Toronto - Bar Ardo
We're fun, we're flirty, we're Italian
This past month, Roberto and Jacqueline opened an extension of their famed if-you-know-it east end restaurant Ardo - Bar Ardo. Bar Ardo is less than 250m from the original Ardo, but the food, and the vibe, is very different.
Ardo is like the grown up version of Bar Ardo - Ardo is the restaurant your parents can hear you at, or where your date would reach across for your hand. It also received a Michelin recommendation. Bar Ardo is louder, faster, the menu a bit more diverse, and the kind of place you can have one too many.
Roberto, from Sicily, holds court in the kitchen and while the patrons are in, Jacqueline is the ultimate host (although we’re sure she is much busier and behind-the-scenes that her effortless appearance allow us to believe). ARDO is part of the ARDO hospitality group, they also own Dova and Vivi Imports, a premier distributor of authentic Sicilian product goods. The resto is named after their son Leonardo.
What We Ordered: I have been back a couple times since the resto opened March 1, so I am giving you everything that I have eaten so far … OLIVE Nocellara del’etna e Castelvetrano olive $7 | TARTARE Bluefin tuna, capers, cucumber, fine herbs, sourdough crostini $23 CAPESANTE Raw scallop, cucumber, green apple, orange, lemon olive oil $19 | CARCIOFO Confit artichoke, capers, breadcrumbs, mint, Sicilian pecorino $18 | VERDE Medley of organic lettuce, Ardo’s vinaigrette $17 | PANELLE Chickpeas fritters $14 | PATATE Frittes, lemon mayonaise $11 | And yes, it was all amazing and so fresh. Roberto tried a new twist (think orange) version of his tartare the other night and it was incredible.
Let’s not forget Alex behind the bar who makes a mean PENICILLINA Mezcal, saffron honey ginger syrup, pear nectar, lemon $19
Recommend For: Fun with friends. It’s loud, so grab the table by the window or ask to be seated at the bar (incredible, from Cambria) so that you can see the kitchen.
That said, Bar Ardo is also open for lunch. Calling all my Financial-District Friends to make Ardo your new spot. There’s a COTTO Roasted Italian ham, gruyere cheese, melted brown butter sauce $18 that you should probably order.
Reservations: Si! Via Open Table