Introducing: Lisa Marie, a new restaurant on Queen West from Fidel Gastro’s owner Matt Basile
Name: Lisa Marie
Neigbourhood: Trinity Bellwoods
Contact Info: 638 Queen St. W., 416-999-6822
Owner: Matt Basile
Chef: Kris Topping (Fabbrica)
The Food: In addition to the rotating selection of smoked barbecue sandwiches from Matt Basile’s popular Fidel Gastro’s food truck, Lisa Marie serves bar snacks and cichetti, an Italian version of tapas originating in Venice. Marinated meats, burgers, dry aged steaks sourced from The Butcher’s Son, sauces and pickles are also for sale from an in-house mini-market at the back of the restaurant.
The Drinks: A half dozen cocktails and local craft brews from Steam Whistle, Wellington, Muskoka and the Kensington Brewing Company on tap.
The Place: Diners crowd around communal tables scarfing snacks or sit on steel stools at the bar as Basile and staff shout “Olé.” Completely overhauled by Design Republic, the former Prague European Deli space now has all the trappings of another trendy Queen West restaurant: caged Edison bulb lamps, reclaimed wood surfaces and a giant homage to Elvis covering one wall.
The Numbers:
• 800 pounds of meat fit in the smoker
• 308 Alabama tailgaters rolled on opening night
• 60 seats
• $5-$12 for cicchetti
• $11-$15 for cocktails
• 2.5 months to renovate
209862 Lisa Marie is in the Queen West space formerly occupied by Prague European Kitchen (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-18.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-18/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-18 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209863 Four beers are on tap: Wellington Dark Ale, Muskoka Twice as Mad Tom, Steam Whistle and Kensington Augusta Ale (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-intro/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-intro 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209845 Faux reclaimed wood tables and steel bar stools (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-01/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-01 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209856 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-12/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-12 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209850 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-06.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-06/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-06 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209851 Deep-fried pizza dough topped with smoked duck, hoisin ($8) and asparagus slaw and turkey wing dressed in hoisin, sesame seeds and green onion ($7) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-07/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-07 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209853 Smoked pork belly with cilantro cherry salsa on a Havarti cheese crisp, topped with chili basil aioli ($5) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-09/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-09 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209859 Smoked duck pizza dressed with hoisin sauce ($8) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-15.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-15/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-15 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209860 Pork belly cheese thang dressed with chili aioli ($5) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-16/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-16 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209857 Testa Dura: Tromba, Aperol, agave water and lime juice ($11) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-13/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-13 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209858 Malocchio sour: Sailor Jerry, egg whites and Limonata ($12) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-14.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-14/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-14 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209847 Pickled vegetables and sauces are available for purchase (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-03/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-03 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
209846 Meats and takeout sandwiches are available for purchase (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing: Lisa Marie Introducing: Lisa Marie https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/lisa-marie-toronto-restaurant/slide/introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-02/ introducing-lisa-marie-toronto-02 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)