Gourmet Eats: Extraordinary Restaurants

Enter these elegant establishments to indulge in marvelous culinary creations.

Otto Enoteca Pizzeria / Las Vegas
Embark upon an eating adventure as you venture through Otto Enoteca Pizzeria and treat your taste buds to some genuine Italian dishes, desserts and fine wines. As Mario and Joe Bastianich’s version of the tranquil Italian enoteca set in The Venetian’s Piazza San Marco, this restaurant in Las Vegas is a place to wind down from the everyday hustle and bustle and enjoy a pleasant, relaxing eating experience. With fresh breads, cheeses, vegetables, sauces and other carefully selected ingredients included in each dish, you’re guaranteed a pleasant surprise. www.ottopizzeria.com 702.677.3390

CARNEVINO / Las Vegas
Attention to detail and perfection is clearly evident when you choose Carnevino in Las Vegas. Famous for the luscious, rare flavours and preparation methods of its meats, this is a ‘must-taste’ for all steak lovers. As you sit at your table and try to decide what to order, the succulent aromas of grilled meats waft through the air, making you even more excited. Savour a bite of their Carne Cruda alla Piemontese – hand-chopped steak tartare Piemonte style – or house-aged beef marinated with a simple, but heavenly combination of sea salt, black pepper and fresh rosemary.
www.carnevino.com 702.789.4141

VINSANTO RISTORANTE / Vaughan
Vinsanto Ristorante marries delicious Italian fare with an atmosphere of refinement. Begin your experience with one of many delightful
appetizers, such as the Antipasto Vinsanto – a variety of cured Italian meats paired with marinated olives and parmigiano, or, Funghi di Bosco – baked oyster mushrooms with parmigiano, extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar over arugula salad. For your entrée, twirl your fork into a hearty plate of linguini, topped with crab, shrimp, squid and scallops in tomato sauce. If you still have room, try the delectable homemade tiramisu. www.vinsanto.ca 905.264.3991

Lupa Osteria Romana / New York
Although it’s located in New York, after you’ve taken a few bites of a meal prepared here, you’ll swear you were in Italy. Proudly dubbed a certified green restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association for its environmentally friendly practices, Lupa Osteria Romana carefully prepares Roman-styled meals with the true taste of Italy. Headed by award-winning chefs Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich – who are also authors – and Mark Ladner Cruz Goler, you can be sure that what’s put on your plate will leave you wanting to come back and try another dish. www.luparestaurant.com 212.982.5089

Splendido / Toronto
It’s no surprise that this gorgeous dining space has been repeatedly ranked as one of Canada’s top fine dining restaurants. Situated in downtown Toronto, its spacious, brightly lit dining room invites families, friends, couples and co-workers to sit and enjoy one of the many vividly coloured and richly flavoured meals that are put together using locally sourced ingredients. Whether it’s the Butter-Poached lobster with B.C. wild mushrooms and Mascarpone Risotto, the Avonlea Clothbound cheddar or the Grand Marnier Pound Cake Raspberry Sorbet that makes you salivate, your choice won’t leave you disappointed. www.splendido.ca 416.929.7788

Via Allegro Ristorante / Toronto
Enter a spectacular restaurant that boldly emits quality and excellence. As a Solid Gold Spoon first-place winner for the best risotto in Toronto, the Golden Glass Award from the LCBO for excellence in wine and spirits and the carriers of a selection of 1,000 types of scotch and 300 Ontario wines, it’s no wonder so many people consider Via Allegro a prestigious place to dine and drink. With a wide selection of both Italian and continental dishes on its menu, Via Allegro Ristorante’s traditional recipes with a twist present eclectic foods that are avant-garde in substance and presentation. Some of its exclusive dishes include five-and-a-half-year specially aged prosciutto and cheese, inventive pastas, beef and veal chop selections. www.viaallegroristorante.com 416.622.6677