Toronto’s trendy King West is now home to another sophisticated Italian eatery. Oretta, meaning “about an hour,” features a sun-soaked dining room with central horseshoe bar which is flanked by retro chic design-candy. The 220-seat Art Deco-inspired King West restaurant by Salvatore Mele (of Capocaccia) took a year and a half to build. The kitchen is ready and waiting for you.
Chef Christian Fontolan’s menu features a slew of classic Italian staples such as plump burrata, a collection of creative pizza’s (topped with the likes of orange preserves, pistachios, caramelized pear and n’duja), plenty of pasta from traditional tagliatelle tossed in ragu to the more inventive risotto which arrives on the plate as a square cake topped with duck, asparagus and sweet peas.
If you’re looking for a quick one, two, three punch at dinner I’d suggest starting with a bitter Aperol sloshed cocktail. Then nibble through the addictive cavoletti which offers a perfect balance between bitter brussel sprouts, nutty almonds, sweet pickled red onion and crunchy fried prosciutto. Finish things off with a hearty bowl of plump meets pillowy gnocchi kissed by smokey pork sausage, a hint of truffle, rapini and slathered in heavenly cream.
Cavoletti | shaved brussel sprouts, almonds, pickled red onion, pecorino, crispy prosciutto
Burrata Pugliese | vine tomato, cucumber, roasted pepper, pickled celery, charred pearl onion, arugula
Capricciosa Pizza | tomato, fior di latte, prosciutto cotto, mushrooms, artichoke, basil
Gnocchi | pork sausage, truffle, rapini, cream
Risotto al Salto | crispy goat cheese and chive risotto, asparagus salad, fresh peas, smoked duck breast
Torta Firenze | ocoa 70% chocolate tart, pistachio, soft caramel, pistachio gelato
