Enoteca Sociale  – 1288 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1X7
Country: Italy         
Must-try dish: Gnocchi Pomodoro
Dinner guests: Dani P, Dr.Cheese & Pornstar Sam 
Seating: Indoor seating and a side patio in the warmer months. 
The high: Experiencing Roman-style cuisine for the first time in Toronto. 
The low: They forgot our Tagliatelle, but it was quickly brought out once we inquired about it.  

Enoteca Sociale has been a favourite of mine in Toronto for a long time, especially for quality Italian food. It was bittersweet when they were recognized in 2022 by the Michelin Guide because as one of my top restaurants for a reliable and delicious neighbourhood meal, the quality of service, the price of food, and the demand for spots increased dramatically. This being said, our meal there this month was terrific. 

They specialize in Roman cuisine, despite many of the dishes being what most people would think of as classically Italian. It’s also the place for good pastas, and that’s mostly what we recommend getting while there for a meal. This being said, there are a number of other great dishes on order for appetizers and dessert, plus several beef plates and an exciting wine list. What we’re really saying is, if you’re in the mood for an Italian soiree, Enoteca Sociale is your best option. 

The first step is booking a reservation, then the rest is made easy by the staff once you get there. 

We’ll leave the cocktail and wine list up to the imagination, as libation preference is a personal choice. However, for Italian wine lovers, there’s an extensive selection from around the country to have fun with. 

Not surprisingly, the appetizer list housed enticing options to snack on while we picked the mains. The menu is compact, so a gang of five got to sample the majority of it. Lucky us. As always, it was family-style for everything just like they do in the old country. 

The Kick Off
Upon taking our seats, the Sourdough and Focaccia with olive oil was recommended. It’s made in-house every morning, which is immediately evident within the first bite. It was the perfect amuse-bouche to kick us off to more exotic things on the menu. 

Whether you’re a cheese lover or not so much, the Burrata at Enoteca is a win with its creamy, velvety texture. It’s a fresh cheese that’s hardly offensive, and this particular one was extra tasty with the fresh ingredients highlighting it – radicchio, fennel, green tomatoes, and chilies. 

In keeping with the theme of freshness, the vegetable plates were a hit. The Grilled Rapini is hard to ignore with all the traditional pairings to counteract the natural bitterness – lemon, chilis, and grated parmesan cheese. Alongside it, we ordered the Carciofi. These cooked artichokes are marinated in olive oil, salt and anchovies then grilled making them chewy on the inside with a crispy exterior. 

For the grand finale, there was no way we’d miss the Carne Crudo. These are fancy words to describe one of the most exquisite beef tartares in the city, and we should know. Unlike many others, this mixture consists of chunks of meat, tomato, chilies, celery, mint, and then topped with grated parmesan cheese. It was the first, and it certainly won’t be the last time that we have a beef tartare with mint present. Although you can’t go wrong with cheese, the real flavour winner here was the mint that came through lightly in every bite to freshen up the dish. 

The Second Half
This is all about the pasta. Of the seven on the menu, we ordered five. A classic that Enoteca is famous for across the city is their Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe, a simple but glorious blend of black pepper and pecorino romano that makes up a cheesy pepper sauce. Sometimes the best things are the most simple – in this case it’s the absolute truth. 

The chef leaned heavily on Autumn flavours with the Cappelletti – a unique looking noodle that’s stuffed with a mixture of squash, apple, butter, walnut, and sage.  It’s light but filled with the Fall accents you want in a dish without being too overpowering. While the Agnolotti al Funghi, another stuffed pasta on the menu manifested itself in a completely different shape, had a completely different flavour profile than the Cappelletti. This dumpling of sorts was a marriage of Summer zest and Fall coziness. It wasn’t immediately evident that we would order it but when we did, and finally took a bite, it was worth it. 

The Gnocchi Pomodoro was surprisingly the hit of the noodle chapter, and it was also pretty on the plate – an added bonus. The fluffy knots were literally melting in your mouth perfectly, and what made them better was a simple but delightful tomato sauce with a slight kick.  This arrangement complimented a smokey ricotta that also melted with every bite. Unless you’re the person that always orders the gnocchi, you may overlook this dish on the menu, but ignore any inkling and get this. Thank us later. 

So, the most anticipated pasta that we ordered was actually forgotten, and despite getting in in the end, it was collectively the least loved of the bunch. The Tagliatelle noodles are mixed with a slow cooked lamb, olive, caper, and eggplant sauce. The pasta tasted bland and the lamb taste overshadowed the rest of the dish. That’s all there is to say about it. 

All the pasta dishes use a unique type of noodles, so despite the individual sauces, the noodles also have their own character. They change every season, so keep an eye out and enjoy when you get to go. 

Overtime
According to our server, the majority of the desserts on the menu are excellent, but he specifically spotlighted the Sticky Toffee Pudding, which is hardly Italian but totally worth every bite. Despite this, it’s one of the best in its class. To accompany it, and to stay in the Italian theme, an order of the Tiramisu was necessary and delicious for the entire group. It was creamy, and fluffy, and a scramble to get more than one spoonful. 

It’s was a real treat to be able to enjoy the service, presentation, and food. We recommend this as a terrific place for a date, a birthday, or any sort a celebration. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)