Three blocks north of the non-stop circus that is Rob Ford’s City Hall, Pizzeria Via Mercanti (87 Elm, at Elizabeth, 416-901-1899, pizzeriaviamercanti.ca, @Via_Mercanti) has quietly opened its doors in the new YWCA Centre.
A certain alternative weekly (it was us) recently named the original on Augusta’s pizza the best in town, rating it higher than heavyweights Terroni, Libretto and Queen Margherita. We were particularly impressed by co-owner/pizzaiolo Romolo Salvati signature double-decker pie – a prosciutto, soppressata, mushroom and ricotta pizza topped with a second classically simple Margherita ($19).
This pizza de resistance is front and centre at the new PVM as well as recent additions like old-school lasagna ($16) and veggie papardelle with walnuts, porcinis and asparagus ($19.95). But by far, the best meal deals can be had at lunch when a small Margherita or a meatball panini – both with house greens – will set you back all of 10 bucks.
Better yet, since management have kept the launch on the down-low, the Twitterati have yet to descend en masse meaning no lineups, a situation that surely won’t last very long once word gets out right about NOW.
