While it’s nice to have variety on a menu, sometimes I welcome limited choice, which is why I’m a fan of Prix Fixe. Of course, it has to be at a good restaurant and preferably not during one of those ‘licious events. A perfect example of one I enjoy is Pizza Libretto (221 Ossington Ave.) and their great three-course fixed-price lunch menu that’s only $15.
Libretto is the only restaurant in Canada that offers a certified Vera Pizza Napoletana experience. Check out the above right photo for a glimpse of their custom wood-burning oven that was hand built by a 3rd generation pizza oven maker in Naples. The pizzas bake in less than 90 seconds at 900 degrees.
The prix fixe meal starts with complimentary bread served accompanied by olive oil with a dash of balsalmic vinegar.
There are three starters to choose from. The Arugula Salad (above) features pear slices, walnuts, shaved Piave (a slightly sweet hard cheese) and blackberry empire apple vinaigrette. The Caprese Salad (below) is similar to what I had at their sister restaurant Enoteca Sociale (minus the anchovies), with slices of green and yellow Cookstown heirloom tomato, Ontario fiore di latte, basil and olive oil. The last option is Bruschetta, which is grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with the chef’s daily creations.
Both myself and dining companion (and unofficial Enoteca Sociale promoter) C.Wong ordered the classic Margherita Pizza with Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella. The other main choices are Marinara Pizza or Piadini of the day.
While it may be unfair, my brain instinctively makes a comparison with Terroni. I can say that the dough at Libretto is quite different — it’s thinner, chewier and the high-heat oven creates a lovely blistering effect on the crust. I will take a firm stance and say the tomato sauce at Libretto is superior. It’s more flavourful and tastes fresher. But Terroni gain a notch for their addictive hot chili peppers. The chili oil at Libretto is the only thing I feel really needs a makeover. While the colour is beautiful, the oil has no kick and doesn’t add anything in terms of spiciness. Everyone I know who’s dined there agrees it’s actually void of flavouring and just adds a layer of slickness to the surface of the pizzas.
The final course is dessert with a choice of three Mini Biscotti or a generous scoop of vanilla or chocolate Gelato. Considering a Margherita Pizza alone is $13, and the total cost of what I ordered (Caprese, Margherita, Gelato) would normally set me back $30, the $15 fixed price tag is a terrific deal. Plus, the half of my ‘za I couldn’t finish and took “to-go” made for an excellent mid-afternoon snack. So big thanks to Libretto for proving that having little choice can actually be a wonderful thing.
Pizza Libretto / 221 Ossington Ave., Toronto
416 532 8000 / Hours: Mon-Sat 12-11pm, Sun 4-11pm
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I tried a classic Neapolitan pizza in Naples for the first time just last year, and it wasn’t as thin as the pizza served at Pizzeria Libretto and Terroni. I happen to love thin crust pizza, but was surprised at how different in taste and texture this pizza was compared to our idea of Neapolitan pizza outside of Italy.
The pizzeria was called Pizzeria Di Matteo. Much different from Pizzeria Libretto’s Margherita, Pizzeria Di Matteo’s Margherita was topped with a generous amount of fresh mozzarella cheese, and before being thrown into the wood-burning oven, it was drizzled with a wackload of extra virgin olive oil. Though it was heavy and quite decadent, I think I prefer the pizza from Naples. It tasted fresh, it was definitely more filling, more substantial… and it just felt more… real (for lack of a better word).
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A friend and I had dinner here on Tuesday evening, recommended to her by a work friend. We shared the green and yellow bean salad, it was delicious. We then had the Margherita pizza and the Eggplant pizza, sharing with each other. They were both exceptional, definitely the best pizza I have ever had. I look forward to returning for the Prix Fix lunch. The service was very good, and the staff were very friendly.
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My sister and I had their prix fixe lunch earlier this year and it was amazing! It’s definitely an inexpensive way to enjoy Libretto – quick, too! If you try going for dinner, you’ll probably have to wait half an hour. It’s worth the wait, though.
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