It’s no secret that Pizzeria Libretto (221 Ossington, at Dundas W, 416-532-8000, pizzerialibretto.com) has always had plans to open a second location. After all, Pizzeria partners Max Rimaldi, Daniel Clark and chef Rocco Agostino have had set their eyes on overtaking the Terroni franchise from the get-go.
No, the big culinary question has always been where the next Libretto will be?
“We haven’t finalized the whole thing but it will be on the Danforth around Carlaw,” says Libretto honcho Rocco Agostino vaguely.
Well, thanks. We all know that – it was in all the papers last week. But none of those myriad stop-the-presses reports mentioned exactly where. It wouldn’t be the old Iliada coffeehouse at 550 Danforth, would it?
“We haven’t sealed the deal but, yea, that’s it,” Agostino confirms.
Like nearby Zorba’s, the Iliada is one of the last of the Greek Town originals, the Bar Italia of the boulevard of broken plates. The two-level room is surprisingly large and sports a gorgeous terrazzo floor. How much of it is staying?
“I’m sure we’re going to have to do quite a lot of work to it,” Agostino continues. “It’s a nice wide space and there’s a patio out front with room for a dozen people or so.”
They’re hoping for a summer launch but these things sometimes take longer then planned.
“We’ll see how it goes,” laughs Agostino. “We were hoping Enoteca Sociale (1288 Dundas W, at Coolmine, 416-534-1200, sociale.ca) would take five months, but it took eight. We’ve done a pizzeria before so hopefully it’ll be a little less, but it’s going to be a major re-do.”
In other words, don’t expect the new Pizzeria Libretto to be open in time for this August’s Taste of the Danforth (tasteofthedanforth.com).
stevend@nowtoronto.com
