Ciao Cucina Nuova — Restaurant in Lakeshore

[UPDATE: This is not a bad review; rather, an honest one. Anyone spending $250+ and therefore seeking a dining experience should know what they could expect. In response to the disappointing comment from the owner, per our review our server was not around to discuss our service nor our meal. While we ate the food, it is a gross oversight for any owner to assume that food consumed means content experience. We were hungry because we ate light all day in anticipation of what we thought would be a culinary experience. We consumed because we knew that a hefty bill was coming our way independent of anything that we could say about the experience during the experience. We could have eaten anywhere; this was such a disappointment for a special occasion. Again, will not return and will share our lukewarm experience with other foodies. That you stand by very bad service speaks volumes about you and your restaurant]. We came here to celebrate an adult birthday on a Tuesday evening (and there was no acknowledgment of the occasion, not at the beginning when we arrived nor at the end): We had a reservation but when we arrived we were told to just pick from one of two tables (the one by the door or in the hallway area) and we were not taken there the way a host normally does; The bottle of wine came already opened at our table (sorry, this should be opened at the table, a curious practice which suggests that our server was neither capable or perhaps not trusted to perform this most basic of services for a server at the table); our entree took 45-50 minutes to arrive without so much as an update from our server on the wait; the entrees arrived but there was no silverware so we waited for that whilst the food sat at the table; the server passed us five times (I counted) and never checked in with us; she asked us about the meal as she cleared the somewhat empty plates. Lastly, we thought presentation/plating wise, there was very little difference between the lamb shank entree and the coq au vin entree. Truthfully, while the taste was good they were sloppily put together. The food was flavourful and well thought out but for a bill well over $200, which could have been more had we stayed for dessert, coffees, and Brandies, you expect so much more. Will not return...

I was very unimpressed with this restaurant. The food was only okay, atmosphere was nice, decor was nice... but will not be returning.

First, the "build your own pasta" feature was an intriguing and a cool idea. However, such a rip-off, price-wise and taste-wise. We had a party of 5, and one guest ordered an appetizer because they had to leave earlier. Three of us ordered the pasta bar option, and one ordered a pre-made combination meal.

We arrived at 7:45, and our meals came at 9:20. You receive bruschetta-style bread at your table to start. Great... but it came 20 minutes after we ordered. The appetizer for our one party member came 35 minutes after ordering. Our food came over an hour after we initially ordered.

The wait staff, while friendly, did not check up on us once during this hour-plus wait. We had no apologies for the wait time, nor did we have any extra bread on the table given to us. There were customers who came after us that received their meal first. When I go to a restaurant (it wasn't busy), I don't expect to wait over an hour for an order. If I do, I expect the staff to accommodate the wait (at the very least an apology, free appetizer, free dessert, percentage off, etc). I am not the type of person to mention to staff vocally that I was displeased about the wait time, or that I was upset that we weren't apologized to, or upset that no one offered us anything for our long wait or checked on us to let us know the food was coming.... It really should be the customer service of a restaurant to do these things in the first place.

When my food did come, it was only mediocre. The pasta was much too al dente. I ordered tofu as my protein, and it was crumbly and not what I would anticipate in a pasta (expected firm pieces that were seasoned and well-prepared with flavour).

Overall, this place is not worth the price for what you get, nor the wait. It is nothing special. I could literally make this pasta at home and it would take...

One of the best meals I have had in a long time at a restaurant. The food, service, and atmosphere were top notch. Nice but cozy, timely and welcoming staff, and the food was nothing short of amazing.

They take traditional and what I consider to be comfort food components and elevate them in a way that totally impressed me. Veal, duck, ribeye, scallops, high quality pasta (you can very much taste the difference!), high quality cheeses, the freshest vegetables, mushrooms, proteins, fish that tastes and feels like it was just caught that day, absolutely perfect seasoning to everything, I could go on and on.

My favorites in particular were the arancini (black rice, bechamel, lemon & garlic aioli, arugula, asiago), the pappardelle (braised muscovy duck, smoked bacon, pear, duck broth) and the tre assaggi (fettucce alfredo, veal parmigiana, lasagna rosette). A group of us went and we each tried each other's because everything just sounded so good and these in particular were absolutely delicious. I like that they have a create your own option as well, though it would be even better if veal or duck were an option on it. All in all an excellent experience.

Also, they have gluten free upon request. Normally anything gluten free I try I always find it extremely unappetizing, but Ciao Cucina Nuova must have some kind of special secret because their gluten free versions were incredible. The flavor and texture were not that typical weird gluten free taste or texture. They...