really, really good.

Dan decided to start with a Margherita pizza (tomato, mozzarella, basil).  It was heavenly.  I know this because he shared it with us.
I had to start with Calamari alla Griglia (grilled calamari, mixed greens, fresh tomatoes)  It was so very, very good.

Anita and Brandon didn't order appetizers, but choose to order just mains.  They both ordered pizza.  I don't remember which ones they ordered, but they sure looked good when they came.
Dan decided he didn't want anymore food, and just choose to sit and watch us, he was happy just sipping wine.  Who am I to force people to eat more food than they want?  We shared with him, our food, don't feel bad for him, he was fine!

I ordered the Gnocchi alla Simi.(tomato sauce, fresh ricotta, basil, parmigiano).  I have to tell you I am a sucker for great Gnocchi, and when it is done right. It's like heaven on your fork, those little pillows of flavor lightly smothered in sauce, whichever it may be, there is nothing like it. Today?  We had  heaven on the fork!!

It was an amazing meal, and a great little place.  The food, the atmosphere, I loved every moment of it!

After dinner, we went to this quaint, little (Polish or Ukrainian place) east of Terroni for an after dinner drink. Another cool, little place, I would never have checked out if not for my friends.  Dan had been before. It was very cool.
I have never been to Italy, but I hope to visit one day.  I always make jokes, that I would like to eat my way through Italy.  I have ideas as to what these little places there would be like.  Small little places, a few tables, the sounds, the smells, are just wonderful!! They serve you a jug of wine, some bread, some olives and you are happy!  I expect them to be serving up the best pasta's and pizza's in the world, with just a few simple fresh ingredients.  This place here on the street named Queen I think best represents what I would expect if I stopped by Italy for a bite.
I would recommend to any one if you are down on Queen St, to drop by for a bite, you will not be disappointed.


2 happy faces today
Number 43 out of 50 restaaurants