It was officially the first day of summer, a beautiful evening to enjoy an Italian feast after a rather arduous work day. I hopped on the Spadina Streetcar at King Street bound for Union Station and hopped off at Queens Quay. Many residents in Toronto aren’t aware of the fantastic lakeside dinning opportunities available in the city so I am every so happy to showcase a fantastic meal I recenty enjoyed just a few feet from the waters edge with beautiful views of the Islands and the many sail boats fluttering about in the distance.
Il Fornello Italian Restaurant has several fantastic locations across the GTA. I was invited to visit their Queens Quay location to check out its stunning waterfront patio. We sat at our table just a few feet from Lake Ontario with a steady flow of pedestrians wandering the boardwalk.
We were treated to exemplary service by the restaurants attentive staff. The restaurants Executive Chef Ryan Kowalyk personally brought each of our dishes to the table and even crafted a fantastic off-the-menu-dessert for us. Our favorites were the Antipasto for its fresh presentation, Ravioli Funghi for its harmonious umami and the sweet Fichi pizza. If you find yourself hot and bothered this summer, run down to Il Fornello at Queens Quay and enjoy a few cocktails and a bite to eat at this beautiful waterfront restaurant.
We enjoyed:
Blood Orange Mimosa
Jug of White Sangria
Sour Apple Martini
vodka, sour apple liqueur and lime juice
il Fornello Martini
vodka, limoncello, campari, lime juice
Antipasto
capocollo, casalingo salami, smoked mozzarella, brillio di Treviso cheese, olives
Insalata Roma
mixed greens, goat cheese, roasted red peppers, roasted walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette
Chicken Parmigiana
breaded chicken scallopine, tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmigiano, linguini pomodoro
Pappardelle con Salsiccia
pappardelle, spicy Italian sausage, baby arugula, red chilis, vine ripened tomatoes, aglio e olio, pecorino romano
Ravioli Funghi
porcini, truffle ravioli in brown butter sage sauce with wilted spinach and portobello mushrooms
Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken
white wine, cream and butter sauce, fresh parmesan
Pizza Diavolo
tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, spicy salami, basil, chilis, black olives
Pizza Fichi
mascarpone, prosciutto, figs, shaved grana padano, honey, arugula
Pizza Gorgonzola
gorgonzola, pears, caramelized onions, walnuts, arugula
Blood Orange Sorbet
orange mint and olive oil salad, chocolate glaze, almond cake croutons
