 www.labru.ca |
Winterlicious couldn’t have started on a better note. A great dinner, full of laughs and glasses of montepulciano. The location is a family run restaurant tucked away on St. Clair West. Don’t let the construction deter you, some fantastic Italian awaits you…
The venue is undergoing some slight renovations but the rustic qualities that give the feel of a mom and pop shop are still present. Murals of pictures colour a large chocolate wall, and various paintings and portraits hang throughout the restaurant. The restaurant is small, and has a very intimate and casual atmosphere. There is a very loyal following within these walls, and some barely even look at the menu. Instead they tell the staff what they feel like, and are accommodated in every possible way.
Getting reservations were tricky, but I’m told there are still spots open. We arrived around 7:30, the restaurant was almost full. We were quickly seated, and presented with Winterlicious menus. Most of the items on the Winterlicious menu are available regularly, some alternate as La Bruschetta tends to stick with the best available ingredients on any given day.
The wine list doesn’t appear to be extensive, it keeps things simple. A couple of bottles of red are popped along with some crispy Italian beer (I hear it’s now owned by Heineken). An older gentlemen walks by serving us some incredibly rich aged Parmigiana. That and the chef’s Bruschetta are perfect to start the night. Palates start to tingle.
The Bruschetta is crunchy, highlighted by juicy tomatoes that have just the right amount of seasoning.
More bread for my Marinara please; Big serving for starters. Delicious meat in a rich tomato sauce that was so worthy of dipping that I had to ask for extra bread once I finished the mussels and scallops.
Beets and Cheese; Others raved about their salads. How can you go wrong when goat cheese, pomegranate and beets are all on the same fork.
Fresh catch of the day; Tilapia, which appeared to be cooked in a creamy butter reduction. The sauce was great, my only complaint was the abundance of salt which overpowered some parts of the fish.
Gnocchi knockout ; Every bite of creamy gnocchi put me in a place far away from Toronto. We start with the softest of textures as the gnocchi literally melts in your mouth, the slightly sweet cheese sauce seducing with every spoonful.
Sinfully rich Custard ; A crunchy pastry topped with almond slivers and icing. This is the house that holds the creamy and rich custard that drove the women crazy.
Nothing is better than Chocolate; The Profiterol is served with a strawberry, to show that even though chocolate is great, it tastes even better with a bite of fresh fruit. Not sure if the profiterole is home made, but it tastes damn good.
Winterlicious Food; I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the quality of the winterlicious menu compared to the regular menu. Portions were perfect, fish was fantastic, and I’ve already bragged about the gnocchi.
Winterlicious Service; They took great care of us, and I don’t doubt that along with the food, the service is also what keeps people coming back.
Winterlicious Factor; Success. Very satisfied and very anxious to return again, and again to try the regular menu. If I go back for Winterlicious, I would be fully pleased with the Marinara, a Plate of the Gnocchi, and the Profiterol.
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