Adam Waxman is an award winning writer focusing on food,…
Tosto. The finesse of slow-food prepared quick-fired. I came for lunch, returned for dinner, then made plans for a few days later. The dishes are cutting edge, but the prices take me back to the 80s. Dinner for two can be under $50. Front of house staff guide us through the menu, take our order and are all smiles. They know we are going to love our food. My favorite pizza out of eight on the menu (single, share, or group size) is Funghi with mushrooms, Pecorino cheese, sun dried tomatoes, béchamel sauce and a spritz of glorious truffle oil. Even the crust is delish! You won’t see a crumb left on plates.
I’m working my way through the ten pastas: hearty Brasato which is rigatoni with braised beef; polpette, the classic spaghetti and meatballs; traditional Puttanesca. Love ‘em all. Next on my list is linguine with tuna and arugula. All the pasta is freshly made right here and cooked to order. And what a difference that makes in the flavor.
Here, Bay St. lawyers mingle with local condo-dwellers, the cops from HQ across the street, and passers-by who are discovering the charms of Tosto.
Antipasti include an Italian charcuterie board (at $14 it’s the most expensive dish on the menu); calamari, crostini and more. And there are classic salads like Caesar and Caprese that come as a side or a regular size. At the next table they are enjoying really generous Italian sandwiches.
An oasis in a wasteland. This stretch of Bay Street, between U of T and “downtown” is where, if you needed something good to eat, you would be s.o.l. Now, happy days, Tosto has opened its doors. Modern, easy going and a terrific pit stop.
~ Tosto, 800 Bay Street, 647-344-8866 ~
Adam Waxman is an award winning writer focusing on food, wine, travel and wellness. As well as an actor in film and television, he is the Publisher of DINE magazine.