On Queen West at Roncesvalles Avenue sits one of Toronto’s top ten best new restaurants of the past year (according to Toronto Life, The Globe and me of course). I have been wanting to eat at The Local Kitchen and Wine Bar for a while as it is in my Parkdale Hood (just 5 minutes walk from my house). My parents popped by my house to drop off an antique chest after their eventful day at Canada Blooms. We wanted to eat somewhere close and funny thing is that I had just been reading this months Toronto Life Magazine moments before they arrived. It all worked out perfectly. We walked down the street and visited Coriander Girl and then found ourselves to be the first people in line (arriving at 5:40pm when their doors open at 6pm). You really need to be keen like us to ensure a successful dinner as the space is very small and they do not take reservations.
All of the waitstaff wear “I Love Parkdale” t-shirts and are constantly smiling and weaving their way around the tables and chairs in this closet sized space. The chef stood right beside us working bellow a few hanging Spanish hams while his partner in crime at the bar created cocktails and poured many a glass of wine. The portions are small so expect to purchase several items on this short menu to properly tackle your appetite. The dishes are served in tapas style portions and it is encouraged to share everything at the table with your guests as food is brought out as it is finished in the kitchen so everything arrives fresh on the table. The Local is also famous as it is a member of Toronto’s Slow Food Movement and emphasizes fresh market sourced local and seasonal ingredients. The menu is always changing which excites me as I’ll be eager to return without the worry of succumbing to the boredom of gastronomic repetition.
crustini drizzled + extra virgin olive oil
deep fried rabbit stuffed olives
lolla rossa + roasted acorn squash +radicchio + forbes wild nuts + gorgonzola vinaigrette
beet carpaccio + escarole + pecorino + amaro
tortelli di animelle + local mushrooms + bone marrow + lemon zest
smoked potato gnocchi + telleggio + rapini
pepper tagliatelli + duck yolk + fried bacon
pork belly + lenticchia +parsnip + quail egg
chocolate cake
#60 restaurant reviewed in Ontario since moving to Toronto in 2010.
