DINER: “Vicino Pastaria” Opens Up On The DTES (Next Door To Nicli Antica Pizzeria)
June 20, 2012
by Andrew Morrison | A couple of months ago we showed you around the construction site of Vicino Pastaria & Deli next door to Nicli Antica Pizzeria on East Cordova. It’s all finished now. They had a series of successful friends and family dry runs over the weekend and held their first proper service last night. I’ll get into detail on the chow after a few more visits (in the paper rather than on Scout), but suffice it for now to say that the menu was very straightforward. Think basic, well executed pastas, a couple of esoteric starters (mmm, pork shoulder rillettes with fougasse) and some house made desserts. There wasn’t a thing I tried that I didn’t enjoy. More items will be added as time progresses (eg. sandwiches), but the goal – as far as I can remember – was always to keep it nice, simple, and entirely approachable. Take a look at the shots below. The retail shelves are still a little bare, but again, they’re only just getting started this week. Break a leg, fellas.
That should read antipasti e insalata as contorni are usually vegetable side dishes.
Checked out an online definition for contorni (or contorini, as they spelled it). Most commonly used in reference to vegetables that accompany a meal as you noted, however, traditionally it refers to any side dish so I think they are in the clear.
I think perhaps the Gem lettuce could pass as contorni but aside from the nit picking, sorry, this place looks awesome. I am pretty excited for a quality pasta place in Gastown and if it is as good as Nicli it will be great.