Ristorante Sotto Sotto

What is Ristorante Sotto Sotto? Found at 120 Avenue Road on the northern edge of Yorkville, Ristorante Sotto Sotto has been Marisa Rocca’s flagship temple of South-Central Italian cooking since 1993. Rebuilt after a 2014 Christmas Day fire destroyed its original subterranean digs down the street, the polished two-storey space features low candlelight, framed photos of celebrity regulars, intimate dining tables, and a discreet seasonal front patio. It trades fleeting food trends for classic Roman-leaning warmth, professional career servers, and a deep Italian wine cellar.

Ristorante Sotto Sotto Menu & What to Order The kitchen sticks resolutely to the classics that built its reputation. Start with the Antipasto Gordonia, a generous platter of grilled tiger shrimp, calamari, and charred vegetables, before moving to the rich, slow-cooked Fettuccine Bolognese Mamma Laura or the signature Pennette Via Frattina tossed with east coast smoked salmon and asparagus in rosé sauce. The grilled Moroccan octopus with cherry tomatoes puttanesca-style and the bone-in veal chops are standout mains, best matched with a bold Brunello or Super Tuscan. Pastas can be prepared with gluten-free or whole-wheat options upon request, though the kitchen politely refuses recipe modifications to keep flavours authentic.

Know Before You Go Dinner reservations are essential on weekends and during TIFF season; lunch can be booked via OpenTable, while prime dinner seatings often require reserving directly online or by phone. The multi-level heritage room has main dining floor access, but the washrooms are located up a steep staircase on the second floor. Street parking along Avenue Road is tight, so plan on using nearby commercial parking garages or riding the TTC to Museum or Bay station.