A Yorkville/North Toronto staple forever, I remember my parents taking me to Vittorio’s when they were at their long-standing Dupont and Avenue Road location. Recently moving a couple blocks south onto Avenue Road proper, I’m pleased to say that it’s as good as I remember. Now, an upscale Yorkville restaurant does not usually grace the pages of the Toronto Food Blog. Thing is, my wife and I had such a good date night, I can’t help but show them some love. Special thanks to my work Secret Santa, Tracy Lustina, who gave me a Vittorio’s on Avenue gift certificate over the holidays. Turns out that Vittorio’s is her and her fiance’s favourite place to eat in the city. It’s now one of ours, too.

I am a bit of a Seafood fanatic, and Vittorio’s is Seafood City! Malpeque Oysters are served in the half-shell for only $1.75 a piece, a price point that puts some of my local jaunts to shame… especially considering the finer-dining factor. Naturally, we order a dozen. We also order the Grilled Calamari ($14.95) to share. Charred on the grill, the Squid then gets tossed in Garlic, Shallots, Capers and Herbs and is served atop Lobster Brodo with a Balsamic reduction. Pictured above, this is one of the tastiest takes on Calamari we’ve ever tried.

It’s no secret that my wife’s favourite food combination is Chicken and Mushrooms. Vittorio’s does a Pollo e Funghi Risotto ($23.95) that is so rich and so tasty, we had to take some of it home with us. Quite the midnight snack! It was nice to see an entire Chicken Breast served atop the Risotto. This really hit the spot for Amber.

As for me, whenever there’s a whole fish on the menu, I order it. Tonight’s Grilled Pesce Misto is Sea Bass served with Grilled Potatoes and a Grilled Vegetable Medley ($34). Cooked perfectly, the Potatoes help to mop-up all the juices… and the crispiness of the skin is exactly what I’m looking for texture-wise. My plate is cleaned.

There was little room for dessert after our meal, but their Coffee maker does whip up a great Cappuccino. They also have an extensive wine & cocktail list, which compliments a larger menu that we didn’t delve into. Not doing so means there are many more things to try… so we’ll be back to do just that. Not to mention that Monday is $20 Lobster Night, where a 3-pound lobster is served atop Linguine. Sorry, this couldn’t be a proper Toronto Food Blog review without mentioning some sort of deal. Thanks again for a great dinner, Vittorio and Tracy Lustina.