I don’t know when it happened, but the previous Joe Badali’s
has been re-branded as The Badali Bar and Cucina and with it the dining room modernized.
The numerous banquettes and four top tables have been replaced with sleeker
models and if you’re looking to host a large group, there’s a huge table along
the wall that could easily hold twenty.
Although Badali’s prices are generally reasonable, during
Summerlicious, their lunch menu is a steal at $18. Moreover, it’s one of the
few that offers two vegetarian options (something I look for when planning work
lunches). The meat-free arancini is a lovely golden brown and
crispy, but could benefit from being hotter inside. Pretty flavourful to begin
with, I did enjoy the flecks of sun dried tomatoes mixed into the rice, but the
consistency could be creamier.
The gemelli spiral
pasta was cooked perfectly covered in a tasty white wine tomato sauce. The
Calabrese salami was served as three small thin slices thrown into the middle -
if you’re not paying attention you end up with a mouthful of salty spicy meat.
Personally, I would have preferred it cut into slivers or cubes so the salami
could be evenly dispersed. Overall, the pasta was good but with the musky
mussels, the dish would have been better with chicken or grilled vegetables
instead.
It’s a shame that the earl grey steeped panna cotta was
covered in a berry compote, as the panna cotta itself was delicious. However, the
mild tea flavour wiped out by the strong fruit topping; Chantilly cream topped
with shortbread crumbles would surely be a better fit.
Although my last visit was over five years ago, this experience was still the same: great location and warm friendly service, but the food wouldn’t make your nonna proud.
Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10
Is Summerlicious worth it (based on my meal selection)?
Summerlicious - $18
Regular menu - $28 - arancini* ($8), pasta* ($18) and dessert* ($8)
Savings - $16 or 47%
*None of the items are part of their regular menu, so prices based on the soup, lunch pasta and dessert is a wild guess by me
How To Find Them
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 156 Front Street West
Address: 156 Front Street West
Website: http://www.joebadalis.com/
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Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
Is That It? I Want More!
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